Book Review: Opening Moves, Chess Series by Sean Michael

Opening Moves, is what the titles says, the start of a awesome, sexy, kinky and fun series, with a lot of soul and also heartache. I have said it before, describing Sean Michael’s writing, but it is an art form knowing how to write erotic books that are filled with sex and kink without them lacking in heart and story. Sean Michael, according to me has mastered this art form better than anyone I’ve read before. The Chess Series, which Opening Moves, is the start of is one of his best series (together with the Hammer Series) and proves this fact over and over in each of these books. This is a series I have read and re-read many, many times and I’ll do so many more without a doubt. I never get tired of reading this author’s books.

Opening Moves, starts out with Jason a struggling personal trainer in a slump, gets an offer from the threesome consisting of Bishop, Knight and Rook to be their live-in lover, plaything for a year and for doing that he get besides room and board, half a million dollars for his time. Jason who in the beginning of the book doesn’t know that he’s gay, is shocked by their suggestion and doesn’t know what to make of it. Compare to the three, very different men who is propositioning him, Jason is shy and blush easily. Bishop is the top, Knight the pushy bottom, Rook the man who loves with all his heart and is very comfortable with who he is and his desire for sex. He doesn’t hide himself at all. None of the three men does, they are all confident but in different ways. Knight is the eccentric artist who comes off as grumpy and quit mean but in real is scared to be hurt. Bishop is the solidness that keeps them all together and as the author so aptly put it he has a “Masters in Knight”.

Jason is finally convinced by Rook to take the leap of faith, Rook being the charmer in the group but also the star on Jason’s sky. He’s the one that makes Jason calm, the one who Jason trusts and the one who seduces Jason to want to try being with the three of them. Bishop is Jason buddy with benefits that makes Jason feel like he’s being charged, Rook the sweet and beautiful man who makes him soar, and Knight is the one Jason can’t quite place and is a little bit intimidated by but still extremely attracted too.

I think this is what I like the most about these books, even thought there’s plenty of hot and steamy sex, I would even go so far to say with four horny men, because yes even shy Jason soon finds his place, at least sex wise in the well established threesome and enjoys sex more than ever before. They all have these different connections to each other they are a threesome, on the making of becoming, a foursome but Sean Michael show’s the characters differences with ease and how those differences compliment the foursome instead of complicate it.

Each time I read these books I’m astonished how I’m always left feeling that Jason is the outsider who never quite fit in, I feel that emotion each time even though I know what happens and what makes him in the end fit. Jason may be the shy one but he is also the strongest and how that is will be revealed in the fourth book. He is the observer, the careful one, but when shit hits the fan you will see how he steps up to the plate.

This first book is about adventure, about daring to take that scare step and jump off the ledge not knowing how it will affect you but just trust in that those who are there around you will catch you. This especially when thinking about Jason and Knight who has certain things set in their minds when the adventure of Jason moving in with the thrio. It’s about proving that love comes in all shape, sizes and is sometimes not limited to one person, not even two or three. You love who you love and it is possible to make a relationship based on more than two people work if that is what you want.

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