Book Reviews

Book Blurb

A guarded billionaire sub. A reluctant protector. One forbidden spark that refuses to stay hidden.

Zac Denman has lived his whole life behind layers of protection—wealthy, watched, and never truly free. Now he finally has a chance to explore the submissive desires he’s only imagined, and The Retreat offers exactly what he needs: safety, discretion, and a rotating roster of Doms who can help him discover who he really is. But nothing in his carefully controlled world prepares him for the one man he’s not supposed to notice.

Dale Gastrell is at The Retreat for a simple assignment—two weeks of covert protection for a young VIP who should never know he’s there. A former soldier rebuilding his life, Dale is grounded, rugged, and painfully aware that Zac comes from a world far above his own. But when a twist of circumstance throws them together, the connection between them snaps taut and undeniable.

Zac is starved for genuine attention. Dale is determined to stay professional. And every Dom who arrives to “train” Zac only sharpens Dale’s jealousy…and Zac’s realization that the man he truly wants is the one sworn to remain in the shadows.

As desire flares and danger circles, Zac must decide what kind of submissive he wants to be—and Dale must choose whether protecting Zac means keeping his distance… or stepping into the role neither of them expected but both desperately crave.

Includes exclusive KU bonus scenes not in the original release.

 

Book Review

A young man innocent in his submission and the man who wants to show him everything are at the heart of this third novel in L.M. Somerton’s ‘The Retreat’ series. Zac is a young man with a very famous, extremely wealthy businessman for a father. Because of this his personal security has always been a concern for his dad. Zac knows he is submissive, but because of the restrictions on his movements, he has been unable to explore it in any kind of meaningful way. Dale is ex-military, owns a landscaping company, and is a Dom who has been in the lifestyle for a long time. Unbeknownst to the two of them, Alistair and Carey put their matchmaking skills to the test to bring these two together.

 

I’m not going to reiterate the plot because I think the blurb gives enough information to understand the set-up, so to speak. I really liked both characters. Zac may be young, but growing up the way he has means he’s got some maturity in a lot of areas. He knows what he wants, he speaks his mind, and he just needs someone to show him the different forms of D/s that are out there. He can be a little snarky and he’s really hoping that one of the Dominants he is to meet will turn out to be more than just an experience. He wants to find love. Dale is level-headed and a typical Dom. He is entranced with Zac from the get-go but feels they are from two separate worlds and could never mix. Not to mention that Dale is just there to be the undercover security, not a Dom to play with Zac.

 

“I’ll get to come sometime, won’t I?”

“Probably. You’ve had a big day—I wouldn’t want to overwhelm you.”

Zac gave Dale a hard stare. “You have a strange sense of humor, you know that?”

“Dom humor. The best kind.” ~ Dale and Zac

 

There are several things that I absolutely adored about this story. The first is the relationship between Zac and his dad. I truly don’t know of any other situation where a father and son are so open and honest with each other that the father sets up his son’s introduction to BDSM in a safe environment. It’s wonderful and I loved it. Second, getting to see all of my favorite characters that I’ve grown to cherish at the Retreat. And, third, is the love story between Zac and Dale. It’s a progression and the author didn’t skimp on the feels.

 

A great big thank you to L.M. Somerton for once again bringing me a story and characters to enjoy! I hope to see more in this world as I think the Retreat has more tales to tell.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The first edition of this book was purchased by the reviewer.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 211 pages/62822 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	10-February-2026
Price	$3.99 ebook, $12.49 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.firstforromance.com/book/finding-him-special-edition