Taking the Gardener

Eric has been through a lot lately and decides some time in the country will allow him to find some peace. What he finds is a hot little gardener. But Tom has a girl friend and life in the country. Eric decides to go ahead a play anyway but when his emotions become entangled he's not sure what to do. Finally, he decides to be noble and leave Tom behind. Good thing some people are even more stubborn that he is. I loved the supporting character of Tom's girl friend Megan and Eric's housekeeper Mrs. P. T.J. does just a good a job of making them real as the main characters. And while we only get a glimpse of Megan's dad he's pretty cool too.

This book is badly tagged. Nowhere does it talk about the threesomes the book contains. There's also the problem of the \"Dom\" who supposedly is supposed to be so forceful and possesses a strong personality, yet is cowed by his friend.
It veers off into worse territory when, during one of the unmentioned threesomes, this 'friend' double-penetrates a man who has only had gay sex a few times. Allegedly the \"Dom\" is shocked, but does nothing to stop it, not displaying his 'anger' until he's done.
I'm very disappointed. Had I known about the threesomes (and the alleged 'Dom') I would not have gotten this book.

This book is nicely paced and fluid in its delivery. I started to care about the characters and the journey Tom was going on, almost jealous in the new world he inhabited and was exposed to.
It is rare for me to read a book in two sittings but I devoured this book losing myself in the growing love story between the principle characters.
Well written, strong characterisation with the hint of things to come left me wanting to know what Eric had in store for Tom and his future training in his new found role at his master's side.

This book comes as a refreshing change from so many in the BDSM(M/M) world. The characters were well rounded and wholly believable and the very English setting was both charming and realistic too.
I am sure that some might find the explicit sex scenes a bit too much but hey, why do we read from this genre? For me it was no surprise to read that the author has over 30 years’ experience in the BDSM world because the sex scenes were imaginative, realistic and smacked(oops!) of authenticity.
There is real romance here along with a large dollop of angst and some simmering conflicts too. These were all brought to a clever and satisfying resolution at the end of the novel. Having said that I was left hoping that it will not be long before we hear more about the lives of Tom, Eric and Megan. Bring on the sequel.

This book reads like someone telling you about an experience they've never lived. The characters are flat and dull and I've rare been so turned of by sex scenes. The whole thing feels like one big cliche. Save your money.