"A man who is master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent a pleasure. I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.”
- by Oscar Wilde -
3.5 stars. While I really liked the very, very yummy hero, the plot was just too weak to give a 4-star rating.
A Little Harmless Submission is book 6 in Melissa Schroeder’s Harmless series.
There’s big trouble in Honolulu. A serial killer is on the loose. The media calls him The Dom killer because the murdered women are linked to the BDSM club Rough 'n Ready.
Detective Rome Carino (his friends are calling him Romeo when they want to annoy him) and FBI Special Agent Maria Callahan are put together to catch the villain. Carino is a well known and respected Dom at the BDSM club Rough 'n Ready. Maria knows about his 'preferences' and comes up with a mighty bold idea, even though the good detective makes her nervous as hell. She wants to be bait by 'posing' as Rome's sub and 'throws' herself into the BDSM scene. She has extensively researched this lifestyle but has never participated. While the bodies are piling up, the killer turns his attention on Rome and the one thing he holds dear: Maria.
[...]There was no doubt about it. The man was a god. She knew for a fact there wasn’t a heterosexual woman alive who would argue with her. He was tall, so tall, that she had to look up at him. Since she was five foot eleven in her stocking feet, that didn’t happen that often. He wasn’t just tall, but he also had those movie star looks. A strong jaw, swarthy skin, and long, long eye lashes were enough to attract just about any woman. Add in the hazel eyes that seemed greener now that he was in the natural sunlight and he was near perfection.[...]Full sensual lips completed the package, and she had to fight the urge to lick her own.[...]
While the plot totally lacked in the suspense department – at least for my liking - I did enjoy reading about Rome and Maria’s 'relationship'. I wanted to read Rome’s story since he’s been introduced in a previous Harmless book.
Rome gets quite tangled up with Maria. He doesn’t do relationships. And for the first time in years, he feels a deep need to possess – not just dominate. This goes beyond that. And it scares him. He’s falling for Maria and he’s falling hard. And it isn’t just her looks. She is perfect for him in that department, but there’s something more, and it makes him want to risk loving again.
Rome and Maria had good chemistry and they were heating up the sheets and then some! Maria seems to be a bit uptight and can’t imagine that a man like Rome could be interested in her. Boy, was she ever wrong! Maria is tough and aloof and she likes to call the shots. That’s why Rome said the following:
[...]”If you’re going to play the submissive, you’re going to have to be a little better at taking orders.”[...]
What I love about Rome is that he is focused on Maria’s needs. He likes to pleasure her and he is really attentive and caring. And he is careful and doesn’t push her boundaries too far. A Little Harmless Submission is rather harmless when it comes to BDSM. Okay, the spanking made me cringe (as usual) but this story was not hard-core BDSM, not by any means!
I didn’t like this overt possessiveness and jealousy. Actually, what’s this all about when the guys are claiming "I want to beat the hell out of him"??? Men don’t cease to 'amaze' me. Don’t think with your d*ck, better yet activate your brain, Romeo! That was over the top, at times.
I didn’t appreciate the fact that the bodies were piling up in the background, and I couldn’t read how this happened. Too much telling not enough showing...And don’t expect police procedures, either. I have to accept the fact that Melissa Schroeder isn’t a suspense storyteller. She’s got more strengths in other departments - if you know what I mean. *waggles eyebrows*
Furthermore, I think that the book needed better editing.
The sex scenes were well written and steamy. Actually, I wouldn’t expect anything less by this author. I liked to read about the banter between Rome, Evan, and Micah. It felt like coming home to old friends. Again.
A Little Harmless Submission is an entertaining and enjoyable read. I must admit that I did enjoy it because of Rome(o). You are one yummylicious guy, that’s for sure!
Please keep in mind: this book contains graphic sex (oral/anal play), sex toys, spanking, bondage, and a blindfold.