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Natural Law

(Nature of Desire #2)

Joey W. Hill (Goodreads Author)

4.07 · Rating details · 3,877 ratings · 417 reviews

Mackenzie "Mac" Nighthorse is a highly respected homicide detective and a career cop. There isn't a dangerous situation that can back him down. However, the personal becomes uncomfortably entangled in the professional when he goes undercover in a high class BDSM club as a male submissive to find a Dominatrix who is winning the trust and then murdering her chosen partners. ...more

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Paperback, 360 pages

Published March 25th 2005 by Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc (first published March 10th 2004)

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· 3,877 ratings · 417 reviews

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Start your review of Natural Law (Nature of Desire, #2)

Jul 21, 2011 Baba rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica-or-erotic-romance, erotic-suspense, joey-w-hill, being-mature-is-sexy, older-hero-younger-heroine

4 stars.****Third reread October 2013; new review posted October 28, 2013

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Mac wears a well-groomed beard…
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Homicide detective Mackenzie Nighthorse is working undercover as a sexual submissive at The Zone. The police are hunting down a Mistress who's killing young, submissive men. Mistress Violet is prowling The Zone when she sets her eyes on Mac and she knows right away that she wants him. She's very attracted to him, but Violet wants more than his body he so freely offers. Vi wants to understand ...more

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Dec 20, 2015 Camille rated it did not like it

Shelves: contemporary-caucasian-mf, femdom

I fucking hated this book.

1. There are only two Black people in this book. Two. In Florida. Yeah. They're identical twins: Tamara and Keira. Guess who the crazy, psycho, sadistic, incestuous, damaged, murderous pair is in this book? Wild guess? Anyone?

2. The purple prose is off the charts. Lay off the thesaurus, the allegories, and overly ornate everything. Every sexual experience is a volcano, a tsunami, an earthquake, a sunset, an astronomical wonder. Stop. Goddamn.

3. Using "for" as a ...more

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Sep 26, 2013 Natasha is a Book Junkie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favorites

“You’re mine, Mackenzie, and I don’t share you, not even with memories.”

Once upon a time, I asked a trusted fellow reviewer which BDSM book she would recommend if she had to pick only one from the countless ones she has read so far, and this was her choice. Now, that’s all the convincing I needed to start reading this book immediately, but I was also dying of curiosity to see for myself what made this story so unique that a seasoned reader of the genre would single it out so adamantly. Well, ...more

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Apr 02, 2011 The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears rated it did not like it

Shelves: genre-bdsm, wtf-good-idea-badly-executed, characters-male-submissives, characters-female-dominants

I'd put Natural Law off for several years in spite of all the glowing reviews, and it being that rare breed in BDSM fiction: a Fem-dom story (and I love those). Maybe it was curiosity or sheer boredom, but I finally gave in, and honestly wish I'd listened to my intuition. Natural Law wasn't epic fail as far as BDSM books go, but it was trying so hard to be so many things that it just didn't succeed at any of them.

I don't mind a bit of angst here and there, but every single character in this I'd put Natural Law off for several years in spite of all the glowing reviews, and it being that rare breed in BDSM fiction: a Fem-dom story (and I love those). Maybe it was curiosity or sheer boredom, but I finally gave in, and honestly wish I'd listened to my intuition. Natural Law wasn't epic fail as far as BDSM books go, but it was trying so hard to be so many things that it just didn't succeed at any of them.

I don't mind a bit of angst here and there, but every single character in this book just needed to be put out of my misery. To be perfectly blunt (aren't I always), Natural Law came off as well, schizophrenic. On the one hand, Ms. Hill attempts to portray the BDSM lovestyle as just another form of sexual expression, and yet she inhabits her world with a bunch of people who were several cards short of a full deck. Thanks for the mixed message. Her club scenes left me rather nonplussed. I don't really don't know why every single BDSM club that gets written about is always high-end and filled with the creme de la creme of the beautiful people. Trust me, the scene is comprised of a mixed bag of looks and styles and it would be nice to read a BDSM-themed novel in which real people get to play (and enjoy themselves). Ms. Hill's bondage scenes were more about the tools and the toys. It was like browsing through the Extreme Restraints catalogue rather than the emotions and the trust issues involved, especially from Mac's point of view.

Then for the shits and giggles there's a serial killer who preys upon sub men from said high-end BDSM club. Add to this a a twin-sister Domme act which was just squick city (and it takes quite a bit to squick me out) and well, it's just kind of a mess. Somewhere there's a romance, but it just seems to have been added because that's what readers expect.

