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Carnal Pleasures is the most exclusive BDSM club in the supernatural world. Renowned for their specialized Dominant and submissive training, people from all over to explore what the club has to offer.
Cold and commanding, Adam Archer is the club manager. Though he hasn’t taken on a submissive in years, he agrees to see to the newest member of the club.
After surviving a horrific attack, Bane is left broken. The lost wolf is sent to Carnal Pleasures at the bidding of his Pack Alpha. Wrapped in pain and self-doubt he doesn’t want to be there. After all, who would help a damaged beast?
Their attraction is instant, but Bane is distrustful of the demanding vampire. Not used to following the orders of anyone but his Alpha, he fights against his temporary Master at every turn.
Determined to make him let go, Adam submerges Bane in a world he never thought to dream of. A place where trust and submission go hand in hand.
Both men are stubborn and fight tooth and nail to make their arrangement work. When they do figure it out, they find they have more in common than mutual attraction. Together, they might heal more than just Bane's broken confidence.
*The Carnal Pleasures series will be a mixture of various M/M and M/F pairings following the lives of the employees and patrons of the club. Due to language and explicit sexual interaction it is recommended for readers 18 and up*
Cold and commanding, Adam Archer is the club manager. Though he hasn’t taken on a submissive in years, he agrees to see to the newest member of the club.
After surviving a horrific attack, Bane is left broken. The lost wolf is sent to Carnal Pleasures at the bidding of his Pack Alpha. Wrapped in pain and self-doubt he doesn’t want to be there. After all, who would help a damaged beast?
Their attraction is instant, but Bane is distrustful of the demanding vampire. Not used to following the orders of anyone but his Alpha, he fights against his temporary Master at every turn.
Determined to make him let go, Adam submerges Bane in a world he never thought to dream of. A place where trust and submission go hand in hand.
Both men are stubborn and fight tooth and nail to make their arrangement work. When they do figure it out, they find they have more in common than mutual attraction. Together, they might heal more than just Bane's broken confidence.
*The Carnal Pleasures series will be a mixture of various M/M and M/F pairings following the lives of the employees and patrons of the club. Due to language and explicit sexual interaction it is recommended for readers 18 and up*
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2019
79 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Claire Marta
80 books1,316 followersClaire Marta is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes addictive, dark, hot stories. A native Brit, she lives in Italy with her daughter and husband. She loves drinking copious amounts of tea and goes walking when brainstorming one of her twisty book plots.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
March 28, 2020
I absolutely knew better. I saw the bad reviews by people I trust and still I was so in need of some good BDSM that I thought I might be able to squeeze some entertainment out of this. NOPE.
It's always the same with these kinds of books. It's like the authors didn't just forget about nuance but decided to back over it with a four wheel truck for good measure. There's no emotion that doesn't get spelled out, nothing is left for the reader to discover - it all needs to be hammered home in the most obvious way to make sure everyone really GETS IT.
What's worse is that the authors seem to THINK they are writing about consensual BDSM when everything that happens is dubcon at best. I love a good dubcon story about a reluctant sub and a dom who enjoys pushing the limits. But this is not that story. Bane goes through the same cycle of no to ok now you made me every time and it's not sexy but really kind of depressing to read about someone suffering from PTSD trying so hard to also deal with his newfound sexuality on top.
Adam keeps talking about how BDSM is about trust, consent and how he doesn't want to break Bane. Only then he proceeds to do exactly that with some humiliation and dubcon sex thrown in. No thanks. Either do it fully conscious of your sadism or don't. This wishy washy stuff is not sexy.
It's always the same with these kinds of books. It's like the authors didn't just forget about nuance but decided to back over it with a four wheel truck for good measure. There's no emotion that doesn't get spelled out, nothing is left for the reader to discover - it all needs to be hammered home in the most obvious way to make sure everyone really GETS IT.
What's worse is that the authors seem to THINK they are writing about consensual BDSM when everything that happens is dubcon at best. I love a good dubcon story about a reluctant sub and a dom who enjoys pushing the limits. But this is not that story. Bane goes through the same cycle of no to ok now you made me every time and it's not sexy but really kind of depressing to read about someone suffering from PTSD trying so hard to also deal with his newfound sexuality on top.
Adam keeps talking about how BDSM is about trust, consent and how he doesn't want to break Bane. Only then he proceeds to do exactly that with some humiliation and dubcon sex thrown in. No thanks. Either do it fully conscious of your sadism or don't. This wishy washy stuff is not sexy.
March 6, 2019
Didn’t work for me sorry!
I like my BDSM hot, but this was pretty boring for me.
Maybe I’m desensitised but I just found the characters a bit annoying and cliche.
I feel like the paranormal aspect was kind of just there? There wasn’t much paranormal in the book to be honest.
I got to 80% and thought I’d give up, but the beginning 10% was so good so I finished it hoping something exciting would happen.
The grammar mistakes and awkward sentencing started to grate on me too :(
Also, I love puppy play in my BDSM books which means I should have loved this!
I like my BDSM hot, but this was pretty boring for me.
Maybe I’m desensitised but I just found the characters a bit annoying and cliche.
I feel like the paranormal aspect was kind of just there? There wasn’t much paranormal in the book to be honest.
I got to 80% and thought I’d give up, but the beginning 10% was so good so I finished it hoping something exciting would happen.
The grammar mistakes and awkward sentencing started to grate on me too :(
Also, I love puppy play in my BDSM books which means I should have loved this!
March 18, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Bane, which is the first in the Carnal Pleasures series, was something of a conundrum. There is so much good in the book, especially with regards to the characters, but the BDSM aspect was a complete turn off. Let’s get into it.
Adam and Bane were absolutely fabulous together, when they weren’t participating in a BDSM scene. When their conversations were personal, they were a poignant couple and struck me as being deeply in tune with one another. They feel wonderfully developed and their stories unfold throughout the book in a natural, believable manner. Despite the fact the book takes place over four weeks, the authors do a good job of making Bane’s pacing seem relaxed and it never becomes forced. The secondary characters are a bit more distant, but they aren’t cookie cutter either and they do fit well into the wider story.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Bane, which is the first in the Carnal Pleasures series, was something of a conundrum. There is so much good in the book, especially with regards to the characters, but the BDSM aspect was a complete turn off. Let’s get into it.
