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Burnout #2
Tex
WARNING -This book contains BDSM- WARNING
Abby Raines is leaving Las Vegas. She’s trading the glitter and excess of her hometown for the rolling hills and lush forests of Rapid City, South Dakota. She’s taken her first real job and she’s determined to succeed on her own.
Mark Marsten traded the Texas range for the Army Rangers years ago and never looked back. Now, he’s settled permanently in Rapid City with the remaining members of his Special Forces unit. He thought he had it all, well almost anyway. Until a sassy redhead with a sharp tongue and body to die for rolled into town.
Mark knows he’s too much for her long-term, but he can’t resist a fling with Rapid City’s newest resident. He thought he knew the game. After all, it’s his game. And always his rules. But more and more it feels like Abby is the one holding all the cards.
Burnout is a series but each novel can stand alone on its own. You do not have to read Tex to enjoy the others. It is the only novel in the series with BDSM. If you don’t like BDSM, skip this one. Fair warning: the kink factor is extremely high.
WARNING - This book contains BDSM - WARNING
Abby Raines is leaving Las Vegas. She’s trading the glitter and excess of her hometown for the rolling hills and lush forests of Rapid City, South Dakota. She’s taken her first real job and she’s determined to succeed on her own.
Mark Marsten traded the Texas range for the Army Rangers years ago and never looked back. Now, he’s settled permanently in Rapid City with the remaining members of his Special Forces unit. He thought he had it all, well almost anyway. Until a sassy redhead with a sharp tongue and body to die for rolled into town.
Mark knows he’s too much for her long-term, but he can’t resist a fling with Rapid City’s newest resident. He thought he knew the game. After all, it’s his game. And always his rules. But more and more it feels like Abby is the one holding all the cards.
Burnout is a series but each novel can stand alone on its own. You do not have to read Tex to enjoy the others. It is the only novel in the series with BDSM. If you don’t like BDSM, skip this one. Fair warning: the kink factor is extremely high.
WARNING - This book contains BDSM - WARNING
442 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2013
194 people are currently reading
1036 people want to read
About the author
Dahlia West
24 books945 followersAmateur Writer. Professional Procrastinator. Voted Least Likely to Succeed in high school. Twice. Dean's list-Purdue University. Honorary Southerner. Future stand-up comedian. Gen X.
www.dahliawest.com
DahliaMWest@gmail.com
Follow me on IG: dahlia_west_13
www.dahliawest.com
DahliaMWest@gmail.com
Follow me on IG: dahlia_west_13
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
December 4, 2013
Well, I hate to say it, but this book just frustrated me to no end. In Shooter (book 1 of the series) I adored Tex. I knew, he was most likely going to be my favorite. Especially learning about his BDSM lifestyle.
However, in Shooter, they make it seem more like a fetish than a real lifestyle. We learn in Tex that it is indeed a very serious lifestyle for Tex.
So basically, Tex meets Abby right when Abby is driving into town. She is of course, in search of a new life for herself. She's from Vegas and just wants to start over and do things on her own.
She's this one of a kind hot chick that not only works on cars, know's all about them, shoots guns and is a total bad a** chick, but it also seems might be the perfect sub for Tex.
Slowly they start experimenting together.
Here's were I run into my issues: Tex isn't sure if she's a true sub. So he wants to put her through training, because absolutely in no way will any relationship work unless the woman is a sub...a TRUE sub...not just playing like one here and there. It actually turned me off of Tex quite a bit. I feel like, Dom's usually want their subs to be happy and comfortable in the relationship. That's their job as the Dom. But I felt like he was coming off WAYYY too selfish...just worried about himself and was she going to be able to live up to his standards. I mean I know he's got to work her up to what he feels he needs to be able to do to her, but Jesus dude, chill the fuck out a little bit.
THEN ! OH SWEET LORD ABOVE, THEN he actually got pissed at her, because during her weekend where she gave him ABSOLUTE control over her, she started feeling a little caged in and kind of like a dog (which is a completely normal mental response, duh Tex who studied Psychology), so what's he do to reassure his sub? HE tell's her he will treat her like a dog and calls her a bitch and makes her sleep naked and chained to the bathroom floor. Makes her eat and drink like a dog AND MAKES HER Pee IN THE YARD like a dog. Talk about degrading. Then, he screwed her in the ass, literally and emotionally and told her to leave after treating her like a dog.
Of course, our heroine, who to me, is just obsessed and not in love, gets over it and apologizes to him for hurting him and not being what he wanted her to be.
I was not expecting my Tex to come off this way. Even his apology to her a few weeks later (after she yet again groveled to him)was pathetic. Heck, I don't want the bastard anymore, someone else can have him.
I felt like our heroine just had no self respect. Dom/sub is mutual respect for each other and trust. There is no way that respect and trust are actually there. A Dom can't get mad at his sub and take it out on her and abuse that trust because he know's she'll let him. And that's exactly what Tex did.
Don't even get me started on the whole story line about how she basically "runs" Las Vegas. Yeah...whatever.
I was totally disappointed on where this went and felt like the author was way off on the Dom/sub relationship. He didn't want a sub, he wanted a Pet, which is exactly what he called her.
OHHH! And then there's the part where he brings in a female Dom and let's her have her way with her. Toward the end she, to me, convinced herself to enjoy it (even though the whole time she was worried that the guy who set it up was testing her to see if she'd "cheat" on him, but I felt like she just felt trapped and didn't know what to do. Cue the dog scene mentioned above that follows. See what I mean?? I just found so many things emotionally wrong with this story.
I don't feel like it was a romance at all. Not even the parts where Tex, later in the book, started becoming the old Tex again. By that point my love for him had checked out and all I could think about is her having to pee in the grass and getting forced enemas.
Maybe I'm way off, and you'll love this story, but you can definitely check me off that list. More power to ya if you can read this and enjoy it. I was just wanting Tex to be so awesome and was highly disappointed. Boo Tex.
Now all that said I can not WAIT for the next book. Shooter was awesome and I am holding on hope that Easy, Hawk and Caleb have just as good of stories as Shooter. If so, I'll consider Tex a small bump in the road instead of what I consider it now.
However, in Shooter, they make it seem more like a fetish than a real lifestyle. We learn in Tex that it is indeed a very serious lifestyle for Tex.
So basically, Tex meets Abby right when Abby is driving into town. She is of course, in search of a new life for herself. She's from Vegas and just wants to start over and do things on her own.
She's this one of a kind hot chick that not only works on cars, know's all about them, shoots guns and is a total bad a** chick, but it also seems might be the perfect sub for Tex.
Slowly they start experimenting together.
Here's were I run into my issues: Tex isn't sure if she's a true sub. So he wants to put her through training, because absolutely in no way will any relationship work unless the woman is a sub...a TRUE sub...not just playing like one here and there. It actually turned me off of Tex quite a bit. I feel like, Dom's usually want their subs to be happy and comfortable in the relationship. That's their job as the Dom. But I felt like he was coming off WAYYY too selfish...just worried about himself and was she going to be able to live up to his standards. I mean I know he's got to work her up to what he feels he needs to be able to do to her, but Jesus dude, chill the fuck out a little bit.
THEN ! OH SWEET LORD ABOVE, THEN he actually got pissed at her, because during her weekend where she gave him ABSOLUTE control over her, she started feeling a little caged in and kind of like a dog (which is a completely normal mental response, duh Tex who studied Psychology), so what's he do to reassure his sub? HE tell's her he will treat her like a dog and calls her a bitch and makes her sleep naked and chained to the bathroom floor. Makes her eat and drink like a dog AND MAKES HER Pee IN THE YARD like a dog. Talk about degrading. Then, he screwed her in the ass, literally and emotionally and told her to leave after treating her like a dog.
Of course, our heroine, who to me, is just obsessed and not in love, gets over it and apologizes to him for hurting him and not being what he wanted her to be.
I was not expecting my Tex to come off this way. Even his apology to her a few weeks later (after she yet again groveled to him)was pathetic. Heck, I don't want the bastard anymore, someone else can have him.
I felt like our heroine just had no self respect. Dom/sub is mutual respect for each other and trust. There is no way that respect and trust are actually there. A Dom can't get mad at his sub and take it out on her and abuse that trust because he know's she'll let him. And that's exactly what Tex did.
Don't even get me started on the whole story line about how she basically "runs" Las Vegas. Yeah...whatever.
I was totally disappointed on where this went and felt like the author was way off on the Dom/sub relationship. He didn't want a sub, he wanted a Pet, which is exactly what he called her.
OHHH! And then there's the part where he brings in a female Dom and let's her have her way with her. Toward the end she, to me, convinced herself to enjoy it (even though the whole time she was worried that the guy who set it up was testing her to see if she'd "cheat" on him, but I felt like she just felt trapped and didn't know what to do. Cue the dog scene mentioned above that follows. See what I mean?? I just found so many things emotionally wrong with this story.
I don't feel like it was a romance at all. Not even the parts where Tex, later in the book, started becoming the old Tex again. By that point my love for him had checked out and all I could think about is her having to pee in the grass and getting forced enemas.
Maybe I'm way off, and you'll love this story, but you can definitely check me off that list. More power to ya if you can read this and enjoy it. I was just wanting Tex to be so awesome and was highly disappointed. Boo Tex.
Now all that said I can not WAIT for the next book. Shooter was awesome and I am holding on hope that Easy, Hawk and Caleb have just as good of stories as Shooter. If so, I'll consider Tex a small bump in the road instead of what I consider it now.
December 8, 2015
Random thoughts after reading this and talking about it on various threads...
Thought 1... The bdsm was waaaaaay out of my comfort zone and I never, ever, never want to read the like again, but I'm not really complaining about that - there was the warning of bdsm, kinky bdsm at that after all.... what really got to me was, as I suspected it would be after reading some reviews (but hoped it wouldn't), the 180 degree personality change in how Tex said his bdsm lifestyle is (in Shooter) to how he conducted that with the heroine (in Tex).
Thought 2.... For me the biggest Wallbanger of recent times is Tex (Burnout 2) by Dahlia West. I loved book 1, and though I might not have been expecting to enjoy book 2 as much due to the expected bdsm, she'd set Tex up as this wonderful, adorable character (who, even though was into bdsm, did it in a caring, appreciative, sexy manner). I mean she even went to the extent in book 1 of having him explain to his army buddies all about his bdsm lifestyle, how he carries that out, that he isn't about an abuse of power, he doesn't do it to humiliate, hurt, frighten, disrespect intimidate or threaten the woman. How he wants a woman who isn't a submissive but would be one for him, a woman he could teach how to be what he wants. How she would be that for him and him ALONE, and how that would be such a gift that he would absolutely treasure... then in his own book, he does the exact opposite to all of that in EVERY way - making him basically a complete liar and turning him into this selfish, non-trustworthy, non-respectful, abusive creep. He doesn't teach her or bring her in slowly or explain much at all, he shows no patience with her and when she doesn't "get" it quickly enough for him he does threaten her (the whole my way or we're over). He does hurt (maybe not so much physically, but definitely emotionally) her, he does disrespect, intimidate, humiliate, frighten her. Then he brings in a third person to their intimacies and of course he was no help with any explanation, so she submits to that as well thinking it's what he wants and that she didn't really have a choice. It was a total abuse of power, and he in no way treated her submission as a gift that he treasured. From book 1 to book 2, it's actually like 2 completely different characters, just who both happen to have the same name.
Thought 3... After reading the sample (because it starts out really pretty good and quite interesting) I had been expecting to enjoy it to a certain degree. Well his book turned up, and she'd (the author) done a HUGE about face on the character of Tex.... his style of bdsm was not sexy, and he as a character, was NOT caring, appreciative or sexy either, and so I hated it!! His entire behavior was totally the opposite of the way she'd set him up in book 1 and how I was expecting him to be in his own book. If she had intended to write him this way in his own book, why, oh jeez why, did she go to so much trouble to explain him, his lifestyle, his attitudes soooooo differently in the first book????? She may as well have been writing about a totally different person. And that is why it's such a huge wallbanger for me.
Thought 4... The apology just felt way too little too late. And all the Vegas stuff towards the end, just seemed like to me a really cheesy clichéd way of restoring some semblance of power/equality/respect to the heroine after having it totally ripped from her. And as for the "apology" itself - well, the "apology" pissed me right off. A Clayton's apology - the apology you have when you're not having an apology (Aussie & NZ reference that - Claytons was a brand of imitation non-alcoholic alcohol). I hated that it somehow got turned around and she was "sorrying" to him, saying she'd somehow managed to "force" him into his own bad behaviour???!!!! COP OUT. Hated it!! And even after the "apology" it was still all about him, his thoughts I thought were incredibly selfish - about how much more she'd be able to surrender to him, what other stuff she'd be able to allow him to do to her, how many of his fantasies and desires and needs he could get her to satisfy - there was never any thoughts about what he could do FOR HER (like for example after his big day of fantasies - there was no real thankyou for that or "what would like me to do for you?", it was all so very selfishly still all about what she'd do and be for him.
There was no real "romance" to the romance - no real examples of him loving her, nothing that convinced me he really did love her, certainly none of the "treasuring the gift she was giving him" that I'd expected and so wanted to see with Tex's book and him as a hero.
And finally... Perhaps I wouldn't be so down on the book and the hero, if he hadn't been portrayed so differently in the first book. But to have him and the setup for his book set up the way it was and then to have him written so differently, it just really, really ticked me off. The about face on the basic character of Tex is so huge, that it's actually spoiled Shooter now for me too, coz on rereads, all that talking and explaining he does just has me wanting to scream "LIAR!!!" at him, and all his good-guy behaviour towards the women here just have me so incredibly pissed off that his own heroine didn't warrant anywhere near the same caring treatment. He's a total zero in NO WAY worthy of the title hero.
Oh, and wallbanger refers to a book so bad you want it to somewhat loudly and violently meet the nearest wall a time or two (or more).
Thought 1... The bdsm was waaaaaay out of my comfort zone and I never, ever, never want to read the like again, but I'm not really complaining about that - there was the warning of bdsm, kinky bdsm at that after all.... what really got to me was, as I suspected it would be after reading some reviews (but hoped it wouldn't), the 180 degree personality change in how Tex said his bdsm lifestyle is (in Shooter) to how he conducted that with the heroine (in Tex).
Thought 2.... For me the biggest Wallbanger of recent times is Tex (Burnout 2) by Dahlia West. I loved book 1, and though I might not have been expecting to enjoy book 2 as much due to the expected bdsm, she'd set Tex up as this wonderful, adorable character (who, even though was into bdsm, did it in a caring, appreciative, sexy manner). I mean she even went to the extent in book 1 of having him explain to his army buddies all about his bdsm lifestyle, how he carries that out, that he isn't about an abuse of power, he doesn't do it to humiliate, hurt, frighten, disrespect intimidate or threaten the woman. How he wants a woman who isn't a submissive but would be one for him, a woman he could teach how to be what he wants. How she would be that for him and him ALONE, and how that would be such a gift that he would absolutely treasure... then in his own book, he does the exact opposite to all of that in EVERY way - making him basically a complete liar and turning him into this selfish, non-trustworthy, non-respectful, abusive creep. He doesn't teach her or bring her in slowly or explain much at all, he shows no patience with her and when she doesn't "get" it quickly enough for him he does threaten her (the whole my way or we're over). He does hurt (maybe not so much physically, but definitely emotionally) her, he does disrespect, intimidate, humiliate, frighten her. Then he brings in a third person to their intimacies and of course he was no help with any explanation, so she submits to that as well thinking it's what he wants and that she didn't really have a choice. It was a total abuse of power, and he in no way treated her submission as a gift that he treasured. From book 1 to book 2, it's actually like 2 completely different characters, just who both happen to have the same name.
Thought 3... After reading the sample (because it starts out really pretty good and quite interesting) I had been expecting to enjoy it to a certain degree. Well his book turned up, and she'd (the author) done a HUGE about face on the character of Tex.... his style of bdsm was not sexy, and he as a character, was NOT caring, appreciative or sexy either, and so I hated it!! His entire behavior was totally the opposite of the way she'd set him up in book 1 and how I was expecting him to be in his own book. If she had intended to write him this way in his own book, why, oh jeez why, did she go to so much trouble to explain him, his lifestyle, his attitudes soooooo differently in the first book????? She may as well have been writing about a totally different person. And that is why it's such a huge wallbanger for me.
