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jackiehorne's review
4.0
ARC provided by NetGalley
INTIMATE GEOGRAPHY begins where PERSONAL GEOGRAPHY left off: with workaholic India abandoning her job to rush to the side of her former Dom/lover, Crispin, when his mother calls to tell her that Cris has been in a surfing accident. It's not a fatal one, but it does take Crispin some time to recover, and India moves into his house for several weeks to help. Living an everyday life with Cris is both comforting and difficult: "I'm not used to being Kit [India's sub personality] for long periods of time like this, and it's difficult to snap back and forth like I have to do with Vera [Cris's nurse] and Mary [Cris's mom]" (Loc 387). Never mind trying to "type on my laptop on a table on which I've been bound, gagged, fucked, and all manner of other things" (387). When India has to return to California, Cris is initially angered, but India actually opens up a bit and they talk through their frustrations, and their relationship seems to be moving toward another, more open level.
But Cris is a Hawaii guy, and India has no desire to leave her job. And so India starts to pull away again, and turns to Rey, not Cris, when she finds herself in a crisis. Cris, needless to say, is less than pleased: "I hate the fact that you trust me enough to tie you up and beat you, but not to call me and tell me how your day was" (1434). And so this time it is Cris, not India, who decides not to sign any more contracts, and break-up with India.
Some melodrama, including another hospital episode and a job offer on the East Coast, ensue before India and Cris finally get their HEA. I appreciated how Parker showed how difficult it is for a person to change and overcome previous trauma, even when one loves someone.
"Lover... husband, friend, Dominant, equal," thinks India in the book's final scene. A goal definitely worth the achievement.
INTIMATE GEOGRAPHY begins where PERSONAL GEOGRAPHY left off: with workaholic India abandoning her job to rush to the side of her former Dom/lover, Crispin, when his mother calls to tell her that Cris has been in a surfing accident. It's not a fatal one, but it does take Crispin some time to recover, and India moves into his house for several weeks to help. Living an everyday life with Cris is both comforting and difficult: "I'm not used to being Kit [India's sub personality] for long periods of time like this, and it's difficult to snap back and forth like I have to do with Vera [Cris's nurse] and Mary [Cris's mom]" (Loc 387). Never mind trying to "type on my laptop on a table on which I've been bound, gagged, fucked, and all manner of other things" (387). When India has to return to California, Cris is initially angered, but India actually opens up a bit and they talk through their frustrations, and their relationship seems to be moving toward another, more open level.
But Cris is a Hawaii guy, and India has no desire to leave her job. And so India starts to pull away again, and turns to Rey, not Cris, when she finds herself in a crisis. Cris, needless to say, is less than pleased: "I hate the fact that you trust me enough to tie you up and beat you, but not to call me and tell me how your day was" (1434). And so this time it is Cris, not India, who decides not to sign any more contracts, and break-up with India.
Some melodrama, including another hospital episode and a job offer on the East Coast, ensue before India and Cris finally get their HEA. I appreciated how Parker showed how difficult it is for a person to change and overcome previous trauma, even when one loves someone.
"Lover... husband, friend, Dominant, equal," thinks India in the book's final scene. A goal definitely worth the achievement.
hannahgee's review against another edition
1.0
🌶️ Rating: 2/5
I didn’t like this one. I didn’t like the first one very much, but it was a cliffhanger, so I saw it through. There’s more to this series, but unless I get desperate, I’m stopping here. The main character India is a bitch and how she manages to get so many people to dote on her is unfathomable. I listened to this on double speed just to get through it.
I didn’t like this one. I didn’t like the first one very much, but it was a cliffhanger, so I saw it through. There’s more to this series, but unless I get desperate, I’m stopping here. The main character India is a bitch and how she manages to get so many people to dote on her is unfathomable. I listened to this on double speed just to get through it.
liferhi_inspired's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
Warning: Intimate is the second book in Cris and India's story, and should be read after reading Personal Geography as this book picks up where that book ended.
If you were a fan of the intense, while still tender relationship between Cris and India in the first book, you'll love the even more in this second part. I loved the tenderness that we were able to see between in the first part of this series, and the tenderness only continues as India begins to slowly open up to Cris.
While we were given some of the back story that has haunted India's past, this story really brings those faults to the forefront. And as India struggles with her feelings, Cris is there and just as patient as always. India really evolves in this book into a more well rounded woman, though she still struggles to open up to those around her.
Many of the things that I love about this first book, were also present in this one. The fast paced storyline, the D/s scenes that were both intense and sweet, and the vulnerable yet strong heroine. The one thing that I wasn't as excited about how quickly a couple of the scenes evolved, ending too quickly and felt a bit incomplete.
*I received a copy of this book i exchange for my honest opinion*
Warning: Intimate is the second book in Cris and India's story, and should be read after reading Personal Geography as this book picks up where that book ended.
If you were a fan of the intense, while still tender relationship between Cris and India in the first book, you'll love the even more in this second part. I loved the tenderness that we were able to see between in the first part of this series, and the tenderness only continues as India begins to slowly open up to Cris.
While we were given some of the back story that has haunted India's past, this story really brings those faults to the forefront. And as India struggles with her feelings, Cris is there and just as patient as always. India really evolves in this book into a more well rounded woman, though she still struggles to open up to those around her.
Many of the things that I love about this first book, were also present in this one. The fast paced storyline, the D/s scenes that were both intense and sweet, and the vulnerable yet strong heroine. The one thing that I wasn't as excited about how quickly a couple of the scenes evolved, ending too quickly and felt a bit incomplete.
*I received a copy of this book i exchange for my honest opinion*
briarsreviews's review
5.0
Intimate Geography is a sexy, hot read that keeps you addicted at every turn!
I did not read the first novel in this series, Personal Geography, but I was still able to follow the plot pretty well. I did have some confusion at the beginning of the book, but once you get into the novel not knowing the first book isn't much of a problem. Once you are about one quarter of the way into the book, Tamsen Parker has given you enough background for the reader to at least have a general understanding of the relationships of the characters.
I would suggest reading the first book since the sequel is it's own novel and doesn't explain every detail about what happened in the first novel though. So I will be trying to pick it up myself to grasp a better understanding! Please be aware of this during my review, that I did not read the first book.
Intimate Geography is definitely an R rated book. It has lots of sex and BDSM throughout the novel. But this novel is not a "Fifty Shades of Grey" novel, it's much better! This novel has a plot, follows India (the main character) throughout her career, and has her balancing friends, family, romance and career like any normal person does. Of course, India's adventures are much more exaggerated than a normal person's troubles, but that's what makes this book so much fun!
The entire novel is very realistic, despite all the drama that occurs. Nothing seems to out of whack or misplaced, such as plot movements and big developments. Throughout the novel, I felt like this could actually be happening to someone and it felt real.
I did not expect the plot twists, and I usually am the first to guess them. Tamsen did a wonderful job changing up the plot to keep the novel interesting, and keep me addicted the whole time.
It is not your typical romance, but it is definitely a thrilling ride!
Anyone who likes: Erotic novels, romance, emotional and dramatic books, or shocking plot twists would love this novel!
Overall, I give this fantastic fictional read a five out of five stars! There weren't points wrong with this novel. If anything, Tamsen could add a little more background about the last book for new readers, but previous readers may find that boring and tedious.
Wonderful novel! Five out of five stars! I loved it!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I did not read the first novel in this series, Personal Geography, but I was still able to follow the plot pretty well. I did have some confusion at the beginning of the book, but once you get into the novel not knowing the first book isn't much of a problem. Once you are about one quarter of the way into the book, Tamsen Parker has given you enough background for the reader to at least have a general understanding of the relationships of the characters.
I would suggest reading the first book since the sequel is it's own novel and doesn't explain every detail about what happened in the first novel though. So I will be trying to pick it up myself to grasp a better understanding! Please be aware of this during my review, that I did not read the first book.
Intimate Geography is definitely an R rated book. It has lots of sex and BDSM throughout the novel. But this novel is not a "Fifty Shades of Grey" novel, it's much better! This novel has a plot, follows India (the main character) throughout her career, and has her balancing friends, family, romance and career like any normal person does. Of course, India's adventures are much more exaggerated than a normal person's troubles, but that's what makes this book so much fun!
The entire novel is very realistic, despite all the drama that occurs. Nothing seems to out of whack or misplaced, such as plot movements and big developments. Throughout the novel, I felt like this could actually be happening to someone and it felt real.
I did not expect the plot twists, and I usually am the first to guess them. Tamsen did a wonderful job changing up the plot to keep the novel interesting, and keep me addicted the whole time.
It is not your typical romance, but it is definitely a thrilling ride!
Anyone who likes: Erotic novels, romance, emotional and dramatic books, or shocking plot twists would love this novel!
Overall, I give this fantastic fictional read a five out of five stars! There weren't points wrong with this novel. If anything, Tamsen could add a little more background about the last book for new readers, but previous readers may find that boring and tedious.
Wonderful novel! Five out of five stars! I loved it!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
superdydy's review
4.0
Good story, but a little slow. I feel like the duet of books would have been better as 1.5 books. Maybe added her history with Hunter in the beginning or threaded through as flashbacks rather than make it 3 books.
glassesgirl79's review
4.0
Great second novel in the compass series which shows the deepening relationship between India & Cris. Since India has been hurt in the past, the only person she trusts 100% is her friend/handler Rey. In the previous book “personal geography,” India is used to hooking up with guys to provide her with the type of kink she craves.
When she meets Cris, it stirs up unfamiliar emotions within her. Over time, she begins to thaw and eventually begins to trust Cris. Their growing relationship has growing pains such as India being conflicted as to how much of her heart she should give to Cris as well as Cris being willing to accept any small glimpses of love India gives him.
I enjoyed the writing and development of the relationship between India and Cris as well as the steamy sex scenes. I feel that the author did a good job of realistically presenting bumps that occur in relationships involving trust issues as well as long distance relationships.
When she meets Cris, it stirs up unfamiliar emotions within her. Over time, she begins to thaw and eventually begins to trust Cris. Their growing relationship has growing pains such as India being conflicted as to how much of her heart she should give to Cris as well as Cris being willing to accept any small glimpses of love India gives him.
I enjoyed the writing and development of the relationship between India and Cris as well as the steamy sex scenes. I feel that the author did a good job of realistically presenting bumps that occur in relationships involving trust issues as well as long distance relationships.
anacoqui's review
4.0
Intimate Geography is book 2 in Tamsen Parker’s The Compass series duology. It picks up right after the cliffhanger ending of Personal Geography.
In this volume Cris and India have to make sense of what her choice means for their relationship and lives. I thought Parker did a fantastic job showing how hard this was for India. India reacts in believable ways, she wants to please Cris and stretches to live outside of her emotional comfort zone for the first time in years, but it takes a toll. I loved seeing how hard and complicated it was for India to break the emotional and relational habits she has intentionally cultivated for years. I liked seeing how thirsty India is for the kind of relationship Cris wants, even as it causes her stress and anxiety. Their pain, anger and confusion as they try to make decisions about their relationship was very compelling.
One of the things I wanted to see in this volume was for us to know Cris better and we did. We see in his home outside of his role as Dom, interacting with family and friends and best of all we get to see him in India’s domain. However the story is still first and foremost centered on India, her struggles, her pain and the risks to her heart. India makes some really painfully wrong choices in this novel, but they are completely in character.
The one flaw I found in the story was that the perpetrators of the catalyzing event near the end of the book that solidifies a happy ending for Cris and India were introduced very late into the story. In the previous book Parker had already introduced several people who have been dangerous to India’s life and career, and built up suspense for a particular kind of threat, they are neither responsible for the event, and the event is very different in nature than what we were led to expect, and that was less than satisfying.
I did love the story, primarily for how emotionally complicated India is and how anti-type Cris, he is my favorite #RomDom ever.
In this volume Cris and India have to make sense of what her choice means for their relationship and lives. I thought Parker did a fantastic job showing how hard this was for India. India reacts in believable ways, she wants to please Cris and stretches to live outside of her emotional comfort zone for the first time in years, but it takes a toll. I loved seeing how hard and complicated it was for India to break the emotional and relational habits she has intentionally cultivated for years. I liked seeing how thirsty India is for the kind of relationship Cris wants, even as it causes her stress and anxiety. Their pain, anger and confusion as they try to make decisions about their relationship was very compelling.
One of the things I wanted to see in this volume was for us to know Cris better and we did. We see in his home outside of his role as Dom, interacting with family and friends and best of all we get to see him in India’s domain. However the story is still first and foremost centered on India, her struggles, her pain and the risks to her heart. India makes some really painfully wrong choices in this novel, but they are completely in character.
The one flaw I found in the story was that the perpetrators of the catalyzing event near the end of the book that solidifies a happy ending for Cris and India were introduced very late into the story. In the previous book Parker had already introduced several people who have been dangerous to India’s life and career, and built up suspense for a particular kind of threat, they are neither responsible for the event, and the event is very different in nature than what we were led to expect, and that was less than satisfying.
I did love the story, primarily for how emotionally complicated India is and how anti-type Cris, he is my favorite #RomDom ever.
melonreads's review
5.0
India and Cris'story reaches its ultimate conclusion and it's a pretty satisfying conclusion. Will definitely be reading more of this author given how much I enjoyed this book even though I don't particularly care for BDSM plot lines.
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