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grapeapril75's review against another edition
5.0
Holy hotness!! This was a super steamy read! Loved the BDSM elements!! Great story with engaging characters!
angielou's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favorite stories from this author. I have read this book several times, I love it that much. Mackenzie has so much baggage that even though she decides to start anew in a new city she is still dragging it with her and gets her in trouble with the owner of the home she is renting. Alex is an amazing, attentive dom....
hmsand796's review against another edition
4.0
Not my favorite of Sinclair's work, but still yummy and difficult for me to put down! A smokin' hot experienced Dom *sigh* and a messed-up-in-the-head BDSM newbie, it's a great match!
gimmethatbook's review against another edition
5.0
The best book I've read in this genre so far. The plot was plausible, there was no FBI involved, and the characters were interesting and believable.
Now for the bad stuff. I didn't like that Mac equated spanking with love, and the use of her character's word "frak" was jarring and strange. When it first appeared I thought it was a misprint. Then she kept on saying it, and each time it just pulled me up short. Why not just have her say "yikes" or "shit" or better yet, take the expletive out about 40% of the time?!? By the time the explanation came, about 3/4 of the way thru the book, I just sneered and wished the editor had put her red pencil through it. That tiny complaint aside, I enjoyed this book immensely and would recommend it to someone who has never read about BDSM. It's not too heavy, and the ending was well thought out.
Now for the bad stuff. I didn't like that Mac equated spanking with love, and the use of her character's word "frak" was jarring and strange. When it first appeared I thought it was a misprint. Then she kept on saying it, and each time it just pulled me up short. Why not just have her say "yikes" or "shit" or better yet, take the expletive out about 40% of the time?!? By the time the explanation came, about 3/4 of the way thru the book, I just sneered and wished the editor had put her red pencil through it. That tiny complaint aside, I enjoyed this book immensely and would recommend it to someone who has never read about BDSM. It's not too heavy, and the ending was well thought out.
taterbeans's review
5.0
When I get a new Cherise book
I know
And when the first spanking happens I get
And page after glorious page
As always this one was
I know
And when the first spanking happens I get
And page after glorious page
As always this one was
mangoagrata's review
1.0
18+
Review TW: Sexual Assault, Prostitution
I’ve read my fair share of BDSM in the past, and this book absolutely had things that BDSM DOESN’T stand for. There are so many things wrong with this book, so many problematic philosophies, and I feel that anyone who wants to read this should be made aware of them going into it.
Let me make this clear, I’m not part of the BDSM community so take what I say with a grain of salt. That being said, I’ve done a lot of psychological research on BDSM in the past and strongly feel that if someone who is new to BDSM read this book, they could be misinformed about consent and everything BDSM stands for.
- First, the book starts off with a non-consenting sub, totally defeating the purpose of BDSM and its rules on consent. The whole foundation of BDSM is making sure that both parties are mutually consensual. That being said, communication is so important. Surprise surprise, this book lacks it. In one scene, Alex brings Mackensie to a BDSM club for the first time. Being her first time in the BDSM scene, you’d think he’d explain to her what a safe word is and tell her the safe word. Nope, he just leaves her in the dark until another dom brings it up. But when she finally does use her safe word, Alex convinces her to try their “activity” again. This literally defeats the whole freaking purpose of a safe word!!!! No, no, no, NOT okay.
- Speaking of consent, Alex repeatedly tells Mackensie that he takes her getting wet or turned on as a reason to continue whatever sexual activity he’s having with her. NO. It should be obvious that our bodies have natural reactions to certain things, even if we are not mentally enjoying it. This unfortunately happens to so many sexual assault victims. I hate that he thinks her getting turned on should hold a higher importance than her actual verbal words of telling him to stop.
- Alex repeatedly tries to pry into Mackensie’s past while sexually touching her. This is so manipulative. You know exactly what you’re doing.
- In one scene, Alex edges her and tells her that she can only come if she has sex with him. This is clearly a way to take advantage of her vulnerability to manipulate her into having sex, even when she clearly stated in the beginning she didn’t want to. When she finally does have sex with him, he tells her that he won’t touch her and then proceeds to anyway.
- Alex’s response when Mackensie told him about her past was actually so stupid and underwhelming. “You were a teenager, which is another term for idiotic.” So being forced into prostitution for survival is an “idiotic” thing. No, it’s a heartbreaking thing. That is a terrible thing to say, considering she did what she had to do to live. When she proceeds to tell all her friends, they basically tell her it’s only okay because she was just a child. This implies that if she was an adult victim, it wouldn’t have been okay? Huh?
- (Please be warned that this quote may be really triggering) This is an actual passage from the book: “‘I don't…’ The water demanded a response, and her clit tightened. ‘I don't want this, Sir.’ ‘I know, sweetheart. That's why I didn't give you a choice.’” I don’t even know what to say (and no, this isn’t from a roleplay scene).
- Is nobody going to do anything about this Dickinson guy CLEARLY having sex with underage women and maltreating animals in his clinics? He should have been arrested or at the very least, had his veterinarian license taken away. I thought Alex was supposed to be this big, powerful man in society. I’m sure he’d have the power to something if he really cared.
- And finally, this is just a personal opinion but I can’t with the word “frak”. Say frak one more time Mackensie, I swear.
I read this book a month ago and writing this review made me realize how bad it was all over again.
The only thing I enjoyed about this book was the author’s note. It was actually pretty wholesome.
Review TW: Sexual Assault, Prostitution
I’ve read my fair share of BDSM in the past, and this book absolutely had things that BDSM DOESN’T stand for. There are so many things wrong with this book, so many problematic philosophies, and I feel that anyone who wants to read this should be made aware of them going into it.
Let me make this clear, I’m not part of the BDSM community so take what I say with a grain of salt. That being said, I’ve done a lot of psychological research on BDSM in the past and strongly feel that if someone who is new to BDSM read this book, they could be misinformed about consent and everything BDSM stands for.
- First, the book starts off with a non-consenting sub, totally defeating the purpose of BDSM and its rules on consent. The whole foundation of BDSM is making sure that both parties are mutually consensual. That being said, communication is so important. Surprise surprise, this book lacks it. In one scene, Alex brings Mackensie to a BDSM club for the first time. Being her first time in the BDSM scene, you’d think he’d explain to her what a safe word is and tell her the safe word. Nope, he just leaves her in the dark until another dom brings it up. But when she finally does use her safe word, Alex convinces her to try their “activity” again. This literally defeats the whole freaking purpose of a safe word!!!! No, no, no, NOT okay.
- Speaking of consent, Alex repeatedly tells Mackensie that he takes her getting wet or turned on as a reason to continue whatever sexual activity he’s having with her. NO. It should be obvious that our bodies have natural reactions to certain things, even if we are not mentally enjoying it. This unfortunately happens to so many sexual assault victims. I hate that he thinks her getting turned on should hold a higher importance than her actual verbal words of telling him to stop.
- Alex repeatedly tries to pry into Mackensie’s past while sexually touching her. This is so manipulative. You know exactly what you’re doing.
- In one scene, Alex edges her and tells her that she can only come if she has sex with him. This is clearly a way to take advantage of her vulnerability to manipulate her into having sex, even when she clearly stated in the beginning she didn’t want to. When she finally does have sex with him, he tells her that he won’t touch her and then proceeds to anyway.
- Alex’s response when Mackensie told him about her past was actually so stupid and underwhelming. “You were a teenager, which is another term for idiotic.” So being forced into prostitution for survival is an “idiotic” thing. No, it’s a heartbreaking thing. That is a terrible thing to say, considering she did what she had to do to live. When she proceeds to tell all her friends, they basically tell her it’s only okay because she was just a child. This implies that if she was an adult victim, it wouldn’t have been okay? Huh?
- (Please be warned that this quote may be really triggering) This is an actual passage from the book: “‘I don't…’ The water demanded a response, and her clit tightened. ‘I don't want this, Sir.’ ‘I know, sweetheart. That's why I didn't give you a choice.’” I don’t even know what to say (and no, this isn’t from a roleplay scene).
- Is nobody going to do anything about this Dickinson guy CLEARLY having sex with underage women and maltreating animals in his clinics? He should have been arrested or at the very least, had his veterinarian license taken away. I thought Alex was supposed to be this big, powerful man in society. I’m sure he’d have the power to something if he really cared.
- And finally, this is just a personal opinion but I can’t with the word “frak”. Say frak one more time Mackensie, I swear.
I read this book a month ago and writing this review made me realize how bad it was all over again.
The only thing I enjoyed about this book was the author’s note. It was actually pretty wholesome.
munocr's review
2.0
I enjoyed all the other BDSM series by this author, but this one was difficult.
Like so many other stories we see a male Dom and female Sub who is still new to BDSM and sheltered sexually. My problem in this is how the underage prostitution was addressed. I am not a person easily turned off based on triggers but underage age gap is the line for me. That IS NOT the situation here, both propagate full adults. But our female was forced into prostitution for a year as a young teen. When this comes to light all the other characters see this as teenage fiascos, rather than abuse and assault. That is where I struggle, and it even goes further where the male states that he thought she was raped…. Ummm she was repeatedly for a year….
This is fictional and I am not upset about the horrible events this character experienced. But the way in which this was identified is the item I dislike the most. Even fictional child can’t consent to prostitution.
Like so many other stories we see a male Dom and female Sub who is still new to BDSM and sheltered sexually. My problem in this is how the underage prostitution was addressed. I am not a person easily turned off based on triggers but underage age gap is the line for me. That IS NOT the situation here, both propagate full adults. But our female was forced into prostitution for a year as a young teen. When this comes to light all the other characters see this as teenage fiascos, rather than abuse and assault. That is where I struggle, and it even goes further where the male states that he thought she was raped…. Ummm she was repeatedly for a year….
This is fictional and I am not upset about the horrible events this character experienced. But the way in which this was identified is the item I dislike the most. Even fictional child can’t consent to prostitution.
ashezbookz's review against another edition
3.0
I went on a Cherise kick, then ran out of books on kobo, then found some on iBooks, so got this one, glad I waited between the books though I do find a lot of the writing repetitive like the "sun lines" crinkling happen a lot in all of her books. Story was very cute and who could resist Butler and Chef? I mean really. It was a short read too so a perfect mini read!
cravingpages's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75