Erryn reviews Total Creative Control (Creative Types Book 1) by Joanna Chambers and Sally Malcolm. Published October 28, 2021, 358 pages. The audiobook was released February 27, 2023, is 9 hrs and 26 mins and is narrated by Simon Goldhill. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Why I read it: I was happy to snap this one up and I didn’t regret it!
When fanfic writer Aaron Page landed a temp job with the creator of hit TV show, Leeches, it was only meant to last a week. Three years later, Aaron’s still there….
It could be because he loves the creative challenge. It could be because he’s a huge Leeches fanboy. It’s definitely not because of Lewis Hunter, his extremely demanding, staggeringly rude…and breathtakingly gorgeous boss.
Is it?
Lewis Hunter grew up the hard way and fought for everything he’s got. His priority is the show, and personal relationships come a distant second. Besides, who needs romance when you have a steady stream of hot men hopping in and out of your bed?
His only meaningful relationship is with Aaron, his chief confidante and indispensable assistant. And no matter how appealing he finds Aaron’s cute boy-next-door charms, Lewis would never risk their professional partnership just to scratch an itch.
But when Lewis finds himself trapped at a hilariously awful corporate retreat, Aaron is his only friend and ally. As the professional lines between them begin to blur, their simmering attraction starts to sizzle
And they’re both about to get burned.
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My review:
I wasn’t certain what to expect with this book. Illustrated covers used to strictly be the domain of rom-coms, but that’s changed in recent years. Alas, I needn’t have worried – this book was a rom com. With, perhaps, some serious stuff thrown in.
OMG, I have to say how much I loved Aaron. He’s a writer (of fan fic) and I’m in awe of anyone who puts pen to paper and spits out anything worthy of being read. I also empathized with his struggle – the boss from hell who also turns out to be not so bad. From the opening scene – where Lewis proves himself incompetent at tech and a bit of an ass – we jump ahead three years. For just a moment, I found that disorienting. But, in fact, it worked. Aaron and Lewis needed time to get to know each other. And, truly, they’ve formed an amazing partnership. Aaron isn’t really just Lewis’s assistant anymore. He’s part of the show. He gives creative input. His ideas often make it onto the screen.
So when they’re facing a bastardized version hitting American audiences, Aaron, in particular, has concerns.
To work through all the issues, Lewis’s boss orders the team to a retreat. Lewis, totally panicked, drags Aaron along. Okay, these are some of the funniest scenes in the book – especially to those of us who’ve done corporate retreats before.
Things get heated between the men, but that eventually leads to what appears to be a permanent rift. But I had faith – and I suspected what the grand gesture would be – and I was thrilled to be proven right.
This is a great book and I honestly can’t wait for the next one – I hope it comes to audio soon.
Simon Goldhill was a new-to-me narrator and I thought he was perfect for this and I’ll happily pick up more books narrated by him in the future.
My rating:
10/10 Pots of Gold – Compares to 5/5 Stars
Joanna Chambers
Website | Twitter @ChambersJoanna | Goodreads
Joanna Chambers’ muse likes red wine, coffee and won’t let Joanna clean the house or watch television.
Sally Malcolm
Website | Twitter @Sally_Malcolm | Goodreads
Sally Malcolm was bitten by the m/m romance bug in 2016 and hasn’t looked back. It’s fair to say she’s obsessed with the genre. She has four contemporary m/m romances out, set in the fictional Long Island seaside town of New Milton.
She’s also the author of eight Stargate novels and novellas, including the hit “Apocalypse” trilogy. She has penned four Stargate audio dramas for Big Finish Productions, including Stargate SG-1: “An Eye for an Eye” starring Michael Shanks, Claudia Black, and Cliff Simon.
Sally lives in South West London.
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