The Heir Apparent by Tere Michaels

heir_apparentTitle:  The Heir Apparent

Series:  N/A

Author:  Tere Michaels

Genre:   Suspense/Contemporary

Length:  166 pages

Publisher:  Loose Id (February 26, 2013)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥3Hearts

Blurb:   Henry Walker is the only son of a wealthy businessman – and heir to a vast company. It is his birthright and destiny. But Henry only truly desires the one thing he cannot have…time to spend with his lover, Archie Banks. Archie is his childhood friend turned driver, bodyguard and dirty little secret. Circumstances make it difficult for them to sneak moments together – something that will become impossible once Archie moves on after he graduates from college.

They fear the uncertain future, and what will become of their blossoming feelings – but nothing prepares them for the danger and disaster about to overwhelm their lives. A shocking kidnapping leads to tragedy and suddenly Henry and Archie are thrust into a dramatic fight against an unknown enemy. They must fight not only be together, but to also save the company Henry has been groomed to run his entire life.

Product Link:  http://www.loose-id.com/the-heir-apparent.html

Reviewer:   Tams

Review:  This book hit the ground running! Henry Walker, only child and heir to his father’s multimillion dollar company is secretly in love with his best friend. Archie Banks grew up at the Walker estate. He is Henry’s chauffer, bodyguard and lover. A kidnapping leaves both men seriously injured, and the FBI are convinced Archie is behind it. Left to their own devices in an all too tiny apartment, the relationship between these two secret lovers blooms into something more. When the smoke clears will Henry finally admit he’s in love with Archie? Or will he keep his bodyguard in the closet, along with the truth about his sexuality.

If this book had wavered from the initial chapter, even slightly, I might not have finished it. The childhood friends turned lovers aspect is starting to wear me thin in the M/M genre. But Michael’s managed to find the right balance by starting the story on a cliff, and riding the consistency of the plot from there. Yes, I saw the bad guy coming a mile away, but that’s not what the whole of this story was about. I really enjoyed reading Henry and Archie’s relationship as it evolved from just sex to love. The secondary characters were vital to the story as well, even though I figured out who the bad guy was early on, everyone had a part to play and I was intrigued by each and every one of them.

This is the first of Tere Michaels books that I’ve read, but I will definitely be on the lookout for more. The story was engaging and the characters grabbed me, especially Henry and Archie. Their sex scenes were not extremely explicit, but neither were they overall. Michaels still managed to convey the want, need and electricity between them regardless.

If you like M/M romance with that element of mystery and just a teensy bit of intrigue, then this is the book for you.