M. A. InnesRezensionen

This is Logan and Jay's story. I was really frustrated with Jay early on in the story. He's really young, not especially in years but in life experiences in general...already a junior or perhaps a senior in college. We did learn that he was in his early twenties. He has been so sheltered in his life that he has no idea how to react to most all events that occur in everyday life...so the lifestyle that he has investigated on the internet might as well be taking place on Mars as far as he's concerned. His roommate, Logan, who he feels "sinful" feelings for...might as well be from a dimension that Jay never knew actually existed...other than on "Mr. Google". In spite of his "ignorance" he can't stop seeing the elephant in the room..."THE BOX"...the one under Logan's bed. His curiosity wins the battle, and he has to look in "THE BOX"...and what he sees is "so pretty"! His roommate, Logan is a Dom, and he is interested in Jay...but knows the journey from curious to fully invested in the BDSM lifestyle is eons away from shy, sheltered Jay...but Logan is patient and feels that Jay is worth the wait. The best side character in the story is Logan's Grandmother. What a lady she was! I wish we had seen a bit more of her. The story is really a slow, slow burn. In spite of being frustrating, Jay is adorable while learning about the "real world"...especially the world he REALLY wants to know more about. Everything is "a first" for him and that is a turn-on for Logan who gets to re-experience it all himself.½

This is Finn and Beckett's story. The two have great chemistry and an instant connection right away. Finn is young but he wants to be the best Dom for his "boy". He's even taking lessons and talking to experienced Doms. He's willing to admit that he doesn't know everything, but Finn was determined to be the best...perfect for his sub. There were so many things in this relationship that Beckett could have run from. His being older than Finn and being a professor... but he doesn’t. He looks for the best things and knowns that they sometimes come in unconventional packages. Finn and Beckett are perfect for one another. Holden and Ryland from book #1, Unexpected, another "unconventional" type relationship make several appearances throughout the story, and we get to how their relationship has grown. Good story, wonderful characters.½

The trio continues growing in their relationship and we see how far they’ve come and where they're all heading. The conclusion to this story was sweet with plenty of fun and lots of heat. Again, Kenneth Obi was the perfect narrator. He brought into life each of the characters perfectly and vividly to the listener. He made this a really great listen.½

No one writes puppy play like M.A. Innes. Her wonderful characters come to life and in this second book, we get to see Sawyer putting more trust in letting his master see his puppy. To him that was such a big deal, but it was handled beautifully. The love and the trust were so apparent and made the story a joy to read. Cooper, Sawyer and Jackson really are fully well-developed characters, and the story is erotic, very loving, and so very well presented.½

A misplaced ad on Facebook for Puppy Training, made for a delightful story of a man who does not know that he is even looking for something but finding it anyway. The witty dialogue and the differences between Cooper and Sawyer’s personalities and how Jackson deals with each is absolutely priceless. I love how Kenneth Obi, the narrator, made the guys come to life.½

M.A. Innes (Shaw Montgomery) is one of my favorite authors, no matter which persona she's writing under. This book shows the lifestyle from the relationship and the perspective where both partners are switches. Readers of this author's work will remember meeting both Derek and Sean before in another series but might never have expected them to get together judging by their age difference. Derek is a 24-year-old business owner, very successful, incredibly confident in who he is and what he wants...and what he wants is an older man who is ready and willing to engage in a power exchange relationship. He finds this with Sean. Sean is his previous boss and the father of his best friend. Even though Sean has been out of the romance game and has never even dated a man before, Derek helps Sean to work up the courage to give them a try. What I liked most about the story...other than Derek and Sean...was that there wasn't any angst surrounding any of that. I really expected there to be a lot of "I can't, we shouldn't, what will we tell people"? The usual.... but surprise surprise...there wasn't. Just two sweet guys trying to fit feelings and family into a rather unusual situation that in spite the age difference and being best friends with the older man's son...simply worked. Sean is totally accepting of his feelings for Derek, and the focus of the story is solidly on their developing relationship, and how their kink will play a role. The chemistry between them is honestly really a lot of fun. They don't take the D/s aspect of their love life overly seriously and are happy to adapt to what works for them. There is no "cookie cutter" D/s type of relationship here. I was happy that they listened to their hearts and found their "happy ever after".½

Ryland, a 21-year-old man who while doing some grocery shopping with his best friend, when they realize that someone in the next aisle has overheard them talking. That someone is Holden, a college professor and Ryland’s neighbor who can’t believe it when he hears what Ryland, and his friend are talking about. He knows that Ryland is the "boy' he was hoeing for and couldn’t be more perfect for him. He confronts the boys and tells them there are websites for adults that provide "things" for adult kid play. Rylands fiend explains it to him, but Ryland doesn't quite know what to think about it all...except it appeals to him on some level. Ryland knows if he and Ryland are going to get to know one another more, he is going to have to try to get the "boy" out of his closeted comfort zone. Ryland is a sweet guy who just wanted but didn't know he wanted or needed, someone to take care of him. And Holden was glad to do that for him. I really liked these two characters and their dynamic, but I became a little bored about halfway through with the waiting for Ryland to get with the program. I know Holden didn't want to scare Reyland, but this guy is 22 years old and can't possibly be all that "innocent" with today's access to the internet and the interest he has had in the BDSM lifestyle. The writing is decent, and everything is explained in a way that’s engaging and keeps the reader and the story interesting. So 4 stars for a good story by a wonderfully talented author.

