A Hearts On Fire Review

THREE HEARTS--You know how Bazooka Joe bubble gum came with the comics attached? I used to love those, it was a comic for 5 cents. Do they still make those? *searches on ye old internet* Yes, they still do! The reason why I liked those comics back then was because I was 1) a kid and 2) was on a budget. So they amused me. A comic book would rock but this is all you got - a page of funnies.

Anyway, this was like reading a BDSM Bazooka Joe bubble gum comic.

(See, I had a point.)

Long story short - this should have been at least a novella. Too many awesome topics/ideas, too condensed, not enough impact.

This is the first in a series, I don't know if it will continue with the same couple or a new one. It's a cool concept.

This short story had a LOT of my go to things that I love: GINGER TWINK RENT BOY (*squees*), abused, raped, damaged MC, an orphan MC, hurt/comfort, a care-taking Dom, flogging, PUBLIC SEX. Oh, this was a jackpot in the topic department.

But the rushed suspense, too quick ILY...*smh* And was this set in America present time? Because if this was alternate universe, I'll bump my rating to maybe a half star. Since the tags state contemporary, it sticks. What was with the weird police chief villain? Or the unresolved ending to the abuse/kidnap/non-con (off page)?

Wil is a Dom looking for a permanent boy. He likes gingers (can't fault the man for taste) and sees his one true boy in Aiden Murphy, a ginger twink who has a rough life and had to resort to tricking to survive. (insert my happy grin here). Wil got chills seeing his future boy and how untrained he was. He had t scoop him up and fuck him for all to see he's been claimed. But there was a problem - the evil police chief-wanna be Dom. He steals Aiden and forces him into sex slavery.

I hope the author was trying to teach about SSC BDSM with the errors in the way Aiden was treated this because the way Aiden said he didn't have a safe word - made me pause. And the reptition about the Rules. I got the message - it could've been toned down for me a little.

Wil did a good job of taking care of Aiden when he could though the last scene? Shouldn't have happened the night the boy just returned in his arms. Too quick. Ruined the experience. If it kept it light, nixed the villain and just focused on training the resistant twink who didn't know he was a sub? I'd have eat this story up. As it was, I didn't. I enjoyed the main elements but wished this was longer -too dense for a Romance-on-the-Go.

I'd try out the next one in the series, for a look see. The sex scenes sizzled." ( )

I purchased this book several years ago at a used book store and am sorry I wasted my money. I find The Rules to be one of the silliest books I have ever read on relationships. In reading over these recommended man-catching "techniques" I am struck by how shallow and unintelligent these authors judge men to be. I find it hard to believe that most men serious about finding someone to spend their life with would be taken in by such foolishness. One rule is "Don't call call him and rarely return his calls". Many of us are raised to understand that not returning a phone call is simply rude behavior and not a decision likely to lead to lasting love. Much of the "advice" offered in The Rules was personally embarrassing for me to read as I imagined myself putting some of these rules into practice. The reader is encouraged to engage in unnatural behaviors that are unlikely to foster authenticity or respect in any relationship. My advice to anyone picking up The Rules is read it for a few good laughs,then throw it out, go on that date and just be yourself. ( )

This is a book of rules for women to follow - women who want to meet and marry Mr. Right. The basic concept is to let the man take the lead - and don't make him your whole world. Be a busy, happy person; be your OWN person apart from your guy. Many modern women roll their eyes at some of the rules listed here. They say The Rules are silly - why can't a woman pursue her man? It's the 2000's for crying out loud! However, I think the ideas in this book are beneficial to women if applied correctly. If you follow the rules in this book you will be protecting yourself from a great deal of heartbreak. There's a chapter in here about friendship as well, not just romance. Many women (myself included) give WAY too much in our relationships and end up feeling hurt and used. This book helps us to give the most effort to those in our lives who have shown they truly love us. ( )

If all you want to do is catch a husband, then this is the book for you. If you want a true, loving relationship of equals, run in the other direction, now!

The book's advice is to essentially not really get to know the true self of the man in your life before fully and totally committing to him. If you've only had 10-minute phone conversations with the guy and have only seen him once a week, how can you really know whether you two are deeply compatible? They seem to think that as long as he proposes to you, you have it made. Supposedly, staying "mysterious" will make him treat you like a delicate flower and will prevent him from abusing you, but old-fashioned notions behind The Rules never prevented abuse --- the opposite is probably true. Essentially, their strategy is acting your way into a relationship; they have a book for after you get married, but acting one's way through life is not something everyone wants, even if that snags them a husband. Maybe The Rules are great for "catching and holding" a man, but there's no way to know whether or not that man happens to be right for you. That's the crux of the problem with this book: it assumes that the best possible outcome is always a marriage. The mindset is similar to the mindset of traditional societies in that marriage is viewed as the best alternative for a woman, without a thought to her compatibility with the man. Not once does the book talk about how much you like a man being a factor in whether or not to exact a commitment from him.

(And no, I am not bitter and single. I am in a committed relationship and on track towards a marriage.) ( )

Just another desperate attempt at trying to save my marriage. It failed -- the attempt and the marriage. ( )