| Title | : | Lord and Master (Lord and Master, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1596324104 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781596324107 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 174 |
| Publication | : | First published February 13, 2007 |
Lord and Master (Lord and Master, #1) Reviews
-
I liked this book, mainly for the incredibly clincal and blunt sex. I've never read a book with sex like this, so the novelty bumped it up another star. Usually in m/m romance sex (and often in gay erotica too) it's rockets, stars, unicorns, and magical cinnamon-flavoured glittery cum. But Steven and Mark are often either
a) too knackered for sex
or
b) can't really be bothered having sex, but they'd like the sleepy-effect, so they'll agree to have a quickie
and when it does happen it's super-planned. Mark pre-lubes every morning just in case his boss wants to fuck him (I can't even be bothered shaving my legs every morning). And, for more romantic encounters, they both put condoms on waaaay before they start, so they don't have to move and do it later.
I mean, I've read lots of raw sex, rough sex, Aleksandr Voinov-sex (both the scary penetration-with-a-firearm kind, and the let's-both-just-go-into-this-room-and-agree-we'll-try-not-to-kill-each-other-for-30-minutes-while-we-get-off kind), Stockholm Syndrome-sex (which is sticky, dirty, and candy-flavoured), but this is now a new category all on its own
*shakes head*. Like I say: strange.
And British. Definitely British. -
I discovered this book from a glowing review on Goodreads. Usually this leads me to something I love. Sorry, not this time. I found this book dry as the Sahara Desert. I found the relationship between the main characters boring. And the idea of two men using condoms for oral sex was just disgusting. This was written in 2019 but you would have thought it was 1980. Gay marriage was passed in England in 2014. I will not be reading any more books by this author. If you like books with stiff dry characters you will love it. Otherwise stay away.
-
I did not like it, not because it's badly-written but because I've gone off British romances. They were something I read as a young teen before the American invasion of the Romance genre which means I haven't read ANY British-themed romances in decades! So when I found myself reading about taking the Tube and London scenes, I felt like I was back in school in London and reading Jilly Cooper's romances on the typically gray London days.
Maybe it could be that I don't care for the typical older male top and younger male bottom in yaoi romances but Cameron Dane's Finding Home features the same sort of seme(dominant/top in relationship) and uke (younger, feminine bottom) characters so perhaps it's the story and setting after all.
I did not find Steven and Mark a couple that drew me in and the sex between them was very cold and clinical, consisting of a few quick fucks over Steven's desk at work. I waited and waited for Steven to invite the younger Mark back to his home for the weekend but I'm near the end of the story and these two are doing nothing more than grabbing quickies at work. Not worth finishing so I'm going to ditch the gray London weather for Claire Thompson's Caribbean Island of Temptation. -
Tedious. Utterly tedious. There's no passion whatsover between the two main characters, and there's absolutely no plot, no conflict... Nothing. Just a hell of a lot of talking and making tea and description of how their week was and how Mark's PhD work is coming along. The whole book is one drawn out nail scratch on a board.
I almost always finish a book unless it's terrible. This book was. I usually like May/December and boss-employee relationships but even that couldn't salvage this book. -
Mark Paulson is a PhD student working in industry and writing his thesis, expecting to be offered a full time position in the company and generally happy to continue on the way he’s going. So he is surprised when his advisor suggests a career change to something that’s not exactly his field. He’s good looking, detail-orientated, and very easy-going. He may be young but he only has glimpses at his youth, his laid back nature giving him an older outlook.
Steven Frost is a bit of a mystery man. He’s older, successful, handsome, devilish and a bit of a contradiction. He owns his own engineering business and as any successful entrepreneur, he needs a personal assistant to help ease the stress of the details in his life. He wants someone that is a combined secretary, assistant, and scientist all rolled into one. Someone who can get his tea, take meeting notes and offer intelligent opinions and decisions about the subject matter.
Mark is the perfect man for the job and although the reasoning for accepting the job is somewhat thin (a PhD scientist becoming a secretary?), the interactions between the two men overshadow the contradictions in both characters. The story is told from Mark’s perspective and thus his character tends to have the main concentration; he pushes the story forward. Steven is less well-defined, perhaps on purpose, leaving his reasons and views often through interpretation, both Mark’s and the reader’s.
Mark is more than a fluff bit of pretty goods, as the theme is repeated in various ways with the supporting characters, almost reminding me that although this could be a Harlequin stereotype plot, it has a fresher and more interesting take on the traditional theme. The usual tale of boss/secretary used in this story could easily have turned Mark into a female in disguise, but Mark’s easy nature and acceptance of the slow building relationship lend a very masculine quality to the tale. There is no concern that Mark is anything but a virile male. Although Steven’s repeated lack of sex drive, often being too tired or not interested in sex, cements the age difference.
The slow burn of passion and languid progression of their relationship reminds me of a southern day. There is a hint of spice in the air, but things happen at the pace they happen with very little to get overly dramatic about. There is very little conflict, either internal or external, to the characters and most of it is taken very in stride with Mark’s oft used phrase to himself “fair enough.” Mark gradually begins to want more than stolen moments in the office for an affair lasting so long, but surprisingly it is Steven that shows a newly vulnerable side in taking emotional risks.
The relationship may have been a bit gradual but the story moves along swiftly. The revelation about Steven at the end is an interesting addition, set up nicely with very subtle nuances. Mark’s easy acceptance is in line with his personality and almost at times in odds with his age but the chemistry of the two men once again helps to smooth the way. The sex is not scorching but it has an occasional edge that keeps things interesting.
Jones has presented a new and well-written take on the classical story about the secretary falling for their powerful, successful boss. It has all the elements of why that genre was so well loved but gives them all a fresh, fun take with more substance. It’s clear these men have more to say and I liked the book for its easy nature and interesting characters. Any problems I had with their motivations or characterizations were minor and easy to suspend disbelief for the sake of enjoyment. -
When I got this book, I was primarily attracted by its yaoi cover art (I love anime), and was mildly intrigued by the title. Was this BDSM or another kink? I was expecting rather typical, even pedestrian, Oy ("Occidental yaoi")wherein the uke is only turned-on by the effect which the age, size and perceived power of the seme has over him.
What I got, however, was nothing anywhere as banal. This story showed that while a one-way power dynamic can be arousing to both MCs, it may also place limitations on the ability of their love relationship to grow and flourish.
Steven Frost is handsome, older, and a very successful London-based scientist-turned-entrepreneur. (For those truly well-read readers familiar with Manna Francis' Administration series, think Keir Warrick.)
Mark Paulson, on the other hand, is just starting out. Like Steven, he will have a PhD in chmical engineering but, right now, he's still only a doctoral candidate having to take an administrative-support position to give him the money and time to prepare his dissertation.
Fortunately, his current boss, Sanjay, was at university with Steven and, knowing both men are gay (and hot! hot! hot!), figures to carry on his mother's tradition of matchmaking, mixed with a truly helping-hand for Mark.
As Steven's PA, Mark can barely keep keep his hands and mouth off his guapo y caliente new boss. He really likes older men. (Even with a twenty-year age gap, "older" becomes a very relative term here, as in most gay lit.) Anyway, they hook up; with Mark getting laid like the Atlantic Cable.
However, as much as Mark enjoys being bent (like a piece of wickerwork) over every piece of furniture in Steven's office or, equally often, flattened against Steven's every window and wall (rather like a squeegee), he really kinda wants to be on top from time-to-time.
Fortunately, this novel is excellently written. Steven not only craves a lot of the old "in/out," but wants to occasionally be the "ingress" (so to speak.) From that point onward, and beginning with a weekend business trip to (sheesh!) Paris, a lot of differences from the standard Oy trope are presented as possible potholes in the path to the MC's eventual happiness.
Perhaps they get over some pretty difficult relationship problems a bit too easily; and maybe they do fall in love a bit too quickly, but I didn't give a damn (and I don't think many of you will as well.) Not when a story and its characters are as accessible and well-written as this.
There's even a riff on the Ethan, Who Loved Carter trope, in that one of the men has a rather severe, and possibly developing, mental illness. In the past, the disease has actually proven helpful in achieving goals, but now it may throw the balance of these men's love story totally out-of-whack. (No spoilers here; this book is too good.)
And, to put a cherry on the top of this literary sundae, there's a sequel, Lord and Master 2: Taking Work Home, that you can bet I'm starting as soon as I'm done here. *Why not? The anime-style cover on this new one is even cuter than the one on the original book.*
Gimme a break; I'm a sucker for a really good story. -
I absolutely love the last romance by Jules Jones!
Mark is a PhD scientist student who accept a job as PA of an oldest scientist, now CEO of his own company, Steven. Steven is gay, like Mark, and during the job interview makes clear that people will gossip about their relationship in and out the office. Steven is older and richer, and Mark is prettier and younger so thing is clear, who want who and why...
But really the love between the two grow slowly and strong during the time. The sex arrives very soon, but in the first time is a friend type of sex, good for both, enjoyable and quite. I have appreciated a lot the sex scene descriptions cause they seem to me real (also the fact that maybe Steven, at forty four years old, can't have sex ever and everywhere...)
In the first part of the book I have a strange feeling about the character of Steven: he is nice and handsome, but also distant. He makes sex with Mark but seems to me like his emotions stay out of the whole thing. But when the two make clear their mutual feeling, the love blossoms in full color and emotion.
This is not a fastpace reading, you have to savor it: it's like a vintage wine and it will stay with you long after you have finished it.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/46... -
I'm not quite sure what to say about this book. It has good setup and interesting beginning with funny head games that the reader can relate while the characters' are playing them. But it just never really got in the air. It just rolled onwards like a big piece of rock never changing it's course.
This book too had it's set of problems that could arise when the boss and the PA start a relationship but it was all in the intellectual level. They think about the consequences by themselves and discussed them with each other and some friends too but apparently they just were so clever that nothing really touched them. Teflon love, nothing sticks in the outside of it for too long. Quick rinse and it's all shiny again.
I had some problems with the way their relationship was developing and the dominant tendencies Stephen exhibited but it was kept in check and it was pretty balanced relationship in the end. But after all this analyzing I'm still totally ambivalent about the book. It wasn't bad but it really wasn't that good either. Just kinda midway mushy experience, like slightly over cooked veggies. You know their are better with something little to chew on but you're not going to complain too much either. -
Mark and Steven are hot! This is one of those stories I like because it's a boss and underlying having sex at the office. There is much more to this story than the hot sex. Still, it was a delightful read. This is the second of Ms. Jones' books I've read. I enjoyed it.
I liked how she shows men are also susceptible to stereotypes when they are good looking and a secretary. Obviously, Mark was a personal assistant, but some still treated him poorly. (Making copies!) I also liked how Steven was a good boss that took no bullshit. His "problem" was a bit weird. I'm not sure I fully understand it, but it's not something I like. Unlike Mark who will work with it, I'd have been out the door before it could hit me on the ass. I guess I'm just like that. That up and down with depression and all, just not something I want to ever deal with for the rest of my life. For others, well, that is great they can, but for me, a total hard limit.
This story was more of a romance and I recommend it to m/m lovers who enjoy a sweet sexy romance. -
Very hard for me to review this one as it started out really well and I went on reading eagerly. And while the writing was fine, the characters good and the plot something I enjoy, I simply got bored.
It felt like all the MCs did was drink tea, work and fuck ath the office. In fact the sex scenes were so frequent I kept wondereing how those two ever got any job done.
The falling in love part crept up on me, I didn't understand when had it happen. First they were screwing and then .
I think my main problem was that the MCs were simply too proper and contained for my tastes and I never got to see them outside the working environment, until the very end.
That being said, the epilogue was very sweet and saved a lot and I can see other readers loving this. It comes down to difference in taste I think.
So, I settled for three stars as there was nothing wrong with he book, it just did very little for me. -
This book takes your cliche of the powerful CEO screwing his secretary and turns it on its head.
-
I can say for sure, nothing happened in this book, only mundane things which all people do. I think my life is very good source to see mundane events and things, i don't need to read it also. I like reading books that are intricate, with complicated plots, and extreme events that cause quite big waves in the book. It is probably because my life is quite dull, so i really want to read books that aren't. So this book for me was uninteresting, dull, mundane and uneventful.
-
Too much tea, not enough substance.
-
Boring to death. I couldn't finish it. I try, twice; but simply I couldn't. In fact, realizing how bad this one was made me delete the second one without reading it; why bother?
-
2015 Re-read:
Blissed out. That’s what I am.
I just really love this book. It was among the gay romances that truly converted me to the genre back when I started sampling it at an increasing rate. And that’s funny because this story feels quite unlike the usual fare. There might even be a hint of fan-fiction to it, but only in the very best of ways – the ways that allow for an author’s individuality and freedom of expression. Definitely love the writing, the abbreviated sentences.
