Thirty Days (From Thirty Days to Forever, #1) By Shayla Kersten
Shayla Kersten ✓ 7 free read
Biton Savakis, a 42 year old wealthy lawyer in New York City, is lost without his beloved slave of ten years. Since Erik’s death from cancer three months before, the will to continue his life as a Dom slipped away. Until now. The forlorn looking redhead seems as lost as Biton feels. Maybe the young man can help ease his tension, even if only for a little while.
Cavan never chose the life of a slave, but he doesn’t clearly remember a time when he wasn’t one. Beaten close to death and thrown aside by his former Master, Cavan doesn’t know how to do anything else. When Biton offers him a temporary contract, Cavan doesn’t understand the meaning of his new Master’s words. All he knows is he has a new home and someone to serve. But what will happen to him when the contract ends... In thirty days..
Content: M/M, bondage, Domination/submission Thirty Days (From Thirty Days to Forever, #1)
Am I being naive?
I do not buy that a systematic slave ring previously undetected would tolerate one of its victims being thrown on the streets.
Surely that is the epitome of stupidity? Sell them on, punish them further, kill them - all distinct possibilities. Throw them away? I doubt it.
If you suspend disbelief sufficiently Thirty Days explores the blossoming of confidence and hope in an adult to adult relationship over the course of a month and references harrowing themes of slavery, non-con and child abuse.
Cavan (formerly Michael Delaney) was taken from foster parents at the age of eleven. Believed a run away, he was the victim of a brutal slave ring operation. Most recently held in captivity by sadist Wainwright until he was thrown on to the streets. Now twenty-five, he feels lost without a Master to guide him.
Successful lawyer Biton Savakis has been in mourning for his lover, long-term partner (and lifestyle slave) Erik who recently passed away.
Friends introduce both men and it quickly becomes apparent that Biton may have the skills and interest to help Cavan rebuild his life. Cavan's wellbeing, may help to distract Biton's grief.
Perhaps with enough care Biton can help Cavan to give the police sufficient information to tear down the slave ring.
Do not get me wrong, I like Biton. Cavan is adorable. I remain deeply appalled that Biton would initiate intimate sexual relations with someone who has been systematically sexuality abused from adolescence to mid twenties. Even Biton acknowledges he can't be sure whether Cavan is gay or if his response is genuine or conditioned. That seems like abuse to me.
I do not accept that BDSM no matter how sane, caring or consensual is a panacea that can help deeply damaged souls to heal. I have no problem with BDSM (I do not practice it myself, so I recognise that I speak with no authority) but I would have had a great deal more respect for this story if intimate relations had been curtailed until Cavan was more emotionally resilient.
Which brings me to my final gripe, the cost of the e-book was quite considerable and a relatively short read. I bought and enjoyed the sequel Forever it felt as if both should be one book, not divided into two short reads. I subsequently discovered that the paperback edition From Thirty Days to Forever combines the stories for around the same cost as both e-books it is a shame that readers don't have that choice if they choose to read on electronic devices.
Despite my concerns this was beautifully written and just a little addictive. 9781595783059 Cavan was harshly abused and beaten for a long period of time (since the age of 11). The psychiatrist said to Biton, the Dom, not to have sex with Cavan because he was sexually abused. She said that it could take years before Cavan be completely healed. But then, does that mean that Cavan could not have affection too, and that he could not have sex for years? For Cavan, sex equalled abuse. By having tender sex with him, is Biton not helping Cavan to change that equation for sex equals love?
Probably, Biton shouldn't have taken Cavan into his playroom so soon after the beginning of Cavan's therapy. But again, is it not a way to show Cavan that to be spanked and even whipped could be pleasurable if correctly done?
I'm not sure at all that someone sexually abused and severely beaten in the past could feel comfortable being tied and blindfolded, while he knows he will probably be beaten without knowing how nor seeing the blows coming. It seems to me that, in reality, even with the trust and love that Cavan feels for Biton, Cavan would have imagined horrors behind his blindfold and he would have panicked.
When I was young, I lived in a very poor area where sexual abuses and every sort of abuses were common. I knew a young man who had lived in seven different foster families. I know how difficult it can be to maintain an emotional balance and develop self-confidence in those conditions. But this young man, even abused, did not want to be deprived of sex and been separated from those who seemed to understand him.
