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Escape #3
Top to Bottom
Drusilla Stasevich wants to leave the past behind and start the next chapter of her life. Returning to her hometown to open her dream kink club, Escape, seems like the perfect solution. But it can be tricky making dreams come true—especially when the person you want to share them with isn't around anymore.
Amie Templeton is no stranger to tough times. She’s learned to make it on her own, and doesn’t do relationships outside the kink world. When her ex Dru moves back to town, old feelings surface. But that’s fine, right, since Dru has just opened the hottest new kink club in town?
Dru and Amie want to get the distracting spark between them out of their systems. Instead, their intense play sessions fan that spark into a flame. As if Dru didn’t have enough on her plate, an anonymous saboteur threatens to push her new club out of business. It will take the help of everybody at Escape to set things right again, and a lot of trust for Dru and Amie to start working toward a new life together.
Amie Templeton is no stranger to tough times. She’s learned to make it on her own, and doesn’t do relationships outside the kink world. When her ex Dru moves back to town, old feelings surface. But that’s fine, right, since Dru has just opened the hottest new kink club in town?
Dru and Amie want to get the distracting spark between them out of their systems. Instead, their intense play sessions fan that spark into a flame. As if Dru didn’t have enough on her plate, an anonymous saboteur threatens to push her new club out of business. It will take the help of everybody at Escape to set things right again, and a lot of trust for Dru and Amie to start working toward a new life together.
162 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2016
3 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Delphine Dryden
38 books368 followersI write contemporary and erotic romance, and sometimes steampunk romance! To contact me, go to my website or find me on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 18, 2016
So one of the things I loved the most about this book is that Amie has kink at the center of her sexuality, is flummoxed at vanilla sex & uses BDSM as a framework for trying to have it. I don't have words for how much I needed this kind of representation. This is deeply reflective of my own experience. Once I embraced BDSM I basically stopped having vanilla sex, couldn't imagine doing it. When I tried to have vanilla sex without pain or power exchange, it would devolve somehow. (I tried to negotiate it like a scene, too.) I have never seen this experience mirrored in a book before. I can't describe how amazing it is to read a book that has a character like me. I honestly never imagined that I would read a book that had a character who centered kink like I do. It means a lot.
I am still thinking about other aspects of the book, and why it feels different from other BDSM romances. The best I can describe is that it feels like a romance where kink & kink community is the context, not erotic BDSM romance. I find that really refreshing and lovely, personally.
I liked the ways the love interests navigated their connection with each other, but I wanted a bigger romantic payoff, wanted to witness more of their moments of recognizing how they feel about each other. It felt like things changed fast, and I didn't quite buy it, even though I wanted to, and liked them, and was rooting for them as a couple.
I liked the ways bisexuality was part of the conversation and not a problem for either of the love interests. I liked the ways they flirted and how queer the story felt. I liked that the characters were not wealthy and had economic stakes in their decisions.
I want to think more about the ways the book engages with demisexuality, the misogyny of gay men, and stone sexuality. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, need to think on it more.
I was uncomfortable with the way the antagonist was portrayed; there was some intense stereotyping going on there with regard to class and mental capacity.
I was very uncomfortable with the depiction of Dru's prior partner.
Trigger Warnings:
I am still thinking about other aspects of the book, and why it feels different from other BDSM romances. The best I can describe is that it feels like a romance where kink & kink community is the context, not erotic BDSM romance. I find that really refreshing and lovely, personally.
I liked the ways the love interests navigated their connection with each other, but I wanted a bigger romantic payoff, wanted to witness more of their moments of recognizing how they feel about each other. It felt like things changed fast, and I didn't quite buy it, even though I wanted to, and liked them, and was rooting for them as a couple.
I liked the ways bisexuality was part of the conversation and not a problem for either of the love interests. I liked the ways they flirted and how queer the story felt. I liked that the characters were not wealthy and had economic stakes in their decisions.
I want to think more about the ways the book engages with demisexuality, the misogyny of gay men, and stone sexuality. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, need to think on it more.
I was uncomfortable with the way the antagonist was portrayed; there was some intense stereotyping going on there with regard to class and mental capacity.
I was very uncomfortable with the depiction of Dru's prior partner.
Trigger Warnings:
June 20, 2016
Lovers reuniting can be sweet or it can be trying. Drusilla aka Dru is recovering from a blow to her heart. Broken up with the loss of her wife, Dru leaves the place which reminds her of too many happy and wistful memories. Starting fresh again, and determined to carry out the dream she had with her wife, Dru returns to her hometown to open up Escape. There is another kink club already, but Dru's is catering to a different crowd. Surely there is enough room for both, right?
Ms. Dryden creates plausible and all too realistic conflicts in this story. As someone in the lifestyle who has watched a community torn apart when a new club comes into town, this story moves me. Dru's fresh start is constantly hampered by an old lover and hidden rivals. Dru's ex-lover, Amie, is a bit disappointing. For those who read the book prior to this one, Amie is the one who is being taken advantage of by her play partner and ex-lover. It seems Amie is taking a page out of her book and screwing with Dru's head.
