Capital Games by G. A. Hauser
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Book Reviews of Capital Games
Book Review: Reconciling sexuality not an easy task.
Summary: 5 Stars
Following his resignation from the police force (and subsequent end of a relationship with a foxy female attorney), Steve Miller put his social life on "hold" as he competed for a promotion at a prestigious advertising agency. At a "team building retreat" in the New Mexico desert, Steve is teamed with his main competition at the firm, a charismatic and handsome Brit named Marc, and both men are very surprised by the turn of events when a night stranded in the desert turns into the most satisfying sexual experience either has ever had. Neither man had considered himself gay or bisexual, with macho Steve's past dating history and Marc's current engagement to be married. When it happens again (and again), with even more intense feelings, Steve is reconciled to the fact that he is indeed in love with Marc, but Marc - unwilling to confront his family, friends and fianc? - continues with his wedding plans, much to Steve's chagrin. It's a dilemma both men are agonizing over, with family and friends trying to help them make the right decision.
As usual, G. A. Hauser spins a realistic and engaging romantic tale, with just the right amount of erotic content that never gets in the way of the story she is trying to tell. There's a cute wink-wink to her devoted readers, when one of the characters, in trying to reconcile his gay leanings, picks up a gay romance novel called "The Kiss" ... one of hers, of course! My one "nitpick" here is that the title is a bit misleading, as one expects a story based in Washington DC or at least within the financial industry, but that doesn't merit any reduction of the rating, which is five stars out of five.
Book Review: Ambivalence
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is about ambivalence of several kinds: over the sexuality of the two protagonists (straight or gay), and over their feelings for each other. Steve and Mark have each been the protagonist in two previous works by this author, in each case the guy found a hot lady to fall in love with, so they both (and everyone else) thought they were straight. Steve's relationship with his girlfriend had already devolved into a friendship without sex, but Mark, who lived with a beautiful gay roommate (in love with Mark) with whom he did NOT have sex, was engaged to and close to marrying his fiancee, Sharon. While Steve never had any difficulty resolving sexual orientation once he realized what he felt for Mark, Mark was on the verge of marriage to someone he'd once loved and had lots of ambivalence over what he should do about it in light of his exploding interest in Steve.
The two were competitors for an extremely valuable account for their advertising firm and hated each other instinctively because of the competition. Then they fell head over heels in love with each other and each had, at least early on, to fight strong ambivalence over their competing needs: to win the account (job) or to win the honey (love and steamy sex). More ambivalence.
It's a good book and I recommend it, but I can only give it four stars instead of five because I basically became disgusted with Mark well before the end of the story. I liked Steve and generally believe that he did what he had to do, except I wasn't sure why he went to the wedding after he'd realized he was being played. He was glad he did, but I didn't believe that Mark was brave enough or strong enough to do what he did at the end of the book, even though the author wrote his actions into the plotline. Enjoy; maybe you will have a different reaction to Mark than I did.
Book Review: Capital Games- A Joyfully Recommended Title
Summary: 5 Stars
YES! Anger, frustration, jealousy, and passion all happened between two ad executives competing for the same high dollar account. Steve Miller is currently one of the top salesmen at his company, when newcomer Mark Richfield is hired and lands a huge account within days of employment. Steve expected the advertising world to be less dangerous than his stint as a Los Angeles police officer, but corporate politics seem to be taking over both his personal and professional life with the all likelihood of breaking his heart in the process. Mark is polished, sexy, charismatic, British and everything Steve admires in a man.
When top management and company executives are required to attend a team building retreat, the sparks, arguments, tension, and sexual desires all explode when Steve and Mark are on their own in the middle of the desert. In Capital Games, I found both Steve and Mark to be men I liked. Steve was upfront and honest about his feelings, though easy to anger. Mark, as sexy as he was, drove me nuts with his desire to please the people in his life, from his family to his fianc?. And see, that one little problem word: fianc?? Can Steve convince Mark to become a permanent fixture in Steve's life and cancel the wedding?
I enjoyed watching the relationship unfold and especially the sexual attraction between the two men and the games they played! HOT! Humorous note: look for mention of the book The Kiss, also by G.A. Hauser. The reference was tied to the plot of the story and was fun to see Steve pick it up for his reading pleasure. Capital Games for me is a Joyfully Recommended Read!!!!
Beth Anne
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Book Review: Sexy and intelligent-
Summary: 5 Stars
If you follow this author's novels you'll recognize some faces! Mark is from A Question of Sex, and Steve is from Miller's Tale. Two hot handsome men competing for the same high-powered job literally battle in the desert in New Mexico during a business retreat. The love/hate relationship is both hilarious and intense. Great surprise ending too.Book Review: Capital Games by G.A. Hauser
Summary: 5 Stars
G.A. Hauser has to have a kink for English brat... and if she continues at writing so beautiful stories she will manage to pass me her kink!
Steve is a young executive at an advertising firm. He is a very successful man and till now he has had not interest in men (even if he has fantasized about a porn actor who performed in gay film when he was still a teen). Instead he is still mourning on his former girlfriend, a beautiful and strong-head Afro-American woman, who has dumped him with no apparent reason. And now the new guy on the firm, an handsome Brit block, charming and outspoken, apparently is on the good way to stole him an important contract he has worked so hard to obtain.
Mark has spent all his life to claim to all the world he is not gay. Too handsome for his own good, first his abusive father has tried to take off him the "queerness", then during the college he has avoided the advance of his gay roommate, and best friend, and then during his first work, he was obliged to quit cause all the innuendo from the colleagues about him gay. And now he is about to marrying a girl he no more loves, and maybe he has never loved, only cause it seems to complicate to stop the flow.
But when Steve and Mark meet, better crash, the sparks fly and the sex seems inevitable, and when happens is so good! Steve and Mark are two young stud in heat. It seems impossible not to touch, and then they work good as a team and so neither at work it will be a problem if they are a couple. Steve wants Mark and wants him in his life forever, but Mark is too bound to duty and even if he craves Steve's touch, everytime he tries to quit with his fiance, the courage seems to lack.
Steve and Mark are very intensive characters: they fight, they fuck, they love and they cry, but I have never had of them a feminine perception, they are all male and very sexy. I don't know if they are the female fantasy of how we women want to imagine two male in love, but I like them very much. Steve is in love and Steve has no problem to say it aloud; Steve lusts for Mark and Steve has Mark where he wants and when he wants. Mark is in love with Steve, but he is not the perfect man who can, without second thoughts, drop everything and embrace his new "gay" future. They fight and Mark seduces Steve not with words but with his body, because he loves and he aches to be far from Steve.
Capital Games is a novel who has aroused and satisfied me.
P.S. The cover doesn't suit the book, both Steve and Mark are more handsome of the guy on it.