4 1/2 STARS!

✦ Quiet, tattooed nerd who is secretly a rockstar lead guitarist (anxiety rep)
✦ Pansexual ginger-haired computer programmer
✦ Kinky (D/s, bondage)
✦ ADRIAN'S LIBRARY THO I WANTZ IT
✦ A+ food porn. And sexy "let me feed this to you and tease you while I'm at it" scenes




What more can I say: It's just so good? Some angst over the secret identity part but otherwise it's not really a super heavy read. Just sexy, kinky fun with books and food and I loved it so damn much.

3.5 stars

Dominic Bradley lives two lives. Onstage, he is Domino Grinder, the leather and makeup wearing guitarist for the band Twisted Wishes. Offstage, he likes the anonymity of being Dominic, but his intense stage fright led him to create the persona of Domino and he hides behind it. He’s so scared about someone finding out his real identity that Dominic will only allow himself one-night stands and he craves a true connection. And, while everyone assumes Domino is a take charge, dominant guy, Dominic longs to submit.

Adrian Doran is a computer programmer who lives a fairly ordered life. A chance meeting has him attracted to Dominic’s quiet side and he has no idea how perfect Dominic is for him until he sees how Dominic enjoys being dominated. Adrian wants more than a few nights with Dominic, but Adrian has no idea that he’s dating a rock star.

Dominic is terrified to reveal his identity, but his two worlds seem to be overlapping more and more. He’s determined to finally tell Adrian the truth, but when his identity is revealed, Dominic has to figure out how to blend both of his worlds and manage to hang onto Adrian in the process.

Counterpoint follows Syncopation in the Twisted Wishes series. The first book focused on Ray and Zander and, while this book expects you to know their story when they appear on page, Adrian and Dominic’s story does stand alone.

Dominic is kind of a mess. He created the persona of Domino so he could perform on stage. He loves the music and his band, but the stage fright he experiences is real and being Domino is his coping mechanism. The band is supportive of him, but they also want to see him happy. Everyone knows it’s just a matter of time until his secret is exposed, and this secret was a little difficult for me to get fully on board with. Twisted Wishes is one of the hottest bands around and it read as a little out there that by Dominic covering his tattoos and dressing down, he could remain undetected for so long in current society.

Dominic and Adrian are a perfect match, however. Adrian is a natural dominant and Dominic is everything he has ever wanted. They fall into a natural rhythm of intimacy as they become closer. Dominic has never had a chance to explore his submissive side and Adrian knows what Dominic needs while remaining respectful.

Adrian’s backstory is worked into the story as well and that added to his character. His job is also a focal point to his character and is gone into in certain detail as he is having issues there. However, it was left unresolved by the end of the book, which didn’t work for me. Also, Adrian’s best friend is brought into the story as he starts a relationship that is completely off page, which left me to wonder why it was included in the first place. There is also a connection made to Adrian and Zander that wasn’t fully developed and there were a lot of small side stories added in that by the end of the book didn’t go anywhere.

The focus of the story being on Adrian and Dominic worked for me as they explore what I will call a milder BDSM relationship. While I did have a few issues with the story as a whole, this was a quick read with some good moments to add to Zabo’s rock star series.

This book was such a delight to read. It is the perfect sequel to Syncopation, which I loved so much as well. After Zav and Ray got their HEA and are married, it is now Dom’s turn for a place in the spotlight. But it is not as simple as that. As Domino, he loves being on stage, but rockstar Domino is his alter ego. The geeky, shy, glasses-wearing nerd Dominic rather stays at home with a good book of poetry. Then he meets Adrian, and the connection is instant.
These two men are absolutely perfect for each other. They are interesting characters in their own right, but the two of them together are dynamite.
In a way, you can say that Dom has a dual personality. He is Dominic, and he is Domino, but the one cannot be without the other. It is fascinating to see how he copes, and sometimes not cope, with these two sides of him. I loved the geeky, shy Dominic, and I loved how he so naturally falls into his submissive role with Adrian. But it doesn’t only come from Dominic. It is the relationship he has with Adrian. Adrian is a natural dominant, but in the soft and gentle way Dominic so desperately needs. There is a lot of sex in this story, but it is pretty conducive to the plot. It is definitely hot, but it so tender, so loving, so full of trust and acceptance and understanding it also brought tears to my eyes. And that’s not something that happens very often when I read smoking hot bed scenes.
The story focuses on the relationship between Adrian and Dominic, but the other band members are not forgotten. They are as close as ever. The band is getting more and more successful.
One thing I felt wasn’t fleshed out, and that was Adrian’s trouble with his boss and colleague. I have to mention it, but I can oversee that in the overall pleasure I got from reading this book.
This is the second installment in the Twisted Wishes series and can be read as a standalone. As there are recurring characters, I would recommend reading the first book though.

Unfortunately this story didn't work for me and I DNF-ed at around 50%. I found the prose a little awkward and the dialogues didn't always feel natural. On top of that I just couldn't connect with the characters, maybe because of the amount of sex they had that went on at the expense of relationship development.

This is my first book in the series, and I assure you, this one can read as a stand alone, with a little spoiler from the previous book (if you don't mind spoilers that is).
When you falling in lust with a nerdy guy but he's not really that nerdy guy you fall for, would you feel cheated on?
That's what Adrian felt when he found out who Dom really is.

It was interesting in the beginning, how Adrian approaching Dominic and all of a sudden, he didn't want a hookup and wanted more, because Dom is so much more than a hookup.
But I felt like, I don't know, something's missing from their relationship. Lust chemistry, sure.
But not a stronger chemistry I was looking for.
Dom and Adrian and their kinky relationship sure is hot and steamy. But I think, I'm too old for this kind of 'too much sex', while I usually love reading about sex. Or it was, too much sex. I felt like, this could be shorter if only...

You can blame me for not too satisfied with this. But it was an okay read, I guess. Not my favorite, but bearable. I didn't love it, didn't hate it either.
It was okay. And maybe, this is the book you are looking for. Ignore my review, read the five stars instead :)

Readers met Dom in Syncopation, the first book in Anna Zabo’s Twisted Wishes series. Granted, we didn’t learn a lot about the quiet, private musician, but I got to know him well enough to know I liked him. He was a good friend and a talented musician, but I wasn’t surprised to learn that there was a lot more to “Domino” than just a way to protect his privacy.

Adrian was totally infatuated with Dom, but he knew he was keeping a part of himself hidden from him. He was patient, he knew or at least he hoped that Dom would trust him enough to share what he was hiding. He was also dealing with his own professional issues…

Dom really wanted to open up to Adrian, but he was terrified of people not only finding out, but what would happen to Domino when they did. He also wasn’t sure how Adrian would react because he knew he wasn’t exactly a fan of Twisted Wishes’ genre of music. The band was behind him, but not even they totally understood his fear. There were a lot of twists and turns for both men while working toward their HEA.

I love this series so far and I loved getting to know the band even better in Counterpoint. Mish is next in Reverb and I can’t wait to see what Zabo has in store for readers with her story.

1.5 stars because I couldn't get in the plot and I never really warmed up to the characters. The first book was really good and it was great to see that couple again, the new couple though didn't measure up.

Dom and Adrian had drama revolving around their relationship that I didn't understand. Dom went by three different names (Dom, Dominic, Domino) two of which represented different personas. He was famous and still no one recognized him if he didn't show his tattoos and didn't wear ripped jeans. Reminds you of a certain someone who was hiding behind glasses and a wisp of hair?

Adrian's work related drama was over the top and unnecessary. The situation was just frustrating instead of angsty or interesting. I guess it was there to work as a page filler but since I was skimming most of that part I don't think it worked quite like it was supposed to. Also, there was a big, sappy and very public gesture near the end that it was a firm "no" from me and cemented my rating.

The best part of the story was whenever Zav and Ray made an appearance. I'd gladly read another story focused on those two, but Dom and Adrian were a big miss for me.



*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *

This was a very cute book! The characters were interesting, the conflict felt so emotional. I recommend for anyone wanting a relatively light read, with lots of PHYSICAL AFFECTION. I look forward to reading the first book in the series!

