Review: A different take on BDSM than most authors go for
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 7, 2013
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.Rating: 7/10PROS:- I liked that Aiden acknowledges how fake some people are when they engage in BDSM play, as well as the fact that he and Keaton are more into the psychological aspects of the lifestyle than the physical.- I loved the scenes in which Keaton comforts Aiden, for whatever reason. They’re very sweet.- Cooper shows that punishment within the BDSM lifestyle comes in all forms. For some people, it’s physical, whereas for others, punishment is far more effective if it’s psychological.- The author does a good job of creating a dangerous character who is not entirely evil. Aiden’s ex, Scott, is a villain, yes, because he’s a cruel person overall. But he also has moments of kindness, which made him seem more real to me. The round portrayal also made me feel for Aiden because I could see how parts of Scott would be appealing.CONS:- There’s a pretty long stretch at the beginning of the book that I found unpleasant because it goes into detail about Aiden’s interactions with Scott. I understood why those scenes are necessary, because they contrast with the later scenes with Keaton, but I didn’t like them.- I think some readers will rankle a bit at the dynamic here. Some of the methods Keaton uses to discipline Aiden are actions typically used to punish children.- I’m not a fan of bratty subs, and Aiden is nothing if not bratty.Overall comments: This is a good portrayal of a relationship in which the lifestyle is used to alter behavior rather than just something that the men get off on. I found it to be a pretty engrossing read, but I didn’t like it enough to want to read it again.