Three in the Dungeon

Dungeon #3

by S.M. Johnson

Is love enough to forsake power exchange?

Roman and Jeff are building a new life in Minnesota, even though Jeff's been insisting since the accident that he just wants to be vanilla. A funny thing, though, Jeff's BDSM erotic fiction is quickly becoming the latest Amazon Indie success story, which makes Roman wonder… if Jeff is still kinky in his head, what about his heart?
The local fetish community is a lot different in this town than in the club Roman created in New York City. Roman admits that he's a fetish snob, but still, an inexperienced local boy has managed to capture and keep his interest. Roman is determined to integrate his own controlling tendencies, Jeff's imagination, and Jason's submission into something that feels like home.

70,000 words, Gay erotic fiction, BDSM, M/M, and soft M/M/F

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Menage, Erotica, Romance, Contemporary, M M M

249 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2013

About the author

SM Johnson hibernates in a conservative community of northern Wisconsin, where she writes characters who aren't exactly mainstream. Her stories are erotic, romantic and often somewhat unexpected. Visit her on blogspot to feed your hunger for darkly erotic fiction, messy lives, and things that go "naughty" in the night. http://www.smjbookteasers.blogspot.com

Most recent release: Aftermath, February 2017. Next release: Nervous, October 1, 2017. Find my books at Amazon, Smashwords, and other ebook retailers.

Thanks for being readers!

Find me on Facebook! SM Johnson writes
https://www.facebook.com/SMJohnsonWrites

PS - Goodreads insists on periods between the S and the M of SM Johnson. But, for the record, the periods are incorrect. And because of this, also for the record, some of my books DO NOT SHOW UP as my books, but as other S.M. Johnson's books.

Reviews

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roman y Jeff ya estan viviendo en Minessota, intentando reencontrarse en una relacion "vainilla". Pero Roman no puede dejar de ser un Dom, por esa razon Jeff acepto que Jason sea el sub de Roman una vez a la semana, sobre todo ahora que Vanessa junto con la bebe esta viviendo con ellos y son una familia de tres. Y si, la relacion entre Roman y Jeff no es estable, Jeff todavia tiene mucho miedo a volver a entrar en el mundo del BDSM, y Roman tiene miedo de que cualquier cosa que haga espante a Jeff y lo aleje de nuevo.
Podran ellos de nuevo encontrar la tranqulidad y felicidad en su relacion? Como van a manejar su relacion con Jason? y con Vanessa?
Que paso con Dare y Nick? De verdad Dare podra tener una vida sexual totalmente vainilla?

Este libro estuvo mejor llevado que el anterior. Aunque todavia al principio habian demasiadas cosas que no tenian sentido en la trama, ni en la relacion de ninguno de los tres, hasta despues de que el autor dejo a Dare y Nick, y se dedico solamente a Roman-Jeff, la cosa comenzo a tener mas sentido.
Ademas, la cambiadera de puntos de vista, donde tienes que leer al menos 3 parrafos para saber quien esta hablando, lo que me obligaba a reiniciar el capitulo para poder entender lo que pasaba. Y si a eso le agregas, que hay demasiada descripciones de sitios, sentimientos, pensamientos, volvio la lectura aburrida.
Otra cosa que no me gusto fue como le cambian la personalidad de Roman y Jeff, ademas de sus formas de ingreso (trabajos) practicamente sin ningun background. Por ejemplo, de donde sacaron que Roman era un carpintero? o Jeff era un escritor tan bueno para publicar mas de un libro al año?
Y donde dejan a Vanessa? Que es lo que hacia? en que es que quiere trabajar ahora? Jason? Que hace el? Como lleva su vida vainilla tan separada de su BDSM?
En fin, voy a leer el proximo libro de la serie, por Dare (sip, lei la sinopsis para ver si valia la pena leerlo), porque quiero saber como va a manejar su relacion con Nick y su inclinacion al BDSM.

[Awilk -never sleeps- · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I have enjoyed this series, but this one just seemed a little too busy in some ways. The POV jumped around without telling me who each chapter was from and I found it distracting not knowing straight away.

I have followed this series, because of Roman. I am still enjoying this beautifully dominant man, but I am not loving it like I was previously.

The ending left me terribly upset, and I can only hope that there will be more, as this one left far too many unanswered questions.

What is happening with Zach and Dare?

How will Thomas and Roman continue dealing with the struggles they re going through?

There are other questions as well, and I want answers.

[Trio · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tough series for me to review... there were so many things that just didn't work for me. First, I wasn't a big fan of the author's writing style, it often seemed a little stilted and just like the author was trying to catch up with the pace an not quite pulling it off. I honestly didn't really love any of the characters, and often when I saw who was up for the next chapter I was groaning aloud (gah, not Vanessa again!). I had big problems with Roman from the get-go, and I understand the author was portraying him as a self-centered, egotistical, snobby Dom which gave him somewhere to go when he falls (and he sure does fall), but it still didn't really work the way I had hoped or the way I would have preferred.

I might have done myself a small disservice by reading Dare in the Dungeon first, since I just could never get over my dislike for Jeff (who is honestly the most interesting character in the series and the only one told from the 1st person)...? I'm truly glad I read the series but I honestly wouldn't recommend it as being worth the time.

[J.C. Andrijeski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this series, such a cool combination of kink, depth of character and interesting arcs and growth that don't follow the predictable and more "fantasy-driven," happily-ever-after type patterns. At the same time, it never feels cynical or depressing, and there is a lot of heart in the different people, and the sense of real love between them. I'm realizing lately, as I read a broader range of books and types of writing and author voices, that there are some writers who have this "thing" where a book and the characters and the world they inhabit have a kind of presence to them, which makes the story feel much more real and imparts a kind of maturity to the work and its world. Unfortunately, this quality, I'm realizing, is fairly rare...but when I find it, it almost doesn't matter what kind of book it is, or what style of writing apart from that feeling that this world is real, and the people have something real behind them. Everything I've read by SM Johnson has that quality, and it makes me want to revisit her characters again and again, whether vampires or real(ish) people.

In that vein, this is a great continuation of the story arcs revolving around Roman, Jeff, Vanessa and Dare. Roman and Jeff have moved to Minnesota, and are adjusting to a life complicated by Vanessa's pregnancy with Roman's child, Jeff's recovery from his traumatic, near-death accident, Roman and Jeff's never having fully resolved the issues that got between them when Dare was a part of the picture, and the transition from a more urban BDSM scene in New York to a smaller and quirkier (in some ways) one in Minnesota. In addition, Roman has a new submissive, and he and Jeff kind of work with him together, a new experience for both them and their relationship. Meanwhile, Dare is missing certain aspects and dynamics of his relationship with Roman, back in New York, and as a part of that, he and his new boyfriend, Zach, run into Thomas, (who made a very, very hot appearance with Roman in the Dungeon in book 2), which I didn't see coming at all, and is making me very happy about the possibilities for book four! I don't want to give anything away, but the story remained totally fresh and the twists both believable and unexpected. I liked the character growth in Roman, and especially in Jeff in this book (Jeff having probably been the character I could relate to the least in a lot of ways, in the previous two books). I also felt like I got a much better handle on Vanessa as a character too, and the complexity of her relationship with her best friend, Jeff, especially.

Great continuation of the series, and some fun introductions to the people in the BDSM scene in their corner of Minnesota, too, which should be interesting to see develop. Looking forward to the next book to see where things go next!

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this segment. I really like this story which started out with me loving book 1. But then book 2 was missing a little something. Unfortunately, the same holds true for this one, and I believe that most of what I loved in book 1 is only showing up in snippets here and there in the follow-up stories.

Here, things start out ok, with Roman and Jeff adjusting to a new life in Minnesota after Jeff's long recovery. They are also adjusting to being a "normal" couple, as Jeff is now adamant he does not want to live the lifestyle due to his forced confinement (coma and traction) from his accident. To make things better for Roman, who the feel needs to have some form of dominating in his life, they allow Jason to be Roman's sub (with Jeff helping as mentor).

Then, things turned a bit south for me when Vanessa moves in with the new baby. I never really enjoyed Vanessa's character much in the previous books, and that hasn't changed in this one. There isn't really anything wrong with her other than she is a distraction from the things I really care to read about - namely, the guys.

