Book Info
Author: Jacqueline Grey
Series: Suit of Harte’s
Release Date: February 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-951880-51-4
Format: ePub, Mobi
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Category: Romance
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM
Word Count: 20300
Book Length: Novelette
Sex Content: Explicit
Pairing: MM
Orientation: Gay
Identity: Cisgender
Warning: scenes of D/s and wax play
Excerpt
Tricks and Bids
Jacqueline Grey © 2020
All Rights Reserved
“Hey. Wanna play?”
Dillon glanced up to find a young man leaning against the hood of his car. At Dillon’s pointed look, he took a step back, so he no longer touched the automobile.
“What gave you the impression I want company?”
“You obviously didn’t find what you were looking for in there” came the reply with a nod back at Harte, the BDSM club Dillon had just exited. “If you had, you wouldn’t be leaving this early.”
“And you think you’re what I want?”
The boy shrugged.
Dillon peered at him. He appeared to be in his midtwenties, fit and tight in the way Dillon remembered being before he’d hit thirty-three. He was shorter than Dillon with dark-brown hair long enough to grip: two things Dillon liked in a submissive. There was something familiar about him as well. If Dillon wasn’t mistaken, he’d seen him heading into a nearby motel a few times and never with the same “date.”
“Are you a prostitute?” Dillon asked.
The blunt question evoked an expression of surprise, but it rapidly morphed into a smooth smile. “‘Prostitute’ sounds like a job. It’s more of a hobby.”
“One you get paid for.”
“It’s a good hobby.”
Dillon cracked a smile. “How much do you charge?”
“Depends on what you want to do.”
That was reasonable enough, and if he’d been waiting outside Harte, he must know to expect kink and charge for it accordingly. “Are you clean?”
“Yes, and condoms are necessary and at your expense.”
“Expense? That sounds like a job term to me,” Dillon teased.
He considered his options. The boy was right. He hadn’t found what he was searching for in the club, and he held no illusions he ever would. Even after six years, he couldn’t help comparing every submissive he came across to the lover he’d lost. Harte called him a stubborn old goat, but the thought of building a relationship from scratch exhausted him. It was so hard to find someone whose rhythms and tastes fit with his own. Granted, the club was designed for negotiation and mutually desired play, but that was for the scenes that took place there. What about the rest of the time?
Dillon didn’t want a casual play partner. That did nothing more for him than scratch an itch that would return in no time. He wanted someone he could build a life with. He wasn’t going to find that with a prostitute, but something about the stranger brought forth yearnings Dillon hadn’t felt in years. He could take the boy home with him, indulge in what he wanted in his own territory and under his own rules. It would be a purchased illusion, but it beat going home alone and sleeping in an empty bed.
“Come on,” he said, pulling his car door open and unlocking the other side. “We’ll talk details when we get to my place.”
“Your place? Don’t you mean a hotel?”
“My place,” repeated Dillon. “I don’t do quick fucks.”
Char –
3.5 rounded up
Novellas are sometimes less than easy to review, which is where I find myself with this one. In the “short story” mindset it’s difficult to know what world/character building details to expect from the author or what’s asking too much. While this was an enjoyable read, there were some areas where it lacked detail. I’ll lay it out honestly.
What was done well in Tricks and Bids:
– Mike’s realistic cautiousness. Even before he knew the kinky things Dillon wanted from him, he was believably anxious about going to this stranger’s house. As a woman, I related hard, but often in romance, and especially M/M romance, there’s a careless sense of self assuredness between characters, even when they’ve only just met. Many times, worries don’t even occur to them, and that’s never made sense to me. I liked seeing this reaction I could more readily relate to here!
– The smut. I’m gonna go right for the heart of it and say Wow! This novella plunges right in, isn’t shy of kink, and is hot!
– The BDSM etiquette. Yes, this deserves its own slot because I haven’t read such well-written BDSM etiquette outside of fanfiction. More stories with this kind of etiquette need to exist!! Mutual respect! Careful negotiation! Deep trust! Yes, yes, yes!!
– Dillon’s POSSESSIVENESS. (Yes, it’s meant to be in caps) Also, yes, this deserves its own slot as well because I’m me and nothing gets my blood burning faster than a character possessive of his man, okay!? Dillon is deliciously, FIERCELY protective and possessive, and I’m gonna say it right here right now that this was my absolute FAVORITE thing in this story *drools*.
