Book Reviews

Book Blurb

In an alternate universe, where gender is less important than how dominant a person is, Jake Alric is the odd man out. While other subs spend their days trying to find their one true mate, Jake goes out of his way to avoid dominants. He's seen the dark side of soul bonds, and all he wants is to be left alone to tend his small Montana cattle ranch in peace.

When an oil company starts buying up land all around town, Jake comes under increasing pressure to sell. A chance encounter brings him into contact with one of his potential mates, Henry Waterstone, son of the man trying to buy Jake’s ranch and a handsome dominant who pushes buttons Jake didn't know he had. For the first time Jake is tempted by the true pleasure of being a submissive. But as Jake and Henry grow closer, a new player in the oil company rises up and threatens to sever their fragile connection. Suddenly the person Jake was most afraid to find becomes the one he’s most terrified to lose.

 

Book Review

What a completely intriguing and fascinating world Genna Donaghy has created in her debut novel. A world where people are separated into Dominants and submissives. Gender makes no difference, only power is important here, leaving the subs with no authority of any kind and little, to no, protection under the law. This makes it twice as hard for a sub to make a living without having a Dom-mate. Once a Dom and sub find each other and mate, each of them strengthens the other's inherent power, and a sub keeps a bonded Dom healthy and sane. I found this whole idea to be extraordinarily interesting as I've not seen another author create a world such as this.

Jake is a submissive, but he'll be darned if he advertises the fact. Being a loner and using aggressive type body language, Jake can fool most people, and that's all he cares about. He has no interest in finding his mate, which in this world is discovered through touch on skin of a Dom to a sub, somewhat like shifter stories. Going into town for a drink after Dom's from the Waterstone corporation were sent out to try to convince Jake to sell his land, again, he ends up taking pity on a Dom who has passed out on the street corner. Getting him settled in the motel across the street is one thing, having him reach out and place his hand on Jake's neck, triggering the possibility of them being mates, is a whole other thing. Until the binding ceremony is done, through sex, Jake can still run away. Once the binding is done, he is physically incapable of refusing an order from his Dom-mate. See what I meant about interesting?

Henry Waterstone wakes up in a dingy motel room, with a hangover from hell, blurrily aware that someone important is slipping out the door. When he finally figures it out and runs outside, his potential mate is gone. Tracking Jake down doesn't take too long, but when Henry is faced with Jake pointing a rifle at him, he is somewhat taken aback. Luckily for Jake, Henry seems to recognize that ordering Jake to put it down won't start their relationship off on a good foot. Unfortunately for Henry, Jake makes it very plain he doesn't want a mate, and Henry can see how terrified Jake is around a Dom. So, Henry makes the difficult decision to leave, making sure Jake has a way to contact him, but not pressuring him.

Now the story took an interesting turn. I had assumed (bad of me, I know) that as this was the author's debut novel, the rest of the tale would be about Henry trying to win Jake, Jake resisting, etc. until the happy ever after. Well, there certainly was some of that, but there was more going on in this rural area, driven by the acquisitions manager for Waterstone, someone who did not report to Henry. There was betrayal, murder, and some pretty intense Dom to Dom aggression.

I really enjoyed this story. The world building was creative and unique. If you're thinking that this is going to be a BDSM book, then you might want to look elsewhere for something to read. This world is inhabited by Doms and subs, but it's all about a power structure, with each individual having their own amount and type of power which gives them their designation in the order of things. Jake and Henry were each, individually, extremely strong in their own ways, but together, they were almost invincible. Their love story was good, but not the entire focus of the book. I thought the writing was very good and I would love to see more of this world from Genna Donaghy.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Loose Id for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 47450 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	17-September-2013
Price	$5.99 ebook
Buy Link	http://www.loose-id.com/touch-me-not.html