The husband bought me this one for my birthday, knowing that I’m into leather men.

It’s the journey of Jesse in the world of leather, as he learns to lean into and embrace his submissive side at the firm hands of Grant.

Chapter 2 has possibly the most erotic sex scene that I’ve ever read.  There were more in this chapter, but whilst the sex scenes are hot, it’s the journey and messing that’s important, things like undetectable=untransmissible, a big firm “no” to drugs, and commitment and service to the leather community – these are huge things for a fiction book to include and add realness to the fantasy.

From my own all too brief visit to stay with Cicero, my own leather daddy friend, the leather community is a real community with genuine love and support between it’s members.

“It’s not about being owned,” Jesse said. “It’s about claiming who I am. Fully. “

Page 72

There is part of me – a big part – that would love somebody to take “ownership” of me. Be responsible for me, train me, care for me, for me to care for. That deep connection. But that wasn’t what really chimed with meaning for me in that extract – it’s the claiming who I am. That is the journey I am on.

Jesse is prepared by his new Dom, Grant, to enter local Mr Leather competitions. Grant teaches Jesse what it means to be in the leather community, and the importance of service – that authenticity reminded of my trip to London to see Cicero, the current Mr Leather London was stood to one side of the room at the leather social, wearing his sash and talking to people. He was very sexy, and I was a little intimidated, otherwise I might have spoken to him too. I now understand why he was there, presiding in the role of a father who serves his family.

The book alternates steamy kink scenes with authentic life in the leather community scenes that move the story along and explain what it means to be in the leather and kink community.

Fitz uses “smell”  a lot to describe situations, but the word “smell” rather describes emotions rather than literal odours; things such as “the room smelled of nerves and funky jockstraps” – I know what he means, and “funky jocks” are definitely something I’d enjoy sniffing, but what do nerves actually smell like? Possibly, Fitz overuses the “smells of x and nerves” because the same formula is used a couple of times, which weakens its impact.

I spent years trying to perform masculinity. Trying to dominate my truth so it couldn’t dominate me.

Page 276

I tried to be a man and embrace masculinity, but it wasn’t me. The effort nearly killed me. I am not a man. I am not a woman. I am something else – and I am enough.

The final sex scene, was love making. It was intense but simple and vivid. Afterwards, Pete Fitz wrote “…still smelling faintly of leather and sweat and sex.” and I know exactly what he means.

“I want to give us a year,” Grant said. “A real one.… Let us figure out how we fight, how we make up, how are hold each other through all of it.”

Page 306

I was always afraid to fight and argue with my husband, so we never learnt what it meant to fall out and make up before we moved in together. I always avoided conflict. Mentally I’m not equipped for it, but I needed to own that disability and find a way to work around it.

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Leather Forever is written in simple language, that has heart, humour, and depth:

Grant’s voice dropped, steady and low.

“I love you.”

Jesse froze—a second, maybe more.

“Shut up and flog me,” he muttered, kicking lightly at Grant’s shin.

Page 315

It turned me on several times and made me laugh out loud too.

I cannot wait to read the next book!