"Just an ok start..I hope it picks up a bit."
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Bound to Please is the first BDSM book I have read. My friend, Fiction Vixen sent it to me, otherwise I don’t think I would have ever tried it. But getting into the spirit of the book, like a good little submissive, I said yes, Ms. Vixen I will read the book - of course now, I think I would have liked to risked disobeying for maybe a spanking ;)
I am so happy I read it! This book did funny things to my insides. It is hot, and naughty, and romantic, and everything good a book should be. Since I don't read a lot of BDSM, I don't have really anything to compare this book to, but I do think the BDSM is on the lighter side in this book, but since it was my first, it was a good place to start.
Ruby is in her late thirties and is an event planner. Her current event which she is planning with her best friend Meg, is a party featuring an up and coming band. Mark St. Crow is the lead singer, ten years Ruby's junior, and they immediately notice each other. Ruby's ex-boyfriend, Ash, is into BDSM and Ruby thoroughly enjoyed that part of their relationship. So much so that she wished they could have explored it even more. Ash also is a professional photographer and Mark has just happened to have bought a picture of Ruby bounded by rope.
Ruby is shocked that he owns that picture but she is also very intrigued. After a very impromptu make out session at the club, Mark promises to show Ruby his skills as soon as his gig is over. That night, Ruby’s submissive dreams come true, as the dominant Mark plays out her sexual fantasies. She is blindfolded and spanked, and she loves every minute of it. Mark gives it to her good, but always taking the utmost care in her desires.
After several intimate nights, Ruby starts realizing Mark is much more than just fun in the bedroom. She yearns to find out all about him. However, Mark has a very demanding schedule, and is travelling on a consistent basis. Ruby’s parents abandoned her when she was a teenager, and finds it very difficult to and scared to become close to Mark. They both want more, but they both need to take that final step to make a commitment a reality.
I love this couple and I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this Bound to Please. I love their relationship – Ruby wants to be oh so naughty, always dreaming of all the fetish toys but she is still a bit shy to admit it. She wants to be possessed and have someone else in control. In the bedroom, or on the kitchen table, she is into it. But it still embarrasses her when Mark leaves her notes that tell her not to wear underwear on their date.
Puzzled, she unfolded the not and read.
Take off your panties and put them in your purse. M.
For a second she just stared at the note. Did Mark really want her to do this? Here? Now?
She kinda wanted to.
[…:]She smiled and savored the anticipation of waiting for his show to end. She was going to leave her panties on. And find out for herself what happened when she disobeyed an order from Mark St. Crow.
I’ll give you a hint – her punishment involves a naughty spanking.
Mark is a dominant, all the way and damn does that make him sexy. His flirting with Ruby the first night they met sealed the deal for me. I love how Lilli Feisty writes him – so in control and confident from the moment he meets Ruby. His control of Ruby in the bedroom is hot to read, just as his sweet comforting nature that takes over as well. I also really enjoyed that they both have careers and they both are serious about them. They can’t see throwing their careers away, but they also want a relationship. I really think it was handled in a mature way and even when they were in despair, and they didn’t think they could ever work it out, they still held true to their characters. Mark still had his eye out for other subs, although you knew deep down he wanted Ruby. I was put off that Mark's eye roamed the minute he and Ruby got into an argument, but that is what his character does. Ruby knows this, and they make it work.
The only little thing I didn’t love in this book is the side story of Meg and her husband and their marital problems. I thought the book would have been just as good as Meg as a best friend without all of her drama.
Fiction Vixen mentions this in her review, but I have to hit upon it too. There is a scene with a strawberry, and it is one of my favorite smexy scenes I have read this year. You are going to have to read it to get the full satisfaction from this scene , but I don’t think I will ever be able to look at a strawberry the same way again. And it is not just what is done with the strawberry, but the way Mark makes her do it, and just when you think he is in complete control of the situation, he even gets cocky and tells her how easy she is to submit, she reverses it and bam – Ruby is in for another naughty punishment. Hot stuff.
Bound to Please is great for a novice BDSM reader like myself, and I am interested to take it up a notch. Suggestions are welcome!
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I recently read Ravenous, the first in The Dark Forgotten series and fell in love with the world Sharon Ashwood created and the delicious vampire, Alessandro and his mate and witch, Holly. During Ravenous, Mac is turned into a demon, and the repercussions of that carry over to Scorched, although this can be read as a stand alone.
Scorched starts off a year later – Mac, although not a full force demon, still has lingering side effects and is definitely not human. Alessandro, a vampire who patrols the town they live in, finally finds Mac. He sees him as a threat, and wants him dead. Mac pleads his case – his creator is now dead and all Mac wants is his life back, but Alessandro won’t hear of it. He captures Mac and listening to the pleas of Holly (who has Alessandro wrapped around her finger) he spares Mac’s life and throws him into The Castle – a prison of sorts for the supernatural.The Castle has been around for thousands of years, some of its occupants in there for that long as well. It is a maze of corridors. No one knows how big it is and it has a magic of its own. It is also failing, sections of it disappearing. Mac was in there a year ago and pure dread encompasses him when he finds himself in there again. Soon after he enters, he meets Constance, a vampire who was thrown in the castle the moment she was turned. She has never drank blood, so her turning process is not complete. Her adopted son, a demon incubus, was recently kidnapped by the guardsmen, thinking he is too dangerous to be out. She is desperate to get him back. Mac was a police officer in his former life and knows something about finding missing people. That, coupled with an attraction to Constance has him finding a purpose in his life once again. Many surprises await both Constance and Mac, and Alessandro and Holly find themselves involved in another fight for their lives.
I have a hard time rating Scorched. When I finished reading and logged it into Goodreads, I gave it three stars but I really need to break up my rating. My biggest complaint is that I didn’t buy the romance between Mac and Constance. If I could pluck the romance out of this book, it would be hard for me to find anything else I didn’t like! I loved the paranormal action throughout and thought the continuation of Alessandro and Holly was great. I even loved Mac in his demon form. I just didn’t like how Mac and Constance start up and I didn’t feel a spark as they continued.
When they first meet, Constance’s son has been kidnapped by Castle guards and she is desperate to get him back. Mac has been thrown back into the castle by Alessandro and is panicked to find a way out. He is still reeling from the effects of being a demon for a year, even though his craving of eating people has subsided. Within in moments of being introduced, they are embracing. In Ravenous, Mac turned into a demon because he was tricked into kissing a girl. Yes, it has been a year since he was turned and I am sure he has – needs – but I would think he would be more cautious with his kisses.
Constance on the other hand – she needs to finish turning into a vampire so she can be strong enough to rescue her son. She picks Mac for her first “meal.” So instead of biting him and getting it over with, she ends up kissing him and having lustful feelings. So, their first encounter to me didn’t flow. And then they had this attraction that I just didn’t see stemming from anything and throughout the book it just fell flat for me.
The Castle is the main attraction in this book and it is amazing! I love that in the world Sharon Ashwood has created, supernaturals are known to the public. Yet there is this Castle or epic proportions hidden from the world. It is accessed only from a portal, and most don’t know about it. Their are guardsmen, those brutal, ruthless men that have been forced into service, hellhounds, and many other magical creatures all in this weird, dimensional place that has portals and maze after maze. Here we meet Reynard, a guardsman with a conscience, and Lore, a hellhound that is the occasional ally of both Alessandro and Mac. The Castle is such a unique entity and I really love how it has taken on a life of its own.
Another great character is Ashe, Holly’s sister. She is a vampire hunter, and guess who she hates with a passion? Alessandro. Let me tell you, she doesn’t give up. Even when Holly pleads with her to give Alessandro a chance, she can’t. The fighting between them is really something great.
I also love the one-liners coming out of all the characters mouths. Some of the best sarcastic humor to be found in both Ravenous and Scorched.
Scorched delivers in all of the paranormal aspects. The romance didn’t do it for me, but the uniqueness of the world, and the vibrant characters were enough to carry the story.
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars ]]>
"This book is...different"
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If you read this blog regularly, it comes as no surprise when I say I am a big Josh Lanyon fan. He is known for clever, witty mystery male/male romance books. Strange Fortune is his first foray into fantasy, and it is an amazing one at that. While this book took a chapter or two to really get into, I ended up with a love of the two main characters and picture of the world stamped in my mind.
Valentine Strange is in desperate need of money having bad luck at the gaming tables recently. His fortune changes however when he is propositioned by The Holy Order, more specifically Brahman Warrick. He asks Strange, who has a reputation of a man who knows how to get things done, to go on a mission – retrieve an ancient diadem belonging to the goddess of Purya, one that The Holy Order will pay Strange for handsomely and allow him to pay off all his debts. Strange has never heard of this diadem, but according to Warrick, after Purya defeated monsters and demons, she forged this diadem to be worn by her successor the next time the world was in danger. Strange isn’t necessarily buying this tale, but for the right price, he will find truth in any story. This is a dangerous mission though – having to journey into the White Mountains, so he demands all of his money upfront. Warrick also decides to send Aleister Grimshaw, a witch with Strange to help if needed, but Warrick has ulterior motives. Warrick doesn’t think Grimshaw is mentally stable, and thinks he needs a break from the Holy Order.
Grimshaw comes from a trueblood family, one that conspired in a mutiny against Strange’s people. Although Grimshaw saw his own father and grandfather executed for their crimes, Strange saw many more terrible things done to his people during that time. They set off with history already clouding their trust. Grimshaw is just as “excited” as Strange to go on this mission, but Warrick is giving him no choice.
They set off with an unknown road ahead of them. Much distrust swirls around Grimshaw because he is a witch and his powers are not trusted. They soon realize, they not only have assassins following their trail, but heir own laborers attempt mutiny. Strange soon concludes that retrieving this diadem is not as straight forward as Warrick assumed it to be. Once they reach the monastery where Warrick promised the diadem to be located, Strange and Grimshaw realize there is much more going on. Strange also realizes his basic intentions of keeping Grimshaw safe, have turned into a much more stronger desire. Having been in a relationship with a woman previously, his feelings for Grimshaw come as a bit of a surprise, and Strange soon finds himself trying to keep Grimshaw safe, no matter the cost.
I could probably write a five page summary for Strange Fortune, but that is because Josh Lanyon puts that much detail into this story. Valentine Strange is the type of character I love – cocky, finding himself in continuous trouble, and more concerned with his polo ponies or weapons than anything of significance. In the beginning, all he truly cares about is finding the diadem to uphold his part of the bargain, but that is before he meets Grimshaw. The witch is a mysterious one – he keeps to himself, and performs spells at night which keeps everyone on edge since magic is not trusted. Strange likes a mystery and finds Grimshaw’s riddled answers and secret ways antagonizing but it keeps him on his toes. Grimshaw is lonely, and finds talking to Strange a great source of relief and a friendship develops. They soon learn they really have only each other to trust, as the others plot and uprise against them.The romance unfolds very slowly, Grimshaw falling a little faster in love. Strange always has in the back of his mind the question of whether Grimshaw is glamouring him, but it is more of a defensive thought, since he hasn’t been with a man in a long time. These two really become allies first in this mission as their friendship is tested, especially on Strange’s part. At one point in the journey, Grimshaw is unconscious for two days, and Strange never once thinks of leaving him behind, even though it puts him more at risk.
I think for those Josh Lanyon fans out there, and for those who have never read him, it needs to be stressed that this is foremost a fantasy book. Those anticipating the big romance scene may be disappointed – if that is the only thing you are waiting for. Yes there is romance, but it is not written in your face. Rather, it quietly surfaces in the story as Grimshaw and Strange go on their journey.
Their journey to retrieve the diadem becomes very complex and many twists are thrown at the reader. My only criticism is that in some parts it does become a bit slow, but at he same time, this story would not be what it is without the meticulous world building Josh Lanyon has included.
Strange Fortune is much different from his m/m romance books he is known for, but it is a fun, exhilarating change and I hope it isn’t the last of this world we have seen! ]]>
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Isobel has not had luck in love. Her father forced her to marry a very old man to gain enough money to buy back his lands from King Henry after losing them from siding against the King. Luckily for Isobel, her first husband dies after a short time and she is free of that misery - but more awaits her. Her late husband leaves all of his property to a very conniving man - one that Isobel wants nothing to do with. In desperation, she is given an option - marry a man that will help the King of England secure an allegiance to Normandy or marry the leech that stole the lands from her. Seeing as she has no real choice, she submits to the King.
Once in the castle, she must wait for her new betrothed to arrive. Robert, an advisor of the King is kind of given the role as chaperon, until her betrothed can arrive. He becomes her friend and ally at her time at the castle. She also meets William and his younger brother Stephen. Stephen is quite the ladies man but when he sees Isobel, something changes in him. He wants her like no other woman - but he can't go against the King's decree. Isobel is also smitten and gives into temptation. She has been tied down to a dirty old man, and feels like she deserves this small opportunity to have some fun before she is handed over to the next man. The more they flirt and seduce, the more they realize they want this to be more than a fling.
Knight of Pleasure is kind of a middle of the road read for me. Stephen is very much care-free and lighthearted character, but he is also deadly with a sword and extremely protective of Isobel. He is so good natured and funny, quite a contrast to his older brother William who was the hero in Margaret Mallory's Knight of Desire. He is very exuberant and full of life life and a fun character to read.
Isobel has a very mature attitude, but also has that "what the hell" vibe when it comes to Stephen. She was truly in misery during her first marriage and betrothed to another "winner," so why not have some fun with Stephen.
To her astonishment, Stephen threw his head back and laughed. He had a wonderful, infectious laugh. It filled the small garden and lightened her heart.
He dropped down beside her. Smiling his most wicked smile, he leaned too close and asked, "You will pretend you do not know why I keep my distance?"
She swallowed and shook her head. "I do not know."
"You lie, Isobel, but I will tell you all the same."
She could not breathe with him this near.
"I stay away because whenever I see you"--he kept his eyes fixed on hers as he ran his finger slowly up her forearm--"all I want to do is drag you off to bed, and keep you there for a week."
While the characters themselves were enjoyable, their actions didn't always sit well with me. Isobel is in love with Stephen, and it is not a secret. They have clandestine meetings and Stephen always acts noble in her presence, even if he gets a bit carried away with his lust. Isobel is not a stupid woman, so when Stephen steers her in the direction of marriage, she refuses him because she thinks he is still a playboy and she is jealous of a woman that she has no idea what he is really doing with her. Then minutes after her refusal, she is in his arms again. I understand if she refuses him because of her commitment to the man the King has chosen, which I don't think is the case here. But to refuse Stephen because you don't trust him with other women, and then fall in arms a short time later does not rest well with me.
Later on in the story, Stephen rescues two children, around eleven years in age and employs the boy as his page and the girl as Isobel's maid. The kids in my opinion were a bit too smart and devious. They were spying on noblemen who report to the king like it was nothing acting a bit too mature for their age.
Overall this book is good - Stephen had a very playful attitude which I enjoyed, and I really liked Robert in this book and thought his character really added to the story.
Knight of Pleasure is a fun read and one I think many will find enjoyable.
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