Thursday, May 3, 2012

Review for The Long Con by Lori Toland


British Agent Nathaniel Bradley is tasked with bringing home a stolen heirloom. After tracking the Faberge egg all the way to a group of criminals in New York, Bradley infiltrates a ring of con artists and gets sucked into the role of a high priced prostitute.

While hoping for a chance to take back what is rightfully his, Bradley’s sole mission becomes to seduce Tony Terranova, Jr, the heir to a notorious mafia dynasty. Though Tony is strikingly handsome, the usually dominant Bradley is hesitant to submit to the sexual whims of a dangerous Mafioso.

What Bradley doesn't expect is for Tony to fall to his knees so eagerly for him, leaving him blindsided by how intensely their dark tastes complement each other. Now Bradley is caught up in a deadly game of lies and desire, where what he truly wants may not be what duty requires.

********************

Is it summer yet, because this book is one heckuva steamy read!  When two men full of secrets connect, a story with a bit of mystery and an intriguing secondary character, make for a memorable read that I'd like to see expanded.

Nate, through family obligations, ends up undercover in America looking for a stolen family heirloom and ends up in the middle of an intense game of cloak and daggers where nobody is who they seem.  Nate's lived a rather by the book life never making close connections since the deaths of his parents at a young age.  That's why his connecting so strongly with Tony is so unexpected.  Tony too didn't expect to find someone like Nate who accepts him for who he is.  Nate wasn't with Tony for the luxuries and gifts his money and family name could buy, which was refreshing for Tony who was tired of everyone's preconceived notions of him.  These two were combustible together and the sexual interludes between them were numerous with a bit of lite BDSM play included and left this reader parched.  While I enjoyed these intense scenes, I would've liked seeing more personal interaction and less physical, between Nate and Tony.  Bulking up the mystery, the actual con, would've made for a more well-rounded story and would've made the sexual interludes more special.

Many of the secondary characters are rather generic, with the exception of Amanda.  As a player in this con game with a kickass attitude and a propensity to wield a crop who's never as she seems, I'd love to see her get her own story to see what kind of man could tame her.

All-in-all, this was an unforgettable read with two strong-willed likable men involved in a scorching relationship that fans of the m/m genre will enjoy.  And anytime the author wants to tell Amanda's story I'll definitely be there.

My rating for this is a B+

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

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