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heabooknerd's review
3.0
I was feeling like suspense romance so I picked up SURVIVING THE STORM and quickly read through it. Kai and Aspen are both likable characters and I enjoyed seeing the start of their relationship which ends on a HFN and continues into book 2.
Kai was a protective Dom with a hard exterior and a soft heart; he doesn't realize at first that he's been falling for Aspen but once he does he goes all in. After a horrific childhood, Aspen has worked hard to turn his life around and he has a job he loves, a safe place for his siblings, and a crush on his much older boss, Kai. Together these two were really sweet and I loved how Kai always checked in with Aspen and how they both valued consent so much because of the power dynamics and Aspen's past.
This book has a lot of dark themes but Aspen and Kai's relationship is filled with lots of hope. As for the suspense plot, it was fairly straightforward if a bit predictable.
Content Warning: past child abuse, torture, and child sex trafficking; on page PTSD
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Favorite Quotes:
"But at the end of the day, we wear these scars with pride. We keep our heads held high and dare anyone to try to put us down for our past. That’s because you and me, we’re fighters, Aspen. And all these scars show me is that you’ve been fighting one hell of a battle and still come out kicking in the end."
Kai was a protective Dom with a hard exterior and a soft heart; he doesn't realize at first that he's been falling for Aspen but once he does he goes all in. After a horrific childhood, Aspen has worked hard to turn his life around and he has a job he loves, a safe place for his siblings, and a crush on his much older boss, Kai. Together these two were really sweet and I loved how Kai always checked in with Aspen and how they both valued consent so much because of the power dynamics and Aspen's past.
This book has a lot of dark themes but Aspen and Kai's relationship is filled with lots of hope. As for the suspense plot, it was fairly straightforward if a bit predictable.
Content Warning: past child abuse, torture, and child sex trafficking; on page PTSD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
"But at the end of the day, we wear these scars with pride. We keep our heads held high and dare anyone to try to put us down for our past. That’s because you and me, we’re fighters, Aspen. And all these scars show me is that you’ve been fighting one hell of a battle and still come out kicking in the end."
petra_reviews_mm's review
5.0
This was everything I wanted from a hurt/comfort book about an abused guy finding love.
I was so pleasantly surprised by the amount of hurt/comfort: we have PTSD - panic attacks, flinching, nightmares, low self-esteem, scars (bodily but also mental), found family, gentle giant worshipping his boy. So if you are looking for a survivor who is still affected by the abuse he went through, this is it! The fainting, panic attacks, tears, and memories (though the memories are mainly about violence rather than anything sexual... that is only hinted at) were painful but I love it in books. Most of the angst is outside the couple which I loooove!
I really loved the relationship development - it is on the slower side, but it is absolutely necessary! The men are slowly finding out their limits and boundaries, kinks (yes, I love a D/s dynamic!), but also feelings that are absolutely mutual. The story ends in HFN in the relationship department, but the story is a bit cliffy.
Only issues with the book I had were about the writing - there were some grammar errors, one chapter is weirdly formatted, some sentences and idioms are overused (multiple characters saying "fucking A" or Kai pulling his head out of his ass...) that was a bit too overused and showed lack of creativity. Sometimes the word "sweetheart" was overused, but I guess it shows how down bad Kai is...?
I am really looking forward to the continuation - both in the suspense and relationship. I think the next one will be way angstier (hopefully not between the couple).
I was so pleasantly surprised by the amount of hurt/comfort: we have PTSD - panic attacks, flinching, nightmares, low self-esteem, scars (bodily but also mental), found family, gentle giant worshipping his boy. So if you are looking for a survivor who is still affected by the abuse he went through, this is it! The fainting, panic attacks, tears, and memories (though the memories are mainly about violence rather than anything sexual... that is only hinted at) were painful but I love it in books. Most of the angst is outside the couple which I loooove!
I really loved the relationship development - it is on the slower side, but it is absolutely necessary! The men are slowly finding out their limits and boundaries, kinks (yes, I love a D/s dynamic!), but also feelings that are absolutely mutual. The story ends in HFN in the relationship department, but the story is a bit cliffy.
Only issues with the book I had were about the writing - there were some grammar errors, one chapter is weirdly formatted, some sentences and idioms are overused (multiple characters saying "fucking A" or Kai pulling his head out of his ass...) that was a bit too overused and showed lack of creativity. Sometimes the word "sweetheart" was overused, but I guess it shows how down bad Kai is...?
I am really looking forward to the continuation - both in the suspense and relationship. I think the next one will be way angstier (hopefully not between the couple).
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