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Taken in Hand
Librarian's note: This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN: B00ECNSNXM.
Nicholas is the urbane, cool, calm, very controlled and controlling CEO of a successful marketing company, until he meets Eleanor, the head of his design department, who, with her impulsive - almost reckless - spontaneity, soon breaks down his reserve.
Their first meeting is less than auspicious, with Eleanor summoned to Nicholas' office to explain discrepancies in her department's accounts.
Nicholas, despite his usually guarded approach to relationships, finds himself drawn to Eleanor in a way that comes to consume him and expose his vulnerabilities.
Eleanor, by contrast, is not in the least guarded, being very open and responsive, possibly slightly naive, and she is soon in his thrall.
Nicholas doesn't believe in love.
Eleanor believes in fairy tales.
Are they a match made in Heaven?
Can Eleanor be with Nicholas without being destroyed by him?
Does Nicholas want more than she can give?
Can he control her? Will he love her?
Where does the power dynamic really lie?
This is a love story for the modern age and as such contains strong language and descriptions of consensual sexual activity, not suitable for persons under 18 years of age.
'Taken in Hand'(Love by Design#1), is the first of three books about Nicholas and Eleanor, but is also a complete novel of 50,000+ words, which starts to explore their developing relationship, with a satisfactory ending at a natural pause in the story.
As the first book in the series it is relatively lighthearted, detailing the initial stage of their blossoming romance.
The second and third books in the series continue their story with further exploration of the unfolding Dominant/submissive dynamic between them.
Nicholas is the urbane, cool, calm, very controlled and controlling CEO of a successful marketing company, until he meets Eleanor, the head of his design department, who, with her impulsive - almost reckless - spontaneity, soon breaks down his reserve.
Their first meeting is less than auspicious, with Eleanor summoned to Nicholas' office to explain discrepancies in her department's accounts.
Nicholas, despite his usually guarded approach to relationships, finds himself drawn to Eleanor in a way that comes to consume him and expose his vulnerabilities.
Eleanor, by contrast, is not in the least guarded, being very open and responsive, possibly slightly naive, and she is soon in his thrall.
Nicholas doesn't believe in love.
Eleanor believes in fairy tales.
Are they a match made in Heaven?
Can Eleanor be with Nicholas without being destroyed by him?
Does Nicholas want more than she can give?
Can he control her? Will he love her?
Where does the power dynamic really lie?
This is a love story for the modern age and as such contains strong language and descriptions of consensual sexual activity, not suitable for persons under 18 years of age.
'Taken in Hand'(Love by Design#1), is the first of three books about Nicholas and Eleanor, but is also a complete novel of 50,000+ words, which starts to explore their developing relationship, with a satisfactory ending at a natural pause in the story.
As the first book in the series it is relatively lighthearted, detailing the initial stage of their blossoming romance.
The second and third books in the series continue their story with further exploration of the unfolding Dominant/submissive dynamic between them.
167 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2013
4 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
J.R. James
24 books33 followersJ.R. James is a British author who writes modern romantic fiction with an erotic twist and contemporary themes, exploring the Dominant/submissive dynamic in male/female relationships with varying levels of involvement in a BDSM lifestyle.
Her writing career began in 2013 with the publication of her ‘Love by Design’ trilogy, inspired by the new and expanding genre of erotic fiction with romance firmly at its core, and the growing mainstream popularity of the type of love stories that she had long enjoyed.
Her fiction has been described as ‘character-led’, and she admits to falling in love with her heroes and heroines while they ‘live’ with her and she gets beneath their skin to examine their motivations, as they navigate the often difficult path of love in search of their ‘happy ever after’.
She currently has seventeen published titles with lots more ‘work in progress’ ideas stored up in her imagination (and on her computer), and a whole cast of characters vying for attention to be her next romantic leads.
When she is not writing about the hot alpha-males who make the women in her books go weak at the knees, she loves reading across a wide range of genres, though erotic romance is definitely her first choice, and she is never happier than when curled up with a good book, or at her keyboard creating one.
Her writing career began in 2013 with the publication of her ‘Love by Design’ trilogy, inspired by the new and expanding genre of erotic fiction with romance firmly at its core, and the growing mainstream popularity of the type of love stories that she had long enjoyed.
Her fiction has been described as ‘character-led’, and she admits to falling in love with her heroes and heroines while they ‘live’ with her and she gets beneath their skin to examine their motivations, as they navigate the often difficult path of love in search of their ‘happy ever after’.
She currently has seventeen published titles with lots more ‘work in progress’ ideas stored up in her imagination (and on her computer), and a whole cast of characters vying for attention to be her next romantic leads.
When she is not writing about the hot alpha-males who make the women in her books go weak at the knees, she loves reading across a wide range of genres, though erotic romance is definitely her first choice, and she is never happier than when curled up with a good book, or at her keyboard creating one.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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April 8, 2020🎁 The complete Love by Design Series (3 book series) is FREE on Amazon today (4/8/2020)! 🎁
January 18, 2014
Workaholic control "Kinky Freak" Nicholas (who is quickly renamed to Nick) and overspending "Foot-in-Mouth" Eleanor (who prefers Ellie) have the standard Dominant Sexy Boss / Cute Wild Designer relationship. When Ellie is caught "borrowing" money from the company, Nick playfully suggests a good spanking might be all she needs. Less than 48 hours later, she can't but admit, he might have a point.
Honourable mention, Jo the Best Friend. Far more awesome, far more relatable, far more easy to like, and tons more wise and logical than her bestie Eleanor. Really, the comparison between her and the borderline mental heroine of the book is a no-brainer in her favour.
While there were some good elements there (the spanking scene, the hot sex all over the place etc), and the story, though not something new, did not feel boring, I was left a big upset after finishing the book. I am getting sick and tired of stories that have the guy ALWAYS apologizing, even when it is SO ABSOLUTELY OBVIOUS it was the GIRL that fucked up and should begin the "I'm sorry - Yeah me too" dance, with emotional reserve, logic and humbleness. Maybe that thing was "cool" in highschool, but when your lead characters are over 25, it just feels like a tool to force the plot twists.
Yet having said all that, I am definitely reading the other parts of the trilogy. I am curious to see what will happen with Imogen (Nick's secretary) as well as Jo and her "mother goose" relationship with Ellie.
Honourable mention, Jo the Best Friend. Far more awesome, far more relatable, far more easy to like, and tons more wise and logical than her bestie Eleanor. Really, the comparison between her and the borderline mental heroine of the book is a no-brainer in her favour.
While there were some good elements there (the spanking scene, the hot sex all over the place etc), and the story, though not something new, did not feel boring, I was left a big upset after finishing the book. I am getting sick and tired of stories that have the guy ALWAYS apologizing, even when it is SO ABSOLUTELY OBVIOUS it was the GIRL that fucked up and should begin the "I'm sorry - Yeah me too" dance, with emotional reserve, logic and humbleness. Maybe that thing was "cool" in highschool, but when your lead characters are over 25, it just feels like a tool to force the plot twists.
Yet having said all that, I am definitely reading the other parts of the trilogy. I am curious to see what will happen with Imogen (Nick's secretary) as well as Jo and her "mother goose" relationship with Ellie.
October 7, 2020
Tantrums
OMG! I wasn't sure if he was an adult man or a teenager pulling a tantrum every time he didn't like something or mistaken something for that wasn't what he thought. Oh well, I guess it was a happy ending.
OMG! I wasn't sure if he was an adult man or a teenager pulling a tantrum every time he didn't like something or mistaken something for that wasn't what he thought. Oh well, I guess it was a happy ending.
May 8, 2015
Taken in hand is a story of lust, misconstrued comments and confusion between a man who has been hurt before and an impulsive, impetuous younger woman. Ellie fancies the pants off her seldom seen enigmatic boss, and goes to quite epic, illegal lengths to meet him. The office romance progresses quickly and the sex scenes are suitably steamy.
Ellie’s best friend Jo was probably most appealing character for me, the way Jo stands up for her dippy friend was sweet.
What moved this from a really liked it four star to a 'liked it' three for me was the disparity between the two main characters behaviour and their ages/experience. both their mental processes would have been more believable if the characters had both been a great deal younger, rather than being late twenties/early thirties successful business executives.
Ellie’s best friend Jo was probably most appealing character for me, the way Jo stands up for her dippy friend was sweet.
What moved this from a really liked it four star to a 'liked it' three for me was the disparity between the two main characters behaviour and their ages/experience. both their mental processes would have been more believable if the characters had both been a great deal younger, rather than being late twenties/early thirties successful business executives.
October 10, 2014
Well written and edited, just not a very deep plot. Most of the book is lush descriptions of designs and clothes. The two main characters are attracted to one another, but don't communicate well, which makes for very little romance. There are explicit sex scenes, but they're short. Includes one spanking scene.
April 29, 2016
REVIEW TO COME
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews