{Book Review} Slave (Finding Anna #1) by Sherri Hayes

Slave (Finding Anna #1) by Sherri Hayes
Publication Date: July 28, 2011
Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House
Author Twitter - Author 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? (SOURCE)

While this is not my first BDSM novel, it is only the second book I've read with a Master/slave aspect. I'm very--- uncertain about M/s on a personal level, but I like to keep an open mind and see what a story brings. I read Slave because it was recommended by someone on twitter. I'm always looking for more novels in this realm so I tackled it with anticipation.

First, I thoroughly enjoyed Sherri Hayes' writing style. She is clear and concise and the emotions through the book were palpable. I felt an easy connection between the characters. Stephan's pain leapt out at me, as did Brianna's.

Overall, I struggled reading the bulk of Slave. I hit a point when I felt like it was monotonous because the story takes place mostly in Stephan's apartment. Brianna is frightening, understandably, to go out in public after what she lived through. For me though, it got to be boring that there wasn't much going on outside of that. I hated that I wasn't more in love with it but I kept reading, hoping things would pick up. Seeing as this is the first in a series, I can see that the bulk of Slave was the setup for a lot to come in the future for these characters. Establishing a connection between them and the reader.

Brianna was intriguing and she is the character that kept me reading when I felt like I may've been losing interest in the story. I became angry that someone had treated her the way they did. That's a good thing though, because if I can't care about a character, what is even the point in reading their story?

Stephan made me feel for him on a different level. He so much wanted to save Brianna from the very beginning. Though I'm not sure he went about it the correct way, he did what he thought was best. I gave him major points for what a great person he was. As a Dom and as a man. In the end it was hard for me to believe he was in love with Brianna though. I felt that he barely knew her, both because she hadn't not been with him for long and she hadn't really opened up to him much until the end of the book. Even then, there was still so little he knew about her.

There was a lot of unanswered questions I'm sure will be covered as the series goes on. I feel like that will be interesting. While I didn't love Slave, I'll probably read the second book to see what happens to these two.


These are my personal observations and thoughts regarding this book. Any and all books blogged about here are paid for with my personal money unless otherwise specified within the review. If you have questions please feel free to contact me.

{Review} Release Me by J. Kenner

Release Me by J. Kenner

Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013
Publisher: Bantam
Author Twitter - Author GoodReads

My Rating:

He was the one man I couldn’t avoid. And the one man I couldn’t resist.
 
Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. He was sexy, confident, and commanding: Anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me.

Our attraction was unmistakable, almost beyond control, but as much as I ached to be his, I feared the pressures of his demands. Submitting to Damien meant I had to bare the darkest truth about my past—and risk breaking us apart.

But Damien was haunted, too. And as our passion came to obsess us both, his secrets threatened to destroy him—and us—forever. (SOURCE)

There are so many BDSM style books coming out of the wood work lately, for obvious reasons. The nitty gritty on this one is-- it did have moments that reminded me of the Shades books. Sometimes it distracted me, but not so much that it was annoying.

As I got deeper into the story there were clear differences between most of the other fetish books I've read more recently. This was more about Nikki stepping out of her comfort zone by allowing people to get closer to her. She had a rocky past to overcome. Damien knows this but he's not aware of the extent of what happened to her.

Damien is that rich guy that always gets his way. The one we've seen in too many books to count. That one that meddles in a girls life without her knowing or approving. He wants Nikki -- to work for him, to join him in his bed, and it's almost impossible for her to say no. She agrees to 'work' for Damien for a ridiculous sum of money, which she will earn in only a week. I don't want to spoil what it is she agrees to but it's definitely a different twist.

In doing so, Nikki must reveal parts of herself she never wanted anyone to see. But Damien is compassionate and caring. I really enjoyed that about his character. While it's obvious he is dominant, he never actually says so. It's in his actions. He is commanding, knowledgeable,  passionate and compassionate. He guides Nikki into a submissive role but never actually tells her what kind of relationship he's developing. I couldn't decide if that bothered me or not. 

On one hand, I figured surely she was aware of D/s, I can't imagine someone not being. Then on the other hand, just because I know what BDSM and Dom/sub is, it doesn't mean everyone does. It's possible she doesn't know the term for their budding romance; just that she enjoys the thing he does to her. I wish there had been some explanation of that somewhere in the book.

I did enjoy Release Me but it didn't stick out in my mind the way I'd hoped it would. It felt more like a novella because of the speed in which everything happened. The entire book was probably the span of a whole week. I like a bit more pacing sometimes.

While I did enjoy the characters, I felt like it had a bit more potential. There were things I'd have liked to have seen fleshed out more, to help me really connect.


I rreceived an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. If you have questions please feel free to contact me.

{Review} The Prince (Original Sinners #3) by Tiffany Reisz

The Prince by Tiffany Reisz

Publication Date: Nov 20, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Author Twitter - Author GoodReads
My Rating: 

Synopsis: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer... preferably in bed. That's always been Kingsley Edge's strategy with his associate, the notorious New York dominatrix Nora Sutherlin. But with Nora away in Kentucky, now it's Kingsley's chance to take her place at the feet of the only man he's ever wanted -- Søren, Nora's on-again, off-again lover -- until a new threat from an old enemy forces him to confront his past.

Wes Railey is still the object of Nora's tamest yet most maddening fantasies, and the one man she can't forget. He's young. He's wonderful. He's also thoroughbred royalty and she's in "his" world now. But Nora is no simpering Southern belle, and her dream of fitting into Wesley's world is perpetually at odds with her dear Søren's relentlessly seductive pull.

Two worlds of wealth and passion call to her and whichever one Nora chooses, it will be the hardest decision she will ever have to make... unless someone makes it for her....

The Prince is the third book in The Original Sinners series (The Siren #1, The Angel #2). I am actually having trouble putting my thoughts together enough to review it. This seems to have happened with the other two books as well. This is not a bad thing, don't get me wrong. It's just that Tiffany Reisz's books leave your mind a little boggled.

One of the things that sticks out in mind is that the point of views alternate with each chapter. I really loved that, actually. In some books that can make things confusing but in The Prince, it added to the experience. There's a lot of back story between Soren and Kingsley, which I really enjoyed. It made me see both of those characters in a different light. I haven't always been Soren's biggest fan, I won't deny that, but seeing another side of him was great. It made him and Kingsley both a lot more 3D. They are incredibly complex characters. And, really, heart stuttering sexy too.

I've always been a fan of Wesley and at the end of The Siren I was flailing over him. Such a curious young man. I needed more of him. Of course I was thrilled to have a large chunk of the book with him and Nora spending time together. There's a little bit of mystery intertwined in their story. It made me really curious about the horse racing world. Wes and Nora are sweet and hot together too. They are a great combination but I feel like the other shoe hasn't quite dropped yet when it comes to them. I'm a little nervous!

In most great books, there's a twist. The twist. Oh, the twist. Still has my mind whirling! And the whole damn book ended on a CLIFF. HANGER. to beat all cliffhangers. When I read the very last line I said, rather loudly, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?!" As I recall, the previous two books ended on cliffies too. I should have known this one would as well. It has left me salivating and chomping at the bit [see what I did there?] for more. Why must we have to wait so long?!

If you haven't given these books a read, please do. They are full of great and fascinating characters, delicious sex scenes and interesting plot!


I received an e-copy of this novel via NetGalley. My review is honest and my own. If you have questions please feel free to contact me.

{Review} The Angel (Original Sinners #2) by Tiffany Reisz

The Angel (Original Sinners #2) by Tiffany Reisz
Publication Date: Sept 25, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Author Twitter - Author GoodReads
My Rating:

Summary: Infamous erotica author and accomplished dominatrix Nora Sutherlin is doing something utterly out of character: hiding. While her longtime lover, Søren—whose fetishes, if exposed, would be his ruin—is under scrutiny pending a major promotion, Nora's lying low and away from temptation in the lap of luxury.

Her host, the wealthy and uninhibited Griffin Fiske, is thrilled to have Nora stay at his country estate, especially once he meets her traveling companion. Young, inexperienced and angelically beautiful, Michael has become Nora's protégé, and this summer with Griffin is going to be his training, where the hazing never ends.