I actually had a lot of sympathy for Mac Nighthorse, and he really could have been a much richer and deeper character. It's very difficult within the confines of romancelandia to write about an alpha male hero who actually likes being dominated by a woman. Most women readers barely tolerate beta males in romance as it is. Now, us BDSM folks know and are used to such dynamics and few of us look askance or feel the need to challenge a man's masculinity. The way I've always seen it, it takes a very secure guy to allow himself to just let go and give up that instinct for control. In Natural Law, poor Mac is constantly explaining to himself, to outsiders and to the reader that while "yes I'm a hunky cop/alpha male and I like to be whipped", he's still the one in control. He's still super-cop. I get it, really. In fact, practically every second or third page, Hill reminds us that Mac is "an alpha male". Honestly, he never really felt like a true sub, just a hunky guy with a kink.

Nothing to say about Violet save FACE-PALM. Absolutely unbelievable as a top. She lacked any presence, and I'm not talking about her size (I'm a firm believer in what Jedi Master Yoda said about size, LOL). It was as if the author just had to make her shorter in order to yes, remind us that Mac is an...wait for it, wait for it...AN ALPHA MALE! Oh and sure, she too is in law enforcement, but guess what, she still ends up being rescued by Mac.

I guess the sex scenes were hot. I seriously didn't notice them. That is pretty bad. The moral of this story? To listen to my intuition from now on. If I want well-written fem-dom, I'll just have to look elsewhere. Like Circlet Press. ...more

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Oct 07, 2013 Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star, tie-me-up, whos-the-boss, who-done-it

**4.5 stars**

I LOVE the joy of discovering a new fantastic author!

description

Ok, maybe not new to most, but definitely new to me.

My stumble onto this book and author was purely accidental. Saw it was a freebie a few months ago, checked Amazon and GR for reviews, saw it rated rather highly and added it to the TBR and growing list of books awaiting me on my Kindle.

I’d been in a bit of a book slump going into this book and REALLY needed something to shake me up, so I thought, why not try a book about an ...more

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Oct 07, 2013 Pam rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica, 4, doms-n-kink, suspense-chills-n-thrills, freebie, mystery-kinda-luv

4 stars

“You’ve got to prove you can tame me.”

Working undercover is always a dangerous thing, but when the cover becomes personal, the risk is even greater… A born Alpha who willing submits to the right Mistress, Detective Mackezie Nighthorse has no other choice but to find the killer of the subs who are clearly putting their trust in the wrong woman.

An alpha wolf who chose the role of beta in the bedroom, but only for the right woman.

To catch the killer there is only one place to go and ...more

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Nov 02, 2008 Holly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romantica-erotica, joey-w-hill

Someone is luring and killing men in the safety of their homes, in the intimacy of their bedrooms. Someone is winning trust and then betraying it in the worst way possible and to Mac Nighthorse, that is obscene. He knows the lifestyle and understands the Total Power Exchange between Mistress and Slave and for someone to betray that beautiful and freely given gift while in his city drives him into action. He risks his Sergeant's moral reaction when he tells her his plan to catch the woman known Someone is luring and killing men in the safety of their homes, in the intimacy of their bedrooms. Someone is winning trust and then betraying it in the worst way possible and to Mac Nighthorse, that is obscene. He knows the lifestyle and understands the Total Power Exchange between Mistress and Slave and for someone to betray that beautiful and freely given gift while in his city drives him into action. He risks his Sergeant's moral reaction when he tells her his plan to catch the woman known as the S&M Killer, but he's willing to let himself out of the closet, so to speak. He's going to go undercover within the alluring club known as the Zone as a sexual submissive. His sergeant laughs, sure that someone of Mac's build and standing would never pass for a sub, but that's what he is. A sexually submissive male who craves the power of a Mistress's touch. Mistress Violet is prowling the Zone when she sees Mac. His powerful build and self assured masculinity screams out to her. As do the submissive wrist cuffs he wears. She wants him. She's attracted to him, but she wants more than the body he so freely offers her. She wants what no woman, no mistress has ever been able to touch. She wants his soul. She wants to tear open his body and crawl right in and once she has him by the balls, figuratively and literally, she's never letting go.

Seriously, there are not enough words to express how much I love this book. I should say that the idea of femdom scares the bejesus out of me. I can't explain it but the idea of a woman breaking down a man just gives me the creeps. If I had a man strapped down to a rack, I wouldn't know what to do. But not Violet. She doesn't break Mac by just relentlessly lashing him, oh no. That would be too easy. She relentlessly breaks down all his emotional armor, past all the bullsh*it as she says and gets right to the man within, and it was seriously erotic as hell. Even though some of her methods had me squirming in discomfort, I was still absolutely one hundred percent fascinated. The relationship between Mac and Violet was so believable and so amazing that I closed this book with a sense of awe.

Don't be like me, scared off by the idea of femdom. It's true that Violet holds the reins but Mac is no lightweight. He's no lap dog or doormat, and as he so charmingly tells her, he's nobody's pony. He's the pit bull who runs his own yard and he's delicious. He views his forays into BDSM almost as a workout. An exercise regiment. He normally looks at each Mistress with narrowed eyes and basically tells her, "do your worst, I can take it." He's like a soldier caught behind enemy lines, facing torture, who is screaming that no one will break him. Until Violet.

Once Mac and Violet get past the power exchange their relationship really heats up. It was an incredible courtship and I adored it. Mac is just unbelievable. I am so in love with him. I don't care if he's a fictional character, I am in love. The level of their intimacy just blew me away and ye gods, I want that. You must read this book. Now. ...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Amber Rose rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: bdsm, erotica, joey-w-hill

Spoiler free

5++ taking a cold shower stars

Natural Law is the second installment of Nature of Desire series. This book takes this series to a whole new level. I loved the first one and if each book keeps going at this rate I am going to be madly in love with each one of them.

The body was locked gate to the soul. Break the body, and the soul would have to defend itself.

Joey W. Hill never lets me down. I have not read a book of hers that I did not enjoy. This is not a light and fluffy book ...more

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Dec 18, 2009 Mahlet rated it it was amazing

Shelves: erotic-romance, thriller-mystery-suspense, own, bdsm, series, cop-detective-bodyguard

Natural Law, part of Joey Hill's Nature of Desire series, is probably one of the most realistic, well-written depictions of the more extreme side of BDSM that I have encountered. It's also the first "alpha male as sexual sub" or just "male-as-sub" erotic romance that I've read. I definitely prefer to read about males that stay alpha, in and out of the bedroom, but Joey Hill's writing captivated me anyway.

There's a Dom serial killer in town and respected homicide detective Mackenzie "Mac" Natural Law, part of Joey Hill's Nature of Desire series, is probably one of the most realistic, well-written depictions of the more extreme side of BDSM that I have encountered. It's also the first "alpha male as sexual sub" or just "male-as-sub" erotic romance that I've read. I definitely prefer to read about males that stay alpha, in and out of the bedroom, but Joey Hill's writing captivated me anyway.

There's a Dom serial killer in town and respected homicide detective Mackenzie "Mac" Nighthorse suspects it's a female, a Mistress, behind the killings. It's always the same MO: each victim is late 20s, naked, bound, in a state of arousal, and with a bullet in the back of his head. Also, the killer likes to call the victim's family after each kill, so the victim's can be "outed" in death. The 1st two victims have one thing in common: they both frequented The Zone, a members only, exclusive, discreet and expensive fetish club in Tampa, FL. Unbeknownst to his colleagues, Mac, who has a quiet powerful presence when it comes to his job, has actually been on the fetish club scene for years as a sub. As people in the scene can spot true Doms & Subs, Mac knows he's the only man who can track the killer. He's especially offended by the killer's extreme violation of victims' trust, since people in the scene generally don't take their play outside of the fetish clubs unless they've established trust.

On Mac's first night at The Zone, he meets Mistress Violet who happens to be on her first unsupervised night (she's just completed shadowing and learning from The Zone's best Master, Tyler). Although a sub, Mac is a wild one to be tamed, and he's been manipulating his Mistresses for years! He says he doesn't need a safe word, but that's because Mac has charmed his way out of truly submitting. "Mistresses aren't made. They're Born." Violet may be petite compared to Mac, but she's the real deal and completely up for the challenge. Their journey is an emotional one, and the focus of the book. I didn't feel Mac conducted much investigating. Sure, he was occasionally at some crime scenes and staying up late trying to track the killer. And the story makes reference to Mac digging patrons of The Zone for information when Violet isn't around. But this is all about Mac and Violet's journey, and her breaking down his emotional layers. Violet wants it all - a man she can take home, live with and love - marriage, children...and she wants her man to completely trust her, reveal his inner thoughts, and completely let go to her control.

The BDSM aspects: Violet did put Mac through some extreme situations, but she was also very nurturing and would definitely let Mac take control when they needed it. Violet wanted to quickly cut through Mac's bullshit, so these were his instructions if he wanted a 2nd night in her equine-themed playroom (with an optional voyeur panel for The Zone's members' enjoyment):

"I'll come back here tomorrow between nine and eleven. If you want me, you'll be in this room, stripped. Nothing on. You put on one of the c**k harnesses, tether yourself to that ring in the floor, the minimum of amount of slack necessary between it and your c**k, your knees spread as wide as you can get them, your hands laced on the back of your head." Mac has to stay in this position until Violet decided to come down to him. Initially, she needs to break down his barriers, but I do feel things lightened up with him.

The more violent, uncomfortable aspects of the BDSM scene did happen, but not at Violet's hand. I don't want to say anything more, for fear of spoiling it. Was Natural Law able to knock down my top 5 erotic romances reads from their podium? No, but this was nevertheless sophisticated, impressive erotic suspense. I own the next 2 books in this series, which are actually the story of one hero & heroine, but told through 2 books that must be read together: Ice Queen and Nature of Desire: Mirror of My Soul. I hear they are amazing and I'm looking forward to reading them shortly :) ...more

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Apr 21, 2015 Smitten's Book Blog rated it really liked it

Shelves: steamy-reads, amazing-sexual-tension, alpha-male, bdsm, quick-and-easy-read, hea, series, death, age-gap, crime-busting-men

4 Stars for Mac & Violet.

My Casting:
Mac
Violet

This book was a bit of an experiment for me. We've all read a ton of books about the male Dom and the female sub. Well, I was curious to see how I'd feel to read about a male sub and a female Domme. So, I went about trying to find such a book and noticed that Natural Law came highly recommended by a few people who's recommendations I'd trust. And I wasn't disappointed.

“She chose the adjective deliberately. Handsome or sexy conveyed surface

...more

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May 21, 2015 Mwanamali rated it liked it

Shelves: adult, erotica

I don't recall much of this book. I don't know why I originally gave it three stars so I guess the three stars stay.

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Jan 29, 2015 Heidi Belleau added it · review of another edition

ARGH!

Reasons I hated this book:
- the cliche setup. which probably wasn't cliche back when it was written (way back in 2004 which is like a million years ago when dinosaurs still roamed the earth in ebook years), but nowadays it's like OH LORD UNDERCOVER COP IN AN EXCLUSIVE BDSM CLUB FULL OF BEAUTIFUL RICH BDSM PEOPLE SOLVING BDSM MURDERS!
- head hopping. not only did the POV switch between the two mains from paragraph to paragraph without warning or fanfare, but we occasionally got to pop into ARGH!

Reasons I hated this book:
- the cliche setup. which probably wasn't cliche back when it was written (way back in 2004 which is like a million years ago when dinosaurs still roamed the earth in ebook years), but nowadays it's like OH LORD UNDERCOVER COP IN AN EXCLUSIVE BDSM CLUB FULL OF BEAUTIFUL RICH BDSM PEOPLE SOLVING BDSM MURDERS!
- head hopping. not only did the POV switch between the two mains from paragraph to paragraph without warning or fanfare, but we occasionally got to pop into other (seriously secondary) characters' heads as well. I found this super jarring. I dunno if it was supposed to be omniscient or what, but I definitely much prefer a close limited third POV, and if you do too, now you know.
- constant harping on about how the lead is an Alpha Alpha Alpha. this isn't a trope I like AT ALL and when it's drilled in endlessly the way it was here, it just makes me roll my eyes. which I did . . . a lot. not exactly the response you're looking for in an erotic thriller.
- the use of the term "murderess", completely straight faced, like this is some victorian penny dreadful instead of a modern novel. it was just . . . weird. gendering "murderer" that way is just so cheezy and lurid and I couldn't take seriously the concept that an officer of the law would ever use it
- the sex, despite being in a book of femdom/malesub, eventually denegrating into ME MAN YOU WOMAN ME TAKE YOU I AM ALPHA MALE bullshit that had me yawning. why establish such a sexy, uncliche dynamic . . . and then just bait and switch me with the same shitty e-rom tropes of a million other bdsm novels (which I normally DO NOT read? for a reason!) I liked a powerful masculine man (although gag me at calling him ~alpha~) being a sexual submissive. it's what drew me into the novel, but then partway through the story that just . . . stopped. it was like two different novels pasted together. one with a guy getting his ass plugged while a woman taunted and teased him and walked away . . . and the other him ~taking her like an animal~ etc etc etc
- the bdsm 101 infodumping. not only did it feel like a constant lecture on bdsm as if it was some kind of alien orientation outside of average human understanding, but sometimes it felt . . . downright condescending and dismissive of ~Vanilla~ relationships and people? Vanilla sex isn't as intense, Vanilla relationships aren't as dedicated, Vanilla people just don't "get it" and are closed minded and shitty. at the beginning I just skimmed because I'm no BDSM newcomer and found the info boring and unnecessary to the story, but as it wore on it started to remind me of encounters with the worst kind of straight kinksters. no thanks on that one. once again, all this might be a product of its times. BDSM fiction is barely outside of the mainstream anymore (and some subgenres/tropes have gone COMPLETELY mainstream) whereas this book may have had more obstacles to overcome for understanding.
- the identity of the "murderess" (view spoiler)
- the mystery in general was just sort of meh. there was no setup where potential suspects were introduced and then slowly ruled out. instead, there was a paragraph that brought up a couple potentials, and then immediately ruled them out, and then a paragraph later the true murderer revealed herself. we didn't see the investigation, any of the detective work. this book really could have just been about the whole Alpha Submissive and his inward struggle and left the whole murder mystery conceit behind. if you're going to write a mystery, then write it, I guess? it felt like a whole lot of window dressing.
- at one point our alpha sub declares he doesn't use or need safewords and his Dom doesn't immediately tell him to shape up or ship out. she does give him a safe word (which he immediately swears he'll never use), but I just wasn't comfortable with her going ahead with him knowing that was his intention. I like my consensual books consensual.
- hero had a moustache, yuck.

Reasons I loved this book:
- male sub with chest hair
- reluctant assplay :P~~~~~~ (at first, see above)

I'm so desperate for a book about a male submissive and a female dominant that I read through this despite my constant irritation at multiple tropes that really are Not For Me. the sex sure was hot in the beginning, but man, it just makes me wish I could find and read a femdom book that's more in line with my reading tastes. ...more

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May 17, 2008 Daisiemae rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Great Love Story behind the BDSM storyline

Recommended to Daisiemae by: Marion and Auntee

Shelves: erotica, contemporary-romance, books-read-in-2008

I really didn't know if I would like this book. I am not into female Doms. Plus, any BDSM books I read are not hardcore...I like them milder. I am not one to like to cringe when I read about hurtful foreplay between two (or more) characters, and I certainly don't like it when the sub is humiliated. That just doesn't do it for me.
Having said that, I really did like this book. It is a little strong in areas of their "play", but I thought the love story between the two characters were well thought ...more

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Dec 09, 2015 Ivy Deluca rated it really liked it

Quickshot Review (mostly because I realized I hadn't prepared a full review when I originally read this)

The writing is great, the sex is stellar, the plot is interesting and Mac likes being dominated, without losing his masculine edge and that's just fine by me. I would have liked to enjoy Violet more, as she had a bit of try hard to her, but overall, excellent read. If you're into BDSM reads, I'd recommend it.

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Mar 08, 2017 boogenhagen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: erotica

I totally love when the Ladies show who is boss. :)

To put this in perspective re an Alpha male who is a sexual sub - I have actually seen this a lot in men with Alpha type personality traits who tend to be over-responsible caretakers with heavy duty job responsibilities like cops, air traffic controllers and first responders.

I think it is probably one way they can literally let go of the sense of responsibility they feel and let some one else make all the decisions. (I am not saying all Alpha ...more

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Apr 26, 2013 SueBee★bring me an alpha!★ marked it as to-read

Shelves: own-but-not-read, g-contemporaries, kindle, to-read-contemporaries, series-g-contemporaries, series-ready-4-me-2-read, series-check-on-sequel, to-read-cr-stand-alone, series-cr-stand-alone, kindle-freebie

FREE today on Amazon US (10/7/2013).
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Law-Nat...

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Dec 17, 2014 Fiona Marsden rated it really liked it

This was recommended to me a while back and I've finally got around to reading it. I always go into BDSM books a little worried because the lifestyle can require sharing and multiple partners.

This was not a big issue for me in this story. The situations with multiple participants were still very much focussed on the main couples relationship so did not set off my cheating alarm.

The story itself was billed as a bit of a thriller and about half way in I was wondering what happened because it was ...more

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Apr 15, 2014 Dee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to Dee by: Reanna Hanley

Shelves: erotica, anal-play, dark-not-fluffy, 300-plus-pages, bdsm, erotic-romance, crime-murder, strong-female, dub-con

This was a well written story that I enjoyed for the most part. I like a good thriller so the killer aspect was a bonus although not prominent part of the story. Even though this is tagged as femdom and there are some hot scenes. I found the D/s relationship side of the story confusing.

I don't believe a male has to be a weak character to be able to submit, and Mac was far from a weak character. However as much as he went to pains to say he wanted to submit to his Mistress I wasn't feeling it. ...more

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Jan 16, 2010 Davina D. rated it liked it

Shelves: erotic-romance-with-plot, 2010-reads, good-reads, bdsm-hardcore, contemporary-romance, beta-heroes, part-of-a-series, books-i-own, fake-alpha-heroes, light-menage-sexual-interaction

Well, I'll never look at a big, burly guy the same way again. That's for sure! :)

This is not my first foray into the world of BDSM, but this book clearly drew the line between the tamer depictions of the D/s lifestyle I've read in books and what I imagine the real thing to be. On occasion I do like to spice up my reading with material containing alternative sexual activities and boy did I get what I was looking for here! Now, I'm no fairy. I've certainly been around the block a couple of times Well, I'll never look at a big, burly guy the same way again. That's for sure! :)

This is not my first foray into the world of BDSM, but this book clearly drew the line between the tamer depictions of the D/s lifestyle I've read in books and what I imagine the real thing to be. On occasion I do like to spice up my reading with material containing alternative sexual activities and boy did I get what I was looking for here! Now, I'm no fairy. I've certainly been around the block a couple of times in my heyday, but this novel had me squirming in equal amounts of delight and discomfiture. Having read Holding the Cards, Book 1 of Hill's Nature of Desire series, before this, I ought not to have been shocked, but I was shocked, and like its predecessor Natural Law rattled the cage of my comfort zone on more than one occasion.

Nevertheless, once the more hardcore stuff had been related this was quite an enjoyable read and a fairly well written novel. Hill has a very vivid way with words. Sometimes too vivid when you consider the story's context. :)

What I like about Hill's work is that she's able to take an easily misrepresented and misinterpreted lifestyle such as D/s and infuse it with so much depth and emotion that even the vanilla-est of readers can come to appreciate her characters and the choices they make.

That said, what ultimately robbed this book of an additional 1,5 stars for me is Hill's execution. And this very much has to do with the more technical side of writing. It tried to be too many things at once. First it started off with a very strong, hardcore D/s angle then that just sort of tapered off into the more "mundane" aspects of the story. In other words it jumped from a story about D/s with very strong romantic undertones to a more standard romance, if you will.

It was as though Hill suddenly remembered that 1) she had to go back and develop the murder plot line she had previously introduced and 2) slow down with the hardcore stuff so as not to scare off readers. Of course its unrealistic, considering her general audience ("vanilla" romance readers and hardcore erotica fans alike), to expect that the more explicit D/s play could have proceeded throughout the book at the same high octane level as in the first quarter of the novel (and in fact I'm personally glad it didn't!), but there wasn't a very neat transition from one aspect of the story to the next in my opinion.

Also Mac the hero, although I have no complaints about him, is not really the type of hero I tend to go for. I prefer my heroes alpha all the way, both in and out of the bedroom; and while Violet was likeable enough, I'm not really into female Doms. I just think he came off a little too fantastic--I prefer a guy a bit more rough around the edges, especially one who's a cop. What Hill's narrative showed me was that he was indeed a very beta hero. Nothing wrong with that of course -- I think under the skill of a good author the beta hero makes one of the best romance heroes around. That said, what Hill showed me and what she told me were two different characters.

...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Lyn Gala rated it really liked it

Submissive Alpha Males. Mmmmm. I do love me some of that.

I was disappointed with Joey Hill’s vampire queen books. In those books, Jacob is an alpha male, but I never bought him as a submissive and the vampire queen annoyed me. But I decided to give a different series a try because I’ll go a long way (and pay a good chunk of money) for a good piece of femdom.

Natural Law paid off in spades. Mac Nighthorse is an alpha male, but unlike Jacob, he is a true submissive. He may be a damn good cop, but ...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Pam Godwin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-bdsm, 5-star-romance, 5-star-erotica

This is a comprehensive review of the series as a whole.

Every character is unique, each one bringing his/her own experiences to the BDSM scene. And every story is deeply buried under layers of hurt and distrust. But these characters are mighty, their love limitless. Lots of dungeon time, winding dark sensuality with anguish and courage, making these stories live on long after they’re devoured.

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Feb 06, 2008 Marion rated it really liked it

Shelves: erotic-romance, 2008-read, bdsm

I read this book because it was recommended to me. Joey Hill is a very gifted writer. The story just flows and you can almost imagine being there. Even though I do not care to read x-treme BDSM books, this was also a love story and had quite a bit of suspense. I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read about BDSM.

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Feb 10, 2011 ♆ BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme rated it liked it

Shelves: bdsm, erotica, z-nlg, femdom, lcf

Undercover cop + BDSM Club + Submissive male = sexy good time. This book was a quick hot read for me. I don't have as much to say about it because it wasn't as relate-able for me.

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Mar 19, 2015 Christina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Holy Hell!!! That was hot! I've never read a book like this one before. Alpha sub, BDSM, mystery and a beautiful love story all tied together with a pretty little bow (or maybe rope).

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Sep 25, 2013 Vanessa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: alpha-assholes-i-love, super-steamy, bdsm, mental-issues, part-of-a-series, books-that-deserve-more-recognition, erotica

I loved this book... I really did!! Wow, what a deliciously unexpected surprise!!!

Natural Law by Joey W. Hill is perhaps one of the best BDSM/romance books I've ever read. I've been burned with this genre so many times, that I've retreated...but I have missed the edge of a good BDSM erotica read. Sadly, I have found that too many books in this genre offer to be one thing, but in actuality, what you get is a bad, sleazy porn with little to no plot, character development, or story....just filler ...more

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Jan 30, 2010 Lisa rated it it was amazing

Being one of TPD’s premiere homicide detectives Mackenzie “Mac” Nighthorse never thought he would find himself embroiled in a case that would force him to confess his own sexual fetish to his boss. Yet now he is stunned to find himself undercover at one of the most select D/s clubs Tampa has, The Zone, seeking the serial killer of some of its male submissives.

Violet Siemanski, one of The Zones newest female Dominants, is stunned when one of the sexiest male submissives she has ever seen crosses Being one of TPD’s premiere homicide detectives Mackenzie “Mac” Nighthorse never thought he would find himself embroiled in a case that would force him to confess his own sexual fetish to his boss. Yet now he is stunned to find himself undercover at one of the most select D/s clubs Tampa has, The Zone, seeking the serial killer of some of its male submissives.

Violet Siemanski, one of The Zones newest female Dominants, is stunned when one of the sexiest male submissives she has ever seen crosses her path on her first solo night out. She is quick to make her move and capture the attention of this six-foot, broad shouldered sub. Yet she is staggered when Mac rebuffs her, she feels the connection between them that could lead them both to Nirvana.

Mac is astonished to feel that same connection, but he is at The Zone on a mission to stop a killer not to find the mistress of his dreams. Never does he imagine that Violet will lead him into a journey of enlightenment that will set his true submissive side loose. But will Mac and Violet reach Nirvana before Mac becomes the next sub on the killers list? That is the true issue.

I was leery to invest my time into reading a book about a male submissive. I being a woman, and not a sexually Dominate one; usually find myself desiring to read stories about Alpha males that lovingly subjugate the women in their lives, meaning I like books where the man is the Dom and the woman is the sub. But Natural Law is a story unlike any that I have ever read before. Don’t get me wrong the BDSM elements in this story are just phenomenal; in fact they are some of the most unsurpassed sex scenes I have ever read. But this story is so much more then BDSM, it is a story of a spiritual awakening and understanding between two powerful Alpha souls. It just turns out that the woman is the sexual dominant and the man is the sexual submissive. Your probably thinking, come on how absorbing can this book be? Well let me tell you it is TOTALLY. I had to step away from it many times to catch my own bearings, but I was drawn back to it before my ebook reader had time to cool off. If you have ever read one of Joey W. Hill’s books you probably know she is a writer that can craft a truly enthralling story but Natural Law goes well beyond enthralling, in fact it actually enters the realm of obsessive. The sex is explosive, the love story is riveting and that doesn’t even include the murder mystery, which is spectacular, I was truly shocked at the identity of the killer. I never saw it coming. LOL!!!!

Ms. Hill has crafted a story that is so well written that the characters, main and minor, demand your attention and respect. They literally came to life for me. I found Natural Law to be so intriguing that I wanted to enter this world and find out as much as I could. I know it is only a story, but it made me think so much that I did some researching of my own into the D/s world and have joined a Yahoo Group wanting to understand this fetish more. I will be recommending this book to anyone and everyone who comes across my path looking for a good book to spend some time with. Let me just say that Natural Law is so far beyond the norm for an erotica book that if there were a Pulitzer for erotica I would ask for it to be passed this way. I think we have a winner here.
...more

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Jul 07, 2008 ElaineY rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cops-and-pi-s-law-enforcement, romantic-suspense

REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; OCTOBER 16, 2013:
ONE STAR:(
Narrator: Maxine Mitchell :(

This is a review only of the audio version. For the story, read my review below from 2006.

I wasn't going to buy this because 1) there were no sample audios available, 2) the only samples were of Mitchell narrating other books and omigod, she was awful.

I ended up buying because 1) it was only $3.95 and 2) the sample for this book was finally available and Mitchell's voice came off much better here than the in other ...more

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Aug 19, 2015 Cam *tactile seeker* rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, erotica, fascinating-minds, oh-yes-yes, best-hero-ever, do-not-disturb, bdsm, cult, authors-crush, you-pierce-my-soul

I was going to add Natural Law to my "guilty pleasure" shelf, but stopped just as I was about to click beside it.

See, because it'd be so easy to do that and simply underestimate the importance of this story, cataloging it along with well-written and sex-filled books that, although highly entertaining, didn't left anything behind them that isn't a dreamy smirk and a heartfelt nod of my head.

No, Natural Law goes directly into my "favorite" shelf, as well as in a bunch of other well-deserved sexy ...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Paul Dyer rated it liked it

Shelves: erotic-romance-mystery-bdsm

A one-star review of Fifty Shades of Grey introduced me to Joey Hill, and a flurry of generally positive reviews for Ms Hill’s forays into BDSM convinced me to give her a try. My three-star rating is for her competence with language and story, despite such vulgarisms as “the long length of him,” “gnoche,” (a phonetic rendering of ganache, which she clearly didn’t stop to look up in a dictionary); and “dominatrixes.” Though many romance novelists were capable of faultless grammar and impressively A one-star review of Fifty Shades of Grey introduced me to Joey Hill, and a flurry of generally positive reviews for Ms Hill’s forays into BDSM convinced me to give her a try. My three-star rating is for her competence with language and story, despite such vulgarisms as “the long length of him,” “gnoche,” (a phonetic rendering of ganache, which she clearly didn’t stop to look up in a dictionary); and “dominatrixes.” Though many romance novelists were capable of faultless grammar and impressively rich prose during the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Hill is a better prose stylist, overall, than most of the people writing in this genre today, a fact which undeniably places her above a lot of romantic shlock glutting the market; but, alas, this is just romantic shlock, after all.

This observation may be less idiosyncratic than it may seem on the surface, but, for me, the cardinal difference between romance fiction and Romantic literature is that the latter is generally tragic, or involves a healthy dose of loss, depletion, inanition, and poetic mourning. Natural Law is, all said and done, a ridiculously happy book; and that, to me, is what fails to elevate it far enough above the pedestrian, despite its generally well-written BDSM elements.

At the end of the whole thing, these two are madly in love with each other, and all irony, paradox, and cynicism have fled—leaving me bored and impatient for something edgy. I went in expecting BDSM Noir and I got spicy Harlequin. The murder mystery which frames the novel—and runs a secret thread behind its dirty colors to hang it on the generic wall—is, to put it mildly, as lame as the lamest Nancy Drew mystery. And without Nancy’s lovely pumps, pearls, and swing skirts to excuse the kind of plotting that would make Dame Agatha Christie blush. So that leaves you with a pair of lovebirds who like to play with whips and strap-ons, but who are, at the end of the day, as far from truly liberal—in their configuration of chivalry and monogamy—as the blandest Hallmark wedding card. ...more

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May 30, 2015 Heather / Obsessed With Myshelf rated it really liked it

A male alpha homicide detective submissive?! I have now read it all. This is a suspenseful BDSM romance that had my eyes lowered to the page, begging for release. Violet and Mac are dynamic together – the give and take of their relationship is so balanced and yet utterly complex. This pushed me out if my comfort zone in a good way.

I can’t believe that this was first published in 2004. Joey was blazing a path that has exploded into the romance that we know and love today – SO THANK YOU. ...more

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Do you need to read the previous book to read this one?	5	46	Jul 15, 2014 01:02PM
A New Release In Joey W. Hill's Erotic Vampire Queen Series	1	13	Jul 05, 2011 07:23AM
$50 In Amazon Cash Up For Grabs At Joey W Hill's Cyber Launch Party Today	1	8	Nov 19, 2010 08:30AM
Book VI in Joey W Hill's Vampire Queen Series Now Available	1	3	Sep 14, 2010 09:16AM

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About Joey W. Hill

Joey W. Hill

2,363 followers

"BDSM Romance for the Heart & Soul"

Winner of the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement award, Joey W. Hill has published over forty contemporary and paranormal BDSM erotic romances, including six series. Her emotionally-intense love stories offer everything from vampires, mermaids, witches and angels, to boardroom executives, cops and simple housemaids.

Free excerpts from all her works are ...more