Bestselling authors Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy return with their first Male / Male romance in 3 years.LobsterShorts, 21. Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF. LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome. SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app. LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy? SinnerThree: All the … With another guy?
SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You?
LobsterShorts: [crickets!]
SinnerThree, 21. Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF.
SinnerThree: Well, I’m down if you are. My life is kind of a mess right now. School, work, family stress. Oh, and I live next door to the most annoying dude in the world. I need the distraction. Are you sure you want this?
LobsterShorts: I might want it a little more than I’m willing to admit.
SinnerThree: Hey, nothing wrong with pushing your boundaries…
LobsterShorts: Tell that to my control-freak father. Anyway. What if this threesome is awkward?
SinnerThree: Then it’s awkward. It’s not like we’ll ever have to see each other again. Right? Just promise you won’t fall in love with me.
LobsterShorts: Now wouldn’t that be life-changing…
Q&A about Top Secret:
Q: Have we met these characters before in another book?
A: No! These guys are brand new, and we can’t wait for you to meet them.
Q: Is this story MM? Or is it a MMF / MFM / menage?
A: This book is MM.
Q: Is this a love triangle story?
A: Not really. You’ll see.
more
Loved this book…it was sweet and fun and had a decent level of angst without becoming too much. The character arc was fabulous. Just a great story to read.
Definitely recommend!
Love this title, love this book! I adored Keaton and Luke. Their struggle and the road to finding their HEA was so worth the read!
I love the authors, this book was a long awaited one and let me tell you it didn’t disappoint at all, it is everything I wanted in a book two hot frat boys, sexting at the highest level and humor. Keaton and Luke engaged in a dating app and things get HOT!!!!
Just what I’ve come to expect from this dynamic author duo!
Fantastic characters, great settings, and lots of beautiful moments make for a great getaway from reality. Loved this one.
Swoon city
I loved this book! Keaton and Luke are such a great couple, they surprised me at every turn! I love being surprised by a book, and this one didn’t disappoint. I found this story very emotionally satisfying, sweet and sexy!
There’s magic when Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy get together and write! Top Secret delivers all the humor, heart, and entertainment I’ve come to expect from their work. I fell hard and fast for these characters!
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that when Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy join their wands, the most amazing and otherworldly magic happens. They are extraordinary apart, but together? They are unbelievable.
Top Secret is their most recent collaboration, and let me tell you, it is to die for. After waiting for what seemed like forever, they’re back! And what a comeback it is! I sure hope they write together again, because there’s just nothing like it. Nothing.
I loved Top Secret. It is flawlessly written, the story flows naturally, and the characters are very well developed. Luke Bailey and Keaton Hayworth III couldn’t be more different. They are not only from very different backgrounds, but their personalities are just not compatible. Two frat brothers with nothing in common but a very intense dislike for each other. One could even call it hatred. That is, until they meet online.
Top Secret is everything you want in a romance novel. First of all, it is very well written, no secrets there. It is certainly hilarious, but not only because of the funny situations in the story, but because of the way it’s told. It’s in the words. It’s a pleasure to read their words. Luke and Keaton are both adorable in their own way, and both their stories have depth. They face situations and have issues that any person could relate to, or understand without a stretch.
And last but not least, Top Secret is hot. I mean, the heat level is scorching. And also hilarious, you’ll know what I mean when you read all the animal kingdom sex references. (You may want to look those flatworms up on you tube, just saying.) Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy write amazing M/M romance, and Top Secret is certainly another winner.
“I’m just a guy, standing on a beach in nothing but his favorite pair of lobster shorts, waiting for the right man to love me.”
I have read several things from both of these authors, but together it’s a different kind of wonderful. I loved their last M/M book(s) and this was just as amazing.
“He said I was stingy with love, and he was right. I am really not sure that will ever change. But if there’s anyone in the world I could change for, it’s certainly him.”
This has a different and lighter feel to it compared to their last M/M duet. The book was funny, sweet, and so full of swoon. SO. MUCH. SWOON. I loved the secondary characters as much as I loved Keaton and Luke. They were great and I wouldn’t be mad if we got books from them. Keaton and Luke had a ton of chemistry. It leaped off the pages! They were so different but yet when they were together it was so meant to be. I couldn’t even pick which one I liked more because I just adore both of these guys. I am hoping for more from this “world”. Sarina and Elle can keep writing together and I will eat it up every time.
“What was I ever thinking? I need this man. And even if being half a couple doesn’t come easily to me, I have to try. Nobody has ever gotten under my skin the way he does. Nobody has ever needed me the way he does. Not one person. It’s terrifying.”
This was ……
Lobstershorts
I’m just a guy, standing on a beach in nothing but his favorite pair of lobster shorts, waiting for the right man to love me.
*happy sigh*
This story made me all kinds of happy !! These two authors can write New Adult like nobody’s business. And when they come together to write as one it is just outstanding ! The growth and exploration was spot on for both Luke and Keaton. They are two of the most endearing characters I have read in quite some time! I fell into the story as if I was going thru their journey with them! It was glorious and happy and just plain fun. Also ….. holyhotnessbatgirl! 😉
Top Secret is Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy’s next amazing MM romance. I about died when I got the ARC and saw that it was MM! I love this writing duo. Their stories are addictive and their MM’s are hot AF. Seriously. This might even be my favorite by them.
After six years together Annika has asked for a surprising birthday gift. A threesome. With another dude. And since Keaton is the perfectly doting boyfriend that he is, he will deliver. He is on a mission to find the perfect guy for his girl’s 21st. What he didn’t expect was to be so excited about it. Sure, he has had a dream or two about another guy, who hasn’t? But this is different. The guy he matches with on the app, Kink makes him want to explore it all.
Luke has been working night after night. Between college, work, his family, and running for Frat President his life is pure craziness. So, why not check in on the Kink App? Maybe he will find a Hookup to release some tension. When he hits on exactly what he needs with a couple who wants a threesome, he is intrigued. It wouldn’t be his first rodeo but it would be theirs. This could be fun. Help out a guy who has never been with another guy or maybe he just wants to watch. He doesn’t know but he either way he gets fucked. What he didn’t expect was to like the guy. Whoever he is.
What will happen when they find out? Will their secrets be out?
Well, that’s all I can really say about that. I will say that I loved the chemistry between them. The flirty abs sexy texts. The build-up. I loved it all. The characters are total opposites. I don’t really know what it was about them that had me swiping so fast but they had something. Some real. Something special. Something epic.
Overall…I want more!! If this is all I get then Thank You, ladies. But really, I would really appreciate it if there was more. These guys made me swoon, laugh, get heated, and even cry!
P.S. Readers. Trust the authors, they know what they are doing. Xoxo
Quotes:
I never chatted up a dude before. But here goes: Likewise. I can see you’re busy with the ab curls.
“Marine Ecology is gonna be the shit,” Keaton says as he sorts his cards. “Excited to stock up on your animal mating rituals knowledge, huh?” I speak up without thinking, then curse myself for the foolish move.
“Bad boys get punished, Hayworth.”
Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy have teamed up for another M/M story titled Top Secret.
Keaton’s long-time girlfriend wants to spice up their sex life with a threesome, and Keaton sets out to find a willing partner, so he signs up with a hookup app. In the meantime, he’s in the running for president of his fraternity and he’s trying to get up the courage to tell his father he doesn’t want an internship in finance. There’s a lot going on in Keaton’s life, and he would rather focus on a super cool research trip he really wants to take.
When he starts chatting with SinnerThree, Keaton’s life takes a turn he doesn’t expect. You can read into this what you will, I just loved how they established a friendship via the app, without even realizing it. That was really cool and very fresh for me.
I really loved this story. It’s not insta love (although there is plenty of lust). I didn’t want to put this down until I reached the last page, and the ending was just perfection.
Definitely recommended for M/M readers and anyone who is looking for terrific falling-for-each-other story.
