Length: 46,000 words approx.
Cover Design: Lou Harper
With A Kick Series
Blurb
Three men, one love—and a passion he only ever dreamed of.
Karel Novak is content with his busy job in hotel refurbishment, enjoying the social scene in Soho, London and the company of new friends he met through working at With A Kick. All he’s missing is a special man in his life. Or maybe two.
His first meeting with the mercurial pole dancer Leroy and his socially anxious partner Griff isn’t impressive, but none of them can ignore the sexual spark that flares between the three men.
Their relationship builds in steps of passion, frustration, and finally love. Both Leroy and Griff have complex issues in their lives to work through, and at first Karel brings a new dynamic that both settles and supports them.
But although he loves his men, Karel gradually realises the issues are still present. His partners struggle with living individually as well as together. His heartfelt wish is for them to create a lasting bond as a trio—but that means putting others first, all too often.
And will that mean sacrificing his own joy and dreams?
4 Stars
Top and Tails is book 9 in the With a Kick series by Clare London. I won't claim I've read all the books, but I've read several of them and really, you're missing out if you've passed on them.
Karel is in a good place in his life and all that he's missing is a special someone. When pole dancer Leroy catches his eye at the club, he's intrigued, but when he's hit on by Leroy's partner, Griff, he's not sure what to think about it. Hooking up with an established couple isn't exactly in his plans, no matter how attracted he is to both Leroy and Griff or how well he meshes up with them on all levels. But more than hooking up is not exactly what's on offer here or is it?
I've said this before and will probably say it again. I'm a bit wary of reading menage with an established couple because it's difficult for the third party to feel included when the other two share so much history. In this case, thankfully, it worked. Leroy and Griff were both dealing with several issues and really needed Karel, not exactly as a referee, but to balance them out and give them what they both needed but were unable to find in themselves and in turn, they gave Karel what he'd been looking for, too. They were good together and I liked that it was a learning process for all involved. It felt realistic in the sense that it wasn't only sex (albeit hot sex) but that their collective and individual issues didn't just go away because they decided to give it a go and they actually had to work on those to, well, make it work.
I loved catching up with Patrick and Lee, who featured prominently in this book, and see glimpses of some of the other guys we've met in the previous installments.
So, overall, this was a really good, realistic and hot menage a trois, one that you don't want to miss out on.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
August 28 - The Way She Reads, September 1 - Cupcakes & Bookshelves, September 5 - Katie's Book Corner Reviews, Amy's MM Romance Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, BooksLaidBareBoys, September 7 - Book Review By Virginia Lee, Reading In Sarah's Corner, Lillian Francis, My Fiction Nook, Bayou Book Junkie
Excerpt
“There are several sculpture exhibitions in the arts festival, one at the local school.” Griff opened the booklet, as if ready to search the index.
“Karel?” Leroy was looking at him curiously. His hand squeezed Karel’s, his thumb distracting, massaging Karel’s wrist. He threw a comment to Griff, over his shoulder. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“Huh?”
Leroy rolled his eyes. “Man, it’s too late tonight for chatting about art and stuff. Isn’t it?” The question was aimed at Karel.
“I… don’t mind,” he said.
But Leroy laughed. He swept the brochure from Griff’s hand, dropped it on the far end of the counter, then turned fully to face Karel. “Yeah. Talk about something else, Griff. Something just for fun. Like the time you made chilli frozen yoghurt and burned my mouth at the same time my tongue froze to my teeth—”
“—or the time you bought kids’ dance tights by mistake, fell over trying to put them on, and nearly strangled your balls?” Griff countered.
Everyone laughed. The awkward moment had passed. Karel was relieved he hadn’t been led astray by his own worries. The kitchen was suddenly full again of amused banter, with Griff leaning over the counter to gossip, and Leroy’s soothing yet stimulating touch on Karel’s skin.
And underlying all of it, a thread of fizzing, humming desire growing between them. Karel wondered how he would have coped if the conversation had gone a more cultural route, when all he could think about at the moment was energetic, obscene sex with these men.
He didn’t think he was presuming anything, either.
Finally, Leroy collected their empty plates, placed them in the dishwasher, then sauntered back to where Karel sat. He didn’t sit back down again, but stood there, his hip nudging Karel’s. Griff wiped the counter briskly but thoroughly with a wet cloth, placed it neatly on the side of the sink, took off his glasses, then came to stand beside him.
The dance was moving into its second set.
Karel stood, as steadily as he could. His skin prickled as if electricity sparkled over it, and his limbs felt almost too weak to respond. But when Leroy leaned in to kiss him, he was more than ready. He cupped Leroy’s cheek, thumbing the gentle bed of stubble, enjoying the brush of Leroy’s hair on the back of his hand. Karel pushed his tongue gently at Leroy’s mouth and the lips parted quickly, eagerly, for him. They kissed in near silence, the only sound their panting, the soft slick of their mouths.
And Griff’s soft breath in Karel’s other ear.
“We’ve taken this evening in the wrong order,” he said. When Karel turned reluctantly from Leroy’s kiss, he found Griff staring at him with a slow, seductive smile that Karel hadn’t seen before. “Dessert before the main course.”
“No,” Leroy said from behind Karel. “That was only ice cream. The proper dessert hasn’t even been served yet.”
“Whatever,” Griff murmured, rolling his eyes like Leroy had earlier, still smiling at Karel. He lifted his face for a kiss. His lips were plumper, his mouth wider. Karel didn’t know why he should be shocked that Griff’s taste was so different, but he was delighted by it. Griff was surprisingly assertive, thrusting his tongue into Karel’s mouth, his beard softly tickling Karel’s chin.
Leroy hadn’t moved away. His breath was warm on Karel’s neck, but Karel appreciated the way Leroy took his time: no one was hurrying. He relaxed into Griff’s kiss as he had Leroy’s, and behind him, Leroy’s lips touched the nape of his neck, kissing around to Karel’s throat and down towards his collarbone. Griff nipped briefly at Karel’s lower lip, just shy of breaking the skin and Karel gasped. Leroy slid his fingers briefly, tantalisingly, under the neck of Karel’s T-shirt, running along the seam, tugging it away from his body.
“I worked on the site today,” Karel said, not surprised to find his voice was hoarse. “I’m sweaty. My clothes are dusty.”
“You can shower here,” Griff said quickly. “If you want. Or…”
“…No. Do it after,” Leroy said, just as quick. His tone roughened. “I want you like this.”
Jesus. A wave of desire swamped Karel from head to foot. He leaned away from Griff as Leroy peeled the T-shirt over his head.
Griff’s gaze dropped to Karel’s chest and he licked his lips.
Leroy sighed happily. Then he took Karel’s hand and led him out of the kitchen.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.
All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!
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