What do you think?
Rate this book
Roughing It
Scott Thompson, rock star, has spent years burying the pain of a tragedy in his past by indulging in reckless, often injury-inducing adventures during the band's downtime. His latest brings him deep into the backwoods, where he's taken captive by a group of hired rednecks for 48 hours of physical, sexual and psychological torture. He expects the pain and degradation going into to--but he doesn't expect the instant attraction he feels for the leader of the group, a dark-eyed enigma of a man named Johnny Lee.
134 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2013
29 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 16, 2013
4 Stars
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
Scott Thompson is bored. He likes to live as far on the edge as is humanly possible. He hires a company that specializes in fantasy “rides.” Basically, Scott signs himself up to be kidnapped and tortured for a whole weekend. He goes for the “Deliverance” experience. A back country adventure complete with violent raping hillbillies. It starts with Scott rafting down a river. He thought he'd be able to lead the guys on a wild chase. Nope. Scott was nabbed by a team of three men and taken to a house in the woods. The ringleader is a man named Johnny Lee. Scott quickly feels an attraction to Johnny Lee. It doesn't take very long for Johnny Lee to feel an attraction for Scott. Scott repeatedly tries to escape. This pisses off the other two guys holding Scott hostage. He manages to injure himself and get beaten for his troubles. Johnny Lee's interest in Scott is noticed and not welcome. After enduring a weekend of imprisonment, painful yet not debilitating “torture,” and many mock sexual assaults Scott is left at a medical facility. He thinks it's over til he gets a surprise ride to the airport from the last person he ever expected to see again.
Right off the bat I would warn away anyone who has a serious problem reading about rape. Legally, Scott consented to everything that happened to him over the course of his weekend ride. In reality, he was repeatedly raped. Sort of. Scott was at all times able to stop the ride and get off by speaking a specific set of words. He never did. That was to me the least interesting thing about the book. It was an interesting variation of a captor and hostage romance. I also kept wondering if maybe Johnny Lee's apparent interest in Scott was part of the ride. Just how much was staged to keep Scott mentally off balance? Okay, so I really liked the premise, but the execution left a bit to be desired. Grammar and spelling count with a lot of readers. I wasn't so immersed in the story I didn't notice errors. And in terms of the story itself I would have liked a touch more alone time with Scott and Johnny Lee, although I can appreciate the concept the two of them not having that alone time was part of the torture. Regardless of the problems I had with some aspects of the book it is definitely a worthwhile read.
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
Scott Thompson is bored. He likes to live as far on the edge as is humanly possible. He hires a company that specializes in fantasy “rides.” Basically, Scott signs himself up to be kidnapped and tortured for a whole weekend. He goes for the “Deliverance” experience. A back country adventure complete with violent raping hillbillies. It starts with Scott rafting down a river. He thought he'd be able to lead the guys on a wild chase. Nope. Scott was nabbed by a team of three men and taken to a house in the woods. The ringleader is a man named Johnny Lee. Scott quickly feels an attraction to Johnny Lee. It doesn't take very long for Johnny Lee to feel an attraction for Scott. Scott repeatedly tries to escape. This pisses off the other two guys holding Scott hostage. He manages to injure himself and get beaten for his troubles. Johnny Lee's interest in Scott is noticed and not welcome. After enduring a weekend of imprisonment, painful yet not debilitating “torture,” and many mock sexual assaults Scott is left at a medical facility. He thinks it's over til he gets a surprise ride to the airport from the last person he ever expected to see again.
Right off the bat I would warn away anyone who has a serious problem reading about rape. Legally, Scott consented to everything that happened to him over the course of his weekend ride. In reality, he was repeatedly raped. Sort of. Scott was at all times able to stop the ride and get off by speaking a specific set of words. He never did. That was to me the least interesting thing about the book. It was an interesting variation of a captor and hostage romance. I also kept wondering if maybe Johnny Lee's apparent interest in Scott was part of the ride. Just how much was staged to keep Scott mentally off balance? Okay, so I really liked the premise, but the execution left a bit to be desired. Grammar and spelling count with a lot of readers. I wasn't so immersed in the story I didn't notice errors. And in terms of the story itself I would have liked a touch more alone time with Scott and Johnny Lee, although I can appreciate the concept the two of them not having that alone time was part of the torture. Regardless of the problems I had with some aspects of the book it is definitely a worthwhile read.
September 30, 2013
Review written for The Blog of Sid Love.
Scott has a fantasy, and it has to do with a theme involving Deliverance. He books a three-day session with The Company to fulfill that fantasy, unbeknownst to his manager who usually books everything for him. So, Scott signs the paperwork basically saying that anything goes short of death. Sounds pretty crazy, but whatever.
