Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Impacted! 
SERIES: Bay Area Professionals #1
AUTHOR: Mickie B. Ashling
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 234 pages
BLURB:
On his way home from vacation, Scott Gregory, a closeted sub, hooks up with the gorgeous Red, a flamboyant dom, for a thrilling one-off at a BDSM bar. They part ways after a satisfying scene… but meet again when Robin Kennedy-Red-arrives at his new job as a dental hygienist and discovers one of his two bosses is Scott. Robin and Scott embark on a journey of exploration into their kinkier sides and discover they’re more than compatible-they’re a perfect match. But keeping employer/employee and Dom/sub separate at the office presents difficulties, and to make matters even more complicated, the owner of the dental practice is an acknowledged homophobe. They fall in love, but Robin chafes at all the secrecy, refusing to live in the shadows. Scott isn’t as brave; he’s desperate to protect his job and his future. Will they be able to find some middle ground… or will their entire relationship fall apart because of fear?
REVIEW:
When Love Bytes was asked to do a review of Forged in Trust, I read the blurb and enthusiastically agreed to try this new-to-me author. I have been embracing the chance to try new authors any chance I get, and was so thankful that I jumped on this one. After reading the book I discovered it was part four in the Bay Area Professionals series and I seriously begged for the chance to review all four books. Let me tell you, I was most definitely not disappointed that I did!
Impacted is the first in this awesome series and I can’t wait to read the rest! The book introduces us to the back-in-the-closet again periodontitis Scott Gregory. He is at the end of his vacation and stops in at a gay BDSM club on the way home to blow off a little steam one last time before he has to go back into self-induced hiding and celibacy. He meets the handsome and charismatic bartender “Red”, aptly named because of his fiery red hair. After some flirtatious banter, Scott spots a pair of handcuffs in Red’s back pocket. The two hook up for some really hot car sex and part ways. There is a connection there, but it is dismissed. Fast forward to his first day back in the thriving practice he is in the process of buying. Scott is shocked to discover that the current owner, due to retire soon, has hired a new hygienist, Robin Kennedy, aka “Red”. After both men recover from the initial shock they admit they want to talk in private.
Impacted Is the story of how Scott and Robin navigating the tricky waters of closeted gays, the BDSM scene and it’s perceived twisted issues, and a homophobic holier-than-thou boss. This story has many twist and turns as the two men not only learn to trust one another in the kinky world of BDSM, but also how to balance their careers and the love that is developing between them. The book includes a rich supporting cast of characters that I adored. Scott’s close friend Susie, and Robin’s mother Denise, were wonderful, loving and supportive.
I completely and wholeheartedly recommend this novel and can’t wait to start the next one in the series. I give this book an enthusiastic thumbs up and 4.5 bright and shining stars!!! A Must Read!
( Check out my review on the other books in this series all coming this week! )
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