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jigsawgirl's review
4.0
The first book in the series gives you the background in how the Black Stallion Ranch came to be. It introduces the Steele brothers, their father Drake, and Jennie. It is also about Maddox's mission and how he meets Adira.
The book has aspects of mystery, suspense, murder, and intrigue. You also get a healthy dose of romance, steamy scenes, domestic discipline, and a little BDSM. If any of these aspects are offensive to you, my suggestion would be to pass. Not only on this book, but the other two as well.
The book has aspects of mystery, suspense, murder, and intrigue. You also get a healthy dose of romance, steamy scenes, domestic discipline, and a little BDSM. If any of these aspects are offensive to you, my suggestion would be to pass. Not only on this book, but the other two as well.
kate_and_books's review
4.0
Once upon a time, there was a girl who thought her favourite love was riding her horse across the dunes of Arabia, until she saw a cowboy in a black hat. From that moment, her destiny was changed….
Adira Nazar’s an Arabian princess is the daughter of one of the most important families who have legal businesses and not so legal businesses. What she doesn’t know is that her world is about to implode.
The heroine in the book is strong, sassy but at the same time quite naïve. There were times that she behaved like a spoilt brat and pouted as a child. But overall I admire her persistence and her strength to deal with what was happening to her.
The Steele family has a twenty year old debt to pay that debt is getting key family of the Nazar’s family out of Dubai as they are in danger.
Maddox was there for the save of Adira but in the end she is hers. Mine. This is an action packed book with main and secondary characters I just can’t get enough of.
The blurb sounded really quite cheesy to be honest but cheesy blurb aside hands down. I haven’t read something so unique and original.
There are BDSM elements in the book and although done well there were times were I thought that Adira was really quite out of her depth and that her feelings and behaviour were out of place when it came to the chemistry with Maddox.
The ending was a bit rushed but there is somewhat of cliffhanger but with Adira and Maddox’s story being wrapped up Stryder’s book is next. Maddox’s adopted brother.
I read this book because my friend Mareike read it and left such a great review that I had to check it out and all I can say is that I really enjoyed this book a lot.
Adira Nazar’s an Arabian princess is the daughter of one of the most important families who have legal businesses and not so legal businesses. What she doesn’t know is that her world is about to implode.
The heroine in the book is strong, sassy but at the same time quite naïve. There were times that she behaved like a spoilt brat and pouted as a child. But overall I admire her persistence and her strength to deal with what was happening to her.
The Steele family has a twenty year old debt to pay that debt is getting key family of the Nazar’s family out of Dubai as they are in danger.
Maddox was there for the save of Adira but in the end she is hers. Mine. This is an action packed book with main and secondary characters I just can’t get enough of.
The blurb sounded really quite cheesy to be honest but cheesy blurb aside hands down. I haven’t read something so unique and original.
There are BDSM elements in the book and although done well there were times were I thought that Adira was really quite out of her depth and that her feelings and behaviour were out of place when it came to the chemistry with Maddox.
The ending was a bit rushed but there is somewhat of cliffhanger but with Adira and Maddox’s story being wrapped up Stryder’s book is next. Maddox’s adopted brother.
I read this book because my friend Mareike read it and left such a great review that I had to check it out and all I can say is that I really enjoyed this book a lot.
tlea's review
5.0
I found this to be a great book from beginning to end. I loved the characters & the storyline. I found it a little unlikely in places that a Middle Eastern woman would simply accept all of this happening without it at the very least challenging her beliefs, but I can accept that for a story this original & worthwhile.
mamabookwyrm's review
3.0
There are two things I love: alpha males and “white knight” tropes. And Maddox feeds into both of those things. If you’d look up the definition of alpha male in the dictionary it wouldn’t surprise me if it said See: Maddox Steele. The man walks talks and breathes alpha maleness. Add in the family business? I was all but melting before I got through the first two chapters. So I was prepared to gush over this book. But there were few things that just keep me away from that 4 or 5 star rating.
First, Adira was a bit of a contradiction for me. She was a Ph.D who came off both extremely naïve and illogical. Then she would become a sexpot at the drop of the dime. Granted I know some of that could be explained by her circumstances and country of birth but it was jarring for me. This kept me from connecting to her as a character. Secondly, there was a spanking scene that just felt off to me.
However, the book is full of suspense and intrigue tempered by the heat and chemistry of Adira and Maddox’s relationship. There is some definite tension between the two of them that leaps off the pages. Plus there’s Jennie. She kept me giggling. I’ll definitely read the rest of the books just to see what else she gets up to to drive the Steele men nuts.
If you’re a fan of extremely dominant men, this may just be up your alley and you should definitely check it out.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
For more reviews, visit
First, Adira was a bit of a contradiction for me. She was a Ph.D who came off both extremely naïve and illogical. Then she would become a sexpot at the drop of the dime. Granted I know some of that could be explained by her circumstances and country of birth but it was jarring for me. This kept me from connecting to her as a character. Secondly, there was a spanking scene that just felt off to me.
Spoiler
I don’t mind spanking between two consensual adults but at the time of the spanking on the airplane they were practically strangers. It was for chastisement and not within a D/s relationship and just seemed out of place.However, the book is full of suspense and intrigue tempered by the heat and chemistry of Adira and Maddox’s relationship. There is some definite tension between the two of them that leaps off the pages. Plus there’s Jennie. She kept me giggling. I’ll definitely read the rest of the books just to see what else she gets up to to drive the Steele men nuts.
If you’re a fan of extremely dominant men, this may just be up your alley and you should definitely check it out.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
For more reviews, visit
becsa's review
4.0
Maddox Steele is in the United Arab Emirates as a rancher looking for thoroughbreds for his families ranch, Black Stallion Ranch, with his father, Drake. Yet they are also there as a favor to Hadi Nazar who believes that his family is in great danger and he is proven right.
Adira Nazar is the granddaughter of Hadi and her life explodes in front of her eyes and she loses everyone she loves. Yet now she must put her trust in two Americans whom she has never seen before. Is she safe with them?
Can Maddox and his family keep Adira safe from those that wish her harm and will they find out who is behind everything in time?
This was a great introduction to Black Stallion Ranch and all of the characters!
I thought Maddox was a great character and part way through the book you meet a different side of him when Adira doesn't listen to him! I really liked what his family stood for and how they protected the innocent people from some pretty evil people.
I felt for Adira with everything she lost and how she was suddenly brought to a new place with not a lot of say in what was happening. I can't imagine everything she was going through. I liked that she was tough and was raised to be prepared for the worst just in case.
I loved Jenni and how hippie she was. I loved the close relationship she formed with Adira.
I also really liked the foreshadowing that was done so you knew what the next book would be focusing on with the link to the Russian Sex Trade/Slave industry.
The end was a little intense but I loved how it all turned out and I am looking forward to the next book!
Adira Nazar is the granddaughter of Hadi and her life explodes in front of her eyes and she loses everyone she loves. Yet now she must put her trust in two Americans whom she has never seen before. Is she safe with them?
Can Maddox and his family keep Adira safe from those that wish her harm and will they find out who is behind everything in time?
This was a great introduction to Black Stallion Ranch and all of the characters!
I thought Maddox was a great character and part way through the book you meet a different side of him when Adira doesn't listen to him! I really liked what his family stood for and how they protected the innocent people from some pretty evil people.
I felt for Adira with everything she lost and how she was suddenly brought to a new place with not a lot of say in what was happening. I can't imagine everything she was going through. I liked that she was tough and was raised to be prepared for the worst just in case.
I loved Jenni and how hippie she was. I loved the close relationship she formed with Adira.
I also really liked the foreshadowing that was done so you knew what the next book would be focusing on with the link to the Russian Sex Trade/Slave industry.
The end was a little intense but I loved how it all turned out and I am looking forward to the next book!
stephsromancebooktalk's review
4.0
This book had a rough start for me because it took a long time to set up two worlds. Then when they combined things started to move at a steady pace. I enjoyed Maddox as that super control freak alpha male cowboy. My enjoyment of Adria was a little more on the fence since she came off as a super smart naïve woman. I will say that I can't wait to read the future books in the series because when this happens (additional books in what appears to be a standalone series) authors tend to provide AH HA moments as the journey progresses in future books even when they are focused on new primary characters.
This was provided as an ARC for an honest and voluntary review.
This specific video review: https://youtu.be/SlyQCbZxCds
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Stephanie Uncensored
https://www.youtube.com/c/stephanieuncensored
This was provided as an ARC for an honest and voluntary review.
This specific video review: https://youtu.be/SlyQCbZxCds
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Stephanie Uncensored
https://www.youtube.com/c/stephanieuncensored
nbiblioholic's review
3.0
I read something from Alta Hensley before ([b:Dark Feather|32150704|Dark Feather|Alta Hensley|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474411339s/32150704.jpg|52788681], which I really enjoyed), but nothing from Maggie Ryan, so this was a new experience for me. I wasn't sure what to expect.
This book was a romantic suspense with an underlying D/s theme throughout. Adira and Maddox (as well as the other Steeles, including Jennie) were all pretty easy to like. There was no mistaking Maddox's need for control, in and out of the bedroom. He was an Alpha right from the start. Adira was headstrong and, at first, very rebellious. I liked the fight she had in her, however, I was disappointed at times with her inner thoughts. How could someone with a PhD lack logic. But then again, given her circumstances, who could really blame her for losing all rationality? I enjoyed the steamier scenes between these characters as well. Despite the necessity of Adira's discipline, each scene gave credence to their intimacy and the undeniable feelings and connection that was growing between them.
Despite this, it was hard to really get into this story. It took quite a while for anything of significance to happen. The narrative was very descriptive when it came to land, homes, boats and horseflesh, but with regards to the actual plot, some of those details weren't as forthcoming. Things would happen but they were mentioned as more of an aside. I would rather have more information about the Steele men than anything else. And sadly the climax to the story felt anti-climactic. There is a huge storyline behind the Steele men and how they came together but there were no details. I wonder if this will be covered in each of their books? But why wasn't more information regarding Maddox's background (his and his father's loss) discussed? How did the government fail them? What happened after that?
Release Date: January 6, 2017
Genre: Romantic Suspense
POV: Dual - 3rd person
Steam: 3 out of 5
Series or Standalone: I'm not sure. I think the story continues into a new book with a different set of main characters.
This book was a romantic suspense with an underlying D/s theme throughout. Adira and Maddox (as well as the other Steeles, including Jennie) were all pretty easy to like. There was no mistaking Maddox's need for control, in and out of the bedroom. He was an Alpha right from the start. Adira was headstrong and, at first, very rebellious. I liked the fight she had in her, however, I was disappointed at times with her inner thoughts. How could someone with a PhD lack logic. But then again, given her circumstances, who could really blame her for losing all rationality? I enjoyed the steamier scenes between these characters as well. Despite the necessity of Adira's discipline, each scene gave credence to their intimacy and the undeniable feelings and connection that was growing between them.
Despite this, it was hard to really get into this story. It took quite a while for anything of significance to happen. The narrative was very descriptive when it came to land, homes, boats and horseflesh, but with regards to the actual plot, some of those details weren't as forthcoming. Things would happen but they were mentioned as more of an aside. I would rather have more information about the Steele men than anything else. And sadly the climax to the story felt anti-climactic. There is a huge storyline behind the Steele men and how they came together but there were no details. I wonder if this will be covered in each of their books? But why wasn't more information regarding Maddox's background (his and his father's loss) discussed? How did the government fail them? What happened after that?
Release Date: January 6, 2017
Genre: Romantic Suspense
POV: Dual - 3rd person
Steam: 3 out of 5
Series or Standalone: I'm not sure. I think the story continues into a new book with a different set of main characters.
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