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Book Title: Abstract Love
Author: Sara Dobie Bauer
Publisher: Self-published
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Release Date: September 4, 2020
Genre/s: Contemporary MM romance
Trope/s: enemies-to-lovers, age gap, co-workers, office romance,
bisexuality, businessmen, artists, bondage, comedy
Themes: sexual awakening
Possible triggers: depression, suicidal ideations, biphobia
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 71 000 words
It is a standalone book.
Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited
I hate Sam Shelby. So why do I want to kiss him?
Blurb
Sam never expected to move back to Cleveland.
Donovan never expected to be attracted to a man.
Well, shit happens.
After high school, Sam Shelby moved to New York. Eight years later, he returns to Cleveland and lands a job at the best ad firm in town. It would be the perfect gig, if his boss weren’t such an ass.
After his wife leaves, Donovan Cooper questions everything. The arrival of a young, arrogant, gifted graphic designer at Donovan’s firm is the last straw.
Tempers flare over office gossip, and following a nasty argument and scathing kiss, Donovan flails away from heterosexuality while Sam struggles to keep his “no relationship” rule intact.
Despite ugly socks, fiery fights, and their best intentions to not fall in love, these bullheaded coworkers can’t deny their chemistry. Donovan seeks happiness while Sam seeks success, but is there room for more?
Excerpt
Donovan sifted through a few hand-drawn logos on the desk and froze when he found a crudely drawn sketch of himself. Sam must have done it during a meeting at some point, capturing Donovan’s faux hawk, wide jaw, and severe expression.
Jesus, was this what other people saw when they looked at him? Did he really look so miserable?
“Make yourself at home?”
Donovan dropped the picture and stood straight at the sound of Sam’s voice.
He leaned against the doorframe, with one ankle crossed over the other.
“It’s really bullshit when people say that, you know?” Sam said. “Make yourself at home. No one actually wants their friends to take off their pants, drink all their beer, and binge The Great British Bake Off.” He paused. “What are you doing in my office?”
“I didn’t mean to snoop.”
The office door closed as he stepped inside. “Sure you did, or you wouldn’t be in here, so what’s up?”
Sam circled the desk, so Donovan circled the other way, although he noticed it was true what coworkers said: Sam did smell good—like clean laundry and cedar. “I think we started off on the wrong foot.”
Sam snort laughed and flipped through some files on his desk. “More like wrong continent, man.” When he found what he was looking for, he tapped the file’s corner against his palm. “I can handle guys like you, you know.”
Donovan shifted back on his heels. “Guys like me?”
“Hmm. Corporate assholes. All you see are dollar signs. You take no pleasure in your work. Advertising is money to you, not art, but without the artists, there wouldn’t be advertising, so…” He sucked his cheeks into his mouth, a momentary fish face.
Donovan wanted to tell him it wasn’t true. Donovan loved art.
He used to love art.
Sam continued, “I know I look like a six-foot-two Disney princess, but you’re not gonna rattle me.” To prove his point, Sam got right up in Donovan’s personal space until Donovan took a step back. Again, he was not used to dealing with someone his own height. “And I’m right about the Great Lakes ad campaign. If you’d pull your head out of your ass, maybe you’d notice.” He turned away abruptly.
“Sam.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.” Ouch, that hurt coming out.
Sam’s rebuttal: “Prove it.”
“Excuse me?”
He rested a hand on the desk and cocked his hip out—the very picture of young attitude. “Listen to me in meetings.”
“I was listening.”
“Nope.” He shook his head and ran a hand through his unkempt, unprofessional hair. “No, you were hearing. I need you to listen. There’s a difference. And I know I’m just some fucking kid to you, but I ruled the New York City advertising scene. I know what I’m doing, Donovan, so let me do it.”
“Fine.” He’d had enough. He’d apologized, okay, so he’d done his Monica-enforced duty. He didn’t owe Sam anything else.
He didn’t run for the door, but he definitely moved with speed.
My review:
LOVED LOVED LOOOOOVED this book! It was beautiful, emotional, romantic, and gave me all the feels.
Workplace romance, bisexual awakening, kinky sex, age-gap with enemies to lovers - super hot!
At the end of the book I realizes how stupid I am, because this book was originally a short novella in the Come, Play Anthology - which I read, and loved, but totally forgot about it duhhh. But I think it did good for me that I forgot about that novella, because I could enjoy it better this time. (side note; I read a book which was like this, a novella first, than a full length later, and that wasn't good, the novella was better then the full length, so I was afraid to read this kind of stories..but thank God not this time!)
This book was perfect and so, so beautiful in and out. I fell in love with the cover first, but the inside is much brighter and better! Donovan and Sam's story was so good, I loved the bisexual awakening it was really well written, and all the emotions was super awesome. The artist side of the book was so cool, I love artist stories especially with paints.
Loved Sam's character and it was so good to see him changing and be a relationship kind of guy. And Donovan was so patient with him - all the emotions from both sides were really well written, this is the way I picture someone in this kind of situation. It was real.
And the erotic scenes just holyhellllll! HOT!
Loved this book from page one to the last and HIGHLY recommend it!
About the Author
Sara Dobie Bauer is a bestselling author, model, and mental health / LGBTQ advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film.
Author Links
Author Interview:
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a Halloween-obsessed extroverted introvert who loves yoga, pizza, horror movies, and my sexy rock-climber husband. He has buns of steel.How do you relax?
Bartending. After hours spent alone inventing worlds and obsessing over every word, there’s something so delicious about handing out drinks and making people happy.Do you have a favorite quote (either from your own books or one’s you’ve read)?
Not from a book, but … “Listen, smile, agree, and then do whatever the f*ck you were gonna do anyway.” – Robert Downey Jr.What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I just want to continue to love writing. I hope I never reach a point when writing becomes a chore. It’s my escape, and we all need to escape sometimes.Describe a scene in your writing that has made you laugh or cry?
There’s a scene in Abstract Love when Sam is sick and Donovan tries to take care of him, and reading it makes me snort-laugh every time.Give the readers a brief summary of your latest book or WIP.
Abstract Love is an enemies-to-lovers MM romantic comedy with an age gap and an employer/employee dynamic. Sam never expected to move back to Cleveland, and Donovan never expected to be attracted to a man. Well … sh*t happens, as you’ll read.Give us a little insight into your main characters. Who are they?
Donovan is a grumpy boss man at a Cleveland advertising firm whose wife just left him for his best friend.Sam is a young, gifted graphic designer with a tendency to wear ugly socks and drive Donovan insane via his snark and annoyingly good looks.
They’re both damaged and must find a way to heal on their own … with perhaps a bit of assistance from love.
Which actor would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
Donovan is based on Daniel Craig. (Donovan always wears designer suits, so you’re welcome to picture some James Bond hotness.) Sam is based on Timothee Chalamet, ESPECIALLY the fashion choices. I used outfits Timothee has worn in real life in this book … even the ugly socks.What does your writing process look like?
The characters show up and start shouting in my head, demanding to be written. I always have the characters before the plot. Their behaviors shape the plot. I’m basically a puppet, and they tell me what to do. (I swear I’m not insane.)THANK YOU
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