Scan barcode
mom2three's review
5.0
I don't know how it happened, but I somehow didn't discover this series until this book. Now, I'm in a huge rush to read all the other books, starting with the Valentine Roulette. This is a wonderful anthology takes place in Black Light, a BDSM club in D.C.. Each story revolves around a group of people who sign up to be paired with possibly a total stranger (or not) and spin a roulette wheel to find out how they will be spending the evening with said person.
Most of the authors are ones I am familiar with, and the ones who I haven't read before have now been added to my list of authors to read. Even though each story is different, there wasn't any story I didn't like. I liked them so much, in fact, that I read this book in one sitting. I don't think I need to give you a synopsis on the stories, so I will just tell you that I loved the originality of the story lines, the amazing characters, and the super sexy scenes. I loved the angst that some of the couples had, and the instant chemistry that the new couples experienced. Like I said, this is a new to me series that won't be new for very much longer!
Most of the authors are ones I am familiar with, and the ones who I haven't read before have now been added to my list of authors to read. Even though each story is different, there wasn't any story I didn't like. I liked them so much, in fact, that I read this book in one sitting. I don't think I need to give you a synopsis on the stories, so I will just tell you that I loved the originality of the story lines, the amazing characters, and the super sexy scenes. I loved the angst that some of the couples had, and the instant chemistry that the new couples experienced. Like I said, this is a new to me series that won't be new for very much longer!
lifeinthebooklane's review
4.0
*** I shall be adding to this review as I read each story in the book ***
I loved the intro to this and would love Livia to write the scene that happened with Chase, Emma and Jaxson following the meeting (hint, hint). I liked that it didn't focus on the games and limits so much this time, but more on those who would be organising and running the event. I love how the couple matching not only ties all the stories together but really whets your appetite for what is to come.
The writing by each author is so well done, that even if/when the kink isn't your thing the story is still engaging, fun and easy to read.
*****
"Unrestrained" by Jennifer Bene
I loved Bianca and her 'make me' attitude, she may be a sub but she isn't a pushover. She more than met her match in Silas, which led to one super hot encounter that definitely pushed the pain limits.
I'm not a masochist and would definitely have called 'red' in Bianca's situation. I more than likely wouldn't have been able to read this had it been written by a less talented and knowledgeable author. However Ms Bene not only gave us several very hot scenes but she cleverly wove SSC/RACK into her story. (I'm thinking of when he made her look up and speak to the watching crowd and DM). This allowed me to feel more 'comfortable' with the story too.
I loved the ending, yes we want them all to fall in love but that isn't realistic even for a book! However IWOULD love to read more about Silas and Bianca, they certainly make one hot and amazing couple.
*****
"Brat" by Livia Grant
Short stories often leave me dissatisfied and needing more of a story. In Brat the author managed to give both background to the characters and include plenty of steamy actions. The book also held a lot of emotional depth too.
It did leave me wanting more of Ella and Connor, I loved this couple, Ella in particular totally drew me into the story. You know you're going to get kink but the plot and where the story went was just so unexpected. Oh and the ending..... ***sigh**** it fitted this story perfectly.
*****
"Forced" by Renee Rose
I need Mariana as my new BFF. I totally loved her and her non-submissiveness and I loved the twist Renee put on this story.
I love kink, I love kinky play but I'm not at heart all that submissive. Yes I want guy to take charge but I personally an not going to find pleasure in humiliation or a TPE. So I just totally got Mariana, the character is totally on my wavelength.
Victor was really well voiced in the story too. He's obviously a very dominant and alpha guy but the dynamics of the scene and how his partner felt and responded were more important to him than the type of scene or play.
I love BDSM stories - I wouldn't be reading this book if I didn't! - but this one is currently my favourite. I could read stories like this until the cows come home. It was much less about the kink (which I normally love) and much more about their connection and understanding one another.
Victor certainly proved that he understood Mariana and her needs became his priority. I'm generally not a fan of insta-love but -wow- Ms Rose you certainly made it work in this story.
Loved the characters, loved the unusual story, loved the ride in the car (again Victor putting Mariana above all else) and love, love, floved the epilogue.
*****
"Doctored" by Sue Lyndon
This was such a sweet and massively hot love story in just 10 chapters. The excellent character building had me really caring about Natalie and Hunter virtually straight away. The depth of feeling imbued in those characters made this quite an emotional read too.
I was totally caught up in their story and really enjoyed it. I flew through this one, even though medical play can push my 'uncomfortable' button. The author handled the scene with quite a gentle and caring touch, making it really fun to read.
*****
"Shameless" by Maren Smith
Wow, this story wasn't easy to read. Not because of poor writing, not at all. I really believed in both Hadlee and Garreth, they are really well written characters. The pace is good, the story was believable and the writing is excellent.
What makes this difficult is Hadlee's not-so-in-the-past, past. I could have sat in that shower and sobbed alongside her. I can guarantee that you will hate one of the characters in this story. For an author to get that under my skin in such a fairly short space of time reflects an amazing ability.
I can't wait to see how this story progresses....
*****
"Edge" by Alta Hensley
This story was much less about the BDSM and much more about the couple. In many ways this story could have been set anywhere, it didn't really have that much of a feel of being in Black Light.
The story is written entirely from Melinda's POV, but I did still get a good feel for Dean. The couple have history and definitely have unfinished business, mainly due to a very foolish decision made by Melinda. The story very much focuses on the couple, their re-connection and Melinda finding herself again.
I did find the majority of the book fairly vanilla, and even the scene didn't feel very kinky. That said the writing is good and I definitely felt drawn into Melinda's story.
*****
"Confession" by Measha Stone
I loved Dani and Gray's story. I did wonder where Gray's head had been at - Dani had all but offered herself on a plate to him. This had some very good BDSM action in it but also really focused on the couple and their feelings for each other.
I really got drawn into their story - my only complaint is that I would have loved this to have been a full length novel as it had all the makings of a such a good one.
*****
"Surrender" by Maggie Ryan
Marty is a wonderful woman but a terrible sub, who tops from the bottom (I've a feeling we have some things in common!) She has had a massive crush on Owen for a long time, but whilst he finds her attractive as a woman he doesn't want to play with such a poor sub.
Circumstances lead him to decide she needs to learn a lesson, which she very quickly, and painfully, did. I loved that Owen still appreciated her sass and didn't want a docile little woman, and he actually enjoyed the task of subduing Marty.
The story was quite fun, really engaging and had a good mix of character development, BDSM action and plot.
I loved the intro to this and would love Livia to write the scene that happened with Chase, Emma and Jaxson following the meeting (hint, hint). I liked that it didn't focus on the games and limits so much this time, but more on those who would be organising and running the event. I love how the couple matching not only ties all the stories together but really whets your appetite for what is to come.
The writing by each author is so well done, that even if/when the kink isn't your thing the story is still engaging, fun and easy to read.
*****
"Unrestrained" by Jennifer Bene
I loved Bianca and her 'make me' attitude, she may be a sub but she isn't a pushover. She more than met her match in Silas, which led to one super hot encounter that definitely pushed the pain limits.
I'm not a masochist and would definitely have called 'red' in Bianca's situation. I more than likely wouldn't have been able to read this had it been written by a less talented and knowledgeable author. However Ms Bene not only gave us several very hot scenes but she cleverly wove SSC/RACK into her story. (I'm thinking of when he made her look up and speak to the watching crowd and DM). This allowed me to feel more 'comfortable' with the story too.
I loved the ending, yes we want them all to fall in love but that isn't realistic even for a book! However IWOULD love to read more about Silas and Bianca, they certainly make one hot and amazing couple.
*****
"Brat" by Livia Grant
Short stories often leave me dissatisfied and needing more of a story. In Brat the author managed to give both background to the characters and include plenty of steamy actions. The book also held a lot of emotional depth too.
It did leave me wanting more of Ella and Connor, I loved this couple, Ella in particular totally drew me into the story. You know you're going to get kink but the plot and where the story went was just so unexpected. Oh and the ending..... ***sigh**** it fitted this story perfectly.
*****
"Forced" by Renee Rose
I need Mariana as my new BFF. I totally loved her and her non-submissiveness and I loved the twist Renee put on this story.
I love kink, I love kinky play but I'm not at heart all that submissive. Yes I want guy to take charge but I personally an not going to find pleasure in humiliation or a TPE. So I just totally got Mariana, the character is totally on my wavelength.
Victor was really well voiced in the story too. He's obviously a very dominant and alpha guy but the dynamics of the scene and how his partner felt and responded were more important to him than the type of scene or play.
I love BDSM stories - I wouldn't be reading this book if I didn't! - but this one is currently my favourite. I could read stories like this until the cows come home. It was much less about the kink (which I normally love) and much more about their connection and understanding one another.
Victor certainly proved that he understood Mariana and her needs became his priority. I'm generally not a fan of insta-love but -wow- Ms Rose you certainly made it work in this story.
Loved the characters, loved the unusual story, loved the ride in the car (again Victor putting Mariana above all else) and love, love, floved the epilogue.
*****
"Doctored" by Sue Lyndon
This was such a sweet and massively hot love story in just 10 chapters. The excellent character building had me really caring about Natalie and Hunter virtually straight away. The depth of feeling imbued in those characters made this quite an emotional read too.
I was totally caught up in their story and really enjoyed it. I flew through this one, even though medical play can push my 'uncomfortable' button. The author handled the scene with quite a gentle and caring touch, making it really fun to read.
*****
"Shameless" by Maren Smith
Wow, this story wasn't easy to read. Not because of poor writing, not at all. I really believed in both Hadlee and Garreth, they are really well written characters. The pace is good, the story was believable and the writing is excellent.
What makes this difficult is Hadlee's not-so-in-the-past, past. I could have sat in that shower and sobbed alongside her. I can guarantee that you will hate one of the characters in this story. For an author to get that under my skin in such a fairly short space of time reflects an amazing ability.
I can't wait to see how this story progresses....
*****
"Edge" by Alta Hensley
This story was much less about the BDSM and much more about the couple. In many ways this story could have been set anywhere, it didn't really have that much of a feel of being in Black Light.
The story is written entirely from Melinda's POV, but I did still get a good feel for Dean. The couple have history and definitely have unfinished business, mainly due to a very foolish decision made by Melinda. The story very much focuses on the couple, their re-connection and Melinda finding herself again.
I did find the majority of the book fairly vanilla, and even the scene didn't feel very kinky. That said the writing is good and I definitely felt drawn into Melinda's story.
*****
"Confession" by Measha Stone
I loved Dani and Gray's story. I did wonder where Gray's head had been at - Dani had all but offered herself on a plate to him. This had some very good BDSM action in it but also really focused on the couple and their feelings for each other.
I really got drawn into their story - my only complaint is that I would have loved this to have been a full length novel as it had all the makings of a such a good one.
*****
"Surrender" by Maggie Ryan
Marty is a wonderful woman but a terrible sub, who tops from the bottom (I've a feeling we have some things in common!) She has had a massive crush on Owen for a long time, but whilst he finds her attractive as a woman he doesn't want to play with such a poor sub.
Circumstances lead him to decide she needs to learn a lesson, which she very quickly, and painfully, did. I loved that Owen still appreciated her sass and didn't want a docile little woman, and he actually enjoyed the task of subduing Marty.
The story was quite fun, really engaging and had a good mix of character development, BDSM action and plot.
kelly_reads_books's review
5.0
I loved how this book started with a story of the club and then progressed into each couples spin of the wheel and their activities. How some couples were already known to each other and some were not, and how they overcame the emotions and feelings that they were being drawn into.
Great stories!
I had not read any of the other black light series and was truly impressed. Now I will go back to the first book and start over.
Great stories!
I had not read any of the other black light series and was truly impressed. Now I will go back to the first book and start over.
jigsawgirl's review
5.0
The premise of all the stories involve BDSM, a private club, invitation only, a roulette wheel, Dom's and Sub's and Valentine's Day.
I liked the fact that the book began with background regarding the rules and pairings before breaking off into the detail of the individual books. I would give each of the books a minimum of 4.5 stars.
Unrestrained - Jennifer Bene
I have read a number of BDSM books, but DAMN. This one was intense. After reading, you need to take a deep breath and come up for air.
Brat - Livia Grant
When Gabby turned up at the club, the last person she expected to see was Connor. Completely inexperienced, Gabby is introduced to submission by Connor, the new trusted of her inheritance. Will Gabby Stafford out of her predicament?
Forced - Renee Rose
Victor and Mariana find they have an insta-attraction, something neither expected. I was never sure if Mariana was a sub and didn't realize it, or if she was just willing to jump in to the unknown with both feet in order to watch out for her sister. A short story about gaining insight to desires that not previously known that ends with a HEA.
Doctored - Sue Lyndon
Hunter and Natalie unknowingly end up reconnecting after several years. They had always had an attraction. Paired up at Black Light, their first scene focused on medical play. This was an ok read.
Shameless - Maren Smith
This short story had a couple of different layers. Hadlee had issues she was trying to reconcile. She was at Black Light to reclaim her. strength, her dignity. Garrett started out being her protector, but he needed so much more from Hadlee. There was a crazy ex involved and a somewhat icky scene. This was a standalone, yet, there looks like there may be a continuation of the story. It's not really a cliff hanger as Garrett and Hadlee get their HEA, but I need to know what happens next.
Edge - Alta Hensley
Dean and Melinda reconnect at Black Light. This is a second chance romance between two people who previously embraced their D/s relationship. A lesson in discovering that you can't live your life for others.
Confessions - Measha Stone
My first thought was this book was going to be about a menage. It's not. You could say it is a romance between two people who embrace kink. The dynamic of their relationship exchanges during their time at Black Light. The chemistry is there, and they get their HEA.
Surrender - Maggie Ryan
This story focuses on another interesting kink, shibari. One aspect of the story that I found intriguing was a woman who thought she was submissive, but realized she wasn't truly "being" submissive. The man she had been attracted to for quite a while was the Dom who assisted Her in understanding her submission. You also get a HEA with this one.
Taken - Jane Henry
This book provides us with a second chance romance. It seems shorter than some of the other stories in this boxed set. I'm not sure about the length because Kindle does locations in a lot of books, and not pages.
I also wasn't sure if Della was a sub, if she had played before, or if she had just never played with Brayden. I got the sense from the conversation at the beginning of the book that this was something new for her. This book also provides you a HEA.
I also appreciated the "epilogue". The loose ends of the night are tied up, some of the questions are answered, and it has you looking forward to the next Valentine Roulette. I think this set has a little something for almost everyone. If you are offended by dungeons, kink, D/s lifestyle, spanking, etc., take a pass on this box set.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy.
I liked the fact that the book began with background regarding the rules and pairings before breaking off into the detail of the individual books. I would give each of the books a minimum of 4.5 stars.
Unrestrained - Jennifer Bene
I have read a number of BDSM books, but DAMN. This one was intense. After reading, you need to take a deep breath and come up for air.
Brat - Livia Grant
When Gabby turned up at the club, the last person she expected to see was Connor. Completely inexperienced, Gabby is introduced to submission by Connor, the new trusted of her inheritance. Will Gabby Stafford out of her predicament?
Forced - Renee Rose
Victor and Mariana find they have an insta-attraction, something neither expected. I was never sure if Mariana was a sub and didn't realize it, or if she was just willing to jump in to the unknown with both feet in order to watch out for her sister. A short story about gaining insight to desires that not previously known that ends with a HEA.
Doctored - Sue Lyndon
Hunter and Natalie unknowingly end up reconnecting after several years. They had always had an attraction. Paired up at Black Light, their first scene focused on medical play. This was an ok read.
Shameless - Maren Smith
This short story had a couple of different layers. Hadlee had issues she was trying to reconcile. She was at Black Light to reclaim her. strength, her dignity. Garrett started out being her protector, but he needed so much more from Hadlee. There was a crazy ex involved and a somewhat icky scene. This was a standalone, yet, there looks like there may be a continuation of the story. It's not really a cliff hanger as Garrett and Hadlee get their HEA, but I need to know what happens next.
Edge - Alta Hensley
Dean and Melinda reconnect at Black Light. This is a second chance romance between two people who previously embraced their D/s relationship. A lesson in discovering that you can't live your life for others.
Confessions - Measha Stone
My first thought was this book was going to be about a menage. It's not. You could say it is a romance between two people who embrace kink. The dynamic of their relationship exchanges during their time at Black Light. The chemistry is there, and they get their HEA.
Surrender - Maggie Ryan
This story focuses on another interesting kink, shibari. One aspect of the story that I found intriguing was a woman who thought she was submissive, but realized she wasn't truly "being" submissive. The man she had been attracted to for quite a while was the Dom who assisted Her in understanding her submission. You also get a HEA with this one.
Taken - Jane Henry
This book provides us with a second chance romance. It seems shorter than some of the other stories in this boxed set. I'm not sure about the length because Kindle does locations in a lot of books, and not pages.
I also wasn't sure if Della was a sub, if she had played before, or if she had just never played with Brayden. I got the sense from the conversation at the beginning of the book that this was something new for her. This book also provides you a HEA.
I also appreciated the "epilogue". The loose ends of the night are tied up, some of the questions are answered, and it has you looking forward to the next Valentine Roulette. I think this set has a little something for almost everyone. If you are offended by dungeons, kink, D/s lifestyle, spanking, etc., take a pass on this box set.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy.
tlea's review
4.0
This is an amazing anthology that offers something for everyone.
Unrestrained by Jennifer Bene - This story puts the S&M into the BDSM. I found it to be an unusual choice as an entry to the book as I found it quite confronting and not what I would normally like. However, I really got a feel for the characters, particularly Silas & found myself happy that he's found someone accepting of how he likes to play.
Brat by Livia Grant - Exactly what you would expect with a title like this. Gabriella & Connor have a long (non-sexual) history. This story delves into age play which isn't really a must-read for me, but I still found it very readable. This author always delivers on great characters.
Forced by Renee Rose - Probably my favourite (so far). I love that we really get inside the head of each of the participants. Here is a Dom who knows just what & who he wants. Meanwhile, Mariana is trying to come to terms with the idea that she might just like being Forced.
Doctored by Sue Lyndon - I found this story quite sweet in the idea that here are 2 people who have both been skirting around their attraction for years without the other knowing. Make one a sub who's been hurt by family & endured a public outing & it made me all melty.
Shameless by Maren Smith - I found this unusual in that not often have I read stories in which the bad guy is so much a part of the community. Which is precisely why Hadlee decided that she needed to fight her demons by getting back on that horse (metaphorically speaking!) & offer herself at the Valentine's Roulette. Throw in 2 strong characters, 1 who thinks he'll never get an opportunity to show Hadlee how he feels & you have everything you could want in a story.
Edge by Alta Hensley - A 2nd chance story of 2 people who find themselves matched up at the Roulette & how they overcome the past hurts to forge a new relationship. I really liked this story. I felt that Melinda was such a strong woman to acknowledge her mistake & to work to set things right. Equally, Dean was wonderful in his sensitivity & ability to put hurts aside. For a kink-story, I found it very sweet. Really liked it.
Confession by Measha Stone - Another great story. This one about 2 people who have unknowingly wanted the same thing for years but neither have been willing to risk the relationship that they currently have. A wonderful read about putting yourself out there & risking everything to potentially get something better.
Surrender by Maggie Ryan - Probably one of my least favourite reads. I just found the character of Marty really unlikable. I appreciate the inclusion of the rope work & the premise was excellent. But I just couldn't get past the character.
Taken by Jane Henry - This is another story that left me a bit ambivalent. Again, I just found Della unlikable, although I did warm to her somewhat by the end. I will agree that this is a fantastic story to finish on. It wraps up the collection wonderfully.
In reading the stories, I didn't expect to like all of them, & while there were none that I disliked, there were certainly some that I liked more than others. But the good thing about anthologies like this is that you can be assured of there being at least some that really grab you & make you pleased that you kept reading. I love that even though all of the stories revolved around a single event (ie Valentine's Roulette), care had obviously been taken to ensure continuity between the different stories. Although I'm itching to discover why Red was called & disappointed this was never resolved for me. Definitely read-worthy.
Unrestrained by Jennifer Bene - This story puts the S&M into the BDSM. I found it to be an unusual choice as an entry to the book as I found it quite confronting and not what I would normally like. However, I really got a feel for the characters, particularly Silas & found myself happy that he's found someone accepting of how he likes to play.
Brat by Livia Grant - Exactly what you would expect with a title like this. Gabriella & Connor have a long (non-sexual) history. This story delves into age play which isn't really a must-read for me, but I still found it very readable. This author always delivers on great characters.
Forced by Renee Rose - Probably my favourite (so far). I love that we really get inside the head of each of the participants. Here is a Dom who knows just what & who he wants. Meanwhile, Mariana is trying to come to terms with the idea that she might just like being Forced.
Doctored by Sue Lyndon - I found this story quite sweet in the idea that here are 2 people who have both been skirting around their attraction for years without the other knowing. Make one a sub who's been hurt by family & endured a public outing & it made me all melty.
Shameless by Maren Smith - I found this unusual in that not often have I read stories in which the bad guy is so much a part of the community. Which is precisely why Hadlee decided that she needed to fight her demons by getting back on that horse (metaphorically speaking!) & offer herself at the Valentine's Roulette. Throw in 2 strong characters, 1 who thinks he'll never get an opportunity to show Hadlee how he feels & you have everything you could want in a story.
Edge by Alta Hensley - A 2nd chance story of 2 people who find themselves matched up at the Roulette & how they overcome the past hurts to forge a new relationship. I really liked this story. I felt that Melinda was such a strong woman to acknowledge her mistake & to work to set things right. Equally, Dean was wonderful in his sensitivity & ability to put hurts aside. For a kink-story, I found it very sweet. Really liked it.
Confession by Measha Stone - Another great story. This one about 2 people who have unknowingly wanted the same thing for years but neither have been willing to risk the relationship that they currently have. A wonderful read about putting yourself out there & risking everything to potentially get something better.
Surrender by Maggie Ryan - Probably one of my least favourite reads. I just found the character of Marty really unlikable. I appreciate the inclusion of the rope work & the premise was excellent. But I just couldn't get past the character.
Taken by Jane Henry - This is another story that left me a bit ambivalent. Again, I just found Della unlikable, although I did warm to her somewhat by the end. I will agree that this is a fantastic story to finish on. It wraps up the collection wonderfully.
In reading the stories, I didn't expect to like all of them, & while there were none that I disliked, there were certainly some that I liked more than others. But the good thing about anthologies like this is that you can be assured of there being at least some that really grab you & make you pleased that you kept reading. I love that even though all of the stories revolved around a single event (ie Valentine's Roulette), care had obviously been taken to ensure continuity between the different stories. Although I'm itching to discover why Red was called & disappointed this was never resolved for me. Definitely read-worthy.
bexbookrex's review
5.0
A Series that Continues to Excel!!
I have been excited to read this book ever since I discovered the series & read the first Black Light Roulette! I was not disappointed! Nine fantastic stories by nine terrific authors rounded out with a wonderful extension in the form of an introduction and conclusion that ties all 9 stories into one cohesive time & place, strengthening every single narrative beautifully.
There was one little thing that bugged me just a smidge. Out of the nine novellas, seven featured couples that had a history with each other. For a game of chance like roulette, those are crazy odds! These were all great stories. I loved them! I just felt it was a bit over the top of unrealistic. Then again, we left the realm of reality the moment we opened the book, didn't we? Lol!
I have been excited to read this book ever since I discovered the series & read the first Black Light Roulette! I was not disappointed! Nine fantastic stories by nine terrific authors rounded out with a wonderful extension in the form of an introduction and conclusion that ties all 9 stories into one cohesive time & place, strengthening every single narrative beautifully.
There was one little thing that bugged me just a smidge. Out of the nine novellas, seven featured couples that had a history with each other. For a game of chance like roulette, those are crazy odds! These were all great stories. I loved them! I just felt it was a bit over the top of unrealistic. Then again, we left the realm of reality the moment we opened the book, didn't we? Lol!
wineanlatenightreads's review
5.0
Another one for the books
If you have stuck around a year later with all the fun the awesome folks at black light have then you will not be disappointed with Roulette Redux! Enjoy a Viking sadist, who knows how to bring the pain and the big O. And one story will have you hanging on the edge of your chair with a cliff hanger!
If you have stuck around a year later with all the fun the awesome folks at black light have then you will not be disappointed with Roulette Redux! Enjoy a Viking sadist, who knows how to bring the pain and the big O. And one story will have you hanging on the edge of your chair with a cliff hanger!
emmelnie's review
5.0
This is a long review, so here’s the TL:DR version: this second collection of story centered on a Valentine’s Day BDSM roulette party is even better than the first. All these novellas are strong, with engaging characters and a great sense of connection between the stories.
Now, on to the details….
Black Light: Roulette Redux (and I’m thrilled this title uses this word, one of my favorites) is the second anthology in the Black Light series, focused on an exclusive BDSM club in Washington, DC. Like the first anthology, this collection of stories revolves around a Valentine’s Day event where doms and subs are paired through the choices of the roulette wheel, not only as partners but also for the activities they’ll undertake during the night. And those activities are revelatory for many of these characters.
First of all, there’s a great connection to the earlier anthology and to other books in the Black Light series; we see couples from previous books, and we also address the business side of running a club like this as the club leadership examines expansion possibilities. One of the highlights of the Black Light series is the strong through-story in all the books, and seeing it continue here was fantastic.
Many of the authors from the first anthology returned to craft another story, and there are several new authors as well. The first story is “Unrestrained” by Jennifer Bene, an author known for her very dark dub- and noncon stories. Here, she builds a (for her) relatively sweet tale of a hardcore sadist who discovers through the turn of the roulette wheel a true and extreme masochist. Seeing these two begin the dance that might lead to a committed relationship was wonderful. Bianca, the masochistic sub, is a strong and vital character, and Silas is more than her match. You simply want these two to work everything out. Bene also punches home the need for consent, constant assurance, and care that is absolutely necessary to this type of relationship, and seeing that was a great counterbalance to some of the more extreme activities this couple explored.
“Brat” by Livia Grant was aptly named, as the heroine Ella is overly entitled. I liked seeing her evolution to someone willing to work with others rather than coercing them into doing what she wanted, as well as her realization that entering Black Light and its contest on a lie was something she was going to have to accept responsibility for. Connor was more than a match for her. I liked the fact that they drew an activity that really wasn’t a favorite for either of them (or for me), but that they made it work and didn’t overly portray the more extreme aspects of it. A couple of quibbles: Ella was noted as a social media star at the beginning of the story. As it really wasn’t used again for the rest of “Brat,” I felt it was a distracting statement (since, as a social media star, I’d wonder why she’d need trust fund money). And a heating cream was used on Ella, but she recovered almost instantaneously. I would have expected that to linger and be referred to later. But overall, this is a well-crafted tale by Grant that expertly explores the interactions of its lead couple.
“Forced,” by Renee Rose, does require a trigger warning. As the title implies, this deals with rape fantasy and the effects of wanting that. It’s well written, but readers should go in with this knowledge. And it’s interesting that Mariana, the heroine, doesn’t realize this herself, but her night of interactions at Black Light make this need apparent to her. Victor was a great match for her—his caring and attentiveness was a necessary offset to the actions that take place in this story. I really loved Mariana’s strength and Victor’s rapid descent into love. The possibilities for the Big Misunderstanding existed here but were deftly avoided by Rose. It’s definitely a standout story in this collection.
“Doctored” by Sue Lyndon was a relatively sweet tale of a May/December couple thwarted by past history and reunited through the roulette event. I really liked both Natalie and Hunter as people, and seeing how Hunter’s moves towards Natalie were part of a larger plan he was already in the process of executing made their actions and responses logical. My only quibble is that their public obstacles (he as a former governor, she as the daughter of the man he succeeded) were lightly glossed over. I’d love to see that addressed in a future story. And again—it’s a bit hard for me to believe that public figures would participate in an open event like this, when Hunter could have a lot to lose in front of an audience. But overall, this was a story that could make you sigh.
One of the interesting things about the Black Light anthologies has been that not all the stories have focused on the doms and subs participating in the event itself. “Shameless,” Maren Smith’s contribution to this anthology, deals with one of the dungeon monitors who harbors a seemingly hopeless love for a deeply damaged sub. She’s using the roulette party as a means of re-establishing her sense of self and her enjoyment of the lifestyle. But her past rises up to challenge Hadlee, and Garreth is concerned with present-day risks to her as well. Smith has crafted a detailed, challenging story that’s one one of the most rewarding of this collection. Side note: while Noah was a bit too perfect here, I’d love to see his story one day! And the end clearly implies more to come in the setup Smith has created. I hope it’s a future Black Light book!
My favorite story in this collection is “Edge,” by Alta Hensley. It uses a novella trope of former lovers reconnecting, but it’s also a story about admitting what you want in life and realizing how important that is to your self-worth and security. And it’s a step both Melinda and Dean need to make. While Dean realizes early on what he needed to do both in the past and now, it’s Melinda’s journey that’s the heart of this story, told only from her POV. I loved the tenderness and care that was at the heart of this tale, with both Melinda and Dean as characters I really enjoyed. One quibble was that no one running the roulette event seemed concerned when they stepped away from it dramatically to start. I would have expected some reaction from those organizers other than acquiescence. But that was the only minor drawback to an otherwise excellent, and marvelously sweet, novella.
“Confessions” by Measha Stone features another couple who’ve known one another for a long time. But they aren’t former lovers; instead, we get the younger sister/older brother’s friend combination. Dani and Gray have danced around one another for years, but finally get together through this roulette event. One of the positive things in this novella was the great connection this couple has, with some wonderful banter. But I would have liked to see safewords discussed and some discomfort shown with moving from the friend zone to something as intense as BDSM, particularly as Gray has viewed himself as Dani’s protector for years. This is one of those cases where the sub takes some rather extreme punishments, and I usually wonder how the dom magically knows what she can take when they’ve never scened together before. But Stone is a strong writer, and the winning characters who clearly have a caring relationship make this story compulsively readable.
“Surrender” by Maggie Ryan highlighted shibari, and the rope scenes in this story were wonderfully portrayed. I also liked that Marty was a sub who tended to top from the bottom. That said, her behavior in that aspect was so blatant that it was hard to believe that she’d been scening at Black Light for quite some time without doms calling her out on that. While it made for a great element of her changing relationship with Owen, I was hard pressed to accept that she was able to get away with that behavior in the club on a regular basis. Luckily the shibari and role play scenes, and the active amount of the story that focused on the actual roulette competition elements, balanced this out well.
The final story in this collection, “Taken” by Jane Henry, pairs a divorced couple in the roulette game. It’s always a challenge to swallow that a couple who had a tough divorce would be willing to play this game. I would have liked more of a justification for why each of them was willing to participate. And since it’s implied that Della is a newbie to BDSM and public scening, I struggled with how willing she was to do everything in the roulette activity. That said, I loved Della’s feistiness and fight against Brayden, especially her justifiable complaints on his treatment of her. Henry built their connection so well in this story that despite small discrepancies towards the end, I was strongly invested in seeing how they would rediscover one another.
I also appreciated that the conclusion noted that several of the dungeon monitors ended up participating in the event. That would indeed not happen in real life, and seeing that acknowledged was crucial. And there are plenty of interesting threads left open for future stories. One point to note was that this collection featured a breach of security and privacy, as the first collection did. That’s something I’d like to see addressed more directly if another Black Light anthology is created—which I hope does happen!
Some small side comments: I loved that each story in this second Black Light anthology, like the last, had a one-word title (yet another subtle form of connectivity in a series that admirably demonstrates that). And while this anthology does not focus on this, it was great to see acknowledgement of alternative lifestyles, such as m/m and f/f pairings, highlighted in the pairings of overall couples taking part in this roulette event. Kudos to the editors for recognizing that love comes in all forms.
Now, on to the details….
Black Light: Roulette Redux (and I’m thrilled this title uses this word, one of my favorites) is the second anthology in the Black Light series, focused on an exclusive BDSM club in Washington, DC. Like the first anthology, this collection of stories revolves around a Valentine’s Day event where doms and subs are paired through the choices of the roulette wheel, not only as partners but also for the activities they’ll undertake during the night. And those activities are revelatory for many of these characters.
First of all, there’s a great connection to the earlier anthology and to other books in the Black Light series; we see couples from previous books, and we also address the business side of running a club like this as the club leadership examines expansion possibilities. One of the highlights of the Black Light series is the strong through-story in all the books, and seeing it continue here was fantastic.
Many of the authors from the first anthology returned to craft another story, and there are several new authors as well. The first story is “Unrestrained” by Jennifer Bene, an author known for her very dark dub- and noncon stories. Here, she builds a (for her) relatively sweet tale of a hardcore sadist who discovers through the turn of the roulette wheel a true and extreme masochist. Seeing these two begin the dance that might lead to a committed relationship was wonderful. Bianca, the masochistic sub, is a strong and vital character, and Silas is more than her match. You simply want these two to work everything out. Bene also punches home the need for consent, constant assurance, and care that is absolutely necessary to this type of relationship, and seeing that was a great counterbalance to some of the more extreme activities this couple explored.
“Brat” by Livia Grant was aptly named, as the heroine Ella is overly entitled. I liked seeing her evolution to someone willing to work with others rather than coercing them into doing what she wanted, as well as her realization that entering Black Light and its contest on a lie was something she was going to have to accept responsibility for. Connor was more than a match for her. I liked the fact that they drew an activity that really wasn’t a favorite for either of them (or for me), but that they made it work and didn’t overly portray the more extreme aspects of it. A couple of quibbles: Ella was noted as a social media star at the beginning of the story. As it really wasn’t used again for the rest of “Brat,” I felt it was a distracting statement (since, as a social media star, I’d wonder why she’d need trust fund money). And a heating cream was used on Ella, but she recovered almost instantaneously. I would have expected that to linger and be referred to later. But overall, this is a well-crafted tale by Grant that expertly explores the interactions of its lead couple.
“Forced,” by Renee Rose, does require a trigger warning. As the title implies, this deals with rape fantasy and the effects of wanting that. It’s well written, but readers should go in with this knowledge. And it’s interesting that Mariana, the heroine, doesn’t realize this herself, but her night of interactions at Black Light make this need apparent to her. Victor was a great match for her—his caring and attentiveness was a necessary offset to the actions that take place in this story. I really loved Mariana’s strength and Victor’s rapid descent into love. The possibilities for the Big Misunderstanding existed here but were deftly avoided by Rose. It’s definitely a standout story in this collection.
“Doctored” by Sue Lyndon was a relatively sweet tale of a May/December couple thwarted by past history and reunited through the roulette event. I really liked both Natalie and Hunter as people, and seeing how Hunter’s moves towards Natalie were part of a larger plan he was already in the process of executing made their actions and responses logical. My only quibble is that their public obstacles (he as a former governor, she as the daughter of the man he succeeded) were lightly glossed over. I’d love to see that addressed in a future story. And again—it’s a bit hard for me to believe that public figures would participate in an open event like this, when Hunter could have a lot to lose in front of an audience. But overall, this was a story that could make you sigh.
One of the interesting things about the Black Light anthologies has been that not all the stories have focused on the doms and subs participating in the event itself. “Shameless,” Maren Smith’s contribution to this anthology, deals with one of the dungeon monitors who harbors a seemingly hopeless love for a deeply damaged sub. She’s using the roulette party as a means of re-establishing her sense of self and her enjoyment of the lifestyle. But her past rises up to challenge Hadlee, and Garreth is concerned with present-day risks to her as well. Smith has crafted a detailed, challenging story that’s one one of the most rewarding of this collection. Side note: while Noah was a bit too perfect here, I’d love to see his story one day! And the end clearly implies more to come in the setup Smith has created. I hope it’s a future Black Light book!
My favorite story in this collection is “Edge,” by Alta Hensley. It uses a novella trope of former lovers reconnecting, but it’s also a story about admitting what you want in life and realizing how important that is to your self-worth and security. And it’s a step both Melinda and Dean need to make. While Dean realizes early on what he needed to do both in the past and now, it’s Melinda’s journey that’s the heart of this story, told only from her POV. I loved the tenderness and care that was at the heart of this tale, with both Melinda and Dean as characters I really enjoyed. One quibble was that no one running the roulette event seemed concerned when they stepped away from it dramatically to start. I would have expected some reaction from those organizers other than acquiescence. But that was the only minor drawback to an otherwise excellent, and marvelously sweet, novella.
“Confessions” by Measha Stone features another couple who’ve known one another for a long time. But they aren’t former lovers; instead, we get the younger sister/older brother’s friend combination. Dani and Gray have danced around one another for years, but finally get together through this roulette event. One of the positive things in this novella was the great connection this couple has, with some wonderful banter. But I would have liked to see safewords discussed and some discomfort shown with moving from the friend zone to something as intense as BDSM, particularly as Gray has viewed himself as Dani’s protector for years. This is one of those cases where the sub takes some rather extreme punishments, and I usually wonder how the dom magically knows what she can take when they’ve never scened together before. But Stone is a strong writer, and the winning characters who clearly have a caring relationship make this story compulsively readable.
“Surrender” by Maggie Ryan highlighted shibari, and the rope scenes in this story were wonderfully portrayed. I also liked that Marty was a sub who tended to top from the bottom. That said, her behavior in that aspect was so blatant that it was hard to believe that she’d been scening at Black Light for quite some time without doms calling her out on that. While it made for a great element of her changing relationship with Owen, I was hard pressed to accept that she was able to get away with that behavior in the club on a regular basis. Luckily the shibari and role play scenes, and the active amount of the story that focused on the actual roulette competition elements, balanced this out well.
The final story in this collection, “Taken” by Jane Henry, pairs a divorced couple in the roulette game. It’s always a challenge to swallow that a couple who had a tough divorce would be willing to play this game. I would have liked more of a justification for why each of them was willing to participate. And since it’s implied that Della is a newbie to BDSM and public scening, I struggled with how willing she was to do everything in the roulette activity. That said, I loved Della’s feistiness and fight against Brayden, especially her justifiable complaints on his treatment of her. Henry built their connection so well in this story that despite small discrepancies towards the end, I was strongly invested in seeing how they would rediscover one another.
I also appreciated that the conclusion noted that several of the dungeon monitors ended up participating in the event. That would indeed not happen in real life, and seeing that acknowledged was crucial. And there are plenty of interesting threads left open for future stories. One point to note was that this collection featured a breach of security and privacy, as the first collection did. That’s something I’d like to see addressed more directly if another Black Light anthology is created—which I hope does happen!
Some small side comments: I loved that each story in this second Black Light anthology, like the last, had a one-word title (yet another subtle form of connectivity in a series that admirably demonstrates that). And while this anthology does not focus on this, it was great to see acknowledgement of alternative lifestyles, such as m/m and f/f pairings, highlighted in the pairings of overall couples taking part in this roulette event. Kudos to the editors for recognizing that love comes in all forms.
reedkaye's review
4.0
WATCH OUT....ONLY READ THE STORY BY MAREN SMITH IF YOU ENJOY CLIFFHANGERS.....
This is the first stories I’ve read by most of these authors. Overall they are really good with a lot of emotion and totally different experiences of each couple. I really appreciated that the two authors ended the whole event and answered so many questions to make this complete. What I didn’t like is the story by Maren Smith. I was reading along and then the story quit. Just quit and announced it’s a cliffhanger. I HATE HATE HATE WHEN AN AUTHOR TRIES TO MAKE SALES THIS WAY. I would rate this a one star based on her but it’s not fair to the other author’s who did a great job. I will say this is the last thing I will read of hers. No she didn’t trap me into buying the book to find out what happened. No I don’t need to buy anything that she does there are too many great authors to put up with that. The least she could have done is announce at the beginning of the story that it would leave me hanging so while I’m giving this four stars if I could I’d rate her -1. I was given a free copy and this is a honest review.
This is the first stories I’ve read by most of these authors. Overall they are really good with a lot of emotion and totally different experiences of each couple. I really appreciated that the two authors ended the whole event and answered so many questions to make this complete. What I didn’t like is the story by Maren Smith. I was reading along and then the story quit. Just quit and announced it’s a cliffhanger. I HATE HATE HATE WHEN AN AUTHOR TRIES TO MAKE SALES THIS WAY. I would rate this a one star based on her but it’s not fair to the other author’s who did a great job. I will say this is the last thing I will read of hers. No she didn’t trap me into buying the book to find out what happened. No I don’t need to buy anything that she does there are too many great authors to put up with that. The least she could have done is announce at the beginning of the story that it would leave me hanging so while I’m giving this four stars if I could I’d rate her -1. I was given a free copy and this is a honest review.
becsa's review
4.0
This book is a compilation of 9 stories plus and intro and conclusion about a special Valentine's Night at the BDSM club Black Light. I must admit that I was a little disappointed that all of the 9 couples were m/f as I thought perhaps they would have gone with one of the other couples that they had mentioned.
The stories were all good and I liked that they showed various BDSM items and "stations". Below is a brief look into what the stories were about but I did not include which 3 things they each participated in.
1) Unrestrained - Jennifer Bene
Bianca Rossi is looking for a Dom but may have found one in Silas, but he is not going to put up with her attitude for very long.
2) Brat - Livia Grant
Gabriella Castle is 24 and may have stolen an invitation to get into the party and when her name is spun by Connor Lambert, the man she stole it from, he will make sure she has learned her lesson.
3) Forced - Renee Rose
Mariana is worried about her sister, Sara, who is in the BDSM lifestyle and she accompanies her to the night's festivities. When she meets a handsome man outside the two talk and soon she is paired up with him. Victor Blackheart has no interest in having a woman in his life after his ex, Kim, but there is something different about Mariana.
4) Doctored - Sue Lyndon
Natalie Morris is a former beauty pageant who works for the Urban Green Society and has fantasies about her father's former political opponent, Hunter Knox, for years. When her boss, Helena, mentions Black Light to her she decides to go and is paired up with the former governor who makes her overcome her fears.
5) Shameless - Maren Smith
Hadlee has just gotten out of a bad dom/sub relationship with Ethan and has been taken care of by one of her closest friends, Garreth, who works at Black Light. When Noah Carver draws Hadlee's name, he asks Garreth to help him out and Garreth may finally get a chance to let Hadlee know how he feels.
6) Edge - Alta Hensley
Melinda York has finally just divorced her husband, Senator Mark Staton and she decides to go back to Black Light where she participated until her marriage. There she finds her old dom, Dean Casey, but will he be willing to take her back?
7) Confessions - Measha Stone
Dani has been going to the BDSM club Overtime but when she hears the man she has a crush on, Gray, say he is heading to a special night at Black Light, she knows that this may be her only chance. But will Gray ever be able to see Dani as more than a little girl?
8) Surrender - Maggie Ryan
Marty Dillon is a FBI agent and she is attracted to Owen MacAllister, one of the Dungeon Masters. When Marty's name is drawn by Edward, he lets Owen takes over. But will Marty be ready for everything that Owen has planned?
9) Taken - Jane Henry
Della Peterson lives her life neat and tidy and tries to get over her past. When her name is drawn by her ex-husband Brayden will she call "red" or will this give the two of them a chance to say what they never had a chance to before?
This was an enjoyable read with a few good twists and turns along the way!
The stories were all good and I liked that they showed various BDSM items and "stations". Below is a brief look into what the stories were about but I did not include which 3 things they each participated in.
1) Unrestrained - Jennifer Bene
Bianca Rossi is looking for a Dom but may have found one in Silas, but he is not going to put up with her attitude for very long.
2) Brat - Livia Grant
Gabriella Castle is 24 and may have stolen an invitation to get into the party and when her name is spun by Connor Lambert, the man she stole it from, he will make sure she has learned her lesson.
3) Forced - Renee Rose
Mariana is worried about her sister, Sara, who is in the BDSM lifestyle and she accompanies her to the night's festivities. When she meets a handsome man outside the two talk and soon she is paired up with him. Victor Blackheart has no interest in having a woman in his life after his ex, Kim, but there is something different about Mariana.
4) Doctored - Sue Lyndon
Natalie Morris is a former beauty pageant who works for the Urban Green Society and has fantasies about her father's former political opponent, Hunter Knox, for years. When her boss, Helena, mentions Black Light to her she decides to go and is paired up with the former governor who makes her overcome her fears.
5) Shameless - Maren Smith
Hadlee has just gotten out of a bad dom/sub relationship with Ethan and has been taken care of by one of her closest friends, Garreth, who works at Black Light. When Noah Carver draws Hadlee's name, he asks Garreth to help him out and Garreth may finally get a chance to let Hadlee know how he feels.
6) Edge - Alta Hensley
Melinda York has finally just divorced her husband, Senator Mark Staton and she decides to go back to Black Light where she participated until her marriage. There she finds her old dom, Dean Casey, but will he be willing to take her back?
7) Confessions - Measha Stone
Dani has been going to the BDSM club Overtime but when she hears the man she has a crush on, Gray, say he is heading to a special night at Black Light, she knows that this may be her only chance. But will Gray ever be able to see Dani as more than a little girl?
8) Surrender - Maggie Ryan
Marty Dillon is a FBI agent and she is attracted to Owen MacAllister, one of the Dungeon Masters. When Marty's name is drawn by Edward, he lets Owen takes over. But will Marty be ready for everything that Owen has planned?
9) Taken - Jane Henry
Della Peterson lives her life neat and tidy and tries to get over her past. When her name is drawn by her ex-husband Brayden will she call "red" or will this give the two of them a chance to say what they never had a chance to before?
This was an enjoyable read with a few good twists and turns along the way!