Mine, Body and Soul: Part 1

The Playroom #1

by J.P. Sayle

Was it possible that there was a man out there who could see past Lenny’s damaged body and soul, and want to claim him as ‘mine’?

Lenny had suffered things that no person should have to endure. With that came health issues that impacted on how he saw himself, leaving him feeling isolated

That was until a chance meeting

The world that Lenny understood is now spinning in a different direction and he’s not sure whether to hold on or let go. Never having had anyone to catch him before, can he trust Nathan?

Mine, Body and Soul is the first part of a three-part story in The Playroom series. This is a slow burn MM gay romance, with an age gap and a sexual awakening into the introduction of the BDSM lifestyle. Will it be everything Lenny didn’t know he needed?

Warning: This book is part of a trilogy and ends with a HFN

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Gay, Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, Disability

127 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 23, 2019

About the author

Where does one start with about what I do?
I’m a writer, but I’m sure you guessed that by now if you’re reading this, hey? What you might not know is I’m a little quirky, live in my pj’s most of the time and have cake Saturdays with my sisters every week. I dedicate a little of my time to taking care of my grandbabies and on the dedicated writing days I like to write an eclectic mix of romance, suspense and paranormal fantasy. In the main I’ve written gay romance but I’m branching out under another the pen name in the future, so watch this space.
I’ve a passion for books like you would not believe and it led me down this path and now I’ve over 29 books released and heading towards releasing a whole lot more. The way my head is I never know where I’ll be headed next. I hope you’ll find a little joy in my words and follow me to see where the journey takes me and you.
If you’re interested at some point in 2021 I’ll be writing under the name JP Paton which will be F/M crime and Fantasy two of my favourite things. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled 


French
Par où commencer par ce que je fais?
Je suis écrivain, mais je suis sûr que vous l’avez deviné maintenant si vous lisez ceci, hein? Ce que vous ne savez peut-être pas, c'est que je suis un peu excentrique, que je vis dans mon pyjama la plupart du temps et que je prends un gâteau le samedi avec mes sœurs chaque semaine. Je consacre un peu de mon temps à m'occuper de mes petits-enfants et lors des journées consacrées à l'écriture, j'aime écrire un mélange éclectique de romance, de suspense et de fantaisie paranormale. Dans l’ensemble, j’ai écrit une romance gay, mais je vais dans le futur sous un autre nom de plume, alors surveillez cet espace.
J'ai une passion pour les livres comme vous ne le croiriez pas et cela m'a conduit dans cette voie et maintenant j'ai plus de 29 livres publiés et je me dirige vers la sortie de beaucoup plus. La façon dont ma tête est, je ne sais jamais où je vais me diriger ensuite. J'espère que vous trouverez un peu de joie dans mes paroles et que vous me suivrez pour voir où le voyage vous mène, moi et vous.
Si vous êtes intéressé à un moment donné en 2021, je vais écrire sous le nom de JP Paton qui sera le crime F / M et Fantasy deux de mes choses préférées. Assurez-vous de garder les yeux ouverts 


Spanish
¿Por dónde empezar con lo que hago?
Soy escritor, pero estoy seguro de que ya lo habrá adivinado si está leyendo esto, ¿eh? Lo que quizás no sepas es que soy un poco estrafalario, vivo en mi pijama la mayor parte del tiempo y tengo pastel los sábados con mis hermanas todas las semanas. Dedico un poco de mi tiempo a cuidar de mis nietos y en los días dedicados a la escritura, me gusta escribir una mezcla ecléctica de romance, suspenso y fantasía paranormal. En general, escribí romance gay, pero en el futuro me voy a diversificar con otro seudónimo, así que mira este espacio.
Tengo una pasión por los libros que no creerías y eso me llevó por este camino y ahora tengo más de 29 libros publicados y me dirijo a lanzar muchos más. Por la forma en que está mi cabeza, nunca sé a dónde me dirigiré a continuación. Espero que encuentres un poco de alegría en mis palabras y me sigas para ver adónde nos lleva el viaje a ti y a mí.
Si está interesado en algún momento en 2021, escribiré bajo el nombre de JP Paton, que será F / M Crime y Fantasy, dos de mis cosas favoritas. Asegúrate de mantener los ojos bien abiertos 

Reviews

[Ula'ndi Hart]

DNF
Time of Death: 85%

I don't think I can do anymore of this.

I was so looking forward to it but really... just no.
Lenny is all over the place and Nathan.. yeah I'm just going to shut myself up there.

[Ζωή Παππά · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful beautiful book! I loved the main characters so much, they were really well done. Such a touching well written book.

[Ed Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did I read the same book as these other reviewers? I didn’t really care much for Lenny and Nathan at all. Lenny really got on my nerves. What an obnoxious person. Nathan did nothing to make me care about him either. So, Nathan’s a Dom. He didn’t act like one most of the time, and him explaining to Lenny about the lifestyle was like reading a boring textbook. I also was surprised by all the grammatical errors. Needless to say I’m done with this series.

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

love love love this hfn story. it is a continuation story so the story doesnt end in part one.. i cannot wait for part two and this is freakin wonderful. makes me want more. i cannot wait.. it was interesting and kept me curious to find out what would happen with our two broken guys. amazing!

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually hate the innocent bs but I love this story, why isn't it all one book?

Struggling with a body image is something we're all familiar with. This is the first time the main character has a stoma bag and I thought that was really cool. It must be difficult to live like that, and accept certain things beyond control and I feel Lenny perfectly illustrates this.

Even though this book barely touched what happened to Nathan, I'm glad that both seem to have relatively uncommon struggles. They may not be as uncommon, but there isn't that much representation in books and films, and I love that this author is changing that.

[Paula´s Brief Review]

No estoy ya para este tipo de historias.
Creo que se ha abusado tanto de la temática BDSM que para ser novedosos meten traumas y más traumas. Y al final a mi me acaban pareciendo totalmente irreales, aburridos y hasta ridículos. Seguramente soy yo y no el libro por ellos las 3 estrellas

[Jess A Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put this book down!!
I loved seeing Carl and the La Trattoria Di Amore gang again. What I love about JP's writing is that she's really good at teasing the readers with those intriguing side characters. Already I want more of Ferron and Jake - they need their stories.
I really really liked this opening to Lenny and Nathan’s story. And I NEED more already!!
The prologue - oh my god, I was in tears!!! Poor little Lenny. I was fully on board before even got to chap 1. I was engaged and desperate for him to get his happy ending. Talk about tugging on the heartstrings. Damn does he deserve some good in his life.
Loved the dynamic between Nathan and Lenny. Both men have mental and physical scars which can only be healed by the other man. There are gonna be some bumps in the road to their happiness I can tell and I'm fully on board for that journey.
Nathan is your classic Dom/alpha male. He’s messed from the war, not had a proper relationship since but Lenny draws him in with his vulnerability, his desire to teach him and protect him and show him how wonderful a bdsm relationship can be.
There another 2 parts to this story and I can tell it's gonna be heartbreaking and in a twisted reader way I can’t wait.

[CMLH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and perfect

Lenny struggles with his self confidence after years in foster care and surgeries. He washes dishes while watching the chefs every chance since that is his dream. When Nathan comes to visit Carl the chef, Lenny is noticed with a bang. Nathan is engraved with Lenny but wonders how he will react to him being a Dom. As these two take tentative steps towards being more, you will find a beautiful story.

[Tristan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Good start to a series.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars.

[Himom90 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good start to a new relationship

I enjoyed this book! Both Lenny and Nathan have issues from their past that have left physical and emotional scars. On the surface, it seems as if their story should be sad and angsty, but it’s more hopeful than anything else. I’m looking forward to reading more about their relationship in the next few books

[Jenny Saul-Avila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't exactly what I was expecting. This first "book" in this series is really an exposition of sorts, the introduction of the characters & their circumstances to the reader & to each other. It doesn't end on a heart-stopping dramatic cliffhanger, but rather just at a juncture.

Also, if you're looking for something hot & sexy, it has almost no actual BDSM, just a lot of talking about it between characters. Nathan co-owns a BDSM club, but you're never witness to any scenes on the club floor. There's actually *almost* no sex at all in this book; there's talk about it & eventually some happens, but not much else.

I don't mind cliffhangers, (well, I do get a bit wanting to throw things when things end that way, but that's because I'm so desperate to see how it ends), but this isn't a real edge-of-your-seat kind of cliffhanger. It doesn't end at a truly exciting & high anxiety kind of point. So unless you want a REALLY slow burn & a barely HFN, it would be necessary to continue onto the next book to see where it all goes.

