Review: Mixed Feelings. 3 stars for the story + 1 for Hotness.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 14, 2014
This review is hard for me to write, because I became more emotionally attached to this extended version of the story. On the one hand, the story was VERY hot, but it's very VERY harsh and at times difficult to read (what Viv is going through - key word going through - not enjoying). I own and have read both stories, the original and the extended edition. I was in a constant state of compare and contrast between the two versions of the story. This new cover is better designed. Overall, this version is three stars, but an extra for the hotness.The original Safeword: Rainbow was much shorter. The extended version ofSafeword: Rainbow (2013 extended edition) (Safeword Series)clocks in at 9 Kindle dots on my iphone 5 app, while the older version was only 4 dots.  On the plus side: it's longer and more flesh out; on the minus: it's more fleshed out.I agree with a fellow reviewer that for most of the novel it seemed like Viv was just trying to struggle through the scenes without calling her safeword for Tyler's sake, but not really enjoying the scenes, just struggling - horny, but struggling...The author seemed to get on a soap box at random times about gun ownership and how important it was to 'carry' at all times. It felt a little 'republican-y / gun-nut-ish' especially for the way Viv was written to be all about the environment and owning a hybrid and whatnot; that part of the characterization didn't gel with the rest.No offense to the pro gun ownership people, but I don't need that in my erotica, thank youuu.-----{WARNING: Some MAJOR Spoilers}-----In both the original edition and the extended edition, I love when Viv used her safeword during their 'test run', it's one of the best uses of a safeword in all of the bdsm erotica novels I've read, but no scene has come close to the way Viv tells him off with the safeword. It was poetry.Huge pet peeve: this extended edition ended on a punishment scene... ON their HONEYMOON! Yes, honeymoon!! I felt like that was bad form, considering that most of these stories, when it's a HEA, the story ends on a positive and "love-y" note, even almost romantic (the original edition did). In both versions of the story, all of the punishment scenes are very rough and exaggerated, but in the extended editions, it was even more - and too much.Also, another issue that bothered me about the final scene (where she was set up for failure) was that the last time he tells her he loves her is just before he *really* lays into her with "the cruel rubber flogger" in the final punishment scene (and the final 'sex' scene period). Mind you, at this point she's already gagged so that "He wanted to be sure their guests didn't see him ignoring a safeword"  and then when he starts the punishment, with the gag in place, "...did her best to shout rainbow, but she couldn't even begin to form the word with the huge gag filling her mouth"--- When I read that line, I had to re-read it like three times and my head was screaming WTF (even with negotiated punishment disallowing safewords) --- Still ! This was very upsetting and not in the original work. At no point after that horrific punishment, does he say again I love you again (in the extended edition). After that very very very intense scene is over, he calls her precious, just one more time, and that's IT for the endearments for the rest of the story (unless I missed one), still 3 % left of the actual story still to read. Generally, what I've seen in these types of stories is that the point of the punishment is that after its said and done, ... it's Done and the couple moves forward. They did NOT. Viv still feels bad afterwords because he doesn't verbally let it go and he sets up a challenge/punishment for the future (6 weeks of no coming vs 6 to 9 months of no coming in a scene - to be decided by her {a deliberate mindfu** on his part} after they come back from the honeymoon).In it's core, the central conflict of both stories, Viv being scared to end up in a 24/7 TPE, is legitimate worry. All Tyler does is push, push, push, push. In the extended edition only, the very final scene / interaction about the major future challenge/punishment simply proves my point, that by staying with Tyler, she would potentially end up in a 24/7 TPE. Tyler is sadistic and persuasive, and that's a lethal combination. In their scenes, it seems like he keeps wanting to set her up to fail (he frequently DOESN'T want her to get to subspace) and it seems they both care more about how he feels/enjoys than either of them do about how she feels/enjoys.I think Viv was right to be terrified of loosing herself because the conclusion of the novel (extended edition only) proved how she had lost a portion of herself to the relationship already (a permanent one night a week + a bunch of extra nights all the time) and there was more 'loosing' in the future (he mentioned making Friday permanent scene nights). I finished this version of the novel feeling like if you fast forward into their lives 3+ years, they are having official scene nights 2 or 3 times a week and if you fast forward 10 years in, it's 5 or 6 nights. Long story short, TPE -- exactly what Viv didn't want and was terrified of happening -- could potentially occur in a hypothetical 'part 2'.The original story did NOT leave me feeling this way at the end. After analyzing it (and sleeping on this review), I think I was left with that gut feeling of escalation by Tyler's extended challenge/punishment (6 weeks of no coming vs 6 to 9 months of no coming in a scene) -- having Viv give him the decision after they were back from their honeymoon. That REALLY killed it for me. This was NOT in the original story. I went from being -not totally convinced of Tyler (in the original) to -hating him (extended edition).I'm sorry Ms. Blevins, noting against you -- I like your stuff (you are an automatic buy for me), but I officially hate Tyler. Your work is challenging to read, to a 'nilla like me, but well worth it (one of my favorite stories isSafeword: Matte).--In the end, I think Viv should have done what her instincts told her to do... Leave Tyler, let it hurt, and move on with life without him.  Radical thought, eh?Long story short, think of this novel as Erotica with a weird semi-HEA (happily ever after), but not what you would typically consider an HEA for erotica/romance/bdsm type stories (the original edition ends more on that note).You'll probably be happy with the sex scenes, as they are well written and hot, but the end might leave you thinking negative thoughts about the 'hero' - it sure did for me.It's hot.It's harsh.It will stick with you.Worth it, but beware (forewarned is forearmed).