This is an extremely explicit and very severe story, containing intense spanking and caning, breast, anal, and genital punishment, as well as bondage.
Submissive Desires relates the tale of Simon and Maura, and the awakening of a fully-realized D/S relationship. Simon is an ex-Navy Seal and he knows what he wants when he finally finds it, and Maura is it. The problem is that Maura "thinks" she's submissive, but all she's ever done is play with it. Simon is the real thing. Moving back and forth between their first encounters five years earlier and the present day, Submissive Desires recounts Maura's awakening at the hands of the VERY dominant Simon. She struggles intensely between her love for Simon and trepidation over the path down which he is leading her.
Carolyn was one of you as a kid, with the intriguing seeds planted in her head of the shivering thrill-thoughts that came with words like spanking, or discipline. As with you, those kinds of words and thoughts connected the heated blush of her cheeks with feelings elsewhere, which got more and more interesting the older she got.
I bet you know just what I'm talking about.
Like some, she started writing down these thoughts, escaping into short stories of reluctant heroes willing to take someone they love in hand when it's for her own good... and more shadowy thoughts as her imagination matured.
And like some, she started sharing her writings in newsgroups once she gained some confidence.
There's nothing like the perfectly-turned phrase, the handful of words that can make a feeling wash over you. And if you're reading this, then you have within you some intense feelings that most of the world doesn't understand -- but Carolyn does, and she writes those passions with wondrous abandon. Her specialties are Spanking Romance and Adult Ageplay, so we've grouped the many examples of her work that way.
Spanking Romance Classics are sweeping love stories which dare (in a very un-PC way) to allow their heroine to feel the special love of a strong man who will take her in hand when it's best for her. Carolyn writes very real, rich characters and stories that aren't just excuses to jump from spanking scene to spanking scene. If the timeless tango of pursuing ardor touches you, and the head-rush of Adoring Discipline intrigues you, then you'll love Carolyn's stories!
Edited: I have now re read this one several times. Each time I keep finding something new and I gotta admit - this is now a full five stars for me!
Original review: I really wavered on this review. Part of me thought it was 5 stars and the other 2 stars. I compromised and rounded up. I liked the characters - although you never feel that connected to them or at least I didn't. They existed as they were then - not a lot of background. Simon in particular comes off as cold in many places. Although there are glimpses that he's just uncomfortable naming his emotions - and working his darndest to avoid anything remotely resembling love. While that could be because of his background you get the sense it is more than that but it's never explained.
Maura was very interesting. A submissive in charge of her normal life who intentionally gives control over. There is a stereotype that a submissive has to have someone else controlling - but that's not really true. They give up control because they want to. I thought her caution was appropriate and earned her a lot of respect from me.
As for the BDSM content - the other reviewers are correct. It is *extremely* intense. In fact I'd class it as con non-con as the book uses the rape word repeatedly - and then adding statements that she allows him to do it as he owns her. Those who are not comfortable with this type of consent will be hard pressed to continue reading. I have read some heavy and more hard core BDSM but needles have been on my hard limit list for some time - after this book I'm not likely to change my mind anytime soon. I had an intense dislike for that scene - I almost stopped reading.
Still overall I read it in one sitting - and could not put it down. Was I uncomfortable in places? Heck yes! However the writing (with some grammatical and spelling errors) kept me absorbed and wanting to find out not only how it ended but what brought them to this point. The use of flashbacks was ok. but not consistent enough for me. Those who are willing to explore D/s in a more than "casually kinky" way should give this one a go.
If you're looking for a romance, you won't find it here. This story really is only about the development of a D/s relationship.
They move in together, and she gives over her life. He makes all the decisions, from paying the bills down to what she wears. She could choose her own clothing, but she doesn't want to wear anything he would disapprove of, so she asks him what she should wear.
The thing I disliked most here was the intensity of the scenes. He punishes her until she cries, then punishes her some more. Some of it is about punishment, some about his sexual arousal because the pain and the marks he leaves, and some is just because "she can take it.". She bears it all because she "needs" it and feels no one else can give it to her.
I could accept all of this if there was love in the picture. He never says (or even thinks) that he does, and she's okay with that. The whole relationship leaves me feeling like it's an abusive one.
