scrow1022's review against another edition
5.0
I find it funny that people chose to read this based on the kink, somehow that escaped me in the descriptions. But I'll read anything by Avon Gale.
This was similar in pacing to the Scoring Chances books, and there was some similar character dynamics. But there was more at stake here. More opportunity for things to go wrong (especially since they did not know what they were doing when they started), which meant it was all the more lovely when they did manage to communicate and to change.
Love seeing an extrovert take care of their introvert.
It was interesting to only get Avery's perspective, but I admired the sly ways we managed to see Malin from other perspectives.
Another relationship that would have gone nowhere but for the intervention of friends. Advice, more in this case, and I liked seeing how Avery remembered that advice at opportune moments.
One review I saw said something about how the breath-play and pain stopped at a certain point in the relationship but I don't think that's true, we just didn't need to see it. That's one thing I like about her books - the sex that's depicted always serves a purpose in expressing what is going on in the relationship. I'm more than happy to read explicit descriptions of sex but it needs to have a reason to be on the page. There are so many tender (or hot, or otherwise significant) moments expressed in just a quick sentence and I admire and appreciate that about her writing. That's why I end up reading and rereading her books, this one included.
This was similar in pacing to the Scoring Chances books, and there was some similar character dynamics. But there was more at stake here. More opportunity for things to go wrong (especially since they did not know what they were doing when they started), which meant it was all the more lovely when they did manage to communicate and to change.
Love seeing an extrovert take care of their introvert.
It was interesting to only get Avery's perspective, but I admired the sly ways we managed to see Malin from other perspectives.
Another relationship that would have gone nowhere but for the intervention of friends. Advice, more in this case, and I liked seeing how Avery remembered that advice at opportune moments.
One review I saw said something about how the breath-play and pain stopped at a certain point in the relationship but I don't think that's true, we just didn't need to see it. That's one thing I like about her books - the sex that's depicted always serves a purpose in expressing what is going on in the relationship. I'm more than happy to read explicit descriptions of sex but it needs to have a reason to be on the page. There are so many tender (or hot, or otherwise significant) moments expressed in just a quick sentence and I admire and appreciate that about her writing. That's why I end up reading and rereading her books, this one included.
queenofswordsandwords's review
4.0
this is a tough one to rate because it was highly readable but one of the mcs is behaving horribly for most of the book and his past trauma doesn't excuse his actions.
they enter a weirdly toxic sexual relationship with bdsm elements with no safety protocols and one of the mcs gets hurts (emotionally and physically) and does all the work of trying to make this connexion they have into an official relationship where they get to know each other.
so i enjoyed the ride but i needed some sort of groveling instead of a tragic backstory.
CW : death of a spouse and a child, impact play with no previous training or knowledge that went too far (i'm not quite sure how to explain this)
they enter a weirdly toxic sexual relationship with bdsm elements with no safety protocols and one of the mcs gets hurts (emotionally and physically) and does all the work of trying to make this connexion they have into an official relationship where they get to know each other.
so i enjoyed the ride but i needed some sort of groveling instead of a tragic backstory.
CW : death of a spouse and a child, impact play with no previous training or knowledge that went too far (i'm not quite sure how to explain this)
frogy927's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, but I wish there were an extra scene or two at the end to wrap things up. The ending felt kind of abrupt. Also, this felt like the second book in a three book series and I'm sad that it's not. I want to read about Justin and Brandon and Harlan and whoever he ends up with.
tinkcourtney's review against another edition
5.0
Even better the second time
I had mixed feelings about this when I first read it because the guys were getting involved with kink with little idea of what they were doing and even less communication. But you know what? I’m sure that happens sometimes. And what matters here is that they course corrected (with a bump or two along the way) and figured out what was right for them. Also, Avery is freaking hilarious and I adore him.
I had mixed feelings about this when I first read it because the guys were getting involved with kink with little idea of what they were doing and even less communication. But you know what? I’m sure that happens sometimes. And what matters here is that they course corrected (with a bump or two along the way) and figured out what was right for them. Also, Avery is freaking hilarious and I adore him.
kiki124's review against another edition
4.0
I generally write haiku reviews, but this needs some context. I basically loved it, but the depiction of BDSM was super fraught.
Though Avery’s friends were concerned and the things wrong with the kink were raised, the MCs didn’t ever really talk about what they wanted or needed. A thanksgiving trip excavated Malin’s past, and then… everything was okay? Yeah, no.
Kink books, especially ones with sketchy reps, often have a “don’t try this at home” disclaimer. This one didn’t, and it really needed one.
Urgent present tense.
Malin’s a bad boyfriend; but
Avery’s in love.
Spoiler
Malin was angry and he beat Avery up, over and over again, in order to take out his rage and grief. No aftercare. No equality. No power exchange.Though Avery’s friends were concerned and the things wrong with the kink were raised, the MCs didn’t ever really talk about what they wanted or needed. A thanksgiving trip excavated Malin’s past, and then… everything was okay? Yeah, no.
Kink books, especially ones with sketchy reps, often have a “don’t try this at home” disclaimer. This one didn’t, and it really needed one.
Urgent present tense.
Malin’s a bad boyfriend; but
Avery’s in love.
ezichinny's review against another edition
3.0
The narrator of this audiobook had a pleasant voice to and the story was well written. I just didn’t connect with the main characters here so it was hard for me to feel invested with their love story.
Avery Hextall was a junior architect who seemed to have all his design proposals passed over by his project manager Malin Lacroix. What made Malin’s rejection of Avery’s ideas worse was that Avery found Malin so attractive but Malin seemed to barely notice Avery.
When a breakthrough at work leads Malin to choose Avery’s business proposal, it led to personal connection between the two men. Soon, Avery and Malin began having secret encounters. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy their hookups. Without being judgmental, their kinky sex life didn’t convey pleasure to me, but it obviously met a need for the both of them as they kept finding their way back to each other.
Avery was in his head way too much for me. He seemed like he had self confidence in the beginning, but he was a ball on insecurity. Of course, he had to fall for an emotionally aloof Malin. I liked Avery a little bit, but I never warmed up to Malin. Even there was an explanation for Malin's attitude, Malin was just a closed off and robotic in action. I didn’t feel pulled into the story and I cringed during their sexual encounters. While I didn’t “feel the love”, the author was very descriptive and the pace was good. It didn’t resonate with me as I need more of an emotional connection in my love stories.
I am glad that I have read other works by this author so I know she is a great storyteller. The last 30% of the audiobook was much better but I never warmed to the characters.
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
cmira2027's review
5.0
Wow
Ok, I really really loved this book. I now have to read everything else Avon Gale has written. Highly recommended.
Ok, I really really loved this book. I now have to read everything else Avon Gale has written. Highly recommended.
suze_1624's review
4.0
Somewhere between 3.5 & 4* for me.
The early part of the story is mixed - we have Avery who is 30+ going on about 12, feisty, uncontrollable, fun and Malin who is dour, standoffish, basic the opposite of Avery. Their initial comings together are concerning in that they both seem out of control. It all seemed too spontaneous and I didn't get a feel either knew what they wanted or how. Could see how this situation could turn bad really quickly.
Luckily Avery has good friends who get the brakes put on things a bit giving Avery and Malin time to regroup. This middle part was still a bit odd in the feels as Avery is generally gung ho about the relationship but Malin remains a closed book.
It is like Tigger and Eeyore dating!
Eventually Malin bends slightly but I didn't ever get a real feel for how he feels about Avery, despite his tragic past and the hopeful words at the end.
The writing was as good as previous Avon Gale's I've read and there was a little bit of hockey in there!
The early part of the story is mixed - we have Avery who is 30+ going on about 12, feisty, uncontrollable, fun and Malin who is dour, standoffish, basic the opposite of Avery. Their initial comings together are concerning in that they both seem out of control
Spoiler
and not just because of the beltLuckily Avery has good friends who get the brakes put on things a bit giving Avery and Malin time to regroup. This middle part was still a bit odd in the feels as Avery is generally gung ho about the relationship but Malin remains a closed book.
It is like Tigger and Eeyore dating!
Eventually Malin bends slightly but I didn't ever get a real feel for how he feels about Avery, despite his tragic past and the hopeful words at the end.
The writing was as good as previous Avon Gale's I've read and there was a little bit of hockey in there!
___tamara___'s review against another edition
4.0
Re-read July 2021
I always like to read a book where I don't necessarily like or get one or both of the MCs, but am still invested in the couple, as was the case here. I didn't really get Avery, and he was kind of annoying but also likeable, and I really didn't like Malin and his behavior . But I always like Avon Gale's writing and she did some kind of magic here that made me root for these guys despite all of this.
I always like to read a book where I don't necessarily like or get one or both of the MCs, but am still invested in the couple, as was the case here. I didn't really get Avery, and he was kind of annoying but also likeable
Spoiler
(I especially didn't get where the feeling he's not good enough came from)Spoiler
even though I felt for him after hearing about his wifepinkeyes's review
4.0
4/5 Oh boy Avery was hilarious and that's why I'm raising it from my initial 3.5 to 4. He's amazing. Someone I would genuinely like to be friends with.
Him falling in love with Malin was not very convincing at first, but as I think about it, someone as open and introverted as Avery would probably love someone who isn't like him at all, especially since he doesn't like himself (I want to shake him! You're so lovable, you fool).
Something heartbreaking, to me as a reader, is how it seems like Malin will never really love Avery as much as he loved/loves his first wife and how Avery, bless his heart, seems totally okay with it.
I didn't expect Malin to have such a sob background story and in theory it would've been an eye-roll but I think the author handled it well. The only real problem is that it was too short!
Him falling in love with Malin was not very convincing at first, but as I think about it, someone as open and introverted as Avery would probably love someone who isn't like him at all, especially since he doesn't like himself (I want to shake him! You're so lovable, you fool).
Something heartbreaking, to me as a reader, is how it seems like Malin will never really love Avery as much as he loved/loves his first wife and how Avery, bless his heart, seems totally okay with it.
I didn't expect Malin to have such a sob background story and in theory it would've been an eye-roll but I think the author handled it well. The only real problem is that it was too short!