Great addition

A great addition to the series KA Merikan. It was nice to revisit the band and get to know them better. Sid and Asher where interesting to follow. Tyler Kent did a super job with the narration. Loving the series.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

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Great story and narration

I was given a free audio copy from the author and the GRR arc team for review.

The main characters were loveable but not without their flaws due to their trajic pasts. They had great chemistry. This was very hardcore kinky (vanilla people abort mission. This includes knife/blood play) and very steamy but also angsty at times and very sweet at times too. Who would have thought having a stalker would be so romantic in the end.

The side characters were all great too and there was great world building. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series and seeing more from the other band members

Overall, this was a wonderful addition to this series and I absolutely would recommend it to anyone into hardcore kink. I'm not sure if I liked this one or book 1 more.


The narrator did a really good job. He had a pleasant reading voice. He kept a good pace, though I kept mine at 1.50 and he was age appropriate. He expressed the emotions really well and brought the story to life. He didn't differentiate the 2 main character voices enough that I noticed but It was a very enjoyable listening experience overall. He did do some side characters voices. I think his performance on book 1 was better but that's just my opinion.

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Hiding From His Feelings.

MM, Rocker, BDSM, Friends with Benefits, First Love, Contemporary, Romance. A fantastic second installment in the series, great characters, best read in series order for full understanding and maximum enjoyment. A compelling story with lots of heat, drama and angst throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed their story and thought Tyler Kent narrated the story perfectly. Guaranteed HEA.

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Typical Merikan – Disturbing and good

I always hesitate when picking up a K.A. Merikan audiobook. Some I’ve loved, some I most definitely haven’t, but all make me look at things a little differently.

This is a rocker BDSM book. Rockers? Not entirely my thing, but I’ve read a few really good ones, so always keep an open mind. BDSM? I’m all-in. Pain? Sign me up. Sissification? Not so much.

Elements of this book were right up there with my tastes, and I loved that. Putting down a lover in a derogatory way – even if it turns the guy on? Fine line. That being said, Sid is one massive masochist and although Asher isn’t initially a Sadist, he finds that part of himself in order to give Sid what he needs. Sid’s family imposed terrible guilt upon him and escaping was his only choice. When his past follows him, though, it’s Asher he turns to for help, support, and strength.

I believed this relationship worked on all those levels. Asher truly cared for Sid. Sid, in the end, had to stop running from his feelings. That’s pretty powerful stuff.

I’ve enjoyed Tyler Kent’s narration of other K.A. Merikan books and this one was no different. I might just go back to the first book in the series, which I somehow missed. Wasn’t lost at all, though, dropping in mid-series. Can’t wait for more.

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Pain and pleasure

Now I must say this is intense! I love The Underdogs and book 1 was awesome! I always wondered about Sid in book 1 and this was so different from anything else I've read. It's full of pain, kink, humiliation, and more and done in such a way it endears you to these characters.

I actually loved Asher and feel like the "Stan" and stalker storyline/comments were incorrect. I don't really feel like he was ever a stalker. He was infatuated but still lived a somewhat normal like and "saw" others while "following" Sid. I didn't like the Stan comments and felt they were in bad taste when all he wanted was a second chance with someone he could be himself with.

Now Sid has had a hard life and I really enjoyed the way he was approached. He's prickly, guarded and short tempered but he does all this to protect himself and his desires. I like the way he was built up and slowly broken down by Asher as they "fall in love". My heart did break for Asher at Sid's constant rejection, before, and during their relationship. There were moments where I felt Sid was being selfish or dismissive of Asher and his feelings. He adapted his life for Sid because he cared so much and sometimes Sid needed to be nicer but in the end Sid finally frees himself and can be honest, caring and loving to Asher the way they both deserve!!!

Totally kinky but so good!

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Just Here For the Kink!