That being said, I thought the story was well written. The language is highly descriptive and the reader can see the scene before them clearly. There are a few editorial misses that I've come to expect from ebooks.
Personally, I think I'll avoid this writer from now on.
Reminded me of the growing relationship from Anneke Jacob’s As She’s Told, without the political statements, elaborate descriptions of bondage tools n techniques (they’re there in this one too, but not overly described IMO), and pony play (nope, she stays as human as a girlie can get ;)
Simon and Maura meet online, have similar interests and go fast and furious from there. The sex was hot at times, but something just kept me from really getting into this one. I scratched my head when I was done, because it had all the makings of a fab read for me: TPE and an uber Alpha Dom that was more than capable of pushing all my buttons.
The disconnect I think was in the way the story would be pulled back at times, perhaps as a means to make what was happening appear ‘okay’ to both parties involved?? I dunno – it just felt too blatant and, the only word that keeps trolling around my head, unsophisticated. If those bits had been absent – the ones that were telling rather than showing the rationale for the relationship – I probably would rate this higher and be gushing in more ways than one for this ;)
Last comments: The word ‘atrocious’ is lovely, but atrociously overused in this; there was the oddball use of the word ‘rape, raping, raped’ to describe the sex scenes too. Used to titillate or shock perhaps? As a description for the nature of the sexual acts, I found it distracting and unwarranted. It felt a little cavalier to continue to include this word throughout. And the book is told in past & present chapters for no real reason that I can see, because all of the sudden that structure just stops.
Wow!! This was a trip...an extremely intense trip. It's intense from start to finish, it had me cringing through the harshest scenes, but I couldn't stop reading, it's so wonderfully written. This is the story of a growing relationship between two very complicated souls with different needs, those including extreme discipline and pain. This is one of the few books where sadism and masochism are perfectly integrated in the story, the scenes are there to explain how this type of people feel about their needs and it doesn't feel like gratuitous violence/torture IMO. I loved both MCs, they were so strong in their own way; the author takes you through all the stages in their relationship, and it's a slow burn, you don't get insta-anything.
If you can take rough sex, a really strict dominant disciplining a willing masochist submissive, this is for you...avoid it if you're easily offended and/or affected.
I have to say this in Spanish: ¡Madre mía del amor hermoso! Este libro ha sido un viaje intenso que a ratos te lo hace pasar mal pero describe cómo se desarrolla una profunda conexión entre los dos personajes principales. Poco a poco van expresando amor (aunque no lo reconocen abiertamente) a través del dolor; el afecto está ahí pero de otra manera, que, para ellos, es la que les llena. Absorbente y poderosa, esta historia no es recomendable para personas impresionables, pero si eres abierto/a de mente te puede sorprender. Alucinante.
This was very extreme. Maura to me was very weak no backbone. She was very happy in beginning, then meeting and living with Simon she became a robot to me. Simon got under my skin several times with how brutal and demanding. I wanted to punch him several times, especially when she had to keep door open to go to bathroom, that was nonsense. However I gave three stars because even though he was a jerk, and she was really weak. The book was very interesting and well written, even with a couple grammar errors.
On the whole I enjoyed reading Carolyn Faulkner's, Submissive Desires. However, it really got me thinking...about safety & sticking needles into breast tissue and beating breast tissue. Is it safe? Even purporting such issues in a story, it leaves me with concerns. Women are told to monitor for years after a knock or heamatoma/blood blister or severe bruise. I'm not really happy about endorsing books that encourage it. The rest well Simon, cool, calculating, self controlled or is he beneath the surface? He didn't want to recognise or admit it but the absolute need and trust they had for each other is what I see as love, real love as opposed to chemical attraction and infatuation that's sometimes mistaken for love. Simon and Maura I believe have love though not openly demonstrative and acknowledged by him and also the lust, more important in their relationship, as each has their needs met in the other. As much as this level of beatings and pain wouldn't suit too many people, even within the BDSM community and you need to need an inordinate amount of pain and tolerance to such spanking and canings to get off on the things Maura got off on, and then there's Simon's pleasure in his realised sadistic streak, yet always knowing and monitoring Maura for how far he could take her or each other for that matter, suggests they were the perfect couple, a match made for heaven and hell! Negatives...a few too many typo's for a professionally edited book, which lets it down somewhat. However, I still rate it as four stars. For adults only.
Ms. Faulkner is one of those authors I tend to be careful with when I read her works. Some of them are fun and lighthearted, well, as lighthearted as BDSM can be in her world. Others are intense with endings that leave me with a mixed feeling. This book was one of the latter. Her scenes are intense and heavy into pain. The emotional detachment from Simon is depressing. I enjoyed the book and even though Ms. Faulkner specifically stated she wouldn't be writing a sequel, it would be nice.
First the grammer/misspellings/typos were truly annoying. The first part of the book where they are email or IMing each other could have been edited better. You never knew where the message started/stopped and the rest of the book began/stopped. Those lines should have been set apart from the rest of the text.
Second, if you like pain, fine, but I felt this was torture (no matter where you are from and what you are into) and seeing how Simon is an ex-SEAL with a mysterious government job, I can quite see him in a federal prison for torturing. He had no personality, he was cold, removed. There is not an ounce of compassion or feeling in his body. He was obsessed with Maura. He gets off on torturing for torturing sake. Not to teach a lesson or to fix a problem. He'd beat her for no reason what-so-ever. Something serious wrong with people like that.
Third, Maura. In the beginning she was a happy, giddy and friendly girl; and while she may not have had "close" friendships, she had friendships nonetheless and had standing lunches with her friends. After she agreed to move in with Simon, we never hear her laughing, smiling, talking with friends or generally enjoying her life. She never even lets her friends meet SImon, she's afraid of what they will find out about him. That shows, to me at least, that there is something to hide and something wrong. Her life is reduced to being tortured by a man who will never love her and only sees her as a punching bag; even if he encourages her writing. It was actually kind of sad to see the transformation.
It never really is explained why Maura feels she needs to be literally tortured and raped by a man with no emotional connection to her. All she ever really says is that she likes pain with her pleasure. Some woman are like that, I have no problem with that, but to go to this extreme just doesn't sit well with me.
It was a hard read and I really hope that woman who feel the need to be literally tortured, talk to other people/friends/professionals about it, not hide it like Maura does.
Not what I expected, Dude was a pure sadist. I can't believe the lengths in which he tortured her and she never safe word. Don't get me wrong, I like em dark and don't have to have a HEA, I thought he had feelings for her, but later felt that he had no capability of feeling. This girl was mistreated. I read another book similar to this, but she had enough since to get out. I
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I presume you know what the book is about. I'm letting you know what I like or disliked about it.
I was surprised about the range of I felt while reading this book. I felt like an observer in all things related to the Dom - he was harsh, very harsh. I also felt like an observer when it came to the sub - as though I was watching a friend slip into a dysfunctional relationship.
Except I kept having to remind myself - what did I really know about her? Just the first impressions of a woman that didn't have truly intimate friendships with many friends before she met the man she feel in love with and so... who was/am I to be critical of this relationship.
I can not say if it was realistically written - I do not know the lifestyle first hand. I suppose it was though as life and relationships are as unique as snowflakes - no two are the same.
There a strong thread of sadness within the sub. The crazy take away for me in this story is the character I least understood was the sub. Some serious demons within that gal, very serious.
The simple truth is some relationships are based in coldness and isolation; each partner brings with them the warmth and light needed for the other. They fix each other for a while but at the very heart of it all they're still alone. Living together alone comes to mind.
This was lacking. Mostly lacking emotions, eroticism and suffering. Abusive or near-abusive and emotionally stunted sadistic D/s told as if for a medical journal. Some of the procedures were quite over the top as well, and the endless description of wet female organs did nothing to make this erotic. The guy was pretty yucky and dysfunctional.
Kind of a let down after I liked the demon story quite a bit better on the whole.
I could not put this book down. I just kept hoping that Simon would finally admit that he does have feelings for Maura. Even though at the beginning of the relationship he made it very clear that he did not believe in love, I still kept hoping he would grow and change. Instead he would punish her just because he could. Most of the time, he was very cold and emotionless to her.
Here’s what happened at her first punishment. She asked “Did I do something wrong?” His response was “No, Maura. I just want to punish you.” The holes in the paddle gave her blisters on her bottom and thighs. He liked the look so much, he put a second set of blisters on her. He was just getting started with this session. Later the same day, he gives her 18 strokes with the cane over the same area.
A dom should take care of his sub but he did not even give her any aftercare or time to heal.
Parts of this book I want to rate a two and other parts a five. I guess I’ll compromise and rate it a four.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Simon is cold, sadistic, reserved, cautious and dominant. Maybe if i felt there was somewhere love, i could feel more connect to the story. For sure a non-romance story. I think i would like to learn more details of what Maura thinking and feeling before they were connected. He is Dominant, for sure, he knows it... but is she submissive? Maura is more confusing or she confuses me...I didn't understand when she became SO submissive. Was she?
Sometimes in the BDSM scenes i felt so disconnected and detached..., it is so Hard Cord without love and emotional connection between them.
I did not really enjoy this book. I don't mind hardcore S/M scenes as long as I'm buying that both parties are into it. I never got the feeling that Maura was 100% committed to this lifestyle and it seemed as though she just bore it for Simon. I feel that something was lacking in this book, maybe the lack of emotional connection between the two characters. I just feel like giving Maura a meeting list for CODA! Also, the amount of grammatical errors was truly annoying.
I was disappointed in this book for several reasons. The story is heavy on pain and humiliation, which is fine as long as all parties involved in the story are into that type of BDSM. My two big problems with this book are the the emotional detachment of Simon and the repeated use of the word rape.
Scary and exciting, this is a non-romantic love story. Well written with excellent, yet subtle characterizations. It would be very easy to read this quickly and miss things. I will reread it.
Addressing severe S/M, this book is not recommended for the faint of heart or merely curious.
I'm not sure why, but all day today I've been in the mood for a book like this. For a book with all the disturbing parts of a S&M relationship. Nothing really got close to what I wanted; nothing, that is, until I read this. It really thoroughly creeped me out, especially the breast acupuncture. How in the world could someone get off on that?! Anyways, I think I've satisfied my craving for now...hopefully.
Submissive Desires is basically what it sounds like. It's all about the desires of a particular submissive named Maura. She's not a submissive at the beginning of the story though. She's just a 37-year old woman who's had an interest in BDSM for as long as she's known, but has never been brave enough to actually go after what she wanted: a Dom who'll give her both the intense pain and pleasure she craves. One night, after work, she goes onto one of the BDSM chat sites and meets a guy named Hawk. He is by far the most polite and least demanding Dom on the site, or so it seems. Over the next few months, they slowly get to know each other by chatting, emailing, and calling through disposable phones. Hawk is obsessed over Maura's safety and doesn't want her feeling unsafe in any way. Eventually, after some convincing, Maura agrees to meet Hawk on her own turf, with cell phone and back-up person and all. Soon, they start dating, waiting even more months 'till Maura actually attempts to have sex with him.
Hawk takes her into a hotel room for a 3-day weekend, hoping to show her what he's looking for in a long-term relationship. No love, no marriage, just lifetime companionship. While shocked, Maura doesn't argue. Those 3 days are filled with intimate sex, embarrassment, crying, screaming, caning, paddling, vanilla sex (a minimum of once) and more yelling out in pain. I really hope those hotel walls are soundproof.
After their 3 days are over, Hawk gets her into her car - after more groping and kissing - and tells her to call him when she gets home. They set a date to meet again, though Maura doesn't confirm it right away, still overwhelmed by the older man standing in front of her. How did she ever get herself into this? Still, she can't deny that she loves having sex with him, and also enjoys being his submissive, as difficult as it is for her. Eventually, she agrees to meet him again, and they meet again on several occasions. On one of them, Hawk pulls out a contract. Unlike the Fifty Shades of Grey sexual contract, this one's about living arrangements. Hawk wants them to live together, but it clearly states in the contract that they won't be getting married, and if they ever leave each other, they will leave with the same property they entered with. This is an eye-opener for Maura, who realizes that she's fallen hard for her Dom. Hawk realizes this after seeing the sadness in her eyes, but doesn't attempt to make any false promises. Maura leaves Hawk at the restaurant without giving him an answer. So what do you think? Does she leave him and find someone who'll actually marry her, or does she decide to give it all up for her own sexual pleasures?
I can tell you know that while the ending may or may not be happily-ever-after, it is not in any way romantic. Not in the usual sense anyways. This book is obviously intended for mature audiences, and contains, but isn't limited to, somewhat severe bondage, acupuncture, caning, paddling, intense pain, and unusual punishments. And of course, you don't want to forget the ex-SEAL, hot & stern Dom.
*Borrowed Online
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Author - Carolyn Faulkner Title - Submissive Desires Publisher - Blushing Books/ABCD Webmasters Released January 1, 2009 Genre - Erotica Borrowed Online
There is something seriously wrong in this side of the universe where uni-dimensional doucheholes are romanticized and put on a pedestal.
But this is a unique kind of wtf. This story, literally has no plot. Nada. No conflict, no resolution, no character growth, or even any other character apart from the two awful leads.
Simon is an asshole. He is obsessed with torturing- and somehow we have to understand and excuse his sadistic tendencies just by knowing that he is an ex-Navy SEAL with some mysterious CIA kind of job. I learnt nothing about him except the fact that he is a controlling bastard. But then, blessed as he is with The Dick, he is a god, and of course there is a glutton for stupidity out there for him. The glutton, i.e., Maura, is the doormat of the worst kind. She is not the whiny heroines of ye olde Harlequin- that is enjoyable. This one is the more offensive kind- she is a modern, independent, yadda yadda woman who sets no boundaries for her relationship. She is basically a highly charged sexbot who can't think of anything apart from The Dick and getting her life controlled. There is no romance. He beats her violently, and she orgasms. This fills up about 100 or so pages, and there is endless repetition. Bad grammar abounds. After reading 1024 spanking sessions and IM chats, there is no payoff. There is not even a good physical description of these two. These two asshats exist to fuck and there is nothing more to their lives or personality. This is a non-event. Even Twilight pretended to have some action.
Was difficult to read. This edition desperately needs thorough editing and proper Kindle formatting. I would have given it an additional star if it were more professionally presented.
The writer also shifts perspective too often and doesn't use standard breaks to help the reader make the transition smoothly, though this may largely be due to the poor formatting; difficult to know.
Beyond those obvious criticisms, I'm flummoxed about what to say. I finished this book three or four days ago and it has hung with me, not something I can say about most of the erotica I've read. I'm left with a sadness regarding the characters, certain that their relationship will ultimately fail, or result in the decimation of the personality of the submissive Maura.
Simon is so emotionally closeted, he would be difficult to love, but in this opposites-attract story, Maura manages to accomplish that feat. I'm not sure of the author's intention here, since we repeatedly see scenes where Simon punishes Maura for the very spunkiness of spirit that he claims is her greatest attraction for him. It seems to me that, over time, he will literally beat that spirit out of her if his emotional distance doesn't run her off first.
If Faulkner meant to give us a happily-ever-after ending, she didn't succeed with me. If she meant to give us a bittersweet love story destined for failure, then she delivered. Regardless, I would read more of her books.
I don't recommend this novel to anyone who can't handle the more extreme aspects of BDSM.
A good story about the beginnings of a BDSM-TPE relationship between Simon (Older, ex-Navy SEAL, dominant, controller) and Maura (Aspiring writer, exploring her submissive side, independent). This story reminded me of As She's Told by Anneke Jacob, but not as hard core or long. I always enjoy a book where both parties are OK with the relationship instead of, typically the guy is trying to convince and beg the girl that she wants it. Both Simon and Maura want this type of relationship, Simon more so than Maura. It flips back and forth from present day and when they first met.
Maura really enjoyed pain. It was very uncomfortable reading some of the things she went through to get sexual satisfaction. I thought Simon loved giving it to her and he was absolutely in control of everything. I think he was feeling love towards Maura, he just did not know it at the time. Bravo to Carolyn Faulkner for not making excuses as to why Simon and Maura enjoyed this lifestyle. It was refreshing to read that they were not victims of child abuse and this is why they live in the lifestyle. All in all, it was a very fast read and I liked it.
