“A bit of rough” is a M/M (male/male) romance that I have bought
thinking of buying an erotic romance and very soon fell in my category of heartbreaking romance ... I’m literally in love with Bram Lord.

The plot evolves around James Justin, brilliant junior architect in an important
firm; He is specialized in restoring historical buildings and he really loves his job, to the point that in his freetime he projects a restoration and proposes it to his boss. But when he is done, he discovers that the project is to be followed by a more experienced colleague. He knows that he hasn’t been wronged, but Justin can’t help being disappointed and decides to have a one-night stand with somebody, to cheer himself up.

James is a nice guy from a good family with a sweet look (just like a puppy) and a delicate features, moreover he is gay. But hooking somebody in a pub is not in his style, so, he makes up his mind and tries to look for entertainment, for the evening in the most unlikely place, a biker bar. In his heart He hopes, anyway, that the person he picks up can turn out to be a special one, someone that is not looking only for a quick tumble, also since he has taken very few lover, so far.

Bram Lord is a impressive, sturdy guy, 6 feet of muscles with a liking for cowboy clothes; that’s why when Justin meets him he mentally nicknames him Cowboy. During their first night together Bram behaves like an alpha male, an iron hand in a velvet glove. But Justin gets what he was looking for, a sexual intercourse that gives them both mutual satisfaction. And then the real Bram, discloses himself : he doesn’t want only sex, he wants to meet Justin again, to truly know him, and it goes without saying, he wants more steamy nights like the one they just have shared.

Justin is thrilled; finally he has found the one. Bram is strong and gentle, at the same time. He can dose it’s strength so that he won’t hurt Justin, but he still manage to make him feel protected. On the other hand Bram wants a partner that, outside the bedroom, is an independent person, he doesn’t want to play any longer the role of "sugar daddy", which people force him in, due to his body size and wealth. Moreover Justin’s job as an architect, perfectly complements his own as a builder.

All seems idyllic, if not for the fact that while Bram is perfectly comfortable with his homosexuality, and he doesn’t hide it from others, Justin is reluctant to come really out.

Bram comes from a happy family, that unfortunately he lost to soon; his parents had accepted their son’s inclination and, once they understood that thanks to his impressive appearance, nobody would ever dare to mock their boy, they had quietly lived with this truth. Bram is open and trusting like only someone who has been fully accepted by his family could be. And he wants in all ways the familiar harmony that he lost, by sharing his life with right mate.

On the other hand Justin has been refused by his family has; they have never accepted his homosexuality. He doesn’t hide it, but he doesn’t declare it either. His employer, for instance is not aware of it (or at least that what he believes) and he finds it more difficult than Bram to introduce themselves as a couple to the whole world.

The novel is the story of the way they met but also of Justin’s struggles to acknowledge Bram as a lifemate and not only a sex partner. And this is the reason why the book is far above the level of pure erotic romance: the plot is not simply filling of gaps between the several sex session, but the all book pivots around it . But don’t misunderstand me, there is a lot of well described and engrossing sex.

The only weakness of the book is the conclusion which is right at the most awkward moment, when Justin accepts the challenge of sharing is life with Bram. Laura Baumbach must have realized that, because she has recently decided to write the sequel, "Roughousing".

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/26...

Bram and James...a one night stand starts a relationship. I like the characters, and the fact that the conflict's are really relationship based. Bram is strong, but he seems to be written as a much older man that he is James is late 20's and Bram is mid 30's, I wouldn't put more than 6 years age difference. ( )

I really really liked Bram. And that is sort of my problem with him - he is absolutely too perfect. And his situation is a little too perfect for me. Granted, he is a very sucessful business owner and that shows that he is obviously very confidant with himself and his surroundings. But I found it stretching reality a bit too far to have every one around him to be over the top okay with his homosexuality. I live in a very liberal atmosphere myself - but nothing I've seen comes close to having everyone comfortable with the lifestyle. I mean, come on - he practically has sex with Jamie in the resturant to the point that the waiter lets the owner know what's going on that all the owner (a good acquaintance) does is make their dinner to go and gives Bram the big seal of approval.

I know I am sounding negative here but overall I don't mean to be. As a contemporary romance it is tops to me. Bram is to die for. Jamie a little to much of the helpless girl at times but mostly a fine compliment to Bram. I enjoyed the book immensely. What I didn't care for was the too perfect world these guys inhabited. ( )

James, an architect and former altar-boy, throws caution to the wind and drops in on a rough biker bar. He would love to find a man. A lot of men would love to ... http://www.obsidianbookshelf.com/bito... ( )

It was supposed to be a steamy one night stand. James and Bram come together in an explosive sex scene in the alley behind a club. That scene practically sets the page on fire, it is so hot. But it turns into so much more when they decide to hook up together for dinner the next night.

This story has frequent graphic sex, definitely more erotica than romance, but once the romance begins to build the story takes on a new dimension. Excellent. ( )