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The Retreat #2
Trusting Him
FROM AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR L.M. SOMERTON
Book two in The Retreat series.
Trust is hard earned and all too easy to lose.
Luke Redding’s military background is an asset when it comes to managing The Retreat, but it hasn’t helped him find the submissive he longs for. A secluded life in the New Forest, witnessing a stream of happy couples playing out their fantasies, doesn’t provide much opportunity to develop a relationship either. When a friend’s manipulations lead to him taking on silver-haired Skye as a trainee sub, Luke finds it hard to trust in his own ability to provide the guidance Skye needs.
Skye Ingham wants to explore his submissive nature but the noise and crowds at The Underground are overwhelming. He can’t believe his luck to be taken under Luke’s wing and offered a job at The Retreat. As Luke tests his boundaries, Skye trusts him implicitly, but how can he convince his new Dominant to have faith in himself?
Amid the bustle and excitement of a big house party at The Retreat, Luke and Skye edge their way towards a deeper understanding of each other’s needs and desires. But it will take a final leap of faith to secure their future and open a path to love.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2019
7 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
L.M. Somerton
78 books180 followersLucinda lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted.
She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. She's fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially between men, and her stories contain some subtle (and some not so subtle) leanings towards BDSM.
She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. She's fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially between men, and her stories contain some subtle (and some not so subtle) leanings towards BDSM.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 9, 2019
Passionate and alluring, with some poignant events along the way, L.M. Somerton’s novel Trusting Him is a true romantic indulgence. While this is the second book in the The Retreat series, and a spin-off of the Edge series, it can be thoroughly enjoyed as a standalone. Just a warning though, once you’ve read Trusting Him, I think you’re going to want more.
As an exclusive BDSM lodge, the staff of The Retreat make every effort to ensure their guests have the ultimate experience. The week long house party taking place in this episode is a sensuous extravaganza. Between the sumptuous food, the decor, and the sexual activities, Ms. Somerton paints an intriguing picture of the pleasures enjoyed by both guests and employees alike.
Young, shy, and inexperienced, finding employment at the remote lodge is a good move for Skye. Longing to explore his interest in submission, the offer to train under Luke, the entrancing lodge manager, is a dream come true. The Dominant’s sex appeal is almost as strong as his cane, and these two have everything they need for a sizzling D/s relationship. Add in the dynamic of their age difference and this one definitely works for me!
Luke is irresistible as he gently introduces Skye to the pleasures of submission. As he seductively uncovers Skye’s kinks, watching each explore the different facets of BDSM together is insanely hot. I can always count on L.M. Somerton to write a gorgeous sex scene, and her fans will be thrilled with this one!
This is a true romance with plenty of heat. If you’re looking for love stories with excellent BDSM scenes, the books in this series are the way to go. Trusting Him introduces some wonderful new characters and I’m anxiously awaiting the next episode to find out which lucky men will find their happily-ever-after.
As an exclusive BDSM lodge, the staff of The Retreat make every effort to ensure their guests have the ultimate experience. The week long house party taking place in this episode is a sensuous extravaganza. Between the sumptuous food, the decor, and the sexual activities, Ms. Somerton paints an intriguing picture of the pleasures enjoyed by both guests and employees alike.
Young, shy, and inexperienced, finding employment at the remote lodge is a good move for Skye. Longing to explore his interest in submission, the offer to train under Luke, the entrancing lodge manager, is a dream come true. The Dominant’s sex appeal is almost as strong as his cane, and these two have everything they need for a sizzling D/s relationship. Add in the dynamic of their age difference and this one definitely works for me!
Luke is irresistible as he gently introduces Skye to the pleasures of submission. As he seductively uncovers Skye’s kinks, watching each explore the different facets of BDSM together is insanely hot. I can always count on L.M. Somerton to write a gorgeous sex scene, and her fans will be thrilled with this one!
This is a true romance with plenty of heat. If you’re looking for love stories with excellent BDSM scenes, the books in this series are the way to go. Trusting Him introduces some wonderful new characters and I’m anxiously awaiting the next episode to find out which lucky men will find their happily-ever-after.
April 9, 2019
I was looking forward to this one. I’ve read the first and that was a great read.
Skye will be Luke’s trainee sub. With this he can explore his preferences and boundaries as a sub. Luke managing the Retreat, an exclusive BDSM resort and with all kinds of subs around him he never found the one. Facing the beautiful silver haired young sub does something to his Dom inside.
A kind of sweet and uplifting read this was. We get to know the Retreat’s staff, and what a group of awesome people they are. We get to know, very detailed, the daily routine and o dear it was organized, so satisfying organized.
The whole story was captivating and enough developed, the scenes were mild bdsm, the writing style very well, the pace comfortable, the characters lovable. Skye was more developed than Luke, he kept at the surface, not negative for the story. The whole package was good and entertaining.
Skye will be Luke’s trainee sub. With this he can explore his preferences and boundaries as a sub. Luke managing the Retreat, an exclusive BDSM resort and with all kinds of subs around him he never found the one. Facing the beautiful silver haired young sub does something to his Dom inside.
A kind of sweet and uplifting read this was. We get to know the Retreat’s staff, and what a group of awesome people they are. We get to know, very detailed, the daily routine and o dear it was organized, so satisfying organized.
The whole story was captivating and enough developed, the scenes were mild bdsm, the writing style very well, the pace comfortable, the characters lovable. Skye was more developed than Luke, he kept at the surface, not negative for the story. The whole package was good and entertaining.
January 11, 2020
2 stars-ish?
Darn, I really wanted to be entertained by this one, but it just didn't pan out for me. I found the story to be surprisingly mundane and unnecessarily drawn out. The BDSM elements were handled respectfully, and I appreciated that, but the goings-on around the sexy bits were pretty bland.
There are only so many times I can read about centerpieces/party decor/dinner service before a book loses my attention. There wasn't enough happening in the plot, and the majority of general character discussions were repetitive. We mostly see the group talking about the next themed night for guests and a bunch of waiter-esque things, which, for me, is not riveting content.
Though I appreciated the BDSM elements in the book, I never fully bought into the relationship between these two characters. I felt like I never really got a good understanding of what makes each of them tick. I think if there was less focus on the frivolous party details, and more focus put towards character development, this could've been a really solid story. In the most respectful way possible, I think having a couple more rounds of editing would have done this wonders.
Darn, I really wanted to be entertained by this one, but it just didn't pan out for me. I found the story to be surprisingly mundane and unnecessarily drawn out. The BDSM elements were handled respectfully, and I appreciated that, but the goings-on around the sexy bits were pretty bland.
There are only so many times I can read about centerpieces/party decor/dinner service before a book loses my attention. There wasn't enough happening in the plot, and the majority of general character discussions were repetitive. We mostly see the group talking about the next themed night for guests and a bunch of waiter-esque things, which, for me, is not riveting content.
Though I appreciated the BDSM elements in the book, I never fully bought into the relationship between these two characters. I felt like I never really got a good understanding of what makes each of them tick. I think if there was less focus on the frivolous party details, and more focus put towards character development, this could've been a really solid story. In the most respectful way possible, I think having a couple more rounds of editing would have done this wonders.
April 9, 2019
This book covers all the typical elements of a true BDSM story: older experienced DOM meets young submissive struggling to make decisions; DOM decides to train the sub but then falls for him and keeps him. Add to the mix a few scenes of discipline and punishment (nothing extreme) and this should have been a perfect story.
Should have, but wasn't, because it missed one very important element: romance.
Every action by Luke is perfectly timed and arranged, he does what is expected from a DOM, but where are the feelings, the heat, the rapture that makes a man act out of his pre-set mind and behavioral scheme? Luke never shed his teaching gown and the reader barely ever sees the real man behind the persona.
Skye was a better described character with many facets, who grew from a scared young adult in search of his place in the world yearning for someone who took the decisions for him into a young man, aware of his desires, limits and wishes, who decides to lean on Luke as his safe haven, but also to pursue an autonomous working carrier.
Overall well written, with a bunch of interesting side characters (who showed at time more emotional involvement than Luke) that bodes well for the next books of this series.
Should have, but wasn't, because it missed one very important element: romance.
Every action by Luke is perfectly timed and arranged, he does what is expected from a DOM, but where are the feelings, the heat, the rapture that makes a man act out of his pre-set mind and behavioral scheme? Luke never shed his teaching gown and the reader barely ever sees the real man behind the persona.
Skye was a better described character with many facets, who grew from a scared young adult in search of his place in the world yearning for someone who took the decisions for him into a young man, aware of his desires, limits and wishes, who decides to lean on Luke as his safe haven, but also to pursue an autonomous working carrier.
Overall well written, with a bunch of interesting side characters (who showed at time more emotional involvement than Luke) that bodes well for the next books of this series.
April 13, 2019
Having read Serving Him book one in the series, and thoroughly enjoyed the book. So was so excited to read and review book two. And I am happy to say that the wait and excitement were well worth it.
Trusting him loosely follows on from book one with Luke the manager of the exclusive Gay bdsm retreat, taking a leading roll with a new submissive called skye. We also get to see other secondary characters from book one. And there is a nice minor cross over with a group of characters visiting the Retreat from Parker and Wells Collars and Cuffs series which if you like this book I am sure you will like Collars & Cuffs too.
Luke happy in life, he loves his job, enjoys the banter with the staff, but he yearns for his own submissive. Lucky for him his interfering friend sends a new sub to the Retreat to serve on the guests as room server and dinner server amongst other things. Luke is tasked with the responsibility of training Skye as a sub.
Skye is so cute, a little timid and lacks the ability to ensure he takes care of himself properly, missing meals, not drinking enough and going outside without appropriate clothing in the middle of winter to name a few things. He yearns to be trained by a Dom. He knows what he wants, he just does not like the BDSM club scene. So is delighted with his assignment to the retreat and excited to learn that Luke will be training him to.
Skye soon become a key member of the team at the retreat and settles in and quickly becomes part of their little family.
Luke soon realises he has fallen for Skye but fears it would not be appropriate to take their training down a personal lane, that was not what Skye had signed up for.
Skye on the other hand is desperate to win Luke over, but does not know how to tell or show Luke how he feels and what he wants.
I love the idea of the Retreat and the location is perfect, having drove through the forest last year whilst reading book one, allowed me to really connect with the setting. I love the formal informal feel (yes, I know that does not quite make sense, but it will after reading the books I promise.) It is a tight well-oiled ship ran by Luke, but both Subs and Doms are equally respected, and they really do feel like one big family.
I like the mix of characters the author has created each is unique and intriguing in their own right, I can see a few more books ahead in this series, One I am eager to read is the possibility of a book about Tor the retreats chef and Rayne the boisterous and cheeky chauffer. There is certainly a hint of a possible story there.
Trusting him loosely follows on from book one with Luke the manager of the exclusive Gay bdsm retreat, taking a leading roll with a new submissive called skye. We also get to see other secondary characters from book one. And there is a nice minor cross over with a group of characters visiting the Retreat from Parker and Wells Collars and Cuffs series which if you like this book I am sure you will like Collars & Cuffs too.
Luke happy in life, he loves his job, enjoys the banter with the staff, but he yearns for his own submissive. Lucky for him his interfering friend sends a new sub to the Retreat to serve on the guests as room server and dinner server amongst other things. Luke is tasked with the responsibility of training Skye as a sub.
Skye is so cute, a little timid and lacks the ability to ensure he takes care of himself properly, missing meals, not drinking enough and going outside without appropriate clothing in the middle of winter to name a few things. He yearns to be trained by a Dom. He knows what he wants, he just does not like the BDSM club scene. So is delighted with his assignment to the retreat and excited to learn that Luke will be training him to.
Skye soon become a key member of the team at the retreat and settles in and quickly becomes part of their little family.
Luke soon realises he has fallen for Skye but fears it would not be appropriate to take their training down a personal lane, that was not what Skye had signed up for.
Skye on the other hand is desperate to win Luke over, but does not know how to tell or show Luke how he feels and what he wants.
I love the idea of the Retreat and the location is perfect, having drove through the forest last year whilst reading book one, allowed me to really connect with the setting. I love the formal informal feel (yes, I know that does not quite make sense, but it will after reading the books I promise.) It is a tight well-oiled ship ran by Luke, but both Subs and Doms are equally respected, and they really do feel like one big family.
I like the mix of characters the author has created each is unique and intriguing in their own right, I can see a few more books ahead in this series, One I am eager to read is the possibility of a book about Tor the retreats chef and Rayne the boisterous and cheeky chauffer. There is certainly a hint of a possible story there.
June 14, 2019
Trusting Him by L M Somerton
Reviewed by Shee Reader for Boy Meets Boy Reviews
Find us on the web at www.boymeetsboyreviews.com
Rating 4.5 Hearts
Book two in The Retreat series.
Trust is hard earned and all too easy to lose.
Luke Redding’s military background is an asset when it comes to managing The Retreat, but it hasn’t helped him find the submissive he longs for. A secluded life in the New Forest, witnessing a stream of happy couples playing out their fantasies, doesn’t provide much opportunity to develop a relationship either. When a friend’s manipulations lead to him taking on silver-haired Skye as a trainee sub, Luke finds it hard to trust in his own ability to provide the guidance Skye needs.
Skye Ingham wants to explore his submissive nature but the noise and crowds at The Underground are overwhelming. He can’t believe his luck to be taken under Luke’s wing and offered a job at The Retreat. As Luke tests his boundaries, Skye trusts him implicitly, but how can he convince his new Dominant to have faith in himself?
Amid the bustle and excitement of a big house party at The Retreat, Luke and Skye edge their way towards a deeper understanding of each other’s needs and desires. But it will take a final leap of faith to secure their future and open a path to love.
I had not read book 1 in the series, this book works well as a stand alone.
We meet Skye working as a server in The Underground where he finds the hustle and bustle hard to cope with. Luke hits every one of Skye’s hot buttons, and if reciprocated, this could be a match made in heaven. Luke is a strong man doing his job well, and finding being in a secluded forest location where people come to celebrate their love makes it pretty hard to meet a love of his own.
Skye is intriguing though, and interesting with his silver hair, and he wants Luke to be his Dom and maybe master…
Luke is a very busy, efficient man who is enthralled by Skye from the outset. I loved reading their relationship flourish as they both learn to trust and to love. I also adored the setting in the Retreat, there are so many interesting characters working there, and I enjoyed seeing the visitors enjoying their stays at the kinky retreat. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I’ve subsequently been back to read the first book, and look forward to many more in the series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Shee Reader for Boy Meets Boy Reviews
Find us on the web at www.boymeetsboyreviews.com
Rating 4.5 Hearts
Book two in The Retreat series.
Trust is hard earned and all too easy to lose.
Luke Redding’s military background is an asset when it comes to managing The Retreat, but it hasn’t helped him find the submissive he longs for. A secluded life in the New Forest, witnessing a stream of happy couples playing out their fantasies, doesn’t provide much opportunity to develop a relationship either. When a friend’s manipulations lead to him taking on silver-haired Skye as a trainee sub, Luke finds it hard to trust in his own ability to provide the guidance Skye needs.
Skye Ingham wants to explore his submissive nature but the noise and crowds at The Underground are overwhelming. He can’t believe his luck to be taken under Luke’s wing and offered a job at The Retreat. As Luke tests his boundaries, Skye trusts him implicitly, but how can he convince his new Dominant to have faith in himself?
Amid the bustle and excitement of a big house party at The Retreat, Luke and Skye edge their way towards a deeper understanding of each other’s needs and desires. But it will take a final leap of faith to secure their future and open a path to love.
I had not read book 1 in the series, this book works well as a stand alone.
We meet Skye working as a server in The Underground where he finds the hustle and bustle hard to cope with. Luke hits every one of Skye’s hot buttons, and if reciprocated, this could be a match made in heaven. Luke is a strong man doing his job well, and finding being in a secluded forest location where people come to celebrate their love makes it pretty hard to meet a love of his own.
Skye is intriguing though, and interesting with his silver hair, and he wants Luke to be his Dom and maybe master…
Luke is a very busy, efficient man who is enthralled by Skye from the outset. I loved reading their relationship flourish as they both learn to trust and to love. I also adored the setting in the Retreat, there are so many interesting characters working there, and I enjoyed seeing the visitors enjoying their stays at the kinky retreat. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I’ve subsequently been back to read the first book, and look forward to many more in the series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2019
After reading the first book in this series, Serving Him, my interest was definitely piqued for more. Luke, the manager of The Retreat, was introduced there and I was glad to hear his story would be coming here in Trusting Him.
Luke definitely comes across as a Dom, completely in control and authoritative without being overbearing. When Skye is introduced, he seems a total opposite to Luke. Skye is quiet, shy, and not one for crowds. He craves the feeling of protection and security he experiences as he trains as a submissive with Luke while working at The Retreat. I liked seeing him become more relaxed as time passed, and it was beyond obvious how comforted he felt as Luke’s submissive. Luke clearly came to care for Skye as a person and Luke’s nurturing side was always at the forefront.
While the D/s relationship between Luke and Skye developed easily and I could feel that connection forming and strengthening, I had a much harder time feeling that about the emotional side of a relationship I associate with love—even once both men had declared their feelings. I think for me the reason behind why I felt that way was because of the short length of time that passed before the first appearances of the “L” word started surfacing. I know D/s relationships can often be quite intense, but in this case it didn’t feel like there was enough time for that to spill over into the “love” category, especially since Luke did seem slightly detached.
There was a lot of detail regarding Skye’s handling of his duties for the group that was staying at The Retreat. What there wasn’t much detail for was Luke’s past—beyond his traits as a Dominant, not a lot was delved into about him. I would have traded one for the other just to be able to know Luke better.
Trusting Him was another solid 4-star read for me, and now the interactions between Tor (The Retreat’s chef) and Rayne (its driver) have me hoping there’s a story coming with them *fingers crossed*. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
Luke definitely comes across as a Dom, completely in control and authoritative without being overbearing. When Skye is introduced, he seems a total opposite to Luke. Skye is quiet, shy, and not one for crowds. He craves the feeling of protection and security he experiences as he trains as a submissive with Luke while working at The Retreat. I liked seeing him become more relaxed as time passed, and it was beyond obvious how comforted he felt as Luke’s submissive. Luke clearly came to care for Skye as a person and Luke’s nurturing side was always at the forefront.
While the D/s relationship between Luke and Skye developed easily and I could feel that connection forming and strengthening, I had a much harder time feeling that about the emotional side of a relationship I associate with love—even once both men had declared their feelings. I think for me the reason behind why I felt that way was because of the short length of time that passed before the first appearances of the “L” word started surfacing. I know D/s relationships can often be quite intense, but in this case it didn’t feel like there was enough time for that to spill over into the “love” category, especially since Luke did seem slightly detached.
There was a lot of detail regarding Skye’s handling of his duties for the group that was staying at The Retreat. What there wasn’t much detail for was Luke’s past—beyond his traits as a Dominant, not a lot was delved into about him. I would have traded one for the other just to be able to know Luke better.
Trusting Him was another solid 4-star read for me, and now the interactions between Tor (The Retreat’s chef) and Rayne (its driver) have me hoping there’s a story coming with them *fingers crossed*. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
April 28, 2019
4 Stars!
Luke manages The Retreat. When a large party comes to the facility for several days, the owners send him a temporary bartender and a server. It's clear that the owners think that the server might be a good fit for Luke personally as well. Skye is a new club employee, but feels out of place in the city. The chance to work at The Retreat seems like the perfect way to escape the city for a while and explore his submissive side for the first time. Both men like what they see upon meeting each other and Luke agrees to train Skye.
Luke is a tough nut to crack. While it's clear that he's attracted to Skye and wants to train him, he seems to think he can't have a submissive of his own. I never really understood why though, as it's clear that he is possessive and wants to keep Skye. I did like how Luke takes his time and introduces Skye to new things and slowly earns his trust in all things. I liked that Skye seemed to flourish at The Retreat, making friends and even finding a job that fits him well. I really liked Skye, but Luke was harder to get to know beyond his work and his feelings about Skye. I do think they were well matched and hopefully we will see glimpses of how their relationship grows as the series continues.
Everyone working at The Retreat made this one fun. Rayne keeps everyone on their toes, and I hope that we see him find someone soon, maybe with a certain chef.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Luke manages The Retreat. When a large party comes to the facility for several days, the owners send him a temporary bartender and a server. It's clear that the owners think that the server might be a good fit for Luke personally as well. Skye is a new club employee, but feels out of place in the city. The chance to work at The Retreat seems like the perfect way to escape the city for a while and explore his submissive side for the first time. Both men like what they see upon meeting each other and Luke agrees to train Skye.
Luke is a tough nut to crack. While it's clear that he's attracted to Skye and wants to train him, he seems to think he can't have a submissive of his own. I never really understood why though, as it's clear that he is possessive and wants to keep Skye. I did like how Luke takes his time and introduces Skye to new things and slowly earns his trust in all things. I liked that Skye seemed to flourish at The Retreat, making friends and even finding a job that fits him well. I really liked Skye, but Luke was harder to get to know beyond his work and his feelings about Skye. I do think they were well matched and hopefully we will see glimpses of how their relationship grows as the series continues.
Everyone working at The Retreat made this one fun. Rayne keeps everyone on their toes, and I hope that we see him find someone soon, maybe with a certain chef.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
April 13, 2019
What I think: My first post in sync with Gay Book Promotions comes with this juicy mouthful that is my intro to Madame L.M. This tale is part of ‘The Retreat’ series yet can be read as a standalone. I was drawn in by how easy it was to read. The tale makes living ‘the lifestyle’ so normal with no apologies while giving a good idea of the preparation and the dangers that come with it. The attraction between both characters is almost instantaneous even though it takes a little while for them to catch up with it consciously and it was fun to go along with both characters on their journey to a love that also helps them know their own minds better. Skye’s strength and self-assurance in spite of things he considers his shortcomings are so invigorating and a reminder of why a Dom is nothing without their Sub. Luke’s humility and patience make his love as gentle as a touch on the back that guides. His restraint does get tested and induced several smiles as I cheered Skye on. The loving backdrop of the staff and guests of The Retreat also creates a web that invites us to want to know more about the characters. This authoress sure loves sweeties but just in case this tale isn’t sweet enough for you (greedy, aren’t you?), you get a lovely recipe to try out. You’re welcome!
Verdict: A sweet tale that will put a shy smile on your face (then make you wonder why you aren’t choosing your place in ‘the lifestyle’). Its a keeper for the comfort shelves!
Verdict: A sweet tale that will put a shy smile on your face (then make you wonder why you aren’t choosing your place in ‘the lifestyle’). Its a keeper for the comfort shelves!
April 10, 2019
Trusting Him is book 2 in The Retreat series, which in turn is a spin-off from the Tales From the Edge series. Each book can be read as a standalone but it is much more fun to read them in order. Each book also concentrates on one particular couple but these guys seem to insist on showing up in their friend’s stories as well.
Trusting Him is the story of Luke and Skye, Luke being the dominant. I really enjoyed this story. Skye is shy, introverted and definitely does not like crowds. He also wants a Dom and Luke is the one to take on this role. When Skye is taken from The Underground to work at The retreat, he is able to blossom and it is lovely watching this young man develop.
As in her other books, there is not a lot of BDSM play but there is a lot of caring and nurturing.
I have all of her books and I have no problem in recommending Trusting Him by L.M. Somerton
I was given a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. If I had not been given a copy of the book I would have bought it anyway.
Trusting Him is the story of Luke and Skye, Luke being the dominant. I really enjoyed this story. Skye is shy, introverted and definitely does not like crowds. He also wants a Dom and Luke is the one to take on this role. When Skye is taken from The Underground to work at The retreat, he is able to blossom and it is lovely watching this young man develop.
As in her other books, there is not a lot of BDSM play but there is a lot of caring and nurturing.
I have all of her books and I have no problem in recommending Trusting Him by L.M. Somerton
I was given a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. If I had not been given a copy of the book I would have bought it anyway.
April 9, 2019
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
This was a nice continuation of this series and I really look forward to seeing the other employees here find their HEA. My problems with this story is it felt like something was missing though out the whole thing. After some thought I think it was any romance or actual feelings, their interactions seemed to cold and calculated even when they weren’t in a scene it just didn’t add up to a happy couple for me.
Luke and Skye are basically thrown together by their matchmaker bosses though it takes Luke a whole like 3 days to admit he really wants Skye for himself. The timeline for their relationship just didn’t work for me, I know if really happened over about a week time frame but there were times it didn’t add up. One whole discussion that was skipped was Skye’s safe word, Luke made a big deal about him needing to select a safe word by the following evening and suddenly that night he mentions Skye having his safe word if needed but a safe word was never given, if felt like a whole part was skipped over. I look forward to reading more in the series I just hope they are closer in quality and story to the first book.
The cover art by Melody Pond is okay and similar in style to the last one though the building seems to have completely changed.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
This was a nice continuation of this series and I really look forward to seeing the other employees here find their HEA. My problems with this story is it felt like something was missing though out the whole thing. After some thought I think it was any romance or actual feelings, their interactions seemed to cold and calculated even when they weren’t in a scene it just didn’t add up to a happy couple for me.
Luke and Skye are basically thrown together by their matchmaker bosses though it takes Luke a whole like 3 days to admit he really wants Skye for himself. The timeline for their relationship just didn’t work for me, I know if really happened over about a week time frame but there were times it didn’t add up. One whole discussion that was skipped was Skye’s safe word, Luke made a big deal about him needing to select a safe word by the following evening and suddenly that night he mentions Skye having his safe word if needed but a safe word was never given, if felt like a whole part was skipped over. I look forward to reading more in the series I just hope they are closer in quality and story to the first book.
The cover art by Melody Pond is okay and similar in style to the last one though the building seems to have completely changed.
May 22, 2022
This well-written book is a delicious D/s delight wrapped around a majorly deep romance. Luke, who we met in Book 1, is the Dom who manages The Retreat. He's experienced, but he's never found the right partner for himself and he's beginning to feel lonely in his personal life. Skye is a younger unexperienced submissive who had been serving at the club in London, but has not taken the step to actually play with any doms. Several people at the club take Skye under their wing, notice that he's more introverted, and suggest to both men that Skye might enjoy spending some time working at The Retreat while being trained by Luke. The two men are immediately attracted to each other and Luke begins to feel something special for Skye that he's never felt for any other submissive. As the story develops, the training expands and mutual care becomes something more. This book as a wonderful group of supporting characters (that will hopefully get their own books in the future), camaraderie, friendship, some hot BDSM scenes, a lot of respect, and an abiding love.
April 9, 2019
This is a very sweet and fun story with amazing characters. I really enjoyed this second installment in The Retreat series and I was engaged from the very first page. It is well-written, sexy, sweet, hilarious, has a great storyline and the dynamic between the two MC's is wonderful. I love Skye and Luke together as they are so perfect for each other. Skye is shy and uncertain while Luke is strong and capable. Luke is a very caring and protective Dom who carefully and gently introduces Skye to the lifestyle he has longed to be a part of. Their relationship develops quickly and they have a strong connection as well as smoking hot chemistry. The secondary characters are great and they add a lot to this story. I like the ending and I am looking forward to reading the next book in this entertaining series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
April 10, 2019
Skye is a shy sub in need of training, and Luke is a dom who's never had a sub of his own. These two are meant to be. This book tells their story in a way that makes it very sweet and gives the reader lots of warm fuzzies. I love seeing how this relationship grows as the men get to know each other and explore their kinks together. This all happens while Luke and Skye, along with a wonderful group of other subs and doms, entertain guests at The Retreat, the kink-lovers resort Luke manages. I love this book, this couple, the entire group of characters, and The Retreat. I hope there are many more stories planned for this series!
April 27, 2019
L.M. Somerton did an amazing job with book 2. It was engaging, emotional and the author remains respectful of the BDSM community. I already want book 3!
The character development was great in this book. I loved the depth to the characters, the connection between the two main characters and the beauty throughout the story. The world building was not only consistent but the author built on it even more.
Overall this story really was a successful follow up to book 1. I loved how the author was able to pull at my emotions and weave a captivating story. I finished it in one sitting. I’m looking forward to more from this world!
5 stars for a compelling read!
The character development was great in this book. I loved the depth to the characters, the connection between the two main characters and the beauty throughout the story. The world building was not only consistent but the author built on it even more.
Overall this story really was a successful follow up to book 1. I loved how the author was able to pull at my emotions and weave a captivating story. I finished it in one sitting. I’m looking forward to more from this world!
5 stars for a compelling read!
April 11, 2019
I loved this book!! Luke and Sky are amazing together and exceeded my expectations!!
This is the second book of this series and it can be read as a stand-alone, although ready book one will give you more insight and background on The Retreat.
I was gifted this book from Gay Book Promotions and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
This is the second book of this series and it can be read as a stand-alone, although ready book one will give you more insight and background on The Retreat.
I was gifted this book from Gay Book Promotions and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
April 8, 2019
Wonderful and extremely sexy BDSM-feel good story.
Full review to follow soon
Full review to follow soon
Read
July 11, 2019It was OK. The entire time I was reading I felt like the entire thing was BTDT, nothing new here.
April 9, 2019
*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
3 stars
I really struggled to get into this story. Nearly 3/4 of the book was focused on the retreat and Skye’s server duties - I found this aspect of the book quite tedious to read.
I liked the crew that worked in the retreat from the chef to the kitchen staff. These guys were a fun bunch and I enjoyed their carefree yet bubbly natures.
Skye was shy & sweet and eager to please his new Dom. He fell for Luke pretty quickly without really knowing him which was surprising. Luke was drawn to Skye from the moment he laid eyes on him. I liked the sizzling connection these two shared; it was hot and intense.
The BDSM aspect included; spanking, caning, gagging and chastity cages.
3 stars
I really struggled to get into this story. Nearly 3/4 of the book was focused on the retreat and Skye’s server duties - I found this aspect of the book quite tedious to read.
I liked the crew that worked in the retreat from the chef to the kitchen staff. These guys were a fun bunch and I enjoyed their carefree yet bubbly natures.
Skye was shy & sweet and eager to please his new Dom. He fell for Luke pretty quickly without really knowing him which was surprising. Luke was drawn to Skye from the moment he laid eyes on him. I liked the sizzling connection these two shared; it was hot and intense.
The BDSM aspect included; spanking, caning, gagging and chastity cages.
April 9, 2019
I LOVE this series. I really do. I love how all the characters intertwine and it was so good to see Goren making a guest appearance. I'm hoping he will have his story soon, too. Rayne is still the little mischief maker and now we get to meet a sweet, shy Skye. He's so adorable and innocent.
The characters in this series are so loveable. They have such a broad range of personalities. The writing is so fun and I love the in depth approach to the BDSM lifestyle. Every lifestyle in the community is different. There are no two alike, and it's fun to see each couple with such different kinks and such.
Carey has his hands in the matchmaking pie again. He doesn't want his manager of the Retreat, Luke, to not be lonely and he has the perfect sub for him. Sweet, innocent and shy. And a longing to a good sub to a good Dom. He's not good around a lot of people and The Retreat would be a better place for him anyway, away from the bustle of the city. And Luke is very intrigued. His protective instinct kicking in the moment he lays eyes on the beauty that is Skye. Skye is nervous about working at the Retreat, but something in Luke is calming to him. Luke has a way of causing Skye’s focus to sharpen so he can concentrate. The more he works there, the more he realizes Luke is the Dom he's been looking for. He's allowing Skye to be the sub he's always wanted to be. And Luke wants a contract with Skye. As they move toward a deeper connection, Skye realizes he wants Luke to know everything. Good, bad and ugly.
Skye has such a innocence that makes him such a beauty. Not just his looks. You can't help but fall in love with him. He's one of those souls you want to protect with everything you are. He's so willing and trusting and he brings new life to everything. He can be a little stinker at times, but for the most part, he's the perfect sub. But everyone needs to be a little mischievous at times.
It was a toss up for me at first on whether I liked Luke for Skye or Tor. The both just have the best personalities as Doms. They take care of the subs, even if they aren't 'theirs’. But the more I read, the more Luke was better suited for Skye. He's everything Skye seems to need. Even when they are stumbling through.
It's just one of those perfect stories for me. I love it so much. The worlds L.M. has created has just been amazing. And I can't wait to see what's in store next.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
The characters in this series are so loveable. They have such a broad range of personalities. The writing is so fun and I love the in depth approach to the BDSM lifestyle. Every lifestyle in the community is different. There are no two alike, and it's fun to see each couple with such different kinks and such.
