TEST
Pain Slut is the second novel, in the Subs Club series by J.A. Rock. I did read the first, The Subs Club, and although it improves the reading experience in some ways, Pain Slut can be read as a stand-alone.
Miles is a handsome, serious man and a masochist, in that he is part of the BDSM alternative lifestyle and enjoys pain. This is a difficult concept to understand if you are not part of the kink scene. However, JA Rock juxtaposes Miles, his personality, drives and insecurities with the kink. This allows the reader to see the man. This can make the scene funny, sexy, disturbing or romantic depending on how in tune the internal dialogue and narration is, to the outside scene. For example, Miles receives the following texts from his friend –
Dude were hangin at Dave’s to talk Hal’s b-day Hey do u still have my windbreaker? Also, do you ever think about what if Barack Obama was clones?
Although in text speak, this is a fairly normal conversation between friends until you realise that Miles is at this moment on an examination table tied up, and having pints of saline injected into his scrotum. This is being done by a professional sadist, Bowser, who holds the phone for him.
Miles is going to change his life though, as he has decided it is the right time in his life to become a father. He has been going through the very difficult process of adopting a baby using a social services organisation called The Beacon Centre, an operation that caters for non-traditional families. Miles is gay, black and single – this the authorities know. He is also into heavy kink, and all his friends are into this lifestyle to varying degrees – this is not known to the Beacon Centre.
Into Miles’ life and T-Shirt shop walks Hendrix Seger (Drix), a gorgeous, tall, blonde man with violet eyes, and a ridiculous name. When Drix gives his phone number to Miles and asks him out on a date – Miles says ‘yes’ when his head says ‘no’. Quitting kink and being the best – and most normal – father a baby could need, gets more difficult as he gets to know Drix and starts to fall for him. Drix is a sadist and is also sweet, intelligent – and a self-proclaimed vampyre. That is …vampyre with a ‘y’ not an ‘i’, there is a difference.
I can’t imagine how J.A. Rock approached her publishers with the idea for this series, but she takes an extremely difficult subject and turns it into a thoroughly enjoyable, thought provoking romance. Additionally, we get the interaction between Miles and the other Subs Club members, each an intriguing character. The conversations and events involving this whole group of friends, are outrageous, funny, sad and sometimes just a way to remind us that real families are not necessarily biological. The familial love between this group is a joy to read.
The novel has three threads that ultimately become entwined. The main thread is Miles’ progress through the process of adopting a baby. Nearly as important if not more so later on, is the burgeoning love story between Miles and Drix – and then we have the events surrounding the Subs Club.
The plotline is quite an important one in today’s society where non-traditional families are working so hard to become more accepted. There is more than one way of bringing up a child. There is more than one type of family. And there is also more than one way of experiencing pleasure and need, and who are we to judge? J.A. Rock takes these ideas to the extreme, in order to show us the people behind the kink. That some lifestyles, which may seem dangerous, weird or just plain silly, are as valid as any other more mainstream, accepted ones. It also reveals quite beautifully how the love of a family is important, and should not be dependent on strict guidelines or pre-conceptions.
Miles is a masochist; he is also an intelligent loving man, friend, son, brother and aspiring father. Drix is a sadist, and a member of a vampyre coven, but he is also very kind, gentle, funny, self-deprecating, loving and empathic. The publishers do warn readers that the book contains ‘heavy kink’, but every aspect is very well done and there is nothing in the novel that takes place without affection or love and consent. There are very explicit sadomasochistic scenes and practices detailed, and I do not particularly enjoy stories with ‘heavy kink’. This made me approach this novel, at first, with trepidation; however, whilst I may have been curious, and slightly amazed, I was never offended.
Pain Slut is a highly enjoyable read with extremely likeable main characters and a reminder to us all not to judge a book by its cover (or lifestyle).
Grade: B+
Book Type: Erotic Romance|Queer Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Review Date: 22/01/16
Publication Date: 2016/02
I'm an English romantic, and an author who simply adores reading and writing books. I believe that all love has equal status, and all humans need and deserve romance. So, I am thrilled to be able to review LGBTQ+ novels for AAR and introduce more readers to some gorgeous LGBTQ+ romances and fascinating stories.
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.