Heidi Cullinan ~ Nowhere Ranch
From: Loose Id

Rainbow Awards

Full Review: Heidi Cullinan ~ Nowhere Ranch

Treva Harte ~ Home (Alpha3)
From: Loose Id

Cause you’re hot then you’re cold
You’re yes then you’re no
You’re in and you’re out
You’re up and you’re down
You’re wrong when it’s right
It’s black and it’s white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up
Katy Perry ~ Hot N Cold

Sometimes telling a good story is not so much about what you write about but what you choose not to write about. Especially when it comes to Ménage Romance and issues concerning sexuality and who is doing whom and why. Treva Harte just seems to me to stand out from the pack. I love her Alpha series but as many people have pointed out to me again and again Home is the best of the bunch and I have to agree.

None of Treva’s characters in this series strike me as necessarily in control but they are not all innocent victims either. In fact I would say they seem, both the men and the women, more likely to be in a barroom brawl than a romance at any given moment. They are raw and they are who they are with no excuses. I like that.

Even so, Rome smelled like sex and — beer. Mia’s nose wrinkled.
“Are you drunk, Rome?”
“Not enough, baby.”
She would have left then, although it was her room and she was naked, but she realized there was something else Rome smelled like. Sex and alcohol and tears.
Oh no. It couldn’t be. Rome was tough and macho. She might be tempted — had always been a little tempted — by the virile Rome. She’d always been able to resist that Rome. But this Rome? She’d always been a sucker for the injured.
Mia put her hand on Rome’s shoulder, and he flinched, just slightly.
Definitely there had been tears.
“Who hurt you, Rome? What’s wrong?”
“No one. Nothing.”
“Stop being so manly for a minute. You came here for a reason. If you aren’t going to talk, why bother?”
“What makes you think I came here to talk? And fuck it if I’m too manly for you.” He looked down at the floor. “Maybe that was Grey’s problem. I’m too manly. Or not enough.”
His laugh sounded like a sob and, as if he realized it, Rome cut it off in the middle and took a deep breath instead.
“Grey?”
“I don’t want to talk about Grey. I don’t give a damn about Grey right now.”
“I don’t think that’s true, Rome. I’ve always known how much you worshipped him.” Mia could never figure out what anyone saw in that silent, rather menacing beta, but then he probably saw even less in her. He never even talked to her. Everyone knew he didn’t give a damn about women.
Rome went back to staring at her, as intensely as before. “That’s bull. I never worshiped anyone. Except — well — look at you, all stripped down and built like a goddess. I could worship you.”
He might be avoiding the issue but it worked. Mia knew she was blushing. She liked to ignore her looks since they meant nothing. Omegas didn’t mate. Omegas only had sex if the higher ups in the pack demanded it of them, but that wasn’t an issue in this pack. Her looks didn’t matter to anyone. In fact, lately she’d almost forgotten what she looked like — which might be why she was here, defenseless in front of a hungry were who was definitely noticing her appearance.
“I look like a woman. What of it?”
Sex. The smell of sex strengthened. Mia licked her lips and tried to ease the dryness in her throat.
“What of it? Jesus, Mia, you’ve got breasts like a porno star’s, except they’re real.” Rome came closer and Mia stiffened. He didn’t touch. But the way he looked made her as itchy as if he had. “And your ass. That is one fine ass.” He stopped and whispered, “I even like those big, big eyes of yours, staring at me like I’m going to gobble you up.”
The big, bad wolf had definitely arrived tonight. Mia took a step backward and tried to rally. “You have the hots for Grey. I’m sorry if you two had a fight, but why run to me?” ~ Page 18

Treva refuses to label anyone one thing or the other sexually throughout the whole series and it really shows in Home. Sure you as the reader can figure out who they love. It is not that the characters are unsure of their sexuality just that they do not waste time worrying about it. It comes across to me at least as feeling somewhat raw and abrupt but also organic in the way it gets presented. No pages and pages of characters angsting over whom they are attracted to or why. No “Gay for you”, no “Straight for you”, no mitigating circumstances in sight. I find this refreshing.

Now in regards to this being a Ménage Romance I do find similarities with Samantha Kane’s The Courage To Love.

There is a charismatic focus amongst the three lovers. In The Courage To Love it was Jason who had the title, money, and the need to wed and have kids along with a best buddy who he had deeper feelings for. Here in Home the main focus is Rome who is the lone wolf, the outcast Alpha, the wild card, and someone who both Grey and Mia are sexually interested in. Treva twists the Alpha role here by making Rome younger and more unsure of himself and his role in the ménage thus giving Grey a chance even as a Beta of contributing age and experience and stability to the threesome.

We also see the similarity where even though Rome has in the past made a move to seduce Grey he was rebuffed and he in turn rebuffed Mia ultimately making the romance story told here about discovering their mutual desires and forming some type of trust in order to be a “balanced” ménage. So there is no real pre-existing relationship in the way of us enjoying what does happen in the process of building a relationship that involves all three of them.

So “clarity” is in the rather blunt acceptance they have of their sexuality. “Balance” comes from Rome being a young charismatic yet inexperienced Alpha which allows them all to contribute something to the ménage.

What is left is “benefit” and that mostly comes from outside the threesome. Both of their packs benefit from these three mating and having children. Treva again twists the reasons here to give a “making it work” for the good of everyone else feel to the story. This also provides the internal problems each member has to forming a relationship that will involve kids and why they are participating.

Grade A example Treva on how writing any type of romance even a ménage does not mean having to provide full explanations for every character’s motivations. Some people may be turned off on how raw this comes across as since there is no couching “emo” moments but I say mapping it all out for pages upon pages of boring pointless emotionally reasoned drivel will kick me out of a story quicker than adding a glossary or footnotes. Treva did far more to convince me this whole thing could work by carefully orchestrating around providing obvious compensating benefits that did not need such explanation to begin with.

Even when bisexuality shows up in a romance the story does not have to suddenly stop and bore me to death with pop psychology gimmicks or half-assed teary eyed excuses. If I wanted a fucking “after school special” I would be reading dead tree publishers not ePublishers.

When in doubt just throw it out and tell me the damn story you want to tell. Thanks Treva, the queen of show, not tell!

Evangeline Anderson ~ Picture Perfect
From: Loose Id

Josh Lanyon ~ This Rough Magic
From: Loose Id

A Josh Lanyon eBook on Loose Id… Is there anything in all of Gay Romance that simply screams auto-buy at the top of it’s lungs? A great writer on a Top ePub with clean editing and top shelf touches all the way. And I can buy it in PDF so chew on that Carina Press. I wish other ePubs out there would see what makes this so special and try to emulate all the parts of this mix of talent and professionalism. I would have so much less to bitch about.

I should just tell them to automatically charge my card for the next one and email me the PDF.

Samantha Kane ~ Cherry Pie
From: Loose Id

Did someone say pie?

Lynn Lorenz ~ Rougaroux Social Club: Bayou Dreams
From: Loose Id

Scott cleared his throat. “My name is Scott Dupree, and this is all my mother‟s fault.”

Ted stared, then laughed. “You‟re blaming your mother? Isn‟t that sort of clichéd?”

“Not for being gay. I‟m not gay. I told you that.”

“Right. So how did I taste? Want more?” Ted pushed the man, knowing he should just keep his mouth shut, but damn him, he wanted another kiss, another touch.

“No. She cast a spell.” He rolled his eyes.

“A spell? Like a voodoo spell?” Ted frowned. “I don‟t believe in that shit.”

“So how do you explain this?” Scott waved his hand back and forth between them.

He had him there. Ted didn‟t know how to explain it. But if Scott really wasn‟t gay…?

“You are straight.”

“Yes. That‟s what I‟ve been trying to tell you.” Scott‟s gaze begged Ted to believe him.

“I believe you.” He slumped. “I can‟t do this again. I can‟t fall for another straight man.” He bit his lip, winced, and looked out the window. “It‟ll kill me, this time.”

“This time?” Scott cocked his head. “This has happened to you before?”

“Not this. But back in New Orleans I fell for my patrol partner. Straight and married with kids.” Ted traced the line of the dashboard with his fingertip, unsure of the wisdom of telling his secrets to a complete stranger. “It didn‟t turn out well.”

“Merde. I would say I didn‟t believe in spells either, but here we are. And I just kissed a man.” He bumped his head against the headrest. “And it gets worse.”

“Worse? Than this?” Ted grunted. “Lay it on me.”

“You‟re my mate.” Scott closed his eyes.

Ted listened to the change in Scott‟s breathing, to the way the man‟s smell changed, wanting to do nothing more than lick his way over every inch of skin.

“Your mate?” Ted swallowed. It sounded weird, yet perfectly right. “I‟m your mate? What are we? Tarzan and Jane? ‟Cause I‟m telling you right now, you might be bigger than me, but I am not a bottom.”

“Forget it. Forget I said that.” Scott shook his head. “What are we going to do?”

“I don‟t know. I know what I want to do.” Ted groaned, praying Scott would

A long moment later, Scott whispered, “What do you want to do? To me.”

“I want to suck your dick. Take you in my mouth, taste you, lick your balls, make you say my name when you come, and swallow your cum down.” Ted looked Scott straight in the eye.

Scott stared back, then his gaze dropped to Ted‟s crotch, where the evidence of Ted‟s arousal strained against his jeans.

Ted found Scott‟s erection answering back.

“Ho-ly shit,” Scott whispered. He‟d never been so turned on, so hot and primed for sex in his life. Just the thought of Ted‟s mouth on his cock nearly set him off.

This was so fucking bad he wanted to cry.

“I think I can break the spell,” Scott said. “I think I can get my mother to reverse it.”

“Can she do that?” Ted looked hopeful, and something about that cut right into Scott‟s heart.

“I‟m not sure. This is some powerful stuff.”

“You‟re telling me. I‟ve been dreaming about you for months, man.” Ted ran his hand through his hair, and Scott resisted the urge to push back an escaped lock.

“I just need some time to talk to her and Mike.”

“Mike? Who‟s that?” Ted sat up, bristling as if threatened.

“Whoa! He‟s my best friend.” Scott put his hands out to halt the other man from getting his hackles up. Just like a wolf would.

“What‟s he know about this?”

Scott exhaled. “There‟s more.”

“More than we‟re under a voodoo spell? More than you saying I‟m your mate? What the hell else could there be?” Ted shouted.

“I‟m a werewolf.” Page ~ 54

I really liked the premise for this book. What if the Alpha’s wolf was gay but not the Alpha? Then one night the wolf decides to order out “2 piece & a biscuit”.

In fact I would have loved this whole story a whole hell of a lot more if someone had started laughing because the whole idea was just a real comedy gold mine.

Lynn plays this one “straight” though I guess you could say.

I even bought all the intensity of their meeting and the disbelief and difficulties of the situation and the building frustration of finally knowing who your mate is etc etc etc.

All up until Ted goes back to New Orleans.

Then suddenly he is getting attacked by goons for no reason, goons who work for a “werewolf judge?” for no reason, at least none I could figure out and Scott has to rescue him and suddenly Scott is fine with the idea of Ted being a man and Ted is not and…

The story started to fall apart like someone left this cake out in the rain.

I think the worst problem for me was Scott suddenly loses his trepidation over a male mate so Ted looks like a total ass when he keeps going back and forth about he loves Scott but he hates the idea of commitment blah blah blah just because that seemed to be the only way to drag this whole story out and this story my friends ends up dragging out for far too long after the natural stopping point is reached.

In fact even the dialog between Scott and Mike and Scott and Ted and Scott and the rest of the pack started to bother me like I kept thinking why they would say that to each other in that way. The familiarity of expression was not there when it should have been and there when it should not have been if you know what I mean.

“You found your mate? What the hell happened to the gay dude?” Mike sounded out of breath, as if he‟d just been running.

“It is the gay dude. It‟s Ted.” Now he had to gauge Mike‟s reaction.

“Cool. It‟s going to freak everyone out, you know.” Mike laughed. Scott should have known Mike would stand behind him, just like he‟d said.

“I got you behind me on this, right?” Scott had to ask.

“Right behind you. Like I told you before, better a gay mate than Wyatt for a boss. Merde, I hate that guy,” Mike cursed. “What are you going to do about everyone else?”

“I have no idea.”

“Look, I‟m going to talk to Sharie.”

“What for?”

“She‟s on a zillion committees with the other wives. She‟ll make some calls.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that.” Scott hung up.

“Mike‟s with us.” He exhaled. That was one. No wait, two, and maybe more, because the pack‟s mates would have the right to vote also. “He‟s going to get his wife Sharie to call around for more support from the women.”

“Great. Wives in motion. We‟re set.” Ted looked at Scott and then burst into laughter.

“Shut up.” Scott smacked him on the arm. “They might not be wolves, but they know how to handle them.”

Ted glanced at his watch. “We‟ve got three hours before the meeting. What should we do?”

Scott grinned.

“Besides that. Seriously, Scott. Mike‟s right. This is a political thing. You need to gather supporters. Walking into that place and not knowing where you stand is crazy.”

“You‟re right.”

“What about your deputies? The pack members on the force? Would they stand behind you?”

“I don‟t know.” Scott shrugged.

“Well, let‟s find out.” Ted pointed to the cell phone. “Call or go to the station?”

“I think I better make a personal appearance. You too.” Scott stood. “And after that, I should swing by the fire station and talk to those guys too, but that‟s where Wyatt works.”

“Maybe you should let Mike deal with that.” “Good plan.” He called Mike back.

“Hey, can you find out from your men if they‟ll support me in this?”

“Now you‟re talking like the Scott I know and love. None of that sad-sack shit. Let‟s get this party started!” Mike whooped and hung up.

“Mike‟s on it.” Scott nodded and offered Ted his hand.

Ted took it and got on his feet. “Great. Let‟s go.” Page ~ 155

Gee Darla, let’s get Spanky and Alfalfa and put on a play in the old barn!

This was all so sad because the first part of the book had obviously been worked on lovingly by the author and was solid and was based on such a great idea and I just wish the story had ended as tightly as it began.

Mommy, where have all the editors gone? Grade C

Lynn Lorenz ~ Rougaroux Social Club: Bayou Dreams
From: Loose Id

The silver moon
And the evening tide
Oh some sweet day
Gonna take away
This hurting inside
Well I’ll never be blue
My dreams come true
On Blue Bayou
Linda Ronstadt ~ Blue Bayou

Evangeline Anderson ~ The Last Bite
From: Loose Id

Cade cursed himself for not thinking to look David over for bites before now. What if David was sitting there dying of soul poisoning while he was fiddling with the hot water in the bathroom like an idiot? Quickly, he began to strip off David‟s clothes.

“What‟re you doing? I c‟n do that,” the younger man protested, but Cade only shook his head.

“Need to check you out. You might have a bite you don‟t know about. Should have looked before, but I‟m a damn fool and didn‟t think about it.”

“But…but…” David shook his head tiredly, but despite his halfhearted protests, Cade didn‟t stop until the younger man was completely nude. High on David‟s lean torso, just under his right collarbone, he found what he had feared. Multiple tiny bites were already radiating black lines across the pale, fine skin.

“Thought so,” Cade muttered to himself. Bending quickly, he began to suck out the venom, trying to be sure he got every last drop before the soul poisoning got worse. The black ichor left by the demons was bitter and made his lips go numb, but it wasn‟t dangerous to him in the least because of his lycanthropy. It wasn‟t even that hazardous to humans as long as it wasn‟t in their bloodstream. He even let David tend his own wounds sometimes, providing he was careful to spit out the venom and gargle with holy water afterward, but the kid was in no shape to tend to himself right now.

“Have I ever told you…love feeling your mouth on me?” David slurred as Cade continued to work on him. “‟S worth getting bitten just to have you take care of me afterward.”

“Oh yeah?” Cade looked up from his task. Great, he had forgotten that the venom of a dark angel affected some humans in an almost alcoholic manner. He just hoped the kid wouldn‟t say something he would regret later. Then again, he might not even remember it later.

“Mmm-hmm,” David hummed contentedly. “You take care of me, Cade. Love to feel your hands and mouth on me. Love to feel your arms around me when we sleep.”

“Well…that‟s good, kid. I, uh, kinda like it too,” Cade admitted uneasily. Although he would barely acknowledge it, even to himself, Cade enjoyed their shared sleeping arrangements every bit as much as he knew his protégé did. In fact, even back home at the cabin, David had abandoned his own narrow bed in favor of Cade‟s wide one over a year ago. The official reason was that Cade was tired of going getting woken up by his shouts and moans when a nightmare struck after a mission, but the real, unspoken reason, as both men knew, was that it simply felt better to be together at night. It felt right in a way Cade didn‟t try to analyze. He just enjoyed the feel of David‟s lithe form pressed against him and the feel of those soft lips stealing kisses against his side when his young partner thought he was sleeping.

“Love you, Cade… Master,” David murmured, breaking his concentration.

“Aw, kid…” Cade didn‟t know what to say to that. The most natural thing would be to say he loved David too, but even in this rare, unguarded moment, the words wouldn‟t leave his lips. His feelings were too complicated, too difficult to acknowledge, at least out loud. He just hoped David wouldn‟t remember what he‟d said later and be embarrassed. Page ~ 32

I buy every Evangeline Anderson eBook so you don’t have to and I mostly try to tell you about the ones that kinda sorta work.

Evangeline Anderson’s whole mission in life is to write just one more “guilty pleasure” and this fine example is no different my friend. She does not want to write books you proudly show off to all your reader pals. Oh no, that would be too easy.

She wants to write the books you hide from the public. Those dirty little books you make sure no one can see the cover of as you read it hurriedly on the bus to work. Books so filthy and nasty they make you look around every once a while to make sure no one can see how aroused you really are.

Evangeline Anderson wants to grab you by the balls and make you buy every last one of her dirty little books desperately hoping and preying it will be just as good as the last erotic bonbon from her you just read.

You bad bad nasty little reader you.

So, in this quick read Cade and David are demon hunters. Cade is a werewolf and David is pure human. Cade has angst about not wanting to turn David into a werewolf. David has angst about secretly wanting big daddy alpha Cade to turn him into a dirty little gay werewolf chew toy.

Your typical sweaty Evangeline Anderson plot line in a nutshell.

Anyway, demon bites it seems are deadly to everyone except werewolves so *knee slap* guess what happens… David gets bit. Finally! I bet you did not see that coming. Now big daddy alpha Cade must turn poor little innocent David into baby werewolf or watch him die a horrible demon bitten death so he better get cooking because there’s a full moon a coming.

Oh, did I mention turning a human into a werewolf in Evangeline’s world here means an exchange of body fluids while providing a deep, Deep, DEEP, tissue massage if you know what I mean. Wink wink nudge nudge. So Case has to bite David while doing just exactly what David wants him to do… stuffing him like a thanksgiving turkey. Oh goody!

I warned you guys this is Evangeline Anderson’s world and we just live in it.

Grade B for a relatively “squickless” story from Evangeline Anderson making this one of her “better” eBooks to grab. I suggest if you want to try her Gay Romance start here before launching into the more advanced notions of some of her back catalog where you are more likely to find such romantic fodder as Rape, Suicide Threats and badly stereotyped characters… you know “squick”.

Samantha Kane ~ Cherry Pie
From: Loose Id

I spy with my piggy eye something on the distant horizon over at Loose Id.

Heidi Cullinan ~ Nowhere Ranch
From: Loose Id

Sex & violence
Never let you see them
Hand in hand
One is just the other
Softest touches
Deeper than the ocean
Give it to me faster
Feel it
Feel it

Sex & violence
Who is gonna make you cry
Scissor Sisters ~ Sex & Violence

But the first guy I saw was Loving. He‟d left the bar and now sat in a booth in the back with two drinks in front of him. When he saw me, he motioned me over.
“They‟re starting music in a few minutes,” he said. “We can see better from here.”
I didn‟t want to sit and watch musicians. I wanted to find somebody to fuck me. But I couldn‟t say that, so I just nodded, took up my beer, and headed for the other side of the booth.
He shook his head. “No. You won‟t be able to see from there.” Scooting down, he motioned to the space beside him. “Sit here.”
As soon as the music started, his knee kept bumping mine, and then after a few minutes his arm was behind me on the back of the booth. It made me nervous, so I leaned forward to keep away from accidental touches. Except when I felt his hand on my lower back, I knew it wasn‟t accidental.
When I felt his fingers brush against the patch of skin above my underwear, I jumped. But when his other hand reached out and took hold of my thigh, I went still.
“This is nothing to do with your job,” he said into my ear. “If you aren‟t interested because of me, say so now. But if your only objection is that I‟m your boss—” He stopped, then sighed. “Well, I‟m going to make you say it a few more times, and I‟m going to try and convince you otherwise.” His hand kneaded my thigh. “Think of it as a trial run. If we both like how it works out, we could save ourselves a lot of gas mileage.”
My head was spinning. I reached out to hold on to the table. “I don‟t know.”
“If I weren‟t your boss,” Loving dogged, “would I be barking up the right tree?”
His fingers were burning my skin, and I thought my jeans were on fire under his hand. “Yes,” I confessed, and I closed my eyes as his one hand kneaded and the other flirted with the elastic of my waistband.
“Good.” I felt his fingertips against the patch of skin just above my crack. “This bother you, being groped in public, or does it turn you on?”
“Second one.” I held on a little tighter to the table as his hands dipped lower and slid higher in erotic symphony.
“I was serious about wanting it rough. You all right with the occasional swat on your backside?”
Jesus. “That‟s fine.”
He was stroking me openly now. Normally I wear a belt with my pants because they tend to slide down my ass, but I don‟t when I‟m cruising because of hopes someone will do exactly what Loving was doing, which was sliding his whole hand over the globe of my ass. His other hand was kneading my cock through my jeans. “Anything specific you‟d like, or that you want me to avoid?”
I bit my lip as his pinky finger slid a little into my crack. He had me half onto his lap, but I was still a little stiff in places other than my crotch. I wanted this, but it was freaking me out too. I had never, ever fucked anyone I knew before, let alone someone who employed me. I knew I should force the issue, should tell him no. But it was like I was paralyzed.
He noticed, and his hands stilled. “You want to go?” he asked. Gently. Almost kindly. But with his pinky still wedged in my crack.
I opened my mouth to say yes, but I couldn‟t. And then I thought, Jesus, what a head case, and I took a deep breath and went for fucking broke. Page ~ 9

Wow, a real tears on my bullwhip story.

I had a problem right from the beginning with the big old info dump that starts off this story it just did not work for me. I honestly like to be shown not told about everything in one great big lump like that.

The last three chapters could have easily been chopped off the end and that space used up here at the very front to show me the needed setup scenes and provide the room necessary to relay all this information without feeling like I was being force fed.

In fact this “telling me and not showing me” part and then being smashed almost immediately into a sex scene by the end of chapter one, as I am showing you above, I felt like I was reading something from over at Torquere Press and it sorta freaked me the hell out.

I really liked the characters of Monroe Davis and Travis Loving as a couple of hard bitten “tough as nails” Nebraska ranchers who had obviously been beaten up pretty badly by a homophobic world and had survived being betrayed by various loved ones. The author did get me to care about what happened next and eventually had me rooting for them to get their HEA so the author proved she has talent just the delivery was a little rough.

Now about those sex scenes we get thrown into…

This is a pretty hardcore BDSM Romance but these BDSM scenes are nicely used to show the characters coming to trust and eventually love each other. I really enjoyed the focus from the first scene in the bar (above) with the anal play and exhibitionism and that first anal play does eventually progress into heavier and heavier scenes till the big fisting moment.

I do have to point out something that made me chuckle a bit…

Your typical BDSM stuff gets shown here with the fisting and the whipping and the bondage and even the humiliation/degradation and I was cool with all of it since pretty much all of that tends to happen if you like one you can easily run into people who like the other standard BDSM practices too.

The role play tends to be pretty common sense stuff too. I mean if you have a much older Top and a younger bottom then yeah eventually they will try Daddy/boy roles. If they are into being whipped and/or bondage and leather at all then they will try Master/slave roles. If these guys had been into wearing jock straps and working out a lot then I would have expected an occasional “Coach in the locker room” scene.

But… um Puppy Play and Pony Play?… I mean nothing against them those are sub groups in the BDSM scene but they tend to have their own culture and their own vocabulary and their own equipment and well you have to be pretty interested to get from here to there if you know what I mean. Sure people can “dabble” a bit in them and do. When he “just happened” to come out in the barn with a pony tail butt plug I started laughing… that’s a bit more than “dabbling” there. My eyes were rolling at what I call “Skittles” BDSM like in “Are we gonna try every flavor of the rainbow?”.

Now about those last three chapters I said could have been chopped off and given to the beginning of the story. Well yeah, I mean if you got me believing these guys are a couple of hard bitten “tough as nails” Nebraska ranchers who had obviously been beaten up pretty badly by a homophobic world and had survived being betrayed by various loved ones. So that’s all pretty dark right there and then we add in the BDSM stuff and all the issues around trust these guys faced.

Then why undermine how special their hard fought HEA is with such a sugar coma inducing OK Homo ending like that? It sucked. I will only read up to the tattoo scene next time and basically ignore the the last three chapters because they did not ring true to the rest of the story.

Grade B for probably one of the first really enjoyable Gay BDSM Contemporary Western Romance reads this year despite various issues I had with it.