REVIEW and LIMITED GIVEAWAY: 'Matchstick Men' by Adira August
Title: Matchstick Men
Author: Adira August
Published: June 22, 2017
Publisher: Self-Published/RedDeer
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance
Length: 272 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Bisexual; D/s; BDSM; May/December; Tattoos/Piercings; Law Enforcement; Mystery; Thriller; Suspense; Standalone; Cliffhanger; Kink: Orgasm Denial, CW: Murder
About Matchstick Men
SEX, GAMES & MURDER ~ Want to play?
It was munch night at the most elite underground BDSM club in the Rockies. Relaxed and informal, highlighted by the weekly Matchstick Challenge game.
Detective Sergeant Hunter Dane, reigning champion, looked forward to a relaxing evening to start his 3 days off. A few beers on the deck. An interlude with a sweet sub. Stumping a challenger with a new puzzle. Home early for a decent night's sleep.
Some people are SO deadly serious about their games.
Now Hunt has a fresh body and a new puzzle to solve in twenty-four hours if he wants to find a killer.
5 HEART READ
REVIEW: I don’t even know where to start with Adira August’s Matchstick Men. Cam and Hunter’s introduction in On His Knees was an unexpected fantastic treasure to stumble upon and I could only hope there would be a follow-up to their powerful coupling.
Matchstick Men exceeds all my expectations!
You don’t have to read On His Knees to continue with Matchstick Men but in all honesty if you do not you are doing yourself a disservice to truly appreciate the vivacious dynamic of these two compelling men!
Let me say right up front that if you have an aversion to “girly bits”, and pass this book up because of it, you are going to miss out on one hell of a read, especially if you truly enjoy BDSM D/s portrayals. After all, Hunter is a bisexual switch who is indirectly discovering his perfect match. Any non-male moments in question will fade from your memory as fast as they were put there.
Right from the beginning the set-up for this thriller is great and the mystery unfolds intricately yet quickly.
Plus, as any good suspense should, Adira gives you all sorts of suspects to ponder making you think you know who the killer is and suddenly changing course in the next thought.
But all of the suspense is designed to be an engaging backdrop to the real story, which is giving the reader the opportunity to see Cam and Hunt truly to get to know each other and develop their D/s dynamic. Which is what really makes this book soar beyond so many!
A 12 year age difference separates Cam and Hunt, as August relays, “A decade younger and a couple inches shorter…Cam still radiated an aura of power that made Hunt feel slight and hollow and needful.” The two men couldn’t be more different and yet they are perfect for one another.
Cam is an all-encompassing figure and yet at the same time vulnerable which is what endears you to him. I enjoy seeing Cam’s dominance while being shown his internal thoughts of pleasing Hunt, and at the same time being made to understand how he derives his own pleasure.
It’s such a stunning portrayal of satisfaction.
And the way Cam fuels Hunts desire and need for him is so profound. As Adira narrates, “The raw need in Cam’s voice made a savage joy bloom in Hunter’s chest. His body relaxed in full submission.”
I appreciate how the author develops the Dom, it’s in his very nature (down to his posture), and yet she does not shy away from letting the vulnerable 23 year old young man shine through at times while showcasing the immense respect his sub still carries for him in those moments.
There’s this strong maturity for his age and a dominance that entices Hunter to surrender that is just beautiful to see play out.
Hunt thinks he doesn’t develop emotional attachments and yet Cam knows better and that is part of the appeal to their relationship. Cam knows Hunt very well, “’You knelt for me last Friday because of what you feel. You needed those demons exorcised before they eat you alive. You are possessed by feelings, Hunter.’”
And this really is the power of their connection. They know how to play each other, just what to say and do, at just the right time - in, and out, of bed…or a car…or…. Cam brings it out of Hunt in the most exquisitely delicious ways leaving Hunt to ponder how he does it, how he knows!
“How do you always do that?” I asked.
“You mean force you to take what you need?” He pushed damp hair off my forehead.
“Know what I need.”
And when Hunt goes to his knees for Cam you can feel it. Actually feel his need, his desire to give to Cam. Not only for Cam, but truly for himself!
Does the author not say it all here, “That Cam was able to create this in Hunter, this agony of desire and doubt, wanting to please, desperate to escape, drove Cam to a savage need to be inside that molten body feeling the tight quivering of humiliation and hunger and surrender.” Cam makes Hunt feel in all aspects of his life and isn’t that what we all desire? To find that person who can fulfill us completely, even when we’re warring with ourselves?
Don’t get me wrong the murder plot in this book is fantastic and will keep you engaged and intrigued all along, but this truly is a depiction of a beautiful D/s coupling in the making and it deserves to be recognized as such.
Not since the likes of Joseph Lance Tonlet and Jack L. Pyke have I read an author who took me into the headspace of both the Dom and sub in such intimate ways.
Adira August and her boys are definitely tops for me! I’m gonna go out on a limb and say I think Cam is my favorite sadist and Hunt one damn fantastic pushy sub. And with so much sass and vigor between them both you just can’t go wrong!
I’m not usually one for cliffhangers in my reads and both On His Knees and Matchstick Men have them, to a sort. But not in the way you may think… they’re more of a promise. A promise I can’t wait to see play out! With a power dynamic like this, and a backdrop of mystery and intrigue, there is just so much to look forward to.
A copy of Matchstick Men was provided to Kimmers Erotic Book Banter, by Adira August, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Amazon/KU
Meet the Author
Addi has chased down bad guys, climbed mountains, searched for dinosaurs and had rather a large number of lovers, though she isn't giving a specific number.
For more from Addi be sure and visit her website.
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