Hey, Jealousy by BA Tortuga

 

Hey, Jealousy starts with a very uncool bondage scene. One that JW must rescue Rory from. We see that the two are good friends, and we learn that JW has somehow screwed up in the past, relegating them to just friends. But now that JW realizes how Rory likes to play... perhaps he can fix that.

Here's the blurb:

JW thinks he’s missed his chance at a romantic relationship with his best friend Rory forever, all because of a stupid moment when he was much younger. Rory wants JW desperately, but he knows his buddy just isn’t into the kind of games Rory likes to play, let alone into long-term relationship with a guy. When JW comes home from a long haul on the road, though, and finds Rory in a compromising position, he knows he’s found the way to correct his youthful mistake. Will Rory believe JW’s jealous response?

It's a short story, and doesn't really give us enough. It does take us to a likely HEA, but I wanted more of them figuring things out in the bedroom. There are no really big scenes, and nothing really creative in the bedroom. But it's a decent enough story of two guys figuring out that they can make it work.

BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline: 0 of 3
• Dominance and Submission: 1 of 3
• Sadism and Masochism: 1 of 3  
• Extra Point: No

As for the writing elements: there isn't much of a plot to speak of, it's a short so pacing is fine, prose and dialogue are a bit odd but it works for the characters, and character development is okay for the length of the story.

• Book Rating: Hey, Jealousy: 7 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 2 of 10
• Heat Level: 3 of 5

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Beautiful C*cksucker II - Such a Good Boy by Barbara Sheridan

 

I read the first story immediately before reading the second, and I'm glad I did. Beautiful C*cksucker II - Such a Good Boy takes place 22 years after the events of Beautiful C*cksucker, and it answers a lot of questions about what happened to those characters after the end of the book.

Here is the blurb for Beautiful C*cksucker II - Such a Good Boy:

For too many years, career obligations and cultural expectations cost Mikisaburo Nabeshima the possibility of love.

Now older, wiser, and infinitely more alone, personal business takes Miki back to New York where another chance encounter with another handsome policeman rouses suppressed desires.

David Kirkland is a brash young cop who grew up on New York’s meanest streets. When the man he believes killed his foster mother is set free, Dave vows revenge. If he needs to leave the country and go undercover with a sexy but infuriating older man then so be it, though he never expected the business arrangement to turn personal.
As Dave confronts a deep seated need he’s never fully acknowledged, the killer they're after proves more deadly than they anticipate.

I've now read two books by Barbara Sheridan and my impression at this moment in time is that she is a huge tease. We did get more action in this book than the earlier one, but she still gives us the set up and then doesn't give a conclusive ending. And all of the good sex we keep hoping to see, where there is actual submission that sticks... we are led to believe that if it does happen, it does so after the end of the book.

BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline: 0 of 3
• Dominance and Submission: I think it's going to be there at some point, but it really isn't there very much during the events of the book. 1 of 3
• Sadism and Masochism: Not really, it's hard to give it more than a zero, but there is a touch and I can't give it a half point. 1 of 3 
• Extra Point: No

This story is about the lifestyle, but it's also about two humans who come from different worlds and different generations, and it's about a police investigation.  I did enjoy the fact that the BDSM doesn't happen overnight, but I don't really appreciate that we never got to see it happen. We got all of that build up and then... it may or may not happen later, you be the judge.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot is well thought out and well executed.
• Pacing had a few minor issues but overall was fine.
• Prose and dialogue we well done.
• Character development had depth and interest and worked for the story.

Once again, I don't know what to rate this one. I liked the characters and the plot and the story, but for the second time in a row I felt like there was all of this build up that wasn't followed through. How to show pleasure and displeasure at the same time?

• Book Rating: Beautiful C*cksucker II - Such a Good Boy: 7 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 2 of 10
• Heat Level: 3 of 5

Walking Spencer by Chris Owen

 
At twelve pages long, this is an ultra short story. But it's a pretty good one. It's all about the thought processes behind the first time one is given an idea (such as being walked on a leash), carrying through to it happening for the first time, and then being told how much farther it can be taken. Such a simple concept, and it's perfect for a short story.

