Mr. Garcia is a totally broken, dirty talking man with major issues, dark hair, olive skin, appropriate smirks, and dominance at level 10. Yes, I’m here for it, TL Swan. Give me all the books. 

He’s also a divorced, architect/politician who has a penchant for bad coffee and prostitutes. What the what?!  And, his love interest is April Bennet, maker of bad coffee and not really a prostitute. It was a one time thing. Give the girl a break.

I really loved this book, but it’s gotten some pretty salty reviews. It absolutely delivered for me. I want unique characters, fantasies, drama, questionable choices and implausible situations. 

April is American and recently divorced. She’s in London going to law school and working at a coffee shop to help pay her bills. Her ex-husband cheated on her in spectacular fashion and her finances were decimated. On her way to work one day, she sees a good looking guy give money to a homeless man. She pauses and thinks how sweet and handsome the guy is, and is delighted when said guy walks into her coffee shop later. Sebastian Garcia orders a drink and April takes the order and makes his coffee. There’s a spark between them and April watches him leave and walk down the street. He tastes the coffee, winces, and spits it out. Turns out, our April isn’t the best barista. But, Sebastian keeps coming back for coffee. I think there’s ten year age gap between Sebastian and April.

April lives in the dorms. But, she’s an older student and the hard partying of her neighbors is frustrating and distracting. She takes on another job at a high end strip club. She figures that she can work there for a very short time and get all the cash she needs to get a better apartment. The strip club caters to celebrities, athletes, the affluent and famous. She’s given a very “elite” role with some other women where they get to choose a man to spend the night with in a luxury room. But, and it’s a BIG BUT, she is told that she doesn’t have to have sex with them. The men pay either way. It’s not about sex. Ok, then…right… sounds super normal.

Her first night, she’s looking crazy hot, all dressed up, beautiful clothes and full of nerves. This whole thing doesn’t feel good to her, but she needs the money. The hostess/madam(?!), announces the newest woman to the club and April walks out. Immediately men want her attention and want to spend the night with her. She sees Sebastian in the crowd. Eyes lock. He’s not interested. His eyes are cold, he starts to walk out the door. But, this club is like Bumble, and April gets to make the first move. She picks Sebastian. 

Early on, the story features a massive misunderstanding that causes Sebastian and April to break up. He is true to form and a total jackass to her. They see each other six years later. Chemistry is still off the charts. It takes awhile for them to find their way back to each other and admit that they have something special.  

Things to know- 

Sebastian Garcia says some awful things to April throughout the book. He calls her a whore, stupid, even uses her stage name from the club vs her real name when they’re intimate. And April puts up with it and keeps coming back. You might say, why would I read that? Stick with it. Sebastian is damaged. Balanced by the awful things he says are incredibly sweet moments, vulnerability and tears. He wants, and tries, to be a better man. In my eyes, he redeemed himself. At the heart of his issues is his need for rough sex, he can’t get into a woman who isn’t into that. He’s divorced and believes that his kink is what drove his wife to cheat on him. He really believes that only prostitutes can possibly satisfy him, and he’ll never be in a long term relationship ever again. Side note, his ex-wife is a major piece of work. It wasn’t his kink that did them in…she’s just awful.  

Some great twists with side characters, and if you’ve read TL Swan’s other books, you’ll enjoy revisiting her previous characters and catching up with their lives. 

Grade A

Amazon * Goodreads