Title: Dance with Destiny
Author: Sloan Johnson
Genre: Adult, Gay Romance
Release Date: December 18, 2014
Tony DeLuca has to get to New York, nor’easter be damned. His older sister is getting married and it won’t matter to her if the entire east coast is shut down if it means she’s short a groomsman. She’s the only reason he’s willing to make the trip home to face a father who’s never forgiven him for wasting a perfectly good degree to become a firefighter. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to everything about Tony that his father will never accept.
Dominic Tricoli’s living his dream. He’s spent the past few years working to mesh his business degree and love of the outdoors into a thriving company, providing team building retreats for some of the country’s largest corporations. Unfortunately, there’s a price to pay for happiness, and having someone to come home to at night is the sacrifice Dominic made.
When Dominic overhears Tony’s plight, he’s drawn to help the man get to New York City. Little does Dominic know that one kind gesture will awaken a side of him he’s ignored for far too long. Against his better judgment, he gives in to his desires and Tony’s advances. Just for the night.
When destiny steps in, giving him another chance with the charismatic man who saved his hide, Tony’s willing to do whatever it takes to earn Dominic’s forgiveness and understanding. There may not be forever, but Tony’s determined to enjoy every single minute he’s given with Dominic.
You can’t fight fate. Whatever’s meant to happen, eventually will.
So much for never seeing one another again. Had I known that I was going to see Dominic this weekend, I might have tried harder to make things right with him Thursday night. If I’d realized the Cara he mentioned was marrying his college roommate was my sister, who I’ve always called Caroline, I wouldn’t have touched him no matter how much I wanted to. Actually, that’s probably not true, because he’s damn fine and I’m not stupid enough to pass up an opportunity when it presents itself. But I definitely wouldn’t have walked away until I knew that neither of us had any regrets.
I trip over my feet as I follow the rest of the groomsmen into the front of the cathedral, my attention focused on the man sitting next to Mr. and Mrs. Rossi, looking like he’s just been scolded.
Dominic was gorgeous the night we met, but now, he’s downright breathtaking. I take my place in line and, because God has a twisted sense of humor, I’m going to be stuck knowing that Dominic is directly behind me for the next hour and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
As we wait for what seems like forever for all of Caroline’s bridesmaids to make the mile-long trek to the front of the cathedral, I try to catch Kennedy’s attention. Thursday night, I told her everything. After telling her about the sexy-as-fuck scene in the truck, I went on to tell her how much it annoyed me that Dominic and I parted on bad terms. She agreed with Dominic that there was no need to feel anything since we’d never see one another again. When Kennedy finally makes eye contact with me, I nod ever so slightly to my left and watch as her eyes threaten to bug out of her head. “Oh, my God. Is that him?” she mouths. I nod subtly. “Are you going to talk to him?” she asks. I shrug, and catch the attention of my older brother, who is standing directly behind me.
“Anthony, quit talking to your girlfriend,” he hisses. “Caroline needs you to make her the priority for the next hour, then you can run off and find a quiet corner to do whatever it is the two of you do.” I close my eyes tightly before glancing at Dominic, finally realizing that he probably thinks the same thing I’ve led most of my family to believe all these years. The urge to elbow Peter in the gut to show him exactly what I think of his comment is strong, but I’ve already made enough of a scene. If he noticed, I’m sure other people have as well. And sure enough, Dominic is now glaring at me. He looks across the aisle and his entire body stiffens when he notices Kennedy sitting with my family. I need this wedding to hurry the fuck up so I can get a drink.
The music changes and everyone stands and turns to see Caroline and our father walking down the aisle. I take the opportunity to admire the way Dominic’s suit jacket hangs off his shoulders. The subtle pinstripes act as beacons, drawing my eye down to his narrow hips, and suddenly I’m standing in the cathedral with a semi, thinking about the tight ass beneath those perfectly tailored pants. Go straight to Hell. Do not pass Go, do not collect two-hundred dollars.
Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.
When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.
Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?
Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.
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Dance with Destiny by Sloan JohnsonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is a mix of sweet, sexy, drama and humor. Tony and Dom are both pretty likable guys. Both have painful parts of their lives that need the other's healing. The reader goes through the full roller coaster of them meeting, discovering a connection, revealing secrets, facing fears and overcoming life-changing obstacles. Destiny seems to constantly step into the lives of these two men causing them to have to take notice of the other, repeatedly. No matter what distrations pop up in their way, the heart doesn't lie.
Not long after the story started, I wanted to call Dom a diva because he always seemed to be having hissy fits. Then, after finding out his background, I understood him much better. I instantly liked Tony because he is such a clown and so forward. He totally goes after Dom. He does has some big issues of his own that he needs to get past.
As much as I want to, I can't stay cooped up in this room all day; I have gifts to open and parents to piss off. Such is the life of black sheep...
I think this is well-written story of love. It's very full. There isn't one exact part that makes the book. It's sexy, but doesn't depend on the sex. The main characters are great, but all the supporting characters are fully developed also. Family plays a big role. The over all message in my opinion is love, whether is self, familial or romantic.
