Blog Tour: Abstract Love: Sara Dobie Bauer
I hate Sam Shelby. So why do I want to kiss him?
Sam never expected to move back to Cleveland.
Donovan never expected to be attracted to a man.
Well, shit happens.
After high school, Sam Shelby moved to New York. Eight years later, he returns to Cleveland and lands a job at the best ad firm in town. It would be the perfect gig, if his boss weren’t such an ass.
After his wife leaves, Donovan Cooper questions everything. The arrival of a young, arrogant, gifted graphic designer at Donovan’s firm is the last straw.
Tempers flare over office gossip, and following a nasty argument and scathing kiss, Donovan flails away from heterosexuality while Sam struggles to keep his “no relationship” rule intact.
Despite ugly socks, fiery fights, and their best intentions to not fall in love, these bullheaded coworkers can’t deny their chemistry. Donovan seeks happiness while Sam seeks success, but is there room for more?
ABSTRACT LOVE is a 71,000 word enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy with an age gap.
Genre/s: Contemporary MM romance
Trope/s: enemies-to-lovers, age gap, co-workers, office romance,
bisexuality, businessmen, artists, bondage, comedy
Themes: sexual awakening
Possible triggers: depression, suicidal ideations, biphobia
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 71 000 words
It is a standalone book.
Donovan Cooper has a rep of being a grumpy, ahole and it has not improved as he is going through a divorce. He focuses on his job as Director of Creative Development for an ad agency and knows everyone is either intimidated by him or does not like him. He is broody, buttoned-up, intense, angry, and losing focus.
Sam Shelby is a hot shot graphic designer from New York who has just returned home to Cleveland and new to his firm. And he is Donovan's complete opposite...younger, casual, wears quirky clothes, and is actually kind of pretty. But he is also unfiltered, sarcastic, flirty, and a playboy. He does not do relationships or dating of any kind but he will swing both ways. He has some issues that he likes to keep to himself, but they have shaped his views.
Sam Shelby is a hot shot graphic designer from New York who has just returned home to Cleveland and new to his firm. And he is Donovan's complete opposite...younger, casual, wears quirky clothes, and is actually kind of pretty. But he is also unfiltered, sarcastic, flirty, and a playboy. He does not do relationships or dating of any kind but he will swing both ways. He has some issues that he likes to keep to himself, but they have shaped his views.
Sam comes in and shakes up Donovan's controlled world. He stands up to him, challenges him, says what he means, and flirts shamelessly. Donovan is confused and angry that he reacts so strongly to him especially since he has never been that fascinated by another man.
This is an age gap, opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers, gay for you, workplace romance. It is not all pretty and polite. These guys are intense and like things rough and raw. In a couple of ways, they actually are compatible even when they would not seem to be.
The characters are complex and have issues from their past histories, but also have opportunities for growth. They make each other feel alive and develop an unexpected but undeniable connection. Their snark and taunting are fun, and it makes their vulnerability even sweeter. And they are perfect for each other in the bedroom.
In the beginning, I thought Sam was easily going to be my favorite, but Donovan totally won my heart. I enjoyed the fact that a man that appears so in control and heartless has many more sides to him. I loved seeing him start to figure himself out and just own things. I will admit that I had some issues with Sam's active social life even though the couple was not exclusive at the time (just a personal preference that almost made me want to stop reading it). And sometimes his issues and resistance got a bit frustrating. But overall, I enjoyed these two together whether they were fussing or doing that other F word. They ended up more complex than I initially thought and snuck up on me.
This is an age gap, opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers, gay for you, workplace romance. It is not all pretty and polite. These guys are intense and like things rough and raw. In a couple of ways, they actually are compatible even when they would not seem to be.
The characters are complex and have issues from their past histories, but also have opportunities for growth. They make each other feel alive and develop an unexpected but undeniable connection. Their snark and taunting are fun, and it makes their vulnerability even sweeter. And they are perfect for each other in the bedroom.
In the beginning, I thought Sam was easily going to be my favorite, but Donovan totally won my heart. I enjoyed the fact that a man that appears so in control and heartless has many more sides to him. I loved seeing him start to figure himself out and just own things. I will admit that I had some issues with Sam's active social life even though the couple was not exclusive at the time (just a personal preference that almost made me want to stop reading it). And sometimes his issues and resistance got a bit frustrating. But overall, I enjoyed these two together whether they were fussing or doing that other F word. They ended up more complex than I initially thought and snuck up on me.
Donovan sifted through a few hand-drawn logos on the desk and froze when he found a crudely drawn sketch of himself. Sam must have done it during a meeting at some point, capturing Donovan’s faux hawk, wide jaw, and severe expression.
Jesus, was this what other people saw when they looked at him? Did he really look so miserable?
“Make yourself at home?”
Donovan dropped the picture and stood straight at the sound of Sam’s voice.
He leaned against the doorframe, with one ankle crossed over the other.
“It’s really bullshit when people say that, you know?” Sam said. “Make yourself at home. No one actually wants their friends to take off their pants, drink all their beer, and binge The Great British Bake Off.” He paused. “What are you doing in my office?”
“I didn’t mean to snoop.”
The office door closed as he stepped inside. “Sure you did, or you wouldn’t be in here, so what’s up?”
Sam circled the desk, so Donovan circled the other way, although he noticed it was true what coworkers said: Sam did smell good—like clean laundry and cedar. “I think we started off on the wrong foot.”
Sam snort laughed and flipped through some files on his desk. “More like wrong continent, man.” When he found what he was looking for, he tapped the file’s corner against his palm. “I can handle guys like you, you know.”
Donovan shifted back on his heels. “Guys like me?”
“Hmm. Corporate assholes. All you see are dollar signs. You take no pleasure in your work. Advertising is money to you, not art, but without the artists, there wouldn’t be advertising, so…” He sucked his cheeks into his mouth, a momentary fish face.
Donovan wanted to tell him it wasn’t true. Donovan loved art.
He used to love art.
Sam continued, “I know I look like a six-foot-two Disney princess, but you’re not gonna rattle me.” To prove his point, Sam got right up in Donovan’s personal space until Donovan took a step back. Again, he was not used to dealing with someone his own height. “And I’m right about the Great Lakes ad campaign. If you’d pull your head out of your ass, maybe you’d notice.” He turned away abruptly.
“Sam.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.” Ouch, that hurt coming out.
Sam’s rebuttal: “Prove it.”
“Excuse me?”
He rested a hand on the desk and cocked his hip out—the very picture of young attitude. “Listen to me in meetings.”
“I was listening.”
“Nope.” He shook his head and ran a hand through his unkempt, unprofessional hair. “No, you were hearing. I need you to listen. There’s a difference. And I know I’m just some fucking kid to you, but I ruled the New York City advertising scene. I know what I’m doing, Donovan, so let me do it.”
“Fine.” He’d had enough. He’d apologized, okay, so he’d done his Monica-enforced duty. He didn’t owe Sam anything else.
He didn’t run for the door, but he definitely moved with speed.
Sara Dobie Bauer
Sara Dobie Bauer is a bestselling romance author and mental health / LGBTQ advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film.
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