I truly enjoyed the first three books in the Deviations series, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. And, it was well worth the wait. The first two novels concentrated heavily on Tobias and Noah’s budding romance while exploring the BDSM world they have chosen. Though the BDSM element is represented just as strongly as in the first three installments, there is more plot development here to build the romance to a crescendo. In particular, Tobias and Noah’s jobs start to wear on them and affect their relationship. Noah questions why he became a cop after getting involved in a dangerous situation; Tobias begins to see that he can’t be a full-time vet, a full-time Dom and manage his farm. One part that was especially good - readers get to see how complex Tobias’ relationship with Bradford is, which subsequently fleshes that character out to be more three-dimensional. And then there is Phantom.

Phantom Shaw, Tobias’ former submissive, was a minor character in the first two books. In volume three, his character was expanded upon and impacted the story more. So much so, that I expected him to have his own novel after Tobias and Noah’s story was wrapped up. Instead, the authors created an unexpected plot twist for him in this final book. Though I never imagined the story going in the direction it went, it made for a very satisfying conclusion. His issues of self-esteem and addiction to pain take a major role in the story. Noah must examine his own feelings about Phan as well – can he accept that Tobias needs to help Phan? What role can or should Phan have in their relationship? And, does he love Phan too?

Though I am sad to see the series conclude, it was a very good ending. The sex was inventive, steamy and playful. Oh, and did I mention plentiful?! The characters were fully realized and the plot well done. These books have always been more than just “kinky” stories. These could be real people; they have real problems; and, they have real love. Overall, I highly recommend the entire Deviations series. ( )