The men (and boys!) from the Iron Eagle Gym are back, and I couldn’t have been happier to find out what’s next in store for them. And after the glimpse I got of this fourth book in the series at the end of the previous volume, let me just say that I was particularly curious. With Way’ra, the janitor, having to live in one of the third-floor broom closets until he saves up enough money for an apartment and Neal, an unattached Dom, interested enough to ask him out – there was sure to be some drama and highly likely for some kinky activities to follow. And boy, did both of those happen in spades!

Way’ra, Way for short, has been rejected by his super-religious family and all his friends after being discovered making out with a guy in college. With nothing but a few clothes and a backpack to his name, he managed to get a job as a janitor. He lives in one of the closets – literally – and is saving up his money by not eating more than once a day. He is pretty innocent, but when Neal takes an interest in him and offers him his spare room, he moves in –only after Neal agrees to take rent - and learns pretty quickly. The whole “BDSM thing” scares him a little, but he is curious too….

Neal is an artist earning good money and has been looking for a partner for a while. Way intrigues him and he decides to help - without hurting Way’s pride. It was fascinating to watch Neal slowly coax Way out of his shell, and just having sex was a major event at first. Neal shows admirable restraint – I mean, I knew he wanted to veer into BDSM, but he was patient enough to let Way take the first step. Working in a BDSM club helps – Way has seen some things he has lots of questions about. All Neal needs to do, at first, is make Way feel safe enough to ask him.

The result of those two men meeting is not just a very sweet romance, it is also a gentle, careful exploration of BDSM. With Way not even being comfortable with being gay and out in the open, this must be one of the slowest introductions into the lifestyle ever, and it had a unique entry point. That beginning leads to a sexy spanking, then more… none of that may have worked for any other couple, but it was just right for Way and Neal – and that is all that counts.

If you like men who fall on hard times, only to find a “knight in leather armor” rescuing them and showing them a different kind of life, and if you’re looking for a read that is as sweet as it is hot, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. There is nothing angsty, scary, or brutal about it, and all the BDSM elements are very playful and kinky, explored by two men who become friends and fall in love before beginning to explore what sort of BDSM play they might enjoy indulging in together.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )