Se soumettre à ses désirs: Les bad boys de Woodbury, T2

The Woodbury Boys #2

by Sidney Bell, Régis Balcon (Translator)

Étudiant en médecine, Tobias Benton s’amende de sa vie passée. Il fait profil bas, ne discute pas et suit les règles. Pourtant, lorsque Ghost, son ami proche, disparaît, Tobias fait tout ce qui est en son pouvoir pour obtenir des réponses, y compris utiliser le chantage pour recruter de la main-d’œuvre. La dernière chose qu’il cherche, c’est une histoire d’amour.

Sullivan Tate est un détective privé qui ne recule pas devant une petite effraction si cela lui permet de résoudre une affaire, cependant, quand Tobias le prend en flagrant délit, cela fait presque tout capoter. Leur collaboration précaire se complique encore lorsque Sullivan apprend que Tobias partage son intérêt pour le BDSM. Mélanger sexe et travail pourrait nuire à la carrière de Sullivan, mais le fait que Tobias se soumette à ses envies les plus sombres le rend presque irrésistible.

Côte à côte, Tobias et Sullivan passent leurs journées en quête de vérité et leurs nuits à assouvir leurs fantasmes respectifs. Mais les réponses qu’ils cherchent sont plus dangereuses qu’ils ne le pensent et, très vite, ils se retrouvent à se battre, non plus seulement l’un pour l’autre, mais pour bien plus.



#MM #BDSM #Mystère #Crime #Suspense

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, LGBT, Crime

469 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2018

About the author

Sidney Bell lives in the drizzly Pacific Northwest with her amazingly supportive husband. She received her MFA degree in Creative Writing in 2010, considered aiming for the Great American Novel, and then promptly started writing fanfiction instead. Eventually more realistic grown-ups convinced her to try writing something more fiscally responsible, which is how we ended up here.

When she’s not writing, she’s playing violent video games, yelling at the television during hockey games, or supporting her local library by turning books in late.

Reviews

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5






Tobias was always a good boy,eager to please.When he was young he announced he was going to be a doctor so he could spend all his days with his Papa....
What he hadn't expected was that,when he got older,it would be a given that he would follow in his Papa's footsteps and go into the medical profession.The pressure of expectations proves too much for him and his actions cause him to be admitted to The Woodbury Centre where he meets Church and Ghost who along with Tobias were introduced in book one.

After his treatment and back at home,life is still a struggle for Tobias.When he discovers a secret his adoptive parents have been keeping and when Ghost goes missing he moves out....he's determined to find Ghost whatever it takes.

Sullivan is a PI,working on a case when their paths cross.Could his case and Tobias's search for his friend be linked? And can these two men give each other what they need?


I found the plot quite complex at times and had to go back and read a few scenes more than once.I was terrified I was going to miss something vitally important.

Sullivan likes to dominate,something his previous partner wasn't really into to and Tobias didn't seem to know he had submissive tendacies until he met Sullivan.
Unfortunately,I didn't feel the connection between them as regards to the D/s relationship and some of the sex scenes seemed too clinical for me...I wasn't getting any real emotions.In fact I enjoyed their relationship away from sex more.


Overall,it was ok and I'll definitely continue with the series because I absolutely adore Ghost....I simply cannot wait to meet the man who will tame him.


Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to try not to gush. Let's see how that goes. But when you find an author whose words speak to you... the struggle is real. You should see how many highlights I made in this thing. I think the highlighting feature gave me the bird at one point. Sassy kindle.

I jumped on the Sidney Bell bandwagon when I saw everyone adding Loose Cannon. I was on NetGalley, it was on NetGalley so why not? That was the best decision I've made in awhile because she turned out to be my breakout author of 2017. Hard Line has now bumped her into auto-buy territory and I will buy this once it comes out so I can see the cover and read it in a non-wonky PDF conversion form.

Enough of that, let's get down to (hopefully) some non-spoilery bidness.

Hard Line is Tobias' book and in the beginning I figured this would be the placeholder to get to Ghost's book. Wrong. Tobias surprised me. I didn't think he had it in him and I'm delighted to have been wrong. If you've read Loose Cannon you probably have a decent grasp of who Tobias is, Tobias is the good one. Earnest, kind, polite. He's come to a crossroads in his life so expect some angst as this is his journey of self-discovery but who he fundamentally is doesn't change. He does become a better, more confident version of himself and that is due in part to his relationship with Sullivan.

Things between them progress naturally but quickly so fans of the slow burn may have trouble with this one. I like a slow burn as much as the next but when you stir kink into the mix it doesn't work as well for me, especially when the sub is a newb like Tobias, so if you're kink averse, this is probably going to be a miss for you.



The kink is mostly D/s but Tobias does like pain. Bless him. Edging, a little humiliation, some bondage, spanking/paddling, begging, dirty talk and no high-protocol stuff. Praise be! It's also very focused on the headspace of both Tobias and Sullivan which is another thing I tend to gravitate towards in my kinky reads. There is a fine line between kink being used as cure-all for mental illness and needing to get out of a certain headspace. Bell deftly straddled that line. These characters have enough "stuff" to make them interesting and require some conversations, because trust is paramount to do what they do which should appeal to hurt/comfort fans, though this is on the lighter side. Their kinks are how they connect but that connection soon morphs into something more.

"...he felt helpless here, overwhelmed and stupid and shocked, and all he could do was keep kissing Tobias, keep kissing him as if they would never stop, not until the sun expanded and the world went up in flames. It still might not be enough"

Sidney Bell is a wordy author but here's the thing, all those words have meaning. They either drive the plot forward, flesh out characters or establish a connection between protagonists, so they're not misspent or superfluous to my mind. Here she uses them to bring both Tobias and Sullivan to vivid life. I know them and understand them through their inner dialogues, their adorable banter and their edifying conversations. These two communicate. They use their words and do very little assuming, so none of that push/pull thing that can drive some readers to DNF.



Hard Line is character driven with the focus being on these two but there is a subplot that carries over from Loose Cannon that is Ghost heavy. Fans of Ghost will not be disappointed! He plays a fairly large role in Part 2 which has ramped up my excite to impossible levels for his book. With Sullivan being a PI, Tobias hires him to find Ghost then decides he's going to help. Nothing like an experienced and emotionally invested "helper" when there are dangerous, mobbed up whackadoodles involved. Some may find the daily grind of PI-ing boring but that brought a certain authenticity to the narrative, in my opinion.

The epilogue was sublime and if these two aren't more happy than not for all the days to come, there's something bad wrong with the world.

I would not recommend Hard Line be read as a stand alone but I would recommend this series to all the peoples!

Sorry. I think I failed on that non-gushing thing. Oops.



An ARC was provided by NetGalley.

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

"That's up to you, sweetheart."
That—he glanced at Sullivan, startled. He'd called Tobias sweetheart before, of course. A bunch of times, by this point. But never outside of the bedroom. Never like this, casually, like the pet name was more than a tool in their BDSM toolbox.
Sullivan was startled, too, his brown eyes going wide where they were watching the road. The silence grew awkward until they hit a red light, when Sullivan looked over, his eyes tracing Tobias's expression. "I didn't—that just came out. Sorry."
"No," Tobias said quickly. "I don't mind."
"No?"
"I like it when you call me that." Tobias's heart was thundering, warmth crawling up in his face. He liked it a lot, and never more so than here, in completely ordinary circumstances, as far from the bedroom as they can be. "Don't be embarrassed, please."
Sullivan cleared his throat. "Cool."

one fucking word: SULLIVAN. i adored that man. so much. easygoing, carefree characters who can still be rough and fuck you up when provoked are one of my favorite type of characters and he delivered. since we didn't meet Sullivan in the first book (at least i don't think so?), i wasn't sure what to expect for Tobias' love interest apart from what we learn in the blurb so i'm surprised at how much i fell for him. oh sweet Tobias, i loved how, even though he had this innocence to him, don't be fooled bc he can be just as sly if needed (*cough* as if him blackmailing Sullivan isn't enough proof 😭 i was actually surprised seeing this side of him... but i aint mad about it. if anything, my respect for him grew even more bc of how he wanted to stop pleasing the people around him, since it's him in the end who always gets hurt). imo, these two brought out the best in each other. i don't mean just in the bedroom with them sharing the same kink, making things work well for them in that aspect of their relationship, but also just outside of it too. although it didn't take until nearly the end for them to actually confess and be together, i loved the lil moments/interactions they had in between the story. <3

now... Ghost. listen, i wrote in my review of the previous book that he's my favorite character overall in the Woodbury Boys universe and, while it didn't necessarily change bc he still very much intrigued me (and i'm excited to read his story!!), i admit he annoyed me a few times in this book. i'm aware though, he has his own way of showing he cares for his friends and that he means well, but there were times when he threw jabs at Sullivan and i wanted to just scream to leave him and Tobias alone bc they're finally happy and in love. 😩 anyways, i loved this book and this story and i'm attached to everyone here. 🥰

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Line (Woodbury Boys #2) by Sidney Bell is a beautiful, well written story that sucked me in from the beginning. I read book 1, Loose Cannon last year, and I was anxious to read about the quiet and kind hearted Tobias.

Tobias Benton is used being an excellent student, a good son, and a good brother. Lately he is struggling with what he wants from his life and what his parents expect from him, even though he is 24 years old. He is also searching for his best friend, Ghost, and he hires a Private Investigator. Tobias is up front from the start, he must be involved with finding Ghost.

P.I. Sullivan Tate is not very happy with his new client, but he thinks that the case of a missing woman he is working on and the missing Ghost, may be intertwined. Right from the start, Sullivan knows Tobias is about to crack, so he takes control and tries to help Tobias figure out his life and what he wants.

I absolutely loved this couple. Both Tobias and Sullivan were perfect for each other. The way Sullivan encouraged Tobias to speak his mind and be himself, was just beautiful. It is an emotional journey for Tobias and it definitely tugged at my heart strings.

There was also a mystery of what happened to Ghost as well as the missing woman. Of course I had my own ideas, but they were completely wrong, and I was a little surprised at the outcome.

I should also mention there is some BDSM. Sometimes BDSM can take me completely out of the story, but the author did an amazing job fitting it perfectly into the storyline and the emotional upheaval Tobias was going through.

I don’t recommend you read this as a stand-alone. You should definitely read book 1, Loose Cannon to learn more about how Tobias, Ghost and Church become friends as well as getting the backstory on the bad guys.


I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications · Rating 5 out of 5]

This turned out to be a long and rambling review so I'm going to add a bulleted highlight up here for those most of you who'd rather not spend precious reading time on a review.

❇️Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❇️This is book 2, read Loose Cannon first. It's also five stars.

❇️This one is about Tobias. Holy crap! Who knew?!

❇️Ghost (from book 1) goes missing. Ghost 💔

❇️Tobias meets PI Sullivan. Sullivan you're my hero!

❇️Sullivan helps Tobias discover many things about himself. 😳😳😳 There is a well done BDSM theme in this romance story.

And now, on to my ramblings.

I'm a romantic at heart. I love reading about two people finding "the one" in each other. It doesn't matter to me in what form the connection is made. As long as it's mutual and gratifying for both, it puts a smile on my face.

All that to say that while I normally don't like reading BDSM because the power exchange in a Dom/sub relationship makes me a little angry, when the trope is written correctly within a romance plot, it works even for me. Sidney Bell writes wonderful stories!

Hard Line is book 2 in the The Woodbury Boys Series. It can be read as a stand alone but you'd get a much fuller picture of the plot if you read Loose Cannon first. This one focuses on Tobias, one of the three friends we met previously. Excuse me for a moment while I have myself a short freakout.

Tobias! Holy crap child. I had no idea!!!

Alright, I'm back. Where was I? Oh yeah...We watch Tobias through an identity crisis. Fate is on his side when he accidentally meets PI Sullivan. Tobias throws caution to the wind and engages tatted, mohawked Sullivan to help find a missing friend.

It's the gutsiest, first illegal thing that sweet, mild natured Tobias has ever done. This one, single, crazy move changes Tobias' life forever.

What follows is a beautiful story of self-discovery.

Sullivan couldn't be more perfect IMHO. He's smart and cute and funny and exactly what Tobias needs. Come to find out that Tobias is exactly what Sullivan needs too.

That's the main focus of the story. But there is so much more here. Ghost is missing. Is he in trouble or did he leave voluntarily? Oh, Ghost 😢 If you've read book 1, Loose Cannon, you know he's mixed up with the Russian mafia.

I like longer novels and though this one is the shortest I've read by Bell, it's plenty long enough to allow me to submerge myself into the lives of the characters. Hard Line is more character driven than the previous ones. While there is still a wonderful plot, the focus is on the development and growth of the MCs.

Unfortunately, there's again an issue with the unannounced changing POVs. Both MCs will talk without any indication there's been a change in who is speaking. To be blunt, it's annoying. An editor should easily pick up on this issue and have it corrected. I read an ARC so there are still some typos and formatting issues but I'm sure those will be fixed before this book is published.

If my long ramble hasn't made it clear yet, I highly recommend not only this book, but the entire series.

Overall, I give it 4.5 stars, even though GR is not cooperating on the star ratings and I have to round up to five.



Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley

[~Mindy Lynn~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!

Loved it!

I really loved this coupling. Sullivan was such a great character and the perfect match for Tobias.

Tobias was adopted to a Haitian couple as a baby. He and his other adopted brother and sisters were raised in a pretty strict home. Tobias has known about how his adoption came about since he was 10 unbeknownst to his parents. Since revealing at a very young child that he wanted to work in medicine like is father he has tried his best to stick by his statement. Tobias is what you would call a people pleaser. He would rather suffer in silence with his overwhelming feelings of pressure than to show his fears and true feelings. One day it becomes too much. The pressure becomes too loud and Tobias does something that lands him in Woodbury, a facility for boys where they receive treatment.

Tobias has been out of treatment for some time but his parents still treat him with kid gloves and continue to try and make important decisions concerning his life for him. Recently he found one of those choices in a trashcan. It was a letter from his maternal mother. Instead of giving the letter to Tobias or even acknowledging that his maternal mother has been trying to contact him all these years they kept it from him deciding it was best for him. Tobias doesn't take to this news at all and has him rebelling with his anger. On top of that his friend Ghost hasn't been answering his phone calls or messages. So Tobias takes it upon himself to find his friend. So what if that includes some B&E. Only he gets caught by a PI doing some snooping of his own. Sullivan is on his own case but it just so happens to intermingle with Tobias's search for the missing Ghost.

From there both men fall into a working relationship that might include some blackmailing on Tobias' part to get Sullivan to let him tag along and help. But in the middle of the mystery we get two men who are letting their walls down and finding what they need in each other. Soon a relationship is blooming and they are both unsure of where it all will leave them when their case is solved.

I adored them together. I loved how sweet Sullivan was to Tobias's needs. The BDSM was light and not at all the complete focus of their relationship. It felt like a natural thing between them. I really enjoyed their banter as well. Sullivan was a really oddball and I loved him.

So glad this was better than the first book and I can't wait to see where Ghost's story takes us. I am still so intrigued by him and can't wait to get into his head.

Happy reading dolls! xx



**I received an ARC from Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review**

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus -]

DNF @ 25% and no rating

Why always me??? *whines*

Please don't shoot me... It's apparently the clichéd 'everybody loved it but me' - again - and I should probably resign myself to the fact that this author and I just don't gel.

I thought I was ready. I thought Ghost would pull me through this story like he did in Loose Cannon, but just like in all of her books Sidney Bell takes ages to cut to the chase - too long for me - and I'm bored. It also doesn't help that I can't connect to the characters, especially Sullivan, who is in his late twenties and behaves like an overly excited puppy, which is usually not a bad thing (I love puppies!), but he is supposed to be a Dom? Seriously??? Sorry, but I have zero interest in finding out how this will work out. :( 

[♡ cal ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was liberating. It was freeing. How Tobias finally stood for what he wanted was some good food. I thought I was going to read a story about a young man succumbing to other people's wants. But no. Also, this book has one of the best opening chapters. I really asked myself if I'm reading the actual book. Another is that, I love how the romance between mcs was built on communication. How they talked their issues in a very calm manner won me over. Annnddd of course the sex was scorching hot! Green might be my new favorite color. Lastly, I highly enjoyed the mystery/suspense of this story. Didn't loved it as much but I'm taking it. Ghost's story better be good too! All this build-up should be worth it.

[Moony Eliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. With this book, Sidney Bell has officially become an auto-buy for me. I really enjoyed the first in this series, but Hard Line blew that out of the water.

Sullivan and Tobias are quirky, hilarious, streetwise characters, and I loved their guts. They evolved beautifully over the course of the story, bringing out the best in each other even if it wasn't always pretty. (And did I mention hot? HOT. The non-vanilla side of the equation. It was amazing to read about their sexy kink, which believably contributed to the characterization without taking over the story.)

I’m trying to think of a way to lay down some more info that’s not simply “gaah sooo goooood reeeeead iiiiit.” Ultimately the character development (including psychological insight) and relationship evolution are what melted my butter, but the overarching plot was tight, too. I don’t usually care too much about mysterious or suspenseful elements, but what’s going on here is worth the price of admission all on its own.

From the beginning, I’ve been excited to read Ghost-the-verb’s story (which is the next volume), but admittedly it will be hard to top this one for me. And I have to say that Hard Line made me even more perplexed about what a Ghost romance will look like.

Try and stop me.

[Ele · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.25 stars*

"You can’t love some- one with your whole heart without being terrified by what it means."

Tobias Benton is a GOOD boy. Responsible college student, obedient kid, loyal friend, people pleaser. Do you know what happens to good boys when they realise they can no longer keep ignoring themselves to keep everyone else happy?



But first things first. Hard Line doesn't work well as a standalone. The main protagonists are different, but there is a general story arc about Mama and the russian mafia that runs through all books.

Ghost is missing and for the first time ever Tobias wants to take action. It's not just him worrying about his best friend anymore. As a baby, Tobias was abandoned by the person who was supposed to love him the most. So now he has to know! Did Ghost leave against his will or did he just abandon Tobias too? In Loose Cannon I thought that Tobias was in love with Ghost. The truth is far more complicated, and it has nothing to do with love.

“He doesn’t need me, not the way I need him. He doesn’t need anybody, but he lets me stay.”

So Tobias hires a private investigator to help him find Ghost. Enter Sullivan Tate, in all his tattooed, mohawked glory. This is definitely an opposites attract story.

Hard Line is actually...NOT about hard lines. Tobias will use less than moral means to get Sullivan to help him, and Sullivan is the kind of invenstigator who doesn't strictly follow the rules.

Now the kink. This is a very kinky book. While stuck together, Tobias and Sullivan realise they have A LOT in common. Tobias is a baby submissive and Sullivan is the perfect dom for him. What I loved the most is that this is BDSM at its most basic level, without all the stiff, strict rules that makes it so damn boring for me in other books. This is just a guy who craves to submit and a guy who craves to dominate.

I'm equal parts terrified and giddy for Ghost's story. What an asshole! I love him.

Overall, this is a great addition that includes all the things I love about this author: a gritty narrative (brilliant switch to the villain's POV btw), deadpan humour, good banter, great connection between the MCs, and the most fitting HEA.

Recommended!

[Renée · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a good story, but is my least favorite from Sidney Bell so far.

We met Tobias in Book 1, as one of the Woodbury threesome of men, and this was his story. Adopted as an infant by a lovely Haitian couple, into a loving (and strict/rigid) home, Tobias has always had abandonment issues. He's the consummate pleaser. If he can keep the people around him happy, he won't be left again, as his birth mother did.

Tobias was addicted to being chosen, ,and being chosen by someone like Ghost, who found so few people worth his time, was the best high of all.

And now Ghost is missing. Not the typical missing where Ghost checks out for a few days, but missing in a way that worries Tobias and Church.

This is not a standalone. The story arc of Mama and her band of Russians continues, and isn't resolved in this book either. We should see the closure there with Ghost's story.

Tobias meets Sullivan by chance, and decides to blackmail hire him as a PI to find Ghost. Head shaved on the sides, long and dark Mohawk on top, sleeves of tattoos.........Sullivan is not exactly the type that Tobias's parents would want for their premed golden boy.

Since these two are in each other's pockets day in and day out, a significant bond forms. And then things turn lusty and then romantic. Sullivan is a Dominant and sees a "true" submissive streak in Tobias that's blatantly obvious.

And here's where it didn't entirely work for me. I never connected with the MCs. I was told of their bond, feelings, etc., but I never got the feeling that I truly experienced it. And because of that, the sexy times weren't as sexy for me either.

"I would very much like to hurt you, if you think you'd enjoy it."

It's rare that a romantic story with suspense elements has me enjoying the suspense elements more than the romance. But that was the case here.

Ghost's story is next, with a lot unresolved from that end. I don't know how to feel about Ghost after this book. He took a significant amount of page time (not complaining - he's so damn intriguing), but his story is sure to be uncomfortable. That's the best way I can describe it.

The writing was solid, and I did enjoy this book. Fans of the author should definitely read it, especially those who liked Loose Cannon.

But I still remember the awesomeness that was Bad Judgment, and I continue to wait for that magic.

