Review: A journey of recovery, discovery, and ultimately love
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 11, 2013
The market is full of MM romance and BDSM romance, and it rare to come across something unique.  In Trusting Thomas the basic premise may sound familiar (older Dom takes on younger abused sub), but in many of those we still get quick trust / quick lust, everything is better in a couple of weeks, onto a HEA.The true emotional depth of the novel came courtesy of the long time span (six or seven months) and the slow developing of first trust and only much later anything even remotely sexual.  After spending four years as an unwilling and abused sex slave, Peter has no idea what true submission or even good sex is.  What he needs is a safe environment and therapy, and it is such a relief to see a book in which an abused character, especially a sub, actually talks to and benefits from a therapist.  (Some stories seem to suggest that BDSM scenes alone can cure the sort of problems people get from long-term abuse/trauma).For both Peter and Thomas, Peter's recovery and escape from the past involve months of hard work, patience, and even set-backs.  Thomas, although a long-time trainer of Doms and subs, has never had a long-term sub of his own, especially not a sub that he is beginning to love.  And Thomas is afraid to lose his heart to a man much younger than he is, especially when he thinks his job is just to train Peter and prepare him for a different, younger Dom.In the previous book in the series (An Unlocked Heart), Leo and Alex developed a relationship in which bondage, impact/pain play, and forays into the club were all important, and it worked great in that story, because it was what those men wanted.  But if you are looking for that sort of BDSM, this is not the right book for you (other than a brief scene with Leo & Alex).  Trusting Thomas focuses more on submission through service and obedience, trust, and eventually some scenes based on sensation and stimulation, but not pain.  Because Peter has had more than enough of that.It is rewarding to see Peter finding his courage to do what he needs to protect himself and Thomas from his former so-called Master.  But will breaking the chains of the past bring him the man he has come to love?  A man who seems determined to send him away for his own good?Two books, four men, two very different relationships.  And I am not even including all the other characters that have been introduced in one or both of the books.  So much potential remains.  I look forward with great anticipation to seeing what comes next in the Collars & Cuffs world.