The second part of the book threw me off so much, I don't think I can write a review right now, but I must leave a few words:

The first half of the book was smooth, made sense (for the most part) and was pretty enjoyable.

The second part? All things that could go wrong, did go wrong. Every other character in the book that wasn't already gay or lesbian turned out to be one.

Poor James was used, abused, raped, tortured by nazis beaten, attacked in a public place... I am tagging this book "pity-fest".

First half - 4 stars.
Second half - 1 star.

Total score - 2 stars. ( )

I can't believe I'm saying this but... there's almost too much sex in this book, much of which is quite repetitive. ( )

To want something that is part of who you are, yet be afraid of it is a horrible situation to be in. That is what James faces – he is a submissive who has been abused for years, and has learned to associate his needs (and BDSM in general) only with pain and a total loss of control. For him to learn to trust any man is a monumental task – and even though Seth, a businessman and a Dom, makes all the right noises, it takes a lot more than a few dates for James to begin to open up. Their story is an amazing journey, full of internal conflict and external threat. While the main focus is firmly on both main characters, there are several intriguing secondary characters as well, all of whom have quirky personalities and made me curious to find out more.

James is an artist at heart, but his abusive ex has made him believe he is useless and needs a “real job”. This is what made James go into the design business where he meets Seth, one of is clients. The fact that James as a genetic disorder that makes his joints easily dislocate and never really heal, means that the beatings he took from everyone (his brother and his friends, James’s first and second boyfriends) have left permanent damage and James has to use crutches to walk. His determination to not let anyone see him as a “cripple” is an inspiration, but it has affected his self-image to the point he doesn’t believe he will ever find a lover. Seth goes after him with single-minded determination, and James finds that very difficult to deal with – especially since Seth is clearly a Dom and James swore to never be submissive again. James’s need to be told what to do in the bedroom, to obey Seth’s orders is big enough for him to be willing to take a risk – after getting to know Seth a lot better.

Seth is a rich businessman, always in control, and used to people doing what he wants. He falls for James immediately, but has no idea what effect his “demands” and “orders” have on James. As he gradually begins to understand, he adapts what they do together for James’s needs – like no real bindings and working around James’s fear of anything resembling pain of violence. It is not an easy journey for Seth, and he makes a lot f mistakes, but his determination to get it right is admirable. While he never assumes James isn’t capable to handle himself, some of his actions do look as if he were and a lt of explaining has to happen before true trust can begin.

If you like stories about physically and emotionally damaged men who are determined to be strong and get what they need, if two men who need each other yet struggle to understand how it will work pique your interest, and if you’re looking for a read that is emotionally touching, contains some light but very hot BDSM, and contains a message of hope, then you will probably like this novel.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
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I made it through 30% of this one a few weeks ago and now realize I have no interest in picking it up again. May try again later, but shelving it for now.

Focus is so crucial in fiction that reading a book without it can be a disorienting experience. Often authors who write from the seat of their pants with no preplanning and don't go back to fill in the gaps produce unfocused stories that seem to jump from one important point to another, never quite melding them into a coherent whole. O'Riley made me dizzy trying to figure out what to focus on.

For two years fine artist and designer 28-year-old James Bryant has been free of an abusive relationship with a guy he met in college. Now living in a sprawling four-bedroom cottage, James has pulled himself together fairly well with the help of his best friend Chase.

When the CEO of Carrington Enterprises, Seth Burns, walks into Milwaukee's Skye Designs, James is assigned to be the designer for Seth's project of GBLT-friendly resort hotels because James is the only openly gay designer at the firm. Seth and James immediately spark, leading a reader to think this might be a somewhat routine gay romance. But from what malady does James suffer that requires him to use forearm crutches, I wondered?

Seth doesn't inquire. Neither man thinks that maybe their sexual exploits might be unethical nor does James balk at the way Seth seems to run rough-shod over him, ordering for him on their first date and calling him "pet" in what comes off as a non-romantic way. I feared I was being led back into James becoming an abuse victim since so many signs pointed that way.

Then in chapter 6, I learned that James has a genetic disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, something that Seth in his hurry to have sex with James has failed to ask. Now I'm really starting to question Seth as a loving, caring potentially long-term partner if he didn't even think to ask James a little about why he uses the crutches and if heavy-duty sex will set him back in any way.

But I resolved to go with the flow even though as I read I found out James is a natural submissive and Seth is very much a dominator. Now James began calling Seth "sir" even though neither of them has discussed safe words or limits or anything bordering on a lifestyle that might damage James even more than his former boyfriend's beatings. No matter what Seth did for James now, I was not getting the warm fuzzies for the CEO.

Read the rest of my review at AAR: http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=9701 ( )