Audiobook Review – Marriage Games by C.D. Reiss

Marriage Games by C.D. Reiss

Narrated Duet Style by Sebastian York and Elena Wolfe

Part one of Two. Erotic Romance.

Since I have been married for a long, long time, I love reading about married couples. Obviously, when reading romance, stories about already married couples are few and far between, because we want to see them fall in love. But I have wanted to read more C.D. Reiss, so I got the audiobook without ever really reading the full blurb. I don’t normally like books that can’t stand alone because I have a terrible memory. But let me tell you, Marriage Games is totally worth it.

I need to first start out by talking about the audiobook. First of all, it is two of the best narrators in the business. But even more special is the fact that it is told duet style, meaning the narrators interact with each other, more like a play. They take out all the “he said, she said” and actually say it! It’s surprisingly subtle, at first I didn’t even notice it. It just felt so natural. But I must say, this may spoil me for other audiobooks.

Now for the story itself. Wow. C.D. Reiss can write! Marriage Games was sexy, emotional, thought-provoking, and completely compelling. Don’t even think to lump it in with other BDSM books, because this is so much more, it’s more of a psychological story with hot sex. But it’s real. It’s different. It makes you think. It makes you examine yourself and your own relationship. And it’s completely addicting.

“I wanted her to go. I wanted her to stay. I wanted her on my terms. I wanted her on any terms. I wanted to be cured of the disease of love. I wanted to be cured of want.”

Adam Steinbeck is shocked and devastated. His wife is leaving him, and he had no idea it was coming. He is thrown for a loop and doesn’t want to lose her; she is not only the love of his life, but his business partner too. Adam gave up a big part of himself to be with her, but she never knew it. He was a Dom before meeting her, but locked that part of himself away when he met and fell for Diana.

“You can’t just decide to be vanilla the rest of your life. It’s not a choice.”
“It’s all a choice. And I choose her.”

Diana knew there was something missing in their marriage. He was there, but part of him just wasn’t fully present. Enough so that she finally just fell out of love. All she wants is her family’s publishing company (that he saved) back in the divorce. But Adam isn’t ready to give up so fast. He can’t lose her. So he asks her for 30 days. One month of them at his secret kinky house he shares with other Doms but hasn’t visited in 5 years, to show her what he has been hiding all along.

“My answer to that is, by the end of our time here, you may not submit in your heart, but you’ll understand what it means. And you’ll understand me.”

He has hints that she might be submissive, but she is a strong, independent businesswoman. And while he is a sadist at heart, and needs the lifestyle sexually, he doesn’t think he can love a sub.

“I loved her. Wanted to love her. Needed to love her, and the second she kneeled, she’d be nothing to me.”

But this is his wife, who he loves above all else. He needs to find a way to keep her.

Told in a combination of points of views and past and present tense, I never lost my way at all. It was a great way for the story to progress and bring in all the emotions from the past and present.

“He moved around me, stood in front of me and over me. His silence was predatory. His posture was feral, yet completely in control.
I’d had no idea who I’d married. Had I been stupid and naïve, or shrewd?”

Marriage Games threw me for a loop. I don’t know which way was up. I will definitely need to re-listen to tis before Separation Games comes out so it’s all fresh in my mind. I can’t freaking wait.

“Do you hate your husband?
“I never hated him.”
“You’re about to.”

Likes:

Completely unique.
The narration was the best ever.
CD Reiss can really write beautifully.
Written so you actually feel the story as it unfolds. I’m not sure how she does that, but she does.
Very hot sex.
So many different layers to be uncovered.
Told in an almost chaotic way, it only enhanced and never confused me.
How the flashbacks were worked into the story to create a mood and evoke feelings.
The writing is very intelligent and assumes the reader is too. I love that she never dumbs it down, but it’s never smart just to be smart (I have no idea if that makes sense but it does in my head).
I actually liked the cliffy. The book needs a pause right where it is.
The characters were mature professionals, not virginal college kids.

Dislikes:

I didn’t fall in love with either character, something I usually need to fall in total love with a book.
Diana was so judgmental.
The lack of communication seems so unrealistic. Why didn’t he introduce a little play into their vanilla sex life in 5 years? Why is it all or nothing? How had that sexy dominant side never shown up?

The Down & Dirty:

Marriage Games was a completely addictive story that you truly feel as you are reading it. It is different from any other BDSM book I have read, so don’t lump it in and say “not another BDSM book!” Thought provoking and compelling, this very sexy story will have you examining yourself, your relationship and your feelings as you identify with both of them. While I usually hate cliffhangers, I found this is more of a turn the story needed to take, and a pause is needed. The cliffy just works. Though I didn’t totally fall for the characters the way I like to, I fell for the story, and the way the story unfolded. As far as the audio goes, this was the best narration I have experienced. With my two favorite narrators acting it out like a play instead of reading “he said, she said”. This style is ruining me for other audiobooks.
I absolutely cannot wait for Separation Games in January.