I received an advanced copy of this ebook from the publisher for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. This is a fast paced male male romance Aladdin retelling. I enjoyed Ben and Daeliel characters. It sucks you in from the first page. I absolutely can't wait to read more books by this author in the near future. This book is in stores for $9.75 (USD).

Genie in a lamp? Yes please!

Sexy MM romance full of perfectly written smut that makes your toes curl and causes you to blush at the same time? Yes and yes!

This story is a classic twist on the allure and possibilities one may have if three wishes were to be granted. Oh and of course the sexy genie makes the story all the more fantastic! A perfect story to escape reality and curl up with a feel good (pun intended) tale that will leave you extremely satisfied!

4 Stars | 5 Flames

Aladdin and I Dream Of Jeannie mix together in Rubbing One Out for a deliciously fun, funny, and oh, so steamy M/M fantasy romance.

Ben is a zoologist with a penchant for antiques that stumbles across a brass lamp that he just can't help but buy. The mysterious and exotic-looking lamp makes him recall stories from his youth about genies and wishes and, well, other... whims of fantasy, which is plain silly but it will look stunning on his shelf. One night, his wildest fantasies come out of the lamp looking beautiful and lythe and oh so attractive. And now a fully grown and delicious man is talking to him about lamps and wishes and won't go away until he grants them. Ben, being the man of science and reason he is, is, well, justifiably skeptical and refuses not only to believe in the wishes but also to wish for anything until he fully and completely looks at the situation from all angles. Now, Daeliel is stuck in the human realm until his job is complete and Ben is refusing to make them, and the more time the two spend together, the more they realize they don't want to go their own ways. Can they find a way to be together before the mystical powers of the lamp and other powers that be separate them forever?

I will fully admit I had Rubbing One Out pegged (pardon the unintended pun) as just a complete smut fest, and I was here for it. But, it wasn't. It was completely steamy at parts BUT there was a lot of fun, feeling, and emotion that I wasn't expecting but also really glad for. Ben and Daeliel were fun, sweet, and fairly funny at times. For such a short book (novella- length? -IDK, it's right at 180 pages) I wasn't expecting such a cute story, but I certainly got one.

If you are looking for some light-hearted and steamy fantasy fun, you've definitely got a winner here.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This is a fun, entertaining and romantic story. Dae was sent to the lamp as a punishment, but he's been trying to make the best of it. Ben gos to a local antique shop one day and discovers an old lamp. Thinking that it was really cool because it reminded him of his mother, who told stories of magic lamps, he bought it. When he got home he tried to rub it, half hoping a genie would appear, but when nothing happened he put it with his other treasured things. Later that night, he's awoken by tinkling bells. He has an usual reaction when he picks up the lamp to see if the noise came from there, so he quickly puts it back. Then turns to find a strange man behind him. Thinking he's dreaming, he goes back to bed. The next morning he funds that he wasn't dreaming, there's a man claiming to be a genie there. Dae tells him that he has 2 wishes, and to think about what he wants, then Dae will go back into the lamp. But while Ben thinks about the wishes, he and Dae become close. When Dae is warned that he must hurry up the wishes, both he and Ben realize that neither wants Dae to go back. But those are the rules, and they must follow them. Dae is a fun loving, sweet man with a wicked sense of humor. Ben is a caring, animal loving man who works at a zoo, mostly with penguins. Together they are funny, hot and sweet.

Rubbing One Out is a cheeky , cute and steamy MM , paranormal, quick and short, romance tale with a HEA.

I think it's perfect as a palate cleaner between books with heavy topics.

After reading this, I've decided there really aren't enough books that involve Genie's. And seriously - not I Dream of Genie style books - but definitely this very modern take on what happens when you find a magic lamp containing a genie.

Dae has been sent to serve out time as a Djinn in a lamp as punishment for daring to have a relationship with a royal prince. He's missing his family - but life in the lamp isn't Aladdin style (Phenomenal cosmic powers, itty bitty living space" - its more living in a different dimension, but apart from his family and homeworld. Most people make their wishes and get on with it - when Ben finds the lamp things go a little differently.

Ben is a zoologist in a smaller area of Great Britain. He loves antiquing and ends up with the lamp almost by accident. He takes his time figuring out what to do with his wishes and as he does - becomes closer and closer to Dae.

Dae is hilarious and over-the-top in just about everything he does. Ben is definitely more subdued and thoughtful. They are a wonderful combination and hilarious to watch. This is a very fun read - with just the right amount of tension to keep things pretty light - but still emotional.

If anyone wants to send a genie like Dae my way - I definitely have some wishes for him!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

There's many reasons I don't read a lot of gay erotica, and "Rubbing One Out" quickly reminded me of several of those reasons. You have a primary character who is hot, arrogant, and picky. He's holding out for the "right one." He's untouchable and on the page, unbelievable.

Enter some man who he falls for but can't have. Add in a secondary character who is the right one for him but that he doesn't want. Throw in a dash of sex, some lame humor, and some steamy descriptions of male torsos, and you've got a book.

This one is no different. Ben is our hot MC, and his love interest is a genie (Djinn in the book) in a bottle. This book lacks the fantasy element I was hoping for from the genie character. It's obvious the author wanted to stay away from typical Aladdin references (no blue genie here) and that's fine, but even the designers couldn't come up with a better cover to convey the Djinn who is the most interesting character here.

I'm so tired of female writers who churn out gay books like this that are so tepid and paltry. I give this one a generous 2 stars.

A brief and entertaining romance featuring magical realism in a quaint British town. Tidy and ordered zoologist Ben buys a brass lamp at an antique shop, amusing himself that a genie might come out if he rubs it. Of course, that's exactly what happens when he gets home that night. Ridiculously handsome Dae appears from nowhere, claiming that he can grant Ben two wishes (yes, two--three is apparently a myth).

At first, Dae is impatient for Ben to make his wishes so he can go back to the world of the lamp. But as the two spend more time together, he's taken with the shy penguin keeper. And maybe Ben would like that, too. Except Dae is cursed to live in the lamp.

A cute story. Not as steamy as I was expecting, and with more charming and funny moments. MacNicol mostly manages to steer clear of othering Dae as an "exotic" character. He's got a big personality, but he's not described as a mysterious denizen of an Eastern land (thank goodness).

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book!!

I'm a huge fan of genies and otherworldly spirits and such and the fact that this was so Aladdin like but an MM romance? Hello?! Count me in! I'm all for that!

This book was absolutely amazing! It was funny, it had sassy penguins, amazing characters, passion, a great sacrifice and a great love. We need to have more lead characters be zoologists because I've never heard a more interesting conversation between two aardvarks.

I will be checking out more from Susan Mac Nicol because this book was amazing!

Thank you to Netgalley and Boroughs Publishing Group for the earc in return for an honest review.

Pleasant MM romantic comedy with a Genie spin. While 'Rubbing One Out' features some lighthearted pleasantries, the story overall comes across as a bit shallow and juvenile: everyone behaves and speak like high school teens (even though the majority are in their 30s), and the romantic development is clunky, with unwarranted emotional swings and unjustified conflicts.

While there are some steaminess here (featuring some unique lovemaking preferences), the story is much tamer than the cheesy double-meaning title and the male-bodied cover would otherwise suggest. A decent pastime read.

This was a cute story and I was happy they got their HEA! I loved how the animals talked, such a fun part of the story.

As the title of this book might suggest, this was quite a fun read. I have to hold my hands up and admit that when I saw a book about a genie, sorry a Djinn, called rubbing one out, I had to read it. This was a quick and fun read. It doesn't really deal with any deep or sticky issues but did put a smile on my face.
Dae gets into all kinds of trouble and comes across as quite a childlike character. Possibly mostly because he's not from this world. He does a few things that cause problems for Ben, without intending to.
Overall this was a fun and lighthearted read. It was exactly what I expected from the title.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A twist on the classic Genie in the Lamp tale.

Ben lives an average, if lonely, life until he picks up an old lamp in an antique store. Late that evening Daelil appears in his kitchen and there is nothing more than the Djinn would like than to grant Ben's wishes and get back to his own world but Ben isn't as quick to make those wishes as Daelil would like.

This was a popcorn romance. A fun, easy read with lots of steamy scenes that make it an enjoyable read. There were a few errors that detracted from enjoyment as well as some ideas that seemed to defy logic, even with a genie around. Overall an enjoyable read that adds some LGBTQIA characters to a classic tale.

This book was exactly what I expected from the blurb: a fairy tale featuring a genie appearing to a funny, sweet and completely unattached gay zoologist who loves his life - his job, his friends, his dog and his home. When Dae, his genie makes an appearance, Ben is in for a series of hysterical situations and adventures that had me chuckling. I don't tend to read this type of book but this one called to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. A light, fun read that still held a life lesson/message for readers. Definitely recommend!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was well written, and I really enjoyed the plot, however the characters just didn't do it for me. I didn't feel attached to them nor did I find myself proper rooting for their relationship

**ARC Received in Exchange of an Honest Review**

Love is an emotion and emotions are chemical changes in the body. Sciencey, as it may seem but to many, love, is a powerful force that is capable of weathering even the strongest storm and biggest king tide.

I am not new in the mm romance niche. I've read indie-published mm romance novels before. I have to say Rubbing One Out by Susan Mac Nicol is very different from those I've read before. Where Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston featured real-life fairytale, Rubbing One Out ventured into the actual fairytale realm.

Ben is a zoologist working at a local zoo. His life was pretty much the embodiment of what mundane looks like but he is contented, to say the least, thank you very much. He is an avid collector of anything antiques. Which how he finds himself, one day, at a local antique shop where he stumbled upon a manky old brass lamp. Easily recognisable as a reminder of a famous lamp from Aladdin, he rubs the lamp expecting something similar to what happened in Aladdin. But to his dismay, nothing happened. But the lamp grew in on him, so he bought it for five pounds less the price tag.

Everything changes when one morning he finds himself facing a man who materialised in his living room. The man claim to be from the lamp -- a genie. From there on, everything took a familiar turn to the story of Aladdin; a genie who grants two (not three) wishes and would eventually return to the lamp once the deed is done.

But unbeknownst to the two of them, there are rules that are bigger than their attraction. Time is a time bomb and before they even put a finger on it, they might find themselves torn apart if they make so much as a small mistake in using the wishes they are given.

The storytelling wasn't lyrical, to say the least. It was straightforward and full of uninhibited emotions and sexual tensions and that was obvious between Dae and Ben. I love how Ben didn't give too much shit about going crazy over what he feels for Dae; it was downright sexual attraction and thirst for affection. Something all of us would crave from a person we are attracted to. And I love that Dae didn't give so much shit as Ben did about the attraction he also feels. It might sound rushed that the characters got on with it right away. I thought so too. Until...

What I like about Mac Nicol's writing is that her pacing was uncomplicated. She was explicit in saying there's an attraction between Dae and Ben. So what better way to deal with it but than to get it on between the two, which is what normally happens in real life. However, the way she paced the sequence of events didn't feel rushed at all. If for anything, her pacing added to the whole dilemma and challenge in the plot itself. I mean, if time was a ticking time bomb, what would you have done with the time left before it explodes?

This book was, as what Mac Nicol wrote in one of the chapters in the book, "inventive, and fun, and as sexy as hell." This book was Aladdin re-imagined; a gay Arabian Knight story that will surely make you want to flip one page right after the other. It has love and hurt, and magic, and hope. But above all, it has a fairytale and a promise that love can weather anything.

A sexy retelling of Aladdin.

This is well written, VERY funny and extremely sexy.

Fairy tale stories are always popular and bringing them into a new era and with a sexy twist is always fun.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

I was immediately grabbed by the premise of Rubbing One Out: a lonely zoologist buys a lamp that contains a genie — a young, attractive genie — and the two men fall for each other, eventually having to search for a way to be together despite being literally from different realms of existence. I'm something of a biology geek, and who doesn't love a gorgeous man who can grant wishes?

Sadly, I found the book disappointing. The progression of the romance between Ben and Dae wasn't convincing to me, and some of the incidents in the plot kind of seemed like side issues — not acting directly to advance or hinder the romance. Dae seemed more mundane than otherworldly, and in fact didn't seem like a very admirable person. The writing was a bit clunky in places as well, including in the sex scenes, which I didn't find very hot.

I did really enjoy the bits of info about penguins and seals. In fact, I once had a penguin sneeze on me, and now I know why they do that! Ben and Dae are sweet on and with each other, Ben's dog is pretty lovable, and there is a happy ending. This book isn't a terrible way to spend a few hours, but with more attention to the progression of the relationship it would be a better read.

Rubbing one out was a charming and cute read with some humor thrown in. Ben is a zoologist who loves his job, the animals he takes care of and like to go antique shopping which is were he finds the lamp that will change his life. I like how Ben and Daeliel fall for one another it was a bit slower than I was expecting which was nice but it still had some great steamy scenes.

Ben Sinclair is in charge of looking after the penguins and seals at the local zoo, he loves looking for bargains at the local antiques shop and is drawn to an old fashioned brass lamp straight out of Aladdin. He laughingly rubs his purchase one he gets home but there's no puff of smoke. However, things start to get spooky in the middle of the night. I totally loved this modern day fairytale. Its was fluffy and fun with a nice story.