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Hammer #10
Burn
Marshall and Dave grew up in the same neighborhood. They’ve mostly lost touch as they've gotten older, getting together just once a year with a bunch of other old friends for a game of football. This year, firefighter Marshall is late, and when he does show up Dave can tell the man has not had a good day. When Dave suggests they leave the gang and go back to Marshall's place for some decompression time, Marshall jumps at the chance and, later, at Dave.
Things don't all go smoothly for the two men, though. Dave is into BDSM, a member of The Hammer Club, and he thinks he could use his skills to help Marshall relieve the stress and guilt the man carries over not being the perfect hero. Marshall thinks needing that kind of help is sick, though, and when he enjoys what Dave does to him, he's convinced there must be something wrong with him.
Can Dave figure out how to convince Marshall that kink is not sick at all, but a way to keep sane as well, or is their relationship doomed?
Things don't all go smoothly for the two men, though. Dave is into BDSM, a member of The Hammer Club, and he thinks he could use his skills to help Marshall relieve the stress and guilt the man carries over not being the perfect hero. Marshall thinks needing that kind of help is sick, though, and when he enjoys what Dave does to him, he's convinced there must be something wrong with him.
Can Dave figure out how to convince Marshall that kink is not sick at all, but a way to keep sane as well, or is their relationship doomed?
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2010
About the author
Sean Michael
670 books1,220 followersOften referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 14, 2014
Nope. The "Dom" MC in this one gave me the full-on creeps. I was ready to DNF several times, but kept going so I could add my rating. This bordered on non-consensual to me and was basically one sex scene after another.
Not my cup of tea. Cannot recommend.
Not my cup of tea. Cannot recommend.
March 21, 2011
This is a surprising read from Sean Michael, particularly for the Hammer series. This book is based more on the relationship and internal struggles of the main characters, Marshall in particular, versus the D/s relationship or gratuitous sex. There is plenty of sex, and some of it is gratuitous, but there are also well-developed characters and a decent plot. The D/s relationship and roles are not as blatant in his story – while each character has a clearly defined role in the bedroom, one of the characters is unsure of the lifestyle and continuously struggles to come to terms with it.
There is sex throughout the book – vanilla and some D/s play. At times the sex scenes run too long as is typical in Sean Michael’s writing, but they are always hot! You are rooting for both characters to get what they want and what they need from each other, and you see that the sex helps them both meet that goal.
Overall this is a good read with super hot sex. This is a very beginner level D/s book and good for anyone who is looking for a glance into the lifestyle and the very “mild” end of the spectrum. In addition, it deals with issues of coming to terms with sexual need and roles in a way that is very “friendly” for a new M/M reader.
Out of four…
Overall Read: ♥♥♥
Sex Heat: ♥♥♥♥
Plot: ♥♥
Read this book if you’re interested in getting a glimpse into the D/s lifestyle and the Hammer series. And of course, if you’re looking for some seriously hot sex!
There is sex throughout the book – vanilla and some D/s play. At times the sex scenes run too long as is typical in Sean Michael’s writing, but they are always hot! You are rooting for both characters to get what they want and what they need from each other, and you see that the sex helps them both meet that goal.
Overall this is a good read with super hot sex. This is a very beginner level D/s book and good for anyone who is looking for a glance into the lifestyle and the very “mild” end of the spectrum. In addition, it deals with issues of coming to terms with sexual need and roles in a way that is very “friendly” for a new M/M reader.
Out of four…
Overall Read: ♥♥♥
Sex Heat: ♥♥♥♥
Plot: ♥♥
Read this book if you’re interested in getting a glimpse into the D/s lifestyle and the Hammer series. And of course, if you’re looking for some seriously hot sex!
July 1, 2011
I was a bit hesitant to read this one, I must admit but alas soon as I started the story I was hooked.It is the story of two very different men. Marshall , the intense firefighter and Dave his once a year get together friend who meet for a drink with old friends beer and a game. But Dave has had a thing for Marshall and this year he is determined to make marshall not just a once a year friend get together but a full time hook up. Dave is into a little BDSM while marshall hasnt even gone there. Through out this book Dave helps marshall get through the harsh days as a firefighter by slowly introducing Marshall to many different aspects of making love. The story is well titled as it is a slow burn the way Dave introduces the pleasures of BDSM to marshall. It will get you in beware LOL ,,,The characters are just so believable you cant help but love them both from the get go.Its a defiante page turner and you wont be dissapointed with the progress both characters make to reach their intentions for each other. Would love to read further adventures of marshall and Dave. There is a few really funny parts in it very witty give and take by both characters , especially the piercing shop they attend.. worth a read absoultly
December 9, 2010
As usual with novels in the 'Hammer' series there is more sex than story in this book, but that fits the point it's trying to make.
What I thought was interesting was the slightly different way the two main characters interacted. Marshall is a strong firefighter who needs to learn how to let go of his job-related stress. Predictably, he has a problem doing that, thinking strength equals stoically pushing through his issues. Dave can offer him the way out - and since he's a Dom who 'knows' exactly what is good for Marshall, he ends up pushing too hard. Marshall leaves.
It takes these two falling in love, and Dave accepting that they are lovers above all else, before Marshall feels comfortable enough to let go. I really liked that slight variation on the theme.
What I thought was interesting was the slightly different way the two main characters interacted. Marshall is a strong firefighter who needs to learn how to let go of his job-related stress. Predictably, he has a problem doing that, thinking strength equals stoically pushing through his issues. Dave can offer him the way out - and since he's a Dom who 'knows' exactly what is good for Marshall, he ends up pushing too hard. Marshall leaves.
It takes these two falling in love, and Dave accepting that they are lovers above all else, before Marshall feels comfortable enough to let go. I really liked that slight variation on the theme.
August 16, 2013
This book started well. There was plot and not alot of porn, then it kinda went downhill from there.
I felt Dave was a bully and Marshall really needed to grow a pair. I got really aggrevated with them.
Marshall was new to everything not vanilla yet suddenly Dave is fisting him. No discussion, no prep, nothing.
Ive read 2 Hammer books in a week and think I gave reached my limit for a while.
I felt Dave was a bully and Marshall really needed to grow a pair. I got really aggrevated with them.
Marshall was new to everything not vanilla yet suddenly Dave is fisting him. No discussion, no prep, nothing.
Ive read 2 Hammer books in a week and think I gave reached my limit for a while.
May 30, 2014
Eh, same story as many of the others, just different names. It was okay,. Would be good if all the characters in each of these books didn't all sound the same. They all seem to have the same words, the same adjectives, exclamations, etc. gets boring.
September 6, 2013
3.5 stars. Bdsm m/m romance between a sports store owner/dom and a fireman sub. Read this short novel in one go at 4am for a bdsm fix, enjoyable but somewhat formulaic.
April 21, 2019
A lovely story based loosely around the Hammer club
Marshall and Dave have known one another for years, and Dave has always had a bit of a crush on the sexy Firefighter. When opportunity comes to begin a relationship, Dave takes it, but Marshall has to come to terms with submitting and letting Dave in to recognise his pain. A longer story, this enables the reader become more invested in the characters and to rejoice in their happy ending.
Marshall and Dave have known one another for years, and Dave has always had a bit of a crush on the sexy Firefighter. When opportunity comes to begin a relationship, Dave takes it, but Marshall has to come to terms with submitting and letting Dave in to recognise his pain. A longer story, this enables the reader become more invested in the characters and to rejoice in their happy ending.
December 11, 2022
Although story explores the hidden desires of Marshall, I wish the author had spent sometime on the feelings of Marshall becoming the bottom in the relationship as during the initial meetings with Dave, he thinks in his mind that he is not a bottom and has never bottomed but with Dave he lets things go and does beautifully.
September 9, 2019
What a great book
All the book in series are about finding your love and the things you do together ..Whether it's holding hands or the kink you enjoy.. But it's about love
All the book in series are about finding your love and the things you do together ..Whether it's holding hands or the kink you enjoy.. But it's about love
November 2, 2012
Not bad, but not one of the best Hammer stories
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- Many of Michael’s BDSM stories show characters who fall in love hard and fast, and as a result I tend to find them sweet but unbelievable. In this story, the men’s relationship moves rather slowly, especially on Marshall’s part. I thought that was a nice change of pace.
- There’s definitely an aspect of power exchange in the relationship in this book, but it’s much less formal than in many other BDSM stories out there. It’s subtle, which fits the requirements of their relationship far better than something more high-protocol, like the use of words such as “Master” or “Sir.”
- Dave is not an overly confident, uber-pushy, totally infallible Dom. He pushes Marshall too far at one point and nearly loses him, and Dave is wise enough to recognize that he made a mistake and he needs to back off for a while.
- The author does a good job of illustrating Marshall’s submissive tendencies without making them obvious (even to Marshall). He shares some of the same neuroses as other Sean Michael subs, but they’re far more subtle in Marshall than in the more flighty subs like Sammy in Between Friends and Jim in Bent.
CONS:
- There’s a good amount of misunderstanding (and plain old disagreement) between the two protagonists, and although I recognize that this is realistic for some people, in the story it leads to quite a bit of struggling and arguing and feather ruffling.
- This book has about the same proportion of sex to non-sex scenes as most of the Hammer novels do. (In case you’re not familiar with them, they’re VERY much about the sex.) But I found the scenes in this story more repetitive than those in other Hammer stories. Part of the reason for this is that Marshall is so freaked out by kinkiness that Dave isn’t able to use a wide array of toys like most fictional Doms do. But another reason for it is that Michael uses the same phrases over and over throughout the book. (Example: on at least three occasions, “Marshall shot so hard his bones rattled,” which strikes me as a phrase that ought to be used sparingly, to illustrate that a particular orgasm was abnormally good.)
Overall comments: This is not for you if you prefer BDSM stories in which the sub is pliant and accepts his Dom’s will easily; Marshall fights his Dom and his own submissive nature every step of the way. I don’t mind stories in which a person struggles with his submissive nature, but I don’t particularly enjoy it when he lashes out so much.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- Many of Michael’s BDSM stories show characters who fall in love hard and fast, and as a result I tend to find them sweet but unbelievable. In this story, the men’s relationship moves rather slowly, especially on Marshall’s part. I thought that was a nice change of pace.
- There’s definitely an aspect of power exchange in the relationship in this book, but it’s much less formal than in many other BDSM stories out there. It’s subtle, which fits the requirements of their relationship far better than something more high-protocol, like the use of words such as “Master” or “Sir.”
- Dave is not an overly confident, uber-pushy, totally infallible Dom. He pushes Marshall too far at one point and nearly loses him, and Dave is wise enough to recognize that he made a mistake and he needs to back off for a while.
- The author does a good job of illustrating Marshall’s submissive tendencies without making them obvious (even to Marshall). He shares some of the same neuroses as other Sean Michael subs, but they’re far more subtle in Marshall than in the more flighty subs like Sammy in Between Friends and Jim in Bent.
CONS:
- There’s a good amount of misunderstanding (and plain old disagreement) between the two protagonists, and although I recognize that this is realistic for some people, in the story it leads to quite a bit of struggling and arguing and feather ruffling.
- This book has about the same proportion of sex to non-sex scenes as most of the Hammer novels do. (In case you’re not familiar with them, they’re VERY much about the sex.) But I found the scenes in this story more repetitive than those in other Hammer stories. Part of the reason for this is that Marshall is so freaked out by kinkiness that Dave isn’t able to use a wide array of toys like most fictional Doms do. But another reason for it is that Michael uses the same phrases over and over throughout the book. (Example: on at least three occasions, “Marshall shot so hard his bones rattled,” which strikes me as a phrase that ought to be used sparingly, to illustrate that a particular orgasm was abnormally good.)
Overall comments: This is not for you if you prefer BDSM stories in which the sub is pliant and accepts his Dom’s will easily; Marshall fights his Dom and his own submissive nature every step of the way. I don’t mind stories in which a person struggles with his submissive nature, but I don’t particularly enjoy it when he lashes out so much.
December 20, 2010
Hot and schmexy and loving.
I wasn't so sure at first; Marshall is so against anything new and different, putting up a grand sort of resistance, and I mainly got caught in the story to see if Dave would push him too far, if Dave was mistaken in his belief that Marshall really needed to be a sub and how the fall-out would resolve.
Wasn't disappointed, not in the least. The by-play was well done, if you can get past all of the "fucks" and "studs." o.O;; Dave isn't a hard-core BDSM Dom, doesn't want or NEED a slave. He only wants Marshall, and that becomes more and more apparent the further into the novel we go. Things are explored and trust is earned, two steps forward, on step back.
All in all, a great novel that explores boundaries and lack of, that goes into the depths of trust slowly given and accepted and traded between two men who - above and beyond all else, kink or otherwise - love each other.
I wasn't so sure at first; Marshall is so against anything new and different, putting up a grand sort of resistance, and I mainly got caught in the story to see if Dave would push him too far, if Dave was mistaken in his belief that Marshall really needed to be a sub and how the fall-out would resolve.
Wasn't disappointed, not in the least. The by-play was well done, if you can get past all of the "fucks" and "studs." o.O;; Dave isn't a hard-core BDSM Dom, doesn't want or NEED a slave. He only wants Marshall, and that becomes more and more apparent the further into the novel we go. Things are explored and trust is earned, two steps forward, on step back.
All in all, a great novel that explores boundaries and lack of, that goes into the depths of trust slowly given and accepted and traded between two men who - above and beyond all else, kink or otherwise - love each other.
August 14, 2012
Burn is a Hammer story but can be read alone. It includes plenty of hot sex, fisting, and nipple play. Best of all it has a great HEA, which I love.
I did have trouble with the fact that Marshall did not have a safe word from the beginning. I understood why he did not but normally beating someone with a belt is considered abusive. I had trouble with that scene as Marshall had no way to call an end to it. And Dave walked a very thin line because he was relying on Marshall's body signals but bodies can react to things that the mind does not want. I felt some of the things in this story bordered on non-consent and were not only because Dave guessed right. I also found the repetitive use of the word 'Jesus' to be distracting.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would love to read more of these two.
I did have trouble with the fact that Marshall did not have a safe word from the beginning. I understood why he did not but normally beating someone with a belt is considered abusive. I had trouble with that scene as Marshall had no way to call an end to it. And Dave walked a very thin line because he was relying on Marshall's body signals but bodies can react to things that the mind does not want. I felt some of the things in this story bordered on non-consent and were not only because Dave guessed right. I also found the repetitive use of the word 'Jesus' to be distracting.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would love to read more of these two.
December 31, 2010
I've read all the Hammer books and was in the mood for PWP; so Burn was great for that.
What I've had my fill of is SM's treatment of piercings. You CANNOT play with a nip rings so soon after piercing as she describes. It's not an issue of pain, though seriously they HURT like hell!! (and yeah I know it's more painful for women than men) It's more of an issue of inflammation and infection. No licking, flicking, NO POOL or ocean water for months. I'm a stickler for some details and in all the Hammer books it's clear she doesn't do any research on piercing aftercare :/ MANY other things bother me about Burn as well but I digress. It's still a fun albeit unrealistic read.
What I've had my fill of is SM's treatment of piercings. You CANNOT play with a nip rings so soon after piercing as she describes. It's not an issue of pain, though seriously they HURT like hell!! (and yeah I know it's more painful for women than men) It's more of an issue of inflammation and infection. No licking, flicking, NO POOL or ocean water for months. I'm a stickler for some details and in all the Hammer books it's clear she doesn't do any research on piercing aftercare :/ MANY other things bother me about Burn as well but I digress. It's still a fun albeit unrealistic read.
December 3, 2012
Marshall and Save have known each other for years and get together with a large group of childhood friends once a year to play football.
Dave realises that Marshall is tense and thinks that he can help Marshall relax. However Dave's idea of relaxation freaks out Vanilla Marshall.
They quickly fall I love, however it takes a while for Marshall to realise that kinky is not something terrible and for Dave to realise that love comes before the kink. Once they both realise these points the relationship is wonderful.
Dave realises that Marshall is tense and thinks that he can help Marshall relax. However Dave's idea of relaxation freaks out Vanilla Marshall.
They quickly fall I love, however it takes a while for Marshall to realise that kinky is not something terrible and for Dave to realise that love comes before the kink. Once they both realise these points the relationship is wonderful.
August 31, 2012
Dave is a top, through and through. He's known Marshall for a while but he suddenly makes his move. Marshall's a big strong firefighter and doesn't think he can or needs to submit. But Dave has really feelings for his big, tough guy and is very loving and patient. He very slowly introduces new things and doesn't need a lot of things that would freaky Marshall out. The relationship is very strong, very clear, and comes first in this story.
August 13, 2011
Sean Michael never lets me down. Another outstanding book.
June 12, 2015
Dave comes across much more Abusive Manipulator than Dom. I was not comfortable at all with the way the dynamic between them was written.
November 7, 2015
others expressed my concerns
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews