Monday, September 14, 2015

Review: Crosstown Crush

CROSSTOWN CRUSH
Sins in the City #1
Cara McKenna
Adult Contemporary Romance
336 pages
Signet
Available Now
Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
When he’s working, Mike Heyer is all business—every inch the alpha male, with the hard, capable body to back up his persona. But at home he can be a different man entirely, harboring appetites only his wife gets to glimpse…

When Samira first learned of her husband’s fantasies, she was reluctant, even alarmed. But after witnessing the way they set him on fire, she yielded, and happily indulged. As their games have intensified, so has the rush. And now so has the risk—they’re poised to take Mike’s indecent desires to the next level, by opening their bed to a sexy, brazen stranger. A man seeming custom-made to grant every last one of Mike and Samira’s sinful wishes.

Welcoming someone new into their lives was always a dangerous proposition, but the couple imagined if anything was at stake, it was their privacy…not their hearts.


MY THOUGHTS
Crosstown Crush is a tricky read in terms of subject matter, a cuckolding kink–wherein a husband desires the humiliation of having his wife cheat on him with a man perceived as bigger and stronger than he is–a tough sell in the world of romance and happily-ever-afters. Ms. McKenna pulls it off beautifully though, delving deeply into Mike’s kink and peeling back its layers to allow us to see how something that would normally be enormously off-putting in a romance can actually be sexy, even if we (and Samira and Bern for that matter) can’t fully relate to that particular desire.

The key to the success of this story (for me) is the communication between all three parties, each person upfront with the others in what they want and need from the cuckolding fantasy so that everyone’s feelings can be addressed as things heat up. The conversations between husband and wife are particularly vital to us as readers, as the idea of a partner sleeping with someone else for most elicits feelings of hurt and anger. Those feelings make it difficult to fully wrap our minds around the appeal of a situation that in the beginning is physical between Samira and Bern only, with Mike taking a decidedly passive spectator role. Bearing witness to Samira’s questions for Mike and his attempts to explain what about this fantasy works for him helps soothe any ruffled feathers we might have though, ensuring we don’t pity Mike, get angry at Samira or wish Bern out of the picture as we likely would otherwise.

Ms. McKenna doesn’t take the easier path with this romantic arrangement either, one in which Mike and Bern develop feelings for one another as well to turn their relationship into a triad in truth, instead leading everyone down a rockier road as fantasy bleeds into reality and becomes infinitely more complex. We’re left with a satisfying ending (even if some uber romantics like me might wish for a happily in love triad), things between the three of them stable but a little more open in terms of what might happen moving forward. Overall, Crosstown Crush explores a kink that could have easily crashed and burned and left readers distinctly uncomfortable, but Ms. McKenna forces us in the most exquisitely sensual way to try and see things through the eyes of Mike, Bern and Samira in turn, and it’s nearly impossible not to get swept away in their games.

Rating: 4/5


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This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review
I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

33 comments:

  1. Okay I need to read this novel, I'm very intrigued by why he wants to introduce a stranger into their lives in a I guess kinky way. Thanks for putting this on my radar. Lovely review! :)

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    1. I was a little worried about the cuckolding kink, but I thought it was really well done Emma! Definitely not something I've run into before and I enjoyed how it played out:)

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  2. I'm not sure if this is a book I can give a try, but I'm glad to hear that it was done really well, and that the comunication between characters was key!
    As always, fantastic review Jenny!

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    1. It definitely won't be for everyone Pili, but I thought it was really well done:)

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  3. That's an interesting kink that I don't think I've seen before in books. I'm not totally sure I would enjoy it even though all 3 parties are communicating, but I'm glad you were able to enjoy it. I do want to try this author though since I've heard so many great things!
    Great review, Jenny!

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    1. It's definitely a tough sell Nick! You know I don't like my characters with anyone else romantically, so I was a little nervous picking it up. I was pleasantly surprised:)

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  4. I'm glad the author wrote this unque situation well, and that you were able to enjoy this atypical romance and its ending! It sounds like the communication made all the difference in the story.
    Wonderful review, Jenny :)

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    1. Communication was definitely key Kim! If Samira didn't really push Mike to explain why this worked for him, I would have had trouble believing he could actually want to see his wife with another guy. She did push though and his reasoning was believable even if I couldn't actually relate.

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  5. I haven't even heard of this before Jenny or if I have I don't remember. Either way, it sounds completely fascinating and I love the fact that the author could take something you don't normally see or like in a romance and change your perspective about it so you understand it.

    Wonderful review! This really does sound like a unique read.

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    1. Yes! A cheating fantasy would typically have me running for the hills, but I was impressed with this one:)

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  6. This is definitely not something I would have picked up on my own and I'm not sure I would even now but I do find myself a little curious as to how in the world things turn out in the end. Great review!

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    1. It's definitely an uncomfortable topic Candace, but I liked how everything was explained. I was able to believe Mike actually wanted this even if the thought of it in my life gives me a nervous tic.

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  7. Glad this was convincing for you, Jenny, but I don't think I can wrap my head around the cuckhold fantasy and be okay with it in order to fully enjoy this book.

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    1. I completely understand Rummanah! It was hard for me to wrap my mind around as well, but I liked how Mike tried to explain to Samira, I could understand why it worked for him.

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  8. Ohh, this is so very brave of you, Jenny! I know that you're a lot like me as a romance reader and that this kind of thing is normally unacceptable for us both. But this wouldn't be the first time I made an exception and I can see how open communication between all three people could make a world of difference.

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    1. Heh, I know! You know I'm rather fanatical about monogamy in my romances, so this was well outside my comfort zone. The communication sold me on it though and I ended up really enjoying it!

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  9. Hmm.. it is interesting that you didn't mind the triangle. It seems from reading your review that it is handled maturely with communication, so I think I could handle it.

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    1. It was just fascinating for me Heidi. A fantasy like this one is something that I can't imagine ever wanting, but I really enjoyed trying to understand how it worked for Mike.

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    1. Very true. But it's not your standard triangle either, it was all very unique:)

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  11. Now see this is one thing I wouldn't have even picked up! I was all nope, but now you have me going... well maybe... See what you've done to me? I'm curious as to how this is handled now. :)

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    1. I KNOW! If the cuckolding part had been more apparent in the synopsis I might have taken a pass on this one, but I really enjoyed it Melissa!

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  12. Oh THAT'S what's it about? Hmmm I dunno if it's for me, but it looks like nothing is terribly awkward about it. Hmmmm. This will require much thought on my half.

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    1. I was a little nervous once I learned what his kink was Amber, but the way he and Samira discuss it in depth made me more curious than anything. I enjoyed seeing how everything played out:)

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  13. I'm glad this is explored in a tasteful manner and that the relationship between these three characters is outlined realistically. I'm not entirely sure it's for me but it definitely seems worth the read, at any rate. Thanks for putting this on my radar, Jenny! :)

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    1. Yes, it was really well done. It wasn't a situation where Samira gleefully indulged her husband by sleeping with another man, she was really worried about the whole situation and I appreciated how each person in the arrangement was vocal with their feelings.

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  14. I don't think I've ever read a book that deals with that kink. It sounds interesting, though I'll admit that it's not my thing (I like my book boyfriends alphas in all aspects of life!). It sounds tastefully done though, so I'll check it out! Great review.

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    1. I haven't either Amanda, and I was really impressed. Cheating is always a deal breaker for me, and here is a kink that's all about cheating, but it just worked I thought!

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  15. My review goes up for this Wednesday. I loved it, and it has a lot to do with the communication, like you said. The author handled this perfectly. I'm so curious about the 2nd book.

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  16. Well aren't you a tease..you have me curious about this stranger and kink!

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  17. All I can say is, what. The. Ever. Loving. Fudge.

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  18. Great review, Jenny. I’m intrigued, that’s for sure. Want to know how the author writes about this tricky situation in tasteful and realistic manner.

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