Loving the Master

The Manse #3

by Lynn Kelling

Billionaire Dominant David Davenport needs a break from the loveless isolation imposed by wealth, responsibility, and the stress of running the Manse, his private gay club. While at lunch with an old friend, David finds himself enchanted by the charming and submissive nature of Shea Whittier, their young waiter. David offers to help the young man out with his personal troubles, never suspecting the danger he’s putting them both in. (M/M)

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Erotica, Abuse, Gay

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 9, 2016

About the author

Lynn Kelling began writing in order to tell stories that aren’t afraid of the dark, don’t hold anything back and always strive to be memorable, forging lasting attachments between character and reader. Her inspiration comes from taking a closer look at behaviors and ideas lurking at the fringes of life—basically anything that people may hesitate to speak of in mixed company, but everyone wonders about anyway. Her work is driven by the taboo in order to expose the humanity within it. Lynn is an artist, designer and lover of any form of creative self-expression that comes from a place of honesty and emotion, whether it's body art or opera. She has had multiple novels published, has written over fifty works of erotic fiction of varying lengths, and always has several novels in progress.

Reviews

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's release day, finally! I hope you all enjoy this one. It's naughty perfection.

4.5 rounded up because BDSM and ROMANCE TOGETHER!!

In an effort to shake things up a bit with my reviews, and with the fact that I was in a mood when I read this, I am going to post my GoodReads reading log as my review. I LOVED the book and hated reading it by myself. Oh well, I'll certainly enjoy reading my friend's logs and reviews once they have a chance!

0.0% "Come to mama! This is the prequel to Bound by Lies which sits on my fuck yeah, 5+ stars shelf."
6.0% "I am already completely in love with Shea. He is awkward and clumsy and shy and charming. I can't wait to see his dynamic with David!"
10.0% "I believe Ms. Kelling wrote David's mother to convey a over-indulged, cold bitch, but I found her quite enchanting!"
11.0% "Example of David's mother:

“Ideally, a boyfriend is good for more than being a decent lay,” David replied. His mother just waved her hand dismissively. “So you’re still a true romantic, then?” she said. “How unfortunate."

See what I mean? Delightful!"
14.0% "This book is ticking every single one of my buttons! I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I'll just say, LOVING IT (so far)."
16.0% "Just putting together some images for my review.





I wish someone was reading this with me so I could talk!"
26.0%

"“You know, when I first met you, you reminded me of Tony Stark a little. Or, well, Tony’s younger, hotter, brother, minus the questionable facial hair. I’m not really a facial hair guy, hence the Captain America fixation.”

Nerd alert! I think my nerd-fetish is now completely solidified."
33.0%

"jaw, hooking his hand around his ear. Shea leaned into the touch, turning a little to kiss the inside of David’s wrist. Nothing on earth in that moment could have pulled Shea from David’s arms. The stars themselves could come crashing down around them, and it wouldn’t matter, David had everything he could ever want, right here.

BDSM coupled with strong emotions is my kryptonite."
50.0% "We've got face-fucking here folks! How I desperately love the face-fucking."
52.0% "Good place to stop. The book is veering off into an uncomfortable position. I'll start with fresh eyes in the morning."
53.0%

"“Please fuck me, sir,” Shea rasped. The pressure on his balls eased tremendously. “You want my cock?” “Yes,” Shea whined at a fresh bout of pain as David squeezed."

58.0% "Ok, so... at this point, the circumstances in plot are so incredibly unrealistic that it's pulling me out of the story. So I've decided to throw common sense out the window and give myself over to the plot and go with the flow of the perceived dangers. I will enjoy this so much more and it is fiction after all."
67.0% "Ok, confession time. When the sex I am reading gets REALLY hot, I find myself logging into the Cocky Boys website and watching a scene or two to help with the visual.

I'm logging into CB right now."
67.0% "LEV IVANKOV & LEVI KARTER

Fucking amazing."
67.0% "Did you know I REALLY like face fucking?"
67.0% "Throat grabbing and hair pulling"
67.0% "damn, these boys are hitting the spot!"
67.0% "These are Shea's thoughts about David at this point in the book.

I’m dating David. We are dating, aren’t we? Can you call it that, when I live with him, act as a sex slave for him, and we never go out?"

80.0%

"Half of the people in the room were wearing masks. Shea felt like he’d discovered Bruce Wayne’s secret gay fetish parlor."

100.0% "Done! Loved it!"

Galley copy of Loving the Master provided by Forbidden Fiction in exchange of an honest review.

This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews

[Caroline Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE

Gawd I love this author and the boys she brings us!

If you have been reading this series you will remember David Davenport when we met him whilst he was training Jenner in Learning from the Master. For those of you who don’t know him David is the very wealthy, very enigmatic and very charming owner of an exclusive BDSM club called The Manse. Despite all the privilege that surrounds him and all the men willing to kneel at his feet David Davenport is lonely. Finding a man that can be both his lover and submissive and who can also see the real David and not just fall for the trappings of his wealth and lifestyle is virtually impossible.

