Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Getting Friendly
SERIES: Never Just Friends #3
AUTHOR: Saxon James
PUBLISHER: May Books
LENGTH: 347 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 24, 2021
BLURB:
LEON
When I’m looking for a hook up, I want three things:
Big, thick, and rough.
So it doesn’t make sense that I can’t get my new hire out of my head.
He’s a tiny guy with big ideas … and he’s my apprentice which means he’s completely off limits.
But he’s already under my skin.
And for the first time with any guy, I don’t think I can hold my own against him.
Physically, yes. Emotionally, no.
Auggie makes me weak.
AUGGIE
Growing up, I always wanted to go into the family business and follow in Dad’s footsteps.
Until in my senior year of high school when he told me to find a new dream.
No one would let a small, clumsy guy like me on a construction site.
And after trying and failing for years, I was starting to believe him.
Then LJ Constructions calls me for an interview and when I meet Leon, he becomes my new dream.
He’s hot as hell, self made, and instead of putting me down, he sees what I’ve always seen in myself.
But I’m not dumb enough to throw away this one chance, not even for him.
Not even if I really, really want to.
Getting Friendly is a low angst friends-to-lovers romance with spa dates, a size difference, and an adorably awkward MC.
REVIEW:
Getting Friendly is the latest installment in Saxon James’ Never Just Friends series. I love this sweet love story and the wonderfully endearing leading men.
Leon is one of a group of friends – including Tanner, Roo, Circus, and Rowan – who reside in Sunbury, Oregon, and have starred in the previous books. He’s a kind, loyal friend, always lending a helping hand. He’s overwhelmed by all the new contracts his construction business is garnering, so he’s in search of an apprentice. One applicant looks great on paper; he was not expecting the likes of Auggie, though.
“How someone who looks like they’d fall over under a strong breeze expects to go into the building industry is beyond me.”
Auggie is a walking catastrophe. He’s clumsy, scatterbrained, and even his “awkwardness is awkward”. Yet, he wants to work in construction. In fact, his father owns a large construction company where Auggie has gained a great deal of construction knowledge, both on site and in the business office. But his father has little respect for Auggie and certainly doesn’t want him working for his business. Interestingly, Leon is a rival and beat Auggie’s dad in a bid for a large project, so he doesn’t want Auggie to work for Leon, either.
Auggie’s interview is memorable – he faints when Leon answers the door. One calamity follows another. Much later when Auggie falls down the stairs:
“It’s my pride that’s bruised.”
“I’m surprised you still have any of that left.”
In addition to their disparate levels of coordination, Leon and Auggie are opposites in other ways: Leon is a big, strong guy while Auggie fits the twink profile; Leon is quiet, whereas loquacious Auggie never stops talking. If he had an attached string to pull, he’d be a living Chatty Cathy talking doll. (Steve Martin does a brilliant Chatty Cathy impersonation in my favorite movie, Planes, Trains & Automobiles.)
Leon is charmed by his new, cutie-pie apprentice, and it’s no secret that Auggie is lusting for his boss, who endlessly distracts the poor man by foregoing a shirt. Leon makes it clear that pursuing a sexual relationship, even friends-with-benefits, would be a disastrous, inappropriate idea. His resolve is weakening, though, particularly since Auggie can’t seem to control his flirting and drooling.
I found this book enjoyable in every way. Leon’s patience for, and steadfast belief in, Auggie make him a highly likable, admirable character. Auggie and his “Auggieness” are simply adorable, and his growth as the book progresses is heartening. The storyline is a perfect fit for the characters. My heart grew two sizes when these men fell in love. And yes, there’s a very satisfying happy ending. I highly recommend Getting Friendly.
RATING: 
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