Cassie Stevens

Addicted surprised me. The publisher advertised it as a BDSM-themed short story. So, I expected a spanking or two, and some hot sex. I didn’t expect to find such a depth of emotion. Vic and Damien were separated 10 years ago. Both feel the other betrayed him by walking out. Now, Damien is a Marine Corp Captain about to be assigned to the same base as Gunnery Sergeant Vic. Vic knows he is coming, and is planning to be cold and rebuff Damien for breaking his heart. Only, nothing goes as show more planned.

When Damien and Vic meet to air their differences in hopes of being able to work together civilly, the scene is gut-wrenching. Vic is devastated to finally see Damien’s view of what happened. Damien finally understands the sacrifice Vic had to make at the time, but is still in pain over being left behind. Unlike the normal angst found in a gay romance (such as not knowing if the other is gay, or being in the closet), the issues here are life-altering events. Death, children and abuse. Damien trusted Vic with his deepest desires to submit, and Vic didn’t understand until now what his last words and actions did to the young man . They still love each other, but where do they go from here? This story really grabs a reader by the throat. Both men have been living half-lives, needing the other but being alone. Now, they can’t deny their passion (and the sex is piping hot) but they have to deal with the fallout. Damien and Vic have children. They are Marines living under a no fraternization rule, let alone being outed as gay. And they have a lot of pain to overcome.

This was a very good romance story. Vic and Damien are refreshingly flawed men – mature, with careers. Very real. Though the sex is hot and explicit, the emotion in the story is tangible. I felt the men’s pain, and their love. For those concerned about the BDSM tone, it’s pretty mild compared to some. They men make liberal use of a heavy leather belt, but no more in this story. However, the ending indicates there will be a sequel or two, and the BDSM theme will likely expand into more submission and restraints. For me, it adds just enough spice without making me cringe. I like Damien and Vic, and will definitely pick up the sequel in March 09. Overall, I highly recommend this story. show less

A very brief but interesting story

Derek is a famous photographer that has accepted a jod he doesn't like cause he will be payed to much to say no. But he will not fall in love with the model. He doesn't do model. Not anymore. An ex wife and an ex lover (male), both model, has taught to him that model are a breed not to trust.

But Brad his not an usual model. He his an all american boys, an almost boy scout, too good to be true, and he has an adoration for Derek. So resist to him will be show more impossible. The end of their very first day together will find them in bed. An the don't touch rule of Derek forgotten.

Far too short to have a real good impression of the characters, the plot is interesting and I will be glad to read more by Cassie Stevens in the future.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602729417/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less

Save Me From Myself is not a light novel as the setting could let you imagine. Even if Jackson Tate is a fashion designer and Reid Hansen a wealthy lawyer, their story is not made of satin and sequins, and the contrast makes the story both original than a little odd to understand.

Jackson Tate is a former marine (from Marine to fashion designer there is a long stretch…), but from what we can understand it was not a patriotic choice, but more a way to pay his student loans. When he was in show more the corps he befriended Stan, another young and not so reasoned marine; both Jackson and Stan were scared, but of them didn’t want to fight, and both of them were gay. There was nothing between them, Stan had a man at home, and sincerely he needed more a friend than a lover, but they were close. When Stan dies in action, Jackson is discharged for medical reason (he got injured in the same action) and apparenlty his life can start again. But Jackson’s insecurity and fear follow him at home, he seems always unbalance, always on the edge, always on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He starts to idolize Stan’s relationship with Reid, they had a budding D/s relationship, and Jackson identifies in Reid the only solution for his own trouble.

Problem is that Reid is unconsciously accusing Jackson of Stan’s death: why his lover is dead and another man is alive but not enjoying all he has achieved. Why Reid has to witness to Jackson’s weakness, when if Stan was still alive, he would have enjoyed his life at full? Of course Reid is irrational and as soon as he meets Jackson, on a social meeting, he realizes that the man has no fault, and that indead, he needs Reid in his life.

I think that both Jackson than Reid have some psychological problem that a doctor will probably pinpoint to some specific diagnosis: guilt, insecurity, low self-esteem, identification of your lost lover in the one more near to him… all of them are probably symptoms that a doctor will try to heal. Reid and Jackson instead decide to find a solution between them, entering in a relationship that will bound them with a double knot: it can be their salvation or their destruction, depending on how things will evolve, but for sure from this moment one they will not be able to continue with their previous life.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003WQAQTE/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less

Neil and Elliott were lovers when they are young and reckless. But Neil is the son of a wealthy man who wants to see his son to the White House and he manages to tear apart the lovers.

Twelve years later, Elliott is a lawyer who works for the Marine Corp and Neil is running for the Congress. But a picture taken twelve years before brings the lovers again together. But there is not angry between them, but only regrets for what it could be and hopes for what he can be.

Both Neil and Elliott show more are pretty strong characters. They are aware to have made a lot of errors in the past, but they are willing to do the right thing now. The only problem is to understand what the right thing is: thier happiness could be the fall of the people they love most. But live apart could be their definitve end.

The story is pretty short, less than 60 pages, and the matter pretty interesting: I think it would deserve a bit longer novel. It's also pretty erotic, with an heavy hand on the sex scenes, but not in a negative way; the sex scenes are not free, but maybe in a book this short, they are most of the book itself.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602729417/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less