Book Title: Abstract Love
Author: Sara Dobie Bauer
Publisher: Self-published
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Release Date: September 4, 2020
Genre/s: Contemporary MM romance
Trope/s: enemies-to-lovers, age gap, co-workers, office romance,
bisexuality, businessmen, artists, bondage, comedy
Themes: sexual awakening
Possible triggers: depression, suicidal ideations, biphobia
Length: 71 000 words
It is a standalone book.
Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited
I hate Sam Shelby. So why do I want to kiss him?
Blurb
Sam never expected to move back to Cleveland.
Donovan never expected to be attracted to a man.
Well, shit happens.
After high school, Sam Shelby moved to New York. Eight years later, he returns to Cleveland and lands a job at the best ad firm in town. It would be the perfect gig, if his boss weren’t such an ass.
After his wife leaves, Donovan Cooper questions everything. The arrival of a young, arrogant, gifted graphic designer at Donovan’s firm is the last straw.
Tempers flare over office gossip, and following a nasty argument and scathing kiss, Donovan flails away from heterosexuality while Sam struggles to keep his “no relationship” rule intact.
Despite ugly socks, fiery fights, and their best intentions to not fall in love, these bullheaded coworkers can’t deny their chemistry. Donovan seeks happiness while Sam seeks success, but is there room for more?
Q: Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I was a nude model once upon a time. My boobs have definitely graced art gallery walls.
Q: What’s your favorite scene in Abstract Love and what makes it a fave? Would you care to share an excerpt from the scene with us?
Probably the scene when Sam is sick and Donovan tries to take care of him. They are such affectionate jerks to each other. And, well, I think sick Sam is cute.
Excerpt:
“You’re really sick?”
Sam stumbled across the floor in socks and face-planted onto the couch, so Donovan stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
“Duh,” Sam muttered when Donovan approached. “Did you honestly think I called in just because you’re an asshole? Jesus, that makes you more of an asshole. You’re not the center of the universe.” He shivered.
Donovan stuck out his fingertip and pressed it against Sam’s forehead.
One of Sam’s eyes opened. “Why are you poking me in the head?”
“Checking if you have a fever.”
“With your finger?”
Donovan’s hand dropped to his side. He was horrible with sick people. “So do you have a fever?”
“Yes, you idiot.” Sam coughed again and burrowed further into his huge blanket.
Donovan noticed a thermometer on the coffee table. “How high?”
“It was 102 last I checked.”
Donovan took in Sam’s puffy eyes and red nose and said, “You look awful.” He really meant “You look adorable,” but he would never say that out loud.
“Don’t care,” Sam replied. “Probably dying.”
Q: If you could spend some real-life time with one of the characters in the book, who would you choose and why?
Sam. He’s hilarious, hot, and drinks IPAs. Oh, and he loves pizza, Seinfeld, and The X-Files. Perfect.
Q: What are your least and most favorite things about being an author?
Favorite: Literally writing. Just sitting there, by myself, writing.
Least favorite: Rejection.
Q: What’s the best piece of writing/author advice you’ve ever received that you’d pass on to someone just getting started in the business?
Elmore Leonard once told me, “Don’t try too hard.” You might laugh, but this is excellent advice. Don’t try to write The Great American Novel. Write YOU. Write what YOU want. Have fun. If you’re not having fun while writing, why the heck are you doing it?
Q: If I were to interview Sam and Donovan what would they say about you?
Damn it, she made us have feelings. Gross.
Q: If James Corden invited you to Carpool Karaoke, what song(s) would you sing with him?
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. Shockingly, I can actually sing the majority of this song. Also, I wanna do the Wayne’s World head bang thing.
Q: If you could be any animal in the world, what would you choose? Why?
A shark. I love the ocean, and sharks aren’t afraid of anything. I mean, I assume. I haven’t actually talked to one, but it’d be cool to be the scariest thing in the sea. I’d be, like, a nice shark, though.
Q: If you could travel back in time, with all your years of experience and wisdom intact, what advice would you give to your teenage self?
Don’t ever lose yourself in a relationship. Don’t make yourself smaller for someone else. The dumb boys you’re going to meet aren’t worth it … but don’t worry. You meet The Right One eventually.
Donovan sifted through a few hand-drawn logos on the desk and froze when he found a crudely drawn sketch of himself. Sam must have done it during a meeting at some point, capturing Donovan’s faux hawk, wide jaw, and severe expression.
Jesus, was this what other people saw when they looked at him? Did he really look so miserable?
“Make yourself at home?”
Donovan dropped the picture and stood straight at the sound of Sam’s voice.
He leaned against the doorframe, with one ankle crossed over the other.
“It’s really bullshit when people say that, you know?” Sam said. “Make yourself at home. No one actually wants their friends to take off their pants, drink all their beer, and binge The Great British Bake Off.” He paused. “What are you doing in my office?”
“I didn’t mean to snoop.”
The office door closed as he stepped inside. “Sure you did, or you wouldn’t be in here, so what’s up?”
Sam circled the desk, so Donovan circled the other way, although he noticed it was true what coworkers said: Sam did smell good—like clean laundry and cedar. “I think we started off on the wrong foot.”
Sam snort laughed and flipped through some files on his desk. “More like wrong continent, man.” When he found what he was looking for, he tapped the file’s corner against his palm. “I can handle guys like you, you know.”
Donovan shifted back on his heels. “Guys like me?”
“Hmm. Corporate assholes. All you see are dollar signs. You take no pleasure in your work. Advertising is money to you, not art, but without the artists, there wouldn’t be advertising, so…” He sucked his cheeks into his mouth, a momentary fish face.
Donovan wanted to tell him it wasn’t true. Donovan loved art.
He used to love art.
Sam continued, “I know I look like a six-foot-two Disney princess, but you’re not gonna rattle me.” To prove his point, Sam got right up in Donovan’s personal space until Donovan took a step back. Again, he was not used to dealing with someone his own height. “And I’m right about the Great Lakes ad campaign. If you’d pull your head out of your ass, maybe you’d notice.” He turned away abruptly.
“Sam.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.” Ouch, that hurt coming out.
Sam’s rebuttal: “Prove it.”
“Excuse me?”
He rested a hand on the desk and cocked his hip out—the very picture of young attitude. “Listen to me in meetings.”
“I was listening.”
“Nope.” He shook his head and ran a hand through his unkempt, unprofessional hair. “No, you were hearing. I need you to listen. There’s a difference. And I know I’m just some fucking kid to you, but I ruled the New York City advertising scene. I know what I’m doing, Donovan, so let me do it.”
“Fine.” He’d had enough. He’d apologized, okay, so he’d done his Monica-enforced duty. He didn’t owe Sam anything else.
He didn’t run for the door, but he definitely moved with speed.
Sara Dobie Bauer is a bestselling author, model, and mental health / LGBTQ advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film.
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