Just Drive ::: by L.A. Witt
My dear Anewers!
Welcome to the second review of this humble blog. So... Let’s get to it:
Synopsis and some start info:
“The Anchor Point stories can be read in any order -- jump in wherever you'd like!
For Sean Wright, driving a cab in the tiny Navy town of Anchor Point isn’t an exciting job . . . until he picks up just-dumped Paul Richards. A drive turns into a walk on the pier, which turns into the hottest hookup Sean’s had in ages.
After a long overdue breakup, Paul can’t believe his luck. Of all the drivers, he’s picked up by the gorgeous, gay, and very willing Sean. Younger guys aren’t usually his thing, but Paul can’t resist.
One taste and neither man can get enough . . . right up until they realize that Paul is Sean’s father’s commanding officer and the last man Sean should be involved with.
With two careers on the line, their only option is to back off. It’s not easy, though; the sex and the emotional connection are exactly what both men have been craving for a long time. But Paul has devoted twenty-four years to his career and his dream of making admiral. If he’s caught with Sean, that’s all over. He has to choose — stay the course, or trade it all for the man who drove off with his heart.”
Title: Just Drive
Author: L.A. Witt
Year: 2016
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Language: English
Pages: 248
Reading time: 3 days
Format: e-book (Kindle)
Date of Purchase: 30/11/2016 at amazon.com
LINKS: Amazon (US) Riptide Publishing
All Anchor Point Books can be read in any order, or you can select only the ones you want to read. I read (so far) only books 1 and 2.
I - Cover: (5)
The covers from Anchor Point Series are really something. THEY ARE AMAZING! It translate exactly what this is all about and, damn! They are sexy as hell. (Uniforms do this to me). I couldn't realize who is depicted at the cover, but, honestly, i don't care!
II - Point of View (POV): (5)
One of the greatest thing about this book is that you have 2 PoV! Like a book that i am writing with my husband. One chapter you have the view of Sean, the following one you have Paul's. It keeps alternating until the end. AWE-FUCKING-SOME! PERFECT AT ANOTHER LEVEL!
L.A. Witt raised the level difficulty of the game!
III - Protagonists: (5)
Sean Wright: A twenty-early years old guy, cab driver and college student. BUT son of a military officer. One weird night he got a passenger who simply said to him the very fucking title of this book: "Just drive". And just like that they end up having the most intense time of their lives.
Sean is a guy who is just unable to lie to his father, and this will prove a problem later on the story.
When he discover after some great time with Paul that he is actually his father's comanding officer. Everything falls apart. Perfect. You can see his imaturity struggling with this maturity and his will to keep Paul close to him.
It took a little for him to realize that they were in fact in love since the "Just drive" command.
Paul Richards: Experienced Navy Comanding Officer of NAS ADAMS. Wants to reach Admiral, and this alone is trouble for his personal life. Being gay, even after the lifting of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, is hard for everyone, especially him.
He just got dumped the very night he met Sean. And the intensity of things makes he wonder what places this "thing" he was having with Sean could go, until he discovers that his father is under his command.
Carreer or love... not enough dilemma.
Age gap? Age gap my ass... age is just a number, and L.A Witt did it brilliantly.
IV - Antagonists: (no grade)
There aren't really any antagonists in the story, this is a pure romance story... You can maybe put as antagonist the Navy's Regulations. So... Can't even grade this.
V - Side Characters: (5)
Senior Chief Wright: Sam's father. I would love to have him as a father. He appeared on just a few scenes and chapters, but the few last ones he was the key to everything. Not a brilliant character, but delivers what promises.
Travis Wilson: CO Paul's best friend. Pity we didn't see him much. Only 2 chapters with a real good conversation between him and Paul. An awesome character, charismatic and funny!
Other characters appears so briefly, not worth mention.
VI - Hot Scenes: (5)
Funny that loads and loads of scenes i've already read in so many different books, but in this particularly one, the foreplays are so damn hot to ignore.
First the lust, then things develop to (each time) a higher level of passion, and love, and caring... so tender and hot at the same time. Scenes not as hot as some that i used to read, but detailed at the exact point to let little for imagination (just like i love!)
It took me by surprise that Sean is in fact the top one and Paul is the bottom. But the way things develop between them caught my attention and drove blood down under... if you know what i mean.
Of course i've had to get used to it, not what i expected, but when i circle my mind around it, it settled.
HEAVY SPOILER ALERT! There is a scene worth mention: When Paul fucks Sean’s inner tighs... WOW! That is something that happened to me once, and i might say, this is sexy and hot like anything i’ve experienced before.
This was the first book i've read from L.A. Witt and i can tell you for certain that she rocked my world!
VII - The Story: (5)
Many would tell me that vanilla books can't be that good... But YES! They can! They are! Well, at least "Just Drive" is.
The romance between Sean and Paul begins with a bad breakup and follows the course that could naturally ends in a marriage, BUT fact is =HUGE SPOILER ALERT= Paul is Sean's father Commanding Officer, and for the Navy regs this is so fucking wrong (still got me why, but i can understand the conflict of interests)...
The way things got develped fast resembles a lot my relationship with my husband... in no more than 4 months i was moving to his house. So, fast is possible, and can be good - afterall, i am married for 17 years, and still addicted to my man.
VIII - Plot Twists: (5)
The major twist in the story was PERFECT, and also too damn sad! I can't understand really why military (any place around the universe) keeps people to have normal lives outside the force.
The fact that Sean's father works for Paul, because he is NAS ADAMS CO's... and because of that they can't be together, tell me: Why the hell there's conflict of interests about a guy, who isn't in military - no matter if his father is, can't have a relationship with anyone inside? Anyway, love is love... people should be able, especially the military ones, to keep things separated.
Anyway... this twists caught me by surprise the first time i've read this book, and even now, 5 or 6 times later, still bring tears to my eyes.
Then again... another twist... they come back. The way it happened was wild, surrendering, addictive. And wonder of wonders, they confessed their feelings.
Following by the most painful twist that made me cry for the third time in this book. Despite the fact that i've never passed by anything near the situation of Sean and Paul, even so, L.A. Witt managed to touch my soul. I felt their pain, their struggles and suffering around something that should be so amazing to feel.
IX - Ending: (5)
If i could (and believe, i could since i am the one who make the rules of it, "chuckles") i would give a lot higher grade to this matter.
SO DAMN-FUCKING-PERFECT! I am really a sucker for happy endings. This couldn't be any different, especially with... well, i will not give you spoilers on that, it's so fucking cute! So, yes! Memorable..
X - Pace (timing): (5)
Perfect timing for everything, the pace of the story, the way each character places their POV's... Awesome in so many differente ways. Read it, pretty please!!!
XI - Re-reading Factor: (5)
Funny fact: i bought this e-book in november 30th, 2016. Finished reading it (i don't quite remember, but...) in 2 days, then immediately read it again - and finished it in less time than before.
Addicting.
XII - Recommendation: (5)
Did you read about re-reading factor? So it's easy to conclude that OF COURSE i recommend it. Fiercely.
XIII - EXTRA POINTS: (+5)
- Bonus points:
. PERFECT SCORE
- Penalties:
. None.
Average: 5 of 5 (from I to XII)
Final grade (applying bonus points): 10 of 10
WOW! It’s just the second review and this is already a serious candidate for the SuperChamp Book of the year! The ABOTY (Awesome Book Of The Year).
I seriously wanted to read more about these two. Pity the Anchor Point Series can be read as stand alone books.
Read it and take your conclusions.
x-o-x-o
AlexM
NEXT REVIEW: “The Current Between Us” by Kindle Alexander