A Model Escort by Amanda MeuwissenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was so much better than a Pretty Woman story or a fake boyfriend trope, even though it had a bit of both in it. There was so much more to this, though. It was smart. It was thoughtful. It was exciting.
Owen left a tumultuous relationship, his home, his friends, and his family to start over in another town. He was on his own for the first time and afraid of being lonely. After being given a business card for an escort service, he made the call. He didn't want a boyfriend. Or sex. He just wanted someone.
Cal was high end. He picked who he wanted to spend his time with and he chose how much he gave of himself to his clients. When he picked up Owen on his calendar he wasn't expecting the innocent, cheeky, smart man who was broken and alone. And he didn't expect to want to be the guy who put him back together.
So much went into this little story. Age gap, hurt/comfort, friends to lovers. It was a pleasure to read and get to know Owen and Cal. They were both so very independent and smart, giving and loyal. These were the kind of characters you'd like to meet IRL.
The story was sweet, the romance was slow and satisfying. I had wished for a bit more interaction between Cal and Owen on page, however. It felt like most of their bonding and friendship happened off page and we were just told of it. Same with their intimate moments. Given there are times when it's too much for the story, I would have liked a bit more here.
Worth the read entirely if you like a sweet story with a smart couple and a happy ever after.
*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/ *
View all my reviews
