Reviewed by Donna

TITLE: As The Leaves Fall

SERIES: Love For The Seasons #1

AUTHOR: RJ Jones

PUBLISHER: Vivid Blue Press

LENGTH: 126 Pages

RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2016

BLURB:

The perfect job or the perfect man. Surely Aiden and Noah can have both, right?

Aiden Turner’s world flipped upside down when his vengeful ex-boyfriend destroyed a major project, costing his uncle’s architectural firm an important client. Feeling guilty, Aiden has since sworn off all romantic involvement with anyone he works with.

Noah Walker is getting ready to interview for his dream role when he catches Aiden’s eye on the London Tube. They strike up a conversation, and even though the attraction sizzles between them, Noah must decline the offer of a morning coffee. The interview is crucial, and he needs to focus on getting the job, not getting a date.

When Aiden discovers the enigmatic man on the train is the same man he is interviewing, he is torn. But he knows Noah is the right man for the job, and he attempts to put some professional distance between them. However, it’s not long before Noah makes his way under Aiden’s skin.

Neither man can afford to risk their employment, but keeping their relationship a secret takes its toll. When things get ugly, they need to decide what’s more important—or if the job is worth the sacrifice.

REVIEW:

I couldn’t date him. I couldn’t touch him, taste him.

Oh, such delicious sexual frustration! Although RJ Jones has written some lighter romances she’s probably best known for the crushing angst of her first novel turned series, Out of the Blue. In this first book of a brand new series (Love For The Seasons) she’s taken her considerable talent for evoking emotion in both her readers and her characters and used it to bury these poor MCs in a landslide of unfulfilled, scorching attraction. Which might not be so fun for them, but I know I enjoyed the ever lovin’ heck out of it.

Aiden knows what can happen when you mix work with pleasure and he’s vowed never to make that mistake again. So when the gorgeous guy he’s been ogling on the train turns out to be the newest member of his family’s architectural firm, he tries to convince himself that he can keep the relationship completely professional. Easier said than done. Noah is definitely interested in Aiden, despite the fact that the firm has a no fraternization rule, and he’s pretty sure that Aiden is interested too. But Aiden’s mixed signals are confusing the hell out of him, and leave him uncertain just where he stands with his sexy work colleague.

Now as I read back what I just wrote, it can see that it sounds like one of those annoying – together/apart – push/pull – I must have you/stay away from me, type romances that leave you rolling your eyes and knowing you’ve read this a thousand times before. But this book differs. How? Well, I’m not really sure, but I think it might be the fact that the author set up a situation that made their hesitation credible. On top of that, the “moments” that Aiden and Noah had were so well written that I could feel that excitement, remember that stomach clenching thrill of a first touch, a first kiss. The anticipation was so exhilarating that I almost didn’t want them to give in to their passion and end it. But give in they did, and I can promise that there was nothing disappointing about what happened next…

The “Britishness” of this story was only lightly played up (well, from my Aussie POV) and shouldn’t require anyone to Google the meaning of certain words or phrases. I love England as a setting for stories, but sometimes I have no bloody idea what is being said. It was a nice change to read “mum” and see people drinking pints in pubs called the Slug and Lettuce. Seriously, could you get a more English sounding pub name? Also, I love reading “arse” in a sex scene. It always sounds so much dirtier than “ass”.

It’s safe to say that I’m pretty excited by this series. The second book is released next month and stars just the little wanker I wanted to read about next.

For all those readers that bemoan the lack of connection between main characters, I’m pretty sure this book will cause no complaints.

RATING: 

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