On the good side, I did like the characters as individuals & I liked the overall premise. I liked their flaws & their insecurities, though I wish Nathan would have shared more of his own self with Lenny, as he asked so much of Lenny to share of himself. In fact, there's no real indication that Lenny knows much of anything about him, at least that's how I felt. The reader does get to know Nathan fairly well though & I liked how the writer revealed bits & pieces of Nathan, rather than tell it all at once. (Lenny is described more fully in a much more straightforward way).

I wasn't blown away by the writing; it was okay. One flaw (for me) is that each character mentions the other's eye color about eleventy billion times. But other than that, it wasn't too bad.

For the audio version, I'm not honestly sure about how authentic the characters' accents were, so I can't judge that; they at least seemed to stay consistent. I think the overall emotion & pacing was quite good, though I could've done with more differences in the voices, to tell who was who. But the cast is overwhelmingly male, with scenes sometimes involving 4-5 men talking at a time. That's not so easy to do different voices for.

I might come back to this story to see how things go between them as their relationship carries on, out of some curiosity, but I haven't decided.

[Gabbi Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of something wonderful (an audio review)

Lenny has had a rough go of it. The book opens with a scene that is tragic and traumatic for the young boy and his life after that doesn’t go much better. His story is the same of so many – ineffectual parenting followed by years of foster care. He is eventually rescued by someone who offers him sanctuary and love but by then the damage has been done. In some ways he’s broken emotionally, but he’s most broken physically. He’s got a condition that makes daily life a challenge and when his body acts up, it can be devastating for him.

Enter Nathan. Nathan runs a BDSM club and is looking at expanding into a restaurant. He’s successful, attractive, and a Dom. He meets Lenny and the attraction is instantaneous. But Lenny is young and untested. He isn’t even that familiar with BDSM. Yet the pull between the men is palpable. Nathan is also determined to discover Lenny’s secrets and instead of being repulsed by the physical ailment, he embraces Lenny. He sees potential. He sees a damaged soul. He sees someone he wants to have a relationship with. Lenny’s physical ailment stands in the way of some of their potential interactions but not all. I liked that it wasn’t the be all and end all. The illness was merely present. And something that could be accommodated.

I love damaged souls. Love it when they find someone who sees them as a whole person and not just their illness. Someone who might one day be more. They do a scene and it’s clear on both sides that the men want more. This book ends on a strong HFN (Happy For Now). There’s no doubt the relationship is just beginning, but there are hurdles to be overcome.

Matt Haynes is a new to me narrator and I enjoyed his performance. But then I’m always a sucker for a British accent. I’m very excited to see where this series goes next.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book about two men with physical/health issues stemming from childhood abuse and capture by the Taliban while serving in the military. The attraction is immediate but there are many obstacles to overcome to develop a relationship. The fact that one is a practicing Dom who owns a BDSM club and the other is a natural, yet inexperienced Sub only complicates the situation. The story in the hands of a less skillful author could easily have descended into cliche and stereotype with cardboard caricatures. This author, however, never puts a foot wrong. Both Nathan and Lenny are real people that you believe in 100% and none of the very complicated issues are magically "healed" by love alone. At the end of it, there are still discussions that must happen and decisions to be made. The romantic part is that we know these guys will have those discussions and make those decisions together. Lenny's adoptive Mom almost steals the story. She definitely deserves her own book. If you want a masterclass in how to change points of view, provide both main character's take on the important emotional beats and never bore the reader with repetition, this is the book for you. The Happy for Now ending does not resolve the situation so I cannot wait to read the second part which I pre-ordered about half way into this book. Don't miss this!

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenny is so ready for the surgery that will help him take back his life. He's got a good job at a restaurant, he's got his honorary Mom, and his body is fit thanks to working out all the time so he can be strong enough to lug around all the heavy cookware at the restaurant. Then he meets Nathan and suddenly he's seeing there's something missing from his life. But is Nathan the missing ingredient? Can Lenny adapt to Nathan's lifestyle? Or is Lenny not the sub Dom Nathan has a feeling he is?

Dang, I was not expecting the deep level this first part of Lenny and Nathan's story went to. Both men have heavy issues, physical and emotional and mental. I was rooting so hard for them to make it. There's a sort of HFN ending, but I know more is coming for these two in the next installment, and I cannot wait for them to dive into being a real couple. For them to explore Lenny's submissive nature. To explore their deepening feelings. And to have real talk about their physical issues.

ARC via LesCourt ARC Team for an honest review.

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[Cheryl_cajun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Let me just start off with the opening to this book will grip you right in the heart with little Lenny. 
The trauma from his boyhood leads to health issue for the adult Lenny, awaiting surgery to correct those problems. Meeting Nathan was both terrifying and exciting all in one. Because way would a guy like that want someone incomplete. Nathan has his own past  from his army days. On first meeting the young Lenny something pulls him in, taking things slow isn't easy for Nathan. Introducing Lenny in his world was a gift Nathan won't taking lightly.
JP Sayle keeps your attention from the beginning with a crafty and loveable writting style. I just loved the analog of Lenny inner debits. Be prepared to fall in love with the shy but witty Lenny. Nathan is both loving and protective with the trust and caring that Lenny is willing to trust him with. Such wonderful characters, can't forget the great lady that saw Lenny as a blessing from the start, Nelly.

[Brianne McCallum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Sayle. I did have to skim past a page every now and then when Lenny was talking about his Stoma. No offense. I applaud the author for taking on a sensitive topic and feel for anyone that has to go through that. I just have a weak stomach when bodily functions are mentioned so I had to skip over those parts but otherwise I loved everything about this book. All the characters were very likeable and well developed. The 2 MCs had great chemistry and the plot was interesting the whole way through. This was very well written. There was no angst and almost no heat and I didn't even mind. I found the story to be very heartwarming and I am going to dive right into the next one.

I also bought and listened to the audible and enjoyed the story the 2nd time around just as much as the first time. The narrator Matt Haynes did a great job. He has a great reading voice/accent. He keeps good pace and expresses the emotions really well. He did use slightly different voices for the characters to tell them apart.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind, Body and Soul Part One by author JP Sayle is the first story in The Playroom Series. This is a happy for now story. Written I dual pov. I liked this story. I felt it showed great growth for Lenny.
Lenny has had a past that was brutal and sad. He was abused by his mother, then put into an uncaring foster care system. He has health issue due to his bad start in life.
I liked that he is still a caring guy. He has a lot of love in his heart despite all he has survived. He is a natural Sub and thinks no one will want him because he is damaged.
Nathan is a Dom. He sees something in Lenny from the first moment he lays eyes on him. Nathan is patient, understanding, and willing to put in the work for the man he will call his Sub.
Overall in this part of the story, is the journey for Lenny. Out of the darkness and into the light. I cannot wait to see where these two men go next and where their desires will see them go.

Five Shooting Stars

[Thais · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little skeptical when I first started this series, BDSM with D/s relantionships are usually not my jam, specially when it's a 24/7 thing. But I was plesant enough to discovered that Lenny and Nathan story is more than just their kink or their roles in the lifestyle.

Lenny is truly new to the scene, and it was really well done. He wasn't a "natural" submissive, but had submissive tendencies and was willing to give it a shot. You can feel his struggle and reluctance to let any other person see his body, to let another person see him.

Nathan is a soft dom, the kind I most love. He is compassionate, sexy, caring. Beautiful first start of a series.

Matt Haynes did an amazing narration. He is a voice actor, he doesn't just read the book but also put emotions behind every scene, every speech. His pace was spot on, the pauses between sentences was also good. And I could differentiate all characters.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathan is a Dom, in search of a sub. He’s okay with his life but he wants to fill in the missing pieces. Lenny is a dishwasher, wanting to be a chef. He has health issues that lead him to believe no one could ever want him.

This book was very easy to get into. I loved Lenny and had hopes that Nathan would make me like him too. He quickly fulfilled my wish. The tender way he treated Lenny while still introducing him to the BDSM world was very well written. The men’s physical issues weren’t glossed over but they weren’t the forefront of the story either.

Bit of angst. Not too much BDSM in this first story of three. But what there was was sweet. Overall an enjoyable view into Nathan and Lenny’s new normal.

I received an arc of this book.

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This looks likes it's going to be a great series.
Lenny is a sweet young man who's had a horrible childhood and still has a lot of issues to deal with, both physically and emotionally.
Nathan is a Dom who's suffered through a horrific event while serving in the military.
As a result, he's closed himself off to relationships.
He's also dealing with the fallout from his injuries and mental health issues.
When they meets, the attraction is instantly palpable.
The only problem is Lenny is completely uninitiated in the world of BDSM, but he's desperate to explore and Nathan simply can't walk away from him.
They'll both have to fight themselves and their fears in order to make this relationship work.
The books ends in a HFN and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenny and Nathan were a well matched couple, and I really enjoyed this first part of their story. My heart went out to both men, but I was disappointed that Nathan didn't share his own issues early on. It seems like that might have made things easier for Lenny. Regardless, Nathan showed such care and concern for Lenny. I loved their conversations and the way they couldn't keep their feelings under wraps, even though each man had monumental fears.
The secondary characters were interesting and fun, and I absolutely loved Nelly. She was the most supportive mother Lenny could have ever ended up with, and I think she and Nathan together will make sure Lenny feels as loved and cared for as he deserves. I can't wait to see this relationship grow!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc provided courtesy of LesCourt
All reviews are voluntary and my honest opinion.

I read a different book by J. P. Sayle that wasn't for me. I wanted to give the author a second chance. Especially since I see so many recommendations of her books.

I do think this volume was great improvement.

Likes: I enjoy books about diverse characters. I enjoy seeing my fellow disabled people humanized and falling in love in romance novels. Lenny is such a sweetheart, it's easy to care about him.

Dislikes: I'm not big on Doms asserting their titles and going all dom voice before anything has been fully hashed out. It's not a dealbreaker here, I just personally found it a little offputting.

3.5/4

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio review...

I really thought I had written a review but I had only typed a draft ... Sorry about that ..
This is such a great read / listen , I know I had so many different emotions ... all to be remembered.
Lenny had a rough beginning to life and he had dreams wonderful dreams of a future ..
Nathan is part of that dream , a dream that I couldn't stop thinking about all through the audiobook.
Nathan is a Dom as well as such a thoughtful man ... a man who knew what he wanted and who he wanted ..
Such a wonderful story about two men who need each other, for the reader to be taken on such an emotional story , I was left breathless..
Wonderful words by JP Sayle with perfect narration by Matt Haynes.

[Teal Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mine, Body and Soul by JP Sayle is the first book in  ​the three part series, The Playroom. It is a contemporary m/m romance with BDSM that ends in a Happy For Now scenario since the series does follow the same Characters throughout. It's a fantastic read.

Lenny and Nathan are great characters that fit well together. They both are scarred in thier own ways from their pasts but they just might be able to show each other just how wonderful they are. This first part of their story introduces us to them and provides the foundation of their relationship. It is sweet, gets sexy and has emotional elements to it. Definitely piqued my interest and made me crave more of their story.

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.. A great start to a series told in parts per book.  A slow romance as Lenny and Nathan meet..  This series is only going to get hotter I think. Damm that chair scene was HOT. Lenny is adorable in his spitfire moments he has and Nathan is perfect for him as his Dom.
A HFN ending told with both POV's. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
Includes ginger Mc, ex-military, age gap, health issues, and more .

Lenny had a hard life growing up with effected his health. Now he washing pots and pans in a kitchen.
Nathan a Dom, witnessed the pots flying but the red head he'd noticed.
*I received this advanced reader's copy and this is my honest review.

[Coline Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind, Body and Soul

Such a great start to this new book by JP Sayles, the first part of Mind, Body and Soul will draw you in as you get to know both Lenny and Nathan. Then it will keep you totally invested as read how the relationship begins to develops between the two men, making it impossible to put down as you  devour their story as they start to work through what they need from each other, because is so well written, and you are so involved in the book you can't put it down till you have read the rest of the story.  Now to wait for the next part of this very enjoyable book!

[Xochitl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m no sure how I felt after reading Lenny and Nathan’s story. This is the first part, and it features how they met each other starting their Dom/sub relation and probably something more. But Ms Sayle made an amazing job creating characters. The despair of Lenny’s situation and all his issues, Nathan’s doubts and worries about Lenny and the way his hesitation can affect them.... I don’t know how explain but all was brilliantly managed! I couldn’t stop reading because I felt hooked by the plot, but not in a emotional way, no... it was more like morbid fascination about all that was going on... I cannot wait to read part 2!!
I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Carlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh god, i cant even describe how much i love this book, the time put in and development of them as people and getting to know each other and setting up a good foundation for a relationship, not just jumping into one (even though its not going to be an easy run, but oh so worth it) just makes this book work, and hooks you in for the rest of the series

Oh sweet sweet Lenny, i just want to wrap him up in a blanket and protect him from the world (even though hes bigger then me). The interest and care Nathan shows to Lenny is just wonderful.
Great start to the series and i cant wait to read the rest