I can get behind a sexy, S&M novella - I'm always looking for quick, hot read. However, it is not this book. The relationship between the sub and dom didn't work for me.

This did gave me a headache. I didn't like the writing, the plot, the characters. EVERYTHING. It was horrible and at the same a red flag for me.

An ok read. I know it wasnt' a full story but at times it got a bit dull. I really enjoyed the games played between Kira and Grahame; it definitely gave me ideas to do a sexy scrabble myself. I tried to like Grahame but his arrogance was a little annoying for me so it kind of made the sexy scenes unenjoyable.

Forced myself to read to the end of this title. Didn't enjoy it at all. Found it difficult to read a woman been abused for a man's entertainment and found it so unfortable to read. I guess the ending was left hanging so a book 2 could be written but i certainly won't be reading it.

New to this author. I liked the author's writing style. Great characters.Well done. I loved the characters and found their story entertaining.

I received this book as an arc from Netgalley.

I am in agreement with most of the reviews of this book. I found myself cringing at multiple points in this book for a couple of reasons. One, I was embarrassed for her; two, he was such an ass; three, the "breaking in" scene with the Domme with her strap on and her anus...I don't think there is more that needs to be said.

Rougher and kinkier than I thought. Not what I expected. Recommended it that's what you are interested in.

Weird thing is, it felt both too long and too short at the same time. I lost my interest a bit by the end, so the way it was written it really could've ended a little earlier. On the other hand, I still see the potential of this story, this idea, and I think some things could've been improved, had there been enough time to develop, explain and show everything.

The way it actually is, though, was a disappointment. I can't really put my finger on why exactly, but I felt detached almost the whole time. I didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters, not really. Kira, the female protagonist talked about wanting him, about wanting to be his submissive, and a lot of things like these, and at the end of the day, I just didn't buy it. I didn't feel like she - as it's told - found (or was on the way to find) her submissive self after a lifetime of pretending to be strong and independent. It felt like somehow in the middle she just lost her personality. Or rather, like she was actually continuously persuading herself that this was what she wants. She didn't seem like someone who would ever be a sub.

Grahame, her 'Dom', was even worse. His 'plays' were not so much simply sadistic, as they were outright cruel and emotionally abusive. He even had his own rule for the safe word, making it a tool of emotional bribery, rather than what it should be by name. Because of this, I couldn't see the two characters' relationship as something consensual between mature adults, and from the moment I got to know this, I couldn't enjoy any of their scenes/plays at all anymore. 

For a long time I thought the only stronger point of the novella was the story itself. See, I couldn't let go of the idea of the setting, this board game and wordplay stuff, because it felt original. By the end I had to admit that unfortunately, it was too disproportionally executed. I wasn't a fan of the time jump around the middle to begin with, but the ending left me unsatisfied (no pun intended) even more. This is not a whole, round story this way.

“It is my need to be true to my own essence that binds me to you.”
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DISCLAIMER: The book is given by NetGalley, the author and the publisher in exchange of an honest review. All the review written is not related to any personal issues or connection.
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TRIGGER: This is an erotica book which offers several sexy and steamy scenes or things related to BDSM. Get yourself wetty!
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Full review: https://literatureisliving.wordpress.com/2019/04/10/communication-skill-by-minxie-wells/

I waited a few days to review this, until my white-hot wrath cooled a little. It’s been awhile since a book made me so angry I wanted to throw it across the room. Since this was an electronic Netgalley arc, that was a dangerous moment for my notepad, but I managed to restrain myself. But I will take great joy in deleting the story once this review is finished. (WARNING: mild spoilers!)

Communication Skills by Minxie Wells is a slight novella, a BDSM “romance”, starring a handsome but sadistic older romantic interest and a sassy, smart, and geeky woman. Sounds like it should be enjoyable. I, however, did not enjoy it. I ended up hating the love interest and being annoyed with the heroine for putting up with him. Their relationship was just awful. Telling instead of showing is always a weakness in any writing, but it’s especially damning in a story where a heroine is continuously disrespected and mistreated by her love interest, but somehow, we’re told, despite her all tears and emotional distress, she really likes.

