Jagger’s the son of a bookmaker and fixer. Now, he’s the owner of an exclusive, underground club…and he’s also been put in charge of the family business.Preston’s the son of a wealthy, powerful, blue-blood Boston family…or he was, until he was disowned for choosing his friendship with Jagger over his family. Ten years later, he’s a Special Forces Operator—and he’s still best friends with Jagger. … with Jagger.
But things are about to change, for both men. Because after a long year of no contact, Preston’s coming home to Jagger for the first time since they shared a surprising kiss.
One night, one poker game, and one hand finds Jagger lucky—and skilled enough—to win a chance to fix things with Preston. But what’s at stake is far more than their friendship—it’s everything…and both men are all in to fight for what’s theirs.
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For the first 90 days of this title’s publication, all sales and page reads will be donated to The Loft: LGBT Center in New York.
NUTS is part of a multi-author series of books that take place in the same fictional town. Each story can be read in any order. The connecting element in the Ace’s Wild series is an adult store owned by Ace and Wilder. The main characters from each book will make at least one visit to Ace’s Wild, where they’ll buy a toy to use in their story! The only characters who crossover to each book are Ace and Wilder. And with various heat levels, there’s sure to be something for everyone!
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I’ve enjoyed S.E. Jakes other books – she writes about tough, sexy men in tough situations. She’s a skillful writer and usually her books are well written and nicely structured. So it was to my disappointment that I found “Nuts” was a poorly constructed, not well-fleshed out, short novella. S.E. Jakes had grand ambitions when she set the stage for the book: a disowned rich boy turned Army Ranger, a BDSM club owner with mob family ties, and the FBI breathing down their necks trying to get a confidential informer to snitch on mob activities. But honestly, all those different plot strands were so poor constructed that it really thinned out the plot and left a lot of major holes that left me confused. Why was the FBI concerned with Jagger and his club? Why was Preston’s parents still interested in what their adult, disowned son was doing? Why were people from their high school days in Boston appearing years later in South Carolina? Why? Why? Why? There were so many whys. Add in that S.E. Jakes talked about the military like she had no idea how it works, the plot just lost all credibility for me.
So if you are interested in reading this book, ignore the plot. The plot sucks and is stupid. Instead, focus on the incredible chemistry between Jagger and Preston. Those two together SCORCHED my eyes. Their chemistry, their bond, their everything was incredible, and the BDSM scenes between them were intense, gritty, and tender – just the way I like them. Read this book for the relationship between Jagger and Preston. If S.E. Jakes had just focused on Preston and Jagger rebuilding their relationship and becoming a couple instead of adding in all that other nonsense, then this was would have been a wonderful novella. If she wanted all the extra drama, she should have made the book longer and not wrote it like an outline with barely fleshed out scenes and poor transitions.
I would rate this 3.75 stars.
This series takes place in the same town, though each book is by a different author.
Jagger and Preston meet on the first day of junior year after Preston gets punished for flunking out of several private schools and sent to a rough Boston public school. Although Jagger is from a family that skirts the law, Preston sees more kindness in them than his own blue-blood family. After being disowned Preston feels his only way to make something of himself is to go into the service. On his last leave a year ago he kissed Jagger…and then ghosted him. Now that Preston is out of the service, they will have to deal with what is simmering beneath their friendship.
Jagger is bi, but Preston clings to the idea he’s straight: allowing a gay for you/bi for you/out for you trope. There is also a M/F scene in this book. This has many firsts for Preston: first time with BDSM, first time with a man, etc. There is very slight dubcon in that Preston doesn’t want to admit what he wants–he wants to be tricked or forced into it, which he is when Jagger wins him in a card game. Of course, that is Jagger’s friends setting them up, and Preston finding a way to act out to get what he wants. I found this was one of those books where I just got so frustrated because no one is honest and they don’t communicate until the very end. I also think that the Green Beret manly-man realizing it doesn’t make him weak to be submissive, is getting to be an over-used trope lately.
The big mystery here is Preston’s family, but ultimately it’s about control…and, as the reader finds out later, something more. There are secrets and lies that bind Jagger and Preston closer than Preston knows. Jagger has always had his eye on the prize, an endgame. The villians here are supposed to be the good guys. In a way this does glorify a family with mob ties whilst trying to have it have its cake and eat it too, as Jagger tries to go legitimate. This one sentence is a spoiler: everyone is being investigated by various alphabet agencies, yet no one knows about Preston co-owning everything?! Is that even possible?
This has all the feels, but it’s slow to start, quick to resolve and then over the top after a quick 180. It’s enjoyable, hot, even romantic in its own way (ride or die), but it could have been even better if it had been longer, in order to allow more time for the story arc. Also, it tries to straddle that bad boy line whilst still trying to make Jaggar noble – to mixed success.
The cover art design is by Sleepy Fox Studio. It does pertain to the story, but it just shows Jagger, so for me it doesn’t show a partnership.
Jagger and Preston were a friends to lovers tale with a small kick of BDSM mixed in. They were each tiger’s protectors and most trusted people in each other’s lives. This was a steamy hot romance with a happily ever after!
Pretty boy and the Beast
“You’re never alone with me.” Jagger and Preston are the ultimate dream team. I love the bond they have and how no one comes between them. No matter what life threw at them and it was a lot they held fast to each other. The tension that existed between them was outstanding. They’re both alpha personalities and I loved watching the give and take in their relationship. From the beginning, it grabbed me and didn’t let go until the end. An amazing read by SE Jakes!
I loved Jagger and Preston. Loved their dynamic. This is a dual POV best friends to lovers novel. I love books where both characters are tough and the kind to not take shit from anyone.
There is light bdsm but it’s perfect for this book. I’m not a big fan of it but I enjoyed it this book. Ace and Wilder seem to be fun characters. They are only characters that will appear in every book in the series and I’m looking forward to the next book.
*ARC provided by the author via Vibrant Promotions in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
I’m usually not a fan of novellas, because when I read something good I want it to last longer but I couldn’t resist this one, because the blurb was intriguing and I wasn’t disappointed. On the contrary. This book has everything one would expect from at least 200 page novel. Just the right amount of angst, action and heat, perfectly balanced. Often in stories this short characters are lacking depth or the story feels rushed. Not in this case. Every character in it is memorable and the ending is satisfying. Go for it. You won’t be able to put it down.