Safeword Davenport (Safeword #4)

Jul 10, 2012 Michael Dunellen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: masochists-who-enjoy-a-good-beating, supportive-gay-supporting-character, tis-better-to-have-loved-and-lost, bdsm-clubs-of-nashville, wax-on-wax-off, lifestyles-of-the-rich-and-dommish

This was an exploration of something I hadn't really thought of before a few months ago. I used to think of submissiveness and masochism as two sides of the same coin. I have come to realize lately that there really is a difference - you can be a submissive without being a masochist, it just isn't always easy. But this was a very serious look at the reverse - can you be a masochist without being a submissive? Dana wasn't sure but I think in the end she found the answer she was looking for as wel...more

like 9 likes · see review

Oct 02, 2012 Jacqueline rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, borrowed-kindle-reads

My review might skew the results here but this is what I felt about the book. It was very clinical and seemed like a primer on how to have a BDSM relationship. Every t crossed and i dotted. Very dry. I didn't find it sexy at all. There was much more about the heroine getting over her dead husband than anything else really and the hero was very secondary in this story. As an added note, having accidentally hit an electric fence too many times in my life, the idea of electricity being in any way e...more

like 5 likes · see review

Nov 27, 2012 Cynthia (aka Artemis) rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those interested in BDSM Erotica

Shelves: bdsm, author-requested-review, erotica

Reviewed at Bitten By Paranormal Romance

The warning label above is there for good reason. SAFEWORD: Davenport is a novel about Dana learning to move on with her life, after suffering the loss of her husband, by rediscovering herself through BDSM.

Dana meets Zach when he hires her to redesign/redecorate his home. His wife, Bethany, passed away about the same time Dana’s husband, Garnet, did, and wants the house to reflect more of his style. Although, dead and gone, both Bethany and Garnet play con...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 23, 2012 Steelwhisper rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm-sm-novels, abuse, dmc

I wished I could give this a better review. I really do. I was rather hard on myself and it took me several weeks to decide on this review.

The reason I am so reluctant is that I agree with Ms Blevins that we need BDSM novels which are about the real BDSM out there, instead of just some figment of the imagination. She tries hard to achieve this and in some areas she certainly has made the cut.

Unfortunately however there is so much else wrong with this book that it almost entirely outweighs the go...more

like 1 like · see review

Nov 25, 2012 Sassafrass rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, bdsm, challenge-books-2012

This was unbelievable. Seriously. I've said this before about the Safeword books, but this series is really heavy on the S/m and is pretty intense, so it's not for the faint of heart. It's not for those who just want a little light spanking and saying "Yes, Sir".

But, if you are looking to go beyond light kink looking into the psychology of BDSM, I think you'd like this series. But about Safeword Davenport specifically, I think that this is my favorite book of them all so far. Dana and Zach were...more

like · see review

Nov 16, 2012 Riane Kinky Book Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

As reviewed on Kinky Book Reviews by Riane:

After losing her husband two years ago, Dana isn’t certain about getting back into the game. She has dated a little but made sure to keep it vanilla. I mean, her husband taught her how to submit, how can she now give that gift to someone else? Finding herself attracted to another Dom makes Dana start questioning if perhaps she should try to make it work.

I enjoyed the characters of Zach and Dana. I cried with the characters a few times in this story… emo...more

like · see review

Sep 13, 2012 Dark Haven rated it 5 of 5 stars

To the world, Dana Bennett is a confident and successful interior designer. But emotionally, she is still struggling with her husband’s passing a year and a half after his death. Dana is selected by Zachary Irving to renovate his house 3 years after his wife’s death. Her initial empathy for his loss turns into interested curiosity as it becomes apparent he and his wife practiced a D/s lifestyle. It’s a lifestyle she and her deceased husband practiced as well. Despite her interest in Zach, she n...more To the world, Dana Bennett is a confident and successful interior designer. But emotionally, she is still struggling with her husband’s passing a year and a half after his death. Dana is selected by Zachary Irving to renovate his house 3 years after his wife’s death. Her initial empathy for his loss turns into interested curiosity as it becomes apparent he and his wife practiced a D/s lifestyle. It’s a lifestyle she and her deceased husband practiced as well. Despite her interest in Zach, she never dates clients and doesn’t plan to start now. But after 7 months, their working relationship ends removing the impediments which kept them from getting to know each other on an intimate level. Though Dana will miss Zach’s presence in her life now that the job is over, she doesn’t feel she’s ready for another Dominate/submissive relationship. It’s up to Zach to change her mind.

This is another gritty and realistic portrayal of the Dom/sub dynamic by Ms. Blevins. Dana Bennett is an emotionally vulnerable character still tied to her past marriage, but she’s not a wimp. She’s strong in her convictions and in her negotiations when she decides to take a step toward her future – a D/s relationship with Zach. Their sexual exploration cracks Dana’s emotional barrier and she realizes she cares for Zach. This realization intensifies her internal struggle that a new love is a betrayal to her dead husband. She’s walking an emotional tight rope and Ms. Blevins conveys her ordeal perfectly.

Sometimes it’s just hard to let go of something that was wonderful in or lives; it’s human nature to want to hold on. I could definitely relate to her struggle. This is the emotional battle that Zach much wage with Dana – to move on from her past love. It’s a battle he’s already been through himself. His wife died a few years earlier and it’s because of his plan to alter his home… to let go of his past- that he meets Dana. The characters empathy for the other at the beginning of the story really engaged me in their story line and I was hooked. I desperately wanted to see them happy.

This book isn’t just whips, chains and bondage- though there is a lot of that in this tale. The story is a journey between two people as they deal with their pasts, embrace their present and hope for a future together. It’s a poignant and emotional ride that becomes more intense when the BDSM dynamic is introduced into their relationship. This dynamic is intense, painful, exciting and smacks of realism (no pun intended). Some of the BDSM scenes were shocking and difficult for me to read because I’m not into Dana’s extremely painful masochistic kink. However, Ms. Blevins adroitly uses Dana’s need for extreme pain to add another emotional layer to the story, because Zach must not only accept that Dana needs intense pain, but he must learn to give it to her if their relationship is to make it. Two other facets that made this book a page turner for me were the introduction of two secondary characters- Jacob, a male submissive, and his master, and Dana’s friend, Brent. They added an extra bit of kink to this story and they play a key role in Dana’s journey. I can’t say anymore than that, but it was an eye opener for me.

Though SAFEWORD: Davenport is an emotional roller coaster ride, be forewarned this is a scorching HOT read. There are scenes of dominance and submission that will curl your toes and have you running to take a cold shower (or grab a mechanical aid). This book is a keeper and one I will definitely be reading again. In the meantime I look forward to reading the second part of Dana and Zach’s story. SAFEWORD: Davenport and Chiffon. (Copy supplied by author.)
(www.darkhavenbookreviews.com)(less)

like 1 like · see review

Aug 18, 2012 Suzie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, a-great-read, bdsm, blog-tour-book, erotic-bsdm, erotic, fiction, kindle-book, marriage, modern, romance, romance-modern, series

The first book in this series Safewords: Davenport was amazing. Yes there is sex and BDSM in the book. However there is more to the book than just that. This book takes a reader through the relationship of a couple that has the alternate lifestyle of BDSM. This book shows that even though this is something different it is not a bad thing to feel or enjoy this with you partner. However it should be with a partner that you trust.

One Sunday while sitting at work waiting on parts I started reading t...more

like · see review

Aug 17, 2012 Sally rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm

Safeword Davenport and Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon are two halves of a longer story, one that begins with a woman slowly, almost reluctantly, recovering from the death of her husband (the only Master she's ever known), and a man recovering from the death of his wife (not the only, but the most significant slave he's ever known). There's a romance there, a promise of an outwardly seeming normal relationship, but one built around the idea of a total power exchange. As you might expect, it's a...more Safeword Davenport and Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon are two halves of a longer story, one that begins with a woman slowly, almost reluctantly, recovering from the death of her husband (the only Master she's ever known), and a man recovering from the death of his wife (not the only, but the most significant slave he's ever known). There's a romance there, a promise of an outwardly seeming normal relationship, but one built around the idea of a total power exchange. As you might expect, it's a story that blurs a lot of lines, and occupies the shadows between those lines.

Between fantasy and reality.

Between romance and erotica.

Between domination and sadomasochism.

Between pain and pleasure.

I struggled with this one a lot, finding myself equally drawn to and repulsed by what was happening. The romance worked (both despite and because of the darkness), and the power exchange itself was undeniably attractive. Dana and Zach are both fascinating characters, well-rounded and well-developed, and the supporting cast is far more than just the usual Master/Mistress/slave background participants. I quite liked the start honesty of the writing, and the loving attention to detail in every scene.

Having said that, the shadows had me uncomfortable, particularly those between pleasure/pain and domination/sadomasochism. Personally, I am quite attracted to the idea of the power exchange, to the giving up of control, but Blevins takes it to an extent I've never before encountered. The idea of a safeword is something I've always known as being synonymous with 'stop' or 'enough,' a clear request to be respected without question. Here, there is a price to the safewords, a request granted but only at a cost. While the story rings true, the authenticity of that 'reality' definitely challenged my 'fantasy.'

For me, the second book was definitely the stronger (and more balanced) of the two, mostly because it introduced a level of honest communication and the fair exchange of ideas that I felt much more comfortable with. Jacob and Brent really bring something special to the story, which rather surprised me, since I wasn't sure what kind of role they would ultimately play.

Definitely a remarkable tale, and one that's exceptionally well-told - so long as you don't mind some winces and shudders mixed in with your gasps and shivers.

As published on Bending the Bookshelf(less)

like · see review

Aug 16, 2012 Cami Hensley rated it 5 of 5 stars

http://steamyside.blogspot.com/2012/0...

When even the parts of the story that are not directly involving sexual acts are steamy, you know its going to be a STEAMY read! Candace Blevins really delivers a multi-layered BDSM novel in this book.

Dana lost her husband, who taught her everything she knows about submitting and her masochistic tendencies 18months ago. She has come to terms with the fact that the part of her life that contained her submission for another was over.

The very first meeting...more http://steamyside.blogspot.com/2012/0...

When even the parts of the story that are not directly involving sexual acts are steamy, you know its going to be a STEAMY read! Candace Blevins really delivers a multi-layered BDSM novel in this book.

Dana lost her husband, who taught her everything she knows about submitting and her masochistic tendencies 18months ago. She has come to terms with the fact that the part of her life that contained her submission for another was over.

The very first meeting with Zach makes her face her undeniable attraction for another man in ways she hadn't felt since her husband. The more she learns about Zach, the more she is turned on.

Zach had to bury his wife and is in the process of making changes in his house so that her presence is not so strong in every single room. He has no idea the chemistry he will feel for the interior designer he hires.

The descriptions of the difference between Masochism and Submissiveness is great to read about. Often times its one or the other and authors don't go as in depth as Blevins does. The journey of self-discovery for Dana really makes this story. She goes through so many ups and downs and second guesses everything while learning so much about herself and her needs.

Just when you think you understand where this story is going, Blevins throws you for a loop in the form of Brent and Jacob. Being able to have a secondary relationship to dissect really adds to the story as a whole. The complicated relationships between all couples in this story really feels like just the tip of the iceberg and the sequel will definitely be on my Next To Be Read list!

There is some hardcore TPE (Total Power Exchange) that may not be for the faint of heart when it comes to BDSM, but everything in this story adds to it as a whole. Pay attention to this an the Warning in the Synopsis to make sure this is the story for you. If you do not have an issue with any of these things, you will definitely find this a Fantastic Read! (less)

like 1 like · see review

Aug 03, 2012 Kat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm-erotic, e-own, series-waiting-for-the-next-book, nook-lendable

3.5 This was my favorite of the Safeword books. I don't recommend it for anyone who is squeamish with "mainstream BDSM". It is beyond what I normally would enjoy reading as far as the s/m. I had to fight myself to stay open-minded and accept it as fiction.

At a few points, I thought the punishments were so over-the-top it seemed unrealistic to me. I also didn't like the penalty for safeword'ing. It just seemed wacked to me. However, that said..... I knew that before I bought the book.

Overall, s...more

like · see review

Jul 23, 2012 Guilty Pleasures rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: guiltypleasures-kittyangel, publishersent

Kitty's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

I started this book knowing (just by the title) that I would be reading a BDSM book. First, let me tell you that Ms. Blevins writing is extremely explicit. Second, I am as “Vanilla” as the flavor says so I went to some BDSM sites to make sure what I was reading was authentic before I started this review. Third, hold on, breath and prepare yourself for a wild ride through a true D/s

, M/s relationship between Dana and Zach.

Warning: This book is not for the...more

like 2 likes · see review

Dec 25, 2012 Arlena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, a-good-book, adult-read, erotica, my-reviews, part-of-series, romance, relationships

Author: Candace Blevins
Published By: Excessica
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 4

Review:

"Safeword Davenport" by Candace Blevins was a interesting read. Yes, it was of sex (BDSM)...of a relationship of a couple with an alternative lifestyle. Now, just let be begin by saying...this is a Adult Mature book and not for everyone. The book will explore: bondage, spanking, sex scenes, whips, rough sex...hardcore stuff. The novel features...Dana who is trying to recove...more

like · see review

Jul 02, 2012 Michele rated it 5 of 5 stars

Safeword: Davenport
By: Candace Blevins
Excessica Publishing
ISBN: not assigned yet
July 6, 2012 release

Dana sold her lavish home and cut her hair when her husband, Garnet died as a way to separate herself from the woman she used to be and who she could become. Keeping busy as an interior designer, she closed the door on her past and looked to the future. As she prepared for the first face to face with her latest client, Zachary Irving, a wealthy, electrical pioneer of sorts, she remembered they hav...more

Safeword: Davenport
By: Candace Blevins
Excessica Publishing
ISBN: not assigned yet
July 6, 2012 release

Dana sold her lavish home and cut her hair when her husband, Garnet died as a way to separate herself from the woman she used to be and who she could become. Keeping busy as an interior designer, she closed the door on her past and looked to the future. As she prepared for the first face to face with her latest client, Zachary Irving, a wealthy, electrical pioneer of sorts, she remembered they have a similar past. Both having lost their spouses within weeks of each other, Dana opted to reinvent her life where Zach chose to only modify his.
They fall into easy conversation touring his home and discussing ideas for the renovations. But, during the tour Dana notices a certain piece of custom decor and is surprised by what it symbolizes. A beautiful mahogany bondage bed designed by Frederick, a craftsman that caters to those in the world of kink, sits proudly in the middle of his bedroom. As they near the end of her walk through of the house, Zach takes her back to a locked room that was initially bypassed and within held a beautiful, fully stocked playroom.
Zach reveals that his wife was also his 24/7 slave and she had designed the whole house top to bottom with minimal help from him. He boldly asks, “Are you a Domme or a sub, Dana?” She quickly brushes his comment aside not allowing herself to awaken the part of her that died with Garnet. She too once belonged to a Master, but he was dead and so was that part of her.
As their contract ends, Zach takes this opportunity to ask Dana on a date, and she quickly declines. He reveals how he sought out information about her past and knew she was a submissive masochist, and not the only one to have loved and lost. They continued opening up to each other talking about their wants and needs. Together, they agree to dinner and a scene in which Zach would top without Dana having to submit. Dana’s submission lies with Garnet, but bottoming allows her an opportunity to play with Zach. A wonderful dinner flows into a night of new experiences as Zach explores Dana’s limits and beyond.
Fear grips her heart and fills it with uncertainty causing her to push him away and seek out friends from her past to help her decide what her future holds. As she heads back to her former club, Dana is armed with friends new and old. Sir Brett and his submissive, Jacob, welcome her into their lives allowing her to discover another side of her she never knew existed as a Top. Sir Brett has arranged for a night where pain and please blur for Dana at the hands of Sir Max. Agreeing to keep Zach informed while she is away to insure her safety, she checks in with him frequently by phone and text.
Zach never expected to find Dana in such a state as he arrives to retrieve her from Brett and Jacobs. All too quickly new bonds are forged and discoveries are made.
I absolutely loved this story and am happy to have learned it has a sequel, Safeword: Davenport and Chiffon. The BDSM knowledge that Ms. Blevins weaves into this captivating story is intense and full of wonder. Electric play and sensory deprivation played out beautifully between Zach and Dana. This story was an emotional rollercoaster for me as a reader to experience lost and love and exploration vicariously through them. As two consenting adults, they share beautiful love making and spank-tastic kink that is only limited by their imagination.

5 out of 5
~michele
(less)

like · see review

Jun 24, 2012 ♆ BookAddict ~ La Crimson Femme rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Educated BDSM readers

Shelves: bdsm, intense, tpe, d-s

This is my FAVOURITE book by Ms. Blevins. In this lovely story, we are once again treated to some intense and arousing SM. No one does SM in a M/f relationship as good for me as Ms. Blevins. I can definitely tell by the way she writes, she's in the lifestyle. I do know the back history of why this book was written so for me, it moved me much more.

Dana is a widow. She submitted to her husband who was her world. He was a Dom with a sadistic streak. Some of the punishments Dana went through had me...more This is my FAVOURITE book by Ms. Blevins. In this lovely story, we are once again treated to some intense and arousing SM. No one does SM in a M/f relationship as good for me as Ms. Blevins. I can definitely tell by the way she writes, she's in the lifestyle. I do know the back history of why this book was written so for me, it moved me much more.

Dana is a widow. She submitted to her husband who was her world. He was a Dom with a sadistic streak. Some of the punishments Dana went through had me crossing my legs and going, "ow! NO! NO! NO!". I would never misbehave if I was Garnet's sub. As a result of Garnet's death, Dana has left the lifestyle abruptly, leaving all friends behind. She's even sold or given away all her lovely BDSM tools and furniture. I can understand this as the memories must be overwhelming.

For a couple who lived in each other pockets so deeply as Dana and Garnet did, I can't believe she hasn't died out of sorrow. If anyone would die from losing a mate, I would think Dana is one of those who would. I'm impressed with her ability to pull herself out of the depression and continue with her work as an interior decorator.

She meets Irving who is a mad scientist when it comes to electricity. He's designed some amazing electric sex machines as a hobby due to his profession. I'm a bit frightened of him, actually. I have to be honest. All of Ms. Blevin's Doms frighten me a little. Not in a bad way, but in a way where I know I could never meet their needs or desires. They are way too intense for me. I'm more of a D/s and BD kind of gal. The SM is too much for me. I love to read it and I enjoy vicariously living through it. That is about my limit.

Irving has his own issues as his wife who was his 24/7 sub died in a freak accident on vacation. My heart breaks for both Irving and Dana. They both suffered so much and they aren't exactly healed. Becoming lovers doesn't exactly mean happily ever after for them.

This is what I liked about Ms. Blevin's writing. It doesn't just all of a sudden work great and we live happily ever after. There are set backs which are realistic to life. It feels as they take steps forward, they also take steps back. While frustrating, it makes the story that much more poignant for me and totally believable.

Let's get to the good stuff. The BDSM parts. HOLY MOLY is it HAWT! Every scene had me wet with quivering desire. The punishments were pretty heavy and it would certainly discourage me from ever doing anything "wrong". I'd follow the rules completely. Dana's ability to handle pain is beyond me. I'm a wimp when compared to Dana. Irving's creativeness is sadistically genius. I always say, perverts are very creative and Irving proves my point.

I won't go into details of each BDSM scene I enjoyed. I don't want to spoil it. Let's just say, many kinks of mine were showcased explicitly and exquisitely. Lastly, Brent and Jacob rocked my world. I wasn't expecting another couple in this story to be intermixed. It was divine. Since this original story is now split into two, I have to say, anyone who reads this first part will yearn to read the second half. It's amazing. I highly recommend this BDSM lovers who enjoy D/s and SM. If you like electrical play, this is definitely one to try. Another winner by the talented Ms. Blevins(less)

like 6 likes · see review

Jun 27, 2012 Jo * Smut-Dickted * rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: BDSM fans who want a unique emotional story!

Shelves: bdsm, mf, review, read-on-kindle

No one does pain better than Candace. Here is a world where pain lives. Where it breathes, strokes, and caresses. The feelings of the masochist are so deeply and well explored here that you really do come out of it with fundamental understandings. I love her books because she gets it - on the BDSM RealMeter this comes in at the top!

I enjoyed Dana and Zach. Dana was rich and vibrant and somehow ordinary in spite of all the stuff that she had been through. Someone who could be a friend. No BDSM Cl...more

like 3 likes · see review

Aug 16, 2012 Simone rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: twisty, romance

One of those books that starts of as one thing and then changes in a way, that while completely unexpected, adds a great deal of interest to the story.

This book starts of with Dana and her new Dom interest Zackary both mourning lost partners in the BDSM scene. They both had a partner die and are not sure about getting their freak on in a committed way again. Then it starts and they carefully feel their way into a relationship together, doing interesting kinky things along the way.

All of a sudde...more

like · see review

Jul 06, 2012 Shari rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-book-challenge

Wow! This story knocked me on my tush in more ways than one. This isn’t a light BDSM book. It is full of full on sadists and Doms, the two not always put into the same person. There is sorrow over lose, confusion on what a person wants versus needs and deep thought put into the characters.

Dana is a widow. She has only ever submitted to her husband. While we learn some of their relationship, it is not the focal point of the book so we never learn if Dana experimented before she married Garnet. He...more Wow! This story knocked me on my tush in more ways than one. This isn’t a light BDSM book. It is full of full on sadists and Doms, the two not always put into the same person. There is sorrow over lose, confusion on what a person wants versus needs and deep thought put into the characters.

Dana is a widow. She has only ever submitted to her husband. While we learn some of their relationship, it is not the focal point of the book so we never learn if Dana experimented before she married Garnet. He was her Dom as well as he was a sadist. Dana is definitely a masochist along with some other features you can learn about in the book. Some of what Dana and Garnet did had me cringing in total agony. But the written words were so beautiful. It was betrayed in a wonderful way that led me to believe Dana and Garnet were soul mates, ripped from each other too early.

I digress. Dana has been a widow for almost two years. A professional designer, she is hired by Zach to help him remodel his home after the death of his wife. She immediately knows he is a Dom based on a the bedroom furniture. It looks normal, but is designed for BDSM elements and she knows the carpenter. Then there is the locked room that Zach won’t show her until the end of the first tour. They are both attracted to each other, but Dana refuses to mix business with pleasure and Zach respects this. But that doesn’t stop Zach from finding out he can about Dana, because when the job is over he is going after her.

Dana has had a few dating relationships, but soon realizes vanilla isn’t her thing. But she doesn’t want to submit. She only wants the pain. Her submission is tied to Garnet and she can’t get past that through most of the book. When the job is over Dana and Zach start dating and learning about each other. Zach is a Dom, but not necessarily a sadist. Well, what he does to her made me think he was a sadist, but he doesn’t deliver the pain Dana craves. She submits one weekend for him. There is nipple clamps, some animal play, anal play, electricity, flogging and much more. Dana submits beautifully, but she doesn’t feel she is a submissive. When she runs into her former sister-in-law and gets chewed out, Dana runs away from Zach.

Both Zach and Dana are seeing the same therapist for dealing with their spouses death. The therapist is BDSM friendly. When Dana talks to her about the issues of the weekend, she suggests Dana needs to explore more. And Dana does. I am going to stop her on explaining the story as you should read the rest.

I had big issues with Dana. I know she was exploring, but she moved extremely too fast forward with Zach and he calls her on it once. I felt a connection between Dana and Zach in the first half of the book and the later half it seemed to fall apart for me. Dana seemed to lose common sense at some points. But what happens at the end of the book, does help to calm down those feelings.

Zach on the other hand fell way to fast for Dana in my opinion. He lets her go without really letting her go at one point which irritated me. She had needs I don’t think he can fulfill, but then Dana keeps going with him on everything he wants to do.

Candace Blevins has an incredible writing style and an in depth knowledge of the BDSM world and community. While I am not partial to reading sadist/masochist books, Candace can write them in such a way that it draws me into the story and won’t let me go. While I may not agree with the choices some of the characters make, the writing of what happens is incredibly vivid. You can almost feel the pain as you read it off the pages.

One note that I wanted to make on a piece of furniture. There is a coffee table Zach has build for the bedroom that really is a cage. Dana is fascinated by it while they are working. She does get to use it when she submits to Zach that weekend, but even she complains he doesn’t use it very long. It seemed to be a big focal point of the first half of the book and seemed a little glossed over when actually used.

Interesting note (for me at least). Davenport is type of couch…never knew that. Chiffon is someone else’s safeword in the book. I won’t go into whose, you need to read to find out.

This is a two part book. This is the first book and ends with a “it’s good for now” ending. There isn’t a HEA yet for Dana here, but there is hope for it in the next book: Safeword: Davenport and Chiffon.(less)

like · see review

Jan 13, 2013 Lace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bedtime-story-challenge-2013

Really? There are more questions rolling around in my head...colliding, striking, displacing, and turning like bumper cars at a county fair entertainment attraction. Dana and Zach, both take steps to move beyond deceased spouses, and then become involved. Dana, a phoenix ever-changing, evolving submissive/Domme and Zach, a Dominant, leader in a chain of command, the man who is falling in love with Dana. Dana stays true to herself, exploring her fantasies, yet is pulled toward a deeper connection...more

like · see review

Sep 02, 2012 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-own

Dana and Zach have come together after both losing their partners to death. Trying to move on with their lives and overcoming their grief they begin a relationship as a Dom and sub.This story takes you through Dana's journey to discovering herself. She has always been a masochist and a sub but begins to explore what it feels like as a domme. She stills carries a lot of guilt for being submissive with anyone other than her partner who has passed away. Dana begins a quest in relieving her guilt as...more

like · see review

Jan 29, 2013 Sylvia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, contempory-romance

The is the second of Candace Blevin's books I have read, the first being Safeword Rainbow. I didn't particularly care for Rainbow as I found it to be presented clinically and almost matter of fact.

I wanted to give Davenport a read as I wanted to see if it was the writer's style or if it was the subject matter that turned me off. My conclusion is that I think it is a little bit of both. The characters created feel stiff and wooden and the story again presented clinically. The scenes are extreme....more

like · see review

Jan 30, 2013 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reads, 2013-whipping-challenge, 3-alarm, alpha-males, kindle, what-do-you-say-to-that, dark-taboo, reviewed

I certainly needed a couple days before writing a review for Safeword: Davenport. I don't always need to put much thought into how I feel about a book, that has usually been figured out by the last page and I'm then ready to move on. This book, however, required me to read another book before coming back and revisiting my thoughts and feelings.

Candace Blevins yanked me right out of my comfort zone with this story. This surprised me because my comfort zone, I thought, was a pretty large scale are...more I certainly needed a couple days before writing a review for Safeword: Davenport. I don't always need to put much thought into how I feel about a book, that has usually been figured out by the last page and I'm then ready to move on. This book, however, required me to read another book before coming back and revisiting my thoughts and feelings.

Candace Blevins yanked me right out of my comfort zone with this story. This surprised me because my comfort zone, I thought, was a pretty large scale area. I believe this zone dysphoria was brought about in two parts: part one being content, and part two being equally cadence and voice. Part two had a huge influance as to how I was able to recieve and process part one, that's for sure.

There were a few, just a few, scenes of sexual nature and taboo matter that made me a bit uncomfortable. I imagine that if someone had been reading my face while I had been reading those scenes I may have appeared to have been pained. Candace did however provide some context clues to allow us readers to get an idea of where things were headed before diving into those scenes. I appreciated that and read on. No, I did not skip over or even scan quickly through those uncomfortable bits. I read every word and I'm glad I did.

