Thou shalt not attack thy Dom—especially not with his own cane.
She’s committed the cardinal sin, broken the eleventh commandment for submissives. No wonder the Dom she adores wants nothing more to do with her.
Eugenie believes her luck has turned when she lands an interview for her dream job—Events Organizer at Totally Five Star’s flagship hotel in Paris. This is her chance to return to the city, which holds cherished memories for her, and pursue a career she loves. Most of all it’s a golden opportunity to leave behind the bitter taste of her disastrous break-up with Aaron, the one Dom who can make her melt with a look, a word, a lift of his finger.
Her dream crumbles when she comes face to face with her nemesis, now Director of Security at Totally Five Star Paris, the one man who can wreck her dreams with just a few words.
Aaron has never forgotten the lovely little submissive who broke all the rules. He can do without the hassle of such a high-maintenance sub, but his sexy new colleague proves hard to resist. It’s not long before he finds it hard to remember just what his objections were.
Determined not to dwell on the past, Eugenie throws herself into her wonderful new job. If she can only convince Aaron to give her another chance, her life will be perfect. A natural in her new role, against the glamorous backdrop of one of the world’s finest hotel chains, Eugenie is in her element arranging a high-profile celebrity wedding. But when things start to go wrong, Eugenie finds herself at the heart of a series of inexplicable accidents.
Aaron doesn’t believe in coincidences. Is someone else, apart from him, out to hurt his little Genie? And why? He is determined to protect Eugenie—and get to the bottom of who might want to harm her.
Glamor, high society and exotic locales. Come with us as we take you on a journey around the world to some of the most opulent and famous tourist destinations favored by the elite. This is five-star quality, five-star service and five-star entertainment, ensuring that every single part of this imprint is Totally Five Star. Head into the hub of this network of hotels and meet the employees who enable this luxury world to be what it is today. Get to know these characters over time as they develop and grow throughout the imprint, and become completely consumed with this diverse lifestyle.
Until 2010, Ashe was a director of a regeneration company before deciding there had to be more to life and leaving to pursue a lifetime goal of self-employment.
Ashe has been an avid reader of erotic romance for many years—historical, contemporary, fantasy—you name it. Now, at last in control of her own time and working from her home in rural West Yorkshire, she has been able to realise her dream of writing sexy and compelling stories herself.
She draws on settings and anecdotes from her previous and current experience to lend colour, detail and realism to her plots and characters, but her stories of love, challenge, resilience and compassion are the conjurings of her own imagination. She loves to craft strong, enigmatic men and bright, sassy women to give them a hard time—in every sense of the word.
When she’s not writing, Ashe’s time is monopolised by her role as grandma to a lively toddler. She shares her writing space with a tortoise called Teefer.
When I read the blurb and saw the part about 'Thou shalt not attack thy Dom—especially not with his own cane' I got to admit I giggled a bit. Oh yeah, bad form for a sub. Then I got down to the reading. Genie is quite the brat to Aaron, although I do get why. Of course Aaron wants none of that and breaks it off. Yikes! Flash forward a few years and La Brat is no longer. Genie is looking for a change and Paris is calling. Little does she know, her old Dom is going to be in the office right next to hers. Double YIKES!
On to the story. I think it’s sweet that instead of jumping straight they started over from the beginning as Friends/co-workers and got to know each other. It was easy to see how Genie and Aaron had a natural attraction to each other. And then ya know things do have to heat up and oh does it sizzle! There’s a nice progression that had me smiling all the way. Now, of course there’s more to La Brat than their re-budding D/s relationship. Genie starts a new job at TFS Paris and lands the wedding of the year. There’s a lot going as she is working on the plans. I hit a point where I was thinking ‘That’s odd’. As I kept reading I eventually hit my DUH moment. It certainly added a new exciting element that really ties everything together. As for the ending, naturally it has to be a happy one and that’s how it always should be when you lose yourself in a great story.
I really enjoy Ms. Barker's books. They are usually filled with great characters, beautiful British country sides and hot erotic sex. La Brat has two of the three. The missing third piece is England but that's okay because now we are in the city of romance. And let me say it now, I wanna go to Paris and I want to stay at TFS Paris! Okay, maybe it does only exist between these pages but it still was quite the thrill. If you want to know what I’m talking about, pick yourself up a copy of La Brat,
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated. Stars - 5, Flames - 3
4.5 stars for this contemporary erotic BDSM mystery/romance.
This is a fun read! Eugenie is a willful woman who craves a bit of discipline to clear her mind from time to time. Three years ago she met Aaron, a Dom who really appealed. He was strong, controlled, and fun to be with as a companion outside of a scene. Then, when a scene didn’t go well, Eugenie did something Aaron couldn’t accept–as a Dom.
After floundering in her search for a replacement Dom, Eugenie earned herself the undesirable moniker: La Brat. She’s burned a lot of bridges, wishing she could get Aaron to notice her again, but he seems to have disappeared from the fetish scene. Anxious to reinvent herself back in her native France, she interviews for a position at Totally Five Star Hotel, Paris. And it is there she reconnects to Aaron; he’s the Head of Security. Eugenie is sure that Aaron will sabotage her, but he’s not interested in that. Nope. Aaron is still quite interested in his sassy little sub, but knows they need to work together–and work out the problems from their last encounter–if they are to reconcile.
Eugenie really strives hard to make the best impression in her new position–and she succeeds. She garners an A-list wedding, but life then gets really really complicated. In the hustle and bustle of the preparations Eugenie suffers two inexplicable injuries. Aaron suspects this is not random–both were potentially fatal–and his pre-wedding tripled security measures are put to the test determining if Eugenie is a specific target, or just a convenient casualty.
I liked how Eugenie and Aaron rekindled their romance. For both, the abruptness of their break-up three years prior had been not just shocking, but stunning. It was a moment from which neither had truly recovered. The BDSM elements here are not the major focus, though Aaron’s keen to keep Eugenie emotionally satisfied–which sometimes includes punishment even when he would not favor them. As lovers, they seemed very devoted which was nice. Aaron takes the time to really ensure Eugenie’s safety, both as a Dom and his partner. The progression of their relationship is rather quick, though this is reasonable given their previous acquaintance. The wrap-up of the mystery–who was harming Eugenie and why–comes at exactly the final moment before the wedding, with a showdown that is fast and fanatical.
La Brat was another great read from Ashe Barker. With a backdrop of a stunning, luxurious hotel and a beautiful city, this novel is escapism at its finest. The writing, as always, was fantastic, the plot intriguing and the sex scenes sizzling. If you love M/F BDSM erotic romance novels, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.
This story follow's Genie who is the La Brat because she is a submissive Brat. Aaron is her Dom when we first meet her. They are both young to the scene, and slowly the relationship develops, until an event leads to Aaron threatening to cane her as a punishment, and she just flips and hits him with the cane. They both separate and just can not get back together, till several years later, they are thrown back together by circumstances and give it another go, after both having tired other relationships, which earn't Genie the lovely title.
Genie is an event organiser and is taken on by a high class French Hotel, which is when they get back together, as Aaron is the security chief. Genie's life is threatened and a number of incident befall her, and Aaron comes to her rescue. The sex and BDSM scenes within this story are lovely. I did find the misunderstanding a bit soft for such a hard demanding Dom, but then you could see how misunderstanding had come about. It was a bit extreme her reaction and then the lack of communication??.
Their return back together appears to be relatively smooth, and I did love the discussion around how their fall out came about. I did enjoy how the book at the start is a reflection of their relationship, interspersed with current day. That was a nice touch...reflection informs us of what has gone before, from Genies perspective.
This story has a nice conclusion, a nice HEA
I have read this book as part of the Totally Bound review team, for an honest review
Oh la la! Ashe Baker will have her readers shouting ‘Oui Oui’ in this scintillating tale of lovers reunited in La Brat. Set in the amazingly seductive Paris Totally Five Star Hotel, Eugenie, the quintessential brat, is in for quite a surprise when she is introduced to the Director of Hotel Security, the devastatingly dominating Aaron. The Master she had once loved and then disobeyed, more than earning her club name ‘La Brat.’ Reacquainted in Paris, their attraction proves more than either can resist as they as they revisit their preference for sex best served scalding. A Dom you can’t help but love when he declares, “I have no quarrel with brattiness, as long as you’re my brat.” Eugenie struggles to be an obedient Submissive at the hands of Aaron as Ms. Barker unravels the complexity of Dom and Submissive psyches with all the nuances of a petal unfolding in the dawning light. Both tantalizing and sensual, the reader is drawn into not only the romance, but also the intertwined substory of the celebrity wedding at the hotel, along with high security hijinks and a even a stalker on the loose. Fans of Ms. Barker’s previous Totally Five Star Marrakesh book, Chameleon, will be delighted to see a reappearance of Fleur, the hotel doctor now working for the Totally Five Star Paris. All in all La Brat is c’est magnifique!
Ashe Barker has hit another book out of the park with La Brat. When Genie lands her dream job at a ritzy hotel in Paris, the last person she expects to see is the one who made her become known as La Brat. Aaron is just as surprised to see Genie back in his life, seeing as how the last time they were together she decided she would take his cane against him. They both made mistakes in the past, but will their chemistry blow up in their faces again, or will the fire be lit for good? Working together to put the hotel at the top of everyone's list, they find that time has changed them both, and maybe now is the time they are meant to be together. La Brat is vivid in its imagery, sultry in its passion, and all around decadent with a touch of mystery. It was elegant storytelling personified, and I loved that the characters were so passionate and convincing. You won't be able to help but feel for these two, the intensity of their relationship made me breathless at points. There was fury, warmth, ecstasy, and worry, and I relished in every moment. There were unexpected parts, and parts that I didn't want to end. I hope there will be more with this hotel. There are so many characters I want to know about and I have a feeling that Genie and Aaron are just a great beginning.
Awesome book! Ashe Barker does not disappoint. Great story line- I loved the past/present story line. Great character development. Made me feel like I was back in Paris
“La Brat” is the second book in the ‘Four Seasons – Five Star’ series by Ashe Barker, which has apparently been somewhat changed and re-released. I never read the original version, so I don’t know what was actually changed, but I do know that this current book is certainly entertaining.
Eugenie and Iain are both new to the lifestyle when they meet at a kink club in England. They immediately have a strong connection. Things seem to be developing nicely over several weeks when suddenly a scene ends very badly. She physically attacks him and runs, then refuses to answer when he tries to reach her. When she’s finally able to be calmer and wants to talk, he is no longer receptive. Such a mess!
Fast-forward a few years and she’s a candidate for a dream job in Paris running the special events department at the renowned Four Seasons hotel. Imagine her shock to find Iain there, working as the Head of Security. It’s awkward and embarrassing for her, to say the least, especially when she makes a tentative overture towards him, and he makes it clear that there’s no hard feelings, but things will be purely professional between them. Until it isn’t.
The relationship that develops between Eugenie and Iain this time is completely different – except in the ways that it’s the same – meaning their continued, shared appreciation for the kink lifestyle. The super steamy scenes in the book showcase that quite vividly. (Please pay attention to the content warnings). I appreciated the way both we and the characters become enlightened about the reasons behind the disastrous culmination of the scene that ended their relationship in England. An intriguing and frightening mystery begins to unfold involving danger at the hotel that seems fixated on Eugenie. There are some solid secondary characters, including one of the main characters in the previous book. The settings are wonderfully depicted, making everything come to life. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily sharing my thoughts and opinions.
Iain and Eugene first met at a BDSM Club and had an instant rapport. As they played together more they seemed to be almost perfectly aligned in all manners. He was a very strict Dom and she was a brat trying very hard to be a perfect submissive. Everything was going along very smoothly, until it wasn’t! In what can only be described as a spectacularly explosive scene, Eugenie ended everything….. without even using her safe word. Clear communication, or lack thereof, was key to the break-up. Three years later their paths cross again, at the luxurious Four Seasons-Paris hotel. Eugenie was not happy seeing Iain there, as she was certain he would derail her pursuit of a senior management position with the hotel. Surprisingly he did not and their face to face, heart to heart, talks opened the door to their second chance relationship. What developed was a very intense D/s relationship within an equally challenging and tense working relationship. At the hotel two issues take precedent, their burgeoning relationship and a potential wedding of the century that they are jointly charged with making happen flawlessly. However, a series of incidents with Eugenie indicates that all is not right with the wedding planning. It finally takes the strength of Iain and the almost loving support of her co-workers and boss to bring Eugenie and him to the point that they figure EVERYTHING out. Two great plots, an absolutely red hot D/s relationship and a wedding plan plagued by apparent sabotage, carefully woven together into a captivating story. The disciplines and sex are absolutely the hottest possible without the pages bursting into flame. This is the second book in the Four Seasons series but is totally a stand-alone read. The only carry-overs from Book 1, Chameleon, are the beauty and elegance of the hotel chain and the hotel doctor, Fleur. The writing is so good and the characters so beautifully drawn that your pulse will continually be racing. A full 5 Stars, and now we must impatiently await Book 3. I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review.
A entertaining read, action filled with a great scenario you will read in just one siting Iain Praed is head of security and he is a man that is focussed 100% of the time on what is happening in the hotel as the security head and he is responsible for anyone that comes to play or to learn whilst they are within his domain. He is an expert on anything to do with security and keeping those he is responsible for safe, he has always worked in the field with everything from Dogs to horses to helicopters and even some underwater operations and now he is stationed behind a desk which is very different. The Four Seasons has changed management and the new management require a Head of Security as he speaks fluent French and is familiar with Paris the position is fairly cut and dried. Imagine his surprise when he sees the name of his Submissive Eugenie d’Andre on the list and as an experienced Dom he knows that he can handle her if she should have an explosion of temper which he had experienced some years prior. He knows that he is Dom enough to blister her behind if needed and can assess his dominance as and should it ever be needed by this wonderful Submissive, he believes there is more to her story and he is the man that can reign her in should it be required. Now that she is back in his life she is still as pointed with her opinions and feels as always and she makes her welcome at the Four Seasons team and she is as tempting a sub as ever. I assure you that you will love every moment of this book it is simply a fantastic read. I voluntarily received and review an Advanced Reader Copy I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the great writing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I got intrigued by the blurb. Reading BDSM romances can be nice, but I can't always stand the submissive aspect. That's why it appealed to me that in this book a dominant would be beaten with his own cane. What this is really about is a second chance romance. Two people who cared deeply for each other, but were not suited for each other, understood each other, at the time, meet again a few years later and carefully decide to try again. Setting is a hotel in Paris, where Eugenie is the event planner and Iain is in charge of security. While they are working together to set up a high profile wedding and rediscover each other, it appears that attacks are being carried out on Eugenie, which releases all protective instincts in Iain. Accessible writing style, entertaining story, a heroine who tries to remain feisty and independent despite her submissiveness, and a hero who, as far as I'm concerned, is a bit stuck in his convictions, I am not sure if I really like him. It is a smoothly flowing story, easy to read, a touch of humor, memories are well described and provide good insight into the characters and the events leading to their break up. Of course there are the necessary steamy scenes as wel.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am not familiar with this author but I will remedy that. Before I begin, I notice some reviews on here as referring to the hero as Aaron!! He is most definitely Iain....
This book is delicious as are the characters. I am familiar with the Parisian Georges V hotel and I was able to imagine it throughout, just bliss!
When French native and would be submissive Eugenie meets Iain an experienced Dom and Police Officer it is a meeting of passion and lust. Our sweet heroine 'Genie' though is not an experienced submissive rather a rebel at heart and after one shocking breakdown their relationship hits the skids, only to be rekindled in the city of love, 3 years later.
It is a hot and erotic read with 2 MC's worth investing in. The storyline is quirky and yet realistic enough to get on board with.
I really felt the connection between these two and genuinely rooted for them to find a HEA.
There are major bumps in the road when Eugenie is under threat can her White Knight Iain help her?
I felt the final part of the book maybe packed too much in and felt rather rushed but no matter.
Elegantly written and brought me back to a city I visit several times a year. Lucky me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Eugenie had turned into a person she didn't really like. Bouncing from club to club with various Doms, she lacked the mindset to form any type of connection. When a job opened up at the Four Seasons in Paris, she jumped at the opportunity for a new start. Unfortunately before the interview even ends, she realizes she'll be forced to work alongside the one Dom that ever meant anything to her, and the one Dom she most wishes to avoid.
The story is well written. The author starts out blending the past with the present which worked well for Eugenie and Iain's story. Both characters were likable. Eugenie could obviously be a bit of a brat, but she was a work in progress and the brattiness didn't dominate her character. Iain was solid, dominate, but still willing to admit mistakes. The romance was hot and the drama intense. Although part of a series it worked perfectly well as a standalone. I look forward to more from this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
WOW! Just Wow! Ashe Barker's second book, 'La Brat', in her "Four Seasons: Five Stars" series is off the chart exciting in more ways than one. Eugenie met Iain at a BDSM club at the beginning of her BDSM education. With a quick and tantalizing D/s relationship to follow, it became a whirlwind of emotions and experiences. Both she and Iain blended well together even if she had those moments of insecurity and rebellion within herself and then it happened. Eugenie broke one of the sacred rules of the D/s relationship and Iain, even though she was sorry, would not see her again. Three years. Now she has the opportunity to go back to Paris and have the career of her dreams and perhaps start over. The problem? Iain is the Head of Security. Ashe Barker takes us on an adventure of hedonistic pleasure, all-encompassing emotions, drama, angst, and lest I forget to mention, a mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm in love with this series and can't wait for the next book.
La Brat is the 2nd book in the Four Seasons series of re-released books, yet it stands completely on its own. It's a hot and steamy, fast-paced romantic suspense with a kinky twist when former D/s couple Iain and Eugenie meet again as collegues in the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in Paris. While the flames of their former relationship are rekindled easily, someone is out to create havoc with their biggest event and their lives. There are plenty of sexy times, wonderful descriptions of the Paris and the hotel -making me want to pack my bags for a little holiday - and a number of unexpected twists and turns to keep things very interesting from the first page to the last, ending in a wonderful HEA. I received a free copy of this book from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.
What a wonderful new book from one of my favorite authors, Ashe Barker. When Eugenie and Iain met years ago, they weren't ready for each other. We can see the problems as they both reminisce about their former relationship. When they meet again, they don't just come together; they start out as friends and gradually work their way back to a D/s relationship. This is all set within the backdrop of a 5* luxury hotel in the beautiful city of Paris. The descriptions of the hotel and the plans that are being made for a high-class wedding are just enthralling to read about. I enjoyed the book immensely and I'm looking forward to the next book in the Four seasons: Five Star series.
I received an advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.
Ashe Barker has become one of my very favorite authors. This book is a good example of why that is. What starts off as a misunderstanding between the MC's during their initial acquaintance (Dom/sub relationship), is dealt with rationally, and efficiently when they have the opportunity to meet again. I don't mean it's glossed over, but rather, they communicate, listen to one another's perspectives, and ultimately realize that the situation could have been handled better by both of them. This allows the true relationship to unfold and the characters to find a new balance. There is also some intrigue and a bit of unexpected danger, but they add to the story/romance and allow the MC's to truly realize their feelings for one another.
Eugenie first met Iain three years ago when she was trying out BDSM. They seemed to fit well together until Iain needed to punish her for using her cell phone while driving. Eugenie flipped out and hit him with his cane. She left and blocked him, and Iain wouldn't have her back when she calmed down.
Now Eugenie is applying for her dream job at the Four Seasons Paris hotel, but Iain is the head of security.. Will Iain blackball her?
I loved this book and the characters. NOt only do we have the interaction between Eugenie and Iain, there is also a mystery about why Eugenie is having very dangerous accidents.
I read this in one sitting.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a dramatic, suspensful, passionate read that will suck you in and keep you entertained. There are so many things that I love about Genie, most of them I probably shouldn't mention as it may hurt my reputation of being the sweet one, and my heart broke for her after her breakup. Ian is the perfect Dom - protective, strict, firm, but also willing to admit when he messes up or makes a mistake. The setting of Paris and the Four Seasons is the perfect backdrop to the beautiful romance and the mystery of who's after Genie. I know the story is part of a series, but I haven't read the other books so I can confidently say that this can be read as a stand alone and you won't feel like you're missing anything.
Our heroine made a mistake and is trying to move on, but fate makes her new work partner our hero, the very man she wronged. They both try to move forward and leave the past behind, but the present very much keeps their attention focused on each other.
This is book two of the series, but it works just fine as a standalone.
This is an erotic romance with elements of BDSM. The story is very well written and easy to read. The characters are very well done and both are likeable. The plot is solid and moves along at a nice pace and includes some steamy elements as well. Overall, I found this to be a highly enjoyable story and I look forward to more from this author.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
The book begins with two people forming a relationship based on miscommunication and lack of experience in trying to fulfill each others needs when they aren't quite sure of their own. Iain is a Dom with preconceived expectations of what their relationship should be like. Eugenie is resisting his authority because she can't express her needs and how she feels. This results in her behaving as a brat to try and get what she wants. When the romance becomes a second chance and Eugenie's life is in danger, they are older and must work together. The author did an amazing job with the evolution of their relationship and wove a good mystery to keep you engaged in the story.
Wowsa this book was absolutely fantastic and will definitely have you hooked from the beginning until the end. If you're not a fan of bdsm or spankings ,caning then this book isn't for you. I love how this story goes through certain aspects of bdsm and sub and Dom dynamics. When Eugenie meets Iain things goes well between them but she has secret from her past and after a big blow up that was it for them years later her life is turned upside down but this time can they make this relationship work or will a crazy lady try to kill her? Great story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a love story set around a mystery in the city of love. If you read Chameleon you will meet Fleur again and this story is every bit as good. I love Paris and have visited several times including my honeymoon and enjoyed vicariously visiting again. Eugenie and Iain come together under the most unlikely circumstances but the spark is still there and they resume their D/s relationship. A series of scary events threatens their happiness but they uncover the culprit and the ending is amazing.
A story with an emotional connection between the characters which was very well written and allowed insight into their relationship. I found some scenes surprising - more closely the revelations. I thought they had trouble communicating which was strange considering the understanding of BDSM as I have read over the years. So while I enjoyed the story, it felt less engaging than I thought it would and the story didn’t ring true.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ashe Barker is an extremely skilled wordsmith, I was hook from the get go & I forced myself to stay awake last night to get to the end of the book. As always I have learnt about another profession - events planner, not as easy as you might think. I
Ashe Barker's books always leave me wanting more, as in next book please
It is steamy, and if you find that offensive, don't read it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When you don’t know how to speak French don’t do it, also don’t place the story and create a French character if you can’t write in French. It kill the story for me and didn’t help make Eugénie credible. Also Ian sound a bit callous, and again didn’t help him seeing him like a good dom. I think the story need a lot of work.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed this book from the first page . Familiar surroundings, Paris, Doctor Fleur made appearance,too. Book is totally standalone, by the way. The characters in this book have energy that pull you in. Spicy, sweet,caring just what you expected from D/S relationship. Hot romance with suspense and drama . Ending, with fireworks. Enjoy reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
La Brat is the second book in the Four Seasons : Five Star series. This book is another wonderful read by an author, Ashe Barker, that can definitely write a world and characters that surround you while you watch what happens, reading late into the night. This story is lava hotness throughout as the romance is tantalizing and visceral.....and what a read it makes!