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Serving His Master #3
Texas Surrender
When JD Reed shows up at the Circle R horse ranch, Avery Dalton is fully prepared to hate his guts. Tapped by his aunt to help out at the horse ranch, the greenhorn thinks he can just step in and run the show, but Avery’s not having any. JD’s got a line on Avery’s secret, though barely acknowledged need to be sexually dominated, A loner used to making his own way, Avery'll be damned before he submits to the arrogant Yankee.
JD Reed can never resist a challenge, and Avery Dalton is no exception. Determined to seduce and claim the tattooed, tough cowboy, JD teases and taunts his prey until he goes too far. In a battle of wills that turns physical, the sexual tension seething just below the surface explodes like a Texas tornado that sweeps them both off their feet.
JD Reed can never resist a challenge, and Avery Dalton is no exception. Determined to seduce and claim the tattooed, tough cowboy, JD teases and taunts his prey until he goes too far. In a battle of wills that turns physical, the sexual tension seething just below the surface explodes like a Texas tornado that sweeps them both off their feet.
105 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2009
20 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Claire Thompson
203 books1,162 followersClaire has been writing for nearly two decades, and has published over 85 novels. She writes BDSM romance and abduction tales, spanning both m/f and m/m genres. She has received numerous awards for her bestselling work, including the NLA-Int’l Pauline Réage Award and the Golden Flogger Award for best BDSM fiction.. Her darker works press the envelope of what is erotic and what can be a sometimes dangerous slide into the world of sadomasochism. Ultimately her work deals with the human condition, and our constant search for love and intensity of experience.
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https://clairethompson.net
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https://clairethompson.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 5, 2025
I have a hard time rating these books. I like them ok, but I don’t love them. The BDSM is not exciting, just ok.
Reread February 5, 2025
I’m so glad I reread this even if it was by accident. I thought I hadn’t read it, but remembered it about 25% in. I changed my rating to 4 stars because I really enjoyed it this time. I think I might go back and reread the other books in this series.
Reread February 5, 2025
I’m so glad I reread this even if it was by accident. I thought I hadn’t read it, but remembered it about 25% in. I changed my rating to 4 stars because I really enjoyed it this time. I think I might go back and reread the other books in this series.
August 18, 2021
Another great read by Claire Thompson. Would recommend
November 12, 2009
Oh, this one is hard to rate. It falls into a few clichés that bug me but the BDSM journey that JD and Avery undertake is very interesting.
This book encompasses everything from bondage to pain play once JD introduces Avery to these concepts. Up until he meets JD, Avery had no idea he was a pain slut and that BDSM existed. It doesn’t take JD long to have Avery begging for more, more, more.
So, the sex is kinky but the relationship was a little one sided. JD was too often condescending to Avery for me to feel that they had a real balanced exchange of power going on until the end. By the end of the book they are true partners. However, the end was one cliché after another that brings the story from a solid four stars to a three star review.
Claire Thompson is a skilled enough storyteller to have been able to find a less common ending than the one she gave us.
This book encompasses everything from bondage to pain play once JD introduces Avery to these concepts. Up until he meets JD, Avery had no idea he was a pain slut and that BDSM existed. It doesn’t take JD long to have Avery begging for more, more, more.
So, the sex is kinky but the relationship was a little one sided. JD was too often condescending to Avery for me to feel that they had a real balanced exchange of power going on until the end. By the end of the book they are true partners. However, the end was one cliché after another that brings the story from a solid four stars to a three star review.
Claire Thompson is a skilled enough storyteller to have been able to find a less common ending than the one she gave us.
Read
March 24, 2010Bad luck comes in three, at least that's how the saying goes – but sometimes there is a deal breaker. When JD Reed had a run of bad luck first with his job, then with his current lover and to top it off – a personal lose, he thought how much worst can this get.
It can get worse or it can get really better if the eye candy that is Avery Dalton the man on his aunts ranch is any thing to go by. JD is a member of the BDSM lifestyle and he knows what he want and how to go about getting what he wants, the one thing he is not up for however is forcing someone to do something that they are not willing to do. Caught between a rock and a hard place in helping his aunt with the ranch when his uncle dies and getting on with his life, JD – knows it was going to be difficult because no matter how hard the life of a chef was, the manually labour of farm work is an entirely different matter.
Looking at Avery makes JD days bearable, but Avery was not about to play nice when there was work to be done. JD knows what he wants and he also knows that Avery needs what he wants even if he doesn’t know it yet.
Avery Dalton the ranch hand who has seen more life than he care to talk about is in an unsure position, with not knowing what will happen to his job and his home. When he meets JD, all it meant to him was just another person to waste his time and as a relative he would be the boss of the spread for the duration. The JD that he built up in his mind and the JD that he got for the next two mornings are two totally different people and JD is not about to make Avery forget it.
Avery does not know if he is ready for what JD is offering and he can’t resist as JD seems to know him better than he even know himself, but life for the two was more than just about who tied who to the bed at nights and this is where the true problem lays
If you are looking for an author that takes the time with not only a plot, but characters and a built up – Claire Thompson is one author I can say for a fact give a try.
When I started this book I knew there was going to be BDSM material in there somewhere, the story starts off immediately with a angsty moment. A few pages later in and I went through a whole range of emotions surprises, regret for circumstances, sorrow for a lose, that panicky feeling of uncertainty and the shuddering feel of that first look, that first touch – that idea that something big was about to happen and I could not stop it.
This was how much of this authors talent came through in this book. She put two men before me, JD Reed with his quite confidence and take charge attitude, who was wanting to do the right thing but knows he has a life he needs to carve out for himself – mix that in with him wanting someone so much yet even in his certainty he is unsure of his reception.
Then there is Avery, I fell for Avery for his name and he did not let me down. Avery is in his own eyes a self made man, from the moment he could do for himself he has worked hard and even when the odds look set against him – he worked hard. His sole focus now is on the day to day running of the Circle R horse ranch but when he is put in a position of having JD around he is made by JD to look at a part of is sexuality that he has never thought he would have to.
What follows from there is a journey of trust on a scale that only the purest of heart can know as JD literally takes Avery by the hand and led him through the uncharted territory of self awareness, pain, pleasure and eventually total self satisfaction, then there is anger, as men – things like the gentle touch does come easily, especially when it’s tempered with naivety and the fact that only so much room can be given to naturally expectation after that there is only an emotional high and both JD and Avery have to roll with those punches.
TEXAS SURRENDER is not all about Avery and JD, family interaction, life expectations and challenges makes up a few scenes and these are not only scenes for the sake of filler – they tied the book together beautifully and they give that realistic feel to the whole thing.
Ms Thompson bring a freshness to the BDSM scenes for me, I have read loads of BDSM, fetishes and all other manner of books – but the approach Thompson takes with this book as well as the time and patience that she invest in these two men to not only give them a chance grow and to experience there all, but also leave them enough room to opt out without losing face and this only makes the book a winner with me.
Ms Thompson also round up this book nicely as well, no five minute sprint to the finish line did I get with this book – all the storyline got resolves – there was assured HEA and I felt good about leaving them at the place where they were.
November 9, 2009
"Texas Surrender" is an indulgent story about cowboys with some kink. The BDSM included is not necessarily hard-core but it’s not exactly light either. The elements included are familiar to many readers and stray more towards formal rules and titles. Unfortunately while some readers will be attracted to the sexual component ~ and really who doesn’t love kinky cowboys ~ others may be disappointed at the lack of imagination and depth to the story. The plot and characters ultimately feel very flat and one dimensional with the final resolution contradictory.
Highly trained chef JD Reed returns home for his uncle’s funeral after being let go from his high profile job as a sous-chef. Although JD has no experience working on a ranch, he is asked to stay on and help out until decisions can be made about the ranch’s future. This means working with the ranch’s only employee, Avery, very closely. JD immediately decides to have a little fun while he’s in Texas and sets out to sexually dominate Avery. Along the way though both men must come to grips with their emotions and what it means for their future.
The plot set up is rather basic and somewhat far-fetched. There is no real reason for a celebrated chef to be working as a ranch hand, especially given that JD does a lot of the chores poorly and needs constant supervision. Additionally, JD makes inappropriate sexual comments to Avery within minutes of meeting the man and continues regardless of Avery’s persistence that JD stop. Although this is rather unrealistic, the story is indulgent and meant to entice, so readers may not be bothered with these details. This is very much a fantasy story with BDSM between two cowboys. What is more problematic is that neither the characters nor the plot holds much complexity or interest.
JD spends a good portion of the story lecturing Avery about BDSM: what it means, the rules, the nature, the strength and weakness and demanding Avery’s trust and compliance. Yet JD violates Avery’s trust multiple times with his words and actions. JD never really has the depth of conscience to acknowledge his mistakes and the irony of demanding Avery’s trust while lying to the man. Furthermore, JD admits that he misses the city and would not be happy living his life on the ranch so his final decisions felt weak and contradictory. Similarly, Avery felt wooden with his easy acceptance and listless actions. He rarely takes initiative in either his work or life yet gets angry when decisions are made for him.
Overall the characters from JD to Avery and even the aunt felt one dimensional and lacking any real interest or spark. None of this was helped by the dependence on rhetorical questions in the writing. The story is filled with questions that the characters mentally ask themselves without answers, so much so that this became an annoying feature. Instead of evaluating the reasons for thoughts or actions, the characters would simply ask themselves questions without ever thinking of answers. Instead of developing the characters, their personalities, and the emotional connection, each man would wallow in their minds asking rhetorical questions they couldn’t answer.
Although I’m a fan of cowboy stories with some kink thrown in, nothing felt unusual or fresh about this particular offering. Instead the writing combined with the wooden characters had even the sex scenes feeling rote and without much to recommend them. The story is basic and perhaps those readers who are looking for something light and easy can ignore some of the problems and enjoy the story for what it is.
Highly trained chef JD Reed returns home for his uncle’s funeral after being let go from his high profile job as a sous-chef. Although JD has no experience working on a ranch, he is asked to stay on and help out until decisions can be made about the ranch’s future. This means working with the ranch’s only employee, Avery, very closely. JD immediately decides to have a little fun while he’s in Texas and sets out to sexually dominate Avery. Along the way though both men must come to grips with their emotions and what it means for their future.
The plot set up is rather basic and somewhat far-fetched. There is no real reason for a celebrated chef to be working as a ranch hand, especially given that JD does a lot of the chores poorly and needs constant supervision. Additionally, JD makes inappropriate sexual comments to Avery within minutes of meeting the man and continues regardless of Avery’s persistence that JD stop. Although this is rather unrealistic, the story is indulgent and meant to entice, so readers may not be bothered with these details. This is very much a fantasy story with BDSM between two cowboys. What is more problematic is that neither the characters nor the plot holds much complexity or interest.
JD spends a good portion of the story lecturing Avery about BDSM: what it means, the rules, the nature, the strength and weakness and demanding Avery’s trust and compliance. Yet JD violates Avery’s trust multiple times with his words and actions. JD never really has the depth of conscience to acknowledge his mistakes and the irony of demanding Avery’s trust while lying to the man. Furthermore, JD admits that he misses the city and would not be happy living his life on the ranch so his final decisions felt weak and contradictory. Similarly, Avery felt wooden with his easy acceptance and listless actions. He rarely takes initiative in either his work or life yet gets angry when decisions are made for him.
Overall the characters from JD to Avery and even the aunt felt one dimensional and lacking any real interest or spark. None of this was helped by the dependence on rhetorical questions in the writing. The story is filled with questions that the characters mentally ask themselves without answers, so much so that this became an annoying feature. Instead of evaluating the reasons for thoughts or actions, the characters would simply ask themselves questions without ever thinking of answers. Instead of developing the characters, their personalities, and the emotional connection, each man would wallow in their minds asking rhetorical questions they couldn’t answer.
Although I’m a fan of cowboy stories with some kink thrown in, nothing felt unusual or fresh about this particular offering. Instead the writing combined with the wooden characters had even the sex scenes feeling rote and without much to recommend them. The story is basic and perhaps those readers who are looking for something light and easy can ignore some of the problems and enjoy the story for what it is.
October 3, 2010
This book is an interesting mix between a cowboy story, a journey into a D/s relationship for an inexperienced sub, and a plot about a ranch's survival after the old owner dies.
This is as much a story about finding love and a home for both of the main characters as it is all of the above. I really liked that part best of all. Avery is an interesting character who has had to fight for survival since he was a kid. His background and rationale for acting the way he does were very clear to me, and I felt for him. JD was a little more difficult for me to understand, but then, he himself doesn't really know where he belongs anymore - Texas, his old home, or New York City, where his ambition now lies.
The cowboys are hot, but the lack of commitment or even just emotion between them took me out of it a few times. If you are interested in some imaginative D/s scenes, you will like this story.
This is as much a story about finding love and a home for both of the main characters as it is all of the above. I really liked that part best of all. Avery is an interesting character who has had to fight for survival since he was a kid. His background and rationale for acting the way he does were very clear to me, and I felt for him. JD was a little more difficult for me to understand, but then, he himself doesn't really know where he belongs anymore - Texas, his old home, or New York City, where his ambition now lies.
The cowboys are hot, but the lack of commitment or even just emotion between them took me out of it a few times. If you are interested in some imaginative D/s scenes, you will like this story.
Read
January 2, 2016Late to the party on this I guess, but it was a DNF. It's really not my kind of BDSM and the fact that it bordered on sexual harassment from day 1 was a turn off to me. Just not my taste, no rating because I didn't really read it, skimmed to find out the ending.
December 13, 2019
Un vaquero de profesion, un chef graduado en Paris, ambos consiguen el sentido de la vida en un rancho en Texas. Audrey, un vaquero de vida, que no termino el High School, pero que adora a los caballos y los cuida como si fueran su familia tiene que compartir su trabajo con el sobrino de su jefe (que acaba de fallecer, y al que queria como un padre), pero al darse cuenta que el hombre es gay y dominante, tiene miedo a dejarse ir y experimentar lo que puede ser la total rendicion.
JD un chef reconocido, el que su unico sueño era tener un restaurant propio, se ve sin trabajo y ayudando a su tia viuda en las tareas de un rancho de caballos, se encuentra con un hombre sexy, rudo y totalmente sumiso que enseguida quiere hacer suyo.
Ambos hombres logran superar sus prejuicios y entregarse al amor que comparten.
Una historia linda, rosa, pero que te deja pensando en lo diferente que pueden ser tus sueños a la realidad y como lograr compajinar ambas cosas para ser feliz.
JD un chef reconocido, el que su unico sueño era tener un restaurant propio, se ve sin trabajo y ayudando a su tia viuda en las tareas de un rancho de caballos, se encuentra con un hombre sexy, rudo y totalmente sumiso que enseguida quiere hacer suyo.
Ambos hombres logran superar sus prejuicios y entregarse al amor que comparten.
Una historia linda, rosa, pero que te deja pensando en lo diferente que pueden ser tus sueños a la realidad y como lograr compajinar ambas cosas para ser feliz.
May 10, 2021
I did not read the blurb on Audible carefully. I am not really into Ds, however there were parts of this that were kinda hot. The narration was a certain type of Texas slow speak that is slightly monotone, but parts were effective. There is an NPR reporter that has the same kind of slow methodical pace and I like him, so I was able to enjoy this narration after a while.
I am guessing the book was written mostly for the Ds scenes because the plot was known as soon as the situation was described at the beginning. Nothing seemed very original with maybe the D being a chef in NYC. Also the relationship was rushed, even with the love at first sight aspect.
And everything was very tidily tied with a ribbon at the end.
Not bad, but not really that good either.
I am guessing the book was written mostly for the Ds scenes because the plot was known as soon as the situation was described at the beginning. Nothing seemed very original with maybe the D being a chef in NYC. Also the relationship was rushed, even with the love at first sight aspect.
And everything was very tidily tied with a ribbon at the end.
Not bad, but not really that good either.
October 8, 2013
This was a re-read in October 2013 from the original read in spring 2010. Unfortunately, I did knock it down one star from 5 to 4 because it wasn't quite as great as I remembered. MC JD Reed was a little too overbearing for my taste. He kept invading MC Avery Dalton's comfort zone and it got kinda on the creepy side after awhile. But once the boys fell into bed, it was all good and hot and steamy just like all of the fabulous Claire Thompson BDSM books.
If you like big, rough and tough cowboys playing D/s games, this one is for you and I can absolutely recommend it.
If you like big, rough and tough cowboys playing D/s games, this one is for you and I can absolutely recommend it.
December 23, 2020
I enjoyed this for two reasons:
1) There was a disclaimer at the beginning about it being completely unrealistic fantasy BDSM, and hooboy was it ever. Without that warning I would have DNF'd very quickly due to lack of consent. But in the context of fluffy kinky schoopy cowboy fantasy with no OTT drama, it was fab.
2) The audiobook narrator did not even flinch. He maintained a masculine demeanor without sounding overwrought or unemotional.
1) There was a disclaimer at the beginning about it being completely unrealistic fantasy BDSM, and hooboy was it ever. Without that warning I would have DNF'd very quickly due to lack of consent. But in the context of fluffy kinky schoopy cowboy fantasy with no OTT drama, it was fab.
2) The audiobook narrator did not even flinch. He maintained a masculine demeanor without sounding overwrought or unemotional.
November 11, 2009
Claire Thompson is able to get inside the heads of the protags, in terms of the bdsm. I found this interesting, particularly as Avery struggled with his own desires. JD was hard for me to like at first, but he grew on me. I wished that some of the events that happened off-page would have been shown. As usual, I want more more more!
October 2, 2010
I enjoyed reading the breaking in of someone who doesn't know he's a submissive into the role and thought it was handled pretty well. There was one point where Avery felt his trust had been betrayed, and I thought he ought to have balked more about giving over his trust to JD the next time it came to that, but otherwise it flowed well and wasn't too long.
February 13, 2013
I found it hard to enjoy this book because I really disliked the character JD ... his arrogance & selfishness just left a nasty taste in my mouth. Although there was a HEA, I was indifferent & unmoved by it because I kinda wanted Avery to find someone better.
October 27, 2022
2.5 rounded up because I appreciate how many times Thompson wanders off to talk about how BDSM is a partnership and a gift and such (to the point of almost breaking the fourth wall, a couple times). It's not just "beat the tar out of your partner 'cause it's sexy." (N.b. "It takes a strong man to let someone else take control. It takes a brave man to be honest about what he needs, even if it's not what society tells him he should want" p. 109.) The supporting characters, few and underdeveloped as they are, are pretty decent in terms of letting the main characters be--I was glad that, Texas though it is, there weren't any overt homophobic incidents here.
That said, this is not a terrifically exciting book. Boy returns home from failed Big City Dreams, meets boy, falls in love; were it not gay BDSM, this would be a Hallmark movie. (Man, I would watch Hallmark movies if they were this.) There's a lot of telling rather than showing, both in terms of the characters' development within themselves and the development with their relationships. I was told how Avery was learning to trust JD, but I never really saw it; their interactions were just suddenly D/s, coolio.
It was another weird piece that this escalated *so fast*--like, Avery learned BDSM was a thing and suddenly he's being horsewhipped over a bale of hay (which, gracious, anyone who's been anywhere near hay knows that it takes more than a simple blanket to make that not scratch like heck, come on). What? Sure, it "feels right" and I get that, but again, I didn't believe these were anything more than stock characters going through the motions of falling toward each other.
The way JD talks about men is walking right up to toxic masculinity and kissing it; he praises Avery all over for being a sub and still being a manly man while simultaneously knowing "he had never been attracted to the scraping, timid boys who lived to kiss the tops of his feet with their tears of submissive gratitude. He wanted a real man" (26). Don't do that, Thompson. Don't continue the narrative that gay men who aren't brawny or fighters are somehow less men. It's not cute.
So overall there are certainly issues here, but it's a neat little read. I won't be keeping it, but I won't tear it up and recycle it, either. As it was given to me, so shall I release it to the next person.
That said, this is not a terrifically exciting book. Boy returns home from failed Big City Dreams, meets boy, falls in love; were it not gay BDSM, this would be a Hallmark movie. (Man, I would watch Hallmark movies if they were this.) There's a lot of telling rather than showing, both in terms of the characters' development within themselves and the development with their relationships. I was told how Avery was learning to trust JD, but I never really saw it; their interactions were just suddenly D/s, coolio.
It was another weird piece that this escalated *so fast*--like, Avery learned BDSM was a thing and suddenly he's being horsewhipped over a bale of hay (which, gracious, anyone who's been anywhere near hay knows that it takes more than a simple blanket to make that not scratch like heck, come on). What? Sure, it "feels right" and I get that, but again, I didn't believe these were anything more than stock characters going through the motions of falling toward each other.
The way JD talks about men is walking right up to toxic masculinity and kissing it; he praises Avery all over for being a sub and still being a manly man while simultaneously knowing "he had never been attracted to the scraping, timid boys who lived to kiss the tops of his feet with their tears of submissive gratitude. He wanted a real man" (26). Don't do that, Thompson. Don't continue the narrative that gay men who aren't brawny or fighters are somehow less men. It's not cute.
So overall there are certainly issues here, but it's a neat little read. I won't be keeping it, but I won't tear it up and recycle it, either. As it was given to me, so shall I release it to the next person.
March 11, 2023
3.65
Very good characters, very good story, very good sex.
My only complaint is that they only have penetrative sex once, and that was really irritating. (If you don't count that verse moment at the end, but I won't, as I'm averse to verse, heh.)
But beyond that, I really liked their bdsm kink. It wasn't the hottest I've ever read, but I liked it. I also liked the setting and the story itself, as well as the characters, especially Avery. He was such a sweet blend of grumpy and vulnerable new sub. I guess I wish it was longer so you could delve even deeper into it, but for a short story, they never felt shallow.
Two minor quibbles, who I guess only horse people would care about. 😉
In one scene Avery says he's going to ride out to fix the fence, while he directs JD to pick hooves on ONE horse, and he says "if you're done before I come back."
I mean.. How many hours do you think horse hove picking takes, huh?
Even if he did the entire stable twice, he would be done with more than time to spare! I've never actually timed myself, but I guess if you did it as slow as possible, one horse would take maybe 5min?
More likely it takes 2min in the conditions described. (Flat and dry, with daily well picked hooves. There really isn't that much to remove, if anything.)
Fixing fences however, plus traveling by horse to and fro a location that sounds relatively far away, that takes much more time.
And the other was a scene where Avery said one of the horses got colic from being fed to many Apple pieces from a child.. Uh.. Unless that horse had some kind of weird sensibility to apples, was predisposed to colic, or had some unusual dietary requirements, a horse can eat ALOT of apples before it gets sick. Certainly more than can be fed by a child in pieces. 😉
It isn't really important, and it doesn't impact what I think about the overall story, but both times I was jolted out of the book with a quick "what the fuck?"
So overall I really liked it, and I will probably read it again it the future, just as I will look for other books by this author.
Very good characters, very good story, very good sex.
My only complaint is that they only have penetrative sex once, and that was really irritating. (If you don't count that verse moment at the end, but I won't, as I'm averse to verse, heh.)
But beyond that, I really liked their bdsm kink. It wasn't the hottest I've ever read, but I liked it. I also liked the setting and the story itself, as well as the characters, especially Avery. He was such a sweet blend of grumpy and vulnerable new sub. I guess I wish it was longer so you could delve even deeper into it, but for a short story, they never felt shallow.
Two minor quibbles, who I guess only horse people would care about. 😉
In one scene Avery says he's going to ride out to fix the fence, while he directs JD to pick hooves on ONE horse, and he says "if you're done before I come back."
I mean.. How many hours do you think horse hove picking takes, huh?
Even if he did the entire stable twice, he would be done with more than time to spare! I've never actually timed myself, but I guess if you did it as slow as possible, one horse would take maybe 5min?
More likely it takes 2min in the conditions described. (Flat and dry, with daily well picked hooves. There really isn't that much to remove, if anything.)
Fixing fences however, plus traveling by horse to and fro a location that sounds relatively far away, that takes much more time.
And the other was a scene where Avery said one of the horses got colic from being fed to many Apple pieces from a child.. Uh.. Unless that horse had some kind of weird sensibility to apples, was predisposed to colic, or had some unusual dietary requirements, a horse can eat ALOT of apples before it gets sick. Certainly more than can be fed by a child in pieces. 😉
It isn't really important, and it doesn't impact what I think about the overall story, but both times I was jolted out of the book with a quick "what the fuck?"
So overall I really liked it, and I will probably read it again it the future, just as I will look for other books by this author.
September 3, 2018
Avery Dalton is happy with his life even if it is a bit lonely. When his boss unexpectedly dies, Avery is hoping to continue working the ranch with the help of maybe one other hand. When the widow asks her nephew to help out, Avery is not at impressed with greenhorn JD Reed, but JD recognizes something in Avery that even Avery does not. Avery is a sexual submissive. JD is not deterred by his than receptive attitude and, in fact, enjoys a challenge. He teases and taunts Avery, determined to seduce and even claim the tough cowboy. As the tension between the two heats up, it explodes into something neither was prepared to handle.
Avery was a prickly young man and did not believe JD had anything he would possibly want. JD, a Dom through and through knows what Avery needs. He pushes and pushes and it explodes and the two begin to explore what it means. You can't help but fall in love with these two as they work out their differences and there are many. JD turned out to be so much more than expected. He knew what Avery wanted and needed and worked hard to give it to him. What a delightful couple they turned out to be. Just when you think you know what will happen next, an amazing twist is thrown in to keep us reading. Another excellent tale from Claire Thompson. She is so talented, I know there are many more books to read where she leaves us with a sigh and a smile at the end.
Avery was a prickly young man and did not believe JD had anything he would possibly want. JD, a Dom through and through knows what Avery needs. He pushes and pushes and it explodes and the two begin to explore what it means. You can't help but fall in love with these two as they work out their differences and there are many. JD turned out to be so much more than expected. He knew what Avery wanted and needed and worked hard to give it to him. What a delightful couple they turned out to be. Just when you think you know what will happen next, an amazing twist is thrown in to keep us reading. Another excellent tale from Claire Thompson. She is so talented, I know there are many more books to read where she leaves us with a sigh and a smile at the end.
July 10, 2018
This story comes very close to 'real life' D/s relationships.
The Dom is slightly cocky, not always in control of himself or his intended sub. His methods of persuasion are not suave and polished but inconsistent. His language sometimes downright derogatory.
His young 'mark' is gay but firmly in the closet. The belief to give in to his dormant needs would make him less of a man, a sissy-boy, deeply entrenched.
This relationship seems at best temporary and doomed to failure from the beginning.
Still, there is that spark that lets them fight and stumble through miscommunication, misunderstanding and fear of loosing themselves. Only when they are able to establish a tentative trust are they able to understand what they have found in each other.
Far from being the perfect couple novels are written about, those two find their happiness through compromise and reevaluation of long held ambitions and beliefs.
The Dom is slightly cocky, not always in control of himself or his intended sub. His methods of persuasion are not suave and polished but inconsistent. His language sometimes downright derogatory.
His young 'mark' is gay but firmly in the closet. The belief to give in to his dormant needs would make him less of a man, a sissy-boy, deeply entrenched.
This relationship seems at best temporary and doomed to failure from the beginning.
Still, there is that spark that lets them fight and stumble through miscommunication, misunderstanding and fear of loosing themselves. Only when they are able to establish a tentative trust are they able to understand what they have found in each other.
Far from being the perfect couple novels are written about, those two find their happiness through compromise and reevaluation of long held ambitions and beliefs.
August 3, 2018
Avery Dalton and JD Reed, the cowboy and the city slIcker. Nevermind that JD was born and raised in Texas. As far as Avery was concerned JD was a green horn. What did a NYC chef know about horse ranching? JD wasn't shy about his intentions towards Avery and aggressively pursued him. JD has long been involved in the BDSM lifestyle and he recognizes Avery's natural submissive nature. Although Avery gruffly avoids JD's advances, Avery is drawn to the man and what he's offering. JD sets out to train Avery and slowly starts to fall in love. It takes the impending sale of the ranch for JD to really see how much Avery loves the place and the horses. JD also realizes that he wants to stay by Avery's side. The work out a solution to buy the ranch themselves and both get what they wanr. Each other and an HEA
August 14, 2018
JD had his heart set on being a big New York City chef but had just lost his job due to the economy when he received notice that his uncle had died in Texas. He returned to Texas and his uncle’s ranch. Here he meets Avery, his uncle’s right hand at the ranch. He sees his other half in Avery but Avery is into a straight M/M relationship. He has never experienced a D/s relationship. Avery also has a chip on his shoulder because of his lack of a high school diploma. The two slowly realize they were meant to be together. I didn’t like JD at first. He was just too much too soon and just kept hammering away at poor Avery until Avery finally reacted. But JD mellowed out and I ended up liking him. This is a great romance and a quick read. And proof that just because you don’t have a fancy education doesn’t mean you aren’t smart. Great job!
September 6, 2020
The erotica and relationship made this worth finishing. Everything else is incredibly cliche and sometimes cringe.
Its definitely a generic wealthier and more educated swoops up and captures some lowly bumpkin kinda story.
It came as a freebie listen with Audible + otherwise I probably wouldn't have picked this up.
I'm glad I did give it a shot though, I liked it. The Erotic moments were sexy. Can't say it was anything fresh and new for me though. I've heard this story before and I've heard this sorta romance before. The one thing that maybe was a little fresh was the BDSM.
I didnt like the BDSM approach though. It felt sorta forced against someone's will, like sexual harassment and slightly predatory. It was very one sided and it made me uncomfortable.
Its definitely a generic wealthier and more educated swoops up and captures some lowly bumpkin kinda story.
It came as a freebie listen with Audible + otherwise I probably wouldn't have picked this up.
I'm glad I did give it a shot though, I liked it. The Erotic moments were sexy. Can't say it was anything fresh and new for me though. I've heard this story before and I've heard this sorta romance before. The one thing that maybe was a little fresh was the BDSM.
I didnt like the BDSM approach though. It felt sorta forced against someone's will, like sexual harassment and slightly predatory. It was very one sided and it made me uncomfortable.
August 24, 2018
Avery and JD surprised me with how much I was rooting for them! JD seemed too arrogant, a little bit snobby, and entirely too sure of himself, and I agreed with a lot of what Avery thought of him. Avery totally enchanted me from the beginning. He was whole heart, proud, and kind to everyone. He knew he may be viewed poorly by others, but he was proud of who he was, and what he did. Once JD really stopped and looked at him, got to know the man Avery is, only then did the sparks fly, and I needed this couple to be together!
September 24, 2018
Another book in the Serving his Master series, but it can be read as a complete standalone. It features a brand new couple.
I loved Avery, he was a wonderful character. She was actually really sweet and innocent, but also a survivor. J.D. was a characters I wasn’t to sure about in the beginning of the book, but he grew on me and I though he treated Avery better towards the end. He really saw his worth.
This line said it all for me “ The odd thing, or great thing, he guessed, was that as he became stronger and confident in himself, he was actually a better submissive to JD”.
I loved Avery, he was a wonderful character. She was actually really sweet and innocent, but also a survivor. J.D. was a characters I wasn’t to sure about in the beginning of the book, but he grew on me and I though he treated Avery better towards the end. He really saw his worth.
This line said it all for me “ The odd thing, or great thing, he guessed, was that as he became stronger and confident in himself, he was actually a better submissive to JD”.
December 4, 2018
Cordon bleu plus cowboy
When JD's uncle dies, he rushed home to help at the ranch. He didn't expect that he would meet Avery, who was everything he didn't know he needed. Avery just thinks that JD is privileged, entitled, and a jerk.
I love how Claire Thompson makes this work so well. There are a lot of things that JD and Avery have to figure out alone and together, not even counting their relationship and where it might go.
When JD's uncle dies, he rushed home to help at the ranch. He didn't expect that he would meet Avery, who was everything he didn't know he needed. Avery just thinks that JD is privileged, entitled, and a jerk.
I love how Claire Thompson makes this work so well. There are a lot of things that JD and Avery have to figure out alone and together, not even counting their relationship and where it might go.
January 4, 2019
Cowboys and kink. JD comes back to Texas to help his grieving aunt with the family ranch. He may be a chef, but he’s also a Dom, and he has his eyes set on the ranch hand Avery. It actually took me a while to even like JD. The way he hounds Avery at first struck me as a pushy asshat, even a overbearing bully. But once Avery and him actually start their relationship, he was a totally different person. Outside of JD’s original attitude, the story turned into a sweet read.
April 11, 2024
JD and Avery's individual character arcs in this book were satisfying, as was the romance between them once it picked up steam. However, I didn't love how much JD pressured Avery at the beginning, being so insistent that he knew what Avery "needed." It came off a bit like a shortcut to get to the "fun stuff" instead of them learning each other's desires more naturally.
October 1, 2018
Adored this book…..Enjoyed the innocence of Avery compared to the experience of JD. It was like watching a teen on their first date. Really sweet but really hot too. Found this to be a sweet romance with wonderfully hot sex scenes as well.
November 14, 2017
Rubbed me the wrong way
For the longest time I felt no connection between JD and Avery. Therefore all JD 's advances seemed almost non con and certainly more pushy then I like.
For the longest time I felt no connection between JD and Avery. Therefore all JD 's advances seemed almost non con and certainly more pushy then I like.
December 3, 2018
Highly enjoyable, would recommend.
July 18, 2021
A heartfelt M/M romantic love story
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