I just wasn’t convinced. She would suffer through his latest scenario, hating every minute of it, often with tears running down her face because she absolutely didn’t want to do it, but also didn’t want to END THE RELATIONSHIP by USING HER SAFEWORD (Can you tell how strongly I disagree with this?), and then suddenly at the end we were told that she would “realize” how much she actually enjoyed the scene/ how much the relationship meant to her. No matter how many times an author repeats something, they still have to make me believe it. and I just didn’t believe these repeated instant changes of heart.

I think this is partially due to the fact that the two characters come in to the arrangement with different ideas. Her first harrowing experience, to her, is a test, a way to earn the right to be in a relationship with him. But he clearly views it as an audition for her ability to continue on doing similar scenarios for him. And that misunderstanding underlies the rest of the story. She wants love. He wants a well trained slave he can humiliate and hurt. He sets rules for her, and then breaks them, or cheats, so that she cannot possibly meet his requirements. (This is a pet peeve of mine and something that I view as a huge sign of weakness.). He purposely chooses things he knows she hates, knows will distress her, knows aren’t even her sexual inclination and then forces her to do them. Forcing a monogamous heterosexual woman to have sex with a woman and later another man, and to force her to watch closely while he has sex with another woman, while tears are pouring down her own face? Disgusting.

Forcing her how? He’s forcing her because, as I mentioned above, his standard is offering a safe word, with the understanding that using it will stop the scene–and any further interactions between them. Ever. No discussion. No second chances. If he has been wrong about her ability to withstand what he heaps on her, he doesn’t want to be in an arrangement with her anymore. I’d have safeworded out from this jerk in a heartbeat, but we’re TOLD she’s happy and there’s a steady relationship and everything is terrific. In fact, partway through the story, we skip ahead months, being told everything is so happy. No thanks.

It’s especially disappointing to have such an unhealthy and unconvincing relationship, as the story had potential. The main character starts off as a strong, smart, independent woman. An author who is researching BDSM for her novel–and because she’s attracted to the idea. She has a strong group of female friends with whom she participates in events like trivia and Scrabble, and even first visits a dungeon with them. She may not have a romantic relationship, but she has a life. One that trickles away as her romantic interest rules her life more, someone who even directs her to purposely lose a Scrabble tournament she’s been trying to win for years and finally has a chance to make it to nationals as a penalty for losing a game at which he beats her unfairly. She admits at one point that she’s avoiding her friends because she doesn’t want to explain why she’s not participating in her interests anymore. Gross. so unhealthy.

So basically I was not only disappointed, but also furious at this book, for the unhealthy relationship depicted, which distracted from any positives (I was really interested in watching how his insistence on clear communication played out, for instance…but then I stopped caring). If you’re into hard-core sadism/ emotional cruelty (and some physical cruelty as well), and don’t mind an unhealthy relationship with shaky safeword/ consent issues, you might enjoy this. Otherwise I absolutely cannot recommend it.

Thank you, #Netgalley, for letting me read a free copy of #CommunicationSkills in exchange for my honest opinion.

I found myself boring of this book very quickly, it took an immense struggle to keep reading, and in the end I'm afraid I ended up DNF.
The story and description just didn't hold my attention, and someone being brave enough to put that much time, research and dreaming into the scene, but ends initially up going with (what sounds like) some bored nosy housewives? When she's supposedly scared in case she sees anyone she knows ??
Aye, ok.
DNF.

I was grateful to receive this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion
#communicationskills #netgalley

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. This book was not my cup of tea. This Dom/sub relationship seemed more like humiliation for the sub. The ending just kind of left you hanging as well.

I can’t reconcile the fact that how she was treated was actually love verses being used and humiliated.

Very degrading and demeaning. If you are into that, this book is for you. I didn't like it and wouldn't recommend it. Cover was interesting.

Oh boy, did I have some notes on this book. I found the BDSM part of the story very disturbing; I've worked closely with that scene and I thought the story does more harm than good to it. I understand this is a novella, but the main female character was very underdeveloped and didn't seem to have her on own voice.
I did not find the racy scenes sexy at all, quite the contrary actually. At some point the whole thing was bordering on abuse and I wanted for the protagonist to run away from the male character.
On the upside, the writing was good but the story was a big no no for me.

The pace moves very fast and seems to miss some internal mental struggle
Plus skipping ahead through time took out a lot of the training and adapting that would show you more insight

While I love a good BDSM book, this wasn't for me. It didn't delve deep into the personal lives of how Kira and Grahame interacted, which was a disappointment. The only things they seemed to enjoy together was their Dom/Sub relationship and board games. At times, Grahame's actions pushed the line of abuse too much for me to enjoy.

Besides that, it was an enjoyable read and the author did set the scene well for the BDSM parts. Definitely a cliffhanger at the end!

I was surprised at how easy of a read this was. It kept my interest throughout. I honestly wish it was longer as the main characters I felt like I was just getting to know. It was definitely a domination book, but as you work through the main characters thought process and emotions behind domination, it’s surprising the empathy and understanding that follows. Recommend for someone looking to get out of the box of ‘vanilla’ romance reads. I only leave 4 stars vs 5 because it left me wanting to know more!

Kira is a novelist and a dedicated scrabble player. Determined to get to the national Scrabble tournament she is stopped by a new man at the scrabble club, Grahame Grimes.  Kira has secretly been delving into the world of BDSM, and when one of her trivia group offers to take the group to a BDSM club, Kira reluctantly agrees. She is horrified when she spots Grahame at the bar. When the doorman gives her a note, she finds herself agreeing to meet Grahame. 

Grahame offers to show her the BDSM world and develop her submissive side, there is only one problem if she hesitates or backs out of something, everything ends. 

This is a well-written book it just wasn't for me. I prefer monogamy in my romance and sharing is a turn off for me which is a heavy feature of this book. There was no real chemistry or romance between the two and the ending left the relationship between the two a mystery. If you enjoy a novella, full of kink then this is for you but if like me you like monogamy and a happy ending then stay away from this.

This is the story of Kira and Grahame. Kira he's a well-known winer player of Trivia she's also an author. During a trivia competition she meets the mysterious Grahame Gaines who wins her, too.

Kira is a writing a book about submission; something which she has never experienced and she has only been doing research for.
Things will become interesting when one of your friends we suggest to visit a local BDSM club. During her exit of the club she will receive a note with the request to open it when she gets home and she is naked in her bed.

And simply like that... Grahame drags her into his worlds where her aim as his submissive is to make sure to bring him pleasure and satisfy him.

If you are into BDSM, you will really enjoy this story, as I believe it captures more aspects of this kind of lifestyle and it does not stay to the expected sex scenes but it delves into much darker aspects.

Kira is a writer and a very competitive scrabble board player. She only has to win a few more games to make it to the regionals. In one of these matches she meet Grahame, who throughout the game shows his Dominant side and she wonders if this is the Dom she’s been waiting for.

One of Keira’s friends participates a little in the local BDSM circle, and organises a girls night out to one of the local fetish’s clubs so they can take a closer look at the lifestyle. This night out was organised as Kiera confided in her friend that she has secretly wanted to be a submissive. Kira has been doing lots of extensive researching by reading and watching videos on line as she wanted her next novel to be about BDSM. Whilst at the club she spots Grahame her scrabble opponent confirming the feelings she had about him.

Kira is then given the opportunity to become Grahame’s submissive, but there is one condition. That if she every utters her safe word, play will stop and she will never see him again. Needless to say Kira takes him up on his offer.

I only gave this book 2 stars, because to me this is very hardcore BDSM and not very erotic to me either. I just couldn’t get over the fact that a new sub was treated as though she knew what she was getting into. There was no build up to her tolerance to pain, no aftercare after a play/scene. Which makes this Dom a big jerk very irresponsible as well as being very sadistic. Where Kira was made to doing things she didn’t really want to, in fear of never seeing Grahame again. The best part for me was the game of scrabble they played the first time she went to his penthouse.