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Perfect Hands #3
Slow Hand
Ford never wanted to be a Daddy. So how did he end up with not one, but two boys who need one…?
Master Ford loves his life. He’s respected in his club, has his choice of boys to play with, and is happy staying single.
When the club owner asks him to take in two abused boys, Ford reluctantly agrees. But when one doesn’t even talk, and the other is a bundle of hostility, Ford wonders if he’s in over his head.
It takes a long time to win their trust, as the abuse they suffered is worse than Ford could’ve imagined. But when he discovers that Thierry is a little and that Jathan needs a firm Daddy, Ford questions if he can be what both his boys need. And where do his own needs fit into this?
Slow Hand is the fourth book in the Perfect Hands series. It can be read as a standalone but may be more fun if you’ve read the previous books. It’s a 108k word slow burn MMM romance with two hurting boys, a man who discovers new sides to himself, and one very happy end. It features daddy care including age play.
Master Ford loves his life. He’s respected in his club, has his choice of boys to play with, and is happy staying single.
When the club owner asks him to take in two abused boys, Ford reluctantly agrees. But when one doesn’t even talk, and the other is a bundle of hostility, Ford wonders if he’s in over his head.
It takes a long time to win their trust, as the abuse they suffered is worse than Ford could’ve imagined. But when he discovers that Thierry is a little and that Jathan needs a firm Daddy, Ford questions if he can be what both his boys need. And where do his own needs fit into this?
Slow Hand is the fourth book in the Perfect Hands series. It can be read as a standalone but may be more fun if you’ve read the previous books. It’s a 108k word slow burn MMM romance with two hurting boys, a man who discovers new sides to himself, and one very happy end. It features daddy care including age play.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2020
350 people are currently reading
986 people want to read
About the author
Nora Phoenix
127 books2,179 followersWould you like the long or the short version of my bio?
The short? You got it.
I write steamy gay romance books and I love it. I also love reading books. Books are everything.
How was that?
A little more detail? Gotcha.
I started writing my first stories when I was a teen…on a freaking typewriter. I still have these, and they’re adorably romantic. And bad, haha. Fear of failing kept me from following my dream to become a romance author, so you can imagine how proud and ecstatic I am that I finally overcame my fears and self doubt and did it. I adore my genre because I love writing and reading about flawed, strong men who are just a tad broken..but find their happy ever after anyway.
My favorite books to read are pretty much all MM/gay romances as long as it has a happy end. Kink is a plus… Aside from that, I also read a lot of nonfiction and not just books on writing. Popular psychology is a favorite topic of mine and so are self help and sociology.
Hobbies? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Just kidding. I love traveling, spending time near the ocean, and hiking. But I love books more.
Come hang out with me in my Facebook Group Nora’s Nook where I share previews, sneak peeks, freebies, fun stuff, and much more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/noras...
Wanna get first dibs on freebies, updates, sales, and more? Sign up for my newsletter (no spamming your inbox full…promise!) here: http://www.noraphoenix.com/newsletter/
You can also stalk me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoraFromBHR
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora.phoenix/
On Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nora-...
The short? You got it.
I write steamy gay romance books and I love it. I also love reading books. Books are everything.
How was that?
A little more detail? Gotcha.
I started writing my first stories when I was a teen…on a freaking typewriter. I still have these, and they’re adorably romantic. And bad, haha. Fear of failing kept me from following my dream to become a romance author, so you can imagine how proud and ecstatic I am that I finally overcame my fears and self doubt and did it. I adore my genre because I love writing and reading about flawed, strong men who are just a tad broken..but find their happy ever after anyway.
My favorite books to read are pretty much all MM/gay romances as long as it has a happy end. Kink is a plus… Aside from that, I also read a lot of nonfiction and not just books on writing. Popular psychology is a favorite topic of mine and so are self help and sociology.
Hobbies? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Just kidding. I love traveling, spending time near the ocean, and hiking. But I love books more.
Come hang out with me in my Facebook Group Nora’s Nook where I share previews, sneak peeks, freebies, fun stuff, and much more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/noras...
Wanna get first dibs on freebies, updates, sales, and more? Sign up for my newsletter (no spamming your inbox full…promise!) here: http://www.noraphoenix.com/newsletter/
You can also stalk me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoraFromBHR
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora.phoenix/
On Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nora-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
February 15, 2025
re-read February 2025
Even though this time I ofc knew of all the surprises to come I wasn’t at all less excited. Loved reading this beautiful book again.
4.75***** stars
(Seems like I'm being on a winning streak right now. 🤭)
God, this was Daddy-perfection. *swoon
Two abused boys, one soft, one challenging, and a Dom who’s never been a daddy before but want’s to try for them. Because they need him.
Due to the circumstances these three men find themselves in this was super slow burn but with all the understanding, the care, the praise, the tenderness and all the love it made it the Daddy-romance I enjoy reading the most.
There was also another thing that ticked off another beloved box for me: The second chance —because both boys have been in love with each other once before abuse and trauma at the hand of their former Master had torn them apart and for quite some time it seemed that Jathan could not get past his animosities towards Thierry. Until Ford stepped in.
With the boys not having the bestest track records with the scene, the book wasn’t super heavy on the bdsm but still had plenty of play and a lot of explanations in it.
Really this was so good. I loved it so much. Even more so with the many turns and surprises that made it even better. Highly recommended, I’m def trying out more books in the series.
***********
Perfect Hands Series
Book 1 - Firm Hand - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - Gentle Hand
Book 2.5 - Naughty Hand
Book 3 - Slow Hand - 4.75 stars
Book 4 - Healing Hand
Book 5 - Dirty Hand
Even though this time I ofc knew of all the surprises to come I wasn’t at all less excited. Loved reading this beautiful book again.
4.75***** stars
(Seems like I'm being on a winning streak right now. 🤭)
God, this was Daddy-perfection. *swoon
Two abused boys, one soft, one challenging, and a Dom who’s never been a daddy before but want’s to try for them. Because they need him.
