Redeem
Under My Skin Series, Book 4
Christina Lee
M/M Romance
Release Date: 02.28.19
Cover artist: Kanaxa
BLURB
Successful financial analyst Michael Walsh leads a picture-perfect life that anyone would envy—unless they caught a glimpse beneath the surface. Haunted by failed relationships and self-doubt, Michael harbors a soul-deep loneliness that no number of casual hookups can fulfill. So why can’t he stop thinking about his New Year’s fling with a man whose quiet desperation matches his own?
Barista Stewart Jenkins has an abysmal track record with relationships, and no matter how hard he tries to keep things tightly under wraps, his life is spinning out of control. His hookup with the gorgeous Michael was only supposed to be sex—hot, dirty, and uncomplicated—but that small taste leaves him desperate for more.
Every no-strings encounter that follows between Michael and Stewart peels away more layers, blurring the lines between them, until they’re left with a raw tenderness and acceptance they’re both urgently craving. A relationship absolutely wouldn’t work on paper; they come from drastically different lives and are plagued by inexcusable sins. All that vulnerability is sure to reveal old wounds, and forgiveness seems so far out of reach unless they can find a way around their fears on the road to redemption.
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BLURB
Successful financial analyst Michael Walsh leads a picture-perfect life that anyone would envy—unless they caught a glimpse beneath the surface. Haunted by failed relationships and self-doubt, Michael harbors a soul-deep loneliness that no number of casual hookups can fulfill. So why can’t he stop thinking about his New Year’s fling with a man whose quiet desperation matches his own?
Barista Stewart Jenkins has an abysmal track record with relationships, and no matter how hard he tries to keep things tightly under wraps, his life is spinning out of control. His hookup with the gorgeous Michael was only supposed to be sex—hot, dirty, and uncomplicated—but that small taste leaves him desperate for more.
Every no-strings encounter that follows between Michael and Stewart peels away more layers, blurring the lines between them, until they’re left with a raw tenderness and acceptance they’re both urgently craving. A relationship absolutely wouldn’t work on paper; they come from drastically different lives and are plagued by inexcusable sins. All that vulnerability is sure to reveal old wounds, and forgiveness seems so far out of reach unless they can find a way around their fears on the road to redemption.
Add to Goodreads
EXCERPT
“Ah, hell, that’s good,” I gasped as he stroked upward while simultaneously sucking on my neck. I probably should’ve protested because he was sure to leave a bruise, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. Besides, it would be a marker of this night. Like a sexy brand.
His breaths grew heavier, and his chest rumbled in deep pleasure as he jerked sloppily against me. His hand stayed firm and tight on my c*ck even as he drew back and shuddered out his release. The sound was so sensual that my orgasm slammed through me at nearly the same time.
“Holy f*ck.” My body grew limp as my come spilled over his hand and onto the floor. I shut my eyes and kept my head anchored against the wall as he released his grip and my shaft pulsed in response.
The quiet in the room grew deafening—the only sound our breaths and the muted noises of the crowd outside the door.
“You got a name?” I didn’t know why I said it out loud. It was only a fleeting thought through my mottled brain.
“Why the f*ck does it matter?” he replied as the sound of his zipper cut through the echoing silence. “Not like I’ll ever see you again.”
“Dunno.” My cheeks flushed red, so I kept my head buried in my arm. “Maybe when I yank on my c*ck later, replaying this scene in my head, I can call you something.”
He didn’t respond. I heard him straightening his clothes and then pulling a few paper towels, which he forced into my hand. “Michael,” he mumbled against my ear.
And then he was gone.
His breaths grew heavier, and his chest rumbled in deep pleasure as he jerked sloppily against me. His hand stayed firm and tight on my c*ck even as he drew back and shuddered out his release. The sound was so sensual that my orgasm slammed through me at nearly the same time.
“Holy f*ck.” My body grew limp as my come spilled over his hand and onto the floor. I shut my eyes and kept my head anchored against the wall as he released his grip and my shaft pulsed in response.
The quiet in the room grew deafening—the only sound our breaths and the muted noises of the crowd outside the door.
“You got a name?” I didn’t know why I said it out loud. It was only a fleeting thought through my mottled brain.
“Why the f*ck does it matter?” he replied as the sound of his zipper cut through the echoing silence. “Not like I’ll ever see you again.”
“Dunno.” My cheeks flushed red, so I kept my head buried in my arm. “Maybe when I yank on my c*ck later, replaying this scene in my head, I can call you something.”
He didn’t respond. I heard him straightening his clothes and then pulling a few paper towels, which he forced into my hand. “Michael,” he mumbled against my ear.
And then he was gone.
Carra's Review
It’s been a while since I read the other books in this series, and I didn’t do a re-read of them before starting this one. So while I did generally remember both Michael and Stewart from before, it was long enough ago that I didn’t really come into Redeem with strong preconceived notions about their characters, and I think that helped me warm up to them more quickly than if I had just read the other stories immediately before starting this one. I’m always interested to read redemption-themed stories anyway since I love seeing those characters who were painted in not so great light previously get their happy ending as well.
I DO remember Michael being an ass to Jonas (West) in Reawaken. But as he’s written here in Redeem, I can see he is aware of his own shortcomings which made me hopeful he’d be able to recognize and overcome those behaviors as they occurred. Stewart has his own issues, primarily resulting in his intense need for control in his life. The two have a blistering hot initial hookup, and things just get hotter from there. While they try to keep things as just hookups between them…well, you know how that goes—the more you’re with someone, and when non-sexual activities start becoming a part of things the harder it becomes to keep feelings out of the equation.
Yes, these two guys are broken men. Yes, they both have their flaws. That doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to find the right person so they can get their own happiness in the end, and Christina Lee does a fantastic job of letting readers see the other side of these men that we didn’t get to see in the previous books when Michael and Stewart were just those secondary characters who we loved to hate.
4.5 stars for Redeem, and I’m betting fans of this series are going to enjoy getting to see these guys get what they deserve. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and hot and steamy sexual content—from quick and dirty to intensely passionate!
Once upon a time, I lived in New York City and was a wardrobe stylist. I spent my days shopping for photo shoots, getting into cabs, eating amazing food, and drinking coffee at my favorite hangouts.
Now I live in the Midwest with my husband and son—my two favorite guys. I've been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher. But it wasn't until I wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper that I realized I could turn the fairytales inside my head into the reality of writing fiction.
I write Adult, New Adult, and M/M Contemporary Romance. I'm addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. I believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.
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