Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Moderate Kink (BDSM, D/s)
Genre: Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
Toy Box by Delphine Dryden
48 pages
I really enjoyed Dryden’s recent nerd romance stories, so I thought I’d try some of her backlist.
Rafe and Lauren started their relationship as Dom/sub, but everything turned vanilla when their first child arrived. Now the kids are spending the weekend with the grandparents and Rafe decides it’s time to step into his Dom role once more.
Ahhhh. I love a good husband and wife reuniting story and I really liked that there wasn’t any real conflict in this short (such as overcoming infidelity). It was all about them connecting with their Dom/sub relationship again. I highly recommend this quick read.
Kate
With This Collar by Sierra Cartwright
Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: High Kink
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM
Series: Mastered #1
Reviewed by Kate
174 pages
When Julia attends her friend Lana’s wedding at a private residence, she is shocked to discover that the vows are quickly followed by a collaring ceremony. Lana is not just becoming a wife, but her husband’s slave as well. Julia and Lana have been friends since their girl-power college days and Julia can’t believe Lana would willingly submit to a man.
As Julia’s about to protest, fellow wedding attendee Marcus, a Dom, stops her. They talk after the ceremony and Marcus challenges Julia to submit to him for the night. Julia accepts his challenge as a way to understand her friend a bit better, and because she just can’t say “no” to Marcus. But one night is all she wants, her last boyfriend was a domineering jerk and Julia’s determined to stick to the nice guys from now on. Marcus has been in a 24/7 master/slave relationship that was too draining for him. He’s not looking for anything more than one night either.
One night turns into an every weekend relationship. When Marcus pushes for more, Julia runs. But can any of the nice guys measure up after Marcus?
Marcus came across as a bit arrogant in the beginning. But I suppose every good Dom must be a little arrogant and confident. I appreciated that he was the one looking for a more permanent relationship.
Julia is very strong and independent. She struggles with combining her independence and her new found enjoyment of submission. Her responses to Marcus made me laugh throughout the book. She may be submissive, but never a doormat.
The only negative I had happened right away at the beginning. Lana invited Julia to her wedding and simply warned her that it would be “a bit untraditional.” It seemed far-fetched to invite your vanilla friend to a collaring ceremony without more of a heads-up. Anything to get a newbie to the dungeon, I guess. Makes me wonder though-what other ways have you seen authors use to get a newbie into a dungeon?
Lady Vivian Defies a Duke by Samantha Grace
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical
Series: Beau Monde Bachelor #4
Reviewed by Kate
Before he died, Luke’s father entered into secret marriage negotiations with Vivian’s brother. Wait. That came across a bit more risque than I intended. The negotiations were to betroth Luke and Vivian. For Vivian, the marriage would provide an escape from her lonely life. Due to a scandal, her only other option would be the convent. Luke wants no part of his new role as a duke and marrying would just add more responsibilities. He plans on releasing her from the contract. Once he meets Vivian, he decides he can’t send such a vibrant person to waste away in a convent. Still not willing to marry her, the only noble thing left to do is facilitate a marriage between Vivian and another suitable gentleman. But Vivian has set her sights on Luke and Luke is finding it impossible to picture her with anyone else.
The book seemed to naturally divide into two parts for me The first half centers around Luke and Vivian accepting that they want each other. The second half covers all the obstacles that stand in their way. Vivian’s quasi-scandal. A blackguard out for revenge. A cousin enamored with Luke.
Vivian was an entertaining heroine who marched to her own beat whenever she thought no one was looking. Luke, a rare soul who saw the inner beauty of Vivian, was strong and caring and well…heroic. Despite the weaker second half, I liked the story a lot. It could have used a bit more sex, but what book couldn’t? I find myself hoping to hear more about Luke’s cousin Johanna in a future book.
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