Brief Encounters

Title: Slow Burn
Author: Dawn Douglas
Length: 69 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: m/m contemporary romance
Rating: B+

Blurb:
When college senior Nathan Webster is roped into doing a favor for his twin sister, he doesn’t expect his karma to pay off so quickly. His good deed brings him face to face with Charles Griffin, owner of a private holdings group.

Nate’s attraction sparks right away, and when he realizes his interest is returned, the two begin a cycle of risqué encounters behind the locked door of Griff’s palatial office. Nate has never experienced a lover like Griff, and he feels himself changing, wanting more after every encounter. But can desire that flashes hot and hurried last, or will the attraction burn itself out before anything deeper catches fire?

Review
I reviewed a book by this author a couple of weeks ago and was impressed by her written style. When I saw this new story at DSP, I snapped it up and I’m so glad I did. It’s very different from her last book, being less angsty and more lighthearted fun, but that turned out just what I was in the mood for.

The story follows Nate who, as a favour to his twin sister, agrees to take up a cart of Starbucks coffee to an office full of people. In the elevator he meets hunky older man, Griff, who turns out to own the company. When he delivers Griff his coffee, he gets rather more than he bargained for.

On the surface, this book looks like a story based around three erotic scenes, all very hot and well written which almost set my book reader on fire. However, it was much more than that thanks to some sparkling characterisation in the form of Nate whose amazement at what was happening to him, coupled with the thrill of getting on with an older and more experienced man made his character leap off the page. I have a fondness for the older/younger man dynamic and this was played to perfection with Griff’s gentle but firm manner pressing all Nate’s buttons and expanding Nate’s sexual horizons. Griff is less well drawn but still manages to be likable in his patience with Nate and willingness to play the longer game. His teasing never comes across as smug though because the author does a good job in showing how Nate affects him, even in a few words.

If the story had just been three erotic scenes with good characterisation, this would still be worth reading, but the author does more than that by extending the story away from the office canoodling and into the future weeks for these guys. This allows the romance to form through the way that Griff and Nate interact. It also lets us see some of Griff’s insecurities about the age difference and I was please that this aspect wasn’t brushed over. Added to this is the character of Nate’s sister who manages to avoid being annoying whilst showing the sort of teasing relationship that occurs between siblings.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this short which combined great characters with scenes so hot I had to fan my face and my only gripe is that I wanted more. If you’re looking for a well written erotic romance story with an older/younger dynamic, then I suggest you read this one. This author is definitely becoming one I’ll watch out for in future.