Review: The Young and the Submissive (The Doms of Her Life #2) by by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, Isabella LaPearl

Title: The Young and the Submissive (The Doms of Her Life #2)
Author: Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, Isabella LaPearl
Genre: Erotic Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: October 29th 2013
Reviewed by: Ollie

Rating - 3
Sexual - 5

Raine Kendall has everything a woman could want…almost. Sexy, tender Dom Liam O’Neill is her knight in shining armor, but Raine is constantly pinching herself. Is he too good to be true or is this growing connection one that could last a lifetime? She’s constantly torn by her abiding feelings for her commanding boss, Macen “Hammer” Hammerman, especially in the wake the mind-blowing night he cast aside the barriers between them and ravaged every inch of her body.

Hammer, Liam’s former best friend, can’t stop coveting Raine. But Liam is determined to hold and guide the woman he loves and see if she can be the submissive of his dreams. However, he’s finding that her trust is hard won and he needs a bloody crowbar to pry open her scarred soul. So he risks everything to win her once and for all. But once he’s put his daring plan in motion, will it cost Liam his heart if he loses Raine to Hammer for good?

Ok I gave in and decided to read book 2 of Doms of her Life despite how the first book ended with me feeling let down. Sometimes you see a train wreck and you can't help to look and find out what is happening and with these characters I couldn't look away from these train wrecked people and I wish I did.

Book 2 continues where Book 1 left off with Raine trying to sort out her feelings for the two men in her life who have come to mean so much to her. Unfortunately, she is unable to see that her inability to give herself completely to either one of them is tearing the men apart from the inside out.

The issue that I continue to have with Raine is she has these two men who are trying to help her to get over her barriers and help her be able to “submit” and become a submissive, but I don't see her as being a submissive at all. I see Raine as an immature woman who is confused and doesn't have the maturity to know what is involved to be in a committed relationship as she continues to break their trust and commitments made. Again I don't feel that she is trying to “train” to be a submissive or wants to be a submissive, just wants to get what she wants.

By the time I reached the end of the book, I had to force myself to finish it as I felt Raine's selfish needs were all about her and did not take into consideration the two men's feelings and how much it was tearing them apart. As Doms I can see how they are trying to take care of her “needs” but in return a submissive obtains pleasure is seeing the pleasure that she gives to a Dom for giving up her gift of control to him. In this case it is not reciprocal because it leaves one of the Dom's questioning his ability to take care of her needs and his difficulty in dealing with the pain building in his heart.

Book 2 is another one of those books that makes me question should I continue with book 3 as the book ends without a happily ever after or even a happy for now. Again the inconsistencies in what the characters say and do in one part of the book to the other leaves me frustrated at times though I don't think in a good way.

Review: The Young and the Submissive (The Doms of Her Life #2) by by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, Isabella LaPearl

Title: One Dom to Love (The Doms of Her Life #1)
Author: Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, Isabella LaPearl Genre: Erotic Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: October 29th 2013
Reviewed by: Ollie

Rating - 3
Sexual - 5

Raine Kendall has everything a woman could want…almost. Sexy, tender Dom Liam O’Neill is her knight in shining armor, but Raine is constantly pinching herself. Is he too good to be true or is this growing connection one that could last a lifetime? She’s constantly torn by her abiding feelings for her commanding boss, Macen “Hammer” Hammerman, especially in the wake the mind-blowing night he cast aside the barriers between them and ravaged every inch of her body.

Hammer, Liam’s former best friend, can’t stop coveting Raine. But Liam is determined to hold and guide the woman he loves and see if she can be the submissive of his dreams. However, he’s finding that her trust is hard won and he needs a bloody crowbar to pry open her scarred soul. So he risks everything to win her once and for all. But once he’s put his daring plan in motion, will it cost Liam his heart if he loses Raine to Hammer for good?

Ok I gave in and decided to read book 2 of Doms of Her Life despite how the first book ended with me feeling let down. Sometimes you see a train wreck and you can't help to look and find out what is happening and with these characters I couldn't look away from these train wrecked people and I wish I did.

Book 2 continues where Book 1 left off with Raine trying to sort out her feelings for the two men in her life who have come to mean so much to her. Unfortunately, she is unable to see that her inability to give herself completely to either one of them is tearing the men apart from the inside out.

The issue that I continue to have with Raine is she has these two men who are trying to help her to get over her barriers and help her be able to “submit” and become a submissive, but I don't see her as being a submissive at all. I see Raine as an immature woman who is confused and doesn't have the maturity to know what is involved to be in a committed relationship as she continues to break their trust and commitments made. Again I don't feel that she is trying to “train” to be a submissive or wants to be a submissive, just wants to get what she wants.

By the time I reached the end of the book, I had to force myself to finish it as I felt Raine's selfish needs were all about her and did not take into consideration the two men's feelings and how much it was tearing them apart. As Doms I can see how they are trying to take care of her “needs” but in return a submissive obtains pleasure is seeing the pleasure that she gives to a Dom for giving up her gift of control to him. In this case it is not reciprocal because it leaves one of the Dom's questioning his ability to take care of her needs and his difficulty in dealing with the pain building in his heart.

Book 2 is another one of those books that makes me question should I continue with book 3 (The Bold and the Dominant) as the book ends without a happily ever after or even a happy for now. Again the inconsistencies in what the characters say and do in one part of the book to the other leaves me frustrated at times though I don't think in a good way.

Review: One Dom to Love (The Doms of Her Life #1) by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, Isabella LaPearl

Title: One Dom to Love (The Doms of Her Life #1)
Author: Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, Isabella LaPearl Genre: Erotic Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: December 4th 2012
Reviewed by: Ollie

Rating - 3
Sexual - 5

Raine Kendall has been in love with her boss, Macen Hammerman, for years. Determined to make the man notice that she’s a grown woman with desires and needs, she pours out her heart and offers her body to him—only to be crushingly rejected. But when his friend, very single, very sexy Liam O’Neill watches the other Dom refuse to act on his obvious feelings for Raine, he resolves to step in and do whatever it takes to help Hammer find happiness again, even rousing his friend’s possessive instincts by making the girl a proposition too tempting to refuse. But he never imagines that he’ll end up falling for her himself.

Hammer has buried his lust for Raine for years. After rescuing the budding runaway from an alley behind his exclusive BDSM Dungeon, he has come to covet the pretty submissive. But tragedy has taught him that he can never be what she needs. So he watches over her while struggling to keep his distance. Liam’s crafty plan blindsides Hammer, especially when he sees how determined his friend is to possess Raine for his own. Hammer isn’t ready to give the lovely submissive over to any other Dom, but can he heal from his past and fight for her? Or will he lose Raine if she truly gives herself—heart, body, and soul—to Liam?

When I read the blurb I was really looking forward to reading this book because I felt a real deep connection to female character and felt the turmoil she would be going through the the unrequited love theme, but as I read the book couldn't help myself feeling closer to the Doms and the struggles and barriers they fought through. Be warned this book is not for the faint at heart and will draw a lot of emotions out of the reader.

I am going to be honest I had a difficult time rating this book because there were times the characters really pissed me off and hated them. Whether that makes it a 5 star rating because of the emotions it drew out of me or a 3 stars because I found the author contradicting the characters in various parts of the story or the reasoning made no sense.

Raine is a young woman who has been holding onto a crush on Hammer since he rescued her and took her in, but she wants him to see her as a woman and be his everything. Hammer on the other hand, has been secretly in love with her and instead of finally letting her know now that she is old enough (23) he treats her like a sister because he is afraid she couldn't fulfill all his needs. Now here is where I have a problem with the story. When Liam takes interest in Raine and “claims” her as his Hammer goes ballistic claiming she is his and she is the only woman who makes him feel alive and completes him. Yet throughout the book he claims he doesn't want her because he will not be complete because she will not be able to give him what he wants (Master/slave, total power exchange). Well which is it? Believe me at first I really liked Hammer, but as the story progressed his attitude really got on my nerves and he lost his appeal to me.

Then we have Raine who has, for the first time in her life, an amazing relationship developing with Liam and she knows it and yet she still fights it and destroys it. Yes, I know she has baggage which is affecting her ability to appreciate what she has with Liam and what he is offering to give her, but her inability to open up herself really made me wonder if she really wanted to be a submissive because it would complete her or that is a only role she should be shaped into.

In the end I really felt for Liam and all his heartfelt feelings were being cast aside because of Raine's indecisiveness. Yes, we hear about taking care of her needs and doing what is best for her because that is what a Dom does for his submissive, but the key thing that I felt was missing is a submissive does things because it makes her happy to please her Dom and yet all I kept reading was the misery in between the sexy times which seemed one-sided.

