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Initiation
After a difficult start in life, Joey's dreams are finally coming true after he is accepted to the college of his choice. He attempts to find what’s missing on a BDSM website and is invited to dinner by Gabriel. Joey finds comfort in Gabriel’s understanding of his needs and accepts an invitation to spend the weekend together so Joey can find out if being a sex slave is really what he wants.
Their weekend starts out rough when Gabriel finds out Joey kept an important secret from him, but they persevere, and Joey discovers he is made for the role Gabriel guides him into. Gabriel is a stern, temperamental Master, but this only makes the trust between grow until Joey can proudly say,
“My name is Joey Mantello.
I am nineteen years old.
I am a sex slave.
I belong only to my Master, Gabriel.
I would have it no other way.”
Their weekend starts out rough when Gabriel finds out Joey kept an important secret from him, but they persevere, and Joey discovers he is made for the role Gabriel guides him into. Gabriel is a stern, temperamental Master, but this only makes the trust between grow until Joey can proudly say,
“My name is Joey Mantello.
I am nineteen years old.
I am a sex slave.
I belong only to my Master, Gabriel.
I would have it no other way.”
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2014
2 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 30, 2014
3.5 star review from The Blogger Girls.
When this book starts, we meet Joey, a nineteen year old soon-to-be college student, who finally taking a chance to see if his desires can become a reality. He meets up with Gabriel through a BDSM website. Joey is extremely naive and inexperienced, as is expected from a guy his age. Gabriel is able to bring Joey out of his shell enough that he is able to actually express his desires. It isn’t until Gabriel takes Joey to a friend’s house that he truly understands what it is he is seeking, i.e. consensual sexual slavery. At this visit, he also learns what he doesn’t want to be (an “It” with no identity) and is introduced to a young man who, not that long ago, was in Joey’s shoes, so to speak. Through his conversations with the young man, he finds the security and comfort to take things a step further with Gabriel.
This then leads to a weekend trial period whereupon Gabriel gives him a taste of what entering into a contract with him would be like. Gabriel’s last boy died about a year prior, though we never really find out any details on that. One thing I felt a little uncomfortable with was the age difference, more so because Joey was so young. I also kept wondering why his aunt wasn’t questioning his whereabouts when he suddenly disappeared for the weekends.
But, setting those questions/issues aside, this was a well-written, enjoyable story. Gabriel seemed very caring and took things relatively slow, always making sure Joey understood and was not overwhelmed by what they were doing. When Joey withheld some important information, Gabriel quickly put a halt to everything, again stressing the importance of honesty and trust. Joey is a total sweetheart, just coming into his skin. He was a total pleaser with not a mean or bratty bone in his body. Things could have gone so very wrong for him had he not found someone as caring as Gabriel.
However, I didn’t really feel much of a connection with these two as a couple, although that really didn’t seem to be the goal at this point in their relationship. They got along well enough together as Dom/Sub, but given the ages, I just couldn’t see much beyond that. I would love to see another story about them showing how things have progressed and will definitely be looking to read more from Mr. Valentine.
November 6, 2014
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
This is a quick and easy read with two very likable characters that I would love to read more about.
Joey is nineteen, just starting out on his college life and is interested in learning more about submission. He has done his research, knows what his fantasies are and comes across as very level headed, he just has little idea about how to explore this side of himself.
Through a BDSM website he meets Gabriel Mason an experienced Dom who is quite a few years older and a wealthy and successful businessman. They hit it off from the start but both are wary. Gabriel had no plans on taking on a man with no experience and Joey is still very unsure of what he wants. After their first date Gabriel takes Joey to a friend’s house to see just how the lifestyle works and whilst Joey balks at some of the things he sees he is still very interested.
They plan to spend a weekend together to gauge their compatibility but it doesn’t go to plan when Joey omits a vital piece of information about himself and Gabriel is upset. As second chances go their next weekend runs much more smoothly and it is obvious they are well suited.
Given the age difference and the vastly different levels of experience this had the propensity to go very wrong but it worked out well in the end. Although Gabriel is gruff and quick tempered he took his responsibility to Joey extremely seriously. He never rushed him; he explained everything clearly and allowed Joey to explore this new side of himself safely.
They signed a contract very quickly, maybe a little too quickly and then the story abruptly ends. As the ending says ‘This was just the beginning’ I am hoping there will be another book where we can catch up with Gabriel and Joey and learn the rest of their story.
This is a quick and easy read with two very likable characters that I would love to read more about.
Joey is nineteen, just starting out on his college life and is interested in learning more about submission. He has done his research, knows what his fantasies are and comes across as very level headed, he just has little idea about how to explore this side of himself.
Through a BDSM website he meets Gabriel Mason an experienced Dom who is quite a few years older and a wealthy and successful businessman. They hit it off from the start but both are wary. Gabriel had no plans on taking on a man with no experience and Joey is still very unsure of what he wants. After their first date Gabriel takes Joey to a friend’s house to see just how the lifestyle works and whilst Joey balks at some of the things he sees he is still very interested.
They plan to spend a weekend together to gauge their compatibility but it doesn’t go to plan when Joey omits a vital piece of information about himself and Gabriel is upset. As second chances go their next weekend runs much more smoothly and it is obvious they are well suited.
Given the age difference and the vastly different levels of experience this had the propensity to go very wrong but it worked out well in the end. Although Gabriel is gruff and quick tempered he took his responsibility to Joey extremely seriously. He never rushed him; he explained everything clearly and allowed Joey to explore this new side of himself safely.
They signed a contract very quickly, maybe a little too quickly and then the story abruptly ends. As the ending says ‘This was just the beginning’ I am hoping there will be another book where we can catch up with Gabriel and Joey and learn the rest of their story.
February 3, 2014
I don't know why I always feel an urge to write a review for the books which I have a hard time to rate. This one is no exception.
It's Master/slave kind of BDSM and even though it's not a hardcore one (see It for the reference) there were still times when it was hard to wrap my head around the happenings there - crawling borders on humiliation for me and it's something I don't like much. Also I'm not exactly fond of Masters calling their subs slaves but since I knew what I was getting into beforehand I shouldn't complain about it now. If I look away from these things it was an intriguing read with total power exchange. The focus of the story was mostly on the BDSM relationship between both MCs and its development.
If you're in the mood for BDSM a little different from those with lots of sugar, bratty twinks and highly sweet Doms, you could probably find this one interesting too.
It's Master/slave kind of BDSM and even though it's not a hardcore one (see It for the reference) there were still times when it was hard to wrap my head around the happenings there - crawling borders on humiliation for me and it's something I don't like much. Also I'm not exactly fond of Masters calling their subs slaves but since I knew what I was getting into beforehand I shouldn't complain about it now. If I look away from these things it was an intriguing read with total power exchange. The focus of the story was mostly on the BDSM relationship between both MCs and its development.
If you're in the mood for BDSM a little different from those with lots of sugar, bratty twinks and highly sweet Doms, you could probably find this one interesting too.
did-not-finish
February 2, 2014I always have a hard time doing this, but I'm going to DNF this book.
Then comes the debate on, well do I rate it?
I know this is an old favourite argument and here's my thoughts. If I've read a certain percentage of a book but don't finish it because it's badly written or I really, really hate the story then I'll rate it.
But if I'm just not enjoying the story for some other reason I believe it's not fair to screw with the book's ratings. Especially when, as with this book, it's only just been released and a low rating will bring its average down.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the way the author has written this book. I also didn't notice any editing errors.
There's two reasons why I'm not finishing this.
1. I didn't like the characters. (Again I feel the need to point out, this isn't the author's fault that I felt this way.) if these were real people I met in real life, I wouldn't be impressed by Joey and I'm pretty sure I'd actively dislike Gabriel but that's only my opinion.
2. The problem with reading BDSM is there's many different aspects the author can focus on. There's 24/7 slave/master relationships. There's those that only play at elaborate scenes in clubs. There's strict Doms, there's cuddly, playful Doms.
There's quiet, obedient Subs and bratty, naughty Subs. Some stories focus on the physical and some are more about serving or humiliation. I read up to about 60% of Initiation and so far, this book was pretty much all the elements I don't really like. That's just my preferences. Someone else might think this is the perfect BDSM story.
So I'm not going to rate this one. I actually hope other people read it and enjoy it because it is a good read if that's what you like.
Then comes the debate on, well do I rate it?
I know this is an old favourite argument and here's my thoughts. If I've read a certain percentage of a book but don't finish it because it's badly written or I really, really hate the story then I'll rate it.
But if I'm just not enjoying the story for some other reason I believe it's not fair to screw with the book's ratings. Especially when, as with this book, it's only just been released and a low rating will bring its average down.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the way the author has written this book. I also didn't notice any editing errors.
There's two reasons why I'm not finishing this.
1. I didn't like the characters. (Again I feel the need to point out, this isn't the author's fault that I felt this way.) if these were real people I met in real life, I wouldn't be impressed by Joey and I'm pretty sure I'd actively dislike Gabriel but that's only my opinion.
