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At Your Service #2
Service with a Smirk
An At Your Service Novel
Pascal Larocque, a waiter at a high-end Montréal restaurant, knows what it means to love—and he knows what it means to lose. He buried the man he expected to spend his life with years ago. He’s perfectly happy with his solitude, or so he tells his friends. But a chance encounter in a neighborhood bar followed by a run-in at his apartment building turns his world upside down.
Mathias Perras is twenty-four, newly arrived in Montréal, and works two jobs so he can live on rue Sainte-Catherine in the heart of the gay district. During the day, he’s on a fast track to management at the Banque de Montréal. At night, he waits tables at a gay bar down the street. He’s burning the candle at both ends, but it will be worth it when his career takes off and he has the life he’s always dreamed of. When he meets Pascal, one more piece of that dream slots into place. Pascal is everything he wants in a older, self-assured, established in his life and his career. But Pascal doesn’t look at him twice. What’s a boy have to do to get a little action?
Pascal Larocque, a waiter at a high-end Montréal restaurant, knows what it means to love—and he knows what it means to lose. He buried the man he expected to spend his life with years ago. He’s perfectly happy with his solitude, or so he tells his friends. But a chance encounter in a neighborhood bar followed by a run-in at his apartment building turns his world upside down.
Mathias Perras is twenty-four, newly arrived in Montréal, and works two jobs so he can live on rue Sainte-Catherine in the heart of the gay district. During the day, he’s on a fast track to management at the Banque de Montréal. At night, he waits tables at a gay bar down the street. He’s burning the candle at both ends, but it will be worth it when his career takes off and he has the life he’s always dreamed of. When he meets Pascal, one more piece of that dream slots into place. Pascal is everything he wants in a older, self-assured, established in his life and his career. But Pascal doesn’t look at him twice. What’s a boy have to do to get a little action?
191 pages, ebook
First published January 13, 2017
About the author
Ariel Tachna
113 books407 followersAriel Tachna lives outside of Houston with her husband, her daughter and son, and their cat. Before moving there, she traveled all over the world, having fallen in love with both France, where she found her husband, and India, where she dreams of retiring some day. She’s bilingual with snippets of four other languages to her credit, and is as in love with languages as she is with writing.
Visit Ariel at her website http://www.arieltachna.com or on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ArielTachna, or e-mail her at [email protected].
Visit Ariel at her website http://www.arieltachna.com or on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ArielTachna, or e-mail her at [email protected].
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 3, 2017
4.5 Mathias and Pascal
Very different persons Mathias twenty four and Pascal forty-eight.
Pascal working at a high-end restaurant, lonely since he lost his partner.
Mathias working two jobs so he can live where he desperate wants to.
One job is at the bank and the other is at the gay bar down the street.
When Mathias is working at the bar and his eyes catch Pascal he immediately sees what he wants and when he finds out they live in the same building he has a goal.
Only Pascal has doubts and has a slow pass. Mathias is doing his very best to get Pascal over the threshold.
They both have very busy schedules and to find some time together seems almost impossible. But the more they like each other the more they are desperate to find that time.
The story has a lot of extended conversations and rendezvous, they all have a purpose. Pascal is melting bit by bit and when he finally opens up he is a very passionate and thoughtful partner. He examines every inch of Mathias body who instead is more straight to the goal. This all very nice put on paper. The part with the one thumb touch gave me some goosebumps.
They both have friends who give them back up. I nice side story is that there are books written about Pascal life by a group ladies who support his love life with Mathias.
It's a lovely written good developed angst free story. It is entertaining and focused on the growing relationship with all the ups and downs. This all felt real and sweet and mature.
Recommended
I received an arc from Divine Magazine provided by Dreamspinner Press
Very different persons Mathias twenty four and Pascal forty-eight.
Pascal working at a high-end restaurant, lonely since he lost his partner.
Mathias working two jobs so he can live where he desperate wants to.
One job is at the bank and the other is at the gay bar down the street.
When Mathias is working at the bar and his eyes catch Pascal he immediately sees what he wants and when he finds out they live in the same building he has a goal.
Only Pascal has doubts and has a slow pass. Mathias is doing his very best to get Pascal over the threshold.
They both have very busy schedules and to find some time together seems almost impossible. But the more they like each other the more they are desperate to find that time.
The story has a lot of extended conversations and rendezvous, they all have a purpose. Pascal is melting bit by bit and when he finally opens up he is a very passionate and thoughtful partner. He examines every inch of Mathias body who instead is more straight to the goal. This all very nice put on paper. The part with the one thumb touch gave me some goosebumps.
They both have friends who give them back up. I nice side story is that there are books written about Pascal life by a group ladies who support his love life with Mathias.
It's a lovely written good developed angst free story. It is entertaining and focused on the growing relationship with all the ups and downs. This all felt real and sweet and mature.
Recommended
I received an arc from Divine Magazine provided by Dreamspinner Press
January 3, 2017
Where else besides Paris can you find good food, sexy men and steamy romance...
MONTREAL!!! Of course. As you've probably guessed if you didn't already know this. I'm Canadian and I love Montreal...actually, I love Quebec in general it's a beautiful province.
I'm going to start with what I didn't like...or more accurately what I thought I wouldn't like about this book...the age difference...that's right, I'm not a fan of this and in this story it was considerable, but please notice I said 'I thought I wouldn't like it'. Admittedly I'm still not a fan of stories with a big age difference but if it's handled right I can still enjoy the story and I was good with how the author handled this. I felt that for as much as Mathias appreciated Pascal's maturity and experience, Pascal appreciated Mathias's vibrancy and enthusiasm for life.
So, now we move onto the rest of what I liked...
Pascal is a waiter at a high end restaurant and he likes his job. He takes pride in what he does and he does it well. So I'm going to just stop here and say this alone made me a fan of Pascal. I loved reading a story where it was ok that one of the MCs was just an average guy doing a job that is so often overlooked and undervalued. Honestly that was what attracted me to this series in the first place the fact that for me it felt like a tribute to a part of the workforce that is highly under appreciated.
Mathias is in banking he's on the fast track training for a management position but in the mean time he's got bills to pay so he works as a waiter at a local gay bar to enable himself to live in on rue Sainte-Catherine because like it or not when you're in a profession such as banking 'image matters'.
As coincidence would have it these two men live in the same apartment building. Two men, with a considerable age gap between them, at different stages in their lives and yet both wanting the same thing...someone to share their lives with.
Pascal had that once and then he lost it when the man he loved died. He's learned to be content with life as it is or he was until Mathias came along. Watching as these two juggled their conflicting schedules and maneuvered their own insecurities and that of the other was quite the challenge. I loved that they talked and yes, there was some miscommunication so they talked some more because in life that's what can happen. Things get said that seem clear to you and are clear as mud to the other person...so you keep talking and eventually you get to the make up sex...hot, steamy make up sex. Ironically though the best part of this romance was in their conversations. Seeing them get to know each other and find out about each other. I loved that it never felt like Pascal had an attitude of always being right because he was the older one in the relationship and if Mathias made a mistake that came from his youth or lack of experience Pascal neither embarrassed nor chastised him for it he simply acknowledged that when we are young we all make such mistakes and moved on.
