Book Review: Takeover by Anna Zabo

Title: Takeover
Author: Anna Zabo
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided via NetGalley
Published: August 19, 2014 by InterMix

Michael Sebastian thought Curacao would be the perfect place to have a little fun in the sun—and between the sheets. So far, no one has struck his interest, until Sam Anderson walks into the bar. With one look at his tense body and expensive suit, Michael knows that this is a man in need of release. And Michael is more than willing to lend a hand.

Shattered by the most intense sex he’s ever had, Sam has to face the facts—one night with a handsome, dominating stranger is all he gets before returning to the closet he’s been suffocating in for years. But when Sam starts his new job as the CEO of a failing technology company, he discovers that Michael is one of his new employees.

While Michael is desperate for another night with Sam, he knows he shouldn’t get involved with his boss, let alone another man who can’t accept who he is. But as they’re forced to work together to save the company, the desire sparking between them becomes impossible to ignore

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Intense romance where I understood the characters, their needs, motivations and their attraction to each other. I’m no fan of BDSM but this novel made me understand why these characters wanted that in their relationship.

The Set Up: Sam works for a venture capital firm and he’s just been made the CEO of a failing tech company when he decides to treat himself to a night of fun. He never expects to meet Michael, a man who understands Sam’s secret desires—and is one of his new employees.

Why I Read This Book: Loved the cover.

What I Like: Michael and Sam have a very mature but erotic relationship that I totally loved. Michael is confident in who he is and what he wants in life, especially after being horribly wronged by his ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend. He sets and enforces his own limits with Sam and this juxtaposed with his desire for Sam offers a compelling tension. I loved how the author shows readers why Sam and Michael feel and act the way they do, especially since this novel is primarily about their relationship. I also really appreciated the progression of Sam and Michael’s relationship. They had some tension, obviously, but it was a mature “how-do-we-make-this-work” kind, not the stupid misunderstanding kind. 

What I Also Like: It’s extremely rare that I enjoy BDSM in my romance, I’m vanilla like that. But I totally understood why Sam and Michael would both desire this in their relationship. The eroticism was the foundation for the men but their real connection was in friendship. The emotionally intimacy was just as intense when they were having coffee together as after Sam was flogged. This author created complex characters in Sam and Michael and a perfectly balanced relationship. I hope she’ll write romance that isn’t BDSM (teaser in back is another I suspect) because I will buy that in a nano-second.

What I Didn’t Like: There is a side plot of the tech company that Michael co-founded and now works at. I liked this but the evil guy that nearly destroys Sam and Michael I didn’t get. Sam speculates on why the baddie is out to get them but that fizzles out. I like plots wrapped up much tighter than this one was. Still, it was a good backdrop for the men’s relationship development so it worked.

IMO: Takeover is a deliciously erotic and emotional romance that I would highly recommend even if you’re not normally a BDSM fan.

J9’s Rating:

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