What do you think?
Rate this book
Pack Discipline #1
The Mark of an Alpha
Book one in the Pack Discipline Series
Dominance and submission mean different things to werewolves than to humans. Once Marsdon and Bennett try things the human way � nothing can ever be the same for them again.
Werewolf tradition is very clear. The alpha pair is the corner stone of the pack. Equality between the alphas is everything. Alphas mate with alphas.
Human leather clubs work to different rules. Dominants mate with submissives. Power is exchanged freely and for the ultimate pleasure of all. Sometimes the most alpha men in the club find happiness with the most omega men. And sometimes the omegas are more than they first appear to be.
A wolf might be able to hide his identity and play anonymously in those clubs for a little while, but he can't ignore reality forever. Marsdon and Bennett have lives to get back to, they have packs to return to...they have wolfen traditions to follow.
They have just one more night together before they have to lose each other forever. All they can do now, is make the most of it.
Dominance and submission mean different things to werewolves than to humans. Once Marsdon and Bennett try things the human way � nothing can ever be the same for them again.
Werewolf tradition is very clear. The alpha pair is the corner stone of the pack. Equality between the alphas is everything. Alphas mate with alphas.
Human leather clubs work to different rules. Dominants mate with submissives. Power is exchanged freely and for the ultimate pleasure of all. Sometimes the most alpha men in the club find happiness with the most omega men. And sometimes the omegas are more than they first appear to be.
A wolf might be able to hide his identity and play anonymously in those clubs for a little while, but he can't ignore reality forever. Marsdon and Bennett have lives to get back to, they have packs to return to...they have wolfen traditions to follow.
They have just one more night together before they have to lose each other forever. All they can do now, is make the most of it.
103 pages, ebook
First published January 4, 2010
39 people are currently reading
1708 people want to read
About the author
Kim Dare
158Ìýbooks1,507ÌýfollowersKim is a thirty-three year old bisexual submissive from Wales (UK). First published in 2008, she has since released almost 100 BDSM erotic romance titles ranging from short stories to full length novels. Having worked with a host of fantastic e-publishers, she has just moved into self publishing.
While she has occasionally ventured towards other pairings, Kim's first love is still, and probably always will be, Male/Male stories. But, no matter what the pairing, from paranormal to contemporary, and from the sweet to the intense, everything she writes will always feature three things - Kink, Love and a Happy Ending.
While she has occasionally ventured towards other pairings, Kim's first love is still, and probably always will be, Male/Male stories. But, no matter what the pairing, from paranormal to contemporary, and from the sweet to the intense, everything she writes will always feature three things - Kink, Love and a Happy Ending.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
October 23, 2015
Re-read August 31st 2015
Still as good the second time. This book is not fluffy in any way, but it's so good.
-------------------------------
Kim Dare sure know how to write gorgeous, meaningful BDSM scenes.
This book starts out with such a beautiful scene, I was really moved.
Bennet and Marsdon (LOVE the names!) are both wolf shifters.
This book starts with a scene where Bennet is submissive to the dominant Marsdon. Bennet wears a leather hood, so neither of them know the identity of the other wolf. The both know this is their last scene together, because they are both expected to mate. Little did they know they are soon to be mated to.. each other.
These men are both alpha’s. In the pack this means they are at the top of the hierarchy, as equals. And being submissive to another wolf is not what a leader does.
Marsdon is thrilled to find out he is mating the love of his life, his beautiful submissive. But Bennet knows he cannot appear weak, and being submissive is weak, is what he thinks. Now Marsdon just has to convince him otherwise.
I loved these men. Bennet and his insecurities. And Marsdon, who would have done anything to make his mate happy.
A fine BDSM novella.
Still as good the second time. This book is not fluffy in any way, but it's so good.
-------------------------------
Kim Dare sure know how to write gorgeous, meaningful BDSM scenes.
This book starts out with such a beautiful scene, I was really moved.
Bennet and Marsdon (LOVE the names!) are both wolf shifters.
This book starts with a scene where Bennet is submissive to the dominant Marsdon. Bennet wears a leather hood, so neither of them know the identity of the other wolf. The both know this is their last scene together, because they are both expected to mate. Little did they know they are soon to be mated to.. each other.
These men are both alpha’s. In the pack this means they are at the top of the hierarchy, as equals. And being submissive to another wolf is not what a leader does.
Marsdon is thrilled to find out he is mating the love of his life, his beautiful submissive. But Bennet knows he cannot appear weak, and being submissive is weak, is what he thinks. Now Marsdon just has to convince him otherwise.
I loved these men. Bennet and his insecurities. And Marsdon, who would have done anything to make his mate happy.
A fine BDSM novella.
September 8, 2013
I enjoyed this tale of two Alpha werewolf shifters, destined to be mates, but who had been in a secret D/s relationship in the past. (Suspend disbelief! It's just a story damnit!) It was fun and frustrating and sexy and irritating and was just the perfect length.
Recommended for all M/M shifters lovers who like big-bad-Dominant werewolves. Woof!
Recommended for all M/M shifters lovers who like big-bad-Dominant werewolves. Woof!
Want to read
December 6, 2019Thank you for the gift, Reindeer Jingle Elf!!
![Profile Image for annob [on hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1674812294i%2F68231680._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
August 6, 2018
I had fairly high expectations of this mm bdsm shifter story with close to 2,000 ratings. My first book by Kim Dare. But boy, was I left disappointed.
The opening chapter was ok but then the story became confusing at a turning point close to the beginning. To me the reasoning by the characters were madly illogical, and quite a few times downright silly.The plot improved somewhat near the ending where some of the behaviour was better explained. However, I never warmed up to either of the main characters after that pivotal scene.
The writing wasn't bad; it was mostly the plot and character portraits that didn't work for me. There wasn't much detailed world building outside the relationship drama to focus on either.
The bdsm theme was tame but for that first scene. If I had to recommend this book to anyone it wouldn't be for the kink, but for lovers of push-pull/hot-cold and arranged-marriage tropes.
The opening chapter was ok but then the story became confusing at a turning point close to the beginning. To me the reasoning by the characters were madly illogical, and quite a few times downright silly.The plot improved somewhat near the ending where some of the behaviour was better explained. However, I never warmed up to either of the main characters after that pivotal scene.
The writing wasn't bad; it was mostly the plot and character portraits that didn't work for me. There wasn't much detailed world building outside the relationship drama to focus on either.
The bdsm theme was tame but for that first scene. If I had to recommend this book to anyone it wouldn't be for the kink, but for lovers of push-pull/hot-cold and arranged-marriage tropes.
September 15, 2015
I liked the respect the characters had for each other, and the focus on the difference between public and private spaces and personas. It's refreshing to read a story like this that explores different ways of being alpha instead of playing into tired tropes. I liked it much more than I expected to.
July 17, 2017
Delicously sexy, insta-lovey, wolfy story! With a mating ceremony that leads to creating a small new pack... What a good start for a series ;)
And, what's more important for me, a huge dollop of BDSM!!! :D
Let's be honest, the first scene was one of the hottest openings ever!
I just loved it!
The main "twist" is Bennet's obsession with being equal! He believes that being submissive in sexual contexts means that he's a worse alpha and he's unworthy of his dominant alpha mate, Marsdon... :(
Equality...
“You deserve so much better,� he whispered. “It’s bad enough that I drop so easily to my knees. I shouldn’t drag you down with me.�
Marsdon hadn’t hesitated to accept everything about him, even when it couldn’t have been what he’d expected to find in his mate. Marsdon had never done anything but accept him. Right then, that made everything very simple.
Bennett closed his eyes and lowered himself slowly to his knees in front of his master.
Highly recommended for lovers of wolfy AND kinky stories!!!
And, what's more important for me, a huge dollop of BDSM!!! :D
Let's be honest, the first scene was one of the hottest openings ever!
I just loved it!
The main "twist" is Bennet's obsession with being equal! He believes that being submissive in sexual contexts means that he's a worse alpha and he's unworthy of his dominant alpha mate, Marsdon... :(
Equality...
“You deserve so much better,� he whispered. “It’s bad enough that I drop so easily to my knees. I shouldn’t drag you down with me.�
Marsdon hadn’t hesitated to accept everything about him, even when it couldn’t have been what he’d expected to find in his mate. Marsdon had never done anything but accept him. Right then, that made everything very simple.
Bennett closed his eyes and lowered himself slowly to his knees in front of his master.
Highly recommended for lovers of wolfy AND kinky stories!!!
January 8, 2010
This is a wonderful book that explores a slightly different interpetation of submission and dominance between two werewolves.
Bennett struggles between wanting to submit sexually and needing to be outwardly strong as the leader of his pack. Marsdon, the 'master' Bennett has fallen in love with, understands this and is extremely loving and tender. The story focuses on the developing understanding between the two lovers about what role submission and dominance will play in their life.
The approach is not the 'standard' one and that was the main reason I really liked this book. I can only hope there will be a few sequels...
Bennett struggles between wanting to submit sexually and needing to be outwardly strong as the leader of his pack. Marsdon, the 'master' Bennett has fallen in love with, understands this and is extremely loving and tender. The story focuses on the developing understanding between the two lovers about what role submission and dominance will play in their life.
The approach is not the 'standard' one and that was the main reason I really liked this book. I can only hope there will be a few sequels...
July 12, 2014
This wasn't bad, and had Dare's usual hot sex scenes, but I really wish it had done more with the "shifter" setting. Almost the entire focus was on Bennett's conflicts about being a sub when he's supposed to be an alpha, which could pretty easily be reworked to take out any mention of the paranormal: i.e. can one be a "submissive" in a relationship and also a leader? Answer: yes. It's a worthy question, but it didn't feel like enough to carry the plot. I kept waiting for more on the shifter side of things: the other pack members, the supernatural rules, the cultural details specific to Dare's world. Instead, we got the same basic scene of Bennett rejecting his submissive side over and over . It just felt like less than it could have been.
Bottom line: Kim Dare is always worth reading, especially if you like anything to do with BDSM. This is not a bad read by any means, it just left me wanting more.
Bottom line: Kim Dare is always worth reading, especially if you like anything to do with BDSM. This is not a bad read by any means, it just left me wanting more.
July 20, 2018
Sexy and Short!
I liked the beginning and the end of this shifter short. The middle, however was a bit repetitious and dragged even in this short story.
Two wolf shifters meet and fall in love in a BDSM club, yet neither knows the other’s identity. We meet them on their last night together. Sexy and hot.
Of course, they’re fated to meet in real life, and here are where the problems arise. I won’t get into it, but suffice it to say that one doesn’t accept his past submission into his new, “real life� role as alpha. For me, this is where the repetition and constant refusal to accept both sides of himself wore me down. The old “it’s gotta be one of the other� argument.
Anyway, his mate helps him through his acceptance and breakthrough in the end....and I liked the last couple of scenes quite a bit.
One thing that really annoyed me, however, was the constant changing POVs without any breaks in the chapters. It was disorienting at times.
Still, I enjoyed it.
I liked the beginning and the end of this shifter short. The middle, however was a bit repetitious and dragged even in this short story.
Two wolf shifters meet and fall in love in a BDSM club, yet neither knows the other’s identity. We meet them on their last night together. Sexy and hot.
Of course, they’re fated to meet in real life, and here are where the problems arise. I won’t get into it, but suffice it to say that one doesn’t accept his past submission into his new, “real life� role as alpha. For me, this is where the repetition and constant refusal to accept both sides of himself wore me down. The old “it’s gotta be one of the other� argument.
Anyway, his mate helps him through his acceptance and breakthrough in the end....and I liked the last couple of scenes quite a bit.
One thing that really annoyed me, however, was the constant changing POVs without any breaks in the chapters. It was disorienting at times.
Still, I enjoyed it.
March 27, 2022
the lengths I will go to for even minor Sterek vibes
January 18, 2023
About 3 stars.