Oops, I almost forgot one of the other things I really, really loved about this book the friends. Both of these men had friends who wanted them to be happy, who saw that they made each other happy and encouraged them to pursue the relationship because that's what friends do. When they see that something is good for you the support you and encourage you to pursue it because they're your friend and they want you to be happy.
'Service With A Smirk' for me was so much better than the first book in this series and both of these books can very easily be read as a standalone.
********************
An ARC of 'Service With A Smirk' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
MONTREAL!!! Of course. As you've probably guessed if you didn't already know this. I'm Canadian and I love Montreal...actually, I love Quebec in general it's a beautiful province.
I'm going to start with what I didn't like...or more accurately what I thought I wouldn't like about this book...the age difference...that's right, I'm not a fan of this and in this story it was considerable, but please notice I said 'I thought I wouldn't like it'. Admittedly I'm still not a fan of stories with a big age difference but if it's handled right I can still enjoy the story and I was good with how the author handled this. I felt that for as much as Mathias appreciated Pascal's maturity and experience, Pascal appreciated Mathias's vibrancy and enthusiasm for life.
So, now we move onto the rest of what I liked...
Pascal is a waiter at a high end restaurant and he likes his job. He takes pride in what he does and he does it well. So I'm going to just stop here and say this alone made me a fan of Pascal. I loved reading a story where it was ok that one of the MCs was just an average guy doing a job that is so often overlooked and undervalued. Honestly that was what attracted me to this series in the first place the fact that for me it felt like a tribute to a part of the workforce that is highly under appreciated.
Mathias is in banking he's on the fast track training for a management position but in the mean time he's got bills to pay so he works as a waiter at a local gay bar to enable himself to live in on rue Sainte-Catherine because like it or not when you're in a profession such as banking 'image matters'.
As coincidence would have it these two men live in the same apartment building. Two men, with a considerable age gap between them, at different stages in their lives and yet both wanting the same thing...someone to share their lives with.
Pascal had that once and then he lost it when the man he loved died. He's learned to be content with life as it is or he was until Mathias came along. Watching as these two juggled their conflicting schedules and maneuvered their own insecurities and that of the other was quite the challenge. I loved that they talked and yes, there was some miscommunication so they talked some more because in life that's what can happen. Things get said that seem clear to you and are clear as mud to the other person...so you keep talking and eventually you get to the make up sex...hot, steamy make up sex. Ironically though the best part of this romance was in their conversations. Seeing them get to know each other and find out about each other. I loved that it never felt like Pascal had an attitude of always being right because he was the older one in the relationship and if Mathias made a mistake that came from his youth or lack of experience Pascal neither embarrassed nor chastised him for it he simply acknowledged that when we are young we all make such mistakes and moved on.
Oops, I almost forgot one of the other things I really, really loved about this book the friends. Both of these men had friends who wanted them to be happy, who saw that they made each other happy and encouraged them to pursue the relationship because that's what friends do. When they see that something is good for you the support you and encourage you to pursue it because they're your friend and they want you to be happy.
'Service With A Smirk' for me was so much better than the first book in this series and both of these books can very easily be read as a standalone.
********************
An ARC of 'Service With A Smirk' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2018
If you liked the book...
Than why not check out the audio...it seems to be a thing with me. I find that while I'm rarely a fan of re-reading a book because nothing ever changes and for the most part I tend to get bored unless a book is like really, really amazing for me and yet somehow when it's on audio I don't have that issue. I've got some audio books that I've listened to 3, 4 even 5 times and no, nothing ever changes, i know what's going to happen and yet I love listening to them as much the third or fourth time as I did the first. It just works for me...who am I to question these things.
So I read this book called 'Service with a Smirk' and I enjoyed it. It's a cute May/December story set in the Canadian city of Montreal...I've been there it's a gorgeous city and maybe the home of my hubby's favorite hockey team (Go Canadians!) it's allowed, they're mentioned in the story and can I just say there really is nothing to debate when it comes to which team is better the Habs (Canadians) or the Toronto Makes Me Laughs (Maple Leafs) the stats say it all...but back to the more important subject this audio book.
As far as the story goes...nothing's changed, the story remains the same, so I'm going to borrow from my original review in regards to the my thoughts there...so here's what I liked...
Jeff Gelder was the narrator for this story and while I've listened to a few of his audio books already with varying results. I was pleased that this one was one of his books that resonated with me on a better level than others have...not to say that any of them have ever been a total fail for me but this time around I really liked Pascal's voice and found that it suited the person that I have envisioned he would be. While there were some moments when Pascal's voice sounded a tiny bit stilted for me it was more a case of the characters insecurities coming through in his voice, so it added to the emotional depth of the character rather than detracting from the story.
*************************
An audio book of 'Service with a Smirk' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Than why not check out the audio...it seems to be a thing with me. I find that while I'm rarely a fan of re-reading a book because nothing ever changes and for the most part I tend to get bored unless a book is like really, really amazing for me and yet somehow when it's on audio I don't have that issue. I've got some audio books that I've listened to 3, 4 even 5 times and no, nothing ever changes, i know what's going to happen and yet I love listening to them as much the third or fourth time as I did the first. It just works for me...who am I to question these things.
So I read this book called 'Service with a Smirk' and I enjoyed it. It's a cute May/December story set in the Canadian city of Montreal...I've been there it's a gorgeous city and maybe the home of my hubby's favorite hockey team (Go Canadians!) it's allowed, they're mentioned in the story and can I just say there really is nothing to debate when it comes to which team is better the Habs (Canadians) or the Toronto Makes Me Laughs (Maple Leafs) the stats say it all...but back to the more important subject this audio book.
As far as the story goes...nothing's changed, the story remains the same, so I'm going to borrow from my original review in regards to the my thoughts there...so here's what I liked...
Pascal is a waiter at a high end restaurant and he likes his job. He takes pride in what he does and he does it well. So I'm going to just stop here and say this alone made me a fan of Pascal. I loved reading a story where it was ok that one of the MCs was just an average guy doing a job that is so often overlooked and undervalued. Honestly that was what attracted me to this series in the first place the fact that for me it felt like a tribute to a part of the workforce that is highly under appreciated.Back when I read this book age gaps were a bit of an issue for me and while I had my reservations about the age gap in this one and much more a year ago than I do now. It turned out that it really wasn't a problem for me back then and still not this time around either.
Mathias is in banking he's on the fast track training for a management position but in the mean time he's got bills to pay so he works as a waiter at a local gay bar to enable himself to live in on rue Sainte-Catherine because like it or not when you're in a profession such as banking 'image matters'.
As coincidence would have it these two men live in the same apartment building. Two men, with a considerable age gap between them, at different stages in their lives and yet both wanting the same thing...someone to share their lives with.
Pascal had that once and then he lost it when the man he loved died. He's learned to be content with life as it is or he was until Mathias came along. Watching as these two juggled their conflicting schedules and maneuvered their own insecurities and that of the other was quite the challenge. I loved that they talked and yes, there was some miscommunication so they talked some more because in life that's what can happen. Things get said that seem clear to you and are clear as mud to the other person...so you keep talking and eventually you get to the make up sex...hot, steamy make up sex. Ironically though the best part of this romance was in their conversations. Seeing them get to know each other and find out about each other. I loved that it never felt like Pascal had an attitude of always being right because he was the older one in the relationship and if Mathias made a mistake that came from his youth or lack of experience Pascal neither embarrassed nor chastised him for it he simply acknowledged that when we are young we all make such mistakes and moved on.
Oops, I almost forgot one of the other things I really, really loved about this book the friends. Both of these men had friends who wanted them to be happy, who saw that they made each other happy and encouraged them to pursue the relationship because that's what friends do. When they see that something is good for you the support you and encourage you to pursue it because they're your friend and they want you to be happy....
Jeff Gelder was the narrator for this story and while I've listened to a few of his audio books already with varying results. I was pleased that this one was one of his books that resonated with me on a better level than others have...not to say that any of them have ever been a total fail for me but this time around I really liked Pascal's voice and found that it suited the person that I have envisioned he would be. While there were some moments when Pascal's voice sounded a tiny bit stilted for me it was more a case of the characters insecurities coming through in his voice, so it added to the emotional depth of the character rather than detracting from the story.
*************************
An audio book of 'Service with a Smirk' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2019
2.5 Stars
Based on the title alone I was expecting something light hearted with a meet cute and a delicious May/December romance to sink my reading teeth into.
Based on the blurb, I was expecting the above, with a side of angst as Pascal has lost the man he thought of as the love of his life and Mathias was going to have to put the time in to convince Pascal to live again.
Cool.
And I got that, but the journey was a lot more painful than I expected.
By painful I mean, Mathias had to work too hard and I was never really convinced that Pascal was the man for him. Between Pascal’s reticence to give love another go and the formal narration of his speech, I just never really warmed up to the guy. I couldn’t see what his appeal was beyond his physical description and Mathias’ attraction to older men.
Mathias was a good guy. He was constantly being referred to as being too young for basically everything, but he worked his ass off for his goals and I don’t think he got nearly the respect he deserved. His flirtations towards Pascal were very normal and Pascal pushed him away at every opportunity. And then, Pascal would pull him back in. I honestly felt bad for Mathias. Pascal took a long time to explain to Mathias why he was gun-shy to the whole relationship thing and while it is Pascal’s private business, when it gets in the way of a possible relationship and effects how you treat another person, well, Mathias deserved to know. Instead Mathias was left swinging in the wind on more than one occasion.
When they finally got some things out in the open and agreed to take it slow-ish, it was a relief. Mathias unexpectedly got off work early one night and paid Pascal a visit, one thing led to another and an extremely hot encounter was had. Finally, these two were connecting! And then, after it all, Pascal scolded Mathias for moving too fast and for not respecting Pascal’s wishes. Excuse me, my dude. You could have said no at any point, you did not and you encouraged the encounter. Please stop putting your baggage on Mathias. I love, love, LOVE, the May/December trope when it works, but frankly, this pissed me off and killed it for me.
Things took a turn for the weird when Mathias met Pascal’s family and then later when he saw Pascal interacting with some regulars at the restaurant he works. Those reactions were off putting, especially the restaurant one. It was oddly thrown in there and while it made Mathias seem just as dramatic as Pascal it was a balancing act I could have done without.
The narration seemed to fit the characters and maybe my perception of Pascal was put off by his formal French tone, I can’t be sure, since I’ve listened to and not read the story. Either way I never felt an HEA was in the works for these two even though I was told otherwise. They were portrayed as happy though, so good on them.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
Based on the title alone I was expecting something light hearted with a meet cute and a delicious May/December romance to sink my reading teeth into.
Based on the blurb, I was expecting the above, with a side of angst as Pascal has lost the man he thought of as the love of his life and Mathias was going to have to put the time in to convince Pascal to live again.
Cool.
And I got that, but the journey was a lot more painful than I expected.
By painful I mean, Mathias had to work too hard and I was never really convinced that Pascal was the man for him. Between Pascal’s reticence to give love another go and the formal narration of his speech, I just never really warmed up to the guy. I couldn’t see what his appeal was beyond his physical description and Mathias’ attraction to older men.
Mathias was a good guy. He was constantly being referred to as being too young for basically everything, but he worked his ass off for his goals and I don’t think he got nearly the respect he deserved. His flirtations towards Pascal were very normal and Pascal pushed him away at every opportunity. And then, Pascal would pull him back in. I honestly felt bad for Mathias. Pascal took a long time to explain to Mathias why he was gun-shy to the whole relationship thing and while it is Pascal’s private business, when it gets in the way of a possible relationship and effects how you treat another person, well, Mathias deserved to know. Instead Mathias was left swinging in the wind on more than one occasion.
When they finally got some things out in the open and agreed to take it slow-ish, it was a relief. Mathias unexpectedly got off work early one night and paid Pascal a visit, one thing led to another and an extremely hot encounter was had. Finally, these two were connecting! And then, after it all, Pascal scolded Mathias for moving too fast and for not respecting Pascal’s wishes. Excuse me, my dude. You could have said no at any point, you did not and you encouraged the encounter. Please stop putting your baggage on Mathias. I love, love, LOVE, the May/December trope when it works, but frankly, this pissed me off and killed it for me.
Things took a turn for the weird when Mathias met Pascal’s family and then later when he saw Pascal interacting with some regulars at the restaurant he works. Those reactions were off putting, especially the restaurant one. It was oddly thrown in there and while it made Mathias seem just as dramatic as Pascal it was a balancing act I could have done without.
The narration seemed to fit the characters and maybe my perception of Pascal was put off by his formal French tone, I can’t be sure, since I’ve listened to and not read the story. Either way I never felt an HEA was in the works for these two even though I was told otherwise. They were portrayed as happy though, so good on them.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
January 13, 2017
‘Service with a Smirk’ continues the theme of waiters and the men they love just like ‘At Your Service’, the first book in this series, but it is set in Montréal, Canada, not Paris, France, and is a standalone story. Actually this time both main characters are waiters and both of them have another job “on the side”. This added an interesting flavor to the proceedings, and I enjoyed learning about Pascal and Mathias, their friends, and the things that motivate and drive them.
Pascal is fascinating. At first glance, and that is what all of his friends see, he seems to be rather boring. He is in his forties, buried the man he thought he would grow old with years ago, is stuck in a rut, and tells himself he likes his life. He has a job as senior waiter at a high-end restaurant, and he writes mysteries on the side. See what I mean about interesting once you start digging? He does not expect to fall in love again, but when he meets a young waiter in his favorite bar, and then runs into him again a little later, he is intrigued.
Mathias is at the beginning of his professional life and works at a bank. He has a second job as a waiter in a gay bar to help make ends meet, but he intends that to be temporary. When he meets Pascal, he knows they belong together, but Pascal seems to have a different opinion. Mathias is not one to give up easily, and as far as he is concerned, the chase is on. I liked that he also has a few issues to work out and obstacles to deal with, but they are less fundamental than Pascal’s.
As the men begin to get to know each other, despite Pascal’s resistance and only thanks to Mathias’s determination, it becomes clear there is a lot more potential between them than Pascal is willing to admit. He is so certain that he is too old for Mathias that, like one of his friends puts it “You’ve already written him off in your head. You’re so convinced this can’t work that you aren’t even willing to fight for it.” And that’s really the core issue of this book: how can Pascal change his attitude – because that is really all that stands in the way of a wonderful relationship between these guys. They sure don’t make it easy for themselves!
If you like complicated characters with issues only they themselves can overcome, if a May/December romance is your thing, and if you’re looking for a read that is emotional, has great character growth, and is set in beautiful Montréal, then you will probably like this novel.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Pascal is fascinating. At first glance, and that is what all of his friends see, he seems to be rather boring. He is in his forties, buried the man he thought he would grow old with years ago, is stuck in a rut, and tells himself he likes his life. He has a job as senior waiter at a high-end restaurant, and he writes mysteries on the side. See what I mean about interesting once you start digging? He does not expect to fall in love again, but when he meets a young waiter in his favorite bar, and then runs into him again a little later, he is intrigued.
Mathias is at the beginning of his professional life and works at a bank. He has a second job as a waiter in a gay bar to help make ends meet, but he intends that to be temporary. When he meets Pascal, he knows they belong together, but Pascal seems to have a different opinion. Mathias is not one to give up easily, and as far as he is concerned, the chase is on. I liked that he also has a few issues to work out and obstacles to deal with, but they are less fundamental than Pascal’s.
As the men begin to get to know each other, despite Pascal’s resistance and only thanks to Mathias’s determination, it becomes clear there is a lot more potential between them than Pascal is willing to admit. He is so certain that he is too old for Mathias that, like one of his friends puts it “You’ve already written him off in your head. You’re so convinced this can’t work that you aren’t even willing to fight for it.” And that’s really the core issue of this book: how can Pascal change his attitude – because that is really all that stands in the way of a wonderful relationship between these guys. They sure don’t make it easy for themselves!
If you like complicated characters with issues only they themselves can overcome, if a May/December romance is your thing, and if you’re looking for a read that is emotional, has great character growth, and is set in beautiful Montréal, then you will probably like this novel.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
July 21, 2017
3.75 stars rounded up
Pascal is forty-eight years old, twice the age of Mathias, who is only twenty-four. Pascal worries that the two of them are in different stage in life. Pascal lost the man he thought he would spend the rest of his life with, more than a decade ago. He doesn’t want a fling. He wants a commitment, a long-lasting relationship. He is not sure if Mathias is up for that.
On top of it, Pascal is only a waiter, despite his job being sort of middle management at the restaurant he works at. Meanwhile Mathias is on a track for management at a bank – although he takes a second job waiting tables. So what if Mathias is bored with him?
Mathias, on the other hand, sees Pascal as someone who has experience in life. Pascal is established, he travels abroad. Mathias knew that people will look at their age difference and think that he is looking for a sugar daddy. In addition, he knows that Pascal has been involved with a serious relationship before and he wonders whether he will only become a rebound.
One thing I truly liked from Service with a Smirk was that the relationship felt mature, despite the repetitive concerns from both sides. Yes, those concerns were going back and forth, but at the same time, Pascal and Mathias communicate about it. They talk about their worries to their friends. They also talk to each other, trying to figure out what they want from the relationship. I appreciated this so much!
Not to mention it also has low steam… Like Pascal said “Sex is part of everything, but for me, it’s the last part. The icing on the cake, so to speak, not the sum total of the dessert.” Therefore, this book focuses on the relationship built-up rather than the sexual attraction part of it … which to me, is always a plus point. :)
All in all, I thought it was a satisfying romance.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Pascal is forty-eight years old, twice the age of Mathias, who is only twenty-four. Pascal worries that the two of them are in different stage in life. Pascal lost the man he thought he would spend the rest of his life with, more than a decade ago. He doesn’t want a fling. He wants a commitment, a long-lasting relationship. He is not sure if Mathias is up for that.
On top of it, Pascal is only a waiter, despite his job being sort of middle management at the restaurant he works at. Meanwhile Mathias is on a track for management at a bank – although he takes a second job waiting tables. So what if Mathias is bored with him?
Mathias, on the other hand, sees Pascal as someone who has experience in life. Pascal is established, he travels abroad. Mathias knew that people will look at their age difference and think that he is looking for a sugar daddy. In addition, he knows that Pascal has been involved with a serious relationship before and he wonders whether he will only become a rebound.
One thing I truly liked from Service with a Smirk was that the relationship felt mature, despite the repetitive concerns from both sides. Yes, those concerns were going back and forth, but at the same time, Pascal and Mathias communicate about it. They talk about their worries to their friends. They also talk to each other, trying to figure out what they want from the relationship. I appreciated this so much!
Not to mention it also has low steam… Like Pascal said “Sex is part of everything, but for me, it’s the last part. The icing on the cake, so to speak, not the sum total of the dessert.” Therefore, this book focuses on the relationship built-up rather than the sexual attraction part of it … which to me, is always a plus point. :)
All in all, I thought it was a satisfying romance.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
March 5, 2017
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is a sweet, slow May to December romance between two very different men. Mathias is ambitious, driven and focused. He knows what he wants in all areas of his life and he is willing to nearly kill himself to realise his dreams. When Mathias decides he wants the much older Pascal, he won’t stop until gets the man he wants.
At 48, Pascal is settled in a comfortable life. His work at a waiter in a high end restaurant pays him enough to enjoy good food and exotic travel. After burying his life partner he doesn’t anticipate another romance and he is happy enough on his own. Until he meets Mathias and feels pulled towards the much younger man. Pascal is a difficult character. I enjoyed his friendships and the peaceful life he created for himself, but I found his brooding and over thinking a little tiresome at times.
I enjoyed Mathias more. His drive to get ahead in his career contrasts well with Pascal’s contentment. I loved the way his initial excitement at the attention from bar customers was tempered as he reflected more on the nature of his job and the boundaries he wanted to set up. I’m not sure I fully understand his desire for an older partner but I liked that it was Mathias pursuing the older Pascal in this story.
The May to December theme is very clear in this story. Mathias definitely reads like a 24 year old. I loved his impetuousness, his energy and his quick certainty. In contrast, Pascal is guarded and cautious, slow to trust and slower to invest in a relationship. His caution makes for a story that is very slow and more romantic than sexy.
Montreal is a great choice for setting - Ariel Tachna is the queen of exciting and unusual settings and she manages to capture the elegant, liberal feel of North America’s most European city. I loved the way her characters switched easily between languages and the way her Montreal is so distinct from her Paris in the last story.
March 3, 2017
~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~
I really wanted to like this book. I like the age difference between Mathias and Pascal but I just couldn’t connect with either of the characters. I didn’t feel any passion between them. I just felt like I was reading about two friends who kind of liked each other. The only scene that had any feeling for me was the phone sex scene. I was hoping after that part it would get better but it really didn’t. I am sure others will enjoy this book, just wasn’t for me.
Characters: couldn’t connect with them
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: not sure
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
I really wanted to like this book. I like the age difference between Mathias and Pascal but I just couldn’t connect with either of the characters. I didn’t feel any passion between them. I just felt like I was reading about two friends who kind of liked each other. The only scene that had any feeling for me was the phone sex scene. I was hoping after that part it would get better but it really didn’t. I am sure others will enjoy this book, just wasn’t for me.
Characters: couldn’t connect with them
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: not sure
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
February 7, 2017
This story is a second chance romance with the MCs having a considerable age-difference, which becomes the main point of discord between them.
Pascal is the head waiter in a classy restaurant and his social life generally involves going out with his two best friends and hitting the gym. After the death of his partner several years ago, Pascal has never opened up his heart to anyone else. Except few anonymous hook-ups, Ben is content in spending his nights tucked in his bed reading spy novels.
Mathias is 24 and works very hard to secure a better future. He has always been attracted to older guys but till now all his relationships has ended in heartache. Mathias is busy shaping his life and not on the lookout for a man but then his eyes land on a silver fox and he is a complete goner.
Pascal had a lot of reservations when it came to starting anything with a man who is half his age. He is unsure of Matthias’ affections coz he is sure that in the future Matthias will eventually move on and leave with a broken heart which he cannot afford for a second time.
Mathias is not like any other young gay man. He is very patient and understanding. He handles Pascal’s reservations with compassion. Despite both of their crazy schedules, Mathias and Pascal stuck to each other and made their fragile relationship work. They floundered several times but their support system always had their backs and saw them through.
Both Mathias and Pascal had awesome friends who continuously helped them through each and every bump in their journey. Pascal’s two best friends, Renee and Benjamin talked sense into him whenever he got lost in his doubts and insecurities. The communication here happened often and was very sensible and necessary for the MCs to go forward with their relationship.
My few problems with the story:
i.The MCs are not completely sure of each other even in the last chapter. Pascal is gay and so I did not understand why Matthias was so mad when Pascal flirts with customers who mind you, were “ladies”.
ii.Matthias’ reaction to Pascal’s mom was very odd. I did not get why he doubts Pascal once again when she brings up Pascal’s dead partner that too when she was clearly having a bad memory day.
The dynamics between the MCs was tipsy at best. At the end, I was not convinced that they had got over all of their insecurities. The epilogue was also not that exciting or promising. I give this second chance romance a total of 3.5 stars.
*This review has been cross posted at GayBookReviews*
Pascal is the head waiter in a classy restaurant and his social life generally involves going out with his two best friends and hitting the gym. After the death of his partner several years ago, Pascal has never opened up his heart to anyone else. Except few anonymous hook-ups, Ben is content in spending his nights tucked in his bed reading spy novels.
Mathias is 24 and works very hard to secure a better future. He has always been attracted to older guys but till now all his relationships has ended in heartache. Mathias is busy shaping his life and not on the lookout for a man but then his eyes land on a silver fox and he is a complete goner.
Pascal had a lot of reservations when it came to starting anything with a man who is half his age. He is unsure of Matthias’ affections coz he is sure that in the future Matthias will eventually move on and leave with a broken heart which he cannot afford for a second time.
Mathias is not like any other young gay man. He is very patient and understanding. He handles Pascal’s reservations with compassion. Despite both of their crazy schedules, Mathias and Pascal stuck to each other and made their fragile relationship work. They floundered several times but their support system always had their backs and saw them through.
Both Mathias and Pascal had awesome friends who continuously helped them through each and every bump in their journey. Pascal’s two best friends, Renee and Benjamin talked sense into him whenever he got lost in his doubts and insecurities. The communication here happened often and was very sensible and necessary for the MCs to go forward with their relationship.
My few problems with the story:
i.The MCs are not completely sure of each other even in the last chapter. Pascal is gay and so I did not understand why Matthias was so mad when Pascal flirts with customers who mind you, were “ladies”.
ii.Matthias’ reaction to Pascal’s mom was very odd. I did not get why he doubts Pascal once again when she brings up Pascal’s dead partner that too when she was clearly having a bad memory day.
The dynamics between the MCs was tipsy at best. At the end, I was not convinced that they had got over all of their insecurities. The epilogue was also not that exciting or promising. I give this second chance romance a total of 3.5 stars.
*This review has been cross posted at GayBookReviews*
February 17, 2017
I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was definitely looking forward to trying this one out. When I saw that this was also a may/december type of romance, I was even more excited.
Well, I enjoyed it for the most part, but I will admit that there were times when I felt a bit...bored? by the story. I felt like Pascal was just a bit too serious about taking the relationship slowly, and I just wasn't a fan of Mathias being irrationally jealous over seeing Pascal "flirting" with his female friends while working. These two had a LOT of insecurities with their relationship (he won't want me when he's successful, I'm not good enough for him, that type of stuff) and it took some time for them to actually talk things out.
I also wish that there had been a bit more to flesh out the backstory for both Mathias and Pascal. For Pascal...a decade is a long time to go without wanting a relationship with anyone, and although I obviously don't know from experience, I wasn't given enough about his past partner to justify him spending over a decade alone. And then with Mathias, towards the end we start learning a few tidbits about his last boyfriend and how he treated Mathias, but that wasn't really explored either.
Although Mathias and Pascal had solid chemistry when things were going well, and when they were in bed together, that was crazy hot to read about, they had a lot of stumbling blocks in their way that kinda detracted from their romance for me. I'd definitely read another book in this series since they seem to be standalone stories that are just connected in the waiter-type theme, but this one wasn't my favorite of the two.
Well, I enjoyed it for the most part, but I will admit that there were times when I felt a bit...bored? by the story. I felt like Pascal was just a bit too serious about taking the relationship slowly, and I just wasn't a fan of Mathias being irrationally jealous over seeing Pascal "flirting" with his female friends while working. These two had a LOT of insecurities with their relationship (he won't want me when he's successful, I'm not good enough for him, that type of stuff) and it took some time for them to actually talk things out.
I also wish that there had been a bit more to flesh out the backstory for both Mathias and Pascal. For Pascal...a decade is a long time to go without wanting a relationship with anyone, and although I obviously don't know from experience, I wasn't given enough about his past partner to justify him spending over a decade alone. And then with Mathias, towards the end we start learning a few tidbits about his last boyfriend and how he treated Mathias, but that wasn't really explored either.
Although Mathias and Pascal had solid chemistry when things were going well, and when they were in bed together, that was crazy hot to read about, they had a lot of stumbling blocks in their way that kinda detracted from their romance for me. I'd definitely read another book in this series since they seem to be standalone stories that are just connected in the waiter-type theme, but this one wasn't my favorite of the two.
February 9, 2017
**3.5 Stars**
This story was a sweet love story between a waiter who is reluctant to make a love connection and a much younger bartender/bank associate – who is ready to commit. While I tend to absolutely love Tachna’s stories, this one just missed the mark a bit. It was sweet and the characters were nice, but that’s what left me wanting more… it was just nice. There was missing an Alpha (and hey, I review for a site with Alpha in its name!).
That being said, Pascal’s character went deeper as the story moved along – as did Mathias’s. At first glance, they seemed to be opposites in many ways with Mathias trying to “win over” Pascal – and his motivation didn’t seem genuine. But as soon as they connected, both characters became more well-rounded people and fit together nicely. Their chemistry was an interesting build up – it started off as lacking, but then got white hot! The plot is focused on more “everyday” circumstances – they have jobs! They can’t spend every waking minute together! They’re living in the real world – which of course is a nice change of pace.
Overall, this is a great read for anyone looking for a quick love story with very little angst. More of a “traditional” romance than anything else. It is well written and very easy to read – and just know that the longer you stick with the characters, the more lovable they become. You’ll learn all about why Pascal is hesitant and how Mathias is such a great fit for his needs. It unravels slowly, but all makes sense in the end.
Review Copy of Service with a Smirk provided by Dreamspinner Press for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mel from Alpha Book Club
This story was a sweet love story between a waiter who is reluctant to make a love connection and a much younger bartender/bank associate – who is ready to commit. While I tend to absolutely love Tachna’s stories, this one just missed the mark a bit. It was sweet and the characters were nice, but that’s what left me wanting more… it was just nice. There was missing an Alpha (and hey, I review for a site with Alpha in its name!).
That being said, Pascal’s character went deeper as the story moved along – as did Mathias’s. At first glance, they seemed to be opposites in many ways with Mathias trying to “win over” Pascal – and his motivation didn’t seem genuine. But as soon as they connected, both characters became more well-rounded people and fit together nicely. Their chemistry was an interesting build up – it started off as lacking, but then got white hot! The plot is focused on more “everyday” circumstances – they have jobs! They can’t spend every waking minute together! They’re living in the real world – which of course is a nice change of pace.
Overall, this is a great read for anyone looking for a quick love story with very little angst. More of a “traditional” romance than anything else. It is well written and very easy to read – and just know that the longer you stick with the characters, the more lovable they become. You’ll learn all about why Pascal is hesitant and how Mathias is such a great fit for his needs. It unravels slowly, but all makes sense in the end.
Review Copy of Service with a Smirk provided by Dreamspinner Press for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mel from Alpha Book Club
January 13, 2017
Mathias is 24 and Pascal is 48. Their age difference is the main “hurdle” in this lovely story that takes place in Montreal. There are some other “issues” – Pacal’s job and his own self image, his late lover, as well as their mutual schedules – but their age difference is the central issue.
The writing, as I’ve come to expect from this author, is wonderful. In addition to really giving us very full and developed characters, we also get a sneak peek at Montreal – which sounds amazing!
What I loved most about this is the “real” feel the relationship has. Mathias is young and makes “young” mistakes, but he and Pascal don’t run from them, instead they talk about them. Pascal also makes mistakes, thinking he knows what Mathias is thinking when he doesn’t, but again, they discuss it.
The level of steam is good, there isn’t a ton of sex, but what is there is very hot and really moves the story forward.
I loved that these guys took the time to get to know one another before jumping into bed but I never felt the chemistry was lacking.
This is a relationship story and it’s very sweet. I didn’t read book one, and I don’t think I missed anything by not having read it.
Highly recommended!
4.25 of 5 stars
The writing, as I’ve come to expect from this author, is wonderful. In addition to really giving us very full and developed characters, we also get a sneak peek at Montreal – which sounds amazing!
What I loved most about this is the “real” feel the relationship has. Mathias is young and makes “young” mistakes, but he and Pascal don’t run from them, instead they talk about them. Pascal also makes mistakes, thinking he knows what Mathias is thinking when he doesn’t, but again, they discuss it.
The level of steam is good, there isn’t a ton of sex, but what is there is very hot and really moves the story forward.
I loved that these guys took the time to get to know one another before jumping into bed but I never felt the chemistry was lacking.
This is a relationship story and it’s very sweet. I didn’t read book one, and I don’t think I missed anything by not having read it.
Highly recommended!
4.25 of 5 stars
February 8, 2017
1.5 stars. Mathias is a 24 year old banker by day, waiter in a bar by night. Pascal is 48 year old and works as a waiter in what seems like a high end restaurant. They meet, and there is an apparent mutual interest between the two of them, despite the age difference. Mathias likes men who are a little older, and Pascal does not reveal any particular type of guy that is his type. We do learn that Pascal had a long term partner who died a few years before the story, and he has not done much socializing since his partner's death.
Coincidentally, the two main characters surprisingly live in the apartment building in the heart of the gay section of Montreal and they have never seen each other anywhere.
The two main characters go on a few "get to know you" dates, but there is no sex. Finally, Mathias gets a night off from work and decides to surprise Pascal at his apartment. Pascal had repeatedly said that sex has to wait for the right time. Well . . . Mathias believed that this was the right night, and they have mind-blowing sex and then Mathias sleeps over for the night. The next day, Pascal is distant and far away . . . He becomes stilted and off-putting. This leaves Mathias wondering what he had done wrong. It ends up that Pascal is obsessed about the age difference between the two men, and the fact that Mathias, a young man who is on the rise in his career, would never take a 48 year old waiter as the man of his dreams. (So, it is Pascal's insecurity that is screwing things up.).
Then, we have Mathias' first meeting with Pascal's family at a Thanksgiving dinner. Pascal's mother has dementia, and she chastises Pascal for bring Mathias to the family house instead of his dead lover, Robert. (Obviously, the mother doesn't remember that Pascal's first "husband" died many years earlier of cancer.). Mathias' poor treatment is terrible, no matter what justification is offered by the family. It is somewhat annoying that everything is supposed to be made better after the fact by Pascal having slow and tortured sexual relations with Mathias after the Thanksgiving dinner. I just don't get it, but maybe sex is the cure-all for anything that disrupts this May-December romance. (Based upon the first book in the series, we know that the author believes that sex is the cure all for everything in poorly planned stories.)
Finally, there is a simply stupid bout of jealousy by Mathias when Pascal is working one evening and a group of female authors deliver him a decorated basket filled with books where Pascal is the basis for the main character. Out of the blue, Mathias begins to think that Pascal might be bisexual, that he is cheating on him with not one, but four, middle aged harpies. It sounds stupid to write this in this review, but it was even more stupid wasting an entire chapter on it, especially since the author had previously foreshadowed this issue. When Mathias first meets Pascal early in the book, there is a long discussion about the group of middle age female authors who come to the restaurant where Pascal works to give him signed copies of the books they had previously written, especially the ones where the main character is loosely based on his life.
Either the foreshadowing was useless or the subsequent jealousy was useless. But, no matter what, it is a useless waste of time.
Well, the romance continues and we get a happily for now ending. In the end though, I finally said "who cares". There is very little substance that ties this book together. The constant build up concerning the age difference got old very fast, and the reliance strictly on sex and sexual tension to support the book is simply insufficient. (That was my principal gripe in the first book in this series, and the author has allowed the problem to fester.). When the bedrock of the story is nothing more than a wet sponge, it is not surprising that the balance of the story just collapses into a mess. Hovering between one and two stars on this one -- so I give it 1.5 stars.
s
A-
meeting with pascals family. Mother has dementia, and she thinks pascal's dead lover is still alive, and Pascal is cheating on him with Mathias. A bit of melodrama that is clearly out of place. Makes Mathias feel like he is the replacement for Pascal' steal and true love -- the dead one. Husnad"
Coincidentally, the two main characters surprisingly live in the apartment building in the heart of the gay section of Montreal and they have never seen each other anywhere.
The two main characters go on a few "get to know you" dates, but there is no sex. Finally, Mathias gets a night off from work and decides to surprise Pascal at his apartment. Pascal had repeatedly said that sex has to wait for the right time. Well . . . Mathias believed that this was the right night, and they have mind-blowing sex and then Mathias sleeps over for the night. The next day, Pascal is distant and far away . . . He becomes stilted and off-putting. This leaves Mathias wondering what he had done wrong. It ends up that Pascal is obsessed about the age difference between the two men, and the fact that Mathias, a young man who is on the rise in his career, would never take a 48 year old waiter as the man of his dreams. (So, it is Pascal's insecurity that is screwing things up.).
Then, we have Mathias' first meeting with Pascal's family at a Thanksgiving dinner. Pascal's mother has dementia, and she chastises Pascal for bring Mathias to the family house instead of his dead lover, Robert. (Obviously, the mother doesn't remember that Pascal's first "husband" died many years earlier of cancer.). Mathias' poor treatment is terrible, no matter what justification is offered by the family. It is somewhat annoying that everything is supposed to be made better after the fact by Pascal having slow and tortured sexual relations with Mathias after the Thanksgiving dinner. I just don't get it, but maybe sex is the cure-all for anything that disrupts this May-December romance. (Based upon the first book in the series, we know that the author believes that sex is the cure all for everything in poorly planned stories.)
Finally, there is a simply stupid bout of jealousy by Mathias when Pascal is working one evening and a group of female authors deliver him a decorated basket filled with books where Pascal is the basis for the main character. Out of the blue, Mathias begins to think that Pascal might be bisexual, that he is cheating on him with not one, but four, middle aged harpies. It sounds stupid to write this in this review, but it was even more stupid wasting an entire chapter on it, especially since the author had previously foreshadowed this issue. When Mathias first meets Pascal early in the book, there is a long discussion about the group of middle age female authors who come to the restaurant where Pascal works to give him signed copies of the books they had previously written, especially the ones where the main character is loosely based on his life.
Either the foreshadowing was useless or the subsequent jealousy was useless. But, no matter what, it is a useless waste of time.
Well, the romance continues and we get a happily for now ending. In the end though, I finally said "who cares". There is very little substance that ties this book together. The constant build up concerning the age difference got old very fast, and the reliance strictly on sex and sexual tension to support the book is simply insufficient. (That was my principal gripe in the first book in this series, and the author has allowed the problem to fester.). When the bedrock of the story is nothing more than a wet sponge, it is not surprising that the balance of the story just collapses into a mess. Hovering between one and two stars on this one -- so I give it 1.5 stars.
s
A-
meeting with pascals family. Mother has dementia, and she thinks pascal's dead lover is still alive, and Pascal is cheating on him with Mathias. A bit of melodrama that is clearly out of place. Makes Mathias feel like he is the replacement for Pascal' steal and true love -- the dead one. Husnad"
October 1, 2017
c est une très belle lecture, comme quoi la différence d'âge n est pas importante quand l'amour est là
July 13, 2018
Death of a partner/spouse/lover is very hard to get over but if love gives you a second chance, grab with both hands and don't let go. Very sweet may to December.
January 13, 2017
https://justlovereviews.com/2017/01/1...
4 stars (technically 3.75 rounded up)
When I first read the summary for this book, I already knew I was going to like it. I’m a sucker for age differences in romance, especially when the younger MC doesn’t act like a bratty kid and fly off the handle at every little bump in the road. Plus, the setting is Montreal which is a gorgeous city and the perfect place for a romance. Just based on those two things alone, I knew I had to read this.
Service with a Smirk is a low-angst, low-steam book that focuses on how two people, who are both at very different stages in life, can build a relationship based on friendship, mutual respect and love. And maybe that sounds boring, but I found it rather refreshing and lovely. The fact that there is real communication between the two MCs is especially nice; I’m all for tension but manufactured drama is definitely a turn-off.
Pascal is the head waiter at a high-end restaurant (note: not a millionaire, not a doctor, not a sugar daddy, just a regular guy – I love it), and young Mathias is on the fast-track to management at his job at a bank. He also works nights at a bar, earning extra cash to afford his small apartment in a charming but expensive part of the city. It’s kinda nice to read about people who can’t leave work at a moment’s notice to go on a date, or a take spontaneous 3 day trip out of the city – these are regular guys and I found that immensely appealing.
One of the other things I really liked about this book is the total and complete support each of our MCs finds in their friends and family, especially Pascal who has never really recovered from losing his partner almost 15 years prior and is reluctant to pursue something with Mathias for fear that it may never match the kind of relationship he once had.
Benjamin sighed. “You met him when you were in your twenties. You had a few good years together before he got sick, and then you spent the rest of his life taking care of him as cancer stole his health and eventually his life. You’re a different man that you were then….You need someone for the man you are now, not the man you were then.”
“And you think Mathias is that man?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” Benjamin said with a bright smile, “but you seem to be entertaining the idea, and I know you too well. You’ll do your best to talk yourself out of it if Rene and I don’t knock some sense into you, so consider yourself knocked.”
The slow burn romance between Pascal and Mathias sweet with very little angst. Although I might have appreciated a bit more tension or conflict to raise a little more interest and investment in their relationship, I did really like the fact that they spoke with each other – often at the encouragement of friends – to clear up any misunderstandings before insecurity or jealousy could really take root.
This is a very simple love story about two people falling in love. Although we can always use a little fantasy to take us away from the drudgery of life, sometimes it’s nice just to read about people you can actually relate to. It’s a good reminder that ‘real life’ has its charms too.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
4 stars (technically 3.75 rounded up)
When I first read the summary for this book, I already knew I was going to like it. I’m a sucker for age differences in romance, especially when the younger MC doesn’t act like a bratty kid and fly off the handle at every little bump in the road. Plus, the setting is Montreal which is a gorgeous city and the perfect place for a romance. Just based on those two things alone, I knew I had to read this.
Service with a Smirk is a low-angst, low-steam book that focuses on how two people, who are both at very different stages in life, can build a relationship based on friendship, mutual respect and love. And maybe that sounds boring, but I found it rather refreshing and lovely. The fact that there is real communication between the two MCs is especially nice; I’m all for tension but manufactured drama is definitely a turn-off.
Pascal is the head waiter at a high-end restaurant (note: not a millionaire, not a doctor, not a sugar daddy, just a regular guy – I love it), and young Mathias is on the fast-track to management at his job at a bank. He also works nights at a bar, earning extra cash to afford his small apartment in a charming but expensive part of the city. It’s kinda nice to read about people who can’t leave work at a moment’s notice to go on a date, or a take spontaneous 3 day trip out of the city – these are regular guys and I found that immensely appealing.
One of the other things I really liked about this book is the total and complete support each of our MCs finds in their friends and family, especially Pascal who has never really recovered from losing his partner almost 15 years prior and is reluctant to pursue something with Mathias for fear that it may never match the kind of relationship he once had.
Benjamin sighed. “You met him when you were in your twenties. You had a few good years together before he got sick, and then you spent the rest of his life taking care of him as cancer stole his health and eventually his life. You’re a different man that you were then….You need someone for the man you are now, not the man you were then.”
“And you think Mathias is that man?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” Benjamin said with a bright smile, “but you seem to be entertaining the idea, and I know you too well. You’ll do your best to talk yourself out of it if Rene and I don’t knock some sense into you, so consider yourself knocked.”
The slow burn romance between Pascal and Mathias sweet with very little angst. Although I might have appreciated a bit more tension or conflict to raise a little more interest and investment in their relationship, I did really like the fact that they spoke with each other – often at the encouragement of friends – to clear up any misunderstandings before insecurity or jealousy could really take root.
This is a very simple love story about two people falling in love. Although we can always use a little fantasy to take us away from the drudgery of life, sometimes it’s nice just to read about people you can actually relate to. It’s a good reminder that ‘real life’ has its charms too.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 13, 2017
Pascal is a waiter at a fancy restaurant. He has been most of his life. He also lost his lover several years back but still mourns.
Mathias is a young man that knows what he wants and has the plan to get there. He works at a bank during the day on an advancement program and a bar at night. He does this to live in a lovely apartment in a nice neighborhood, so it looks good on his resume. But all the work is wearing him out. He meets Pascal one night at the bar.and is smitten.His boss has a rule about picking up the clients. Fate intervenes, and he meets him again in their building. But will Pascal overcome his doubts and the age difference between them?
I like this book on many levels. First of all The May.December (older man?Younger man) trope is one of my all time favorites. I also love broken men and Pascal is so sad. I rooted for him to find love again. I liked that they did not rush into anything and that each man at one time or other tried to move the relationship on. I also liked that Mathias, even though he was small and twinkish was unyielding, probably the stronger of the two. And the kicker was the writer ladies that were friends of Pascals. Not to forget I love picturesque settings, and this is in Canada with a very French feeling.
The one issue that held me back from a five was somehow I got a feeling this was part of a series. I was a bit lost when the characters discussed Robert; Pascal's deceased lover, like I should know more about that. I also felt like I should have known Adrien the owner of the bar Mathias worked in and Simon, the manager of the restaurant Pascal worked. I did go back and read the blurb to the first book in this series, but it didn't allude to any of these people.
But having said that; I did enjoy the relationship between Pascal and Mathias. I would like stories for Simon, Adrien, Rene and Benjamin.
If you like waiters, bartenders, bankers, broken men, May/December, second chance at love, and some sweet romantic scenes, this is for you!
.
Mathias is a young man that knows what he wants and has the plan to get there. He works at a bank during the day on an advancement program and a bar at night. He does this to live in a lovely apartment in a nice neighborhood, so it looks good on his resume. But all the work is wearing him out. He meets Pascal one night at the bar.and is smitten.His boss has a rule about picking up the clients. Fate intervenes, and he meets him again in their building. But will Pascal overcome his doubts and the age difference between them?
I like this book on many levels. First of all The May.December (older man?Younger man) trope is one of my all time favorites. I also love broken men and Pascal is so sad. I rooted for him to find love again. I liked that they did not rush into anything and that each man at one time or other tried to move the relationship on. I also liked that Mathias, even though he was small and twinkish was unyielding, probably the stronger of the two. And the kicker was the writer ladies that were friends of Pascals. Not to forget I love picturesque settings, and this is in Canada with a very French feeling.
The one issue that held me back from a five was somehow I got a feeling this was part of a series. I was a bit lost when the characters discussed Robert; Pascal's deceased lover, like I should know more about that. I also felt like I should have known Adrien the owner of the bar Mathias worked in and Simon, the manager of the restaurant Pascal worked. I did go back and read the blurb to the first book in this series, but it didn't allude to any of these people.
But having said that; I did enjoy the relationship between Pascal and Mathias. I would like stories for Simon, Adrien, Rene and Benjamin.
If you like waiters, bartenders, bankers, broken men, May/December, second chance at love, and some sweet romantic scenes, this is for you!
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February 7, 2017
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
Service with a Smirk is Book 2 in Ariel Tachna's At Your Service series. These books are totally independent of each other, not even happening in the same country and with no crossover of characters so it's entirely possible to read them as a standalone and not have the story affected.
Pascal is a 48 year old man, who had a long-term relationship and cared for his lover as he was taken by cancer. Pascal works as the head-waiter for a fancy restaurant, and is quite happy. He's forced to socialize by his two best friends, who knew his partner and has a good relationship with his repeating customers. Pascal leads a pretty normal life of work, gym, friends and reading. One night when out for drinks with friends, this young waiter is very flirty getting his attention. Pascal ignores his behavior, but then one day he finds that they live in the same building and they talk. Mathias is only 24 years old but he prefers older men. He's on the fast track at his banking job and works a second job as a waiter to help the costs of living in a nice location. He's a flirt as a waiter but that's just for tips. He is into Pascal and makes his feelings well known. Pascal isn't going to go down easy especially to someone half his age.
The angst for this story revolves around their age difference and lack of communication. With Pascal's lack of communication, it was hard to remember that he was almost 50 years old. With Pascal and Mathias' story, I didn't not feel a connection. They spent most of the time dancing around each other, not really talking, and just meeting up every now and then. I never felt the chemistry between them. There was a nice epilogue that showed where they were 18 months later in their life, and gave a glimpse of what was happening for them.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Service with a Smirk is Book 2 in Ariel Tachna's At Your Service series. These books are totally independent of each other, not even happening in the same country and with no crossover of characters so it's entirely possible to read them as a standalone and not have the story affected.
Pascal is a 48 year old man, who had a long-term relationship and cared for his lover as he was taken by cancer. Pascal works as the head-waiter for a fancy restaurant, and is quite happy. He's forced to socialize by his two best friends, who knew his partner and has a good relationship with his repeating customers. Pascal leads a pretty normal life of work, gym, friends and reading. One night when out for drinks with friends, this young waiter is very flirty getting his attention. Pascal ignores his behavior, but then one day he finds that they live in the same building and they talk. Mathias is only 24 years old but he prefers older men. He's on the fast track at his banking job and works a second job as a waiter to help the costs of living in a nice location. He's a flirt as a waiter but that's just for tips. He is into Pascal and makes his feelings well known. Pascal isn't going to go down easy especially to someone half his age.
The angst for this story revolves around their age difference and lack of communication. With Pascal's lack of communication, it was hard to remember that he was almost 50 years old. With Pascal and Mathias' story, I didn't not feel a connection. They spent most of the time dancing around each other, not really talking, and just meeting up every now and then. I never felt the chemistry between them. There was a nice epilogue that showed where they were 18 months later in their life, and gave a glimpse of what was happening for them.
Rating: 3.5 stars
April 11, 2019
Disappointing. I expected more from the story than was actually there.
Bought from Dreamspinner
Bought from Dreamspinner
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