REVIEWED by Jen B.
TITLE: Unraveled
SERIES: Heathens Ink #5
AUTHOR: K.M. Neuhold
PUBLISHER: K.M. Neuhold
LENGTH: 263 Pages
RELEASE DATE: February 8, 2018
BLURB:
Clay:
My mind and body are full of chaos; the only time I can truly feel free is when my hands, arms, and legs are secured. Just because I want to be bound, able to give over my pleasure entirely to another person, doesn’t mean I want to be controlled, humiliated, or made to endure pain. I’m a successful, happy, confident adult man who wants a lover to tie him up. Why is that so scandalous? And why is it so difficult to find? It doesn’t help that I’ve developed a hopeless crush on my straight roommate. Maybe a fulfilling relationship isn’t in the cards for me.
Max:
I’m completely out of control of my life. My ex is trying to take my daughter away from me… again, my dream of owning my own motorcycle repair shop seems out of reach, and somehow, I find myself a thirty-two-year-old man who can’t afford to have a place without a roommate. So, it’s no huge surprise that the idea of being given complete control over someone’s body and pleasure is a major turn-on. I never had any inkling I might be into guys, until my best friend told me he likes to be tied up. Now I’m losing sleep, imagining him bound and begging for me. I can’t figure out if it’s just the kink or if it’s possible I’m falling for him.
This is a really sweet story. I loved the concept of someone needing bondage without much of the rest that goes with BDSM. Clay knew what he needed and was having a hard time trying to find it. It’s not easy to find someone who understands his need for bondage when it requires a certain degree of trust to feel safe enough to get what you need. So, Clay is struggling to find that someone.
At the same time, there is Max, Clay’s straight roommate and best friend of five years who is dealing with his ex moving across country with their daughter. Max is extremely supportive of Clay and has no problems with him being gay. When he learns about Clay’s bondage needs, it stirs something in him in the form of interest and curiosity, which, little by little, brings them closer together until eventually, Max realizes he has more feelings for Clay.
There is quite a bit of back and forth between the two – Max with am I gay, bi or what, and does it matter; and Clay with but my best friend is straight and I don’t want to do anything that will ruin the friendship. It quickly becomes clear, however, how perfect these guys are for each other.
This story started out pretty strong for me, as I said, I liked the concepts and love friends to lovers, etc. However, once they started taking things a little further, the pet names took front and center and changed the story quite a bit for me. They are used in what felt like almost every interaction they had – from sweetie, lover and sweetheart, to Max’s nickname for Clay – Petal – for the flower tattoos on Clay’s arms. They just felt a bit over the top for me and changed the feel of the story.
But, as I said, this was really sweet. Max helps Clay in so many ways, from his need for bondage to help with his anxiety to helping him step out of his comfort zones in other ways. And Clay was just what Max needed as well, so they really just worked. This wasn’t my favorite of the series, but it was still really enjoyable, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what’s next!
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