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teresab78's review
2.0
I found it hard to get into this book from the beginning. Micah was like able enough, although I didn't see what he did in Tackett, who seemed surly and mean to Micah rather than just gruff. The sex was hot but rather standard as was the BDSM. I didn't like the way BDSM was supposedly used as a cure for ADHD. Micah was reduced to having no outside focus except Tackett. It seemed extreme and just did sit right with me. As well, moving on to "I love you" after just two weeks seemed awfully fast.
Overall, I just never felt for this couple and found the book dragged on.
Overall, I just never felt for this couple and found the book dragged on.
lolly460's review
4.0
If you are looking for sweet, mm, sex and BDSM this book is for you. I thought it was good.
nicola949's review
4.0
This was a really well written and thoroughly enjoyable journey into the lives of Micah and Tackett.
Micah is so easily likable, a young man searching for something/someone to ground him. "Having people around me keeps me from going, 'Oh look, sparkly' and walking into traffic." and he finds that grounding in Tackett.
Tackett, who is a lot older, has not had a permanent relationship and isn't sure he is looking for one but Micah's persistence leads to him taking a chance - a 2 week trial that leads to more.
Micah's feelings for Tackett are obvious. "Tackett was everything he could ever ask for or want. He desired to be a better man when he was with him. there was comfort and peace in love, and Tackett owned his mind, body, heart, and very soul, and he was ready to prove to the man they were worth keeping." and it was nice to see him get his wish to belong to Tackett. However, it was more special to see Tackett find what was missing from his life, ending his loneliness.
Micah is so easily likable, a young man searching for something/someone to ground him. "Having people around me keeps me from going, 'Oh look, sparkly' and walking into traffic." and he finds that grounding in Tackett.
Tackett, who is a lot older, has not had a permanent relationship and isn't sure he is looking for one but Micah's persistence leads to him taking a chance - a 2 week trial that leads to more.
Micah's feelings for Tackett are obvious. "Tackett was everything he could ever ask for or want. He desired to be a better man when he was with him. there was comfort and peace in love, and Tackett owned his mind, body, heart, and very soul, and he was ready to prove to the man they were worth keeping." and it was nice to see him get his wish to belong to Tackett. However, it was more special to see Tackett find what was missing from his life, ending his loneliness.
papercranestitches's review
2.0
*** 2.5 stars ***
I went back and forth a couple of times on how to rate this book.
I mean, did it deserve a full-on 2 star rating? *wince* Maybe.
The book started out strong enough; I found myself enjoying Tackett's gruff, growly, toppy Dom persona a lot in the opening scenes of the book and loved the dynamic that those scenes set up between him and Micah's much more playful pup persona. This relationship had such potential! Potential to be fun. Potential to be frustrating. Potential to be off-the-charts, thermometre-meltingly HOT. Potential to give me a real warm and fuzzy HEA when they found their balance and their love together.
But as the book progressed, I really, really began to dislike Tackett's character and the way that he chose to deal with Micah. Micah was a sensualist. Touch was one of the main ways that he communicates and interacts with the world. To deny him that seems cruel - so cruel that I couldn't really wrap my head around how I'm sure the author intended those elements to come across (which was freeing or... something?! I'm reaching. As I said, I didn't "get" how those rules and punishment achieved whatever the heck Tackett was trying to achieve).
I also wasn't too excited by the pacing of the novel. I mean, it was okay, but it all felt a little one note to me. I guess the easiest way for me to describe it is to say that no part of this novel really pulled a strong emotional reaction from me (be it anger or happiness or extreme, extreme horniness), and that's what I'm looking for in a 3-, 4-, and 5-star rated book. And, let me be a little crass for a moment and say that
But as much as some of the elements of the novel were screaming 2-stars at me, there were parts that tugged at my 3-star heartstrings.
Well... basically one giant element: Micah. Micah was a friggin' delight. The boy was sweet and funny, giving and loyal, and so, so eager to please. He wound his way around my heart and I was so firmly in his corner that I'm sure it had something to do with why I was not happy with his big, bad, mean Dom. Also, watching the way that his brain worked was fascinating. I'm pretty sure that he's the first character I've ever come across with ADD/ADHD, and though I'm not personally familiar with it (and therefore can't speak to the accuracy of the portrayal), I thought Peterson did a bang up job of showing Micah's thought processes and tangents, and the struggles that an adult with this type of cognitive disorder might face.
So long story short, I heart Micah and was SO happy when he
I also totally dug the whole May-December angle to their relationship. Gotta admit, folks, that one pushes some major lust buttons for me. And the cover is BEYOND AWESOME! Kudos to whoever designed it because the cover alone practically had me panting to read this book (recommendations from friends did the rest).
Anyway... after some initial hemming and hawing that saw me clicking back and forth between 2 and 3 stars, I eventually decided to save myself the mental anguish and just split the difference.
I went back and forth a couple of times on how to rate this book.
I mean, did it deserve a full-on 2 star rating? *wince* Maybe.
The book started out strong enough; I found myself enjoying Tackett's gruff, growly, toppy Dom persona a lot in the opening scenes of the book and loved the dynamic that those scenes set up between him and Micah's much more playful pup persona. This relationship had such potential! Potential to be fun. Potential to be frustrating. Potential to be off-the-charts, thermometre-meltingly HOT. Potential to give me a real warm and fuzzy HEA when they found their balance and their love together.
But as the book progressed, I really, really began to dislike Tackett's character and the way that he chose to deal with Micah. Micah was a sensualist. Touch was one of the main ways that he communicates and interacts with the world. To deny him that seems cruel - so cruel that I couldn't really wrap my head around how I'm sure the author intended those elements to come across (which was freeing or... something?! I'm reaching. As I said, I didn't "get" how those rules and punishment achieved whatever the heck Tackett was trying to achieve).
I also wasn't too excited by the pacing of the novel. I mean, it was okay, but it all felt a little one note to me. I guess the easiest way for me to describe it is to say that no part of this novel really pulled a strong emotional reaction from me (be it anger or happiness or extreme, extreme horniness), and that's what I'm looking for in a 3-, 4-, and 5-star rated book. And, let me be a little crass for a moment and say that
Spoiler
having that first sex scene be a fade to black made me feel cheated. SJD, if you expect me to remain invested in your characters and their relationships, you gotta cut that shit out. ASAP.But as much as some of the elements of the novel were screaming 2-stars at me, there were parts that tugged at my 3-star heartstrings.
Well... basically one giant element: Micah. Micah was a friggin' delight. The boy was sweet and funny, giving and loyal, and so, so eager to please. He wound his way around my heart and I was so firmly in his corner that I'm sure it had something to do with why I was not happy with his big, bad, mean Dom. Also, watching the way that his brain worked was fascinating. I'm pretty sure that he's the first character I've ever come across with ADD/ADHD, and though I'm not personally familiar with it (and therefore can't speak to the accuracy of the portrayal), I thought Peterson did a bang up job of showing Micah's thought processes and tangents, and the struggles that an adult with this type of cognitive disorder might face.
So long story short, I heart Micah and was SO happy when he
Spoiler
didn't take Tackett's dismissal at the end of their two weeks together lying down. It wasn't very sub-like behaviour, but it was very human behaviour and I was proud of the little pup for standing up for himself.I also totally dug the whole May-December angle to their relationship. Gotta admit, folks, that one pushes some major lust buttons for me. And the cover is BEYOND AWESOME! Kudos to whoever designed it because the cover alone practically had me panting to read this book (recommendations from friends did the rest).
Anyway... after some initial hemming and hawing that saw me clicking back and forth between 2 and 3 stars, I eventually decided to save myself the mental anguish and just split the difference.
jasminenoack's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Bdsm is not an appropriate treatment for severe adhd. A good dom would have gotten their sub help.
tanouska's review
2.5
I did not like how this dealt with the ADHD, it seemed cruel, and also BDSM is not a cure for neurodivergence.
caiacassiopeia's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Whether my touch is for pleasure or for pain, in that moment it’s the only thing that exists in your world.”
This was a rather sweet read.
Tacket is a 46yr old grumpy dom who meets the cocky sub Micah in a kink club.
Micah is convinced that Tacket is the right Dom to tend to all his needs.
Together they have to accommodate, learn more about the other and themselves.
I enjoyed the kink variety, the conversations about what the intentions were behind and so on
Side: I could relate to Micah’s ADHD and how he struggles with structure
All in all a pleasent read, I plan to read the rest of the series too.
Tags:
BDSM - kink club - d/s - age gap 20+ - grumpshine - limits and boundaries - risk aware - cocky sub - adhd - gay - vers - hea
“BDSM / Discipline as way to cope with ADHD”
Tags are based on my personal impression/opinion and don’t have a 100% reliability.
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dreamerfreak's review
3.0
BDSM is always a touchy subject for me, so I tend to avoid it. I do love Jo Peterson, though, so I gave this a shot. The writing was great, and the story was good, but the D/s wasn't always something I was comfortable with. When the word "discipline" comes up in a book, something in my brain just shuts off, so sadly, I did have trouble connecting with the characters. I could go off on a rant about equality in relationships and what that means to me, but what it comes down to is: It's not you, Tackett and Micah. It's me. Good, but probably not a series I'll be continuing.