Reviewed by Carissa
TITLE: Worth a Shot
SERIES: FIT Guys #2
AUTHOR: Kim Dare
PUBLISHER: self-pub
LENGTH: 175 pages
RATING: 
BLURB:
Everyone knows that Tony Landon’s dated dozens of different men and women since he joined the athletics department at the Falconer Institute of Training. Everyone who’s ever gossiped with one of his exes knows that he’s kinky, too.
Donovan’s reputation at the institute is different. The only reason people are pretty sure he’s gay is because he drinks at the same pub as most of the gay and bi Falconer guys, and he’s never actually said he’s straight when he’s brushed them all off.
Tony’s been flirting with Donovan ever since Donovan joined the institute’s archery programme. Even though a whole year has passed and Donovan’s never given him the slightest encouragement, Tony can’t quite convince himself to give up hope.
Donovan has his reasons for not flirting back whenever Tony hits on him—right up until a snippet of overheard gossip lets him in on an interesting fact that just might change everything.
The odds are stacked against two very different men ever finding happiness together, but as far as Tony and Donovan are concerned, it’s still worth a shot.
Author note: While this story can be read as a standalone title, some elements might make more sense if you’ve already read Worth Waiting For.
REVIEW:
“Maybe you do make me more nervous than most men in here,” he confessed.
“Because I’m bi and most of them are gay?” Tony asked, conversationally, as if he really wouldn’t take offense if Donovan said yes.
Damn, but it was tempting to say yes. The only other option was the truth and there was no way in hell he could actually say: Because I really want to have sex with you, but I think I might have a panic attack if I try to do that.
Donovan has had a somewhat terrible track-record when it comes to guys. After his first thing with a guy was a bit of an emotional fuck-up, Donovan has pretty much tried to avoid relationships–or even flirting. It just isn’t worth it. He cannot trust that one innocent flirt will not lead guys to think that he wants more. And even if parts of him do want more–especially with the hot runner, Tony–he can’t get past the fear. When he overhears that Tony has been forced into three weeks of celibacy by his coach, Donovan figures that maybe this once he can risk flirting back. And maybe a bit more.
After years of wanting Donovan, Tony is over the moon that he is actually giving him the time of day. But is his playboy past and Donovan’s bad track-record going to ruin their chance at love? Or is the trust they are building enough to make love worth the shot?
This sure has been one kinky week. And one filled with so many really great books. Worth a Shot by Kim Dare certainly is one of them. Slightly tamer (and less angsty) than some of my other kinky readings, it is nonetheless a very good story.
Most of this book is dealing with Donovan and his fear that if he gives even a hint of an inch with guys, they will end up running roughshod over him, his desires, and his ability to say no. Donovan’s first ‘relationship’ (although I guess it would be better to say ‘experience,’ since what Donovan had going on with that asshole-of-the-year, Ryan, was in no way a relationship) was abusive as hell. It left Donovan with some pretty bad emotional and mental scars, and a whole lot of trust issues. Now he is terrified of most gay men (and some straight women–if they don’t back the hell off when he tells them he is gay) and has to constantly fight between his desire for Tony and his need to run and protect himself.
I really like that this book was not about a quick fix for Donovan. What had happened to him, and how he had been living ever since, is not something to be fixed with just a hot kiss or a quick fuck. Trust has to be built and maintained between the two men. And I loved that there was forward motion, as well as backward steps. Sometimes life is 2 steps forward, 1 step back. It was nice to see just how complicated Tony and Donovan’s relationship was.
And Tony was just great. He certainly had his Dom side, but he also was not afraid to laugh with Donovan. To make what they had both hot and fun. He understood just how slowly he was going to have to go, if he wanted to keep Donovan, so even as he was working to help him, Tony was not afraid to slow down, stop, or even go back to a place where they had already been and found safety. And while Tony is afraid that he might end up losing Donovan–once he is healed enough to see a future and not just be tied down by his past–Tony goes after what he wants. And who he loves. Never without Donovan’s consent, but not cowed by Donovan’s fears either.
While the kink in this book is a little tamer than some of my other reads, it was still very hot. I can totally appreciate a love of being tied down, and Donovan’s reaction to the cuffs was just great. This was very much a start of their relationship, and their exploration of the kinkier aspects of bedroom play. And the bit with the vibrator was awesome–slow, steady, and blowing Donovan’s head right off. So good.
We also get to see a little bit of Colby and Noah (from the first book in the series)…as well as a small reappearance of the stalker-telescope. Also Tony’s friends, Mike and Cosmos, show up. Kinda hoping that if there is another book in this series we will be getting Cosmos’ story. He seems like a great character and I’d love to get to know him better.
This book was a lot of fun and just the right amount of spice. I had a blast reading it. This would be a good story to read if you like your BDSM a little on the light side. I have to say, Kim Dare gets me once again with her great characters and hot romances.