I absolutely loved Iggy Toma’s narration!

What did you like best about Takeover? What did you like least?

I liked the narration the best, the middle and very end of the story least.

Any additional comments?

I love the boss falling for a subordinate trope, and I especially love the whole one night stand turns into something more trope, so I was pre-disposed to loving this.

I absolutely loved Iggy Toma’s narration of the story! Once again, Toma blends different character voices and situations brilliantly. I also loved the kinky dominating sex, even when it made me all squirmy.

What didn’t work for me so much was the “mystery” with the board member, which was interesting until it came to no conclusion, which I didn’t understand at all. I mean, I would have loved to have seen a final confrontation. The story also stalls midway through and could have been greatly aided by cutting about an hour and a half of gristle from the meat.

Bottom Line: The narration is rock solid, the story less so, but still recommended for those who like a little kink with their business politics.

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Interesting. Good tech. A little slow.

Having found this author by way of a sexy, kinky short story, then with a hot, kinky, meet up starting this novel, I was a bit frustrated with the slow pace of the romance & sex.

As an engineer and someone who knows someone who got beat up near Harvard Sq (not for the same reason), most of the setting for this story rang true. (MIT is a pretty safe school to be out at.) I wasn’t eyerolling about wrong tech every other scene, rather, thinking what a relief it was to be seeing good tech portrayed on page. I found it interesting that Sam was out then closeted, as it’s not something I’ve run across much. I thought the reasoning was sound but the angst around being closeted made the pace drag rather tediously, even though it rather made sense. I was ready to smack Sam myself a few times.

I appreciated that the kink was relevant through to the end of the book. And that the specifics of Michael wanting to dom in the bedroom but not in the boardroom really worked for the story & Sam. I liked how the characters made friends & allies and looked at their pasts with fresh perspectives as the plot played out. It was interesting & mostly well done, but a tad tedious at times. If you like (or don’t mind) a pain kink its a recommended read.

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too much bdsm to be sexy

I like the two main characters however when it comes to welts and bruises I just don't think that's very sexy.

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DNF - Not a good story

Wow, this book was a struggle to listen , not because Iggy Toma as he was wonderful as ever but to the story he was narrating . I managed to go as far as chapter 3 solely because Iggy but even him couldn't turn this story around for me.

I know , I am in the minority here when I say Takeover is not a good book. This is supposed to be a M/M romance story but it reads like a bad 1980 M/F Harlequin Romance.

Let me explain, men , in general ,have not trouble separating sex and love . So after one anonymous, no string attached , out of town , quick hook up for hot sex the heroes are acting like young inexperienced women with ton of emotional baggage and inability to separate love and sex. It was like the author wrote a M/F book and during the editing process decided to make it M/M by changing the female name to male, without changing the sensibility and character thought process and behavior.

I am glad this book was in the Romance Package and I can return it ; if not , I will have demanded my credit back.

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Trickle Down Is Just What You Think It Means

Would you try another book from Anna Zabo and/or Iggy Toma?

Anna Zabo - no. Iggy Toma is brilliant.

Would you ever listen to anything by Anna Zabo again?

No.

Have you listened to any of Iggy Toma’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I own several audiobooks with his narration, and regardless of the quality of the work, Toma's immense talent shines through. His voice characterizations are subtle and distinct, and manage to carry a story despite the author's talent or lack thereof.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes, the author had the good sense to employ Toma.

Any additional comments?

If your sexual kink is the fetishization of another's pain and humiliation, then this book is for you. I find a celebration of degradation not worthy of my time. I believe the safe-word was red. "Red!"

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Disappointed with narration and storyline

This was my first gay erotica novel, and I thought the sexual parts of it were hot as hell and they’re really all that kept me engaged. This is the first book I’ve fast forwarded before, or listened to quickly, to get through the political correctness BS I felt like was going on. I get that coming out is a real struggle for people, but I thought I was getting a novel that treated the issue as normal instead of pressing on how unwelcomed it is in today’s world and the struggle of it. I was looking for something a lot lighter and hotter, and with a straighter sounding narrator. The narration made it complicated for me to enjoy. And both are what kept me from buying the next in the series. It wasn’t captivating, and the hot parts were few and far between. Very disappointed.

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Interesting Story

On my tbr shelf way too long.

Zabo sets up the characters well though the plot was a bit repetitive till about 1/2 way through. Luckily for me, since I did the audiobook version Iggy Toma's gorgeous voice kept that from being too big a problem.

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Sweet, tamed MM Romance

Takeover follows the story of Sam, a successful CEO, who just sealed a deal in working with a company in Pittsburgh. He travels to Curacao before he begins this new job and is then approached by Michael. They share one helluva hot night together, then part ways the next day. This doesn't mean that their one night of passion is forgotten, when they return home, the thoughts of one another still lingers. When Michael learns that Sam is the new CEO at the company that he’d founded (but no longer holds high position - long story), he couldn’t be more surprised, but Sam is determined to maintain a professional decorum despite the attraction that he still feels for Michael, plus he's in the closet when it comes to work.

Takeover is probably one of the very few books I've read/listened to that held an honest reality when it comes to the struggles of the LGBTQ community that I could easily imagine people that I know in the real world having similar experiences and battling the same personal inner demons. Michael and Sam struggle with having to work together and keep the attraction under wraps that it obviously becomes over whelming and soon they can't help it. Along with that, they both have trust issues and need to make life-altering decisions which in turn could affect them both, professionally and personally.

I enjoyed listening to Iggy Toma even thought I prefer dual narration. The story did unravel the characters as it went on. You get to learn about Sam and Michael's insecurities and how they they work together to overcome them. It was a great listen!

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Great book

I loved the book and the story was good though a little short in the ending. The characters was good and I felt as I got to know them. The voice reading was very clear and read with feelings.

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Well worth a read.

So many M/M romances are thin on plot. Takeover has all the elements - engaging story, characters with some complexity, plus good 'romance'. So nice to find a book in this genre that isn't a basic Cinderella story. I hope to see more books by this author.

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