Various Distractions

Persuasions #2

by A.E. Lister

Book two in the Persuasions series

When life is perfect, you know it's gonna throw you a curve ball…or four.
Nic and Vincent have been riding the high of a new romantic relationship that works so well they are on the verge of officially moving in together—but then the distractions begin. Their friend Daphne needs a temporary dungeon space, and Nic’s basement seems the perfect solution. Vincent’s gay seventeen-year-old cousin, Taylor, needs a safe refuge from his uber-religious parents. When Vincent suffers an unexpected injury, Nic asks Daphne to suggest someone to help with domestic duties around the house.

These combined circumstances lead to a less-than-ideal home life for Vincent and Nic, who struggle to find alone-time. But life has a way of giving people what they need, and the arrival of Matteo to help with chores around the house sets into motion an opportunity the three must decide to follow to its logical conclusion or abandon in order to maintain the emotional safety of all the participants.

Genres: LGBT, BDSM

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 28, 2021

About the author

Queer erotic romance. Incendiary encounters, stealthy romance, multiple genres. AE Lister is a Canadian non-binary/gender fluid author with a vivid imagination and a head full of unique and interesting characters. They write consent-based kink with a dash of romance.

They also write Young Adult under Alison Lister: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Reviews

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

The deliciously kinky love story of Nic and Vincent continues in Various Distractions, part two of AE Lister’s Persuasions series. As the couple continues to explore facets of their sexuality, their connection deepens; and it’s fascinating to note how their knowledge as individuals expands as well. Picking up right where Various Persuasions leaves off, you’ll need to read this groundbreaking series in order.

For me, one of the hallmarks of AE Lister’s romances are the unique and complex characters. Centered around Nic and his incredible journey, he explores his motivations and responses to every aspect of his life. Predominantly focused around his identity as a sexual being, the depth AE Lister goes in examining this intriguing person is extraordinary.

With Vincent’s support, and the increasing confidence in their relationship, I’m elated by the growth I see in Nic’s character. Without giving too much away, Nic identifies as genderqueer, and it’s his lifelong journey to embrace the sex organs with which he was born. Moments of mild dysphoria are handled beautifully by this couple, and add so much to the intimacy of this powerful story.

Some interesting changes come over Vincent in this episode as well. Thrown a curveball by an injury, the couple invite a service submissive to help Vincent maintain the household. Matteo’s introduction has Vincent struggling a bit to find his new role, but the result is a blossoming self-confidence, which appears lovely on him.

I’ve enjoyed the way Vincent has grown over the course of these two novels. His increasing awareness of his responses to Nic’s domination, his attraction to Matteo, and his growing list of what turns him on sexually; it’s all very personal and intimate, and the fact the entire story is told in the first person, through Nic’s point of view, makes it all even more rewarding.

AE Lister is a master at writing triad relationships, and this romance is elevated to an extraordinary level with the introduction of Matteo. An unplanned addition to Nic and Vincent’s life, the couple incorporates him first in his service, then gradually invites him to join their sexual play, while each man deals with how this impacts them individually. It’s Vincent’s first intimate experience with another man, and these scenes are breathtaking.

By the end of Various Distractions things are settling down a bit for Nic and Vincent. It’s going to be interesting to find out how the addition of Matteo impacts the household, and no doubt this older gentleman has an interesting life story. I’m looking forward to future episodes of this series.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, *sigh satisfied*.
Again an impressive story. Nic and Vincent are in a steady romantic Dom/sub relationship, Vincent even moved in with Nic. Both men together were absolutely stunning to watch, they are both kinky and affectionate. Their personality, gender, and sexuality are amazingly well developed. You’ll love them even more after this story! The scenes are amazing, deliciously kinky, original, and inventive.

With Daphne using Nic’s and Vincent’s basement for a week and a cousin staying in the spare room, the scenes have to wait.
Daphne is present again and she got a huge personality, lol. I had to warm up to her, it’s gonna be fine!

