Lennox is determined to bury his Dom instincts while running the BDSM academy. However, Marie is done seeing Lennox suffer. She’s even more motivated to get Lennox’s Dom back to the surface. Lennox and Marie have a lot in common when it comes to the death of her best friend and his sub. They both struggles even as they figure out where their lust will take them.

Will the pain be too much or will they finally find peace in each other’s embrace?

I really enjoyed Lennox and Marie’s characters. However, I felt that there weren’t a lot of explanation between certain scenes throughout this story. For instance, there would be some unresolved issues and then the next chapter it’s resolved or a person is forgiven, HOWEVER, the process towards resolving the problem or forgiveness isn’t shown. It’s just “boom” resolved with no explanation.

Overall, I liked the progress of the characters, but with so many loop holes, I didn’t feel like I got the full story.

I liked this story a lot but… I didn't love it. I enjoyed the overall storyline and was rooting for the Lennox and Mariela to get their HEA but it never really pulled me in to make me feel fully invested. It had some entertaining moments, a bit of emotion, and a good amount of heat rounding it out. It was just one of those stories that I thought was good and was curious enough about it that I kept right on reading because I wanted to know how it ended but I could easily put it down.

I liked that it was dual POV. I loved that Lennox was a dirty talker. I was thrilled they both worked through their issues and got to their happy. It was hot and fun. The characters were likable for the most part but I never felt their connection, I think that’s because it had a more telling not showing feel to me. I didn’t think it was super deep, just light and easy, and some things felt glossed over.

Overall, it was good but I had some issues. If you want light and easy mixed with a bit of heat, this might be for you.

“You think I’m distant and cold because I don’t feel anything and don’t want you? Let me assure you, I feel deeply and I want you too much.”


Headmaster was full of surprises, guilt, secrets, doubt, forgiveness, healing, friendship, respect, loss, love and hope. Not everything is always as it appears.

Lennox and Marie’s backgrounds intertwine with a past that haunts them. Even though they care deeply for one another, their guilt has them holding back. Are they denying what will truly set them free or are they making necessary sacrifices to heal?

“….he knew he could not give in, he could not let the beast inside of him go. Could not set it free.”

Anytime Tara Sue Me releases a book I know I'm going to be drawn in and not let go until I finish from cover to cover. This book did not disappoint! As much as I loved it and was still caught up in the story the epilogue has me patiently (hmmmm) waiting for TSM’s next creation. I'm anxious to learn more about Terrence Knight.

This book was absolutely fabulous. I had an eARC but was never able to read it so I ended up purchasing it because I liked the series. I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. It was everything I could have wanted and more.

A tantalizing power play! Getting to know the people behind the dominant and submissive is a beautiful thing in this series by Tara Sue Me. We not only get to see two sides of the lifestyle, but we also get a steamy read! I enjoyed the characters, the storyline was bittersweet and packed a good bit of feeling into it and it was fun to catch up some with the couple from the first book in the series. Looking forward to seeing who's up next!

Lennox MacLure might own the RACK Academy that is an in-demand dominant/submissive training facility, but he stopped living the lifestyle himself several years ago when his submissive Winnie died in a car accident following an argument the two of them had. He enjoys bringing fulfillment to others in making sure there is a safe place for them to learn, but he can't bring himself to trust himself with someone's wellbeing in his hands anymore.

Dance instructor Mariela was Winnie's best friend and has been crushing on Lennox since even before Winnie met him and started a relationship, but he only sees her as an employee and friend. She'd give anything to bring to life the man that used to exude such confidence and power when he entered the room. She knows at this point that Lennox will never want her for anything more than she already is to him ... but if she could just help him live his complete life again, she'd step aside and be satisfied knowing he was happy again. Will the plan she's come up with bring the dominant out of him again or will it backfire and send him reeling deeper than ever?

In 2017, Master Professor (Lessons from the Rack #1) was on my 5 star list. This was the first book of Tara Sue Me’s that I had read. I wanted more, more, more!!! So, when Headmaster came available to read and review, I needed it in my life!

In Headmaster, we read Fulton Matthews love story with Andie Lincoln. We met these two in Master Professor. You knew that there was something between the two of them, but you weren’t really sure what there back story was. WoW!! Their backstory was unlike any other that I have read in a long while.

So, here’s the thing, I usually will write a sum up of a book or give quotes in my reviews. I am not going to do with this one. There is just something special about this book that you need to experience on your own. Fulton had me crying! That is all I will say.

