Sweet Restraint in Alpha Heroes & Spitfire Heroines

Mar 26, 2009 Shawna rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2009-reads, heroine-i-wanna-bitch-slap-annoying, steam-5-scorching-x, backdoor-action-lovin-playin, erotic-romance-erotica-romantica, hero-alpha‎, steam-some-like-it-kinda-kinky, hero-stalk-me-baby-possessive, enemies-to-lovers-opposites-attract, 3-to-4-stars

3 ½-4 stars – Romantic Suspense/Erotica/BDSM

My Top 10 Summary of Sweet Restraint:

1. It’s partly saved by Beth Kery’s talented, lush, erotic, sensual writing.
2. It’s loaded with lots of H-O-T, wicked, kinky, BDSM sex.
3. The hero is an uber alpha, domineering, bully, a**hole FBI agent named Shane “Dom” Dominic who’s sure to ruffle your feathers and raise your feminist hackles (he sure did mine).
4. The heroine is an exotically beautiful, artist named Laura Vasquez who’s annoying and self-indulgent 3 ½-4 stars – Romantic Suspense/Erotica/BDSM

My Top 10 Summary of Sweet Restraint:

1. It’s partly saved by Beth Kery’s talented, lush, erotic, sensual writing.
2. It’s loaded with lots of H-O-T, wicked, kinky, BDSM sex.
3. The hero is an uber alpha, domineering, bully, a**hole FBI agent named Shane “Dom” Dominic who’s sure to ruffle your feathers and raise your feminist hackles (he sure did mine).
4. The heroine is an exotically beautiful, artist named Laura Vasquez who’s annoying and self-indulgent, and she screams denials at the same time that she begs for more. She really isn’t given much of a personality other than being grating by alternating between tears, rage, begging, fury, and acquiescence.
5. It has a convoluted plot about a Chicago ring of extortionist criminals that’s really just a feeble excuse to provide the hero with the opportunity to hold the heroine captive in order to satiate his kinkbido under the guise of coercing the truth from her.
6. There’s a good dose of suspense mixed in to balance with the heavy focused sex plot for some extra zing.
7. There are several nasty villains and some surprise bad-guys thrown in for an added twist.
8. Who says you can’t make wicked, sexy use of a hot tub in the middle of a snowstorm?
9. There’s a creative, kinky kitchen scene involving the use of a vibrator, restraints, and a barstool while cooking pork tenderloins that takes making dinner to a whole ‘nother level.
10. The H/H make contrite, whimsical declarations of enduring love that don’t quite feel true, and the HEA seems a bit forced.

Overall, this was my least favorite Beth Kery read so far with an exasperating H/H couple, and even though I didn’t care much for the characters in Wicked Burn either, I enjoyed that story more. I’m still impressed by Kery’s writing and intense level of eroticism, and Daring Time proved how amazing her books can be when she combines those elements with great characters and a fantastic story. And although Sweet Restraint isn’t perfect and there were some things that bugged me, I’m still rating this 3 ½ to 4 stars, mostly for the first-rate writing and verrry hot sex.
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Mar 27, 2009 MelissaB rated it liked it

Shelves: 2009-reads, romantica-erotica

This book had both good and not-so-good parts. The story was interesting or it could have been if the sex didn't overshadow the story. The biggest problem was that the sex made me uncomfortable instead of hot (well most of the time, there were some hot scenes). I really felt like the hero went totally off his rocker for a little while when he kidnapped the heroine and pretty much forced her to do some BDSM things (Safe, sane and consentual it was not - well I guess one out of three ain't bad sin This book had both good and not-so-good parts. The story was interesting or it could have been if the sex didn't overshadow the story. The biggest problem was that the sex made me uncomfortable instead of hot (well most of the time, there were some hot scenes). I really felt like the hero went totally off his rocker for a little while when he kidnapped the heroine and pretty much forced her to do some BDSM things (Safe, sane and consentual it was not - well I guess one out of three ain't bad since it wasn't consentual and Shane was not sane). It was hard to read because I wasn't sure if I was supposed to believe the heroine really wanted it deep down or whether he was forcing her to do something she really didn't want to do - which was kind of disturbing. I would have been okay with the book if Shane would have just seduced her into having wild sex with him for a weekend, which it was pretty obvious that she would have done that. But nope he has to keep her tied up and keeps making her do things that leave her in tears afterwards, which tells me that he was hurting her emotionally. Making love in any way, whether conventionally or with some typing up and spanking, should be about mutual pleasure.

So after awhile Shane gets off the crazy train and starts to act normal again. The story gets much better once Shane starts taking his crazy pills and treats Laura with more care. For God's sake the woman was terrorized for 13 years of her life, I think she would have responded better to a comforting touch than a paddle (yeah yeah I know Shane didn't realize she was terrorized). But he does start acting much better, then Laura finally starts to break down her barriers though I think she should have done that MUCH sooner - Shane was in the FBI and could have protected her and her family. The last part of the story was actually decent once we leave the cabin of not-quite-consentual-loving. The ending was sweet, I didn't mind the dominant side of Shane once I actually felt like Lauren was a happily willing participant. The story could have been really good if the cabin scenes would have been sweeter (or consentual?) or if Laura had just told him her secrets sooner. I did enjoy parts of the story when I could actually see Laura and Shane happy together. So three stars is where I am at after that rambling diatrobe :) ...more

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Jan 01, 2009 Auntee rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2009_reads, romantic-suspense, erotic-romance

Ummmn...well, I like Beth Kery's writing--she paints quite a vivid picture. Her characters are usually fully developed and her plots are kind of intense and intricate, and make you think. The romance/sex is often very earthy, primal, and raw. That about describes "Sweet Restraint". So why wasn't I in love with this book? Waaay too much BDSM--that's just not my cuppa tea. The hero, FBI Special Agent in Charge Shane Dominic, was just way too dominant, arrogant, bossy...an over-the-top uber alpha, Ummmn...well, I like Beth Kery's writing--she paints quite a vivid picture. Her characters are usually fully developed and her plots are kind of intense and intricate, and make you think. The romance/sex is often very earthy, primal, and raw. That about describes "Sweet Restraint". So why wasn't I in love with this book? Waaay too much BDSM--that's just not my cuppa tea. The hero, FBI Special Agent in Charge Shane Dominic, was just way too dominant, arrogant, bossy...an over-the-top uber alpha, especially while he and the heroine were alone at his cabin (which was about 140 pages of the book). I wanted to love him, but at times I could barely tolerate him. Some of the things he said to Laura, the heroine, just grated on my nerves. "I call the shots while we're here. I decide when you're going to eat, sleep, f***, and come. Do you understand?" Jeez. And although Laura seemed to enjoy the end result of all this dominance, I wasn't totally convinced that she was a willing participant. The spankings, the restraints, the rough love making, I dunno, maybe this is a new way for the FBI to get people to 'talk'?:) It's kind of funny, because after all the effort that Shane put into his special kind of coercion, he still wasn't able to totally break the verrry stubborn Laura.

Even though Shane was being a jacka** for a lot of the book, I knew he really loved Laura and wanted to help her. And he did have a few moments where I could completely understand her desire for him. Yeah, he was a hot looking, sexy guy, and very good at his job and passionate in his beliefs. But boy, that dominant side...I imagine he'd be tough to live with. I see a lot of 'spankings' in Laura's future.

So, if you don't mind your heroine being spanked, restrained, dominated, or even humiliated (bathroom scene)--all for her sexual pleasure though, then you'll probably like this book. I really enjoyed the suspense aspect of the book, but the 'love scenes' were a little too much for my taste. 3 1/2 stars

Warning: This book has explicit language and sex, including oral and anal; scenes of BDSM, including the use of handcuffs and various bondage toys; and exhibitionism. Definitely not for the faint of heart. ...more

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Jul 11, 2009 jenjn79 rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2009, genre-romance-erotic, format-trade-pb, published-2009, reviewed, info-full, stars-2

Most of the people who've read this book seemed to have really liked it, but I have to admit that it didn't really do anything for me. I found it to be tedious, annoying/frustrating and rather over-sexed. It was hard to get interested to keep reading and I often set it aside to do something less boring. After reading and enjoying Kery's book Wicked Burn, this one was a major disappointment. At least for this reader.

This story is based around two characters, Laura Vasquez and Shane Dominic, who h ...more

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Jan 02, 2009 Marion rated it liked it

Shelves: erotic-romance, bdsm

This book touched some bottons. Shane came across as a total bully. He kidnapped Laura to get answers to complete his investigation. Then he forced her submission. I don't like anything that's non consensual and while I could understand Shane's anger and hurt at Laura for leaving him 13 years ago it did not excuse his behavior toward her.
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Feb 04, 2009 Mahlet rated it really liked it

Shelves: erotic-romance, own, bdsm

I'm slowly easing back into the review game (pc problems - I'll spare you details) :) so I'm going to cheat and say my friend Shawna summed up my thoughts exactly. I don't mind the tough, almost a**hole alpha heros. Honestly, Wicked Burn's hero Vic ruffled a lot of feathers, but I just loved him and it's a top 3 erotic romance IMHO. Then Beth Kery followed up with Daring Time and although I thought she did an excellent job handling a time travel/ghost plot, it lacked the level of extreme heat I ...more

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