Trust

Hammer #14

by Sean Michael

Submissive Kerry has returned from Florida, broke, broken-hearted, and defeated after his master kicked him out. Lucky for him, private detective and old friend Frank finds him and drags him back to the Hammer where he gets a job washing dishes. He's doing the best he can when Top Bellamy sees him and is utterly charmed. Bellamy can tell Kerry's got trust issues, and he takes it slowly, befriending Kerry first, but he's determined to show Kerry that not all Doms are bad.

As the men fall in love, will they be able to overcome Kerry's past, or will Kerry find himself unable to trust?

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Erotica, LGBT, Gay

132 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2012

About the author

Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story which focuses mainly on the development of the relationship between the sub Kerry and the Dom Bellamy. Kerry has lots of trust issues after a betrayal by his former Dom. His overcoming this issues and the building of trust between Bel and Kerry is a wonderful read. Althought the story is set in the Hammer world and lots of Hammer couples appear the focus is not on BDSM (only some light spanking, shaving).

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the ‘Hammer’ series, this book tackles an issue that is often overlooked: what happens to a sub who is kicked out by his Dom after long years of sharing a life, and without that Dom taking care to make sure he is at least physically okay. It shows one of the potential downsides of the D/s lifestyle; that of a sub who depends on his Dom for everything. However, this specific story also shows how helpful a community can be in making sure the sub finds his feet again. I found myself wishing that part to be true most of all.

Kerry is in deep trouble. He tries to be brave, and fights to get his life in order again, but he is fundamentally shaken in his beliefs. Not that I can blame him. He trusted his former ‘master’ with everything and was badly let down. If he wasn’t so desperately in need of being taken care of, if he wasn’t so clearly a sub, this situation would turn him away from the lifestyle forever. The fact that he still craves being ‘owned’ by someone speaks to the strength of this need in him and how much it is a part of his personality. As much as anyone outside the lifestyle might tell him to ‘just forget about it’, that is not something Kerry can do without losing a huge part of himself and giving up any chance at being happy again.

Bellamy is a wonderful guy. He is pretty much resigned to being on his own, not a ‘flashy’ Dom at all, and a very sensitive and understanding man. As soon as he sees Kerry he is attracted to him, but he understands that Kerry needs time and patience to recover from his ordeal. What the sub needs most is friendship, so, being the good Dom that he is, this is what Bellamy offers at first. It is a very interesting take on D/s and shows there is far more to it than just the bedroom or mental ‘games’ so many people see.

This is a great story about so much more than D/s. It is about two men who become friends before they discover other aspects of their lives may fit together as well. It is also about trust and the hope that things can get better even when you think there is no way out. I loved that message as much as I did the interactions between Kerry and Bellamy and the slow, leisurely pace they take toward a life together. If you like the Hammer series and are curious about a slightly less ‘conventional’ approach to D/s, you will probably like this book.



NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on QMO Books.

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I am going to have to select this as my favourite hammer book so far. It looked at what can happen to a sub when circumstances change and people arent who they portrayed themselves to be, and what a proper community should do when they find one of their own turned out and abandoned.

This was a fairy tale relationship, and you know that is all good to me, I like to see what my ideal D/s relationship could look like. It was sweet and gentle and while Bel and Kerry made friends and slowly fell in love we learnt more about them and that was far nicer than them falling into bed in the first 5 minutes.

Trust had a real maturity too it, probably to match its characters but I felt it was a mellowing in writing and made it I nice relaxed read.

[Anke · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars means it was ok - and that's about it. I think there is a time in life for everything, with regard to M/M for me at the beginning of reading this genre it were all the GA Hauser books, but - sorry, it's not my cup of tea anymore. And I think I have to add the Sean Michael's books - at least the Hammer-series - to it as well. I totally loved the books up to some point and I really can't pin it down when it changed, but with this book I have to say - well, that's about it. It's getting too repetitive for me and the whole book felt like the remake/mix of several earlier books of the series. So, thank you Sean Michael for many entertaining hours of reading, but this was my epilogue.

[Emma Sea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Argh, why do I do this to myself? I found this a very disappointing addition to the Hammer series. There wasn't enough tension or plot for me. I kept waiting for Kerry's Dom to realise he'd been an idiot and come to try to win Kerry back, but that was really never in the cards. The book is Bellamy and Kerry meeting, getting closer very quickly, and having sex. There isn't any actual BDSM play in this book to make up for the lack of plot, either.

I am so happy I don't have to do the cleaning at the Hammer: the seats in the dining room must be practically crusty.

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So sweet my teeth hurt. Kerry is so adorable and honest, I couldn't help enjoy this. His reactions are true, his need is pure, and after the shit he's dealt, his strength is more than amazing. He's got the more lovable soul. And Bellamy? Pfft, he's the best best friend a guy could ask for.

Almost done with this series.

[Gabbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Hammer books. I liked the way Kerry and Bel's relationship developed and the BDSM wasn't over the top. It was nice to see the relationship develop between them first before they jumped into the D/s lifestyle.

[Sammy Goode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kerry is a broken and desperate sub. He has been thrown away after a 10-year relationship with a Dom who left him for, of all things, a woman…a woman pregnant with the Dom’s child. Kerry has been sent packing with nothing more than a suitcase and an ancient, wheezing car. For all those years, he had lived to serve his Master—and his Master had provided everything he desired, except the one thing Kerry needed most—a trusting and safe relationship.

Trust, by Sean Michael is a novella that is all about second chances and learning that one can find happiness even after devastating betrayal.

When Kerry manages to make it back to Hammer, the club that caters to Dom/Sub relationships, he is destitute. In fact, he is sleeping on a park bench, freezing cold and has not had a meal of any real substance in quite some time. Followers of the Hammer series will recognize many familiar faces in this story. Frank, the man who finds Kerry is one of them. Frank takes Kerry back to the club and we find out that both Kerry and his former Dom were some of the original members and staff of Hammer. Kerry is immediately given back his old job as wait staff and once again the members of Hammer embrace one of their own.

Waiting tables one night, Kerry meets Bellamy, a quiet and gentle man. So gentle, in fact, that Kerry mistakenly thinks Bel is a sub like him. Not so. In fact, Bel is every bit a Dom and a determined one at that! He sets his sights on Kerry and for the rest of this novella we get to watch the sweet dance between these two men.

When Sean Michael writes a story like Trust, you remember just why you are drawn again and again to her work! While the BDSM elements play a fairly minor role in this installment of the Hammer series, the incredible way that Michaels defines and draws her characters takes center stage.

What a lovely story this is! We are part of the healing process that Kerry undergoes in order to relearn what it is to trust a master again, to love fully again, to submit and serve which brings him such contentment and joy. Bellamy encapsulates what every good Dom should be—wise, caring, nurturing and so very sure that he is exactly what Kerry needs and that he is the only master Kerry will ever have again.

[Sucajo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet, slow-paced story which is all about trust and believing in yourself. I really loved it. I do think it's about time Xavier had his own story, though!

[Fernanda Parente · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this live story because that's what this book is about. More than lifestyle it's about love

[Emilyrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is incredibly sweet from start to finish. Bellamy just comes across as the kindest, most caring man anyone could ask for - he is so patient with Kerry and you can really see their relationship develop along with the trust between them. Kerry is vulnerable yet strong; he is determined not to be hurt again after what his ex did. The pair together have some steamy moments but definitely lots of romantic moments too.

