Scan barcode
marlobo's review against another edition
2.0
2,5 stars
The first chapters - which I thoroughly enjoyed- reveal a twist in the premise about a relationship between two Doms where not all is like appears to be. I liked that as much as the MCs' intensity and their first sex scene.
But then the story starts to fall to pieces: it's a melodrama after melodrama, a flood of tears, a superabundance of "I love you" and a very mushy language -a trait I dislike as a rule-
Regarding the BDSM, I found it pretty standard and light in general.
The first chapters - which I thoroughly enjoyed- reveal a twist in the premise about a relationship between two Doms where not all is like appears to be. I liked that as much as the MCs' intensity and their first sex scene.
But then the story starts to fall to pieces: it's a melodrama after melodrama, a flood of tears, a superabundance of "I love you" and a very mushy language -a trait I dislike as a rule-
Regarding the BDSM, I found it pretty standard and light in general.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
3.0
For some reason when I glanced at the blurb for Hearts Under Fire, I thought this would be a murder mystery, so to be given a BDSM story was a bit of a shock. I really wasn’t sure what to make of this at first; however, that didn’t put me off. Looking back at the blurb, I’m not actually sure what it was that made me believe it to be a murder mystery, as it did make itself quite clear in purpose.
Clark was an interesting character and I enjoyed getting to know him better, and his first interaction with Daniel had sparks flying and me turning that page. I wanted to know how they would get together, and yet, as it progressed, it looked like despite a lot of jealousy and desire, they couldn’t since they were both Dominant. This book really focused on their pasts and their relationship, building it from trust and vulnerability. I feel the relationship developed too quickly, though, only over a weekend (from what I could see) before jumping to a later stage in it. I would have like to have seen how the people around them reacted to their relationship, and Clark’s change from Dominant to submissive for Daniel. In a lot of ways, it was a different take on the gay-for-you storyline, going instead with Dom/sub dynamics. I’m not sure that this is entirely realistic, as that is a firm part of somebody’s personality and Clark had never looked to be a switch.
There was a strong focus on the main characters despite the author creating some interesting secondary characters I would have liked to see more from, as well as Clark’s passion for his job which he only really talks about and we never get to see. The characters are well-written, their emotions and scars deftly handled, and the ending was mostly satisfactory, but overall, there was just something that didn’t appeal to me.
Reviewed by Jenn for The Novel Approach
Clark was an interesting character and I enjoyed getting to know him better, and his first interaction with Daniel had sparks flying and me turning that page. I wanted to know how they would get together, and yet, as it progressed, it looked like despite a lot of jealousy and desire, they couldn’t since they were both Dominant. This book really focused on their pasts and their relationship, building it from trust and vulnerability. I feel the relationship developed too quickly, though, only over a weekend (from what I could see) before jumping to a later stage in it. I would have like to have seen how the people around them reacted to their relationship, and Clark’s change from Dominant to submissive for Daniel. In a lot of ways, it was a different take on the gay-for-you storyline, going instead with Dom/sub dynamics. I’m not sure that this is entirely realistic, as that is a firm part of somebody’s personality and Clark had never looked to be a switch.
There was a strong focus on the main characters despite the author creating some interesting secondary characters I would have liked to see more from, as well as Clark’s passion for his job which he only really talks about and we never get to see. The characters are well-written, their emotions and scars deftly handled, and the ending was mostly satisfactory, but overall, there was just something that didn’t appeal to me.
Reviewed by Jenn for The Novel Approach
kimya_gee's review against another edition
5.0
Really loved this book. I found the New Amsterdam world incredibly realistic and truly wish it was somewhere I could actually visit. Would love to walk the streets, and go grab drinks at Glow.
The main characters were both amazingly intense in their own ways. I'm so happy they found love together. Really can't wait to read more from these two authors, and hopefully in this same world.
The main characters were both amazingly intense in their own ways. I'm so happy they found love together. Really can't wait to read more from these two authors, and hopefully in this same world.
relly's review
No rating - DNF
I tried, I really did and at 71% gave in.
From the blurb this one seemed right up my alley, but at 30% I was bored out of my brain. I didn’t really connect with either of the guys. I kept going due to pure stubbornness and at 40% when the guys got together for the first time, things started looking up. They both have their issues, and these were explained but by this time in the book with both guys confessing their deepest secrets and professing love for each other, you feel like they have known each other for a while. Nope when looking back, it is actually only the third time they have met and actually talked, and the first time they were talking without trying to hide everything, so regardless of the background checks ect, they don’t know each other, so the instalove really didn’t work for me here.
But the thing that ended it for me was at 70% when Clark offered to pay him for his time, nope that’s me , I’m done. I still hadn’t connected with either character , and I can’t believe I’m going to say this but the sex scenes were too long and I was continually forcing myself to read on. This year I’m making myself put aside books that aren’t working for me. I have a huge TBR pile that keeps growing by the day, so there are plenty more books to read instead of forcing myself to read one I’m not enjoying.
I’m sure I’ll be out on my own here but it just wasn’t for me
I tried, I really did and at 71% gave in.
From the blurb this one seemed right up my alley, but at 30% I was bored out of my brain. I didn’t really connect with either of the guys. I kept going due to pure stubbornness and at 40% when the guys got together for the first time, things started looking up. They both have their issues, and these were explained but by this time in the book with both guys confessing their deepest secrets and professing love for each other, you feel like they have known each other for a while. Nope when looking back, it is actually only the third time they have met and actually talked, and the first time they were talking without trying to hide everything, so regardless of the background checks ect, they don’t know each other, so the instalove really didn’t work for me here.
But the thing that ended it for me was at 70% when Clark offered to pay him for his time, nope that’s me , I’m done. I still hadn’t connected with either character , and I can’t believe I’m going to say this but the sex scenes were too long and I was continually forcing myself to read on. This year I’m making myself put aside books that aren’t working for me. I have a huge TBR pile that keeps growing by the day, so there are plenty more books to read instead of forcing myself to read one I’m not enjoying.
I’m sure I’ll be out on my own here but it just wasn’t for me
More...