Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Two months after Mitch Jenkins had the rug pulled out from under him when his two-year relationship came to an abrupt end, he is still hurting. A colleague’s attempt to cheer him up brings Mitch to a secret “club.” Mitch isn’t remotely interested in the twinks parading like peacocks, until he spies the young man at the back of the room, nose firmly in a book and oblivious to his surroundings. Now Mitch is interested.

Nikko Kurokawa wants to pay his debt and get the hell out of the Black Lounge—where he is forced to not only have sex, but sometimes suffer abuse to please clients. Earning his freedom isn’t proving easy, especially when he starts attracting interest. Life becomes that little bit easier to bear when he meets Mitch, who is nothing like the other men who frequent the club. And when Mitch crawls under his skin and into his heart, Nikko figures he can put up with anything. Before long he’ll be out of there, and he and Mitch can figure out if they have a future together.

Neither of them counted on those who don’t want Nikko to leave….

Book Review

K.C. Wells is a very favorite author of mine so I jump at the opportunity to read her new releases. The description for 'Debt' really intrigued me and I was eager to see what the author would bring me in terms of characters and storyline. I was not disappointed in Mitch or Nikko as they are both strong, complex men. The storyline was hot, sexy, heartbreaking, hopeful, and full of enough drama to keep me riveted to each page.

A secret brothel in New York City? Tell me it's not so. I'm betting there's more than one. Unfortunately for Nikko, the Black Lounge is where he works as part of the merchandise. He's new, and his first client is Mitch. Mitch is introduced to the club by a friend who is a member, and initially Mitch doesn't see anyone who attracts him until he spots Nikko in the back, fully dressed, reading a book. Their encounter is sweet, gentle, and hot, until Mitch kind of ruins it by asking a personal question about why Nikko is there. That's Nikko's secret, and he isn't about to share it. Not when the owners have cameras on him 24/7.

He kept recalling Nikko’s manner, his quiet way of speaking, the way he held himself, his gentleness. Mitch couldn’t for the life of him imagine what Nikko was doing working in a brothel, and yet Nikko had insisted he was there of his own volition. Something wasn’t right. Between what Nikko said and how Nikko behaved, something just didn’t… mesh.

Mitch can't keep from coming back to see Nikko, again and again. Sometimes they just cuddle and talk, and Mitch forgets that he's paying for time with, basically, a hooker. Mitch is a serial monogamist, but at forty-five he's almost given up hope since his last boyfriend dumped him for being boring. Nikko can't stop the relief he feels every time he sees Mitch. The Black Lounge allows its members to do anything they want, and quite a bit of it is out of Nikko's comfort zone. But he has no choice but to comply, even as he reminds himself it's only for a few more months and he'll have paid off his debt. That is, until he realizes the debt he's accruing every day that they never told him about. And the owner making it very plain that since Nikko's looks attract a certain type of client, he isn't about to let him go. At least, not until he's of no more use.

I think one of the things I loved the most about this book is that the author didn't use the standard tropes. This wasn't a wealthy john who saved his rent boy. Mitch is a high school English teacher, and believe me they aren't making big bucks. He's kind, gentle, sweet, has a conscience, morals, a loving family, and he truly cares about other people. Ms. Wells didn't use on-page descriptions of abuse or noncon sex, instead I knew it was occurring, and there were references, but it wasn't being thrown in my face.

The other thing I loved is the way the whole story played out. I didn't see any of it happening so that just made it ten times better. I have to admit that this is probably one of the sweetest and gentlest love stories I have read in quite a while. A wonderful, beautiful story with truly good, decent people. Something I don't get to see every day. Thank you, K.C.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 254 pages/86359 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	27-May-2016
Price	$6.99 ebook, $16.99 paperback, $16.99 bundle
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/debt-by-kc-wells-7015-b