What do you think?
Rate this book
Ev Myers is a former high school football star and Republican State Senator's son, raised in a strict Southern Baptist household where his only option was to be silent, behave and, no matter how he might be feeling, to put on a happy smile.
Desperate to escape the pressure to be the man his family insists he become, Ev has fled Kansas to attend college and is working to find out who he really is beneath the lies and carefully composed public image. But when he applies for a job as a nude model for a life drawing class out of a desire to be seen in a way that shatters all of his family's taboos, it's just the first step on a path that leads him away from everything he's ever known.
Handsome and headstrong adjunct arts professor, Adam Buchanan, is the first person to recognize Ev's potential, and his determination to have Ev realize the importance of truth and stark honesty, as well as the beauty of flawed vulnerability provides the hope Ev needs to escape a world rife with kidnapping, brainwashing and deadly determination cure homosexuality, using whatever means necessary. [M/M - See publisher's website for content labels.]
Desperate to escape the pressure to be the man his family insists he become, Ev has fled Kansas to attend college and is working to find out who he really is beneath the lies and carefully composed public image. But when he applies for a job as a nude model for a life drawing class out of a desire to be seen in a way that shatters all of his family's taboos, it's just the first step on a path that leads him away from everything he's ever known.
Handsome and headstrong adjunct arts professor, Adam Buchanan, is the first person to recognize Ev's potential, and his determination to have Ev realize the importance of truth and stark honesty, as well as the beauty of flawed vulnerability provides the hope Ev needs to escape a world rife with kidnapping, brainwashing and deadly determination cure homosexuality, using whatever means necessary. [M/M - See publisher's website for content labels.]
310 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2016
7 people are currently reading
877 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Kelling
29 books390 followersLynn Kelling began writing in order to tell stories that aren’t afraid of the dark, don’t hold anything back and always strive to be memorable, forging lasting attachments between character and reader. Her inspiration comes from taking a closer look at behaviors and ideas lurking at the fringes of life—basically anything that people may hesitate to speak of in mixed company, but everyone wonders about anyway. Her work is driven by the taboo in order to expose the humanity within it. Lynn is an artist, designer and lover of any form of creative self-expression that comes from a place of honesty and emotion, whether it's body art or opera. She has had multiple novels published, has written over fifty works of erotic fiction of varying lengths, and always has several novels in progress.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 20, 2016
****4.5 Stars****
I don’t think there is a way to write about this story without spoiling it.
So, read it at your own risk.
I always read the blurb before starting a book; therefore a story hardly gets a chance to surprise me. However, there is nothing in bare’s blurb that implies how deep this book is going to dig in into methods used by sick people to un-gay gay people
(Did you get that? You might need to read that sentence again) nor how hard, touching and uncomfortable it’s going to makes us feel when we face the way this affects the person submitted to this horrendous act.
Bare starts the way I expected after reading the blurb, it leads you to think that you’ll get it dirty, sinful, light, fun and very hot. News flash! It was that and then some more.
There he gets a job as a nude model for a life drawing class. He needs the money since his dad is not helping much, the most important reason though is the temptation, the delicious thrill of doing something forbidden behind his *very religious and conservative* family back.
“I’m looking for a guy of your age and your look really works for me.”
“…my focus is on exposing the vulnerability in male sexuality,” Adam said, his voice lowered. “My work is quite sexual in nature, so if that’s a problem for you, I completely understand.”
Are you with me? So far, a certain tension hovering in the air, it promises hot and sinful. Well, at least that is what my dirty mind seems to read.
“Evelyn resisted all his life the temptation of being who he wants to be and starts to feel exhausted by this effort.”
“Everything up to that point in Ev’s experience, tied to affection or sexual physical interactions with other man, had been tainted with layers of pressure to feel ashamed or fearful of his natural reactions.”
Well, surprise! surprise! Isn't this shit getting real??
By now, I smell the angst coming. Moreover, glimpses of a strong and solid story line behind all this wicked and sinful relationship starts to shape.
I cannot stress enough how incredible the connection and pull was between these two. Definitely a success combo: Adam, confident and completely in control of his life and Ev, so vulnerable and at a crucial time of his. Boom!
A mesh in heaven, Evelyn needs all support and attention and Adam is a truly alpha who loves taking care of Evelyn.
Bare has that delicious subtle taboo thrill I like in a book anddespite its ugly parts, it was a fantastic read. Scratch that! Combined with its ugly parts bare turns out as a winner.
Does that really exist? Tell me it doesn't or do not answer me at all.
I just want to say that in moments like this, ignorance seems a safe place.
You chicken! what a shame!
Adam and Evelyn together??
Freaking.Hell.
The scenes where Adam paints Evelyn had sensuality in galore!
I have a minor complaint though and it’s related to certain terms used in BDSM. Hence my 4.5 Stars. That said, bare exceeded my expectations.
My first read by this author but I am going to fix this very soon.
I really hope to get a book about Oliver. I won’t be taken by surprise this time! I think I am prepared for him. Bring Oliver on, please!
I don’t think there is a way to write about this story without spoiling it.
So, read it at your own risk.
I always read the blurb before starting a book; therefore a story hardly gets a chance to surprise me. However, there is nothing in bare’s blurb that implies how deep this book is going to dig in into methods used by sick people to un-gay gay people
(Did you get that? You might need to read that sentence again) nor how hard, touching and uncomfortable it’s going to makes us feel when we face the way this affects the person submitted to this horrendous act.
Bare starts the way I expected after reading the blurb, it leads you to think that you’ll get it dirty, sinful, light, fun and very hot. News flash! It was that and then some more.
There he gets a job as a nude model for a life drawing class. He needs the money since his dad is not helping much, the most important reason though is the temptation, the delicious thrill of doing something forbidden behind his *very religious and conservative* family back.
“I’m looking for a guy of your age and your look really works for me.”
“…my focus is on exposing the vulnerability in male sexuality,” Adam said, his voice lowered. “My work is quite sexual in nature, so if that’s a problem for you, I completely understand.”
Are you with me? So far, a certain tension hovering in the air, it promises hot and sinful. Well, at least that is what my dirty mind seems to read.
“Evelyn resisted all his life the temptation of being who he wants to be and starts to feel exhausted by this effort.”
“Everything up to that point in Ev’s experience, tied to affection or sexual physical interactions with other man, had been tainted with layers of pressure to feel ashamed or fearful of his natural reactions.”
Well, surprise! surprise! Isn't this shit getting real??
By now, I smell the angst coming. Moreover, glimpses of a strong and solid story line behind all this wicked and sinful relationship starts to shape.
I cannot stress enough how incredible the connection and pull was between these two. Definitely a success combo: Adam, confident and completely in control of his life and Ev, so vulnerable and at a crucial time of his. Boom!
A mesh in heaven, Evelyn needs all support and attention and Adam is a truly alpha who loves taking care of Evelyn.
Bare has that delicious subtle taboo thrill I like in a book and
Does that really exist? Tell me it doesn't or do not answer me at all.
I just want to say that in moments like this, ignorance seems a safe place.
You chicken! what a shame!
Adam and Evelyn together??
Freaking.Hell.
The scenes where Adam paints Evelyn had sensuality in galore!
I have a minor complaint though and it’s related to certain terms used in BDSM. Hence my 4.5 Stars. That said, bare exceeded my expectations.
My first read by this author but I am going to fix this very soon.
I really hope to get a book about Oliver. I won’t be taken by surprise this time! I think I am prepared for him. Bring Oliver on, please!
May 31, 2019
2.5 stars. Have you ever had one of those relationships? You know the kind. When you jump in because of the sexual chemistry… despite the fact that you have very few values in common. And eventually, the wheels fall off.
That was me and this book.
Distant warning bells were present, even in the beginning. The dialogue wasn’t great, but hey, he’s hot, right? Our sex was delish. We had fun, and he scratched those itches. Maybe even a few I didn’t know I had.
Things moved really fast. Faster than they should have, but rules shmules. I started to feel connected to him. Adjusted my expectations accordingly, and ignored that voice in my head that said this wasn’t the best foundation for forever.
But did I mention the sex was hot? There was a touch of kink to it, which I know we should have discussed more directly, but yolo.
Then we got thrown our first test as a couple, and it was a dramatic whirlwind. A horrific situation indeed — and it all happened so fast that I barely had a chance to understand what was going on before it was over, like magic. And a day later, he was ready to eloquently pontificate to others about this danger and avoiding it themselves. (Sorry if I’m not making sense. Even in my romantically-muddled state of mind, I do not like spoilers. But if you’re confused, that’s valid. I was too.)
And now we’ve reached the last 25% of our relationship, because I’m scientific like that. After our Challenge™️, it was like one of those narrators appeared in a cloud over our heads, prophesying our falling out. But also telling everything else, in the not-good way. Had this narrator always been there? Perhaps a bit. But now the fog was lifting.
That slight depth that I initially felt from him (even though his names were Adam and Ev — I really should have known), it dissipated after our summit. I was left with a downhill slide, with characters who had come away from their challenges flattened out considerably, less nuanced and more typecast. Not what you want in a long-term relationship.
In our honeymoon stage, I thought it was adorable that he sped through life, skipping the little things like realistic pacing and backstory development. But after the buzz wore off, that shit was ugly, and I couldn’t wait to get out.
So there you have it. I have closure now, and I wish him the best. Do I recommend him? Not unreservedly. But in the sense that I’d leave his number on the bathroom wall, sure. Smooches!
That was me and this book.
Distant warning bells were present, even in the beginning. The dialogue wasn’t great, but hey, he’s hot, right? Our sex was delish. We had fun, and he scratched those itches. Maybe even a few I didn’t know I had.
Things moved really fast. Faster than they should have, but rules shmules. I started to feel connected to him. Adjusted my expectations accordingly, and ignored that voice in my head that said this wasn’t the best foundation for forever.
But did I mention the sex was hot? There was a touch of kink to it, which I know we should have discussed more directly, but yolo.
Then we got thrown our first test as a couple, and it was a dramatic whirlwind. A horrific situation indeed — and it all happened so fast that I barely had a chance to understand what was going on before it was over, like magic. And a day later, he was ready to eloquently pontificate to others about this danger and avoiding it themselves. (Sorry if I’m not making sense. Even in my romantically-muddled state of mind, I do not like spoilers. But if you’re confused, that’s valid. I was too.)
And now we’ve reached the last 25% of our relationship, because I’m scientific like that. After our Challenge™️, it was like one of those narrators appeared in a cloud over our heads, prophesying our falling out. But also telling everything else, in the not-good way. Had this narrator always been there? Perhaps a bit. But now the fog was lifting.
That slight depth that I initially felt from him (even though his names were Adam and Ev — I really should have known), it dissipated after our summit. I was left with a downhill slide, with characters who had come away from their challenges flattened out considerably, less nuanced and more typecast. Not what you want in a long-term relationship.
In our honeymoon stage, I thought it was adorable that he sped through life, skipping the little things like realistic pacing and backstory development. But after the buzz wore off, that shit was ugly, and I couldn’t wait to get out.
So there you have it. I have closure now, and I wish him the best. Do I recommend him? Not unreservedly. But in the sense that I’d leave his number on the bathroom wall, sure. Smooches!
December 24, 2016
4.5 Stars!
Very different from anything I've read lately. The first 60% or so I was really drawn in to Ev and Adam's world. And it's very much their world. They live in this sort of bubble.
Their chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS!
Some BDSM elements - what I would consider lite. Some bondage, but more control related then anything else. Possessive Adam was all kinds of hot.
There was always this sense of impending doom though given Ev's past and his family. But I was so thankful that wasn't drawn out. It didn't overpower the story.
BUT, the tone of the book took a bit of a dive at the climax of the story. It sort of petered out if you will.
Overall though this one was good. Really good. Great writing. Intriguing plot. Sizzling chemistry between the MCs. I'll definitely be checking more out from this author.
Very different from anything I've read lately. The first 60% or so I was really drawn in to Ev and Adam's world. And it's very much their world. They live in this sort of bubble.
Their chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS!
Some BDSM elements - what I would consider lite. Some bondage, but more control related then anything else. Possessive Adam was all kinds of hot.
There was always this sense of impending doom though given Ev's past and his family. But I was so thankful that wasn't drawn out. It didn't overpower the story.
BUT, the tone of the book took a bit of a dive at the climax of the story. It sort of petered out if you will.
Overall though this one was good. Really good. Great writing. Intriguing plot. Sizzling chemistry between the MCs. I'll definitely be checking more out from this author.
Read
October 4, 2017*DNF*
Darn, this is me being the odd one out.
I will not give this a rating because I'm simply not sure whether this is on my account or the book's.
I didn't like the way Adam treated Ev to start with. There were problems with consent for me.
I mean Ev is seriously traumatized about being gay and Adam just ...pushes him, touches his dick, kisses him when he said he wouldn't touch without asking. And they are going all the way after two days of knowing each other and Ev being a wreck about being gay? And no condoms?
Darn, that is hard to swallow! (and NO pun intended!)
And then the BDSM happens at the same time. I felt seriously challenged because it felt all so wrong, and had to fast forward to see what would happen later and ... no ... I could not take it.
This was highly unexpected. Nothing prepared me for this.
This book feels all confused trying to fit in too many things, not sure what it was trying to be.
I really wanted to like this, but I can't. This was not for me. So sorry.
Someone else will really like it, for sure.
Darn, this is me being the odd one out.
I will not give this a rating because I'm simply not sure whether this is on my account or the book's.
I didn't like the way Adam treated Ev to start with. There were problems with consent for me.
I mean Ev is seriously traumatized about being gay and Adam just ...pushes him, touches his dick, kisses him when he said he wouldn't touch without asking. And they are going all the way after two days of knowing each other and Ev being a wreck about being gay? And no condoms?
Darn, that is hard to swallow! (and NO pun intended!)
And then the BDSM happens at the same time. I felt seriously challenged because it felt all so wrong, and had to fast forward to see what would happen later and ... no ... I could not take it.
This was highly unexpected. Nothing prepared me for this.
This book feels all confused trying to fit in too many things, not sure what it was trying to be.
I really wanted to like this, but I can't. This was not for me. So sorry.
Someone else will really like it, for sure.
April 6, 2018
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
If you've never read Lynn Kelling because her dark or hardcore subject matter made you nervous, this is the book you should read. It’s a beautiful love story that contains the multilayered characters I expect from Lynn Kelling. It’s also a coming of age story that follows Ev’s breaking away from the constricts placed on him by a religious and political family as he finally follows his heart and explores the sides of himself that make him as nervous and scared as they equally excite him.
When Adam discovers Evelyn as he's working as a nude model for another art teacher, he sees Ev as the perfect model for the series of paintings he is creating for a show that will highlight the vulnerabilities and the feminine beneath the masculine. It’s not long at all until Adam has quickly fallen for his muse. It’s not just Ev’s physical beauty that draws him, it’s what he sees beneath. He sees the war between Ev’s shame and desire and how Ev fights it and that draws out the dominant side of Adam. The side that wants to take care of Ev.
Evelyn has repressed everything he is in order to survive his family. His father is a US Senator from Kansas and they are religious conservatives. He has been used as a prop for his father’s political career. Ev knows his family would never accept what he feels inside and what he wants to do with his life. The fear is greatest with regard to his sexuality as his family and church are affiliated with a conversion camp his cousin was sent to when they were children. The fear of what happened there and the lingering threat that it could happen to him, has kept Ev on the straight and narrow until he finally made his escape across the country to attend college, much to his family’s disapproval.
When he takes on a nude modeling job at school, it’s a bit of rebellion and also something that excites him, even as he thinks it means there is something wrong with him. He likes being looked at. Ev tries to tell himself that the brief attractions he had to guys in school, teammates in the locker room, were just him liking the attention, but Ev can’t say that about Adam. From the moment Adam walks into the art room during a modeling session, Ev is attracted to the intense man with the fiery red hair and blue eyes like he has never been attracted to anyone else. Ev knows the danger of taking on an exclusive modeling job with Adam, but deep down he also senses the opportunity and he can’t resist the pull he feels to Adam.
Adam falls quickly for his muse and he challenges Ev like nobody has before. He questions everything and pushes Ev’s boundaries until Ev is challenging all his parents’ rules and his own repressed desires. From Adam’s insistence on using Ev’s full name to pushing Ev to voice and accept the truth of who he is and what he wants regardless of his upbringing, Adam is firm but loving and Ev slowly opens up and reveals all his pain, desire and fears to Adam. The modeling and the subject matter of Adam’s paintings help Ev work through his embarrassment and shame at being aroused by a man. Adam’s touch as he positions Ev lights a fire within him and Ev is soon helpless to resist the sexual attraction.
I loved these two so much, I could have easily kept reading once the story ended. Adam was tough to get a read on at the start, but he very quickly revealed himself to be a firm but caring man, truly invested in Ev’s well-being and clearly enchanted with his beauty. Ev is trying so hard to fight every impulse that was ingrained in him that what he feels is wrong, but it’s not easy. Ev has always seen beauty in art, appreciated things that his father would have scorned. Ev sees his truth through Adam’s paintings of him, in the positions Adam poses him in, and that has so much effect on his eventual decision to accept himself and allow the world to see him for who he truly is.
There is a lot of sex in the book but it’s organic to the story, flowing naturally from the modeling and from the intense attraction between the two. It ranges from tender to rough, vanilla to D/s, but all of it was scorching. Ev is new to it all and just finding what he likes and how to voice it, while Adam is an experienced Dom who likes to be in control. It’s a gradual journey for Ev opening up, laying himself bare and vulnerable even as the relationship between them moves rather quickly. Ev acknowledges that logically it may be too quick, but he also realizes how much he comes to need the one person who has ever seen the real him.
This is not a story with a magical sex cure, although it is the catalyst for Ev facing his demons. Ev is encouraged to seek counseling to deal with past abuse and the shame that was drilled into his head. The amount of his parents’ influence is clear in Ev’s shock anytime people accept his relationship with Adam. There is a master-slave relationship that evolves as Ev very naturally falls into the submissive dynamic. Adam reads Ev very well and, cognizant of his fears and worries, brings out in Ev everything he’s ever repressed, allowing him to live the life he was always afraid he never could. The master-slave and D/s lifestyle here is fairly light and shouldn’t scare you off.
Told from Ev’s point of view, you feel his constant fear of the consequences he will face for loving Adam. Those consequences that his parents and church always warned of. While I said this is not dark or hardcore Lynn Kelling, there is a bit of darkness and yes, it was hard to read when Ev has to face just how far his parents will go to save him. Even as his fantasy that someday his parents may accept him is brutally destroyed, we again see just how sensitive and loving Ev is as he still tries to see the best in his family.
There is such beauty in this story and in Lynn Kelling’s words. The pictures she paints through Adam’s brush were so clear in my mind and added so much to the storytelling. This was a softer side to her writing that I have glimpsed in the past, but is on full display here. If you were ever curious about this author I would have no reservations in recommending you start with this story. I know I’ll be reading it again in the future.
If you've never read Lynn Kelling because her dark or hardcore subject matter made you nervous, this is the book you should read. It’s a beautiful love story that contains the multilayered characters I expect from Lynn Kelling. It’s also a coming of age story that follows Ev’s breaking away from the constricts placed on him by a religious and political family as he finally follows his heart and explores the sides of himself that make him as nervous and scared as they equally excite him.
When Adam discovers Evelyn as he's working as a nude model for another art teacher, he sees Ev as the perfect model for the series of paintings he is creating for a show that will highlight the vulnerabilities and the feminine beneath the masculine. It’s not long at all until Adam has quickly fallen for his muse. It’s not just Ev’s physical beauty that draws him, it’s what he sees beneath. He sees the war between Ev’s shame and desire and how Ev fights it and that draws out the dominant side of Adam. The side that wants to take care of Ev.
Evelyn has repressed everything he is in order to survive his family. His father is a US Senator from Kansas and they are religious conservatives. He has been used as a prop for his father’s political career. Ev knows his family would never accept what he feels inside and what he wants to do with his life. The fear is greatest with regard to his sexuality as his family and church are affiliated with a conversion camp his cousin was sent to when they were children. The fear of what happened there and the lingering threat that it could happen to him, has kept Ev on the straight and narrow until he finally made his escape across the country to attend college, much to his family’s disapproval.
When he takes on a nude modeling job at school, it’s a bit of rebellion and also something that excites him, even as he thinks it means there is something wrong with him. He likes being looked at. Ev tries to tell himself that the brief attractions he had to guys in school, teammates in the locker room, were just him liking the attention, but Ev can’t say that about Adam. From the moment Adam walks into the art room during a modeling session, Ev is attracted to the intense man with the fiery red hair and blue eyes like he has never been attracted to anyone else. Ev knows the danger of taking on an exclusive modeling job with Adam, but deep down he also senses the opportunity and he can’t resist the pull he feels to Adam.
Adam falls quickly for his muse and he challenges Ev like nobody has before. He questions everything and pushes Ev’s boundaries until Ev is challenging all his parents’ rules and his own repressed desires. From Adam’s insistence on using Ev’s full name to pushing Ev to voice and accept the truth of who he is and what he wants regardless of his upbringing, Adam is firm but loving and Ev slowly opens up and reveals all his pain, desire and fears to Adam. The modeling and the subject matter of Adam’s paintings help Ev work through his embarrassment and shame at being aroused by a man. Adam’s touch as he positions Ev lights a fire within him and Ev is soon helpless to resist the sexual attraction.
I loved these two so much, I could have easily kept reading once the story ended. Adam was tough to get a read on at the start, but he very quickly revealed himself to be a firm but caring man, truly invested in Ev’s well-being and clearly enchanted with his beauty. Ev is trying so hard to fight every impulse that was ingrained in him that what he feels is wrong, but it’s not easy. Ev has always seen beauty in art, appreciated things that his father would have scorned. Ev sees his truth through Adam’s paintings of him, in the positions Adam poses him in, and that has so much effect on his eventual decision to accept himself and allow the world to see him for who he truly is.
There is a lot of sex in the book but it’s organic to the story, flowing naturally from the modeling and from the intense attraction between the two. It ranges from tender to rough, vanilla to D/s, but all of it was scorching. Ev is new to it all and just finding what he likes and how to voice it, while Adam is an experienced Dom who likes to be in control. It’s a gradual journey for Ev opening up, laying himself bare and vulnerable even as the relationship between them moves rather quickly. Ev acknowledges that logically it may be too quick, but he also realizes how much he comes to need the one person who has ever seen the real him.
This is not a story with a magical sex cure, although it is the catalyst for Ev facing his demons. Ev is encouraged to seek counseling to deal with past abuse and the shame that was drilled into his head. The amount of his parents’ influence is clear in Ev’s shock anytime people accept his relationship with Adam. There is a master-slave relationship that evolves as Ev very naturally falls into the submissive dynamic. Adam reads Ev very well and, cognizant of his fears and worries, brings out in Ev everything he’s ever repressed, allowing him to live the life he was always afraid he never could. The master-slave and D/s lifestyle here is fairly light and shouldn’t scare you off.
Told from Ev’s point of view, you feel his constant fear of the consequences he will face for loving Adam. Those consequences that his parents and church always warned of. While I said this is not dark or hardcore Lynn Kelling, there is a bit of darkness and yes, it was hard to read when Ev has to face just how far his parents will go to save him. Even as his fantasy that someday his parents may accept him is brutally destroyed, we again see just how sensitive and loving Ev is as he still tries to see the best in his family.
There is such beauty in this story and in Lynn Kelling’s words. The pictures she paints through Adam’s brush were so clear in my mind and added so much to the storytelling. This was a softer side to her writing that I have glimpsed in the past, but is on full display here. If you were ever curious about this author I would have no reservations in recommending you start with this story. I know I’ll be reading it again in the future.
February 10, 2017
I'm not entirely sure how to review a five star book that I absolutely hated.
Maybe I'll start by telling you why it was a five star for me.
In a nutshell, it was the intelligent, sensitive and moving plot expertly told by a talented writer. The book is an emotional journey of discovery and courage for Adam and Evelyn. Five stars, hands down.
And now I guess I get to tell you why I hated it. This may be the reason you love it. In fact, this may prompt you to pick up the book while I would have run in the other direction given this information.
Even though there is a WHOLE LOT more to the plot. The story basically develops a BDSM relationship between the two MCs. I don't like to read BDSM romance. In particular, I don't like reading about the power exchange in BDSM stories. While I can handle the kinky sex scenes (for the most part), I simply can't stomach the stories that focus on the power exchange. I have a huge f***ing hangup with that.
I spent the entire book cringing and wanting to look away. Why didn't I dnf? That's my automatic reaction when I accidentally land on a book with this theme. Well, now we're back to the five star rating.
The story is expertly told. The plot riveting. The characters so real, that you fall in love with them in spite of yourself. Add to that the information provided to educate readers to a real and immediate problem in our society and you have an unputdownable book.
So, in spite of having spent my entire reading time curled up tight in a corner trying to escape the scenes. I can honestly recommend this to anyone who wants to read a powerful, moving, coming of age story of self-discovery.
Maybe I'll start by telling you why it was a five star for me.
In a nutshell, it was the intelligent, sensitive and moving plot expertly told by a talented writer. The book is an emotional journey of discovery and courage for Adam and Evelyn. Five stars, hands down.
And now I guess I get to tell you why I hated it. This may be the reason you love it. In fact, this may prompt you to pick up the book while I would have run in the other direction given this information.
Even though there is a WHOLE LOT more to the plot. The story basically develops a BDSM relationship between the two MCs. I don't like to read BDSM romance. In particular, I don't like reading about the power exchange in BDSM stories. While I can handle the kinky sex scenes (for the most part), I simply can't stomach the stories that focus on the power exchange. I have a huge f***ing hangup with that.
I spent the entire book cringing and wanting to look away. Why didn't I dnf? That's my automatic reaction when I accidentally land on a book with this theme. Well, now we're back to the five star rating.
The story is expertly told. The plot riveting. The characters so real, that you fall in love with them in spite of yourself. Add to that the information provided to educate readers to a real and immediate problem in our society and you have an unputdownable book.
So, in spite of having spent my entire reading time curled up tight in a corner trying to escape the scenes. I can honestly recommend this to anyone who wants to read a powerful, moving, coming of age story of self-discovery.
August 13, 2022
Plenty to like about Lynn Kelling's latest offering - November 15th release. Good characters, master-slave dynamic, but never heavy on that aspect, small town boy from strong GOP and religious roots finding himself, some of the hottest sex scenes you'll read and a good, strong story to back it up. This is not a heavy Lynn Kelling read but there is depth and meaning at the heart, with reparative therapy, religion - hello, Adam and Ev - and the emotional conflict these cause running throughout. Enough to make you angry at some people's outdated and dangerous ideas and behaviour. But there's more to cheer about for Adam and Ev.
I loved it.
November 14, 2016
"Ev trembled, anticipating everything, struggling to breathe, but it was the sweetness of Adam that hurt the most, cut the deepest through a lifetime of layers of protective denial."
Ev Myers, former high school football star and Republican State Senator's son, needs money. His decision to attend college away from his hometown is only partially supported by his parents. Applying for a job as a nude model for a life drawing class, leads him to meet adjunct arts professor, Adam Buchanan. In Ev, Adam sees his muse. Ev's feelings about Adam are the same as for nude modeling. He terrifies him, but at the same time he exhilarates him. And this is how it begins.
In the first part of the book there's no real action. All the action happens inside Ev's head. There's so much guilt, denial and self-loathing. You 'll think it's just nude sessions and mind games, at first. But what really happens is that Adam starts breaking down Ev's walls one by one.
I won't lie, this was kind of insta-lovey. The "I love you's" and came in a matter of weeks. Do I care? No I don't. Because there is a very genuine connection between Ev and Adam. Call it luck, call it fate, but these two complement each other so well! Adam has it all, but he needs someone to take care of. He's a natural dominant, and Ev just came to...fill in the blanks. And Ev is just so lonely! The quiet, submissive part of himself craves Adam. And just so you know, Adam does not play around...
“I take things like this very fucking seriously,” Adam added in warning. “This means something to me. If you give me this, I swear on my life I’ll safeguard you in whatever ways you need me to. It’d be a beginning, not the end.”
I knew there was a shitstorm coming (that much is obvious from the blurb), and I was dreading it. Up until that moment, they lived in their bubble, having sex and talking and exploring Ev's identity/sexuality. What happens next is evilness personified. But although gut wrenching, it wasn't overwhelming and it didn't take over the story. Where I live, conversion camps are just a myth, and I admit that at first, I thought that the facts in this book were maybe a little exaggerated. Yeah, the author's note and a simple google search took care of that. It's just so heartbreaking that there are still people that go through all this torture and pain, caused by their own family. And in the light of recent events, this reality is becoming more and more terrifying.
As far as the BDSM aspect of the story is concerned, I found it to be pretty interesting and different than in other books. The power dynamics are obvious from the beginning. Adam is a dominant, and Ev has submissive tendencies even when he's not aware of it. What I loved (and this is only a personal preference) is the lack of formal protocol. There is bondage, and submission, and, yes, at some point they bring it outside the bedroom. But there aren't these strict rules, punishments or manners and etiquette.
“No one else has you like this. No one even gets close,” Adam warned.
The writing is suberb. Kelling is an author with a unique ability to make the reader meander through the character's dark mind until light shines through. I can't explain how she does it but it gets me every time.
First and foremost, this is Ev's journey to self-acceptance and his breaking free from his oppressing past. Under Adam's guidance he will blossom, and when he lets go he's so very beautiful. But it's Adam's story too, because he's the kind of man whose money and experience is just a means to a purpose. And he found that purpose in Evan.
February 7, 2017
3 Stars
This was just not my cuppa. I knew going in it had some elements that can rub me the wrong way and in this case they did at every turn. I don't want to go into too much detail, especially since it would be somewhat spoilery to do so, but also because I'm just over it. I think I've spent enough time reading this book, I'm just ready to leave it where it's at....and move the hell on!
This was just not my cuppa. I knew going in it had some elements that can rub me the wrong way and in this case they did at every turn. I don't want to go into too much detail, especially since it would be somewhat spoilery to do so, but also because I'm just over it. I think I've spent enough time reading this book, I'm just ready to leave it where it's at....and move the hell on!
May 30, 2019
That was so beautiful, I want to do justice to my review so I'm going to think on it awhile, but I promise it is coming...
November 15, 2016
Bare is another compelling work by Lynn Kelling. It is a story about Ev (short for Evelyn) and Adam, but mostly it’s about Ev and his need to step outside his lifelong conditioning and be who he really is. Ev is a complicated character: He is conflicted to the point of being emotionally unstable. On his own for the first time in his life, sort of—his family’s influence is never far away—Ev is desperate to discover who he is as a man apart from his upbringing. There is a constant religious undertone to the whole story, hence the Adam and Ev names for the characters, and the need to take a man back to his most basic beginnings and strip him down to his most vulnerable, honest and bare. The need to begin anew with almost a rebirth for Ev is crucial to him moving forward from his past. But Adam’s role is just as important. Only a man with a strong sense of purpose, trying to be as authentic as he can be, could break the walls down around Ev.
Take one sexually repressed nineteen-year-old, add in a sexy, charismatic painter whose work brings male vulnerability to life on canvas, and is also a dominant personality, and you have a story that will make you squirm in all the right ways. Holy hell, the tension in some of these scenes as Ev sits under Adam’s total scrutiny as Adam paints. For the first time in his life, someone sees Ev, and it is overwhelmingly wonderful and awful all at the same time. Adam has a profound need to uncover Ev’s true self and at the same time feeling a fierce need to protect him, nurture him and take care of him. Yes, there are elements of BDSM here—this is a Lynn Kelling book—but whips, chains and bondage are not what is needed in this story. Ev needs boundaries, rules, clear expectations and structure and Adam is happy to supply them.
“As soon as he settled on his knees, Ev knew it was right. His hand found Adam’s bulge. Burying his nose between it and Adam’s hip, Ev found the true scent of his lover. It was better, more real and honest, speaking of all of Adam’s masculinity and strength. It emanated sweat, skin, and life.
His thumb brushed the soft curling red hair at Adam’s groin and the end of Ev’s nose plunged into the curls, then lower, nudging Adam’s shaft, then the base of his sac.
He stayed there, breathing deeply, giving over to what he’d found with complete abandon and worship.”
There is something to be said about facing our greatest fears and coming out the other side. We get most of this story from Ev’s POV. We experience this story with Ev, and as such, we feel everything he feels. There is an element of conversion therapy, which may disturb some people. Kelling doesn’t gloss over what happens in these camps and it gets a little graphic, so be forewarned. At its heart, this is a love story. It may be, probably is, my favorite from this author because we get a real character driven plot in this book. Lynn Kelling has done a great job creating a story which revolves around and is pushed forward by her MCs. I would definitely recommend this book. But be aware, it does have some intense content along with dubious consent and a nineteen-year-old MC.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach Reviews
Take one sexually repressed nineteen-year-old, add in a sexy, charismatic painter whose work brings male vulnerability to life on canvas, and is also a dominant personality, and you have a story that will make you squirm in all the right ways. Holy hell, the tension in some of these scenes as Ev sits under Adam’s total scrutiny as Adam paints. For the first time in his life, someone sees Ev, and it is overwhelmingly wonderful and awful all at the same time. Adam has a profound need to uncover Ev’s true self and at the same time feeling a fierce need to protect him, nurture him and take care of him. Yes, there are elements of BDSM here—this is a Lynn Kelling book—but whips, chains and bondage are not what is needed in this story. Ev needs boundaries, rules, clear expectations and structure and Adam is happy to supply them.
“As soon as he settled on his knees, Ev knew it was right. His hand found Adam’s bulge. Burying his nose between it and Adam’s hip, Ev found the true scent of his lover. It was better, more real and honest, speaking of all of Adam’s masculinity and strength. It emanated sweat, skin, and life.
His thumb brushed the soft curling red hair at Adam’s groin and the end of Ev’s nose plunged into the curls, then lower, nudging Adam’s shaft, then the base of his sac.
He stayed there, breathing deeply, giving over to what he’d found with complete abandon and worship.”
There is something to be said about facing our greatest fears and coming out the other side. We get most of this story from Ev’s POV. We experience this story with Ev, and as such, we feel everything he feels. There is an element of conversion therapy, which may disturb some people. Kelling doesn’t gloss over what happens in these camps and it gets a little graphic, so be forewarned. At its heart, this is a love story. It may be, probably is, my favorite from this author because we get a real character driven plot in this book. Lynn Kelling has done a great job creating a story which revolves around and is pushed forward by her MCs. I would definitely recommend this book. But be aware, it does have some intense content along with dubious consent and a nineteen-year-old MC.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach Reviews
November 14, 2016
Review by The Blogger Girls.
Ev is using college as a way to escape from under his parents’ thumbs. In one respect, there is the religion and conversion therapy he has seen evidence of when he is caught kissing a boy, though the boy is the one blamed and sent away. Ev realizes that even though he shared the feelings, he must never act on them. Then there is the political side of things where his family is all about image. Looking to make a little extra money, as well as a way to step outside the box his parents have put him in, he takes a job modeling nude for an art class at school. It is there that he meets Adam, another professor who stops in class when Ev is modeling.
Adam encourages Ev to model for him instead. It doesn’t take long before Ev finds himself reacting to Adam who basically awakens something in Ev that was dormant for many years. Ev is basically blown away by Adam and the feelings he evokes. As they spend more and more time together, Adam shows Ev how to be himself and that it is ok to be his own person, as opposed to the one his parents expect of him. It’s a slow process, understandably, but it was wonderful to watch Ev gradually come out of his shell as he experienced each new situation.
Much of this story is spent with Adam and Ev exploring things and each other as Adam paints, with Ev as his muse. There is an underlying fear of something bad happening with the conversion therapy, but it takes quite a while to get to that point. There were times that the relationship between Adam and Ev felt a little uncomfortable, though I’m not entirely sure of the reason. Ev’s parents are truly awful, and it is terrifying to know these places actually exist or that their practices take place today. I loved how realistic it felt that Ev struggled with what he had been brought up to believe and what he knew was just wrong and that he was able to stay strong through it all and come out the other side in one piece, mentally, as well as physically.
While this has a definite dark theme to it, in the grand scheme of Ms. Kelling’s work, it really was much lighter and sweeter than I originally anticipated. I enjoyed the dynamic of their relationship and the emotional aspects that were understandably present. If you’re looking for a BDSM story that’s a little different, with feels and emotions, be sure to give this one a try.
November 27, 2016
A sensual love story, a coming of age story, multi layered like an onion...when you thought you knew everything about Evelyn [and Adam for that matter], something new would be revealed. Is this my fave of Lynn's stories so far?? Not sure, cos I loved Arctic Absolution, but this one is so well-written; when the religious weirdos and their Pathway to Manhood camps were exposed to the world at large, I was happy dancing for Evelyn and Adam towards the end. 5 stars from me.
One of my favourite quotes of this story was "The thing Ev liked most about being on the east coast, studying at a distinctly non-religious institution, was the diversity of the people he was constantly surrounded by. There wasn't a single Stepford-wife-in-training in the bunch."
February 10, 2017
This was one of the most appropriate book titles I've ever seen. I agree with other reviewers, that this is almost fluffy compared to other Lynn Kelling titles, but it was not a sweet story. It wasn't heavy BDSM but was strong D/s and written so, so well. Adam, who takes on Ev/Evelyn as his muse, was a fabulous character, stripping Ev of his defenses and denials slowly and surely. The sex is frequent but highly erotic and contributes to the process. Ev finds his true self and develops the strength of will that brought him to college and to Adam's attention. Lynn Kelling always adds a fantastic psychological aspect to her stories and explores the different dynamics of power exchanges.
The other subject covered in the story was gay conversion camps. Evelyn's knowledge of what happened to his cousin drove his actions for so long because it was so terrifying and guilt-inducing for him. I really hope people reading the story realize this isn't just fiction. These places still exist and we even have a vice-president elect who believes in them. Some are relatively benign with praying and bible thumping but some use torturous aversion therapy, use them to indulge pedophilia and even for sex trafficking.
It wasn't overdone here though. It was shown as horrible but wasn't gruesome. It was more about twisted psychological torture under the guise of concern and care. It was all balanced so well with strong realistic portrayals of Adam and Ev's reactions, and yes, she chose the names deliberately. Oliver and Rune and Ev's friend Leo as secondary characters were wonderful. There was even a brief glimpse of David and Shea from the Manse. (Loving the Master). Fantastic and highly recommended.
The other subject covered in the story was gay conversion camps. Evelyn's knowledge of what happened to his cousin drove his actions for so long because it was so terrifying and guilt-inducing for him. I really hope people reading the story realize this isn't just fiction. These places still exist and we even have a vice-president elect who believes in them. Some are relatively benign with praying and bible thumping but some use torturous aversion therapy, use them to indulge pedophilia and even for sex trafficking.
It wasn't overdone here though. It was shown as horrible but wasn't gruesome. It was more about twisted psychological torture under the guise of concern and care. It was all balanced so well with strong realistic portrayals of Adam and Ev's reactions, and yes, she chose the names deliberately. Oliver and Rune and Ev's friend Leo as secondary characters were wonderful. There was even a brief glimpse of David and Shea from the Manse. (Loving the Master). Fantastic and highly recommended.
November 19, 2016
This was a different type of book from Lynn Kelling. The books I have read from her so far have been fairly heabily into BDSM.
Here we see Ev, a young man in college who is modelling for his college in order to make a little money for lifes essentials. He is the son of a very conservative Senator.
When he starts modelling, Adam another adjunct professor attends the class. Adam asks Ev to model for him as he is painting a series of paintings about vunerability and he thinks Ev is just who he is looking for.
Ev is not gay but a relationship soon starts between the two.
This was n interesting book. We learn of Evs backgound and that of his cousin James. Slowly the men fall into a D/s relationship whilst Ev poses for Adam.
Parts of this story were hard to read. Abuse you might say dealing with the groups who kidnap gay men and try to convert them back to normal. However, Ev stands up for himself and gets throuh it.
There were just 2 things in this story that made me pause.
I live bareback sex in my books, keep those condoms well away but I was a little disturbed here that there was no condom talk. Yes Ev was a virgin but Adam wasn't and I thought it a little strange.
Also towards the end of the book Ev is thinking about a master/slave relationship but I didnt think that was their relationship and dont remember any talk of this so it kinda comes out of the blue.
That being said it was still a good read for me.
Here we see Ev, a young man in college who is modelling for his college in order to make a little money for lifes essentials. He is the son of a very conservative Senator.
When he starts modelling, Adam another adjunct professor attends the class. Adam asks Ev to model for him as he is painting a series of paintings about vunerability and he thinks Ev is just who he is looking for.
Ev is not gay but a relationship soon starts between the two.
This was n interesting book. We learn of Evs backgound and that of his cousin James. Slowly the men fall into a D/s relationship whilst Ev poses for Adam.
Parts of this story were hard to read. Abuse you might say dealing with the groups who kidnap gay men and try to convert them back to normal. However, Ev stands up for himself and gets throuh it.
There were just 2 things in this story that made me pause.
I live bareback sex in my books, keep those condoms well away but I was a little disturbed here that there was no condom talk. Yes Ev was a virgin but Adam wasn't and I thought it a little strange.
Also towards the end of the book Ev is thinking about a master/slave relationship but I didnt think that was their relationship and dont remember any talk of this so it kinda comes out of the blue.
That being said it was still a good read for me.
November 15, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Bare by Lynn Kelling is a story that really spoke to me. There’s such passion and intensity and a really thought-provoking story that’s wrapped within very hot and sexy packaging. I loved watching Ev’s exploration of himself as, with Adam’s encouragement, and sometimes push, he begins to think about what he really wants and push past the the way he’s grown up. Being the son of a senator and always in the political eye, Ev had very strict expectations of behavior and it isn’t until college that he’s able to really shake free from that and think about what he actually wants. Adam really helps Ev to start to look at himself and accept that he does have interest in men and to move past always doing what somebody else expects of him.
Kelling sets up a really nice dynamic here in that we definitely see Adam push Ev to think things through and to grab what he wants, but at the same time we see how well Ev responds to that and how it really helps him. I like that we see Ev reflecting and we know it’s not just Adam’s pushing, but Ev really taking the time to think about what he wants and reaching for it. That includes not just emotionally, but also sexually, and early on there are a lot of scenes where we see Adam giving Ev little nudges to help him open up and I think that Kelling does a nice job of keeping it right on the line. I never felt like Adam was pushing Ev into something he didn’t want, but there’s just enough there that we can see how Adam’s encouragement is helping Ev to think things through. At one point Ev notes he is at kind of a crossroads; he has begun to take some steps sexually, and he knows he can’t go back to the life he had before, but he is struggling to figure out how to move forward, and Adam really helps with that.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Bare by Lynn Kelling is a story that really spoke to me. There’s such passion and intensity and a really thought-provoking story that’s wrapped within very hot and sexy packaging. I loved watching Ev’s exploration of himself as, with Adam’s encouragement, and sometimes push, he begins to think about what he really wants and push past the the way he’s grown up. Being the son of a senator and always in the political eye, Ev had very strict expectations of behavior and it isn’t until college that he’s able to really shake free from that and think about what he actually wants. Adam really helps Ev to start to look at himself and accept that he does have interest in men and to move past always doing what somebody else expects of him.
Kelling sets up a really nice dynamic here in that we definitely see Adam push Ev to think things through and to grab what he wants, but at the same time we see how well Ev responds to that and how it really helps him. I like that we see Ev reflecting and we know it’s not just Adam’s pushing, but Ev really taking the time to think about what he wants and reaching for it. That includes not just emotionally, but also sexually, and early on there are a lot of scenes where we see Adam giving Ev little nudges to help him open up and I think that Kelling does a nice job of keeping it right on the line. I never felt like Adam was pushing Ev into something he didn’t want, but there’s just enough there that we can see how Adam’s encouragement is helping Ev to think things through. At one point Ev notes he is at kind of a crossroads; he has begun to take some steps sexually, and he knows he can’t go back to the life he had before, but he is struggling to figure out how to move forward, and Adam really helps with that.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
February 4, 2017
An impressive but also exhausting book.
Evelyn Myers grew up in Kansas, in an very conservative environment, ruled by the political career of his father, as well as his church. He always had to hide his true self and lived in the constant fear of being sent to a camp for conversion therapy, just like his cousin.
Now he's living in the dorm of his college as far away from home as he could get and when he gets the opportunity to earn money as a nude model, he takes it. There he meets the charismatic painter Adam Buchanan.
Adam sees in Ev a lot of things, like pain, vulnerability, sexuality and inner strength and while he conjures up all this on the canvases, he leads Ev on the difficult path of his self-discovery.
This is beautifully portrayed by the author. Every single layer of Ev gets released. The reader can witness how Ev breaks all the chains and slowly frees himself.
Despite all, this is for me "only" a 4 stars read because, to be honest, at first Adam's behavior somehow gave me the creeps. He is, however, exactly what Ev needs and I'm sure that the fans of Dom/Sub relationships will appraise this better than me.
Evelyn Myers grew up in Kansas, in an very conservative environment, ruled by the political career of his father, as well as his church. He always had to hide his true self and lived in the constant fear of being sent to a camp for conversion therapy, just like his cousin.
Now he's living in the dorm of his college as far away from home as he could get and when he gets the opportunity to earn money as a nude model, he takes it. There he meets the charismatic painter Adam Buchanan.
Adam sees in Ev a lot of things, like pain, vulnerability, sexuality and inner strength and while he conjures up all this on the canvases, he leads Ev on the difficult path of his self-discovery.
This is beautifully portrayed by the author. Every single layer of Ev gets released. The reader can witness how Ev breaks all the chains and slowly frees himself.
Despite all, this is for me "only" a 4 stars read because, to be honest, at first Adam's behavior somehow gave me the creeps. He is, however, exactly what Ev needs and I'm sure that the fans of Dom/Sub relationships will appraise this better than me.
March 31, 2017
Bare is about vulnerability and strength. I could think of other "b" words that apply like balance and bold -- I think many will struggle with the theme in both hidden and open thought - not in a bad way but in a way that many of us really never do in real life. The concept of making yourself bare - to all and in every way while keeping trust is scary. The solace? As you get older you tend to become more bare - less afraid and more willing to take what you need, be who you are - no apologies, no hiding.
Most relatable thing here? The way things are in college. How you arrive one way and often leave another - the way you question, the things people do. It is an individual, yet a unifying experience. Yeah that's a mind f*^% all right.
Smooth writing, progression just perfect -- tension in all the good ways (emotionally, sexually, physically) make this an un-put-down-able book until you are finished. Highly recommended.
Most relatable thing here? The way things are in college. How you arrive one way and often leave another - the way you question, the things people do. It is an individual, yet a unifying experience. Yeah that's a mind f*^% all right.
Smooth writing, progression just perfect -- tension in all the good ways (emotionally, sexually, physically) make this an un-put-down-able book until you are finished. Highly recommended.
February 12, 2017
Чистый hurt/comfort в БДСМ-ной обстановке.
Основная претензия остается неизменной - insta-love. Вообще, я нормально отношусь к мгновенной влюбленности в эротических и кинковых книжках, но здесь явный перебор. Герои даже ни разу не использовали презервативы и не обсуждали вероятность их применения, хотя оба не девственники, и съехались после нескольких дней знакомства. А еще через пару дней уже и признания в любви посыпались, что, как мне кажется, идет вразрез с личностями обоих.
Ни одного конфликта внутри пары за всю книгу, только влияние извне. Не знаю, как другие читатели, а я заскучала.
Основная претензия остается неизменной - insta-love. Вообще, я нормально отношусь к мгновенной влюбленности в эротических и кинковых книжках, но здесь явный перебор. Герои даже ни разу не использовали презервативы и не обсуждали вероятность их применения, хотя оба не девственники, и съехались после нескольких дней знакомства. А еще через пару дней уже и признания в любви посыпались, что, как мне кажется, идет вразрез с личностями обоих.
Ни одного конфликта внутри пары за всю книгу, только влияние извне. Не знаю, как другие читатели, а я заскучала.
November 29, 2016
Long and. Overdone
This started off as a really interesting premise and for the first 10% I was enjoying the start. For me I am not a fan of insta-love, then so much of the MC's character was initially written then i felt as if I was reading a new person. Then the story just dragged on and on. 1.5 stars
This started off as a really interesting premise and for the first 10% I was enjoying the start. For me I am not a fan of insta-love, then so much of the MC's character was initially written then i felt as if I was reading a new person. Then the story just dragged on and on. 1.5 stars
Want to read
June 1, 2017Thank you thank you to the elf who is Spreading Xmas Cheer (Wendy Ann) for this geat gift.
November 30, 2019
Love Lynn Kelling - always an instant buy for me. I had no clue she had a new book coming out so this was a great surprise for me.
Holy Cow!
So this five star read...I don't know why I'm inclined to go at this in a numbered list...humor me....
1. This will be added to that list - best one handed reads because omg, my entire body was buzzing throughout this entire book (especially the first 50%).
2. Ev (Evelyn) is a young man who is good with outward appearances. As the son of a right-winged senator, he understands his duty to present the "right" public image.
3. Part of that public image includes having a girlfriend in high school and playing football. You know - being that all-American boy.
4. While away at college, Ev works multiple jobs in order to pay for his living expenses. One in particular, is a job that has his room mate raising an eyebrow over. That job? Modeling nude for college art classes.
5. At first he is nervous. With every class though, we see his self-confidence building.
5. During one class, an art instructor (Aaron) walks into the room to critique the students methods. We get a hint right before this happens that Ev is enjoying being the center of attention but when Aaron looks at him, he starts to crumble emotionally. It's like Aaron can see right through him.
6. Aaron is taken by Ev's beauty. He asks Ev to pose for him and hesitantly, Ev agrees. This is the point in which the story takes off. We watch Ev fight his needs. We watch Ev deny what he wants. The struggles are laced with memories and at times, the cognitive dissonance is too much for Ev.
7. Aaron is a Dom, but that isn't blatantly apparent for a bit. He watches Ev's struggles and at all times he is honest, open, and extremely considerate of Ev's feelings.
8. My emotions were very raw reading this book. Ev is any one of us who struggle with balancing the needs and requirements of others with the needs and desires we crave.
9. There are quite a few scenes between Aaron and Ev that are erotic as hell. Lynn wrote then beautifully - each scene was a unique unfolding of their relationship.
10. There was one scene in particular where I rode the line between pain and pleasure. Ev is emotionally broken and his instincts drive him to seek comfort from Aaron (but not in the way you're thinking). That scene was a turning point for them and for me, a lot of things about myself fell into place.
Holy Cow!
So this five star read...I don't know why I'm inclined to go at this in a numbered list...humor me....
1. This will be added to that list - best one handed reads because omg, my entire body was buzzing throughout this entire book (especially the first 50%).
2. Ev (Evelyn) is a young man who is good with outward appearances. As the son of a right-winged senator, he understands his duty to present the "right" public image.
3. Part of that public image includes having a girlfriend in high school and playing football. You know - being that all-American boy.
4. While away at college, Ev works multiple jobs in order to pay for his living expenses. One in particular, is a job that has his room mate raising an eyebrow over. That job? Modeling nude for college art classes.
5. At first he is nervous. With every class though, we see his self-confidence building.
5. During one class, an art instructor (Aaron) walks into the room to critique the students methods. We get a hint right before this happens that Ev is enjoying being the center of attention but when Aaron looks at him, he starts to crumble emotionally. It's like Aaron can see right through him.
6. Aaron is taken by Ev's beauty. He asks Ev to pose for him and hesitantly, Ev agrees. This is the point in which the story takes off. We watch Ev fight his needs. We watch Ev deny what he wants. The struggles are laced with memories and at times, the cognitive dissonance is too much for Ev.
7. Aaron is a Dom, but that isn't blatantly apparent for a bit. He watches Ev's struggles and at all times he is honest, open, and extremely considerate of Ev's feelings.
8. My emotions were very raw reading this book. Ev is any one of us who struggle with balancing the needs and requirements of others with the needs and desires we crave.
9. There are quite a few scenes between Aaron and Ev that are erotic as hell. Lynn wrote then beautifully - each scene was a unique unfolding of their relationship.
10. There was one scene in particular where I rode the line between pain and pleasure. Ev is emotionally broken and his instincts drive him to seek comfort from Aaron (but not in the way you're thinking). That scene was a turning point for them and for me, a lot of things about myself fell into place.
November 20, 2016
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
From reading the blurb you may suspect that this will be another of Lynn Kelling’s darker tales but it’s actually not. Although there are some scary moments and some horrifying facts this story for me was more about hope and watching Ev slowly become the person he was supposed to be.
Growing up Ev has had it tough – he is a Republican Senators son from a devout Southern Baptist family where appearances are everything and no matter how Ev felt or what he believed he was just supposed to shut up, put up and smile. College means escape and he grabs at it with both hands determined to finally have a say in how he leads his life. One of the first things he does is sign up to model nude for an art class and this brings him to the attention of Adam. We get a little more insight into Ev when he starts modelling – he likes that people are looking at him – he likes it a lot.
Adam Buchanan is totally smitten with Ev from the moment he sets eyes on him. He sees his beauty and recognises his potential and he wants it all. He needs Ev as his model for a future exhibition that will focus on vulnerability and although Ev is nervous he agrees. This is where it gets interesting as Ev is forced to face feelings he is not entirely comfortable with which in turn makes him think back to events that happened at home with John – John who now stares back blankly from photographs – John who is soon to married and who never seems to smile – John who was sent off to a secret camp and came back like a stepford man.
There are dark undertones about Ev’s past that Adam must break down to stand any chance of a future. Lynn’s writing as always flows and delivers the story perfectly. The master/slave element fitted perfectly and wasn’t overly heavy but definitely right for their dynamics. This one was a total hit with me.
From reading the blurb you may suspect that this will be another of Lynn Kelling’s darker tales but it’s actually not. Although there are some scary moments and some horrifying facts this story for me was more about hope and watching Ev slowly become the person he was supposed to be.
Growing up Ev has had it tough – he is a Republican Senators son from a devout Southern Baptist family where appearances are everything and no matter how Ev felt or what he believed he was just supposed to shut up, put up and smile. College means escape and he grabs at it with both hands determined to finally have a say in how he leads his life. One of the first things he does is sign up to model nude for an art class and this brings him to the attention of Adam. We get a little more insight into Ev when he starts modelling – he likes that people are looking at him – he likes it a lot.
Adam Buchanan is totally smitten with Ev from the moment he sets eyes on him. He sees his beauty and recognises his potential and he wants it all. He needs Ev as his model for a future exhibition that will focus on vulnerability and although Ev is nervous he agrees. This is where it gets interesting as Ev is forced to face feelings he is not entirely comfortable with which in turn makes him think back to events that happened at home with John – John who now stares back blankly from photographs – John who is soon to married and who never seems to smile – John who was sent off to a secret camp and came back like a stepford man.
There are dark undertones about Ev’s past that Adam must break down to stand any chance of a future. Lynn’s writing as always flows and delivers the story perfectly. The master/slave element fitted perfectly and wasn’t overly heavy but definitely right for their dynamics. This one was a total hit with me.
February 5, 2017
4.5 "never let the opinions of others define you" stars
This book was intense. The author's writing is absolutely fantastic, as if, just like Adam, she was painting her characters adding layers with each touch of her brush.
Yes there is some uncomfortable "gay-conversion" topic in there, but for me that definitely was not the focus of the book.
The focus was how a young man decided to take his life into his own hands, to own it even if he didn't know at first who he was really because he had to peel off so many layers imposed on him mainly by his family.
The focus was to show the increasing inner strength of Evelyn at the same time as he acknowledged his own vulnerabilities, and accepted them, entering a power exchange relationship with dominant Adam.
I found both characters extremely compelling because as a Dom, Adam was so approachable : showing his own feelings, letting Ev draw his own conclusions, and above all respecting him in a very thoughtful way.
And as a Sub, Evelyn was both so vulnerable and yet strong enough to fight for himself and impose his own decisions.
This book was intense. The author's writing is absolutely fantastic, as if, just like Adam, she was painting her characters adding layers with each touch of her brush.
Yes there is some uncomfortable "gay-conversion" topic in there, but for me that definitely was not the focus of the book.
The focus was how a young man decided to take his life into his own hands, to own it even if he didn't know at first who he was really because he had to peel off so many layers imposed on him mainly by his family.
The focus was to show the increasing inner strength of Evelyn at the same time as he acknowledged his own vulnerabilities, and accepted them, entering a power exchange relationship with dominant Adam.
I found both characters extremely compelling because as a Dom, Adam was so approachable : showing his own feelings, letting Ev draw his own conclusions, and above all respecting him in a very thoughtful way.
And as a Sub, Evelyn was both so vulnerable and yet strong enough to fight for himself and impose his own decisions.
Want to read
September 27, 2016New Lynn Kelling? Yes please.
Want to read
November 29, 2016Thank you thank you to Elf's my middle name for the awesome book. You totally rock! xx
February 18, 2026
Not bad. There are aspects of this story I genuinely enjoyed, and others that made me uncomfortable.
Overall, I appreciated Ev’s courageous personal growth and the exploration of eroticism as an artistic expression. Some of the sex scenes were undeniably hot and unique.
What didn’t sit well with me was the way Adam approached Ev and initiated their sexual relationship. Beyond the insta-love, it felt like an unequal seduction, and more importantly, the issue of clear consent wasn’t properly addressed. Their BDSM dynamic and master/slave relationship began without prior clear negotiation.
I was also uncomfortable with how they engaged in unprotected sex without discussing sexual safety — they sometimes even didn’t use lube😨.
It was hard to ignore that what Ev truly needed first was trauma therapy, not a magical cure-all delivered through sex.
Finally, the pacing drags significantly in the final third of the book.
Wow, the more I think about it, the longer my list of issues gets…I will just stop here and be happy for Ev.
Overall, I appreciated Ev’s courageous personal growth and the exploration of eroticism as an artistic expression. Some of the sex scenes were undeniably hot and unique.
What didn’t sit well with me was the way Adam approached Ev and initiated their sexual relationship. Beyond the insta-love, it felt like an unequal seduction, and more importantly, the issue of clear consent wasn’t properly addressed. Their BDSM dynamic and master/slave relationship began without prior clear negotiation.
I was also uncomfortable with how they engaged in unprotected sex without discussing sexual safety — they sometimes even didn’t use lube😨.
It was hard to ignore that what Ev truly needed first was trauma therapy, not a magical cure-all delivered through sex.
Finally, the pacing drags significantly in the final third of the book.
Wow, the more I think about it, the longer my list of issues gets…I will just stop here and be happy for Ev.
November 1, 2017
Bare's one hot tamale but still makes you shake your head at who's cruel and bonkers enough to think conversion therapy's a good idea.
December 26, 2016
I loved every second of this incredible book. From the get go, an atmosphere of vulnerability emerges and continues to grow with each subsequent page turn. Even the title of the book contributes to the tone with its lowercase letters and evocative imagery.
This story may start with the brave (and somewhat rebellious) act of Evelyn (Ev) signing up to be a nude model for a life drawing class and baring his body in a way that would be considered taboo by his ultra conservative family; however, it quickly morphs into something so much more substantial. Ev never could have imagined that this single act would start him down a path that would expose him and make him feel even more vulnerable than showing his bare body. His sexuality, his deeper desires, and his softer side are the things that adjunct professor Adam brings into sharp focus through his paintings once he convinces Ev to become his exclusive model. Adam’s strength and persistent ways are the keys to drawing Ev out of his make-believe shell to bare his true self.
I love this author’s notes at the end of her stories because they always add more substance and dimension to what I already read. In this case, there’s a lot of symbolism in the choice of the character names – from that first forbidden bite of what can happen in a relationship between two men to the deeply religious implications and how that theme ties into the story, this information provided the perfect backdrop for the emotional and psychological elements that were evident.
I’m not quite sure how she manages it, but just when I think she can’t possibly produce a new book that will take the place of one of hers that was already a favorite, it happens. Gorgeous book to go along with a gorgeous cover and highly, highly recommended!!!
Review posted at...
- 5 hearts
Review copy provided by Forbidden Fiction in exchange for an honest review.
This story may start with the brave (and somewhat rebellious) act of Evelyn (Ev) signing up to be a nude model for a life drawing class and baring his body in a way that would be considered taboo by his ultra conservative family; however, it quickly morphs into something so much more substantial. Ev never could have imagined that this single act would start him down a path that would expose him and make him feel even more vulnerable than showing his bare body. His sexuality, his deeper desires, and his softer side are the things that adjunct professor Adam brings into sharp focus through his paintings once he convinces Ev to become his exclusive model. Adam’s strength and persistent ways are the keys to drawing Ev out of his make-believe shell to bare his true self.
I love this author’s notes at the end of her stories because they always add more substance and dimension to what I already read. In this case, there’s a lot of symbolism in the choice of the character names – from that first forbidden bite of what can happen in a relationship between two men to the deeply religious implications and how that theme ties into the story, this information provided the perfect backdrop for the emotional and psychological elements that were evident.
I’m not quite sure how she manages it, but just when I think she can’t possibly produce a new book that will take the place of one of hers that was already a favorite, it happens. Gorgeous book to go along with a gorgeous cover and highly, highly recommended!!!
Review posted at...
- 5 heartsReview copy provided by Forbidden Fiction in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2017
I really liked this story but I’m having a hard time reviewing it because there are so many layers to the characters.
This author has been on my TBR list for a long time and I can't believe it's taken me this long. I really enjoyed this one.
Ev grew up in a religious environment where people that are gay are forced into conversion therapy to change them. He was deathly scared of what happened to his cousin James when he was 12 years old. It left him feeling like he needed to hide the fact that he wasn’t like everyone else. He tries so hard to convince himself he isn’t gay that he almost believes it.
Then Evelyn meets Adam who is the most beautiful man he’s ever seen. His emotions and suppressed feelings start trickling out. Adam is intense, intriguing and dominant. He comes across like an ass sometimes but it’s only to bring Evelyn out of his own shadow; to show him he shouldn’t be ashamed of who he is or what he wants out of life.
I loved these two together. I don’t want to give many details away but their relationship worked so well for them both. If there was ever a book that I wished was a graphic novel, this would be it. Since Adam is spending all his time painting Evelyn, I wanted to see his works of art so bad instead of just imagining them in my head. I wish we could've heard Adam's perspective near the end. I feel like there is so much more to him that we didn't see.
The conversion therapy portions made me cringe! I cannot fathom how often that has happened to people not just in the past but in the present. It makes me nauseous thinking of how these individuals are treated!
I really liked the author’s notes at the end where she analyzed both characters and gave her personal thoughts on them. And oh, the sex was SCORCHING!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews