Practice Makes Perfect

Scientific Method Universe

by Kris Ripper

Paul Sorenson signs up for the BDSM and Dating workshop because his best friend threatens an intervention if he doesn’t. He figures if nothing else, at least it’ll be nice to sit in a room with other kinky queer folks.

The location’s not quite as accessible as it was supposed to be, but there’s a ramp down an alley and a door his wheelchair fits through, so he’s definitely seen worse. Also, there’s a no dating rule, but since Paul has a bad habit of rushing into things and steamrolling every obstacle in his path, that’s not such a bad thing.

Then he meets Ally Jennings. And all bets are off.

Ally loves the workshop, even if she feels like the least experienced person in the room. Meeting Paul is the icing on the cake. When he looks at her, she feels like he gets her, and that’s…never happened before.

He’s dominant, she’s submissive, and everything from kissing to talking about their families feels perfect. But when Paul pushes for commitment, Ally hesitates, and each of them feels betrayed.

They’ve only known each other for two weeks. They should probably just write the whole thing off and go their separate ways, except they can’t stop thinking about each other. Falling in love was the easy part. Building a relationship takes a hell of a lot of work.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, BDSM, Contemporary, Disability, Fiction, Erotica

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 24, 2017

About the author

Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.

Reviews

[dobbs the dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh, it’s like I forget how fucking good Kris Ripper books are if I don’t read them regularly.

And this one was SO good! I’m back to my SMU reread, including all of the side novellas, and this was a new-to-me story! Which doesn’t happen in SMU much anymore. I don’t know why I waited so long to read it, it was excellent.

I really loved all of the conversation happening between Ally and Paul. I liked the frank discussions about Paul and his use of a wheelchair. I’ve read one (I think?) other book with a wheelchair user in it, and it wasn’t nearly as good as this one (imo, I’m obvs not the wheelchair user rep police). I also really appreciated that this was a book with a lot of sex in it, but with zero PIV sex. It was about exploring what made each of them feel good and erogenous zones and what sex can look like for someone with no sensation below their waist.

It was also great to see Justin from Fail Seven Times, as the class (BDSM and Dating) that this story revolves around is mentioned in FST. And I loved getting to meet Paul and see how he and Ally met/got together. In the New Years novellas, he just kind of pops up, so I really enjoyed getting to read his and Ally’s story.

I can’t wait to continue with the reread!

[Ariadna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a novella by Kris Ripper so I was totes game. Like, I didn't even care about the fact that this was the latest entry in the Scientific Method Universe. The premise was enticing was enticing as hell. I mean, how many books featuring kinky disabled folks are out there (that are also WELL-WRITTEN)?

In the end, I was so starry-end when I ended it that I started reading Catalysts: The Scientific Method just to see how the series began. LOL!


What I liked

+ Good LGTBQ+ representation

Kris Ripper is one of those authors who has consistently spun stories featuring truly queer communities/families of choice. In this case, not only is Will pansexual but there are also genderqueer, gay POCs, and transgender characters who are part of the actual plot (and not just, you know, used for rep points.)

Since they were Will's classmates, we did get to spend some time with them. Even though we weren't hanging out with them 24/7 (the book's told from Will and Allie's alternating POVs), we got enough story for EVERY side character to make the 'verse even realer.


+ Let's talk about kink for an hour or two

Some people might think that a kinky person might know all the ins and outs of whatever pings them. The reality is that, for the majority of kinky folks, figuring out limits, what to do if a scene goes bad, how to negotiate play, etc. involves some degree of trial and error.

Yes, we do get to see Will's dominant side play with Allie's submissive side. BUT, in between the romance, there are a lot of scenes centered around discussions on the emotional and psychological how-tos to kink.

The conversations about, say, negotiating dom or sub drops, for example, read genuine and that deffo added to my enjoyment of this story.


+ The conflict

Will has the kind of personality that can become v. focused . He does whatever he needs to do to reach his goals. That kind of mindset works really well for a lot of things but not interpersonal relationships. It's not only about what he wants to do because of his relationship with Allie.

Meanwhile, Allie's enormously insecure. Like, to the point that it edged the line of being v. annoying. I got tired of seeing her falling into a fear-indecision-freakout pattern. Thankfully, we do learn the reason why her self-esteem is close to non-existent. Not that it didn't drive me up the wall to see her ask everyone in her life what she should do or shouldn't do.

BUT THEN, Kris did managed to pull Allie (and the story) back from going off the deep end.

Still, FAIR WARNING: if you're one of those people who are annoyed by characters who hesitate about all kinds of things, Allie's ???-type of personality will push your buttons in an unpleasant way.

FTR, both issues DO get addressed by both MCs in ways that are healthy and lead to practical resolutions. Instead of, you know, magical personality transplants. #IJS


This one could be a +/- :

Will/Allie

Theirs is a relationship based on instalust in a way that surprises even them. It might be a tad off-putting because they're REALLY into each other but wanting to take their time pushing at their kink boundaries. So, there is some level of fretting as the two of them feel the attraction but try to not yield to it (the teacher said in the v. first class that dating wasn't allowed.)

They do give into their fascination with each other in a rather fumbling but kinda sweet way.

Because of Will's spinal cord injury, their approach to kinky play is different but no less satisfying than the one between able bodied people. Kris doesn't shy away from showing that disability and a good sex life can deffo go hand in hand.

The intimate scenes were AMAZING. Hot, tender, and fun. The book did a great job in showing how adaptive the body is when it comes to pleasure.


What I didn't like

- It's a v. relationship-focused story

As much as we follow Will and Allie (together and separate), the bulk of the story centers around their time at the BDSM and Dating classes AND their dates. There aren't any scenes of them at work and only two scenes of Will and his family. The story felt a little incomplete.

It would've been neat if Allie had, for example, talked to her brother and friends about something other than her love/sex life. Or if we had seen Will at work. IJS.


- Short

The story ends just as things have settled between Will and Allie. It wasn't so much the HFN what bugged me but that, again, other than their kinkiness and emotions for each other, we don't learn much about Will and Allie.


TL;DR: This is a great book for people wanting to read about kink from an approachable way. In the sense that a lot of the play between Will and Allie is done with hands and mouths. They have strong chemistry and, even if you might fight it, their relationship is pretty adorbs.

The story ends a little too soon (imo), but it does work as an introduction to the SMU series. FTR, it's a true standalone--as you don't need to know anything about SMU before you pick it up.

[X]

DNF @ 13% - never been a big Ally fan and being in her head hasn’t changed that. Just not my thing!

[Katie (Romance Novel Quotes)]

I’ve had this Kris Ripper in the vault for a long while, because the first read of any SMU book is always a gift. Loved it. Loved Ally and Paul. Loved popping back into this world and these characters. (And so much Hugh Reynolds on page is always a delight.)

[Mel]

Oh my. Um.

I appreciate this book for many reasons but I'm not into all the processing and talking and such. It's annoying me.

Kris does a wonderful job with the depiction of Paul's disability (if I should even call it that). Really, it is awesome. He's in a chair and has no resentments about it at all and it's just wonderful and positive. Having read Gays of Our Lives by the author, I am not surprised, really. I think ze writes very respectfully about everything, actually.

I like the protagonists just fine and they have some nice scenes with great chemistry, although this is insta-insta-everything.

I just feel the story is taking too much time to develop and the constant thinking and talking about whether it's too soon or how do I know and what is even... jeeez, I am not in the mood for it.

____________________________________
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tags: F/M Pairing, BDSM, Kink, Disability
Rating: dnf, no rating

This book is part of the Scientific Method Universe, but can be read as a standalone.

[Becs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just want to live in Kris Ripper's SMU. This is Ally's story (takes place after The New Born Year) and how she meets Paul. I love these companion stories because I get to see characters that I spend so much time with especially Hugh | Will | Truman through others - and that is fascinating. Ally and Paul's relationship is instant attraction followed by negotiation, communication, miscommunication, and mutual development. Sweet and satisfying.

And now I'm off to read Fail Seven Times which is Justin's story - a character from this story who is a grumpy asshole that Hugh identifies with and I find so endearing AND annoying.

Shrink Hugh: "prioritize not avoiding conflict, but working through it." I think I need to send Ripper money for the therapy. 💜

[Lotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet book. I think you might get more out of this if you already know the Scientific Method Universe. Ally reads as younger than her 30 years, but with an overbearing mother and a soft personality (as in a wish to please, I think), that's no wonder. I can so identify with her wish to discuss with friends or family before making decisions to the extent that people find it frustrating (though more when I was younger, I think. I hope. Well...).

I'd like to read more with Paul and Ally in an SMU setting.

[Vendela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I LOVE most of this series, and I was so excited about this one, but it was too conflict-free for me, I think. I need like 2/3 conflict/complications for the 1/3 of sweetness to feel earned.

[Sheryl Beesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful book in the SMU series..... My love for these books knows no bounds...

LOVE Them!!!!!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Ally annoys me and I don't like insta-love so I really don't get what Paul sees in her.

[Sophie]

I liked a lot about this book - Ally and Paul, for example. Or basically I love Kris Ripper's SMU in general. The second half fell a little flat for me, though, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been longer (although I can see why it would make sense to limit it in the way it was limited). I think overall everything just happened a little too quickly.

Meeting the characters was like meeting old friends, which was nice.

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been looking forward to this book for a while! I first met Ally and Paul in Fail Seven Times and thought I’d read it next. But after learning both books are part of the much larger Scientific Methods Universe, I decided to read the SMU series first. Having embarked on this Rippersaince, I’ve subsequently learned how many spinoffs and novellas there are so I’ve been trying to read mostly in order. There is so much missing context in the main books without that. This doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me as a logistics-minded soul: everything should be incorporated into the official series order! OK, now that that’s aside, let’s get into this book itself.

Ally and Paul meet at a BDSM and Dating class taught by Hugh. They have an immediate connection and while the class isn’t to facilitate dating between classmates, it’s not long before they’re together. Ally can be awkward but she’s endearing and she wants to learn and do better, whether that’s what Paul needs as a wheelchair-user or how to be a good roommate. She has a profound lack of self-confidence courtesy of her mother and she desperately doesn’t want to make a mistake with Paul.

Paul, by contrast, goes after what he wants and typically gets it. He can be pushy but his zeal and confidence can be attractive. It would be easy for Ally to go with the flow but the fact remains that their relationship moves fast for not knowing each other long. It all comes to a head when he invites her to Thanksgiving dinner with his family out of nowhere. Instead of understanding why she’d want time to think, he takes it as a sign that she’s not as invested. It was such a red flag to shame her for wanting to talk to her friends about the invitation. I didn’t take it as a sign that he’d become an abuser but oof that was an uncomfortable scene and I really did not care for Paul in that moment. However, he eventually comes to realize just how badly he screwed up and I appreciated the way they talked everything through and came to an understanding.

I loved the found family of Ally’s roommates and the group members, especially getting to see Justin in all his curmudgeonly glory. Adam and Will gave great advice, particularly Adam’s analogy about love. I’ll be thinking about it often!


Characters: Paul is a 24 year old paraplegic pansexual white vet tech and Dom. Ally is a 30 year old straight white law undersecretary and submissive. This is set in East Bay, CA.

Content notes: anxiety/overthinking, toxic mother, MMC is a wheel-chair user (spinal cord injury at age 8 when his brother accidentally pushed him out of the treehouse), ableism, accessibility issues, past kink-shaming, internalized kink-shaming, FMC’s family is homophobic toward brother, past parental divorce, on page sex, D/s, phone sex, alcohol, gendered pejorative, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mention of fatshaming by parent (secondary character)

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romance set in the Scientific Method universe, featuring Truman’s younger sister getting her own happily ever after. Alison is the only other tolerable member of the Jennings family, so I’m glad she could escape to California and become part of her brother’s larger found family.

