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Puppy Love #2
Building a Family
Matt and Petey are a young gay couple in love. They're a Dom/sub couple. They're an Owner and his pup. In Puppy Love 2, the couple begin to build a life together. The close knit relationship they share with another D/s couple, Alex and Drew, begins to flourish. The four find their lives interwoven with each other, and ultimately the foursome become a family. The tragedies and struggles they go through are remarkable, and the emergence of Petey's sociopathic nemesis Ryan Connors only heightens the drama. Will Matt and Petey's love for one another be strong enough to weather the storms they are forced to face? Will Matt revert to his selfish habits of infidelity and womanizing? Will he demonstrate the maturity that is required to be a responsible Master to his pup? Will Petey ever realize that he has genuine worth, and will he find the confidence within himself to be the hero he was born to be?
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2010
5 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Erno
71 books643 followersJeff Erno currently lives in southern Michigan. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management and human resources. Jeff began writing stories in the late 1990's and initially posted them to a free online amateur website. The positive feedback he received from readers encouraged him to continue, and this eventually led to the publication of his first novel, Dumb Jock. Erno has subsequently published several other novels.
His greatest passion in life is writing, and he hopes to be able to continue sharing his work with readers worldwide.
His greatest passion in life is writing, and he hopes to be able to continue sharing his work with readers worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 2, 2024
^^FECKIN AWESOME, MATT & HIS PUP SHINE!^^
NO Spoilers here.
So Puppy Love 2 picks up right where the first one left us, Petey and Matt have just enjoyed a pleasure filled cruise and they are making there way back home. A quick get together with friends Alex and Drew they begin their journey home, Petey is on a love high and everything just seems perfect. Well this book is one surprise after another, and I will say this all the surprises makes this book a lot better than the first. There is character growth, a more exciting plot, a bigger than wow climax and the sex is hotter than ever. It’s a tear jerker and you will experience every known emotion in the few hours it takes to read this book; because once you start, you won’t put it down.
As I said before this book started with a reunion of Petey, Matt, Drew and Alex. On the journey home they get caught in a huge pile-up, Petey becomes the hero of the day he is then rewarded by his master. This where your actions leads to consequences becomes apart of the book. Without giving too much away there is a humiliation scene which is humiliating in a big way. It shows exactly the power Matt wields over Petey, and after it also proves the power Petey wields over Matt. This scene in my opinion is what causes Matt to go on a power trip, the rush of telling one what to do finally goes to his head and he pays for it in a big way.
The level of maturity in the writing has improved drastically, and the characters have become more multi-dimensional and its freaking hard not to fall in love with them. With Petey he has grown up exponentially, he cries less and even gives a little back talk. He is even more aware of who is and you understand why he was meant to be a submissive and if you pay close attention you see the power he holds. He is a small boy with a big heart, and I was so sad through the second half of the book, because Petey has to suffer a bit to teach his bigger than the world ego master a lesson in humility.
What and who makes this book what it is, is the character of Matt; so much character growth. I have a love/hate relationship with Matt he makes many mistakes but manages to pull himself and everyone out of it. I like to call him the redeemer, he always manages to come back a little more shiny in my eyes. Matt gets a wake up call in a big way, there is something he continually says through out the series that “every action has consequences” and his actions leads to dire consequences. This golden boy gets thrown off his white horse, but it adds more dimension to his character. He becomes more human and you realize the depth of his caring for those around him and the love he has for Petey, and let me tell you he has mad love for his pup.
The writing is just smooth it moves from one crisis to another with wicked fluidity. The relationship dynamic between Petey and Matt is super sexy and sweet, the urgency of their love making was lava hot, and where the first book was them getting to know each other and creating a relationship. PL 2 they know each other very well and they both provide what the other needs to be happy in their relationship, and it’s the best D/s relationship out there. The supporting characters create a nice well rounded story, that fuels the fire and makes our heroes shine. The friendships are a lot stronger and they will be tested but everyone comes out on top. The final pages to this book is so explosive and filled with angst, it was just brilliant.
I could go on forever about how awesome this book is, I could go on about how hot and steamy the sex is ( take my word its effing hot). I could tell you that Petey and Matt are bloody awesome, but its up to you to discover this for yourself. I can say that there is no pee drinking so that’s a plus for people who were avoiding it for that reason. Jeff has done a splendid job on this book and I will forever be a big fan of Matt and his pup. I am very excited for Puppy Love 3 and I just know its gonna be awesome. One of my favourite gay series.
NO Spoilers here.
So Puppy Love 2 picks up right where the first one left us, Petey and Matt have just enjoyed a pleasure filled cruise and they are making there way back home. A quick get together with friends Alex and Drew they begin their journey home, Petey is on a love high and everything just seems perfect. Well this book is one surprise after another, and I will say this all the surprises makes this book a lot better than the first. There is character growth, a more exciting plot, a bigger than wow climax and the sex is hotter than ever. It’s a tear jerker and you will experience every known emotion in the few hours it takes to read this book; because once you start, you won’t put it down.
As I said before this book started with a reunion of Petey, Matt, Drew and Alex. On the journey home they get caught in a huge pile-up, Petey becomes the hero of the day he is then rewarded by his master. This where your actions leads to consequences becomes apart of the book. Without giving too much away there is a humiliation scene which is humiliating in a big way. It shows exactly the power Matt wields over Petey, and after it also proves the power Petey wields over Matt. This scene in my opinion is what causes Matt to go on a power trip, the rush of telling one what to do finally goes to his head and he pays for it in a big way.
The level of maturity in the writing has improved drastically, and the characters have become more multi-dimensional and its freaking hard not to fall in love with them. With Petey he has grown up exponentially, he cries less and even gives a little back talk. He is even more aware of who is and you understand why he was meant to be a submissive and if you pay close attention you see the power he holds. He is a small boy with a big heart, and I was so sad through the second half of the book, because Petey has to suffer a bit to teach his bigger than the world ego master a lesson in humility.
What and who makes this book what it is, is the character of Matt; so much character growth. I have a love/hate relationship with Matt he makes many mistakes but manages to pull himself and everyone out of it. I like to call him the redeemer, he always manages to come back a little more shiny in my eyes. Matt gets a wake up call in a big way, there is something he continually says through out the series that “every action has consequences” and his actions leads to dire consequences. This golden boy gets thrown off his white horse, but it adds more dimension to his character. He becomes more human and you realize the depth of his caring for those around him and the love he has for Petey, and let me tell you he has mad love for his pup.
The writing is just smooth it moves from one crisis to another with wicked fluidity. The relationship dynamic between Petey and Matt is super sexy and sweet, the urgency of their love making was lava hot, and where the first book was them getting to know each other and creating a relationship. PL 2 they know each other very well and they both provide what the other needs to be happy in their relationship, and it’s the best D/s relationship out there. The supporting characters create a nice well rounded story, that fuels the fire and makes our heroes shine. The friendships are a lot stronger and they will be tested but everyone comes out on top. The final pages to this book is so explosive and filled with angst, it was just brilliant.
I could go on forever about how awesome this book is, I could go on about how hot and steamy the sex is ( take my word its effing hot). I could tell you that Petey and Matt are bloody awesome, but its up to you to discover this for yourself. I can say that there is no pee drinking so that’s a plus for people who were avoiding it for that reason. Jeff has done a splendid job on this book and I will forever be a big fan of Matt and his pup. I am very excited for Puppy Love 3 and I just know its gonna be awesome. One of my favourite gay series.
May 19, 2011
I only wish that I could give this book negative stars. I’ve never written a review before because usually the other comments pretty much cover what I was thinking. When I browsed past this page after reading the book, I had to blink twice at the rating. Seriously? This book was rated this high? Omfg. But I deserve this (as Petey would say in the book at least four million times). The moment I read the term “fag hole” (and Petey’s lovely dialogue following: I am his fag hole! Not said disgustedly, but in wonderment and joy, in case you couldn’t guess) I should have known to press the archive button and move on. Petey is such a victim, it’s ridiculous. If you like reading about characters being abused, this is the book for you.
SPOILER ALERT: Him apologizing to Alex when ALEX punched him in the nose was…special. I don’t know what the hell that was. Drew getting angry with him when Alex punched him in the nose was…ridiculous. Matt PUNISHING him for getting punched in the nose is…amazing. Having a meeting about why everyone was wrong and why Petey should keep his mouth shut from now on was… (licks fingers) icing on the cake. I damn near threw my Kindle clear out the window.
I have issue with the writing itself. Even if I hated the characters and what they did, I can appreciate good writing. This was garbage. As previous reviewers have mentioned, he repeats things incessantly, often doing recaps of scenes in conversations, thought patterns, etc. I don’t understand people who think this is good writing. The handles on the dialogue are clumsily used, and he uses “screamed” way too much, for no reason at all. Example: picture you’re standing in your kitchen and someone’s making a peanut butter sandwich. You ask, “Are you using all the peanut butter on that sandwich?” “No,” he/she responds. “GIVE ME THE PEANUT BUTTER!” You scream. Hopefully, the person in your kitchen says, "What the..."