An ARC was provided for review.
For the record, this book is an M/M college romance. Yes, Keaton has a girlfriend and what triggers the whole LobsterPants and SinnerThree match-up on the app is Annika’s birthday request of a threesome. Does cheating occur? Well, I guess that depends on your definition of cheating, but it isn’t a no-go for me, so on I went with reading and enjoying the story. I don’t want to give too much away, but suffice it to say that Keaton and Luke’s story held a lot of surprises, particularly with how their relationship played out. Their respective back stories, as well, were quite interesting, and it just goes to show that you don’t know what someone could be going through unless you dig deeper and they allow others to see beyond whatever facade they have in place. Both Keaton and Luke had their struggles and burdens that they were dealing with on the inside, adding further dimension to them.
This may sound weird but I’m glad that this wasn’t a gay-for-you (GFY) romance. There’s been a plethora of GFY books over the past few years, and while I have nothing against them–I’ve actually enjoyed more than my fair share–I think I just have a greater appreciation for stories that have main characters who explore and accept their sexuality, regardless of when they discover they’re not as straight as they thought they were. Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy, as far as I can tell from reading the five novels they’ve worked on together, work seamlessly together and I love that Keaton and Luke’s story is fresh and has a different flavor to it compared to their past stories. I absolutely enjoyed every single second I spent reading this novel, and that bonus epilogue was what made this tale shift from a happy-for-now (HFN) to a happily-ever-after (HEA) for me. Top Secret is a five-plus-starred must-read.
Omg this is a 5 Star Plus Read and it’s certainly going to be on my best reads of 2019 !!!
Keaton is the typical rich handsome jock who is expected to follow in his dad’s footsteps but his heart is not in it and his passion is elsewhere, up and till now he has done what was expected played football and dated a girl that his parents would want him to be with. Keaton is looking for the perfect birthday gift for his girlfriend so when she requests a threesome he jumps online to investigate a possible male match for the two of them. Enter Luke who is the complete opposite of Keaton, he is on an academic scholarship and works as a stripper by night to put food on the table and this is when the fun really begins, what starts off as innocent texting soon turns in sexting and every text is full of witty flirty banter and it’s long into it that these two realise there might be more than just a threesome on the table, maybe the girlfriend isn’t needed in this relationship……..
This book captivated it took over and I couldn’t put it down until I had read the final page, I needed to know if these two got past the sexting, if family and friends would accept the love they shared and if they finally get the HEA they deserved. This book has it all, it will make you laugh, it will make you swoon and at times you will be gasping out loud. Top Secret is a MM love story and it has the perfect mix of love, passion, humour and angst. Another great read from from two very talented authors
I hated this book…..well, not really. I hated myself while reading this book because I read it way too quickly that I didn’t savor it enough…
Boo hoo, oh well, I can always go back and read it again…or wait a few weeks and listen to it as an audiobook. Yeah! That’s exactly what I plan to do.
I am a huge fan of both Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy and their solo releases. But put the pair together and there is just something special that happens. I had absolutely loved Him and Us by the pair so I was giddy with excitement when Nina sent off notices that the pair had a secret new release coming in May. I was quick to sign up to promote it and marked a big RED heart on the calendar for May 7th!!!
Top Secret – hot fitting is this title?! Is a fabulous story about two college fraternity brothers on opposite sides of the presidential seat elections. What they don’t yet know is that they have been chatting with each other incognito via the Kink app. And it creates an uneasy situation when their true identities are discovered.
This story is a fun and entertaining read. It is also hot, don’t get me wrong. Both Sarina and Elle can write a great romance story and Top Secret is indeed one. It is easy to forget that the two in the couple are both guys. And while all is great behind the scenes, Sarina and Elle also address the issue with acceptance of who you are as well as coming out with friends and family.
A great summer read. You all should add this to your To Be Read short list.
