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Load the Dice
Load the Dice: The Complete Series
Eric left the BDSM scene years ago because he couldn’t find the right partner, opting instead to meet men in quiet coffee shops and piano bars.But when his friend invites him to a posh hook-up party, he meets first time sub Jamie, who he convinces to detail his sexual fantasies during a passionate night together.
The pair soon embark on a relationship that introduces Jamie to the BDSM scene, and plays out his fantasies one by one. But as they approach the final fantasy, will Eric be able to walk away?
The pair soon embark on a relationship that introduces Jamie to the BDSM scene, and plays out his fantasies one by one. But as they approach the final fantasy, will Eric be able to walk away?
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
12 people are currently reading
525 people want to read
About the author
Moriah Gemel
17 books56 followersMoriah Gemel started writing at the tender age of seven, after her grandfather gifted her with her first novel. Ever since, she has been a fan of fantasy novels, and decided it was high time to write one herself. Passionate about diversity in fiction, Moriah is dedicated to writing realistic and charged romances for many audiences. Her first novel, Load the Dice, was published in ten parts and is available from Interlude Press. Ceili is her second novel. Moriah lives in Central NY with her husband, young son, and two cats.
Learn more at moriahgemel.com
Learn more at moriahgemel.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 23, 2024
Re-read March 2016.
Load the Dice was originally released as a 10 part series. Since cliffhangers make me CRAZY, I waited until the entire book was released as a complete series. And I was so glad I gave it a go!
Load the Dice was all kinds of delightful! Two mature, realistic men starting a tentative D/s relationship that turns out to be so much more in the course of a year. My favorite way BDSM is dealt with in M/M romance.
In the first chapter of the book, "retired" Dom Eric (he has given up on the lifestyle after a decade of unfulfilling D/s relationships) meets new-to-the-scene Jaime and they hit is off like a house on fire. Right of the bat, these two men have a scene. Too soon you think? Well, no actually. They actually talk more then anything else and during their talk, Eric asks Jaime to list his sexual fantasies. And now the book is set up.
Every one of the delicious dirty, highly kinky fantasies Jamie wishes for are fulfilled by scenes with Eric. Chapter by chapter. The process is slow and the book covers about 7 months until their glorious HEA.
Seriously, this was hot as fuck and the pinnacle of M/M BDSM with romance attached. I compel BDSM fans to read this one. You will not be sorry!
Highly, highly recommended!
Content Warning: This story does contain a (purely sexual) threesome. I'm not a huge fan, unless all parties have an emotional connection, but it was handled perfectly here and turned out to be pretty damn hot!
I am on the hunt for an awesome, romance filled M/M BDSM experience. I read this book last year so it's still pretty fresh in my mind, but it is SO down-and-dirty and ridiculously romantic, I just had to read it again. It has exceeding my original feelings and is going to go on my favorites shelf. Oh, and if you want to help in my search for hot BDSM romance, vote for your favorites on my new-ish Best M/M BDSM Romance Listopia. With my thanks!
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
Load the Dice was originally released as a 10 part series. Since cliffhangers make me CRAZY, I waited until the entire book was released as a complete series. And I was so glad I gave it a go!
Load the Dice was all kinds of delightful! Two mature, realistic men starting a tentative D/s relationship that turns out to be so much more in the course of a year. My favorite way BDSM is dealt with in M/M romance.
In the first chapter of the book, "retired" Dom Eric (he has given up on the lifestyle after a decade of unfulfilling D/s relationships) meets new-to-the-scene Jaime and they hit is off like a house on fire. Right of the bat, these two men have a scene. Too soon you think? Well, no actually. They actually talk more then anything else and during their talk, Eric asks Jaime to list his sexual fantasies. And now the book is set up.
Every one of the delicious dirty, highly kinky fantasies Jamie wishes for are fulfilled by scenes with Eric. Chapter by chapter. The process is slow and the book covers about 7 months until their glorious HEA.
Seriously, this was hot as fuck and the pinnacle of M/M BDSM with romance attached. I compel BDSM fans to read this one. You will not be sorry!
Highly, highly recommended!
Content Warning: This story does contain a (purely sexual) threesome. I'm not a huge fan, unless all parties have an emotional connection, but it was handled perfectly here and turned out to be pretty damn hot!
I am on the hunt for an awesome, romance filled M/M BDSM experience. I read this book last year so it's still pretty fresh in my mind, but it is SO down-and-dirty and ridiculously romantic, I just had to read it again. It has exceeding my original feelings and is going to go on my favorites shelf. Oh, and if you want to help in my search for hot BDSM romance, vote for your favorites on my new-ish Best M/M BDSM Romance Listopia. With my thanks!
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
March 5, 2015
Oh man. This hit all my kinks. Not necessarily my BDSM ones, but the ones revolving around mature adults discussing complicated, sometimes embarrassing and generally important issues together, without shame and Big Misunderstandings and the like. Swear to god, I could orgasm from that alone.
This story is not a story concerned with interpersonal drama, relationship angst or heedless passion. Those stories definitely have their place, but this one holds a place with me now for being incredibly readable, engaging and enjoyable. Fantastic sex scenes, lots of education with regards to being SSC, and in the end, two guys I cared about, who care about each other, doing things that make both of them happily. Occasionally they do them imperfectly, but that's life.
I am just so happy that this exists and showed up on my feed.
This story is not a story concerned with interpersonal drama, relationship angst or heedless passion. Those stories definitely have their place, but this one holds a place with me now for being incredibly readable, engaging and enjoyable. Fantastic sex scenes, lots of education with regards to being SSC, and in the end, two guys I cared about, who care about each other, doing things that make both of them happily. Occasionally they do them imperfectly, but that's life.
I am just so happy that this exists and showed up on my feed.
March 15, 2016
A nice BDSM novel where Dom Eric shows newbie sub Jamie the ropes of BDSM by trying out all the fantasies Jamie has.
It took me a week to finish this. I just didn’t feel all that connected to Eric and Jamie. I was kind of bored. And I’m not even sure why, because there are nice BDSM scenes in this one, there is emotion, friendship, love, the whole package. But still… I was bored…
Oh, and for those who want to know, one of Jamie’s fantasies is seeing his Dom having sex with someone else, so yes, that happens too. I knew to expect this because they talked about it in the beginning and I have to say it was actually pretty hot. No jealousy or anything.
It took me a week to finish this. I just didn’t feel all that connected to Eric and Jamie. I was kind of bored. And I’m not even sure why, because there are nice BDSM scenes in this one, there is emotion, friendship, love, the whole package. But still… I was bored…
Oh, and for those who want to know, one of Jamie’s fantasies is seeing his Dom having sex with someone else, so yes, that happens too. I knew to expect this because they talked about it in the beginning and I have to say it was actually pretty hot. No jealousy or anything.
September 16, 2014
Quite possibly the best BDSM themed romance I have ever read; there were several things that I loved about LOAD THE DICE. The first being that the characters are authentically written, with tangible emotions that I was able to connect with instantly. They express a wide range of feelings, are insecure at times, make mistakes and stumble along the road towards love. How refreshing to read a book with both honesty and depth!
The quality of writing is excellent; with few errors, and a smooth ebb and flow between sizzling sexual scenes and the out-of-bedroom character dialogue.
Finally, my favorite feature is the realistic portrayal of the BDSM aspects within this story. Don't expect to find an overbearing Dom and a helpless Sub looking for a master, because LOAD THE DICE is NOT your average BDSM story. What it is, however, is an intimate glimpse into a relationship that honestly describes examples of how people who live within the community may choose to engage. Gemel has included characters that represent a broad range of people, from honest to untrustworthy. Ones that live the lifestyle full time, and others who (much more commonly) live average lives that are enhanced by elements of BDSM within the intimacy of their own homes and other private settings. Showcasing what healthy BDSM is ideally; a balance of emotional and sexual expression, freely experienced, safely and consensually, between two equally strong partners.
Follow along while Eric and Jamie discover their own personal limits, what works for them as partners, and what doesn't. Watch as they balance their daily emotions with the intensity of those experienced while engaging in scenes. LOAD THE DICE is an unexpected treasure that stands out like a shining beacon amidst a sea of "What Not To Do" BDSM themed romances.
Moriah Gemel is one author that I will be keeping a close eye on in the future. I'm eagerly anticipating further additions to this sensually and emotionally satisfying series!
MY OFFICIAL REVIEW written for Carly's Book Reviews
The quality of writing is excellent; with few errors, and a smooth ebb and flow between sizzling sexual scenes and the out-of-bedroom character dialogue.
Finally, my favorite feature is the realistic portrayal of the BDSM aspects within this story. Don't expect to find an overbearing Dom and a helpless Sub looking for a master, because LOAD THE DICE is NOT your average BDSM story. What it is, however, is an intimate glimpse into a relationship that honestly describes examples of how people who live within the community may choose to engage. Gemel has included characters that represent a broad range of people, from honest to untrustworthy. Ones that live the lifestyle full time, and others who (much more commonly) live average lives that are enhanced by elements of BDSM within the intimacy of their own homes and other private settings. Showcasing what healthy BDSM is ideally; a balance of emotional and sexual expression, freely experienced, safely and consensually, between two equally strong partners.
Follow along while Eric and Jamie discover their own personal limits, what works for them as partners, and what doesn't. Watch as they balance their daily emotions with the intensity of those experienced while engaging in scenes. LOAD THE DICE is an unexpected treasure that stands out like a shining beacon amidst a sea of "What Not To Do" BDSM themed romances.
Moriah Gemel is one author that I will be keeping a close eye on in the future. I'm eagerly anticipating further additions to this sensually and emotionally satisfying series!
MY OFFICIAL REVIEW written for Carly's Book Reviews
Want to read
March 2, 2015Nothing better that being on a m/m roll as I dives on into this one.
January 19, 2015
I really liked the characters & story. Informed M/M BDSM erotica/romance story that could be considered beginner BDSM. Each chapter covers a fantasy between the two main characters, after they meet in an intriguing way in chapter 1. As they are exploring their fantasies, the narrative takes a bit of time to explain safe practices. I found this helpful, even though I am familiar with the tenets of SSC, yet I didn't find it to take away from the romance or the heat of each scene.
I read this in serialized e-book format, starting in Sept and just received the last chapter this weekend. :-D I may find myself re-reading when the published book arrives on my doorstep. I think this is one book I will revisit time & again, when the need arises. ;-)
Big congrats to Moriah for her first published novel. I hope there are more such novels coming our way from her, even if a different group of characters. :-)
I read this in serialized e-book format, starting in Sept and just received the last chapter this weekend. :-D I may find myself re-reading when the published book arrives on my doorstep. I think this is one book I will revisit time & again, when the need arises. ;-)
Big congrats to Moriah for her first published novel. I hope there are more such novels coming our way from her, even if a different group of characters. :-)
February 2, 2015
This is not just another D/s piece of erotica.
It is unlikely that you will find another piece of erotic fiction quite like Gemel’s Load the Dice. This beloved online monthly serial is now complete and in novel form, and I would highly recommend anyone who hasn’t read it to treat yourself to a copy pretty much immediately. This is an erotic love story with elements of BDSM in which consent and respect are emphasized quite strongly. If you’re on the fence about whether or not to try a BDSM romance, this is a fantastic place to start. And if you are well-versed in BDSM romance, you will find this a refreshing change of pace from the world of wealthy, arrogant, smooth-talking Doms and haughty, resistant and/or simpering subs.
This novel is special for a few reasons. First and foremost, the characters are human. They are interesting, flawed, relatable, loveable and sometimes awkward, but they feel absolutely like real people, and their growing relationship feels like a real relationship. Eric, the Dom, is a bit nerdy and sometimes nervous about screwing things up. Jamie, the sub, is a bit neurotic and sometimes kind of flighty. The characters are endearing and have an easy (and often hilarious) banter with one another, drawing the reader in and helping to create a sense of warmth and safety that pervades the novel.
Another fantastic thing about Load the Dice is that it manages to be extremely hot while also slipping in insight and even education for readers. If the book has one flaw it is that the emphasis on communication and the tenets of safe, sane and consensual play is perhaps a bit too frequent and heavy-handed, but given how drastically misunderstood D/s play can be by the general public, I am happy to see that it errs on the side of safety and respect if it is going to err on one side or the other.
Load the Dice begins with the two protagonists meeting at a scene party and “randomly” (with a bit of secret nudging from one of Eric’s friends) getting assigned to spend some time in a hotel room with one another. Neither is entirely sure what he is doing there; Eric thought he had left the scene behind, and Jamie is still new to the very idea, still trying to figure out how it fits and what he wants. So they start by playing a game. Eric gives Jamie pleasure in exchange for telling him some of his deepest and as-yet unfulfilled sexual fantasies, and what follows is one of the hottest starts to an erotic novel that I have ever read. But it doesn't stop there. As the book progresses, the two act out more and more fantasies from Jamie’s list.
What begins as a scene between strangers with some serious sexual chemistry leads, slowly but surely, to a relationship between two men who like to curl up together on the couch to watch Game of Thrones and bad movies on Netflix in between bouts of playing with They experiment with There’s a sweetness and an intimacy to their relationship from the very start, and the love that develops between them is as natural as breathing.
Gemel’s novel also looks at the ways in which stepping out of roles from time to time can strengthen a couple’s bond and the honesty of play. There is one particular scene toward the end of the novel that is particularly poignant and moving, exhibiting a depth and sophistication of emotion that one can rarely expect to find in an erotic novel. Because at the heart of Domination and submission is a profound level of trust, and it is clear that Gemel truly understands that trust, and what it means to both give and receive it, regardless of assigned role.
Load the Dice is truly a remarkable debut novel. It will leave you satisfied in more ways than one, and hungering for more of Gemel’s work. I, for one, cannot wait to see what she brings us next!
It is unlikely that you will find another piece of erotic fiction quite like Gemel’s Load the Dice. This beloved online monthly serial is now complete and in novel form, and I would highly recommend anyone who hasn’t read it to treat yourself to a copy pretty much immediately. This is an erotic love story with elements of BDSM in which consent and respect are emphasized quite strongly. If you’re on the fence about whether or not to try a BDSM romance, this is a fantastic place to start. And if you are well-versed in BDSM romance, you will find this a refreshing change of pace from the world of wealthy, arrogant, smooth-talking Doms and haughty, resistant and/or simpering subs.
This novel is special for a few reasons. First and foremost, the characters are human. They are interesting, flawed, relatable, loveable and sometimes awkward, but they feel absolutely like real people, and their growing relationship feels like a real relationship. Eric, the Dom, is a bit nerdy and sometimes nervous about screwing things up. Jamie, the sub, is a bit neurotic and sometimes kind of flighty. The characters are endearing and have an easy (and often hilarious) banter with one another, drawing the reader in and helping to create a sense of warmth and safety that pervades the novel.
Another fantastic thing about Load the Dice is that it manages to be extremely hot while also slipping in insight and even education for readers. If the book has one flaw it is that the emphasis on communication and the tenets of safe, sane and consensual play is perhaps a bit too frequent and heavy-handed, but given how drastically misunderstood D/s play can be by the general public, I am happy to see that it errs on the side of safety and respect if it is going to err on one side or the other.
Load the Dice begins with the two protagonists meeting at a scene party and “randomly” (with a bit of secret nudging from one of Eric’s friends) getting assigned to spend some time in a hotel room with one another. Neither is entirely sure what he is doing there; Eric thought he had left the scene behind, and Jamie is still new to the very idea, still trying to figure out how it fits and what he wants. So they start by playing a game. Eric gives Jamie pleasure in exchange for telling him some of his deepest and as-yet unfulfilled sexual fantasies, and what follows is one of the hottest starts to an erotic novel that I have ever read. But it doesn't stop there. As the book progresses, the two act out more and more fantasies from Jamie’s list.
What begins as a scene between strangers with some serious sexual chemistry leads, slowly but surely, to a relationship between two men who like to curl up together on the couch to watch Game of Thrones and bad movies on Netflix in between bouts of playing with They experiment with There’s a sweetness and an intimacy to their relationship from the very start, and the love that develops between them is as natural as breathing.
Gemel’s novel also looks at the ways in which stepping out of roles from time to time can strengthen a couple’s bond and the honesty of play. There is one particular scene toward the end of the novel that is particularly poignant and moving, exhibiting a depth and sophistication of emotion that one can rarely expect to find in an erotic novel. Because at the heart of Domination and submission is a profound level of trust, and it is clear that Gemel truly understands that trust, and what it means to both give and receive it, regardless of assigned role.
Load the Dice is truly a remarkable debut novel. It will leave you satisfied in more ways than one, and hungering for more of Gemel’s work. I, for one, cannot wait to see what she brings us next!
September 1, 2014
Eric gets dragged to a party, and finds himself facing the most delicious man he has seen for a very long time. It turns out this is a Dom/sub type event, almost a blind date. When Eric's friend Andy loads the dice, Eric finds himself in a room with said man, Jamie. But Jamie hasnt done this before, and Eric is out of practise. After this one night, Eric knows he wants more, and breaks all the party rules. They embark on fulfilling Jamie's fantasies, and a few of Eric's, but what will happen when the list gets to the bottom?
I love M/M and I love BDSM and so this one should push all my buttons and floated all my boats. However, it just didnt quite work for me. Dont get me wrong, its a good book, its well written, its just ...**pulls face cos cant find the right word**...nice! Its the only word i can put to it. NICE.
I did LOVE the way Eric introduces things to Jamie, the communication is second to none, and they has everything out beforehand. It wasnt such a hard core introduction, its like a gentle slide into the lifestyle, and Eric and Jamie work hard at getting where they want to be. Its written entirely from Eric's point of view, and I would like to have heard from Jamie too. Im not a fan of books written from a single person's point of view.
Its a bit of a how-to-begin BDSM sort of book. Like I said, its well written, some of the scenes are beautiful in their emotions. There is no major falling out, not shocking plot twist, no vicious ex turning up, its just plods along, until they get to the bottom of the list, and thats the only scene that REALLY did it for me, the last one.
If you havent read any BDSM books before, this might be one to start. Its not a full on, in-yer-face thing that some books are. A good one too, for M/M newbies. Just didnt quite work for me.
3 fangs
reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock.
I love M/M and I love BDSM and so this one should push all my buttons and floated all my boats. However, it just didnt quite work for me. Dont get me wrong, its a good book, its well written, its just ...**pulls face cos cant find the right word**...nice! Its the only word i can put to it. NICE.
I did LOVE the way Eric introduces things to Jamie, the communication is second to none, and they has everything out beforehand. It wasnt such a hard core introduction, its like a gentle slide into the lifestyle, and Eric and Jamie work hard at getting where they want to be. Its written entirely from Eric's point of view, and I would like to have heard from Jamie too. Im not a fan of books written from a single person's point of view.
Its a bit of a how-to-begin BDSM sort of book. Like I said, its well written, some of the scenes are beautiful in their emotions. There is no major falling out, not shocking plot twist, no vicious ex turning up, its just plods along, until they get to the bottom of the list, and thats the only scene that REALLY did it for me, the last one.
If you havent read any BDSM books before, this might be one to start. Its not a full on, in-yer-face thing that some books are. A good one too, for M/M newbies. Just didnt quite work for me.
3 fangs
reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock.
May 21, 2022
Okay, the premise is ridiculous.
Just go with it, because Load the Dice is sexy and well-written, and in particular because Eric, the dom, is an actual human being, with anxieties and insecurities. This book will hit the spot if you've had it up to here with doms who always know what they're doing, never seem to doubt themselves, always know what's best for the sub, etc. etc. No shame, obviously, if that's your preferred trope! But if you happen to want something that despite the narrative's silly launching pad, feels truer emotionally as well as being smoking hot, take a chance on Load the Dice. [Yes, I'll be here all week.]
Just go with it, because Load the Dice is sexy and well-written, and in particular because Eric, the dom, is an actual human being, with anxieties and insecurities. This book will hit the spot if you've had it up to here with doms who always know what they're doing, never seem to doubt themselves, always know what's best for the sub, etc. etc. No shame, obviously, if that's your preferred trope! But if you happen to want something that despite the narrative's silly launching pad, feels truer emotionally as well as being smoking hot, take a chance on Load the Dice. [Yes, I'll be here all week.]
January 20, 2015
This book is *excellent*. Gemel is a fantastic writer -- she has a clear and masterful way with words, inviting us into worlds we may not be familiar with, or might not have anticipated loving so much. I swear, even if you're not into BDSM, this book will appeal to you. Eric and Jamie's relationship is crafted so well, and everything about it -- from the incredibly fucking hot first episode, through their stumbling journey into emotional connection as their levels of trust and experimentation deepen -- was amazing.
January 21, 2015
An amazing story about love and learning to accept the different parts of yourself regardless of thoughts in the past. Unlike anything I've ever read before, with clever characters and a story I'm already itching to reread.
September 12, 2016
I had a hard time with this book. I never really got into it. The characters were okay but they just never clicked for me. I kept putting the book down.
March 16, 2016
Truly enjoyed this very sweet BDSM story!
dnf
June 8, 2022DNF @ 47% I wanted to like this but I just didn't connect to the characters at all.
June 23, 2016
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
I had never come across this author before but spotted this book on a friend’s shelf on GR. I actually found it quite difficult to rate – the first part of the story was quite slow and I was hovering around 3 stars but the ending picked up to more of a 5 star read – so my compromise has been 4 stars.
This was originally released as a serial, I think in 10 parts, and I would have been driven crazy had I read it then and had to wait for each new part to be published. I also think that explains why it was so slow in the beginning – it was giving the reader just enough in each small section.
The first thing to mention is how relatable the author made both the main characters. Eric has left the BDSM lifestyle slightly disillusioned and spends his time meeting potential dates in coffee shops and the like. Only when a friend drags him to an upscale BDSM party does he realise that maybe he misses this part of himself. The game commences, the results are rigged but Eric gets the man who has immediately caught his eye.
Eric meets Jamie at the party a new sub to the lifestyle who has a list of fantasies that he would like to experience. That list becomes the glue that holds the pair together for a while as they slowly start a relationship but somewhere along the line their relationship becomes more important than the list even if neither of them immediately realise what is happening.
If you are a newbie to BDSM then this book would be perfect. Alongside the kink, which is very well written, is intimacy and romance. It’s a gentle story with a lot of love as the characters grow and they stumble and fumble into a future together. Moriah Gemel is certainly an author I will be looking out for in the future.
I had never come across this author before but spotted this book on a friend’s shelf on GR. I actually found it quite difficult to rate – the first part of the story was quite slow and I was hovering around 3 stars but the ending picked up to more of a 5 star read – so my compromise has been 4 stars.
This was originally released as a serial, I think in 10 parts, and I would have been driven crazy had I read it then and had to wait for each new part to be published. I also think that explains why it was so slow in the beginning – it was giving the reader just enough in each small section.
The first thing to mention is how relatable the author made both the main characters. Eric has left the BDSM lifestyle slightly disillusioned and spends his time meeting potential dates in coffee shops and the like. Only when a friend drags him to an upscale BDSM party does he realise that maybe he misses this part of himself. The game commences, the results are rigged but Eric gets the man who has immediately caught his eye.
Eric meets Jamie at the party a new sub to the lifestyle who has a list of fantasies that he would like to experience. That list becomes the glue that holds the pair together for a while as they slowly start a relationship but somewhere along the line their relationship becomes more important than the list even if neither of them immediately realise what is happening.
If you are a newbie to BDSM then this book would be perfect. Alongside the kink, which is very well written, is intimacy and romance. It’s a gentle story with a lot of love as the characters grow and they stumble and fumble into a future together. Moriah Gemel is certainly an author I will be looking out for in the future.
March 27, 2016
AHHHH I don't know how I missed this when it first came out! (But I'm also kinda glad I did so I could read it all in 1 go, and not wait for installments)
This is definitely my kind of kink, some serious BDSM but at the same time heavy, heavy on the romance factor. It's not a cold, going through the motions type of kink, it's very emotional and really moves the characters and relationship along. And I felt like the kink was very believable, safe, and all sorts of hot. I also love that it spans their relationship of 7 months, it's not a short length of time.
I loved Eric and Jamie, their strengths, their worries, and most of all, the fact that they communicated with each other! How refreshing! They talked their fears out, their wants for the relationship, they stopped a scene when it wasn't feeling right for them, and they were totally on the same page.
And I hate present tense writing and this didn't bug me at all!
This is probably one of the best BDSM books I have ever read, it just totally hit all of my personal wants in the romance department combined with very believable BDSM. Highly recommended!
This is definitely my kind of kink, some serious BDSM but at the same time heavy, heavy on the romance factor. It's not a cold, going through the motions type of kink, it's very emotional and really moves the characters and relationship along. And I felt like the kink was very believable, safe, and all sorts of hot. I also love that it spans their relationship of 7 months, it's not a short length of time.
I loved Eric and Jamie, their strengths, their worries, and most of all, the fact that they communicated with each other! How refreshing! They talked their fears out, their wants for the relationship, they stopped a scene when it wasn't feeling right for them, and they were totally on the same page.
And I hate present tense writing and this didn't bug me at all!
This is probably one of the best BDSM books I have ever read, it just totally hit all of my personal wants in the romance department combined with very believable BDSM. Highly recommended!
January 26, 2015
So I like my m/m erotica. This one here is a really good example of that genre. It's quite heavy on BDSM but the love story definitely shines through. The main characters are nuanced and likable, you really want them to open their hearts up to each other from the start.
I really like the depiction of BDSM, stuff is explained but it never becomes too much of an exposition. It is part of the journey the characters take together.
I'd like to see more erotica like Load the Dice.
I really like the depiction of BDSM, stuff is explained but it never becomes too much of an exposition. It is part of the journey the characters take together.
I'd like to see more erotica like Load the Dice.
May 20, 2015
Delicious, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read. Moriah Gemel does an excellent job showing the Safe, Sane and Consensual principles of responsible BDSM play in scenes that are sensual and sizzling hot, and the love story between Eric and Jamie is deeply satisfying. Highly recommended!
August 19, 2018
Un livre sans grand intérêt. Il n’y a pas vraiment d’histoire, si ce n’est la réalisation des fantasmes de Jamie par Eric. J’ai d’ailleurs été surprise par la dureté du second scénario sachant que Jamie est entièrement novice. Sinon, je n’ai pas vraiment réussi à accrocher au roman, encore moins aux personnages que j'ai trouvés insipides. Et puis, ils tombent amoureux en un claquement de doigts et on ne sait pas ce que pense vraiment Jamie car on n’a pas son point de vue, l’histoire est peu développée. Bref, je préfère quand il y a une vraie histoire et pas que des scènes BDSM.
September 1, 2023
Top notch BDSM. I want more of these two! Their chemistry was great and communication was awesome, perfect for their kind of relationship.
March 18, 2016
This was really good. I really liked that Eric wasn't one of those super uptight, serious, I-am-a-Dom-in-every-aspect-of-my-life, types. He was a regular guy who liked the lifestyle as only a part of his life, and wanted someone to be important to his whole life, not just a playmate or lifestyle sub.
When he meets Jamie, they start with getting to know each other before moving on to Jamie's fantasies about being a sub. Since Jamie is a novice, they start with simples scenes before increasing levels of play.
I appreciated that each chapter was not just the sex and scenes. It also didn't feel too much like BDSM class, although they discussed things. They both hold back on allowing their emotions to show, as they're both truly looking for more than just the D/s connection. It's a fairly slow build, over several months. The scenes are very good and don't go beyond more than moderate play. It really is a romance that builds from the trust Jamie and Eric begin to feel together.
It was well-written and well edited. My only objection was when they giggled, and they giggled A LOT. They were both relatively mature characters and I can't picture adults giggling. Chuckle, chortle, snicker, guffaw if necessary or maybe simply laugh wouldn't make me picture kids or teens. Not exciting but rather warm and fuzzy, and felt quite realistic. The threesome didn't faze me at all, but some people are weird about that, so I thought I'd mention it.
When he meets Jamie, they start with getting to know each other before moving on to Jamie's fantasies about being a sub. Since Jamie is a novice, they start with simples scenes before increasing levels of play.
I appreciated that each chapter was not just the sex and scenes. It also didn't feel too much like BDSM class, although they discussed things. They both hold back on allowing their emotions to show, as they're both truly looking for more than just the D/s connection. It's a fairly slow build, over several months. The scenes are very good and don't go beyond more than moderate play. It really is a romance that builds from the trust Jamie and Eric begin to feel together.
It was well-written and well edited. My only objection was when they giggled, and they giggled A LOT. They were both relatively mature characters and I can't picture adults giggling. Chuckle, chortle, snicker, guffaw if necessary or maybe simply laugh wouldn't make me picture kids or teens. Not exciting but rather warm and fuzzy, and felt quite realistic. The threesome didn't faze me at all, but some people are weird about that, so I thought I'd mention it.
January 12, 2016
Don't overlook this book!
If you like to read BDSM books, then you can't miss this one. The main characters will work their way into your heart. Eric, the Dom, is not like most Doms who normally have everything around them under control. He is a normal person who has normal relationship problems. Do I tell him how I feel? Do I wait until he tells me? What happens if he doesn't fell the same way? Jamie, the sub, is a great character too. He has those same issues as Eric. You just want to yell at them, "talk to each other!"
The safe, sane, and consensual premise for all BDSM scenes is very much followed in this book. It has wonderful, exciting, and erotic scenes that are enjoyed by both MC. You will even find out how, when safe, sane, and consensual, is not adhered too, what happens.
Great book! Like I said, if you are a BDSM fan, don't miss out on this book. I will definitely be reading more from this author!
If you like to read BDSM books, then you can't miss this one. The main characters will work their way into your heart. Eric, the Dom, is not like most Doms who normally have everything around them under control. He is a normal person who has normal relationship problems. Do I tell him how I feel? Do I wait until he tells me? What happens if he doesn't fell the same way? Jamie, the sub, is a great character too. He has those same issues as Eric. You just want to yell at them, "talk to each other!"
The safe, sane, and consensual premise for all BDSM scenes is very much followed in this book. It has wonderful, exciting, and erotic scenes that are enjoyed by both MC. You will even find out how, when safe, sane, and consensual, is not adhered too, what happens.
Great book! Like I said, if you are a BDSM fan, don't miss out on this book. I will definitely be reading more from this author!
March 5, 2015
I was an advance reader for this, reading each episode a few days before it came out. When it comes to BDSM, I have mostly read BDSM romance, with the occasional foray into BDSM erotica. This is erotica. Eric is an experienced Dom, and Jamie is an inexperienced sub. They end up learning from each other. I liked how they communicated and negotiated. It reminded me of some of the L.A. Witt novels I've read in that aspect.
It's all in Eric's viewpoint, but I felt like I got to know Jamie, too, from the characters' dialogue and from Jamie's actions and body language. Jamie is multiracial, but the character isn't fetishized or exoticized. I liked that he had his own personality and got his viewpoint across. He didn't lose his individuality as a person as he explored being a sub.
It's all in Eric's viewpoint, but I felt like I got to know Jamie, too, from the characters' dialogue and from Jamie's actions and body language. Jamie is multiracial, but the character isn't fetishized or exoticized. I liked that he had his own personality and got his viewpoint across. He didn't lose his individuality as a person as he explored being a sub.
March 12, 2015
I really really enjoyed this book! At first I wasn't sure whether I would, because it's not normally the kind of genre I'm interested in reading, but I've read a lot of works by Moriah before and really loved them, so I thought I'd delve into it, and it was so good! Although it is definitely erotica (as if there was any doubt), the build up of the characters love for each other didn't feel rushed or forced, and it was just so superbly written. This is the book people should be reading if they want what Fifty Shades promises to offer (and doesn't do justice to). It was amazing!
January 28, 2015
I am a goodreads first winner and i have to say i usually enjoy reading books of this genre but it was practical uneventful and really in my opinion didnt have any plot. Nothing excited happened and i couldnt get through the story. Very surprised because usually i love books like this........ ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh
February 13, 2015
Okay, this is a bdsm story and is both very hot and unbelievable easy and sweet.
June 25, 2015
Sexy and sweet. Lovely deception of an honest and true BDSM relationship.
December 3, 2017
We have two characters and a slow burn relationship.
The thing is, the relationship is not really burning slow, but has the brakes pulled on it time and time again because one of the characters likes to take it slow.
The romance feels a bit tame as well, although it sounds cute now and then.
The thing is, the book is written like it is an exposition on Safe, Sane and Consensual play, but with a poetic twist, because the descriptions and the play of words when the main character is expressing his opinions on what is happening, turn it into a strange mix.
It's not bad, but it is not good either. It just is. The same thing with all in the book, really.
The sex is kinda hot, but the emotional part feels too much like "telling" instead of showing.
The "a-ha" moments are also deliberately deveribed. That takes the "a-ha" out of them.
(The characters have a recurring joke and instead of just doing it, the author describes them remembering that they have that joke, for example, and then the dialogue starts. Every single time.)
So there was a loooooooot of exposition. Half of it was boring detailed descriptions of movements ("he goes get the lube, but he gets the lube from the table on the left, after opening the tiny metal clasp of the wooden toybox, and he leaves the lube open because he will need more later, and he squirts some on his fingers between putting the lube down again"), a fourth of it was a boring exposition on how SSC Eric wants everything to be, and the other fourth of the exposition was an exposition on feelings, and that just made everything feel a little fake.
The dialogue was mature and good. But half of it felt fake and too constructed. I have mature talks with my partner about relevant things from our relationships, but we can also play around. And the limits and the way everything was phrased just felt too forced sometimes, on the book. Every single time there was a need for a talk, there was a talk about how to talk seriously. That just works against its own point.
Anyway. I'm tired and this has already been long.
The fantasies were good. The SSC focus of the book was too present and it took the focus of even the story it self. Even the relationship was SAFE AND SANE AND CONSENSUAL to the extreme, poor Eric. The poetic part of the description mostly fell flat on me, and it was boring and not refreshing; just meh, a huge noticeable effort to write beautifully, with the effort part being the one that came across the most.
It felt like an exposition on how to have a sane relationship and how to talk to your partner about your wants and needs. How to be a sane adult. How to be mature and responsible.
It wasn't really a romance, it was an exposition of a relationship starting between two people, when one of them is super interested in not being hurt.
All in all, it wasn't a very good love story, but it had really good moments, and it wasn't bad.
3/5. Middle ground.
The thing is, the relationship is not really burning slow, but has the brakes pulled on it time and time again because one of the characters likes to take it slow.
The romance feels a bit tame as well, although it sounds cute now and then.
The thing is, the book is written like it is an exposition on Safe, Sane and Consensual play, but with a poetic twist, because the descriptions and the play of words when the main character is expressing his opinions on what is happening, turn it into a strange mix.
It's not bad, but it is not good either. It just is. The same thing with all in the book, really.
The sex is kinda hot, but the emotional part feels too much like "telling" instead of showing.
The "a-ha" moments are also deliberately deveribed. That takes the "a-ha" out of them.
(The characters have a recurring joke and instead of just doing it, the author describes them remembering that they have that joke, for example, and then the dialogue starts. Every single time.)
So there was a loooooooot of exposition. Half of it was boring detailed descriptions of movements ("he goes get the lube, but he gets the lube from the table on the left, after opening the tiny metal clasp of the wooden toybox, and he leaves the lube open because he will need more later, and he squirts some on his fingers between putting the lube down again"), a fourth of it was a boring exposition on how SSC Eric wants everything to be, and the other fourth of the exposition was an exposition on feelings, and that just made everything feel a little fake.
The dialogue was mature and good. But half of it felt fake and too constructed. I have mature talks with my partner about relevant things from our relationships, but we can also play around. And the limits and the way everything was phrased just felt too forced sometimes, on the book. Every single time there was a need for a talk, there was a talk about how to talk seriously. That just works against its own point.
Anyway. I'm tired and this has already been long.
The fantasies were good. The SSC focus of the book was too present and it took the focus of even the story it self. Even the relationship was SAFE AND SANE AND CONSENSUAL to the extreme, poor Eric. The poetic part of the description mostly fell flat on me, and it was boring and not refreshing; just meh, a huge noticeable effort to write beautifully, with the effort part being the one that came across the most.
It felt like an exposition on how to have a sane relationship and how to talk to your partner about your wants and needs. How to be a sane adult. How to be mature and responsible.
It wasn't really a romance, it was an exposition of a relationship starting between two people, when one of them is super interested in not being hurt.
All in all, it wasn't a very good love story, but it had really good moments, and it wasn't bad.
3/5. Middle ground.
May 11, 2019
I am finding I enjoy very specific BDSM novels and it’s hard to find them in the sea of not-for-me that is out there. I’ve stumbled across a few... Namely, Power Exchange, Safeword, and Sub Mission.
I prefer reading the BD over the SM. I don’t mind SM as an added flavor, but not so much that it overpowers the meal. I’m so glad I gave this one a chance.
This had a lot of what I love - namely a deep emotional connection and the D/s relationship translating into equal partners outside of the scene. And hooray for communication!
Eric was real, human, confident as a Dom (most of the time) but outside of the scenes his insecurities made him so much more and pushed a book button I don’t get often outside the m/m genre (and probably why this genre is quickly becoming an addiction after being introduced to it this year): men with vulnerable hearts in eggs. Kinda wish I could find the story referenced here. It made me oddly curious.
Jaimie was fun to get to know as he explored his submissive side through his fantasies and figuring out his and Eric’s boundaries and his total understanding and immediate care when he pushed Eric too far. I just wish I could have spent some time in his head - I always prefer hitting sub space with the sub.
I almost wish the side character had more spotlight. I adored Lip and Andy!
I prefer reading the BD over the SM. I don’t mind SM as an added flavor, but not so much that it overpowers the meal. I’m so glad I gave this one a chance.
This had a lot of what I love - namely a deep emotional connection and the D/s relationship translating into equal partners outside of the scene. And hooray for communication!
Eric was real, human, confident as a Dom (most of the time) but outside of the scenes his insecurities made him so much more and pushed a book button I don’t get often outside the m/m genre (and probably why this genre is quickly becoming an addiction after being introduced to it this year): men with vulnerable hearts in eggs. Kinda wish I could find the story referenced here. It made me oddly curious.
Jaimie was fun to get to know as he explored his submissive side through his fantasies and figuring out his and Eric’s boundaries and his total understanding and immediate care when he pushed Eric too far. I just wish I could have spent some time in his head - I always prefer hitting sub space with the sub.
I almost wish the side character had more spotlight. I adored Lip and Andy!
May 27, 2023
This was fine. The story dragged a bit since it was mostly just sex, and just kept going with not much in the way of conflict. I appreciated the real communication, and the honesty of the characters. I really give props to having the dom prefer to bottom, which is very rare to find.
I think I’d have upped my rating if this had been shortened to a novella-length. As it was, the problem they faced was not complex enough to support the page count. Characters felt very real, though, and likable.
Overall, this was a good smutty serial, but just needed to give the characters a bit more adversity to help with the pacing.
I think I’d have upped my rating if this had been shortened to a novella-length. As it was, the problem they faced was not complex enough to support the page count. Characters felt very real, though, and likable.
Overall, this was a good smutty serial, but just needed to give the characters a bit more adversity to help with the pacing.
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