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Category: Erotica/Erotic Romance/Romance
Description: Dalton makes Reed tingle in all the right places. Now Reed's ready to answer the question that's haunted his every failed relationship. Is he really gay? Reed walked into Dalton's life and everything changed. This time, Dalton won't hide the fact he's gay from anyone, even his son. Together they surrender all to each other, and claim the ultimate victory--love. Genres: Gay / Contemporary
eBook Publisher: Amber Quill Press, 2008
eBookwise Release Date: January 2009

44 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [91 KB]
Words: 18413
Reading time: 52-73 min.

"4.5 STARS!...The dialogue between Dalton and Reed is very funny...There is none of the awkwardness that is typical in most books when the two characters first hook up...The sex between them is very sensual and hot...What I most liked about SURRENDERED VICTORY is that the author created two characters that are slightly older than the norm and therefore have a bit of baggage...Dalton's surprising patience, understanding and empathy for Reed was really well done by the author who did a great job of wrapping up the story....it was a terrific read and I unhesitatingly recommend it!"--Jessewave, Reviews By Jessewave

"4.5 NYMPHS!... a wonderful, sweet, sexy and emotional story of one man's self-discovery and another man's realization he may have found the one he's willing to risk it all for. KC Kendricks has done a fantastic job and created two terrific characters you will like right from the start...I quickly and easily found myself drawn into their story and caring about what happened to both of them. SURRENDERED VICTORY also has humorous moments, witty dialogue and a wonderful scene between Dalton and his son, Peter. This was the first book I've read by KC Kendricks and definitely won't be the last. I strongly recommend this book to all fans of the m/m romance genre."--Woodland Nymph, Literary Nymphs Reviews

"5 STARS!...a brilliant story which I've already read three times. And that's not because I wanted to write this review, but because I just love this story... The romance on one side is very sweet and tender and the emotions run high throughout the story, but are never overbearing...But what I liked best about this story are the very believable characters. I think it's very hard to describe a person who struggles with the own sexual orientation, but Alan and Reed always appear real enough to believe in. I especially love the beginning of the story when Alan and Reed flirt with each other at the bar in a very cautious way, because they haven't come out as gay to themselves and their surroundings yet...this is a highly recommended erotic romance story that persuades not just on the erotic part, but also on the romance part."--shoganrea, Rainbow Reviews

CHAPTER 1

His hand brushing mine excited me beyond anything I'd ever known. Large, tanned and callused, I knew he earned a living with his hands. His long, strong fingers possessed a muscled elegance, much like the rest of him. Short, neat nails belied his trade, that of a carpenter. I shivered as his hand found mine, hidden from public view between our torsos and the bar. Dalton trailed those well-tended fingernails lightly across my palm, sending me his teasing invitation.

"What do you say? Come back to my place for a while?" His clear tenor held no hint of accent, yet he'd alluded he hailed from somewhere in the South. I'd not heard the story of how he'd made his way to the West Virginian outback, although doubtless he knew my tale.

Everyone in the company knew I'd been banished here by my loving family with little hope for redemption, following some sort of serious disagreement with my father, the supposed details of which continued to fuel the rumor mill. None of my fellow barflies would guess the truth. I didn't wear it on the skin. It went much deeper, all the way to the soul.

Almost none of the assembled crowd would guess the truth, I corrected myself. Dalton suspected. Clearly he recognized the indefinable aura that marked us as different, as outsiders. I could still shake my head, decline his invitation, and tender my apologies with no hard feelings. His invitation would remain ambiguous to anyone who'd overheard it.

My body thrummed with awareness of his nearness. I did my best to avoid breathing, since every time I inhaled, the clean, crisp scent of his aftershave sank red-hot talons into my brain. And underneath the Old Spice, undeniable, alluring, dangerous and unmistakable on the gentle breeze from the ceiling fan overhead wafted a delicious, forbidden male musk.

"I was hoping to have another drink," I said, matter-of-factly, painfully, acutely aware that all walls have ears. "It was a long day and I need to unwind for a bit."

His sky blue eyes, so different from my blue-grey orbs, didn't flicker, reminding me he had some experience at this dance. He nodded. "Yeah, I heard RLK got the contract on River Crossing."

I nodded, not at all surprised word had already traveled through the local workforce to the "competition."

"We signed for the first one hundred units. Townhouses. The single families in section three are still on the table."

Dalton tapped his beer bottle to mine. "Well, then, may the best hammer win."

We lifted our bottles and swallowed. Pleased I hadn't choked, I set down my empty and motioned for the bartender. She was a cute little blonde with a high-wattage smile she turned on me as she plunked the fresh bottle onto the bar. Friday wasn't her normal shift. I smiled back and tipped her a buck under Dalton's watchful gaze.

"Do you know her?" he asked causally. I heard the unspoken question he couldn't ask.

Did I want to know her, biblically speaking?

Not ready to commit to anything beyond banal conversation, I replied, "She's a nice girl. Becky. Brenna. Bobbi. Something with a 'B.'" I flashed him my best impish smile. "You should ask her out."

He knew my game and laughed. "I've seen her boyfriend. Big mother fucker." He held his hand over his head, indicating the boyfriend must be eight feet tall, considering Dalton was an inch or so taller than me at six-foot-three or four.

"In that case, I guess it's good I can honestly say I don't even remember her name."

His triumphant gaze locked with mine. I raised my left eyebrow and played innocent. It was too late for stupid. He knew. Our greetings over and done with, we'd now move to a more private spot where we could talk without too much concern of being overheard. Sweat broke out on my back. Tonight, if offered again, I planned to accept the invitation he'd tendered every Friday for the past few weeks.

That cocky grin appeared again as he set his empty on the bar and issued his second invitation of the evening. "So, you want to grab a booth? Eat?"

"Sure. I'll extract trade secrets from you so I can undercut Quality Homes on section three."