The Cartographer (The Compass #6)
Erotic BDSM
Released: June 26, 2017
Self Published
Reviewed by Mandi
Oh Reyes. Fans of The Compass series have greatly been anticipating Rey getting his HEA. The kink life coach who has helped so many others find their way in life to their own HEA, now finally gets his chance, and it comes in a man named Allie Hart.
Rey is a hard person to describe. In control, intense when needed, open and warm at other times. He works in the kink scene – helping dominates find subs. Helping both D/s learn how to be good dominants and subs so everyone is fulfilled and safe. He sees people as puzzle pieces and loves to make everyone fit together. He has never found true love though. His current partner is named Matthew, who works as his assistant. They have been together romantically (Matthew is his sub) for quite a while. But Matthew has met someone and wants a shot with this person. He tells Rey they can’t have a physical relationship anymore, which Rey totally understands. Matthew stays on as his assistant and I pretty much adore him.
Rey finds himself alone, but not worried about it. At a bar one night, he can’t keep his eyes off the bartender, who is doing a horrible job making drinks. Rey hops behind the bar to help out, and learns that this man, Allie, is filling in for his sister. Allie works in construction but is currently out of a job and living in his truck. His sister lost her husband and his money has been going to her to help her out. When Rey realizes this, he offers Allie a bed in his house for the night. Allie does NOT want a free hand out, but a bed in a house rather than in his truck is appealing. Rey is very attracted to Allie and starts to see a spark that Allie could be a submissive. Rey starts to show him the joy of BDSM and Allie responds to it like a natural.
I liked this book but there is a “but” coming which I will get to in a minute. I adore Rey – we meet him in India and Cris’s books and his friendship with India is just the best. They truly are chosen family and I love their interactions. He is constantly on the move, going from one location to another to teach, and match-make and sometimes play himself. I don’t think he ever loses control. He is the kind of guy where the world can be falling down around him and he will very patiently do what he needs to do.
Allie is super cute and I liked him a lot. He is new to the kink scene and was willing to try a lot. His trust in Rey comes fast and their attraction is definitely there. It’s told only in Rey’s point of view, and while I love Rey’s POV, I also would have liked to get a glimpse inside Allie’s head. To hear what he was really thinking during some of these scenes. The sex in this one is e-r-o-t-i-c. Whew. And there is a lot of it.
Allie and Rey both lost their fathers, and they bond over that pain. They fall for each other, although Rey has a hard time truly believing his life style lends to a lifetime partner. It takes his friends to sit him down and put some sense into him for him to realize this.
My “but” from before is this: I adore Rey. Allie is a super good guy and sexy. BUT. Will Rey be bored in about five years? Allie is so….nice. And I get that Rey needs a sub as a lover. But at the same time I couldn’t help but wonder if Rey needed to be challenged a little more? Just a little? Do I see Rey an Allie completely content and happy in 15 years? I really don’t know. Not that I don’t believe in their relationship at the end of the book, but I’m not sure if I picture them together forever. And that’s actually okay for me.
If you have not read this series, I highly recommend it. Tamsen Parker writes very well done BDSM. She really puts a lot of detail into her scenes that I greatly appreciate.
And she writes such sexy characters.
Grade B
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