Book Review: Nobody's Hero by Kallypso Masters

Author: Kallypso Masters
Series: Rescue Me #3
My Rating: 5 cups
Blurb: (from Goodreads):

Retired Marine Master Sergeant Adam Montague has battled through four war zones, but now finds himself running from Karla Paxton, who has declared war on his heart. With a twenty-five year age difference, he feels he should be her guardian and protector, not her lover. But Karla's knack for turning up in his bed at inopportune times is killing his resolve to do the right thing. Karla isn't a little girl anymore—something his body reminds him of every chance it gets.

Karla Paxton fell in love with Adam when she was a sixteen-year-old runaway and he rescued her. Now, nine years later, she's determined to make Adam see her as a woman. But their age difference is only part of the problem. Adam has been a guardian and protector for lost and vulnerable souls most of his life, but a secret he has run from for more than three decades has kept him emotionally unable to admit he can love anyone. Will she be able to lower his guard long enough to break down the defenses around his heart and help him put to rest the ghosts from his past? In her all-out war to get Adam to surrender his heart, can the strong-willed Goth singer offer herself as his submissive—and at what cost to herself?

I finally gave in and read this book. I wanted to wait, to be closer to the publishing date of the next book in the series (Nobody's Perfect). It's only that the curiosity kept me from being a good girl. I'm glad it did though. If the first two books of this series were good, this was even better.

Adam Montague is an amazing man, one that every woman should have in her life, either as a boyfriend, husband, brother, friend. Heck, even another man would be lucky to have someone as Adam on his side. Adam might appear as a cold guy at first, but it's because he is a very suspicious man. He doesn't trust easily. I think he was afraid of trusting someone and caring about someone so much, only to have that someone taken from his life or to be rejected. But he's a very loyal friend, a caring guy with such an amazing heart. For someone so guarded about his feelings, the way he cares for the ones he calls friends and the way he protects them is simply amazing. I loved Adam. Like I said before, he had trouble facing his feelings and trusting, but Karla changed that. I think Karla is one of the very few people who challenges him. And she does that daily, since they first met when she was a scared, runaway teenager.

Karla is a sweetheart. I loved her character so much and I loved the fact that we see her grow up since the very first book. I don't think there's anyone more perfect than Karla for Master Adam. I really can't think of anyone better.

I also loved the fact that we get to meet Savi again *happy dance* If anyone needs a HEA, then Savi is the one. She's been through so much and she deserves a better life. I just can't wait to see how Damian will try to win her back and how he'll squirm, because let's face it. Savi will keep him on his toes :)

And we also find out more about Marc and Angelina and that's always a great pleasure of mine, keeping up with recent events from the characters who already found their HEA.

I can't wait for the next book in this amazing series.

My Rating:

Book Review: To Command and Collar by Cherise Sinclair

Author: Cherise Sinclair
Series: Masters of Shadowlands #6
Rating: 5 cups
Blurb: (from Goodreads)

Determined to find the human traffickers preying on Shadowlands’ submissives, Master Raoul gets himself invited to a small slave auction. Once informed, the FBI orders him to reject the limited choices so the slavers will invite him to the big auction. To Raoul’s shock, one of the slaves is the kidnapped friend of a Shadowlands sub. She has a scarred body…and an unbroken spirit. He can’t leave her behind. Ruining the FBI’s carefully laid plans, he buys her.

Kimberly’s freedom has come at a devastating price: the other women are still slaves. An FBI raid is their only hope for rescue. Desperate to help the Feds locate the big auction, she agrees to pose as Master Raoul’s slave. Wearing a collar again is terrifying, but under the powerful dominant’s care, Kim starts to heal and then to blossom. This is what she’s been drawn to—and fled from—her entire life.

She escaped the slavers who captured her body—can she escape the master who’s captured her heart?

I am very happy that another book from this wonderful series was published. I'm also very happy it was this story, with these characters. When I read about Kimberly in Make Me, Sir, my heart broke and I'm sure I wasn't the only one wishing she'd be saved. I have to admit that when I saw the blurb and excerpt on Ms. Sinclair's website, I squealed *blush*. I did that a lot.

This book picks up the story of the slave traffickers that Make Me, Sir started. Master Raoul volunteers to help catch the bad guys, all the while trying to find Kimberly, Gabi's best friend. So when Raoul sees her, he risks everything to get her out of the hell she's being kept in.

Raoul is the type of character I love most. He's a very complex character: he can be soft, sweet and sensitive when he needs to be, but he can also be dangerous and lethal. He's very generous, patient, smart. Of course, he has his moments when you just want to shake him, but I think it's what makes him seem real, just like every other characters in this series. He's not perfect, he makes mistakes but he tries to make up for them.

Kimberly is another wonderful character. She's been through so much since she's been kidnapped. And you can see that she's a very strong person, because she's trying really hard to overcome her fears. Not only that, but she manages to differentiate between a healthy, happy relationship and the horrors she's been through. She's also very generous herself and she tries to repay Raoul by helping his family understand some details about his life.

I loved this story. Not only does Kimberly get saved, we also get a longer scene with Master Sam and a very hot scene with the two FBI agents, Kouros and Buchanan. I find myself in a very difficult situation: should I hope for Sam's story first or for our agents? I have no idea what comes next, but I do know I can't wait for another story in this amazing series.

My Rating:

Book Review: Cowboy Casanova by Lorelei James

Author: Lorelei James
Series: Rough Riders #12
My Rating: 5 cups
Blurb: (from Goodreads)

His rough touch makes her lose control…

In Sundance, Wyoming, you can't throw a boot without hitting a McKay cowboy, so Ben McKay is used to fading into the background. Except on weekends, when he's Bennett, imposing Dom at The Rawhide Club, surrounded by a bevy of female subs eager for the attention of his long…whip.

As for the curvy brunette eying him from across the room? He'll eat his Stetson if she's the experienced Domme she claims to be. Bennett offers her a deal—he'll let her call the shots for one night. But the next night he gets to prove to her how freeing it'll be when he takes the reins.

Ainsley Hamilton is amazed by how well Bennett read her every secret yearning during that one explosive weekend—and she's stunned when they come face to face in their everyday lives as rancher and new bank president. Now Ben's urging her to explore her submissive side outside the club, and there's something in his commanding gaze that makes it too easy to let him take control—of her desires and her pleasure.

Can Ben help Ainsley overcome her fear that a relationship built on dark sexual appetites won't survive the light of day?

I know I've said it before, but I feel the need to repeat myself: I don't think I've ever read about cowboys that are sexier than those from Ms. James' stories. I'm actually sure of it. That being said, I have to say I'm in a very happy place right now and I'm sure I'm not the only reader out there feeling the same way. I mean, let's face it! A McKay story is more than good. Two McKays getting their HEAs and I for one am in heaven! Yes, I'm addicted. There, I said it!

I loved Ben McKay. What's not to love? He's sexy, dangerous, dark, sensual... He's a Dom. But he's also a great listener, a great friend and brother and cousin, always having a good advice for everyone, always trying to calm his cousins or brothers when they get into a fight. He's also the type of hero I love, the one who makes mistakes and has the balls to admit doing them.

Then there's Ainsley, who's been hurt by the people who're supposed to care for her and accept her as she is and not judge her. So she's afraid of losing control and afraid to trust someone with a part of her that is so vulnerable. She's willing to change that though and I think that's all that matters.

The sex scenes were hot, the scenes with more than two McKay cowboys were sometimes funny, sometimes touching and sometimes sad, the scenes where Ben and Ainsley were acting like a couple were plain sweet. Here's another moment when I feel the need to repeat myself. Few authors manage to write series this long and make every character different and interesting at the same time. Lorelei James manages to do so and the fact that we get those little snippets of the old characters' lives is amazing. So I'll say it again: I hope this series never ends.

My Rating:

Book Review: Make Me, Sir by Cherise Sinclair

Author: Cherise Sinclair
Series: Masters of Shadowlands #5
Blurb: (from Goodreads)

Her job is to make his life miserable. His job is to make her submit. Whose heart will surrender first?
Across the country, rebellious BDSM submissives are being systematically kidnapped, one from each club. When her friend falls prey to the slavers, FBI victim specialist Gabrielle volunteers to be bait in a club not yet hit: the Shadowlands.
She finds that being a bratty sub comes naturally, especially when she gets to twit the appallingly conservative Master of the trainees. But she soon discovers he's not as stuffy as she'd thought. Or as mean. She'd expected punishment, even humiliation, but she sure never expected to fall in love with a damned lawyer.
Courtesy of a prima donna ex-wife, Marcus loathes disobedient submissives. When the club owner insists he admit an incredibly bratty trainee, he's furious. But as he comes to know Gabrielle and sees the alluring sweetness beneath the sass, he starts to fall for her.
Unfortunately, Marcus isn't the only one who believes the feisty redhead is a prize worth capturing. And in the world of the slaver, such treasure is worth a hefty fee.

While waiting for the next Master of the Shadowlands Club, Master Raoul, to get his story, I've decided a little re-read is in order. Though I reread some of the scenes that I liked most in the series before, this is the third time I actually read the entire book, without skipping any scenes.

The thing I like most about Master Marc is that he is nowhere near perfect. Yes, he's gorgeous and yes, he's a successful lawyer. But he's the kind of guy that makes mistakes. I think the ones who've read the book can imagine the scene that made me want to shake the guy. And yet right after that he apologizes and tried to make things better. But, let's face it, all of Ms. Sinclair's heroes are charmers. What I totally loved about him was the fact that he surprised me so much. When he was first introduced, I couldn't see him as someone who could easily turn his dominant side off and just have fun. Maybe it was Gabi who made him be more playful.

Gabi is a very complex woman. I think she's the best friend someone can have, the kind of friend that would do anything for those she cares about, even if it means putting herself in danger. Gabi doesn't care that she has to face two sets of demons (the really bad guys and her past traumas), she all she cares about is her friend and rescuing her. I liked that about her. I also loved her sarcasm and her humor. I think she's the best girl for Marc. She forces him to relearn how to have fun and I'm sure Marc needed that.

We also get some glimpses into the lives of the couples that already had their stories told. I love it when an author manages to do that, when even if their book is over and they're not the main characters anymore, the past heroes and heroines aren't forgotten.

The next book in the series, To Command and Collar, is only 14 days away. I can't wait for Master Raoul's story.

My Rating:

Book Review: Nobody's Angel by Kallypso Masters

Author: Kallypso Masters
Series: Rescue Me #2
Blurb: (from Goodreads):

Marc d'Alessio might own a BDSM club with his fellow military veterans, Adam and Damian, but he keeps all women at a distance. However, when Marc rescues beautiful Angelina Giardano from a disastrous first BDSM experience at the club, an uncharacteristic attraction leaves him torn between his safe, but lonely world, and a possible future with his angel.
Angelina leaves BDSM behind, only to have her dreams plagued by the Italian angel who rescued her at the club. When she meets Marc at a bar in her hometown, she can't shake the feeling she knows him, but has no idea why he reminds her of her angel.
When Marc's search-and-rescue partner, widower Luke Denton, confides he believes Angelina is the angel his wife promised to send him, Marc is convinced she is meant for Luke. A painful incident from his past keeps Marc from letting any woman drive a wedge between him and a friend.
While Luke can provide Angelina with love and stability, Marc knows his friend can't satisfy her submissive needs. Marc offers one night to show her that BDSM is not about pain, but a power exchange with mutual trust and consent. But he knows he can't commit emotionally to anything more.
When the abusive Dom from Angelina's past threatens, Marc's protective instincts kick in; he must keep her safe. Again at the Masters at Arms Club, she turns the tables on him and turns his safe, controlled world upside down. (Book Two in the RESCUE ME series; follows introduction to series, MASTERS AT ARMS.)

 Last week I reviewed the first book in the Rescue Me series, Masters at Arms, and if you recall, I was very pleased with the book. I still am, but I'm also realizing I might have made a huge mistake in reading this second book so fast. I had a moment when I thought "Don't read it now, wait till December, so you don't have to pull out your hair waiting for the next book." That thought never manages to sway my initial intention of reading a book fast and it totally didn't help now. *sigh* Oh well, no matter. I'll learn patience next time (yeah, right!).

Like I said in the previous review, Marc seemed to me like he really found himself after he enrolled. After reading his story, I stand by what I said then. Before the Army shaped him into the man he is, Marc lived in the shadow of his older brother, with the typical rivalry that comes from having an older brother that somehow managed to be good at everything. Before he enlisted he never did anything for himself. The job he had was at his parents's resort and even though he didn't feel quite satisfied, he stayed there, trying to prove his parents that he was just as capable as his brother, Gino. I think the first thing he did for himself was actually enrolling, but even that seemed fueled by his deep sense of regret for the fact that he couldn't get one more chance to apologize to his brother.Even so, I believe the minute he realized that he was good at what he did, he started to believe more in himself. In a way, going to war helped him mature. The thing I loved about Marc was his ability to say "I messed up and I'm sorry for it". He wasn't trying to pass as the dumb ass alpha wannabe guy, the one who either can't do a thing wrong or the one who never admits he made a mistake. He wasn't that guy. Also, he didn't have the arrogance that usually comes with wealth. Had he met Angelina before he enlisted, I think the relationship would've been doomed from the start, him not being mature enough for her, Angelina being too intimidated by her education and her brothers to take risks.

Angelina is what you might call a good girl. She only dates guys that are perfect in the eyes of her family, as she called them "boring" and "safe". At the same time though, I think she was a bit scared of listening to her instincts or to her heart or to trust her gut or whatever you want to call it. She was scared of going after the guy or type of guys that really appealed to her. I don't think it's because she never found the perfect guy before meeting Marc and Luke, but it's because she was scared of what they made her feel, and the only moment she allowed herself to take a chance was when the fear of being hurt was stronger than the fear of her feelings.

I mentioned Luke. Before you get your hopes up, it's not a threesome. You only get one scene (though I REALLY hope Ms. Masters will write an M/F/M scene - a big one *smiles* ). Luke is still a puzzle to me. I think there's more to him that what we learn in this book. I do think that there are other things that were left unsaid, things that made Luke who he is now. Also, there's a moment in the book where Luke totally surprised me. I'm guessing there a few other surprises for Luke, so I'm waiting (im)patiently before I make any judgments about him.

The ending is the real reason I regret finishing the book so early. Should've stopped at two, three pages a day, but I couldn't. Who could? I won't talk about the ending, except to say that it convinced me to get hooked up on the series and to say, again, good job! Anyway, I hope we'll get Master Adam's book soon.

My Rating:

Book Review: Club Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair

Author: Cherise Sinclair
Series: Masters of the Shadowlands #1
Blurb: (from Goodreads)

Her car disabled during a tropical storm, Jessica Randall discovers the isolated house where she's sheltering is a private bondage club. At first shocked, she soon becomes aroused watching the interactions between the Doms and their subs. But she's a professional woman--an accountant--and surely isn't a submissive...is she?
Master Z hasn't been so attracted to a woman in years. But the little sub who has wandered into his club intrigues him. She's intelligent. Reserved. Conservative. After he discovers her interest in BDSM, he can't resist tying her up and unleashing the passion she hides within.

You know how sometimes a reader starts searching for that perfect type of character for a certain genre? I became one of those searchers of perfection when I found I liked erotic romance with BDSM themes. Let me define what perfection is for me. It's not that character that can do anything  and everything he/she wants, it's actually the character who has bad habits, who makes mistakes, you know the type, it's called "normal people".

So I was a very happy camper when I stumbled by a complete accident upon Cherise Sinclair's Doms. They are so not perfect and I love that, because they seem real. They have fears like real men, they mess up and they have those moments when the only thing you can do is say "Men!" and go on. And her heroines aren't the gorgeous bombshells that can wear anything they want. They might not be slim, but they are smart, hardworking women that have the same issues real life women have. And those are very good things. For me, anyway.

Club Shadowlands is the first book in the Masters of the Shadowlands series. We meet Master Z or Zachary, child psychologist by day, owner of the Club Shadowlands by night. Now, the fact that Master Z is a psychologist made me love him on the spot. It's very hard to find a book with a psychologist that's a Dom, you know? He's a very good judge of character, he is very good at reading people, he's very patient, he has a very strong sense of justice and he keeps his word. If you broke a rule, no matter how much he hates it, he's going to punish you for it. That's something the heroine, Jessica, found out really soon.

Jessica is a very curios woman. She's shocked by what she encounters at Master Z's club, but she's not scared into leaving and she actually likes some of the things she sees. Other things she sees make her turn into mother hen mode and protect the ones that she feels are in danger, making her break a few of the club's rules.  Jessica is also very impatient and I think Zachary helps her become the playful woman that she is later in the series.

One thing I loved about the book and the series in general: the way the lifestyle and the BDSM practices and rules are explained. I've read so far enough books to understand a bit about it, but usually all the things surrounding the subject is explained either very... shall I call it dry? I don't know, I just never had that feeling of complete understanding and usually some of the explanations feel copied from a sort of master book, a guide book, while remaining on the surface of the subject. I actually felt that Ms. Sinclair knows what she's talking about and the explanations felt real and they were very well mixed with the story.

There are four more books in the series, at this moment. With every book, the series improves more and more, the characters get more complex, more multidimensional, while staying very close to my concept of real. The sixth book is on it's way and I can't wait for it! I do believe I'll bite all my nails 'till that day comes. Oh well, I can always reread ;)

My Rating:

Book Review: Masters at Arms by Kallypso Masters

Author: Kallypso Masters

Series: Rescue Me

Blurb: (from Goodreads):

Masters at Arms begins the journey of three men, each on a quest for honor, acceptance, and to ease his unspoken pain. Their paths cross at one of the darkest points in their lives. As they try to come to terms with the aftermath--forging an unbreakable bond--will they ever truly become masters of their own fates? Or would fate become masters of them?

Wow. I just finished reading this story and all I can think of saying as a start to this review is "wow". Another thing that crosses my mind right about now is "balls of steel" and it's directed at the author. If you're looking for a HEA or declarations of undying love, this is not the book. This is the book that promises many happy endings and many "I love you"s, but in the future. You meet the main characters all at once and you get a background story for each of them, but it's not complete, it still leaves you with questions, questions that Ms. Masters promises to answer in the next books in the series.

The characters are so complex and so different from each other, that I had a hard time imagining how they could be friends without fighting every few days. You have Adam Montague, the oldest of the bunch, sexy for his age (picture Mark Harmon), he seems like the Dom of Doms if that makes sense. He's a former Marine, so he's used to give orders and have them followed. Don't go picture a sadist in his shoes, he's not. He's one of the most caring characters I've ever read about. I won't say much about him, or the other characters, because I now this story is just a prequel, so my image of them is not complete. I know there are many facts to them that will be revealed in the next books.

After reading a short story about Adam, we meet Damian Orlando, a young man who's already paid for doing what he thought was right. But even knowing that he could end up losing his job or even his freedom, he comes to the rescue of a girl who I hope will be his heroine in his book. He then joins the Army and he meets Marco D'Allesio, another important character who I loved. Damian is willing to risk his own life to protect the men in his unit, and the price he ultimately pays is a big one for a man so young. It made my heart ache for him and I can't wait till February to read his story.

Marc is different than the other two characters we've met. From what I've read so far, he really found himself after he joined the Army. But I won't dwell much on his story now, because I want to get a clear picture of him after I finish the second book in the series, Nobody's Angel.

I think this series will be one of the best in the genre. It has a lot of potential, and so far, I'm not disappointed. The characters are new, fresh and more complex than I ever imagined possible. The plots in this prequel (though I prefer to think of it as a bigger first chapter) are very well built and intriguing. And I think for a new author to decide to publish a story without happy endings is a very gutsy move. I do believe the fact that you don't have the ending makes the book all the more interesting and amazing, because without the romance and the numerous "Aww" moments that come with a romantic relationship between two or more characters, you can actually see the real deal, the true sense of building the characters into what we see them ultimately. I think it's amazing and brilliant to get the back story first and then the characters in present time. I'm well aware of the fact that there will be some details that this book didn't reveal and that we'll get them in the future, but some of the main traits, the important traits, the reader can see develop. If I could give it a higher rating, I definitely would. All I can hope is that Ms. Masters keeps up the good work, because, again, AMAZING!!

My Rating:

Book Review: Belong to Me by Shayla Black

Author: Shayla Black

Series: Wicked Lovers #5

Blurb: (from Goodreads)

When FBI analyst Tara Jacobs's fellow agent and best friend goes missing while investigating a sex ring, Tara goes undercover as a submissive in a BDSM club. But no man can top a woman like Tara-until a dangerous Dom takes control of the scene and sets her heart racing. Too bad he's also the man who stole her innocence years ago-and one to whom she'll never submit. But Navy SEAL Logan Edgington knows he alone can protect her-and this time he'll never let her go...

Wild. That's the first thing that pops into my head when thinking about Logan Edgington, the newest Wicked Lover. Logan's story is my second favorite in this series, right after Luc's story.

Belong to Me is one of those sweet stories about past mistakes and second chances. While dealing with his mother's murder, sixteen year old Logan Edgington gives up the love of his life, Tara Jacobs, in order to keep her safe. Twelve years later, his love for Tara is just as powerful and as strong, so when he sees her again, he decides to win her back and never let her go.

Logan is such a wonderful character. He's sexy, dominant, strong, intense and, like I said before, wild. But there's also a softer version of him underneath it all. He's devoted to his first love, even after twelve years of not seeing her, and he's willing to do anything for her, even die to keep her safe. He's not ashamed or afraid to share his feelings with Tara and he does it over and over again, every chance he has. He's not scared of saying "I love you" and I think that's so great.

Tara is afraid of Logan at first. She lost her trust in him at sixteen, when he left her after taking her virginity, and she's not exactly willing to trust him again. Her mind keeps telling her to run away from him, but her body recognizes Logan as the only one who can truly love her and pleasure her. I think she was trying really hard not to admit that she still loves him while he was training her to be the perfect submissive. She's also very stubborn and she fights Logan every step of the way, maybe because she's trying to make him see her as the woman she's become, not the old flame she was.

I loved this book. It was so refreshing, the story was touching and sweet and tender. Second chances are really hard to get and I'm so happy Logan got his. I think Ms. Shayla Black did an amazing job at telling this story.

My Rating: