Review: Hook, Line, & Sinker by Piper Vaughn
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Publish Date: November 19, 2014
Reviewed by: Heller
How I got this book: E-Arc from Publisher
Hard Hats: Book Two
“When they were teens, Castor McCormick was the bane of Blake Kowalski’s existence. Their mutual animosity led to summers filled with rivalry. Now, nearly two decades later, Cas is moving back into the neighborhood to live in his grandmother’s old house. Blake tells himself he isn’t interested in seeing how snarky little Cas grew up, but when his mother dupes him into visiting his former nemesis, he finds out “pretty” can evolve into “sexy as hell” on the right man.
Cas didn’t think he wanted to see Blake again. No one has ever pushed his buttons like the arrogant boy he remembers from their youth. Turns out, the adult version of Blake still gets him hot under the collar—and everywhere else. With Blake on leave from work to nurse an injured leg and Cas taking time to move and unpack, they form a tentative friendship that turns into a sexual affair neither man can deny. But when Cas’s job sends him out of state to deal with a difficult client, their new relationship will be tested, and if they fail, Blake’s broken leg might not be the only thing to end up scarred.”
What a fantastic read.
Castor McCormick and Blake Kowalski weren’t childhood enemies but there was an antagonism there as they were forced by circumstance to hang out during their summer holidays. Nemesis would be the best word for it and the dynamic between them is absolutely delicious.
There’s an edge to their interactions but the men have definitely mellowed after twenty years and they both acknowledged that a lot of their issues when they were younger had to do with lusting for each other and not knowing how to deal with those feelings. I really enjoyed that. I liked that they were willing to look beyond their history and come right out and own up to their faults and move beyond it. They both recognize that there’s a possibility that what they have can go beyond the fabulous, kinky sex into a stable, long term relationship.
The chemistry between these two men is off the charts. The sex is amazing but they have more going for them than just that and seeing them open their lives to each other was, for me, one of the best parts of the read. There are wonderful secondary characters here as well, most specifically, Cas’ best friend, Gavin. One moment that I adored was the restaurant scene between the two of them when Cas reassures him that Blake isn’t like Gavin’s childhood tormentors. It’s a loving friendship moment between the two men that was really emotional. I
can’t wait for Gavin’s story to be told.
Despite my intense love for this story I can definitely see the moments where the men are still learning about each other and making mistakes due to poor communication. Blake does something stupid near the end of the read and Cas responds with something equally stupid. They work it out but I’m glad that each them apologize for their actions. I can forgive their actions because they are in such a new relationship. It’s a learning curve and they’re learning so I can’t fault that. I loved these men and this read was stellar from start to finish. This is book two in a series but in my opinion you can jump right into this one without having read the first.
I’m giving “Hook, Line, & Sinker” an A+