Lowly art gallery assistant Caesar Romano is freely out of the closet. Now he’d just like to get out of his Nana’s guest room. Everything—his reputation and his financial freedom—is riding on the success of tonight’s gallery opening. If only he could shake free of the past so easily.
A mysterious gatecrasher, Dan Green, looks like a promising addition to his pending new life—until Caesar’s ex shows up and suddenly the opening disintegrates into a half-naked dance melee. When the glitter settles, a missing sculpture of Justin Timberlake has Caesar up to his eyebrows in extortion, intrigue and a wild sexual adventure underneath, inside, and on top of a variety of furnishings.
As the cast of suspects piles up, so do the questions. Like who’s really blackmailing whom? And what does a stolen paint-by-numbers clown matter when Dan is so outrageously capable of blowing Caesar’s resistance to smithereens?
I haven’t read this book just once, I’ve read it multiple times and it’s just as good every single time. The book starts off with what might be one of my favorite first lines of a book ever:
I felt pretty damn good about the opening, until Shep McNamara strolled through the gallery door with a fresh new haircut and a spray-on tan and I aspirated the green olive floating in my martini.
This is an absolutely hilarious, fast paced mystery and romance that had me laughing from page one. I love Caesar and want to adopt that man! His humor and sarcasm were right up my alley and I loved every minute of it. His interactions with Dan were wonderful as well. Their banter back and forth had me reading with a smile on my face through most of the book. Not to mention the hot and steamy scenes between the two (see chapter 11 for a wonderful “in the closet” scene – yum).
Dan, who we only see from Caesar’s point of view, was wonderful as well. He is an ex cop who is now a private investigator. Though he begins by following Caesar during an investigation he soon sees Caesar for the great guy he is and they each make their move – towards each other. On top of that I love how Dan sees Caesar for who he is and still likes him.
…but Dan grabbed me by my sleeve with his wide, scarred hand.
He turned me around, saying, “God. You are such a feisty little motherfucker. I had no idea.”
I clenched my fists, and my eyes bulged. “Say that again.”
“I had no idea.” He had the balls to laugh.
Add in all of the other characters and you have a book filled with wonderful friendships, amazing family, a great mystery (which I really didn’t have a clue about whodunit until it was revealed) and a fabulous romance. This is a story that has it all and I absolutely loved it. It’s definitely a DIK
Rating: 5 out of 5
It definitely is! I've read it twice so far.
I'm so glad we agree on this. 🙂
I need to read more of LB's books. I've only read the first Smithfield book *hangs head*
I've never read LB Gregg, but maybe I should start! I love when a story has both good romance and a good mystery. Usually one seems more dominant. And that first line is kick ass.
Orannia – All of the Smithfield books are good but my fav is Happy Ending. I just loved David and Seth together.
DL – LB Gregg writes really great fun and funny m/m romance. She's just got a knack for matching personalities and she draws me in every time. I think you'd like them.
Happy Ending I haven't read, but it's on the TBR list now *grin*
I keep reading great things about this book. I definitely need to move it up my TBB asap. Great review!