Scan barcode
A review by the_novel_approach
Bare by Lynn Kelling
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