Scott’s fantasy ride begins as three rednecks capture him and take him to a remote house in the woods, true Deliverance style. There is pain involved, though the majority of it is caused by Scott himself. There is some rough sex, a few light beatings and some doses of humiliation. One of his captors and the seeming ring leader, Johnny Lee, appears to have a soft spot for Scott, actually breaking character and not sticking around for the bad stuff the other two dished out. Johnny is accused by the other two of going soft and being too intimate with their prisoner, and aside from fighting and kissing, they don’t really have that much contact.
This is a bit different from other stories I’ve read in that Scott is actually looking for this treatment. When offered chances to get away, he won’t take them, yet, every chance he gets, he tries to escape. I think he was just trying to fulfill his fantasy to the fullest but often felt confused by his actions.
When Scott’s fantasy ride is over, Johnny Lee shows up to take Scott to the airport, going against Company policy by having any contact with a customer. He liked what he saw in Scott though and was willing to take a chance in order to keep in touch with Scott.
I felt the ending was a bit open-ended, but there is a sequel planned that will continue the story of Scott and Johnny Lee where Scott books the Prison Ride which I look forward to reading. This story is well written and fairly graphic. I didn’t feel there was anything overly cringe-worthy here, but then I’m used to reading darker, edgier stories. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the water of this type of theme, which is a little on the darker side, but not quite looking to go all the way into the deep end of darker stories, give this one a try.
September 8, 2016
This hits a lot of my kinks - capture, pain, all should be good. And for that it was great. However I felt sort of distanced from it all. Like watching a movie - but not feeling it. I'm not sure why that was - but that doesn't take away from the lusciousness of the kinky parts!
September 29, 2013
Scott wants something more. As a rock star he is used to being given anything he wants, but he wants something different this time around. So he goes and hires a company that specializes in fantasy 'rides', where anything short of death is allowed. The customer picks his fantasy and goes along for the ride.
Scott picks the 'Deliverance' ride, which takes him to the back country. Once there he is immediately cornered by three violent men after stepping of his raft. He can't help but think that he's over his head on this 'ride' and tries to escape. He is beaten and treated like an animal, but this is what he wanted and is determined to see it through.
I've read my share of rough, violent reads, but I failed to read the blurb before starting this one. Somehow I had forgotten what is was all about and was I in for a surprise.
However, Holden Wells did a great job of keeping me riveted in the story. Once I started, I needed to know how it all played out. The hardest scenes, although gruesome and violent, gave me a moment to see what drove Scott to such measures. I understood his need to NOT be in control of the situation since he had so much riding on his life as a celebrity.
The writing was good, although I would've appreciated more interactions between Scott and Johnny Lee. Especially with how the story unfurled in the end. It would have given more of a glimpse into this connection that had developed within them.
Other than that, I felt like Roughing It was a worthwhile read with interesting characters and an unusual storyline. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and see Scott and Johnny Lee at 'play' again.
I received this title from the publisher through Manic Readers in exchange of my honest opinion.
Scott picks the 'Deliverance' ride, which takes him to the back country. Once there he is immediately cornered by three violent men after stepping of his raft. He can't help but think that he's over his head on this 'ride' and tries to escape. He is beaten and treated like an animal, but this is what he wanted and is determined to see it through.
I've read my share of rough, violent reads, but I failed to read the blurb before starting this one. Somehow I had forgotten what is was all about and was I in for a surprise.
However, Holden Wells did a great job of keeping me riveted in the story. Once I started, I needed to know how it all played out. The hardest scenes, although gruesome and violent, gave me a moment to see what drove Scott to such measures. I understood his need to NOT be in control of the situation since he had so much riding on his life as a celebrity.
The writing was good, although I would've appreciated more interactions between Scott and Johnny Lee. Especially with how the story unfurled in the end. It would have given more of a glimpse into this connection that had developed within them.
Other than that, I felt like Roughing It was a worthwhile read with interesting characters and an unusual storyline. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and see Scott and Johnny Lee at 'play' again.
I received this title from the publisher through Manic Readers in exchange of my honest opinion.
January 19, 2014
It's rough, it's violent, it's Scott giving up totally control to a group from The Company. He's paid for the pleasure of being hunted and kidnapped and then used sexually, subjected to pain and held captive for 48 hours.
We don't find out too much about Scott and his rock star life or the tragedy in his life that has led him to doing reckless things and ultimately to this fantasy but there are some interesting glimpses.
The Company sure don't pull any punches - Scott is faced with violence and humiliation but even when tempted with Safewording is not an option for Scott.
