10 SHADES OF SEDUCTION

TITLE: 10 SHADES OF SEDUCTION

AUTHOR: VARIOUS

Pages: 448

Date: 30/09/2013

Grade: 5

Details: Received from MIRA Harlequin

            Through NetGalley

Own/Kindle

The Blurb:

“Are you aching for more shade? 

The experts in erotic romance invite you to delve deeper into the tantalizing world of BDSM with a selection of delightfully wicked novellas that will ignite your senses. Explore your darkest fantasies with ten daring, intense stories by some of the biggest names in the genre. If you're looking for a lip-bitingly sexy escape, 10 Shades of Seduction will claim you.

You know you want it.

Sarah McCarty, Tiffany Reisz , Alison Tyler, Lisa Renee Jones, Portia Da Costa, Saskia Walker, Anne Calhoun, Alegra Verde”

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This is a book consisting of ten different stories by eight different authors and as such impossible to review as one book. In fact, I’m not even going to try. Below are my thoughts on each individual story as well as a separate rating for each of them. In the past, when reading an anthology, there would be at least one story that didn't work for me at all; at least one that would let the rest of the collection down. How wonderful to find a collection in which every single novella worked for me. Granted, some worked better than others, but much to my delight none of them disappointed.

As the blurb suggests all of these novellas deal with Domination and submission in some form or another and all of them are explicit and sexy as my short descriptions and selected quotes will show.

Submit to Desire by Tiffany Reisz (5+)

Featuring the fabulous and oh so sexy Kingsley Edge from the “Original Sinners” books.

When Kingsley sees Charlie breathing fire in a club he makes her a proposition. He wants her to submit to him for one month during which he will train her for a client of his. New to BDSM, Charlie finds herself discovering a new world, filled with delights she never knew existed. The only problem is that by the time the month is over she has become so attached to Kingsley that submitting to another man, regardless of who he might be, seems impossible. What will Charlie do when she meets this mysterious client?

Filled with Tiffany Reisz’s trademark humour, sexiness and sparkling characters this story was exactly what I knew it would be; a pure delight and enticingly hot story.

Favourite quotes:

“What you must understand is that submissive women are not weak. They are often much stronger than the men who dominate them. They have to be strong and brave to submit without losing themselves.”

“You can be afraid all you want. Just don’t let your fear stop you.”

“Vanilla sex is all about trust. Rape is all about fear. In that place between fear and trust is where we live.”

“Charlie, in this house, the word slut is the highest compliment I can give. It means you are a person who owns her sexuality and is unafraid to experiment and open her mind and body to new experiences.”

Second Time Around by Portia Da Costa (5)

Willa meets her ex-husband James at a school reunion after they've been apart for three years. Things have changed though. The push-over Willa used to order around no longer exists. This new James is confident, and in total control. This new James makes Willa feel like an insecure teenager before they've even exchanged a word. The new James shows Willa that life and love will be better if she’ll just give up control and submit to him…at least some of the time.

A wonderful story about two people who were meant to be together but messed it up getting and taking their second chance.

“I decide I’m never going to hold back either. I’ll try anything, do anything…at his command.”

Tempting the New Guy by Alegra Verde (3.5)

Story set in an office environment. Glory is being pursued by new guy Clement Johns while she already is having an affair with her boss, Bruce and has also been seeing Alex, a client of the company she works for. While this makes for lots of heated and steamy encounters it also made this a story I wasn't quite sure what to make of. At some point Glory thinks:

“I was beginning to feel like an indentured whore who’d let out her vagina for the duration of her employment at Davies and Birch.”

I have to admit that’s exactly the impression she left with me. A well written story that didn't really work for me.

Giving in by Alison Tyler (4.5)

Ellis is only weeks away from homelessness when her friend Sasha treats her to a trip to Venice where they will stay with Stefan, a very rich uncle of Sasha’s.

While Ellis expects a two week holiday before she has to return to her desperate situation in New York, she finds something completely different. Ellis is on a journey to a place where all her fantasies - all the sexy stories she has ever written - are about to come true. Ellis can leave her troubles behind and enter a world filled with pleasure; a happily ever after story without an end.

“I will never run out of ways to make you come.”

What She Needs by Anne Calhoun (4.5)

“When Jack calls at 6:00 p.m. on a Saturday and tells me to meet him in the bar at the Embassy Suites, I know two things: he wants to fuck me, and I will let him.”

I like that Jack is a hero who doesn't look like a stud.

“He doesn't look like a man who can make a woman lose her mind. But he is.”

When “I” meets Jack she does what he asks without question. Jack is in control and if the narrator follows his instructions he’ll bring her to the heights of passion. This is a wonderfully sweet yet very sexy story. The “revelation” at the end didn't come as a surprise, but I don’t think it was supposed to. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Vegas Heat by Lisa Renee Jones (4)

Dante Ricci, rich entrepreneur planning to expand his empire in Las Vegas wants Sonya Miller, a highly ambitious corporate lawyer to work with him on this project. Contract negotiations and dinner lead to a rather unexpected game during which Dante demands Sonya’s trust and submission and the independent and always in control young woman learns that submitting has its own benefits.

“Give me control. I’ll be gentle”

A charming and sexy story although I can’t help feeling it would have been better if it had been longer, maybe even a full-length novel.

A Very Personal Assistant by Portia Da Costa (5)

Miranda Austin, corporate highflyer feels drained and fed up after an especially difficult meeting. When her personal assistant Patrick Dove suggests taking a few hours out of their day to get away from it all, Miranda knows he doesn't mean having a cup of coffee together. An afternoon away from the office, submitting to Patrick’s demands is just what Miranda needs and what started as a one-off turns into a regular event. But can an office affair ever work? And what happens when lust turns into real feelings?

“In the midst of crazy sex, she found serenity in his quiet, solid presence, over and inside her.”

“There was strength in giving in, it was her choice, what she wanted in this moment.”

“Yes…with you, I don’t have to decide things or control things or take responsibility. I can just be.”

Rarely has a quote had the personal resonance that the following has:

“And if you get too uppity, we’ve always got the cottage.”

Tied up & Twisted by Allison Tyler (5)

An S&M love story

When Hadley McCarthy goes to the gym to interview Reed Frost she feels an instant connection; he is the man she wants to submit to. Guy does the PR at the gym and has arranged for Hadley to do the interview. He hasn't seen her for a year but wants her back; he can’t wait to submit to her again. But Hadley has no inclination to return to Guy or her past as a Domme. And Reed Frost has steered clear of relationships for seven years and has no real urge to get involved with anyone again. Will anybody end up with who they want and need?

“I want to live in a world where everyone gets what they need, and nobody is punished for their desires.”

“Welcome to the beginning…the beginning of your happy ending.”

Letting Go by Sarah McCarthy (5)

Mark and Becky have been planning their weekend away for a month, but now that it is here Becky is afraid; afraid that she might not live up to Mark’s expectations; afraid that she may not be able to give him the submission he wants, and herself the release of control she has been craving for such a long time.

A very sexy and sweet story about a married couple taking their relationship one step further.

Forbidden Ritual by Saskia Walker (4)

Imogen is an independent and powerful woman who doesn't think she needs a man but finds herself ever more frequently spending the time in between work and sleep with Giles, a younger Dominant man who knows how to give her the pain she craves with her pleasure. Now Giles wants to take Imogen beyond her comfort zone; he wants her to submit to him completely. Will Imogen be able to agree to rope bondage – shibari – or will her need to never lose control completely make her deny both herself and Giles the opportunity of being happy together?

“This, shibari, is about the next level for me. It’s a sign of ultimate commitment and trust.”

This is a wonderful collection of novellas. One that has given me hours of pure reading delight, reacquainted me with favourite authors and introduced me to what are sure to become new must read writers. A little slice of reading heaven!

THE SILVER CHAIN

TITLE: THE SILVER CHAIN

AUTHOR: PRIMULA BOND

Pages: 369

Date: 19/08/2013

Grade: 4

Details: no. 1 Unbreakable Trilogy

            Received from Harper Collins UK/Avon

            Through NetGalley

Own/Kindle

The blurb:

“Bound by passion, she was powerless to resist.

One dark evening in London, photographer Serena Folkes is indulging her impulsive side with a night-time shoot. But someone is watching her – mysterious entrepreneur Gustav Levi. Serena doesn’t know it yet, but this handsome stranger will change her life forever…

Serena is fascinated by Gustav, the enigmatic owner of the Levi Gallery, and she soon feels an irresistible pull of attraction. The interest is mutual, and Gustav promises to launch Serena’s photographic career at his gallery, but only if Serena agrees to become his exclusive companion.

To mark their agreement, Gustav gives Serena a bracelet to wear at all times. Attached to it is a silver chain of which he is the keeper. With the chain Gustav controls Serena physically and symbolically – a sign that she is under his power.

