"André," by Jayce Ellis
Contemporary MM Romance
1 Smooch ~ Cozy
2 Smooches ~ Warm
3 Smooches ~ Simmering
4 Smooches ~ Red-Hot
5 Smooches ~ Scalding
Book Blurb
Jayce Ellis's sexy, contemporary High Rise series features the bustle of DC and the hustle of love.
After a week filled with nonstop work, André Ellison heads to the club to blow off some steam. One night off is the perfect distraction from the project that’s about to make his career—or tank it completely. A few drinks in and he leaves with a smoking-hot stranger for some scorching, burn-the-sheets-up sex.
Marcus Thompson is going places, so he can’t think of a bigger waste of time than being put on loan to a two-bit firm to prepare some small-time report. The last thing he wants—or needs—is his impeccably dressed, hot-as-hell one-night stand as his boss.
As they work side by side, their attraction grows to a fever pitch, but there will be no kissing, no touching and absolutely no sex until the project is over—if they can wait that long.
My Review
I received a copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jayce Ellis is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. This is the second book of hers I’ve read and her storytelling only gets better. André is the second book in the High Rise series—you can read my review of Jeremiah (Book 1) here!—and I am already eagerly awaiting the next installment. Ellis has this way with words and character building and emotion that just draws me in and won’t let me go.
This book, much like Jeremiah, does a wonderful job of weaving in cultural aspects that truly prove why it’s so important that we not only have BIPOC representation in Romancelandia characters, but also that we have actual BIPOC authors writing these characters. There is no better way to learn about and experience another culture than to see it through the eyes of a member of that culture.
André and Marcus have an incredible journey in this book. They start off hot and just get hotter, yet they face some very real obstacles that keep their story down to Earth and relatable. I was rooting for these two from the get-go and my heart went out to them as they fought tooth and nail to find and keep the love they both deserved.
I honestly cannot wait to see what Ms. Ellis puts out next. She is going on my watch list and you’ll likely be seeing another review from me very, very soon following her next release! I would recommend this—and Jeremiah!—with all my heart to any and all readers of romance. Especially those who enjoy real, gritty characters; honest and genuine character-driven plots; and a heaping spoonful of sexy love.
Sneak Peek Sample Snippet from André!
I received a copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I tried to keep this one safer for work, even though they are absolutely getting down before the chapter ends. This is from André and Marcus’ meet cute. Marcus’ friend stumbled into André at the club, and Marcus insists on buying André another drink to compensate. Then, the following.
“So,” Marc said after taking a sip, “what’s your name?”
“André,” I replied, holding my hand out.
“Marc,” he said, then scrunched his nose, just a fraction before smoothing it out. He shrugged, more to himself than to me, before shaking.
I wanted to ask what that was for, but thought better of it. Made me wonder if Marc was in fact his name, but did I really care? No.
“You come here often?” he asked.
Small talk. Not my forte, but I could do this, especially with a guy this damn fine. “Weekly, usually for happy hour. This is my first time being out for the weekend crowd.”
“Then it looks like I picked a good night to finally come. Why did you decide to come?”
The way he said that last come made my dick twitch, eager to find out when we were getting to the good part, and by the small grin that curved the side of his face, he knew it. But I answered anyway. “I’ve had a long week, a lot of shit going down, and I needed a release.”
“You and me both. A good release sounds like just the ticket.”
We were absolutely not talking about being at the club anymore, of that I was certain. What I wasn’t certain of was what we were discussing, or if I’d let myself believe we were on the same page.
I don’t know what look I had on my face, but Marc laughed at it. “I’m just teasing you, man.” He winked. “Unless you don’t want me to be.”
I raised a brow and pitched myself a little bit closer, next to his ear, but not so close people noticed. I was pretty sure we couldn’t be heard over the noise, but I wasn’t taking any chances. “Are you propositioning me?”
“If you’re into it.”
Jayce Ellis
She/Her
Jayce Ellis started writing as a child (just ask the poor sixth-graders forced to listen to her hand-written cozy mystery), then made the tragic mistake of letting the real world interfere for the next two decades. When she finally returned to her first love (her husband and two turtles, Chompers and Desi, remain locked in an eternal battle for second), she’d transitioned from mystery to romance, and there she’s found her true passion.
Jayce writes about people a bit like her, Black and queer and striving to find the good in a world fixated on the bad. She prefers her angst low and her characters hot—a term encompassing all shapes, sizes, and complexions.
There may be a hint of irony in Jayce’s day job as a family law attorney, but she soothes herself in worlds where people communicate and find a way to work things out and reach a real and true HEA, even if there’s rarely a neat, tidy little bow wrapping everything else up. Because really, where’s the fun in that?
Connect with Jayce below!
So, what are you waiting for? André is available for your immediate reading pleasure as of today—July 13th, 2020—it’s Release Day! Get your copy today!! 📖