2. The problem with reading BDSM is there's many different aspects the author can focus on. There's 24/7 slave/master relationships. There's those that only play at elaborate scenes in clubs. There's strict Doms, there's cuddly, playful Doms.
There's quiet, obedient Subs and bratty, naughty Subs. Some stories focus on the physical and some are more about serving or humiliation. I read up to about 60% of Initiation and so far, this book was pretty much all the elements I don't really like. That's just my preferences. Someone else might think this is the perfect BDSM story.
So I'm not going to rate this one. I actually hope other people read it and enjoy it because it is a good read if that's what you like.
April 8, 2014
First I need to say that the title of this book is incredibly apt. Instead of a full story we get to see the start of a relationship. I wouldn't mind this so much if there was a mention of this being the start of a series but apparently it isn't.
I was instantly captured by Joey, mainly because he was so aware of what he wanted and so truly eager to learn. Gabriel perhaps wasn't as charismatic as some of the Doms I've come across in other books, but he was like a breath of fresh air because he wasn't your typical, tormented brooder. Even though there was a mention of his previous slave dying, Gabriel himself was open about it, there was no cliché storyline of the ghost of a dead lover hanging around.
That being said, Gabriel and Joey only started to scratch the surface of their relationship, and by that I mean the D/s one, as a romantic one was barely hinted at. Through out the book I felt there were feelings other than fulfillment growing between them but the very end made me doubt that, as Joey thought about how unrealistic it was to think about the two of them staying together forever. That's true, of course, but the way he came to this realization made me think he might not be falling in love with Gabriel. Gabriel's emotions stayed pretty much in the dark.
The BDSM side of the book was interesting and I always have a soft spot for a Dom who takes his responsibilities seriously. There was definitely a different feel to what was going on between Joey and Gabriel than most of the BDSM books I've read, these guys didn't jsut enjoy playing, they wanted to live the life wholly. Gabriel was a surprisingly strict when it came to Joey ommitting his fear of the dark. I understand how potentially dangerous it was but to make him consider to part ways compeletely seemed harhs, considering Joey was new to the lifestyle.
I'd say this was a 3,5 star read for me mainly because I need me some romance. As nice as it was to read about these two starting out, it would've been even better had there been some deeper feelings displayed. I have to admit though, that this was a very realistic representation given they'd only known each other about three weeks by the end of the book.
Even more I was left craving for some kid of conflict but there was none. Even Joey messing up when it came to his phobia was dealt with by talking.
So, I good read that left me hoping for a sequel that'd take things much further.
I was instantly captured by Joey, mainly because he was so aware of what he wanted and so truly eager to learn. Gabriel perhaps wasn't as charismatic as some of the Doms I've come across in other books, but he was like a breath of fresh air because he wasn't your typical, tormented brooder. Even though there was a mention of his previous slave dying, Gabriel himself was open about it, there was no cliché storyline of the ghost of a dead lover hanging around.
That being said, Gabriel and Joey only started to scratch the surface of their relationship, and by that I mean the D/s one, as a romantic one was barely hinted at. Through out the book I felt there were feelings other than fulfillment growing between them but the very end made me doubt that, as Joey thought about how unrealistic it was to think about the two of them staying together forever. That's true, of course, but the way he came to this realization made me think he might not be falling in love with Gabriel. Gabriel's emotions stayed pretty much in the dark.
The BDSM side of the book was interesting and I always have a soft spot for a Dom who takes his responsibilities seriously. There was definitely a different feel to what was going on between Joey and Gabriel than most of the BDSM books I've read, these guys didn't jsut enjoy playing, they wanted to live the life wholly. Gabriel was a surprisingly strict when it came to Joey ommitting his fear of the dark. I understand how potentially dangerous it was but to make him consider to part ways compeletely seemed harhs, considering Joey was new to the lifestyle.
I'd say this was a 3,5 star read for me mainly because I need me some romance. As nice as it was to read about these two starting out, it would've been even better had there been some deeper feelings displayed. I have to admit though, that this was a very realistic representation given they'd only known each other about three weeks by the end of the book.
Even more I was left craving for some kid of conflict but there was none. Even Joey messing up when it came to his phobia was dealt with by talking.
So, I good read that left me hoping for a sequel that'd take things much further.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2014
This review was done for The Blog of Sid Love:
The blurb of this story really drew me in. I love a good BDSM story so I was really excited to review this one.
Joey is a sweet, hardworking kid whose dreams of going to college are finally coming true. But he has a secret longing that he’s also been working toward fulfilling and he might have finally found what he needed in Gabriel.
I liked the idea of a young man who’s never even had full out sex finding his way into the BDSM lifestyle with the help of an understanding master who’s willing to train him, but I felt like he should have had more exposure to what the lifestyle was all about, rather than one short visit to a private club.
I liked how Gabriel explained everything clearly to Joey, never starting any kind of scene without giving him an idea of what was going to happen. I also liked how Gabriel was just as tender with Joey as he was stern , which I thought was important as not only was Joey just learning about BDSM but also about sex in general.
I liked Timothy, the sub that Gabriel introduces Joey to at a private club. His attitude was wonderful and he was probably the best example of a sub that Joey could have learned from.
This story is well written and compelling and while my attention wandered a bit in certain scenes that I found a bit too wordy (such as the contract scene) I enjoyed this novel immensely. It’s obvious that the author has a firm grip on the ins and outs of this lifestyle and I will be looking for more from Nik Valentine in the future as well as seeking out his back catalogue.
The blurb of this story really drew me in. I love a good BDSM story so I was really excited to review this one.
Joey is a sweet, hardworking kid whose dreams of going to college are finally coming true. But he has a secret longing that he’s also been working toward fulfilling and he might have finally found what he needed in Gabriel.
I liked the idea of a young man who’s never even had full out sex finding his way into the BDSM lifestyle with the help of an understanding master who’s willing to train him, but I felt like he should have had more exposure to what the lifestyle was all about, rather than one short visit to a private club.
I liked how Gabriel explained everything clearly to Joey, never starting any kind of scene without giving him an idea of what was going to happen. I also liked how Gabriel was just as tender with Joey as he was stern , which I thought was important as not only was Joey just learning about BDSM but also about sex in general.
I liked Timothy, the sub that Gabriel introduces Joey to at a private club. His attitude was wonderful and he was probably the best example of a sub that Joey could have learned from.
This story is well written and compelling and while my attention wandered a bit in certain scenes that I found a bit too wordy (such as the contract scene) I enjoyed this novel immensely. It’s obvious that the author has a firm grip on the ins and outs of this lifestyle and I will be looking for more from Nik Valentine in the future as well as seeking out his back catalogue.
January 26, 2015
I had high hopes for this book, especially with such a pretty cover. I love BDSM stories so I'm not sure why this one fell flat. I was totally bored and just wanted the story to finish so I could move on to something else - I haven't yet sent a story to the DNF shelf and didn't want this to be the first but I was sorely tempted.
The parts that interested me most took place when the main character, Joey, was away from Gabriel, which doesn't bode well for a story that's about a new BDSM relationship. When Joey and Gabriel interacted, it was like reading a manual, BDSM 101 or something. I just never made an emotional connection to either of the main characters.
If you can say there's such a thing as 'vanilla' BDSM, this would be it for me.
The parts that interested me most took place when the main character, Joey, was away from Gabriel, which doesn't bode well for a story that's about a new BDSM relationship. When Joey and Gabriel interacted, it was like reading a manual, BDSM 101 or something. I just never made an emotional connection to either of the main characters.
If you can say there's such a thing as 'vanilla' BDSM, this would be it for me.
April 3, 2015
Can't think how many books i've read this past week that i've loved so much...I absolutely loved Joey..he was so sweet and innocent...But...oh my...Gabriel was just a dream...i just can't describe how much i love gabriel (helps he has my fav book boyfriend name)....helping Joey into the life style....not 100% into this master/slave but this did not put me off and it will be going into my favourite collection...and all those that know me..i always buy my favourites in paperback and this has just gone into my amazon basket ready...totally deserved ten stars x
dnf
February 22, 2015I thought Joey was a doll. A little clueless and too trusting but still. Gabriel I loathed. I couldn't take him past 50%. I felt he had no real caring to him at all. And I get that that was the dynamic but Joey was brand new to this. Like that punishment; a brand new sub/slave couldn't have withstood something that visicious. It was really well written; I don't have anything against that. I think it's just not the book for me.
dnf-not-4-me
October 11, 2014May/December slave "romance"
Read
February 5, 2014I am not going to rate this book, I don't think that would be fair.
The book is well-written but it is just not my thing. So no rating.
The book is well-written but it is just not my thing. So no rating.
April 22, 2016
This was a good story. I liked the development of the relationship and the characters here. I do feel like it ended too soon and it left me wanting more.
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