Thought 4... The apology just felt way too little too late. And all the Vegas stuff towards the end, just seemed like to me a really cheesy clichéd way of restoring some semblance of power/equality/respect to the heroine after having it totally ripped from her. And as for the "apology" itself - well, the "apology" pissed me right off. A Clayton's apology - the apology you have when you're not having an apology (Aussie & NZ reference that - Claytons was a brand of imitation non-alcoholic alcohol). I hated that it somehow got turned around and she was "sorrying" to him, saying she'd somehow managed to "force" him into his own bad behaviour???!!!! COP OUT. Hated it!! And even after the "apology" it was still all about him, his thoughts I thought were incredibly selfish - about how much more she'd be able to surrender to him, what other stuff she'd be able to allow him to do to her, how many of his fantasies and desires and needs he could get her to satisfy - there was never any thoughts about what he could do FOR HER (like for example after his big day of fantasies - there was no real thankyou for that or "what would like me to do for you?", it was all so very selfishly still all about what she'd do and be for him.
There was no real "romance" to the romance - no real examples of him loving her, nothing that convinced me he really did love her, certainly none of the "treasuring the gift she was giving him" that I'd expected and so wanted to see with Tex's book and him as a hero.
And finally... Perhaps I wouldn't be so down on the book and the hero, if he hadn't been portrayed so differently in the first book. But to have him and the setup for his book set up the way it was and then to have him written so differently, it just really, really ticked me off. The about face on the basic character of Tex is so huge, that it's actually spoiled Shooter now for me too, coz on rereads, all that talking and explaining he does just has me wanting to scream "LIAR!!!" at him, and all his good-guy behaviour towards the women here just have me so incredibly pissed off that his own heroine didn't warrant anywhere near the same caring treatment. He's a total zero in NO WAY worthy of the title hero.
Oh, and wallbanger refers to a book so bad you want it to somewhat loudly and violently meet the nearest wall a time or two (or more).
February 19, 2020
I love this MC series!
I read this before but hadn’t reviewed it and after looking at some of the reviews I thought I would read it again. It has a lot of low ratings due to the BDSM content which is called out in the blurb. I can’t really understand the negative comments. I have seen much worse as far as BDSM goes.
I read one review that said Tex was a hypocrite for the fact that he explains his lifestyle to his friends in book one by saying it is all about respecting the other person and he doesn’t do it to humiliate or disrespect. Then he goes and does that by punishing her by treating her like a dog.
I did hate that part, but he was all about discussing everything very thoroughly with Abby and communication and after that punishment happened and he and Abby had a chance to talk again, he stated that what he did was completely and utterly wrong and he never should have treated her like that and never would again. I have read a lot of BDSM and many guys like that type of thing and treat women as pets on a regular basis. At least Tex says he will never do it again.
Also, the book didn’t have a lot of the harsh BDSM whippings and things that are in some books. I thought that when the two of them were together and communicating about what each of them wanted and fulfilling each other’s fantasies it was pretty hot. From what BDSM I have read, it is all about communication and trust and that was really what Tex was trying to build with Abby. I thought this book was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 out of 5 flames hot and steamy.
I don’t understand why people are so up in arms about two people doing consensual things together. If you don’t want to read about it, then don’t, but don’t give it a poor review. Especially if you were warned.
Overall I liked the book and I liked Tex and Abby both. I plan to read more from this author.
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I read this before but hadn’t reviewed it and after looking at some of the reviews I thought I would read it again. It has a lot of low ratings due to the BDSM content which is called out in the blurb. I can’t really understand the negative comments. I have seen much worse as far as BDSM goes.
I read one review that said Tex was a hypocrite for the fact that he explains his lifestyle to his friends in book one by saying it is all about respecting the other person and he doesn’t do it to humiliate or disrespect. Then he goes and does that by punishing her by treating her like a dog.
I did hate that part, but he was all about discussing everything very thoroughly with Abby and communication and after that punishment happened and he and Abby had a chance to talk again, he stated that what he did was completely and utterly wrong and he never should have treated her like that and never would again. I have read a lot of BDSM and many guys like that type of thing and treat women as pets on a regular basis. At least Tex says he will never do it again.
Also, the book didn’t have a lot of the harsh BDSM whippings and things that are in some books. I thought that when the two of them were together and communicating about what each of them wanted and fulfilling each other’s fantasies it was pretty hot. From what BDSM I have read, it is all about communication and trust and that was really what Tex was trying to build with Abby. I thought this book was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 out of 5 flames hot and steamy.
I don’t understand why people are so up in arms about two people doing consensual things together. If you don’t want to read about it, then don’t, but don’t give it a poor review. Especially if you were warned.
Overall I liked the book and I liked Tex and Abby both. I plan to read more from this author.
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August 3, 2016
2.0 RATING- I finished Shooter last night, the first book in the Burnout series, and loved it! I was on the fence about reading Tex because I had seen alot of comments from other readers saying they didn't like the book, they didn't like Tex, the book had grossed them out, they couldn't finish it... I read a couple of reviews that were somewhat spoilerish. I normally don't do that but when I'm that close to not reading a book, I like to get the details on exactly what people are disliking so much. After reading a couple reviews, I decided I would give Tex a try. Primarily I decided to read it because I loved Shooter so much and wanted to continue with the series and not miss anything. A secondary reason was because of just plain ole curiosity. What in the world about this book had so many people talking about it and recommending NOT to read it?
So this is what I think: Tex does not seem like it should have been included in the same series as Shooter. Obviously, that's an author's choice but really, these two books don't fall into the same genre. Shooter is a contemporary romance, very middle of the road as far as subject matter, sex and steam, etc. For me, Shooter was a total "comfort read". Tex on the other hand is the opposite. I consider Tex to be a hard-core BDSM read. There are subject matters (some detailed extensively) in the book that some may find difficult to read and that usually are not found in lighter BDSM books.
From a marketing standpoint, when you release a title, you have to know who your customer is (who is reading your book, what do they expect, etc). The same readers that thought Shooter was a five star read and were recommending it to their friends just aren't the same readers that are going to enjoy Tex. That's just my opinion but I think it is supported by the low ratings and poor feedback this book has received. Now if Tex would have been brought in as a stand-alone and marketed as a hard-core BDSM book, the book may have found a greater fan base for those that enjoy that genre. Having it as a follow-up to Shooter was just a mistake and really doomed the book a little bit. Perhaps the book will eventually be found by readers that enjoy the heavier BDSM reads and they can weigh in what they think. Because I'm not one of those readers, it's a little difficult for me to rate the book overall.
Was the book well written? It was. I actually liked the characters very much in the beginning. Unfortunately, I'm left with the same kind of ick factor that a lot of other readers found because this book was just a little out of my comfort zone. For that reason, I'm giving it two stars and crossing my fingers any additional books in the series are closer in line with Shooter.
nope
June 14, 2019The warning in this book is 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 ROTFLMAO 😆 😆😆😆😆😆
BDSM....oh geezz.. make it stop 🛑... please. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not even my dog eats from the floor and is only on the leash when we’re in a unfamiliar place ( he pees on the grass though 🤣🤣🤣🤣) and the woman here is treated like an animal because of bdsm life style??? Not my cuppa. IMO even if it’s consensual, is very degrading.
I don’t even like to camping because of “bathroom situations” , don’t like traveling in those RVs and parking in those designated parking places and having to clean it out. But that’s me and my picky self. I have friends who do it all the time and enjoy it a bunch. Just no my thingy. I like comfort..: a lot. I like my fluffy pillows, my comfortable bed and sofa, my fresh cleaned linens, I liked to have breakfast in bed ( or even served at the table), I like to be take in romantic dates, nice places, going on trips... well... treated like a woman should be: with respect and love. Hence... I can’t imagine a situation like the one I mentioned above. That’s beyond submission, that’s humiliating. IMHO
P.S. I have none knowledge of BDSM style, but I read enough reviews and FSIG to know a dom should not “deal”/punish/having a scene with submissive when he’s in anger.
It seems the author has as much knowledge of the subject as me: NONE
BDSM....oh geezz.. make it stop 🛑... please. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not even my dog eats from the floor and is only on the leash when we’re in a unfamiliar place ( he pees on the grass though 🤣🤣🤣🤣) and the woman here is treated like an animal because of bdsm life style??? Not my cuppa. IMO even if it’s consensual, is very degrading.
I don’t even like to camping because of “bathroom situations” , don’t like traveling in those RVs and parking in those designated parking places and having to clean it out. But that’s me and my picky self. I have friends who do it all the time and enjoy it a bunch. Just no my thingy. I like comfort..: a lot. I like my fluffy pillows, my comfortable bed and sofa, my fresh cleaned linens, I liked to have breakfast in bed ( or even served at the table), I like to be take in romantic dates, nice places, going on trips... well... treated like a woman should be: with respect and love. Hence... I can’t imagine a situation like the one I mentioned above. That’s beyond submission, that’s humiliating. IMHO
P.S. I have none knowledge of BDSM style, but I read enough reviews and FSIG to know a dom should not “deal”/punish/having a scene with submissive when he’s in anger.
It seems the author has as much knowledge of the subject as me: NONE
January 23, 2016
I am a little stingy with high stars and I don't usually rate a 1 star, but I make an exception here. I absolutely did not like either of the main characters, the story, the clinical description and characterizations with no basis of motivation, reasoning or any semblance of grounding in reality in this book. This a story the author woke up one day and said, "Wow, look at sales of BDSM books. I'm going to write that stuff in this story. Let me do a little reading and make a checklist and make sure I get everything in here and put some elements that sound a little edgy. After all, I can't make this sound too much like all other books out there - may have to include some things that don't look a little copycat. So, I'll just put some of these other shocking or titillating things in there and it will all end up so believable in my characters." WRONG. BDSM checklist and cardboard characters who do not make sense and do not create connections with the reader are wrong on many levels. I don't usually say this - I hated Tex from the beginning and then toward the end, I hated Abby. Yes, I read all the way through so I do feel qualified to rate the entire book. 1 - may never read this author again it was that bad - star!
January 19, 2014
Let me start of by saying that I have never in the hundreds and hundreds of books I have read, EVER rated a book this low.
I loved the first book in this series.... Read it in one sitting...I immediately downloaded this book as I could not wait...Tex seemed like such a nice guy in the first book. Funny, caring etc...In this book he is a PIG!!!
I am not a prude and I love books about BDSM, but this one took it way to far out of my comfort zone....I can understand how reading a book like this could actually put a negative spin on the lifestyle because seriously how can someone humiliate a person like that...Not cool!!! And what self respecting women could actually forgive someone for treating her like this....NO FREAKING WAY!!!
Anyway I have read it, its done, but I would not recommend it to anyone and now I might have to think long and hard about the next one in the series....
I loved the first book in this series.... Read it in one sitting...I immediately downloaded this book as I could not wait...Tex seemed like such a nice guy in the first book. Funny, caring etc...In this book he is a PIG!!!
I am not a prude and I love books about BDSM, but this one took it way to far out of my comfort zone....I can understand how reading a book like this could actually put a negative spin on the lifestyle because seriously how can someone humiliate a person like that...Not cool!!! And what self respecting women could actually forgive someone for treating her like this....NO FREAKING WAY!!!
Anyway I have read it, its done, but I would not recommend it to anyone and now I might have to think long and hard about the next one in the series....
September 5, 2019
2.5 Meh
I finished this book ages ago, but for some reason, I left it in my currently-reading pile.
What I do remember though is that I wasn't impressed.
It wasn't bad or anything, just forgettable and with nothing impressive happening. I really can't remember much.
So yeah, I guess it's worth reading if you're bored and have nothing else at hand.
I finished this book ages ago, but for some reason, I left it in my currently-reading pile.
What I do remember though is that I wasn't impressed.
It wasn't bad or anything, just forgettable and with nothing impressive happening. I really can't remember much.
So yeah, I guess it's worth reading if you're bored and have nothing else at hand.
May 31, 2015
I'm going to go into a little bit of a rant here... First of all, there are warnings all over this book that it contains heavy BDSM scenes. So if that's not your thing then don't read it! Going into this I wasn't really sure what to think with all the low star ratings which after finishing the book early this morning is extremely unfair to the author.
So I'm going to hopefully boost up the rating with my 5 stars! I have to say after reading Shooter I could not wait to see what was in store for Tex. My curiosity with him and his kinks instantly had me picking this up last night and reading through the morning. This is a book of learning and exploring...but not just for Abby new to the "world" but for Tex too. Yeah, not every scene worked for me but what they had was their own...who am I to judge what turns them on. :)
On to the next one!
So I'm going to hopefully boost up the rating with my 5 stars! I have to say after reading Shooter I could not wait to see what was in store for Tex. My curiosity with him and his kinks instantly had me picking this up last night and reading through the morning. This is a book of learning and exploring...but not just for Abby new to the "world" but for Tex too. Yeah, not every scene worked for me but what they had was their own...who am I to judge what turns them on. :)
On to the next one!
May 21, 2021
2021
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
===============
The story fails to hook the reader for a second reading. The bdsm stories no longer have any appeal to me. Minus two stars.
2013
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
==================
This series is very good and I am waiting for the story of the other friends.
I confess that I almost quit reading ... this story of the woman being on a leash on her knees, eating on the floor and having to pee on the grass, didn't suit me, but I didn't give up and the story was really good!
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
===============
The story fails to hook the reader for a second reading. The bdsm stories no longer have any appeal to me. Minus two stars.
2013
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
==================
This series is very good and I am waiting for the story of the other friends.
I confess that I almost quit reading ... this story of the woman being on a leash on her knees, eating on the floor and having to pee on the grass, didn't suit me, but I didn't give up and the story was really good!
![Profile Image for Michelle [Helen Geek].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1448463806i%2F5557851._CR0%2C13%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
December 28, 2013
12/28/2013 --
Overall Rating = 4 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 4 / 1 = 2.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 4 Stars
Character Development = 4 Stars
Story Appreciation = 4 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [$2.99 on Amazon]
442 pages
I read some of the reviews for this on Amazon and it was slammed. I probably wouldn't have read it, but I read the first in the series and thought it a decent read. The rating for this one is really low and all I can say, I don't think this has been marketed well.
The GOOD about this read:
1 -- It is a continuation of a series, but can be read as a standalone. This being said, we get more of the great characters created in book one. This also have a "not so good" point I'll mention later, but for me, this was the appeal of continuing with this series.
2 -- The BDSM outlined by the author was accurate. I think she did a really nice job of telling this part of Tex's tale. She put me in mind of some of the better Cherise Sinclair. However, she lacked balance with the true story components [mentioned again below]. Therefore, it is my opinion, this read bordered on a BDSM clinical manual or checklist.
CAUTION: Heed the synopsis warning. If you do not appreciate BDSM elements, this is not the read for you.
3 -- I enjoyed Abby and Tex. They were each good characters and together they were even better. I have some "not so good" points about these two too, but I did like them.
4 -- There were a few editing items, but not like the first one. I didn't deduct any points for editing this round.
5 -- The price point is perfect.
The "Not so Good" about this read:
1 -- The author told this story without much intimacy; too little really. As much as I liked Tex and Abby and their bedroom escapades, there wasn't a whole lot of intimacy.
2 -- The story was secondary to the BDSM elements. It appears the author was so hung up on getting this stuff right or making a point, that she lost focus in her story. The story we did get was good. Too bad we didn't get a bit more.
3 -- Although we did have some time with the characters from book one, it was minimal. Too little time for characters that are to be highlighted in subsequent books. My opinion only.
4 -- If we had focused on the story more and not the BDSM elements so much, the story length would be good, but because we didn't, this book seemed a bit long for a "BDSM 101" book.
4a -- I read one review that indicated the length of relationship and the trust factor on some of the BDSM elements they experienced. I would have to agree. I think this part of their relationship moved pretty quickly. You note this after the fact not while it is occurring in the story, but you do reflect on it a bit. Something to note.
5 -- Flow is an issue when reading this author. Sometimes as you are reading along an element will just appear. Like throwing something against a wall. I was able to hang with it, but it did leave me scratching my head and "hmm...ing" a bit. Wonder if she creates an outline before putting her story on paper?
5a -- Nothing really MC with this book. The first one had a bit more of the Motorcycle Club element, but just barely. This one, not at all. Just fair warning.
6 -- I think the book's marketing has impacted its' rating. Hate when that happens. This book surprised me and I'm sure this is what happened to other readers. I like a BDSM read. I wasn't expecting so much of it here. I wouldn't consider this a dark read, but it does have an extensive BDSM element and not just common elements you normally read about. Quite a bit of anal play, slave elements, and some mention of vaginal fisting. If you're not expecting these things, you may be put off a bit. The author warns you, but I'm not sure it has been heeded. We see the warnings too often as a play on certain readers and the content is actually pretty tame.
So, think about it ... all these things I didn't find too helpful and I still give it 4 stars. This book's ratings really don't reflect how good this story is. It is. I think it hasn't been marketed well. If a reader enjoys Cherise Sinclair or Annabel Joseph, they will like this book. Maybe not the first in this series, but this one -- definitely.
I thank Mo again for turning me onto this author. So not on my radar. I like how this author tells a story -- her imagination and the community she is stringing together. I wish she'd think and plan a bit more and it would flesh out the details a bit better. Maybe she will, at some point. I can hope.
I was Very Happy Reading this one.
Overall Rating = 4 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 4 / 1 = 2.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 4 Stars
Character Development = 4 Stars
Story Appreciation = 4 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [$2.99 on Amazon]
442 pages
I read some of the reviews for this on Amazon and it was slammed. I probably wouldn't have read it, but I read the first in the series and thought it a decent read. The rating for this one is really low and all I can say, I don't think this has been marketed well.
The GOOD about this read:
1 -- It is a continuation of a series, but can be read as a standalone. This being said, we get more of the great characters created in book one. This also have a "not so good" point I'll mention later, but for me, this was the appeal of continuing with this series.
2 -- The BDSM outlined by the author was accurate. I think she did a really nice job of telling this part of Tex's tale. She put me in mind of some of the better Cherise Sinclair. However, she lacked balance with the true story components [mentioned again below]. Therefore, it is my opinion, this read bordered on a BDSM clinical manual or checklist.
CAUTION: Heed the synopsis warning. If you do not appreciate BDSM elements, this is not the read for you.
3 -- I enjoyed Abby and Tex. They were each good characters and together they were even better. I have some "not so good" points about these two too, but I did like them.
4 -- There were a few editing items, but not like the first one. I didn't deduct any points for editing this round.
5 -- The price point is perfect.
The "Not so Good" about this read:
1 -- The author told this story without much intimacy; too little really. As much as I liked Tex and Abby and their bedroom escapades, there wasn't a whole lot of intimacy.
2 -- The story was secondary to the BDSM elements. It appears the author was so hung up on getting this stuff right or making a point, that she lost focus in her story. The story we did get was good. Too bad we didn't get a bit more.
3 -- Although we did have some time with the characters from book one, it was minimal. Too little time for characters that are to be highlighted in subsequent books. My opinion only.
4 -- If we had focused on the story more and not the BDSM elements so much, the story length would be good, but because we didn't, this book seemed a bit long for a "BDSM 101" book.
4a -- I read one review that indicated the length of relationship and the trust factor on some of the BDSM elements they experienced. I would have to agree. I think this part of their relationship moved pretty quickly. You note this after the fact not while it is occurring in the story, but you do reflect on it a bit. Something to note.
5 -- Flow is an issue when reading this author. Sometimes as you are reading along an element will just appear. Like throwing something against a wall. I was able to hang with it, but it did leave me scratching my head and "hmm...ing" a bit. Wonder if she creates an outline before putting her story on paper?
5a -- Nothing really MC with this book. The first one had a bit more of the Motorcycle Club element, but just barely. This one, not at all. Just fair warning.
6 -- I think the book's marketing has impacted its' rating. Hate when that happens. This book surprised me and I'm sure this is what happened to other readers. I like a BDSM read. I wasn't expecting so much of it here. I wouldn't consider this a dark read, but it does have an extensive BDSM element and not just common elements you normally read about. Quite a bit of anal play, slave elements, and some mention of vaginal fisting. If you're not expecting these things, you may be put off a bit. The author warns you, but I'm not sure it has been heeded. We see the warnings too often as a play on certain readers and the content is actually pretty tame.
So, think about it ... all these things I didn't find too helpful and I still give it 4 stars. This book's ratings really don't reflect how good this story is. It is. I think it hasn't been marketed well. If a reader enjoys Cherise Sinclair or Annabel Joseph, they will like this book. Maybe not the first in this series, but this one -- definitely.
I thank Mo again for turning me onto this author. So not on my radar. I like how this author tells a story -- her imagination and the community she is stringing together. I wish she'd think and plan a bit more and it would flesh out the details a bit better. Maybe she will, at some point. I can hope.
I was Very Happy Reading this one.
February 7, 2014
After reading Shooter, I was really excited to start Tex. He was very funny in Shooter, and very matter of fact about his BDSM lifestyle. But then I actually started reading the book and wondered if I was reading the correct one. Gone was the funny, joking, raunchy Tex, and in his place was a total a**hole. Don't get me wrong -- reading about BDSM doesn't bother me usually, if written well. This was not written well --this was a "how-to-humiliate" manual. Not sexy in any form or fashion.
Abby also bothered me. At first she seemed to be a kicka** heroine, but she went from being a strong character to a very weak one in the space of one chapter for me. How she referred to herself in the third person by the end of the story just made me want to throw my Kindle across the room.
Gah! I had to finish this book to see if there were any redeeming moments at the end, but nope, nada. So disappointed, given how much I liked Shooter and Slick. Hopefully the other stories will be much better.
Abby also bothered me. At first she seemed to be a kicka** heroine, but she went from being a strong character to a very weak one in the space of one chapter for me. How she referred to herself in the third person by the end of the story just made me want to throw my Kindle across the room.
Gah! I had to finish this book to see if there were any redeeming moments at the end, but nope, nada. So disappointed, given how much I liked Shooter and Slick. Hopefully the other stories will be much better.
November 21, 2014
After the absolutely stellar debut of book one of the 'Burnout' series I cannot begin to tell you how disappointing I found "Tex," the second book. First and foremost, I am not a prude and love good a sexual read as the next person but quite frankly this book was nothing more than pornography with very little plot and I can't believe I'm going to say this but I was so bored I found myself flipping through most of the sexual scene that comprised about 70% of the book!
Abby has graduated from UNLV and has accepted a job as Assistant Manager at a upscale hotel in Rapid City. As she is driving into town her car begins having problems and after pulling over, she is approached by sex on a stick, Tex riding a Harley. After having a brief discussion he nicknames her Vegas and suggests that she looks him up at Maria's bar. After deciding to sell her deceased father's vintage Harley, she contacts Tex and soon she is traveling down the road of bds&m with Tex as her guide.
As I stated earlier this was a truly disappointing read for me. It was overbearing in the sexual encounters to the point I was so bored I didn't think I would be able to finish it. If I hadn't purchased this book as part of a boxed set, I probably would have returned it. I just hope that book three puts this series back on track for me.
Abby has graduated from UNLV and has accepted a job as Assistant Manager at a upscale hotel in Rapid City. As she is driving into town her car begins having problems and after pulling over, she is approached by sex on a stick, Tex riding a Harley. After having a brief discussion he nicknames her Vegas and suggests that she looks him up at Maria's bar. After deciding to sell her deceased father's vintage Harley, she contacts Tex and soon she is traveling down the road of bds&m with Tex as her guide.
As I stated earlier this was a truly disappointing read for me. It was overbearing in the sexual encounters to the point I was so bored I didn't think I would be able to finish it. If I hadn't purchased this book as part of a boxed set, I probably would have returned it. I just hope that book three puts this series back on track for me.
July 2, 2017
The 2 stars here are for Abby's cool character. I am not much of a one for BDSM although I have read a dozen or so. This just went far for me to believe in the love aspect of the story. He treated her pretty poorly and roughly. There are some other reviews that go into the failures on the BDSM front so I won't repeat but it really seemed to me that he treated her like a thing and didn't do any of the hugging and whatnot after that I believe is part of the deal. I'm not an expert. Earlier we had been led to believe that he just liked kink in the bedroom but that is not how he was written. I didn't like the scene with the woman either. That seems like something that should have been discussed first. Then I didn't like how Abby responded to it all and was so desperate for Tex that she came crawling to him. I also wasn't fond of all the guys and their gals knowing about their bedroom antics.
