Beta Test (Belen’s Review)

Title: Beta Test (#gaymers #2)
Author: Annabeth Albert
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: May 30th 2016
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance
Word Count: 178 pages
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Blurb:
Book 2 of the #gaymers series

Ravi Tandel is ahead of the game. He’s a top video game developer and he just got asked to present a top-secret project at a huge gaming conference in Seattle. All systems are a go…until he learns his office nemesis is coming along for the ride. Player vs. Player. Fight!

Newly minted MBA Tristan Jones doesn’t seem like the gaming type but he knows the business inside-out. Together, they’ll give an awesome presentation – they just have to survive the cross-country trip. Ravi’s opinion of Tristan is rebooted when he discovers a softer side to the conservative charmer and a new tension builds between them.

Despite their best efforts to keep it casual, things heat up quickly. Tristan is hiding his true self for fear of what his parents might think. Ravi knows that feeling all too well, but he didn’t disconnect from his family years ago only to hide who he is now. To be together, Tristan has to push past his fear and ultimately decide, does he want a future with Ravi? Or is it game over?

I got the ARC for this story pretty late in the evening and decided I would be a responsible adult, knowing that I had to work in the morning, and only read one chapter before bed. Five chapters later I was hooked and I’d made myself into a dirty lying liar who lies. Because who was I kidding? I wasn’t putting this down. I mean, do you know how hard it is to create a follow up to a book like Status Update, which I found awesome, entertaining and a 5 Star read and then do it even better?

While Ravi is all brilliance, extroverted, and the life of a party with mad social skills, Tristan is more shy, introverted and clings desperately to organization to hide his awkwardness in public situations. Are they opposites? Yes. However, they are perfectly suited to one another like a puzzle piece missing from the other one’s life. Tristan helps Ravi be more grounded, and Ravi helps Tristan come out of his shell a little. Not that either tries to change the other – they simply accept each other. It just melted my cold, little heart.

I have to tell you – this story, the whole thing: characters, plot, sexy times –

“What do you want, babe?” Ravi mouthed his way down Tristan’s neck, wrapping his body around him from the back. They still stood near the bed, but were both bare now, warm skin pressing against warm skin.
“You,” Tristan gasped.
“Always.” Ravi tumbled them onto the bed, sending the comforter and pillows raining to the floor. He started kissing Tristan’s neck more purposefully now, a deliberate downward path.
“Wait.” He took a deep breath. “Not…that. Want you to fuck me.”

– this whole thing was my jam!

I loved every part of this. Beta Test is a lovely, sweet, low angst romance with some light family drama, plenty of humor and hot sexy times, and such wonderful characters.

Ravi’s throat tightened. He didn’t know how to express gratitude for how Tristan was always thinking about what he needed and how he managed to make such thoughtfulness appear effortless.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

NOTE: While the characters, Adrian and Noah, from Status Update are in a couple of scenes, Beta Test can absolutely be read as a standalone.

P.S.: Now I just really, really want Josiah’s story. Hopefully in Connection Error (#gaymers #3)?