Review: Strong on the journey - the evolution is the point!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 18, 2012
This is perhaps one of the top 5 examples of great BDSM romance writing that is realistic and that takes things at a pace which makes sense. I very much enjoy a story where the submissive takes the pain for the Dom because of his/her desire to please the Dom. Whether or not the sub eventually enjoys it or hits sub space it is the wishing to please that is so powerful to me as a dynamic in a TPE relationship. As a masochist the pain thing for me is a sensitive subject - if authors get it all wrong I find myself disliking the story. This one got it right - I REALLY appreciated that every time there was pain Tom didn't float off into subspace --- in real life that's the fact. Some days you just struggle to get even close to that and others you fly like an eagle. Mischa as a Dom is someone who I would absolutely play with - because being a Dom is ingrained in his personality. He doesn't strut about like a peacock in the off hours - but he's capable of using the skills when necessary. He is solid, caring, and fair with Tom. I get at the beginning he was kind of portrayed as a Domslut - a new sub each and every time, just like napkins. However he changed and he was able to admit he changed and to give the relationship his all. As it turned out that level of commitment was very much needed.Also excellent here is the dialogue and the evolution of Mischa and Tom. Each goes on a journey that you get to see, fully explore, and embrace. The only thing that kept this from 5 stars for me (really it is 4.5) is that it was a bit slow going at times. On the one hand I loved that it went slow so it didn't feel rushed and on the other it could have gone just a bit faster.