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jaypeg's review
3.0
Roni Loren does it again, another great book. But only three stars? Well, I am getting picky in my old age. What was great about this book was that it explored the female domme which I was starting to think was a very rare breed. I thought Sam the heroine was kickass. I wanted to be her. She is strong and confident which I really liked. She doesn't get shy and tongue twisted, she knows what she wants. And she wears thigh high boots!
I also enjoyed the storyline which was centred around Gib, the hero and his issues with not being the traditional alpha male. It was a good storyline. Loren really explored the inner workings of what makes a man submissive and what the exchange gives each person. I thought it was handled well. My only qualm was that it didn't float my boat overly. There is not a lot of intercourse. There is a lot of anal play and some rimming. This just wasn't as titillating to me as some of the other stories.
But Pike did make an appearance! I do love Pike...
I was also holding out for some explosive scene at The Ranch at the end but felt this all happened rather quickly and wasn't made into a big thing so I was left feeling it lacked some end scene. But I read it cover to cover super quick. I am now totally out of sequence with these books but loving every minute of it!
I also enjoyed the storyline which was centred around Gib, the hero and his issues with not being the traditional alpha male. It was a good storyline. Loren really explored the inner workings of what makes a man submissive and what the exchange gives each person. I thought it was handled well. My only qualm was that it didn't float my boat overly. There is not a lot of intercourse. There is a lot of anal play and some rimming. This just wasn't as titillating to me as some of the other stories.
But Pike did make an appearance! I do love Pike...
I was also holding out for some explosive scene at The Ranch at the end but felt this all happened rather quickly and wasn't made into a big thing so I was left feeling it lacked some end scene. But I read it cover to cover super quick. I am now totally out of sequence with these books but loving every minute of it!
bookbae96's review
5.0
Samantha Dunbar knows how good things could be with Gibson Andrews. Having had a taste of the perfection the two of them could reach makes it all the more difficult to act like nothing ever happened and to go on as friends. Gibson let his guard slip just once with Sam, but it was enough to send him running, to hide the feelings that he's done his best to cover. Because Sam brings out a side of him that he's not sure he'll ever be ready to face.
Roni Loren books are always must-reads for me. I have read and loved the books in her Loving On the Edge series, have come to know and love the characters and their stories. So, when I had the chance to grab BREAK ME DOWN, Sam and Gib's book, it was a no-brainer.
I love this story. Both Sam and Gib have pasts that would have broken lesser people, but they have each learned to deal with their demons and make successful lives. As members of The Ranch, an exclusive BDSM club, they have been able to gain control over the things that haunt them, to dominate their fears and overcome. Gib, though, is hiding a less masterful side, the one that longs to hand over control to Sam, to submit himself to her completely. But doing so would be the ultimate act of trust, and he's just not sure he's ready to do it.
Sam is a strong woman that knows what she wants and needs, and that is to have Gib's ultimate submission. She sees that side of him that he has kept tamped down, and wants nothing more than to help him overcome his resistance and free himself to be who he really is. She loves him enough, though, to let him make his own decision, even if it means that they live as friends instead of lovers.
Roni writes characters that resonate with readers, multi-layered and complex, yet still accessible. There is humor and compassion, even when dealing with sometimes uncomfortable situations, and seeing what characters from past books are doing makes the stories connect seamlessly, and feels like visiting old friends. (Note: Pike's appearance in this story was a definite high point for me, and made a potentially stressful interlude much more enjoyable.)
I have become very enamored of Roni and her books, her characters, and the way that she writes about alternative lifestyles in such a way as to make them approachable. I could not recommend her Loving On the Edge books any more highly, and easily give BREAK ME DOWN 5+ 'steamy, sexy, I've loved every minute of this book' stars.
***ARC graciously provided by the publisher for an honest review.***
rowan108's review
5.0
Holy hotness. Sam and Gib seem to have a relationship doomed from the start. Two dominant's do not make a workable relationship. However, there's twist. Is Gib really a dom? I think Grant, Kade and a few others may have known the answer to that question for awhile, but like all good self destructive behavior you are usually the last to know or accept the truth. I thoroughly enjoyed the dance between the two MC's. Their characters are so well developed and the plot engaging that you are sucked into the story and feel as though you are living their relationship. You hurt when they hurt and cheer when they succeed. It takes a truly great writer to make me feel as though I'm in the story, living it.
It was great to see some of the Ranch crew in this book. I felt as though I really missed that in the last two books. I understand that we needed to step away from the Ranch but I missed some of the characters. Now that I've had my Ranch fix, I should be good for a little while. That being said Nothing Between Us has now been bumped to my second favorite Roni Loren book and Break Me Down is number one.
I need to add that I am blown away by Roni Loren's domme Samantha. I've only read one other book that this compares to and that was Nature of Desire by Joey W Hill, who I considered the master of domme's. Roni you gave Joey a run for her money. This book is going to sit on the pedestal with few others. It is definitely going to be a re-read for me.
Don't miss out. Grab Break Me Down and get ready to be blown away.
Thank you Roni and NetGalley for an ARC and the ability to get my greedy hands on this book before it was even released :)
It was great to see some of the Ranch crew in this book. I felt as though I really missed that in the last two books. I understand that we needed to step away from the Ranch but I missed some of the characters. Now that I've had my Ranch fix, I should be good for a little while. That being said Nothing Between Us has now been bumped to my second favorite Roni Loren book and Break Me Down is number one.
I need to add that I am blown away by Roni Loren's domme Samantha. I've only read one other book that this compares to and that was Nature of Desire by Joey W Hill, who I considered the master of domme's. Roni you gave Joey a run for her money. This book is going to sit on the pedestal with few others. It is definitely going to be a re-read for me.
Don't miss out. Grab Break Me Down and get ready to be blown away.
Thank you Roni and NetGalley for an ARC and the ability to get my greedy hands on this book before it was even released :)
katie0914's review
3.0
Break Me Down is #8.5 of the Loving on the Edge series by Roni Loren. I’ve never read any of the previous books, so I was going in blind on what to expect beyond the summary. The author does a great job of filling in the history for you in quick ways, so the reader is aware of Sam and Gibson’s past together, but it’s not an information dump, which I truly appreciate.
This novella is told in alternating point-of-views, and first up, we meet Samantha Dunbar. She’s a dominant. She knows what she likes, and she won’t accept less than that. What she really wants is Gibson Andrews. There’s one problem, though. He’s a dominant, too. He’s bottomed for her a few times to teach her different things, but one night things went a little wild. Gibson ended up running and Samantha was crushed.
Now, she’s trying to put some distance between them, but when she sees him, she can’t help but try and figure out what’s going on in that head of his, and if he’s willing to bend to her rules—even for a night.
Read the full review at We So Nerdy!
This novella is told in alternating point-of-views, and first up, we meet Samantha Dunbar. She’s a dominant. She knows what she likes, and she won’t accept less than that. What she really wants is Gibson Andrews. There’s one problem, though. He’s a dominant, too. He’s bottomed for her a few times to teach her different things, but one night things went a little wild. Gibson ended up running and Samantha was crushed.
Now, she’s trying to put some distance between them, but when she sees him, she can’t help but try and figure out what’s going on in that head of his, and if he’s willing to bend to her rules—even for a night.
Read the full review at We So Nerdy!
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