I was intrigued with the relationship (if you can call it that) between Scott and Johnny Lee, who is the leader of the group of 'rednecks' who have Scott captured. I'm not sure I understand what is going on between the two men or what is driving Johnny but I sure am keen to read the next book to hopefully get some answers!
I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
We don't find out too much about Scott and his rock star life or the tragedy in his life that has led him to doing reckless things and ultimately to this fantasy but there are some interesting glimpses.
The Company sure don't pull any punches - Scott is faced with violence and humiliation but even when tempted with Safewording is not an option for Scott.
I was intrigued with the relationship (if you can call it that) between Scott and Johnny Lee, who is the leader of the group of 'rednecks' who have Scott captured. I'm not sure I understand what is going on between the two men or what is driving Johnny but I sure am keen to read the next book to hopefully get some answers!
I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
Read
October 5, 2013I'm not rating this one because I honestly don't know what to give it. I enjoyed this book. It is well-written with a flair for detail and it hits a kink that is rarely explored in commercial fiction. The characters Scott and Johnny Lee are interesting with many favorable traits. The other two blend into each other sometimes, but are still distinguishable. It's an intriguing world where this company exists, and it's believable that this might even happen for real. However, when I think about what is missing from this book, regarding the characters, well-written does not equal well-rounded. There are a lot of unexplored aspects of their personalities that would have kicked this story up another level. The biggest of these is the lack of insight into Scott's behavior. He doesn't seem to know what he wants, which is fine, but he also never takes the time to explore why he's doing what he does--and he has plenty of time for self-reflection, given how often he is tied to things and left alone. Ostensibly, he's been messed up by a car wreck that left a friend dead, so he's seeking out punishment(?)/pain(?). But why? He wasn't the driver. There is mention that his friend, who was driving, was high, but no indication why Scott blames himself for that.
Then there's the running. Every chance he gets, Scott runs away from his hired captors. The chase scenes are so well done and really capture the anxiety, fear, and hope that Scott has. (The 'hope' seems to go both ways, both that he'll escape and that he'll be caught again.) It's written in a way that amplifies the eroticism of the fantasy without overtly stating it. But why is he running? Near the end, he speculates that it's because he was trying to get his money's worth out of the ride and he expected more time being chased, but come on, Scott. My guess is that for him, the chase represents getting away from his problems and the rest of the "ride" is him being forced to face them. The only time he "breaks" and asks them to stop is when he's subjected to discipline. Is this because this is the one thing he thinks he deserves and he can't handle the truth of it?
See, there are a lot of questions here.
Another question that I don't know if the book *should* have answered because it might be better for the reader to be up in the air, is did Johnny Lee really come out of character for Scott or is he just so good at his job that he knew giving Scott someone kind would be what would get him to a breaking point? JL has been doing this a long time and has a good handle on psychology. It's just impossible to tell. However, in the preview to the next book, Lockdown, JL asks his superior if it is okay if he tells someone he's part of the ride in order to aid breaking them down. So... pretty big clue right there, right? That made me question his whole character and motivation because we get through Roughing It with Scott wondering if that's JL's reason, but no conclusion. After the "ride" is over, JL insists Scott see a psychiatrist, but he breaks company policy and sees him anyway before Scott has the psychological all clear. So, I'm hoping for more insight into JL as well. Is he a good guy who saw something in Scott and broke character, or is he a seasoned ride operator who will follow a client off the ride until they're broken down? (Does the ride really end when the client thinks?)
I am looking forward to Lockdown, which offers POV from JL and Scott. Based on the preview, we'll be seeing JL in the out of water situation, possibly even heading toward a breakdown himself, and I'm hoping that means Scott will have to support him. This might be what it takes for Scott to heal, since his tour of punishments hasn't seemed to have helped him any.
Then there's the running. Every chance he gets, Scott runs away from his hired captors. The chase scenes are so well done and really capture the anxiety, fear, and hope that Scott has. (The 'hope' seems to go both ways, both that he'll escape and that he'll be caught again.) It's written in a way that amplifies the eroticism of the fantasy without overtly stating it. But why is he running? Near the end, he speculates that it's because he was trying to get his money's worth out of the ride and he expected more time being chased, but come on, Scott. My guess is that for him, the chase represents getting away from his problems and the rest of the "ride" is him being forced to face them. The only time he "breaks" and asks them to stop is when he's subjected to discipline. Is this because this is the one thing he thinks he deserves and he can't handle the truth of it?
See, there are a lot of questions here.
