Tag: Zoe X. Rider

Games Boys Play by Zoe X. Rider

zxr_gamesboysplayTitle: Games Boys Play
Series: N/A
Author: Zoe X Rider
Genre: BDSM/ Fetish/Erotica
Length: Novel (299 pages)
Publisher: Loose Id (April 15th, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: Brian and Dylan have been best friends for years. They have no secrets between them, except for the ones they’re keeping from each other.

When Dylan lets himself into Brian’s apartment to drop something off, it couldn’t be worse timing—for Brian. He’s tied himself up to play out a kidnapping fantasy. He’s mortified, but Dylan is intrigued. He even offers to help Brian out next time he has an urge to be tied up.

No. That’s all Brian can think. No way. But the idea of someone else being in control overwhelms his thoughts—and self-bondage is suddenly a pale substitute for the real thing. He gives Dylan permission, on a trial basis, and comes face to face with a side of Dylan he’s never seen before. A really hot side.

As their games pick up steam, so does their relationship, along with Brian’s courage to go after the things he wants. Like, Dylan.

It might be happily ever after, but there’s one secret left, and it could ruin everything.

ISBN: 978-1-62300-711-9

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/games-boys-play.html

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I’m going to start off saying: this book is not for everyone. It was, in fact, borderline to not being my type of book. However, it was so well written and the characters well-developed, that I kinda didn’t care about the fact that it was almost a little too much fetish for my liking.

Brian and Dylan are both equally interesting characters. Best friends, step-cousins and band mates, it seems like they should know everything about each other. But they don’t. Brian’s secret dominates the book, but when things start to stir, Dylan’s secret then comes into play. It’s a fairly simple story played out rather dramatically. This book is really different – much different from the usual BDSM erotica out there that I’ve read, anyway.

Furthermore, if you’re looking for romance, you won’t be getting it here either, at least for a majority of the book. The, approximately, first 250 pages of this book is basically fetish scenes between Dylan and Brian with very little in the way of actual plot. The plot line comes in the last quarter of the book and it is quite pleasing. In a story where a majority of the content is not in the actual plot, it is quite well-played out.

This was a 4-heart book. However, I downgraded it to a 3.5-heart because particularly at the end I really wanted a different POV. The whole book from Brian’s POV (though not in first person). One thing that found I really wanted to know Dylan’s thoughts, what was going on in his head and what made him tick. I think that would have been awesome.

I have one specific warning to make for people: if you have a severe phobia of clowns (clourophobia), I don’t recommend a particular stretch of them book (pages 197-232), where there is an intense act out of Dylan’s fetish which also features a clown and the creepy clown music (aka Enter the Gladiator).
To end on a happy note, some people may enjoy references to Brit Rock, including Joy Division and The Verve. It’s good to hear from characters that are meant to have a phenomenal music career recording, touring and the like – kinda gives them some credit.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

The Roommate Situation by Zoe X. Rider

zr_theroommatesituationTitle: The Roommate Situation

Series: N/A

Author: Zoe X Rider

Genre: New Adult Romance

Length: Novel (330 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-62300-492-7

Publisher: Loose Id, LLC (October 7, 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate – light bondage / non penetrative sex

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Harper

Blurb: College freshman Shane Hahn finds himself unexpectedly shuffled to a new dorm room–which is fine by him, but his over-involved mother takes one look at toothpick-chewing, motorcycle-riding Derek McClain, his new roommate, and gets on the phone with the school. The school requires that Shane be the one to file the room-change paperwork, but Shane’s reluctant.

He’s attracted to Derek’s independence, even though that independence means Derek has to pay his own way through college, which he does by making leather products (you know: belts, wallets…bondage gear) and selling it online. Shane isn’t even allowed to work while he’s in school, much less join a band, which is what he really wants to do with his life. Unfortunately, his parents are holding his guitar hostage until he can prove he’s taking his future seriously.

Purchase Link: http://www.loose-id.com/the-roommate-situation.html
Review: I liked the idea of this book, and was really excited about reading it. Unfortunately, for me, it was just ok.
The pacing was the biggest problem for me, it was very slow and drawn out.

The book is set in College. Shane is a freshman finding his feet away from the tight reins of home. His original roommate commits suicide, so he gets moved to a new residence, cue Derek.
Derek is a mysterious leather wearing biker, who happens to have a business making leather items including bondage gear.

There was a lot of page filling, which made you understand about Shane’s parents control but in all honesty, it was too much, I just wanted to “get in to” the story.

Neither Shane or Derek have been with another guy so the initial get together was quite cool but for me it needed more depth- it wasn’t insta love but there was definite insta attraction/awareness.

I liked the way Shane and Derek were there for each other, with each of them having personal issues during the book. It showed a realistic mutual need and appreciation.

There was a fantastic scene created where Shane takes control, it truly had my toes curling. But sadly, that was the only one I really thought WOW about.

I think I was expecting a bit more from the kink, but it was very tame. I’m surprised the author didn’t have them experimenting more (maybe that’s in the next book).

I was most disappointed with the ending though, you finally get a feeling the story is going to get going and then Bam – THE END! There was no gradual ending, no closure, it was just done. I’m hoping there will be a follow-up book so we can see how the boys play out.

To summarize, this book is a coming of age, double gay for you, college romance.

Would I recommend it? Yes…but you have been warned. 😉