Dare to Love Again by Maddie Taylor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's very difficult to rate and review this book. First, let's get the nitty and gritty out of the way: this is my first book by this author. Until i received the invitation to read and review Maddie Taylor's Dare To Love Again, i hadn't heard of her or her books, so the blurb absolutely drew me in because of not only the subject and the genre, but because of the way it was written. And plus, i'll admit it, the cover was absolutely pretty and everything.

And here's the part where i have more difficulties with reviewing this book. There is much to say when you get into the lifestyle and start writing a book about it, debunking so many aspects that people are absolutely stoned set against accepting. It's difficult. And i never envy an author who decides that they want to embark on that journey - mostly because readers are taken into a journey on what it means to let go of control and finding their balance. It's no easy feat. I absolutely respect this author for writing this story.

The other difficult part was the back story and history when it comes to Esme. That woman and her friend Pax have been through so much after Esme lost her husband that i'm not even sure how she survived it. It brought tears to my eyes thinking about it. And even more so that Esme and her late husband were part of a D/s relationship. That's a bond that can't be equaled.

And here's my last point making it difficult to rate - it's my first book by this author. I haven't read any of the previous Decadence LA series, even if i do own the first instalment (that i bought once i started this book), and it was an adjustment to her writing style. Which was both impersonal and very intimate. You feel almost like the proverbial fly on the wall looking in on what's happening between Esme and Kieran. Personally, i find it difficult connecting more with the characters and feeling all the tiny little chills running up my arms because of the fact that it's written in the third person. But then again, that's my personal opinion, and doesn't necessarily apply to every reader. Such as some prefer third person and despise first person and vice versa.

There are many reasons why i found it difficult to rate this book, forcing me to take a step back and evaluate what i loved and didn't like, but it also shows you just how much it takes for an author to lay their heart out on the line when they write their books, which is why there are not enough words in the world to thank them for it. So really, this is a book that i did enjoy, even with my own personal hiccups.

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