The Good Boy (The Boy)

This book, just wow.It was just so much feelings, I literally felt my insides tighten in to a little ball as I was riding the anxiety wave.At the start of it I couldn't sympathise with Derek, yes he had lost money but he was such an ass about it that I just wanted to slap him.Lane took a hold of me right off the bat, his situation, his grasping for the last strain of hope for someone to still help him, only to have to go horribly wrong.My heart was a full on ache most of this book, the lump of self-doubt Lane was and the pain he went through. The strength he had to keep standing.I absolutely love their scenes, the puppy play took me by surprised but it fit, and it was all written so well.I couldn't stop highlighting in the book, it just had so many gold nuggets.

I loved, loved loved this book. I have not ready many BDSM, but this book had a wonderful sense of humor. The humor made the painful parts easier to read and understand.Landon(Lane) Moredock is a wealthy young man, who is as shy and introverted as anyone can be. He is thrust into the real world of no money, seedy hotels and minimum wage jobs, when his mother is arrested for securities fraud and his father goes on the lam. No one believes that Lane knows nothing about his parent's dealings, especially the media. He is hounded by the media, FBI and those who have lost money. Hoping to salvage something of his life, Lane inters into a deal with an old, trusted family friend, that proves to be a disaster.Into Lane's new world, comes a Dom, Derek Fields. He is a photographer, that has lost money to Lane's parents. He befriends Lane, becoming his rescuer and protector. They both come to realize that Derek is the Dom that Lane needs.This books has a wonderful cast of supporting characters. Christi, Derek's sister, who runs an animal shelter bringing home all the misfits. Brin, Derek's snarky ex-sub. Ferg, friend who is Brin's Dom and Derek's mom Erin. Add to this Andy, the loner dog and Mr. Zimmerman, the funniest fowl mouth parrot ever.The tenderness, love and humor makes this one of my top books of 2013. I give this an obedience course, including the blue collar, worth of stars.

Wonderful. Different from what I expected in the way that any really good book that digs deep into its characters and takes them seriously as human beings is unexpected--because it moves beyond the cliches of the genre. I've not come across a character quite like Lane before--that deeply shy and inarticulate, and frankly that vulnerable. When he admits to Derek that he used to "practice talking" to photos on his wall I wanted to tear up. The scenes where he reaches out to the abandoned dog were shocking in the subtlest possible way--one of those quiet moments that lets you see deep into the heart of the character, without any talky explanations. The mother in me wants to take this boy in and protect him, but I was truly glad to see him grow up and discover a new family. I really felt invested in the characters and their destinies.Don't be put off by the content warning on puppy play--I generally find any animal play deeply disturbing, but this is very mild and justified in the sense that it fits the character perfectly--you never for a moment feel it was played for shock value (which given Lane's situation would have felt like a betrayal.)All in all, very highly recommend.

There is a solid plot here to back the BDSM dynamics happening between our two guys. What win this over for me is Lane's character. What little I know of the BDSM lifestyle from the lots of stories I have read, I thought the writers have done a fantastic and moving job on this subs's needs and pain even if this is not hardcore BDSM. Lane does not only have an inherent sub nature, he is also painfully shy, has low self esteem and has been brow beaten by uncaring parents, who have left their innocent son to dry with the collapse of their scam. Yet beneath it there is courage in this young man.The writing is good though a bit repetitive in some parts as these guys struggle with their problems. I enjoy the gradual and convincing built-up in the relationship between Lane and Derek. I like how Derek handles the fragile Lane. That said I thought Derek's character and competency as a Dom seems to fit a much younger man. Also I like my Dom to be much more self assured in his own strength. On the other hand, this is at its core a romance so I understand why the writers give Derek a vulnerable side.The secondary characters are a solid bunch. Brin the bratty sub, provide such a lot of delightful moments and I enjoy both subs' interaction. And any gay guys into BDSM should have such supporting mother and sister, and who could forget brave Andy. Parts on what happened between Lane and the man his innocent young self hero worshipped are hard to read but riveting. The last part is well done and got sappy old me all teary eyed in a few pages. I have read the two writers individual work and have to say their collaboration is great.

My favorite part of this story was the characters. Mainly Lane and Derek, but also Brin. Lane and Derek were fully fleshed out characters, and they were just waiting to find each other to complete each other. Each was what the other needed, and watching them figure that out made it a really gorgeous journey to read. I am very excited for the sequel.Also, the story was pretty unique and well planned out. It introduced me to dog play too, which was good to learn about. Derek was a very confident and experienced Dom, but also had this new depth of feeling for and connection with Lane, so it was new for both of them. Lane had been a victim all of his life, when all he had wanted was love and for someone to take control, and it was lovely to see him open up and begin to understand his life, himself, and his ability to make decisions.It's overall a great read, good grammar, easy to get wrapped in, exciting, a bit of a tear jerker, and definitely emotionally demanding, but it balances the negative with the good, loving parts. Recommended to all, five out of five stars!