I know there are probably folks out there that are into Randall's kink, but I have to admit that its appeal goes completely over my head. Most people go out of their way to avoid humiliation...but evidently not Randall. He thrives on being watched and what would be considered by most as horrible "other things"... really turns him on. As you can imagine the "nice" guys always avoid him.... but he says he isn't looking for love. To look at him he appears to be "vanilla" but what he wants is so entirely... something else. Hudson is "eyes straight ahead on the road" focused on his family's business and keeping everything, including himself...under control. Oh my... then he meets that thing called "Fickle Fate" which has an entirely different plan for him, and he soon finds that he is an innocent submissive... and, an oh s-o-o-o naughty, little thing. Randall and Hudson are so far at opposite ends of the same coin that it's amazing that they somehow proved to be perfect for each other...now he just needs to convince Randall that what he wants isn't dirty or shameful. I wondered "how are you going to possibly do that? Good luck guy! You're going to need it" Should have known that I would be wrong. Turns out that these two, who were both strong in their own way, do actually figured a way to the make a strong...if still unusual, relationship... actually work.... very well. I think the thing that helped the most was that they always had clear communication and a total complete emphasis on absolute consent. It's an easy read but I still don't completely understand it.... but it was...interesting.

I'm not a big fan of humiliation play in a story, but to each his own and M.A. Innes is so good at making it not only interesting but keeping the reader reading on. Ethan and Christopher attend the same university and have one class together that Ethan doesn't always attend. For a class assignment about humiliation, Christopher writes a paper that the professor chooses to read aloud, and you can guess who was in class that day and who the paper is about...you got it...Ethan. Christopher has had a gigantic crush on Ethan for some time and he never thought that Ethan would be in class that day or that his paper would be the one that was chosen to be read. The story could have taken so many different roads that would have changed the characters and the dynamic of their relationship, but M.A. Innes chose to send it to the "fluffy" side rather than the "Master/Slave" side, and that was absolutely perfect. Ethan finally worked out that Christopher wasn’t just shy; he was a kinky little thing who thrived on humiliation of almost any type. Once the door was opened, these two didn’t look back. Be aware that there are a lot of kinky humiliation scenes between these covers...but the two guys are sincerely super sweet

This is really 3 full-length books set in 1 huge, over 700-page, binding written by another of my favorite authors. I own almost all her books. This volume was so very special. I loved meeting all 3 of these guys again and seeing how they found their individual happiness...as they should have...together. They truly "completed" one another and added something special that they didn't even know was missing in their individual and "couple" lives. We first met the main characters of Bishop, Cohen and Ian in the "Leashes and Lace" series...and this is their own "love story". The story of Cohen; the "Dom" and "Uncle"; Bishop; the "Daddy" and "Pup"; and Ian; the "Little" and "Sub". Ian's friends are some of the guys from the "Leashes and Lace" series that come for regular visits. I laughed and chuckled a lot, at the antics of these crazy side characters. In these 700+ pages we have D/s, relationships, age play, puppy, play, and contemporary, romance. It begins with Ian and Bishop finding their place not only together, but also with Cohen. You know from the start that these men just absolutely HAVE to become a trio. These combined books are soft and sweet, and totally hot. Now I have to search out Ian's friend, Emerson's story.

Cody has a boyfriend, and he has also has a "Daddy" that get along quiet beautifully together. They both love him to death, even if they haven't used the "L" word yet. All Cody wants is for them to love each other also. Jameson knows that loving Cody means he has to accept Ford in his life as well. He wouldn't want it any other way, but he wasn't expecting the fuzzy, tingly growing feelings that he realizes that he feels developing for Ford. This is certainly something new...isn't it? Where did they come from and just how long have, they been there? He questions if it's a good thing or a bad thing and what it will grow into. Ford never thought he would ever find someone to love and take care of, but now it seems that he not only has one man...he just might have two. What in the Hell is that all about??? He knows that both touch his heart, although in different ways. All he can imagine when looking at them both is that he is starting to picture the three of them as a family...the family that he has forever wanted and longed for. He knows that two men dating the same person is a "horse of a different color" and a whole lot different than THREE men falling in love with each other...can he handle that? Can Jameson and Cody handle that? Would they even want to?? I totally enjoyed finding out how these three guys worked out how to answer these questions and to be together...accept their differences...and most importantly, to love each other while accepting all the different things that made them individuals. Ford was a tower of strength for both of them. Everyone should have their very own Ford. Think I'll see if I can order one from Amazon:) The way he enabled Cody and Jameson to feel that they could have each other and that there was still always a place in their hearts and lives for him too, was priceless. The ending was so good, but it left questions hanging, so hopefully there is going to be more of these three men in future books in the series. I have to know what happens to all of them.

Skyler and Nash, opposites attract.

Nash is perfect in his researching and his coming to understand Skyler and his wants and needs.

This is a cute low angst Daddy Boy read, almost innocent with not a lot of kinky times.

Bit jumpy

I usually love MA Innes but this seemed a bit jumpy all over the place AND it def wasn't as hot and kinky as we'd expect. There wasn't a lot of kink or actual real s*x as it was worded in the book as I'd expect for a MMM with a Dom a pup and a sub!

I enjoyed this but didnt love it. Was just an ok daddy little read with interfering family and cameos from the authors other characters.

Short quick read for me was like novella length.

Part of a multi author series but def can be read as a stand alone

At the end of Silent Strength, book #1, Marcus and Eric had met and were beginning to build their Daddy/little relationship. Marcus with his calming and dominant personality had a profound impact on Eric, who found that he had never before been happier. The two begin to immerse themselves more and more into their roles, Marcus as the caring and nurturing "Daddy", and Eric as the "little" who thrives on his "Daddy’s" praise and attention, while sometimes, being a "little" brat. Eric’s earnestness is touching, making it so easy to love him. He wants to please his "Daddy" as well as make him proud. He is trying hard to overcome his biggest flaw, which is expressing his honest emotions and being willing to let down his barriers. We learned in book #1 that during his teen years he had a terrible, life altering experience in high school and his parents turned on him and sent him away to live with his Aunt Sylvia. Aunt Sylvia loved and cared for him, but the entire experience had scared him. He's now learning that his life is much easier when he places his trust in Marcus, who he knows would never hurt him, and to ask Marcus for advice on issues that trouble him...like his work, which stresses him out to no end. Eric finds he is the most content and the happiest when he drops into his “little” persona. Marcus is wanting to retire from the police force, but he doesn't want to retire from life. He wants to pursue something that Erik can quit his stress producing insurance job and the two of them can work at together. I actually saw the opportunity that was perfect before they started seriously looking at it. This book and the one before it Silent Strength intersects with M.A. Innes's "Bound and Controlled" series that she writes under the penname, Shaw Montgomery. I like revisiting characters that I have really liked from other books. A big "thank you" to this author for another book where guys like Erick and Marcus find their true, perfect partner...a partner that will love them forever.½

Silent Strength is more than a story about two guys and their kinks. That may be the main topics, but a greater subtopic would be that it's about accepting yourself for who you are and not letting anyone tell you or make you feel that it's wrong. I hate stories that the characters spent three-fourths of the book hating themselves or trying to decide if they want to take a chance with one another, causing both parties to spend most of the book being miserable. A.M. Innes doesn't do that to her characters. She just lets them be happy and discover themselves and allows the reader to share their happiness. As a result, the writing turns out to be subtle and totally lacking unnecessary drama or angst. Eric had a devasting experience in school that lead to him leaving town and living with his aunt...but Eric's happy, real story starts years later when a dominant best friend convinces him to look at kink dating sights. As a result, he fills out a form and agrees to meet a potential "daddy" at the local club. His choice ends up being more the local predator than a daddy protector, but he is comforted by Marcus a real Daddy Dom, at the club. With some helpful interference from friends, who just happen to also be the club owners, both Marcus and Eric get their shot at a "happy ever after". This is a slow, sweet book. Marcus is committed from the start and patiently helps Eric discover who he is and what he wants. It is an interesting look at a Daddy/ boy relationship without feeling that the author is trying to lecture or to convert you, or to shock you. The story continues in book 2 but this can be read as a standalone. Of course, I have book #2½

It's an incredibly sweet romance between two roommates and a story about finding out who you are and what you want and having the courage to explore it. Nathan is a forensic accountant who lives mostly in his own head. He has a mixed-up brain and no filter on what may come out of his mouth...but he is sweetness personified and really does need a keeper. He has one. His roommate Gabriel discreetly manages Nathan while quietly obsessing over how attractive he is and how much he wants him. Nathan is a virgin, not from any hard held beliefs, but only due to the fact that he has never gotten interested enough in anyone to go any further than casual dating. He is not sure if he is gay or straight or bi or something else, because nothing feels right. When he accidentally finds out that his roommate seems to be into BDSM and puppy play however, he is really intrigued. Nathan is a great character. Not only is he completely clueless, he is also curious and has no social inhibitions, so he googles and asks the questions about the lifestyle and the kink. This seems to be a common theme in M.A. Innes’ work. She always tries to educate the reader as to what the participants may get out of the specific kink.... since there is so many different types and something that isn't a course you can sign up for in school. She always manages to do it in a way that never makes it seem like it's info-dumping. This author also writes under the name Shaw Montgomery and those books carry out the same theme. This one is a lot more romance than it is erotica, despite the puppy play and the steamy scenes the main focus of the book is Nathan’s path to discovery of himself and his wants and needs.

When they first met, Maddox tried to show Bryan that he was interested in getting to know him as more than a friend, but since Bryan never seemed to even notice, Maddox assumed Bryan was straight. He found out later that wasn't the case, but he'd never seen him date or even act interested in things that most gay men would find attractive. Maddox knows there's something he's missing about Bryan, but he just can't figure out what it is. It's like there's a "missing piece" to the puzzle. He can't figure out why Bryan won't just tell him. Then he wonders if maybe Bryan doesn't trust him. Maddox doesn't know how to get it through to Bryan that he will accept him whatever he's into. Afterall everybody can't like the same things gay or straight. Maddox has given up dating other guys because he feels like he's cheating, even though he and Bryan reman are just friends and Maddox always wonders what it could be like if only they could become a real couple and be honest with each other. College vacation comes up and Maddox and Bryan head to Bryan's mom's house to spend the summer. I really liked Bryan's Mom. She's very supportive, sometimes a little too much so, especially since she evidently knows what Bryan's into and that he is actually in love with Maddox. She tries to encourage Bryan to be honest and Maddox overhears. He learns that Bryan cares for him too, but that his "secret" is makes him too afraid to say anything. Enough is enough and Madox spends most of the rest of the story working to get Bryan to understand that he loves him too and no matter what his likes are...it's okay. Maddox and Bryan are cute. Bryan is so shy and adorable. I hoped that Maddox would ask someone with some experience for help. He pretended to feel confidence that he didn't yet have enough experience to understand yet. It was, as always, adorable when folks finally find their "missing pieces" and fit everything together to become the people they really are and want to be. I've read several of this author's books about littles and their Daddies, but this series may become one of my favorites.

so sweet! lots of sex, but the beginning and ending spend time on other plot points. I just fell in love with this couple and wish we had more!

Maybe a follow up book set a few years down the road??? MA Innes is an auto buy for me and I just hope we get more from this series!

this series so sweet and so filthy. just dirty fluff and i love it! and if the 3rd book is going where I think it's going...oh boy, I cannot wait!

I’ve been having some trouble getting into a book so I wanted something quick that I could read in one sitting and this wasn’t like anything I’d read before. Unfortunately this was just a little too much for. The writing also wasn’t that great in my opinion and I was bored enough at parts that I did some skimming.

Sometimes one should just keep fantasies as fantasies. Cody has lusted after one of his professors for years, and he thinks he finally has a plan to see if he can make something happen between them. So he delves into a world that is far beyond his element, getting mixed up in awkward situations and unfortunately contrived interactions. I personally was not a fan of this book at all, and I found the characters flat and contradictory. Just wasn't for me.

Gateway book for age play

I totally didn’t understand the appeal of age play before I read this book. The purpose, the benefits, the logistics... Other books I’ve read, touched on the subject. In particular Maddox and Bryan from M.A. Innes ‘Loving’ series. That series gave me the push to read this book. Miles is the psychologist of Jeremy and Kevin. ‘Rethinking Fate’ is the story of Miles and his partner Sean. I view it as a spinoff prequel to the ‘Loving’ series.

I loved how the story addressed multiple aspects of the age play kink. I feel like I finally understand it enough to seek out more romances that incorporate it. In Rethinking Fate, age play was shown as part of the BDSM lifestyle. Whips and chains always seem too dark for my reading preferences. Age play trades darkness for light while keeping the domination and submission aspects. Think leather teddy bears, soft cotton, and an oral fixation. The joy of nurturing and being nurtured. Diapers not required.

The only negative is that I now want an adult sized rocking horse. Maybe the author could have included a supplier directory as an appendix?

Teasingly hot!

Not a slow burner per se but the wait from first kiss to sex was excruciatingly long. The wait itself was hot enough to melt the most frigid of souls. Think: tender edging.

This book made me fall further in love with M.A. Innes kinky universe. A must read for anyone curious about kink.

No filter

Another beautiful kinky love story by M.A. Innes. Moderately steamy. Highly humorous. Nate’s lack of a filter coupled with his tendency to inadvertently voice his internal dialogue, had me laughing out loud throughout this story.