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Hard Hits #1
Training TJ
[Siren Classic Erotic Alternative Consensual BDSM Romance, M/M, spanking, whipping, sex toys, HEA] Late one night, SWAT negotiator TJ Raines and SWAT doc Parker Woods stumble upon a jumper on a bridge. With no time to wait, TJ knows he must act quickly. He never expects to have to save his best friend’s life too. With lives on the line, TJ knows he’s been given a second chance to have Parker as his Dom. Parker knows something is up with TJ and it has nothing to do with the near miss on the bridge. Distracted by the undercurrent of want as they train together, Parker forces the situation out into the open. Parker longs to have TJ as his sub, but knows he must convince TJ he’s the right Dom to teach him what it means to be a sub. Afraid to open his heart, TJ gives Parker his body to dominate. TJ knows he can trust Parker with his body, but can he trust him with his heart too? ** A Siren Erotic Romance
95 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2013
About the author
Tatum Throne
66 books49 followersTatum Throne has a Master's degree in Social Work. In 2006, she left the field of medical social work to be a stay-at-home mom and to pursue her dreams of writing romance. She has three rambunctious boys with her husband AJ. When not writing and doing research for her novels, Tatum enjoys baking chocolate chip cookies, hiking, spending time with her family, and volunteering. Tatum is a member of the RWA and lives with her family in a suburb of Cincinnati. Tatum enjoys hearing from readers!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 31, 2017
I'm going to post (or link to) the same review on all these books, because my issues with them are universal to the series.
THE NEGATIVE
1. The writing style
It's choppy. The sentences don't run together or flow and there's too much telling. I don't really know if I can explain it properly, but it's something I encountered in her other book:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Here's a few examples from book 1, Training TJ:
See to me, many of these read more like a list. The short sentences don't flow in my mind. They're too abrupt, choppy and tell more than show. I was told more about the MC's feelings than I was shown.
While I don't claim to be a writer (a published one or anything like that), I do write (privately, for fun and occasionally fanfics) and I found myself struggling not to rewrite or edit the story in my mind.
I mean, which one sounds better? -- (note, I literally wrote these both on the fly, don't expect masterpieces, LOL)
One:
"I went to the store today. It was really busy, lots of people, which was weird. It was Tuesday after all. I walked slowly with my cart. Looking around, watching the people. Kids were crying, parents were frustrated. I spotted a bright red apple. It looked delicious. I raced over to the display and grabbed the fruit before someone else could. Yay!"
Two:
"The store was filled more than usual, especially for a weekday. People clamored around and filled the store like greedy ants, marching in lines up and down the isles. I didn't let their loud and nervous energy bother me, though. This was my day off and I was determined to relax, crying kids be damned. I took my cart in hand and slowly paced the isles, looking, watching. I don't know what I was looking for really, but when I spotted the brightest, most delectable looking apple sitting on the fruit display, I knew I had to have it. Picking up the pace, my grip tighted on the cart, I sped over to the fruit display nearly running over a 3 year old and reached out, snatching the apple within my hand. Yay!"
While, version 2 is not a masterpiece (I didn't write these to wow anyone with my writing), I hope my point can be seen. Version 1 is how these books are written. Version 2 is how I'd like for them to be written, at least the general idea of it. Version 2 is more like what I'm used to reading in fiction, version 1 is not.
Hell, Lynn Hagen, Joylee Flynn and others that are often discounted as fluffy, not serious writers can narrate far better than what I've seen in the series. I hate to say it, but I wondered after reading 4 of these back to back, how exactly they got published. I've (sadly) read many many fanfics that are far more skilled on narration than in this book.
2. The repetition
I read about their cocks weeping pre-cum many times. A lot actually. Other books mention the pre-cum, but for some reason it stands out to me in this series. These men must have wet stains on their jeans with all the pre-cum their "weeping." LOL.
I've read about the same chain sex toy that binds around the cock and goes on their hips and between the ass cheeks in every book.
I've read about anus this and anus that. There are other terms that could be used every now and then for variety.
The sex seems very similar in all the books. Which brings me to the next point:
3. The BDSM
After reading the GAY series by Kim Dare featuring MM BDSM (which also features excellent narration too!), I noticed how non-BDSM these books are. They're basically vanilla sex with a dash of kink. In these books the BDSM (besides being repetitive), is more like window dressing. It doesn't feel like BDSM to me, but people playing at it. They may use some toys and such, but there's not the dynamics I'd associate with BDSM shown. Using some kinky toys and having a more dominant parter doesn't equal BDSM. Looking deeper into the dynamics of BDSM and what it entails would help things out, I think. But for now, these are basically BDSM-Lite. Which is fine, just not what I was wanting.
There are others issues, but I've written enough on the negatives, I think.
POSITIVE:
1. I like how the series focuses of law enforcement. I enjoy reading about cops, detectives and similar professions.
2. The stories have potential. My issues aren't with the plot, but how the plot is conveyed. With editing and looking deeper, not only into the BDSM dynamics, but the romance/feelings between the MCs, I think things might be far more enjoyable to read.
*
After reading 4 of these books and one of her MF books where I encountered the same issues, I really think this author and her style is not for me. I hope others enjoy her work and I wish her the best, though. I wish I could have enjoyed things more than I did, but I couldn't--no matter how much I tried--overlook the issues I saw.
THE NEGATIVE
1. The writing style
It's choppy. The sentences don't run together or flow and there's too much telling. I don't really know if I can explain it properly, but it's something I encountered in her other book:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Here's a few examples from book 1, Training TJ:
See to me, many of these read more like a list. The short sentences don't flow in my mind. They're too abrupt, choppy and tell more than show. I was told more about the MC's feelings than I was shown.
While I don't claim to be a writer (a published one or anything like that), I do write (privately, for fun and occasionally fanfics) and I found myself struggling not to rewrite or edit the story in my mind.
I mean, which one sounds better? -- (note, I literally wrote these both on the fly, don't expect masterpieces, LOL)
One:
"I went to the store today. It was really busy, lots of people, which was weird. It was Tuesday after all. I walked slowly with my cart. Looking around, watching the people. Kids were crying, parents were frustrated. I spotted a bright red apple. It looked delicious. I raced over to the display and grabbed the fruit before someone else could. Yay!"
Two:
"The store was filled more than usual, especially for a weekday. People clamored around and filled the store like greedy ants, marching in lines up and down the isles. I didn't let their loud and nervous energy bother me, though. This was my day off and I was determined to relax, crying kids be damned. I took my cart in hand and slowly paced the isles, looking, watching. I don't know what I was looking for really, but when I spotted the brightest, most delectable looking apple sitting on the fruit display, I knew I had to have it. Picking up the pace, my grip tighted on the cart, I sped over to the fruit display nearly running over a 3 year old and reached out, snatching the apple within my hand. Yay!"
While, version 2 is not a masterpiece (I didn't write these to wow anyone with my writing), I hope my point can be seen. Version 1 is how these books are written. Version 2 is how I'd like for them to be written, at least the general idea of it. Version 2 is more like what I'm used to reading in fiction, version 1 is not.
Hell, Lynn Hagen, Joylee Flynn and others that are often discounted as fluffy, not serious writers can narrate far better than what I've seen in the series. I hate to say it, but I wondered after reading 4 of these back to back, how exactly they got published. I've (sadly) read many many fanfics that are far more skilled on narration than in this book.
2. The repetition
I read about their cocks weeping pre-cum many times. A lot actually. Other books mention the pre-cum, but for some reason it stands out to me in this series. These men must have wet stains on their jeans with all the pre-cum their "weeping." LOL.
I've read about the same chain sex toy that binds around the cock and goes on their hips and between the ass cheeks in every book.
I've read about anus this and anus that. There are other terms that could be used every now and then for variety.
The sex seems very similar in all the books. Which brings me to the next point:
3. The BDSM
After reading the GAY series by Kim Dare featuring MM BDSM (which also features excellent narration too!), I noticed how non-BDSM these books are. They're basically vanilla sex with a dash of kink. In these books the BDSM (besides being repetitive), is more like window dressing. It doesn't feel like BDSM to me, but people playing at it. They may use some toys and such, but there's not the dynamics I'd associate with BDSM shown. Using some kinky toys and having a more dominant parter doesn't equal BDSM. Looking deeper into the dynamics of BDSM and what it entails would help things out, I think. But for now, these are basically BDSM-Lite. Which is fine, just not what I was wanting.
There are others issues, but I've written enough on the negatives, I think.
POSITIVE:
1. I like how the series focuses of law enforcement. I enjoy reading about cops, detectives and similar professions.
2. The stories have potential. My issues aren't with the plot, but how the plot is conveyed. With editing and looking deeper, not only into the BDSM dynamics, but the romance/feelings between the MCs, I think things might be far more enjoyable to read.
*
After reading 4 of these books and one of her MF books where I encountered the same issues, I really think this author and her style is not for me. I hope others enjoy her work and I wish her the best, though. I wish I could have enjoyed things more than I did, but I couldn't--no matter how much I tried--overlook the issues I saw.
September 23, 2015
So I actually started the series with book 4, and hadn't gotten around to reading the first three until now. And it's funny...I consider these books (well, 4-8) to be largely the same: Not a lot of accuracy in either the police procedure or the BDSM, but the sex scenes hot as hell.
Finally reading the first, I can actually see the growth in the author that occurs later. It's nice to see.
This series is perfect for a rainy day, just a light read, as long as you don't hold your expectations too high.
Finally reading the first, I can actually see the growth in the author that occurs later. It's nice to see.
This series is perfect for a rainy day, just a light read, as long as you don't hold your expectations too high.
March 26, 2019
TJ and Parker have fallen for each other but don't act on it due to their jobs. Neither are out. After TJ breaks protocol to save a suicidal woman and Parker almost dies, things come to a head when TJ kisses Parker's neck when he is safe. TJ is under fire from his higher ups and the ones that oversee the mental and physical health of the officers for his rash risks. Parker is determined to help TJ and can no deny the attraction between them. Parker makes the first move and they have a great night together before TJ runs. TJ's doubt in himself almost costs him more than he wants before he lets go of the cold case that haunts him and trusts in Parker. Parker first asks him to move in with him and then to marry him. TJ accepts and finally he has everything that he wanted but was afraid to go after. There is a slight BDSM angle in this book but it is perfect for Parker and TJ as Parker is a dom and TJ is a pushy sub.
October 25, 2018
Quick read. No real BDSM. An ok read. No real thought process needed to read the book.
October 2, 2013
Before I begin talking about what I thought about this book, I need to say one thing: if you're looking for real BDSM and a developing Dom/sub relationship in the traditional sense, you will be disappointed. I have to admit that, based on the blurb, that was what I expected. After all, "TJ wants Parker as his Dom", and "Parker longs to have TJ as his sub" seems to imply this, right? Well, it didn't happen. As far as I can see that is not at all what is at the core of this story. There was some very hot kinky play and mention of domination in the bedroom, but they were only words the characters used, there was no emotion behind them, and that was as far as it went.
Having said that, what this story is about, was very interesting and definitely held my attention. TJ, the detective and a member of a SWAT team, and Parker, an emergency room and SWAT doctor, are two very strong, very stubborn men who are best friends and insanely attracted to each other. They believe they cannot give in to that attraction since they work together and fraternization is not encouraged, but in the end, what they feel for each other is far stronger than any rules. I takes them quite a while to get there, but when they do, passion runs high and the love they already feel grows deeper.
The many scenes where Parker trains TJ in preparation for his upcoming black belt exam sizzled with underlying sexual attraction. There are many physical blow, bruises, and painful falls, but it's all so TJ can pass his exam. The real-life battering is also serious, but the working on a SWAT team, in a hospital emergency room, and trying to solve cold cases (TJ's day job)isn't exactly supposed to be a walk in the park. That part of the book seemed very realistic to me.
If you like stories about tough men, if you enjoy reading about guys battling their attraction only to succumb eventually, and if you're looking for a hot read with some kinky interludes, then you will probably like this novella.
Having said that, what this story is about, was very interesting and definitely held my attention. TJ, the detective and a member of a SWAT team, and Parker, an emergency room and SWAT doctor, are two very strong, very stubborn men who are best friends and insanely attracted to each other. They believe they cannot give in to that attraction since they work together and fraternization is not encouraged, but in the end, what they feel for each other is far stronger than any rules. I takes them quite a while to get there, but when they do, passion runs high and the love they already feel grows deeper.
The many scenes where Parker trains TJ in preparation for his upcoming black belt exam sizzled with underlying sexual attraction. There are many physical blow, bruises, and painful falls, but it's all so TJ can pass his exam. The real-life battering is also serious, but the working on a SWAT team, in a hospital emergency room, and trying to solve cold cases (TJ's day job)isn't exactly supposed to be a walk in the park. That part of the book seemed very realistic to me.
If you like stories about tough men, if you enjoy reading about guys battling their attraction only to succumb eventually, and if you're looking for a hot read with some kinky interludes, then you will probably like this novella.
August 8, 2013
Hmmm, while I like the concept of hot, hard-bodied SWAT alpha males falling for each other, I just didn't see this match. I don't know, there was years of hidden feelings between best friends but I didn't feel it. And this being a relatively short novella did nothing to really the premise; everything seemed rushed and oversimplified including the BDSM scenes where IMO established trust and affection are necessary. Not a favorite but I might try the next just to see if they better.
February 3, 2013
The sex in this book is cray cray HOT!!! But it was a beautiful story about two slightly stubborn men who work in SWAT and who both have difficult pasts. Did I say the sex was HAWT?!
But Im enjoying reading this author and hoping to see more. :-)
But Im enjoying reading this author and hoping to see more. :-)
July 3, 2013
So, this was just a bit on the silly "cheesy" side, for lack of a better word, but it was still really hot and a fun read! I enjoyed it very much and can certainly recommend it to M/M romance fans who like light BDSM, some angst and a little bit of cheesy drama.
February 7, 2013
I never quite knew who's point of view I was reading, it shifted without warning.
February 21, 2015
3.25 stars
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews