Power Play: Resistance by Cat Grant and Rachel Haimowitz

Power Play: Resistance by Cat Grant and Rachel Haimowitz
No star rating, since I read this for work

Length: 90,000 words
Blurb
Brandon McKinney has scraped and sacrificed for what little in life he’s ever had. Though it’s been fifteen years since he escaped his father’s abuse, the damage remains. Trust seems as far out of reach as his dream of becoming an architect, and though he’s come to accept being gay, he can’t deny the shame and confusion he feels at other urges—the deeply-repressed desire to submit.

Jonathan Watkins is a self-made Silicon Valley billionaire whose ex-wife took half his money and even more of his faith. Comfortable as a Dominant but wary of being hurt again, he resorts to anonymous pickups and occasional six-month contracts with subs seeking only a master, not a lover.

When a sizzling back-alley encounter cues Jonathan in to Brandon’s deep-seated submissive side, he makes the man an offer: Give me six months of your life, and I’ll open your eyes to a whole new world. Brandon doesn’t care about that; all he wants is the three million dollars Jonathan’s offering so he can buy the construction company he works for. But he soon learns that six months on his knees is no easy feat, and shame and pride may keep him from all he ever wanted—and all he never dreamed he had any right to have.

Overall
Warning: Hardcore. While consent is clearly established and frequently reaffirmed, some moments push hard against the outer edges of consent.

So, um, wow. A hard-core BDSM novel that revolves around one man's desire to explore and expose another man's submissive and masochistic side. This isn't just another "OMG, I'm totally a sub!" story, as Bran and Jonathan struggle through a series of issues. Heavy and sometimes dark, this isn't for the light of heart, but for those who want to explore a more intense (physically and psychologically) level of BDSM, this would be something to check out.

Despite moments of extreme discomfort that I had with this book and its events, I continued on, needing to know what was going to happen and how things would work out. I was richly rewarded, and I hope you will be too!

I am affiliated with Riptide Publishing. I read this for work.

Crescendo (Song of the Fallen, #2) by Rachel Haimowitz

Crescendo (Song of the Fallen, #2) by Rachel Haimowitz
Stars: 4/5

Length: 107,000 words (245 pages)
Blurb
History made them enemies. Chance made them master and slave. Love overcame it all. But love isn’t always enough...

Bridging the hatred of centuries did not come easy for Freyrík Farr and Ayden Vaska. As prince of a war-torn human province, Freyrík could ill afford to fall for an enemy. And Ayden, an elven warrior with three-hundred years of bitterness in his heart, wanted no part of love—not elven, and especially not human. Yet they came together despite themselves and despite the will of their peoples, joining heart and mind to fight a race of Dark Beasts threatening the extinction of mankind.

But the Dark Beast threat pales beside the dangers of the human High Court, home of the Aegis Exalted and the harshest test yet of Ayden’s and Freyrík’s fledgling love.

While Ayden is stripped of his magic, Freyrík is forced to choose between his love for elf, Aegis, and brother, all the while seeking the one uncertain path that might save his doomed race. Time is fast running out for mankind, and only by making peace amongst themselves and with their ancient elven enemies can they end the Dark war—and undo the tragedy that’s plagued humans, elves, and Dark Beasts alike for the last three-hundred years.

Overall
Crescendo picks up where Counterpoint leaves off: Ayden and Freyrik are forced to travel to the main city to meet the king of kings and present Ayden to him (and have his magic bound). Neither is very happy about it, but they are at an impasse: Ayden won't go unless Freyrik joins him, and Freyrik refuses to betray his kings. These decisions will cost them more than they can expect.

The first half of this novel is filled with political intrigue and tough decisions. It's difficult for them to trust anyone, except each other, but even that bond is brittle in their new environment. To balance out the politics, the second half of the book has adventure with sword fights and magic (and walking, because adventures always involve a lot of walking).

Although the ending left me a off balance, I highly enjoyed this fantasy romance.

Strengths
I think I wanted to punch everyone in this story at least once, except Lord Lini and Vitr. OK, maybe not everyone, but much of the leading cast. Why is this a good thing? These characters got under my skin; they acted/reacted like people (and elves) do, and they struggled with their decisions--and the results. Sometimes it was painful and raw, but it was a little bit awesome in that as well.

The Aegis. I love him. I love him because every other chapter I wouldn't know if I could trust him, or if he was secretly cackling behind my back. I loved that I couldn't see him cackling behind the main characters' backs. He drove me nuts. It was great.

Once again the balance of action and politics saved this story from relying too heavily on either. For those who love politics, it will sate that, and for those who love action, there is a fair amount (although perhaps not as much as the first book, or at least differently structured).

There is still a fair amount of romance, although because Freyrik has successfully wooed Ayden, it's not as central to the plot or action. Most the romance here is focused on their relationship continuing despite the odds and the power balance between them.

Weaknesses
Considering the slow build of everything in this novel and the one before it, the ending feels especially abrupt. While I can see the reason for it (too many details would drag it out), I still felt shocked by the sudden arrival of the final chapter. It almost felt like Haimowitz wanted to end with the second to last chapter, but was advised on not, so tagged on another chapter. Mind you, I'm glad it doesn't end with the second to last chapter...but that will be for you to decide.

Received this book for review.

Counterpoint (Song of the Fallen, #1) by Rachel Haimowitz

Counterpoint (Song of the Fallen, #1) by Rachel Haimowitz
Stars: 5/5

Length: 120,700 words (414 pages)
Blurb
It is the twilight of mankind. Depleted by generations of war with a dark race, the human kingdoms and their ancient alliance stand on the brink of extinction. The outlands are soaked with the blood of the fallen. The midlands are rotting with decadence and despair.

Elfkind, estranged by past crimes, watches and waits for nature to run its course.

And then the two collide.

Ayden's life has long been guided by two emotions: love for his sister, and hatred of all things human. When he's captured in battle, he must for his sister's sake swallow his pride and endure slavery in the service of a human prince, Freyrik Farr.

Freyrik's always known elves to be beautiful and dangerous, but never has one affected him as deeply as Ayden. Can his life of service to his people leave room for this attraction? Dancing on a dagger's edge between duty and high treason, Freyrik discovers that some choices can change a life, and some an entire world.

Between prejudice, politics, pride, and survival, Ayden and Freyrik must carve a new path, no matter how daunting. For nothing less than the fate of both their peoples rests on the power of their perseverance—and their love.

Overall
The first of two books telling Ayden and Freyrik's story, I'd recommend readers diving in to the story be prepared to have Crescendo on hand after finishing Counterpoint. The novel is lengthy, a slow build from enemies to lovers, but the emotions on both end are eloquently executed as the pair learns to trust and care for one another while navigating the landmines their races' history has thrown in the way.

While this story is definitely a romance, it is just as equally an epic fantasy, where mankind is battling against supernatural monsters in order to survive and elves wield nature's magic. The fight for survival and victory is just as central to the story as the battle for their relationship. This is an amazing adventure of the heart and the mind that drives the reader to the cusp, clinging on by the tips of the fingers.

Strengths
Although I'd love to list every positive attribute of this novel, I'll refrain and only pick those points that jumped out at me. However, this book really encompasses the definition of epic fantasy romance and is epic-ly fantastic (see what I did there?).

The first thing I noticed when I started reading was the strength and natural flow of the writing, followed by the incredible world development. Although Haimowitz's world takes from some general mythos (elves have magical powers, humans are bitchy angry), she also makes this world her own, building up unique enemies and social mores. The world is painted beautifully--in the case of the elves--and darkly--in the case of the human world--bringing to life the characters that inhabit it.

Ayden and Freyrik are interesting, unique characters who clash wonderfully and meld together just as hotly. But they aren't the only characters who bring life to this story. Along with various bullies (the lead of which is the First Wife), Freyrik's right-hand man (Lord Lini) is a shining example of a good friend. I think because he has so little to gain by being so loyal, his loyalty is all the more precious. The various characters add a level of depth, and although the cast is expansive, the flow of actors is expertly handled to avoid confusion and clutter.

Finally, the plot. Oh the plot. A mix of master trying to win a slave's heart, two warriors clashing, a fight for survival of the human race, and a ribbon of political intrigue that taints it all. There is so much in this story to feast on that you will finish it sated--and hungry for more. Thankfully, the next book promises to be just as hearty. While this plot isn't fast faced, it's detailed and thorough, leaving the reader guessing while vibrating with anxiety to see what becomes of the heroes.

Weaknesses
Not a weakness, but something to be warned going in: This is part one of two parts. Just like Lord of the Rings, the book ends without complete resolution of important matters that are to be resolved in the second book.

Another word of warning, while this isn't a slow or sedate novel, it does take time to build in order for everything to fall into place. It is not a short little romance, but that is also what makes it so amazing. There is a fair amount of politics involved, and I imagine there will be more in the second novel, but it's balanced by the character development and danger--from external and internal factors.

Note: I linked to the Riptide Publishing version above, but I read the first printing from Guiltless Pleasure Publishing.

Interview: Rachel Haimowitz

More great news: Rachel Haimowitz is stopping by today for an interview!

Rachel is author of many books, including Anchored, Where He Belongs, Master Class, and SUBlime (click the links to see my reviews of said books). Without further ado (though much ado should be made!), here's Rachel:


Thank you for taking the time to stop by my humble blog and answer some of my questions. I know you’ve been touring the blog-o-sphere like mad, so I hope my questions are at least a little bit interesting for you!

Thanks so much for having me! You did indeed ask some totally new questions, so this was fun :)


Can you tell us about Riptide publishing in 14 words?

Haha, that’s . . . oddly specific. But, let’s see . . . A boutique purveyor of some of the finest gay and trans* fiction being written.


What was the high point of this year for you?

This is a surprisingly tough question. On the Riptide side of the equation, the high point was definitely opening day. On the personal side of the equation, it was my dad finally marrying the wonderful woman he’s been seeing. On the author-hat side of the equation, I’d say it was a tie between and going to California for two weeks to start a book with Cat Grant and ending up writing 55,000 words in that time span, and finally releasing Crescendo, which represented the culmination of three years’ worth of work and a story arc almost a quarter of a million words long.


What are you looking forward to in the coming year?

So many things! Life is really, really good right now :) Hmm, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where Riptide will go in the upcoming year. We’ve got some absolutely amazing authors signed on for our Second Wave, and lots of our wonderful First-Wavers coming back with exciting new material. I’m also looking forward to releasing this Big Kink Book I’m writing with Cat Grant; it’s the only release I have planned so far for next year (though I’m sure there will be others; I just don’t know what they’ll be yet), and right now the story is eating my brain, so it’s actually kind of tough to think of anything else.


Are we going to see more of Devon and Nicky (from SUBlime and Master Class) in the future?

Definitely. I actually have their whole development in my head—the whole “training of Nicky,” so to speak, and I suspect I’ll be writing them in short or novella form over the next couple years: titles that share a common thread but aren’t a contiguous story, and that may not be released in the order in which they would actually have happened in Nicky’s and Devon’s life. For instance, right now I’m about 30 pages into a story that would slot fairly late into Nicky’s training, where he’s being deliberately provocative and it bites him in the ass when, instead of punishing him himself, Devon outsources it to a pro. It’s seriously hardcore and throws Nicky completely off his game, out of his element—genuinely frightens him in the best possible way. I suspect I’ll try to wrap that up when I’ve finished the Big Kink Book.


What can you tell us about the Big Kink Book?

Well, it’s definitely going to be big. Cat and I banged out the first 55,000 words in just over a week in a fit of what I can only call character possession; I have never written so much so quickly that still worked so well for me when I read it again later—and all kudos to my co-writer for that! I think we’re just starting to squeak toward the midway point of Act 2, so this book may actually end up being two books, or at least one very, very long book—like, four or five hundred pages long.

Basically, the BKB is about a filthy rich, super-brilliant guy named Jonathan (though he’s of humbler origins than you might suspect) who gets bored with things and people very easily, and who’s been burned by love enough to have come to the conclusion that all anyone will ever want him for again is his money. He’s super-kinky, a hardcore sexual sadist, and a social do-gooder of fairly epic proportions. Wary of being hurt again, he’s taken to “slumming it,” so to speak—having sexual encounters with guys in dive bars who are unlikely to know who he is. Occasionally he takes on a submissive in a total power exchange contract for some pre-defined period of time, with no expectation other than mutual pleasure.

At the start of the story, we see Jonathan trying to pick up Brandon, a loner construction worker with a difficult past and an independent (and distrustful) streak so fierce that he doesn’t really even understand what intimacy means. He can get sex whenever he wants it, but he never lets it move beyond that. He’s too busy protecting himself and trying to make a better future—trying to find time and money to finish his bachelor’s degree, trying to find a way to buy the business his boss is selling at the end of the year so he can maybe stop using dial-up internet and eating dinner cold from a can over the sink.

Brandon and Jonathan hook up that first night, and Jonathan’s so taken by all of Brandon’s untapped potential (of both intellect and submission; he sees a craving to submit that Brandon wouldn’t recognize or admit to in a million years) that he starts really actively pursuing him. He reveals himself to Brandon, makes him an offer he hopes Brandon can’t refuse: six months of your life with me, letting me uncover the submissive within you, and I’ll give you the money you need to buy the business. Eventually Brandon says yes, but there’s just one problem . . . his submissive side is buried so deeply, it might not actually exist.


Care to tell us about your coming attractions and latest releases?

I’d love to :) This is actually a pretty busy winter for me; I have three new releases in November and December: Master Class at Riptide, Crescendo: Book II of Song of the Fallen at Storm Moon Press, and Break and Enter (co-written with Aleksandr Voinov) at Samhain Publishing on Dec 20. Here are some blurbs and cover art:

Master Class

Performing before a crowd of thousands? No problem. Baring his heart before a crowd of one? Better tie him down first.

Broadway darling Nicky Avery is a shooting star by night, but by day he bounces from one heartless one-night stand to the next. A quick flogging, a rough lay, a new whip-hand to manipulate—yet still he yearns for something he cannot even name.

He finds his first true hint of satisfaction in Devon Turner, a self-possessed film star and expert Dom. Devon knows what he wants the moment he sees it, and what he wants is Nicky Avery. Nicky’s never learned to trust and has a nasty habit of topping from the bottom, but he learns fast that in the bedroom, Devon won’t tolerate his actor’s masks.

Nicky's a broken boy, but Devon knows exactly how to put his new sub back together. With patience, care, and all the punishments his little pain slut can handle, Devon breaks Nicky down one scene at a time, revealing a mind that yearns to trust and a heart that hungers for the ecstasy of true submission at last.

Genre: BDSM, contemporary, gay erotic romance
Length: 16,700 words (57 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-937551-00-1
Price: $3.99

Available at: Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks, 1PlaceForRomance, 1EroticaEbooks, Rainbow Ebooks, Goodreads (epub only), Xinxii

Crescendo

History made them enemies. Chance made them master and slave. Love overcame it all. But love isn’t always enough . . .

Bridging the hatred of centuries did not come easy for Freyrík Farr and Ayden Vaska. As prince of a war-torn human province, Freyrík could ill afford to fall for an enemy. And Ayden, and elven warrior with three-hundred years of bitterness in his heart, wanted no part of love—not elven, and especially not human. Yet they came together despite themselves and despite the will of their peoples, joining heart and mind to fight a race of Dark Beasts threatening the extinction of mankind.

But the Dark Beast threat pales beside the dangers of the human High Court, home of the Aegis Exalted and the harshest test yet of Ayden’s and Freyrík’s fledgling love.

While Ayden is stripped of his magic, Freyrík is forced to choose between his love for elf, Aegis, and brother, all the while seeking the one uncertain path that might save his doomed race. Time is fast running out for mankind, and only by making peace amongst themselves and with their ancient elven enemies can they end the Dark war—and undo the tragedy that’s plagued humans, elves, and Dark Beasts alike for the last three-hundred years.

Genre: Fantasy (high fantasy / epic fantasy), gay erotic romance
Length: 107,000 words (approx. 350 pages)
Price: $9.99
ISBN: 978-1-937058-14-2

Available at: Storm Moon Press, Amazon.com, All Romance Ebooks, Barnes and Noble, 1PlaceForRomance, Smashwords

Break and Enter

Ex-Green Beret Victor “Cyke” Kellermann is on the run for a crime he didn’t—well, okay, did commit, but he didn’t realize it at the time. He’s a good guy, a “white hat” hacker for hire. He’s also more teched out than the Bionic Man, though his ailing ’ware creates as many problems as it solves.

His latest series of break-ins are proving…difficult. Sentinel Tech’s security is cutting-edge, and the cops are hounding his ass. He sees only one reason why his employer hasn’t called off the dogs: someone inside is stealing data for real and setting him up to take the fall.

Paramedic-cum-tech-phreak Bear keeps scooping an increasingly battered Cyke off the sidewalk, and each time, his fascination for the fugitive and his mysterious ’ware grows. So does the attraction that makes him reluctant to turn Cyke in. Every time they touch, barriers fall. Before long, they're both laid bare.

Cyke can handle losing blood, even losing consciousness. What he can’t afford is to lose his heart. Distractions like that get people killed—and if he succeeds in unlocking Sentinel Tech’s ugly secrets, he won’t be the only one in the line of fire.

Genre: Cyberpunk, gay erotic romance, action/adventure
Length: 27,000 words (approx 90 pages)
Price: $3.50
ISBN: 978-1-60928-558-6
Publisher Link: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/break-enter-p-6570.html



Glad to have you visit, Rachel!


Now for the prizes!

First: Check out Riptide's blog tour schedule every day until December 31. Visit the sites where the authors are guest blogging or being interviewed, and leave a comment. It’s as easy as that. Each comment earns you one entry in the grand prize drawing for an iPad. Other prizes are a Nook and a Kindle.

In addition, comment below and get a chance to win a back list book from Rachel, excluding Crescendo and Riptide releases. Be sure to leave contact information (either in the comment or through Disqus). The winner will be announced December 20.

Thanks for stopping by!

Master Class by Rachel Haimowitz

Master Class by Rachel Haimowitz
Stars: 5/5

Length: 16,700 words
Blurb
Broadway darling Nicky Avery is a shooting star by night, but by day he bounces from one heartless one-night stand to the next. A quick flogging, a rough lay, a new whip-hand to manipulate—yet still he yearns for something he cannot even name.

He finds his first true hint of satisfaction in Devon Turner, a self-possessed film star and expert Dom. Devon knows what he wants the moment he sees it, and what he wants is Nicky Avery. Nicky’s never learned to trust and has a nasty habit of topping from the bottom, but he learns fast that in the bedroom, Devon won’t tolerate his actor’s masks.

Nicky's a broken boy, but Devon knows exactly how to put his new sub back together. With patience, care, and all the punishments his little pain slut can handle, Devon breaks Nicky down one scene at a time, revealing a mind that yearns to trust and a heart that hungers for the ecstasy of true submission.

Overall
Everything I read with Nicky and Devon makes me want more! Although Nicky plays harder than I'm often comfortable with (even in my fiction), Haimowitz' approach, especially once the reader gets through the initial rough scenes, makes the bond between Devon and Nicky overwhelm any discomfort I have with the beginning.

The first two scenes involve some heavy play, although readers who are familiar with SUBlime will know what they are getting into. For those who haven't read the previous book, I recommend reading Master Class first as it does a better job of showing the beginnings of their relationship, even though it still leaves me wanting more, more, more! Which is good, because then you can enter SUBlime with an appreciation of their standing.

Strengths
With material as sensitive and potentially difficult to handle, the writing becomes a crucial piece of the storytelling (not that it isn't important otherwise) and Haimowitz did an excellent job of exploring Nicky, who needs to feel a strong hand who won't be manipulated, and Devon, who enjoys controlling Nicky, but also who wants to help him. The scenes were handled extraordinarily well, balancing the sexual, the psychological, and the emotional so that by the end the reader is feeling what the characters have gone through. Sensual and breathtaking in some of its rawness.

There is so much potential for stories like this, that toe the line between purely erotic BDSM and story, to suffer for lack of character development. While I do want more of them and want more exploration into their relationship, I felt the amount the reader delves into Nicky and Devon's head, especially Devon's, helps get a grasp on what is happening with the story and the full depth and meaning of what is taking place. It's not just torture or sexual gratification, in fact, it's very little of either as Devon peels back Nicky's layers and reveals the true man inside.

Weaknesses
First a weakness that isn't a weakness: I want more. The ending is satisfying and gives closure, but I still want more, like a spoiled child! The nice thing is I can go back and re-read SUBlime for more Nicky and Devon adventures.

The only real weakness of this novel is that is is NOT for everyone. There is some what is described as "rape fantasy" (although it's not nearly as cruel or rape-ish as other books that have had similar warnings). I wouldn't consider it a rape fantasy, but I think the warning is good, as the first scenes involve force and humiliation and could trigger. Humiliation is a squick for me, but it's not bad enough to really push the off button for me (just to give an idea of it's level of disturbance).

Anchored: Belonging Book One by Rachel Haimowitz

Anchored: Belonging Book One by Rachel Haimowitz
Stars: 5/5

Blurb
Network news anchor Daniel Halstrom is at the top of his field, but being at the bottom of the social ladder—being a slave—makes that hard to enjoy. Especially when NewWorld Media, the company who's owned him since childhood, decides to lease him on evenings and weekends to boost their flagging profits.

Daniel's not stupid; he knows there's only one reason a man would pay so much for what little free time he has, and it's got nothing to do with his knowledge of current events. But he's never been made to serve like that before, and he fears he won't survive the experience with his sanity intact.

He finds himself in the home of Carl Whitman, a talk show host whose words fail him time and again when it comes to ordering Daniel to bed. Daniel knows what Carl wants, but it seems as if Carl isn't willing to take it, and Daniel's not willing to give it freely. His recalcitrance costs him dearly, but with patience and some hard-won understanding, love just might flourish where once there'd been only fear and pain. Can Carl become the anchor in Daniel's turbulent life, or will he end up the weight that sinks his slave for good?

Overall
Although this is shelved with romance novels, if you go into this expecting a romance, you'll probably run screaming. The amount of romance present is minimal and, for the most part, one sided. There is also a (tastefully done) on camera rape scene, a non-sexual flogging, and 80% of the book is Daniel bouncing between terror and panic.

Maybe it says something about me, but I loved it.

While this book by no means gave me warm fuzzies, except for maybe on the last few pages, it was a powerful, moving story of humanity and freedom and the fight to keep a sliver of self. For the majority of the story (80%), I ached for Daniel's situation, never quite crying but definitely hurting for him. The horrors that happen to him are shocking and painful, and some people understandably won't be able to take them. The emotions are raw like the top layers of skin have been peeled back to expose you to the air, stinging and burning, and if everything wasn't written so well and handled so carefully, this story could have fallen down in a pile of creepy, disturbed author. Instead it's wonderful in a horrible, horrible way.

This isn't one of those books I want to read again. This is one of those books I want to read again immediately. (In fact, shortly after finishing this review, I did just that.)

Strengths
Writing. Highly enjoyable, Haimowitz handled some heavy duty, very sensitive subjects well. She paints a very clear picture of what's happening and the world, although we only see glimpses of it.

Characters. Carl. Of all the characters, I find Carl the most interesting because he is so very human. Jane is sweet and tender, sometimes giving Daniel tough love, but still there to support him and help him through rough spots. Mr. F is the villain who you want to lock away in a tiny cell and pretend that sort of inhumanity doesn't exist (even though it does in every world), and Carl is human. He is kind of in love, trying to do the best he can, but he has certain expectations and becomes frustrated when they aren't met. He's not a saint and he's not vicious. He's a good man, but he's not a perfect man and while some events in the novel are his fault, it's his blindness to some elements of reality that leads him to make those mistakes, even when he was just trying to do what was best for Daniel. Overall the characters were great, each in their own way, and colored brightly, and sometimes horribly.

Emotion. I don't think I need to reiterate how much emotion this book evoked from me, but I will. I found it to be extremely powerful and moving in that way that fiction portrays the horrors of reality.

Weaknesses
Carl's ignorance. I was surprised at Carl's lack of understanding about Daniel's situation, but I can also defend it to myself as well. He doesn't understand Daniel's fear, but he's a worldly man who would/should know how some slaves are treated. However, giving him the benefit of the doubt, he's only seen Daniel as a happy, smart slave on television and probably figures Daniel has a good life. Also, he is human (with a bit of a temper), and was expecting a happy, at least somewhat willing bed partner (with some Companion training) and instead got a quivering, terrified man. While his reactions are necessarily always forgivable, they are understandable. Also, his ignorance ends after the Big Event, which I think really opens his eyes. So maybe not a weakness overall, but initially it seemed that way.

SPOILER ALERT
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The ending/characterization. Maybe this will appear in a sequel, but I wish the end had built Daniel and Carl's coping outside the bedroom a little more. Carl (and some reviewers I've seen) make the point that we never see Daniel being suave, witty and functional. I can believe that he is that (because of his airtime), but we know that Daniel is a basket case around Carl because he's terrified, and I would have liked to have seen a scene or two of Daniel being who everyone says he is, possibly with Carl after the big event. I'm perfectly happy with the ending, at least for where Daniel is now, but I think seeing competent Daniel would have been nice too.

Where He Belongs by Rachel Haimowitz

Where He Belongs by Rachel Haimowitz
Stars: 5/5

Notice: While many people who read this book will be reading it after Anchored, I read it before.
Overall
Whenever I read a story that I either really enjoyed or didn't expect to enjoy, I never know what to say. I don't want to gush over it, because I hate giving high expectations that could lead to disappointment--not because the story isn't good, but because the expectations were so high.

That being said, I did enjoy this collection of five short stories, two chapters from Anchored, and a selection from Counterpunch by Aleksandr Voinov. Aside from her collection of stories Sublime, I haven't read any of Haimowitz' work. That, in addition to coming at this collection backwards (having not read the book it's a prequel to), I was worried I wouldn't get it.

I needn't have. The five stories were delightful, all of them bittersweet with an aftertaste of hope. Although each was only a few pages, the characters leaped off the page and many straight into the heart. The bonus chapter previews were enticing enough that the books are now ensured a higher rank on my to-read list.

One last note: I do enjoy the concept of slaves, in fiction. If this is not to your liking, reconsider reading this (although don't discount it completely).

Strengths
Writing. Each of the stories is short, but the concise yet exploratory writing used every inch of the page to draw out the dynamic of characters and the relationships and show glimpses into a world that the reader wants to see more of:

He looks so sad, standing over there all by himself. Lost, too. This isn't his world, and until he has his letters, it never can be. But the way his calloused fingers caress the books, I know it won't be long. He wants to be one of those boys studying at the table in the corner, surrounded by history and politics and current events.

Characters. While each story is a small glimpse at a life, there isn't a lot of plot to speak of. These short stories are mainly character drawings, snapshots of Daniel's life and the men in them, whether they be friends, future lovers, or keepers. We don't see much of them, but what we do see says a lot about them.

Psychology. The character studies are so interesting because humanity and psychology are studied in each vignette as the characters, mainly Daniel, struggles to cope with the idea of being a slave and how people view him because of this and, incidentally, how he views himself. A good, if brief, look inside the mind.

Weaknesses
Nothing in the stories was weak (aside from the fact that, as it always is when the stories are good, I want more). The only complaint I would bring up as being an issue is format, and it is for the "bonus" content:

For people already familiar with Anchored, the two chapters taken from that will seem unnecessary. While I can understand why it made sense to put them before Voinov's contribution, I can see some readers frustrated with having to skip over those two chapters to get to the boxers. However, having not read Anchored, it didn't bother me, although I did read all the prequel stories, skip to Counterpunch then return to the Anchored content.

Sublime: A Collection of Shorts by Rachel Haimowitz

Sublime: A Collection of Shorts by Rachel Haimowitz
Stars: 3/5

Note: This review does not include the last part of the collection, which is the first chapter of the novel Counterpoint.

Overall
This collection is more like an album of snapshots than a series of stories. Each interaction between Sir and Nicky takes place in the span of a couple hours. The writing goes in depth detailing what is happening in each act of submission, but the characters never blossom into fully developed beings. While we are shown brief glimpses into their lives outside of the bedroom (or the kitchen, the living room, etc), it isn't the focus of the story. No plot (not really), but that wasn't the aim of the stories either.

Strengths
BDSM. The stories contained here cover a wide variety of kinks and give fairly good details on the scenes. Much like a variety pack of chips, I liked some more than others, but ended up eating them all anyway. Worth it, if just for the education, with the bonus of no calories to burn off.

Good, strong writing that explained some rather difficult concepts (for the un-initiated) in ways that were accessible. I don't get pony play, but I was happy for Nicky and understood it a little better.

Weaknesses
Development. While I don't mark this collection down for the lack of plot, necessarily, I would love to see more developed characters. It would make quite the hot, steamy novel to see these two develop over a time-line and get more emotional connection to them. For me, this was the weakest part and why it scored so low--if I don't feel emotional connections to the characters, it's hard for me to completely enjoy a book. People who don't need as much squishy heart romance in their books may not be bothered by this.