Reviewed by Larissa and Sadonna
TITLE: Twist Me
SERIES: Tattoos and Temptation Book 6
AUTHOR: Mia Monroe
PUBLISHER: self-published
RELEASE DATE: April 2, 2021
LENGTH: 216 pages
BLURB:
He gave me freedom through restraint.
He captivated me the first time I saw him. I was drawn to him, curious about the mysterious, soft spoken older man. I convinced myself there was no way someone so worldly would be interested in a shy, inexperienced guy like me. I’m careful what I reveal, choosing instead to live with what if.
But with each interaction, I felt things I never had before. Patiently, he gave me the space to peel back my armor, allowing him to twist me apart in ways I never imagined. Now I crave the security of his ropes.
He opened up the way I see the world and myself in it. Can he open my heart too…
Twist Me is a steamy age gap tale exploring love and self through Shibari. It is book six in the Tattoos and Temptation series featuring hot Miami nights, Latin desserts, and guys with ink.
It can be read as a standalone but the author recommends reading the series in order or at least book three, Free Me, for maximum enjoyment.
LARISSA’S REVIEW:
Twist Me is the culminating book in Mia Monroe’s fabulous Tattoos & Temptation series (*sniffle sniffle*). In the words of Juliet, “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” Falling in love with this series is a gift. I’m sad that this is the last time we’ll be fully immersed in this unique world of spicy, sexy, sweet men living the dream in their juxtaposed bakery and tattoo shops amidst the colorful sights and sounds of Miami. I’ll definitely be going back to visit Ms. Monroe’s vibrantly created T&T world through what I expect will be many rereads.
These special men of T&T have all gotten their HEAs and we get to see peeks of the prior couples/throuple in this final book. Unless Mia has a surprise up her sleeve #moreT&Tplease, this is the end, and that invokes in me a sadness reflective of my deep love for this diverse world and cast of characters that Ms. Monroe has so vividly brought to life.
Twist Me is a fitting conclusion to the series. The best way I can describe it is beautiful and joyful. The book delivers a well-deserved HEA for Grey, one of the tattoo artists at Jude’s Black Heart Tattoo shop, and Mitsu, the Shibari instructor and mentor to Nix, who we first meet in Book 3, Free Me.
Let me pause here for a PSA: The T&T books are interconnected and sequential, but not a continuing storyline. So you absolutely can read them as standalones, although you’ll get more out of them if you read them in order. This holds for Twist Me as well. However, Mitsu and Shibari are first introduced in Free Me, and the exploration of Nix and Tate’s relationship through Shibari provides a solid foundation for the personal and relationship journeys of Mitsu and Grey in Twist Me. Is it essential you read Free Me first? No. But your appreciation of Twist Me will be amplified if you have. Free Me is excellent, so I recommend you at least read that one first, before embarking on Twist Me.
Now back to Twist Me. Consistent with the rest of the series, Twist Me is low/no angst, hot sex, humor and happiness, but it is not a plot-centric book. Rather, it carefully and sensitively explores the struggle to understand yourself and settle into your own skin in a way you know to be true to you. Grey experiences this struggle more acutely than Mitsu, but Mitsu isn’t exempted from it.
Like a key fitting into a lock, Mitsu and Grey come together to unlock parts of the other that have been repressed or forgotten. They each have tools in their arsenal to do this, but participation of a partner who they wholeheartedly and unequivocally trust is crucial. Developing trust can be tricky, particularly when scars yearn to be hidden. Twist Me is page after page of breathtaking actions and dialogue between Mitsu and Grey that consistently build that trust between them until it becomes unshakeable.
Shibari is a crucial piece of this journey. The Shibari ropes provide the restraint and, oxymoronically, the space and freedom needed and called upon by its users. In Free Me, Nix and Tate didn’t need to build trust. They had it already from long ago. But the ropes provided the opportunity for release and the support needed to facilitate acceptance, forgiveness and letting go.
For Mitsu and Grey in Twist Me, the call is different from Nix and Tate. It’s been a long, challenging journey for Grey to feel like his true self. During that process, he bottled up so much of himself through self-preservation. But it’s not so easy to just open it all back up again. Grey calls upon Mitsu to twist him open like a cap on a bottle so he can let himself shine for the world to see, but with the safety net of Mitsu’s love and support. In a way, he’s cleansing himself so he is fully available to accept all Mitsu wants to give him.
I adore how Ms. Monroe employs the twisting imagery throughout the book. Her choice of title is far from arbitrary. In addition to the twisting to open up as I just mentioned, there’s twisting as a show of strength and proof of resiliency. Grey uses Mitsu and his ropes as a means of pushing himself to his limits. When you twist something, you distort it, turn it around, maybe even stretch it and strain it. But it bends, flexes and gives, and, most importantly, does. not. break. It’s resilient, flexible … fluid. Grey desperately wants to be seen and understood that way because it’s his truth. He is strong and resilient. Mitsu sees that and gives that to him.
Twist Me displays a more lyrical side of Ms. Monroe’s writing and it’s perfect for this beautiful story of finding peace and redemption. I highlighted this line because it struck me as a spot on analogy to Ms. Monroe’s writing in this book: “[Y]ou’re this super-chill Shibari master who speaks in poetry, but then, all of a sudden, here comes an unexpected F-bomb. It’s a cool dynamic.” Cool indeed.
As I look back over the T&T series, I can’t help but appreciate how Ms. Monroe has captured a diverse spectrum of lovely men without ever labeling them or calling them out as different. It’s one of the things I appreciate most about her writing. From Marry Me to Twist Me, we’ve met and fallen for:
A gorgeous tattoo shop owner and a baker who is model-lovely but as real as you and me. A Scottish Daddy and his reformed party boy. Two former friends given a second chance at love through Shibari. A triad comprised of a sweet as syrup Southern boy, a saucy twink and his BFF. A sassy, heel, lingerie and makeup-loving French chocolatier who is unapologetically himself, and his older, GFY brother’s best friend. And of course we have Mitsu and Grey … This Miami crew has wormed its way into my heart. I’ll miss learning of new adventures with this found family.
Luckily, Ms. Monroe is a talented, prolific writer. She’s already delivered three fantastic books in 2021, two of which kicked off her new Written in the Stars series. (You can check out my thoughts on those three books here: Written in the Stars, Gravity, and Dirty Forty) So while she gave me a serious book hangover with Twist Me and the end of T&T, she also provided the book hangover remedy. #moremiamagic #getreading
RATING: 
SADONNA’S REVIEW:
Grey is one of the tattoo artist at Black Heart, the tattoo shop in Miami that is one of the central locations of this series. Across the street lies Dulce, the bakery that serves as the other main business featured and where a number of the series characters work. Grey is still fairly new at Black Heart, but he likes his work and his co-workers. They include him in their social gatherings and although he is a bit shy and more reserved than a lot of the other guys, he enjoys their interaction and being part of the group.
During one of these group outings Grey has been introduced to Mitsu (hopefully you have read at least Free Me in preparation for this book), the shibari master that has been instrumental in helping Nix and Tate work through their relationship issues. It’s pretty obvious that there is an attraction there, but Grey has not pursued anything and has just interacted with Mitsu at these group gatherings. His best friend Mac encourages him to contact Mitsu and to agree to go to a Shibari workshop to which he’s been invited. But Grey is worried. He doesn’t like crowds of strangers and is nervous that he’ll be asked to do something he really doesn’t want to do. But he screws up his courage and decides to attend.
What starts out as an invitation to observe turns into so much more in the end. Mitsu is extremely sensitive to Grey’s particular aversion to being touched – particularly by strangers. He’s aware of Grey’s reluctance to trusting new people and new things. But he’s determined to put Grey at ease and not to pressure him into anything. While encouraging, he is totally willing to go at whatever speed Grey is comfortable with. And this is the key to building trust between them.
As they spend more time together, Grey slowly reveals more of himself to Mitsu. He is still shy, but as he begins to feel comfortable with Grey, he shares more of his life, his past and his journey. Mitsu also shares his past as well – in a way that is organic to the story and realistic – no info dumping here. Grey continues to be intrigued by the shibari sessions and wants to share that with Mitsu, but he is scared that me might freak out or hate it. He worries that will be a deal breaker for Mitsu.
Both men are initially also worried about their age gap. But Grey is actually more worried about the experience gap. However, it turns out that in some things, particularly love, they are on equal footing 🙂 It’s absolutely beautiful to watch how Mitsu treats Grey and his gift of himself and his body with complete reverence. Their interactions are absolutely gorgeous. The levels of trust and intimacy that they establish as their relationship builds are the heart and soul of this book.
*sigh* While I have been really looking forward to this book, I’m really sad that this series is over. I have so enjoyed getting to know this wonderful group of diverse characters over the course of this series. Each book has introduced us to a new couple and although we met Mitsu and Grey in previous books, this is really their story and time to shine. I absolutely loved everything about this book – from the beautiful descriptions of shibari, to the secondary characters of Grey’s family, to exploring Grey’s volunteer activities at the LGBTQ+ center, to the deepening friendships of all the couples previously featured in this series. It’s just a perfect wrap up to this particular series and group of characters.
This story kind of reads like an epic poem. In particular, Mitsu’s use of language is just so lovely and romantic. I’m not sure if that’s a nod to his exploration of his Japanese heritage, his experience of other cultures or just who he is, but it really lends such a lyrical quality to this book that is a bit different to the others. I was just swept away by their romance and how each interaction between them solidifies and strengthens the foundation of the mutual attraction and respect and desire. I loved the sensitive way their physical relationship was described and handled – again with respect and trust and love. Honestly one of the absolute best things about Mia Monroe’s writing in this series is the level of respect shown to all the characters with regards to their identity, sexuality, needs, wants, and desires. It’s obvious that she loves these characters and wants them to fully realize their potential and find fulfillment and happiness within these relationships. I really hope that we do get some spin-off stories or something though because I’d love to find out how Andre fares in figuring himself out 🙂 I’d also love to hear more of Mac’s story. *hint, hint* Highly recommended!
RATING:
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