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secret_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
Deliciously hot and steamy with some darker themes and kink thrown in - “Can’t Touch” was a great read!
I loved Tyson and Sean’s relationship and their dynamic with the dom / sub elements, and the praise kink was so well written. Tyson was so caring and gentle with Sean, while still pushing him within his boundaries. Sean has some past traumas that might be triggering, so please read the warnings if you have triggers. The story between Tyson and Sean has very little angst and is more towards sweet and tender, their relationship and the story being very fast-paced.
As this was the first book I read by Chara Croft I don’t know if it’s her usual writing style but there’s so much inner monologue going on. I like first person PoV and knowing what the character is thinking but this was just a bit too much for me and threw me off at times.
This is a book to pick up if you’re looking for something hot and sexy (while still being sweet and somewhat fluffy), with a pretty simple and straight forward plot.
I loved Tyson and Sean’s relationship and their dynamic with the dom / sub elements, and the praise kink was so well written. Tyson was so caring and gentle with Sean, while still pushing him within his boundaries. Sean has some past traumas that might be triggering, so please read the warnings if you have triggers. The story between Tyson and Sean has very little angst and is more towards sweet and tender, their relationship and the story being very fast-paced.
As this was the first book I read by Chara Croft I don’t know if it’s her usual writing style but there’s so much inner monologue going on. I like first person PoV and knowing what the character is thinking but this was just a bit too much for me and threw me off at times.
This is a book to pick up if you’re looking for something hot and sexy (while still being sweet and somewhat fluffy), with a pretty simple and straight forward plot.
imme_van_gorp's review against another edition
2.5
This was a whole lot of smut. A bit too much for me personally, but I’m sure many others would appreciate it.
I was kind of disappointed with the amount of time that was spent on sex scenes, because I genuinely loved the dynamic between Tyson and Sean, and was curious and excited to see more of them outside of sex.
Tyson’s pure and utter adoration for Sean had me by the throat. After all, I am an absolute sucker for a dominant guy being completely gone for his sweet and shy boy, and this book definitely had that in spades.
Sean was the embodiment of innocence, and Tyson couldn’t get enough of him.
I did find it interesting, though, that it was very clear that Sean’s submissive nature was due to a brutal childhood filled with abuse and lack of love. He wanted to please so badly, and I always like it when we get to know the reason for someone needing that sort of thing.
Luckily, Tyson never took advantage of Sean’s submissiveness, though. I mean, sure, he loved bossing Sean around, but he wanted to take care of him more than anything else. Tyson was so soft for him.
They honestly seem kind of perfect for each other.
I also just have to say that I was so happy with the resolution we got with Sean’s mother from Hell. That bitch got put in her place so hard, and she got absolutely zero redemption. Tyson stood up for his man, and Sean eventually found a way to do it himself as well. It made me very happy to see.
Anyway, although I liked the dynamic of the romantic relationship a lot, I did get a bit bored at times, not only due to the abundance of sex, but also because everything was slightly repetitive. The things they said to each other or thought about each other was mostly the same thing over and over again. This book could have used a bit more originality and diversity in its dialogues and inner monologues.
I was kind of disappointed with the amount of time that was spent on sex scenes, because I genuinely loved the dynamic between Tyson and Sean, and was curious and excited to see more of them outside of sex.
Tyson’s pure and utter adoration for Sean had me by the throat. After all, I am an absolute sucker for a dominant guy being completely gone for his sweet and shy boy, and this book definitely had that in spades.
Sean was the embodiment of innocence, and Tyson couldn’t get enough of him.
I did find it interesting, though, that it was very clear that Sean’s submissive nature was due to a brutal childhood filled with abuse and lack of love. He wanted to please so badly, and I always like it when we get to know the reason for someone needing that sort of thing.
Luckily, Tyson never took advantage of Sean’s submissiveness, though. I mean, sure, he loved bossing Sean around, but he wanted to take care of him more than anything else. Tyson was so soft for him.
They honestly seem kind of perfect for each other.
I also just have to say that I was so happy with the resolution we got with Sean’s mother from Hell. That bitch got put in her place so hard, and she got absolutely zero redemption. Tyson stood up for his man, and Sean eventually found a way to do it himself as well. It made me very happy to see.
Anyway, although I liked the dynamic of the romantic relationship a lot, I did get a bit bored at times, not only due to the abundance of sex, but also because everything was slightly repetitive. The things they said to each other or thought about each other was mostly the same thing over and over again. This book could have used a bit more originality and diversity in its dialogues and inner monologues.
liminalfruit's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jodiexmae's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25
ravenanjell's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
ellelainey's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this!
WARNINGS: There is a history of child abuse, but it's off page. There is definite kink, with D/s elements, praise kink, and control kink, spanking, dirty talk. I do feel there are elements of little/age-play in the way that Sean is just *so* innocent and naive, so unaware and unable to use adult words, instead using terms like "thing" and "bottom" to excess.
