Rudolf was being kidnapped for sure, but why would the guy he was sort of friendly with six years ago bother? Arlo isn't trying to be a knight in shining armor, but it seemed like maybe trying to rescue Rudolf from a possible breakdown was the least he could do for someone he once thought could have been the one.
From the Saving Mr. Bell blurb:
When is a kidnap not a kidnap? When it's a rescue.
Rudolf Bell does NOT need saving. But after the worst performance of his life, there are those who disagree. All he wants is to have a good time and forget everything for a while. Easier said than done when the media have done a hatchet job on him. His career's not over, though. Not until he says so.
Arlo Thomas has never forgotten the classical pianist who looks more like a rock star, even if his documentary about the precocious talent never saw the light of day. Seeing Rudolf’s bad press spurs him to drastic action. It’s not kidnap if it’s a luxurious cabin and it’s for Rudolf’s own good. Right?
When a rekindled friendship turns to passion in the remote winter wonderland location, Arlo’s determination to resist Rudolf slowly crumbles. As the days pass, Rudolf may have to admit he did need saving, and that Arlo’s the perfect man to do it.
It’s a shame snow melts and all good things must come to an end before Christmas.
Saving Mr. Bell is a MM snowed in, forced proximity, only one bed winter/holiday romance featuring a Christmas tree that just never seems to get decorated, snow, sledging, strip poker, underwear sharing, more snow, wolves of a non-shifter nature, a cozy log cabin, humor, snark, and two men who’ll hopefully learn during the course of their stay that there’s always a way to get something if you want it badly enough.
SNik's review:
Standalone. Forced proximity. Slow burn. Dual POV.
Maybe famous pianist Rudolf is on a path of self destruction, but Arlo’s plan to kidnap Rudolf and perhaps help the young man find some peace may not have been his best idea. Rudolf remembers the brief closeness he had with documentarian Arlo six years ago, but they aren’t friends and Arlo certainly doesn’t know him, but a few days into being stranded in a cabin together they start to find their attraction and possible friendship still remains.
This unusual setup with a slight second chance vibe has likable characters and a sweet fall into meaningful feelings. The dialog, honest communication, UST, and sweet moments that Arlo and Rudolf spend together really make this such a fun holiday romance. I liked the low angst conclusion, everything coming together as it should and the idea that the right person at the right time can make a special connection last a lifetime.
Molly Otto's review:
Rudolph is on the brink of collapse from being overworked when Arlo, a man from his past, comes in to fix it. Arlo has been watching from afar the boy he once knew slowly, losing his shine and deciding it's time to do something about it. What could be an angsty read is full of banter unlike any other with sweet tender moments to balance the story. These two had their first shot taken abruptly from them, but this time, they are playing for keeps. They help each other find that work-life balance to be both successful and happy in all areas of life. When the real world takes these two back apart, what could be over the top angst is a smooth transition. Rudolph learns to set his boundaries to be a better person by making a team that fits all his needs.
MiKi.J.'s review:
Love this - it's a kidnapping.....but it's not !! You could say that this falls under the "forced proximity/one bed" trope but it's not an insta-lust scenerio. Just a guy who's concerned about someone he admires and decides to help him. Why he thought kidnapping....okay okay .... not kidnapping .... borrowing then ..... would help, who knows ! I enjoyed this story very much - I loved the setting and background. And the characters are very relatable - their bantering and bickering is quite cute and that simmering attraction between them was very well done. And of course, they caved into that....but what really sold me on the story was the hurt/comfort vibe (even when one of them was avoiding it !!) and the patience and care from the other. Truly beautiful.
Saving Mr. Bell is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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