Showing posts with label Secrets Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Secrets Series. Show all posts

Monday, 4 December 2017

An Unlocked Mind (Secrets #2) by Parker Williams and K.C. Wells


Title: An Unlocked Mind
Series: Secrets Book #2
Author: K.C. Wells & Parker Williams
Genre: M/M Romance Light BDSM
Release Date: December 11, 2017 




Rob Daniels is determined to prove to himself that his brother Alex got it wrong. Alex believes he found love through BDSM; Rob is certain that’s not possible. He even makes several visits to a London club to prove his point. But when he attends the grand opening of Secrets, Rob gets a shock, one that has him fleeing, vowing never to return—until he does… and runs into the brick wall that is Dom Vic Prentiss. As first meetings go, theirs is a disaster.

The more time he spends around Rob, the more convinced Vic becomes of two things—one, something is eating away at Rob, and two, he’s looking for something. Every instinct tells Vic to help him, but trying to unlock the secrets hidden in Rob’s mind requires a key. All Vic has to do is find it. Because maybe then he’ll get to see the real Rob, the man who’s scared to let go….






Now, I’m sure you remember Rob. Yes, him! The little shit of a brother to Alex from ‘An Unlocked Heart’. What? You don’t? You haven’t read ‘An Unlocked Heart’? Maybe you haven’t read any of the ‘Collars and Cuffs’ books? I’m sorry, but you really shouldn’t be here reading this review.

I’m serious. Do. Not. Read. This. Book. …Or my review of it unless you’ve read at the very least An Unlocked Heart first. Trust me. You’ll thank me for this advice. Not only is it an amazing book, reading it first will also mean that you’ll enjoy this book so very much more than you could possibly do without having that background story.

And while I’m talking about the background story, I have to admit that when I discovered that the authors were about to attempt to redeem the bastard named Rob I had serious doubts. I love and admire every single word I’ve read by Wells and Williams, but I still couldn’t see how they could possibly make me like, never mind love, Rob; not after everything he’d put Alex through.

So I wasn’t surprised when it took me a while before I could see any possibly redeeming qualities in him. I spent quite a few chapters wondering what on earth Vic could see in the obnoxious little shit. And then the magic started. I suddenly found myself feeling something closely resembling pity for poor, confused, and downtrodden Rob. It happened almost imperceptibly but I reached a point where I suddenly realised his anger was directed at himself more than anyone else and a result of fear and frustration rather than any deep rooted evil. Watching him fight the habits of long and lonely years to better himself, to become the man he could be, the man Vic had somehow recognised in him early on, was a thing of ever increasing magnificence and beauty.

Vic… If ever a man was destined for sainthood, it has to be him. How he didn’t just leave Rob struggling in the rain after what he’d said moments earlier I’ll never know. How he kept on putting up with Rob despite his horrendous behaviour is beyond me. But he did somehow guess at all the things Rob kept hidden, even from himself, and managed to tease them out with infinite patience. In the process he took both Rob and the reader on an almost magical journey, and I don’t mean that as in ‘unbelievable’. In a way Vic opened both Rob and the reader’s heart, eyes, and mind (pun intended) to things that had been buried so deeply they were all but invisible. It was a voyage filled with twists, and turnarounds, often a case of two steps forward followed by one step back, and all the more mesmerising for it.

Of course there are one or two issues to resolve between Rob and his brother Alex (from An Unlocked Heart). No matter how much Rob grows as a result of Vic’s patience, dominance and love, he can’t fully heal until he deals with this, the biggest of his demons. It happens. The two young men find themselves face to face. And… Yeah, right? As if there was ever a chance of me spoiling that for you. All I’ll say about that part of the story is that the authors hit what for me was the perfect note, making the reunion realistic and convincing. But really, if you’ve read and enjoyed the previous book (and maybe grown to deeply dislike, if not hate, Rob) you’ll want to read An Unlocked Mind just for that scene.

If you’re familiar with the previous books by these authors you don’t need me to tell you that they’re in a class of their own when it comes to emotions and sexiness. And just when you’re sure that there couldn’t possibly be a BDSM scene they hadn’t already covered, they come up with something new, and what’s more, something that is perfectly suited to the characters in the story you’re reading.

And of course it was a delight to catch moments with Eli and Jarod. I love that with every new book we get to know these two characters a little bit better than we did before. And the fact that other characters from the Collars and Cuffs series either make a cameo appearance or get mentioned, is a very much appreciated added bonus. And of course we get to spend a little bit more time with Ellis and Wayne (Before You Break) too.

All in all I have to admit that this story was much, much better than I dared hope or expect before I started reading it. I probably should have known better than to doubt these two authors; they have proven once again that they are in a league of their own when it comes to telling a riveting, convincing, and deeply touching story.







K.C. Wells started writing in 2012, although the idea of writing a novel had been in her head since she was a child. But after reading that first gay romance in 2009, she was hooked.
She now writes full time, and the line of men in her head, clamouring to tell their story, is getting longer and longer. If the frequent visits by plot bunnies are anything to go by, that’s not about to change anytime soon.



Parker Williams believes that true love exists, but it always comes with a price. No happily ever after can ever be had without work, sweat, and tears that come with melding lives together.



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Friday, 26 May 2017

Before You Break by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams - Review Tour




Buy Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Length: 115,247 words 

Cover Design: Reece Dante 

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

 Blurb

 Six years ago Ellis walked into his first briefing as the newest member of London’s Specialist Firearms unit. He was partnered with Wayne and they became fast friends. When Wayne begins to notice changes—Ellis’s erratic temper, the effects of sleep deprivation—he knows he has to act before Ellis reaches his breaking point. He invites Ellis to the opening of the new BDSM club, Secrets, where Wayne has a membership. His purpose? He wants Ellis to glimpse the lifestyle before Wayne approaches him with a proposition. He wants to take Ellis in hand, to control his life because he wants his friend back, and he figures this is the only way to do it.

There are a few issues, however. Ellis is straight. Stubborn. And sexy. Wayne knows he has to put his own feelings aside to be what Ellis needs. What surprises the hell out of him is finding out what Ellis actually requires.


Review
Before You Break is the first book in Secrets, the Collars and Cuffs spin-off series and if this is any indication of what’s to follow we’re in for another treat. While, as the blurb indicates, this is the story of Wayne and Ellis, we also get to watch Eli and Jarod as they move to London and open their newly refurbished club. This wonderful combination of old familiar and brand new meant I was fully invested in the story, and the rest of the series, before I’d even finished the second chapter.

Ellis and Wayne were fascinating characters, both because of their personalities and because of the very dangerous job they share. They’ve been friends for six years, although Wayne’s feelings run quite a bit deeper. But that’s something he’ll never share with Ellis; after all, his friend is straight and Wayne won’t do anything to put their friendship at risk.

Ellis may be a strapping, ‘big bruiser’ of a man on the outside, deep inside he’s still the insecure thirteen year old who was forced into a role he was in no way equipped to handle and still hasn’t come to grips with. For reasons he’s keeping very close to his chest, Ellis is losing control. He’s pretty much a little boy lost, and although he doesn’t realise it, needs Wayne to save him from himself and discover who he really is.

And Wayne is perfect for Ellis. When he decides to take Ellis in hand before the man destroys his life and his loses his job, it has nothing to do with the attraction he feels. His plans are platonic because, as far as Wayne knows, anything else is out of the question. Already knowing Ellis very well before they agree to the D/s dynamic Wayne knows exactly how to make the man he’s loved for years soar and where to draw the line.

‘It’s my responsibility to ensure your pains weren’t related to your begging for more physical ones.’

Slowly and carefully Wayne puts Ellis back together; teasing out what has been bothering him, discovering the secrets Ellis has been holding close. The combination of patience and persistence start to ground Ellis, make him open up until the moment arrives when Ellis at last breaks down and admits to the feelings he’s been hiding for as long as he can remember. And from that moment on it appears to be plain sailing. Ellis blossoms under Wayne’s dominance and discovers a world of heat, pleasure and peace in his submision to the man who has saved him from himself, the man he loves.

And then, just when it appears that Wayne and Ellis have reached their summit, the rug is pulled from under their feet in a suspense filled incident, and everything they’ve created together tumbles to the ground, or so it seems. But, of course, this wouldn’t be a Wells & Williams book if love didn’t conquer all. I have no intention of telling you what happens, or how the situation is resolved but you can trust me when I say it will bring tears to your eyes, tug on your heartstrings, and make you love Ellis and Wayne even more than you did earlier in the story.

I’m probably stating the obvious when I say that the sexy scenes in this book are off the charts. I can almost hear you say, ‘aren’t they always when these two authors get together?’ And you would be right. What will never cease to amaze me is that even after this many books set in the BDSM scene they still manage to give each story a fresh feel, and to come up with kinky games we haven’t read about before. Never a boring moment doesn’t begin to describe it.


There is a lot more I could say about this story. I could share the anger I felt once the reasons for Ellis’s decent into despair became clear. I could wax lyrical about the beauty of these two men together, or bore you with examples of all the times they made me sigh, smile and laugh. And I could probably write a few paragraphs about how much fun it was to see the interactions between Jarod and his mother who is, of course, still up to no good. But I won’t. Instead I’ll just advice you to go and read the book already. You won’t be sorry.

Author Bio's

Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C. WELLS always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way. K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, when the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings—writing about men in love was even hotter….

K.C. now writes full-time and is loving every minute of her new career. The laptop still has no idea of what hit it… it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.

And as for those men in love that she writes about? The list of stories just waiting to be written is getting longer… and longer….

K.C. loves to hear from readers. 

Twitter: @K_C_Wells

Happily Ever After Comes With A Price Tag. Parker Williams began to write as a teen, but never showed his work to anyone. As he grew older, he drifted away from writing, but his love of the written word moved him to reading. A chance encounter with an author changed the course of his life as she encouraged him to never give up on a dream. With the help of some amazing friends, he rediscovered the joy of writing, thanks to a community of writers who have become his family. Parker firmly believes in love, but is also of the opinion that anything worth having requires work and sacrifice (plus a little hurt and angst, too). The course of love is never a smooth one, and Happily Ever After always has a price tag.
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