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Hammer #27
Combine: A Hammer Novel
Dom and sub couples Peter and Devon, and Max and Swan, are joining their lives together. After a week at The Briar Rose, they know there's a lot of work to do, and they're all committed to making sure what they have together succeeds. Peter is the easygoing sub, while Max needs discipline and rules to keep from falling back into bad habits, so both Masters worry about making sure that each boy gets what he needs without making either sub feel neglected. It's a balancing act that winds up taking some fancy footwork and the stress takes its toll. As they learn to live and bond together, they discover things about each other that makes them fall more deeply in love, helping to cement their relationships. Then an unexpected attack on Peter and Max threatens to upset the balance they've created, and Swan and Devon must join forces to give their subs what they need to push through and thrive. Will this stumbling block break apart their hard-won new family, or will it forge a stronger foursome?
- GenresBDSMM M RomanceM M M M
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2015
4 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Sean Michael
652 books1,209 followersOften referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 7, 2016
‘Combine’ is a great title for the continuing story about two couples who want to become a permanent foursome. It started in ‘Blended Family (Briar Rose 3)’, and I do suggest you read that book first. You’ll miss many of the details of their backgrounds if you don’t, and while ‘Combine’ makes sense on its own, I don’t think my enjoyment would have been the same had I not met Peter and Devon and Max and Swan before. The four men have been in 24/7 relationships for a while, as couples, but subs Peter and Max are also old friends who have been intimate. They are the ones asking for more, still missing what they once had but couldn’t maintain on their own. During their one-week stay at the Briar Rose, they laid the groundwork for a foursome, tried out a few things, and agreed to give it a go. I was very excited to find out if it works and how they deal with any issues that will most definitely arise.
Some aspects are relatively easy to deal with since the four men are friends, know and respect what each of them likes (such as being morning persons or night owls), and mostly love each other already. But there are some interesting questions to deal with as well. Peter needs fewer rules than Max to be happy, so how is Swan going to deal with handling Peter and Devon with dealing with Max? The other is the question of Devon and Swan’s relationship – can it grow beyond friendship and how will they handle two Doms deciding their “bedroom dynamics”? Peter and Max already love each other, so that part is easy, but they need to be comfortable with how each of their Masters deals with them as well. Not to mention the unexpected attack on Peter and Max when they walk home – the homophobic bullies don’t do much physical damage, but the psychological effect, especially on Max, are devastating. It takes both Masters and Peter to help Max through the crisis and, like the loving family the four men have become, they are all there for him once he is ready.
As you would guess, the dynamics with four partners meshing their lives are complicated. But they are also fun, and since these guys tend to work things out when undressed and in various hot scenes together, their journey is not just psychologically fascinating, but also highly erotically charged. I think it’s worth reading for more than one reason.
If you like watching the formation of special family situations, if you're into foursomes experimenting with all kinds of different BDSM play situations, and if you're looking for a kinky D/s story with lots of love, teasing, and interesting discussions about how things are working (or not) and should work in the future, then you will probably like this novel.
Some aspects are relatively easy to deal with since the four men are friends, know and respect what each of them likes (such as being morning persons or night owls), and mostly love each other already. But there are some interesting questions to deal with as well. Peter needs fewer rules than Max to be happy, so how is Swan going to deal with handling Peter and Devon with dealing with Max? The other is the question of Devon and Swan’s relationship – can it grow beyond friendship and how will they handle two Doms deciding their “bedroom dynamics”? Peter and Max already love each other, so that part is easy, but they need to be comfortable with how each of their Masters deals with them as well. Not to mention the unexpected attack on Peter and Max when they walk home – the homophobic bullies don’t do much physical damage, but the psychological effect, especially on Max, are devastating. It takes both Masters and Peter to help Max through the crisis and, like the loving family the four men have become, they are all there for him once he is ready.
As you would guess, the dynamics with four partners meshing their lives are complicated. But they are also fun, and since these guys tend to work things out when undressed and in various hot scenes together, their journey is not just psychologically fascinating, but also highly erotically charged. I think it’s worth reading for more than one reason.
If you like watching the formation of special family situations, if you're into foursomes experimenting with all kinds of different BDSM play situations, and if you're looking for a kinky D/s story with lots of love, teasing, and interesting discussions about how things are working (or not) and should work in the future, then you will probably like this novel.
January 23, 2017
There's potential here, but it lacks backstory pretty severely
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- The Hammer universe is chock-full of Dominants of the nurturing kind. (This might be a con for some.) The Doms here are both ready at the slightest provocation to do anything they must to protect and even pamper their submissives. It's a nice little fantasy world.
- There are four men here, and the story covers all of the various combinations of the four. I never felt that anyone was left out, nor did I feel that any pairing received egregiously less attention than any other.
CONS:
- The choice that the men made to move in together isn't discussed much (I might even say "at all," but that feels a little excessive). In addition, the characters don't seem as familiar with one another as I expected them to, having made such a momentous decision together. Peter isn't familiar with Swan's and Max's house, for instance, and many of the sexual permutations are happening for the first time after they all move in, rather than having happened before, during some sort of trial phase.
- This goes hand-in-hand with the point above: there's almost no backstory divulged here. We get hints here and there that the two subs are best friends and former lovers, but even that thread isn't developed well. I wanted to know much more about what happened in the past to bring these four characters into the present situation.
Overall comments: The characters here are as cocksure as Michael's characters usually are: the life-altering decision to meld two couples' lives into one polyamorous family seems to have been made without much testing of the waters, yet none of the men have much doubt that all will work out swimmingly in the end. I found the lack of backstory incredibly frustrating, but when I convinced myself to buy into the fantasy of it...it was nice enough.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- The Hammer universe is chock-full of Dominants of the nurturing kind. (This might be a con for some.) The Doms here are both ready at the slightest provocation to do anything they must to protect and even pamper their submissives. It's a nice little fantasy world.
- There are four men here, and the story covers all of the various combinations of the four. I never felt that anyone was left out, nor did I feel that any pairing received egregiously less attention than any other.
CONS:
- The choice that the men made to move in together isn't discussed much (I might even say "at all," but that feels a little excessive). In addition, the characters don't seem as familiar with one another as I expected them to, having made such a momentous decision together. Peter isn't familiar with Swan's and Max's house, for instance, and many of the sexual permutations are happening for the first time after they all move in, rather than having happened before, during some sort of trial phase.
- This goes hand-in-hand with the point above: there's almost no backstory divulged here. We get hints here and there that the two subs are best friends and former lovers, but even that thread isn't developed well. I wanted to know much more about what happened in the past to bring these four characters into the present situation.
Overall comments: The characters here are as cocksure as Michael's characters usually are: the life-altering decision to meld two couples' lives into one polyamorous family seems to have been made without much testing of the waters, yet none of the men have much doubt that all will work out swimmingly in the end. I found the lack of backstory incredibly frustrating, but when I convinced myself to buy into the fantasy of it...it was nice enough.
March 7, 2016
‘Combine’ is a great title for the continuing story about two couples who want to become a permanent foursome. It started in ‘Blended Family (Briar Rose 3)’, and I do suggest you read that book first. You’ll miss many of the details of their backgrounds if you don’t, and while ‘Combine’ makes sense on its own, I don’t think my enjoyment would have been the same had I not met Peter and Devon and Max and Swan before. The four men have been in 24/7 relationships for a while, as couples, but subs Peter and Max are also old friends who have been intimate. They are the ones asking for more, still missing what they once had but couldn’t maintain on their own. During their one-week stay at the Briar Rose, they laid the groundwork for a foursome, tried out a few things, and agreed to give it a go. I was very excited to find out if it works and how they deal with any issues that will most definitely arise.
Some aspects are relatively easy to deal with since the four men are friends, know and respect what each of them likes (such as being morning persons or night owls), and mostly love each other already. But there are some interesting questions to deal with as well. Peter needs fewer rules than Max to be happy, so how is Swan going to deal with handling Peter and Devon with dealing with Max? The other is the question of Devon and Swan’s relationship – can it grow beyond friendship and how will they handle two Doms deciding their “bedroom dynamics”? Peter and Max already love each other, so that part is easy, but they need to be comfortable with how each of their Masters deals with them as well. Not to mention the unexpected attack on Peter and Max when they walk home – the homophobic bullies don’t do much physical damage, but the psychological effect, especially on Max, are devastating. It takes both Masters and Peter to help Max through the crisis and, like the loving family the four men have become, they are all there for him once he is ready.
As you would guess, the dynamics with four partners meshing their lives are complicated. But they are also fun, and since these guys tend to work things out when undressed and in various hot scenes together, their journey is not just psychologically fascinating, but also highly erotically charged. I think it’s worth reading for more than one reason.
If you like watching the formation of special family situations, if you're into foursomes experimenting with all kinds of different BDSM play situations, and if you're looking for a kinky D/s story with lots of love, teasing, and interesting discussions about how things are working (or not) and should work in the future, then you will probably like this novel.
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Some aspects are relatively easy to deal with since the four men are friends, know and respect what each of them likes (such as being morning persons or night owls), and mostly love each other already. But there are some interesting questions to deal with as well. Peter needs fewer rules than Max to be happy, so how is Swan going to deal with handling Peter and Devon with dealing with Max? The other is the question of Devon and Swan’s relationship – can it grow beyond friendship and how will they handle two Doms deciding their “bedroom dynamics”? Peter and Max already love each other, so that part is easy, but they need to be comfortable with how each of their Masters deals with them as well. Not to mention the unexpected attack on Peter and Max when they walk home – the homophobic bullies don’t do much physical damage, but the psychological effect, especially on Max, are devastating. It takes both Masters and Peter to help Max through the crisis and, like the loving family the four men have become, they are all there for him once he is ready.
As you would guess, the dynamics with four partners meshing their lives are complicated. But they are also fun, and since these guys tend to work things out when undressed and in various hot scenes together, their journey is not just psychologically fascinating, but also highly erotically charged. I think it’s worth reading for more than one reason.
If you like watching the formation of special family situations, if you're into foursomes experimenting with all kinds of different BDSM play situations, and if you're looking for a kinky D/s story with lots of love, teasing, and interesting discussions about how things are working (or not) and should work in the future, then you will probably like this novel.
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
January 14, 2016
Peter and Max have always been best friends, sometimes lovers, until they each met their respective Masters. They have loved each other for years, so their Masters, Devon and Swan, know that to keep the boys truly happy means ensuring the friends stay together. They have all spent a week at the Briar Rose B&B, training and testing to see if they can make a blended family work. There are lots of things to consider in this relationship: how do the boys work with two Masters now, and can those Masters become more than friends themselves without it being awkward? I have to say, I thought the greatest sex scenes were the ones between the two Doms!
The premise of Combine is the affirming of a family dynamic between two established D/s couples. Attempting to do this, though, is tricky for the couples involved, as the Doms are very different, and so are the subs and how they react inside their own D/s paradigm. Attempting to be “more” together sometimes felt too complex to accomplish. However, in the end you get a picture of four men who are committed to being together, broadening their boundaries, and accepting love in a new and wonderful way. They learn to respect what each individual likes/dislikes and embrace the quirks that make them fit together. Of course, there is plenty of smoking hot sex in this book—both with a D/s dynamic and without. I found myself really rooting for these four to make it work, and wouldn’t mind another glimpse into their lives a few years down the road to see how it all comes together for them.
This book stands alone, sort of, but it’s really better if you read Blended Family, book three in the Briar Rose Series, first, which is where we meet these men, get to know them as individuals and how they all come together in the first place. Combine brings them full circle with how they go from being two independent D/s couples to one family. It’s a fitting addition to the Hammer series.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
The premise of Combine is the affirming of a family dynamic between two established D/s couples. Attempting to do this, though, is tricky for the couples involved, as the Doms are very different, and so are the subs and how they react inside their own D/s paradigm. Attempting to be “more” together sometimes felt too complex to accomplish. However, in the end you get a picture of four men who are committed to being together, broadening their boundaries, and accepting love in a new and wonderful way. They learn to respect what each individual likes/dislikes and embrace the quirks that make them fit together. Of course, there is plenty of smoking hot sex in this book—both with a D/s dynamic and without. I found myself really rooting for these four to make it work, and wouldn’t mind another glimpse into their lives a few years down the road to see how it all comes together for them.
This book stands alone, sort of, but it’s really better if you read Blended Family, book three in the Briar Rose Series, first, which is where we meet these men, get to know them as individuals and how they all come together in the first place. Combine brings them full circle with how they go from being two independent D/s couples to one family. It’s a fitting addition to the Hammer series.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
December 11, 2015
2.5 stars rounded up as I am feeling festively generous
So... typical Sean Michael... fluffysmut.
2 Doms who are a little less 'mine' grunty than usual and 2 subs who come over as way too young for their alleged ages. They are starting a life as a foursome .. mainly in bed. There is some plot but it's thin.
So... typical Sean Michael... fluffysmut.
2 Doms who are a little less 'mine' grunty than usual and 2 subs who come over as way too young for their alleged ages. They are starting a life as a foursome .. mainly in bed. There is some plot but it's thin.
September 21, 2019
2 was hot 4 is mindblowing
4 men 2 subs 2 doms and they all share..Crazy kinky sex sharing lives...Sharing homes sharing good love and wonderful crazy rules
4 men 2 subs 2 doms and they all share..Crazy kinky sex sharing lives...Sharing homes sharing good love and wonderful crazy rules
December 20, 2015
The Hammer books can be read as standalones. However this book picks up right after the ending of The Briar Rose: Blended Family leaves off. I do suggest that book be read first before this one. Otherwise a lot of the characters’ backstory is completely missed.
After the events in Blended Family, Doms Devon and Swan, along with their two subs Peter and Max are starting their lives together. They are all moving in together, and two different couples are learning to merge their relationships. There are ups and downs between all of them as they learn about each other and themselves.
But really this is a Sean Michael Hammer novel… meaning the sex scenes are through the roof and plentiful. So let that be a warning, this is a highly erotic book. There is sex going on in every chapter in many different ways and partners. Really this book is burning hot and very dirty, in the best way of course. At least in my opinion.
There are some conflicts as they learn each other and a bit of drama with some bigots. But overall this book was about four men learning to bond their lives together. They all learn something new about themselves and each other both emotionally and sexually. Things are not perfect, but they all love each other and make it work.
Overall, I fast sexy read. It was nice to read about these four and what happened after they left the Briar Rose.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
After the events in Blended Family, Doms Devon and Swan, along with their two subs Peter and Max are starting their lives together. They are all moving in together, and two different couples are learning to merge their relationships. There are ups and downs between all of them as they learn about each other and themselves.
But really this is a Sean Michael Hammer novel… meaning the sex scenes are through the roof and plentiful. So let that be a warning, this is a highly erotic book. There is sex going on in every chapter in many different ways and partners. Really this book is burning hot and very dirty, in the best way of course. At least in my opinion.
There are some conflicts as they learn each other and a bit of drama with some bigots. But overall this book was about four men learning to bond their lives together. They all learn something new about themselves and each other both emotionally and sexually. Things are not perfect, but they all love each other and make it work.
Overall, I fast sexy read. It was nice to read about these four and what happened after they left the Briar Rose.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
December 18, 2015
“His eyes crossed, the sensation delicious, forbidden, and perfect. Groaning, Devon rocked him a few more times, the kisses blowing his mind.”
4 bright stars!! This was such a great book!! Sexy and explosive!!
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I loved this story of the blended families coming together and exploring their relationships and lives together!! There were so many times where I had to fan my self it was so hot!!! Great book and great series!!!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Melissa from Alpha Book Club
December 30, 2015
Combine, a Hammer novel (Hammer #27) by Sean Michael
4 stars
M/M/M/M Erotica
Triggers: Gay Bashing, Eating disorder
I was given this book for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
So, I really enjoyed this story. The premise is about how these 2 couples make it work in becoming one unit - they all love each other and they are working on their relationship that allows them to have relationships with all parties, not just their respective sub or Dom.
The chemistry between everyone is off the charts. The most steamy scenes, I thought, were between the two Dom characters.
I really liked how the premise was about the family dynamic. However, I felt that Peter was somewhat whiny in this story. And, while I can appreciate him wanting some attention from his original Dom, I felt that this story was more about Max and his insecurities.
It was kind of a toss up with my liking the fact that Swan and Devon took the time to help Max through his issues - but on the other hand, I thought that Michael was trying to split the time. In reality, I think it would be awesome for each of the subs to have more of a voice in this story. To know what they were thinking behind the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would love to read more.
4 stars
M/M/M/M Erotica
Triggers: Gay Bashing, Eating disorder
I was given this book for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
So, I really enjoyed this story. The premise is about how these 2 couples make it work in becoming one unit - they all love each other and they are working on their relationship that allows them to have relationships with all parties, not just their respective sub or Dom.
The chemistry between everyone is off the charts. The most steamy scenes, I thought, were between the two Dom characters.
I really liked how the premise was about the family dynamic. However, I felt that Peter was somewhat whiny in this story. And, while I can appreciate him wanting some attention from his original Dom, I felt that this story was more about Max and his insecurities.
It was kind of a toss up with my liking the fact that Swan and Devon took the time to help Max through his issues - but on the other hand, I thought that Michael was trying to split the time. In reality, I think it would be awesome for each of the subs to have more of a voice in this story. To know what they were thinking behind the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would love to read more.
December 24, 2015
Dom and Sub couples Peter and Devon, Max and Swan decide to join their lives together.
First off loved the pretense of this story and honestly did love a lot of this story and really liked these characters. So this is where I am going to say the only really problem I had with this story is I really felt like Peter was being left out a lot because everyone else was so busy with Max and what was going on with him or at least that was the feeling I had after I finished this book. With Peter being a Sub like Max I just felt like he should have been getting a little more of the attention too.
Other than that I thought this book was extremely steamy and very hot between these four men. Especially the scenes between Devon and Swan the two Dom's. So I loved the authors pretense of this story and the way he wrote these characters together. I really did feel like these four men fit well together besides feeling like Peter might have been a little left out.
So all together I really liked this story and would recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
First off loved the pretense of this story and honestly did love a lot of this story and really liked these characters. So this is where I am going to say the only really problem I had with this story is I really felt like Peter was being left out a lot because everyone else was so busy with Max and what was going on with him or at least that was the feeling I had after I finished this book. With Peter being a Sub like Max I just felt like he should have been getting a little more of the attention too.
Other than that I thought this book was extremely steamy and very hot between these four men. Especially the scenes between Devon and Swan the two Dom's. So I loved the authors pretense of this story and the way he wrote these characters together. I really did feel like these four men fit well together besides feeling like Peter might have been a little left out.
So all together I really liked this story and would recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
December 16, 2015
Love this series!
Once again, Sean Michael has delivered a great follow up to his Hammer series. What started with a visit to play at Adam and Matt's Bed & Breakfast in Briar Rose: Blended Family, has come full circle to the 2 Master/Sub pairs becoming one family. It's time for them to take a chance, so Devon and Peter move into Swan and Maxie's house. Along the way, you see how they learn how to work together to give each other what they need. I especially loved the late night time between Devon and Max and the scene where Devon and Swan find their own intimacy without their boys.
As always, I was obsessed until the words The End.....
Once again, Sean Michael has delivered a great follow up to his Hammer series. What started with a visit to play at Adam and Matt's Bed & Breakfast in Briar Rose: Blended Family, has come full circle to the 2 Master/Sub pairs becoming one family. It's time for them to take a chance, so Devon and Peter move into Swan and Maxie's house. Along the way, you see how they learn how to work together to give each other what they need. I especially loved the late night time between Devon and Max and the scene where Devon and Swan find their own intimacy without their boys.
As always, I was obsessed until the words The End.....
Read
January 25, 2016~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads Review Team~
4 stars for this M/M
The whole time I was reading this book I had deja vu and I am not sure why, don’t get me wrong, I really liked the book, I just felt like I had read it before. I loved the dynamics of Peter, Devon, Max and Swan, they seemed believable and like someone you would actually know in real life. You could feel the love, chemistry and friendship between all of them. As with most Sean Michael books there was lots of love and sex just a bit of angst. I really liked it and highly recommend it.
4 stars for this M/M
The whole time I was reading this book I had deja vu and I am not sure why, don’t get me wrong, I really liked the book, I just felt like I had read it before. I loved the dynamics of Peter, Devon, Max and Swan, they seemed believable and like someone you would actually know in real life. You could feel the love, chemistry and friendship between all of them. As with most Sean Michael books there was lots of love and sex just a bit of angst. I really liked it and highly recommend it.
February 8, 2016
This book could really be a Briar Rose book even though it doesn't take place at the Inn. It follows Devon/Peter and Swan/Max who went to Briar Rose to see if they could become a family. Now, they are the blended family that they wanted to be. Of course, there is some learning involved. Devon has to learn that Max is much more sensitive than Peter. Devon and Swan have to learn what it's like to have two dominants in one household. They actually develop a non-dom/sub relationship that is pretty cool. A nice follow up to the first story.
January 11, 2016
Now that these four guys have officially moved in together they have to begin the hard work of putting all the different pieces of their lives together and we get to watch them blend together in a world of love and caring.
December 13, 2015
A typical Sean Michael book. Full of smoking hot sex. Exactly what. I expect from and enjoy about this series delivered well.
Thank you Sean
Thank you Sean
December 13, 2015
This books follows Briar Rose: Blended Family
did-not-finish
December 20, 2015DNF - 33%
January 23, 2016
2.5 stars m/m/m/m
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews