Sub-Culture by Sage Marlowe
The Sub-Mission Series reading order:
- Sub-Mission (Book #1) – click here for review
- Re-Submission (Book #2) – click here for review
- Sub-Culture (Book #3) – in this review
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Blurb…
When life gets on top, delving into a sub-culture may be just what it takes to keep a sinking relationship afloat
Five years after the bumpy start to their relationship, Noah and Pierce have settled well into their lives as a happy couple. The arrival of a new child should have made their matrimonial bliss complete, but the strain of raising a baby and a teenager, combined with a lot of pressure in their jobs, is beginning to take its toll.
In the midst of what already is a potentially explosive situation, Noah’s younger brother Jonah comes to stay with them, forcing Noah to face the issues he still has regarding his homophobic parents and adding to the emotional pressure he is under.
When Noah starts behaving oddly and Pierce just can’t seem to put his jealousy to rest, the cracks in their relationship become too severe to ignore any longer. They struggle to keep their sinking love afloat but as Noah craves the comfort a certain sub-culture can offer, Pierce finds himself wondering just how far he is willing to step out of his own comfort zone to save their love.
So what did I think?
I enjoy to read a story that revisits a couple and allows us to see how the relationship has developed over time. And this book is no exception. It was great to see Noah and Pierce after five years.
I was a bit doubtful when the story started with so much domesticity but I needn’t have worried – pretty quickly sex in the kitchen was on the agenda! Although I must admit surprise that they were up for kitchen sex with a teenage daughter in the house as I haven’t heard to too many kitchens with locks!
Noah and Pierce reach a turning point in their relationship. Doubts and insecurities creep in. There are secrets and lack of communication.
Once again I was surprised at Pierce’s brother Francis’ involvement and the information he keeps from his brother. “Of course he knew. It all made perfect sense. Noah could have relied on Francis to keep his secret. Pierce had never figured out whether it was the Dom or the psychologist in Francis who protected what was confided to him so fiercely. Whichever part of him it was, he would never betray the trust put into him. Not ever for the sake of saving a failing relationship.” And when it came to Noah’s submission, I wanted Francis to back right off and let Pierce take the reins!
My only slight criticism (and it is minor) was the repeated use of “nn-nn” in conversation. For some reason it annoyed me. Maybe because I’ve never actually seen it written before?
This was an excellent addition to the series.
To find out more about Sage Marlowe and his books visit his website.
Buy Re-SubMission from Amazon.