Haven (Beards & Bondage) by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Blurb: A week-long getaway…

City girl Claudia Cade’s carefree life is plunged into chaos when a camping trip with her brother in the national forests of Northern California turns into a deadly dash for her survival.

A solitary world turned upside down…

Nature photographer Shepard Olsen has resigned himself to a quiet existence, with only his dog by his side, until a woman in need of his protection shows up on his doorstep and throws his universe into disarray.

Two lives linked by tragedy…

Claudia is desperate to heal from her traumatic loss, but can’t stop thinking about her run-in with evil….or the grizzled mountain man whose quick thinking and good aim saved her life. When she shows up on Shep’s doorstep again, she finds she isn’t the only one who can’t move on.

…saved by bliss.

The two begin an intense, passionate relationship of Dominance and submission, pleasure and pain, but with dark memories haunting them and decisions about the future rapidly approaching, Claudia can’t help but wonder…how long can they be each other’s haven?

*** WARNING: This book contains a sexual relationship between a fashionista and a cranky mountain man who are dealing with physical and emotional trauma. And a very big, cuddly dog.***

4 stars

This is the most I’ve learned about BDSM in a fictional book. It was eye opening. And I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t a little bit interested to learn more.

The beginning dove right in, like from the very first page it was clear what this book was about.  I kinda dug that because some people tend to get twitchy with these kinds of books.  You read the first page and know if you want to continue or not. Saves people who are on the fence time. I appreciated that.

The sexual parts were graphic without feeling like an info dump or manual.  Their chemistry was pretty hot.  The only thing I will say is I didn’t quite understand how fast they fell.  It could have been a bit more deep in that aspect.  Much of their relationship was rooted in trauma and sex so you knew they were gonna have strong chemistry. I just wish we could have moved passed the surface feelings in a more detailed way. The author kinda skimmed over the tough emotional parts of the relationship. And while they did address most of the reasoning behind their attraction, the way they went about pursuing the relationship was sub-par for me, especially in the end.  Which is why I knocked off a star.

Other than that, I enjoyed how realistic is was. They were not perfect, in fact, I wanted to slap both Shep and Claudia multiple times throughout.  But that was what intrigued me in the first place.  I believed this could happen IRL. I didn’t know this was a series when I requested it.  Not that I’m complaining, but y’all know I’m doing a series challenge and now this is just one more to add to my list.

I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest/unbiased review.

Siren in the City by Sophie Oak

Blurb:
[Menage Amour: Erotic Cowboy Menage a Trois Romance, M/M/F, BDSM, public exhibition] When the Dom’s away…the subs will play! Jack and Sam married Abby. It was supposed to be for forever, but lately Abby wonders where her alpha male has gone. Jack has retreated, and life has become decidedly vanilla. It isn’t the true threesome she and Sam wanted. Sam and Abby know the time has come to fight for what they need. A call from his mentor forces Jack to revisit the club where he discovered his sexuality. Jack’s half-brother is in the city and interested in a little blackmail. Can Jack handle two defiant subs and a brother in need of tough love? Sometimes all it takes to find the way home is a little love and a lot of bondage. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

    

Blurb:
ORIGINAL REVIEW: 4 stars — I enjoyed it….I loved the characters from the first one and it was neat to catch up with them and not just assume a happily ever after…

ON REREAD: 4 stars — OK, this is going to sound funny, but I laughed a lot…and you guessed it, it was because of incorrigible Sam.  Seriously, that man is just…awesomesauce.  I laughed so much at the tiny side conversation about them being a line…oh Abby, you are so right.  I really enjoyed that while we got a bit of a HEA in the previous book, this one showed us that life always brings more struggles, and that some traumas can be felt more deeply than we thought.  What Jack struggles through is intriguing.  Again with that shame thing.

I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to the Club, and all the colourful characters who are going to get their own stories as the series continues.  What makes a great series for me is great secondary characters that intrigue you, and make you *wish* for their stories.  And there were so many, from Julian and Leo to Lucas and even Abby’s daughter.  And what becomes great as the series goes on is glimpses back to characters whose stories have already been told.  You fall in love with Jack, Sam, and Abby, and you know you’ll see them in the future, even if it’s just glimpses.

I will reiterate one thing though — I know NOTHING about BDSM.  So the accuracy of its portrayal in these books is not something I can comment on.  But since I’m not actually interested in the lifestyle in real life, it was thoroughly entertaining for me in a fictional sense.  But if it is something that you participate in in real life, I have a feeling this might not be super accurate, and I could see that pissing people off.  So take these books with a grain of salt.

Small Town Siren by Sophie Oak

Blurb:
[Menage Amour: Erotic Cowboy Menage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, BDSM, sex toys] Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood have been best friends since they met in foster care. They share a business as cattle ranchers and a house. All they need now is a woman to share. The men are sure they’ve found that woman when Abigail Moore returns to Willow Fork, Texas. Abby left her hometown twenty years before under a cloud of scandal. She’s raised a daughter, forged a new life for herself, and is ready for the next phase when she meets the handsome cowboys. They’re a dream come true; Jack is the sexy Dom, and Sam the playful lover. It’s everything she’s ever fantasized about. There’s only one problem. She’s still not welcome in Willow Fork, and someone is willing to kill to keep her away. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

     

My Review:
ORIGINAL REVIEW: 4.5 stars — BDSM isn’t high on my list of fantasies, but the characters and interactions in this book were just so delicious. Seriously sweet and vulnerable characters. Nice side plot….

