Review: Almost Gothic

Almost Gothic by Tymber Dalton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Trusty Rusty comes with a dark unexpected past. He's the sweet and quiet secondary character in this series. Finally getting his and Eliza's story is a treat. I particularly enjoy femdom and this one is so good. For those who have not read other books in this series, this book can be read as a standalone. For those who have been waiting to learn about Eliza and Rusty's story, this is an emotional one.

After learning how Eliza is an intense little ninja, it is clear why she and June are friends. Because the two of them are peas in a pod. Their vigilante style justice is definitely illegal yet it isn't wrong. And they both protect the ones they love. Eliza loves Rusty enough that she is even willing to consider marriage which is not something she ever wanted. I've jumped ahead. Let's back up.

Eliza and Rusty met in high school during a LARP (live action role play) meet up. As a large brawny male, he hesitated to spar against her. When Eliza kicked his butt, he fell head over heels in love with her. Their high school romance blossomed and is just so sweet. There can be so many ways Rusty could have gone down a dark path. Luckily for him, he did have a saviour … Eliza who accepted him as he came.

I really loved Rusty and felt so much sorrow for him. He was dealt a pretty bad hand and yet he came out of it still loving, gentle and sweet. It is impressive. His submission is delightful. How he loves to serve his Lady is heartwarming. The D/s dynamic between the Eliza and Rusty is beautiful to witness. The way they understand each other and how they give and take makes their marriage even stronger. One could say, their kink is built on a solid foundation and creates an amazing and enduring love affair. Love it.

Ms. Dalton does a brilliant job at showcasing how Rusty and Eliza develop over time. The flashbacks between "then" and "now" are nicely done. Even with some of the heavy material, Ms. Dalton lightens it up with well-timed humour. For example, Rusty and Eliza help their friends at a BDSM convention. Rusty dresses up as a T-Rex in bondage. The description is so vivid I can visualize it so well. His funny antics whilst dressed up in the suit makes me chortle uncontrollably. This is one of the books in the series where I wish these people were real and that I could spend some time with them because they are so awesome. I love this series and continue to faithfully follow every book. This kinky erotica is highly recommended to femdom readers who love when a strong man submits to a feisty woman.