Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Below the Belt
SERIES: Cedar Falls #16
AUTHOR: Shea Balik
PUBLISHER: Siren-Bookstrand Inc
LENGTH: 132 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 4, 2016
BLURB:
Macon Roxley feared his scars would forever mark him as a risk not worth taking. Tyge Drost used to believe he had all the answers, until he lost someone under his care.
Misunderstandings and past wounds have driven this pair apart despite their undeniable attraction. Can either of them find a way to give love a chance, or will they give up on a future of promised happiness to protect their damaged hearts?
Warning: In typical Cedar Falls fashion, the citizens gather together to interfere through means of kidnapping, handcuffing, and general mischief in order to force Macon and Tyge to see what was right in front of them—love. Enjoy, but you have been warned.
REVIEW:
This one hit me hard. A lot of these books have hit me hard because they all have some kind of trigger. Suicide, suicide attempts, abuse, beatings, homophobia, and the list goes on. But something about Macon just stole my heart. Hell, I think all the subs and sub-likes have hit home with me. They are all such fighters. Even when they want to give up for real. But this one got me too, because of Tyge.
Being in a BDSM relationship, it’s all about trust. It’s about care, consent and so much more. All relationships are different, as each dom and/or sub needs something different. But when you deal with a sub that has dealt with severe abuse, you run a risk. Some of those people can get through the past abuses through a correct Dom taking care of them in the right way, but most of the time, they usually need some kind of therapy. Tyge’s old sub was one of those. He was too far gone and refused to get help and Tyge can’t get over the guilt of his death. He feels he should have been able to do something as his Dom. So when going to Cedar Falls and his first run in with Macon was nothing but lust and seeing Lars all over again, it put Tyge in a tailspin. Macon as well. Macon felt like damaged goods and Tyge kept putting his foot in his mouth and making it worse. But as everyone is pushing to get them together, they are also trying to get each of them to see they need to move beyond their pasts. Tyge wasn’t at fault, and not everyone was Macon’s ex. But until they move past that, there is no hope for them. Because it will be a vicious cycle.
Ok, just so you know, Jesse is up to no good in this one as well. Lol. It’s Jesse, when isn’t he. But Jesse is honestly doing everything he can to make things better. Sometimes his no filter goes too far, but he wants so much the best for everyone he loves and for them to be happy. The problem with this story is the pasts of both of these men are harsh ones. And not easy to get over. Kind of like Ethan had to deal with in a sense. Well, like a lot of the subs. Tyge and Macon had to figure out how to get past the past. Macon was trying with therapy, thank goodness, but it didn’t make it easy. Tyge just tried to drink himself to death at times. But thankfully, a stranger got through to him.
It’s another hard read. Most of the stories of this series are because of what most of these men have been through. But through love, therapy, hope and the friendships bonds they’ve formed, they are starting to thrive. And Cedar Falls is making some major changes for it.
RATING: 
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