STAY
K.M. NEUHOLD
M/M PUPPY PLAY ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE: 01.11.19
BLURB
What happens to a couple when one of them discovers a new kink that he’s not sure his partner will be into?
Dear Art,
I’m sure you get messages like this all the time, but I feel like I don’t even know who I am anymore. I suppose I should start from the beginning… Three weeks ago, I saw puppy play for the first time, and now I can’t stop thinking about it. Wait, no, that’s not really the beginning… Ten years ago, my best friend who I’d been in love with my entire life told me he loved me too.
For ten years, I’ve been living in complete bliss with Lars, the man of my dreams. Don’t get me wrong, we have our fights and disagreements (mostly because I do irritating shit, and every once in a while, he reaches the end of his patience), but he is my other half in every way. I didn’t know I could love someone the way I love him.
Then, the puppy thing happened. It’s not so different from when I realized I was gay; there was a moment where everything sort of clicked into place, and my whole body was like “Yes, that’s what we’ve been trying to figure out all this time.” At first, I thought maybe I should just let it go because it’s not the kind of thing I can imagine my partner being into. But last week I went into a kink shop and ended up walking out with a puppy hood. I stashed it in our guest bedroom closet and haven’t even had the courage to take it out and try it on again, let alone show it to Lars. I don’t know what to do. How do I bring this up to him? And what if he isn’t into it? I feel like I don’t recognize myself anymore, and I don’t know where to turn. Please help.
Sincerely,
One Lost Puppy
EXCERPT
I turn away from him, heading deeper into the shop, and there it is, hanging innocently on the back wall alongside a number of other accessories—collars, knee pads, mittens, toys—but right now, the only thing I can see is the hood. My heart gives one of those odd flutters again, my hands shaking as I slowly make my way toward the display.
I glance around to see if anyone is watching me and realize no one else is in the store right now. I look back at the employee and find him leaning against the counter, thumbing through his phone like he couldn’t care less about what kinky shit I’m here looking for. And I’m sure he can’t. He works in a sex shop for fuck’s sake; I’m sure he’s seen it all.
The pleasant scent of leather lingers in the air around the display as I near it. When I come to a stop in front of it, my knees tremble, practically knocking together, and my breath is coming so fast I’m a little concerned I’m about to pass out from lack of oxygen.
I reach out an unsteady hand and when my fingers brush against the smooth material of the hood, a rush of excitement zips through me like an electric shock. To my surprise and slight horror, my cock begins to perk up as my fingertips dance along the muzzle and around the eyeholes, mapping the topography of it.
“You can try it on if you want.” The voice makes me jump, nearly knocking the entire display off the wall.
KM Neuhold introduces us to Jonah and Lars in Stay. Jonah and Lars have been in love since childhood and together as a couple for a decade when a chance encounter introduces them to puppy play. These two have a natural, undefined D/s dynamic and Jonah, the submissive, quickly becomes obsessed with puppy play.
This book explores the angst around exploring and introducing a new kink in an established, long-term relationship. I expected more conflict, drama and issues, but things work out fairly easily. These two are just made for each other and this is a sweet, easy read despite the BDSM theme. While the plot has the opportunity to be complex and dark, Ms. Neuhold keeps it light and this is a true romance deepened by sharing their kink. Somehow she pulled off a heartwarming BDSM-themed book!
She writes these characters very well, both of which are likable and completely adorable. Their banter and ease of relationship make for an entertaining read. I also liked the supporting characters - Addie, Seb, Vale and Adrian. Here’s hoping this becomes a series and we can explore these characters more!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
4 Stars
KM Neuhold introduces us to Jonah and Lars in Stay. Jonah and Lars have been in love since childhood and together as a couple for a decade when a chance encounter introduces them to puppy play. These two have a natural, undefined D/s dynamic and Jonah, the submissive, quickly becomes obsessed with puppy play.
This book explores the angst around exploring and introducing a new kink in an established, long-term relationship. I expected more conflict, drama and issues, but things work out fairly easily. These two are just made for each other and this is a sweet, easy read despite the BDSM theme. While the plot has the opportunity to be complex and dark, Ms. Neuhold keeps it light and this is a true romance deepened by sharing their kink. Somehow she pulled off a heartwarming BDSM-themed book!
She writes these characters very well, both of which are likable and completely adorable. Their banter and ease of relationship make for an entertaining read. I also liked the supporting characters - Addie, Seb, Vale and Adrian. Here’s hoping this becomes a series and we can explore these characters more!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
5 Stars
I have loved KM’s writing since the minute I opened Rescue Me (Heathens Ink Book 1) and I haven’t looked back. I will say I was a little nervous going into this since it’s so different (in a good way) from her other series, but almost as soon as I opened it I knew I had NOTHING to be worried about.
STAY was a beautiful story that was so sweet and fun and sad all rolled into one novel.
Jonah had me cheering for him from page one with how sweet he was, and at times he had so much sass that I couldn’t help but laugh at the ways he teased Lars. But when he began to discover his puppy side and had so much fear over what Lars would say, I just wanted to cuddle him and make him smile again.
Lars is a strong character who just wants nothing more than to care for Jonah anyway he can and when he sees Jonah pulling away from him a bit, he is scared about what that could mean for them. My heart about stopped in several spots and I just wanted to cuddle him, as well as Jonah, to protect both men.
I got giddy the further we got into the book and never wanted to put it down for a minute (which I had to for housework *Yuck*, but I sucked it up just to get my hands on this story again). I actually loved the side characters, Adrian, Seb, Vale and I can’t wait till they get books of their own.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Author K.M.Neuhold is a complete romance junkie, a total sap in every way. She started her journey as an author in new adult, MF romance, but after a chance reading of an MM book she was completely hooked on everything about lovely- and sometimes damaged- men finding their Happily Ever After together.
She has a strong passion for writing characters with a lot of heart and soul, and a bit of humor as well. And she fully admits that her OCD tendencies of making sure every side character has a full backstory will likely always lead to every book having a spin-off or series.
When she's not writing she's a lion tamer, an astronaut, and a superhero...just kidding, she's likely watching Netflix and snuggling with her husky while her amazing husband brings her coffee.
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