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Spencer Cohen #4
Yanni's Story
When Yanni Tomaras is kicked out of his family home, his parents’ final words are religious insults and an order to never return. Homeless and desperate, he’s lured in by Lance—charming on the outside, an evil predator underneath—who abuses Yanni until he finds the courage to leave.
Yanni should feel free. But by the time Spencer Cohen finds him, he’s resigned to being handed back to Lance and once again being caged by fear.
Starting school and a part-time job, Yanni begins to reclaim his life. But a love for silent films leads him to Peter Hannikov, a man with a kind heart but who’s twice his age. An unlikely friendship between them blooms into so much more. Neither man knows what he wants, at first. Finding out exactly what he needs is Yanni’s story.
“I’d spent years as a bird, caged with my wings clipped, tormented and beaten.
I thought I’d escaped when I’d left my abuser, but in hindsight, I could see that I was still caged, this time by fear and self-doubt.
Spencer and Andrew, and Andrew’s parents, opened the door to the cage that confined me.
But it was Peter who taught me how to fly.”
Trigger Warning: Descriptions of violence, suicide, and sexual assault. Reader discretion advised.
Yanni should feel free. But by the time Spencer Cohen finds him, he’s resigned to being handed back to Lance and once again being caged by fear.
Starting school and a part-time job, Yanni begins to reclaim his life. But a love for silent films leads him to Peter Hannikov, a man with a kind heart but who’s twice his age. An unlikely friendship between them blooms into so much more. Neither man knows what he wants, at first. Finding out exactly what he needs is Yanni’s story.
“I’d spent years as a bird, caged with my wings clipped, tormented and beaten.
I thought I’d escaped when I’d left my abuser, but in hindsight, I could see that I was still caged, this time by fear and self-doubt.
Spencer and Andrew, and Andrew’s parents, opened the door to the cage that confined me.
But it was Peter who taught me how to fly.”
Trigger Warning: Descriptions of violence, suicide, and sexual assault. Reader discretion advised.
16 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 27, 2017
115 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
About the author
N.R. Walker
133 books5,263 followersAuthor also writes as A. Voyeur
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way.
She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who she gives them life with words.
She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things...but likes it even more when they fall in love. She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.
She’s been writing ever since...
https://www.facebook.com/N.R.WalkerAu...
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way.
She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who she gives them life with words.
She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things...but likes it even more when they fall in love. She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.
She’s been writing ever since...
https://www.facebook.com/N.R.WalkerAu...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 363 reviews
dnf
March 26, 2023dnf @ 63%
I didn't know there was the 'daddy' thing here, it comes up pretty late in the story. Not my thing at all and I can't bring myself to finish it. Too bad, since Yanni and Peter are quite lovely characters.
I didn't know there was the 'daddy' thing here, it comes up pretty late in the story. Not my thing at all and I can't bring myself to finish it. Too bad, since Yanni and Peter are quite lovely characters.
January 15, 2019
REREAD January 15, 2019:
I inadvertently reread this book. I say inadvertently because I'm not much for rereading and didn't realize this wasn't a new release when Nic Walker posted the cover on social media.
The story felt super familiar from page one, but it took me until the ninth chapter to realize I'd read it before. I was enjoying it though, so I continued.
I may have liked it even more the second time around. The slow burn was necessary. I love how Yanni took back his own life!
Original review:
Even though I love N.R. Walker's work and adored Yanni in the Spencer Cohen series, I was hesitant to read this book, as several reviewers mentioned the story was long and dragged a little.
While I agree that the book could have been edited down (the first part, particularly, was a little slow, and there were too many summaries of Yanni and Peter's interactions), I did not find it boring, not at all. Once I got to the 30 percent mark, I couldn't put it down.
I liked the slower pacing, the gentle exploration of Yanni and Peter's evolving relationship, the tender friendship that blossoms into something enduring and passionate.
There is a reason this booked is called Yanni's Story. It's about Yanni's recovery after he escapes from his abusive ex. Yes, he finds his HEA with Peter, who treats him "as a good daddy should," but he also finds a new home and family, and moves forward with his future.
I loved Yanni's voice, and every interaction with Peter showed me just how much Peter loved his boy. The daddy kink is fairly mild, and it's also not just about the sex. Peter wants to take care of Yanni, and Yanni craves the safety of Peter's arms.
This book runs parallel to the Spencer Cohen series, but I think it could be read as a standalone. I liked seeing Andrew and Spencer again, and the new secondary characters (Yanni's roommates) were great.
This one was a WIN for me: a few sexy moments (all the hotter because of the smoldering slow burn), plenty of sweetness, Charlie Chaplin films, and an absolutely gorgeous HEA.
I inadvertently reread this book. I say inadvertently because I'm not much for rereading and didn't realize this wasn't a new release when Nic Walker posted the cover on social media.
The story felt super familiar from page one, but it took me until the ninth chapter to realize I'd read it before. I was enjoying it though, so I continued.
I may have liked it even more the second time around. The slow burn was necessary. I love how Yanni took back his own life!
Original review:
Even though I love N.R. Walker's work and adored Yanni in the Spencer Cohen series, I was hesitant to read this book, as several reviewers mentioned the story was long and dragged a little.
While I agree that the book could have been edited down (the first part, particularly, was a little slow, and there were too many summaries of Yanni and Peter's interactions), I did not find it boring, not at all. Once I got to the 30 percent mark, I couldn't put it down.
I liked the slower pacing, the gentle exploration of Yanni and Peter's evolving relationship, the tender friendship that blossoms into something enduring and passionate.
There is a reason this booked is called Yanni's Story. It's about Yanni's recovery after he escapes from his abusive ex. Yes, he finds his HEA with Peter, who treats him "as a good daddy should," but he also finds a new home and family, and moves forward with his future.
I loved Yanni's voice, and every interaction with Peter showed me just how much Peter loved his boy. The daddy kink is fairly mild, and it's also not just about the sex. Peter wants to take care of Yanni, and Yanni craves the safety of Peter's arms.
This book runs parallel to the Spencer Cohen series, but I think it could be read as a standalone. I liked seeing Andrew and Spencer again, and the new secondary characters (Yanni's roommates) were great.
This one was a WIN for me: a few sexy moments (all the hotter because of the smoldering slow burn), plenty of sweetness, Charlie Chaplin films, and an absolutely gorgeous HEA.
August 29, 2017
I know I'll be one of the few odd men out on this one.
A couple of points before I start my review:
1. I love NR Walker, and that won't change despite my thoughts on this book.
2. There wasn't anything wrong with the writing it's simply a case of expectations and preferences. We can't love them all.
Going into Yanni's Story, I was expecting angst, and a book not as slow paced as it was.
-As for angst, it wasn't really there. Yes, Yanni has been through a lot, and we're indicated all he went through, and I felt bad for him the but book didn't pull at my heartstrings as I wanted. I like to cry in books. I never felt like crying. Why? Aside from a couple of episodes, everything felt too perfect, it all fell neatly into place, and everyone around Yanni was absolutely lovely. To be blunt: it was dull.
-Pacing. If you've ever read my reviews then you know I love a good slow burn. This book took slow burn to another level. I understand why the story was written this way Yanni needed to heal, but the pacing felt off, and after not much going on up to 70sh% of the book I started skimming at 75% because I just wanted to finish. This is a long book (120,000 words) it's hard to sustain my interest for that long with such a sluggish moving story.
-Peter. Peter was kind, loving, and patient BUT I didn't feel any spark towards his character. He was too sweet and (again) too perfect.
I feel like a twat for feeling this way on a book about this subject matter. A domestic violence victim fighting back and finding the strength within themselves to push forward, but I do. I think most readers will enjoy it and will be tickled with delight at the light daddy kink.
It pains me to rate NR so low: 2 Stars. Sorry. :(
A couple of points before I start my review:
1. I love NR Walker, and that won't change despite my thoughts on this book.
2. There wasn't anything wrong with the writing it's simply a case of expectations and preferences. We can't love them all.
Going into Yanni's Story, I was expecting angst, and a book not as slow paced as it was.
-As for angst, it wasn't really there. Yes, Yanni has been through a lot, and we're indicated all he went through, and I felt bad for him the but book didn't pull at my heartstrings as I wanted. I like to cry in books. I never felt like crying. Why? Aside from a couple of episodes, everything felt too perfect, it all fell neatly into place, and everyone around Yanni was absolutely lovely. To be blunt: it was dull.
-Pacing. If you've ever read my reviews then you know I love a good slow burn. This book took slow burn to another level. I understand why the story was written this way Yanni needed to heal, but the pacing felt off, and after not much going on up to 70sh% of the book I started skimming at 75% because I just wanted to finish. This is a long book (120,000 words) it's hard to sustain my interest for that long with such a sluggish moving story.
-Peter. Peter was kind, loving, and patient BUT I didn't feel any spark towards his character. He was too sweet and (again) too perfect.
I feel like a twat for feeling this way on a book about this subject matter. A domestic violence victim fighting back and finding the strength within themselves to push forward, but I do. I think most readers will enjoy it and will be tickled with delight at the light daddy kink.
It pains me to rate NR so low: 2 Stars. Sorry. :(
September 5, 2017
This was a hard book to read right after re-reading the Spencer Cohen trilogy. The trilogy was chock full of sunshine and rainbows and dreamy romance and fluffy bunnies. It is the king of feel-good comfort reads. Yanni's story is angsty and sad and heartbreaking and... kinky!
Reading this on its own would be my advice, not right after reading Spencer Cohen. The books are night and day. I did enjoy this one, but I was in the wrong head space, hence the lower star rating for a NR Walker book. I may give it a try again when I'm in the mood for angst.
Something else I learned from this book is that Daddy kink does absolutely nothing for me. I love kinks of all kind, but Daddy kink kind of freaks me out. If you aren't into it either, skip this one. Yanni and Peter's sexual relationship is Daddy/son or Daddy/boy. Not my bag.
Either way, I hope you enjoy! I've said it before and I'll say it again; if NR Walker wrote a phone book, I'd read the entire thing and probably smile throughout. That woman is my absolute favorite.
Reading this on its own would be my advice, not right after reading Spencer Cohen. The books are night and day. I did enjoy this one, but I was in the wrong head space, hence the lower star rating for a NR Walker book. I may give it a try again when I'm in the mood for angst.
Something else I learned from this book is that Daddy kink does absolutely nothing for me. I love kinks of all kind, but Daddy kink kind of freaks me out. If you aren't into it either, skip this one. Yanni and Peter's sexual relationship is Daddy/son or Daddy/boy. Not my bag.
Either way, I hope you enjoy! I've said it before and I'll say it again; if NR Walker wrote a phone book, I'd read the entire thing and probably smile throughout. That woman is my absolute favorite.
August 23, 2017
It pains me that I didn't just love that book. I normally love Walker's work, and when I saw she was writing about a Greek character I was over the moon.
I honestly think that it all comes down to my personal preferences as a reader.
For starters, there's nothing remotely Greek about this story apart from the MC's name and the mention of some Greek dishes and desserts (some of which were inaccurate but I won't bore you with details about Greek cuisine). But don't worry, a non-Greek wouldn't even notice.
My biggest problem is that I got bored. This is a long book, over 6,000 kindle locations, and I felt that the story dragged a lot. I generally prefer some kind of conflict in my books, and there was none of that here, at least nothing that concerned the romance.
Yanni's story is all about comfort and healing, and how Yanni manages to overcome his struggles. The MCs don't even share a kiss until 50% of the book. That's understandable because of what Yanni has been through, but again, it was too sugary sweet for me. The relationship development was very authentic and natural, but still, the characters were just too perfect for each other and kept saying so.
I didn't particularly care for the daddy thing, but it was done pretty well. I definitely loved the scenes where Yanni wore his silk, purple gown, though!
Bottom line, I didn't love this story, but if you're a fan of the author, you should still go for it.
I honestly think that it all comes down to my personal preferences as a reader.
For starters, there's nothing remotely Greek about this story apart from the MC's name and the mention of some Greek dishes and desserts (some of which were inaccurate but I won't bore you with details about Greek cuisine). But don't worry, a non-Greek wouldn't even notice.
My biggest problem is that I got bored. This is a long book, over 6,000 kindle locations, and I felt that the story dragged a lot. I generally prefer some kind of conflict in my books, and there was none of that here, at least nothing that concerned the romance.
Yanni's story is all about comfort and healing, and how Yanni manages to overcome his struggles. The MCs don't even share a kiss until 50% of the book. That's understandable because of what Yanni has been through, but again, it was too sugary sweet for me. The relationship development was very authentic and natural, but still, the characters were just too perfect for each other and kept saying so.
I didn't particularly care for the daddy thing, but it was done pretty well. I definitely loved the scenes where Yanni wore his silk, purple gown, though!
Bottom line, I didn't love this story, but if you're a fan of the author, you should still go for it.
April 30, 2020
3 Sugary-sweet-lovey-dovey Stars!! 💕 It was a really low-angst story despite Yanni's background. Not that I didn't like that there wasn't much angst.. but it felt a little too perfect. Everyone was just "too perfect" his new guardians, his friends, his roommates.. Peter as well. So yes, I liked that Yanni was able to regain his confidence, find love and become successful.. it was just unreal. But maybe I'm just being cynical. After-all if the real world was that perfect, why would try to escape into the world of fiction to find HEAs?
November 20, 2017
Cuarto de la serie Spencer Cohen, pero que poco tiene que ver con sus predecesores. Aquí la pareja protagonista son Yanni y Peter, a ambos los conocemos de los libros anteriores, Spencer y Andrew y otros secundarios conocidos irán apareciendo también, fundamentalmente la familia de Andrew. El marco temporal coincide en parte con el de los tres libros anteriores, y el background de Yanni es importante, así que sí has leído toda la serie podrás ponerte mejor en situación.
Toda esa dulzura característica de la autora se mantiene en este libro, aunque aquí se va a ver acompañado de la dosis de angst que supone el pasado de Yanni, que fue sometido a varios abusos, y la dinámica de la relación daddy/boy que tienen los MC. En cuanto al angst y cómo es manejado el abuso y la recuperación de Yanni, creo que la Walker lo ha hecho bastante bien, el personaje necesita terapia, tiempo, y aunque no soy una experta, ni por asomo, parece todo bastante real. Lo que no es real es la absoluta perfección de todo el mundo, entiendo la búsqueda de la dulzura, pero esos personajes que siempre saben lo que hacer, lo que decir, a mi me dejan muy fuera de la historia. Aquí todo el mundo es perfecto, no solo los protagonistas, la mayoría de la gente que les rodea, excepto el "malo", un poquito de realidad yo lo habría agradecido, las personas no somos así, la fastidiamos, cometemos errores, y aún así somos merecedores de que nos quieran, no pasa nada. Además de esa falta de lo real, creo que al libro le sobran unas cuantas páginas, yo no me he aburrido, pero se le podían haber hecho unos cuantos cortes.
Supongo que muchos lectores querrán saber qué tal está llevado el Daddy kink. Pues bien, ni idea, porque no sé absolutamente nada del tema. A mi personalmente me ha parecido todo muy bien, muy creíble, bastante explicado, pero poco más puedo decir.
Le iba a poner 3.5 estrellas y quizás subirlas a 4, pero no lo voy a hacer por algo que me ha molestado muchísimo. Sé que yo estoy siempre muy atenta a los detalles, no lo puedo evitar, es una cuestión de carácter, me fijo siempre en los detalles en cualquier ámbito de la vida y en la lectura también. Cuando se está escribiendo una serie en la que hay un solapamiento temporal el autor, el editor y los betas deberían llevar una tabla donde se apunten lo que ocurre con los personajes y cuándo y parece que aquí se le pasó hacerlo a todo el mundo. En el tercer libro de Spencer Cohen se nos relatan cómo Spencer y Andrew salen con los amigos de Andrew y se unen Yanni y Peter, ese mismo fin de semana hay una fiesta en casa de la familia de Andrew y se dice que Yanni no va porque dos días con tanta gente alrededor es demasiado y se va a ver una película muda con Peter. En el libro de Yanni se menciona esa fiesta de la familia de Andrew, pero Yanni decide no ir porque no está preparado y se va a un museo, habiendo ido el día anterior al cine con Peter, no se dice nada de la salida con los amigos de Andrew. LO SÉ, sé que en el gran esquema de las cosas es una tontería, pero son detalles que a mi me sacan mucho de los libros y con atención se puede hacer bien, más todavía cuando durante todo el libro se le da tanta importancia a todas las salidas de Yanni para socializar.
En fin, no ha estado mal, pero ya está.
Toda esa dulzura característica de la autora se mantiene en este libro, aunque aquí se va a ver acompañado de la dosis de angst que supone el pasado de Yanni, que fue sometido a varios abusos, y la dinámica de la relación daddy/boy que tienen los MC. En cuanto al angst y cómo es manejado el abuso y la recuperación de Yanni, creo que la Walker lo ha hecho bastante bien, el personaje necesita terapia, tiempo, y aunque no soy una experta, ni por asomo, parece todo bastante real. Lo que no es real es la absoluta perfección de todo el mundo, entiendo la búsqueda de la dulzura, pero esos personajes que siempre saben lo que hacer, lo que decir, a mi me dejan muy fuera de la historia. Aquí todo el mundo es perfecto, no solo los protagonistas, la mayoría de la gente que les rodea, excepto el "malo", un poquito de realidad yo lo habría agradecido, las personas no somos así, la fastidiamos, cometemos errores, y aún así somos merecedores de que nos quieran, no pasa nada. Además de esa falta de lo real, creo que al libro le sobran unas cuantas páginas, yo no me he aburrido, pero se le podían haber hecho unos cuantos cortes.