Tara Sue Me, this series was a thrill to read. I want to escape to their island with my husband!!! Please, please write more in this series! I can’t wait to explore more of your work. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

After the death of his submissive, Winnie, Lennox MacLure turned his back on the Dominant part of himself while at the same time opening the RACK Academy as a sort of penance. He’s been living a half-life since then, but emotionally shutting himself down is getting more and more difficult when faced with his desire for the academy’s dance instructor – and Winnie’s best friend – Mariela. Mariela has wanted Lennox for years, but he’s never seen her as more than Winnie’s friend. Frustrated and determined not to lose him to despair, Mariela makes one last desperate bid to unleash Lennox’s Dom side, and the risk she takes could make or break their chance at happiness.

Since I first ventured into the world of the RACK Academy in Master Professor, I’ve been dying to read Lennox and Mariela’s story. Headmaster is filled with emotional turmoil, but there’s also quite a bit of hope to balance that out.

Lennox has been closed off for years, unable to move past his misplaced guilt over Winnie’s death. I liked that it wasn’t easy for him to come back to his whole self; the work he had to put in made his journey feel “earned,” for lack of a better word. And Lennox definitely needed to start finding himself before he was a good fit for Mariela. Though she’s loved him for years, Mariela was always stuck in the role of “Winnie’s best friend.” And though Mariela is kind, she’s no doormat that will let Lennox put in her in a sort of box. She and Lennox clash more than once over the course of the story, and their happily ever after is well earned. There are a lot of ups and downs, and sometimes I might have been frustrated with Lennox’s one-step-forward-two-steps-back, but the fast pace of the story kept it from ever dragging. And while it has plenty of angst, Headmaster isn’t all loss and discovery. There are also plenty of smoking hot scenes. Mariela and Lennox have fantastic chemistry, and things get hot.

I really enjoyed Headmaster – so much so that I read it in one sitting. And even though I had some issues with the story (namely problems popping up which are then quickly resolved off-page), I was still quite happy with how Lennox and Mariela’s romance turned out. These two had a rough journey, but the result is a strong, believable love story that was a pleasure to read.

Bland

I’ve heard so many fantastic things about this author’s work that when this popped up on NetGalley I pounced. It’s not that this story is bad per se, it just wasn’t enough for me. Not enough kink. Not enough feels. Not enough zest. Not enough zhooshing.

The blurb does a good job of recapping the plot so I won’t go there. It’s a decent interpretation of fantasy rescue wish fulfillment. A little contrived, yes, but I can see the appeal.

Mariela was strike one for me. She is a dance instructor at the RACK (cute, huh?) Academy which is run by Lennox. Her crush on him predates his relationship with Winnie and they are friends, but her attitude toward him rubbed me the wrong way. I think she’s supposed to be portrayed as a sub with a spine but she comes across as a vitriolic anger ball. She antagonizes Lennox at every turn and I could muster up little to no sympathy for her cause. I get that she wants to be his submissive but her openly hostile/bratty behavior was very off-putting.

Strike number two is Lennox who’s prone to the ole martyr syndrome. Everything’s his fault, his responsibility.



Neither one of them are fully fleshed out instead relying on constructing both of their identities as “dominant” and “submissive”. I have issues with one’s entire personality construct being comprised of one thing, in this case their sexual proclivities. Even in real life if all anyone ever talks about is this one microcosm of their world they tend to come across one-dimensional and boring. At least to me they do.

The remainder of my issues are nitpicky:

1. it’s sugarkink and as hot as spanking can be, this was halfhearted at best. There’s no depth to the kink. It’s all labels, calisthenics positions and mediocre sex (dirty talk, anal, face-fucking, spanking, non-restraint bondage, mild orgasm denial).

2. Mariela gets into a fairly serious car accident and allegedly crushes her leg yet a few weeks later she’s at a BDSM club sceneing and only wears an ankle wrap?



It does have a nice HEA that is romantic and will be appealing to some. It probably would’ve been moreso for me had I liked either of the characters.

Unfortunately, I didn’t love it but sugarkink fans will probably enjoy it more than I.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley

Lennox MacLure, owner of the RACK Academy, has sworn off the Dominant/submissive lifestyle. Years ago, his submissive, Winnie, died in a car accident following a heated argument for which he blames himself. Guilt-ridden and emotionally closed off, Lennox sees the academy as both his punishment and penance for her death.

Mariela, a dance instructor and a natural submissive, was Winnie’s best friend and longs to help Lennox move past his grief. She’s accepted that he will never see her as anything more than a friend, but she still wants to help him acknowledge what he needs. Mariela comes up with a plan of seduction, guaranteed to unleash the Dominant he’s willfully buried—but the passion they unleash could prove to be stronger than they are ready to handle.

Review:

I have read this Author before and liked her work, so when I read the blurb for this story I was intrigued. Now, it is the second book in this series, but from what I can tell and read this can totally be a stand alone title.

These two characters sure have been through their share of heartache. I really was rooting for them the whole way. I think the back story of them having a history really make the story and characters much more interesting. I really like how Mariela and Andie go about trying to get Lennox on the Lennox and Marie program. There is definitely chemistry between Lennox and Marie and the sexy times are well-written and appropriate for the characters and story. If you are worried about reading D/s book this is a safe book to dip your toes into, they definitely have the relationship, but the D/s is really pretty mild compared to other books I have read.

Not sure what is in store next for this series, but I will be looking for it.

4Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

3.75 stars--HEADMASTER is the second instalment in Tara Sue Me’s contemporary, adult LESSONS FROM THE RACK, BDSM erotic, romance series focsing on the exclusive $ex academy The RACK. This is RACK owner and Dominant Lennox MacLure, and dancer/submissive Mariela’s story line. HEADMASTER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Lennox and Mariela were first introduced in book one The Professor –Fulton Matthews and Andie Lincoln’s story line.

NOTE: HEADMASTER is an erotic story with BDSM sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers including caning and spanking.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Mariela and Lennox) HEADMASTER follows the building but struggling relationship between submissive and RACK dance instructor Mariela, and RACK owner and Dominant Lennox MacLure. Three years earlier Lennox fell in love with Mariela’s best friend-a woman far from submissive but a woman Lennox hoped to ease into the lifestyle he lived and worked. A tragic accident destroyed any hopes for a future leaving our story line hero in a world of guilt, grief and remorse. Fast forward to present day wherein submissive Mariela, a woman who has loved Lennox MacLure from afar, tries desperately to get Lennox to notice the woman in front of his eyes. A fractured friendship and palpable sexual attraction pulls our couple together but Lennox’s ongoing guilt over the loss of his previous sub continues to push our heroine out of his life. What ensues is the on again, off again D/s relationship between Lennox and Mariela, and the potential fall out when Lennox leaves to find what it is he has been avoiding all along.

HEADMASTER is a story of two people pulled together by circumstance and mutual loss; a relationship predicated on the BDSM lifestyle but a relationship that must endure one man’s ongoing grief and guilt over the death of someone he loves. Although there is no timeline on grief, Lennox is but a shell of his former self and refuses to accept his Dominant life. Mariela battles not only her feelings for, but the ongoing rejection of, the man that she loves, and in this the struggle to accept her undying devotion is questionable in the face of the constant rejection.



HEADMASTER is a roller coaster of emotions knowing the attraction between our leading couple is tempered by guilt and grief. Mariela continues to make herself available to a man who isn’t ready to move on from the past-a man who struggles with too many memories and a loss of motivation. The premise is imaginative and creative but there are some unresolved issues that got lost in the build up; the romance is highly sexual, erotic and intense; the characters are broken, dynamic and charismatic.

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My very first from this author and it certainly won't be my last! Tara Sue Me has certainly cornered the market on sincere and touching stories involving the BDSM lifestyle. It was apparent she had done her research with respect to terms and the actions of a Dominant with his/her submissive. I was thrust into the world of the RACK Academy immediately within the first few pages of Headmaster and was intrigued every step of the way.

What sets this book apart from others in the genre is capability to mesh erotic fantasy seamlessly with true feeling. With both Mariela and Lennox still coming to grips with Winnie's death more than 3 years ago, theirs was a slow dance to finally be on the same page both physically and emotionally. Marie has had to keep her thoughts to herself when it came to Lennox but I loved her spirit and drive to make Lennox see her for more than just Winnie's friend.

Both had secrets to share with respect to their mutual love of Winnie and the pain they have endured because of her passing. But these two are more than well-suited both in and out of the bedroom. Their scenes as Master and Sub were extremely intense and very sexy. It was heartbreaking watching as Lennox tries to figure out his life when so much guilt has taken hold of his soul. But the fiery Marie wouldn't give up on him and with the help of her friend Andie and her Dom Fulton, these two may finally figure out just how perfect they are for one another.

I look forward to reading more of these engaging stories from this author and I have to say I really enjoyed this passionate respite that Headmaster provided. It is well-written and well worth a try.

4 solid stars!

