Awakening (Power Play, #2) in Riptide Publishing

Jun 07, 2012 Lisa Henry rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, bdsm, show-me-the-money

Wow. Okay, I read that in record time. I may have saved time by forgetting to breathe.

This was intense. Brandon's transformation was nothing less than spiritual -- or maybe all that talk of offering up sorrows is talking me right back to when I used to hang around the local Catholic Church as an impressionable teenager. Just for that one young priest who wore a Batman t-shirt, a cheeky smile, and spoke Latin. But that's probably not relevant, so I'll start again.

This was intense. I know that s ...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Darkm rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, bdsm

The first book in this series was hard for me to read. It made me uncomfortable and angry on more than one occasion, but the way it was so perfectly written made it impossible for me to stop until I had finished reading.

This book is even better.
Finally Jonathan realizes his mistakes and really makes an effort to learn what can work and not work with Bran.
And finally Brandon is ready to start is journey toward a perfect submission.

The "pain level" in some scenes was a bit too high for me, but the ...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Heidi Belleau added it

A great sequel that builds on the foundation of the first book and saves an incredibly doomed-veering-abusive relationship into something worth rooting for! Also, the sex is stupid-hot.

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Oct 23, 2012 Shirley Frances rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mm-read, mm-series, read-2-review, glbt, favorites, 2012, erotica

So here I am. Still grinning like a fool although it's been more than half a day that I finished reading this book.

Once again, I was riveted, emotional invested and totally riding the high while reading this book. The hurt, the hardcore scenes, the lust, the shame - all of these finally lead to the acceptance, the connection and the love that I so craved for these characters. I cried, I laughed, I was expectant, I was angry. These authors poured all this to the page and like an addict, I'm was l So here I am. Still grinning like a fool although it's been more than half a day that I finished reading this book.

Once again, I was riveted, emotional invested and totally riding the high while reading this book. The hurt, the hardcore scenes, the lust, the shame - all of these finally lead to the acceptance, the connection and the love that I so craved for these characters. I cried, I laughed, I was expectant, I was angry. These authors poured all this to the page and like an addict, I'm was left still wanting more.

In this book, which picks ups right after the ending of Power Play: Resistance, we get to see a different side from both characters. For once, Brandon is honest with himself and really tries to do better. He finally accepted that he had changed and that Jonathan had a hand in that and he needed his help to get through it so that he could finally let go of all his anger, his hurt and accept himself and live. And then there's Jonathan, finally accepting that he made mistakes. That he didn't go about it the right way that first time and that he needed to really dig into himself and find another approach to get through to Brandon.

To say that they were apprehensive when they resumed their contract is an understatement. Hell, I was apprehensive myself and I was cheering for them to get it right in book one. But could Brandon learn to let go? Could he trust Jonathan enough to do that? And did Jonathan have it in him to do what was best for Brandon? All these questions were in the back of my mind. Yes, they agreed to be honest with each other, to communicate and give it their best try. But I couldn't help the doubts. I really didn't see Brandon as a submissive, but then again, what the hell do I know?! I just threw myself into the book and hoped for the best.

I so loved Jonathan in this book. He gave his best to Brandon and even when he failed he acknowledged it immediately, without hesitation. I had to admire that about him. He took the lead and guided Brandon in a way that helped him become comfortable in his own skin and accept things that in the weeks prior he would have protested about. He was with him every step of the way, through the hurt and the tears, while riding the high and drowning on the lows. He melted me in ways that no other Dom I've read about had ever done. And I fell in love with him a little more with every passage I read.

Brandon, Brandon, Brandon. What can I say about him? He proved me wrong. He gave his best and in the end he won my heart. I admired his strength and perseverance throughout this journey. He fought himself every step of the way. There were times where he might have been doing all the right things outwardly in an attempt to please Jonathan, but inside he had a ranging war of emotions where shame had a starring role. It was when he accepted his needs and his desires that he really shone. It was beautiful to read how he gave himself to Jonathan. How he gave himself to the unknown and trusted Jonathan to be there to bring him out of it a better man. He gave of himself to Jonathan - for Jonathan - and it was exquisite. I cried when that happened. He went deep within himself and gave everything he had and my heart just opened up to him and accepted him in. Such strength and beauty. It was wonderful!
"Yeah, life could hurt, but it could also blow your mind, bring you more joy than you could even begin to contain."

The writing, once again, was brilliant. The authors really put me through the ringer and left me reeling. They took each and every emotion and put in on the page in a way that I truly could connect to these characters - feeling their pain, understanding their insecurities and needs and forgiving their failures. I got my happily ending and I still want more. ...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Kelly_Instalove rated it really liked it

Shelves: genre-erotica, era-contemporary, theme-glbtq, riptide, theme-bdsm

Grade: B+

Read the full review of both books

Shit, and shit, and shit again, he thought as Brandon’s arms wrapped around him and dragged them to the floor with the unfettered force of their passion. I’m in love. God help me, I’m in love.

Awakening was a completely different reading experience than Resistance, primarily because Bran and Jonathon actually talk to each other. Their encounters FINALLY evolve beyond sadism and sex and frustration.

“These are your trappings. To help you find your h

...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Gwendolyn rated it it was ok

Shelves: bdsm

I tried I really did. I wanted to read a few BSDM books because of a workshop I am attending about power dynamics within BSDM relationships. I just could not find anything redeeming about Jonathan. The way he treated Brandon made no sense to me. The guy just screamed selfish prick the whole way through to me. The sex scenes were hot though.

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