Getting Kinky, It's a Kink Thing #5, by M.C. Roth

Getting Kinky is book 5 in MC Roth’s It's a Kink Thing series. This book is slightly similar to book 1 in that Elliot is married to Hunter when he enters club  Unkinked and meets Shelvin. That is pretty much where the similarity ends and the roller coaster begins.

From the blurb:

FROM POPULAR AUTHOR OF LGBTQIA ROMANCE M.C. ROTH

Book five in the It' s a Kink Thing series

If your husband hates kink, can you still get kinky?

“ You want to kneel, sweetheart?”

Elliot is stuck in life, living a lie while doing his best to pretend he' s happy with his husband Hunter. Hunter has picked up the pieces so many times that Elliot has lost count, and he feels terrible asking for anything more— especially when it' s something that Hunter hates.

But after Elliot convinces Hunter to attend an event at the kink club Unkinked, Elliot finds a place where he doesn' t have to feel ashamed about the submission he craves.

While Hunter pouts on a bar stool in the club, the mysterious Dom Shelvin is more than happy to give Elliot a tour, somehow knowing in moments what Elliot desires so deeply. Elliot can' t let that night be the last time he sets foot inside Unkinked, even if Hunter doesn' t understand why.

His brave face only lasts so long, and soon he confesses what he really needs— something Hunter can' t give him.

But making a contract with a Dom who isn' t his husband comes with conditions— conditions that Elliot will struggle not to break.

Jacquie's Review:

Getting Kinky had a very different vibe than the others. There's next to no romance because Elliott's relationship with Shelvin is contractual only. Shelvin is married to his job and won't change for his sub, no matter how perfect he is for him.

It's an unusual dynamic, with Hunter agreeing to Shelvin being with his husband sexually to fulfill Elliott's needs. Hunter was truly horrible, though.

I enjoyed the kinks in the book, sounding in particular and loved seeing the new era beginning for Unkinked.

Rating: 4 Stars

Tatted_book_freak's Review:

An unusual dynamic throughout the entirety of the book, with some questionable tactics along the way. I'm not entirely sure how I felt about the arrangement between Elliot, Shelvin, and Hunter, but I also understood the need for submission. Which also opened the door for the eventual but needed fallout of their marriage. 

“𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓪𝓼𝓴 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓾𝓫 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓶𝓪𝔃𝓲𝓷𝓰.”

Now, I absolutely loved Elliot and Shevlin’s relationship. Their dynamic was perfectly intertwined, woven to satisfaction for their situation. I especially appreciated Shevlin’s level of respect shown towards Hunter, even if he didn't deserve anything. Also, a sub reaching subspace every time!! What an exceptional surprise! 

Once again, MC does a remarkable job with the kink included within these pages. Differentiating between the two MC’s along with the husband was phenomenal, with everything coming together in a thrilling conclusion! I would have appreciated a tad bit more romance involved, but their relationship was understandable with the lack of. 

Rating: 4 Stars

Lori C's Review:

Elliot and Hunter’s marriage seems to be perfect on the outside, but inside the cracks are there in plain sight. Elliot is in search of something that he can’t find at home and asks Hunter to go with him to a party at Unkinked. Hunter is not amused, not interested, and not willing to be a participant. When Elliot starts to withdraw from him, he makes him a bargain. Elliott can go to Shelvin, he can do whatever, he just can’t come. Elliot struggles but he maintains this boundary by his husband, so that he can have both what he needs and who he loves. What happens when it isn’t enough?

This is a unique story that took me beyond my understanding of BDSM. That being said, I enjoyed the story and the dynamic of Elliot feeling the need to live two lives to make himself happy. To feel complete. It made me wonder how many people search for that something before they find it. I feel like the author led us to the happy ending through multiple hints from Shelvin. Even being able to look back and see that, I can say I was still surprised and yet happy. Who doesn’t love a happy ending? I wonder where the series goes from here? I’m curious to see where MC Roth will take us next. 

Rating: 4 Stars

Reedkaye's Review:

This is not what I was expecting. I thought there would be romance and I suppose in a weird way of looking at it there is some but not the usual romance stories I usually find. 

Elliot is unhappily married to Hunter. He needs more that Hunter is willing to share. When he talks Hunter into visiting a kink club, nothing goes as planned. Hunters still looks down on kink while Elliot finds himself attracted to Shelvin. How the relationships evolve and change is intriguing. Issues come out about Hunter and Elliot. The author really knew how to wrap up a story. The ending was totally unexpected. I wish there had been more history about Elliot and Hunter.  

Rating: 4 Stars

Nicole's Review:

MC Roth knows how to write kink well. This was not the love story I was expecting! 

Elliot has been happily married to Hunter for several years, but has been hiding his need to be submissive the whole time they have been together. After a chance invite to Unkinked, he begs Hunter to go with him. What he discovers is everything he has been needing, and that Hunter does NOT approve. 

This is how the contract with Shelvin is negotiated. He dominates Elliot like he needs, and Elliot and Hunter get to keep their loving marriage. Jealousy, distrust and tensions all increase as we see how Elliot learns to process what he needs and heal from old wounds. We also see how toxic relationships can hide until forced to the surface.  

I would have loved the ending to be a true triad, but am not upset with the relationship, as Elliot is still getting what he needs. I would have loved a little more of Shelvin's history with relationships. I thought this was a solid story in the Kink Thing universe, and enjoyed it even though MC cheating is usually a no go for me.

Rating: 4 Stars

Getting Kinky is available to buy as an ebook, paperback, or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.