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Club Velvet Ice #4
Light a Candle
Will broke Dusty’s heart their senior year. One unexpected moment of passion between them, and Will freaked out. Not only wasn’t he gay, but he wasn’t kinky either—or so he insisted to Dusty. Their long friendship ended, and Dusty was left with only bittersweet memories of their last movie night together.
Ten years later, out as gay and a Dom, Will auditions for membership at Club Deviant, only to find that he’s been assigned an all-too-familiar submissive. His scene with Dustin feels like fate, and he’s determined to get back what they once had—and more.
Dustin had buried the pain of rejection deep, but playing with Will conjures all his memories of that one electric moment they shared and the friendship it destroyed. He’s built walls around his heart high enough to keep out the Trojan Army, but together, he and Will may find the courage to move beyond their past and face their future together.
Publisher's note: This is a heavily expanded and revised edition of Velvet Memories, previously published in 2011.
Word count: 35,200; page count: 136
Ten years later, out as gay and a Dom, Will auditions for membership at Club Deviant, only to find that he’s been assigned an all-too-familiar submissive. His scene with Dustin feels like fate, and he’s determined to get back what they once had—and more.
Dustin had buried the pain of rejection deep, but playing with Will conjures all his memories of that one electric moment they shared and the friendship it destroyed. He’s built walls around his heart high enough to keep out the Trojan Army, but together, he and Will may find the courage to move beyond their past and face their future together.
Publisher's note: This is a heavily expanded and revised edition of Velvet Memories, previously published in 2011.
Word count: 35,200; page count: 136
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2011
2 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Violet Summers
44 books129 followersViolet is actually the writing team of Sierra Summers and V.J. Summers.
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May 30, 2015~
Yep, that confirms it. I *still* have zero interest in the *B*, the *D*, the *S* or the *M.*
I requested this book entirely by mistake, meaning to ask for a different ARC, but decided that maybe my aversion to BDSM was a bit too rigid, so I decided to give this one a shot.
Well, I made it through about 40% of the book, but it's a DNF for me, so yeah, standing by my previous stance of "No BDSM for Todd" , sorry.
-----------
I tried my best, but it went something like this:
... Read, read, read. "Ummm, I don't get it."
... Read, read, read. "Wait, am I supposed to find that hot?"
... Read, read, read. "Nope, might as well be lesbian erotica, 'cause this shit ain't workin' the way that I *think* it's intended to..." *ass-scratch*
-----------
Another thing that I didn't care for about the story was that Dusty's heart was 'broken' when *nothing* really happened between he and Will in high school. They weren't even really friends, let alone best friends or, God forbid, boyfriends.
If Dusty's poor little heart is that delicate, then I seriously doubt he'd last very long in a real BDSM club.
Anywhoooo, I'm not rating the book, since:
1.) I didn't/couldn't/wouldn't finish it.
- and -
2.) I'm sure some very lovely people got beaten and thoroughly enjoyed it after I DNF'd out, however, that's (still) not my thing, but to each their ass-spinkin' own and more power to them, God love 'em.
Now back to my usual contemporary M/M, YA, NA, fantasy and even the occasional MMM flavor of vanilla to raspberry swirl with rainbow sprinkles. : )
Yep, that confirms it. I *still* have zero interest in the *B*, the *D*, the *S* or the *M.*
I requested this book entirely by mistake, meaning to ask for a different ARC, but decided that maybe my aversion to BDSM was a bit too rigid, so I decided to give this one a shot.
Well, I made it through about 40% of the book, but it's a DNF for me, so yeah, standing by my previous stance of "No BDSM for Todd" , sorry.
-----------
I tried my best, but it went something like this:
... Read, read, read. "Ummm, I don't get it."
... Read, read, read. "Wait, am I supposed to find that hot?"
... Read, read, read. "Nope, might as well be lesbian erotica, 'cause this shit ain't workin' the way that I *think* it's intended to..." *ass-scratch*
-----------
Another thing that I didn't care for about the story was that Dusty's heart was 'broken' when *nothing* really happened between he and Will in high school. They weren't even really friends, let alone best friends or, God forbid, boyfriends.
If Dusty's poor little heart is that delicate, then I seriously doubt he'd last very long in a real BDSM club.
Anywhoooo, I'm not rating the book, since:
1.) I didn't/couldn't/wouldn't finish it.
- and -
2.) I'm sure some very lovely people got beaten and thoroughly enjoyed it after I DNF'd out, however, that's (still) not my thing, but to each their ass-spinkin' own and more power to them, God love 'em.
Now back to my usual contemporary M/M, YA, NA, fantasy and even the occasional MMM flavor of vanilla to raspberry swirl with rainbow sprinkles. : )
May 19, 2015
~3.5~
This is my first Violet Summers book, and I quite enjoyed it. The writing is tight and flows well.
I like friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers stories, and Light a Candle is a combination of both.
Dustin and Will were childhood friends and continued to casually hang out in high school until an electrifying moment in the weight room had Will running for the hills.
Hurt and feeling betrayed, Dustin swore he'd never lose his heart again, a vow he kept for a decade.
Ten years later, Will is a patient, talented Dom, but there's only one man, one sub, Will craves: Dustin.
Dustin accepts Will's apology but resists his charms. Will is persistent though and determined to make Dustin his.
The sexual tension in this story is high. There is some beautiful wax play and a very passionate scene at the end that will make your brain explode.
The alternating POV worked very well in this story. Dustin is stubborn and scared, but Will is willing to work to break down Dustin's barriers.
I would have liked to see the men interact outside the BDSM club to which they both belong. Their life happens in a vacuum at the club. We know Will is a lawyer and Dustin a graphic designer, but we know nothing else about them. They interact only at the club, and their exchanges are only about power, pain, and pleasure. That's not real life.
I also could have done without the long descriptions of the men performing scenes with other Doms/subs. This was done to ramp up the jealousy factor, but I wanted more focus on the two MCs and a longer ending.
The ending is a strong HFN, but this story needs an epilogue.
Please note: my review refers to the revised second edition of this book.
This is my first Violet Summers book, and I quite enjoyed it. The writing is tight and flows well.
I like friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers stories, and Light a Candle is a combination of both.
Dustin and Will were childhood friends and continued to casually hang out in high school until an electrifying moment in the weight room had Will running for the hills.
Hurt and feeling betrayed, Dustin swore he'd never lose his heart again, a vow he kept for a decade.
Ten years later, Will is a patient, talented Dom, but there's only one man, one sub, Will craves: Dustin.
Dustin accepts Will's apology but resists his charms. Will is persistent though and determined to make Dustin his.
The sexual tension in this story is high. There is some beautiful wax play and a very passionate scene at the end that will make your brain explode.
The alternating POV worked very well in this story. Dustin is stubborn and scared, but Will is willing to work to break down Dustin's barriers.
I would have liked to see the men interact outside the BDSM club to which they both belong. Their life happens in a vacuum at the club. We know Will is a lawyer and Dustin a graphic designer, but we know nothing else about them. They interact only at the club, and their exchanges are only about power, pain, and pleasure. That's not real life.
I also could have done without the long descriptions of the men performing scenes with other Doms/subs. This was done to ramp up the jealousy factor, but I wanted more focus on the two MCs and a longer ending.
The ending is a strong HFN, but this story needs an epilogue.
Please note: my review refers to the revised second edition of this book.
May 23, 2015
2.5 stars
Possible spoilers below.
This was a tough one to rate. I liked some parts, but others not so much.
I think my main issue was that I just didn't understand Will and Dusty's love. The whole story is based on what happened between the two a decade ago in high school. But the fact is that absolutely nothing happened ten years ago. Yes, they crushed on each other, but they weren't best friends, they didn't spend a lot of time together, and their feelings for each other were only expressed in one small barely-there kiss.
I'm not sure how a high school crush could become something that defines a person's life for a decade. I don't even think that's healthy. Had there been significant relationship development in the present, I could overlook the whole high school thing, but really anything that Will and Dusty feel for each other depends on high school. I'm not buying it.
But on the plus side, the sex was hot. The 'S' and 'M' parts of 'BDSM' are always tricky for me to read, because most of it doesn't appeal to me. I'm a total wimp when it comes to pain. However, I thought the author did a great job of making something that I normally would run from (hot wax), in to a sensual experience. Not saying I'd want to try it anytime soon, but I got why it could be a sexually arousing experience. =P
So, 2 stars from me. Had there been a more concrete reason for why Dusty and Will loved each other, I'm sure I would have enjoyed this a lot more.
Review copy provided through NetGalley.
Possible spoilers below.
This was a tough one to rate. I liked some parts, but others not so much.
I think my main issue was that I just didn't understand Will and Dusty's love. The whole story is based on what happened between the two a decade ago in high school. But the fact is that absolutely nothing happened ten years ago. Yes, they crushed on each other, but they weren't best friends, they didn't spend a lot of time together, and their feelings for each other were only expressed in one small barely-there kiss.
I'm not sure how a high school crush could become something that defines a person's life for a decade. I don't even think that's healthy. Had there been significant relationship development in the present, I could overlook the whole high school thing, but really anything that Will and Dusty feel for each other depends on high school. I'm not buying it.
But on the plus side, the sex was hot. The 'S' and 'M' parts of 'BDSM' are always tricky for me to read, because most of it doesn't appeal to me. I'm a total wimp when it comes to pain. However, I thought the author did a great job of making something that I normally would run from (hot wax), in to a sensual experience. Not saying I'd want to try it anytime soon, but I got why it could be a sexually arousing experience. =P
So, 2 stars from me. Had there been a more concrete reason for why Dusty and Will loved each other, I'm sure I would have enjoyed this a lot more.
Review copy provided through NetGalley.
September 27, 2011
This novella is hot on more than one level. There is the relationship, or lack thereof, between Rob and Michael, who are both desperately trying to get what they think they need. Tempers flare and emotions run high enough to keep me glued to the pages. Then there is some very hot, definitely kinky sex with wax play as the central 'activity', if you can call it that, which links the two main characters physically and emotionally. Since their main issue is around trust, this is a very fitting tool to use for Rob and a good 'test' for Michael.
I felt for Rob, more than I usually do for a Dom. He has made an awful mistake, and is still paying for it ten years later. He does everything he can think of to gain Michael back, but the sub isn't making it easy for him. This is entirely justified, in my opinion, but it is still very hard on Rob. It was fascinating to see the effect of Michael's continued refusal on Rob, and the fact that he didn't lose it or flip out speaks volumes about the type of ma he is.
Michael has dealt with the emotional pain of Rob running away from what they could have had the best way he was able to. A consummate sub, he has become a professional, avoiding deeper entanglements while still yearning for them. He is afraid of more disappointment when Rob comes back into his life, but fighting what he wants to have is extremely hard. He's a very strong man, so it is a very interesting process to watch.
If you like BDSM stories with a good measure of psychology thrown in, enjoy reading about vulnerable men on both sides of the D/s equation and want to find out more about wax play, this might be a story for you.
I felt for Rob, more than I usually do for a Dom. He has made an awful mistake, and is still paying for it ten years later. He does everything he can think of to gain Michael back, but the sub isn't making it easy for him. This is entirely justified, in my opinion, but it is still very hard on Rob. It was fascinating to see the effect of Michael's continued refusal on Rob, and the fact that he didn't lose it or flip out speaks volumes about the type of ma he is.
Michael has dealt with the emotional pain of Rob running away from what they could have had the best way he was able to. A consummate sub, he has become a professional, avoiding deeper entanglements while still yearning for them. He is afraid of more disappointment when Rob comes back into his life, but fighting what he wants to have is extremely hard. He's a very strong man, so it is a very interesting process to watch.
If you like BDSM stories with a good measure of psychology thrown in, enjoy reading about vulnerable men on both sides of the D/s equation and want to find out more about wax play, this might be a story for you.
October 20, 2011
3.5 stars. Good kinky m/m romance about a jock who was in denial in high school. Ten years later, he's a Dom and no longer in denial when he runs into the guy whose trust he abused in high school - the guy who now works as a submissive at Club Velvet Ice.
June 11, 2015
I really enjoyed this contemporary M/M BDSM romance novella.
Dusty and Will were schoolmates who had a friendship--until Will felt a yearning for Dusty and it freaked him out. Dusty has always known he was gay, and he held a tendresse for Will until Will froze him out. It was a crushing experience, one Dusty still remembers after ten years.
Now, Dusty is a club submissive, as well as a graphic designer, and Will has petitioned to join his club as a new Dom. Dusty wants nothing to do with Will, still cherishing his schooldays hurt. Will is terrifyingly attracted to Dusty. He has thought of him many times over the years, ashamed at how he acted back then. Now, all he wants to do is show Dusty how good they could be together--but Dusty continues to brush him off.
I liked the play here. I'm not too experienced with wax play and felt it well described, though I wondered about using mineral oil as a skin treatment because I thought it concentrated heat in the skin...
Still, I liked the sensuality, how Will very thoroughly treated Dusty's body, with tenderness first and then the waxes. I liked how they made it full circle--their spark lit watching TROY (yum!) and Will brought a replica sword into their play times. It was fun and sensual.
Dusty's reluctance to let Will get to his heart again made for some tension that was not sexual--making this more an erotic romance than erotica, for me--and I thought that was just fine. I could have used some other aspects of their lives in the story--all we saw was them at the club, either together or with others. It would have been nice to see some of their day-to-day stuff. If this one is continued, I hope we get to see Will and Dusty building their lives together.
The final scene where Will and Dusty play together in private? Coulda melted my reader and all the unlit candles in my house. *swoon*
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley.
Dusty and Will were schoolmates who had a friendship--until Will felt a yearning for Dusty and it freaked him out. Dusty has always known he was gay, and he held a tendresse for Will until Will froze him out. It was a crushing experience, one Dusty still remembers after ten years.
Now, Dusty is a club submissive, as well as a graphic designer, and Will has petitioned to join his club as a new Dom. Dusty wants nothing to do with Will, still cherishing his schooldays hurt. Will is terrifyingly attracted to Dusty. He has thought of him many times over the years, ashamed at how he acted back then. Now, all he wants to do is show Dusty how good they could be together--but Dusty continues to brush him off.
I liked the play here. I'm not too experienced with wax play and felt it well described, though I wondered about using mineral oil as a skin treatment because I thought it concentrated heat in the skin...
Still, I liked the sensuality, how Will very thoroughly treated Dusty's body, with tenderness first and then the waxes. I liked how they made it full circle--their spark lit watching TROY (yum!) and Will brought a replica sword into their play times. It was fun and sensual.
Dusty's reluctance to let Will get to his heart again made for some tension that was not sexual--making this more an erotic romance than erotica, for me--and I thought that was just fine. I could have used some other aspects of their lives in the story--all we saw was them at the club, either together or with others. It would have been nice to see some of their day-to-day stuff. If this one is continued, I hope we get to see Will and Dusty building their lives together.
The final scene where Will and Dusty play together in private? Coulda melted my reader and all the unlit candles in my house. *swoon*
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley.
October 9, 2013
I was a bit underwhelmed here. Violet Summers is a current favorite and I'm reading as much of her work as I can, starting with all the M/M selections, so this short story was kind of disappointing. Too short to generate much heart unfortunately.
May 22, 2015
Quite disappointed with this one as I had high hopes from the Riptide blurb. More backstory, more heat, more connection, more passion required from the writers, although the final submission scene was quite tasty. 3.5 stars from me...pity.
August 13, 2017
Ok, so, as previously stated, unless you're specifically in a scene where the words 'stop' doesn't actually mean stop, a good, real Dom always listens when their sub says stop, even if they have a safeword, or use the stoplight system. They don't punish them for that. And yeah, this is fiction and blah blah blah but I'm seriously so upset about that. I'm literally giving this book a whole star less for just those few lines where Dustin says stop, because he doesn't want wax in his hair, not knowing that Will is going to pull it up for him again, and Will spanks him for speaking 'out of turn'. It's unacceptable, and frankly, that's abusive.
As for the other 99% of the book, it's alright. There's this premise where Will broke Dustin's heart by running away after kissing Dustin and now that Will's out and also a Dom, they've suddenly got a connection. It's kind of weird, but I was willing to go for it because of the wax play.
Which was summarily ruined by the ignoring the stop thing.
Oh well. Live and learn.Then get luvs
As for the other 99% of the book, it's alright. There's this premise where Will broke Dustin's heart by running away after kissing Dustin and now that Will's out and also a Dom, they've suddenly got a connection. It's kind of weird, but I was willing to go for it because of the wax play.
Which was summarily ruined by the ignoring the stop thing.
Oh well. Live and learn.
August 8, 2015
*** 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ***
Light a Candle is a feel good story about two hot guys with history. Their friendship goes all the way back through school and high school, but came to an abrupt and uneasy finish when a pass was made and rebuffed.
Now ten years later both men are comfortable with their sexuality and they meet at Club Deviant when Will auditions for membership.
One unexpected moment of passion between them, and Will freaked out and Dusty resigned himself that Will was neither gay, nor kinky. Once their long friendship ended, Dusty had only bittersweet memories of their last movie night together.
Dusty is a popular submissive at the club, and even though Will is now a sexy Dom, Dustin is unwilling to risk his heart being broken again. The sexual tension between them swirls and thickens throughout the story with a hot sex scene well worth waiting for.
I spent an indulgent morning reading Light a Candle (with 101 things piling up to do). I was delighted by Will and Dustin and so curious to know what Will could do to persuade Dusty to change his mind.
Part of the story was told in flashbacks intermingled with present day. To beg honest I was not overly keen on that, but once the scene was set the story quickly settled into every day encounters at the club.
I think Light a Candle would have been an even more satisfying read for me if some of the action had taken place outside the encounters at the club. I would have appreciated a glimpse into their everyday lives (even an epilogue would have been a welcome addition).
As it is, Light a Candle was a delightful interlude filled with genuinely likeable characters and some hot and steamy sex scenes. There was a great deal of kinky wax play whenever Dusty and Will scened together.
Their scenes were very much a celebration of the senses. This is a delightful romance that leaves a positive view of life and a happy after glow, knowing that there are often second chances even in the most unlikely of places. Beautifully romantic and sizzling hot - a heady combination.
I was kindly provided with a complimentary copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Light a Candle is a feel good story about two hot guys with history. Their friendship goes all the way back through school and high school, but came to an abrupt and uneasy finish when a pass was made and rebuffed.
Now ten years later both men are comfortable with their sexuality and they meet at Club Deviant when Will auditions for membership.
One unexpected moment of passion between them, and Will freaked out and Dusty resigned himself that Will was neither gay, nor kinky. Once their long friendship ended, Dusty had only bittersweet memories of their last movie night together.
Dusty is a popular submissive at the club, and even though Will is now a sexy Dom, Dustin is unwilling to risk his heart being broken again. The sexual tension between them swirls and thickens throughout the story with a hot sex scene well worth waiting for.
I spent an indulgent morning reading Light a Candle (with 101 things piling up to do). I was delighted by Will and Dustin and so curious to know what Will could do to persuade Dusty to change his mind.
Part of the story was told in flashbacks intermingled with present day. To beg honest I was not overly keen on that, but once the scene was set the story quickly settled into every day encounters at the club.
I think Light a Candle would have been an even more satisfying read for me if some of the action had taken place outside the encounters at the club. I would have appreciated a glimpse into their everyday lives (even an epilogue would have been a welcome addition).
As it is, Light a Candle was a delightful interlude filled with genuinely likeable characters and some hot and steamy sex scenes. There was a great deal of kinky wax play whenever Dusty and Will scened together.
Their scenes were very much a celebration of the senses. This is a delightful romance that leaves a positive view of life and a happy after glow, knowing that there are often second chances even in the most unlikely of places. Beautifully romantic and sizzling hot - a heady combination.
I was kindly provided with a complimentary copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2015
Reviewed for The Novel Approach. Review to come soon.
December 3, 2017
Will and Dusty have a history from back in high school but things didn't go so well at the time. But now they have a chance to face the past like adult with fresh eyes. Now they just have to be willing to work through everything to have a new start.
February 25, 2025
MM BDSM Club action that deserves to be longer, but isn't.
This writing team has potential with this series, but each addition falls just short of excellent.
Still good reads, which is why I keep falling back to them, hopeful that missing touch is there this time around.
This writing team has potential with this series, but each addition falls just short of excellent.
Still good reads, which is why I keep falling back to them, hopeful that missing touch is there this time around.
October 22, 2017
I liked this story. It’s a second chance romance, between a Dom and sub. The wax play scenes were gorgeous.
Bought from riptide.
Bought from riptide.
January 7, 2019
In high school, Rob broke Michael’s heart when he fled after an erotic encounter between the two of them. Ten years later, Rob has both figured out and come to terms with his sexuality; he’s gay and he’s a Dom. At twenty-seven, Rob has everything he could ever want…except Michael. When he attends a wax play workshop at the exclusive club Velvet Ice, Rob finds himself face-to-face with Michael. Michael works at the club as a submissive, but he has no interest in submitting to Rob. Or so he claims. It’s going to take every play in this Dom’s handbook to convince Michael he is the perfect submissive for Rob.
Some wounds need more than just time to heal, and that’s the case for Rob and Michael in Velvet Memories. Rob made a mistake back in high school, one that lost him Michael’s friendship and trust. While he did screw up, it’s completely understandable why he did so; just as it’s logical that Michael’s still afraid to trust him ten years later. There’s a lot of pain of the non-pleasurable variety in Velvet Memories, but Violet Summers had me cheering for Rob to break down Michael’s barriers. And break them down he does – in the sexiest of ways. Wax play adds an erotic edge to Velvet Memories, spicing up the D/s scenes and adding to Michael and Rob’s romance. If there’s one thing I’d wish for, it would be for Velvet Memories to be a bit longer. Because there is ten years of trust issues at play for most of the story, it would have been nice to see these two as a couple once they actually agreed to go for a relationship.
Velvet Memories is the fourth Club Velvet Ice story, but like its predecessors (Sinful Treats, Velvet Valentines, and Velvet Submission) Velvet Memories can easily be read as a standalone. Fans of Violet Summers’ Velvet Ice world will delight in seeing characters from the previous stories appear in Michael and Rob’s story, though. All in all, Velvet Memories was a sexy, satisfying read.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Some wounds need more than just time to heal, and that’s the case for Rob and Michael in Velvet Memories. Rob made a mistake back in high school, one that lost him Michael’s friendship and trust. While he did screw up, it’s completely understandable why he did so; just as it’s logical that Michael’s still afraid to trust him ten years later. There’s a lot of pain of the non-pleasurable variety in Velvet Memories, but Violet Summers had me cheering for Rob to break down Michael’s barriers. And break them down he does – in the sexiest of ways. Wax play adds an erotic edge to Velvet Memories, spicing up the D/s scenes and adding to Michael and Rob’s romance. If there’s one thing I’d wish for, it would be for Velvet Memories to be a bit longer. Because there is ten years of trust issues at play for most of the story, it would have been nice to see these two as a couple once they actually agreed to go for a relationship.
Velvet Memories is the fourth Club Velvet Ice story, but like its predecessors (Sinful Treats, Velvet Valentines, and Velvet Submission) Velvet Memories can easily be read as a standalone. Fans of Violet Summers’ Velvet Ice world will delight in seeing characters from the previous stories appear in Michael and Rob’s story, though. All in all, Velvet Memories was a sexy, satisfying read.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
February 24, 2012
In high school, Rob broke Michael’s heart when he fled after an erotic encounter between the two of them. Ten years later, Rob has both figured out and come to terms with his sexuality; he’s gay and he’s a Dom. At twenty-seven, Rob has everything he could ever want…except Michael. When he attends a wax play workshop at the exclusive club Velvet Ice, Rob finds himself face-to-face with Michael. Michael works at the club as a submissive, but he has no interest in submitting to Rob. Or so he claims. It’s going to take every play in this Dom’s handbook to convince Michael he is the perfect submissive for Rob.
Some wounds need more than just time to heal, and that’s the case for Rob and Michael in Velvet Memories. Rob made a mistake back in high school, one that lost him Michael’s friendship and trust. While he did screw up, it’s completely understandable why he did so; just as it’s logical that Michael’s still afraid to trust him ten years later. There’s a lot of pain of the non-pleasurable variety in Velvet Memories, but Violet Summers had me cheering for Rob to break down Michael’s barriers. And break them down he does – in the sexiest of ways. Wax play adds an erotic edge to Velvet Memories, spicing up the D/s scenes and adding to Michael and Rob’s romance. If there’s one thing I’d wish for, it would be for Velvet Memories to be a bit longer. Because there is ten years of trust issues at play for most of the story, it would have been nice to see these two as a couple once they actually agreed to go for a relationship.
Velvet Memories is the fourth Club Velvet Ice story, but like its predecessors (Sinful Treats, Velvet Valentines, and Velvet Submission) Velvet Memories can easily be read as a standalone. Fans of Violet Summers’ Velvet Ice world will delight in seeing characters from the previous stories appear in Michael and Rob’s story, though. All in all, Velvet Memories was a sexy, satisfying read.
Reviewed by Shayna
For Joyfully Reviewed
Some wounds need more than just time to heal, and that’s the case for Rob and Michael in Velvet Memories. Rob made a mistake back in high school, one that lost him Michael’s friendship and trust. While he did screw up, it’s completely understandable why he did so; just as it’s logical that Michael’s still afraid to trust him ten years later. There’s a lot of pain of the non-pleasurable variety in Velvet Memories, but Violet Summers had me cheering for Rob to break down Michael’s barriers. And break them down he does – in the sexiest of ways. Wax play adds an erotic edge to Velvet Memories, spicing up the D/s scenes and adding to Michael and Rob’s romance. If there’s one thing I’d wish for, it would be for Velvet Memories to be a bit longer. Because there is ten years of trust issues at play for most of the story, it would have been nice to see these two as a couple once they actually agreed to go for a relationship.
Velvet Memories is the fourth Club Velvet Ice story, but like its predecessors (Sinful Treats, Velvet Valentines, and Velvet Submission) Velvet Memories can easily be read as a standalone. Fans of Violet Summers’ Velvet Ice world will delight in seeing characters from the previous stories appear in Michael and Rob’s story, though. All in all, Velvet Memories was a sexy, satisfying read.
Reviewed by Shayna
For Joyfully Reviewed
June 6, 2015
2.5
OK, to start with, until I came here to write this review I didn't realize this was a fourth book in a series. I would never have picked it up if I had. I generally avoid latter books in a series, even if they are stand alone. But it's read now and, who knows, maybe I would have liked it better if I'd read the previous three books. Maybe not, because I don't know that my complaints resulted from anything related to the series itself.
Now, I don't want to infer that I didn't like the book, just that I had complaints. First, the characters are paper thin. Seriously, with the exception of the flashbacks, over the several weeks of the book, we don't get a single scene outside the club. So, the book is wholly focused on Will's pursuit of Dusty and Dusty's avoidance of giving in. Meh.
Second, I didn't think what happened between the two as teenagers deserved all that much angst. It just wasn't that big a deal. They certainly never had a relationship, so claiming Dusty's heart was broken seems a little extreme. We're told they'd been friends for years, but we're given one scene in which Dusty awkwardly invites WIll over to his house, as if they're just becoming friends. I didn't buy it.
Third, I get that wax play was supposed to be a big part of this, thus the title. But almost every single sex scene was a wax play scene. For an elite BDSM club they seem to have a very limited repertoire. The thing is, even if I found it super sexy, I'd have been bored with it. But really I thought it was pretty bland, especially Will and Dusty's big climax scene. Meh.
I hated the Dom-talk. Why do all Doms in these sorts of books have to talk in stiff, complete sentence, call every one 'boy' (which just squinks me out, like something that should be uttered only in Deliverance) and never use contractions. Meh.
So, in conclusion, while this was an ok book and some people might be thrilled with it, I remained only mildly interested throughout.
OK, to start with, until I came here to write this review I didn't realize this was a fourth book in a series. I would never have picked it up if I had. I generally avoid latter books in a series, even if they are stand alone. But it's read now and, who knows, maybe I would have liked it better if I'd read the previous three books. Maybe not, because I don't know that my complaints resulted from anything related to the series itself.
Now, I don't want to infer that I didn't like the book, just that I had complaints. First, the characters are paper thin. Seriously, with the exception of the flashbacks, over the several weeks of the book, we don't get a single scene outside the club. So, the book is wholly focused on Will's pursuit of Dusty and Dusty's avoidance of giving in. Meh.
Second, I didn't think what happened between the two as teenagers deserved all that much angst. It just wasn't that big a deal. They certainly never had a relationship, so claiming Dusty's heart was broken seems a little extreme. We're told they'd been friends for years, but we're given one scene in which Dusty awkwardly invites WIll over to his house, as if they're just becoming friends. I didn't buy it.
Third, I get that wax play was supposed to be a big part of this, thus the title. But almost every single sex scene was a wax play scene. For an elite BDSM club they seem to have a very limited repertoire. The thing is, even if I found it super sexy, I'd have been bored with it. But really I thought it was pretty bland, especially Will and Dusty's big climax scene. Meh.
I hated the Dom-talk. Why do all Doms in these sorts of books have to talk in stiff, complete sentence, call every one 'boy' (which just squinks me out, like something that should be uttered only in Deliverance) and never use contractions. Meh.
So, in conclusion, while this was an ok book and some people might be thrilled with it, I remained only mildly interested throughout.
June 20, 2015
Light A Candle is a hot m/m novella which I enjoyed reading. It's a second chance love story with a BDSM twist, and as you can probably guess from the title and cover, most of the BDSM scenes are based on wax play. I've read lots of wax play scenes and I have found most of them a little dull - but the scenes in this book are far from dull! The wax play is sensual, detailed, varied and oh so hot!
Dusty and Will we're friends in high school, but when they were eighteen they had an awkward sexual encounter which led to Will fleeing the scene and ignoring Dusty for the rest of time at school. Ten years later Will is out as being gay and a Dom, and he is pleasantly surprised to meet Dusty again at a BDSM club. Dusty is a club submissive and Will has to preform a scene with him as part of his audition to join the club. Will thinks this is fate and is determined to make Dusty his submissive, but Dusty is equally determined not to get involved and to avoid getting hurt again.
In the first part of this book there are quite a few flashbacks to their time at high school, and I found the constant flitting back and forward between now and then to be slightly annoying, it pulled me out of the story a bit. I think I would have preferred a prequel told in one chapter, then a move to present day in the next chapter. I did like both characters, especially Will, but I would have liked to know them both a bit more. All of the present day story is told from the club, and it would have been nice to know a bit more about their 'real' lives. All that being said though, I did enjoy this book. It is a passionate, sexy book with very well written BDSM scenes that are a bit different from the norm. I give Light a Candle four stars.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Dusty and Will we're friends in high school, but when they were eighteen they had an awkward sexual encounter which led to Will fleeing the scene and ignoring Dusty for the rest of time at school. Ten years later Will is out as being gay and a Dom, and he is pleasantly surprised to meet Dusty again at a BDSM club. Dusty is a club submissive and Will has to preform a scene with him as part of his audition to join the club. Will thinks this is fate and is determined to make Dusty his submissive, but Dusty is equally determined not to get involved and to avoid getting hurt again.
In the first part of this book there are quite a few flashbacks to their time at high school, and I found the constant flitting back and forward between now and then to be slightly annoying, it pulled me out of the story a bit. I think I would have preferred a prequel told in one chapter, then a move to present day in the next chapter. I did like both characters, especially Will, but I would have liked to know them both a bit more. All of the present day story is told from the club, and it would have been nice to know a bit more about their 'real' lives. All that being said though, I did enjoy this book. It is a passionate, sexy book with very well written BDSM scenes that are a bit different from the norm. I give Light a Candle four stars.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
August 26, 2015
This one started off a bit rocky for me, because the flashbacks to ten years ago were very short and very close together, and the time swapping was beginning to cause me some concern, but that is fortunately when they ended. (I think there was only one after the point I started to get frustrated, which was 11% in.) The flashbacks were all done in the first quarter of the book, and then the rest was all current day, with Will trying to make up for freaking out ten years before and ending his friendship with Dusty.
Dusty had his teenage heart broken, and he's not up for getting close to Will to allow it to happen again. But Will is always around now, and he keeps pursuing him because they could be good together if Dusty will give Will a chance to show him he's not the boy who freaked out, both because he kissed his male friend, but also because he enjoyed trapping Dusty's wrists and the power he felt with that. Dusty's reluctance to scene, because he knows his heart would be on the line, is realistic. As is Will's chase.
This is more the beginning of their story, not the end of it. It's an HFN, and I could definitely read more about the two of them as they navigate the choppy waters of trust in the next phase of their relationship, because no way is Dusty just suddenly over his trust issues and willing to lay everything on the line. Signing a contract, even if supposedly to protect both of them, doesn't miraculously fix that. (Don't get me wrong: I'm not suggesting there's a magical healing cock. There's most definitely not. Dusty makes Will work to give him a chance, and Will works it hard.)
So, all in all, very pleased with the story, but I would like to read more about them. =)
Dusty had his teenage heart broken, and he's not up for getting close to Will to allow it to happen again. But Will is always around now, and he keeps pursuing him because they could be good together if Dusty will give Will a chance to show him he's not the boy who freaked out, both because he kissed his male friend, but also because he enjoyed trapping Dusty's wrists and the power he felt with that. Dusty's reluctance to scene, because he knows his heart would be on the line, is realistic. As is Will's chase.
This is more the beginning of their story, not the end of it. It's an HFN, and I could definitely read more about the two of them as they navigate the choppy waters of trust in the next phase of their relationship, because no way is Dusty just suddenly over his trust issues and willing to lay everything on the line. Signing a contract, even if supposedly to protect both of them, doesn't miraculously fix that. (Don't get me wrong: I'm not suggesting there's a magical healing cock. There's most definitely not. Dusty makes Will work to give him a chance, and Will works it hard.)
So, all in all, very pleased with the story, but I would like to read more about them. =)
December 29, 2015
Reviewed for The Novel Approach.
I did not read the first edition of this book, from which this one has been expanded, so I cannot compare the two and discuss how much has changed. However, I can say that I did enjoy this one and felt it was well-written and just the right length.
Going back and forth from the past to the present, Light a Candle reveals the history of Will and Dusty’s relationship. From their senior year in high school where a small moment of passion leaves Will running in the other direction, to the present where Will is a confident gay Dom auditioning for Club Deviant, where Dusty is a submissive. The two are brought together on new terms. Will wants to prove to Dusty that he’s changed and that he made a mistake, but Dusty has a hard time accepting that. So, the two retreat to what they know best: Dominance and submission.
While the story might sound familiar, and perhaps overused, I felt it was well done in this book. I became invested in both men, and hoped they could overcome the past and look to the future they could build together. The inclusion of that past was also a nice touch. Not many authors will include past history because it takes away from the present or because the younger versions of the characters are too unfitting to be addressed in an adult novel. VJ Summers did a nice job of balancing everything that really kept me hooked. Just when I wanted to know more of what happened in the past, the author revealed it. When I wanted to go back to the present, the author did that as well. It truly is a fine balance that reveals all the reader could want to know.
If you enjoy novels with BDSM elements I recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for something a little on the shorter side.
I did not read the first edition of this book, from which this one has been expanded, so I cannot compare the two and discuss how much has changed. However, I can say that I did enjoy this one and felt it was well-written and just the right length.
Going back and forth from the past to the present, Light a Candle reveals the history of Will and Dusty’s relationship. From their senior year in high school where a small moment of passion leaves Will running in the other direction, to the present where Will is a confident gay Dom auditioning for Club Deviant, where Dusty is a submissive. The two are brought together on new terms. Will wants to prove to Dusty that he’s changed and that he made a mistake, but Dusty has a hard time accepting that. So, the two retreat to what they know best: Dominance and submission.
While the story might sound familiar, and perhaps overused, I felt it was well done in this book. I became invested in both men, and hoped they could overcome the past and look to the future they could build together. The inclusion of that past was also a nice touch. Not many authors will include past history because it takes away from the present or because the younger versions of the characters are too unfitting to be addressed in an adult novel. VJ Summers did a nice job of balancing everything that really kept me hooked. Just when I wanted to know more of what happened in the past, the author revealed it. When I wanted to go back to the present, the author did that as well. It truly is a fine balance that reveals all the reader could want to know.
If you enjoy novels with BDSM elements I recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for something a little on the shorter side.
May 26, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
There was so much about this book that I absolutely loved. The two MCs are so very well drawn and we get to see their thoughts, character, and motivation very clearly. The writing is tight and sharp, each word having a purpose and nothing wasted or overused. The plot has wonderful pacing, never a lag or a rush to be seen. Though I did have a few quibbles with some of the plot points, overall it was a very well written story.
Let me start with Dusty because he’s the character that I felt the most connected to. In high school, he was nothing special, just another kid. He was on his way to a scholarship to art school, and though it was known that he was gay, he wasn’t overly bullied or picked on. From the very beginning we get a sense that Dustin knows himself very well and he fully accepts who he is. This doesn’t change as the story goes on. As we see the man that Dustin has grown into, it’s clear he knows what he wants. But he’s also willing to deny himself if he doesn’t think it’s what’s good for him. I adored Dustin from the beginning, but I have to admit that I thought he was holding a grudge against Will for no good reason. It made sense that he’d feel the heartbreak keenly from back then, but the self-assured and level headed Dustin should have been able to put things into perspective by now. While I enjoyed this character immensely, this part irked me and I just wanted to shake him and tell him to let it go.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
There was so much about this book that I absolutely loved. The two MCs are so very well drawn and we get to see their thoughts, character, and motivation very clearly. The writing is tight and sharp, each word having a purpose and nothing wasted or overused. The plot has wonderful pacing, never a lag or a rush to be seen. Though I did have a few quibbles with some of the plot points, overall it was a very well written story.
Let me start with Dusty because he’s the character that I felt the most connected to. In high school, he was nothing special, just another kid. He was on his way to a scholarship to art school, and though it was known that he was gay, he wasn’t overly bullied or picked on. From the very beginning we get a sense that Dustin knows himself very well and he fully accepts who he is. This doesn’t change as the story goes on. As we see the man that Dustin has grown into, it’s clear he knows what he wants. But he’s also willing to deny himself if he doesn’t think it’s what’s good for him. I adored Dustin from the beginning, but I have to admit that I thought he was holding a grudge against Will for no good reason. It made sense that he’d feel the heartbreak keenly from back then, but the self-assured and level headed Dustin should have been able to put things into perspective by now. While I enjoyed this character immensely, this part irked me and I just wanted to shake him and tell him to let it go.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
October 27, 2011
This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews and can also be found there.
In this short story about second chances, we get to meet Rob and Michael, two men with a shared past and too many unresolved issues between them. The story starts and stays in the BDSM world of pain and pleasure, where submission has to be given as well as earned and dominance requires a bit of planning to be willingly allowed.
When the two meet again after ten years of living on memories, the reunion is almost electrifying. However, the past is not automatically erased and some submissives are more stubborn than others.
Being a fan of a certain subject is always a plus in reviewing books, but it's not something that will mask all the shortcomings. I thought the book was too short for the blast-from-the-past moment which did somewhat explain the rift between the main characters but was way too long. I enjoyed the scenes but couldn't help but notice how they were focused on just one aspect of pain/pleasure, almost like the same scene repeating itself over and over again. For me that made Rob pretty much unimaginative, and the way Michael constantly defied him without any consequences made Rob a weak dominant. That part was unfortunate, because the burning force between Michael and Rob was something I could have spent days reading about.
The hot moments and the sexual tension will make people appreciate this story and spending a night in bed with a steamy book in your hands can't hurt.
In this short story about second chances, we get to meet Rob and Michael, two men with a shared past and too many unresolved issues between them. The story starts and stays in the BDSM world of pain and pleasure, where submission has to be given as well as earned and dominance requires a bit of planning to be willingly allowed.
When the two meet again after ten years of living on memories, the reunion is almost electrifying. However, the past is not automatically erased and some submissives are more stubborn than others.
Being a fan of a certain subject is always a plus in reviewing books, but it's not something that will mask all the shortcomings. I thought the book was too short for the blast-from-the-past moment which did somewhat explain the rift between the main characters but was way too long. I enjoyed the scenes but couldn't help but notice how they were focused on just one aspect of pain/pleasure, almost like the same scene repeating itself over and over again. For me that made Rob pretty much unimaginative, and the way Michael constantly defied him without any consequences made Rob a weak dominant. That part was unfortunate, because the burning force between Michael and Rob was something I could have spent days reading about.
The hot moments and the sexual tension will make people appreciate this story and spending a night in bed with a steamy book in your hands can't hurt.
May 10, 2012
I wasn't sure what to expect. The guy on the cover is hot, but neither of the guys on the cover corresponds to the men in the book. And the book itself, while mercifully short, left me cold. The BDSM is its raison d'être, and even this is sort of vapid, compared to some of the blistering literary BDSM you can get for free on certain websites I don't feel quite comfortable publicizing, regardless of Goodreads’s rules about such conduct.
The sub loses all credibility through an entirely tenuous backstory. The two characters knew each other in highschool where, once upon a time in the gym, the future dom, Rob, dry-humped the future sub, Michael, and, the next day, was seen making out with a girl. THIS trivial encounter becomes the basis for Michael's broken heart--if you please--and for the pain and insecurity he carries around for years, so that when they meet again, ten years later, he's reluctant to trust Rob, even in a BDSM setting, whether the latter is an aspect of a personal relationship or engaged in for show at a BDSM club. Without this inane lead-up, the book would have been far less ridiculous, but there you have it: a silly, paper-thin romance grafted onto a potentially steamy BDSM encounter, causing it to fizzle on contact.
And if the novel flashes back 10 years, then the novel must be, strictly speaking, set in the future, in 2014; because during the flashback, the two highschool boys watch the movie "Troy," which was released in 2004.
The sub loses all credibility through an entirely tenuous backstory. The two characters knew each other in highschool where, once upon a time in the gym, the future dom, Rob, dry-humped the future sub, Michael, and, the next day, was seen making out with a girl. THIS trivial encounter becomes the basis for Michael's broken heart--if you please--and for the pain and insecurity he carries around for years, so that when they meet again, ten years later, he's reluctant to trust Rob, even in a BDSM setting, whether the latter is an aspect of a personal relationship or engaged in for show at a BDSM club. Without this inane lead-up, the book would have been far less ridiculous, but there you have it: a silly, paper-thin romance grafted onto a potentially steamy BDSM encounter, causing it to fizzle on contact.
And if the novel flashes back 10 years, then the novel must be, strictly speaking, set in the future, in 2014; because during the flashback, the two highschool boys watch the movie "Troy," which was released in 2004.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2015
Hot damn! This was terrific! Dual POVs, lots of lovely man sex, phenomenal writing and a kick-ass plot. Will and Dustin knew each other as kids but in high school, didn't necessarily hang out with the same group. Dusty was out but not overly so and did experience some bullying. Will was popular, hung out with the cool kids and considered himself straight but the two do occasionally hang out. Seems that Will had been having thoughts and after a particularly sexually fraught moment with Dusty in a workout room, Will runs to what Dusty later calls "Cheerleader Barbie or boobs with legs" and not only does he not own up to their moment, he completely ignores Dusty for the remainder of the school year. Fast forward ten years later and Dusty is a submissive and works occasionally in Club Deviant. He is asked to be part of scene as part of a Dom's application to be a member of the Club. Guess who the Dom is....
Both are hurt, dredging up feelings from when they were teens. This was masterfully done. Reconciling their feelings from then with what is going on now all against the backdrop of what happens at the Club. That last scene with the wax play - I was riveted!!! These two MCs jump off of the page. You can see Dusty and his golden skin and pierced nipples. You can visualize Will with his dark black/green eyes. Awesome book, just totally awesome.
Both are hurt, dredging up feelings from when they were teens. This was masterfully done. Reconciling their feelings from then with what is going on now all against the backdrop of what happens at the Club. That last scene with the wax play - I was riveted!!! These two MCs jump off of the page. You can see Dusty and his golden skin and pierced nipples. You can visualize Will with his dark black/green eyes. Awesome book, just totally awesome.
June 30, 2015
Hot damn! This was terrific! Dual POVs, lots of lovely man sex, phenomenal writing and a kick-ass plot. Will and Dustin knew each other as kids but in high school, didn't necessarily hang out with the same group. Dusty was out but not overly so and did experience some bullying. Will was popular, hung out with the cool kids and considered himself straight but the two do occasionally hang out. Seems that Will had been having thoughts and after a particularly sexually fraught moment with Dusty in a workout room, Will runs to what Dusty later calls "Cheerleader Barbie or boobs with legs" and not only does he not own up to their moment, he completely ignores Dusty for the remainder of the school year. Fast forward ten years later and Dusty is a submissive and works occasionally in Club Deviant. He is asked to be part of scene as part of a Dom's application to be a member of the Club. Guess who the Dom is....
Both are hurt, dredging up feelings from when they were teens. This was masterfully done. Reconciling their feelings from then with what is going on now all against the backdrop of what happens at the Club. That last scene with the wax play - I was riveted!!! These two MCs jump off of the page. You can see Dusty and his golden skin and pierced nipples. You can visualize Will with his dark black/green eyes. Awesome book, just totally awesome.
Both are hurt, dredging up feelings from when they were teens. This was masterfully done. Reconciling their feelings from then with what is going on now all against the backdrop of what happens at the Club. That last scene with the wax play - I was riveted!!! These two MCs jump off of the page. You can see Dusty and his golden skin and pierced nipples. You can visualize Will with his dark black/green eyes. Awesome book, just totally awesome.
December 15, 2015
I’m working on expanding my reading – this time with LGBTQIA Erotica. As you can tell from the cover, it features wax play as well as a D/s relationship between a couple of men … men with history. It’s a history that makes it very hard for Dustin to trust Will, and trust is the basis of a workable D/s relationship. Dustin definitely leads Will on a merry dance while Will tries to earn that trust again.
I really enjoyed seeing these two try to figure out how they can relate as adults. They had an unusual, and not very strong, friendship in high school. Unfortunately when Will runs from the idea that there may be more than friendship involved, it destroys Dustin. And he’s spent years making sure no one else can get that close. While Will regrets those actions, it isn’t easy to get past Dustin’s defenses. Lucky for both of them, he doesn’t give up easily.
Light a Candle is both sexy and heart-breaking. It shows how those scars that we get when young don’t heal easily and can have far reaching effects. But that sometimes the heart wants something different than the mind says is safe. Throw in a little D/s play and they steam things up very nicely on their way to finding out a way to relate together on a new level.
(complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)
I really enjoyed seeing these two try to figure out how they can relate as adults. They had an unusual, and not very strong, friendship in high school. Unfortunately when Will runs from the idea that there may be more than friendship involved, it destroys Dustin. And he’s spent years making sure no one else can get that close. While Will regrets those actions, it isn’t easy to get past Dustin’s defenses. Lucky for both of them, he doesn’t give up easily.
Light a Candle is both sexy and heart-breaking. It shows how those scars that we get when young don’t heal easily and can have far reaching effects. But that sometimes the heart wants something different than the mind says is safe. Throw in a little D/s play and they steam things up very nicely on their way to finding out a way to relate together on a new level.
(complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)
June 16, 2015
As you can tell from the cover, it features wax play as well as a D/s relationship between a couple of men with history. It’s a history that makes it very hard for Dustin to trust Will, and trust is the basis of a workable D/s relationship. Dustin definitely leads Will on a merry dance while Will tries to earn that trust again.
I really enjoyed seeing these two try to figure out how they can relate as adults. They had an unusual, and not very strong, friendship in high school. Unfortunately when Will runs from the idea that there may be more than friendship involved, it destroys Dustin, so he’s spent years making sure no one else can get that close. And while Will regrets those actions, it isn’t easy to get past Dustin’s defenses. Lucky for both of them, he doesn’t give up easily.
Light a Candle is both sexy and heart-breaking. It shows how those scars that we get when young don’t heal easily and can have far reaching effects. But that sometimes the heart wants something different than the mind says is safe. Throw in a little D/s play and they steam things up very nicely on their way to finding out a way to relate together on a new level.
(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)
I really enjoyed seeing these two try to figure out how they can relate as adults. They had an unusual, and not very strong, friendship in high school. Unfortunately when Will runs from the idea that there may be more than friendship involved, it destroys Dustin, so he’s spent years making sure no one else can get that close. And while Will regrets those actions, it isn’t easy to get past Dustin’s defenses. Lucky for both of them, he doesn’t give up easily.
Light a Candle is both sexy and heart-breaking. It shows how those scars that we get when young don’t heal easily and can have far reaching effects. But that sometimes the heart wants something different than the mind says is safe. Throw in a little D/s play and they steam things up very nicely on their way to finding out a way to relate together on a new level.
(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)
February 3, 2012
Because I love m/m BDSM books (especially those heavy on the D/s), I automatically assume I’m going to love any new book that matches that criteria. This one didn’t disappoint, but there were a few quirks that kept it from being a higher rating.
I didn’t really like Rob’s attitude. It seemed like he treated Michael as more of a conquest than someone to cherish in this type of relationship and it really grated on my nerves when he called him “Mikey”.
The book left off in a bit of an awkward spot. They were fighting, dodging, and eluding, have one smexy scene almost on a dare, and now I’m supposed to believe all the dreaded history has been forgiven/forgotten and things will be hunky dory? Uh, wish it could be that way, but not totally convinced.
I’d call this one a 3.5, but I’ll round up just because I like the subject matter, A LOT, and the wax play was (pardon the pun) hot!!!
I didn’t really like Rob’s attitude. It seemed like he treated Michael as more of a conquest than someone to cherish in this type of relationship and it really grated on my nerves when he called him “Mikey”.
The book left off in a bit of an awkward spot. They were fighting, dodging, and eluding, have one smexy scene almost on a dare, and now I’m supposed to believe all the dreaded history has been forgiven/forgotten and things will be hunky dory? Uh, wish it could be that way, but not totally convinced.
I’d call this one a 3.5, but I’ll round up just because I like the subject matter, A LOT, and the wax play was (pardon the pun) hot!!!
September 22, 2015
This whole novella is set in one night, one club, multi scenes together. Once Will and Dustin realize that ten years later they are in the same place, wanting the same thing, all bets are off, all things are forgiven and it’s time to learn each other like only a D/s can.
The scenes these two did together were sensual and hawt, and you could tell, the caring for one another was there at least a experienced Dom towards an experienced sub. But past that, it was hard for me to get to know these two, we learned what they liked sexually and they fit together that way, but I couldn’t build anything from that. I need more in-depth convo, how’s life, what’s are you doing? do you live in the area? I’m a big believer in insta love/ attraction but no connection for ten years and all the sudden lets sign contracts, HFN.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
The scenes these two did together were sensual and hawt, and you could tell, the caring for one another was there at least a experienced Dom towards an experienced sub. But past that, it was hard for me to get to know these two, we learned what they liked sexually and they fit together that way, but I couldn’t build anything from that. I need more in-depth convo, how’s life, what’s are you doing? do you live in the area? I’m a big believer in insta love/ attraction but no connection for ten years and all the sudden lets sign contracts, HFN.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
January 23, 2016
My Review:
Ten years ago, Will blew it and Dustin never quite recovered from his betrayal. Now they've been thrown together at Dustin's BDSM club where he's a sub. Will is now a Dom who embraces who he is...all those things (gay AND kinky) that he couldn't accept about himself ten years ago. But he really hurt Dustin back then, so Dustin can't trust him now...the key to a sub/Dom relationship to work. The thing that hasn't changed is their incredible chemistry. They both desperately still want the other. The issue, Will is ready to act on that chemistry while Dustin says, "No way!"
There's a lot of back and forth between these two guys, but at the heart of the book is their incredible chemistry which can't be denied. I enjoyed the book for that. I love how much Dustin wants to deny Will, but his body just won't get onboard with what his head demands. It makes for a really sexy read that I enjoyed quite a bit.
Ten years ago, Will blew it and Dustin never quite recovered from his betrayal. Now they've been thrown together at Dustin's BDSM club where he's a sub. Will is now a Dom who embraces who he is...all those things (gay AND kinky) that he couldn't accept about himself ten years ago. But he really hurt Dustin back then, so Dustin can't trust him now...the key to a sub/Dom relationship to work. The thing that hasn't changed is their incredible chemistry. They both desperately still want the other. The issue, Will is ready to act on that chemistry while Dustin says, "No way!"
There's a lot of back and forth between these two guys, but at the heart of the book is their incredible chemistry which can't be denied. I enjoyed the book for that. I love how much Dustin wants to deny Will, but his body just won't get onboard with what his head demands. It makes for a really sexy read that I enjoyed quite a bit.
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