Review: An absolute must read! (but have your tissues handy)
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 6, 2012
Grab your tissues and hold on tight because this one is an emotional roller coaster! (Warning: If you have not read the three books preceeding this one, read those first or you will spoil the story that unfolds through the series.) In the fourth installment of the Compass Brothers series we now see the story unfold from Sawyer Compton's point of view. After getting inked with the compass tattoo that adorns the backs of his brothers, Sawyer decides to head west and live his dream of seeing the ocean. He joins the Coast Guard and works his way up in the ranks but decides to come home after a series of events take place. Before getting back to Compass Ranch, Sawyer makes a weekend side trip to California to blow off some steam at a local BDSM club. His plans quickly change when he sees his childhood friend who he believes is way too sweet to be dealing with the dark side of such a place.Leah Hollister is a kindergarten teacher who is tired of being in control all of the time. She lived a poor life and worked to get by. She has never left Wyoming and after hearing her best friend discuss the sexually charged stories of having a Dom for a boyfriend, Leah decides to give BDSM a try in hopes of adding some excitement to her lackluster sex life. Adorned with a simple white bracelet, Leah is immediately given the label of a sub looking for a Dom. What she was not prepared for, was running into her childhood crush, Sawyer Compton, who looked every bit the Alpha male. He doubts her understanding of the lifestyle and she is desperate to prove that she wants to be controlled. After retreating with Sawyer to his room she is confronted with the question of why she was there. Angered that Sawyer doubted her she finally lays it out on the table begging him: "Tie Me Up. Render Me Helpless. Spank me, use me, take me hard!" She is deperate to feel more than the boring day to day life she has now and while she was hoping for a stranger to fulfill her fantasy, Sawyer is determined not to let that happen. Leah has trouble giving up control and Sawyer wants to show her how to let go. After an evening of explorations, Leah asks about Sawyer's family and brings up the health of his father J.D. When Sawyer realizes his family has been keeping secrets, he rushes home with Leah to confront his family and his fears.All I can say is WOW! This book had me grinning from ear to ear and crying at the same time. Sawyer and Leah share such an emotional bond through their exploration with BDSM and I ached everytime Leah gave in when she knew Sawyer needed her. The fact that her life was so emotionally painful and that the story could convey how the physical pain Sawyer offered was her release and how her willingness to submit was his, was simply breathtaking. They feed off of eachother and through that, they realize that their relationship is much more than each one had lead on.The bond between the Compton family was so emotional and the likeness of Sawyer to his father made me smile every time Vicky would hint at the similarities. Make sure you keep your tissues handy, especially when all the tattoos are in the open. I simply couldn't stop the waterworks. To top that off, as much as I dread reading about funerals, this one was so happy that I cried tears of joy that the family was able to carry out the last requests and giggled a bit at what they were. If only all families were so understanding of eachother's differences and unique tastes. I loved this book and would recommend the whole series to any reader.I love the raw emotion in the scenes with Sawyer and Leah and how honest they are with their emotions. This is a sexy story but the family story is just as powerful and will have you smiling and weeping with each turn of the page. Western Ties is a beautifully told story of how BDSM can help heal a person's emotions and how families can come together to heal each other.An absolute must read!