But while her flesh is willing, Nora's mind is wandering. To thoughts of Søren, her master, under investigation by a journalist with an ax to grind. And to another man from Nora's past, whose hold on her is less bruising, but whose secrets are no less painful. It's a summer that will prove the old adage: love hurts. (SOURCE)

OK. I really am not sure I have enough words in me to explain how much I enjoyed The Angel. I honestly wasn't sure when or if I would get around to reading it. After seeing the comments of someone I follow on GoodReads and Twitter she had me intrigued. I had to know what happened with the characters I'd read about in The Siren(Original Sinners #1).

In The Angel we learn a lot more about the Soren. I admit, I wasn't a huge fan of his in The Siren, but he definitely showed a different side of himself in this second book. It was good to get a glimpse into his past. To be able to see why his life went the way it did. With every new twist or reveal I found myself liking him more. I was really happy about that.

Nora's part of the plot was great as well. I liked seeing another side of her. Honestly I was not expecting her to still be thinking about Wesley. The fact that she was really made me feel for her. I was (and still am) actually a little torn about whether I wanted her to leave Soren and go find Wesley.*sigh* I can understand how Nora would be conflicted.

Also, I did a lot of swooning through out the book. And not because of Soren. I adored both Griffin and Michael. I was excited to see them both since we'd had glimpses in The Siren. They are such great characters. I found myself almost wanting to speed through the other parts of the book just to get back to them. Love love love.

I would actually like to know more about the reporter that investigated Soren. I feel like there was so much with her. She and Soren had great chemistry too. I was almost disappointed nothing happened there
I really did love this second book and am curious to see what the next book has in store. I highly recommend The Angel.

I received a copy of The Angel via NetGalley. This did not have any influence on my review.

{Review} The Siren (Original Sinners #1) by Tiffany Reisz

The Siren by Tiffany Reisz
Publication Date: July 24, 2012
Publisher: Mira
Author Twitter - Author GoodReads
My Rating:

Summary: Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book...if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him...or returning to his bed?
Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple. (SOURCE)

When I first read the summary to The Siren I was intrigued and excited to get my hands on it. Once other readers I follow started giving it rave reviews I knew I had to bump it to the top of my "to be read" list. Now here I am a week after finishing it and I'm still not sure how I feel about the story. I liked it, but I didn't love it. There was something missing for me.

I was interested in seeing what Nora's life was like. Very interested in getting to know Zachary. But I found myself unable to really connect the two of them. I didn't feel their chemistry jump off the page like I'd hoped. I did like their characters individually though. 

Probably my absolute favorite character was Nora's assistant/intern. I couldn't help but want to cuddle him up. I'd love to learn more about him, actually. Especially as the book progressed. I felt a real connection with him as a character.  My heart went out to him as the story moved forward.

Nora's business associates were quite the characters. I did love how little bits of information about them were leaked along the way. To continuously learn more about them as I read. It kept me reading, for sure.

Another thing I did like is that the foundation of the story might have had BDSM but it was much more than that. There wasn't a sex scene in every chapter. There was real plot and substance that made me want to know more about the characters. I saw their struggles. It made them real people.

That said, I didn't really get into it until I hit the 50% mark on my kindle. There's a big reveal that knocked my socks off and turned the world upside down. It made me sit up and go "HUH. WOW." I actually think I said "Whaaaaaaaaaaat?" out loud when I made it to that point. I flew through the rest of the book after that. I couldn't put it down. I was happy that finally I was able to get into it the way I'd wanted to. 

In the end I gave it 3.5 stars because I wasn't able to connect at first. That was probably all me, because I've been so busy and not able to really focus on reading lately. (As I'm sure you can tell by my lack of reviews recently.) I do think it was a good book and I'll definitely be wanting to read the next one in the series, The Angel.

 I received this book from Net Galley but actually bought it on kindle myself before starting the read. If you have questions please feel free to contact me.

{Review} Fifty Shades Freed by E. L. James

Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades #3) by E. L. James
Published Date: Jan 19, 2012
Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop
Author Twitter - Author GoodReads
My Rating:

Synopsis: When unworldly student Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and ultimately repelled by Christian’s singular sexual tastes, Ana demanded a deeper commitment; determined to keep her, Christian agreed.

Now, together, they have more – love, passion, intimacy, and a world of infinite possibilities. But Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy, and being together poses challenges neither of them ever anticipated. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity, identity or independence; Christian must somehow overcome his compulsion to control, and lay to rest the horrors that blighted his past and haunt his present.

