Making the Rules

WOW! Ashe Barker’s incredible! Tragedy, mystery, BDSM, and the healing power inherent in all of us combine in a very compelling story!

Lily Jamison’s on a mission. She appears in Mytholm Bridge to research her PhD thesis. But who does a doctoral thesis on unexplained deaths and the aftereffects of those tragedies? Nearly 20 years ago, such a mystery occurred in Mytholm Bridge. Grace Havers, an toddler, ended up in the local river, washed downstream, her body never recovered. Now Lily’s focused on tracking down the details. She works her way through every contact she has but ends up with nothing. As the clues trickle to a stop, she’s discouraged, ready to give up. But fate steps in. By pure happenstance, Ben Tyler, an American, is in Mytholm Bridge to settle his late aunt’s estate. He wasn’t just there that fateful day. He tried to save little Grace. It’s seared into his memory. He’s definitely not keen to dredge up those painful memories. But he finds himself drawn to the spunky, quirky, and mysterious grad student. Despite his reservations, he’s pulled into her search for answers. Only do they truly want the truth? The clues are nearly nonexistent. The one person Lily was counting on has literally tossed her aside. She’s left reeling. But there are deeper implications. Ben’s a dominant to his very core. As Lily takes risk after risk, putting herself in danger over and over, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Lily rebuffs his attempts at correction and punishment but, in the process, learns things about herself she could never have suspected. As small clues creep in, both Ban and Lily sense secrets deliberately hidden. What reason would anyone have to hide details of a 20-year-old tragedy? As Lily’s threatened again and again, Ben’s determined to keep her safe, from herself and the dangers facing her. Lily can’t fall for him. He’s an American returning home soon. Ben knows Lily’s just another in a long line of submissives he’s known. She has to solve this mystery before her time’s up. But can she, especially without Ben’s help? Just how much is each willing to compromise? When the threats against her reach a crescendo, can Lily and Ben find a way to unravel the secrets? Either way, neither one will ever be the same again!

Ashe Barker’s exceptional!, This book’s a mix of mystery, unseen circumstances, hidden agendas, erotic romance, and a totally unexpected outcome where absolutely nothing is certain. This is far more than a mere BDSM romance. I fell in love with Lily and Ben. Their chemistry flies off the page and tugs you into the story to the exclusion of all else. You’re literally caught up in their lives, the mystery, the threats surrounding them. I fell in love with Lily from the start. She’s spunky, rebellious, reckless, independent. There’s absolutely nothing seemingly submissive about her. If that seems contradictory, you need to understand the intricacies, nuances, and beauty of BDSM. As the two ease into friendship, then hope for resolution of a decades old mystery, the dynamic changes. I was fascinated by Ben’s dominance, which runs soul-deep. That juxtaposition of opposing personalities poses challenges beyond the investigation they face. Uncertainty faces the duo at every step. The mystery, obstacles, and obvious heartbreak facing them tug at your heartstrings. You’ll never believe the ending. I’ve become a huge fan of Ms. Barker in a very short time. This book shows breathtaking descriptions of small town Britain. She crafts characters and situations in a very rare and realistic way, I couldn’t put this book down. Quite simply, it’s one of the best written mystery/tragedy/romances I’ve read in quite some time. I was very impressed. This book deserves no less than five stars. Congratulations, Ms. Barker, on a very special, captivating book!

One final note. Please be an informed reader! This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and BDSM/sexual scenes. This book may not be for you if you don’t enjoy this genre. Think hard before buying any book you know you won’t enjoy. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and all booksellers’ websites. Use these resources. DON’T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON’T ENJOY THE BOOK. It’s not fair to the author! She works very hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you’ll object to the book’s subject matter before you buy it, you’re doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!