There are a few new characters added, Vincent’s cousin Taylor who needs a place to stay, and Matteo who helps with chores around the house. Oh boy, read it yourself watch how some of these new developments offer an unexpectedly wonderful and moving perspective.
I can’t believe I was at first reluctant with the new development, it worked out so well and all in a natural way.

The story was laser-focused and super intense, I loved that very, the kink was awesome, the writing was stunning, the development was crazy good, the whole picture together just amazing! A winner for sure.
Can’t wait for book three!

Highly recommended!

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Various Distractions is the second book in the Persuasions series and should be read as a follow up to Various Persuasions, as it follows the same characters, Nic and Vincent. I love that this book takes a deeper and broader look at how Nic and Vincent interact in both their BDSM and their romantic relationships...

Of course, life interferes and they can't stay in their bubble - Daphne's use of the basement dungeon, Taylor needing to move in and Matteo's introduction give AE Lister fodder for both humour and character exploration. We learn more about each character's motivations and of course the scenes are steamy and filled with trust and development.

I especially like the way Nic continues to be portrayed and how he interacts with Matteo. Vincent grows so much in this book, both in confidence and into his proclivities... This book takes their relationship deeper and lets them explore MMM scenes and also really explores the dynamic of control...

Once you read Various Persuasions, you'll feel that you need to read Various Distractions immediately and you won't be disappointed when you do!

[Danielle Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read in the Persuasions trilogy! Argh, Vincent and Nic were always adorable together....now they have the chance to add a third person to their kinky family and the good times keep getting better.
I adore A E Listers's stories not only because of how well they are written and the brilliant diversity of characters (and the spicy scenes...sweet Jesus....), but because I come away feeling like I've learned so many valuable things when I'm done. These books don't treat BDSM as something to giggle at behind your hand and talk about in whispers and smirks. It's presented as a lifestyle that should be respected and is as a necessary/vital outlet for so many people. And as totally HOT as the sex scenes are in these books are there is a depth to them which is mesmerising. The intimacy between Nic and Vincent is something to be looked at in awe. I can't help thinking about what Daphne says in Various Distractions...about how sex workers should actually be funded by the health care system...and after reading Nic and Vincent and Daphne's story, you come away hoping that one day that might be the case.

[Szidi ☼ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my wow! I loved the first book, but this! It was so much better, deeper and kinkier. I loved every page of it.

Love the kink and love how the author writes those scenes, especially the emotions around it. Not everyone can write realistic kink, but AE Lister is a master at it.

Nic and Vincent were super adorable in this one and loved their relationship. Daphne was irritating for me but at the end everything turned out just perfect. Vincent't cousin was the best in this book, I really loved his personality and how eager he was. Oh and Matteo, wow. Loved him too.

I really loved reading this book, it was more then enjoyable, really hot and fun, and realistic.

ps. There was one scene at the beginning when I saw red flags, when Daphne brought her sub into the living room where Taylor was too. No one was consenting to be in the scene/watch it, and I felt itchy reading those few pages. Okay, it's hot to watch someone dominate/be dominated, but you have to consent and give the okay to be involved in something like that. BUT aside this little scene, everything was perfect.

Highly recomend it and can't wait the third book (there will be a third, yes?)

[Amos24601 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when life gets in the way?

I was so happy to visit with Nic and Vincent again. Nic is such an interesting character and seeing him be so…domesticated with Vincent was wonderful. I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect going into this book, but what I found was a lovely story of found family, new opportunities and a newfound happiness.

Nic and Vincent are always a pleasure to read. Taylor was such a happy addition to their little family. He was snarky and funny and so engaging. Daphne was well, Daphne. A bit of a wildcard but always fun. Matteo was a delightful surprise. He stepped into Nic and Vincent’s lives to fulfill a need and ended up being so much more. Watching the dynamic between the three of them evolve was fascinating and seemed to be a natural progression. Nothing seemed forced or put on. There is definitely a lot of Lister’s signature spice tossed into their relationship and it was so hot. Nic is one heck of a Dom.