Petey was histrionic, not sensitive. He is cruel to his sister, and frankly, if he was MY little brother, I would have washed my hands of him a long time ago. Ironically enough, she’s the only one he ever stands up to. She’s practically nodding off in a hospital chair from being there so long, and he can only start saying (I’m sorry, SCREAMING) “Where’s Matt? I want Matt!”
Petey’s internal monologue almost made my eyes roll clear out of my head. Ex: I’m his pup! I’m his pup! Good God on a piece of toast. Matt portraying himself as some sort of hero when really, he’s a spoiled, at times bipolar control freak, is laughable. His “lessons” to Petey, teaching him to stand up for himself, are ridiculous. The scene in the mall was ridiculous. Petey apologizing for being kicked in the ribs and raped is…perplexing to say the least. At this point, I began to root for him to die in the hospital. Especially since I knew the moment he got out, he was going to run over to that asswipe Matt and beg him to lick his boots again.
So, to recap, in true Erno fashion, if you do possess this novel in paperback form, put it to good use. Don’t, I repeat, DON’T read it. If you are on a deserted island, use it as a signal flare. If you are cooking dinner, use it to light the grill. And lastly, if you are on the toilet, use it to…well, you know what to do.
SPOILER ALERT: Him apologizing to Alex when ALEX punched him in the nose was…special. I don’t know what the hell that was. Drew getting angry with him when Alex punched him in the nose was…ridiculous. Matt PUNISHING him for getting punched in the nose is…amazing. Having a meeting about why everyone was wrong and why Petey should keep his mouth shut from now on was… (licks fingers) icing on the cake. I damn near threw my Kindle clear out the window.
I have issue with the writing itself. Even if I hated the characters and what they did, I can appreciate good writing. This was garbage. As previous reviewers have mentioned, he repeats things incessantly, often doing recaps of scenes in conversations, thought patterns, etc. I don’t understand people who think this is good writing. The handles on the dialogue are clumsily used, and he uses “screamed” way too much, for no reason at all. Example: picture you’re standing in your kitchen and someone’s making a peanut butter sandwich. You ask, “Are you using all the peanut butter on that sandwich?” “No,” he/she responds. “GIVE ME THE PEANUT BUTTER!” You scream. Hopefully, the person in your kitchen says, "What the..."
Petey was histrionic, not sensitive. He is cruel to his sister, and frankly, if he was MY little brother, I would have washed my hands of him a long time ago. Ironically enough, she’s the only one he ever stands up to. She’s practically nodding off in a hospital chair from being there so long, and he can only start saying (I’m sorry, SCREAMING) “Where’s Matt? I want Matt!”
Petey’s internal monologue almost made my eyes roll clear out of my head. Ex: I’m his pup! I’m his pup! Good God on a piece of toast. Matt portraying himself as some sort of hero when really, he’s a spoiled, at times bipolar control freak, is laughable. His “lessons” to Petey, teaching him to stand up for himself, are ridiculous. The scene in the mall was ridiculous. Petey apologizing for being kicked in the ribs and raped is…perplexing to say the least. At this point, I began to root for him to die in the hospital. Especially since I knew the moment he got out, he was going to run over to that asswipe Matt and beg him to lick his boots again.
So, to recap, in true Erno fashion, if you do possess this novel in paperback form, put it to good use. Don’t, I repeat, DON’T read it. If you are on a deserted island, use it as a signal flare. If you are cooking dinner, use it to light the grill. And lastly, if you are on the toilet, use it to…well, you know what to do.
November 19, 2010
I just can't seem to connect with this series. I don't like either of the main characters and the whole relationship really gives me the heebie jeebies. I know a lot of people love it...but it's just not for me.
January 18, 2013
I positively adore this series. I can't wait to read book 3. I already bought it. :¬D
There are great D/s scenes and I love the MCs and even the other characters.
I think that the author tries to make us understand that nothing is perfect in this word, not even the best Dom and that is not a reason to break a relationship because we make mistakes.
Scene in the mall:
Scene with Ryan:
The only little negative point is that there are unecessary repetitions of descriptions of some events. He should have just stated it like I just said adding that it was Matt the organizer. I say that as if I could teach such a good writer how to better write his books. ;)
There are great D/s scenes and I love the MCs and even the other characters.
I think that the author tries to make us understand that nothing is perfect in this word, not even the best Dom and that is not a reason to break a relationship because we make mistakes.
"But a true Master, a Master such as Matt, was so invested in his sub that he was actually in a way a sub himself. He was a slave to his love for me. He was a slave to his responsibility. He was a slave to the passion and to his commitment. He was a slave to his overwhelming desire to protect his property to all costs. He was a slave to his slave."
Scene in the mall:
Scene with Ryan:
The only little negative point is that there are unecessary repetitions of descriptions of some events. He should have just stated it like I just said adding that it was Matt the organizer. I say that as if I could teach such a good writer how to better write his books. ;)
May 5, 2010
This isn't so much a review as it is just me rambling about my feelings over this book. I tend to do that when I am passionate about something. And I *love* this book.
First of all - Petey. Straight away I saw some major changes in him. He has more confidence, security in his relationship and he shows less hesitation/questioning of Matt's orders. I think this shows how much Petey loves him rather than him just saying the words.
Matt. We are actually give real examples of how he cares for Petey. I did not see much of this in the first book. It was great.
Kathie. I'm trying real hard not to dislike her. Because she is not fully aware of their Dom/sub relationship, she has suspicions of abuse. If I put myself in her shoes, I think that is a very reasonable response. But I'm too in love with Matt & Petey so I just want her to go away :D There is a scene towards the end of the book where she does actually try to separate them. This frustrated me & almost inspired a physical response while I was reading. Ummmm, did I mention that I was passionate about this book?
Humiliation. Oh wow is there ever a major humiliation scene. I'm still pondering it & probably will be for weeks to come. You can't help but try to put yourself in their shoes. What would I do in that situation???
Language. There is not nearly as much degrading talk about women, but the fag word is still thrown around a lot. So if that really bothered you before - it's still in there.
Matt's Lessons. As I mentioned earlier, we are given real examples of ways that Matt cares for Petey, tries to boost his self esteem and just generally looks out for him. Once of them was a scene in a pool where Matt tries to teach Petey to stand up for himself. I will admit that I didn't get this - I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I mean I got why Matt was trying to teach this to Petey, but the way he went about it doesn't make sense to me. I felt that if I were in Petey's position, I would have been expected *not* to stand up for myself.
Proofing/Errors. Unfortunately there were a lot. Enough that I was considering knocking a star off of my rating. There were were some often used words that were constantly wrong. Instead of Sir, it was always sirSir. Instead of slave boy, it was alway slaveboyslave boy. Things like that were highly distracting until about 3/4 of the way through the book when I could finally force myself to just skim over the errors.
Now I'm anxiously awaiting the 3rd book. Is it ready yet?!?!?!?!?
First of all - Petey. Straight away I saw some major changes in him. He has more confidence, security in his relationship and he shows less hesitation/questioning of Matt's orders. I think this shows how much Petey loves him rather than him just saying the words.
Matt. We are actually give real examples of how he cares for Petey. I did not see much of this in the first book. It was great.
Kathie. I'm trying real hard not to dislike her. Because she is not fully aware of their Dom/sub relationship, she has suspicions of abuse. If I put myself in her shoes, I think that is a very reasonable response. But I'm too in love with Matt & Petey so I just want her to go away :D There is a scene towards the end of the book where she does actually try to separate them. This frustrated me & almost inspired a physical response while I was reading. Ummmm, did I mention that I was passionate about this book?
Humiliation. Oh wow is there ever a major humiliation scene. I'm still pondering it & probably will be for weeks to come. You can't help but try to put yourself in their shoes. What would I do in that situation???
Language. There is not nearly as much degrading talk about women, but the fag word is still thrown around a lot. So if that really bothered you before - it's still in there.
Matt's Lessons. As I mentioned earlier, we are given real examples of ways that Matt cares for Petey, tries to boost his self esteem and just generally looks out for him. Once of them was a scene in a pool where Matt tries to teach Petey to stand up for himself. I will admit that I didn't get this - I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I mean I got why Matt was trying to teach this to Petey, but the way he went about it doesn't make sense to me. I felt that if I were in Petey's position, I would have been expected *not* to stand up for myself.
Proofing/Errors. Unfortunately there were a lot. Enough that I was considering knocking a star off of my rating. There were were some often used words that were constantly wrong. Instead of Sir, it was always sirSir. Instead of slave boy, it was alway slaveboyslave boy. Things like that were highly distracting until about 3/4 of the way through the book when I could finally force myself to just skim over the errors.
