Dana’s never submitted to anyone except her late husband — he trained her, taught her to submit. He’s been dead a year and a half, and it’s time to consider dating again. She sticks to vanilla at first, but quickly realizes she’s going to need more. She’s beginning to consider the possibility of finding someone who’d enjoy hurting her without requiring her submission when her life is complicated … complicated by a Dom who pushes all her buttons.
Safeword: Davenport is the first half of Dana’s story, it’s the personal part of her journey and has a Happy for Now ending. Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon gives the rest of her story.
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It has been some years since the first time I met Dana and Zack. Nevertheless this feels like a whole new book. I can’t say if it is because of additions to the first version, which I loved, or my better understanding of the situation the two main characters are in.
Both lost a life partner, but in their particular circumstance they also lost the one person who satisfied a significant part of their inherent necessities. When they come back to the lifestyle they cannot live without, it is just to ease their physical need. To engage in a relationship other than that seems to both a betrayal of their lost spouses.
The slow growing understanding of their feelings for each other, the time it takes to permit themselves to love again, is told with such care and understanding it leaves you at times raw and hurting.
The particular setting of this story in the BDSM world is in this special case, for me, just an added and very appreciated bonus!
Safeword: Davenport is simply amazing. It’s a story that gets you hooked from the first page and leaves you wanting part 2 as soon as you finish the last paragraph.
Dana is a widow who is trying to figure out how to live without her husband and Master. She’s just started dating again and is floundering because nothing feels right. Then she meets Zach and she’s
even more confused about her feelings and who she is. Meeting him starts her on a journey to find herself.
All of Candance’s books are great! But there’s just something about Safeword: Davenport that makes it just a little different and makes it just reach out and grab you with all the feels.
The best way to describe Safeword: Davenport by Candace Blevins in one word is intense. Honestly I am not sure how I feel after reading about Zach and Dana. But I can tell you with great certainty Ms. Blevins will have you feeling some kind of way after this story.
Even though the D’s relationship between Dana and Zach appeared to step right into the deep end immediately, it was clear that Zach and Dana learned more than either realized during the months they had a strictly working relationship. I loved how, for lack of a better word, intense their sexual needs were. Even as some of their kinks made me uncomfortable Ms. Blevins articulated their needs in such a way as to normalize it for them. That is not to say Ms. Blevins focused only of the sexual needs of Zach and Dana. She also gave us an intensely emotional story. Both Zach and Dana were dealing with loss and finding their footing after the loss of their partners/spouses. Ms. Blevins articulated their struggles with grief and acceptance so well I could almost taste their tears and feel their frustration. At times I just wanted to shake some sense into Dana even as I wanted to give her a needed hug. And even as I wondered if Zach would push too far too fast, I wanted him to expect more. I became deeply vested in both Zach and Dana individually and as a couple. I wanted them to succeed in a healthy relationship. I wanted them to grab a future together. I just wanted them to be happy which speaks to how well Ms. Blevins crafted not only this story but also the characters. I enjoyed meeting Zach and Dana. I enjoyed the unexpected twists Ms. Blevins gave us. I want to see more and hope Ms. Blevins will give it to us.
As with all of this author’s books once I start reading I am so drawn into the story that I cannot put it down until finished and this one was the same.
We are introduced to two people who are in the process of learning to deal with loss and heartache. While both are working to achieve that goal, one is doing better than the other. I found myself engrossed in the development of these characters and their romantic relationship.
When Ms Blevins wote this book she put her all into it in order to share it’s intensity, passion and some very extreme kink and she succeeded beautifully. I loved it!
I received this ARC in return for an honest review not necessarily a positive one.
This isn’t your BDSM lite, this is real, stark, and glaring. This story doesn’t gloss over anything, from the true pain of losing, to the self-doubt and concerns, and the guilt that can accompany enjoying yourself. The ease of isolation, and the pain of comparison. But it also celebrates the actualization of becoming. Becoming the new you after, becoming a different you, and accepting your completeness. Knowing you can be different, yet, stay the same. That you are celebrating life, not moving past, but being you. A you that your past shaped, and allows you to move into the future. Completing the you that you need to be right now
I really enjoyed this emotional, pull-no-punches story about loss and love. Moving on after losing a partner in a power exchange relationship is something I had never really considered before. There are so many facets to the relationship between Zach and Dana (as well as Brent/Jacob).
Reading Candace’s books is always both a thinking and a feeling experience for me. I don’t have any experience with serious BDSM or power exchange relationships, so I always learn something, Her writing is clear and direct, descriptive and emotional in all the right ways. I loved where this book took me mentally as I thought about the characters and then more seriously about myself.
I loved this. Looking forward to reading the next volume! I was given this book, and am reviewing it because I loved it!
Dana buried herself in grief as she buried her husband but now realizes that she needs to reemerge to the land of the living again. That journet begins when she meets Zach, a widower, who hires Dana to remodel his home. Zach is a Dom and she’s as drawn to him as he is to her. Torn between her allegiance to her dead husband and her budding feelings, Dana being the journey from being completely submissive to her husband, a sadist to becoming a switch. The dynamic with Zach scares her but also makes lets her know that she needs to find what else is out there begore making any kind of commitment.
Holy moly! Safeword:Davenport is a profound read. I could not put it down, devoured it in one fell swoop. This story follows Dana as she embarks on a journey to find herself after the passing of her Dom/husband. Those helping her are smouldering, intense Doms,Tops and a sub. The erotic scenes are blazing hot and involve TPE, S/m and D/s. This story continues in Safeword #4 Davenport and Chiffon. Thanks for another great story Candace Blevins!!!
4.8 I didn’t like Zack at first still a little iffy on it bit He seems to make Dana happy after pushing himself on her. I really liked the deep feelings she had with Jacob he’s a real sweetie. Zach was fooling himself when he says he’s not really sadistic but he can give her what she wants/ He just likes to do it where he doesn’t have to see his handy work. I didn’t like his attitude when she was still trying to find herself and he was acting all cold and shallow. She owed him nothing they weren’t in a committed relationship he knew she was struggling with submitting to someone other than her husband and that she needed to figure out it was ok on her own. He acted childish and was trying to push himself on er. I would have liked seeing her choose Max he seemed more of a fit and not pushy. But she chose Zack and it seems to be working out. I love her connection with Jacob and Brent and hope to see ore of them.
Dana a submissive who lost her late husband is on a road to discover herself again. Dana story is not an easy journey this is the first half of her book. I can’t wait to read the next book in her journey I truly enjoyed this book. I voluntarily review this book for my honest opinion.
Outstanding, thought provoking and intense. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dana and Zac story. The emotions portrayed hit deep into your heart., of over coming loss and refinding yourself. Ms Blevins truly knows how to draw a reader in and keep them captivated from start to finish.
Looking forward to the next installment.
I read this book (previous version) 2013. and it was a revelation in sorts. new to BDSM I was still discovering it all, and Candace has a knack of doing things differently, not just the mainstream stuff. So these series were a surprise, and it gave me a flashback when I started re-reading it (wanted to do it sooner but Candace has been popping books out like m&m’s :), keeping me busy !!!
this is a really unique book. up front you have a special relationship growing between two people that are dealing with loss of their spouse, and a business deal was the ideal chance to get comfortable around each other, making it easier to take the step into the BDSM part of their relationship – which brings us to the second part of this – dear Lord, it got from hot to sizzling in a matter of minutes.
This book is a ideal showcase of the diversity of BDSM, Candace does teach you something new (like in each chapter!!!) so I was like “Can you really do that?” “Is she sure about that?”.
This book will make you swoon, gasp, whimper and much, much more (for the more – start reading, I ain’t telling !!). So, grab a book, get comfortable and take out time for fun, cause its about to get freaky HOT in here.