This is the first book I have read and reviewed by this author. I was pleasantly surprised at the interesting theme.

This is a second book of a series and while I was able to easily get into the story I also felt that I had missed something too, in terms of the other supporting characters.

Delightfully heated and definitely hot, we get a spicy look into a BDSM School and the delicious Headmaster. Which is the perfect term to use in this story.

The author brings us plenty of anticipation and build up along with some heated scenes that definitely add to the overall hot factor.

Mmmm. Lennox is conflicted and yet you can feel the control and heat coming off him. This makes for a buildup of anticipation and passion that you know will come. But it is his past that holds him back from what he really truly desires and that is Marie.

Well written with a taste of BDSM. But this is more romance than anything else and it was a great introduction to this author. I will read her work again.

This was my first title by this author and I enjoyed it overall. Her writing style is a little different than other authors I have read, and while it took me a little bit to get used to it, I found that it was engaging and I was involved in the story.

Lennox and Marie have known one another for a while and he is her boss. Prior to this, he was the man involved with her best friend, Winnie, who was killed in a car accident 3 years before the events of the story.

Lennox is a dom, but one who is resisting who he is because he believes that it is the lifestyle that drive Winnie to her death, and he feels responsible.

Marie is a teacher in the school Lennox runs and, she has been in love with him the entire time she has known him. But, convincing Lennox that he is good enough for her is the challenge.

I liked the BDSM elements of this story and I enjoyed the way they were handled, that they were allowed to be important to both parties and that it was ok, accepted, and central to their lives. A lot of times in a story with elements of BDSM, it feels like it is tossed in, but in this book it felt like it was central and important to the characters.

I am definitely interested in reading other titles by this author and I recommend this one.

Admittedly, this author is a hit-or-miss for me. He last few books have been misses but the moment I saw the blurb for Headmaster, I just couldn't help but read it. For one, I couldn't resist the good old unrequited love trope. Second, I also couldn't resist a dead ex trope. This book had both.

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Headmaster falls smack dab in the middle of my like-dislike scale. There are certain things that I really didn't care much for while there are a few that I really, really liked.

Number one of my 'Really, really liked' list is the heroine, Mariela. She's hired by Lennox to teach in his BDSM academy, RACK. She's a submissive who's in love with the hero for a long time. And she also happens to be the best friend of Winnie, the hero's dead ex.

While she has been carrying a torch for the hero since the beginning, she wasn't a pushover. Her being a submissive is a choice. She's not timid or easily intimidated by the hero. She could hold her own. I liked how she admits her feelings for the hero without losing her independence or pitying herself, etc.

Mariela also made Lennox likable. I didn't like Lennox much but I love his banter with Mariela. I also liked the BDSM aspect to the book. It's there and it's a big part of the hero and heroine but it doesn't overwhelm the reader with the ins and outs of BDSM.

The plot was okay. There were high emotional points which I really enjoyed, while there are some stuff which I'm meh about. And that brings me to Lennox.

I'm torn about him. He's a tortured individual, so full of guilt because he chose the wrong girl and she died. His "I'm so tortured, I can't be a Dom and fall in love again" got tiring after a while. And if it hadn't been for Mariela, who I adored, I would've DNF'd this book. But to be fair, he did grow as a character.

That said there were moments where I'm not quite sure whether he fell in love with Mariela because she was more compatible than Winnie ever was. And I would totally understand if other readers would take issue with the fact that Lennox did choose Winnie over Mariela. She wasn't in his radar at all. He knew her as his girl Winnie's best friend for years. And I missed the moment where he starts to fall in love with her because at the start of the book, they already have this 'will they, won't they succumb to their feelings' thing going on.

Despite that, I still enjoyed this overall. I loved Mariela and liked their romance overall.

Middle of the road for me. Nothing really stood out but I enjoyed it ok.

Marie is a natural submissive deeply attracted to dominant Master Lennox. Unfortunately it was her best friend Winnie who attracted his eye and she quietly faded into the shadows. Now Winnie is dead and Marie works at the RACK academy where Lennox is the headmaster. Can there perhaps be another chance for Marie?
Lennox was a dominant master to his core when he fell in love with Winnie who as it turned out was not the perfect submissive. Now tortured by guilt over Winnie's early death, Lennox has given up the BDSM lifestyle and suppressed all his dominant tendencies. Marie has a very hard road to climb if she wants to sway Master Lennox back into the lifestyle let alone dominating her as she craves.
Fortunately Marie, after having watched from the shadows for so many years is ready for her do or die attempt at making a play for the man and  master she desires.  Marie engages her friends and fellow instructors in the academy into her plans to force Lennox to engage with her and the students from a much more up close and personal level.  This story is told very much from Marie's view point through most of the book which aligns the readers to her especially when Lennox is being such a curmudgeon about every thing.
Readers beware: this is not a conventional BDSM novel nor does the plot include a lot of scenes or play.  I felt the story dragging a bit but am still interested to see where the author plans to take this series.

A beautiful story of love, forgiveness, acceptance and submission. Both Mariela and Lennox need to move past the past and look to their future. And definitely overcome the guilt they both carry.

Their romance is beautiful, sexy and so very powerful. I loved how they helped the other move through their shared history and get to what could and will be a beautiful future. It wasn't an easy path--one that actually took YEARS to happen, but it was so worth the trouble and patience. Swoon. ~Missy,4.5 stars

I don’t know what to say about this one. I fell head over heels in love with Master Professor and I knew that Lennox’s story had to be amazing, but I just wasn’t feeling this one. While I really loved Marie and Lennox separately, and maybe even as a couple, I felt like I was missing something. It didn’t help that the author would completely skip ahead in the story. So, we’d see a conflict pop up, it sort of be dealt with, and then we’d be catapulted a day, week, months into the future. So, for instance when a sub is kicked out of the academy during training, the next chapter we apparently skip forward in time to where it's not even an issue anymore. Is it fully dealt with? Are there any repercussions? What about her Dom partner? Did they bring in a new sub as a replacement? It was things like that that really kept me from fully getting into the story. It just seemed like the author would show you the beginning workings of something and then skip ahead to the end of it without really giving the readers all the nitty gritty in between.

I will say that I liked the aspect of this tragedy that both he and Marie experienced that has sort of set them both off kilter. Lennox used to be this very confident Dom, and now he can’t even be in a room with a scene taking place. Essentially, this story should be called, “How Lennox got his Dom back.” We pretty much see Lennox go from this broken shell of himself and slowly (very slowly) start to embrace who he really is and become whole again. I also liked that in between chapters we got a journal entry from his dead girlfriend. Those little tidbits were interesting to read, and gave you a little insight into the past.

Headmaster was not my favorite read of the year. I felt like some scenes dragged on, while other parts were completely skipped over. I loved my time with Master Professor and was really looking forward to Headmaster but this just didn’t do it for me.

The Headmaster is the story of Lennox Maclure, Headmaster at The RACK Academy, a BDSM school for Dom/Sub learning and getting into the lifestyle. He has devoted the last three years of his life to this school and suppressed the Dominant inside himself. Living a life of penance for the loss of his sub. He has urges to Dominate only one Sub... Mariela the dance instructor at the academy and the best friend of his late submissive.

Mariela has loved Lexxon since she first laid eyes on him. Even when he passed her over for her best friend. She never stood in the way of their happiness, but watching him live in darkness is torture for her. She want him to be happy and she knows that she can make him happy.

Can they both overcome his fears and get past the ghosts of his past?

Sparks fly, emotions are at an all time high with Tara Sue Me's latest book in Lessons From The RACK series. The second edition produces two guilt ridden, broken souls who truly need each other to find the light. Headmaster is a steamy, naughty book that has all the right elements of a Tara Sue Me book that we all know and love.

Lennox MacLure, headmaster of RACK Academy has fought off his Dominant side ever since his girlfriend, submissive Winnie had a fatal car accident. He has punished himself for her accident ever since and has sworn off his Dominant nature. He has closed himself off from everyone around , however he feels a connected spirit to Winnie's bestfriend Mariela "Marie" who sparks his inner Dom.

"Marie was a beacon of light in his otherwise dark and dour world and he needed that light like plants needed the sun."

Marie has craved Lennox's Dominant hand even before her bestfriend took him as her Dom. Now, she finds herself working as the dance instructor for RACK with the man. She knows the power that is held within him, but if only she can unleash his dark side. Can she help him rid the guilt that is destroying his life?

We venture through their story through the eyes of Lennox and Marie, but we have glimpses of Winnie's inner thoughts as well. I really enjoyed those thoughts from her and to know her secrets that lay beneath. In all of Tara's books there is a BDSM current theme, however, within Headmaster, I would say it's on the lighter side. I am a huge fan of hers and this is like reading a Disney fairytale compared to some of her other novels of BDSM.

I hope the RACK Academy keeps producing more couples. I enjoy all books from this author.

**ARC provided by the publisher/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**