Breaking the rules by falling in love at a BDSM and Dating workshop was not how I expected her “meet cute” to go, but it was definitely in form for the rest of this series. Alison and Paul made an adorable couple, and I appreciated that Ripper included occasional missteps regarding Paul’s use of a wheelchair. It made the story realistic without verging on preachiness. All experiences are different, but Ripper seems to have done their research in portraying Paul.

This installment is probably the lightest on the BDSM content by far, but it’s appropriate considering the experience level and relationship status of the pairing. That doesn’t stop Alison and Paul’s sexual encounters from being any less hot, while still retaining Alison’s sense of innate sweetness that I love from her.

I’m glad I’ll get to see glimpses of their continuing relationship throughout this series.

[Terri Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely adorable. I've never read a m/f romance this sweet and funny and utterly sexy - remarkable because many hetero romances leave me wanting. (I am het. How sad is that?) When I read The New Born Year, it was... less than, on average, for this series, for me. But I suspected it was leading to something, and then I knew it was, and when I read the blurb? Oh yeah. Paul is so self-assured it sometimes gets him in trouble, but it makes him Ally's perfect mate. I loved Hugh teaching their class, I loved every character in it and dearly hope we see some of them, too.

I read one review of this book lamenting all the talking. I am afraid I laughed out loud. :D

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

As with all the spinoff SMU books: I enjoyed this -- time in SMU-world is always time well-spent -- but I simply don't get as invested in these as I do in the canon books and stories. But it was fun seeing Hugh in teacher-mode, Truman in brother-mode, and Will in roommate-mode. And Adam is always a delight.

Ally is a bit of a ditz -- that we knew -- but what surprised me is that Paul is a total drama llama. That whole Thanksgiving thing? Slow down, buddy boy!! Holy over-the-top, my friend!

All in all, a fun time with most of our beloved SMU gang, and some very likable newbies.

[AGMaynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ally has been inveigled into helping brother-in-law Hugh with his BDSM and Dating weekend workshop series. Kinda ulterior motives, Hugh? The delightful Paul is there and sparks fly! A few rocky moments as the two work out better communication--use your workshop tools!--and a satisfying ending. Warm and sexy throughout and nice to see glimpses of Will, Hugh, and Truman outside of their triad story.

[Pernilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of sweet, but left me mostly lukewarm -- the moments that stuck out for me weren't to do with Ally and Paul, but all the glimpses we got of Hugh being Hugh, and Truman, and the Derrie twins. (I have it so bad for them.) Also, the introduction of Justin from Fail Seven Times, which was in fact my first ever Ripper book, so there's that.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful addition

I loved Alley in the core SMU books. I liked her faults & her openness. So getting to see her HEA & completely adoring Paul was such a treat. He was such a strong character & the way they traversed open communication but through class work was nothing short of genius. Bravo Kris for another engaging story full of depth and heart.

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dying from the cute in this book. Ally is a sweet character and I'm glad she got her HEA. Nice disability rep too!! Okay but my favourite part was the scene where we got to see the twins interacting, from outside Will's head this time. They're adorable!

[Thegirlintheafternoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Task: A book by or about a person with a disability - 3/5 stars

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the SMU series this is the one I’d be most likely to call a true “romance”. Ally and Paul are so cute I wanna spray whipped cream on ‘em and eat ‘em with a spoon.

[Zach Strassburger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good depiction of people with disabilities. Also hot. 4.5 stars.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ally Jennings has low self confidence and with the encouragement of the other members of the group comes out of her shell. She has hardly any experience in BDSM and is a shy about exploring it. Paul on the other hand is confident and quite focused when he knows what he wants. They are attracted to each other from the start and it is lovely to see both sides of their nature.

Kris Ripper is excellent at writing the interplay between characters and there is potential for lots of stories lines and to emerge from the characters in this workshop. Paul's disability is portrayed sensitively. To be honest there were times I forgot he was in a wheelchair he was just Paul, and that was what Paul was looking for someone who saw him first and not the chair. He found that with Ally.

A sweet and lovely romance and I look forward to reading more about them in other Scientific Method Universe books.