Rating: 3 stars out of 5

The story of Tek Cain and Jamie Ryan that began with Roped continues in Bound as their past catches up to them. Tek and Jamie both work at the Guards of Folsom BDSM club in New York City. A few years earlier, they ran from the motorcycle club they had been involved with from birth. Both their fathers were among the founders, and when Tek was born, it was decided he’d someday be the leader. Born on the same day in the same year, the two men grew up together, and in Roped, they discovered what they felt for each other was much more than friendship.

After escaping from the motorcycle club, and the feds that were after them and other members of the club, they started to forge a new life with a new set of friends—the host of characters from the Guards of Folsom series. As this last installment of the series opens, Tek has just found out that Jamie has been kidnapped by Rocco, the leader of their club, and Rocco wants revenge—on both of them.

From the blurb, I assumed that Jamie’s kidnapping would occupy most of the story, however, Tek got help from Tackett, Blake, and Max and was able to free Jamie within the first third of the story. The balance of the story centers on the men getting back to where they were before. They do not live a BDSM lifestyle; they just occasionally do rope scenes, but neither man is able to go back to playing after the traumatic events surrounding the kidnapping. They are also concerned that others may know their new location and come after them—others that include the feds or some former club members—and they worry whether or not they should stay in New York. The problem is that they don’t want to leave their friends—good friends like Blake and Max and others who provide friendship and support throughout the story.

I liked this story, but like Roped, I didn’t highly enjoy it. I think the bottom line is that I couldn’t warm to these characters, even after two books. I do, however, love the other characters in the series, and they all appeared at various times throughout this book, giving readers an opportunity to experience their emotional growth and changes as well. One issue that bugged me was the lack of follow-up to a scene that occurs early in the story between one of the other couples. Without naming names… <spoiler>

I’m saddened that the series has ended since it really marks the end of two series: both Whispering Pines Ranch and the Guards of Folsom series. I had no idea when I read Lorcan’s Desire four years ago that I would grow so close to a group of characters, including Ty, the one who was originally cast as a villain. Both are great series, rich in characters that give a wonderful perspective on various forms of the BDSM lifestyle. I recommend it to anyone interested in learning more. This book is a must read for those who have enjoyed this series as it brings closure not only to Tek and Jamie, but to several other couples as well.

Cover art by Paul Richmond is just as beautiful as others in the series with a gray and white photo of the upper torso of a lone man, head bowed and wrists chained. Very poignant and emotional.