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Another Way #1
Another Way
On the surface, Jesse Ross is an average guy in an average relationship with his college sweetheart, Adele. But what his girlfriend doesn’t know is that he’s having an affair—with a man—and exploring his sexuality in ways she never could imagine. His compartmentalized life suits Jesse just fine, and he has no intention of coming out of the closet either as a bisexual or as a submissive.
However, Jesse takes a tumble when his Master, Will, admits to wanting more, wanting Jesse as his partner, not just his submissive. Suddenly Jesse's conveniently pieced-together life isn’t quite so comfortable. In the end, Jesse has to lay it all on the line—for his girlfriend, for his lover, and for himself.
However, Jesse takes a tumble when his Master, Will, admits to wanting more, wanting Jesse as his partner, not just his submissive. Suddenly Jesse's conveniently pieced-together life isn’t quite so comfortable. In the end, Jesse has to lay it all on the line—for his girlfriend, for his lover, and for himself.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2011
About the author
Anna Martin
46 books472 followersAnna Martin is from a picturesque seaside village in the south west of England. After spending most of her childhood making up stories, she studied English Literature at university before attempting to turn her hand as a professional writer.
Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, she is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theatre (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), travelling, learning to play the ukulele, and Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk.
Although her most recent work is in the LGBT romance genre, in the past Anna has worked on a variety of different projects including short stories, drabbles, flash fiction, fan fiction, plays for both children and adults, and poetry. She has written novels in the Teen or Young Adult genre, Romance and Fantasy novels.
Anna is, by her own admission, almost unhealthily obsessed with books. The library she has amassed is both large and diverse; "My favourite books," she says, "are 'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee and 'Oryx and Crake' by Margaret Atwood." She also owns multiple copies of Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park books and re-reads the Harry Potter novels with almost startling regularity.
Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, pre-reading and creative ass-kicking provided by her closest friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept any responsibility for anything Anna has written.
Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, she is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theatre (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), travelling, learning to play the ukulele, and Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk.
Although her most recent work is in the LGBT romance genre, in the past Anna has worked on a variety of different projects including short stories, drabbles, flash fiction, fan fiction, plays for both children and adults, and poetry. She has written novels in the Teen or Young Adult genre, Romance and Fantasy novels.
Anna is, by her own admission, almost unhealthily obsessed with books. The library she has amassed is both large and diverse; "My favourite books," she says, "are 'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee and 'Oryx and Crake' by Margaret Atwood." She also owns multiple copies of Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park books and re-reads the Harry Potter novels with almost startling regularity.
Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, pre-reading and creative ass-kicking provided by her closest friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept any responsibility for anything Anna has written.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
February 8, 2012
That was the best m/m BDSM book I've read in . . . forever, I think.
I have four main disappointments with BDSM books in general:
1) The play is far too mild; it's not really BDSM, just a mild bit of fluff. It's not even sugar kink, it's sugar-free, fat-free, flavour-free kink.
2) The sub is emotionally damaged and uses BDSM as therapy: something ends up going horribly wrong and hurt/comfort ensues.
3) The Dom is emotionally damaged and uses BDSM to compensate: something ends up going horribly wrong and hurt/comfort ensues.
4) The Dom and the sub are both happy, then the outside world crashes down on the sub like a ton of bricks, BDSM pretty much stops and hurt-comfort ensues (Sean Michael, I'm looking at you here).
Actually, I lied, and there's a fifth category of disappointment, more disappointing than all the rest put together, and that book is called Lord & Master by H.C. Brown.
In contrast, in this book we have a happy healthy sub, a happy healthy Dom, who love BDSM and each other. And they do smexy stuff to one another. Lots. And negotiate a loving relationship in a mature way, so although they disagree at times they always work past it. Like consenting, intelligent adults. It makes me happy.
This is as good as the Deviations series. Love, loved, loved it. I loved it so much I didn't even mind the m/f scene.
November 23, 2013
I found this to be a very likeable and enjoyable story that as well as totally embracing all the aspects of kinky sex, play and scenes that happen in a BDSM and a D/s relationship, also turned out to be surprisingly sweet and extremely romantic too. The sex is plentiful and the scenes come thick and fast....I knoooow I said "come thick and fast" get the giggles over! LOL. ... but In between there's also a lot of really sensuous moments where Jesse and Will ( the two main guys ) actually ' make love' and that's what balanced it all out for me.
I suppose the fact that cheating is mentioned may bother some but I look at it this way... In real life I wouldn't condone it, but in a book its a plot device that's integral to the workings of the book, its what the author wanted, so I might not like or agree with it in the story but if there's an explanation ( which there always is ) and it works for the storyline then I can put up with it just fine and at the end of the day its fiction and you know its going to work out in favour of both parties anyway! The odd thing is that the blurb makes it sound like its going to be really angsty and terribly dramatic but there's actually not half as much as I was expecting and the split between Jesse and his girlfriend is actually handled pretty quickly and very well so once Will and Jesse become romantic partners it then centres mainly around how they learn to balance being in love and living together with the other side of their partnership, when they play as Master and sub!
I absolutely love the chemistry between Jesse and Will, its palpable, it sizzles and there's no doubt that its these two who are meant to be together in the long run. I loved them both and ended the book feeling really happy with the conclusion and how it all panned out. The many BDSM scenes are not glossed over, they're detailed, kinky and they're full on but like I said before they're balanced by the cuddling and sigh worthy love scenes they share when they're just being a couple who are very much in love. I can honestly say I enjoyed every moment spent with the two of them and I'm glad there's more books to come. Thanks Tina for persuading me to give this a chance... You were right my friend!
I suppose the fact that cheating is mentioned may bother some but I look at it this way... In real life I wouldn't condone it, but in a book its a plot device that's integral to the workings of the book, its what the author wanted, so I might not like or agree with it in the story but if there's an explanation ( which there always is ) and it works for the storyline then I can put up with it just fine and at the end of the day its fiction and you know its going to work out in favour of both parties anyway! The odd thing is that the blurb makes it sound like its going to be really angsty and terribly dramatic but there's actually not half as much as I was expecting and the split between Jesse and his girlfriend is actually handled pretty quickly and very well so once Will and Jesse become romantic partners it then centres mainly around how they learn to balance being in love and living together with the other side of their partnership, when they play as Master and sub!
I absolutely love the chemistry between Jesse and Will, its palpable, it sizzles and there's no doubt that its these two who are meant to be together in the long run. I loved them both and ended the book feeling really happy with the conclusion and how it all panned out. The many BDSM scenes are not glossed over, they're detailed, kinky and they're full on but like I said before they're balanced by the cuddling and sigh worthy love scenes they share when they're just being a couple who are very much in love. I can honestly say I enjoyed every moment spent with the two of them and I'm glad there's more books to come. Thanks Tina for persuading me to give this a chance... You were right my friend!
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September 1, 2016
DNF at 15%. I absolutely CANNOT listen to another second of Brad Langer's awful narration.
Shelved as 'lost-interested'
February 16, 2020DNF @29%
It was too mechanical for me and he was still with both of them! Not my cup of tea…
It was too mechanical for me and he was still with both of them! Not my cup of tea…
July 21, 2020
2.5 stars
I picked this up for some low angst BDSM, and while I really liked all the pieces of this, the final execution didn't quite work. It's an early work of the author's -- maybe even her first? -- so that could be why, but the prose is a bit stilted, the dialog a big awkward and it's a bit inconsistent with the facts it's presenting.
One moment it's the first time he's ever experienced something, and the next he's been doing it for years. A few months of them officially being together turns into a few weeks. And some of the emotions seemed to bounce around inconsistently from scene to scene, too.
I also had a hard time following a good portion of the physical scene/sex descriptions, which is an extremely rare complaint for me. And since those scenes are a large part of the book, it was a little hard to connect with the characters. I kept reading, though, because the parts that worked were just enough to keep me interested.
The teaser chapter for the next one was enough to decide I'm calling this a day after book 1, though. I don't think I'd recommend it unless you've read all the other low-angst BDSM options...
I picked this up for some low angst BDSM, and while I really liked all the pieces of this, the final execution didn't quite work. It's an early work of the author's -- maybe even her first? -- so that could be why, but the prose is a bit stilted, the dialog a big awkward and it's a bit inconsistent with the facts it's presenting.
One moment it's the first time he's ever experienced something, and the next he's been doing it for years. A few months of them officially being together turns into a few weeks. And some of the emotions seemed to bounce around inconsistently from scene to scene, too.
I also had a hard time following a good portion of the physical scene/sex descriptions, which is an extremely rare complaint for me. And since those scenes are a large part of the book, it was a little hard to connect with the characters. I kept reading, though, because the parts that worked were just enough to keep me interested.
The teaser chapter for the next one was enough to decide I'm calling this a day after book 1, though. I don't think I'd recommend it unless you've read all the other low-angst BDSM options...
October 9, 2013
This book inspires you to make a list of why you liked it. It's not a gushy kind of like - it's more the slow and steady kind. Here's why I liked it - in list form:
1. Not overly dramatic - these appear to be pretty normal folk. Nobody is damaged, abused, kidnapped, forced or otherwise screwed up.
2. No convenient miscommunications to throw the plot into a frenzy. This book is not the avenue to show how messed up people can get with communication. Certainly there are communication issues here - but eventually they are put to right and dealt with in an adult manner
3. Although I'd call myself perhaps more of a lifestyle fringer this is more accurate to what I know and can see in the community in many ways. It carries a realism in the BDSM pieces that reflects more accurately. The BDSM books where the sub is whipped to blood and merrily goes on his/her happy way are full of crap. I read them, and love them, but the BDSM RealMeter does not come out to play whatsoever in them.
4. It shows life is complicated - but it doesn't have to be a soap opera. I guess that relates more to #1. People aren't perfect but they can learn and grow and sometimes we make choices that are not the best and we have to own up and take the steps to change them.
I was very impressed with the BDSM in this book - IRL scenes don't go on forever, not every Dom is a billionaire who can read your mind, and sometimes the next day f'in hurts. Of course in a good way but pain is pain. These guys are so comfortable in their skins this is not a book about exploration of your submissive or dominant tendencies or identification. This is a book that explores making things work once those things are established. In a land where so many books are more "exploring my kink" I found this very refreshing. I really would have liked to see the first time that they had sex though - I think that might have leant to the story greatly as the only issue I had is Jesse and his sexuality - I'd still call him Bi. Nothing wrong with that at all - and I would have liked to see more how he reacted in the beginning with Will. I think it would have set the stage a bit better. That's why I took a star off - I thought this was critical info to really frame the story. YMMV.
1. Not overly dramatic - these appear to be pretty normal folk. Nobody is damaged, abused, kidnapped, forced or otherwise screwed up.
2. No convenient miscommunications to throw the plot into a frenzy. This book is not the avenue to show how messed up people can get with communication. Certainly there are communication issues here - but eventually they are put to right and dealt with in an adult manner
3. Although I'd call myself perhaps more of a lifestyle fringer this is more accurate to what I know and can see in the community in many ways. It carries a realism in the BDSM pieces that reflects more accurately. The BDSM books where the sub is whipped to blood and merrily goes on his/her happy way are full of crap. I read them, and love them, but the BDSM RealMeter does not come out to play whatsoever in them.
4. It shows life is complicated - but it doesn't have to be a soap opera. I guess that relates more to #1. People aren't perfect but they can learn and grow and sometimes we make choices that are not the best and we have to own up and take the steps to change them.
I was very impressed with the BDSM in this book - IRL scenes don't go on forever, not every Dom is a billionaire who can read your mind, and sometimes the next day f'in hurts. Of course in a good way but pain is pain. These guys are so comfortable in their skins this is not a book about exploration of your submissive or dominant tendencies or identification. This is a book that explores making things work once those things are established. In a land where so many books are more "exploring my kink" I found this very refreshing. I really would have liked to see the first time that they had sex though - I think that might have leant to the story greatly as the only issue I had is Jesse and his sexuality - I'd still call him Bi. Nothing wrong with that at all - and I would have liked to see more how he reacted in the beginning with Will. I think it would have set the stage a bit better. That's why I took a star off - I thought this was critical info to really frame the story. YMMV.
February 24, 2012
Ok. This was kind of a personal experiment for me. I've seen SO many BDSM novels with such a catchy plot but I'm DEFINITELY a vanilla guy so I wasn't sure I'd be interested in reading about anything else (ok, so a spank never hurt my feelings but I definitely draw the line at flogging and gagging). I actually found the BDSM in this story fascinating and much more intense than the random BDSM that has been snuck into stories I've read (which friends in the D/s lifestyle tell me isn't true BDSM). It was definitely fun to creep out of my comfort zone for a minute. A HUGE plus for this story is that the guys seem SO real. I feel like I may know this couple and just didn't realize it. The sex was hot and I like the way their relationship develops. I was okay with the idea of Jesse jumping into Will's arms the same day he left Adele, but that's because they'd been involved for so long and it just made sense. The reason I could only give it 3 stars was that it seemed more like BDSM erotica than a romance. Silly me for expecting more story and more angst as far as the moving into a gay relationship. I'm also not a big GFY guy and this seemed to fit the GFY bill well, although it may be my ignorance to the lifestyle that makes it seem so. I am not removing any stars for my personal hang-ups tho. I simply wanted more story and GEEZ did I hate how easily resolved the Adele issue was. And I wanted to see more of the reactions from the parentals and friends. Another big one for me is that I knew it was written by someone from the UK before i even read the "About The Author". The British English was way to apparent. That removed me from the Seattle mindset. Otherwise it was not a bad read. Definitely hot.
July 18, 2014
A very good story of a Dom and sub falling in love and transitioning from an arrangement to a relationship. Jesse and Will were both so realistic and each enjoyed the D/s relationship for what they got out of it, as opposed to it being a cure for something deep and dark lurking in their past.
Will falls for Jesse and wants more, although he is aware that Jesse is in a long term relationship. Will, and Jesse's previous Domme, provides Jesse with something he cannot get from his vanilla girlfriend. When Will admits to Jesse that he wants more, Jesse is forced to face up to what is and is not working in his life. Jesse also struggles with his sexuality throughout the story. Although he describes his sexuality as fluid, he has only ever had relationships with women and finds it difficult to acknowledge his deeper feelings for Will. It is not easy as the men navigate how to separate their "sessions" from their day to day relationship, as neither is looking to live a 24/7 D/s lifestyle, but thank goodness the two are willing to actually talk to each other and the people around them that are willing and able to help.
The sex scenes were great, and there is a bit of BDSM 101 in the beginning. I loved both of these men and look forward to the next book in the story.
Will falls for Jesse and wants more, although he is aware that Jesse is in a long term relationship. Will, and Jesse's previous Domme, provides Jesse with something he cannot get from his vanilla girlfriend. When Will admits to Jesse that he wants more, Jesse is forced to face up to what is and is not working in his life. Jesse also struggles with his sexuality throughout the story. Although he describes his sexuality as fluid, he has only ever had relationships with women and finds it difficult to acknowledge his deeper feelings for Will. It is not easy as the men navigate how to separate their "sessions" from their day to day relationship, as neither is looking to live a 24/7 D/s lifestyle, but thank goodness the two are willing to actually talk to each other and the people around them that are willing and able to help.
The sex scenes were great, and there is a bit of BDSM 101 in the beginning. I loved both of these men and look forward to the next book in the story.
June 3, 2021
Second time around. I still absolutely love Will. His mannerisms and how he does things. Hell I love the thing he does with his hands in Jesse's hair all the time.
I just enjoy this book.
I just enjoy this book.
March 3, 2013
First, let me say, I love when I find a BDSM novel where no one is only a part of this lifestyle to make up for some past pain. Happy, healthy people are a part of this lifestyle, no matter what most authors want me to think.
Jesse was a great character. I understood why he had made the choices he had. I felt his confusion as something very realistic.
I felt a little sorry for Will at the beginning, but was pleased for him by the end.
Adele was never anything more then a very small part of the story, so I don't really have any feelings for her, one way or the other. I was a little disappointed in how things were resoved with her so easily. (Hence the four stars, not five.)
The other secondary characters really didn't make much impact on me, but there wasn't any real page space wasted on them. They played there part in the story, without being just filler.
The main storyline here was a couple taking a casual Dom, sub relationship, into a true loving relationship, and for me it worked. I love to read about people falling in love, as it is the greatest gift this life has to offer. I don't care who is falling for who, I just want the people involved to end up being fulfilled, and this happened in this story.
I am so glad that there is a part two, but have been warned not to read it straight away, but I am not sure I will be able to wait long.
Jesse was a great character. I understood why he had made the choices he had. I felt his confusion as something very realistic.
I felt a little sorry for Will at the beginning, but was pleased for him by the end.
Adele was never anything more then a very small part of the story, so I don't really have any feelings for her, one way or the other. I was a little disappointed in how things were resoved with her so easily. (Hence the four stars, not five.)
The other secondary characters really didn't make much impact on me, but there wasn't any real page space wasted on them. They played there part in the story, without being just filler.
The main storyline here was a couple taking a casual Dom, sub relationship, into a true loving relationship, and for me it worked. I love to read about people falling in love, as it is the greatest gift this life has to offer. I don't care who is falling for who, I just want the people involved to end up being fulfilled, and this happened in this story.
I am so glad that there is a part two, but have been warned not to read it straight away, but I am not sure I will be able to wait long.
January 10, 2013
Ok, so I kept forgetting this was supposed to be set in the US. (not really a bother)
It was a bit repetitive in the sexual encounters.
There were a few places where I wanted to insist on better continuity.
I also froze at the "children" conversations. (because I always do and now I'm too scared to read the sequel)
GREAT story though! I loved the D/s relationship's as they were portrayed here. Loved that while not perfect, Jesse and Will both came to the table as intelligent adults. Their friends all respectful and sane. Ha! No unnecessary drama. What I would give to live in their world...
It was a bit repetitive in the sexual encounters.
There were a few places where I wanted to insist on better continuity.
I also froze at the "children" conversations. (because I always do and now I'm too scared to read the sequel)
GREAT story though! I loved the D/s relationship's as they were portrayed here. Loved that while not perfect, Jesse and Will both came to the table as intelligent adults. Their friends all respectful and sane. Ha! No unnecessary drama. What I would give to live in their world...
October 19, 2015
Er, can a BDSM book feel vanilla? Like, I was just so bored here. Maybe because it's more PWP than anything. Maybe I'll reconsider after I've read the sequel.
March 14, 2014
Wow… I loved this book (and the follow up). Anna Martin creates a credible BDSM story that touched me deeply and as far as I remember I read it in one sitting. I was just glued to the pages and couldn’t put the book down. Anna paints such a vivid picture in describing the details surrounding Jesse and Will that I felt like I was right there witnessing every moan, groan, twitch and shiver. Their play-sessions left me breathless and their more tender, emotional moments with one another warmed my heart.
This story is extremely sensual. I absolutely loved the conflict between the BDSM side of Will and Jesse’s relationship and the romantic side. Things do not just fall into place as it does in some other stories, what makes the relationship more believable.
This book really represents everything that I idealise in a romantic D/s relationship. The guys are in love with each other, they are equals and their D/s activities are based on a foundation of trust and safety. The many BDSM scenes are detailed, oh so kinky and hot but balanced by the cuddling and sweet love scenes the guys share when they're just being a couple.
Overall a great BDSM novel. After reading it I was so glad that there was a part two waiting for me. Rumours say the third part is already written, can’t wait to get it into my fingers!
Edit: The title of the third book is 'To Say I Love You'. :)
January 4, 2013
As other reviewers have stated, this book is very nice in the way it lets dedicated BDSMers be normal people. They are neither perfect nor significantly screwed up. They are simply people, living their lives the best way they know how.
In some ways this is much like CB Conwy's book, A Russian Bear. Neither "sub" is always submissive, both "doms" care deeply about their subs, and both subs are often significantly into pain. Also, both Conwy and Martin deal with BDSM in a non-sensationalistic, rational sort of way. IMHO Conwy gets deeper into the characters' heads than Martin does...but I might need to reread Conwy to refresh my memory on that.
For my personal taste, I would have preferred more drama and angst throughout the story. A few dramatic things happen, but I always felt Martin being rather dispassionate in her description of those events. IMHO she did an admirable job of letting her characters think things through, but I wanted more *feeling* things through. Nonetheless, I am impressed by the way Martin let her characters be "just plain folks".
In some ways this is much like CB Conwy's book, A Russian Bear. Neither "sub" is always submissive, both "doms" care deeply about their subs, and both subs are often significantly into pain. Also, both Conwy and Martin deal with BDSM in a non-sensationalistic, rational sort of way. IMHO Conwy gets deeper into the characters' heads than Martin does...but I might need to reread Conwy to refresh my memory on that.
For my personal taste, I would have preferred more drama and angst throughout the story. A few dramatic things happen, but I always felt Martin being rather dispassionate in her description of those events. IMHO she did an admirable job of letting her characters think things through, but I wanted more *feeling* things through. Nonetheless, I am impressed by the way Martin let her characters be "just plain folks".
June 14, 2013
Jesse was an arse ... Will could have done better ... together they had as much passion as a soggy fire cracker ... oh ... & BTW, ... I loathe infidelity (somehow I missed this in the blurb) ... rant aside, I just didn't like the 'tone' of this book at all ... it is technically well written but I just couldn't gel with the characters at all ... I just wanted Jesse to grow a pair & man up to his true feelings IYKWIM? ... meh
Read
January 22, 2013Lots of sex in this one, and I know some readers will have problems with the cheating narrator but I thought this aspect was really well handled. The BDSM scenes are clearly written with a good insider's knowledge, and I loved the fact neither Dom nor sub were the stereotypes we so often see in m/m BDSM.
August 28, 2015
So this was all kinds of wonderful and I want to kick myself for having it in TBR pile for so long. The book synopsis pretty much tells you what the book is about and it is that and yet so much more. Our POV is from Jesse who has been in a long term, live-in relationship with his girlfriend Adele (5 years!) and yet he goes to a Dom, Will, for sessions in order to satisfy his BDSM needs as a sub. Adele seems to be at best willfully oblivious or uncaring of what he does during his visits to Will dungeon, in this case an attic. Not a recipe for a long term future.
After one session Will, in a moment of weakness, asks Jesse to stay but not as his Sub but rather as his partner and here the relationship starts to evolve in particular for Jesse who has to decide what he really feels for Adele and can he be with Will as he doesn't consider himself gay and how will this affect his deep need for submission. Told like this it may sound clinical but Anna Martin seems to be channeling the voice of Jesse a charming, smart, courageous young man (he's 24) still finding out who he is, what he likes and define himself and that's the beauty of this book. These are by no means perfect or perfectly formed individuals, Will comes pretty close but mostly because he's known for a long time who & what he is and a loving and supportive family but even in his role as Jesse's Dom wavers, doubts and seeks advice when he feels out of his depth but above all he loves Jesse as he needs to be loved, sometimes tenderly & sometimes with a flogger but always with care and respect. I love, love, love these two and though I know they are fictitious I chose to believe they are out there somewhere working out things, muddling thru but coming out stronger and happier.
And here's my worry: there are two more books in the series, which in a rush of happiness at the first 30% of the book I ordered, but I kind of now feel that this volume ended perfectly with Jesse and Will having worked many of their issues and having laid the foundation to work through future expected hurdles in their life together, so I'm kind of afraid of what of Ms. Martin may have in store for them in the future installments that may ruin the Happy Bubble I have them living in for now. Therefore I've decided to let the other two volumes linger for a bit while float on Happy Jesse / Will time.
On another note I'd like to add that Ms. Martin really explains in a non-didactic way what people get out of a BDSM relationship and how it should be done right and how it was brilliant that it was Will the Dom who points out how draining 24/7 BDSM relationship can be, he'd tried it once and it almost killed him and how Jesse at times is the one who takes care of Will because a Dom is not some kind of machine, he's a person too.
Recap: I love these two and their story and how it was told.
After one session Will, in a moment of weakness, asks Jesse to stay but not as his Sub but rather as his partner and here the relationship starts to evolve in particular for Jesse who has to decide what he really feels for Adele and can he be with Will as he doesn't consider himself gay and how will this affect his deep need for submission. Told like this it may sound clinical but Anna Martin seems to be channeling the voice of Jesse a charming, smart, courageous young man (he's 24) still finding out who he is, what he likes and define himself and that's the beauty of this book. These are by no means perfect or perfectly formed individuals, Will comes pretty close but mostly because he's known for a long time who & what he is and a loving and supportive family but even in his role as Jesse's Dom wavers, doubts and seeks advice when he feels out of his depth but above all he loves Jesse as he needs to be loved, sometimes tenderly & sometimes with a flogger but always with care and respect. I love, love, love these two and though I know they are fictitious I chose to believe they are out there somewhere working out things, muddling thru but coming out stronger and happier.
And here's my worry: there are two more books in the series, which in a rush of happiness at the first 30% of the book I ordered, but I kind of now feel that this volume ended perfectly with Jesse and Will having worked many of their issues and having laid the foundation to work through future expected hurdles in their life together, so I'm kind of afraid of what of Ms. Martin may have in store for them in the future installments that may ruin the Happy Bubble I have them living in for now. Therefore I've decided to let the other two volumes linger for a bit while float on Happy Jesse / Will time.
On another note I'd like to add that Ms. Martin really explains in a non-didactic way what people get out of a BDSM relationship and how it should be done right and how it was brilliant that it was Will the Dom who points out how draining 24/7 BDSM relationship can be, he'd tried it once and it almost killed him and how Jesse at times is the one who takes care of Will because a Dom is not some kind of machine, he's a person too.
Recap: I love these two and their story and how it was told.
February 18, 2019
What I liked:
-Those two talked about their problems, insecurities, fears and made it work
-The writing
-I liked that Will didn't pressure Jesse to label himself as gay or anything else. They were together, their friends knew they were together and that was enough for them and for me. No, scratch that, I didn't 'like' it, I loved it!
What I didn't like:
-Too many detailed BDSM scenes, and half of them didn't add anything to the story. To be frank, I started skimming through them after a while
-It kind of felt like a handbook to safe BDSM at times, instead of a romance. But that could just be me, because I'm not interested in that scene, so I found the level of detail simply too much
-After those two get together, any tension was gone. It was smooth sailing from there till the end, peppered with scintillating scenes that I skipped. Frankly, I was bored
Verdict
A well written book with likable and mature MCs, that probably requests a small amount of interest in BDSM at least, in order to be trully appreciated. Sadly, that was not the case for me, so I won't go on with the series.
-Those two talked about their problems, insecurities, fears and made it work
-The writing
-I liked that Will didn't pressure Jesse to label himself as gay or anything else. They were together, their friends knew they were together and that was enough for them and for me. No, scratch that, I didn't 'like' it, I loved it!
What I didn't like:
-Too many detailed BDSM scenes, and half of them didn't add anything to the story. To be frank, I started skimming through them after a while
-It kind of felt like a handbook to safe BDSM at times, instead of a romance. But that could just be me, because I'm not interested in that scene, so I found the level of detail simply too much
-After those two get together, any tension was gone. It was smooth sailing from there till the end, peppered with scintillating scenes that I skipped. Frankly, I was bored
Verdict
A well written book with likable and mature MCs, that probably requests a small amount of interest in BDSM at least, in order to be trully appreciated. Sadly, that was not the case for me, so I won't go on with the series.
June 5, 2017
Overall book rating: 4.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 2.5
Dear Anna Martin. I know I’m ridiculously late for getting on the bandwagon, but I would like to say that I’m officially ON IT now.
So fellow readers and dear friends. I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoyed this one. BDSM is a very difficult genre in my opinion, simply because there are a great many aspects and sides to it. And everyone has their own little something they think makes it special or kinky or what ever your personal “thing” about it might be.
I like the kink. Yes. But I like the “connection” just as much and I like a story with the glass of kink.
I’ve been battling to get the combination right ever since I read one of my absolute favourite BDSM authors – The Deviations series by Chris Owen, and now finally I found something I can put in the same category.
