Guilt is no stranger to Marina Denison, but that doesn’t mean it sits well on her shoulders. Wherever she goes, whatever she does, death shadows her, tails her and those who surround her. She has to break the pattern, break free from the vicious cycle her life has become and the answers lie in the Blue Ridge Ranch back in Montana. Her home. There, she must face her past, accept her present and all so that she can finally enjoy her future. But is she strong enough to confront the years that formed her into the woman she is today?
Contains scenes of a highly sexual nature, including BDSM play. Strictly m/f. For mature readers only.
Approx 37,000 words.
Just A Woman is the SECOND novella in Marina's FOUR part story. Reading A Bitch In Time Just A Woman Frustrated Instincts End Of The Beginning Over 500 pages of Naughty Nookiness!
** Please do not try any new sexual practice, BDSM or otherwise, without the guidance of an experienced practitioner. The author will not be responsible for any loss, harm, injury or death resulting from use of the information contained in this book.**
USA Today and International Best Selling Author Serena Akeroyd aka G. A. Mazurke is most known for her mafia and MC series set in the Five Points Mob Universe.
Avid reader of all things romance, she first started her career as a why choose author in both contemporary and paranormal.
She eventually made her way to MF romance where she found her groove with the O’Donnelly brothers, the Satan Sinners and most recently the Valentini Family.
In her back list you can find some MM, MF, MFM and Why Choose romances. HEA guaranteed!
When not writing Serena is either reading, traveling or coloring.
BRAVO!!!!! I think it's better than the first story! The one thing that I absolutely love about Serena's books it's that you can relate to the women. Also you absolutely find the men just irresistible! the relationship between Marina and Nate in my opinion is one to be completely envious of! I love how Nate breaks Marina down and then build her back up. Love how he exposes her, but shield and protect her at the same time. It's not just a D/S relationship. Not about the punishments and the the great sex. it's about the the way Marina discover the woman she really is inside. the woman that she denied herself to be. The woman that only Nate can bring out of her. I can't wait to read more. I absolutely love naughty nookie series.
It is very difficult to review this book without giving away too many spoilers, both on this book and on the previous part of the story, A Bitch In Time: Marina Part 1.
The great thing about the way that Serena Akeroyd has written this story, is that she really brings out the conflicts that are going on in Marina's mind. She is really torturing herself from beginning to end. Her dilemma is hurting her more than the physical pain that Nate is inflicting upon her body. She is living in fear, and want, of a severe spanking.
At first, she refuses to admit that she has been a Sub all her life. She believes that she has been a woman in control. To all outward appearances that is true, but Nate knows her better than even she knows herself. She realizes that she requires discipline. She need to be true to herself, not the fake person that she has been for most of her life. She has been kidding herself for far too long.
Nate sets about changing her, making her more honest. At first she is in denial, but she reluctantly goes along with his plan, and she discovers that she enjoys it greatly. The sex is fantastic, a real turn on.
Marina has been naughty and must accept her punishment. And she loves that word: naughty. Every transgression attracts three hard smacks on her bare ass. Her juices flow. She wants it, and she doesn't. She wants that big release, but she may only have it when Nate grants it.
If I thought that it was so good, why did I only give four stars? Really, it is only because there were parts of the narrative where I thought Marina was dwelling far too long on her situation and history. I know that this is what the story is all about, and other readers may like this style, but I skipped through it very quickly so that I could get back to the action. Personal taste, I guess.
Book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
This installment pretty much focused on the new dynamic between Marina and Nate, with the hint of a mystey surrounding a relationship tangle and suicide that's two decades old. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this installment of Marina's story. Yes, Marina's actions have had a devastating impact on both Mona, and most especially Nate, but I don't agree with how Nate is handling the new situation between them. She knows how her decisions and actions have affected her loved ones, and Nate has even suppressed his Dom nature during their years together, but treating her like a child is, IMO, demeaning (which I guess lets me know I'm not a submissive lmao).
With all that said, this is still a fantastic series that I'm greatly enjoying and highly recommend!
Another brilliantly written addition to the series. As always very descriptive with a great plot. I have to say I was a bit shocked by this one, not just of Nate's need to control everything but also of Marina's complete change from a completely independent woman to allowing her life to be ruled. I'm looking forward to reading the next one and finding out how their relationship develops, but also hoping Marina will eventually be able to shower, among other things, without asking for permission :)
Just A Woman is the second part of Marina's story. In the first installment, we were left with a terrible cliffhanger. Marina and Nate were held at gunpoint in Marina's hotel room after the Russian mob tracked her down. The book ended with a gunshot. I started this book expecting to be thrown right back into the action, but that's not what happened.
Instead, there was a flashback to an earlier sex scene between Marina and Nate (very hot) and then a lot of Marina's inner thoughts about Nate, herself, her past, and her future. It was only a few pages in that we finally learned that Nate lived, though he was in the hospital and not speaking a single word to Marina. She's been by his side the entire time, barely eating, entirely focused on this man she thinks she just might love one day.
From there, the real story begins. Nate is discharged and Marina flies them both back to Blue Ridge Ranch in Montana where Marina grew up. She's back to take her place running the ranch. Or is she?
This part of Marina's story takes an interesting turn on the plane. Nate finally speaks to Marina and tells her that he's not letting her go. He blames her for the shooting and hasn't forgiven her for keeping the existence of the brothel from him, but he's not letting her go. In fact, he's doing the exact opposite. He's taking control. From the time they touch down, he owns her.
Marina is shocked. She's not submissive. Nate isn't dominant. Or so she thinks. Just A Woman introduces Marina to who she really is and what she really wants. There's a lot of steamy BDSM play but the beauty of this book is Marina's inner dialog. There isn't actually a lot of action in this book. No, it's all emotional. Marina's thoughts, her reactions, and her fears. The author does a great job of breaking Marina down for the reader and showing us who this strong woman really is. Unlike the first installment, when things end here, Marina is in a place where she's safe and contemplating her near-contentment. Is this who she is? Is this who she wants to be?
This is a very satisfying and steamy read. I know there's more to Marina and I know there's more action to come (because that's how Ms. Akeroyd's books are) and I look forward to the next two installments in Marina's tale.
**This review originally appeared on Author Alliance.**
Just a woman for me was not just a book to read, to fill in time, or to have a review to write, it was a total learning experience.
BDSM is not my thing by any form or nature but to read of the way one reacts to this sort of discipline is amazing, but each to their own, for Marina it is like a switch has been flicked.
I am lucky enough to not only be one of Serena's friends but I was asked by her and given the opportunity to edit/read it before JAW was published so I could voice my opinion.
I LOVED IT
We get to meet up with Marina once again and read how her world has been totally rocked with the quick evacuation of Papillion, she has been forced into returning to the one place she never thought she would return too Blue Ridge Ranch in Montana.
She thought that was all in her past, and although she kept in contact, she never wanted to be part of that lifestyle ever again.
We find that the very work orientated Marina, who commanded a whole team of A class prostitutes into working for her at her classy brothel is a little secret pussycat.
Nate has discovered something in her that Marina herself had never known existed, it had never showed its side to her previously, so the discovery that she holds submissive tendencies was a strange revelation to Marina, and Nate is only to keen to show her things that are beyond her imagination, and the Marina we knew is long gone, and the new softer submissive side becomes the person she is today.
Join Marina her on her journey, it wont disappoint, there are some pretty hot scenes in this book, that will keep the pages turning and a few surprises as well.
Well this is strange for me. I usually am super-enthusiastic about BDSM relationships, especially those that rely on correctional behaviour and lots of spanking. Yet as much as I tried, I had a very hard time accepting this particular one.
But let's start from the beginning.
Marina is on Nathan's side while he is recovering, and if they are to rekindle their connection, he is to set down some very simple ground rules. Do not lie. Do not swear. Make sure you eat. Normal things for everyone else, but not for a woman who has been way too independent her whole life, careless and wild. Life back at the ranch will definitely prove to be a lot less boring than Marina initially thought.
Once more, the writing of Ms. Akeroyd leaves us panting, with a wet spot on our chairs. Dominant males always do that to me, but this particular one has such a powerful mix of tenderness and firm discipline, it makes me want to bite something! The plot thickens, as one would say, as more and more characters enter the scene, each with their own agenda, their own distinct role, their rightful place in the ranch and in our mind. I am very curious to see where this will lead.
However, that being said, I have a big problem with this book. I cannot get over the feeling that Marina is very much NOT a natural submissive, and Nathan is just "using" her guilt to transform her into something she is not. She does not seem or feel AT ALL as a submissive, and his demands for her to change some elements of her personality "for her own good" do not strike me as anything other than him trying to manipulate her behaviour and turn her into a version of her that he wants.
I will reserve further comments until I read the next books, but I am getting very bad mixed signals from this D/s relationship.
WELL when book 5 A Bitch In Time ended I was like OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG NO DON'T END NOT YET! So when I started this one I really loved that it picked up and didn't leave me confused. I felt bad for Marina and the way Nate was treating her it kinda made me want to growl at him for not understanding and loving her anyways!
When Nate made the spill about how he was going to start being who he "really" is and she was going to listen or else, I was like WOAH that just turned corners!
Marina seemed so confused and was having a war inside her head and heart when it came to trying to understand where this Dom of a man came from inside her Nate and why she couldn't understand how he would think she was a sub when she felt she was anything BUT a submissive person. I mean yes she submits to Nate when in bed but not the way he wants her to be now.
Marina is to do exactly what Nate tells her and when he tells her or she will be punished. He seems to be breaking her down a little thing at a time and then its like he was trying to life her up and make her whole again. At first this was horrific to her but as she finds her self deeper into it with him she finds her self craving what he can give her. Her body cant help but react to him even when she doesn't understand why.
This one had me begging for more once again Serena Akeroyd made it to where I did not want it to end!! Gosh I swear she just knows how to pull me in and keep me there! Cant wait to see what she has for me next!!!!!!
I'm not going to lie, I ummed and aahed about this story. Even though I enjoyed the first four parts of the Naughty Nookie series, the one's about Mona, I knew from the blurbs that Marina's story would be about BDSM, which isn't my cup of tea. But, I gave in, because menage stories didn't used to be my cup of tea either, and this author convinced me of that! Now, having read the series, I'm glad I did and I can't wait for Eddie's tale, I really want to know what she's been up to as well. The BDSM part of the story was integral to the relationship between Nate and Marina, but I loved the backstory. I loved all of the ins and outs, and for me, that really set this book apart from erotica as I understood it. This wasn't just about sex. There was a LOT of sex, don't get me wrong, but it was balanced really well with the intrigue. I think, I actually preferred this to Mona's story! WHich is a complete turnaround. There was so much depth to the suspense that I can see Serena going into romantic suspense or just suspense in the future. I definitely recommend these books. The BDSM bit is interesting; more about discipline than anything, but in a sexy way. Some of the scenes made my eyes cross, in a good way!
Second book in Marina's story. I am uncertain what to say, I am confused with a really good story and the reality of this all happening within the timeframe that is given. First Nate was in the hospital for a long time and didn't speak to Marina once!? I can actually see why he wouldn't want to but it's very unlikely. Then when she gets him home he immediately says this is how it's going to be, take it or leave it. And within one day she has completely submitted herself to him, with reservations, but she still did it. A bit unrealistic. Granted this lifestyle is not new to her since she owned a brothel so she doesn't need as much instruction as others but she has never been a sub before. Does that mean it will only take a day for her to step into that role? This all has me a little unsure what else to say.
But this is not reality and my review is not based on whether this could actually take place or not. I still get swept away in the excellent writing and story-telling. This is why I gave it 4 stars. I am very anxious to see what will happen. If the last series is anything to go off of, Serena is good for many story twists in the next 2 books.
I received this book from the author for an honest review This is the second book in Marina's story. We left off with Nate getting shot in the last book. While in the hospital he wouldn't talk to Marina. I understand his anger with her to an extent. He really ticked me off with the not talking. Marina feels guilty but she is a stronger women then I , I would have done walked out. Guilt or not. On his release from the hospital Marina has to get them back to the ranch.As we find out his not talking to her is his way of taking control. He has hidden his dominant from her to a degree and she never thought she was submissive. Wonderful series for lovers of erotica and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
beta read provided by author. this book had my rating literally all over the place .. a bitch in time seriously fuck yeah that book this one was just so many things at once the sub stuff near the end interesting but holy all at once I have to stop this review.. because this book makes me wanna go to pound town =]
Another jump down the rabbit hole with this one! Never saw the BDSM aspect coming. This book takes place over a few days, in those days, Nate just expects Marina to become a sub. That might sound rushed, but somehow, it kind of fit. She had a choice to make, if she wanted to stay with him, then that was the decision she had to make. Liked the dynamic, couldn't wait to read the next part. Also liked how Marina's story is interlinked with Mona's. Wondering what Eddie's story will be like now.
** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.** I didn't think Marena's life could hold more excitement, but I was wrong. This story has been written well. Great characters. I love reading about how Marena grows as a woman, lover, friend and ex-business owner. Such a huge revelation has been made that takes her by surprise. I love The Naughty Nookie series. I look forward to reading more in this series.
You get the big picture. Nate is terrific and you finally see what is missing in part one and why. . .his is a DOM! And damn he is hard-core. YUM! Marina really struggles with excepting her submissive side and you do a wonderful job of expressing all those feeling a women who is first learning to love her submissive nature. I am still not sure if I like Marina as this point as she still wants to pretend and hide thru life.
Oh WOW...Just a Woman by Serena Akeroyd does not disappoint, as Marina & Nate find their way into the world of BDSM. This series just keeps getting better & better as I read~I love this author!! The story is as addictive as Nate is to Marina-if you don't believe me, try reading a bit for yourself, it's impossible to put down!!
Wow another awesome book just a heads up I found these books to be highly addictive an find myself reading them over and over. I just love reading marinas and nates story. Can't wait to find out what happens next :)
Amazingly Hot and creative this book is pure pleasure!! Marina and Nate getting hotter and the story getting more and more interesting!!!! Creative and original this serie will blow your mind!!!!!!