Category Archives: Cat Grant Books

April 8, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: Guarded by Cat Grant & L.A. Witt

guardedTitle: Guarded by Cat Grant & L.A. Witt
Publisher: Cat Grant Books
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance, BDSM
Length: 344 pages/Word Count: 105,000
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

On the surface, rock star Jordan Kane has it all. His band No Rules is burning up the charts and headlining a world tour. His bodyguard doubles as a hot, kinky boyfriend who knows just how to push all his buttons. But behind the scenes, he’s suffocating.

Jase Hewitt never imagined he’d have a shot at bedding the larger than life rock star – never mind dominating him – but now he’s worried he’s in over his head. Jordan’s kinks run deep, dark, and sometimes dangerous, putting Jase’s desires to both pleasure and protect him at odds.

They might have a fighting chance at finding the safe, happy medium between what Jordan needs and what Jase is willing to give, but there’s one problem: Daniel, Jordan’s childhood best friend, the band’s talented guitarist — and a volatile, hard-partying drug addict. Jordan is determined to save Daniel from himself, but Jase has been there, done that, and desperately wants to protect Jordan from the inevitable heartache of watching an addict self-destruct.

When Daniel goes off the rails again, Jordan calls off the tour to get him help. Tension within the band skyrockets and pressure from the record label sends Jordan into a dark spiral. Now his band — and his life — are balanced on a knife’s edge, and Jase is the only one who can pull him back… but only if the echoes of his own tragic past don’t push him over first.

The Review:

Guarded by Cat Grant and L.A. Witt is a hot, sexy and kinky romance that is full of deep emotions. This poignant novel is also a bit heartbreaking as Jordan Kane watches his longtime friend and band mate Daniel Barrett hit rock bottom then re-enter rehab. With his life slowly slipping out of control, Jordan eagerly submits to his dominant bodyguard and new lover Jase Hewitt. Will their newfound relationship withstand the stress of Daniel’s recovery and return to Jordan’s life?

Jordan loves performing and touring with his band No Rules, but he has become a bit jaded by his stardom. With little free time to cultivate a relationship, he has a reputation for sleeping with his road crew but these hookups are fairly short lived. His longest enduring relationship is with Daniel and their history is complicated by their own failed romance and Daniel’s longstanding battles with addictions.

In the beginning, Jase is charmingly unsure of himself when it comes to Jordan. He knows about Jordan’s secret kink and although he is hesitant to give Jordan what he needs, their first sexual encounter is explosive. Jase is quick to realize that Jordan is truly a submissive who thrives on pain. When Jordan begins to flounder while on break from touring, he and Jase fully engage in a BDSM relationship.

There is also a strong emotional connection between Jase and Jordan but Jordan’s loyalty to Daniel is a source of friction between them. Jase’s past experiences with an addict provide incredible insight into Daniel and Jordan’s troubled relationship but Jordan is too close to situation to recognize the truth to Jase’s astute observations. Jordan remains hopeful about Daniel’s future, but are his expectations realistic?

An excellent collaboration between Cat Grant and L.A. Witt, Guarded is gritty, compelling and intense but overall, there is very little angst. The plot is believable and beautifully executed. Jase and Jordan are superbly developed characters with well-detailed backstories that add depth the unfolding storyline. Their emotions and struggles feel real and their honesty with themselves and each other is refreshing. The sex scenes are exquisitely detailed and sizzling hot. Although the ending is little predictable, it is absolutely perfect.

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Filed under BDSM, Cat Grant, Cat Grant Books, Contemporary, Erotic, Guarded, LA Witt, Rated B+, Review, Romance

March 4, 2013 · 3:55 am

Review: The Arrangement by Cat Grant

Title: The Arrangement by Cat Grant
Courtland Chronicles Book Four
Publisher: Cat Grant Books
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, Ménage, M/F, M/M, Light BDSM
Length: 68,000 words
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

Most people are lucky to find one love – Eric Courtland has two. But when Allison, his new wife, discovers his secret affair with Nick, his on-again, off-again lover of over a decade, Eric can’t bring himself to choose between them. Instead, he stuns them with a bold proposition neither can refuse.

Jealousy mars the early days of their relationship, but trust and growing intimacy lead to a deeper and more satisfying arrangement—as long as they keep their non-traditional partnership under wraps for the sake of Eric’s budding political career.

Blackmailing political rivals, the pressures of living in the public eye, and a serious illness all threaten their relationship—and force Eric to decide what he’s willing to sacrifice to keep the only two people he’s ever loved.

Note: This title has been previously published. This edition has been revised and re-edited.

The Review:

Ah, my love/hate relationship with Eric Courtland continues in The Arrangement. This fourth installment in Cat Grant’s Courtland Chronicles series begins with Eric’s wife, Ally, discovering his affair with his on again/off again lover Nick Thompson. Eric’s solution for the three of them is a committed ménage relationship. Nick and Ally agree, but their relationship is soon challenged by jealousy, Eric’s political career, blackmail and a health crisis.

Here is a quick recap of the history between Eric, Ally and Nick. Nick briefly dated Ally in college and they remained friends after their relationship fizzled out. Nick and Eric are college roommates turned lovers. Eric’s political aspirations led him to end his relationship with Nick. Ally and Eric married in book three, Complications, and Eric resumed his relationship with Nick. Throughout all of the books in the series, Eric is the one in control of the relationships and his ambitions pretty much dictate the path that everyone follows.

I continue to be conflicted about Eric and his feelings for Ally and Nick. His needs and goals trump everyone elses’ desires and he remains incredibly self-absorbed. Their relationship is strained by the limitations placed on it by Eric’s career and Nick and Ally are on the periphery of Eric’s life for much of The Arrangement. Eric and Ally’s involvement with Nick must be kept secret and I hated how often Nick was shunted aside. With Eric mainly focused on his career, Nick and Ally become quite close and while I often wondered if Eric truly loved either of them, I never questioned the love Nick and Ally have for one another and Eric.

The Arrangement spans a few years and their relationship is an emotional rollercoaster that is full of ups and downs. The dynamics between Ally, Nick and Eric are quite fascinating and the fleeting glimpses of Eric’s feelings for Nick and Ally are compelling. The many unexpected twists and turns keep the reader fully engaged in the story. I am eagerly awaiting the release of Triad the final installment of Cat Grant’s extraordinary Courtland Chronicles series.

Please click HERE for my reviews of the other novels in this series.

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Filed under BDSM, Cat Grant, Cat Grant Books, Contemporary, Courtland Chronicles, Erotic, M/F, M/M, Menage, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The Arrangement

February 1, 2013 · 3:58 am

Review: Complications by Cat Grant

Title: Complications by Cat Grant
Courtland Chronicles Book Three
Publisher: Cat Grant Books
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, M/F, M/M, Light BDSM
Length: Novella/30,000 words
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Author

Summary:
Tired of taking a backseat to his lover Eric Courtland’s burgeoning political career, Nick Thompson decides to call it quits. A devastated Eric seeks consolation in liquor—and the arms of college friend Ally Taylor.

Their passionate rebound affair deepens into something more. Still, Ally’s thrown when Eric proposes marriage, with no mention of love. His wealth and connections would certainly help her career, but is their intense physical connection and Eric’s promise of fidelity enough?

Ally soon finds herself falling for her husband, and he for her. But the growing bond between the newlyweds is threatened when Nick re-enters the picture. Secrets, lies and betrayal will add up to heartbreak for everyone—unless Eric can bring himself to choose between the man he’s loved for over a decade, or the wife he can’t bear to hurt.

The Review:

Complications, Cat Grant’s third installment in the Courtland Chronicles, is aptly named. With his lover Nick Thompson out of the picture, Eric Courtland renews his friendship with old college friend Allison “Ally” Taylor. Their friendship quickly turns sexual and the two are soon dating. When Eric proposes to Ally, she has reservations about marrying Eric. But the benefits to becoming his wife along with Eric’s promises of fidelity and honesty convince her to say agree to the marriage. But will Eric honor his vows when Nick comes back into his life soon after their wedding?

In Complications, Eric seems to finally have his life together. He is still ambitious, but his head is finally in a good place and he is actively working toward his future political aspirations. While he appears to have genuine feelings for Ally, their romance and marriage feels more like a business arrangement than a true love match. Eric is still controlling and manipulative, but for the most part, Ally seems accepting of this part of his personality. They do have a few minor clashes, but Eric is able to smooth things over with Ally fairly quickly.

Ally is Eric’s match in many ways. While she does offer some objections to Eric’s assistance with her career, she gratefully accepts the opportunities presented to her. Ally is a shrewd businesswoman and she engineers a very advantageous career move when she finally agrees to marry Eric. She comes across as a little mercenary while bargaining with Eric and even though part of the story comes from her perspective, I am not sure exactly what feelings she has for Eric. She also appears spineless on a few occasions when she concedes too much power to Eric despite her uneasiness in certain situations.

The sex scenes between Ally and Eric are quite sensual. Early in the novella, the sex is quite tame, but Ms. Grant does eventually turns up the heat a bit. One of their encounters later in the story has a light BDSM theme. There is also one minor M/M scene that takes place as well.

Of the three installments in the Courtland Chronicles, Complications is the least angsty and the overall story flows much more smoothly. It is a nice change of pace to see Eric finally at peace with much of his past. But it is quite heartbreaking to see him give up the man he loves for his political future. I felt like he was marrying Ally to further his career goals and while she knew what she was getting into, I am sure there is future heartache in store for Ally, Eric and Nick.

The ending of Complications neatly sets the stage for The Arrangement, and I am quite eager to see what Cat Grant has planned next for Eric, Nick and Ally.

Read my review of By Chance & Strictly Business HERE.

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Filed under BDSM, Cat Grant, Cat Grant Books, Complications, Contemporary, Courtland Chronicles, Erotic, M/F, M/M, Rated B+, Review, Romance

January 18, 2013 · 3:58 am

Review: Strictly Business by Cat Grant

Title: Strictly Business by Cat Grant
Courtland Chronicles Book Two
Publisher: Cat Grant Books
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Erotic, Romance, Slight BDSM
Length: 80 pages (estimated)
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Author

Summary:

Eric Courtland is hungry for revenge—at any cost—against the cold, unfeeling father who never loved him, and who drove his mother to an early grave. Tossed headfirst into the shark-tank world of big business, Eric soon learns it’s eat or be eaten, and has no choice but to throw in his lot with ruthless titan of industry Branford Crane.

Still reeling from his mother’s death—and the guilt of not being able to save her—Eric plunges into a dark spiral of self-destruction, rejecting his longtime partner Nick’s love and support in favor of the harsh tutelage Bran offers him, in and out of the bedroom.

But one night, when Bran finally pushes Eric beyond any reasonable limit, Eric realizes how far he’s fallen—and how desperately he needs Nick to help pull him back from the edge.

Note: This title has been previously published. This edition has been revised and re-edited.

The Review:

Strictly Business, the second installment in Cat Grant’s Courtland Chronicles series, is a bit edgier than By Chance. It is full of emotions as Eric Courtland tries to exact revenge on his ruthless father. In the process, he pushes away his partner, Nick Thompson and enters into a punishing sexual relationship with Branford Crane.

The transition between Strictly Business and By Chance leaves a gap in time where both Eric and Nick have graduated from college and have begun their careers. It was a little disconcerting at first, but readers are caught up to speed pretty quickly.

Strictly Business is mainly Eric’s story and it deals with the aftermath of his mother’s death. There are a few scenes with Eric and Nick, but Eric quickly refuses the support that Nick offers him. Instead, Nick finds himself in a debasing sexual relationship with Branford Crane, a former one night stand. There are no emotions involved in their relationship; it is based purely on Bran’s sexual needs and desires. Nick is both repelled by and drawn to his sadistic lover and it takes a serious breach of trust for him to realize how big of a mistake he made getting involved with Bran.

Strictly Business is a darker novel as Eric gives into his self-destructive feelings. The sex scenes with Bran are intense and delve into BDSM. Eric’s self-loathing is the driving force in this unhealthy relationship but he does derive some sexual satisfaction from their encounters. It is heartbreaking watching Eric destroy what he and Nick have so carefully built and give in to someone who does not harbor any feelings toward him at all. Eric fully knows what he is getting into with Bran, but it is still difficult to watch him punish himself with this toxic relationship.

Despite the turmoil and gut-wrenching emotions, Strictly Business is a compelling read that ends with a happily ever after. Eric does achieve a measure of peace with his father and Eric and Nick do wind up back together.

I am anxious to see what Cat Grant plans for this couple in the future books in the Courtland Chronicles series. Somehow, I think we are in for a wild ride!

Read my review of By Chance HERE.

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Filed under BDSM, Cat Grant, Cat Grant Books, Contemporary, Courtland Chronicles, Erotic, M/M, Rated B, Review, Romance, Strictly Business

December 3, 2012 · 3:56 am

Review: By Chance by Cat Grant

Title: By Chance by Cat Grant
Courtland Chronicles Book One
Publisher: Cat Grant Books, 2nd Edition
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Erotic, Romance
Length: 38,000 words
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Author

Summary:

A life of wealth and privilege doesn’t equal happiness—just ask Eric Courtland. Growing up with a cold, unfeeling father and unstable mother has taught him exactly what he doesn’t want out of life or love. The troubled young man prefers a solitary life and is content to keep it that way until a campus emergency saddles him with an unwanted roommate.

Popular, wholesome, straight Nick Thompson is far more temptation than Eric’s prepared for, but Nick’s warm, easygoing manner gradually cracks through Eric’s prickly protective shell.

After Eric suffers a traumatic attack, their friendship gives way to an intense passion. Eric’s no stranger to casual sex, but what he feels for Nick is something deeper, and more fragile.

Independent Eric doesn’t know the first thing about being in a relationship, much less with a lover who can’t even admit he’s gay. But conservative Nick can’t seem to find his way out of his own personal closet.

Rock, meet hard place.

Note: This title has been previously published. This edition has been revised and re-edited.

The Review:

By Chance is the first book in Cat Grant’s Courtland Chronicles series. It is a sweet and sexy romance between two college roommates, wealthy Eric Courtland and football player Nick Thompson. It is a quick read that provides readers an intriguing introduction to what promises to be a fascinating series.

Eric and Nick are young, so it is easy to understand there will be a little immaturity when it comes to their burgeoning relationship. Eric brings the emotional baggage from his somewhat dysfunctional, albeit privileged, family. Eric’s relationship with his mother is complicated by her emotional fragility and he is often thrust into a caregiver role as she goes through crisis after crisis. He shies away from relationships of any kind and that includes friendships. But Nick slips past Eric’s defenses and they quickly become close friends.

Nick is a pretty typical student who is attending college on a football scholarship. Nick’s best friend is his ex-girlfriend Ally Taylor and there is no hint that he is anything but straight. Much to Eric’s surprise, he discovers that there are many layers and hidden depths behind Nick’s laidback exterior.

The romance between Nick and Eric takes both men by surprise. While Nick is an eager participant in their passionate lovemaking, he is not willing to publicly admit to their relationship. Eric has long been out of the closet and he has no intentions of stepping back in despite his feelings for Nick. Add in Eric’s propensity to close himself off emotionally and it is not surprising when their relationship falters under the weight of their conflict.

By Chance is a novella, but Cat Grant packs quite a bit into this story and she lays a good foundation for the upcoming books in the series. There is enough background given for both characters that readers to get to know them and understand what motivates their reactions to the situations facing them. I am looking forward to their growth both as individuals and as a couple.

Purchase Links: Amazon US * Amazon UK * All Romance Ebooks

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Filed under By Chance, Cat Grant Books, Contemporary, Courtland Chronicles, Erotic, Rated B, Review, Romance