Now I'm anxiously awaiting the 3rd book. Is it ready yet?!?!?!?!?
July 7, 2010
I ravaged this book in one day. My eyes are so strained they're twitching! I don't know if I think Matt deserves Petey's devotion but reading about their relationship was quite the adventure. I think the sequel is Matt's coming of age story as a Dom, through Petey's eyes with scenes that depict Petey's deeper, more experienced submission. Do yourself a favor and get a huge box of Kleenex before you begin. I guarantee you'll cry all sorts of tears. How the fudge am I gonna wait till August for Puppy Love 3? *exhausted-contented-anxious sigh*
May 1, 2018
ciddiye almayın atlayarak okudum belki hiç eklememem lazım.
matt'in yemediği bok kalmıyor. alex var şimdi bu da dom, drew bunu sub'ı ve petey'in best friendi. matt drew'u alıp petey'i alex'e bırakıp gidiyor açıklama yapmadan, alex ağzını yüzünü kırıyor petey'in, bu yüzden ceza alan petey, petey'in kendine dokunması bile yasak ama matt alex'i beceriyor fln. tabi drew ve petey, drew ve matt de ve petey ve alex de birlikte oluyor çünkü matt öyle istiyor neden olmasın. ama ne sikko bi iştir böyle fetiş olmaz. petey'in düşmanı matt'in eski sub'ı ryan var. matt yüzünden ryan petey'e tecavüz ediyor sonra da matt bilmem lazımdı diyor.
gereksiz milyon tane dram var. böyle bişi olamaz. karakterlerin aşağılanmayı sevmesi, hak ettiğini düşünmesi başka bişi abuse başka bişi. en değerli oyuncağı olmak başka bişi 'onun deliği' olmak başka bişi. aykırı seks başka bişi, seksin aşk diye kabul görmesi başka bişi. petey'in durumu hep ikinci şıklar. böyle bir hikaye olmaz demiyorum ama bi zahmet matt ile bitmesin.
matt'in yemediği bok kalmıyor. alex var şimdi bu da dom, drew bunu sub'ı ve petey'in best friendi. matt drew'u alıp petey'i alex'e bırakıp gidiyor açıklama yapmadan, alex ağzını yüzünü kırıyor petey'in, bu yüzden ceza alan petey, petey'in kendine dokunması bile yasak ama matt alex'i beceriyor fln. tabi drew ve petey, drew ve matt de ve petey ve alex de birlikte oluyor çünkü matt öyle istiyor neden olmasın. ama ne sikko bi iştir böyle fetiş olmaz. petey'in düşmanı matt'in eski sub'ı ryan var. matt yüzünden ryan petey'e tecavüz ediyor sonra da matt bilmem lazımdı diyor.
gereksiz milyon tane dram var. böyle bişi olamaz. karakterlerin aşağılanmayı sevmesi, hak ettiğini düşünmesi başka bişi abuse başka bişi. en değerli oyuncağı olmak başka bişi 'onun deliği' olmak başka bişi. aykırı seks başka bişi, seksin aşk diye kabul görmesi başka bişi. petey'in durumu hep ikinci şıklar. böyle bir hikaye olmaz demiyorum ama bi zahmet matt ile bitmesin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2010
Although I know the author didn’t take my previous comments about Puppy Love into consideration (well of course not! And also PL 2 was already out by then) but just about all my qualms from the first book have been handled really well in this sequel. Just goes to show you should trust an author. Those of you who enjoyed Puppy Love will fall in love with Petey all over again as he and the other characters grow, change, and really come into their own in this entertaining sequel. There are a few annoying writing contrivances but these are mostly towards the end of the book and the tension developed helps carry the reader to the end.
Matt and Petey pick up exactly where they left off in Puppy Love as they return from their cruise. Here readers should have read the previous book because PL2 doesn’t really stand on its own. You must have read the previous book to really appreciate the characters and their full storyline. But for those that have Petey and Matt meet up with Drew and Alex as everyone is returning from vacation. Their drive back is complicated when they’re involved in a serious car accident and Petey becomes a minor hero. Life is both good and bad for all the characters as they deal with graduation, new jobs, and life changes while their own complex relationships take center stage.
The story is really character driven though there is a fair amount of action that happens. This helps offset the heavier and more dramatic relationship issues brought up, while keeping the pace moving swiftly. In fact the quick nature of the action kept me up reading this until almost 5 am without really noticing the time, I was that absorbed. Petey is again the real star of the series and he grows the most in this book. Whereas in PL, Petey tends to cry and get overly emotional at absolutely everything, here he’s finally maturing and growing. He actively makes himself stop and think about the situation instead of emotionally reacting. His increased maturity allows his natural intelligence and perceptive nature to shine.
His relationship with Matt also matures and becomes very loving and deeply connected. In the first book Matt is pretty spoiled and selfish, using Petey in negative ways. Here Matt not only matures quite a bit himself, but he also helps Petey develop more confidence. He teaches Petey not to be a doormat and to stand up for himself. These lessons are difficult and touching at the same time as Petey slowly begins to really flourish under Matt’s love and care. Both men really love each other and they are well suited. Their kinks may not be for everyone but they work for these two and their relationship really benefits both of them in many ways. There are several scenes showing how deeply committed and involved Matt is, which helps show Petey that it’s not a one sided relationship.
However for all the good things that Matt does in the book, one of the greatest aspects is watching Matt stumble heavily towards the end of the book. He makes numerous serious mistakes that have far reaching consequences and it shakes his confidence and belief in himself. It takes a strong willed and delightfully scheming Petey to turn the tables and support Matt when he needs it the most. These scenes towards the end of the book really highlight the change these two are going through. Also remember they are still pretty young, early 20s, so watching them grow over the course of the series is pretty satisfying and compelling. They’re also not done yet as there is at least one more book to the series. The BDSM nature of their relationship is an integral part of their dynamic, one that both would be incomplete without, but I can also envision Matt and Petey being together even if they couldn’t express themselves that way.
The few stumbles the story takes are mostly due to the writing. Often a scene will happen but then Petey goes onto to mentally recap the scene, almost verbatim. This isn’t so frustrating at the beginning as towards the end. When one of the big events happens, the story then recaps that event four times in lengthy detail. There are several other scenes that are recapped as well which is frustrating. The reader just read those scenes so why the book continues to repeat what happened – without added insight – is annoying. I found myself skimming these scenes entirely since they add nothing.
But really the story is about Petey and his growth. The secondary characters remain very true to their previous characters, even the dreaded and truly slap worthy sister. She is so over the top it sets my teeth on edge when she’s in a scene, especially as the other characters all seem to defer to her and accept her hysterics. She’s meant to be oppositional so that fits the story well but I wish she had been more nuanced and subtle. Other than that, Petey’s friendship with Drew also grows and becomes more even and equal between the two subs. Drew becomes less of a cheerleader and more of a friend.
Overall this is a really good sequel that is absorbing and interesting. If you like and care about the characters, you’ll want to get this and continue with the series. I’m looking forward to book 3.
Matt and Petey pick up exactly where they left off in Puppy Love as they return from their cruise. Here readers should have read the previous book because PL2 doesn’t really stand on its own. You must have read the previous book to really appreciate the characters and their full storyline. But for those that have Petey and Matt meet up with Drew and Alex as everyone is returning from vacation. Their drive back is complicated when they’re involved in a serious car accident and Petey becomes a minor hero. Life is both good and bad for all the characters as they deal with graduation, new jobs, and life changes while their own complex relationships take center stage.
The story is really character driven though there is a fair amount of action that happens. This helps offset the heavier and more dramatic relationship issues brought up, while keeping the pace moving swiftly. In fact the quick nature of the action kept me up reading this until almost 5 am without really noticing the time, I was that absorbed. Petey is again the real star of the series and he grows the most in this book. Whereas in PL, Petey tends to cry and get overly emotional at absolutely everything, here he’s finally maturing and growing. He actively makes himself stop and think about the situation instead of emotionally reacting. His increased maturity allows his natural intelligence and perceptive nature to shine.
His relationship with Matt also matures and becomes very loving and deeply connected. In the first book Matt is pretty spoiled and selfish, using Petey in negative ways. Here Matt not only matures quite a bit himself, but he also helps Petey develop more confidence. He teaches Petey not to be a doormat and to stand up for himself. These lessons are difficult and touching at the same time as Petey slowly begins to really flourish under Matt’s love and care. Both men really love each other and they are well suited. Their kinks may not be for everyone but they work for these two and their relationship really benefits both of them in many ways. There are several scenes showing how deeply committed and involved Matt is, which helps show Petey that it’s not a one sided relationship.
