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Dynasties: The Ashtons #5

Awaken The Senses

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Charlotte Ashton had never belonged anywhere—until she met worldly Alexandre Dupree. The winemaker was consulting at her family's vineyard, and soon shy Charlotte was completely under his spell. He seemed to know all her secret desires, all her dreams—as if he'd been put on earth just for her pleasure.

Alexandre seduced Charlotte in all the ways she had fantasized about. He'd read her secret journal and discovered the real Charlotte—the sensual lover, the generous woman, the vulnerable virgin. Was his crime so unforgivable when all he'd wanted was her love? Yet now to maintain her trust, he would have to continue to lie....

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2005

80 people are currently reading
509 people want to read

About the author

Nalini Singh

248 books26.8k followers
I've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.


I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).

So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.

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5 stars
148 (21%)
4 stars
179 (25%)
3 stars
237 (33%)
2 stars
110 (15%)
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26 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Cecilia.
608 reviews58 followers
January 9, 2012
I didn't enjoy this as much as I anticipated (given that it's by Nalini Singh). Probably three key reasons: one is the device of the heroine's journal which has entries addressed to "Lover Mine," and which details her fantasies of encounters with an ideal lover, whom she feels is embodied in the hero, once she meets him. Of course, this is all discovered through his eyes, as he reads this journal. This aspect of the book makes me squirm with vicarious humiliation - it's an absolute turn-off, and an aspect I had a hard time getting past to continue reading on.

The second problematic aspect is the characterization of the hero and heroine. First of all, both of them have parents who are complete crap. So both of them have issues. The kind of complete crap the parents are, and the particular issues they have formed just seemed downright cliched to me - the "My mother was untrustworthy, so I learned never to trust a woman" kind of thing, that I find a tiresome psychological shorthand. It may be a side-effect of the category, but don't believe that it has to be. Separately considered, both the hero and heroine are extreme representations of ideals - he is the intimidatingly beautiful and suave sophisticate who rents a Ferrari when he comes to town (can you even do that?), and she is the epitome of an innocent about to bloom. He is overcome shortly after meeting her with a desire to possess her; she is shy and lacking in self-esteem. This just makes him more protective, more a mentor-figure. (Some of these aspects, particularly in the hero, are elements Singh still includes in heroes, but more recently they've been balanced out by other characteristics in both the hero and heroine, so they work better).

The third thing that didn't really work for me was the pacing. I suppose that this was somewhat purposeful - the other characters get extremely short shrift because other authors are going to be writing books about them in their own parts of the series that this book belongs to; also, the book is titled Awaken the Senses so I suppose I should have guessed how significant sex is going to be. It's just that in relation to other scenes, the sex scenes are long. What comes between them seems merely to be the set-up for the next sex scene. This makes all the rest - setting, plot, characterization (of everyone) - seem perfunctory. They're nice and all that but given how excruciating the journal device was for me, not that appealing to me, because the entire time, I kept thinking how mortified I'd be in the heroine's situation. Not turned on. Sick to my stomach mortified.

I don't know. I was looking forward to an enjoyable read. I found myself more distracted by the artificiality of the whole story. I'm glad I've read lots of good stuff by Nalini Singh - if this were the first book of hers I'd read, I don't know if I would have picked up more.

I didn't really like it, yet it was kind of OK = a benefit of the doubt 2 stars.
Profile Image for Aarann.
1,005 reviews84 followers
February 1, 2023
I love Nalini Singh, but this didn't really do much for me. It honestly feels kind of sacrilegious to rate her below three stars, but this one was so "meh" that I couldn't rate it any higher. And, after all, I DNF'd at 40%.

Still love Ms. Singh with all my heart, this just wasn't grabbing me.
1 review1 follower
October 8, 2011
Personally, I really like the story.. I'm a sucker for virginal heroines and alpha male heroes... Other readers may find this boring especially those who like plots with lots of conflicts. I find this easy to read and pretty much upfront with little confrontations, no bitchy villains and stuffs.
Profile Image for Juliette Cen.
Author 18 books7 followers
Read
February 20, 2020
Un abandonné de plus cette année. Non, Roman, toi et moi ne vieillirons pas ensemble.
Est-ce l'éternelle héroïne candide, ou le bellâtre condescendant et mielleux ? L'ambiance moisie de cette famille nourrie à la rancoeur et à l'envie ? J'adore Nalini Singh, mais là, j'ai eu l'impression de lire un un truc poussiéreux des années 80.
Profile Image for minnemoo.
318 reviews
August 7, 2022
Not the best book to read when trying to get out of a reading slump.

The entire story seemed to take place inside a vacuum. Nothing, nobody existed besides the hero and heroine. Nothing much was happening. Like 80ish % of the book was internal monologuing. The corny, cringe kind.
Profile Image for AliciaJ.
1,333 reviews113 followers
November 26, 2011
It was great to read one of Nalini's first romances, and see how her writing has changed over time. This was a cute story about a young, shy woman who falls in love with a charming Frenchman, all set in the world of this elegant family and their winery. It was sweet and fun, not likely something I will read again, but well worth the hour or so it took to read.
Profile Image for Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms.
2,803 reviews345 followers
September 7, 2011
Awesome romance novel, with a shy, innocent heroine, and a worldy but jaded hero. They have things to learn form each other, and when they do - things get extremely HOT!
Profile Image for Aki.
476 reviews4 followers
June 23, 2016
As much as I enjoyed reading about Charlotte Ashton and Alexandre Dupree, this book feels massively incomplete to me.

Still, I enjoyed the whole 157 pages of secrets and hurts.
800 reviews3 followers
February 26, 2025
**MINOR SPOILERS**
This book is part of the Dynasties: The Ashtons series which was written by a variety of authors. This author’s only contribution is the 5th of 12 books. It is one of the author’s earliest books, but her trademark emotional style of writing is there.
It tells the story of Alexandre and Charlotte. Charlotte Ashton is shy, and it was almost immediately tiring to see the degree to which she stumbles over words or acts awkwardly in the beginning. It would have been nice to understand why Alexandre was attracted to her. Perhaps an interesting first conversation or other common ground could have been included. Later, she gains a bit of confidence.
It is unclear what the age difference is between them, though the book states Alexandre is in his early 30s. Charlotte is described repeatedly as innocent and one point it is stated that he is older than she is.
Alexandre is a French wine expert who visits her family’s vineyard to advise them. As soon as Alexandre sees Charlotte, he wants to seduce her. He clearly has been with many women, and it is an event of no moment for him. I did not care for his attitude reflected early in the book as “[Women] were to be indulged, cosseted and coaxed, not forced.” It felt chauvinistic. Of course, I do not want a woman to be forced, but indulged, cosseted, and coaxed implies an inequality.
He also seemed predatory. He views Charlotte as the marrying kind but thinks “seduction and sensory pleasure were all he ever promised a woman….He would have her…Once set on a course, Alexandre Dupree would not deviate from it unless it suited his purpose. And right now, he was set on sweet little Charlotte Ashton.” This is selfish behavior. I dislike it when it appears in stories as I think we are supposed to be pleased when the rake/rogue realizes in the end that the other person’s happiness is more important than their old lifestyle. What about all the other women who came before who weren’t so ‘lucky’? They were just used and discarded? But that’s ok, because that is not the story we are reading?
Alexandre finds Charlotte’s journal which details some of her fantasies which include being submissive. Alexandre wants Charlotte to belong to him. He orders her around. Since they both seem to want this unequal relationship, they are a match. Later in the book, the imbalance does not seem as great as Alexandre encourages Charlotte in her endeavors and she asks him questions and perceives some of his inner thoughts.
Most of the book happens over a short period of time and it feels a bit fast.
It was unclear how Alexandre became rich. It would have been interesting to get some insight as to how that happened. Did his father recognize him to an extent? Did he become wealthy on his own? (That would have been amazing if he had done so in less than a decade).
Small nitpick: the prologue had nothing to do with the story. It probably added context and history to the overall series, but as a standalone it did not add value. I did not read the other books in the series and do not intend to.
There was a bit too much of a single-minded focus on a couple of issues. More of a story could have been developed.
I read this book almost 20 years after it was published. For anyone who likes her books, reading this book will show her early, developing talent. I do not recommend this book because of the points mentioned above. I only finished it to write a review.
Profile Image for Sm.
437 reviews9 followers
November 6, 2017
I didn't pay close attention and missed that this book is part of the "Dynasties: The Ashtons" series, each book written by a different author, but involving the same family, the Ashtons

it impacted the reading because the book started off about Spencer, the patriarch, and Lilah, but the book's not really about them. thankfully, there was a family tree at the beginning, so I knew that Spencer was Charlotte's uncle and that Lilah was his third wife


as for Alexandre (34) and Charlotte (20-something) ... just could not get into their love
all I got was that he falls in love with her because she's "different" from anyone she's met
and she falls in love with him because he's like the first guy to show interest and with whom she's able to actually communicate instead of falling all over herself like a 13 yo

he ends up reading her journal where she's written love letters to "Lover Mine" about her fantasies (why would you just leave a journal like that lying around?) and essentially sets out to bring her fantasies to life, because, at that point, he's fallen for her

anyway, there's some other storyline about how her mother's still alive, they go through the trouble of going to the hospital and finding out that the mother's probably nearby at a reservation, but they don't go there, they go to Spencer's office and then Charlotte leaves the actual reservation visit to her brother - what? why?

did not like all the random, hanging plot lines, but I did finish it, so there's that ...
169 reviews
January 28, 2019
I'm so glad to learn that this was part of a "group" writing exercise in series romance. Otherwise, I'd be really, really, really mad. As it is, I'm just mildly annoyed and turned-off.

The idea of a bunch of different authors writing a series about a particular family and their members seems like a marketing idea from the newest juvenile in the department. Honestly. I suppose there's a way this could actually turn out good writing, but if Singh's contribution is any indication, the concept fails here. I'm not even interested enough to try my luck with any of the other books.

Alexander is soooo stereotypical, every time he has a thought or speaks, I want to kick him in the balls. Is it any wonder I kept imagining Flight of the Conchords singing "Foux du Fafa" while I read it? Lol!

And Charlotte's wide-eyed innocence got to me too. Sometimes I can handle that, but she'd had enough tragedy and loss in her life, there should've been a bit more complexity and toughness. I could easily re-imagine her as the prickly gal, who hides her shyness and insecurity by being mouthy and flippant. But I really wanted to gag when the journal entries came out. If I may steal a phrase from P.G. Wodehouse, Charlotte is a "super-goof".

I wanted to like this one. I've enjoyed other Nalini books - several, in fact. But this one just doesn't fly. There are too many weird outliers, and too many loose ends, and it just ends up totaling to a big, "I don't care."
Profile Image for Kathy Newcomer.
103 reviews5 followers
October 30, 2018
One of my all time favorites

This was one of the first books I read by Malibu Singh and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to read more of her stories. Alexander is a swoon-worthy hero and Charlotte is an innocent. This book is part of the Ashton series. Me Singh's channeling and pay series is a treat to read,too.
Profile Image for Lissa.
1,653 reviews11 followers
July 14, 2025
Didn't really like this one. Older, sexually experienced man steal innocent girls vague dirty fantasy diary, makes them come true. What you expect happens, happens. It last about 2 pages. There is a vague plot around her mom being dead or not dead, but it isn't resolved because it's handled in brother book
Profile Image for Amanda.
19 reviews
September 15, 2020
It wasn't the worst thing I've ever read, but it definitely wasn't in the same realm as Ms. Singh's other works. I found the characters to be unlikable and could not finish it.
Profile Image for Emily Hays.
36 reviews1 follower
April 2, 2021
Liked the premise of this! Definitely a fun, sexy read.
1,138 reviews
April 7, 2025
This book is full of foreplay before the actual love even takes place. Really liked this story about Charlotte and Alexandre.
Profile Image for karen.
1,628 reviews
March 9, 2017
I liked the care Alexandre too with Charlotte . I wish there was more depth gone into about their pasts. Also with so many books left in this series Spencer needed to face the music for all his misdeeds. His children have a lot to deal with and no answers
Profile Image for Gail.
Author 25 books216 followers
December 27, 2016
Nice read. I liked her fantasy stories a little better because her characters seem to be so over the top that they need to be fantastical. But this was an enjoyable, sexually read.
Profile Image for Gnome Claire *Wishes she was as cool as Gnome Ann*.
1,042 reviews47 followers
May 17, 2015
I usually really enjoy Nailini Singh's writing (I've read the psy changeling and guild hunter series) but I only got a few chapters in before I had to give up- Alexandre just seemed creepy and a bit of sexual predator ("they [women] were to be indulged, cosseted and coaxed") he's manipulative and possessive in the first few chapters, that he then apparently goes on to read her diary and uses that to seduce her doesn't reassure me that things will improve. I always ask myself when reading about a love interest if their actions would still be seen as romantic if they weren't hot and the MC wasn't particularly interested in them and Alexandre's actions totally fail this test.

Charlotte also seemed to be the very cliched 'innocent' ("she knew she should reprimand him for the way he continued to speak to her so familiarly" what is this the 18th century?).

I just knew I wouldn't be able to buy into any sort of romance between these two.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
48 reviews
January 5, 2013
It was ok. Like a lot of these multiple-author series the ending isn't very satisfying because there are too many loose ends hanging. The story itself wasn't satisfying either. The only point to the heroine's character was to advance a plot point in the larger series and to show what a dispicable man the patriarch of the family is. The hero's only purpose was to provide the romance, or more accurately the sex.

I've read maybe 1/3 - 1/2 of Singh's books. This one barely sounds like her. If you love her so much you want to read everything she's ever wrjitten, then by all means, read this book. If you are looking for an introduction to Singh her Guild Hunter series or Psy-Changling series would be much better options. Just don't let some of the awful cover art put you off.
Profile Image for ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ.
1,114 reviews17 followers
February 6, 2009
I thought the book was terrible. It has almost no plot besides the man trying to seduce and deflower the woman and have a happy ever after ending. I learned after I finished reading it that it's book 5 of a 12 book set, each by a different author, called Dynasties: The Ashton's. There are a couple subplots that develop near the very end. One I could care less about but the other was intriguing, but it's left hanging. So I have no idea how it ends unless I go read more in the series. But which one? There are 7 after this. I know Harlequin Desires have sex scenes in them, but in this book it fills entire chapters, which quite frankly, is a bit much.
Profile Image for Melinda.
525 reviews
May 8, 2014
Okay, let's start with what I liked. I could see elements of current Nalini in this story. The whole "Lover mine" felt very familiar and I enjoyed it while thinking that I shouldn't. I also liked their submission/dominant dynamic and the erotic-ness of romance. Well done.

What I didn't like is the Ashtons generally. I am under the impression that this is a series where different authors contribute to an overarching theme. So the family is not Nalini's fault per se but I was so over Charlotte's innocence. And Alexandre made me want to kick him multiple times. I liked Charlotte's diary though. I liked parts of each of the characters. I think that I just was thrown by the story.
Profile Image for Irene.
467 reviews
September 23, 2013
This book was just ok. I found that the library had added a whole bunch of ebooks from this author and picked one randomly to check it out. The story didn't really capture my interest. I later discovered that this was part of a series all written by different authors, and that probably explained why I had trouble understanding how some of the characters in the book were related to each other. I also assume that Charlotte's search for her mother will continue in a later book, because neither that story line nor others were wrapped up.
Profile Image for Speed.
997 reviews2 followers
June 13, 2016
I enjoyed this story but I'm not in love with it, like with other books by Singh. This was OK more than anything. The plot left a lot to be desired and I believe the reason is that she is one of the author's from this Silhouette Desire Ashton series and there were parts left unfinished and confusing for me. So besides that fact it was alright just not that much for me. Charlotte was sweet & shy and Alexander was definitely a passionate man.
Profile Image for Nicoled1179 DiIorio.
197 reviews13 followers
April 28, 2014
I read this bc I wanted to see what Nalini's first writing was like compared to today. But I didn't realize I was stepping into a series of 12 books about the Ashton family (all written by different authors) and I'm left with two cliffhangers. Ahhh well...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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