I've heard great things about Story of L, so I finally dove in and checked it out. Now, I don't pretend to understand a BDSM relationship, and I can't say that I would even consider some of things Liv so readily accepted. I will say that Debra Hyde does know how to set a scene, but that fine attention to detail is sometimes detrimental to the story. There's a fine line between giving a good visual and dragging it out a little too far, and sometimes, this one went over the edge. The story is - well, it's erotica, plain and simple. It's one woman's journey to complete submission. However, I would not consider this a romance. Oh, it generates plenty of steam, but sexual attraction and steamy goodness is lust, not love, and I don't feel like this one ever got deep enough with these characters to call it love. The book is okay for what it is, but I prefer a better connection between the characters, something more than just attraction. Basically, I wanted some substance, something to show that these two women are as compatible outside a BDSM scene as they are in one. So, if you're looking for FF BDSM erotica, this is it, but if you want some real story, I can't say that I found that here. In the end, Story of L was worth the read, but it isn't something I would revisit.

I wanted to love this a premise was right up my street. I just found it was a bit too much and it just got too much as it went on. I really liked the first few chapters and really got into the story but the more that the story progressed, the less I liked it and could not finish it.

This was a very good book in the BDSM genre. It shows the growth of a dom/sub relationship without the stereotypes which many people associate with kink. L, the main character is not a weak person. She is a strong woman that has discovered her sexually and without shame. Plenty to like in this book.

So I have read the BDSM genre many times, it is one of my favorite genres. I am new though to the F/F genre. This was an interesting book to start my journey into this sub genre. The story was very true to life in the in it's telling. The story was well written and characters come together nicely making the story enjoyable and an easy read. I do plan to read more stories by this author in the future.

Pretty hot erotica mixed into a kind of meh story. Definitely contained a satisfying sexy story, but I didn't really connect with or care about the characters. So whether I would recommend it would depend on which aspect you're looking for.

This reworked title I had a lot of issues with. At times I was really enjoying the title and then at others I wasn't. I finally just had to call it quits around 55% as I was just having so many issues. The story could be amazing but I think it just needs more editing and reworking.

Story of L, wow, was an great read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The cover leads much to the imagination encourage people to read it and explore the story within its pages. Certainly was pleased with the read. Great book and is entertaining especially for its genre.

Where to begin? I requested this book from NetGalley because BDSM and erotica books can be really well written and have a nice story going. So I remember requesting this book based off the cover alone (I'm usually not that judgey lol).

The story is about Liv, nicknamed L by the woman who becomes her "dom" Cassandra halfway through the bok. Their dynamic is very strange, and not typical "D/s" behavior in my opinion. There's a few other side characters, all in the scene of course, who don't have too much bearing on the overall story. There's a "bad guy" type naturally, but it was so weak it honestly wasn't needed. Something called The Void is mentioned a lot in the beginning on the story and it is a rather stupid name to call that hunger inside all of us who craves sex. And there were less than a handful of sex scenes in this story, which was disappointing for an erotica genre book. Plus no safe word agreement mentioned? Yikes!

I did not care for this book. I had a very hard time getting through it all. The story nor the characters captured me in the slightest. Thank you NetGalley for this read.

I enjoy a good BDSM book but this is the first time I read from f/f perspective. It wasn't bad and of course, the lifestyle was presented in a positive way. Sometimes the story dragged but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed.

Very descriptive book but I loved it from beginning to end. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommend.

3.5 stars - Story of L by Debra Hyde was a very well-written BDSM full-length novel between Dominatrix Cassandra and her sub, Liv (L). I think the dom/sub dynamic between the two main characters was extremely well depicted in a way that was believable and healthy. Cassandra always asked for consent and gave Liv the space to think before taking major decisions. I really enjoyed learning more about the lesbian BDSM scene through Liv’s experiences at the BDSM club. The author describes scenes vividly; I never read anything like that and it was quite fascinating. However, some kink made me a bit uncomfortable (i.e. humiliation kink?), but that’s on me.

The part that has me dubious though is their profession of love for each other. There isn’t a moment where the two women talk about themselves, their lives, let alone their feelings for each other. And whenever they talk to each other, it’s about their arrangement or the lesbian leather scene. I can believe there’s an infatuation, but love?

Nevertheless, this is a really good story to just immerse yourself in and learn more about different facets of the scene. This isn’t just straight up smut for the sake of it, so don’t go in thinking that’s all there is. It’s a book about self-discovery, connection and trust.

Thank you to Riverdale Avenue Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the well-crafted publisher’s blurb and several well-written reviews on NetGalley, I went into this book eyes wide open about the subject matter and about the potential graphic nature of the content. Which was important because I could see how some consumers of the Fifty Shades of Grey brand (or even the Crossfire brand) might not be able to dive in headfirst into this book - let alone finish it. There are no brand names or trendy music sprinkled throughout. The sense of place remains vague. And there is definitely no renunciation of the lifestyle or other return to the mainstream at the end. Yes, there is profound self-reflection by the characters and a happy ever after ending. There is true love at the end. But it all works out in a way that makes sense for the reality that the characters live in. This all may be uncomfortable for those who don’t live in - or fantasize about - that reality. But if you’re open to it, this is definitely investing a few hours in reading.

I received an ARC of this book via #NetGalley.

I felt like this was a very solidly written BDSM story. It seemed more realistic than most. I didn’t realize that it was a solidly lesbian story, which I am personally not into, but I did still enjoy the story and thought it was quite well done. I took a star off the rating because I felt it could have used a bit more proof reading. I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but I did get confused in some areas when transgenders were referred in some places as female and others as male with pronouns. I do recommend this story to fans of BDSM erotica.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!

erotica, dom/sub/ bdsm, lesbianism;

definitely a sexy read. i'm a huge fan of erotica that touches down on submission and bdsm. i'd read others by this author

DISCLAIMER: The book is given by NetGalley, the author and the publisher in exchange of an honest review. All the review written is not related to any personal issues or connection.

TRIGGER: This is an erotica book which offers several sexy and steamy scenes or things related to BDSM. Get your vibro ready!

“By contrast, Liv fell somewhere in the nebula of androgyny. No doubt in form and soul, and a lesbian in love and desire but neither butch nor femme in either presentation or whom she found attractive, Yet she did not feel undefined; being queer was being enough, and she liked not having to fall into a strict dichotomy. It was like having your cake and eating it too.”

Defo a very sexy book to read

Full review https://literatureisliving.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/story-of-l-by-debra-hyde/

I've loved reading books by Debra Hyde for awhile and this one did not disappoint. While a quicker story than some, this is well developed and intense. A lot of emotion and not gratuitous sex scenes but things that really advance and add to the story.

This novel provides a glimpse into the world of submission and dominance , bondage, piercing, tattooing, and ownership, It may push the vanilla readers to look up terminology, grapics and piercing diagrams. In the midst of exploring a world of sex lies a love story. The fabled, older dom Cassandra and her submissive L. We follow the lovers as they meet at the H club full of sex and lust. Through L's journey to submissive and falling in love. This book is a must read for those who want to explore the other side of pleasure and pain. It can also be a guide for those seeking to be an excellent submissive. It is not a one and done novel, the reader will review it often and maybe incorporate some of the scenes into their bedroom. Happy reading and playing.

This was decent, I loved the relationship but erotica is not my favourite genre. I still recommend it though, if you enjoy a sub/dom relationship.

Although I'm a fan of both lesbian and erotic fiction, this book didn't hold my attention. There was nothing I actively disliked, and at times I was truly drawn in by the prose. But I found it all too easy to set aside to read something else, and ultimately gave up at about 50%. I won't be posting a review outside of NetGalley.

I liked LIv a lot. She is hardworking, loyal and unafraid to ask the important questions. Her submissive side did not turn her into a mindless idiot with no sense of precaution; instead, she was sensible in giving in to her wants without risking her life.
Cassandra is harder to place. She doesn't really play a major role until halfway through the story, so she has less page time overall and suffered for it in my opinion. While I was happy she was not put on a pedestal, I still found her role as the love interest/dominant to be underdeveloped and more wish-fulfilment than an actual three-dimensional character. I loved seeing her flaws and reading about her differing perspective on the scene.
But Reese was definitely my favourite. His role in Livs and Cassandra's dynamic was very interesting and I loved it whenever he was on the page. I also think he was the best-portrayed switches in the entire story.
As for the plot, I am undecided whether I liked it or not. I understand that this is partly a fantasy that I can totally get behind and enjoy. Who wouldn't want this infamous dominant suddenly be interested in you? And I think most of the risks were avoided or at least prepared for. Do I disagree with some of LIv's choices and Cassandra's demands? Yes, but I can also see the appeal in taking a chance.

The writing was okay in my opinion. Some metaphors were too dramatized. The author sometimes went off on tangents that ripped me out of the moment. So did all the classification in femmes, butches, and so on, it felt very artificial and robotic. Liv makes several remarks about her (too) femme clothing; the importance placed on that confused me. And Liv calls her submissive cravings the Void was something I just could not get behind, it disconnected me to the story. And, personally, I just was not a fan of the ending.
I feel the balance between smutty BDSM scenes and everyday life was well done.