Reviewed by Valerie 

TITLE:  Kept Man

SERIES:  First and Forever Stories #2

AUTHOR:  Alexa Land

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  unknown

RELEASE DATE:  July 28, 2021

BLURB:

Micah is a has-been rock star under house arrest, who’s managed to push away everyone he’s ever cared about.

Jasper is the sweet, beautiful escort Micah hires to share his home—and his bed—for the next six months.

The heat between them is undeniable. But can two very different men learn to trust and build something real, before the six months are up and life pulls them in opposite directions?

This low-angst, opposites attract gay romance is set in the world of Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Series, and it can be read as a stand-alone.

REVIEW:

OMG! You know it’s a Firsts and Forever Story when the first sentence is about a giant, inflatable penis.

*****

Kept Man is the second volume in Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Stories series. As always, Ms. Land’s skilled writing and humor shine through in this terrific novel. What I particularly love about this book is the unique premise: never have I read anything similar to an ex-rockstar hiring an escort to be a live-in companion for six months while he’s on house arrest.

Both of the leading men are utterly charming. Within a few sentences of meeting Micah, I knew I would adore him. His rock superstardom crashed and burned seventeen years prior when he had a nasty, very public falling out with his bandmate/brother. He’s loving and creative, but also insecure, vulnerable, terribly lonely, and a bit lost. After two months of house arrest, he’s stir crazy and falling apart from being touch starved. This man is so sweet, so sad, and completely sympathetic.

Jasper is a darling, but his life is not ideal. He begins to think sex is the only thing he has to offer a man. He’s been a prostitute for eight years and has grown weary of pretending, losing his autonomy, and being nothing more than a commodity. He’s an introvert and somewhat a hermit who never feels like he fits into social situations. His roommate Ash, from Pretenders, will soon be moving out with his boyfriend to buy a house, leaving Jasper alone.

When Micah approaches him with his six month proposition, Jasper doesn’t see a down side. Micah is gorgeous and kind. And, offering enough money to change Jasper’s life and enable him to stop escorting. Micah wants a man for sex, yes, but much more, too. He’s desperate for someone to talk to, to spend his days with, to cook for, and to fill his big empty bed at night.

Micah and Jasper are an ideal couple. Micah is a “caretaker to his core” and Jasper is in need of pampering. Micah relishes indulging in heartfelt, romantic gestures for Jasper, just because. He’s almost childlike in the way he derives pleasure from bestowing kindness on his lover.

Speaking of lover … oh, the sexy times. Their lovemaking is just … beautiful. There’s some delicious edging, a wee bit of kink, and not quite dirty talk but sensual talk, maybe? It’s très sexy.

“I want to kiss you, hold you, and caress every inch of you. I want to pin you down, not to see you helpless, but to see you surrender to me. I want you to totally put yourself in my hands and let go of your inhibitions. I want to learn what gives you the most pleasure, and I want to make you feel absolutely wonderful, better than you ever have before.”

Jasper refers to one of the thoughtful meals Micah prepares for him as “profoundly intimate and sensuous”. I would use those same words to describe everything about their blossoming relationship. The trust, the care, the selflessness. The way they naturally meet the needs of the other and fit together like puzzle pieces. Ms. Land has never created a couple that wasn’t well-suited for each other, but there’s something a little bit extra special about Jasper and Micah.

Okay, so maybe we were both becoming a little codependent after spending so much time together. But I really liked Micah… as more than a friend. That realization made me whisper, “Oh hell.”

Oh, the joy that is Nana! Even though she’s fictional, I need to take a moment to celebrate the inimitable comedic presence that elevates every book she’s a part of. She’s a brilliant character – both loving and outrageously irreverent – who ties together the Firsts and Forever, Castaways, and Firsts and Forever Stories series. While it’s easy to enjoy the mirth she exudes, it’s important to recognize her unparalleled support of the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco. All the men she has “adopted” over the years – I’ve had the pleasure of meeting each and every one – is so fortunate. I wish every queer person had a Nana in their corner.

One other point I’d like to make: I have always appreciated the sex positive message in Ms. Land’s work. Numerous times she has featured sex workers in one form or another, but never with shame. These men are doing what they choose to do to survive, and while there’s no condescension, she offers a realistic view of sex work and doesn’t gloss over the hardships and the toll it takes on the young men, mentally, emotionally, and potentially physically.

In the end, Micah and Jasper fall in love, of course, but importantly, they encourage and support each other to make life-altering changes that result in more fulfilling lives. Micah decides to give more of himself to the queer community, while Jasper pursues a life-long dream that wasn’t previously attainable. The epilogue is sweet and more than satisfying – it’s the perfect ending to a truly special story.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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