Leather+Lace

Opposites Attract #2

by A.B. Gayle

Swathed in chiffon and lace, Steven Stanhope owns the stage as Stevie Tricks, lip-synching the songs of the famous gypsy queen. But after he escapes an abusive Master/slave relationship, the only collar he'll allow around his neck is black velvet.

After a four-year absence, Steve is ready to reclaim his life and the property he left behind. But is it safe? Definitely not if his ex is still into leather. To find out, Steve appears at a charity night for the local BDSM community, using the anonymity of his stage persona to mask his identity.

Instead of his ex-Master, Julius, Steve finds a tangled mess centered around another Master of Leather, Donato Rossi. In order to unravel their ties to the past, Steve and Don must find common ground and work together. In the process, they learn that when it comes to love, sometimes you have to make your own rules.

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Abuse, Cross Dressing, Gay

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 21, 2013

About the author

Unlike many authors, I haven't been writing stories all my life. I've been too busy living life.
My travels took me from the fjords of Norway to the southern tip of New Zealand. In between, I've worked in so many different towns I've lost count. I've shoveled cow shit, mustered sheep, been polite to customers, traded insults with politicians and need to be forgiven on occasions when I get confused as to who needs what where. Now that I'm settled in Sydney, Australia, my real-life experiences can morph with my fertile imagination and create fiction which I hope readers will enjoy.
My philosophy on posting reviews is to recommend books I like which I think other people may not read and state why I like them. These are only the tip of the iceberg of books I read. If I do post a negative review, it's because there is some craft aspect (usually) that, to me, prevents the book from reaching its full potential. Books I straight out don't like or don't finish, don't even get a mention, as they may be someone else's cup of tea.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Review completed March 20, 2014







Respect.
Trust.
Acceptance.
Authenticity.
Honesty.
Appreciation.
Love.

A few years ago Steve quite literally ditched his abusive Master's shackles and fled to England. Now he's back in Australia to claim the life and property he had to leave behind and attends a charitable fundraiser impersonating Stevie Nicks. Good ole Steve is quite…er…busy that evening.

"I thought this was a c@ck-sucking contest, not bobbing for apples in a bloody barrel."

Sorry, no c@ck just an apple...


Steve is relieved to not run across his former lover but it so happens that another Master crosses his path. Master D. At first sight there's no love lost between them but that's about to change when they start to work together to untangle their past.

This book…oh, where to start? Don wears a ridiculous moustache for crying out loud! But I told him to shave the f@@@er off and he did eventually. Lol Back to being serious, though. There is so much to love about L+L. However, what clearly stands out for me personally is the unconventional resolution of L+L. It took me by surprise and it wasn’t something I’m used to encounter in BDSM romance books. Big, big, big thumbs up from moi! Also, there was plenty of room for character and story development which I always appreciate very much. There's actually not a lot of smexin' in this story. The author’s storytelling skills are of high quality and very engaging. While Leather+Lace was my first read by A.B. Gayle, I’m very sure it won’t be my last.

They say your life flashes before you in the instant before death. Mine seemed to be on a time delay.



Leather and Lace -- Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofLasL...

Steve aka Stevie Tricks
Despite Steve being into drag I bonded very easily with him. I liked the prickly Steve who dished out smart-ass remarks and was hiding his true self behind an armor of humor to divert from his insecurity, vulnerability and fear. The more Steve offered his former Master Julius, the more he submitted to him, the less respect Julius showed his slave. The possessive Julius had to boost his overinflated ego by abusing Steve’s body and mind. Somewhere along the line a lack of respect made everything even worse. The physical scars, proof of the abuse he suffered from his former Master Julius, will never go away but what about Steve’s mental scars? Did the therapist take care of those? The psychological aspect of L+L and the way the author dealt with all the resulting issues which, ultimately, led to that thoughtful resolution were convincing and felt like the real deal to me. The outcome almost tempted me to give this book five stars. Almost.





“I wouldn’t need to be totally immersed in the scene to fulfill that role, but I would need to get my feet wet now and then to remind me what the water feels like.”

What a beautiful and thoughtful analogy. Love it.



Master D
Don was pretty ripped but he wasn’t a gorgeously tall or handsome man yet I adored him nonetheless. It’s actually true, what’s most important about a human being comes from the inside. Personality, charisma whatever you want to call it and Don had exactly that in spades. In fact, Don represents more than dominance, whips and chains. He’s an empathic and caring man; very level-headed and smart. Don helped Steve to obliterate the frightening thoughts of his past and regain his confidence. Step by step he encouraged him in a subtle way to confront specific situations that triggered bad memories and he accomplished to extend Steve’s limitations. He never put any pressure on Steve. No claims, no demands. And Don showed Steve that not all Masters are abusive pigs like Julius. Ultimately this was not only about trust, it was about a mutual respect and treating each other as equals. Respecting the man behind the slave. Respecting his thoughts, needs, wants as well as his boundaries. I always like to see a man’s vulnerable side and Master D sure had to deal with a couple demons of his own. When Alex died a part of Don’s self-confidence died with him (also due to the "unpleasant" circumstances. Due to his feelings of inadequacy, which a good Master can’t afford to have, he isn’t sure if he’s ready to accept and embrace the role of a Master again.

Just when I was admiring Don’s prudence…

„One day, when you’re ready, I’d like to try out different things and see how you react. Would you like that?”

…he rushed it, with no ill intent of course. Don's act startled me because I thought he knew that Steve wasn’t ready yet. Well, to err is human and Don was so upset with himself afterward that I had no problem to forgive him immediately. Aside from that faux-pas he handled every situation carefully and he made well-considered decisions.

Without using any artificial restraints, Don had captured my body, my heart, and my soul.



Under the direction of Don, an accumulation of many natural momentums of the water carried Steve back to the shore; his feet found purchase on solid, nurturing and trustworthy ground.

Leather+Lace can be read as a standalone.

Especially recommended to (M/M) BDSM novices but also seasoned M/M readers should give it a shot.



http://baba.booklikes.com

[Steelwhisper · Rating 5 out of 5]

At least 8* (unfortunately GR doesn't have more than 5)

Before anything else: it's a pleasure to read erudite and flowing prose, spiced with the right amount of "Aussie-ness" to pique your interest, and garnered with enough local colour so you feel like visiting another country. I noticed Gayle's abilities in that department already in Caught, but it is even more pronounced in this story.

Sooo...

This is a BDSM-themed book which stands head and shoulders above the rest, regardless of whether written for the m/f or the m/m crowd, in fact even compared to the best QUILTBAG books out there it's top notch.

For once BDSM is not just taken seriously and as what it is, rather than to create simple stroke fiction rife with exasperating misconceptions and exaggerations, no, this book takes up existing aspects of the lifestyle, such as the abuse at the hands of wannabes or abusers, and gives you an insight into the devastation that can occur in such cases**. I adored the fact that Gayle also firmly grabs hold of another kink, and adds cross-dressing and being a drag queen to the equation, which she again did without any effort and seamlessly.

This is a very realistic book, which I found at the same time to be deeply romantic, serious and also humorous, sexy without making sex more than what real guys would make of it. All behaviour, all emotions, fears and solution-seeking were spot-on, and above all, the MCs consequently worked towards a solution, even when they were behaving like very typical men.

The BDSM, now from the vantage point of an active lifestyler, was well-written and contained only very minor quibbles compared to the usual eye-rolling stuff. These were solidly outweighed by the superb storytelling and the sheer mass of what was "right".

