Cara Dee

Rogue Launch (The Renegades Book 1) by Cara Dee: Release Blitz, Excerpt and Release Day Review

July 24, 2023 by Denise

The Renegades #1 Romantic Suspense Enemies to Lovers Action MM
“We will find you, darling. Stay strong. We will find you.”

This was exactly what Elliott Jones needed. A nice barbecue with family and friends. The moving trucks were parked outside his new ranch, and he was ready to start fresh. Again. Despite the regrets he lived with, he tried to focus on the good things in life. His niece Blake, for instance. She was his world. But after twenty years of working as a private military contractor in some of the most hostile territories on the planet, Elliott had made more than one enemy.

He heard the unmistakable sound of a rocket launcher, catapulting him and his closest friends into a nightmare of agony, rage, and determination. Lives had been lost, and three people had been kidnapped. Among them, little Blake.

Elliott would stop at nothing to bring her home again, even if he had to team up with his absolute biggest regret, Joel Hayward—Coast Guard sniper, the ex-husband of Elliott’s sister, and Blake’s stepdad.

Series: The Renegades
Genre: MM Romantic Suspense

Release Day: Friday, July 21st, 2023

Amazon – All Regions

Direct from the Author

📙 Smashwords

📘 Apple

📗 Google Play

📒 B&N

📚 Kobo Plus

“Toby! This is for you.” Gray stuck a piece of bread and changed songs.

Oh fuck yeah, it took me about half a second to recognize Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” and dive right back into my childhood. One of the reasons I’d loved growing up in the San Diego area, watching the Navy ships on the weekends with my old man.

Toby was a good boy. He was former Navy too. He and Crew were high on life and didn’t hesitate to put on a poolside show for us, dancing and singing along.

Blake laughed and cheered.

“Nobody tell anyone I’m getting down to Navy music,” Crew threatened. “Damn squids.”

“Whoa!” I stood up with my mouth full of olives, pepper salami, and bread.

“I got this, boss. You go back to eating,” Toby reassured me. Hey, not everyone wanted eight-packs. Some wanted food. He turned to Crew and clasped his shoulder. “Looks like I gotta teach you a Top Gun lesson, my jarhead friend.”

This oughta be good—

I felt my body seize up a fraction of a second before my brain screamed desert. The smell of tea, herbs, and diesel invaded my senses. Take cover, take cover! I was back in Fallujah. Dogs barked, mopeds beeped, men screamed, the morning call to prayer had been interrupted by the sounds of rocket launchers.

I sucked in a breath and met Crew’s wild stare from almost fifty feet away, and I could tell he’d reacted too. Then we snapped our gazes to the sky, and I didn’t even think. The sound was so fucking distinct that I switched over to muscle memory. I wasn’t sure I saw anything, but I knew.

“Everyone away from the house!” I yelled. “Take cover! Away from the house!”

“Fucking run!” Crew shouted.

We all know and love Cara Dee for her kinky, sexy stories. But a lot of the guys are military or ex military or PMC. This book- the first of 4- brings a lot of those guys together for a covert op after one of them was targeted while many were there and 2 spouses and one kid were kidnapped. The kid is the niece of Elliott, the guy who was targeted and the daughter of Joel, Elliott’s former lover AND former brother in law. Sticky wicket there. Shay Tenley, partner to River and Reese was also taken and seriously those guys are scary.

The guys call in a few reinforcements and do what they do best. Organize, strategize and work to get their family members back.

The often confusing world of drug cartels is their main objective. But we have cartels in Mexico, in Europe, in California, the leader of one supposedly in prison in Texas. This one rats on that one, there are a million layers of men to get through, and leads that take them across the globe.

The character focus of this book is Elliott and Joel. They love/hate each other and we get their back story in snippets as they travel through Mexico together hunting down leads and the head of a cocaine cartel.

FYI- the only sex in this book is in flashbacks. This book really focuses on the op and trying to figure out who tried to kill Elliott.

There’s no cliff hanger, but being that this is book 1 of 4 there are also no answers. Luckily for all of us the books all come out just a few weeks apart from each other. So I am eagerly awaiting book 2.

4 pieces of eye candy

I’m often awkwardly silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there’s so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex.

There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly.

Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve.

I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I’m a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

Find Cara on social media here: https://www.caradeewrites.com/cdwlandingpage

This Will Hurt II (Book 2 of 2: This Will Hurt) by Cara Dee: Excerpt and Release Day Review

June 2, 2023 by Denise

. .

Part II of II | Angst | Awakening | Friends to Lovers | Family | Slow Burn
Buckle up. Hearts broken and wings clipped, Roe and Jake have mountains to climb, walls to tear down, and countless private moments to bring them even closer in this final part of their journey.

I’d gotten what I’d asked for, right? The ground beneath me had finally settled. I had the wife. I had the kid—my beautiful baby boy. Work was great. I was traveling the globe with my best friend, and together we were Roe Finlay and Jake Denver. Inseparable.

That was the f— That was the problem. We were inseparable. Even though he would never be the man I’d once wished he could be, I couldn’t freaking cope going a day without seeing him. When we were together, all was well in the world. I could breathe easier.

Then I found his damn journal from…therapy. That was right. My best friend, who defined “man of few words,” was in therapy. The ground started shaking again. I got desperate. I swam in denial. I…almost lost him on the job when he saved my life.

Nothing was settled anymore.

This Will Hurt II by Cara Dee

Series: This Will Hurt II of II

Genre: MM Contemporary Romance

Release Day: Friday, June 2nd, 2023

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

What the fuck did you wear to a country concert?

I grabbed a pair of jeans and boxer briefs from the closet, then walked back into the bedroom and picked up my phone from my nightstand. I sent Jake a message.

I’m fresh out of chaps and cowboy hats. What should I wear, hoss?

While I waited for his response, I removed the towel around my hips and put on the boxers and jeans.

“Dada, I’m-wa no baff!”

I glanced over at the door as my boy ran in, with Sandra hot on his tail.

I grinned faintly and swooped him up. “Look out, we got a runner ova’ hea’.” I peppered his face with smooches, and he giggled up a storm. “You can’t escape bath time, baby boy. But you know what comes after, don’t you? Mommy’s gonna read you a story.”

“Nooo,” he complained.

“Yeees, I mimicked.

Sandra sighed and smiled ruefully. “Let’s go, sweetie. We’ll get extra bubbles and everything.”

“Hear that? We love those bubbles.” I handed over the clinging monkey to her and pressed a kiss to the side of his head.

“I don’t wannaaa,” he whined.

Sandra carried him out, only to stop in the doorway and turn back to me. “You sure you don’t wanna cancel?”

Positive—and I wasn’t fighting with her about it again.

“I won’t be late,” was all I said.

The teasing glint in her eyes faded, and she walked out.

I released a breath.

My phone dinged on the nightstand, and I walked over and read Jake’s text.

I’ll tell you you’re pretty no matter what you wear, sugar.

I laughed silently and shook my head.

Helpful.

Whatever. I returned to the closet and dug out a long-sleeved tee that made my biceps look good. We were going to an outdoor place up in Griffith Park, so it was bound to get chilly. But I liked that it wasn’t a huge concert. Only some five thousand people. It beat going to the Staples Center.

Jake picked me up downstairs fifteen minutes later, and the most country thing about him continued to be his truck. It made no sense to drive a truck in LA. But he loved it, and I really had no room to argue choices of vehicles. I was still a laughingstock after buying a sports car before Casper was born. Worst deal ever. I’d probably lost twenty grand when I’d traded it in for a family-friendly SUV.

“Hey, pretty.” Jake pulled out from the curb. “I see you found clothes.”

“No thanks to you.” I smiled and buckled my seat belt. “Will I see a lot of chaps tonight?”

“If I drop you off in West Hollywood instead, I’m sure there’s a club for you.”

I laughed. Funny.

“Oh, this is a good one.” He cranked up the volume on the stereo. “He’ll probably play this tonight.”

I side-eyed him, more interested in studying Jake than hearing a song. There was something inherently sexy about how he drove. He made life look easy when he was on the road. One arm along the edge of the window, the sleeves of his open flannel shirt rolled up—some serious forearm porn going on—two fingers gripping the wheel loosely at the bottom. He tapped his foot to the rocky beat, and his lips moved subtly to the singer’s voice.

Ratty USMC ball cap on the dash. Since he always wore it backward, he took it off when a headrest was in the way.

Fitting lyrics, about holding on to things you believed in.

Of course, it being a country rock song, the topic was the singer’s truck.

“It’s the miles that make a man.”

How many miles till I fell out of love with him?

“I’d be nothing without you, so I’m holding on.”

Surprisingly, a line not about the truck.

“I’m not the openin’ act,” he chuckled. “Quit starin’.”

That was the fucking problem, wasn’t it? He was the headliner.

Oh man I couldn’t wait for this book. Book 1 didn’t end really on a cliff hanger. But it was a bit of an omg moment And, of course, their story wasn’t over.

We left off with Roe married. After sleeping with Jake in Las Vegas. But they were both drunk so there was a lot of justifying going on in their minds.

In this book, we watch as both families grow. Jake and Nikki have another baby. Roe finds out he is going to be the father of twins. (and his wife didn’t tell him before announcing it on Insta?!?!?) They have hired more people for Two Condor Chicks and their podcast, documentaries and series are all hugely popular.

It’s pretty unspoken that they don’t talk about Vegas and they haven’t repeated Vegas. Until they do. Roe is a mess. His wife has severe postpartum depression and he is trying to do it all. Something has to give. And it’s how he feels for Jake.

Yes, he cheats on his wife. But we all know he belongs with Jake so it is super easy to forgive him. And they actually talk about their relationship and what will happen in the future. You can’t help but cheer for them.

Jake still has a TON of internalized homophobia to work through. It’s just heartbreaking the damage his parents did to him. So when they start telling people, Jake is fine telling those closest to him. But now that they are semi-famous, he has a hard time thinking about telling the world.

PS- almost no one is surprised 😉

This 2 book series was the epitome of love overcoming all else. These guys were the best of friends. Their kids all acted like siblings. Their lives are so nearly perfect. The final piece was them becoming an actual couple.

The kids are integrated SO well into the story. They are never forgotten yet they never take over the story either.

Everyone had a role, no one was there as filler. There were subtle cameos of several characters from other Cara Dee books, which is always fun. And again, they fit. They weren’t gratuitous cameos to please readers.

A 10 plus year epic from the first time they meet up to them blending their families and living happily ever after.

Read these books. Seriously. And they are totally vanilla if kink isn’t your jam.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly.

I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I’m a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

Find Cara on social media here: https://www.caradeewrites.com/cdwlandingpage

This Will Hurt by Cara Dee: Release Blitz, Excerpt and Release Day Review

May 9, 2023 by Denise

Standalone Part I of II Angst Awakening Friends to Lovers Single Dad Slow Burn
Maybe the heart needs to break before one can put together the pieces correctly. This is Jake and Roe’s story.

I used to think leaving the Marines and moving to LA was the defining moment that changed my life. I was gonna become a documentary filmmaker and see the world through my camera. Then I met Roe Finlay.

Never in a million years could I have imagined…well, everything we went through. I sucked at expressing how I felt—which was emotionally stunted most of the time—but Roe seemed to get me. I became…dependent. Attached. Not in a sexual way or anything—I wasn’t gay. Far from it. Or bisexual like Roe, for that matter. No, this was different. I just wanted to be close to him. He made me laugh like no other. We were a fantastic team. We lived together. Worked together. He was my best friend.

He was everything. He was my defining moment.

Until he decided to commit to his f—to his girlfriend.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Just go home, you fucking moron. You don’t belong in LA.

I made my way across campus, feeling more out of place every time I left class.

I was leaving behind a good career in the Marines for…random classes at Santa Monica College. Learn videography in twelve weeks. Study the art of documentary filmmaking in one semester. Then I thought about why I’d left the service. How sick I was of seeing death through my lens. Combat photography had been such a fucking fluke anyway. I was infantry. I was more at home on the front lines in Afghanistan than… But no. No. No, I was here because I couldn’t stand the war anymore. I didn’t wanna see another dead soldier, hear another explosion, witness another crying child surrounded by blood and debris.

I went to the coffee shop on the corner of the street where Nikki worked. She had the car, and we’d go home together once she was off her shift.

I ordered a coffee and found an empty table by one of the windows.

Sounded pretty good, though, didn’t it? Go home with my girlfriend at the end of the day… Except, it was her car, her apartment, and my savings were almost gone. By next month, I’d have to take that bartending job in West Hollywood where the tips were so good.

By then, I’d be twenty-seven.

I retrieved my pen from the inner pocket of my jacket, and I opened the notebook.

Final project. Final project, final project, final project. I needed content. I understood filming. Documenting. But coming up with my own content for a fucking college class’s final project? I was doomed.

“There you are! Fuck, I thought I lost you, man.”

I furrowed my brow and glanced toward the man’s voice—that belonged to someone I definitely didn’t know. But he was coming toward my table, and he was staring right at me.

No, wait. I recognized him. He was in my class, wasn’t he? Out here, I had developed a radar for East Coast people, and he had a New York accent. Otherwise, not much about him stood out. Average height, dark hair, fairly fit, on the lanky side, probably a bit younger than me.

He sat down in front of me, out of breath, and removed his messenger bag. “Look, I’m just gonna come out and say it. I have two hundred bucks, I’m living in my truck, and I have one network connection that I desperately wanna use. He told me to send him my final project—see if he could make some calls—but as has become painfully clear in this class, videography isn’t my thing. I understand fuck-all about goddamn HDV, SxS, and the difference between standard definition and hi-def.” He leaned forward. “Dude, y’all were talking about memory cards, and I thought we were discussing a fucking festival in Austin.”

That…was SXSW. South by Southwest.

“Anyway—in short, I have an idea,” he went on. “There is an artistic approach to it, but I’ll admit, it’s more of a come-hither for networks, something I think will sell. To get a foot in the door. But I need a partner, and I’ve watched you in class. You know your way around the equipment and the editing software. When the professor asks his dumb, insane questions, you actually know the answers.”

Was this how he talked to people he’d never met before? I didn’t even know his name.

I guessed if you were desperate enough and living out of your car, you cut to the chase faster.

That might very well be me in the near future.

So if he had an idea…

I extended my hand. “I’m Jake.”

He gave me a puzzled look, before he seemed to remember he’d just jumped into the conversation with no preamble. Then he flashed a dimpled grin and shook my hand.

“Roe. It’s Monroe, but everyone calls me Roe.”

This book. This book reminded me of why I love Cara Dee’s writing. Not gonna lie, the past couple in The Game series were meh. But this one. This book. Stand alone (there’s a familial connection, but none play a part), with best friends, unrequited love, repressed homophobia, bi awakening, just a little bit of everything. Oh. And it’s vanilla. With a capital V.

Roe and Jake. They are the kind of best friends that are so obviously soul mates. (FTR, to me, soul mates don’t have to be romantic or sexual partners). They met in their mid 20’s and just…connected.

They lived together, worked together, supported each other and dreamed together.

Jake has a child with a former girlfriend and I ADORE the representation of 2 people co-parenting in a healthy way without hating each other. And Jake loves being a dad. It’s so great. And Roe just rolls with it. Like, ok cool, this kid will live with us part time. And call me Uncle Roe.

They go from broke to semi-famous. From documentary film-makers to podcasters, producers and hosts.

It’s a ride for sure. And it culminates at Jake’s 30th birthday party.

AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR BOOK 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sigh. Ok. But I need it. NEED. IT.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly.