However for all the good things that Matt does in the book, one of the greatest aspects is watching Matt stumble heavily towards the end of the book. He makes numerous serious mistakes that have far reaching consequences and it shakes his confidence and belief in himself. It takes a strong willed and delightfully scheming Petey to turn the tables and support Matt when he needs it the most. These scenes towards the end of the book really highlight the change these two are going through. Also remember they are still pretty young, early 20s, so watching them grow over the course of the series is pretty satisfying and compelling. They’re also not done yet as there is at least one more book to the series. The BDSM nature of their relationship is an integral part of their dynamic, one that both would be incomplete without, but I can also envision Matt and Petey being together even if they couldn’t express themselves that way.
The few stumbles the story takes are mostly due to the writing. Often a scene will happen but then Petey goes onto to mentally recap the scene, almost verbatim. This isn’t so frustrating at the beginning as towards the end. When one of the big events happens, the story then recaps that event four times in lengthy detail. There are several other scenes that are recapped as well which is frustrating. The reader just read those scenes so why the book continues to repeat what happened – without added insight – is annoying. I found myself skimming these scenes entirely since they add nothing.
But really the story is about Petey and his growth. The secondary characters remain very true to their previous characters, even the dreaded and truly slap worthy sister. She is so over the top it sets my teeth on edge when she’s in a scene, especially as the other characters all seem to defer to her and accept her hysterics. She’s meant to be oppositional so that fits the story well but I wish she had been more nuanced and subtle. Other than that, Petey’s friendship with Drew also grows and becomes more even and equal between the two subs. Drew becomes less of a cheerleader and more of a friend.
Overall this is a really good sequel that is absorbing and interesting. If you like and care about the characters, you’ll want to get this and continue with the series. I’m looking forward to book 3.
June 22, 2012
3.5 stars
Oh my gawd. DRAMA!
It is very obvious that the Matt of book 2 is not the Matt of book 1. I still didnt love him until literally the last chapter, so I can only hope Matt is made loveable...hell, even 60% likeable in book 3. Throughout this series you get to see the misguided and naive way that Petey views Matt . I honestly have no clue what the real Matt is like and i find it laughable that Petey feels as if he know Matt better than anyone else because Matt's whole facade seems fake and ever changing. My favorite Matt has got to be dream Matt. My favorite interaction between Matt and Petey happens in a dream sequence...how sad. I'm excited to see how the story ends but I'm also sick of the drama lol
Oh my gawd. DRAMA!
It is very obvious that the Matt of book 2 is not the Matt of book 1. I still didnt love him until literally the last chapter, so I can only hope Matt is made loveable...hell, even 60% likeable in book 3. Throughout this series you get to see the misguided and naive way that Petey views Matt . I honestly have no clue what the real Matt is like and i find it laughable that Petey feels as if he know Matt better than anyone else because Matt's whole facade seems fake and ever changing. My favorite Matt has got to be dream Matt. My favorite interaction between Matt and Petey happens in a dream sequence...how sad. I'm excited to see how the story ends but I'm also sick of the drama lol
July 30, 2011
Ok as i said in the previous book review this series disturbed me on so many levels and really pushed my boundaries as both a person and what little i thought i knew about a Dom/sub relationship. However at the end of this 2nd bk in the series i have come closer to understanding Petey and Matt's love for each other;the need to serve and the need to have control.
Ok i wanted to kill Matt again for the humiliation and the piss drinking always makes me shutter lol dispite the continual repetition of hotness by Drew and Petey whenever he is ordered into that situation.
I think one of the scenes that was really hot was after the humiliation, this to me is what started reinforcing that Matt felt for Petey. Another was the altercation with Alex this drove home his emotional state when it came to expressing his love.
The final thing that happened when Petey got hurt was an eye opener for Matt im sooooooo glad this happened. Not that im glad that Petey was treated in this manner, but im glad for the events that happened to give Matt a sharp poke in his ass lol. It is only to me this development in their relationship that prodded Matt to realise he could in fact lose his pup, this awakening in time made him a better person.
So many things in this made me cry....ok ok i bawling my head off; aint ashamed of it lol. This had me tied up in knots from the 1st paragraph until the cliff-hanger and i came to many conclusions:
1> I wanted to kill Ryan...simple
2> I dont still dont understand the "hotness" of humiliation
3> I love the possessiveness of Matt
4> Petey is the strongest person i know, the shit he when thru has made me tried to be a better person
Ok i wanted to kill Matt again for the humiliation and the piss drinking always makes me shutter lol dispite the continual repetition of hotness by Drew and Petey whenever he is ordered into that situation.
I think one of the scenes that was really hot was after the humiliation, this to me is what started reinforcing that Matt felt for Petey. Another was the altercation with Alex this drove home his emotional state when it came to expressing his love.
The final thing that happened when Petey got hurt was an eye opener for Matt im sooooooo glad this happened. Not that im glad that Petey was treated in this manner, but im glad for the events that happened to give Matt a sharp poke in his ass lol. It is only to me this development in their relationship that prodded Matt to realise he could in fact lose his pup, this awakening in time made him a better person.
So many things in this made me cry....ok ok i bawling my head off; aint ashamed of it lol. This had me tied up in knots from the 1st paragraph until the cliff-hanger and i came to many conclusions:
1> I wanted to kill Ryan...simple
2> I dont still dont understand the "hotness" of humiliation
3> I love the possessiveness of Matt
4> Petey is the strongest person i know, the shit he when thru has made me tried to be a better person
June 26, 2013
Now I love this series and I keep rereading the first and third book. However, this book was my least favorite of the trilogy. So much of it turned me off to the point where I ended up skimming a majority of the book. Apparently a lot of people liked this book so maybe it's just me but I had huge problems with this book.
First, this book made me dislike Alex greatly. I mean, punching a defenseless kid half your size just because he told you to fuck off after you made him all emotional? And then to say you shouldn’t have pushed him? Really? Blaming the victim? That makes me think of a domestic abuse victim saying that if only I had been better… You don’t blame the victim for your anger issues. And then for Drew to get upset at Petey and blame him when Alex deserved to get his butt kicked? Again, you don’t blame the victim for something they couldn’t control. As Matt would say, you deal with the consequences of your actions. Alex did the crime, he does the time. And I get that Drew was siding with his Master but to turn on Petey after saying that you love him? When your Master was in the wrong? That definitely marred my image of Drew. To turn on someone you supposedly love like that? I get that he was emotional, but that seemed so left field to me that it changed my impression of Drew, and not for the better.
In fact, I spent most of this book feeling sorry for Petey. First he has to deal with Ryan and while that turns out okay, then there’s the crap Matt made him do in the mall just to see if he’d do it. I mean really? Petey could have been arrested or gotten into serious trouble. And that was way more than extreme. I had to skip that part as it just made me dislike Matt even more. To make Petey do that and then tell him that he’s going to keep returning to that mall to work out in the gym? People remember stuff like that and what happens if he runs into one of them in the future? I think there were other things Matt could have done to provide the same effect and that what he did was not just humiliating, but also unnecessarily cruel.
Then, Petey gets punched so hard, he gets a broken nose and a black eye. From his Master’s best friend of all people, someone he should be able to trust. Then, Matt severely punishes Petey for telling Alex to fuck off (and btw, he has an injured nose and a black eye already) by giving Ryan (same one from beginning of book who Petey hates) temporary control of Petey. Which then leads to Petey getting beat up again and raped, and back to the hospital he goes. And finally, to top it all off, Matt breaks up with him after getting Petey to rely on him and trust him so much. When you have a sub in that deep, you don’t just abandon them because you think it’s for the best. A true Dom would at least make sure they were taken care and had someone who understood their mindset of a full time submissive (and while Matt and Petey don’t live together, Petey is always on call and is always submissive when with Matt and follows his orders even when he’s not around and therefore in my mind is a 24/7 sub).
I’m kind of glad that I skipped the second book and read the third book first because if I’d read this one first I’m not so sure I would have finished the series. At one point of the book, I disliked 3 of the 4 main characters and I wanted to yell at Petey and tell him he deserved a whole lot better than Matt. I mean, I get that Master is superior, yadda yadda. But come on. Petey is constantly saying how he doesn’t deserve Matt and he doesn’t deserve to have his cum, etc. and that the only reason he deserves it is because Matt says so. In the first book, it made sense for all this as Matt was training Petey and was trying to get him into the mindset of a sub. But to have it continue on top of everything else that happened in this book to Petey? I just felt sorry for him, and if I was Kathie I would have gotten a restraining order against Matt for Petey. While reading those scenes, I just kept thinking, no Petey, you don’t deserve Matt you deserve better than him. I started wishing he’d trade Matt in. I was kind of happy when Matt broke it off because I was praying Petey would trade up but of course, knew that wasn’t going to happen because I’d read book 3.
The plus side? We got to see a bit of heroic Petey in the beginning and Petey getting raped did lead to Matt becoming a better person and Master. But the sad part about that is it took such a horrible thing to make Matt a better person. There were a few hot sex scenes but even those weren’t worth it. The only other plus side was I did like Matt defending Petey after Alex punched him which Matt then ruined with the punishment he chose. I think Petey was already punished plenty by Alex but at most Matt should have only spanked him, not done what he did.