As their passionate relationship intensifies, Gustav’s hold on the silver chain grows stronger. But will Gustav’s dark past tear them apart?”

==============================================================

Aspiring photographer Serena Folkes leaves behind the lover of her teenage years when she travels to London, convinced that she is done with men. It is a conviction that will last less than 48 hours.

While she is out about town on Halloween night she meets an intriguing man. She knows she should be careful about engaging with strangers but something about this man cuts right through her reservations. This man, Gustav Levi, doesn’t send of a dangerous vibe - well he does, but in an intriguing way, not one that makes her feel threatened.

“But Gustave Levi is not just any old company. I have the weirdest feeling that he’s picked me.”

While Serena cuts her evening with Gustav short, she can’t get him out of her head. And when they meet again because she has left her camera in his care he offers her a deal that will ensure that the two of them will get to spend a lot of time together. He will show a collection of her photographs in his gallery if she signs herself over to him until all the pictures have sold. Delighted to be given this opportunity and intrigued by and attracted to the man, Serena doesn’t have to think twice before she signs on the dotted line. A deal Gustav seals by locking a silver bracelet around Serena’s wrist. A bracelet to which he can, and will, attached a silver chain; proof that she is fully connected to him.

“But the instant I’m chained to him, I’m anchored.”

While Serena is mesmerized by Gustav there is a lot about him she can’t explain. He obviously has issues that stem from a past he is reluctant to share – issues that keep him far apart from her even while the chain seems to imply they’re very close. As Gustav’s past is slowly revealed it feeds into Serena’s issues. Having never felt loved or wanted in her life, it is only too easy for Serena to believe that she is not what Gustav wants or needs. And worst of all, his actions seem to confirm that she is not what he is really looking for. Misunderstandings, mistrust and miscommunication appear determined to keep these two characters apart. It will take a lot of pain and confusion before Serena realizes that:

“At last it’s me he’s seeing, Nobody else.”

This was a very enjoyable read. There is a lot to like in this story. Yes, it does resemble a lot of other books in that it features a young girl falling under the spell of an older, more experienced man. This is certainly not the first time I’ve come across a relationship haunted by dark pasts and deep seated insecurities. But, while similarities like that have irritated me in the past they didn’t so much this time around. I liked that Serena is a girl who knows what she wants and how to get it. She is not the poor little girl who needs the older and richer man to make her way in life. At all times, while reading this story, I felt that Serena would have made it on her own – that Gustav only fast-forwarded the process. I also liked the fact that although there definitely are some aspects of bondage and domination in this story it shows both sides of that particular coin – how it can break relationships just as easily as make them.

As far as the sexy part of this book is concerned, well, it's different. A lot of the action takes place only in Serena's mind. Gustav has a, rather mysterious, reluctance to fully engage with her. In fact, while he is only to happy to help her climax, and have her return the favour, he doesn't kiss or have full blown sex with Serena for the longest time. This much to the frustration of both Serena and the reader. That doesn't make the sexy bits any less steamy though. If Serena's fantasies are anything they are vivid. And when these two characters do come together they sure know how to heat up the pages and keep this reader squirming in her seat.

While I mostly enjoyed this story and the characters in it, there were times when Serena’s character was a bit too volatile for me. She seemed to jump from one, strong, emotion to the exact opposite emotion from one paragraph to the next. While her insecurities made perfect sense, I would have preferred it if the changes in her state of mind had been a bit less sudden and frantic. There were pages where I had a hard time keeping up with what exactly she was feeling and why.

Overall though, I really liked these characters and their story. And with the sudden, and to me completely surprising, revelation on the very last page I can’t wait for the sequel, “The Golden Locket”, even if I haven’t been able to find a release date for it.

WICKED GAMES

TITLE: WICKED GAMES

           My Year of Submission

AUTHOR: KELLY LAWRENCE

Pages: 244

Date: 08/07/2013

Grade: 4.5

Details: Non-Fiction

            Received from Black Lace

Own

“I can, without hesitation, thoroughly recommend nipple clamps.”

When Kelly, a twenty-six year old adult literacy teacher, meets Alex the attraction between them is instant. But even on their very first date it becomes clear that Alex isn’t like the men Kelly has dated before. He tells her to wear something red – a request (or is it an order?) she ignores - orders her drink for her without asking what she wants and shows her what happens to girls who don’t do as they’re told as soon as they get back to her house. A spanking isn’t what Kelly was expecting at the end of her first date and she knows she should put a stop to it, but:

“…and as much as part of me wanted to jump out of his grasp and demand he leave, my body was a purring kitten under his touch, she wasn’t going anywhere. My inner slut was well and truly taking over.”

