A Russian Bear

Re-reading this, may change my rating. I remember all the giggling threw me off the first time. For some reason, I have problems equating giggling personalities with BDSM. Maybe from nerves, but to me while BDSM means play, all the intense scenes the two indulged in didn't fit with a chirpy personality. To me submitting to pain shows strength and Tom never seemed strong to me, so the balance between Dom/sub was off. I know Twink in Dr. Fell giggles and is flighty, but underneath there are pretty dark undercurrents. I never felt them here, I'll see if I change my mind on the re-read.
I ended up quitting the re-read at the half way mark. Apart from the tension of "can the sub cope with the pain" there is no real emotional interaction show more between Mischa and Tom except fawning dependency and complacent indulgence. No conflict until "the incident", but I bailed on the re-read before there, so I'm not changing my rating. show less

This is a 3.5*

The BDSM is very well written, mostly SSC (I didn't like the last few scenes which I consider to be nearly abuse regardless of how well-meant they were) and the D/s shown in a way so that even laypeople may understand about it.

The book lost 0.5* for the simple, lacklustre and much too needlessly vulgar prose which made some of it a boring read, and 1* for way way too much too repetitive sex, most of which was not exactly very erotic.

I would recommend this book to everyone who wants a good insight into leather D/s.

Misha does not do relationships. He uses a boy and moves on. He has all these great rules that he lives by. But an accidental meeting with Tom turns his rules and his world upside down. The story seems to be headed to easy HEA when the story takes a twist that leaves both me giving deep thought to what they want and how to go about getting it.

This is a D/s story that doesn’t take itself seriously. Mischa thinks to be a badass Dom, but he is more a big teddy bear waiting for his owner; 41 years old and independently wealthy, Mischa apparently doesn’t need anything and anyone, but he is alone. One boy, one scene, no names was always his rule until he doesn’t meet Tom.

Tom is a virgin 26 years old graduate student; gay but inexperienced, but he meets Mischa by accident, he takes the chance to experiment some of his wildest fantasies; after all Mischa, as I said, is not at all the dangerous man and Tom has the impression he will be safe with him, and so it’s.

Now when I said that this story doesn’t take itself seriously, I was not implying that the BDSM side of the show more story is light; on the contrary, that is probably what sometime put me off. I’m not really a huge fan of the lifestyle, and more or less, I can find it intruiguing if there are not much pain/pleasure games. In A Russian Bear the pain/pleasure games are what the story is all about: Mischa likes to inflict pain on his sub, through the physical pain of the sub he receive his pleasure. Even if it’s not the “usual” pain, whips, wax or similar, it’s maybe even more intense; no blood involved, but the type of pain that goes directly to nerve endings.

But if they can go in deep and itense during the scenes, they are mostly private show, to be performed inside the wall of their home, and once the scene ends, Tom and Mischa go back to be a balanced couple, where Mischa maybe is wealthier than Tom, but not for this reason he is the one in command. Tom is a perfect example of top from the bottom, he has Mischa wrapped around his little finger, and it’s even worse, since it was not even Tom’s intention, Mischa did everything by his own.

There is plenty the idea that BDSM is a way to release stress, Mischa has an important and stressful job, managing big sum of money for other people, and he needs something to relax; in his less payed, but nontheless important job, also Tom needs a way to release stress: while Mischa likes to be still in command, Tom instead wants to let it go and being taken care of. I think that, even if better payed, Mischa’s job is mostly a one man show, and Mischa resents the loneliness of it; when relaxing he also needs the human contact, and more time goes, more this contact has to be personal, and a “one night stand” sub no more fit the bill. On the other hand, Tom is a College TA, people depend on him, young students seek his lead and advice; when the weekend arrives, Tom wants to let it everything goes, and being again a carefree young man who only seeks pleasure.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ZK55WU/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less

I was totally engrossed with this book once I started reading. I enjoy reading BDSM stories, but I'm usually not into the pain aspect of it. But this was written so well, I enjoyed reading it all.

I would of given it 5 stars, but I felt the ending was a bit abrupt after everything. Highly recommended for fans of m/m romance and bdsm.

I love to read BDSM, mostly because I enjoy D/s and reading about people being pushed beyond their comfort zone. The psychology behind it fascinates me. What I realized with this book is that I'm not a fan of sadomasochism.

"Oh, sir, ahh, hurts! It hurts"
"I know it hurts. I want you to accept it. Lie back and let me hurt you."

Well, I guess I just don't get it! So, I'll say this one is just not for me and I didn't finish it.