Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Most people see Chase Manning as the party-boy twink he seems on the surface. Only James, Chase's BFF, knows the depth of his loyalty and the extent of the wounds Chase carries inside. When Chase meets Rhys Sayer, things don’t go well, but he can’t shake his attraction to the huge, sexy man.

Rhys is a man of contradictions and fear—a strange combination for a PI and bodyguard. He's in a bad place emotionally when he sets eyes on Chase for the first time. When Chase puts the moves on him, Rhys insults him, thwarting any possibility of a relationship. Rhys doesn’t see himself as a complicated man, but he dreads the very kind of connection he desires.

Just as they’re trying to overcome their uncertainties, Chase is put in harm’s way. Luckily Rhys and their friends have all the right talents to help Rhys save the man of his dreams.

 

 

Sequel to Designs of Desire

 

Book Review

When someone’s image is different from the way that person sees themselves, that difference can cause pain on both sides of the perception. Chase, James’s best friend from book one in the series, is in just such a situation in regards to Rhys, who was James’s bodyguard during the stalking. Normally the difference of opinion would not matter, but everyone else seems to think Chase and Rhys belong together, and they keep pushing Chase to at least go on a date with Rhys. Their resulting story is filled with misunderstandings, the pain of dealing with Chase’s past, and lots of conflict and external threat. It was great to see James and Seth again, as well as their other friends – still as loving, chaotic, and quirky as ever.

Chase looks, usually dresses, and mostly behaves like a party-boy twink. While he isn’t like that at all, he enjoys the flirting and the clubbing, but has never had a one-night stand in his life, He takes his relationships seriously, but hasn’t had much luck so far. And with Rhys calling him names when they first meet, Chase is not inclined to give the man the time of day after that, no matter how attractive he may be or how much everyone else insists Rhys is a great guy. But when Chase starts to work for Rhys’s PI business (James’s brilliant idea), they are forced to deal with each other, and Chase slowly begins to thaw. It’s not easy for him, considering how much he’s been hurt before and what other dark secrets he carries from his teenage days, but Chase knows he’ll have to deal with all of that at some point, and Rhys is too attractive to keep turning down.

Rhys is a former Marine and now runs a bodyguard/PI business with his best friend. Rhys had been recently emotionally hurt when he lashed out at Chase the first time they met, and initially does everything to keep the man at a distance. But then James decides Chase is the best person to help Rhys with the tech issues he has, so Rhys swallows his pride and asks Chase to work with him. He quickly learns that Chase is very different from what he assumed, and decides to pursue a relationship. It’s a good thing he is stubborn and persistent because Chase is not an easy man to get to know!

If you like stories about emotionally damaged men who have built walls around their hearts to protect themselves from being hurt ever again, if you’re interested in a “battle of the wills” as well as an “opening of the hearts” kind of story, and if you’re looking for a read that shows what can happen when preconceived perceptions are defied, is emotionally touching, and contains some light but very hot BDSM, then you will probably like this novel.

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook, print and audio
Length	Novel, 200 pages/64556 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	06-June-2014
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle, $19.95 audiobook
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/desires-guardian-by-tempeste-oriley-4981-b