Book Review: Mad & Marvelous (Sassy Boyz #4) by Elizabeth Varlet

Mad & Marvelous

Author: Elizabeth Varlet
Series: Sassy Boyz, Book 4
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: May 7, 2018
Amazon  Goodreads

Summary: Hop Lovette isn’t afraid to take risks. Being the bastard son of New York royalty has never given him anything but heartache. So when the Sassy Boyz land a contract at club Switch, he knows it’s only a matter of time before his marvelous world is turned on its head: the owner is his childhood rival.

Rafe Marson owes Hop’s father everything, and he’s on a mission to repay his debts. Nothing will stand in his way—not even a wild, beautiful, maddening blast from his past. Not even when Hop stirs up feelings better left dormant. Not even when Hop begs to be taken.

When opportunity knocks, Hop is the one who needs to step up and help Rafe. But working together without being together is harder than they thought—and when everything they’ve been working toward is threatened, Rafe will need to prove that true love is one in a million.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: HOLY HANNAH. I've been thinking about adding some sort of heat level rating to my romance reviews, like sweet, simmering, steamy, holy Hannah. I think I'd need to add an extra level to it for this one - surface of the sun. DANG this book is hot, in all its BDSM kinky glory.

The best part is it's not "just" smut. I don't really go in for pure erotica; I like my romances to have a plot, fully fleshed character who go through some sort of character development, and a Happily Ever After (or at least a Happy For Now). Mad & Marvelous totally delivers in all areas.

Hop is glorious; a graceful tornado with cotton candy hair. I love how vulnerable and damaged he is, but at the same time so strong, determined, and vibrant. I love all of the Sassy Boyz (but what a stupid name for their dance group...) and their friendship with each other was so wonderful to read. Plus the descriptions of their looks and outfits and dances are HOT. I love the androgyny and freedom of the group, and how they play up their sexuality however the hell they want to.

Rafe is also amazing, with a complex history that makes him the man he is and makes him struggle so hard. I do wish we'd gotten a little more of his sister in this book, because she seemed like she would probably be pretty dang awesome.

There is a high level of kink in this book, and I love that it depicts a BDSM relationship in such a positive and healthy way, where the Dom cares for and is attentive to the needs and desires of his Sub. There are too many relationships or sexual encounters that are downright just abusive that are presented under the label "BDSM" that give the whole (genre? category? class?) a bad name, so I'm always glad to see healthy BDSM relationships depicted in media. I also really appreciate that Hop is so confused about the way he feels, about his needs and desires, and learns more about himself and coming to terms with who he is throughout this book. Lots and lots of pretty graphic, highly kinky sex scenes - don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

This is the fourth book in the Sassy Boyz series, but can be read as a stand alone with very minor spoilers for the earlier books. Now I need to go read the others in the series right now, starting with Sassy Boyz #1, Fierce & Fabulous .