Oh my… I’m still trying to cool down from the amazing, sexy, swoony, hot AF chemistry between Keaton and Luke! Seriously, my Kindle is still smoking. LOL
I knew from past experience in reading the magic written by these two authors, that the relationship and romance between Keaton and Luke would be epic and it truly was! Top Secret is M/M romance at its finest!
These two had me from their initial, sexy, swoony Kink messages, through the discovery of their true identities, and onward to the relationship that bloomed between then, I loved how they brought out the best—and sometimes the worst—in each other. Their relationship was truly Top Secret as neither one was ready to truly admit that they were in a relationship, until they really didn’t have a choice. But it was so amazing to witness their relationship grow and blossom—for them to admit that there really was something more than just sex.
And I really loved how Luke and Keaton got it together in the end, that they both matured and realized that they were so much better together than apart. That their love was worth hurdling any obstacle. And darn it, I’m getting all swoony again.
I love Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. I devoured all their books and when they come together be ready to blown away. ‘Him’ series was my first introduction to the powerful duo and also my first M/M book ever 🙂 So as you might imagine when I first get the news about this book, I was ecstatic.
Keaton Hayworth III, aka LobsterShorts, is outgoing, popular football player, who comes from money. He also has a beautiful long-term girlfriend. It is easy to say, he has a life everyone envies. Ohh and the cutest thing about him is, he is a closet science geek 🙂 He is open minded, curious guy so when his girlfriend, Annika, asks for a threesome as a birthday present, he decides to look into their options. Thank you technology for all those helpful apps 🙂
Luke Bailey, aka SinnerThree, is smart, hardworking, brooding and hot as h*ll. He is also a secret male entertainer. Luke didn’t have an easy childhood and has an unhealthy relationship with his mother and brother. So when he got a free ride from Darby College, he jumped to it just to be able to get out. Even with a free ride, he works really hard to survive. Once he realizes that becoming his frat’s president can ease some financial burden, he decides to go for it. However, his opponent/enemy is someone, who is loved by everyone, Keaton. Unlike Luke, Keaton doesn’t really want to become the president of the frat. He is just running for presidency because of his father.
Keaton has two big events that he needs to plan. First, dance-off party for his presidency campaign and second the birthday present for his girlfriend. While going toe to toe with Luke for presidency, he is not aware that he is also trying to arrange a threesome with him as well. During this time Luke is getting his nerves and only entertainment he gets is the messages he receives from SinnerThree. The correspondence between LobsterShorts and SinnerThree is funny, smart and endearing. But all good, secretive things have an expration date. Once the cat is out of bag about Luke being SinnerThree, Keaton freaks out at first but him being open minded and curious, he wants to go ahead and give in to the attraction. I loved how confident Luke is with his sexuality. The only problem with Luke is, he never allows anyone to get close enough and it is really hard for him to trust someone. So when Keaton and Luke’s relationship evolves something more, Luke takes a step back. I adored how sweet, loyal and understanding Keaton was.
‘Top Secret’ is heartwarming, funny, sweet and sexy enemies to lovers story that you will devour. There are so many more things, I want to tell you guys but that will spoil the story for you, so my recommendation is grab your copies 🙂
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Hell Yeah!
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
GAH!!! There is something about the dynamic duo of Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy that I am ALWAYS here for. They have this special something that I die for and I am seriously all about it. I don’t read a lot of M/M but have made it a point to consume the M/M stories by these authors as they are always filled to the brim with the spitfire banter goodness that I live and die for. Keaton and Luke were absolutely amazing. Their story was swoony and full of the confusion and sexy goodness of any new relationship. I also laughed so hard at times I swear I gasped for air. I never wanted this story to end!!
When Keaton Hayworth and Luke Bailey, neighbors in a fraternity, meet via a kinky dating app for a possible threesome, they never could have expected that Mr. Right was right under their noses. But when plans fall through but their connection remains, ALLLLLLL the explosions happen.
AHHHH this story was absolutely fantastic. I loveeeee opposite attract and enemies to lovers stories. I love how Luke, the poor, snarky, Finance major and Keaton, the rich silver spoon toting popular jock were absolutely opposites on paper but their chemistry and draw to each other could not be denied. But like all the amazing novels by this duo, there is more to them than meets the eye and they realize how compatible they really are to one another. All in all this story was hot af and so so addicting. I loved every word! 5 stars! ~Ratula
Honestly, I couldn’t even sit for a whole day while I finished what I was reading once this book landed on my kindle. I HAD to start it right away. And just as quickly as I started it, I fell in love with it and finished it.
I love Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy separate and I love them together. They just create magic together and I’m so happy they have a new book.
Top Secret is the story of Keaton and Luke. I just loved these two so much!!! Keaton is the most adorable and I loved him. Luke is a bit rougher around the edges and he doesn’t trust easy but Keaton sticks with him and lets him come around on his own.
I loved their banter on the app before they meet each other. I loved watching Keaton discover his feelings and his preferences. I absolutely loved when they found out they already knew each other. I mean, add a side of enemies to lovers to all this adorable cuteness and it’s just the cherry on top.
I felt so much for Luke the more we get to see his mother and brother. They’re users and takers and are fully draining Luke and they don’t even care. Seeing these relationships really made me root for Luke. I wanted him to find love and happiness and just something that was true.
On the other hand we have Keaton’s parents. His dad is pushing him towards a life he doesn’t really want but when it really counts he makes sure that Keaton knows he loves him and I loved that. I about died when Keaton was like, “you’re not going to disown me?” and his dad just goes, “for your sexual orientation? no. for your betrayal, maybe.” (These are not direct quotes). I just loved that. I loved that his dad is so thoroughly himself and he wants his son to follow in his footsteps, but he also wants him to be happy.
I loved how the enemies element is set up. We know they’re enemies, meanwhile, they’re still in the dark about it. I found that so hilarious. They’re just sitting there flirting on their phones and fighting when face to face. I absolutely loved that.
I was super into the whole fraternity aspect of it and I really, really loved Annika. She was such a good friend to Keaton and if Sarina and Elle want to write her a HEA, I wouldn’t be mad.
These girls write beautiful m/m stories and this Top Secret is another beautiful book .
If I could give more than five starts I would this book is so good I couldn’t put it down.
Keaton comes from a wealthy family they have money he has an allowance .
He has a girlfriend who is thinking threesome ?
Can they find one other guy ? My birthday gift please she asks !
Luke is on an academic scholarship a complete difference from Keaton .
Luke has to budget for everything ,Keaton buys what he wants .
Luke is a stripper to earn cash , Keaton doesn’t have to earn .
They guys meet online and then the fun starts as their texting is honest and then more so then to the flirty stage.
The book is amazing, the guys are so different from each other and as the story unfolds there is so much more to both guys.
I was totally in love with this book with the amazing dialogue added with wonderful characters and humor plus such an interesting story-line …
A perfect read…
4.5 stars- Great characters, great banter, great story
I was completely stoked when I first learned of this secretive project between two authors I really enjoy and whose previous books were among the first that drew me to the m/m genre. As such, I was more than happy to go into the story blond. Top Secret ended up being amazing and such a wonderful surprise treat- delivering vibrant characters, a good enemies to lovers romance, and fantastic dialogue that kept me hooked to my e-reader.
Though they’re wonderful and successful authors on their own, together these two women always seem to create magic. Top Secret featured characters with interesting and dynamic personalities who developed over the course of the book. Add to that the engaging dialogues and banter that often had me smiling and laughing, and I couldn’t help but be caught up in Keaton and Luke’s story. The romance between the young men does take a while to get going, with Top Secret employing both gay-for-you and enemies to lovers tropes. However, the likable characters combined with a fun and upbeat tempo kept my attention cover to cover, and the ending was just excellent. Not only did I get to see both characters mature individually, but their love story had me sighing over its sweetness mixed with the humor. Top Secret simply left me happy and is definitely one I’d recommend.
*Reviewed for Alpha Book Club*