REVIEWED BY CINDY & DANIELLE

TITLE: Someone To Keep Me

SERIES: Collars & Cuffs #3

AUTHOR: K.C Wells & Parker Williams

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 246 pages

BLURB:

A Collars and Cuffs Novel

Eighteen-year-old Scott Keating knows a whole world exists beyond his parents’ strict control, but until he gains access to the World Wide Web, he really has no idea what’s out there. In a chat room, Scott meets “JeffUK.” Jeff loves and understands him, and when he offers to bring Scott to the UK, Scott seizes his chance to escape his humdrum life and see the world. But when his plane touches down and Jeff isn’t there, panic sets in.

Collars & Cuffs favorite barman and Dom-in-training, Ben Winters, drops his sister off at the airport and finds a lost, anxious Scott. Hearing Scott’s story sets off alarm bells, along with his protective instincts. Taking pity on the naïve boy, Ben offers him a place to crash and invites him to Collars & Cuffs, hoping his bosses will know how to help. Scott dreams of belonging to someone, heart and soul. Ben longs for a sub of his own. And neither man sees what’s right under his nose

REVIEW:

Danielle: Hey Cin, I am reading ‘Someone to Keep Me’ I was thinking it’s a joint writer effort so how about a joint review?

Cindy: Sounds good to me. Send me a copy, let me read it and I’ll get back to you.

Cindy: I just finished it and it was definitely worth the wait!

Danielle: I tell you, Woman, I was so looking forward to this one. I mean, that combination of authors? That must be the bomb! They sure delivered!

Cindy: They really did. I love this combination of characters and with all the familiar names it was like running into old friends.

Danielle: That I definitely agree on. I mean how can you not love the characters from the other books; Leo and Alex and Thomas and Peter….

Cindy: It was wonderful to get a glimpse into their futures while meeting Scott and Ben.

Danielle: Yeah lets talk Scott and Ben! Gosh what a couple of men! Ben for me so showing he was strong yet vulnerable but so solid and warm .* sigh* Scott’s the opposite but that insecurity? Man that hit me hard I’ll tell you that.

Cindy: Yeah, Scott hit home for me too. He feels so lost and alone at the beginning of the book. I think he sort of represents that part of all of us who’ve never felt good enough.

Danielle: Yes I think that out of the whole book, that part got to me the most, the beginning. That touched me deeply. It’s the opposite from what I think is the more usual feeling for me, more attracted to the content of the story and getting further into it

Cindy: And Ben. He’s a good man who just wants to do the right thing. You can feel that he’s instantly attracted to Scott but pushes it aside because he wants what’s best for the younger man.

Danielle: Yes he’s the opposite of selfish. You can feel that through the whole story. He puts eveyone’s needs before his own.

Danielle: We as a reader start the story with Scott wanting to run away from his hometown and his controlling, indoctrinating parents. He thinks he can do this when he meets Jeff online through an illegal wi-fi connection he uses.

Cindy: Yes, you get a bad feeling about that from the start.

Danielle: When Scott leaves his hometown and flies to England to go to Jeff, he is left at the airport with no sign of Jeff. Thankfully Ben is there dropping off his sister and being the kind and caring man he is, he steps in, taking Scott under his wing and bringing him to Collars and Cuffs, knowing instinctively that Leo and Thomas would know what to do.

Cindy: Yes, it says a lot about his character that his first instinct is to help. You are left with the impression that it could have gone a lot worse for Scott if Ben had just decided to walk on by.

Cindy: I love that all our favorite characters are shown to be the caring individuals we have come to know and adore. Once the get it straightened out where Scott will stay, we are treated to a nice, slow build up, watching Scott and Ben become friends first.

Danielle: Yes, you just cannot help but love them although each one of them is different in their own very special way. Although you could wonder about being too slow?

Cindy: No, I didn’t think so. I didn’t find a spot where it dragged for me. I was anxious and frustrated at Ben’s oblivious behavior, but I think any faster and it would have been too unreal. Scott had to start to find his own place in Ben’s life before he could move on to something more.

Danielle: I agree on that but for some reason I noticed myself feeling the magic of the beginning slightly slip. The beginning for me felt magical with the bantering between American and English! Gosh it had me in a constant smile and the building of the friendship between Ben and Scott but also for example Scott and Alex and Peter made me feel so warm.

Cindy: Loved those three boys together.

Danielle: The tenderness yet firmness of Leo and Thomas and the interactions with their subs and the connection between the three subs together was wonderful. As well the family feeling Scott found with all of them was for me the highlight of this book and that what made it more special than any regular m/m novel

Cindy: I agree. I think some people have a preconceived ideas about Doms and subs and this book (and the rest of the series) shatters a lot of them. Doms aren’t always strong and subs definitely aren’t weak. They are just people giving each other what they need to have a happy, fulfilling life.

Cindy: I loved how all of them, Doms and subs alike worked together to help their friends find their way to each other. I saw it coming but was still delighted when they used Joe the Dom to help Ben figure things out.

Danielle: Man that was something for sure! Let’s not say too much but well, that was an eye-opener for sure! And oh boy PLEASE give me Jeff and Damon’s story! You think I could beg the authors?

Cindy: I hope so! It would be another completely different take on things for sure!

Danielle: I think I would like that. I mean, I like a good BDSM story but I find I do have some things I hesitate about but that is personal I think.

Cindy: And I have no such boundaries but I think these stories manage to walk a fine line to satisfy both of us, don’t you think?

Danielle: Definitely. That is why I assured to say ‘personally’.

Cindy: So, the addition of the near-tragedy near the end of the story was unexpected. It sort of threw me for a loop. Watching how it was resolved had me biting my nails until end. And oh what a wonderful ending! It suited the feeling of the whole story and left me with a smile on my face.

Danielle: Yes I am still torn on what i feel about that twist…pfff. The end, though, let me tell you that topped my rating off with at least a half star! Gosh that was sheer perfection!

Cindy: It really was. I love how it addressed both halves of their relationship. I know I’m already dying for more about all these men and the amazing lifestyle they lead.

Danielle: Yes believe me I do too. I think I fell in love one by one with all of them, book by book.

Cindy: So, the characters are easy to connect to and well fleshed out. The storyline keeps you in it’s grip and doesn’t let you go (at least I couldn’t once I started. I may have growled at people) and the ending leaves you satisfied and smiling. Did I miss anything?

Danielle: Lol no quite a good sum up I think. What should I add myself? I am impressed with the fabulous writing between both authors and I would love to see more. I specifically applaud them for the connection and warm family friendship between all the characters – not only the main characters. The smiles and the battering between American English and British English actually helped give me the slow build up which you can appreciate or hesitate about but in the end feels very satisfying.

RATING:

BUY LINK: Dreamspinner Press