Firstly, this is a book for GROWN-UPS.  For those easily offended by non-traditional sexual practices or who have issues with interracial relationships, Love My Way will definitely NOT be your cup of tea.  This is not the strict vanilla variety of BDSM (i.e. handcuffs and flowers) romance.  Bridget Midway has done an incredible job of getting deep into the scene she writes with such candor and detail.  She doesn't write to titillate or exploit.  She writes as one who actually CARES about the subject enough to do her homework on a Lovestyle that is often mischaracterized and misunderstood by the general public.

But Love My Way is more than the sum of its parts.  Here, Midway doesn't scrimp on the characters, even the minor ones.  They are complex individuals with whom as a reader one forms an emotional bond with.  Themes of love, family, boundaries and self-acceptance are deftly interwoven in a narrative that kept me glued to each page.

Interestingly, the hero, Eagan Morton, has moments where he is thoroughly unlikable.  And you know what, that's okay.  Midway writes with a classic subtlety where things are not always what they seem.  Morton is a man who believes in control and acts upon it, and yet everything around him--from his high-powered career to his household subs, to even the woman he finds himself falling in love with--is out of his depth.  As I read, I couldn't help smirking at the various ways Morton was getting his comeuppance.  He starts out as a total control freak who concocts a plan to find his next permanent submissive--an edgy reality show called 'Love My Way'--and ends up discovering that some things in life are beyond money and status.

Dancer Ananda Zelder starts out as the classic woman scorned--Morton sends her packing after an audition that everyone knows she should have won.  Instead, she finds herself as a contestant on Morton's reality show and  discovers a side of herself that existed deep inside her core.  Ananda's slow acceptance of her desires was natural--I didn't feel suddenly jarred by her wanting to be with Eagan as his permanent submissive.  I felt the various wars inside of her--both mind and body--as she struggled to accept this new reality.  Ananda was far from weak--she cheerfully breaks the rules as often as she can--and accepts the punishment that comes with each infraction.  She gives Eagan Morton headaches (and h**d-ons) as he slowly nurtures her passionate side.

My favourite character by far was the voluptuous yet insecure Meadow, whom I kept hoping would somehow come into her own and accept herself as worthy of being Eagan's submissive.  I would have liked for Ms. Midway to have allowed Meadow to grow as a woman--even if she wasn't the winner.

What I enjoyed the most about Love My Way is that Midway didn't gloss over the racial and gender dynamics of the Dom/sub relationship, but neither issue was the focal point and both were handled in a manner that savvy readers are allowed to make their own judgments.  As a former member of this community and a woman of color, I thoroughly sympathized with many of the issues such a relationship often brings with it (and few in the BDSM community are willing to deal with openly and honestly).  Then again, if one comes into Love My Way with preconceived notions of how things "ought" to be, one will be sadly disappointed.

'Love My Way' is simply a brilliant and edgy romance novel that takes the daring readers amongst us and pays off hugely in the end.  My hats (and flogger) off to Ms. Midway!
Firstly, this is a book for GROWN-UPS. For those easily offended by non-traditional sexual practices or who have issues with interracial relationships, Love My Way will definitely NOT be your cup of tea. This is not the strict vanilla variety of BDSM (i. e. handcuffs and flowers) romance. Bridget Midway has done an incredible job of getting deep into the scene she writes with such candor and detail. She doesn't write to titillate or exploit. She writes as one who actually CARES about the subject enough to do her homework on a Lovestyle that is often mischaracterized and misunderstood by the general public. But Love My Way is more than the sum of its parts. Here, Midway doesn't scrimp on the characters, even the minor ones. They are complex individuals with whom as a reader one forms an emotional bond with. Themes of love, family, boundaries and self-acceptance are deftly interwoven in a narrative that kept me glued to each page. Interestingly, the hero, Eagan Morton, has moments where he is thoroughly unlikable. And you know what, that's okay. Midway writes with a classic subtlety where things are not always what they seem. Morton is a man who believes in control and acts upon it, and yet everything around him--from his high-powered career to his household subs, to even the woman he finds himself falling in love with--is out of his depth. As I read, I couldn't help smirking at the various ways Morton was getting his comeuppance. He starts out as a total control freak who concocts a plan to find his next permanent submissive--an edgy reality show called 'Love My Way'--and ends up discovering that some things in life are beyond money and status. Dancer Ananda Zelder starts out as the classic woman scorned--Morton sends her packing after an audition that everyone knows she should have won. Instead, she finds herself as a contestant on Morton's reality show and  discovers a side of herself that existed deep inside her core. Ananda's slow acceptance of her desires was natural--I didn't feel suddenly jarred by her wanting to be with Eagan as his permanent submissive. I felt the various wars inside of her--both mind and body--as she struggled to accept this new reality. Ananda was far from weak--she cheerfully breaks the rules as often as she can--and accepts the punishment that comes with each infraction. She gives Eagan Morton headaches (and h**d-ons) as he slowly nurtures her passionate side. My favourite character by far was the voluptuous yet insecure Meadow, whom I kept hoping would somehow come into her own and accept herself as worthy of being Eagan's submissive. I would have liked for Ms. Midway to have allowed Meadow to grow as a woman--even if she wasn't the winner. What I enjoyed the most about Love My Way is that Midway didn't gloss over the racial and gender dynamics of the Dom/sub relationship, but neither issue was the focal point and both were handled in a manner that savvy readers are allowed to make their own judgments. As a former member of this community and a woman of color, I thoroughly sympathized with many of the issues such a relationship often brings with it (and few in the BDSM community are willing to deal with openly and honestly). Then again, if one comes into Love My Way with preconceived notions of how things "ought" to be, one will be sadly disappointed. 'Love My Way' is simply a brilliant and edgy romance novel that takes the daring readers amongst us and pays off hugely in the end. My hats (and flogger) off to Ms. Midway!