haletostilinski1's review
4.0
I liked this book. I'm not too crazy about BDSM and the main M/M couple is a Dom/Sub relationship, which I wish had been warned about. Not that it would have made me not read - because if done right, I can enjoy BDSM (and this was done right) so I did enjoy it, but for the most part it's not my thing. But kudos to the author for making the D/s relationship riveting despite the weariness it brought me. Because it was, in a way, sprung on me.
Like it starts out as Ev posing nude for Adam and then as they get to know each other and give in to their desire for each other, it just kind of turned into a D/s relationship without even really being talked about, which is one aspect of it that bothered me. It was all consensual and taken eagerly, and there was a certain balance in the unbalanced relationship, but still. When it first went into D/s territory I was like woahhh wth??? A little warning, maybe? That's all. And then at the end after everything Master/slave was introduced too and I was like WTF?? There were "sir's" before but then all of the sudden Ev was calling Adam "Master" and even other Doms around them, like Adam's BFF, Ev called Master. Felt a little out of nowhere.
Also, it really bothered me that they never used condoms, not once - and didn't even discuss whether or not to use them, and even after it was pointed out in the story that they had never used condoms, Ev never brought it up. As much as Adam and Ev love each other by books end, they didn't when they started their relationship, and Ev maybe come from a conservative background but I'm sure even he knows the importance of protection. I wish they had at least gotten tested before they used no condom. And at one point when Ev brings up exclusivity, Adam goes "i wasn't under the impression that we were monogamous" which makes me believe that before Ev asked Adam for exclusivity between them, that Adam would have, maybe, had sex with others, and while he might have used protection with them, how could Ev had known that? Safe sex is extremely important! And I think Adam and Ev know this. So that REALLY frustrated me, that Adam might have had sex with others while having unprotected sex with Ev (not that he does. Neither sleeps with anyone else after they meet each other and especially not after they fall in love - but still).
But overall this was a compelling story and I couldn't put it down - only put it down when I had to - and Ev and Adam's relationship was compelling as well, and if the above two things don't bother you as much as they do me, definitely go for it. Even if they do, I still say go for it, because this a pretty good book.
Some not to so great things happen around the 60% mark but thankfully it doesn't happen for long.
Overall, great book, just has a few nit picky things to rant about.
Like it starts out as Ev posing nude for Adam and then as they get to know each other and give in to their desire for each other, it just kind of turned into a D/s relationship without even really being talked about, which is one aspect of it that bothered me. It was all consensual and taken eagerly, and there was a certain balance in the unbalanced relationship, but still. When it first went into D/s territory I was like woahhh wth??? A little warning, maybe? That's all. And then at the end after everything Master/slave was introduced too and I was like WTF?? There were "sir's" before but then all of the sudden Ev was calling Adam "Master" and even other Doms around them, like Adam's BFF, Ev called Master. Felt a little out of nowhere.
Also, it really bothered me that they never used condoms, not once - and didn't even discuss whether or not to use them, and even after it was pointed out in the story that they had never used condoms, Ev never brought it up. As much as Adam and Ev love each other by books end, they didn't when they started their relationship, and Ev maybe come from a conservative background but I'm sure even he knows the importance of protection. I wish they had at least gotten tested before they used no condom. And at one point when Ev brings up exclusivity, Adam goes "i wasn't under the impression that we were monogamous" which makes me believe that before Ev asked Adam for exclusivity between them, that Adam would have, maybe, had sex with others, and while he might have used protection with them, how could Ev had known that? Safe sex is extremely important! And I think Adam and Ev know this. So that REALLY frustrated me, that Adam might have had sex with others while having unprotected sex with Ev (not that he does. Neither sleeps with anyone else after they meet each other and especially not after they fall in love - but still).
But overall this was a compelling story and I couldn't put it down - only put it down when I had to - and Ev and Adam's relationship was compelling as well, and if the above two things don't bother you as much as they do me, definitely go for it. Even if they do, I still say go for it, because this a pretty good book.
