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Wrapped Up in Chains by Cindy Sutherland
Devon West is a professional Dom who runs his own club, doesn’t believe in romance, and has never been in a long-term relationship. All this changes when he rescues Chase Mackenzie. Chase is a runaway who has been kept as a slave since he was sixteen. Now twenty-three, he’s still innocent and sweet despite being severely abused and left behind by his Dom. When Devon finds out that the man who held Chase hostage is the same man who hurt him terribly when he started learning about the sub/Dom lifestyle, he knows he has to keep Chase safe. Spoiled rich boy and sociopath James Kingston is obsessed with Devon. He’s convinced Devon would be his perfect sub and Devon only thinks he’s a Dom because he needs proper discipline. Losing Chase to Devon is like rubbing salt in the wound, and he’s determined to get them both under his thumb. This time, Chase may need to rescue Devon.
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First published March 13, 2014
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About the author
Cindy Sutherland
11 books54 followersCindy Sutherland is a first-time author in her early forties who never thought that getting involved in a fandom would lead to being published. She is an avid reader who would take in anything she could get her hands on, having inherited a love of books from both her parents.
She wrote in secret as a young adult, with only her family for an audience, and now is over the moon at the thought of sharing her love of writing with a few more people. Her favorite stress-busting activity besides writing is singing karaoke at her hometown bar, and she is passing on her love of reading to her daughter.
Cindy thanks God every day for an errant Youtube recommendation that led to her having the best group of friends she's ever had in her life, and she is looking forward to seeing where the rest of this journey will take her; and, hopefully, more stories to tell.
She wrote in secret as a young adult, with only her family for an audience, and now is over the moon at the thought of sharing her love of writing with a few more people. Her favorite stress-busting activity besides writing is singing karaoke at her hometown bar, and she is passing on her love of reading to her daughter.
Cindy thanks God every day for an errant Youtube recommendation that led to her having the best group of friends she's ever had in her life, and she is looking forward to seeing where the rest of this journey will take her; and, hopefully, more stories to tell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
sampled-no-thanks
May 13, 2022I’m all for hurt/comfort stories with a traumatized sub and a caring, competent Dom, but the sample was more than enough to know that this book and I just aren’t meant to be.
The first scene starts with Devon, the owner of a BDSM club, walking on one of his employees (apparently a Dom) flagging a sub as a punishment because the sub struck another Dom. The sub is tied up and bleeding, never consented to the “scene” (I use the term very loosely) and everyone around them is just looking. Some of them are uneasy, but nobody intervenes. No one, not even Devon’s manager.
Devon is justly furious and he interrupts the proceedings immediately, which is all well and good, if it wasn’t that:
- he hired two of these people, the Dom beating up the sub and the other one just standing around not knowing what to do, and put them in charge, so that’s strike one for sheer incompetency;
- he runs a club where such scenes are considered, if not normal, apparently not disturbing enough to warrant some sort of reaction from the club’s members and staff. So strike two for the reason above and, incidentally, I don’t think any decent BDSM practitioner would’ve been standing around doing nothing and/or would be going back to that club in real life;
- he stood around asking for explanations and firing the so-called Dom while the sub was still tied up, so that’s strike three;
- after he finally untied Chase, that’s what our wonderful Dom was thinking:
I fear my eyes would be in serious danger of getting stuck rolling if I continued with this book, so...I’m out.
The first scene starts with Devon, the owner of a BDSM club, walking on one of his employees (apparently a Dom) flagging a sub as a punishment because the sub struck another Dom. The sub is tied up and bleeding, never consented to the “scene” (I use the term very loosely) and everyone around them is just looking. Some of them are uneasy, but nobody intervenes. No one, not even Devon’s manager.
Devon is justly furious and he interrupts the proceedings immediately, which is all well and good, if it wasn’t that:
- he hired two of these people, the Dom beating up the sub and the other one just standing around not knowing what to do, and put them in charge, so that’s strike one for sheer incompetency;
- he runs a club where such scenes are considered, if not normal, apparently not disturbing enough to warrant some sort of reaction from the club’s members and staff. So strike two for the reason above and, incidentally, I don’t think any decent BDSM practitioner would’ve been standing around doing nothing and/or would be going back to that club in real life;
- he stood around asking for explanations and firing the so-called Dom while the sub was still tied up, so that’s strike three;
- after he finally untied Chase, that’s what our wonderful Dom was thinking:
He needed to get to the bottom of this. If Chase was seriously hurt, this little shit show could cause him real problems.A realistic and very human thought, it's not like I blame him for worrying about his business, even if that wasn't really the right time and his priorities should've been others, like needing to get to the bottom of it so other subs wouldn't get hurt in the future, but then 5 minutes later:
Devon looked toward the crowd. “Please feel free to continue to enjoy yourselves, but keep this in mind. I won’t tolerate this kind of brutality in my place. Remember, these amazing people put themselves in your care, and it’s your duty as their Doms to make sure they’re safe while they’re with you. Don’t abuse the gift they’ve given you if you want to keep it.”Yeah, right.
I fear my eyes would be in serious danger of getting stuck rolling if I continued with this book, so...I’m out.
Read
March 17, 2014Cindy Sutherland is a first-time author in her early forties who never thought that getting involved in a fandom would lead to being published . . . She wrote in secret as a young adult, with only her family for an audience . . . Cindy thanks God every day for an errant Youtube recommendation that led to her having the best group of friends she's ever had in her life.
I think that's just awesome. It's a case study on why the internet is so brilliant, and why youngs should never listen to olds who say how much better the world was before this series of tubes that keeps them all inside instead of out in vacant lots playing stickball and preparing their skin for melanomas thirty years later.
I feel all happy and warm that Cindy Sutherland finally got published, and I hope she has a great response to her book.
I think that's just awesome. It's a case study on why the internet is so brilliant, and why youngs should never listen to olds who say how much better the world was before this series of tubes that keeps them all inside instead of out in vacant lots playing stickball and preparing their skin for melanomas thirty years later.
I feel all happy and warm that Cindy Sutherland finally got published, and I hope she has a great response to her book.
March 28, 2014
I'm a huge fan of captive slave type stories. I especially like them gritty. So if you read my reviews don't be afraid of this one - it is not really harsh or gritty. It is actually very sweet most of the time. It is very much like some of the M/f books that are so popular of late (Club Shadowlands type)where you have what appears to be a younger rich Dom who owns a club. Devon fits into character but there are a lot of unanswered questions about his past and his group of friends - and even how the club really works. Why did Mike do what he did in the beginning? I did not realize the book was set in New Orleans until very close to 3/4 of the way through which was interesting (maybe I missed it) because it had no New Orleans flavor to me.
Chase was a very endearing character. Definitely a heart string tugger. There is a great deal of suspension of belief because after 6 years of being kept as a slave I think he would be more scarred (not only physically). There is some mention of things but you do not get a lot of depth (nightmares, his visits with the psych, etc). The BDSM is fine - nothing major and absolutely fits the story (I don't refer to Chase's captivity as BDSM as there was really no sane consent). I actually want to say the BDSM never comes off as preachy or BDSM101 and that's great because it certainly could have.
I liked this story - though I think I would have loved it had I been able to really get a better sense for it. What I mean is it seemed very generic - I wasn't able to really "see", "feel", "smell" the places and people. It's not bland really - it just needs to be dazzling. Had I been able to engage more of my senses I think it would have been a much stronger read for me. Instead of walking into a kitchen to get food being stated if you got a sense for things like how the floor feels (tile - cold, wood -warm or ridged?) and how the kitchen smells it would evoke more feelings in the reader. Much more descriptive language. I had no sense for how other people looked or who they were. These types of things would have made the story more engaging and really probably a 5 for me. The writing is smooth and the dialogue is very good - there is some great talent here and I'm looking forward to future books!
Chase was a very endearing character. Definitely a heart string tugger. There is a great deal of suspension of belief because after 6 years of being kept as a slave I think he would be more scarred (not only physically). There is some mention of things but you do not get a lot of depth (nightmares, his visits with the psych, etc). The BDSM is fine - nothing major and absolutely fits the story (I don't refer to Chase's captivity as BDSM as there was really no sane consent). I actually want to say the BDSM never comes off as preachy or BDSM101 and that's great because it certainly could have.
I liked this story - though I think I would have loved it had I been able to really get a better sense for it. What I mean is it seemed very generic - I wasn't able to really "see", "feel", "smell" the places and people. It's not bland really - it just needs to be dazzling. Had I been able to engage more of my senses I think it would have been a much stronger read for me. Instead of walking into a kitchen to get food being stated if you got a sense for things like how the floor feels (tile - cold, wood -warm or ridged?) and how the kitchen smells it would evoke more feelings in the reader. Much more descriptive language. I had no sense for how other people looked or who they were. These types of things would have made the story more engaging and really probably a 5 for me. The writing is smooth and the dialogue is very good - there is some great talent here and I'm looking forward to future books!
March 17, 2014
4 Stars
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
What a wonderful, sweet and charming story this was..... don't let the cover or blurb mislead you! It kicks off with a scene in Devon’s BDSM club – and I though “Oh yeah! Now this is what I am talking about!” as Devon strutted onto my kindle :-) unfortunately it was not for a scene of his own, but to break up a scene in the club that had gone too far. A Dom was punishing a sub for some reason, and the guy was out of control – Devon quickly steps in and rescues the sub, Chase, and pretty much as soon as Devon sees Chase – it is game, set and match. He will be his. I love that instant lust. That ownership.
Chase’s story is quite heartbreaking – and I really don’t want to spoiler anything; so I am trying to be vague and yet still tell you something. I actually read the book blind - without reading the blurb, so the events as they were revealed had a big effect on me! In some ways I think blurbs can take away from the the drama of the book. Anyhow ... Chase is in his early 20’s and ran away from home in his teens because he was terrified of the fallout from him being gay. He soon meets a man, Kingston, in the city – and he takes Chase in. Literally and figuratively. Sadly for Chase, Kingston is not a nice man. And trust me that is a massive understatement. Kingston and Chase are living together in a full on D/s arrangement when Devon rescues Chase in the club; so now Kingston is after Devon to regain his possession i.e. Chase. We soon discover that Devon and Kingston have a bit of history which makes their battle for Chase even more personal.
Devon is just sublime. A perfect Dom , I guess. He wants Chase so much, but is unsure whether Chase was a sub purely because he was bullied into it by Kingston, or whether he is as beautifully and naturally submissive as he seems. He is determined to wait and see what Chase wants and needs once he has fully recovered, and is able to make his own decisions – a tough time for a young guy who has been forced into a situation in his formative years. The choices and plain old life experiences Chase has missed out on while with Kingston will break your heart. When Devon arranges for him to meet his family again I cried. Just a bit. But tears were shed. :-(
While there was a definite BDSM theme to it - it is not why I recommend the story. The romance is what will stay with me - it was beautiful and the connection between Chase and Devon was wonderful, but if it is the BDSM trope that you after then I honestly think this book isn’t edgy enough. The term “sweet boy” was used far too often for my liking; I love terms of endearment but I honestly think authors need to refrain from overusing them. And the BDSM scenes which were hot as HAWT can be just seemed too sweet for some reason – they just weren’t gritty – almost like the MC’s were just going through the motions. In saying that – I really do strongly recommend this book – it was lovely, and if you like some sweet in your BDSM then you will definitely not be disappointed with this read. Go. Buy the Book!
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
What a wonderful, sweet and charming story this was..... don't let the cover or blurb mislead you! It kicks off with a scene in Devon’s BDSM club – and I though “Oh yeah! Now this is what I am talking about!” as Devon strutted onto my kindle :-) unfortunately it was not for a scene of his own, but to break up a scene in the club that had gone too far. A Dom was punishing a sub for some reason, and the guy was out of control – Devon quickly steps in and rescues the sub, Chase, and pretty much as soon as Devon sees Chase – it is game, set and match. He will be his. I love that instant lust. That ownership.
Chase’s story is quite heartbreaking – and I really don’t want to spoiler anything; so I am trying to be vague and yet still tell you something. I actually read the book blind - without reading the blurb, so the events as they were revealed had a big effect on me! In some ways I think blurbs can take away from the the drama of the book. Anyhow ... Chase is in his early 20’s and ran away from home in his teens because he was terrified of the fallout from him being gay. He soon meets a man, Kingston, in the city – and he takes Chase in. Literally and figuratively. Sadly for Chase, Kingston is not a nice man. And trust me that is a massive understatement. Kingston and Chase are living together in a full on D/s arrangement when Devon rescues Chase in the club; so now Kingston is after Devon to regain his possession i.e. Chase. We soon discover that Devon and Kingston have a bit of history which makes their battle for Chase even more personal.
Devon is just sublime. A perfect Dom , I guess. He wants Chase so much, but is unsure whether Chase was a sub purely because he was bullied into it by Kingston, or whether he is as beautifully and naturally submissive as he seems. He is determined to wait and see what Chase wants and needs once he has fully recovered, and is able to make his own decisions – a tough time for a young guy who has been forced into a situation in his formative years. The choices and plain old life experiences Chase has missed out on while with Kingston will break your heart. When Devon arranges for him to meet his family again I cried. Just a bit. But tears were shed. :-(
While there was a definite BDSM theme to it - it is not why I recommend the story. The romance is what will stay with me - it was beautiful and the connection between Chase and Devon was wonderful, but if it is the BDSM trope that you after then I honestly think this book isn’t edgy enough. The term “sweet boy” was used far too often for my liking; I love terms of endearment but I honestly think authors need to refrain from overusing them. And the BDSM scenes which were hot as HAWT can be just seemed too sweet for some reason – they just weren’t gritty – almost like the MC’s were just going through the motions. In saying that – I really do strongly recommend this book – it was lovely, and if you like some sweet in your BDSM then you will definitely not be disappointed with this read. Go. Buy the Book!
March 17, 2014
Liked the cover AND the blurb on DsP's website so took a chance, and am really glad I did!!. 4 stars from me and
Devon West
runs a BDSM club in New Orleans called Mystique and walks in one night to find one of his Doms disciplining a young man, except this disciplining goes far beyond what is acceptable as far as Devon is concerned. After he's freed the young man in question, he sacks the Dom and the manager of the club for not stopping the punishment, appoints some of his friends to run the club in the meantime, and then takes over the care and rehabilitation of the young sub, Chase Mackenzie, himself.
. He discovers that Chase was more or less being held prisoner by a complete sadist of a 'Dom' who had brought Chase to the club to be humiliated and worse by his friends. Unfortunately, Devon has first hand experience of just what this whackjob James Kingston can do...when Devon first entered the BDSM scene, Kingston was his Master and the violence that Devon endured ensured that when he became a Master himself, he was as alike to Kingston as chalk is to cheese. He has a reputation for being a good Dom and means to continue that rep. As the days go by and Chase starts to heal under Devon's tender care, Devon learns more about Chase and his background and what he's had to endure at the hands of Kingston. Has Devon found a sub he wants to keep...permanently?? And Chase... well, Chase discovers that not all Masters are as cruel and sadistic as Kingston...I'll leave this one here.
As far as the BDSM element of the story is concerned, it's fairly light..not heavy at all, and I wouldn't have any hesitation in recommending this to someone who wants a light, fluffy and ultimately romantic read.
June 28, 2017
3.5 stars rounded down to 3 because the audio...just really didn't work for me this time around.
The story was good the audio...not so much for me...
I've been wanting to read this one for ages now so when the audio book became available I saw it as a golden opportunity and said 'yes please' to the chance. 'Wrapped In Chains' is a story of finding love and second chances.
Because this was an audio book and both the author and narrator are new to me and unfortunately also because my rating for the book and for the audio portion are very distinctly separate I'm going to try and do this review in 2 parts. First the story and then we'll deal with the audio...
I really liked the story overall there was only one thing that I had a tiny niggle with so for me the book was 4 stars.
Devon West runs his own BDSM club and he's a DOM with very strong ideals and beliefs about a D/s relationship especially the DOM's responsibility towards the sub. I liked Devon. I liked that he was someone who basically lived and breathed his moral values in all aspects of his life both as a person and a DOM. Needless to say it made it easy to believe that he would go to the extend that he does to protect Chase, a young sub whom he finds being violently beaten when he walks into his club one night. Devon's immediate actions are strong, confident and all focused on protecting Chase and ensuring that he is safe from the DOM who Chase suffered years of abuse from.
Chase ran away from home afraid of how his family would react when they discovered he was gay. It was a young, naive, scared Chase who is taken in and abused for years by James Kingston. Someone whom he believed was really a DOM but in fact is only an abusive, sociopath who's spent his life being protected by his wealth and privilege as well as several years being obsessed with Devon. Kingston's convinced that Devon is his perfect sub he just needs "proper discipline".
Initially Chase felt so much more submissive than the personalities that I'm use to in BDSM stories but as the story progressed what had initially seemed like a totally submissive personality started to feel more like a combination of a sweet and gentle soul whose nature leaned towards submission and Chase went from seeming like someone whose nature was so totally submissive that he didn't seem to be able to make his own decisions to someone who as I said was sweet and gently and very capable of making his own decisions but also someone who craved the sense of balance and security that submission could give him.
Devon and Chase worked well for me as a couple in that their personalities meshed well. Devon was a DOM but not one who wanted to control his sub 24/7 he wanted the control in regards to the sexual aspect of their relationship but outside of that he fostered and encouraged Chase to be independent and his actions always seemed to be geared towards what was best for Chase and while this initially wasn't always a matter of what Chase wanted he truly did seem to have an ultimate goal of Chase becoming confident and self sufficient in his day to day life but more than willing to also be the DOM that Chase so obviously craved.
My one little niggle with the story was how quickly Chase became attached to Devon and yet, in some ways it was not really a stretch to accept this could happen given that Chase was held hostage for years and endured cruelty and abuse at the hands of the only person he's really had contact with for the past 7 years and suddenly he's rescued and cared for by someone who is his captures polar opposite. Someone who cares what he thinks and feels and treats him like his comfort and well being truly matters. it's like getting rain after a drought how can you not enjoy and appreciate it?
The other thing that balanced the immediate sense of attraction between Devon and Chase was Devon's sense of responsibility towards Chase and what had happened to him. While it wasn't Devon's fault in any way, I like that he realized that what Chase really needed wasn't being in another relationship but having help with dealing with the damage that being held hostage and abused for years did to him physically, emotionally and mentally.
While the story had a bit of a fairy tale feel to it in the handsome knight (Devon) rescues the damsel in distress (Chase) and vanquishes the evil villain (James Kingston) way. It was still a very enjoyable and well done story and I really liked it.
However, what really didn't work for me was the audio on this one. John Anthony Davis was the narrator for this book and while I liked his voice in terms of it's tone and that the voices were distinct and easily discernible in terms of who was speaking. I found that at times it was slow and almost hesitant or stilted when it came to fluidity and unfortunately that made it feel almost monotone at times. While Chase's voice for me had a too young sound to it that made me think of a young boy in his early teens rather than a young man of 23 or 24 which he was suppose to be. This unfortunately happened enough that I found it was a definite distraction from the story for me. So while the story was 4 stars for me...the audio was at best 2.5 stars. So over all this one's getting 3.5 stars from me.
********************
An audio book of "Wrapped Up In Chains" was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The story was good the audio...not so much for me...
I've been wanting to read this one for ages now so when the audio book became available I saw it as a golden opportunity and said 'yes please' to the chance. 'Wrapped In Chains' is a story of finding love and second chances.
Because this was an audio book and both the author and narrator are new to me and unfortunately also because my rating for the book and for the audio portion are very distinctly separate I'm going to try and do this review in 2 parts. First the story and then we'll deal with the audio...
I really liked the story overall there was only one thing that I had a tiny niggle with so for me the book was 4 stars.
Devon West runs his own BDSM club and he's a DOM with very strong ideals and beliefs about a D/s relationship especially the DOM's responsibility towards the sub. I liked Devon. I liked that he was someone who basically lived and breathed his moral values in all aspects of his life both as a person and a DOM. Needless to say it made it easy to believe that he would go to the extend that he does to protect Chase, a young sub whom he finds being violently beaten when he walks into his club one night. Devon's immediate actions are strong, confident and all focused on protecting Chase and ensuring that he is safe from the DOM who Chase suffered years of abuse from.
Chase ran away from home afraid of how his family would react when they discovered he was gay. It was a young, naive, scared Chase who is taken in and abused for years by James Kingston. Someone whom he believed was really a DOM but in fact is only an abusive, sociopath who's spent his life being protected by his wealth and privilege as well as several years being obsessed with Devon. Kingston's convinced that Devon is his perfect sub he just needs "proper discipline".
Initially Chase felt so much more submissive than the personalities that I'm use to in BDSM stories but as the story progressed what had initially seemed like a totally submissive personality started to feel more like a combination of a sweet and gentle soul whose nature leaned towards submission and Chase went from seeming like someone whose nature was so totally submissive that he didn't seem to be able to make his own decisions to someone who as I said was sweet and gently and very capable of making his own decisions but also someone who craved the sense of balance and security that submission could give him.
Devon and Chase worked well for me as a couple in that their personalities meshed well. Devon was a DOM but not one who wanted to control his sub 24/7 he wanted the control in regards to the sexual aspect of their relationship but outside of that he fostered and encouraged Chase to be independent and his actions always seemed to be geared towards what was best for Chase and while this initially wasn't always a matter of what Chase wanted he truly did seem to have an ultimate goal of Chase becoming confident and self sufficient in his day to day life but more than willing to also be the DOM that Chase so obviously craved.
My one little niggle with the story was how quickly Chase became attached to Devon and yet, in some ways it was not really a stretch to accept this could happen given that Chase was held hostage for years and endured cruelty and abuse at the hands of the only person he's really had contact with for the past 7 years and suddenly he's rescued and cared for by someone who is his captures polar opposite. Someone who cares what he thinks and feels and treats him like his comfort and well being truly matters. it's like getting rain after a drought how can you not enjoy and appreciate it?
The other thing that balanced the immediate sense of attraction between Devon and Chase was Devon's sense of responsibility towards Chase and what had happened to him. While it wasn't Devon's fault in any way, I like that he realized that what Chase really needed wasn't being in another relationship but having help with dealing with the damage that being held hostage and abused for years did to him physically, emotionally and mentally.
While the story had a bit of a fairy tale feel to it in the handsome knight (Devon) rescues the damsel in distress (Chase) and vanquishes the evil villain (James Kingston) way. It was still a very enjoyable and well done story and I really liked it.
However, what really didn't work for me was the audio on this one. John Anthony Davis was the narrator for this book and while I liked his voice in terms of it's tone and that the voices were distinct and easily discernible in terms of who was speaking. I found that at times it was slow and almost hesitant or stilted when it came to fluidity and unfortunately that made it feel almost monotone at times. While Chase's voice for me had a too young sound to it that made me think of a young boy in his early teens rather than a young man of 23 or 24 which he was suppose to be. This unfortunately happened enough that I found it was a definite distraction from the story for me. So while the story was 4 stars for me...the audio was at best 2.5 stars. So over all this one's getting 3.5 stars from me.
********************
An audio book of "Wrapped Up In Chains" was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2017
3.5 hearts
Well I went into this thinking I’d get a good BDSM story but instead got a good comfort story, am I complaining? Not at all! This was steady and peaceful, not at all what I was expecting and it was quite lovely. The audio however…. wasn’t bad….but I’ve definitely had better.
Chase has been a slave in the guise of a sub for the past seven years to a particularly sadistic and psychopathic ‘dom’. One night he’s left in Devon’s BDSM club and beaten badly in public. Devon, of course comes to the rescue and takes him under his wing while Chase has a chance to heal.
I was waiting… just waiting for the BDSM fixes all spiel, but it didn’t come at all here! In fact BDSM played a very minor role in the overall story here. We see more of Devon comforting Chase and falling more in love with him as Chase comes more out of his shell.
See the rest of the review on the blog,
Well I went into this thinking I’d get a good BDSM story but instead got a good comfort story, am I complaining? Not at all! This was steady and peaceful, not at all what I was expecting and it was quite lovely. The audio however…. wasn’t bad….but I’ve definitely had better.
Chase has been a slave in the guise of a sub for the past seven years to a particularly sadistic and psychopathic ‘dom’. One night he’s left in Devon’s BDSM club and beaten badly in public. Devon, of course comes to the rescue and takes him under his wing while Chase has a chance to heal.
I was waiting… just waiting for the BDSM fixes all spiel, but it didn’t come at all here! In fact BDSM played a very minor role in the overall story here. We see more of Devon comforting Chase and falling more in love with him as Chase comes more out of his shell.
See the rest of the review on the blog,
March 16, 2014
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
4.75 STARS
This is a new author for me and I absolutely loved this book!
This is the story of Chase and what a heartbreaking start to adulthood he has had. At sixteen this young man is too scared to tell his god fearing parents that he is gay and leaves home with just the clothes on his back. Unfortunately he is picked up off the streets by an unscrupulous man parading as a Dom. He spends the next 7 years as a virtual prisoner and is abused and tortured regularly.
By the time he enters the BDSM club owned by Devon West he is completely broken. His Dom sets him up for failure on this rare visit outside and when Chase panics and lashes out he is dragged onto the stage for a brutal punishment. As Chase is beaten bloody Devon enters his club and is left raging at what confronts him. As he rescues this young and broken man and learns who his Dom is he is horrified to learn his past maybe coming back to haunt him.
Devon is immediately taken by the young sub and promises to help him recover. He takes him home under his protection and slowly Chases wounds start to heal. Mending him mentally though is going to be a long and hard task and as much as Devon finds himself attracted to Chase he knows the last thing he needs is another Dom in his life and vows to stay away.
Had the author tried to ‘fix’ Chase by providing him with another Dom I think this book would have failed for me. It was the compassion and care in Devon that really stuck out. Against everything he felt for Chase over the next few months he never thought about his own desires and feeling first but what was best for Chase.
Chase may have been broken by his previous Dom but underneath all the fear was a beautiful young man who could still see the good in people who tried to help him. As he spent months healing with Devon both men were aware that their past was not yet finished and that there was a man intent on getting his revenge.
As plans are put in place to ensure everyones lasting safety Devon must say goodbye to Chase...the ultimate sacrifice to keep him safe. Devon fears that Chase will realise he is grateful to his saviour but nothing more and this will mark the end. Chase is stronger than Devon thinks though and it just may be that he is Devons saviour after all.
4.75 STARS
This is a new author for me and I absolutely loved this book!
This is the story of Chase and what a heartbreaking start to adulthood he has had. At sixteen this young man is too scared to tell his god fearing parents that he is gay and leaves home with just the clothes on his back. Unfortunately he is picked up off the streets by an unscrupulous man parading as a Dom. He spends the next 7 years as a virtual prisoner and is abused and tortured regularly.
By the time he enters the BDSM club owned by Devon West he is completely broken. His Dom sets him up for failure on this rare visit outside and when Chase panics and lashes out he is dragged onto the stage for a brutal punishment. As Chase is beaten bloody Devon enters his club and is left raging at what confronts him. As he rescues this young and broken man and learns who his Dom is he is horrified to learn his past maybe coming back to haunt him.
Devon is immediately taken by the young sub and promises to help him recover. He takes him home under his protection and slowly Chases wounds start to heal. Mending him mentally though is going to be a long and hard task and as much as Devon finds himself attracted to Chase he knows the last thing he needs is another Dom in his life and vows to stay away.
Had the author tried to ‘fix’ Chase by providing him with another Dom I think this book would have failed for me. It was the compassion and care in Devon that really stuck out. Against everything he felt for Chase over the next few months he never thought about his own desires and feeling first but what was best for Chase.
Chase may have been broken by his previous Dom but underneath all the fear was a beautiful young man who could still see the good in people who tried to help him. As he spent months healing with Devon both men were aware that their past was not yet finished and that there was a man intent on getting his revenge.
As plans are put in place to ensure everyones lasting safety Devon must say goodbye to Chase...the ultimate sacrifice to keep him safe. Devon fears that Chase will realise he is grateful to his saviour but nothing more and this will mark the end. Chase is stronger than Devon thinks though and it just may be that he is Devons saviour after all.
December 25, 2015
Liked it, didn’t love it.
This book had all the ingredients for me to like it. A formerly abused, shy sub, a sweet Dom, a crazy villain and of course kinky sex. But I just didn’t feel it. I felt distanced from the characters, no real connection there.
This story starts when BDSM club owner Devon interrupts a scene at his club. A young man is being severely beaten and is bleeding all over the center stage. The Dom administrating the beating is thrown out of the club and Devon takes care of the young man, Chase. He finds out Chase has been the sub of an old enemy of Devon for the last 7 years. Because Chase has nowhere to go and because Devon feels very protective of Chase, he takes him home to recover.
It is not long before both of them start developing feelings for each other. Chase slowly overcomes his years of abuse and is starting to warm up to becoming Devon’s sub. Devon is thrilled and can come up with a lot of ways to please his new sub.
But of course it’s not all rainbows and sunshine, there is still Chase’s former Master, who would do anything to get to Devon and Chase.
In the beginning my heart went out to Chase, but after some time he became a bit annoying. He was acting as such a child I was having a hard time believing he was 23. I know he was isolated since he was 16, but still. And it was getting on my nerve how much Devon was trying to take care of him. Bt okay, he meant well. And I loved the fact that he wasn’t a cruel Dom who just wanted his subs to obey. He wanted to know what Chase wanted and what he liked. The sex was slow in its build-up, just how I like it, but I wouldn’t say it got me all hot and bothered.
I can’t shake the feeling that there was just something missing..
This book had all the ingredients for me to like it. A formerly abused, shy sub, a sweet Dom, a crazy villain and of course kinky sex. But I just didn’t feel it. I felt distanced from the characters, no real connection there.
This story starts when BDSM club owner Devon interrupts a scene at his club. A young man is being severely beaten and is bleeding all over the center stage. The Dom administrating the beating is thrown out of the club and Devon takes care of the young man, Chase. He finds out Chase has been the sub of an old enemy of Devon for the last 7 years. Because Chase has nowhere to go and because Devon feels very protective of Chase, he takes him home to recover.
It is not long before both of them start developing feelings for each other. Chase slowly overcomes his years of abuse and is starting to warm up to becoming Devon’s sub. Devon is thrilled and can come up with a lot of ways to please his new sub.
But of course it’s not all rainbows and sunshine, there is still Chase’s former Master, who would do anything to get to Devon and Chase.
In the beginning my heart went out to Chase, but after some time he became a bit annoying. He was acting as such a child I was having a hard time believing he was 23. I know he was isolated since he was 16, but still. And it was getting on my nerve how much Devon was trying to take care of him. Bt okay, he meant well. And I loved the fact that he wasn’t a cruel Dom who just wanted his subs to obey. He wanted to know what Chase wanted and what he liked. The sex was slow in its build-up, just how I like it, but I wouldn’t say it got me all hot and bothered.
I can’t shake the feeling that there was just something missing..
March 22, 2014
Although the cover (I loved it) implied an edgy BDSM novel ‘Wrapped up in Chains’ was more a sweet and emotional love story.
There was so much potential in this book and there were parts I loved, and I really liked the characters but the book left me with more questions than answers which I found incredibly frustrating.
So if you are looking for a light, emotional read and you don’t mind several unanswered questions, character inconsistencies and plot holes this one might be the right book for you.
July 23, 2015
I didn't get past the first few pages, but this is just a really awful portrayal of bdsm.
Basically a club owner who allows abusive doms to use his club is shocked when an out of control employee beats a sub bloody and nobody stops him (not even the manager, who we're expected to forgive because, you know, in BDSM clubs people are being beaten bloody all over the place, who can stop it?). Neither the dom/owner nor the sub ever step out of role. I am guessing we then fall in love with the dom/owner when his amazing domminess cures the sub of the trauma of abuse, and that our love is magnified by the fact that he is condescending and treats the sub like a toddler *even out of role.* This is not likely to be a winner for anyone into bdsm as it really reflects badly on the scene ("bdsm people are the kind of people who would stand around and watch while someone is abused").
Basically a club owner who allows abusive doms to use his club is shocked when an out of control employee beats a sub bloody and nobody stops him (not even the manager, who we're expected to forgive because, you know, in BDSM clubs people are being beaten bloody all over the place, who can stop it?). Neither the dom/owner nor the sub ever step out of role. I am guessing we then fall in love with the dom/owner when his amazing domminess cures the sub of the trauma of abuse, and that our love is magnified by the fact that he is condescending and treats the sub like a toddler *even out of role.* This is not likely to be a winner for anyone into bdsm as it really reflects badly on the scene ("bdsm people are the kind of people who would stand around and watch while someone is abused").
July 7, 2019
Well, despite of all the mixed reviews of Wrapped Up in Chains, I simply must say that I really LIKED this book!
It might not be the best BDSM book I've read, nor the sweetest hurt/comfort story of an abused sub and a powerful and (of course) rich Dom, but it worked fine for me.
Some scenes and events did sound a bit OTT and unreal, even for a BDSM society, but, well, it's just a story, right?
Maybe because it was one of the first books touching the subject of a healing sub, craving a BDSM relationship but being taken advantage of that I've read (now one of my absolutely fave tropes!) I simply can't find many faults in it ;)
If you're not sure, please read your Friends' reviews, read the sample and decide if it's for you.
It was definitely for me :)
It might not be the best BDSM book I've read, nor the sweetest hurt/comfort story of an abused sub and a powerful and (of course) rich Dom, but it worked fine for me.
Some scenes and events did sound a bit OTT and unreal, even for a BDSM society, but, well, it's just a story, right?
Maybe because it was one of the first books touching the subject of a healing sub, craving a BDSM relationship but being taken advantage of that I've read (now one of my absolutely fave tropes!) I simply can't find many faults in it ;)
If you're not sure, please read your Friends' reviews, read the sample and decide if it's for you.
It was definitely for me :)
March 24, 2014
I really do eat up stories about someone being rescued. It never hurts when the savior is a Dom who is able to radiate safety and protection while whispering words of endearment. Yeah, I am a totally sap sometimes. While I loved the savior element and the angst , I thought the ending drama was a bit OTT. Although what Chase had been through is pretty horrifying, the BDSM element itself was on the mild side. 3.5 enjoyable stars
September 6, 2016
Crap! It's been long enough since I read this that I don't remember it enough to write a review. Why didn't I write a review right away? Crap!
Well, I rated it 4 stars as soon as I finished reading, which basically means I liked it but didn't love it but would most likely recommend it to most M/M romance readers.
Well, I rated it 4 stars as soon as I finished reading, which basically means I liked it but didn't love it but would most likely recommend it to most M/M romance readers.
March 29, 2014
it's heartbreaking to see how much Chase was mistreated and hurt by his so called Dom... Devon is priceless. I'm loving it...
Devon is the kind of Dom Chase always dreamt of having and after all the hurt he had, it was wonderful to see Chase flourishing under Devon care. loved this amazing story....
Devon is the kind of Dom Chase always dreamt of having and after all the hurt he had, it was wonderful to see Chase flourishing under Devon care. loved this amazing story....
May 5, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this, although it wasn't really what I was expecting. I didn't get a dark gritty story; instead I read a beautiful love story that I thoroughly enjoyed, that had a twist that I didn't see coming.
Will be looking at other books by this author.
Will be looking at other books by this author.
August 11, 2015
3.5 stars
January 9, 2022
This is objectively a good story, well written and respectful of the BDSM lifestyle, but it also turned out to not be my type in terms of pacing and content, so I can only give it 3 stars.
March 30, 2014
Loved it!!
August 6, 2017
Note: This audiobook was provided to me through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
*2.5 stars for audio*
As the blurb states, Devon is a professional Dom, a club owner who rescues one of the subs who’s being severely abused by a man other than his Dom. His Dom is nowhere to be found, yet he gave this other man permission to beat Chase—an action normally unheard of in a respectable club. Once Devon finds out, he rescues the young man and learns Chase’s story. Devon is appalled that the boy has been kept isolated and in virtual slavery since he ran away from home at sixteen. Now twenty-three, the beautiful boy captures Devon’s heart.
When Devon finds out the Dom who has held Chase for years is none other than James Kingston, the man assigned to train Devon as a Dom years ago, he’s livid. James does not treat his subs well, as Devon learned firsthand—and his scars prove it. And, even after all these years, James is still out to get and subdue Devon.
The story goes along the lines one might expect from a light and fluffy romance novel. Devon falls in love with Chase and eventually reunites him with his family. James takes out his anger on Devon, after he manages to capture and torture him. Fortunately, James’s plans are foiled. And after an angsty period of self-inflicted separation from his beloved sub, Devon eventually realizes they need each other. But after a long period of separation, is Chase willing to take him back?
I’m not giving further details as I don’t want to give more specific spoilers, however, I feel it would be remiss of me not to cite what I’ve stated above to illustrate that this is a very shallow story and the BDSM is extremely mild—other than the initial beating/torture Chase undergoes at the beginning.