NEGATIVES: repetition in phrases, especially when it came to the monologuing. Tyson's ego gets cringy sometimes, and out of control. Like "olympic dick" out of control, which is a bit eye-rolly. The story sometimes feels about 80% monologuing and 20% sex, but eventually comes together.
POSITIVES: the overall story shone through, captivated me, and left me completely in love with both Tyson and Sean. I utterly loved how cute and sexy it was, as a whole. Sean is just so stupidly squishy and adorable and lovely, and Tyson is a sarcastic manhore of an asshole, and I love them both equally. I loved the progression, because though it was quick, there was a longer timeline of progression and Tyson was always very careful to take things at Sean's pace.
Overall, I loved it and I'll definitely be buying the paperback.
Favourite Quote(s):
"His hands were fisted on his thighs, knuckles white.
He was holding so still he was practically quivering.
And...hello, Christmas morning. What was that? A present under the tree, just for me?
My boy was sporting some tent action of his own."
"A guy can only be good for so long before he breaks, and when it came to the sweet little bundle of temptation known as my roommate?
Oh, hell yeah.
Break me, baby. Break me hard.
Even if it came with a few explosions, I was done being hands off when it came to sweet little Sean Cabot."
WARNINGS: There is a history of child abuse, but it's off page. There is definite kink, with D/s elements, praise kink, and control kink, spanking, dirty talk. I do feel there are elements of little/age-play in the way that Sean is just *so* innocent and naive, so unaware and unable to use adult words, instead using terms like "thing" and "bottom" to excess.
NEGATIVES: repetition in phrases, especially when it came to the monologuing. Tyson's ego gets cringy sometimes, and out of control. Like "olympic dick" out of control, which is a bit eye-rolly. The story sometimes feels about 80% monologuing and 20% sex, but eventually comes together.
POSITIVES: the overall story shone through, captivated me, and left me completely in love with both Tyson and Sean. I utterly loved how cute and sexy it was, as a whole. Sean is just so stupidly squishy and adorable and lovely, and Tyson is a sarcastic manhore of an asshole, and I love them both equally. I loved the progression, because though it was quick, there was a longer timeline of progression and Tyson was always very careful to take things at Sean's pace.
Overall, I loved it and I'll definitely be buying the paperback.
Favourite Quote(s):
"His hands were fisted on his thighs, knuckles white.
He was holding so still he was practically quivering.
And...hello, Christmas morning. What was that? A present under the tree, just for me?
My boy was sporting some tent action of his own."
"A guy can only be good for so long before he breaks, and when it came to the sweet little bundle of temptation known as my roommate?
Oh, hell yeah.
Break me, baby. Break me hard.
Even if it came with a few explosions, I was done being hands off when it came to sweet little Sean Cabot."
haloblues's review against another edition
2.5
It wasn't bad by any means, but I found myself skipping the parts of the story where Tyson was with Brian at the gym, going out with him and Sean, etc., basically any scene that wasn't just centered on Tyson and Sean in their dorm because it wasn't holding my interest at all. Even by the end, I was more skimming than intently reading.
Sean was adorable, but it did seriously throw me off that he was so innocent that he kept referring to his dick as his "thing", calling his ass his "bottom" even during sex, etc. - and I'm saying that as someone who was about as innocent as he is until a solid couple of years into adulthood. It made him sound unsettlingly child-like, and that childishness was so emphasised and focused on both in his demeanour and his appearance as well as how he spoke and the words he used that it made me a little uncomfortable.
Details: Alternating POVs, first-person, past tense
Favourite character: Sean
Happy ending?: Yes
Sean was adorable, but it did seriously throw me off that he was so innocent that he kept referring to his dick as his "thing", calling his ass his "bottom" even during sex, etc. - and I'm saying that as someone who was about as innocent as he is until a solid couple of years into adulthood. It made him sound unsettlingly child-like, and that childishness was so emphasised and focused on both in his demeanour and his appearance as well as how he spoke and the words he used that it made me a little uncomfortable.
Details: Alternating POVs, first-person, past tense
Favourite character: Sean
Happy ending?: Yes
He had me now… and fuck the dangers of the minefield. I’d navigate that fucker just fine, thank you very much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual content
ravens_beautiful_nightmare's review against another edition
4.0
Smut heaven!
Wow….that was hot hot hot!!! I’m glad Tyson was there for Sean!! The things Sean had encountered by his so called mother was horrible. I’m so happy Sean stood up to his mom. I can’t stand that woman. Sweet, spicy, hot, cute, bossy, sad, loving and adorable was how this story was!
Wow….that was hot hot hot!!! I’m glad Tyson was there for Sean!! The things Sean had encountered by his so called mother was horrible. I’m so happy Sean stood up to his mom. I can’t stand that woman. Sweet, spicy, hot, cute, bossy, sad, loving and adorable was how this story was!