While I felt the book ended slightly abruptly, it left me wanting more. I cannot wait to see Vincent’s kitten side explored. There seems to be a whole world of possibilities opening up for Nic, Vincent and Matteo and I want to be a part of it. I loved how this book showed how life can sometimes get in the way of the things we really want to be doing and how compromise becomes necessary at times. Nic didn’t know he wanted to expand his bubble, but when he did, wonderful things happened. Sometimes, life gets in the way in exactly the way we need it.

*I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

[Scatteredashes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so excited to get to revisit Nic and Vincent. This is a really good low angst kinky story. This continues pretty much where the first one left off with Vincent and Nic living together. We get to meet Taylor, Vincent's cousin, who a very fun, happy, and inappropriate in all the best ways type of character. Matteo also gets added to the mix when Vincent has a mishap in the kitchen and needs help around the house.

As always, I love the play between Nic, Vincent, and Matteo and I wanted to give this five stars but there were a few things that just missed the mark for me (though I still super enjoyed this story). One being Vincent's ex in the beginning of the book. I didn't really find it necessary and it didn't seem to go anywhere. It felt a bit thrown in and I kept expect that story line to pop back up which it never did. The other thing is that the main conflict focused on Taylor. I liked Taylor as a character very much and his story line was a great addition. However, I would have liked just a bit more tension among Nic, Vincent, and Matteo. The building of their relationship, while not rushed per say, didn't feel like it was even not solid. There's a small bit of uncertainty at one point but it clears up pretty quickly. I guess I'm just used to getting my heart ripped out and stomped on before reaching the conclusion which is not what this book is about. It's very much a soft place to land with some incredibly hot kinky scenes.

As a side note, Daphne is crazy and I love her for it. I think Taylor and Daphne were amazing together and I loved their interactions.

This series is great especially if you're looking for characters who communicate and respect each other. Nic is on his own is very unique and I love seeing him and Vincent together. I hope we get more kitty play in the future...it wasn't nearly enough!

[Annie Maus · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s rare for the romance of an established couple to feel hotter and sweeter than the original novel, but AE Lister’s Various Distractions is even better than Various Persuasions. It continues the story of non-binary Dom Nic who had been avoiding relationships, especially with men, until fellow Dom Daphne introduced him to his straight sub, Vincent. Their heat was equal to the ease of their bond, as they intuitively came to understand that their sum was more than their individual parts.

But now they are living together in a mostly 24/7 Dom/Sub vibe (from which they seem to instinctively break as appropriate to circumstance), and reality has set in. Daphne’s dungeon needs work and Nic agrees to lend her his. Vincent cuts his finger, can’t participate in his domestic subservience and they allow the very sexy Matteo into their nest. Meanwhile, Taylor, Vincent’s gay cousin comes to stay after he’s kicked out by his uber-religious parents. Though “Various Distractions” would read well as a standalone, you can see why the context of “Various Persuasion” would be helpful.

I laughed, held my breath, and completely empathized with how distractions of real life can make or break romance. Nic and Vincent must reach deep within to find patience, tolerance and flexibility. But theyare exemplars of these traits, and I felt inspired by their kindnesses.

My highest compliments to AE Lister for allowing my growth from exposure to their world. Add to this, moments searing intimacy, genuine compassion and equanimity in the face of an anthill of irritations, and yup, I’ll be “Various Distractions,” for sure!

[Miruru Shouting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this follow-up to the first book. So much found-family feels and Daphne being at their place was hilarious! Book 2 really upped the ante on all the emotions from book 1: the sexy, the sad, the funny, the angry, the awwww--it had it all.

I was kind of iffy about Daphne's character in the last book but reading her cameos in this book made me like her more. Her scenes were so hilarious when she had her sessions in Nic and Vincent's basement and they would hear the sounds coming up from there lol

I also loved Taylor, Vincent's 17-year-old cousin that recently came out to his parents, but got kicked out so he came to live with them. I felt like it was a good "lesson" for Nic after he had that semi-serious conflicting conversation with Vincent about kids in their future. It shows that Nic has the capacity to care for another young human being in that way and I loved seeing that side of him. I loved that Taylor was so laid back and attached to everyone so easily, which made all their interactions very heartwarming to read.

