Deadly Pleasures

Aug 26, 2012 Stacie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

Deadly Pleasures by Mary Firmin is a tantalizing thriller that's sprinkled with romance.

Three prostitutes are dead and the police have no suspects, but oddly enough the clues always lead them back to a yacht club frequented by the wealthy. While interviewing members of the yacht club, Detective Matt Donovan discovers more drama, cheating and cover ups than he can handle. He does, however, meet Megan Riley. Knowing he should steer clear of a potential witness, Detective Donovan just can't help h...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Dellani Oakes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Deadly Pleasures – Mary Firmin

Megan Riley and her best friends, Rachel Feinman, Alexandra Grand and Kathleen Rosario, are frustrated with the men in their lives – or lack thereof. On a whim, they decide to hire a 'boy toy' to keep them amused. The search is on! The first men they consider are totally unsuitable. It isn't until they are at a party for another yacht club member, that they meet Michael Harrington.

Michael is tall, muscular, friendly and devastatingly handsome. Fate has chosen for th...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Fran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Deadly Pleasures
Mary Firmin

Some men don’t know when to quite or all it a day. George Fisher was hot for a quick, looking for a romp in the hay with Sherrie Weston prostitute extraordinaire. Something happens. Pent up, excited and definitely poor George was hoping not to strike out with Sherrie. But, Sherrie as the reader learns can’t stand George and is just doing this, as a business opportunity that she hoped would be lucrative in the long run. Poor George never saw it coming and this dear read...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Micki Peluso rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: All readers

Recommended to Micki by: Mary Firmin

Deadly Pleasures
By
Mary Firmin

Megan Riley is sunbathing with her friends on a ninety-foot yacht docked at The Bayside Yacht Club. The majestic boat belongs to Alexander’s husband, Charlie Grant. Rachel Feinman makes a remark that causes Megan to sit up in amazement. Alex just laughs, never dreaming she’s seriously suggesting that they rent a timeshare boytoy. Helen Jennings, club gossip, climbs aboard to tell them that one of their own, George Fisher, has died of a heart attack while with a hook...more
Deadly Pleasures
By
Mary Firmin

Megan Riley is sunbathing with her friends on a ninety-foot yacht docked at The Bayside Yacht Club. The majestic boat belongs to Alexander’s husband, Charlie Grant. Rachel Feinman makes a remark that causes Megan to sit up in amazement. Alex just laughs, never dreaming she’s seriously suggesting that they rent a timeshare boytoy. Helen Jennings, club gossip, climbs aboard to tell them that one of their own, George Fisher, has died of a heart attack while with a hooker—under, to be more precise. This sends Rachel into hysterical laughing at the imagery of the ‘unhooking’. Katherine Rosario, arriving late, boards the ‘Ecstasea’ and scolds them for laughing. The four friends all have problems; Megan’s a recovering alcoholic, Katherine suffers over her divorce from her philandering husband, Gino. Rachel catches her screen writer husband cheating on her on their own boat, and Alex’s older husband is not what she wants in a man. A boytoy starts to sound like a plan.

Detective Matt Donavan, LAPD, drops by the yacht club to investigate the murder of Sherrie Weston, the hooker who was with George when he died. Megan’s drawn to his handsome dark Irish looks—blue eyes and curly dark hair. He doesn’t garner much info from the rich who tend to protect their own. Dr. Tom Wilson, Medical Examiner, calls him to another crime scene and informs him that the slain hooker, Sherrie Weston, has the same MO as The Bondage Murder of Allison Graham. Matt’s partner, Angelle Bentley, an exotic Haitian beauty, joins the discussion, surprising the men with her professionalism in the face of such raw carnage.

Matt and Angelle check out a gruesome bondage magazine with a name written on it—Michael Harrington. While interviewing Sherrie’s neighbor, old Mrs. Zuckerman, they learn that a young man had visited Sherrie the day before her murder. She has a package the UPS driver left with her for Sherrie; full of porn DVD’s she swears she never opened. Matt has no real leads in the case until he gets wind of a similar murder in San Francisco which looks to him like a ‘serial sexual sadist’. The sad facts that all three women were hookers keep their cases from drawing much attention.
After a hilarious afternoon at the Power Workout, sizing up muscular hunks as a potential boytoy, the four friends decide Michael Harrington is perfect for their needs. They are unaware that he is the main suspect in the Bondage Murders. Michael agrees to their plan and now it’s a matter of who goes first. Megan decides it’s too much money and tears up her check, but mostly because her mind drifts to Matt Donavan. Rachel goes first without telling the others and Kathleen, shy and timid goes next on a dare from the rest—resulting in amazing, certainly unexpected results.

Author, Mary Fimin brings her heavily-plotted action-packed story to a climatic close. This story is layered with plots within plots, keeping the reader mystified right up to the ending. This is a must-read for those who enjoy unusual suspense with even more unusual characters, who bring comic relief to bizarre situations. Firmin’s sense of the ironic and ridiculous make her book a winner.

Reviewer: Micki Peluso, writer, journalist and author of . . . And The Whippoorwill Sang

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Jun 27, 2012 Yawatta Hosby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, suspense

I loved this 36 chapter book. It was entertaining, edgy, raw, with some funny moments. As a reader, it satisfied all my senses. I knew I was in for a treat when the prologue opened up with George dying after having sex with Sherrie. Then Chapter 1 opened up with two women discussing sharing a threesome. I enjoyed that the story went there–bondage, drugs, sex, blackmail, murder–instead of sugarcoating things. I appreciated that the story would be rated R instead of PG-13 if you will.

My favorite m...more I loved this 36 chapter book. It was entertaining, edgy, raw, with some funny moments. As a reader, it satisfied all my senses. I knew I was in for a treat when the prologue opened up with George dying after having sex with Sherrie. Then Chapter 1 opened up with two women discussing sharing a threesome. I enjoyed that the story went there–bondage, drugs, sex, blackmail, murder–instead of sugarcoating things. I appreciated that the story would be rated R instead of PG-13 if you will.

My favorite moments were when Megan and her friends hung out. I loved how they gossiped, and their attempts at finding a boytoy were hilarious, especially the gym scene. My favorite lines were: “More women are wearing the pants nowadays. Why shouldn’t they take them off as much as the damn men do?” and “She’s very codependent. Kathleen doesn’t fall in love – she takes hostages.” I liked the sarcastic sense of humor.

The story was told through Megan and Detective Matt Donovan’s point-of-view, each having their own chapters. These are my favorite type of stories to read because I get to know secrets before other characters do. Like, Matt and Megan had an instant connection when he interrogated her and her friends at the boat, but they didn’t know they were on each other’s radar. It was so cute when Matt asked Megan for her phone number, pretending he needed it for the case.

The suspense and the mystery was definitely there. The plot kept me on my toes. I liked that Megan was independent and strong enough to investigate on her own; she had a take charge attitude. The scenes with her ex were tension and conflict filled. Very interesting. At the end when the Bondage Killer was revealed, I was shocked! He wasn’t even on my radar as a suspect! So kudos to the writer for not making the mystery easy.

Mary Firmin has the talent of dialogue and characterization. The conversations and body language was witty, and even though there were two main characters, all characters’ personalities shone through with nonverbal cues, dialogue, sense of dress, etc. She was great with description that I got lost in the story. Her scenes were awesome. Basically, Mary Firmin was great with all the story elements. She’s a great storyteller.

I RECOMMEND this book to read.(less)

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Jun 07, 2012 Brenda Sorrels rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you want a great ride, something exciting and fast paced, then this is the perfect book to read. Things heat up right away in the opening scene where a drugged-up prostitute, Sherrie, (red garter belt and lace) is having sex with her trick, George. George is a member of the Bayside Yacht Club where our protagonist, Megan Riley and her three rich girlfriends hang out. Between grunts, groans and lots of sweat, George studies a framed photograph of Sherrie with her close friend, another prostit...more If you want a great ride, something exciting and fast paced, then this is the perfect book to read. Things heat up right away in the opening scene where a drugged-up prostitute, Sherrie, (red garter belt and lace) is having sex with her trick, George. George is a member of the Bayside Yacht Club where our protagonist, Megan Riley and her three rich girlfriends hang out. Between grunts, groans and lots of sweat, George studies a framed photograph of Sherrie with her close friend, another prostitute named Allison, who was brutally murdered six months prior. George dies in ecstasy having an orgasm with Sherrie and the women of the Yacht Club are about to be pulled into a murder mystery.
As prostitutes continue to turn up dead, things ramp up even more and the Yacht Club ladies, as an antidote to their cheating husbands and boring lifestyle, hire a boy-toy. Megan, a struggling real estate agent and recovering alcoholic, is a breath of fresh air in the group and goes along only because of their friendship. There is a taste of reality TV in the superficiality, the cattiness, the whining. I could picture all of the women, except Megan, on "The Housewives of Orange County!" The boy-toy thing was amusing and a gutsy turn on the double standard. The plot thickens when their boy-toy turn out to be suspected as the killer.
Enter Matt Donovan an LAPD detective, widower and all-around good guy who is determined to find the horrific murderer...(victims are mutilated, their right breasts cut off) Megan and Matt are soon an item. The ride continues...on and off yachts, into the world of sadomasochism - scenes all vividly described and well rendered, very real. I admit I did learn something here. There was one "club" that was located in a house on top of a hill and people had to take a tram and have a password to get in. It was a party like I've never seen and reminded me of that Tom Cruise/Nicole Kidman movie, "Eyes Wide Shut."
The story never loses it's roller-coaster pace and there is a thrilling scene in the end set on one of the yachts that left me on the edge of my seat. The ending was my favorite part of the book. All of the loose ends came together and all of the scenes paid off in a satisfying way. So, take your e-reader on the plane or grab your towel and hit the beach. Let "Deadly Pleasures" engage and entertain you in a really fun way!(less)

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May 10, 2012 Sandra Nachlinger rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: murder mystery fans

When yacht-club friends Megan, Alex, Kathleen, and Rachel decide to share a boytoy (sort of a human timeshare arrangement), they have no idea that the man they’ve selected is the prime suspect in the gory Bondage Murders. Through a series of circumstances, Megan soon finds herself drawn into the murder investigation, which takes her from L.A.’s society soirees to its BDSM and sex clubs. As her involvement grows, so does the mutual attraction between Megan and hunky L.A. police detective Matt Don...more

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Apr 29, 2012 R.P. Dahlke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Deadly Pleasures by Mary Firman
NOTE: Iconsider it my personal crusade to find reasonably priced ($.99-$2.99) exciting Indie mystery/suspense on Kindle/Amazon. Here's another winner for only $.99

While Megan Riley struggles to keep her real estate career afloat in a down economy, her rich and beautiful women friends live life to the hilt. But as Megan watches her friends lives unravel with philandering husbands and financial problems of their own, she realizes that her lonely life may not be so ba...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Jennifer K Jovus rated it 2 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I was very hesitant about reading Deadly Pleasures. The title and cover are a little deceiving – I was concerned because I thought it would have tons of sex in it but was told not to worry about it by a friend. She was right, there is one sex scene and truthfully, the YA books I have read are much more detailed than the short non-descript scene Deadly Pleasures has. However, there is sexual talk and descriptive crime scenes that I had a hard time with. I also discovered how naive I a...more Disclaimer: I was very hesitant about reading Deadly Pleasures. The title and cover are a little deceiving – I was concerned because I thought it would have tons of sex in it but was told not to worry about it by a friend. She was right, there is one sex scene and truthfully, the YA books I have read are much more detailed than the short non-descript scene Deadly Pleasures has. However, there is sexual talk and descriptive crime scenes that I had a hard time with. I also discovered how naive I am.

Deadly Pleasures is my first adventure in the literary world of Murder Mystery. It starts out with a group of women that are fed up and discouraged by cheating husbands and the different standards for the two genders. They wonder why it seems ok for men to have a little something on the side but women can’t?

When one of the men in this rich circle of friends dies in a very socially awkward way the group of yacht club yuppies are dragged into the middle of a crazy serial killer mystery. Megan is terrified of the murders that seem to be happening close to her home. Through a little detective work she discovers that her group of friends has secrets that she wishes she hadn’t discovered.

The good: Matt Donavon is a rare gem. This character kept me glued to the second half of the book. Megan and Matt’s relationship is the real meat and potatoes of the story. For me Mary Firmin’s writing flows smoothly when these two are together, you cannot help but love these characters and the sincerity they both have.

The Bad: I hated the women, I hated the cat calling, cougar – we give women a bad name – if you pay somebody enough they’ll do you want women. There were too many of them. I really could not keep track of them all or the spouses or who was divorced who slept with whom. I honestly couldn’t figure out how someone like Megan was friends with them, she seemed like the only semi wholesome gal of the group.

The Ugly: Monsters. By looking at my blog design you can tell I like them. But Deadly pleasures had monsters of a different sort in it. Real ones, monsters that exist in our world and make me want to carry a weapon with me at all times. I’m glad that the monster in Deadly Pleasure was one that had a specific type of prey – my complete opposite – or I would have been sleeping with the lights on.

Who would I recommend Deadly Pleasures to? People that love crime, murder mysteries and drama. Deadly Pleasures actually reminded me a lot of a soap opera, a hot mess that you can’t help but get sucked into.

My rating: I remember looking at my kindle and thinking “Oh my goodness I’m only 37% done? I cannot force myself to finish this book.” But it came as a recommendation from someone that I trust and she loved it so I carried on. The reason I had a hard time was because I could not relate to the characters at all. There were to many of them a group of five friends and five cheating dirt bag men that had no humanity. The story also seemed to jump around and I had a hard time keeping track of who was narrating. For the first half of the book I would give Deadly Pleasures a 3 skull review.

For the second half of Deadly Pleasures I would give it a 4 skull rating. It’s intense, the narration is strictly from Megan and Matt and easy to follow. As I said before I think this is where Mary Firmin’s writing truly shines. The second half of the book is mysterious and has a shocking ending.

So I give Deadly Pleasures 3.5 Skulls. This means if you’re a fan of Murder Mystery you would really enjoy this book. If you are just trying out this genre, check it out from the library – like me you’ll be surprised at the ending. And that is always a treat!

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Apr 15, 2012 Allizabeth Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Description:

What do you do when you are a high class, rich, entitled, yacht-owning woman who finds out that her husband has a mistress on the side? For spurned wives Alex, Rachel, Kathleen, and Megan the answer is clear - get a "timeshare boytoy"; aka hire and share sexy stripper Michael Harrington!
Recovering addict and victim of a bad break-up, (and a crappy real estate market), Megan has her doubts about this new venture - but friends know best, right? Unfortunately, their plans go awry whe...more Description:

What do you do when you are a high class, rich, entitled, yacht-owning woman who finds out that her husband has a mistress on the side? For spurned wives Alex, Rachel, Kathleen, and Megan the answer is clear - get a "timeshare boytoy"; aka hire and share sexy stripper Michael Harrington!
Recovering addict and victim of a bad break-up, (and a crappy real estate market), Megan has her doubts about this new venture - but friends know best, right? Unfortunately, their plans go awry when prostitutes start turning up dead at Bayside Yacht Club, and everyone's a suspect - even their husbands. What is the killer's real agenda? Will Megan's growing feelings for widower Detective Matt Donovan protect her from the killer's twisted game? Or will her proximity to the case leave her and her friends sliced stern to bow?

Review:

When I first spotted the cover of Deadly Pleasures, I couldn't help but wonder what I was getting myself into. I am not usually a fan of the semi-erotic paperback romances that my grandmother enjoys, but from chapter one I sensed a difference. Mary Firmin is a very talented writer. Her attention to detail, the fast-paced sinuosity of the story-line, and her well-written characters immediately caught my eye; but for me, the smart balance of humor tied the whole book together. I ended up starting the book at 11, fully intending to take my time, and went to bed at 3:45 craving a sequel. The story goes from light and lively on one page to dark, twisty and surprise-full on the next. I did manage to figure out who the murderer was before the reveal, but the possibilities were endless. Admittedly, Mary Firmin's ability to introduce well-developed and realistic characters mid-story had me second-guess myself a couple of times. Back to the cover, I am not a fan, but I get the idea. The adage,"Don't judge a book by its cover", comes to mind - the murder mystery far outweighs the eroticism insinuated by the cover image. I recommend this book to adults (17+) of both genders who enjoy a mystery that will leave them satisfied. Now all I have to do is wait for the sequel...

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Lightning Book Promotions) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
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Apr 15, 2012 Hazel G. (I ♥ Mr. Grey) *Craves the Angst Reviews* . rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: suspense, thriller, romance readers..everyone!

Recommended to Hazel G. (I ♥ Mr. Grey) *Craves the Angst Reviews* by: Mary Firmin

Shelves: romance-suspense

Deadly Pleasures is a murder-suspense thriller written by Mary Firmin. I received this book from the author as a free read for an honest review.

Short Synopsis:
This story centers on a circle of women at the Bayside Yacht Club, most notably, Megan Riley and her group of friends, Kathleen, Alex and Rachel. Megan, a struggling real estate agent who’s trying to overcome recent economic struggles, is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict who is also moving on from a recent break up with her addict...more Deadly Pleasures is a murder-suspense thriller written by Mary Firmin. I received this book from the author as a free read for an honest review.

Short Synopsis:
This story centers on a circle of women at the Bayside Yacht Club, most notably, Megan Riley and her group of friends, Kathleen, Alex and Rachel. Megan, a struggling real estate agent who’s trying to overcome recent economic struggles, is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict who is also moving on from a recent break up with her addict fiancé, Brian. She’s had it with relationship woes as well as her circle of female friends who have each found themselves in the midst of philandering husbands, each who have become questionable in a grisly string of S&M murders. The wives each have their share of life problems and they center around their significant others. So they decide to be like the cheating men in their lives and hire a share-time boy-toy.

Detective Matt Donavon is investigating the murders and each time a new clue presents itself, he’s lead back to the Bayside Yacht Club, the yuppie rich and the roving Michael Herrington, who’s just popped to the top of the suspect list and has also accepted the wives boy-toy offer.

But in the mist of all this debauchery, Megan finds herself in the middle of a sadistic sexual murder mystery, a hot detective that has her reconsidering her no-men policy, and a group of friends who are determined to have a little fun of their own.

Review:
I really enjoyed this book! So much so, that I read it all in one sitting. I love spending my Saturdays enjoying a great book in the silence of my library and this book definitely kept me seated throughout the day. I enjoyed the full cast of characters. Megan was a wonderful heroine and I respected her bravery. The camaraderie between Megan and her female leads was fun and refreshing to read. I loved the interaction and devotion they display towards one another. There were a lot of laugh out loud moments, especially as they were trying to find the “right boy-toy”. The gym scene alone was hilarious and one I’ll not soon forget. The dialogue between the friends was superbly written and realistic. The mystery behind the murders was well done and left you guessing throughout most of the book. The writing was cleaver and flowed well. I was impressed with the knowledge and research it must have taken to get the facts for this story. Crime scene procedures can be daunting to read with the author getting to bogged down in the inner workings but Firmin does this surprisingly well. (J.D. Robb would be proud!) This book was written with the novice in mind. The topic of BDSM is prominent in the murder mystery but it’s done in such a way as to not offend any reader. Its mild in description and anyone would feel comfortable with the topic. And the ending… well, fantastic is the one word I can use to describe this remarkable book. This was just a wonderful read and one I’ll definitely be adding to my favorites list!

I'd like to send out a huge Thank You to Mary Firmin for the opportunity to read and review this terrific book! It was brilliant!(less)

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Apr 09, 2012 Nikki McCarver rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well you know the saying hell hath no fury like a woman scorned? Well try 4 of those with lots of money. They could do some serious damage. Instead they come up with a plan to have a little fun with a stripper. I like the way it was phrased, timeshare boy-toy, because they do indeed take turns with this young hunk. Until the bomb is dropped and they find out her is the leading suspect in a string of murders investigation. But is it really that cut and dry? Did you ever know a good book that was?...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Cheryl Gardner rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is what I like to call one of those "more money than common sense" scenarios. Megan Riley, our main character and heroine, is a recovering addict. She's struggling in a depressed real estate market, and her engagement to fellow drunk and drug addict Brian has ended. Her friends, the rich housewives of Bayside, like to spend time on their husbands' yachts, complaining that their husbands are philandering jerks, which they are. They decide one day, much to Megan's disbelief, that they deserve...more This is what I like to call one of those "more money than common sense" scenarios. Megan Riley, our main character and heroine, is a recovering addict. She's struggling in a depressed real estate market, and her engagement to fellow drunk and drug addict Brian has ended. Her friends, the rich housewives of Bayside, like to spend time on their husbands' yachts, complaining that their husbands are philandering jerks, which they are. They decide one day, much to Megan's disbelief, that they deserve something on the side as well, eventually hiring stripper Michael Harrington to service a variety of their personal needs. A bunch of wealthy women sharing a boytoy?! Who doesn't see problems on the horizon with that one?

While these women are wrapped up in their own little lifestyles of the rich and famous worlds, women are being tied up, hacked up, and murdered, and all leads point detective Matt Donovan back to the Bayside Yacht club. Things get really heated when a Senator's daughter winds up dead in her own little love dungeon.

Murder mystery readers will find a lot of familiar tropes here, and so it will be quite easy to sympathize with the characters. Again, reminiscent of the movie 8MM, we have a snuff film -- although in this plot line it was inadvertently made -- we have blackmail, escort services, porn peddlers, and we have the troubled heroine who falls in love with the handsome detective and manages to get herself into all kinds of tight spots. We also have a very brief look into the BDSM subculture as our detective takes a walk on the wild side through L.A.'s bondage parlors and hidden sex clubs, trying to catch a killer. In Ms. Firmin's novel, the sexual subculture is the demented backdrop and the underlying pathos behind a series of violent murders, explored through the eyes of homicide detective Matt Donovan. In this story, the BDSM is treated as a symptom of psychosis, and the brief jaunts into this world are dark and seedy, again, reminiscent of the movie 8MM, though not as graphic, so potential readers do not have to worry about the "ick" factor. All this is written very voyeuristically. A momentary peep through the peephole, so sensitive readers do not have to worry about graphic content. Even the one small sex scene is left off the page. I would liken it to an extended version of the TV show Criminal Minds, and anyone who enjoys murder mystery crime shows like that will find this book a light enjoyable read with just enough thrills to keep a reader engaged without being overwhelming.
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Apr 01, 2012 *Babs* rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, mysteries, murder, arc-asked-to-review

Four couples and a divorcee are all members of a yacht club. Everyone has a yacht but Megan who is the divorcee. The 4 women know their husbands have been unfaithful and decide to get a young toyboy and have him tag along with them. Megan is not keen on the idea but goes along. Things start taking a turn when some prostitutes are found dead. A while back the same type of thing has happend and they think it is the same person. In walks widower and handsome Matt Donovan. There is an instant chemis...more

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Mar 30, 2012 ♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspence, mystery, not-a-romance, arc

There are a bunch of crazy bored people with lots of money that belong to a yacht club & nothing better to do than dive into the world of prostitution S&M clubs & murder. It isn't nearly as dark as the description loors you to believe & the female characters have some sort of unhealthy emotional baggage & the men are all morally challenged bastards with some kind of side fling going, paid for or free.

The strong brilliant characters are the police detectives investigating the...more There are a bunch of crazy bored people with lots of money that belong to a yacht club & nothing better to do than dive into the world of prostitution S&M clubs & murder. It isn't nearly as dark as the description loors you to believe & the female characters have some sort of unhealthy emotional baggage & the men are all morally challenged bastards with some kind of side fling going, paid for or free.

The strong brilliant characters are the police detectives investigating the case Matt Donavan & Angelle. Then you got your token dumb a** almost retired can't bite his toungue detective & the female love interest of the lead detective who belongs to this lovely group of insane characters slightly & almost stepping over the ditzy line as her friends.

I thought it was pretty good & for some reason it read as almost funny with a calamity of things happening to stupid men making stupid choices, but I'm not sure it was supposed to be mostly funny. It did keep me stuck reading all the way through in one sitting, because I did want to know who did it & the outcome of the 2 characters Matt & Megan.

I do shake my head at these characters always asking "are you for real?" Geez you are like 30! grow up! Some points I never got. Like why was it so important for Megan to be in AA. Why Kathleen was so sad about divorcing her a**hole husband (god throw him overboard on the way to catalina! It's a 2.5 hour trip!) Sharks will eat him! Throw chum out with him! It's a guarantee! Not really, but you get a sense of the characters & hate all the men!

It's worth the read, but I can see it making a romance reader angry. It has a one liner incinuationg closed door romance a neon "break for commercial here" style & if someone is looking for an intense murder mystery it lacks the intensity. I would describe it as the perfect mystery beach/tanning read. It was worth it because it moved quickly. Every character introduced had a definite role in the story & the writing /descriptions were excellent. (less)

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Mar 23, 2012 Lightning Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mary Firmin is one of Lightning Book Promotion's clients and I would love for you to see what some people have been saying about her novel!

"Firmin writes more like a seasoned storyteller than a debut novelist,...Deadly Pleasures is recommended for readers who like to be both titillated and entertained. Ones certainly hopes that the author, an iUniverse Rising Star, has more naughty novels up her sleeves." Jill Allen, Clarion Reviews. (Five star review)

"Firmin's first novel is a first-rate murder...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Kenneth Weene rated it 4 of 5 stars

A detective story with some powerful sado-masochism, Deadly Pleasures is set in the Hollywood lifestyle complete with wealth, yachts, trips to Catalina. It is filled with hot guys and hungry women. There's love, even love that fulfills and there is lots of infidelity. Best of all, it's well written. The mystery holds your attention, the characters matter, and the pages keep turning along with the twisting clues.

My only negatives: I know for many this is actually a positive, but unnecessary info...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Jodie Riverina Romantics rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was asked to read this book by a company promoting authors. I was informed it was a 'murder mystery romance...that takes you on an interesting ride through sex clubs and bondage murders'.

From the few words that usually peak my interest (romance, sex clubs and bondage) as well as the hot cover, I decided to give it a go.

Unfortunately at 33% I put it down, deciding never to pick it up again.

The two star rating and the dnf status isn't necessarily based on the story (that I will touch on later)...more I was asked to read this book by a company promoting authors. I was informed it was a 'murder mystery romance...that takes you on an interesting ride through sex clubs and bondage murders'.

From the few words that usually peak my interest (romance, sex clubs and bondage) as well as the hot cover, I decided to give it a go.

Unfortunately at 33% I put it down, deciding never to pick it up again.

The two star rating and the dnf status isn't necessarily based on the story (that I will touch on later).
The main reason for putting it down is that I thrive on romance. I only ever read romance and there is a good reason for it - because plain and simple - that is all I like.

By 33% there had only been a few barely registered comments about how the protagonists were attracted to each other. Apart from having two very small, professional conversations, there was no connection between them at all. The story was entirely based on the bondage murders and Megan (the protagonists) childish and high maintenance friends - who started to annoy the hell out of me.

Maybe if I was into murder mysteries without needing the romance, I would have loved it. But like I mentioned - I need romance.

In relation to the actual writing, I thought the story was smooth but extremely detailed. You were told in great detail of all the physical attributes of each side character (and there were quite a few) and the scene details were also full on. In my opinion a lot of this could have been deleted to make it more hard hitting and exciting....but my opinion can only be based on what I read. There could be a reason for all the (IMO) unnecessary details - I will never know.

I think the cover is also a bit misleading. Without looking into too much detail about this book, the cover gives an impression of a hot romance - but I have been told that the one sex scene in the book is behind closed doors. So if you are looking for something hot and steamy, this is not it.

All in all, it is definitely not a book I would recommend to high maintenance romance fans like myself however it may be just the book for murder mystery fans. (less)

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Apr 30, 2012 Marina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This story starts with a very sexy scene and I thought that this was a different genre (read: erotic). In the very next moment I was in another "Sex and the City" story. Four girlfriends talking about their marriage problems, unsatisfied with their sex life, hire a stripper as a boytoy. And after that, murder and a possible serial killer.

What a twist!

The murder part, according to me, was the best. I had some doubts at the beginning, but reading on and on, somehow I was into the story. The murd...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Vidya-BooksAreMagic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, blog-tour, contemporary-romance, marriage-wedding, mystery

Don't judge this book by the cover. I am a cover freak too and I know its not the book you will pick up, when you see the cover. But, this book is such an exception I am glad I agreed to review it.

The novel starts with a murder of a man, when he is in bed with a hooker. Well, for a murder mystery, that's a great start. Soon, there are a series of murders, and the handsome LAPD detective, Matt Donovan, takes on the case.

When this is happening, four friends - Megan, Kathleen, Rachel and Alex - who...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Marilou George rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book has all the components of a murder/mystery that will keep you glued to every page. It contains elements of love, sadomasochism, betrayal, suspense and murder. The entire cast of characters is interesting and each adds their own flavor to the story. The writing is seamless and the action non-stop.

Megan Riley is a divorced woman who is struggling on many levels to get her life in order. She is a great character who is strong, thoughtful and a loyal and compassionate friend. She is a memb...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Beverly rated it 3 of 5 stars

My thoughts:
This is a thriller from the go. Mary Firmin delivers a murder mystery that does not disappoint. The plot is dangerously captivating. The characters are clever and realistic with personalities that make you both smile and cringe. Megan's friends are an electrically charged group of women with a twisted sense of reality and style.

The boy-toy plan is funny and creative. Not something you read about normally - women taking that role in the world of adultery, and they do it in high end s...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Stormi (Lightning Book Promotions) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is Mary Firmin's debut novel, and I must say I can't wait to read the next one! It had all the elements of a great murder mystery, it kept me guessing till the very end who the real killer was and I loved it!

Megan Riley's life is a bit of turmoil as she is trying to stay sober, her ex-fiance won't leave her alone, and now woman are being murdered and it hits close to home. Now she gets to add to everything the fact that her friends want to timeshare a man for fun, they figure that men do it...more This is Mary Firmin's debut novel, and I must say I can't wait to read the next one! It had all the elements of a great murder mystery, it kept me guessing till the very end who the real killer was and I loved it!

Megan Riley's life is a bit of turmoil as she is trying to stay sober, her ex-fiance won't leave her alone, and now woman are being murdered and it hits close to home. Now she gets to add to everything the fact that her friends want to timeshare a man for fun, they figure that men do it all the time so why not them. Megan wasn't real sure that she wanted to but after meeting the handsome detective she really doesn't want to go through with it. Megan is a really strong character, very gutsy and I really liked her. I love strong female characters, especially when there is danger involved. I hate it when they run away screaming, but Megan she was a fighter.

Detective Matt Donovan is just one of those male characters that you take an instant liking too. He is handsome, kind and very determined to find out who is behind the murders. When he meets Megan he can't seem to get her out of his head but he doesn't think he has a chance with a high society lady. Not only does he have to try and solve the bondage murder case but he has to figure out if he can trust Megan or not since a lot of things keep happening to make him wonder about her.

Mary Firmin, does a great job of writing a face-paced murder mystery that makes me think it could be a Desperate House wives episode, even though I have never watched that show. :) I really thought I knew whodonit right up until the end then it was sort of like OH MY! I think I figured it out the same time the detective did! It was great! I love it when I am kept guessing till the end.

Don't let the cover put you off if you are thinking it is some sort of steamy sexy romance novel because it isn't. I actually thought it would be steamy but instead it was light on romance and heavy on mystery and I think it was wrote well enough that even both genders could enjoy it.

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May 21, 2012 Adrienne Campbell rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not a bad read for the price and for a new novelist.

I really didn't like the beginning and considered giving it up when the sample pages ran out. I read the reviews here and decided, for the price, it was worth taking a chance.

I thought the female characters were rather shallow and the men were all pretty much dirt bags with the exception of the "knight in shining armour" cop who saves the damsel in distress.

I guess the point to all this rambling is, well, the book seems to ramble on. It's...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book as a part of the Good Reads First Reads program.

Too many details for me! Too many characters! I became disinterested in the plot almost as quickly as I began to read the book.

I wasn't able to finish. I made it 75% of the way through- and wouldn't have read that much if it wasn't a First Read- and then skipped to the end to see what happened. I couldn't even remember the character who ends up being the villain, so I had to go back to the beginning and start reading again! In...more

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May 01, 2012 Cecilia Robert rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a great story, suspenseful as well as romantic. It follows four women, and what happens around them which is lot. It's mostly wirtten in Megan and Detective DOnovan's point of view.

Women are dropping dead, murder by someone who enjoys causing other pain by torturing them. All evidence points to a certain members of a club. The plot thickens, making it hard for the detective to find the truth.
The story weaves in what is happening in the four women'S lives.

I enjoyed how Ms Firmin worked...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Tabby - IMReviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, reviewed-for-imr-2012, signed-books

Original Review Posted - Here

This cover totally got my interest & the synopsis didn't sound too bad either! & you guys know me, I'm extra picky about what I read!

This book wasn't at all like I thought it was going to be. I was expecting it to be one of those Romance books that knocks your socks off - with just a hint of suspense it in! - She totally flipped the script on me! This is mainly a murder/mystery with some romance thrown in. Which, is also totally okay with me, seeing as to how...more Original Review Posted - Here

This cover totally got my interest & the synopsis didn't sound too bad either! & you guys know me, I'm extra picky about what I read!

This book wasn't at all like I thought it was going to be. I was expecting it to be one of those Romance books that knocks your socks off - with just a hint of suspense it in! - She totally flipped the script on me! This is mainly a murder/mystery with some romance thrown in. Which, is also totally okay with me, seeing as to how I love me some suspense.

I love me some Megan. She is everything you want in a leading lady! She's driven, stronger than she realizes, has morals from here to next year and has some awesome taste in men! Well, minus the ex-fiance that just won't leave her alone! She is, in all aspects of the word, a fighter. - Throw in some friends who feel it's a "brilliant idea" to "time-share" a man - and you get the amazingly funny stuff that is, Deadly Pleasures.

Men do it all the time right? Share women? So this makes it okay for women to do it too, right? This is the logic Megan's friends used. Already iffy on the idea, Megan meets Detective Matt Donovan, the lead detective in charge of the murder investigation. Talk about REALLY not wanting to be a part of it now!

Donovan is a "swoon" factor of his own. Yes, I said swoon. I mean really, read the description of him and then tell me you don't agree! :) His determination to find the killer drives him in just about everything he does. Upon meeting Megan; he finds himself questioning himself. Is he good enough for her, this high society woman? Add into that the fact that his trust in Megan is slipping each and every time something happens in this case.

I did find myself wanting to shake some people in this book though. There were alot of "OMG - YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER!" and "NO YOU DIDN'T" moments. This made for some laughs though! I loved the pace of this book. It wasn't too slow and it wasn't so fast that you find yourself confused for most of the book. The ending was a surprise to me. Here I thought I had the whole thing figured out and then NOPE. Better luck next time! lol

This is an awesome book for the murder/mystery readers!(less)

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Apr 09, 2012 Tana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mary Firmin debut novel is fantastic, the character development, plot and her writing draws you in and doesn’t let you go till you reach the end. This is a great murder, mystery and romance novel and was so well written you don’t want to put it down. I for one will be keeping my eye on anything Mary Firmin writes.

Megan Riley, the main character is struggling, she has addictions problems, struggling at work due to the bad economy and worse she has just ended her relationship. Her girlfriends who...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Mary Firmin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: the-thin-wall, the-splendor-pf-antiquity, the-voynich-cypher, forgotten-burial

Reunion
By
Jeff Bennington

Reunion begins with a chilling view into the mind of High School student, David Ray, who has suffered malicious and sexually abusive parenting, constant bullying from his classmates; he is a lonely, desperate young man with no hope and no foreseeable future. The author’s remarkable insight is painful for the reader and it comes as no surprise that the young student is planning a Columbine style attack on his High School in Crescent Falls, Idaho. But, with an incredibly de...more Reunion
By
Jeff Bennington

Reunion begins with a chilling view into the mind of High School student, David Ray, who has suffered malicious and sexually abusive parenting, constant bullying from his classmates; he is a lonely, desperate young man with no hope and no foreseeable future. The author’s remarkable insight is painful for the reader and it comes as no surprise that the young student is planning a Columbine style attack on his High School in Crescent Falls, Idaho. But, with an incredibly delicate and compassionate approach, Author Bennington then shows the aftermath of the shootings and the suffering of the survivors.
Twenty years later, each one has responded in their own way to the crisis and managed to carry on in life like wounded warriors. Nick Tooley, whose brother was killed on that fateful day, and his sweetheart, Kate, eventually marry, but their union is anything but perfect because of his alcoholism. She still pines for Bryan Jacobs, now a Sheriff’s Deputy who is hoping she will leave her husband. Maria Vasquez, who has founded a Crisis Center to combat her demons, decides to put together a twenty year reunion. She extends feelers to the rest of her surviving classmates and is pleased that several of them respond positively.
There is her friend, Lana Jones, now a successful author, who was injured in the shooting and still carries the scars. She is also an unwed mother, who is hiding her own secrets. Tanner Khan has tried literally everything to erase his memories, and is now more than willing to face his fears. He also agrees to appear. And then there is Noah, an English exchange student who left the U.S. and returned to England the day after the tragedy. He will also return for the reunion.
But there is an evil even greater than their horrible memories lurking in the halls of their old High School. Now closed permanently, a presence prowls the school day and night, it permeates even the survivors’ dreams, and it will not go away. It will take someone with great strength, and God Himself, to erase the specter of David Ray -- but not until much more damage is done.
What a great story! I must say that Jeff Bennington has done a fabulous job of creating believable, likeable, and sometimes even scary characters in his novel and I salute him. Reunion is a fantastic read and I cannot wait to read his next book, Twisted Vengeance.
Mary Firmin, author of Deadly Pleasures
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Feb 13, 2012 Mary Firmin rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Check out this review from author Doris Pamett!

"Mary Firmin’s titillating debut thriller Deadly Pleasures keeps the reader engrossed from start to finish. The author must have asked herself, “Why should men have all the fun? Why shouldn’t women enjoy the services of a boy toy?” The answer is a resounding yes!

Firmin’s deftly plotted mystery tosses real-estate agent Megan Riley into a world populated with a serial killer, bondage clubs, a skunk of a former boyfriend, a handsome hunk detective, wh...more

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The Mystery, Crim...: Deadly Pleasure blog tour invitation. Need some reviewers!	3	24	Sep 27, 2012 01:03am
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Romance Readers R...: Deadly Pleasures by Mary Firmin	1	6	Jan 11, 2012 05:25pm

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