I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I’m a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

Find Cara on social media here: https://www.caradeewrites.com/cdwlandingpage

Prowl (The Game Series Book 12) by Cara Dee: New Release Review

March 28, 2023 by Denise

The Game Series • Book 12 • Sequel to Apex Predator • MM+MM • Primal Play • D/s • ADHD in Romance • High-Protocol Kink • Age Gap • Second Chances • Ethical Non-Monogamy
The vacation is over for the four men you met in Apex Predator, and now it’s time for Ty and Walker to be on the prowl to secure their happily ever afters.

What do you do when you come home from a vacation that changed your life?

Walker McKenna was finally back with his husband and beloved submissive, Macklin. They had their work cut out for them, and they were ready. Walker had spent four years trying to get over the love of his life, and it just wasn’t happening. He couldn’t go back to that life-sucking void of an existence. But that didn’t mean his new path was paved with roses and unwavering confidence. When the ghosts of past hurt and insecurities grabbed hold of both men, Walker had to go on a hunt once more—and this time was different. This time, he found support in a new friend. A man with a fresh take on life, devilish charm, and a mission of his own.

Ty Madison returned home to DC and the blizzard of the year. He had one goal. To make Lane his—permanently. Ty couldn’t just write off the insane week they’d shared down south as a vacation fling. They belonged together. But before he went after the young man, who had his reasons for avoiding attachments at all costs, they had a storm to weather, and Ty found himself alone in his house with Walker. A man with insight, incredible charisma, and troubles of his own.

Maybe some missions were best executed as a team.

The Game Series is a BDSM series where romance meets the reality of kink. Sometimes we fall for someone we don’t match with, sometimes vanilla business gets in the way of kinky pleasure, and sometimes we have to compromise and push ourselves to overcome trauma and insecurities. No matter what, one thing is certain. This is not a perfect world—and maybe that’s why the happily ever after feels so good.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

This one is tough for me. For the most part, I have really enjoyed this series. BUT, I feel like the focus is moving from couple (or throuple or quad) dynamics to events at McLean House.

For many books now we have know that Macklin was married but separated and his husband was in Boston. There wasn’t a ton of info given, but there was big time animosity on Macklin’s side- the only side we really saw. But in the book previous to this one, Macklin and Walker faced each other AND their issues. It was a little too easy for me, but *shrug*.

Now they are back together, albeit slowly. And one of their biggest issues was consensual non monogamy. And Walker jumps right in with Ty without talking to Macklin first. Like DUH! Yes, it was a blizzard and there was no power or cell service but come on. You’re grown men. Keep it in your pants.

Besides that, Ty was drawn to Lane. But he gets naked with Walker. Yes, I know this is the start of a fabulous foursome. But the lack of communication bothered me. And they even seemed to taunt Macklin and Lane by “connecting” on the kink website.

So Walker and Macklin are primaries and Ty and Lane are primaries, but Macklin and Lane are boyfriends and Walker and Ty are boyfriends. And that’s all well and good but there just wasn’t enough growth within the primary couples for me.

There’s also a demonstration at McLean House about high protocol and TPE. Kind of interesting…but too much. I got bored. I also got bored reading about all of their different thoughts on their dynamics without doing a lot about it.

And I was really looking forward to the big, all four guys sex scene. But it was kind of ruined for me by taking place in a hot tub outside while it is freezing out. Sorry, you can’t fully explore when you want to be shoulders deep in the warm water.

I need more intimacy. More of the men being together. Not talking about reptiles. Not explaining TPE. Not voting on the hottest photos (yes, in epilogue 2? 3?). I want the men. Together. Discovering each other. Learning about each other. INTIMACY.

I guess that is really what is missing for me. Intimacy.

3 pieces of candy

Apex Predator (The Game Series Book 11) by Cara Dee: New Release Review

February 8, 2023 by Denise

The Game Series • Book 11 • Primal Play • MMMM • D/s • Second Chances • Hurt Comfort • Vacation Romance
Pack your sunscreen and strap in for a wild ride and a kinky vacation that doesn’t go as planned.

Lane Sawyer had no complaints. Not really, anyway. After all, he’d just been invited to spend a week down in sunny Florida with his amazing boyfriend Macklin and some of his kinkster buddies. That was exactly what Lane needed. Uncomplicated fun and the promise of no drama—and hopefully a close encounter or two with the apex predator of the Everglades, the Burmese python. He loved, loved, loved reptiles.

But Florida was home to more than one apex predator. When Lane arrived, he found himself face-to-face with their host for the week, his high school girlfriend’s dad. The man who’d once made Lane realize he was into men.

Macklin McKenna couldn’t wait to get away. The problem was, he needed a vacation from himself more than DC. But maybe a week in South Florida with his friends and his adoring boyfriend Lane could distract him from the fact that he was never getting over the man he was still technically married to.

Unfortunately, Macklin’s friends were fed up with his personal agony, and they’d ensured another apex predator was on his way down South.
–
The Game Series is a BDSM series where romance meets the reality of kink. Sometimes we fall for someone we don’t match with, sometimes vanilla business gets in the way of kinky pleasure, and sometimes we have to compromise and push ourselves to overcome trauma and insecurities. No matter what, one thing is certain. This is not a perfect world—and maybe that’s why the happily ever after feels so good.

The characters in the Game Series cross over in multiple books, as we follow not only new love interests but the background friendships and dynamics of a thriving kink community. The story of Lane, Ty, Macklin, and Walker begins here—but if you’re interested in secondary characters and the Mclean House journey, you won’t regret starting at the beginning.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I’ve really enjoyed this series. Some books more than others, of course. But they are always entertaining. And while I liked this one, it is probably my least favorite of the series. Too much and yet not enough.

The too much to start. There was a lot of reptile talk. Like, a lot. And I get it. That was part of the story, the guys going to the Florida everglades to hunt and kill invasive species. But I know more about snakes than I need to.

The not enough. Not enough GAME. They are also down there to get their kink on. And what the Doms have planned just isn’t enough. It was fun for sure, but not nearly enough.

The different dynamics is interesting. Lane and Macklin are boyfriends but not super kinky with each other. Macklin is still in love with his husband, but they only get along while they are in a kink setting. And Ty. He won’t put a label on himself (his prerogative), but he is very Dom like and toppy. He was the lone wolf at this gathering, but certainly doesn’t stay that way.

Which makes me growly because something something, I don’t do spoilers, but omg really?

There were a lot of people to keep track of. Besides those 4 there are 2 more triads. And since they are all together you do have to keep track. It made my head spin a bit.

It was an easy read, moved some plot along (mostly Macklin and Walker), sexy times and snakes. And iguana. And giant monitors. Shudder.

You should read it if you are invested in the series, but it’s kind of a meh from me.

3 pieces of eye candy

Hostile Takeover: The Game Series #8 by Cara Dee: RB, Excerpt and Release Day Review

September 26, 2022 by Denise

. .

Buckle in for a liquid hot romance where a young man with a plan takes on his aunt’s ex-husband through a wild week of kinky fun and dreams of a happily ever after.

I was on the right path, at long last. The divorce proceedings were going well, we managed to keep things somewhat civil for the sake of our daughter, and I could finally be the man I’d suppressed for decades.

I was gay. And evidently very much into BDSM.

So this was the perfect time to explore, have fun, meet new people, make friends who were actually friends and not the husbands of my wife’s uppity circle of gossip peddlers. I was happy. I was off to a great start, distancing myself from the family I’d once married into.

Then my ex-wife’s favorite nephew came to town on a business trip and wanted to have dinner with me. Obviously, I should have declined. The young man had always put me on edge with his charisma and assertiveness. But surely, I could survive one dinner with Jackson Dune.

The day after was another matter. When we ended up going to the gym together and he showed his true colors. His true, filthy, dominant, addictive, inappropriate colors.

“Do you like to watch, Uncle Franklin?”

–

Title: Hostile Takeover

Author: Cara Dee

Series: The Game Series #8 (Standalone)

Genre: Gay Romance/BDSM Romance

Tags: #TheGameSeries #SubmissiveDaddy #DominantBoy #Humiliation #GroupPlay #Standalone #EmotionalSadism #Cuckolding #McleanHouse #Exhibitionism #Orgy #AgeDifference #Consent #Voyeurism

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

The Game Series – Books 1-7

The Secret Plan – Book 9 – Out November 22

“Flip the camera—let me see in the mirror,” Tate said.

I eyed the corner of the screen and pressed the right button, flipping the camera. The display suddenly showed a full picture of what I was wearing.

“You make Hugo Boss look next-level hot.” His voice was warm with approval, which eased a pinch of my nerves. “You’ve got this, Franklin. You have nothing to be nervous about. It’s your nephew, not the devil.”

I swallowed uncomfortably and adjusted my tie. “They may very well be the same individual.”

He chuckled and threw himself onto the couch—next to Kingsley, I noticed. They were dressed for an evening at home. Apparently they’d been hungover earlier today.

Kingsley leaned closer and smiled faintly. “Hey, pet. Lookin’ sharp.”

Heat bled onto my cheeks. “Thank you, Handler.”

They absolutely loved that I was forty-seven years old and still blushed like a schoolboy. They certainly took advantage of the trait often enough. Kingsley said he got off on the contrasts of a man who looked like he owned the world but submitted like a cock-hungry whore.

I was that cock-hungry whore.

I wasn’t sure I agreed with his assessment of how I looked, but I understood the draw of contrasts. Kingsley and Tate were full of those too. Kingsley, the Master who could make me fall to my knees with a single look, who always wore jeans and tees and hoodies, who didn’t feel the need to assert himself to others; he just was. Then Tate, his Master’s property. The love of Kingsley’s life. My daughter’s teacher, who’d fooled me for months by wearing preppy cashmere sweaters, gingham button-downs, chinos, and glasses. Never a hair out of place. But when all that came off, he was a tattooed masochist and switch.

Tate had introduced me to BDSM not that long ago. They’d granted me the privilege of joining them for occasional playtime. And Tate was…pure filth. A sadistic little Dominant who called me Daddy before rubbing my face in my own come.

Kingsley cleared his throat as I flipped the screen again. “So explain something to me. You see this kid once or twice a year, but now you’re suddenly nervous?”

To be fair, I was always uncomfortable when seeing Jack.

And Tate had no issue telling his Master just that.

“To this degree?” Kingsley pressed.

“Well, no,” I admitted. After flicking off the lights in the bedroom, I aimed for the living room, where I had liquid courage on a cart next to the couch. “Things have changed. I’m supposed to be Uncle Franklin, the boring, straitlaced, predictable man who’s married to his aunt.”

While Tate smirked, Kingsley scraped his teeth across his bottom lip and took on a pensive expression.

“Screw who you’re supposed to be to him,” he murmured. “Who’s he supposed to be to you?”

I frowned. “You lost me. He’s my nephew, of course.”

Believe me. He’s my nephew.

Kingsley cocked a brow.

Tate was highly entertained, and he crawled up on Kingsley’s lap and rested his elbow on Kingsley’s shoulder. “I mean, you kinda indicated something else last week when you told me about his visit.”

I scowled at him, then poured myself a whiskey. I had twenty minutes before my car service was due.

“I did nothing of the sort,” I insisted. “I merely pointed out that since the last time I saw him, I’ve stopped being in denial about who I am—about what I am—and I’m worried I’ll see him in a different light.”

“As I said…” Tate drawled. “So are you bringing condoms?”

“For heaven’s sake!” I stared at him in disbelief. He was not helpful.

Kingsley’s eyes flashed with amusement. “I take it he ticks all the Dom boxes, then?”

God, I shouldn’t have accepted Tate’s call in the first place. They were making things worse. Much, much worse. Because they were saying out loud what I dreaded the most. I didn’t want Jack and BDSM in the same sentence.

But…yes. That was my fear.