In the end I have to say that the sexy times did help to make up for the parts that drove me crazy, but were not able to extinguish them as the heartaches would pop up right after the fun.

Review: DARK GROVE PLANTATION (Dark Grove Plantation #1-3) by Julia Sykes

DARK GROVE PLANTATION (Dark Grove Plantation #1-3)
Author: JULIA SYKES
Source:  My Personal Stash
Genre:  Erotic Romance
Length:  Short Story Anthology
Reviewer:  Artemis

All three Dark Grove Plantation short stories - Awakened, Taken, and Broken - available in one collection! Three women fulfill their lusts and find love at Dark Grove Plantation, an opulent BDSM club located on the South Carolina coast. Follow the journeys of innocent submissive Holly, conflicted Domme Ella, and emotionally damaged Gwen as each woman finds that what she wants isn't necessarily what she needs. It just takes the right sexy Dominant to show her that.

Review of Love Comes Twice by Adonis Devereux

Title: Love Comes Twice
Author: Adonis Devereux
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Erotic Fantasy
Release Date: June 4th 2012
Author's Website

Review: Lie to Me by Tori St. Claire

Title: Lie to Me
Author: Tori St. Claire
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense
Length: Novel

A man of action…

After helping to break up a Russian human trafficking ring as part of the CIA’s elite Black Opal team, Alexei Nikanova’s newest assignment is to rescue one of the stolen women and return her to her father. When he arrives in Dubai, he discovers his target is Sasha Zablosky—a woman he knows all too well, and who has haunted him ever since their one unforgettable night together. But he finds Sasha reluctant to leave her Sheik, the only true friend she’s ever known. Only Alexei can’t give her a choice.

A woman of deception…

With their yearning roused by intrigue, Alexei and Sasha can no longer resist and spend night after night in forbidden pleasure. Soon Alexei finds himself falling for her even as he battles a shadowy menace to protect her. But Sasha is no innocent. She has a past darker than she could ever admit or that Alexei could ever forgive. And it is about to explode into her life once more. Now, as the lies they tell themselves—and each other—pull them deeper into a perilous desire, what began as simple passion becomes a love certain to destroy them and end the lives of countless innocents.

Review of Masters at Arms (Rescue Me #1) by Kallypso Masters

Title: Masters at Arms (Rescue Me #1)
Author: Kallypso Masters
Source: Own Copy
Genre: Erotic Romance - Light BDSM
Release Date: August 29th 2011
Author's Website

Review of Make Me Shiver (Just Make Me #1) by Aline Hunter

Title: Make Me Shiver (Just Make Me #1)
Author: Aline Hunter
Source: Own Copy
Genre: Erotic Romance - Light BDSM
Release Date: December 21st 201
Author's Website

We're Smitten with Em Petrova and a giveaway

Crash into Me

By Em Petrova

Stimulating moments and music seem to go hand-in-hand. I think we’ve all heard that one song on the radio that sends us back in time to a school dance, when we swayed in the arms of a boy we crushed on. ( If I tell you mine, it will give away my age.) Or we hear a song we danced to at our weddings and the warmth of the day spreads through us.

For me, as an erotic romance writer, I also use songs as my muse. One of my FAVORITE songs to write sex scenes to is Crash into Me by Dave Matthews Band.

Okay, so disregard the video elements because no one really understands videos anyway, right? But listen to those lyrics—it just screams tortured hero, doesn’t it? A man who longs for a woman so much he can think of little else. He sleeps, eats, dreams, and breathes her.

Also, the song has the perfect rhythm to make love to—hips bumping, lips meeting, clothes peeling off, skin caressed… You can see how this song inspires a love scene every time!

What are your favorite love songs? I’d love to hear your choices! And please read on for a special excerpt from my latest release Outlaws of Love.

Getting Smitten with Suzanne Rock and Her Leading Men with a Giveaway

Top Five Most Romantic (and Sexy) Leading Men In the Movies 

Hi everyone! With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, people turn to all things romantic, and that includes romantic movies. I don’t know about any of you, but when I think of romantic movies, I always think of the sexy leading men. These guys charge onto the silver screen and sweep the heroine off her feet. They sweep *us* off our feet as well. So for this blog, I thought I’d list my top five most romantic leading men. Do you agree with me? Let’s see…

#5 – Patrick Swayze – Dirty Dancing This was a tough call for me, since I loved him in “Ghost” too, but since Dirty Dancing ended up on a more upbeat note, I went with that. ;) 

Favorite Line – “Nobody Leaves Baby in the Corner”

He’s the tough yet sexy dancer who loves Baby for who she is and gives her the self-confidence to stand up for what she believes in. What’s not to like?