I can't rec this book highly enough, it should be a must-read for anyone interested in BDSM-themed books. It might be an eyeopener for many.


**Side note: if any reader thinks this is a rarity, or described in an OTT manner, no, it's this and worse even.

[Emma Sea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is extremely well-written and thoughtful. I loved the Australian setting, the dialogue is a joy, and I don't have a single criticism about the way it's constructed. I'm not rating it because it was absolutely the wrong book for me at the time I read it.

I wanted a slutty, dirty fic and this is . . . well . . . not. I wanted cheetos and coke drunk straight from the bottle, on a rug at the beach, and this is a fine restaurant meal.

EDIT: Actually, I'm rating this after all. Even though it wasn't what I wanted to read at the time, it's really stayed with me over the last few days. And honestly, the structure is damn near flawless. I bitch all the time about authors screwing up the endings, and Gayle didn't (admittedly the epilogue might be on the sappy side). It's a great book, that goes way beyond the cheap thrills of most of the genre.

4.4 shiny, pretty stars

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

So here is the thing: I won’t be able to properly review this book without the ever so slightly TMI.

So bear with me, if you will. We’ll get there and hopefully you will understand why this book is special. To me, and also, I believe, in general.

Ok, let’s talk about kinksters. Serious kinksters. Especially gay or straight identified male doms/sirs/masters/what have yous.
Let’s narrow it down to those who elevate their kink to more than just a part-time hobby. Who seriously invest into the community, who win leather awards, who teach workshops, who write books, who LIVE it.

No, let’s quickly take a vanilla detour: Did you go to university? This might be a very German thing, but did you have some sort of students' union executive committee? People who devoted their time to semi-official positions within the university’s administration, kind of an elected students` spokes person?

Think back, what were these people like?

In my experience these guys and girls were NOT the most successful students. They were not particularly academically or thematically driven and invested in research or even their careers, they actually needed these roles to substitute a lack of involvement, success and belonging in other study-subject-relevant areas (or, more accurately, real-life-relevant areas).

I’ve encountered that in the BDSM community, too. The most vocal, visible, coveted male doms are a fickle bunch. They invest so much time and effort into perfecting their image ... because there is, more often than not, not much else. There are no time-consuming careers, fulfilling relationships and family life, elaborate and interactive hobbies. There is the kink, and that’s it. And that is dangerous.

Not only their ego but their whole identity is dependent on their position within the BDSM community. So the standard response to any criticism or controversy is not honest engagement but deflection and protective measures. Because there is too much at stake, within a circle of male doms there is a tendency to continuous self-affirmation and self-perpetuating narcissism.
Nothing would be more beneficial (and more needed) than tempering humility and self-enquiry, but the very structure of the community and the imagined demands of the chosen and treasured role make that almost impossible.

And along comes “Leather & Lace”. A book that manages to tackle exactly this issue, from different angles, in a thoroughly sophisticated, intelligent, elaborate and empathetic way.

I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE IT! Seriously! This is amazing.

Where should I even start?

There is the issue of the insidious and devastating effect of abuse within an ostensible BDSM context.
The double/triple layer of victimization is seriously stomach-churning, and Gayle just nails the complexity of it with the character of Steve.

Steve is a survivor of severe and persistent domestic abuse – and the way he struggles throughout the book to find clarity is both enlightening and gut-wrenching.
He desperately and resiliently tries to divide out what exactly trapped him in this insanity - and with him so do we.
And Gayle doesn’t take it easy on him and us, every aspect is treated with equal care and consideration: the murky dynamics of co-dependency, the radical attachment enforced through (not exactly SSC) S/M, the slippery-slope dynamics of abuse masked by ostensibly consensual dominance and submission.

And through it all, and because of the confrontation with leather man Don, Steven struggles to accept and eventually perhaps hang onto his kink as something separate from the dynamics that almost destroyed him. Something life-affirming, something healthy, something precious – not a dangerous liability but an invaluable gift.

And that GUTTED me. It seriously did.

Then there is Don, the coveted dom, who also got massively burned by love and life, and who is also trying to analyse and understand what exactly happened and how his kinky relationship dynamic contributed to the failure of his marriage.
And he struggles, too, with his need for the unrivaled rush of imposition and the suffocating and energy-sapping responsibility that comes with living that role 24/7.
His whole self-image and identity has been tied up in the leather community for many many years. So when we witness him seriously questioning his eligibility and effectiveness as a dom, his pain and disillusionment is palpable. Good stuff.

Let’s throw these two together and let them dance. And what a delight it is to watch them interact, an elaborate dance of attraction, fear, ambivalence, understanding and compassion.

And as if that is not enough, Gayle's writing style is witty, snarky, humorous, irreverent, subversive and soulful. You won't find ANY of the standard tropes here, in fact, if there was any doubt, Steve's and Don's very first sexual encounter will drive that point home. Just marvelous.

Oh, and Gayle treated another one of the loves of my life with insight and reverence: Sydney. What a marvelous backdrop for a really strong story.

[A.B. Gayle]

"Leather + Lace" is the second of what I hope will be a number of stand alone books whose characters will make cameo appearances in each other's stories. The plus symbol in the title is not just “and.” It indicates that the final result is the sum of the two. Both aspects contribute to something new.

While the characters in this book are different, they exist in the same world and time frame as the series opener, Red+Blue, and one minor character links in. You don't have to have read "Red+Blue" first.

Fans of Caught will also be pleased to see Nat and Danny making an appearance as they join the Opposites Attract universe.

Dedication

I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of BDSM. Not so much the mechanics, but the mind-set and why people would become involved. Lately, kink is drifting into more mainstream literature, coming out of the closet, as it were, with scenes depicted as glamorous and exciting. But one day, I had a conversation with a writer who had lived the scene and been badly scarred both mentally and physically. His experiences made me think about the flip side, when the rules of safe, sane, and consensual are ignored.

I also find the concept of drag fascinating. We have some great drag artists in Sydney. For the most part, they tend to be the over-the-top caricatures, real ball-busting females, but others can be glamorous even if, in real life, there is nothing femme about them.

So, being me, I was intrigued as to what would happen if the two met and mixed. One who, by convention, flouts rules, and the other who continually expounds them.

Books like John Preston’s Mr. Benson: A Novel and david stein’s Carried Away, with their concept of putting yourself totally into another man’s hands, gave me the extreme fantasy sparked by their own experiences. To ensure I understood the reality, I read every book I could find on the Old Guard and the traditions of BDSM by writers like Guy Baldwin, Joseph Bean, Don Bastian, and Thom Magister. There are also great online sites such as Fetlife where people speak of their lives with sometimes unflinching honesty. I also contacted david stein, who cleared up a few misconceptions.

Rush Derr IV needs a special thanks for sharing his experience of years spent performing drag in the States and Canada.

Others helped enormously, starting with readers and fellow writers Stevie Carroll, M. J. Sánchez, and Melanie Tushmore, who followed its progress in NanoWriMo. A special shout-out to Melanie for her feedback on bikes.

Once the first draft was complete, it was the turn of my faithful duo, Don Schecter and Kate, who steered me through the process of converting the raw version into something worth publishing. They were assisted this time by a new critique partner, Jess, who not only helped with the text but gave a further polish to the bikes.

Writing about a scene you don’t participate in is not easy. I’m indebted to Sascha Illyvich for his course on writing BDSM and Dusk Peterson, who provided lots of advice and leads on real life Master/slave relationships. From them I learned there is no single way to do things. In the end, I hope I captured both the best aspects of what BDSM and slavery can mean while also showing what can happen if care is not taken to do it correctly. According to two real-life slaves, Jason and Christopher, who read the finished text, I did.

I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of fellow writers Barry Lowe, Eden Winters, Charles Edward, Kayla Jameth, and my Goodreads buddies, Vivian de la Cruz and Jo. After finding a couple of things others had missed, they assured me the story had been beta’ed into submission and was ready to send off to Dreamspinner Press.

Here I’d like to thank Elizabeth North, Ginnifer Eastwick, her great team of editors, and the art department, represented by Paul Richmond and Anne Cain.

Finally, but definitely not least, I need to thank Stevie Nicks for not only giving me the inspiration for the title but providing me with a worthy artist any drag performer would be privileged to emulate. Her songs captivated me just as much as they did my hero.

Reproducing lyrics in a book is fiendishly expensive, so I wasn't able to include some verses at the end and only referred to them, which is a pity, because I think the impact of what Don said to Steve afterwards has been lost.

[duet]Lovers forever... face to face
My city or mountains
Stay with me stay
I need you to love me
I need you today
Give to me your leather...
Take from me... my lace.

Here's a playlist of Stevie's songs, chapter by chapter http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...

If you want a teaser, the first chapter is up on my website and can be accessed here: http://www.abgayle.com/chapter-1-stan... and if you check out my Pinterest board here, you'll get some visuals to whet your appetite. http://pinterest.com/abgaylewriter/le...

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the slow development of this story- watching the growing mutual discovery and relationship between Steve, a man who let love convince him to go far deeper into a slave relationship than he truly wanted, and Don, the Dom whose last lover, and slave, recently died. This story has BDSM front and center, but not in the sense of having a lot of scenes, or pain and bondage as a common event. Instead it's more about the concepts of BDSM, the way it can work and the way it can fail when sane, safe and consensual is lost along the way.

Master/slave relationships are a small part of BDSM, and in truth neither man in this story really wanted that kind of 24/7 intensity. Each of them was persuaded by a lover. But Don's knowledge of the subject, and Steve's need to figure out where he went wrong, result in a reason to explore and discuss the options when these two meet.

Steve bought a house with with his first lover, Julius, but was unable to stay in the progressively BDSM relationship. As they got deeper into exploring BDSM, Steve slowly moved from doing scenes, to signing a contract as a slave. Julius then used that as "consent" to abuse him, disguising his own fear of losing Steve, and his inability to dominate him properly, with punishments and confinement that lost all grounding in consensual. Eventually Steve escaped, traumatized by the experience and confused about what parts of his combined love and fears and desires were sane and which were unhealthy. He saw a therapist, but not a kink-friendly one, and she convinced him that his enjoyment of any parts of BDSM was an unhealthy addiction, and that he should stay away from the scene completely. And for four years, Steve has done casual sex, and drag, and not let himself think about leather and BDSM. He's just worked up the courage to return to his old home, when an encounter in a bar heralds a change in his life.

Don is a well respected American Master of Leather, whose sub and lover, Alex, convinced him to progress from a D/s relationship to a Master/slave one. But Don was busy, and perhaps his heart wasn't truly in it, and Alex was bored. And then he lost Alex. When they met Julius, looking for Don's mentorship, Alex became infatuated with him. And when a motorcycle crash killed Alex and Julius, the timing of the deaths resulted in Don inheriting Julius's half of the house he'd bought in Australia with Steve, years before. Don moves to Australia, to decide what to do with an unexpected inheritance. But a far harder question will be what to do with Steve, a man who needs the BDSM expertise Don can give him, but who may be too damaged by his past, his fears, his therapy and his confusion, to take what Don can offer.

I particularly liked the first part of this book, the fumbling and errors between the two men, the discovery of what lay behind their attitudes, and what each of them brought to the table. And then deciding how to approach being together. Despite Leather+Lace being a nice, long book, I'd have liked the last quarter to be expanded a bit. The problems of Steve's needs and fears, and the conflicts with his past, were beautifully set up, and his trauma is shown to be significant (to the point of panic attacks.) The resolution seemed to happen too fast, Steve's issues disappearing under Don's expert hand, and the relationship with all its complexities running quickly off page and into the epilogue. But I loved both characters, they were very hot together, the narrator voice was great, and the BDSM content felt both interesting and realistic. In the end, this was well-written, the plot content was different from other recent stories I've read, and I definitely cared about these guys. Well worth the time.

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I meant every word I said. Give to me your lace, and I'll give you my leather."




Steve reminded me, and my son, of Nina Flowers :)

This is my first book by A B Gayle and it will not be my last. It is well written, well edited, well researched, unique and interesting. The MC's are three dimensional, in spite of one POV - Don has the right amount of mystery for who he is and Steve's inner voice is essential for the reader to understand the primary storyline.

There are elements of BDSM, but it isn't a BDSM book. There is also some drag yet, once again, it is not a book on drag, but both are integral to the story being told. I loved my city being on display, my culture. I loved reading a book with oh-so-familiar landmarks and places I know so well as a backdrop - not the Opera House or the Harbour Bridge - it's just lovely to have a book set in my backyard. But it could have been set anywhere and been a good book simply because of the writing, the characters and the character's chemistry. Full review at On Top Down Under Book Reviews -
http://bookreviewsandtherapy.blogspot...

This book was supplied to me by the publisher, Dreamspinner Press, in return for an honest review

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

This story might appear to be about BDSM but, really, the core of it is two damaged souls fighting their way back to where they want to be. The blurb explains things well - so I'll focus on how I felt.

It is rare to find a story where I can feel the emotions of the characters. Where they take on an almost life like characteristic that speaks to me, makes me think, and makes me ache for them. These two have so much in common yet, at times, are worlds apart. The build of the relationship is so carefully drawn, with such great build up and exploration, that nothing happens too fast. Actually I suspect some might think things happen too slow. I don't think so - but this is really about the men - not about BDSM101 or even how a good top or bottom behaves. It is daring (cross dressing is still not exactly mainstream) and it delves into areas that many don't want to go and that is the recognition that all sorts of relationships can be dangerous and bad because of what happens. My heart bled for the sub who was so mistreated and for the Dom that got his heart ripped out. That they find each other is chance and happenstance - or is it?

Wonderful story - poignant, heartbreaking, and uplifting all the same. Highly recommended!

Disclosure: I read this in a non final version but not for the purpose of reviewing it. My review is my own.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Leather and Lace' is a very well written story. A.B. Gayle shows us in beautiful words why someone feels the need to serve, or why another one is driven to be a Master.

Steven is a drag queen, who returns to Australia after fleeing an abusive relationship with his former master Julius. He has lost himself and surpresses his desires to submit and to serve.

Don is a leather master who lost his slave Alex to Julius. He has his own fears and doubts. After the death of Alex and Julius he comes to Australia where he meets Steven who isn't the unfaithful slave he has expected him to be. He discovers the truth behind Julius' and Stevens relationship and is horrified as he finally realizes what Steven has gone through.
He tells Steven to listen to his heart and not to believe his mother and therapists, who are trying to persuade him that kink is sinful and morbid...

Who is looking for a BDSM erotic story might be disappointed. The book deals mostly with the psychological aspects of BDSM. The D/s relationship is not exactly displayed, but the roles and the sensuality of it.

It's a wonderful story – moving, heartbreaking and hopeful and not in the least what I expected! :)

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is: pulling an all-nighter to re-read a book you read barely two months ago. Yes, I love it that much!