I took a generous sip of my drink and relished the burn as it slid down my throat.

“Is he gay?” Tate wondered.

I winced and inclined my head.

Jack had always been out, so to speak. When he’d reached the age most boys declared their love for girls, he’d said he’d liked boys “way more.” By fourteen, he’d had at least two boyfriends.

“I think I’ve envied him on some level,” I admitted. “I never knew why, but now…”

I could put two and two together.

Homosexuality hadn’t existed in my world, not until I started college. My parents had come from nothing in Nowhere, Kentucky. Then my father had managed to get through school while working two jobs, and he’d made a life for us. They’d moved to DC right before I was born. He’d started his own practice. Mother had been a housewife. Not particularly religious, but traditional, nonetheless. Not to mention very strict and demanding. They’d wanted their idea of a bright future for me. Scholarships, private school, a fine degree. Wife, children, a nice house.

I’d had my first intimate dream about another man when I was in high school, but it’d been about a teacher I hadn’t liked, so I’d chalked it up to a horrendous nightmare. I’d been so incredibly angry and embarrassed by my physical reactions.

Not long after, I’d asked Samantha out on a date.

“I’ve done so many things wrong,” I said.

That softened something in Tate’s eyes. “It gave you Lily.”

That was true. I certainly had no regrets, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t feel bitter and ashamed at times.

“It’s time to look forward, pet,” Kingsley murmured. “You’re building something new.”

I nodded once and took another sip of my drink. He was right. I was finally on the right path.

With McLean House being rebuilt after the fire, this story starts with Jack finding out his uncle (by marriage, tyvm) is divorcing his aunt. Because he is gay. So the guy that Jack has crushed on for YEARS is gay and presumably available. Whew. Now Jack needs to get to Washington DC where Franklin is.

Franklin has been having fun discovering himself. Not only that he is gay, but he definitely has a kinky side. He knows a lot of his kink is humiliation and degradation. He’s been lucky enough to have Kingston and Tate take him on as a plaything. He has also joined their community. Since Kingston and Tate are willing and eager to help him discover all of his kinks, he was quite happy. Because he was discovering himself. He has zero interest in a serious relationship right now. He just got out of a long marriage and wants to have fun.

Until he is home alone and Jack shows up. Jack who is kind of Dom-like. Who twists Franklin up. Who is FAMILY. Right?

SO FUN

Franklin struggles with the family connection. Even though they are consenting adults who aren’t related by blood. but I think Jack has fun exploiting that a bit. Calling him Uncle Franklin. But that goes right along with the humiliation kink Franklin has.

They are both very explicit in their wants, needs, worries and fears. Instead of it being a turn off (I have heard too many complaints that even talking about condoms is a turn off), it’s a turn on. There are no surprises then. Nothing to hold them back wondering if something is ok or not.

Turns out Jack knows Macklin so he knows all about McLean House. He fits right in when he meets Kingston and Tate (again with the open discussion of boundaries, etc).

Jack and Franklin have a week together. A week where Franklin’s ex-wife and daughter are visiting family. And they certainly make the most of it.

I loved that Franklin’s daughter has autism with some pretty big food issues. To see a different representation of autism was a nice surprise. Too often it can be a fairly stereotypical representation. It also shows how Franklin is working with her to try new foods slowly. He is an amazing father and it shows. She also has a hearing impairment which is mentioned at the beginning, but isn’t mentioned when she talks to him on the phone every night. As someone with a hearing impairment myself, talking on the phone is difficult so I was a bit surprised she had no issues. It is addressed again when she comes home from vacation though.

We all know that Cara Dee can write a sex scene. Especially a kinky sex scene. Well, let me tell you. The first scene was OMG. But the Big Scene toward the end might cause you to have to take a moment.

I need more Franklin and Jack! We’ve just met them. Just got to know them as a couple. Their dynamic has sucked me RIGHT in and I need more right now!

4.5 pieces of eye candy

There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly.

I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I’m a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

Find Cara on social media here: https://www.caradeewrites.com/cdwlandingpage