The Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton

The Reluctant Dom
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate Kink
Reviewed By Anne’s sister, Kate

Kaden and Leah are in a 24/7 master/slave relationship. Leah, a cutter, uses the BDSM aspect of their relationship to cope with her feelings. When Kaden finds out he is dying, he worries that Leah will start cutting again, or worse, when he dies. He asks his best friend Seth to move in with them and train to be Leah’s new master, so Seth can help Leah cope with her feelings after Kaden is gone.

There was a lot of sex (m/f, m/f/m…no m/m) in this book, but that wasn’t more the main focus. It seemed to be more of a novel where the sex plays an important part in the development of the story. I hesitate to describe the scenes as steamy because they seemed a bit short, again more there for plot advancement than for entertainment.
The story focuses on Seth’s introduction to BDSM and Leah’s adjustment to Seth as her new master. I was glad that Seth didn’t just jump on board with the whole plan. He loves Leah, and once he finds out that she needs the BDSM to cope, he agrees to do it. But there are tons of WTF moments for him.
 
Kaden does his best to make the transition to Seth as a master very smooth for Leah. The relationship develops into a threesome.

Kaden finally dies in the last fifth of the book. And there were definite tears for the reader as you follow Seth and Leah through the initial days without Kaden.

And the ending…a little over a year later…you see the changes in both Seth and Leah. Although I would like to complain about the shift in narration. The entire book is third person. Then the last chapter (a year later) is suddenly first person…and from the point of view of a secondary character. The change was a bit jarring.

So, all in all, I loved this book. I don’t see myself rereading it too often, simply because of how emotional a read it is.

A Fool’s Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery

A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold, #10)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Ember
Kink Level-None
Series- Fool’s Gold #10
Reviewed By Kay

This is the story of Evie Stryker and Dante Jefferson. Evie is the lone female sibling in the male dominated family of Strykers. She has been on her own since the age of seventeen with no real sense of family. Dante is her brother’s business partner with no real sense of family either. The difference is that Dante at one time had it and Evie never has.

I have waited for this book and I have to say I was disappointed. The story was Susan Mallery’s usual effort and I was engaged with both characters but on a hotness level, nothing! No on screen sex? What’s going on Susan? Reading about them falling in love and their individual healing was good but simply not enough for this smut reader.

Reflected In You by Syvia Day

Reflected in You (Crossfire, #2)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low
Series- Crossfire Series #2
Reviewed by Kay

Book two starts where book one left off. I’d like to tell you a bunch of things happened in this book but they really don’t. Don’t get me wrong, we get some answers but not all I was hoping for. I just want some long term happiness for these two supremely screwed up individuals. They seem to be enablers to and for each other’s misery but you root for them just the same.

Gideon’s obsession with Eva’s whereabouts and her body are sometimes as disturbing to me as the “stalker” that you’re waiting for to appear. Eva’s desperation is at times pathetic. Through it all, Ms. Day makes you like and yeah, love  these characters. I am enjoying this series but I’m pretty upset about having to wait until May for the next one.