We are dealing with human beings here. Emotions are not partitioned: sex this side of the brain, emotions the other side, confidence in the middle, and nothing in between all those parts, nothing that mixes with other feelings. Sorry, but it does not work like that. So while it seems logical that Biton does not have sex with Cavan, it made me cringe to see the Dom drop Cavan every night in the other room while the young man felt safe only in the big bed and cuddling in his master's arm.
That is too short and the ending feels like having been cut with a sharp knife to have 2 stories to sell instead of one and then to have much money with the selling of them both. I do not like that when authors plays tricks on me this way. At least, if we were given the choice to buy the 2 stories for a lesser expensive price, we would not have felt tricked.
I hesitated between 3 and 4 stars, but for all my doubts due to the lack of realism of the sub's psychology and lack of judgment of the Dom, I give it 3 stars.
See other reviews here: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?tag=D... 9781595783059 I love it when I read a book that has well developed characters. I immediately was drawn into the storyline and cared about the characters and the outcome of this book. Although it is a novella, it is well written and fast paced with a emotional storyline that kept me glued to the story until the last word.
Biton Savakis is grieving. He recently lost his partner to cancer. Biton and his partner lived the D/s lifestyle together for over 9 years together, and Biton is having a hard time recovering from the loss of his mate. He is determined to get out the house and try to start a new life. He is lonely and longing for a companion to share his life and D/s lifestyle with him.
When his friends introduce Cavan to Biton his Dom instincts come to surface, but Cavas is special. He has been VERY abused, young (he's around 25...Biton is over 40) and has a mysterious past. Although Biton has a few reservations about starting a relationship with the sub, he decides to do what he can to help Cavan heal from his abusive past.
Cavan is confused. His previous Master was very abusive and almost killed him with his cruelty. Being taken in by caring people who are also in the D/s lifestyle, he sees that being a sub is not about being abused, but finding pleasure with the pain. Cavan is immediately taken with Biton and wants to form a relationship with him. But, Cavan has many issues to work through...from physical, emotional and sexual abuse to fear of abandonment... he must deal with before he can have a healthy D/s relationship or ANY relationship with Biton.
Cavan feels like he is running out of time. When they first met, Biton had agreed to see if they were compatable, and set up a contract to be together for thirty days. As the 30th day comes closer, Cavan knows he must do what he can to have the man of his dreams.
This book is a very emotional read. Cavan has been very tortured and abused throughout his life. He has to deal with many emotional issues. Biton is a wonderful Dom. He is a very likable hero that throws himself into helping Cavan, while he still grieves for his beloved dead partner.
The next book in the series is called Forever. This book has a very satisfying ending, but I am anxious to see how everything turns out between them. 9781595783059 I'm really really not in the D/s genre.On the contrary, most of the time i don't read a book because of it, or i have to be sure it's with light Bdsm.
But for me, with this story Shayla Kersten tell us it's only about love_ a different kind of love_ one you may or you may not understand...
But only love.
And i think she did it very well. You'll feel it all through the book.
And so, I felt in love with the characters right at the beginning.
And as a matter of facts, I'm running for the sequel Forever.
You'll like this book a lot or you'll hate it... i don't know.
Can't say much.
Give it a try.
9781595783059 I purchased this book because of the reviews and the sample, and was very disappointed and, to be honest, a bit disturbed by the treatment of the topic of child abuse in this novel. Maybe if the writing had been stronger (especially the dialogue, which just seemed stilted to me), I'd have rated it higher.
First off, yes, I was fascinated by Cavan's background. His pain was my pain. But I felt as though the character of the dom, Biton, fell flat, and the story felt rushed, especially the ending. More importantly, I felt as though the short-shrift given to Cavan's recovery (which I'll go into a bit more detail about below) did a disservice to the plight of abused and neglected children in general. Sorry about the high-horse here, but my livelihood is inextricably intertwined with child abuse/neglect and the law, so I'm probably overly sensitive to the issue.
MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW: From what I read in another review, there is apparently a sequel. I don't think I'll be buying it, much as I'd love to know what happens in the long run.