Biggest fail for me though is that there wasn't much story other than the sex part. I don't mind a few well written sex scenes but I want there to be more story to go along with it.
Still I expected not to care much for this book and I was perfectly happy to go on with the series.
Biggest fail for me though is that there wasn't much story other than the sex part. I don't mind a few well written sex scenes but I want there to be more story to go along with it.
Still I expected not to care much for this book and I was perfectly happy to go on with the series.
April 26, 2019
3.5* rounded up and spoilers ahead
This book is definitely not for everyone, Tex and Abby meet as she stops to fix her car. They start up a casual something soon after. I will say even with the moments that violently shoved me outside my comfort zone I liked this one. My only complaint was that for all her confidence in her everyday life Abby had very little confidence in the situation with Tex, she felt grateful on a couple occasions that a hot guy like Tex who could have any woman he wanted would choose her and that pissed me off. She also pursued the relationship more than he did which is another no no to me. At one point Tex came across as manipulative and since most of the book involved him training her in the bdsm lifestyle I didn't quite believe his ily. I understood the sex but their relationship especially on Tex's part wasn't developed properly. I have no experience with bdsm but I've read quite a few books with it and this is honestly the first one where the mmc explained so much and so many new to me things happened. Some things raised my eyebrows, some had me shuddering in distaste(Tex's dog decision not as part of the kink but out of anger) and some had me ummmmm very intrigued. All in all I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.
Randoms
A bit of f/f action where Tex was present but did not participate in any way
Lots of mentions of his former sexual activities
Spanking
H makes h act like a dog
Enema play
Anal Play
This book is definitely not for everyone, Tex and Abby meet as she stops to fix her car. They start up a casual something soon after. I will say even with the moments that violently shoved me outside my comfort zone I liked this one. My only complaint was that for all her confidence in her everyday life Abby had very little confidence in the situation with Tex, she felt grateful on a couple occasions that a hot guy like Tex who could have any woman he wanted would choose her and that pissed me off. She also pursued the relationship more than he did which is another no no to me. At one point Tex came across as manipulative and since most of the book involved him training her in the bdsm lifestyle I didn't quite believe his ily. I understood the sex but their relationship especially on Tex's part wasn't developed properly. I have no experience with bdsm but I've read quite a few books with it and this is honestly the first one where the mmc explained so much and so many new to me things happened. Some things raised my eyebrows, some had me shuddering in distaste(Tex's dog decision not as part of the kink but out of anger) and some had me ummmmm very intrigued. All in all I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.
Randoms
A bit of f/f action where Tex was present but did not participate in any way
Lots of mentions of his former sexual activities
Spanking
H makes h act like a dog
Enema play
Anal Play
May 10, 2024
Well this was
NOT
what I was expecting. Lemme give a short summary and then get into all the warnings and sh!t you need to know if you're reading this book/series. 🤯 🤯
Tex (formerly fun-loving jokester, now Dom extraordinaire) sees a buxom redhead broken down on the side of the road, so obviously he pulls over to give her a hand. She doesn't need it though because Abby is well versed in mechanical ways. She's just arrived from Vegas and is taking over a new management position for a hotel in town. The two hit it off and Abby ends up using the shop where Tex works to restore a car she owns. Only takes a few weeks before they end up at her place for some 💥HOT💥 sex, which includes yummy dirty talk. At her new job, she discovers her new boss and job aren't exactly kosher. Don't worry - this is only mentioned at the beginning and the end of the book, which created confusion for me. At around the 15-20% mark, Tex reveals he's a Dom and looking for a sub relationship. This is where the craziness starts. Eventually, there's a HFN. The ending was really weird for me too. Let's get into it....
BDSM and D/s: I read the warnings and was still surprised by how much D/s there was. I expected the playful Tex from the previous book, and not only is he completely different, but the book has a different style. NOW - I have decided I'm not judging this book by what I expected or am comfortable with for the sole fact that the author warns it's BDSM. About 60% of this book is JUST about the sexual, D/s relationship between Tex and Abby. She has never had sub experience so he's basically training her. She's got some self-esteem issues that stem from childhood, which make her question EVERYTHING she's feeling and also make her extremely skittish. PERSONALLY, I did not enjoy the way that side played out. There seemed to be more D/s and very little "relationship" stuff. Like going to the movies or out to dinner. It was all centered around her going to his house on Friday for sex. Eventually they got to that part - but it took forever. I was not a superfan of the way Tex Dommed. He wasn't horrible, in fact he was pretty sweet at times - but it didn't make me mushy on the insides. That said - looking at things objectively I concluded that he did things in the right order. There were times he made mistakes (dog punishment) and I think he could have been more understanding. He did apologize for the biggest mistake he made. There is one part where Abby refers to herself in third person and I wanted to stab her for it. Thankfully that's short lived. There's another review out there where the reviewer describes the issues I had problems with, except that her perception doesn't match up with what I read. I think they're a little harsh. ((PS - at the beginning he says he's insisting on condoms, even for oral, but they only use one the first time they have sex. Never after that and I don't recall them ever talking about getting tested. Shrug.))
Besides the D/s being out of my personal comfort zone, there were other problems. Mainly it lacked balance .
The very beginning was very playful and normal couple stuff, the very end was the same. It was all in between that was serious D/s stuff. If we had mixed those two up, it would have flowed much better.
The last book there was lots of hanging out with friends/as a group. This one lacks a lot of that for me.
The issue at her work sounds like it's going to be a big deal, but at the end it was just a flop. Didn't go how I expected at all. Then, there's a surprise thing with the mafia that happens in Vegas that came out of left field. Made me feel like I hadn't been reading the same book.
Then - it just ends. TOTALLY didn't feel like it was a HEA or a HFN.
This one is so hard for me.
Tex (formerly fun-loving jokester, now Dom extraordinaire) sees a buxom redhead broken down on the side of the road, so obviously he pulls over to give her a hand. She doesn't need it though because Abby is well versed in mechanical ways. She's just arrived from Vegas and is taking over a new management position for a hotel in town. The two hit it off and Abby ends up using the shop where Tex works to restore a car she owns. Only takes a few weeks before they end up at her place for some 💥HOT💥 sex, which includes yummy dirty talk. At her new job, she discovers her new boss and job aren't exactly kosher. Don't worry - this is only mentioned at the beginning and the end of the book, which created confusion for me. At around the 15-20% mark, Tex reveals he's a Dom and looking for a sub relationship. This is where the craziness starts. Eventually, there's a HFN. The ending was really weird for me too. Let's get into it....
BDSM and D/s: I read the warnings and was still surprised by how much D/s there was. I expected the playful Tex from the previous book, and not only is he completely different, but the book has a different style. NOW - I have decided I'm not judging this book by what I expected or am comfortable with for the sole fact that the author warns it's BDSM. About 60% of this book is JUST about the sexual, D/s relationship between Tex and Abby. She has never had sub experience so he's basically training her. She's got some self-esteem issues that stem from childhood, which make her question EVERYTHING she's feeling and also make her extremely skittish. PERSONALLY, I did not enjoy the way that side played out. There seemed to be more D/s and very little "relationship" stuff. Like going to the movies or out to dinner. It was all centered around her going to his house on Friday for sex. Eventually they got to that part - but it took forever. I was not a superfan of the way Tex Dommed. He wasn't horrible, in fact he was pretty sweet at times - but it didn't make me mushy on the insides. That said - looking at things objectively I concluded that he did things in the right order. There were times he made mistakes (dog punishment) and I think he could have been more understanding. He did apologize for the biggest mistake he made. There is one part where Abby refers to herself in third person and I wanted to stab her for it. Thankfully that's short lived. There's another review out there where the reviewer describes the issues I had problems with, except that her perception doesn't match up with what I read. I think they're a little harsh. ((PS - at the beginning he says he's insisting on condoms, even for oral, but they only use one the first time they have sex. Never after that and I don't recall them ever talking about getting tested. Shrug.))
Besides the D/s being out of my personal comfort zone, there were other problems. Mainly it lacked balance .
The very beginning was very playful and normal couple stuff, the very end was the same. It was all in between that was serious D/s stuff. If we had mixed those two up, it would have flowed much better.
The last book there was lots of hanging out with friends/as a group. This one lacks a lot of that for me.
The issue at her work sounds like it's going to be a big deal, but at the end it was just a flop. Didn't go how I expected at all. Then, there's a surprise thing with the mafia that happens in Vegas that came out of left field. Made me feel like I hadn't been reading the same book.
Then - it just ends. TOTALLY didn't feel like it was a HEA or a HFN.
This one is so hard for me.
dnr
May 16, 2019In the words of one reviewer "Tex treated her like a dog to the point of having her pee outside".
Really? This is love? This is treating your partner with the respect she fucking deserves?
Pass on this crap.
Really? This is love? This is treating your partner with the respect she fucking deserves?
Pass on this crap.
August 5, 2014
What I liked:
The way Mark and Abby learned to trust and communicate with each other. At first it seemed like Abby was the one who had to learn how to play and express herself, but after the disastrous end to their "consensual non-consensual" weekend, it was pretty clear that Mark had some growing to do as well. I liked that balance and that growth.
The way it was very clearly demonstrated that in the outside world, Abby knows her own mind, has her own resources, and is fully free to choose Mark (or not). I also really liked the explanation of how feminism and bdsm don't need to be in conflict, that feminism means being able to make your own choices about your sexuality -- that's the best explanation of how to reconcile those two concepts that I've seen and doesn't rely on evopsychobabble to make the point.
What I didn't like:
Way, way too many sex scenes. I mean, I get that sex was a big part of their relationship development but I spent a lot of the middle part wishing they'd go to work or hang out with their friends or do something else.
The idea of the "consensual non-consensual" weekend seemed a little rushed for both Mark and Abby. I don't know, maybe not, but I kept thinking... couldn't you guys have waited a few weeks or months before trying this? What's the hurry?
Some editing errors. Nothing too egregious, but enough to be noticeable.
N.B.
In terms of kink, I know some of the stuff in here bothered other people -- the enemas and dog stuff especially -- but, eh, it was consensual, wasn't abusive, and worked for the characters (or didn't and then they decided not to do it again), so whatever. Consent and non-abusive relationships are my limits in reading material -- I don't think of characters in novels as surrogates of myself, so am otherwise pretty easygoing about whatever sexual shenanigans they get up to even if it's not my thing.
The way Mark and Abby learned to trust and communicate with each other. At first it seemed like Abby was the one who had to learn how to play and express herself, but after the disastrous end to their "consensual non-consensual" weekend, it was pretty clear that Mark had some growing to do as well. I liked that balance and that growth.
The way it was very clearly demonstrated that in the outside world, Abby knows her own mind, has her own resources, and is fully free to choose Mark (or not). I also really liked the explanation of how feminism and bdsm don't need to be in conflict, that feminism means being able to make your own choices about your sexuality -- that's the best explanation of how to reconcile those two concepts that I've seen and doesn't rely on evopsychobabble to make the point.
What I didn't like:
Way, way too many sex scenes. I mean, I get that sex was a big part of their relationship development but I spent a lot of the middle part wishing they'd go to work or hang out with their friends or do something else.
The idea of the "consensual non-consensual" weekend seemed a little rushed for both Mark and Abby. I don't know, maybe not, but I kept thinking... couldn't you guys have waited a few weeks or months before trying this? What's the hurry?
Some editing errors. Nothing too egregious, but enough to be noticeable.
N.B.
In terms of kink, I know some of the stuff in here bothered other people -- the enemas and dog stuff especially -- but, eh, it was consensual, wasn't abusive, and worked for the characters (or didn't and then they decided not to do it again), so whatever. Consent and non-abusive relationships are my limits in reading material -- I don't think of characters in novels as surrogates of myself, so am otherwise pretty easygoing about whatever sexual shenanigans they get up to even if it's not my thing.
September 21, 2016
I don't know what I was thinking when I forced myself to finish this. I should have quit while I was ahead. So, this was pretty awful. I was cringing, uncomfortable, and pissed off for most of it. I get that some of the situations are for an acquired taste, but what did happen didn't fit with what the author was trying to tell us about these characters. Instead of a woman coming to turns with her sexuality and turning over complete trust to a man, we had a woman who was so afraid of losing a relationship that she put up with abusive behavior. He knew she was new at all this and they hadn't known each other long enough to fully trust, then he gets mad about it and takes it out on her like it's her fault that he doesn't fully explain things or ease her into it. *cough*abusive*cough*
THEN you get to the last portion of the book which I don't even know. The author tries to sell us this fantasy land situation to make us feel better about all the shit we just read and it's over the top too much. At this point I don't even know that I can continue the series. I know the other books won't be like this, but I can't stand to read about this couple any more in any capacity.
THEN you get to the last portion of the book which I don't even know. The author tries to sell us this fantasy land situation to make us feel better about all the shit we just read and it's over the top too much. At this point I don't even know that I can continue the series. I know the other books won't be like this, but I can't stand to read about this couple any more in any capacity.
August 3, 2016
I loved book one of this series, but hated this one. There was no real story line, unless you like reading about a girl learning to be a submissive..which I did not want to read about or I would have bought an erotic BDSM novel instead of a book that was supposed to be a romance. There was no real romance in this..it was sex, sex, sex, and more sex. Now I like sex just as much as the next girl, but I like it when it enhances a romance ... not when it is the entire book alone. The characters were flat and remote for me. I loved Tex in book one and couldn't wait to read his story, but I am totally disappointed. His story was not a story... just one long sex scene. I only managed to get about 60 percent through this book before I gave up. I just could not finish this one. Maybe her next in the series will be on par with book one..I hope so.
October 23, 2023
Tex
DNF
Well, this was a first for me - going from 5 stars for book #1 to DNF for book #2. Tex's character was so appealing in Shooter, and my expectations were high for his HEA. However, it is evident early on that he has undergone a personality transplant and changed from a sweet and caring man, whose bdsm lifestyle is about openness, trust and respect, to a selfish man baby preoccupied with his own wants and desires.
After making it 1/3 into the book and sensing that it was moving in a problematic direction way out of my comfort zone, I read a few reviews that solidified it for me. Tex's treatment of Abby is deplorable and regardless of whether he "grows/changes/apologizes", I don't need that kind of image in my head.
Despite my issues with this particular installment, I enjoy Dahlia West's writing, the secondary characters are wonderful and I look forward to reading Hawk, Doc and Easy's stories.
DNF
Well, this was a first for me - going from 5 stars for book #1 to DNF for book #2. Tex's character was so appealing in Shooter, and my expectations were high for his HEA. However, it is evident early on that he has undergone a personality transplant and changed from a sweet and caring man, whose bdsm lifestyle is about openness, trust and respect, to a selfish man baby preoccupied with his own wants and desires.
After making it 1/3 into the book and sensing that it was moving in a problematic direction way out of my comfort zone, I read a few reviews that solidified it for me. Tex's treatment of Abby is deplorable and regardless of whether he "grows/changes/apologizes", I don't need that kind of image in my head.
Despite my issues with this particular installment, I enjoy Dahlia West's writing, the secondary characters are wonderful and I look forward to reading Hawk, Doc and Easy's stories.
Read
March 19, 2018Not even gonna rate it.
Im all up for some kiny D/s romance, but I read somewhere a spoiler that Im actually gratefull for, so... Pass!
Too bad, because in the first book of the series, Tex was one of my fav characters.
As soon as Shooter is over (because Im actually liking it a lot) I'll consider if I give a chance to the rest. We'll see...
Im all up for some kiny D/s romance, but I read somewhere a spoiler that Im actually gratefull for, so... Pass!
Too bad, because in the first book of the series, Tex was one of my fav characters.
As soon as Shooter is over (because Im actually liking it a lot) I'll consider if I give a chance to the rest. We'll see...
January 18, 2014
3.5 stars, a little like a manual on bdsm and some confusing mob stuff thrown in at the end.
This book was not shocking to me, in fact it read like a bdsm manual on cuffs and chains, punishments and crawling around. There is very little to love or showing love in such books because it takes an established relationship to bring out the connection when the Hero is solely focussed on getting into the woman's backside, literally and physically. It would apprear according to this relationship, that the be all and end all of a bdsm styled relationship, is penetrating into the subs body in everyway and that somehow magically creates a spiritual connection that surpasses all others. I did not like two things about this book, the cop out reunion scene after Tex humiliated Abby, which seemed like this author forgot to write; and the lame mob connection, Abby turning out to be a powerful woman on the Vegas hotel scene at the end. What did I like about this book? I liked the beginning when these two people actually seemed to be slowly getting to know one another, but after the halfway point, this story fell apart slowly but steadily. This author writes long books, no doubt which are harder to do than short ones, however, the loss of momentum and cohesiveness, not to mention believability, is a common weakness of such long stories and i believe this book fell victim to that.
This book was not shocking to me, in fact it read like a bdsm manual on cuffs and chains, punishments and crawling around. There is very little to love or showing love in such books because it takes an established relationship to bring out the connection when the Hero is solely focussed on getting into the woman's backside, literally and physically. It would apprear according to this relationship, that the be all and end all of a bdsm styled relationship, is penetrating into the subs body in everyway and that somehow magically creates a spiritual connection that surpasses all others. I did not like two things about this book, the cop out reunion scene after Tex humiliated Abby, which seemed like this author forgot to write; and the lame mob connection, Abby turning out to be a powerful woman on the Vegas hotel scene at the end. What did I like about this book? I liked the beginning when these two people actually seemed to be slowly getting to know one another, but after the halfway point, this story fell apart slowly but steadily. This author writes long books, no doubt which are harder to do than short ones, however, the loss of momentum and cohesiveness, not to mention believability, is a common weakness of such long stories and i believe this book fell victim to that.
November 21, 2013
Oh boy. After SHOOTER, I was excited to go right into Tex. Putting these books side by side may be part of the reason that I was disappointed. SHOOTER had lots of funny moments between the guys, and I felt like Hayley and Chris were able to be friends as well as lovers. I would have expected more of the same for Tex's story, as his BDSM inclinations were always presented in such a matter of fact way. This book takes us behind closed doors, and rather than any cute banter or funny dialog, we have Tex and Abby finding the erotic side of enemas (I'm not kidding). As weird as it may be coming from a romance reader, most of the long, long BDSM section of this book felt... prurient. Or maybe that's the wrong word... boring? Irrelevant? It was interesting from a purely clinical perspective to get a peek into this dynamic, and I really did "believe" that these moments were pivotal for Mark and Abby... I just didn't really care. While the "un-cut" format of SHOOTER meant more silly interactions in the bar or at home were included, TEX just gave us the world's longest BDSM sleepovers. There are some sexy moments, yes, and I liked Tex and Abby outside the bedroom, but I would have liked this entire book so much more if it were significantly cut down.
July 16, 2016
2 DISASTROUSLY DIRE STARS!
Wtf......?!? I'm totally and utterly baffled! Where oh where was The Tex from book 1? Where was the humour and banter from book 1? Nowhere to be bloody seen! That's where!
I got the 'Tex is into his BDSM' and I'm all for reading about the recreational spanky scenarios and I'm pretty open minded about..........hmmm.....well everything really, but after reading Shooter I had high expectations and expected the BDSM storyline but also expected the high quality of writing, character interactions and witty dialogue, this book was sadly lacking in the last three of the fore mentioned.
If you find the act of giving or recieving enemas arousing and the possibility of emptying your vowel contents in front of someone (sound effects and all) then this is right up your alley (excuse the pun)! But hey I suppose I'm just an old fashioned gal 'cos if I gonna go, I gonna go solo!
( maybe because I have to administer enemas as part of my job on a daily basis that all erotic fantasies of cleansing the a hole and the inevitable evacuation process that follows is lost on me)
I could of coped with the above if there was something else interesting going on like another storyline but all I took away from this book was the relentless rectum rinsing that took place.
Wtf......?!? I'm totally and utterly baffled! Where oh where was The Tex from book 1? Where was the humour and banter from book 1? Nowhere to be bloody seen! That's where!
I got the 'Tex is into his BDSM' and I'm all for reading about the recreational spanky scenarios and I'm pretty open minded about..........hmmm.....well everything really, but after reading Shooter I had high expectations and expected the BDSM storyline but also expected the high quality of writing, character interactions and witty dialogue, this book was sadly lacking in the last three of the fore mentioned.
If you find the act of giving or recieving enemas arousing and the possibility of emptying your vowel contents in front of someone (sound effects and all) then this is right up your alley (excuse the pun)! But hey I suppose I'm just an old fashioned gal 'cos if I gonna go, I gonna go solo!
( maybe because I have to administer enemas as part of my job on a daily basis that all erotic fantasies of cleansing the a hole and the inevitable evacuation process that follows is lost on me)
I could of coped with the above if there was something else interesting going on like another storyline but all I took away from this book was the relentless rectum rinsing that took place.
November 23, 2013
This book was about Tex and Abby. She is from Vegas but moves to Rapid Falls to make a new start. Tex is the dominant in the group of army buddies looking for a permanent sub. His first impressions of Abby are she would be good for a little fun but isn't into the bdsm scene. However he realises that she is actually a sub before she actually does.
They start a sexual relationship pretty quick and the rest of the book is basically Abby's training into becoming a sub. Tex helps her explore her sexually and encourages her to try things she wouldn't ever dream of.
Unfortunately I didn't sense any romance in this book, it was all sex but I just couldn't feel he connection between them. Tex seemed quite cold, determined to get Abby to do all the things he wanted her to do and Abby had no real backbone until the end.
The writing was again great and the humour was present again, I will definitely move onto the next book. Hopefully the wait won't be long.
They start a sexual relationship pretty quick and the rest of the book is basically Abby's training into becoming a sub. Tex helps her explore her sexually and encourages her to try things she wouldn't ever dream of.
Unfortunately I didn't sense any romance in this book, it was all sex but I just couldn't feel he connection between them. Tex seemed quite cold, determined to get Abby to do all the things he wanted her to do and Abby had no real backbone until the end.
The writing was again great and the humour was present again, I will definitely move onto the next book. Hopefully the wait won't be long.
Read
August 4, 2014In a nutshell this book sucked! I was very disappointed and not because of the BDSM. At first I thought, hmmm the plot is intriguing, then midway, it collapsed. The previous book Shooter; Tex was flirty, comical, dirty and charismatic. You couldn't help but love him, he oozed sex appeal. What happened, did his brain shrink from the dominatrix stretching out dick? His whole personality died, and he became a manipulative, tiresome jerk. In the beginning Abby was self reliant, determined and emotionally stable. Then later on she changed into this weak, whinny, codependent person. The girl was pathetic! I can't find anything good to say about this book, other then don't read it. Lets all hope and pray the next one is better!
December 11, 2014
I originally skipped this book because of all the reviews. Then I found myself lost and figured I'd just read it and skip the horrendous BDSM scences. I read a little of them to see what the hubbub was about. It was horrible. I could've done without 90% of the book. I loved Tex in book 1 and I think this book made me not like him. He was so disrespectful and I don't know why he was written like that. I've read other books with BDSM and I didn't mind them at all, so I'm not a pride about that stuff. This was just not ok.
I'll be happy to go back to the other books now.
I'll be happy to go back to the other books now.
February 20, 2023
Wow just wow, BDSM is about Trust and mutual respect. TEX had none. Heroine had no self respect and Tex just wanted a sex toy/slave.. There was no romance AT ALL. Calling her a bitch having her pee outside like a dog. The way the author had the FMC inner monologue justify his degrading treatment of her. If you think this is romance or your idea of A healthy BDSM relationship, read away. I recommend skipping this one. Or use it as what every woman with any self worth or self respect should NEVER BE! FCK him. He’s a piece of utter garbage. And author lost my respect for this crap.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2014
Really wtf!
Did the same person even write this book?
I felt like I was reading a kidnapping horror book, I was waiting for the knight in shining armour to come rescue her.
Or maybe slap her for being an idiot/doormat and putting up with that sh!t!
That wasn't BDSM that was an assho!e!
Wtf!
Tex seemed great in book 1, now I think the dude is a grade a dick!
Do I want to read the bothers..., honestly I'm not sure :(
Did the same person even write this book?
I felt like I was reading a kidnapping horror book, I was waiting for the knight in shining armour to come rescue her.
Or maybe slap her for being an idiot/doormat and putting up with that sh!t!
That wasn't BDSM that was an assho!e!
Wtf!
Tex seemed great in book 1, now I think the dude is a grade a dick!
Do I want to read the bothers..., honestly I'm not sure :(
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