Why Not 5 Stars? There was zero backstory on Simon and Maura. Meaning, what happened in their previous relationships, were they always into BDSM, how/why did Maura enjoy pain, Simon was , what happened? Did Maura sell books for a living? Any parents, siblings, or children? Inquiring minds want to know.
The story was well written and very descriptive. Every emotion was explained in a way that allowed me to understand their relationship. This was one of the top saving graces! Without its depth the story would be another plotless erotic adventure.
The scenes were intense on a level that blew my mind. Simon made it his mission to give Maura everything she wanted and needed. He pushed her over the edge every chance he got (which was quite often).
I didn't quite understand the importance of jumping back and forth between present and past! It was unnecessary. The dynamics of their relationship would still be powerful without it.
Another thing that bothered me was their individual problems. Everything that happened was a contradiction. Simon refused to believe that he could possibly be in love with Maura. All he talked about was how he could stand to be away from her, wanted her with him always, or couldn't see himself without her. That among all his other actions scream love even though he sees it as a weakness. Maura fought against everything she initially said she wanted. Thats basically her in a nut shell. Then when it came to love, she knew she would never get the emotion from Simon so she told herself to stay detached. Yeah right!!! We all know how that ends!
This is a very disgusting book. It certainly isn’t a D/s book, it is pure Sadist/Masochist. Simon doesn’t love women and doesn’t want to love them. He enjoys punishing, often for no reason, them so viciously that it really is torture. However Maura has a safe word but never uses it. Sex is referred to as rape but it seems both enjoy it. These two are insane and certainly deserve each other. I kept reading it because I thought surely something will change. Maybe she will murder him, or he will beat her so hard so often she will have to be hospitalised. Not so. As it starts it ends, no character development. For me it was a total waste of money and time. Save your money and time. This story isn’t worth either.
I liked Submissive Desires. It was intense to say the least. The D's was GREAT! Very hot! The SM a little to much for me. I am not into needle play. Even more so now. Other then pushing my limits, it was well written and easy to read. I did not like how it went back and forth in POV. I did like reading both POV's but it was quite confusing at times whos POV you where reading which is what I did not care for. I also did not like the jump in time frame. One chapter your reading about their past, then the next their future or rather current day. I would recommend it to anyone who is into complete submission and fairly hardcore S&M
Got a bit worried about Simon's determination to give Maura all the pain she 'needed' - sadism at it's best really. But he was strong and consistent in his views and needs, which was good.
Not too happy about the way the book slithered to a halt - I was looking for a bit more HEA, I think.
I like it for the reason that I read it. I am looking for a dark erotica, not a love story. This one qualifies. I enjoyed the fact that some scenes are practically rape, but it is counted as a dubcon since the sub has a safeword, but never used it.
5 stars for the good writing, but her lifestyle really didn't appeal to me. I appreciate some good D/s, but her idea of being dominated completely and having all that pain is so not my bag. The female character really was into it and said so many, many times, and the Dom certainly gave it to her; but all those beatings gave me pause.
I did enjoy that it was different from other books I've read in that it went from the present, to the past, describing how they met, and how their relationship flourished. It was all very plausible....no strange CIA stuff, or scenarios that strained your credibility.
What I really loved about the book (apart from the hot hot scenes), was that Maura understood Simon. She could see beneath the surface, the hard shell and could recognise the soft heart deep inside. She accepted that He would not or perhaps could not give her the soft words, the romance, but He cared and loved her just the same.
It takes strength and maturity to look beyond the words and understand the actions, and I just adored that strength in Maura. She knew that actions do speak louder than words and she kept listening for them.
This was just okay for me. 2.5 stars. I really wish Faulkner explored Simons feelings more. He is a cold Dom but the reader does see bits of his emotions. They were never brought to light and hung in the shadows of his subconscious. So a emotional attachment never grew between this D/s. It was really just an okay read for me. I always like to see love grow from any type of long lasting physical relationship.
For a BDSM book this one had too much pointless and repetitive "telling" about how good they were to each other and not much action. The few scenes that were actually described in present were too bland and unimaginative as far as BDSM goes, or rather written in a way that you feel detached from what is going on. Not erotic in the slightest. And as other reviews mention, it was surprising to see so many words "rape" while describing a consensual BDSM relationship.