Just Business (Takeover #2)

by Anna Zabo (Goodreads Author)

From the thrilling new author of Takeover, a steamy new novel about having all the control—and losing it…

Note from the author: This is the followup to Takeover and features Justin and Eli. Sam and Michael are fairly important characters in this book as well.

Justin White may not look like an up and coming corporate superstar, but his new boss knows he has the smarts, grit, and determination to succeed. Now he just has to convince his company’s CFO, Eli Ovadia. Unfortunately, Justin can’t seem to keep his cool around the domineering Eli—and soon he finds himself taking their heat from the boardroom into the bedroom….

Still haunted by a tragic accident that left him with a wounded leg and broken heart, Eli has a need to be in control. But his desire for Justin makes him want to lose that control—and push them both far beyond their limits. But will his need to dominate Justin drive him away—or will Eli find a way to be the man he needs for both of them?

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Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Intermix | Penguin Group

Genre: MM BDSM Erotic Romance

Part 2 in a series but could be read as a standalone

My Just Business Review ...

This book is part two in a series but even though Sam and Michael are big characters in this book, it still could be read as a standalone. As I read Takeover so long ago I didn't remember all the details but didn't feel lost with reading this book.

We originally meet Eli in Takeover and finally get to find out what is behind his gruff exterior. Poor poor Eli. His story guts me a bit but totally makes you fall in love with him and all his brokenness. Justin White isn't what Eli wants but exactly what he needs.

"Because of you, I came here tonight to tie a man up, flog him, and fuck him. If you want to be that man, you better get on your knees right fucking now."

Justin is perfect for Eli in all ways expect he has his own baggage which puts a wrench into things when he can't separate the past from the present. When this was happening I was so mad at Justin and how he was handling this.

~ Maybe-just maybe-he needed to let that past go.~ (You think? Insert eye roll for Justin's daftness here.)

~ Had he read Eli so wrong?~ (Ugh! Yes!!!! He did!. Gah! Justin was such a twat when it came to his baggage)

If it was just Justin I have to admit I wouldn't have cared too much for this story but Eli steals your heart that you can't not love it and root for Eli to find a slice of happiness. Eli feels like he is a monster but really he's just a broken man with so many rooted demons that at times it becomes too much for him to bare. With Justin he finally is able to let go of some of his burdens and just love. And love is what he does to the full extent. There is nothing half ass for Eli when it comes to matters of the heart. Even though Justin puts him through more hell with his wishy washy ways, Eli is still capable of loving so whole heartedly that when Justin finally gets his head out of his ass, Eli accepts him back with pure open arms.

This book was from alternate POV's but sometimes it wasn't clear whose POV it was that I would have to re-read it to figure who it was. When this happens sometimes it loses part of the flow for me. In the end even though Justin got on my nerve at times and there were some other issues that got me distracted, it was Eli that won my heart. For Eli alone he would have gotten 5 Stars but average it all out to 4 in the end.

4 Eli Loving Thumbs up!