Matteo was a nice addition to Nic and Vincent's relationship and household. Taylor seeing him as an older brother/semi-father figure was so sweet, which also just made me awww at all the different dynamics going on in the house now. Even though it was only near the end of the book where the MMM relationship was really established, the previous parts really built a solid foundation for them to continue one.

I'm super excited to read what's in store for all of them in Book 3. Definitely looking forward to how the smutty dynamics will work while they're doing scenes (now that there's 2 subs and 1 dom), and out of scenes. Also looking forward to seeing Taylor's growing presence in their lives and Daphne's continued friendship to the growing family.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional, sensational and heartwarming…all while being hot.

I’ve never read anything by AE Lister and I don’t know why, but I’m glad I remedied that. This was a fantastic story. The writing flowed well, the characters were engaging, and I couldn’t put it down.

Nic’s a Dom and wants a sub, but Nic’s leery. There’s something that could tear this relationship apart. Vincent is just what Nic needs, but they have to accept themselves and the past to move forward. It’s a hot story, but full of tenderness and determination, too. The characters are gender-fluid and that helped make this more engaging.

I highly recommend this book and hope you’re willing to take a chance on it, too. I’m glad I did.

[CAROLINA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Various Distractions is the second book in the Persuasions series and should not be read as a standalone. I definitely recommend reading them in order to better understand the beginning and development of the main couple's relationship.

As always, the author does an incredible job in writing the kinky scenes, they're always so steamy and well written. But we also get the emotional content, the feelings, and the way the characters relate to each other. This story is very sweet, binging us back to Nic and Vincent, only this time they find a new partner, Matteo, and things get more interesting.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another amazing read and I was so excited to jump to the next book in the series. Nic and Vincent's romance I've said before is something so unique that I never have read before, and it picks up so nicely from where we left off. We get introduced to some new characters who fall so nicely into the story, into Nic and Vincent's lives and read as they become this lovely little family. I wasn't expecting for the relationship to grow with another person, but Matteo fit so nicely between them like he'd always been there.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to visit Nic and Vincent again. Their relationship is intense, exciting, erotic, and passionate. When Matteo arrives, Nic uses his magic skills to include him in some scenes. The sex is so hot, like always. Once Vincent was able to perform his duties, I was hoping Matteo would only visit a couple time a month to play. I was sad he became part of the relationship because he was totally invested in Vincent and didn't seem to care about Nic. I could see where Vincent and Matteo become an item and Nic would be left behind.

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a chance to revisit Nic and Vincent and it’s well worth doing so (definitely start with book one for context on the characters and how they got to where they are now, if you haven’t already). I liked the way this felt, on so many levels, like a window into our protagonists’ real lives— not everything is perfect, life gets in the way, unexpectedly good things happen and change is sometimes the best possible evolution. If you enjoyed the first book, this one is a great followup.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The events at the beginning of this book made me almost as anxious as they do Nic! Once everything starts to settle, I loved the transitions that Nic and Vincent make with their relationship and family. I do wish that we learned a bit more about Mateo to make him a bit more of a well-rounded character (even what his day job is??) but other, this love story works just as well as that in the first book.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

​A sweet read

Various Distractions is the second book in the series. I'd definitely recommend reading them in order, as it would be very confusing otherwise.

This was a sweet and inclusive read, with a fun found-family. There's lots of kink and steam as well as heart. It's about an established couple who bring a third into their relationship and the kinky ways they can include him.

[J K H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely enthralled with AE Lister’s books - they are well written, always open my eyes to new and different things and are full of growth and development. Nic is so beautiful to me - sexy, confident and mind blowing. Vincent is evolving into his true self - secure, caring and lovely. Together they are inspiring and so incredibly perfect.

[Nicole Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a great story and this author delivered.

[Emma Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I am blown away. I loved seeing Nic and Vincent's relationship evolve, and it evolves beautifully. The twists, were completely natural, and it just flowed perfectly. I adored it all!

[elio · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔺