Unearthed

3.5 stars

**4.75 Because if I gave it a 5 I'd feel disloyal to Scott & Tad **I'd been waiting about a year for Max & Sean's story. We were introduced to Max and subsequently Sean during the successive installments of the [b:Upending Tad, A Journey of Erotic Discovery 31338640 Upending Tad, A Journey of Erotic Discovery Kora Knight https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470193403s/31338640.jpg 52013318] series and got a salivating slice of them in the [b:Sideline Submission 26188475 Sideline Submission (Up-Ending Tad A Journey of Erotic Discovery, #3) Kora Knight https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1440876697s/26188475.jpg 43191433] part so needless to say I was crazy eager to know what deliciousness [a:Kora Knight 8529860 Kora Knight https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1473434379p2/8529860.jpg] had in store for us. However I must acknowledge that I have a Hate/Love/Hate relationship with Doms. Let me explain.I love my subs, can totally understand their needs and desires and mentally understand that to be Happy a Sub needs a Dom to satisfy his/her needs but my rebellious mind wants to drop-kick Doms when they make Subs kneel, leash them, cage them, flog them etc. and my skin crawls at their satisfaction from another's subservience and surrender. They strike me as low self esteem megalomaniacs. So why do I read these D/s stories? Frankly I'm starting to suspect I'm a bit of a masochist. This whole digression is to say that these BDSM stories have a high hurdle for me. The author needs to show/convince me of the rightness of the relationship, of the Dom's deep and utter care for his Sub, of the love underpinning every exchange. It doesn't have to be sexual/couple love but a caring on the part of Dom for the Sub beyond any gratification for himself. I am thrilled to say that Kora has soared beyond all my expectations. She doesn't pick up Max & Sean's story where we last saw them in the [b:Upending Tad, A Journey of Erotic Discovery 31338640 Upending Tad, A Journey of Erotic Discovery Kora Knight https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470193403s/31338640.jpg 52013318] series, specifically [b:Afterglow 26836397 Afterglow (Up-Ending Tad A Journey of Erotic Discovery #6) Kora Knight https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443581890s/26836397.jpg 46001137], but rather she takes us back to the beginning, to Max's childhood and adolescence and the events that made him become the man Sean meets. This is a great decision. It allows those who haven't read the Scott & Tad series to jump in without missing anything (though they should totally remedy that ASAP) and for everyone to get the WHY of Max's current mind set: being a Dom but having no relationships outside of his dungeon, which are strictly professional. Yes he cares for the well being of his Subs/Clients but he allows no personal emotional involvement. His closest relationship is with Scott with whom he shares a brotherly bond. As an aside I must say that I choked up a bit when we first meet Scott, a boy who is light years away from the gorgeous man from the [b:Upending Tad, A Journey of Erotic Discovery 31338640 Upending Tad, A Journey of Erotic Discovery Kora Knight https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470193403s/31338640.jpg 52013318] series. Fortunately for Max along comes Sean. sighSean who has is own story of a less than stellar childhood, which has warped his adult relationships but who's willing to put himself out there for what he wants, who's curious, daring and brave like a cat which coincidentally is a pet name Max uses for him. And like a cat Sean is making his way into Max's life on his own terms even though Max thinks he's the one laying down all the rules. Sean who's mere presence is causing cracks in Max's armor. Yes. I'm a big Sean fan and if Max is who will make him happy I'm crushing a bit on Max too. I already liked him for being such a stand up friend to Scott but now that I know where he's coming from and know that he does have the capacity to love deeply and wholeheartedly I can't wait for the walls to come crumbling down so that Max can finally allow himself to love and be loved in return. In brief to be HAPPY. At the end of this installment we can't say that Max & Sean are in love, more like Sean is in-like and eager to explore his new found kinks and his attraction to Max and poor Max is lulled into believing that he's just enjoying himself with a Sub who's compatible with his dominant side. Such fools we are. LOLMake no mistake. Max is truly a Dom who enjoys his kinks so be ready. Kora doesn't shy from the hard stuff and if you read [b:Sideline Submission 26188475 Sideline Submission (Up-Ending Tad A Journey of Erotic Discovery, #3) Kora Knight https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1440876697s/26188475.jpg 43191433] you'll know what I mean. My only complaint is that I now have to wait until the end of November to get my grabby hands on Part 2 of this beauty.**Warning for those who are very sensitive: child abuse and suicide are both subjects touched upon in this book but not dwelt on ad nauseam. **