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Master #25
Strict Machine
Salome was tricked by the man she loved most in this world. Lucian said he was her Master and that he loved her. Yet, he abandoned her here with these strange men. Her life quickly became a living hell. One in which she thought she never escape until a man named Master Darius saved her from these slavers. He was going to hunt down Lucian and she wanted to be there when he caught him.
Darius wasn’t too happy when Salome wanted to be his submissive after he saved her from those slavers. He couldn’t refuse Xanthos’ request to train Salome. They had to keep her from running back to Lucian. Darius knew Salome wouldn’t fit into his home, his submissives were trained to break up slave rings and she was nowhere near tough enough to do this. He figured he would keep her until he caught Lucian then he would send her to Master Drake. She would certainly fit in with Drake’s pampered pets.
Salome finds herself falling in love with Master Darius despite the fact that he comes across to everyone as a strict machine. She knows underneath his frigid façade there is a Master beyond all others. But will she have the strength to uncover it, especially after what Lucian has put her through.
Darius wasn’t too happy when Salome wanted to be his submissive after he saved her from those slavers. He couldn’t refuse Xanthos’ request to train Salome. They had to keep her from running back to Lucian. Darius knew Salome wouldn’t fit into his home, his submissives were trained to break up slave rings and she was nowhere near tough enough to do this. He figured he would keep her until he caught Lucian then he would send her to Master Drake. She would certainly fit in with Drake’s pampered pets.
Salome finds herself falling in love with Master Darius despite the fact that he comes across to everyone as a strict machine. She knows underneath his frigid façade there is a Master beyond all others. But will she have the strength to uncover it, especially after what Lucian has put her through.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2012
57 people want to read
About the author
Justus Roux
104 books90 followersJustus Roux is the author of over forty erotic romance novels that range from the paranormal to BDSM. Her bestselling Master Series, Barbarian of Malka Series, and Dom/sub trilogy have earned good reviews from readers and reviewers. When she is not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and is always on the pursuit for new and interesting music to inspire her. You can see her work at www.justusroux.com and www.justusrouxmasterseries.com. You can email her at storyteller36@msn.com, or follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/justusroux
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 6, 2014
2.5 stars
This is my first foray into the Masters series, and let me say, I didn't realize this was book 25 in the series until I came to post my review. I would highly recommend reading earlier books in the series. There were so many people (there were 11+ people in Darius' household alone) and past situations referenced in this book that I didn't understand or know about, which made this difficult to read (hence why I'm not giving it 2 stars). This is not a book you can really read as a standalone.
Another thing I disliked about this book was the characters. All of Darius' submissives came off as total jerks. Salome went through so much and then to have to deal with those jerks on top of it? Not cool. Not cool at all. As for Darius, I never really warmed up to him either. I didn't really like him that much until the end of the book. I'd go back and forth between wanting to punch him and grudgingly respecting/putting up with him. There is a bit of hope for him to improve at the end of the book, so keeping my fingers crossed there. And Salome, I didn't really connect with her, though I liked her.
And one thing that really confused me was all the relationships. I'm used to reading books where at most you have a Dom and 1-3 subs. This book went totally out of that (Darius started with 8 submissives at the beginning of the book) and their relationships confused me. Drake's household in particular really confused me, as there were several Masters and Mistresses that apparently weren't truly Dom/mes but were "over-glorified submissives" according to Darius. Basically, the whole thing was extremely confusing. And the petty jealousies between subs were extremely off-putting and upsetting. Most of them totally overreacted, especially in the beginning, and I ended up disliking pretty much all of Darius' original subs. Heck, it discouraged me a bit from wanting to try the lifestyle. I ended up skipping through parts of the book to avoid the parts that bugged me so much, which happened quite a lot.
All in all, I was really confused by most of this story, though I imagine some of that could be answered by reading earlier books in the series. I wasn't a big fan of this book, but I'll definitely check out the others in the series in order to clarify some things and answer questions for me. I might come and edit this review if the earlier books provide more insight for me and change my appreciation of this book.
This is my first foray into the Masters series, and let me say, I didn't realize this was book 25 in the series until I came to post my review. I would highly recommend reading earlier books in the series. There were so many people (there were 11+ people in Darius' household alone) and past situations referenced in this book that I didn't understand or know about, which made this difficult to read (hence why I'm not giving it 2 stars). This is not a book you can really read as a standalone.
Another thing I disliked about this book was the characters. All of Darius' submissives came off as total jerks. Salome went through so much and then to have to deal with those jerks on top of it? Not cool. Not cool at all. As for Darius, I never really warmed up to him either. I didn't really like him that much until the end of the book. I'd go back and forth between wanting to punch him and grudgingly respecting/putting up with him. There is a bit of hope for him to improve at the end of the book, so keeping my fingers crossed there. And Salome, I didn't really connect with her, though I liked her.
And one thing that really confused me was all the relationships. I'm used to reading books where at most you have a Dom and 1-3 subs. This book went totally out of that (Darius started with 8 submissives at the beginning of the book) and their relationships confused me. Drake's household in particular really confused me, as there were several Masters and Mistresses that apparently weren't truly Dom/mes but were "over-glorified submissives" according to Darius. Basically, the whole thing was extremely confusing. And the petty jealousies between subs were extremely off-putting and upsetting. Most of them totally overreacted, especially in the beginning, and I ended up disliking pretty much all of Darius' original subs. Heck, it discouraged me a bit from wanting to try the lifestyle. I ended up skipping through parts of the book to avoid the parts that bugged me so much, which happened quite a lot.
All in all, I was really confused by most of this story, though I imagine some of that could be answered by reading earlier books in the series. I wasn't a big fan of this book, but I'll definitely check out the others in the series in order to clarify some things and answer questions for me. I might come and edit this review if the earlier books provide more insight for me and change my appreciation of this book.
March 22, 2013
In Strict Machine, we meet many characters and witness much action. We are introduced to a BDSM community and get to see some of the inner workings of it. There is also the suspense of whether or not the bad guys will pay for their crimes. But broken down, Strict Machine is a story about two damaged people figuring out how to love.
Salome, although rescued from the hell she was suffering after being sold by slave traders, proves to be a strong spirit. She comes to live with Master Darius after he saves her. While there, she learns to live in a household within a BDSM community, and falls in love with her Master.
Master Darius, for his own reasons, lives within the BDSM community and uses it as a base of sorts from which he runs missions to save people sold into sexual slavery. He uses his position to train other masters and their submissives. His main goal is to find Lucian, the man who has sold many souls into slavery, including Salome. He doesn't believe he can have love or a family due to his lifestyle. But Salome disturbs his strictly controlled life.
Strict Machine is a quick read...it's only ~95 pages. I think that if it had been longer, I would have felt more satisfied because I could have learned more about all the characters introduced and the story could have been more fleshed out. Although Master Darius and Salome agree to a relationship of sorts at the end, I was disappointed. Also, I felt the writing was a bit stilted at times, and found some editing issues as well. Despite these distractions, I did like the story.
Salome, although rescued from the hell she was suffering after being sold by slave traders, proves to be a strong spirit. She comes to live with Master Darius after he saves her. While there, she learns to live in a household within a BDSM community, and falls in love with her Master.
Master Darius, for his own reasons, lives within the BDSM community and uses it as a base of sorts from which he runs missions to save people sold into sexual slavery. He uses his position to train other masters and their submissives. His main goal is to find Lucian, the man who has sold many souls into slavery, including Salome. He doesn't believe he can have love or a family due to his lifestyle. But Salome disturbs his strictly controlled life.
Strict Machine is a quick read...it's only ~95 pages. I think that if it had been longer, I would have felt more satisfied because I could have learned more about all the characters introduced and the story could have been more fleshed out. Although Master Darius and Salome agree to a relationship of sorts at the end, I was disappointed. Also, I felt the writing was a bit stilted at times, and found some editing issues as well. Despite these distractions, I did like the story.
March 15, 2013
See this review and more at www.tattooedbookreview.com!
There are many elements to this story that I enjoyed. There is sexy Master Darius, a former Marine, now a Master that has dedicated his life to saving submissives caught up in a seedy sexual slavery ring. I particularly enjoyed his brave vigilantism and penchant for steampunk inspired fucking machines.
The plot in general has action as well as romance, and moves along very quickly. I only wish that I had been able to form a stronger connection with the main characters. The writing is a bit stark and unemotional, and the style is reflective of our hero’s strict and somewhat cold demeanor. Fortunately, Salome’s character provides a bit of softness and vulnerability. Overall, this is a good book with a compelling plot and a satisfying finish.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
There are many elements to this story that I enjoyed. There is sexy Master Darius, a former Marine, now a Master that has dedicated his life to saving submissives caught up in a seedy sexual slavery ring. I particularly enjoyed his brave vigilantism and penchant for steampunk inspired fucking machines.
The plot in general has action as well as romance, and moves along very quickly. I only wish that I had been able to form a stronger connection with the main characters. The writing is a bit stark and unemotional, and the style is reflective of our hero’s strict and somewhat cold demeanor. Fortunately, Salome’s character provides a bit of softness and vulnerability. Overall, this is a good book with a compelling plot and a satisfying finish.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 15, 2013
Justus Roux has penned a compelling, heart-wrenching story with engaging, flawed characters who will quickly find a place in your heart. She handles the sensitive subject of slave trading with a touch of reality and finesse. Strict Machine will take the reader through a myriad of emotions that range from sorrow to anger to ultimately joy as more women are saved from these despicable, dangerous men who are not only evil, but also lack heart and soul.Read More...
August 17, 2018
This wasn't one of her better storylines. Though Master Darius was introduced, who was Xaviers son, ( Master Xanthos's twin) it tells of how saving of subs to slave traders and the misfortune in their lives. Salome, the sub saved is under Master Darius's care who is also known as the Commando Master. He struggles with the lost of his father and a past. I feel there was some depth missing in this read, but was left with a cliff hanger which rebirths the Master series. Still love the series and am looking for the continuation of series.
December 8, 2016
Master Darius saves Salome from her abuser Master. Salome is lost and recovering. She transfers the love she felt from her former Master to Darius quickly, but is it true love? Darius wants Salome safe and cared for. He eventually acknowledges that Salome is the submissive of his heart.
March 9, 2013
2.5 stars.
Not a real big fan of this one. Didn't like Darius or Salome or any of the other Doms / subs. I'll have to stew on this one before I write a full review.
More to come.
Not a real big fan of this one. Didn't like Darius or Salome or any of the other Doms / subs. I'll have to stew on this one before I write a full review.
More to come.
March 10, 2013
Please see Becky's 5 sweet pea review and Author's Angels Blog Tour Stop with an author interview and great prizes on March 12, 2013 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews