Author A.E. Via
Title:
The Secrets in My Scowl
M/M GAY
CONTEMPORARY / STANDALONE
Edited by: Tina
Adamski
Cover Artist – Jay
Aheer
PAGE COUNT – 312
Release Date:
October 28, 2016
Synopsis
Sparks ignite and tempers flare when a sexy,
optimistic wedding planner moves his business in across the hall from a jilted,
divorce lawyer’s practice.
“Look smart ass. This is the last time I’m going to remind you about breaking sections of the lease. If there’s a next time, I won’t stop until you and your frilly, white wedding shit is thrown out of here. Do you got it?!”
Wylde looked in Jacob’s pained eyes and answered in his deep voice. “Yeah, counselor. I got it.”
From high school, up until he became a successful attorney Jacob Snowden was convinced that love had it out for him. “Everyone left,” were the words he lived by. His mother, his high school sweetheart, his father, and his fiancé, all left Jacob just when he felt it was safe to let down his guard. Not any longer. Jacob was a determined man, set at keeping people at a distance. If his six foot one, military-made body didn’t scare people off, his permanent scowl surely did. At almost forty, Jacob’s social life was non-existent, but he told himself his work fulfilled him. He helped people get out of their loveless marriages. Jacob Snowden was one of the best divorce lawyers on the east coast and was damn proud of it. So, imagine his disdain when a wedding planner moves into the suite directly adjacent to his… an insanely masculine, male wedding planner.
Wylde Sterling had made quite a name for himself in his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, working for a wedding planner that catered to the elite. He was known for his charm and impeccable taste. Yep, he was incredible at giving couples the wedding of their dreams. But he wanted nothing more than to plan his own. After striking out in love more times than he cared to admit, Wylde decided to start his own business in a new city, hoping Richmond would give him a fresh start. Things started out wonderfully – until he started to piss off the angry divorce attorney next door.
Wylde could see past Jacob’s mean scowl, knowing there was a reason for it. It was the man’s defense mechanism, his means of keeping people away. Everything in Wylde told him to stay away, but he believed Jacob just needed to meet a man who had been hurt as badly as he had.
“Look smart ass. This is the last time I’m going to remind you about breaking sections of the lease. If there’s a next time, I won’t stop until you and your frilly, white wedding shit is thrown out of here. Do you got it?!”
Wylde looked in Jacob’s pained eyes and answered in his deep voice. “Yeah, counselor. I got it.”
From high school, up until he became a successful attorney Jacob Snowden was convinced that love had it out for him. “Everyone left,” were the words he lived by. His mother, his high school sweetheart, his father, and his fiancé, all left Jacob just when he felt it was safe to let down his guard. Not any longer. Jacob was a determined man, set at keeping people at a distance. If his six foot one, military-made body didn’t scare people off, his permanent scowl surely did. At almost forty, Jacob’s social life was non-existent, but he told himself his work fulfilled him. He helped people get out of their loveless marriages. Jacob Snowden was one of the best divorce lawyers on the east coast and was damn proud of it. So, imagine his disdain when a wedding planner moves into the suite directly adjacent to his… an insanely masculine, male wedding planner.
Wylde Sterling had made quite a name for himself in his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, working for a wedding planner that catered to the elite. He was known for his charm and impeccable taste. Yep, he was incredible at giving couples the wedding of their dreams. But he wanted nothing more than to plan his own. After striking out in love more times than he cared to admit, Wylde decided to start his own business in a new city, hoping Richmond would give him a fresh start. Things started out wonderfully – until he started to piss off the angry divorce attorney next door.
Wylde could see past Jacob’s mean scowl, knowing there was a reason for it. It was the man’s defense mechanism, his means of keeping people away. Everything in Wylde told him to stay away, but he believed Jacob just needed to meet a man who had been hurt as badly as he had.
This story ends in an HEA and does not end on a
cliffhanger.
Review
A
new book by A.E. Via is always a reason for excitement. Her brand of
over the top characters, action, and sex makes her a favorite of many,
including me. She has been a favorite ever since If You Can See Me and
my fangirl love has only grown since then. So when I saw her new book,
The Secrets in My Scowl, I knew I was in for another treat.
Unfortunately, I wasn't as wowed by this book as I have been by her
others. Yes there is lots of snarky banter and memorable characters, but
it wasn't enough to have me loving this as much as I wanted to.
This
is an enemies to friends story and when I say enemies, at the beginning
Jacob Snowden and Wylde Sterling are as different as night and day and
their animosity toward one another is blazing hot. To say they dislike
one another is an understatement of epic proportions. Jacob is brash and
cold and downright rude and Wylde has no clue what to do with the angry
man he crosses paths with daily. From the prologue and beginning
chapters we're supposed to get why Jacob is the way he is, but frankly I
didn't buy it. He's been hurt in the past, sure, but he's SUCH a major
asshole to everyone, all the time, that he really has no redeeming
qualities whatsoever. He's condescending, he's mean to his staff, to the
people he encounters at the courthouse, hell, even to his own clients
he's a rude jackass. I didn't warm up to him at all and felt absolutely
zero sympathy for his so called pain. I did enjoy Wylde for the most
part and once he and Jacob moved from enemies to lovers the book was a
tad more enjoyable. Wylde was fun and sexy and quirky and he certainly
saved the book for me. However, I will say that his bi-phobia was a real
turn off, no matter how sexy a guy in a man-bun is. I was really
disappointed with this aspect of his character and the fact that A.E.
Via chose to write him with this attitude as well.
There
are, as always with this author, typos and grammatical errors a plenty.
I did read this as an advanced copy so I'm hoping those are corrected
in the final copy, but based on prior books, I wouldn't think so. In the
past I've enjoyed A.E. Via's books so much (Nothing Special with God
and Day will always be a favorite!) that I've overlooked the errors in
favor of the pure enjoyment of the story, but here, not so much. This is
a really light, fluffy book though, so if you're looking for something
that focuses more on the relationship rather than the action A.E. Via is
most known for, give this one a chance. I think this might be a case of
it's me not the book, and if so, definitely check The Secrets in My
Scowl out.
Excerpt
He hadn’t realized how late it was until his
receptionist asked if he needed anything else before she and his paralegal
left.
“No.”
“I have a Mr. Sterling here, requesting to see
you.”
Who?
Jacob didn’t like drop-ins and he was sure he didn’t have any appointments this
late. “Send him in.”
Jacob was completely unprepared for Wylde to come
through his door and flood his space with that goddamn scent, but he walked in
with a swagger only he could pull off. Damnit.
Jacob was glad he was sitting behind his desk because, for whatever reason, his
cock loved that scent. He’d must’ve been staring at Wylde too hard last time to
remember his last name.
“Good evening, counselor. I hope I’m not
disturbing you,” Wylde said in his deep timbre.
Ugh, god.
The way the man said counselor made Jacob’s balls draw up. He just refrained
from closing his eyes and blew out a calming breath. He closed the large Code
of Virginia law book on his desk before asking, “How can I help you, Mr.
Sterling?”
“Why don’t we try a first name basis, neighbor.”
Wylde kept progressing toward Jacob and smoothly eased his tight body in one of
the chairs in front of his desk and brought his black suede boot up and propped
it on the opposite knee. Jacob inhaled again, immediately wishing he hadn’t.
From across the office he could barely see the gold hoop in Wylde’s bottom lip,
but up closer, the dim lights made it shine beautifully, as well as the tiny gold
barbell in his brow. He smiled, showing off pretty, white teeth. “I just wanted
to come over and apologize about the discarded boxes in the hall. I didn’t mean
to disrespect the building and I certainly didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I wasn’t upset.” Jacob’s voice was raspy, just
shy of husky, and he was sure the wedding planner picked up on it.
Jacob watched him cock his head to the side, his
smooth forehead wrinkling. “Wow, if that’s you not upset, then I certainly
don’t want to see you when you really
are.”
Jacob didn’t think that needed a response, and
since he felt a little tongue-tied at the moment, he just maintained eye
contact. Light brown eyes stared back at him, and Jacob wasn’t sure if he saw a
subtle wink or if it was an eye tick. What bothered Jacob the most was he
couldn’t get a good read on the man. He had no clue if he was gay, straight, or
bi, because he didn’t have a look that screamed his sexuality. Jacob hated to
admit it, but he was enraptured by the wedding planner’s look. His was a style
all his own. He had on camel-colored slacks with a matching V-neck sweater;
however, it was the black suede dress coat and the suede boots that made him
look sexy as fuck. He was caught staring again and the man had sat there and
let him. Jacob knew he was busted because there was that smirk again. The one
that meant, “Yep, I caught you staring and I bet your dick is at least
half-hard.”
His neighbor buttoned his jacket when he stood.
“Well, I’ve used up enough of your time. I’m sure you’re a very busy man. You
have a good evening.”
Jacob needed to say something, for heaven’s sake.
“You as well, Mr. Sterling.”
The man’s back stiffened as he opened the door. He
turned, looking Jacob dead in his eyes. “You can call me, Wylde. I don’t care
much for formalities. I hope that’s alright with you, Mr. Snowden, or may I
call you…?”
It had to be at least five long seconds while
Wylde stood there in his door waiting for him to respond.
In a voice that came out rough and too damn soft,
he finished Wylde’s sentence, “Jacob.”
Wylde’s lips curled up into a devastatingly
seductive smile and he responded in an equally rough and deep tone, “Goodnight,
Jacob.” And Wylde gently closed his door.
Jacob had fallen for it. Fallen for the trap that
Wylde set with those piercing eyes and sexy charm. Jacob felt like a fool for
taking the bait, and Wylde reeled him right in. This time he was positive there
was a wink at the end, and Jacob was most definitely fucked.
Author Bio
A.E. Via is an
author in the beautiful gay romance genre and also founder and owner of Via
Star Wings Books. Her writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure,
to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take
readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
When she’s not
clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family—a husband and
four children. Adrienne Via has tons of more stories to tell, but she really
would like to hear yours. Via Star Wings Books is currently accepting
submissions for established and aspiring LGBTQ authors.
Visit my site to
learn more! Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact
her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, VSWB
submissions, and where she’ll appear next
Links
Amazon Buy Link: https://goo.gl/4oCCZH
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