Adam and Bane were absolutely fabulous together, when they weren’t participating in a BDSM scene. When their conversations were personal, they were a poignant couple and struck me as being deeply in tune with one another. They feel wonderfully developed and their stories unfold throughout the book in a natural, believable manner. Despite the fact the book takes place over four weeks, the authors do a good job of making Bane’s pacing seem relaxed and it never becomes forced. The secondary characters are a bit more distant, but they aren’t cookie cutter either and they do fit well into the wider story.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
March 2, 2021
Vampires are my favorite. Throw in a BDSM club and a heartbroken werewolf, and you get an engaging story that keeps you reading. The side characters are all unique, to say the least. The action at the club is interesting but doesn’t take over the story.
Adam comes to care for Bane even though he is aromantic and doesn’t understand it. Bane hates the humiliation of the things Adam makes him do but can’t keep his mouth shut to stay out of trouble.
A fun read, not too dark, with plenty of paranormals to keep things interesting. I enjoyed it!
Adam comes to care for Bane even though he is aromantic and doesn’t understand it. Bane hates the humiliation of the things Adam makes him do but can’t keep his mouth shut to stay out of trouble.
A fun read, not too dark, with plenty of paranormals to keep things interesting. I enjoyed it!
January 26, 2020
I don’t jump to read paranormal as it’s one of my least favourite genres. This snuck into my reading list and I’m so glad it did.
Adam Archer is club manager of the exclusive BDSM club Carnal Pleasures. He’s also a vampire. Adam isn’t happy when he is told Bane is his submissive. When Adam sees Bane, a werewolf, the attraction is there straightaway.
A genre I’m not keen on her I enjoyed the story. Can’t fault it and I’ll certainly be reading more of this series.
Adam Archer is club manager of the exclusive BDSM club Carnal Pleasures. He’s also a vampire. Adam isn’t happy when he is told Bane is his submissive. When Adam sees Bane, a werewolf, the attraction is there straightaway.
A genre I’m not keen on her I enjoyed the story. Can’t fault it and I’ll certainly be reading more of this series.
April 29, 2019
3.5/5
How can you have so much talking and yet there is still an enormous room for misunderstandings?
That's the one thing that drove me crazy with this book. It's like the characters spend every chapter just hashing everything out over and over, to the point that they sometime, or maybe even the author, forgot what they already said. This resulted in some inconsistency in the plot, or maybe it's just me getting muddle up from all the talking.
What truly rubbed me the wrong way is the puppy play decision.
But. BuT. BUT. I did enjoy the book. I enjoyed the story and the characters, I just wish some events could have happened differently and smooth out more. The author has potential and I'm excited to read more from her.
Another nip pick I had for this book is Liam.
How can you have so much talking and yet there is still an enormous room for misunderstandings?
That's the one thing that drove me crazy with this book. It's like the characters spend every chapter just hashing everything out over and over, to the point that they sometime, or maybe even the author, forgot what they already said. This resulted in some inconsistency in the plot, or maybe it's just me getting muddle up from all the talking.
What truly rubbed me the wrong way is the puppy play decision.
But. BuT. BUT. I did enjoy the book. I enjoyed the story and the characters, I just wish some events could have happened differently and smooth out more. The author has potential and I'm excited to read more from her.
Another nip pick I had for this book is Liam.
March 7, 2019
I love pnr, I love MM and I love BDSM, so this book sounded like the perfect combination. I have to admit however at first I was a tiny bit sceptical. Wolf shifters are my favourite supernatural, I love their pack mentality and dominant alpha hotness, so I was a bit surprised to find Bane, who is all those things, being put into the submissive role. Could it really work? Well I'm open to having my boundaries pushed and I'm happy to say it did work mostly, although it took me a few chapters to get used to the style their conversations were written in and settle myself!
Bane is broken and full of guilt, he is disconnected from his pack, his wolf and himself. As a last ditch attempt to fix him, Liam his pack alpha (who isn't all he seems) sends him to a BDSM club for supernaturals to learn to let go of his past. Enter dominant vampire Adam, a man who has suffered too and when he first sees Bane, he recognises how broken he really is.
It wasnt easy for Bane, he fights it nearly the whole way and I liked that he did as it seemed to go against his nature. He's hurt and angry and not there by choice but quickly realises it is his last chance and stern, strict, controlling, closed off but caring vampire Adam is the only one who can help him. Bane struggles with the submission and rebels a lot, but to heal he must trust himself and Adam if he's to be set free and in doing so just may help Adam too.
There were a few aspects of the type of submission (puppy play) that in honesty isn't my kink, but I totally understand the context and how it would ultimately help Bane and it worked for their story. I loved some of the supporting characters. Who wouldn't want a friend like the impish Elias and I'm very intrigued by wolf pack leader Lucian.
There's heartbreak, suspense, anguish, emotion, pain (physical and mental) and a whole load of sexy hotness between these two strong males. I hope there will be more from the Carnal Pleasures club to come. 3.75 stars
Bane is broken and full of guilt, he is disconnected from his pack, his wolf and himself. As a last ditch attempt to fix him, Liam his pack alpha (who isn't all he seems) sends him to a BDSM club for supernaturals to learn to let go of his past. Enter dominant vampire Adam, a man who has suffered too and when he first sees Bane, he recognises how broken he really is.
It wasnt easy for Bane, he fights it nearly the whole way and I liked that he did as it seemed to go against his nature. He's hurt and angry and not there by choice but quickly realises it is his last chance and stern, strict, controlling, closed off but caring vampire Adam is the only one who can help him. Bane struggles with the submission and rebels a lot, but to heal he must trust himself and Adam if he's to be set free and in doing so just may help Adam too.
There were a few aspects of the type of submission (puppy play) that in honesty isn't my kink, but I totally understand the context and how it would ultimately help Bane and it worked for their story. I loved some of the supporting characters. Who wouldn't want a friend like the impish Elias and I'm very intrigued by wolf pack leader Lucian.
There's heartbreak, suspense, anguish, emotion, pain (physical and mental) and a whole load of sexy hotness between these two strong males. I hope there will be more from the Carnal Pleasures club to come. 3.75 stars
February 20, 2019
This is one hot and spicy read!
The combination of mm, bdsm and paranormal really make this book a page turner.
The authors have done a fab job of making this a story to stick in your minds for a while. The descriptions of everything from sex scenes, to the flashbacks, the characters, the feelings. It makes you feel as though you're actually there.
I adored Bane and his struggles were portrayed in a sensitive yet also slightly lighthearted fashion. The guy had a lot of emotional stuff to cope with and the ups and downs of having such a lot on his plate were executed brilliantly. I must admit I had nearly a tear two during full moon times. So painfully sad.
I think this will be yet another great series from Claire Marta and Summer Stanton couldn't have chosen a better partner to start off her writing career with!
The combination of mm, bdsm and paranormal really make this book a page turner.
The authors have done a fab job of making this a story to stick in your minds for a while. The descriptions of everything from sex scenes, to the flashbacks, the characters, the feelings. It makes you feel as though you're actually there.
I adored Bane and his struggles were portrayed in a sensitive yet also slightly lighthearted fashion. The guy had a lot of emotional stuff to cope with and the ups and downs of having such a lot on his plate were executed brilliantly. I must admit I had nearly a tear two during full moon times. So painfully sad.
I think this will be yet another great series from Claire Marta and Summer Stanton couldn't have chosen a better partner to start off her writing career with!
July 7, 2019
4.5 stars
March 2, 2019
Bane finds himself in a situation that should never happen to a werewolf. His pack would never look the same at him again if they know about it. His position would go to hell. Life would follow. He’s hurting, and the leader of his pack finds an unusual way to cure him - in a BDSM club for supernatural beings… A very intriguing premise, and Bane is certainty likable, despite his aggressive behavior. But the interaction between Bane and Adam, the Dom assigned to him, seems a bit rushed and inconsistent at times. Adam declares the right things, talks about building trust, but some of his actions seem to contradict his words - for example, making a very reluctant newbie scene in public, with someone else, or initiation sex Bane calls a rape, though he doesn’t safeword out. I find it strange that Bane starts trusting him after all. But maybe Bane is so starved for any kind of affection that it messes with his mind.
May 1, 2019
Book: Bane (Carnal Pleasures Book 1)
Author: Claire Marta and Summer Stanton
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewer: emmasromanticreviews17 on Facebook
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is nothing like anything that I have ever read before but it feels like Claire and Summer have thrown together parts of all of my favourite books to make one sexy hybrid. Claire Marta is fast becoming my go to girl for all things paranormal and kinky so this book most definitely does not disappoint. Bane features paranormal creatures, BDSM and a gay male relationship, so the theme may not be to everyone’s taste. But if this is your jam or if you want to expand your horizons, like I did, then this book is very much for you.
Bane is a grumpy, argumentative but broken werewolf who is haunted by his past. He is feeling disconnected from his wolf side and his pack, as well as being lost and lonely with no hope for the future. His pack Alpha Liam signs Bane up to join the exclusive Mystic Cardinal Pleasure Club, in the hope that it will help him relax and get back to his old self. Cardinal Pleasure is an elusive and exclusive BDSM club that caters to all different kinds of supernatural’s. It aims at giving customers whatever they need and setting them up with either a Dom or a Sub depending upon their needs. Mistress Mystic, the owner of the club, gets a reluctant Bane to agree to submit for four weeks in the hope that giving away his control will get Bane out of his own head and will help him to heal. But naturally Bane is an Alpha, second in command within his pack and he is only meant to submit to his pack Alpha. Despite his reluctance all of that changes when he is introduced to his sexy, stern Master Adam.
Adam is an old vampire who has worked for Mistress Mystic as manager of Cardinal Pleasures for many years. Whilst he enjoys doing scenes, giving demonstrations and dishing out punishments as he is a Dom, he never takes on a Sub for longer than one night. So when Mystic asks him to introduce Bane to the world of BDSM, particularly puppy play and to help him learn how to submit, Adam realises it must be an important request. It is also clear from his sign-up sheet that Bane knows nothing about the lifestyle and it is unclear if he actually wants to be helped.
From the moment Adam and Bane meet there is obvious chemistry but the path to true love and true submission does not come easily. Both characters are severely hindered by their pasts and the heartbreaks that they have each encountered, whilst different it has had a profound effect on them. Bane has no self-esteem and is stuck in his own head with a relentless cycle of self-hatred taking over him. But the love, care and support that Adam gives Bane shows that he is capable of being loved, even if it takes him time to actually believe it. However, sometimes actions speak louder than words and it is clear from the way Adam cares for Bane, that he is screaming his love.
The BDSM element in this book is extremely hot and taught me quite a bit about a world I am not very familiar with. But I want to be clear and say I am a BDSM novice and so people who are in the community may disagree, but for me I enjoyed the sex scenes. I will be honest and say that I am not sure I enjoyed the puppy play element. Whilst it did seem to have its place in the book it did not do much for me but this may be just personal preference.
This book introduced us to a host of secondary characters who have all become good friends to Bane and Adam and I loved learning more about them and their different lifestyles. I am keen to learn more about Elias and Samuel to discover more about their strange yet intriguing back story. But my draw was to the mysterious Dom and Alpha of the rebel pack, Lucian. We get a mini hint at his story but I wanted so much more. I am hoping there are more books in this series and that Lucian finds a Sub who will keep him happy. But I would love to read the backstory of any of the secondary characters and that for me is a sign of good writing. If I care about every character, not just the main ones, then the authors must be doing something right.
Overall, I loved this book. Bane’s feistiness and his smart mouth were at times very funny to witness knowing that Adam would challenge him and then punish him. Adam may have a very cold, heartless exterior but he is far from that and his sweet, kind, caring personality gave him a very sexy appeal. But it is his strong, dominating force that will really draw you to the enigmatic vampire. Even though their relationship is fast paced and develops under extraordinary circumstances it is actually very beautiful to witness. Their relationship is not normal, but for them they have found a normal that works and it gives them both what they need, which is the key to any successful relationship. On a slight negative note, when I started I did find the writing style, particularly the speaking elements were quite difficult to get my head around, as they were formatted slightly different to normal. But after a couple of chapters this was no longer too much of an issue. I would definitely recommend you give this book a go, even if it sounds like it might not be for you because I am sure once you see the love, trust and care between Adam and Bane which builds over time it will leave you hooked.
Author: Claire Marta and Summer Stanton
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewer: emmasromanticreviews17 on Facebook
Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is nothing like anything that I have ever read before but it feels like Claire and Summer have thrown together parts of all of my favourite books to make one sexy hybrid. Claire Marta is fast becoming my go to girl for all things paranormal and kinky so this book most definitely does not disappoint. Bane features paranormal creatures, BDSM and a gay male relationship, so the theme may not be to everyone’s taste. But if this is your jam or if you want to expand your horizons, like I did, then this book is very much for you.
Bane is a grumpy, argumentative but broken werewolf who is haunted by his past. He is feeling disconnected from his wolf side and his pack, as well as being lost and lonely with no hope for the future. His pack Alpha Liam signs Bane up to join the exclusive Mystic Cardinal Pleasure Club, in the hope that it will help him relax and get back to his old self. Cardinal Pleasure is an elusive and exclusive BDSM club that caters to all different kinds of supernatural’s. It aims at giving customers whatever they need and setting them up with either a Dom or a Sub depending upon their needs. Mistress Mystic, the owner of the club, gets a reluctant Bane to agree to submit for four weeks in the hope that giving away his control will get Bane out of his own head and will help him to heal. But naturally Bane is an Alpha, second in command within his pack and he is only meant to submit to his pack Alpha. Despite his reluctance all of that changes when he is introduced to his sexy, stern Master Adam.
Adam is an old vampire who has worked for Mistress Mystic as manager of Cardinal Pleasures for many years. Whilst he enjoys doing scenes, giving demonstrations and dishing out punishments as he is a Dom, he never takes on a Sub for longer than one night. So when Mystic asks him to introduce Bane to the world of BDSM, particularly puppy play and to help him learn how to submit, Adam realises it must be an important request. It is also clear from his sign-up sheet that Bane knows nothing about the lifestyle and it is unclear if he actually wants to be helped.
From the moment Adam and Bane meet there is obvious chemistry but the path to true love and true submission does not come easily. Both characters are severely hindered by their pasts and the heartbreaks that they have each encountered, whilst different it has had a profound effect on them. Bane has no self-esteem and is stuck in his own head with a relentless cycle of self-hatred taking over him. But the love, care and support that Adam gives Bane shows that he is capable of being loved, even if it takes him time to actually believe it. However, sometimes actions speak louder than words and it is clear from the way Adam cares for Bane, that he is screaming his love.
The BDSM element in this book is extremely hot and taught me quite a bit about a world I am not very familiar with. But I want to be clear and say I am a BDSM novice and so people who are in the community may disagree, but for me I enjoyed the sex scenes. I will be honest and say that I am not sure I enjoyed the puppy play element. Whilst it did seem to have its place in the book it did not do much for me but this may be just personal preference.
This book introduced us to a host of secondary characters who have all become good friends to Bane and Adam and I loved learning more about them and their different lifestyles. I am keen to learn more about Elias and Samuel to discover more about their strange yet intriguing back story. But my draw was to the mysterious Dom and Alpha of the rebel pack, Lucian. We get a mini hint at his story but I wanted so much more. I am hoping there are more books in this series and that Lucian finds a Sub who will keep him happy. But I would love to read the backstory of any of the secondary characters and that for me is a sign of good writing. If I care about every character, not just the main ones, then the authors must be doing something right.
Overall, I loved this book. Bane’s feistiness and his smart mouth were at times very funny to witness knowing that Adam would challenge him and then punish him. Adam may have a very cold, heartless exterior but he is far from that and his sweet, kind, caring personality gave him a very sexy appeal. But it is his strong, dominating force that will really draw you to the enigmatic vampire. Even though their relationship is fast paced and develops under extraordinary circumstances it is actually very beautiful to witness. Their relationship is not normal, but for them they have found a normal that works and it gives them both what they need, which is the key to any successful relationship. On a slight negative note, when I started I did find the writing style, particularly the speaking elements were quite difficult to get my head around, as they were formatted slightly different to normal. But after a couple of chapters this was no longer too much of an issue. I would definitely recommend you give this book a go, even if it sounds like it might not be for you because I am sure once you see the love, trust and care between Adam and Bane which builds over time it will leave you hooked.
March 4, 2019
I love picking up any of Claire Marta’s books, so I was really excited to read this one as it wasn’t just her words, she had teamed up with another author (Summer Stanton) and I was intrigued to see how well their work would flow together. After giving this book a read, I was pretty impressed, both Summer and Claire’s writing flowed perfectly and you can’t help but just fall in love with the story that they’ve created. Honestly, I will happily give any genre a try once to see what it’s like and if I feel that I could read more, then I do and honestly M/M bdsm is something that I’ve not had much experience in reading, I’ve read M/M and bdsm books, but I’ve not read them together as one, so this was an interesting experience. I know for a fact that I will be reading more books by both of these authors and I can’t wait to see what else they come up with together. The story was incredible and you can’t help but fall in love with it and the characters as you go along. This is seriously worth the read and I would recommend that you give this a try.
Bane likes to be in control of things, however six months prior his life changed, he’s unable to shift into his wolf but is able to go through the motions each full moon, he lost his family and he ended up getting out of control. The only thing that was left for him to do is go to Carnal Pleasures as that’s what his pack leader decided was best for him, but he had no say in the matter. But Bane doesn’t think he’ll be able to fix himself…. In his eyes, he doesn’t deserve to live. But during his month stay at Carnal Pleasures, his life is set to change and get more complicated for him when he meets his Dom, Adam. Will Adam be able to get through to him and help him rediscover himself, or is this all set to be all doom and gloom?
Bane likes to be in control of things, however six months prior his life changed, he’s unable to shift into his wolf but is able to go through the motions each full moon, he lost his family and he ended up getting out of control. The only thing that was left for him to do is go to Carnal Pleasures as that’s what his pack leader decided was best for him, but he had no say in the matter. But Bane doesn’t think he’ll be able to fix himself…. In his eyes, he doesn’t deserve to live. But during his month stay at Carnal Pleasures, his life is set to change and get more complicated for him when he meets his Dom, Adam. Will Adam be able to get through to him and help him rediscover himself, or is this all set to be all doom and gloom?
January 15, 2020
I went into Bane blind, only knowing that it was a BDSM themed story but not much else. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is a paranormal love story with a BDSM theme, making for a new type of sub-genre for me.
Bane is a wolf shifter, second in command to the Alpha with a very large problem. He cannot connect with his beast and when the full moon comes, he is left behind as the pack shifts and hunts. His pack leader sends him to Madam Mystic and her Carnal Pleasures club in a last ditch effort to fix him. Bane is not at all agreeable and even less so when he is assigned to Adam. Not only is Adam a dominant and a man, but he is also a vampire.
While there are some hot scenes between the wolf and the vampire, the heart of this story is about healing and hope. It's about learning who you are at your core, letting go of what holds you back, and surrounding yourself with people who understand and accept you. Bane and Adam's interactions are tense, yet revealing as they fight to get Bane to not only move through and past trauma but accept himself as an Alpha and a submissive.
The characters are vividly portrayed from the solemn, long-lived Adam, who hides his deep-seated pain but opens up for another, to Bane the shifter who used to know who he was but has to face his true nature. There is a nice balance between the interaction of Bane and Adam and their inner thoughts, which are part past reminisces and current feelings.
An engrossing read with the familiar D/s themes that are made that much different from the paranormal elements. As this is the first of the series, side characters, which I hope get their own books, are liberally sprinkled throughout the story adding humorous moments and eye-catching teases into what may come.
Bane is a wolf shifter, second in command to the Alpha with a very large problem. He cannot connect with his beast and when the full moon comes, he is left behind as the pack shifts and hunts. His pack leader sends him to Madam Mystic and her Carnal Pleasures club in a last ditch effort to fix him. Bane is not at all agreeable and even less so when he is assigned to Adam. Not only is Adam a dominant and a man, but he is also a vampire.
While there are some hot scenes between the wolf and the vampire, the heart of this story is about healing and hope. It's about learning who you are at your core, letting go of what holds you back, and surrounding yourself with people who understand and accept you. Bane and Adam's interactions are tense, yet revealing as they fight to get Bane to not only move through and past trauma but accept himself as an Alpha and a submissive.
The characters are vividly portrayed from the solemn, long-lived Adam, who hides his deep-seated pain but opens up for another, to Bane the shifter who used to know who he was but has to face his true nature. There is a nice balance between the interaction of Bane and Adam and their inner thoughts, which are part past reminisces and current feelings.
An engrossing read with the familiar D/s themes that are made that much different from the paranormal elements. As this is the first of the series, side characters, which I hope get their own books, are liberally sprinkled throughout the story adding humorous moments and eye-catching teases into what may come.
March 20, 2021
So I went into this kinda blind, I mean I knew it was BDSM related. I didn't really know what to expect from this author since she's new to me but I will tell you from the first page, I was hooked. I couldn't put this down and kept turning the pages to see what more could happen. The transformation that Bane took was hard, rough but yet so beautiful in the end. He's got some issues in the beginning of this book and being thrown into a BDSM club against his will isn't helping him at all. He's hurt, confused and blaming himself for what happened with his clan. He doesn't take kindly to what Adam wants him to do at first and fights him so much! He soon realizes that Adam isn't the bad guy in the scenario, he's only trying to help him. During his training he soon learns to submit and finds new friends in the process, friends that can help him heal and transform into his wolf side. Friends that were there for him when he needed him the most. Him and Adam have a beautiful relationship. It might have started out rocky until they trying got the trust and understanding between them, then it blossomed into so much more! I truly loved the dynamic of the club, the rules they follow and the family they have created. The author did a beautiful job of describing the club and showing the transformation that happened between Adam and Bane. These two truly care about one another and it shows in this book. Oh and I can't forget the times they spent together both sexy and just being together. It was super sweet and sexy at times! I can't wait to read the next books in this series and see what more this author will bring to this series!!
October 13, 2019
This book had me conflicted, in the sense that I liked it but Adam had a tendency to make me nuts with his overbearing nature.
He keeps saying again and again that he will break Bane and recreate him, and while that in the end helps Bane, I didn't agree with the way it was done.
Forcing a wolf in to puppy play seems all kinds of wrong, there had to be better ways for him to submit, and with it having him fight it less.
Also that Adam expected everything after a few days but gave hardly an inch in return, even at the end Bane is the one who loves but Adam still is unsure if it is love for him.
I did love Bane, he had so much fight in him, even broken. He fought every step, he was verbal and loud at that. And while I've always loved reading about submission, how they kneel, how they breathe in their master and sees only them in that moment. I wished Bane had been allowed to keep his fierce nature, he became sweet and pliant and lost the edge that was all him.
Though I liked how creative Adam could be with punishments I have no understanding for a Dom taking away someone's chocolate cake..
The thing I felt the book needed more than a less overbearing Adam was a real confrontation with Bane's pack, outside of the club. Something more on equal footing instead of how it happened, with Bane more in charge of his own decision rather than others fighting for him.
I hope we get to see more of Bane in the series where his mouth runs off with him and he still fights Adam, because I think both needs it.
He keeps saying again and again that he will break Bane and recreate him, and while that in the end helps Bane, I didn't agree with the way it was done.
Forcing a wolf in to puppy play seems all kinds of wrong, there had to be better ways for him to submit, and with it having him fight it less.
Also that Adam expected everything after a few days but gave hardly an inch in return, even at the end Bane is the one who loves but Adam still is unsure if it is love for him.
I did love Bane, he had so much fight in him, even broken. He fought every step, he was verbal and loud at that. And while I've always loved reading about submission, how they kneel, how they breathe in their master and sees only them in that moment. I wished Bane had been allowed to keep his fierce nature, he became sweet and pliant and lost the edge that was all him.
Though I liked how creative Adam could be with punishments I have no understanding for a Dom taking away someone's chocolate cake..
The thing I felt the book needed more than a less overbearing Adam was a real confrontation with Bane's pack, outside of the club. Something more on equal footing instead of how it happened, with Bane more in charge of his own decision rather than others fighting for him.
I hope we get to see more of Bane in the series where his mouth runs off with him and he still fights Adam, because I think both needs it.
October 3, 2019
...I just could not
Like I just couldn't wrap my head around the contradictions of sub space they piss me the hell off. Be who you truly are but don't be the cursing rowdy cowtow rebelrouser you were let me the "Dom" break you and remake you in an image I prefer but convince you that all the control is yours. You make me punish you blah blah blah it all sounds like manipulative abuse. It grated me the whole book because I was waiting for Bane to burst forth like a magnificent pheonix that beautiful husk of a man restored to the glowing strength that submitted because he wanted to and not just because he was convinced it is what he wanted. I don't believe it for a second. I don't understand and it made me angry the whole book but I wanted to see how it was resolved and I was not impressed. Not to say that the writing wasn't good but this just missed something for me I never felt like Adam ever actually gave any of himself no matter how much the author tried to convince me he did. I despise imbalanced pieces. Where did the love grow between them it was just dependency on Banes part. Latching onto the first man that took him, the first person that tried to help him. I don't believe any of this. The only relationship I liked was Elias and Samuel and that is because Elias felt like a person not some brainwashed possession. I just could not relate, couldn't find it sexy all I saw was manipulation.
Like I just couldn't wrap my head around the contradictions of sub space they piss me the hell off. Be who you truly are but don't be the cursing rowdy cowtow rebelrouser you were let me the "Dom" break you and remake you in an image I prefer but convince you that all the control is yours. You make me punish you blah blah blah it all sounds like manipulative abuse. It grated me the whole book because I was waiting for Bane to burst forth like a magnificent pheonix that beautiful husk of a man restored to the glowing strength that submitted because he wanted to and not just because he was convinced it is what he wanted. I don't believe it for a second. I don't understand and it made me angry the whole book but I wanted to see how it was resolved and I was not impressed. Not to say that the writing wasn't good but this just missed something for me I never felt like Adam ever actually gave any of himself no matter how much the author tried to convince me he did. I despise imbalanced pieces. Where did the love grow between them it was just dependency on Banes part. Latching onto the first man that took him, the first person that tried to help him. I don't believe any of this. The only relationship I liked was Elias and Samuel and that is because Elias felt like a person not some brainwashed possession. I just could not relate, couldn't find it sexy all I saw was manipulation.
February 17, 2019
Bane is the newest PNR by Claire Marta and Summer Stanton, in the 1st volume of Carnal Pleasures. Before you read further, this book is M/M so be warned if not for you. And The scenes are so descriptive you'll feel like a voyeur.
The reader meets Bane, a wolf, broken physically and mentally. Bane is sent, by his pack leader, to a special Supernatural BDSM club run by vampires. Liam is hoping that some interaction with females will help cure and bring out the wolf in Bane. But the Mistress Mystic has other opinions on what will be best in helping Bane.
Then the reader meets another higher vampire, Adam. He seems to mostly be in retirement but seems intrigued on why Mystic is asking for his help in dominating Bane.
As one would expect, when a vampire tries to dominate a wolf, there is definitely going to be some serious tension. Especially since Bane is stubborn and probably an alpha in his own right. But the interaction between Adam and Bane grabs the reader wanting to see what will happen next. And what happens is definitely HOT and explosive between these two domineering men.
of course I highly recommend this book to over 18 for the sexual content. But for lovers of PNR as well as M/M, I highly recommend this book.
The reader meets Bane, a wolf, broken physically and mentally. Bane is sent, by his pack leader, to a special Supernatural BDSM club run by vampires. Liam is hoping that some interaction with females will help cure and bring out the wolf in Bane. But the Mistress Mystic has other opinions on what will be best in helping Bane.
Then the reader meets another higher vampire, Adam. He seems to mostly be in retirement but seems intrigued on why Mystic is asking for his help in dominating Bane.
As one would expect, when a vampire tries to dominate a wolf, there is definitely going to be some serious tension. Especially since Bane is stubborn and probably an alpha in his own right. But the interaction between Adam and Bane grabs the reader wanting to see what will happen next. And what happens is definitely HOT and explosive between these two domineering men.
of course I highly recommend this book to over 18 for the sexual content. But for lovers of PNR as well as M/M, I highly recommend this book.
March 6, 2019
This is the first book in a new series, and it's a serious doozy. I love reading Claire Marta's books, and this one is no different. It was a book that I heartily enjoyed and I'm desperately waiting for the next one.
Bane is a werewolf who has been through some significant trauma. His Alpha has tried everything he could to help him, so his next idea is to send Bane to a BDSM club where he can maybe get the help he needs to heal. Mistress Mystic assigns him to Adam, a vampire Dom, for the next month for training.
I like Bane, although he is a kink-shaming jerk in the beginning. However, I don't think the fault is necessarily his, because he is a total noob and he really had no choice in coming, so it's hard for him to deal with and to understand.
Adam has his own issues too, and I think that he hides a lot of them so that he can't get hurt. However, he is also a very patient, caring, and loving man. It's obvious in the way that he treats Bane that he really wants to help him, even when Bane is being all hateful. It's also obvious that he's not going to let Bane get away with anything and that he sees more into Bane than Bane realizes.
The story is intense and kinky. The emotions are just so rich and the story is so excellent.
Bane is a werewolf who has been through some significant trauma. His Alpha has tried everything he could to help him, so his next idea is to send Bane to a BDSM club where he can maybe get the help he needs to heal. Mistress Mystic assigns him to Adam, a vampire Dom, for the next month for training.
I like Bane, although he is a kink-shaming jerk in the beginning. However, I don't think the fault is necessarily his, because he is a total noob and he really had no choice in coming, so it's hard for him to deal with and to understand.
Adam has his own issues too, and I think that he hides a lot of them so that he can't get hurt. However, he is also a very patient, caring, and loving man. It's obvious in the way that he treats Bane that he really wants to help him, even when Bane is being all hateful. It's also obvious that he's not going to let Bane get away with anything and that he sees more into Bane than Bane realizes.
The story is intense and kinky. The emotions are just so rich and the story is so excellent.
March 14, 2020
Let's kick this off by saying that I am the fussiest bastard on the planet when it comes to what I read. Most of the time I'll pick something up and then two years later I'll still be at 30% and my motivation to continue reading will be about as dead as one of Hannibal Lecter's Victims after he holds a gourmet banquet.
The fact that I devoured this book in less than two weeks shows that it's gripping, fascinating and something that will keep you wanting more.
The entire way through I kept thinking that different things were going to happen, I wanted it to end in a way that redeemed certain characters and ruined others.
I'd happily give this book more stars but the people at Goodreads seem to have limited it to five, probably so we can count the amount on one hand. There are some idiots out there these days so good on them for making it easy for everybody.
Anyway back to the book. Here's my honest opinion and some of you may not like it. Bane is a lovable bitch who needs a good backhand from time to time, the ending wasn't for me and I wish there was more to Adam. Like I said I'm fussy. I wanted something darker and I wanted to see something that made me gobsmacked. The book was still amazing, definitely one of my top 10 reads.
The fact that I devoured this book in less than two weeks shows that it's gripping, fascinating and something that will keep you wanting more.
The entire way through I kept thinking that different things were going to happen, I wanted it to end in a way that redeemed certain characters and ruined others.
I'd happily give this book more stars but the people at Goodreads seem to have limited it to five, probably so we can count the amount on one hand. There are some idiots out there these days so good on them for making it easy for everybody.
Anyway back to the book. Here's my honest opinion and some of you may not like it. Bane is a lovable bitch who needs a good backhand from time to time, the ending wasn't for me and I wish there was more to Adam. Like I said I'm fussy. I wanted something darker and I wanted to see something that made me gobsmacked. The book was still amazing, definitely one of my top 10 reads.
February 18, 2019
I was excited to read this when i knew that it was a PNR/MM,these genres are what i love to read so put them together and i delved right into this story.
Bane is a wolf who has been broken mentally and physically for the last six months since a slaughter of some of his pack,so his pack leader decides to help him by sending him to the Supernatural BDSM club for four weeks which is run by Vampires and Mistress Mystic in the hope that he will learn to heal in that time.
There is some serious tension right from the off when Bane gets to meet is Dom Adam, as Bane does not like taking orders from anyone as he is second to his Alpha pack leader and has issues with the rules of this club.Adam is a higher up Vampire that would not normally have his own Sub but there is something about Bane that calls to him.
This being a MM there is alot of hot steamy sex as of course this is BDSM, so it gets you very hot under the collar as well,loved the interaction between Adam and Bane,plus the other characters that we meet in the club you will love.The only one grip for me was the roll play between the Dom/Sub of puppy play which personally i thought a bit cringe worthy.
The story spands over the four weeks that Bane is in the club to heal and how him and Adam become attached after the failure from his pack and how it all unfolds.I love these two characters and hope to read about these some more in the future.Be warned there is alot of sex and roll play through out this story,so if you love a PNR and MM,definitely pick this up as this is a fabulous read.
Bane is a wolf who has been broken mentally and physically for the last six months since a slaughter of some of his pack,so his pack leader decides to help him by sending him to the Supernatural BDSM club for four weeks which is run by Vampires and Mistress Mystic in the hope that he will learn to heal in that time.
There is some serious tension right from the off when Bane gets to meet is Dom Adam, as Bane does not like taking orders from anyone as he is second to his Alpha pack leader and has issues with the rules of this club.Adam is a higher up Vampire that would not normally have his own Sub but there is something about Bane that calls to him.
This being a MM there is alot of hot steamy sex as of course this is BDSM, so it gets you very hot under the collar as well,loved the interaction between Adam and Bane,plus the other characters that we meet in the club you will love.The only one grip for me was the roll play between the Dom/Sub of puppy play which personally i thought a bit cringe worthy.
The story spands over the four weeks that Bane is in the club to heal and how him and Adam become attached after the failure from his pack and how it all unfolds.I love these two characters and hope to read about these some more in the future.Be warned there is alot of sex and roll play through out this story,so if you love a PNR and MM,definitely pick this up as this is a fabulous read.
March 17, 2021
I really liked this book - the relationship that Adam and Bane ended up having was something special.
Bane is struggling and his Alpha comes up with an idea to try to help him. Cue Adam and Carnal Pleasures. Adam wants to help Bane find his footing and slowly but surely they realise that together they can have something amazing. I do have to say that some of the play between Adam and Bane I struggled with - I don't have a problem with humiliation or dub con, but I think it needs to happen with a character who wasn't already struggling as much as Bane was. Sometimes it just didn't entirely feel like Adam was helping Bane but trying to change him. Perhaps if we'd had a few fewer scenes it wouldn't have felt quite so intense - that might just be me though! That being said, when they weren't playing I could feel how well they could work together and I felt in the end they were exactly where they needed to be. With a few tweaks this definitely would have been hitting five stars. Either way it's definitely worth a read!
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review*
Bane is struggling and his Alpha comes up with an idea to try to help him. Cue Adam and Carnal Pleasures. Adam wants to help Bane find his footing and slowly but surely they realise that together they can have something amazing. I do have to say that some of the play between Adam and Bane I struggled with - I don't have a problem with humiliation or dub con, but I think it needs to happen with a character who wasn't already struggling as much as Bane was. Sometimes it just didn't entirely feel like Adam was helping Bane but trying to change him. Perhaps if we'd had a few fewer scenes it wouldn't have felt quite so intense - that might just be me though! That being said, when they weren't playing I could feel how well they could work together and I felt in the end they were exactly where they needed to be. With a few tweaks this definitely would have been hitting five stars. Either way it's definitely worth a read!
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review*
February 24, 2019
The authors really knew how to build layers of complexity with this book. I greedily read it all in one sitting despite needing sleep. It’s a beautiful, painful and rich story that kept me in its grasp.
The character development was really well done. There was definitely tension between Adam and Bane, often in the most delicious ways. I love how the authors utilized the secondary characters though. It really enhanced the story instead of detracting from it. Both of the authors did an excellent job with the world building; it really came through consistently and vividly.
The storyline is enticing with suspense and liberal dashes of hotness. It a story that rips out feelings, it had me in tears and it had me laughing. I do wish the authors had gone a step further with one of the kink elements. That part seemed a little too hesitant for me. I will be awaiting more words from these authors and excited to see more stories. I especially hope to see more of Adam and Bane.
4.5 stars for an enticing and suspenseful read!
The character development was really well done. There was definitely tension between Adam and Bane, often in the most delicious ways. I love how the authors utilized the secondary characters though. It really enhanced the story instead of detracting from it. Both of the authors did an excellent job with the world building; it really came through consistently and vividly.
The storyline is enticing with suspense and liberal dashes of hotness. It a story that rips out feelings, it had me in tears and it had me laughing. I do wish the authors had gone a step further with one of the kink elements. That part seemed a little too hesitant for me. I will be awaiting more words from these authors and excited to see more stories. I especially hope to see more of Adam and Bane.
4.5 stars for an enticing and suspenseful read!
March 11, 2019
I’ve read all of Clare Marta’s books but Summer Stanton is a new author to me and I will be reading more by her. This story combine my two favorite tropes- M/M and paranormal but when you throw in the BDSM aspect I was just giddy. Bane is a wolf shifter that who’s wolf is broken and won’t connect with Bane because of a tragedy he experienced personally. Adam is a Dom and a vampire and he takes up Bane’s contract as a favor. There is sexual tension when they first meet and Adam just knows he can help Bane reconnect with his wolf. Bane doesn’t easily submit to Adam because his wolf is an alpha, but they clearly have defined roles in the relationship.
This book had it all and the emotional roller coaster the reader is on is highly addicting. I felt for both of the main characters and their plight to get where they are today. Some parts were heart wrenching and others I was out raged on behalf of Bane and Adam. I highly, highly recommend the story. I can’t wait for the second installment of the series.
This book had it all and the emotional roller coaster the reader is on is highly addicting. I felt for both of the main characters and their plight to get where they are today. Some parts were heart wrenching and others I was out raged on behalf of Bane and Adam. I highly, highly recommend the story. I can’t wait for the second installment of the series.
January 15, 2020
I haven't read anything by Summer Stanton until now but I LOVE Claire Marta's books, so I was really looking forward to getting into this.
I can't say I was over enamoured by this book. I found Bane's tale to be quite tragic. He loses his wolf and his Alpha sends him to Carnal Pleasures, a PNR BDSM Club, to help him get through the grieving process and for someone else to deal with his PTSD. Bane has no experience of BDSM whatsoever.
Adam is the Dom he's assigned to. Adam had to break him and re-make him.
Lots of "pets" in this. I didn't think Adam explained things very well and all the "Punishments" grated on me. For someone who had no idea, Bane was left floundering and punished unnecessarily I felt.
Having said that, their personalities and behaviour outside of BDSM things, were great. I really enjoyed it. Once they actually conversed, the story really improved.
Despite the bumpy start, in my opinion, I will be reading Layla, as I'm not ready to give up on this series yet.
I can't say I was over enamoured by this book. I found Bane's tale to be quite tragic. He loses his wolf and his Alpha sends him to Carnal Pleasures, a PNR BDSM Club, to help him get through the grieving process and for someone else to deal with his PTSD. Bane has no experience of BDSM whatsoever.
Adam is the Dom he's assigned to. Adam had to break him and re-make him.
Lots of "pets" in this. I didn't think Adam explained things very well and all the "Punishments" grated on me. For someone who had no idea, Bane was left floundering and punished unnecessarily I felt.
Having said that, their personalities and behaviour outside of BDSM things, were great. I really enjoyed it. Once they actually conversed, the story really improved.
Despite the bumpy start, in my opinion, I will be reading Layla, as I'm not ready to give up on this series yet.
February 18, 2019
Bane , the first in the Carnal Pleasures series is a scorching hot MM book i didn't expect to enjoy as much as i did as MM is not a genre i usually read . Bane is a seriously damaged wolf , mentally more than physically , Adam is a Dom vampire who retired a long time ago but couldn't refuse to help after meeting Bane at the request of Mistress Mystic who thought Adam was Banes only chance . Sparks don't just fly between Bane & Adam they practically set fire to the pages . This book is not for the feint hearted as the sex scenes are realistically red hot as is the battles between Adam a Dom who started as a Sub & Bane a wolf who is possibly Alpha material , what both get out of this pairing when they finally work it out is not what either of them expected , can't wait for more from Claire Marta & Summer Stanton.
March 1, 2019
Bane is book 1 in the new Carnal Pleasures Series and the authors didn’t disappoint.
This has is my favorite BDSM MM story of all time!
The characters are amazing, their development seems to have been well thought out by the authors and the storyline is outstanding. This story grips you immediately and keeps you wanting more when it’s over. I can’t wait for book 2!
Adam is a wolf with an issue that leads his alpha to believe the BDSM club can help and as a last result of many other failed attempts he agrees to give it a try. He never expected to be given a male Dom, especially not one like Bane.
Tension is high and sparks are flying in this amazing introduction to this new series.
Highly recommended!♥︎
This has is my favorite BDSM MM story of all time!
The characters are amazing, their development seems to have been well thought out by the authors and the storyline is outstanding. This story grips you immediately and keeps you wanting more when it’s over. I can’t wait for book 2!
Adam is a wolf with an issue that leads his alpha to believe the BDSM club can help and as a last result of many other failed attempts he agrees to give it a try. He never expected to be given a male Dom, especially not one like Bane.
Tension is high and sparks are flying in this amazing introduction to this new series.
Highly recommended!♥︎
March 17, 2019
The premise is a new one for me. I found the topic of supernatural BDSM intriguing so I had to read this. I didn't connect with Adam, the vampire because the sections written from his point of view didn't feel consistent. Some shocking and sad things happened to him and he maintains an aloofness even when retelling the tragedy. Bane's character does work through misconceptions and his emotional trauma and that makes this story work.
I've read some very deep and emotional BDSM work and I'd say as far as intensity goes, this falls in the middle. It is a good first time / gay for you hurt/comfort story that will take you on the journey and won't wreck you or give you an emotional hang-over. Good stuff.
I've read some very deep and emotional BDSM work and I'd say as far as intensity goes, this falls in the middle. It is a good first time / gay for you hurt/comfort story that will take you on the journey and won't wreck you or give you an emotional hang-over. Good stuff.
February 22, 2021
I was looking forward to reading this book. Paranormal and BDSM is a great combination...right!
Adam, likes talking things to death!! Every scene/attempt at scene involves some type of long chat before hand. Even though most of the story takes place in a BDSM club, it is really lacking in true scenes. The scenes that are there are great. The sub friendship is a good part as well.
The story of trauma and working through it is a good story line. I just wish it was expanded on. The puppy play seems like it was just thrown in there. You can see the relationship start to develop towards the end of the book.
I saw some reviews that talk about typos and grammer, it has been fixed. That would drive me crazy too.
Adam, likes talking things to death!! Every scene/attempt at scene involves some type of long chat before hand. Even though most of the story takes place in a BDSM club, it is really lacking in true scenes. The scenes that are there are great. The sub friendship is a good part as well.
The story of trauma and working through it is a good story line. I just wish it was expanded on. The puppy play seems like it was just thrown in there. You can see the relationship start to develop towards the end of the book.
I saw some reviews that talk about typos and grammer, it has been fixed. That would drive me crazy too.
March 18, 2021
I wanted to like this story so much but Adam's character development just didn't sit well with me, he was awful and way too controlling towards Bane who was brand new to the lifestyle and Adam just expected him to be a perfect sub straight away. Nothing was explained to Bane who was slowly crumbling on the inside after surviving a massacre and he was often punished for things that were not explained to him. I did love the story of trying to find himself and accept forgiveness as Bane was phenomenally hard on himself with no support from his pack. The ending was odd as it happened so quickly after all the reluctance and fighting to get there, the premise was solid and the supporting cast were immensely enjoyable, I'm glad Bane finally saw the light though.
March 19, 2021
There were both good and bad things for me with this story. In the positive side, I liked Bane and several of the side characters. Bane really had a lot to deal with and while I don't agree with the form his BDSM relationship took, it was obvious he needed to get out of his own head. In the negative side, the book needed a good round of editing and proofreading and I strongly disliked Adam. For a good portion of the story he didn't act like a responsible Dom, he kept waffling over Bane, and he was cold with his emotions. In the end, things felt unbalanced and there was a distinct lack of romance, making this seem largely clinical. It's not a bad story, but I think it could have used some work.
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