Supongo que muchos lectores querrán saber qué tal está llevado el Daddy kink. Pues bien, ni idea, porque no sé absolutamente nada del tema. A mi personalmente me ha parecido todo muy bien, muy creíble, bastante explicado, pero poco más puedo decir.
Le iba a poner 3.5 estrellas y quizás subirlas a 4, pero no lo voy a hacer por algo que me ha molestado muchísimo. Sé que yo estoy siempre muy atenta a los detalles, no lo puedo evitar, es una cuestión de carácter, me fijo siempre en los detalles en cualquier ámbito de la vida y en la lectura también. Cuando se está escribiendo una serie en la que hay un solapamiento temporal el autor, el editor y los betas deberían llevar una tabla donde se apunten lo que ocurre con los personajes y cuándo y parece que aquí se le pasó hacerlo a todo el mundo. En el tercer libro de Spencer Cohen se nos relatan cómo Spencer y Andrew salen con los amigos de Andrew y se unen Yanni y Peter, ese mismo fin de semana hay una fiesta en casa de la familia de Andrew y se dice que Yanni no va porque dos días con tanta gente alrededor es demasiado y se va a ver una película muda con Peter. En el libro de Yanni se menciona esa fiesta de la familia de Andrew, pero Yanni decide no ir porque no está preparado y se va a un museo, habiendo ido el día anterior al cine con Peter, no se dice nada de la salida con los amigos de Andrew. LO SÉ, sé que en el gran esquema de las cosas es una tontería, pero son detalles que a mi me sacan mucho de los libros y con atención se puede hacer bien, más todavía cuando durante todo el libro se le da tanta importancia a todas las salidas de Yanni para socializar.
En fin, no ha estado mal, pero ya está.
Read
August 23, 2017Unfortunately, this is my first DNF for Walker. But it was WAY too sugary-sweet. The MCs were WAY too perfect. They were WAY too polite, and I was bored out of my mind. Bummer
September 2, 2024
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
Things I did not have on my 2024 bingo card:
Yanni’s healing and journey during this book was beautiful. It felt like it was done well and in a healthy way. Certainly no magic dick in sight. Yanni and Peter were well matched and had a lovely caretaking relationship. The found family aspect was so sweet and lovely, and it just made me happy to see Yanni go to therapy and slowly work through his trauma and generally reclaiming his life.
However . I get the impression the author isn’t very familiar with daddy kink. I certainly hope that’s the case. Yanni and Peter’s dynamic didn’t actually feel off or yucky in any way, but literally every time the kink and their dynamic was talked about, I made this face:
First off, there were some pretty (possibly) harmful stereotypes and generalizations, including how daddy kink is about the age gap and size difference, where the daddy is older and bigger, and the boy is young, twinky and hairless. Literally anyone can be a daddy or a boy. The last thing that matters is how you look and it made me sad to read how it was described.
Second, the dynamic was referred to as ‘daddy/son’ several times, which just made me uncomfortable. The role of the daddy was described to as being a sort of father figure (but with benefits and less incest <- almost exact quote), which is yucky and just plain wrong. I have read more books with daddy kink than I can count, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen father/son being brought into it, not even with hardcore age play books. It all felt so removed from the actual relationship, because it didn’t feel creepy, but any time it was discussed it made me feel like my soul cringed so hard it inverted itself.
The book was absolutely lovely and perfect when I was able to forget about the kink, and if any of the things I just mentioned won’t bother you then I highly recommend it, but man. Difficult to ignore. I love this kink more than any other kink so I like to think I have a fair amount of understanding and ability to let things slide.
The book was full of understanding, therapy, cute dates and great communication. When the spice hit (it’s a slow burn), it was incendiary. It was a slow starter but it made sense for Yanni and his story that it took a while.
I don’t know what else to say about it. Could’ve been one of my favorite N. R. Walker books, but they can’t all be winners.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Daddy kink
Age gap
Hurt/comfort
Past abuse
Slow burn
Healing journey
Found family
Therapy
Good communication
Strangers to friends to lovers
Platonic dates
Kink exploration
Prostate orgasms
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Past verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse of MC (non-graphic details)
Themes of past domestic abuse
Mentions of bring disowned and kicked out by homophobic parents (past)
Food insecurity (abuser controlled eating, past)
Housing and financial insecurity
Brief mention of alcoholic parent
PTSD symptoms
Brief mention of death of parent (past, off page)
Some details of group rape of SC (past, including family members)
Mention of attempted suicide by SC (past)
Homophobic side characters (off page, past)
Some details of abuse of SC (injuries)
Mention of domestic abuse (MC’s parents, past)
Explicit sexual content
Ableism (off-page bullying of SC with Down syndrome)
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, single
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 21 and 43
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 446
Happy ending: Yes
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
Things I did not have on my 2024 bingo card:
1. N. R. Walker giving me the ick
2. Thinking a book would’ve been better without daddy kink
Yanni’s healing and journey during this book was beautiful. It felt like it was done well and in a healthy way. Certainly no magic dick in sight. Yanni and Peter were well matched and had a lovely caretaking relationship. The found family aspect was so sweet and lovely, and it just made me happy to see Yanni go to therapy and slowly work through his trauma and generally reclaiming his life.
However . I get the impression the author isn’t very familiar with daddy kink. I certainly hope that’s the case. Yanni and Peter’s dynamic didn’t actually feel off or yucky in any way, but literally every time the kink and their dynamic was talked about, I made this face:
First off, there were some pretty (possibly) harmful stereotypes and generalizations, including how daddy kink is about the age gap and size difference, where the daddy is older and bigger, and the boy is young, twinky and hairless. Literally anyone can be a daddy or a boy. The last thing that matters is how you look and it made me sad to read how it was described.
Second, the dynamic was referred to as ‘daddy/son’ several times, which just made me uncomfortable. The role of the daddy was described to as being a sort of father figure (but with benefits and less incest <- almost exact quote), which is yucky and just plain wrong. I have read more books with daddy kink than I can count, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen father/son being brought into it, not even with hardcore age play books. It all felt so removed from the actual relationship, because it didn’t feel creepy, but any time it was discussed it made me feel like my soul cringed so hard it inverted itself.
The book was absolutely lovely and perfect when I was able to forget about the kink, and if any of the things I just mentioned won’t bother you then I highly recommend it, but man. Difficult to ignore. I love this kink more than any other kink so I like to think I have a fair amount of understanding and ability to let things slide.
The book was full of understanding, therapy, cute dates and great communication. When the spice hit (it’s a slow burn), it was incendiary. It was a slow starter but it made sense for Yanni and his story that it took a while.
I don’t know what else to say about it. Could’ve been one of my favorite N. R. Walker books, but they can’t all be winners.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Daddy kink
Age gap
Hurt/comfort
Past abuse
Slow burn
Healing journey
Found family
Therapy
Good communication
Strangers to friends to lovers
Platonic dates
Kink exploration
Prostate orgasms
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Past verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse of MC (non-graphic details)
Themes of past domestic abuse
Mentions of bring disowned and kicked out by homophobic parents (past)
Food insecurity (abuser controlled eating, past)
Housing and financial insecurity
Brief mention of alcoholic parent
PTSD symptoms
Brief mention of death of parent (past, off page)
Some details of group rape of SC (past, including family members)
Mention of attempted suicide by SC (past)
Homophobic side characters (off page, past)
Some details of abuse of SC (injuries)
Mention of domestic abuse (MC’s parents, past)
Explicit sexual content
Ableism (off-page bullying of SC with Down syndrome)
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, single
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 21 and 43
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 446
Happy ending: Yes
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
December 16, 2021
*PTSD (well, I feel something is lacking in the representation), anxiety (well represented), LGBTQIAP representation (respect from the core of my heart), domestic violence and its consequences
Found family concept. Loved it to pieces. Other than this, I couldn't connect to the characters or the story like I enjoyed the first three original Spencer Cohen trilogy. I feel this book is unnecessary to the series. Well, a one-time time consuming read.
I don't know why I didn't feel the chemistry between Yanni and Peter. No, it's not the age gap. Just that the relationship seems so forced.
The writing is fine. The side characters are warm and charming as ever. Well, that's all I could feel for this one.
I was really looking forward to read this one ever since Yanni's name was introduced in the second book.
It's okay.
When I couldn't connect with the chemistry between the characters, the book is as good as forgettable.
Moving on.
Found family concept. Loved it to pieces. Other than this, I couldn't connect to the characters or the story like I enjoyed the first three original Spencer Cohen trilogy. I feel this book is unnecessary to the series. Well, a one-time time consuming read.
I don't know why I didn't feel the chemistry between Yanni and Peter. No, it's not the age gap. Just that the relationship seems so forced.
The writing is fine. The side characters are warm and charming as ever. Well, that's all I could feel for this one.
I was really looking forward to read this one ever since Yanni's name was introduced in the second book.
It's okay.
When I couldn't connect with the chemistry between the characters, the book is as good as forgettable.
Moving on.
September 4, 2017
I love N.R. Walker's books. There's been a few 'misses' over the years, but most of the time, her work is my happy place - her books make me laugh and cry and sigh and blush and sometimes even wiggle with excitement.
Not that kind of excitement, you pervs!
Although... Come to think of it... Sometimes that kind of excitement too. ;)
Her Red Dirt Heart series is - and probably always will be - one of my favourite romance series of all time.
That's why, even when I don't totally love one of her books, I still feel weirdly protective of her. So I'm 2-starring Yanni's Story because that's the rating that reflects my reading experience, but you should all know that it pains me to do so.
Yanni's was a lovely story that needed to be told, and I think that Walker approached it with a great deal of sensitivity. I appreciated that the Yanni's character took strives forward, faced setbacks, and triumphed over them with the help of those around him and by calling on an inner strength he didn't realize he had before he needed it. I also appreciated the inclusion of the therapy sessions; scenes like these need to make their way into more authors' work so that we can help destigmatize issues surrounding mental health.
And, since I'm a dirty bird, I liked the daddy kink very much. Lol. Walker managed to make hot what could easily turn creepy.
But ultimately, the characters in this novel - with the notable exception of the scum of the earth Lance Nader - were too perfect. Their actions, their interactions, their language... It all came across scripted and unnatural.
I also found the pacing of this story excruciatingly slow. I struggled with appreciating that Walker was allowing the story time to develop and avoiding having an abuse victim just magically snap back from their trauma and fall in love, with wanting something - anything - exciting to happen. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want over the top Mary Calmes drama (there's no need for someone in a pea coat to get shot in the final pages of the book by a crazy ex), but I just needed... something more.
So, this one was a bit of a disappointment, but I am very much looking forward to Walker's next book, whatever it may be.
Not that kind of excitement, you pervs!
Although... Come to think of it... Sometimes that kind of excitement too. ;)
Her Red Dirt Heart series is - and probably always will be - one of my favourite romance series of all time.
That's why, even when I don't totally love one of her books, I still feel weirdly protective of her. So I'm 2-starring Yanni's Story because that's the rating that reflects my reading experience, but you should all know that it pains me to do so.
Yanni's was a lovely story that needed to be told, and I think that Walker approached it with a great deal of sensitivity. I appreciated that the Yanni's character took strives forward, faced setbacks, and triumphed over them with the help of those around him and by calling on an inner strength he didn't realize he had before he needed it. I also appreciated the inclusion of the therapy sessions; scenes like these need to make their way into more authors' work so that we can help destigmatize issues surrounding mental health.
And, since I'm a dirty bird, I liked the daddy kink very much. Lol. Walker managed to make hot what could easily turn creepy.
But ultimately, the characters in this novel - with the notable exception of the scum of the earth Lance Nader - were too perfect. Their actions, their interactions, their language... It all came across scripted and unnatural.
I also found the pacing of this story excruciatingly slow. I struggled with appreciating that Walker was allowing the story time to develop and avoiding having an abuse victim just magically snap back from their trauma and fall in love, with wanting something - anything - exciting to happen. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want over the top Mary Calmes drama (there's no need for someone in a pea coat to get shot in the final pages of the book by a crazy ex), but I just needed... something more.
So, this one was a bit of a disappointment, but I am very much looking forward to Walker's next book, whatever it may be.
August 30, 2017
INFINITE STARS ❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️⭐️❤️!! Absolutely FANTASTIC book :-)!! HIGHLY recommended!! More thoughts to come very soon 😊!!
Everyone reading (or about to read) this book, should read this too: The Whys and The Warnings - N.R. Walker gets into it :-)! I REALLY liked this blog post!!
I am truly BAFFLED by anyone who didn't adore this book, or understand why it was as slow paced as it was. I, for one, absolutely ADORED this :-)!!
*********
Until I find someone better (or at least a better picture), this [Eric Dane] is Yanni's Peter :-) ...
*******
I need this story ... I need it NOW :-)!!!!
Everyone reading (or about to read) this book, should read this too: The Whys and The Warnings - N.R. Walker gets into it :-)! I REALLY liked this blog post!!
I am truly BAFFLED by anyone who didn't adore this book, or understand why it was as slow paced as it was. I, for one, absolutely ADORED this :-)!!
*********
Until I find someone better (or at least a better picture), this [Eric Dane] is Yanni's Peter :-) ...
*******
I need this story ... I need it NOW :-)!!!!
June 21, 2022
This was a gut wrenching, heartbreaking, and a beautiful story.
Peter Hannikov (43) is a third-generation Russian-American with a huge heart and sensitive side. Yanni Tomaras (21) is an aspiring stage actor and an abuse survivor.
While I really loved this couple, daddy kink is not one I enjoy.
A vast majority of this story was dealing with some really severe abuse recovery. It was all a bit heavy for my current reading tastes. Serious trigger warning for sexual and physical abuse, off page, but discussed in detail.
Peter Hannikov (43) is a third-generation Russian-American with a huge heart and sensitive side. Yanni Tomaras (21) is an aspiring stage actor and an abuse survivor.
While I really loved this couple, daddy kink is not one I enjoy.
He slid my briefs down to my thighs and pushed the gown up my back and slid his cockhead over my hole. “You ready for me, boy?” “Yes, Daddy.”There were many moments in the story where people mistook them for father and son, and they both enjoyed that. I think part of the daddy/boy dynamic helped Yanni slowly recover.
A vast majority of this story was dealing with some really severe abuse recovery. It was all a bit heavy for my current reading tastes. Serious trigger warning for sexual and physical abuse, off page, but discussed in detail.
September 19, 2017
N.R. Walker's writing is always smooth and comfortable, and I felt engaged with Yanni, his story and his progress and his ability to figure himself out, although not quite in the way I anticipated. The book is actually fluffier than the topic would suggest, even though abuse history is the driver for several of the characters. I was actually more entertained by the intermittent Daddy-kink issues that the two guys had to get comfortable with and negotiate around. I liked a developing lesbian romance in the background - it seems sometimes like lesbians are more absent in the fictional lives of our gay characters than in real life.
What held me a bit at a distance here was that everyone except the main antagonist was a great person. Healing was pretty linear, without pitfalls or backsliding. I wanted a few more flaws, and more conflict, that wasn't in the past. So this was neither angsty nor gritty as a read, for me, but it was enjoyable and warm despite the topic, which is what I look for from this author. And it did have valuable points to make about abuse and recovery. I really appreciated that professional counseling was part of the process.
What held me a bit at a distance here was that everyone except the main antagonist was a great person. Healing was pretty linear, without pitfalls or backsliding. I wanted a few more flaws, and more conflict, that wasn't in the past. So this was neither angsty nor gritty as a read, for me, but it was enjoyable and warm despite the topic, which is what I look for from this author. And it did have valuable points to make about abuse and recovery. I really appreciated that professional counseling was part of the process.
March 1, 2022
3.25 stars
tw: violence, suicide, sexual assault
“I cried—for everything that hurt, for everything I’d lost. I cried for what had been taken away from me: my dignity, my pride, my self-worth.
I cried for the person I used to be. Because he was gone. My innocence, my youth, was ripped away from me, and I felt old. I was twenty-one, yet I felt I’d lived a hundred years.”
— angsty/sweet
— hurt/comfort
— friends-to-lovers
— age gap
— daddy kink lite
— slow burn
— found family
I liked this book, but feel pretty conflicted about it. This last installment of the series has a very different vibe. It’s pretty angsty, but also really sweet at the same time. It therefore ends up having a weird split personality.
Yanni, a theater student, is a character from book 2. A former client of Spencer’s hired him under false pretenses to track Yanni down claiming that he was concerned about his missing boyfriend. But Yanni’s boyfriend is in fact abusive. Spencer never bought the boyfriend’s story so he once he finds Yanni he hands him over to friends (the Landons) who help him build a new life. Which is where Peter, a corporate finance manager, comes in. Peter is also a former client of Spencer’s who sought his help to reunite with his ex, an effort which failed and left him brokenhearted.
Neither Yanni and Peter are emotionally ready to be in a relationship when they meet, but they soon become fast friends. They go on a bunch of movie dates with the understanding that they’re strictly non dates. Yanni who is extremely young (21) has always had a preference for older men, while Peter (43) is a daddy who would love to meet a boy he can worship and spoil. So you know how this goes right? Yanni slowly starts healing with the support of his found family, lots of patience and understanding from Peter, plus therapy.
