Hiya guys, we have Jay Northcote visiting today with her brand new release Like A Lover, the second book in her Housemates series. We have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Aerin’s review, so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Like A Lover
Jay Northcote
Josh has a plan: get through uni with a good degree and no debts. Focused on his goals, he’s working as an escort to pay his way. He enjoys the no-strings sex and doesn’t have the time or inclination for a relationship. Falling in love definitely isn’t part of the deal—especially not with a client.
When Rupert meets Josh in a bar, he’s smitten on sight. He’s never paid for sex before, but when Josh propositions him, he can’t resist. He should have known one night would never be enough. Luckily for him, he has an inheritance to support his addiction to Josh, because his job in IT wouldn’t cover the cost.
With each appointment the lines get increasingly blurred. Something is developing between them that feels more like a relationship than a business transaction, but they come from different worlds and to go from client-and-escort to lovers seems impossible. If they want a future together, Josh and Rupert have a lot to overcome.
Excerpt
“I like your lip ring,” Rupert said. His gaze dropped lower to Josh’s collarbones. “What are your tattoos of?”
“Swallows.” Rupert would just be able to see the wing tips that showed in this low-necked T-shirt. “Two of them.”
“Have you got any other tattoos?”
Josh gave a slow, teasing smile. “Maybe. Do you want me to show you?”
Rupert met his eyes again. There was a flicker of uncertainty before he answered. “Yes. I’d like that.”
Josh turned over the possibilities in his mind. It had been a long time since he’d had sex for anything other than for money. He usually saw clients at least three nights a week. They scratched the itch for him, and he didn’t have the time or inclination to hook up with other guys. He hadn’t dated since he’d started working as an escort. Josh didn’t like lying about his job, but most guys didn’t want to date escorts.
It would be easy to pick Rupert up tonight, though, and have no-strings sex with him for fun rather than cash. But Josh’s rent was due.
“Me too. But it’ll cost you,” he finally said.
Rupert frowned, obvious confusion crossing his features as he tried to make sense of Josh’s words. “What? I don’t—”
“You’re hot, and I wish I could do this without asking you for money. But a client let me down this evening. I have a hotel room booked and paid for next door, and I need someone to cover the cost for me.” The lie came smoothly. “I can’t afford to have sex for free tonight.”
Rupert’s mouth dropped open. Shock was evident on his face, but there was something else that was harder to read. His cheeks flooded pink again and his eyes went dark. “You’re….” His voice came out husky, and he cleared his throat. “You’re a….”
“A sex worker. An escort, to be precise. Hooker, rent boy, you get the gist. I’m an expensive one too. But my clients think I’m worth the money.” Josh waited, tension making a muscle tick in his jaw as he forced himself to stay still and hold Rupert’s gaze. On the occasions he’d tried picking up clients face-to-face, their reactions had varied. Interest, anger, excitement, disgust… he’d seen them all. He steeled himself, ready for rejection.
Rupert licked his lips. “How much?” he finally asked.
About Jay
Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats.
She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.
Where to find the author:
Website | Twitter | Facebook profile | Facebook Author Page | Jay’s books
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Review
Title: Like a Lover
Series: Housemates 02
Author: Jay Northcote
Genre: Contemporary, Rent boys
Length: Novella
ISBN: JYNRTH0000009
Publisher: Jaybird Press (September 4th 2015)
Heat Level: Steamy
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Aerin
Blurb: Josh has a plan: get through uni with a good degree and no debt. Focused on his goals, he pays his way by working as an escort. He enjoys the no-strings sex because he doesn’t have time for a relationship. Falling in love definitely isn’t part of the deal—especially not with a client.
When Rupert meets Josh in a bar, he’s smitten on sight. He’s never paid for sex, but when Josh propositions him, he can’t resist. He should’ve known one night would never be enough. Luckily for him he has an inheritance to fund his addiction to Josh, because his job in IT support wouldn’t cover the cost.
With each encounter the lines get blurred, creating something that feels more like a relationship than a business transaction. But they come from different worlds, and to go from client-and-escort to lovers seems impossible. If they want a future together, Josh and Rupert have a lot to overcome.
Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK | ARe | Smashwords
Review: This was a very good book, I certainly liked it better than I liked Helping Hand, and yet it fell a bit short. I know exactly why that is, and as great as an author’s writing is, and as addicted to it I am, I believe the rent boy/porn star theme has been overused recently, and there’s no novelty to it at all…same old same old; rent boy meets and falls for a client, the client falls for the rent boy and spends ridiculous amounts of money to have sex with him.
I liked Josh in book #1 and was looking forward to his story, but he didn’t exactly fit the image I had of him; I certainly wasn’t expecting him to be a rent boy, but he was still a very likable character. I have a limit of no more than 1 rent-boy stories a month, and yet somehow I ended up with 3 this past month; this was probably the reason why I liked Josh but I didn’t love him. I had a hard time relating to him and his stubbornness to treat Rupert as a client when feelings started to develop between then rubbed me the wrong way.
I was going to rate this book 3 hearts, but Rupert saved the day; the whole time I read this story I imagined Seth Fornea, and that made me extremely happy. Rupert is a sexy redhead nerd (yes, I have a thing for redheads) and his fascination and attachment to Josh, not to mention his passion in the sack, was what did it for me. Hello Seth Fornea, I loved imagining you in the role of Rupert, it made for some seriously hot sex scenes. That’s one thing I absolutely loved, the chemistry between Josh and Rupert, which made for some intense and very steamy sex.
I also liked the alternating POVs, because I loved being in both Josh’s and Rupert’s heads, but that still didn’t help me understand what person in their right mind pays so much for sex when they have the body and the looks to get it for free. We also get a few glimpses of Jez (for some reason I keep calling him “JEEZ” in my head) and Mac from Helping Hand, and it’s good to know the straight-turned-gay guys are doing so well together.
If you’re a fan of Jay’s you’ll like this one. Recommended!
Like all of Jay’s books, this sounds amazing.
HHHmmm- this sounds really hot. Can’t wait to read it!