Past tragedy lurks in the Davenport family and to be honest they are pretty dysfunctional. David has removed himself from it as much as possible, building up his own business empire and avoiding his father’s attempts at managing his life to a certain extent, but with money comes power and this is easily abused when you add in paranoia.

Shea Whittier has survived just about every disaster and horror life can throw at him. After a mugging and a near sexual assault he really needs something good to happen in his life. That something good is David who picks him up from the curb bloodied and broken and offers him the comfort he yearns for as well as somewhere safe to stay. Safe is a very relative term though and if someone wants you badly enough they will find a way to get to you. Shea isn’t safe and his life gets decidedly worse before it gets better.

David and Shea are worlds apart in just about everything and I loved this about them. A strong, assured and experienced Dom and virgin with clear submissive tendencies and a heart of gold. David needs someone to see him and Shea sees him clearly but if we go back to the dysfunctional family part – their lives are not made easy!

The story is edgy with a thrilling plot and finally some help from old friends at the MC is required. The sex is crazy hot but underneath all that it’s the emotional side of the story that made it work and it worked so well! Loved it!

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynn Kelling writes younger characters that I relate to. I'm really not big on two New Adult/coming-of-age/younger guys, but I read the Twin Ties series - My Brother's Lover Dual Affairs Double Heat - and now I've been sucked into the Manse series. Add to this that I'm not into superheroes, geeks, or geeky characters, and it's amazing that I loved this book. And I did. I absolutely loved it.



Lynn Kelling writes amazing characters and stories that draw you in and wrap themselves around your heart. First there's gorgeously geeky 'n sweet Shea. Then there's the wonderfully caring and powerful David Davenport. A person's character is on display when they are down on their luck or incredibly privileged. These characters represent both - Shea has been beaten down into such a bad place you could understand real cynicism, anger and disdain of the world and the people in it. Yet, that's not Shea, he's the opposite - sweet, strong, trusting, and positive. And David, well, he's so caring, so giving, supportive, and a such a sexy lover/partner/Master you can't help but fall along with the two of them.



I honestly believe that to thoroughly enjoy Loving the Master you have to go in with a desire to be swept away on a totally incredible but highly desirable journey. It's almost like reading a comic book or a graphic novella - Shea's plight, David's life, the larger than life storyline and plot. David's father is so villainous and malevolent that it sets up the hero, the villain, and the one in need of saving - that would be David, Dorian and Shea, in that order.

David is a twenty five year old Billionaire with a heart of gold and immense empathy, in spite of having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth and wanting for nothing. He's also spent time with the powerful and exclusive Masters Circle, and their Master Doms, in London. He has personal guards 24/7. He lives in a mansion that includes his BDSM club - Manse - downstairs, offices further up, and his own purpose-built medical suite. He's also a real estate mogul of his own making. He has the need for a BDSM lifestyle, sexual kink, and, it seems, a sub so honest and open that there are no games or rubbish between them and someone who doesn't treat him like David Davenport, wealthy young man. Someone who sees him as David, a Master, a lover, and a friend.

Shea so down and out, so sweet, so virginal, so positive with much propensity for forgiveness, so mature... and he's only eighteen. I'm not kidding on the forgiveness, Shea can forgive where most people would be beyond being inclined. Open yourself to the experience of a boo-hiss-yay-fairy-tale-Pretty-Woman (sans hooker) storyline, complete with sexy times - scorching, it really is freaking hot - a bit of mutual rescuing, terrific MCs, and a happy ending and you'll have a ball.



If you love your BDSM sweeter, with a distinctly dark twang, there is a rape that gets talked about later, be warned. some virginal loving, some exhibitionism, a lovely romance with MCs you can really embrace, then read Loving the Master, it really is a great start to the 2016 reading year. Lynn Kelling knocks another one right out of the ballpark.

There's also a predominantly pictorial review on the blog. It's NSFW.
http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...

[Vallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Lynn Kelling, you’ve done it yet again! I absolutely loved this book!

The book plays on the billionaire Dom trope. David has money, a security details (more on that later), and a BDSM club on the ground floor of his mansion. He meets shy 18 year-old Shea and is completely enamoured by him. David wants to wrap Shea in a bubble and keep him safe from the world. And guess what? He sort of has to as Shea seems to be leading a pretty horrible life –the poor kid is victimised in every corner! So Shea moves into the macmansion, completely isolated from the world and under the protection of David.

But, there’s a twist. David’s evil dad –truly, a psychopath –sends his goons to interrogate Shea about his intentions. Shea gets horribly injured in the process. Those scenes were pretty brutal to read, I admit. But the hurt/comfort, dear lord! There’s a medical suite and 24/7 care for Shea. I loved how dramatic it all was. Shea is very needy and craves someone to lean on who’ll take care of him. I just have a weak spot for needy characters, let’s just put that out there. The co-dependency hit all of my buttons here!

Also, Shea is a virgin (double whammy!) and even though David is the big bad Dom, he is so freaking sweet with Shea, it’s unreal. Who would have thought their first time would be so freaking tender? David eased Shea into the lifestyle and took great care to ensure that nothing is overwhelming.

My favourite thing was the humour though, bar none. Every time I started getting to the eye-roll stage when David was talking his master/slave stuff, Shea would ask a question and bring everything back down to reality. A newbie would surely ask these types of questions, would laugh at certain things, would make fun. And Shea did! None of the wide-eyed ignorance-I’m-following-you-blindly shit. The kid was 18 but had a good head on his shoulders. He might have wanted a keeper, but he wasn’t helpless. And I loved that David and Shea held on to their D/s dynamic during sex but then veered straight into normal relationship status right after. Amazing!

A couple of things that bothered me: They never had any privacy, and I mean, NEVER. That damn security team was hovering by the door even when they were having sex. I thought that was completely over the top. Shea struggled to get used to it and so did I. Also, David was involved in other BDSM scenes while Shea was recuperating in the beginning of the book. He never made direct contact with the other sub, but he got off on it, and that put me off. David and Shea were open later on in the book and indulged in voyeurism, but until they were both present and consciously joining in those activities, it felt like cheating to see David alone in those scenes.

The drama with the “villains” was OTT as well, especially the way it ended. But who cares about that when the main parts of the book were so goddamn good. Emotional, needy, BDSM is badass and the author pulled it off masterfully.

Highly recommend!

ARC of Loving the Master provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. See this review at Gay Book Reviews.

[Jack Pyke]

Part of the Society of Masters. Has one of my MCers in it!

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Sinfully.

4.5 stars

Lynn Kelling has always written characters that have a darkness to them. They are characters that have been put through so much that they have a hard shell to crack before their vulnerability and sweetness shows through. One word I never thought I would use to describe a main character in a Lynn Kelling book is “adorable”, but 18 year old, comic book nerd Shea is just that. He’s been through a hard time the past few years and is on the verge of homelessness when we meet him, but there is no hiding who he really is. He is optimistic, honest, compassionate and craving simple affection and security.

David is seemingly Shea’s polar opposite. At 25 he is a wildly successful businessman and a highly trained Dom (trained by none other than Master Brennan of the Masters’ Circle from Jack L. Pyke’s Don’t… series). He will accept nothing less than complete control over everything in his life. He has plenty of admirers and the pick of any sub at his club, Manse, but he knows most of them only see him for his money and power. The only thing he doesn’t have and can’t buy is someone who really sees and understands him; someone to love and love him back.

When David meets Shea, the awkwardly sweet waiter at a cheesy restaurant, he is instantly taken with him. When David returns again and finds Shea bruised and battered, he immediately takes control of the situation. Unfortunately the safety David wants to provide is compromised in a brutal fashion when his paranoid and even wealthier father, Dorian, finds out about Shea and decides he is threat to his son that must be cataloged and neutralized. After the horror Shea endures at the hands of his fathers’ men, David will do anything it takes to stop his father, even if it means calling in favors from an old friend and mentor.

David has a passion for BDSM and his gay club Manse provides him with the opportunity to practice his craft, training slaves and Masters. As such, if you have issues with some openness in a main relationship, this story may not sit well with you. David is devoted to Shea in a way he has never been with another, but he is also continuing his duties at Manse, with the full knowledge and consent of Shea.

Shea may be young and virginal with a tendency to babble when he is nervous, but he is not a pushover and he is not stupid. Shea is looking for someone to take care of him and keep him safe, but he doesn’t want to be kept. He wants to contribute and follow his own interests even in the middle of this world he never could have imagined being a part of. This, of course, doesn’t fit too well with David’s desire to keep Shea safe, but he does understand and respect Shea’s feelings and position on the matter. I loved the fact that these two men openly communicated with each other. There is no other way the relationship could work and even though things moved a bit swiftly, it all fit and felt natural.

Now onto the sex. Lynn Kelling’s books never shy away from the kink and this is no exception, but there are also plenty of tender and romantic moments between the two men. Shea is a virgin and David has great respect for Shea’s needs. Shea has no real knowledge of the BDSM world and struggles with some shame over his sexuality, but he does have an open mind and a trust in David that allows him to explore his own submission. He submits beautifully and isn’t afraid to speak out. Some of the scenes are quite intense and I was a bit surprised at how quickly Shea seemed to be introduced into the scene, but David’s ownership of the club which is right inside his estate, helped to alleviate some of that concern. I do wish we saw a little bit of David and Shea talking over things or easing into the scene, but it all worked for me in the end.

I really adored David and Shea as a couple and the book had a little bit of everything. Some of the plot may have been a bit over the top, but considering Shea’s superhero worship, perhaps that was fitting. You don’t need to have read either of the other books in the series. This one is actually first in the timeline and completely works as a standalone story. If you haven’t read Lynn Kelling before or were wary of some of her darker stories, Loving the Master would be a perfect introduction for you.

[The Novel Approach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynn Kelling’s Learning from the Master is a short prequel to Jenner Parrish’s full story, Bound By Lies. When I read “Learning” I wasn’t at all familiar with these characters, but really, I didn’t need to be, as the vignette is the erotic introduction to a then eighteen-year-old Jenner—who’s only beginning to learn what some of his yearnings foretell. That being that he’s a Dominant, and that in order to be a Master, he has to learn what it means, and the strength it takes, to submit.

In this scene, Master David Davenport and his slave, Shea Whittier, are introduced. David and Shea personify the beauty of what it means to love and trust someone, body and soul. David and Shea, it’s clear even in this short story, are two halves of a whole, their utter devotion to each other based in mutual respect and the desire to please—whatever that happens to entail. When I saw that Loving the Master was their prequel, then, there was no question as to whether or not I would read it because they’d already hooked me enough to want to know how they began.

And, well… there’s Shea.

This novel is set five years before Learning from the Master, and is an opposites attract story in every way—David is the wealthy Dom, Shea the disowned and just-this-side-of-homeless boy who has yet to define his need to submit. David is the twenty-five-year-old master of his domain, while Shea is the eighteen-year-old kid who barely has a grasp on what it means to exist on his own in the real world. Their meeting in the restaurant where Shea is waiting tables is a bit like a predator scenting a mate. David’s attraction to Shea is carnal and instinctive–he sees who Shea can become–and while the way the author draws the boy into David’s world is pretty dramatic and traumatic, in the “Murphy’s Law” of Shea’s life, it works.

David’s father is a particularly troublesome character (to say the least—I’m trying to keep it clean, here) whose behavior is Machiavellian in a batshit crazy (sorrynotsorry) sort of way for the sake of providing all the conflict in the storyline, but there’s just enough plausibility behind his actions and the reason he’d snapped that, again, it fit the dramatic arc of the story and I was able to go with it. His extreme methods of interference in David and Shea’s relationship in essence provides the catalyst for them to bond so quickly, so while Dorian Davenport is completely nuts, it worked for me.

Shea’s teenage self is every bit as endearing and adorable as when I met him at the ripe old age of twenty-three, though he’s obviously a lot less disciplined, and I couldn’t help but fall for his nervous monologues and shy lust for David—the man who would ultimately become his savior as well as his Master. But, Shea also has an inner strength apart from David, the soul and will of a survivor, which makes him that much more believable in his role as a submissive and the only man David Davenport has ever wanted to claim as his own. Shea is victim to a brutal attack and is violated in a completely heinous way, so word of warning, when I say Shea is a survivor, it’s not just a figure of speech. Having said that, though, the scene also serves its purpose in building the bond and trust between Shea and David–it’s not there just for the sake of being there–and if you have a single protective instinct in your body, I swear it will draw you to Shea even more.

Loving the Master is a sexy and erotic and romantic, sometimes sweet, sometimes harsh Master/slave tale. David and Shea are beautiful together, the way their bond strengthens as Shea’s gift of submission grows. This is the story of two men I liked a lot, who meet and discover they each fill a gap in the other’s life, like the missing pieces of a not-quite-complete puzzle. If you’re looking for a BDSM novel that manifests itself into a powerful story of trust and devotion—or you’re looking for a novel about an all-encompassing trust and faith that manifests itself into a powerful Master/slave story—this book is all of those things.

Reviewed by Lisa at The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 star review by The Blogger Girls.

This was my favorite Lynn Kelling so far. While there were a few things that didn’t quite work for me, there were so many more that did.

David is bored and in a bit of a lull. He’s hasn’t found anyone lately who he really connected with. That changes when he meets young Shae. Shae is having a bit of a rough time (he lives with a horrible ex-boyfriend, is attacked, loses said apartment, job, etc.), but no matter what life throws at him, he has this positive perky attitude that is hard not to make you smile.

When David notices some submissive tendencies in Shae, he is intrigued. He ends up offering to help him out, wanting to wrap Shae up and keep him safe. But, things go horribly wrong when David’s father steps in and Shae is basically attacked again. That was pretty brutal to read, but the rest of the story makes up for it. David feels the only safe place for Shae is with him back at the Manse where he can be more assured of the security. There is an extreme amount of security (which got a bit weird at times, as they never had any privacy at all). Shae is so young and naïve and needing someone to take care of him, and David steps right in and tries to do just that.

This is where things get really interesting. Shae is not in the scene at all, especially since he is so young and has such little experience. So, being introduced to it even a little at a time is a bit overwhelming. David has quite a domain in the Manse, where he also lives, and it is quite expansive. What I loved about Shae was that even though he as a total newbie in all ways, he was not a total pushover. He didn’t just accept all the master/slave stuff, he asked questions, normal questions, which were the perfect contrast to David’s properness. While he did learn how to be David’s submissive, he never totally fit the role of perfect sub, which I found totally perfect. :)

Shae is adorable and funny, hard to imagine after all he’s been through, and he really was a great partner for David. I loved watching David step away from the cold master and open his heart to Shae. I’ve had some issues in the past with Ms. Kelling’s books due to her use of tense (which are solely my own issues), but that didn’t happen here, and allowed me to fully enjoy this story. It was fast-paced, full of excitement and suspense with lots of smexy and emotional time as well. I definitely recommend this story and her other series as well.

[Wendy❤Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m no singer and I’m nowhere near angelic, but I’m definitely rejoicing “Hallelujah” at the top of my lungs with a grin from ear to ear! I’m only a couple of days into the new year, but I already know this book is going to top my list of favorites for 2016!!

There wasn’t a single thing I didn’t love about this story – it totally aligned with most of my key hot buttons (a very good thing in this context). Those included:

• Characters I could rally around and love. Shea was more than adorable in his unpretentious and somewhat geeky ways. David was the type of hero any red-blooded person could want.
• Honesty and honest to goodness communication – totally refreshing in a sea of storylines that tend to gravitate toward hidden agendas, cover up by omission, and/or cluelessness about how to be up front with one another. The only priority for each of these guys was to nurture, protect and focus solely on the other person they committed to – no games (well…, play and scenes permitted of course) – just a true emotional connection that was their primary goal.
• BDSM that showcases what it means to be safe, sane and consensual – not to mention loving, respectful and hotter than sin. This is what I wish for in every Dom/sub relationship (real life and fictional).
• A form of angst that makes me want to commit violence first, wrap my guys in bubble wrap and hide them somewhere that no one else can cause any further hurt second, and finally hug the stuffing out of them.
• Passionate and erotic sex and plenty of it including the best first-time (virginal) sex scene I’ve read to date!

I loved this book so much and have had such a great experience reading a few other stories by this author that I immediately went and purchased the other books in this particular series to read. I will definitely be following up to check out most of her existing backlist and I’m confident saying her books will be an auto-buy for me in the future! Totally in my sweet spot and highly recommended!!!

Review posted at... - 5 hearts

Review copy provided by Forbidden Fiction in exchange for an honest review.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

Loving the Master is the prequel book in the Manse series. While David and Shea were characters in the earlier books, this is the story of their beginning and can be read as a stand alone. Also, if you are familiar with Kelling’s work you will be aware that the author generally packs a punch on many levels and, while there is violence and scenes of BDSM here, comparatively, I am going to classify this as Kelling lite.

Shea is easy to fall for instantly. He’s young, he’s naïve and nervous, and he’s had a rough time that continues on a downward spiral. Now this is a classic story with opposite characters and an older, dominant experienced man that is paired with a younger, completely inexperienced, destitute guy. While David is only twenty-five, his life, success, and responsibility do give him an older vibe. But, it’s what Kelling does with them that makes all of the difference.

Kelling certainly knows how to craft a story and it’s impossible for me to pass up one of her books. If you are looking to try her work but didn’t want to go too dark this is an excellent place to start. If you are familiar with her work, this still offers her signature style with plenty to hold your interest of an experienced Dom not only training a new sub but finding a life partner in the process.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[noveldoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

bdsm at its finest...🖤

[Rachel Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

So...I originally thought I would rate this somewhere between 4-4.5 stars, but what pushed me to rate it 5 stars was Shea and how absolutely adorable, endearing, and strong he was as a character. I just loved him, right from the beginning and his first meeting with David. I felt for him when the absolutely horrible things happened, and I loved his innocence, rambling awkwardness, his love of superheroes, and the realness of how he fell in love with David.

However, there were a few things that didn't fully sit well with me. For one, the plot itself was a bit over the top, like David's father was a crazy movie villain instead of a real life one (and I know this is a book, so still not "real" real life, but still...). I was also slightly uncomfortable with how Shea and David were NEVER alone, and for me that all goes with the whole feeling of things being over the top. And finally, David was involved with scenes with other subs/slaves while still being with Shea, and that was just...not what I prefer reading, I guess?

So, yes...plot was a bit much for me, but I loved reading about Shea and David falling in love and all their sexy times together. They made the story for me, any issues with plot aside. And I want to read the first book in this series now, too!

In closing, if you're looking for heavy romance with some pretty serious BDSM/kink, then I would recommend this!!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've reread this thinking perhaps I missed something the first time. Well, I don't think I missed anything but I did pay closer attention.

It's still a story where you need to completely suspend your belief system, ala Fifty Shades. Actually the whole premise is Fifty Shades.

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and the end of the book where the romance shines through. The middle was too long.

The sex and BDSM elements. Heavy on the Master/Slave business which I don't know if I'll ever buy into that. Here, it did not come off as a loving relationship, at least to me. When these men came together, alone, without all the theatrics, that was believable and enjoyable to read.

Anything in this book involving the side characters Elet and Thierry were, for the most part, gross. Huge turn-off for me. That is what made me the most nauseous the first time around. Raunchy to the extreme. Impaling, fisting, whipping, oh, and let's not forget the cleaning. Now there's a pleasant visual. There is nothing sexy, loving or a 'beautiful exchange of power' going on here. This is a love story? C'mon.

Dump the shock and awe value and you have a fairly decent story, even if it's a Fifty Shades rip-off.

I'm going to read the next few since I started down this road again. I'll have my blinders at the ready.

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

yeah, wow. I know I'm always raving about Lynn Kelling's characters and their relationships but this one really outdoes them all. David is a deep and interesting character, I fell in love with him right away - he has such a strong need to be loved it broke my heart. And Shea was so perfect for him, he's looking for support and safety and acceptance and David is just the right match.

The dynamic for this pair is incredible - I met them first in Learning from the Master (which was excellent) and the scene between Shea and Jenner was so beautiful I was glad to get a chance to know him better.

I was fascinated by the idea that David learned D/s from Master Brennan - I'd love to have more of that story. If it's out there and I've missed it someone please give me the head's up!

So another excellent book by Lynn Kelling :)

[QUEERcentric Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Christina for QUEERcentric Books
4.5 stars

Described as a prequel to a prequel, the story of David and Shea was at times heartbreaking and sweet. Getting to see David be Shea’s real life superhero was amazing.

Watch Christina's video review at QUEERcentric Books!

[Kim the Strange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynn never disappoints....dreamy sigh!

[Phetra Hedlund · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reviewed for GGR reviews:

Loving the Master by Lynn Kelling, is an alternative lifestyle book. In ít you will meet shy but still vibrant Shea Whittier who because of being thrown out on the streets for being gay lives the life of a poor man who is barely hanging on because the few people he has around him expect his friend Daisy doesn’t really care about him. His room mates are about to throw him out onto the streets because he’s low on cash and also after with rent. Shea is sweet and I really like Shea’s high spirited personality and his charming manners.

David Davenport is a young man with intelligence and money, not only does he come from money because his family is this high society family with large corporations that are worth billions of dollars, but David is in the “lifestyle” himself and has been trained by the best Masters, also at the age of 25 he has his own very successful business. What to say about David, as a character he’s absolutely charming when he’s not an abusive asshole.

Now to the reason why I don’t give this book a very high rating and it pains me to have to do this but I almost feel like I have to start this review out by apologizing, because I don’t know how to write it and not kill another author’s spirits. But this book didn’t work for me at all. There are so many issues with this book I stopped highlighting after approximately 50-60% through the book. It took me a month just to get through it because honestly some of the things that happens in this book is pure abuse and has nothing to do with the lifestyle the author is referring too. I’m surprised none of the people who helped editing this book didn’t see the problems with some of the things going on or how pointly absurd other things were. I think I know where the author was going with this, wanting to create intensity, high importance of the Davenports and that how important they were around the city or what not. But instead 18 year old Shea acts like a 40 year old and not his young age, David acts like he has a split personality and feels more often creepy than dominant.

Early on in the book when Shea and David meet it starts out fairly sweet, young lost boy working at a diner in comes this well off and self-assured man with his just as self-assured friend and fireworks happens. Shea is shy, David isn’t but he is tentative to that Shea is shy and not as forward as he is. Elet, David’s close friend and also a dom, don’t get me started on that man. He isn’t in the book very much but each time he is he’s beating poor Thierry up and calls it BDSM.

These are some of the issues I have with this book:

1.Shea is raped and abused by David’s fathers military men and we talk severe torture and rape, still not once does he show any sign that he been damaged by it. No nightmares, no depression, he fears nothing he simply goes on like nothing has happen simply because David Davenport sailed in like a knight in white and shining armor and saved him. And when David tells him about his lifestyle choice he’s all excited and goes along with it without a second thought. How is that possible?

2. David and his Dom friend Elet, repeatedly abuse Thierry both physically and mentally, he’s bullied, sexually abused, beaten and humiliated. Repeatedly. There’s nothing sexy or remotely consensual about it all. Thierry even says at the end of the book when he’s about to get thrown out on his ass and banned from Manse (the name of David’s BDSM club) that he doesn’t care anymore because everyone hates him. We just hear about his bratty and disrespectful behavior, and I can’t see how anyone can be so disrespectful that you would do the things to them like Elet and David does to Thierry. Tell someone enough time they are worthless soon they start to believe it.

3. Shea sees Thierry beaten body many times or actually see him being mistreated and not until the very end does he say something half hearted like “Master would you spare him for me”.

4. David has more security guards around himself and especially Shea than the President of the United States, the are even in the room when Shea and David has sex and that is according to David to secure both but especially Shea’s safety. Safety for when they are playing that protocol is followed such as ex. safewords and to prevent David’s dad from getting to them.

5. David is sweet with Shea, but pretty much a control freak, abusive asshole with anyone who he doesn’t think live up to his high demands. Also there are issues like he demands Shea to bedrest for no apparent reason, at least not one that you ask any to stay in bed for only to have them do something resembling a so-called scene some pages later. As for scenes at the end of the book without any prior experience to the lifestyle Shea is involved with live scenes with David that are from what little I know about the BDSM lifestyle more towards the Sadist and Masochistic preference. It’s HARD CORE to say the least and this with a 18 year old guy who’s been tortured, rapped and was a VIRGIN when the book started.

6. On one page David is all tentative “you’re not ready for sex you are hurt stay in bed” and then four pages later he’s brought Shea down to his club or in his office, with those creepy security guards in the room watching them fuck because of security reasons, and shove a finger or two up Shea’s butt and jack him off. If that’s not sex then what the hell is? And again Shea went through something very traumatic where he was violated, torture and rapped and he’s all dandy with being dominated and having sex?

7. Neither Shea nor David act their age, David more seem like a perpetual child at times and Shea like he’s 40. At one point David even referred to Shea with these words and I quote “...he was little more than a child, yet he had no one watching out for him.” What!?!

This is some of the issues I’ve encountered reading this book, and it actually saddens me to have to write this review, at one point I was going to ask to have it returned and reviewed by another reviewer. I know how much work it takes and how much heart an author put into his/her story. But as it was I thought it wasn’t more than right that I wrote it.

I can see what Ms Kelling was aiming for with this story but unfortunately this story has too many issues for it to be a book I would buy to read and if I had I wouldn’t have finished it. There are too many things I consider unlikely to happen or lack of reactions to what happens, actions and behavior that are plain abusive and strange for me to be able to say that this is a good story. What bothers me the most, and I might be wrong because I’m not a BDSM expert in any sense of the matter but what happens in this book isn’t at all what I associate with BDSM or that lifestyle at all.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a good time reading this book, but I can’t say I loved it as I expected to. I did loved Shea so much, he was a lovely character.

The plot and writing style was nice. I sis struggle a little bit with the story feeling a little distracted at times and other times I couldn’t read fast enough. It had some high and lows but I did enjoy the way the story went.

What I liked the most about it was Shea. He was a beautiful character and getting to know him was my favorite part of the book. I also liked David, he was nice. I was amazed by some decisions he made that I just didn’t see coming and, even though I couldn’t love him as much as I did Shea, he was a really nice character and it was easy to care for him. Their love story was very sweet, they seem so different and I loved it. I had a little bit of an issue with the way their romance started because I prefer slow burn relationships but I end up believing they love each other.

The BDSM part of the book was rather light which was perfect considering Shea’s lack of knowledge about it and I guess I prefer it that way at times. Overall it was a really nice book, I know is part of a series and I’m guessing this might not be my favorite of them all but it was definitely an inviting first book that is going to keep me hook to The Society of Masters. I decided to read it on the right timeline from the author’s page so I’ll be reading some short stories soon.

[Alexis Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up a prequel, but this was a story onto it's own. Overall, I liked the storyline, but a couple of ticking points kept me from giving it more stars. I really disliked how David (the dom) kept referring to Shea as "slave". I get that "slave" was used in the club, but Shea doesn't act one iota like a slave the entire book. Okay for use at the beginning, but I truly feel like David could have come up with something better than calling a bratty sub a slave by the end. The other part that bothered me was our introduction to Shea being flogged. According to what I'd read, it was his first time and seemed anything but a gentle introduction to the scene. The voyeuristic aspect of the bodyguards continually watching was weird too.

[Jodi Ciorciari-marinich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy Oh Boy is all I can say about this story. Lynn sure knows how to write about kink. Her writing makes you feel like you are part of the story. I found myself on more than one occasion stopping mid read to enjoy the visuals she gives us.
The plot is great, who doesnt love the billionaire and the pauper stories. David and Shea are so far from each other in status that you can see how they will work together.
David knows money can buy you many things but true love isnt one of them. Everything that can go wrong for Shea does until he meets David. Shea loves his superheros and when he sees David , he thinks he is a really life one. Things dont go easy for Shea but David tries his best to be there for him and give him a chance at a happy life. Shea is so innocent, he is only 18. Davis is 24 but when you read about him and his life I cant help but think he is much older. The chemistry between David and Shea is hot. David introduces Shea to his kink and Shea loves it. He is falls right into submission to David and feels safe. I love that David takes it easy on Shea and teaches him in the process. Of course we have drama in this story and I felt it just enhanced it for me. We have good guys and bad guys but in the end it is all about David and Shea. They fall into a relationship quickly but again it works in this story line. I really loved this one even more than book 1. Your heart will break for all the problems and struggles Shea has had in his short life and you will cheer when David comes to the rescue. Davis finds his true love and Shea has his HEA.
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jodi from Alpha Book Club

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

M/M. BDSM with a lot of public display. That turns me off so the book was just okay for me.

[Tais · Rating 3 out of 5]

Слишком много раздражающих факторов (сбилась на шестом), но в первую очередь - вездесущий эксгибиционизм. Не мое.
Жаль, хотелось чего-то похожего на "Bound By Lies".

[Calila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this. It's very fluffy and sweet for a book that tackles such complicated issues. David and Shea pretty much fall in insta-love, but it works for me. I think the dynamic is handled well to where it never feels like David is taking advantage of Shea, and that Shea is in over his head. Shea stands up for himself and stands his ground when it's important. I think the stuff with David's dad didn't need to be there. It was a little much. But I do like the compassion Shea shows Damian, and while Damian doesn't deserve it or forgiveness, it makes total sense why Shea feels the way he does. I'm really interested in more about Elal and Theirry. I'd love to read their book.

[ZK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abandoning ship at 47% mark. Really tried to get though the book for the sake of curiosity but couldn't get into it. This is where the MCs are about to get some action too but I'm not feeling it anymore. Some nice quotes every now and then but too much soap opera going on here for my taste.

[Diane Dannenfeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. You have to suspend your beliefs in some areas. I also would have like some hardercore BDSM.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great balance of hot sex scenes and introspection, with a good plot. Great writing.

[Abhi · Rating 2 out of 5]

the plot seemed silly and ridiculous and i couldn't connect to the story at all. shea was a walking tragedy and david was so 1 dimensional. all he did was take care of shea. that's it. and i read over 60% of this book ugh.
update: i finished this damn book and it's still three stars.

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Loving the Master by Lynn Kelling
1) At 10%, I was ready to throw in the towel, but I persevered. At 25%, I had to take a break from reading, and truthfully, I considered calling it quits. I found the violence in the first quarter of this novel unbearable, but I trusted it was crucial to the plot development, and I was already fully invested in the characters, so I read on. The author paints a vivid setting through scant description, allowing the reader’s imagination to take over. The characterisation is rich and consistent. The story unfolds at a perfect pace (although the last 10% felt a bit like ticking boxes for readers). This is not the book for me; nor is it the kind of book I would usually read. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do so.
2) The characters really put this one over the top for me. I enjoyed the fact this author didn’t completely ignore setting, adding details about the world in which the characters moved around in—I could have used more of that. I could have done without some of the sex and still enjoyed the story just as much, but that is a personal taste thing. I didn’t always ‘believe’ what was happening within the story, but the characters themselves felt real to me. All in all, I’m not much of a BDSM fan and that didn’t matter in the least with this story, the characters were well-drawn and I cared what happened to them, which allowed this story transcend the BDSM subgenre ties(no pun intended) to become a really nice romance. Two thumbs up.

[AussieMum · Rating 4 out of 5]

***after reading Learning from the Master my mind has been set at ease regarding David having sex outside of his relationship with Shea. 4 stars

Wavering between 3 and 4 stars because of personal preferences so I'll give the benefit of the doubt because I loved Bound By Lies and this was a good addition to the series but...

I don't mind cheating in books when it's part of the story. Voyerism is hot. Group sex, yay. An open relationship, cool. Pushing sexual boundaries in a relationship, he'll yeah. But in this book I hated how David was still engaging in acts at the club when Shea wasn't present. Ok. Rant over.

That being said, once I eventually warmed up to David I understood what Shea gave him that was different from all the other slaves he had been with. They had a really sweet and loving relationship and became equals. They also had lots of fun, romantic, kinky, hot times and a fair bit of drama- which bordered on crazy but I went with it.

[Antisocial Recluse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably liked this the best of the Lynn Kelling books I've read. This was actually rather light; not too much angst, except for Shea's initial experience. I liked the gradual way David led Shea into BDSM and into sex in general. There was still a lot of effort required to read it through a filter of "this is not realism and it was intended that way". I also didn't fall into it completely. I think it's because of books I've read previously with the billionaire and the poor, pitiful, persecuted, perfect sub. They weren't all very good, though and this book was done very well. Lynn Kelling is much more skillful in character and world building than most. So, I really liked it and while it was relatively heavy BDSM, mostly with Thierry, it wasn't extreme. Hit the right levels for me.