Title: Living On My Own
Series: Mixed Tape Series, Volume #2
Author: Megan Slayer
Genre: MM / Contemporary Erotica / BDSM
Length: Novelette
Publisher: MLR Press (June 16th, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥1.5~2 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: Can the past really help the future?
Daniel Tate knew he’d walked out on a one in a million man, but some things are better dealt with alone. Leaving Kel meant losing his heart. He’s conquered his demons. Now he’s out to prove to Kelsey why being together is so much better than liv
ing on their own. When Kelsey Schriver’s life fell apart, the last person he expected to come to his aid was his former sub. Their past burned bright, then snuffed out too fast for Kelsey. Is the past something he can forgive or something he can’t surmount?
Product Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=MS_LVOMO
Review: While this little short story is called Living on MY Own it follows a couple that are basically tired of doing just that.
Daniel messed it up big time when he chose booze of the love of his life and his perfect Dom five years ago. Now fate is giving him one last chance to try to get back not what he had, but more.
Kelsey was seriously hurt when his relationship with Daniel crashed five years ago, but his insecurities and sense of self-esteem got off the chart when his last boyfriend literally stepped over him. All that sense of control is slipping right of his fingers, and he’s tired of living on his own despite that being his favorite song.
When Daniel shows up in his life again, now changed and really sober, he finds it hard refusing the man. After all Daniel always, always got under his skin. But can he trust him with his heart again?
So, I didn’t like this story for many reasons. First it’s the fact that there are so many issues in one little short and there is no place for them to get sorted, thus there is the sense of things hanging around, things left unchecked and being rushed all over the place. I’m not a fan of fast forgiveness either and that didn’t help.
Then, there is the BDSM part. Now if you’ve followed my reviews you already know what a kinky person I am and how much I love a good BDSM. This was not good. There was total lack of that atmosphere a kink scene creates. It was hard connecting with the characters and thus their scenes left you not only detached, but I felt as if every stereotype of a bondage scene was recruited although not properly used. The spanking, the flogging, the “yes, Sir’s” all left me untouched. To add more pain, the thought “shut him the hell up” flooded my mind more than once when it came to Daniel. Talk about a pushy bottom and dear me, do I dislike the kind. Dear me, I got more invested emotionally when I wanted the character to finally shut up, than with the text and storyline. Not good, not good at all.
And a last reason I didn’t like the read was the love part and the reconciliation. We witnessed how good the pair was together sexually but the loving feelings were just out of reach. And when things finally got to the point of getting them all and the couple solving their problems, the entire plot got in there. The past, Daniels sobriety, Kel’s ex, their trusting issues, everything got in a tangled mess and in the end I really didn’t get it why on earth was Kel apologizing.
Anyway, you might or might not like the read, I’m too fussy when it comes to certain genres and this was not the read of my satisfaction.