On the whole, I’d likely give this story 3 hearts because it wasn’t bad, just not powerful. However, this is an audio review and the narration was very poor. The narrator pretty much just read the story, often mispronouncing words or using incorrect words. Granted, not having the e-book in front of me, I can’t say for sure if that was the narrator, or if it was the editing, but this is not an ARC and is from a publisher I rarely find errors with, so it should be a clean copy and not contain enough noticeable errors to be annoying. On the plus side, the narrator had a distinctive voice for the sub—very soft, sweet, somewhat feminine—and a bolder voice for Devon. However, overall, most of the other male characters sounded the same so I’m deducting .5 hearts for the narration and giving this 2.5 hearts total. And, I would not recommend this story in audiobook format.
*2.5 stars for audio*
As the blurb states, Devon is a professional Dom, a club owner who rescues one of the subs who’s being severely abused by a man other than his Dom. His Dom is nowhere to be found, yet he gave this other man permission to beat Chase—an action normally unheard of in a respectable club. Once Devon finds out, he rescues the young man and learns Chase’s story. Devon is appalled that the boy has been kept isolated and in virtual slavery since he ran away from home at sixteen. Now twenty-three, the beautiful boy captures Devon’s heart.
When Devon finds out the Dom who has held Chase for years is none other than James Kingston, the man assigned to train Devon as a Dom years ago, he’s livid. James does not treat his subs well, as Devon learned firsthand—and his scars prove it. And, even after all these years, James is still out to get and subdue Devon.
The story goes along the lines one might expect from a light and fluffy romance novel. Devon falls in love with Chase and eventually reunites him with his family. James takes out his anger on Devon, after he manages to capture and torture him. Fortunately, James’s plans are foiled. And after an angsty period of self-inflicted separation from his beloved sub, Devon eventually realizes they need each other. But after a long period of separation, is Chase willing to take him back?
I’m not giving further details as I don’t want to give more specific spoilers, however, I feel it would be remiss of me not to cite what I’ve stated above to illustrate that this is a very shallow story and the BDSM is extremely mild—other than the initial beating/torture Chase undergoes at the beginning.
On the whole, I’d likely give this story 3 hearts because it wasn’t bad, just not powerful. However, this is an audio review and the narration was very poor. The narrator pretty much just read the story, often mispronouncing words or using incorrect words. Granted, not having the e-book in front of me, I can’t say for sure if that was the narrator, or if it was the editing, but this is not an ARC and is from a publisher I rarely find errors with, so it should be a clean copy and not contain enough noticeable errors to be annoying. On the plus side, the narrator had a distinctive voice for the sub—very soft, sweet, somewhat feminine—and a bolder voice for Devon. However, overall, most of the other male characters sounded the same so I’m deducting .5 hearts for the narration and giving this 2.5 hearts total. And, I would not recommend this story in audiobook format.
July 24, 2017
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted the AUDIO file of this book.
Devon finds Chase, tied to a St Andrews Cross, in his club, being badly whipped and Devon sees red. After taking Chase down and looking after him, Devon gets some of why Chase was being punished so harshly, and again sees red. Because the man who has held Chase as nothing more than a slave and prisoner for 7 years, is the same man who beat Devon to a pulp when he was just starting out in the lifestyle. What started as a case of after care, quickly becomes something much more, for both men, but Devon knows, to keep Chase safe, he is going to have to let him go.
Don't you just LOVE it when a book totally surprises in ways you didn't see coming!!
I knew this was going to be a painful listen, both physically and emotionally, but i didn't fully understand just how painful it was going to be.
Written from both Devon and Chase's point of view, we get it all. We get deep into the emotional scars Chase from his 7 years at the hands of Kingston. We get deep into Devon's psyche as a Dom and a Master, but equally, as just a man, who finds himself letting go of the one man who could make him whole, just to keep Chase safe.
I was shocked how it all went down with Kingston, but given the level of madness that man possessed, I don't think either Chase or Devon would have been really safe had it gone down any other way.
And I love loved LOVED that it was CHASE who pushed Devon to come get him! Loved that Chase corned Devon, come get me, or I'm moving on. And THAT was what Devon needed to hear, to make him see that that he needed Chase in his life, his bed and his heart.
First I've read/listened of Ms Sutherland's work, hope it's not the last!
AUDIO REVIEW
John Anthony Davis narrates.
This is, as far as I can see, the first of Davis' work I've listened to. Other than a tendency to pause in random places, in the middle of sentences, I loved the way he performed this book.
His reading voice is deep and clear, and I had no trouble catching everything he said. His voices are distinctive and easily definable, making it easy to know who was talking without being told. And it seemed to me, while very VERY young sounding at the beginning, Chase's voice became older in the time he was with Devon. Like he grew up really quickly. I liked that, might just be me though!
Davis pulls off the intense emotions in this book incredibly well. It was painful listening, I can only imagine how painful reading it would be.
I will certainly look for more of Davis' work to listen to.
5 stars for the book
4.5 stars for the narration, but only because of the random pausing
rounded up to five stars overall.
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Devon finds Chase, tied to a St Andrews Cross, in his club, being badly whipped and Devon sees red. After taking Chase down and looking after him, Devon gets some of why Chase was being punished so harshly, and again sees red. Because the man who has held Chase as nothing more than a slave and prisoner for 7 years, is the same man who beat Devon to a pulp when he was just starting out in the lifestyle. What started as a case of after care, quickly becomes something much more, for both men, but Devon knows, to keep Chase safe, he is going to have to let him go.
Don't you just LOVE it when a book totally surprises in ways you didn't see coming!!
I knew this was going to be a painful listen, both physically and emotionally, but i didn't fully understand just how painful it was going to be.
Written from both Devon and Chase's point of view, we get it all. We get deep into the emotional scars Chase from his 7 years at the hands of Kingston. We get deep into Devon's psyche as a Dom and a Master, but equally, as just a man, who finds himself letting go of the one man who could make him whole, just to keep Chase safe.
I was shocked how it all went down with Kingston, but given the level of madness that man possessed, I don't think either Chase or Devon would have been really safe had it gone down any other way.
And I love loved LOVED that it was CHASE who pushed Devon to come get him! Loved that Chase corned Devon, come get me, or I'm moving on. And THAT was what Devon needed to hear, to make him see that that he needed Chase in his life, his bed and his heart.
First I've read/listened of Ms Sutherland's work, hope it's not the last!
AUDIO REVIEW
John Anthony Davis narrates.
This is, as far as I can see, the first of Davis' work I've listened to. Other than a tendency to pause in random places, in the middle of sentences, I loved the way he performed this book.
His reading voice is deep and clear, and I had no trouble catching everything he said. His voices are distinctive and easily definable, making it easy to know who was talking without being told. And it seemed to me, while very VERY young sounding at the beginning, Chase's voice became older in the time he was with Devon. Like he grew up really quickly. I liked that, might just be me though!
Davis pulls off the intense emotions in this book incredibly well. It was painful listening, I can only imagine how painful reading it would be.
I will certainly look for more of Davis' work to listen to.
5 stars for the book
4.5 stars for the narration, but only because of the random pausing
rounded up to five stars overall.
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
November 28, 2017
2.5 stars
I’m not completely sure what went wrong for me in Wrapped Up in Chains, or rather I’m not sure if it was more a case of the story or narrator that made me struggle with this audiobook. I rarely read books with a BDSM theme, but after reading reviews that this was a fairly tame BDSM book and primarily a sweet romance, I decided to try it. Perhaps my lack of enthusiasm for the trope was a reason I didn’t fall in love with this story, but it simply never secured my full interest.
This is the first book I’ve read by Miss Sutherland, and I found her writing okay with well-flushed out characters and an interesting plot. Wrapped Up in Chains had a hurt/comfort vibe to it and the author did a good job balancing the difficult, sometimes traumatic things Devon and Chase faced with the positives they experienced together. I also liked how Chase grew and matured over the course of the book. Though much of the conflicts were interesting and added a nice element of angst, toward the end of the book the resolutions felt simple at times, only to surprise me with an over-dramatized twist. The up and down momentum of the conflict felt odd, though I think part of that was my lack of connection to the story overall.
The narrator for the Wrapped Up in Chains audiobook was new to me as well. John Anthony Davis had a good tone and rhythm to his performance, but I didn’t much care for the voices he used for the characters - particularly Chase. The voice Mr. Davis chose for Chase was reminiscent of the 16-year old naïve boy Chase was when he first ran away. With Chase being a 23 year old man who lived through a number of traumatic experiences, it simply didn’t fit and it made the sex scenes particularly awkward to listen to as the BDSM play came back into Devon and Chase’s relationship.
Unfortunately, there were a number of aspects in both the story and narration of Wrapped Up in Chains that didn’t quite work for me and prevented me from ever feeling a strong investment in the story. As I tend to not be a huge fan of the BDSM trope, I’m rounding up because that certainly could be where I lost some connection to the characters and there were enough positives and hurt/comfort elements to make this a good choice for other readers.
Reviewed by Annie from Alpha Book Club
I’m not completely sure what went wrong for me in Wrapped Up in Chains, or rather I’m not sure if it was more a case of the story or narrator that made me struggle with this audiobook. I rarely read books with a BDSM theme, but after reading reviews that this was a fairly tame BDSM book and primarily a sweet romance, I decided to try it. Perhaps my lack of enthusiasm for the trope was a reason I didn’t fall in love with this story, but it simply never secured my full interest.
This is the first book I’ve read by Miss Sutherland, and I found her writing okay with well-flushed out characters and an interesting plot. Wrapped Up in Chains had a hurt/comfort vibe to it and the author did a good job balancing the difficult, sometimes traumatic things Devon and Chase faced with the positives they experienced together. I also liked how Chase grew and matured over the course of the book. Though much of the conflicts were interesting and added a nice element of angst, toward the end of the book the resolutions felt simple at times, only to surprise me with an over-dramatized twist. The up and down momentum of the conflict felt odd, though I think part of that was my lack of connection to the story overall.
The narrator for the Wrapped Up in Chains audiobook was new to me as well. John Anthony Davis had a good tone and rhythm to his performance, but I didn’t much care for the voices he used for the characters - particularly Chase. The voice Mr. Davis chose for Chase was reminiscent of the 16-year old naïve boy Chase was when he first ran away. With Chase being a 23 year old man who lived through a number of traumatic experiences, it simply didn’t fit and it made the sex scenes particularly awkward to listen to as the BDSM play came back into Devon and Chase’s relationship.
Unfortunately, there were a number of aspects in both the story and narration of Wrapped Up in Chains that didn’t quite work for me and prevented me from ever feeling a strong investment in the story. As I tend to not be a huge fan of the BDSM trope, I’m rounding up because that certainly could be where I lost some connection to the characters and there were enough positives and hurt/comfort elements to make this a good choice for other readers.
Reviewed by Annie from Alpha Book Club
July 31, 2017
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Audiobook Review:
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
This story was nice but I can’t say it was really good. You know from the beginning that Devon rescues Chase and falls in love with him all while Chase falls in love with Devon. But there is the added tension of Kingston, who is quite crazy from the sounds of it.
We see this story through both Chase and Devon’s eyes which gives us a good idea of what they are thinking and feeling. Chase is a natural sub and easily submits to Devon’s Dom but this is the first time he has ever been cherished or treated well as a sub. Devon has a hard time believing that Chase could actually really want him, they kept talking about him being older but when I would run through the timeline in my head he couldn’t be more than 5 years older than Chase. Devon had a strong family of his friends around him and they quickly adopted Chase into the fold. There was just something missing to this story to make it really good, but I can’t quite tell you what it was.
John Anthony Davis did a nice job narrating this story. I was able to keep track of the story and characters with the different voices he used. However, he often used a softer voice tone which didn’t match with what I often though Devon would sound like as a Dom.
Cover art by Paul Richmond is nice and works well for this story
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
This story was nice but I can’t say it was really good. You know from the beginning that Devon rescues Chase and falls in love with him all while Chase falls in love with Devon. But there is the added tension of Kingston, who is quite crazy from the sounds of it.
We see this story through both Chase and Devon’s eyes which gives us a good idea of what they are thinking and feeling. Chase is a natural sub and easily submits to Devon’s Dom but this is the first time he has ever been cherished or treated well as a sub. Devon has a hard time believing that Chase could actually really want him, they kept talking about him being older but when I would run through the timeline in my head he couldn’t be more than 5 years older than Chase. Devon had a strong family of his friends around him and they quickly adopted Chase into the fold. There was just something missing to this story to make it really good, but I can’t quite tell you what it was.
John Anthony Davis did a nice job narrating this story. I was able to keep track of the story and characters with the different voices he used. However, he often used a softer voice tone which didn’t match with what I often though Devon would sound like as a Dom.
Cover art by Paul Richmond is nice and works well for this story
March 17, 2014
Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews - 5 hearts
Don’t let the cover of the book or title scare you off because you are thinking this is a hardcore BDSM story. Yes, there is BDSM involved, but it’s the sweet and loving nature of the main characters and their relationship that made this an awesome read for me. The icing on the cake was when Devon got into full-on Dom mode and had Chase begging for what he needed!
Both Devon and Chase had an unfortunate introduction to the BDSM lifestyle and share one big thing in common – a connection to a bastard of a so-called Dom named James Kingston. When Devon first meets Chase, it’s in his own club where he walks in on someone beating the crap out of Chase with his so-called Master’s (Kingston’s) permission. It’s clear that the situation is out of control and no one was up to stepping in to help. Devon rescues Chase and ends up not only nursing him back to health, but falls in love in the process – something he’s never done with another sub or man, ever. Because of his feelings and desire to protect Chase, Devon also vows to deal with Kingston so that he’s no longer a threat and can’t harm another boy/man the way he did with Chase.
The “true” BDSM that’s depicted in this story is only of the safe, sane and consensual variety – more pleasure than pain and fairly mild. What Kingston did to Chase falls squarely in the unsafe, insane and dubious consent camp. Chase was little more than a boy suffering his own insecurities and family drama when he landed in the clutches of the sociopathic Kingston. Without a doubt, Devon saved Chase’s life. As a result, he didn’t want Chase to be with him out of some sense of obligation or gratitude, and he became my hero in the process.
Despite the few dark clouds that attempted to wreak some havoc, Devon and Chase were too affectionate, loving, and sweet and their relationship was too romantic and hot to let those clouds do anything more than sputter a couple of brief downpours. For the most part, the sun shone brightly whenever these guys were together. Loved them and loved their story!!!
Don’t let the cover of the book or title scare you off because you are thinking this is a hardcore BDSM story. Yes, there is BDSM involved, but it’s the sweet and loving nature of the main characters and their relationship that made this an awesome read for me. The icing on the cake was when Devon got into full-on Dom mode and had Chase begging for what he needed!
Both Devon and Chase had an unfortunate introduction to the BDSM lifestyle and share one big thing in common – a connection to a bastard of a so-called Dom named James Kingston. When Devon first meets Chase, it’s in his own club where he walks in on someone beating the crap out of Chase with his so-called Master’s (Kingston’s) permission. It’s clear that the situation is out of control and no one was up to stepping in to help. Devon rescues Chase and ends up not only nursing him back to health, but falls in love in the process – something he’s never done with another sub or man, ever. Because of his feelings and desire to protect Chase, Devon also vows to deal with Kingston so that he’s no longer a threat and can’t harm another boy/man the way he did with Chase.
The “true” BDSM that’s depicted in this story is only of the safe, sane and consensual variety – more pleasure than pain and fairly mild. What Kingston did to Chase falls squarely in the unsafe, insane and dubious consent camp. Chase was little more than a boy suffering his own insecurities and family drama when he landed in the clutches of the sociopathic Kingston. Without a doubt, Devon saved Chase’s life. As a result, he didn’t want Chase to be with him out of some sense of obligation or gratitude, and he became my hero in the process.
Despite the few dark clouds that attempted to wreak some havoc, Devon and Chase were too affectionate, loving, and sweet and their relationship was too romantic and hot to let those clouds do anything more than sputter a couple of brief downpours. For the most part, the sun shone brightly whenever these guys were together. Loved them and loved their story!!!
August 2, 2017
1.5 stars The cover of this book reminded me of Kc Wells Collars and Cuffs series that I listened to in audio and did not like nearly as much as others did, I suppose I should have gone with my gut. Despite being labeled BDSM, there really isn't much actually BDSM in this book. One main character was horribly abused by his "Master" and the other MC (rich Dom owner of the club) swoops in to rescue him, eventually they do end up in a 24/7 relationship that is definitely D/s, but it's very BDSM-lite and I think we get maybe one spanking?
I knew going in that the premise was about the Dom saving the sub from an abusive relationship, so I won't comment on how unhealthy and unrealistic it is for the sub not to have time alone to heal outside of a relationship, let alone outside of the lifestyle. That's the premise, so let's suspend reality. I just didn't like either of these guys that much, and I didn't particularly feel their connection. Despite barely knowing Chase and noting how horribly abused he was, some words used to describe him repeatedly are: pretty, proud, strong, beautiful, you get the idea. It just all felt very formulaic and I didn't see what drew Devon to this Chase, beside saying he has such beautiful nature submission, which is a weird observation to make considering his abuse.
I finally stopped listening to this at about 75% because I just couldn't take anymore, I'll have to go back and listen to a little more to be able to comment on the audio at all, as I stopped listening like a month ago. Nothing stands out in my memory one way or the other about it.
Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
I knew going in that the premise was about the Dom saving the sub from an abusive relationship, so I won't comment on how unhealthy and unrealistic it is for the sub not to have time alone to heal outside of a relationship, let alone outside of the lifestyle. That's the premise, so let's suspend reality. I just didn't like either of these guys that much, and I didn't particularly feel their connection. Despite barely knowing Chase and noting how horribly abused he was, some words used to describe him repeatedly are: pretty, proud, strong, beautiful, you get the idea. It just all felt very formulaic and I didn't see what drew Devon to this Chase, beside saying he has such beautiful nature submission, which is a weird observation to make considering his abuse.
I finally stopped listening to this at about 75% because I just couldn't take anymore, I'll have to go back and listen to a little more to be able to comment on the audio at all, as I stopped listening like a month ago. Nothing stands out in my memory one way or the other about it.
Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
May 9, 2014
Full review can be found at -
This is a nice story. Don't go into it expecting a long, drawn-out description of BDSM because you won't find it in this book. It's a sweet love story about a man (Chase) who is literally rescued from an abusive Dom by Devon, the owner of a BDSM club and a Dom himself. I fell in love with Chase right off and I felt sympathy as he worked through what his former "Master" had done to him for years. I adored Devon from his introduction. He's not your typical Dom with Chase. He's a total sweetheart who goes to great lengths to protect Chase, even if it means having to let him go. Then there is the issue of the bad Dom and making sure he never hurts another person again. The way that particular part of the story came together was a bit rushed, but satisfying all the same.
The only issues I had with this book were the excessive use of exclamation points and Chase being called "young man" and "younger man" almost constantly by Devon. Both were distracting. Otherwise, a good love story. You have to suspend belief a bit, but everything ultimately comes together well in the end.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is a nice story. Don't go into it expecting a long, drawn-out description of BDSM because you won't find it in this book. It's a sweet love story about a man (Chase) who is literally rescued from an abusive Dom by Devon, the owner of a BDSM club and a Dom himself. I fell in love with Chase right off and I felt sympathy as he worked through what his former "Master" had done to him for years. I adored Devon from his introduction. He's not your typical Dom with Chase. He's a total sweetheart who goes to great lengths to protect Chase, even if it means having to let him go. Then there is the issue of the bad Dom and making sure he never hurts another person again. The way that particular part of the story came together was a bit rushed, but satisfying all the same.
The only issues I had with this book were the excessive use of exclamation points and Chase being called "young man" and "younger man" almost constantly by Devon. Both were distracting. Otherwise, a good love story. You have to suspend belief a bit, but everything ultimately comes together well in the end.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 7, 2017
Jesus Christ on a Saint Andrews Cross...someone save me from another m/m bdsm Club owning white knighting do-gooder Dom with a heart of gold, rescuing the abused twinky sub that manages to go through sadistic abuse but be healed by said Dom's sparkly cock magic. I was okay signing up for that trope, I read the description, but dammit, is it too much to ask that if you're writing a book on a bdsm club, you at least check one out? I've been to more than a few, in many cities, and yeah, you can find a "club" where heavier play happens but it's not going to be run as described here...clubs where there's blood play are most definitely exclusive, you're never going to not know someone (as the club owner) and no one is going to "stand around while someone is beat half to death" (yes, that's almost a direct quote from the book). Heck, just watch some good old gay bdsm porn- most sites have amateur video from inside clubs on nights when members have agreed to open filming. Bodily fluids? Yes. Will you be scandalized...ooooh buddy! But in 20 years, I have yet to see a scene where flogging left open wounds, or a club where anyone without prior approval from the manager could use a bullwhip. I hate to rant but it's like reading a book about pirates sailing the sea written by someone who thinks the Earth is flat.
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April 22, 2014DNF
I couldn't finish this book. I came close it, just 50 pages short of the end, but I couldn't go on because I lost interest. The story had problems for me since the beginning but I tried to go on hoping it would get better. Sadly, it didn't. My main issues were that after 3/4 of the book I felt like I hardly knew the characters beyond their being part of the BDSM world, and most of all the fact that the author infantilized Chase. Maybe she did it to make Devon appear more like the savior, but I didn't like it. I think you can have a character that needs some helping and a master/sub relationship without making the sub so child-like.
I couldn't finish this book. I came close it, just 50 pages short of the end, but I couldn't go on because I lost interest. The story had problems for me since the beginning but I tried to go on hoping it would get better. Sadly, it didn't. My main issues were that after 3/4 of the book I felt like I hardly knew the characters beyond their being part of the BDSM world, and most of all the fact that the author infantilized Chase. Maybe she did it to make Devon appear more like the savior, but I didn't like it. I think you can have a character that needs some helping and a master/sub relationship without making the sub so child-like.
April 4, 2014
2 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
This book was one of those that while it started well for me, simply didn’t make it up my expectations. The story had the potential to be excellent but it wasn’t in the end...
Read the entire review here:http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Thommie
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
This book was one of those that while it started well for me, simply didn’t make it up my expectations. The story had the potential to be excellent but it wasn’t in the end...
Read the entire review here:http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Thommie
August 1, 2014
I actually like sweet stories from time to time, but this one takes the icing. It is so over the top uninterestingly sweet and "kitschy", completely lacking angst, suffering and emotional roller coasters - which legitimately can be expected considering the abusive slave plot - that as a non-diabetic diagnosed person, I seriously worried for my blood sugar level. I was going with a C until the "grand climax" in the ending which is so bad that I switched to a D.
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