The Warehouse

First off, I recommend The Warehouse as an easy, enjoyable, and low anxiety book definitely worth reading. My initial comments may appear that I’m throwing it under the bus, but that’s not my intention at all, and be sure to read my entire review – deep down, this story has good bones and is one that has a lot of good things about it.It read a bit disjointedly for me, and it became repetitive – and frustrating – at points, such as Clint’s consistent rehashing of not being sure if he was going to continue in his relationship with Kelly; Nicholas’s willingness to call, text, or even travel by bus to see Clint in the Hamptons (only to turn around and head home within hours of arriving); and the repeat of some basic information a few chapters in after it was already introduced thoroughly in the beginning. As a reader, I would’ve enjoyed it more – I think – if the author had further developed/explored the characters by situating them in some additional shared scenes with expanded dialogue and time getting to know one another, and/or back story woven in somewhere. There were some time jumps that could have been drawn out more effectively to solidify the attraction between these two, propelling their friendship/relationship validity, and adding some depth to the two of them as a couple.The creepy Kenneth served as a solid plot tool, but Clint’s reactions left me guessing – was his quick and seemingly (initial) calm, almost robotic, reactions a sign that he was somehow in cahoots with the guy (and was it reasonable to assume he wouldn’t want Nic to call the police so he could go beat him up), or was Kenneth even maybe Kelly’s dad? (Maybe my suspicions became a bit ambitious with that, but you never know with plot twists.)I didn’t exactly feel a palpable connection between Clint and Nic aside from the initial glances and discussions the two shared at the club, and then their first kiss, of course; but I wanted to, especially when Clint turned on the romantic charm – walk on the beach, booking a suite at the B & B – and then the dominance (who saw that coming?).All that said, I liked the storyline itself. The Warehouse, along with its supporting cast of characters in Greg and Allan especially, proved to be a nice change-up and entertaining. The characters had definite individual personalities, and their friendship was never in question – some other things were maybe in question between these guys, but never friendship or loyalty. Clint’s exploration was an agonizingly overwrought drama, but he had his own problems to solve with a girlfriend that potentially held the key to his career in the palm of her hand. Nic never was too focused on committing to a relationship, but as soon as he laid eyes on Clint, he seemed to have a change of heart, even eventually minimizing his hours at work. Both guys have things to figure out, but they actually give each other a chance, even though Nicholas attempts to walk away a couple of times.You can’t help but like both Nic and Clint, and somewhere deep down, it’s pretty easy to find yourself cheering them on and almost volunteering to boot Kelly for Clint and then lock Nic and Clint in a room and tell them to get over themselves and get it on.The HEA is more of a HFN, but it comes with a bit of a question mark in the form of Greg. Maybe Nic is right: “Old habits (do) die hard.”

Story started out ok. Main character Nic, who prefers Nicholas but is only ever called “Nic” by friends & foes, “dances” at/on a bar. Meets “straight” guy, Clint, who is clearly thirsty. The set up had promise for a lightweight, sexy story. The basic prose fit the first person narrative of a 23 year old dude who doesn’t overthink things. But the text got repetitive. (The 4th time he said “I’m not usually cocky” or some such nonsense as he’s being cocky I started to lose patience.) For being to top earner at the club, we never saw him work more than one full shift, and he barely danced at all despite the dancing being his purported motivation.Then there’s some back and forth will-he-won’t-he with Clint that’s unnecessarily prudish. “Sorry it took me so long to want to burn a relationship that could lose me my livelihood” - 3 days after meeting the first guy he wants to bang but hasn’t even kissed. Wait, what? I mean, of course he’s going to break up but the way it plays out is all just weirdly coy. Meanwhile, it’s made clear that Nic is DTF his colleague, Greg. Which is fine, but doesn’t help the story as much as it gets in the way of making the Clint angle less believable.Book cover mentions a stalker then gives 3 possibles*spoiler alert* for it but it’s never a question of which option is the danger as no-name guy 1 is dropped from the narrative completely, bartender Allen’s relationship is totally static, and creepy dude is definitely the stalker. /*spoiler*After way too much unnecessary teasing between the closet case who is totally wanting out of the closet & the dude who likes to get sucked off my multiple strangers at work, there’s a deeply creepy sex scene with no lube, no condom, and no safe word. (If you’re reading this book for the sexy times, stop about 1/3 of the way through and call it a day.) Then they discuss nothing, yet apparently this sex is so good that our boy Nic gives up working to chill with Clint? Wait, what? Stuff just happens out of the blue. I didn’t spoiler alert it as if you accidentally blink during the page, you’d miss what in a better book would have been a Big Deal worth spending time on. But readers get more information about opening/not opening a window than we do about Nic & Clint’s major life choices.I got the book from an Amazon “if you like that, try this rec.” It’s my first & last time reading this author. I was looking for a sex positive m/m book and this was a hot mess of unhealthy behaviors that got increasingly unsexy and were more conflicted than positive. I actually finished the book because I was 90% done when thinking I was only halfway through the story and figured hate reading the last 10% would at least give me the entertainment of making snarky comments. But the book was done for me with Clint going on the rampage followed by triply unsafe sex. It completely jumped the shark with the job decision. Which is disappointing because it started off as potentially a fun, sexy romp that could have been good.

I love this raw look on how a Gogo Boy Nicholas comes to life. This isn't a mushy fairytale. This is about hookups, selfishly wanting more then what you think you can have and maybe finding how to exist in both worlds.Definitely a guy's perspective, well reading I thought of Hell's Kitchen a lot in New York. I thought of The Eclectic mix of people that would be enchanted and swayed by Nicholas dance moves and don't give a f attitude.

A great read... Read it in one sitting... I will look for more from this author in a future date, if they are all as well written.

But I just couldn't. If Jason Collins books were the only books I read for m/m romance I'd wonder if all gay men were so immature. Thankfully that's not the case.

There were a few places where it repeats itself, at one point I thought I was rereading and had clicked on the wrong book mark. There's a few errors here and there bit over all not bad. Not my favorite from this author but not bad.

WOW, I really enjoyed reading this book! In fact it was hard to put down, so I didn't! It was great romantic, great love story and the characters were awesome! A must read, the Author will keep you turning those pages! Many thanks, Honey Bee 🐝📚💙📚

Really enjoyed The Warehouse. Loved the characters and the storytelling. True love at first site story. Really enjoyed the book.