Blog Tour Book Review: Arranged by Lexi Blake

   

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #13.5
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, BDSM
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: April 25th 2017
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Kash Kamdar is the king of a peaceful but powerful island nation. As Loa Mali’s sovereign, he is always in control, the final authority. Until his mother uses an ancient law to force her son into marriage. His prospective queen is a buttoned-up intellectual, nothing like Kash’s usual party girl. Still, from the moment of their forced engagement, he can’t stop thinking about her.

Dayita Samar comes from one of Loa Mali’s most respected families. The Oxford-educated scientist has dedicated her life to her country’s future. But under her staid and calm exterior, Day hides a few sexy secrets of her own. She is willing to marry her king, but also agrees that they can circumvent the law. Just because they’re married doesn’t mean they have to change their lives. It certainly doesn’t mean they have to fall in love.

After one wild weekend in Dallas, Kash discovers his bride-to-be is more than she seems. Engulfed in a changing world, Kash finds exciting new possibilities for himself. Could Day help him find respite from the crushing responsibility he’s carried all his life? This fairy tale could have a happy ending, if only they can escape Kash’s past… 

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

It's not a secret that I love this series, and I was super excited to find out that the playboy king would get his story told.

The thing that I loved most about this book was how it touched on the delicate subject of male submissives from a cultural point of view. It's true that society believes that men should be the dominant ones, while women should be 100% submissive, at least from a sexual perspective. Seeing Kash try to reconcile his status as king and a sexual sub was really interesting. I also loved how Ian, the ultimate Dom, gave Kash a really great speech about that. Blake really knows how to deliver some really powerful words, and she managed to do just that in this book.

Day was a wonderful heroine and I would have loved to have more scenes with her outside of her relationship with Kash. I would have wanted to see her battle her way through politics and changing the lives of so many women and girls with her ideas.

Kash was an interesting character. It's really great to see he's not just the playboy I thought him to be, he was pushed by circumstances out of his control into that life, as a way to hide from his problems. I don't agree with how he did that, but I get it. I would have wanted to see a more complex scene following a certain really dramatic scene between these two, because I feel like the way it was dealt with wasn't as dramatic as what happened between them, but in the end it all works out.

I totally didn't anticipate who the bad guy of this story was. I had my eye on another character, and I'm very happy that in the end it turned out to be someone else.

All in all a great addition to the world of Masters and Mercenaries, and, as usual, I cannot wait for more!

Amazon  | Amazon Print

 
  “Are we a happy couple?”
“I don’t think we’ve had time enough to be sure of that yet, but I know we were once.” She’d thought it through in a way she never had before. She had a much different view of those months with Kash in England. “You were courting me back then, weren’t you? You wanted me to be your girlfriend.”
He sat down in the plush chair that dominated the sitting area portion of his bedroom. Normally they stayed in the living room, but he’d wanted more privacy. This was the only place in his suite that wasn’t covered by CCTV, the only place where they could truly be alone. Everything about the space was masculine and decadent, including the man himself. With his hair disheveled and his chest on display, it wasn’t hard at all to see him as a primal male.
One she’d dearly enjoy taming.
“I don’t think you realized it at the time.”
She was willing to admit her faults. “I didn’t. I had my nose in a book most of the time back then and I had little experience with men. No, I had no idea you were interested in me beyond copying my notes from class when you slept in.”
“It would surprise you to know that I often thought about sleeping in with you.” His voice had gone low and gentle. “I was crazy about you back then, Day. I find myself in the same position today, but I don’t want to scare you. I know you think we should take this slow and I will honor your wishes, but I want this marriage to work. You see me as a playboy, but I don’t want to be some forty-plus player who trades on his money to keep young girls around him. I think it might be time for me to find out if I can be the king my father would have wanted me to be.”
It was all she needed to hear. If he wanted to try, she was ready. Despite his reputation, she’d fallen right back into a peaceful friendship with him. He’d been the old Kash, supporting her when she needed it. He’d asked her questions about her work with the education department and then gave her ideas on how to handle the parliament. He hadn’t told her what she should do. He’d suggested, debated.
“I think you’ll find me less averse to giving this marriage a real try than you think. I was planning on talking to you about using the Palm Ceremony to begin to explore what we could be as a couple.”
He frowned. “I’m not sure what that means. You want to talk? Or have counseling? Because that sounds terrible.”
“I was talking about sex, Kashmir. I thought we could use this time to see if we’re sexually compatible.”
He popped up out of his chair like an eager puppy. “Yes. I think that is a brilliant idea. We should start now. Don’t worry. I intend to be gentle with you.”
She didn’t move at all. “Like you are with your lovely flowers?”
“Women deserve a man’s care,” he said quietly. “Day, I can’t erase my past.”
“I don’t want you to.” He misunderstood her problems with his statement. “But I do need you to understand that I’m not one of those flowers. I’m not here to sit at your side and bat my eyelashes in the hopes that you’ll buy something for me. I don’t work like that. I don’t care about your money.”
“That is easy for you to say. You’re about to have access to all of it, aren’t you?”
He had a point. “Even if I wasn’t, that wouldn’t be why I would want you, Kash. Sit down. We have some things to talk about before we get started. Come here close to me.”
He moved to the chaise she was sitting on, lowering himself down with a sullen frown. “I knew there would be talking.”
She was fairly certain his lovely flowers did very little talking, but he would get used to it. “Why did you want me back then?”
“I liked you. I liked talking to you. I liked being around you. I rather liked who I was when I was around you.” His expression softened. “I don’t think you knew how alluring you were to someone like me. You didn’t understand how beautiful you were, so you didn’t use it against me. Most women do.”
“Well, that happens when you surround yourself with women who are mostly valued for their looks. I don’t blame them. They’ve been told their beauty is the only thing worthy about them. If you want to meet women who don’t feel that way, you should probably expand out of models and actresses.”
“Well, you would be surprised how many gorgeous, sexy physicists turn me down because I’m not smart enough for them.”
       

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Blog Tour Book Review: For His Eyes Only by Lexi Blake

 

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #13
Audience: +18
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance, BDSM
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment LLC
Release Date: February 28th 2017
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source:InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

A night he can’t forget

Five years ago, Nick Markovic found himself consumed by his quest for vengeance. The one time he managed to find peace was in the arms of Hayley Dalton. Being with her was like bathing in sunlight, and he ached to feel that again, but he couldn’t. He gave his oath to Hayley’s cousin Desiree, his partner at McKay-Taggart and Knight, that he’d never let his darkness infect Hayley’s innocent world.

