Okay, so here's the thing. I was working on a logo redesign for a client who wanted "edgy but approachable" (the most contradictory brief ever, by the way), and I needed something to drown out the chaos in my brain. Scrolling through my library, I landed on this one—Mastering the Virgin Part One—because honestly? Sometimes you just need something spicy and uncomplicated. Diego was asleep on my keyboard, Frida was judging me from her perch on the bookshelf, and I had ninety minutes to kill.
Let me just say upfront: this is not the book that's going to make you ugly-cry. This is the book you listen to when you want to feel something else. And look, I'm not ashamed. Abuela would've clutched her rosary so hard it would've left marks, but she also watched those telenovelas where people got amnesia like three times per season, so.
The Vibes (And Who This Is Actually For)
At only ninety minutes, this is basically an extended episode of... something your streaming service would never greenlight. The premise—two guys, James the Dom and Michael the ladies' man, forming an unlikely friendship that leads to a "buy a virgin" scenario—is exactly as over-the-top as it sounds. It's not trying to be literary fiction. It's not even trying to be Fifty Shades. It knows what it is.
And honestly? There's something refreshing about that. Simone Leigh doesn't waste time with elaborate backstories or slow-burn tension. You're in it from the first minute. The chemistry between James and Michael is established quickly—their dynamic is the actual heart of this story, weirdly enough. The ménage aspect feels less like the point and more like the vehicle for exploring power dynamics between these two very different men.
But here's my thing: the "virgin auction" trope is... a lot. I kept waiting for the narrative to interrogate it a little more, to give me something to chew on emotionally. It didn't really. This is pure fantasy fulfillment, no moral complexity attached. If that's what you're looking for, great. If you need your spice with a side of feelings? Maybe keep scrolling.
Brian Meslar's Voice
I couldn't find a ton of info on Brian Meslar online, but based on this performance, he's got a decent handle on the material. His tone is warm enough—kind of draws you in without being too intense too fast. The pacing works for erotica; he knows when to slow down (if you know what I mean) and when to keep things moving.
Here's where it gets tricky, though. Differentiating between James and Michael vocally? It's... fine. Not amazing. There were moments where I had to pause and figure out who was talking, which pulled me out of the scene a bit. For a book that's essentially a two-hander with a third character coming in (pun intended), clearer character voices would've helped a lot.
Some reviewers mentioned his accent being "grating," but I didn't find it that distracting. Maybe it's a taste thing. What I did notice was that the emotional range felt a little flat during the more intense moments. Like, the dialogue was there, the words were doing their job, but the delivery didn't always sell the heat. For erotica, the narrator's voice is basically everything—you need that velvet-and-honey thing, and this was more... reliable cotton. Comfortable, but not luxurious.
What Might Bug You
Let's be real for a second. This is Part One of a series, and it feels like it. Just when things start getting interesting—when the dynamic is actually clicking—it ends. Ninety minutes is barely enough time to set up the scenario, let alone develop it. I finished and immediately went, "Wait, that's it?"
Also, the writing itself has moments where it gets a little clunky. Some of the dialogue felt stilted, like the characters were explaining things to the audience instead of talking to each other. That's a book problem, not a narrator problem, but it's worth mentioning. The audio production is clean, though—no weird volume issues or background noise. Small mercies.
Final Thoughts
Look, Mastering the Virgin Part One is exactly what it says on the tin. It's short, explicit, and doesn't pretend to be anything deeper. If you're into BDSM ménage romance and you want something quick for your commute (though maybe not if you're on public transit—I'd save this for solo drives), this delivers on that front.
But did it make me feel something? Not really. And that's kind of my whole thing. I want the spice AND the emotional gut-punch. This is all appetizer, no main course. Brian Meslar's narration is solid if not spectacular, and the story itself is more of a setup than a complete experience.
If you're curious about the series, sample it first. See if the vibe works for you. But if you're looking for something that's going to stick with you—something that'll have you clutching your chest at 2 AM—this isn't it.
Abuela would've been scandalized. But honestly? She would've kept listening anyway. Miss you, Abuela.