This is exactly the kind of book I love to read about: two damaged characters seemingly so wrong for each other but find a way to their HEA.

This is my first book by this author that I have read. I must agree with the writer that this book really was beta'ed to submission. I found the execution flawless. It is in short a well written book and an excellently told story.

This is not your run of the mill BDSM book built on scene after scene. In fact it almost feels like a cautionary tell of how things can go wrong.

Be warned that if you are a Stevie Nicks fan you will be singing her songs while you read this book and possibly days after you are done with it ;-)

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really very very good.

This is such a beautiful story. It has some very different aspects: motorbikes, leather, drag queens, BDSM, grief and loss, and coming to terms with the past. All these elements are so very different but this book brings them together in one piece and then the story unfurls them like a beautiful tapestry.

I really, really enjoyed this.

There are so many books around at the moment both m/m and m/f which have aspects of BDSM portrayed in the story. Some times the books are spot on but very often the story doesn't feel real and the way BDSM is portrayed in the story is as if the author heard about it but doesn't really understand it.

Not so here.

AB Gayle has given us a story about someone who has to come to terms with the way in which he has been hurt and exploited in the past. It is a very real portrayal of what can happen when BDSM goes wrong but this isn't the only thing the story focuses on, it also has motorbikes and a drag queen and this is such a fascinating combo. Not everyone would be able to craft such an imaginative story but AB Gayle has done it and done it very well indeed.

The main characters are just so real and vivid that they could get off the page and start walking around. The way the story unfolded was brilliant and the imagery it paints is impressive: from slightly sleazy blow jobs in the back room of a club, to a night ride on the back of a motor cycle, to the tears and shock of finding out a past lover has died, everything is portrayed in a way that is so vivid, clearly sketched and alive.

I enjoyed the first book in this series (Red+Blue) but I enjoyed this more. It is edgier, slightly darker but also far more gripping. Not to say that there is a problem with Red + Blue but just to say that this is an excellent sequel and you don’t have to read the first book before reading this one, they both stand alone.

I hope that there are many more to come.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very pleasant surprise! Most definitely not the standard story that I was expecting. The story was a unique view of the world of master/slave and had a lot of things going for it.

Steve - I will admit that I am not overly fond of main characters in drag but Stevie had something special about him. I loved him from the get go! Such a mix of strength and vulnerability.

Don - Very shallow of me as I am judging on the physical description but his moustache sounded terrible! However his personality was wonderful. He was such a contrast to Julius with his totally different view of the nature of submission.

The sex - the early scenes in the book were all about the unemotional, purely physical aspects as Stevie does his fundraising BJ duties. But the sex between Don and Steve, once they leave the pub has a lovely emotional quality.

The location - so nice to see a book set in Australia!

As I started the book I was a little worried that it may attempt to take on too much of an education role ie. trying to educate me, the reader, in the world of BDSM. This particularly worried due to the character of Gabriel who wanted Don to mentor him but also the discussion being held between Don and Stevie as they debated the concepts. However it was actually very well done, sharing information and opinion without turning in to a textbook. The focus was able to remain on the characters and the relationship development.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series and need to back-track and read Caught as the characters from this book make a small appearance in Leather+Lace.

Big plus also for the books cover and the title!

[Danny Tyran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I who spend my time complaining that the M/M BDSM novels I read are always full of clichés, their characters are cardboard cut-outs and their stories are too linear, I cannot complain about any of these failings this time. In fact, the author chose a difficult theme and she presented it with virtuosity. She gives us a little gem, realistic and thought-provoking.

Link for my complete review: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=19862

[Jason Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this 7 stars, I would.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I originally added this to my TBR because the VAST majority of my GR friends who've read it have rated this 4 or 5 stars, and I couldn't believe I'd missed it somehow after all this time. That said, I can see why they rated it so high.

I loved how there was a frank and honest discussion about the difference between abuse and RACK/SSC BDSM. I loved how Steve realized his situation and was able to escape. I hated that he got an old school therapist that wasn't familiar with the lifestyle and equated it to an addiction or perversion. I hated that he felt he couldn't trust himself or anyone else to try again. I loved that he found Don, also broken and floundering a bit after his own loss. I loved that Don wasn't an all-knowing, perfect Dom. (Although, seriously, that mo' had to go.)

I love that they found their own version of happiness, together. That they found something that fit their needs. And if it weren't for that ending, which felt a little forced, a little rushed, I think it would have been perfect. I know it was meant to show Steve taking back the narrative, re-writing his own story and reclaiming a part of himself...I just wish it had been a little later in the story and not right after he returned from his trip, so close on the heels of his revelation and acceptance of how he and Don could make a go of it.

Also, as vindictive as it sounds, I'm kind of gleefully, spitefully glad for what happened to Steve's Ex. Not so much Alex, Don's Ex...but if it hadn't they'd have never found each other.

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does a good job of showing what's happening in the story, letting us unwrap her gift instead of just telling us what it is. I really liked the MCs, and enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Their emotions were convincing and not over the top, but for some reason, I didn't connect with them as much as I wanted to. Definitely worth a read, though.

[Salsera1974 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 stars. When you consider the fact that this novel opens up with one of our main characters giving a series of blow jobs to a group of straight rugby players, and the scene ends with him giving a 30-minute blow job to the leather daddy/master who becomes his love interest (and receiving a money shot, no less), you might be surprised to learn that the novel was actually rather gentle, and in the best possible way, incredibly sweet.

Steve Stanhope is recovering from a BDSM-turned-master/slave relationship that went very badly wrong, and after escaping from it and moving to England, he returns to Australia in the hopes that he can recover what he left behind. Instead, he finds Donato Rossi, an American leather daddy/master living in his ex's house, a man whose strength, integrity, kindness, and maturity are a lure that he cannot resist. Watching Steve conquer his remaining fears about men who are a part of the BDSM scene, and watching Don patiently give Steve the space that will allow him to come to Don on his own, form the bones of a love story that is tender and unexpectedly delicate. This is a slow burn, but the pacing is right, and you will enjoy every moment of it.

I don't know what else to say except I think about this book, and it makes me smile. Go read it. Seriously. I don't think that you'll regret it.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god I love A.B. Gayle!!! My intention last night when I started this book at like 3am was read a couple of chapters and then go to bed…yeah that’s not what happened. I think I finally went to bed a 7am after, of course, finishing the book. I don’t know what it is about her writing, but Ms. Gayle always pulls me in and won’t let me go.

Steven Stanhope ran away from his home in Australia to escape an abusive Master/slave relationship with his ex Julian. He’s spent the last four years in England recovering his self-worth and often performing as Stevie Tricks, a drag queen impersonating the glorious Stevie Nicks his namesake. When he gets the call to come home and help launch the opening of a friends hotel he just can’t turn down the opportunity even if it means the possibility of running into his ex or others in the leather scene he’s vowed never to be a part of again.

Donato Rossi or Master D to his slaves has given everything up and moved to Australia. He’s giving a whip demonstration at the opening of the new hotel and he has plans to track down Steven no matter what. There are things they need to talk about even if the other man is doing everything in his power to avoid him. Donato has had a rough year already and too much of his life is up in the air because of it. While Steven may not want to talk about Julian Donato knows it’s inevitable and quite necessary. He just expecting the attraction he feels for the other man.