The second book in K.A. Merikan’s The Underdog’s series, Just Here For the Pain is available in audio now, performed by Tyler Kent. I'm loving Mr. Kent narrating this series, and I hope there are plans for him to perform You. Forever. Always. soon! You could read this series as standalones, but I think they’re better read in order to get the full dynamic within the bandmates.

Fans of BDSM romances know, there are as many different kinds of kink as there are folks on the planet. It’s always interesting to me when authors find a unique way of looking at relationships, especially when it’s centered around sadism and masochism. There are usually reasons why characters gravitate towards giving and receiving pain, and we know going in that the Merikans are going to dream up some beauties.

I found Sid to be a fascinating character, and the more we learn of his backstory, the better it gets. He unravels slowly over the course of the story, and as he bares his soul, my heart breaks for him. Sid’s needs and reactions are complex, and his journey toward understanding himself is beautifully written.

Asher’s gradual awakening, as he delves into S&M play with Sid, is nicely straightforward. Of course he likes to give Sid what he needs. He’s been obsessed with him for years, and makes no bones about wanting to please Sid. The Merikans do a great job exploring how he’s feeling throughout Just Here for the Pain.

As with all their stories, K.A. Merikan blends in aspects of society, friendship, romance, and the human experience. IMHO, you can’t go wrong when you pick up any of their novels.

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Has it all

WOW is all I can start by saying. This story has it all. Romance, angst, BDSM, tenderness, heartbreak and I could just keep going on. I always know when these authors write something they will bat a thousand. This story right from the beginning grabbed by attention and kept it until the very end. Sid is so broken. He has been for years but it appears his needs are getting stronger and he is less able to find any relationship to satisfy those needs. He has settled for a Dom who hardly does anything for him. When his “stalker” Asher pushes his way into Sid’s attention Asher has to come up with ways to keep Sid’s attention and interest. Asher does a great job of that. The relationship sort of goes along until Asher wants and needs more. These author’s have a way with words that make me able to picture the story like I’m watching from the sidelines. The narration by Tyler Kent added to that reality. I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series.

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Interesting story

I have neither listened to nor read the first volume about the Underdogs. That's not necessary, because I think you can listen to "Just for the Pain" as a standalone.
The writing style is easy-going and the story is pleasant to read.
The story is very intense. I like BDSM books, but this is one of the more violent ones in my eyes because Sid is into pain and humiliation.

I loved Asher from the beginning. He is referred to as a stalker, which I didn't really feel that way. Asher is into Sid and wants a second chance. And the more I learned about Asher, the more I was moved by his fate.
Sid has had a troubled past and is reserved, but he flares up quickly and is prickly.
I liked how the two grew closer and fell in love. In the relationship, Sid is sometimes very dismissive of Asher. Asher doesn't deserve that at all in my eyes and it had to be a drastic experience before Sid changed.
I liked the setting and the family events in Sid's life were interesting. The story is good, but pretty kinky.

The audiobook was narrated by Tyler Kent and he did a good job. I liked how he gave the characters each an appropriate voice and brought the story to life. I look forward to listen to more audiobooks read by Tyler Kent.

I requested a free copy of the audiobook and this is my honest opinion that I am volunteering

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1 person found this helpful

intense

the BDSM in this book isn't your fluffy, light beginner reading. the scenes in this book are intense. can't wait for Mage and Dawn to finally get their story

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Not my thing

I was not sure about this book but I wanted to know more about The Underdogs. It’s been too much for me, their necessity of communicating more and the scenes… This kind of kink is not my thing, too hard and cruel, but it’s just what they crave and need. They are perfect for each other, that’s certain, but Asher needs to talk to Sid more.

There is plenty of drama, I didn’t like what Asher did and how he did it. Good things though, group shenanigans are back and, it’s as hard on bdsm as it’s on feelings. I’m very curious about Dawn and Mage now.

Narrator is awesome.

«Sid had no idea how to handle how much affection. Maybe there was something broken inside of him that made all the love Asher poured into him leak out».

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