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White Collared #1
Mercy
The first sexy installment in Shelly Bell's four-part serialized erotic thriller about a young law student who must go undercover at a sex club to prove her client is not guilty of murder.
Driven by ambition…
Third-year law student Kate Martin outran her tragic past to become an intern for her idol and secret crush, the powerful attorney Nicholas Trenton. She is thrilled when Nick assigns her to represent his best friend and client, millionaire Jaxon Deveroux … the prime suspect in his submissive wife Alyssa's murder.
Seduced by desire…
Kate knows they have only a few days to find the real killer, and since signs point to a member of the BDSM community, she volunteers to go undercover as Jaxon's submissive at Benediction—the private sex club where he is a member—to covertly investigate Alyssa's last few months. For years, Kate has kept her dark fantasies a secret … but a chance to explore them with sexy, dominant Jaxon is just too tempting to pass up.
Driven by ambition…
Third-year law student Kate Martin outran her tragic past to become an intern for her idol and secret crush, the powerful attorney Nicholas Trenton. She is thrilled when Nick assigns her to represent his best friend and client, millionaire Jaxon Deveroux … the prime suspect in his submissive wife Alyssa's murder.
Seduced by desire…
Kate knows they have only a few days to find the real killer, and since signs point to a member of the BDSM community, she volunteers to go undercover as Jaxon's submissive at Benediction—the private sex club where he is a member—to covertly investigate Alyssa's last few months. For years, Kate has kept her dark fantasies a secret … but a chance to explore them with sexy, dominant Jaxon is just too tempting to pass up.
176 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 3, 2014
25 people are currently reading
1452 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Bell
28 books644 followersShelly Bell is the author of the popular Shelly Bell is the author of more than a dozen romances. Her novels have collected numerous awards and have received starred reviews from both Publisher’s Weekly and Library Journal. An attorney for more than twenty-five years, Shelly lives with her family in southwest Florida. When she's not working, she enjoys teaching romance writing to aspiring authors, volunteering in her local community, and reading by the pool. To learn more about her books, visit www.ShellyBellBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 10, 2014
Mercy is the first instalment of Shelly Bell's new White Collared serialised novel. Now, I've said before that I'm not a fan of this new trend of splitting one story into several parts for no apparent reason and that's still the case here. If this first part is anything to go by each section (apart from the final one I hope!) is going to end on a horrendous cliffhanger and none of them are going to work as a stand alone story. Basically, you're signing up to read all four parts, considering it's around 100 pages per section it's really only the equivalent of a normal book so why it couldn't have been released as one full length novel I'll never know. Anyway, on principle I'm no longer reading serials until all of the instalments are available - I'm just not good at having to wait weeks to find out what happens next, usually by the time part 2 is published I've lost interest in continuing the series!
Kate is a third year law student and an unpaid intern at a prestigious law firm working for her idol, and secret crush, Nick. She is hiding a tragic past that could effect her chances of becoming a lawyer but she has worked hard to get where she is and is determined to make it. When billionaire Jaxon is accused of murdering his submissive wife he turns to his best friend Nick for help. The way Alyssa's body was found points to a murderer from the BDSM community and since Jaxon and Alyssa were in a D/s relationship of course he is the prime suspect. It is up to Kate and Nick to prove his innocence.
White Collared is an erotic thriller series but be warned that you will be required to suspend all belief while you're reading it. There were so many times when I was raising my eyes and shaking my head and I'm not an expert when it comes to the law or police investigation procedures so if you read a lot of this kind of story then you'll probably have even more problems than I did. To save me time I'm just going to bullet point some of the issues I had:
- Kate is a law STUDENT specialising in civil law yet she is asked to play a major part in a criminal law trial. Don't they have qualified lawyers for that? Surely when you're a billionaire and money is no object you're going to pay for the best?
- She has absolutely no hands on experience of BDSM, she has read a popular romance series (Anyone else assuming Fifty Shades?) and done some research online but that is the extent of her knowledge so how does she expect to go undercover at a BDSM club as Jaxon's new submissive? She's planning on tracking down a murderer but surely anyone is going to take one look at her and know she's new to the lifestyle and suspect something is up.
- She takes one look at the crime scene photos and identifies the type of knife used to cut into Alyssa's body. She recognises the shape of the cuts because her father used the same kind of knife when they were fishing. So this young student is suddenly more knowledgeable than CSI experts and spotting things that the police have missed the very first time she glances at the photos? Don't you think she might be a little too disturbed that she's looking at photos of a DEAD BODY to concentrate on the shape of the cuts? I can't believe that she'd have been subjected to a lot of crime scene photos as part of her studies when she is focusing on civil cases rather than criminal ones but perhaps I'm wrong about that.
- She is an UNPAID intern working all hours of the day and night, presumably she's got studying to do on top of that since she's not completed her law degree yet and she has no family support or income that we know about. So how does she afford her own apartment and a Harley? Admittedly the apartment is run down and in a bad area but where does her rent money come from? How is she even affording to feed herself?
Don't even get me started on the whole situation with her boyfriend or the fact that she only has to look at either Nick or Jaxon to go weak at the knees. Kate hasn't made the best first impression on me that's for sure, I was irritated by the way she swoons over both men and I found her skills unbelievable. I am kind of curious to find out more about her past though, we haven't been given much information but what we do have is intriguing. Nick comes across as a possessive stalker and frankly more often than not he acts like an arsehole, perhaps he'll grow on me but at the moment I'm not seeing the appeal. Jaxon is probably the character I like the most so far but even he hasn't sucked me in completely.
I know I've had a lot of negative things to say but Mercy isn't all bad. It's actually well written (if you ignore the fact that the whole situation is implausible) and it's definitely intriguing. The once sex scene we get is pretty hot and I'll be interested to see if things spice up further as the series continues. Since I already have all four instalments for review I'll probably read at least one more section before I make up my mind on the series as a whole. I'm hoping that I have to suspend belief less in the next part though or I probably won't be carrying on beyond that.
Kate is a third year law student and an unpaid intern at a prestigious law firm working for her idol, and secret crush, Nick. She is hiding a tragic past that could effect her chances of becoming a lawyer but she has worked hard to get where she is and is determined to make it. When billionaire Jaxon is accused of murdering his submissive wife he turns to his best friend Nick for help. The way Alyssa's body was found points to a murderer from the BDSM community and since Jaxon and Alyssa were in a D/s relationship of course he is the prime suspect. It is up to Kate and Nick to prove his innocence.
White Collared is an erotic thriller series but be warned that you will be required to suspend all belief while you're reading it. There were so many times when I was raising my eyes and shaking my head and I'm not an expert when it comes to the law or police investigation procedures so if you read a lot of this kind of story then you'll probably have even more problems than I did. To save me time I'm just going to bullet point some of the issues I had:
- Kate is a law STUDENT specialising in civil law yet she is asked to play a major part in a criminal law trial. Don't they have qualified lawyers for that? Surely when you're a billionaire and money is no object you're going to pay for the best?
- She has absolutely no hands on experience of BDSM, she has read a popular romance series (Anyone else assuming Fifty Shades?) and done some research online but that is the extent of her knowledge so how does she expect to go undercover at a BDSM club as Jaxon's new submissive? She's planning on tracking down a murderer but surely anyone is going to take one look at her and know she's new to the lifestyle and suspect something is up.
- She takes one look at the crime scene photos and identifies the type of knife used to cut into Alyssa's body. She recognises the shape of the cuts because her father used the same kind of knife when they were fishing. So this young student is suddenly more knowledgeable than CSI experts and spotting things that the police have missed the very first time she glances at the photos? Don't you think she might be a little too disturbed that she's looking at photos of a DEAD BODY to concentrate on the shape of the cuts? I can't believe that she'd have been subjected to a lot of crime scene photos as part of her studies when she is focusing on civil cases rather than criminal ones but perhaps I'm wrong about that.
- She is an UNPAID intern working all hours of the day and night, presumably she's got studying to do on top of that since she's not completed her law degree yet and she has no family support or income that we know about. So how does she afford her own apartment and a Harley? Admittedly the apartment is run down and in a bad area but where does her rent money come from? How is she even affording to feed herself?
Don't even get me started on the whole situation with her boyfriend or the fact that she only has to look at either Nick or Jaxon to go weak at the knees. Kate hasn't made the best first impression on me that's for sure, I was irritated by the way she swoons over both men and I found her skills unbelievable. I am kind of curious to find out more about her past though, we haven't been given much information but what we do have is intriguing. Nick comes across as a possessive stalker and frankly more often than not he acts like an arsehole, perhaps he'll grow on me but at the moment I'm not seeing the appeal. Jaxon is probably the character I like the most so far but even he hasn't sucked me in completely.
I know I've had a lot of negative things to say but Mercy isn't all bad. It's actually well written (if you ignore the fact that the whole situation is implausible) and it's definitely intriguing. The once sex scene we get is pretty hot and I'll be interested to see if things spice up further as the series continues. Since I already have all four instalments for review I'll probably read at least one more section before I make up my mind on the series as a whole. I'm hoping that I have to suspend belief less in the next part though or I probably won't be carrying on beyond that.
nfm-pass
February 13, 2020Leaving note so I don't get recs for this one.
Aside from fact that it's yet another serial (which, for me, is even worse format for a supposed thriller), I can't suspend disbelief enough to accept the uber-fantasyland premise in the blurb--namely, a 3L/intern representing anyone, much less a millionaire suspected of murder. That's called practising law w/o a licence--which is a crime in and of itself in most jurisdictions. *smh*
(Oh and I'm assuming a sexual relationship develops b/n Kate & Jaxon. That should be an interesting discussion topic w/ the ethics review committee pre-admission to the bar.)
Aside from fact that it's yet another serial (which, for me, is even worse format for a supposed thriller), I can't suspend disbelief enough to accept the uber-fantasyland premise in the blurb--namely, a 3L/intern representing anyone, much less a millionaire suspected of murder. That's called practising law w/o a licence--which is a crime in and of itself in most jurisdictions. *smh*
(Oh and I'm assuming a sexual relationship develops b/n Kate & Jaxon. That should be an interesting discussion topic w/ the ethics review committee pre-admission to the bar.)
July 12, 2014
::sigh:: Giving it 2-3/4 stars thanks to the Hot "French Vanilla" sex near the end - and the character referring to the sex scene as "French Vanilla"!::
Yeah, I got a bit ranty in the Status Updates, for which I'm sorry to both you and to author Shelly Bell. It's just that, a few lifetimes back, I worked for a while critiquing mysteries and adventures for a radio drama company (yes, they still existed as far back as the 1980s and early 1990s!), and as a result I tend to find that holes in a story's logic, in common sense, and in the basic level of legal/police/medical/military procedure (about the level you'd expect from a "realistic" television show on the topic, like LAW & ORDER or THE PRACTICE), throw me out of the story and make it harder for me to enjoy it. I don't think I'm like one of the more extreme SF/Comic Book/SCA fans who insist that the Transporter Effect on STAR TREK has to last exactly six seconds, Batman never committed cold-blooded murder, or a Person of Color can't play the Queen of England in a Renaissance Faire - but that all is a far cry from, say, a Legal Intern Second Chairing for the defense in a high-profile homicide case (as happens to our heroine, Kate Martin, here)!
