The Law of Attraction by Jay Northcote - Review Blog Tour with Excerpt

Title: The Law of Attraction

Author: Jay Northcote

Publisher: Jaybird Press

Length: 62,000 words

Genre: Contemporary gay romance

Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

Release Date: Friday 5th of February 2016

Series info: This book is a standalone

When a professional relationship turns personal, it’s impossible to resist the law of attraction.

Alec Rowland is a high-flying lawyer in a London firm whose career is his life. He doesn’t have time for relationships and his sexuality is a closely guarded secret. After picking up a cute guy on a Friday night, Alec’s world is rocked to its foundations when his one night stand shows up in the office on Monday morning—as the new temp on his team.

Ed Piper is desperate to prove himself in his new job. The last thing he needs is to be distracted by a crush on his boss. It’s hard to ignore the attraction he feels, even though Alec’s a difficult bastard to work for.

Both men strive to maintain a professional relationship, but tempers fray, passions ignite, and soon they’re both falling hard and fast. If they’re ever going to find a way to be together, Alec needs to be honest about who he really is because Ed won’t go back in the closet for anyone.

“The HEA is real, and spectacular. Highly recommend.” - V’s Reads

“Such an amazing story and would recommend this read to others. Well done Jay Northcote. You have another great hit in this book.” - Inked Rainbow Reads

“When you read the first chapter of a book and want to cry because you know it’s going to be everything you have been craving, it’s a win for the week!” - DiverseReader

 

His companion was still watching him, seemingly waiting for him to make his move. Alec felt irrationally irritated. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Even though he only did it occasionally, picking up men was easy for Alec. Buying a drink was more than he usually bothered to do for the twinks he hooked up with when he was in the mood for a warm body to fuck. Alec was well aware of his own attractiveness and used it to his advantage. A crook of a finger, a tilt of his head, or even just a look was usually enough to make them come running.

But this guy didn’t seem to know the rules of the game.

“Strong, silent type, huh?” He suddenly grinned at Alec, all neat white teeth and dimples. “You could start by telling me your name. Mine’s Ed.”

“Alec.” He handed a note to the barman as he came back with their drinks. “Keep the change.”

“Cheers, mate.” The barman winked as he pocketed the tip.

Ed’s eyebrows lifted. “Change from a twenty? You must have money to burn.”

“Something like that.” Alec let his gaze rake deliberately down Ed, examining him from the front this time. His arms were still folded over his chest and his T-shirt had ridden up enough to expose a feathered line of hair on his belly, leading down to a nice-looking package in obscenely tight skinny jeans. “I hope you bottom?”

Ed blinked and choked on his mouthful of rum and Coke. Alec suppressed the urge to grin, enjoying the fact that Ed had momentarily lost his cool.

“I’ve been known to,” Ed replied, rallying. He licked his lips.

“Good.” Alec held his gaze, noting with satisfaction that Ed’s pupils had blown wide and his lips parted as Alec looked at them. God, he had a pretty mouth. Alec lifted his glass and downed his drink. The burn of the whisky tore through him and made his nerves tingle with anticipation. He needed a good fuck; it had been too long. “Drink up, then.”

4 out of 5 stars

The Law of Attraction is a standalone contemporary romance about two very different men. On one side we have Alec, a senior corporate attorney in his early 30's on the short track to make partner in his firm. While he knows he's gay, he's kept himself in the closet after a traumatic experience when he was a teen, his only 'relationships' are quick, mostly anonymous one night stands.  The other side is Ed, a 20-something law clerk who's out and proud and refuses to live life quietly. 

So what happens when you mix these two very different men? A steamy one-night stand and then a startled pair the following Monday when they find out their now co-workers on the same team. Insert Oh shit! moment for both Alec and Ed, who manage to not give anything away to their coworkers. Weeks pass, as they work together they both fight their attraction, Alec more than Ed for his own reasons. Then one weekend away for a work meeting, Alec admits to his feelings for Ed but it doesn't really change anything because Alec still wants to hide their relationship. 

The Law of Attraction is a relatively low angst read even with Alec's past and his being in the closet. It's got a few really good, hot, sexy moments between the two main characters. The story also some very sweet, tender moments as Alec and Ed realize there is more than just sex between them. Watching Alec's gradual settling into his own skin and willingness to change for both himself and to be with someone important to him is well captured in the story. 

The author did a fantastic job with Alec's transformation and weaving his and Ed's relationship as it changes into the storyline. I thoroughly loved both characters even though at first I wanted to wring Alec's neck for being a smug bastard. Ed with his roommate and when he's with his family is adorable and will make you smile. 

This is one of those stories that will instantly become a comfort read for many of us m/m romance readers. I definitely recommend The Law of Attraction for anyone looking for a good story to spend the day with. 

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats. 

She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

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