Book Blurb:
They were the best of friends in college but after going off into the world their lives drastically changed. Now, Dylan James, in-house counsel for a D.C. lobbyist firm is once again face-to-face with Cristine Palmer, defense attorney from New York. The passion that had been on a low simmer because of prior relationships is now on full blast. But Dylan has a dark side that he’s certain Cristine will not understand. Cristine has not come this far to walk away from her feelings for Dylan again, so following him to Chicago and bidding for the lover she’s always dreamed of is her only option.
This novella is part of the Distinguished Gentlemen Series. It is 1 of 14 novellas that are connected by an event—The Southlake Park Bachelor Auction at the Book Euphoria Weekend Block Party.
Here is a list of all the books in this series:
The Alpha Bid by Ty Young
The Rival Bid by Reese Ryan
The Reluctant Bid by Sheryl Lister
Losing the Bid by Suzette Riddick
Invitation to Bid by Angela Seals
The Contingency Bid by Sherelle Green
The Renegade Bid by Kelsey Green
The Birthday Bid by Suzette D. Harrison
An Outlandish Bid by E.J. Brock
A Bid on Forever by Joy Avery
Switched At Bid by Nicole Falls
The Closing Bid by Elle Wright
The Bid Catcher by Anita Davis
Each novella can be read as a standalone, so please do not feel as if you are committed to purchasing and reading each novella in the series. However, I can safely say that you might be missing out on 14 fantastic stories if you don’t
Release Date: April 4, 2019
Rating:
Sensuality:
Review:
I’ve been looking forward to the novellas in this series for a few months now. Although the books are connected via the bachelor auction, each novella is independent of each other.
This story wastes no time getting into it. No introductions are needed. Cris and Dylan have known each other for years and they both know what this night is about. So you would think.
These characters are in a transition in their lives. Both personally and professionally. Cris feels like she’s missing something and hopes that re-connecting with Dylan will help her find it. Dylan has always had this void, that he now fills with emotionless sex. He’s afraid to “get real” with Cris because he assumes that eventually she’ll leave him because he is not worthy.
I think they were both using sex in different ways. Dylan was using it to push Cris away, while Cris was using it to try and build a relationship. The BDSM was light and really a backdrop in my opinion, but brought some really steamy scenes to the story.
Even though they used to be best friends, they were both holding back (Dylan more than Cris) on how much they were using their family dynamics as an excuse to play it safe. Neither were really living their best life to the fullest. They had one foot always in the past.
Since it was a novella, there wasn’t a way to fully delve into the whole ex-boyfriend/roommate angle. But those characters added layers of drama that helped move the story along.
A definite addition to any bookshelf.
Favorite Scene: Chapter 5
“Hello, Garrett. Cris you didn’t tell me you were seeing Garrett while you were in town.”
Cris looked at Dylan standing beside the table and wondered what higher deity she’d pissed
off to have such poor luck. How was it that she’d come back to town, finally slept with
her best friend, was having dinner with her ex-boyfriend, and was now being confronted by
her best friend as if she were caught cheating on him?
~ Lover’s Bid / A.C. Arthur
Fantastical Reads 