Release Tour incl Exclusive Excerpt: Oliver Takely – Convenient Rivals (Soho Knights #4)

RELEASE TOUR incl Exclusive Excerpt:

Convenient Rivals by Oliver Takely

Length: 60,000 words Series: Soho Knights Book 4 Prior Reading: recommended, but not essential Genre: contemporary Tropes: Enemies to lovers, Class/Privilege, Fake relationship, Found family, Nerd/Jock, Small Top/Big Bottom, A touch of kink Trigger/Content Warnings: Parental homophobia, childhood bullying discussed but not shown, physical violence but not to MCs

In the heart of London, where privilege and ambition collide, Gregory and Oscar’s tumultuous past threatens to resurface in unexpected ways. Once childhood friends, their relationship took a dark turn when Oscar became Gregory’s high school bully. Now successful in their own right, their paths continue to intertwine due to the unshakeable bond between their mothers. While Oscar seeks to atone for his past, Gregory remains trapped in a cycle of hurt and betrayal.

After being abandoned by his family when they discovered he was gay, Gregory yearns for their acceptance, but only on their terms. As he struggles to support his financially reckless brother, entangled with the mob, the stability of his Soho home with his chosen family of true brothers hangs by a thread. With desperation setting in, a glimmer of hope emerges when Oscar proposes a marriage of convenience, which could solve both of their problems.

However, Oscar’s mother has her own agenda, threatening to upend everything he believes about love and loyalty. Can the reserved tech genius and the charming former athlete put aside their painful history to forge a new beginning? As the tension between them sizzles and threatens to ignite into something undeniably passionate, they must confront their pasts and decide how much they are willing to sacrifice. In a world of titles and privilege, family ties threaten to strangle the love which is building between them. Will they find the courage to defy their legacies for a chance at happiness, even if it means risking everything they’ve ever known?

Theodore Kingsley, from a very well-connected family, was sitting across from him. His hair was immaculate and his eyebrows were plucked within an inch of their lives. He’d ordered a porn star martini and was now sucking seductively on the straw. From what Oscar’s mother had told him, there were only four years between them, but Theodore looked much younger. Anyone watching them might assume Oscar should be on some form of list. “I never heard what you did for work,” said Oscar. They had to talk about something. He wouldn’t hear the end of it if he was rude on this date as well. There had been another four between Laurence and Theodore, and there was one thing they all had in common – they weren’t Gregory Balfour. That day, when Gregory had fucked him into oblivion over his desk, was the hottest thing he’d ever experienced in his life. Oscar wanted more, but the man was avoiding him. There had been a couple of social gatherings which both their parents had attended, but no sign of Gregory. Oscar shuffled in his chair, not wanting Theodore to see he was hard from where his thoughts had taken him. He didn’t want to give the wrong impression. “I have a lot of charity initiatives I’m involved in,” said Theodore, pouting his lips, which Oscar guessed had been pumped with filler. Charity initiatives were upper-class code for unemployed and living off Mummy and Daddy’s money. Even if Oscar were interested, that would be a huge turn off. He wanted a partner who would work hard for his own success, and not have it handed to him. Perhaps he should find a nice blue-collar worker. He snorted at the thought of the look on his mother’s face. “What’s so funny?” asked Theodore with one of his overly plucked eyebrows arched. “Oh, sorry. I was just thinking of something someone said at work.” “Well, that’s rude.” “Excuse me?” “Here I was sharing something that’s important to me and you’re not even listening.” He pouted, which could be cute if he wasn’t so conceited. Theodore was attractive, and he knew it – probably had men wrapped around his little finger – so Oscar wondered what he was doing here. This date was already a bust, so he may as well ask the question. “Why did you agree to go on a date with me, Theo?” “Theodore!” “Apologies. Theodore.” “My mother wants to me to settle down, or get a job.” “I see. Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive, you know. What do you want in a partner?” “Someone rich, who rails me every night.”

Oliver Takely is a passionate MM romance author who revels in dark, edgy stories featuring complex, flawed characters. With years of writing experience and a creative day job, Oliver Takely is also an avid reader of MM romance, consuming 300 books in 2023. His favourite trope is enemies to lovers, but is also a sucker for a feel-good Christmas romance.

Originally from the north, Oliver now resides in the south of England with his husband and their beloved fur baby, who is treated like a princess, living their own happily-ever-after straight out of a romance novel. When not writing or reading, he enjoys holidays and indulging in lots of good food, because who doesn’t love a delicious combination?

AUTHOR LINKS

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