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ccoleman813's review against another edition
5.0
~*~Book Description~*~
Obsessed
Derek Brighton has become one of Dallas’s finest detectives through a combination of discipline and obsession. Once he has a target in his sights, nothing can stop him. When he isn’t solving homicides, he applies the same intensity to his playtime at Sanctum, a secretive BDSM club. Unfortunately, no amount of beautiful submissives can fill the hole that one woman left in his heart.
Unhinged
Karina Mills has a reputation for being reckless, and her clients appreciate her results. As a private investigator, she pursues her cases with nothing holding her back. In her personal life, Karina yearns for something different. Playing at Sanctum has been a safe way to find peace, but the one Dom who could truly master her heart is out of reach.
Enflamed
On the hunt for a killer, Derek enters a shadowy underworld only to find the woman he aches for is working the same case. Karina is searching for a missing girl and won’t stop until she finds her. To get close to their prime suspect, they need to pose as a couple. But as their operation goes under the covers, unlikely partners become passionate lovers while the killer prepares to strike.
~*~My Review~*~
Another fantastic read by Lexi Blake!
I absolutely adore the Masters and Mercenaries series! It's one of my all time favorite. I love the way Lexi writes and I am so in love with every single character!
I was so happy to finally see the story of Derek and Karina! They've had such sexual tension in the other books that it could literally eat you alive!
These two finally get to hash out their sexual attraction with each other in this novella. And they are HOT HOT HOT!!!
I love reading about rope play too! Dungeon Games does not disappoint!! Lexi makes rope play sound so incredibly enticing and erotic!
Obsessed
Derek Brighton has become one of Dallas’s finest detectives through a combination of discipline and obsession. Once he has a target in his sights, nothing can stop him. When he isn’t solving homicides, he applies the same intensity to his playtime at Sanctum, a secretive BDSM club. Unfortunately, no amount of beautiful submissives can fill the hole that one woman left in his heart.
Unhinged
Karina Mills has a reputation for being reckless, and her clients appreciate her results. As a private investigator, she pursues her cases with nothing holding her back. In her personal life, Karina yearns for something different. Playing at Sanctum has been a safe way to find peace, but the one Dom who could truly master her heart is out of reach.
Enflamed
On the hunt for a killer, Derek enters a shadowy underworld only to find the woman he aches for is working the same case. Karina is searching for a missing girl and won’t stop until she finds her. To get close to their prime suspect, they need to pose as a couple. But as their operation goes under the covers, unlikely partners become passionate lovers while the killer prepares to strike.
~*~My Review~*~
Another fantastic read by Lexi Blake!
I absolutely adore the Masters and Mercenaries series! It's one of my all time favorite. I love the way Lexi writes and I am so in love with every single character!
I was so happy to finally see the story of Derek and Karina! They've had such sexual tension in the other books that it could literally eat you alive!
These two finally get to hash out their sexual attraction with each other in this novella. And they are HOT HOT HOT!!!
I love reading about rope play too! Dungeon Games does not disappoint!! Lexi makes rope play sound so incredibly enticing and erotic!
lyshreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
becbeach's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this novella with Derek(the cope) and Karina(the PI). The story was finished and no cliffhangers or carry over from other books. The inclusion of many of the former people from Masters and Mercernaries was great along with some new characters like Maia and Will. The heat was steamy and the trouble between the two very realistic. Karina was definitely a strong female who underestimated her worth due to her youthful transgressions but Derek knew her value and wised up to understand he could be her Dom and not need a 24/7 situation so he could control the situation unlike what happened with his former wife.
malissac's review against another edition
4.0
Fast and Furious, Just finished. Review may change.
Another sweet little novella, this one with a bit more suspense...I could have seen this one being a great full length story if it had been one of the main couples. The outcome was easy to figure out but given the length of the story it would have been difficult to keep the 'secret' of who the bad guy was.
I liked these two together and oddly quite like Maia, I'm going to have to go digging and see if she comes back to antagonize all of us in the future. She'd certainly have a 'fun' book!
I wish we had been given the chance to see how Li and Sean 'played' their roles, that would have been such a fun moment. I also wish Karina had been given the opportunity to really light into Derek when he made certain assumptions. I like that he was able to discover certain things on his own but at the same time I wish she'd lit into him on this one particular instance because dang did he deserve it!
Okay, getting closer to being caught up on all the Novellas and then back to Master No....Onward!
Another sweet little novella, this one with a bit more suspense...I could have seen this one being a great full length story if it had been one of the main couples. The outcome was easy to figure out but given the length of the story it would have been difficult to keep the 'secret' of who the bad guy was.
I liked these two together and oddly quite like Maia, I'm going to have to go digging and see if she comes back to antagonize all of us in the future. She'd certainly have a 'fun' book!
I wish we had been given the chance to see how Li and Sean 'played' their roles, that would have been such a fun moment. I also wish Karina had been given the opportunity to really light into Derek when he made certain assumptions. I like that he was able to discover certain things on his own but at the same time I wish she'd lit into him on this one particular instance because dang did he deserve it!
Okay, getting closer to being caught up on all the Novellas and then back to Master No....Onward!
ofbooksncupcakes's review against another edition
5.0
I was coming out of my high from reading Dungeon Royale (Book #6) and didn't think any book could top that but boy was I wrong. I think I love this book better than book #6. Yes, it is just a novella but it packed a wallop! I still am in love with Damon but Derek is right up there next to him.
When I came across Karina a couple of books back, I didn't think I was going to like her as much as I do. I thought her to be a petulant character and an unworthy sub but Lexi Blake proved me wrong. Karina's back story just broke my heart and she is such a strong female character. Oh and I really like Queen Bitch Maia, she's a wee bit psychotic I think!
This series just keep getting better and better with each book. Please don't let the next book suck!
When I came across Karina a couple of books back, I didn't think I was going to like her as much as I do. I thought her to be a petulant character and an unworthy sub but Lexi Blake proved me wrong. Karina's back story just broke my heart and she is such a strong female character. Oh and I really like Queen Bitch Maia, she's a wee bit psychotic I think!
This series just keep getting better and better with each book. Please don't let the next book suck!
poisonivy70's review against another edition
4.0
In this novella set in Ms. Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries ‘verse, Derek Brighton and Karina Mills are thrown together when a serial killer targets submissives from the local BDSM scene in Dallas. Derek and Karina have been dancing around their attraction to each other for quite a while in Ms. Blake’s books. Derek is brought in on the serial killer case because of his BDSM background, and finds out that Karina has been targeted as the killer’s next victim. Derek volunteers to become her Dom and together, they work to draw out the killer, while working out their own issues with each other.
The Good
Derek and Karina have intrigued me for a long time, and I was eager to see when they would get their chance to be front and center. I wasn’t disappointed. Their scenes are fraught with tension but their connection was apparent from the start. The dialogue flowed well, with good humor and showcased the relationships that have been established between all the characters. The smexy times - yeah, Ms. Blake has never had a problem with that, and she certainly comes through with Derek and Karina. There’s a good balance between the sex and the emotional scenes, and it doesn’t overwhelm.
The Just Ok
The “mystery” of who the killer is, really isn’t. But if I want a mystery, I’ll go read Agatha Christie.
I don’t think it functions well as a standalone. I could easily see it becoming confusing for someone unfamiliar with the ‘verse and all its players to follow the action since there are appearances from many former heroes/heroines.
This also affects the believability of the HEA - I’ve read this series from the beginning and I know there’s a history between Derek and Karina but if I wasn’t, the condensed timeline works against this.
The Bottom Line
As a fan of this series, I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend to those already familiar with this ‘verse. If you’re not, I wouldn’t think this is the place to start.
The Good
Derek and Karina have intrigued me for a long time, and I was eager to see when they would get their chance to be front and center. I wasn’t disappointed. Their scenes are fraught with tension but their connection was apparent from the start. The dialogue flowed well, with good humor and showcased the relationships that have been established between all the characters. The smexy times - yeah, Ms. Blake has never had a problem with that, and she certainly comes through with Derek and Karina. There’s a good balance between the sex and the emotional scenes, and it doesn’t overwhelm.
The Just Ok
The “mystery” of who the killer is, really isn’t. But if I want a mystery, I’ll go read Agatha Christie.
I don’t think it functions well as a standalone. I could easily see it becoming confusing for someone unfamiliar with the ‘verse and all its players to follow the action since there are appearances from many former heroes/heroines.
This also affects the believability of the HEA - I’ve read this series from the beginning and I know there’s a history between Derek and Karina but if I wasn’t, the condensed timeline works against this.
The Bottom Line
As a fan of this series, I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend to those already familiar with this ‘verse. If you’re not, I wouldn’t think this is the place to start.
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