Comments on: REVIEW: Bound and Determined by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow

By: REVIEW: Accidentally in Love by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow | Dear Author

REVIEW: Accidentally in Love by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow | Dear Author — Tue, 31 May 2011 19:23:22 +0000

[...] has favorably reviewed some of your previous books here at DA, but I had somehow overlooked them. When I came across the [...]

By: REVIEW: Truthful Change by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow | Dear Author

REVIEW: Truthful Change by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow | Dear Author — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:02:29 +0000

[...] have previously enjoyed your novels, both those I’ve reviewed and those I haven’t. And I had this book in my review pile for a while. But…someone [...]

By: Sarah Frantz

Sarah Frantz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:44:59 +0000

@SonomaLass: It's there. It's not strong, it could be better, but their connection outside the scene is there. And I think I said it best in that you completely believe by the end of the book that both of them are too damn stubborn not to make it work. :)

By: Sarah Frantz

Sarah Frantz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:43:31 +0000

@Sweet: I really don’t know if I agree with that. Sadism and masochism are not about control and surrender, IMO. Or not solely about it. I’m hard put to think about BDSM as not about sex in some fundamental way. Maybe we can agree that they’re about both? Sex AND control/surrender?

And yes, compared to some other books that are supposedly hardcore BDSM, like Joey Hill, which, when read closely, are not about sadomasochism at ALL, yes, the SM in this book is strong. It’s not visceral like UNEVEN, but it’s there. The foundation of their relationship is the D/s, but the SM is a vital part to it. The quotes I give above would squick a LOT of people who are comfortable with some pretty intense D/s scenes. IMO.

But, as always, YMMV. Thanks for your input.

By: Sweet

Sweet — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:00:25 +0000

because fundamentally, BDSM *is* aobut sex,

Unture, BDSM is about control and surrender, its not always sexual in nature.

the sadomasochism in this book is strong

Really? I didn’t feel that way about the S/M content in this story at all. Its a very well written book about BDSM and I agree with most of your review and even the overall grade but, to me its pretty lightweight. Owen is no true Sadist and Sterling is far from a true masochist. Your example of Uneven by Anah Crow fits that label so much better. This is a story more about Dominance and Submission.

By: SonomaLass

SonomaLass — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:56:32 +0000

I think that the issue of what a couple shares, outside of great sex, is always important in romance. When there’s a large age gap, that becomes an even bigger question. For me to believe in a couple’s commitment, I need to see something — if not shared interests, then at least scenes where they are enjoying each other’s company without engaging in sex just at the moment. I’m a cynic, and I need to see a romance working to believe that it will continue to work.

I’m glad to know that this book gets so much right, though.

By: cs

cs — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:16:17 +0000

Thanks for the review, I was looking at this and I really like their writing style. I read their ‘Laying a Ghost’ trilogy available at Loose Id, and I really enjoyed that, plus I like Alexa Snow as a single author herself.

I wanted to ask, is it their age difference that renders them unable to have anything in common outside sex? Or is it just they’re two very different people in general?

Which makes it awkward every now and then when they're not in dom/sub roles and find they have very little in common.

Could you clarify what you mean with this? Apologies, I know you said it was awkward to read them fighting because they had nothing in common, but weren’t they fighting about sex? Which they do have in common?

I also wondered do you read any M/M books outside the BDSM-centric genre? I’m looking for some good M/M contemporary stories and I keep coming up with duds.

By: S. W. Vaughn

S. W. Vaughn — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:14:32 +0000

Oh, I’m all over this one. :-)