One of the best things to happen to my reading in 2022 was discovering Anna Zabo. I am late to the party, which means I thankfully have a great backlist of books to explore. Zabo blows me away every time with the deft weaving of romance, emotional beats, and BDSM play into each story—and the Twisted Wishes series in particular stands apart as books destined for my all-time favorites collection.

Counterpoint is the second in the series (though I read it last) and it follows the band's lead guitarist Dominic “Domino” Bradley. Dominic has fought hard to create a separation between his over-the-top stage persona and his regular life. When his hook ups with the dominant and nerdy computer programmer Adrian Doran start to transform into something more, Dominic worries what will happen when Adrian learns about his music career and if the public ever learns of who he really is.

The use of a secret identity trope works so well here given both Dominic's fame and desire for some semblance of a normal life, as well as the way Zabo uses it to explore Dominic's feelings of not quite knowing which parts of him are real and which are performance. It also showed Adrian as a partner who was patient and understanding (with some lovely caretaking), but also one who knew how to set limits of what he'd put up with.

This is also a romance that utilizes food so well to explore each character and I loved that it was a form of foreplay for them to watch each other indulge in something delicious. I definitely want to bake something inspired by what they eat on the reread! This can definitely be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the entire series—I can't say enough good things about these books.

Story: 3.5
Narration: 4.75

I was really looking forward to Dom’s story, and overall I really enjoyed it. Adrian and Dom are just MAGIC together, and the emotion that Greg Boudreaux infuses into their interactions and feelings is just *chef’s kiss*.

My only real complaint is that Dom’s inner conflict seemed drawn out and hashed over too many times, especially since he makes a lot of assumptions about Adrian’s reaction and the reality of the situation. It may have been less tiresome if the connection to his anxiety and panic attacks wasn’t sidelined until it mattered to the plot. I probably would have skimmed a lot more if not for the great narration.

There’s also a lot of backstory and side stories that have no real resolution or real importance. For example, while I like Adrian’s friendship with Jackson, he has a romance plot line completely off page and Adrian’s never even meets said dream guy so it seems like it was just added for length or blatant fodder for a free short story somewhere down the line.🤷🏽‍♀️

This author can write. I actually FELT the chemistry exude off of the pages and seared my skin. There was not even any need to get hot and heavy because just having Dom and Adrian in the same room was enough. They clicked on sight and though hesitance was the name of the game, they were just made for each other.

Blending his two personalities had never been easy for Dom. On stage he was the incomparable rocker Domino Grinder, heartthrob. And in real life, he was Dominic, the hot geek who was a book freak. Meeting the alpha-like Adrian was a dream come true. Dom had never thought he could have it all, but it was all falling into place. Now if only he could be truthful and still have the man he was falling for.

Adrian and Dom had the makings of forever. Adrian wanted it all, but he just needed his geek lover to open up and give their relationship a chance. What would it take to give them the world. You won't know until you one click.

Reviewed by Alpha Book Club

I finally finished this book!! I’ve been meaning to read this for forever and I had initially started this when I got this as an eARC and read about half, but I just never did finish it? That was almost two years ago.

Going back and reading it all the way through and as my first 2021 read, I think this was just okay. It’s just...it’s a lot of things that I personally don’t love in a book and that’s why I was finding it hard to get through the story the first time around.

Trigger warnings include mentions of homomisia, questions about identity, panic/anxiety attacks, mentions of a near death experience (from the first book), mentions of parents passing away (happened before the book starts).

This book is the second in the Twisted Wishes series about the Twisted Wishes rock band. The first story was a kinky romance between the lead singer and the new drummer brought into the band, and this book is focused on Dominic Bradley, only known to fans as Dominio Grinder.

Dom is a nerdy, bow-tie wearing guy in his personal life, but as rock star Dominio, he’s larger-than-life and everything Dominic isn’t. Dominio was started as a persona to help Dom with his anxiety from getting onstage and it’s somehow worked well for him so far - no one has ever figured out who Dom is outside the band. When he meets kinky Dominant, Adrian Doran, a computer engineer who knows nothing about current music trends and definitely has no idea who Dom is, Dom’s lucked out.

I actually really like Adrian and Dom. They’re lovely together and I really love how much consent takes place in their scenes together and we really get to see them falling for one another. THAT SAID. I don’t know if I’m just not in the right mindset, back when I first tried to read this book and now, but there is a lot of sex scenes and I just got tired of it? It almost felt nonstop and I know a lot of readers love that, but I wanted more story? The band is home, laying down new music so it’s nothing there really except rehearsals and recording stuff. The main conflict didn’t exactly give an opportunity to have more story, so I’m not really sure what could have worked out differently than what we got between Adrian and Dom, but I’m just not a fan of this one.

The main conflict is probably my biggest issue. I’ve just never ever liked when one character keeps a big secret from another character and that’s the main tension in the book. Very much like Dom here, but that gives ME anxiety and the fact that nothing is given away until very, very late in the book just doesn’t work for me. I’ve just personally never been a fan of this trope and for it to be so drawn out? It just got really hard for me to read and harder still to keep me interested.

If I were smarter, I could do an intellectual look into Dom’s conflict with his identity as a rock star and as a nerd and do a discussion between one’s own identity and body dysphoria, but honestly? I’m just not smart enough for that discussion here and don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. But reading this book, I can gather that from Dom’s back and forth with himself and how he wants the world to see him.

Adrian’s job hits a little too close to home right now since my job is really similar to his. I don’t know how much other people will understand everything surrounding his job as this book as it does give maybe more detail than other books about a character’s job, but this one, I get. And since I’m also stressed a bit from my job, reading about Adrian’s stresses and unhappiness was probably not the best thing for me.

That being said though, do I want a book or just a novella or SOMETHING about his best friend Jackson getting his own HEA? You bet I do!! I’m sad there isn’t actually one already because how do you introduce such a fun character and not give them their own book?? As a romance reader, I’m kinda devastated to find out Jackson doesn’t have his own story and HEA written already (and none planned as far as I can tell).

So, I think this was just a problem with the eARC I received and was corrected in the final ebook copy (no official physical copies were ever sold), but the formatting for the eARC was difficult to read on my Kindle, where the characters appeared to switch POVs with no warning between paragraphs and nothing indicated when parts of the book were text messages either. Again, I think this was fixed in the finished ebook from what I can tell from the Kindle samples so this a probably just a moot point now.

In the end, I loved the characters and returning to the world of Twisted Wishes. But I will say the pacing (just too much sex) and the main conflict revolving around one big secret just didn’t work for me. Even the big gesture ending? Didn’t really care for it. If I were to go back and rerate Syncopation(the first book), I think I would rate it differently, but it is what it is, I guess. I’m glad I finished this book and want to read Mish’s as well, but I think I sadly just don’t love the series as much as I want to.

***Thanks to the publisher for approving me for this ARC on NetGalley.***

I actually got this one as an ARC but then never got around to reading it. I got stuck at 30%, and I would have gotten stuck there again in the copy I bought. I pushed through, though, mostly because of stubbornness and because the author is a Penguins fan. And I liked the latter half of the book a lot better.

Things I liked:
- Dom and Adrian’s relationship, and the way they really do seem to fit
- The way their quiet happiness comes across as well as their enjoyment of kink
-the band and their friendships

Things I didn’t like:
- way too much sex in the beginning- I felt like reading a BL novel because it went on and on (that part got better in the second part - there was still sex, but the scenes felt more focused)
- the big conflict/secret never was believable for me and felt like a plot device
- sometimes the dialogue felt very unnatural - I kept thinking, who talks like that?

Now that I have finished it, I have two resolutions:
- I won’t read any books about rockstars anymore. Not unless their written by my two favorite authors, and that seems unlikely. The genre isn’t for me, and I will always like them despite being what they are
- Penguins fans or no, I don’t think Anna Zabo’s writing is for me. So I won’t let myself be tempted by reviews because I know my taste.

Once again author Anna Zabo takes us into the fascinating world of the rock band Twisted Wishes, this time focusing on the lead guitarist, Dominic Bradley. On stage he is a force to be reckoned with—sexy, confident, aloof and talented. That is the persona of Domino Grinder, but the real man beneath the make-up and bravado is a shy, intellectual, sensitive man who wants nothing more than to find someone who will take control and see the real Bradley he keeps hidden most of the time. Done up in button-down shirts and bowties, Bradley has used the money from the contract buyout to buy a home in New York and retreats there between touring and sessions, in the studio where he must always bury his true self under the guise of rock star. When Bradley meets Adrian Doran at his favorite watering hole, he’s unaware that his life is about to change dramatically.

Adrian’s life is finally getting back on track after the death of his mother, which caused a rift between him and his siblings. After trying to chase the various online start-ups on the West Coast, he has finally returned home to New York and is settling for writing code for a rather staid but secure financial institution. Adrian splits his free time between the gym, where his best friend tortures his body into excellent shape, and dabbling in the BDSM scene. Never turned on by hard core sadism, Adrian is a ropes man who likes to take control in the bedroom but is also willing to switch things up should the right man come along. When he spies the nerdy, quiet bookworm at his favorite bar, he is instantly drawn to the man. But this is a guy with secrets and, while Adrian feels Bradley is entitled to those until they establish the trust needed to be open with each other, there is something Bradley keeps hidden that will blow their fledgling relationship apart and perhaps end it before it can even get started.

Anna Zabo lights up the page with their fantastic, character driven novel Counterpoint. Delving into the heart and mind of an anxiety-ridden introvert who only finds personal courage when parading as his alter-ego on stage is no easy task, and yet, this author makes it appear so from the very start of this story. The compassion that Adrian has for Bradley and the care he takes in making sure the submissive man is always safe in whatever they get up to in the bedroom is really beautiful to read. Poor Bradley is a tortured soul, and the author chooses to make this a realistic portrayal of a person that is on the brink of being torn apart by the need to hide and safeguard the real man behind the stage act. In doing so, we are privy to Bradley’s mental turmoil and the struggle he goes through pushing himself into the rock star mold that wars constantly with his meeker side.

Anna Zabo makes their men work for every piece of ground they gain in coming to trust each other. Counterpoint is a gritty story that will tear at your heartstrings and make you appreciate the battle that every person dealing with performance anxiety and identity crisis undergoes. It is a compelling novel that will capture your interest immediately and keep you in its thrall to the very end.

Reviewed by Sammy

Wow. This is what my first reaction to the book was. It is an amazing read, with all the band members present, but focusing on Dominic and his stage persona Domino. Most of the focus, for most of the book, is on Domino, the nerd, the twink (his words), and not on Domino.

When Dominic and Adrian meet, there is barely any doubt that they have to end together. Especially after they don’t hook up the first night, but rather arrange the other meeting. Adrian, working in a bank, is not really interested in music, which makes it understandable that he doesn’t connect Dominic to Domino, as he has no idea who Domino is.

This book is about as long as Syncopation, and also about as amazing, but without asshole manager trying to roofie and nearly kill someone. But it has loads of pies and bondage.

My favourite part of the book was explicit consent. SO MUCH OF IT. And consent is sexy, and especially when it comes to BDSM, necessary. I adored how Adrian always asked Dominic, always made sure Dominic was cool with everything, and okay.

When the band found out Dominic has found someone, they keep telling him to trust Adrian, but they are still protective of Dominic and when Zavier finds out that there are BDSM elements involved, he checks out the guy through the mutual acquaintances, to make sure he is okay. He also tells that to Dominic. I loved the family feeling of the band. They really are one tight family, taking care of each other and it’s so sweet and amazing.

The complications in the book come in the form of Adrian finding out the other part of Dominic’s life just before Dominic decides to tell him, but this is a minor blip they get through together, and the press finding out Domino’s private life.

Of course Dominic goes on the ‘I don’t want you to have to deal with it’ mode, but luckily Adrian, with the help of his friend, doesn’t give up. The epilogue is the sweetest moment and I really loved it.

It is a long book by many standards but it totally didn’t feel that way. I enjoyed every word of it. Mx. Zabo is a wonderful writer and I am looking forward to reading more of their books! 🙂

In Counterpoint, we once again enter the world of the band Twisted Wishes, this time focusing on guitarist Domino Grinder. The world sees a tattooed bad-ass rock god on stage, but Dominic Bradley works hard to keep his real life and the persona of Domino separate. Painfully shy and reserved as Dominic, the only way he can cope with the fame and attention is to maintain two distinct lives. Romantic entanglements would jeopardize this and risk disclosure of his closely guarded secret, so Dominic has always preferred one night stands and brief encounters. But when he meets Adrian, a computer programmer by day, dominant lover by night, Dominic needs to decide whether he can trust Adrian enough and risk exposing himself to the world around him.

I adored this story. First, because Anna Zabo’s writing clicks all of my hot buttons: amazing characters, realistic situations, kinky dirty sex, and a way of drawing me in so that the world around me disappears. But also because their stories focus so much on character development. I know these people as good friends that I care about. I know their hopes, innermost desires and what makes them tick. The author does not simply tell a story, but creates these fascinating lives and lets me experience a new reality vicariously through the character’s eyes.

The reality I lived this time was that of a man who was a study in contradictions. He was a geeky, reserved hipster with a passion for music who became another person when he immersed himself in his talent. He was confident in his abilities but lacking in confidence in himself. He was a man that gave the appearance of taking on the world, but only wanted to kneel and submit and trust someone enough to hand the responsibility over to them. And this is what he found in Adrian, and I absolutely loved these two as a couple and the way in which Adrian so fully gained Dom’s trust and love and never betrayed it.

Counterpoint is the second novel in the Twisted Wishes series, although it could be read without having read the first story. But why would you want to? This band is full of such fantastic personalities that missing out on Ray and Zav’s story would be a shame. I look forward to Misch’s story and how the author will treat it. Their stories mostly involve m/m romance, so I look forward to reading how they take on a female main character.

Damn. What a read. What a fantastic and amazing read, and one of my favourite tropes done well to boot!

Okay, so there was a lot of hot D/s between the two main characters, and that was most of what I'd heard about this story, but what I hadn't heard was the way that Dom adores serving and being tied up by Adrian, that it's about connection and depth between them rather than pain. That side of D/s doesn't get seen in a lot of books. I'm glad I got to see it here.

Additionally, we got a bit of a Notting Hill style romance. As we saw in Syncopation, Dom has a bit of a double life, where he's Domino Grinder on stage, but he's shy twink Dominic Bradley off stage. And, for most of this novel, it appears that he's going to get away with continuing along that path forever.

This is a longer novel, though, and the pacing throughout it was just superb. At no point did I feel as though any part of the plot of character development was dragging. I will admit only that I would have liked to see Adrian's work place get the comeuppance it deserved.

Already, I can tell you that I'm looking forward to what is sure to be Mish and Janelle's romance in the next book of the series.

I was really intrigued by the character of Dom in the first book – a quiet, bookish guy who has created a “public” stage persona to handle the social pressure of being an emerging rock guitarist. I imagine that this is a problem that rears its head for a lot of musicians – how public is too public is you are a naturally private person or have social anxiety? I mean, I probably wouldn’t handle “getting photographed by paparazzi or randos while buying toilet paper at the store” levels of celebrity well. I can only imagine how intrusive that is and understand why the Lady Gagas of the world have such out-sized stage personalities.

Counterpoint opens as Dom is out at dinner, enjoying a book, when he makes the acquaintance of an attractive man, Adrian, who turns out to be a computer programmer for a bank and also has an interest in the book Dom is reading (vintage gay literature). A conversation leads to dinner, leads to a future date, leads to a very, very hot night of bondage and sex. Dom eventually decides to tell Adrian who he is, particularly that he’s an over-the-top Goth-ish killer guitarist for the hottest new rock band on the charts as opposed to the bookish, glasses-wearing twink he’s shown Adrian thus far. And this leads to a lot of soul searching on both their parts, how to be both private and public with their sexual preferences (both have suffered homophobia and Adrian, as a pansexual, has received some awful garbage from his family), and where they want this new relationship to go.

This is a fabulously well-crafted, kinky, queer romance. I do love quieter romances (plot-wise), ones where the tension in the relationship doesn’t come from outside forces like murder, shady dealings, society, etc. but from the stuff that each person brings to the relationship. A good relationship brings out the best of each person, and I think Zabo shows an absolutely lovely couple on the page.

Counterpoint had me at its cover. Add in the fact that it’s about a rocker, and I just had to read this Anna Zabo book.

Dominic’s a member of Twisted Wishes, but he’s living two lives. In his downtime, he’s Dominic, the book-loving, bow tie wearing nerd. But, to his fans, he’s Domino, a bad-ass who wears leather pants and a collar. Two identities he keeps separate for sanity’s sake.

Then he meets Adrian. The men bond over conversations about books and their mutual sexual attraction to one another. Adrian’s a pansexual, book-geek who loves to experiment with bondage and is intrigued by Dominic’s cute nerdy, articulate nature.

Dominic’s swept away by Adrian, as in he can’t breathe when they’re together. As Dominic explains, “Being swept away was exhilarating and terrifying. Like a roller coaster where you couldn’t see the hills and valleys or even the end of the line.”

What follows is an amazing relationship, complete with some spectacular bondage scenes, and a huge secret. Their relationship is cemented with a strong connection. But, every time Adrian tries to find out more about Dominic’s band, or that part of his life, he’s rebutted.

The sex is steamy, intoxicating, and all-consuming. The rope scenes are breathtaking, as they are emotional and impassioned. There is pure beauty in the way ropes, and Adrian’s mere presence, calm Dominic.

The dichotomy of Dominic’s two sides is intriguing and so well written. Dominic is terrified of letting his different worlds collide. Yet, because he’s been living as these dual personas for so long, he is also unsure as to whom he really is; he doesn’t trust that Dominic and Domino can co-exist.

Trust is highlighted throughout this novel. Trust takes time, and while Dominic is able to fully trust Adrian in some ways (such as with the ropes) he’s unsure if he can trust Adrian with his secret.

Along with their intense passion and their strong connection, they have to deal with Dominic’s secrets, a jealous co-worker, fans, and the paparazzi. Their road to happiness isn’t easy, but it may just be worth all the troubles.

I am thrilled to have found Counterpoint, which is easily read out of order or all on its own, but I’m now excited to read the first book in this series by Anna Zabo, Syncopation.

I loved this continuation of the Twisted Wishes series; Dominic and Adrian's story was everything I hoped for and it was also good to re-visit the band members again. I am looking forward to more from this author.

Readers of Syncopation, book one in Zabo’s Twisted Wished series, will surely have fallen as in love with Dominic “Domino” Grinder, the lead guitarist of his breakout band Twisted Wishes, as I did. I devoured Syncopation (Ray and Zavier’s chemistry? Holy Moses YES PLEASE) in part because I was so interested in knowing more about Dominic, whose off and on stage personas are so wildly different from each other.

From the opening pages of Counterpoint, Zabo sets the tone for what is a lush, sensual story tied to an emotionally complex couple, both of whom are about to enter transitional moments of their lives. Dominic’s intense need to keep his two personas separate informs the emotional thrust of the book for his character. He lives in fear of the public finding out who he really is for a number of reasons—unlike his bandmates, he’s been able to enjoy more privacy and freedom in public spaces due to lack of recognition. Domino, the persona, began as a way for Dominic to cope with his anxiety and stage fright, and over the years, became an outlet for Dominic to express a part of himself and his music, free of those fears. Additionally, Dominic carries with him the fear that if the fans were to know who he is when he’s not performing—bookish, quiet, and geeky—they may no longer relate to or love Domino.

Adrian has his own struggles to carry in this book, namely a dissatisfaction with his job and learning to live with deep family rifts stemming from his mother’s death. I think that Zabo did a good job laying the seeds for Adrian’s dissatisfaction, and the resolution of that storyline satisfied. However, I did find his story less compelling than Dominic’s, and this created an imbalance that I really began to feel toward the middle of the book.

As Adrian and Dominic’s relationship begins to really transform and deepen, so do Dominic’s anxiety and self-doubt. It made sense, initially, for him not to tell Adrian, then to be reticent and want to protect this new wonderful thing – their relationship – from his other life. Adrian in this respect was beautifully written; it’s clear to both of them from the start that Dominic has secrets. Adrian is so respectful of them though that it would be impossible not to fall for him. As a reader, I also began to hurt for Adrian when I saw their relationship progress to the point where, under normal circumstances, someone you’re falling for, who seems to have fallen for you too, would be sharing more of themselves than Dominic is. Adrian truly has no idea that Dominic is Domino, so his continued reticence to trust him does hurt even as he tries to understand.

By the time Dominic’s truth was revealed, even I was becoming bit frustrated with what felt like a merry-go-round of thoughts, doubts, and hopes on his end. Initially this frustrated me, but upon reflection, what Zabo did was give us a character whose fear spoke louder than any other evidence contrary to that fear. Which felt very human. I love, love, loved the way that the moment – Adrian finding out about Dominic and the confrontation – played out because it allowed for a very real, very betrayed emotion on Adrian’s part without sacrificing the serious nature of Dominic’s anxiety and fear.

