Make Me by Charlotte Stein

Make Me
by Charlotte Stein
Rating: 4.5 stars

Ok, so I just finished my second read of this one. I couldn't remember enough specifics to write a review before, but I knew I really enjoyed the book. So here it is. Nothing like a Charlotte Stein book to get you out of a reading slump. I read the blurb for this book ages ago, and something about it vaguely turned me off. Looking at it now, I'm pretty sure it was the “for anyone lusting after more than '50 Shades'”.

So, let's put that one on the table first. This is not anything like 50 Shades. There's no bondage, no spanking, pretty much nothing on the B, S, or M spectrum. Notice I left out the D. Yes, there is some domination, but all in Charlotte Stein's trademarked consensual style. Anyone that says “no” is immediately outed as lying and they carry on with the durty enjoyment.

Tyler and Brandon haven't seen Maisie in years, ever since they had a threesome with her and she walked out the next morning without a word. One thing to remember with Charlotte Stein novels, the relationship is loads more important than anything else going on. Meaning, I'm not 100% sure why she came back, I think the men were opening their own bar or something. I'm not sure how she knew about it, where she lived, or what made her decide after so many years to see them. But the important part is, she did. She went and gets wrapped up in them again. They have a little bit of awkward time, but they jump back into sex really quickly. Not quite coercion, completely consensual, but pushed beyond a couple of their comfort zones.

This story also contains: male/male sexuality, male/male/female sexuality (in many different positions), a little bit of exhibitionism and voyeurism, lots of durty, sexy talk, and there are two guys and a girl, so be prepared that there are butt things involved. We can leave it at that, right? Lots of durty sex things and some vulnerable, passionate, emotional characters.

It's about opening up, freedom, taking life and love with both hands even when you're nervous, and the everlastingness of love. The whole book was perfect in my eyes and I could have read more of their sexual exploits for hours.

Tyler and Brandon and Maisie are a complete package. When Maisie runs out after a sexual encounter with them five years ago, their friendship fell apart. But she hopes that seeing them will prove that at least they haven't damaged their friendship too badly. It's far more complicated when they want to pick up where they left off. Maisie finds her own power, which I love. Tyler controls a lot of their interactions – I'd compare it a bit to Lust Dazed. Maisie and Brandon seem to need someone pulling their strings and Tyler is all too happy to do it. But the twists and turns by the end, oh my gosh, I loved this one.

I felt all kinds of good things while reading the story. It definitely goes on my re-read pile, even after reading it twice already. Will I re-read this one? Yes, definitely. Does it knock Restraint and Curve Ball off my best of Charlotte Stein category? Maybe not quite, but it's a very close hair behind.

*This review is archived on my blog: The Theory of Lieto Fine