Rating: 4.5
Steam: 5
PoV: dual, 1st person
Series: The Manhandled series #1
Genre: erotic romance, MM
Main tropes: rock star, forced proximity, sexual discovery
He’s silent as he takes me in. Seething. Glaring. Radiating resentment, and I don’t blame him. First impression? Pissed. Exhausted. Rich. Entitled.
Brat.
My specialty.
Wow, I don’t really know what I expected when I picked this one up but the chemistry! The steam! The kink! Jax and Gideon had some serious back and forth and their story was quite addictive to me.
Gideon was quite the mess at the start of the book, and after yet another scandal, Jax got hired as his handler / babysitter to go with him on his tour. Gideon was a total brat at times and kept pushing Jax, which led to some great tension and later on steamy scenes between them. Gideon badly needed a Dom / Daddy with a firm hand and he definitely found that in Jax.
There were a few MF and MFM scenes in the first half of the book, but they made sense for the development between Jax and Gideon, and especially for Jax’s sexual discovery. I loved how rough these two got with each other and how their feelings bordered on obsessive at times, but there was also a lot of tenderness and affection between them. Their dynamic was highly enjoyable and interesting – and I was completely engrossed in these two characters and their story!
The Handler was full of steam and kink, but also contained hurt / comfort and some tenderness. I loved seeing Jax take care of Gideon and ground him, and it was obvious that Gideon needed someone like Jax in order not to self destruct. It got angsty and a bit frustrating at times, but it all fit the plot and characters very well, they just needed a few complications before getting their happily ever after. A well written and great read if you’re looking for an entertaining and angsty story with a lot of spice and kink!
“I mean to say, we don’t ever have to have sex. We don’t ever have to do anything more than we’ve done or any of that even, just don’t—don’t stop talking to me. Don’t stop looking after me. I need you,” he says in a whisper.
The Secret Librarian 