Review - Safeword

In this sequel to Power Exchange, it’s been nearly two years since Detective Gavin DeGrassi and his Dom Ben were attacked and almost killed by a serial killer. Gavin is back at work as a police detective, but he’s far from over the post-traumatic stress of the attack. He can’t stand being touched, even by his lover Ben, let alone tied up and dominated, and everywhere he looks there are reminders of the event. While Ben shows fewer outward signs of the ordeal, he still struggles with guilt over his inability to protect his sub Gavin, as well as how to give his lover the domination he craves while respecting the new limits his condition places on their relationship, all of which places an enormous strain on the lovers.

Things look to be going from bad to worse when Gavin and his partner Myah land a new case involving the murder of a fellow officer. There are few clues to follow, and soon there’s another body, and then another. Can Gavin rise to meet the challenge, or will he fall victim to another serial killer? Even if he survives, will his relationship with Ben be able to withstand any more pressure from his job?

Sequels are always going to be compared to the first book, and “Safeword” stands up extremely well. In some ways, it’s even better. One issue “Power Exchange” had was that most readers easily got way ahead of the main character, figuring out who the killer was well before Gavin and Ben walked into his trip. That potential pitfall is largely avoided in “Safeword”, in part because the probable identity of the killer is identified early in the story. The problem faced by Gavin and his fellow detectives is how to find him, even though the elusive killer seems to have ready access to Gavin’s home. In many respects, this book is more of a thriller than a mystery. The challenge is to catch a murderer before you become his victim.

Of course, that kind of pressure puts even more strain on Gavin, Ben and those around them. Those stresses and how people cope with traumatic events are very much at the center of this story. The depiction of how different people deal differently with life’s challenges is handled very believably. Gavin and Ben’s D/s relationship plays a big role in their problems, as well as the solution. The mix of kinky sex, mystery, and emotions makes this a very distinctive and enjoyable read.

“Safeword” is available from Amazon and All Romance Ebooks.