Reviewed by Taylin
SERIES REVIEW: Knights Club, books 1-2
AUTHOR: C.J. Baty
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
TITLE: Starting Over
LENGTH: 82 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 18, 2018
BLURB:
Xavier Knight was starting his life over. A new city. A new club. The past was gone, and he had everything to look forward to… except… love. That ship had sailed, never to return. He was too old to play the games or stack up the one night stands. Until, an old enemy’s son walked into his club and his heart.
Sebastian Brady was through. Through with hiding who he was. Through letting his brother officers dictate his life. And completely through, with his family telling him who he was. He turned his back on his badge and his family’s heritage in the Atlanta police force. But, he never imagined that he’d be serving drinks in a gay bar and working for the hottest silver fox he had ever seen in his life.
Xavier and Seb have a lot to learn from each other. Hopefully, their growing love will survive Xavier’s past, Seb’s family, and a host of characters with secrets of their own, who all work at the Knights Club.
REVIEW:
As per the title, Starting Over applies to more than one character in this story. First Stoney sells his Atlanta exclusive night club to Xavier, shedding the last of his old life to look for pastures new. Xavier too saw the sale as a chance to move on. He had a club in Miami that went pear-shaped after Xavier found his lover had cheated on him. So, Xavier was done with love. But fate had not finished with him.
Enter Sebastian Brady. Being cops was the family trade, and he hated it – so, much to the disgust of his brothers he stopped. Having been given a glimpse of what Seb endured on the force, I immediately felt for him.
Xavier and Sebastian are introduced via a mutual friend, Damien. Despite Seb being the son of one of the gay communities (now dead) arch enemies, he was hired.
As for the wider cast, Calypso is a scene stealer, which I suspect is why the author made him the subject matter of the next story in the series. Pixie too has her moment. Her introduction to the story, I loved – Quote – “My name is Pixie Rose. That doesn’t mean I am a dainty little woman with no experience at working in a club. I’ve waited tables in places where you wouldn’t send your worst enemy. I’m not interested in who fucks who— as long as they don’t fuck with me. I won’t take bullshit from anyone.” She eyed Xavier up and down. “Not even high-class queers.”
For the length that it is, 82 pages, this novella is entertaining. There’s a bit of sass, the sex sizzles, there is drama and a twist that I didn’t expect, but mainly two men standing up for what they believe in to move forward from their old lives. Starting Over doesn’t contain any over the top angst-ridden moments or dramatic overtures, but it reads as though everything is natural, and is an excellent foundation story to base others off while being very readable in its own right.
RATING: 
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TITLE: Letting Go
LENGTH: 93 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2018
BLURB:
Calypso knew he looked good. He loved bright colors, makeup, and most of all, high heels. The higher the better. The sassy mouth and self-assured man he presented to the outside world wasn’t how he felt on the inside. At the Knights Club he hide the self-doubt and depression. Until, Benedict Hart walked in bringing all his old demons back to life.
Benedict Hart was a high-priced gigolo. It’s not what he started out in life to do but it paid the bills. Meeting Calypso at the Knights Club turned his world upside down. The man was sexy, smart mouthed and completely sure of himself. He made Benedict want things he hadn’t thought about in years. Losing a dear friend spurs him into action, but will his past get in their way?
The Knights Club hosts a group of characters diverse in every way, but they are family. Xavier Knight watches over them as if they were his children. And, like most families, things don’t always run smoothly.
REVIEW:
This story revolves around Calypso and Benedict. Calypso made a grand entrance in Starting Over. His colorful style, four-inch red heels and a mouth made for sass, made him a character to love and want to know more about. But, when he receives several calls from a sister that he keeps ignoring, Xavier knows something is up. Even if one hadn’t read the first book, the story of the red heels that launches Letting Go, immediately endears Calypso to the reader.
Benedict Hart is a male prostitute that also made a brief appearance in book one. He is looking to get out of the business, which isn’t easy. Add in the mutual attraction between him and Calypso, and there is a recipe for something either wonderful or disastrous. In this case a bit of both.
Letting Go, is a more emotionally charged read. One with more drama too. Two such interesting leading men attract attention, both in different ways. Calypso attracts the unwanted attention of a group of men in the bar. Family throws a spanner in the works too. Benedict must deal with the fall-out from having a high-class client base and a future boyfriend who won’t tolerate being messed about.
There was a lot of this story that I liked very much. Calypso and Benedict in bed is an entertaining ride, in more ways than one. And for me, it is Calypso that makes this story. From start to finish, he is on a rollercoaster. As I was already vested in this character, he took me on the emotional journey with him, even though a couple of the arcs were expected.
Benedict is loving, supporting and adorable, with his own journey to complete. And, yes there is a cock up or two along the way. However, given his background, I think more could have been done with him, but that would have extended this novella into novel territory. These two could certainly hold their own in a bigger story.
Calypso proves that he is stronger and has more depth than his orange blouse and red heels indicates. Outwardly, Calypso holds his own, while inside he is a wreck. Benedict proves there is more to him than fucking someone with a big wallet, venturing into new emotional territory. Both men have baggage and they both have quite the learning curve.
This story has some big emotional/physical highs and lows. The angst and drama also suited my reading tastes. I can’t help feeling this couple have a more adventurous destiny than happy ever after in the suburbs – so I’ll keep my eyes open.
RATING: 
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