I am sure Ms. Kersten really believed she was doing right by her characters and even for the cause of child abuse, but I think she really bit off more than she could chew with this depth of abuse. A part of me just couldn't imagine poor Cavan could EVER consent to BDSM after what he had been through, and the fact that Biton believed he could left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Maybe in the sequel, the author addresses these difficult issues, but I won't be reading it. 9781595783059
The total ignorance about abuse victims and healthy BDSM lifestyle in this book made my blood boil.
My issues with this book started when a nurse, homicide detective, and lawyer (who all claim to be knowledgeable and well practiced in the BDSM lifestyle) confuse a twenty-something (Cavan) kid who's obviously showing symptoms of heavy abuse (and was sold into sexual slavery around the age of fourteen) with a willing, emotionally stable, and knowledgeable BDSM slave. And ended when Biton (the experienced Dom with so much control) couldn't keep his dick in his pants, initiated sex with Cavan after Cavan's psychiatrist explicitly told Biton that it was integral to Cavan's recovery to NOT have sex with Cavan. I stopped reading the book.
I've never had a fictional book make me feel so much rage. It seems to me this author has no concept of BDSM practices or abuse victims and handled the subject horribly. 9781595783059 It's hard for me to rate and review this one because it was difficult connecting with the characters. I did like the story but I felt it was underdeveloped. It could have used more details, less glossing over and more character depth.
Of course, there were some aspects of the story I liked. I enjoyed Cavan as a character and how damaged he was as well as how much Biton hurt over his deceased partner and his struggle to allow Cavan to heal properly. I enjoyed the parts hinting at how emotionally messed up Cavan was and I gobbled them up whenever I came across a scene where it showed how damaged he was.
Unfortunately, it could have used about fifty more pages. I felt like I was reading an outline more than an actual story. A problem would arise and not five pages later there was a resolution. I would have liked way more details into their lives, how deep their feelings were and how they'd be genuine, their recovery through Cavan's past and more into their relationship. Instead the story was more a 'wam bam thank you man' type book; quick and somewhat easy but not much to connect with. My main issue with the book, though, was how much it glossed over. I was really looking forward to how Cavan and Biton would use their thirty days of the contract together but one minute it was day three and the next it was three days till the contract ended. I was disappointed to say the least.
All in all, I did like the characters. They are somewhat shallow but likable enough. The plot had a lot of potential but could have used more substance to it. The BDSM element is mild but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who dislikes anything beyond simple bondage.
With that said, I'm still looking forward to reading the sequel - Forever - to see how Biton helps heal Cavan further. 9781595783059 I have bumped this one up to 5 stars now because I've read, & enjoyed it multiple times now so I feel I've gotten my moneys worth IYKWIM ... although this book is (I hope) an unrealistic portrayal of abuse & recovery, I really love the characters & the development of the relationship ... I want to boo whenever Dr Merten tries to twist & pervert Biton's intentions ... I want to cheer whenever Cavan makes a step toward recovery/healing ... the smex is a lovely bonus too ... this book/series is wonderful & I would recommend it highly.
Original Review...★★★★
I really enjoyed this book (and its sequel). The characters were vivid and I really wanted them to have a HEA. Although there was a history of abuse in Cavan's past, the tone of the book wasn't dark and brooding, rather it highlighted the resilience of a healing spirit and the developing love between Biton and Cavan.
I would have given this book 5 stars if it were more reasonably priced. I read both books in a couple of hours so although it was a worthwhile and enjoyable read, the price was too steep for the experience.
This is a book I will read again. The BDSM elements aren't too heavy and despite Biton's 'need' for a 24/7 relationship with a submissive, the usual mind games and need for the dominant partner to subsume his submissive completely was happily absent.
Originally posted on Amazon.com 9781595783059 OMG! This book has everything I love to read about! Biton and Cavan have so much they have to go through before they can be together. The heartache from Cavan's horrible past left me in tears! Biton was wonderful with Cavan. Biton is a hero I love to read about. Strong, compassionate, sexy and dominating...I was in heaven! Cavan and Biton are truly meant to be together! I can't wait to read the next one! 9781595783059 This book touched on quite a few issues I have dealt with personally. I thought it was well written and handled well. 9781595783059