While it's not impossible for me to enjoy a piece of entertainment that has these kinds of issues,
I Watch CASTLE, After All! THAT Show Has More Plot, Logic, Character and Procedural Holes In It Than Sonny Corleone!
it has to have something else going for it to make it enjoyable for me. In CASTLE's case, Nathan Fillion is genuinely funny and believable as a deeper-than-he-lets-on big goof (he usually is), who's completely in love with a woman who can more than hold her own against him (which he often hasn't been); and Stana Katic is not only totally convincing as a hardass but hot sarcastic woman cop (there's a reason a lot of us point at her and chant "Eve Dal-las! Eve Dal-las!"), but she also completely sells loving the big goof back - and finding him sexy as Hell, so we do too! If you think that's no big deal, watch him opposite Morena Baccarin in FIREFLY, Dana Delaney in DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, or Keri Russell in WAITRESS - he usually seems more like a big brother or guy pal than the love interest he's supposed to be. When Katic gives Fillion that warm, inviting smile she mainly seems to have just for him, you totally believe This Guy Rocks Her World.
The problem is, this story (stretched out over four short books) isn't about Castle and Beckett - or even James and Selena, the Dom cop and his park ranger subbe/fiancée of Sindra van Yssel's Bondage Ranch series, who I also really enjoy (in many ways more than Castle and Beckett, because unlike CASTLE's writers Ms. van Yssel doesn't write stupid stories!). It's about Detroit, MI Legal Intern Kate Martin (née "Katerina Martini"), a trailer-park refugee who (somehow) survived her father's death and her mother's attempt to have her put in prison for it, and without any visible means of support pay for Law School, own a Harley, live alone in a(n admittedly crappy) apartment, and afford all the necessities of life like food, clothing and the occasional alcoholic blowout - all while working as an unpaid intern in one of Detroit's biggest law firms rather than a part-time job! It's like the story ensures she's not got much in the way or income or resources because that makes her more vulnerable - but she's always got decent clothes to wear, a nice motorcycle to ride, and can afford law school. Since the crushing burden of student loans has yet to be mentioned (don't get me started on student loans!), all I can assume is that she's so incredibly brilliant that she got a full-ride scholarship including a stipend from the American Bar Association or something - in which case why isn't she living in campus housing, like a lot of college scholarship jocks who get full-ride scholarships do, or sharing an apartment with somebody like her Young Doctor Boyfriend of Two Years, Tom? (Oh, right - so she can be more vulnerable....)
"Plus ça Change, Plus c'est la Même Chose...."
Our story begins when Kate is pulled out of Intern Siberia by her Hot But Asshole Boss (aren't they all in these books?), Nicholas Trenton, to help him with the police interrogating his close friend Jaxon Deveroux (seriously, that's his name!) over the death of Deveroux's wife Alyssa in what looks like a S-M Scene Gone Horribly Wrong (she was caned, whipped, cut and slowly asphyxiated while bound suspended). Trenton admits to Kate while driving there that he's aware Deveroux and Alyssa engaged in BDSM play throughout their marriage - but that since It's An Election Year, political and media forces are likely to make hay out of this death as a convenient scapegoat to every cause from "moral rot" to "domestic violence". Kate, as it turns out, was also a political and media scapegoat of her Father's death as a teenager, led by her trailer-trash Mother who never wanted children - and while she was (we assume, because It's All Very Vague) eventually exonerated, the emotional scars are with her to this day (exemplified by her constantly flashing back, and popping anti-anxiety pills, which may or may not be antidepressants like I originally said, like they were Tic Tacs!). (If I'm going to empathize with a Professional Woman With a Screwed-Up Childhood Rising Above It, I'll take Eve Dallas, thanks!)
Bet You Thought I'd Post a Picture of Stana Katic Looking Fierce Here - Rather Than of Nora Roberts Rocking Her Inner Eve Dallas.... ;)
A big problem with the series so far (and it's still the first book) is its tendency to Tell, Not Show - especially when it comes to Kate Martin. We're told she a "National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Champion" (though she's interning in Civil Law by her own choice), and could have her pick of law firms once she graduates Law School (and passes the bar exam - but that's just a minor detail, right?) -
The Multiple-Handed Facepalm is Because, According to Statistics on Various Legal Blogs, About 1/3 - 1/2 of Law School Grads FAIL the Bar Exam The First Time Out - and the Failure Rate RISES Each Time They Re-Take It!
but what we're shown is a wounded bird so determined not to stand out, so easily intimidated by/submissive to the dominant men in her midst, and with so little self-esteem that she'd rather kneel in the corner and take notes during a police interrogation than ask for a chair! How on Earth is she going manage in court given she seems to have all the spirit of a limp noodle?
Maybe She Figures She Can Appeal a Ruling in Full Gorean Nadu...?
Please understand - I am not "subbe-shaming" Kate, nor any woman (or let's be fair here, man!) with submissive tendencies. I have a powerful submissive side myself, and a man I love I call "Master", and to whom I surrender sexually whenever possible. Moreover, the idea of people in positions of high stress (like an attorney) seeking the release of sexual submission would hardly surprise anybody anymore. Several of the most incredible women and men I know are sexually submissive, and many of my favorite D/s romances are about women at about Kate's level (or a bit below) who find how being submissive in the bedroom to the man they come to love makes them feel both beautiful and strong, and give them someone to watch their backs in times of trouble.
The problem is that I find Kate Martin extremely hard to believe as competent to be left at home without adult supervision - let alone as the shining star almost-lawyer she supposedly is.
In any event, her Hot But Asshole Boss Nick alternates between scolding her like she's a schoolgirl, stalking her when she goes out with friends (including her BFF Hannah, who tells her she's got this New Guy Whose Girlfriend "Is Kinda Frigid In Bed")
Matt Bomer Can Tell Where This is Headed....
praising her by telling her what an "amazing" attorney she'll make (a lot of the "Tell, Don't Show" I mentioned above? Comes right out of Nick's mouth), offering her Second Chair defending Jaxon Deveroux -
Welcome Back, Asshole! Yeah - Even He Can't Believe Nick Trenton Just Offered an INTERN Second Chair in a Potentially High Profile Homicide...!
oh, yeah - and giving her a ride home while telling her it's his job "to take care of her"... before making out with her in his car!
Way To Be a Legal Professional, Tiger!
If you've read my Status Updates, then it won't surprise you to hear that Kate offers to go undercover as Jaxon's Brand Spanking New Submissive, even though her experience in BDSM is limited to "Reading That Popular Book Series" (yes, the one my current Avvie mocks so aptly!) and "Look(ing) It Up On The Internet" -
Times Like This - ONLY The Triple Facepalm Will Do
After outlining all the blatantly obvious reasons why This Is A Bad Idea, Nick amazingly goes along with it - and Jax takes Kate to his "playroom" to teach her how to be a submissive. Only thing is, the cops took all his toys - so he'll just have to dominate Kate with the Power of His Masterhood... or something. Now, I've been into The Scene for... A While Now, and I wouldn't want to go into a strange BDSM Club pretending to be some guy I barely know's subbe with as little preparation as Kate has! But, hey - She's Got Spunk! Either that, or she just got beaned with The Idiot Ball ....
Like This Sportcaster Almost Was!
Anyway, after a lot of dirty talk and the kind of sexual tension you'd need a machete to cut through
I'm Sorry - I'm Awfully Sorry....
Jax drives her to her boyfriend Tom's house - just in time After the expected outcome, Kate Jax then leaves, muttering something about "This was a mistake..."
Because That's EXACTLY the Kind of a Woman Needs To Hear!
Be that as it may, the story ends on a cliffhanger, with Kate getting a call from a scrambled voice threatening her, telling her Deveroux has killed before, and knowing she used to be "Katerina Martini" and killed her father! So - She calls the One Person She Absolutely Can Trust....
We ALL Know Where This is Going, Don't We...?
CONTINUED WITH WHITE COLLAR, PART 2: GREED!
Yeah, I got a bit ranty in the Status Updates, for which I'm sorry to both you and to author Shelly Bell. It's just that, a few lifetimes back, I worked for a while critiquing mysteries and adventures for a radio drama company (yes, they still existed as far back as the 1980s and early 1990s!), and as a result I tend to find that holes in a story's logic, in common sense, and in the basic level of legal/police/medical/military procedure (about the level you'd expect from a "realistic" television show on the topic, like LAW & ORDER or THE PRACTICE), throw me out of the story and make it harder for me to enjoy it. I don't think I'm like one of the more extreme SF/Comic Book/SCA fans who insist that the Transporter Effect on STAR TREK has to last exactly six seconds, Batman never committed cold-blooded murder, or a Person of Color can't play the Queen of England in a Renaissance Faire - but that all is a far cry from, say, a Legal Intern Second Chairing for the defense in a high-profile homicide case (as happens to our heroine, Kate Martin, here)!
While it's not impossible for me to enjoy a piece of entertainment that has these kinds of issues,
I Watch CASTLE, After All! THAT Show Has More Plot, Logic, Character and Procedural Holes In It Than Sonny Corleone!
it has to have something else going for it to make it enjoyable for me. In CASTLE's case, Nathan Fillion is genuinely funny and believable as a deeper-than-he-lets-on big goof (he usually is), who's completely in love with a woman who can more than hold her own against him (which he often hasn't been); and Stana Katic is not only totally convincing as a hardass but hot sarcastic woman cop (there's a reason a lot of us point at her and chant "Eve Dal-las! Eve Dal-las!"), but she also completely sells loving the big goof back - and finding him sexy as Hell, so we do too! If you think that's no big deal, watch him opposite Morena Baccarin in FIREFLY, Dana Delaney in DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, or Keri Russell in WAITRESS - he usually seems more like a big brother or guy pal than the love interest he's supposed to be. When Katic gives Fillion that warm, inviting smile she mainly seems to have just for him, you totally believe This Guy Rocks Her World.
The problem is, this story (stretched out over four short books) isn't about Castle and Beckett - or even James and Selena, the Dom cop and his park ranger subbe/fiancée of Sindra van Yssel's Bondage Ranch series, who I also really enjoy (in many ways more than Castle and Beckett, because unlike CASTLE's writers Ms. van Yssel doesn't write stupid stories!). It's about Detroit, MI Legal Intern Kate Martin (née "Katerina Martini"), a trailer-park refugee who (somehow) survived her father's death and her mother's attempt to have her put in prison for it, and without any visible means of support pay for Law School, own a Harley, live alone in a(n admittedly crappy) apartment, and afford all the necessities of life like food, clothing and the occasional alcoholic blowout - all while working as an unpaid intern in one of Detroit's biggest law firms rather than a part-time job! It's like the story ensures she's not got much in the way or income or resources because that makes her more vulnerable - but she's always got decent clothes to wear, a nice motorcycle to ride, and can afford law school. Since the crushing burden of student loans has yet to be mentioned (don't get me started on student loans!), all I can assume is that she's so incredibly brilliant that she got a full-ride scholarship including a stipend from the American Bar Association or something - in which case why isn't she living in campus housing, like a lot of college scholarship jocks who get full-ride scholarships do, or sharing an apartment with somebody like her Young Doctor Boyfriend of Two Years, Tom? (Oh, right - so she can be more vulnerable....)
"Plus ça Change, Plus c'est la Même Chose...."
Our story begins when Kate is pulled out of Intern Siberia by her Hot But Asshole Boss (aren't they all in these books?), Nicholas Trenton, to help him with the police interrogating his close friend Jaxon Deveroux (seriously, that's his name!) over the death of Deveroux's wife Alyssa in what looks like a S-M Scene Gone Horribly Wrong (she was caned, whipped, cut and slowly asphyxiated while bound suspended). Trenton admits to Kate while driving there that he's aware Deveroux and Alyssa engaged in BDSM play throughout their marriage - but that since It's An Election Year, political and media forces are likely to make hay out of this death as a convenient scapegoat to every cause from "moral rot" to "domestic violence". Kate, as it turns out, was also a political and media scapegoat of her Father's death as a teenager, led by her trailer-trash Mother who never wanted children - and while she was (we assume, because It's All Very Vague) eventually exonerated, the emotional scars are with her to this day (exemplified by her constantly flashing back, and popping anti-anxiety pills, which may or may not be antidepressants like I originally said, like they were Tic Tacs!). (If I'm going to empathize with a Professional Woman With a Screwed-Up Childhood Rising Above It, I'll take Eve Dallas, thanks!)
Bet You Thought I'd Post a Picture of Stana Katic Looking Fierce Here - Rather Than of Nora Roberts Rocking Her Inner Eve Dallas.... ;)
A big problem with the series so far (and it's still the first book) is its tendency to Tell, Not Show - especially when it comes to Kate Martin. We're told she a "National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Champion" (though she's interning in Civil Law by her own choice), and could have her pick of law firms once she graduates Law School (and passes the bar exam - but that's just a minor detail, right?) -
The Multiple-Handed Facepalm is Because, According to Statistics on Various Legal Blogs, About 1/3 - 1/2 of Law School Grads FAIL the Bar Exam The First Time Out - and the Failure Rate RISES Each Time They Re-Take It!
but what we're shown is a wounded bird so determined not to stand out, so easily intimidated by/submissive to the dominant men in her midst, and with so little self-esteem that she'd rather kneel in the corner and take notes during a police interrogation than ask for a chair! How on Earth is she going manage in court given she seems to have all the spirit of a limp noodle?
Maybe She Figures She Can Appeal a Ruling in Full Gorean Nadu...?
Please understand - I am not "subbe-shaming" Kate, nor any woman (or let's be fair here, man!) with submissive tendencies. I have a powerful submissive side myself, and a man I love I call "Master", and to whom I surrender sexually whenever possible. Moreover, the idea of people in positions of high stress (like an attorney) seeking the release of sexual submission would hardly surprise anybody anymore. Several of the most incredible women and men I know are sexually submissive, and many of my favorite D/s romances are about women at about Kate's level (or a bit below) who find how being submissive in the bedroom to the man they come to love makes them feel both beautiful and strong, and give them someone to watch their backs in times of trouble.
The problem is that I find Kate Martin extremely hard to believe as competent to be left at home without adult supervision - let alone as the shining star almost-lawyer she supposedly is.
In any event, her Hot But Asshole Boss Nick alternates between scolding her like she's a schoolgirl, stalking her when she goes out with friends (including her BFF Hannah, who tells her she's got this New Guy Whose Girlfriend "Is Kinda Frigid In Bed")
Matt Bomer Can Tell Where This is Headed....
praising her by telling her what an "amazing" attorney she'll make (a lot of the "Tell, Don't Show" I mentioned above? Comes right out of Nick's mouth), offering her Second Chair defending Jaxon Deveroux -
Welcome Back, Asshole! Yeah - Even He Can't Believe Nick Trenton Just Offered an INTERN Second Chair in a Potentially High Profile Homicide...!
oh, yeah - and giving her a ride home while telling her it's his job "to take care of her"... before making out with her in his car!
Way To Be a Legal Professional, Tiger!
If you've read my Status Updates, then it won't surprise you to hear that Kate offers to go undercover as Jaxon's Brand Spanking New Submissive, even though her experience in BDSM is limited to "Reading That Popular Book Series" (yes, the one my current Avvie mocks so aptly!) and "Look(ing) It Up On The Internet" -
Times Like This - ONLY The Triple Facepalm Will Do
After outlining all the blatantly obvious reasons why This Is A Bad Idea, Nick amazingly goes along with it - and Jax takes Kate to his "playroom" to teach her how to be a submissive. Only thing is, the cops took all his toys - so he'll just have to dominate Kate with the Power of His Masterhood... or something. Now, I've been into The Scene for... A While Now, and I wouldn't want to go into a strange BDSM Club pretending to be some guy I barely know's subbe with as little preparation as Kate has! But, hey - She's Got Spunk! Either that, or she just got beaned with The Idiot Ball ....
Like This Sportcaster Almost Was!
Anyway, after a lot of dirty talk and the kind of sexual tension you'd need a machete to cut through
I'm Sorry - I'm Awfully Sorry....
Jax drives her to her boyfriend Tom's house - just in time After the expected outcome, Kate Jax then leaves, muttering something about "This was a mistake..."
Because That's EXACTLY the Kind of a Woman Needs To Hear!
Be that as it may, the story ends on a cliffhanger, with Kate getting a call from a scrambled voice threatening her, telling her Deveroux has killed before, and knowing she used to be "Katerina Martini" and killed her father! So - She calls the One Person She Absolutely Can Trust....
We ALL Know Where This is Going, Don't We...?
CONTINUED WITH WHITE COLLAR, PART 2: GREED!
February 10, 2015
Blazing hot and fast-paced, this short and shockingly vivid erotic novella features a heroine who's fought her way back from a truly horrific childhood to become a crisply professional intern at a law office. But then a murder case thrusts her right into a heated sexual relationship with two gorgeous, dominant men at the same time!
Avon has such a huge reputation in the romance industry. And when I read this short e-book I could see why! All the silly things you see in other e-books happen here. I mean, a law student goes under cover at a sex club? Two gorgeous men are begging to please her, because that always happens in real life. I mean, it's an Avon e-book, and in a way I was hoping it would be terrible. (Jealous much, Carol Storm?)
But no, at every point Shelly Bell blew me away. All the silly ideas are erased by real human feelings, the tension of a girl who really wants to make good and has had a horrible past suddenly coming face to face with all her most forbidden fantasies. I also feel I must praise this author for her incredible research. Normally I don't even notice the factual stuff, but it was amazing how realistic the legal scenes were, how carefully they followed actual legal procedure in the arrests and interrogations, and even how accurately she describes different upscale and downscale neighborhoods in Detroit. And all of it tied in so directly to the heroine's journey from a scared, sexually abused teen to a sexy and highly dedicated legal professional!
All in all, I am really glad I gave Avon's Impulse project a chance. I can't wait to read the next installment of this series!
Avon has such a huge reputation in the romance industry. And when I read this short e-book I could see why! All the silly things you see in other e-books happen here. I mean, a law student goes under cover at a sex club? Two gorgeous men are begging to please her, because that always happens in real life. I mean, it's an Avon e-book, and in a way I was hoping it would be terrible. (Jealous much, Carol Storm?)
But no, at every point Shelly Bell blew me away. All the silly ideas are erased by real human feelings, the tension of a girl who really wants to make good and has had a horrible past suddenly coming face to face with all her most forbidden fantasies. I also feel I must praise this author for her incredible research. Normally I don't even notice the factual stuff, but it was amazing how realistic the legal scenes were, how carefully they followed actual legal procedure in the arrests and interrogations, and even how accurately she describes different upscale and downscale neighborhoods in Detroit. And all of it tied in so directly to the heroine's journey from a scared, sexually abused teen to a sexy and highly dedicated legal professional!
All in all, I am really glad I gave Avon's Impulse project a chance. I can't wait to read the next installment of this series!
May 29, 2014
White Collared Part one: Mercy by Shelley Bell is a 2014 Avon “Red” publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Kate is a third year law student and working as an intern when the murder of Alyssa Deveroux , the wife of prominent millionaire Jaxon Deveroux, has Kate's boss Nick slated to defend Jaxon who of course is the primary suspect, especially when it come to light that Jaxon and his wife were into BDSM and sex clubs.
Kate has a steady boyfriend, but has a little crush on her boss and mentor. When he informs her she is going to be his second chair on this case, she is beyond thrilled. But, things take a darker turn when Kate may have to comb through sex clubs with their client and actually be a participant in order to prove their client is innocent.
This novella is part of a four part series or e-series that leans toward the erotica side of romantic suspense. Kate has a dark past that at this point in the story is not yet revealed. But, apparently Kate has a few fantasies involving domination and submissive sex games. For this case Kate has done some reading up on the subject. But, would she really want to live out her fantasy? It looks like she might get that chance, but Kate could have made a grave error. After an emotional scene Kate does the unthinkable for a lawyer in the ethics department. If that weren't bad enough, it also appears Kate could be putting her very life in danger as a result of her actions.
I love this e-series concept and have a really good time with these short installments. Using the same formula used back in the old days when books came out in serial form, each installment leaves you with a little bit of a cliffhanger. The suspense really gets going toward the end of this first chapter which sets the stage very nicely for the follow up. So far, so good! I thought the author did a great job of introducing the main characters, having the reader invested and caring for Kate when she goes through a humiliating experience and then makes a huge mistake. So, I am on board for the next book in the series for sure. This one was excellent! 4.5 stars rounded to 5.
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Kate is a third year law student and working as an intern when the murder of Alyssa Deveroux , the wife of prominent millionaire Jaxon Deveroux, has Kate's boss Nick slated to defend Jaxon who of course is the primary suspect, especially when it come to light that Jaxon and his wife were into BDSM and sex clubs.
Kate has a steady boyfriend, but has a little crush on her boss and mentor. When he informs her she is going to be his second chair on this case, she is beyond thrilled. But, things take a darker turn when Kate may have to comb through sex clubs with their client and actually be a participant in order to prove their client is innocent.
This novella is part of a four part series or e-series that leans toward the erotica side of romantic suspense. Kate has a dark past that at this point in the story is not yet revealed. But, apparently Kate has a few fantasies involving domination and submissive sex games. For this case Kate has done some reading up on the subject. But, would she really want to live out her fantasy? It looks like she might get that chance, but Kate could have made a grave error. After an emotional scene Kate does the unthinkable for a lawyer in the ethics department. If that weren't bad enough, it also appears Kate could be putting her very life in danger as a result of her actions.
I love this e-series concept and have a really good time with these short installments. Using the same formula used back in the old days when books came out in serial form, each installment leaves you with a little bit of a cliffhanger. The suspense really gets going toward the end of this first chapter which sets the stage very nicely for the follow up. So far, so good! I thought the author did a great job of introducing the main characters, having the reader invested and caring for Kate when she goes through a humiliating experience and then makes a huge mistake. So, I am on board for the next book in the series for sure. This one was excellent! 4.5 stars rounded to 5.
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January 18, 2016
Fabulous start to an ongoing mystery series! Thankfully, I had GREED queued up so I could read it immediately...the story continues.
An amazing and engrossing start to a mystery that even when you think it’s solved, it’s not. The first installment of this fabulous series teases and cajoles you into the mysterious and misunderstood world of BDSM. Kate is attracted to two very Alpha males while involved in a relationship that has never been exciting for her but instead, just safe. Eager to please her boss, Nick Trenton—one of the men she fantasizes about—and advance her career, she can’t help but imagine herself in the arms of their client, a man suspected of killing his wife in a decadent and abusive fashion thus putting her life and her career on the line. The knowledge that Jaxon and Alyssa Deveroux were heavily into BDSM does nothing to deter but instead, incites fantasies she’s always had but never admitted, even to herself.
This first installment ends with a warning, perhaps she should take it.
The White Collared series by Shelly Bell is an extraordinary, exciting, steamy hot as all get-out story line, and definitely makes FIFTY SHADES OF GREY pale in comparison. This is the real emotion, psychology, and excitement of the world of BDSM. Shelly Bell has done an incredible job of presenting this hidden world in a way that we can all understand and hopefully, appreciate. Whether it is your cup of tea is up to you but as a reading experience, it rocks big time. This is a series that most certainly has to be read in order to capture the full impact of the story, the mystery, the romance, and the eventual happily-ever-after.
I highly recommend each book in the White Collared series by Shelly Bell, MERCY, GREED, REVENGE, and PASSION because one without the others would be a travesty in reading. Take a walk on the wild side and trust me, if you even half-way liked FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, you’ll fall head over heels in love with Shelly Bell’s works because that other one looks so dull in comparison.
***copy purchased for my personal reading but sharing an honest & unscripted review.
An amazing and engrossing start to a mystery that even when you think it’s solved, it’s not. The first installment of this fabulous series teases and cajoles you into the mysterious and misunderstood world of BDSM. Kate is attracted to two very Alpha males while involved in a relationship that has never been exciting for her but instead, just safe. Eager to please her boss, Nick Trenton—one of the men she fantasizes about—and advance her career, she can’t help but imagine herself in the arms of their client, a man suspected of killing his wife in a decadent and abusive fashion thus putting her life and her career on the line. The knowledge that Jaxon and Alyssa Deveroux were heavily into BDSM does nothing to deter but instead, incites fantasies she’s always had but never admitted, even to herself.
This first installment ends with a warning, perhaps she should take it.
The White Collared series by Shelly Bell is an extraordinary, exciting, steamy hot as all get-out story line, and definitely makes FIFTY SHADES OF GREY pale in comparison. This is the real emotion, psychology, and excitement of the world of BDSM. Shelly Bell has done an incredible job of presenting this hidden world in a way that we can all understand and hopefully, appreciate. Whether it is your cup of tea is up to you but as a reading experience, it rocks big time. This is a series that most certainly has to be read in order to capture the full impact of the story, the mystery, the romance, and the eventual happily-ever-after.
I highly recommend each book in the White Collared series by Shelly Bell, MERCY, GREED, REVENGE, and PASSION because one without the others would be a travesty in reading. Take a walk on the wild side and trust me, if you even half-way liked FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, you’ll fall head over heels in love with Shelly Bell’s works because that other one looks so dull in comparison.
***copy purchased for my personal reading but sharing an honest & unscripted review.
August 12, 2014
OKay, So I had seen this series blowing up everywhere on FB. I needed something really extremely quick to read in between a buddy read and decided to pick it on up and see what all the fuss was about. It was exactly what I needed.
Even though the story moves quick, it never really gave me the feeling of things moving too fast. Jaxxon's wife has been murdered, his best friend Nick is a civil lawyer, but for him he's taking on the case with Kate his intern. kate has had a crush on Nick forever, sexually and professionally. She wants a career just like his and this is the case to send her on her way. Little did she know, Nick's had quiet the crush on her too. But with a killer on the loose the only way Kate can come up with trying to lure them out is going undercover as Jax's sub at the local sex club to try to feel one out.
Of course, already this sounds like a bad idea, or a I guess a good one if you like some drama, right?? LOL!! I have thoughts, so many thoughts on who may be the killer. Why I have these thoughts I'm not really sure yet, and I honestly hope I'm wrong, but it just automatically came to me. There is a little side story with Kate's bf cheating on her, and for some reason I saw through what was going on there quickly too, so we will see. It's only book 1, there was some hotness, a whole lot of suspense, and of course with the mini series books a huge cliffy, but I was pleasantly surprised with this book and will for sure finish out the series.
On a side note, I hate when you're all into a book and all of a sudden it ends at 84%. I don't read the teasers at the end, usually, unless it is books for the same author.So ending like this is just a tease making us think we have more of the book left, when really it's teasers for stuff we don't care about because we are too busy being mad the book ended at 84%. Just saying, lol.
Even though the story moves quick, it never really gave me the feeling of things moving too fast. Jaxxon's wife has been murdered, his best friend Nick is a civil lawyer, but for him he's taking on the case with Kate his intern. kate has had a crush on Nick forever, sexually and professionally. She wants a career just like his and this is the case to send her on her way. Little did she know, Nick's had quiet the crush on her too. But with a killer on the loose the only way Kate can come up with trying to lure them out is going undercover as Jax's sub at the local sex club to try to feel one out.
Of course, already this sounds like a bad idea, or a I guess a good one if you like some drama, right?? LOL!! I have thoughts, so many thoughts on who may be the killer. Why I have these thoughts I'm not really sure yet, and I honestly hope I'm wrong, but it just automatically came to me. There is a little side story with Kate's bf cheating on her, and for some reason I saw through what was going on there quickly too, so we will see. It's only book 1, there was some hotness, a whole lot of suspense, and of course with the mini series books a huge cliffy, but I was pleasantly surprised with this book and will for sure finish out the series.
On a side note, I hate when you're all into a book and all of a sudden it ends at 84%. I don't read the teasers at the end, usually, unless it is books for the same author.So ending like this is just a tease making us think we have more of the book left, when really it's teasers for stuff we don't care about because we are too busy being mad the book ended at 84%. Just saying, lol.
June 3, 2014
Wow! Hot Damn. White Collared Part One: Mercy is an incredible read. It mixes two things that I love in books - sexiness & suspense.
Kate is a wonderful main character who is so driven to succeed at the law firm she's interning at that she's devises a plan to go undercover to help her boss's client/best friend. But this isn't just any undercover operation. No, Kate is about to take a trip into the world of BDSM and the conductor of this sexy ass train is Mr. Jax Deveroux. (Yum) I loved that Jax isn't your typical brooding DOM. He definitely sets himself apart from the moment he's in the same room as Kate as carrying and attentive. I'm very excited to see where Ms. Bell is taking us in the next part.
I have to add that although I loved Jax, I'm torn because Nicholas Trenton is Kate's very sexy lawyer boss and throwing him into the mix had my head spinning. I want them both! Kate wants them both. I think Ms. Bell needs to grant our wishes and write a ménage à trois with the three of them. ;)
Overall, I think this is an amazing start to a very promising series. I loved the suspense. It pulls you in from page one and you're wrapped in this story until the end. I highly recommend this to fans who loved the suspense aspect of FSOG. I loved it! And I'm dying for more clues to help my mind solve the mystery revolving around the murder of Jax's wife.
Thank you Avon Red Impulse for the opportunity to review this book through Edelweiss.
Kate is a wonderful main character who is so driven to succeed at the law firm she's interning at that she's devises a plan to go undercover to help her boss's client/best friend. But this isn't just any undercover operation. No, Kate is about to take a trip into the world of BDSM and the conductor of this sexy ass train is Mr. Jax Deveroux. (Yum) I loved that Jax isn't your typical brooding DOM. He definitely sets himself apart from the moment he's in the same room as Kate as carrying and attentive. I'm very excited to see where Ms. Bell is taking us in the next part.
I have to add that although I loved Jax, I'm torn because Nicholas Trenton is Kate's very sexy lawyer boss and throwing him into the mix had my head spinning. I want them both! Kate wants them both. I think Ms. Bell needs to grant our wishes and write a ménage à trois with the three of them. ;)
Overall, I think this is an amazing start to a very promising series. I loved the suspense. It pulls you in from page one and you're wrapped in this story until the end. I highly recommend this to fans who loved the suspense aspect of FSOG. I loved it! And I'm dying for more clues to help my mind solve the mystery revolving around the murder of Jax's wife.
Thank you Avon Red Impulse for the opportunity to review this book through Edelweiss.
June 7, 2014
4.5 stars
I picked this book up thinking it would fit a challenge I was doing. The negative, it didn't. The positive, the story was fantastic and I discovered a new author.
This is an erotic thriller, so there are a number of things going on, namely sex and murder. A perfect blend of my favourite genres.
At the end of the story I was questioning the ethics/relationship between Jaxon and Kate, but am assured I should be. I can't wait to see what unfolds in the next instalments.
Bring it on!!
I picked this book up thinking it would fit a challenge I was doing. The negative, it didn't. The positive, the story was fantastic and I discovered a new author.
This is an erotic thriller, so there are a number of things going on, namely sex and murder. A perfect blend of my favourite genres.
At the end of the story I was questioning the ethics/relationship between Jaxon and Kate, but am assured I should be. I can't wait to see what unfolds in the next instalments.
Bring it on!!
July 30, 2017
Should've ordered all four novels at the same time. Now I have to wait a month plus for book 2-4 to arrive!
I did not expect the storyline to be so addictive. It was great from the start and I love the chemsitry between all the characters. My only gripe is that the story is too short, which made me wish that the book will either be thicker or just packed the entire story in one novel.
I did not expect the storyline to be so addictive. It was great from the start and I love the chemsitry between all the characters. My only gripe is that the story is too short, which made me wish that the book will either be thicker or just packed the entire story in one novel.
December 5, 2014
A short story with a whole lot of suspense, heated sex and great hunks. And it ended in a cliffhanger. Well, no need to worry I have book 2...smile.
The way the story build's up really captures your attention from the very first page. Suspense that continues to grow as you learn more about Kate, Nick and Jaxon. The author had done a lot of research on the subject of BDSM, making this a very believable read. Her descriptive writing colors each scene so that it feels you are with Kate as she investigate this murder. You want to know what's going to happen next so you keep on turning the page just to be pulled in deeper into the intrigue and drama of the plot.
I cannot wait to start with book 2 in this series and learn more about Kate, her past and the choices she has made to solve the mystery.
Thanks for an enjoyable read.
The way the story build's up really captures your attention from the very first page. Suspense that continues to grow as you learn more about Kate, Nick and Jaxon. The author had done a lot of research on the subject of BDSM, making this a very believable read. Her descriptive writing colors each scene so that it feels you are with Kate as she investigate this murder. You want to know what's going to happen next so you keep on turning the page just to be pulled in deeper into the intrigue and drama of the plot.
I cannot wait to start with book 2 in this series and learn more about Kate, her past and the choices she has made to solve the mystery.
Thanks for an enjoyable read.
December 4, 2015
Very interesting start to this serial story. Sexy and hot with lots of mystery.
January 26, 2020
God I loved this book one sexy woman and two sexy alpha males, she law student goes to work for her crush. He gives her the oppornity of a life time when he offers her to help him with a case against his best friend and when she meets the friends she falls for him. cant wait for the rest of the series/
December 27, 2016
Definitely intriguing, sexy and suspenseful. I can tell Kate is a survivor with a determination to succeed and she's going to have to put her wits and strength to the test in the next installment. Looking forward to finding out what happens next.
February 24, 2018
You cannot read each book in the White Collard series individually. The ending of one book bleeds right into the next book. I am not rating each book individually but the entire story. What happens to Nick is heart wrenching. I like the chemistry with Kate and Jaxon.
August 5, 2023
⛔️(in notes)
August 11, 2016
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for an honest review at The Romance Evangelist
If you read my reviews with any regularity or follow me on Twitter, you’ve already heard how I’ve soured on most serial romance novels, especially when some seem to go on forever, with a total cost well beyond the price of a comparable full-length novel. But as with so many other romance trends I claim to dislike, there is always another writer out there who can prove me wrong and make me love the thing I’m convinced is no longer for me. Today that writer is Shelly Bell and the romance serial in question is WHITE COLLARED.
Nothing I hate about most serials is here, as Shelly Bell and her publisher have done everything right. There are only four parts to this romantic suspense story. They have been released only a week apart. And each only costs 99 cents in the US. Normally I try not to let cost influence the content of my reviews (because hello, I’m often fortunate enough to get an Advance Review Copy) but when the entire story can be purchased within one month’s time for under $5 USD, I think it’s notable enough to include here as another point in its favor.
Still, just because it’s affordable and a reasonable length and you don’t have to wait months for a conclusion doesn’t mean you should go out and read it all yourself. What does mean you should go out and read WHITE COLLARED is that it’s an amazingly addictive erotic romance between two characters from entirely different worlds who meet under terrible circumstances and then must track down an unknown killer so they can live long enough to find their HEA. And when I say it’s amazingly addictive, I mean exactly that. I was given the opportunity to read the first part before deciding to review the entire story, and was hooked so completely that it was all I could do not to jump up and down until I received the other three parts the next day.
Kate Martin is a determined young lawyer with a secret past she thought she’d buried for good. She may be crushing on her handsome boss, Nick Trenton, but they both need to keep clear heads if they’re going to exonerate Nick’s good friend, Jaxon Deveroux. Jaxon’s wife has been found tortured to death in their mansion while he’s allegedly been out of town on business, so naturally he’s the only suspect. Kate first meets her new client as he’s being interrogated by the police, and he soon has her head in a spin. It’s wrong that Kate is so attracted to a man being accused of the worst sort of murder, and yet it’s all too obvious that the feeling is mutual. She knows Jaxon can’t be guilty, but if it wasn’t him, then who did it? Their deepening attraction could be as potentially fatal to Kate as the danger that threatens to engulf them both. But who wanted Jaxon’s wife dead, and why does this person seem to know so much about what Kate would like to keep hidden forever?
I’m always a bit skittish about romantic suspense stories, if only on account of so many misplacing the romance along the way, but also because I don’t have a particularly strong stomach for excessive violence. So i was even more wary about WHITE COLLARED, until I read the scene where Kate meets Jaxon in the police station. From that point on, until the very last page of Part 4, I was gone – hook, line, and sinker. Every moment, every flashback, every interaction down to the most seemingly innocuous detail is essential to the story. It seemed like both Kate and I were over our heads at first, but as she did her best to juggle her desire for Jaxon with her still-active attraction to Nick, all while working to find the real killer, I just let myself sit back and enjoy the ride. Even when I was sure I’d figured out whodunit, WHITE COLLARED wasn’t content to let me gloat in comfort, throwing a few last curve balls near the end that almost made me change my mind more than once. Best of all, when the murder mystery is solved, it still isn’t all neat and tidy, as there are more than a few villains in this story, and only one of them murdered Jaxon’s wife. WHITE COLLARED reminded me of the Glenn Close / Jeff Bridges movie “Jagged Edge” but with an entirely different sort of ending, and I loved every minute I spent reading it.
I will warn readers that there is some hardcore BDSM in this story, and a few scenes between the hero and heroine that may appear to flirt with dubious consent. But it is not torture porn by any stretch, and Kate’s consent was made obvious at least to my own satisfaction as the story progressed. If such themes are not what you prefer in your romance reading, then you should probably pass. But if you enjoy seeing good defeat evil in the middle of a white-hot sexually charged romance between a perfectly matched Dom and sub, then WHITE-COLLARED is the story for you. I hope you enjoying inhaling it in large satisfying gulps as much as I did. 5 stars for all four parts.
If you read my reviews with any regularity or follow me on Twitter, you’ve already heard how I’ve soured on most serial romance novels, especially when some seem to go on forever, with a total cost well beyond the price of a comparable full-length novel. But as with so many other romance trends I claim to dislike, there is always another writer out there who can prove me wrong and make me love the thing I’m convinced is no longer for me. Today that writer is Shelly Bell and the romance serial in question is WHITE COLLARED.
Nothing I hate about most serials is here, as Shelly Bell and her publisher have done everything right. There are only four parts to this romantic suspense story. They have been released only a week apart. And each only costs 99 cents in the US. Normally I try not to let cost influence the content of my reviews (because hello, I’m often fortunate enough to get an Advance Review Copy) but when the entire story can be purchased within one month’s time for under $5 USD, I think it’s notable enough to include here as another point in its favor.
Still, just because it’s affordable and a reasonable length and you don’t have to wait months for a conclusion doesn’t mean you should go out and read it all yourself. What does mean you should go out and read WHITE COLLARED is that it’s an amazingly addictive erotic romance between two characters from entirely different worlds who meet under terrible circumstances and then must track down an unknown killer so they can live long enough to find their HEA. And when I say it’s amazingly addictive, I mean exactly that. I was given the opportunity to read the first part before deciding to review the entire story, and was hooked so completely that it was all I could do not to jump up and down until I received the other three parts the next day.
Kate Martin is a determined young lawyer with a secret past she thought she’d buried for good. She may be crushing on her handsome boss, Nick Trenton, but they both need to keep clear heads if they’re going to exonerate Nick’s good friend, Jaxon Deveroux. Jaxon’s wife has been found tortured to death in their mansion while he’s allegedly been out of town on business, so naturally he’s the only suspect. Kate first meets her new client as he’s being interrogated by the police, and he soon has her head in a spin. It’s wrong that Kate is so attracted to a man being accused of the worst sort of murder, and yet it’s all too obvious that the feeling is mutual. She knows Jaxon can’t be guilty, but if it wasn’t him, then who did it? Their deepening attraction could be as potentially fatal to Kate as the danger that threatens to engulf them both. But who wanted Jaxon’s wife dead, and why does this person seem to know so much about what Kate would like to keep hidden forever?
I’m always a bit skittish about romantic suspense stories, if only on account of so many misplacing the romance along the way, but also because I don’t have a particularly strong stomach for excessive violence. So i was even more wary about WHITE COLLARED, until I read the scene where Kate meets Jaxon in the police station. From that point on, until the very last page of Part 4, I was gone – hook, line, and sinker. Every moment, every flashback, every interaction down to the most seemingly innocuous detail is essential to the story. It seemed like both Kate and I were over our heads at first, but as she did her best to juggle her desire for Jaxon with her still-active attraction to Nick, all while working to find the real killer, I just let myself sit back and enjoy the ride. Even when I was sure I’d figured out whodunit, WHITE COLLARED wasn’t content to let me gloat in comfort, throwing a few last curve balls near the end that almost made me change my mind more than once. Best of all, when the murder mystery is solved, it still isn’t all neat and tidy, as there are more than a few villains in this story, and only one of them murdered Jaxon’s wife. WHITE COLLARED reminded me of the Glenn Close / Jeff Bridges movie “Jagged Edge” but with an entirely different sort of ending, and I loved every minute I spent reading it.
I will warn readers that there is some hardcore BDSM in this story, and a few scenes between the hero and heroine that may appear to flirt with dubious consent. But it is not torture porn by any stretch, and Kate’s consent was made obvious at least to my own satisfaction as the story progressed. If such themes are not what you prefer in your romance reading, then you should probably pass. But if you enjoy seeing good defeat evil in the middle of a white-hot sexually charged romance between a perfectly matched Dom and sub, then WHITE-COLLARED is the story for you. I hope you enjoying inhaling it in large satisfying gulps as much as I did. 5 stars for all four parts.
June 10, 2014
*****5- something wicked this way comes -Stars*****
~this review may contain minor spoilers~
“Mr. Deveroux and I have been friends for many years, and he requested me personally. Jaxon's a very private man, but those who are in his circle are aware of certain... proclivities that may come up in the police's line of questioning.”
After only one book into this series (for which there will be four), this already promises to be a wicked, suspenseful, mysterious, sexy as all hell and emotional ride. This grabs your attention right from page one and doesn't let go, not even after the last page. All I can think about, even as I write this, is getting my hands on the next installment-luckily for everyone, the wait is so short the wall climbing will be kept at a minimum.
“I admit I haven't been to a sex club. I may have read some romantic fiction about sexy billionaire men with emotional issues who call themselves Doms, but I've also done quite a bit of research online about BDSM.”
“I don't care if you've written an entire dissertation on BDSM. I'm not jeopardizing your safety.”
“Even for your best friend?”
Kate Martin is a third-year law student interning at the law firm of her dreams. For years she has been harboring a secret crush on her now boss- Nicholas Trenton and not even the events of her tragic past that she is hiding from everyone was going to be enough to keep her from getting where she is today. When Nick's best friend, Jaxon Deveroux, becomes the main suspect for the murder of his wife, Kate's internship takes an unexpected turn. Time is not on their side and when it becomes clear that the murderer is a member of the BDSM lifestyle, Kate volunteers to go undercover as Jax's submissive. She will have to be convincing to all those around her when they enter the private BDSM club Benediction to see what information they can uncover and hopefully clear Jax. But what Kate was not prepared for was her long buried desires flaring to life under the dominate hands of the sexy-as-sin and dangerous Jaxson Deveroux.
“If you can't accept my terms, we'll find another way to prove my innocence.”
“But I'm not submissive.”
“Don't lie to me or yourself. Any Dom worth a damn would see your submissiveness from miles away. Believe me, I was drawn to you from the moment you slid into the interrogation room, so desperate to please your boss, you wouldn't even ask for a chair.”
Her body shuddered at the idea that this man desired her.
There is already so much mystery surrounding the characters; what the hell is Kate hiding? Did Jaxon do it? Who is behind that phone call?
There is a hint of danger lying just below the surface that is impossible to ignore along with the constant 'who dunnit?' feeling. And lets not forget the sexual tension...yeah, that's a hard one to miss-the air is ripe with it and the explosion does not disappoint. I can already see an obsession brewing for this author, Shelly Bell will without a doubt become my next 'One-Click Addiction' and I am more than ok with that. I am normally not a huge fan of cliffhangers, but with only a week between publications I can deal-it's the ones that make me wait months at a time that tend to dive me insane. This series promises to keep my anticipation at an all time til the very end and I am dying to see where it takes us next.
He may have been the Dominant, but there was no mistaking the hoarseness in his voice or the need in his eyes. She'd done this to him. She may have been the one literally on her knees, but, metaphorically, it was as if he was the one on his knees before her. Here in her bedroom, she alone had the ability to gift him with bliss.
She'd never felt so strong.
Check out my full review
June 10, 2014
*****5- something wicked this way comes -Stars*****
~this review may contain minor spoilers~
“Mr. Deveroux and I have been friends for many years, and he requested me personally. Jaxon's a very private man, but those who are in his circle are aware of certain... proclivities that may come up in the police's line of questioning.”
After only one book into this series (for which there will be four), this already promises to be a wicked, suspenseful, mysterious, sexy as all hell and emotional ride. This grabs your attention right from page one and doesn't let go, not even after the last page. All I can think about, even as I write this, is getting my hands on the next installment-luckily for everyone, the wait is so short the wall climbing will be kept at a minimum.
“I admit I haven't been to a sex club. I may have read some romantic fiction about sexy billionaire men with emotional issues who call themselves Doms, but I've also done quite a bit of research online about BDSM.”
“I don't care if you've written an entire dissertation on BDSM. I'm not jeopardizing your safety.”
“Even for your best friend?”
Kate Martin is a third-year law student interning at the law firm of her dreams. For years she has been harboring a secret crush on her now boss- Nicholas Trenton and not even the events of her tragic past that she is hiding from everyone was going to be enough to keep her from getting where she is today. When Nick's best friend, Jaxon Deveroux, becomes the main suspect for the murder of his wife, Kate's internship takes an unexpected turn. Time is not on their side and when it becomes clear that the murderer is a member of the BDSM lifestyle, Kate volunteers to go undercover as Jax's submissive. She will have to be convincing to all those around her when they enter the private BDSM club Benediction to see what information they can uncover and hopefully clear Jax. But what Kate was not prepared for was her long buried desires flaring to life under the dominate hands of the sexy-as-sin and dangerous Jaxson Deveroux.
“If you can't accept my terms, we'll find another way to prove my innocence.”
“But I'm not submissive.”
“Don't lie to me or yourself. Any Dom worth a damn would see your submissiveness from miles away. Believe me, I was drawn to you from the moment you slid into the interrogation room, so desperate to please your boss, you wouldn't even ask for a chair.”
Her body shuddered at the idea that this man desired her.
There is already so much mystery surrounding the characters; what the hell is Kate hiding? Did Jaxon do it? Who is behind that phone call?
There is a hint of danger lying just below the surface that is impossible to ignore along with the constant 'who dunnit?' feeling. And lets not forget the sexual tension...yeah, that's a hard one to miss-the air is ripe with it and the explosion does not disappoint. I can already see an obsession brewing for this author, Shelly Bell will without a doubt become my next 'One-Click Addiction' and I am more than ok with that. I am normally not a huge fan of cliffhangers, but with only a week between publications I can deal-it's the ones that make me wait months at a time that tend to dive me insane. This series promises to keep my anticipation at an all time til the very end and I am dying to see where it takes us next.
He may have been the Dominant, but there was no mistaking the hoarseness in his voice or the need in his eyes. She'd done this to him. She may have been the one literally on her knees, but, metaphorically, it was as if he was the one on his knees before her. Here in her bedroom, she alone had the ability to gift him with bliss.
She'd never felt so strong.
Check out my full review
Happy Reading xo Jenn
October 25, 2015
If you love romantic suspense novels and like your stories with a little edge to them on the passion side, you will want to check out White Collared Part One: Mercy. Think of it as a cross between a thriller like Gone Girl and one of the hugely popular BDSM billionaire stories like the Fifty Shades of Gray or Crossfire Trilogies. Please note though that this story is divided into four parts, each comprising its own book. So to get the full story, you will need to read all four parts of the White Collared series.
Kate Martin has a dark past. Rather than let it get her down though, she uses her hard work and determination to go to law school and lands a third year internship at the prestigious law firm of Joseph and Long. The partner she works for, Nicholas Trenton, also just happens to be the man she has been tracking, and secretly in love with, for years. Everything she has done to get to where she is, has been done in anticipation of working by his side someday, and she will do anything to impress him.
Nicholas is a civil lawyer, not a criminal one, but when Jaxon Deveroux's wife turns up dead, Jaxon, who is Nicholas' best friend, asks Nicholas to represent him. Strangely enough, although she is only an intern, Nicholas asks Kate to second chair the case (an honor usually reserved for senior associates and others of higher ranks). Almost immediately, she recognizes a mutual attraction to Jaxon. An attraction which interestingly enough causes all of Nicholas' protective instincts, and other affections, to rise to attention.
This is a sensitive case since Jaxon and his wife were known to engage in BDSM, and the circumstances in which she was found indicate that the killer may have been a BDSM lover. Interestingly enough, Nicholas has a relatively solid alibi, and claims that he had not been intimate with his wife for over eighteen months given her darker proclivities which he was not willing to entertain. In fact, before he left for his last business trip, he claims that he had told her that he intended to divorce her. But when politics and the media combine to convict Jaxon irrespective of his alibi and alleged innocence, time becomes of the essence.
Kate, who has always fantasized about the BDSM lifestyle, hatches a plan to get an undercover look at the BDSM club that Jaxon and his wife belonged to. Although Nicholas tries his best to talk her out of it, they proceed on the premise that Kate will act as Jaxon's submissive in order to secretly question the members.
Who will Kate fall in love with: Nicholas or Jaxon? Who is the real killer? And what deep dark secrets is Kate hiding from her own past? Secrets which strangely seem to make her particularly suited for the submissive lifestyle.
I highly enjoyed this first part and am eagerly awaiting the next installment, White Collared Part Two: Greed. I think this story has so much potential that I can't wait to see which way Shelly Bell takes it in! There are so many delicious possibilities!
Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Kate Martin has a dark past. Rather than let it get her down though, she uses her hard work and determination to go to law school and lands a third year internship at the prestigious law firm of Joseph and Long. The partner she works for, Nicholas Trenton, also just happens to be the man she has been tracking, and secretly in love with, for years. Everything she has done to get to where she is, has been done in anticipation of working by his side someday, and she will do anything to impress him.
Nicholas is a civil lawyer, not a criminal one, but when Jaxon Deveroux's wife turns up dead, Jaxon, who is Nicholas' best friend, asks Nicholas to represent him. Strangely enough, although she is only an intern, Nicholas asks Kate to second chair the case (an honor usually reserved for senior associates and others of higher ranks). Almost immediately, she recognizes a mutual attraction to Jaxon. An attraction which interestingly enough causes all of Nicholas' protective instincts, and other affections, to rise to attention.
This is a sensitive case since Jaxon and his wife were known to engage in BDSM, and the circumstances in which she was found indicate that the killer may have been a BDSM lover. Interestingly enough, Nicholas has a relatively solid alibi, and claims that he had not been intimate with his wife for over eighteen months given her darker proclivities which he was not willing to entertain. In fact, before he left for his last business trip, he claims that he had told her that he intended to divorce her. But when politics and the media combine to convict Jaxon irrespective of his alibi and alleged innocence, time becomes of the essence.
Kate, who has always fantasized about the BDSM lifestyle, hatches a plan to get an undercover look at the BDSM club that Jaxon and his wife belonged to. Although Nicholas tries his best to talk her out of it, they proceed on the premise that Kate will act as Jaxon's submissive in order to secretly question the members.
Who will Kate fall in love with: Nicholas or Jaxon? Who is the real killer? And what deep dark secrets is Kate hiding from her own past? Secrets which strangely seem to make her particularly suited for the submissive lifestyle.
I highly enjoyed this first part and am eagerly awaiting the next installment, White Collared Part Two: Greed. I think this story has so much potential that I can't wait to see which way Shelly Bell takes it in! There are so many delicious possibilities!
Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2014
review to come...
lots of sizzle...
The first sexy installment in Shelly Bell's four-part serialized erotic thriller about a young law student who must go undercover at a sex club to prove her client is not guilty of murder.
Driven by ambition …
Third-year law student Kate Martin outran her tragic past to become an intern for her idol and secret crush, the powerful attorney Nicholas Trenton. She is thrilled when Nick assigns her to represent his best friend and client, millionaire Jaxon Deveroux … the prime suspect in his submissive wife Alyssa's murder.
Seduced by desire …
Kate knows they have only a few days to find the real killer, and since signs point to a member of the BDSM community, she volunteers to go undercover as Jaxon's submissive at Benediction—the private sex club where he is a member—to covertly investigate Alyssa's last few months. For years, Kate has kept her dark fantasies a secret … but a chance to explore them with sexy, dominant Jaxon is just too tempting to pass up.
ON TO THE REVIEW!!!
First off, let me tell you: This book is not for the weak-hearted or those who are squeamish around the kink. :) Shelly Bell penned an incredibly eye-opening book to the world of BDSM. I devoured every page of this book eager to get to the next. One word: INTENSE!
I am a red-blooded woman, so obviously I love an Alpha male as much as the next lady. In Mercy, you are introduced to more than your share of choices. I switched teams often, and I am glad I was not in Kate's shoes because it would not have been a pretty sight to see me swoon as much as I did while reading. Nick comforts the side of a woman that needs to be cared for while Jax intrigues the kink that lies within. (Whenever she encountered him, "The Freaks Come Out at Night" would play in my head!)
It's hard to tell you more than what the synopsis above tells you (And I am a NON-spoiler review!) , but I will try. This book left me speechless. And the nerd in me ATE UP all the information you were given. When talking about this book with my co-blogger Kristyn, she simply replied " Ummm... Not sure if I ever would have imagined the words informative and BDSM used in the same sentence." But (other than all the HOT men) the informational aspect was my favorite. This explained a lot about the BDSM community and all that it entails. Going forward in my literary kink adventures I will have less questions due to the talented Ms. Bell! (Wonder what color bracelet she would wear?)
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed FSOG, Cynthia Sax's Seen Trilogy and to anyone who loves a unique book with some steam!
FIVE STARS FROM ME!!! A big THANK YOU to the immensely talented, Shelly Bell and to Book Enthusiast Promotions for allowing us to participate!!!
lots of sizzle...
The first sexy installment in Shelly Bell's four-part serialized erotic thriller about a young law student who must go undercover at a sex club to prove her client is not guilty of murder.
Driven by ambition …
Third-year law student Kate Martin outran her tragic past to become an intern for her idol and secret crush, the powerful attorney Nicholas Trenton. She is thrilled when Nick assigns her to represent his best friend and client, millionaire Jaxon Deveroux … the prime suspect in his submissive wife Alyssa's murder.
Seduced by desire …
Kate knows they have only a few days to find the real killer, and since signs point to a member of the BDSM community, she volunteers to go undercover as Jaxon's submissive at Benediction—the private sex club where he is a member—to covertly investigate Alyssa's last few months. For years, Kate has kept her dark fantasies a secret … but a chance to explore them with sexy, dominant Jaxon is just too tempting to pass up.
ON TO THE REVIEW!!!
First off, let me tell you: This book is not for the weak-hearted or those who are squeamish around the kink. :) Shelly Bell penned an incredibly eye-opening book to the world of BDSM. I devoured every page of this book eager to get to the next. One word: INTENSE!
I am a red-blooded woman, so obviously I love an Alpha male as much as the next lady. In Mercy, you are introduced to more than your share of choices. I switched teams often, and I am glad I was not in Kate's shoes because it would not have been a pretty sight to see me swoon as much as I did while reading. Nick comforts the side of a woman that needs to be cared for while Jax intrigues the kink that lies within. (Whenever she encountered him, "The Freaks Come Out at Night" would play in my head!)
It's hard to tell you more than what the synopsis above tells you (And I am a NON-spoiler review!) , but I will try. This book left me speechless. And the nerd in me ATE UP all the information you were given. When talking about this book with my co-blogger Kristyn, she simply replied " Ummm... Not sure if I ever would have imagined the words informative and BDSM used in the same sentence." But (other than all the HOT men) the informational aspect was my favorite. This explained a lot about the BDSM community and all that it entails. Going forward in my literary kink adventures I will have less questions due to the talented Ms. Bell! (Wonder what color bracelet she would wear?)
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed FSOG, Cynthia Sax's Seen Trilogy and to anyone who loves a unique book with some steam!
FIVE STARS FROM ME!!! A big THANK YOU to the immensely talented, Shelly Bell and to Book Enthusiast Promotions for allowing us to participate!!!
June 29, 2014
I reviewed this at MustReadBooksOrDie with my friend Shelley!
Shel: As with many of the novella series we've read, the first book usually introduces us to characters, plots, establishing motives, and things like that; this series does this as well. We learn that Kate, our protagonist, is a hard working law student who has a very secretive past. We also learn that she's driven to succeed..probably because of her mysterious past... and because of this ambition, she has made and will make sacrifices.
Court: I liked how the story was set up though, because it seems like there are many facets and layers to what we're going to be reading. There is the law aspect, the murder mystery, Kate's mystery, Nick's mystery, Jaxson's mystery....Alyssa....Hannah...Tom....I could keep going! I felt like there was a lot given to us, but I enjoyed the writing so very much so far.
Shel: On a new assignment with the lawyer she's been interning for (and she's modeled herself on), she finds herself in the unusual position of taking on a role of a submissive to help find out the truth behind a murder. Even more unusual? Her dominant, Jaxon, is her client. Obviously we've reached the point where we are definitely in a fictional world because I honestly cannot see this happen in real life, but that's the fun of this genre, right? Complete immersion in fantasyland with no real basis in reality.
Court: No, no...I suppose a law intern would not go to a sex club with her murder suspect client to find out information for the case. You know what I call that? Dedi-fucking-cation...because they haven't even went and I am on the edge of my seat! Shelly Bell can write the steam, and it was very enticing with the slightest touches and glances. (aka, the perfect way to make me want more and the tension...whoo)
Shel: I'll be interested in seeing how quickly the pace moves in the other three parts of this series. With a limited word count, there is little room for lots of plot build up or character development and while this was by not poorly written, there were a few jolting moments when things seemed to happen too quickly, without a lot of warning. I have a feeling had this been a full length novel, these moments would've been smoothed out and more developed.
Court: I know exactly the moment you are referring to. And, while it had to be done...it was kind of a "hmmm" moment. But...you'll have to read it yourself to find out what happens!! Eep!
Shel: Stay tuned each week for our thoughts on the subsequent novellas in this series.
Shel: As with many of the novella series we've read, the first book usually introduces us to characters, plots, establishing motives, and things like that; this series does this as well. We learn that Kate, our protagonist, is a hard working law student who has a very secretive past. We also learn that she's driven to succeed..probably because of her mysterious past... and because of this ambition, she has made and will make sacrifices.
Court: I liked how the story was set up though, because it seems like there are many facets and layers to what we're going to be reading. There is the law aspect, the murder mystery, Kate's mystery, Nick's mystery, Jaxson's mystery....Alyssa....Hannah...Tom....I could keep going! I felt like there was a lot given to us, but I enjoyed the writing so very much so far.
Shel: On a new assignment with the lawyer she's been interning for (and she's modeled herself on), she finds herself in the unusual position of taking on a role of a submissive to help find out the truth behind a murder. Even more unusual? Her dominant, Jaxon, is her client. Obviously we've reached the point where we are definitely in a fictional world because I honestly cannot see this happen in real life, but that's the fun of this genre, right? Complete immersion in fantasyland with no real basis in reality.
Court: No, no...I suppose a law intern would not go to a sex club with her murder suspect client to find out information for the case. You know what I call that? Dedi-fucking-cation...because they haven't even went and I am on the edge of my seat! Shelly Bell can write the steam, and it was very enticing with the slightest touches and glances. (aka, the perfect way to make me want more and the tension...whoo)
Shel: I'll be interested in seeing how quickly the pace moves in the other three parts of this series. With a limited word count, there is little room for lots of plot build up or character development and while this was by not poorly written, there were a few jolting moments when things seemed to happen too quickly, without a lot of warning. I have a feeling had this been a full length novel, these moments would've been smoothed out and more developed.
Court: I know exactly the moment you are referring to. And, while it had to be done...it was kind of a "hmmm" moment. But...you'll have to read it yourself to find out what happens!! Eep!
Shel: Stay tuned each week for our thoughts on the subsequent novellas in this series.
June 9, 2014
4 stars
Ok this story had my attention after reading Chapter 1. I had to know who was the killer and why? Then we meet the main characters in the book. Kate, Jax and Nick each intrigued me. They all seemed to have secrets that I wanted to know.
Kate Martin, law student who is interning at a prestigious law firm, has left her past behind her. She learned at a young age that you can not trust anyone with your heart. Kate is determined to be the best intern. She devotes most of her waking moments to the firm. Of course it does not hurt that she has a secret crush on her boss, Nick. He is every girl’s fantasy.
Nick has worked hard to be where he is today with being partner in a major law firm, living the high life. When his best friend, Jax is accused of murdering his wife, Alyssa, he knows Jax is innocence and will do everything he can to prove it. Even if it means allow his intern become Jax submissive in the dark world of BDSM. Nick seems to have a little crush on Kate too.
Jax accused of murdering his wife in a gruesome way. He has an alibi but when he tells Nick and Kate that he has not been sleeping with his wife for over year and had just ask her for a divorce the day he left town. He does not seem so innocence. He agrees to allow Kate to be his submissive to try to lure the true killer out.
Kate wants to give in to her secret desires of being dominated by a man. And if that man happens to be Jax, she does not mind. Or even if her boss, Nick wants to join she would completely give into her fantasy of having them both in her bed.
This book set a great story in motion to make you want to find out who did it and to see if Kate will finally find love. Will the truth come out about Kate’s past? Can Kate and Jax continue on with their plan at the Club or will their one night of passion be all they will share? Can Nick deal with the fact that his best friend will be able to do things to Kate that he wants to do?
I am excited to read then next books in this series. I am sure there will be lots of twist and turns. I do believe this is a perfect blend of dark, erotic, mystery and romance mixed into a series.
Ok this story had my attention after reading Chapter 1. I had to know who was the killer and why? Then we meet the main characters in the book. Kate, Jax and Nick each intrigued me. They all seemed to have secrets that I wanted to know.
Kate Martin, law student who is interning at a prestigious law firm, has left her past behind her. She learned at a young age that you can not trust anyone with your heart. Kate is determined to be the best intern. She devotes most of her waking moments to the firm. Of course it does not hurt that she has a secret crush on her boss, Nick. He is every girl’s fantasy.
Nick has worked hard to be where he is today with being partner in a major law firm, living the high life. When his best friend, Jax is accused of murdering his wife, Alyssa, he knows Jax is innocence and will do everything he can to prove it. Even if it means allow his intern become Jax submissive in the dark world of BDSM. Nick seems to have a little crush on Kate too.
Jax accused of murdering his wife in a gruesome way. He has an alibi but when he tells Nick and Kate that he has not been sleeping with his wife for over year and had just ask her for a divorce the day he left town. He does not seem so innocence. He agrees to allow Kate to be his submissive to try to lure the true killer out.
Kate wants to give in to her secret desires of being dominated by a man. And if that man happens to be Jax, she does not mind. Or even if her boss, Nick wants to join she would completely give into her fantasy of having them both in her bed.
This book set a great story in motion to make you want to find out who did it and to see if Kate will finally find love. Will the truth come out about Kate’s past? Can Kate and Jax continue on with their plan at the Club or will their one night of passion be all they will share? Can Nick deal with the fact that his best friend will be able to do things to Kate that he wants to do?
I am excited to read then next books in this series. I am sure there will be lots of twist and turns. I do believe this is a perfect blend of dark, erotic, mystery and romance mixed into a series.
July 26, 2014
Oh my gosh! This is my first ever Shelly Bell book and man can I say it was steamy! This story really got me HOT like to the point where I had to…..take a shower…..
I knew it was going to get me somewhere and it didn’t disappoint! Right from the start when I read the synopsis I knew I had to get my hands on this serial and you know how I am with serials, I disliked them, but this, this serial got me hooked from just the synopsis!!! That was how much I wanted to read this!
And I’ll admit I have read a good share of erotic serials and really enjoyed them but this may be one of those that will out rank the previous ones~ That or either I haven’t plunged into enough of them.
But for this review I’m not going to tell you anything about the book. You already got that information from the synopsis so I’m just simply going to tell you that you definitely have to grab this!
The sexual tensions are all there right from the beginning and they’re not afraid to hide it so to speak. I never knew sexual attraction can be so…..so noticeable to the point where you can smell the attraction! Is that even real? But anyways I really loved it. They weren't hiding behind the bushes with their attraction and jump right into it.
Sure there were obstacles, pain, and secrets swarming around the case from both Kate and Jaxson's past but things had to be done. Plus, there's the mystery of who murdered Jaxson's wife and who will Kate choose: her boss or her client? Oooo~ Both are steamy Hot and Sexy as Heck!
And Gosh the sex is hot! I just can’t get over that. I think I might not be as vanilla as I thought I am…..LOL But we all can fantasize right? Heehee~
So if you loved Cynthia Sax’s Seen Trilogy and Monica Murphy’s Billionaire Bachelors series and those others I’m missing because I can’t think straight at the moment then this serial is for you!
So yup, this is only the first part of the serial but I am reading the other three parts at this moment too so…. Looking forward for those.
This serial was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Rating: 4 out 5
I knew it was going to get me somewhere and it didn’t disappoint! Right from the start when I read the synopsis I knew I had to get my hands on this serial and you know how I am with serials, I disliked them, but this, this serial got me hooked from just the synopsis!!! That was how much I wanted to read this!
And I’ll admit I have read a good share of erotic serials and really enjoyed them but this may be one of those that will out rank the previous ones~ That or either I haven’t plunged into enough of them.
But for this review I’m not going to tell you anything about the book. You already got that information from the synopsis so I’m just simply going to tell you that you definitely have to grab this!
The sexual tensions are all there right from the beginning and they’re not afraid to hide it so to speak. I never knew sexual attraction can be so…..so noticeable to the point where you can smell the attraction! Is that even real? But anyways I really loved it. They weren't hiding behind the bushes with their attraction and jump right into it.
Sure there were obstacles, pain, and secrets swarming around the case from both Kate and Jaxson's past but things had to be done. Plus, there's the mystery of who murdered Jaxson's wife and who will Kate choose: her boss or her client? Oooo~ Both are steamy Hot and Sexy as Heck!
And Gosh the sex is hot! I just can’t get over that. I think I might not be as vanilla as I thought I am…..LOL But we all can fantasize right? Heehee~
So if you loved Cynthia Sax’s Seen Trilogy and Monica Murphy’s Billionaire Bachelors series and those others I’m missing because I can’t think straight at the moment then this serial is for you!
So yup, this is only the first part of the serial but I am reading the other three parts at this moment too so…. Looking forward for those.
This serial was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Rating: 4 out 5
June 5, 2014
*I received an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed part one of this serial. It had a nice balance between the sexy and the suspense. Definitely met my expectations.
From the synopsis, we know Kate is a law student and interning for her long-time crush, Nicholas Trenton. From the beginning, it is known Kate has feelings for Nick; feelings that surpass those of an intern toward their mentor. Kate is definitely one of my favorite characters in this serial. It is hinted at that she carries some serious guilt due to an event in her past, causing her to have panic attacks. This does not hold her her back, though. This motorcycle-riding, leather-wearing woman is strong and determined. She wants to get hired at the firm she's interning at and will do anything to get the job done.
Nicholas is this big-shot attorney whose friend is in trouble. Even though he's civil lawyer, he takes Jaxon's case to keep him from going to jail in the case of his wife's murder. Alyssa's murder is the opening scene in this serial. The whodunit is a mystery to not only the characters, but to also the readers causing a great deal of suspense throughout the novella. Jax and Alyssa practiced BDSM which is the perfect excuse for the prosecution to accuse Jax of domestic violence and killing his wife.
From the moment Jaxon and Alyssa are in the same room, sparks fly and there is an undeniable connection between the two. Nicholas is never far behind, make it known how protective he is of his intern.
I liked Nicholas from the beginning. I loved how protective he was of Kate and how obvious it was to me that his feelings went further than that of a mentor/intern relationship. There was something about him that I couldn't put my finger on, but hope that in the next installment his feelings are explored further.
I'm excited to see where the story goes. I already have a list of suspects and I hope I am not wrong!
If you like the sexy with a twist, this one is for you!
I really enjoyed part one of this serial. It had a nice balance between the sexy and the suspense. Definitely met my expectations.
From the synopsis, we know Kate is a law student and interning for her long-time crush, Nicholas Trenton. From the beginning, it is known Kate has feelings for Nick; feelings that surpass those of an intern toward their mentor. Kate is definitely one of my favorite characters in this serial. It is hinted at that she carries some serious guilt due to an event in her past, causing her to have panic attacks. This does not hold her her back, though. This motorcycle-riding, leather-wearing woman is strong and determined. She wants to get hired at the firm she's interning at and will do anything to get the job done.
Nicholas is this big-shot attorney whose friend is in trouble. Even though he's civil lawyer, he takes Jaxon's case to keep him from going to jail in the case of his wife's murder. Alyssa's murder is the opening scene in this serial. The whodunit is a mystery to not only the characters, but to also the readers causing a great deal of suspense throughout the novella. Jax and Alyssa practiced BDSM which is the perfect excuse for the prosecution to accuse Jax of domestic violence and killing his wife.
From the moment Jaxon and Alyssa are in the same room, sparks fly and there is an undeniable connection between the two. Nicholas is never far behind, make it known how protective he is of his intern.
I liked Nicholas from the beginning. I loved how protective he was of Kate and how obvious it was to me that his feelings went further than that of a mentor/intern relationship. There was something about him that I couldn't put my finger on, but hope that in the next installment his feelings are explored further.
I'm excited to see where the story goes. I already have a list of suspects and I hope I am not wrong!
If you like the sexy with a twist, this one is for you!
June 12, 2014
These serialized erotic romances are taking the Romance World by storm! Every time I log in to Facebook or other social media, I see more and more coming out! Ever since then, I have been devouring these like crazy! I LOVE them! If you want a sexy, suspenseful, quick read, a serial series is the way to go. The WHITE COLLARED Series by Shelly Bell had me gagged, bound, and held hostage from Part One and on. I was lucky to receive all four parts all at once, and let me tell you, THANK GOD! I’m not sure if I could have waited a single day in between parts. Luckily for fans, you do not have to wait too long to have the next part available to you.
❝We all carry scars. Some are just more visible than others.❞
Ms. Bell had me hooked by the end of Chapter One. Holy Shit! My heart was racing and I immediately wanted to know who, what, when, where, and why?! We get a great sense of each character and what their background is. Kate, Nicholas, and Jaxon are AMAZING characters, and they each bring such complexity and raw emotion to the table. You instantly crave more and more of their story. With each part of this series unfolding, the more intense it gets. Erotic isn’t enough to cover what this series was for me. Don’t get me wrong, White Collared is a SCORCHING read, but along with that came the thrilling suspense, and the emotional downfall of certain events. With every page and every chapter came new ideas, new questions, and new plot twists. I couldn’t turn away from these words that left me speechless at the conclusion of each part. This was a VERY WELL DONE serial, and it has created another Super Fan for this incredibly talented author. I’m keeping this series close to me, because when I’m feeling in a funk, and I need a pick me up, I believe re-reading the White Collared Series will be my DRUG OF CHOICE!
*Gifted copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Read more of my reviews at Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads
❝We all carry scars. Some are just more visible than others.❞
Ms. Bell had me hooked by the end of Chapter One. Holy Shit! My heart was racing and I immediately wanted to know who, what, when, where, and why?! We get a great sense of each character and what their background is. Kate, Nicholas, and Jaxon are AMAZING characters, and they each bring such complexity and raw emotion to the table. You instantly crave more and more of their story. With each part of this series unfolding, the more intense it gets. Erotic isn’t enough to cover what this series was for me. Don’t get me wrong, White Collared is a SCORCHING read, but along with that came the thrilling suspense, and the emotional downfall of certain events. With every page and every chapter came new ideas, new questions, and new plot twists. I couldn’t turn away from these words that left me speechless at the conclusion of each part. This was a VERY WELL DONE serial, and it has created another Super Fan for this incredibly talented author. I’m keeping this series close to me, because when I’m feeling in a funk, and I need a pick me up, I believe re-reading the White Collared Series will be my DRUG OF CHOICE!
*Gifted copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Read more of my reviews at Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads
July 6, 2014
I am loving how these serials are stepping it up! Shelly Bell's White Collard is episodic with sexy vibes and a murder mystery to boot. At 100 pages, MERCY's pace is great with both the plot and characters introduced well. The blurb is spot on in telling us what MERCY is so allow me focus on the heroine... or anti-heroine, Kate Martin, instead.
Kate Martin is the girl I'd keep at arm's length. She's the ambitious overachieving girl, smart, has a Type A personality, and eager to please.
So you might be wondering, "Braine, you're crazy, Kate sounds like a strong heroine!"
Well you know how these kinds of chicks are. They can be condescending, a kiss ass, always looking over their backs, and would do anything and everything to get ahead. At least that's my first impression of Kate, plus from the events that happened here, Kate has a tendency to lay out rules and then exempt herself from it and being a good budding lawyer that she is, she can easily argue her point out of technicalities.
Now these off-putting qualities is exactly why I want to read the serial and torture myself. The draw for me is how is SBell going to spin this where I (might) end up rooting for Kate and begging her to be my BFF by the time White Collared is finished. I'm always up for a good challenge and Kate Martin sounds like a great one.
As for the BDSM, it's more of a tease at this point. Kate volunteered to be a fake submissive but it looks like she's planning to take it further and make it real, at least while the case is ongoing. Also I love how kink is portrayed, totally taboo and dangerous. A submissive getting offed by her Dom? What could be more forbidding and seductive than that?! So I want to know how the pieces fit and I do love romantic suspense so there's no way I'm going to pass up on these.
Kate Martin is the girl I'd keep at arm's length. She's the ambitious overachieving girl, smart, has a Type A personality, and eager to please.
So you might be wondering, "Braine, you're crazy, Kate sounds like a strong heroine!"
Well you know how these kinds of chicks are. They can be condescending, a kiss ass, always looking over their backs, and would do anything and everything to get ahead. At least that's my first impression of Kate, plus from the events that happened here, Kate has a tendency to lay out rules and then exempt herself from it and being a good budding lawyer that she is, she can easily argue her point out of technicalities.
Now these off-putting qualities is exactly why I want to read the serial and torture myself. The draw for me is how is SBell going to spin this where I (might) end up rooting for Kate and begging her to be my BFF by the time White Collared is finished. I'm always up for a good challenge and Kate Martin sounds like a great one.
As for the BDSM, it's more of a tease at this point. Kate volunteered to be a fake submissive but it looks like she's planning to take it further and make it real, at least while the case is ongoing. Also I love how kink is portrayed, totally taboo and dangerous. A submissive getting offed by her Dom? What could be more forbidding and seductive than that?! So I want to know how the pieces fit and I do love romantic suspense so there's no way I'm going to pass up on these.
June 7, 2014
Driven by ambition …
Third-year law student Kate Martin outran her tragic past to become an intern for her idol and secret crush, the powerful attorney Nicholas Trenton. She is thrilled when Nick assigns her to represent his best friend and client, millionaire Jaxon Deveroux … the prime suspect in his submissive wife Alyssa's murder.
Seduced by desire …
Kate knows they have only a few days to find the real killer, and since signs point to a member of the BDSM community, she volunteers to go undercover as Jaxon's submissive at Benediction—the private sex club where he is a member—to covertly investigate Alyssa's last few months. For years, Kate has kept her dark fantasies a secret … but a chance to explore them with sexy, dominant Jaxon is just too tempting to pass up.
This book is for over 18's due to adult content.
This books starts with a murder! The wife of a millionaire has been murdered in their home and the powerful attorney Nick Trenton is going to aid his friend. He is taking one of his interns Kate with him. Kate has hero worship Nick for years and would do anything for him. Kate has given almost everything up in her life for her internship and Nick. Helping him represent his friend is no hardship. Until Kate meets his friend Jaxon and then life as she knows it has changed!
I have never really been into romantic suspense before, but this book has completely changed my mind. The whole book has been made into 4 novellas and after reading Mercy, I cannot wait for the next installment.
I love all the characters in this book, even the obnoxious Rachel the reporter. The writing is flawless and you get swept up in a world of BDSM and intrigue. I am already desperate for the next installment!
This book earns a 10 out of 10 from me for sheer brilliance!
Third-year law student Kate Martin outran her tragic past to become an intern for her idol and secret crush, the powerful attorney Nicholas Trenton. She is thrilled when Nick assigns her to represent his best friend and client, millionaire Jaxon Deveroux … the prime suspect in his submissive wife Alyssa's murder.
Seduced by desire …
Kate knows they have only a few days to find the real killer, and since signs point to a member of the BDSM community, she volunteers to go undercover as Jaxon's submissive at Benediction—the private sex club where he is a member—to covertly investigate Alyssa's last few months. For years, Kate has kept her dark fantasies a secret … but a chance to explore them with sexy, dominant Jaxon is just too tempting to pass up.
This book is for over 18's due to adult content.
This books starts with a murder! The wife of a millionaire has been murdered in their home and the powerful attorney Nick Trenton is going to aid his friend. He is taking one of his interns Kate with him. Kate has hero worship Nick for years and would do anything for him. Kate has given almost everything up in her life for her internship and Nick. Helping him represent his friend is no hardship. Until Kate meets his friend Jaxon and then life as she knows it has changed!
I have never really been into romantic suspense before, but this book has completely changed my mind. The whole book has been made into 4 novellas and after reading Mercy, I cannot wait for the next installment.
I love all the characters in this book, even the obnoxious Rachel the reporter. The writing is flawless and you get swept up in a world of BDSM and intrigue. I am already desperate for the next installment!
This book earns a 10 out of 10 from me for sheer brilliance!
June 1, 2014
I was provided a copy of this book by the Author for an honest review.
I just finish reading this book, and I love it, I have to say this is not what I was expecting when I started reading this book, this book has suspense and passion, I love the book from the first page to the last, I am gone keep this short since I don't want to give anything away.
The story begging with the death of Alyssa Jaxon Deveroux, when he got home from a trip he found her dead, he call his friend Nicholas who is a powerful attorney, on the day that he was gone go interview his friend, Nicholas took with him his intern Kate, she was happy to go but Kate had issues of her past, when she step inside the police building she start to think about the last time that she was their. When they walk them to the interrogation room, she stayed at the side, but before they started the question, Jaxon ask the detective to get her a chair, Kate was honor to be part of the case, also she recognizes a mutual attraction to Jaxon. which interestingly enough causes all of Nicholas' protective instincts, and other affections, to rise to attention. Jaxon and his wife were known to engage in BDSM, that's when Kate came up with a plan to go undercover, and look at the BDSM club that Jaxon and his wife belonged to, and Kate will act as Jaxon submissive, would they find out who the killer is, and who would Kate fall in love with Jaxon or Nicholas.
I really love and enjoy reading this book, and now I am so ready to read the second part of it, Author Shelly Bell THANK YOU for introducing me to this awesome characters and this amazing book love it.
I just finish reading this book, and I love it, I have to say this is not what I was expecting when I started reading this book, this book has suspense and passion, I love the book from the first page to the last, I am gone keep this short since I don't want to give anything away.
The story begging with the death of Alyssa Jaxon Deveroux, when he got home from a trip he found her dead, he call his friend Nicholas who is a powerful attorney, on the day that he was gone go interview his friend, Nicholas took with him his intern Kate, she was happy to go but Kate had issues of her past, when she step inside the police building she start to think about the last time that she was their. When they walk them to the interrogation room, she stayed at the side, but before they started the question, Jaxon ask the detective to get her a chair, Kate was honor to be part of the case, also she recognizes a mutual attraction to Jaxon. which interestingly enough causes all of Nicholas' protective instincts, and other affections, to rise to attention. Jaxon and his wife were known to engage in BDSM, that's when Kate came up with a plan to go undercover, and look at the BDSM club that Jaxon and his wife belonged to, and Kate will act as Jaxon submissive, would they find out who the killer is, and who would Kate fall in love with Jaxon or Nicholas.
I really love and enjoy reading this book, and now I am so ready to read the second part of it, Author Shelly Bell THANK YOU for introducing me to this awesome characters and this amazing book love it.
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