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candylovegirl's review against another edition
4.0
Fun story with lots of love and character development. Not as intense as previous titles by this author.
hinalovestoread's review against another edition
2.0
Luc is an a-hole.
Alyssa deserved better than a man who had the audacity to judge her with his own morals down the drain.
Alyssa deserved better than a man who had the audacity to judge her with his own morals down the drain.
joyousreads132's review against another edition
3.0
It didn't take me long to finish this book; and this time, it wasn't because I skipped the sex scenes. Heh. This book was hot! As in, Ghost chilli hot in the Scoble scale. Even so, I was still not as enamoured as I expected to be with this series but I'm going to plow through; because no matter how many times I quibble and complain about these books, I can't deny that I'm addicted. I've said this before; Ms. Black can burn off the pages with her steamy erotica and wouldn't you know it? I can't look away.
The Gist: After a steamy night spent with Alyssa, Luc worked very hard at avoiding her. As far as Luc was concerned, there's no room in his life for the sex goddess. It doesn't matter if he can't be around the woman without getting all hot under the collar, or that he couldn't even feign interest in the women whom he thinks are the right 'marriage material'; he just refused to acknowledge the fact that Alyssa got under his skin and in the bad way. A week working with Alyssa is a not a good idea but he can't turn back on his promise and crush the woman's dream to get out of the stripping business. Especially when he learned that her life is constantly threatened by men who lust after her.
Alyssa has it all planned out: seduce Luc to her bed and make him want her enough so he'd never leave. But she didn't anticipate Luc's steadfast determination for a future married to the 'right' woman, have 2.5 kids with her and white picket fences. She also didn't realize just how discriminatory the man was to a woman like her whose part time profession was disrobing in front of men. He simply didn't trust her as far as he can zip up his pants when she was around. They can burn up the sheets but she doesn't see a future with a man whose idea of the right woman doesn't involve money earned in the flesh industry. Even more so to a woman whose past keeps knocking on her door and intent on ending her life.
The Review: Don't get me wrong, this book was light years better than its predecessor. But Luc didn't really give me the warm fuzzy feeling, ya know? Actually, he was one discriminatory, Alyssa is such a slut-whore opinion away from being neutered. I'm not kidding. I wanted to rip his balls off and feed it to him. She was good enough to warm his bed but because she's a former stripper-turned-club owner, he thinks that he's too good for her. Excuse me while I hunt down a pair of dull, rusted pair of scissors.
I wanted Alyssa to run as far away from this guy and actually run to Tyler's, her bodyguard, arms. She definitely deserved someone as good and most definitely not Luc. He did have an about-face eventually but by then, it was hard to like him.
Alyssa was a dichotomy, in my opinion. She's strong, independent, beautiful but man, was she weak when it comes to Luc! Okay, so maybe I can't really blame her, love tends to weaken the strong it seems like.
As far as story-telling goes, I'm sensing a pattern here; Ms. Black likes you to believe that when the initial perp is caught (in this case, Alyssa's creepy stalker), the story ends there. But she's actually not satisfied until at least two more suspects play with her like a cat plays with a mouse before it eats it. So yeah, for the next three remaining books to this series, I guess I'm not going to rest easy until I flipped to the end of the book.
The Verdict: Shayla Black's scorching tales have just enough enjoyable qualities that will distract you - even for a tiny second - from their flaws. Regardless of how many times I wanted to make a Eunuch out of Luc, I still enjoyed this book.
The Gist: After a steamy night spent with Alyssa, Luc worked very hard at avoiding her. As far as Luc was concerned, there's no room in his life for the sex goddess. It doesn't matter if he can't be around the woman without getting all hot under the collar, or that he couldn't even feign interest in the women whom he thinks are the right 'marriage material'; he just refused to acknowledge the fact that Alyssa got under his skin and in the bad way. A week working with Alyssa is a not a good idea but he can't turn back on his promise and crush the woman's dream to get out of the stripping business. Especially when he learned that her life is constantly threatened by men who lust after her.
Alyssa has it all planned out: seduce Luc to her bed and make him want her enough so he'd never leave. But she didn't anticipate Luc's steadfast determination for a future married to the 'right' woman, have 2.5 kids with her and white picket fences. She also didn't realize just how discriminatory the man was to a woman like her whose part time profession was disrobing in front of men. He simply didn't trust her as far as he can zip up his pants when she was around. They can burn up the sheets but she doesn't see a future with a man whose idea of the right woman doesn't involve money earned in the flesh industry. Even more so to a woman whose past keeps knocking on her door and intent on ending her life.
The Review: Don't get me wrong, this book was light years better than its predecessor. But Luc didn't really give me the warm fuzzy feeling, ya know? Actually, he was one discriminatory, Alyssa is such a slut-whore opinion away from being neutered. I'm not kidding. I wanted to rip his balls off and feed it to him. She was good enough to warm his bed but because she's a former stripper-turned-club owner, he thinks that he's too good for her. Excuse me while I hunt down a pair of dull, rusted pair of scissors.
I wanted Alyssa to run as far away from this guy and actually run to Tyler's, her bodyguard, arms. She definitely deserved someone as good and most definitely not Luc. He did have an about-face eventually but by then, it was hard to like him.
Alyssa was a dichotomy, in my opinion. She's strong, independent, beautiful but man, was she weak when it comes to Luc! Okay, so maybe I can't really blame her, love tends to weaken the strong it seems like.
As far as story-telling goes, I'm sensing a pattern here; Ms. Black likes you to believe that when the initial perp is caught (in this case, Alyssa's creepy stalker), the story ends there. But she's actually not satisfied until at least two more suspects play with her like a cat plays with a mouse before it eats it. So yeah, for the next three remaining books to this series, I guess I'm not going to rest easy until I flipped to the end of the book.
The Verdict: Shayla Black's scorching tales have just enough enjoyable qualities that will distract you - even for a tiny second - from their flaws. Regardless of how many times I wanted to make a Eunuch out of Luc, I still enjoyed this book.
sueotwell's review against another edition
4.0
I like that this book showed us what becomes of Luke from the previous book. It was not my favorite so far but it was good.
majic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 Stars
SOOO..I found this book on my iPad and was a little surprised that I hadn't read it yet since I really love this whole series (for the most part) I figured what the heck, I'd give it go...ya, now I know why I skipped this one over!
Luc was an asshole, a horrible judgmental nonredeemable (in my eyes) asshole. What happened to the Luc of the previous book??? This guy in noway resembled that Luc. This one said horrible things to Alyssa, this one thought she was a whore through like 90% of the book. This one This one never bothered to even take the time to discuss anything with Alyssa, and always assumed the worst. OMG I hated Luc!
Even his frigging grovel behavior at the end couldn't redeem his character to me. Alyssa should have dumped his sorry excuse of an ass and got with Tyler! *lol* I also had a problem with Alyssa, I mean when we love someone we give them a lot of leeway with their behavior, we forgive a lot, but how or WHY for that matter would you want to forgive (or be in a relationship) with a guy who thinks you are a whore that sleeps with everyone for favors, who thinks you are She should have kicked him to the curb from word GO!
OK, so all that being said, I STILL love this author's writing, she sucks me into her books and gives me a ton of feels (I'll admit it, I cried!) Even though I loathed Luc, I still found myself turning the pages to see where this would lead!
Enjoy the following gifs in honor of the asshole called Luc...
SOOO..I found this book on my iPad and was a little surprised that I hadn't read it yet since I really love this whole series (for the most part) I figured what the heck, I'd give it go...ya, now I know why I skipped this one over!
Luc was an asshole, a horrible judgmental nonredeemable (in my eyes) asshole. What happened to the Luc of the previous book??? This guy in noway resembled that Luc. This one said horrible things to Alyssa, this one thought she was a whore through like 90% of the book. This one
Spoiler
married her thinking she was pregnant with someone else's baby!!Even his frigging grovel behavior at the end couldn't redeem his character to me. Alyssa should have dumped his sorry excuse of an ass and got with Tyler! *lol* I also had a problem with Alyssa, I mean when we love someone we give them a lot of leeway with their behavior, we forgive a lot, but how or WHY for that matter would you want to forgive (or be in a relationship) with a guy who thinks you are a whore that sleeps with everyone for favors, who thinks you are
Spoiler
pregnant with someone else's kid, but doesn't bother to let YOU know he thinks thatOK, so all that being said, I STILL love this author's writing, she sucks me into her books and gives me a ton of feels (I'll admit it, I cried!) Even though I loathed Luc, I still found myself turning the pages to see where this would lead!
Enjoy the following gifs in honor of the asshole called Luc...
michellesantiago's review against another edition
3.0
Listened to the audiobook.
I wasn't a big fan of Lexi Maynard's narration but it grew on me. I thought she sounded too young (too YA-sounding for this type of novel) and she made all the female characters' voice too high and ditzy-ish.
I've been wanting to check out this series but since menage and hardcore BDSM are not my cup of tea, I skipped the first 2 books in the series. When I heard this one featured a monogamous couple, I picked it up and I'm glad I did.
The book overall was a good read (or in this case, listen). I really liked Alyssa's character and how independent, self-sufficient and strong she was. As for Luc, his jealously, how he judged Alyssa because of her profession (she's a stripper) and his unwavering belief that Alyssa was having an affair with her bodyguard Tyler got old really fast. I was annoyed by him for most of the book and I wish he groveled more in the end.
As for the "mystery" part, I was easy to figure out early on. But, jeez, there were so many scums were after Alyssa! I felt really bad for her--the author really made her suffer in this novel with emotionally with Luc's judgmental words and actions and with all the bad men after her. There was an almost rape scene that was pretty graphic so be warned if you're the type to avoid books with that.
I'm considering getting the other book in the series with a monogamous couple Mine to Hold, which is Tyler's book.
I wasn't a big fan of Lexi Maynard's narration but it grew on me. I thought she sounded too young (too YA-sounding for this type of novel) and she made all the female characters' voice too high and ditzy-ish.
I've been wanting to check out this series but since menage and hardcore BDSM are not my cup of tea, I skipped the first 2 books in the series. When I heard this one featured a monogamous couple, I picked it up and I'm glad I did.
The book overall was a good read (or in this case, listen). I really liked Alyssa's character and how independent, self-sufficient and strong she was. As for Luc, his jealously, how he judged Alyssa because of her profession (she's a stripper) and his unwavering belief that Alyssa was having an affair with her bodyguard Tyler got old really fast. I was annoyed by him for most of the book and I wish he groveled more in the end.
As for the "mystery" part, I was easy to figure out early on. But, jeez, there were so many scums were after Alyssa! I felt really bad for her--the author really made her suffer in this novel with emotionally with Luc's judgmental words and actions and with all the bad men after her. There was an almost rape scene that was pretty graphic so be warned if you're the type to avoid books with that.
I'm considering getting the other book in the series with a monogamous couple Mine to Hold, which is Tyler's book.
colorcrystals's review against another edition
3.0
While this book was good, I can't help but feel that it was not quite on par with Wicked Ties and Decadent. Sure the scenes were steamy and Alyssa's story is heart wrenching, but there the believability of Luc and Alyssa's relationship seemed too iffy. After reading about Luc in Decadent I couldn't wait to learn more about him. I can't help but feel somewhat disappointed.