Golden Boy, Golden Man [Paperback]

Claire Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2007

Johnny Wilson has never been in love. Though women adore his golden-blond good looks, he never seems to connect. Still trying to convince himself he's straight when he checks out a local gay bar, one look at the handsome stranger is enough to set his heart on fire. Half-acknowledged fantasies and dangerous dreams are challenged as Johnny finally faces his own secrets. Eric Mendez, the handsome, much-sought-after Dom in the BDSM gay Manhattan scene, is used to getting just exactly what he wants with a snap of his fingers and a glance from his smoldering eyes. When he first lays eyes on Johnny Wilson, he assumes he's just another pretty boy cruising the clubs for a good time. When Johnny disappears without a trace, he unknowingly takes a piece of Eric's heart with him. Sizzling passion and hidden yearnings to experience the ultimate submission at the hands of another man are brought to the fore in this explicit but romantic exploration of a gay D/s lifestyle. Johnny must come to grips not only with his sexual orientation, but must also find the courage to submit in a loving exchange of power. Rekindle your love affair with Johnny Wilson and Eric Méndez in this sequel to Golden Boy. Golden Man continues Johnny's journey of self-discovery as a gay submissive. Moving past the near-disaster at the gay BDSM club, Johnny strives to please his dominant lover while coming to terms with his family's disapproval of his lifestyle and his fledgling confidence in the scene. Eric, Johnny's sexy Latino lover, must deal with his own issues of trust and commitment. Together they continue to explore their erotic exchange of power with Johnny eager to press his own sensual envelope as Eric learns to intertwine tenderness with the intensity of discipline. The lovers are tested when a man from Eric's past returns to tempt him, while a sexy artist with designs on Johnny makes him wonder if he has what it takes to commit to just one man. Ultimately this is a love story set against the backdrop of disapproving family and temptation from would-be players in the scene. As the exchange of power deepens to a true exchange of love, each man must confront his fear of giving away the thing he holds most precious his heart.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Elloras Cave Pub Inc (October 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419956345
• ISBN-13: 978-1419956348
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,182,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hot, sensual and sexually charged M/M BDSM., November 10, 2007

By 

R.Parklane (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Golden Boy, Golden Man (Paperback)

This writer is known for her M/F BDSM. This I think is her first M/M erotica and she has given us one romantic, sensual and hot M/M BDSM, with 2 appealing characters in Johnny and Eric. First released as 2 novellas months apart, I am glad to have this finally in print.

Eric exudes power and confidence at every step, and is worshipped as a top Dom. Johnny is the beautiful golden boy and deeply closeted. From the day they meet and once Eric recognizes the submissive tendency in Johnny there is no turning back for both men. The romance is sensually seductive and lovingly tender and their sex which is into heavy BDSM is sizzling hot and very erotic, some parts a trifle dark.
There is one particular scene which is disturbing and heart breaking when the newly trained Johnny is tested beyond his endurance in the dom/sub club. An event which nearly shatters their fragile dom/sub relationship and a wake-up call for the over confident Eric.

This story is as much Johnny's journey as he comes out at the age of 25, succumbs to his desires and finds the courage to confront family and friends over who he is. As for Eric, he never thought he would be able to find both the perfect submissive and love in one man.

This is one well written, emotional, and hot romance erotica. Strongly recommended to all M/M romance fan.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Loving Submission, November 10, 2007

By 

K. Peoples (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Golden Boy, Golden Man (Paperback)

Romance duels with dominance/submission erotica for the theme of this book. It consists of two short novels combined in one, "Golden Man" being the sequel of "Golden Boy." Johnny is a gorgeous, 25 year old blond who is not even aware that he is gay, much less a natural submissive. Eric is an equally stunning, charismatic, 31 year old Latino dom, who has been playing the field for years, but never fallen in love with one man. They see each other at a bar and are both instantly attracted, then Johnny disappears.

From there, the story line is pretty straight forward and rather predictable, but well done. Johnny was bullied and abused by his father, even denying his gay sexuality until shortly before he meets Eric. Eric is a highly competent psychologist by day and sexually very experienced and active dom by night, though he is becoming tired of the promiscuity and the fruitless search for the perfect submissive slave he seeks. Eric learns about Johnny and seeks him out, finds him, woos him, trains him, stands by him in Johnny's struggles with his family. The two have a few (not really enough) miscommunications and misconceptions to get past, but eventually develop a beautiful love relationship.

This book is split about 50/50% between the romance story line and the dominance/submissive erotica. I am not into BDSM, so the erotica did not float my boat much and I won't try to review that part of the book. But I enjoyed the romance so much that it kept my attention all the way to the end of the book, despite the fact that the erotica is not my personal style. My impression is that someone into the BDSM scene will be very turned on by the erotica parts of the story, but that is something someone else will have to evaluate.

Good book if you are looking for gay romantic story; possibly a great book if you are also looking for BDSM erotica. You need to be interested in one or the other or both to appreciate this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Golden Boy, Golden Man, July 10, 2008

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Golden Boy, Golden Man (Paperback)

Johnny Wilson is the youngest brother in a family of macho mechanics. Despite his dreams of a different life, his days are filled with the monotony of endless work interspersed with his brother's taunts. His nights are the only place where he will admit to his own secret desires and disturbing dreams that are quickly ignored when he wakes up. When Johnny is invited to the hottest gay club in town, he decides to accept out of curiosity, despite the fact that he isn't gay. Only, from the first moment Johnny spies the powerful Latino man across the room, he can't stop thinking about him.


Eric Mendez is the most sought-after Dom in the BDSM gay Manhattan scene. Eric is constantly surrounded by men looking to him as a way to increase their own popularity and power within the community. Eric has a reputation as having a heart of ice, not willing to settle with any one man. Only Eric has a secret, he is truly a romantic Dom who is looking for someone to share a deeper connection with. At a club one night, as he is being fawned over, he glances over to see a stranger looking at him. Eric is instantly captivated by the golden boy who catches his gaze, but disappears before he can approach him.


They meet again by chance and instantly become involved, but they have many things they must overcome in order to truly find each other. Because Johnny has always denied his true sexuality, he is confused about his reactions to Eric, and isn't ready to acknowledge his vulnerability. Eric too is scared of showing any vulnerability, not wanting to come across as being too needy. Eric wants Johnny in his life, not just as a casual sex partner but as a true submissive, someone who trusts him enough to take his every command. Only he doesn't know if this is something that Johnny can live with. When Eric pushes Johnny too far one night, they must decide what is more important, the lives they led before or a life together.


I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and felt drawn into every exchange, every sentence. Every time that Eric pushes Johnny to accept something new and frightening, I felt like I was being pushed as a reader to accept it at the same time. The Dominance/submission aspect of their relationship is scorching, and it perfectly reflects their love for each other. The supporting characters are interesting, and simply add to the already rich storyline. I simply love Amanda, Johnny's best friend. The way she always supports him is very touching. Everyone should have a friend like her! Claire Thompson has written a delightful story with Golden Boy, and I highly recommend it.

Shannon
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed