Title: Relentless Passion
Author: AJ Llewellyn
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary M/M
Length: Novella (99 PDF pages)
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
A guest review by Tj
Summary Review: A well written, and fun to read tale of twins switching identities and the unexpected consequences.
The Blurb: Twins Alex and Zeca love to switch identities. It’s harmless fun until Alex wants to date a hot tourist visiting their home of Capri, and asks Zeca to take his place on a date with Alex’s current beau, Antonio. After a day in Antonio’s arms—followed by a long, lusty weekend in his bed during a trip to Naples—Zeca discovers switching places with Alex isn’t so harmless after all. Especially when he realizes he’s falling hard for his brother’s boyfriend.
While struggling with his feelings for Antonio, consoling his semi-celebrity father (who’s having woman troubles) and trying not to upset Alex (who might be in love with Antonio…or his tourist tryst…or maybe the neighbor lady), Zeca wonders how any of them will make it through all the relationship woes with hearts intact.
As Antonio says, “Love has a way of fixing things itself.”
The Review: I’ve heard intriguing stories of twins switching places for laughs, but this would be the first time that I’ve read a twin story with this premise – and I’m very happy that I took a chance on Relentless Passion. The story is well written and entertaining, as we follow the adventures of twins Zeca and Alex and their actor/father on the beautiful island of Capri.
Although Zeca and Alex are physically identical, they are as different as night and day in personality. Alex is a party boy, outgoing and gregarious who can pretty much land any man he sets his sights on. Whereas Zeca is the shy and responsible one, who carries more than his share of responsibility in helping their father run his restaurant, and hasn’t had a boyfriend in quite some time. Their father is a former TV actor, who trades on his celebrity and is quite a colorful character himself.
We meet the twins as Alex is trying to persuade Zeca to go on a date with Alex’s current boyfriend (Antonio) so that Alex can go out with a new, even hotter hottie who he just met (and coincidently Zeca had been eyeing himself). Despite his misgivings about deceiving Antonio, he reluctantly agrees. Of course Antonio turns out to be kind and fun and smokin’ hot and Zeca finds himself really enjoying their time together, and disturbingly starts to feel a real attraction for the man.
Since Zeca had only met Antonio a few times before, he really knew nothing about him, and soon discovers that everything Alex told him about Antonio is completely wrong. I really enjoyed Zeca’s confusion and watching him scramble to not look like an idiot, though his nervousness does lead to a few mishaps. But to Zeca’s surprise, Antonio finds him funny and sweet.
I really grew to care about the characters of Zeca and Antonio. They were so good together that I was rooting for their HEA almost from the start. I wanted Antonio to realize who Zeca was and see how a much better boyfriend he was than Alex. On the other hand I was also rooting for Alex’s comeuppance for being so self centered and callous to both his family and the men he dates. And the author delivers very satisfactorily on both counts.
Although mostly really fun and lighthearted, there is also a tragic back story about the boys’ mother and how this affected all three men in her life. I liked how the author integrated that into the story to explain some of the character’s feelings and actions, as it made them seem more real. I must also mention the island of Capri, which is nicely used as the setting for the story. There were lots of details that added greatly to my enjoyment, from the sights and smells to the description of the way the people live day-to-day. I was having serious homemade bread, limoncello and cappuccino cravings while reading!
Overall, I really enjoyed Relentless Passion, and highly recommend it.
Thanks for the wonderful review, Tj! I’ve wanted to read this for a while now, so I’m incredibly happy to hear how much you liked it!
You’re welcome, and thank you Cole! I really enjoyed Relentless Passion, but what’s not to love – it’s set in an exotic location, there’s hot men, and it’s fun and funny. I think you’ll enjoy it too. Come back and let me know.
I’m hooked – I’m adding this one to my list! Thanks for the great review.
Oh, it really was my pleasure Pea! Even after I had written the review, I went back and reread the book again. That’s how much I enjoyed the story.
Oh! Wants! Definitely want! And here I just set a rule that I couldn’t get a new book until I put a dent in the ones I have. This site is really bad for my bank account!
Great review 🙂 Stories with twins can be most fun!
Thank you and I’m so sorry Larissa! I have the same problem – my TBR pile is huge, but I still buy more books! I keep telling Wave that she is ruining my budget. The twins are a lot of fun (no Wave, not like that!), and had me laughing at their antics. Plus the description of Capri just made me ache to be there.
Why Tj, whatever do you mean? 🙂
So I have a kink but you don’t have to out me. lol
It’s not my fault that you spend more money on books now. You are the one who has no self control which reminds me, I have a really good book that I’ll be reviewing tomorrow – short, upbeat and fun. How is your bank balance? lol.
This book of AJ’s looks like a winner and I think I’ll be reading it on the weekend. Too bad about the twins. 🙂
Sorry Hon, I didn’t want you to get all excited thinking there was more going on here. But this is a really good book, and you should read it anyway. You can add some “fun” bits from your very vivid imagination! 😉
“How is your bank balance? lol.”
You know I hate you. ;p
Hey I wholeheartly agree with Wave! *hides Sage Whisler’s books*
And I have control…dammit….most of the time that is.
Don’t worry Wave, maybe if we all talk about it, twincest will become the new rage 🙂 I’d certainly be happy then!
TJ Thank you so much for the awesome review. You made my day. You have a way of describing the books you read without giving it all away. Thank you so much! The sequel to this book, Relentless Love, in which Alex finds HIS true mate comes out next week, February 2 at Ellora’s Cave. Hope you get a chance to read it!
Hi AJ – You’re very welcome. It really was a pleasure to read and review. I try hard to be conscious of the parts that need to be experienced first hand, and not give them away in the review. I really loved Alex and Antonio, not to mention the rest of the characters. I’ve now read the book several times, and enjoyed it each time. I’m looking forward to the sequel, even though I wanted to bop Alex on the head, I do want to see if he can straighten out his act.
Hi TJ,
I would like to send you a copy of the sequel when it comes out on the 2nd. This one is set in Capri and St. Tropez. I hope you will enjoy it. Where can I send it to? Please let me know at ajllwllyn (at) aol.com
Aww, thanks AJ! That’s very kind of you. Wave is requesting a copy for me to review from the publisher. I can’t wait to read it – Capri and St. Tropez you say? You’re killing me AJ! You make me want to go to all these exotic places you describe and I don’t have that kind of travel budget! 😉
Tj
Since you liked Relentless Passion so much I’ll request Relentless Love for you from EC.
Yay! More Alex and Zeca! Thanks Wave. Okay maybe I don’t hate you now. 😉
This sounds like a really fun and interesting read, as well as one I wouldn’t have considered without this review. (Twin stories usually aren’t my thing.)
Thanks, TJ, for directing me toward this! I’m definitely going to give it a try in the near future.
~Tis
Hi Tis – It was fun and very entertaining to read. And you’re very welcome – I’m glad I was able to catch your interest. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Is that a fence sitting ‘yes’ Tis, or a definite maybe? 🙂
The word ‘definitely’ doesn’t imply fence-sitting. Thus it’s a definitive yes, Miss Smarty-pants. 😛
~Tis
Sounds like a great read. I’m adding it and the sequel to my wish list. Great review, Tj! 🙂
Thanks Lily! You’re lucky that you could get both books and read them together. I think you’ll enjoy this one a lot.
Great review TJ, I read this one a while back and enjoyed it as well. The descriptions of Capri were also great especially since I’ve always wanted to go.
Thank you Mary! It’s nice to hear that you enjoyed the book too. Yeah, didn’t those descriptions make you want to plan a trip to Capri? I really need a cappuccino now. 🙂
Looks like I need to add this and the sequel to my list. I have only read a twin switching before and I´m curious how it works here. Your reviews never have mislead me so I´m sure it´s going to be worth reading.
Thank you for your review 🙂
Hi Helena – I think you’ll really enjoy this one. It’s a lot of fun to read. So happy to hear that my reviews have worked well for you, as everyone’s tastes are different. I hope you enjoy Relentless Passion too. Thanks for commenting!
I was going to wait and buy both books at the same time but… Looks like I´m weak against temptation 🙂
A great reading, I´m looking forward to Alex side so probably I would be unable to wait for your review lol
Thank you again 🙂
Hi Helena – LOL Couldn’t wait, huh? That’s something I would do! I have no will power either. Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how you liked the book. BTW, if you’re feeling weak again, the sequel, Relentless Love, was just released. 😉
Ok, sounds fab. I’m soo going to check it out (adding to ever growing list as we speak). I’ve always found twins cool (gah, the things I admit to…lol). As a Gemini I always felt I should have been born with a twin, my mother doesn’t agree with my reasoning.
I hope you enjoy it Luci. The twins are a lot of fun! But I can understand your mother’s feelings. LOL
Oooh, this is tempting! I’ve finally got my eBook Reader, and it’s way too easy to buy all of these stories now. I’m going to be broke!
Join the club gaycrow! It’s waaay too easy to buy e-books. I have a ton of them that I bought waiting to be read. And there’s my TBB list that just keeps growing!
“I’m looking forward to the sequel, even though I wanted to bop Alex on the head”
Tj, wish you could’ve seen my reactions when I read this. I was positively incensed on Zeca’s behalf!
Thanks so much for the wonderful review. And wait ’til you read Alex’s book. Madcappery at its finest. If you don’t love it, I may have to turn in my editor’s badge. 🙂
Hi Kelli – After the way Alex treated Antonio, I think Zeca would applaud a bop on the head for Alex! 😉 I can’t wait to read the sequel. If it’s even half as good as this one, I’m sure that I’ll love it. And you did a great job editing so no worries there!