There was pretty much zero angst in this book. Any issues Kerry initially faced were dealt with and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop slightly (maybe something with the ex) but nothing ever happened. Instead it was a slow build, sweet romance with a HEA both characters deserved. If this is what you like from a MM book then I'd recommend it.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author for me and, on top of that, I pick a story well down the list of a series, but it was still a nice read. Of course you can tell that a few of the lesser important characters in this tale are from previous episodes but it doesn't impinge on this sweet story. Pain, abandonment and rejection has gentle Kerry back in his hometown and people step forward to help him regroup, especially Bellamy. A lovely tale gently told and rather sexy too, I was really enjoying it until it went there and bought me to a skidding halt. I love mm stories but I have one thing that I cannot deal with, fisting. I'm sorry but it's a definite no no for me, makes me cringe. But, fortunately, it was only talked of, with a sigh of relief I carried on reading and thoroughly enjoying this story.

[Colleen Cremen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Another great story from the Hammer Club series!
Kerry returns home from Miami after being abandoned by his Dom and is living on the streets.
He luckily comes across a friend who helps him get a job at Hammer Club. Dom Bellamy sees Kerry at the club and wants the sadness in Kerry's eyes to be gone. A story of friendship and love and trust.

[Mary Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute book

I liked that faith was restored for this sub...its hars spending time with someone you love and then be abandoned

[Teeny · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the very engrossing Solitary, Trust is more demure. I was really anxious to read this one 'cos I wanted to see how Kerry and the to be his Dom, Bellamy would find their way together and overcome Kerry's trauma. I was a bit disappointed to tell the truth to see that what I expected to be a very angsty novella it actually wasn't. Not a bad read I just expected something more.

[Charly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Hammer story, although the sex doesn’t start until further in than usual

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 7/10

PROS:
- The initial chapters during which Bellamy is befriending Kerry are nothing amazing. But it’s sweet how Bellamy makes such an effort to be low-key and not to pressure Kerry into something he’s not ready for, especially when Bellamy has the desire right from the start to claim Kerry and start Dominating him.
- The Hammer books all have fairly similar narrative voices. There’s the sub voice and the Dom voice, and they’re practically interchangeable from one story to the next. I like those voices, though, especially when they say things like this: “He woke up at seven a.m. with an upset stomach and a head that felt like a tiny, evil centipede with tap shoes was doing flamenco.”
- There are times when the characters are almost unbearably formal with each other. In most other stories, this would have seemed out of place, but I thought it fit this particular story pretty well.
- The sex scenes--especially the first one--are very sweet: gentle and tentative with a lot of kissing.

CONS:
- Michael has a tendency to use one word or phrase over and over again within a particular story, and in this case it’s “lovely.” Halfway through chapter 2, the word has already been used half a dozen times. And it doesn’t let up much throughout the rest of the story.
- There are unusual expressions used consistently by different characters in quite a few of the Hammer stories (example: “that’s very dear” to describe something sweet). This makes them seem repetitive when you’ve read the majority of the stories in the series, like I have.

Overall comments: If you like your romance with some D/s and a lot of sex, this might be right up your alley. I tend to find the sex in Michael’s stories a little much, but I do like his characters, so I usually end up reading them in small doses so the sex is broken up a bit.

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, yes, I keep reading these. They fill a candy coated hole in my soul. :-) The blurb pretty much says it all. When Frank finds Kerry, he and his man take him in and he gets his job back at the Hammer. Kerry is determined to make it on his own, even if it means working himself to the bone with two jobs and no way is he getting into a BDSM relationship again. However he meets Bellamy at the club and they start to become friends, hanging out together, cooking, watching movies, Bellamy taking care of Kerry when he gets run down. However Kerry continues to resist a relationship and insist on friendship only.

So when Bellamy meets him and finds out what happened, he basically says “I have to take this slow.” It seems the last few times I’ve seen this “take it slow” scenario that equates 48 hours, maybe 72. But this seemed to be several months. Truly slow. LOL So kudos for actually taking it slow.

The BDSM is pretty light, as they don’t even really discuss it until near the end of the book. The focus is on the friendship rather than the sexual kinks. So on the whole, despite being one of the shorter books in the series I found it more rewarding and I think in large part due to the fact that they don’t actually sleep together until well over half-way in, so there isn’t a lot of time for sex scene after sex scene and boredom to set in, on my part, not the characters’ because we all know this author’s characters are like energizer bunnies in the bedroom.

So fans of the series will enjoy it, although really the other characters only have a passing role, so it’s not a huge reunion story. Still, it was what I was expecting, maybe a bit better than I was expecting. But we read these stories because we know what we’ll get and sometimes that exactly hits the spot.

[Jo * Smut-Dickted * · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished this one on the way home from a hockey game. Standard story for The Hammer Series and I liked it but not more. I would have liked to know more about the background of Kerry because I just kept feeling like so much of his life was a mystery to me. Since he was in his mid 30's that just didn't gel real well. I didn't want a treatise of his past life but a greater look in. Damaged yes but I'm not sure exactly how the "abuse" went in some ways - yes the Master dumped him and cheated which is awful but I didn't get the sense of physical abuse so the categorization felt a bit dramatic for what happened. On the other hand I loved how he stayed his own person and how he was so honest about what he was feeling - really endeared me to him. He stood up for himself nicely. It is the best thing when you read about a character that had bad things happen that they learned from and which caused them to change a behavior and such!

[Meggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually I don't read "Hammer series", because I need to be in mood for it or simply into BDSM theme. Today I simply started on this story and it was really great one. Emotionally read, developed really realistic and down to earth. I Loved it. The Dom/Sub relationship between Bellamy and Kerry was built slowly focused more around trust, building a new life for Kerry and accepting a new better Dom/ a friend for better or worst. The story was really well developed and pulling. I really enjoyed the slow pace and it's atmosphere.

[Becky Condit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet, sweet story (bet you never thought a Sean Michael bdsm book would get that description!) and was elated when Kerry finally allowed Bel to love him. By the end of the book Kerry is not completely healed from what his ex did to his self-esteem but I would call this ending an HEA, rather than an HFN. If you are a fan of the Hammer series, Sean Michael, or bdsm stories, this is the book for you. Enjoy!

Please see my complete review July 19, 2012 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerry has been been hurt by the worst kind of betrayal and he's just done. He ends up back working at the Hammer but he is never going to going back to the lifestyle. Enter Bel a really a different dom in context to the rest of the Hammer gang. He is quiet and patient and Kerry forms a friendship before he even realizes that Bel is a dom. Bel is attracted from the beginning but he knows that moving slowly will be the order of the day. This is a sweet, happy story.

[Simply Just Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was really good. Sean Michael can create some steamy sex scenes for sure! I loved how Michael combines the hardcore BDSM relationship with devotion and romance. I fell in love with the characters quickly. I loved the story and how it touched on what happens to a lifechoice submissive finds out the dynamics with their Dom changes and the Dom no longer wants that relationship. Some of this story broke my heart. I felt so much compassion for Ker but thanked God for Belamy

[Wendy❤Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aptly named, this story very much centers on the need for trust to develop between Bellamy and Kerry before any kind of relationship (much less a D/s one) can form. I enjoy seeing the many different couples and their unique needs come to light in each of books of this series. A guilty pleasure!

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you just need a little Sean Michael in your life. Even though Mr Michael follows his normal pattern during this visit to The Hammer he took time to allow these two MC's to develop an insight to each other that make them charming to watch.

[Tamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kerry and felt so bad for him. To have such an unfeeling Master take advantage of him for so long and then just abandon him. He was lucky Frank found him and talked him in to returning to The Hammer. And then Bellamy found him and the rest is romantic history, Hammer style :)

[Purplegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Hammer story.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Hammer book (yes I know!) and I loved it, very sweet and gooey, left me smiling all the way through.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a nice addition to the Hammer series.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites in the series. Loved the characters and enjoyed watching the two MC's fall in love.

[S.K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was exactly what I needed to read - a story about regaining trust, being friends as well as lovers, wanting the best for the other person. A definite Hammer favourite.

And the sex was hot!!