This is a very slow burn romance. Even once they realize their mutual attraction, neither man is ready to rush into anything because of baggage. There’s a lot of discussion about Yanni’s abuse and abuser, and how this affects his relationship with Peter. Their relationship proceeds in baby steps. Lots of movie dates. Peter picks Yanni up from work and drives him back to his group home. They hang out a lot. They make out and make slow progess sexually; throughout this process, Peter gives Yanni control to set the pace. Peter is really the perfect daddy.
Likes
• Peter’s patience and understanding.
• Yanni’s journey of self-empowerment.
• Heartfelt moments with found family.
Dislikes
• Belaboring point about non dates.
• Drags in middle and end.
• Too long (446 pages). Could easily reduce by 100.
• Many sessions with therapist.
“This gentle, perfect man loved me. He never once treated me like I was broken beyond repair. Instead, he found beauty in my fault lines, like the cracks in my life were what made me strong.
I smiled at him, overwhelmed by emotion. “I love you too.”
Overall Series Rating
Book 1: 4 stars
Book 2: 4 stars
Book 3: 3.25 stars
Book 4: 3.25 stars
tw: violence, suicide, sexual assault
“I cried—for everything that hurt, for everything I’d lost. I cried for what had been taken away from me: my dignity, my pride, my self-worth.
I cried for the person I used to be. Because he was gone. My innocence, my youth, was ripped away from me, and I felt old. I was twenty-one, yet I felt I’d lived a hundred years.”
— angsty/sweet
— hurt/comfort
— friends-to-lovers
— age gap
— daddy kink lite
— slow burn
— found family
I liked this book, but feel pretty conflicted about it. This last installment of the series has a very different vibe. It’s pretty angsty, but also really sweet at the same time. It therefore ends up having a weird split personality.
Yanni, a theater student, is a character from book 2. A former client of Spencer’s hired him under false pretenses to track Yanni down claiming that he was concerned about his missing boyfriend. But Yanni’s boyfriend is in fact abusive. Spencer never bought the boyfriend’s story so he once he finds Yanni he hands him over to friends (the Landons) who help him build a new life. Which is where Peter, a corporate finance manager, comes in. Peter is also a former client of Spencer’s who sought his help to reunite with his ex, an effort which failed and left him brokenhearted.
Neither Yanni and Peter are emotionally ready to be in a relationship when they meet, but they soon become fast friends. They go on a bunch of movie dates with the understanding that they’re strictly non dates. Yanni who is extremely young (21) has always had a preference for older men, while Peter (43) is a daddy who would love to meet a boy he can worship and spoil. So you know how this goes right? Yanni slowly starts healing with the support of his found family, lots of patience and understanding from Peter, plus therapy.
This is a very slow burn romance. Even once they realize their mutual attraction, neither man is ready to rush into anything because of baggage. There’s a lot of discussion about Yanni’s abuse and abuser, and how this affects his relationship with Peter. Their relationship proceeds in baby steps. Lots of movie dates. Peter picks Yanni up from work and drives him back to his group home. They hang out a lot. They make out and make slow progess sexually; throughout this process, Peter gives Yanni control to set the pace. Peter is really the perfect daddy.
Likes
• Peter’s patience and understanding.
• Yanni’s journey of self-empowerment.
• Heartfelt moments with found family.
Dislikes
• Belaboring point about non dates.
• Drags in middle and end.
• Too long (446 pages). Could easily reduce by 100.
• Many sessions with therapist.
“This gentle, perfect man loved me. He never once treated me like I was broken beyond repair. Instead, he found beauty in my fault lines, like the cracks in my life were what made me strong.
I smiled at him, overwhelmed by emotion. “I love you too.”
Overall Series Rating
Book 1: 4 stars
Book 2: 4 stars
Book 3: 3.25 stars
Book 4: 3.25 stars
maybe
September 19, 2018Freebie at amazon.com right now: https://smile.amazon.com/Yannis-Story...
July 2, 2018
It's rare that I would use "lovingly" to describe the narration of an audiobook, but I just kept thinking how much Joel Leslie's narration was so lovingly done. His care for the characters really came through the entire thing.
We first met Yanni in Spencer Cohen, Book Two. When Spencer and his boyfriend Andrew help Yanni it's a complete turnaround for him. Although there are references to the abuse Yanni suffered from his ex-boyfriend, and to a lesser degree his family, Yanni's Story is ultimately one of what happens when all the stars align and everything finally begins to go right.
When Yanni first meets Peter neither is in a place to start a romantic relationship, but the sparks are obviously there, so they begin a friendship at first and evolve into their relationship later. It's organic, there's a ton of communication, and Peter is basically a saint (I hope that anyone who's ever been hurt finds their own Peter).
Be advised though: the first 60% of the Yanni's Story is very slowly paced and at over 15 hours this is quite a long audiobook, particularly in M/M Romance, but I think it's totally worth the listen. The slower pace allows the reader/listener the chance to really get to know the characters, especially Yanni as he heals and begins to explore new opportunities.
One of the things that Peter and Yanni explore is daddy kink. Personally, it made me uncomfortable, but that's totally a me thing. I have absolutely no judgement for anyone who likes or has a Daddy/son relationship, it's just not anything I'm interested in. So I skipped the sex scenes, but doing so absolutely did not affect my enjoyment of the story.
"I give him my absolute trust, and he gives me the world. I dunno, it's hard to explain. I feel so safe with him, like he'll protect me and make decisions that are only in my best interest because he wants me to be happy. But it's not restrictive; it's the opposite. It's a kind of freedom."
"Like a father." Patrice raised her eyebrows and smiled.
"Yes!" Then I made a face. "Just with certain benefits. And without the incest."
Yanni's Story is a slow burn, gentle, friends to lovers romance, with some daddy kink, and hurt/comfort that's wonderfully narrated by Joel Leslie and a must have to complete your Spencer Cohen audio collection.
"What did I ever do to deserve you?"
I stared into his eyes. "You loved me in all the right ways."
"Correction. I love you in all the right ways. There is no past tense on that word. There will never be past tense on that word. Forever, Yanni."
"Forever, Peter."
For the sticklers:
Story: 3 Stars; Narration: 4.5 Stars = Total: 3.75 Stars
Audio copy of Yanni's Story provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
July 13, 2018
~ 4.5 stars ~
I really, really liked this book and although it has a very different "tone" compared to the first three books in this series, I actually enjoyed it a bit more. Yes, it is much longer than the other books and yes, it is much darker because of Yanni's past, but it also made me feel more. Book 1 to 3 were light, fluffy, and sweet reads without much angst. Yanni's Story is sweet as well but also sad and very heartbreaking at times.
I actually appreciated that this book is so long (it spans roughly a year in Yanni's life) because it gave the author the time needed to fully explore Yanni's recovery from a past abusive relationship. There is no magical solution, no sugarcoating the hard work it takes to claim your life back. There are therapy sessions and good friends who help you through the worst until one step forward and two steps back turns into huge leaps forward and only tiny steps back. Yes, at times it also dragged a little but I honestly didn't mind.
I also appreciated that although Yanni's past is horrific, the book isn't overwhelmingly dark. It is counterbalanced by the sweet and loving exploration of Yanni's and Peter's relationship and caring secondary characters who are all instrumental in helping Yanni on his way to reclaiming his life.
There were also scenes that made me cry because I could relate so well to Yanni's feelings. Thankfully not because of an abusive relationship but in regards to finding your chosen family, your "adoptive" parents, to hearing them say they are proud of you, claiming you as one of their own, and showing you what unconditional love looks like.
Because of Yanni's past, it naturally takes him and Peter some time to be intimate. Their relationship evolves from friends to ardent lovers and the (mild) daddy kink is not only about their sexy times but also about Peter needing to take care of Yanni and Yanni needing the safety Peter provides. I just adored Peter and the way he treated Yanni with love and patience.
Although this book is part of the Spencer Cohen series it can be read as a stand-alone but I loved seeing more of the Landon family, and of Andrew and Spencer in particular.
I really, really liked this book and although it has a very different "tone" compared to the first three books in this series, I actually enjoyed it a bit more. Yes, it is much longer than the other books and yes, it is much darker because of Yanni's past, but it also made me feel more. Book 1 to 3 were light, fluffy, and sweet reads without much angst. Yanni's Story is sweet as well but also sad and very heartbreaking at times.
I actually appreciated that this book is so long (it spans roughly a year in Yanni's life) because it gave the author the time needed to fully explore Yanni's recovery from a past abusive relationship. There is no magical solution, no sugarcoating the hard work it takes to claim your life back. There are therapy sessions and good friends who help you through the worst until one step forward and two steps back turns into huge leaps forward and only tiny steps back. Yes, at times it also dragged a little but I honestly didn't mind.
I also appreciated that although Yanni's past is horrific, the book isn't overwhelmingly dark. It is counterbalanced by the sweet and loving exploration of Yanni's and Peter's relationship and caring secondary characters who are all instrumental in helping Yanni on his way to reclaiming his life.
There were also scenes that made me cry because I could relate so well to Yanni's feelings. Thankfully not because of an abusive relationship but in regards to finding your chosen family, your "adoptive" parents, to hearing them say they are proud of you, claiming you as one of their own, and showing you what unconditional love looks like.
Because of Yanni's past, it naturally takes him and Peter some time to be intimate. Their relationship evolves from friends to ardent lovers and the (mild) daddy kink is not only about their sexy times but also about Peter needing to take care of Yanni and Yanni needing the safety Peter provides. I just adored Peter and the way he treated Yanni with love and patience.
Although this book is part of the Spencer Cohen series it can be read as a stand-alone but I loved seeing more of the Landon family, and of Andrew and Spencer in particular.
February 6, 2019
Overall book rating: 4
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.8
Sweet, yes. But boy was it loooong. Or maybe it just felt that way. I don’t know.
I appreciated the way that everything didn’t get fixed over night. Don’t get me wrong. So I do understand the need for “long” and drawn out. On one hand it made the whole thing more believable? Yes?
I think after jumping into this directly after the fast packed Spencer Cohen series, might have had an impact on the way I digested this story.
I really really like Peter. He was just one of those characters that felt solid. Someone you can’t possible NOT like or else there would be something seriously wrong with you. Wink wink.
Peter has his own demons to slay and things to move on after in this story, also making the whole NOT immediately thing really believable.
He’s good for Yanni. He’s an all round nice guy and I for one enjoyed reading about him.
Yanni, well you feel sorry for him. He’s a whole lot lost and I can’t even begin to understand the way you feel after being kicked out of your parents house, so not to even add on dealing with an abusive lover right after. He’s so young still.
What I really liked about his character is how he deals with things. Yes, it takes him time but can I just pat the boy on the back for not making unnecessary drama about everything and anything?
That was so enjoyable to read. He opens up to people! He works with the Landon’s and his therapist because he knows even though it sucks big time, he wants to get better and therefore he has to bite the bullet. Who willingly opens up like that? Even knowing you need to to move on? It’s not easy people so our Yanni has gumption!
I enjoyed this story. I really did. But.. not quite as much as I did the Spencer Cohen series. Still a good read though.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.8
Sweet, yes. But boy was it loooong. Or maybe it just felt that way. I don’t know.
I appreciated the way that everything didn’t get fixed over night. Don’t get me wrong. So I do understand the need for “long” and drawn out. On one hand it made the whole thing more believable? Yes?
I think after jumping into this directly after the fast packed Spencer Cohen series, might have had an impact on the way I digested this story.
I really really like Peter. He was just one of those characters that felt solid. Someone you can’t possible NOT like or else there would be something seriously wrong with you. Wink wink.
Peter has his own demons to slay and things to move on after in this story, also making the whole NOT immediately thing really believable.
He’s good for Yanni. He’s an all round nice guy and I for one enjoyed reading about him.
Yanni, well you feel sorry for him. He’s a whole lot lost and I can’t even begin to understand the way you feel after being kicked out of your parents house, so not to even add on dealing with an abusive lover right after. He’s so young still.
What I really liked about his character is how he deals with things. Yes, it takes him time but can I just pat the boy on the back for not making unnecessary drama about everything and anything?
That was so enjoyable to read. He opens up to people! He works with the Landon’s and his therapist because he knows even though it sucks big time, he wants to get better and therefore he has to bite the bullet. Who willingly opens up like that? Even knowing you need to to move on? It’s not easy people so our Yanni has gumption!
I enjoyed this story. I really did. But.. not quite as much as I did the Spencer Cohen series. Still a good read though.
November 3, 2018
In my quest to avoid any and all spoilers, I did not see that this book had a Daddy Kink theme. In spite of most of my friends commenting on it, I was blind and deaf until it slapped me in the face.
This story also involves physical abuse. I shy away from those stories too. But some are alluded to and some are on page. So it really depends on whether I can handle the story or not.
Last but not least, this is a long book with a super slow burn. I usually like those.
Major kudos to Ms. Walker for writing tropes I usually can't read yet holding me spellbound in this book until the very last page.
While I was uncomfortable reading the tropes, I can't help giving the writing a full five stars.
This story also involves physical abuse. I shy away from those stories too. But some are alluded to and some are on page. So it really depends on whether I can handle the story or not.
Last but not least, this is a long book with a super slow burn. I usually like those.
Major kudos to Ms. Walker for writing tropes I usually can't read yet holding me spellbound in this book until the very last page.
While I was uncomfortable reading the tropes, I can't help giving the writing a full five stars.
December 9, 2021
Heartbreaking, beautiful and absolutely amazing, this books takes us back to when we first met Yanni in the second book in this series and let's us relive some of the events happening there and then it takes us on a journey of Yanni learning to trust and love and finally blooming out to be the man he always was supposed to be.
I might have cried. I might have cried a lot. On the couch, on the bus, in the lunch room at work... basically everywhere. But it was so worth it.
I might have cried. I might have cried a lot. On the couch, on the bus, in the lunch room at work... basically everywhere. But it was so worth it.
September 9, 2017
This was a very enjoyable, solid 4 star read for me.
Yanni and Peter were both possibly the most adorable, or among the most adorable, characters I've ever read about. Yanni was incredibly kind, sweet, adorable, and good. He just embodied what is good in this world, which makes what happened to him even more heartbreaking. Peter is just as kind and sweet and gentle. The care with which he treats Yanni is incredible. He's the perfect person for Yanni after what happened.
This is the story of how they got to together and how Yanni got better, how he became happy and healed - not whole, but in a much better place. The main action takes place over about a year, maybe a little less, and it goes over Yanni's healing process - he has a wonderful therapist and everything - and the slow process of him and Peter falling in love. And it had to be slow because of what Yanni went through and how much he had to heal. And how Peter himself had to get over his broken heart with his last boyfriend who dumped him.
There is a mild Daddy kink in this - and when I say mild, I mean mild. Nothing much goes on with the kink other than when they're doing sexual things together or are alone and feel in the mood for it, and when they are in that Daddy/Son kink mode, it's mostly Peter saying "You're such a good boy" and Yanni going "Yes, Daddy, please, I've been a good boy" or something like that. Or Peter calling him a "sweet boy." Mostly, the kink for them is about Peter loving to take care of him - Peter is a homebody, a caregiver (and is so sweet) - and the more he falls for Yanni the more he wants to take care of him, and also about Yanni needing, or wanting, to be taken care of, and to feel safe - especially after having been in an abusive relationship - and to please Peter, but like in way that makes Yanni feel good too, not bad.
I've admitted that I enjoy the Daddy kink, so I wouldn't have minded if there had been more ;) but I know its not for everyone so Walker was probs just keeping it light for those who don't like it lol. But the Daddy kink in this is like...the sweetest type of Daddy kink, like they're just soft and sweet and loving together.
Overall this is a good, fun book, with two adorably sweet characters who are just too cute together, and have the sweetest love story - it was nice. Not all characters we read about have to be such assholes with a heart of gold underneath it all. Sometimes they can just be sweet, inside and out, without armor. I love reading about characters like that too, and these both were like that in spades.
I do think that Yanni was interesting in his recovery though. It was like...a lot of time was taken for him to recover, but at the same time it didn't seem like he was all that...broken by it? Which is weird to say when it took forever for Yanni to even sleep alone with the light off, and he had panic attacks several times throughout this. But I guess it felt like...even with all that he was such a sweet, hopeful, positive person, so uplifting, and this story contained a lot of fluff for one about such a heavy subject, and I guess that just means Yanni is that way, but...I guess maybe a little more angst/darker tones at times would have still be good for this? Because it does come off a tad unrealistic when Yanni doesn't seam as damaged as he should be. Idk. Maybe if Walker expounded on the emotional and mental bruises and cracks when they came up, I guess they didn't feel as explored as they could have been. The story still dealt with the abuse Yanni went through throughout the book until the very end, but it still felt...a little glossed over, maybe? At times. Idk, it was a feeling I got.
I also really really wish the sex had been more detailed. There are full on sex scenes between the two, but it felt like it got from the start to orgasm too quickly in all their sex scenes. Kinda perfunctory, and I wanted to feel so much more for their sex scenes because I felt so much for these two everywhere else. Bring on more of the passion, please. Plus, a few fade to black sex scenes where I would have loved to read them bummed me out. I mean, for me Walker is never particularly strong with her sex scenes - except for a few exceptions - but even the sex scenes in this one felt less than what Walker usually does, imo.
Overall a very enjoyable book, with a cute as fuck may/december love story that I simply adored. These two deserved their happy ending and they got it, and it was a fluffy, cavity inducing (in the best way) ending. LOVED it :D
Definitely recommend giving this one a shot.
Yanni and Peter were both possibly the most adorable, or among the most adorable, characters I've ever read about. Yanni was incredibly kind, sweet, adorable, and good. He just embodied what is good in this world, which makes what happened to him even more heartbreaking. Peter is just as kind and sweet and gentle. The care with which he treats Yanni is incredible. He's the perfect person for Yanni after what happened.
This is the story of how they got to together and how Yanni got better, how he became happy and healed - not whole, but in a much better place. The main action takes place over about a year, maybe a little less, and it goes over Yanni's healing process - he has a wonderful therapist and everything - and the slow process of him and Peter falling in love. And it had to be slow because of what Yanni went through and how much he had to heal. And how Peter himself had to get over his broken heart with his last boyfriend who dumped him.
There is a mild Daddy kink in this - and when I say mild, I mean mild. Nothing much goes on with the kink other than when they're doing sexual things together or are alone and feel in the mood for it, and when they are in that Daddy/Son kink mode, it's mostly Peter saying "You're such a good boy" and Yanni going "Yes, Daddy, please, I've been a good boy" or something like that. Or Peter calling him a "sweet boy." Mostly, the kink for them is about Peter loving to take care of him - Peter is a homebody, a caregiver (and is so sweet) - and the more he falls for Yanni the more he wants to take care of him, and also about Yanni needing, or wanting, to be taken care of, and to feel safe - especially after having been in an abusive relationship - and to please Peter, but like in way that makes Yanni feel good too, not bad.
I've admitted that I enjoy the Daddy kink, so I wouldn't have minded if there had been more ;) but I know its not for everyone so Walker was probs just keeping it light for those who don't like it lol. But the Daddy kink in this is like...the sweetest type of Daddy kink, like they're just soft and sweet and loving together.
Overall this is a good, fun book, with two adorably sweet characters who are just too cute together, and have the sweetest love story - it was nice. Not all characters we read about have to be such assholes with a heart of gold underneath it all. Sometimes they can just be sweet, inside and out, without armor. I love reading about characters like that too, and these both were like that in spades.
I do think that Yanni was interesting in his recovery though. It was like...a lot of time was taken for him to recover, but at the same time it didn't seem like he was all that...broken by it? Which is weird to say when it took forever for Yanni to even sleep alone with the light off, and he had panic attacks several times throughout this. But I guess it felt like...even with all that he was such a sweet, hopeful, positive person, so uplifting, and this story contained a lot of fluff for one about such a heavy subject, and I guess that just means Yanni is that way, but...I guess maybe a little more angst/darker tones at times would have still be good for this? Because it does come off a tad unrealistic when Yanni doesn't seam as damaged as he should be. Idk. Maybe if Walker expounded on the emotional and mental bruises and cracks when they came up, I guess they didn't feel as explored as they could have been. The story still dealt with the abuse Yanni went through throughout the book until the very end, but it still felt...a little glossed over, maybe? At times. Idk, it was a feeling I got.
I also really really wish the sex had been more detailed. There are full on sex scenes between the two, but it felt like it got from the start to orgasm too quickly in all their sex scenes. Kinda perfunctory, and I wanted to feel so much more for their sex scenes because I felt so much for these two everywhere else. Bring on more of the passion, please. Plus, a few fade to black sex scenes where I would have loved to read them bummed me out. I mean, for me Walker is never particularly strong with her sex scenes - except for a few exceptions - but even the sex scenes in this one felt less than what Walker usually does, imo.
Overall a very enjoyable book, with a cute as fuck may/december love story that I simply adored. These two deserved their happy ending and they got it, and it was a fluffy, cavity inducing (in the best way) ending. LOVED it :D
Definitely recommend giving this one a shot.
August 30, 2017
I was so excited when I picked up this book. I l felt for both Yanni and Peter in the Spencer Cohen books, and I just couldn't wait to read their story. I wanted to get to know them better and find out how they found their happily ever after.
Going into this book I was well prepared for it to be slowburn. I mean how can it not be with everything that Yanni went through, it definitely needed to be. And I'm all for slowburn romances. But there needs to be something that holds my interest in the mean time, something that drives the story forward, and I'm sorry to say this book did not have that.
I do think that if this book would've been 100 pages shorter or so the story would've flowed better and not drag so much. When a book is this long there needs to be an interesting plot to fill it. I found myself glancing down to see how much of the book was left, and that's not a good sign.
It was also a little bit too picture perfect for my tastes. I want my characters to have flaws and issues. And struggle a bit. You know - live in the real world. Sure Yanny had an abundance of issues, but (part from his roommates) everyone surrounding him were just too perfect. And all problems just miraculously solved themselves. No muss no fuss. Which is why, after some 120 000+ words later I find myself questioning what this book was really about. What happened in all those pages. All I can say - not all that much.
Underwhelmed thy name is me.
Going into this book I was well prepared for it to be slowburn. I mean how can it not be with everything that Yanni went through, it definitely needed to be. And I'm all for slowburn romances. But there needs to be something that holds my interest in the mean time, something that drives the story forward, and I'm sorry to say this book did not have that.
I do think that if this book would've been 100 pages shorter or so the story would've flowed better and not drag so much. When a book is this long there needs to be an interesting plot to fill it. I found myself glancing down to see how much of the book was left, and that's not a good sign.
It was also a little bit too picture perfect for my tastes. I want my characters to have flaws and issues. And struggle a bit. You know - live in the real world. Sure Yanny had an abundance of issues, but (part from his roommates) everyone surrounding him were just too perfect. And all problems just miraculously solved themselves. No muss no fuss. Which is why, after some 120 000+ words later I find myself questioning what this book was really about. What happened in all those pages. All I can say - not all that much.
Underwhelmed thy name is me.
March 14, 2021
DNF at 75%
I didn’t like this and couldn’t even make myself finish even though I was already so far.
This started off promising, yet a bit boring. But unfortunately it got even more boring when I read on.
My main issues with this book were:
- It was simply too long. It was way too detailed and therefor had no real momentum. Now I’m all for healing after an abusive relationship, but I felt this story could have been shorter.
- I’m not sure if it was because we never got his POV, but I didn’t like Peter at all. He was way too stuffy for me. He came across as very uptight and even a bit emotionless.
- The daddy kink was awful. Now I’m no expert on real life daddy kink, but I cringed every time a daddy/son relationship was mentioned instead of daddy/boy. Of course it could be that this is the right terminology in the gay daddy kink community, but all of the other daddy kink books I've read say otherwise.
I never really got into this and started to dread picking this back up. So I’m just going to stop here.
I didn’t like this and couldn’t even make myself finish even though I was already so far.
This started off promising, yet a bit boring. But unfortunately it got even more boring when I read on.
My main issues with this book were:
- It was simply too long. It was way too detailed and therefor had no real momentum. Now I’m all for healing after an abusive relationship, but I felt this story could have been shorter.
- I’m not sure if it was because we never got his POV, but I didn’t like Peter at all. He was way too stuffy for me. He came across as very uptight and even a bit emotionless.
- The daddy kink was awful. Now I’m no expert on real life daddy kink, but I cringed every time a daddy/son relationship was mentioned instead of daddy/boy. Of course it could be that this is the right terminology in the gay daddy kink community, but all of the other daddy kink books I've read say otherwise.
I never really got into this and started to dread picking this back up. So I’m just going to stop here.
March 24, 2024
That right there is how one brings a story to roost.
September 8, 2018
Let me start by saying I'm an N.R. Walker fan, but I have no idea how to rate this. I have parts that I enjoyed, but there were other parts that just didn't work for me.
I enjoyed the slow burn. I enjoyed that Yanni wasn't instantly "healed" after meeting Peter. I LOVED how Peter never pushed Yanni for more or faster relationship milestones. I loved that Yanni got the family he deserved (even if it was a chosen family).
What I didn't like was the "daddy kink". I've read and enjoyed daddy kink in the past. This just didn't set that same tone with me. Every time Yanni said he needed "daddy/son" time, I cringed. I think if it had been daddy/boy, I would have felt better. Don't get me started with "like a good daddy should". That just didn't work for me. I know there are different flavors of every possible kink, but this just didn't work for me (it will for others, and there is nothing wrong with that). Because of Yanni calling it daddy/son, it felt creepy to me whenever he called Peter daddy. I'm glad that Peter didn't call Yanni son. That would have been too much for me.
Though I don't think kink shaming was supposed to be what I got from this book, I felt like that was happening every time the abusive relationship Yanni was in was compared to a consensual BDSM relationship. They are not the same. There are abusers in every walk of life. BDSM does not automatically equal abuse. There is nothing wrong with someone enjoying a BDSM lifestyle, and they should not be looked upon as something is wrong with them because they do enjoy that lifestyle. Maybe I was just reading that the wrong way, but that was how I took it.
