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A review by haletostilinski1
Hard Line by Sidney Bell
5.0
I loved this. I enjoyed it a lot more than the first book in this series, although not quite as much as Bad Judgement.
But I thought the story was interesting, if a little slow going, but I felt that the reason for that was to get these two, Tobias and Sullivan to get to know each other, and to make it believeable that they're in love by the end of this - because only about three weeks, a month? or thereabouts goes by over the course of the events in this book, so if the whole main plot point with Ghost being missing had been over and done with quickly, then these two getting to that place of love wouldn't have felt genuine to me.
But these two start out in a somewhat combative terrain in their relationship - which leads to them finding out that they like BDSM and D/s dynamic. I thought their combativeness was set up well and made sense, and Tobias's mental state allowed for them to be pushed into a situation in which those D/s elements would arise so they would discover that about each other.
Because Sullivan had a previous relationship, and when he tried to tell the guy about what he liked in the bedroom, that he liked hurting his partner - consensually, of course - well the guy didn't take it well and made Sullivan scared to try BDSM again. But then along came Tobias, who was a natural Sub to Sullivan's natural Dom.
For me to enjoy BDSM it has to somehow work for me. And I was weary going into reading this because the blurb says "Tobias is only too happy to let him play out his darkest desires" or something along that line and that always makes me think of like super dark things that make me uncomfortable. But I feel like there are levels to BDSM, to slightly kinky to really kinky to way beyond kinky into dark territory and I don't think I'm a fan of BDSM that goes crazy into like, hurting your partner, almost torturing them, in a way, if that makes sense.
But I didn't think Sullivan's desires were that dark and they didn't make me uncomfortable. Especially when Tobias enjoyed the pain so much and they were both aware of consent and Sullivan always made sure to check in on Tobias and his well being. There was some spanking and paddling - and a short description but not an all out scene of caning - but that isn't too bad, imo. Also, it is always safe, sane, and consensual, which is always the way to go.
Some kinkiness, yeah, but not anything scary or creepy or uncomfortable. So I think if most of you don't mind BDSM or even enjoy it, then you'll enjoy this too. Although the steam could have been steamier at points - although there are a few of the sex scenes that are really hot ;)
Since Tobias was not exactly in the center of the Russian crime family thing as Church had been and Ghost is, there isn't anything quite as scary that Church went through for Tobias, and so not quite as much action, although there is some.
But this story is, imo, tamer in the action and crime department than the last one - and probably a lot tamer than Ghost's book will be too.
But it's good because Tobias, at his core, is a kind, good hearted person and really doesn't need to be near the Russian crime family shit. Ghost shouldn't be either, but he at least can handle it. Although he goes through some shitty stuff in this one, so I'll be super intrigued to get his book, and somewhat apprehensive but also super excited at the same time. I can't wait to see who will be able to break through Ghost's walls and who it will be to get Ghost to fall in love them. Also super excited to learn a lot more about Ghost then we have in the previous two books.
We don't get to see Church or Miller in this book, although Tobias does talk to Church on the phone and text him, but that's about it. Tobias wants Church to stay away from the whole thing in this book. But this book is mainly focused on Tobias and his story and Sullivan, with Ghost coming at the end.
And while we do learn quite a bit in this story, it was mostly Tobias' romance story, and a setting up the last book that will most likely feature the Russian crime family heavily once more.
But this was a fun, engaging story that I couldn't put down most of the time, and I'm excited for the last book too.
Definitely recommend if you read and enjoyed the first book in this series :)
***ARC provided by the Alpha Book Club in exchange for an honest review***
But I thought the story was interesting, if a little slow going, but I felt that the reason for that was to get these two, Tobias and Sullivan to get to know each other, and to make it believeable that they're in love by the end of this - because only about three weeks, a month? or thereabouts goes by over the course of the events in this book, so if the whole main plot point with Ghost being missing had been over and done with quickly, then these two getting to that place of love wouldn't have felt genuine to me.
But these two start out in a somewhat combative terrain in their relationship - which leads to them finding out that they like BDSM and D/s dynamic. I thought their combativeness was set up well and made sense, and Tobias's mental state allowed for them to be pushed into a situation in which those D/s elements would arise so they would discover that about each other.
Because Sullivan had a previous relationship, and when he tried to tell the guy about what he liked in the bedroom, that he liked hurting his partner - consensually, of course - well the guy didn't take it well and made Sullivan scared to try BDSM again. But then along came Tobias, who was a natural Sub to Sullivan's natural Dom.
For me to enjoy BDSM it has to somehow work for me. And I was weary going into reading this because the blurb says "Tobias is only too happy to let him play out his darkest desires" or something along that line and that always makes me think of like super dark things that make me uncomfortable. But I feel like there are levels to BDSM, to slightly kinky to really kinky to way beyond kinky into dark territory and I don't think I'm a fan of BDSM that goes crazy into like, hurting your partner, almost torturing them, in a way, if that makes sense.
But I didn't think Sullivan's desires were that dark and they didn't make me uncomfortable. Especially when Tobias enjoyed the pain so much and they were both aware of consent and Sullivan always made sure to check in on Tobias and his well being. There was some spanking and paddling - and a short description but not an all out scene of caning - but that isn't too bad, imo. Also, it is always safe, sane, and consensual, which is always the way to go.
Some kinkiness, yeah, but not anything scary or creepy or uncomfortable. So I think if most of you don't mind BDSM or even enjoy it, then you'll enjoy this too. Although the steam could have been steamier at points - although there are a few of the sex scenes that are really hot ;)
Since Tobias was not exactly in the center of the Russian crime family thing as Church had been and Ghost is, there isn't anything quite as scary that Church went through for Tobias, and so not quite as much action, although there is some.
But this story is, imo, tamer in the action and crime department than the last one - and probably a lot tamer than Ghost's book will be too.
But it's good because Tobias, at his core, is a kind, good hearted person and really doesn't need to be near the Russian crime family shit. Ghost shouldn't be either, but he at least can handle it. Although he goes through some shitty stuff in this one, so I'll be super intrigued to get his book, and somewhat apprehensive but also super excited at the same time. I can't wait to see who will be able to break through Ghost's walls and who it will be to get Ghost to fall in love them. Also super excited to learn a lot more about Ghost then we have in the previous two books.
We don't get to see Church or Miller in this book, although Tobias does talk to Church on the phone and text him, but that's about it. Tobias wants Church to stay away from the whole thing in this book. But this book is mainly focused on Tobias and his story and Sullivan, with Ghost coming at the end.
And while we do learn quite a bit in this story, it was mostly Tobias' romance story, and a setting up the last book that will most likely feature the Russian crime family heavily once more.
But this was a fun, engaging story that I couldn't put down most of the time, and I'm excited for the last book too.
Definitely recommend if you read and enjoyed the first book in this series :)
***ARC provided by the Alpha Book Club in exchange for an honest review***