L.M. SomertonBesprekingen

Hurry on book two please.

I've given this a fair go but this isn't what I would consider mild BDSM.
I'm afraid I've reached my limit.
DNF 53%

This is the first book I've read by this author. Well let me just say that i loved it. There is just something about the style that draws me in and keeps me from putting the book down.

Perfect? Well, no. There are some bits floating around that I found less than than fantastic and there is a definite touch of insta-love in there as well, but overall the characters felt real and were interesting. And I'm a sucker for a bratty sub lol.

I've given this a fair go but this isn't what I would consider mild BDSM.
I'm afraid I've reached my limit.
DNF 53%

The third instalment in this series. It just keeps on going as strong as ever.

Here it's mainly about Carey and Alistair. I say mainly, because I'm a little surprised how much there was in there of Joe and Olley and Heath and Aiden.

Carey and Alistair aren't a new couple like the previous books. They have an established relationship, although Carey has never collared his sub. The reasons for this are a little unclear, and I never got the reply I wanted in the book either. But that is a minor niggle in the end.

I can't wait to read more about this group of guys. I hope there are more in the works, because there are some more stories there that are begging to be told.

This is Heath's story. Again, there is a definite touch of insta-love, but in this case it's tempered by professional distance for someone under his care. I'll admit I liked that touch1

Joe and Olly have a part to play in this book as well. I was a little disturbed how Olly's character has changed in this book however. In his own book (book 1) he was portrayed as a bratty submissive, who had been to hell and back again, but had a hidden strength that made him who he was. In this book Olley can across as a ditzy blond...as I said, a bit disappointing.

However, the book itself was again engaging, with sexy MC's and another twist in the storyline.

The Lucky Cat is thrilling and hot. I absolutely LOVED this book! It's the right mix of thriller and sex. You immediately fall in love with Landry and Gage. They're absolutely perfect for each other, and you can't help but hold your breath a little when Landry accidentally steps into the line of fire. Highly recommend, I would rate higher if I could.

I am a fan of L.M. Somerton and was excited by the chance to review this book, especially since I enjoyed Rasputin’s Kiss – while not absolutely necessary, reading that first will help give you a better understanding of Alex and Conor’s backstory.

The book picks up 4 months after the events of Rasputin’s Kiss; Conor is still living with Alex, recovering from his ordeal at the hands of the serial killer. Connor has been given the green light to go back to work and will as soon as he and Alex return from a well-earned vacation in Cornwall. Alex and Conor have an interesting relationship; forced into pretending to be lovers as part of an undercover investigation, their attraction to each other grew and their undercover relationship became real. Alex is a Dom and Conor his submissive though he still has trouble understanding his need to submit to Alex.

Read the full review on Love Bytes

3.5 another solid addition to the series

3.5

Take two stubborn men, both of whom carry wounds from the past, put them into a remote area with lots of mountains and bad weather, make sure they're attracted to each other from the first, and you have the setting for 'Mountain Rescue'. Both Cal and Ford have a hard time in this book as they get to know each other, but the things Cal goes through are just gruesome. Not that he lets it bother himself too much, but I have to be honest and say they bothered me. It does make for a rather exciting story, and adding the chemistry between the two main characters makes it quite the intense roller coaster ride.

Cal is a great guy. He is a writer who spends a lot of time by himself, and he's just lost his entire family (parents and an aunt) in a car accident. Moving to the Lake District to take over his aunt's house is supposed to be a new beginning for him, and he definitely needs it. But when he meets Ford, the owner of a mountain equipment shop, his life is right back in turmoil again. But that is only the start. Physical hardship, pain, and stress follow to the point that anyone less determined than Cal would give up.

Ford is tough, dominant, and determined to make Cal "his". He's also been hurt, but it seemed to me that only made him tougher. Some of the things he does to Cal (like the scene with the leather belt) may get them both going, but they made me cringe. Loving and considerate he is not! Yes, he is protective and comes to Cal's rescue, but let me warn you, he is a man who is not easy to like.

If you like reading about tough men who battle out their differences as they fall for each other, if you enjoy stories where one man just discovers he's a submissive and takes his first steps into a new direction, and if you're looking for a hot read with lots of action and adventure and not too much emotion, you will probably like this book.


NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

This anthology of six stories about horses and the men who love them is a great collection of sweet romances, funny tales, and dark-ish mysteries. Some are set in the past, some in the present, but all focus on the sometimes unpredictable ways in which love manifests in men’s lives. You’ll find soft romances as well as hot trysts and everything in between in the pages of this anthology whose royalties from the publisher will be donated to Cancer Research UK and Prospect Hospice in memory of Peter Laybourn, husband of Pride Publishing editor, Sue.

The Lonely Ones by Bailey Bradford
This story starts with a bang – literally – when Marshall arrives at the ranch he unexpectedly inherited from his estranged grandfather only to find Rex, the man who has been running it for the last five years, yelling at him for trespassing. Sparks fly as the men battle it out, but there is a lot more to what has happened than a simple misunderstanding.

Marshall and Rex are opposites in many ways. Marshall is a city by, Rex is a cowboy. Marshall has an education and is a software developer; Rex has worked hard for a ranch he has been told he will inherit. Both men are stubborn and honorable, and more attracted to each other than should be legal. Their dance around each other as they begin to find out more about what makes the other man tick is very entertaining and definitely hot!

If you like city versus country stories, if you enjoy a bit of a fight before all the loving begins, and if you’re looking for a read that is as hot as it is short, then you will probably like this short story.

Racing for Home by Morticia Knight
Set on a horse-breeding farm in the early 20th century, this story is an initially heartbreaking tale of a young groom, Charlie, and the estate holder’s son, Edward. They love each other deeply, but can’t be together openly in a time when sodomy laws made same-sex love a potentially life-threatening offense. Edward left the estate to get married - as his father demanded - three years earlier, and Charlie almost didn’t survive. Taking care of Shadow, a horse he considers his since it was rejected by Edward’s father as “unsuitable to be a racehorse”, was Charlie’s only reason to stick around.

Then Edward returns, newly divorced, and is determined to win back Charlie’s heart. As sad as Charlie still is, he never stopped loving Edward and manages to forgive him. They believe they can, at least, live a life of secret meetings after dark like they did before. But everything is not as it should be at the estate, and Edward makes some shocking discoveries about his father’s management of affairs. Edward comes up with a plan to get them out of the mess his father has created, but the real challenge is Charlie’s ability to trust that this time will be different.

If you like historicals and the challenges men in love faced in the early 20th century, if you want to find out more about two men who are deeply in love but can’t live together openly, and if you’re looking for a read that is emotional, doesn’t look like it could end well for the longest time, and manages to finish in an amazing happy end, then you will probably like this short story as much as I did.

The Secret of Delville Wood by Helena Maeve
Set just after WW1 at an extravagant estate in Sweden, this is a short story about greed, envy, and the dark machinations of people unwilling to risk anyone finding out exactly how they made their money. Its opening pages very effectively pulled me into this dark little mystery – it’s not every day a man’s dead body found shocks me into awareness as to exactly what is going on in a story.

Silas is the narrator of the story, and what follows his discovery of the body is a dizzying examination of each guest at the manor. Most of them have a connection to Delville Woods, the horse belonging to three men, but the exact details remain unclear for a long time. And while Silas is not a detective, he tries to figure out what is going on and who might be the murderer– in the absence of the police who can’t be called due to the telephone not working. He uncovers several layers, suspects a few of the guests, and in the end, when he figures out what has happened, he was about as shocked as I was.

If you like historical settings, if a short murder mystery is to your liking, and if you’re looking for a read filled with interesting characters and dark secrets, then you might like this short story.

Keeping the Luck in by L.M. Somerton
Ahhh, the magic of horseshoes! And a squirrel as the harbinger of bad luck. Then you mix in a young vet and a hunky farrier/blacksmith, and by the time you stir all those ingredients and add a few quirky secondary characters, the resulting story is as entertaining as it is funny. Told in a somewhat sassy, tongue-in-cheek tone, it made me laugh out loud more than once.

Pip may be academically clever, having recently passed his exams to become a vet, but his gaydar and interpersonal skills may need some help. He has admired Rory, the farrier/blacksmith at the stable he’s working at to earn some money for the summer, for a while, but only from afar. Pip cannot believe the well-built man would be interested in him. When one thing leads to another, and both men’s luck runs out, they finally confront what turns out to be a very mutual attraction.

If you like your romance to come with a large side of humor, if you enjoy watching two men who can’t believe the man they admire might be just as interested, and if you’re looking for an entertaining read that is full of quirky characters and interesting coincidences, then you will probably like this short story.

Just my Luck by Ethan Stone
This story begins with two men meeting in a club and bonding over their heights – Kieran, as a jockey, is very short, Sam is extremely tall, and both have been made fun of in the past - before falling into bed with each other. As soon as the initial tryst is over, the tone changes, and it turns out Sam is on a mission to fight crime that has both men reconsider their priorities.

Sam is in town to check the lay of the land, possibly collect evidence for his employer, the FBI. He quickly finds out that Kieran could be an ally, but things are more complicated than that. Loyalties are challenged, principles questioned, and Kieran ends up in more danger than Sam is willing to tolerate. But one thing is certain – neither Sam nor Kieran want to give up a chance at something more.

If you like stories about crime and the people who fight it, if you want to find out how two men who meet by chance deal with the fact that they are potentially on opposite sides of an FBI investigation, and if you’re looking for an action-filled read that is as suspenseful as it is hot, then you might like this short story.

Horses and Harleys by Molly Ann Wishlade
Getting back in the saddle after a disappointment isn’t always easy. This story focuses on two men who have both dealt with loss and decided to keep their hearts under lock and key from now on. The problem is that, once they meet, that is no longer the easy option. In fact, the longer they know each other, the harder it is to resist temptation.

