Wednesday, September 21, 2011

HEART THIEF by Claire Thompson

Publisher: Romance Unbound Publishing
Date published: 2011
ISBN: 9781937337001
ASIN: B005CIS4C6
BDSM Contemporary MM
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Author


Luke Malone is working a job as casino security and coming to grips with being gay with a submissive side when he crosses paths with powerful and rich Glenn Griffin. He falls under this Dom’s spell after one night as he is offered wealth, a job and more from Glenn. Soon though Glenn sends him off to an East Texan ranch and Luke has to come to grips with his pain and disillusionment as he tries to heal his heart and soul. Meeting Sawyer, a man with different ideas on erotic submission and the mixing of pain with pleasure has Luke questioning everything Glenn did to him. Can Sawyer show Luke that to heal inside and to accept his submissive side fully, he needs to let go of all the pain, rage and let himself find peace with the person he is? But what happens when Glenn decides he wants Luke back? Can Luke find the strength to walk away from Glenn and all that he offers for a chance of love with Sawyer?

HEART THIEF is an emotional story and one not for the faint of heart. It has scenes which may not appeal to everyone as it explores darker aspects of BDSM, from rope play to bondage to suspension. I have got to admit, Ms. Thompson definitely knows her subject matter and always delights me with the most emotional stories she can write. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened this book but what I found was something so delightful, heart rendering and enjoyable, that I was in tears by the end of the book. The writing was tight, story moved at a nice, even pace and the characters were quite simply delightful.

Meet Luke Malone. He is trying to come to grips at being a gay man who also is a submissive. Meeting rich Glenn Griffin, Luke thinks he found the perfect Dom to help him explore his submissive side more. Except Glenn hides a cruel side that leaves Luke an emotional mess and when he is sent away to make room for Glenn’s new play toy, Luke feels betrayed and angry. Being with a new Dom is not on his mind but when he gets a glimpse of Sawyer, the connection between the two zings right through them. What I love about Claire Thompson’s stories is how she gives you characters with so many layers, you are always peeling away one to see what else is underneath it all. They are multi-dimensional, relatable and enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the scenes between Sawyer and Luke as Sawyer helps Luke lance the anger and rage that festers inside him. The tenderness and care Sawyer shows Luke is a far cry from what Glenn showed Luke and it brought tears to my eyes. There were some secondary characters that I enjoyed just as much as they kept the story flowing nicely.

HEART THIEF is more than a story of two people finding themselves. It’s about love, acceptance and finding the inner peace you get when you finally accept who you are inside and out. Ms. Thompson delivers another stellar story that will draw the reader in and not let them go. I would love to see what Luke and Sawyer are up to in the future on the ranch and hope Ms. Thompson can come back to these wonderful characters again. If you like emotional rich stories, then grab HEART THIEF. You will not be able to put it down.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

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