I am soooooooooooooooooooo tempted to give this a one star review, exclusively for the absolutely HORRIBLE cover.
I mean, this is supposed to be a sexuI am soooooooooooooooooooo tempted to give this a one star review, exclusively for the absolutely HORRIBLE cover.
I mean, this is supposed to be a sexually attractive guy, right?
I've never ever EVER seen anyone as smarmy and looking so much like a mentally challenged car salesman being touted as a billionaire and attractive man. The only things I can think of, when looking at him are grease and headcheese.
U.G.H.
My clitoris shrivels, my nether lips pout and my uterus cramps in disgust just looking at this guy. This is what I run from, when I come across such a creep in a dark alley...
I mean, THIS is preferable. By a mile. And then quite some:
If I rated this, it clearly would be 1*. As I knew, going in, that for one thing both writers are at best sketchy results for me, and that for anotherIf I rated this, it clearly would be 1*. As I knew, going in, that for one thing both writers are at best sketchy results for me, and that for another this is about rentboys and a brothel, I won't rate it.
But then, I also thought that maybe the topic is subverted.*
Which it isn't.
------- spoilers to follow -------
Let me preface this with that even "Pretty Woman", this Disney version of the golden-hearted whore turned into a Cinderella fable, manages to table several of the negative aspects of prostitution.
Let me preface this even further with the fact that every single rentboy and prostitute I know, and I do know quite a few through the scene, suffers in one way or another by what they do or did. Whether the teenager who needs "strafing" BDSM sessions to hurt himself in a distorted simulation of being beaten for what he does by his father, or whether the anorexic hungering himself into oblivion, or the aged, discarded male prostitute trying to find a speck of human warmth, I have yet to meet a "happy" prostitute, who has come away from prostitution cheerfully, enjoying it, and with an intact body and soul. No, I haven't even met this with BDSM prostitutes, who usually don't have penetrative sex with their clients. There's clearly something in the buying and selling of such acts which is bad for the psyche and body.
Not only was the "golden, happy whores" trope not subverted, no, it was even built upon by giving us prostitutes haggling for every move, and selling such behaviour as sexy. Truth be told, after reading this, I had the taste of sour curdled milk on my tongue. I can't help but wonder whether either author would be happy if family members were prostitutes. I wonder whether they actually believe that prostitution is sexy, or of no consequence and as funny as a boarding school summer camp. My ability for suspension of disbelief was stretched too far the moment they tried to make me believe, that there's any sort of wholesome sex and bonding possible while performing for a punter.
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And just to clarify, I do not mind paying 2.99 for a well-written erotic short story. I've bought quite a few Charlotte Mistry shorts in my time, and will still buy short erotica. But only if it is excellent, sexy and erotic, and not as unrealistic as this one, or as denigrating of prostitutes.
*
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is an excellent example for the subversion of the rent boy narrative. Try this one if you want the rentboy falls in love story without being practically insulted by the author(s) as happens here.
I'm very sorry, but I don't want to read LGBT or m/m romance based on actual people with those actual people rubbed in my face. That is super skeevy iI'm very sorry, but I don't want to read LGBT or m/m romance based on actual people with those actual people rubbed in my face. That is super skeevy in my opinion. Yes, many love stories and romance books have their roots in real people the authors have met or loved themselves, but few authors do more than "based on a couple I knew" or "for the greatest love of my life" or "a retelling of such and such a historical affair" and have a nod at "A." or "my great-grandparents".
Brandon Witt has sounded the "skeever/tasteless bell" for me several times already, a major reason why I have been avoiding his latest books despite liking his prose. Unfortunately this here won the coconut. The big attraction of romance is the fantasy, and even though I want to read realistic behaviour in the MCs, I sure as hell don't want to drool over actual people, and above all I don't want to have those people thrust into my face.
Authors, do keep the sources of your inspiration to yourselves please!
**spoiler alert** Caveat: M. Caspian is a GR friend.
As with Lisa Henry's The Last Rebellion I can't give this any rating. It was written to a prompt, **spoiler alert** Caveat: M. Caspian is a GR friend.
As with Lisa Henry's The Last Rebellion I can't give this any rating. It was written to a prompt, hits the prompt full-on, is much liked by the promptgiver, so it would be unfair to rate according to my gut reaction. Not just that, I also have a problem with content vs. intent and the quality of the storytelling in relation to how I would rate due the subject.
"Mine" is an extremely well and underhandedly told story of child abuse, child grooming, and in the end of the consummation of the grooming achievements. What comes along as an alleged BDSM-romance, given its origins, is actually a tale of horrific exploitation. The final scene couldn't be any more devastating, grim or vile and left a distinct taste of sexual horror at the back of my throat. In its straight lance for the guts it is very similar to What Comes To Hand, which isn't that astounding if one knows that Caspian is also part of that author team. This reminds me a lot of several bizarro books I read in the past year, and it certainly isn't any less gruesome.
Minor, but important niggle: I really think this one needs better tags and warnings! The slightly humoristic warning blurb doesn't really prepare the unwary for what is to follow.
I found nothing erotic or romantic in this. I detest the usual run of alpha males, but read this on the This is clearly a case of "it's me, not you".
I found nothing erotic or romantic in this. I detest the usual run of alpha males, but read this on the off chance that this just described the warrior/soldier angle. Not so, these men were stereotypical. Unfortunately the writing style was mainly telling instead of showing, which didn't connect me to the story or characters. The sex was of the kind I've read a few times too often to titillate me anymore and about 40% in I started skimming. When I read about "globes of ass" and "kiss-plump lips" I'd reached the end of my patience.
But lots of people seem to like this, so there....more
Well, there was no romance in this. No gay men, no romance, no UST, nothing to hang my sympathy on or find some relief from what was - essentially - oWell, there was no romance in this. No gay men, no romance, no UST, nothing to hang my sympathy on or find some relief from what was - essentially - one long dark tale of gruesome prejudice and betrayal.
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What did I expect? Well, something along the lines of what James Herriot wrote in his reminiscences of that era. A soviet POW working on a farm, and the farmer and he falling for each other. Maybe even getting away, at least having the POW survive. That's how I interpreted the prompt, and that is why I had it on my radar.
My thanks to the author for their participation and effort in the Love is an Open Road event....more
Steelwhisper
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