We also get a glimpse at how Dare is doing. He is now in a relationship with Zach (Jeff's nurse), though they are having some issues as well. Dare is so conflicted. He's deep in the closet with his family, doesn't like the BDSM stuff, nor the fact that he seems to need some degree of it in his life. Zach tries to do what he can to help, but just doesn't seem to have that dominating instinct in him. They run into Tomas (Roman's friend who topped him in the super hot scene from Book 2) who may be able to help them. Unfortunately, this is where the story ends for them.

Back to the Minnesota gang for the last part of the book, which was the best part of the story. Roman realizes Jeff is letting his fears rule his life and decides to take matters into his own hand. He does it gently though and, amid fears and other emotions, they decide starting over won't be such a bad thing.

The next book (please let there be a next book) has the makings of being more like book 1 and I'm really hoping to see more about how Dare and Zach are making out, as well as seeing Jeff come back to life.

[Syfy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished Three in the Dungeon.
Trying to put my thoughts into words, I have no idea how to explain without it sounding like I didn't enjoy the reading.
I did. Really.

Took me beyond my personal comfort zone in so many areas, but the central story line was well worth it!
Jeff finding his way is all I ever wanted, I honestly didn't care about any of the other characters. Color me crazy but yes, I read all three books detailing the lives of six or more people for the sole purpose of seeing Jeff happy in the end.

The thing's I didn't like were all attributed to personal preference.
I'm not one to say BDSM must be represented in "this" or "that" manner and if it isn't, it's wrong. Ha! Even "Top Doms" are human and I think that point came across loud and clear for anyone paying the slightest bit of attention.

[Sucajo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things have been different for Roman and Jeff since Jeff's accident and it was fascinating to watch them try to define their new relationship. It was great to see so many characters from the previous books but also to be introduced to some new ones. We got to know Jason a little better and it will be interesting to see how the relationship between the three men continues to grow and change. I also really, really want to know what happens next for Dare!

[~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff and Roman are trying to rebuild their relationship with Jeff being more equal since he can no longer be a 24/7 slave. There a few bumps in the road, Roman treats him like spun glass and Jeff craves parts of his old life. Roman is still working with Jason but checking in with Jeff every step of the way.

Vanessa's new baby is born and they all love being parents and are starting to integrate into their new town.

I really liked this conclusion to the stories and feel like Jeff and Roman are building a much stronger relationship than they had before the accident.

A couple of quibbles that I have though:

1/ Dare and Zack just fell off the face of the earth once they met Thomas - I would have liked some closure there unless that's a new book.

2/I believe this is self-pubbed and it's an awesome series, but there were a few times that character name continuity confused me where the wrong character was named and I had to stop and think so that took me out the story.

[Dee Wy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff is finally free of the halo device that helped him to safely heal his broken neck from the accident and Roman has come to pick him up and take him home. But Jeff is not the sub he once was, being confined in a hospital and then the halo contraption, he has no desire to be bound or restrained - fears it in fact. But Roman is just happy to have him back with him and will respect Jeff's wishes. Enter a new sub for Roman to play with which Jeff is fine with. The main part of the story is just them working out the new dynamic.

But there is also Jeff's best friend Vanessa who is pregnant with Roman's baby. Loved this addition to the story. We also check in with Dare as he and his new boyfriend Zach try to work out a Dom/sub relationship. This made me laugh as they have a lot of work to do yet. :)

Enjoyed being back with my boys, not sure why I took so long to read this installment. Looking forward to book four.

[Chappy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still loving this series...can't get enough of Roman.

Jeff is finally healed and moves back in with Roman. They immerse themselves in the local BDSM scene which is much smaller than what they were used to in New York.

Roman continues working with Jason as his submissive and Jeff participates by narrating their scenes. Quite erotic to say the least.

Vanessa has baby Cassandra and also moves in with Roman and Jeff. They have a great time sharing parenting duties.

I'm jumping right into book 4 to find out how things turn out between Dare, Zach and the mysterious Thomas.

[Coffee Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another well-written, compelling, and hot outing for Roman, Jeff, and their friends and lovers. As always, SM Johnson gives, takes, and leaves us wanting more. I'm always surprised that I like these books so much - they are really outside my usual parameters. The characters are not monogamous. Tattoos aren't my thing. Women's POVs (and M/F sex scenes) in gay erotic fiction are really not my thing. Cheating without consequences (i.e. Roman having unprotected sex with Vanessa) makes me angry. And yet I love all of these books, and am breathlessly waiting for the next.

My biggest beef with this and the earlier books is that the scenes I most want to read (for example, Jason's training, Thomas dominating Dare) are not in the book. Having said that, patience is often rewarded - thank you, thank you, thank you SM Johnson for giving us Dare's first time!


What I Liked:
The writing style is first class, as always. Johnson's writing is easy to read while remaining intelligent and compelling. She addresses characters by their given names for the most part; when she doesn't it makes sense. She doesn't flip between POVs in a section. Her characters, as I've noted are rich and deep and interesting.

The use of points of view were amazing. Exactly where I want to have a character's perspective, SM Johnson switches POVs and gives it to me. Getting into Roman's head when Jeff fucks him is essential, not just because it's so fucking hot. Roman has to give up control and walking through that with him, how hard it is for him, trying to get out of it, submitting to Jeff's will, it's a breathtaking part of the book. The Dominant in BDSM books either never gets penetrated because somehow it would diminish their "toppiness", which I don't buy, or the bottom fucking the top magically fixes everthing. SM Johnson shows us that for this couple, at this moment, it's what they need, but it doesn't fix them. Having Jeff take control and push Roman sets up Roman pushing Jeff back into being a sub perfectly. Um, plus it's hot as fuck.

I also liked that we don't get Jason's POV until he's presented to the community in Dr. Mitch's basement. It's an intense moment and we need to know what's going on in his head. I hope we get more of Jason's POV in the next installment.

I love Jeff. What an amazing character. I like how mature he is here. I love hearing from him again, after losing his voice for most of "Out of the Dungeon." He's one of the most well-rounded and interesting characters I've ever read.

Roman - again, wow, what a great character. The way he forces his will on others (with their consent, generally) is scary and beyond hot. I really enjoyed hearing his thoughts about pushing his subs, thinking they might safeword, how he plans everything, etc. Roman's POV in this book is so interesting and it shows how Roman's not perfect - he's tense and irritable, he hates giving up control, he's not always right, he's worried about doing the wrong thing, he's a bully. And we love him.

Thomas/Tomas. I hated him when he paid Roman to sub for him, and now I have to go back and re-read that scene because holy fucking hell is this guy hot. The scene in the restaurant where he tells Dare to "settle" is probably the moment I have been thinking about the most since I finished the book. It's not sexual (well, he's negotiating a sex scene, so it's a little sexual) but there's something so compelling and hot about it. I didn't really like the Tomas persona but that's mostly because I heard his voice like Cheech and Chong, which you gotta admit, isn't sexy at all. I liked Thomas' quieter dominance of Dare in the phone call, the lunch meeting and the start of his scene with Dare. It makes a startling and good contrast to Roman. I liked how both Zach and Dare admit to being turned on by the idea of Thomas fucking Dare in the lube-wrestling match.

I liked Dare and Zach, and that their relationship wasn't perfect. I thought that the scene where Zach put the Jewel in Dare was super hot and Zach handled it so well that his inability to dominate Dare later was disappointing. I thought it was ironic (and probably purposeful) that Dare didn't want to "playact" domination with Zach but enjoyed the persona of Tomas that Thomas was playing it. I really liked that Dare was willing to give up Zach to get the domination he craves. Dare's realization of that was a great moment for him.

What I Didn't Like:
Well, my main complaint is the lack of some scenes; I'm hoping that we get them in later installments. I'm pretty desperate to hear how Dare and Zach got on with Thomas, and I assume at some point Roman will get to fuck Dare. Damn you SM Johnson! :-)

I struggle with the polyamory/open relationship thing in these books which is just my hang up, not a flaw in the writing. It's very explicit that Roman and Jeff are on the same page on this and when Jeff experiences any jealousy, it's more about what he's lost than about possessiveness of his partner. Still, it's just something I don't enjoy when the main characters are so in love.

I liked Vanessa in the first book, and she's well written here, but I can't stop thinking about her fucking Roman and what an utter betrayal that was. I can accept a lot of the places SM Johnson takes the characters, and she makes a good case here for Jeff's understanding and forgiveness, but there's a little too much hand-waving and "huh, wow, that's okay I guess, oh we're having a baby! and by the way, I'm horny, let's fuck" for me. It may just be my issue with cheating and open relationships. But I think there was an opportunity here for catharsis and SM Johnson missed it. I also dislike M/M/F scenes and het sex scenes in general in gay erotica (love them in het erotica, so I'm not a heterophobe) so those parts of the book were read mostly to see what was going on with Jeff and Roman.

Overall, this was an excellent installment . Can't wait for the next book!

[Calila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series *TRIES* me. I still don't like Jeff, I think he's a coddled selfish insecure hypocrite. I'm still annoyed that Roman broke up with Dare because Jeff wasn't okay with Roman having feelings for a third, but somehow Jason is welcomed. Then with Dare, Zach's behavior in this book sent off massive red flags for me. I don't think he respects Dare, and I think he's emotionally manipulative. He doesn't seem to care about Dare, just what he wants when he wants. The stuff with Vanessa, once again made me roll my eyes. And yet, I still read it. The writing is good, I keep hoping the story will force me to accept it because it is interesting. It's just not going the way I want.

[Adara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still impressed with the story, mostly. Less impressed with the editing and proofing (again), hence only 4 stars this time.

You need to read the rest of the series before starting on this book. However, if it's been a while since you've read the other two books, this one does a pretty decent job of recapping what happened in the previous stories without needing a reread.

Everyone's POV is told in third person except for Jeff, as it was with the last 2 books. It's still somewhat annoying to flop back and forth between first and third. Most chapters are from Roman's POV, but some are from Vanessa, Dare, and Jason also.

After finally being freed from his enforced bondage while his neck healed from the accident suffered in Out of the Dungeon, Jeff is now afraid of bondage and doesn't think he can be a submissive any longer. But he loves Roman, and Roman still wants him, even if it's vanilla (non-kink). Jeff moves to Minnesota to be with Roman, and eventually Vanessa follows after having Roman's baby, Cassandra. They attempt to have a more egalitarian relationship, which keeps both Jeff and Roman off-kilter because neither knows how to have a "normal," mostly vanilla relationship. And Roman's afraid he's going to re-hurt Jeff.

Roman continues to work with Jason, a new sub in the Minnesota kink scene. Jason is not Dare. Jason wants to submit and have his submission mean something, which is part of why he trusted Roman. Roman is not making the same mistakes with Jason that he made with Dare and Jeff, either. Though Jeff is no longer bound by contract, Roman will not do anything to jeopardize their relationship, and he makes that very clear to both Jeff and Jason.

Jeff likes and gets along pretty well with Jason, so Roman suggests that Jeff be his mentor on submission and service, to which Jeff agrees. Jeff also begins to narrate the scenes between Roman and Jason because he remembers what it is like to be a new sub, experiencing all of this for the first time, and it gets all three of them hot and bothered. But it also underscores a longing in Jeff to do those things that Jason is now being allowed to do, as Roman's submissive, which Jeff still thinks of as his position even though Jeff is, by his own words, "no longer submissive." Jeff envies Roman's relationship with Jason because he understands it as if he's reliving it himself. Only he's not, and he wants to be.

Vanessa is also part of the family this time. Though they all care for each other very deeply and they will always be family of 3 parents to Cassandra, Vanessa begins to keenly feel the relationship between Roman and Jeff healing, leading to a touch of "third wheel" syndrome. She also gets a start in a good direction in this story, which I was happy to see.

We do see Dare and Zach a few of times in this story. The first time was Roman checking in to make sure Dare is okay after things ended. The others are Zach and Dare trying to make things work. The first scene I understood why it should be included in this book. The later scenes just made me scratch my head, because we never followed up on them again after a while. Seems like that storyline should have been removed from this book and added into a book just for Dare and Zach, because they're going to need one.