Although the idea of Dominic successfully hiding his identity in our crazy, connected world stretched my suspension of disbelief a little, I was immediately sucked into the story behind his creation of an alter-ego to deal with crushing social anxiety. My heart broke for him every time he imagined the terror of having his two worlds collide. The resolution of that conflict was very believable to me, and although I could see how Adrian would fit into Dominic's world early on, it didn't feel contrived.

Domino's relationship with Adrian couldn't have been more perfect. I immediately fell in love with their dynamic and the BDSM-tinged sex was beyond hot. Even the way Adrian handled discovering Dominic's secret was perfect. Enough hurt to make it realistic, while not being over the top.

This author is new to me, so I haven't read the first book in this series, but the characters and backstory are woven into this book very smoothly so I never felt like I was lost or like I being fed information. I'll definitely be looking up other books by this author.

Can I just live in this world? Please??

I can always count on Anna Zabo to deliver a romance that just hits me right in the feels. Counterpoint gives us commanding, cinnamon roll Adrian and the wicked sharp musical (and fashion) stylings of Dominic Bradley. I want to re-read this one asap.

Dominic is chilling in his everyday persona, reading his erotic literature, when Adrian Doran sits down next to him. Dom likes the man something fierce, but Adrian wants nothing less than a full commitment. And there is one little secret Dom isn’t sure he can ever give up…

That he is a rock star in hiding.

I loved everything about these two. Even though there’s a secret between them, they had an honest, heartfelt connection from minute one. You could feel the tension burning your skin. But Adrian doesn’t want a one-time hookup. He wants commitment. He only hopes whatever Dom is hiding won’t be the end of them.

They both have such relatable things to go through—personally and as a couple—and it kept me glued to the pages. I’ve had a hard time recently finishing a book, but this one had to be pried from my hands. I got teary-eyed and happy sighs throughout.

The kink is superb here, too, and they’re both so accepting of the other even as Dom is figuring out his own wants, needs and desires. A few of the scenes sent me for a loop, but dang, but I loved them so much! Consent is a one-hundred percent at all times, too.

I recommend this series so hard and will continue to do so. I can’t wait for the next!

Oh, and if you’re a foodie…this one will leave you hungry. Lemon, anyone?

5 stars!

3.5 Stars rounded up. Counterpoint is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone (I did). I do however think I would have enjoyed this even more if I had read the first book and I plan to go back and do that.

What I really loved about this book was the dual identities of Dom and how he is struggling with both sides of his life and if/how he can integrate them. His rock star persona is so different from his every day persona and yet I thought the author did a great job of letting the reader understand why Dom had created a different "personality" for when he was with the band. I enjoyed reading about his struggles to believe in himself and his anxiety about performing. I also really loved his relationship with the band and wish we had seen more of that. While I was fascinated with Dom I found Adrian to be a bit more of a "stock character." He's a player who has finally gotten to the point where he can see himself settling down and when he meets Dom he's immediately attracted to him. I did like that he knows Dom is keeping a secret and he doesn't push but lets the relationship grow and hopes that Dom will eventually trust him enough to share what ever he's keeping from him.

The pacing was a bit slow for me until the big reveal/conflict at about the 75% mark and then the book really took off with and I couldn't put it down.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely pick up the first book in the series.

Okay, hot dayum, folks, this week’s read was killer. Counterpoint, by Anna Zabo, is book two in the Twisted Wishes miniseries from Carina Press. I haven’t read book one, but you can bet your booty that bad boy is already purchased and sitting in my Kindle to start reading as soon as I’m finished with this review. Because, holy smokes, I fell so flippin’ hard for these characters. I cannot wait to see Ray and Zavier’s story, because I just know it’s gonna be crazy hot and delicious and just… Okay, sorry, I’m totally getting off topic here.



Let’s return to the review at hand, shall we? The totally amazeballs, steamy pile of yumminess that is Dom and Adrian’s story. So, where to start? This book is a wonderfully fun twist on the rock star romance trope… and it has some hella hot, well done BDSM, too. I mean, come on, what more can a gal ask for??



Dominic Bradley—aka Domino Grinder, the rockin’ lead guitarist of the hit rock band, Twisted Wishes—is a delightfully nerdy, shy, and anxiety-filled mess in his private life. The only way he can step onstage and manage the pressure of stardom is to don the larger-than-life persona of Domino. For years, he’s lived this double life, unsure of who the real Dom is. He’s studiously kept his two halves separate, fearful of what might happen if they were to ever intersect.



That is, until Adrian Doran enters his life. What starts out as a ridiculously smokin’ hot and wonderfully playful chance encounter eventually turns into so much more—for both men. The only problem is, Adrian only knows about his loveable, beautiful, submissive little Dominic. He’s completely clueless his boyfriend is a rock star in hiding.



Sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it? In a way, it is. But, oh, what a blissful mess. It wrenches your heart, but it’s so raw, and real, and amazingly deep. We’re shown their love, pain, and everything in between with vivid, heartrending words that cut and soothed and left me wanting more, more, more.



When I hit the end, I was both satisfied and disappointed. Satisfied because the story was rich, the characters were charming, and the ending was a dream. Disappointed because it was over and I desperately needed more. More Dom, more Adrian, more Twisted Wishes. Just more of everything. And, thankfully, I’ve got book one to read.



Let’s just say, I’ve already warned my husband to steer clear once I finish that book. I might be a bit on the grumpy side of things when I realize I have to wait for the next installment. (Because, there dang well better be… if these two books are it, I might melt into a puddle of unfulfilled readerly goop.)



So, what are you waiting for? I mean it… seriously… what the heck are you waiting for?? Counterpoint is available for pre-order or can be purchased for immediate enjoyment on or after its release date, September 24, 2018!


*I RECEIVED AN ARC OF THIS NOVEL VIA NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

This was an amazingly tender love story, extremely well-paced and beautifully worded, crescendoing into a very intense, emotional conclusion. Very enjoyable read.

I completely fell in love with Dominic/Domino. What a wonderful idea to have a nerdy booklover, who struggles with anxiety, hide beneath the persona of a cocky, untouchable rockstar.
Dom hides in plain sight, changing his clothes and hairstyle when circumstances call for it, in true Clark Kent/Superman style.

He has a hard time reconciling these two aspects of his personality, and coming to terms with the fact that he doesn't have to pick one over the other. Dominic is Domino and vice versa. He is still himself, regardless of how he dresses. Domino can only be strong and self-assured thanks to Dominic's core of inner strength.
Domino Grinder is very important though, serving two purposes: he allows Dom to perform on stage without succumbing to a panic attack and he offers Dominic Bradley privacy and much-needed anonymity, enabling him to lead a "normal" life, unhindered by paparazzi or fans.

Still, Dom knows his true identity will be revealed sooner or later and then his carefully constructed house of cards will come tumbling down. When he meets and falls, hard, for Adrian Doran, that house of cards seems even more crucial to him, but also far more precariously balanced.

Adrian Doran is a great character. As soon as he meets Dominic, their connection seems inevitable in a meant-to-be, happily ever after way. They click immediately and have insanely intense chemistry together, to say nothing of how utterly sweet they are with each other.
I think Adrian has Dom from the second he shows him his magnificent library. Worked like a charm for Beauty and the Beast, and Dom is equally enchanted!
I adore Adrian for his patience and the care he takes with Dominic. He knows full well that Dom keeps secrets from him and is so respectful of his lover's privacy, doing everything he can to show Dom that he can trust him.

I loved the camaraderie and playful yet caring dynamic between all the members of the rock band. Their friendship is so important to Dominic. Adrian, likewise, is incredibly fortunate with his friends, Jackson, and Janelle.

Part of a series, but can be read perfectly as a standalone.

I honestly didn’t think it would be possible for a sequel to be better than the first story in this series, Syncopation, but I was wrong—very, very wrong. This book exceeded all my expectations and effortlessly moved to my top five of 2018.

Adrian Doran heads out to dinner one night in his Brooklyn neighborhood and happens to be seated next to a stunning, nerdy looking guy who returns his casual perusal with one of his own. Adrian is a computer programmer for a NYC bank by day and a Dom by preference in the rest of his life. When the guy accepts Adrian’s offer of a bite of his lemon meringue pie and then proceeds to moan and make subtle orgasmic facial expressions, Adrian knows what, and who, his next goal is going to be.

Dominic Bradley is a quiet, unassuming bookworm, who enjoys reading most genres of literature, visiting museums, playing his guitar, and being an all-around geek. With Adrian he discovers his submissive side, but he suffers from social anxiety, especially when he needs to take the stage with his bandmates in Twisted Wishes, a well-known rock band. To do so, he dons a new personality, Domino Grinder, a rock god who wears leather, has an upper body covered in tattoos, wears makeup, and throws the finger at the world. The lead guitarist takes bull from no man. But Dominic and Domino can’t coexist and as Dominic succumbs to the allure of a new relationship with Adrian, he’s going to have to hide Domino or risk losing the man.

As their relationship grows and Dominic discovers rope play really cements his submissive role with Adrian, he despairs of ever being able to let Adrian in on who he really is. He desperately wants to introduce him to his bandmates, and he wants to find a way to merge his two sides but backs away from any confrontation until it’s almost too late. When Adrian spots Dominic’s tattoos on the arm of the lead guitarist for Twisted Wishes on a magazine cover, he loses hope for a future with the man he loves. Can these two continue their D/s relationship and continue to grow their love if one can’t trust the other completely?

I love this author’s writing style and creativity. Caught up and totally immersed in the relationship between Adrian and Dom, I rooted for both men equally and was captivated by each page-turn as their lives took new twists and turns. Adrian was being undermined at work in a job that provided no satisfaction. Dominic was playing as Domino all day while the band practiced or did promo events, yet he couldn’t let in the one man who’d make his life even better so switched to Dominic the moment Domino was no longer needed. The dynamic of the two men in both their private D/s lives and their “out in the world” lives was comfortable, strong, balanced, in sync, and loving. But their secrets nearly broke them apart.

I accidentally discovered this author last year, but I am 100% on board as a fan. I have yet to read something that isn’t top quality and I highly recommend this story. In fact, I highly recommend this series to fans who enjoy books featuring musicians, domination/submission, great plots, interesting deep characterizations, and MM romance.

I really liked the concept of this book but in the end, I had a hard time even finishing it. Zabo's writing is pretty solid but her characters felt flat to me and I just couldn't buy into the romance between Dominic and Adrian. I fully admit that I might just be burned out on rock star romances but Dominic's experiences as a musician didn't feel real to me,.

Counterpoint, the sequel to Syncopation, continues the story of Twisted Wishes, a rock band, but this time the story follows the gay lead guitarist and bookish hipster, Dominic. I was super excited to read Dom’s story, because I loved him in Syncopation, and I was also intrigued by his secrecy and the persona of rock-star Domino that he rigidly kept hidden from the world.

The second protagonist of Counterpoint is Adrian Doran, a thirty-six-year-old, pansexual computer programmer, who perfectly counters Dom’s need to be dominated in bed. Adrian was a sweetheart: he cares so deeply for Dom, both in and out of bed, and is so concerned about consent. That was something I adored about this novel: that Zabo constantly refers back to consent in every sexual scene, and even in scenes without sex.

Dom is a genuine character, and one I felt an emotional connection with. He has intense, debilitating anxiety that manifests itself whenever he has to perform, so to counter it, he created an on-stage persona called Domino, where he could act like a rock-star and not feel like a fraud or an imposter. I definitely saw some form of imposter-syndrome in Dom, but this is just my reading of his character. It’s something that made me relate to him, and during those scenes where his anxiety acted up, I really just wanted to give him a big hug.

The drama of the novel surrounds Dom’s inability to tell Adrian about his persona, which is difficult because Adrian has shared so much of himself with Dom. I understood Dom’s reasons — trust me, I understood — but it did frustrate me at times when Dom didn’t seem to trust Adrian too much. It’s something that they deal with, but it got to me sometimes.

When Dom and Adrian initially meet, sparks immediately fly and while I really liked Dom and Adrian as a couple later in the novel, I feel like the beginning stage of their relationship was very … insta-lusty. I have no problem with characters meeting and then soon after sleeping with one another, but for Dom and Adrian it had a *touch* of insta-love in it too, in that they both immediately suspected the relationship could develop into something more, despite the fact that neither of them had been in serious relationships before.

This is definitely a personal preference: depending on the novel, I don’t usually like fast relationships; that being said, I loved them together later in the novel as they so complement on another. It’s such a beautiful, healthy representation of a (sort-of) sub/dom relationship, and I was so impressed by Zabo’s description of them together.

Counterpoint was a lovely sequel to an incredible novel. I did have a few problems with it, but they were all my personal reader’s preferences. If you loved Syncopation, I have no doubt you’ll adore Counterpoint too!

I absolutely loved being back with Twisted Wishes and seeing Dom find his own happy ending. I do wish there had been more scenes with the band because I love their interactions and familial-like closeness. This book largely focused on Dom and Adrian, especially Dom figuring out how to balance himself as Dominic with the persona of Domino he puts on for the fans and to help alleviate his anxiety around being in the spotlight.

I loved the gradual way both Dom and Adrian experienced life changes, but their relationship felt very fast-paced to me. I don’t know if it was in the pacing of the book (mostly flirting between weekends) or me, but “I love you” felt like it came a bit quickly. That said, I still felt a deep well of emotion and trust between the pair, especially given the dynamic they shared.

The BDSM wasn’t the same as what was seen in Syncopation, and I love the different expressions of kink this series has thus far explored. For Dom and Adrian, they focus largely on domination and submission, as well as bondage. I love all the ways food and feeding was incorporated in their interactions and the dominance; there are many instances where Adrian feeds Dom as foreplay almost, and even some where Dom is in bondage, putting the food more firmly into a BDSM light.

Overall this was a really great read and I’m so glad I got it! I can’t wait for others to read it and hopefully root for Adrian and Dom as I did

3.5 Stars. I really like Twisted Wishes and love how this series is set around the band. The first book was perfect, and while I enjoyed Counterpoint, it didn't score as high for me as Syncopation. I'm personally not a huge fan of the trope of "Character A has a secret" plots, which is what Dom's story is all about. I did, however, Love Dom and Adrian and will definitely rec Counterpoint to people looking for a kink filled read with some good character development.

I'm glad I picked up the first book of this series on a random wimp, because I quite liked it, so when I saw the second one - Counterpoint - on NetGalley I knew I had to read it.
I liked Counterpoint a bit better than the first one, which is quite rare for me, because usually the second book is a bit of a let-down. So color me surprised.

I loved Dominic. I could totally feel his struggle. And Adrian was a cool guy, too. Very understanding and he didn't push. I loved how their relationship progressed, with all the ups and downs.

I really hope to see more of this series, even though I'm not sure about what character a third book would be. Probably Mish, but than it wouldn't be an M/M book, more like a f/f or f/m book. We'll see.

Rating: 4,25 stars

Domino is a rock god, Dominic is a geek in suspenders and a bow tie, Dom is just a man, wanting to live his life in anonymity. Which is darn hard because as Domino he is larger than life, unforgettable.

Adrian meets Dom and is instantly smitten. They trade silly innuendos over a meal and both men want to take it further. They begin to date. Both drawn in with the needs they have, Adrian to dominate, and Dom to submit.

Dom knows that at some point he will have to tell Adrian the truth about who he is but since he isn't pushing him he keeps putting it off. Not wanting to lose what they are building together. They learn so much about each other's needs, quickly becoming entangled (and not with just the ropes). When Adrian learns the truth, they have to figure out a way to deal with Dom’s other life.

I enjoyed the story. The BDSM aspect, while hot, seemed to pull me out of the it in places. Maybe it was that some parts of the book seemed slow. I found myself skipping ahead then having to reread.

I thought the author did the Domino/Dominic dynamic very well. I liked the men together and enjoyed the presence of the rest of the band. Also, I'm pretty sure I'll never be able to eat lemon meringue pie again without remembering this book.