Here's the blurb:

When the next door neighbors ask Dean to walk their dog while they're away Dean is happy to help out. Spencer is equally happy when Dean's playful game with a dog leash leads to something far more intense than Spencer had bargained for.

I had just a bit of trouble with the head hopping on this one, so I had to backtrack to figure out who was thinking what. Not a huge problem, but something I don't expect from this author.

BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline: 0 of 3
• Dominance and Submission: 2 of 3
• Sadism and Masochism: 1 of 3

As for the writing elements, no real plot but it's so short the story is fine that way, pacing was fine, prose and dialogue were fine, character development is okay for such a short story.

• Book Rating: Walking Spencer: 8 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 2 of 10
• Heat Level: 3 of 5

Where he Belongs by DC Juris

 
Where He Belongs is short. At not quite five thousand words, I'd say it falls under the extremely short heading.

Here's the blurb:

Vance and Raine had the perfect little life, until their shared sassy sub, Andrew, threw a hissy fit and left them. But the big, wide world turned out to be far too lonely, and Andrew is back, wanting to come home. Vance is willing -- he knows he'll always do anything he must to keep Andrew -- but Raine isn't. Raine's heart still hasn't mended, and he's going to need some convincing before he lets Andrew back in. Fortunately for Andrew, Vance has a plan.

For such a short story, we learn a surprising amount about what happened before, so we know why these three characters are where they are in this brief moment in time we are shown. There is one surprise twist thrown in, and just enough of a scene to get us interested. It's a nice short story.

BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline: 1 of 3
• Dominance and Submission: This story is primarily about a relationship that has broken up, and whether it's possible for it to get back together. There is some D/s, enough so we know that in a functioning relationship it would be front and center... but what we see is mostly just people talking. 1 of 3
• Sadism and Masochism: 0 of 3 
• Extra Point: 0 of 3

As for the writing elements: the plot is simple enough for such a short story and there is even an unexpected twist thrown in, prose and dialogue are both fine, character development gives us more than one would think in such a short story. 

I'm giving Where He Belongs an 8 of 10 for several reasons. One being that I think it was too short. Even just another thousand or two thousand words could have shown us enough to have knocked the enjoyment factor so much higher.  It's a perfectly good plot with perfectly good characters and I want to see more than the 30 or 45 minutes of their lives that we got to see.

• Book Rating: Where He Belongs: 8 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 2 of 10
• Heat Level: 3 of 5

I loved Finding Sanctuary by DC Juris, if you haven't read this author before I would recommend Finding Sactuary over Where he Belongs.

 

Burn (A Hammer Novel) by Sean Michael

 

I have loved some of the books in Sean Michael's Hammer series... and then there have been some I haven't cared for as much.

Unfortunately, Burn fits into the latter category.

As the story opens we are introduced to two men who seem to have been friends for a while. Marshall comes to a bar for an annual get-together amongst friends after a really bad day at work (he's a firefighter) and Dave realizes Marshall is not in a good place at the moment, so he takes him home and pretty much offers sex as a way to get him out of his head.

The problem is that Dave is a Dom, and Marshal is not a submissive. In fact, at first it appears Marshall is a bit of a Top. So we have a Dom trying to slowly introduce the lifestyle to someone without actually explaining much of it to him, and without giving him a safeword. He does eventually give him a safeword, but in my opinion, too much happened without one.

Here's the blurb:

Marshall and Dave grew up in the same neighborhood. They’ve mostly lost touch as they've gotten older, getting together just once a year with a bunch of other old friends for a game of football. This year, firefighter Marshall is late, and when he does show up Dave can tell the man has not had a good day. When Dave suggests they leave the gang and go back to Marshall's place for some decompression time, Marshall jumps at the chance and, later, at Dave.

Things don't all go smoothly for the two men, though. Dave is into BDSM, a member of The Hammer Club, and he thinks he could use his skills to help Marshall relieve the stress and guilt the man carries over not being the perfect hero. Marshall thinks needing that kind of help is sick, though, and when he enjoys what Dave does to him, he's convinced there must be something wrong with him.

Can Dave figure out how to convince Marshall that kink is not sick at all, but a way to keep sane as well, or is their relationship doomed?

What we end up with is a close relationship where they occasionally play around with very light BDSM.  I had no problem with the day to day relationship, these men were great together. It just felt as if the way Dave introduced his kink to Marshall was a bit dishonest. I appreciate that the author didn't make everything work out perfectly in some of the middle parts of the book, because I can see all kinds of problems that can result from springing BDSM on your partner without warning them first. Or without giving them a safeword.

BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline: 1 of 3 - no discipline at all; one scene where someone is handcuffed to the bed
• Dominance and Submission: 1 of 3, sort of. When Marshall has a bad day he eventually submits just to see if it will help - but other than that he's pretty adamant about not submitting.
• Sadism and Masochism: 0 of 3 
• Extra Point: No

As for the writing elements -- the plot is the movement of the relationship, pacing had some issues, prose and dialogue were Sean Michael's trademark stilted sentence structure, and character development was fine with Marshall but not so much with Dave.

As for the stilted sentence structure... I enjoyed it at first, several dozen of Sean Michael's books ago. But when almost every character of Sean Michael's talks in the same manner... I don't know, I guess it's starting to not work for me anymore. Or maybe it's just that this story didn't work, and when I read one of his stories that I do like it will be okay again.

• Book Rating: Burn: 6 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 2 of 10
• Heat Level: 2 of 5

More often than not I enjoy Sean Michael's books and stories... but Burn just didn't work for me. If you prefer BDSM lite then the story might work for you.

Jesse by Jan Irving

 

Jesse is a touching story of loss and then a start to a new life. I read the story because of the promise of BDSM, but the sex wasn't a very large part of the book.. which was fine, as the story is a good one. Here's the blurb:

When Jesse Coulter roars up on a Harley one dusty afternoon back into ranch foreman Kyle Jacob's life, Kyle is confronted with everything forbidden he has wanted for years. Jesse is twenty years old, with a ruff of dark hair and blue eyes that remind Kyle of the heart of a lit gasoline flame, yet Kyle can’t let himself touch Jesse because not only is he too young, he's the brother of Kyle's lost lover Mac.

That they also share an uncanny telepathic bond hasn’t made things any easier for an ordinary working cowboy; Kyle is drawn into Jesse’s dreams of him as the hot older man Jesse holds captive, pleasuring him every night with Jesse’s raw man-takes-man brand of lovemaking. But Kyle and Jesse face other problems to their unconventional romance. Jesse has custody of his vulnerable younger brother who aches for a stable home, and an enemy from Kyle’s past is threatening not only his beloved draft horses and carriage business but the new life and family he yearns for.

I'm having a hard time saying much more without giving spoilers. I do think that we're being set up for a book with David, the younger brother, as the focus. And I would enjoy reading more about him, once he's grown up and figuring things out.

BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline: No. Well, except in a dream. But the dreams are kind of real. Sort of. 1 of 3.
• Dominance and Submission: Yes, but it's not pervasive. It's perfect for the story, but still only a 1 of 3.
• Sadism and Masochism: No. 0 of 3 
• Extra Point: No, the story is about emotions and life, not so much about sex. The sex is hot, and is all about power exchange when they have it... but it's not the focus of the story. The relationship is the focus of the story.

The sex is most definately all about power exchange when they have it. And there is even the use of a few toys (plug and gag). There is no impact play, it's not that kind of power exchange.

As for the writing elements: The plot was excellent, even though I had a decent idea of what was going on and how it was going to end, the journey getting to the end was a nice one. Pacing was well done. Prose and dialogue were skillfully woven together. Character development was excellent.

• Book Rating: Jesse: 9 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 2 of 10
• Heat Level: 3 of 5

This is the first book I've read by Jan Irving, but I will certainly be looking for more books written by this talented author.

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Bound by Leather by Mychael Black and Shayne Carmichael

 

Bound by Leather is another short story, and once again I find myself disappointed in a book that begins a really good story and then just ends. The character building was going well, the possibilities in the relationship were beginning to come into focus, and there was reason to hope they might have their first real scene soon. And then it was over.

Here's the blurb:

In the world of werewolves, to harbor submissive desires is looked upon with disdain. To be gay and submissive is a double threat. To satisfy his craving, Nathaniel seeks acceptance at a BDSM club...and is quick to receive it.

Master Raphael's interest in the beautiful wolf is quite obvious to the club's clientele, and it isn't long before the two are paired for play. Yet, Raphael isn't known exactly for monogamy. Could Nathaniel turn him into a one-man, or one-wolf, Dominant?

BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline: 0 of 3
• Dominance and Submission: This is a dom and a sub, but the story doesn't show us the actual act of submission. The the wish to submit. 1 of 3
• Sadism and Masochism: None. 0 of 3 
• Extra Point: Yes

As for the writing elements, the set up for the plot was there, but the story ended before I felt there was a resolution. Pacing was okay. Prose and dialogue were fine. Character development was coming along nicely, and world building was okay.

I don't know how to rate this one. The writing was good, this is a talented writing team. But the story didn't feel finished. It just didn't feel like a good place to end things.

• Book Rating: Bound by Leather: 6 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 2 of 10
• Heat Level: 1 of 5

I liked these characters, and would be interested in a story that tells us how these men work things out.  

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A Bid For Love by Michelle Houston

 

A Bid For Love is a nice little short that packs a lot of emotion. It does not, however, pack a lot of heat. It bills itself as BDSM, but the majority of BDSM action comes from things remembered, not things that happen in the time frame of the story. 

Here's the blurb:

Erika had thought that Ryan was out of her life, and that she was over him. When they run into each other at an art auction, and he outbids her on a painting of her grandmother's, she's willing to do anything to get it from him - including agree to spend 48 hours with him. Her head says at the end of it she can just walk away. Her heart isn't so sure.

BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline: No. 0 of 3
• Dominance and Submission: Yes, but mostly it's remembered. 1 of 3
• Sadism and Masochism: Just a touch. 1 of 3 
• Extra Point: No

A Bid For Love does have one nice sex scene in it, and some people might rate it higher on the heat level than I did. That's a pretty subjective thing, so I do want to point out that it's a well written sex scene, even if it didn't do a lot for me.

As for the writing elements -- the story uses miscommunication as a plot device, and that is one of those things that tends to annoy me. If someone sends you a letter you have to sign for, you really should read it.  There were also a few editing issues. Pacing was fine. Prose and dialogue were good, and character development was well done.

• Book Rating:A Bid For Love: 8 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 2 of 10
• Heat Level: 2 of 5

A Bid For Love is a sweet story with a nice ending. It's not very heavy on the BDSM, though it is clear that it has been a part of this couple's sex life in the past, and likely will be again in the future.

Corporate Desires by Bridget Midway

 

Corporate Desires follows a few years after the events of Corporate Seduction. Edna Zulma, formerly known as Madame Z, is living with her mother after spending a few years in prison. She's broke, she has a jerk of a parole officer, and she ends up with a job working for a... well, here's the blurb:

Fresh from her recent incarceration, Edna "Madame Z." Zulma wants a normal life. Unfortunately between her new boss and her parole officer, she's finding it hard to be plain ol' Edna. Throw in the very sexy office manager, Burton McCutcheon, and Edna is starting to think about the BDSM lifestyle again. Burton's goal of staying focused as he tries to start his own business is affected as soon as Edna Zulma arrives. When he discovers her BDSM past, he decides to fulfill her fantasies...and his.

There were multiple problems with the plot for me, but the biggest was why Edna spent time in prison at all. Supposedly it was for tax evasion, but we are also told that she donated every bit of the income generated to charity - not just the profits, but every bit of money given to her... and she was operating the business on money willed to her. There would be no tax evasion there. None. At all. She wouldn't owe taxes on any of that money.

That wasn't the only issue for me - supposedly the state took all of her money away from her and that's how she went from multi-millionaire to flat broke. That doesn't happen, either.

And then the radical personality change from Mistress Z to Edna Zulma... it just didn't work for me. I didn't feel that the story explained the personality change - the Madame Z from Corporate Seduction would not have done so many of the things that Edna Zulma did in Corporate Desires.

As for the BDSM portion, we end up seeing Edna topping one boss and submitting to the other.  It physically nauseates her to top her boss, and that whole story line just didn't work for me. The author didn't make me understand why it bothered her so much - this was something she enjoyed doing for so many years, why is it suddenly something she isn't capable of doing?


BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline: Yes, but it's kind of stumbled through, it's not really done as something that is supposed to turn you on. 1 of 3
• Dominance and Submission: Again, it's there but it's all jumbled up. 1 of 3.
• Sadism and Masochism: The masochism is certainly there for one individual, but it's not treated with respect. The masochist is ridiculed by the author, the way his needs are handled within the story bothered me a great deal.  
• Extra Point: No

As for the writing elements, I had a whole lot of major issues with the plot. Pacing was rough. Prose and dialogue were mostly okay.  Character development tried, but because the main character was such a drastically different person in this book than she was in the previous book, I can't say it was very good.

• Book Rating: Corporate Desires: 4 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 2 of 10
• Heat Level: 0 of 5

Again I will say that for people in the BDSM lifestyle, it bothers us to have someone's needs be ridiculed. I had a lot of problems with the plot and with the drastic change in characterization of Madame Z / Edna Zulma - but my biggest problems involved the lies that were told, the flimsy blackmail (Madame Z would have never agreed to be blackmailed into topping someone, especially with no legal standing for any of it), and the way the biggest submissive in the story had his needs put down and ridiculed by the author.

1. Corporate Desires  
2. Corporate Seduction
3. Corporate Needs


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Corporate Seduction by Bridget Midway

 

Corporate Seduction is, as the title suggests, an office romance. But this one has a few twists along the way. More than a few twists, actually.

Here's the blurb:

Maybelline "May" Davenport wants a few things in her life: to move up at work after she obtained her college degree, and to find a man who could sweep her off of her feet like the heroes in her erotic romance novels. She's sure she won't find that while working for a man she calls "the totem pole with style" even though she finds him attractive. Winston Biggers thinks he wants a dominant type of woman in his life. And although she doesn't seem the type, Win can't stop thinking about May, his administrative assistant. But he can't let her go. Not just yet. So he hides her newly-acquired degree to keep her as his assistant. But there are other important aspects about his life that he's hiding. When the truth comes out, will it be too much for May to take? Or will staying with this man make her Win Bigg?

The BDSM in Corporate Seduction is pretty tame, so if you don't like pain in your BDSM, this may be a good book for you.  The BDSM action is mostly D/s with no S&M between our main couple. 

BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline:A very very very small amount. 1 of 3
• Dominance and Submission: Some. 1 of 3
• Sadism and Masochism: None. 0 of 3 
• Extra Point: No.

As for the writing elements, the plot was pretty predictable except for one surprise that was thrown into the mix towards the end. Pacing had issues. Prose and dialogue were fine, with a nice voice over all. Character developement was well done.

And the character development  is probably what carried the story for me. I've said it before, but good characters can overcome a lot of other problems with a story. There are two other books in this series and I am very interested in reading them.

• Book Rating: Corporate Seduction: 8 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 2 of 10
• Heat Level: 2 of 10

The blurbs for the next two books give the appearance that there will be more S&M involved in future stories. We've met both female characters in Corporate Seduction, I look forward to reading their stories.

1. Corporate Seduction
2. Corporate Desires
3. Corporate Needs

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