"Hush, pup. It's okay. I've got you now.�
This was a fun short read (from 2010, so I cut it some slack!) I did enjoy the wolf-shifter alpha-alpha pairing, experimenting with D/s with their identities hidden, an arranged marriage, and an alpha struggling with accepting his submissive tendencies storyline. (This would be handled better in a more recently written book, I think.)
Snack-sized read at around 100pp.
"Hush, pup. It's okay. I've got you now.�
This was a fun short read (from 2010, so I cut it some slack!) I did enjoy the wolf-shifter alpha-alpha pairing, experimenting with D/s with their identities hidden, an arranged marriage, and an alpha struggling with accepting his submissive tendencies storyline. (This would be handled better in a more recently written book, I think.)
Snack-sized read at around 100pp.
April 23, 2011
This was an amazing story about coming to terms with and understanding the desire and need by Bennett to submit. He finds a sense of calm and rightness in allowing his "Master" to have control. For Bennett it's a freedom he indulges in before he takes his rightful place as a pack Alpha. At least that is what he tries to convince himself. It is so easy for people to view subs as weak. I love how this author shows how much strength it takes to submit and that sometimes even an Alpha isn't that strong. I'm so looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
February 15, 2016
Eventhough BDSM is normally not my thing, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. There is no spanking, just some bondage. It's really all about submission. There wasn't a lot of shifting in this book, which was a bit dissapointing, but then again...this was a very short read. I really liked the MC's and I could understand were Bennett was coming from. He did get on my nerves toward the ending though. Marsdon was just awesome !!
I think I will be reading more about this author in the future :)
4 stars from me
I think I will be reading more about this author in the future :)
4 stars from me
January 12, 2010
What happens when the role is reveresed and the Dom is chasing after his Sub who's denying he was one during the months they were together but not really knowing who each other was because a mask kept each other from knowing? This was a winding spectacle of a twist in this story that I really had to say I enjoyed and it wasn't the norm D/s story that you'd expect it to me. Really enjoyed this one.
February 26, 2017
Maintained 5 stars on second read.
January 9, 2018
This was such a unique story! I know I can always count on Kim Dare to say a little something extra in her stories and this one was really lovely.
January 13, 2015
No, this just did not work for me. The blurb sounded great, a different take on the alpha business, why not?. And it started out quite interesting in the club. But after that, no no no.
When I read a PNR/Shifter story, I need a bit more world-building,.
As an example, there was a moment when Bennet refers to alpha behavior:
“You think I like knowing that? Do you really think I’m proud of not being able to please my mate the way an alpha should be able to ? Bennett demanded�- and I had no idea whatsoever what an alpha should do to please his mate. The only thing that was established in this world was the alphabet.
This story felt like that kind of 3D movie where the effects have been slapped on afterwards. Basically, this story could have been done in 2D.
Pack- could have been "gang", Alpha �"the gang leader", The Wannabe-Alpha male �"tough girl who wants to be leader, and gets grumpy when she thinks gang-leader is trying to protect her, even though she is strong as well" (but of course not as strong as the leader, after all he is DA MAN!)
The tiny bits of actual shifting seemed to have been put in for good measure.
Maybe I expected more alpha-characteristics from Bennet. I’m talking growling, possessiveness, maybe some proper anger instead of that crap he was doing .
I would however have been able to forgive a lot, if only the sex would have been hot . Come on, two alpha males, mmm.
And the hottest thing of all in shifter books did not even make an appearance. I’m of course talking about knotting. Why the hell was there no knotting? What is the point of wolves, if there is no knot?? 2D, indeed.
When I read a PNR/Shifter story, I need a bit more world-building,.
As an example, there was a moment when Bennet refers to alpha behavior:
“You think I like knowing that? Do you really think I’m proud of not being able to please my mate the way an alpha should be able to ? Bennett demanded�- and I had no idea whatsoever what an alpha should do to please his mate. The only thing that was established in this world was the alphabet.
This story felt like that kind of 3D movie where the effects have been slapped on afterwards. Basically, this story could have been done in 2D.
Pack- could have been "gang", Alpha �"the gang leader", The Wannabe-Alpha male �"tough girl who wants to be leader, and gets grumpy when she thinks gang-leader is trying to protect her, even though she is strong as well" (but of course not as strong as the leader, after all he is DA MAN!)
The tiny bits of actual shifting seemed to have been put in for good measure.
Maybe I expected more alpha-characteristics from Bennet. I’m talking growling, possessiveness, maybe some proper anger instead of that crap he was doing .
I would however have been able to forgive a lot, if only the sex would have been hot . Come on, two alpha males, mmm.
And the hottest thing of all in shifter books did not even make an appearance. I’m of course talking about knotting. Why the hell was there no knotting? What is the point of wolves, if there is no knot?? 2D, indeed.
January 6, 2010
A longer book 100 pages from Kim. I like it! Want more!
It looks like this is the beginning of a series. I certainly hope to see more of Marsden and Bennett. I am curious to see how they balance their partnership.
The beginning and ending were fabulous with just enough angst in the middle to make the payoff. As the beginning of a series though, the secondary characters weren't fleshed out quite enough, except maybe the Omega, to get a feel for how much I really want to hear their story.
I had some trouble with the idea that they were considered a love match by the pack. I don't know how anyone would have come up with that or believed it. They were so stiff with each other around the pack that it was an unbelievable argument for the conflict and aggression from the pack members. Either way, Bennett was going to have to prove himself though.
It looks like this is the beginning of a series. I certainly hope to see more of Marsden and Bennett. I am curious to see how they balance their partnership.
The beginning and ending were fabulous with just enough angst in the middle to make the payoff. As the beginning of a series though, the secondary characters weren't fleshed out quite enough, except maybe the Omega, to get a feel for how much I really want to hear their story.
I had some trouble with the idea that they were considered a love match by the pack. I don't know how anyone would have come up with that or believed it. They were so stiff with each other around the pack that it was an unbelievable argument for the conflict and aggression from the pack members. Either way, Bennett was going to have to prove himself though.
Want to read
July 20, 20187/20/18 Currently 99c via Amazon:
March 18, 2022
3 stars
enjoyed it but the sorta pushiness and miscommunication lowered my rating
enjoyed it but the sorta pushiness and miscommunication lowered my rating
March 23, 2011
The first opening scene of this novella is beautiful and seductive. By the second scene I was drawn in and taken by Bennett's plight; almost immediately Marsdon recognizes him as the hooded sub from the first scene [although silently - he doesn't give anyone else any reason to suspect anything], and soon enough after Bennett has to face the fact that Marsdon was that dominant he fell in love with.
From there it gets kitchy. Bennett becomes super edgy and paranoid, and no matter what Marsdon does or how hard he tries to meet his mate half-way, Bennett seems hell-bent on refusing him - in every way. It gets so frustrating, reading his vicious determination to stand firm and ignore EVERYTHING that makes him, well him, and try to be someone else, someone lesser in their strengths.
The fight for acceptance in pack makes the whole novella worth while. It honestly renewed my faith in Bennett as a character and ultimately lead to the re-bonding between dom and sub.
A good novel; not a great one, because the angst and frustration caused solely by Bennett kept making me want to just throw it across the room.
From there it gets kitchy. Bennett becomes super edgy and paranoid, and no matter what Marsdon does or how hard he tries to meet his mate half-way, Bennett seems hell-bent on refusing him - in every way. It gets so frustrating, reading his vicious determination to stand firm and ignore EVERYTHING that makes him, well him, and try to be someone else, someone lesser in their strengths.
The fight for acceptance in pack makes the whole novella worth while. It honestly renewed my faith in Bennett as a character and ultimately lead to the re-bonding between dom and sub.
A good novel; not a great one, because the angst and frustration caused solely by Bennett kept making me want to just throw it across the room.
February 27, 2010
3.5 stars
Marsdon and Bennett meet at BDSM club; Bennett is the submissive and Marsdon is his master. But they are actually both Alpha for their own pack. When they meet again outside the club, they are actually arranged to be mated. I love reading Bennett's inner struggle, trying to proof to Marsdon and the pack that he is an Alpha ... and that he cannot act submissive around his mate because that is not how an Alpha should react. It's very interesting tale ...
Marsdon and Bennett meet at BDSM club; Bennett is the submissive and Marsdon is his master. But they are actually both Alpha for their own pack. When they meet again outside the club, they are actually arranged to be mated. I love reading Bennett's inner struggle, trying to proof to Marsdon and the pack that he is an Alpha ... and that he cannot act submissive around his mate because that is not how an Alpha should react. It's very interesting tale ...
January 6, 2010
I usually like Kim's books a lot. This one had just too much angst for me to really enjoy it. The dom/sub relationship between Marsdon and Bennett had a lot of potential. As the book went on, I found myself really resenting Bennett and his constant stressing. I would have liked to have seen him learn more about the strength of a sub, move beyond his stubbornness and deal with his fears.
August 31, 2021
This was really bad. The story was incredibly frustrating and boring. I’ve read several books by Kim Dare and have really liked them, but this was just awful. I gave it two stars because I finished and I liked Marsdon. Bennett was nothing but obnoxious.
August 29, 2015
*** 3.25 Stars ***
June 13, 2022
After the joy of them being together in the first chapter, even though they were saying goodbye, it was agonizing to see them fail to come together in the rest of the story. The talking, the fighting, the challenge, nothing seemed to fix it, until Marsdon took that last step. So brave, so risky, but the only right thing to do. Gorgeous!
April 2, 2013
Two and a half years. If possible, I like this book even more the second time around.
Very uneasy atmosphere; there wasn’t a single moment of rest and safety until the very end despite the two of them loving one another since before the opening of the story. It was a bit of a longer story, too. Not really novel length but nevertheless satisfying.
This discomfort was worth it, though. The struggle� it was interesting because that side of things needed to be explored. It was a different approach to submission yet again and fascinating that way. And I have to admit I loved the protagonists, especially Marsdon with the huge amount of love he kept pouring into the situation from page one and never deviated from. But they both really suffered.
In a way the conflict here is the inverse of the problem arising in Duck!, although the solution is� I was going to say very different but when I think about it, maybe it isn’t all that different after all. In the end it is all about finding a way to see an individual’s needs in a light that matches their role in life.
I’m thinking during this re-read I had less of a hard time with the angst of it, possibly because I knew, even if the details of how evaded me for the longest time, that things would be fixed in the end. So I was free to enjoy those tons of respect and love and struggle and acceptance and also this new take on the common werewolf setting.
Also, while yes, this still does not end quite as blissfully reassuring as the author’s stories usually do, this time around I am not worried. (Ah god, worrying about what happens to fictional characters after the end of the story is normal for me. I’m weird.)
Anyway. Loved both guys, for different reasons. Loved the story.
One strange thing? There were unmarked viewpoint shifts in this one too. So maybe that’s just part of the author’s style? Why did I not remember that? It does not actually detract from the narrative; it’s just that every time it happens and I realize as much I have to go back a few paragraphs to figure out when the shift occurred and adjust what I am reading to the new person. Such a simple thing to avoid.
This also makes me wonder if I used to see that around a lot more a few years ago for it to have escaped my attention. Perhaps very clear separation of viewpoints (they’re clean as can be here, just not marked) is something that’s been taking over more strongly in recent years? (That theory might work a lot better if I read more than one genre to base it on, and more than the limited sampling of authors I pick. :P)
Very uneasy atmosphere; there wasn’t a single moment of rest and safety until the very end despite the two of them loving one another since before the opening of the story. It was a bit of a longer story, too. Not really novel length but nevertheless satisfying.
This discomfort was worth it, though. The struggle� it was interesting because that side of things needed to be explored. It was a different approach to submission yet again and fascinating that way. And I have to admit I loved the protagonists, especially Marsdon with the huge amount of love he kept pouring into the situation from page one and never deviated from. But they both really suffered.
In a way the conflict here is the inverse of the problem arising in Duck!, although the solution is� I was going to say very different but when I think about it, maybe it isn’t all that different after all. In the end it is all about finding a way to see an individual’s needs in a light that matches their role in life.
I’m thinking during this re-read I had less of a hard time with the angst of it, possibly because I knew, even if the details of how evaded me for the longest time, that things would be fixed in the end. So I was free to enjoy those tons of respect and love and struggle and acceptance and also this new take on the common werewolf setting.
Also, while yes, this still does not end quite as blissfully reassuring as the author’s stories usually do, this time around I am not worried. (Ah god, worrying about what happens to fictional characters after the end of the story is normal for me. I’m weird.)
Anyway. Loved both guys, for different reasons. Loved the story.
One strange thing? There were unmarked viewpoint shifts in this one too. So maybe that’s just part of the author’s style? Why did I not remember that? It does not actually detract from the narrative; it’s just that every time it happens and I realize as much I have to go back a few paragraphs to figure out when the shift occurred and adjust what I am reading to the new person. Such a simple thing to avoid.
This also makes me wonder if I used to see that around a lot more a few years ago for it to have escaped my attention. Perhaps very clear separation of viewpoints (they’re clean as can be here, just not marked) is something that’s been taking over more strongly in recent years? (That theory might work a lot better if I read more than one genre to base it on, and more than the limited sampling of authors I pick. :P)
Read
November 13, 2010This was quite an original paranormal M/M romance, a comparison between the D/s relationships and the strict pack order of the traditional shapeshifter romance. In a Dom/sub relationship the roles are quite clear, the Master is the Dom and the pet is the sub, there is no blurry line; the same clear is the structure of a pack, the Alpha is the leaser, the beta and gamma are the enforcerers and the omega is the weaker member, the one who has to be cherished and protected, like a lucky mascotte. So the sub is the same of an omega? That is the dilemma.
Marsdon and Bennett met in a dungeon, two strangers seeking for pleasure, and they have never exchanged names. They both know the other is a werewolf, but that was not part of the agreement and no one asked for an explanation. Marsdon assumed Bennett was an omega, still without a pack; Marsdon was also engaged with the son of an Alpha of another pack, a young Alpha man who will mate with him and help in building a new pack. Marsdon cannot fall in love with Bennett, he is not his chosen mate, he is not an Alpha.
But both Marsdon than Bennett will have a surprise, when they will recognize each other during the mating ceremony: only that now Bennett cannot hide the fact that he is a submissive, that he craves the touch of a Master, and as submissive he is not the right mate for an Alpha.
That is what Bennett has to learn: being a submissive doesn’t mean being an omega, he can be a sub for his Master in the intimacy of their bedroom, and at the same time being part of an Alpha pair and helping his mate in the day-to-day management of the pack. Being a sub doesn’t mean being weaker, being a submissive is a choice, or a need to fulfill your inner desire; instead an omega is born like that, you cannot teach or pretend from him to be an Alpha, or to be strong as an Alpha.
I liked both Marsdon than Bennett, for different reason, even if I found Bennett a bit too much stubborn; Marsdon on the other hand was almost perfect, perfect Master, just the right level of dominance without being violent, and perfect Alpha, willing to sacrifice his happiness for the well-being of the pack but without doubt more than glad when he discovers that he is already in love with his promised mate.
Marsdon and Bennett met in a dungeon, two strangers seeking for pleasure, and they have never exchanged names. They both know the other is a werewolf, but that was not part of the agreement and no one asked for an explanation. Marsdon assumed Bennett was an omega, still without a pack; Marsdon was also engaged with the son of an Alpha of another pack, a young Alpha man who will mate with him and help in building a new pack. Marsdon cannot fall in love with Bennett, he is not his chosen mate, he is not an Alpha.
But both Marsdon than Bennett will have a surprise, when they will recognize each other during the mating ceremony: only that now Bennett cannot hide the fact that he is a submissive, that he craves the touch of a Master, and as submissive he is not the right mate for an Alpha.
That is what Bennett has to learn: being a submissive doesn’t mean being an omega, he can be a sub for his Master in the intimacy of their bedroom, and at the same time being part of an Alpha pair and helping his mate in the day-to-day management of the pack. Being a sub doesn’t mean being weaker, being a submissive is a choice, or a need to fulfill your inner desire; instead an omega is born like that, you cannot teach or pretend from him to be an Alpha, or to be strong as an Alpha.
I liked both Marsdon than Bennett, for different reason, even if I found Bennett a bit too much stubborn; Marsdon on the other hand was almost perfect, perfect Master, just the right level of dominance without being violent, and perfect Alpha, willing to sacrifice his happiness for the well-being of the pack but without doubt more than glad when he discovers that he is already in love with his promised mate.
June 7, 2010
Bennett and Marsdon are wolves. They meet anonymously in a club, with Bennett as a hooded submissive and Marsdon as a dominant. They carry on an affair as long as they can until they both regretfully have to leave to start new lives. But the parting is is difficult for both because in their time together, despite remaining anonymous they still had fallen in love. Bennett is an alpha wolf and he is nervous about fulfilling that role with his secret history of being a sub. Not to mention he misses Marsdon terribly. Luckily, arranged mating is with non other than Marsdon. What should have been joyous actually turns out to be a nightmare for Bennett as he struggles to be a proper alpha mate and equal alpha leader to Marsdon.
So, this was my first Kim Dare story. I had high hopes, I mean sexy werewolves? WHat could be wrong? However, I just felt like the conflict wasn't enough to sustain the whole story. Because it felt like so much was just in Bennett's head- like one of those TSTL heroines. A few conversations and everything could have been solved. Instead there was a lot of avoiding and not dealing. I guess I just wanted more. More Werewolves. More of that sexy animal thing you get from reading about weres. There were a few nice pack moments, but otherwise, I think the story just felt a little boring. Maybe if Marsdon also had so sort of conflict other than trying to deal with Bennett's problem. Maybe some more pack drama- since they were creating a new pack. That's the other thing. What are the traditions that keep getting referred to how. How big is this pack. Did all the other wolves come from the same place? There just seemed to be a lot of more interesting things that could have been explored as well.
So, this was my first Kim Dare story. I had high hopes, I mean sexy werewolves? WHat could be wrong? However, I just felt like the conflict wasn't enough to sustain the whole story. Because it felt like so much was just in Bennett's head- like one of those TSTL heroines. A few conversations and everything could have been solved. Instead there was a lot of avoiding and not dealing. I guess I just wanted more. More Werewolves. More of that sexy animal thing you get from reading about weres. There were a few nice pack moments, but otherwise, I think the story just felt a little boring. Maybe if Marsdon also had so sort of conflict other than trying to deal with Bennett's problem. Maybe some more pack drama- since they were creating a new pack. That's the other thing. What are the traditions that keep getting referred to how. How big is this pack. Did all the other wolves come from the same place? There just seemed to be a lot of more interesting things that could have been explored as well.
December 3, 2011
I adore D/s stories where the kink dynamic really allows each character to be the best person they can be. Bennett couldn't believe that his ability to be a good alpha was compatible with his need to submit to Marsden, and watching Marsden "court" him was a beautiful example of what I think a truly committed Dominant is all about. Taking care of his submissive in the best way he can, seeing past the surface denial because he never hears Bennett "safeword" in the relationship - Bennett protests, tries to do things the way he thinks others want him to, but ultimately recognizes that what is best for the pack is for him and Marsden to be in harmony. And that requires his submission, because it's what Bennett needs to do and be for Marsden in order to be truly happy.
The supporting characters are fascinating, and Dare looks like she has clear ideas and rules for her werewolf pack world-building. I'm looking forward to the next books in this series. I'm not always in the mood for shapeshifters, but it's interesting to think of the hierarchy of Dominance and submission that maintains order in a wolf pack and how that would play out in D/s relationships between people. Yum, yum, yum...BLTB (Better Living Through Bondage) is one of my favorite themes!
The supporting characters are fascinating, and Dare looks like she has clear ideas and rules for her werewolf pack world-building. I'm looking forward to the next books in this series. I'm not always in the mood for shapeshifters, but it's interesting to think of the hierarchy of Dominance and submission that maintains order in a wolf pack and how that would play out in D/s relationships between people. Yum, yum, yum...BLTB (Better Living Through Bondage) is one of my favorite themes!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.