Henry may be a successful businessman, but he is lonely. After losing his lover, he has gone for one-night stands, and that was fine until he is tempted by his new groom, Alex. Alex has lost his mother, was deceived by a previous lover, and has decided to begin a new life – working with horses – and ignore men. Needless to say, when he meets Henry, his new boss and falls for him almost immediately, resisting becomes close to impossible. But it takes a real crisis and Henry overcoming more than one fear for both men to realize that what they have found should not be wasted.

If you like sweet romances starring reluctant heroes, if two men who have both lost lovers – in different ways – sound interesting, and if you’re looking for a read with a message of hope, then you might like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

THREE & A HALF HEARTS--Stroke Rate" by L.M. Somerton started strong and ended...less strong. There's kink galore in this novella with a Cinderfella feel. But a good story is not kink alone no matter fun toys Lucien takes to play. Lucien, Lord Thorne, is twenty-five years old, demanding, possessive, kinkily delicious and has his eyes set on shy, twenty-one year old English major, Ben. Ben works at the local rowing club as a maintenance man of sorts for free room and board on club grounds. He has a mean, pervy boss who comes up with demeaning tasks for him to perform. Ben puts up with this mistreatment because he has no other choice. So he cleans, goes to school and rows when he can find the time.



Lucien has been watching/ stalking Ben for six months and finally makes the first move by inviting Ben to be his stand-in rowing partner. Lucien is an Olympic rower, nobility, commanding and arrogant. (I have never read a bad Lucien in any book I've come across. It must be the luck of the name *shrugs*) Lucien takes over Ben, helps him find a undiscovered part of himself and never changed throughout the book.

Is it romantic? Yes, it is a insta-love story but with Lucien learning all there is to know about Ben months prior, it just came across as inevitable. Ben was a decent enough character, I like the shy ones and how kinky they can be with the right partner. But I am averaging out my rating to 3.5 Hearts because there were two separate parts that should be considered before reading this book.

The kink factor? 4 Hearts - Lucien loves his toys and to inflict pleasure filled pain. But it can only carry a story so far. (Can you believe I am saying this?)



Want a preview of most of the toys used? Internally Studded Chastity Device, Wartenberg Wheel, Studded Cock Strap, Riding Crop, Cuffs, Restraints, Nipple Clamps, Gag, Metal Ball Butt Plug [it's put in the freezer]. I mean, Lucien, he likes to play especially if B&D and SM is involved. And who knew Ben was such a pain slut? But you see this brings me to an issue I have.

The story? 3 Hearts and I might begenerous.

There was not enough character development. There were a lot of kink filled scenes and little to no filler to connect them. Ben is virgin, he is pretty much consumed by Lucien, he takes over Ben's life. I have no objections to that but what I had a problem with is the spectacular first time and absolute acquiescence from Ben. He might have put up a weak reluctance at first but I knew who ran that show - Lucien. 1000% Maybe if there was a scene with Ben fantasizing about being dominated prior to having Lucien insert himself into his life, I'd buy it. I barely bought the relationship...just barely.

And you know what else I found a smidge odd? Ben's professor and future boss was Lucien's former teacher/lover and the two discussed Ben before telling Ben pertinent things. And Lucien is super controlling you savvy? He doesn't want any man looking at Ben or touching. So when Ben is assaulted, what does Lucien do? Basically not that much. I thought he would have obliterated the guy but it felt like a hand slap, in my opinion.

I get not putting labels on relationships because if you and your partner have mutual respect, love and trust for one another, fuck it. But was this domestic discipline or D/s? It was an in between sort of mix. Ben never called or referred to Lucien as Master or a Dom but Lucien owned Ben's arse. He took over his life swiftly and smoothly and dealt out punishments like it was going out of style. I wish a side was chosen but *shrugs* it worked for Lucien. Ben too, I think he was just an afterthought at times.



Ben and Lucien...I guess it's a relationship made in kinky, sadomasochistic heaven. ;D

"

Ermm, it seems my luck has run out, because Reaching the Edge is another m/m novel I didn't finish. For me, in an erotic romance novel everything is about chemistry, otherwise I find the sex scenes boring and gratuitous.

Olly, the submissive, goes to a famous London underground BDSM/gay club to look for a new master, after having been brutally raped in a hostage situation. In addition to this incicent, he also has to deal with serious trust issues and mental wounds inflicted by his previous sadist of a master, a cold-blooded egocentric surgeon.

I liked the premises of Reaching the Edge, being a sucker for this kind of plot that basically is all about the healing power of love. My problem with the situation was, that Olly willingly and without real doubts and fears submits to Master Jo, after having him seen for less than an hour and without serious negotiations.

I also might be old-fashioned, but I do like my characters to kiss before they start playing seriously, but especially BEFORE they start talking about a long term relationship and BEFORE the dom knows he has fallen in love with the sub.

There are few romance tropes I love more than a love at first sight story, if, and that's a big if, the author can really sell it to me. I go all mushy reading about the chemistry and sizzle between a couple, the angst and rollercoaster ride, but just sex and a pair of cuffs and other paraphernalia does not make me belive in kismet.

I discontinued the story after reading that Joe has fallen in love with Olly which is nice, but there was nothing previously in the story, besides sex, that warranted those feelings. Sorry, that's a DNF for me.

3.5

3.5