RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 'Tender with a Twist' by Annabeth Albert

Title: Tender with a Twist

Series: Rainbow Cove #2

Author: Annabeth Albert

Published: October 2, 2017

Publisher: Self-Published

Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance

Length: 264 Pages

Tags: Gay; MM; Angst: Light; BDSM; Chef; Second Chance; Comfort/Hurt; Family Drama; May/December; Standalone; HEA

About Tender with a Twist One kinky wood carver. One younger chef looking to try new things. A series of lessons that bring both men more than they bargained for…

Curtis Hunt has made a name for himself as a chainsaw wood carver, winning national competitions and operating a small business in Rainbow Cove, Oregon. As winter whittles away his tourist traffic, his goal is just to survive the season and try to not get lost in grief for his dead lover. It’s been two years, but he’s sure he’ll never be over the love of a lifetime. However, his body has a certain restlessness that he doesn’t quite know how to calm.

Logan Rosner knows a thing or two about restlessness. It’s what drove him to Rainbow Cove to be a chef at a bar and grill run by his friends. And it’s what drives him to a single sizzling encounter with the local legendary lumberjack. Both men get far more than they expected and learn that first impressions aren’t always accurate…

But when Logan proposes a series of sexy lessons, Curtis must decide how much he’s willing to risk. He knows he can’t afford to get attached to Logan’s good cooking, his easy smiles, or his caretaking, but he keeps going back for more, even as deeper emotions become involved. Soon, Curtis must decide whether to risk his heart again or risk losing Logan for good.

Tender with a Twist is a 79,000 word stand-alone gay romance with a May/December theme, featuring a second chance at love, opposites attract, loads of sexy times with mild BDSM elements, and one emotionally-charged, guaranteed happy ending with no cliffhangers.

4 HEART READ

REVIEW:

Tender with a Twist is an ideal title for Annabeth Albert’s new novel, which serves as delectable proof that the BDSM lifestyle will be as sweet, romantic, and redeeming as the couple involved. The second title in her Rainbow Cove series, this read definitely stands on its own.

Logan Rosner, the only child of well-off, but intrusive Portland parents, is recently out of his only relationship. It was long and tepid. He’s hoping to find himself in Rainbow Cove, a coastal community earning its standing as a gay tourist haven.

Chef Logan now co-owns a restaurant there, with two friends. He’s growing professionally, but not personally. With a baby face, preppy looks, and a can-do outlook, Logan is overprotected by parents and friends alike. In Portland, the club scene mistook his appearance, giving him no chance to develop his inner Dom.

Curtis Hunt, a chainsaw wood carver, found reprieve from a horrendous youth, in his lengthy love with Tom, who died over 2 years ago. In grief, Curtis has retreated to his childhood survival stance, allowing himself only bare minimum of clothes, food, transportation, and home.

“Can’t go getting dependent. Soft. I don’t want to start needing something only to have it ripped away,” is Curtis’ philosophy. “Pessimism seemed to be my default now, the tattered blanket I wrapped myself in when the world meets my low expectation,” he muses, “Comfort was for other people, not me. Comfort was something you could come to rely on if you weren’t careful.”

But, when all Curtis’ friends, and even his ex-Dom pair up, moving on with children, he admits he’s distressed and gives Logan one chance to play, indicating he’ll teach Logan how to treat a sub.

Big, bearded Curtis is exactly the type of man Logan is attracted to, but “It didn’t matter how stern I got, I was always going to be a baby-faced weakling to guys like Curtis,” Logan thinks to himself.

Readers guess Logan’s sunny disposition will grate against Curtis’ surly austerity. How can Logan stand up for what he wants and entice his skittish “test”-sub to partake of gastronomic and sexual pleasure? Can Curtis submit to hope?

Curtis and Logan appear to be clear-headed. But Albert ratchets the tension as they engage in self-deception.

Logan cares more about others’ opinions than he admits, just as Curtis craves the very dependency he’s terrified to accept.

Each man in this May-December relationship provides entrée to a life the other wants. The key to opening these doors, however, is risk, combined with respect each must earn for himself.

Albert demonstrates how growth is universal, irrespective of age, socioeconomic status, or appearance.

In fact, she suggests all these factors are illusory, as readers are reminded not to judge others insides by their outsides.

In an age of social upheaval, the message could not be better timed. Albert’s prose, characters, story arc, and scintillating sensuality make Tender with a Twist as mouth-watering as the menus Chef Logan continuously discusses.

I want to visit Rainbow Cove, to try Logan’s cooking, see Curtis’ artwork, and get to know Albert’s men. If ½ hearts were allowed, she’d have gotten 4.5.

A copy of Tender with a Twist was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by IndiGo Marketing & Design, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.

Meet the Author

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

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