Limitless

SJD is one of only a few authors in my reread library. Limitless, however, is not one of my favorites. Though she starts out strong and does a really good build into the mid portion of the story with the relationship of the MCs the end just drops off to blah. Very unsatisfying.

I have been salivating waiting for this second book in SJD Peterson's 'The Underground Club' series. I really enjoyed the first book but I was looking for something with a lot more grit. The glimpse I was given of 'Limitless' at the end of the previous installment pretty much ensured that I was going to find the angst, pain, and drama I was looking for in Nash and Joshua's story.

Joshua pulls at every single string Nash has with the history Nash and his friends at the club discover about him. It's no wonder Joshua can't trust any man after being someone's slave for three years who abused him so badly his body still carries the scars and then he abandoned Joshua at the hospital after the second time he had to be revived. Nash knows it's going to be a challenge to take Joshua on but his gut keeps telling him it's the right thing to do.

“I….” Joshua was silent for a long moment before he lifted his head and met Nash’s gaze. “I want to belong. I want to stop feeling like I’m a fuckup, and I want to stop feeling like I don’t matter.”

Thank you, Jo, for allowing me to see not just Nash's point of view but also Joshua's. Joshua has had all the wrong kinds of Doms and he truly believes he understands them and knows what they want. Nash confuses him so much in the beginning and it was very refreshing to watch. Nash has a plan for working with Joshua and Joshua isn't going to always like that plan. Joshua believes he knows what to do and how to behave in order to get what he wants, but he has never met a Dom like Nash. Silly Joshua thinks he's going to be teaching Nash what it means to be a Dom.

"He had yet to meet one Dom who wasn’t on a major power trip. Which was fine by him. More power to them was his motto. They could boss him around all they wanted, could have multiple orgasms for all he fucking cared, as long as he got his three Ps: pleasure, pain, and peace."

I'm not sure any of my prior experiences in reading BDSM stories prepared me for 'Limitless'. I've never met a sub like Joshua before. One who is so traumatized by his childhood and past abuse that he adopted the sub lifestyle, perfectly I might add, but only as a means to an end. All of his former Doms claimed to want to please him when he pleased them, but in reality they were only out for themselves which worked perfectly for what Joshua wanted. Nash is the first one to look beyond just providing pain and sex, to actually try to understand why Joshua needs it so badly.

'Limitless' is more than the expansion of a submissive. It's the evolution and growth of a young man who is terrified of feeling alive, but who wants it so badly it almost tears him in two. It was a beautiful thing to see but I feel as if the ending left me hanging wondering how it was going to turn out. I truly enjoyed the uniqueness of this novel and I certainly hope to see more in the series.

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews

Reviewed by Erin for Diverse Reader

Limitless by S.J.D. Peterson is the second book in her Underground Club series, but don't let that worry you if you haven't read the first one. This book totally works well as a stand alone and you will not be lost in the least if you start here. If you like stories about wounded, broken subs and Dom's who have a heart of gold but are no nonsense then this book will definitely be for you. I have to say, I enjoyed Limitless much more than I did the first book and I'm so glad I decided to give this one a try. With that gorgeous cover, really, who could resist?

Nash is a Dom at Club Underground and is highly respected. He's a tough master, but he's a man who expects a lot and knows what he wants. And what he wants is Joshua. The only problem is, Joshua belongs to someone else. This doesn't stop Nash though, and after an investigation based on Nash's gut instinct that Joshua isn't being treated in the way he should by his Dom, Nash finds himself in charge of Joshua's care. You'd think this would make Nash happy, and it does, but Joshua is one very, VERY messed up sub. He's got a wall built around himself that is almost impenetrable. Nash is more than up for the challenge however and with some gentle but firm prodding and a few very intense BDSM scenes, Nash and Joshua begin to find their way. The road ahead isn't easy. Joshua is a hot mess and Nash questions himself with every setback Joshua has. But these two together? I loved their dynamic.

Unlike the first book, I was really invested in both these characters from the get go. I always love reading about a dominant who is both strict and loving and who is in tune with his sub on more than a sexual level. Taking on a submissive with the myriad of problems that Joshua has is no easy task and I really appreciated how Peterson did not allow BDSM to be the cure-all for Joshua. I was not a fan of getting to 80% of the book and STILL having very little of Joshua's background. From bits and pieces it's not too difficult to surmise that he's been traumatized but the specifics are still left unanswered, even at the end of the book. And well, the ending, while sweet, was definitely abrupt and the readers are left with so many questions. All in all though, this was a fun book. The sex scenes were hot and written well, both characters were engaging, and Malcom's numerous appearances were most welcome (I LOVE him ... I hope he's getting his own book!). Check this one out guys. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

Gave a 3.5 stars but rounded to 4 for this review

This is the second book in the Underground Club series and it follows the story of Nash and Joshua. We learn the Nash is a Dom at the club and has been lusting after Joshua for a while now. Joshua is a sub with another Dom and Noah want him for himself. Noah feels that Joshua is being abused by his Dom and finds a way to have him. When Noah and Joshua start their relationship, Noah needs to take Joshua's love of pain into consideration and earn his trust. He finds out why Joshua is addicted to pain and wants to help him find a balance. I enjoyed the story and the chemistry between these 2 but I felt the story ended too soon. Joshua finds himself really falling for Noah and seeking the help he needs. SJD ended the story but I felt we needed to know more about the journey they will take once Joshua learns what will work for him and in turn work for his relationship with Noah. Reviewed by Jodi for Alpha Book Club.