Rating: 4 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | All Romance | Amazon UK
Length: Novella
Elliot Graham has always played by the rules. He is stunned when he is sentenced to perform community service for buying his sister a present that turned out to be stolen property. Forced to spend his next few weekends at the recycling center, he thinks his luck has turned when he finds tickets to an upcoming concert, only to have them disappear into the pockets of the hottest guy he’s ever seen.
Cade McKuen thumbs his nose at rules. After finding his ex-boyfriend cheating on him, he vandalized his car. When the court ordered Cade to apologize, he opted to perform community service rather than give his ex the satisfaction of seeing him grovel. When Cade finds the tickets in the pile of trash, he thinks his luck has turned. When Elliot claims the tickets as his, Cade decides community service may be the most fun he’s had all year.
Cade is determined to teach Elliot how to unbutton his collar and live a little. Elliot is determined to teach Cade that not all guys are like his ex. Can their relationship outlast the tickets to the concert?
This book has been sitting in my “to be read” pile since I finished K.A. Mitchell’s Bad In Baltimore series. Why, you may ask? I am a total book snob. Despite my love for this author’s works, I have such low expectations for novellas. I want the big, thick books with lots of words which in my mind equals lots of romance, lots of angst, and lots of sex. How on earth do you find that in one of those thin little books? Well, I will be the first to admit that I underestimated this author because I think I liked this book even more than I liked some of her other works!
Cade is the type of guy that parents would cringe if you brought him home. Sixteen piercings – Elliot counted them – spiked hair, tattoos, a car that is temperamental, and his place of residence is crashing on a friend’s couch. When he found out his boyfriend was cheating on him, he took a tire iron to his car.
Elliot is a play by the rules type of guy, ending up with a criminal record and performing community service all because he accidentally bought stolen property. When Cade tells him he will give him the tickets they found if he meets him for coffee after their shift, Elliot finds himself unable to say no.
As the two develop a tentative friendship, they find themselves unable to keep their hands to themselves. Did I mention that Elliot is a virgin? Well, he’s had some experience with handjobs and blowjobs, but Cade will be his first real lover. Let’s just say he is a real quick learner!
Despite being a novella, there was actually a decent plot going on. Cade’s ex appears and threatens Cade’s ability to believe that there could be something more besides hot sex between him and Elliot. While Elliot may be the younger (age-wise) of the two, he isn’t going to let Cade escape easily.
If you haven’t read any of K.A. Mitchell’s works, this is the book to start with. You will be amazed at how wonderfully she crafts a story that manages to have everything packed into such a short read. Highly recommend!
This review is part of our September Reading Challenge Month for TBR Pile Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win this week’s fabulous prize of a loaded iPad Mini sponsored by Dreamspinner Press, as well as our amazing grand prize sponsored by Riptide Publishing. You can get more information on our Challenge Month here, and more details on TBR Pile week here. And be sure to check out our prize post for more about the awesome prizes!
Great review, Wendy. this book has also been in my TBR pile for a while, since I really enjoyed K.A. Mitchell’s Bad in Baltimore series. I do not have any problem with novellas, I actually prefer them sometimes, especially when I am too stressed to be able to deal with something more demanding, and opposites who attract is one of my favourite topics so Hot Ticket is certainly moving up in my TBR list. Thank you for your review.
I haven’t read many, if any, books from this author because I don’t really care for the type of books she writes, although I’m sure she’s a great author and have,nothing against her.
I really enjoyed this one, as I recall…as much as I’m blown away by the craftsmanship of a lot of Mitchell’s angstier books, I think I prefer the ones with a lighter touch. (I think it may have been Daisy Harris who referred to the Mitchell novellas as her comfort reads, and I understand that.)
I don’t generally like novellas, but I might have to read this since I’m worried about Elliot’s HEA.
Oh, definitely give it a try, I think it is well worth the read!
This was one of my first K.A. Mitchell stories and still one that I love. I have gone back to reread it many times. I love the virgin and the bad boy trope and I just adore these guys together. Great place to start if you haven’t read this author and one of her lesser known books that is worth picking up for sure.
I haven’t read this KA novel yet. Collision Course is my favorite of hers. That was one of the first mm romances I read. I love Aaron & Joey!
Oh god, LOVE LOVE Aaron and Joey. One of my all time favorite couples!
I prefer full length novels to shorts or novellas too because I read quickly. And I find that most authors cannot develop a storyline well in a short. Based on your review, I’ve added this to my wishlist, thanks!
I recognize the cover and checked to see if I’ve read it. I have, but I don’t remember a single thing out of this. Too many books read! I thought it was funny that you didn’t want to read it because it was a novella. I totally understand why people have their preferences in book length (or anything else about stories for that matter, and if I had a few more preferences maybe I wouldn’t so many on my tbr), but I’ve never had that issue if I trust an author. I’ve read stories that go on too long, so I know that story length doesn’t mean a great story gets told. If it’s a new author to me, then I am suspicious of the shorter reads just because I don’t know yet if their storytelling will live up to the format. I think you have to be really skilled to be able to write short well. When it’s done well, you don’t mind (much) that there isn’t more to it. At least, that’s how I feel. Thanks for the review, Wendy!
I am so going to old school myself here…I inhale books, so it was more prudent to carry one or two of those 300+ page books to read than it was to carry 5-6 little ones. So I never really got into the shorter stories. Then the few I did read, never seemed to have much of a storyline. This book managed to give me the same satisfaction I get when I read KA Mitchell’s other books.m
This sounds like a fun read! I’ve heard of the author, but haven’t read anything by them, so maybe this should be when I start!
This is a great book to start with. I am also a huge fan of her Bad In Baltimore series…which I will talk about later this month when I review Bad Company, the first in the series.
I’ve read and enjoyed the author’s No Souvenirs, so it’s good to see a review of one of the author’s novellas. I’ve never done sorting at a recycling center; however, I have found a few nifty things tucked into old books at thrift stores and the occasional money in a pair of pants. I’m waiting to find that winning lottery ticket! Thanks for an informative review.
I love KA Mitchell’s work. So I’m wondering how I missed this one. Based on the review, this one is going on my wishlist. I’m glad you brought this to my attention. Thanks.
For some reason I think this was released as part of a set or anthology or something. I find it is one that fewer folks have read, but it is story I really love.
I read this years & years ago and memory tells me I enjoyed it but I don’t really remember anything specific. It would be on my old Kindle (I have a first generation Kindle that I used until about 6 months ag0) so I’m thinking I should find it and transfer it to my new Kindle for a re-read. Thanks for the review.
Thank you, Wendy, for the review, and thank you all you people who stopped by and read and left a comment. Cade and Elliot are old favorites. I always wish they would move in next door.
Hey, Jay, the book I’m working on now has a bad boy who *is* a virgin hero. (It’s complicated.) Hope you’ll like him!
Oh gosh, you are going to kill me! I can’t wait! xxoo
Thanks for the review! My online public library has this one and it has been on my TBR list for a while. Sounds like it might be time to check it out soon. I, too, lean toward novel-length books but have enjoyed some novellas quite a lot recently.
Jen – I’m right with you on the longer stories, but I will admit, I wasn’t disappointed with this book despite it being a novella.
Thanks for the review! I’ve read many KA Mitchell books and enjoyed them but I haven’t read this one. Probably because I don’t read a lot of novellas either. I’l have to give this one a try though.
I have read alot of books by K A Mitchell and loved them. I do not know how this one slipped by me. Thanks to your review, I have now added it to my list. 🙂
I love KA Bad In Baltimore series but I haven’t read any of her other books. I’ll have to give this a read. Thank you for the review =)
Oh definitely try her florida series! Collision course is one of my all time faves and I love No Souvenirs as well.
Haha, I read this one back in the day! In PDF format because at the time I didn’t have a smart phone, kindle, or tablet so I read all my books using Adobe on my computer… Ah those were the days!
Thanks for the review, i was looking for a quick in-between read and this looks like something i would enjoy. So i bought the book and look forward in reading it.
Thanks for bringing Hot Ticket to my attention, I have read many of KA’s books but somehow missed this one. I am adding this to my ever growing TBR list.
I like K. A. Mitchell and this book sounds good. Thanks for the review!
I do like K.A. Mitchell, but I’ll admit to being prejudiced against novellas! Hot Ticket might just have to be read soon, however.
This definitely sounds like something I would like. And like you, Wendy, I tend to forget how god novellas can be. My reasons for not reading them as often as I could have is because I’m sort of cheap. When I buy a novella I sense that I get less for my money than if I had gone with a novel instead. When I do read novellas I more often than not find that I really like the shorter format, and I have a few authors whose shorter works I buy without hesitation.
I like novellas when they’re good, but it really depends on the author. I read this several months ago and remember liking it for the unlikely romance. This reminds me that I need to finish reading the Bad in Baltimore series. 🙂 Thanks for the review.
This book was my 5th K A book! At first , I had trouble getting into it. However, after ignoring it for a few months, I dove back in and I really enjoyed it!
Fantastic review! I loved when you said “I want the big, thick books with lots of words which in my mind equals lots of romance, lots of angst, and lots of sex. How on earth do you find that in one of those thin little books?” – I feel exactly the same way! It takes a lot for me to try shorter works (even if they’re free). Your review has convinced me on this one, though, so I will give it a go this weekend.
Sounds like a fun one! I do like novellas because they’re the perfect “between” read for when I don’t have enough time for a novel, but want a good story! Thanks for sharing this one.
I have read this in the past. For me it was an okay book. Not my favorite of KA Mitchell by any means. My favorite of hers is Bad Boyfriend- I love Eli and Quinn
Being new to the m/m genre, I have not gotten to this author yet. This review sounds really good.
Oh Elizabeth, KA is definitely a stand out in the genre! I love her Florida and Baltimore series but you really can’t go wrong with her book. I hope you enjoy!
KA was one of the first authors I read in this genre and remains an auto-buy for me. Love her books, including this one!