Review: Totally, Completely ADDICTED
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 22, 2013
While I've read all of the book/episodes in this series, I thought now was a good time to submit a review (especially since I've nothing to do for the next 2 weeks but wait anxiously for #6 to be releases).  Let me first say that Heidi & Rachel are very talented writers.  The story lines in each book are intense, action-packed and wonderfully paced, and the sexual content is equally vividly descriptive, and teasingly subtle.  The Carmichael brothers are great characters, and I've enjoyed getting to know more about them and their individual motivations throughout the series.  A lot of reviewers have expressed a liking for Nikolai...I personally am not at that point yet.  However, it was nice to get more of a glimpse into his past with this episode.One of the things I constantly find myself asking is which brother is getting the crappiest end of the stick.  In the first two books the abuse suffered by Mat and Dougie was mostly physical for both of them.  In book 3 Mat's physical abuse continues (and gets amped up) and Dougie begins to receive a lot more emotional and mental torture.  Because you can "feel" Mat's pain it makes it a lot easier to relate to his story line (just read the comments for all of the books and you'll notice many readers indicate that Mat is their favorite character...he happens to be mine as well).  The fact that he continues to fight against it makes you root for him all the more. With super-smart-Ph.D.-candidate Dougie, things aren't so simple.  He IS bright enough to recognize what's being done to him mentally and emotionally, but doesn't seem to be able to translate that into action.  He does offer some resistance in this book, but one wonders how long it will last.While the writing, tone and pace are superb, there are some logic bombs in the overall plot.  For instance, if Nikolai succeeds in his efforts to break the brothers' bond, there's nothing that's been revealed thus far that would keep Mat from killing him out right.  Also, it hard to believe that straight-boy Dougie (who was pursuing his Ph.D., AND has a gay brother) wouldn't be aware of the basic physiological responses involved in gay sex (i.e. Nikolai having to explain the prostate gland) and not be a complete basket case about his own orientation when `nature takes its course.'In any event, I'm counting the day until the next installment.  It'll be interesting to see how the authors handle Nikolai's efforts to wedge the brothers apart, and what fruit that bears for all three men.  This is a great series, and I very highly recommend it!!!