ON REREAD: 4.5 stars — Yeah, you know what?  I’ve learned through the years that I apparently enjoy reading about BDSM.  And maybe that’s because of the way that authors like Ms. Oak portray it.  I still don’t get the impulses personally, but it is hella hot to read about regardless.  And Sam and Jack, well they could sell me anything.  😛  There’s just something so enjoyable about their already established relationship, how they looked out for each other, and how they basically get the green light on Abby and MOVE IN for the strike!  Poor Abby didn’t know what hit her.  And she was a delight in her own right.  Sassy, but so damaged, but still very strong.

It’s got a lot of stretch the imaginations parts — like would a guy like Jack Barnes really rule that town?  And the ruthlessness…damn the ruthlessness.  I mean, I’m not actually a girl who is into revenge and making people pay and all that jazz, but for some reason I enjoy reading about it.  Or maybe Jack just makes it palatable.  He’s so…intriguing.

Alas, I will admit, it is Samuel that stole the show for me.  He’s just so damn incorrigible.  Seriously.  And I loved how Abby helped Sam and Jack move forward themselves.  This one doesn’t get too in to the BDSM stuff, just a taster really.  But again, it’s got some good intrigue going on, and a bit of suspense/action.  All in all, not bad for an erotica.  A great start to a series that I really ended up thoroughly enjoying.

Siren Enslaved by Sophie Oak

Blurb:
[#336 Siren Menage Everlasting: Erotic Cowboy Menage a Trois Romance, M/M/F, BDSM, sex toys] Julian Lodge has everything a man could want. He’s rich, successful and owns the most exclusive BDSM club in Dallas. But something is missing. Finn Taylor has worked his way up in the world from humble beginnings in Willow Fork, Texas. The only thing he still loves in his hometown is Danielle Bay. He never told her he was actually bisexual, and he never confessed his love for her. Now she’s getting married, and Finn is sure he’s lost his chance with the only person he’ll ever love. Julian’s vacation to the Barnes-Fleetwood ranch brings them all together. After Dani jumps into Julian’s car while fleeing her wedding, Julian knows he has to have her. But nothing is easy in Willow Fork. A danger from Julian’s past threatens them all. Julian will have to convince both Dani and Finn that being his will be the best decision they ever made. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

    

My Review:
ORIGINAL REVIEW: 4 stars — OK, seriously fun to get glimpses back in the Barnes household. Loved this story of Julian….didn’t think I would end up liking him. I mean…I like plots in Erotica, but I don’t expect much. I really did enjoy his transition though… Entertaining and arousing.

ON REREAD: 4 stars — I’m in the middle of rereading this series (and the Bliss series) and I figured why not throw my reviews up on the blog!  I pretty much agree with my original review.  Obviously it’s awesome to catch glimpses of so many characters I’ve grown to really love and enjoy…and to see glimpses of stories to come (even though I’ve already read them, seeing the teasers and knowing what is coming can be fun sometimes).  While I thoroughly enjoy reading ménage (particularly M/M/F) erotica, as well as BDSM, it’s more like a reading fantasy than a real one.  What I find, personally, is that these books have made me a bit fascinated with the culture.  Not enough to explore it, but it’s like understanding different kinds of people.  And I’m not naive enough to assume that the author got it all right, but I do enjoy the way it is portrayed.  I love that all the characters have backstory and depth, and that you get to see some of what makes the big bad Dom need his control so badly.

One of the other things I love about this series, and had entirely forgotten, is the element of suspense and…action?  Thriller?  There’s always a bad guy, and a desperate (sometimes life or death) situation.  So I not only get some fabulous steam, I get a dose of (sometimes unrealistic) action too.

But my favourite part in this book comes when Julian chastises Finn for letting his own shame bring Dani down and make her question her desires.  He says ,”You are only on the outside because you’re trying to fit into your idea of the normal world.  The world is what you make it, Finn.  There are as many worlds as there are people.  This is your world.  You are the only one who can force yourself out of it.”  Deep.

Now I need to try to remember how I felt about the previous books so I can write better reviews for them too.  I’m all backwards.

Say Yes by J.R. Gray

Synopsis: Charles holds the key to salvation, but James has to say yes.

James failed. He tried to be what they wanted. He tried to deny it. He tried to be a good Catholic boy…but it’s become too much. He craves pain, submission. He’s denied himself far too long, and it’s eating him alive.

Charles thrives off the exchange of power. He knows the world revolves around control. It’s given and taken like currency, in business and in pleasure. He won’t get attached, though, or so he tells himself, until James turns his world upside down. He’s defiant and snarky, but Charles can taste the submission on him.

All James has to do is say one little word.

Get it on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1IIi37k

Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27874154-say-yes

5 Stars

I got this book off another blog’s post that I follow. If you want to see other reviews that influence my reading then you can check out  http://www.bookwormiespot.com/

This book can be classified as BDSM M/M Erotica. If you ain’t into that: STOP READING.

I loved this book! This thing dug in from the very beginning. It ‘s a short novella so I expected the emotions to be fast paced and the feelings to be accelerated.  Hot dayum, this book is good.  This book was slammed with sex and innuendo and dominant submissive play. It was completely awesome!

James is living a bit of a lie. And he seemed to be living it successfully.  Kinda threw me on that part but it made sense in the end.  Charles is an older man and I found him incredibly sexy from the beginning.  I can’t even say anymore that this, just go get the dang book.  Seriously.

And the cover!  Holy hotness it’s…uhm…steamy.