Took My Breath Away by Thianna D

Sometimes taking control is what you need to do and sometimes the best thing you can do is give that control up.
In the summer between Logan's junior and senior years of college, these two will find out more about each other and themselves than they imagined.
While unhappy to be missing four weeks of Christian's company, Logan is thrilled to spend a month with his father's relatives in New York. A naturally gregarious individual, he is used to winning people over and getting things right. Unfortunately, the Mannettes are not what he expects and for the first time in his life, he finds himself seriously doubting who he is.
Christian has regained some of his old self-esteem and is taking on new challenges. Besides growing in the relationship he has with Logan, he takes the time his boyfriend is away to learn more about domestic discipline. He learns a little online but it is actually Gregory, Logan's father, where he gains most of his information. Including the fact that his natural strength puts him in a leadership position he isn't expecting.
When Logan returns to a strong, self-assured Christian, it is with complete relief. As discussions turn to domestic discipline and they realize their true roles within their current and future relationship, both of them are able to let their inhibitions go and together their connection grows surprising Logan to an epiphany.
*Warning: Contains BDSM elements with M/M spanking scenes.*

As the second book in the All They Ever Needed series, we continue on the journey with Christian and Logan as their relationship deepens and they learn to adjust to a long-distance romance. Whereas in the first book, a large part of the focus was on Christian adjusting to life after returning from war injured and coming to terms with his sexuality, this time around it was Logan who faced a HUGE crisis of identity.

With the commencement of summer break, Logan is excited to return home and spend time with Christian before going to New York for four weeks to meet his father’s family. It was a joy to watch Logan and Christian together as they found just being around one another and being able to spend time with one another a blessing. Of course, the date that Christian takes Logan on is too sweet (excluding the unfortunate run-in in the dance club). And while I expected it from the last book, I was relieved with Derrick’s reaction to Logan and even more so the way Derrick stood up to Brian on his brother’s behalf – THAT was a priceless dinner scene.

Sadly, the good times came to an end when Logan went to New York to spend time with his uncle and meet his grandparents. It surprised me that with as gregarious and assertive as Logan could be, he caved so totally under his paternal grandparent’s scrutiny. I kept waiting for him to stand up for himself and was surprised when it didn’t happen – that is, until the conversation between Logan’s father and Christian about DD and how much like his mother Logan is. That was a major ah-ha moment that revealed far more of Logan’s personality than readers were previously privy too and made Logan’s reactions in New York make far more sense. And it was that conversation and the way in which Gregory accompanied Christian to New York so that he could deal with his family while Christian took care of Logan that made me fall in love with him.

I suppose that if As Natural as Breathing is the book that I fell in love with Christian and Logan, then Took My Breath Away is the book in which I fell in love with their parents, especially their fathers. While I can discuss why Logan’s father impressed me so much, I cannot do the same about Christian’s father – suffice it to say, there is a conversation that takes place between Christian and his father that proves just how much Christian’s parents have accepted Logan as his partner and it nearly had me grabbing for the tissues. As with book one, I absolutely love this book and cannot wait to start Breathe Each Other In to see where their relationship goes next.