An Unlocked Heart
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4.5 • 27 Ratings
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
Collars and Cuffs: Book One
Since the death of his submissive lover two years ago, Leo hasn’t been living—merely existing. He focuses on making Collars & Cuffs, a BDSM club in Manchester’s gay village, successful. That changes the night he and his business partner have their weekly meeting at Severinos. Leo can’t keep his eyes off the new server. The shy man seems determined to avoid Leo’s gaze, but that’s like a red rag to a bull. Leo loves a challenge.
Alex Daniels works at Severinos to scrape together the money to move out on his own. He struggles with coming out, but he’s drawn to Leo, the gorgeous guy with the icy-blue eyes who’s been eating in his area nearly every night.
Leo won’t let Alex’s hesitance get in the way. He even keeps him away from the club so as not to scare him. And as for telling Alex that Leo is a Dom? Not a good idea. One date becomes two, but date two leads to Leo’s bedroom… and Alex discovers things about himself he never realized—and never wanted anyone to see.
LR Cafe's 2013 Best BDSM/Kink Book Runner Up
Customer Reviews
Enjoyable cast, solid plot. Good series debut.
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ FOUR - STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
⭐ ⭐ Provided by Author in Exchange for an Honest Review ⭐ ⭐
Judging a Book by it's Cover:
Two apparently naked men in what, I imagine, is meant to be an intimate pose but looks somewhat awkward. Overall effect is monotone and boring, something I'd most likely skip over when looking for a book to catch my eye. Text font is thin and plain, color does not stand out. It's as appealing as a bowl of unflavored, unsweetened oatmeal. HOWEVER, if you can get past that to the synopsis, it reads as though there may be a hidden gem inside. I'm reading this because I want the full series' experience before the final book comes out.
Looking Deeper:
Third-person POV.
Leo is part owner of Collars and Cuffs, an all-male gay BDSM club in England. One evening, he and his business partner, Thomas, are dining at an old favorite restaurant that he's rarely been to since the untimely death of his lover, Gabe, two years ago. Then, out walks a new waiter. Shy, awkward, a natural submissive, oh - and a virgin - Alex has lived in a loveless home for all of his twenty-two years with his evil brother. As he tries to save enough money to move out, he meets Leo but freaks out over the intense feelings the man evokes. Their relationship develops slowly. Leo has a way of reading people and knows how much he can push Alex before Alex runs.
There are a lot of secondary cast members, split into major secondaries and minor secondaries, however, if you're reading the series, you may want a notebook and pen to jot notes to keep track of everyone else. The dialogue was usually really good and their interactions were entertaining and engaging. The plot felt a little heavy or thick at times making section seem to read in slow motion, but for the most part it had a nice, smooth flow. Other than Rob (and let's not forget Dorian), most of the conflicts were of the internal mindset. Predictability was LOW. The conclusion was good, although I would have loved to have heard/read more on what happened to Rob.
Overall, it had plenty plot appeal, good characters and a solid enough happy ending.
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Rating: [X] ~ Score: 4.2 ~ Stars: 4
Explicit M/M romance, detailed BDSM scenes that are a million times hotter than "that one book". You know, the 50 one. Except these guys are gay. :)
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