Some not to so great things happen around the 60% mark
Spoiler
(Ev gets taken by conversion camp religious zealots and they violate him and it's a really uncomfortable and horrible thing to read, so beware of that)Overall, great book, just has a few nit picky things to rant about.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
5.0
Bare is another compelling work by Lynn Kelling. It is a story about Ev (short for Evelyn) and Adam, but mostly it’s about Ev and his need to step outside his lifelong conditioning and be who he really is. Ev is a complicated character: He is conflicted to the point of being emotionally unstable. On his own for the first time in his life, sort of—his family’s influence is never far away—Ev is desperate to discover who he is as a man apart from his upbringing. There is a constant religious undertone to the whole story, hence the Adam and Ev names for the characters, and the need to take a man back to his most basic beginnings and strip him down to his most vulnerable, honest and bare. The need to begin anew with almost a rebirth for Ev is crucial to him moving forward from his past. But Adam’s role is just as important. Only a man with a strong sense of purpose, trying to be as authentic as he can be, could break the walls down around Ev.
Take one sexually repressed nineteen-year-old, add in a sexy, charismatic painter whose work brings male vulnerability to life on canvas, and is also a dominant personality, and you have a story that will make you squirm in all the right ways. Holy hell, the tension in some of these scenes as Ev sits under Adam’s total scrutiny as Adam paints. For the first time in his life, someone sees Ev, and it is overwhelmingly wonderful and awful all at the same time. Adam has a profound need to uncover Ev’s true self and at the same time feeling a fierce need to protect him, nurture him and take care of him. Yes, there are elements of BDSM here—this is a Lynn Kelling book—but whips, chains and bondage are not what is needed in this story. Ev needs boundaries, rules, clear expectations and structure and Adam is happy to supply them.
“As soon as he settled on his knees, Ev knew it was right. His hand found Adam’s bulge. Burying his nose between it and Adam’s hip, Ev found the true scent of his lover. It was better, more real and honest, speaking of all of Adam’s masculinity and strength. It emanated sweat, skin, and life.
His thumb brushed the soft curling red hair at Adam’s groin and the end of Ev’s nose plunged into the curls, then lower, nudging Adam’s shaft, then the base of his sac.
He stayed there, breathing deeply, giving over to what he’d found with complete abandon and worship.”
There is something to be said about facing our greatest fears and coming out the other side. We get most of this story from Ev’s POV. We experience this story with Ev, and as such, we feel everything he feels. There is an element of conversion therapy, which may disturb some people. Kelling doesn’t gloss over what happens in these camps and it gets a little graphic, so be forewarned. At its heart, this is a love story. It may be, probably is, my favorite from this author because we get a real character driven plot in this book. Lynn Kelling has done a great job creating a story which revolves around and is pushed forward by her MCs. I would definitely recommend this book. But be aware, it does have some intense content along with dubious consent and a nineteen-year-old MC.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach Reviews
Take one sexually repressed nineteen-year-old, add in a sexy, charismatic painter whose work brings male vulnerability to life on canvas, and is also a dominant personality, and you have a story that will make you squirm in all the right ways. Holy hell, the tension in some of these scenes as Ev sits under Adam’s total scrutiny as Adam paints. For the first time in his life, someone sees Ev, and it is overwhelmingly wonderful and awful all at the same time. Adam has a profound need to uncover Ev’s true self and at the same time feeling a fierce need to protect him, nurture him and take care of him. Yes, there are elements of BDSM here—this is a Lynn Kelling book—but whips, chains and bondage are not what is needed in this story. Ev needs boundaries, rules, clear expectations and structure and Adam is happy to supply them.
“As soon as he settled on his knees, Ev knew it was right. His hand found Adam’s bulge. Burying his nose between it and Adam’s hip, Ev found the true scent of his lover. It was better, more real and honest, speaking of all of Adam’s masculinity and strength. It emanated sweat, skin, and life.
His thumb brushed the soft curling red hair at Adam’s groin and the end of Ev’s nose plunged into the curls, then lower, nudging Adam’s shaft, then the base of his sac.
He stayed there, breathing deeply, giving over to what he’d found with complete abandon and worship.”
There is something to be said about facing our greatest fears and coming out the other side. We get most of this story from Ev’s POV. We experience this story with Ev, and as such, we feel everything he feels. There is an element of conversion therapy, which may disturb some people. Kelling doesn’t gloss over what happens in these camps and it gets a little graphic, so be forewarned. At its heart, this is a love story. It may be, probably is, my favorite from this author because we get a real character driven plot in this book. Lynn Kelling has done a great job creating a story which revolves around and is pushed forward by her MCs. I would definitely recommend this book. But be aware, it does have some intense content along with dubious consent and a nineteen-year-old MC.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach Reviews
haletostilinski1's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book. I'm not too crazy about BDSM and the main M/M couple is a Dom/Sub relationship, which I wish had been warned about. Not that it would have made me not read - because if done right, I can enjoy BDSM (and this was done right) so I did enjoy it, but for the most part it's not my thing. But kudos to the author for making the D/s relationship riveting despite the weariness it brought me. Because it was, in a way, sprung on me.
Like it starts out as Ev posing nude for Adam and then as they get to know each other and give in to their desire for each other, it just kind of turned into a D/s relationship without even really being talked about, which is one aspect of it that bothered me. It was all consensual and taken eagerly, and there was a certain balance in the unbalanced relationship, but still. When it first went into D/s territory I was like woahhh wth??? A little warning, maybe? That's all. And then at the end after everything Master/slave was introduced too and I was like WTF?? There were "sir's" before but then all of the sudden Ev was calling Adam "Master" and even other Doms around them, like Adam's BFF, Ev called Master. Felt a little out of nowhere.
Also, it really bothered me that they never used condoms, not once - and didn't even discuss whether or not to use them, and even after it was pointed out in the story that they had never used condoms, Ev never brought it up. As much as Adam and Ev love each other by books end, they didn't when they started their relationship, and Ev maybe come from a conservative background but I'm sure even he knows the importance of protection. I wish they had at least gotten tested before they used no condom. And at one point when Ev brings up exclusivity, Adam goes "i wasn't under the impression that we were monogamous" which makes me believe that before Ev asked Adam for exclusivity between them, that Adam would have, maybe, had sex with others, and while he might have used protection with them, how could Ev had known that? Safe sex is extremely important! And I think Adam and Ev know this. So that REALLY frustrated me, that Adam might have had sex with others while having unprotected sex with Ev (not that he does. Neither sleeps with anyone else after they meet each other and especially not after they fall in love - but still).
But overall this was a compelling story and I couldn't put it down - only put it down when I had to - and Ev and Adam's relationship was compelling as well, and if the above two things don't bother you as much as they do me, definitely go for it. Even if they do, I still say go for it, because this a pretty good book.
Some not to so great things happen around the 60% mark but thankfully it doesn't happen for long.
Overall, great book, just has a few nit picky things to rant about.
Like it starts out as Ev posing nude for Adam and then as they get to know each other and give in to their desire for each other, it just kind of turned into a D/s relationship without even really being talked about, which is one aspect of it that bothered me. It was all consensual and taken eagerly, and there was a certain balance in the unbalanced relationship, but still. When it first went into D/s territory I was like woahhh wth??? A little warning, maybe? That's all. And then at the end after everything Master/slave was introduced too and I was like WTF?? There were "sir's" before but then all of the sudden Ev was calling Adam "Master" and even other Doms around them, like Adam's BFF, Ev called Master. Felt a little out of nowhere.
Also, it really bothered me that they never used condoms, not once - and didn't even discuss whether or not to use them, and even after it was pointed out in the story that they had never used condoms, Ev never brought it up. As much as Adam and Ev love each other by books end, they didn't when they started their relationship, and Ev maybe come from a conservative background but I'm sure even he knows the importance of protection. I wish they had at least gotten tested before they used no condom. And at one point when Ev brings up exclusivity, Adam goes "i wasn't under the impression that we were monogamous" which makes me believe that before Ev asked Adam for exclusivity between them, that Adam would have, maybe, had sex with others, and while he might have used protection with them, how could Ev had known that? Safe sex is extremely important! And I think Adam and Ev know this. So that REALLY frustrated me, that Adam might have had sex with others while having unprotected sex with Ev (not that he does. Neither sleeps with anyone else after they meet each other and especially not after they fall in love - but still).
But overall this was a compelling story and I couldn't put it down - only put it down when I had to - and Ev and Adam's relationship was compelling as well, and if the above two things don't bother you as much as they do me, definitely go for it. Even if they do, I still say go for it, because this a pretty good book.
Some not to so great things happen around the 60% mark
Spoiler
(Ev gets taken by conversion camp religious zealots and they violate him and it's a really uncomfortable and horrible thing to read, so beware of that)Overall, great book, just has a few nit picky things to rant about.
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