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Power Play: Resistance (Power Play #1)

by Rachel Haimowitz (Goodreads Author), Cat Grant (Goodreads Author)

3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 · rating details · 482 ratings · 164 reviews

Give me six months, and I'll give you the world.

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 fe...more

ebook, 267 pages

Published April 9th 2012 by Riptide Publishing (first published April 6th 2012)

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May 05, 2012 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: power-imbalance

Sure, I'll be your sub: wait, is that a ...?!!

Riveting and enthralling book. Although it's fairly long it's such a page-turner that it seemed very short.

This is not actually a book about a BDSM relationship, although it deals with these kinds of sexual activities, and the heart of the book is the nature of consent. If you like Sean Michael BDSM books, consider carefully if you want to read this: there is no "Mine," "Yours," "It's big," or "I see you." There is, instead, a lot of pain. And extrem...more

45 likes · like · see review

Jun 24, 2012 Jo * Smut-Dickted * rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: I truly don't know. Just read it.

Shelves: m-m, read-on-kindle, bdsm-gbc-picked, abuse-damaged-h-h, capture-dubcon-slave, favorites

I'm going to do something I have never done. I'm giving a 5 star rating to a book that made me sob like my heart was broken. I'm talking gut wrenching, full on absolute and utter breakdown. I don't think it would be inaccurate to say this book shredded me raw and left me bleeding on the floor. Life imitating art.

I know this is classified as BDSM. And in places that would be right. However I would be lying if I did not say I also think it is abuse and torture. It is about the breaking of a human...more

33 likes · like · see review

Sep 09, 2012 Jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angst-drama, m-m, series, slave-bsdm, depressing, enemies-to-lovers, i-own, jerry-springer-or-oprah-ready, kindle, mc-is-a-tool, to-review, wtf-moments

This will be a review rant and there will be tons and tons and tons of spoilers so don't read if that's not your thing. This rating stands depending on the next book. I have some ideas of what's going on and where it's heading. However, the last 4% had me a bit perplexed so if it doesn't head in a different direction I might change my rating. This book is very well written, but it pissed me the hell off. Ok Spoiler time.

(view spoiler)...more This will be a review rant and there will be tons and tons and tons of spoilers so don't read if that's not your thing. This rating stands depending on the next book. I have some ideas of what's going on and where it's heading. However, the last 4% had me a bit perplexed so if it doesn't head in a different direction I might change my rating. This book is very well written, but it pissed me the hell off. Ok Spoiler time.

(view spoiler)

I already bought the second one and plan on starting it tonight. If the authors can convince me that Jonathan knows he was wrong, then it will be a brilliant series.

(less)

16 likes · like · see review

Aug 27, 2012 oceankitty rated it 5 of 5 stars

This might turn out to be the most difficult review I've ever written. The book was superb. I'm totally exhausted. I don't like BDSM, or rather I should say; I'm not into BDSM. I have no understanding of a sadist's need to inflict pain and control. I do understand the masochist's need to be submissive, but not the need to receive pain. Which leaves me pretty vanilla I guess, or rather boring.

Why then did I like this book so much? What had me sitting up almost all night and then toss and turn th...more This might turn out to be the most difficult review I've ever written. The book was superb. I'm totally exhausted. I don't like BDSM, or rather I should say; I'm not into BDSM. I have no understanding of a sadist's need to inflict pain and control. I do understand the masochist's need to be submissive, but not the need to receive pain. Which leaves me pretty vanilla I guess, or rather boring.

Why then did I like this book so much? What had me sitting up almost all night and then toss and turn the rest of the night so that I was a total zombie at work the next day? I'll tell you. This book is so intense, so riveting, that I could not, WOULD not, put it down. However Cat Grant and Rachel Haimowitz came to write this book together, it is a match made in heaven. They both are outstanding authors on their own, but here they manage to add to each others skills in such a way that there is more or less nothing to complain about.

I have never liked pain nor have I ever had the need to inflict it. That doesn't mean that I can't understand what this book is about. If the story had been told from only Bran's POW, this would have been a book about abuse and torture. Bran certainly thinks that's what he suffers at Jonathan's hands. Hidden somewhere deep within him there's a submissive longing for release. Bran has had to fight for himself for so long that he no longer knows how to let go. Even though he knows, deep in his heart, what Jonathan is trying to do, he is unable to stop fighting. And so he suffers.

But we don't get to see only how Bran perceive what's going on, we also get Jonathan's perspective.
He freely admits to being a sadist. He likes to inflict pain and he likes to be in control. But he clearly states that he is no psychopath. He struggles with himself and his decisions continuously, and he is fast becoming more exhausted by Bran's resistance than Bran himself. Jonathan knows that hidden within Bran there is a beautiful diamond, but how is he ever going to crack that hard shell without destroying Bran's soul in the process? How is he going to convince Bran that it is okay to let go, that he can trust Jonathan to keep him safe?

The struggle between them leave them both raw and exhausted, and me even more so while I read this book. There are so many painful and outright disturbing scenes in this book that anyone would need to take a break or skip a few pages. But that wouldn't be fair to Bran and Jonathan. You need to struggle along with them. You need to follow through to the end.

If you are very vanilla you have already decided that this isn't a book for you. If you are like me, more curious than a cat, you will find that all your questions about what BDSM really is all about will be answered. It is painful and exhausting to read, yes. You will be totally wrung out. But somewhere within yourself a door will open and so your eyes will open too.(less)

12 likes · like · see review

Oct 30, 2012 Juls rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, unexpected-ending, favorites, mind-f-ck, dark

not for the faint of hearts!!

started off so sweet and before I knew it the power struggle of epic proportion was on!

a bargain has been set and both Jonathan and Bran won't give in. even tho Bran is physically taking all he's thrown and regardless of Jonathan being a sadist its a harsh road for both involved.

I was happy to see both their POV's. I knew Jonathan wasnt a complete ass who got off on hurting ppl like he portrayed and that there's more to Bran than his tough exterior shell.

the end wa...more

4 likes · like · see review

May 20, 2012 Feliz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, bdsm, m-m

Hard to read and hard to rate.

This book was incredibly intense, it kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the time. At times what Jonathan did to Bran definitely exceeded non-con; it rather read as if Jonathan was brainwashing him, and I could feel all the frustration, the exhaustion both characters went through. I wanted to scream at Jonathan, you idiot! Can't you see you got it all wrong! and at Bran, get outta there fast and fuck the money, this isn't worth it, not even three million dol...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 17, 2012 Virginia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: content-bdsm-hardcore, fiction-contemporary, genre-mm, 2012

Read this one with the 2nd book. Looking back, I enjoyed this one more reading the books back to back because it was so much easier to see the progression of their relationship. These are two people of incredible stubborness who are clearly made for each other - even though they don't seem at face value like a good fit as a dom and sub.

We get a lot of pages between the 2 books to see that progression which I greatly enjoyed. The progression of their relationship felt more realistic. Too often in...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Dee Wy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, m-m, m-m-contemporary, pub-2012, bittersweet, over-250-pgs

3.5 stars - Let me first say that seeing reviews on this book before reading it was a great help to prepare me for what was to come. NO ROMANCE HERE! Attraction and lust yes. Likewise there was little Total Power Exchange between these two, as Bran found it nearly impossible to submit willingly and did so only to avoid harsh punishments when he could manage to actually submit, forcing Jonathan to use pain and punishment to try to break Bran's stubborn resistance. Both characters seemed to follow...more

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May 14, 2013 Dreamer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance, erotica, bdsm, kindle, omg, lip-bitingly-good, humour, 5-star, unputdownable, slave, love-a-bad-boy, abuse, dark, tortured-hero, angst

6 stars. Adore this book, my third read, just love Rachel Haimowitz. I found considerable guilty pleasure in reading this humourous, unputdownable m/m bdsm romance. Recommended for open-minded connoisseurs of this genre. Really enjoyed Bran's inner dialogue..

Computer billionaire and Dom Jonathan agrees to give Bran $3 million dollars to buy a construction business if he completes six months as his live-in sub.
description

"Since this is probably the last time you'll ever let me speak for the next five and a...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Future Slayer Girl (aka: kitten) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars, anal-play, bdsm, cage-play, contemporary, double-penetration, favorite, heavy-spanking, hotly-ever-after, impact-play, m-m, received-for-honest-review, recommended-read, spanking, rachel-haimowitz, riptide-publishing

This review is going to be my new mountain to climb. Normally, when I read a book, I instantly write a review.

With this one, I couldn’t.

It was one of those books that does everything a book is supposed to do. Make you laugh, make you cry, make you pissed off, make you scream at the book!

I think the thing that was hardest about this book, was I didn’t really know who I needed to side with this most. In the long run, I needed to be on the side of both characters, because at the end of the day, t...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Helle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: challenge-2013, m-m, bdsm, out-of-comfort-zones, abuse, favorites, non-con, fisting

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Power Play is a harsh, violent and frightening book about bdsm world. In this world, there are good enough safe word, but what does this when the person who has control of you has a different limit as you and ignore your calls to stop.

You follow Brandon/Bran working to make buildings he has experienced the harsh world and survived, know to manage without help and have tried to live on the street. He is a person who is strong, stubborn in mind and body,

Jonathan is the rich only child who has neve...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 09, 2012 Kerry sullivan rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-fiction, romance, did-not-finish

This book was reviewed for Musings of a bookworm

I was looking forward to reading this book as I do like books that deal with BDSM and edge play. However I kind of wish I hadn't bothered because Jonathan was a total prick! He took a man who had never been a sub in any way shape or form and expected him to conform. Now had he sat him down and shown him some stuff on the net that he was expected to do and be part of. So, for me it makes what he does to Brandon cruel, and yes I know he is a sadist,...more

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May 09, 2012 DarienMoya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, fave-books-of-2012, let-the-tears-flow, my-m-m-lovin, piss-off-books-of-2012, tie-me-up-and-use-me, release-2012, pants-off-reviews

Let me begin by saying that this book was just surprises, rises, and falls. Cat and Rachel did something wonderful in this book, and left me in love with Power Play and its characters. Dynamics were switched, emotions put to the test, mistakes were made, and its one of the best BDSM novels I have read. What a pants losing this one caused.

Brandon McKinney has been on his own for a long time; he knows the meaning of a hard life and depends on no one but himself. He’s a ‘slam bam thank you man’ kin...more Let me begin by saying that this book was just surprises, rises, and falls. Cat and Rachel did something wonderful in this book, and left me in love with Power Play and its characters. Dynamics were switched, emotions put to the test, mistakes were made, and its one of the best BDSM novels I have read. What a pants losing this one caused.

Brandon McKinney has been on his own for a long time; he knows the meaning of a hard life and depends on no one but himself. He’s a ‘slam bam thank you man’ kinda guy when it comes to sexual encounters. He doesn’t want anyone to get too close, because that would involve a little trust, and trust isn’t really a Bran thing. When he’s approached by a man who clearly looks like he should be hanging uptown instead of Chinatown, Bran think he’s gonna get his dick wet and walk away. What transpires in the alley behind bar leaves Bran shaken, and the little man who literally brought him to his knees engraved in his mind.

Jonathan is a self-made billionaire, use to the finer things in life but he’s worked very hard for his things. As a Dom he’s able to recognize the sub in a person, and he’s getting that vibe from Bran, and he wants nothing more than to have him is his bed, and to play in his dungeons. He knows getting Bran to play will be difficult, but he’s willing to work on brining out the submissive in the man because he feels the payout will be worth it. So what does one offer a man that would make him his submissive? Something he wants above all else, in a shiny package and only 6months to get it.

It’s not hard to recognize that there will be disaster ahead, with Brandon’s past of being abused by his father and the things that Jonathan wants from him. Jonathan as a Dom is unrelenting and set in his ways and Bran though submissive to certain things is finding it hard to give up complete control. The men clash and cause more harm than good, and somehow along the way it becomes a battle of power with the seasoned Dom, losing the essence of what it truly means to Dom. I am no expert when it comes to D/s elements but Mr Jonathan Watkins makes some mistakes. It became more about breaking Brandon than nurturing him to his submissive nature.

Bran is not free of my wrath, he just became too stubborn and could have caused himself harm along the way, and his pigheadedness really got under Jonathans’ skin, which caused world war three in fancy apartment of Mr Watkins. Though Bran voice is the carrier in the book, I have yet to truly learn anything about him. I know enough but not nearly enough, because Jonathan was to be his voice and his carrier but he just became his enabler to nothing (if that makes sense). The line between hurt/harm was crossed, because both men were just not in the right headspace to be playing with whips, chains, and tasers. Which leads me to a realistic conclusion, that sometimes even the most knowing of individuals makes mistakes and it takes a strong person to come back from those mistakes.

As I much as I loved this book, I am also somewhat disappointed. I perturbed by Jonathan’s behaviour and thinks that he needs to do some serious apologizing. I am disappointed in Bran because he threw his safety out the window trying to stick it to Jonathan. I am disturbed by Jonathan’s cook; she probably has a dungeon of kinky delights in her own home. I am terrified that I found myself laughing aloud at the most shocking of times ‘Miss Grant and Haimowitz have a twisted sense of humour’. Also… I am seriously in love with Jonathan, though as Bran would say “he fucking terrifies me”.

Overall, Power Play: Resistance is splendid and fascinating. It’s gripping and pushes your boundaries, while remaining sensual and erotic. I do love Bran and John together, and they have like a Mount Everest worth of growing to do. At this point all I’m thinking is “Who am I gonna have to sleep with to speed up time?” I want it to be June already.

More of my reviews and ramblings at PANTS OFF REVIEWS

(less)

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Apr 15, 2012 TheFountainPenDiva rated it 4 of 5 stars

Normally, I hate books featuring millionaires/billionaires/gazillionaires who are dominants because usually the sub isn't and the book ends up reading more like 'Pretty Woman' with whips. In this case, we're talking a three-million dollar payout for six months of a man's life. It also says loud and clear that only the rich get to indulge in all the toys of the BDSM lifestyle. So much for us regular janes who are 'stuck' using clothespins and rope from The Home Depot, lol. Seriously, fancy dungeo...more Normally, I hate books featuring millionaires/billionaires/gazillionaires who are dominants because usually the sub isn't and the book ends up reading more like 'Pretty Woman' with whips. In this case, we're talking a three-million dollar payout for six months of a man's life. It also says loud and clear that only the rich get to indulge in all the toys of the BDSM lifestyle. So much for us regular janes who are 'stuck' using clothespins and rope from The Home Depot, lol. Seriously, fancy dungeon descriptions bore me to tears because for some strange reason these fancy dungeons with all the latest and most expensive toys have become de rigueur in BDSM fiction to the point where I think I'm reading through the JT's Stockroom catalogue rather than a supposedly "hot" and edgy tale.

That's one reason why I'm of mixed feelings about this book. The other reason is while the S/M scenes were very intense, I never really felt enough of an emotional connection to either Brandon or Jonathan (though I think I understood Brandon a little more). I felt as if I were really on the outside looking in rather than inside of their minds and souls. I really liked them as characters, but it felt as if both were hiding their true selves from me as a reader. And I'm sorry, but Jonathan's 'research' on Brandon felt a little too close to stalking. Then again, being the only child of fabulously open parents (plus being given a real first name that is hippy to the core) probably means that Jonathan's idea of privacy and boundaries are a damn sight different from anyone else's.

And yes Virginia, I am so done with the abused sub trope. It has been way overused (abused to the point of ridiculousness) and personally I feel validates the vanilla belief that only mentally/physically messed-up people enjoy BDSM.

So why four stars? Well, because I get that this book is titled Power Play: Resistance and that it's the first part of a longer story. I get the "resistance" part and Brandon as mouthy sub drives even me, a former top, to distraction. On the other hand, this world is totally new to him and honestly, Jonathan as a supposedly knowledgeable dominant does a pretty crappy job explaining to his new and highly untrained sub just what is required of him. And yet, I just don't quite understand Brandon's willingness (the money notwithstanding) to submit to a man he barely knows. This is a man with serious trust issues stemming from parental abuse giving up control to a guy he blew in the back of a bar? True love/lust doth this not make.

What also makes me give this four stars is Jonathan. I really need to know more about him, his life and what got him into this world in the first place. He's out of his depth here and as time and patience wears on, he knows it. I like dominants who aren't all-seeing and perfect. I like when they question their motives and/or don't get things right. I liked the fact that while he understood all the mechanics--the panic button, the hanky, safewording--he'd finally come across a man who pushes all the wrong buttons, makes him actually feel something and even re-evaluate his beliefs. In short, Jonathan's that human dominant that so many stories in this vein tend to gloss over.

If there's one character who truly shines here, it's the unflappable housekeeper Sybrina. Even though she only shows up in a few scenes, this woman is quite memorable and hell, who needs either guy when she herself would make a damn good top?

In spite of feeling that I never really knew Brandon or Jonathan very well, there's something about these two that make me want to read about them again and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book. I'm hoping the next book fills in the blanks. (less)

9 likes · like · see review

Jan 11, 2013 Veronica / V added it

Shelves: kinky-hard-core-authors, new-year-resolution, out-of-comfort-zone, big-girl-hat-come-on-you-can-do-it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

1 like · like · see review

Apr 27, 2012 Page Crusherz rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm really conflicted on this book. I debated giving it a 1 or a 2, because after just finishing it, I feel pretty sour against it, but the writing was good and I did enjoy reading it, mostly.

Here are my major concerns:

I'm not into the BDSM scene, but I think I am fairly well educated on it. I felt like a LOT of it went wrong in this book, and it was only highlighted in the ending. THe big missing factor was communication, and its absence made this whole thing feel really unsafe. I get that Bran...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Ery rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favs

Sure - I knew what I was getting into... I'd read the reviews, hadn't I? And, well, this IS Haimowitz & Grant we're talking about here, right? Of course there is going to be some hard, painful lovin.

I got much more than I bargained for. I hadn't fully trusted those who whispered words of warning in my ear. I hadn't expected the supremely tortuous, gritty reality of the story. The heart-wrenching empathy, sorrow, and yes - hatred I felt while reading. I tried to stop reading, but the story wo...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Leanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, dub-con, mm, restricted-freedom, trauma-abuse, hot, extreme, hurt-comfort

I loved the no holds barred intensity of this story- both psychological and emotional, while physically...**coughs**... it had me wincing and gritting my teeth more than few times. The non-stop battle of wits and struggle for power was exhilarating one minute (phwoar!!!!)and exhausting and sad the next.

(view spoiler)...more

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 15, 2012 Stacey rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own, bdsm, m-m, buddy-read

I'm waiting until I read the second book to give my stars and review. Otherwise I may be too pissed to be fair in my rating. Fuck that, I AM too pissed to review this right now.

Update 9/15/12:
Yeah, second book finished. Two stars it is.

1 like · like · see review

Apr 08, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, m-m, slave

Books don't usually annoy me, but this one did, since I find it hard to see one of the main characters, Jonathan, as anything but a rich sadistic jerk. Bran, Jonathan's "love" interest, has some annoying features too - the "I'm not a whore" gets a little taxing after the first few times, especially since accepting $3 million to be someone's sex slave for 6 months does qualify him for that tag. (view spoiler)...more

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May 17, 2013 Christoph Fischer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Intrigued by the current wave of sexuality exploring main stream literature in the book charts I requested this book from a review site to see what the fuzz is all about. Far from being prude I was looking forward to this.
I found the storyline initially somewhat imbalanced and also predictable, mainly because the meeting of the two main characters was not well enough set up and established. However, I as I read on I started to get the dynamic between the two men who enter into a contractually se...more

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Apr 15, 2013 LiveYourLife BuyTheBook rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: faye, riptide, verra-good

4.5 Stars

Billionaire tech genius, Jonathan Watkins, meets undereducated home builder, Brandon McKinney, in a dive bar in San Francisco’s Chinatown. It’s lust at first sight. After a few very intense sexual encounters and conversations that bring to light a mutual interest in green technologies. Jonathan wants to use his money to help Brandon realize his goal of his own business. He offers Brandon the opportunity to be his sub for six months in exchange for enough money to buy his own business. U...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Yaro rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2013, reviewed

It's hard to rate something like this, especially since by the middle of the book I was way out of my comfort zone. This features a BDSM relationship, where the submissive is new to the scene while the dominant is the more comfortable one and teaches the submissive. Well that's all fine. I must admit that in the beginning, I was reminded of Fifty Shades of Grey with the contract and introduction to some aspects of BDSM. However, toward the middle of the book or rather closer to the end when it t...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Lana rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Nobody I know.

I don’t understand Jonathan’s move from zero (meeting Bran at the bar) to 200 (spending $8K on a suit, cooking him dinner and cuffing him to the bed the next night), why he’s so enamored of Bran that he’s pushing so far, so fast. I got the fast face-frak in the alley the night they meet - people do that all the time, but the rest? Not so much.

I did not find either of the men to be in-character as they were described. Jonathan is not sadistic, or was not portrayed to be, despite the fact that he...more I don’t understand Jonathan’s move from zero (meeting Bran at the bar) to 200 (spending $8K on a suit, cooking him dinner and cuffing him to the bed the next night), why he’s so enamored of Bran that he’s pushing so far, so fast. I got the fast face-frak in the alley the night they meet - people do that all the time, but the rest? Not so much.

I did not find either of the men to be in-character as they were described. Jonathan is not sadistic, or was not portrayed to be, despite the fact that he said he was more than once - he struggles internally too much to be someone who enjoys giving pain.

This story was not romantic or sexy or sensuous or erotic or even educational about the S&M lifestyle. I just kept hoping there was something there, and it never showed up. If this is truly an example of a TPE, I want no part of that. At all.

Bran is too Alpha to really be a sub - he struggles too much internally to enjoy submitting to someone else, and he does not enjoy the pain. His body responds, no doubt, and he says he’s having some of the best sex of his life, but seriously, except when he's actually orgasming, he's not enjoying any of it. Three million dolllars is not worth the kind of mind-frak Jonathan’s putting him through.

Jonathan punished Bran more than once for using his safeword. It’s only OK to use it if Jonathan thinks Bran is actually at his limit. I get the concept of not using the safeword willy-nilly, but there were at least two times that Bran's internal dialogue told me he was at his limit, and Jonathan ignored it and kept going. What's the point of even having a safe-word?

Basically, at the end of this book, I’m left wondering why Jonathan wants to Top someone he can't respect, why Bran can’t tell Jonathan and his three million to buzz off, and why either of them are even doing this. Except for the first time in the alley, none of the sex was hot - I didn’t get the feeling Bran was willingly engaged at any time, just his body.

If my mind is elsewhere during sex, as in “not there at all” there is something wrong, and the person with me should notice. I’m not talking about the pain/pleasure of subspace, but the mind going away because what’s happening to the body is unacceptable.

Aside from all that, the book was well-written and I found few errors of the technical kind. Any BDSM errors are in my own mind, because my personal experience with the lifestyle is minimal. Other people obviously enjoyed the book, and maybe this review, with details about what I didn't like will help someone else decide to read or not to read, based on their personal preferences. Good luck!(less)

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Jan 14, 2013 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a scary read for a vanilla person like me. The way most of the book moved in the grey area between consent and abuse, sometimes crossing the line, really made my head spin. I was repulsed and fascinated, and I couldn't stop reading. I was uncomfortable throughout the book, and I still want to give it 4 stars. It's well written, both regarding the language and the characters. Jonathan and Bran are well fleshed out, they feel like real people. Especially Bran, my heart went out to him and...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Mel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, erotica, e-book, netgalley

Power Play: Resistance is the first book in Rachel Haimowitz and Cat Grant's Power Play series. It was a somewhat difficult book to read and an even more difficult book to review.

Jonathan Watkins is a self-made billionaire with certain sexual proclivities. Brandon McKinney is a contractor who has worked his ass off his whole life and still only manages to scrape by. After a brief yet hot encounter, Jonathan makes Brandon an offer; Brandon is to give up his life for 6 months, become Jonathan's su...more Power Play: Resistance is the first book in Rachel Haimowitz and Cat Grant's Power Play series. It was a somewhat difficult book to read and an even more difficult book to review.

Jonathan Watkins is a self-made billionaire with certain sexual proclivities. Brandon McKinney is a contractor who has worked his ass off his whole life and still only manages to scrape by. After a brief yet hot encounter, Jonathan makes Brandon an offer; Brandon is to give up his life for 6 months, become Jonathan's submissive and in exchange he'll receive the 3 millions dollars he needs to buy the business he has been working for. Seems like a more than generous arrangement considering the fact that sex with Jonathan is outstanding but what exactly would Bran really be signing on for?

Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE fan of the BDSM genre and kinda knew what I would be getting when I requested this book for review. No I wasn't expecting it to necessarily be a romance but I did expected more than just sadism with no real sense of anything more. A little more than halfway through the book I found Bran as nothing more than a slave who is being punished repeatedly for things he doesn't really understand.

As the story progressed and Bran FINALLY realized what position he had really put himself in and what he had to do to make the circumstances better I found that he was just being stubborn and a huge pain in the ass. Yes I realize that BDSM isn't for everyone and though Bran had submissive tendencies, he didn't cross me and the D/s 24/7 type. He seems to me to be just a sexual submissive stuck in a bad situation. Not once did I ever feel any real connection between Jonathan and Bran and it got to a point where it wasn't in the least bit engrossing. I actually put down the book more than once before finally finishing it.

While I still consider myself a fan of the BDSM genre, I think I'll stick with books where the parties involved are more into the act and not made out to be slaves who struggle without reward. I guess that Power Play: Resistance and the Power Play series just aren't for me. It's not that I find the subject matter dark-and-disturbing, I just need more than just punishment-after-punishment and one uncomfortable situation after another. I need passion involved with my BDSM and passion was seriously lacking in this book.

*ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY*
(less)

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Nov 29, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 4 of 5 stars

First in the Power Play supposedly BDSM gay series. The couple focus is on Brandon and Jonathan.

I received this story from the publisher.

My Take
This is sick. If this is what BDSM is about, I so do not want any! Brandon needs a chunk of change to pursue his dream and when Jonathan makes him a deal for six months of his time for the money, Brandon figures, what can it hurt.

Turns out, it can hurt A LOT. Jonathan starts out by wanting to be friends and get to know each other. But what he really mea...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Jaya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: okay, series, slashreaders

Slash Readers: "Power Play", was a book that both irritated me and kept me hooked. On one hand I was interested enough in the story and the character to keep reading past the first book and into the second one. But on the other hand I did this mostly because BK one really ends right in the middle of the story. These two books could be combined into one larger volume and it would work just as well.

However, the truth is the idea behind these books aren't really a new one. Man meet's man, one is do...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Annette Gisby rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "While consent is clearly established and frequently reaffirmed, some moments in Power Play push hard against the outer edges of consent."

I thought I knew what I was getting in to when I read that publisher's warning, but I was wrong. This book is intense and not for the faint of heart. There were some scenes I felt pushed way beyond safe, sane and consensual for me. Jonathan tells Brandon he may use a safeword only when he needs to, not just when he wants to and it is Jonathan who will decide w...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Danny Tyran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm

Great BDSM book!
Brandon has had a hard life and has made something of himself all on his own. He keeps to himself, works hard and tries to work on his dream. So when the opportunity to make that dream come true arose, he went full out to get it. Did he think it through enough? Did he fully know what he was getting into? These are some of the questions that have been coming up in review sites. But for me, it doesn't matter. He knew what he wanted. He went after it no matter the cost. Was it fair?...more Great BDSM book!
Brandon has had a hard life and has made something of himself all on his own. He keeps to himself, works hard and tries to work on his dream. So when the opportunity to make that dream come true arose, he went full out to get it. Did he think it through enough? Did he fully know what he was getting into? These are some of the questions that have been coming up in review sites. But for me, it doesn't matter. He knew what he wanted. He went after it no matter the cost. Was it fair? Consensual? Abuse? Torture? The answers vary from reader to reader. For me it was what it was. Brandon was not misinformed. He had the opportunity to educate himself, ask questions and set limits. He consented. Be it in the form of a signed contract or just by not using his safe word or walking out. For me it was not abuse nor torture. Yes, the scenes were hardcore. He was beaten and humiliated and a whole other set of things. But he was given the choice. And he kept making the wrong one.

"Learning to trust someone like that, so deeply, so completely. Learning to move past your strongest barriers, face your deepest fears...It would change your life, Brandon. And not just because of the money waiting for you at the end."

As for Jonathan, I think that he suffered also. A self-confessed sadist who tried at every turn to get Brandon to submit to him, Jonathan's part in this journey was very complicated. He has been painted as an abuser by some, unrecognized as a Dom by most. But was he? I don't know if he was a Master or not. It's not my place to say. But he was not an abuser. He was very clear on what he wanted from Brandon - total submission. He saw something in him that he felt he could enhance and bring to the surface. Was he mistaken? Most likely. I don't see Brandon as a submissive person. Just like I don't see Jonathan as an abuser. Yes he took great pleasure in inflicting pain, but he was very tender and very caring to Brandon, when Brandon pleased him. He also questioned himself and wanted Brandon to experience the best of the lifestyle. He wanted him to let go, to trust, to open himself to a new world and just LET GO.

"It's all right to let go, Brandon. It's all right to want. You don't have to be on guard all the time."

In all honesty, I cried and laughed throughout the book. Yes, laughed. Brandon knew what he had to do yet he kept being stubborn and doing his best to test Jonathan. Did he suffer? Heck yeah, he did. But he could have avoided it. Was it painful reading what he went through? Of course it was. I DO have a heart. I cried with him, I laughed at his outbursts and his inner rants and in the end I was yelling for him to safeword, to get out of Dodge. To claim his dues and get on with his life if he could. But he was so proud. So unwilling to let go of that hard won pride, the one he had to build for himself alone in the world at such a young age, he held onto it, time and time again. And that pride was what brought in the shame - in himself, his desires, his needs. For me, it was the shame, along with his pride that made it all so hard and painful.

" Shame has no place in these walls. This, here, now? Is all about your pleasure. Embrace it. Let it wash over you. Be strong enough to be helpless to it, to succumb to it, to revel in it."

The authors, Rachel Haimowitz and Cat Grant, outdid themselves. I thought the writing was excellent. Every scene carefully thought out, every word deliberately placed, every emotion described for its utmost impact. The characters were complex and exactly what the story demanded. The reactions, the outbursts, the submission, the sex and the dialog worked seamlessly together to bring this story of need and want and pain and hurt to the page.

It left me reeling, apprehensive, anticipating - it made me want more. Yes, I wanted more. I wanted them to get through this, stay together in this journey of self-discovery and acceptance. I wanted them to connect, to find what they both were looking for and to find it with each other. Am I willing to continue to see Brandon being beaten and broken down? In a heartbeat. Because when he went there, when he first let go and accepted it, albeit for the wrong reasons, it was beautiful. Can you imagine how it could be if Brandon truly let go? If he gave himself to the unknown and trust Jonathan to catch him and guide him through it? I think it would be an amazing read. So with that being said, I bid you farewell and happy reading. I'll already be immersed in book 2 as you are reading this.

"Submission is strength. Willpower. Iron control. It's trust, and relaxation, and rest, and pleasure." (less)

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About Rachel Haimowitz

M/M erotic romance author, freelance writer and editor, sadist with a pesky conscience, shamelessly silly, proudly pervish. I'm a twitter addict (@rachelhaimowitz), and I blog every M/W/F at Fantasy Unbound. To learn all about my current and upcoming projects, please stop by my website. I love to hear from folks, so feel free to drop me a line anytime at metarachel (at) gmail (dot) com.

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