What happens at Diomhair, stays there. Pleasure or pain? Mimi needs to know and Alex wants to show her.
When Mimi Leman is asked to go to a ‘Meet the Dom and chat to a sub’ night at her local BDSM club, little does she know what she’ll find.
Curious? Oh yes. Interested? She’s not sure.
After all, she’s anti pain and a BDSM virgin. Mimi knows things will go either badly wrong or perfectly right and has no idea which.
It’s up to scribing artist Alex Sunderland to ensure it’s the latter. He’s everyone’s idea of how a Dom should be—even Mimi can see that—but is he the one to show her the lifestyle?
Alex is intrigued by Mimi and is sure that deep down she’s the perfect sub…for him.
Mimi wants to be, but can she conquer her fear of pain and let herself fly?
After 30 plus years in Scotland, Raven now lives in East Yorkshire, and has swapped forest walks for coastal ones and her Aga for a hob and oven. She still enjoys writing where she can see the birds in the garden and her lovely hubby still has to ignore the dust bunnies, rescue dinner and hand her a glass of wine while she finishes what she is writing.
Secrets Learned is book five in Raven McAllen's Diomhair series. It can be read as a standalone, but I have to admit I will be reading the previous books to see what I was missing!!
Mimi attends an event that the community committee she belongs to recommend she go to. They want to shut down Diomhair believing it is bad for the community. Mimi is asked to research the facility and give a recommendation. The event set up for her is a "meet a Dom, chat with a Sub" event to check out the facility. Mimi has read about BDSM in her romance books, but has never done anything to resemble BDSM. For one, she hates pain, and knowing pain is the pathway to pleasure has her questioning why she is even there. But after she is there for awhile, she discovers things about herself that seem so foreign, but at the same time, so very right!
Master Alex agrees to help Diomhair make a good showing by being the Dom to see to Dominique's(Mimi) safety and wellbeing. Knowing his sister has set him up, he strives to help Dominique realize that the lifestyle is about the people and can be very different for each couple. It's not necessarily what you read in romance books! The only problem he sees, is that Mimi proclaims she hates pain. He is a sadist and scribing artist, so pain is his kink. How can he show her the right kind of pain can be oh so pleasurable?
After Mimi gives her report that the club shouldn't close because they are not doing anything wrong, she realizes this vendetta is driven by someone who wants revenge. That person is causing all the problems but why??
I loved this book! I loved that Mimi(Dominique to Alex) really didn't know want to expect. Knowing she was afraid of any pain, I loved how Master Alex showed her it was a very different pain than she expected. He was very sweet to her and I really liked that about him. Mimi has a chance to see who she is and what she can be. She found out things that were surprising, but are right for her. I liked both characters and the side characters were just as interesting. I look forward to catching up with their stories too!
Secrets Learned enthralled me from start to finish. There are a few more mysteries to find out so I am excited to get the next book in the Diomhair series!
4.5 stars/4 flames
This book was gifted to me by the Jeep Diva for the express purpose of an honest review. The rating and review are solely my opinion and in no way was I compensated.
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is the fifth in a series - but I have to admit I am new to it all - something I shall be rectifying as soon as I have time. It was clear that I would have understood some of the underlying plot lines and dynamics between Masters, and subs, if I had read them in order, but I still enjoyed the book very much.
I liked that Mimi was innocent of the reality of BDSM, but also intelligent enough to know that what she had read was not necessarily what she would be exposed to at Diomhair. I loved her whole personality - and how it was revealed to us through the chapters. Alex too gets to be made into a full character - even for a newbie to the series - which was great. I loved the tempo, which varied from slow, hot and sensual to fast and frenetic. I definitely need to know how things develop between the leads, but also understand more of the dynamics of the community.
A very good read, whether as a first dip, or I am sure as an ongoing story. Thank you Ms McAllan
Mimi attends an event at Diomhair, a night to get the research she needs to compile a report regarding the club and it's position in the town. But she quickly learns that reading about BDSM isn't even close to being near the real thing. She quickly learns that not everyone has the same kink.
After his sister asks Alex agrees to help out by showing Mimi what it's like inside a real club. To see that it's not what people think. He needs to help her see that the lifestyle is about the people, the couples, and not what society says it's about.
When Alex meets Mimi he instantly knows he wants to keep her for himself. The Dom in him is screaming to be released. Mimi isn't even sure she wants to try anything and she doesn't even think she's a sub, or that she could give over control to someone else. What she is sure of is that she doesn't like pain. Alex on the other hand likes to scribe his subs. Can she be what he wants?
When Mimi gives her report she realizes that it's not about closing the place down, it's about the feelings and opinions of one person. The group who requested the report all agree that the club isn't doing anything wrong. But does the one person have even more sinister feelings or is there still someone with a grudge causing problems for the club?
I loved this book. I love this series. I think the characters are well written. I love that Mimi is headstrong but is still willing to learn what it's like. And that ultimately she learns who she really is as a person.
From the first sentence in the first book I have been in love with this series. I don't want it to end but all things must come to an end. With only one more book left I hope (no I know) that all the questions I have will be answered. Like...
Interesting story about Mimi and Alex. Mimi has been assigned to visit the local BDSM club to determine if it is a danger to the morals of the community. Problem is, she is a newbie to the BDSM lifestyle and has zero tolerance for pain. Armed only with gossip and a few books, she attends one night to observe, ask questions and perhaps try out a little something. Alex, an experienced Dom, will be her guide in her research. It was enjoyable watching her reactions to not only the Dom/sub role with Alex but also the scenes and the answers to her questions. In the process, she began to discover more about herself. Plot moves well with a couple of mysteries and interference's thrown in.