Ami's Hoard

Although I was slightly worried than porn stars theme would equal lots of sex, I was intrigued with this book because it gather positive reviews. Plus some reviews I read did say that the porn industry was acting more like a background and the strength would be in the characterization.

Alas, when I finished, this was just an "okay" read. Why?

What Worked For Me
Levi's characterization was the best thing from this book. It was EXCELLENT. I loved that Levi was more than meets the eye. He might came as stoic and cold for the "bottom" actors. He might seemed to look at his 'job' as something of a means to get money and he didn't find it personally satisfying. But there was SO MUCH more to him if people cared to look closer. The bitter relationship with his mother was one of the things that made me feel so much for Levi.

What Didn't Work For Me
Unfortunately, this novella was only presenting Levi's point of view and I truly couldn't get why Sonny would have a change of heart. He clearly despised Levi -- but then he was ready to teach him about being a bottom? That Sonny cared enough about Levi and willing to take a bullet (from Rex) for him? WHY? Was it only because Levi's last movie-shoot, where he cared enough for the bottom? I needed some sort of 'event' that could convince me about Sonny's sudden interest to Levi. And I didn't get it from the novella.

On top of that, I found the tutoring session to be mechanical and lack of heart. I know that other reviewers found it hot -- but for me, it didn't. Maybe because I didn't think that either Levi or Sonny as at least being emotionally involved with it. So I felt distant and detached from the characters during those sessions.

And the ending? It was too abrupt. It felt HFN -- and because I already didn't understand Sonny's interest to Levi in the first place, it was hard to believe that they would work out. Maybe if I get more scenes of their interaction outside the sex session, it would work better.

So all in all, the lacking evidence in which I could believe the romance made the book fell into my "okay" category. Having said that -- I might still continue with the next book. I heard it was about Cam? And if it was indeed his story with Jon, it might be intriguing.