I'm going to hold off on rating until I think on this a bit more.
------9/5/2017------
I've thought it over. Overall, I still enjoyed this story. Yanni deserved his HEA. I'm glad he found it with Peter. 2.5⭐️ Rounded down
I enjoyed the slow burn. I enjoyed that Yanni wasn't instantly "healed" after meeting Peter. I LOVED how Peter never pushed Yanni for more or faster relationship milestones. I loved that Yanni got the family he deserved (even if it was a chosen family).
What I didn't like was the "daddy kink". I've read and enjoyed daddy kink in the past. This just didn't set that same tone with me. Every time Yanni said he needed "daddy/son" time, I cringed. I think if it had been daddy/boy, I would have felt better. Don't get me started with "like a good daddy should". That just didn't work for me. I know there are different flavors of every possible kink, but this just didn't work for me (it will for others, and there is nothing wrong with that). Because of Yanni calling it daddy/son, it felt creepy to me whenever he called Peter daddy. I'm glad that Peter didn't call Yanni son. That would have been too much for me.
Though I don't think kink shaming was supposed to be what I got from this book, I felt like that was happening every time the abusive relationship Yanni was in was compared to a consensual BDSM relationship. They are not the same. There are abusers in every walk of life. BDSM does not automatically equal abuse. There is nothing wrong with someone enjoying a BDSM lifestyle, and they should not be looked upon as something is wrong with them because they do enjoy that lifestyle. Maybe I was just reading that the wrong way, but that was how I took it.
I'm going to hold off on rating until I think on this a bit more.
------9/5/2017------
I've thought it over. Overall, I still enjoyed this story. Yanni deserved his HEA. I'm glad he found it with Peter. 2.5⭐️ Rounded down
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2021
This really is Yanni's story, but....
It include lots of other characters that are alive and interacting and helping each other. Lance gets mentioned, but has basically destroyed himself as he has destroyed the boys that he had to control with his power over them.
But even as Lance is buried in his own shit, the others support and reinforce the lives and activities of friends and family. There is no emotion better than love, but helping those you love and those in need is much more powerful than love. For love to work, touch is required and hugs are a good place to start.
Once you have "touched" someone's life and they have returned the favor, friendship is locked forever, but the more touching and kissing that happens in love and respect, the stronger the links are between them.
Yanni helps others while trying to wrestle back control over himself and his life after loosing everything. He recognizes the help he received and the progress made and tries to give back and pay ahead to save others even as he is saving himself. He found Peter early in the process and that made all the difference in getting through the hard spots of breaking free of Lance's torture.
It include lots of other characters that are alive and interacting and helping each other. Lance gets mentioned, but has basically destroyed himself as he has destroyed the boys that he had to control with his power over them.
But even as Lance is buried in his own shit, the others support and reinforce the lives and activities of friends and family. There is no emotion better than love, but helping those you love and those in need is much more powerful than love. For love to work, touch is required and hugs are a good place to start.
Once you have "touched" someone's life and they have returned the favor, friendship is locked forever, but the more touching and kissing that happens in love and respect, the stronger the links are between them.
Yanni helps others while trying to wrestle back control over himself and his life after loosing everything. He recognizes the help he received and the progress made and tries to give back and pay ahead to save others even as he is saving himself. He found Peter early in the process and that made all the difference in getting through the hard spots of breaking free of Lance's torture.
April 30, 2018
I took my time with this one. I knew it was long, and I knew it was a rather 'fluffy' post trauma story, I just read a chapter, here and a chapter there and I really enjoyed it :-).
This was absolute fluff, despite the abusive relationship Yanni escaped, everything was very optimistic and about ten step forward one step back. I actually enjoyed reading about the moments he struggled more than when everything was sunshine and roses. But it was absolutely lovely and I found it very easy to read.
I swear I've read reviews for this book, but that Daddy Kink was a very welcome surprise!!
This was absolute fluff, despite the abusive relationship Yanni escaped, everything was very optimistic and about ten step forward one step back. I actually enjoyed reading about the moments he struggled more than when everything was sunshine and roses. But it was absolutely lovely and I found it very easy to read.
I swear I've read reviews for this book, but that Daddy Kink was a very welcome surprise!!
September 26, 2017
4 stars.
Yanni's Story will punch you with all those emotions. It's a story about Yanni - as you can tell by the title. It's all about healing, finding yourself, building a future, being happy and comfortable in your own skin. And then finding love.
I'm not going to lie, this was a super slow yet really long book. Nothing happened until the 75% mark. And yes, it makes sense when you read the book why it took as long as it did. I mean I might not be the biggest fan of slow burn but I did enjoy it.
Peter and Yanni were friends before anything else. I loved, loved, loved seeing Peter helping Yanni getting out of his comfort zone and helping him grow into a confident man. Their relationship is one of my favorites.
This book is not for everyone. There are lots of things that happened to Yanni that will absolutely break your heart.
This had some really sweet and scorching moments that were a win for me. Some things could've been taken out to not be repetitive but not once did I find this book boring.
“It’s okay not to be okay.”
Yanni's Story will punch you with all those emotions. It's a story about Yanni - as you can tell by the title. It's all about healing, finding yourself, building a future, being happy and comfortable in your own skin. And then finding love.
I'm not going to lie, this was a super slow yet really long book. Nothing happened until the 75% mark. And yes, it makes sense when you read the book why it took as long as it did. I mean I might not be the biggest fan of slow burn but I did enjoy it.
He was my safety, the cage in which I was safe to fly.
Peter and Yanni were friends before anything else. I loved, loved, loved seeing Peter helping Yanni getting out of his comfort zone and helping him grow into a confident man. Their relationship is one of my favorites.
This book is not for everyone. There are lots of things that happened to Yanni that will absolutely break your heart.
We all have good and bad things happen to us, but how we deal with what we’ve been given is what matters.
This had some really sweet and scorching moments that were a win for me. Some things could've been taken out to not be repetitive but not once did I find this book boring.
August 28, 2017
4.5 stars!
Yanni's Story is sort of a spin-off of Spencer Cohen. Technically it's labelled as #4 in the series, but the timeline runs concurrently to events in books #2 and #3 in that series. If you're like me (i.e. reads a lot of books and very forgetful), you may want to do a brief perusal of Spencer Cohen to re-acquaint yourself with the characters.
The story picks up as Spencer has been hired to track down Yanni. It's not his typical case, but he agrees to help if he can. It turns out that Spencer's client (Lance) is Yanni's abusive ex-boyfriend and Yanni is terrified of Lance finding him.
I was a bit nervous starting this book because Yanni's past is very sad and dark. That being said, his story is actually quite beautiful and full of hope (with the exception of flashbacks to his past). Make sure you read the trigger warnings.
As Yanni is beginning to put his life back together, he meets Peter (a client of Spencers). Peter is quite a bit older, shares a love of silent movies, and they instantly hit it off. Since neither is in a position to pursue a relationship, they agree to be friends. Their relationship is very slow. I've heard some reviewers were bored. I wasn't bored, but I will agree that this might not be for everyone. You have to be patient and let the story unfold. This is very much a character-driven story; not a lot of action, no big plot twists or misunderstandings. I loved it, not quite as much as some of her other books, but it was definitely a worthwhile read.
One thing that isn't in the blurb or the trigger warnings that might be an issue for some...
Yanni's Story is sort of a spin-off of Spencer Cohen. Technically it's labelled as #4 in the series, but the timeline runs concurrently to events in books #2 and #3 in that series. If you're like me (i.e. reads a lot of books and very forgetful), you may want to do a brief perusal of Spencer Cohen to re-acquaint yourself with the characters.
The story picks up as Spencer has been hired to track down Yanni. It's not his typical case, but he agrees to help if he can. It turns out that Spencer's client (Lance) is Yanni's abusive ex-boyfriend and Yanni is terrified of Lance finding him.
I was a bit nervous starting this book because Yanni's past is very sad and dark. That being said, his story is actually quite beautiful and full of hope (with the exception of flashbacks to his past). Make sure you read the trigger warnings.
As Yanni is beginning to put his life back together, he meets Peter (a client of Spencers). Peter is quite a bit older, shares a love of silent movies, and they instantly hit it off. Since neither is in a position to pursue a relationship, they agree to be friends. Their relationship is very slow. I've heard some reviewers were bored. I wasn't bored, but I will agree that this might not be for everyone. You have to be patient and let the story unfold. This is very much a character-driven story; not a lot of action, no big plot twists or misunderstandings. I loved it, not quite as much as some of her other books, but it was definitely a worthwhile read.
One thing that isn't in the blurb or the trigger warnings that might be an issue for some...
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