Friday, March 11, 2011

Review: Safeword Rainbow by Candace Blevins



Safeword: Rainbow
~Candace Blevins


Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 238 KB
Publisher: Excessica Publishing
Release Date: December 16, 2010
ASIN: B004GKMK26

From the author's website:
Tyler and Vivian have found each other again after a three day fling three years ago. They think they are ideally suited for each other and go forward to try to make a relationship work. And then they realize that Tyler was expecting a 24/7 total power exchange relationship and Vivian will never be a 24/7 submissive. They want to make a relationship work, but how can they get past this? As they try to find a compromise Vivian must deal with what a Total Power Exchange means, even if it is only a part time power exchange. And Tyler must decide if he can be okay with a sometimes Master and sometimes boyfriend relationship. Will they find their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?
Vivian MacNeill is a professor working on her PhD. Her students would never guess that at night she's a regular at the local BDSM club. She's a sub, and she's just found the perfect Dom. Too bad he's gone after three days.

Tyler Hastings is in town for three days, and he found the sub of his dreams. They were fabulous together, but he was only in town for those days and then gone with his job. He's never forgotten her...

Three years later, Tyler is out of the CIA and headed home with his best friend, Mac. Mac's sister Vivian is home, helping care for their sick father. Once Tyler and Vivian realize who they are, they want to try being together. Tyler wants the Dom/sub relationship 24/7, but Vivian only wants it part-time, with "scenes" that have a definite beginning and end. Between trying to navigate a new relationship, working through their Dom/sub issues, and both of them starting new jobs in a new town, they have a lot to work through to try and find their HEA.

My thoughts: Wow. When the author mentioned this book was a fairly intense BDSM, I thought to myself "bring it on". She did. And it was definitely out of my comfort zone. The story was interesting, and I really enjoyed the scenes where they were working out how to balance his desire for 24/7 vs. her desire for part-time Dom/sub. I liked that they both found unexpected pleasure in the compromise.

What didn't work for me were the sex scenes. While I do enjoy light BDSM reads, the sex scenes in Safeword: Rainbow were pretty brutal. At several spots I was actually wincing while I read. I don't know if I can really call them sex scenes, as the sex was secondary to the pain. I also had difficulty with the the fact that he controlled her bathroom habits.

If you enjoy hard-core BDSM reads, I would recommend Safeword: Rainbow. I enjoyed the storyline (minus the intense scenes) enough that I'm currently reading her next book, Safeword: Stormclouds (<--it's got vampires!). I'd also be interested in reading a story about Vivian's brother, Mac, who is into menage, if Ms. Blevins decided to write one (hint, hint)!
My Rating:

This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

6 comments:

  1. Hmm. No, not my thing. I especially have an issue with m/f BDSM, I like mine "light".

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  2. Everything other than light bdsm is out of my comfort zone too, although some authors manage to make the power exchange thing work for me. But like Tam I prefer this subgenre specifically to be m/m. Nice review!

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  3. This was an intense book! I thought the scenes were pretty hot, but I like more hardcore BDSM erotica from time to time. Though, even for me, there were a few cringe-worthy moments!!

    I'm curious as to why so many female readers only like m/m BDSM erotica. I see that comment a lot. I've only read m/f.

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  4. oooooh interesting! I might check this out hehe =D

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  5. Tam: Yes, I like mine "light" too :)

    Janna: I wasn't expecting it to be so painful O.O

    Diana: Yes, it was intense. When it wasn't the BDSM I enjoyed it more. I like both M/M and M/F.

    Larissa: It was intense, but good.

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  6. I am one passionate lover of the BDSM sub genre (f/m - m/f/m and m/m) I pretty much take it any way I can have it in terms of gender combinations LOL

    *eek* is my first reaction after reading your review though. The author needs to take me completely in to the mindset of the characters for me to understand the reasons for the pain over pleasure moments. other then that, the conflict and intensity of the story sound great ;)

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