Save Me from Myself by Cassie Stevens

Title: Save Me from Myself
Author: Cassie Stevens
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance/BDSM
Length: Novella (108 pages)
Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

A guest review by Lily

Review Summary

An okay story of two men who must get over the painful memories they share in order to explore the possibilities of a relationship.

BLURB

Reid Hansen has always had a “thing” for Marines. But not for former Marine, now up-and-coming fashion designer, Jackson Tate. In fact, Reid would rather see Jackson dead.

Jackson Tate has more success than he’d ever imagined, and all the stress that goes with it. Who better to help pull him back from the edge than Reid Hansen? But Reid’s fateful and unexpected presence in Jackson’s life resurrects the ghost of the Marine Reid once loved, the Marine Jackson served with, the Marine who died saving Jackson’s life, and it’s quite clear that Reid has no intention of offering Jackson the salvation he seeks. In fact, it seems Reid would rather deliver that final shove that destroys him.

Jackson is the last man Reid wants to meet. Their lives first intersected on an Iraqi desert years before. Now, finally face-to-face, resentment, anger, and guilt put them at odds. Grief and the truth bind them. And then there’s the unrelenting want fueling their actions. A craving neither can deny.

Yes, Reid’s the one man who could save Jackson from himself. But who is saving whom?

REVIEW

Jackson Tate and Reid Hansen have never met yet the men share a very painful bond. Reid’s lover Stan died in Jackson’s arms while they were serving in Iraq and Reid has never forgotten, nor forgiven, Jackson for living. Years later Reid attends a celebration for Jackson’s new fashion designs and the men finally meet.

They are instantly attracted to each other but with so many volatile memories and emotions between them it’s not an easy meeting. When Jackson shares a closely guarded secret about the day Stan died Reid has to reevaluate his feelings. Jackson meanwhile is desperately searching for a way to handle the stress of his life and meeting Reid, a dominant who he thinks could help him, gives him the hope of finding the peace he so desperately wants.

Even though he longs to find a balance in his life Jackson is only interested in sexual domination and the men grapple for control outside the bedroom. Jackson and Reid must find a way to get past all of their issues if they want to have a chance to make their new relationship work.

This was a confusing story at times and I just never felt in touch with either of the protagonists. Reid isn’t particularly likable at the beginning and I found Jackson’s feelings towards Reid strange. He’d only known of the other man from conversations with Stan years earlier, had never met the man in person and yet he’s been thinking of and longing for Reid to dominate and save him. This just didn’t ring true to me. I did think the sex scenes were hot and written well  even though Reid’s ‘topping from the bottom’ a couple of times was a bit strange for me.

I’ve read a couple of other stories by this author which I’ve enjoyed but was ultimately disappointed with this one. The storyline seemed interesting at first but I quickly lost interest as the neither character, nor their relationship, ever truly grabbed me. The story does end with a nicely written HFN ending and may be of interest to fans of the author. Of course, as with any book, while I personally didn’t enjoy it there may be many readers who will.