Honestly, a huge portion of this book didn’t have to happen. And you know, it’s very rarely that I wish I hadn’t read a book. Even bad books can serve a purpose and you learn from your mistakes. However, I truly regret reading this and if I could go back in time, I would have told myself to just read the 1st and 3rd books and maybe the very beginning and the end of book 2 after Petey’s rape and to skip the rest.
The only thing saving this book from getting 1 star is that I do like this author and I did read the 3rd book first so I know it gets better. And there were plus sides, though very few. However, if I hadn’t read the 3rd book first, I don’t know if I would have even bothered after this book, which is a real shame considering the 3rd book is the best.
In fact, in my mind, this book reminded me a lot of the second Twilight book. Didn’t need to happen, spent a majority of the time telling one of the main characters to get over the loser who mistreated them, both said main characters then went back to said losers, skipped large portions of the story, was left doubting if I should continue the series, and in the end, was only saved by said main characters finally sticking up for themselves and being assertive (even though they then went back to losers who hurt them) and by said losers defending their lovers. And the worst part for me is that Jeff is such an amazing writer and can do much better than this (for example, books 1 and 3). It was disheartening and I really wish I could erase it from my mind and go back to where I’d only read book 1, the ending of 2, and book 3. Alas, that is not possible. I wouldn’t really recommend this book. The only reason I would is if you are the kind of person who just has to read all the books in a series. The only part you really need to read to understand events in book 3 is, as I said, the beginning 20 or so pages and the last 60 or so. And even then, you only really need to read that in order to fully understand everything that went down (it’s pretty well described in book 3, so not missing much if you skip this book).
First, this book made me dislike Alex greatly. I mean, punching a defenseless kid half your size just because he told you to fuck off after you made him all emotional? And then to say you shouldn’t have pushed him? Really? Blaming the victim? That makes me think of a domestic abuse victim saying that if only I had been better… You don’t blame the victim for your anger issues. And then for Drew to get upset at Petey and blame him when Alex deserved to get his butt kicked? Again, you don’t blame the victim for something they couldn’t control. As Matt would say, you deal with the consequences of your actions. Alex did the crime, he does the time. And I get that Drew was siding with his Master but to turn on Petey after saying that you love him? When your Master was in the wrong? That definitely marred my image of Drew. To turn on someone you supposedly love like that? I get that he was emotional, but that seemed so left field to me that it changed my impression of Drew, and not for the better.
In fact, I spent most of this book feeling sorry for Petey. First he has to deal with Ryan and while that turns out okay, then there’s the crap Matt made him do in the mall just to see if he’d do it. I mean really? Petey could have been arrested or gotten into serious trouble. And that was way more than extreme. I had to skip that part as it just made me dislike Matt even more. To make Petey do that and then tell him that he’s going to keep returning to that mall to work out in the gym? People remember stuff like that and what happens if he runs into one of them in the future? I think there were other things Matt could have done to provide the same effect and that what he did was not just humiliating, but also unnecessarily cruel.
Then, Petey gets punched so hard, he gets a broken nose and a black eye. From his Master’s best friend of all people, someone he should be able to trust. Then, Matt severely punishes Petey for telling Alex to fuck off (and btw, he has an injured nose and a black eye already) by giving Ryan (same one from beginning of book who Petey hates) temporary control of Petey. Which then leads to Petey getting beat up again and raped, and back to the hospital he goes. And finally, to top it all off, Matt breaks up with him after getting Petey to rely on him and trust him so much. When you have a sub in that deep, you don’t just abandon them because you think it’s for the best. A true Dom would at least make sure they were taken care and had someone who understood their mindset of a full time submissive (and while Matt and Petey don’t live together, Petey is always on call and is always submissive when with Matt and follows his orders even when he’s not around and therefore in my mind is a 24/7 sub).
I’m kind of glad that I skipped the second book and read the third book first because if I’d read this one first I’m not so sure I would have finished the series. At one point of the book, I disliked 3 of the 4 main characters and I wanted to yell at Petey and tell him he deserved a whole lot better than Matt. I mean, I get that Master is superior, yadda yadda. But come on. Petey is constantly saying how he doesn’t deserve Matt and he doesn’t deserve to have his cum, etc. and that the only reason he deserves it is because Matt says so. In the first book, it made sense for all this as Matt was training Petey and was trying to get him into the mindset of a sub. But to have it continue on top of everything else that happened in this book to Petey? I just felt sorry for him, and if I was Kathie I would have gotten a restraining order against Matt for Petey. While reading those scenes, I just kept thinking, no Petey, you don’t deserve Matt you deserve better than him. I started wishing he’d trade Matt in. I was kind of happy when Matt broke it off because I was praying Petey would trade up but of course, knew that wasn’t going to happen because I’d read book 3.
The plus side? We got to see a bit of heroic Petey in the beginning and Petey getting raped did lead to Matt becoming a better person and Master. But the sad part about that is it took such a horrible thing to make Matt a better person. There were a few hot sex scenes but even those weren’t worth it. The only other plus side was I did like Matt defending Petey after Alex punched him which Matt then ruined with the punishment he chose. I think Petey was already punished plenty by Alex but at most Matt should have only spanked him, not done what he did.
Honestly, a huge portion of this book didn’t have to happen. And you know, it’s very rarely that I wish I hadn’t read a book. Even bad books can serve a purpose and you learn from your mistakes. However, I truly regret reading this and if I could go back in time, I would have told myself to just read the 1st and 3rd books and maybe the very beginning and the end of book 2 after Petey’s rape and to skip the rest.
The only thing saving this book from getting 1 star is that I do like this author and I did read the 3rd book first so I know it gets better. And there were plus sides, though very few. However, if I hadn’t read the 3rd book first, I don’t know if I would have even bothered after this book, which is a real shame considering the 3rd book is the best.
In fact, in my mind, this book reminded me a lot of the second Twilight book. Didn’t need to happen, spent a majority of the time telling one of the main characters to get over the loser who mistreated them, both said main characters then went back to said losers, skipped large portions of the story, was left doubting if I should continue the series, and in the end, was only saved by said main characters finally sticking up for themselves and being assertive (even though they then went back to losers who hurt them) and by said losers defending their lovers. And the worst part for me is that Jeff is such an amazing writer and can do much better than this (for example, books 1 and 3). It was disheartening and I really wish I could erase it from my mind and go back to where I’d only read book 1, the ending of 2, and book 3. Alas, that is not possible. I wouldn’t really recommend this book. The only reason I would is if you are the kind of person who just has to read all the books in a series. The only part you really need to read to understand events in book 3 is, as I said, the beginning 20 or so pages and the last 60 or so. And even then, you only really need to read that in order to fully understand everything that went down (it’s pretty well described in book 3, so not missing much if you skip this book).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 7, 2010I had a strange fascination with the first book in the Puppy Love series even if I found some of its part a bit too much “strong” for me (all the watersports sex scenes were just too much); the strange thing of that book is that I want to recommend it, but I have always to warn people, and sincerely, I’m not sure of the feedback I will receive. In the end Puppy Love 1 still surprise me, since, all in all, even the most “conservative” people like it (and with conservative of course I meant traditional romance reader, who usually doesn’t like BDMS themed story).
I think that Jeff Erno has a very strong and original voice, something that it’s not easy to find around, and above all, he is not afraid to write the characters as he felt them; this is both an his own merit, but I think also of his publisher who basically doesn’t “edit out” the most controversial side of those characters. Puppy Love is not a restyled series to make it “accessible” and “comfortable” for the wide audience, it’s a full-fledged D/s story and it has not to make amend for being like that.
Another original aspect of this series is that Matt and Petey are in a deep D/s relationship without using the usual tinsels other stories and authors used to prove the point; right there is a collar, and there is a lovemaking that is for sure not “ordinary”, but Matt and Petey are a Dom and a sub because they chose to be, not since they dress the role. This is probably even more unsettling for the reader who is newby to the D/s world, since Matt and Petey are really living 24/7 their relationship, and for them it’s essential not only for their relationship but for their own well-being. Matt is not a Dom since he likes to be or he chooses between a role or another, he is a Dom since he was born like that; Petey is not a sub since he wants to please Matt or since he likes to be a cherished pet, he is a sub since he feels it deeply inside himself. Petey has really a concept of caste and social level, and he doesn’t really feel bad when Matt orders him around since for Petey it’s right, and normal, and good, Matt is a superior and like a superior he has the right to be on top. Even when Matt is wrong, or better when he is wrong for the common opinion of who is outside their relationship, Petey still thinks he is right, since Matt has never hidden who he is and what he thinks. Sincerely if you are an a**hole in plain light, for me this doesn’t mean you are not, but again, this is me and I’m not into that relationship.
A proof that Matt and Petey are born like that, Dom and sub, and that is not a choice but a need for them, is that they are really young. No one has taught them what to do or the boundaries of their relationship, they are learning together, from field experience. They have friends and some of them can give them advice, but in the end, they are building their own family, their own relationship, their own balance. Can be good, can be wrong, but it’s their choice.
I’m not sure I can say that I like Matt; I still cannot comprehend him and his choice. Since I have always had a soft spot for who, apparently, is the weaker man, I think I like better Petey, but still sometime I would like to shake him up. Probably I’m a bit like his sister, who loves him deeply, but cannot comprehend his brother’s choice; nevertheless the love is there.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1603814361/?...
I think that Jeff Erno has a very strong and original voice, something that it’s not easy to find around, and above all, he is not afraid to write the characters as he felt them; this is both an his own merit, but I think also of his publisher who basically doesn’t “edit out” the most controversial side of those characters. Puppy Love is not a restyled series to make it “accessible” and “comfortable” for the wide audience, it’s a full-fledged D/s story and it has not to make amend for being like that.
Another original aspect of this series is that Matt and Petey are in a deep D/s relationship without using the usual tinsels other stories and authors used to prove the point; right there is a collar, and there is a lovemaking that is for sure not “ordinary”, but Matt and Petey are a Dom and a sub because they chose to be, not since they dress the role. This is probably even more unsettling for the reader who is newby to the D/s world, since Matt and Petey are really living 24/7 their relationship, and for them it’s essential not only for their relationship but for their own well-being. Matt is not a Dom since he likes to be or he chooses between a role or another, he is a Dom since he was born like that; Petey is not a sub since he wants to please Matt or since he likes to be a cherished pet, he is a sub since he feels it deeply inside himself. Petey has really a concept of caste and social level, and he doesn’t really feel bad when Matt orders him around since for Petey it’s right, and normal, and good, Matt is a superior and like a superior he has the right to be on top. Even when Matt is wrong, or better when he is wrong for the common opinion of who is outside their relationship, Petey still thinks he is right, since Matt has never hidden who he is and what he thinks. Sincerely if you are an a**hole in plain light, for me this doesn’t mean you are not, but again, this is me and I’m not into that relationship.
A proof that Matt and Petey are born like that, Dom and sub, and that is not a choice but a need for them, is that they are really young. No one has taught them what to do or the boundaries of their relationship, they are learning together, from field experience. They have friends and some of them can give them advice, but in the end, they are building their own family, their own relationship, their own balance. Can be good, can be wrong, but it’s their choice.
I’m not sure I can say that I like Matt; I still cannot comprehend him and his choice. Since I have always had a soft spot for who, apparently, is the weaker man, I think I like better Petey, but still sometime I would like to shake him up. Probably I’m a bit like his sister, who loves him deeply, but cannot comprehend his brother’s choice; nevertheless the love is there.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1603814361/?...
September 8, 2016
After 500 pages in book 1 and 350 pages in book 2...
Let me start by saying I'm not into BDSM. I cherish love stories. I've loved most of Jeff's other books so I assumed this series would be no different. I could have done with less detail in the BDSM department. It just seemed a bit excessive. But maybe that is what brought some people to this work.
After book 1 I only cares about Pete. Now, after reading book 2, I care about Matt and Pete's relationship. I like Drew too, but Alex still seems to be "there" but not driving anything. Perhaps that is how it is meant to be for his character.
The story opens up with the foursome wrapping up spring break and making the long drive home when they come upon a a multi-car accident. Despite Matt's instructions to stay with the car and warn other drivers of the accident he sees leaking fuel and knows something bad is about to happen. He races down to the accident scene and saves a life. The boys meet a paramedic on the scene who later invites the, to a party. Let the crazy begin.
Ryan gets used, returns the favor. Hospital time. Break up time. And lots of sex in between.
There is love between Matt and Pete. I believe that now. Time to read book 3.
Let me start by saying I'm not into BDSM. I cherish love stories. I've loved most of Jeff's other books so I assumed this series would be no different. I could have done with less detail in the BDSM department. It just seemed a bit excessive. But maybe that is what brought some people to this work.
After book 1 I only cares about Pete. Now, after reading book 2, I care about Matt and Pete's relationship. I like Drew too, but Alex still seems to be "there" but not driving anything. Perhaps that is how it is meant to be for his character.
The story opens up with the foursome wrapping up spring break and making the long drive home when they come upon a a multi-car accident. Despite Matt's instructions to stay with the car and warn other drivers of the accident he sees leaking fuel and knows something bad is about to happen. He races down to the accident scene and saves a life. The boys meet a paramedic on the scene who later invites the, to a party. Let the crazy begin.
Ryan gets used, returns the favor. Hospital time. Break up time. And lots of sex in between.
There is love between Matt and Pete. I believe that now. Time to read book 3.
June 2, 2010
This was the 2nd book in a 3 book series. I enjoyed the book. In this book you really see how the two main characters really do love each other. You discover how much they need each other. The Sir needs his pup just as much as the pup needs the Sir. I always find that type of D/s book very appealing. I would recommend this book 100%.
October 20, 2011
The story of Matt and Petey continues . . . these guys are still young, and still frustrating and hard to read sometimes. I want to tell them both to grow up, but I guess that's what they are doing and what this story is about.
March 5, 2024
This is a whole series review.
Here's the deal... the Puppy Love series isn't really a series. It's one really long fucking book. I say that because if you JUST read the first book (Puppy Love) without reading the second or third books (Building a Family and Reawakening, respectively), then you're probably going to be disappointed at best, disgusted at worst. If you decide to read this, you need to commit to the whole ~1200 page series. It has decent character progression and a sweet romance, but only if you read everything. Book 1 is just the start and should be thought of as the first third of a big novel.
ONCE AGAIN FOR THOSE IN BACK: This is NOT a true series! All three books are just three parts of one really large book. You can't (shouldn't) judge the story without reading all three books. The author did an excellent job of building up everything so he could show big progression in book 3. You've gotta endure the pain of Book 1 and 2 at times before you can get to the pleasure of Book 3.
The series covers roughly a one year time span. The author, Jeff Erno, is very good at creating detailed scenes. So a scene in another book may take 20 pages, whereas here it would be 40 or 50 pages. That's primarily why it is so long... details, emotions, and conversations aren't glossed over or smoothed down. They feel real, as if you could be having that exact experience yourself. That style makes the story feel much more personal and resonant.
Everything is told from Petey's point of view. While I think there are some places the author should have given us Matt's POV, it was handled decently well. Due to the aforementioned detailed qnd immersive writing style, Matt's feelings and emotions are well communicated, particularly in books 2 and 3. The constant being in Petey's can get a bit tiresome, though.
With that said, this entire series is pretty good. It gets better with each book. The first book, Puppy Love, was actually posted on Nifty eons ago. That's where I first read it, before Jeff published. It was one of my very first M/M stories, and definitely my first into BDSM. I have since become very well-seasoned, and I just re-read this whole series prior to this review.
As BDSM erotica, this series delivers on all fronts. I'd rate it a 6/10 on the "soft to hard" spectrum of BDSM. It's not just some light submissive puppy play here and there, but it's also not to the extent of locking up a pain slut in the dungeon for days. Petey is a slave and pup to his Master and owner Matt. It's a total power exchange. While there are a few masochistic elements, primarily in the first and second books and during punishments when Petey misbehaves, Petey is not actually a masochist. Pain play isn't too much of a focus for these two guys, but power exchange and domination/submission definitely is. The sex is very hot in most cases.
There is a case of on-page sexual assault and mild torture/violence. It is NOT between the MCs.
As far as romance, it's pretty sweet, but it takes awhile to build. Matt is very selfish in the beginning of their relationship (which is basically Book 1), including being not exclusive. Think of him as a bit of a "I'll fuck anything I want whenever I want" (not rape) kind of high-school jock. His character goes through huge development over the series to evolve from that base, and these two get a big HEA. They are utterly and believably in love by the end of Book 3, but they have to work for it. There's some big bumps along the way.
Be warned that there's "cheating" of a sort... nothing that is outside of the rules of Petey and Matt's relationship, but it's still stuff that emotionally hurts Petey quite a bit. That point is revisited throughout the series and also undergoes major development/resolution.
This is primarily a character focused story. Petey learns to embrace his submission, including learning how to serve, and Matt learns what it is to be a good Dom and an affectionate lover to his pup.
Matt is easy to hate in the beginning. As I mentioned, he's selfish and short-sighted in a lot of ways. But his feelings for Petey develop in real ways over time and through the situations they are put in. Petey is easy to be annoyed by. He whines a lot, especially in the beginning, and his character seems VERY childish at times. Yes, these are late teens, but they don't always act like that, especially Petey. Nonetheless, Petey matures over the series a bit, and he and Matt forge a deep bond that is unbreakable.
By time I arrived at the end scene, I was completely on board with Matt and Petey as a couple. It evolved naturally (mostly), more than I've seen in most other novels I've read.
Bottom line: Matt and Petey get their HEA, and it's more realistic than most. Matt DOES redeem himself (or change his behavior, at least) from how it starts in Book 1. Give the whole series a chance.
Book 1: Puppy Love ⭐️⭐️.5
This book is necessary to get us started, of course, but it's my least favorite. It is generally well written, but Matt is a total asshole in some cases. He's not physically abusive to Petey, but emotionally, he is. It doesn't seem like he intends it to be, but due to how Matt was raised, he does (and doesn't do) certain things that upset Petey in deep, hurtful ways.
There are also some situations Petey gets into as a result of Matt's negligence or inexperience (as a Dom), and Petey ends up being punished for them without Matt taking any meaningful responsibility. A couple of them leave a sour taste in the mouth. It should have been handled better, either in this book or revisited in one of the other two.
Book 2: Building a Family ⭐️⭐️⭐️
There's a lot going on in this book. Generally speaking, Matt and Petey grow much closer and Matt starts to shed some of his bullshit behaviors. Petey becomes a much more central part of Matt's life, and genuine love blooms between the two, not just lust.
That said, there are a couple truly stupid decisions on Matt's part. The first of which is the excuse Matt used with Alex and Petey to lure them into the surprise party. That was... beyond stupid. Like braindead stupid. I refuse to believe Matt wouldn't have realized that what he did would hurt Petey AND his best friend Alex in very deep ways. Yes, he apologized, but that apology felt a bit underwhelming considering the issues it caused.
Secondly... the decision to send Petey to spend the day with a jealous adversary... Matt should have been punished way more for that whole thing. AND! More importantly... We should have DEFINITELY seen Matt's POV through that whole ordeal and the fallout. I needed to see him feel the pain, first hand. He fucked up BIG TIME, and I wanted to see him fall apart directly. We were robbed of that opportunity.
Be warned that book 2 involves on-page sexual assault and related violence. It's not extremely graphic, but it is cringe-inducing. It is NOT between the MCs.
Some parts of this book feel contrived, creating artificial or extremely exaggerated situations for the sake of drama. I wish a different path was taken by the author, in that regard, but it's not egregious enough for me to stop reading.
Book 3: Reawakening ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Although this book is still told from Petey's POV, it is primarily devoted to the character development and maturation of Matt, delivered through the fallout of events in Book 2 as well as deeper insights into Matt's history, motivations, and feelings. He makes BIG (but realistic) changes to his behavior and how he treats Petey. Matt truly matures into not just a good Dom, but a great lover and partner to Petey. The hard edge of domination between them is softened a bit in this book, naturally because of how Matt loves Petey. They are still Dom/sub for sure, but Matt integrates a whole lot more affection into their dynamic than they previously had. The book even specifically discusses that fact. Petey is very happy with the arrangement.
There are a few other instances in this book that feel contrived for the sake of drama, but less so than book 2. At least less serious.
By the end of Book 3, these two have not only learned how to please and serve one another, but they've learned how to genuinely care and show affection in ways the other needs.
---
Overall this is a decent series, and I'll always remember it. It gets better as you go, with Book 3 being the most memorable. These two work well together, and the happy ending leaves a fresh, warm feeling as you read the final pages. 🤌 Matt and Petey are out there somewhere living their best lives.
Here's the deal... the Puppy Love series isn't really a series. It's one really long fucking book. I say that because if you JUST read the first book (Puppy Love) without reading the second or third books (Building a Family and Reawakening, respectively), then you're probably going to be disappointed at best, disgusted at worst. If you decide to read this, you need to commit to the whole ~1200 page series. It has decent character progression and a sweet romance, but only if you read everything. Book 1 is just the start and should be thought of as the first third of a big novel.
ONCE AGAIN FOR THOSE IN BACK: This is NOT a true series! All three books are just three parts of one really large book. You can't (shouldn't) judge the story without reading all three books. The author did an excellent job of building up everything so he could show big progression in book 3. You've gotta endure the pain of Book 1 and 2 at times before you can get to the pleasure of Book 3.
The series covers roughly a one year time span. The author, Jeff Erno, is very good at creating detailed scenes. So a scene in another book may take 20 pages, whereas here it would be 40 or 50 pages. That's primarily why it is so long... details, emotions, and conversations aren't glossed over or smoothed down. They feel real, as if you could be having that exact experience yourself. That style makes the story feel much more personal and resonant.
Everything is told from Petey's point of view. While I think there are some places the author should have given us Matt's POV, it was handled decently well. Due to the aforementioned detailed qnd immersive writing style, Matt's feelings and emotions are well communicated, particularly in books 2 and 3. The constant being in Petey's can get a bit tiresome, though.
With that said, this entire series is pretty good. It gets better with each book. The first book, Puppy Love, was actually posted on Nifty eons ago. That's where I first read it, before Jeff published. It was one of my very first M/M stories, and definitely my first into BDSM. I have since become very well-seasoned, and I just re-read this whole series prior to this review.
As BDSM erotica, this series delivers on all fronts. I'd rate it a 6/10 on the "soft to hard" spectrum of BDSM. It's not just some light submissive puppy play here and there, but it's also not to the extent of locking up a pain slut in the dungeon for days. Petey is a slave and pup to his Master and owner Matt. It's a total power exchange. While there are a few masochistic elements, primarily in the first and second books and during punishments when Petey misbehaves, Petey is not actually a masochist. Pain play isn't too much of a focus for these two guys, but power exchange and domination/submission definitely is. The sex is very hot in most cases.
There is a case of on-page sexual assault and mild torture/violence. It is NOT between the MCs.
As far as romance, it's pretty sweet, but it takes awhile to build. Matt is very selfish in the beginning of their relationship (which is basically Book 1), including being not exclusive. Think of him as a bit of a "I'll fuck anything I want whenever I want" (not rape) kind of high-school jock. His character goes through huge development over the series to evolve from that base, and these two get a big HEA. They are utterly and believably in love by the end of Book 3, but they have to work for it. There's some big bumps along the way.
Be warned that there's "cheating" of a sort... nothing that is outside of the rules of Petey and Matt's relationship, but it's still stuff that emotionally hurts Petey quite a bit. That point is revisited throughout the series and also undergoes major development/resolution.
This is primarily a character focused story. Petey learns to embrace his submission, including learning how to serve, and Matt learns what it is to be a good Dom and an affectionate lover to his pup.
Matt is easy to hate in the beginning. As I mentioned, he's selfish and short-sighted in a lot of ways. But his feelings for Petey develop in real ways over time and through the situations they are put in. Petey is easy to be annoyed by. He whines a lot, especially in the beginning, and his character seems VERY childish at times. Yes, these are late teens, but they don't always act like that, especially Petey. Nonetheless, Petey matures over the series a bit, and he and Matt forge a deep bond that is unbreakable.
By time I arrived at the end scene, I was completely on board with Matt and Petey as a couple. It evolved naturally (mostly), more than I've seen in most other novels I've read.
Bottom line: Matt and Petey get their HEA, and it's more realistic than most. Matt DOES redeem himself (or change his behavior, at least) from how it starts in Book 1. Give the whole series a chance.
Book 1: Puppy Love ⭐️⭐️.5
This book is necessary to get us started, of course, but it's my least favorite. It is generally well written, but Matt is a total asshole in some cases. He's not physically abusive to Petey, but emotionally, he is. It doesn't seem like he intends it to be, but due to how Matt was raised, he does (and doesn't do) certain things that upset Petey in deep, hurtful ways.
There are also some situations Petey gets into as a result of Matt's negligence or inexperience (as a Dom), and Petey ends up being punished for them without Matt taking any meaningful responsibility. A couple of them leave a sour taste in the mouth. It should have been handled better, either in this book or revisited in one of the other two.
Book 2: Building a Family ⭐️⭐️⭐️
There's a lot going on in this book. Generally speaking, Matt and Petey grow much closer and Matt starts to shed some of his bullshit behaviors. Petey becomes a much more central part of Matt's life, and genuine love blooms between the two, not just lust.
That said, there are a couple truly stupid decisions on Matt's part. The first of which is the excuse Matt used with Alex and Petey to lure them into the surprise party. That was... beyond stupid. Like braindead stupid. I refuse to believe Matt wouldn't have realized that what he did would hurt Petey AND his best friend Alex in very deep ways. Yes, he apologized, but that apology felt a bit underwhelming considering the issues it caused.
Secondly... the decision to send Petey to spend the day with a jealous adversary... Matt should have been punished way more for that whole thing. AND! More importantly... We should have DEFINITELY seen Matt's POV through that whole ordeal and the fallout. I needed to see him feel the pain, first hand. He fucked up BIG TIME, and I wanted to see him fall apart directly. We were robbed of that opportunity.
Be warned that book 2 involves on-page sexual assault and related violence. It's not extremely graphic, but it is cringe-inducing. It is NOT between the MCs.
Some parts of this book feel contrived, creating artificial or extremely exaggerated situations for the sake of drama. I wish a different path was taken by the author, in that regard, but it's not egregious enough for me to stop reading.
Book 3: Reawakening ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Although this book is still told from Petey's POV, it is primarily devoted to the character development and maturation of Matt, delivered through the fallout of events in Book 2 as well as deeper insights into Matt's history, motivations, and feelings. He makes BIG (but realistic) changes to his behavior and how he treats Petey. Matt truly matures into not just a good Dom, but a great lover and partner to Petey. The hard edge of domination between them is softened a bit in this book, naturally because of how Matt loves Petey. They are still Dom/sub for sure, but Matt integrates a whole lot more affection into their dynamic than they previously had. The book even specifically discusses that fact. Petey is very happy with the arrangement.
There are a few other instances in this book that feel contrived for the sake of drama, but less so than book 2. At least less serious.
By the end of Book 3, these two have not only learned how to please and serve one another, but they've learned how to genuinely care and show affection in ways the other needs.
---
Overall this is a decent series, and I'll always remember it. It gets better as you go, with Book 3 being the most memorable. These two work well together, and the happy ending leaves a fresh, warm feeling as you read the final pages. 🤌 Matt and Petey are out there somewhere living their best lives.
July 28, 2017
I can't say enough about this series (3 books) - it's not a YA story even though they start off as freshman in college. They are learning the BDSM submissive/dominant lifestyle from the beginning and you get to go along on their journey and WHAT A JOURNEY IT IS! Far from perfect, sometimes I wanted to smack Matt because it was easy to overlook how much he loved Petey (it's there in the writing but not in-your-face-obvious) and they make some bonehead mistakes because well, they're young and human. Just excellent writing and full of humor, love, sex, friendships, etc.
This will always be on my to-be-read-again list no matter how many times I re-read it.
This will always be on my to-be-read-again list no matter how many times I re-read it.
March 22, 2025
Such a great book
Matt and Pettey 's story keeps getting better. I've read the Puppy Love series multiple times and still love. Its such a sweet love story, but certainly with a grown up view. I can't recommend this book and series enough.
Matt and Pettey 's story keeps getting better. I've read the Puppy Love series multiple times and still love. Its such a sweet love story, but certainly with a grown up view. I can't recommend this book and series enough.
May 15, 2017
A little bit repetitive and extreme, but there are some hot scenes between Petey and Matt and I loved the ending!
July 11, 2010
Building a Family started off slowly. Petey and Matt have matured since Puppy Love 1 and their love shows greater commitment and trust. Matt tests Petey's love with new forms of humiliation and Petey responds in a suitably humble and grateful fashion. The changes are small and domestic. Petey moves out of home. His friendship with Drew grows closer. I'm thinking how it is with sequels, fresh material is hard to find. Nice read but...
Petey gets hurt yet again and I'm hooked. Totally caught up in the ensuing drama. I'm sniffling and reaching for the tissues. Nothing short of an earth quake could stop me reading now. Petey becomes so brave and adult right before my eyes.
In Puppy Love 1, I felt quite sorry for Matt because of Petey's neediness and cuteness. It was like being trapped in a whirlwind. In Puppy Love 2 we see Petey use his talent for empathy to begin to take on responsibility for others.
The first person POV works because Petey, in his insecurity, can always think up a hundred different rationales and ways to view a situation. Does his mind ever stop ticking?
I can't believe I have to wait until August for Puppy Lover 3. And Petey thinks being in chastity for two weeks is hard and unusual punishment!
5 stars
Petey gets hurt yet again and I'm hooked. Totally caught up in the ensuing drama. I'm sniffling and reaching for the tissues. Nothing short of an earth quake could stop me reading now. Petey becomes so brave and adult right before my eyes.
In Puppy Love 1, I felt quite sorry for Matt because of Petey's neediness and cuteness. It was like being trapped in a whirlwind. In Puppy Love 2 we see Petey use his talent for empathy to begin to take on responsibility for others.
The first person POV works because Petey, in his insecurity, can always think up a hundred different rationales and ways to view a situation. Does his mind ever stop ticking?
I can't believe I have to wait until August for Puppy Lover 3. And Petey thinks being in chastity for two weeks is hard and unusual punishment!
5 stars
November 14, 2012
I didn't enjoy Matt and Petey's first story but this time it worked better for me. Even though the book picks up pretty much right where the first one ends this time around the guys seem more mature. It was nice to see them settling into their relationship although the scene at the mall really didn't work for me at all. Matt makes mistakes in judgement with potentially devastating results but in a nice twist Petey is the one that comes to his rescue. Except for that one scene previously mentioned I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading part 3 of the series soon.
February 28, 2011
Very nice story. I liked the boys and I was really looking forward to read more about them. And if it wasn't a small problem, I would have give it 4 stars.
But the need of the author to summarize, again and again, all the events that just happened from Petey's pov drove me mad. I got it the first time, even better the second. Readers do not need to get a reminder of what happened in the last 50 pages, every 10 pages. We are not watching a sitcom on TV and forgetting the drama of last week. No need to do a written version of "what happened in the last episodes".
Otherwise, if you just skip these parts, the story is really enjoyable.
But the need of the author to summarize, again and again, all the events that just happened from Petey's pov drove me mad. I got it the first time, even better the second. Readers do not need to get a reminder of what happened in the last 50 pages, every 10 pages. We are not watching a sitcom on TV and forgetting the drama of last week. No need to do a written version of "what happened in the last episodes".
Otherwise, if you just skip these parts, the story is really enjoyable.
February 22, 2015
I read all three back to back. 2 stars for book 1, 3 stars for book 2 and 4 stars for book 3.
Book 1: Petey's constant "Matt's superior to lowly me" thing bugged me. Didn't like Matt at all. Felt like he was just using Petey. BUT, I liked it enough to buy...
Book 2: Petey starts to grow in this one and liked Matt much better. I admit to skipping alot of Petey's inner dialogue. Lots going on in this book and it kept my interest.
Book 3: Definitely liked Petey and Matt as a true couple. I liked their growth as individuals and as a couple and as a family with Alec and Drew.
Book 1: Petey's constant "Matt's superior to lowly me" thing bugged me. Didn't like Matt at all. Felt like he was just using Petey. BUT, I liked it enough to buy...
Book 2: Petey starts to grow in this one and liked Matt much better. I admit to skipping alot of Petey's inner dialogue. Lots going on in this book and it kept my interest.
Book 3: Definitely liked Petey and Matt as a true couple. I liked their growth as individuals and as a couple and as a family with Alec and Drew.
September 14, 2010
I loved watching the evolution and growth of the characters and seeing the way Drew and Petey bonded and supported each other. I also loved that Matt let himself be kinder. The stuff early on in the story with Matt, Petey, and Ryan was...oddly sweet and touching. Despite the fact that it sparked a situation that ended badly. All around great read, but, again, not for anyone that isn't into D/s relationships.
October 6, 2012
Not really my type of reading but still interesting. I love that Petey finally steps up for himself in this part, he's grown so much since the first book. The beginning to the end kept me on the wondering and sort on the edge of my seat. So many things happened in the book, i dont think i could touch it all. But I still love Drew, he is my favorite character from this series, hands down! Matt and Petey really take any adventure in this one and i really loved it.
January 17, 2014
This book was slightly better than the first one but i still had the same issues. but towards the end we start to see the possibility of a light at the end of the tunnel. I am looking forward to the third book to see how the author is going to finish the series. I think if you have read both books you should probably go on and read the last one.
November 9, 2010
I am fascinated with this master/slave series. I personally cannot understand how anyone can want to be in a subservient position to a master. Yet I am drawn to this story. Kind of like a horror flick that you view threw your interlaced fingers. I am planning on reading the sequel to complete the series.
December 2, 2010
Love the series, it has a lot of hot scenes and likable characters. Makes me anticipate what kinky stuff Matt plans next.
But this volume has far too many fillers (repetitions of repetitions of what happened, thoughts). It became so annoying that i had to skip paragraphs. Otherwise it would have deserved 5 stars...
But this volume has far too many fillers (repetitions of repetitions of what happened, thoughts). It became so annoying that i had to skip paragraphs. Otherwise it would have deserved 5 stars...
February 8, 2012
Couldn't put it down. This book delt with some real issues that face anyone part of a less than tradtional relationship. I felt he gave a good representatoin of some of the obstacles that can be faced and the assumptions made. It also gave some great insight to a D/s relationship. And yeah...there were quite a few omg hawt scenes...which are always appreciated.
February 12, 2012
This book was really a step up from book 1. There are a few changes in Matt and Petey. Matt seems more passionate and caring of Petey and you really see that Petey is becoming a bit more confident in himself. Also the BDSM scenes aren't as unbearable as they were in Book 1, but that's my perspective on it.
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