Title: So Much More Than Naked: 1
Author: D.J. Manly
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Pages: 160
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: D/s Romance
Kisses: 4
Blurb:
Darcy has always been in control. He had to be. He had assumed responsibility for his younger brother Martin when their parents died. Now Martin was getting married and he insisted that Darcy have a date for his wedding.
Without Darcy’s knowledge Martin goes looking for a date for his big brother in the personals. But he slips up and punches in the wrong number.
Darcy reluctantly agrees to meet with the person who answers his brother’s ad, figuring he’ll ask the girl to the wedding and that will be it. However, it’s Ryan he ends up meeting, and he’s NO GIRL. In fact he’s a Dom looking for a submissive, and Darcy seems to be right up his alley.
Review:
What an interesting story and a look into BDSM by the talented D.J. Manly. This story is about a man, Darcy who is a teacher and his thirst for something he didn’t know he wanted or needed. He is somewhat distant, he’s gay, he’s responsible and always has been. He had to raise his little brother Martin after their mother over dosed, so he was left with little choice.
Martin, who is getting married insists that his older stuffy brother bring a date to his wedding, and therein lies the problem and the plot element of the story. Martin, behind his brothers back, goes to Craigslist and locates a “possible” date for his brother and sets up a meeting, one that he forces his older brother to go to. Out of duty, out of brotherly love, Darcy, who generally is in control due to his past and his job, does as his brother wants, even dresses differently to impress the woman his brother set him up with.
However, when Darcy shows up at her house, he finds a very attractive man, Ryan at the door and no woman to be seen, anywhere. Now, Ryan in my eyes is a hoot. I really adore him, he’s outstanding and compassionate and knows immediately what a shocked Darcy needs and what he’s about.
After an awkward chat, followed by a drink in Ryan’s apartment, Darcy realizes that Ryan is also gay, he’s very good looking and he’s what Darcy desires, even if the man won’t admit it. The funny thing here is that Martin had no idea he’d set his brother up with Ryan and not a woman, and Darcy didn’t say anything at first about it, other than yes, he had a date for the wedding. This is only because Ryan had a friend who agreed to go with Darcy.
Now, here’s the fun part. Ryan was told by his therapist that he needed to take control, be the Dom in a relationship, so he takes it to heart and goes all out. He has a playroom and invites Darcy to see it, talk about running like a scared rabbit. It takes several meetings and talks to calm Darcy down enough to accept who and what he truly is outside of his job and everyday life.
I liked the story, I really enjoyed all of the characters and the situations the author put them in. What I wanted to do though at times was slap Darcy to make him stop running away like a scared person and tell him to open his eyes and jump. Overall, it’s a recommended read.
Reviewed By: Michele
