Elaine White's Life in Books
The Author
Elaine White is the author of multi-genre MM romance, celebrating 'love is love' and offering diversity in both genre and character within her stories.
Growing up in a small town and fighting cancer in her early teens taught her that life is short and dreams should be pursued. She lives vicariously through her independent, and often hellion characters, exploring all possibilities within the romantic universe.
The Winner of two Watty Awards – Collector's Dream (An Unpredictable Life) and Hidden Gem (Faithfully) – and an Honourable Mention in 2016's Rainbow Awards (A Royal Craving) Elaine is a self-professed geek, reading addict, and a romantic at heart.
The Reviewer
I’m an author and reader, who just can’t get away from books. I discovered the MM genre a few years ago and became addicted.
Top #50 UK reviewer on Goodreads
#1 reviewer on Divine Magazine
Mastering Love
Book – Mastering Love (The Hampton Road Club #4)Author – Morticia Knight
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 197
Cover – Nice!
POV – 3rd person, dual POV (with one POV for Thomas)
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, BDSM, Romance, 1920's
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY TOTALLY BOUND, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
Warnings: BDSM elements (spanking, obedience, club, pain play), exhibitionism
The dedication for this one was:
“For everyone who wanted Evan to have his happily ever after.”
Well, that was me! And I got it.
Again, this story started before the end of books 2 and 3, so that it covered the period between Kenneth's rescue and the end of his book.
I loved seeing the new rules for the club actually being put into effect and getting to find out what they were. Ned's reaction was also good to see, since he was sort of the catalyst for it all anyway, bringing Linus to the club once upon a time.
Ned is quite stubborn and blind, unlike the other Doms, who have so far bent over backwards to make their subs happy. He's more resistant, a little stupid and so very set in his ways. Evan, on the other hand, has really taken a blow to his emotional strength and ego. He's strong and is described as having “a streak of the imp in him”, but we don't get to see much of that. Gabriel took it all away and he's slowly re-learning everything Thomas taught him, but that Gabriel trod into the dust. It so wonderful to see him trying to manipulate Ned, at first, then learning that he's forgotten what it means to really be a submissive.
The introduction of Colin was adorable. I'm so thrilled to see that he's got a book of his own and look forward to reading a bit more about him. He's not as stuttery and naive as the others were, at first, so I'm intrigued to see if he's got Francesco and Evan's feistiness.
Oh, and the boys! Seeing all my boys together, in every book, is good for my soul. To see how Sam, Linus and even Francesco and Kenneth have grown and adapted to their new lives. It's all so incredible to see and doesn't often happen in a series as large as this.
It was brilliant for Knight to cover the ever growing 'rules' and evolution of BDSM. First, with the brandings, the new rules being implemented and then with the contract that Ned and Evan concoct. It was great to see it being used.
Yes, the story is a little fast. Unlike the others (apart from book 1) Ned and Evan haven't known each other for a while or really been through anything that would create a bond. However, I believed it because it was so clear that Evan was missing something fundamental and, on his first meeting alone with Ned, he found that. It was beautiful to see and, especially since Evan didn't even know what it was he wanted or needed.
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Favourite Quote
“The best thing that had ever happened to him was when Gabriel had shoved him on a bus with only a few cents in his pocket and sent him to a strange city. He thought about writing him a thank you note.”
