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Bound By Guilt
Kit Mason works at Eddy’s, a boutique where the clothes are chic, the paycheck’s weak, and Kit has no qualms about snagging rich older men looking to pay for play. When Cory St. James walks in, he checks all Kit’s he’s middle-aged, the entrepreneur of a pharmaceutical company, and already has a kept boy at home—what’s one more? Kit sets out to seduce Cory and bulldozes through his denials, but when Cory finally gives in, his lover, Sasha, catches them with their pants down.
Sasha isn’t the pampered toy Kit expected. In fact, Kit may have misjudged him. And the consequences that ensue when Sasha catches Kit and Cory together leave him alone. Unwilling to be weighed down by guilt, Kit decides to look after Sasha himself, even if Sasha can’t stand the sight of him and there are a few things about Kit's past he doesn't want Sasha to know. But Kit isn't willing to do all the work when it comes to forcing Sasha to rebuild his life. It’s a slow process of growing trust and learning to stand on their own—and together.
Sasha isn’t the pampered toy Kit expected. In fact, Kit may have misjudged him. And the consequences that ensue when Sasha catches Kit and Cory together leave him alone. Unwilling to be weighed down by guilt, Kit decides to look after Sasha himself, even if Sasha can’t stand the sight of him and there are a few things about Kit's past he doesn't want Sasha to know. But Kit isn't willing to do all the work when it comes to forcing Sasha to rebuild his life. It’s a slow process of growing trust and learning to stand on their own—and together.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Bard
16 books17 followersSandra Bard started writing when she was quite young because there was always a story inside her head, but never thought of writing for an audience until recently. She only decided to try her hand at writing for the sake of being published after a series of events left her with some free time and in between jobs.
She grew up travelling the world from Africa to Asia and, though she now lectures full time at a university, dreams of having a job that wouldn't tie her down to one place. She enjoys reading books, watching anime and, occasionally, visiting a fan-fiction site. She also dabbles in tai chi and yoga in the hope they would keep her flexible and help lose weight. She lives with her pets (fish, cats, and dogs) and has been a volunteer for an organization that takes care of stray dogs (there are many, where she lives) for over ten years. She would love to hear from her readers and can be found at her Tumblr (http://sandrabard.tumblr.com) or e-mailed at sandrabard123@gmail.com.
She grew up travelling the world from Africa to Asia and, though she now lectures full time at a university, dreams of having a job that wouldn't tie her down to one place. She enjoys reading books, watching anime and, occasionally, visiting a fan-fiction site. She also dabbles in tai chi and yoga in the hope they would keep her flexible and help lose weight. She lives with her pets (fish, cats, and dogs) and has been a volunteer for an organization that takes care of stray dogs (there are many, where she lives) for over ten years. She would love to hear from her readers and can be found at her Tumblr (http://sandrabard.tumblr.com) or e-mailed at sandrabard123@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 28, 2013
I loved the premise of this story. 22 year old Kit, who works in a clothes shop and augments his meagre income with the occasional sugar daddy, spots a perfect mark when older man Cory walks into his shop. Despite the fact that Cory is living with another young man who he cares for, Kit inveigles his way into Cory's company. He finally gets Cory to have sex with him when they are interrupted by Cory's partner, Sasha, who Kit is shocked to see is crippled and obviously dependant on Cory. Kit runs out but reads in the paper a couple of days later that . For the first time in his life he experiences feelings of guilt and responsibility. He can't stop thinking about the attractive but obviously unwell Sasha and he's bewildered by how worried he is. When his own funds dry up and his job is temporarily on hold Kit finds himself at Sasha's front door looking for shelter, even though the two despise each other. Their enmity and distrust very slowly turns to friendship, attraction and eventually self-realisation.
Kit is such a complex character. He is uneducated, shallow and opportunistic but not a bad guy. He has had a bad childhood but this is never presented as an excuse for what he does. I actually liked him from the first page even though his actions were initially questionable. I could really feel his confusion about his reaction to the situation and to Sasha. It's like he was growing emotionally before my eyes. Sasha's condition and his past relationship with Cory is not really what it seems either, and the story of what happened to him completely drew me in from the first word to the last. Living in close quarters in Sasha's house forces the two men together and there is a very satisfying and sexy slow burn romance between them.
Despite the serious storyline the book felt fairly light and easy to read although I wish it were longer. When the final conflict was resolved the pair reconcile without enough discussion for me. I still feel their feelings are new and very fragile. Nor am I convinced that they have ironed out their problems or even their prejudices. They are still lacking in trust and respect for each other. But it's a HEA (or HFN really). I would LOVE to read another book about them learning to live together. I can see so much opportunity for conflict and misunderstanding as they continue to grow and mature. I hope the author has more planned for these two wonderfully interesting guys. This is another very promising new author for 2013.
Kit is such a complex character. He is uneducated, shallow and opportunistic but not a bad guy. He has had a bad childhood but this is never presented as an excuse for what he does. I actually liked him from the first page even though his actions were initially questionable. I could really feel his confusion about his reaction to the situation and to Sasha. It's like he was growing emotionally before my eyes. Sasha's condition and his past relationship with Cory is not really what it seems either, and the story of what happened to him completely drew me in from the first word to the last. Living in close quarters in Sasha's house forces the two men together and there is a very satisfying and sexy slow burn romance between them.
Despite the serious storyline the book felt fairly light and easy to read although I wish it were longer. When the final conflict was resolved the pair reconcile without enough discussion for me. I still feel their feelings are new and very fragile. Nor am I convinced that they have ironed out their problems or even their prejudices. They are still lacking in trust and respect for each other. But it's a HEA (or HFN really). I would LOVE to read another book about them learning to live together. I can see so much opportunity for conflict and misunderstanding as they continue to grow and mature. I hope the author has more planned for these two wonderfully interesting guys. This is another very promising new author for 2013.
May 31, 2013
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did.
I loved the idea of it: Kit hunts for sugar daddies. The marrieder (that's a word now), the better. It saves complications. They buy him pretty things and, a few months later, they part ways.
Then Kit meets Cory. Older, wealthy, gay, in a relationship -- perfect. Except then Sasha, Cory's partner, finds them just about to do the dirty, and everything blows up. For starters, Kit is horrified to discover that Sasha is dependant on Cory because and then .
At this point I rubbed my hands together gleefully for the ensuing angst fest. I even overlooked the coincidences that had Kit pushing his way into Sasha's house, and life. But I had some fairly big issues.
Issue 1: Kit. It's not that he's unlikeable, it's that I had the weird impression I was supposed to not like the things about him that I did, and like the things about him that I didn't. Unapologetic homewrecker? Fine, I can deal with that. But all the stuff about his poor background and unloving childhood. Meh. Get over yourself, Kit. Oh, and calling Sasha Seriously, does anyone with even half a brain still use that term? Apparently Kit does.
Issue 2: Sasha. He felt weirdly underdeveloped. He was rather fey and aloof except when it suited the plot to get angry and emotional. Sasha should have been much more interesting than Kit, all in all, but he jut came across as rather bland.
Issue 3: The whole subplot with the teenage girl dressing like a whore (Kit's words, not mine) and the father who kept popping up at opportune moments just so Sasha thought Kit was still hustling. Do 13 year old girls really latch on to grown men like limpets? Do their fathers really let them walk alone down streets where they were chased by scary dudes only a few days before? Apparently.
Issue 4: The resolution.
All in all this was a good read, just not what I'd been hoping for at the time.
I loved the idea of it: Kit hunts for sugar daddies. The marrieder (that's a word now), the better. It saves complications. They buy him pretty things and, a few months later, they part ways.
Then Kit meets Cory. Older, wealthy, gay, in a relationship -- perfect. Except then Sasha, Cory's partner, finds them just about to do the dirty, and everything blows up. For starters, Kit is horrified to discover that Sasha is dependant on Cory because and then .
At this point I rubbed my hands together gleefully for the ensuing angst fest. I even overlooked the coincidences that had Kit pushing his way into Sasha's house, and life. But I had some fairly big issues.
Issue 1: Kit. It's not that he's unlikeable, it's that I had the weird impression I was supposed to not like the things about him that I did, and like the things about him that I didn't. Unapologetic homewrecker? Fine, I can deal with that. But all the stuff about his poor background and unloving childhood. Meh. Get over yourself, Kit. Oh, and calling Sasha Seriously, does anyone with even half a brain still use that term? Apparently Kit does.
Issue 2: Sasha. He felt weirdly underdeveloped. He was rather fey and aloof except when it suited the plot to get angry and emotional. Sasha should have been much more interesting than Kit, all in all, but he jut came across as rather bland.
Issue 3: The whole subplot with the teenage girl dressing like a whore (Kit's words, not mine) and the father who kept popping up at opportune moments just so Sasha thought Kit was still hustling. Do 13 year old girls really latch on to grown men like limpets? Do their fathers really let them walk alone down streets where they were chased by scary dudes only a few days before? Apparently.
Issue 4: The resolution.
All in all this was a good read, just not what I'd been hoping for at the time.
June 2, 2013
3.5 stars I really liked the uniqueness of this story. The beginning had me on the edge of my seat, and longing for answers that were given like breadcrumbs. Was a tad slow from about halfway on, and there is very little sex. Very enjoyable change of pace.
June 2, 2013
3.75 Stars
I was thinking at the beginning of this story that I had scored big, hit the jack pot, and got myself a 5 star book. Sadly, it didn't stay that way. In a nut shell this one started off with a bang. By the end of the first chapter I was caught; hook, line, and sinker. I am not even kidding a little bit when I say that I was not expecting any of that to happen.
At the beginning of the book you meet Kit and Cory. Kit is a very poor, financially struggling ex-foster kid who lives in a pay by-the-week crap apartment, which he can barely afford, and suppliments his retail job income by snagging and shagging rich, older men for money.
Here is where he meets Cory. Cory is a very wealthy, older man who comes into the shop where Kit works to buy clothes for his boyfriend. Kit instantly sees an easy mark in Cory and set off to snag him. He has zero qualms that Cory is in a relationship, as a matter of fact, he prefers it that way. He just needs the cash and doesn't care who his boyfriend is...as a matter of fact, he hopes his boyfriend finds out and loses him. In his mind, the twink at home isn't doing his job and so Kit will do it for him, and take his money.
Kit isn't really easy to love, even towards the end of the story you want to knock some sense into his skull. You forgive him a bit when you learn of his past and how he's been treated his whole life, but the boy has a lot of growing up to do.
Well Kit and Cory start out just having drinks and dinner. Kit pushes but it's clear that Sasha, Cory's boyfriend, means everything to him and he has no plans to move his friendship with Kit into a sexual one. Kit doesn't take no for an answer and finds a reason to go to Cory and Sasha's house when he knows that Sasha wont be there. He seduces Cory and Sasha comes home early and catches them.
From there it gets really tense. Really, really tense. Kit gets his first glimpse at his competition and is floored. Sasha is not at all what he expected and he feels a little bad, only a little because Kit really only cares about himself at this point, and takes off.
What happens the next day is what the rest of the story is about...the aftermath, the fall-out, the pain and suffering...and the unexpected way that the Cory and Sasha call it quits. I won't give it away, but trust me when I say I was not expecting anything like that to happen.
Here is where the rest of the story started to drag on. Kit's trying to make some sort of amends to Sasha. But, Kit is really not the touchy feely sort of guy and he is more insulting than helpful most times. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to filter anything before it leaves his mouth and he causes more problems for himself in the long run.
The entire story was one big guilt-fest...more than just Kit. There is lot you don't know about and it's uncovered piece by piece.
The ending was a little (a lot) unfinished for me. They made peace too easily and as a much as the middle dragged on, the ending was too quick. A few too may plot holes and I didn't feel much of a connection between Sasha and Cory. The ending is more HFN, and though they are attempting to make a go of it, they have a lot of work to do to make this relationship work out.
Would I recommend it? Yes, absolutely! But not if you're looking for a sex-fest. This is more story than sex. I don't usually miss that, but I think if they had gotten together sooner than I may have felt a better connection between them. Still, a very worthy read.
See review at: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
I was thinking at the beginning of this story that I had scored big, hit the jack pot, and got myself a 5 star book. Sadly, it didn't stay that way. In a nut shell this one started off with a bang. By the end of the first chapter I was caught; hook, line, and sinker. I am not even kidding a little bit when I say that I was not expecting any of that to happen.
At the beginning of the book you meet Kit and Cory. Kit is a very poor, financially struggling ex-foster kid who lives in a pay by-the-week crap apartment, which he can barely afford, and suppliments his retail job income by snagging and shagging rich, older men for money.
Here is where he meets Cory. Cory is a very wealthy, older man who comes into the shop where Kit works to buy clothes for his boyfriend. Kit instantly sees an easy mark in Cory and set off to snag him. He has zero qualms that Cory is in a relationship, as a matter of fact, he prefers it that way. He just needs the cash and doesn't care who his boyfriend is...as a matter of fact, he hopes his boyfriend finds out and loses him. In his mind, the twink at home isn't doing his job and so Kit will do it for him, and take his money.
Kit isn't really easy to love, even towards the end of the story you want to knock some sense into his skull. You forgive him a bit when you learn of his past and how he's been treated his whole life, but the boy has a lot of growing up to do.
Well Kit and Cory start out just having drinks and dinner. Kit pushes but it's clear that Sasha, Cory's boyfriend, means everything to him and he has no plans to move his friendship with Kit into a sexual one. Kit doesn't take no for an answer and finds a reason to go to Cory and Sasha's house when he knows that Sasha wont be there. He seduces Cory and Sasha comes home early and catches them.
From there it gets really tense. Really, really tense. Kit gets his first glimpse at his competition and is floored. Sasha is not at all what he expected and he feels a little bad, only a little because Kit really only cares about himself at this point, and takes off.
What happens the next day is what the rest of the story is about...the aftermath, the fall-out, the pain and suffering...and the unexpected way that the Cory and Sasha call it quits. I won't give it away, but trust me when I say I was not expecting anything like that to happen.
Here is where the rest of the story started to drag on. Kit's trying to make some sort of amends to Sasha. But, Kit is really not the touchy feely sort of guy and he is more insulting than helpful most times. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to filter anything before it leaves his mouth and he causes more problems for himself in the long run.
The entire story was one big guilt-fest...more than just Kit. There is lot you don't know about and it's uncovered piece by piece.
The ending was a little (a lot) unfinished for me. They made peace too easily and as a much as the middle dragged on, the ending was too quick. A few too may plot holes and I didn't feel much of a connection between Sasha and Cory. The ending is more HFN, and though they are attempting to make a go of it, they have a lot of work to do to make this relationship work out.
Would I recommend it? Yes, absolutely! But not if you're looking for a sex-fest. This is more story than sex. I don't usually miss that, but I think if they had gotten together sooner than I may have felt a better connection between them. Still, a very worthy read.
See review at: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
June 1, 2013
Potential. That is the one word that describes this book for me. The premise - excellent. Character development - needed more. Sasha needed more flushing out and depth. There was so much to Kit - he is a reader's flawed character wet dream, yet, there was more to be done to make him three dimensional.
Overall it just felt like I was scratching the surface of what could have been a really great read - it held a lot of promise. I look forward to seeing what others think about this story.
Overall it just felt like I was scratching the surface of what could have been a really great read - it held a lot of promise. I look forward to seeing what others think about this story.
June 23, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book about two very flawed characters. These are the type of characters I love to read about. On one hand we have Kit. He is 22 years old and making his way through this world alone. Well, alone with a sales clerk job supplemented by the gifts of the sugar daddies he works very hard to catch and keep.
At the beginning there is very little to like about Kit. he is very selfish and self-centered. While in the process of snagging his next sugar daddy he meets Sasha. Sasha on the other hand is not a whole lot better than Kit. He is also a lonely guy and an ice prince, rude and arrogant. He is also disabled and the current partner of the sugar daddy Kit has set his eyes upon. Due to a series of events Kit comes to live with Sasha and together begin an enemies to lovers story.
Throughout the book we get to know why both characters are the way they are and in the end both redeem themselves. I felt like this didn't happen until very late in the book. I kept waiting to read how Kit could improve himself and become self sufficient, but his plans for accomplishing that are not mentioned until the last few pages, so we don't get to see him work towards that goal. So we really don't get to see very much of both of them as this better people and we also only get a glimpse at what the future holds.
At the beginning there is very little to like about Kit. he is very selfish and self-centered. While in the process of snagging his next sugar daddy he meets Sasha. Sasha on the other hand is not a whole lot better than Kit. He is also a lonely guy and an ice prince, rude and arrogant. He is also disabled and the current partner of the sugar daddy Kit has set his eyes upon. Due to a series of events Kit comes to live with Sasha and together begin an enemies to lovers story.
Throughout the book we get to know why both characters are the way they are and in the end both redeem themselves. I felt like this didn't happen until very late in the book. I kept waiting to read how Kit could improve himself and become self sufficient, but his plans for accomplishing that are not mentioned until the last few pages, so we don't get to see him work towards that goal. So we really don't get to see very much of both of them as this better people and we also only get a glimpse at what the future holds.
June 2, 2013
I was afraid to read this one because of the blurb. As someone who doesn't like cheating, I wasn't going to read this because of "Kit sets out to seduce Cory and bulldozes through his denials, but when Cory finally gives in, his lover, Sasha, catches them with their pants down." To be honest, I was afraid the whole 'seducing' would take up a good part of the book. Only after I was assured this wasn't the case was I willing to pick the book up.
As it was, I really enjoyed it. It starts with a bang that had me captivated enough to read more and then more and then more. However, regardless of the beginning, this is actually a slow, mellow read. It obviously revolves around guilt but that guilt has so many layers and goes so deep you can't even find the root of it.
I adored the fact that Sasha hated Kit with a passion. So much so that for a good portion of the book, he was snarling or sneering. I loved every second of that. Sasha was definitely my favorite. There's a twist about him that I'm not willing to spoil but it just endeared me to him even more than I already had. I loved that he had a personality that was so cold he could freeze a room. Kit was harder for me to like. I didn't like him as a person, not until the very end, and it was hard for me to read him. I couldn't tell what his intentions were towards Sasha because his actions and past said something totally different.
