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Saugatuck #2
Risk Aware
Tattoo artist Geoff Gilchrest is convinced his life is some sort of cosmic joke. Why else would a hemophiliac also be a masochist? He’s given himself more than one elbow bleed since puberty just doing what guys do when alone and bored, so forget about whips and chains. How many partners would contemplate playing with someone even a mild flogging could kill?
Gallery owner Robin Brady knows he can deliver what Geoff needs: to be taken to the edge of danger but never beyond. But Robin came to Saugatuck to get away from the leather scene and heal from a betrayal by his former sub, so he’s not sure he should get involved with Geoff. His ambivalence isn’t helped by the fact that Geoff’s unwillingness to communicate about his well-being hits Robin in some very raw places.
Geoff’s hemophilia isn’t the obstacle he thinks it is. Instead, a lack of trust—on both their parts—is what could end them before they have a chance to begin.
Gallery owner Robin Brady knows he can deliver what Geoff needs: to be taken to the edge of danger but never beyond. But Robin came to Saugatuck to get away from the leather scene and heal from a betrayal by his former sub, so he’s not sure he should get involved with Geoff. His ambivalence isn’t helped by the fact that Geoff’s unwillingness to communicate about his well-being hits Robin in some very raw places.
Geoff’s hemophilia isn’t the obstacle he thinks it is. Instead, a lack of trust—on both their parts—is what could end them before they have a chance to begin.
323 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2016
41 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Amelia C. Gormley
25 books226 followersAmelia C. Gormley published her first short story in the school newspaper in the 4th grade, and since then has suffered the persistent delusion that enabling other people to hear the voices in her head might be a worthwhile endeavor. She’s even convinced her hapless spouse that it could be a lucrative one as well, especially when coupled with her real-life interest in angst, kink, social justice issues, and pretty men.
When her husband and son aren’t interacting with the back of her head as she stares at the computer, they rely on her to feed them, maintain their domicile, and keep some semblance of order in their lives (all very, very bad ideas—they really should know better by now.) She can also be found playing video games and ranting on Tumblr, seeing as how she’s one of those horrid social justice warriors out to destroy free speech, gaming, geek culture, and everything else that’s fun everywhere.
You can find her self-published Impulse trilogy almost anywhere ebooks are sold, and check out her catalog of Riptide Publishing releases at their website.
(NOTE: If you are sending me a friends request just to try to promote your books to me or invite me to release events, I will unfriend and block you. I don't use GoodReads to spam people and neither should you.)
When her husband and son aren’t interacting with the back of her head as she stares at the computer, they rely on her to feed them, maintain their domicile, and keep some semblance of order in their lives (all very, very bad ideas—they really should know better by now.) She can also be found playing video games and ranting on Tumblr, seeing as how she’s one of those horrid social justice warriors out to destroy free speech, gaming, geek culture, and everything else that’s fun everywhere.
You can find her self-published Impulse trilogy almost anywhere ebooks are sold, and check out her catalog of Riptide Publishing releases at their website.
(NOTE: If you are sending me a friends request just to try to promote your books to me or invite me to release events, I will unfriend and block you. I don't use GoodReads to spam people and neither should you.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
May 6, 2016
This was a challenging read for me, and I went into this book knowing that it would be that way. There were some aspects of this book that I really liked, but other aspects made me feeling "meh" or irritated with the characters.
I'm a medical professional, and I'm very aware of what a hemophiliac is and what kind of care hemophiliacs need. I was BEYOND intrigued when I heard that this book was about a hemophiliac and BDSM. I mean.... WHA?? My brain sort of melted down with those two seemingly incompatible concepts.
I'll talk a little bit about the kink in this book because that was one of the aspects of the story that I struggled with. I like BDSM books, but I'm into power plays and discipline more than pain play. Geoff, the character with hemophilia, is NOT a submissive. He doesn't seek to be controlled. What Geoff wants is to be hurt. I'd call him a pain slut rather than a traditional sub. Pain is not my kink, not at all, but I've loved many a book with a pain slut (Rough Road, Pain Slut). However, and I feel a little anxious admitting this, but the pain scenes for me were not particularly erotic. I felt queasy reading them, mostly because I was SCARED to death of Geoff having some serious consequences during these scenes. As someone who could DIE from bumping his head or have deep muscle bleeds from banging his hip, I just read each scene with an ache in my chest, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Yes, I know that Robin, Geoff's lover in the book, was very aware and conscientious, but that didn't help me when I was reading the scenes.
I really liked Robin, though I had trouble seeing what drew him to Geoff. Geoff was defensive and played fast and loose with his health (which angered me to no end!), and I didn't see what Robin saw in him other than another person to fix. I enjoyed reading about all the intricacies of Robin, and I admired all that he went through in his life, and while the chemistry between him and Geoff was there, I just wasn't 100% behind them as a couple.
Something Amelia C. Gormley always does well is her writing. Though the content wasn't really my favorite, this book was well plotted and researched with easy-to-read, nicely edited prose. I liked this book mainly because I like Amelia C. Gormley's writing style, but this book does edge to the long side. I was also fascinated by the storyline, even if the romance and the kink didn't work for me.
I think fans of Amelia C. Gormley should try this book, as should fans of pain play or BDSM. It was a little bit of a poor fit for me, but still a worthwhile read.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I'm a medical professional, and I'm very aware of what a hemophiliac is and what kind of care hemophiliacs need. I was BEYOND intrigued when I heard that this book was about a hemophiliac and BDSM. I mean.... WHA?? My brain sort of melted down with those two seemingly incompatible concepts.
I'll talk a little bit about the kink in this book because that was one of the aspects of the story that I struggled with. I like BDSM books, but I'm into power plays and discipline more than pain play. Geoff, the character with hemophilia, is NOT a submissive. He doesn't seek to be controlled. What Geoff wants is to be hurt. I'd call him a pain slut rather than a traditional sub. Pain is not my kink, not at all, but I've loved many a book with a pain slut (Rough Road, Pain Slut). However, and I feel a little anxious admitting this, but the pain scenes for me were not particularly erotic. I felt queasy reading them, mostly because I was SCARED to death of Geoff having some serious consequences during these scenes. As someone who could DIE from bumping his head or have deep muscle bleeds from banging his hip, I just read each scene with an ache in my chest, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Yes, I know that Robin, Geoff's lover in the book, was very aware and conscientious, but that didn't help me when I was reading the scenes.
I really liked Robin, though I had trouble seeing what drew him to Geoff. Geoff was defensive and played fast and loose with his health (which angered me to no end!), and I didn't see what Robin saw in him other than another person to fix. I enjoyed reading about all the intricacies of Robin, and I admired all that he went through in his life, and while the chemistry between him and Geoff was there, I just wasn't 100% behind them as a couple.
Something Amelia C. Gormley always does well is her writing. Though the content wasn't really my favorite, this book was well plotted and researched with easy-to-read, nicely edited prose. I liked this book mainly because I like Amelia C. Gormley's writing style, but this book does edge to the long side. I was also fascinated by the storyline, even if the romance and the kink didn't work for me.
I think fans of Amelia C. Gormley should try this book, as should fans of pain play or BDSM. It was a little bit of a poor fit for me, but still a worthwhile read.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
May 20, 2016
BR with The Adam! Wherein we #UnicornBrainShared on 4.5 ❤️
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be impressive.
I was impressed by the level of research that must’ve gone into living with hemophilia, the staggering medical costs associated with the disorder, the stigma attached to it and just how affected hemophiliacs were by the AIDS epidemic. I, too, was impressed by the kink, but I'll get to that later.
Geoff is a masochist and a hemophiliac. It’s taken his mother’s passing and quite a bit of prodding from his sister for him to finally decide to take a chance and dip his toes into the kink pool. He and his best friend Jace head to Saugatuck for the Dunes’ annual Buns & Baskets Benefit, a leather event, where he meets Robin.
Robin has a history in the kink community but had a bad experience with his erstwhile sub which has kept him away from the scene for a while. He’s attending the event to test the Michigan waters to see if he wants to dive back into a pool with less memories than NYC.
They’re attracted to each other instantly, but their story is in no way instalove. As a matter of fact, this may be the best, most honest relationship development I’ve read to date. Gormley meticulously builds it by showing us both of their perspectives along with their angst, achievements and missteps.
Trust.
Trust is important in any relationship but paramount when you’re talking about RACK level kink. I found it brilliant and brazen that Gormley chose to construct a character with Geoff’s condition and make him a masochist. Which is what immediately drew me to this book. It would seem an impossible task for most tops to meet Geoff’s needs without killing him, so not only does Geoff have to trust Robin to respect his limitations, but Robin has to trust Geoff to verbalize them without insouciance. It's a game of inches for them both.
Sadly Robin is not a bear. Maybe an otter… I digress. Robin is amazingly attuned and attentive to Geoff but not in that omniscient way that I find annoying. He’s human and has foibles, quirks and sore spots like anyone else, but he has that quiet composure that centers Geoff when he's being puerile or sardonic.
And that’s what Gormley is astoundingly good a-she shows all her character's eccentricities, insecurities, strengths and weaknesses holistically. There’s good characterization, there's great characterization and then there’s exceptional characterization and Gormley falls in the latter category, in my opinion.
As for the kink... I was just plain ole WOW'd. Since a simple spanking could be tantamount to death that forces Robin to get creative and WOOO BOOOYYYYY does he ever pick up that gauntlet! I had to create a new shelf! That gives me excite. What also gives me excite is reading the heavy kink scenes from the sub’s perspective.
And I, unlike my co-reviewer, LOVE DA PAIN. And Gormley brought it.
My caveat being I’m not sure how feasible some of it would be, but I gotta be honest...
I just soaked it up and rolled around in it like a happy puppy in a field of poppies. A glassy eyed happy puppy with a notepad.
Geoff and Robin are great together and not just in a kinky sense either. Their relationship evolves naturally as they get to know one another. Robin is just as much out of his comfort zone with edge play as Geoff is a neophyte to kink altogether, but they make it work and along the way fall in love. I wholeheartedly believe they will have a long future together filled with good days and bad, ups and downs, with ubiquitous mundanities and joyful events and perhaps even a family of their own.
If you like kink, heavy, sadomasochistic kink step right up, kids. This is a book for you. But I would urge anyone who hasn’t read Gormley to at least give Risk Aware a try if for no other reason than to experience her exceptional writing.
An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be impressive.
I was impressed by the level of research that must’ve gone into living with hemophilia, the staggering medical costs associated with the disorder, the stigma attached to it and just how affected hemophiliacs were by the AIDS epidemic. I, too, was impressed by the kink, but I'll get to that later.
Geoff is a masochist and a hemophiliac. It’s taken his mother’s passing and quite a bit of prodding from his sister for him to finally decide to take a chance and dip his toes into the kink pool. He and his best friend Jace head to Saugatuck for the Dunes’ annual Buns & Baskets Benefit, a leather event, where he meets Robin.
Robin has a history in the kink community but had a bad experience with his erstwhile sub which has kept him away from the scene for a while. He’s attending the event to test the Michigan waters to see if he wants to dive back into a pool with less memories than NYC.
They’re attracted to each other instantly, but their story is in no way instalove. As a matter of fact, this may be the best, most honest relationship development I’ve read to date. Gormley meticulously builds it by showing us both of their perspectives along with their angst, achievements and missteps.
Trust.
Trust is important in any relationship but paramount when you’re talking about RACK level kink. I found it brilliant and brazen that Gormley chose to construct a character with Geoff’s condition and make him a masochist. Which is what immediately drew me to this book. It would seem an impossible task for most tops to meet Geoff’s needs without killing him, so not only does Geoff have to trust Robin to respect his limitations, but Robin has to trust Geoff to verbalize them without insouciance. It's a game of inches for them both.
“Jesus…For a whore you’re the tightest piece of ass I’ve ever…Fuck. Gonna go balls-deep…gonna pound the fuck outta you.”
Sadly Robin is not a bear. Maybe an otter… I digress. Robin is amazingly attuned and attentive to Geoff but not in that omniscient way that I find annoying. He’s human and has foibles, quirks and sore spots like anyone else, but he has that quiet composure that centers Geoff when he's being puerile or sardonic.
And that’s what Gormley is astoundingly good a-she shows all her character's eccentricities, insecurities, strengths and weaknesses holistically. There’s good characterization, there's great characterization and then there’s exceptional characterization and Gormley falls in the latter category, in my opinion.
As for the kink... I was just plain ole WOW'd. Since a simple spanking could be tantamount to death that forces Robin to get creative and WOOO BOOOYYYYY does he ever pick up that gauntlet! I had to create a new shelf! That gives me excite. What also gives me excite is reading the heavy kink scenes from the sub’s perspective.
I blinked at him sleepily, feeling so incredibly good that I wanted to crawl inside him and stay there, basking in him and this feeling for as long as possible.
And I, unlike my co-reviewer, LOVE DA PAIN. And Gormley brought it.
My caveat being I’m not sure how feasible some of it would be, but I gotta be honest...
I just soaked it up and rolled around in it like a happy puppy in a field of poppies. A glassy eyed happy puppy with a notepad.
Geoff and Robin are great together and not just in a kinky sense either. Their relationship evolves naturally as they get to know one another. Robin is just as much out of his comfort zone with edge play as Geoff is a neophyte to kink altogether, but they make it work and along the way fall in love. I wholeheartedly believe they will have a long future together filled with good days and bad, ups and downs, with ubiquitous mundanities and joyful events and perhaps even a family of their own.
He could make me feel like I was anything but delicate. He could make me fly.
If you like kink, heavy, sadomasochistic kink step right up, kids. This is a book for you. But I would urge anyone who hasn’t read Gormley to at least give Risk Aware a try if for no other reason than to experience her exceptional writing.
An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
October 7, 2017This is not my kink, but if you're into BDSM with strong emotional connection I think you'll love it. The writing is really solid, and it's in exploring the creative sex scenes that Gormley shines, with great descriptions and excellent pacing; nothing awkward or jagged here on the page.
May 9, 2016
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
While I’ve read other BDSM stories where one of the men has a disability to be considered, this is the first time I’ve come across a disability that, if not handled correctly, could actually kill the sub. Amelia C. Gormley did a fantastic job of presenting this issue and not treating the situation as a side story. She managed to educate the reader without overwhelming and provide an interesting and HOT take on this precarious relationship.
Robin has recently left New York City to settle in Saugatuck, Michigan after being badly burned by his now ex-boyfriend/sub. That incident was bad enough that it cost Robin his job and has had him reconsidering continuing with the BDSM lifestyle. Geoff has known he wants pain and rough sex, but has assumed he will never get it due to his hemophilia. He has settled for porn and anonymous hookups to get off, never having had a real relationship. Geoff resents having to do prophylactic infusions and often puts them off, raising his risk of injury. His mother’s overprotectiveness growing up has resulted in him never really living his life for himself, something his sister is trying to make him understand and change. The two men meet at a leather event at a club while Geoff is on vacation and the result is several hot encounters and wondering if it can be more than a vacation fling.
Geoff isn’t so much a submissive as a masochist. Robin considers himself more of a dominant than a sadist, but he is willing to change the way he does things. He sees the hemophilia not as a weakness (as Geoff often does) but just another risk to be take into consideration and accommodated when they play. Geoff has quite a list of kinks he’d like to explore and Robin is very attentive to each and every one. The BDSM scenes were amazing and intense. I was exhausted after reading their first real session. The dirty talk is off the charts hot and Robin is very inventive with the ways he stokes Geoff’s desire for pain, fear and danger. The kinks explored include sensory play, humiliation and mind games using verbal “violence” and emotional pain as an alternative to physical pain.
It is quickly clear that the two are sexually compatible and enjoy spending time with each other, but there are so many other obstacles in the relationship that push them apart. Geoff has a hard time accepting that his condition doesn’t make him weak in Robin’s eyes and his instinct is always to hide it. Robin educates himself and is adamant about Geoff including him in all aspects of it, from prophylaxis to injury potential, to symptoms of a bleed. While Robin demands Geoff’s trust, he fails to be completely open himself and Geoff is so focused on his own issues, he’s never considered that maybe Robin has things he’s dealing with as well. Robin is very tough on himself, fearing that once again he may not be able to see what’s happening and catch onto things before they go bad as they did in New York.
I thought the relationship developed naturally moving from just sex to an intimacy neither has experienced before. Both men really grow during the story; Geoff struggling to accept that he can have a full life that isn’t defined by what he can’t do because of his condition and Robin needing to realize that he can’t control everything. The men of course, eventually pull it together and their strength as a unit really becomes evident when they see firsthand the possible implications of their play when outsiders become involved.
This story is a prequel of sorts to Saugatuck Summer where Geoff and Robin play a pretty substantial secondary role. If you haven’t read that one and want a look into Geoff and Robin’s future after Risk Aware ends, you should definitely pick it up.
I really enjoyed this story. The kink was top notch and the struggle of the men to trust and communicate was done just right without too much angst. I don’t think the author could have gone easier on their struggles and maintained a feel for the real danger of them not being on the same page at all times. Putting the kink and medical condition aside I enjoyed the love story and liked seeing the men just being together and building a level of comfort with each other. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves a BDSM romance and wants to experience one that is just a bit different from the norm.
While I’ve read other BDSM stories where one of the men has a disability to be considered, this is the first time I’ve come across a disability that, if not handled correctly, could actually kill the sub. Amelia C. Gormley did a fantastic job of presenting this issue and not treating the situation as a side story. She managed to educate the reader without overwhelming and provide an interesting and HOT take on this precarious relationship.
Robin has recently left New York City to settle in Saugatuck, Michigan after being badly burned by his now ex-boyfriend/sub. That incident was bad enough that it cost Robin his job and has had him reconsidering continuing with the BDSM lifestyle. Geoff has known he wants pain and rough sex, but has assumed he will never get it due to his hemophilia. He has settled for porn and anonymous hookups to get off, never having had a real relationship. Geoff resents having to do prophylactic infusions and often puts them off, raising his risk of injury. His mother’s overprotectiveness growing up has resulted in him never really living his life for himself, something his sister is trying to make him understand and change. The two men meet at a leather event at a club while Geoff is on vacation and the result is several hot encounters and wondering if it can be more than a vacation fling.
Geoff isn’t so much a submissive as a masochist. Robin considers himself more of a dominant than a sadist, but he is willing to change the way he does things. He sees the hemophilia not as a weakness (as Geoff often does) but just another risk to be take into consideration and accommodated when they play. Geoff has quite a list of kinks he’d like to explore and Robin is very attentive to each and every one. The BDSM scenes were amazing and intense. I was exhausted after reading their first real session. The dirty talk is off the charts hot and Robin is very inventive with the ways he stokes Geoff’s desire for pain, fear and danger. The kinks explored include sensory play, humiliation and mind games using verbal “violence” and emotional pain as an alternative to physical pain.
It is quickly clear that the two are sexually compatible and enjoy spending time with each other, but there are so many other obstacles in the relationship that push them apart. Geoff has a hard time accepting that his condition doesn’t make him weak in Robin’s eyes and his instinct is always to hide it. Robin educates himself and is adamant about Geoff including him in all aspects of it, from prophylaxis to injury potential, to symptoms of a bleed. While Robin demands Geoff’s trust, he fails to be completely open himself and Geoff is so focused on his own issues, he’s never considered that maybe Robin has things he’s dealing with as well. Robin is very tough on himself, fearing that once again he may not be able to see what’s happening and catch onto things before they go bad as they did in New York.
I thought the relationship developed naturally moving from just sex to an intimacy neither has experienced before. Both men really grow during the story; Geoff struggling to accept that he can have a full life that isn’t defined by what he can’t do because of his condition and Robin needing to realize that he can’t control everything. The men of course, eventually pull it together and their strength as a unit really becomes evident when they see firsthand the possible implications of their play when outsiders become involved.
This story is a prequel of sorts to Saugatuck Summer where Geoff and Robin play a pretty substantial secondary role. If you haven’t read that one and want a look into Geoff and Robin’s future after Risk Aware ends, you should definitely pick it up.
I really enjoyed this story. The kink was top notch and the struggle of the men to trust and communicate was done just right without too much angst. I don’t think the author could have gone easier on their struggles and maintained a feel for the real danger of them not being on the same page at all times. Putting the kink and medical condition aside I enjoyed the love story and liked seeing the men just being together and building a level of comfort with each other. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves a BDSM romance and wants to experience one that is just a bit different from the norm.
February 21, 2017
BR with Cupcake!
4.5 stars
The premise of a hemophiliac with a pain kink was immediately intriguing. The only thing I knew about hemophilia before beginning ‘Risk Aware’ was that it affected blood clotting. The detailed picture of life with hemophilia that the author gives was informative without becoming a lecture. Reading about Geoff’s daily struggle with hemophilia was eye-opening.
It also made me stop and think about my own privilege as an able-bodied person. It’s never a bad thing to remember how random the genetic lottery is, and why scientific and medical research and progress are so necessary.
The chemistry between Robin and Geoff is immediate. The two click from the beginning. I enjoyed their banter and how they slowly got to know one another. It was easy to fall for Robin. His backstory tugged at my heartstrings, and the complete attention he gave to Geoff and his medical needs reinforced that.
Geoff, on the other hand, took some getting used to. I could understand his frustration with his situation, but his disregard for his own well-being was tough to read. He was often very immature, particularly when he tried to hide problems during or after scenes with Robin. It wasn’t until somewhere around the halfway point that I truly began liking Geoff, and stopped wondering whether he had a secret death-wish.
The halfway point is also when I started believing that the two MCs could build something long-term. The two aren’t perfect and they often make mistakes or let their hang-ups get in the way, but it was clear that Geoff and Robin shared more than just a physical attraction. Through their ups and downs, the two kept coming back to each other, and worked at it until they got it right.
Pain really isn’t my kink. I often find myself skimming the more hardcore scenes when reading BDSM. However in this book, the heavier kink was a sensual experience. The inventive ways in which Robin indulges Geoff’s need for pain and edge play were sexy, and didn’t make me cringe the way S&M often does. Each time Robin hinted that he had something new up his sleeve, I couldn’t wait to read what it was.
The conclusion of ‘Risk Aware’ is definitely a happy ending, but I don’t think it’s the sunshine and roses that most readers would expect from their romance books. I gave it some time, and realized that while Geoff and Robin’s ending may not have been a shining HEA, it is a very realistic one. Long-term disabilities don’t disappear in the face of love, and hemophilia in particular isn’t something with a miracle cure. But there’s no question that the two love each other and will deal with things as they come.
‘Risk Aware’ is a wonderfully written book, with an enthralling romance and a very unique look at BDSM and disability. I’d definitely recommend this book for any MM readers looking for something different.
4.5 stars
The premise of a hemophiliac with a pain kink was immediately intriguing. The only thing I knew about hemophilia before beginning ‘Risk Aware’ was that it affected blood clotting. The detailed picture of life with hemophilia that the author gives was informative without becoming a lecture. Reading about Geoff’s daily struggle with hemophilia was eye-opening.
It also made me stop and think about my own privilege as an able-bodied person. It’s never a bad thing to remember how random the genetic lottery is, and why scientific and medical research and progress are so necessary.
The chemistry between Robin and Geoff is immediate. The two click from the beginning. I enjoyed their banter and how they slowly got to know one another. It was easy to fall for Robin. His backstory tugged at my heartstrings, and the complete attention he gave to Geoff and his medical needs reinforced that.
Geoff, on the other hand, took some getting used to. I could understand his frustration with his situation, but his disregard for his own well-being was tough to read. He was often very immature, particularly when he tried to hide problems during or after scenes with Robin. It wasn’t until somewhere around the halfway point that I truly began liking Geoff, and stopped wondering whether he had a secret death-wish.
The halfway point is also when I started believing that the two MCs could build something long-term. The two aren’t perfect and they often make mistakes or let their hang-ups get in the way, but it was clear that Geoff and Robin shared more than just a physical attraction. Through their ups and downs, the two kept coming back to each other, and worked at it until they got it right.
Pain really isn’t my kink. I often find myself skimming the more hardcore scenes when reading BDSM. However in this book, the heavier kink was a sensual experience. The inventive ways in which Robin indulges Geoff’s need for pain and edge play were sexy, and didn’t make me cringe the way S&M often does. Each time Robin hinted that he had something new up his sleeve, I couldn’t wait to read what it was.
The conclusion of ‘Risk Aware’ is definitely a happy ending, but I don’t think it’s the sunshine and roses that most readers would expect from their romance books. I gave it some time, and realized that while Geoff and Robin’s ending may not have been a shining HEA, it is a very realistic one. Long-term disabilities don’t disappear in the face of love, and hemophilia in particular isn’t something with a miracle cure. But there’s no question that the two love each other and will deal with things as they come.
‘Risk Aware’ is a wonderfully written book, with an enthralling romance and a very unique look at BDSM and disability. I’d definitely recommend this book for any MM readers looking for something different.
dnf
July 14, 2019DNF at 34%
The writing is good and the idea of a hemophiliac craving rough handling during sex is an interesting set up for a story. I enjoyed it for a while, until I found myself bored and skimming. The BDSM aspect is handled well, with lots of communication, but I’m not feeling this couple.
So far it would be around 3 stars, but I’m not rating it since I didn’t even reach halfway through.
The writing is good and the idea of a hemophiliac craving rough handling during sex is an interesting set up for a story. I enjoyed it for a while, until I found myself bored and skimming. The BDSM aspect is handled well, with lots of communication, but I’m not feeling this couple.
So far it would be around 3 stars, but I’m not rating it since I didn’t even reach halfway through.
May 4, 2016
2.5 stars
I liked the premise of this story, but half way through I started skimming mostly because I was bored with the long sex scenes. This story is basically about a young man, Geoff, who is a haemophiliac but who also desires to be truly submissive in a sexual relationship. He craves the kind of BDSM that will push his boundaries both physically and mentally but his health condition means that he has to be careful and he hasn't found anyone who can satisfy his deepest sexual needs.
But then Geoff meets Robin who is attracted to him, inventive and not afraid of a challenge.
So both guys embark upon a holiday fling which then continues after the holiday is over. As they get to know each other and the trust builds up between them, not only do they meet each others sexual needs, but they also start to draw closer to each other emotionally. Alas there are things in Robin's past which cast a shadow over their relationship and it will take trust for Geoff to truly let go.
The writing is good and the characters are interesting too but half way through I was bored with the very long sex scenes. Unfortunately that's what the story is basically about: two young men who have certain desires which they can meet in each other but who need to grow in trust for each other and whose relationship eventually transcends mere sexual attraction and becomes something deeper and more lasting.
So generally a good story if you like long sex scenes and BDSM, just not really one for me.
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2016
Stellar! Stunning! Perfect! Loved it! Want more!
April 13, 2016
R.A.C.K -- Risk Aware Consensual Kink. That's the term used for the riskier forms of BDSM, where both partners are aware of the risks involved and have consented to them. Not for everyone, including yours truly. But, just because it isn't my kink, doesn't mean it's not ok.
I love it when I read a book that prompts me to take to Google to learn more about a topic. I knew very little about hemophilia before reading Risk Aware, and so I spent a little while today reading up and I was surprised at the number of assumptions I had made. And I know that I've only scratched the surface. Hemophilia can be managed, though it is very expensive to do so. Shockingly expensive. And the number of sheer precautions that people with the disorder have to take is staggering. Things you and I take for granted. I bump my head on something, no big deal. Geoff does it and he can end up in the hospital with a brain bleed. Definitely a big deal. I do feel that the author treated the subject matter, and Geoff, with respect.
As soon as I saw who the characters in Risk Aware were, I had to have this book. I first encountered them in Saugatuck Summer, where they play a fairly sizable role. I remember being rather intrigued by them, so, I was very happy to see that they got a story of their own! The events in Risk Aware take place some period of time before Saugatuck Summer. It's been quite a while since I read that one, so I can't recall how long Geoff and Robin had been together, or if it was even mentioned.
Geoff was born hemophiliac and has had more than his fair share of being dismissed, or treated like glass, or even treated like he had the plague. He also is very much turned on by hard core BDSM - something he's never actually experienced, but dreams of. But he doesn't think he will ever be able to experience his desires because of his disorder. It would have to suck to be a masochist and have a clotting disorder. He and his friend Jace are vacationing in Saugatuck while the Mr Michigan Leather event is happening. Geoff is like a kid in a candy store. And he catches Robin's eye.
Robin is not without issues of his own, though. He's a Dom, through and through, but he was betrayed by his last boyfriend, who was also his sub, so he's got some trust issues, but not all of his issues are external. He's also lost a fair amount of trust and confidence in himself, and that is more difficult for him to deal with. He wants Geoff, there is no question, but his own wounds are still pretty fresh. I was pleasantly surprised that Geoff's disorder was never an obstacle for Robin. Instead, he took it in stride and decided to read up so he would know some of the things he could do with Geoff and things he couldn't. He also insisted knowing more about the prophylaxis that Geoff uses to help his clotting, which showed the lengths he would go through to keep his lover safe.
They say that communication is key to any relationship, but that is loads more true in a kink situation. It took them a while to hammer out their communication, fully, but I really saw, and appreciated the give and take of it. And there was only one major stumbling block in solidifying their relationship and once explained, it felt less like miscommunication and more like they were moving much too fast and needed to take a step back. They were both far more ready to move forward after some time and space.
Risk Aware is a very kinky book. From beginning to end. OMFSM, is it ever. And their dirty talk was super filthy. Robin had be quite inventive to satisfy Geoff's masochistic side without putting him in danger because of his disorder. And both of them run the risk of being misunderstood by everyone outside their relationship. Geoff, having hemophilia, bruises extremely easily, and without certain precautions, they can cause internal bleeds. Common, everyday events can make him look like an abuse victim, so imagine what rough sex can do. But Geoff needs Robin to trust that he knows his body and Robin needs to trust that Geoff isn't downplaying anything. And they get there. And when they do, it is beautiful.
------------------
ARC copy of Risk Aware was generously provided by the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
I love it when I read a book that prompts me to take to Google to learn more about a topic. I knew very little about hemophilia before reading Risk Aware, and so I spent a little while today reading up and I was surprised at the number of assumptions I had made. And I know that I've only scratched the surface. Hemophilia can be managed, though it is very expensive to do so. Shockingly expensive. And the number of sheer precautions that people with the disorder have to take is staggering. Things you and I take for granted. I bump my head on something, no big deal. Geoff does it and he can end up in the hospital with a brain bleed. Definitely a big deal. I do feel that the author treated the subject matter, and Geoff, with respect.
As soon as I saw who the characters in Risk Aware were, I had to have this book. I first encountered them in Saugatuck Summer, where they play a fairly sizable role. I remember being rather intrigued by them, so, I was very happy to see that they got a story of their own! The events in Risk Aware take place some period of time before Saugatuck Summer. It's been quite a while since I read that one, so I can't recall how long Geoff and Robin had been together, or if it was even mentioned.
Geoff was born hemophiliac and has had more than his fair share of being dismissed, or treated like glass, or even treated like he had the plague. He also is very much turned on by hard core BDSM - something he's never actually experienced, but dreams of. But he doesn't think he will ever be able to experience his desires because of his disorder. It would have to suck to be a masochist and have a clotting disorder. He and his friend Jace are vacationing in Saugatuck while the Mr Michigan Leather event is happening. Geoff is like a kid in a candy store. And he catches Robin's eye.
Robin is not without issues of his own, though. He's a Dom, through and through, but he was betrayed by his last boyfriend, who was also his sub, so he's got some trust issues, but not all of his issues are external. He's also lost a fair amount of trust and confidence in himself, and that is more difficult for him to deal with. He wants Geoff, there is no question, but his own wounds are still pretty fresh. I was pleasantly surprised that Geoff's disorder was never an obstacle for Robin. Instead, he took it in stride and decided to read up so he would know some of the things he could do with Geoff and things he couldn't. He also insisted knowing more about the prophylaxis that Geoff uses to help his clotting, which showed the lengths he would go through to keep his lover safe.
They say that communication is key to any relationship, but that is loads more true in a kink situation. It took them a while to hammer out their communication, fully, but I really saw, and appreciated the give and take of it. And there was only one major stumbling block in solidifying their relationship and once explained, it felt less like miscommunication and more like they were moving much too fast and needed to take a step back. They were both far more ready to move forward after some time and space.
Risk Aware is a very kinky book. From beginning to end. OMFSM, is it ever. And their dirty talk was super filthy. Robin had be quite inventive to satisfy Geoff's masochistic side without putting him in danger because of his disorder. And both of them run the risk of being misunderstood by everyone outside their relationship. Geoff, having hemophilia, bruises extremely easily, and without certain precautions, they can cause internal bleeds. Common, everyday events can make him look like an abuse victim, so imagine what rough sex can do. But Geoff needs Robin to trust that he knows his body and Robin needs to trust that Geoff isn't downplaying anything. And they get there. And when they do, it is beautiful.
------------------
ARC copy of Risk Aware was generously provided by the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
January 11, 2024
Like the tag says: surprise goodness. MC1, Geoff is hemophiliac and also a heavy masochist, whose sex life before Risk Aware opens has consisted mostly of some unsatisfactory hookups during which he could never fully enjoy himself even to the extent vanilla sex (or nearly-vanilla sex) would allow. He resents his illness and sort of oscillates between recklessness and fear, concealing his physical vulnerability and responding snappishly to any attempt at caretaking whether hemophilia-related or not.
Fortunately, along comes Robin, a clever and experienced dom, who's quite taken with Geoff and more than willing to work within the constraints of hemophilia. Did I say he's clever and experienced? Why yes, yes he is, and by "clever" I mean "creative and really mean." Robin also has his own baggage: his ex, who embezzled from the organization where they both worked, accused him of abuse in order to cast doubt on his legal testimony. Robin's cleared, but the accusation leaves him mistrustful, and also comes back to bite him and Geoff after they become lovers.
I don't know anything about hemophilia besides what's presented as fact in this book. And there you go, a good example of why it's important for authors to get their facts straight: I wouldn't take a romance novel as a health manual, but the things you learn first are the things that stick, so anything I learn from nonfictional sources in future will be competing against what I've osmosed from Risk Aware. Anyway, assuming that Gormley's got hemophilia down, the sex scenes here are fantastic -- as I said above, Robin's creative and mean, and he comes up with some nasty ways to hurt Geoff without injuring him beyond what regular infusions of clotting factor will permit. The one health-related error I caught appears in any number of m/m romances: it's the dread Enema Before Anal.
PSA: Do Not Give Yourself an Enema Before Anal. It's buttsex, butts may have traces of shit in them, deal with it. Enema bad, ear syringe with warm water okay. Thank you.
One other minor point that I record-scratched at: Geoff is worried about money in spite of having an eight-figure investment account. Eight figures, count 'em: 12,345,678. That's right, my man has a minimum of $10 million. Risk Factor is set pre-Obamacare, so Geoff's clotting factor is costing him a chunk of change every month, but still. Maybe Gormley thinks those eight figures include what comes after the decimal point, in which case Geoff's anxiety would make more sense; a few hundred K is still a lot of money, but it's realistically quite exhaustible if your expenses are high and you can't always work.
But back to what I liked, which is a much bigger deal: the relationship between Geoff and Robin. It's not entirely credible at first, because Geoff's, uh, irritable (read: has a lot of unresolved anger), but once things get going he and Robin are really appealing together. Anyone who happens to read more than one of my reviews of BDSM romances may have noticed my giant hateboner for Domly Doms Who Are True Doms, and (to a lesser extent) subs who are so subby that they're ready to go to their knees as soon as anyone capitalizes the letter D in their vicinity. Anyway, Robin's a normal person with normal anxieties and insecurities and he knows he has no special right to anyone's submission; Geoff's a normal person with spikes growing out of him that are familiar to me as a person with chronic health problems. He's a sub, not a mouse. (Nothing against mice; I wouldn't mind mice if I didn't have to put so much effort into keeping them out of the food in my kitchen cabinets.)
Really a good book, satisfyingly emotional and hot. I couldn't quite go all the way to 5 stars, because of the wobbles in the early relationship development, but definitely 4.5, just rounded down.
Fortunately, along comes Robin, a clever and experienced dom, who's quite taken with Geoff and more than willing to work within the constraints of hemophilia. Did I say he's clever and experienced? Why yes, yes he is, and by "clever" I mean "creative and really mean." Robin also has his own baggage: his ex, who embezzled from the organization where they both worked, accused him of abuse in order to cast doubt on his legal testimony. Robin's cleared, but the accusation leaves him mistrustful, and also comes back to bite him and Geoff after they become lovers.
I don't know anything about hemophilia besides what's presented as fact in this book. And there you go, a good example of why it's important for authors to get their facts straight: I wouldn't take a romance novel as a health manual, but the things you learn first are the things that stick, so anything I learn from nonfictional sources in future will be competing against what I've osmosed from Risk Aware. Anyway, assuming that Gormley's got hemophilia down, the sex scenes here are fantastic -- as I said above, Robin's creative and mean, and he comes up with some nasty ways to hurt Geoff without injuring him beyond what regular infusions of clotting factor will permit. The one health-related error I caught appears in any number of m/m romances: it's the dread Enema Before Anal.
PSA: Do Not Give Yourself an Enema Before Anal. It's buttsex, butts may have traces of shit in them, deal with it. Enema bad, ear syringe with warm water okay. Thank you.
One other minor point that I record-scratched at: Geoff is worried about money in spite of having an eight-figure investment account. Eight figures, count 'em: 12,345,678. That's right, my man has a minimum of $10 million. Risk Factor is set pre-Obamacare, so Geoff's clotting factor is costing him a chunk of change every month, but still. Maybe Gormley thinks those eight figures include what comes after the decimal point, in which case Geoff's anxiety would make more sense; a few hundred K is still a lot of money, but it's realistically quite exhaustible if your expenses are high and you can't always work.
But back to what I liked, which is a much bigger deal: the relationship between Geoff and Robin. It's not entirely credible at first, because Geoff's, uh, irritable (read: has a lot of unresolved anger), but once things get going he and Robin are really appealing together. Anyone who happens to read more than one of my reviews of BDSM romances may have noticed my giant hateboner for Domly Doms Who Are True Doms, and (to a lesser extent) subs who are so subby that they're ready to go to their knees as soon as anyone capitalizes the letter D in their vicinity. Anyway, Robin's a normal person with normal anxieties and insecurities and he knows he has no special right to anyone's submission; Geoff's a normal person with spikes growing out of him that are familiar to me as a person with chronic health problems. He's a sub, not a mouse. (Nothing against mice; I wouldn't mind mice if I didn't have to put so much effort into keeping them out of the food in my kitchen cabinets.)
Really a good book, satisfyingly emotional and hot. I couldn't quite go all the way to 5 stars, because of the wobbles in the early relationship development, but definitely 4.5, just rounded down.
August 16, 2016
~~~
4.5 Stars
This is my half of a Gay Guy Straight Girl Co-Review with fellow Goodreader, OJ. To see our full review click the link below. There is also a question/answer session that follows.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I was wrong, wrong, wrong. I didn't want to read this. Being honest here, I have a character flaw and don't do well with disabilities. Hemophilia terrified me. How could it be something I'd want to read about? I'll tell you how - by being written by a clever genius, that's how.
CHARACTERS
Geoff Gilchrist - This bratty and broken tattoo artist needs kink. His hemophilia is an issue, but his attitude is what needs an adjustment.
Robin Brady - Wealthy, gorgeous, and on the surface very together, but he's hiding from his past and denying his true self.
THE STORY
I could get into the trajectory of the story - both of these men are coming from heavy pasts that have molded them into who they are - but trust me that the plotting is perfect here. Even with the false starts and do-overs, this story moves right along and is perfect for this developing relationship. The way the guys work thru their challenges is as encouraging as it is erotic. So good.
But what I want to tell you about is the clever kink! Oh my gosh, each time I thought Robin had no way to satisfy Geoff I was completely surprised by Ms. Gormley's craft. Surprised and devastatingly satisfied. Whips and chains are lots of fun, but sensory deprivation and mind-fucking are off the charts hot in this book. And there's one scene in particular that had me flying afterwards. Thank you, Amelia!
Robin's mastery of Geoff's particular needs is a thing of creative beauty. Exactly when I thought things would need to back off, Robin just notched up the intensity. And Geoff tests Robin at every turn.
THE WRITING
Ms. Gormley does an absolutely brilliant job here. My overwhelming takeaway was with how real this all felt. So often, for me, bdsm feels like utter fantasy and not real. But here I was instantly connected. I really felt like I was peeking in on a real relationship. Flaws, miscommunication, emotions are all palpable here and made me feel part of rather than apart from the story.
And here's the thing, Gormley doesn't rush this at all. We get lots of up's and down's, starts and restarts, because that's what these guys need. It's how relationships develop. No insta-love here. But believe me, it doesn't drag, each twist and turn is necessary to solidify this complicated relationship.
Lots of kink, but lots of story too. Perfect combo.
I would like to thank Riptide Publishing for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.com
4.5 Stars
This is my half of a Gay Guy Straight Girl Co-Review with fellow Goodreader, OJ. To see our full review click the link below. There is also a question/answer session that follows.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I was wrong, wrong, wrong. I didn't want to read this. Being honest here, I have a character flaw and don't do well with disabilities. Hemophilia terrified me. How could it be something I'd want to read about? I'll tell you how - by being written by a clever genius, that's how.
CHARACTERS
Geoff Gilchrist - This bratty and broken tattoo artist needs kink. His hemophilia is an issue, but his attitude is what needs an adjustment.
Robin Brady - Wealthy, gorgeous, and on the surface very together, but he's hiding from his past and denying his true self.
THE STORY
I could get into the trajectory of the story - both of these men are coming from heavy pasts that have molded them into who they are - but trust me that the plotting is perfect here. Even with the false starts and do-overs, this story moves right along and is perfect for this developing relationship. The way the guys work thru their challenges is as encouraging as it is erotic. So good.
But what I want to tell you about is the clever kink! Oh my gosh, each time I thought Robin had no way to satisfy Geoff I was completely surprised by Ms. Gormley's craft. Surprised and devastatingly satisfied. Whips and chains are lots of fun, but sensory deprivation and mind-fucking are off the charts hot in this book. And there's one scene in particular that had me flying afterwards. Thank you, Amelia!
Robin's mastery of Geoff's particular needs is a thing of creative beauty. Exactly when I thought things would need to back off, Robin just notched up the intensity. And Geoff tests Robin at every turn.
“There’s something phallic about a needle, don’t you think? You’d watch me sliding it into you, knowing there’s no part of you I can’t penetrate. Nothing off-limits. There’s no reason it can’t be part of our play if we want it to be.”
THE WRITING
Ms. Gormley does an absolutely brilliant job here. My overwhelming takeaway was with how real this all felt. So often, for me, bdsm feels like utter fantasy and not real. But here I was instantly connected. I really felt like I was peeking in on a real relationship. Flaws, miscommunication, emotions are all palpable here and made me feel part of rather than apart from the story.
And here's the thing, Gormley doesn't rush this at all. We get lots of up's and down's, starts and restarts, because that's what these guys need. It's how relationships develop. No insta-love here. But believe me, it doesn't drag, each twist and turn is necessary to solidify this complicated relationship.
Lots of kink, but lots of story too. Perfect combo.
I would like to thank Riptide Publishing for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.com
May 8, 2016
I enjoy BDSM and I relish opportunities to read something the screams fresh and original a mile way. This book is all about that. Geoff is a tattoo artist and a haemophiliac. He has never dabbled in BDSM in any way, other than watching porn and wishing someone would want him enough to risk
“playing”
with him despite the dangers posed by his illness. Robin is someone experienced in BDSM practices and just happens to be so intrigued by Geoff, he’s willing to be creative with ways they can be together and have scenes together without risking Geoff’s life.
I have to say, this book stretched the limits of my comfort zone. It was a long book, so I found a groove eventually, and let go of my anxiety about Geoff, but for the first half of the book or so, I was more scared than able to enjoy their intimate time together. The fear of serious injury, internal bleeding, and/or needing to be hospitalised was very real at all times. Robin came off as very confident that he could push Geoff to the edge of any safety limits so he could give Geoff the best approximation to being deathly afraid and in danger as possible. I am no authority figure on kink but I thought that was quite irresponsible. There were just so many what ifs that my poor heart couldn’t take the anxiety.
There was a lot of information about haemophilia in this book, as there should be. I was grateful for that as besides having a vague notion of what it is, I didn’t know even a fraction of what it means for the person in terms of medication, care, expenses, physical limitations etc. What I really appreciated was how well placed the information about haemophilia was throughout the book. There was no info dump. I felt educated but the information was supplied in ways that felt relevant to move the story forward.
The relationship between Geoff and Robin was admittedly full of steamy encounters, regardless of kink. It became obvious after a while that details of dates or lazy days on the sofa were quickly summarised so more page time could be devoted on a scene or discussions about potential scenes and limits. There were a lot of discussions about limits and aftercare and all the ways Geoff’s health could be jeopardised by something they did during sex. There were trust issues, on both sides, for different reasons, and I thought those were resolved organically by the end of the book, with a lot of emphasis on communication and honesty.
There are so many reasons to enjoy this book –steam, learning something new, character development within the confines of navigating a relationship. And I did, mostly. But the book felt overly long and I wish some of the more “mundane” things hadn’t been skipped over in favour of yet another sex scene. Also, the kink is reaaaaaally kinky and the medical reality of things intruded in some of the sexy. Not because having a partner with an illness is unsexy. But some of the aspects of the illness became eroticised and I’m not sure I was comfortable with that.
If you are a fan of kink, you should read this. It’s original, well-written, and very creative.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. See this review at Gay Book reviews.
I have to say, this book stretched the limits of my comfort zone. It was a long book, so I found a groove eventually, and let go of my anxiety about Geoff, but for the first half of the book or so, I was more scared than able to enjoy their intimate time together. The fear of serious injury, internal bleeding, and/or needing to be hospitalised was very real at all times. Robin came off as very confident that he could push Geoff to the edge of any safety limits so he could give Geoff the best approximation to being deathly afraid and in danger as possible. I am no authority figure on kink but I thought that was quite irresponsible. There were just so many what ifs that my poor heart couldn’t take the anxiety.
There was a lot of information about haemophilia in this book, as there should be. I was grateful for that as besides having a vague notion of what it is, I didn’t know even a fraction of what it means for the person in terms of medication, care, expenses, physical limitations etc. What I really appreciated was how well placed the information about haemophilia was throughout the book. There was no info dump. I felt educated but the information was supplied in ways that felt relevant to move the story forward.
The relationship between Geoff and Robin was admittedly full of steamy encounters, regardless of kink. It became obvious after a while that details of dates or lazy days on the sofa were quickly summarised so more page time could be devoted on a scene or discussions about potential scenes and limits. There were a lot of discussions about limits and aftercare and all the ways Geoff’s health could be jeopardised by something they did during sex. There were trust issues, on both sides, for different reasons, and I thought those were resolved organically by the end of the book, with a lot of emphasis on communication and honesty.
There are so many reasons to enjoy this book –steam, learning something new, character development within the confines of navigating a relationship. And I did, mostly. But the book felt overly long and I wish some of the more “mundane” things hadn’t been skipped over in favour of yet another sex scene. Also, the kink is reaaaaaally kinky and the medical reality of things intruded in some of the sexy. Not because having a partner with an illness is unsexy. But some of the aspects of the illness became eroticised and I’m not sure I was comfortable with that.
If you are a fan of kink, you should read this. It’s original, well-written, and very creative.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. See this review at Gay Book reviews.
May 10, 2016
Rating: 4.75 stars
My View: Risk Aware was a pleasant surprise. The blurb was intriguing, and it delivered more than I originally expected. This was my first R.A.C.K. story, and the author did an excellent job setting up the difference between R.A.C.K and a traditional S/m relationship. Having two willing participants without the need to establish a submissive allowed the reader to distance themselves from pop culture clichés and misconceptions.
The touch of fantasy in this story was delivered by the characters background and not their play scenes. Their well-off status took care of everything but the need for control and pain. We could see the characters as fiction even when the scenes they took part of were as real as our lives.
The author delivered two main characters that represented the two sides of a consenting relationship. Geoff, a hemophiliac masochist, is new to the lifestyle and Robin, an experienced Dom with a questionable background, helps him find what he needs and wants. They're very different characters with diverse backgrounds, but in the end, they complemented each other.
Geoff's health is an ever present issue they dealt with together after he accepted Robin's dominance. Every aspect of their relationship had to be discussed before hand and their trust place in each other. After Geoff's initial reluctance to share with Robin, everything moved forward. We were able to see how their relationship evolved from friendship to love and how it changed them.
The cast of characters involved in the story just added to its enjoyment. Some of the scenes are hard to read if you aren't into impact or pain play, but overall, this story is an excellent example of a story well written and researched.
What I liked the most: How real the MCs' scenes were. They weren't a fantasy for the readers to enjoy, but a reality that could be happening at someone's house.
I wanted more: I kept waiting for Geoff to drop all his defenses. I wanted him to truly show his love for Robin without inhibitions.
Who should read it: Fans of R.A.C.K. BDSM stories.
Originally reviewed for Someone Else's Stories
ARC provided by Riptide Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
My View: Risk Aware was a pleasant surprise. The blurb was intriguing, and it delivered more than I originally expected. This was my first R.A.C.K. story, and the author did an excellent job setting up the difference between R.A.C.K and a traditional S/m relationship. Having two willing participants without the need to establish a submissive allowed the reader to distance themselves from pop culture clichés and misconceptions.
The touch of fantasy in this story was delivered by the characters background and not their play scenes. Their well-off status took care of everything but the need for control and pain. We could see the characters as fiction even when the scenes they took part of were as real as our lives.
The author delivered two main characters that represented the two sides of a consenting relationship. Geoff, a hemophiliac masochist, is new to the lifestyle and Robin, an experienced Dom with a questionable background, helps him find what he needs and wants. They're very different characters with diverse backgrounds, but in the end, they complemented each other.
Geoff's health is an ever present issue they dealt with together after he accepted Robin's dominance. Every aspect of their relationship had to be discussed before hand and their trust place in each other. After Geoff's initial reluctance to share with Robin, everything moved forward. We were able to see how their relationship evolved from friendship to love and how it changed them.
The cast of characters involved in the story just added to its enjoyment. Some of the scenes are hard to read if you aren't into impact or pain play, but overall, this story is an excellent example of a story well written and researched.
What I liked the most: How real the MCs' scenes were. They weren't a fantasy for the readers to enjoy, but a reality that could be happening at someone's house.
I wanted more: I kept waiting for Geoff to drop all his defenses. I wanted him to truly show his love for Robin without inhibitions.
Who should read it: Fans of R.A.C.K. BDSM stories.
Originally reviewed for Someone Else's Stories
ARC provided by Riptide Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2017
I was intrigued by the premise and the blurb, and although I have kept away from m/m books recently, I thought this might be worth a try.
However, by the end of Chapter 1 I was beginning to think I had made a mistake.
The blow-job in the first chapter was.... eugh. Really? Giving a blow job to a total stranger who you can't even see? And without even a fecking condom.
(from InSIte -- Comprehensive, up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention from the University of California San Francisco) : There are many diseases besides HIV that can be passed through unprotected oral sex, including herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis A, and the viruses that cause warts, intestinal parasites, and other conditions.
Nice. Really really nice. (I wonder if Geoff ever admitted to Robin that he had indulged in unprotected sex?)
Perhaps I am naïve (Yes, I probably am) but the whole scene made me cringe. And this is supposed to be about a man who is careful what he does to avoid getting ill?
It wasn't as if the scene was necessary - I have no idea what purpose it served other than to allow the author to write it. It didn't move the story on and if it was supposed to show us the character, well, he turned out to be an idiot. It wasn't even erotic! It was just plain (to me at any rate) boring and intensely irritating.
However, I did read on, just to give it a chance, but this is supposed to be BDSM isn't it? Not JUST sex - which is what it was turning into when I gave up. Some of the writing was WAY too 'preachy' - as if we were being given a lecture (BDSM for Haemophiliacs 101) and when I read this....
By evening, the altruistic inner voice (urged on by the frustrated, wanna-give-him-his-first-scene inner voice) had drowned out the ambivalent inner voice and emerged the victor in my psychological tug-of-war.
... I knew this book and I were not going to get along.
I didn't want to read pages and pages of supposedly 'hot' sex (aka the same old stuff). I wanted to really see into Geoff's mind. I wanted to see how his day to day life was affected etc. (That might have happened later on in the book, but it was too late for me)
In the end the characters were flat and boring and obsessed with getting laid and I decided to leave them to it. ;)
This book just reaffirms why I have stopped reading m/m - apart from a few (very few) authors who can write 'real' characters who have depth and emotion and a life that consists of more than random, unprotected sex with strangers.
However, by the end of Chapter 1 I was beginning to think I had made a mistake.
The blow-job in the first chapter was.... eugh. Really? Giving a blow job to a total stranger who you can't even see? And without even a fecking condom.
(from InSIte -- Comprehensive, up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention from the University of California San Francisco) : There are many diseases besides HIV that can be passed through unprotected oral sex, including herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis A, and the viruses that cause warts, intestinal parasites, and other conditions.
Nice. Really really nice. (I wonder if Geoff ever admitted to Robin that he had indulged in unprotected sex?)
Perhaps I am naïve (Yes, I probably am) but the whole scene made me cringe. And this is supposed to be about a man who is careful what he does to avoid getting ill?
It wasn't as if the scene was necessary - I have no idea what purpose it served other than to allow the author to write it. It didn't move the story on and if it was supposed to show us the character, well, he turned out to be an idiot. It wasn't even erotic! It was just plain (to me at any rate) boring and intensely irritating.
However, I did read on, just to give it a chance, but this is supposed to be BDSM isn't it? Not JUST sex - which is what it was turning into when I gave up. Some of the writing was WAY too 'preachy' - as if we were being given a lecture (BDSM for Haemophiliacs 101) and when I read this....
By evening, the altruistic inner voice (urged on by the frustrated, wanna-give-him-his-first-scene inner voice) had drowned out the ambivalent inner voice and emerged the victor in my psychological tug-of-war.
... I knew this book and I were not going to get along.
I didn't want to read pages and pages of supposedly 'hot' sex (aka the same old stuff). I wanted to really see into Geoff's mind. I wanted to see how his day to day life was affected etc. (That might have happened later on in the book, but it was too late for me)
In the end the characters were flat and boring and obsessed with getting laid and I decided to leave them to it. ;)
This book just reaffirms why I have stopped reading m/m - apart from a few (very few) authors who can write 'real' characters who have depth and emotion and a life that consists of more than random, unprotected sex with strangers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2016
I requested this book because the premise intrigued me, a haemophiliac who is also a masochist, how was that going to work? Well, I'm happy to say that it did.
Robin is not looking for a relationship after a major betrayal form his ex-boyfriend but he is intrigued by Geoff from the minute he sees him. He is furious when he finds out that Geoff has been hiding his problems from him and explains forcefully how much danger he would have been in had he hurt Geoff unawares. Geoff was a very naive in that respect and it nearly ends them before they begin. They both have major issues with trust and although the problems with Geoff's haemophilia was a major issue, it wasn't the only issue they had to work through and it takes some time for them to get to their hea.
I'm no expert on any of the issues raised here but the way the author had them work through the problems with Geoff's haemophilia and their lifestyle felt plausible to me. I get the impression that these characters are connected to another story so I'm off to check that out now.
*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Robin is not looking for a relationship after a major betrayal form his ex-boyfriend but he is intrigued by Geoff from the minute he sees him. He is furious when he finds out that Geoff has been hiding his problems from him and explains forcefully how much danger he would have been in had he hurt Geoff unawares. Geoff was a very naive in that respect and it nearly ends them before they begin. They both have major issues with trust and although the problems with Geoff's haemophilia was a major issue, it wasn't the only issue they had to work through and it takes some time for them to get to their hea.
I'm no expert on any of the issues raised here but the way the author had them work through the problems with Geoff's haemophilia and their lifestyle felt plausible to me. I get the impression that these characters are connected to another story so I'm off to check that out now.
*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
May 9, 2016
4.5 star review by The Blogger Girls.
What an interesting story this was! I absolutely love finding BDSM stories that are not run of the mill, and this one totally fit that bill.
Geoff is a hemophiliac. Unfortunately, he is also a bit of a masochist, which does not mesh well with his condition at all. He has not been able to find someone to even come close to meeting his needs, as most men run the other way once they hear about his condition. That all changes when he meets Robin.
Robin left NY after his last sub relationship deteriorated and caused him trouble in more ways than one. Feeling like he would have to give up on that life entirely, he tries to make a fresh start in Saugatuck. But when he meets Geoff, that all sort of goes to the back of his mind when the challenges Geoff brings to the table seem hard to resist. But, there needs to be a humongous level of trust between them, and even more so because of Geoff's condition.
The main problem is that Geoff is in a somewhat state of denial as to his hemophilia. He does the bare minimum as far as his medications are concerned, often pushing the limit of healthy. I found it fascinating to learn about this illness and could not imagine having to deal with it on a daily basis. When even accidentally bumping into something can turn fatal, it is hard to comprehend how anyone can live outside of a bubble, let alone want to open themselves up to the things Geoff wanted.
Most of the things he dreamed about were just that - dreams. He knew he could never actually experience them physically, but Robin found ways to somewhat safely allow Geoff to experience some of them and make those dreams a reality. I loved how Robin did this. He was so creative in creating scenarios that would give Geoff the mental experience without actually going through with them physically. They really made a good match for each other once they were on the same page in the honest and open department.
There were some trust issues and miscommunications causing some drama, and Geoff's lack of self care seemed a bit unbelievable. But I can't honestly say how farfetched any of that was without being in Geoff's shoes. All I know is that I found this story extremely creative and interesting, and I was turning pages quickly to see it all play out. I definitely recommend this if you are looking for something BDSM that doesn't fit the norm.
May 9, 2016
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
I loved this book!
This is a really thoughtful look at what happens when your desires are hindered by expectations and real life.
Geoff Gilchrist is a haemophiliac whose desires are heavily layered with a masochist streak. His desires have never been met, he spent his early years being cosseted by an overprotective mother and being told he couldn’t or he shouldn’t, and now he can he can’t find anyone brave enough or determined enough to deal with all his hang-ups and restrictions. A break at a hotel with his best friend Jace where there are a myriad of leather clad men at a fundraiser is a personal kind of hell for Geoff until he runs into Robin.
Robin Brady is a Dom who has left his previous life behind after being betrayed by his former sub and hasn’t yet decided whether he can return to the lifestyle. He’s had his confidence and trust truly dented but when he spots Geoff at the bar he is drawn to the yearning in his eyes for something he is sure he can provide.
This is a complicated story with two men who have more baggage than an airline! Geoff is prickly when it comes to his illness and will not stand for anyone who wants to cosset him or make him feel like he needs help. Robin is all about being safe and once he comes to realise just how dangerous Geoff’s illness can be he demands honesty from him, he demands that he be allowed to look after him after a scene and this doesn’t sit well with Geoff at first. There is a lot of negotiation that happens which is good but is often also frustrating for them but it felt necessary and I loved how the author progressed with the story.
They each chip away at the other insecurities until suddenly what they have is much bigger than just playing together. There is a depth to their feelings that neither man expected and perhaps neither was really ready for but it feels right. The BDSM scenes are designed to help Geoff as much as possible and as someone who reads a lot of BDSM I found them interesting and well thought out. There are set backs along the way that raise more fears, different fears, and have Geoff rethinking his outlook on life entirely but by then they have grown as a couple and they have worked out their trust issues and the story ended for me in a really good place.
I loved this book!
This is a really thoughtful look at what happens when your desires are hindered by expectations and real life.
Geoff Gilchrist is a haemophiliac whose desires are heavily layered with a masochist streak. His desires have never been met, he spent his early years being cosseted by an overprotective mother and being told he couldn’t or he shouldn’t, and now he can he can’t find anyone brave enough or determined enough to deal with all his hang-ups and restrictions. A break at a hotel with his best friend Jace where there are a myriad of leather clad men at a fundraiser is a personal kind of hell for Geoff until he runs into Robin.
Robin Brady is a Dom who has left his previous life behind after being betrayed by his former sub and hasn’t yet decided whether he can return to the lifestyle. He’s had his confidence and trust truly dented but when he spots Geoff at the bar he is drawn to the yearning in his eyes for something he is sure he can provide.
This is a complicated story with two men who have more baggage than an airline! Geoff is prickly when it comes to his illness and will not stand for anyone who wants to cosset him or make him feel like he needs help. Robin is all about being safe and once he comes to realise just how dangerous Geoff’s illness can be he demands honesty from him, he demands that he be allowed to look after him after a scene and this doesn’t sit well with Geoff at first. There is a lot of negotiation that happens which is good but is often also frustrating for them but it felt necessary and I loved how the author progressed with the story.
They each chip away at the other insecurities until suddenly what they have is much bigger than just playing together. There is a depth to their feelings that neither man expected and perhaps neither was really ready for but it feels right. The BDSM scenes are designed to help Geoff as much as possible and as someone who reads a lot of BDSM I found them interesting and well thought out. There are set backs along the way that raise more fears, different fears, and have Geoff rethinking his outlook on life entirely but by then they have grown as a couple and they have worked out their trust issues and the story ended for me in a really good place.
April 22, 2016
4.25 stars.
I confess I didn't know much about hemophilia before starting this book, just the general stuff...but hemophilia + BDSM? How does that even work? So, I was intrigued as hell...
Safe to say, I've been quite educated on the topic of hemophilia while reading this...and the things I found out was both better and worse than I expected. So thanks to the author for broadening my horizons.
I've read and very much enjoyed Saugatuck Summer a while ago, but I didn't remember Robin and Geoff at all. Can't believe I forgot about them - they made such an amazing couple! I'm definitely going to re-read Jace's story, now.
So, Geoff is a hemophiliac and he is yearning for the BDSM lifestyle. He's fantasying non-stop, but he can't take one step further and find himself a Dom to play with. He's too aware of the possible outcomes and resentful as hell that his condition prevents him from making his fantasies come true.
Enter Robin - a Dom, disillusioned in the lifestyle, bitter and distrustful. But a chance encounter with Geoff at a vacation resort makes Robin to want to show the guy that BDSM and his condition are not mutually exclusive. I loved how Robin took Geoff's disability in stride, and how determined he was to make their relationship work. He did his best to learn about do's and don't's of hemophilia and took the problems in stride and worked around them. They both had their fears, of course, but they also tried not to let them get in the way.
Overall, this was an enjoyable story, full of kinky and hot sex, and really likable characters.
**ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.**
I confess I didn't know much about hemophilia before starting this book, just the general stuff...but hemophilia + BDSM? How does that even work? So, I was intrigued as hell...
Safe to say, I've been quite educated on the topic of hemophilia while reading this...and the things I found out was both better and worse than I expected. So thanks to the author for broadening my horizons.
I've read and very much enjoyed Saugatuck Summer a while ago, but I didn't remember Robin and Geoff at all. Can't believe I forgot about them - they made such an amazing couple! I'm definitely going to re-read Jace's story, now.
So, Geoff is a hemophiliac and he is yearning for the BDSM lifestyle. He's fantasying non-stop, but he can't take one step further and find himself a Dom to play with. He's too aware of the possible outcomes and resentful as hell that his condition prevents him from making his fantasies come true.
Enter Robin - a Dom, disillusioned in the lifestyle, bitter and distrustful. But a chance encounter with Geoff at a vacation resort makes Robin to want to show the guy that BDSM and his condition are not mutually exclusive. I loved how Robin took Geoff's disability in stride, and how determined he was to make their relationship work. He did his best to learn about do's and don't's of hemophilia and took the problems in stride and worked around them. They both had their fears, of course, but they also tried not to let them get in the way.
Overall, this was an enjoyable story, full of kinky and hot sex, and really likable characters.
**ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.**
May 17, 2016
One of the best books I've ever read!
Perfectly written story about the beginning of a relationship between two emotionally mature men; one of whom has health issues that he feels preclude him from living the lifestyle he desperately seeks, and the other for whom acting on his natural instincts could cost his freedom.
Beautifully nuanced narrative exploring how the choices made and the chances taken between two people falling in love can make all the difference in what your heart truly desires.
m/m, BDSM, bloodplay, needles
I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE!
Perfectly written story about the beginning of a relationship between two emotionally mature men; one of whom has health issues that he feels preclude him from living the lifestyle he desperately seeks, and the other for whom acting on his natural instincts could cost his freedom.
Beautifully nuanced narrative exploring how the choices made and the chances taken between two people falling in love can make all the difference in what your heart truly desires.
m/m, BDSM, bloodplay, needles
I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE!
February 24, 2017
I have a lot of admiration for authors who choose such sensitive subjects as this one (BDSM vs disabled or sick people) and who manage to make it so authentic, while offering us scenes as hot and well described as those in this book. I don't think I could have done as well as Ms. Gormley.
If you want to know more on how I feel about it, just read the review mentioned below. My opinion is very close to it:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks to Sarah who suggested me to read it. <3
If you want to know more on how I feel about it, just read the review mentioned below. My opinion is very close to it:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks to Sarah who suggested me to read it. <3
Want to read
February 21, 2016Fuck. I just realized who these two are!!! Ack. This is gonna be good.
May 9, 2016
Full-disclosure: I was a beta reader on this book. It's a sexy, fascinating, psychologically deep read and I totally recommend it to anyone who enjoys books with D/s themes and BDSM.
July 15, 2016
Actual rating is 2.3
Geoff is a tattoo artist and a masochist. Unfortunately for him, he's also a hemophiliac.
Robin is a gallery owner and a dominant. After a dark moment in his life, he's trying to keep away from the kink scene.
The attraction they feel for each other when they meet is intense. However, between the emotional baggage and working around a serious health issue, their playtime will take a lot more than a safeword...
I was hella ready to read this novel as soon as I heard about it. The set-up alone was intriguing. This was the first book by Gormley I'd ever read so, in some ways, I approached this book without any preconceived ideas.
What I liked
+ The way Geoff illness was depicted
I'm not a medical professional in any way, shape or form. My knowledge about hemophilia is about the average level in the sense that I knew bruises and cuts were v. dangerous. Oh, and--since I was a kid when the AIDS epidemic began--I was aware that hemophiliacs were among the first groups of people infected because of blood products.
I really appreciated the way Gormley allowed Geoff to show us what his day-to-day life was like: from the infusions to the cost to how the illness kept him from "leading a normal life". It didn't help that his mother (who had died before the story began) was an extremely overprotective person.
Occasionally, Geoff didn't want to deal with any of it and that made him act in a very irresponsible way sometimes. As someone who had to be alert at all times because even the simplest things such as bumping his knee might get complicated fast, this kind of angry behaviour made sense. That's terribly normal and a very human way to cope with things. Not the BEST way (particularly because Geoff did have to be v. careful about things), but (again) normal.
+ Geoff/Robin's times in bed (mostly)
For one thing, their play wasn't Safe Sane Consensual like it is in a lot of BDSM novels.
What Robin brought into their times together was the protocol behind the Risk Aware Consensual Kink play. Basically, it's a practice in which the parties do what some might consider riskier play and try to minimize the risk as much as they can.
Given Geoff's condition, the kind of things he liked fantasizing about were so dangerous that he'd pretty much resigned himself to live life unfulfilled. For example, Geoff had fantasies about being whipped within an inch of his life. Impossible, right?
Robin's creativity deserved its own round of applause. There was humiliation play, sensation play, electrical play, and a couple of other things that really skirted the edge between safer and way less safe. The kink was heavy and yet unexpected.
+ Female characters that weren't wallpaper
There's Lin (Geoff's adopted sister) and Char (a character who shows up halfway through the book). Even though they were secondary characters, they were important to the plot. I really liked Lin and Geoff's dynamic: you could see how they were siblings and how much they loved each other.
What I didn't like
- Geoff/Robin (yikes!)
OK, my first side-eye was for Robin and how he had "psychic dom syndrome" at the very beginning. It is true that, out of the two, he's definitely the most experienced.
But, since we get both Geoff and Robin's povs, we do get to see that Robin just knows everything about how Geoff feels and thinks. No one likes a know-it-all dom; it was obnoxious. YMMV. Eventually, he either turned off his faux!psychic powers or he calmed down and started presupposing things about Geoff.
- This is NOT a romance (for realsies)
Geoff and Robin spend about a week together having all the kinky fun they can possibly have before they part ways. Although it was good to see real life intrude into their BDSM almost-fantasy (if only to make things more interesting), I didn't seen much of a connection between them outside of play sessions.
If anything, it's not until the last 15-20% or so of the story that you get to catch a few whiffs of romance. IMO, it was way late to do that because it felt force. Also
Also, Geoff is not a sub. He knows it, Robin knows it, even the old lady down at the post office knows it. The problem is that there are moments when Robin kinda forgets this while they're in the playroom or wherever? It gets a little weird at times.
There was no emotional core to the story so, despite how fascinating I found Geoff and Robin's play sessions, I. Just. Didn't. Care. About them in other situations.
- This book is really two stories (or, at least, it felt like it)
For the first 40-45% of the novel, we're going along with Geoff as he learns that he can deffo get his masochistic jollies thanks to Robin's imagination. This is the bulk of the week-long kinky vacay they share.
And then, the book kinda flips things and it's all about Robin's story and his issues with a few long kinky scenes thrown in to break the monotony.
The transition between the two parts wasn't smooth at all.
Something happens near the end in a not-so-subtle way to bridge the gap by having Geoff and Robin's worlds collide. Once again, I kept checking how many pages I had left before I could finish this book and delete it from my tablet. #NOTagoodsign
TL;DR: This is a BDSM novel about a hemophiliac who really gets off on pain and an emotionally damaged dom who raises to the challenge of givng him what he needs. Sadly, there was almost no romance and the plot kinda switched gears halfway. In the end, it was a boring read for me.
Geoff is a tattoo artist and a masochist. Unfortunately for him, he's also a hemophiliac.
Robin is a gallery owner and a dominant. After a dark moment in his life, he's trying to keep away from the kink scene.
The attraction they feel for each other when they meet is intense. However, between the emotional baggage and working around a serious health issue, their playtime will take a lot more than a safeword...
I was hella ready to read this novel as soon as I heard about it. The set-up alone was intriguing. This was the first book by Gormley I'd ever read so, in some ways, I approached this book without any preconceived ideas.
What I liked
+ The way Geoff illness was depicted
I'm not a medical professional in any way, shape or form. My knowledge about hemophilia is about the average level in the sense that I knew bruises and cuts were v. dangerous. Oh, and--since I was a kid when the AIDS epidemic began--I was aware that hemophiliacs were among the first groups of people infected because of blood products.
I really appreciated the way Gormley allowed Geoff to show us what his day-to-day life was like: from the infusions to the cost to how the illness kept him from "leading a normal life". It didn't help that his mother (who had died before the story began) was an extremely overprotective person.
Occasionally, Geoff didn't want to deal with any of it and that made him act in a very irresponsible way sometimes. As someone who had to be alert at all times because even the simplest things such as bumping his knee might get complicated fast, this kind of angry behaviour made sense. That's terribly normal and a very human way to cope with things. Not the BEST way (particularly because Geoff did have to be v. careful about things), but (again) normal.
+ Geoff/Robin's times in bed (mostly)
For one thing, their play wasn't Safe Sane Consensual like it is in a lot of BDSM novels.
What Robin brought into their times together was the protocol behind the Risk Aware Consensual Kink play. Basically, it's a practice in which the parties do what some might consider riskier play and try to minimize the risk as much as they can.
Given Geoff's condition, the kind of things he liked fantasizing about were so dangerous that he'd pretty much resigned himself to live life unfulfilled. For example, Geoff had fantasies about being whipped within an inch of his life. Impossible, right?
Robin's creativity deserved its own round of applause. There was humiliation play, sensation play, electrical play, and a couple of other things that really skirted the edge between safer and way less safe. The kink was heavy and yet unexpected.
+ Female characters that weren't wallpaper
There's Lin (Geoff's adopted sister) and Char (a character who shows up halfway through the book). Even though they were secondary characters, they were important to the plot. I really liked Lin and Geoff's dynamic: you could see how they were siblings and how much they loved each other.
What I didn't like
- Geoff/Robin (yikes!)
OK, my first side-eye was for Robin and how he had "psychic dom syndrome" at the very beginning. It is true that, out of the two, he's definitely the most experienced.
But, since we get both Geoff and Robin's povs, we do get to see that Robin just knows everything about how Geoff feels and thinks. No one likes a know-it-all dom; it was obnoxious. YMMV. Eventually, he either turned off his faux!psychic powers or he calmed down and started presupposing things about Geoff.
- This is NOT a romance (for realsies)
Geoff and Robin spend about a week together having all the kinky fun they can possibly have before they part ways. Although it was good to see real life intrude into their BDSM almost-fantasy (if only to make things more interesting), I didn't seen much of a connection between them outside of play sessions.
If anything, it's not until the last 15-20% or so of the story that you get to catch a few whiffs of romance. IMO, it was way late to do that because it felt force. Also
Also, Geoff is not a sub. He knows it, Robin knows it, even the old lady down at the post office knows it. The problem is that there are moments when Robin kinda forgets this while they're in the playroom or wherever? It gets a little weird at times.
There was no emotional core to the story so, despite how fascinating I found Geoff and Robin's play sessions, I. Just. Didn't. Care. About them in other situations.
- This book is really two stories (or, at least, it felt like it)
For the first 40-45% of the novel, we're going along with Geoff as he learns that he can deffo get his masochistic jollies thanks to Robin's imagination. This is the bulk of the week-long kinky vacay they share.
And then, the book kinda flips things and it's all about Robin's story and his issues with a few long kinky scenes thrown in to break the monotony.
The transition between the two parts wasn't smooth at all.
Something happens near the end in a not-so-subtle way to bridge the gap by having Geoff and Robin's worlds collide. Once again, I kept checking how many pages I had left before I could finish this book and delete it from my tablet. #NOTagoodsign
TL;DR: This is a BDSM novel about a hemophiliac who really gets off on pain and an emotionally damaged dom who raises to the challenge of givng him what he needs. Sadly, there was almost no romance and the plot kinda switched gears halfway. In the end, it was a boring read for me.
October 31, 2016
I could really immerse myself in the story and feel as if I was within the characters. Each point of view was clearly defined and independent. It was easy to move from Geoff to Robin and experience the story through their eyes. Which is a major plus for me.
The BDSM element was very innovative. It had to be, considering the special circumstances of the characters.
All in all, a very good book. I could hardly put it down. And I'll definitely be reading more from this author.
The BDSM element was very innovative. It had to be, considering the special circumstances of the characters.
All in all, a very good book. I could hardly put it down. And I'll definitely be reading more from this author.
April 10, 2016
Reviewed for From Top to Bottom Reviews.
4.5 stars rounded up
*I received an ARC of this book from Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in return of an honest review*
When I first saw this book on the coming soon page on the publishers website I wanted to read it immediately. So of course I requested it on netgalley and was over the moon when I got it!
I found the premise of this book really interesting and unique. A hemophiliac who is also a masochist? It sounded impossible and too good to be true. I was curious on how Ms. Gormley would manage to write that, given that one would think being a masochist and a hemophiliac don't go together.
But the author shows that it is possible! Yes it does limit the possibilities, but Geoff can still have his needs satisfied without being fatally injured.
I fell in love with Robin right from the start because of the way he reacts and handles Geoffs medical condition. For him it's just something he had to be aware of and take into account when planning their scenes, and not an impossibility. He was intrigued and determined to show Geoff that he could have pain and a life with BDSM and still be safe.
Geoff on the other hand was wary and didn't completely trust Robin. Which is understandable given his condition and that one seemingly small injury can be life-threatening, but at the same time he was sometimes a bit stubborn because he thinks he'll only get the pain he so desperately wants by being reckless. He's new to BDSM and doesn't understand what is possible for him but also kind of stands in his own way because he's so set on canes and floggers, when there's so much more Robin can show him if he only lets him.
I'm impressed by the way Ms. Gormley handled this difficult topic. And I love how she didn't make the hemophilia a defect but presented it just as another piece of the puzzle that is Geoff Gilchrest; it's part of him but doesn't define him.
The way she wrote it was insightful, informative and I absolutely enjoyed it.
The course of their relationship flowed very realistically. There was no instant love. There was an attraction right from the start, but because of past experiences of Robin he wasn't sure about starting a relationship and he had to learn to trust himself more.
Both characters grow in so many ways from when they first meet to where they are at the end of the story. I don't want to give anything away, but both Geoff and Robin are so relatable and human in the way they react during different instances of the story.
Risk Aware is told in both Geoffs and Robins point of view, which I loved because it gave the reader more insight on both characters and made it easier to understand each of them.
This is a definite GO AND READ IT-kind of book. I loved it and look forward to read more of this author. There's a few backlist books I haven't read yet but I think it's about time I read them. Highly recommended!
4.5 stars rounded up
*I received an ARC of this book from Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in return of an honest review*
When I first saw this book on the coming soon page on the publishers website I wanted to read it immediately. So of course I requested it on netgalley and was over the moon when I got it!
I found the premise of this book really interesting and unique. A hemophiliac who is also a masochist? It sounded impossible and too good to be true. I was curious on how Ms. Gormley would manage to write that, given that one would think being a masochist and a hemophiliac don't go together.
But the author shows that it is possible! Yes it does limit the possibilities, but Geoff can still have his needs satisfied without being fatally injured.
I fell in love with Robin right from the start because of the way he reacts and handles Geoffs medical condition. For him it's just something he had to be aware of and take into account when planning their scenes, and not an impossibility. He was intrigued and determined to show Geoff that he could have pain and a life with BDSM and still be safe.
Geoff on the other hand was wary and didn't completely trust Robin. Which is understandable given his condition and that one seemingly small injury can be life-threatening, but at the same time he was sometimes a bit stubborn because he thinks he'll only get the pain he so desperately wants by being reckless. He's new to BDSM and doesn't understand what is possible for him but also kind of stands in his own way because he's so set on canes and floggers, when there's so much more Robin can show him if he only lets him.
I'm impressed by the way Ms. Gormley handled this difficult topic. And I love how she didn't make the hemophilia a defect but presented it just as another piece of the puzzle that is Geoff Gilchrest; it's part of him but doesn't define him.
The way she wrote it was insightful, informative and I absolutely enjoyed it.
The course of their relationship flowed very realistically. There was no instant love. There was an attraction right from the start, but because of past experiences of Robin he wasn't sure about starting a relationship and he had to learn to trust himself more.
Both characters grow in so many ways from when they first meet to where they are at the end of the story. I don't want to give anything away, but both Geoff and Robin are so relatable and human in the way they react during different instances of the story.
Risk Aware is told in both Geoffs and Robins point of view, which I loved because it gave the reader more insight on both characters and made it easier to understand each of them.
This is a definite GO AND READ IT-kind of book. I loved it and look forward to read more of this author. There's a few backlist books I haven't read yet but I think it's about time I read them. Highly recommended!
May 9, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
This book was fabulous and kept me engaged from the very beginning. I love a story that takes things in a new direction, and the conflict here is so well done. Geoff has grown up sheltered and protected by his fearful mother, always forced to let his condition control him. Now as an adult, he is resentful of the role his hemophilia plays in his life, especially as it seems to prevent him from having what he really wants in terms of his sex life. Geoff’s instinct is often to hide problems that come up, or not share his condition with people because he so desperately wants it to be a non-issue. I think some may see this as immaturity on Geoff’s part, but for me it made sense. He has been so sheltered and is finally breaking free from his mother’s control and now he just wants to live how he wants. Geoff is inexperienced in relationships and especially BDSM play, and at first he really doesn’t understand just how important communication is. I don’t think he disregards the risks to Robin, I just don’t think he understands that his hemophilia affects both of them if they are going to play together.
I loved watching Geoff just open up and blossom with Robin as he realizes he can have what he wants, or at least pretty darn close. Robin takes time and effort to create scenes that give Geoff the thrills and the edge he needs, but also take into account his health condition. The story is sexy and kinky and there is a lot of page time devoted to their sexual relationship (which was great by me). I loved seeing the different ways the guys explored their sexual connection within the limits of Geoff’s health. Gormley does a great job, both with the sex scenes and throughout the story as a whole, of really capturing the details of Geoff’s life as a hemophiliac. It feels well researched and realistic, but it also doesn’t come across as too much info dump. The story really nicely balances showing Geoff can have more than he thought, with the realism that his condition still means limitations no matter how much he wants otherwise.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
This book was fabulous and kept me engaged from the very beginning. I love a story that takes things in a new direction, and the conflict here is so well done. Geoff has grown up sheltered and protected by his fearful mother, always forced to let his condition control him. Now as an adult, he is resentful of the role his hemophilia plays in his life, especially as it seems to prevent him from having what he really wants in terms of his sex life. Geoff’s instinct is often to hide problems that come up, or not share his condition with people because he so desperately wants it to be a non-issue. I think some may see this as immaturity on Geoff’s part, but for me it made sense. He has been so sheltered and is finally breaking free from his mother’s control and now he just wants to live how he wants. Geoff is inexperienced in relationships and especially BDSM play, and at first he really doesn’t understand just how important communication is. I don’t think he disregards the risks to Robin, I just don’t think he understands that his hemophilia affects both of them if they are going to play together.
I loved watching Geoff just open up and blossom with Robin as he realizes he can have what he wants, or at least pretty darn close. Robin takes time and effort to create scenes that give Geoff the thrills and the edge he needs, but also take into account his health condition. The story is sexy and kinky and there is a lot of page time devoted to their sexual relationship (which was great by me). I loved seeing the different ways the guys explored their sexual connection within the limits of Geoff’s health. Gormley does a great job, both with the sex scenes and throughout the story as a whole, of really capturing the details of Geoff’s life as a hemophiliac. It feels well researched and realistic, but it also doesn’t come across as too much info dump. The story really nicely balances showing Geoff can have more than he thought, with the realism that his condition still means limitations no matter how much he wants otherwise.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
February 15, 2023
Hemophilia is not a disease that is mentioned very often mainly because it's not very common. It occurs in 1 in 5000 live male births. It's estimated that there are 20,000 cases in the United States and approximately 400,000 in the world. When you compare those numbers to cancer, heart disease, or any other disease that kills, hemophilia isn't ranked very high. I, myself, am more familiar with famous people throughout history who had hemophilia or were the carriers of the disease, i.e. Tsarevitch Alexei Nikolaevich, Richard Burton, Ryan White, Prince Leopold, and Queen Victoria. She was a carrier as were two of her daughters who married into royal families, thus giving this disease the title of Royal Disease.
If you're confused as to why I'm giving you a history lesson, bear with me please. 'Risk Aware' caught me immediately through its description because this is not a disease I've seen any other author write about, and certainly not in relation to BDSM. Naturally I was fascinated and wanted to read more. As I got further into the novel it was the writing, the characters, and their vulnerabilities - outside of Geoff's hemophilia - that kept me riveted to the pages.
“You want to sub, baby, but you’ve got no idea what it means. When you give someone the power to do what they want to you, you also give them the responsibility of keeping you safe. Otherwise, you can’t ever really give in and let go.”
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
If you're confused as to why I'm giving you a history lesson, bear with me please. 'Risk Aware' caught me immediately through its description because this is not a disease I've seen any other author write about, and certainly not in relation to BDSM. Naturally I was fascinated and wanted to read more. As I got further into the novel it was the writing, the characters, and their vulnerabilities - outside of Geoff's hemophilia - that kept me riveted to the pages.
“You want to sub, baby, but you’ve got no idea what it means. When you give someone the power to do what they want to you, you also give them the responsibility of keeping you safe. Otherwise, you can’t ever really give in and let go.”
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
August 9, 2016
For the most part I really liked this story, and am really glad the Mods made me read it this month. Despite the fact I have been going off the more BDSM type stories lately, this one was unique enough that I really didn't mind. And some of those scene were damn hot.
I also really liked how Geoff being a hemophiliac impacted his life, and not just his sex life either. I've never really thought about all the little bumps and bruises I get every day till I started to see the world thru Geoff's eyes for a bit.
I do however think that Geoff got away will a hell of a lot more than I think it right. Like I get that he has issues, but he is an ass to Robin thru a lot of this book, and for some reason Robin is the one who almost always ends up apologizing. And I really don't get it. Robin is pretty damn clear that if they are going to play Geoff has to be 100% honest about his condition. And yet Geoff gets really pissed off every time he gets caught holding back.
Also...that ending felt kinda like a let down. Too much like once again Robin has to bow to the whims of Geoff, no matter what his feelings are on the matter. Maybe if Geoff wished to stop because he didn't want it anymore, than that would be fine...but he clearly still wants to continue with more dangerous scenes, and his whole "I'm doing it for your own good (even though if you ever think about doing the same I will totally bitch you out about it)" attitude just grates on me.
I also really liked how Geoff being a hemophiliac impacted his life, and not just his sex life either. I've never really thought about all the little bumps and bruises I get every day till I started to see the world thru Geoff's eyes for a bit.
I do however think that Geoff got away will a hell of a lot more than I think it right. Like I get that he has issues, but he is an ass to Robin thru a lot of this book, and for some reason Robin is the one who almost always ends up apologizing. And I really don't get it. Robin is pretty damn clear that if they are going to play Geoff has to be 100% honest about his condition. And yet Geoff gets really pissed off every time he gets caught holding back.
Also...that ending felt kinda like a let down. Too much like once again Robin has to bow to the whims of Geoff, no matter what his feelings are on the matter. Maybe if Geoff wished to stop because he didn't want it anymore, than that would be fine...but he clearly still wants to continue with more dangerous scenes, and his whole "I'm doing it for your own good (even though if you ever think about doing the same I will totally bitch you out about it)" attitude just grates on me.
October 13, 2017
I didn't really know how to rate this book. The premise was interesting and I learned quite a bit about hemophilia but the main character, Geoff, was unlikeable. Robin was better, but too much of a do-gooder .
I like that the characters build trust through communication, except the communication is just so... textbook. Like I was reading a couple's counseling book. Everyone was so understanding - even on hard issues - it made me want to enrage them, just to get some reactions.
What about the sex scenes? They were pretty good, but when they did BDSM and sex, it went on forever (exhausting for me - maybe it is a good point for you).
Oh, and both characters went from reckless, to responsible, to reckless so the ending was a little bit of a let down
ps: I don't read too many m-m books, but why do they always have artsy people? Gallery owner, tatoo artists, or painters? Everybody and their (gay) brother paint or sketch.
I like that the characters build trust through communication, except the communication is just so... textbook. Like I was reading a couple's counseling book. Everyone was so understanding - even on hard issues - it made me want to enrage them, just to get some reactions.
What about the sex scenes? They were pretty good, but when they did BDSM and sex, it went on forever (exhausting for me - maybe it is a good point for you).
Oh, and both characters went from reckless, to responsible, to reckless so the ending was a little bit of a let down
ps: I don't read too many m-m books, but why do they always have artsy people? Gallery owner, tatoo artists, or painters? Everybody and their (gay) brother paint or sketch.
November 24, 2018
Absolutely fantastic. So, I have a special fondness for books with disabled characters, because I live with chronic pain. To have an example of a character who hates being perceived as weak or limited but who still needs to know his own stopping points, and who eventually realizes not going to certain extremes isn't just about consequences for himself, but for Robin, and their future.
The thing is, the author warnings are very serious here. This book is kinky. Kinks include ice play, wax play, needles, spreader bars, plugs, funnel plug, roleplay, humiliation, edging, knife play, rape fantasy, violet wands, eroticizing infusing, whips, bloggers, play room, St. Andrew's Cross, barebacking, while discussions and r.a.c.k. take place, there are some unsafe practices used as intentional plot to point out a need for safer practices. Also risky behavior prior to the main relationship. Briefly mentioned sounding, watersports.
Instances of ableism, helicopter parenting, chronic pain, hemophilia, bullying, false accusations of abuse by a prior partner, control issues. I'm probably missing things. This book is very thorough. But please take the warnings seriously.
Beyond that, you can absolutely tell how well researched and thought out this is. 5/5
The thing is, the author warnings are very serious here. This book is kinky. Kinks include ice play, wax play, needles, spreader bars, plugs, funnel plug, roleplay, humiliation, edging, knife play, rape fantasy, violet wands, eroticizing infusing, whips, bloggers, play room, St. Andrew's Cross, barebacking, while discussions and r.a.c.k. take place, there are some unsafe practices used as intentional plot to point out a need for safer practices. Also risky behavior prior to the main relationship. Briefly mentioned sounding, watersports.
Instances of ableism, helicopter parenting, chronic pain, hemophilia, bullying, false accusations of abuse by a prior partner, control issues. I'm probably missing things. This book is very thorough. But please take the warnings seriously.
Beyond that, you can absolutely tell how well researched and thought out this is. 5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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