Carey has his hands in the matchmaking pie again. He doesn't want his manager of the Retreat, Luke, to not be lonely and he has the perfect sub for him. Sweet, innocent and shy. And a longing to a good sub to a good Dom. He's not good around a lot of people and The Retreat would be a better place for him anyway, away from the bustle of the city. And Luke is very intrigued. His protective instinct kicking in the moment he lays eyes on the beauty that is Skye. Skye is nervous about working at the Retreat, but something in Luke is calming to him. Luke has a way of causing Skye’s focus to sharpen so he can concentrate. The more he works there, the more he realizes Luke is the Dom he's been looking for. He's allowing Skye to be the sub he's always wanted to be. And Luke wants a contract with Skye. As they move toward a deeper connection, Skye realizes he wants Luke to know everything. Good, bad and ugly.
Skye has such a innocence that makes him such a beauty. Not just his looks. You can't help but fall in love with him. He's one of those souls you want to protect with everything you are. He's so willing and trusting and he brings new life to everything. He can be a little stinker at times, but for the most part, he's the perfect sub. But everyone needs to be a little mischievous at times.
It was a toss up for me at first on whether I liked Luke for Skye or Tor. The both just have the best personalities as Doms. They take care of the subs, even if they aren't 'theirs’. But the more I read, the more Luke was better suited for Skye. He's everything Skye seems to need. Even when they are stumbling through.
It's just one of those perfect stories for me. I love it so much. The worlds L.M. has created has just been amazing. And I can't wait to see what's in store next.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
January 28, 2025
An ex-military Dom who yearns for a submissive of his own and a young sub looking for a Dom to belong to is the story behind Luke and Skye in this second book of L.M. Somerton’s ‘The Retreat’ series. These are wonderful cross-over stories from the author’s ‘Tales from the Edge’ books which I absolutely love and still has my all-time favorite sub, Olly. Much like with the first book in this series I was drawn right into the story and the fantasy of working at a place like the Retreat.
Luke served in the Navy for fifteen years but resigned his commission to take care of a dying parent. He is the perfect manager for the Retreat but being stuck down in Hampshire on an estate where the guests mostly have their own partners and the limited staff members are not ones he has shown any interest in has left him feeling far too lonely. Alistair, Carey’s sub, discovered Skye and hired him at the Underground but both men recognized that the club’s more hectic environment isn’t a great match for this young man who grew up on a farm. Of course, a little matchmaking by the two of them isn’t too far from the truth as they need to make sure their manager remains happy, and finding him a sub to train and care for, not to mention one who will be an asset to the Retreat, is all in a day’s work. *grins*
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Luke served in the Navy for fifteen years but resigned his commission to take care of a dying parent. He is the perfect manager for the Retreat but being stuck down in Hampshire on an estate where the guests mostly have their own partners and the limited staff members are not ones he has shown any interest in has left him feeling far too lonely. Alistair, Carey’s sub, discovered Skye and hired him at the Underground but both men recognized that the club’s more hectic environment isn’t a great match for this young man who grew up on a farm. Of course, a little matchmaking by the two of them isn’t too far from the truth as they need to make sure their manager remains happy, and finding him a sub to train and care for, not to mention one who will be an asset to the Retreat, is all in a day’s work. *grins*
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
April 14, 2019
I actually really liked this book and was really glad that it was able to be read as a standalone since I haven’t gotten to read the first one yet, which I plan to fix that asap.
Luke was an OK character, strong and put together but he tended to go a little back and forth at the beginning. As we got more into everything I liked him more.
Skye was the best character. His sweet and shy nature helped make me love him. With every day he spent with the rest of the staff he came to think of them as his friends, but every minute he spent with Luke made this everything I wanted it to be.
I loved the idea of The Retreat, it's not something I have come across in any of the books I’ve read over the past year or so. The staff was awesome and the banter between everyone was hilarious. It made me laugh out loud more times then I can think of with any other book.
This was my first book my LM Somerton and I am so glad to have been able to get the chance to see just what this author could really do.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Luke was an OK character, strong and put together but he tended to go a little back and forth at the beginning. As we got more into everything I liked him more.
Skye was the best character. His sweet and shy nature helped make me love him. With every day he spent with the rest of the staff he came to think of them as his friends, but every minute he spent with Luke made this everything I wanted it to be.
I loved the idea of The Retreat, it's not something I have come across in any of the books I’ve read over the past year or so. The staff was awesome and the banter between everyone was hilarious. It made me laugh out loud more times then I can think of with any other book.
This was my first book my LM Somerton and I am so glad to have been able to get the chance to see just what this author could really do.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
June 9, 2019
Please see my web site for a full review of “Trusting Him”.
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