Letting Go by Maya Banks

Title: Letting Go
 
Author: Maya Banks

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Published Date: February 4, 2014

Buy on Amazon: Kindle & Paperback  
 
Author Website: http://mayabanks.com/

 

Synopsis: 

Josslyn found perfection once, and she knows she’ll never find it again. Now widowed, she seeks the one thing her beloved husband couldn’t give her: dominance. Lonely, searching for an outlet for her grief and wanting only a brief taste of the perfection she once enjoyed, she seeks what she’s looking for at an exclusive club that caters to people indulging in their most hedonistic fantasies. She never imagined that what she’d find would be the one man who’s long been a source of comfort—and secret longing. Her husband’s best friend.

Dash has lived in an untenable position for years: in love with his best friend’s wife but unwilling to act on that attraction. He’d never betray his best friend. And so he’s waited in the wings, offering Joss unconditional support and comfort as she works past her grief, hoping for the day when he can offer her more.

When he finds her in a club devoted to the darker edges of desire, he’s furious because he thinks she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. Until she explains in detail what it is she wants. What she needs. As realization sets in, he is gripped by fierce, unwavering determination. If she wants dominance, he is the only man who will introduce her to that world. He is the only man who will touch her, cherish her…love her. And the only man she’ll ever submit to.

My Thoughts:

Letting Go, by Maya Banks, is the first book in her erotic Surrender Trilogy.  Letting Go starts on a somber note.  It is the 3rd anniversary of the death of Joss' husband and she, along with her husband's best friend Dash, head to the cemetery to pay their respects as they have done every year since his passing.  However, this year is different.  Joss has decided that she is done mourning and she plans to reclaim her life.  No longer will she be the heartbroken widow locked up in her house while she watches life pass her by.  Instead she is stepping out and reclaiming her happiness.  Dash can tell something major has changed inside Joss, but is at a loss to what it is.  

Later that day Joss meets with her best friends, Kylie and Chessy. Joss shares with them the steps she has taken to change her life.  She loved her husband with all of her heart, but he was not able to give her one thing she yearned for in their sexual relationship- dominance.  Therefore, Joss has decided that to move on she needs to enter into a dominant/submissive relationship- she just doesn't know with whom yet.  

In order to find the perfect man for her new lifestyle, Joss has joined a private club that deals in such matters and arrives there ready to jump start her life.  However, Dash ruins her plans when he walks into the club and spies Joss on the arms of another.  All hell breaks loose as he sprints her out of the establishment and demands to know what is going on.  The conversation that happens next is an eye-opener for both Joss and Dash and they have some serious decisions to make.     

I really enjoyed Letting Go and reading about the journey Joss and Dash embarked upon.  My familiarity with dominance and submission goes no farther than Fifty Shades, so my eyes were opened in many ways reading Letting Go.  Joss was tired of making decisions and wanted a man to make them for her.  It was hard for me to understand why Joss, who was a very independent woman, would want to give up her freedom in order to feel free.

I'm very much looking forward to the second book in the Surrender Trilogy, Giving In, which will be published in May 2014.  As much as I enjoyed Letting Go, I have a feeling that I will love Giving In even more.  The second book centers around Kylie and Jensen, whose chemistry was very evident in Letting Go.  Banks set up a great back story for Kylie which I am very interested in delving into.

If you are looking for an erotic romance, Maya Banks' Letting Go is a great choice. It has romance, friendship, and heartache along with great characters.  Check it out!  

Maya Banks

*I have been provided a complimentary copy of the book, Letting Go, for the purpose of review.*

Theirs to Keep by Maya Banks

Title: Theirs to Keep
 
Author: Maya Banks

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published Date: October 22, 2013

Buy on Amazon: Kindle & Paperback  
 
Author Website: http://mayabanks.com/

 

Synopsis: 

When Cade Walker and Merrick Sullivan find Elle hiding in the cabinet of a gun store, they know they can’t just walk away from the fragile woman with no memory of who she is or who tried to kill her. Merrick is training for the title shot in the heavyweight division as a mixed martial artist and can’t afford distractions, but neither can he turn his back on the woman who tugs at his heartstrings. Elle feels safe with her two protectors, and the longer she spends with them, the more she realizes that she has no desire to remember her past. Not when it could compromise her future with Cade and Merrick. Cade has his own set of issues when it comes to Elle, and it quickly becomes clear to the two men that for the first time in their friendship, a woman is coming between them. But what if they just kept her there? Between them. Where she belongs.

 

 

My Thoughts:

Theirs to Keep, by Maya Banks, is the first book in the Tangled Hearts Trilogy.  Maya Banks is a New York Times Bestselling Author and has written over 60 books.  While reading Theirs to Keep it was easy to see that Banks is an accomplished author.  Her novel flowed exceptionally well, had memorable characters, and was very well written.

Theirs to Keep is a present day erotic novel with a mystery at its core.  Best friends Merrick and Cade stumble upon an amnesic and terrified young woman while checking out a breaking and entering security alarm.  Not only is the woman severally beaten, but she has gun shot wounds and refuses to go to the hospital or police station.  Not knowing what else to do, the men take her to their friend's medical practice.  Upon hearing every horrible thing that has been done to her, Merrick and Cade decide that they will take her under their wing until she remembers who she is.

The young woman believes her name to be Elle and is terrified of remembering the details of her attempted murder.  The only time she feels safe is when she is with Merrick and Cade.  The men become fiercely protective over Elle, and feelings of romance and love start to grow.  What will happen to Merrick and Cade's friendship if both fall in love with the same woman?  What will Elle do when she finds out how her protectors feel about her?  I guarantee that the decisions made are not what you would guess and will leave you with your mouth handing open!

The mystery surrounding Elle really held my interest.  At the end of Theirs to Keep Elle remembers the name of a town: Eden, Alabama.  She believes that this is either where she is from or where she was hurt.  With the help of Cade and Merrick, Elle plans to travel to Eden in order to uncover who she is and what happened to her.  This will all take place in the second book, Always Mine.  I look forward to watching the mystery unravel!

If you are looking for a fast paced read, Maya Banks' Theirs to Keep is a great option.  Keep in mind that this is an erotic romance novel with adult language.  I would love to hear what you think of it!

Maya Banks

*I have been provided a complimentary copy of the book, Theirs to Keep, for the purpose of review.*

Cover Reveal of 'Rain' by Christie Cote

I am very excited to be featuring the Cover Reveal of Christie Cote's book, Rain. 

Title: Rain

Author: Christie Cote

Find Christie: | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Review Blog |   

Click here for Autographed Rain Bookmarks: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mz6iSfq6R7hm-xrWTvfCyOtXp80iZY8I-aC-NIQk7X4/viewform

 

Synopsis: 

She took everything for granted.
Until one word changed everything.
He found her sitting in front of his house...
And she confessed everything to this stranger.

Little did she know, he would become much more than a stranger.
He would become her reason to survive.

  

About the Author: 

Christie Cote resides in Vermont with her Husband and their dog.  When she isn't reading, writing, or dreaming up her next story, she can be found shooting targets with her bow, drawing or baking. 

Rain is her first book.

Christie writes Young Adult Realistic Fiction, Fiction, and New Adult novels.

Christie Cote

Tropical Storm by Stefanie Graham

Title: Tropical Storm
 
Author: Stefanie Graham

Publisher: 2S Publishing

Published Date: August 10, 2013

Buy on Amazon: Kindle & Paperback  
 
Author Website: http://www.stefaniegraham.com/

 

Synopsis: 

Millionaire hotelier Cairo Kane has dealt with his fair share of tropical storms on the Caribbean island of Jamaica. Not one to hide from tumultuous weather, he would rather attack it, head on. Six years ago he left his life in New York City and escaped to the beautiful island of Jamaica to apply himself to the business of making money. The former blue-collar boy was driven, fierce, and determined; there wasn't a challenge he didn't take or a tempest he couldn't tame. Before Jessica Storm no woman had the power to shatter his confidence or break his heart. Storm enthralled him, married him and then betrayed him. He loved her once. He vowed never to love anyone that much again. 

Spoiled Manhattan socialite Jessica Storm might have the perfect pedigree but she doesn't have love. She'd been a bride for a single night before her parents' treachery drove her and her new husband apart. Cairo left her behind and escaped to an island paradise to create a new life and to forget the love they had once shared. Now she wants him back, whether Cairo likes it or not, he is hers until death do they part. They made a vow. As a force of nature no man is a match for her when she is hell-bent on having her way. Her husband better prepare for bad weather. A Storm is coming.

My Thoughts:

Tropical Storm, by Stefanie Graham, is a sizzling love story revolving around the consequences of a failed marriage between two young lovers.  Rich socialite Jessica Storm fell in love with Cairo, the poor orphaned boy from 'across the tracks'.  Barely 18 years old, Storm decides to follow her heart and secretly marries Cairo.  However, with only one night of marriage under their belts Storm's parents discover her duplicity and quickly whisk their daughter away and blackmail her into an annulment.  Cairo is heartbroken and flees to Jamaica to start anew.

Six years later Storm shows up at Cairo's Jamaican hotel, with her little boy Shane trailing behind.  Begging for a second chance, Storm pulls out all of the stops to win back Cairo's love.  However, Cairo is still wounded from their quick marriage and has built tall walls up around his heart.  Storm and Shane have their work cut out for them if they want a happily ever after.  

My emotions went up and down throughout Tropical Storm. At times I found myself frustrated with Storm for not being fully honest with Cairo.  However, even with all of her secrets, I still felt for her and continued rooting for her.  I can only imagine what she had gone through as a teenager and the sacrifices she had to make to give her son the best life she could.  In Tropical Storm, Storm would be pulling at my heartstrings and then Cairo would enter the picture and withhold what she truly needed which would cause me to curse him for being so stubborn.  At other times Storm could have so easily opened up to Cairo but remained tight lipped.  It was easy to see why Cairo was so cold and withdrawn from Storm as he had been gravely hurt and was guarding his heart.  

Shane is perhaps my favorite character in Tropical Storm and is absolutely adorable.  He tries to be so mature yet he still has the heartbreaking innocence of a little boy wanting a Daddy to love him.  There were times that I wanted to reach through the pages of Tropical Storm and hug him.  I think that Storm has done a terrific job in raising him, although I did feel that she relied on the child heavily and told him too much of her plans.  

Stefanie Graham's Tropical Storm is a steamy romance novel with unforgettable characters.  Tropical Storm is a likeable fast read that does a great job in pulling readers in.  This is the perfect novel to grab and read in a hot bubble bath or in front of the fire.  Let your winter blue's drift away as you escape to Jamaica in Tropical Storm.                     

The author has provided me with a complimentary copy of her book, Tropical Storm, for the purpose of review.