Title: Settling the Score
Series: CalPac Crew, #4
Author: Christopher Koehler
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 978-1-61581-652-1
Length: Novel (320 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 16th, 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 3.5~4 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: Stuart Cochrane and Philip Sundstrom make an unlikely pair. Philip’s brother, Brad, can’t imagine his brother with another man, let alone with the coxswain he razzed throughout his college rowing career. But somehow, they settle into a relationship that works as Philip helps Stuart navigate the pressures of deciding between medical school and competing for a spot on the national rowing team. In turn, Stuart helps Philip with his problems at work, where he’s faced with a rebellious board of directors.
Yet soon enough, the pressures take their toll. Stuart comes to resent the easy way Philip spends money, while Philip worries about Stuart’s time commitments. He’ll do anything to come to the rescue, including spending his money to grease the rails for Stuart, but Stuart resents the rich so much it drives a wedge between them.
Then Stuart finds himself facing the greatest crisis of his life. There’s only one person he can turn to—but Philip has his own demons to battle in the form of his board trying to frame him for their own unethical actions. Will Philip be able to aid Stuart while he extricates himself from his board’s trap, or will his divided attention cost them both everything that matters?
Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4472
Review: I must say I’m quite delighted to have started this New Year with such a nicely written book. I enjoyed every line of this story, but most of all I fell in love with the writing itself. The underlying wittiness and peculiar humor made it a heck of a ride, and gave me such a great time.
This story is a part of a series that I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t read before. However, it’s easily read as a standalone. The only problem I faced was, or rather is the fact that I want to go grab all the books of the series now and inhale them.
So in this book you’ll read Stuart Cochrane and Philip Sundstrom’s love story. Stuart is getting ready to start med school while at the same time he’s been given the opportunity to compete for a spot on the National Rowing team. The stress of decision-making is wearing him down, and there comes Philip, like an unwavering rock to ask him the one question no one has before. What does Stuart want? As for Philip, this confident, cool man, dangerous like a shark, he finds a quiet strength and wisdom in Stuart that helps him ground his deeply hidden emotions. Mostly, Stuart brings out the best of him right about the time when he feels lost and alone in the world.
What starts as casual friendship with benefits turns quickly into more and while emotions and feeling grow stronger, so does differences and mostly Stuart’s hang ups with money. Before either of them knows it, things start collapsing and the couple faces a permanent break.
Okay, so I really, really wanted to slap the hell out of Stuart. This character was frustrating to the point I’d love a chance to shake him up a bit. His past did quite a number in him and the fact he couldn’t let go the money issue until the very end made me wishes I had this book in paperback and slam it on someone’s head. As charming and lovable as he was, he was a total jerk and God I got pissed with him, as in really pissed. So while I recognize the fact that this fictional character took life for me at some point, the frustration I felt for most of the read just put me down a bit. But Philip’s character made up for it in spades. I simply adored him. I loved his cold and calculating nature. I loved his icy patience. I worshiped his incredibly awesome revenge on his father. The entire CEO persona was just one huge turn on that quite literally made me drool over him, but when he went off of his office, and into Stuart’s arms, turning into a completely different man, I just lost it. For me this character was the shining spot and the reason to read this book all over again. I can’t say how memorable he is, and what an impact he makes, even as I felt that he should have made Stuart grovel a bit after the stunt he pulled for Christmas.
Overall, the love story was great and quite approachable. Even as Philip was a bit surreal for me at times, I enjoyed this relationship immensely. The erotic part was fantastic and so down to earth I just wanted more and more. Sensual and hot, this pair literally makes you scream for more. The chemistry is strong and the writing makes it able for you to feel their intensity, not only through the erotic scenes, but also through their overall relationship. I also have to admit to tearing up there for a couple of scenes. I don’t think anyone can suffer through the Pittsburgh scene all cool and composed, and the cover scene is an emotional rollercoaster as well.
As for the rest of the book, when you take away the romance and erotic parts, you’re left with a great story, highly intriguing and enticing. Now, the bitch in me would have been better satisfied with a bit more salt at the wounds of the baddies, but alas, no one can have it all, right?
Bottom end, I loved this book, it was great, awesome even, and I strongly recommend it to fans of Contemporary Romance. As for me, I need to go and catch up with the previous CalPac Crew books as well. Enjoy!