Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Finding Ian

SERIES:  Finding #2

AUTHOR:  Riley Hart

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  267 pages

RELEASE DATE:  February 23, 2021

BLURB:

Jordan
Hookups have always been my thing, and expanding new ways of playing has me . . . curious. The idea of submitting to someone’s total domination and care? It feels right when not much else in my life has.

David
Dominance and submission have always been things I need in my life—even when it made me lose someone I loved. It’s a thrilling, fulfilling spark when a submissive hands control over to me. And, for the right man, at the right time, maybe I need to be the one forced to my knees.

Ian
I’ve never understood the need to be submissive . . . or dominant, for that matter. Trust doesn’t come easily for me. But there was that one time I watched my best friend with his Sir, and it roused something in me I don’t want to admit. Just like I can’t acknowledge out loud how alone I feel.

Then my friend, Jordan, decides to play with David, a dominant we both know, and I think I’m jealous. They intrigue me separately, but Jordan and David together makes my interest even more explosive. Maybe, I want to let go, to let someone else to take the reins, so I can just be. When the three of us decide to explore together, I realize how good it can feel to be submissive, but I like the other side of it, too. Discovering both my submissive and dominant side with them is just playing. I don’t have it in me to fall in love with one person, so how can I risk the pain of loving two?

REVIEW:

Finding Ian is filthy, dirty, delightful debauchery. David, Jordan, and Ian come together in a polyamorous BDSM relationship that explores the dynamics of dominance and submission within a triad. This isn’t hard-core BDSM; it’s about control and surrender, play, and experimentation with lots of sex. The three men perfectly compliment each other.  

Jordan is a young man in his early twenties. He meets Finley in college and is intrigued by his lifestyle. He decides he would like to dip his toes into the lifestyle, and after meeting David at Finley and Aidan’s house numerous times, he thinks a hookup with the Dom would be the safest way to experiment. The naturally flirty young man easily convinces David to give it a try. Jordan is an endearing combination of playful, affectionate, bratty, cocky, and naughty. He’s cheeky without being immature.  

David is a born caregiver and nurturer. He would like someone to take care of, but not in a 24/7 total power exchange like Aidan and Finley. With a nearly twenty-year age difference, he and Jordan are beautiful together as Daddy and boy, but David knows it’s not enough for him because he’s an occasional switch.  

Then there’s Ian. This young man had an inconceivably awful start in life – as a baby, he was deserted by his mother in a gas station bathroom. Later, he was rejected by foster families. He met Finley in foster care and they have been best friends since. Ian has significant trust issues from being repeatedly left behind and he is afraid of depending on anyone and being hurt if they leave him. This is a prominent theme in the threesome’s relationship. Ian is proud, stubborn, independent and lonely. He is nearly broke despite working two crummy jobs. When his apartment is flooded and most of his possessions are destroyed, David offers him a room in his house. Seeing David and Jordan together makes him jealous, and while he insists he’s not interested in being controlled, he does want to be praised and feel wanted. 

Finding Ian is more than its predecessor: the characters are more well-rounded with lives outside of their relationship; I felt the chemistry more strongly; and the dynamic between them is explored more thoroughly. David helps guide the boys in decisions regarding work, activities, family and friendship. Ian, as the eponymous character, shows the most personal growth and development. He forms an important friendship, becomes entrenched in a new field of work he loves, and finds a mother figure he bonds closely with. Jordan faces personal conflict and a career decision, and David contends with a friend’s crisis.  

In Finding Finley, I didn’t feel strong chemistry between the main characters. I also found Finley to be too needy and younger than his years in behavior. Neither of those issues is present in this book. These men have a more genuine sexual and emotional chemistry. And while Jordan, Ian, and Finley are approximately the same age, the maturity level is much greater in Jordan and Ian, which I appreciated. 

David feels Ian will benefit from serving as both a dominant and a submissive, in turn. It’s a challenge to get him to trust, break free, and get out of his head, though. Ian fears intimacy and the more he wants something, the more he’s afraid – in this case, he’s terrified of losing Jordan and David. In addition to David being the grounding force of this trio, Jordan and Ian are becoming equal sources of comfort to the others. Once they begin to play, the men build a special, well-balanced relationship. 

I found Finding Ian to be a more satisfying read than Finding Finley. This book can be read as a standalone but I strongly recommend reading the first book because it provides important context and character development that you would otherwise miss. If you’re keen on a story about an MMM relationship, lots of sex, titillating BDSM light, and a perfectly balanced D/s/s dynamic, look no further.  

RATING: 

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