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samnreader's review
3.5
! I'm finished. I enjoyed it, but enjoyed the relationship far more than anything else. Kudos to Bell for healthy BDSM.
ruhi_d's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
eesh25's review
5.0
Tobias is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. He can be quite naive and a little too optimistic but more importantly, he always, always, tries to make the right decision, but not necessarily the one that's right for him. No, his aim is make sure that he doesn't disappoint anyone. So on first glance, he might just seem like a really happy and good person (the latter is very true), but that goodness reaches self-destructive points.
When a lot of bad things happen at once, he kind of snaps. And it's while he's contemplating breaking into an apartment that his friend, who he hasn't heard from in a while, lived in, that he meets Sullivan.
Sullivan is a PI and after years of delivering subpoenas, he's finally convinced his boss to give him an actual case. And this case, which has been cold for over two decades, is important for his career because he's a guy who needs to do stuff that engages his brain. When he sees Tobias thinking of breaking into a place that has a connection to his case, he's very encouraging of the crime.
What happens is that Tobias decides that he's going to hire Sullivan. But he wants to be involved in the investigation. And since they broke into an apartment together, he blackmails Sullivan to let him join (while also paying him for the job). And if you've read Loose Cannon, you know how bizarre that is. Sweet, innocent Tobias, blackmailing someone. And a part of me thinks that I should be mad at him about it, but he's just so nice and unsure and hesitant and guilty-feeling about the ordeal that I can't. The words 'cinnamon roll' come to mind whenever I think about him.
So Tobias and Sullivan are working together to find Ghost (Tobias's friend) and solve Sullivan's case. Also, they need to figure out how the two the connected even though the case is older than Ghost is. And during the investigation, they explore the attraction between them. But more importantly, it's the compatibility.
You see, Sullivan has certain things, BDSM things, that he likes. He didn't think he'd find someone to would fit him. Not that he's been looking, after his ex called him a monster for of his preferences. Starting something again, and with a guy who's blackmailing him, is probably a bad idea. Though really, blackmail is such harsh word. If you read the book, you'll see how unlikely Tobias is to ever even want to threaten someone. It never felt like blackmail. Also, their mutual attraction was completely separate from the case.
Besides, Sullivan could've gotten out of working with Tobias if he wanted. Sullivan's a really smart guy and a brilliant character. I loved his contrasting personality, his thirst for knowledge, his sharp mind, his repertoire of endless, random facts about anything and everything, and his vulnerabilities when it came to his personal life. Loved him so much. I was gonna give the book 4.5 stars, but added .5 for Sullivan.
Overall, another great book by Sidney Bell. I highly recommend it. Tobias and Sullivan are great characters and the romance between is so much more than sexual compatibility. They're good for each other. They make the other feel accepted, like they have the right to feel what they feel. They both have insecurities about not being good enough and Tobias is dealing with finally wanting things for himself, even if it means disappointing his parents. There are big things going on with them, along with the investigations, and I loved reading about all of it.
When a lot of bad things happen at once, he kind of snaps. And it's while he's contemplating breaking into an apartment that his friend, who he hasn't heard from in a while, lived in, that he meets Sullivan.
Sullivan is a PI and after years of delivering subpoenas, he's finally convinced his boss to give him an actual case. And this case, which has been cold for over two decades, is important for his career because he's a guy who needs to do stuff that engages his brain. When he sees Tobias thinking of breaking into a place that has a connection to his case, he's very encouraging of the crime.
What happens is that Tobias decides that he's going to hire Sullivan. But he wants to be involved in the investigation. And since they broke into an apartment together, he blackmails Sullivan to let him join (while also paying him for the job). And if you've read Loose Cannon, you know how bizarre that is. Sweet, innocent Tobias, blackmailing someone. And a part of me thinks that I should be mad at him about it, but he's just so nice and unsure and hesitant and guilty-feeling about the ordeal that I can't. The words 'cinnamon roll' come to mind whenever I think about him.
So Tobias and Sullivan are working together to find Ghost (Tobias's friend) and solve Sullivan's case. Also, they need to figure out how the two the connected even though the case is older than Ghost is. And during the investigation, they explore the attraction between them. But more importantly, it's the compatibility.
You see, Sullivan has certain things, BDSM things, that he likes. He didn't think he'd find someone to would fit him. Not that he's been looking, after his ex called him a monster for of his preferences. Starting something again, and with a guy who's blackmailing him, is probably a bad idea. Though really, blackmail is such harsh word. If you read the book, you'll see how unlikely Tobias is to ever even want to threaten someone. It never felt like blackmail. Also, their mutual attraction was completely separate from the case.
Besides, Sullivan could've gotten out of working with Tobias if he wanted. Sullivan's a really smart guy and a brilliant character. I loved his contrasting personality, his thirst for knowledge, his sharp mind, his repertoire of endless, random facts about anything and everything, and his vulnerabilities when it came to his personal life. Loved him so much. I was gonna give the book 4.5 stars, but added .5 for Sullivan.
Overall, another great book by Sidney Bell. I highly recommend it. Tobias and Sullivan are great characters and the romance between is so much more than sexual compatibility. They're good for each other. They make the other feel accepted, like they have the right to feel what they feel. They both have insecurities about not being good enough and Tobias is dealing with finally wanting things for himself, even if it means disappointing his parents. There are big things going on with them, along with the investigations, and I loved reading about all of it.
michellemoon's review
5.0
One of the best MM romance books I've ever read. Sidney Bell is a genius. Her characters are so fleshed out and the story takes it's time in the best of ways
tinkcourtney's review against another edition
5.0
This was amazing!
This author has seriously impacted my productivity this week, since I can’t put her books down. Her characters are so complex - flawed and real and lovable. The BDSM elements in this one were SO well done. The buildup over this and the last book has me very anxious for Ghost’s story!
This author has seriously impacted my productivity this week, since I can’t put her books down. Her characters are so complex - flawed and real and lovable. The BDSM elements in this one were SO well done. The buildup over this and the last book has me very anxious for Ghost’s story!
annaeli's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
syvrina's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
loishojmark's review
3.0
"Tobias was a hot mess right now, and everything in his life was falling apart, and he needed an outlet"
While I didnt mind the light Bdsm in "For Real" by Alexis Hall, I did mind it in this book. It is still on the lighter side of Dom/Sub play, but there's some connotations that I hate. Like the pain, the collar and calling it scenes/plays/games. The collar is meant to be demeaning (the sub is a dog/animal.) But I especially hat that the punishment for making mistakes or bad behavior... That's just so... urk. It's an unbalanced relationship - like a dog owner punishing the dog for ruining the slippers.
This is exactly like self harming or cutting... The need for an outlet/ pain until the pain is outward instead of inside. Just making another do the harming until the nerves are calmed. Yes this isn't as dangerous, but it is still using pain as an outlet for psychological pain.
Okay, I'll step down from my soapbox now. I did like the story, but mostly I read it because I want to follow Ghost. I can't wait to read his book. But as I said I do like the story in the book, but I couldn't connect with any of the MCs. Of course that is because of my personal hang ups. But as this is my subjective opinions, so I can't give the book more than 3 stars.
While I didnt mind the light Bdsm in "For Real" by Alexis Hall, I did mind it in this book. It is still on the lighter side of Dom/Sub play, but there's some connotations that I hate. Like the pain, the collar and calling it scenes/plays/games. The collar is meant to be demeaning (the sub is a dog/animal.) But I especially hat that the punishment for making mistakes or bad behavior... That's just so... urk. It's an unbalanced relationship - like a dog owner punishing the dog for ruining the slippers.
This is exactly like self harming or cutting... The need for an outlet/ pain until the pain is outward instead of inside. Just making another do the harming until the nerves are calmed. Yes this isn't as dangerous, but it is still using pain as an outlet for psychological pain.
Okay, I'll step down from my soapbox now. I did like the story, but mostly I read it because I want to follow Ghost. I can't wait to read his book. But as I said I do like the story in the book, but I couldn't connect with any of the MCs. Of course that is because of my personal hang ups. But as this is my subjective opinions, so I can't give the book more than 3 stars.
brokenrecord's review
2.0
2.5 stars. Massive disappointment from the first book, which I gave 5 stars and absolutely adored. I mean, part of my issue with this book was just that so much of Tobias and Sullivan's relationship involves BDSM, which is so not my thing. Like, not judging or kink shaming anyone who enjoys it in real life or in their fiction, but it's just not something I particularly enjoy reading about, especially when it's basically the entire focus of their relationship and not just one scene I can skim through. And I did know about that element going in, but one other review I saw mentioned not being into BDSM in general but liking how it was handled here, and I liked the first book SO MUCH that I was hoping it wouldn't be a major element. But unfortunately it was. Like, the first book had sex scenes (not BDSM), but it didn't feel like their entire relationship revolved around sex, but it honestly felt kind of like all Tobias and Sullivan's relationship development happened in the context of BDSM here.
My other issue was that this book felt much more focused on the Russian crime element than the first one, where it did play a role, but it felt like Church and Miller's relationship was the focus and the crime stuff came secondary. Here, that balance was flipped. And while I found the crime stuff interesting enough, it wasn't so interesting that I wanted it to be the entire focus of the plot. Also, I liked both Tobias and Ghost in the first book, but I honestly found them both kind of annoying here. Sullivan was fine, he was just kind of the mature adult in the room, but Tobias felt like a bit of a brat at times, and Ghost just seemed so exhausting to deal with to the point where I could get why Sullivan was like, "Seriously, this is the guy you're putting so much effort into finding?" I also felt annoyed at Tobias for being like "Clearly Ghost doesn't care about me," which Church also did in the first book when it seemed so completely obvious to me that Ghost was just trying to protect the two of them from getting involved in his shit.
I don't know, 2.5 stars feels both too low and too high for this. I just wasn't that into the relationship element, but it feels unfair to rate it low because of that because it's entirely my issue (people who like reading about BDSM won't have the same issue) and I knew that was part of the plot going in, so I can only blame myself for reading it anyways. And it's not like there was nothing I liked about their relationship. But I didn't really care for the non-romance parts of this either, and it was really my residual love from the first book that carried me through this one, although now I'm starting to question my love of the first book! Anyways, I don't think this book was terrible, but it was just very much not for me.
My other issue was that this book felt much more focused on the Russian crime element than the first one, where it did play a role, but it felt like Church and Miller's relationship was the focus and the crime stuff came secondary. Here, that balance was flipped. And while I found the crime stuff interesting enough, it wasn't so interesting that I wanted it to be the entire focus of the plot. Also, I liked both Tobias and Ghost in the first book, but I honestly found them both kind of annoying here. Sullivan was fine, he was just kind of the mature adult in the room, but Tobias felt like a bit of a brat at times, and Ghost just seemed so exhausting to deal with to the point where I could get why Sullivan was like, "Seriously, this is the guy you're putting so much effort into finding?" I also felt annoyed at Tobias for being like "Clearly Ghost doesn't care about me," which Church also did in the first book when it seemed so completely obvious to me that Ghost was just trying to protect the two of them from getting involved in his shit.
I don't know, 2.5 stars feels both too low and too high for this. I just wasn't that into the relationship element, but it feels unfair to rate it low because of that because it's entirely my issue (people who like reading about BDSM won't have the same issue) and I knew that was part of the plot going in, so I can only blame myself for reading it anyways. And it's not like there was nothing I liked about their relationship.
Spoiler
For example, I really enjoyed the bit where after they've rescued Ghost, Tobias is like "We have to talk," and Sullivan's like, "I don't want to," because he thinks Tobias is going to dump him, and Tobias pushes and Sullivan's like, "Fine let's go back to your hotel and you can dump me!" and Tobias is just like "??? I was going to tell you I love you." That was super cute.becka6131's review
5.0
This author is absolutely incredible. The character voices for each MC are so distinct and fun to read, their relationship was deeply developed, and the overarching plot of the trilogy is falling into place beautifully. BIG feelings