It is on subsequent date that Alex explains to Kelly that his passions are far from what is considered regular. He is into BDSM, wants to dominate the woman he is with and needs her to submit to him. Kelly is confused about what he has told her and doesn’t really know what any of it means but:

“I couldn’t lie to myself: I was intrigued. I wanted to know exactly what he had in mind, to experience the secrets his words hinted at.”

A visit to a local fetish club and talk with the professional Dominatrix she meets there, clarify some aspects of this lifestyle for her but no amount of watching or talking can prepare her for the things she will experience once she decides that she does want to explore this world. Her attraction to Alex is too strong and her curiosity has been aroused by the way she reacted to that first spanking. And after her first full play session with Alex she has to admit that:

“Even if I never saw Alex again, I knew I wouldn’t be the same person, at least sexually, as I had been before I stepped into that bedroom.”

It isn’t long before both Kelly and Alex have to admit that what they are experiencing is more than just sexual attraction and compatibility. Kelly falls completely under Alex’ spell:

“The way he could switch from being the perfect gentleman to looking at me like he could strip my clothes from my flesh with just the force of his gaze made my mouth go dry.”

But their relationship and growing feelings don’t leave the far more experienced Alex unaffected either:

“…I feel like I’m losing myself in you. I was planning on keeping the orgasm denial going until tomorrow but as soon as I was inside you, I lost all thought. It was remiss of me.”

But just as it seems that Alex and Kelly have found their way to happiness, a blast from Alex’ past emerges to throw a spanner in the works; a spanner of such magnitude that it may just put an end to Kelly’s happiness and newly discovered pleasures.

As you may have noticed, I’ve been reading a lot of erotic books lately. And quite a few of those books had stories about a character being somewhat sexually frustrated for reasons they couldn’t identify, meeting someone who turns out to be into BDSM, recognises their need/want and sets out to seduce them and introduce them to the pleasures of submission.

The story in this book runs along those lines as well. Except that it isn’t a story that sprung from someone’s imagination. No, according to the cover this is “a real-life erotic romance”. While reading this book I couldn’t get over how much fact – or real life if you will – imitates fiction. And then I had to give myself a good face-slap. Fact imitating fiction? I don't think so. It is far more likely that the people who wrote the erotic novels I have been reading and enjoying actually knew what they were writing about and got it so right that by the time I read a factual account of submission I had a hard time remembering that it wasn’t fiction.

This book reads as easy as a good work of fiction does. The story is as gripping and as hot as any work of erotica should be while the characters - well they aren’t really characters of course since this isn’t a work of fiction - are fascinating. In fact it is because this book isn’t fiction that the story is so intriguing. While Kerry does resemble a lot of the newly submissive characters you find in novels, Alex is a bit more realistic than most Doms you find in erotic fiction. He’s no billionaire for starters and does make mistakes, can’t always keep his Dom persona up and is as vulnerable as Kerry when the relationship is under threat. And, more importantly, he’s not afraid to share those mistakes and doubts with Kerry.

This book fascinated me as did Kerry. I loved everything she discovered about herself and how she continued to explore her boundaries even while questioning herself.

“And so there was another line crossed, and yet more territory he had conquered.”

I smiled when Anna, the Dominatrix gives Kerry some literature to learn more about BDSM: “The Story of O” and “Exit to Eden”; two works of fiction I’m well familiar with and which do, indeed, provide a lot of insight into the lifestyle.

I think this is a wonderful book for anyone who has been reading erotic novels and, like me, has found themselves wondering how realistic they actually are. This book does prove that the line between fact and fiction, like the one between pain and pleasure, is indeed a very fine one.

TEMPTATION'S EDGE

TITLE: TEMPTATION’S EDGE

AUTHOR: EVE BERLIN

Pages: 326

Date: 06/06/2013

Grade: 5-

Details: no. 3 The Edge Trilogy

              Received from Black Lace

              Through Nudge

Own

Connor Galloway and Mischa Kennon: two strong and independent individuals. Two people with issues in their past that have left them convinced that they are not relationship material. Two people who are about to discover that assumptions, even those you make about yourself, can be very wrong.

When Connor and Mischa meet, the attraction between them is instant and neither of them is inclined to ignore it. After all, there is absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t enjoy each other. Mischa is only going to be in Seattle for a short while so the chances of their one night stand or fling or whatever you want to call it, becoming complicated are slim. As Mischa tells herself after their first night together:

“She was being ridiculous. They’d just met. And she was not that kind of girl. She’d just have to keep telling herself that until this terrible, strange yearning went away.”

But there is more to the link between Connor and Mischa than the instant attraction. Connor, like his friends Alec and Dante, is a Dominant with a bit of a sadistic streak, and although she may not be fully aware of it, Mischa is a natural submissive. Mischa has played with men in the past, she enjoys a bit of pain but until Connor she had never understood, felt, what BDSM was really about:

“She felt submissive, for the first time. Felt that melting sense of yielding, her mind emptying out.”

With every journey into sub-space Mischa’s emotions come closer to the surface. She will never tell Connor, but she can’t lie to herself any longer – she has feelings for this man, feelings much deeper and stronger than she has ever felt before, feelings she had promised herself she would never feel.

And it is much the same experience for Connor. He may not be the one submitting, but:

“It’s a power exchange. It works both ways. Except that I will be the one in command.”

Except that his command outside of the bedroom is slipping. The control he so desperately needs in his life is just not there when it comes to Mischa; he can’t get her out of his mind, his heart.

But can two individuals with so many issues find their way to each other or will those horrible memories from their youths hold them back and tear them apart?

This is the third title in The Edge trilogy and I’ve loved all three of them. I mean, what’s not to love; two strong and interesting characters, instant attraction, lots of hot sex with a nice kinky twist and a happily ever after. The only thing leaving me a bit disappointed is that the crisis scenes in all three books were very similar. Fortunately they’re not drawn out for too long, but still it would have been nice if that part of the story had been different in at least one of these three books.  Other than that though I really can’t find fault with this book or the trilogy. The story is well written and very easy to read. The characters are interesting and develop nicely - if a bit predictably - throughout the story. And these books are hot.

It was nice that the characters from the previous two books made an appearance in this one, lovely to see those pairings truly commit to each other; a wedding for Dylan and Alec (from Pleasure's Edge) and an engagement for Kara and Dante (Desire's Edge).

As far as the hotness is concerned, the pages in this book were at times almost steaming (or was that me?).

“I’ll fuck you and spank you until you’re coming and screaming and crying all at the same time.”

And boy does he. Mischa enjoys her spankings in private and in public, she’s denied her climax until she thinks she will explode and revels in all the ways Connor penetrates her.

“But the pain was pure pleasure, simmering in her system, sharp and lovely.”

Which leads Mischa to observe that:

“He really was wicked, in exactly the right way.”

But the moral of the story is probably best captured by Connor when he says:

“There is strength in enduring pain, whether dom or sub or neither.”

These are wonderful books to read outside in the sun or anytime you want to escape into another, sensual and sexy world. They won’t qualify as literary master-pieces but they do bring you that wonderful happy feeling that comes with every well written feel-good story.

 

Rebecca's Lost Journals: MY MASTER

TITLE: MY MASTER

AUTHOR: LISA RENEE JONES

Size : 338 KB

Date: 31/05/2013

Grade: 4.5

Details: No. 4 Rebecca’s Lost Journals

            An Inside Out Novella

Own / Kindle

The Blurb:

“In part four of Rebecca’s Lost Journals, My Master, it’s Rebecca's turn to claim control and set the limits in her relationship.”

It has been a long time since Rebecca has written more than just loose thoughts in her journal. After the last contract renewal she has moved in with her Master and the time for the next renewal negotiations is fast approaching. Rebecca is having serious second thoughts though. As much as she has fallen in love with her Master, she is convinced that his feelings for her are nowhere near as deep.

“I know he cares about me in the way he believes is the ultimate showing of affection and commitment.”

And what is more, with each subsequent negotiation He draws her deeper into the BDSM world, pushing her limits well beyond that with which she is comfortable.

“He’s pulling me inside that dark hole that is his escape. Only there is no escape for me.”

More worryingly, He doesn’t seem to be aware that he is pushing her too hard and too fast.

“Not when every scene pushes me beyond the limits that mean pleasure for me. He doesn’t see that, either. And as my Master, he should.”

Rebecca’s nightmares have returned and she can’t help feeling that something horrible is waiting for her, just out of sight, ready to pounce. With her Master away Rebecca decides to spend the weekend in her own flat, a decision He isn’t happy about. It is the right decision for her though because on her own, in her familiar surroundings she starts writing in her journal again and in doing so manages to process her feelings.

“I’m on an emotional rollercoaster ride and he’s not. That bothers me. It’s telling. But what is it telling me?”

Rebecca is willing to accept that she is very special to her Master:

“You’re the only sub I’ve ever asked to do this.”

But she doesn’t want to be just his best sub. Rebecca wants and needs a proper relationship.

“These are the moments that I revel in, when he doesn’t hold back, when he doesn’t restrain me or himself. We are just... us.”

But a proper relationship is not what her Master is looking for and probably not something he is capable of either. And though it would break her heart, Rebecca is getting ready to walk away. Because staying would break her completely.

What I really love about this book is that it shows us another side to a BDSM relationship. In most books in this genre we encounter an experienced Master who connects with a girl who has never even thought about the power-exchange dynamic, only to discover that she has a submissive nature and revels in such a relationship. Rebecca’s journals show us what happens when the girl in question, while enjoying some aspects of the dynamic, isn’t looking for anything beyond a “standard” relationship even if it does include a few kinky aspects. Looking at a relationship in which things don’t just come together perfectly makes this a fascinating and realistic story. Combined with the beautiful writing and the ongoing mystery as to who exactly the Master is, these short novellas are an absolute delight to read. And, now that I’ve finished the fourth in this series I’m more than ready for Being Me. Which is just as well since it will be released in just a few days time.

This novella is part of the Inside Out Series and should, ideally, be read after the following books:

If I Were You

The Seduction

The Contract

His Submissive

Rebecca's Lost Journals: HIS SUBMISSIVE

TITLE: HIS SUBMISSIVE

AUTHOR: LISA RENEE JONES

Pages: 52

Date: 19/05/2013

Grade: 4.5

Details: Rebecca’s Lost Journals no. 3

Own / Kindle

The blurb:

“In part three of Rebecca’s Lost Journals, His Submissive , Rebecca must decide just how far she will go for the darkly intense man who she is falling in love with. And does she dare believe that he too, will ever love her?”

Most of my reviews contain almost exclusively my thoughts on a certain book. Occasionally, when a certain sentence is very descriptive of the story or my thoughts, I may quote from the story. For this book I’m going to make an exception. I will be using quotes from this novella as the basis for my review. My thoughts will be draped around the quotes so to speak.

When this third installment of the Lost Journals starts, Rebecca appears to have made up her mind. Yes, she does want what her Master has to offer, she feels ready to sign the contract and wear his ring. When she sends him proof of her decision, her Master’s reaction is not what she expects at all though. Rather than delight at her willingness to submit, she is confronted with anger; Master is not impressed with her making this decision based on so little knowledge of what she is actually agreeing to.

“I’ll teach you what each point in the contract means. Then we will negotiate the final terms. But know this. When you put that ring back on, there will be no holding back for either of us.”

And that is exactly what happens, starting with punishment for her rash and unsanctioned decision. As a result, Rebecca once again finds herself questioning her attraction to this man, which is undeniable:

“There’s this subtle energy that seems to crackle in the air, and I know I’m not the only person who feels it.”

But, while her lack of control when it comes to Him worries Rebecca, she can’t deny the satisfaction she finds at his hands:

“I will push you to your limit, Rebecca, but I will always leave you thoroughly pleasured.”

On the other hand, as Rebecca writes in her journal:

“I want to know all parts of me. I have to know myself to control my life and destiny. But does that mean “he” is the right man to help me make that journey?”

This certainly is a good question and from what I’ve seen of Him in the Journals so far, I can’t say I’m convinced this man is what Rebecca needs. However, because we only see him through Rebecca’s eyes and journal entries it is quite likely that we are not given an objective description of Him. And, to his credit, He does appear to go out of his way to explain his demands and actions to his apprentice sub

“A choice to hand over control under agreed upon terms is not only control itself, but the freedom to let go and escape reality when you otherwise wouldn’t.”

And He makes a point of taking her out of her comfort zone, because pushing Rebecca’s limits will be a huge part of their relationship:

“It bothered me to be shared, and yet it aroused me. I knew then that I had completely lost control of myself.”

Rebecca’s doubts about this aspect of the deal she is about to make lessens as her Master gives her an explanation that makes it clear to her that ultimately all his demands and decisions have a purpose:

“When he’s fucking you, and touching you, and licking you Rebecca, I can watch every little nuance of how it affects you. It’s like a window into your pleasure (...)”

It takes a lot of soul searching but in the end Rebecca comes to the conclusion that no matter what her reservations, and regardless of her doubts and fears there is only one logical outcome to her dilemma:

“Yes in that bed, I knew him as master more than I ever had, and I understood the escape that came from giving him that control, and the pleasure he promised would come with it.”

I like what Lisa Renee Jones has been doing in these journals so far. She gives the reader a wonderful and believable insight into one woman’s journey into what is for her unchartered and frightening territory. Most, if not all, of us will have experienced situations in which the demands of our hearts seem to be in conflict with those of our mind. Watching Rebecca trying to find a balance between the two is proving to be a very enjoyable journey.

This book is part of the Inside Out Series and should be read after its prequels in the following order:
If I Were You
The Seduction
The Contract.

BRIE PLEASES HER NEW MASTER

TITLE: BRIE PLEASES HER NEW MASTER

AUTHOR: RED PHOENIX

Pages: 56

Date: 11/05/2013

Grade: 4.5

Details: After Graduation #1

Own / Kindle

When “Brie Learns the Art of Submission” – a book you have to read before starting this one – ends we are left with Brie and her chosen Master leaving the graduation event. The elevator doors close and.. “The end”.

I don’t know about anybody else, but there are times when I find myself frustrated when a book ends and we don’t know what happens next. And this was one of those occasions. It is all well and good that Brie ends up with the man she has chosen as her Master, but his initial reluctance, the short time they have known each other and the fact that she has only had a few weeks training as a submissive under her belt left me wondering how this relationship would develop in the real world, away from the training centre.

Don’t get me wrong; I quite enjoy fantasizing about what happens to favourite characters after a book ends, but in this case the possibilities seemed too limitless. And thankfully, I won’t have to rely on my imagination since Red Phoenix is continuing Brie’s story.

And so we see Brie and her new Master, Thane, travelling from the training centre to his impressive apartment where our favourite sub soon learns that although her official training may be over, and she may have finished top of her class, she still has a lot to learn. She may know the general rules when it comes to being a sub, now she has to learn how to apply what she has learned in her everyday relationship with her Master and, more importantly, his personal desires and requirements.

Things get off to a promising start with both Master and sub delighted to be together and enjoy what they bring to their relationship. The depth of Master’s feelings for Brie becomes very clear when he decides to call her Téa, which is Italian for angel. And when her Master tells Brie some painful details about his past it becomes very clear that he loves and trusts her. Things get more complicated though when Faelan approaches Brie and she decides to keep the encounter to herself. Brie still has a lot to learn and her first lesson is that no punishment is more painful than the act of disappointing her Master is.

I have to say I really love Brie’s journey. Apart from the fact that these stories are well written with credible characters and an imaginative story-line I adore the way in which the reader is allowed to be part of Brie’s development. 

I’m impressed with the way Red Phoenix manages to show real character development and growth in a story that is mainly sex-driven. It was impossible for me not to get involved in and touched by Brie’s emotions, discoveries and soul searching. Brie’s actions are credible and understandable and it is wonderful to watch her work out exactly what her Master wants and expects from her.

When I say this story is sex-driven I do really mean sex-driven. In fact this story is HOT. Master and Brie have lots of opportunities to enjoy each other in this book in lots of different ways.

“My cock loves your ass, Téa.”

And Brie’s body is responsive. Thane’s mere presence, the slightest touch, a word, a smile they all result in her opening up.

“Her body was no longer hers, transformed into his instrument of pleasure.”

I would like to add that I will be adding a Tantra chair to my life and house as soon as I win the lottery. Boy, are those things pricy. But I guess they’re worth every single cent once you have one.

I’m still not, and probably never will be, a huge fan of books delivered in instalments. Some stories however are too enticing to wait until the full book is available. And Brie’s life with her new Master is one of those stories that will have me buying the separate parts, against my better judgement.

DESIRE'S EDGE

TITLE: DESIRE’S EDGE

AUTHOR: EVE BERLIN

Pages: 278

Date: 05/05/2013

Grade: 4+

Details: no. 2 The Edge Trilogy

            Received from Black Lace / Ebury Publishing

            Through Nudge

Own

Kara Crawford has lots of experience when it comes to not being good enough. She could never be exactly what her parents expected her to be, although she gave up her dream of being an artist for them. And her last boyfriend left her as soon as she shared her kinky fantasies with him. By this stage in her life she has accepted that she will never live up to whatever expectations others may have of her. And if that means giving up on the dream of love and security, so be it. Not chancing her heart has to be better than having it broken. So when she meets Dante De Matteo, years after she last saw him in high school, she is happy to admit to the heat between them, delighted to give into the pull of that attraction and ecstatic when it turns out that his sexual desires mirror hers exactly. With him she can live out her dark fantasies without risking her heart. Or so she tells herself.

Dante De Matteo has his own reasons for never allowing his heart into the relationships he has. He needs to be in total control of everything and everybody in his life. This makes him the perfect Dom when it comes to casual relationships and playing out scenes with willing subs in his local BDSM club, The Pleasure Dome. But he doesn’t do love, doesn’t believe in commitment and all the risks that carries with it. And casual pleasure is enough; he doesn’t need anything more. Or so he tells himself.

When Kara and Dante meet by coincidence during a housewarming party it doesn’t take long for the heat between them to ignite. Neither does it take them long to discover that they are erotically made for each other. Dante loves to give what Kara aches to receive. As soon as Kara admits to Dante that she dreams of being spanked, fireworks erupt to the delight of both of them. And so they find themselves drawn to each other; incapable of denying the pleasures they bring each other, even if it does mean conducting a more or less secret affair.

But while their bodies and their heads are more than willing, their hearts are unable to play ball. While neither of them is looking for love and both of them are convinced that they are unable of truly committing to another, neither of them can stop their feelings from growing stronger. These feelings however could tear them apart just as easily as they might bring them together. What happens when the fear of love and commitment is as strong as the need to be together?

This was a charming and very erotic romance. Kara and Dante are interesting and strong characters. Both of them have plausible reasons for being afraid of love and commitment, and for the most part the way their relationship develops - or fails to develop depending on how you want to look at it - makes perfect sense. I liked the fact that for most of the story these two characters managed to find a way to communicate with each other, despite their fears. Maybe they weren’t completely honest with themselves or each other but that fitted perfectly into the story and didn’t upset me.

“Don’t think about it. Just enjoy it. Enjoy him.”

A very large part of the story in this book is told through the sexual encounters between Kara and Dante. Their relationship builds through their kinky encounters, their characters develop as a result of the discoveries they make while they’re engaged in steamy scenes and the story is pushed forward by Kara’s introduction into the world of power-play and Dante’s discovery that maybe there is more to intimacy than just that. I’m in awe that Eve Berlin managed to write a predominantly sex-based story that delivered so much more than just tantalising scenes. Because it’s not always about the sexy descriptions; sometimes the beauty of a story is in simple sentences like:

“He was so comfortable with her.”

However, this book does take the reader from one steamy scene to the next. The scenes not involving any erotic behaviour are little more than a lead-up to the next heated encounter. That doesn't make this book feel pornographic though. All the intimate scenes are written in a beautiful and heartwarming way. They never feel over the top or gratuitous though. In fact every single encounter between Dante and Kara was enchanting and very enticing. And there was nothing shocking or disturbing about the sexual journey these two characters undertake together. Yes, there was a lot of spanking, but it is Kara's desire to be spanked and Dante's joy to administer. But even during the spanking scenes it is clear that everything centres around bringing pleasure; nothing more and nothing less. And the story shows us more than just the power-play between these two characters; as they get closer to each other they find themselves indulging in tender intimacy as much as kinky adventures. And the shower scenes... I'll just say that if I ever renovate my house I want Dante's bathroom. And with that in mind I have to say that this older cover I found probably describes this story better than the newer one.

It was the small things I loved; the way Dante, in all his Dominance, just wants to please Kara, make her experience all the sensations she had only been dreaming about until then. I adored the way they both opened up to each other almost despite their better judgements. Neither of them thinks they are ready for or want a relationship beyond wonderful sex. Both of them think they have perfect reasons for avoiding a relationship. And yet, they find themselves establishing one without acknowledging it, to each other or to themselves.

“And he was so full of shit. Because for the first time in his life, something was happening that he didn’t entirely have control over. And that something was Kara Crawford.”

Because this story is told from both Kara’s and Dante’s perspective the reader has a wonderful opportunity to see how both of them change and grow into the relationship neither of them thought they wanted. I find that when a story is told in this way it is easier to get caught up in the story, easier to connect with the characters in question and understand what is happening.

Overall I enjoyed this steamy and romantic book tremendously. My one, minor, objection to this book? There is one point in the development of the relationship that is just too similar to what happened in Pleasure’sEdge. It seemed to me that the reaction of both characters and the way they felt and behaved afterwards was almost a carbon copy of what I had read before. Mind you, this won’t stop me from reading the third book, Temptation’s Edge, in the very near future. I do hope though that I won’t come across that particular development again.