The dynamic between Amie and Dru is jarring and shaky. Whilst Dru's growth and maturity is evident, Amie in comparison is still juvenile. The conflict is shown so well as Amie makes assumptions and doesn't try to learn how Dru's life has been in the years they have been apart. It is as if Amie believes no time has passed and she can just pick Dru off the shelf, dust her off and play with her again. This is infuriating for Dru, as it should be. Ms. Dryden does a good job of showing the complexities of lovers getting reacquainted and starting fresh.
The kink in this story is lovely. There are so few f/f erotica, let alone romances. Ms. Dryden's erotica is written with women in mind. This isn't a male fantasy of two women getting it on for him to beat off. This is a lovely piece of erotica where two women find each other again through domination and submission.
Whilst the romance is blooming, danger is striking by the filthy hands of the crazed saboteur. This is a kinky person's nightmare, being outed with their personal details. The heinous backstabber is a coward and a bane of the entire community, not just Dru's club. The way the disaster is cleaned up is amazing. I wish more communities would come together in this manner. This F/f erotic romance is recommended for kinky readers who enjoy lovers reunited themes.
May 12, 2016
I guess this one did not hold my interest somewhere along the lines I got lost and couldn't follow the story.
Given by NetGalley for a honest review
Given by NetGalley for a honest review
December 15, 2020
I appreciate the representation, though I don't totally agree with the way it's presented: sexuality isn't defined by your current partner, so it's not accurate to say a character is "sometimes bisexual but mostly lesbian"; it's also mentioned that there's some tension because the bisexual lead is also a switch (including one instance, although challenged in-text, where the other alludes to her finally "admitting her true identity" or something like that), which is never really resolved. The plot also wraps up too quickly and neatly, which makes it difficult to invest in the characters or their story.
content warnings:
rep:
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CONVERSION : 8.4 / 15 = 3 stars
Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 6 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 4 / 10
Setting: 7 / 10
content warnings:
rep:
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CONVERSION : 8.4 / 15 = 3 stars
Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 6 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 4 / 10
Setting: 7 / 10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2016
Mistress Amie lives day-to-day without attachments. She loves her job at the gym, but the only person she has any type of bond with is her ex, Mara, whom she’s sent away for good to a new club, Escape. She used to love the crowd and scenes at her current club, but now, the club just feels drama-filled and tired.
Dru is determined to make club Escape work. On her own, she seeks the advice of her onetime college partner, Amie, to help the club break even. What she didn’t expect is to have feelings for Amie, even after their initial reunion left little to be desired.
Top to Bottom is a love story of two women finding their way back to one another after many years. Although the years in between college and current day were filled with significant life trials, shaping each woman into someone slightly different and a bit stronger. Top to Bottom shares the final stage of each female’s development; both taking that final step to heal and love.
Amie’s wild and crazy ways condemned her to homelessness when her family discovered her kissing another girl. With all of her college friends gone, Amie struggled until she found her first job. Understanding the hardship and humiliation of living on the streets, and the pain of loneliness after being cast out by her family, Amie doesn’t trust easily. Dru gives her balance and a safe place to share herself. While I found the falling (back) into love part a bit too easy, or rather than it felt like it happened under the radar, it was still believable because of the pair’s dynamic when we did see them together, opening up and therefore, growing. Dru pushes Amie with just the right amount of determination, until Amie realizes she can trust again.
Meanwhile, Dru has lived a pretty good life, until she lost her partner. Opening the club was their dream, and Dru is determined to make it work. However, someone is out to ruin her and/or her club, and giving up may be the easier option. At times I felt like Dru saw Amie as a case to manage - something broken to be fixed - and that’s what drove the relationship. However, it was done because she cared, and she was ready to move on with her life. Dru saw past Amie’s hard shell and wanted to expose the potential within.
Top to Bottom is a standalone read with ties to the previous title in the series. At the heart it’s a solid love story, with a healthy sampling of personal growth, creating an enjoyable read. There are a few BDSM scenes, with both the scenes and sex used as tools to drive the characters from the past into their future.
My Rating: B- Liked It
Review copy provided by publisher.
Dru is determined to make club Escape work. On her own, she seeks the advice of her onetime college partner, Amie, to help the club break even. What she didn’t expect is to have feelings for Amie, even after their initial reunion left little to be desired.
Top to Bottom is a love story of two women finding their way back to one another after many years. Although the years in between college and current day were filled with significant life trials, shaping each woman into someone slightly different and a bit stronger. Top to Bottom shares the final stage of each female’s development; both taking that final step to heal and love.
Amie’s wild and crazy ways condemned her to homelessness when her family discovered her kissing another girl. With all of her college friends gone, Amie struggled until she found her first job. Understanding the hardship and humiliation of living on the streets, and the pain of loneliness after being cast out by her family, Amie doesn’t trust easily. Dru gives her balance and a safe place to share herself. While I found the falling (back) into love part a bit too easy, or rather than it felt like it happened under the radar, it was still believable because of the pair’s dynamic when we did see them together, opening up and therefore, growing. Dru pushes Amie with just the right amount of determination, until Amie realizes she can trust again.
Meanwhile, Dru has lived a pretty good life, until she lost her partner. Opening the club was their dream, and Dru is determined to make it work. However, someone is out to ruin her and/or her club, and giving up may be the easier option. At times I felt like Dru saw Amie as a case to manage - something broken to be fixed - and that’s what drove the relationship. However, it was done because she cared, and she was ready to move on with her life. Dru saw past Amie’s hard shell and wanted to expose the potential within.
Top to Bottom is a standalone read with ties to the previous title in the series. At the heart it’s a solid love story, with a healthy sampling of personal growth, creating an enjoyable read. There are a few BDSM scenes, with both the scenes and sex used as tools to drive the characters from the past into their future.
My Rating: B- Liked It
Review copy provided by publisher.
May 30, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Inked Rainbow Reads in return for an honest review.
This is the story of Amie and Dru, two women we first meet in Mara's story, The Unicorn. In The Unicorn, Amie was the Domme who couldn't give Mara the complete relationship that she wanted, and Dru was the club owner who matched Mara with the couple she became involved with. In Top to Bottom, we learn why Amie and Mara didn't work. Amie has a whole lot of baggage. We find out that Dru is recovering from loss, and that Dru and Amie have a past. That past comes into play when Dru asks Amie for some business help, and the two women realize that they still have a lot of chemistry together. The scenes they had were hot, and it was nice to watch Amie start to realize that vanilla wasn't necessarily a bad word when it was done with someone she trusted. There's a subplot of sabotage that threatens their budding relationship, but once Amie calms down enough to realize that she has possibly overreacted to something Dru said, it clears the way for some honest communication, and possibly the route to happiness for them both. A very enjoyable read.
This is the story of Amie and Dru, two women we first meet in Mara's story, The Unicorn. In The Unicorn, Amie was the Domme who couldn't give Mara the complete relationship that she wanted, and Dru was the club owner who matched Mara with the couple she became involved with. In Top to Bottom, we learn why Amie and Mara didn't work. Amie has a whole lot of baggage. We find out that Dru is recovering from loss, and that Dru and Amie have a past. That past comes into play when Dru asks Amie for some business help, and the two women realize that they still have a lot of chemistry together. The scenes they had were hot, and it was nice to watch Amie start to realize that vanilla wasn't necessarily a bad word when it was done with someone she trusted. There's a subplot of sabotage that threatens their budding relationship, but once Amie calms down enough to realize that she has possibly overreacted to something Dru said, it clears the way for some honest communication, and possibly the route to happiness for them both. A very enjoyable read.
Did not finish
August 20, 2016I can't believe I didn't review this book when I attempted to read it. I say attempt because I actually did not finish. It had nothing to do with writing and everything to do with content. I'm not the girl who enjoys reading heavy BDSM. I love extreme kink in my romance stories but there's a fine line that crosses over to my dark side, for lack of a better phrase ... this book hit that line. I lost interest in the story because of it so I just walked away. And of course, it wasn't until I requested the book from NetGalley and came on Goodreads to shelve it that I found out it was a 3rd in a series ... i reeeeeeeeeeeally hate that!
Copy provided by NetGalley for review
Copy provided by NetGalley for review
September 9, 2016
Though this is a standalone novel, but looks like these character were actually from another novel. Generally the theme of breaking up and reuniting works for me, but unfortunately just not for this book. There's definitely tension between Dru and Amie, but maybe because I've not read prior novels, I simply cannot connect where Mara fits into the picture and what happened that scarred Amie so deeply. I may attempt with the book again after I've done the first two novels.
*ARC received from NetGalley
*ARC received from NetGalley
April 24, 2016
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This was different than any of the usual books that I read, but I loved it. It was so different that I couldn't put the book down. The author took me on a journey, especially as I don't know much about BDSM, but I could feel the connection between the characters and their story. This was a great read if your looking for a different type of romance, enjoy.
June 29, 2016
3.5 stars - review to come for Heroes and Heartbreakers.
Overall enjoyed it!
Overall enjoyed it!
January 10, 2017
Loved this second chance romance, with love and kink. The fact that it's between two women is incidental. Well done.
Bought from kobo
Bought from kobo
April 20, 2017
I've been looking for a book like this. Sweet and romantic, satisfyingly kinky, surprisingly poignant. Quite pleased, I hope for more!
Read
April 27, 2017usually love this author's books. this one just didn't resonate.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews