From the first page to the last readers will find this an intense story of two struggling souls finding love and acceptance in each other's arms in this dark read that weaves an epic web of empowerment. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Bad Dogs by Riley Nash, along with my impressions of it, then add this first installment in the Dirty Strays series to your bookshelf too!
I see you, Roman. You want to fight me, and then you want to be so good for me.
Kink is a rich man’s game—high-end clubs, dungeons full of toys. I’m a dirt-poor trailer park boy who makes all his own gear. But I have a plan. If I can film viral BDSM videos, I can rake in enough cash to get my friends and I out of here before we become another gang violence statistic.First, I need a sub, someone beautiful and obedient. Anyone but the new boy that just moved into town.
He’s huge and feral and angry, he never speaks, and he’s living in the same house as a cop. He couldn’t be a worse choice. But when I look into his eyes, the flash of submission I see there has me obsessed.
I want him. And I, Scout Moreno, always get what I want.
A gritty, emotional story featuring BDSM, a smaller dom/bigger sub, praise kink, a secret relationship, and found family.
BUY here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Wow! I'm left emotionally drained after reading this unforgettable story, left feeling bruised but hopeful by the connection formed between Roman and Scout. It's a dark read, an unvarnished look at harsh truths between two people who've experienced the worst that life has to offer, and managed to emerge from the wreckage to find their HEA.
Roman's a larger than life character from the moment he comes on the scene, but he's also a broken man beaten down by his police officer brother in scenes that repeatedly broke my heart. Adding to Roman's struggles is the fact that he's mute, a condition made worse in stressful situations or around certain people...which his brother also uses to his advantage. Whereas Roman used to have his grandparents for support, and as a safe haven, their deaths have left him emotionally adrift and he now harms himself when his anger gets to be too much. His grandparents raised him and their loss is vividly depicted, leaving a profound impact on him that brought tears to my eyes. Throughout this epic tale I was drawn to Roman, wanting to hug the (truly) gentle giant's pain away, while desperately wanting SOMEONE (anyone) to just LISTEN to him. Roman's mutism was a compelling foundation between him and Scout as their togetherness became a new safe haven for him, a place for acceptance as Scout (and his friends Becks and Dallas) learned sign language in order to communicate easier with him. This new-found family put a smile on my face, showing that even in darkness there are moments of brightness courtesy of Scout and his friends.
Scout too got put through the wringer, coming from a childhood of poverty and surrounded by drug addicts, getting left on his own at a young age. He didn't give up without a fight though, determined to make a better life for himself and those he calls family. He's a protector at his core, determined to do whatever necessary to give comfort, and he becomes laser-focused on Roman the moment he sets eyes on him. Theirs was a relationship that was truly touching, one nicely balanced between sweet words/deeds along with the eroticism of a beginning dom/sub connection. Scout gave Roman the chance to just BE, gave him an outlet to ease his mind and body, and it was from there that they moved into their more erotic connection. Their encounters for the internet luckily weren't the focus which allowed lots of encounters to be depicted that were full of heart and soul, moments that warmed my heart and were like a warm blanket giving comfort to them both.
From the first page to the last, with each turn of the page, this became an epic and unforgettable read. It was a tale that takes you from the lowest of lows to rewarding highs, bringing together two broken and bruised men in a healing balm of love and acceptance. Scout and Roman are beautifully brought to the pages, a perfectly imperfect pairing that just feels right, and I hope to see more of them in future installments. Those installments I hope will bring readers greater insight into Becks and Dallas as the end of this book sets things up very temptingly for these sweet and supportive secondary characters...along with giving me a new author for my auto-buy list!
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Riley Nash, based in the rainy PNW, writes M/M romances about boys who fall hard, face the darkness, and never give up on each other.
Fueled by cute dogs, those weird Coke with Coffee drinks, and projecting my personal issues onto handsome men and making them fall in love.
