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ntdan's review
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall content: 2/4
Character portrayal: 3/4
Interpersonal chemistry: 4/4
Creative innovation: 2/4
Writing style: 3/4
Personal enjoyment: 2/4
Total: 16, translates to 3.5 stars
Character portrayal: 3/4
Interpersonal chemistry: 4/4
Creative innovation: 2/4
Writing style: 3/4
Personal enjoyment: 2/4
Total: 16, translates to 3.5 stars
katmoreid's review against another edition
5.0
Loyal love
Everyone deserves a man as loyal as Wayne is. Things aren't always easy but they have love and through their love they become better people. I loved this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Everyone deserves a man as loyal as Wayne is. Things aren't always easy but they have love and through their love they become better people. I loved this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
bfdbookblog's review
4.0
I did not read the Cuffs & Collars series and didn’t feel like I needed to for this book. I do admit to wanting some history from some of the characters we meet but it didn’t take away from Wayne & Ellis’ story. I mainly didn’t read that series because I didn’t discover it until book 5 and I didn’t want to try to catch up at the time. I like both authors’ writing individually very much and their collaboration seems to work well in this book.
I’m not a big BDSM reader but I was happy with this book as it was not too heavy in the stuff I don’t care for. I did have a hard time believing that a seemingly straight (even in his internal dialog) would enter a D/s relationship with another man. I guess I’ve never read anything related to BDSM that wasn’t sexual in nature so this threw me for a bit of a loop. Ellis ‘coming out’ was a huge surprise and felt like a flip switching to me as we had no hints whatsoever that he was even questioning his orientation. Typically, if someone is in the closet in the books I’ve read, there is at least a bit of hinting in the character’s internal dialog so this also threw me for a loop.
I liked Ellis and Wayne together. I always love a friends-to-lovers story and theirs was no exception. They are truly life partners. I look forward to seeing more of them in future books in the series. I’m also curious who the future stories will center around as there wasn’t much given away there.
Overall a good read and a good start to the series.
I’m not a big BDSM reader but I was happy with this book as it was not too heavy in the stuff I don’t care for. I did have a hard time believing that a seemingly straight (even in his internal dialog) would enter a D/s relationship with another man. I guess I’ve never read anything related to BDSM that wasn’t sexual in nature so this threw me for a bit of a loop. Ellis ‘coming out’ was a huge surprise and felt like a flip switching to me as we had no hints whatsoever that he was even questioning his orientation. Typically, if someone is in the closet in the books I’ve read, there is at least a bit of hinting in the character’s internal dialog so this also threw me for a loop.
I liked Ellis and Wayne together. I always love a friends-to-lovers story and theirs was no exception. They are truly life partners. I look forward to seeing more of them in future books in the series. I’m also curious who the future stories will center around as there wasn’t much given away there.
Overall a good read and a good start to the series.
the_novel_approach's review
5.0
I’ve read my fair share of the BDSM genre, and often found the storyline to be overshadowed by the abundance of ‘scenes’ and sex performed by the Dom/sub duo. Now, many may say that is to be expected from this genre, and that may be true. Yet, having just finished this first novel in a new spin-off series by the writing team of K.C. Wells and Parker Williams, I can tell you that there are authors out there who choose to focus on the characters and allow the sex to be a byproduct of an interesting and intricate plot. Before You Break takes us on a journey where one man discovers that his need to give over control not only frees him mentally to be the strong man he has always been but also allows him to break the chains that have bound his sexuality for years.
Growing up in a repressive and abusive family, Ellis learned at a young age that his purpose in life, according to his parents, was to become a man and care for his sister. This care extended to the extreme point that when his sister disobeyed or made bad choices, it was Ellis who was held responsible and punished for it. For years, this young policeman was forced to feel that no matter what he did, it was never good enough and, by turn, his sister was never expected or taught to take responsibility for her actions. It was hammered into Ellis that he would be expected to marry and produce the heir that his parents wanted—no discussion about it. Unfortunately for Ellis, his attraction to women didn’t extend beyond friendship, but that could never mean he was gay—that simply was impossible and unheard of, according to his upbringing. While he longed to share all his worries to his best friend, Wayne, Ellis knew if he ever dared, Wayne would surely walk away and end their friendship right then and there. And that was something Ellis could not bear to have happen.
Wayne was a fellow officer in the Special Ops division that Ellis was recruited into, and the two became best mates almost immediately. Wayne began to notice how Ellis seemed to be falling apart, his judgment skills faltering and his concentration lacking—a deadly combination for someone in their field. Wayne also had a secret—two, in fact. One was he was head over heels in love with Ellis, and the other that he was a Dom and wanted nothing more than for Ellis to be his sub. So, when a mission nearly went south due to Ellis’ bad decision, Wayne knew he had to do something, and that led the two men to the newly re-opened BDSM club called Secrets.
What unfolds in this new novel by Wells and Williams can sometimes stretch the imagination a bit far and yet, the systematic unraveling of Ellis under Wayne’s sure hands is beautiful to read. He literally helps Ellis break down and rebuild into the man he was meant to be, freeing him from the chains of abuse and fear that had held him for so long. The authors take the time to introduce the characters slowly, building their backstories and fleshing out their thoughts and feelings along the way. You are pulled into their lives, their emotions, and their relationship, gradually, as they explore their new life together and discover what secrets lay beneath for both of them. To watch Wayne pour all his energy into helping Ellis find his self worth again, rebuild his confidence and stand up to a family that has spent its entire life tearing him down, makes for a compelling read. Plus, the tenderness and love these two men finally reveal to each other is just so lovely to experience.
If this series continues in the way this first installment, Before You Break, has gone, I daresay it will be a bold addition to the BDSM genre. With finesse and care, the writing team of Wells and Williams leads us into a world where men care for each other and dare to be vulnerable while still maintaining their need to be masters of their own destinies.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
Growing up in a repressive and abusive family, Ellis learned at a young age that his purpose in life, according to his parents, was to become a man and care for his sister. This care extended to the extreme point that when his sister disobeyed or made bad choices, it was Ellis who was held responsible and punished for it. For years, this young policeman was forced to feel that no matter what he did, it was never good enough and, by turn, his sister was never expected or taught to take responsibility for her actions. It was hammered into Ellis that he would be expected to marry and produce the heir that his parents wanted—no discussion about it. Unfortunately for Ellis, his attraction to women didn’t extend beyond friendship, but that could never mean he was gay—that simply was impossible and unheard of, according to his upbringing. While he longed to share all his worries to his best friend, Wayne, Ellis knew if he ever dared, Wayne would surely walk away and end their friendship right then and there. And that was something Ellis could not bear to have happen.
Wayne was a fellow officer in the Special Ops division that Ellis was recruited into, and the two became best mates almost immediately. Wayne began to notice how Ellis seemed to be falling apart, his judgment skills faltering and his concentration lacking—a deadly combination for someone in their field. Wayne also had a secret—two, in fact. One was he was head over heels in love with Ellis, and the other that he was a Dom and wanted nothing more than for Ellis to be his sub. So, when a mission nearly went south due to Ellis’ bad decision, Wayne knew he had to do something, and that led the two men to the newly re-opened BDSM club called Secrets.
What unfolds in this new novel by Wells and Williams can sometimes stretch the imagination a bit far and yet, the systematic unraveling of Ellis under Wayne’s sure hands is beautiful to read. He literally helps Ellis break down and rebuild into the man he was meant to be, freeing him from the chains of abuse and fear that had held him for so long. The authors take the time to introduce the characters slowly, building their backstories and fleshing out their thoughts and feelings along the way. You are pulled into their lives, their emotions, and their relationship, gradually, as they explore their new life together and discover what secrets lay beneath for both of them. To watch Wayne pour all his energy into helping Ellis find his self worth again, rebuild his confidence and stand up to a family that has spent its entire life tearing him down, makes for a compelling read. Plus, the tenderness and love these two men finally reveal to each other is just so lovely to experience.
If this series continues in the way this first installment, Before You Break, has gone, I daresay it will be a bold addition to the BDSM genre. With finesse and care, the writing team of Wells and Williams leads us into a world where men care for each other and dare to be vulnerable while still maintaining their need to be masters of their own destinies.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
atheresa's review
3.0
2.5 stars. Mixed bag.
Lovely D/s relationship. Nice BDSM scenes.
Poor transition from Collars and Cuffs series. C&C cameos distracted more than added value. Inconsistent portrayal of Eli and Jacob as they started up Secrets. They oscillated between a new business venture couple one moment and then as fellow waitstaff the other.
The opening SWAT tactical procedures that introduced Wayne and Ellis were illogical, lame, and laughable.
Ellis' family background was contrived and artificial. His total lack of personal boundaries was unbelievable. At the end, Ellis' impulsiveness was exposed by Wayne's superior to have been a long term problem. Ellis was not LE calibre and had been propped up by Wayne the whole time. This negatively impacted Ellis' character and retroactively changed the dynamics of their D/s relationship.
Ellis getting so grievously injured to where he could no longer have an active job or lifestyle was a disappointing copout. His physical rehab and mental adjustment was rushed. The process of Wayne and Ellis both leaving the force and starting a security business at Secrets was too simplistic. This segment of the plot deserved a separate book.
Lovely D/s relationship. Nice BDSM scenes.
Poor transition from Collars and Cuffs series. C&C cameos distracted more than added value. Inconsistent portrayal of Eli and Jacob as they started up Secrets. They oscillated between a new business venture couple one moment and then as fellow waitstaff the other.
The opening SWAT tactical procedures that introduced Wayne and Ellis were illogical, lame, and laughable.
Ellis' family background was contrived and artificial. His total lack of personal boundaries was unbelievable. At the end, Ellis' impulsiveness was exposed by Wayne's superior to have been a long term problem. Ellis was not LE calibre and had been propped up by Wayne the whole time. This negatively impacted Ellis' character and retroactively changed the dynamics of their D/s relationship.
Ellis getting so grievously injured to where he could no longer have an active job or lifestyle was a disappointing copout. His physical rehab and mental adjustment was rushed. The process of Wayne and Ellis both leaving the force and starting a security business at Secrets was too simplistic. This segment of the plot deserved a separate book.
squirrely007's review against another edition
3.0
This was good, the bdsm aspect of it didn’t work for me.
jamietherebelliousreader's review
2.0
2 stars. Boring. Very, very boring.
This was a buddy read and I was so excited to get to it but this just didn’t deliver. How do you ruin a book like this? It should be damn near impossible. I wanted great characters and smut. I got the smut but the characters were awful.
I didn’t like Ellis at all. He was childish and annoying. Wayne was no better. I like dominant characters, but I didn’t like that he pretty much bullied Ellis into the lifestyle. He would be against doing something and instead of talking it out with him, Wayne would just make him do it anyways and that’s not okay to me.
I also didn’t really like the writing. It was very amateurish and didn’t flow well to me. This book felt too long even though it’s not. A lot of the chapters were fillers and could’ve easily been removed from the book.
Overall, this was a dud and I’m not sure if I will be continuing on with this series.
This was a buddy read and I was so excited to get to it but this just didn’t deliver. How do you ruin a book like this? It should be damn near impossible. I wanted great characters and smut. I got the smut but the characters were awful.
I didn’t like Ellis at all. He was childish and annoying. Wayne was no better. I like dominant characters, but I didn’t like that he pretty much bullied Ellis into the lifestyle. He would be against doing something and instead of talking it out with him, Wayne would just make him do it anyways and that’s not okay to me.
I also didn’t really like the writing. It was very amateurish and didn’t flow well to me. This book felt too long even though it’s not. A lot of the chapters were fillers and could’ve easily been removed from the book.
Overall, this was a dud and I’m not sure if I will be continuing on with this series.
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