As for cadence and voice, I found them a bit off kilter. The plot was good and I enjoyed the story as a whole. However, the over all voice lacked a certain finess that I, personally, find important in books of this nature. Perhaps I'm just being picky, but I kept waiting for some flurish to be thrown into the scenes that sadly just never came. And try as I did, I was unable to like two important main characters; they felt a bit cold and mechanicle to me. (view spoiler)

All that being said, I did find myself interested enough to go ahead and read the next book, Safewords Davenport and Chiffon, with hopes that these characters will be more developed and that more sense will be made out of what I've already read.(less)

like · see review

Nov 07, 2012 Lindsey Brooks rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Three and a half stars.
I have waited quite a while after finishing this story before writing this review. I was really ready to thoroughly enjoy this story. I have a great deal of respect for the author, who writes so authoritatively about the contemporary BDSM scene, and I liked her earlier books very much. I don't want to sound overly critical, because I don't think this is a bad story, just for me it was an unsatisfying one (so far - I haven't finished the second half yet).

I had difficulty re...more Three and a half stars.
I have waited quite a while after finishing this story before writing this review. I was really ready to thoroughly enjoy this story. I have a great deal of respect for the author, who writes so authoritatively about the contemporary BDSM scene, and I liked her earlier books very much. I don't want to sound overly critical, because I don't think this is a bad story, just for me it was an unsatisfying one (so far - I haven't finished the second half yet).

I had difficulty relating to the hero and heroine, and found it hard to sympathise very much with either one. Zach, in particular, made it very hard for me to like him - and in the end I didn't. He came across as completely self-absorbed and I found myself wondering at times if he cared very deeply for Dana at all. He seemed determined to always have his way, whatever Dana wanted (and very often he knew she didn't want what he was doing or about to do), and it seemed to me that several times she allowed herself to be taken a lot further than she would have liked to go. I had difficulty with the concept between two people who were lovers of "consent to one thing and you consent to all", which Zach seemed to insist upon, as well as the times he only accepted her safeword if she agreed to be punished for using it - edgeplay maybe, but then more than once he seemed to deliberately set her up to fail purely so he could punish her. I know she's a masochist but she was already having problems accepting the submission he wanted from her and I couldn't see how that would help her. Nor did it seem very fair or honest of him after all of the frank negotiating they had done.

As in the author's previous stories, there seemed to me to be more telling than showing in the story. Although both of the main characters said they felt affection for the other, neither appeared to do much to demonstrate it, and I couldn't help feeling Dana was too wrapped up in seeking the pain she wanted and Zach in getting the level of submission and control he required for them to feel anything very deep for one another. There was something clinical and detached about their conversations and attitudes around each other, including during their negotiations, and it left me feeling somewhat detached from their story, instead of fully involved and really wanting them to get their happy ending. For me Dana's relationship with Brent and Jacob had more warmth. Jacob came across as the most sympathetic character in the book, to me. I liked Max too - an honest, up-front and considerate sadist, who could have given Dana everything she was seeking. By the end of the book I found myself wishing she had waited until he had sorted his life out and gone with him instead of Zach.

I don't want to give the impression I didn't like the book. I did; hence the rating. I just felt it could have been better if I could have bought into the idea that real love was developing between Zach and Dana, and that is not the impression I have so far. It is important to remember this is only half the story and the outcome still unknown to me, so I may well discover I am judging them too harshly. I was undecided whether to read both books and then review the whole story, but eventually have done this with only about a third of the other read so far. I have to add that a book which I find so thought-provoking for such a variety of different reasons could never be considered as anything but well worth reading.(less)

like 3 likes · see review

Aug 17, 2012 Annabel Joseph rated it 5 of 5 stars

Good lord, no one writes kink like Candace Blevins. Only someone who's BTDT can pull you in and push all your kink buttons so accurately.

Let me begin by saying that I almost didn't read this past the first couple chapters. I could tell the kinks coming up were not "my" kinks, but I was drawn in to the emotional storyline so I continued on. Good lawd, I'm so glad I did.

This books gets five stars because I got super sexy hot over scenes that weren't in my personal comfort zone of kink, and that's...more Good lord, no one writes kink like Candace Blevins. Only someone who's BTDT can pull you in and push all your kink buttons so accurately.

Let me begin by saying that I almost didn't read this past the first couple chapters. I could tell the kinks coming up were not "my" kinks, but I was drawn in to the emotional storyline so I continued on. Good lawd, I'm so glad I did.

This books gets five stars because I got super sexy hot over scenes that weren't in my personal comfort zone of kink, and that's something. By "super sexy hot", I mean, I had to stop in the middle and place an order for sex toys. THAT kind of hot. When you're reading a scene that you KNOW isn't in your realm of preference, and you're still turned on beyond belief, that is...that is amazing, and that's what Ms. Blevins does here.

With that said, the kinks aren't overly sick or anything. I just have a very narrow sweet spot for what turns me on. Some of the kinks in this book that were outside my comfort zone were electricity, heavy pain, close confinement, singletail whipping, and a short short section describing a flesh hook scene that is what almost made me put the book down. Luckily there wasn't anything else about that.

On the plus side, ooh...anal. Lots of smoking hot anal. Several ultra hot menage scenes. Some EXTREMELY hot dominance scenes between Zach and Dana. His dom persona really did it for me. Surprisingly, Jacob the male submissive also did it for me. My GOD, if you had told me I'd fall for a male submissive I would have laughed my ass off but those scenes where Dana topped Jacob were beyond hot.

Aside from the individual kinks, she did so many things right in this book. She made the sex scenes and psychological entanglements complex, and yet it worked without any confusion. In a way I think Candace is one of the few authors who could have done this because she does have an "on the nose" style of characterization. Her characters are rich, but they are almost unnaturally honest and forthcoming and they don't mess around with subtext. They say what they mean and mean what they say. Usually in books that would irritate me but here it's necessary because otherwise the emotional aspects of the four main characters and their various dynamics would have become too complicated. PLUS, this allows her to concentrate on the sexual side of the relationships...and there was so much sex. So much hot, hot, hot sex. Did I mention my toy collection grew in the reading of this book? Have some money set aside for that before you begin.

I've talked a lot about the sex in this review but there was an almost painfully lovely emotional storyline too, about a widow overcoming her dependence on her old partner and finding the permission she needs to move forward with another man.

Overall, this did what I wanted it to do--it turned me on. It also did MORE than I expected it to do, which was to challenge my limits of what I believed was hot. In a way, Ms. Blevins pushed my boundaries just like a good dom, giving me more than I thought I could take--and making me like it.

Now for a cold shower. (less)

like 5 likes · see review

Jul 10, 2012 I ♥ Bookie Nookie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, a-rrr-in-holiday-party, a-series, zz-reviewed, tone-dark-or-not-fluffy, sub-theme-bdsm-elements, sub-theme-bondage, sub-theme-domination-submission, sub-theme-sadism, sub-theme-master-slave, sexual-mix-mf, content-dealing-with-death

This 4th book was a bit of a surprise to me... I remember when the first one, SAFEWORD RAINBOW came out and a lot of people were talking about how "hardcore" it was and aside from the TPE, I just didn't agree with the masses. Now, THIS ONE threw me for a loop, but there was some serious shit going on in the heroine, Dana's world.

First, Dana trained and lived as her husband's submissive, but when the story begins, he has been dead for over a year and she is debating on getting back into the datin...more

like · see review

Sep 02, 2012 Isabelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: in-my-kindle, bdsm-countdown, 5-stars, bdsm, contemporary, erotica, series, taboo

I loved it.

I really enjoyed this book. I think the author was really true to the characters feelings. She presented humans and not heroes. She showed the characters doubts and flaws also theirs certainties and qualities.
Her ending was great and made me anxious for the next one. I'm happy the author chose to get deeper into these characters lives because I feel they still have a lot to share.
I find Ms. Blevins books about BDSM a wonderful learning experience. Even though I cannot relate personal...more

like · see review

Jan 26, 2013 Kerry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, m-f, e-book-own, fw, m-m-f, m-m

Great book. I really liked Dana and Zach. I think that they're going to make a great couple and I look forward to reading the rest of their story in Safewords Davenport and Chiffon. I will be interested to see how they resolve their differences because Dana is a real masochist and I don't think that Zach will be able to give her the pain that she needs/wants.

Although I liked Dana and Zach, my favorite part of this book was Brent and Jacob. I would love a whole book -- hell, an entire series --...more

like · see review

Sep 09, 2012 Giddyup rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, menage

Wow. What a great book. I just could not put this book down. I'm so glad that I have the next one already so I can see the next step in Dana's journey.

If you enjoy S/M and D/s, with a little bit of menage and romance thrown in, this is the book for you.

like · see review

Feb 16, 2013 Viv rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dark-ero-pushing-limits

I really love the real emotion in the book. The first half's like a semi-memoir of the author, there're times the scenes getting so extreme and real that I had to put it down. I don't particularly like Zach in the first half, and Dana, I admire her forwardness.She is not afraid of looking for what she needs after all the angst she's been through. The second half is getting better as Brent, Jacob come into the picture. Their scenes are hot and creative,their talks may be a bit lengthy for some bu...more

like · see review

Jul 09, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, bdsm, erotica

This book is the best in the Safeword series yet. Edgy and rough and more hardcore than a light BDSM reader might be able to handle but the emotional strands are what gets me in these books.

like · see review

title link	preview: Safeword Davenport
avg rating	preview: Safeword Davenport Goodreads rating: 4.02 (132 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15705430-safeword-davenport?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339684492l/15705430.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15705430-safeword-davenport?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Safeword Davenport by Candace Blevins[/url]

Safeword Davenport (Safeword #4)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Candace Blevins

Books by Candace Blevins

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Safeword Davenport