Silent-Cravings

Beyond Personal Walls

Silent Cravings explores the idea of breaking professional ethical rules in the name of love. As a therapist, Jared knew how to help people get back on their feet, despite his own struggles. I loved how emotionally strong Jared was; even when he began harbouring feelings for his patient—a young musician struggling with anxiety—he didn’t succumb to them. Both Jared and Ethan were trapped in their own notions of what was right for the world but not for themselves. Only after spending valuable time together did they realise that sometimes what’s right for the world isn’t right for them. I loved their timid interactions, as they showed deep respect for each other despite their growing emotional attraction.

In Silent Cravings, Ryan Moore masterfully perfects a moral dilemma theme.

I need this to be a full book ugh

My realistic self is screaming at Jared while reading this because I was hoping he’d refer Ethan to another therapist first before pursuing anything with his patient because he could lose everything he had worked for. But don’t worry, I was also screaming at Ethan because how can you not think of the possible repercussions for Jared if this ever comes out?! Anyway…

I liked reading about the tension, the pining, the struggle to control the intensity of Jared’s feelings toward Ethan. This story was brilliantly-written; you could feel the emotions simmer between the characters, just waiting for the right time to explode. It was a delight reading this even if I had to rein my realistic self in at times. LOL

Jared’s Boundaries, Ethan’s Walls; ‘Private Encounter’ series

OMG, so much content in a short story… Jared’s boundaries, Ethan’s walls. Seventh in the ‘Private Encounters’ series by Ryan Moore, this one is quieter and more contemplative at first, exploring the therapist/patient dynamic, and builds to a steamy ending/beginning of a new relationship. HFN with possibilities.

– Ethan (our patient) builds walls keeping out others, and has trust issues stemming from loss and abandonment, putting his vulnerability into his successful music and lyrics; he still feels alone. Therapist Jared treats him with gentleness and encouragement, and slowly recognizes a kindred soul, while questioning his own budding feelings. Themes of professionalism versus self-realization; control and repression versus freedom and desire.

– Told from Jared’s POV the story builds in sexual tension as each character reaches for what they want. Instead of Moore’s customary wit and flirty dialogue we get heavy silences and the therapist fighting against his own principles as he helps Ethan lower his defenses. Ethan becomes healthier and is strong enough to shatter the Jared’s self-entrapment, his ethics over his emotional freedom. The roles have reversed and Ethan is Jared’s ‘sexual healing’ and release.

– Again I had the in-and-out of the story feeling, as I recognized counseling techniques and personal quandaries from my own life, having felt some ‘transference’ myself. Moore is so good at enticing his reader to relate to his characters and situations, seemingly commonplace and familiar.

– ‘Unrecorded’ is Ryan Moore’s ‘freebie’ story for his readers (a gift), and shows Ethan’s POV. More emotional, less guarded, now we get the other side of the story, as well as details about Jared that he might be unaware of, that Ethan has seen through that professional composure. Moore tells double-sided stories, tales that wrap around and complete each other.