Just when it seems that together their love can conquer any obstacle, misfortune, malice and fate combine to make Ana’s worst nightmares come true. Alone and desperate, she must face down the poisoned legacy of Christian’s past.

Seductive, shocking, sad and funny, Fifty Shades Freed is the compelling final volume in the Fifty Shades trilogy. (SOURCE)

In general I am a huge fan of angst, but with my angst, I require a Happily Ever After too. What can I say? I am picky like that. I want my tears to be worth it. I was so very nervous to start reading Fifty Shades Freed. Excited, but definitely nervous. With everything Christian and Ana had gone through in books 1 and 2, I didn't know if they would survive much more. Plus, they really just deserved to be HAPPY.

I'm writing this review under the assumption (yeah, I know, never assume) that you have either read books 1 and 2 or won't mind a few spoilery moments. Be sure to check out my reviews of the first two books, where I swoony sigh all over the place. Also note, this trilogy has BDSM, if that's not your thing, well... sucks for you, because Fifty is HOT.

In Fifty Shades Darker our beloved Christian foils death but we don't know who the asshole that tried to kill him is. I'd really hoped that it was a female character that went a little wacko. Especially once she is out of the picture. Easy peasy, Fifty is safe. Or not.

Freed begins where Darker left off, Ana and Christian are married (everybody say woohoo!)  and on a delightful honeymoon. Fifty being, well, Fifty is a paranoid jerk that won't let Ana out of his sight. Of course, it's not a bad position to be in when you are married to a man that sizzling hot. But he's keeping his real concerns to himself, trying to protect his new wife. Only thing is, Anastasia isn't the type of woman that really feels she needs protecting, especially since she doesn't know what Christian's deal is.

Body guards, security detail, a driver, and no privacy, even when they are back home and Ana returns to work. The tension between them is a slow burn. Probably not even slow. More like, moderate. Bless his heart, Christian is adorable and I wanted to hug him for being protective of his family but man, is he frustrating.

Ana and Christian are plunged into uncertainty. Neither of them really talking about what's going on. Mostly because Christian, though he's grown since Fifty Shades of Grey, is still the same Christian. He refuses to tell his wife anything. If I were her I would have been ready to knock some sense into him. She's certainly stood up to him in the past, which is one thing I love about her. She's not weak. With the fear for his families safety running rampant in his head, Christian goes into overdrive. Every little thing sets him off and in turn, that sets Ana off because he won't talk to her.

During those stressful times, Christian decides to take Ana on a little trip with friends. Those days were so sweet and hot but under the surface, there was something (someone) laying in wait. I really wanted Christian just to learn that you can't run away from your problems (or buy your way out of them either). That's just his way though, it's the only way he knows to be. Though it's kind of twisted, it's one of the things I love about him.

Unknowingly, Ana misses an important appointment and when she realizes what has happened, there is a huge blow up between her and Christian. Hurtful, angry words are thrown around and my heart just clenched. All I could think was that was the end of them. They'd already been through so much already, how could they make it through something else? Especially something that would change both their lives forever. There are so many misunderstandings between them, I just wanted to shake them both. Then shove them in a closet and tell them "TALK"! But since I'm always a glutton for punishment, those angsty, heart breaking times were among my favorites.

Ana and Christian drift, not speaking, not looking at one another -- ugh. When she makes a move to help a family member he is torn to pieces, believing the worst of her. But she is once again, in danger, and Christian once again, is her knight in shining armor. Knight in handcuffs? Knight with bondage rope? I don't know. Whatever. Either way, he was there for her. And Ana, even though she didn't know how things were going to end up for them, she still did everything she could to protect him.

I guess that's another thing I love about those two, they are both trying to protect one another without the other really knowing. Ana is the perfect match for Christian; and he is the perfect match for her, even with his insecurities about being a good husband. I'd like to sit down with him and make him see that he's worthy of Ana's love, as well as that of his family.

Oh! I just can't say how much I loved Freed. The epilogue itself gave me a glowy happy heart. I felt it was the perfect way to end the trilogy.

These are my personal observations and thoughts regarding this book. Any and all books blogged about here are paid for with my personal money unless otherwise specified within the review. If you have questions please feel free to contact me.

{Review} Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades #2) by E. L. James

Published Date: Sept 15, 2011

Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop

Author Twitter - Author GoodReads

Rating:

Synopsis: Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house. But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven, and demanding Fifty Shades. While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront her anger and envy of the women who came before her and make the most important decision of her life. Erotic, sparkling and suspenseful, Fifty Shades Darker is the irresistibly addictive second part of the Fifty Shades trilogy. (Source)

After the cliffhanger that was I was so thankful that was already published and I could go right into reading it. Anastasia has started a new career but she hasn't completely moved on. Christian still haunts her. Seeing her go through missing him is really heart breaking but I am glutton for punishment and I love angst. All Ana really wanted was for Christian to open up to her but he wasn't willing to do so. Since Fifty is in Ana's point of view it's hard to know what he's thinking. The angst lover in me wanted him to suffer, to miss her like crazy and to come crawling back, begging for forgiveness.

I also wanted Christian to see that he deserves to have someone love him and to be happy in a 'stable' relationship. I think he had a lot of fear locked inside himself -- definitely afraid that if he let Anastasia completely into his heart he would wind up hurt. Or that he would hurt her. So many times I wanted to just shove them both in a closet and lock the door until they talked it out.

There is a part of Ana that can't get over Christian's past 'relationships' too. It ate at her until she couldn't do anything but think about it anymore. She was so desperate to have every part of him that she didn't really see that he was giving what he could. I guess in a way, he was only giving what he would allow himself to give. He definitely could have been less controlling of his emotions. In the past, he'd also controlled Ana, but she's not going to allow that any more. She's going to bring him to his knees.

Not only are Christian and Ana struggling to find a common ground - between her fear of punishment and his fear of a 'vanilla' relationship - but someone from his past can't seem to let him go. Ana is faced with the ex that made Christian the man he is, as well as an ex that turned out to be a stalker. Her life is in danger and Christian does everything he can to protect her. There's also Ana's struggle with wondering if she's enough for him. If she can be what he needs in the play room - submissive enough.

The intensity and heat are still so easy to feel with these two. Even with all their struggles it's obvious their hearts are truly twisted up in love. It's up to the two of them to find a median where they can both get what they want. Love and acceptance, BDSM desires. Sigh. I wish I could just blog every single detail of this story. So many characters in this book that are easy to fall in love with. I want to read both this book and the first all over again.

As I stated in my review for Fifty Shades of Grey, this is a BDSM book. If that doesn't appeal to you, consider before reading.

These are my personal observations and thoughts regarding this book. Any and all books blogged about here are paid for with my personal money unless otherwise specified within the review. If you have questions please feel free to contact me.

{Review} Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

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

Published Date:

Publisher: The Writer's House Coffee Shop

Author Twitter - Author GoodReads

My Rating:

 

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

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

First, I want to preface this review by saying Fifty Shades of Grey started out as a Twilight fanfiction on the internet. I never read this when it was Twilight fanfiction. I'd heard of it but never got around to reading before it was pulled. That said, I'm pleased I never let others complaints about the author pulling the fanfic offline deter me from reading the published version.

Originally I was in the mood to read something different and downloaded the sample on my kindle. After reading through that, I purchased the book right away. I was hooked. Fifty is filled with intense characters that are full of passion. They are also riddled with flaws and imperfections. This makes the book entirely better, in my opinion. Anastasia and Christian are true people. I fell in love with them very easily.

As I read I went through a slew of emotions. Laughter, tears, frustration, heart break, love. I like nothing better than a book that makes me FEEL things from start to finish. I found myself actually talking to the characters as I read. Like they would hear me and I could change the outcome or make a difference in their story.

Fifty Shades of Grey is much more than a book about a man that feels the need to control emotionally and physically. It is about people that learn and evolve. Christian is changed by Anastasia, even in the very beginning. Even when he doesn't want to see how she's effected him. But not only does Ana change Christian's life, he changes hers as well. She finally gets something she never knew she wanted or needed in her life.

This book does contain BDSM but it is not used gratuitously. It is important to the story though so if that squicks you out, consider it before hand. There is nothing too severe, this is just a heads up.

I loved Fifty, honestly. I don't give a five start rating that often, not unless a book really sticks with me or I can't put it down. This is definitely one of those books.


These are my personal observations and thoughts regarding this book. Any and all books blogged about here are paid for with my personal money unless otherwise specified within the review. If you have questions please feel free to contact me.