His Cocky Valet

Undue Arrogance Series, Book 1

By: Cole McCade

Narrated by: Joel Leslie

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Ash Harrington's life is out of control. At 23 years old, he's suddenly the head of a multibillion dollar global corporation he is in no way equipped to run. His father is dying. His mother's run away. He's spent his entire adult life playing fast and loose with his life and his loves, but when he's dragged into a position of responsibility with the fate of the company on his shoulders, he goes spinning into freefall. And Brand Forsythe is the only man to catch him.

Icy, detached, nearly twice Ash's age, the massive monolith of a British valet is impossible to deal with and like no servant Ash has ever met. Domineering and controlling, Brand quickly puts Ash's life in order. And quickly takes Ash in hand.

Even if by day Ash has to project authority, leadership, and calm...by night he's discovering the breathless pleasure of giving up control. The shivering thrill of surrendering to Brand. The sweet taboo of being submissive to the man in even the smallest things. Ash can't quite understand why it feels so good to put himself in Brand Forsythe's capable, commanding hands. He only knows, as he faces the hardest decisions of his life...the only thing that can save him is the love of his cocky valet.

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Cole McCade (P)2018 Tantor

Entertaining

I had a few issues with this story until I listened to the author’s notes at the end and discovered how and why this book was written. I would desperately prefer fewer (or no) uses of “the other man”, and the Full Devotion/Limitless Love kink could have stood a bit more fleshing out to make it less dubious, but overall it was a good story and I will listen to the second book.

Joel Leslie, as usual, is outstanding and continues to set the bar for me for how other narrators stack up.

Beautiful. Wow

It was as Cole said. I could almost see it.
I honestly would prefer to avoid hospitals unless injured or in pain, not to... let's just say I've had my fill. And I'd rather remember that person before they were destroyed by whatever felled them.

Does that make me heartless? Maybe...
But I don't want my last memory, my last sight of a loved one, to be them in a strange bed with machines recording their last.

Anyway, I loved the book. I loved the performance and Joel did a wonderful job.

Can't wait for the Cellist.

One hell of a valet

This book reminded me of Black Butler and I loved it. And the sex scenes were damn well written.

I’m Hooked

This book is beautifully written. I’m so glad I listened to it instead of reading it. Cole McCade wrote the emotions in this book in a way that made me feel as if I was experiencing them myself. And Joel Leslie did a wonderful job of bringing those emotions to life. I think we all have those moments in life when we’re drowning and would love nothing more than to just let someone else take over for us and make everything okay. Brand does that for Ash. Their story is a poignant story of codependency that acknowledged the unhealthiness of codependency, but made you root for Ash and Brand’s relationship anyway because they were beautiful together. Brand doesn’t stamp out Ash’s individuality, he gives Ash wings to fly and strength to deal with the chaos his life has become. In all honesty, I feel like Brand gave me strength too, he was written so well. Ash and Brand made me FEEL. Their story will be one I listen to again and again. I’m looking forward to listening to the other two books in this series.

WOW what a beautiful author

The words and language the author used was utterly fantastic, beautiful, almost like poetry.

I understand this was supposed to be satire etc, but it hit me in the feels big time, and the writing was absolutely elegant. This is the 1st book I've ever read/listened to by Cole, and I was very pleasantly surprised.

The meaning behind the D/s relationship was shown beautifully, and while the author mentions its a satire, that meaning is absolutely not. The discussion the MC's have on what a D/s relationship is, and the fact that yes it can be detrimental to a person if it's not wanted and agreed upon by everyone in the relationship was perfectly done. A D/s relationship can fulfill not only a kink or fetish but a deep seeded NEED in a person, and that need is absolutely not wrong, and when the need is met by its twin in another person, it can be absolutely stunning in its love and trust. Cole wrote this exactly right.


Joel is of course amazing as usual. He is one of my all time favorite narrators, and he can bring a depth of feeling and somehow conveys the emotions behind the writing so well. Whether it's sexual, humor, control, demanding or need, he is an absolute expert in his finely honed craft.


I can only say this was a very pleasant surprise for me, and I am absolutely glad I spent the money to purchase this title. Even though it's not listed as Daddy kink, and the submissive says he will not call him Daddy, which is done be humorous, that is exactly what this particular relationship is.

I Loved This, but...

Great performance, great characters. Hot 🔥sexy scenes. But it felt rushed for me. I needed a longer story to really connect with the MC's.

Nice story with perfect narration!

I purchased this book after I read the blurb, listened to part of the example and I loved Joel’s work immensely! He did a bang-up job, as is his command of the profession. He even made me like the rich and spoiled Ash, who’s fallen in love with his loyal valet. Who I didn’t think of as cocky, but a man of integrity. I enjoyed the audiobook.

beautiful

the authors at the end were a mood and I cried at certain points cool

So Cocky!

Nobody does Cocky like McCade! You might try laws of men, but nothing beats the Crow of a Lost Boi. 🧚

Stunning and cathartic

Wonderful wish fulfillment story. The all-capable older valet, the wreck of a determined and seemingly lost young man thrown into heading a company with no warning while a parent is in hospice. There are medical mentions, ok? I’m not immune to real life concepts in happy sexy kinky fluff, and if anything that aspect was freeing to me, personally. I keep coming back to this book and can’t believe it took me this long to write a review. It’s not often I can say I think my romance novel helped entrenched grief irl. Don’t get me wrong, that’s not the whole focus of the book. I may not have a bulwark against the world, but this book comes damn close sometimes. I loved the narration, having it on audio was even more immersive. Lovely fluff and a ‘magic’ jacket but most important of all is the red string of fate. I didn’t expect that to pop up and it ties the whole thing up beautifully without over-explaining. Wonderful wishes and smoldering desires fulfilled. 10/10 from this reader.