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Hammer #9.1
Control: The Three of Pentacles
Jim is still nervous of his relationship with Marcus, still unnerved that he needs the control of a Master. He's so worried about messing up that he starts to make mistakes, ones that he knows Marcus will disapprove of. It's up to Marcus to show Jim that he's always going to be just what Marcus wants.
Meanwhile, Montana and Billy are dealing with the loss of Tanny's dearest friend, and Billy has to make Montana understand that Billy will always see what Tanny needs. Montana is hesitant to deal with his feelings, but Billy knows what's best. Set in the Hammer series, Control follows Marcus and Jim and Montana and Billy as they explore exactly what the word means to each of them.
Meanwhile, Montana and Billy are dealing with the loss of Tanny's dearest friend, and Billy has to make Montana understand that Billy will always see what Tanny needs. Montana is hesitant to deal with his feelings, but Billy knows what's best. Set in the Hammer series, Control follows Marcus and Jim and Montana and Billy as they explore exactly what the word means to each of them.
65 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
6 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Sean Michael
663 books1,211 followersOften referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 4, 2009
I can't think of anything I didn't like about this visit with Marcus/jim and Billy/montana. I smiled, I squirmed. I wanted to safe-word for the boys but knew they needed it. I cried and I smiled for them as well. I wanted to hug all of them.
Marcus and Billy step up to take care of their men in astute ways. If all couples were so focused on each other it would be nice.
It would be nice to see Oliver get jack under control. He is really needing some of his own troubles focused on. He seems to have lost sight of how to be a friend.
Marcus and Billy step up to take care of their men in astute ways. If all couples were so focused on each other it would be nice.
It would be nice to see Oliver get jack under control. He is really needing some of his own troubles focused on. He seems to have lost sight of how to be a friend.
October 27, 2009
Control: A Hammer Story is a worthy addition to Sean Michael's series based around a group of men who met at a BDSM club called the Hammer. Control is actually two stories together, sort of a duplex edition, sharing the theme of the control the submissive person in a D/s relationship needs from his master.
In the first story, Jim deliberated breaks Marcus's rule about no coffee. His friends offer it to him and he doesn't like to say no, but coffee causes him to be jittery and out of control. Marcus has to take care of his sub and show him that they are meant to be in a permanent relationship.
In the second story, Montana's friend Margaret has died and he can't deal with the loss. It's up to Billy to take control and give him what he needs, and give him the security that he craves.
The common theme is control. The Hammer stories are an excellent series. This particular volume is part of Torquere's Arcana series, which has the most awful covers. If you go to buy this book, ignore the cover. What's inside is worth your purchase!
In the first story, Jim deliberated breaks Marcus's rule about no coffee. His friends offer it to him and he doesn't like to say no, but coffee causes him to be jittery and out of control. Marcus has to take care of his sub and show him that they are meant to be in a permanent relationship.
In the second story, Montana's friend Margaret has died and he can't deal with the loss. It's up to Billy to take control and give him what he needs, and give him the security that he craves.
The common theme is control. The Hammer stories are an excellent series. This particular volume is part of Torquere's Arcana series, which has the most awful covers. If you go to buy this book, ignore the cover. What's inside is worth your purchase!
July 13, 2024
I love Marcus and Jim and Billy and Montana, they are my favorite couples in the whole series. I live to hate Marcus for the way he pushes Jim and the things he "forces" him to do. I want to smack him half the time. I love how through and through Billy loves Montana and over and over again gives Montana what he needs no matter what. Control is an excellent novelette for all Marcus/Jim and Billy/Montana fans to read.
November 20, 2011
This is number 9.1 in the Hammer series, and it leaves me with with only one question: how on earth does Michael manage to keep writing about Tanny and Billy without saying anything new?
September 8, 2019
Two subs two stories
It's great when you read a series and they give you a update on the people and the story... Loved the whole story
It's great when you read a series and they give you a update on the people and the story... Loved the whole story
November 2, 2012
Some difficulties in the Hammer universe
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 8/10
PROS:
- I’ve read all about Billy and Montana (in Found, Snared, and Owned, as well as various other short stories), but I really enjoyed seeing them from Marcus and Jim’s points of view. (see cons below also)
- The Marcus and Jim story here isn’t as sweet as some others I’ve read with these two characters (their original story is told in Bent); they’re working through some issues and Marcus is mostly the Stern Dom. But even though his affection isn’t as obvious, it’s still evident.
- There are some conversations in this story where Doms and subs are very much on equal footing. When something tragic happens in Tanny’s life, Jim offers Billy some suggestions man-to-man as to how to deal with Tanny, and rather than scoffing at Jim because he’s a sub, Billy actually listens and takes Jim’s advice.
- I always feel a little sorry for subs when their Doms make them do things they don’t particularly enjoy--there’s a bit of exhibitionism in this story, which Jim doesn’t like. However, once he relaxes a bit in the club, I thought that scene was super hot. And of course, it shows how much he trusts Marcus and wants to please him.
CONS:
- The first part of this novella shows Tanny-Billy from Marcus’s and Jim’s perspectives, but there’s no vice-versa that shows Marcus-Jim from Tanny’s and Billy’s perspectives.
- One thing I would have liked to see is another scene where all the friends were together again after Tanny had dealt with a bit of his grief and was close to being back to normal. When the friends are all together in this story, Tanny is never himself because he’s grieving and is silent and withdrawn.
Overall comments: If you haven’t read other stories about these characters, this novella might seem a bit odd at first because it dives right into their quirks without much explanation. Tanny and Billy, in particular, are in a bad place during this story, so if you haven’t read any of their novel-length stories, you might not get a very favorable view of them.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 8/10
PROS:
- I’ve read all about Billy and Montana (in Found, Snared, and Owned, as well as various other short stories), but I really enjoyed seeing them from Marcus and Jim’s points of view. (see cons below also)
- The Marcus and Jim story here isn’t as sweet as some others I’ve read with these two characters (their original story is told in Bent); they’re working through some issues and Marcus is mostly the Stern Dom. But even though his affection isn’t as obvious, it’s still evident.
- There are some conversations in this story where Doms and subs are very much on equal footing. When something tragic happens in Tanny’s life, Jim offers Billy some suggestions man-to-man as to how to deal with Tanny, and rather than scoffing at Jim because he’s a sub, Billy actually listens and takes Jim’s advice.
- I always feel a little sorry for subs when their Doms make them do things they don’t particularly enjoy--there’s a bit of exhibitionism in this story, which Jim doesn’t like. However, once he relaxes a bit in the club, I thought that scene was super hot. And of course, it shows how much he trusts Marcus and wants to please him.
CONS:
- The first part of this novella shows Tanny-Billy from Marcus’s and Jim’s perspectives, but there’s no vice-versa that shows Marcus-Jim from Tanny’s and Billy’s perspectives.
- One thing I would have liked to see is another scene where all the friends were together again after Tanny had dealt with a bit of his grief and was close to being back to normal. When the friends are all together in this story, Tanny is never himself because he’s grieving and is silent and withdrawn.
Overall comments: If you haven’t read other stories about these characters, this novella might seem a bit odd at first because it dives right into their quirks without much explanation. Tanny and Billy, in particular, are in a bad place during this story, so if you haven’t read any of their novel-length stories, you might not get a very favorable view of them.
May 13, 2010
The first part of this book features Marcus and Jim and starts off with Jim breaking Marcus' coffee rule. When Jim realizes Marcus is going to punish him in front of their friends he has a panic attack and Marcus has to give him a reminder of who is in control. Spankings and toy play, both in private and at club Hammer, serve to show Jim he is loved but that he needs to let Marcus be the one in control.
Jim is deliberately testing Marcus and his coffee rule but in the end is shown who is the one in control. There's a bit of fun at the beginning, a panic attack, spankings, toys and a really interesting dinner out at the club. Jim in an easy access kilt and a dim setting made for a very satisfied Marcus and a happy sub who's learned his lesson. For now.
The second half of the story is about Billy and Tanny, who is suffering from the death of Margaret, his friend and mentor. Billy has been treating Tanny almost with kid gloves because of his loss until he realizes that what Tanny needs is a firm hand. Billy uses a combination of spankings, toys, talking and love to show Tanny that he's in control and that Tanny can let go and place himself in Billy's hands and he will always be loved and taken care of. Tanny must also make decisions about his work and an unexpected gift.
Tanny on the other hand is trying to deal with Margaret's death. And even though on the outside it looks like he's coping he's really slowly coming apart. Billy has to take a tough stance with him and then help him to deal with his emotions and some difficult decisions that concerns their future. Spankings, tender loving care and hot sex mixed with lots of talking and support help Billy get through to Tanny.
I enjoyed reading this short story featuring two of the couples from The Hammer series. The novella is trademark Sean Michael. Easy to read with hot sex, lots of 'love' and 'yours' sprinkled into the scenes and a satisfying and loving ending.
Jim is deliberately testing Marcus and his coffee rule but in the end is shown who is the one in control. There's a bit of fun at the beginning, a panic attack, spankings, toys and a really interesting dinner out at the club. Jim in an easy access kilt and a dim setting made for a very satisfied Marcus and a happy sub who's learned his lesson. For now.
The second half of the story is about Billy and Tanny, who is suffering from the death of Margaret, his friend and mentor. Billy has been treating Tanny almost with kid gloves because of his loss until he realizes that what Tanny needs is a firm hand. Billy uses a combination of spankings, toys, talking and love to show Tanny that he's in control and that Tanny can let go and place himself in Billy's hands and he will always be loved and taken care of. Tanny must also make decisions about his work and an unexpected gift.
Tanny on the other hand is trying to deal with Margaret's death. And even though on the outside it looks like he's coping he's really slowly coming apart. Billy has to take a tough stance with him and then help him to deal with his emotions and some difficult decisions that concerns their future. Spankings, tender loving care and hot sex mixed with lots of talking and support help Billy get through to Tanny.
I enjoyed reading this short story featuring two of the couples from The Hammer series. The novella is trademark Sean Michael. Easy to read with hot sex, lots of 'love' and 'yours' sprinkled into the scenes and a satisfying and loving ending.
September 19, 2012
It has been a while since I read a Hammer story, and I remember really liking most of them. For some reason, that wasn't really the case here.
The first part is about Marcus and Jim. I really struggled with the dialog this time around. It was very choppy and stunted with an almost elementary feel to it. It made their whole relationship seem extremely childish, an I just wasn't feeling it this time around.
Part 2 was Billy and Tanny. The dialog was a little better here which made their relationship seem a little more mature than Marcus and Jim. Tanny has a lot more serious issues he is and has dealt with which I think allowed me to care more about his character.
All in all, I think I'll stick to the full-length stories from now on.
The first part is about Marcus and Jim. I really struggled with the dialog this time around. It was very choppy and stunted with an almost elementary feel to it. It made their whole relationship seem extremely childish, an I just wasn't feeling it this time around.
Part 2 was Billy and Tanny. The dialog was a little better here which made their relationship seem a little more mature than Marcus and Jim. Tanny has a lot more serious issues he is and has dealt with which I think allowed me to care more about his character.
All in all, I think I'll stick to the full-length stories from now on.
May 10, 2012
Another visit with some of the Hammer guys. This story deals mainly with two of the couples. Jim is still battling with accepting himself and Marcus works to help him find his place of peace. Tanny has lost Margaret who has been such a big part of his life since he began his recover with Billy. Billy has to learn how to help Montana best deal with his grief. Both stories are very emotionally.
March 26, 2014
Although the story was short I greatly enjoyed it and I was surprised how much coffee Jim started drinking, Marcus is doing well keeping his sub under control.
It was a wonderful scene, but seeing Tanny the way he was made me feel so very sad but I'm so so glad that Billy was there to help him with his loss.
Although I wanna see more of Marcus and Jim sometimes dreams don't come true.
It was a wonderful scene, but seeing Tanny the way he was made me feel so very sad but I'm so so glad that Billy was there to help him with his loss.
Although I wanna see more of Marcus and Jim sometimes dreams don't come true.
May 13, 2011
My 2 favorite couples in one book. Loved it!
January 7, 2013
Rating 3.5
January 23, 2016
Corta pero picante
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews