GaleMR

Emotionally heavy, angsty and intriguing, that's the story in 3 words. I recommend reading the other books in the series before you jump on this one, because you'll need it to be able to understand the intricacies of the relationships between all the characters involved here. The previous harems have a definite presence.
What I like is the unconventional concept. This isn't an established pack or even a group of friends that have decided to form a pack together. They aren't just dysfunctional but completely not compatible. And one tiny spitfire of a girl got the unlucky card to be scent matched to two alphas who are a pure poison to each other and everyone around them - Jade! Tenacious, vivacious and absolute amazeball, this little Omega helped me finish the book and I did it for her! If she could take all the crap thrown at her, a reader should be able to survive too. Proceed with caution because this isn't a fluffy, happy-go-lucky omegaverse story - it contains more pain than comfort, more anguish than tranquility, more heartbreak before a love could be unearthed.

A shot of tequila, a sweet grumpy fluffball in quite a big package, one fiery “I know it all guy”, one easy to love hippie with a penchant for tattoes and art, mixed with all kinds of emotions - pinch of angst, a slice of broken friendship, the bittersweet tang of regret and a heap of misunderstandings. Raquel Riley knows how to deliver interesting, meaningful, well written story.
Her boys are yet again such an intriguing combination of personalities. It wasn't a level of “grab the fire extinguishers” kind of heat, but Shannon and Graham were almost able to light my patience on fire. Thankfully Aries got a handle of the 2 rams quite fast and helped them clear a sea of hurt and old wounds that were festering unattended for too much time. The snark and banter helped me cool off too. So what happens with one wonderful childhood friendship when lack of communication, internal struggles and self doubts creep in!?! For Shannon and Graham/Gordy, it turned into a silent feud, a fierce competition how to find the best way to hurt each other without even a simple touch. Until Aries - he was the catalyst of their healing process, the so needed push into a cathartic, long overdue conversation and the key for a bright new beginning. And when the clouds started to clear, it was fun to watch the unconventional bonding of this triad. They worked really hard for their HEA.
I received a complimentary copy of the book and this is my honest opinion.

I wish this wasn't the series finale and the end of this really interesting fictional world - there are characters I'd love to see in depth in some kind of spin off or just to see our mages reaching a higher stage of their knowledgeand how to use it properly. Adrian and Sage do not disappoint in presenting a new serving of their offbeat “How to learn magic and screw everyone and everything while we fumble and improvise” kind of way - honestly, I laughed so much reading the amazing sometimes scathing,sometimes sarcastic banter between the Council members and Adrian and Sage on the other side. Sage's big mouth was driving me crazy but that made the reading more enjoyable. Breaking
Salino's ties with his master had the unexpected effect of releasing the Dark God who wreaks havoc and bloody mayhem in his wake. So Sage and Adrian must admit their mistake and find a way to stop the destruction. Favors are called in, tough decisions are made, and new challenges are met in this intense last installment of “Mages & Mayhem. And, of course, in typical Bella's style, there is no real fun without some smexy times!

Beth Bolden's world of American football is absolutely fascinating. Her writing style is engaging and feels like the welcoming embrace of a long-lost friend - a warm and gentle touch so rare and so much more precious that you never want to live without it. I watched in amazement the rebuilt of the Condors - the struggles, the loses, the wins and the creation of not just a team, but a family. The third book though was an unexpected surprise.There was so much anger, so much emotional tension and internal turmoil, it was heart- breaking to read. I didn't expect Carter Maxwell's HEA will be so hard won that I'll actually feel just relief that the challenge was over, not joy.
Carter was a very interesting character and his personality could definitely be viewed and analysed from different perspectives. From the first time I saw him on page he reminded me of a supernova - burning hot and bright so fast, there was no question a burnout was coming. But I didn't blame him nor saw him as problematic or as the proverbial black sheep like obviously all others around him. The pressure for him to be molded into acceptable for the team form and his temper to be rained in, reached a critical point in his story. He was one of that square pegs that society just had to push in a round hole and not only push them in but made them all look one and the same without exception. It was inevitable for Carter to cave in, change his agent and seek therapy. Therapy to help him fit in an acceptable mold, help him rain his thunderous mood swings and most than anything - help him get rid off using s*x as a high voltage stress relief factor. It would have been all good and dandy, if his brilliant agent hasn't sent him a blinding temptation in such a bite provoking size package - Ian Parker. And for the first time in his life Carter had to learn first hand the true meaning of restraint and boundaries. The undeniable attraction between him and Ian was not only there from the start but it was a catalyst for explosion of epic proportions and life lessons long overdue to be learned. But the path of learning wasn't only for Carter. It was for Ian too - that no matter the training of self restraint, keeping a distance and carefully laid out plans in advance, when the heart talks, you better listen.

This is one of the authors I love for their unique and original world building where every detail, every connection between the characters has a story of its own and nothing, absolutely nothing is what it looks like on the surface.

The second book in the series - No shame - is centered around Gunner, Jae and Vero. But there is so much more than their stories happening on page and so much more, hidden beneath, deeply rooted in their past. I was curious to see behind Jae's perfect glamour, Vero's prickly aloofness and of course - learn more about Gunner. And it definitely delivered!

No shame is a fascinating combination between paranormal, urban fantasy and even, at least to me - light dystopian vibe. It's very hard to explain without spoilers, how the hellhounds aren't what we typically know and see in books, how demonology has a brand new uptake, based on the author's different view.

Bianca Somnerland always stays away from trends and creates fascinating worlds from scratch. And what is even better? The non traditional polyamory elements expertly woven into the story.

Does perfection has a name - descriptions that make you feel, not just read, immaculate flow, characters that aren't one-dimensional, world building that makes you look around and check, haven't you fallen through a crack into it without noticing? Yes, this new series delivers something thrilling and unconventional! Enjoy!

Austin - the perfect golden ball boy! Whatever he sets his eyes on, he works hard and relentlessly to achieve - A+ student, A+ baseball player with impressive stats and captain of the school's team, A+ trail guide. Bright, curious and always looking for a new learning challenge, watching a kinky video gives him a new goal - to seduce the coach of the team. It starts like a game and slowly builds up into inferno. But inferno can't be controlled and the direction always predicted. Even though the relationship between Austin and Marcus starts when he is already 18 and both of them are consenting adults, relationship between a teacher/coach and a student is frown upon. I loved the slow build up, the gradual warm up between Marcus and Austin, the way their relationship changed into intimacy, the open communication that showed how mature and serious both of them were in developing a future together. Marcus' resistance didn't stand a chance with Austin's relentless flirting and he didn't put a big fuss, because he already knew deep, down how much he would love to have a boy like Austin. Not any boy - his golden ball boy, such a praise sl*t and naturally submissive, eager to please and learn how to be his Daddy's one and perfect. They paid a steep price to be together, because Marcus knew he was putting his career on the burner, crossing the line teacher/student, he wasn't supposed to cross. But sometimes a big prize deserves a big sacrifice and they both went through the wringer to be together. For Austin this was also one of the most difficult life lessons - losing the pink glasses and seeing the reality in all its ugly glory - coming out, losing his childhood friend, learning to stand behind his choices. And Marcus? He totally deserved to be happy being such a genuine, good, selfless caregiver.
It was such an enjoyable read and between all the laughing moments were sprinkled little meaningful nuggets, that make a reader stop, think and remember.

A camp in the woods and all the right kinds of “wood”. Neither Micah or Wyatt expected that this summer will be so memorable and all around amazing!
Such an entertaining, light-hearted bite of delicious summer fun, laced with the typical for this author d!rty kind of humour and a dash of k!nk. Micah and Wyatt have incredible chemistry from the flying start to the sweetest end of the story. It was a perfect afternoon read I really enjoyed.

What happens when 2 souls love each other unconditionally but greed, malice and revenge turned into indefinite curse, shatter every one of their reincarnations, dividing them till the next rebirth. Cycle after cycle this tragic story repeats in different century and historical setting until now.

CJ and Michael aren't aware how drastically their lives will change in a matter of hours and the fact that their souls have been interconnected at the dawn of civilization, long gone and forgotten, before both of them were born. It's a heavy, gruesome, dark story rigged with triggers - kidnapping, violence, murder, forced proximity and non con acts / on page r@pe/. It has a well deserved HEA for CJ and Michael but the authors definitely put them through the wringer before that. I loved the way CJ and Michael nurtured and defended their unusual but strong bond from the start; the mature way they handled all the difficulties and consequences after the nightmare they endured and survived.

Definitely very good choice for the readers who love darker stories!

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

There is nothing I love more than found family trope in a story. And when the found family is actually a big, happy polycule where all members of the pack have developed an internal structure based on trust, love, acceptance and care, it's simply perfection. The additional bonus ?A lot of cuddles, playful grapples, puppy piles with furry friends, a lot of smexy times and even more fun combined with a dash of kink. It's a very light and entertaining read with a good communication between all pack members. They were all misfits with their own history and emotional baggage and I loved how everyone was cared for, accepted and respected.My favourite? May be Joey - the only human amongst the shifters and being different he struggled to adjust and accept that he is as valued and precious as everyone else.

Once upon a time there were four men who banded together for different reasons - yearning for home, internal insecurities, loneliness. And during the college years for some of them and early days at work for others, that sense of false security and belonging grew into an unlikely friendship, but a friendship nonetheless. The last shreds of that friendship, the struggles, failures, dreams and accomplishments of these four men - Ethan, Anthony, Chris and Jay - blend into a strikingly raw, emotionally intense and heartbreakingly profound story of how life can turn in an instant, based not only on choices made, but also on external circumstances that sometimes cannot be prevented, no matter the efforts done. What made an immediate impression to me, from the very beginning of the book, was the foreboding sense of a storm brewing, and the tension that built as the plot unfolded. I was intrigued to see the slow unravelling of the foundation of their so called bonding, the way the illusion of something meaningful and deep between them started to dissolve and most of everything how these changes affected their lives and choices. One of the best examples was Chris, the social climber, who didn't hesitate for even a moment to use and manipulate his “best” friends - Anthony and Jay - for his own gain and to leave them behind like broken toys. Given time he would have found a way to utilise his friendship with the most delusional of all of them - Ethan- too. What the book described disturbingly well was that nothing is only black or only white but a variety of shades of grey and no one is 100% innocent.
The story reached an even darker, grimmer climax when the four were reunited in a place that held particular emotional significance for them - the cabin. It was fascinating in a deeply disturbing, emotionally jarring kind of way to finally see the reveal of a big part of the secrets between them and how much they hurt each other while chasing their inner desires and goals. It was a dark sinister game of mind manipulation and heavy dose of humiliation with the cruel bite of the promise of even more to come.

The author is absolutely unknown to me, and omg, what a surprising treat this book was. It squeezed my heart just the right way with the perfect combination of heat, spice and emotion. It's so, so rare that I truly, deeply and wholeheartedly enjoy a dynamic between three men lately, so this was a gift I appreciated so much. Milo, Noel and Branson together and separately blew away the competition for the hottest trio of the year so far. The strong pain/comfort vibes, the healing aspects, the struggle to accept that happiness is indeed possible, the way the characters were so vividly and masterfully described on the page, drew me in from the start.
Grab the book and enjoy :)

Fascinating from the start! There is so much to unpack in this amazing read but the first most impressive to me is the the diversity - characters who are so vastly different and so realistic - different shades of color, body types, nationalities, sexuality. All of them are perfect exactly in their imperfections. There are a lot of triggering situations/ on page or just mentioned/which the author has handled with painstaking care and love for the fine details. The same way real life isn't only sunshine and roses, but a lot of storms and torns thrown into the mix. This was a rollercoaster of gut wrenching and heart warming moments, the sweet and the bitter, the feeling of being invincible and flying high followed closely by the felling after the crash and burn. Kieran - one of the main pillars of the story is a brilliant neurosurgeon. He is also neurodivergent and the way his unique beautiful mind works adds layers upon layers of intricacies to his personality. Only someone who has spent their life fighting to be seen, accepted, fit in the social stifling norms and just live or who has watched closely this neverending fight for life, could truly understand how much all the struggles and everyday battles cost. But this is only the beginning ! There are also the stories of Varick, Devan and Carmine - every one of them has been through their own personal Hell. Merged and combined together all these stories turn into an unforgettable Path of healing, love and redemption.

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

Impressive! impeccable!Superb!
The perfect balance between the two book has fully been revealed. While the first book was focused on world building, so we can fully understand the dynamic of the plot development with just a sprinkle of spice and buildinging up the hints for the next installment, the second book delivered a full blown unfolding of the relationships between the three main characters. I am always thrilled to read bisexual representation when both sides of the characters are fully seen on page, not only the FF, MM or FM ones and one staying in a shadow. And what is even better is that the world building wasn't forgotten and pushed into a corner. It's hard to say “I love you” and be vulnerable, but both of our heroines jumped through the loops of the challenge beautifully and it reached the next stage where we have the male involved as well. So I got to see the open polyamory setting in it's entirety as well as the hints for the 3rd book. Breathtaking choices, sacrifices, the bitter taste of losing a friend, the eletation of a hard won victory and even the terrifying lengths Envy could reach, were all skillfully woven in the very fabric of the plot, pulsing with intensity and emotional density.
What I really appreciate about this story was the dark realism staying true to itself - you lose a limb, that's it; you die - you stay dead; you suffer - it's in details. The reader is able to live through every page not just see the gritty parts in recap or memory recollection

Adam and Brock's story is one of those that creeps into your heart fast and hard and burns hot. It's a military romance from a time when DADT played a significant role in the life choices of the military and Adam and Brock are just part of that statistic. At the very beginning, they are just best friends, Navy Seals in one of the elite teams, but as time progresses their relationship begins to change and evolve as they explore the risky, uncharted territory of explosive mutual attraction under the threat of being discovered and discharged. It's also an emotionally intense, thought-provoking story about personal growth, rearranging priorities and making life-changing decisions. It was a play of hot and cold, a roller coaster of unforgetable, despite rare passionate stolen moments,followed closely by guilt and regret that something so beautiful should be kept carefully under wraps like a dirty secret. It was a toxic cycle with no way out that was tearing Adam and Brock apart and putting a huge strain on their friendship. And while Brock was willing to make sacrifices, Adam definitely wasn't.
Being a seal meant a life on borrowed time, so when life came knocking and took the decision out of their hands after a failed mission, suddenly the picture became clearer, if a little late. For Adam, it was the bitter realization that there might not be a tomorrow, and he had failed to live in today and now, procrastinating and doubting his feelings and how much he was willing to sacrifice.For Brock - it was the critical, time-sensitive, risky decision to violate DADT and reveal himself to his team in a desperate attempt to save the love of his life. It was a thrilling, nerve-wracking, mind-bending race against time that leaves the reader shaking and breathless. Being fiction means it has a well-deserved and satisfying HEA, but it still leaves the lingering doubt that if it were a real life situation, would it have been so simple and with a happy ending. The life has to be lived today, feelings expressed in the heat of the moment not somewhere in a future that might not come and Brock and Adam learned that lesson the hard way.

When an author with a penchant for erotica and dark humor writes a romcom in a fantasy setting, what do you think the end result is? Engaging story with crude language, very interesting world building, hilarious moments and quite shocking combination between gritty and sweet.
I liked the plot line and the fast pace of development but what would have made it even better for me as a reader is if it didn't feel so rushed to reach the ending. The story has a lot of potential and I wanted to see Allan's potential as a Magician, more about the fae lands and Allan's new role as well as more of Kaos - he is definitely hiding more than what's on the surface. But being part of Anthology, I understand we can't get everything we want in a small package. The author has done an excellent work to entertain the reader as much as possible.
Patrick definitely deserved a medal for his patience in teaching moody, grumpy and not very cooperative Allan to unlock his magic and find his new place in a world he never knew existed. The banter between both of them and the Daddy dynamic was a refreshing touch that made me smile too.

