Hop Lovette isn’t afraid to take risks. Being the bastard son of New York royalty has never given him anything but heartache. So when the Sassy Boyz land a contract at club Switch, he knows it’s only a matter of time before his marvelous world is turned on its head: the owner is his childhood rival. Rafe Marson owes Hop’s father everything, and he’s on a mission to repay his debts. Nothing will … Nothing will stand in his way–not even a wild, beautiful, maddening blast from his past. Not even when Hop stirs up feelings better left dormant. Not even when Hop begs to be taken.
When opportunity knocks, Hop is the one who needs to step up and help Rafe. But working together without being together is harder than they thought–and when everything they’ve been working toward is threatened, Rafe will need to prove that true love is one in a million.
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
This book is approximately 87,000 words
Carina Press acknowledges the editorial services of Deborah Nemeth
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***5 ‘He Walks In Chaos’ Stars***
Well, now, I wasn’t expecting that.
And that isn’t a bad thing at all.
I just wasn’t prepared for all that was to Hop and Rafe’s journey, so it took me a little by surprise, but it was absolutely titillating, fascinating and addictive. Add in the sass and heart of the rest of the Sassy Boyz and I was a done.
I loved and adored Hop. He’s gone through a lot in his short life, but he owns all of it and has pulled himself up by his stilettos and is finally living his life on his own terms. What I loved about him was how honest he was about his needs. He may not overshare, but he knows what he needs and wants to feel whole and isn’t afraid to go after it.
Rafe, I loved. Ambitious, driven and dominant. When he sets his sights on what he wants, there is nothing and no one allowed to stop him. I loved how alpha AF Rafe was, it was seriously hot, but what made him hotter was how that same dominant intensity could be channeled into something…tender.
So, when I said the whole ‘I wasn’t expecting that’ thing it was all about Rafe and Hop’s relationship. The D/s, in and of itself, wasn’t surprising because it fits them both to a T, but the intensity of it was pretty huge (and HAWT). They had some kinks to work out, but they found a flow with it pretty quickly and it helped them both deal with their past issues while showing each other who they had evolved into in the years since they last saw each other. I really enjoyed the two of them together, their bantering was fun and they just fit together in such a way that I was definitely rooting for them to trust, not only in each other, but themselves that what they had was worth fighting for.
This was another great addition to the series. I love the world that this is set in and I’m really enjoying where things are going for the Sassy Boyz as a whole. And of course I loved catching up with and hanging out with the Boyz. Their snark, sass and love for each other is always fun to witness. But now there are two left on the chopping block, Jae and Lirim (who I know is in jail, but he’s still a Sassy Boy and I am keeping my toes crossed that will he get his own HEA one day), and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for them!
~ Copy provided via the publisher & voluntarily reviewed ~
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
This is the fourth book in the series, and whilst I would recommend that you read them in order, you could still enjoy this as a first entry into the world of these talented dancers.
Hop is a fairly new member of the team and doesn’t think he is as good as the rest, so works extra hard at being good enough. We soon learn that he has a mixed up past (which is fairly normal for these guys!) and that his past and his present are colliding in a way which affects him more than he would like.
Rafe used to be Hop’s minder, until he chose to stop the cycle which was destroying them both. Sadly, so much misunderstanding exists between them that the crushing chemistry is confusing. However, the exhilaration cannot be denied – Rafe’s dominance is just what Hop didn’t know he needed.
Tied up in Rafe’s business Switch, and the Sassy Boyz’ contract to perform, Hop and Rafe have a difficult line to follow. It is a fascinating one for us as readers though, and I really enjoyed their growing closeness and how revelations about the past made the present and the future so much brighter!
Another excellent addition to the series. Thank you, Ms. Varlet.
Sarah –
I love this series! The fourth Sassy Boyz story returns us to a world of glamour and angst. Hop’s story adds family drama and a little bit of kink as the Sassy Boyz become even more successful.
As always, I loved the dance, the costumes, and the beautiful boyz. The relationships between the boys are wonderful and I enjoyed seeing their careers progress. Hop’s past is full of secrets that threaten his dancing and his future. Rafe isn’t quite what he first seems but it took me much of the story to warm to him.
The heat between Rafe and Hop is fabulous and the D/s kink they enjoy together is very sexy.
For me, at times there was a little bit too much drama. The first scenes between Hop and Rafe feel like something out of a teen soap and the secrecy and poor communication doesn’t always work for me. The plot was complicated and I’m still not sure I understand all of Rafe and Hop’s pasts. Ultimately, this is a fun, sexy read full of angst and passion.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Mad & Marvelous (Sassy Boyz #4) by Elizabeth Varlet to read and review.
Mad & Marvelous by Elizabeth Varlet
Sassy Boyz #4
I read and loved the first book in this series and seem to have missed the second and third. This book can easily be read without reading any others in the series.
The Sassy Boyz is a troupe of male dancers that are sometimes mistaken for women. They are unique, entertaining, edgy and intriguing whether on stage or off. As Hop Lovette dances he loses himself in the music. He is a creative soul but in some ways tormented. He is waiting for his boss, Rafe Marson, to recognize who he is as they do have a past. In the past he has taken chances and lived for the adrenaline rush but has grown into himself for the most part. There is still one aspect of his life and being that he has not really embraced and Rafe helps him with this…eventually.
Rafe runs and co-owns the nightclub Switch. He is working hard to get enough money to purchase the club outright and get out from under the thumb of a man he dislikes but cannot seem to get away from. His family and business is important to him – so important he doesn’t really have time for a life outside of work.
This is definitely not your vanilla love story with Rafe as the Dom but it is also a story of caring and sharing and learning with both men having needs that are met by the other. It may be hard for some to relate to but as not all loves are the same there is a need to have love stories that vary, too.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Will I read other books by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars