Separation Games

First off I can't review this duet separately, there's just no way. So this is for both Marriage Games and Separation Games. There is a reason they call CD Reiss the "Shakespeare of smut". These books are so beautifully written, you don't even realize how dark, hot and sexy it is; and by the time you do, you're so deep in the story and what the characters are feeling it doesn't even matter. Adam & Diana are the epitome of what it means to do what it takes to save your marriage. But, will it be enough? In the meantime, they'll learn just as much about themselves as they learn about each other. When you start this duet, make sure you have the second book, Separation Games at the ready. I literally read both books in 2 days (I had to take a break for my daughter's H.S graduation). Any quote you read by another author regarding this set is entirely true. I can't recommend it enough. It will break you and put you back together even better than you were before ;).

Separation Games is book two of the Games Duet by CD Reiss. It explores the continued crumbling marriage of two people who claim to no longer love one another. That claim is more about their lack of satisfaction and self doubts. Separation Games also explores, Diana’s awakening not only to her husband’s sexual needs but also to her own.

Diana and Adam are clearly meant to be together. Everyone but them seems to see the inevitability of it. However, for Diana and Adam to see their destiny, they have to admit their wants and needs not only to each other but also to themselves. Separation Games is so much more than sexual kink or trying something new to put the spark back into a long-term relationship. This book is about honesty and trust in relationships, and because Diana and Adam were not entirely honest when building the foundation of their relationship, they are forced to tear it down completely and rebuild an entirely new one. The big question is, are they both willing to rebuild?

Diana’s deductions of Adam’s motivations left me wanting more—more from Adam that is. The dual narration of Separation Games is not laid out in the common alternating chapter narration. Diana is the narrator for much of the book, and Adam becomes the narrator at the story’s zenith. It is unique and creative. It allows the reader to fully relate to Diana’s questions, yearnings and vulnerability while keeping dominant Adam less exposed. Reiss’ writing is both extraordinarily detailed and subtle; she writes presuming her readers are intelligent enough to see all the nuances she has folded into the details.

The angst of Diana and Adam’s separation isn’t the usual game played in YA and NA novels. It isn’t a wild rollercoaster of ups and downs, but a continuing struggle from start to finish. In fact, it is clear from start to finish that Ms. Reiss doesn’t consider the sacrament of marriage a game. The message that marriage is not for the faint of heart is clear. I adored Ms. Reiss’ comparison of hot -house flowers and dandelions. It is perhaps a nod to a comment once made by her own husband regarding the fragility of orchids compared to the strong, resilient dandelion.

I loved that Diana saw the why and what of Adam, assessed his needs and pushed him to admit it to himself and her. I was frustrated by how much Adam had to be pushed to get to the point of realization. I loved that while Diana was using her newfound interest in BDSM as a way of pushing Adam, she knew that she was only excited by the idea of exploring these needs with her husband. That she wasn’t turned on by any dominant made the story feel like self-exploration and becoming better individuals by giving more of themselves to each other rather than just another story about erotic experiences.

Beyond the scintillating scenes, Separation Games is about love, giving and trust. It is about a couple who rises like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes of their complacency to build a stronger commitment to building a supportive life together.

One of the best duets I’ve read. Adam and Diana were so completely wrong for each other that it made them perfect for each other. They had a hard time seeing through their own fears. I went from loving one and hating the other to hating the one and loving the other. It all culminated in loving them both.

Kind of like them.