Review: Grey's Awakening by Cameron Dane

This is my first book by Cameron Dane and I really liked it.  Greyson Cole is taking a vacation because everyone he knows is happily paired up and he isn’t. Because of a dramatic past he feels unable to commit and fully love, this took a toll on his last relationship which ended badly three years ago. Upon arriving to his cabin in the mountains he finds himself “face to naked chest” with Sirus Wilder. Sirus is a longtime friend of Grey’s sister and is using the cabin while his is under renovations. They both feel very attracted to each other and almost immediately decide to act on it. They both go into it thinking it will be just a week long fling, but since they aren’t used to that kind of mindless relationship, and because of the great chemistry and attraction, something that should be uncomplicated starts to become really complicated, and to muddle it even further they both have a lot of baggage to deal with.

This was an erotic romance no questions about it, the sex is hot and aplenty, but is not meaningless sex and beyond that there is an interesting take on a common story (two people hot for each other sharing a cabin in the middle of nowhere) and a couple of charming and lovable characters who experience ups and downs, and a lot of character growth.

I like erotic romance but it has to have an interesting story, otherwise it just feels like porn. So this book was perfect because it was really hot, but really interesting as well. Both Grey and Sirus felt real, especially Grey. Usually characters that are damaged and closed up like that tend to be almost cartoonish and one-dimensional, but Grey did have an honest reason to be like that. Sirus also had his share of baggage but he dealt with it in a different manner, he was the perfect guy to get Grey to come out of his shell. Sirus was a loving, sexy and strong guy. I loved that both characters had their vulnerable moments, and that they both were able to lean on each other.

The book seems longer than it really is mostly because it has a lot of sex in it, if you don’t like that type of books then don’t bother reading this one. The whole story takes place in a week, I don’t normally like romances that develop that fast but in this case it didn’t bother me, I was rooting for them the whole time to just get over themselves and work it out, this is one of those books were at the end you are sure that they will make it.

The sex is hot, but is nothing out of the ordinary, the only reason I give this one a McBurning instead of a McSteamy is because every four pages or so there was a sex scene, perhaps there were too many sex scenes, but since the whole story revolves around two guys who decide to have no-strings-attached-sex the whole week they are spending together, then I guess those scenes had a reason to be. And then again, it is an erotic romance.

I’m definitely checking out Dane’s backlist and I recommend this book to any fan of erotic m/m romances out there, and to people who want to try something different.

Thanks to Smexy Books for the wonderful rec!

Review by Brie

Grade: 4

Sensuality: McBurning

Synopsis:

Greyson Cole needs to get out of Raleigh. Everywhere he turns, he sees people falling in love, getting married and starting families. It’s enough to make a grown man want to rip out his own hair. And for a cynic like Grey, one more employee getting engaged signals the need for a long overdue vacation. Grey owns a cabin in the mountains he has never even used, and he figures that’s just the ticket out of this nightmare of happily paired-up couples.

Grey doesn’t expect to be greeted by a belligerent, half-naked man the minute he opens his cabin door.

Sirus Wilder has known Grey’s twin sister for years, and she has given him permission to stay in the cabin while his residence across the lake is under repair. Sirus has never met Greyson Cole before, but he is thankful when the man lets him share the cabin for a few days. There is plenty enough room for them each to keep to themselves. Sirus has had his heart broken and isn’t interested in a hook-up, let alone something more.

Even so, Grey is, hands-down, one of the sexiest men Sirus has ever seen. Too bad he’s an arrogant ass and his eyes are so damn cold. Every once in a while, though, Sirus thinks he sees a hint of fiery passion in the controlled man sleeping one room away.

For Grey, one look at the roughly handsome Sirus puts Grey’s celibacy pact in serious jeopardy. One problem: Grey doesn’t believe in love, has even less patience for relationships, and he refuses to get mixed up in another messy romantic partnership that can only end badly.

Two weeks. Two hard men. Both running like hell from love.

Look out. Something’s gotta give.

Grey’s Awakening by Cameron Dane

Liquid Silver Books (2^nd Edition). June 08, 2009.