 

#4 – Collin Firth – Bridget Jones’ Diary

Favorite Line – “No, I like you very much. Just as you are.”

He’s shy, he’s a little self-deprecating, and he had me as soon as I saw him in that ridiculous Christmas sweater. 

#3 – Richard Gere – Pretty Woman

Favorite line – "You and I are such similar creatures Vivian. We both screw people for money”

A rich businessman sweeps a girl off her feet and gives her everything she desires? Sign me up!

   

#2 – Humphrey Bogart - Cassablanca

Favorite Line – “Here’s looking at You, kid.”

Perhaps my favorite movie of all time. Who doesn’t fall in love with Ricky and his bar? It’s so romantic, so tragic, so beautiful. Truly a classic.

   

#1 – Michael Douglas – Romancing the Stone

Favorite line – “You’re the best time I’ve ever had.”

Hey – I’m a romance author, how could this NOT make the top of the list? I think almost every romance author points to this movie as one of their favorites. Perhaps we all have a little Kathleen Turner in us, and we all hope that Michael Douglas will come in and sweep us off our feet. ;)

 

So there you have it – my favorite top five romantic movies. Do you agree? Is there a movie I left off the list? Tell me about it!

Review of Under the Covers (Red, Hot & Blue #3.5) by Cat Johnson

Title: Under the Covers (Red, Hot & Blue #3.5)
Author: Cat Johnson
Source: Own Copy - Free Read
Genre: Erotic Romance - Older Woman/Younger Man
Author's Website

Maggie's Secret Wish (1 Night Stand #14) by Starla Kaye

Title: Maggie's Secret Wish (1 Night Stand #14)
Author: Starla Kaye
Source: Own Copy
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary, BDSM
Release Date: June 9th 2011
Author's Website

Review of Night Mission (1 Night Stand #19) by Desiree Holt

Title: Night Mission (1 Night Stand #19)
Author: Desiree Holt
Source: Own Copy
Genre: Erotic Romance - Contemporary/Older Woman/Younger Man
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Author's Website

Review of The Bond That Ties Us (Eternal Bond #1) by Christine d'Abo

Title: The Bond That Ties Us (Eternal Bond #1)
Author: Christine d'Abo
Source: Own Copy
Genre: Sci-Fi Erotica
Format: ebook - 173 pages
Release Date: July 20th 1997
Author's Website

Review of Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades #3) by E.L. James

Title: Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades #3)
Author: E.L. James
Source: Bought copy from Amazon
Genre: Erotic Romance - Light BDSM
Format: ebook - 456 pages
Release Date: January 19th 2012
Author's Website

Bitten’s She-Wolf Pack Thursday Review for November – COME MONDAY by Mari Carr

COME MONDAY (Wild Irish Book #1)
Mari Carr
Date Published: November 6, 2009
Ellora's Cave
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Length: Ebook, 112 pages
Books We Own

Monday’s child is fair of face…

After the death of her mother years prior, Keira Collins willingly put aside her dreams to become a surrogate parent to her six younger brothers and sisters. At twenty-seven, she’s finally pursuing a college degree. Between classes, working at the family pub and still tending to siblings, she’s no time for romance. So why is she spending all her rare free time fantasizing about hot Professor Wallace bending her over his desk?

Will Wallace recognizes Keira’s unfulfilled desires, her habit of hiding her beauty, her obsessive need for control in every aspect of her life. But Will has needs of his own—and they run far darker than Keira’s. As he initiates her into his lifestyle, offering sweet punishments and sweeter rewards, Will’s sexual authority slowly strips away some of her precious control. The one thing Keira’s not ready to relinquish…


Reviews and Ratings

Bitten's She-Wolf Pack's Ratings and Reviews

Nookmom’s Ratings

Review:  4 – A Pack Howl

Sexual:  4 – Four Alarm Fire #@!%$

This is a quick read and one I enjoyed.  I really liked the characters in this book and found I was able to easily relate to Keira.  I totally understood her need to control everything and be the caretaker of the family.  I know how hard it can be to let go and how easily it is to lose yourself in the process.  Mari Carr's writing is well done and her characters were very real to me. 

The book contains hot sex scenes, even if some of them are just fantasies.  The only thing that kept me from giving this a higher rating is the first date between Keira and Will.  I understand he is a Dom, but the scene in the parking lot and the conversation at the table put me off a bit.  I think I would have slapped a man for talking to/insulting me in that manor.  Keira takes his comments on her appearance, clothing and behavior entirely too well.  Other than that scene, I liked Will, even if he is a Steelers fan! 

Ollie’s Ratings

Review: 5 – An Alpha Howl

Sexual:  4 – Four Alarm Fire #@!%$

This is the first time I have read a book by Mari Carr and I have to say if her other books are like Come Monday then the author has just found herself a new follower. I was surprised that such a short book could pack so much oomph in it.

Keira is a 27 year old woman trying to be everything to everyone except living and enjoying her own life. Taking on the task of raising her six younger siblings after their mother died along with helping run the Irish family pub/restaurant with her dad and going to school to further her education, it doesn't leave much room for Keira to have fun and enjoy life. That is until she starts fantasizing about her hunky English professor which she sees as a problem versus a solution to her non-existent love life. As it turns out Will, her gorgeous professor has been having fantasies of his own about Keira, but his run a little darker as he is a Dom who would love to make Keira his sub and together experience some kinky fun.

Will introduces Keira to some kinky stuff that I was at first surprised that she would so willingly and eagerly engage in as she has never heard of some of the stuff that he introduces her to. Her willingness to engage so freely in sex toys and in some back door activity, without any arguments or concerns made me wonder if it was too easy or too fast. The end result was some very hot, scorching scenes that jumped off the pages and made some cold showers necessary.

What was wonderful to see develop was Will's growing feelings about the nature of the relationship and about Keira herself. In the beginning he may have felt this would be just another Dom/sub relationship, but Keira's determination to maintain control in various parts of her life and Will's discovery that there was something more happening between the two of them then just physical gratification made him a lovable character. Will is a very hot, Alpha male who knows how to bring Keira some unimaginable levels of ecstasy, but is able to demonstrate kindness , love and the willingness to let her be her own woman.

Warning this book has scenes of bondage, sex toys and some anal action so if you feel uncomfortable reading those types of scenes you have been warned, however that being said, they were some of the hottest and most erotic scenes I have seen written and definitely get an A for setting the pages and the reader on fire.

Artemis’ Ratings

Review:  4 – A Pack Howl 

Sexual:  4 – A Four Alarm Fire #@!%$

Mari Carr, you have earned yourself a brand new fan!  I picked this up from B&N not knowing what to expect - it being a free-read and all.  Well HOT DAYUM!!!  Not only does Ms. Carr deliver up a smokin’ D/s romance, but she introduces a likeable Irish-American family too.

Keira is a college student with the hots for her teacher, Professor Mr. William Wallace.  And here lately, her imagination has been getting the best of her as she:

envisioned herself tied spread-eagle to his bed as he whispered her name again.  Tied to his bed?  What the hell kind of image was that?

The relationship between Will and Keira develops quite swiftly.  Will’s Dominant is a joy to watch as he struggles to come to terms with the “innocent” Keira and his desire to have her; especially since she isn’t his type.  Keira is overworked at the family restaurant/pub and terribly undersexed.  Well, until Will enters the picture.  I especially liked that Will is a caring Dominant who explains his actions to Keira. 

Oh yeah, Girls, keep the ice water handy!  And this is only Book One of Seven of the Wild Irish Series.  Count me in….

WildAboutBones Ratings

Review:  4 - A Pack Howl

Sexual:   4 - Four Alarm Fire #@!%$

Very sexy and a real quick read.

Keira is a 27 year old who has gone back to college after taking care of her family for the past six years. Imagine her consternation when her creative writing professor is so hot she can't keep her mind on the class. "He made her think completely inappropriate thoughts and she’d be damned if she became a cliché—the college coed who falls in love with her professor."

Will, 35 year old Professor Wallace, has tried "to understand the grip this young woman had on him. He’d never been attracted to a student before, yet from the first moment she’d stepped foot in his class, Keira Collins had shaken [him]."

With only two weeks left, Will invites Keira to his office to go over her C grade which he is sure she is not happy about.  They agree to meet in the mornings to help her bring up her grades.

As soon as the semester is over, Will visits Keira at her family's pub and restaurant and ends up asking her out to dinner.  From there, it is full speed ahead.

Delves a bit into the BDSM lifestyle but nothing over the top, mostly dominance and a little bondage.

Laurie’s Ratings

Review:  4 - A Pack Howl

Sexual:   4 - Four Alarm Fire #@!%$

I really enjoyed the writing style that Mari Carr offers. This is a good read for people who likes D/S and for new readers to D/S.  This is a short novella that takes you into a heated romance relationship and a woman who is trying to learn to live again after her mother’s passing and taking care of her siblings. You get quite a bit emotions along some smoking hot sex in a quick no brainier read how much better can you get? You can’t in my books.

I enjoyed this installment and will be reading the rest of the series.

Kris’s Ratings

Review: 5 – An Alpha Howl

Sexual:  4 – Four Alarm Fire #@!%$

Just read this over again for the BittenbyParanormalRomance group read. I loved it even more the second time. Keira is such a strong, caring, and amazing woman. She spends her time trying to take care of the pub and her family on top of taking college classes. Watching her fall hard for her professor was a treat. Will is intelligent, kind, and very much a Dom. He was more of a full-time Dom since he definitely took it outside of the bedroom. He did it in a way that was obviously based on his desire to completely take care of Keira. Not for everybody, but it worked for her. The sex scenes in this story were plentiful, extremely well written and smoking hot!

It's a short so the focus must be limited to make it a good story. In this case, it was focused on the two of them deciding to move forward in a relationship. There was plenty of dialogue so I felt like I really got to know both of the main characters. There was also a bit of an introduction to all of the brothers and sisters which are featured in their own stories.

Review of Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1) by E.L. James

Title: Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1)
Author: E.L. James
Source: Bought through Amazon
Genre: Erotica - Light BDSM
Format: ebook - 380 pages
Release Date: May 26th 2011
Author's Website

When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind - until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time.

The unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her - but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving adoptive family – Grey is man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny.

Can their relationship transcend physical passion? Will Ana find it in herself to submit to the self-indulgent Master? And if she does, will she still love what she finds?

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

Rating -

Sexual -

This is the first time I have read a book in this genre but after reading so many great reviews I couldn't resist and succumbed to the allure of Fifty Shades.

First I have to point out I was worried I would be disgusted by what I may encounter due to the nature of the genre, but I was extremely surprised. The book was not too gratuitous with the BDSM, but focused on the developing relationship between Christian and Ana and Christian's fetish was more of a backdrop into his personality. That said I had difficulty accepting the "need" to punish and hurt someone. I may understand the hows and whys (being a professional counsellor), but it is still difficult to accept.

This book really pulled me in tremendously because I found the emotional highs and lows so powerful that many times I had to fan myself because of how sensual and smouldering sexy Christian can be and crying at the heartaches. Many times I had to put the book down just to work through in my mind what had happened in the book. Seriously it left me sad and contemplating even when I wasn't reading it and trying to get into Christian's mind.

The author did a phenomenal job of creating characters with so much depth that they came alive and jumped off the pages. I found myself emotionally committed to both Christian and Ana and tried hard to understand them both.

As I continued to read the book I tried to understand Christian and why he would have turned towards the BDSM lifestyle and his need to control and punish. The one thing that popped out for me was how hollow he truly is inside with no real sense of purpose. This lifestyle somehow provided for him with a sense of purpose and completion while as the book progresses the opposite starts happening to him.

Ana, on the other hand, has come from a loving family with people who care for her unconditionally and where she has never been hit or had corporal punishment leashed on her. She feels complete, fulfilled and happy for the most part until she enters his world and tries to be part of it. As the story moves along you start to see changes in Ana as she starts feeling empty emotionally (yes the sex is mind-blowing), thus having an opposite effect upon her then what Christian thought it would.

It is never explained in detail, but the reader is aware that Cristian has endured some kind of childhood trauma where he doesn't want to be touched. He wants to control and has a need to punish that gives him a sexual high. It seems apparent that Christian grew up feeling he could couldn't please anyone emotionally and he was unworthy. It seems that in the BDSM world he learned he could please and be rewarded for pleasing to the point he wanted someone to please him. Somehow he developed the notions that hitting or punishing (and someone taking it) reinforces that the person wants to please him, in this case, Ana. Since Christian can't deal with emotional connections, the connections are reinforced in a physical way. Somehow it is almost as if he thinks if she can take it (physically not emotionally) he is worthy of attention and being wanted. Though as the story unfolds Christian starts to see glimmers of hope and possibilities as Ana tries to "bring him into the light".

One thing I agree with Ana is I also hate Mrs. Robinson because as Ana put the question out there "what would Christian have been like if he never met her." Christian's beliefs are contrary to Ana's and it is sometimes frustrating to see Christian justifying them to Ana. The book ends on a cliffhanger so make sure you have book 2 ready to read right after you finish this one.

One of the most mind-blowing books I have read in a long time that had me thinking about it even when I wasn't reading it!

Review of BELONG TO ME by Shayla Black

BELONG TO ME (Wicked Lovers #5)
Shayla Black
Publisher: Berkley Heat
Published October 4, 2011
ISBN: 9780425243152
Genre: Erotic Romance
Trade Paperback, 373 pages
Plucked from My Private Stash

She’s undercover and in over her head…


When FBI analyst Tara Jacobs’ fellow agent and best friend goes missing while investigating a sex ring, Tara goes undercover as a submissive in a Dallas BDSM club called Dominion. But no man can top a woman with Tara’s moxie convincingly enough—until an edgy, dangerous Dom takes control of the scene and sets her heart racing with a single, commanding glance. Too bad he’s also the man who stole her innocence years ago—and the one to whom she will never submit.


He’s got everything under control…until he falls for her again.


Navy SEAL Logan Edgington once left the woman he loved to save her life. He knows Tara will never forgive him, but he has no doubt that he possesses the knowledge to master her fears and the strength to guide her through an unfamiliar world of pleasure and pain. He alone can protect her on a dangerous mission that reveals both wicked depravities and terrible secrets. Logan relishes the exquisite torture of holding her again, feeling her uninhibited response. No matter how much Tara insists their fling will end after this mission, he’s determined that she will be his again—and this time, he’ll never let her go.

My Ratings


Review

Sexual

I really wanted to like this book more but I found the storyline was unoriginal, the main characters uninspiring, and the antagonist predictable. Alas, all is not lost Dear Reader, as Ms. Black does an admirable job of whetting your appetite for the BDSM lifestyle.


Set-up:
A rookie FBI analyst agent volunteering to go on her first undercover assignment, but she needs training on the subject. Enter her first high school crush/boyfriend/lover, the one that not only broke her heart but took her virginity, as her trainer. Trainer and trainee must overcome past, learn to work together to fulfill mission and work toward their HEA.


Cast of Characters:
Logan – As a Dom Extraordinaire, he will do anything to have the love of his life back forever: Collared.
Tara (aka Cherry) – Tedious Tara just wasn’t convincing as an FBI agent; not enough gumption.
Xander – The randy, rich playboy who doesn’t appear to have a care in the world and is a bit mysterious. He’s a team player and seems to be relegated to the role of clean-up crew.
The Antagonist – If you can’t spot this one coming…….


The End:
A large part of the story centers around Logan and Tara’s developing D/s relationship. If you aren’t familiar with BDSM (an acronym for Bondage and Discipline, Dominance/submission, sadomasochism; frequently used as an all-inclusive abbreviation indicating anything pertaining to the “lifestyle”, often including fetish, although it isn’t part of the acronym), BELONG TO ME will be a wonderful introduction for you. That being said, you can expect to read sexual situations that will include spanking, bondage, anal sex, public submission, frequent nudity, oh, and I’m sure there’s more I’ve left out.


One last note or two for those that have read this series. Jack Cole, still #1 Dom as far as I’m concerned. I have been waiting for Tyler’s book MINE TO HOLD hoping Ms. Black gets back to what she does best: great suspense coupled with hot sex and alpha males.

Review: Blind Devotion by Lucynda Storey

Blind Devotion
Lucynda Storey
Buy Link:
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/romance/erotica/blind-devotion/prod_63.html
Publish date:  8/3/2007
Sexual Content: Some Explicit Scenes

Fantasy Romance
Review Requested

In this  highly sensual tale, Azari has no idea her life is about to change irrevocably. Unwittingly, she has awakened two mythical beings intent on taking her virginity. Escaping to an isolated cabin, Azari meets an unlikely protector, Tor, the High Priest of Eiliki. Together, Azari and Tor face the greatest challenges of their lives - survival. Will Tor-s blind devotion to the Goddess prevent him from accepting the greatest gift he-s ever been given, or will the dogma of his religion and his own past keep him from making the right decision?



MY REVIEW AND SEXUAL RATING:

Awesome Fantasy Romance!

Magic is in play in this awesome story. A Mage (wizard), a woman to love, a goddess to please, a dragon and a big wild cat fighting over a virgin brings this story to a climax that is unexpected. Tor the Mage (Wizard) who happens to be High Priest and Azari’s (woman) fate has been intertwined as they learn they are made to be each other’s mate and future.

The adventure begins as Tor takes Azari’s virginity and protects her as best he can from the mythical creatures. The story between the Dragon and the Wild Cat unfolds the truth to the long told myth and filled with action as Tor and Azari make their run to safety.

The romance and erotica scene is pretty steamy. I loved Azari’s character for I could totally relate to her attitude of independence and wanting to have equality and her choice of free will of her own choices. Tor’s character was a strong Alpha type of male that is used to giving the orders and I found him more likable once he started seeing Azari’s point. The story ends with new beginnings and an HEA that will have you smiling in the end.

Review Delicious by Shayla Black

Delicious book three in Wicked Lovers
Author Shayla Black
Erotic romance
Trade Paperback 384
authors website



Book description
He can’t control his desire. Luc Traverson’s entire future is planned out—but there is one very sexy obstacle in his path: Alyssa Devereaux . She’s a former exotic dancer turned strip club owner and restaurateur. Recently, Alyssa and Luc shared one night of wild abandon that left Luc terrified by his loss of self-control—and Alyssa desperate for more.

And that’s just the way she wants it.

Fulfilling a promise, Luc is the guest chef for Alyssa’s restaurant debut. The sight of her makes Luc wild, so how can he survive a week without letting loose and ravaging her—especially when she’s begging for it? Luc’s desire for her explodes when he realizes he isn’t the only man desperate to have her. But one of the others is deadly. And that’s not the end of Alyssa’s secrets…which are as dark and mysterious and enticing as her fantasies.

Laurie review
Rating-

Sexual-

This is a book your either going to love or hate. The biggest reason is because of Luc. He seems to be a butt to some that reads this book, but I looked at what was happening between both Luc and Alyssa and she did cause Luc to be a butt a lot. so here is what I thought of this book.


If your one that likes a love, hate, on again off again relationship, with suspense this could be for you. To tell you the truth, I don’t normally get into these love hate relationship, but this one I couldn’t put it down. The thing that kept me going was it was so full of emotions. At times I couldn’t stand either one Luc or Alyssa then at times I really liked them. This is how it would go, as soon as they were able to stand each other and everything looking good then Luc with his jealousy would tare them apart. Then there were times when everything was good between them and Alyssa would share her past life with Luc all you could do is cry because it was so sad. It is a roller coaster between the two that for sure.

The whole time all of this on again and off again is going on, some men are after Alyssa and she is stalked, house and work broke into and hate messages left for her and almost raped this was a roller coaster itself trying to figure out who and why they were doing it. You also get to see characters form the first two books as they join in to help.

Just a word of caution here, Luc at one point gets a little to rough with Alyssa she keeps telling him no and he doesn’t get the picture he is so tied up into the jealousy about Tyler he thinks sex is the only way to stop her for seeing Tyler, but he never rapes her, after this happens Alyssa shares with Luc what happened to her at fifteen years of age.

Here is more with Spoilers!

Alyssa set the stage up to win back Luc. So what she does is has him come to be a guest chef for the week at her new restaurant, she even pays the hotel guy off so Luc doesn’t have a room just so he can stay at her house, you know what she has planned. In the mean time Luc has a secret, he can’t have kids, so when he agrees to stay with Alyssa he has unprotected sex and guess what? she becomes Prego. In between him accusing her of seeing Tyler her bodyguard, which I have to say she should have picked him and got all of this on again and off again jealousy thing done with Luc, but she knows who the kid belongs to and is in love with, so she wont do that. Alyssa is no whore even though Luc keeps pretty much telling her she is. But what you also have to look at is Alyssa is a strip club owner/operator, so you know what is put in our minds even thou Alyssa isn’t sleeping around it still there and this is why Luc keeps it on his mind that she is sleeping with Tyler plus a few other things she dose with Tyler.

(I’m fast forward a bit here) As time goes on and Alyssa ends up in the hospital Kimberly tells Alyssa Luc secret that he can’t have kids, while she is telling her this Alyssa really feels betrayed and again she kicks Luc out of this house! You have to be in the right mood to read this book.

Its best to read this series in order.
1.Wicked Ties
2.Decadent
3.Delicious