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A review by jaimesamms
Untamed Heart by Ally Blue
4.0
My review:Once again, I seem to have been drawn to a book whose first chapter is all about murder and mayhem, and I’m expected to actually like the guy doing the deed. Ally has managed, though, to set up her cold, calculating hired killer in a sympathetic light right from the get go, and it’s hard not to at least feel sorry for him long enough to get to know him. Once inside Leon’ head, it’s hard not to like him as damaged as he is.
Damaged characters are definitely the flavour of the day here. Leon is almost normal compared to his love interest Grim. Abandoned, abused and alone in the world, he has no idea what a normal relationship is supposed to look like. He does know a chance to bring some companionship into his isolated life when he sees it, though, and fishes Leon out of the river after a bear attack, takes him back to his cabin and nurses him back to health.
The plot might not be grippingly original, but it never stops its forward momentum, throwing the two men into conflict after conflict with themselves, one another and the world, and finally bringing them back to confront their own demons again. Even with the linear progression of events I found enough strength of character in just two characters (There are no secondary characters to speak of) to keep me happy and interested right to the end.
There was plenty of sex too, which can often backfire, but in this case was dealt with beautifully. It is disturbing to think that a person can define his relationship to the world and everyone in it through his ability to please them sexually, but I did say Grim was damaged in the extreme. Ally handles the tricky, sticky mess that could become with care, and the sex scenes manage to be about more than the physical act while still conveying a perfect amount of heat. Almost, sex is another language, and one Grim knows fluently, in fact, one he prefers to communicate through, and I think it’s interesting how the author used those scenes to track the character’s growth and the growth of the relationship. I’m not for a second commenting on the practicality of the real-life applications of this kind of sex therapy, but this is fiction and as such, the attempt succeeded brilliantly.
As always, my main criteria for what constitutes ‘good’ fiction is less technical than some people’s and more about my own emotional satisfaction. Yes, that’s right, it’s all about me, my reading time, and how I want to spend it. Once again, Ally has made me very happy to waste a few hours of my time with her people and her world. Thanks.
My recommendation: You have to appreciate dark and damaged souls with a nugget of gold in the center to appreciate this story, and not be squeamish about nasty deaths or less than perfect sex. If that’s the case, there is a lot to enjoy here. Read it.
Damaged characters are definitely the flavour of the day here. Leon is almost normal compared to his love interest Grim. Abandoned, abused and alone in the world, he has no idea what a normal relationship is supposed to look like. He does know a chance to bring some companionship into his isolated life when he sees it, though, and fishes Leon out of the river after a bear attack, takes him back to his cabin and nurses him back to health.
The plot might not be grippingly original, but it never stops its forward momentum, throwing the two men into conflict after conflict with themselves, one another and the world, and finally bringing them back to confront their own demons again. Even with the linear progression of events I found enough strength of character in just two characters (There are no secondary characters to speak of) to keep me happy and interested right to the end.
There was plenty of sex too, which can often backfire, but in this case was dealt with beautifully. It is disturbing to think that a person can define his relationship to the world and everyone in it through his ability to please them sexually, but I did say Grim was damaged in the extreme. Ally handles the tricky, sticky mess that could become with care, and the sex scenes manage to be about more than the physical act while still conveying a perfect amount of heat. Almost, sex is another language, and one Grim knows fluently, in fact, one he prefers to communicate through, and I think it’s interesting how the author used those scenes to track the character’s growth and the growth of the relationship. I’m not for a second commenting on the practicality of the real-life applications of this kind of sex therapy, but this is fiction and as such, the attempt succeeded brilliantly.
As always, my main criteria for what constitutes ‘good’ fiction is less technical than some people’s and more about my own emotional satisfaction. Yes, that’s right, it’s all about me, my reading time, and how I want to spend it. Once again, Ally has made me very happy to waste a few hours of my time with her people and her world. Thanks.
My recommendation: You have to appreciate dark and damaged souls with a nugget of gold in the center to appreciate this story, and not be squeamish about nasty deaths or less than perfect sex. If that’s the case, there is a lot to enjoy here. Read it.