Blue Velvet

The Velvet Rooms #2

by Linnea May

I’m filthy rich and dripping with power – but the army left me broken beyond repair.
My jagged edges make me a nightmare.

She wants to join my dark solitude.
But where she seeks solace, I seek sanity.

The Velvet Rooms provide our sanctuary. A place of safety, bliss and unbridled play, untainted by the clamor of reality.

Here, there is no sight.
There is no sound.
Only skin against skin.
Testing. Claiming.

But as much as I want her - she can never truly be mine.

Because the madness always finds me. Even in the darkness.
And this time it may be too late to stop the beast from destroying everything.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, BDSM, Contemporary Romance, Erotica

Unknown Binding

First published April 17, 2018

About the author

I'm an indie author of steamy Billionaire Romances, and I love strong alpha men with loaded bank accounts and skeletons in their closets.

My heroes are as sexy and beautiful as they are broken - only to be fixed by the smart & captivating heroines who cross their paths.

Lately, I've been writing more Dark Billionaire Romances. I'm very excited about my current VIOLENT series and its current spin-off The Velvet Rooms Series!

I live in Europe with my very own hero.
And I love squirrels. ❤

Find me on AMAZON here:
https://www.amazon.com/Linnea-May/e/B...

FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLinneaMay

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MY BOOKS

The Violent Series

Reviews

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

 
 
~WRITING - PLOT - PACE~
Well, this turned out to be a surprisingly delightful (and for those wondering...completely safe) little read. The writing was very good. It had a very sensual feeling to it that was very cool. It was a pretty quick read clocking in at just over two hours of reading time for me. It was told in dual POVS. The pace was perfect. The plot was engaging. That said, it was maybe a little underdeveloped in parts due to its short length. Last, it was wrapped up in a sweet happy for now ending. There were some issues that were kind of left open (Rowan's Dad and Dwight) so maybe there will be another book(s) with this couple?


~HERO~
ROWAN...I really liked Rowan. He was hot. He was damaged. He was sweet. He wasn't a manwhore. He was ex-military. He was partially deaf. He had some Dom like tendencies. He was all about Melina from the minute he meets her.  He was a very likable hero.


~HEROINE~
MELINA...Melina was also a very likable character. I loved that she was a bartender (mostly because I secretly want to be one). She was sweet. She was also a bit damaged. She was strong. She was all about Rowan from their first meeting. I would have liked to have seen her background a little more fleshed out, but all in all, she was a very enjoyable heroine.


 

~SECONDARY CHARACTERS~
Honestly, there really weren't too many secondary characters in this one. Sandy a girl that works at the club. Dwight a pain in the a$$ for Rowan. Rowan's Dad. All of them added some extra depth to the story, but the main characters are the stars of this one.


~HEAT LEVEL~
Medium to High. There are quite a few sex scenes in this one. Like I mentioned above, this book had a very sensual feel to it and that was especially apparent in the sex scenes. Instead of XXX porn, you get a more romantic stimulation of the senses. I would say this was VERY light BDSM. Blindfolds. Earplugs. Tying up. Nipple clamps. 


~ANGST LEVEL - SEXUAL HISTORIES~
Low. This one was very insta-lust. There are a couple bumps in the road but nothing major that causes any angst. Neither were virgins <--- thank the m@therf-cking lord (lol). There was no OW drama or OM drama. 


~IN THE END~
I enjoyed this one a lot. I haven't read anything by this author previous to this, but I will definitely be checking out some of her other books. The writing was great. The plot enjoyable. The characters likable. The sex scenes hot. What more can you ask for? Therefore yours truly is going to give this one two solid thumbs up. 

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series of books, they are all stand alone books so they can be read in any order. The characters in Blue Velvet are both damaged and hiding a few issues but they blend so well together and you find yourself really wanting them to help and heal each other. Plus the love scenes are hot.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This part of the series warmed my heart so much! Melina and Rowan demonstrated that silence indeed, can be golden.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book we're introduced to Rowan, Melina and the Blue Room. Rowan is a little damaged by his past in the Army. He goes to the Velvet Rooms as a way to escape and get some peace. He's not there to partake of their services per say, but to escape and get away from the noise in his life. Since the Army he doesn't like loud noises or a lot of people, and The Velvet Rooms provide just what he needs to get away. During his visit to The Velvet Rooms he meets their only female bartender Melina. He was not at all expecting someone like her. Melina is at The Velvet Rooms for her own reasons. Having a bad experience in her past she likes the quiet ambience of it. Plus it's pretty much her dream job. She loves to be a bartender, and mix drinks and cocktails of her own. When she meets Rowan they have an instant connection, and they spend the night talking. A friend of hers that works there with her, but as a devil, gives them the chance to use the rooms after hours, and they discover The Blue Room. Soundproof, low blue light and exactly what they both crave. Their chemistry is off the charts, and their feelings for each other are undeniable right from the beginning. Secrets from the past come to light and threaten to tear their relationship apart, do they have enough trust in each other and their newfound feelings. This book is wicked hot, a little angsty, with all kinds of feels in it. Linnea May has brought us another amazing book for The Velvet Rooms series. It's one I'd highly recommend. Rowan and Melina are a couple that needs to be read. I received this as an ARC for an honest review and this is me honest.

[Morgan (youarethelibrarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! I really love Melina. I liked the plot point of Melina and Rowan both needing quiet based on their traumatic experiences.
The conflict with Dwight seemed forced and unnecessary.
The ending was sweet. This isn’t dark compared to May’s other books.

[Anna Valsa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Safe but boring

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sensuous book about two damaged souls from very different backgrounds but who heal one another through quiet and calm. Melina and Rowan have both had terrible experiences in their past. Rowan, a wealthy rebellious kid joined the army to spite his parents and was the sole survivor of a bomb that severely damaged his hearing. Melina was in foster care her whole life and found herself in the middle of a bar brawl when she was working as a bartender. These events had a profound effect and when Rowan goes to the Velvet club where Melina tends bar, there was an immediate connection which becomes even stronger when they sneak into the blue room with the help of one of the clubs devils, Sandy.

Through her masterful use of words, Linnea May invokes in the reader the sense of calm and peacefulness Rowan finds in the dimly lit room with Melina and that Melina feels wearing a blindfold and ear plugs. Their relationship develops and the reader feels all the emotions along with the couple, but all the while intrigued by an undercurrent of unease that there is more at stake. Rowan matures as he becomes more comfortable in his own skin thanks to Melina and it is the depth of their relationship that allows them to overcome the potential roadblock thrown in their way.

This is a deeply evocative story with very little action but a great depth of emotion.

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bluer Than Velvet Were Her Eyes💃💋💕

Softer Than May, Her Tender Sighs, Love💘 Was Ours.....
Eerrrrrch! Hold on a minute! Actually her eyes are hazel.

And Rowan🐺🍆🌋 isn't that kind of guy! Or is he?
Pressures of his father training him and putting him into the CEO seat, is beginning to get to him. But his father is dying of cancer, so he doesn't have a choice.
Dwight, his father's long term business partner, suggests he go visit the Velvet Rooms, a sex club, to let off some steam.

Rowan🐺🍆🌋 only sees the little bartender when he gets there. He maneuvers his tall, lean body to the bar as soon as he gets to the club.
The attraction💕 is instantaneous between him and Melina💃💋, even though she tries to stay professional with him.
Rowan🐺🍆🌋 is an incorrigible flirt, he knows what he wants, and he wants to take Melina💃💋 upstairs to a Velvet Room.

Can two people with big problems find 💘love and make each other stronger in the process?

I liked this book📑 very much. Rowan🐺🍆🌋 sees right through Melina's facade to see the smart, strong, young woman who yearns for love💕, to be submissive, to let all her problems go. To be his....
Yet, at the same time, Rowan🐺🍆🌋 has huge problems in his life, with Dwight trying to sabotage the company, his father's cancer, and his own health and mental health problems. Through it all, Melina💃💋 is his rock....He is so lucky to have found her.....

ARC Received from the Author for a Voluntary and Honest Review. Thank you Ms. May!
I also got the book with KU.

[Carma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Velvet is a follow up to Black Velvet, well sort of. The location is the same and 1 or 2 secondary characters pop up but other than that it is a stand alone novel. I'm feeling, for me, it was a 3.75/5 or a low 4/5 for staring purposes.

In Blue Velvet we meet Melina and Rowan. Melina is the bartender at the Velvet Rooms and Rowan is new client. They start up a conversation about gin and find a kindred spirit in each other. Melina comes from a broken home, foster care and crappy jobs. Rowan is ex military, suffering from PTSD and trying really hard to not become the monster he feels he is.

Melina and Rowan eventually try out the rooms upstairs, settling on the blue room. They build their relationship and try to spend time with each other away from the Velvet Rooms.

With personal tragedy looming for Rowan in his father’s illness, it gets necessary for him to prove he can lead his father’s company into the future. Even with the pushback he gets from Dwight on a daily basis.

While this didn’t grab me totally into the story it had good bones. I feel like with a little tweaking it would have had me dying to turn the pages faster and relishing the storyline. While I enjoyed Black Velvet, I feel Blue Velvet left me a little disappointed. I received a copy from the author without expectation for review, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Micky Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd book in the trilogy and only slightly better. The characters seem a bit more developed, but what little plot there is doesn't heat up until over half way through the book and isn't fully resolved by the end. There is a bit of overlap between the books in that the background characters and location are the same, but otherwise the books wouldn't have to be read in any sort of order as far as I can tell. There is a lot of sweaty bedroom antics that start from the beginning and run throughout the book that are well written. Since I was listening to an audio book, it's basically porn without the video and the plot is slightly better. It was a free listen via an app through my library and when I run out of other audios, I will probably listen to the last book in the trilogy as it will drive my orderly brain insane to only read 2 of the 3 books and they are entertaining enough that they fill dead time. I've read other books by this author and have to say that they are much better so you might start with her newer books or series and keep this series as entertaining filler when you don't have others to listen to or read.

[Betty Finch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blue Velvet is the story of two damaged souls who find each other in the least likely place but can either of them overcome their demons?
Melina is a bartender at the Velvet Rooms. She is younger than most bartenders and is self taught. She spent her life in the system and worked her way out of it.
Rowan is the soul heir to his fathers company and fortune and has rebelled most of his life against it. To spite his parents he joined the Army and was injured in an explosion. He felty he was no good for anyone and did not deserve love and happiness.
This book has psychological issues, love, hot sex scenes. I highly recommend this to all romance lovers along with the other books by Linnea May. She is an amazing author and will keep you involved in her stories from page one to the end.

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, the Blue Velvet room, the perfect escape to explore your fantasies and is just what Rowan and Melina needed. Rowan shows up at The Velvet Rooms, needing a distraction, but not looking for a hook-up. When he meets the bartender, Melina, he is captivated. He has been battling his demons following a war incident but finds a kindred spirit in Melina. This is surprising to him. He doesn’t feel like he can be with a woman safely, there is a beast inside him that he struggles to contain. Melina has a passion for mixing drinks and enjoys the security of the Velvet Rooms after a bad experience at her last job. When Rowan shows up, she feels drawn to him and finds herself flirting with him. This is a beautifully sexy journey for these two as they explore their connection while facing their fears. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

[Anne Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Underwater Escape! She is his Haven and Retreat.

Every book this great author writes is more deliciously magnificent than the last. Oh, what joy it is to read them! This superb read actually made me feel tranquil whilst reading it, it flowed beautifully from one characters POV to the other. The chemistry between Melina and Rowan was electrifyingly beautiful. I loved the characters from the start to the very end. Melinda was adorable and so insightful. Can they mend their broken pieces? Is it magnetic attraction that keeps her attention with Rowan? Can she take the risk from being a bartender to upstairs in the Velvet Rooms? Rowan wasn’t interested in the Devil girls in Black or the Angels dressed in White, all he new was that he was drawn to Melinda. Rowan has a very dark volatile side to him, but Melinda also has her dark secret too! Can she trust Rowan? She needs what only he can give her! Is her fear too much to bear? I highly recommend this as a must read in this fantastic series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

[Anna RBTL Book Promotions · Rating 4 out of 5]

To say I was excited for this new venture by Linnea May would be an understatement, and boy did she
deliver.
Blue Velvet is an exciting, engaging story with twists and turns through which will literally keep you
tapping the pages.
The sexual tension was radiating between Rowan and Melina, and you just couldn't help falling in love with
their messed up romance but, Blue Velvet is more than just a romance it is the story of survival. It's about
picking yourself up, being able to relying on your own wits and intuition to keep you going and functioning
as normal as one can be, but also protecting those you love.
If you haven’t read a Linnea May Title Before You are Missing Out Because She ALWAYS Delivers.

[Jackie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Velvet Rooms works its magic again!
This saucy, dark-tinged, all about trust tale brings together Rowan, a man with past that follows close behind him, making the transitional takeover of his father's company even more of a stressor. Having been pushed into checking out the Velvet Rooms, he isn't overly excited by the "devils" or the "angels " that are available. The bartender Melina, a smart, sassy, Gin aficionado and has her dark past issues, loves her reasonably new bartending gig there, catches his eye- from that moment on it is all an up and downhill battle for them both.
Passion to the max in the latest book by Linnea May! The heartbreak that surrounds them both, and the connection I swear I could feel! Wowzers! This storyline kept moving along, and I was right there with it, watching the whole thing unfold, rooting for this ultra sexy, sassy pair to get their much-deserved HEA! Excellent Read!

[Joy Westerfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was anxiously awaiting this next book in the series, and it truly didn’t disappoint! The story of Rowan and Melina was not what I expected. It was so much more. These characters emotions became so engrained in me that I could actually feel them. Both of them had issues in their past that made them seek quiet solitude and it is explained why in this book. They completely mesh together and I was rooting for them thru the entire book. I love the way this author writes as if I can actually picture the characters. Her words just blow me away! I highly recommend this book. It is truly enjoyable!

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual a fabulous book by Linnea May!! Melina grew up in foster care having never known her parents. She was shipped from household to household until she was 18. She now works as a bartender in a sex club. It is there that she meets Rowan who is a complicated and damaged man. Rowan lost most of his hearing due to a roadside bomb while serving in the army. They are both lonely souls who need each other. Linnea writes the best sex scenes ever. So hot!! Editing is very good. You can't go wrong with any of her books in Velvet or Violent series. I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced copy of this book.

[Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story kept my attention from start to finish. Two such damaged people finding each other seems almost impossible or maybe more like fate. The author did such a great job of making me feel so many different emotions as the story progresses. I felt so bad for Rowan and all he has gone through. By choosing the path of the military he ends up with a life of regret. Melina also has her own problems and when these two get together they find something no one else can provide for them. The setting adds to the story but not as intense as the as I expected. It seemed to deal more with lack of sight and hearing. I am anxious to see where the next book goes.

[Donna Lain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this new book by Linnea May. I received an ARC for an honest review. This book features our H Rowan and our h Melina. Melina works as a bartender at the Velvet Room. Rowan goes there as he is lonely. He doesn't intend to spend any time with any of the devils in the rooms upstairs because of something that happened in his past. Rowan and Melina grow very close quickly. This book features sexy times with Melina blindfolded and wearing earplugs as she gives her trust to Rowan. There is some drama involving the company Rowan is running. Read this to find out if they get their HEA.

[Chris Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I’m really enjoying the stories coming from the Velvet Rooms. The book is well written and has a smooth and logical flow. I connected with the characters and I was very happy to see them grow to understand, accept and overcome their respective histories to become the individuals they were meant to be. Of course, I always love a happy ever after, again Linnea May delivers one of the best books around.

I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have fast become addicted to all of Linnea May's work. I absolutely love this series , each book keeps getting better . Blue Velvet is one of my favorites so far. The story was hot as hell , fabulously written and I loved Melina and Rowan , two damaged souls fighting their fears and loved watching their story unfold . Devoured every single page in this raw and powerful story .
Well done Ms May , the wait for the next book will be grueling but so worth it !!
Voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy .

[Eleonor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific book! I read all of Linnea May's books and enjoyed all of them. I love her writing, her creativity, and her storytelling style.
The plot is simple, yet complex enough to grab attention from the first sentence and keep it till the last word. The story is emotional, intense and moves fast. The characters all compelling. This dark romance is told with so much heart and tenderness, it is poetic. Excellent book!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. 5 shining stars!!!

[Brianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantically dark, loved this new addition to the series. Rowan and Melina have an instant attraction to each other, and want to explore it. Rowan has a difficult past, and doesn't trust himself not to lose control. I like the different direction this book went in. I found it dark and erotic like the rest of the series, and also romantic in a new way. I loved the way Rowan and Melina are together, and their vulnerability with each other. Another great book in the series!!

[Julia Gerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be an excellent book 2 of the series! Rowan and Melina's story was rife with battles to be won! Both had there broken souls that needed healing. Both had issues to overcome. Both needed what the other could give to make them whole! Linnea weaves an engaging story to bring the two lost souls together. There is humor, pain, and tears, but in the end you say ahhhhhh! A very satisfying story!

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book almost borders on sweet. “Black” had a lighter atmosphere than the ‘Violent’ series, and this book feels a little lighter still. Where this book takes us into the darkness is at the intersection where anger and violence and alcohol blend into an unstable cocktail and the damage that fallout leaves behind. Both Melina and Rowan have been scarred by angry outbursts. Their traumas feed each other but they could also be the key to healing. Their time together is described in lush detail that that drew me deep into the complex web of emotions surrounding Melina and Rowan. I love that these two characters are so mature in the way that they deal with one another and the way they resolve most conflicts. I found them to be refreshingly evolved.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book.

[Lisa Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved these characters and what the Blue Room stood for, Rowan and Melina have their share of secrets and issues in their past that they are dealing with but some how they are able to read each other with comfort and trust and I love how they can trust each other the most through the most painful experiences that they deal with every day and show each other so much compassion and vulnerability for control and understanding in finding each other. I loved it

[Gladys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A intense, dark romance. An entertaining and engaging story that features Rowan and Melina. These two are both wounded people that have with painful pasts. The attraction and emotional connection between these two very different people is deep and complex. A very emotional read. I'm posting a totally honest, voluntary review after reading this book.

[Robin Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This the first book I've read by Linnea May and I'm very glad I did!! There is just the right combination of heat and angst. I love that both Rowan and Melina had their own demons but were able to help each other to overcome them. I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, great characters, each with their own different flaws. I love the chemistry between Melina and Rowan. This dark and sexy romance is part of a series but can read as a stand-alone.

Review copy was received for an honest opinion.

[Lexi S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and I am so glad that Linnea May decided to write a followup to Black Velvet (yet a stand alone book.) I would definitely recommend this book if you like her previous ones!!! (My only complaint is that I don't like the names she chose for her characters.)