Cutting Cords

Cutting Cords #1

by Mickie B. Ashling

When Sloan Driscoll and Cole Fujiwara become reluctant roommates, neither man is willing to share too much. Sloan is instantly attracted to Cole but knows it's a hopeless cause; Cole has a steady girlfriend. But one night they share a joint, and Cole opens a window neither anticipated.

A relationship may be impossible—both men are living with heart-breaking secrets. While Sloan is smart, sassy, and a brilliant graphic artist, he’s also a pothead with severe body image problems. Cole, a former major league pitcher, has his own personal crisis: he's going blind. Sloan and Cole are suffering on so many levels, they might not realize that the ultimate salvation could be within each other’s arms.

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Contemporary, Romance, Disability, Gay, Erotica

Paperback

First published November 1, 2009

About the author

MICKIE B. ASHLING is the pseudonym of a multi-published author who resides in a suburb outside Chicago. She is a product of her upbringing in various cultures, having lived in Japan, the Philippines, Spain, and the Middle East. Fluent in three languages, she’s a citizen of the world and an interesting mixture of East and West.

Since 2009, Mickie has written several dozen novels in the LGBTQ+ genre—which have been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, and German. A lot of her backlist is “Under Construction” as she slowly transitions from traditional publishing to representing herself. Her goal is to have most of her novels back in the universe by the end of 2023.

CONTACT INFO:
Email: mickie.ashling@gmail.com
Website: mickieashling.com
Blog: mickiebashling.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mickie.ashling
Twitter: @MickieAshling
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/micki...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickieashling/

Reviews

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please just slice me now. Oh the internal turmoil Sloan experiences cut me to a quick. My good friend, Dee Wy, did NOT mention this book contained cutting. It's a touchy subject for me since I'm a recovered cutter. I don't think any book as come as close to what cutting meant for me as this book did. I cried when I read how Sloan felt about himself.

Ms. Ashling did a marvelous job at capturing the essence of why some people cut themselves. I completely sympathized with Sloan. I can understand why he cut himself and also know he is no painslut. The BDSM part to this book was interesting. Personally, I found Max to be a bit predatory yet in a seductive and okay way. I'm glad he ended up being a good guy. Still, his misunderstanding of Sloan caused me a bit of fury. Since I've tried impact play to replace the cutting when I was younger and learned quickly it didn't do it for me, I could easily predict Sloan's response.

Cole is another character I understand and this time, empathize. To loose one's sight is a complete horrifying thought for me. For Cole, it's a complete game changer. (No pun intended.) His response to it and how he interacts with his family and friends is better than I actually would have anticipated. His interaction with Sloan was maddening at times.

What confused me about this story was how quickly it resolved. One minute Cole and Sloan were just "coming together" and then it's a happily ever after. What just happened? *blink blink* This book is highly recommended to m/m readers who enjoy angst and a coming out of the closet theme. The kinky BDSM is just a bonus.

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an excellent story! Everything Mickie B. Ashling writes is so beautifully put together, the lengths she goes in researching topics always means I learn something fascinating and it adds a dimension to her stories that I definitely appreciate.

There's an interesting twist here which I can't discuss without using spoiler tags, but the whole thing was really nicely done and made for a truly creative story.

I did the audio version and John Solo was spectacular as always. Gah, his Max voice was so hot I seriously got shivers... soooo good.

[Don Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this was the most intense of Ms Ashling's books that I have read to date. It was a tough read for me because cutting is not something I understand nor a comfortable with. My heart broke for Sloan when time after time Cole hurt him with his denial. Both Sloan and Cole were so real and flawed that by the end I adored them both. Definitely no insta-love in this story but a slow burn to a love that saved both men. You nailed this one Ms Ashling.

[Jason Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters in this book. They were flawed and real.

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.


Sloan Driscoll and Cole Fujiwara are thrown together as roommates by their fathers. Both older men had played professional baseball together, and when Sloan needs to relocate to New York City to attend college, Cole’s father automatically offers Cole’s place to Sloan— without Cole’s permission and against his wishes.

Sloan is trying to start over in a location far away from his father’s influence. He has a history of drug abuse and possession arrests, and he also has a history of cutting. Neither issue has disappeared from his life, but he’s trying to keep his drug use and his cutting minimal. The problem occurs the moment he meets Cole and has to listen to his verbally abusive tirades.

Cole is losing his sight due to retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease, and he’s struggling to cope with his impending blindness. Its cost him his career in baseball, and it looks like it’s going to cost him much more. He finds it extremely difficult to cope with the thought of going blind, and even though he’s working with a blind psychologist at the Lighthouse Institute, he finds the disease demeaning. He refuses to tell anyone about it, except for his parents and fiancé, Julianna. He definitely will not tell Sloan. No how, no way.

Apparently enemies attract, because the chemistry between the two men explodes one night when they are arguing, and Sloan ends up giving Cole a blow job. Cole has always refused to acknowledge his attraction to men, but now he has one more thing to struggle with besides his impending blindness. The two start a push-pull relationship, alternating between being hot for each other and Cole being frosty and aloof. In the meantime, Sloan has met a professional photographer who wants to give Sloan work as a high-paid fashion model. Sloan, who has major body image issues, refuses to believe that anyone can desire him for his looks, but he does enter into an affair with the photographer. Just one more thing to complicate his life, and then the photographer turns out to be into BDSM and tries to make Sloan believe that pain is the answer to his problems.

This story had a lot going on, but to be honest, I never felt the romance. In fact, when Sloan finally declared that he loved Cole, it made sense that the declaration wasn’t even to Cole himself. They were two polar opposites, and it is remarkable to me that this story can even carry the label M/M romance. It was more like M/M sex with a little bit of BDSM and a little bit of M/F sex thrown in, exploding into a mish-mash of subplots woven together by a miserable SOB who was going blind and an amoral young man who needed constant stroking.

The only thing that kept me from giving this one star is John Solo’s narration. He had a much wider range of vocalizations than he has had in any of the other audiobooks I’ve heard him narrate. Although I didn’t like the voice he gave Cole, it was actually perfect for Cole’s abrasive personality. After I finished the book, I discovered that this is the first in a series. It’s definitely one I will not read or listen to, and I can’t honestly recommend this story as an M/M romance.

1.5 stars

[Elizabetta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m making a concerted effort to get to those books that have been on my TBR list for a long time. This one has been languishing for more than three years (!) It must have been the blurb that drew me to it in the first place: two young adults, Cole and Sloan, are thrown together as roommates, each with their own big issues. There’s physical disability, self harm/cutting, drug abuse, family drama, BDSM. Guide Dogs of America. And much more.

And that’s ultimately the problem. There is a hell of a lot going on in this story. The author has a lot to juggle and unfortunately the end result doesn’t meet the promise of the premise.The hodgepodge leads to awkward character development, the barest of world building, and a rushed romance. The dialogue is stiff and stilted. Honestly, I couldn’t connect to any of these people. In fact most of them annoyed me most of the time. Cole is a cheater-- he cheats on his girlfriend and, then, on Sloan. Cole uses his girlfriend, even when he has a hard on for Sloan; he cheats on both of them until he realizes that she doesn’t love him in the right way, and that Sloan means more to him. But Cole keeps insisting he isn’t gay. Oy vey.

And Sloan has such self esteem issues. Between the cutting, the drugs, the self hate, it’s hard to imagine what Cole sees in him. Oh, yeah. He has a nine-inch dong. Whoop dee doo.

And their parents… well, their fathers come out the worst here. They are two pushy, overbearing, harm-inducing people. They were given short shrift in the story even though they seemed to be the source of most of the guys’ problems.

The issues raised in the story (listed above) are heart-tugging and important. But I can’t confuse the issues with the characters. These guys aren’t real at all, they didn’t read like real people to me. They’re more like vehicles used to expound on the important issues. This is ultimately why the book didn’t really work for me and why I couldn’t buy into the romance part of the story.

I ended up skimming through the second half, but I don’t think I missed much, it’s pretty boilerplate. Nor do I feel a need to read any more in this series. From what I’ve read in those story blurbs, the soap opera grows to even greater eye-rolling proportions. Not for me.

[Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars

This was really good. I was engrossed with Cole. Coming to terms with losing your eyesight, that would be hard.
I liked that he was having to work at accepting it. He wanted to make sure he was independent when the day came, but he was still half trying to deny that it was ever going to happen.

Sloan I enjoyed also. Cutting is a hard concept to find written well. This was done pretty well, without being to over the top.

The kinky…wile good, I just wanted to get Sloan out of there. It didn't seem like it would be a healthy choice for him. BDSM is not for everyone, and I never felt like it was right for Sloan. But the little bit of scenes there were, were good. I also, didn't like him being with someone else.

The ending was lacking. It just wrapped up to quick and easily. Idk how I think it should have ended, but not quit so abruputly.
Solid read. Very enjoyable.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot; more so at the beginning than the end. The slow build of Cole and Sloan's relationship was a treat to read. That love helped them both conquer their individual psychological trauma was inspiring. Yeah I'm a kinky sap. **shrugs** The D/s parts with Max and Sloan were strange to me. I'm not saying they weren't hot, just strange. And while I'm typically an HEA kind of chick the last 26 pages or so felt rushed and too neatly resolved. Great Book. Mickie rocks!

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Overall, I really I enjoyed this book. It wasn't until about halfway through that I began to have a few niggles. I didn't have problems with Sloan getting together with Max - it wasn't cheating b/c Sloan and Cole weren't in any sort of relationship and they had only hooked up a couple of times - I think it was the actual scenes they had. I generally like BDSM, but here it left me feeling sort of let down and uncomfortable at times - I think because it seemed to me like Max and Sloan were developing a more serious relationship than he and Cole ever had until the very end. In fact, we never really see Sloan and Cole's relationship much at all. Sorry if this doesn't make sense; it's very hard to explain unless you read it :( Like I said though, this only takes up about a fourth of the book so I really liked it overall.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.5 stars

Cutting Cords is the first book in a series of the same name, and this is the second edition of the book. Sloan is getting triggered on the regular, but he keeps fighting to take care of Cole, physically and sexually. And, I struggled to understand why. Sloan is making more friends, one who is a model and tries to get him into modeling. Sloan’s body image issues make him unwilling to try, but a hotshot photographer insists he will be successful—plus the sexy man really seems to have a way to help Sloan mitigate his psychoses—though BDSM. If only Sloan could forget his attraction to Cole.

This is more a New Adult coming of age/coming out story than a romance. At its essence, this story is about Sloan and Cole trying to prove that they can make their lives work independent of the concerned (and occasionally hostile) parents meddling in their day-to-day.

Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.

[Lou Sylvre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stole my heart and sold it to Sloan, the MC. More on that later. First a quick description, without spoilers.

A young Sloan heads east to New York to study graphic arts, a place to stay arranged by his domineering father—and the domineering father of Cole, a slightly older roommate who is losing his eyesight and trying to keep it secret. But Sloan has some pretty heavy secrets, too, and he's facing lots of choices, such as whether to do some top-of-the-line fashion modeling, and which old habits to fall back to when things don't go well. The story has some real highs that crash to real lows, while these two men dance around each other, and each man struggles to figure out how to manage being himself—not who he's expected to be or pretending to be, and how to come out of that struggle whole and just maybe strengthened and satisfied by love.

The first time I saw the cover image for Cutting Cords, I was intrigued. I clicked over to read the blurb and an excerpt, and I thought it sounded like a good book, well-written, not pretentious. But I confess, I had a million other things on my mind, and lined up to read, and this one never quite made it onto the list.

Until.

I read some reviews for this book's successor, Vessel. Several reviewers said that they so loved Cutting Cords, but hated—yes, that word was used—Vessel. I like to be fair. So in response to the scathing nature of those reviews I decided I would read both books so that I would have the whole story and do my own reviews. This will be my review for Cutting Cords, and I'll review Vessel separately.

The reader first meets Sloan at the airport as he's leaving for New York. To be honest, I didn't know whether I should dislike Sloan (as I did his father, perhaps, it turns out, somewhat unfairly). Sloan's attitude seemed too adolescent for his true age. But as I've said, MIckie B. Ashling's prose is sleek—not at all showy but with a natural flow that carried me along. Then, too, as I've said I'd made a commitment to myself to read not only this book but the next. So I kept reading and before long I found myself inside Sloan's skin, hurting with him, fearing with him, and experiencing the horrible empty feeling of being completely impotent (no, not sexually). He certainly still annoyed me some of the time, but not as much as love interest Cole annoyed me. Ultimately I stood foursquare in Sloan's corner. Since this is romance and a happy-ever-after is expected, I don't think it's a spoiler for me to say that when Sloan found his HEA, I rejoiced.

Ashling has presented some tough images in this novel, delved into some of the darker, more painful parts of the human mind and heart. It remained for me a fairly light read nevertheless, and to tell the truth I appreciated Ashling's dose of difficult reality. It took it from a good book, to a book that will stand out in my mind as having meaning. Plus I really love Sloan.

[Louise M Sanderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

So. There's not much to be said about this. The book is short, the writing is mediocre, the characters could have been really interesting if they didn't seem crazy because of the terrible pacing and the unrealistic dialogues the book has.

The characters go from yelling to crying from one sentence to the other, there is no description to contextualize feelings or even the setting. It feels like someone told the writer that the dialogue should tell the story, and so we have really intense dialogue without a narration to keep up with it.

Every time that there is some narration, it happens between dialogue scenes, and it just sums up several actions or sums up several things that were clear from the previous dialogue itself. When there is some narration during the dialogues, it just repeats what the lines that were said stated.

So the writing is really boring and the dialogue is plainly weird and unrealistic and filled with up and downs without any thread connecting them.

The writer should develop more the plot and have the dialogue skip the boring parts with thanks and hello, and should make them more realistic with sentences that match what people say, their pauses, and a description of body language here and there.

I finished the book because it was short and people I follow and respect praised the book. I ended up disappointed and anxious to finish it to get it over with.

I didn't enjoy it and I skimmed 10% of each page after the first half.

Also, the RP (the disease that causes Cole to go blind) information provided to one character took form in the longest line any dialogue had and it was almost Wikipedia pasted.
The BDSM was just bad—expositive and cheap.
The number of times the characters call each other by their names was even unsettling.


The book has many flaws and it seems rushed, poorly edited, and tries to deal with too many things at once and fails to handle even one of them right.

Even the self harm felt like a joke at some point, and the way it was relativized to almost nothing after it was made to be so important felt like cheating to get that part of the story tied up.

The blindness copying mechanisms were the only good thing, but even the disease seemed so lightly addressed that everything about it felt flat at a certain point.

Anyway.

I do not recommend this book. I didn't enjoy it, but I keep the 1* rating to books I cannot even finish.

[Amy Stauffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

If you’re looking for light and fluffy, this is not it. It has a medium amount of angst from both main characters. That doesn't detract from the quality of the book, though. This IS a good book, but it does touch on some sensitive subjects including mental health issues, self-harm, and a brief introduction to BDSM by a side character. If any of those things are triggering points, then I wouldn’t recommend this book. If you’re still interested, I really believe you will like this book.

It’s not easy for anyone that has familiar expectations of how their lives should be. Despite if said expectations are assumed or real. Sloan believes he doesn’t live up to be the person his dad wants him to be/wishes he were, and Cole’s family has set expectations for what his life is supposed to look like. Disappointment and feelings of being stifled can weigh you down, and they both struggle with it. Add on issues they are both hiding from the other one, and it quickly becomes a mess.

This story is painful at times, but has a lot of moments where hope starts to peak through. The writing is superb, and it’s easy to become enthralled in the storyline. I could feel the emotions and clearly picture each scene as is played out.

This is book one in the series, and it comes out swinging. It easily grabbed my attention, and kept it. I’m looking forward to reading the others that will follow. It doesn’t end in a cliffhanger, so if you want to read it as a standalone, you can, but I believe you will find yourself wanting more as well.

***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***

[James Garman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of two men, one of whom is defiantly and proudly gay but has issues and a man who is dating a woman who he plans to marry. They are very different people but are more or less forced to live in the same apartment when the gay young moves to New York City to go to College. It is a family thing.

Each of them have serious issues that neither really have a handle on and have to negotiate life. Perhaps not too surprisingly, they find the solutions of each of their problems by developing a heart connection between the two of them.

It is a fairly short novel, but presents a real love affair with plenty of hot sex occurring as well as two men learning to accept each others whole being, the good and the bad.

[Seregil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was quite good, but I would rate it a bit under 4 stars (maybe 3.5) because it seemed to me as most of it was about the characters avoiding to actually do something relevant (to the plot and to each other). I know it was about getting the reader to actually know the protagonists and understand the intricacies of just how screwed up each one was in his own way and I wouldn't have minded if, after they finally decide they're meant to be together everything wasn't rushed. I would have really liked to read more about how their stubborn fathers found out, but it was only a short paragraph on that and it left me wanting more. Sigh... maybe I'm too much into the family drama aspect, but one of the things I like about contemporary gay romance is how their love is received and how it creates an impact on the other characters.

[Ayanna]

I actually attempted this quite a long while ago, so I don't remember why I gave up. I suppose it's an indication of something, though, that I couldn't force myself to finish it...

Oh, wait. Some memories are vaguely trickling back. I think I thought it was just...overly melodramatic. It's as Sherlock said: "I'm used to mystery at one end of my cases. Both ends is too much work." Both of the characters just had so many problems and so much angsting on both ends that it got rather annoying. I think I couldn't see how they could possibly help each other except in a deus ex machina way when they couldn't even handle themselves. Yeah, I get that some people are just like that - they can see how to help others but not themselves, but they didn't seem like the type; too damn self-absorbed for it to make sense that they'd actually want to help anyone for the others' sakes and not their own.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this on my shelf forever and never got around to reading the series. Honestly individually both Sloan and Cole are fascinating characters and I would love to explore a story about each one of them. But I really don't want a story exploring a relationship with them together. It becomes to much drama and angst and I felt more like it was a train wreak waiting to happen. I also really didn't like the A Charming Ghost BDSM angle. It just didn't seem healthy or sexy the way it was being explored.

[Donald W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cords

Cutting cords is a great read, especially if you chose the audible edition added to the book. The voice charioteers lets you imagine the settings like it was a movie in your head. Do both and follow along. Compliments to the writer and the voices. Excellent job and welcome by all involved.

[Eve]

Dreamspinner freebie
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...

[Kriss · Rating 4 out of 5]

2021.január.31.Vasárnap □elolvastam

Főszereplők: Cole Fujiwara és Sloan Driscoll

Emlékeztető: Sloan, egy meleg fiú, odaköltözik Colehoz, egy gyerekkori barátjához. Nincs túl jó fogadtatásban része, de végül is hamar beilleszkedik, és lassan megszokják egymást. Colenak van egy barátnője, Juliana, közben nem tudja eldönteni, hogy melyik irányba menjen: Vegye el feleségül Julianát (csak hogy megfeleljen az apjának) vagy adja be a derekát és vallja be Sloannek, hogy ő is meleg és ugyanúgy akarja őt. Vannak egyéb problémák, amelyek felkavarják a dolgokat, például az, hogy Cole egy szembetegségben szenved és kezd megvakulni, vagy az, hogy Sloan titokban vagdossa magát. Az is említésre méltó, hogy a dolgok közepette, Cole és Sloan összeszűrik a levet az ágyban és próbálnak nemet mondani a kölcsönös vonzalomnak. A végén rendeződnek a dolgok és összejönnek.

Tetszett:
-nagyjából minden tetszett, az elejét kihagytam, de utána beindultak a dolgok
-Sloan karaktere és személyisége borzalmasan tetszett, laza, nem törődöm stílus, de azért törődött amikor kellett. Szerettem a beszólásait, a modorát, hogy kiált maga mellett mindig és mindig meg volt a sajàt véleménye, szerettem az emberekhez való viszonyulását. Ennek ellenére, volt a karakterében valami tragikus. Mindig aktív, lezser és erős volt, de legbelűl borzasztóan szenvedett. Ilyenkor olyan nyugtató hatású dolgokhoz fordult mint a vagdosás, a cigi meg a fű.

Nem tetszett:
-abban a sok oldalban amit olvastam nem történt sok minden, valahogy többre számítottam
-kicsit unalmas volt

Összességében:
Nem volt rossz, de hiányoltam belőle a szenvedélyt. A végén felszínre jöttek az érzelmek és kimondtàk egymàsnak a nagy szavakat, de kicsit hihetetlen volt és nem volt semmi alapja, mármint...az olvasottakból az derült ki számomra, hogy vonzódnak egymáshoz, de annál többet nem làttam az egészben. A happy end nem volt valami meggyőző számomra.
Nagyon sok dolog van amit kihagyok vagy nem egészen értek, ez nem az író hibája. Annyi rejtett jelentés és annyi kifinomult részlet van a könyvben, hogy nehéz szavakba öntenem. A szereplőkben több van mint, amit leírtam. Mindketten a saját "démonjaikkal" küzdenek. Sloan soványsága, a modelség, Max, Cole és a baseball, John, Tin, Emily, a főszereplők szülei mind kulcsfontosságúak a könyvben. Még nem láttam egy könyvben sem olyan férfi karaktert, aki sovány és elégedetlen magával. Minden pasi szereplő arrogáns és öntelt a romantikus könyvekben és kezd elegem lenni belőle. Érdekes volt Sloannel úgymond megismerkedni, ő az első fiú karakter aki elégedetlen a kinézetével.


☆☆☆☆ nagyon gondolkodom a 3 és 4 csillag között, de úgy döntöttem 4-et adok, nagyon vékony 4.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cutting Cords is an intense rollercoaster of emotions written by Mickie B. Ashling. Each character is going through a difficult time period and Ashling takes us through this process with no easy solutions or happy endings. There are cultural differences, sexual identity crises, family dynamics, outside influences, and their own internal battles to deal with in Cords.

One would think in all of this that there would be no time for romance, but Ashling manages to include time for this also along with “fun” with other people too. I think it is the first time that I have read a book and not gotten mad when a main character has slept with someone else (spoiler alert), but it actually influences the decisions and growth of the characters. It makes sense and I do not often say that when it comes to a romance book. (I actually cannot remember a time that I have said it, but I might have so I am hedging my bets (laugh).)

Catt Ford’s cover design work is good, I am just not a fan of it for this book. This is not a horror book nor is it that dark of a book. There is humor and hope in it. This is actually a book where the cover does not tell the tale.

Cords is a quick read that is told from both point of views without dedicated chapters but with obvious first sentence cues as to who is speaking. I like books written in the first person and do not get enough of them. I recommend Cords to everyone for its characters, their growth, and their unique happy-ending.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

[Adara · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this review is actually on a re-read. I first read this story when it came out, when I was still very new to M/M, and before it was known that it would be the first book of a series. It was a standalone back when I first read it. I remember being happy with the story back then, and that is still true now.

Both main characters are damaged in unique ways and have issues to work through: Sloan with his cutting and self-worth/self-image issues, and Cole with his pending blindness and new-found interest in Sloan and his family heritage and expectations. They are a unique combination.

It's interesting to go back now and reread Sloan's interest in Max, a photographer who wants to make Sloan into a model. Max thinks that Sloan likes the pain of the cutting and is a pain slut, so he introduces Sloan to the world of BDSM, thinking that he can help Sloan control his cutting urges by providing him with a different outlet to receive and process the pain. However, that's now how Sloan really is. (Cole, being "well read", is aware of it, but is not a Dom.)

This story ends with an epilogue around 10 months later. They seem to be perfectly happy with their lives and how things are. However, how Cole's family (at least his father) reacts to finding out about their relationship is glossed over with just a couple of paragraphs in the epilogue. I really hope this is going to be explored some more in the next book. Based on the blurb, I think it might be. That particular aspect being glossed over didn't sit well with me. It was too "I should mention this just so it's no longer a loose end" afterthought. I know I didn't feel that way the first time around. My feeling that way now is due to having read a lot more stories and having refined my own taste some between reads.

Knowing that there is NOW more to their story (Vessel & Cleave) where Sloan is introduced to a different aspect of the BDSM lifestyle AND someone new, I'm very curious how this will play out. (I haven't completely avoided spoilers, so I have an idea of what to expect.) I know the first time I read the story, I was happy with their happy ending. Now I look at it and think it was "too tidy." I can see how there really should be more to the story. There are more temptations in store.

Merged review:

So, this review is actually on a re-read. I first read this story when it came out, when I was still very new to M/M, and before it was known that it would be the first book of a series. It was a standalone back when I first read it. I remember being happy with the story back then, and that is still true now.

Both main characters are damaged in unique ways and have issues to work through: Sloan with his cutting and self-worth/self-image issues, and Cole with his pending blindness and new-found interest in Sloan and his family heritage and expectations. They are a unique combination. I didn't particularly like the 1st person for Sloan, 3rd person for Cole constant switching of POV, though. I suppose it did make it easy to know when we switched, but it was still annoying.

It's interesting to go back now and reread Sloan's interest in Max, a photographer who wants to make Sloan into a model. Max thinks that Sloan likes the pain of the cutting and is a pain slut, so he introduces Sloan to the world of BDSM, thinking that he can help Sloan control his cutting urges by providing him with a different outlet to receive and process the pain. However, that's now how Sloan really is. (Cole, being "well read", is aware of it, but is not a Dom.)

This story ends with an epilogue around 10 months later. They seem to be perfectly happy with their lives and how things are. However, how Cole's family (at least his father) reacts to finding out about their relationship is glossed over with just a couple of paragraphs in the epilogue. I really hope this is going to be explored some more in the next book. Based on the blurb, I think it might be. That particular aspect being glossed over didn't sit well with me. It was too "I should mention this just so it's no longer a loose end" afterthought. I know I didn't feel that way the first time around. My feeling that way now is due to having read a lot more stories and having refined my own taste some between reads.

Knowing that there is NOW more to their story (Vessel & Cleave) where Sloan is introduced to a different aspect of the BDSM lifestyle AND someone new, I'm very curious how this will play out. (I haven't completely avoided spoilers, so I have an idea of what to expect.) I know the first time I read the story, I was happy with their happy ending. Now I look at it and think it was "too tidy." I can see how there really should be more to the story. There are more temptations in store.

[Lyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Both boys have problems. Together they learn to work as a team helping each to grow and love. Together each has grown and flourish.

[pastsimple]

3,5?
Re edit
No. 2

[Caroline Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE

4.25 Stars

This is a re-read for me in preparation for the rest of the series.

Sloan Driscoll and Cole Fujiwara are two of the most emotional characters I have read about recently. This book is a rollercoaster of feelings with both men having to bare their souls to deal with issues both real and perceived.

Sloan will never be the man his father wanted to be. He was expected to be his father’s clone and have an illustrious and successful career in sports. His younger brother managed it and it is all he hears about. He sees his body as letting him down, he is too tall, too thin, and too gangly and he can never gain the weight he thinks he needs to. All this internalised hatred of himself needs a release and that comes in the form of cutting. He is not adverse to using drugs to forget but the only time he calms is when he bleeds a little.

In a last ditch attempt to make Sloan a productive member of society his father sends him off to college and to move in with an old family friends son, Cole Fujiwara. The two boys haven’t seen each other since they were 8 years old and are kind of dropped into a situation that neither are too keen about.

Cole Fujiwara was following in his father’s famous footsteps on the baseball field until genetics intervened and he started losing his sight. He only has minimal vision left and is trying to adapt and ready himself for the day he wakes up in complete darkness. The last thing he wants is a flatmate but as he has all his life he gives way to his parents ‘request’.

There is tension from the beginning. Sloan may get the impression that Cole is a jerk from his hostile and confusing behaviour but he can’t help admire how beautiful he is. From the start the relationship they develop is unhealthy and it is not long before Sloan is cutting again.
Cole is dealing with going blind, a girl friend he is no longer in love with, over protective parents and now it seems his sexuality. There is a part of Cole that he buried a long time ago and he lives his life with seemingly the sole purpose of pleasing his parents and living up to his idea of the perfect Japanese man. His sense of duty may be admirable but it starts to drive him a little crazy and the tension between him and Sloan is dangerously high.

After a couple of rushed sexual experiences between them both men are hanging by a thread and neither of them is in a good place. To me the relationship wasn’t really the most important part of the story. It was everything else they had to deal with to even start a relationship that pulled at me, made me angry and started to give me a little hope.

Mickie Ashling has written a book packed with emotions and with no easy answers. I loved the writing and the way some very difficult but real problems were dealt with. I adored Sloan who just wanted to find love and happiness. He wanted to find his place in life but had such a skewered view of himself. Cole was a much colder character but came through for Sloan in the end and was influential in helping with his problems. This is not a difficult read per se but neither does it skip over either of the problems as an easy option.

[xbmbgrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The blurb says that both boys are suffering and that is an understatement. Sloan has body image issues but he also has no coping skills when he is under stress, emotionally hurt or agitated. He resorts to extreme measures to help take away his inner pain for short periods of time. Demons ride him mercilessly in the guise of lower than low self-esteem. The way Sloan deals with his problems was very unique and really gave the book a fresh feel. Sloan is facing both physical and emotional pain constantly.

Cole has his own issues with going blind. Not only does he have to come to terms with it, so does everyone in his life. Unfortunately, not everyone resolves issues the same way. Some ignore it, others bury it and still others push and push. Cole has to find a way to accept his fate and still balance how he wants to be perceived by those around him. Deciphering how all the people in his life are willing or unwilling to move forward with him on his own terms means Cole must make some hard decisions.

If that weren't enough for Cole it’s still a lot on his plate. However, after Sloan moves in he now must deal with repressed sexual desires that are just as difficult for Cole to accept as his blindness. Cole is facing both physical and emotional uncertainty constantly.

Sloan and Cole do not communicate there problems with each other well. They exasperate the situations they are in by their reluctance to share. They fear to emotionally bond further than the hot passionate sex that explodes between them when they let their attraction to each other slip its boundaries.

I loved this book. Sloan and Cole are both very damaged boys in completely different ways that come together and really heal each other. The book takes twists and turns that could have led the boys down completely different paths away from each other. As we follow along it actually isn’t always clear if they shouldn’t follow different paths until we get to the real emotional connection they finally make to each other. Together they face their demons, their families and the world.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cutting cords series is a good example of how you can fall in love with someone but how, over time, if the people involved want different things out of life and desire a different future, things can easily fall apart.

The series did a really good job of not trying to squeeze in too much too fast. Sloan and Cole meet in book 1 at a time in both their lives where things are out of their control and outside expectations are slowly destroying them. Through their relationship they find what they need in their lives in each other. Its a emotional roller coaster and despite how well they fit, they also have their share of problems.

In book 2 its been 5 years and Sloan and Cole have changed a lot from their old selves. Its seen in Sloan's career choice and his more outspoken behavior and in Cole's desire for children at all cost and to follow his families' wishes. This is where what they want for their futures and who they've become start to conflict with their current relationship.

And in book 3 its been almost another year and we're treated to an entire book devoted to mainly Sloan and Cole's resolution to the choices they've made in their lives and where they're going from here.

Despite sometimes hating certain characters with a passion and feeling - at times - like I didn't know why I was continueing to read because things got so sad sometimes, I think this series does a great job at covering how people change and, in doing so, realize that not only might their career, where they live, personal style, or feelings be something they've outgrown but also how people can outgrow a relationship. Its definitely one of those cartharic reads.

As for the BDSM sections of the story, personally I'm not attracted in this genre much at all. I'm fine with the D/S aspects but when it comes to the tools and the 'scenes' I don't find myself interested much. What's good about this story for people who have similar feelings as mine to BDSM is that Sloan himself is fine with the D/S aspects as well but sometimes chafes or flat out refuses the scenes or tools so there's only a very light BDSM tone to what occurs so I wouldn't let that stop you from reading.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love Sloan in this book. He is an angst ridden beautiful young man with a terrible self-image and a hunger for independent self-discovery. Ms Ashling has created a wonderful character.

I love the fact that the title can be read in so many ways. Sloan cuts the cords between himself and his overbearing father, leaving the West Coast for New York. He cuts himself when he’s sad. He cuts himself away from his delinquency to start a new life.

I had massive empathy for Cole, but his behaviour is infuriating. It takes him much longer to cut the ties confining him, and while he figures himself out he harms those who love him.

I love the fact that Sloan explores New York with new friends and an open mind. His experimenting with Etienne and Max and his friendship with Emily are part of a beautiful coming of age story. I love Ms. Ashling’s non-judgemental treatment of Sloan’s first experiences in a big city. There are no huge morality lessons, Sloan just has fun and tries some new things.

The romance between Sloan and Cole doesn’t always work for me. Much of the sex in the book is between one of the men and another partner. I love the fact that Sloan doesn’t allow Cole’s internal conflict to stop his own adventures, but his sexual escapades don’t necessarily fit with his claiming to love Cole at first sight.

I do love Sloan and Cole together but the actual romance between Sloan and Cole seems really abrupt. It is only in the last two chapters that the men actually start a relationship. After suffering through all the angst of Cole and Sloan getting together, I hoped for a little more than a quick epilogue featuring them as a couple.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Inked Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

FourStars
I really love Sloan in this book. He is an angst ridden beautiful young man with a terrible self-image and a hunger for independent self-discovery. Ms Ashling has created a wonderful character.

I love the fact that the title can be read in so many ways. Sloan cuts the cords between himself and his overbearing father, leaving the West Coast for New York. He cuts himself when he’s sad. He cuts himself away from his delinquency to start a new life.

I had massive empathy for Cole, but his behaviour is infuriating. It takes him much longer to cut the ties confining him, and while he figures himself out he harms those who love him.

I love the fact that Sloan explores New York with new friends and an open mind. His experimenting with Etienne and Max and his friendship with Emily are part of a beautiful coming of age story. I love Ms. Ashling’s non-judgemental treatment of Sloan’s first experiences in a big city. There are no huge morality lessons, Sloan just has fun and tries some new things.

The romance between Sloan and Cole doesn’t always work for me. Much of the sex in the book is between one of the men and another partner. I love the fact that Sloan doesn’t allow Cole’s internal conflict to stop his own adventures, but his sexual escapades don’t necessarily fit with his claiming to love Cole at first sight.

I do love Sloan and Cole together but the actual romance between Sloan and Cole seems really abrupt. It is only in the last two chapters that the men actually start a relationship. After suffering through all the angst of Cole and Sloan getting together, I hoped for a little more than a quick epilogue featuring them as a couple.

I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.

Sarah

[Rayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been a solid 4 star read, but for a few things that really bothered me.

First, the narrative switches between first person and third person. Sloan's POV is first person, while Cole's is third. And I found that increasingly annoying. It was okay when it switched between chapters, but when it switched in the middle at a scene change, I found it very jarring. I love that I was able to get inside both MC heads, but I would have preferred if it stayed at third person.

Second, Cole is a lost cheating bastard. He ticked me off and although he is going blind in this story, I had no sympathy for his asshole-ish attitude. And about 80% in it seems like both characters do a complete 180 on their friendship/relationship and suddenly begin being nice to each other. I felt like I had completely missed a few scenes where they redeem themselves to each other. But that could be me.

Third, WTH was all that with the BDSM? I don't even know why that was in the book, because I didn't see any reason for it, except for the simple idea of throwing in BDSM for the fun of it. This story could have worked without that element, even Sloan's issues, because it only resulted in one episode that probably could have come about another way. Bleh! I love a good BDSM storyline, but it really had no place in this story.

They both had a lot of issues to overcome and a lot of it was done off-page in the epilogue, almost like an afterthought. I guess I know now why I sat on this one for so long before taking the plunge. I wanted to like it, but there was just too much that bothered me.