“And what I hate most of all is that I want to hate you and everything you stand for, but I can't. I don't want to feel this way, I don't want to submit to you or serve you or pleasure you, but I do. And I hate every fucking moment of it.”
Due to the circumstances these three men find themselves in this was super slow burn but with all the understanding, the care, the praise, the tenderness and all the love it made it the Daddy-romance I enjoy reading the most.
Yes, my submissives are serving me, but I'm serving them just as much.
There was also another thing that ticked off another beloved box for me: The second chance —because both boys have been in love with each other once before abuse and trauma at the hand of their former Master had torn them apart and for quite some time it seemed that Jathan could not get past his animosities towards Thierry. Until Ford stepped in.
With the boys not having the bestest track records with the scene, the book wasn’t super heavy on the bdsm but still had plenty of play and a lot of explanations in it.
“[…] if you decide that you want our relationship to be different, then we'll keep trying and experimenting until we find what works for us. As long as I get to love you, I'm willing to do whatever it takes.”
Really this was so good. I loved it so much. Even more so with the many turns and surprises that made it even better. Highly recommended, I’m def trying out more books in the series.
***********
Perfect Hands Series
Book 1 - Firm Hand - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - Gentle Hand
Book 2.5 - Naughty Hand
Book 3 - Slow Hand - 4.75 stars
Book 4 - Healing Hand
Book 5 - Dirty Hand
June 18, 2020
Re-read June 2020
This time I skipped the two awful chapters near the end and saw that it made no difference to the story. Now I could enjoy the rest of the story. :)
-------------------------------------
I really hate it when I LOVE a book and then a thing happens at the end that makes me like it less.
I was about to give this book 5 stars right up until 90%. I was so sure nothing could happen anymore to ruin my happy mood. And ‘the thing’ wasn’t even that big of a deal. But I absolutely hated it.
We met Ford in the previous books as Rhys’ mentor. The dom of the club who trained other doms.
When Ford gets a call from Jon, the owner of the BDSM club, asking him for help, Ford is curious. Two boys have just been rescued from a house where they have been held captive by a dom for two years. Jon is sure the two boys are submissive, they just need to see how a real dom should act.
And that’s how Ford takes the two young men in. Jathan is 22 and appears to have one setting: angry. And 24 year old Thierry is shy and doesn’t seem to be able to speak.
The two are severely traumatized and Ford will do everything in his power to show these boys kindness. But they are both used to being beaten and starved, so to gain their trust won’t be easy…
I absolutely loved this book (right up until that scene, but more about that later). I loved how traumatized these boys were. How Ford had to work to get them to trust him. How at first we didn’t know why Jathan was angry at Thierry. And how wonderful the part was where that finally got revealed.
I loved how Thierry ended up being a little and how he loved exploring that side of him. And even though Jathan was so prickly at first, it felt rewarding when he finally thawed a bit.
Ford was a dom and not a daddy, but he slowly figured out that for these boys he really did want to be a daddy, even though he never even considered it before.
I used to read a lot of BDSM books and there will always be certain things I won’t like. I gravitate towards the daddy kink these days, and while that might include BDSM, I like the books where they don’t do scenes at all the most.
This book was pretty BDSM free, even though Ford was a dom. These boys needed a daddy, and since Jathan never wanted anything to do with pain ever again, BDSM scenes were off the table. Or so I thought.
Rhys and Cornell were the couple of the first book, and before they got together, Ford had been training Rhys to be a dom for years.
So consider me surprised when
So while I loved 90% of this book, I’m still going with 4 stars since that final scene made me angry.
This time I skipped the two awful chapters near the end and saw that it made no difference to the story. Now I could enjoy the rest of the story. :)
-------------------------------------
I really hate it when I LOVE a book and then a thing happens at the end that makes me like it less.
I was about to give this book 5 stars right up until 90%. I was so sure nothing could happen anymore to ruin my happy mood. And ‘the thing’ wasn’t even that big of a deal. But I absolutely hated it.
We met Ford in the previous books as Rhys’ mentor. The dom of the club who trained other doms.
When Ford gets a call from Jon, the owner of the BDSM club, asking him for help, Ford is curious. Two boys have just been rescued from a house where they have been held captive by a dom for two years. Jon is sure the two boys are submissive, they just need to see how a real dom should act.
And that’s how Ford takes the two young men in. Jathan is 22 and appears to have one setting: angry. And 24 year old Thierry is shy and doesn’t seem to be able to speak.
The two are severely traumatized and Ford will do everything in his power to show these boys kindness. But they are both used to being beaten and starved, so to gain their trust won’t be easy…
I absolutely loved this book (right up until that scene, but more about that later). I loved how traumatized these boys were. How Ford had to work to get them to trust him. How at first we didn’t know why Jathan was angry at Thierry. And how wonderful the part was where that finally got revealed.
I loved how Thierry ended up being a little and how he loved exploring that side of him. And even though Jathan was so prickly at first, it felt rewarding when he finally thawed a bit.
Ford was a dom and not a daddy, but he slowly figured out that for these boys he really did want to be a daddy, even though he never even considered it before.
I used to read a lot of BDSM books and there will always be certain things I won’t like. I gravitate towards the daddy kink these days, and while that might include BDSM, I like the books where they don’t do scenes at all the most.
This book was pretty BDSM free, even though Ford was a dom. These boys needed a daddy, and since Jathan never wanted anything to do with pain ever again, BDSM scenes were off the table. Or so I thought.
Rhys and Cornell were the couple of the first book, and before they got together, Ford had been training Rhys to be a dom for years.
So consider me surprised when
So while I loved 90% of this book, I’m still going with 4 stars since that final scene made me angry.
January 31, 2024
Kinky slow burn with a lot of background info.
I usually don’t read a lot of books set in the kink scene, but I’ve read my share. Same goes for mmm - not a lot, but quite a few, some of which I really liked.
This one was… different. We have Ford, a dom, who gets asked to take in 2 severely abused boys who got rescued from a place where they’ve been held captive (a house? An apartment?) Both are scared, one of them almost catatonic, and severely malnourished.
That’s been my first issue with a book: why would a cop give them over to an acquaintance instead of having them looked after properly by a doctor, or a psychiatrist, or both? I mean… Ford certainly meant well, but we saw how one of them had to throw up after eating too much too quickly, and the other one has a severe shoulder injury.
But ok, I get it, it’s not the type of book where you look too closely for logic.
Both boys, Thierry and Jathan, are traumatised, and I loved to witness them healing, and seeing their relationship with each other and with Ford grow into something healthy and fulfilling. As I said, it’s slow burn, and we get the (3rd person) pov from each of them. So that’s been done beautifully ❤️
What I didn’t like that much: as with many kink books that want to do kink “right”, it’s almost clinical when it comes to the actual sex scenes - there’s a lot of talk about everything beforehand, and that doesn’t leave a lot of room for spontaneity.
Yes, I want to have sex. No, not oral, and if anal intercourse, then only if I see your face. No, your cock as I see it isn’t too big for me. And yes, you can pee on me if you want to, but not spank me. (paraphrasing here, that’s not a quote)
You get what I mean, right?
Yes, it’s tender and considerate. But I miss the rush and the passion in these type of books - it’s hard to explain, especially seeing as both boys came out of a terrible situation and I really think that what they built together was beautiful, and a perfect HEA for the three of them.
On top of that - while I do like to read about daddy/boy relationships (if done right), the daddy/little relationships with all the bibs and nappies and cute onesies feel a bit… not weird, I’m not kink-shaming. Just not quite comprehensive, at least for me.
All in all: well done, very considerate and tender, but not exactly “my” jam.
I usually don’t read a lot of books set in the kink scene, but I’ve read my share. Same goes for mmm - not a lot, but quite a few, some of which I really liked.
This one was… different. We have Ford, a dom, who gets asked to take in 2 severely abused boys who got rescued from a place where they’ve been held captive (a house? An apartment?) Both are scared, one of them almost catatonic, and severely malnourished.
That’s been my first issue with a book: why would a cop give them over to an acquaintance instead of having them looked after properly by a doctor, or a psychiatrist, or both? I mean… Ford certainly meant well, but we saw how one of them had to throw up after eating too much too quickly, and the other one has a severe shoulder injury.
But ok, I get it, it’s not the type of book where you look too closely for logic.
Both boys, Thierry and Jathan, are traumatised, and I loved to witness them healing, and seeing their relationship with each other and with Ford grow into something healthy and fulfilling. As I said, it’s slow burn, and we get the (3rd person) pov from each of them. So that’s been done beautifully ❤️
What I didn’t like that much: as with many kink books that want to do kink “right”, it’s almost clinical when it comes to the actual sex scenes - there’s a lot of talk about everything beforehand, and that doesn’t leave a lot of room for spontaneity.
Yes, I want to have sex. No, not oral, and if anal intercourse, then only if I see your face. No, your cock as I see it isn’t too big for me. And yes, you can pee on me if you want to, but not spank me. (paraphrasing here, that’s not a quote)
You get what I mean, right?
Yes, it’s tender and considerate. But I miss the rush and the passion in these type of books - it’s hard to explain, especially seeing as both boys came out of a terrible situation and I really think that what they built together was beautiful, and a perfect HEA for the three of them.
On top of that - while I do like to read about daddy/boy relationships (if done right), the daddy/little relationships with all the bibs and nappies and cute onesies feel a bit… not weird, I’m not kink-shaming. Just not quite comprehensive, at least for me.
All in all: well done, very considerate and tender, but not exactly “my” jam.
August 30, 2020
"Slow, slow hands
Like sweat dripping down our dirty laundry
No, no chance
That I'm leaving here without you on me
I, I know
Yeah, I already know that there ain't no stoppin'
Your plans and those
Slow hands (woo)
Slow hands"
I swear to god this song was with me the whole time I read this book! Is a good song but jesus! 😫😂
So I did some research and this author is one of the gurls who wrote the Ballsy Boys series, so I wanted to give her a try and this one caught my eye.
This was just an absolutely awesome book! Ford is just such a good and caring Dom and this guys needed him so badly after the fuckery they went through. My heart went to the pair, they were so scared and hurt it was so unfair! But time really cures all stuff and they could find happiness in the end.
Lovely, lovely read, with a wonderful story and warm hurt-comfort. I swear to god when Jathan called Ford Daddy I cried and when Thierry talked my heart exploded. Just beautiful. ❤
Like sweat dripping down our dirty laundry
No, no chance
That I'm leaving here without you on me
I, I know
Yeah, I already know that there ain't no stoppin'
Your plans and those
Slow hands (woo)
Slow hands"
I swear to god this song was with me the whole time I read this book! Is a good song but jesus! 😫😂
So I did some research and this author is one of the gurls who wrote the Ballsy Boys series, so I wanted to give her a try and this one caught my eye.
This was just an absolutely awesome book! Ford is just such a good and caring Dom and this guys needed him so badly after the fuckery they went through. My heart went to the pair, they were so scared and hurt it was so unfair! But time really cures all stuff and they could find happiness in the end.
Lovely, lovely read, with a wonderful story and warm hurt-comfort. I swear to god when Jathan called Ford Daddy I cried and when Thierry talked my heart exploded. Just beautiful. ❤
January 3, 2021
3 Stars
I enjoyed it but the story dragged at times and I didn't get the angsty, emotional vibes I had expected.
I certainly appreciated that it was a slow burn as that was the only realistic relationship development considering the trauma and abuse that Jathan and Thierry experienced. That being said, it felt like we were just endlessly repeating the same scenes and inner monologues. I cannot pinpoint exactly why I didn't connect emotionally with the characters as this hit every damaged, comfort/healing trope I love. I did love that Ford was patient, understanding, and a great example of a Dom. Also, that he wasn't strictly a top as so many Doms are portrayed as macho manly men that look down on bottoming. As for the kink, it was pretty light but there was quite a bit of focus on age play for Thierry and it felt like Jathan was forgotten sometimes. Overall, not my favorite but I enjoyed it.
Standalone - Other books within series:
Book 1: Firm Hand → 4.5 Stars
Book 2: Gentle Hand → 3 Stars
Book 3: Slow Hand → 3 Stars
Book 4: Healing Hand
I enjoyed it but the story dragged at times and I didn't get the angsty, emotional vibes I had expected.
I certainly appreciated that it was a slow burn as that was the only realistic relationship development considering the trauma and abuse that Jathan and Thierry experienced. That being said, it felt like we were just endlessly repeating the same scenes and inner monologues. I cannot pinpoint exactly why I didn't connect emotionally with the characters as this hit every damaged, comfort/healing trope I love. I did love that Ford was patient, understanding, and a great example of a Dom. Also, that he wasn't strictly a top as so many Doms are portrayed as macho manly men that look down on bottoming. As for the kink, it was pretty light but there was quite a bit of focus on age play for Thierry and it felt like Jathan was forgotten sometimes. Overall, not my favorite but I enjoyed it.
Standalone - Other books within series:
Book 1: Firm Hand → 4.5 Stars
Book 2: Gentle Hand → 3 Stars
Book 3: Slow Hand → 3 Stars
Book 4: Healing Hand
March 2, 2024
3.5/5.
I’m slightly conflicted about how I feel.
There were some amazing things in here, of course, but a few little details didn’t fully make me happy.
I don’t think I want to elaborate on that since kinks are so individual. I might have wished for something different here and there but that doesn’t mean everyone would agree.
And yes, how a few things turned out in the end didn’t work for me either but bdsm is too versatile and too personal to judge. And just because I would have preferred things to be a bit different or more to my personal taste doesn’t mean it was in any way bad.
Bottom line is I liked it. The hurt/confort was amazing and the slow burn was perfect. The characters had some pretty awesome growing moments too.
I’m slightly conflicted about how I feel.
There were some amazing things in here, of course, but a few little details didn’t fully make me happy.
I don’t think I want to elaborate on that since kinks are so individual. I might have wished for something different here and there but that doesn’t mean everyone would agree.
And yes, how a few things turned out in the end didn’t work for me either but bdsm is too versatile and too personal to judge. And just because I would have preferred things to be a bit different or more to my personal taste doesn’t mean it was in any way bad.
Bottom line is I liked it. The hurt/confort was amazing and the slow burn was perfect. The characters had some pretty awesome growing moments too.
August 19, 2020
So far in this series each time I finish a book I feel like there is no way the author can top the one I just finished. Then she goes and does just that! This is now my new favorite of the series! The author put me through the ringer with this one... the feels were literally through the roof. I swear if there was an emotion it was possible to feel, she made me feel it! This is writing and storytelling at it's very best. Watching this threesome of MCs slowly intertwine and fall in love was a priviledge. Just so DAMN good!
March 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this. It had a lot more depth than I was expecting and all 3 MC’s were really well developed.
The daddy/kink side was clearly well researched and understood.
I was surprised by what a slow burn this is but it worked and was necessary for the characters and the story.
Personally, I would have liked to see more actual time pass between when the boys are rescued and when they’ve recovered enough to start a new relationship. Given what they went through, I didn’t believe 6 weeks was really long enough. But that’s my only gripe.
Cute, well written story. Strong characters with a story I didn’t want to put down.
The daddy/kink side was clearly well researched and understood.
I was surprised by what a slow burn this is but it worked and was necessary for the characters and the story.
Personally, I would have liked to see more actual time pass between when the boys are rescued and when they’ve recovered enough to start a new relationship. Given what they went through, I didn’t believe 6 weeks was really long enough. But that’s my only gripe.
Cute, well written story. Strong characters with a story I didn’t want to put down.
April 12, 2020
I’ve wanted Master Ford’s story since he first appeared in Firm Hand. For the most part, this book did not disappoint. First, the boys truly broke my heart. Due to the trauma the boys endured, having this be a slow burn was the right call.
I really like the fact that Master Ford was not portrayed as the all knowing, always perfect Dom. Ford was allowed to have missteps in his care for the boys. He had no experience being a Daddy, and he was not hesitant to say he didn’t know what hw was doing. I loved watching the boys grow in their trust of Master Ford. That they were ever able to get there was a miracle. Don’t get me wrong, there were some rough moments.
What I didn’t like, however, is how the therapy was kind of glossed over. It’s mentioned, but I would have felt better if there had been a scene or two with them going or dealing with their feelings afterwards. Without that, it kind of made their healing seem a bit to easy when compared to the heaviness of what they went through. It felt, to me, like the repercussions were being minimized and “fixed” too quickly.
Though I love a good HEA, I hated how abrupt things seemed to wrap up at the end. It was almost like it was decided the book was getting too long so things were cut out. I would have gladly read more pages to not have such an abrupt ending.
That makes it sound like I didn’t enjoy this, but I really did. Of course, your mileage may vary.
sorry, not sorry in advance for the earworm. If I have to suffer, then so do you.😉😇😗😙 *walks away singing*
🎶🎵I want somebody who will understand. When it comes to love, I want a SLOW HAND.🎵🎶
I really like the fact that Master Ford was not portrayed as the all knowing, always perfect Dom. Ford was allowed to have missteps in his care for the boys. He had no experience being a Daddy, and he was not hesitant to say he didn’t know what hw was doing. I loved watching the boys grow in their trust of Master Ford. That they were ever able to get there was a miracle. Don’t get me wrong, there were some rough moments.
What I didn’t like, however, is how the therapy was kind of glossed over. It’s mentioned, but I would have felt better if there had been a scene or two with them going or dealing with their feelings afterwards. Without that, it kind of made their healing seem a bit to easy when compared to the heaviness of what they went through. It felt, to me, like the repercussions were being minimized and “fixed” too quickly.
Though I love a good HEA, I hated how abrupt things seemed to wrap up at the end. It was almost like it was decided the book was getting too long so things were cut out. I would have gladly read more pages to not have such an abrupt ending.
That makes it sound like I didn’t enjoy this, but I really did. Of course, your mileage may vary.
sorry, not sorry in advance for the earworm. If I have to suffer, then so do you.😉😇😗😙 *walks away singing*
🎶🎵I want somebody who will understand. When it comes to love, I want a SLOW HAND.🎵🎶
November 25, 2024
As a medical professional I’m well within my right to diagnose this book with a chronic case of trying to do wayyy too much leading to everything being slightly neglected. This book felt like a bad game of kink bingo except we were going for a full board cover instead of a connect five. There was just too much going on with three man characters and a different combination of kink and trauma for each one that everything ended up underdeveloped and desperately needing more time to make any of it work. Also Jathan and Thierry are up there on my list of wildest names I’ve ever heard
February 15, 2023
2/23 re-read…
Daddy books are my guilty pleasure but rarely are they done well. This series was some of my first. I decided to revisit.
I remember being stunned by this book the first time, and after consuming all the Daddy/BDSM books I could since, wanted to revisit to see if it still held up.
I sort of feel like this book is the standard that authors should strive for when it comes to well done BDSM and Daddy kink. The evolution of the trauma Jathan and Thierry experienced to accepting their submissive place with Ford was so lovely to read. Nora can get a little wordy but in this case, there was a lot the characters needed to work through so it was fine. I do wish there was more time with all three together, but I felt the connection between each pair and all three.
Someone write good Daddy kink, please. 😭
Daddy books are my guilty pleasure but rarely are they done well. This series was some of my first. I decided to revisit.
I remember being stunned by this book the first time, and after consuming all the Daddy/BDSM books I could since, wanted to revisit to see if it still held up.
I sort of feel like this book is the standard that authors should strive for when it comes to well done BDSM and Daddy kink. The evolution of the trauma Jathan and Thierry experienced to accepting their submissive place with Ford was so lovely to read. Nora can get a little wordy but in this case, there was a lot the characters needed to work through so it was fine. I do wish there was more time with all three together, but I felt the connection between each pair and all three.
Someone write good Daddy kink, please. 😭
April 8, 2020
This was the best book of the series. I’ve been intrigued by Ford the whole way, and he surprised me here. I liked that he goes on a journey, of understanding who he is and what he’s previously wanted, VS what he might want now...and how that all evolves. The story, while angsty at times while dealing with recent prolonged abuse, definitely stayed on the nice side of sweet.
But there’s also a lot happening here. 2 subs plus Ford, who are all discovering themselves again. 3 POV’s. And more than a handful of separate kinks. It felt like there wasn’t enough page time to do it all justice. A fair bit was rushed through with time jumps and a summing up of what’s happened-and I personally hate that.
There’s so much more here that could be explored I almost wish there was another book about just these three. There’s also hints of some really dirty, kinky stuff and the flipping of power dynamics between Jathan and Ford which I’d love to read about, but we just don’t get there. Honestly, toy trains and sippy cups are only so interesting. I wish the author pushed the envelope a bit more because the seed was definitely planted. It just never went anywhere.
This was a very sweet read, once you get past the angsty stuff. Definitely a “one-click” author.
But there’s also a lot happening here. 2 subs plus Ford, who are all discovering themselves again. 3 POV’s. And more than a handful of separate kinks. It felt like there wasn’t enough page time to do it all justice. A fair bit was rushed through with time jumps and a summing up of what’s happened-and I personally hate that.
There’s so much more here that could be explored I almost wish there was another book about just these three. There’s also hints of some really dirty, kinky stuff and the flipping of power dynamics between Jathan and Ford which I’d love to read about, but we just don’t get there. Honestly, toy trains and sippy cups are only so interesting. I wish the author pushed the envelope a bit more because the seed was definitely planted. It just never went anywhere.
This was a very sweet read, once you get past the angsty stuff. Definitely a “one-click” author.
May 24, 2025
Okay so I was really looking forward to Ford’s book, he’s been floating around in the background for a while, always showing up with Big Dom Energy and I was excited to finally get inside his head. And honestly? It started off promising!!
We’ve got a well-known Dom who’s never been into the whole Daddy dynamic until he meets not one but two sweet, broken boys who need care, patience, and someone to show them what love and safety actually looks like. Sign me up, right?
But... this book tried to do way too much. Like it had a full kink bingo card and instead of picking a lane, it went, “yes, all of it.” And while I love my damaged boys + slow burn comfort kink combo as much as the next person, this one dragged a bit. The pacing just wasn’t it, we kept circling the same inner thoughts, the same trauma spirals, and the emotional payoff never fully hit for me. I wanted to feel more, but it stayed surface-level even when it was clearly aiming for depth.
And the emotional focus was so heavily on Thierry (and this age play ), that Jathan sometimes felt like he was just... there. Which was frustrating, because there’s so much potential in this setup, but it needed more time or maybe fewer elements to really breathe.
That being said, Ford was great!! Patient, gentle, realistic about aftercare and boundaries, and bless him for being a Dom who doesn’t have a masculinity crisis about bottoming. I did like the found family vibes, and there were definitely moments I enjoyed, but overall it felt like an overstuffed plate of tropes that could’ve used more seasoning and less quantity. Not bad, just... undercooked.
We’ve got a well-known Dom who’s never been into the whole Daddy dynamic until he meets not one but two sweet, broken boys who need care, patience, and someone to show them what love and safety actually looks like. Sign me up, right?
But... this book tried to do way too much. Like it had a full kink bingo card and instead of picking a lane, it went, “yes, all of it.” And while I love my damaged boys + slow burn comfort kink combo as much as the next person, this one dragged a bit. The pacing just wasn’t it, we kept circling the same inner thoughts, the same trauma spirals, and the emotional payoff never fully hit for me. I wanted to feel more, but it stayed surface-level even when it was clearly aiming for depth.
And the emotional focus was so heavily on Thierry (and this age play ), that Jathan sometimes felt like he was just... there. Which was frustrating, because there’s so much potential in this setup, but it needed more time or maybe fewer elements to really breathe.
That being said, Ford was great!! Patient, gentle, realistic about aftercare and boundaries, and bless him for being a Dom who doesn’t have a masculinity crisis about bottoming. I did like the found family vibes, and there were definitely moments I enjoyed, but overall it felt like an overstuffed plate of tropes that could’ve used more seasoning and less quantity. Not bad, just... undercooked.
July 27, 2020
This book feels like alternate universe fantasy that is accidentally set in a contemporary real world setting. The premise starts out with police finding two victims of kidnapping, sexual abuse, and human trafficking and instead of going with social workers, a hospital, victims advocates etc. the cop instead turns these young men over to his kinky friend who just takes them home with him...That is very much not how anything works nor should work. Again, if this were set in a fanfiction BDSM alternate universe and were marketed as erotic fantasy, that would be totally appropriate. I found the lack of reality too disconcerting for something that purported to be contemporary kink romance. The dialogue also consists of long sentences of exposition, which is a pet peeve of mine. All that being said, if you are looking for age play content, this may still be for you.
April 21, 2020
I loved this one - my favorite in the series. There was a little bit of everything here but it all worked. Ford was amazing in caring for two traumatized and abused young men. The journey is painful but very sweet.
April 15, 2020
3.5 stars
April 2, 2020
Wow, this book.
When I started reading this series a while back I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I like a good Daddy kink book, but I'd never been one for age play. Now? I dare anybody to read Gentle Hand and Naughty Hand and not fall head over heels in love with sweet Raf.
Ford, a well-known and popular Dom, has been in all the books briefly leading up to this one. He was Rhys' mentor (from Firm Hand) and popped in a couple of times in the others. I was really looking forward to his story and I have to say I was definitely not disappointed.
Ford has a lot kinks but he's never had the desire to be a Daddy. But then he meets two sweet and broken boys who need a Daddy to care for them and show them that what they've experienced in the past wasn't the norm.
This book brings out all kinds of emotions right off when Ford is asked to take in two abused subs, Thierry and Jathan. You can't help but feel sympathy for these guys. Jathan has an attitude - mostly aimed at Thierry - but he believes the reasons for his behavior are valid. Thierry is just a sweetheart who wants to be loved and taken care of. Each man has individual needs that Ford has to figure out. It doesn't help that they fight him every step of the way because they've always associated Doms with abuse and pain. It takes a while but they finally see Ford for who he is - a kind man who just wants to help them.
Everything moves slowly in this book. It needed to. Thierry and Jathan have to work through their issues with each other before they can focus on how they feel about Ford. Ford doesn't push, especially sexually. He waits for them to come to him in their own time. When it did happen, it was hot and it was beautiful.
I don't read a lot of MMM books because they mostly have one of the characters who feels like the third wheel and there's a lot of jealousy. There's some here but it's understandable until certain issues are brought out into the open and resolved.
I also need to stress that there descriptions of past events that could trigger some readers. Keep that in mind if you want to read it.
Fantastic book.
Full review can be found at -
When I started reading this series a while back I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I like a good Daddy kink book, but I'd never been one for age play. Now? I dare anybody to read Gentle Hand and Naughty Hand and not fall head over heels in love with sweet Raf.
Ford, a well-known and popular Dom, has been in all the books briefly leading up to this one. He was Rhys' mentor (from Firm Hand) and popped in a couple of times in the others. I was really looking forward to his story and I have to say I was definitely not disappointed.
Ford has a lot kinks but he's never had the desire to be a Daddy. But then he meets two sweet and broken boys who need a Daddy to care for them and show them that what they've experienced in the past wasn't the norm.
This book brings out all kinds of emotions right off when Ford is asked to take in two abused subs, Thierry and Jathan. You can't help but feel sympathy for these guys. Jathan has an attitude - mostly aimed at Thierry - but he believes the reasons for his behavior are valid. Thierry is just a sweetheart who wants to be loved and taken care of. Each man has individual needs that Ford has to figure out. It doesn't help that they fight him every step of the way because they've always associated Doms with abuse and pain. It takes a while but they finally see Ford for who he is - a kind man who just wants to help them.
Everything moves slowly in this book. It needed to. Thierry and Jathan have to work through their issues with each other before they can focus on how they feel about Ford. Ford doesn't push, especially sexually. He waits for them to come to him in their own time. When it did happen, it was hot and it was beautiful.
I don't read a lot of MMM books because they mostly have one of the characters who feels like the third wheel and there's a lot of jealousy. There's some here but it's understandable until certain issues are brought out into the open and resolved.
I also need to stress that there descriptions of past events that could trigger some readers. Keep that in mind if you want to read it.
Fantastic book.
Full review can be found at -
February 15, 2022
3-3.5 stars
Compared to book two this one to me wasn’t as enjoyable. Nora Phoenix is hit or miss for me for poly relationships. I could feel the connection between all three characters towards the end but not at the beginning.
I wanted the epilogue to be longer but that’s just me, and now seeing as the next book isn’t a couple we know.. at least I don’t think we know them, I am not dying to read it. So we will see if I continue!
Compared to book two this one to me wasn’t as enjoyable. Nora Phoenix is hit or miss for me for poly relationships. I could feel the connection between all three characters towards the end but not at the beginning.
I wanted the epilogue to be longer but that’s just me, and now seeing as the next book isn’t a couple we know.. at least I don’t think we know them, I am not dying to read it. So we will see if I continue!
abandonados
May 23, 2020???????????
No tenía idea de que existía este libro! En los libros anteriores nombran a Ford varias veces y de hecho (si mal no recuerdo) en el primer libro toma un papel importante... Y ahora navegando por Kindle encuentro que estaba (y existía) este libro🤦🏻♀️... Así que nada, me pondré con el ahora mismo y veré qué onda.
No tenía idea de que existía este libro! En los libros anteriores nombran a Ford varias veces y de hecho (si mal no recuerdo) en el primer libro toma un papel importante... Y ahora navegando por Kindle encuentro que estaba (y existía) este libro🤦🏻♀️... Así que nada, me pondré con el ahora mismo y veré qué onda.
September 17, 2022
Voto: 4.5
RECENSIONE A CURA DI LADY MARMELADE
Siamo arrivati al volume quattro di questa serie, dove abbiamo conosciuto diversi modi di vivere una relazione BDSM incentrata sulle figure dei Daddy e dei loro ragazzi, più o meno capricciosi e di svariate fasce d’età.
Credevo che il libro su Raf fosse il più duro da leggere, almeno per me che non amo molto la dinamica Daddy/bambino, e invece mi sbagliavo: questo è il libro più tosto della serie e per molteplici fattori.
Oltre che l’age play qui ci troviamo di fronte alla storia di un uomo, Ford il mentore di Rhys, che non credeva di aver bisogno di nessuno, che di punto in bianco si ritrova a dover ospitare, consolare, accudire e cercare di riportare alla vita, due giovani ragazzi tenuti in schiavitù da un mostro.
Gli “orchi” non esistono solo nelle favole, purtroppo anche nella realtà, e Thierry e Jathan ne portano il ricordo indelebile sulla pelle e nella psiche.
Continua sul nostro blog!
RECENSIONE A CURA DI LADY MARMELADE
Siamo arrivati al volume quattro di questa serie, dove abbiamo conosciuto diversi modi di vivere una relazione BDSM incentrata sulle figure dei Daddy e dei loro ragazzi, più o meno capricciosi e di svariate fasce d’età.
Credevo che il libro su Raf fosse il più duro da leggere, almeno per me che non amo molto la dinamica Daddy/bambino, e invece mi sbagliavo: questo è il libro più tosto della serie e per molteplici fattori.
Oltre che l’age play qui ci troviamo di fronte alla storia di un uomo, Ford il mentore di Rhys, che non credeva di aver bisogno di nessuno, che di punto in bianco si ritrova a dover ospitare, consolare, accudire e cercare di riportare alla vita, due giovani ragazzi tenuti in schiavitù da un mostro.
Gli “orchi” non esistono solo nelle favole, purtroppo anche nella realtà, e Thierry e Jathan ne portano il ricordo indelebile sulla pelle e nella psiche.
Continua sul nostro blog!
April 6, 2020
4.5 stars
I am so lost on how to word this review. I loved the story! It was an emotional rollercoaster. And I enjoyed it.
I am so lost on how to word this review. I loved the story! It was an emotional rollercoaster. And I enjoyed it.
April 20, 2020
Coming Together in Love!
Traumatized subs Jathan & Thierry meet compassionate Dom Ford and a unique relationship develops. I love this story because patience and understanding that Ford uses to help his boys. Nora Phoenix is a good storyteller with a great writing style, well-developed MCs and sensitivity in writing unique kinks. I will be reading more of her books.
Traumatized subs Jathan & Thierry meet compassionate Dom Ford and a unique relationship develops. I love this story because patience and understanding that Ford uses to help his boys. Nora Phoenix is a good storyteller with a great writing style, well-developed MCs and sensitivity in writing unique kinks. I will be reading more of her books.
April 27, 2020
If I could give this more than 5 *, I would.
Highly Recommend
Three Lives Changed Significantly and Forever.
From despair, two broken boys relearn to trust a stranger in desperate times. A stranger who becomes something he never believed or thought he would: A Daddy. Only through trial and error, msunderstandings and revelations do they find and embrace that this is their true happily ever after... together.
It's emotional, heart breaking at times, spunky at times and just so loveable. It's perfect!!
Highly Recommend
Three Lives Changed Significantly and Forever.
From despair, two broken boys relearn to trust a stranger in desperate times. A stranger who becomes something he never believed or thought he would: A Daddy. Only through trial and error, msunderstandings and revelations do they find and embrace that this is their true happily ever after... together.
It's emotional, heart breaking at times, spunky at times and just so loveable. It's perfect!!
June 12, 2020
One of my favorite books this year.
I think most people know Nora Phoenix is an excellent writer, but she's genuinely outdone herself with this one. I teared up a bit, and I really don't cry much when I read.
Ford takes in two abused submissives, just to help them recover without being abandoned in a shelter or split up. There are some rough things discussed in this book, if abuse and rape are triggering subjects, you may want to pass. They are described as past events, not lived out during the book, but it's quite clear the boys have PTSD. Nora handles the subject of abuse appropriately, the book isn't any sort of insta healing/immediate trust fest. I highly recommend it.
MMM, no sharing, closed poly, abdl one little and one middle. 5/5
I think most people know Nora Phoenix is an excellent writer, but she's genuinely outdone herself with this one. I teared up a bit, and I really don't cry much when I read.
Ford takes in two abused submissives, just to help them recover without being abandoned in a shelter or split up. There are some rough things discussed in this book, if abuse and rape are triggering subjects, you may want to pass. They are described as past events, not lived out during the book, but it's quite clear the boys have PTSD. Nora handles the subject of abuse appropriately, the book isn't any sort of insta healing/immediate trust fest. I highly recommend it.
MMM, no sharing, closed poly, abdl one little and one middle. 5/5
May 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure I would going in, although idk why I doubted it cuz I liked all the other books in this series. The title was definitely a clue though cuz this was a sloooooow burn romance. But it didn’t feel contrived or forced.
November 30, 2020
Wow
Wow is all I can really say this one. There is so much hurt and trauma in this, but also just so much love.
Wow is all I can really say this one. There is so much hurt and trauma in this, but also just so much love.
April 16, 2020
Okay, this hit my hot buttons of m/m/m and hurt/comfort. Jathan and Thierry were kept captive and abused by a dom. Ford is asked to take them in and help them. They are needless to say mistrustful of his motives but he works to win them over. There is also animosity between the two because Jathan believes Thierry sucked up to their captor and Jathan was punished more. He has permanent scars. It's kind of the three of them trying to figure out what/who they are.
Is Ford, a regular dom really a Daddy dom? He doesn't/didn't want to be. Is Theirry a little/service sub? He seems to adapt more easily and find his place but where does angry afraid-of-pain Jathan fit. It takes them a lot longer to figure him out and maybe then it's unclear as he seems to be a mix of many things.
But they don't use sex as a cure-all where they fall into bed after 3 days and live happily ever after. It is kind of slow burn, they are near starvation and he's focused on getting them healthy. So this brings in the characters from the other books. Rhys and Cornell as well as Brendan and Raf as friends/advisors to the three of them. It's also good to see a Dom who isn't sure what the hell he's doing it and is kind of winging it and screwing up occasionally. I get so tired of perfect doms.
So given I didn't care for the Christmas book. I did love this one a great deal. Not perfect but I enjoyed it a lot.
I should have added this has descriptions of the abuse and violence they suffered while held captive. It's not extensive or gratuitous but their reactions and fear to Ford possibly being angry and hurting them are pretty heart-rending. So if reading about that is hard for you, just be careful.
Is Ford, a regular dom really a Daddy dom? He doesn't/didn't want to be. Is Theirry a little/service sub? He seems to adapt more easily and find his place but where does angry afraid-of-pain Jathan fit. It takes them a lot longer to figure him out and maybe then it's unclear as he seems to be a mix of many things.
But they don't use sex as a cure-all where they fall into bed after 3 days and live happily ever after. It is kind of slow burn, they are near starvation and he's focused on getting them healthy. So this brings in the characters from the other books. Rhys and Cornell as well as Brendan and Raf as friends/advisors to the three of them. It's also good to see a Dom who isn't sure what the hell he's doing it and is kind of winging it and screwing up occasionally. I get so tired of perfect doms.
So given I didn't care for the Christmas book. I did love this one a great deal. Not perfect but I enjoyed it a lot.
I should have added this has descriptions of the abuse and violence they suffered while held captive. It's not extensive or gratuitous but their reactions and fear to Ford possibly being angry and hurting them are pretty heart-rending. So if reading about that is hard for you, just be careful.
April 17, 2020
I have enjoyed this series. This was definitely a good one.
Two boys are held captive by a dickwad calling himself a Dom. One is able to escape and get help. They are turned over to a Dom who has a rep for being compassionate, patient and caring.
Jathan (22) is hurt, abused, angry, fearful, trusts only Thierry who he is currently angry with and barely speaking to him.
Thierry (24) the other captive, is barely able to speak, abused, scared, fearful, but is also a boy who wants to serve.
Master Ford takes them into his home and starts the long painful process of their healing (on all levels). Along the way they start to develop a rhythm they can all live with. Jathan's distrust doesn't diminish but his angst is turned all the way up. It is beautiful how Master Ford takes the time and patience to help them both in the ways that serve their individual personalities.
Thierry comes into his own relatively easy as he and Jathan work out their issues.
Master Ford and Jathan on the other hand battle to the very end but they do get there.
Two boys are held captive by a dickwad calling himself a Dom. One is able to escape and get help. They are turned over to a Dom who has a rep for being compassionate, patient and caring.
Jathan (22) is hurt, abused, angry, fearful, trusts only Thierry who he is currently angry with and barely speaking to him.
Thierry (24) the other captive, is barely able to speak, abused, scared, fearful, but is also a boy who wants to serve.
Master Ford takes them into his home and starts the long painful process of their healing (on all levels). Along the way they start to develop a rhythm they can all live with. Jathan's distrust doesn't diminish but his angst is turned all the way up. It is beautiful how Master Ford takes the time and patience to help them both in the ways that serve their individual personalities.
Thierry comes into his own relatively easy as he and Jathan work out their issues.
Master Ford and Jathan on the other hand battle to the very end but they do get there.
April 2, 2020
Slow Hand is the 4th book in the Helping Hands serie by Nora Phoenix. This series is so good and this one isn't an exception. I loved Master Ford and his two boys. Thierry is so sweet and loveable. Jathan is more careful but so loveable when you get to know him.
This book had me laughing at times but also crying. It's so good!
I hope we get more stories in this series.
This book had me laughing at times but also crying. It's so good!
I hope we get more stories in this series.
March 6, 2024
Definitely my favorite of the series so far. I loved Ford and really appreciated that this book allows kink to exist without sex and shows that kink is so much more than a sexual relationship. While there is eventually a sexual component here, it doesn't take place until well over halfway and it's not the most important part of the book either.
Rep: gay MCs, poly relationship, daddy/boys
Kink: switch Dom/daddy, little, brat/middle, age play, minor pain play.
Also I feel like Ford is definitely somewhere on the aromantic spectrum. Maybe gray and demiro. I'm claiming him for arospec rep 💚
CW: physical and emotional abuse (detailed and graphic), healing from trauma, age gap relationship, explicit sex
Reread September 2022
Rep: gay MCs, poly relationship, daddy/boys
Kink: switch Dom/daddy, little, brat/middle, age play, minor pain play.
Also I feel like Ford is definitely somewhere on the aromantic spectrum. Maybe gray and demiro. I'm claiming him for arospec rep 💚
CW: physical and emotional abuse (detailed and graphic), healing from trauma, age gap relationship, explicit sex
Reread September 2022
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