The Deep End (Honey, #1)

by Kristen Ashley

[stacey_is_sassy]

Judge on the journey…not just the individual stops

I’ll warn you straight up this may end up as a whole bunch of babbling…

I was really nervous starting The Deep End. Kristen Ashley is my favouritist favourite author. I have a lot of favourite authors but she’s the Queen. So, when she decided to do something new and different I was more than interested. Then…she shared that she created a hero that was an Alpha/Sub. WHAT??? Now, don’t blame me, but all I could see was the sub part. I couldn’t take in the Alpha part at the time because, in my little old head, those two words do not compute together. With a few deep breaths and a talk me down from the ledge from hubby (of course, his talk me down from the ledge was VERY tongue in cheek), I remembered it was KA and decided to just see how things went.

With an advanced copy of The Deep End sitting on my kindle, I was bloody nervous. It took a wee bit of time to prepare myself for the journey. I had to pack away my pre-conceived ideas, clear my mind of previous similar journeys and plan to not judge on every stop/station that I visited. I needed to make sure to remember that one stop/station that I don’t like, doesn’t have to ruin the whole trip. It’s how I feel at the end that counts.

Then I started…

OK…

Houston, we have a problem…

I didn’t like the heroine. I had to put down my kindle for a minute or two and re-evaluate. I admit, I have read some BDSM books and enjoyed them. There’s something about a man giving orders, taking his sub to a different level of awareness and giving pleasure unimaginable. So, I thought to myself…Sassy, don’t be so sexist, these same things from a woman can be just as sexy.

There were times where I could understand where the heroine was coming from. She’s confident, beautiful, rich and taller than quite a few men which give her power and control. If this power and control are in her everyday life, of course, it could be something that flows into the bedroom too.

So, we’ve established that I struggled a little with the heroine dominating. I eventually worked through that and moved onto other issues.

A BDSM setting is a hard one to get your mind around. With every story that has had this element, I can’t help but think…how the hell do they get off on this stuff? I don’t get the humiliation and putting your partner on display to show ownership, control and ability to make someone act on your bidding.

Well, this stage took a wee bit longer to process. In the end, I did because it was bloody obvious that our hero, while at first angry and vulnerable, gets off on it. I mean…REALLY GETS OFF ON IT!!

Which brings us to the crux of the story and where all readers must make a decision. How do we accept that an "Alpha" male in real life, NEEDS pain, control and ownership in the bedroom? We're talking about a blokey bloke in real life, coming to accept that in the bedroom, he likes to be pushed out of his comfort zone. The hero doesn’t like to be ordered around or embarrassed but something in him snaps and a button is pushed in the play room that gives him the high…the release…the ecstasy he craves.

How can I judge? What right do I have to say it’s wrong? Who am I to think what I want or like is what everyone else should too?

In the end, it’s all about pleasure and finding your happy place. He can still be a blokey bloke in his everyday life, say what he wants when he wants and be bossy if he needs to. What he likes in the bedroom doesn't change the man he is on the street. He will still knock your block off if you touch him inappropriately, talk in a degrading way or boss him around...in his everyday life.

The Deep End was interesting, sexy and thought provoking. When you find your happy place in the four walls of a BDSM club, can you take that connection to the outside world? Do the four walls move outward to include parts of your world? Can you leave that part of yourself just for the bedroom? Will you expect it all the time?

I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. There were highs and lows but they somehow all came together in a way that I could understand and appreciate. Yes, their scene is not my cup of tea, but geez I can’t complain about standing at the window and observing the action…connection…feelings that develop.

The Deep End will not be for everyone and Kristen Ashley fans will be surprised where she goes. The story has a little mystery and intrigue thrown in but it definitely wasn't the main focus of the story. A lot of The Deep End revolves around the club, the Bee's Honey and the Dominant's of the club. It has her usual style to it but it goes deeper into the kinky than she’s ever been before.

Good luck…and may the force be with you.

Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.