When Holt wakes up to an outraged father, he finds himself suddenly homeless and hungry. With the help and caring of a certain bad guy, Holt finds life isn’t quite so bad as it seems. All he needed was the right man to guide him along.
Kade has spent his life running from anyone and everyone who tries to get close, but when he meets up with Holt, he suddenly finds himself wishing for something more. Who knew he was someone’s knight in shining tattoos…
My thoughts before reading: I don't give a flying shit what this book is about.
The cover! The cover is Jake Bass! Jake motherfuckin' Bass, folks!!!
After reading: You gotta admit the cover is hot. I believe he's the muse for main character Kade, the bad boy, damaged hotheaded hero who strips but has been around the block more than once. Kade is likeable enough. He's not a carbon copy of the model on the cover so don't think this is fan fic. ;)
What is Invicta about? This novella is about two lovers, Kade and Holt, who are celebrating their fifteen year anniversary and opening of their new strip club named Invicta. The two flashback to the start of their relationship, one surprising one night stand that turned into something more for the nineteen year old, Holt-who was in the closet and got yanked out and twenty year old Kade--who only wanted to have unattached sex. But life changes like a two week stretch of homelessness and working at a gay strip joint happen and start the beginning of Holt and Kade, the pair.
There are things I liked and things I feel need some work. Yes, this story has some editing issues. There were a few times that it brought me out of the story, not for every page thankfully.
What I liked: I liked the theme of the cocky guy falling for the country boy. I liked some of the themes explored such as a homeless teen finding love or damaged men finding their way into happiness. Also, it's very light and easy to read. The main characters are likeable. The story didn't denigrate the profession of stripping.
Things I questioned: Some editing issues and questions - The flashback takes you to 1999...how would twerking and the Harlem Shake be popular back then? I am aware that twerking is not a new phenomenon but I doubt it had a name in 1999. The Harlem Shake (well what's popular now-it has a resurgence and change, since I remember the original dance moves when it first became popular was more of a local thing, so I question the popularity in Houston, Texas back then).
- The technical terms for dancing - I'm not a professional dancer the more popular terms I knew. But there were technical terms used that I had to Google about. Also with some character's dialogue. This made the reading not as smooth as I like.
- More telling than showing. Kade was not as bad as he was touted as. He did have miraculous recovery from injuries at times and he got into a fight. I would have preferred to have more scenes of him proving why he gets automatic deference.
- There are some areas of the story that don't come off as realistic, so I pulled my reality suspension rubber band out for being able to tell someone is starving from just looking at them. Or fighting against a person with a gun while having no weapons and winning. Or while recovering from the drug roofies (vomiting and leg cramps get ignored) to have sex.
But it's a love story about two strippers with pasts that aren't as golden as most, so why look for reality?
The story is sexy, popular and mostly fun. It does not delve too deep and is quick to read.
Who I think would most enjoy this series? Fans of Kindle Alexander, who want to read a book in her same vein. This was a lighter, sexier and uncomplicated story. Fans of dancer romance, there's a good number of technical terms peppered throughout the story.
My rating is somewhere within the 3-3.5 hearts range, so I'll round up.
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