I think the biggest strength of this story is being inside Jeff's head, experiencing events as he does. It lends his character empathy as we might otherwise not understand why he can't just immediately get back up on the BDSM horse and ride into the sunset with Roman. Jeff's life drastically changed, altered who he was for many months, and it created a fear in him he thought was permanent. The reader can see him struggling with his unhappy thoughts of "I'm no longer a submissive" even though everything he does just screams that he still wants to be, even when it rightfully scares the hell out of him.

Weaknesses: Editing and proofing, again. Beyond the typographical errors (missing or wrong words and punctuation), Roman was previously very harsh about use of profanity, and suddenly he's using it himself? While I buy into the fact that Roman has also changed some in how he relates to Jeff, that particularly idiosyncrasy seemed fairly ingrained into who he is as a Dom, even when being informal. I don't feel like it is something he would've just forgotten. (Or that Jeff wouldn't call him on it.) It feels more like the author forgot the idiosyncrasies of the character. I already mentioned what I thought of the extra Dare and Zach scenes--I liked them, but I felt this was the wrong story to put them in. And then there was the country-club guy from Dare's old life who first called him "Adair" (which Zach made a point of noting, as he hadn't known before then that was Dare's full name), then a few sentences later the same guy called him "Dare"? No, he wouldn't have known that name. There were lots of little things that added up this time around to knock the experience of reading the story down a star.

For those who stick with the story through to the end, there is happiness at the end. It might not be the happiness that was "expected", but then life doesn't always turn out the way we expect, does it? However, I think that HFN/HEA fans will find this ending sufficient to please them, because while not truly completely "HEA", it's definitely close enough to truly believe they'll find their way back to their own true happiness. A follow-up short would be a very nice idea if no future volume is coming for their story.

[Melissa]

I bought this series in 2015 and never marked them in any way. Wow, not sure how that happened. So I am fixing that by updating all the books I own in this series. No rating because I can't really remember my feelings beyond "I liked it."

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Caroline Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE

3.75 Stars

This book has me all over the place.

Jeff is finally well on the road to recovery and it looks as though he and Roman are working to sort out their relationship. As Jeff still has hospital appointments to attend they both move in with Vanessa for a couple of months and this is where it goes wrong for me.

We have got to know Jeff through the first two books so we know how much he values his friendship with Vanessa. We also know that he doesn’t even like to watch heterosexual couples kissing but suddenly he is enjoying watching Vanessa sexually and wants a threesome. It just didn’t work for me; it felt forced and wrong on so many levels.

Roman and Jeff haven’t been intimate with each other for months, they are both gay men yet they choose their first time together to bring Vanessa into the fray.

When they finally move to Minnesota, just the two of them, it’s uncomfortable for both of them. They don’t seem to be able to settle around each other and memories of their pasts, along with their indiscretions, plague them. When they end up in bed together, without the kink, something seems to slide back into place, allay their fears, and I can’t help thinking this is what it should have been like when they first got back together instead of having it with Vanessa.

Back in New York Zach and Dare have fallen in love. They are comfortable with each other and Dare is concentrating on his career. The reason Roman was initially attracted to Dare so much was the fact that he recognised the submissive in him and although Dare feels like his life is going in the right direction there is still the submissive side of him not being attended to. Nothing proves this more than when he meets Roman for lunch.

Zach is a sweetheart and recognises that something is missing and through trial and error tries to give Dare the part of their relationship he is missing. The only problem with this is that Zach is not a dominant and fractures start to appear. Then Thomas appears on the scene and we are left wondering how that dynamic is going to play out.

Jumping forward 4 months and the baby has been born and for the first time ever I find Vanessa’s changed attitude appealing as she no longer appears to want to be the woman between two gay men. Roman and Jeff still have a long way to go and lots of issues to resolve which include where Romans new sub Jason fits in with their extended family.

The second half of the book was easier for me to read than the first. I felt Jeff and Roman were finally moving forward albeit slowly. When Roman makes a startling discovery into what Jeff needs rather than relying on what he thinks Jeff needs it finally feels as though these two might actually make it. Vanessa may have also found what she needs and thank god it isn’t in between Jeff and Roman!

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

The bloom is off the rose for me. Although the non-linear progression was nice, it felt too circular, with repetition of feelings in flashbacks at some points and such delayed progress in building out the Minnesotan community.

Including the first two books in the series, there were now enough accumulated missteps from Roman to have me question the fundamentals of his character. How long can you continue to extol his virtues in D/s while having him slow to learn to change with Jeff? The portions with Dare and his brief contact with Thomas seemed very forced, like a blinking sign advertising "Remember when there was better chemistry between Dare and Roman? Tune in to the next book to see what happens."

So here's where I imagine an author rolling his or her eyes at a reader who writes these comments, pretending "I can do this." This might have been more effectively pulled off if there were more scenes between Roman and Thomas in either the last book or the beginning of this one, which then allowed Roman to reflect on Jeff's needs from a new (or revisited) POV as a sub. This could have dovetailed nicely with Dare's introduction to Thomas. Hmm. Maybe this is why others get into writing fanfic? Or maybe I've shown too much of my own ego in these comments. Moving on to the fourth book, I wonder if it will continue to feel like the energy lags and the plot is running on fumes.

[Blondie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amazing thing about this book is the amount of Love the characters all feel, it is so strong this reader felt it too.

Before I began reading this book, I had an idea what I thought this book would be about. However the story surprised me and found its own unique path. Roman is so yummy and always genuinely wants to take care of his own. He is a Dom who seems pleased only when he is ordering his subs to do what pleases them. Not sure if that makes sense but Roman is a Dom who cares but is no less strong and commanding because of it. Jeff and Valorie are back and better then ever. We see more of Jason here too.

Dare and Zach have a small side story that I was so happy about but, in my opinion, the author leaves it in a bit of a cliffhanger. However, I was just pleased they weren't dropped and forgotten.

This book is wonderful full of hot scenes and some very hot BDSM action. There is true love and devotion for each other. There maybe Three in the Dungeon, but the story is just as good outside the dungeon as it is in. The book is easy to love even if you are not into BDSM. Absolutely Amazing writing!

[Ayanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seeing as the only character I care about is Jeff (okay, fine. by extension, Roman, since clearly Jeff's made for Roman and Roman's made for Jeff and all that), I don't mind continuing, since Roman's only secondary and all this other shit is angst-fodder and I love suffering in my characters when there's a beautiful end in sight. Which isn't entirely true, but I'm unsatisfied with the way things ended for Jeff, who I see as the true MC in this series, and he deserves to push through to the end, whatever that may be.

post-read EtA
Imma be honest with you. I don't give a shit about any of the people except Jeff, and by extension, Roman, but only as he relates to Jeff. I sat through pages and pages and pages and pages of stuff before the good stuff finally started coming, somewhere around 95%

But then...
It was getting good. And then it ended. And I know that's not the correct part of speech. Gah. It ended. I'm refraining from typing this in all caps, but I'm quite aggravated.

Honestly, though, the reason I "finished" was because I skipped so much of it to begin with. *sigh

[Emma Sea]

This book just isn't my cup of tea. I came into it already mad with one of the MCs for what I see as deep betrayal in book 2, and I couldn't get over that. I was annoyed with how Jeff was all "Bygones!" I was annoyed that Dare was back, that . . . ugh, just the whole thing.

And with each chapter my peevishness grew, until Roman told Dare, "It wasn't easy to let you go, Dare. I hope you know that. My shiny new toy, that I wasn't nearly finished playing with, sliced my chest open and walked away while I bled."

You, Sir, are an asshole.

So I decided not to toture myself any longer, and gladly dnf'd it.

[Danny Tyran · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author knows how to stage situations that promote what she wants to write about. It looks like the author wanted to give a little bit of everything to everybody. But from my point of view, it is the weakest of the three books in this series. If it was the first volume, I’d probably never have read the sequels. That's why I give it 3 ½ stars.

Link for a more complete review: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=19370

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series

This is a new to me author. "Above the Dungeon" (the first book in the series) was recommended in a Facebook group. I really enjoy good BDSM with an actual plot and great characters. This series has both and it's HOT!!! I love the different points of view. You found out what each character thought about major events. I loved all the different twists and turns their lives took. I usually only read "Kindle Unlimited " books but I enjoyed book one so much I purchased two and three. Now I'm off to book number four. I highly recommend this series. Enjoy! !

[Suze · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories of Roman, Dare and Jeff continue. The earlier books seemed to me to focus on Dare and then Roman, and this book is Jeff's turn more in the spotlight.
We still get to see Dare too, catching up on how he is progressing in his relationship with Zach, them trying to find their balance with each other and seeing if the ghost of Roman can ever go from between them. Their story line is left on a bit of a cliffhanger and I would love a follow up on them.
But mostly it is about Jeff finding his level again after the accident that left him in a halo cage - unending bondage as he put it, that put him off the extreme submission he had been immersed in before. Purists will not like Vanessa back in the mix, but as the baby mother she has to be there. And again, her story arc ends at a potential beginning.
I liked the soul searching Jeff and Roman had to do to get to a place that worked for both of them. And the contrast of Jeff and Jason  - one beginning his submsission life, the other one perhaps ending his.
There are pov changes at chapter starts which I found OK but I know some readers dont like this.
I thoroughly enjoyed the three books in the series and whilst they can be read as standalones, I would recommend reading as a series as the complxities of the characters and the changes they go through grow throughout the books. 

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the 3rd book in the series about Roman and Jeff.
Their family has extended now with the addition of Vanessa and the baby and also the new sub that Roman has taken on, Jason.
I really had mixed feelings about this instalment.
Part of me still felt that Jeff wasn't on board with Jason and the whole thing seemed forced. I ended up feeling the way about their threesome the same as I felt about Tobias, Noah and Phan inBondage, and I absolutely hated that.
Also the ending is very abrupt. Its a WTF moment! Certainly not a way to end a book. I am not sure if there is a novella to come or even a book 4 but it needs something to round the series off. Certainly not complete.

*EDITED*
Just seen on the writers website that there will be a book 4 hopefully released in May 2014. Suppose to bring more about Zach, Dare and Thomas. I just want closure for Roman and Jeff.

[Sue Milkovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read April 15, 2015

STILL BDSM AT ITS BEST!!!

Welcome home Roman, Jeff, Vanessa and baby Cassandra. Love the addition of Jason. Welcome home Master Roman. I was happy to see the return of Dare and Zach, their relationship is so important to this book. I just think that Thomas in the middle of that muddy relationship is going to be trouble. This story continues with great success from all the other books, I love that the love between Roman & Jeff keeps getting stronger. This story also opened up a ton of new storylines. Looking forward to the next book. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THIS AFFORDABLE SERIES!!!

[Tierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a good installment to the book series in general. I am a little disappointed that the author seem to focus on the main pairing (Roman/Jeff) almost exclusively with only little tidbits of how Dare was making out in NYC in the end. It seemed lopsided to me because the first half of the book there was an even back and forth and then the second half it was like Dare and his storyline didn't exist anymore. I'm not sure if there will be a 4th installment, but I think it would be nice to see the end of Dare's journey as well.

[CB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series. Very, very hot. Great character development and still plenty of story to continue to series, especially with Dare but would love, love, love to see more of Roman/Jeff too!! Not so much with Vanessa - there was some f/f and f/m sex but it was minimal and I would not care to read a whole book about it.

Hopefully the author writes more about the men but in the meantime, this series is going on my to-be-read-again list!!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so glad to read "what's next" with this story. while I am not in the lifestyle, I have to imagine that it is something close to this - these characters seem like real people with real problems looking to find their way in the world. I hope Ms Johnson keeps writing this series because I still want to know "what's next!"

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well there is quite a lot going on in this book!

I'm glad Jeff & Roman are getting back to some sort of normal, Vanessa, hmm still not sure about her with Jeff & Roman and how that was supposed to work.

I hope you are going to sort out Dare & Zach, they both need someone to take charge!

Ok, I'm off to read Dare in the Dungeon..

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it was nice to have a wrap up to the characters. The story however felt a little lacking in the edge that the first two books had. I would still recommend reading however as it was a good finish.