BDSM Reviews

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Just Friends By: Ann Thomas


Title: Just Friends
Author: Ann Thomas
Publisher: Amber Heat
ISBN: 978-1-60272-061-9

Score: 4.5 out of 5


Eli Walsh and Wolf Grant have been good, platonic friends for the better part of a year. Though Eli's always been attracted to Grant, he's resigned himself to being just friends. But when Eli finds out Grant cruises for dates at the local gay leather club, he goes there, determined to convince Grant that the only one he should be bringing home that night is Eli. The problem is that if Eli tells Grant flat-out he wants him, it could ruin their friendship. Eli's had that happen before, and he's not about to risk it happening again.

Grant's offers to mentor Eli in the BDSM lifestyle seems the perfect solution. Though Grant insists they'll remain just friends, Eli is sure that during the intimacy of their play he can show Grant exactly how he feels, make Grant crave Eli so much that he won't want their lessons to end. And when Eli learns how powerful submission to Grant can be, he's certain they're meant to be together.

But heartbreak in Grant's past has made him wary of falling in love. Can Eli convince Grant to take a chance on their relationship, or will Eli's confession of loving Grant destroy their friendship once and for all?

Sometimes I swear the author of the book can write a better blurb than I can. This blurb is directly off of the website. I have stolen for review purposes.

Ms. Thomas has entered me into a life I never read about. The life of Male/male relationships. And I have to say, for my first m/m read, I'm impressed. I really liked the fact that these two are friends and Grant is aloof despite his feelings and Eli is trying desperately not to fall for the guy. I also haven't read a tale of two friends getting together in a very long time. So it was a nice change to the usual.

Eli is your typical male sub trying to find his way. He'd like to experience both sides to see where he stands. But when he kneels at the feet of the man he wants to spend the rest of his life all thoughts of Dominating fly out the window. Grant offers to show him the ropes in the lifestyle. If this is his only chance to get close enough to Grant to touch him, he'll take it. He just doesn't realize exactly what it will do to him.

Grant is aloof and refuses to get involved. He takes little subbies home for a night, sends em packing before morning. It's the way he's always done things. Well at least since the last terrible relationship he was in. He just can't afford for it to happen twice. Not to mention Eli is his best friend. What danger that could do to the relationship. But, Grant makes a mistake. He lets Eli stay for the night. But, tries to make it up to himself by being gone before his friend wakes. He leaves him a note letting him no that he'll find him a submissive since he doesn't sub to anyone. Now, this was the part I really liked. Grant is more than welcome to walk away from this and pretend it was nothing more than friends with benefits and not jeopardize everything. This doesn't happen often. I know I've never been able to pull it off successfully. Now you just get to find out how far Eli is willing to let this go before he steps up.

As much as I liked the writing of this story. Her descriptives were well written, but, I still felt a little withdrawn from the characters. Sorta like I was outside looking in. Her sex scenes were hot enough to burn up my pages, but the dynamics of the relationship were a bit lost on me. Maybe it was because it was my first time reading m/m, but I don't think so. I'd really like to see her delve a little more into the characters psyches, stay out of author voice and push to stay in the moment. Otherwise I felt this book was the exact change I needed in my reading. Thank you Ms. Thomas and I hope to read more from you.

Posted by Miranda Heart :: 7:12 AM :: 0 Comments:

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