Balancing act

~ rmolivia ~ 2 Comments

How does one find balance in working fulltime and getting up by 4:45 and leaving by 6:25 for work and still write?

I am so beat all the time. I go to bed at farmers’ hours.

The only sexy thing happening in my life are my stories. No lie!

Review of Man Under Construction by OJ Cast

~ rmolivia ~ Leave a comment

Man Under Construction

So, here I was minding my own business (yeah, right) and I bump into Man Under Construction. Wow, what a great plot! Especially for me, the son of a civil engineer. I mean, I grew up with construction workers and construction sites. Yeah, I know, rough for a young gayling! So, anyway, here was a story ready made for me, right? I lucked out and got a review copy, here’s what I found: not bad, a good first M/M start and yet not an ‘erotic’ romance.

THE CHARACTERS

Dominik Alrizzo:

Ian put an invisible check mark next to his Imaginary Man Requirements List. Handsome check, dark check, good job quadruple check. …Dominik Alrizzo appeared to be between thirty-five and forty years old. A good age. …Stocky, swarthy, Italian stallion. His boss-to-be’s sex appeal had made him glad to be alive. …His gorgeous face, eyes kind of cold and steely, …

Ian Colbee:

Ian Colbee stood around six-foot-one and two-hundred pounds. Steel tipped boots covered his feet. Startling blue eyes, the color of a glacier, peered out underneath a military-style buzz cut. Climbing ladders, laying bricks, and digging had made a god of a man. And his abs! Dom could go on for days, just staring at this motherfucker.

THE STORY

The story is a great premise. Hot scion of a construction company owner inherits the company upon his father’s sudden, unexpected death. The heir of the company, who has worked hand in hand with his father, comes face to face with his abusive ex-partner, unexpectedly, at his father’s funeral.

As he inherits the construction company, and his father’s extremely capable assistant, Gracie, he realizes that he’s short staffed in order to finish an important construction job they’re in the midst of. In comes the new love interest, the strapping, hot, sexy, younger construction worker.
Hence the fireworks between the new and old boyfriends and the angst the construction company scion must undergo in order to complete his journey.

THE WRITING

Here’s where I experienced the hiccup with the story. The very first thing I noticed was the spelling of the name of Dominik’s (Dom) evil ex. Léon. Léon is a Cuban-Puerto Rican hot mess, so one would expect his name would be spelled in Spanish, as in León. Instead throughout the book the French spelling, Léon, is used. As a Cuban-American who has lived and studied in Spain and Venezuela I just couldn’t get past this. Sorry.

At first reading the writing seemed hop-sketchy and to not flow smoothly. Upon a second reading I did get the thread of the writing, vis-à-vis the story. The point is I shouldn’t have had to re-read it in order to get the flow of the writing. Upon second reading it’s not bad. I wish the characters were more developed, especially Ian. There’s so much potential that I was waiting for from Ian and it never materialized.

The erotic romance quotient didn’t seem to materialize. I waited for a hot, steamy, toe-curling sex scene. Alas, it never came about *sigh*. The potential was so there, especially with a ready-made character like Ian. The possibilities with the evil, ex-boyfriend are limitless for some reminiscing scenes or even, if you want to get really twisted, kinky between the evil ex-boyfriend and the new love interest. Just sayin’.

THE DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank R.M. Olivia and JMS Books, LLC, for supplying me with a copy of Man Under Construction in exchange for my honest review.

THE AUTHOR

R.M. Olivia writes sexy romance. She believes love is for all and doesn’t discriminate in her choice of characters or stories. She is never without a pen and paper in case one of her random characters decides to speak to her. If you dig through her handbag you will find scraps of paper with ideas that may make their way into future stories.

R.M. Olivia is a member of Rainbow Romance Writers’ of the Romance Writers of America. She has been scribbling for a long time and if you look in her many notebooks stuffed inside her drawer, you will find other hidden stories screaming to get out. R.M. Olivia credits Spanish telenovelas and an active imagination for getting her started. When not typing away at the computer, she enjoys snuggling with her cats, shopping on Amazon, or catching up on some reading.

Man Under Construction, by R.M. Olivia
Published by JMS Books, LLC
Visit jms-books.com for more information.
Copyright 2016 R.M. Olivia
ISBN 9781634860758
Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Man Under Construction

So, here I was minding my own business (yeah, right) and I bump into Man Under Construction. Wow, what a great plot! Especially for me, the son of a civil engineer. I mean, I grew up with construction workers and construction sites. Yeah, I know, rough for a young gayling! So, anyway, here was a story ready made for me, right? I lucked out and got a review copy, here’s what I found: not bad, a good first M/M start and yet not an ‘erotic’ romance.

THE CHARACTERS

Dominik Alrizzo:

Ian put an invisible check mark next to his Imaginary Man Requirements List. Handsome check, dark check, good job quadruple check. …Dominik Alrizzo appeared to be between thirty-five and forty years old. A good age. …Stocky, swarthy, Italian stallion. His boss-to-be’s sex appeal had made him glad to be alive. …His gorgeous face, eyes kind of cold and steely, …

Ian Colbee:

Ian Colbee stood around six-foot-one and two-hundred pounds. Steel tipped boots covered his feet. Startling blue eyes, the color of a glacier, peered out underneath a military-style buzz cut. Climbing ladders, laying bricks, and digging had made a god of a man. And his abs! Dom could go on for days, just staring at this motherfucker.

THE STORY

The story is a great premise. Hot scion of a construction company owner inherits the company upon his father’s sudden, unexpected death. The heir of the company, who has worked hand in hand with his father, comes face to face with his abusive ex-partner, unexpectedly, at his father’s funeral.

As he inherits the construction company, and his father’s extremely capable assistant, Gracie, he realizes that he’s short staffed in order to finish an important construction job they’re in the midst of. In comes the new love interest, the strapping, hot, sexy, younger construction worker.
Hence the fireworks between the new and old boyfriends and the angst the construction company scion must undergo in order to complete his journey.

THE WRITING

Here’s where I experienced the hiccup with the story. The very first thing I noticed was the spelling of the name of Dominik’s (Dom) evil ex. Léon. Léon is a Cuban-Puerto Rican hot mess, so one would expect his name would be spelled in Spanish, as in León. Instead throughout the book the French spelling, Léon, is used. As a Cuban-American who has lived and studied in Spain and Venezuela I just couldn’t get past this. Sorry.

At first reading the writing seemed hop-sketchy and to not flow smoothly. Upon a second reading I did get the thread of the writing, vis-à-vis the story. The point is I shouldn’t have had to re-read it in order to get the flow of the writing. Upon second reading it’s not bad. I wish the characters were more developed, especially Ian. There’s so much potential that I was waiting for from Ian and it never materialized.

The erotic romance quotient didn’t seem to materialize. I waited for a hot, steamy, toe-curling sex scene. Alas, it never came about *sigh*. The potential was so there, especially with a ready-made character like Ian. The possibilities with the evil, ex-boyfriend are limitless for some reminiscing scenes or even, if you want to get really twisted, kinky between the evil ex-boyfriend and the new love interest. Just sayin’.

THE DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank R.M. Olivia and JMS Books, LLC, for supplying me with a copy of Man Under Construction in exchange for my honest review.

THE AUTHOR

R.M. Olivia writes sexy romance. She believes love is for all and doesn’t discriminate in her choice of characters or stories. She is never without a pen and paper in case one of her random characters decides to speak to her. If you dig through her handbag you will find scraps of paper with ideas that may make their way into future stories.

R.M. Olivia is a member of Rainbow Romance Writers’ of the Romance Writers of America. She has been scribbling for a long time and if you look in her many notebooks stuffed inside her drawer, you will find other hidden stories screaming to get out. R.M. Olivia credits Spanish telenovelas and an active imagination for getting her started. When not typing away at the computer, she enjoys snuggling with her cats, shopping on Amazon, or catching up on some reading.

Man Under Construction, by R.M. Olivia
Published by JMS Books, LLC
Visit jms-books.com for more information.
Copyright 2016 R.M. Olivia
ISBN 9781634860758
Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Man Under Construction

So, here I was minding my own business (yeah, right) and I bump into Man Under Construction. Wow, what a great plot! Especially for me, the son of a civil engineer. I mean, I grew up with construction workers and construction sites. Yeah, I know, rough for a young gayling! So, anyway, here was a story ready made for me, right? I lucked out and got a review copy, here’s what I found: not bad, a good first M/M start and yet not an ‘erotic’ romance.

THE CHARACTERS

Dominik Alrizzo:

Ian put an invisible check mark next to his Imaginary Man Requirements List. Handsome check, dark check, good job quadruple check. …Dominik Alrizzo appeared to be between thirty-five and forty years old. A good age. …Stocky, swarthy, Italian stallion. His boss-to-be’s sex appeal had made him glad to be alive. …His gorgeous face, eyes kind of cold and steely, …

Ian Colbee:

Ian Colbee stood around six-foot-one and two-hundred pounds. Steel tipped boots covered his feet. Startling blue eyes, the color of a glacier, peered out underneath a military-style buzz cut. Climbing ladders, laying bricks, and digging had made a god of a man. And his abs! Dom could go on for days, just staring at this motherfucker.

THE STORY

The story is a great premise. Hot scion of a construction company owner inherits the company upon his father’s sudden, unexpected death. The heir of the company, who has worked hand in hand with his father, comes face to face with his abusive ex-partner, unexpectedly, at his father’s funeral.

As he inherits the construction company, and his father’s extremely capable assistant, Gracie, he realizes that he’s short staffed in order to finish an important construction job they’re in the midst of. In comes the new love interest, the strapping, hot, sexy, younger construction worker.
Hence the fireworks between the new and old boyfriends and the angst the construction company scion must undergo in order to complete his journey.

THE WRITING

Here’s where I experienced the hiccup with the story. The very first thing I noticed was the spelling of the name of Dominik’s (Dom) evil ex. Léon. Léon is a Cuban-Puerto Rican hot mess, so one would expect his name would be spelled in Spanish, as in León. Instead throughout the book the French spelling, Léon, is used. As a Cuban-American who has lived and studied in Spain and Venezuela I just couldn’t get past this. Sorry.

At first reading the writing seemed hop-sketchy and to not flow smoothly. Upon a second reading I did get the thread of the writing, vis-à-vis the story. The point is I shouldn’t have had to re-read it in order to get the flow of the writing. Upon second reading it’s not bad. I wish the characters were more developed, especially Ian. There’s so much potential that I was waiting for from Ian and it never materialized.

The erotic romance quotient didn’t seem to materialize. I waited for a hot, steamy, toe-curling sex scene. Alas, it never came about *sigh*. The potential was so there, especially with a ready-made character like Ian. The possibilities with the evil, ex-boyfriend are limitless for some reminiscing scenes or even, if you want to get really twisted, kinky between the evil ex-boyfriend and the new love interest. Just sayin’.

THE DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank R.M. Olivia and JMS Books, LLC, for supplying me with a copy of Man Under Construction in exchange for my honest review.

THE AUTHOR

R.M. Olivia writes sexy romance. She believes love is for all and doesn’t discriminate in her choice of characters or stories. She is never without a pen and paper in case one of her random characters decides to speak to her. If you dig through her handbag you will find scraps of paper with ideas that may make their way into future stories.

R.M. Olivia is a member of Rainbow Romance Writers’ of the Romance Writers of America. She has been scribbling for a long time and if you look in her many notebooks stuffed inside her drawer, you will find other hidden stories screaming to get out. R.M. Olivia credits Spanish telenovelas and an active imagination for getting her started. When not typing away at the computer, she enjoys snuggling with her cats, shopping on Amazon, or catching up on some reading.

Man Under Construction, by R.M. Olivia
Published by JMS Books, LLC
Visit jms-books.com for more information.
Copyright 2016 R.M. Olivia
ISBN 9781634860758
Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.comMAN UNDER CONSTRUCTION