Beyond Reckless

by Ava March

It’s the eve of Mr. Rys Palmer’s 25th birthday. A significant birthday, for it’s when he’ll come into his majority and gain full control of the inheritance from his obscenely wealthy grandfather. But the promise of a fortune isn’t what gets Rys’s blood pumping.

Mr. Martin Trent is well aware of his lover’s propensity for thrills. After four years together, he knows just how to indulge Rys without risking either of their reputations or their necks. But clearly Rys’s taste for more than a hint of danger has rubbed off on him. Beyond reckless to ask Rys to meet him at a formal ton ball to give Rys his gift. Yet Martin can’t resist the opportunity to give his lover a birthday he’ll never forget.

Story length: approximately 6,100 words

Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: D/s theme and elements, and male/male sexual practices.

Note from Author: This is a previously published work. It was originally published in 2010. This second edition has been edited with minor changes. For readers who purchased the original edition, this second edition is not substantially different.

Genres: Historical, M M Romance, Romance, BDSM, Historical Romance, Regency, Erotica

31 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 27, 2010

About the author

Ava March is a bestselling author of sexy, emotionally intense M/M historical erotic romances. She loves writing in the Regency time period, where proper decorum is of the utmost importance, but where anything can happen behind closed doors. With over fifteen works to her credit, her books have been finalists in the Rainbow Awards and More Than Magic contest, and deemed ‘must-haves’ for Historical M/M romance by RT Book Reviews readers. Visit her website at www.AvaMarch.com to find out more about her books or to sign-up for her newsletter.

Blog: www.avamarch.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/avamarchbooks/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ava_march
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/avamarch/

Reviews

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given 4 stars only because this is short (30 pages) and I just wanted more, dang it!

This is basically a very hot scene between two established lovers in 1822 England, while they attend a party at the home of one of the local socialites. Evidently, these two guys like to play, and so they have a scene where Rys is caught by Martin and "forced" to have sex - hot, sweaty, up-against-the-wall sex. Rys "protests" but you know how it goes.

I'm not usually fond of short stories, don't seek them out, but there are a few authors who write so well that I devour everything they write. Ava is one of them!

[Kassa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As most have said this is a short, but smoking hot story. Ava March writes absolutely delicious regency romances and this short offering is no different. We’re introduced to Rhys, a young man on this 25th birthday about to come into a large inheritance. He has a thirst for adrenaline and risk, thus his sexual appetite. He meets his lover Martin for a quick, BDSM flavored tryst at a ball.

The story is too short to really be more than a delightful, hot encounter. The main character of Rhys is set up with a desire for an edge of danger and rough sex. Once he finds his lover they have some tantalizing sex. There is a touch of BDSM, mostly role playing as Rhys gets off on the thrill and the hint of pain. He’s not into anything hard core but he wants the illusion and craves a certain dominating presence. Rhys has an immediately engaging nature and draws the reader in immediately. The viewpoint later changes to Martin and the love and admiration is clear. They’ve been together for four years and likely will be together forever as Martin wants to protect Rhys.

These characters are interesting and enjoyable. I definitely wanted more of them and their incredibly hot dynamic. March knows how to write great regency romances with enough detail that readers are never overwhelmed but the setting is always clear and vivid. Martin and Rhys come across clear and vibrant, capturing your attention and not letting it go. Since this is just a brief introduction to the men and their relationship through sex, this short story definitely leaves you wanting more.

However I can easily recommend this bite for not only fans of March but those that want something to heat up their e-readers. It’s easily worth the few bucks and you won’t be able to get enough of them.

[Heather C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. This was just okay. Not really long enough if know anything about the characters. But the one sex scene was worth it.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rys is about to turn 25 and his lover has decided to give him a birthday to remember. In a house filled with members of the ton enjoying one of the endless parties of the Season Martin has set up a scene that is sure to satisfy his thrill seeking lover.

Beyond Reckless is basically a scorching hot interlude between lovers that have been together for a few years. Rys loves to take risks and Martin is all about satisfying his lover. The story is just 30 pages, so it's a quick read, but even in this very short format Ava March has created a couple of characters that engaged me totally. I really enjoyed this story and hope that one day we'll see Rys and Martin again. Recommended.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historicals can be difficult to make convincing, but this absolutely was fantastic. Rhys is about to reach his majority, adding riches to his list of positives. He goes to a Ton ball, where his long time love, Martin, has a special birthday surprise planned. Very hot role playing, and I so wish it had been longer.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was great but way too short. I loved being there with Rys as he looked for Marcus at the ball and when he found him? Yeah, it was so damn hot but getting small bits of the four years they'd been together, and that part from Marcus? I want more.

Still, this was one hell of a sexy snack sized bedtime story.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** 3.5 Stars ***

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre & keywords:
M/M, Historical Romance, Regency, Kinky, Birthday surprise

Synopsis in short:
It's Rys's 25th birthday. A significant one, because of his inheritance. But the promise of a fortune isn't what gets Rys's blood pumping. After four years together Martin is well aware of his lover's propensity for thrills. He asks Rys to meet him at a formal ton ball to give Rys his dangerous but very hot gift.

Setting: Regency England, 1822. Most part of the story takes place at a formal ball, where Rys and Martin find some privacy in a room. There's a risk of being discovered, which makes their meeting all the more sexy. The last scene takes us to their own bedroom. With just a few accurate descriptions Ava March gives her story a historical feel without it being too much for a non-enthusiast for historical romances.

POV: Third person narration, initially from birthday-boy Rys's point of view, which carries away the reader in the thrill of the danger. Later the perspective shifts to Martin as well, which uncovers the caring and loving relationship the heroes have. Wonderful choice.

H/H & characterization: Given the short length of this story there's not much room for character development. We're provided with just enough information about the heroes' social status, their sexual kinks and the roles they both play in their relationship.
At one point in the story the author lets Rys think about his lover: "He made it so easy to slip into the moment." and that perfectly applies to March's writing as well. For a short period of time you can lose yourself in her characters and their adventures. In this case without knowing everything about them (which makes me immediately crave for more, of course).

Empathy level: Ava March has the skill to make you feel completely in sync with her characters. She's a master at interweaving the emotional connection with the physical attraction between her heroes. You're equally scared, excited, hurt, relaxed, happy, aroused... as her guys. That's what makes her characters so real, made of flesh and blood.

Heat level: I honestly don't think sex scenes can be any hotter than this. 3 out of 3 flames

Angst level: No angst here, just excitement and a bit of fear for discovery. Rys and Martin are an established couple and love each other without a single doubt. 0 out of 3 hankies

Overall entertainment level: If this isn't entertaining than I don't know what is! It's 'Beyond Entertaining'. :)

Final judgment:
5 out of 5 stars

http://www.rarelydustybooks.com/2011/...

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very steamy little short historical. Rys shows up at a ball and manages to avoid everyone shoving their daughters at him as tomorrow he comes into his inheritance and goes in search of someone. Suddenly he is grabbed and shoved into a room and attacked sexually by another man. However you soon discover the other man is Martin, Rys' lover of 4 years and they quite enjoy playing these sexual role-playing games although it becomes clear that Rys has been the instigator in this side of their relationships. It's very steamy and hot but after in the few short pages, you really know Martin loves Rys to distraction and would do anything for him and trys to keep his daredevil safe by hoping risky sex will assuage his need to race his carriage through the streets or other dangerous pursuits. I'd love to know how Martin and Rys met and see how their current sexual relationship got started because while it may be THEIR kink now, it didn't start out that way for Martin.

[DaisyGirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

So this was about Martin giving his lover, Rys, a surprise sexy, smexy, and thrilling encounter for his 25th birthday. It was alright but super short ... I felt like I blinked and it was over. This was too short, in fact, for me to connect with the characters in any meaningful way.

Bottom line: wha-? what just happened?

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this years ago and I came across it recently and I had never marked it as "read," so here's a few words about it. This is a typical Ava March smutty Regency short. It's smutty, short, historical, and nicely written.

[howl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short, sweet, very hot. Everything great about Ava March books in one little short story.

[PettyProse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: This was a hot, tense yet very romantic interlude between two charismatic men.
Review for Brief Encounters Reviews: http://briefencountersreviews.com/201...

The reader is brought swiftly into an existing relationship, although the story only covers one evening. I went looking for other stories with these characters, but didn’t find any. It’s an interesting and different approach by the author. The writing gives us much more than a slice-of-life story with good background: here are characters who act, think and feel from the basis of an established history. And although the story is short, the details of their commitment are beautifully and vividly portrayed

The prose is sensual and engages all the senses. And the heat carried the scent of the press of many bodies. Rosewater and lavender and sweat. Sticky sweet and pungent. The story moves quickly to the point of their encounter, without being distracted with info dump, and with a lightness of touch in describing the strong emotions. The dialogue is witty, and the banter between the men very charming. Some of the vocabulary, for example “slightly”, “somewhat”, “barely” may fit with the language of the time, but in my opinion was used too often. Also, I kept noticing the slightly unusual grammatical structure, using many fragmented phrases rather than full sentences. The friction delicious, but nothing close to what he sought. This gave extra emphasis to the urgency and tension, but occasionally jarred.

The strength of the story for me was the charm of the men and their very attractive passion. They’re well defined throughout. The author didn’t over-use dialogue tags, but wrote well enough that I always knew which man was speaking or feeling. Their personalities are already well-formed – Rys’ impatience with convention and need for risk, Martin’s steadier, more cautious nature – but this encourages the reader’s sympathy for their secret tryst.

I’m not an expert on the period, except as a reader, but the dialogue and setting seemed perfectly in context. The author showed good attention to detail, such as the men’s clothing, the room they hid away in, the atmosphere of the society ball. The sex was very hot – the BDSM is light – and the excitement enhanced by mischievous touches of reality. The waistband bit into his shins but he did not care in the slightest.

They were both plausibly and sexily masculine, with a strong awareness of their society and duty, while still admitting their desire and needs. My initial notes say they showed “reserve and hunger” – a delicious mixture :). The tension and passion between them never felt contrived or gratuitous, but well balanced. It was a pleasure to read.

It wasn’t just a sex scene, either, as I warmed to their sense of solidarity and affection as they passed through the ball together. I needed a small suspension of disbelief, as they were risking discovery for the sake of the thrill, but I’m sure these things happened in reality, and it all made for a delightful, well-written, sexy romp. I rate it an A.


by pettyprose…my opinion alone.

[Elisa Rolle]

I have already had the chance to appreciated the M/M regency romance by Ava March and so it’s not news to me that they are indeed well planned and with just the right amount of details to allow the reader to fall into a past era without being overwhelmed.

In this case, a short story, the details are actually as much important as the story itself: two middle class men, already lovers, secretly met at a crowded ball and consume an illicit thirst right under the nose of their guest. From little hints here and there we learn that Rys and Martin are lovers for the last 4 years, that probably Martin is a little older than Rys and that he has to “rein” his rebellious lover. Rys is a wealthy man who is becoming even wealthier with the approaching of his 25 birthday and the inheritance from his late grandfather.

Rys is probably richer than Martin, but their relationship is not balanced by their pocket: Rys needs the strong hand that Martin is able to have upon him. Rys and Martin’s independently wealthy positions allow them to live their love, of course always preserving discretion; daring to have sex in an house full of guests is only an “innocent” way to live on the edge, to give to Rys that thrill he needs to be satisfied, and so to avoid bigger dangers.

As I told above, I also particularly liked the description Ava March did of the setting; basically writing about Rys searching his lover among the guests, Ava March describes also a typical XIX century ball and the mansion that is hosting it. All of this give even more interest to this short piece of regency romance.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004E3XHP4/?...

[Josephine Myles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but satisfying tale of a sexual encounter between two men at a Regency ball. Opening with Rys working his way through the crowded room towards a tryst with his lover, followed by an extremely hot sex scene with shades of D/s, and a switch to his lover's point of view as they work their way back out of the ball again. There is an elegance to the structure that fits the period perfectly, as they work their way through society towards their risky encounter, and then back out - the whole story being bookended by conversations with an elderly meddlesome dame who could have stepped straight out of a Jane Austen novel.

There is more depth to the characterisation than you'd expect in such a short tale, but ultimately I was left wanting more. I think in this case, that was a good thing and I can recommend it to anyone who wants a scorching historical story that - as far as I can tell - remains true to the era.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ava March's writing style and with just a few words she puts you right in the middle of what is going on!!! Rys and Martin have plans for a 'Happy Birthday' tryst, but first Rys has to find Martin at the crowded ball... instead he finds a stranger intent on forcing himself on Rys' person, or is he truly a stranger? Whatever shall Rys do? hahaha

Lucky for Rys and Martin... all ends very well!

This was an excellent short read and I am going now to find out if there is more to be read about these two interesting men! :)

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story in Ava March's style that it lusciously erotic with that tiny bit of D/s. We don't know much about the characters, but they're perfectly matched: Rys seeks thrills and Martin can give them to him. I don't know if I need to know more about them, because they're so clearly in love and lust...

[Kaetrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Regency m/m short. I think these characters have been in earlier books (but I haven't read them). 24 pages isn't really enough to get to know 2 men but I am interested enough to check out the earlier books. If I had read the earlier books first I suspect this one would have meant more to me.

ETA: I'm told these characters dont' appear in earlier books.

[mah1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

If anyone can write historical romances, it's Ava March. There's always a feel of authenticity in them, but unfortunately very often her books contain themes I don't like, so I skip them.

Beyond Reckless was very short, but still managed to convey the chemistry between the MCs, which made it more than a random porn. I only wish it would've been a tad longer.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spicy interlude between two men at a ball in Regency-era England. While it was extremely short, I was impressed by how much character development Ava March was able to provide. I am intrigued by Rys and Martin's relationship and would love to see more of them sometime.

[Scarlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only wish there were more of this! It's not long, but there's still two great characters and some really hot sex! I love regency, and the world building was spot on for the setting and time. It is *definitely* on my re-read list and those who enjoy historical bdsm should read it!

[RavenT · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a satisfying, but short story that is a role play scene between two established lovers, with the added spice of the danger of an encounter taking place at a society event. I like these two men, and would enjoy reading a longer piece with them as the main characters.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good steamy short m/m Regency romance about two men who enjoy the thrill of nearly being discovered...

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

We hope she writes more about these characters.

[JenMcJ]

to-read

[Laureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short and kinky m/m romance set in a regency era. This was a fun and hot read, even if it was very short.

[Briar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet, not like her others. In this story, there is no angst, no heartache - only love.

SWEEEETTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DayDreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories really grow on me.
So does Ava March's writing style. I love the setting in her novels - ~1822 England. And I love how anything can happen behind closed doors.

[Kate Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

only a short scene, but we still get a real sense of the history and the dynamic between these characters. would love to read something longer

[Anne Bollmann (Annelise Lestrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far too short. The characters had great potencial and it could have been so much more. Ava March could have worked a little more.

Still, a pleasure reading :)


The hot sex scene worths it.