The premise revolves around the guilt Kit feels towards Cory, who was Sasha's partner until Kit tried to get between them. I liked that Sasha wasn't forgiving and feel like the title is very fitting for this story. Over the course of the book, Kit and Sasha slowly start to form some type of relationship that's interesting to see but also confusing. Confusing because I didn't exactly see the emotion between them. Not as much as I was hoping, however. This made the story feel slightly incomplete and I really wished it had been longer because I didn't feel like the ending was deserved. It needed to be fleshed out more and because of that, it's not exactly the HEA I was hoping for but more than a HFN.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I liked that it had so many layers but I also liked that it was a slow read. A lot of it is about Kit who does grow as a character and realizes he actually has dreams and feelings of his own but is also about healing for both Kit and Sasha in more ways than one. I really loved it even with its faults. I'm hoping for a sequel but I'll be looking forward to any future reads by Ms. Bard. Definitely recommended.
As it was, I really enjoyed it. It starts with a bang that had me captivated enough to read more and then more and then more. However, regardless of the beginning, this is actually a slow, mellow read. It obviously revolves around guilt but that guilt has so many layers and goes so deep you can't even find the root of it.
I adored the fact that Sasha hated Kit with a passion. So much so that for a good portion of the book, he was snarling or sneering. I loved every second of that. Sasha was definitely my favorite. There's a twist about him that I'm not willing to spoil but it just endeared me to him even more than I already had. I loved that he had a personality that was so cold he could freeze a room. Kit was harder for me to like. I didn't like him as a person, not until the very end, and it was hard for me to read him. I couldn't tell what his intentions were towards Sasha because his actions and past said something totally different.
The premise revolves around the guilt Kit feels towards Cory, who was Sasha's partner until Kit tried to get between them. I liked that Sasha wasn't forgiving and feel like the title is very fitting for this story. Over the course of the book, Kit and Sasha slowly start to form some type of relationship that's interesting to see but also confusing. Confusing because I didn't exactly see the emotion between them. Not as much as I was hoping, however. This made the story feel slightly incomplete and I really wished it had been longer because I didn't feel like the ending was deserved. It needed to be fleshed out more and because of that, it's not exactly the HEA I was hoping for but more than a HFN.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I liked that it had so many layers but I also liked that it was a slow read. A lot of it is about Kit who does grow as a character and realizes he actually has dreams and feelings of his own but is also about healing for both Kit and Sasha in more ways than one. I really loved it even with its faults. I'm hoping for a sequel but I'll be looking forward to any future reads by Ms. Bard. Definitely recommended.
May 28, 2013
3.5 Stars
Bound by Guilt is a contemporary m/m romance. The setting is vague but has the feel of a part of town that is industrialized with shops and businesses but also not well kept. The place where Kit lives and works feels bleak which lends itself to explaining why he does some of the things he does.
Kit Mason works in a clothing boutique. It is a small shop and his pay is minimal. Kit supplements his income by seducing older men. It does not matter if they are single, married or in a committed relationship. He doesn’t want long term. He meets Dr. Corey St James in the boutique, where Dr. St. James is shopping for a friend. Dr. St James is middle aged and successful, just the type of man Kit is looking for. It doesn’t matter that he tells Kit he is in a relationship with someone. Kit is determined to get what he wants. Dr. St James does indulge in dinners and conversation with Kit. Kit actually starts thinking of him as a friend but is not content to have it remain that way. When Corey describes Sasha, Kit envisions Sasha as a privileged, spoiled, kept young man. When Kit pushes Corey to the point he stops resisting Kits advances, they are caught in the act by Sasha....
Read Deb's full review at Live Your Life, Buy The Book
Bound by Guilt is a contemporary m/m romance. The setting is vague but has the feel of a part of town that is industrialized with shops and businesses but also not well kept. The place where Kit lives and works feels bleak which lends itself to explaining why he does some of the things he does.
Kit Mason works in a clothing boutique. It is a small shop and his pay is minimal. Kit supplements his income by seducing older men. It does not matter if they are single, married or in a committed relationship. He doesn’t want long term. He meets Dr. Corey St James in the boutique, where Dr. St. James is shopping for a friend. Dr. St James is middle aged and successful, just the type of man Kit is looking for. It doesn’t matter that he tells Kit he is in a relationship with someone. Kit is determined to get what he wants. Dr. St James does indulge in dinners and conversation with Kit. Kit actually starts thinking of him as a friend but is not content to have it remain that way. When Corey describes Sasha, Kit envisions Sasha as a privileged, spoiled, kept young man. When Kit pushes Corey to the point he stops resisting Kits advances, they are caught in the act by Sasha....
Read Deb's full review at Live Your Life, Buy The Book
June 23, 2013
2.75 stars
I loved the first half of this story. Kit really is a rather unlikeable character- emotionally stunted, shallow and weak. Starved of love and affection and lacking in any kind of self-worth, all he needs is someone warm and giving and supportive. I can't believe that he'll get much of this from Sasha, who seemed to grow more prickish and arrogant as the story progressed. He never showed any interest in Kit, never wondered why he was virtually friendless and homeless but was ready to believe the worst, resulting in the 'Big Misunderstanding' in the penultimate chapter.
The ending was rushed, there was not enough grovelling (Sasha had some serious apologising to do) and I could not believe in a HEA, although I fervently hope Kit gets one.
I loved the first half of this story. Kit really is a rather unlikeable character- emotionally stunted, shallow and weak. Starved of love and affection and lacking in any kind of self-worth, all he needs is someone warm and giving and supportive. I can't believe that he'll get much of this from Sasha, who seemed to grow more prickish and arrogant as the story progressed. He never showed any interest in Kit, never wondered why he was virtually friendless and homeless but was ready to believe the worst, resulting in the 'Big Misunderstanding' in the penultimate chapter.
The ending was rushed, there was not enough grovelling (Sasha had some serious apologising to do) and I could not believe in a HEA, although I fervently hope Kit gets one.
June 11, 2013
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AT REVIEWS BY JESSEWAVE
I picked this book because I wanted to try a new to me author and because once again the blurb promised antagonistic chemistry between two leads. I also tend to enjoy the stories where the character or characters deal with the consequences of something bad that they did and actually experience the guilt. While the blurb talks about Kit and Sasha, I did not exclude the possibility that the story may end up to be a ménage. I can tell you now that it is definitely *not* a ménage. Kit and Sasha are the main characters and the story is mostly about them unexpectedly stumbling in a possibility of a relationship and both of them dealing with a different kind of guilt where Cory was concerned.
Blurb hints very strongly as to why Kit would feel guilty and I will not tell you about Sasha’s guilt because it would venture in a spoilers category which I am trying to avoid in this review. It is not going to be easy though to avoid spoilers because the key event which happened very early in the book but after what happened in the blurb serves as a catalyst of bringing Kit and Sasha in close contact. I am not going to tell you about this event, but I will tell you that Kit and Sasha would eventually end up living together for some period of time because Kit would have nowhere else to go and that’s how they would get to know each other better.
I could not *stand* Kit in the beginning of the story. He thinks seducing rich men is the only way to make a decent living and the consequences for everybody involved be damned. I did not like him, but of course it turned out that he is not such a cold person as he wanted the world to think of him. I did NOT want to like Kit, I really did not, but the story seduced me despite my resistance. Oh I still thought that he was a very flawed character even after I was done with the book and reread it three times, but I enjoyed him as a character and I believed that he changed in small ways and some not so small ways. Sasha was probably the biggest surprise for me in this book. Please do not think that Kit wanting to take care of him means that Sasha is portrayed as damsel in distress. I mean, yes, he was vulnerable a plenty in some ways (the reason for his vulnerability is also a huge spoiler, so you will have to read it to find out), but also tough, very proud, maybe too proud and “Her Royal Highness” nickname which Kit came to call Sasha in his mind was a very appropriate one I thought :) . I also thought that while I liked Sasha a lot and much more than Kit, he also had several character flaws of his own and too much pride was probably the main one.
I thought this book was a very good example of how to do “from enemies to lovers” chemistry and do it well. The chemistry between the men is truly antagonistic at first and to me it made perfect sense. More importantly, the change of heart made sense to me as well, but opinions may differ on that one, I guess it all depends on whether the book would convince you. I was convinced or seduced, take your pick.
I will be honest, it is quite possible that because I loved the chemistry so much – rough, even at the end of the book, but also I bought that they may have a future – it is quite possible that I may have ignored the strange set up of the story in a sense that their initial contact forced as it was may have been avoided, but I did not care. I enjoyed it a lot and recommend it.
I picked this book because I wanted to try a new to me author and because once again the blurb promised antagonistic chemistry between two leads. I also tend to enjoy the stories where the character or characters deal with the consequences of something bad that they did and actually experience the guilt. While the blurb talks about Kit and Sasha, I did not exclude the possibility that the story may end up to be a ménage. I can tell you now that it is definitely *not* a ménage. Kit and Sasha are the main characters and the story is mostly about them unexpectedly stumbling in a possibility of a relationship and both of them dealing with a different kind of guilt where Cory was concerned.
Blurb hints very strongly as to why Kit would feel guilty and I will not tell you about Sasha’s guilt because it would venture in a spoilers category which I am trying to avoid in this review. It is not going to be easy though to avoid spoilers because the key event which happened very early in the book but after what happened in the blurb serves as a catalyst of bringing Kit and Sasha in close contact. I am not going to tell you about this event, but I will tell you that Kit and Sasha would eventually end up living together for some period of time because Kit would have nowhere else to go and that’s how they would get to know each other better.
I could not *stand* Kit in the beginning of the story. He thinks seducing rich men is the only way to make a decent living and the consequences for everybody involved be damned. I did not like him, but of course it turned out that he is not such a cold person as he wanted the world to think of him. I did NOT want to like Kit, I really did not, but the story seduced me despite my resistance. Oh I still thought that he was a very flawed character even after I was done with the book and reread it three times, but I enjoyed him as a character and I believed that he changed in small ways and some not so small ways. Sasha was probably the biggest surprise for me in this book. Please do not think that Kit wanting to take care of him means that Sasha is portrayed as damsel in distress. I mean, yes, he was vulnerable a plenty in some ways (the reason for his vulnerability is also a huge spoiler, so you will have to read it to find out), but also tough, very proud, maybe too proud and “Her Royal Highness” nickname which Kit came to call Sasha in his mind was a very appropriate one I thought :) . I also thought that while I liked Sasha a lot and much more than Kit, he also had several character flaws of his own and too much pride was probably the main one.
I thought this book was a very good example of how to do “from enemies to lovers” chemistry and do it well. The chemistry between the men is truly antagonistic at first and to me it made perfect sense. More importantly, the change of heart made sense to me as well, but opinions may differ on that one, I guess it all depends on whether the book would convince you. I was convinced or seduced, take your pick.
I will be honest, it is quite possible that because I loved the chemistry so much – rough, even at the end of the book, but also I bought that they may have a future – it is quite possible that I may have ignored the strange set up of the story in a sense that their initial contact forced as it was may have been avoided, but I did not care. I enjoyed it a lot and recommend it.
May 27, 2013
3 1/2 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Kit is always on the lookout for a mark, a rich older man who will pay to play. When Cory walks into the boutique where Kit works and ticks all of Kit’s boxes, Kit is tenuous in his pursuit and refuses to take no for an answer even knowing Cory has a live-in lover, Sasha. When Cory finally caves under Kit’s relentless pursuit Sasha catches them. Now Sasha is left alone and Kit feels guilt over his actions, checking to make sure Sasha is alright ends with Kit trying to get Sasha to rebuild his life, but Sasha hates him and it is a fight of wills.
Well, what can I say about this book other than it twists your emotions as the full story enfolds. Kit is not a likeable man, in fact for the first half of the book you would like nothing better than to plant a fist in his face. Kit is callus and self-centred, he pursues rich older men with the sole purpose of sex for gifts or money and he doesn’t give a damn who gets hurt from his actions, until the day he meets Sasha. Sasha is a man who has been through hell and now he has a new fight on his hands because some man wanted his lover and it all went wrong.
Before we go any further this isn’t a romance as such, yes some feelings develop and Sasha and Kit become close but there is so much more going on like Kit’s growth as a person and Sasha’s recovery, an understanding of sorts grows between them and it is a minefield. There isn’t any warm fuzzies as you read this book, we don’t get rainbows, unicorns and sunshine, what we do get is guilt, companionship and an understanding of sorts which is hard won. The range of emotions that get dragged out of you is quite astounding, hate, disgust, pity, glee, admiration and hope are just a few. There are one or two powerful scenes like the scene where Cory and Kit get caught and then the scene outside the church.
The characters are splendidly written as they both draw you into this story seeing the awkward dance between them, a tenuous understanding that draws hope to them and the beginning of something developing between them. Sasha is a difficult character to get to know as he is very guarded and it is a while before you get his full story, Kit is a character that you aren’t sure you want to know at first but he does manage to redeem himself quite well and he is also a man who refuses to apologise for the way he is, but he does improve the longer he helps Sasha.
I have to recommend this story to those that love hope and redemption, guilt, a great storyline, companionship and developing feelings, misunderstandings and beginning anew.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Kit is always on the lookout for a mark, a rich older man who will pay to play. When Cory walks into the boutique where Kit works and ticks all of Kit’s boxes, Kit is tenuous in his pursuit and refuses to take no for an answer even knowing Cory has a live-in lover, Sasha. When Cory finally caves under Kit’s relentless pursuit Sasha catches them. Now Sasha is left alone and Kit feels guilt over his actions, checking to make sure Sasha is alright ends with Kit trying to get Sasha to rebuild his life, but Sasha hates him and it is a fight of wills.
Well, what can I say about this book other than it twists your emotions as the full story enfolds. Kit is not a likeable man, in fact for the first half of the book you would like nothing better than to plant a fist in his face. Kit is callus and self-centred, he pursues rich older men with the sole purpose of sex for gifts or money and he doesn’t give a damn who gets hurt from his actions, until the day he meets Sasha. Sasha is a man who has been through hell and now he has a new fight on his hands because some man wanted his lover and it all went wrong.
Before we go any further this isn’t a romance as such, yes some feelings develop and Sasha and Kit become close but there is so much more going on like Kit’s growth as a person and Sasha’s recovery, an understanding of sorts grows between them and it is a minefield. There isn’t any warm fuzzies as you read this book, we don’t get rainbows, unicorns and sunshine, what we do get is guilt, companionship and an understanding of sorts which is hard won. The range of emotions that get dragged out of you is quite astounding, hate, disgust, pity, glee, admiration and hope are just a few. There are one or two powerful scenes like the scene where Cory and Kit get caught and then the scene outside the church.
The characters are splendidly written as they both draw you into this story seeing the awkward dance between them, a tenuous understanding that draws hope to them and the beginning of something developing between them. Sasha is a difficult character to get to know as he is very guarded and it is a while before you get his full story, Kit is a character that you aren’t sure you want to know at first but he does manage to redeem himself quite well and he is also a man who refuses to apologise for the way he is, but he does improve the longer he helps Sasha.
I have to recommend this story to those that love hope and redemption, guilt, a great storyline, companionship and developing feelings, misunderstandings and beginning anew.
December 14, 2013
This is one mess of a book. Lots of it felt incoherent and underdeveloped. The two main characters are very unlikable. Kit works for a shop that doesn't appear to pay him anything and has spent most of his young life being the boy toy of older wealthy men who he categorizes as marks. Things goes awry with one of those marks and Kit ends up trying to make up for it with the man's ex, Sasha.
Sasha is a person dealing with disabilities resulting from an accident. He's also a very cold, thinly developed characters. He spends most of the book making snide, unkind remarks to Kit implying he's a whore. When not doing that he makes remarks denigrating Kit's class and intelligence. At one point he even asks him if he's stupid.
I read it through to see if this would improve but it just never did. Instead other characters including a 13 year old girl is added for no good reason that I could see. I'm truly baffled by the good ratings this got on here because it was a complete waste of time.
Sasha is a person dealing with disabilities resulting from an accident. He's also a very cold, thinly developed characters. He spends most of the book making snide, unkind remarks to Kit implying he's a whore. When not doing that he makes remarks denigrating Kit's class and intelligence. At one point he even asks him if he's stupid.
I read it through to see if this would improve but it just never did. Instead other characters including a 13 year old girl is added for no good reason that I could see. I'm truly baffled by the good ratings this got on here because it was a complete waste of time.
May 31, 2013
I loved Sasha and Kit!!
June 23, 2013
Story is well written. Both main characters are interesting. I had good time while reading it.
June 15, 2013
I really enjoyed this story. It was complicated. Poor Kit and Sasha both broken in their own ways. Both rough around the edges and new to having a relationship, of caring, of thinking of anyone but themselves. They needed each other very much and neither knew how to admit it.
Kit was achingly lost. Having struggled his whole life with little to no guidance. Making his way through the world completely on his own since he was a small child. He had such little expectations of people and the world, that he didn't even expect to be liked. I understood why he was so jaded. He worked, but he could never make enough to support himself fully, always living on the edge of desperation. Why not take advantage of the offers of the rich old men who wanted him? No one was hurt and everyone understood the score. He never asked for more than enough to help him survive. Cory changed everything, even if he didn't know it or mean to, he was the impetus for change in both men and their lives.
Kit was a survivor and I have a lot of respect for that. He didn't have a drinking or drug problem, he didn't steal or even scam, he didn't outright trick and he held down a regular job. While his moral code might not be one I share, he lived by his own set of rules and sense of honor, though he would never have described it as such. In many ways he had a very childlike view of things, probably because that was the last time someone who loved him had any impact on how he dealt with the world.
There is a lot of Kit's history that is hinted at without much detail, but with a definite sense of desperation and ugliness. Even when it seems they are talking and in a better place he still keeps a defensive posture and an eye towards what could be used as a weapon if he pushes too hard or angers Sasha too much. He broke my heart at times. I wanted to see him demand more for himself, he took the money but he never asked for what he really needed. He was worth so much more than he ever gave himself credit for, and he deserved to be loved and respected.
Beautiful, broken Sasha was in many ways more of a mess than Kit. So smart and cold and lonely. I truly believe that Kit saved his life. He seemed to deal with most things by not dealing with them. Though he'd never admit it, Kit freed him and helped him to create a new, happier and much more fulfilling life. Very bad things had happened and he had frozen and given up on life. He was as alone in the world as Kit, he just had more money and resources, but neither had love or anyone who cared for them.
There were many times I wanted to smack Sasha for his cruel tongue. The way he looked at and treated Kit, at times hurt my heart. It wasn't Kit's fault that he lacked education, that all he knew was surviving. I think that it was frequently a defense mechanism, he kept distance between them by putting Kit down or insulting him. But Kit was plucky and sadly used to insults, so most just rolled off of him. Sasha was also shy and a little awkward and I think it came across as cold and indifferent when really he just had no idea how to deal with the situation or he was embarrassed.
There was a lot of misunderstanding and lack of communication between these men that hurt them both. Neither was good about expressing himself and both tended to jump to the worst conclusion first and then not ask any questions. They're both quick with the insults and getting defensive and expecting unkindness. I wanted to shake them both and tell them to pay attention to how the other was showing his love in all sorts of oblique and misunderstood ways. I wanted to tell them that what they were feeling, what the other man made them feel, was love and that it was okay to accept it, both inside themselves and from the other man.
Not at all a traditional romance. There was no dashing hero, no one was swept of their feet, no declarations or grand gestures. In their own ways they save each other, even as they grow enough, to begin to save themselves. It is, however, a story of love, healing, change and hope. Even if neither would ever admit to any of that.
Reviewed by Nina
Kit was achingly lost. Having struggled his whole life with little to no guidance. Making his way through the world completely on his own since he was a small child. He had such little expectations of people and the world, that he didn't even expect to be liked. I understood why he was so jaded. He worked, but he could never make enough to support himself fully, always living on the edge of desperation. Why not take advantage of the offers of the rich old men who wanted him? No one was hurt and everyone understood the score. He never asked for more than enough to help him survive. Cory changed everything, even if he didn't know it or mean to, he was the impetus for change in both men and their lives.
Kit was a survivor and I have a lot of respect for that. He didn't have a drinking or drug problem, he didn't steal or even scam, he didn't outright trick and he held down a regular job. While his moral code might not be one I share, he lived by his own set of rules and sense of honor, though he would never have described it as such. In many ways he had a very childlike view of things, probably because that was the last time someone who loved him had any impact on how he dealt with the world.
There is a lot of Kit's history that is hinted at without much detail, but with a definite sense of desperation and ugliness. Even when it seems they are talking and in a better place he still keeps a defensive posture and an eye towards what could be used as a weapon if he pushes too hard or angers Sasha too much. He broke my heart at times. I wanted to see him demand more for himself, he took the money but he never asked for what he really needed. He was worth so much more than he ever gave himself credit for, and he deserved to be loved and respected.
Beautiful, broken Sasha was in many ways more of a mess than Kit. So smart and cold and lonely. I truly believe that Kit saved his life. He seemed to deal with most things by not dealing with them. Though he'd never admit it, Kit freed him and helped him to create a new, happier and much more fulfilling life. Very bad things had happened and he had frozen and given up on life. He was as alone in the world as Kit, he just had more money and resources, but neither had love or anyone who cared for them.
There were many times I wanted to smack Sasha for his cruel tongue. The way he looked at and treated Kit, at times hurt my heart. It wasn't Kit's fault that he lacked education, that all he knew was surviving. I think that it was frequently a defense mechanism, he kept distance between them by putting Kit down or insulting him. But Kit was plucky and sadly used to insults, so most just rolled off of him. Sasha was also shy and a little awkward and I think it came across as cold and indifferent when really he just had no idea how to deal with the situation or he was embarrassed.
There was a lot of misunderstanding and lack of communication between these men that hurt them both. Neither was good about expressing himself and both tended to jump to the worst conclusion first and then not ask any questions. They're both quick with the insults and getting defensive and expecting unkindness. I wanted to shake them both and tell them to pay attention to how the other was showing his love in all sorts of oblique and misunderstood ways. I wanted to tell them that what they were feeling, what the other man made them feel, was love and that it was okay to accept it, both inside themselves and from the other man.
Not at all a traditional romance. There was no dashing hero, no one was swept of their feet, no declarations or grand gestures. In their own ways they save each other, even as they grow enough, to begin to save themselves. It is, however, a story of love, healing, change and hope. Even if neither would ever admit to any of that.
Reviewed by Nina
June 28, 2013
4.5 Stars. http://joyfullyjay.com/2013/07/review...
Kit Mason doesn’t exactly have the greatest life. He works as a sales associate at a struggling boutique where a paycheck isn’t always a guarantee. He has always supplemented his income by ingratiating himself to rich, older men, offering to have sex with them for compensation. The relationships only last for a short time — he is, after all, mostly a diversion for men who are already married or in a relationship. Kit realizes that it’s barely a step up from prostitution, but his difficult upbringing has led him to have to make even more difficult choices about how he makes his money.
When Cory St. James walks into the boutique, he becomes an instant target for Kit. He’s quite old, but obviously wealthy, and spends a great deal of money buying clothes for the man in his life, who Kit assumes is his boytoy twink. Once the two of them start spending more time together, in a purely platonic, innocent fashion, since Cory is still frustratingly faithful to the mysterious Sasha, Kit is convinced he can take the twink’s place with enough persistence. With a bogus excuse to deliver clothes to Cory’s house, Kit catches him in a vulnerable moment, and the two are caught in the act by Sasha, destroying Cory and his relationship.
For some reason, Kit is unable to get Sasha out of his head. The man is nothing like he expected. He’s missing an arm and leg, wearing prosthetics in their place, and has significant damage to his face. He’s nothing like the twink Kit envisioned. So when Kit is down on his luck and has literally not a penny to his name, he runs to Sasha, who obviously has no love for the boy who seduced his partner. They start out as oil and water — Sasha is bristly and mean, and Kit is unfeeling and oblivious. After a while, though, they begin to find support in one another and move from enemies to something more.
I have a love/hate relationship with this book, though, as you can see by my rating, I fell more on the love side than hate. The premise of this book is off-putting. Kit is essentially a whore, and he has the closed-off, uncaring nature to prove it. Sasha is cold and rude and has built a wall around himself a mile high. In other words, there’s a whole bunch of unlikeability here. And then, the boy who comes between the two men, essentially having a hand in St. James’ suicide, won’t leave his partner alone? It’s not what you would call a typical romantic plot.
This is one of the reasons I really liked this book. I always enjoy a well-written book, and this one kept me reading, finishing it in one sitting. There was no insta-love. The romantic lead was not your typical gorgeous hunk. There was no grand miscommunication that kept the lovers apart. There was also no HEA, but a very tentative HFN. But, for these reasons and more, it felt authentic to me. Yes, the setup is a little hard to believe, but the way these two characters behaved, especially the way their relationship developed, felt real and perfectly paced. They were both extremely flawed characters with a lot of work to do, but I came to believe that they had a future together, and that they could find the happiness that neither one had experienced until that point.
If you’re looking for something a little different from the norm, with a plot that involves very little sex and, truthfully, not much romance, I can definitely recommend this book. Bound by Guilt is a perfect title. There’s a lot of emotion swirling around here — emotions that are not always pretty and you don’t often find in a romance novel, but the writing is intriguing and, I thought, as a first novel, Sandra Bard hit it out of the park. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, but if you think you might like what I described, don’t hesitate to get this one.
Kit Mason doesn’t exactly have the greatest life. He works as a sales associate at a struggling boutique where a paycheck isn’t always a guarantee. He has always supplemented his income by ingratiating himself to rich, older men, offering to have sex with them for compensation. The relationships only last for a short time — he is, after all, mostly a diversion for men who are already married or in a relationship. Kit realizes that it’s barely a step up from prostitution, but his difficult upbringing has led him to have to make even more difficult choices about how he makes his money.
When Cory St. James walks into the boutique, he becomes an instant target for Kit. He’s quite old, but obviously wealthy, and spends a great deal of money buying clothes for the man in his life, who Kit assumes is his boytoy twink. Once the two of them start spending more time together, in a purely platonic, innocent fashion, since Cory is still frustratingly faithful to the mysterious Sasha, Kit is convinced he can take the twink’s place with enough persistence. With a bogus excuse to deliver clothes to Cory’s house, Kit catches him in a vulnerable moment, and the two are caught in the act by Sasha, destroying Cory and his relationship.
For some reason, Kit is unable to get Sasha out of his head. The man is nothing like he expected. He’s missing an arm and leg, wearing prosthetics in their place, and has significant damage to his face. He’s nothing like the twink Kit envisioned. So when Kit is down on his luck and has literally not a penny to his name, he runs to Sasha, who obviously has no love for the boy who seduced his partner. They start out as oil and water — Sasha is bristly and mean, and Kit is unfeeling and oblivious. After a while, though, they begin to find support in one another and move from enemies to something more.
I have a love/hate relationship with this book, though, as you can see by my rating, I fell more on the love side than hate. The premise of this book is off-putting. Kit is essentially a whore, and he has the closed-off, uncaring nature to prove it. Sasha is cold and rude and has built a wall around himself a mile high. In other words, there’s a whole bunch of unlikeability here. And then, the boy who comes between the two men, essentially having a hand in St. James’ suicide, won’t leave his partner alone? It’s not what you would call a typical romantic plot.
This is one of the reasons I really liked this book. I always enjoy a well-written book, and this one kept me reading, finishing it in one sitting. There was no insta-love. The romantic lead was not your typical gorgeous hunk. There was no grand miscommunication that kept the lovers apart. There was also no HEA, but a very tentative HFN. But, for these reasons and more, it felt authentic to me. Yes, the setup is a little hard to believe, but the way these two characters behaved, especially the way their relationship developed, felt real and perfectly paced. They were both extremely flawed characters with a lot of work to do, but I came to believe that they had a future together, and that they could find the happiness that neither one had experienced until that point.
If you’re looking for something a little different from the norm, with a plot that involves very little sex and, truthfully, not much romance, I can definitely recommend this book. Bound by Guilt is a perfect title. There’s a lot of emotion swirling around here — emotions that are not always pretty and you don’t often find in a romance novel, but the writing is intriguing and, I thought, as a first novel, Sandra Bard hit it out of the park. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, but if you think you might like what I described, don’t hesitate to get this one.
September 21, 2014
I admit I have mixed feelings about this one. I have tons of books that I've bought and then added them to my to read file, from where I randomly pick them up from time to time. This happened to be a good length for today's reading.
The thing that initially threw me, was how big of an asshole Kit was. And he wasn't even an unapolgetic, relateable one. There was an undercurrent of him being the type of guy who expected very little of himself.
Sasha, at first, I felt truly sorry for and liked him, but reading on discovered he was kind of a prick too. He, however, made very little excuses for himself.
After getting used to having MCs that were far from charming, I begun to appreciate the author for coming up with such characters. They were complex and unique and especially Kit was very memorable. Unfortunately by that time I noticed I only had about thirty pages left before the end. Still, with this stroyline, I'm not sure added length would have been better, and I liked the ending a lot.
This book is not one of my favorites nor do I think I'll be reading it again, but it made an impression and does stand out, so I'm going to give it four stars and recommend to anyone who likes their romantic storylines to be far from fluffy.
The thing that initially threw me, was how big of an asshole Kit was. And he wasn't even an unapolgetic, relateable one. There was an undercurrent of him being the type of guy who expected very little of himself.
Sasha, at first, I felt truly sorry for and liked him, but reading on discovered he was kind of a prick too. He, however, made very little excuses for himself.
After getting used to having MCs that were far from charming, I begun to appreciate the author for coming up with such characters. They were complex and unique and especially Kit was very memorable. Unfortunately by that time I noticed I only had about thirty pages left before the end. Still, with this stroyline, I'm not sure added length would have been better, and I liked the ending a lot.
This book is not one of my favorites nor do I think I'll be reading it again, but it made an impression and does stand out, so I'm going to give it four stars and recommend to anyone who likes their romantic storylines to be far from fluffy.
February 15, 2014
Definitely decently different. The story highlight is the role of Sasha..terribly disfigured in a traumatic accident..a well-layered well-written character.
Kit could have used some censoring with his redundant internal monologue of the repeated phrase 'His Royal Highness.'
Nice-creative detailing and some sweet humanizing elements..nightly feedings of the local feral cat colony was really appreciated and enjoyed.
Kit could have used some censoring with his redundant internal monologue of the repeated phrase 'His Royal Highness.'
Nice-creative detailing and some sweet humanizing elements..nightly feedings of the local feral cat colony was really appreciated and enjoyed.
June 26, 2013
3.25 stars
July 14, 2013
The actuality of this didn't live up to the promising blurb, unfortunately. Kit was so very unlikable.
September 25, 2013
Ok is the best I can do for this one. Had promise, just never lived up to it.
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