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jamieb_19's Reviews (277)

Burning the Midnight Oil

Ashley James

3.75

challenging emotional funny tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Resisting You

E.M. Lindsey

4.25

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Level Up

Max Walker

3.5

funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Batting Style

Louisa Masters

3.75

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Rookie Recovery

Jemma Croft, Lex Easton, Lex Veia

3.75

funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Heated Rivalry

Rachel Reid

5.0

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A Stealthy Situation

Saxon James

4.5

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

For Real

Alexis Hall

4.25

challenging emotional funny reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Alexis Hall’s books are known for pushing the boundaries of what you might expect in a romance, and I think he did that again with this story. It takes what you’d expect in stories featuring BDSM and flips it on its head. In this story, we have Laurie who is pushing forty, a sub, and quite jaded with the whole Scene after his previous relationship fell apart six years ago. And then there’s Toby, nineteen, inexperienced, but eager to explore his desire to be a Dom.

Laurie has no business getting mixed up with this man, who’s nearly half his age, yet there he is, surrendering his body to this fearless and fierce young man. Toby relishes the control he’s given over Laurie’s body, but he also wants Laurie to surrender his heart - which is not something Laurie is eager to part with.

I’ll start by saying this is the hottest Alexis Hall book I’ve read. The sex scenes are graphic and kinky yet intimate, sweet, and vulnerable. But the real highlight for me was the dynamic between Laurie and Toby. It was so interesting to me. With any of the BDSM books I’ve read (which admittedly isn’t many), we are usually introduced to a fully formed Dom. Here, we have this acne-prone nineteen-year-old with all these sadistic desires that he hadn’t had much opportunity to act on before meeting Laurie. He’s eager and excitable and even though he’s inexperienced, he’s fearless and wears his heart on his sleeve. I loved his character. He was a little lost and vulnerable at times. But he was also a hoot, I laughed quite a lot at the things he’d think/say/do. I can see why Laurie was drawn to him.

Laurie was a pricklier character. He submitted his body so easily to Toby, but he had a lot of baggage that made it hard to give Toby all the things he wanted - namely to be loved by Laurie. But this was a journey for them individually and together and I loved how both characters grew throughout the book. Alexis Hall’s characters are always so well formed and complex and that was certainly the case here. It was such an interesting story, I enjoyed it. I also loved going through all the author’s annotations at the end of the story, they were equally funny and informative.