GRR Reviews Master of the Mountain (Mountain Maste by Cherise Sinclair

Master of the Mountain is a BDSM-themed romance that was surprisingly deep into character growth, but there are a few instances where BDSM protocol seems to have went by the wayside for the sake of plot, which would rile some responsible BDSM players.

To recap, Becca's boyfriend talked her into joining his swinger's club on a mountain retreat to "spice up their sex life", but she refused to partake in musical beds, and almost froze to death on the porch swing. Logan, the lodge owner, hauled her into his own bed (clothed) and found that while Becca may no be a swinger... she may be a submissive. Becca has curves, and scars on her hips from a dog attack at age 10, and she had been deathly afraid of dogs, and have serious self-esteem issues about her sexuality and body image. But Logan skillfully stripped her of her mental shackles... and her inhibitions, and she never had so many orgasms in her life, and she found herself wondering, what would life with Logan be like? But Logan considered himself damaged man. PTSD and rendered him dangerous... he even put a scar on his own brother's face once when he woke up from a violent dream. He cannot take that chance with Becca and have to send her back into the city once the retreat was over. But is that really the right course to take?

There were a couple instances where Becca said no or stop but Logan kept going, as if he's reading her mind and knew she didn't mean it. While it feels hot and romantic, it's a serious violation of BDSM protocol for a dom to ignore his/her sub's answers. On the other hand, Becca's development from a woman unsure of herself and her place in the world (one lacking in orgasms, among other problems) to a woman who accepts who she is and worked past many of her traumas and regained her self-esteem was a great character arc. As for what did Logan and Becca decide to do at the end... You'll have to read the book.

Category: Contemporary / BDSM

Primary Plot: Woman unsure of herself found best time of her life with the swinger's lodge owner; is there long-term between them?

Tropes: different worlds, scars, PTSD, coming of age

Overall Rating: 4/5