Title: Blue Moon
Author: Rowena Sudbury
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy from publisher
Published: January 2012 by Dreamspinner Press
Daredevil wrestler Brad Fraser throws his body around the ring to the cheers of the crowd, but when the lights go dark, he throws it from bed to bed to alleviate the boredom of travel. It all comes crashing down one night at the hands of the resident bad guy, but Brad finds himself rescued by the cool, suave Scott O’Doul, and the two men make a pact based on the illusion of control.
Though their relationship begins as an arrangement of pleasure rather than commitment, over the course of a year on and off the road, Brad finds himself trusting Scott more and more. But Scott plays things close to the chest, and Brad isn't sure where he stands—until the night Scott nearly pushes him too far.
Reviewed By: J9
In a Nutshell: I liked this MM romance and though it’s not one I loved, I appreciated that this relationship is what both leads need.
The Set Up: Pro-wrestler Brad likes to live dangerously in the ring and out of it with drugs and meaningless sex. Fellow wrestler Scott offers to give Brad the danger he likes while keeping him safe from sexual bullies. Over the course of the next year, Brad and Scott’s relationship deepens until one night when Scott may push Brad too far.
Why I Read this Book: The cover and synopsis caught my eye.
What I Liked: I like that this short novella covers Brad and Scott’s relationship over a year’s time. Their relationship is very erotic and needed time to develop even the small amount of emotional intimacy that it did. I like that Scott and Brad communicate their desires, mostly sexual but some emotional, and both long for a connection to each other even without knowing how to achieve it.
I also like that Brad’s desire for drugs isn’t miraculously cured by his involvement with Scott. Too often in romance love “fixes” things like addiction and that irritates me. This novella doesn’t delve deeply into addiction but neither does it gloss over triggers, like boredom, that motivate users like Brad.
What I Didn’t Like: This is a dark romance. The men agree to an “illusion of control” which is code for some BDSM sexual activity. This isn’t my cuppa tea so I didn’t love this dark romance. BDSM fans may really enjoy this physically and emotionally intense relationship where both leads get exactly what they need from each other.
IMO: Quick read with a dark MM romance that while I could understand why the leads need this kind of romance, I didn’t love it.
J9’s Rating:
Nice review! This doesn't sound like something I would read, but it does sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, it was a different kind of romance for sure!
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