A spark she can’t put out

It was years before that Hayley offered everything she had to Nick. After that one amazing night, all she wanted was to be his forever. Unfortunately, Nick’s reaction was to walk away from her and never look back. The warm and caring man she’d discovered was gone, and after Des’s death, he’d only grown colder. But when Hayley finds herself in mortal danger, she’s forced to seek protection from the man who broke her heart.

A flame that threatens to consume them both

Haunted by the women he failed, Nick can’t allow himself to grow close to Hayley again. Running to stay ahead of the powerful forces that endanger their lives, they travel from the lush Garden in London to the glittering lights of Rio. As the threat against her becomes clearer, he realizes that to keep her safe he must confront the demons from his past, even if it costs him a future with the woman he loves.

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this copy from InkSlinger PR and Lexi Blake in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

Yet another great addition to the world of Masters & Mercenaries by Lexi Blake. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

While reading this book, I had the impression that there were two big themes in this book, one in which we explore Nick and Hayley's love story, and one where we explore Nick's professional relationships. Nick's romantic relationship with Hayley was put in opposition with the one he had with Desiree, and the differences are pretty big not to notice. I would have wanted to see a little bit of that story from Desiree's POV, how she lived the story between Nick and her, but maybe that's explored in previous books. All I can say is that seeing how miserable Nick felt in regards to his and Des's relationship once he started admitting what he truly felt makes it impossible not to like his and Hayley's story. It's also difficult to like Des, which I feel isn't all that fair towards her, seeing how she's dead and an't really explain herself. I can understand how her actions hurt Nick, but at the same time, Nick seems to have given up on life once he got his revenge. So I feel like it's a bit unfair to say that Des was fully to blame for the destructive, toxic relationship they had.

At the same time, it's interesting to see how Nick relates to his field partners. The two people he trusted, Des and Owen, hurt him in one way or another, and now he feels like he needs to do it all alone. What's interesting to me about that is seeing how he gets exposed to the mindset of team work by the Taggarts and their friends, and how he reacts to being part of a team. I liked how he reacted to the fact that being an employee of Damon, and, by extension, of Ian, meant that he had to work with the team, that he had to trust someone to have his back, or to simply give him a solution to his problems, which is something he didn't have before, not even with Des.

Hayley was not the type of heroine I necessarily like or understand 100%, especially when thinking about how she wants to only see the good in people, especially in Nick. Nick treated her quite poorly, both in the past and now. And yet she's still set on being there for him, trust him, love him even. Thinking about her past, how she grew up, how her parents' actions made her feel like she doesn't deserve affection, makes her attitude understandable, but I still would have liked to see her love herself just a little bit more, especially given how she found it in herself to escape the bad guys following her and putting her life at risk. There are moments where that Hayley comes to light, but I would have liked to see that more often. That said, she fits with Nick, probably because he gives her something to focus on and to want to fight for, while she gives Nick some peace of mind.

The plot is pretty fast paced, and I read this book quite fast. I liked seeing glimpses into the lives of the original couples, like Ian and Charlie. Those two are always funny and sexy together. I also liked this very mysterious Ezra guy. I'm really interested to see what his story is, and if maybe he'll get his happy ending. I also love the little taste we get at the end of what happens next in this series. I'm very curious to see how a certain agent will react to what happened at the end. All in all, a good book, one that once again reminded me why I still love this series.

 

 

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Nick went back to staring at the report. “Hayley’s not mine. She was Desiree’s cousin. Now she’s my client.”
Who had been tired the night before and that was why she’d said the things she’d said. This morning she’d seemed much more sensible. After she’d had some sleep and a shower and had straightened herself up, she’d been quiet and seemingly reflective. She was very likely embarrassed by what had been said the night before.
I would get safety from murderers and I would get orgasms. I’m sorry, Nicky, you’re going to tell me how that’s a bad deal for me.
He was going to make sure she understood that his protection wasn’t based on whether or not she slept with him.
Because he wasn’t sleeping with her. He couldn’t hurt her that way again.
“So she was your old lover’s cousin,” Owen mused. “The lover you weren’t exclusive with and who wouldn’t marry you. The pretty girl who looks at you like you’re the sun in the sky is her cousin.”
“She looks at me like she would look at man who can save her.”
“I can save her.” Owen’s eyes lit up, his brows waggling. “Maybe she’ll look at me like that.”
Anger flared through his system. “Don’t you dare. I told you I would take care of her.”
His arms crossed over his big chest and Nick knew he’d been had. “Well, that answers the question with more honesty. You can pretend, but you like the girl. And if you honestly don’t then you need to know that the boys got a good look at her last night. If she’s going to be hanging about, she should be ready for some serious male attention.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The lads talked it over last night and decided there’s no dibs on this one. They all saw her at pretty much the same time. They looked over that dead body and saw her walking in the hall and that was when the fighting started. We all sat down and decided no dibs on her. She’ll get to pick. You should know that Sasha and Jax have decided if she picks either of them, they’re willing to share. I don’t play that way. That’s something I do know about meself. No need for you to be telling me that tale. If there’s going to be some sharing in the bedroom, it’s going to be the traditional kind between a man and a woman and her stacked best friend. That’s what I say.”
“You tell those boys to stay away from her or they will be dealing with me. They will not like to be dealing with me. I will put up with many things from them. They can poke all the corpses they like. They can punch each other. I do not care. They touch Hayley and I will be caring.”
“Wow, now you do sound Russian. A scary Russian. Still, I think if you don’t want the girl, shouldn’t she be allowed to choose? Think about it. It could be fun.”
“Are we talking about the lost boys and their battle for the new chick?” Kayla strode in, her hair in a high ponytail. It bounced as she walked, a testament to her seemingly ever-sunny personality. “I had babysitting duty last night and they kept talking about her even after lights out. Bad boys. I had a plan though. I think we make them compete in a beauty pageant. Hayley gets to judge.”
“I’m judging a beauty pageant?” Hayley followed behind Kay, and both women were followed by Charlotte Taggart and Penelope Knight. It looked like Hayley was rapidly being accepted by the women on his team.
That was not necessarily a good thing. The women on his team could create chaos like no others.
“That sounds like fun,” Charlotte said with a smile. “I think we should require Speedos for the bathing suit competition. No boring board shorts. If Hayley’s picking a lover, she needs to see some booty.”
Hayley stopped, her cheeks going the sweetest color of pink. “Wait. What?”
Penelope put a hand on her arm. “They’re teasing you, dear. Don’t worry about it. The lads will be very polite. Though you should expect some suitors while you’re here. Especially if you come down to the dungeon.”
Now he was the one flushing. “Excuse me?”
Hayley shook her head as she joined him at the table. “It’s nothing. I was just talking to the girls. Did you get the report? Penny said the Dallas office had found something.”
He was all too aware that they weren’t alone. Damon and Ian walked in with Brody Carter and Walter Bennett. The four men settled into chairs as the women joined them. Nick held out a chair for Hayley. He would have to remember that he couldn’t leave her alone for a minute or someone would be whispering in her ear, giving her ideas she shouldn’t have.
Like visiting The Garden on a play night.
It wasn’t happening.  
   

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Blog Tour Book Review: Perfectly Paired by Lexi Blake

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Topped #3, Masters and Mercenaries #12.5
Audience: +18
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance, BDSM
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment, LLC
Release Date: November 29th 2016
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

A table for two

Waitress Tiffany Hayes knows what she wants and she wants Sebastian. Top’s grumpy sommelier calls to her in a way no man has before. She simply needs to show him that they belong together. Finding an opportunity to spend some quality time with him turns out to be the easy part. Convincing Sebastian to look beyond his damaged heart and soul is far more difficult.

A thirst he can’t deny

After losing everything he held dear, Sebastian Lowe has finally rebuilt his life and the walls around his heart. Tiffany is a sweet temptation he struggles to resist. She’s bright and complex, but he’s sure she can’t handle his dark desires. When they’re thrown together on an assignment, he can’t help himself.

A perfect pairing

As passion builds, the new lovers are both forced to face their pasts. To have a future, they must find a way to heal the wounds they thought would haunt them forever.

Amazon | iTunes | Barnes & Noble

  *Disclaimer: I received an eARC from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or my opinion of the book in any way.

I've come to expect great things from Lexi Blake, and this book is no different. Blake has managed once again to make me fall in love with two wonderful characters, make me cry, smile and laugh, all while reading the same book.

The thing that I love most about this book is that this isn't just a romantic, sexy story, but a true story of healing. Sebastian is a truly wounded man, and I don't mean physically. While the loss of his legs is something really hard to go through, his wounds go soul deep. I really ached for him in the beginning of this story. While he may appear to be selfish, we learn why he is cold and why he tries really hard to keep people at arm's length. It was truly a lovely story, and a wonderful journey, seeing Sebastian going from hesitant, guarded and lonely, to a man ready to accept help when he needed it, a man that accepted friendship and a man that accepted himself, a man that allowed himself to be loved. I think that's what made my heart break for him most, the fact that he didn't think he was worthy of love. So I was really glad to see him become the man that I think, in some way, he wanted himself to become.

Tiffany was a wonderful heroine. Stubborn and brave, she's the perfect match to Sebastian. I love how she doesn't get sad and how she doesn't retreat when Sebastian tells her to. She's the type of woman that uses the hurt to try and change the situation into a better one, and I loved that about her. I also loved how in tune she was with what she needed, and what Sebastian needed as well.

I feel like Lexi Blake wrote a story about a very different aspect of BDSM than what I've read before, because I feel like this story truly talked about the power a submissive has when it comes to this type of relationship. While we mostly see BDSM stories show the sub being dominated by a Dom/Domme, here we get a sub servicing her Dom, and it's such a powerful experience. The power of the sub is something a lot of books mention, but that very few truly explore in such a deep way, and I am so happy that Blake went there with this book. Yes, there are sexy times in this book, but I feel like they're not the focus of the story, and that's quite a great change.

I cannot wait to read the next book by Lexi Blake, and I hope that one of the couple that appeared at some point in this book will get their own story.

EXCERPT

Damn but she was a beautiful woman. She was also something he needed to keep his hands off of. No matter what Big Tag said, he did not date women he worked with.
He didn’t really date anyone. He played with subs. When the need got too great, he found a partner for a brief time. He didn’t sleep with anyone. He fucked, and that was starting to get very old. Empty.
“So you said something about house rules?” Tiffany leaned forward, her elbows on the bar. “Are these housekeeping rules or like big bad Dom rules?”
“I don’t suppose I differentiate.” He couldn’t let those big eyes of hers soften him up. It had almost happened at her apartment. When she’d stood up after he’d spanked her and there had been tears running down her face, his impulse had been to reach for her. He’d wanted to draw her in the way he had that night when she was drunk and she’d cried on his shoulder. He’d wanted to smooth back her hair and promise her everything was going to be all right, that he could fix things for her. It was a path that was sure to lead to discomfort for her and humiliation for him. “I prefer a clean living space. I don’t like for things to be messy. I expect that you will keep your things in their proper place.”
Because no matter how hard he tried, he could still trip. The legs he now walked on were only a year old. He’d spent the first two years in a wheelchair.
The Garden’s Wheelchair Dom.
He still wasn’t completely comfortable in the prosthetics.
“I can try,” she said with a frown. “I’ll be honest, I’m not the world’s biggest neat freak.”
He’d been able to tell that from the state of her apartment. It had been cluttered, a bit dusty. With the exception of her easel. That had been perfectly taken care of. He rather wished he’d taken the time to ask to see her art.
He’d seen one painting that night he’d taken her home. It had been a painting of three laughing girls, the swirling colors so vibrant he could hear them giggling as they splashed in a puddle on a rainy day. The figures had been more impressions than photographic reality, but he’d known what she was trying to convey.
“If you cook I’ll clean, and the other way around.” He’d started a list in his head on the long drive. The drive that would have been considerably shorter had they left at the proper time. As she’d sung along to sugary pop songs after she’d changed his radio, he’d sat and considered how to proceed.
With caution. Lots and lots of caution.
“I’m not the best cook in the world,” he continued, “but I can manage. Most nights, of course, we’ll be eating at Top as our training sessions for the new restaurant will last long hours, but I would prefer to eat breakfast here rather than skipping the meal or picking up fast food. Eric made sure the fridge was stocked with a few items I requested.”
“Breakfast.” She gave him a little salute with her free hand. “I can manage that.”
“In addition to our duties at Top, we will now be taking on the additional task of appearing to be a long-term D/s couple, and we need to talk about what that should look like.” Another thing he’d been thinking about ever since that moment the trap had closed around him. “You know you probably could have gotten us out of this assignment. It’s much more difficult for the Dom to say no. The sub always holds the power. Is there a reason you didn’t use yours today?”
“I didn’t want to,” she replied simply. “I don’t have a full-time Dom and I thought it would be interesting to see what that’s like.”
Was she thinking at all? “You know nothing about how I function as a dominant partner.”
“And now I do,” she replied. “You like rules and schedules and you tend to be very fair.”
“I can be quite exacting in my standards.”
“I can be quite flexible,” she shot back as the sexiest smile crossed her face. “I’m serious about that. I can still do the splits and everything.”
“You’re far too reckless, Tiffany.” He didn’t appreciate recklessness so why was she like a siren calling to him? If he listened, he would end up wrecked.
“You’re far too uptight, Sebastian.”

About The Author
 

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Book Review: On Her Master's Secret Service by Lexi Blake

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #4
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, BDSM
Publisher: Dlz Entertainment
Release Date: May 12th 2013
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Author
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Her submission fulfilled her

When Eve St. James married Alex McKay, she had her whole life ahead of her. They were the FBI’s golden couple by day, but by night Eve gave herself over to her husband’s world of Dominance and submission filled with pleasures she came to crave.

His betrayal destroyed her

Worried for her safety, Alex left Eve behind to tackle a dangerous mission. But Alex never suspected that Eve was the real target and her security is destroyed by a madman. By the time he rescues her, his wife has been changed forever.

But when her life is in danger, he is her only hope
Unable to heal the damage, Alex and Eve are still trapped together in a cycle of pleasure and misery that even their divorce cannot sever. But when a threat from Eve’s past resurfaces, Alex will stop at nothing to save her life and reclaim her heart.

*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or my opinion of the book in any way.

One of the major subplots in the first three books, in my opinion, regarded Alex and Eve, and it's one that has kept me guessing and insanely curious, so I was very happy when I learned that I didn't have to wait too long before finding out what happened between them.

As expected, this is one hard story to read. We finally get to learn what happened to Alex and Eve, why they broke up, but also why they keep having what seems like a very toxic relationship. During the previous books, I'll be honest and say that I thought Eve was too harsh, to mean, too cruel to Alex. But then I got it. It wasn't that she was cruel to him,but that she was cruel to herself, he was just the instrument. I truly respect her for being able to survive what she went through, for not letting what happened to her rule her life indefinitely. From what she herself says, it actually helped her become a stronger, more independent version of herself. As I said, I truly respect her.

Alex broke my heart in his own way. I honestly don't think he deserved to be on the receiving end of a psycho's wrath and evilness. It was especially heartbreaking because you can see how much he loves Eve, and how much he's willing to go through for her, how much he's willing to suffer.

I have to be honest, I got some Mentalist vibes during this book, if only for the way their background story developed, in a "what if she was still alive" kind of way, which I very much liked. The betrayal mentioned in the blurb of the book was not the one I was thinking about, it's actually quite different than what I had in mind. Strangely enough, I liked that the story went there, even though it made Alex and Eve go through a really rough patch in their relationship, because it showed a very important aspect of what someone needs when trying to get past a trauma. It's hard to talk about that aspect of the story without giving too much away, but let's just say I liked the fact that Blake went there with her story.

The plot is very well paced, and the story kept me guessing for a very long time. I kind of figured some stuff out in advance, but that didn't take away from the story. This was a very good installment in the series, and I was super happy that Eve and Alex got to have a second chance. All in all, a great book that I enjoyed very much.

Book Review: Master Bits & Mercenary Bites by Lexi Blake & Suzanne M. Johnson

Author: Lexi Blake, Suzanne M. Johnson
Series: Topped, Masters and Mercenaries
Audience: +18
Genre: Erotic Romance, BDSM, Contemporary Romance, Cooking
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: November 1st 2016
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Top restaurant has become the hot spot in Dallas for elevated comfort food—and a side of spicy romance. Run by executive chef Sean Taggart, Top is the premiere fictional destination for gourmet food. Join creator, New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake, and Southern food expert Suzanne Johnson as they guide you through the world of Masters and Mercenaries via the secret recipes behind the food served in Top.

But what would a gourmet meal be without some company? Spend an evening with your favorite characters from McKay-Taggart as they celebrate the special moments that make up their happily ever afters. Learn how to make Sean’s specialty dishes and Macon’s desserts while exploring the private lives of the characters who make up the world. From Charlie and Ian’s next demon spawn to a change in path for Simon and Chelsea, these are the times that bind us together, the moments that make us a family.

Good meals, good times, good friends.

Bon appétit!

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC from InkSlinger PR and Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or opinion of the book in any way.


My second favorite thing, after reading, is cooking, so when I first heard of this book, I didn't quite know which part excited me most, the recipes, or the glimpses inside the lives of my most favorite characters from the Masters & Mercenaries series.

I loved seeing small "life episodes", let's call them, into the lives of the couples of this series. Some were hilarious, some were heartwarming, some were hot, but they were all awesome. A few of these characters were new to me, since I'm still not fully up to date with the series (I'm getting there, guys!), but I still loved reading about them. I also loved how, in some way, it was all tied to the idea of food. I loved how that was the background theme with these short stories. And I loved seeing how some things never change, especially with Ian.

The recipes are very tasty. I'm a foodie. I'm obsessed with food, and finding new recipes to try out is a hobby of mine. There are so many great recipes in this book that I want to try out. What I love is that it's has recipes for everybody, so no matter your tastes, you'll definitely find a recipe that you'll want to make. I certainly have my eye on a couple of them for the near future. I love how some of these recipes go from super easy to kind of difficult to make, but also how they can actually make you look like an actual chef for cooking them.

I also loved trying to figure out how the recipes related to the characters they were related to. That was a really fun game, and for the most part I managed to figure them out. I absolutely loved this book, and I can only hope that maybe someday in the future, a second book like this will come out for the series.

Blog Tour Book Review & Excerpt: Submission Is Not Enough by Lexi Blake

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #12
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, BDSM, Erotic Romance
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment LLC
Release Date: October 25th 2016
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

A fallen hero reborn

Theo Taggart lost everything the night he died. His family, his beautiful Erin, and worst of all, he lost himself. A twisted doctor brought him back from the brink of death, but reprogrammed his identity to serve her will. Rescued by his brothers, he must fight to reclaim the man he was and the life, and love, that were stolen from him.

A love worth fighting for

Erin Argent thought she'd lost Theo forever. When he walked back into her life, it was nothing short of a miracle. Months of torture and conditioning at the hands of Dr. Hope McDonald have done damage to Theo that may never be mended. He has no memory of her or the life they shared. Breaking through to him, and helping him rediscover all he lost, will be the toughest mission she's ever faced. Luckily for Theo, Erin loves a good fight.

Their reunion under siege

Unfortunately, Hope is far from done with Theo Taggart. Obsessed with her prize experiment, she will do anything to get him back. If the only way to finally break him of his past life is to kill Erin and his son, then she's only too happy to oblige…

*Disclaimer: I rececived an eARC of this copy from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or opinion of the book in any way.

I absolutely loved this book, guys! I've been scared to read this book, I'll be honest, but I'm here to tell you that there's absolutely nothing to fear.

I loved Erin and Theo. First of all, Erin is badass. She's my heroine. I love how she managed to be both very scary, and very vulnerable at the same time. I love that she's a woman who can take care of herself, and I am so sorry that it took so long for her to accept who she is, mostly due to the fact that most of the men in her life that should have loved her disappointed her, and made her feel like she wasn't enough. I also love how honest she was, at least with herself, regarding how much she had to deal with since she lost Theo, how much she had to change. There's a moment where she has to deal with something that's happening with her baby, and I love how she kind of has a revelation about herself, about how she would have reacted had she not went through the terrible loss of her partner. I'm pretty sure I'll sound crazy, but it kind of made her grow as a person, having to lose Theo. I also love how determined she is, how strong she is. I admire Erin.

Theo, my dear, dear Theo, what can I possibly say about him? This is probably one of the very few times when I've read a book in a series without reading the previous ones (I'm a bit behind in the series, but never fear, you don't get lost!), so I don't actually know how Theo really was before he went missing, other than what we see in the flashbacks. So I can't judge him or expect him to be a certain way. My heart broke for him, though, because you can tell how hard it is for him, knowing that there's something missing. I am happy with how the story ends for him, though.

I love how the book ended. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but just know that I'm super happy with what happened, or what didn't happen, in the end. I know I would have been disappointed had it ended any other way, because I love getting a little salt in my romance books, from time to time. And there's definitely a bit of salt there.

Speaking of salt, I was very impressed with the craziness of Hope McDonald. I found her very scary, but also very deranged, and the fact that she's a genius made her scarier. Some of the things she did kind of change the rules of the game a little bit, so I'm curious, very curious to see what's next, especially since towards the end of the book there were a few shocking stuff that happened because of her.

The pacing of this book is fantastic. The idea of using flashbacks for Erin and Theo's love story is fantastic, and I hope that in the future, we'll see more flashbacks. As I said before, super happy with how the book ended. I'm also very excited for the sneak peak we get into the future book of the series.

Submission Is Not Enough is a great story, a wonderful addition to the series, and I hope Blake will keep exploring the repercussions of what Hope did not only to Theo, but to others as well.

Amazon | iTunes | Barnes & Noble | Google Play

     

 Theo took the stairs as quickly as he could. He knew where he was going, but he wasn’t going to think about it. For the first time since he’d gotten home, he didn’t care about his past or figuring out who he’d been. He wanted. He wanted something right now and that felt good.

She’d been right. There wasn’t a place for guilt here.

He strode up the stairs, her weight comforting in his arms. Yeah, he wasn’t going to think about that either. He was going to enjoy it, not wonder why his body remembered her when his mind would not.

“Hey, is everything okay?”

Damn it. Case was standing at the top of the stairs, obviously having come out of the privacy rooms. His wife was at his side, her face flushed. Mia had sex hair. Good for them. Red was about to have sex hair, too. Lots of filthy sex hair. “Everything’s great. Night.”

Case put a hand on his shoulder. “Whoa. I thought you were going to take this slow, brother.”

“If you don’t get your hand off him right this second, Taggart, I am going to ensure that you never have children,” Red said, her eyes narrowing on his brother. “You won’t be able to cock block anyone because you won’t have a damn cock. Am I clear?”

Case’s hands came up immediately as though he knew that tone and was not going there. “Trying to help.”

“Three is clean and has plenty of condoms. We’re taking a monitor turn up here. I checked all the rooms.” Mia grinned at him. She actually was helpful. “Have fun and we’ll see you at home.”

He didn’t bother to look back. Case could give him a lecture later. He wasn’t waiting anymore. He’d waited forever. Even when he couldn’t remember her face, he’d known she was there. He’d felt her, or rather he’d felt her absence.

Could he truly be with a woman whose name he couldn’t think without hurting her?

It didn’t matter. He wasn’t making those decisions tonight. He was enjoying her. His sub. He was bringing her pleasure and he probably should do a good job of it because his sub was fucking mean.

And fragile. He’d seen the moment she’d thought he was rejecting her. He’d watch her skin flush and her body start to turn in on itself. She was such a mix of strength and need. It was intoxicating. He wanted so badly to be the man who gave her what she needed.

Affection. Pleasure. Comfort.

Love—he wasn’t thinking that word tonight. Nope. Pleasure was way better.

He kicked out lightly at the partially open door number three. It looked like Mia had done her job. The room was perfectly clean, the lighting soft and romantic. The best thing about this room though was the complete lack of any of his friends or family being here.

It was him and her, and that was exactly what he wanted. No Ian. No Li. No Kai asking them hundreds of questions. Him and her and the night.

He tossed her on the bed and stood back, looking down at her. “Tell me why you thought I was rejecting you.”

The instant she hit the bed, she was up on her knees. So graceful. So deadly. What the hell was this woman like out in the field? She moved like a predator, but the look on her face was pure sarcasm. “Uhm, your words. That’s what sealed it for me. ‘I don’t want to do this’ is generally considered a rejection.”

Somehow she managed to put an unsaid “dumbass” on the end of her sentences. Not all of them. She’d been perfectly sweet most of the night, but she could turn it on when she wanted to. “I didn’t mean that. When I said the words, I watched you change. Why? You’re good at slapping people down. I wouldn’t have said that until today.”

“Because I’ve been careful around you,” she admitted.

“Why? You think I’m delicate?”

Her lips curled up. “I don’t think you’re delicate. I think I’m a lot to take, but I also am starting to believe I was wrong. You like me rough.”

“I like you a lot.” More than he could ever tell her.

   

       

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Book Review: A Dom Is Forever by Lexi Blake

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #3
Audience: +18
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment, LLC
Release Date: November 10th 2012
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

A Man with a Past…

Liam O’Donnell fled his native Ireland years ago after one of his missions ended in tragedy and he is accused of killing several of his fellow agents. Shrouded in mystery, Liam can’t remember that fateful night. He came to the United States in disgrace, seeking redemption for crimes he may or may not have committed. But the hunt for an international terrorist leads him to London and right back into the world he left behind.

A Woman Looking for a Future…

Avery Charles followed her boss to London, eager to help the philanthropist with his many charities. When she meets a mysterious man who promises to show her London’s fetish scene, she can’t help but indulge in her darkest fantasies. Liam becomes her Dom, her protector, her lover. She opens her heart and her home to him, only to discover he’s a man on a mission and she’s just a means to an end.

When Avery’s boss leads them to the traitorous Mr. Black, Liam must put together the puzzle of his past or Avery might not have a future…

*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion or my rating of the book in any way.

The third installment in the Masters and Mercenaries series is probably my favorite so far. I love how it seems that this book and the first book in the series sort of help complete a puzzle, a puzzle that isn't entirely focused on Liam and Avery.

I enjoyed reading about Liam falling in love, especially since he was the most likely to make fun of his male friends for doing that exact thing. But I also liked reading about his back story, and figure out why he got to be the one used for this mission. He was an interesting choice of hero, so discovering why he was the guy for this particular job was really intriguing.

I loved Avery. I really respected her, because even though she went through what she did, she's trying to keep living and to live a normal life, which is honestly my favorite thing about her. She has a bad relationship with her in-laws, and when I learned why, I wanted to punch a wall, because she does not deserve the hate, man. She just doesn't.

One of the interesting aspects of this book was the villain. I have to hand it to Lexi Blake, she knows just how to write a good villain. They're not just bad, or scary evil, but they're also really deranged. The thing I love most about her villains though is that you can slowly see how their minds are deteriorating, if it makes sense. Like, the more they give in to their evilness, the more they lose sanity, and I love that. Mr. Black makes an appearance, and I keep wondering what his endgame is, when will he lose his mind, but he seems just as cold and calculating and sane as he was in the beginning.

Another really cool aspect of this book is that we get to learn more about Ian. Ian is Sean's older brother, and the boss of everyone, basically. We learn more about Ian, but I still have so many questions. I saw that he got his story told, so I'm super excited to read it, because I need to find out exactly how he got started with all of this, how he put the team together.

The ending of the book revealed that the next in line to get their HEA are Alex and Eve, and I couldn't be happier for them. I will definitely check it out, as well as the other books in the series. If you guys haven't checked this series out yet, you definitely should.

Book Review: The Men With The Golden Cuffs by Lexi Blake

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #2
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Publisher: Dlz Entertainment
Release Date: May 26th 2012
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

A woman in danger…

Serena Blake is a bestselling author of erotic fiction. She knows how to write a happy ending but hasn’t managed to find one of her own. Divorced and alone, she has no one to turn to when a stalker begins to threaten her life. The cops don’t believe her. Her ex-husband thinks she’s making the whole story up. She has no one left to turn to except a pair of hired bodyguards. They promise to guard her body, but no one can protect her heart.

Two men in search of love…

Adam Miles and Jacob Dean are halves of a whole. They’ve spent their entire adult lives searching for the one woman who can handle them both. Adam is the playful, indulgent lover, while Jacob is the possessive, loving Dom. When Serena comes into their lives, Adam is certain that she’s the one. But Jacob’s past comes back to haunt them all. He is suspicious of Serena’s story, and his concerns are driving a wedge between him and Adam. But when the stalker strikes, they will have to come together or lose each other forever…

*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion or my rating of the book in any way.

The Men With The Golden Cuffs picks up right where the previous book in the series left off. I love that, because it reminds me of a TV show, with each book being a new "season" in the series. It also kind of helps tie the books together really well, as well as keep you on your toes, because that means you know that at the end of the book, you'll get a tiny hint of what's to come in the next book.

I loved Serena. She's really strong, and she found it in herself to follow a dream she had, despite her asshole of a husband. I would love it if the disdain she encounters for being an erotic romance author was pure fiction, but I fear it's really real. So it was really interesting, as a reader, to read about what some authors might go through. Because most people focus on the prejudice and mean comments that romance readers receive, but not on what authors have to face. So I really loved that aspect of her story, even though it made me really angry for her too. So I think she's really strong for following her dream, but also for keeping her head high and not letting jealous, petty people get her down, or make her feel inferior.

Adam and Jake are awesome. They complete each other in such a great way, like only really good friends can. Adam is the fun, easy-going one, while Jake is the more serious one. At the same time, Adam is the wait-and-see kind of guy, while Jake sometimes lets his emotions influence his judgement, especially when he's angry or he feels betrayed. I love Adam's fashion sense.  And I love his humor, his sarcasm. I would, honestly, fall for the two of them as well, because they each bring the best out in the other one. Jake kind of helps Adam reign in his impulses, while Adam helps Jake be more playful and more daring. They're also really loyal, but where Adam is a guy full of hope, no matter what happens to him, Jake seems a bit jaded, which made me sad.

As with the previous book in the series, the pacing is really good. I enjoyed the villain in this book. I kind of saw it coming, not every single detail about this particular villain, but about half of it. What I most enjoyed about it is the twisted, perverse nature that this villain had. It takes dedication for doing what poor Serena had to go through, and I really liked reading about it. It all felt very real, the escalating nature of this person's evilness.

I also liked finding out who's next in the series to get his story told, especially after certain scenes from this book. Like I said in my review for the first book in the series, I'm hooked on this series, and each book that I read makes me love the series more and more.

Book Review: The Dom Who Loved Me by Lexi Blake

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #1
Audience: +18
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment LLC
Release Date: September 25th 2011
My Rating: 4 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

A routine mission…

Sean Taggart is hunting a deadly terrorist, and his only lead is the lovely Grace Hawthorne. She's the executive assistant for an employment agency Sean suspects is a front for illegal activities. To get the truth, he is going to have to get very close to Grace, a task he is all too eager to undertake when he discovers her deliciously submissive nature.

…turns into a dangerous seduction.

Soon, Grace Hawthorne is living a double life. By day, she is the widowed mother of two college-aged sons. By night, she submits to Sean's every dark desire. She's living out her wildest fantasies of pleasure—intimate acts of trust she's only read about. As passion engulfs her, a murderer strikes, and Grace learns that Sean has a deeply hidden agenda. Will Sean choose his mission and break her heart or be the Master of her dreams?

*Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion or my rating of the book in any way

I've had the Masters & Mercenaries series on my TBR for about 3 years or so. I was curious about it, and then a few months ago I got to read a novella in this world, that appeared in a 1001 Dark Nights bundle, and I've been even more determined to read this series ever since.

The first thing that comes to mind about this book is that it's not just about BDSM. I loved that there's a thriller side to the story, a more complex story line than just simple erotic romance. I also love that the focus was on how to capture the bad guy more than on who the bad guy was. There is a question whether Grace is involved or not, but other than that we know who the target is. Or so I thought, because at the end my certainty was basically destroyed.

Grace was a heroine that at times I loved, and at times frustrated me. I loved her because she seemed like a strong woman, one that is trying to live her life after the loss of her husband. But she frustrated me because I wanted her to get mad at Sean. I kept waiting for that moment when she'd yell, kick, curse, fight, anything that showed her anger. I wanted her to punch him. He kind of deserved it, so I fear that I felt more outraged than she did.

At the same time, the entire situation has a different meaning if seen from Sean's POV. He was doing a job, a job that he had to do, so I can't really fault him for following orders. It's probably one of the things that hooked me on this series, the fact that it shows the struggle of the men and women who, at one point or another, decide to join the Army or to become police officers and go undercover, in whatever country, and who receive certain orders that maybe is in a really gray area of what the rest of the people see as "moral". So I struggled with accepting the D/s aspect of their relationship just because of that very reason, because he was being dishonest, but at the same time he was the most honest version of himself as he could, without betraying his mission. The one thing that I didn't like was that he had this moment in the beginning of their relationship when he expected Grace to know what a submissive should and shouldn't do, just based on the books she read, even though she had no prior experience with this culture before. I felt like he exaggerated a little there, because just because you read about something, that doesn't make you an expert on that subject or on the rules of the game, so to speak. But other than that, I liked Sean.

The ending was pretty great, actually. I like that it leaves the door open for future mischief and struggles, and it's not a case of "the big bad of the book" only. Sure, there might be books where that is the case, as we'll see in the future, but with a few of the books there's a link that goes beyond some characters that pop in to remind the reader that they're in the picture too and that they had their stories told in the previous books.

I'm super happy I got to read this book and I'm definitely going to keep reading this series.

Book Review Tour + Excerpt: Servicing The Target by Cherise Sinclair (+18)

 

Author: Cherise Sinclair

Series: Masters of the Shadowlands #10
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: July 28th 2015
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: InkSlingerPR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

A discharged Army Ranger, Ben considers his job as a BDSM club security guard to be an excellent hobby. He’s never been tempted to join in. But everything changes when the notorious Mistress Anne inadvertently reveals the caring heart concealed beneath her Domme armor.

Now, he’s set his sights on the beautiful Shadowlands Mistress. Maybe he’d considered himself vanilla, but she can put her stiletto on his chest any day, any time. He’ll trust her delicate hands to hold his heart. And if she wants to whip his ass on the way to an outstanding climax, he’s just fine with that too.

Sure, he knows she likes “pretty boy” slaves. And he’s older. Craggy and rough. And six-five. Minor hindrances. The mission is a go.

Buy Links:  Amazon ** iTunes ** GooglePlay ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo ** ARe


*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If there's one author not afraid of taking her readers into a new world with each book and making sure that they not only are going to learn something new about the world she's creating and about themselves,but also have a great time reading the story, that author is Cherise Sinclair. With each book of hers that I read I am in awe of how many new things and situations and relationships she's introduced me to and how she makes sure that even though the reader might be new and scared, they will at least get a new perspective on the BDSM lifestyle and culture.

Mistress Anne went from being the scary, sadist Domme everyone feared to being someone that I'd truly love to have a conversation with and maybe even be her friend. She's a really interesting character and seeing her both as a woman and as a domme was really interesting. The two roles fit her so well and made her character seem so real and complete. And I liked her artistic side. It made her look even more different than what I first thought of her.

Ben was a surprise. I did not see that one coming. When the news that Ben was going to be Anne's partner hit I didn't see it. I couldn't. I was so used to him being the quiet guy at the entrance, I never for a minute imagined he was going to be the man he turned out to be. Hearing both of their stories made me fall in love with these characters, because it was easy to see why they fit together so well. Not just because of their pasts, but also because they work so well together.

Old characters also appear in this book and it was nice to get updates on them. I can't wait to see who's next to find his/her match.

When I first heard that Mistress Anne was getting her own book I was a bit scared, to be honest. But after having read her and Ben's story  I have the confirmation yet again of why I love Sinclair's books so much.

EXCERPT

     Lifting her sax, she wetted the reed and tested a wandering set of notes. With one hip on the railing, she let her internal playlist scroll and found herself playing “As Time Goes By.” Like a soft rain, the notes spilled over her deck and joined with the evening. A slow song, but not sad. It reminded her that the fundamentals of life, living and loving and dying, held the same from generation to generation.
That life could change for the better.
     She was changing, as was her world. Or maybe she should call it growing, rather than changing.
     As the tune went into the chorus, she heard Ben say something to Bronx in the kitchen. The dog whined an answer, and Ben’s big laugh rumbled out.
     He was quite a guy. He’d been so careful with her this afternoon. Not pushing, but not stopping before he’d made his point.
     Sometimes his internal strength was a bit disconcerting. All her slaves had wanted her in charge, wanted her to take control of everything. But Ben didn’t need her guidance.
     At the same time, he wouldn’t fall apart if she showed any weakness, and because of that, she could relax around him.
     But his obstinate need to be tough—to hide any weakness—was a problem. She should have noticed he was having flashbacks. But now she knew, and she could lead him to talk about his past. She’d pamper him up, keep him close, and ensure he got his sleep. He said he slept better at her house. With her.
     He liked being with her. The realization was…amazing. Overwhelming.
     She felt the same and more. He’d filled her life. Warmed it.
     With a slow flourish, she ended the song and started another. One that had been growing in her heart over the past week, with the knowledge, the worry, the awe.“When I Fall in Love.” The music flowed, the ache of her soul merging with the notes.
     She’d wanted to run. To push him away. And she hadn’t.
     Ben, I love you.
     The knowledge was terrifying and wonderful. For a little while yet, she’d savor the gift, and then she’d share.
     Light washed out over the deck, and he stood there, filling the doorway as completely as he did her heart. “I was listening to you play.”
     His golden-brown eyes held hers as he slowly smiled. “Mistress, may this submissive haul you off to bed?”

ABOUT CHERISE SINCLAIR:

Having to wear glasses in elementary school can scar a person for life.


Dubbed a nerd at an early age, Cherise Sinclair has been trying to live up to the stereotype ever since. And what better way than being an author?

Known for writing deeply emotional stories, the USA Today Bestselling Author has penned sixteen erotic romance novels, most with a BDSM theme. (Please do not mention the phrase mommy porn in her presence.) Her awards range from a National Leather Award to a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nomination to a GoodReads BDSM group award for best author of the year.

Cherise lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Their two fledglings have left the nest recently to try their wings and hopefully will fly high and strong. The “ascendant erotica queen” (Rolling Stone Magazine) now spends her days writing with occasional supervision from a sadistic calico cat.

Website**Facebook**Twitter**Author Goodreads**Novel Goodreads**1001 Dark Nights

Book Review: Slave by Sherri Hayes (+18)

Author: Sherri Hayes
Series: Finding Anna #1
My Rating: 4 cups
Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House
Publishing Date: July 28th 2011
Blurb: (from Goodreads)

Stephan has lived the lifestyle of a Dominant for five years. After several rebellious teenage years, it gave him the stability and control he had been seeking after his parent’s death.

As president of a not-for-profit foundation, he knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and Mentor, Darren, leads him to buying a slave.

Thrust into a situation he never thought he’d be in, Stephan can’t walk away. He is compelled to help this girl in the only way he knows how.

Brianna knows only one thing, she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing.

Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?

You know how sometimes you read a book that manages to have this unique hold on you, both mentally and physically, that you feel drained after reading it? That's how I feel right now after reading Slave. It's not the bad kind of draining, it's just a testament to how much I loved the story. Maybe that's why I find it a bit hard to review it. 

The one thing that I'm completely grateful of is that we get both Stephan's and Brianna's views in this story. I think I would've been a mess had one of those be missing. Another thing that I found really surprising, in a pleasant way, was that this was one of those books that make you want to read each and every word carefully.

The emotional journey you take while reading this story is also pretty amazing. I know I felt anger each time Stephan discovered more and more about Brianna's traumatic experiences, or I felt such a tenderness towards her that I wanted to be able to help her in some way. I also wanted to cry a few times. And I like the fact that by the end of the book we get to see an improved Brianna. She's not done recovering, that's for sure, and I am also sure of the fact that it won't be an easy period, but she was a little better than when the book started.

I loved both Stephan and Brianna and I cannot describe to you how much I need to read the next book and find out what happens to them. I have the sneaky suspicion the second book, Need, is going to be even more interesting and emotionally engaging. And I'm ready for a certain someone to receive what they deserve. Well, actually several someones.

Book Review: Midnight Playground by Eliza Gayle

Author: Eliza Gayle

Series: Pleasure Playground #1

My Rating: 4 cups

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Eve's desperate denial only means one thing...she has a lot to learn.

Eve Blake has been working at Altered Ego, a studio specializing in fetish photography, for three months when a custom order comes in for a plus-sized redhead. Ready for an adventure, she volunteers for the job. Chase, her boss, reluctantly accepts. Maybe pretending to be a sexual slave for Chase’s camera will get her one step closer to the two men she thinks can satisfy even her darkest needs.

Chase can’t believe he’s agreed to this deal. The cardinal rule in any business is not to get involved with your employees and that includes your sexy receptionist. He and his partner Murphy learned that lesson the hard way. Now Chase has a hunch the first time they touch their rope to Eve’s creamy flesh, there will be no turning back. They’ll have to have her.

One shoot leads to another and Eve finds herself at a playground at midnight. When the scene takes a dark turn, Eve sinks deeper into sensation at the hands of two masters who push for her ultimate surrender. Will she reach the limit of how far she can go, or will the ties that bind form bonds of love?

I have a confession to make: I love menage books. I never tried two girls and a guy though in my stories. Will try it sometimes, but there's just something about a heroine having two men at her feet. Not like she's dominating them, but like they worship her.

But back to the story. I read the second book in this series, Power Play, last month and I liked it a lot, so I decided to read the first book in the series and let me tell you WOW. I loved this book too.

First of all, both Chase and Murphy are so damn sexy and dominant. They act so tough and it's actually fun to see Eve making them squirm and stay on their toes. And Eve...I loved Eve. She's amazing. She's actually one of the few characters that, in real life, could be anyone. She isn't perfect, she doesn't have a perfect figure, but those things make her real. I love characters like that, male or female, because they aren't fake.

Second, this book is so very unique and memorable. You read about private BDSM clubs, about BDSM parties, but I don't think I've ever read about a photography studio specialized in fetish photography. That's what makes this book and series amazing. It is fresh. If you haven't yet read this book, you have to.

Book Review: Power Play by Eliza Gayle

Author: Eliza Gayle

Series: Pleasure Playground #2

My Rating: 4 cups

Blurb (from Goodreads):

She wants the escape. He wants control. They both need love.
Jennifer Croft is at the peak of her career. As a bondage model at Altered Ego, she’s become the crème de la crème of the fetish world, ensuring herself a top spot in her profession. The world is her oyster. Her personal life on the other hand… It’s not pretty. Only her fascination with pain play keeps the ghosts of her past at bay.
After tragedy sends Daegan McKenna to the South for a much needed change of pace, the last thing he expects to find is a closet submissive hiding in plain sight. She’s hot-tempered and in denial — a heady combination that brings out the dominant looking for a challenge. He’s already loved and lost more than one man should, but the haunted look in her eyes prompts him to make her an offer. He’ll indulge her darkest fantasies, if she’ll agree to give up control. Then he’ll let her go.
Unfortunately, the past never stays in the past and old insecurities cause complications neither of them wanted. Now temporary is not enough.

Before I start talking about this great book, let me wish you again a Happy New Year. I hope you had fun last night. I know I did :)

I thought it would be a good idea to start the year with a book from the same genre as the last book I read in 2011. It's the very first book I've read by Eliza Gayle and I have this sudden urge to smack myself. I just finished this book and I have that moment (I'm sure many of you have had this moment too!) of complete confusion and I'm asking myself "Why didn't I try this author before??".

I think you all know by now that I love alpha heroes for my romances/erotic romances, heroes that though they are strong, dominant, sexy as hell, they don't need to be 100% perfect. To quote from my favorite TV drama, "Perfect is boring". So I have to say I fell in love with Daegan McKenna. He's not the perfect guy, but he's perfect for Jennifer. He's a patient, yet stubborn man, one that doesn't quit easily. He knows he wants Jennifer and he keeps trying to seduce her, make her his. He's also a scarred man, running from his past. He's trying to move on, but until he met Jennifer, he wasn't really trying that much. I think he needed Jennifer as much as she needed him.

Jennifer is a successful fetish model with a lot of secrets and fears. She doesn't trust much, she's afraid of what other people might do or think if she lets them get too close, so she keeps everyone at arm's length. She tried to do that with Daegan, but he won't have any of that. I loved how they interacted with each other, how they helped each other get over their pasts.

I also got curious about Murphy and Chase, so I had to find out more about them. I'm going to start reading their book, Midnight Playground, soon.

I definitely recommend this book, if you're a fan of erotic romance and BDSM. It was a very good book and I'm going to try more of Ms Gayle's books. In the meantime, I'm waiting for news on the next book of this series :D

My Rating: