One Man’s Trash (The Heretic Doms Club Book 1) by Marie Sexton #Audiobook #BDSM #Dark #Abuse #Review #MMRomance #Contemporary #LGBT #Spotlight

Erryn reviews ‘One Man’s Trash (The Heretics Doms Club Book 1)’ by Marie Sexton. This book was released by the author on November 13, 2017, and is 343 pgs long. The audiobook version of this story was narrated by John Solo. It was released on November 20, 2017, and is 12 hrs and 2 mins long.

Why I read this book: I like dark books with damaged but redeemable men.

After four tours in Afghanistan, Warren Groves couldn’t settle into civilian life. For the last 12 years, he’s survived by working odd and often illegal jobs for some of Denver’s less fortunate. His personal life is equally unsatisfactory. He can barely remember the last time he had sex, let alone the last time he got to use somebody hard and rough, the way he likes. Fate intervenes when a favor for a friend leads him to a pretty, young rent boy named Taylor Reynolds.

Taylor’s spent the last few years on his own, working as a hustler, going home with anybody who’ll give him a warm meal and a place to sleep. He enjoys having a bit of force used against him, and he makes Warren an offer he can’t refuse – all the sex he wants, as rough and dirty as he likes, in exchange for room and board.

At first, Warren thinks he’s struck gold. Taylor’s the perfect roommate – he cooks, he cleans, and he’s dynamite in the sack. But Taylor has some dark demons in his head and some even darker cravings. Falling for somebody as volatile as Taylor is dangerous enough, but when Taylor’s urges turn truly self-destructive, it’ll be up to Warren to decide just how far to let things go.

Buy Links: Audible | Amazon | Add to Goodreads

My Review:

This is a dark book.

I don’t say that lightly. There are scenes that are disturbing, situations that are horrible, violence, and even a touch of evil. Psychological demons and addiction. Mental illness. This is a book that could have a half-dozen trigger warnings or none.

There are none and I’m fine with that. It has a happy ending, but I can’t recall two men having to fight harder for it than Warren and Taylor.

Warren served 4 tours in Afghanistan, leaving him with scars both inside and out. He carries a huge loss on his shoulders and has chosen to work with the downtrodden of Denver rather than with normal people who go about their lives, living in the light and not the shadows.

Happenstance brings rentboy Taylor Reynolds into Warren’s life and he swears he’s died and gone to heaven. Taylor cooks, cleans, and is available for sex. ANYTIME. He also prefers it rough, which is just fine with Warren, who’s a Dom but hasn’t found a submissive who can handle his darker side. Taylor’s enthusiasm makes them the perfect match.

But while Warren’s physical scars are visible to the world, Taylor’s scars are not. His hurts are hidden so deep that they almost never surface, so people don’t see them. But when that pain is triggered, it is heart-breaking and terrifying. Warren has no idea what triggers Taylor’s self-destructive anger, but he’s the first man who chooses to help Taylor rather than tossing him to the curb.

I’ll be honest. These are tough scenes. My heart was in my throat as Warren tried to navigate Taylor’s landmines. I was as bewildered as Warren, desperately hoping he could get through to the younger man. Warren’s methods were, to say the least, unconventional. And, to most people’s sensibilities, unacceptable. The use of BDSM here works, but it does go dark. Yet, somehow, Warren always takes care of Taylor.

Eventually Taylor does open up and tell Warren everything. I think my heart broke all over again. Warren proves to be a caring and loving man, refusing to judge Taylor harshly, which surprises the younger man. Warren draws strength from his friends. His willingness to take on Taylor and others in Denver who need help is admirable, but everyone has a breaking point.

For Taylor, it is just a matter of time before Warren gets tired of the uncontrollable behavior. All who have come before Warren have given up and Taylor has the same expectation for this man. In the meantime, though, Taylor starts to get settled into Warren’s home and live. He makes a friend, gets a job, and plants a rose bush.

Things do go sideways, though, and I had my doubts whether the two men could overcome everything thrown at them. Yet none of the situations felt included just for dramatic sake – it all worked, plot-wise.

Taylor wonders if he might be too broken, but Warren shows him that it’s not true. Warren takes on the responsibility of Taylor while encouraging every step Taylor takes toward autonomy. He pulls Taylor up when he’s been pushed to the bottom. He fights Taylor’s demons, showing the younger man that he does have worth. More than just being a sexual receptacle, anyway. Warren helps Taylor fight his shame. It is cathartic, but it is just the beginning. But that’s the thing about this story – even without an epilogue, I came to believe in these two.

Two damaged souls can help each other.

This is Book 1 and the other Doms in the Heretic Doms Club have been nicely introduced. I am really excited to hear their stories.

I’ve listened to many books narrated by John Solo, but I think this is one of his best performances. He conveys Taylor’s pain – sobs, hysterics, vitriolic anger – and it works. Taylor’s anguish was visceral to me and that was due to a brilliant John Solo narrating Marie’s beautiful story.

10 pots of gold feels inadequate. As Warren says, this is what (man) kills and dies for.

My Rating:

10/10 Points of Gold (100% Recommended) – Compares to 5/5 Stars

Website | Twitter: @MarieSexton | Goodreads

Marie Sexton lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Her imaginary friends often tag along. Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.