My rating: 3 of 5 stars
**ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.**
I liked the concept of this story: An escort is hired to assist a married couple with a rather unique bedroom issue. Told from the escort’s POV, the reader gets a candid look into his profession as a sex worker, fulfilling fantasies of well-to-do couples and individuals.
JD has a pretty awesome skill set: he’s bisexual, good at reading cues, and can adapt to any situation in the blink of an eye. The story jumps right into the erotica, setting the tone for the rest of the story. This is definitely not a book for anyone easily shocked or embarrassed by explicit sex scenes. (One would have to wonder why such a person would pick up a book about an escort–with “escort” in the title, no less.)
The reader gets to see the glamorous side of JD’s job (hot and varying sex with mostly classy people) and the somewhat seedy side (role playing taken a bit too extreme). Jasper/JD’s feelings and emotions are perfectly conveyed, and it’s easy to get absorbed in his train of thought.
While I liked Jasper/jD, I felt disconnected from Nick and Ali. I didn’t get Nick or Ali’s inner thoughts because everything is told through Jasper/JD’s eyes and perception. I also didn’t feel the emotional connection between the three. It was apparent to me that Jasper was lonely and seeking a committed relationship. Ali, on the other hand, came across as a bit spoiled and entitled. Nick almost seemed like Ali’s doormat.
There were some word choices that were slightly off-putting for me. As I mentioned, the story starts off with an explicit sexual encounter, and while I have absolutely no issue with explicit content, the use of the words “juicy” and “cream” was unpleasant for me to read. Thankfully, those words were not used again. Additionally, Jasper/JD and Nick frequently call each other “dude” and “buddy”, even after they agree to end their professional relationship and pursue a personal one. Not words I associate with romantic or sexual partners.
Another issue I had with the story was the manipulation of the three by a minor character. This made the whole premise seem unauthentic.
Overall, the writing was good but the story left me feeling like something was missing.