Blurb:
Actors Ethan Grey and Alex Haynes are gay, but in Hollywood, they can’t be open unless they’re willing to be typecast in future movies or they’re dating prominent gay producers. Since neither are willing to become stereotypes, and neither have studio boyfriends, they take another path -- hiding their relationship under the cover of a pretend girlfriend.
What works for Ethan, though, doesn’t work for Alex, who screws up to the point of losing his job and the chance to get another. His manager finally finds him another job across the pond, where he meets Nathan Wells.
Nathan can be the prominent producer Alex needs to further his career, but there’s something Alex doesn’t know about the man. Soon Wells grows obsessed with Alex, and he’ll do anything to keep Alex from getting away.
Though Nathan wants Alex for himself, there’s still Ethan to think about. Is the love story between Alex and Ethan really over? Or will Ethan find a way to get his boyfriend back?
Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, RomanceWhat works for Ethan, though, doesn’t work for Alex, who screws up to the point of losing his job and the chance to get another. His manager finally finds him another job across the pond, where he meets Nathan Wells.
Nathan can be the prominent producer Alex needs to further his career, but there’s something Alex doesn’t know about the man. Soon Wells grows obsessed with Alex, and he’ll do anything to keep Alex from getting away.
Though Nathan wants Alex for himself, there’s still Ethan to think about. Is the love story between Alex and Ethan really over? Or will Ethan find a way to get his boyfriend back?
Tracy's Review:
3.5 stars
When the story begins Alex and Ethan are in an established, yet secret relationship. They are both gay actors. The public finding out they are gay and in a relationship could destroy their careers. To Alex, this does matter, but as long as he has Ethan at his side, he feels they can get through anything together.
When the proverbial poop(to remain pg here), hits the fan, Ethan hits the door, and doesn't look back.
Alex is left heartbroken and as an outed gay actor, is unable to get work in the U.S. Finally landing a movie in England, Alex heads across the pond and into the waiting arms of producer/director Nathan Wells. Nathan is all to happy to pick up the pieces of Alex's broken heart, but is Nathan really what he seems to be?
This story took a lot to keep reading. As I said Alex and Ethan are already in an established relationship, so there is no backstory. No history. I spent the 1st almost half of the book confused as to what was going on. Almost like the characters had a secret language, the reader wasn't privy to. You don't get to know the characters. The POV's switched quickly in this story and with no warning, and no indication as to who was telling the story at times. It took me until I was 1/3 of the way through the book, to finally learn, that not only were Alex and Ethan both actors (the blurb tells me this), but they have worked on the same series and have been co-stars for 5 seasons.
I needed more information, plain and simple. I have no idea how Alex and Ethan met, how long they have been romantically involved. These are things that should have been worked into the story.
The writing is very jumpy. It jumps from scene to scene, and doesn't have a smooth flow or transition from one scene to the next. The story line was great, but the execution failed.
I never felt a true bond, love, chemistry or connection between Alex and Ethan. Ethan was much more of a secondary character.
This story had so much potential. By the end of the book, I knew Alex and Nathan, pretty well, but I didn't know Ethan. This story could have been a few chapters longer, so I could get to know Ethan better.
Excerpt:
The jolly atmosphere somewhat helped enliven Alex’s spirit, though not by a lot. He was okay, he kept telling himself. He was okay, yes, he was. But the dimmed light, the flickering candle on the table, a wall full of bottles of beer and other liquor—the image of Ethan’s silly snort when he failed to open a bottle of beer with his hand—and Alex curled in his chair. His heart felt as if it had been stabbed. Taking a deep breath, he uncurled and reached for his glass, downing the liquid in big gulps and grimacing as the bittersweet drink ran down his throat. He was good. The beer was good. It usually helped him to pass out quickly, making nights feel shorter than they truly were.
“Excuse me,” he called out to a waitress, his voice slurring already.
“Yes, love?”
“Get me another, please?”
“Coming right away, dearie.”
Alex smiled dazedly and was in the process of leaning back again when a hand tapped him on his shoulder.
“Hey, Alex.”
He turned around to find a pair of dark brown eyes staring back at him so closely they kind of overwhelmed him. And—hey. He didn’t know who the man was.
About the Author
Iyana writes M/M short stories and novellas. Her works have been published by Evernight Publishing, JMS Books, Books to Go Now, Torquere Press, Bitten Press, Leap of Faith Publishing, Breathless Press, and Alfie Dog Fiction.
Iyana lives in Jakarta, a city famous for its traffic jams, a lot of cars and motorcycles, and people selling stuff on the roads. You can spend two hours on the road going to a place you can reach in half an hour in a normal situation. Thanks to the traffic jams, though, Iyana can come up with a lot of stories, mostly shorties, as she prefers to spend the time during her trips writing into her cell phone rather than sleeping.
Another thing Iyana loves is kitties. Right now she has three of them. Their names are Cil, Horus, and Betsy, and one kitten. When she doesn’t write, she plays with them, or they would play with her when she writes.
Publisher: JMS Books
Cover Artist: Written Ink Designs
Contacting lyana
Twitter @IyanaJenna
Where to Purchase Slippery Slope
Tour Dates/Tour Stops:
24-Nov
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28-Nov
Thank you so much for having me on your blog and for reviewing my story. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Iyana! <3
DeleteHi Iyana,
ReplyDeleteI hope that I can win your book, but if I can't then I'm still going to buy it :-) thanks for the chance!
Char, thank you so much! :D
DeleteHope you win the book. ♥