[Nelly S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 “made me a convert to bdsm” stars

“Sullivan kissed him like Tobias was his, his to use and enjoy and take care of, and Tobias—Tobias couldn't remember ever feeling this full, this safe.”

Angsty. Hot. Deep. Suspenseful. Tender.

• m/m suspense
• opposites attract
• hurt/comfort
• bdsm
• close proximity
• class differences

Tobias is an unhappy pre-med student. He’s one of six adoptees of affluent, high-achieving Haitian doctors. He spent a year in juvenile detention for self-harming after being overwhelmed by family expectations.

Sullivan is a PI doing grunt work for a ball-busting boss, but has dreams of starting his own agency. He’s carrying severe baggage from his last relationship where he was vilified for his kink preferences.

Plot
Toby is worried that something bad has happened to Ghost, his best friend, after he goes missing. Ghost is a street hustler who’s been involved with some unsavory characters, including the matriarch of a Russian mob. Meanwhile, Sullivan is on the hunt for a woman who has been missing for 20 years; he tracks down a lead to Ghost’s apartment. Sullivan meets Toby as he’s breaking into Ghost’s apartment to try to find him. Toby ends up hiring Sullivan to find Ghost, but has to blackmail Sullivan into letting him help with the search.

Romance
I loved the way the relationship develops between Toby and Sullivan. It starts off antagonistically when Toby blackmails Sullivan, yet there is undeniable sexual tension from the very beginning. As they spend hours shadowing and tailing their suspect, they talk about their favorite books and movies. They discover that they share a love for reading and eclectic literary tastes. Sullivan is hyperactive and has a quirky, inquisitive mind, and often goes off into the cutest, geeky monologues. Toby confesses his love for stress baking and there's a cute moment when he bakes a cherry pie for Sullivan.

There is a true hurt/comfort element to Toby’s and Sullivan’s relationship. Toby is a people pleaser and has abandonment issues; he lives in fear of upsetting people and losing their love. But Sullivan is the exact opposite and doesn’t care about people’s opinions. He encourages Toby to express his emotions and figure out what he wants. He calls Toby out when he’s lying to himself, yet also supports him unconditionally. Their Dom/sub relationship is based on complete trust since Sullivan truly understands Toby’s desires and needs. And Toby helps Sullivan get over his trauma by proving he’s not a monster for loving kink. Their relationship is an affirmation that Sullivan is worthy of love with a beautiful person.

Steam-o-meter
Smutty. I had never understood the appeal of bdsm before, but boy did the sex scenes blow my mind. Dirty talk. Edging. Spanking. I loved Toby’s complete trust in Sullivan, the way they cuddle after sex, as well as Sullivan’s tender aftercare.

“Maybe I'll make you beg for it,” Sullivan murmured thoughtfully. “Make you beg to get fucked. Make you beg to suck me. I can do anything I want and you’ll like it. Because you’re a slut, aren’t you?”
“Please.” Tobias had felt filthy and overwhelmed when he said that forbidden little word—slut—but it was so much hotter when Sullivan said it. He was so close. He lifted his hips, trying to get more friction. “Please let me come.”

[Sawyer ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I got this book on a whim. The cover, you get that, right? I mean, I read the blurb. Well, I skimmed it and saw "kink" ... "darkest urges" ... "impossible to resist" ... "nights fulfilling their respective fantasies." I was expecting a quick dirty read.

I needed a quick dirty read. Work has been absolutely horrific the last couple of weeks. Something about spring that makes people depressed. I mean, it's not *something* I can talk for hours about why but we're here for book reviews. All I'm trying to say is work has taken a lot out of me lately. It happens every year. I know it will happen, but it never gets easier. Anyway, I wanted to lose myself in a quick, sexy, feel-good story. Let me tell you, I made the wrong choice with this one!

This was a super emotional, engaging and meaningful 480 page long monster of a book I couldn't put down. It took me 4 days, 2 pints of Birthday Cake Halo Top ice cream (not Ben & Jerrys because I'm making healthy choices), and 37 cute kitten videos to get through it.

This book deals with real issues everybody can relate to. Who hasn't worried about making their parents proud, felt the crushing weight of having to put the expectations of other people in above your wants and needs? Is there anyone who hasn't worried about telling their partner what they really want? The characters aren't damaged, they didn't have traumatic childhoods full of abuse and neglect. They were relatable they could have been anybody. Heck, they could have been me. I didn't want to relate to the characters, but I guess it would be absurd to fault an author for writing engaging and relatable characters.

This book doesn't disappoint as far as steamy scenes go. I often find myself uneasy when I read BDSM scenes and I'd always just written it off as a by-product of reading about things that might be considered taboo. However, this book had things that would be taboo, even more so than I would typically pickup, and I didn't feel uncomfortable at all while reading it. Which lead to some interesting self-reflection.

I have no problem tearing non-BDSM contemporary romances apart when they forget about consent because that always makes me super uncomfortable. Thinking about it, the parts of many BSDM books that make me uncomfortable are the parts where one person is reluctant but they do it because it will make the other person happy. I'm not sure why I've let it slide for so long but I don't think I will anymore.

As much as I enjoy reading dirty books, consent is huge for me. The characters can be as kinky and taboo as they want and I'll tolerate it if there's consent. I've DNF'd a couple books because without consent it's not sex, it's rape and I'm not going to read that.

This leads to my absolute favorite part of this book. The author established consent in every scene. It didn't feel forced; it didn't ruin the mood; it was actually quite beautiful and enjoyable to read. Sullivan and Tobias were such well-developed characters, and I appreciated that they were both given their own personalities with insecurities and passions that didn't necessarily correlate with who they were in the bedroom. I loved the way they were both vulnerable, and the way they supported and accepted each other both in and out of the bedroom.

Hard Lines was an amazing book. It was an emotional roller coaster, but so good. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading love stories but might be interested in exploring the naughtier side of the genre. Parts of this book were downright filthy, but it was handled in a super respectful way that made it feel sweet.

[Dia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This is the second book in the Woodbury Boys series, and I think these books should be read in order for a better understanding of the characters and their history together.

In Loose Cannon we got Church's story. He met his 2 best friends in The Woodbury Centre: Tobias and Ghost. After reading the first book I hoped to get Ghost's story in Hard Line, but I'll have to wait for the third book.

Tobias Benton was adopted by a Haitian couple. They raised him well, but he grew up trying to be everything they wanted. He needed to make them proud. But he put his true passions and dreams aside. And this cost him A LOT, especially his peace of mind. He wasn't happy by going to medical school. He wasn't happy with his life. He wasn't happy.

Then his friend Ghost disappeared without a trace and Tobias is determined to find him. He needs to do it for Ghost and for himself, because he got rescued by Ghost many times in the past. So he meets private detective Sullivan Tate and they get to work together, even if Sullivan doesn't want his help.

I have to admit the first half of the book didn't really work for me. It was too slow paced. I haven't felt the same need to turn the pages like I did while reading Loose Cannon or Bad Judgment. It took me a while to get invested into the story, so I've read a few books until finishing this one.
But even if I'm not a fan of BDSM or Dom/sub stories, this one was extremely well written. From the very start Sullivan kept his distance. At first they only work together, but slowly they realize their huge attraction. Tobias is still struggling with his life and has to find the strength to fight his old habits, especially wanting to please others. And start making his own choices for his own good.

I loved the dynamic between the characters. We get many hot scenes. What they had felt pretty real and strong.

I can't say I was pleased with Ghost's appearance here. I still don't know what to think of him. But at least he's not as soulless as he wants to appear. He cared for Tobias enough to fight for him. A little too much I might add. But he's still a BIG enigma and I can't wait to read his story. Hope the next book will be released soon, because the time gap between the releases of these two books bothered me. Maybe I should have reread Loose Cannon before starting this one, because I forgot many details about the Russian cartel or Mamma.

I really enjoyed the second part of the book. We get action, suspense and a sweet ending. So I'm going with 4 stars.

ARC kindly provided to me by the publisher - Carina Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I really liked this second book in the Woodbury Boys series. From the progression of the plot put in motion in Loose Cannon to the character development, there was a lot to love here. Tobias revealed himself to be very different from what he seemed in the previous book and his character development was handled really well. While I liked Tobias a lot, the new entry, Sullivan, stole the spotlight. I loved him, so quirky and smart, with a core of steel and a bad-boy appearance, I really liked the contrast with his soft heart when it came to Tobias (at least once he stopped wanting to strangle Tobias). Also, I loved how Sullivan handled Ghost once they rescued him, that was perfection.

Another thing I loved in this book was Sullivan and Tobias’s dynamic, both in and out of the BDSM aspect. Sullivan’s insecurities left from an ex-boyfriend, who called him a monster after finding out about his real tastes, added a layer of humanity and realism to an otherwise perfect dom and it made me appreciate him even more because of that. I loved how Tobias took his newly-discovered submissive tendencies in stride without making a huge thing out of it, which also allowed him to do and say just the right things when Sullivan’s issues came up.
They worked really well outside of the d/s aspect, too. It was maybe more evident in the way Sullivan helped Tobias figuring out everything that was going on in Tobias’s life, because Sullivan didn’t need that kind of support at this point in his life, but I wouldn’t underestimate how difficult it would be for Sullivan to find someone willing to go along with, and even appreciate, his nomad style of living, just to make an example. They just fit together.
Sullivan was the perfectly imperfect dom and he would have definitely earned a spot in my top 10 (probably even in my top 5) book doms, if I had one. I didn’t feel Tobias as much as a sub, though. I can’t put my finger on why exactly, but for me something was missing there. And that’s the main reason I can’t round up, despite how much I loved everything else.
Another, smaller but not less important, reason was that Church’s role in this book was practically non-existent, he was reduced to a series of informative and concerned texts. While I get why Tobias wanted to leave him out of the Krayev/Ghost situation, I still expected and wanted Church to have a bigger part and involvement in Tobias’s life at a time of such change, as Tobias’s other (and more talkative) best friend. One phone call that wasn’t about Ghost or the investigation or one brief meeting in person at any point, even in the epilogue, would’ve done the trick.

[h o l l i s · Rating 4 out of 5]

How long was I anticipating this release? And how long did it take for me to actually read it? (shakes fist at self) Sometimes I don't understand me. But anywayyyy. Oh how I loved this.

"I fucked up."
"Is there a body?"
"What? No."
"Oh. Okay. What'd you do?"
"Do you seriously think I would kill someone?"
"(pause) No."
"Jesus."

I'm pretty sure I mentioned in my review for book one of The Woodbury Boys that less of the Mafia stuff would've been more my jam. Well I got my wish. This story focuses more on events that are kind of outside that main conflict, though situations and people definitely overlap, and it was a total delight to have a romance develop and be explored in the downtime of an investigation. I love how Bell did this. So often you have these high intensity action scenes and very little quiet and these connections form and boom romance. Which fine, whatever, I can sometimes buy it. But this story expanded more on the drudgery and waiting and watching of gumshoeing and it's in those moments where these two very different people connected. And it worked so perfectly.

"It all goes together, doesn't it? Whips and chains and BDSM.. spanking's part of it."
"You know that how?"
"CSI."
"Jesus."

I'll admit I didn't see the D/s thing coming and I'm glad for that. It isn't my favourite kink but this felt kind of in line with Alexis Hall's FOR REAL where it was more.. organic, less staging, more connection. Which I think is a great summary for this book in general. It was very character driven and all about connection. I really enjoyed both leads, too. Tobias the repressed good boy, working towards being a doctor for reasons that are no longer his own, and so desperate to find out what has has happened to his best friend that he blackmails Sullivan, the hot edgy PI whose investigation, for a missing girl, brings him into Tobias' path.

Tobias cursing was cute. Sort of like a fluffy animal from a kid's movie busting out gang signs.

Full of feels, laughs, and all sorts of hot moments amongst the mystery and uncertainty, I enjoyed pretty much every moment of HARD LINE. And because this has reminded me of all the reasons I love Bell's writing, I'm probably diving right into book three (yes, I have an ARC, #sorrynotsorry). I'm so curious as to where she will take us with Ghost's story. Redemption? Rationalizing his behaviour? Can't wait to find out.

[Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard Line is the second book in Sidney Bell's "The Woodbury Boys" series. In my opinion, you will get the most out of this story if you have read book 1, Loose Canon, first. In book 1, you get a lot of background on the boys, especially Ghost, how it is that Gost got himself into his current predicament. Loose Canon is my favorite of the series, so far, too, though I enjoyed this one quite a lot as well.

Tobias Benton is the adopted son of Haitian immigrants. Of the three friends from Woodbury, Tobias seems like the one most likely to be successful. His adopted parents are doctors, he has several siblings, also adopted, he's always had food and clothes and education. But he's always put a lot pf pressure on himself and has abandonment issues and anxiety. Don't think for a second that just because he has had some privilege growing up that he doesn't have problems, because he does. He's a little bit broken, and he's afraid if he doesn't meet the expectations people have for him, that they will leave. Tobias broke my heart just a little bit with that.

Sullivan Tate, conversely, is confident, and worldly. He has tattoos and a mohawk, so he looks like trouble, but he's a stand up guy who would do anything for those he cares about. He's intelligent, bored easily, and wants to do more than just serve up subpoenas at his PI job. He's desperate to really show what he can do. And though he hasn't practiced in a while, because of an ex that didn't understand, Sullivan is a Dom who has finally found his match.

I enjoyed Hard Line a lot. The pairing, the mystery, the sex, were all like candy to me. The relationship did move a bit faster than I often like, but it worked for me here. What started out as a fairly adversarial relationship quickly becomes something more symbiotic and with each step they take, they are more in sync.

The mystery is a melding of two different events - Ghost's disappearance a couple weeks prior and a 20+ year old mystery of a missing (and likely dead) girl. I liked how the two mysteries merged and I liked how determined Tobias was to help Sullivan investigate. Tobias doesn't have the experience needed, and he's a touch impulsive, but Sullivan keeps him in line...mostly.

All in all, I liked Hard Line almost as much as I liked the first book, and I'm left really wanting Ghost to find his happy, too. That one will be a challenge, I have no doubt, because he is one broken boy.

---------------------------
ARC of Hard Line was generously provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. I enjoyed it a lot more than the first book in this series, although not quite as much as Bad Judgement.

But I thought the story was interesting, if a little slow going, but I felt that the reason for that was to get these two, Tobias and Sullivan to get to know each other, and to make it believeable that they're in love by the end of this - because only about three weeks, a month? or thereabouts goes by over the course of the events in this book, so if the whole main plot point with Ghost being missing had been over and done with quickly, then these two getting to that place of love wouldn't have felt genuine to me.

But these two start out in a somewhat combative terrain in their relationship - which leads to them finding out that they like BDSM and D/s dynamic. I thought their combativeness was set up well and made sense, and Tobias's mental state allowed for them to be pushed into a situation in which those D/s elements would arise so they would discover that about each other.

Because Sullivan had a previous relationship, and when he tried to tell the guy about what he liked in the bedroom, that he liked hurting his partner - consensually, of course - well the guy didn't take it well and made Sullivan scared to try BDSM again. But then along came Tobias, who was a natural Sub to Sullivan's natural Dom.

For me to enjoy BDSM it has to somehow work for me. And I was weary going into reading this because the blurb says "Tobias is only too happy to let him play out his darkest desires" or something along that line and that always makes me think of like super dark things that make me uncomfortable. But I feel like there are levels to BDSM, to slightly kinky to really kinky to way beyond kinky into dark territory and I don't think I'm a fan of BDSM that goes crazy into like, hurting your partner, almost torturing them, in a way, if that makes sense.

But I didn't think Sullivan's desires were that dark and they didn't make me uncomfortable. Especially when Tobias enjoyed the pain so much and they were both aware of consent and Sullivan always made sure to check in on Tobias and his well being. There was some spanking and paddling - and a short description but not an all out scene of caning - but that isn't too bad, imo. Also, it is always safe, sane, and consensual, which is always the way to go.

Some kinkiness, yeah, but not anything scary or creepy or uncomfortable. So I think if most of you don't mind BDSM or even enjoy it, then you'll enjoy this too. Although the steam could have been steamier at points - although there are a few of the sex scenes that are really hot ;)

Since Tobias was not exactly in the center of the Russian crime family thing as Church had been and Ghost is, there isn't anything quite as scary that Church went through for Tobias, and so not quite as much action, although there is some.

But this story is, imo, tamer in the action and crime department than the last one - and probably a lot tamer than Ghost's book will be too.

But it's good because Tobias, at his core, is a kind, good hearted person and really doesn't need to be near the Russian crime family shit. Ghost shouldn't be either, but he at least can handle it. Although he goes through some shitty stuff in this one, so I'll be super intrigued to get his book, and somewhat apprehensive but also super excited at the same time. I can't wait to see who will be able to break through Ghost's walls and who it will be to get Ghost to fall in love them. Also super excited to learn a lot more about Ghost then we have in the previous two books.

We don't get to see Church or Miller in this book, although Tobias does talk to Church on the phone and text him, but that's about it. Tobias wants Church to stay away from the whole thing in this book. But this book is mainly focused on Tobias and his story and Sullivan, with Ghost coming at the end.

And while we do learn quite a bit in this story, it was mostly Tobias' romance story, and a setting up the last book that will most likely feature the Russian crime family heavily once more.

But this was a fun, engaging story that I couldn't put down most of the time, and I'm excited for the last book too.

Definitely recommend if you read and enjoyed the first book in this series :)

***ARC provided by the Alpha Book Club in exchange for an honest review***

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I really liked the first book in this series so I had high hopes for this book. Thankfully it didn't disappoint. We met Church, Tobias and Ghost in book one. The three met as teenagers in a treament facility. They're all adults now and are out and trying to put their lives back together. This book focuses on Tobias.

Tobias is part of a large family and while he knows they love him but they're driving him crazy. His parents are both doctors and they expect the same from him. They're involved in every little aspect of his life and he does what they tell him to all the while he's unhappy and has a pressure inside that is constantly building. (And in a unique twist Tobias is a white kid who's been adopted by a Haitian family) When Ghost goes missing Tobias tries to break into his apartment. That leads him to meeting private investigator Sullivan who is trying to break in at the same time. Sullivan isn't looking for Ghost but his apartment plays into a case he's working. The two men get off to a bad start but end up working together to try to figure out what's going on.

There are two parts to this story. There's the mystery as to where Ghost is and then there's the romance. I absolutely loved these two together. Sullivan was so yummy (a mohawk, tattooed, snarky, kind & a kinky mofo *heart eyes*) and I loved watching Tobias finally take charge of his life. Their relationship was well done and I loved the bdsm aspect. Bdsm books aren't really my thing generally but it was done so well here and it felt like a very realistic thing. I also appreciated that the author made Sullivan a well adjusted guy with a loving family. He's not a Dom and into kink so some deep emotional reason. It just turns his crank.

I've seen other reviews that say this can be read as a standalone but I'm not sure I agree. The connection between Church, Tobias and Ghost is important and the events in book one factor into the events in this one. I really think you'd be best starting with the first story.

We see a bit of Church in this and a lot of Ghost. What an enigma Ghost is. The author can't write his book fast enough for me. It will be really interesting to see how that plays out. I can't even imagine what kind of man will be his partner.

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery part to me was boring at the beginning. Only because finding someone is a slow process. There's research and stake-outs and more research. It's boring to the investigator, therefore it's boring to me to read about. And the author doesn't just write: "he looked in the Federal database". No, she very precisely writes down every step, every detail, with a lot of consideration. Just like in Bad Judgment. I usually like detailed descriptions, especially in adrenaline-fueled scenes. But in this mystery case it bored me to death. I didn't care which database Sullivan was looking for information and stuff. It probably would've been more interesting to me if he wasn't doing that part alone (therefore no monologues), but with Tobias, so they could talk about it.

The first spark I felt was at 27%, where they were bickering about something. I was like FINALLY, some heat. :) And from then on, I didn't have much complaint.

Loved the BDSM. Tobias didn't know he was a sub. He knew he needed something, but couldn't figure it out until he met Sullivan, who's a trained Dom. I loved that he wanted to give Tobias what he needed, he didn't think about himself. The same with Tobias, he wanted to please Sullivan. And the aftercare... Sullivan was so nice, affectionate. He took care of Tobias, and it was in his every touch, every caress, and every word. And it was a special experience to see Tobias's progress, how he slowly figured out what he wanted/needed, what that itch under his skin meant.

Eventually the mystery/action got interesting to the point where I was buzzing with energy. Just wanted to dive in the book and help them.

Ghost. Sigh. I don't like him. He is interesting enough, for sure, but... I don't know him. He's playing different roles, and I can't tell which is the real him. I want to crack him open and figure out all his secrets. I have multiple theories about him, each one is crazier then the other. lol
December can't come soon enough.

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so confused. I really, really enjoyed this one. So much better than book 1 in my opinion but...well, I just can't with BDSM and well, I still liked this book.

Whatever. I still don't like pain and whatever but I guess it fit and I was happy for these guys I just don't have to really like it.

I wasn't sure if I was going to dig this story at the beginning. There was something so lovable about Tobias in the first book and this book scared me and made me think he was going to change. I am so thankful that the changes were all GOOD and needed. I am so glad he finally worked out what he needed and stood up for himself. Truly I am so glad he met Sullivan and he got it.

I am guessing that the girl who kept calling was a friend right? I don't think it was ever said but I hated her. I can't even remember her name right now but I could have totally done without her scene. She was just way too over the top. Way. Bone, bone, bone. Shut up.

This was such a setup for Ghost's story and man, I am so freaking nervous about it. He feels a lot like one of the loves of my life, Andrew and well, yeah, scared.

I can't freaking wait!

[Mug · Rating 5 out of 5]

tobias laughing with sullivan after sex, the kind of rough and painful sex that sullivan was demonized and shamed for wanting by his ex, but tobias enjoyed it and it was perfect for him, and he goofily laughs with sullivan, so content and pleased, and sullivan being immediately smitten thinking to himself “i’m so fucked”……..like bruh I’M TAKING DAMAGE😩😩 look at tobias unknowingly picking up sullivan’s broken pieces🥹🥹🥹🥹 i had to take a sec to scream into my pillow bc holy fuck!!!!!!!! what a fucking moment!!!!! happy tears were flowing y’all🥹🥹🥹 it’s wild sullivan’s ex even said the bs he did bc sullivan is the most caring and considerate dom fr, very serious about consent and making sure his partner is safe and willing. and that sullivan found in tobias “a playful, naturally occurring connection to another person that made Sullivan feel like a decent, normal human being who could be wanted and trusted.” and that tobias found in sullivan someone “he could give everything, could put Sullivan’s needs first. Because Sullivan gave back, and so much more fittingly that Tobias could’ve dreamed was possible.” SCREAMMMMMMM!!!!😩😩😩😩😩😩 cue me melting on the fucking floor bc i can’t handle it!!!!!

errgghh i’m so upset bc this was so wonderful, i can’t even find the words to describe how good this was, how well-rounded and natural, how interesting the mystery was, how captivating tobias and sullivan are together…..like no one can tell me these two mfs don’t BELONG together…..plus they had amusing banter, open communication, beautifully matched interests in the bedroom, support and trust…..they just FIT….made for each other fr

i read bdsm every now and then, and i’ll be honest, sometimes i just don’t understand it. i don’t understand why each of the main characters NEED what they do. but this book just made something click in my mind and i know exactly what tobias and sullivan are getting out of it. i think the author did a great job at showing us their dynamic. it really worked for me.

plus i really like how considerate tobias and sullivan were and that there’s no black and white villanizing. the author really made me dislike ghost and tobias’ family at some points, all to somehow turn it around in the end, esp the resolution with tobias’ family, it made me so emotional😭😭 like omg when it comes to books making me cry, i’m 3/3 this year💀

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hard Line is book 2 of The Woodbury Boys series and I don't think you should read this as a standalone. Could you? Sure. But I think if you skip book 1 you are going to miss out on a lot of back story and other relevant information that is discussed in Hard Line. At the end of book 1 we know that Ghost has promised to do "Mama" a favor in exchange for helping Church. Hard Line is predominantly about Tobias searching for Ghost who been "missing" for a long time. I have to say, after reading Loose Cannon, I was not expecting to see this side of Tobias. During his search he runs across Sullivan, a PI who is working on a cold case about a missing girl from 1992. I was very much impressed with how these two seemingly unrelated cases did in fact converge and tie together thru Ghost and Mama. I wasn't expecting any of the drama that unfolded for the case. Be warned that the mystery of Sullivan's missing girl is solved, but there is another element to this who thing that isn't solved and I believe the next book in this series (Ghost's story) will be about tying up those loose ends.

As for the relationship between Sullivan and Tobias, that came out of left field for me but it totally worked - for me. Tobias has always been uptight and repressed and despite his one outburst that sent him to Woodbury he's been good, does what he's told and what his parents expect. All that pressure and rebellion has been building up - Tobias is like a pressure cooker just waiting to explode. And when Ghost disappears and when Tobias finds a letter from his birth mother in the trash, the explosion is huge! Tobias runs away from his family (but not far), and thru Sullivan, Tobias finds a release for his emotions. Submitting to Sullivan and finding subspace is heaven for Tobias. They are a lucky match because how likely is it for two strangers to meet under those circumstances and be exactly what the other needs? Despite the improbability of this I still liked it and was totally absorbed in those moments between Sullivan and Tobias.

Once Tobias got his head on straight and knew what he wanted, which was Sullivan and all that a relationship between them would entail - he 100% went after it. He told Sullivan exactly what he wanted (and I kind of enjoyed Sullivan's freak out at the end :) ) and then he also sat down with his parents and explained what was going on with him and why he reacted the way he did when he saw they had thrown out his birth mother's letter without telling him.

Back to the mystery of this book related to Ghost and the missing girl - whew! That is so detailed and you do have to pay attention. I have no idea what Ghost was really thinking during his time "away." I don't want to give away any spoilers so I need to keep this vague. Ghost's actions (which Sullivan and Tobias spied on thru an open window doing PI stuff) were not in any way something I could believe were true, but on the other hand, I just don't know. Ghost is an odd one and I don't think he shows his true self to anyone except he does care about Tobias because when Ghost sees bruises on Tobias's wrist from some rough sex play, Ghost gets the wrong idea and attacks Sullivan. This shows that Ghost is really capable of love and caring, otherwise he wouldn't have attacked Sullivan. I can't wait for his story! The mystery element is still open as I've mentioned, so don't expect everything to be tied up in a neat little bow. Things between Sullivan and Tobias are great, and we get an epilogue 18 months in the future which is awww-suumm!

I give this one 5 stars and am on pins and needles thinking what Ghost's story could possibly be like/about.

*Note: I was provided an ARC and so I didn't expect this version to be polished and clean, so I didn't officially mention any of that in my review. I did encounter several editing issues and the formatting for my MOBI copy wasn't correct and I had sentences hanging out on their own and section breaks weren't clearly defined, etc. I hope the final published version has all those details fixed.*

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book ❤️ This story continues around the friendship of Church, Tobias and Ghost. This book focused on Tobias with a hint of Ghost which has really left me wanting book 3 ASAP ! Tobias really came into his own in this book. After meeting Sullivan while searching for Ghost, they form a partnership after they realize their two cases are linked. Sullivan is fairly anti social but can’t help being attracted to Tobias. On one heated evening Tobias falls to his knees and to Sullivan’s delight he realizes Tobias is a sub - and a somewhat masochistic one. Perfect ! As Sullivan and Tobias work to find Ghost they come to understand their bond and need for each other. This was beautiful and gritty all at the same time.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Least favorite in the series. Read this series out of order, started with #3 Rough Trade. It’s still by far my favorite and made my “best” list in 2018.

Little of this convoluted story resonated with me. And the second this book veered off into BDSM, I wanted to be done.

[Hayley ☾ (TheVillainousReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I defo think that this is an example of it not being the book and being me because everyone seemed to love this and yet... I did not hate it, or even dislike it, it just didn't stand out to me.

So *folds hands on knee*. I started out really enjoying this. I really liked Tobias' genuine personality (he's so kind), and Sullivan's humor. I enjoyed Tobais' development, it's SO hard learning to stand up to your family and for yourself, but then I felt like things started to taper off. This story is very character driven, which honestly is my favorite kinds of story, but for some reason I just didn't love the characters enough to... not get bored with the lack of plot. Or I guess the chosen plot?

Sullivan was seriously delightful and the kink was g o o d but I just felt like something was lacking.. and dragging a little.. I also wish that Bell would have deviled into the mental health aspect a little more for this one.

Something wasn't working for me and I just don't know what it was. Frustrating. I also wish that Church and Ghost (the friend group) would have been in this more. Friend dynamics are the best dynamics!

Once again, I'm not saying this was bad. I just liked the first one better. Though, this was a good (if less exciting) continuation of the overarching plot.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars

This one took a long time to get into; I kept starting and stopping because, despite it being by an author I typically love & highly rate, this one just didn't grab me right away, like both Loose Cannon & Bad Judgment did. I liked the characters separately but didn't feel their connection. Not until after they started the long-term stake-out. The conversations & revelations were enlightening and that was when I really started noticing the sexual tension.

Which just made the 2-ish interactions that came before read as quite awkward.

You know the "Well that escalated quickly" gif? Yeah, I have never really felt it as appropos for something as I did for Tobias dropping to his knees and pawing at Sullivan's crotch after being only slightly manhandled. (Later rough treatment and punishment was much more organic.)

And that long first edging scene? It felt so clinical, so staged. So much like a high-protocol BDSM scene you'd find in a sex-club - the strict standards & expectations of which I just can't see Sullivan conforming to...he's too informal & independent.

But like I said, after the days spent in close contact, things between the MCs felt more real, more visceral. The case took off at that point as well, so the story isn't wading through the minutiae of PI casework; I honestly had NO IDEA things were going to head in that direction and while it was a shock it also totally made sense.

Finally seeing Tobias become more independent, putting his foot down, was rewarding...and reading about his current struggles gave his characterization in both this and the previous book more depth. His need to please and fear of rejection broke my heart and can be easily understood given the family dynamic. And it also explained his determination to help find Ghost. So, that need for a bit of pain to get him to subspace - where he could finally just get out of his own head, out of his own way - was an interesting character development. It didn't "cure" him, but finally getting what he needed and letting go - having someone to trust to do that for him - gave him a little more confidence in his life & in his decisions. Sullivan's encouragement to communicate his needs, his desires, his goals surely helped as well.

Now, if only he'd done that a bit more himself; of course, given his best friend of decades dropped him like a hot potato & ghosted out of there after some judgy BS on the BDSM revelation, I can see why he'd be a bit gun shy and unwilling to put himself out there asking for more. But I loved that Sullivan wasn't perfect, wasn't an all-seeing/knowing Dom. He did try to read Tobias' clues and used his previous experience to navigate the field (so to speak), but made mistakes every now and then when playing with Tobias...which they both learned from. And I adored that outside of the bedroom he was NOT violent. Despite how his appearance might lead someone to believe otherwise, he didn't get into fights. Sullivan was more a sexual sadist, and that is an important distinction; he didn't like hurting people for any other reason than to bring them pleasure. The dichotomy was an interesting bit of characterization. (And don't get me started on how sexual sadism is supposedly a disorder. It's even in the DSM 5, FFS! Of course, homosexuality used to be listed there as well...and gender dysphoria still is, so make of that what you will.)

I mentioned in an update that there was a weird POV shift and even after reading it I think that the details could have been told by Ghost if a 3rd person's information was important. He had a read on, and understanding of, the guy Mama was targeting and had that passage been from his POV it would have read like an early set-up for the next book.

Which I am totally dying to read because Ghost is one of those characters you just don't know what to expect from or who he's going to be paired with successfully. I'm totally guessing here because we got NO info on the guy other than he's an unimpeachable retired cop who likes to camp (RV?) but since he's older I'm thinking that's the kind of man Ghost needs to balance out the BS and ground him. We'll see though...still can't wait!


ARC provided via Netgalley and Carina Press in exchange for honest review.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Of the Woodbury trio, the one that really stole my heart in book 1 was Tobias. He's incredibly smart and kindhearted, and so different from Church and Ghost. Where Ghost and Church have broken childhoods and complicated pasts, Tobias grew up in a loving and wealthy home.

But it was clear in book 1 that Tobias had his own hangups, and a bunch of issues that he hadn't even started unpacking.



'Hard Line' is where the shit hits the fan for Tobias. Readers see him break out of his constraints, and the resulting meltdown and gradual re-building. I loved seeing him go from someone with the barest interest in life, to someone with confidence and a sense of purpose.

And a big part of that change is Sullivan, the private investigator Tobias blackmails into helping him look for Ghost. Though the two start off on the wrong foot, the attraction between them is undeniable.

It doesn't take long for them to give into the physical pull, and for the two start getting creative. If you're into D/s, spankings, and dirty talk, this book will deliver! Sullivan and Tobias were hot, hot, hot.



But beyond the sex, Sullivan gives Tobias the support he needs to break out of the mold he's been stuck in. While the two fall in love pretty quickly, this is one of those books were the two MCs just fit together so perfectly that the quick change from strangers to lovers makes complete sense.

And while Tobias and Sullivan are falling in love, the two are also busy looking for Ghost. The mystery plot is highly entertaining, and kept me hooked waiting to see what would happen next. It made me see Ghost in a new light. And while I'm still not entirely sold on him, the revelations in book 2 really explain a lot.

Overall, this was a great read. The characters are complex, the romance is sweet, the sex is hot, and the mystery was captivating. The epilogue was the cherry on top for an excellent character-driven read!


Review copy provided through NetGalley.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.75 stars

It’s been almost a year since I read, Loose Cannon, the first book in the Woodbury Boys series. I was really looking forward to Ghost’s full story, which will be the third book, and anticipated that Tobias’ story and Hard Line would be a stepping stone to get to that book three, but that was not at all the case. While I knew there was more to Tobias than we were shown in the first book, this story came together so well for me.

We met Tobias in the first book when he was a resident at the treatment facility and it was where he met Ghost and Church. We never knew what sent Tobias to the facility and here his story is unraveled. This book is incredibly layered with both Tobias’ personal story as well as the larger story involving Ghost and the Russians. It’s so well layered and it’s not easy to talk about specific plot points. Tobias’ story goes back to his family and the expectations he has for himself and the expectations he thinks they have for him. He has spent his whole life preparing to be a doctor like his parents and it’s all spiraled out of control on him.

Tobias and Sullivan are a study in contrasts, but Sullivan is the perfect balm to this soul. The meeting is by chance and not under the best of circumstances. Sullivan is trying to prove himself in the PI world and he has a methodical work ethic that helps him connect links that weren’t seen before. He also is struggling with his sexual needs as he likes to be dominant and likes to be the cause of the pain that his partner needs. This backfired on him in his last relationship and he hasn’t dated since then and believes Tobias is not at all what he needs, but Tobias surprises him at every turn.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I really liked book 1 in this series, but this was even better. Loved Tobias and Sullivan. Tobias's mental health issues and family stuff (and how they inter-related) were really well done, the kink exploration was super-hot, and while the suspense plot required a fair amount of disbelief-suspending, it set up the third book beautifully. Would have liked more Church, though!

Might round up after reading book 3!