I could go on about this for a while, but I’m going to stop here before I start rambling and my kink shows.
– Dillon’s character development. He’s instantly a powerful figure, 100% (1000%) Dom, but when he opens up to Mike about his history with Clover, how their relationship developed, how he felt about him, and what happened to him, I understood him so much more and FELT for him deeply.
– Speaking of Clover… This character’s story was so good! It was well told, emotional, and very compelling. I loved how he got his nickname too!
– The epilogue. Without giving away spoilers – it left me glowing.
What could have been done a better in Tricks and Bids:
– Sense narrative. This novella was very touch heavy. It dealt with emotions and physical sensations, but it didn’t delve too far into any of the other four senses. Aside from Dillon being big and “brown skinned” I had no idea what he looked like. Is he muscular? What is the color of his eyes? Does he wear suits? T-shirts?? I have no idea. Mike was described once as being a fit boy in his midtwenties with brown hair long enough to grip, but we don’t get any reiterations of these descriptions, so it’s difficult to picture the characters. The only other side character who features is Jesse, and for all I know, he’s a disembodied voice (I’m exaggerating a little, but near enough).
Surroundings aren’t described much either. The living room is once, but oddly, the dungeon is not.
I don’t recall any scents being mentioned.
– The amount of time spent between Dillon and Mike. I realize Dillon couldn’t have maintained Mike’s rate for long, but I feel there should have been more than two actual nights together between them before the final chapters, even if they were mentioned briefly as in, “he’s seen Mike twice more since then, and . . .”.
– Their lives outside this relationship. This is getting into territory where I’m not sure I’m not asking too much from a novella; however, I really would have liked to see just a little of who they are and what they do outside of their time together. How does Mike spend his day when he leaves Dillon the next morning? Does he miss him? Think about him? Does his ankle feel weird that night sleeping without the cuff? Does he have family who cares about him?
What about Dillon? How much does he think about Mike? Was he ever tempted to text him once he got his number? Without a sub does he cook himself or get all takeout?
Even a little extra information to see who these people are outside each other would have added an extra layer of depth.
Conclusion:
Tricks and Bids is a tasty, easy, kinky, and enjoyable novella you can read in a day or even a sitting if you’ve got a bit of time. It has an intense dom/sub relationship that’s very respectful to BDSM and those who enjoy it.
While a few improvements could have been made, I enjoyed it a lot, and I will be following this author for more of her books!
I recommend Tricks and Bids to anyone not shy of BDSM looking for something quick, light, hot, and kinky.
**I received this book courtesy of NetGalley/NineStar Press in exchange for an honest review which did not affect my opinion
Truus Vermeer de Jong –
“Hey. Wanna play?”
Now that’s an awesome opening line. Sold!
This story is big, even though it’s a short read. With this way of writing, clear sentences, steady pace, picturing the scenes smoldering hot, I can easily handle 500 pages of this awesomeness.
Leaving the BDSM club unfulfilled, Dillon is approached by a handsome guy.
After a short conversation, Dillon takes Michael to his home to play.
And oh my goodness can Dillon play. Originally Dillon is a 24/7 Dom.
He lost his sub six years ago and since that moment he didn’t have any other. Now here is one, in his home submitting. It costs him a fortune, but Michael is worth every penny.
What a great story. I love (almost) everything about BDSM but certainly the way this Dom plays. Dillon is strong, independent, fair, and thoughtful about every move.
Michael is everything for Dillon.
The way the author displays their scenes are intense and delicious.
It’s a novella and enough developed to get completely involved. BDSM is the right scenery for me to get enchanted.
Lovable and endearing characters, likewise for the secondary characters.
As I said, for me, this story could be much much longer.
For now, I’m content about how this story went and ended!
And hey, I saw it’s part #1 of a series, awesome!
Trio –
I’ve no idea how I missed this wonderful author, and thank goodness NineStar press is republishing their stories! I’m anxiously awaiting the release of the final two episodes in the Suit of Harte’s series.
In only 66 pages Jacqueline Grey thoroughly grabbed me with this slightly dark, angsty, hurt/comfort tale. Wonderful characters, and scorching hot D/s scenes… I loved it!