Splendid Isolation [Suncoast Society]

This is Everett's & Wylie's story. Wylie's a recent transplant to Florida & has been through hell. He started his own software company, made it a success, only to get involved with a Dominant in the BDSM lifestyle who not only abused him physically & emotionally but then stole his company from him. His trust broken, his life in tatters, Wylie buys a rundown homestead, decides to restore it & become self-sufficient. There's just one problem. He knows absolutely nothing about homesteading! Give him a computer & he's a genius. But farming, chickens, goats, orange trees, pasture, gardening...he hasn't the first clue! Everett has just as many problems. He's been married to Lara for years, even though he's gay. He & Lara have been separated for 2 years & are still best friends. But neither has moved to file for divorce until now. Only Ev's little sister, Eve, Lara &a handful of other close friends know he's gay. His parents don't even know. He's also a Dominant although he has no time to spend in the lifestyle. He's an artisan metal worker & blacksmith & darned good at what he does. Although he never went to college, Ev makes a decent living with his amazing creations at Ren fairs but it's certainly not enough for him to pay his share of the divorce costs. He's living in his trailer, the "Tin Can" on a friend's property. He has access to a forge & equipment to make his Ren fair crafts. But he needs to find a real job to be able to pay his expenses. A chance meeting at a Ren fair introduces Ev to Leo, a member of the Suncoast Society & owner of his own business. Leo's recovering from a severe accident & needs a welder. After exchanging information & getting through a dinner/interview, Ev finds himself employed by Leo. Wylie & Ev cross paths on Ev's first job solo welding job away from the shop at Wylie's homestead. Both men feel an immediate attraction to each other. But things go off the rails almost instantly. Wylie's in major pain from so much recent hard physical work on the homestead. He's also feeling the pressure making a go of the farm when he's knows nothing at all about what he's doing. A misunderstanding between the two escalates out of control. Ev & Wylie have an explosive argument. & the two leave completely at odds & not knowing that each is truly attracted to the other. Things escalate. Wylie & Ev keep running into each other. They learn more about each other & although they are as different as night & day in some ways, they have many other things in common. Slowly they form a friendship. Is there more possible? But then, Wylie's old partner & Dominant, Ralph, shows up out of nowhere & tries to blackmail Wylie into returning to California. There's something sinister at work here. Why would Ralph want Wylie back when he'd stolen Wylie's company, abused him & kicked him to the curb only months earlier? Something doesn't make sense. From this point, Ms. Dalton takes the story & spins it into an intriguing story of incredible beginnings, extreme loss, excruciating pain, betrayal, loyalty, amazing love & true friendship. Splendid Isolation is a roller coaster of emotions that will keep you glued to the story from beginning to end. I wasn't able to put it down. It isn't just the relationship between Ev & Wylie that holds your interest. It's not just the BDSM & the kink. The entire book is filled with authentic, realistic characters. As always, Ms. Dalton creates characters the reader can personally relate to. All the characters are completely believable. As the relationships develop & grow, as the story progresses, you're carried along with them. Ev's & Wylie's story was so compelling everything faded into the background as I read it. Ms. Dalton's skill is unparalleled. The entire Suncoast Society series is beyond amazing. Splendid Isolation is yet another amazing addition to this series. If you enjoy hot, erotic BDSM romances, I highly recommend Splendid Isolation. It's a compelling novel & you'll love it! Thanks for reading my review & happy reading!