And the characters! In particular Mark’s level of self-awareness is incredibly appealing to me. He might be the perfect bland protagonist, except he isn’t bland just because he’s perfect. Somehow he feels entirely real to me with the way he has completely normal reactions but avoids rash actions and favours planning things out. He is like the antithesis to a drama queen, and I love him even more for that.
Perhaps this book could be read as a wonderful example of limited third person viewpoint. Even though Mark is not given to passionate or emotional outbursts in the way he describes events, everything still is subtly tinted by his view. It’s almost imperceptible, really, because his mind is such a reasonable place that you fully expect his reality to be the only existing reality, like some impartial observer’s. But things strictly follow things he would observe, when he would observe them, and nothing more. For such an aloof narrator, the reader is amazingly inside his head the whole time, but that realization kind of sneaks up on one.
And realism. There’s so much about this that feels real and avoiding hyperbole, without ever dragging things into the depressing side.
As such I love the fact that they both wear contact lenses or glasses and to see the mundane details of having to deal with that acknowledged.
I love that sex drive is something individual and not the usual always-anything that's the default in most stories.
I found it really hard to take breaks from reading. It’s just that kind of “yes, yes, keep telling me the story”, coupled with a hint of “but if I slow down I can make it last longer”. It’s a glorious thing that there’s a second volume still, plus the viewpoint-switched extras. And not just because I enjoy the experience so much, but because the follow-ups really delve into matters that were only scratched at in this book.
Over all, I’m feeling pretty damned lucky today. And it’s ridiculous that I waited six years to read this again.
And because I haven't found the actual story in question here on Goodreads, I'll just add what I thought of the first small follow-up right here:
Old Age Creeping Over Me (3-4 stars)
Wallowing is what this is.
It’s good to get Stephen’s point of view on things, although it does not differ much from Mark’s, but the author is correct in stating that this little story doesn’t have much substance. There’s just too much recapping and stating and re-stating things for my unrestrained enjoyment. In consequence this reads more as a fantasy, actual fan-fiction if you will, of the original story.
With all that, I still enjoyed the wallowing and lovey-dovey sweetness and catching up with these two.
I completely recommend reading this along with the two main volumes for the full experience. -
Ah well, where to begin...
I thought this might be nice, because I quite like the scenario. It isn't bad per se, but I guess it depends on what someone likes. I kinda missed the plot, because from my perspective it was pretty much non-existent.
Mark is a PhD student that gets a job offer from his superior. A CEO friend of his is looking for a new PA and wants another scientist for that job. Oh - and he's also gay. So Mark is like perfect for the job. Of course he takes it and everything is awesome. They talk a lot about what others speculate about them, because oho they are both gay! It gets tedious really fast, I can tell you that. It annoyed the hell out of me.
After a while they can't stand the attraction between them anymore and Steven - the CEO friend guy - offers to satisfy Mark's curiosity and get's his dick out. Well, sure... Just blow him and then get back to work. That scene made me want to bash my head against the wall. The next day Steven starts angsting because oh no! he forced himself on Mark, holy Bejesus. But of course Mark likes getting nailed in the office, so they continue their illustrous affair.
After that there was more sex, lots and lots of it. Too much for my liking, actually. And it was quite repetetive, so if you've read one sex scene in the book you pretty much know them all. And also all of it was pretty anticlimatic. No feelings involved and totally not sexy, unless you like impersonal fucking on a desk.
Here and there was some lovey-dovey stuff, but that was just boring. Not really sweet or romantic or anything. It was just... there.
The characters were pretty flat, not much information about either of them. And Steven's illness could have been explored a lot more. How it affects their life as a couple and everything. He made such a big deal out of it and yet it just fast forwards to the oh so HEA. Not realistic, at all. I think there are more books in this series, but I don't know if they continue with those two. Don't care either, really. I'm not gonna read them.
I've rated it with two stars because there were some minor characters that I really liked. They had more personality than the main characters which is just really, really sad. -
Mark is a PhD candidate looking for some job experience. Steven is an entrepreneur in need of a PA. It's lust at first sight, though they're having too much fun playing the are-they-aren't-they game to fall into bed--or at least across a desk--immediately. The heat burning between them becomes undeniable after an exhausting day, and its consummation sets in motion changes in both of them.
This is a very... cozy story. It's about two people finding each other, growing together. What conflict there is is easily overcome, whether its the reactions of peers or Steven's mental illness. It's characters rather then events that move the story along.
Given that so much of the focus is on the characters, it's a damned good thing that they're so likeable. I like Mark in particular, with his bluntness about what he wants and his steadfastedness in the face of adversity. Steven is a bit toppy for my tastes, but I still enjoy his humor and sense of morals. Their chemistry is great, too, hot but not over the top.
Not a whole lot actually happens, so this is not a story to satisfy a craving for action. On the other hand, it's good for something short and sweet, with great characters to spend an afternoon with. -
I read this book for my Bingo category for Cinder fellas, I'm not sure how this book is categorized like this as I don't think neither Mark or Steven classify as Cinder fellas . The story was good, u didn't quite grasp what exactly Steven's business was or exactly what type of PhD Mark was getting just that they worked in the science field. The book went into some details about the business but not enough for me to understand and that took away from my enjoying the book. Also I've never been to London so I don't know what the tube is or anything other forms of transportations, except what I've seen in Harry Potter movies. I liked the story line overall, it just didn't keep my attention to much. I don't usually want to catch up on my shows when I'm reading a book, but this story dragged for me a bit that I had to leave it and then come back to it. I finished it as fast as I could so I could get it done. I know there is a sequel and I might get to it later on this year. MHO is that it was nice and fluffy and a good chill book.
-
Men in three piece suits and office culture is something, which makes me very happy. Bonus points if those men are rich and successful and going on it like rabbits. Mark was finishing his PhD and needed some experience in real business and real company. His adviser decided to recommend him to his old university friend and owner of technology company. Mark started to work as personal assistant for openly gay and stunningly handsome elderly CEO. The fiery office affair started and both men were making out in office, but Mark felt that he was slowly falling in love with Steven. The 25 years age difference was nothing to him as well as certain chronic mental issue. The love bloomed so nicely. Yes there is also happy marriage included.
The plot is well developed as well as character psychology. The sex is not main part of the plot, but it is hot and steamy. -
It honestly took me a while to get into the story at the start. I had to push myself to read the first few chapters and I had to set the book down a bit to put some space between me and it. As I kept reading, it got better later on. I honestly thought it was a bit boring at the start and then it went into being kinda cute near the ending. It was fairly entertaining and kept my mind occupied, so I think I'll give it a three-star review.
-
I cannot give this book any stars since I did not finish. I have made it through some of the worst books ever written such as Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey yet this book I just couldn't force myself to read. The reason....it's BORING!!! The characters have no personality and the plot is practically nonexistent. I like nice, light reads every now and then but there actually has to be substance to the story which this book is sadly lacking.
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it was really hard reading this...was boring in parts,the menial day to day activities and the sex parts...a little creativity would have been appreciated ...so 2 1/2 stars -
Can't believe that I actually found this story again after a long time searching for it.
Really like the coziness of the relationship between the main character. Not to mention their tendency on exhibitionism. And how much is MC out there with a manic bipolar tendency?
I like this story and enjoy reading it very much ^^ -
I really enjoyed the first half of this story - there was good tension as the MCs met and worked out their attraction. After that, the story sort of fell away. Overall, I enjoyed it, but not sure if I'll continue the series.
(Interesting medical condition - Hadn't heard of it before.) -
Cute read. I like how it wasn't this dramatic love affair. It seemed more like an actually story of a relationship developing and becoming more. I also enjoyed the small bit about the health concern. To often in books they glaze over how just being in love doesn't solve it. Enjoyed it.
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"Never judge a book by it's cover." This adage still holds true.
The cover and the publisher's blurb had me expecting a light, fluffy little story, which can be a great read, but what I discovered as the story progressed, were characters of great heart and depth. -
I liked it. I like work place romance. I liked the slow build up to love and not the right a way stuff that you usually see. It was just a quick light read with a nice HEA. Not BDSM, don't know why it's in the tag.
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Loved it! I thought the was really well dealt with - as was the boss/employee relationship, and realistically portrayed. Both MCs were awesome, and it was a great read. Just wish it was longer!
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I enjoyed this series, but there are errors that are annoying, and the younger protagonist is just a bit too perfect about analysing situations.
