Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Bully for Sale
SERIES: Heat for Sale (Book 2)
AUTHOR: Leta Blake
PUBLISHER: Leta Blake Books
LENGTH: 404 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 6, 2022
BLURB:
Bullied and outcast, Ezer has seen firsthand the cruelties of the world. He knows what’s expected from his kind—timid compliance and submission to his “betters.” But Ezer isn’t one to roll over and conform to the role society has forced upon him.
Despite his defiant nature, Ezer is coerced into partnering with a man of his father’s choosing. One his father promises will love and care for him for the rest of his life.
A night of nameless and faceless passion later, Ezer is horrified to find himself bound to Ned, a bully who has done so much to make his life hell. Ezer’s determined to hate Ned but he can’t help the way his body craves his touch.
Ned is young, privileged, and hopelessly in love with Ezer. Too bad his pack of so-called “friends” have targeted Ezer for torment. Ned has a lot of regrets, but none greater than his role in Ezer’s misery. When Ned’s offered the contract of a lifetime, he sees it as the only way forward with the man he loves.
The dual biological drives of heat and its aftermath might be all that’s keeping them close now, but Ned is determined to prove he’s worthy of Ezer’s love.
While Ezer is just as determined not to fall for his bully.
Bully for Sale is a standalone m/m romance set in the Heat for Sale universe featuring forced proximity, first times, bully romance, opposites attract, and enemies to lovers.
REVIEW:
Wow I’m was almost in a book coma this was so good. I couldn’t set it down.
Ezer has always been a challenging child. He was an omega that knew what he wanted and was going to get it. It has always been a thorn of contention with his wealthy Father. With his da having been exiled from their lives and his Father’s new omega pregnant, he and his omega brothers are now just a problem that needs to be dealt with. Ned has been at his father’s mercy forever. He was treated like a commodity to help fill his father’s coffers. If not for his über rich and powerful Uncle Heath his life would already be in ruins. Now his Father has one last get rich quick scheme…mating his teenage son with the omega of one of the towns riches families. Thankfully it’s the boy that Ned desires but has let down many times. But will be mated to Ezer be what his heart desires? Or will this be the straw that finally breaks the camel’s back for both boys?
I think I fell in love with Ned slowly every day a little bit more like Ezer did. Yes, he was afraid to ruffle the feathers of Braden and Fitch because of his worthless father. That man loved his play money and used Ned for so many years just so he could stay flush with it. It didn’t matter how low he made Ned stoop to just as long as he stayed in those two disgusting bullies good graced. Because if they were happy then Lindell’s business associates were happy and Slidell was flush with cash. If not all would crumble.
My heart went out to poor Ezer. His parents literally abandoned their boys for their own satisfaction and enjoyment. He was sold off thankfully to Ned through his father and that was at least somewhat guided by his da to go to the right boy but then they literally abandoned him as soon as he was dropped at the heat cabin. I know Amos did reach out eventually but it was too late. He had broke Ezer’s trust when he helped orchestrate sale to Ned’s dad for Ned. Ezer was the only son that even dared go check on his da after his father threw him out and then Amos did this. I know he did it was so he knew that Ezer would go to the boy that loved his son and that George was going to rid himself of the boy so he thought this was best but it literally left poor Ezer broken and discarded feeling.
The parents of both boys in this book allowed money to rule their lives one way or another. Ned’s dad by getting it any way possible and then blowing through it for his own personal whims. Ezer’s father wasn’t any better. He used money to power over his family and then decided to literally sell Ezer to get him out of his hair and make him someone else’s problem. I felt like he thought of his children as possessions at times that were disposable to the highest bidder. I know that Ezer’s Da Amos really did a number on his Father and that man turned to stone to everyone else except his current omega Pete. And Pete really came through in the end. Him standing up to George was pivotal. I was thankful that Ned’s Uncle Heath and his husband Adrien were more reasonable and responsible. I hadn’t read their story previously but they were the support that both Ned and Ezer really needed at such a tender age that adulthood was thrust upon.
Speaking of tender age and money driven parents… these boys may have been nineteen but they were still in school. And Ezer had severe dyslexia that crippled his learning of written language. But for the sake of the almighty buck both Fathers orchestrated the act of Ezer being impregnated to calm him and make him more pliant. Who does something like that? Not responsible adults who then turn their backs on these boys once the deed is done. This just solved their problems and dumped them on two boys that were no where ready or fit to be parents. And what doctor ever gave the go-ahead on the emaciated Ezer being okay for childbearing? I’m sure George bought him off too. And I’m pretty sure the ER doctor agreed. The only true adult in this was Ned’s personal servant Earl since his childhood, not that he was much out of childhood yet. If not for Earl and Heath poor Ned would have had no proper guidance at all.
Yes this is a very long book but I never once felt like it dragged. Instead I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The author builds a universe that is believable and gritty. This isn’t some fluidly mpreg story but gripping and thought provoking. It exams the rights of Omegas and also the greed and sense of entitlement of the rich fathers. It shows the struggles of teenage pregnancy and it’s consequences. It has a strong good vs evil plot and how good can over come. It also shows the growth of Ned to be the best he can be for his dear Ezer. Even when Ezer challenges him with everything. Not I want to go back and read Heath and Adrian’s story.
RATING:
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