Jade Falconer's Survival

Gabriel had everything. He was a successful attorney, engaged to the mayor's daughter. He was handsome and charming. His career was poised on the brink of taking off, and it looked like nothing could stand in his way. So why did he risk it all to have one night of blazing passion with a male prostitute? When Gabriel met Nicky he had no idea what he was getting himself into. Manipulative and clever, the beautiful young waif was involved in the seedy underworld of the city. Would Gabriel be able to turn his back on the young man, or would he let himself be sucked into a world that could destroy his entire life?

Published by Phaze

You can purchase it here or here.

Reviews

This is a remarkable and enthralling tale of obsession. It's also one of the hottest reads of the year. Gabriel is a deeply closeted, engaged guy who has everything going for him but one day he gives in to needs he can't begin to verbalize. Nicky is a prostitute who can read people's needs and wants before they even know they have them. They embark on a breathless journey to enact as many of Gabriel's fantasies as they can stand.

Their first encounter is so hot it'll singe your fingertips, yet it manages to be sweet, too. Every breathy moan, grimace of passion and shudder is plumbed to the point that you'll feel as though you're in a live action sequence. Falconer ratchets up the tension with every subsequent encounter, dragging you deeper and deeper into their obsession with one another. You won't be able to resist Nicky any more than Gabriel can; and Falconer's ability to put you in Gabriel's shoes makes this a powerful read.

Nicky is a heartbreaking character. Like most sex professionals, he suffers from low self-esteem but he's smart as a whip and has perfected his acting skills so that he can be whatever his clients want and need him to be. He's a young man adrift in life with few marketable skills outside of sex until he meets Gabriel, who's well-established and respected in his field. Nicky sees in Gabriel an opportunity to obtain something he's wanted his entire life. In a smart move, Falconer keeps you guessing about Nicky's intentions right up until the end.

Prostitution is portrayed in a realistic fashion. Nicky is no hooker with a heart of gold. He has sex with men for money, sometimes more than one at a time. His Johns jerk off on him, insult him and ignore his needs, plus he regularly gets the crap beat out of him by his pimp. This is prostitution at its most gritty but the writing is so stellar that you won't be able to resist devouring all the nasty little details.

Gabriel is not without his own personal and professional demons. He works for a large law firm and defends people who have deep pockets. He also has a high-profile fiance that he doesn't know what to do with. He can scarcely believe how Nicky's presence turns his entire life upside down, and he's powerless to stop it, even when his past comes back to haunt him.

Survival is a very well written drama with lots of scorching hot sex that never becomes dull no matter how many times Nicky and Gabriel get together. The characters were well-layered and you won't see the plot twists and turns coming, either. The title is most appropriate because as the story evolves, you won't know who's fighting harder to survive, Gabriel or Nicky. I highly recommend Survival ~ it'll leave you thinking about your own deepest-held fantasies and wondering what would happen if you ever gave in to them.

— Rainbow Reviews