Another question that I don't know if the book *should* have answered because it might be better for the reader to be up in the air, is did Johnny Lee really come out of character for Scott or is he just so good at his job that he knew giving Scott someone kind would be what would get him to a breaking point? JL has been doing this a long time and has a good handle on psychology. It's just impossible to tell. However, in the preview to the next book, Lockdown, JL asks his superior if it is okay if he tells someone he's part of the ride in order to aid breaking them down. So... pretty big clue right there, right? That made me question his whole character and motivation because we get through Roughing It with Scott wondering if that's JL's reason, but no conclusion. After the "ride" is over, JL insists Scott see a psychiatrist, but he breaks company policy and sees him anyway before Scott has the psychological all clear. So, I'm hoping for more insight into JL as well. Is he a good guy who saw something in Scott and broke character, or is he a seasoned ride operator who will follow a client off the ride until they're broken down? (Does the ride really end when the client thinks?)
I am looking forward to Lockdown, which offers POV from JL and Scott. Based on the preview, we'll be seeing JL in the out of water situation, possibly even heading toward a breakdown himself, and I'm hoping that means Scott will have to support him. This might be what it takes for Scott to heal, since his tour of punishments hasn't seemed to have helped him any.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2013
So I signed up to win based solely on the cover. I am a sucker for men tied up!!! Anyway, this book starts off with our man walking through the woods feeling like someone is following him. We find out later in the book that the man paid a service to kidnap him and give him a “Deliverance Treatment” for the weekend. This books genre turns out to be erotica. Three men from the service take him to a cabin in the woods and make his weekend hell. If you haven’t seen the movie Deliverance you can get the idea from the book. During his weekend stay he is offered the chance to stop everything with a code word or one of the men gave him a key to escape with. Does the man escape??? NO!!! He is going to get what he paid for. The book was not complete erotica however. The author set the scene so that you knew you were in a crappy cabin and you could see the woods when they ran threw them. There was a good back story and the book was easy to follow. I did think the book was a little short. It could have been stretched out some to include more time in the cabin. Overall the book was good, short but good.
January 25, 2014
This review was originally written for Joyfully Jay Reviews.
3.75 stars
I went into this book not having any idea of what to expect, and I’m glad I went into it with an open mind because this wasn’t like anything I’ve ever read before. This book can’t really be pigeon-holed into one category and I really appreciated that. I enjoyed the action elements to the story, I enjoyed the elaborate set up and the direction the fantasy fulfillment took this story, and I enjoyed the subtle hints of romance tucked in between the torture and sexual sadism. There were a few things that kept this from being a perfect read, but on the whole, I was content to take a ride with this book right alongside Scott.
Read Angi's review in its entirety her.
3.75 stars
I went into this book not having any idea of what to expect, and I’m glad I went into it with an open mind because this wasn’t like anything I’ve ever read before. This book can’t really be pigeon-holed into one category and I really appreciated that. I enjoyed the action elements to the story, I enjoyed the elaborate set up and the direction the fantasy fulfillment took this story, and I enjoyed the subtle hints of romance tucked in between the torture and sexual sadism. There were a few things that kept this from being a perfect read, but on the whole, I was content to take a ride with this book right alongside Scott.
Read Angi's review in its entirety her.
September 3, 2013
A rough but great read! :) Not for the faint of heart, this is the story of rock star Scott Thompson and his search for the next thrill. Enter The Company, where your every hardcore fantasy can be played out. This is an edge of your seat, what are they going to do next, who ARE these people really, can Scott hold out, how bad are these guys type of story. And yet, there are spots of tenderness that crop up almost by surprise that manage to give your heart a twist. I did wish I knew a little more about the man that is Scott Thompson and how certain things in his past might be affecting his present and ultimately his future. But maybe in the next book?! :)
If you are a fan of the Flesh Cartel series, you should enjoy this. I sure did. :)
If you are a fan of the Flesh Cartel series, you should enjoy this. I sure did. :)
September 17, 2013
I enjoyed this novella. I like the premise, I like some rough sex, some humiliation and a kidnap theme. Scott definitely gets what he wants in a Deliverance style adventure and I am looking forward to some more of the same rough action in the next book in the series. Proper review at - http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
June 28, 2015
Hard to give a real star rating. if this appeals to your particular kinks in erotica (bondage, pain play, dubious consent) it's probably more a 4-star. If that's not your bag of tricks it's probably more a 2-star/I just wouldn't recommend it to you. My full review can be found at Spacial Anomaly.
September 2, 2013
I've never read any of your books before. I think this is going to be a great read. I want to find out why Scott gets hurt so much and what will happen to Scott next. I can't wait to read it. I hope I win the book. My fingers will be crossed.
owned-to-read
January 1, 2014*free on ARE
November 10, 2013
The actual book was decent... but the except of Roughin' It confused me as to how it tied in with what I had just read.
May 2, 2019
The sex scene is rough as the book title.
And only 10% of roman.
3.5 for me.
And only 10% of roman.
3.5 for me.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews