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Tied Up with a Bow

Maggie Blackbird (Goodreads Author)

4.31 · Rating details · 13 ratings · 13 reviews

He’s got the perfect Christmas present for the community’s chief—vengeance wrapped in a shiny box with a red bow on top.

Joseph "Slade" Indian isn’t angry. He’s pissed. Pissed that the man who threw over his love for glory and money is back, and now leads their Ojibway community as the new chief. Holding the pain deep in his chest, Slade knows how he’ll celebrate the most m ...more

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ebook, 40 pages

Published November 29th 2019 by eXtasy Books

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Apr 16, 2020 Addison Carmichael rated it it was amazing

As usual, Maggie Blackbird has given us characters that are both complex, relatable and loveable, with a storyline that is tightly written and enjoyable. This is a quick snippet, but one you'll absolutely adore! ...more

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Nov 20, 2019 Karolina Cebula rated it it was amazing

Shelves: in-english, favourite, lgbt, x-mas-lgbt

Years ago, Slade and Gavin were a loving couple, and the world was full of possibilities. Unfortunately, Gavin made a choice which tore their relationship apart, their happiness collapsed like a house of cards. Now the man wants to rebuild what he destroyed chasing glory and welfare. The problem is that despite all the years that passed Slade's heart is still bleeding and full of anger. While one of them wants to win over the man he still loves, the other plans his revenge. Which of these desire Years ago, Slade and Gavin were a loving couple, and the world was full of possibilities. Unfortunately, Gavin made a choice which tore their relationship apart, their happiness collapsed like a house of cards. Now the man wants to rebuild what he destroyed chasing glory and welfare. The problem is that despite all the years that passed Slade's heart is still bleeding and full of anger. While one of them wants to win over the man he still loves, the other plans his revenge. Which of these desires will come true during Christmas? Which of the men will get exactly what he wants like a gift under his Christmas tree?

"Tied Up With A Bow" is a little Christmas short story written by Maggie Blackbird, which main characters are two Ojibway men. In this kind of stories we usually see a sweet, carefree atmosphere, so to be honest, I was a bit surprised and at the same time delighted when it turned out that "Tied Up With A Bow" is definitely a more serious story than others of this kind. All this is due to the second chance motif, which the author presents as a kind of demanding and difficult challenge. I have no doubt that the main reason behind it is the fact that Slade holds onto anger and has no intention to forgive Gavin, who broke his heart all these years ago. It is also worth noting that while Gavin plans to fix what he has broken Slade really gives him a run for his money. Thus, in "Tied Up With A Bow" we find the right amount of drama that fuels our interest in this story, and makes it more serious and valuable than many others we may read during the holidays.

Another advantage of "Tied Up With A Bow" are undoubtedly the characters. I really like the fact that the author builds them from the perspective of both the present, and therefore she shows us who they are now, and the past, more specifically she tells us how they remember each other. Interestingly, their image based on the past contrasts significantly with the present one. In the case of Slade, it is worth noting that while he used to defend Gavin against his oppressors in the past, now the anger he feels makes him one of them. Gavin, on the other hand, wasn't the most beautiful teenager, but now he's like a walking perfection. I admit that I like this way of building the characters very much, because it perfectly emphasizes a topic of passage of time, and thus the problem of irretrievably lost years that changed both men. It impressed me a lot and I think it made the story deeper and more perfect.

In "Tied Up With A Bow" I also love the greatly presented motif of resisting the inevitable, which is somewhat one of the elements driving Slade and Gavin's story forward. The author presents it in detail, emphasizing feelings and emotions. Well, it's not a secret that Slade's fighting windmills as he's trying to get revenge on his ex-boyfriend, while remaining indifferent to the feelings he still has. In fact, the man is deceiving himself, believing that he will be able to get revenge on Gavin and start a new life. Slade loses to the fate the moment he takes up the challenge he's offered by his ex, and starts to react to his advances. And it doesn't matter that in his opinion the main reason behind his behavior is revenge, because we can almost hear the laughter of destiny, which has completely different plans concerning Slade.

To sum up, "Tied Up With A Bow" is a really great, interesting short story we read with pleasure and delight. We find here an engaging story, lovable characters, hot sex scenes, second chance motif and inevitability of fate. This is undoubtedly one of the best Christmas stories I've read recently.

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Przed laty Slade i Gavin byli kochającą się parą, a świat stał przed nimi otworem. Niestety Gavin dokonał wyboru, który sprawił, że ich związek rozpadł się niczym domek z kart. Teraz mężczyzna pragnie odbudować to, co zniszczył goniąc za sławą i dobrobytem. Problem w tym, że mimo upływu czasu serce Slade’a nadal krwawi i pełne jest złości. Podczas gdy jeden z nich pragnie odzyskać mężczyznę, którego wciąż kocha, drugi planuje zemstę. Które z tych pragnień spełni się w czasie Świąt? Który z nich otrzyma pod choinkę spełnione marzenie?

„Tied Up With A Bow” to niewielkie, świąteczne opowiadanie autorstwa Maggie Blackbird, którego bohaterami jest dwójka mężczyzn należących do plemienia Ojibway. Zazwyczaj w tego rodzaju historiach dominuje słodki, beztroski klimat. Nie zaprzeczam więc, że byłam zaskoczona, a jednocześnie zachwycona, kiedy okazało się, że „Tied Up With A Bow” jest pozycją zdecydowanie poważniejszą od innych tego rodzaju. Wszystko to zawdzięczamy motywowi drugiej szansy, który autorka ukazała jako rodzaj wymagającego i niełatwego wyzwania. Niewątpliwie ma to związek z faktem, iż Slade mieści w sobie naprawdę duże pokłady złości i ani myśli odpuścić Gavinowi, który przed laty złamał mu serce. Warto również zauważyć, iż mężczyzna naprawdę zmusza Gavina do tego, aby dał z siebie wszystko, jeśli planuje naprawić to, co zepsuł. Tym samym, w opowiadaniu znajdziemy odpowiednią ilość dramatu, który podsyca nasze zainteresowanie tą historią i czyni ją poważniejszą oraz bardziej wartościową od wielu innych pojawiających się w okresie świątecznym.

Kolejną zaletą „Tied Up With A Bow” są niewątpliwie bohaterowie. Bardzo podoba mi się to, że autorka przedstawiła ich zarówno w teraźniejszości, a więc takich, jakimi są teraz, jak i pod kątem przeszłości, a dokładniej mówiąc tego, w jaki sposób pamiętają siebie nawzajem. Co ciekawe, ich obraz z przeszłości w znacznym stopniu kontrastuje z tym teraźniejszym. W przypadku Slade’a warto zauważyć, że o ile dawniej zawsze bronił Gavina przed dręczycielami, o tyle teraz nagromadzona w nim złość sprawia sam staje się jednym z nich. Z kolei Gavin dawniej urodą nie grzeszył, zaś teraz jest chodzącą perfekcją. Przyznaję, że taki sposób budowy bohaterów bardzo mi się podoba, ponieważ doskonale podkreśla upływ czasu, a co za tym idzie problem straconych bezpowrotnie lat, które zmieniły obu mężczyzn. Na mnie zrobiło to duże wrażenie i uważam, że uczyniło przedstawioną historię głębszą, doskonalszą.

W „Tied Up With A Bow” podoba mi się również fantastycznie przedstawiony motyw opierania się nieuniknionemu, który poniekąd stanowi jeden z elementów napędzających historię Slade’a i Gavina. Autorka przedstawia go w sposób szczegółowy, kładąc nacisk na uczucia i emocje. Nie sposób bowiem ukryć, że Slade walczy z wiatrakami próbując zemścić się na swoim byłym chłopaku, jednocześnie pozostając obojętnym na uczucia, które wciąż do niego żywi. Tak naprawdę mężczyzna oszukuje sam siebie wierząc, że będzie w stanie zemścić się na Gavinie i zacząć życie na nowo. Slade przegrywa z losem w chwili, kiedy podejmuje wyzwanie swojego byłego i odpowiada na jego zaloty. I nie ważne, że jego zdaniem głównym motywem jego postępowania jest zemsta, ponieważ niemal słyszymy śmiech przeznaczenia, które ma co do Slade’a zupełnie inne plany.

Podsumowując, „Tied Up With A Bow” to naprawdę świetne, interesujące opowiadanie, które czytamy z prawdziwą rozkoszą. Znajdziemy tu wciągającą historię, łatwych do pokochania bohaterów, gorące sceny łóżkowe, motyw drugiej szansy oraz nieuniknioności losu. To niewątpliwie jedno z najlepszych świątecznych opowiadań jakie czytałam. ...more

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Dec 22, 2019 Phoebe rated it really liked it

All Gavin wanted was Slade back for Christmas and if getting tied up was the way to do it - then tie him up.

Gavin wanted to be more than people thought he was - more than he thought he was. So he left the reservation, got an education, became a partner in a law firm, and ended up back at the reservation.

Slade had loved Gavin for who he was. When Gavin left he never looked back. Now Gavin wants to play games. Well he has a game for him and this time he is the one walking away.

I know how I wrote ...more

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Jan 10, 2020 Patricia Hoffstaetter rated it really liked it

Shelves: finished-reading

I enjoyed reading this entertaining second-chance MM romance. Although it is a quick read, the plot is well-written & interesting. The characters are quite well-developed & previously had a relationship that ended when one of them (Gavin) left to further his career leaving the other one (Joseph) behind now Gavin is back & expresses regrets for his actions but is determined to get his man.
There is: drama, some intrigue, anger, vengeful feelings, devious plans, remorse, apologies, manipulations, l ...more

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Dec 23, 2019 Jennifer Swan rated it really liked it

Second chance + revenge

This was interesting to me partly because of its Ojibway setting and the author being a part of that community. The setting is not actually much of a factor in the story, though, because it is primarily erotica with some story. Well written, interesting characters with good chemistry, second chance + revenge sex storyline. Not very realistic IMHO, but a fun, sexy read.

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Dec 20, 2019 Urszula added it

Well written story. Two men who fell for each other years before. One stayed home and lives his life as a tribe member. The other left to become successful. Now he is back but it is not easy when the one he loves hates him, ignores him. But ... He never failed ... It is not time to change the fact. Well created characters. A native Americans background. Enjoyable read plus light BDSM.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Dec 26, 2019 Melanie rated it really liked it

I received a free copy of this book.This is my honest and voluntary review
This was a fun short holiday story. Slade and Gavin have a past. Gavin left and hurt Slade. Now he's back where he belongs but is he too late??? Read and find out.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ...more

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Jan 11, 2020 V.J. Allison rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-romance, erotic-romance, extasybooks, lgbt-romance, first-nations-romance, mm-romance, romance

Maggie Blackbird is a master of her craft. You could feel Slade's anger burning through the pages, and taste the bitterness of Gavin's regret. Filled with blue hot sex scenes sprinkled with a little humor and lots of snark, this short story is the perfect MM romance short to read during a break at work.

Highly recommended! ...more

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Jan 12, 2020 Barbara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a second chance M/M short story for Joseph Slade Indian and Gavin Pemmican when Gavin comes back to the tribe as the new chief. A story of drama, remorse, apologies,some intrigue, anger, light BDSM, and two men finding their way back to each other. I am glad their story had a happy ending. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Nov 29, 2019 Amy rated it it was amazing

Gripping. Short and erotic. I loved it. You can't please everyone and sometimes feelings get hurt and there are regrets. But, sometimes you have to do what is best for you.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ...more

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Dec 23, 2019 Dawn rated it really liked it

This was a interesting fun read. No one butts heads more then Joseph and Gavin. When Gavin returns Joseph is not happy and plans to make Gavins life hell but Gain has better plans for the only man he’s ever loved and by the new year he will be Gavins again.... he hopes. Great Read

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Mar 01, 2020 Tayra Sanders rated it really liked it

This is the first book from this author that I read. It was well written, well developed characters and plot. I was very entertained.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy." ...more

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Jan 06, 2020 Annemarie Suchey rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, romance

Gavin left town to go to college and persue a career in law. He left Slade behind and broke his heart. Now Gavin is back and all he wants for Christmas is Slade. And if he has to let Slade dominate him and tie him in ribbons, then so be it. I really wanted a bit more complete HEA...a proposal, a commitment ceremony.

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About Maggie Blackbird

Maggie Blackbird

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An Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario, Maggie resides in the country with her husband and their fur babies, two beautiful Alaskan Malamutes. When she’s not writing, she can be found pulling weeds in the flower beds, mowing the huge lawn, walking the Mals deep in the bush, teeing up a ball at the golf course, fishing in the boat for walleye, or sitting on the deck at her sister’s house, making more ...more