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Drive
Red has all but resigned himself to a life in the closet when he’s propositioned by the dashing, wealthy Victor Itachi. The small East Texas town of Black Creek isn’t the most hospitable environment for those who are different.
His secrets keep him--and more importantly, his sixteen-year-old half-sister, Katie--safe. But Victor’s dominance challenges everything Red thinks he knows and he finds himself swept up in an intense sexual relationship that forces him to confront his deepest desires, both in and out of the bedroom.
When an unlikely friendship with the only out gay man in town triggers Victor’s jealousy, Red must make a choice: submit fully to the relative safety of Victor’s control or risk it all for a chance at something real.
Warnings: Contains explicit sexual content which is only suitable for mature readers, including pet play, references to past child abuse, homophobic slurs, guns, attempted suicide
Word Count: 59900.
His secrets keep him--and more importantly, his sixteen-year-old half-sister, Katie--safe. But Victor’s dominance challenges everything Red thinks he knows and he finds himself swept up in an intense sexual relationship that forces him to confront his deepest desires, both in and out of the bedroom.
When an unlikely friendship with the only out gay man in town triggers Victor’s jealousy, Red must make a choice: submit fully to the relative safety of Victor’s control or risk it all for a chance at something real.
Warnings: Contains explicit sexual content which is only suitable for mature readers, including pet play, references to past child abuse, homophobic slurs, guns, attempted suicide
Word Count: 59900.
- GenresBDSMRomanceContemporary
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2020
3 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 27, 2020
3 Stars!
Redmond/Red is a guy who lives in a small town full of small minded people. He had a rough childhood. Lost his mother young and was raised by a strict/abusive Military father. He takes care of his 16 yr old sister who ran away from their toxic father as well. He works as a mechanic and is very good at his job. He's also a gay man terrified of coming out. But with a town full of hateful people I would be too. Then he meets Victor.
Victor invites him out for drinks after Red fixes his car. He then gives Red a very different kind of invitation that Red just can't refuse even if he struggles to. From here they have a sexual relationship with a kink that I find degrading, but to each their own. I never really "got" their relationship. They never had any real conversations. It seemed pretty one sided. Victor had control and made up the rules and Red just followed all of them without having a real conversation about how their BDSM relationship would go. Usually their is a conversation about what your hard limits are. You just don't give a safe word and wing it. At least that is how it was in the majority of the books I have read with this kind of kink in them. It really bothered me.
I liked the relationship he had with his sister and how it showed the struggles he had trying to do right by her. They had a great bond.
It ended up just being an OK read for me.
Happy reading dolls! xx
I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Redmond/Red is a guy who lives in a small town full of small minded people. He had a rough childhood. Lost his mother young and was raised by a strict/abusive Military father. He takes care of his 16 yr old sister who ran away from their toxic father as well. He works as a mechanic and is very good at his job. He's also a gay man terrified of coming out. But with a town full of hateful people I would be too. Then he meets Victor.
Victor invites him out for drinks after Red fixes his car. He then gives Red a very different kind of invitation that Red just can't refuse even if he struggles to. From here they have a sexual relationship with a kink that I find degrading, but to each their own. I never really "got" their relationship. They never had any real conversations. It seemed pretty one sided. Victor had control and made up the rules and Red just followed all of them without having a real conversation about how their BDSM relationship would go. Usually their is a conversation about what your hard limits are. You just don't give a safe word and wing it. At least that is how it was in the majority of the books I have read with this kind of kink in them. It really bothered me.
I liked the relationship he had with his sister and how it showed the struggles he had trying to do right by her. They had a great bond.
It ended up just being an OK read for me.
Happy reading dolls! xx
I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Redmond Cole does his best to keep his head down and his mouth shut. Living as a gay man in a conservative small town is hard enough, but Red has more reasons than just prejudice and fear to keep him firmly in the closet. He’s also taking care of his sixteen-year-old sister and, with all her problems at school, there’s always the threat that the school won’t call him the next time something happens. Instead, they might call the Colonel, Red and Katie’s father and an abusive, controlling asshole who let his 13-year-old daughter run away and who has spent the last three years ignoring both Red and Katie. Red won’t let him get his hands on Katie ever again.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
Redmond Cole does his best to keep his head down and his mouth shut. Living as a gay man in a conservative small town is hard enough, but Red has more reasons than just prejudice and fear to keep him firmly in the closet. He’s also taking care of his sixteen-year-old sister and, with all her problems at school, there’s always the threat that the school won’t call him the next time something happens. Instead, they might call the Colonel, Red and Katie’s father and an abusive, controlling asshole who let his 13-year-old daughter run away and who has spent the last three years ignoring both Red and Katie. Red won’t let him get his hands on Katie ever again.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
May 9, 2020
Drive is a quirky story of Redmond (Red) Cole, a closeted gay man who is breaking his back to stay afloat and care for his 16-year-old sister and himself.
Red must face up to his desires and fantasy’s as well as find the strength to be himself and live the life he dreams off.
When he meets Victor a customer at the workshop, he gets entangled in a D/s relationship of sorts. This allows him to experience a side of himself he did not know was there, but it also shows him that Victor is not able to offer him a full conventional relationship.
Red also meets the out and proud Gay man in the village Sean. They become close friends and connect on many levels. Both in need of a true friend, but Red keeps his relationship with Victor and his actual sexuality to himself.
Red is entangled in a web of emotions and struggles to work out what he needs and wants in his life. Both men offer him different things and he has feelings for both. But he knows that he will only get a real loving relationship with Sean.
I really enjoyed Reds journey of self-discovery, I loved the way the author showed the conflicting emotions and his turmoil as he slowly worked his way forward. I see why he Chose Sean, and kind of even understand why he did what he did with Victor, ie he wanted some one to take control and be there for him. But I am also a little surprised that to seemed like he was just going to drop the BDSM side of things when it seemed so natural for him. Now I do not know if there will be a book 2, and Red and Sean will include any BDSM in their relationship, but it just feels like Red needs a Dom to support and guide him.
Red must face up to his desires and fantasy’s as well as find the strength to be himself and live the life he dreams off.
When he meets Victor a customer at the workshop, he gets entangled in a D/s relationship of sorts. This allows him to experience a side of himself he did not know was there, but it also shows him that Victor is not able to offer him a full conventional relationship.
Red also meets the out and proud Gay man in the village Sean. They become close friends and connect on many levels. Both in need of a true friend, but Red keeps his relationship with Victor and his actual sexuality to himself.
Red is entangled in a web of emotions and struggles to work out what he needs and wants in his life. Both men offer him different things and he has feelings for both. But he knows that he will only get a real loving relationship with Sean.
I really enjoyed Reds journey of self-discovery, I loved the way the author showed the conflicting emotions and his turmoil as he slowly worked his way forward. I see why he Chose Sean, and kind of even understand why he did what he did with Victor, ie he wanted some one to take control and be there for him. But I am also a little surprised that to seemed like he was just going to drop the BDSM side of things when it seemed so natural for him. Now I do not know if there will be a book 2, and Red and Sean will include any BDSM in their relationship, but it just feels like Red needs a Dom to support and guide him.
June 1, 2020
This book was a lot different from what I thought it would be and it was kind of nice.
Red is a small town mechanic who's been in the closet his whole life. He meets Victor, a wealthy business man who takes Red under his wing and introduces him to pet play. Red gains confidence and befriends the only out gay man in town, but struggles to let anyone in.
This moved pretty quickly and I liked that the plot didn't go as I expected it would. Pet play isn't something you see many stories about and it's not my favorite, but it wasn't the main focus and I liked that it helped Red feel centered and come to terms with his feelings. I didn't care for Red's sister, I know she's only sixteen but she kept causing problems and seemed very selfish. She would get into trouble at school then want Red to fix it and take no responsibility.
Sean was my favorite character, he knew coming out meant his father would disown him, but he had to be true to himself. He was a great friend to Red, even when the friendship wasn't reciprocated and put up with a lot of harassment. He continued to stay in town and refused to be run out by homophobes and stood up for himself. What a great example to look up to.
I enjoyed reading this and will check out other books by this author.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Red is a small town mechanic who's been in the closet his whole life. He meets Victor, a wealthy business man who takes Red under his wing and introduces him to pet play. Red gains confidence and befriends the only out gay man in town, but struggles to let anyone in.
This moved pretty quickly and I liked that the plot didn't go as I expected it would. Pet play isn't something you see many stories about and it's not my favorite, but it wasn't the main focus and I liked that it helped Red feel centered and come to terms with his feelings. I didn't care for Red's sister, I know she's only sixteen but she kept causing problems and seemed very selfish. She would get into trouble at school then want Red to fix it and take no responsibility.
Sean was my favorite character, he knew coming out meant his father would disown him, but he had to be true to himself. He was a great friend to Red, even when the friendship wasn't reciprocated and put up with a lot of harassment. He continued to stay in town and refused to be run out by homophobes and stood up for himself. What a great example to look up to.
I enjoyed reading this and will check out other books by this author.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2020
**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Drive is an intense MM contemporary romance surrounding mechanic, Red, and the mysterious, wealthy Victor. Red is raising his sister, Katie, trying to build a new friendship with Sean, and doesn't quite know what it is he has with Victor. The story is an entire rollercoaster ride of emotions the whole way through.
Content warnings absolutely apply on many different subjects; please be aware of them prior to beginning. Some of the content is not what I normally like, but I found that Courtney Maguire wrote in a way that was accessible, raw, and real. I forgot to care that YKINMK(ATO!).
I couldn't help but feel a smidgen of disappointment with the end, though I completely understood and respect why the choices were made as they were.
I will definitely be looking into anything else Maguire writes in the future, and am very grateful to have been able to read this early.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Drive is an intense MM contemporary romance surrounding mechanic, Red, and the mysterious, wealthy Victor. Red is raising his sister, Katie, trying to build a new friendship with Sean, and doesn't quite know what it is he has with Victor. The story is an entire rollercoaster ride of emotions the whole way through.
Content warnings absolutely apply on many different subjects; please be aware of them prior to beginning. Some of the content is not what I normally like, but I found that Courtney Maguire wrote in a way that was accessible, raw, and real. I forgot to care that YKINMK(ATO!).
I couldn't help but feel a smidgen of disappointment with the end, though I completely understood and respect why the choices were made as they were.
I will definitely be looking into anything else Maguire writes in the future, and am very grateful to have been able to read this early.
June 4, 2020
Drive by Courtney Maguire - 5/5 stars
TW: Sexual assault within a relationship, sexual situations, homophobia, mentions of childhood abuse
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
This book was not at ALL what I expected, and I honestly mean that in the best way possible. I went into this anticipating a BDSM-centric queer love story, mainly sex focused. And while it was that, it was also so much more and so much deeper.
I thought that some very important conversations were had in this book, such as internalized homophobia, being queer in a small town, perceptions of queer people, and unhealthy relationships. The conversations had were not expected from me, and I thought that it added a lot to the story.
I thought that all of the characters were fleshed out nicely and became easy to root for, even when you didn't agree with all of the decisions made.
This is possibly a bit of a spoiler, but during a sexual encounter before our main character and his dom, there is an urged sexual situation in which our main character does not want to participate but does not want to disappoint his dominant either. It was not discussed past the chapters that it takes place, but it ultimately can be viewed as sexual assault.
I do believe that the ending of this book could be divisive, but I personally thought that the ending was incredible. It felt like the natural progression that our characters were heading towards, and it felt so real to me. I loved it and thought that the ending was beautiful in it's own way.
I thoroughly encourage you to pick this book up, it had moments that made me tear up (both good and bad) and really hooked me from the start. If you're even vaguely interested, I recommend!
TW: Sexual assault within a relationship, sexual situations, homophobia, mentions of childhood abuse
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
This book was not at ALL what I expected, and I honestly mean that in the best way possible. I went into this anticipating a BDSM-centric queer love story, mainly sex focused. And while it was that, it was also so much more and so much deeper.
I thought that some very important conversations were had in this book, such as internalized homophobia, being queer in a small town, perceptions of queer people, and unhealthy relationships. The conversations had were not expected from me, and I thought that it added a lot to the story.
I thought that all of the characters were fleshed out nicely and became easy to root for, even when you didn't agree with all of the decisions made.
This is possibly a bit of a spoiler, but during a sexual encounter before our main character and his dom, there is an urged sexual situation in which our main character does not want to participate but does not want to disappoint his dominant either. It was not discussed past the chapters that it takes place, but it ultimately can be viewed as sexual assault.
I do believe that the ending of this book could be divisive, but I personally thought that the ending was incredible. It felt like the natural progression that our characters were heading towards, and it felt so real to me. I loved it and thought that the ending was beautiful in it's own way.
I thoroughly encourage you to pick this book up, it had moments that made me tear up (both good and bad) and really hooked me from the start. If you're even vaguely interested, I recommend!
March 20, 2020
Great story, engaging characters, fun! A well written enjoyable read and I’m glad I got an advance read. A credit to the genre. 😊
April 19, 2020
4.5 stars.
Red Cole is a 25 y/o closeted single gay man living in a conservative East Texas small town. He's working as a mechanic, barely making ends meet as he raises his 16 y/o half-sister Katie; she a bit of a troublemaker, and ran to Red when escaping from their abusive father three years ago.
Red does a great job fixing a custom Beemer for wealthy lawyer Victor Itachi, and hesitantly accepts Victor's invitation for a drink. It's a big step for Red, even if it's not a date. It's weird that Victor can see through Red's het facade, and even more weird that he's inviting Red to some debauched playhouse for discreet "like-minded" folk. Red refuses, but his curiosity is piqued.
A few days later, Red is calling Victor for more information. And, the playhouse is a trip. What Victor likes is a D/s variation based on pet play. He wants a pet to take care of, in the playhouse and in real life. Red is ashamed at how turned on he is by submission. It must say something crappy about his masculinity--like his worthless father always said.
Red has also semi-befriended an out gay man called Sean, who is the town pariah. He was shipped off to schooling in Austin by his bigoted father and only returned to town when his dad died a couple of years ago. And, he desperately needs a friend. They meet because Sean's car has been vandalized with paint by a homophobe, and Red agrees to dab off as much paint as he can--even after his homophobic boss tries to deny the business. When Sean's mother dies, Red is as big a comfort as he can manage, while still firmly lodged within the closet.
But in the playhouse with Victor, Red is quickly growing accustomed to Victor's Dominant play, he's even jealous that Victor's other pet, Toby, gets to spend time with his Master. It's a really confusing time, emotionally, for Red, as Victor does more and more caretaking outside of the playhouse. And, the more time that Red spends with Sean, the more he thinks maybe coming out is the best option after all.
This is an interesting story with a few bigger twists that kept the story moving. Red's relationships with Katie and Sean are safe, because neither knows of Red's gay secret. He's able to grow a bit with his playtime with Victor, and see that he needs more than just to "heel" when his phone begins to bark. The D/s is a curveball, with unexpected struggles--Red hasn't had to fight to keep a man to himself before--not that he's ever wanted to. And, the power plays with Victor and Toby have real life ramifications--as Red learns when Toby shows up at his job. This is all overlayed by the toxic masculinity mindset that permeates this Texas town--and creates a sanctimonious backdrop that allows aggressive homophobia to flourish. Red's "upstanding" boss isn't too "upstanding" to gouge Sean for the work Red mostly did on his lunch breaks. And, he's clearly perturbed that Red would even do such work where his "upstanding" customers could witness it. Victor's unwilling to have any physical contact with Red that isn't locked behind playhouse doors or half a state away in his Galveston beach house.
But, Red's new experiences teach him what's most important. Sure, he can be Victor's pet, but is that a way to live? Toby's example was a big wake-up call, I think. Red needs to stand up for himself, take care of his sister (even when she makes life so difficult) and find the courage to live his life with a lover that finds him worthy. Thankfully, he does this before the books ends. There are a few scenes of D/s play, but I wouldn't call them especially romantic. Victor and Red take some time away, and this brings the first real intimacy of the story--it is also near the end...and serves as a stark counterpoint to how different a loving relationship would look, by comparison.
The climax brings the disparate parts of Red's life into close proximity. The fallout is a bit explosive, but it provides the proper reorientation for Red to get his life ordered. The ending is a strong Happy for Now, with definite glints of an HEA. I really liked the layers of character and plot, which had many points of resonance. I'd be eager to read on, and see what happens with Red, and even Victor and Toby.
Red Cole is a 25 y/o closeted single gay man living in a conservative East Texas small town. He's working as a mechanic, barely making ends meet as he raises his 16 y/o half-sister Katie; she a bit of a troublemaker, and ran to Red when escaping from their abusive father three years ago.
Red does a great job fixing a custom Beemer for wealthy lawyer Victor Itachi, and hesitantly accepts Victor's invitation for a drink. It's a big step for Red, even if it's not a date. It's weird that Victor can see through Red's het facade, and even more weird that he's inviting Red to some debauched playhouse for discreet "like-minded" folk. Red refuses, but his curiosity is piqued.
A few days later, Red is calling Victor for more information. And, the playhouse is a trip. What Victor likes is a D/s variation based on pet play. He wants a pet to take care of, in the playhouse and in real life. Red is ashamed at how turned on he is by submission. It must say something crappy about his masculinity--like his worthless father always said.
Red has also semi-befriended an out gay man called Sean, who is the town pariah. He was shipped off to schooling in Austin by his bigoted father and only returned to town when his dad died a couple of years ago. And, he desperately needs a friend. They meet because Sean's car has been vandalized with paint by a homophobe, and Red agrees to dab off as much paint as he can--even after his homophobic boss tries to deny the business. When Sean's mother dies, Red is as big a comfort as he can manage, while still firmly lodged within the closet.
But in the playhouse with Victor, Red is quickly growing accustomed to Victor's Dominant play, he's even jealous that Victor's other pet, Toby, gets to spend time with his Master. It's a really confusing time, emotionally, for Red, as Victor does more and more caretaking outside of the playhouse. And, the more time that Red spends with Sean, the more he thinks maybe coming out is the best option after all.
This is an interesting story with a few bigger twists that kept the story moving. Red's relationships with Katie and Sean are safe, because neither knows of Red's gay secret. He's able to grow a bit with his playtime with Victor, and see that he needs more than just to "heel" when his phone begins to bark. The D/s is a curveball, with unexpected struggles--Red hasn't had to fight to keep a man to himself before--not that he's ever wanted to. And, the power plays with Victor and Toby have real life ramifications--as Red learns when Toby shows up at his job. This is all overlayed by the toxic masculinity mindset that permeates this Texas town--and creates a sanctimonious backdrop that allows aggressive homophobia to flourish. Red's "upstanding" boss isn't too "upstanding" to gouge Sean for the work Red mostly did on his lunch breaks. And, he's clearly perturbed that Red would even do such work where his "upstanding" customers could witness it. Victor's unwilling to have any physical contact with Red that isn't locked behind playhouse doors or half a state away in his Galveston beach house.
But, Red's new experiences teach him what's most important. Sure, he can be Victor's pet, but is that a way to live? Toby's example was a big wake-up call, I think. Red needs to stand up for himself, take care of his sister (even when she makes life so difficult) and find the courage to live his life with a lover that finds him worthy. Thankfully, he does this before the books ends. There are a few scenes of D/s play, but I wouldn't call them especially romantic. Victor and Red take some time away, and this brings the first real intimacy of the story--it is also near the end...and serves as a stark counterpoint to how different a loving relationship would look, by comparison.
The climax brings the disparate parts of Red's life into close proximity. The fallout is a bit explosive, but it provides the proper reorientation for Red to get his life ordered. The ending is a strong Happy for Now, with definite glints of an HEA. I really liked the layers of character and plot, which had many points of resonance. I'd be eager to read on, and see what happens with Red, and even Victor and Toby.
April 20, 2020
I really just wanted to give Redmond Cole a big hug and beat up all the bigots that seem to overwhelm his home town. This book is a graphic BDSM M/M story - with a very specific kink that may not be entirely understandable for your average reader. That being said, Redmond's draw to that kink is 100% understandable given his background and life story.
Red is closeted primarily because of the area he lives in. His town and community is extremely homophobic and he was raised in a family that was extremely intolerant to his sexual orientation. He isn't out to anyone in his town - even his sister. All of that not-withstanding - he starts a sexual relationship with a very wealthy customer at the garage where he works at a local invitation only club. The relationship isn't like any other Red has had - but it meets a fundamental need he has. To tell him that he is good despite everything he has ever heard about himself. This relationship takes off at the same time he meets up with pretty much the only out gay man in town.
The relationships in this book are tough and emotional. There is a definite triangle - that even though you are rooting for Redmond and Sean to come together, you can see why Redmond wants everything with Victor. In many ways, however, Victor turns out to be more closeted than Redmond (which is saying something).
Overall the emotional aspects of this book really push this past a typical book in this genre.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.
Red is closeted primarily because of the area he lives in. His town and community is extremely homophobic and he was raised in a family that was extremely intolerant to his sexual orientation. He isn't out to anyone in his town - even his sister. All of that not-withstanding - he starts a sexual relationship with a very wealthy customer at the garage where he works at a local invitation only club. The relationship isn't like any other Red has had - but it meets a fundamental need he has. To tell him that he is good despite everything he has ever heard about himself. This relationship takes off at the same time he meets up with pretty much the only out gay man in town.
The relationships in this book are tough and emotional. There is a definite triangle - that even though you are rooting for Redmond and Sean to come together, you can see why Redmond wants everything with Victor. In many ways, however, Victor turns out to be more closeted than Redmond (which is saying something).
Overall the emotional aspects of this book really push this past a typical book in this genre.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.
April 17, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a review copy. All opinions are my own.
This book is a one-star due to personal taste rather than outright "this is a bad book" type feelings. We follow Red, who is closeted in a small town where basically everyone is violently homophobic. He meets this rich guy, Victor, who convinces him to engage in a sexual relationship.
Here's my big gripe with the book, which is essentially the entire book: Red and Victor never really have a conversation about what either of them want from this arrangement/relationship/whatever the heck it is. There is a LOT of stuff that is just so questionable to me, because no limits are ever discussed. It feels like Victor, who has had BDSM relationships before, is taking advantage of Red, since Red has never done anything like that and doesn't really know how to be safe. Their whole dynamic was based on power play, but it felt a lot more like real life than play.
The writing was fine, nothing special but nothing great either, so it all comes down to my enjoyment of the romantic relationship and, unfortunately, there was very little in their relationship I enjoyed reading about.
This book is a one-star due to personal taste rather than outright "this is a bad book" type feelings. We follow Red, who is closeted in a small town where basically everyone is violently homophobic. He meets this rich guy, Victor, who convinces him to engage in a sexual relationship.
Here's my big gripe with the book, which is essentially the entire book: Red and Victor never really have a conversation about what either of them want from this arrangement/relationship/whatever the heck it is. There is a LOT of stuff that is just so questionable to me, because no limits are ever discussed. It feels like Victor, who has had BDSM relationships before, is taking advantage of Red, since Red has never done anything like that and doesn't really know how to be safe. Their whole dynamic was based on power play, but it felt a lot more like real life than play.
The writing was fine, nothing special but nothing great either, so it all comes down to my enjoyment of the romantic relationship and, unfortunately, there was very little in their relationship I enjoyed reading about.
April 18, 2020
-I received a digital ARC copy thanks to NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own-
This book was definitely on the NSFW side, but I have to admit, as weird as some of the sexual scenes were they were very steamy and enjoyable. I would not recommend this book if you are uncomfortable with BDSM or animal kinks.
The story follows our main character Red who is a closeted gay in a town where being openly gay is highly frowned upon. He makes friends with Victor Itachi who convinces him to join him in sexual relations. I do admit that there are no boundaries discussed between the two really before they get into anything besides Red's safe word. So that aspect felt a little off to me, it seemed that Red was just expected to go through with whatever Victor said and wanted without him having any say.
I will admit that I was NOT expecting the kinks that we were exposed to. I've read my share of erotica but this is the first that had an animal kink (not sure if that's the correct term). It did make me uncomfortable in the beginning but I was able to look past the weirdness of it and focus on the steam- which was VERY steamy. As my first male/male erotica I was not expecting what I received but I didn't hate it.
I enjoyed the writing style and how you can definitely see Red's character evolve throughout the entire story. He blossoms with his sexuality thanks to Victor, even if their romantic relationship was entirely toxic from the beginning. I do wish we got more of Red and Sean together as a couple. Maybe if Victor and Red called it quits earlier on we could've gotten that but I do see why we needed to see what we did with the two of them and get Red to develop more.
Overall I gave this story a three star rating. Mainly because as much as I was able to look past the animal play it did make me slightly uncomfortable to read and I really wanted more of Red and Sean's relationship development. I do think this is a different book and something that would be interesting to pick up if you're looking to read something new and even a little taboo with the kink. Again I'd like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this and review it.
This book was definitely on the NSFW side, but I have to admit, as weird as some of the sexual scenes were they were very steamy and enjoyable. I would not recommend this book if you are uncomfortable with BDSM or animal kinks.
The story follows our main character Red who is a closeted gay in a town where being openly gay is highly frowned upon. He makes friends with Victor Itachi who convinces him to join him in sexual relations. I do admit that there are no boundaries discussed between the two really before they get into anything besides Red's safe word. So that aspect felt a little off to me, it seemed that Red was just expected to go through with whatever Victor said and wanted without him having any say.
I will admit that I was NOT expecting the kinks that we were exposed to. I've read my share of erotica but this is the first that had an animal kink (not sure if that's the correct term). It did make me uncomfortable in the beginning but I was able to look past the weirdness of it and focus on the steam- which was VERY steamy. As my first male/male erotica I was not expecting what I received but I didn't hate it.
I enjoyed the writing style and how you can definitely see Red's character evolve throughout the entire story. He blossoms with his sexuality thanks to Victor, even if their romantic relationship was entirely toxic from the beginning. I do wish we got more of Red and Sean together as a couple. Maybe if Victor and Red called it quits earlier on we could've gotten that but I do see why we needed to see what we did with the two of them and get Red to develop more.
Overall I gave this story a three star rating. Mainly because as much as I was able to look past the animal play it did make me slightly uncomfortable to read and I really wanted more of Red and Sean's relationship development. I do think this is a different book and something that would be interesting to pick up if you're looking to read something new and even a little taboo with the kink. Again I'd like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this and review it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2020
Ms. Maguire is a new author to me and I'm so happy that I have read one of her books.
This book is done in first person POV and we are hearing Red's story. He lives in a small Texas town where if you're different you are an outcast. Red is terrified of people finding out he's gay. He meets a man Victor while working at the garage he works at and his whole life starts changing.
We are lead on events about unconventional relationship with Victor which if you're not into reading BDSM/puppy play then this book isn't for you.
I felt Red's struggles, and even though I've never been in his situation I could feel his turmoil. He took in his younger sister when she ran away from, he met the outcast of the town and was worried about what would happen if he became friends with him...I think I cried a few times reading this.
Not many books today can bring that out in me because I feel most romances I read are just a carbon copy of another just with different names.
I will definitely be reading more of her work no matter what genre she decides to write in.
I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review
This book is done in first person POV and we are hearing Red's story. He lives in a small Texas town where if you're different you are an outcast. Red is terrified of people finding out he's gay. He meets a man Victor while working at the garage he works at and his whole life starts changing.
We are lead on events about unconventional relationship with Victor which if you're not into reading BDSM/puppy play then this book isn't for you.
I felt Red's struggles, and even though I've never been in his situation I could feel his turmoil. He took in his younger sister when she ran away from, he met the outcast of the town and was worried about what would happen if he became friends with him...I think I cried a few times reading this.
Not many books today can bring that out in me because I feel most romances I read are just a carbon copy of another just with different names.
I will definitely be reading more of her work no matter what genre she decides to write in.
I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review
May 12, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Nine Star Press for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVED this book! I’m not usually a fan of small town romances but the town itself played a part in the taboo romance.
Drive follows our main characters Redmond ‘Red’ Cole as he struggles with his sexuality in small town Texas.
The relationship between Red and Victor is so tense you can cut it with a knife and I really enjoyed how the author portrays two men struggling with their sexuality in very different ways.
Can’t wait to read more from this author!
I LOVED this book! I’m not usually a fan of small town romances but the town itself played a part in the taboo romance.
Drive follows our main characters Redmond ‘Red’ Cole as he struggles with his sexuality in small town Texas.
The relationship between Red and Victor is so tense you can cut it with a knife and I really enjoyed how the author portrays two men struggling with their sexuality in very different ways.
Can’t wait to read more from this author!
March 3, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book! Could not put it down! Not really a classic romance book, a big twist in the end. Good spice, 🐶 play
April 22, 2020
Short version: this a 1.5 rounded up because there isnt anything dangerous in the story, just aspects that I find in poor taste. The plot between the sex is nice and you can almost skip the sex if you arent digging the kink but want to read about Red's personal journey being gay in a small town and a parent to his teen sister. You would lose about half the page count but you could do it. As far as the sex goes, the long version will go into the problems I have with it, but suffice it to say it is suitably erotic if you are into pet play.
The long version: this is mostly going to be about the kink so if you dont care then skip this.
My first issue is the inadvertent conflating of party-and-play with the LGBT+ community. There are certain assholes who already associate the queer community with a debauched druggie lifestyle and having a character who likes having sex while high make a speechy-speech about the world not understanding your natural desires is not great optics.
My second issue is one that is common in kink erotica and that is a lack of communication between the sexual partners. This book at least keeps things Safe Sane Consensual, but not necessarily Risk Aware Consenual Kink. Victor vaguely outlines what he wants out of their play but he does not outline boundaries and you cant punish your partner for crossing a line if you never clearly establish where the line is. When they get into breath control, Victor is able to see the dark path Red's thoughts take and stops play but they didn't establish choking as a possibility for play and you cant just spring that on someone. Finally with regards to communication, Red shouldn't have to google what his role is. He is clearly into it, which is a nice step up from some Kink erotica, but part of ensuring safe play is making certain all participants understand their roles and risks.
Thirdly, I feel bad for Toby. Victor makes it a point to say that his collar is a sign of commitment, but then ignores the pup he actually collared. It would be one thing if that was an established aspect of their relationship but as I've said, not a whole lot of communication happens so I have to assume it isnt. Don't say something is meaningful and then show how it isn't.
Finally, and this is mostly a nitpick, because of how uncommunicative yet demanding Victor can be he comes off as less of a handler sometimes and more of a princess. This is not a problem, it just bugged me.
The long version: this is mostly going to be about the kink so if you dont care then skip this.
My first issue is the inadvertent conflating of party-and-play with the LGBT+ community. There are certain assholes who already associate the queer community with a debauched druggie lifestyle and having a character who likes having sex while high make a speechy-speech about the world not understanding your natural desires is not great optics.
My second issue is one that is common in kink erotica and that is a lack of communication between the sexual partners. This book at least keeps things Safe Sane Consensual, but not necessarily Risk Aware Consenual Kink. Victor vaguely outlines what he wants out of their play but he does not outline boundaries and you cant punish your partner for crossing a line if you never clearly establish where the line is. When they get into breath control, Victor is able to see the dark path Red's thoughts take and stops play but they didn't establish choking as a possibility for play and you cant just spring that on someone. Finally with regards to communication, Red shouldn't have to google what his role is. He is clearly into it, which is a nice step up from some Kink erotica, but part of ensuring safe play is making certain all participants understand their roles and risks.
Thirdly, I feel bad for Toby. Victor makes it a point to say that his collar is a sign of commitment, but then ignores the pup he actually collared. It would be one thing if that was an established aspect of their relationship but as I've said, not a whole lot of communication happens so I have to assume it isnt. Don't say something is meaningful and then show how it isn't.
Finally, and this is mostly a nitpick, because of how uncommunicative yet demanding Victor can be he comes off as less of a handler sometimes and more of a princess. This is not a problem, it just bugged me.
March 10, 2023
I personally LOVED Drive. Courtney Maguire has beautifully written the journey of Red finding the drive to drop the fear and be himself. All while dealing with his thoughts of worthlessness rooted from past trauma at the hands of his father, the town’s close mindedness, and his own desires. We see how he works through all the shame and musters the strength to stand up for himself. It was truly touching.
I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what happened next. All the characters are flawed. No one is perfect. Which made it more unpredictable and the ending that much more satisfying. Even if it wasn’t what I originally wanted.
Spice level (1-5): 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Kink level (1-3): ⛓️ Pet Play, MM, MMM, toy, “desire parties”
Red is a hard working mechanic taking care of his teenage half sister. He is also a closeted homosexual in a homophobic small town. Red witnesses the town treat Sean, an openly gay man, like a pariah. He is then more determined to take his sexuality to the grave, even if it costs him his own happiness. Yet Sean’s friendliness and demeanor make Red unable to deny Sean his friendship. But being seen with him is dangerous. Victor Itachi is the epitome of desire. When he shows Red attention and acceptance behind closed doors, Red is willing to take anything he will give him. While Victor is secretive and publicly safe, Sean is open and unashamed and potentially could cause Red’s downfall in their town. This is a test between sexual drive and having the drive to be true to yourself.
I would recommend Drive to the readers who know what they are getting into. Drive is not meant to be a manual for proper BDSM etiquette. This is not Pet Play for Dummies. But that’s not the point of the book. At its core Drive is about a gay man finding the courage to allow himself to be happy and accept himself. With that said, Drive is an MM romance. If you don’t like male on male action, skip this book. Drive also contains pet play. This means that in this book the sub acts like a dog, on all fours etc. and the Master bosses him around. If that is offensive to you, skip this book. Read the trigger warnings. This book does contain a suicide attempt, Master/pet behavior, drug use (not by MMC), an abusive parent, homophobia, discrimination, past emotional trauma, etc. If the above didn’t bother you, you know what you’re going to read, and you want to read about the growth of a character who finds the strength to stand up for himself, make tough decisions, and learns to accept himself and what he is, then this book is for you.
Warning: Reading Drive may make you want to get a collar. May make you go looking for your town’s secret gatherings. May make you want to fix up an old car. May make you want your very own pet. May make you finally accept yourself for who you truly are. May make you have the drive to do it. Read responsibly.
*I received an Advance Reader Copy for free via BookSirens and I am leaving an honest review of my own volition. All thoughts are my own.*
I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what happened next. All the characters are flawed. No one is perfect. Which made it more unpredictable and the ending that much more satisfying. Even if it wasn’t what I originally wanted.
Spice level (1-5): 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Kink level (1-3): ⛓️ Pet Play, MM, MMM, toy, “desire parties”
Red is a hard working mechanic taking care of his teenage half sister. He is also a closeted homosexual in a homophobic small town. Red witnesses the town treat Sean, an openly gay man, like a pariah. He is then more determined to take his sexuality to the grave, even if it costs him his own happiness. Yet Sean’s friendliness and demeanor make Red unable to deny Sean his friendship. But being seen with him is dangerous. Victor Itachi is the epitome of desire. When he shows Red attention and acceptance behind closed doors, Red is willing to take anything he will give him. While Victor is secretive and publicly safe, Sean is open and unashamed and potentially could cause Red’s downfall in their town. This is a test between sexual drive and having the drive to be true to yourself.
I would recommend Drive to the readers who know what they are getting into. Drive is not meant to be a manual for proper BDSM etiquette. This is not Pet Play for Dummies. But that’s not the point of the book. At its core Drive is about a gay man finding the courage to allow himself to be happy and accept himself. With that said, Drive is an MM romance. If you don’t like male on male action, skip this book. Drive also contains pet play. This means that in this book the sub acts like a dog, on all fours etc. and the Master bosses him around. If that is offensive to you, skip this book. Read the trigger warnings. This book does contain a suicide attempt, Master/pet behavior, drug use (not by MMC), an abusive parent, homophobia, discrimination, past emotional trauma, etc. If the above didn’t bother you, you know what you’re going to read, and you want to read about the growth of a character who finds the strength to stand up for himself, make tough decisions, and learns to accept himself and what he is, then this book is for you.
Warning: Reading Drive may make you want to get a collar. May make you go looking for your town’s secret gatherings. May make you want to fix up an old car. May make you want your very own pet. May make you finally accept yourself for who you truly are. May make you have the drive to do it. Read responsibly.
*I received an Advance Reader Copy for free via BookSirens and I am leaving an honest review of my own volition. All thoughts are my own.*
April 15, 2020
DRIVE is about the passionate, whirlwind romance between Red, a working class, closeted mechanic in a small town, and Victor, a rich, mysterious lawyer. In just the first few pages, the two are already lusting after each other, without much wait or exposition, which lends itself to being a speedy read. As readers, we're swept off our feet just as quickly as Red is. Through the novel, Red is introduced to Victor's world of BDSM and petplay, while also building a friendship with Sean, the only out gay man in his town. At its core, this isn't a story about Red and Victor's sex life or about the kinky underbelly of small town life. It's a story about Red discovering himself.
The BDSM technique throughout the novel isn't the best - at times, Victor clearly oversteps and jumps the gun, seemingly with the justification that it's not explicit enough to count, and when he brings Red to his first play party, the consent is slightly dubious, as Red doesn't actually know what will be going on. However, it's also not the worst I've seen in works of fiction. A safeword is established between the two and respected when it's used.
Speaking of Victor, I had a hard time liking him whenever he popped up, which was a problem, considering he's in practically the entire novel. When he's not there physically, Red's worried about him and his reactions enough that his presence is felt. He was just not a very likeable character. From the slightly questionable techniques as a Dom to flaunting his wealth to Red in a way that felt at times manipulative, I was really not rooting for him during the book. However, I've never been the type to love a cold and mysterious love interest, so those who do, will probably enjoy this.
Personally, I didn't love this book. It was a little too much erotica for my style and disliking such a major character made it hard to love. However, the scenes outside of sex, which were mostly about Red learning to accept himself and discovering community, were all wonderfully done and by the end, I was pretty fond of Red and Sean. Because of that, I'm giving DRIVE three stars. An overall good book, but not necessarily for me.
Thank you for NetGalley and NineStar press for the advanced review copy of this work!
The BDSM technique throughout the novel isn't the best - at times, Victor clearly oversteps and jumps the gun, seemingly with the justification that it's not explicit enough to count, and when he brings Red to his first play party, the consent is slightly dubious, as Red doesn't actually know what will be going on. However, it's also not the worst I've seen in works of fiction. A safeword is established between the two and respected when it's used.
Speaking of Victor, I had a hard time liking him whenever he popped up, which was a problem, considering he's in practically the entire novel. When he's not there physically, Red's worried about him and his reactions enough that his presence is felt. He was just not a very likeable character. From the slightly questionable techniques as a Dom to flaunting his wealth to Red in a way that felt at times manipulative, I was really not rooting for him during the book. However, I've never been the type to love a cold and mysterious love interest, so those who do, will probably enjoy this.
Personally, I didn't love this book. It was a little too much erotica for my style and disliking such a major character made it hard to love. However, the scenes outside of sex, which were mostly about Red learning to accept himself and discovering community, were all wonderfully done and by the end, I was pretty fond of Red and Sean. Because of that, I'm giving DRIVE three stars. An overall good book, but not necessarily for me.
Thank you for NetGalley and NineStar press for the advanced review copy of this work!
April 15, 2020
Readers first need to know that this book includes BDSM with pet play as well as homophobia. This does play a role throughout the entire book.
This does contain some minor information that individuals may deem spoilers.
Red is our main character, down to earth southern man who is working to get by and take care of his younger sister who lives with him. Red works as a mechanic and a very wealthy man needs work done on his car and boom- instant attraction, instant love for Victor. What Red doesn’t know is that Victor lives a life where he is a dominant and needs a submissive partner. Victor invites Red to the plantation to get a look at the alternative lifestyle and Red is swept off his feet. The story continues from there into a very quick read.
The steamy scenes is this book felt extremely rushed and forced. I felt the author was out of their element on writing BDSM with pet play. The actual acts during the scenes seemed to be things that could happen between partners the writing of them just seemed forced. Some of the scene feel “quick and dirty”.
One of the better parts of this book is the relationship between Red and Sean. Sean being the only openly gay individual in town. Sean brings his car to the shop as a last resort after it has been vandalized with the word “fag” and no other shop will help. Red agrees to help him out and their friendship grows from there.
The scenes between Red and Sean feel completely different than the scenes between Red and Victor. I would have liked this book to focus more on Red/Sean’s relationship.
Overall this was a decent read. Very quick escape romance.
Thank you to NineStar Press via Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for review.
This does contain some minor information that individuals may deem spoilers.
Red is our main character, down to earth southern man who is working to get by and take care of his younger sister who lives with him. Red works as a mechanic and a very wealthy man needs work done on his car and boom- instant attraction, instant love for Victor. What Red doesn’t know is that Victor lives a life where he is a dominant and needs a submissive partner. Victor invites Red to the plantation to get a look at the alternative lifestyle and Red is swept off his feet. The story continues from there into a very quick read.
The steamy scenes is this book felt extremely rushed and forced. I felt the author was out of their element on writing BDSM with pet play. The actual acts during the scenes seemed to be things that could happen between partners the writing of them just seemed forced. Some of the scene feel “quick and dirty”.
One of the better parts of this book is the relationship between Red and Sean. Sean being the only openly gay individual in town. Sean brings his car to the shop as a last resort after it has been vandalized with the word “fag” and no other shop will help. Red agrees to help him out and their friendship grows from there.
The scenes between Red and Sean feel completely different than the scenes between Red and Victor. I would have liked this book to focus more on Red/Sean’s relationship.
Overall this was a decent read. Very quick escape romance.
Thank you to NineStar Press via Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2023
The LGBTQ+ community has made significant strides in achieving greater rights and acceptance in the United States. However, anti-gay attitudes still persist in certain pockets of the country, particularly in small towns located in the south. This can force individuals to remain in the closet, fearing the potential backlash from family, friends, and the community at large. Enter Redmond Cole, the protagonist in Courtney Maguire's captivating novel Drive. Redmond lives in a tiny town in Texas and has yet to come out of the closet. He spends his days working at a garage and caring for his sister, Katie. But his life takes an unexpected turn when he meets two men, Victor Itachi, a wealthy man, and Sean, the only openly gay man in town.
As Redmond begins to engage in sexual and romantic relationships, he is forced to confront his true feelings and question his happiness with his current situation. Courtney Maguire brings to life the difficulties of being gay in a small town and Redmond's journey toward self-discovery and acceptance. The intimate scenes between Redmond and Victor are both sensual and realistic, showcasing the growth and development of Redmond's character as he navigates this new territory. Maguire expertly portrays the challenges and complexities of being a gay man in a conservative town while also highlighting the importance of love and acceptance.
Overall, Drive by Courtney Maguire is a captivating and sensual portrayal of the realities faced by many LGBTQ+ individuals living in conservative towns. It is a compelling story of growth, self-discovery, and acceptance that will leave readers both moved and entertained. I highly recommend this book.
As Redmond begins to engage in sexual and romantic relationships, he is forced to confront his true feelings and question his happiness with his current situation. Courtney Maguire brings to life the difficulties of being gay in a small town and Redmond's journey toward self-discovery and acceptance. The intimate scenes between Redmond and Victor are both sensual and realistic, showcasing the growth and development of Redmond's character as he navigates this new territory. Maguire expertly portrays the challenges and complexities of being a gay man in a conservative town while also highlighting the importance of love and acceptance.
Overall, Drive by Courtney Maguire is a captivating and sensual portrayal of the realities faced by many LGBTQ+ individuals living in conservative towns. It is a compelling story of growth, self-discovery, and acceptance that will leave readers both moved and entertained. I highly recommend this book.
April 13, 2023
This was not a happy romance. Red is a tortured soul. Raised by an abusive and homophobic father, living in a homophobic backwoods town, and now responsible for his sister, he is stretched too thin. He is scared of being outed, scared to loose his sister, hates himself, and working way too hard to hold it all together. Victor is everything Red has dreamed about. He's confident, rich successful, and so damn handsome, but also closeted. It's a dream come true when Victor invites Red to explore his world of BDSM and puppy play in a private and safe club. Sean is the only publicly out gay man in their small town. Sean quickly becomes the only true friend Red has ever had. This book is solely focused on Red's journey of self discovery. We find that his relationship with Victor starts off as a way to finally acknowledge his needs and desires, and then turns into a form of self punishment, and eventually leading him to finally admit to himself he is truly lonely and willing to risk everything to finally find happiness. The ending with Sean is very sweet. I wish we would have gotten a little more to see how their relationship develops, and I also would have liked to see how long it takes Victor to resolve his own feelings of self hatred. All in all a captivating story of growth with a peek into Red's HEA.
April 5, 2023
Red is a closeted gay man in a small Texas town, an auto mechanic, and guardian to his 16 year old sister. There is only one out gay man in town, Sean, shunned by everyone, confirming Red’s fear of coming out. He is invited to a secret BDSM club outside of town by Victor, a wealthy and prominent layer, and Red goes, not sure what he will find. He leaves, but does return and spends time at the club with Victor in a submissive role, forcing himself to confront his needs and desires. His growing friendship with Sean, and concern for his sister force him to make some decisions about his life which will lead to lasting consequences.
The fears Red has about his sexuality, the stigma placed on being gay in his town, the needs he has pushed down and not acknowledged for years, the need to care for his sister and keep her protected, his desire to maintain a friendship with Sean, concerns about his relationship with Victor, all come together to help lead Red to a place where he is comfortable with, and accepting of, himself, ready to live his life on his own terms. All his thoughts and actions rang true. Good character study of learning to survive in a homophobic environment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The fears Red has about his sexuality, the stigma placed on being gay in his town, the needs he has pushed down and not acknowledged for years, the need to care for his sister and keep her protected, his desire to maintain a friendship with Sean, concerns about his relationship with Victor, all come together to help lead Red to a place where he is comfortable with, and accepting of, himself, ready to live his life on his own terms. All his thoughts and actions rang true. Good character study of learning to survive in a homophobic environment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 7, 2023
I've read more than my fair share of romances from light to medium to dark and it isn't often one surprises me and breaks my heart so close to the end, but this one did. The next to the last chapter here felt so right and hurt so much that I was convinced the book was going to end differently than it did and I would have completely bought that ending that didn't happen. Red, Victor and Sean are characters that took hold of me from the start and I couldn't wait to see how the relationships among them would develop. I thought the author did a wonderful job of showing how people can get sucked into emotionally abusive relationships that initially seem to be healthy and healing for them as Red does here with Victor. Victor takes charge and gives Red the cover and permission to free a side of himself he might never have been able to on his own but then we get to watch as slowly but surely their relationship becomes something Red needs to escape. That's not so easy to do. I'm not giving away the ending here because this is one you need to experience cold and hopefully enjoy as much as I did.
April 22, 2020
*e-ARC provided by NeyGalley for my honest review*
So, i really enjoyed the way this book started, got me gripped with the first chapter. This is something different that I've read. A good different. I enjoyed this book, though i did feel that there could have been parts of the book that didn't really need to be it, just filler. For the title, I don't understand bc it isn't a book about cars except for the MC being a mechanic. MC is a gay man named Redmond living in a very closed-minded neighborhood where it's a shame being openly gay. Until he meets Victor Itachi, a BMW driving man who ends up taking Red into his life as his "pet." At first, i thought they were going to be a cute couple until he met Sean, a customer at his job who took in his car to get the word "fag" off his car. After he's introduced, i was hoping Red would end up with him, which the ending made me heart happy. But i felt that towards the end of the book, it was rushed and didn't really explain much of Red and Victor's end of their BDSM relationship. This book had potential, but fell a bit short.
So, i really enjoyed the way this book started, got me gripped with the first chapter. This is something different that I've read. A good different. I enjoyed this book, though i did feel that there could have been parts of the book that didn't really need to be it, just filler. For the title, I don't understand bc it isn't a book about cars except for the MC being a mechanic. MC is a gay man named Redmond living in a very closed-minded neighborhood where it's a shame being openly gay. Until he meets Victor Itachi, a BMW driving man who ends up taking Red into his life as his "pet." At first, i thought they were going to be a cute couple until he met Sean, a customer at his job who took in his car to get the word "fag" off his car. After he's introduced, i was hoping Red would end up with him, which the ending made me heart happy. But i felt that towards the end of the book, it was rushed and didn't really explain much of Red and Victor's end of their BDSM relationship. This book had potential, but fell a bit short.
March 20, 2023
Red is a blue collar worker working for an auto repair shop, and he is raising his 16 year old sister. Victor is a wealthy lawyer who is a dom. When Red fixes Victor’s car, he wants to buy dinner as a thank you. Victor is drawn to Red and wants to initiate him into the world of BDSM and kink. They end up in a D/s relationship, but still have to navigate their small town life filled with homophobia and distrust. Hopefully, they have what it takes to be true to themselves and to each other.
I liked the premise of this story and the book itself was well-written. However, several elements were missing when it came to the BDSM aspect of it. There did not seem to be enough communication when it came to scenes, and consent is a major tenet of that lifestyle. I was confused about what happened to Toby. I liked watching Red’s tentative connection with Sean bloom into a sweet friendship. And I loved watching Red interact with Katie. All in all this was a good book.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked the premise of this story and the book itself was well-written. However, several elements were missing when it came to the BDSM aspect of it. There did not seem to be enough communication when it came to scenes, and consent is a major tenet of that lifestyle. I was confused about what happened to Toby. I liked watching Red’s tentative connection with Sean bloom into a sweet friendship. And I loved watching Red interact with Katie. All in all this was a good book.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 18, 2023
Please read the warnings this author has provided and if this is not for you, you know before you start it.
Red is a talented car mechanic who secretly has fantasies and these are of the nature he has to keep to himself. The Texas town he lives in has a very closed mind and does not tolerate anyone different.
He lost his mother and was raised by an abusive father. He has a 16 year old sister who he takes care of rather than leaving her to her abusive dad.
Victor Itachi stops at the auto shop where Red works. He needs his BMW fixed immediately. Red’s boss commits to Red fixing the car and having it ready the next morning. This starts a series of issues and events that Red has to deal with and one is admitting who he actually is.
There is a lot going on in this story with more than a few kinks and different personalities. There is the issue of Red’s sister’s problem concerning her abusive dad. The story is well put together. The pace kept me interested.
Red is a talented car mechanic who secretly has fantasies and these are of the nature he has to keep to himself. The Texas town he lives in has a very closed mind and does not tolerate anyone different.
He lost his mother and was raised by an abusive father. He has a 16 year old sister who he takes care of rather than leaving her to her abusive dad.
Victor Itachi stops at the auto shop where Red works. He needs his BMW fixed immediately. Red’s boss commits to Red fixing the car and having it ready the next morning. This starts a series of issues and events that Red has to deal with and one is admitting who he actually is.
There is a lot going on in this story with more than a few kinks and different personalities. There is the issue of Red’s sister’s problem concerning her abusive dad. The story is well put together. The pace kept me interested.
March 30, 2023
A lonely man far in the closet gets an invitation from a wealthy dominant man.
A dream comes true when they start an intense relationship.
Red is a mechanic, he’s gay and far in the closet, the small town, and certainly, his colleagues are homophobic. When Victor invites him to a closed community, Red declines. Than accepts.
What follows is a super intense relationship, hot, kinky, and on Victor’s conditions.
Red takes care of his sixteen-year-old sister. They are coming from an abusive home.
So Red has to deal with his traumatic past and homophobic abusive father.
He also starts a friendship with the sweetest and only known gay in the town.
What all started as something promising, ended up not promising, more broken.
This was a good story, tantalizing, and emotional.
I wish there were fewer questions open for me and a more definite ending than a hfn
The story screams for a continuation!
A dream comes true when they start an intense relationship.
Red is a mechanic, he’s gay and far in the closet, the small town, and certainly, his colleagues are homophobic. When Victor invites him to a closed community, Red declines. Than accepts.
What follows is a super intense relationship, hot, kinky, and on Victor’s conditions.
Red takes care of his sixteen-year-old sister. They are coming from an abusive home.
So Red has to deal with his traumatic past and homophobic abusive father.
He also starts a friendship with the sweetest and only known gay in the town.
What all started as something promising, ended up not promising, more broken.
This was a good story, tantalizing, and emotional.
I wish there were fewer questions open for me and a more definite ending than a hfn
The story screams for a continuation!
May 6, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for my honest review. I was interested in the story. It’s a story about Red who struggled with his sexuality in a small town. I felt so bad for him. He was such a good person who took in his younger teenage sister. The problem I had was Victor. I didn’t know how to feel about Victor. He was a complicated person who was hiding his own sexuality and was a bit controlling. I didn’t like how he treated his previous lover Toby. I was really disappointed in how he treated Toby and Red. Then Red befriended Sean. Whom I liked quite a bit. He was a great guy who suffered in his own way. He didn’t try to hide who he was. I’m glad that it seemed that the friendship between him and Red was strong towards the end. It took me a while to get into this book because of how I I felt about Victors treatment of others. Which is way I gave it 3 stars.
February 14, 2023
This was an ok read, purely simply because I understood where the author wanted to go with this, but it just didn’t hit a home run.
I actually liked Red as a character; I liked his relationship with his sister and learning about his past with his abusive father. He seems like an all round good guy.
Victor… I dunno. There was nothing here for me. Part of me is glad he got Red out of his shell a bit, but I’ve read way better characters who are into BDSM and seem to do it right. This guy was just…. There. He just existed.
I liked Sean. I shipped him and Red from the start as they were such a better fit. Their relationship was the highlight of this book for me.
It’s a fine read, I just would have preferred for certain aspects to be fleshed out a bit more as a lot of it didn’t make sense in the long run.
I received an ARC for this book and these are my honest opinions.
I actually liked Red as a character; I liked his relationship with his sister and learning about his past with his abusive father. He seems like an all round good guy.
Victor… I dunno. There was nothing here for me. Part of me is glad he got Red out of his shell a bit, but I’ve read way better characters who are into BDSM and seem to do it right. This guy was just…. There. He just existed.
I liked Sean. I shipped him and Red from the start as they were such a better fit. Their relationship was the highlight of this book for me.
It’s a fine read, I just would have preferred for certain aspects to be fleshed out a bit more as a lot of it didn’t make sense in the long run.
I received an ARC for this book and these are my honest opinions.
March 19, 2023
For me, Redmond (Red) was an easy character to invest in: I found myself caught up from the start in the events and pressures of his life, and the author does a nice job, I think, of establishing the ways that exploring kink with Victor gives him an outlet/escape/channel that’s much needed, and that suits him well. I also think that the limitations of his relationship, and of Victor as a character, are really well drawn: I’ll just come out and say that I didn’t like him, as a person or a Dom, and so while my affection for Red came easily, my feelings around Victor are going to remain *complicated* at best. Overall, I found this an absorbing read: I was along for the ride from start to finish, and found many of the aspects of the narrative along the way to be really interesting, and I mean that in (mostly) all the best ways.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
November 21, 2022
This book has some romance and some very passionate encounters, but it's more a HFN with a hopeful future. Red is a heavily closeted young man who takes care of his 16 year old sister and works as an auto mechanic. Through work, he meets Victor, who is also very closeted, a Dom, and a lawyer. The two men are attracted and Red is interested in exploring submitting to Victor. The story explores his relationship as well as his friendship with another gay man who is out, but experiencing a lot of homophobia in their East Texas town. The story explores evolutions during the relationship and the effects of being closeted. It leaves the reader in a good place, hopeful that these men find their way to future happiness and love.
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