Say uncle = say perfect! Yes, absolutely! This isn't just a hot, kinky, and taboo summer read. There's so much more beneath the surface and deep within the very fabric of the story - a heartbreakingly beautiful example of the value of true, if unexpected, friendship, of finding love, acceptance and understanding in not one but three other people, of creating bonds and relationships where you're not afraid to be yourself and can just relax and fly.
So what did I like about this story? Seriously? Then let's make it simple before I write a book about the book! Everything! Every word was genuine, heartfelt and hit emotionally hard.
Matteo was a tightly locked box of brewing under the surface ball of anxiety and suffering; so many tangled feelings, waiting to be freed and unleashed. Turned out the key and the solution were Sam but not only... Nicky was the perfect counterpart - his irresistible sweetness was able to break through all the walls Matteo was hiding behind. And if this wasn't enough - then there is Cass. Who brought in some cool touch and balance. These 4 men made one unbreakable and unforgettable quad - rallying for each other in all the right moments like 4 musketeers but in a modern setting and in the cradle of the sea.

This darker Christmas tale with Cinderella vibes is filled with the author's usual bite, spice and fabulous writing. It's an “What If” type of a story; an alternate reality where Tino and Richard didn't meet in the explosion of raw passion and attraction in their famous elevator encounter that happened in “Going down”. The setting of their love story here is different, but equally scorching hot. Richard is still the CEO of Wolfen, but oblivious to the bullying, based on severe homophobia that is spreading throughout the company like a nasty disease, especially in the Marketing department where Tino works. Christmas is a hard time for Richard, time, when he struggles the most with the demons of his past and the mental anguish after losing his only unwavering support - his mother - as well as his son, after divorcing the love of his life. His existence seems joyless and bleak so he chases the painful memories at the bottom of yet another bottle of his favorite brandy and tries to navigate his daily life on autopilot. Christmas is just an annoying hum in the background, time for loud family reunions, annoying festive reminder of how lonely he is; how artificial his surroundings are. Until one of the dancers at his nightclub catches his attention and sparks a surprising interest in his dead, cold heart. The sleeping predator in him wakes up with a shockingly possessive roar. The dancer is Tino - struggling to make ends meet, an executive in the marketing department of Wolfen by day and a dancer by night. Tino's only goal to start dancing in Richard's night club is to find a way to talk to his Untouchable boss and explain about the bullying. But he didn't count a few variables in the equation - the fierce attraction that stole his breath away and obviously- his ability to talk; Richard's unpredictable volatile personality and possessive streak, the exquisite game of seduction that exploded out of control and swept both of them away.
And while I enjoyed the HEA in the story and the incredible, masterfully done erotic undertones heating the pages, my heart preference is the way they met in Going down.

I loved the first part - the concept, the intensity, the storyline, the darkness of the plot and the characters. I couldn't believe how the second part of the duet turned out. I felt like I was reading something completely different. The world building raised questions that remained unanswered and unresolved. The story felt rushed to me and the ending absolutely surprising with its abruptness. One of the biggest disappointments was the tiny bit of attention for Logan . When someone was vital to the survival of your sanity, your only friend and companion, he should have received more than fleeting attention. It felt like he was an annoying nuisance to Hazel and her pack, who somehow found a moment for him anyway. The s€x scenes took up many precious pages without adding to the emotional depth of the story. If someone is more interested in heat and spice and the world building is just an afterthought, then it's a good read.

I loved this polyamory serial from the first chapter and the first episode. And not surprisingly, seeing how exceptionally well 1-3 were written, here in 4-6 it gets even better. I loved the way polyamory was represented with all the difficulties when more people are trying to gain their footing in a new dynamic and adjust to each other needs. The heat level has ramped up significantly without hurting the development of the plot. Because yes! We don't have only kink and filthy bedroom fun, we have characters that are wonderfully diverse and unpredictable in their growth. For Collin this was like a whole new La la land - he has never been in a D/S dynamic before. But he fits so well and gives so much emotional filling to his new partners. The unexpected threat against Collin that adds suspense/thriller elements was also intriguing. I can't wait to see how it will be resolved in the next episodes. The interesting relationship between Collin and Damian as kink brothers is also something intriguing in the it's unfolding at the moment.
Definitely this BDSM/polyamory serial has captured my attention and I am so invested in what's to come!

One beautifully written action packed story with a pinch of angst and a bite of suspense wrapped up with a classical HEA.
What kind of options does a 17y old boy have to survive living on the streets? Thrown away like a disposable garbage bag for being gay, Lonnie collides face first with the harsh reality of surviving without safety net and support. Snatched by a cruel pimp he lost the last thread to his previous life - his name. The book is a little darker with a good amount of angst without getting into too much gritty details but enough to keep a reader going and interested in the story.
The focus isn't only on Slade. Our next main character is Parker - a beat cop who pops in at the right moment to save Slade of drowning in misery, fear, abuse and the escalating violence on the streets when the pimps are warring over profits and territory. The value of their sex workers is crucial for their business but often turns ppl like Slade in collateral damage.
The story of Parker and Slade is an insta love story. A little bit rushed and strange because a person carrying so much trauma and insecurities inside like Slade logically shouldn't be so trusting and plunging into serious relationship so fast. But even though there are some bumps on the road to happiness, Parker and Slade make it work.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have read only Finn's book - Swim crush and I enjoyed it so much. As in typical Finn's style, this short, funny, sweet story has abundance of sexual innuendo, dirty little jokes and flirtatious moments. Finn is a king of writing them so it was laugh out funny from the 1st ‘till the last page. Mike and his friends are college boys in this special stage of all the firsts - crushes, kisses, sexual exploration and finding yourself. The thrill that he has a secret admirer, who appreciates his “fine assets” ,turns him into a boy on a mission - finding out who that is was a hilarious journey of misunderstandings, blind dates, online flirting, a ton of Grindr msgs and little notes stuffed into his locker. But the game of hide and seek was definitely worth the hassle and Mike got his HEA.

This is one of the sweetest, most loving slow burn books I have ever had the pleasure to read. And I will use here a quote from the book : “A roller coaster is always more thrilling than the swings that only go in a circle.” And the story of Dillon and Cade is one real emotional roller coaster from the moment they met and became stepbrothers / only for a short period of time/ to the moment of their HEA. Tastefully written without being fade to black when they first started the intimate exploration of their bond, it morphs beautifully in more detailed descriptions when they both turn 18 and reunite in college. Through a “lifetime of firsts” their love for each blooms and develops while external factors/ homophobia and mild bullying/ cause a lot of ripples, angst and misunderstandings.

I've always wanted to try one of Jacey Davis' books and this set was my first attempt. The story is really well written, but maybe because I like more action/thriller/suspense elements in my reads, I couldn't connect with the plot in my usual “can't stop reading” kind of way. This is a slow burn, low heat story focused on the development of different relationships; creating strengthening and nurturing the emotional/physical bonds between the characters and the intense flavor of “found family” vibes, because while some of the characters were lucky enough to have the unconditional love and support of their family members, others were not. But found family is about more than the pull of blood, it's about friendship, acceptance, and choosing to be a part of another person's life. The discovery that he carried the Omega gene like his brother, River, changed Lake's life. Because he is so selfless, caring and sensitive with giant heart, full of kindness and love, Lake decides that this gift of nature should not be wasted. And the decision to become a surrogate is a natural continuation - the chosen couple, struggling with infertility issues, was already close friends to his family. If this wasn't already enough of a change leading to a lot of adjustments, then Evander and Logan hoping on the proverbial “train of changes” were definitely a new surprising addition. And while they were childhood best friends, they weren't a couple - Lake was the unexpected reactant that shifted their friendship in a new uncharted territory of self discovery and reevaluation. Somehow the 3 of them clicked so well together, the pull between them so strong and undeniable, that the second part of the story was the relationship they started, the challenges they faced and well deserved HEA.

Imagination has no limits and in this story, it reaches extremely dark and disturbing lengths. Has Ollie ever considered that his “precious behind” could be a sacred vessel for God's blessing? Certainly not. Who would have thought what really lies behind the doors of the Shining Path? Certainly not a glittering future. The only shiny thing are the c#m stains....At the beginning of the story, I thought it was a tiny bit funny; dark humor, but still humor. Because, seriously, how could Ollie be so gullible? How sheltered was his life before, to accept the obvious lies and absurdity of the situation he was in, like it's perfectly normal occurrence? In his desperation to be accepted and to belong in a community, Ollie embraces the depravity of the religious cult, hiding behind a thin religious veneer, that has nothing to do with the Christianity, he knows about. But the dark humor quickly turns into a feeling of complete horror when the story develops and Ollie slips into the darkness. Undeniable fact - Jay L.North knows how to deliver a truly dark read on a silver platter, complete with ....not the HEA you expect. Don't ignore the TW, because it hurts ...a lot...

When most readers find this serial, the repetition of Woow, will be staggering!
Without a doubt these are some of the fastest 5 stars I've ever given this year for a book. Zero hesitation or time for doubts! If it were possible, I'd double them because polyamory combined with D/S dynamics is one of my favourites. What made it even more satisfying was the excellent execution of the plot and the interesting, well-developed characters. There were 3 focal points in the story, which seamlessly and beautifully merged together in one plot line.
First one as the title says is the heart and pulse of the story - Collin – one mesmerizing, beautiful mess of personality, hiding incredible depth and intriguing details, under the calm, quiet, observing facade of a man who had to grow shockingly fast and who has seen too much a child should had ever had to see, to be able to take care not only about himself, but the members of his family – mother and sister. When I met him while reading, he was already silently fracturing under the impossible load of all of his commitments and obligations – taking a full schedule of college classes and navigating a complicated chain of 2 or 3 part time jobs, living in a miserable dump off campus and slowly drowning financially. I was impressed how collected, resilient and tenacious this little human was – smart, stubborn, driven, meeting every new challenge with his head held high while objectively observing the impossibility to keep going with the punishing rhythm he was trying to keep. But what made me admire and respect his personality was the fact that he knew not only to take every beating life gave him, but when to admit defeat.
Second focal point – Richard Reevesworth- another fascinating force of nature – the centre of the Reevesworth household and one of the leading wheels behind the success of the Reevesworth financial empire who has already learned the most important lesson that success requires not running yourself into the ground, but delegating responsibilities, balancing the risks and building up trustworthy relationships. So he was nurturing the unique D/S bonds in his close family, finding people like Collin and giving the chance to their brilliant minds to flourish, grow and reach the potential of their capacity. Richard met Collin in a crucial but not entirely accidental moment, just a little bit earlier than his careful plans of research and observation were leading. A moment when Collin's house of cards was already folding in itself, crumbling to pieces under the enormous pressure of everyone's and his own expectations and impossible goals – the requirements of his scholarship, the college exam deadlines, his mother's draconian social expectations, the responsibility of keeping her sister in school backing up her financial needs and his own minimum to survive. And everything was coming down because there was only so much he could endure. I felt like the Universe held its breath in this life changing moment. A key factor was Richard's main submissive Damian – an excellent example of man who flourished under Reevesworth's expert care and guidance, reaching the peak of his potential and being able to command a room with his mere presence. All wonderful achievements in Collin's opinion.
So while the first focal point was about the tangled past and present of Collin's life, the second was the bridge and the peek into Richard's polyamorous lifestyle when Collin cautiously started to learn, navigate and understand the intricacies of such kind of life, the diversity of flavours of all relationships connected together by complicated lines of dominance and submission, respect and absolute trust, while keeping intact all personal boundaries in this fascinating world of kink. This was a pivotal moment in Collin's life, who was taught all his life that the only valid option was to stay on his own 2 feet and never ask for help even when drowning. For Collin, this new situation was a blind, intense leap of faith without a guarantee of a safe landing, relying only on Richard's word, the word of literal stranger that he will be taken care of.
The third focal point, the final and so important thread was Collin signing up the contract of being Richard's submissive and entering a lifestyle he knew nothing about. It was a thrilling experience to read about these first steps of his training. They were so profoundly grounding and giving peace to his overloaded mind, freeing in their tantalising simplicity and clarity and also eye opening for someone like Collin who has never relinquished control over his life to someone else.
And the heat...The heat was enough to lit up a 3day's long bonfire – the erotic undertones were undeniably provoking, sensual and amazingly hot.