Keeping House (Truth or Dare, Book 1), by Lee Brazil

Title: Keeping House (Truth or Dare, Book 1)

Author: Lee Brazil

Sub-Genre(s): Contemporary, Erotic, M/M

Publisher: Breathless Press

Publication Date: May 5, 2011

ISBN #: 9781926930466

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Bethany

Rating: 4 Cups

Blurb:*

Mischa knew his brothers were up to something. He didn't know it would lead him to Donovan Holloway and change his carefree lifestyle forever.

Donovan Holloway, advertising executive, newly made vice president of the company where he's worked for twenty years, grew up in a free love hippie commune, taking care of the parents who should have been taking care of him. He's worked hard to put himself through school and achieve the American dream. All he's ever wanted was a normal family life—house in the suburbs, two cars, two kids, a shaggy dog. A family to come home to—to care for, and to care for him.

Mischa Blake is the green eyed, liberally-pierced, black-haired, Mohawk-wearing spoiled youngest son of a Hollywood producer and his actress wife. Mischa has made a terrible mistake. In a fit of childish pique, he's accepted a dare from his older brothers. The dare? Live on his own, supporting himself completely for a year without accessing his trust fund. No problem. Except Mischa has never worked a day in his life, hasn't finished college, and has absolutely no skills that he can bring to the table.

So when he sees Donovan's ad for a housekeeper/gardener, he has nothing to lose by applying, because really...how hard can it be?

Review:
Misha Blake is rich, young and from a well-to-do to family of close-knit brothers who consider him spoiled. On their regular poker night, the brothers decide it’s time for their baby brother to grow up and instigate a little “game” of their own. Losing the hand, Misha was forced to play their version of Truth or Dare. Either enter into the family business or get a job and keep it for a full year without access to his hefty monthly allowance or his beloved Porshe. What did Misha decide? To find a job. The only trouble was that, as with all of us, finding one proved to be difficult. When a wealthy man advertised for not only a personal assistant but also a housekeeper/cook, Misha was determined to get hired.

I’m a huge fan of m/m pieces and enjoyed the combative nature of the brothers who initially seemed to be a bit arrogant but had the best interests of their wayward brother in their hearts. The passages where Misha tried to figure out about pots and pans and learned to cook were priceless and I could easily envision his angst. Donovan, the employer/love interest was engaging and sexy in his mannerisms. Where the piece lost some of its glow was in the fast paced aspect of the story. I wasn’t able to learn enough about our heroes and therefore unable to love them. I also thought the fact the two were a couple so quickly wasn’t as believable as it could have been. I believe Keeping House would have benefited from being a longer piece where the characters could grow along with the story. Still, I think Mr. Brazil’s writing style is fresh, well-written and engaging and I will read his works with pleasure again.

Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads.

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to CBLS Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other CBLS reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.