I absolutely LOVED this!
I really enjoyed the flow of the story and I liked the little different approach to how the two MC’s get together. At first it made my eyebrows lift a little. But the farther I read, the more I appreciated the grow of their relationship and the way they needed to fit and find a comfort zone for them “outside” of their D/S relationship.
I really loved Will. I’m madly in love with him and all his little ways. I love how he has a softer side and he’s not afraid to show this to Jesse and I loved how Jesse responded to him in his own way.
Both MC’s were great. But Will is my favourite. There are countless little precious moments in this story that made it so good to me, and if I quote them all this review will turn into it's own essay. So I'll stick to the short and sweet.
I’m actually scared to read the rest of the books now. I’m happy with where they are. But I WILL read it.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 2.5
Dear Anna Martin. I know I’m ridiculously late for getting on the bandwagon, but I would like to say that I’m officially ON IT now.
So fellow readers and dear friends. I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoyed this one. BDSM is a very difficult genre in my opinion, simply because there are a great many aspects and sides to it. And everyone has their own little something they think makes it special or kinky or what ever your personal “thing” about it might be.
I like the kink. Yes. But I like the “connection” just as much and I like a story with the glass of kink.
I’ve been battling to get the combination right ever since I read one of my absolute favourite BDSM authors – The Deviations series by Chris Owen, and now finally I found something I can put in the same category.
I absolutely LOVED this!
I really enjoyed the flow of the story and I liked the little different approach to how the two MC’s get together. At first it made my eyebrows lift a little. But the farther I read, the more I appreciated the grow of their relationship and the way they needed to fit and find a comfort zone for them “outside” of their D/S relationship.
I really loved Will. I’m madly in love with him and all his little ways. I love how he has a softer side and he’s not afraid to show this to Jesse and I loved how Jesse responded to him in his own way.
Both MC’s were great. But Will is my favourite. There are countless little precious moments in this story that made it so good to me, and if I quote them all this review will turn into it's own essay. So I'll stick to the short and sweet.
I’m actually scared to read the rest of the books now. I’m happy with where they are. But I WILL read it.
January 25, 2016
Full Review at Oh My Shelves Blog.
I am sorry to say that I found this one a tad boring. I enjoyed the author’s other work more Tattoos & Teacups and Summer Son much more than this one.
Jesse Ross wasn’t being fulfilled in a relationship with his girlfriend Adele so he went looking for that something extra. He found a Dom but when she started a new family, she couldn’t continue with Jesse.
Jesse found Will, who was more than happy to enter an arrangement with Jesse. During the course of their association, Will realized he had formed a connection with Jesse so he wanted more of a relationship. Jesse had some unresolved issues so he wasn’t keen to leaving Adele and beginning a relationship with Will. But even Jesse acknowledged that what he felt with Will was something special. But was it more than what he had with Adele?
I liked how Will and Jesse continued to work to understand the needs of the other as they were a new D/s couple.
I also like that their relationship was a journey that they both had to work towards. Unfortunately, I found the audiobook boring both because of the narrator as well as the story itself. It just lacked an emotional tug and I just didn’t feel engaged to the characters. It was predictable and I never doubted the outcome. The writing just wasn’t as in depth as the other books I have tried by the author.
*Special thanks to Dreamspinner for the audiobook for review.
I am sorry to say that I found this one a tad boring. I enjoyed the author’s other work more Tattoos & Teacups and Summer Son much more than this one.
Jesse Ross wasn’t being fulfilled in a relationship with his girlfriend Adele so he went looking for that something extra. He found a Dom but when she started a new family, she couldn’t continue with Jesse.
Jesse found Will, who was more than happy to enter an arrangement with Jesse. During the course of their association, Will realized he had formed a connection with Jesse so he wanted more of a relationship. Jesse had some unresolved issues so he wasn’t keen to leaving Adele and beginning a relationship with Will. But even Jesse acknowledged that what he felt with Will was something special. But was it more than what he had with Adele?
I liked how Will and Jesse continued to work to understand the needs of the other as they were a new D/s couple.
I also like that their relationship was a journey that they both had to work towards. Unfortunately, I found the audiobook boring both because of the narrator as well as the story itself. It just lacked an emotional tug and I just didn’t feel engaged to the characters. It was predictable and I never doubted the outcome. The writing just wasn’t as in depth as the other books I have tried by the author.
*Special thanks to Dreamspinner for the audiobook for review.
July 13, 2014
Excellente surprise que ce livre !!
J'avais été séduite par le BDSM érotic-chic de Une poigne de fer, émue par le BDSM thérapeutique de Chiot, et là, j'ai été fascinée par le BDSM ordinaire de Une autre voie. Ordinaire, car il est totalement intégré dans la vie de Will le Dom et Jesse le soumis, choisi, voulu, accepté et pleinement assumé. Au point que malgré la dureté de certaines scènes, parfaitement décrites, on ne peut ressentir de gêne, de honte ou du dégoût, parce que ce n'est pas ce que ressent Jesse: il n'est qu'attente, plaisir et bonheur ! C'est en dehors du Donjon que les choses se compliquent. Will est tombé très vite amoureux de son soumis, mais de peur de faire du tort à leur contrat D/s, il a attendu avant de faire comprendre qu'il voulait plus de Jesse que sa soumission lors des scènes. Et je dois dire que Will compose un jeune Maître à la fois fort et infinimement touchant. Jesse pour sa part n'a rien vu venir, il ne se pose pas de question, sa relation avec Will bien enfermée entre les 4 murs de la salle de jeu, tandis qu'il s'ennuie un peu dans une routine confortable avec sa petite amie. La déclaration de Will va tout changer, Jesse va devoir s'interroger sur ce qu'il veut vraiment. Avant même qu'il ne se décide, on sent bien que les moments de tendresse après chaque scène prennent pour lui, pour eux deux, de plus en plus d'importance. Et quand les deux hommes commencent à vivre ensemble, ils vont devoir apprendre à équilibrer les choses entre leur relation D/s et une vie de couple normale , faire des efforts, des compromis, et exister aussi en tant que couple gay face à l'extérieur. Cette plongée dans l'univers profond du BDSM est passionnante, comme un voyage en terre inconnue, et si l'émotion cède parfois le pas à l'intérêt, la romance n'en est pas moins très belle, et bien développée, puisqu'elle se déroule sur presque deux années.
Vraiment un excellent livre.
J'avais été séduite par le BDSM érotic-chic de Une poigne de fer, émue par le BDSM thérapeutique de Chiot, et là, j'ai été fascinée par le BDSM ordinaire de Une autre voie. Ordinaire, car il est totalement intégré dans la vie de Will le Dom et Jesse le soumis, choisi, voulu, accepté et pleinement assumé. Au point que malgré la dureté de certaines scènes, parfaitement décrites, on ne peut ressentir de gêne, de honte ou du dégoût, parce que ce n'est pas ce que ressent Jesse: il n'est qu'attente, plaisir et bonheur ! C'est en dehors du Donjon que les choses se compliquent. Will est tombé très vite amoureux de son soumis, mais de peur de faire du tort à leur contrat D/s, il a attendu avant de faire comprendre qu'il voulait plus de Jesse que sa soumission lors des scènes. Et je dois dire que Will compose un jeune Maître à la fois fort et infinimement touchant. Jesse pour sa part n'a rien vu venir, il ne se pose pas de question, sa relation avec Will bien enfermée entre les 4 murs de la salle de jeu, tandis qu'il s'ennuie un peu dans une routine confortable avec sa petite amie. La déclaration de Will va tout changer, Jesse va devoir s'interroger sur ce qu'il veut vraiment. Avant même qu'il ne se décide, on sent bien que les moments de tendresse après chaque scène prennent pour lui, pour eux deux, de plus en plus d'importance. Et quand les deux hommes commencent à vivre ensemble, ils vont devoir apprendre à équilibrer les choses entre leur relation D/s et une vie de couple normale , faire des efforts, des compromis, et exister aussi en tant que couple gay face à l'extérieur. Cette plongée dans l'univers profond du BDSM est passionnante, comme un voyage en terre inconnue, et si l'émotion cède parfois le pas à l'intérêt, la romance n'en est pas moins très belle, et bien développée, puisqu'elle se déroule sur presque deux années.
Vraiment un excellent livre.
May 3, 2012
Although he's in a relationship with a steady girlfriend, Jesse Ross goes to another in order to have his most secret needs met. Jesse is a submissive and has been seeing his male Dominant for close to two years unbeknownst to anyone in his life. He harbors guilt, knowing he's doing this behind his girlfriend back, but he could never ask her to perform the kind of acts he receives from his Dom, Will Anderson. Things change when both men develop feelings for one another. Jesse must come to grips with the realization that he wants he wants to be with a man and figure out how to tell his girlfriend. Will must take a step back and be patient while hoping the man he cares for so deeply will choose him.
I LOVED this book! BDSM isn't typically my cup of tea, but in this story I really enjoyed it. The focus on the relationship between Will and Jesse and the intense emotions they shared is what really caught my attention from the start and made me fall in love with this book. Jesse is confused and scared, but Will's patience, love and compassion allows Jesse to make the right decisions for himself, Will and their evolving relationship. Jesse and Will's "sessions" made my heart race and their more tender, emotional moments with one another warmed my heart. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and know others who enjoy m/m romance will as well.
I LOVED this book! BDSM isn't typically my cup of tea, but in this story I really enjoyed it. The focus on the relationship between Will and Jesse and the intense emotions they shared is what really caught my attention from the start and made me fall in love with this book. Jesse is confused and scared, but Will's patience, love and compassion allows Jesse to make the right decisions for himself, Will and their evolving relationship. Jesse and Will's "sessions" made my heart race and their more tender, emotional moments with one another warmed my heart. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and know others who enjoy m/m romance will as well.
July 1, 2022
What I liked: Will. I loved how his personality blossomed as we got closer to him, I felt like his character really opened up naturally. I loooove a story with a Dom who is also just a person, with flaws and feelings and limits and can hold a conversation like a normal fucking person. Love love LOVED that he was unafraid to be vulnerable and open and loving. It’s honestly rare that you get vulnerable male characters in MM at all, let alone a Dom who isn’t a stone-cold billionaire who “learns to love” (not that i don’t also enjoy that story).
I liked the unusual structure of the plot development. Not only the thing where the main character is cheating on his girlfriend, but also that we meet our characters after they’d been fucking for 8 months already. It was fun to see how much relationship development there was still to explore.
What I didn’t understand: Jesse. Despite living in his head, or maybe because of that, I really didn’t understand Jesse’s motivations or likes or dislikes or drives or really anything that makes him tick. He kept saying or doing things that I didn’t see coming and didn’t know how to fit to the character that I’d built in my head… which made me realize that I really just didn’t know Jesse well at all. He carried on a BDSM relationship for like, 5 years with two different people behind his girlfriend’s back and we never really got his explanation or motivation for that, nor did he ever really deal with the consequences of that decision. He never expressed guilt, or defensiveness, or tried to justify his behavior, or explain this behavior to himself or other people… nor did we get the sense that he was particularly cut off or detached from himself in a way that would allow for the kind of extreme compartmentalization that would have to occur for someone to live a double life deliberately for THAT long. We also never got the sense that he was a particularly self-absorbed person, despite the fact that he went home with WELTS ON HIS ASS and just, expected his girlfriend wouldn’t notice?? Somehow??? Like, he’s clearly very self-absorbed but it never comes up and it doesn’t become something he has to deal with. He never has to deal with any kind of internal growth, really, despite the whole plot being that he finally breaks apart the double-life he’s lead for half a decade to live and love openly … yeah, there’s some growth that has to happen there, folks.
What I really disliked: the casual homophobia that seemed to be coming from the author. Just small little things that really ticked me off. Oh and the biphobia that goes completely unexamined and unaddressed. I’m all for characters struggling with their sexuality, I get it, that shit’s hard… but what the fuck is Jesse’s problem with being bi?? Why don’t we hear Jesse think or talk about any of his hangups with his sexuality? Why doesn’t Will ever challenge Jesse’s frankly shitty views that he expresses about whether he’s gay or straight (or GOD FORBID bisexual)? We get the impression early on that Jesse is past his queer identity crisis (since he’d been fucking Will for 8 months at this point…. yeah) (altho I should have knows when he said he was “pansexual heteroflexible”… heteroflexible? Really? How many different ways do you have to say “bisexual” without saying bisexual…) but then he’s all like, “I’m not gay! I can’t be gay! I love women!!! Will’s just DIFFERENT doesn’t make me GAY” shut the fuck up Jesse. No one challenges him on this. We never see him struggle with this internally. We never understand WHY he's struggling with his identity. We never get a moment of "it's okay, you can take your time to understand yourself but please think about why you hate the idea of being gay so much because that kind of hurts my feelings". (or maybe it's just me. it kind of hurt MY feelings.) The author let him get away with this bullshit for the whole book and I hated it.
Jesse “teases” Will for living in a gay neighborhood, and there’s a flavor of “we’re not THOSE gays” to some of their interactions with their straight friends… of which Will seems to have a lot… in fact, Will had no gay friends at all… ???
Oh yeah and they get hate crimed the literal first time they go out in public to a gay bar. Of course. (No wonder Will has no gay friends… gay people can’t go outside without being heckled! How could I forget!) And Jesse tried to beat them up?? (Another wtf is this character moment) And then Will is all like “lol I can tell you’re new at being gay” as if gay people get hate crimed at gay bars so much we’re all just, jaded and immune to the indignity of it? And have no time for compassion for someone experiencing homophobia for the first time? (Obvs violent homophobia is real and a daily concern for many, and everyone deals with it differently… and also, we’re not all getting garbage thrown at us every time we leave the house, contrary to what straight people might think… particularly in a gay neighborhood in Seattle…. and also also, we’re not all jaded about being yelled at by homophobes, that shit is fucking terrifying no matter how many times it happens…)
And overall I just felt like the author was really straight. Uncomfortably so.
I think this would have been 4 stars but unexamined homophobia really grinds my gears. What can I say, I’m a generous reviewer.
I liked the unusual structure of the plot development. Not only the thing where the main character is cheating on his girlfriend, but also that we meet our characters after they’d been fucking for 8 months already. It was fun to see how much relationship development there was still to explore.
What I didn’t understand: Jesse. Despite living in his head, or maybe because of that, I really didn’t understand Jesse’s motivations or likes or dislikes or drives or really anything that makes him tick. He kept saying or doing things that I didn’t see coming and didn’t know how to fit to the character that I’d built in my head… which made me realize that I really just didn’t know Jesse well at all. He carried on a BDSM relationship for like, 5 years with two different people behind his girlfriend’s back and we never really got his explanation or motivation for that, nor did he ever really deal with the consequences of that decision. He never expressed guilt, or defensiveness, or tried to justify his behavior, or explain this behavior to himself or other people… nor did we get the sense that he was particularly cut off or detached from himself in a way that would allow for the kind of extreme compartmentalization that would have to occur for someone to live a double life deliberately for THAT long. We also never got the sense that he was a particularly self-absorbed person, despite the fact that he went home with WELTS ON HIS ASS and just, expected his girlfriend wouldn’t notice?? Somehow??? Like, he’s clearly very self-absorbed but it never comes up and it doesn’t become something he has to deal with. He never has to deal with any kind of internal growth, really, despite the whole plot being that he finally breaks apart the double-life he’s lead for half a decade to live and love openly … yeah, there’s some growth that has to happen there, folks.
What I really disliked: the casual homophobia that seemed to be coming from the author. Just small little things that really ticked me off. Oh and the biphobia that goes completely unexamined and unaddressed. I’m all for characters struggling with their sexuality, I get it, that shit’s hard… but what the fuck is Jesse’s problem with being bi?? Why don’t we hear Jesse think or talk about any of his hangups with his sexuality? Why doesn’t Will ever challenge Jesse’s frankly shitty views that he expresses about whether he’s gay or straight (or GOD FORBID bisexual)? We get the impression early on that Jesse is past his queer identity crisis (since he’d been fucking Will for 8 months at this point…. yeah) (altho I should have knows when he said he was “pansexual heteroflexible”… heteroflexible? Really? How many different ways do you have to say “bisexual” without saying bisexual…) but then he’s all like, “I’m not gay! I can’t be gay! I love women!!! Will’s just DIFFERENT doesn’t make me GAY” shut the fuck up Jesse. No one challenges him on this. We never see him struggle with this internally. We never understand WHY he's struggling with his identity. We never get a moment of "it's okay, you can take your time to understand yourself but please think about why you hate the idea of being gay so much because that kind of hurts my feelings". (or maybe it's just me. it kind of hurt MY feelings.) The author let him get away with this bullshit for the whole book and I hated it.
Jesse “teases” Will for living in a gay neighborhood, and there’s a flavor of “we’re not THOSE gays” to some of their interactions with their straight friends… of which Will seems to have a lot… in fact, Will had no gay friends at all… ???
Oh yeah and they get hate crimed the literal first time they go out in public to a gay bar. Of course. (No wonder Will has no gay friends… gay people can’t go outside without being heckled! How could I forget!) And Jesse tried to beat them up?? (Another wtf is this character moment) And then Will is all like “lol I can tell you’re new at being gay” as if gay people get hate crimed at gay bars so much we’re all just, jaded and immune to the indignity of it? And have no time for compassion for someone experiencing homophobia for the first time? (Obvs violent homophobia is real and a daily concern for many, and everyone deals with it differently… and also, we’re not all getting garbage thrown at us every time we leave the house, contrary to what straight people might think… particularly in a gay neighborhood in Seattle…. and also also, we’re not all jaded about being yelled at by homophobes, that shit is fucking terrifying no matter how many times it happens…)
And overall I just felt like the author was really straight. Uncomfortably so.
I think this would have been 4 stars but unexamined homophobia really grinds my gears. What can I say, I’m a generous reviewer.
June 13, 2017
This was a very enjoyable read. I loved all the characters, and the relationship between Will and Jesse was hot. The only reason for not giving it 5 stars was I hated the way Jesse ended his relationship with Adele.
September 20, 2017
1st read Nov 2011
re read Sept 2017
one that does actually stand up to the eating I have it 6 years ago
re read Sept 2017
one that does actually stand up to the eating I have it 6 years ago
February 28, 2016
Such a sweet story. REALLY enjoyed it.
November 17, 2018
4.5 stars!
Scorching hot, lovely yet realistic characters and a refeshing storyline within its genre.
Scorching hot, lovely yet realistic characters and a refeshing storyline within its genre.
July 6, 2024
Toujours aussi bon à chaque relecture, j'adore les 2 personnages, je les trouve magnifiques, tout comme leur relation. Les scènes bdsm sont top, leurs moments en tant que couple aussi, on ressent l'amour qu' ils se portent mais ils doivent procéder à des ajustements, communiquer pour avancer dans leur relation.
Ils sont vraiment parmi mes couples préférés, à lire et relire sans modération !!!
Ils sont vraiment parmi mes couples préférés, à lire et relire sans modération !!!
October 17, 2012
I've read a good amount of m/m BDSM; some of it has been utter shit, some ok-but-I-won't-bother-rereading-or-even-remembering-tomorrow, some really good. Thus far only two have hit 5 star level; Another Way is one of those two.
This kept popping up on recommendation lists, but I kept saying "no thanks" because I really hate the idea of love triangles (stopped watching soap operas for a reason...), and I'm not fond of girlie bits in my m/m. The blurb indicates both, but I was pleasantly surprised in how those things actually played out in the book, and I f-loved it.
So we have Jesse who has been dating Adele for 5 years, but 3ish years ago he realized he was a submissive who also knew there was no way in hell Adele would ever go for that, so he hooked up with a female Domme (she's married, her husband accepts her need to Domme but places limits on the sexual parts); she gets pregnant and steps out of the lifestyle for the duration. She introduces Jesse to Will thinking they would be a good fit in a D/s capacity, but Jesse had never been with a guy or even thought about it. He and Will did seem to hit it off, so they spent 2 weeks together full-time one-on-one (and boy do I wish this had been shown instead of told after the fact) in which they learn that they are completely compatible. We learn about this as the story goes along since, when the story opens, Jesse and Will have been meeting for sessions pretty regularly for a year-ish.
Will admits to having feelings for Jesse beyond their current relationship; Jesse also has feelings, but he has this whole other life and really cares about his longtime girlfriend, so he wants to take time to think and do what's best for everyone if possible. The first half of the book is Jesse working these things through and making the changes necessary to move forward. The second half is Will and Jesse figuring out how to navigate the two portions of their relationship since neither of them are interested in master/slave or 24/7 BDSM; being full-time boyfriends as well as part-time Dom/sub means they have even more to work through ; when the lines get blurred they adjust the bedroom vs playroom boundaries so they both feel comfortable and confident with where things stand. They both have adjustments to make, and issues do arise; amazingly enough they talk these things through rather than letting them escalate into huge misunderstandings; Will mentions that open communication is one part of their D/s "rules" that has to carry over into their daily lives, and I fully agree with him. They are used to learning boundaries and talking things out when those boundaries are pushed too far in the playroom, and they make that work for them OUTside of the playroom, too.
Jesse and Will are clear examples of how wonderful love and relationships can be when BOTH partners are committed to being willing to talk things through and compromise. They're beautiful together.
This kept popping up on recommendation lists, but I kept saying "no thanks" because I really hate the idea of love triangles (stopped watching soap operas for a reason...), and I'm not fond of girlie bits in my m/m. The blurb indicates both, but I was pleasantly surprised in how those things actually played out in the book, and I f-loved it.
So we have Jesse who has been dating Adele for 5 years, but 3ish years ago he realized he was a submissive who also knew there was no way in hell Adele would ever go for that, so he hooked up with a female Domme (she's married, her husband accepts her need to Domme but places limits on the sexual parts); she gets pregnant and steps out of the lifestyle for the duration. She introduces Jesse to Will thinking they would be a good fit in a D/s capacity, but Jesse had never been with a guy or even thought about it. He and Will did seem to hit it off, so they spent 2 weeks together full-time one-on-one (and boy do I wish this had been shown instead of told after the fact) in which they learn that they are completely compatible. We learn about this as the story goes along since, when the story opens, Jesse and Will have been meeting for sessions pretty regularly for a year-ish.
Will admits to having feelings for Jesse beyond their current relationship; Jesse also has feelings, but he has this whole other life and really cares about his longtime girlfriend, so he wants to take time to think and do what's best for everyone if possible. The first half of the book is Jesse working these things through and making the changes necessary to move forward. The second half is Will and Jesse figuring out how to navigate the two portions of their relationship since neither of them are interested in master/slave or 24/7 BDSM; being full-time boyfriends as well as part-time Dom/sub means they have even more to work through ; when the lines get blurred they adjust the bedroom vs playroom boundaries so they both feel comfortable and confident with where things stand. They both have adjustments to make, and issues do arise; amazingly enough they talk these things through rather than letting them escalate into huge misunderstandings; Will mentions that open communication is one part of their D/s "rules" that has to carry over into their daily lives, and I fully agree with him. They are used to learning boundaries and talking things out when those boundaries are pushed too far in the playroom, and they make that work for them OUTside of the playroom, too.
Jesse and Will are clear examples of how wonderful love and relationships can be when BOTH partners are committed to being willing to talk things through and compromise. They're beautiful together.
January 31, 2016
Note: This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
Note: the rating on this story was definitely negatively affected by the narration by Brad Langer.
Jesse Ross has been in a relationship with his college sweetheart, Adele, for about five years. According to Jesse, what they have in no way impacts his D/s relationship with his Dom, Will, in the same way that it wasn’t impacted by his first Domme, Laura.
And yet, it does. Because Will is in love with Jesse, but Jesse doesn’t see it even when Will asks him to be his partner. For most of the beginning of the story, Jesse kept worrying about how he could possibly break up with Adele without hurting her feelings. In the meantime, he was having sex with Will as part of his scenes with him. He did not see that as cheating, simply as fulfilling a need in the D/s relationship.
In fact, for much of the first half of the book, Jesse didn’t even identify as gay or bisexual, but it became harder and harder to be with Adele, and he and Will spent more time together over and above doing scenes. And poor Will wanted Jesse, but wouldn’t create a problem between Jesse and Adele.
I was so glad when Jesse and Adele finally spoke and he found out that she was also seeing someone so he could easily break up with her. But, to be honest, I wanted to smack him in the head long before that. His sex with Will wasn’t viewed as cheating by anyone other than Adele, and she didn’t really make a big deal about it because she was seeing someone else too. I generally avoid books with infidelity, so it would have been good if the story had been tagged that way.
The story itself was quite mellow, with the two men finding their way in the relationship, finally deciding to live together, getting to meet each other’s friends, and eventually talking about a permanent commitment. There weren’t any major struggles, nor were there any dangerous moments, and I found much of the D/s scenes quite bland in comparison to others I’ve read. This may be closer to an ordinary D/s lifestyle, or not, I certainly don’t know. It’s just that it was very vanilla to read, or listen to, as I did with the audiobook version.
Speaking of the audiobook version, I did not like the narrator’s voice at all. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I won’t pick up an audiobook narrated by Brad Langer again. His delivery of the non-narrative segments was very flowery and sing-song and reminded me of an old schoolmarm trying to emote as she read to her elementary class. Had I not chosen this audiobook for review, I would have DNF’d it. That being said, I would have picked up the e-book and finished the story that way because the story itself wasn’t bad. I’m giving 1 star for the narration and 3 for the story, I hate to knock an author’s rating down too far for a poor narrator so on the review site, I gave it 2.5 stars.
I would recommend the story to those who like a mild BDSM, D/s story, but I definitely do not recommend the audiobook version.
Note: the rating on this story was definitely negatively affected by the narration by Brad Langer.
Jesse Ross has been in a relationship with his college sweetheart, Adele, for about five years. According to Jesse, what they have in no way impacts his D/s relationship with his Dom, Will, in the same way that it wasn’t impacted by his first Domme, Laura.
And yet, it does. Because Will is in love with Jesse, but Jesse doesn’t see it even when Will asks him to be his partner. For most of the beginning of the story, Jesse kept worrying about how he could possibly break up with Adele without hurting her feelings. In the meantime, he was having sex with Will as part of his scenes with him. He did not see that as cheating, simply as fulfilling a need in the D/s relationship.
In fact, for much of the first half of the book, Jesse didn’t even identify as gay or bisexual, but it became harder and harder to be with Adele, and he and Will spent more time together over and above doing scenes. And poor Will wanted Jesse, but wouldn’t create a problem between Jesse and Adele.
I was so glad when Jesse and Adele finally spoke and he found out that she was also seeing someone so he could easily break up with her. But, to be honest, I wanted to smack him in the head long before that. His sex with Will wasn’t viewed as cheating by anyone other than Adele, and she didn’t really make a big deal about it because she was seeing someone else too. I generally avoid books with infidelity, so it would have been good if the story had been tagged that way.
The story itself was quite mellow, with the two men finding their way in the relationship, finally deciding to live together, getting to meet each other’s friends, and eventually talking about a permanent commitment. There weren’t any major struggles, nor were there any dangerous moments, and I found much of the D/s scenes quite bland in comparison to others I’ve read. This may be closer to an ordinary D/s lifestyle, or not, I certainly don’t know. It’s just that it was very vanilla to read, or listen to, as I did with the audiobook version.
Speaking of the audiobook version, I did not like the narrator’s voice at all. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I won’t pick up an audiobook narrated by Brad Langer again. His delivery of the non-narrative segments was very flowery and sing-song and reminded me of an old schoolmarm trying to emote as she read to her elementary class. Had I not chosen this audiobook for review, I would have DNF’d it. That being said, I would have picked up the e-book and finished the story that way because the story itself wasn’t bad. I’m giving 1 star for the narration and 3 for the story, I hate to knock an author’s rating down too far for a poor narrator so on the review site, I gave it 2.5 stars.
I would recommend the story to those who like a mild BDSM, D/s story, but I definitely do not recommend the audiobook version.
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