Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: High and Tight
SERIES: Cedar Falls #7
AUTHOR: Shea Balik
PUBLISHER: Siren-Bookstrand Inc
LENGTH: 113 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2015
BLURB:
Kit Cahill has run from one abusive monster who enjoyed belittling him, right into the clutches of his aunt who delights in letting Kit know what a failure he is. So when he is rescued by a couple of friends and literally handed his own hair salon, Kit is sure they are playing a joke on him.
Angelo Brunetti sees the most exquisite man in need sitting alone. The emotional pain Kit has suffered shines brightly in the man’s eyes only to be stuffed down with food. Angelo knows he could provide a better way of dealing with that pain, while helping to build Kit’s self-esteem, but first he has to get Kit to give him a chance.
REVIEW:
If there was any doubt how much I adore Jesse, there isn’t after this book. Of course, he’s up to some of his usual shenanigans, but Jesse is sharp as a rack, loyal to a fault and will move heaven itself for his friends and family. And there are some triggers. Emotional and verbal abuse, possibly physical. Depression with emotional run to foods. Body shaming.
Sweet, sweet Kit. Someone who has to use food to feel better, until the guilt settles in. He ran from Atlanta, where he at one time had friends and a great job. But the asshole he was dating, had pushed too far and he had to run. Unfortunately, it was back to his parents and in his aunt Trudy’s hair shop. His aunt is doing everything to put him down. Berating him, belittling him, body shaming him, yet shoving food under his face on purpose. She won’t let him work on women’s hair, even though he could, she only lets him do men, which he makes no money off of. But he finally got to do a woman hair and his aunt said the lady was so upset and was going to sue. He ran crying. Ended up in The Collared Pup, to wash away his sorrows.
What he didn’t know, was there were people watching over him. Jesse, to set things straight about the woman, and to help behind the scenes to get Kit his own shop. But Angelo was watching as well. And seeing how upset Kit was, he wanted to do nothing but comfort the beautiful man. And run his fingers through the gorgeous locks of his. But first, he has to finally come out of his closet. He wouldn’t do that to Kit. So it’s time to be free to see the man he’s going to make his. It’s going to take a whole lot of trust, and overcoming fears, and a lot more to make things work, but Angelo is not going to give up on Kit or them.
I hate abusive asshole who belittle people to make themselves better. If someone confronts them, they most often run with their tails between their legs, but before that can happen, there is usually some severe damage that’s been done. And for Kit, it was very severe. Between his aunt and his ex, he feels like nothing but a fat, piggy, loser. Their words, now his. It’s been beaten into his head so often, he often zones out or has some kind of panic attack because of it.
When Angelo sees what’s going on, he wants to help. Jesse and Ethan got their first, but he ended up getting roped in to give something to Kit that he’s more than earned. His own shop. And Angelo sees he’s going to have to be slow and patient with Kit as well. But two different times he’s had to go so far as even spank the man to get him out of his head. And Angelo realizes it’s time to show Kit how much he’s worth. And how he does it made me bawl like a baby. There are setbacks at times. Thanks to his aunt. But Jesse fixes that issue lol. But more importantly, Kit is starting to see how much he really loved and how much people think he’s good at his job. And when he blossoms, it’s beautiful.
Another great story. It deals with a lot, but it’s so good. I love how the ‘subs’ are all joining together to form a bond and friendship. Something Kit desperately needs. Of course, calling Jesse a sub wouldn’t be a good idea. He’s not really one lol. The point is, he’s family, they are a family. And they take care of their own.
And after reading this one, someone REALLY needs to get rid of the mayor and Betty Sue.
RATING: 
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