I found this to be a satisfying and enjoyable. Zabo is a go-to author for well written kink, and Counterpoint does not disappoint. Readers will savor this sensual and tender story. From the food to the burgeoning physical and emotional intimacy between Dominic and Adrian, Counterpoint was an utterly delicious book

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't as good as the first Twisted Wishes book, but it was still good. I enjoyed how Zabo used Dom's book to talk about identity and how we perform our identities. When Dom is in full make-up and on stage he is able to put on the character of Domino Grinder (I also appreciate that Zabo lampshades what a truly stupid name that is) and live in that life, but off stage and out of make-up with his arms covered he is able to live as just Dominic Bradley. I think Syncopation did it better talking about love in the first book, but I did like how Zabo talked about identity in this one. The romance was alright, not my favorite couple by far and lacking a little something in chemistry. I don't think the BDSM added anything but Zabo wrote it well.

I really liked this story, The insight into Doms insecurity and being unsure of letting in someone to his huge secret was so well written, I loved the relationship between him and Adrian, So well written and the passion and chemistry between them is so carefully crafted. I would recommend this book to anyone.

The real fantasy in romance is someone who sees you, and wants you, and loves you as you are. This fantasy has double the power in queer romance, which because of our culture has to traffic in a certain amount of invisibility. KJ Charles and Cat Sebastian’s m/m historicals make clear the risk a hero takes even in expressing interest in another man. Making queer desire visible can be fatal. Mx Zabo’s contemporaries deal in other kinds of erasure, within modern queer culture as well as around it: mental illness, kink and queer stereotypes, asexuality, public versus private personas. They have a glorious way of bringing to life the delicate give and take of a good seduction. Everything is carefully, thoughtfully, beautifully done—and all the hotter because of that. Of course, it helps that this series’ brand of kink is the cerebral, generous, ropes-and-leather command-and-obey kind (my favorite!) rather than the sadistic dungeon-full-of-spikes-and-whips kind. Give me a caring top who can dominate in a daytime hipster café with nothing but a piece of lemon meringue on a fork, and I’m one happy camper.
Domino Grinder is the guitarist for Twisted Wishes, a rock band on the upswing after an eventful whirlwind tour (shown in Mx Zabo’s excellent *Syncopation*). He curates the tattooed, spike-collared, bad-boy image carefully to protect his other self: shy, bookish, and submissive Dominic Bradley, who likes to put on bow ties and sweater-vests and cruise for handsome intellectual types. Such a man is pansexual programmer Adrian Doran, who knows lovely, expressive, wide-eyed, tie-me-up-please Dominic is just the kind of man he could fall for, and hard. But Dom is profoundly hesitant to reveal his other existence as Domino: not only because it’s a closely-guarded secret he fears will be leaked to the media, and not only because he thinks dommy Adrian would have no interest in brash, cocky, surly Domino (*wrong!* the reader wails internally). Mostly because Dom doesn’t know whether Dominic or Domino is the real one, his authentic self. For his part Adrian is dealing with being undermined and having his work essentially stolen by a newer, bro-ier programmer, and is in really no place to navigate a lover keeping a very big, very hurtful secret. This is the story of two complicated men who want and need each other desperately, and who are painfully careful and anxious about taking each step forward. Watching all the internal and external threads unspool, knots together, and ultimately release is an absolute pleasure.

Talking about this book, and this series in general, is at the same time easy (shout out to Annie for seeing all my rambling about it all the time) and super hard. I was really looking forward to this book ever since I met Dom in what is one of my favorites of 2018, Syncopation. Counterpoint did not disappoint.

Dom is a man living two different lives at once. Some days, he’s Domino Grinder, a badass musician, part of the awesome rock band Twisted Wishes, others he gets to be just Dom, the bookish man who just wants to pick up men who can take control for a night.

As I already said, I loved Dom from the first time we met, in Syncopation, and it was such a pleasure to get to know him better in Counterpoint. Not only that, but I also enjoyed getting to spend more time with the Twisted Wishes crowd.

For me, a theme that is clear in both books on the series so far is the importance of trust, the idea of building that foundation for a lasting relationship, which is something I deeply appreciate. Even if Counterpoint isn’t a slow burn, it never feels rushed. On the contrary. Though Dom and Adrian hit it off and get intimate right away, Anna Zabo still takes care to show us their relationship slowly grow and mature. At the end of their story, you were sure that both these men had found home in one another.

Zabo’s storytelling is, as always, amazing, and the sex scenes are so hot I could melt. Not only that, but the author manages to make Adrian and Dom’s relationship sensual all the way through. Overall, I loved Counterpoint and cannot wait to get to visit these characters again!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I absolutely loved this story! Dominic and Adrian’s friendship is beautiful and the smoking hot sex scenes are fabulous.

Dominic is a wonderful character. The world knows Domino, his fierce stage persona, while he saves Dominic, the quieter and more intellectual side of himself for his private life. I really enjoyed Dominic’s personal journey in this story. Computer programmer Adrian is a very ordinary character and I love the contrast between his work in a cubicle at a bank with Dominic’s rock star life.

The chemistry between Adrian and Dominic is electric and I love the way Adrian helps Dominic understand and enjoy his personal kinks. This is a sexy book that straddles the line between romance and erotica. The characters and the storylines here are so well developed that the numerous (and very imaginative) sex scenes always feel intimate and sensual. The kink in this book feels honest and real and I really appreciate the absence of tired BDSM tropes.

I feel like the writing and editing is much stronger in this second book than it was in the first. This story doesn’t have any of the sensationalist over-the-top drama that often overshadowed Ray and Zavier’s relationship in the first book. I really loved this slightly more understated and thoughtful second story and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

This is the second book in the series, and I think it is far richer for having read book one. You need to understand the trauma that the band members have already suffered, and the price that the madness of their previous manager has taken on all of them. Dominic was a nervous and shy person from the beginning and the fear of being found out as Domino the rock star has been made even more worrisome since all the crazy that happened in the last book.

I found the examination of a man leading two lives and trying to imagine which took priority, and which was really him, absolutely fascinating, absorbing, and demanding. It is done carefully and not overplayed but sits in the reader's mind as the story progresses and the need to be honest or walk away becomes imperative. He recognises that the developing relationship with Adrian is special. He is calmer, he is playing better, and it fulfils all his sexual fantasies, without danger or fear. But still, there is that last barrier he just can't surmount. He is at least honest with Adrian that there is a secret to be told, and Adrian is amazingly patient.

I don't want to say more, as it will be richer for you to read it and get the reveal. I can say that it is a very well-crafted story, gives us more insight into the band and its future, as well as a very satisfying romantic, passionate, and intense new relationship. Fabulous, thank you Anna Zabo!

Cette suite est centrée sur Dominic, aka Domino, le guitariste du groupe « Twisted Wishes » et meilleur ami de Ray, le chanteur et leader du groupe. On sait très peu de choses sur ce personnage dans le premier tome, mais c'est un personnage qu'il me tardait de découvrir plus en détails vu déjà ce que l'on savait de lui.

Il y a deux personnages en fait. D'un côté, nous avons Dominic Bradley, un homme assez introverti, angoissé et un peu nerd sur les bords. De l'autre côté, il y a Domino Grinder, guitariste talentueux, exubérant et qui déchire tout sur scène.
Les deux personnages sont en lutte sans fin, plus ou moins. Dominic n'arrive pas vraiment à comprendre que les deux hommes sont une seule et même personne. Il cache son identité à tout le monde, sauf bien sûr les membres du groupe. Un jour, il va faire la connaissance d'Adrian dans un café, et les deux hommes vont être attirés l'un par l'autre.

Je n'avais pas été vraiment emballée par le premier tome, ceci étant dû à la relation des deux personnages que je ne trouvais pas vraiment crédible, entre autres choses aussi. Mais il a aussi l'écriture de l'auteur avec laquelle j'ai un peu de mal. Pour moi, cela manque souvent de fluidité...

Dans ce deuxième tome, j'avoue avoir un peu plus accroché aux personnages. Comme je le disais, Dominic est un personnage très intéressant. C'est quelqu'un qui n'a pas confiance en lui et c'est une personne très angoissée. Pour pouvoir faire partie du groupe de son meilleur ami, il s'est créé un personnage, celui de Domino, très différent de Dominic. Seulement, il a peur de perdre l'intérêt que lui porte les gens s'ils venaient à faire la connaissance de Dominic.
Le couple qu'il forme avec Adrian est très beau. J'ai vraiment aimé ce personnage aussi. Quelques années de plus que Dominic, Adrian est un homme qui n'a pas vraiment réussi à se poser niveau relation, mais il va flasher sur Dominic et va vouloir le revoir. Entre eux deux va s'établir une relation très particulière, car Adrian est un dominant...et Dominic va être attiré par cela, va aimer se laisser aller tout simplement. Une certaine confiance va s'instaurer petit à petit, mais le tout est de savoir si Dominic est prêt à faire rentrer Domino dans la vie d'Adrian.

Quand j'ai commencé cette série, j'y suis allée un peu tête baissée, j'ai vu qu'il s'agissait d'un mm sur les membres d'un groupe de rock et hop ! Sauf que le bdsm est présent, déjà dans le premier tome, et aussi dans le deuxième. Mais j'avoue que j'aime particulièrement le genre de bdsm de ce tome-ci.
Et puis, j'ai accroché avec l'histoire de Dominic et Adrian. Ils sont très mignons tous les deux, leur histoire est jolie. Et puis leurs moments ensemble sont assez torrides il faut dire ^^

Je ne sais pas encore sur quel personnage va porter la suite de la saga, donc on verra si je poursuis ou pas en fonction ^^

Anna Zabo’s compassionate “Counterpoint” demonstrates how it feels to create a work persona larger than one’s “real” self. Book 2 in the Twisted Wishes series follows Domino Grinder (bandmate of Ray and Zavier from “Syncopation,” Book 1) a shy man with a larger-than-life rock star presence.

Dominic has always been passionate about the guitar, which he plays for Ray, his best friend, a singer/songwriter, and eventually for the band. But devastating panic attacks made it almost impossible for Dominic to perform live shows until he created the identity of Domino Grinder.

Each time he dons Domino’s attire, Dominic discovers a hidden self, who can prance and riff, losing himself in music. “No one laughed at Domino,” Zabo informs readers. “Domino Grinder had become an unapproachable force of nature. A sex god no one could touch.”

Of course not. He doesn’t exist. Or does he?

Domino has the added benefit of disposability. Dominic does as he pleases in public without the insanity that follows Domino’s celebrity. And thus he meets Adrian at a pub; a man who matches Dominic’s “real” identity – a geekish book and art lover.
Adrian has lost interest in casual sex and relationships, just like he’s has lost himself in his job as a coder, which he indicates he likes, “‘well enough.’” He also has the depth of character he perceives in Dominic. Adrian is a gentle dominant, someone who hungers to know a man well enough to tie him up, actually and emotionally – never to create power or pain, only to heap on love, and more love. For all the power he exudes, Adrian doesn’t want to face his dearth of professional courage.

Because Dominic doesn’t dare reveal Domino to Adrian, readers worry what will happen when Dominic is inevitably discovered. Can Dominic and Domino meld into a man without terrifying panic attacks? Could any lover accept the public scrutiny, the lack of privacy required to love Dominic?

Zabo presents one of the tenderest views of dominance I’ve encountered. This second novel in the Twisted Wishes series is a perfect counterpoint to Syncopation, where dominance and submission were portrayed with storm and fury!

It is Zabo’s brilliance to present differences with such clarity that we can all relate.. Perhaps the reader has never considered bondage or rope play? But who hasn’t hidden under bed covers? Everyone knows what it is to be so shielded that the outside world ceases to exist, so cherished one’s inner demons cease to growl or spit.

I love how Zabo casually tucks quotable wisdom into characters’ encounters. “‘Life’s short, Dom. And fragile and unexpected. Don’t throw this away without thought,’” Zavier tells him. And, on the other hand, intimacy is described with the spark we all desire. “He fell over that edge, screaming into bliss and fire and light.”

As I myself created a professional persona larger than any human can live, I marvel at the accuracy with which Zabo described my conundrum. We all must splinter parts of ourselves, presenting some aspects to one group and other aspects in alternative settings. If you want to discover how to regroup and claim your entire being, “Counterpoint” is well worth reading, beyond the sensual, delightful romance at its core.