With Ms. Gayle it’s all about the characters and Steven and Donato do not disappoint. There’s still so much pain and confusion buried in both their hearts with the drama of their pasts. I felt so bad for Steven being blindsided by everything like that. He thinks he’s so prepared for what to expect in returning to Australia and instead he’s left facing a world completely uprooted from what he thought. His reactions hearing it all just broke my heart. I felt his nausea with him and every time he ran into old conditioned reactions within the house I just wanted to die. On the flip side Master D’s patience was just so sweet, all the while he’s dealing with figuring out his own broken heart. These two were such damaged souls and I loved that they found a way to survive and thrive with each other.

The BDSM aspect was handled really beautifully as well. There’s not a lot of actual BDSM action within the context of the book. Most of it is talked about or takes place off the page. This book is really about Steven trying to overcome the psychological damage Julian did to him and reconcile what he wants with what he thinks is right for him. While the idea of a BDSM relationship not requiring a 24/7 master/slave situation really isn’t brought up much I found it didn’t bother me. Steven was so focused on the idea that any acceptance of the lifestyle would result in him losing himself again that I don’t know that he would have been able to hear it anyway. I loved how this book ended with the decisions Steven made for himself. He really had to step outside of everything and see what life would be like missing those things he really wanted. The scene when he returns to Don and with Danny and Nat, wow, oh wow! (I SOOOO have to read their story ASAP!)

It’s all the little things in this book. I loved how Steven was constantly challenging Don to find his place and not lose himself again. I giggled every time he called Don Sunshine. Don is such the strong silent type but yet you still felt his inner turmoil and pain over the loss of his slave. He’s a good soul and you cheer for the best for him. The mixed up craziness of the legal aspects were such a good balance to the mixed up craziness of Don and Steven’s internal conflicts. I even liked the inclusion of Gabriel for all that I wanted to smack him and tell him to shut up 9 times out of 10.

Ultimately I’m in love! I’m in love with Ms. Gayles’ writing and her characters. I pretty much devour any book of hers I get my hands on and I can’t wait till she writes more. This book will go on my re-reads list and I’m sure I will enjoy it many more times in the future.

[Taintedskyee (Books Books&More Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is not for sensitive people.Some lines of this review may hurt your feelings.But this is my honest review as this book deserves nothing less.
It was a very emotional read,the way the author wrote about not one but two broken souls simultaneously was truly awesome and heart wrenching.

When ever I hear BDSM and jump to read a book its mostly because of all the kink,dom/sub prospect among the couples etc almost all the interest sum up to hot steamy sex.
So mostly I look forward to the good side of the concept and totally ignore the other side of the coin that's the part Ms.Gayle have used in this book so perfectly that you will feel it along with the MC.

This book is a eye opener,how ignorance can ruin a relationship as well as the human involved, completely.

Its a story that showed how a Master can go wrong as well as the sub, in two different relationship and how two surviving half of those relationship will build a healthy relationship when circumstances bring them together.

It was beautiful to see Steve/drag queen use his sass as defensive wall to protect himself and Don/Master D leather man breaks them slowly with his determination, patience,care and other qualities that make a true Master.
Okay,I tried my best to make some sense in the review without giving out the story, which I hate doing and avoid as much as possible but do love to read a review with spoiler;) Hypocrite *Sigh*...Then*shrug*I know..lol

Now why 4 star and not five,its because (this is the sensitive part be prepared)I am a visual person and when I read I prefer hot male like tall sexy etc......I don't like reading about short hero specially with body nothing to write home about and shaven head spread eagle on the bed,that visualization will only make me giggle not hot and bothered or intense.And for me mustache only suits fathers ,uncles etc not hero of a book. Facial hair is good till it is as growth of 1 or 2 days can be more but not as permanent fixture through out the story and not only that a constant reminder of its presence irritated the bejesus out of me.
But overall it was a wonderful sentimental read and recommended to all.


.

[Jess Candela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I beta'ed this, and read it several times in the process, so it's past time I review it. It started out darn good and got better with every draft.

I'm not usually a fan of BDSM, but this is a very unusual BDSM book. Rather than furthering the mystique - or, worse, the sometimes dangerous misperceptions - of BDSM, this book shows the damage that can occur when BDSM is done wrong and how wonderfully fulfilling it can be when done right. Oh, not in any lectury sort of way, but rather through the personal journey of the MCs, a journey we feel and experience right alongside them.

AB Gayle has a consistent talent for writing complex characters who pull me into the story to live it with them. I've had close friends who were into BDSM and even though they explained to me the psychology behind how it works, it always made me a bit uncomfortable because it's just not my thing.

In many ways this book pulled me into BDSM-world even more than my friends did, but without the discomfort. Perhaps because I got to really live it with Steve and see what worked for him, what didn't, and why, in a way no amount of explaining by friends could accomplish.

Don's a Master who just lost his beloved slave, and Steve is a former slave who escaped from an abusive Master and has sworn never to let himself be in that position again. And yet, despite his horrific past experience, there's a lot about submission that is intrinsic to Steve's happiness even as he can't allow himself to risk it again.

Don is similarly intrinsically a Dominant, even if his confidence has been shaken by the loss of his slave. It's heart-rending and heart-warming to watch these two men dance around each other, figuring out what they need, what the other needs, and how they can create something special that fulfills both their needs.

[Adrienne -kocham czytać- · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'Give to me your lace, and I'll give you my leather.'"

Even better than the first book. A true depiction of abuse and tragedy and their after effects. There was such a range of emotion in this book from the deadly pain of the past to the slow healing of the present and future. Leather plus lace, no joke; compromising and bringing two things together if you want it to work.

This story was painful to my heart, and awful sometimes with the graphic memories of Steve's abuse, and how he never truly coped with that, along with the tragedy that Don suffered through, and how those two are connected. It was complicated and realistic. There were no magic love potions or magic cocks or instant-healing-once-I-look-into-your-eyes (or am under your Domination) or anything like that that skirts around the long and convoluted process of healing. There was a lot of confusion and antagonism and pain to move through before anything concrete could take root between Steve and Don, and that's how I like it 'cause that's true to life. Old pains don't just die and go away, and newly opened doors don't make everything else irrelevant.

"Vegetation recovers if the roots are still viable. So do people."

This work was a well planned and deeply studied gem. The acknowledgments in the beginning could tell you how much research (with people in the life and with literary and online sources) Gayle did to ensure the validity of the circumstances, and it showed in every page. This is much, much appreciated!

I love this book and read it from figurative cover to cover. It is one of the hands-down best books of healing and recovery after abuse that I have read. Highly, highly recommended to all who like a good, in-depth, emotional story.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I'd put aside my prejudices and read this book before now. This is a great piece of writing, a great story.
I am not a fan of BDSM, I don't understand why people want to inflict pain and receive pain in order to fulfil their "kink". But this novel explains that psychology, and whilst I still would not choose S/M, I am now a little more understanding as to what it is that makes these people tick, thanks mainly to some great research and writing by this author. There is not much BDSM in the novel thankfully and for someone fresh to the genre I would recommend reading the "Acknowledgments" at the beginning.
In the same vein, should "Drag" be a concept beyond your understanding, put aside your prejudices and give this novel a go.
Truly excellent characters, strong and diverse plot, extremely entertaining.
This was a toss up between four or five stars. I nearly went for four, mainly because I am not a fan of the subject matter; however, because my pre-conceptions were challenged and I was not offended, and I enjoyed the plot and characters, it really does deserve a five star rating. Excellent writing.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Leather+Lace is a nice sequel to Red+Blue. Steven is a drag queen who performs as Stevie Tricks occasionally. He returns to Australia after fleeing an abusive relationship. It took a lot of therapy and support from his family to be himself again. Don also went through his share of issues, losing his slave to Stevie's ex, feeling unsure of himself. I liked that Don tried to undo the damage Julius caused, he didn't push Steve back into the BSDM lifestyle and encouraged Steven to go away so he can decide what he wants without influencing him in any way.

The first few pages at the charity nights were not my cup of tea although I didn't mind the public blowjob session with Don. At the end, I was surprised that Steven was able to handle some flogging again after repeatedly saying he will no longer be involved in leather and his panic attacks. Overall, it’s a nice book. I liked the characters. I like that the author touched on the effects of abusive BSDM relationship. I can't quite put my finger on it but something was missing for me in this book.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books are supposed to make you think, and this one very much did for me. I took several pages of notes. It's hard to distill these into a coherent review and I don't really want to right now, so I'm going to just list some of the thoughts that came to me while reading this. (Please excuse any typos or poor grammar. It's almost 5 AM and I'm very tired but I need to get this posted.)

I'll start out by saying that the story, the pacing, the plot, the characters, the situations, etc., plus the way BDSM is portrayed, made this a five star book. However, the places where the victim is blamed, or his feelings invalidated and disrespected, and the times the abuse is looked at flippantly, makes me want to rate it one star. I'm grudgingly giving it three stars because that just isn't the right rating.

PTSD was really well described in the book. So often books and film portray PTSD as someone who no longer knows where he/she is and thinks she/he is back in the traumatic moment. That's a psychotic break, not PTSD. It might be a brought on by PTSD, but that's not how most people experience PTSD. What happens is that the trigger brings the person back to the memories of the trauma, memories that are so real that the person feels all of the emotions that he or she thought at that point in time and applies them to the current situation. Those overwhelming fears generally manifest in something that looks like a panic attack. My one complaint is that Don says that Steven should have told him he had panic attacks. But Don should have already got that Steven had PTSD. I thought he did because he was very understanding. But then he should have understood Steven might freak out. That statement didn't fit with the character at all.

It was interesting that he then went on to ask if there was anything else that Steven hadn't told him like if he had epilepsy or migraines. I'm curious how migraines would matter. If someone had a safe word, he could just speak it. I'm on disability greatly because of migraines. The only times I have a headache so severe I couldn't speak was when I've gotten an ice pick headache. Those are more common in people with migraines but they don't necessarily coincide. And they're usually gone in a couple of minutes. But I would think that if gags are going to be involved, a safe word type gesture would be necessary and the head ache wouldn't preclude that. So if someone knows the answer to that, I'd love to hear it.

At one point I felt like I was being lectured at. I like learning things while I read, but I want it to be in context and not like I'm reading a nonfiction treatise.

I'm confused about this sentence: "BDSM, leather, and slavery don't have to be bedfellows. In fact, they rarely are," Don contributed quietly. Leather and what is referred to as slavery are subsets of BDSM so that makes no sense to me. If you can explain this, please do so in the comments below.

I liked how Steven's feelings for his ex weren't black and white, that part of him still loved his abuser. But I thought it was a bit much when four years after the abuse he says, "How on earth could I hate a guy yet love him so much?" I don't think he'd still "love him so much." Love him, sure but not more than that.

It was funny how the American kept referring to the Australians as liking "frothy stuff" on their coffee. He came from Chicago, a big city. I know my perspective is a little skewed living in Seattle, but I've been to other US cities. Starbucks is everywhere. The guy might not like it but he wouldn't think it was weird.

The part where Steven returns from his ride when he wasn't wearing a helmet was so touching, sweet, a,d loving, it made me cry. I didn't doubt Don's love for Steven ever, and that's important.

It took them forever to paint. Months. It should have taken three weeks tops given the size of the place and the fact that Don was still working.

There was an analogy made at one part that I felt skewed the whole point. Don says to Steven, "Isn't it about time you stopped blaming BDSM for all your problems?" When Steven asks what Don means, Don replied, "It's like blaming alcohol or drugs for breaking up a marriage. The abuse of the substance is not the cause, it's the symptom." Yes, that's true, but the symptom is not a good thing for that person. It's not a healthy response to the problem and does, in fact, start causing additional problems. A spouse might be willing to work things out but when someone becomes an addict, often it's too late. At that point, the addict has to accept that he can't use anymore, even if other people can in moderate quantities. I'm not saying anything about BDSM, just that the comparison doesn't work if he wants Steven to think BDSM is okay. And Steven does talk about BDSM as being addictive and Don doesn't argue. I think it's possible that for some people who have gone to extremes, it may not be a legitimate answer for that person anymore. Ultimately, (major spoiler) that's what the book ultimately says, at least in Steven's case, and it's why I can say that the book worked for me.

There was one part that really offended me and it had nothing to do with BDSM and all about the abuse. Steven says that if he returned to the BDSM scene he would be making a mistake. Don replies, "Is that how you see what happened with Julius? A mistake?" Steven is understandably horrified that Don would even ask that. Don then says, "Yet you are the man you are now because of that so-called mistake." So-called. Yes, you learn from past abuse, and you might not be the same person, but this person Steven is, isn't even completely functional. There can be no justification for what happened to him and not letting him see it as a mistake is like saying, "Everything happens for a reason," or "God meant for you to go through that." Someone can use that to help themselves through that if it's what they need, but someone from the outside saying that is just wrong. Can you imagine going up to a Holocaust victim and saying that? There are some traumas and trials that yes, can be looked on as a learning experience, but not all of them, and what Steven went through was not just a learning experience to chalk up to "sometime shit happens." This is invalidating Steven's feelings.

Twice Don told Steven that part of the problem in the relationship was that Steven wasn't honest about his needs, so they were never going to be met. Steven was totally honest about his need to be free and do thing outside the house. He was kept prisoner. This was not the type of relationship where anything Steven said would have mattered. It feels like Don is blaming the victim here. Yes, a victim needs to take responsibility for what he can in order to understand that he does have some power, but not this. This is blaming the victim.

I really hated that Don on two occasions referred to BDSM as being able to beat the shit out of someone. "The thing that pisses me off is that he also robbed me of the ability to beat the shit out of you and fuck you afterward." That just doesn't sound loving or healthy. It's not the "beat" part of the sentence so much as the "shit out of you." That's the kind of thing that abusers say to victims. He's saying, "I wish I could beat you up," not, "I want to give you exquisite pain until you can't walk..." I can think of a dozen different ways to say the same thing, ways that I've heard in other books, that give the same point without sounding abusive. Steven even says to himself, "Any sane person would cringe at the idea, but part of me wanted the same thing." This is making light of the abuse which is disrespectful of what Steven is going through.

It was frequently mentioned that the ex, Julian, was a narcissist, a personality disorder that doesn't just appear and doesn't ever go away. It can't be cured. Yet several times it was mentioned that it was partially Steven's fault because Julius feared he was losing Steven and just did all the abuse to keep him. At one point Steven says,

Don was right. Julius had feared he was losing me, or at least losing my rep sect, so he tried to bind me to him with physical ties. but he didn't need to. I loved him so much that I was prepared to overlook the flaws in his personality. I would have been much better off recognizing these flaws and accepting them.

So he was to blame for not recognizing the flaws? He should have accepted that Julian was a narcissist who only thought of his own wants and desires?

I'm all about letting go of the past and moving on. I think it's great to understand why your abuser did something and maybe forgive, or maybe just let it go. But it is never okay to justify real abuse by convincing someone they're partially to blame.


Thoughts about TPE (Total Power Exchange, 24/7 D/s relationship) and how it is portrayed in this book

Let me start out by saying, I think that BDSM itself is handled with care and respect here, unlike most books that label themselves BDSM. The subject can be uncomfortable for me but this book didn't hit any buttons for me. It came close with the TPE but I really did okay most of the time with the exceptions I mention below. I particularly like how the responsibility of the Dom is explained, like taking care of the sub after a pain session, how pausing midway can make the tolerance go down again because the endorphin high flags, how a person can love pain and either like or not like being controlled and how that's separate from abuse. This section is about my feelings about TPE, especially as it relates to this story.

There's something about TPE that makes me really angry. I know part of it is that I don't understand it on a gut level. But I'm trying, hence my reading this book. I have to say, this book handled it better than any book I've ever read, more realistically and believably and with an understanding of what is okay and what isn't. I liked how Don talked about how hard and exhausting it is for the Dom, too. I believe relationships shouldn't be hard or tiring. It's hard for me to understand why someone would want that, but it's not a moral issue, just a question of personal taste.

I really disagreed with Don and agreed with Steven when the latter said that a kid needs to learn how to stand on his own two feet and care for himself before entering a TPE lifestyle. Don says, "What if I said, 'submission can set you free'?" That's a completely different type of freedom. That's freedom from the thoughts and emotions that control you. What everyone needs to know how to do is to care for themselves and how to survive on their own. If a relationship ends after twenty years, this youngster could be nearing forty and have no idea how to get a job or find an apartment, etc., may not even be able to stay in an apartment by himself, and won't have his parents to fall back on anymore. The time after a kid leaves high school is a time for testing the water and figuring out who he is. People's brains don't stop developing until they're 25. The college years (even if a person doesn't go to college, are very important years for a person to find their place in the world through trial and error. Entering into something so controlled like a TPE relationship, is just going from one TPE relationship (living with parents) to another.

Eighteen year olds think they know everything and most have no idea what they really want. It would be irresponsible of a Dom to take in a kid like that, especially one who had no BDSM experience at all let alone a regular BDSM relationship without TPE. The kid also needs to be exposed to multiple TPE relationships so he can understand what is normal and healthy and what isn't. He doesn't even know what to look for in an equal relationship. How can he know how an unequal one should work and what is abuse? It's worse than getting married at 18 which I think is idiotic. If two people are truly in love at 18 and will stay together forever, they will still be together when they're 21 and have grown a lot. Okay, off my soap box.

There was also a point where the MCs are having sex and Steven thinks to himself, "No rules, No need for limitations." That's why I think TPE is a bad idea. The people I know who've had to follow rigid rules their whole lives are wound more tightly than my brand new mattress springs. It's healthy to sometimes just go with the flow, to explore knowing that you're not going to be stopped and told to do something else. I get why BDSM and D/s play can be freeing, I do. I just don't believe in absolutes. I believe in variety and exploring as many different sides of yourself as you can, which means sometimes being a sub, sometimes being a Dom and sometimes being neither. I'm not saying all the time, I just think that even once a month each person needs to be able to completely let go without rules and without being controlled by, or having to control, someone else. But then, I don't like being controlled and I hate controlling others.

Being a good parent isn't about controlling someone else, it's about helping someone learn so they can be whole and healthy without my interference. The "Daddy" nicknames are there for a reason: a TPE relationship is a lot like a parent/child one, just without the same final goal (just the interim). The difference is that a good a parent decreases control as the youth matures until the day the child is ready to leave home. I know that BDSM is supposed to do a lot of helping someone grow and learn, push their limits to expand them, etc., but I don't believe it can when it's 24/7. That's just my opinion, though, and I believe it's possible to have a good, safe TPE relationship. But I do think that includes the possibility that the sub can ask for what he needs when it's serious, that he can refuse and use a safe word without serious threat.

The book even mentions that most people in a TPE relationship don't even have safe words. The wonderful Gilly in the true story Fun With Dick and Shane doesn't have a safe word. If his Doms don't like what he's done, they'll punish him. When he complains, they'll punish him more. If he still protests, the top Dom threatens to oust him from the relationship. That's abuse. He's 100% dependent on them for money, for food, for shelter. He doesn't have a lot of friends, and no skills other than keeping house. So if he doesn't comply, he'll not only lose the only family he's ever known, the only people who've ever treated him like a human being, but he'll also lose everything else. Crap. Off my soap box again.

An aside: I really hate using the word "slave" for a healthy BDSM D/s relationship. Dom/sub, yes. Master/servant, sure, but I think it is disrespectful to all the real slaves in this world. I get that it's playacting, but it's playacting about something that is truly horrific and a real problem. A slave can't walk away. I can pretend to be a rape victim and wander around and pretend I'm seriously a rape victim, but that would be disgusting. A rape fantasy, sure if that's what turns your key, but make it the role in your relationship? Yeah, insensitive a bit.

This sentence made me uncomfortable: "I didn't care what they called themselves: Top, bottom, switch, whatever. My only stipulations was that they had to consent to me treating them however I wanted." Not "doing to them" but "treating them." In my mind they're different. Subtle, but treat means you don't have to treat them with respect. I think that even humiliation type BDSM can be delivered with underlying respect and that if it isn't done that way, then it's not BDSM but something else entirely. It just sounds like a narcissistic power trip.

Okay, this part is just my difficulty in understanding all the elements of BDSM. It's something I heard in Fun with Dick and Shane a lot. In the story, Steven did something to make Don jealous, although he didn't do it totally consciously. He says, "If he had been my Master, Don would have given me whatever punishment he deemed suitable for [doing this thing]. Then that would be hat. The matter would be forgotten. The transgression forgiven." I don't get how that is healthy. I'm totally the type of person who is done with an issue as soon as we work it out. It drives my family crazy that we can have an argument and five minutes later I'm fine and they're still processing the next day. So I'm a big believer in letting something be over when it's over. But if these types of things are never talked about, the feelings aren't going to go away because a punishment is meted out. There's a reason why Steven did what he did and he needs to figure that out. Don might be fine with the punishment, but if he has any doubt about Steven's motivations, the lack of talking could really mess things up. A five minute conversation could make a huge difference in how things work out. This one might be fine, but sometimes the underlying issues need to be dealt with. Remember the blame Don put on Steven for not saying what he needed? Yet a quick spanking just makes it all okay? That makes no sense. Although in retrospect, I suppose this is stereotypical male behavior. "Let's not talk things out, let's beat each other up." (Using Don's term.)

This section made me laugh because it's kind of twisted: Don says to Steven, "A lot of people are drawn to BDSM because in the safety of a scene, they can admit to desires and emotions they feel uncomfortable expressing otherwise. If you {don't participate}, I won't be able to use traditional methods to break down the barriers you erect, so you're going to have to do that yourself. In other words, I'm going to have to rely on you to be totally honest with me and communicate your needs and wants. Can you do that?"

There is so much wrong with that sentence. First off, Don's been on Steve's case about not communicating with his Dom but now he says that he has to communicate because they're not in a D/s relationship? How are punishments and beatings a traditional way of breaking down barriers? Isn't it healthier for someone to break down the barriers themselves? I mean I get why some people find BDSM an easier way to do that, but he's acting like it's all freaky. And if he can't do it by himself, can't Don try to help him without using BDSM? Plenty of people manage. (Even though most people do some BDSM, I think for the majority of the population that means mild bondage and spanking.) Plus, Steven is now very good at expressing himself.

(ALL EMPHASES MINE.)

Flame on.

[monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

an ...unique...excellent...extremely well-written, very realistic book! Brilliant!

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Edited*

I have a passion in reading books with BDSM and characters in pain, either physical or psychological. In both subjects, there are some stories that gloss over the past or glorify the sex and kink with over the top and unrealistic acts. But A.B. Gayle seemed to to just draw the story gracefully and naturally.

As an added bonus, I want to say that the cover was brilliant and perfectly represented the story and characters.

Basic Plot:

Steven comes back home to Australia after fleeing from a previous boyfriend and the BDSM lifestyle. Now that he is home, he tests the waters by returning to places from his past. But he meets a Dom, Don whose charm Steven finds tempting. Can he let the past go enough to find love and acceptance for his future?

Theme:
I think that this book is about accepting yourself. We see in Steve someone who has repressed his desires for kink because of his past relationship. He has listened to everyone else: therapists, his family, and his former Master and ignores what is in his heart. Don tells Steve:

“I like you the way you are. Raw. Natural. Perfect.”

And then:

“Remember, being kinky is not a sin. Forget what your therapist said. Unless they’ve had firsthand experience, they don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about. Don’t ever be ashamed of what we do.”

Never being ashamed of who you are. Strong words.

Strong Point:

A powerful point of this book was the description of the BDSM activities. While the Master/slave relationship is not exactly displayed directly in this book, the roles, kink, psychological factors, and sensuality of it is. We see how it can be good, but we also see how it can go horribly wrong. What I liked about this story is that the author did not gloss over the dangers of the lifestyle. She took what was a realistic worse-case scenario with Steve’s past boyfriend and made the reader feel Steve’s pain. But she also gave us how it could be done correctly as well, so that the reader is not left thinking that BDSM lifestylers are all just wackos and abusers. It is a difficult thing, to vilify a character without vilifying the scene, but I felt Gayle did it brilliantly.

I also loved the humor of the writing. As Don always said of Steve, he uses his “shiny armor”, which is his humor and flippy lip. His scenes with Gabriel were hilarious and I loved how his “Stevie Tricks” character is so effusive.

What could be better?

When I give a book a five-star rating, I find it difficult to find something wrong with it. And this book is no different for me. If I had anything to want, it would be have heard Don’s voice. But after wanting that, I realized that it would have hurt the tension and the pacing of the story.

Conclusions:

I have a feeling that this is a book I will read numerous times. Remember when we read paperbacks (hahahah) and the spine became broken and lined? The book would automatically open to your favorite parts. That’s what this book has quickly become to me. I can just smile and think about the scene in the kitchen, in the garage, or in the meditation room.

This is her best writing. I look forward to reading more of this series and from A.B. Gayle.

[Magen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flat out loved this book. Read this now if you haven't already done so. No joke. If I could give it more stars I would. The plot was refreshing and the writing was wonderful. Too bad it has such a deceiving, generic cover and title. It would never have caught my eye based on those or the summary. This book is SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT MEETS THE EYE.

I don't often cry from a book but this one had me in tears multiple times for both MC's. Their sorrow and joy was palpable throughout the whole book. Each character was in so much pain that you just wanted to reach out and hold them until they found they could rely on one another.

Steve is a drag queen by night, day trader by day and is lost in the world. He has escaped a horribly abusive Master/ Slave relationship only to find himself back at square one when he meets a new Dom that has moved into the old home he escaped from. When he receives grievous news, he discovers the new Dom is suffering from the same pain he is and together they learn how to heal each other. I adored Stevie and Don and their transition from grief to love for each other. A truly beautiful story about trauma, redemption and recovery. 10 Stars.

[~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★
"Drowning in the sea of love, where everyone would love to drown".

This read was the highlight of my week.

Steven - 'Stevie Tricks' - had run, literally, away from Julius, his abusive, former Master, and finally returned to Australia after four years to find that Julius had been killed in a motorcycle accident with Master D's - Donato Rossi - slave that Julius had poached right out from under Don.

How do these two damaged souls find their way to each other and heal each other? Well, you'll just have to read the book :)

Nat (Taylor) and Danny from turn up here.

Sara http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttOBnm... sung by Stevie Nicks is my favorite FM song. I've loved it forever, bought double-album Tusk for it (1979), then again on the 4-cd set 'The Chain' in the 90's (really how many times can you buy the same music?!). I heard it on Slacker today and immediately thought of Stevie Tricks and his homage to Stevie N. Thank you A.B. for the memory.

[Tame · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was, in one word, STUNNING!!! Absolutely raw, gorgeous, real, kinky, and lovely. I wish there were more stars to give :-)

[Pixie Mmgoodbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Hearts

Review written for MM Good Book Reviews

http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

This story is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. Steve is finally ready to return home after four years and hopefully reclaim what is his, but first he has to make sure that his ex-master, Julius, isn’t around and if he is that he isn’t into leather anymore, so Steve appears at a charity event for the local BDSM community and although there is no Julius, there is a Master D who is determined to talk to Steve. Donato is an American leather Master and his new venture in Australia could be hanging in the balance, he has a lot to discuss with Steve, the sub who abandoned his Master, and try to come to some sort of arrangement. But everything he was told isn’t true and he has to untangle the mess that Julius created, but can a mentally scared sub who refuses to have anything to do with BDSM and a confident Dom who loves the lifestyle find a middle ground that suits them?

This is a story about a man who got lost in BDSM and suffered the consequences of a Dom who immersed himself in the Old School Master/slave relationship. Steve fled to the U.K. four years ago when he escaped from an increasingly abusive Master/slave relationship, he left it all behind and worked hard to find himself again, but now the time has come to reclaim what he left behind, but nothing is ever easy and Steve has to handle Donato, a leather Master, but Donato makes him long for things he shouldn’t want anymore. Donato just wants to get business sorted, but Steve proves to be more complex than he realised, discovering the truth behind Julius and Steve’s relationship leaves him horrified and although Donato and Steve become close, they both know that BDSM is something that Steve just can’t handle anymore, so how can they be together?

I have to say this is a wonderful story of a man discovering what he truly wants and needs, and seeking a way to overcome his emotional scars and fears. Steve is a strong character, he has been through hell and with help has come out the other side, but he still has a past to put to rest. Donato is a hard character to get to know, although we get some background on him he seems to have a shell that surrounds him so we only get to know him superficially, he is a huge help to Steve and they end up meshing very well together. The storyline is very well done and the way it is written is brilliant at drawing you in, making you see the damage done to a young man who wanted to do anything for the man he loved, a man who lost himself in BDSM.

This is a story that shows you that if you don’t limit yourself and don’t know when to pull in the reins, just how wrong things can go. This isn’t just about what is happening in the here and now but also what happened in the past, would things have been different if Steve had pulled in the reins sooner? If instead of giving in, he had stuck by his disquiet? Steve has to finally admit to himself that it wasn’t just the BDSM’s fault, and that the two men involved were at fault too. Donato has great patience and it comes in handy when dealing with Steve, he holds him when he has to, but he also lets Steve go when Steve needs it, whether Steve realises it or not. They make a great couple in this book and the content of the book is scorching and at times erotic, although for the first few chapters I had a sour taste in my mouth because of the opening scenes, those were not my cup of tea at all.

I will recommend this to those that love emotionally scarred men, overcoming the past, discovering what you truly want, and finding love again and a happy ending.