Review & Excerpt: A Job Well Done by Rose Maefair
- Debbie
- 7 hours ago
- 6 min read
Book Details:
Book Title: A Job Well Done
Author and Publisher: Rose Maefair
Cover Artist: MILBART
Release Date: December 21, 2025
Tense/POV: third person/alternating POV
Genres: Contemporary MM Romance
Tropes: Forced proximity, not quite enemies to lovers, hitman trope
Themes: Awakening for one character
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 78 983 words/270 pages
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
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Alex is a hitman with ice in his veins and a job that never allows for second thoughts. His latest target: Bryce Phillips, a small-town mechanic whose easy smile, generous spirit, and striking good looks captivate Alex from the first time he sees him. But orders are orders, and Alex never lets feelings get in the way—until now. When an unexpected encounter brings Alex face-to-face with Bryce, the line between hunter and protector blurs. Drawn to Bryce, Alex finds himself with an impossible choice, forcing him to make a split-second decision that will change both their lives forever. In a world where trust is deadly and every moment counts, can two men on opposite sides of a contract find a way to survive—and maybe even something more?
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Alex drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he watched his mark. He longed to leave Lawrence, Kansas, but he couldn’t yet. He still had work to do. It should be a job like any other, but Alex struggled to keep it professional. It didn’t help that the job wasn’t typical, nor was the target.
He’d been hired to eliminate the mechanic whose shop he was watching, but Alex found that instead of plotting the man’s “accident,” he was contemplating his smile.
Bryce Phillips’s lips looked softer than any man had a right to have. They were ideally shaped, which worked well with the rest of his symmetrically perfect face. He had stunning hazelnut eyes, a light complexion, and walnut-colored hair.
He was a breathtakingly handsome man until he smiled. Then he was radiant.
Alex shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was usually a focused man. It was what made him so good at his job. He’d killed before in his line of work and had done it unhesitatingly.
Yet something about Bryce Phillips was different. Alex didn’t know whether to be angry or intrigued. His fascination with the other man was threatening the job. Malcom Craven hadn’t hired him to moon over Bryce Phillips. He’d hired Alex to kill him before Bryce could testify against him.
It wasn’t Alex’s typical job. He was usually more selective. Most of Alex’s targets were guilty of something. The only thing Bryce Phillips seemed guilty of was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Alex had spent some time watching Bryce. He appeared to be a stand-up guy who owned and operated a small mechanic shop, always greeting his customers with a smile. Once a week, he met up with the guys for beers and a game, and as often as not, the drinks were on him.
Bryce helped his neighbors with handyman jobs, had done at least one volunteer shift at the food pantry, and had a quick pet for every dog he met. He was a tactile man whose kind nature was exhibited in the encouraging pat on the shoulder for friends and family.
Alex had been intrigued since the moment he saw Bryce open his shop early for a customer. Alex had later learned she was a single mom with two kids who didn’t have time to bring the car in during regular business hours.
Bryce was social but didn’t seem to be dating anyone exclusively. However, it was easy for him to win a woman over with a smile. Alex had watched on at least three occasions as Bryce had been given numbers, though he hadn’t seemed to follow up on them.
His older brother, Clay, was the most pivotal person in his life. It wasn’t unusual to see the two meet up for lunch. They were a disparate pair. When Bryce wasn’t wearing his work overalls, he wore T-shirts with flannels and jeans. Clay was always in a suit, which made sense, since he was a lawyer.
In the week Alex had been watching Bryce, he’d learned a lot about the man, from the beer he drank to his favorite music. Oddly, Alex could have continued to surveil him even if he wasn’t getting paid. Bryce was a good man, and there hadn’t been many of those in Alex’s life.
Yet Alex had a job to do. Whether this was his standard case or not, he’d agreed to this per Luke’s request. Alex’s eldest brother didn’t make many requests of Alex. Nor did he understand Alex’s “pickiness” when it came to work, but nevertheless indulged it. This time, though, none of Alex’s other, less discriminating family members were available for the rush job, and Luke wouldn’t wait. Alex couldn’t say no to family, could he?
Alex gripped the steering wheel tighter. The man’s habits and Alex’s preferences didn’t matter. He was a professional, and he had a job to do. He would do it despite Bryce’s character and how attractive he was. If only it were that simple, especially when Alex couldn’t help but note Bryce’s smooth jawline and tight shirts.
Alex sat in his car, half hard, watching Bryce, and his mind wandered. He couldn’t help wondering how the mechanic’s lips tasted.”
4 out of 5 (very good)
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Alex is a hit man, sent to eliminate a witness for a crime lord. But meeting Bryce makes Alex question everything. Then the pair of them has a target on their backs, and neither man will walk away unscathed.
I liked this, I liked this A LOT.
It's a little bit steamy, a little bit emotional, full of drama, intrigue, danger and some funny moments too.
I liked that Bryce didn't really question his attraction to Alex, only the timing. Bryce had not come out as bi and had not done anything with another man either, and his attraction and growing feelings for Alex were solid, and he wasn't questioning them too closely. The situation isn't ideal, though!
I liked the way the story flowed, and I loved that both men had a voice.
I liked how this author tells her tales. I can only see one other, a much older book, than this, so I'm not sure how many books this author has written. It's clear she has skill, and I would like to read something else. I would LOVE to read books about Alex's brothers, Michael, Luke, and Abe and Bryce's brother, Clay. They all play a part here, even minor ones, but Abe and Clay piqued my interest!
However.
I did find that there were a few points where names were not used in the correct manner. For example, at one point, Bryce is speaking, and he says "Look, Bryce, about that..." and at another point, Alex looks into the water, but can see no sign of Alex. Minor points, but enough to make them stand out and for me to notice them, and make the comment about them.
I did enjoy it, though, apart from this point. It was a relatively easy read that hit quite a few positive buttons.
4 very good stars
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
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Rose writes humorous, heart-thumping romances fueled almost entirely by coffee and questionable life choices. A long-time gamer and fall enthusiast, she can often be found curled up in Southern Indiana with her two cats, plotting new adventures for her characters. When she’s not writing, she hangs out with friends or surprises everyone with karaoke skills that are, frankly, better than expected.
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