Genre: Alternative (MM) BDSM Romance Heat Level: 4 Word Count: 41, 180 ISBN: 978-1-77130-073-5 Editor: Marie Medina Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Love in the Land of Fire by Rebecca Brochu

Heat Level 4
$4.99
SKU 978-1-77130-073-5
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Shangri-La, 1

In a world where one is either the ruler or the ruled, Enforcer Josiah Marx takes a case and finds himself drawn to Rafe Zweil, a submissive with a complicated past. Josiah has given up on finding love, but the new man sparks new feelings and brings out the dominant in him.

Can the two overcome all the obstacles that stand between them to find love in the Land of Fire?

Be Warned: BDSM, m/m sex, spanking, rimming.

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Excerpt:

“Shit!”  Josiah immediately holsters his gun, wraps one hand around Rafe’s shoulder and spins him around until they’re face to face.  Anger flares through him, anger at himself for not recognizing the other male sooner, anger at Rafe for not being where he was supposed to be in the first place.  It all comes spilling out of him before he can think twice about it.
    “What in the fuck were you doing?  What in the hell possessed you to leave the apartment?  I’ve seen your test scores, Zweil, so you’ve got no excuse for acting like a fucking idiot!”
    Josiah shakes Rafe hard once before letting go of the submissive as if burned.  Raking a hand through his blond hair he stalks towards the nearest switch and turns the dial all the way up until the apartment is flooded with light.  In the now bright room he can see Rafe’s face clearly, can see an anger that matches his own rising up in the man, which is at odds with the mostly meek behavior he’s shown to Josiah since they’ve been together.
    “I wasn’t aware that I was a prisoner, Marx, or that you’re apparently my warden.  Although I suppose that was a foolish assumption to make.  After all a cage is still a cage even if the bars are pretty this time around.”
    “Damn it all to hell, Rafe, that’s not what I meant and you fucking know it!”
    “Are you sure about that, Josiah?  Do you really not want to keep me locked away, hidden from the outside world like every-fucking-body else seems to?”
    Josiah has no control over himself as he lunges forward, buries one hand in Rafe’s silky hair and yanks the submissive forward.  Their lips meet harshly, all teeth and no finesse and Josiah runs his tongue roughly along the seam of Rafe’s mouth, a pleased growl rumbling in his chest when the he opens for him.  Josiah sweeps inside, his tongue tangling hotly with Rafe’s even as he begins to crowd the submissive against the nearest wall.
    They fit together perfectly, the long lean plains of Rafe’s body slotting into the more thickly muscled valleys of Josiah’s as if they’d been carved from the same single piece of stone, broken and divided and only now reunited.  Josiah groans low in his throat at the feel of Rafe pressed against him and his cock hardens instantly at the combined sensations of touch and taste.  Rafe echoes his groan and the sound of pleasure from the submissive doubles Josiah’s arousal, making him helpless to do anything but press closer, driving their bodies together and Rafe further against the wall.
    Their tongues slide against and around each other, spit slick and eager to taste, to consume one another.  Josiah knew it would be like this, knew it would be perfect and all-consuming the moment he laid eyes on Rafe.  His hand loosens its tight grip in Rafe’s hair and slides slowly through the cool, thick locks to curl firmly around the back of the submissive’s neck, unable to control the impulse to completely dominate the other male.  Rafe breaks the kiss, gasping for air and moaning openly as his head tips back, pressing deeper into the grip on his neck and exposing his throat and collar to Josiah’s hungry gaze.
    It’s an instinctual move, the desire to show off for a dominant, the urge to entice a fitting and worthy partner with his unclaimed status, and the sight of it has Josiah practically snarling in victory.  Rafe wants him as well, wants to be claimed on some level as much as Josiah wants to be the one doing the claiming.  If he didn’t, if their desires didn’t match to some degree, Rafe would not respond so beautifully, would not be showing off his collar and trying to entice Josiah into claiming him.
    His hand tightens slightly, as his head dips down until he can taste Rafe’s neck, can rack teeth and tongue across the tempting expanse, and suck tiny bruises into the vulnerable skin.  He runs his tongue across the smooth surface of the collar, tongue flirting with the inlaid rubies and dragging lightly across the sensitive area where silver meets skin.  Rafe bucks against him and Josiah tightens his hand in reprimand, pleased and aroused when he can actually feel Rafe’s knees weaken at the silent command even as the submissive obeys and stills.
    Josiah pulls himself away from the mesmerizing taste and feel of Rafe, dragging his lips and tongue up across the exposed side of his neck so that he can whisper hotly in the submissive’s ear.
    “Such a good boy, Rafe, such a sweet, beautiful boy.  You were made to be ruled, made for me to own.”
    He claims Rafe’s mouth in another searing kiss, reveling in the breathless gasp and shaky moan it prompts.
    “You’ll be so pretty for me, won’t you?  So sweet and delicious when I have you begging, wanting what only I can give you.  I can’t wait to have you bare and spread open before me.”
    Rafe shudders, a full body tremor that Josiah can feel perfectly, and it goes straight to his cock.  He urges Rafe’s arms above his head with his free hand before grasping them both tightly and pinning them back against the wall.  He feels Rafe go still against him, the tiny, almost unnoticed rocking of his hips stopping abruptly, but it doesn’t really register with him, doesn’t penetrate the fog of lust and need that’s slowly taking him over.
    “P-Please, Josiah.”
    The plea comes out quietly, almost too quietly, and when Josiah hears it he takes it as a plea for more, more touch, more sensation.  Just more.  So he rocks his body against Rafe’s again as he mouths at the sensitive skin behind his ear.  He loves the feel of his cock rubbing against the submissive’s, even muted as it is by the multiple layers of leather and cloth.  It’s a heady feeling, something he wants more of even though it’s enough to drive him mad.  He wants Rafe bare, wants to feel all of that silky skin against his own as he takes the other man down and apart.
    “Oh the things I’ll make you do.  I’ll make you love me and what I can give you.”

Product Reviews

Score: 4 out of 5 (based on 6 ratings)
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5/5
The TBR Pile Reviews
Written by The TBR Pile on 5th Mar 2013

Warnings: This book is true BDSM and not slightly, it is not for the faint at heart. Josiah is an enforcer sent on a mission to retrieve an escaped dominant. When he catches up to Rafe he knows there has to be more to the story than what he is told. Josiah has to tread carefully or end up in hot water but one way or another Rafe will be his but can Rafe learn to trust enough to let Josiah protect him. This story is meant for those that truly love BDSM otherwise you won’t enjoy the segregated and subjugated atmosphere that the author has created. It’s a dismal, sad world but that’s the main point in the book as it makes the sweet points all the more poignant. The author did an amazing job of setting up and then letting the story unfold, there was just enough detail that you weren’t left confused and the rest was a natural play of the characters. Josiah is a Dominant in every possible way and because of this his tender moment between him and Rafe are all the more meaningful which is where the aforementioned poignant moments come from. Not to say that Rafe doesn’t bring depth to the book but more so in Josiah. The tension and anticipation between the two! I could really feel it. Love in the Land of Fire is an exciting and juicy BDSM book.

4/5
Coffee Time Romance Reviews
Written by undefined on 19th Dec 2012

Running is the only option left for Rafe Zweil, however, knowing that it is only a matter of time until he is caught, he takes extreme measures. With every cell in his body Josiah is an Enforcer, yet his instincts are screaming that there is more going on with Rafe than meets the eye. Seeing Rafe in the flesh solidifies Josiah’s feelings, as well as his absolute need to have this man in his life. He is entering very dangerous territory by trying to keep Rafe away from a sadistic Dom, which could easily blow up in his face if he is not extremely careful. There is a buildup of anticipation and sexual tension between Josiah and Rafe that will have you clinging to every word between them. I love that Josiah is tough as nails, while still being deeply caring and protective with Rafe. This story just scratches the surface of a very intriguing world of Doms and subs that really whets the appetite for more. Ms. Brochu’s fascinating characters and decadently delicious BDSM scenes are now on my list of yummy favorites.

4/5
Rainbow Book Reviews
Written by undefined on 2nd Dec 2012

The world this book is set in is a harsh one; real slavery, little to no rights for those who are deemed submissives, and criminal elements that are capable of a level of violence I found very hard to stomach. But, on the other hand, there are signs of love an hope, of people standing up for the slaves' rights – and that message of some justice, at least for a few, is what also made this book emotionally impactful and, in the end, satisfying for me. Josiah is a tough guy. Ex-Crimson Elite, his military background serves him well in his current job as enforcer (read: cop with a few extra powers and responsibilities). He is also a firm believer in slaves' rights, and has an underlying vulnerability that is very appealing. Never having felt strong attraction for any one submissive, he is totally blindsided by the sudden need and possessiveness that assault him when he sees Rafe for the first time. Not that he lets that stop him, being the force of nature that he is, he will move heaven and earth to protect Rafe. And he will have to do no less. Rafe is in a horrible situation: a level four submissive in an abusive situation with a mismatched Dom, he sees no other option than to run when his life is seriously threatened. He expects to die and is shocked when Josiah not only saves his life, but takes him into his home for protection against his abuser. Trust is realistically slow to build, and there are many setbacks, but Rafe is as tempted by Josiah as the Dom is by him. He suffers horribly, and the pain and guilt he has to go through almost did me in – and I was only reading about it! Even though the incorrect use of tenses drove me crazy (present tense is not the problem, using it incorrectly is!), the story was strong enough to keep me going. I liked the design of this world, which was subtly different with its four levels of Doms and subs, enjoyed the suspense, and loved Josiah's and Rafe's triumphs. If you like stories that will grab your attention and have you on the edge of your seat, if you can deal with the idea of real slaves and a real fight for justice and rights, and if you're looking for an emotionally satisfying read, you might like this book.

4/5
Rainbow Book Reviews
Written by undefined on 10th Nov 2012

The world this book is set in is a harsh one; real slavery, little to no rights for those who are deemed submissives, and criminal elements that are capable of a level of violence I found very hard to stomach. But, on the other hand, there are signs of love an hope, of people standing up for the slaves' rights – and that message of some justice, at least for a few, is what also made this book emotionally impactful and, in the end, satisfying for me. Josiah is a tough guy. Ex-Crimson Elite, his military background serves him well in his current job as enforcer (read: cop with a few extra powers and responsibilities). He is also a firm believer in slaves' rights, and has an underlying vulnerability that is very appealing. Never having felt strong attraction for any one submissive, he is totally blindsided by the sudden need and possessiveness that assault him when he sees Rafe for the first time. Not that he lets that stop him, being the force of nature that he is, he will move heaven and earth to protect Rafe. And he will have to do no less. Rafe is in a horrible situation: a level four submissive in an abusive situation with a mismatched Dom, he sees no other option than to run when his life is seriously threatened. He expects to die and is shocked when Josiah not only saves his life, but takes him into his home for protection against his abuser. Trust is realistically slow to build, and there are many setbacks, but Rafe is as tempted by Josiah as the Dom is by him. He suffers horribly, and the pain and guilt he has to go through almost did me in – and I was only reading about it! Even though the incorrect use of tenses drove me crazy (present tense is not the problem, using it incorrectly is!), the story was strong enough to keep me going. I liked the design of this world, which was subtly different with its four levels of Doms and subs, enjoyed the suspense, and loved Josiah's and Rafe's triumphs. If you like stories that will grab your attention and have you on the edge of your seat, if you can deal with the idea of real slaves and a real fight for justice and rights, and if you're looking for an emotionally satisfying read, you might like this book.

3/5
The Romance Reviews
Written by undefined on 17th Oct 2012

The world of Shangri-La holds a lot of promise with its unique little details about the dominants and submissives as well as the land itself that is still recovering from war. Josiah is an enforcer and a fourth tier dominant who protects the submissive from abusive dominants. I wasn't quite sure what else fell into his job description and would have liked to know more on the subject. Anyway, one night he is given a mission of retrieving a submissive who escaped a dominant. There was no contract involved on record, but Josiah is aware he doesn't have all the information and proceeds with caution. Everything in him screams that the fourth tier submissive had a reason for running and the way he held himself on the recording that captured his escape only confirms it. But that's not all there is to it, because Josiah feels something else for the submissive Rafe even without meeting him. There is a need to protect Rafe and an overwhelming sensation of want stirring in his insides. It's like nothing he'd ever felt before. I was caught right away in this world of dominants and submissive, but there was just not enough information for me to get deeper into it. I liked the tension the author had created, both as a setting to the action as well as between the characters. Both of them held a certain appeal, and while that in itself was enough to keep my attention, I needed more interaction between them and more of those rare situations where I could actually experience the connection between the two. The side characters seem to have held stories of their own, something I'm dying to know more about, but even just Rafe and Josiah have so much working for them, such an amazing setting for their stories, occupations and capabilities that I could easily read a whole other book just about them. I'm hoping there is a sequel soon, one with more information for someone as hungry as I and be it about these two characters or someone else, I know I'll thoroughly enjoy it.

5/5
Queer Magazine Online
Written by undefined on 13th Sep 2012

I frequently read books that involve BDSM, but this is the first BDSM book that I've read that also involved Science Fiction, which is a genre that I rarely read. Upon completion of Love in the Land of Fire, I look forward to reading many more books that combine these genres. I'll be honest, I was a bit turned off when the first scene in the book took place in a "pleasure house", but I kept reading and discovered that the situation wasn't as bad as it seemed. In fact one of main protagonists Josiah Marx, turns out to be rough around the edges, but has a pure and loyal heart. Josiah is on his first leave in several months and is highly upset that he is being contacted by his job, especially since he has already paid for time with a communal slave. The author provides the reader with a glimpse of Josiah's personality and alludes to a secret in his past, when he changes the way he's behaving because it was causing the slave to be scared. The reader soon discovers that Josiah is a retired member of an elite special forces team, for the Land of Fire. As one of the four great lands of Shangri-La, we learn that the Land of Fire's citizens place a high value on military ability, and are very passionate when it comes to expressing love and anger. In the Land of Fire, citizens are labelled as either submissives or Dominants. They then receive a numeric rating for their tier level, which is based on one's intelligence, training and skill levels. A Dominant is expected to be paired with a submissive that belongs to an equal tier level. However, this is not the case of Rafe Zweil who is a four tier submissive and paired with a two tier Dominant. The reader is first introduced to Rafe, when Josiah is ordered to hunt him down and bring him in to answer to charges of assault and property damage. Josiah receives a video transmission of Rafe's escape, and notices that Rafe continues to fight even though he is severely injured. Josiah believes that Rafe is in a situation in which he is fleeing for his life; he is determined to track Rafe down and learn the truth about his situation. He notifies his boss that he is going to go into a segment of the Land of Fire, to a segment that was severely burnt out during a war that had occurred a few years earlier. Once Josiah catches up with Rafe in a house that has been nearly destroyed by fire, they being to banter back and forth-suddenly Rafe losses consciousness, and that is when Josiah realizes his mistake. Rafe has managed to swallow a toxic substance; Josiah realizes that during their brief conversation he has begun to connect to Rafe on an emotional level. This story takes place in a society where BDSM is the norm, but it is easy to see the connection between Rafe and Josiah on a purely emotional level. As the reader experiences the turmoil that Josiah feels at suddenly having feelings of love, which he had begun to think were no longer possible, the Dominant/submissive aspect becomes an after thought. As a reader, I feel like the author was able to break down the constraints of sexual orientation and "vanilla"/ "non-vanilla" relationships. I saw the relationship that was developing between Josiah and Rafe, as one of healing and love. One of the most powerful scenes in the book occurs, when Rafe offers his submission to Josiah; I think what made it so powerful, is that the reader knows Rafe has been through hell, but he is willing to try and overcome the abuse in his past and try to trust again. You might want to have a fan nearby, because the scene that takes place in the kitchen is hot. I don't want to leave you with impression that this book is simply a love story, it is not. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out if Rafe's abusive and well connected former Dom, would be able to use the court system to gain his return. I also was eager to find discover what really happened to Rafe's father, and how that was connected to his placement with his former Dom. Sorry, you're going to have to find that out on your own. You'll thank me, later.

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