Review: Reporting In – Vanessa North

Reporting In
by Vanessa North
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: July 30, 2018
Genres: Romance
Pages: 68
Source: NetGalley

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

My rating:

The Dirty Bits from Carina Press give you what you want, when you want it. Designed to be read in an hour or two, these sex-filled micro-romances are guaranteed to pack a punch and deliver a happily-ever-after.

An after-hours workplace encounter turns into an exploration of two men’s very compatible kinks

Behind closed doors, in the office and out, Steven and Jake explore their tastes for rough sex, chastity cages, and dominance and submission.

That Jake is Steven’s IRL boss only makes it better.

There’s only one rule between them: no matter how hot their power play gets, it only happens if Steven feels safe. Personally and professionally.

But when what starts as two guys blowing off steam turns into real feelings above the waist, it’s not that simple.

Going public—having a relationship—would mean putting both their jobs on the line.

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Wow, I haven’t read anything by Vanessa North before, but I definitely need to change that!  In my mind, this novella perfectly fulfills what I look to the Dirty Bits line for – steamy read that introduces me to a new author.  It’s also the first m/m one I’ve read in this line, and I’m definitely hoping for more LGBT reads.  Here’s hoping for an f/f one next!

While I like reading workplace romances, I’m also very sensitive to power differentials between the two main characters.  It reads like an easy way to introduce conflict into their relationship, and sometimes it’s used in lieu of providing more substance to the characters.  While that trope is used in this book, both characters were very aware of it, so I think it was well done.

Jake is into some pretty kinky stuff, including chastity play, which I was previously pretty unfamiliar with.  I like that it showed Steven’s initial ambivalence about some of it as well as how he comes to trust Jake.  While there’s a lot of kinky sex, there’s also some correspondingly sweet and emotionally intense parts that I felt were equally well done.

Overall, I think this was a fun and steamy novella, perfect for someone who’s looking for some kinky – but quick – BDSM m/m.

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