Good Boy

I don't know why I'm surprised, but what a read this turned out to be! I was a bit apprehensive because of the "puppy play" warning, as that is one kind of kink I'm not really into. I'm not into humiliation and to me it pushes (or crosses) the boundary into that territory. But...in this case it didn't feel humiliating or demeaning. It wasn't glossed over, but it also was never made the main focus of the story at any time either. So it all worked for me lol.

Lane is a beautiful, shy creature. A boy nearly broken by his parent's betrayal and abandonment and the harassment of the police and media.

Derek is a man who has been looking for that special something (or someone) in his life. He's a Dom looking for a sub, who will fit "just right". show more He hasn't had much success up to now. And because of the money issue, the instant attraction he feels towards Lane is more than unwelcome. But when circumstances occur that bring them together, they find their way through the maze of problems that's laid out for them.

The slow build of the relationship, no glossing over issues and working together, is all beautifully described and laid out in this story. I hope these authors come together more often if this is what they create! show less

Contemporary BDSM-themed m/m romance following twenty-year-old Lane Moredock, who is under the suspicion of the FBI for involvement in an investment fraud scheme his parents pulled off, and Derek Fields, a photographer in his mid-thirties who lost a small nest-egg in that fraud. The strength of this story is absolutely the character development. Lane and Derek (and the secondary characters) feel perfectly real within a few lines and just continue to grow and reveal themselves more fully as the story goes on. While we do get both Lane's and Derek's points of view, most of the romance beats are Lane's (and it works, somehow). Big old trigger warning for sexual and psychological abuse, which Lane spends most of the book learning how to show more stop reliving and move on from. It's handled pretty well (though some time with a kink-aware therapist probably wouldn't go amiss, and that never happens), but it is pervasive throughout the story, so if that is a nope for you, steer clear of this one. show less

This is quite a remarkable story about a young man who is completely lost when his fraudulent, thieving parents abandon him to his fate. Both are rich, having made their millions "investing" for others, so Lane isn’t used to taking care of himself. But when his world comes crashing down, he is totally unprepared. The book tells the story of how he finds help, or rather, how help finds him since he isn't actively looking. And in the process, he grows up enough to know his own mind.

For a long time into the book, Lane only wants to be the good boy. But he is actually a totally lost boy. Misunderstood by most, including his parents, taken advantage of and severely abused by someone he thought a friend, and left for the vultures when his show more father absconds with the money and his mother gets sent to prison. Lane's self-confidence is nonexistent, and yet he struggles on. His strength is there, but he doesn’t recognize it as such, because the image of what strength looks like that he's been taught is so different from his reality. The process of him daring to voice his needs again, without fear of repercussions and abuse, the steps he takes to work through the feelings of guilt, are slow, but he stubbornly persists.

Derek is a photographer who has only recently started his own studio. He's one of the people defrauded by Lane's parents, and starts out really hating Lane. It is unfounded hate, and he quickly recognizes the error of his ways once he improbably finds and befriends Lane. Now, Derek is a Dom, and he is very good at figuring out what a sub needs. It takes all his skill with Lane, because the younger man is not only too afraid to speak up, but also naturally shy to the point where he often can’t voice his thoughts. The method Derek uses to initiate the healing process and improve communication between them may be slightly unconventional, but it works for the two of them. Falling in love surprises him, but he is not one to shirk his feelings.

If you like reading about troubled men an enjoy the psychology behind their developing relationship as much as the physical side of it, if you're looking for a hot read with a substantial interpersonal part, and if you enjoy BDSM where both parties experiment a little until they get it right, then you will probably like this book as much as I did. show less

I loved this book. In the squirrel cage of crazy that was Lane's life, I'm amazed that he is healing and trusting. This story is filled with good characters but it is totally emotionally driven. Right when I thought that Lane was going to move forward the spectre of Acton knocks him down. I enjoyed the slow burn romance in the story. It took Dereck a long time to even get past the Moredock name as he had lost money in the ponzi scheme even though Lane had nothing to do with it. Keep in mind as a reader that this story is BDSM lite at best and the puppy play was not used to humiliate as it normally is but to build trust. I was touched at the way that Lane was able to handle the animals when he had so few people skills. The ending was show more beautifully written and I can't wait to get into book two. A highly recommended emotional story. show less

I have read several J.A. Rock's books and they have some serious BDSM scenes. This book is no exception.

The first half of the book was intense and dark. I felt so badly for Lane. He was put in such a bad situation with no family and no friends. Derek enters his life early on and we think he would rescue him. And yet he doesn't.

Lane begins to help himself and we fall in love with his courage. We understand his emotional/antisocial issues and can sometimes relate.

The secondary characters are fantastic, I would love to have seen Brin and Ferg's story. Derek eventually warms up for me and I loved him by the end.

The BDSM was more psychological discipline and less play focused. I did like the puppy play and I loved the psychology of it. show more Makes me want to try it actually. ;)


A really good book. I would completely recommend this book. show less

I had lots of thoughts about this story. but I got busy and forgot the write them down. I'm not one of those people who can think about a story and then write a brilliant review.

also ... I don't really like bdsm books. not that I don't like bdsm but more the way how things are portrayed. and this story reinforced those feelings.

normally I would stop reading... but I liked the characters (except for Brin)! and I do remember thinking that I liked the story well enough but wouldn't rate it very high. but then I thought if a story is capable the make me keep reading even though my hangups say don't. .. well that says something.

A really great book! The characters are wonderful, the story is great, there's a lot of great humor, and I just love all of it.