ARC REVIEW: Mine (Club Sin #7) by Stacey Kennedy

Title: Mine
Series: Club Sin #7
Author: Stacey Kennedy
Publisher: Loveswept
Published: October 27th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 170
Genres: Adult, Erotica, BDSM, Romance
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
★★★ (3/5) Stars

Stacey Kennedy | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Dmitri and Presley—the scorching-hot couple who started it all in the USA Today bestseller Claimed—return to save Club Sin in the exhilarating new short novel from Stacey Kennedy. 

Dmitri Pratt is living out his dream. Not only does he own the ultimate playground for the BDSM lifestyle, he’s found a special connection with his deliciously sexy sub, Presley Flynn, the woman who complements him in ways that go far beyond the bedroom. But when an anonymous blackmailer threatens to expose the elite, high-profile members of Club Sin in a notorious tabloid, Dmitri’s perfect world spirals out of control.

Before she met Dmitri, Presley never imagined she would find a Master who could deliver on all her hottest fantasies. Dmitri’s love and his sensual artistry surprise her every day, until he suddenly turns distant and cold. For the first time, Presley wonders where Dmitri’s heart truly lies: with her, or with Club Sin. As the life they’ve built together begins to crumble, Presley can only trust that Dmitri has what it takes—to defend what’s his, and win back the woman he cannot live without.

Mine is intended for mature audiences.

I received a copy of this book, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating!

Boy is this a tough one. I have been in love with this series ever since I read Claimed back in 2013. I've fallen in love with all of the Club Sin Masters and their subs, their stories, their struggles, just everything. They've not all been top of the list favorites for me, but I've had a love for each one all the same. So it's hard to come back to the beginning, back to Dmitri and Presley and not feel those same emotions one last time. In the end I basically got through the end of this one for one to see how things would end up for Club Sin itself and two because I was interested in meeting Micah who starts off a sort of spin-off type of series. So in those two instances I was satisfied.

Now in book one I absolutely adored Presley. She was just so cute and adorable and I wanted to put her in my pocket and take her everywhere with me. However we fast forward to Mine and oh my word I could not stand her! I'm sure there will be some that disagree with me but all throughout this book all I got from her was how selfish and whiny and ridiculous she was. I mean you see what it says in the first paragraph of that blurb right? Dmitri had all of that crap on his plate, all those club member's privacy and personal/public lives basically hanging over his head about to be exposed and all Presley could think is "Why isn't he here comforting me and talking it through with me?" "And wait! Also why hasn't he asked me to marry him yet? I mean we've never talked about marriage but he should just know!" Blah. Blah. Blah. Like I wanted to bang my head against a wall she was so annoying.

That's not to say Dmitri was Mr. Perfect. Even though up to a point I was mostly on his side, I did think that him shutting her out wasn't fair. I could see what he was trying to do and how he was trying to protect her, but he went about it wrong. But there was an incident at a certain point when he goes out of control that I lost all respect for him. I understand that what he did to Presley was supposed to represent his loss of control and all that jazz but I really felt that as far as it went was way out of character for him.

I truly felt like I was reading about two totally different characters and so it was really hard to want to keep going. I feel like just forgetting most of the Dmitri/Presley stuff and focus on seeing all my other favorite characters and enjoying how the club issue was resolved and that sweet, romantic, wonderful bit at the end between two characters I was so angry at through most of the book! Sigh. It really was a super sweet ending. Which is the only reason why I didn't do what I was tempted to do and go lower with my rating.

This book aside, I truly am going to miss the Club Sin gang, thankfully though I can just open my Kindle any time I want to revisit them. This has been a truly great series. It was my first dip into the world of BDSM and it really opened up my comfort zone reading wise. I can't wait for Micah to be released and see what these new Doms are all about. From what I hear things are going to be even more heated with these guys! Yikes!!

Thanks to Loveswept for the opportunity to read and review this book!

ARC REVIEW: Commanded (Club Sin #6) by Stacey Kennedy

Title: Commanded
Series: Club Sin #6
Author: Stacey Kennedy
Publisher: Loveswept
Published: July 7th 2015
Format: eARC | Pages: 195
Genres: Adult, Erotica, Romance, BDSM
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
★★★★ (4/5) Stars!

Stacey Kennedy | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Club Sin comes alive once again in this decadent new erotic romance from USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy, perfect for fans of Fifty Shades of Grey.

A dedicated cop, Sawyer Quinn blows off steam by immersing himself in his role as a Master at the hottest club in Las Vegas. But when Sawyer goes after the perp who brutally beat his sister, he teams up with Chloe Nash, a sexy private investigator who awakens a sweet new need: to keep her to himself, away from the dungeon of Club Sin. Chloe is beautiful, smart, and too innocent for the BDSM lifestyle. Sawyer’s never wanted a woman like this before. Is her love worth swearing off the one thing that keeps him sane?

There’s something different about Sawyer: a commanding strength that pulls Chloe into a vortex of heady desire. But when she learns about his double life as a Dom, she’s shocked—and afraid she could never complete him. Then he saves her life, and just like that, Chloe knows she will be able to give him anything he desires. She is his—wherever and however he wants to take her.

I receive a copy of this book, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating!

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each one of the Masters of Club Sin.  I've loved the mix of lightness and intensity that each of their books has brought. There were things that worked well for me and a few things that didn't, but all in all I think Sawyer's story was the perfect way to close out all the new stories from the Club Sin series.

Each of the Masters has had their own pull, their own little something that has drawn me to want to read each one of their books very badly. With Dmitri he was my first foray into the world of BDSM, he brought something new and exciting to my very skeptical mind. With Aidan, he seemed very serious and controlled, all business, yet I could see the passion and heart ready to break free. And then there's Kyler. Sigh, oh Kyler. Even now, after all this time, I am still totally into this guy. I knew before I even read his book that he was going to be my guy. It was his playful and teasing nature that drew me to him. I think Porter would be a very close second to being my favorite from this series. Anyone who can tame Kenzie was someone I wanted to get to know better, plus his close relationship with Cora, from book two, and the way he looked out for her after all this time was heartwarming.

And then there was Sawyer. Sawyer was still almost a mystery to me from the beginning of this book and that was his draw. He's been around in the first five books of course but not enough to get a real good grasp on his personality and what was going on in his head. I have really loved getting to know his character. He's fiercely loyal and protective, plus, like Kyler, he's a cop so...hello sexy man in uniform! The storyline with his sister's abusive boyfriend kind put a different light on this book. It showed a more human side of Sawyer. Instead of this powerful, controlled Dom you really get to see the guy behind the Dom.

Chloe, well, I feel like I did like her character in the very beginning and even before that from the previous book. But she became a bit of an annoyance for me. She did stupid things and put herself in bad places or situations all in the name of trying to understand Sawyer better. Instead of just talking to him and asking him the questions she talked to everyone but him. It was just frustrating and I guess sometimes I felt like she wasn't the right girl for him because of this.

Even though I had those few moments where I questioned things, still there was a sweetness to Sawyer and Chloe's relationship. I liked how her character stayed true to herself and within her limits and comfort zone.

I guess the thing I'd most like to stress about this series as a whole is that if you've never read a BDSM novel before but are curious, these books are the perfect starting point for indulging in that curiosity. I'd say it's like a spiced up erotica, it's very light and not at all cringe worthy. The men are very alpha and the women are submissive...with spunk. They've all be a lot of fun to read and this one was no different.

A huge thanks to Loveswept, Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book!

REVIEW: Tamed (Club Sin #5) by Stacey Kennedy

Title: Tamed
Series: Club Sin #5
Publisher: Loveswept
Published: March 10th 2015
Format: eBook | Pages: 256
Genres: Adult, Erotica, Romance, BDSM
Source: Amazon
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!

Stacey Kennedy | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy returns to the tantalizing world of Club Sin in an enticing novel of control and surrender.

Porter Marshall has nearly achieved his goal of becoming a Club Sin Master, but his new sub poses a much bigger challenge than he anticipated. Despite their mutual attraction and red-hot dungeon sessions, Kenzie Hart plays her own games. Her bratty, you-can’t-break-me attitude masks terrible personal hurt—pain that only the exquisite touch of a skilled Dom can release. But when Porter suggests taking their connection to the outside world, Kenzie denies him . . . which only makes him want her more.

Kenzie can’t ignore the raw, fierce bond she has with Porter. But she can’t give in to his dangerous demands, either. Is the passion they share real, or is he using her to solidify his status at Club Sin? And yet, who else can she trust with the shattering secrets she holds within? As Porter expertly brings her to the point of no return, Kenzie surrenders her body—and, piece by piece, her heart.

Tamed is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

The moment this book hit my Kindle I had the urge to run around shoving my Kindle in everyone's face as I excitedly shouted "Porter and Kenzie! Porter and Kenzie!" The only things that stopped me was, well, it was midnight and I'm sure waking people up out of a dead sleep wouldn't do very good things for my likability. And second, well nobody  I know outside the blogging world is very much of a reader so they'd probably respond with something along the lines of "That's...nice?" which would only end up dimming my excitement. I've been wanting this book the come out for so long that I dropped everything and started it immediately! It was so worth the wait and kind of perfect.

It worked for her, because it meant that they all saw her exactly as she wanted them to. A brat.

What had me the most excited for this book was the fact that Kenzie is kind of infamous among the members of Club Sin. Her fame in the world of Club Sin among the Masters, Doms and subs is the fact that she was...kind of a brat. Literally just about every time someone mentioned her name in the previous books she was always referred to as being a brat who liked to be punished so she would push all the Doms that worked with her until they would give her the punishment she was seeking. Most of them ended up dreading having to work with her. It always made me grin and wish that one of these days there would be a story for her so I could experience the wild child first hand.

Had he pegged her entirely wrong? Was she simply a little lost, not insolent?

The thing is that everything I thought I knew and expected I would see when reading this book when it came to Kenzie was just so wrong. I didn't expect all the hurt and emotional pain behind the tough and spunky girl that she showed to these people. This surprising side of her made me love her all the more. She's just a very, very broken person that's been let down and kicked in the gut by life one too many times and her story made my heart ache. Aside from all of that though the thing I did expect, her spunk and defiance was in full bloom and it was everything I hoped it would be. She was so, so, so much fun!

Perhaps it was his manhood talking, but he quite liked the idea of going up against the strongest sub he'd ever known.

Porter was absolutely incredible. I had already liked him before starting this but the deeper I got into this book the deeper my feelings for him got, to the point where he's just barely edged past Kyler as my favorite Master at Club Sin. I think what really did me in with him is the fact that he isn't just Powerful, protective and patient, there's this softer side, this sweetness to him and he would do anything for the people he cares about. Most importantly though was the fact that everybody else that comes across Kenzie just sees past her and only sees the brat who uses disrespect to get what she wants and they all just give in. That patience that Porter has though along with his incredible ability to read people really saw Kenzie. And where others would likely want to get rid of that spark she has that makes her mouthy and push buttons he embraced it and thought it was sexy and truly loved that side of her.

She wondered if that was simply because a Club Sin submissive was being threatened, or if it was because she was being threatened.

I loved the fact that Porter and Kenzie's storyline had so much depth to it. I mean, of course there was the heat and the sizzle. There was nothing tame about these two when they got together. And that first scene they had together right at the beginning of the book? Oh. My. Word. You almost need to turn up the AC to get through those passages! But really I loved that it wasn't just focused on their chemistry and that there was a darker and more dangerous element to it. One that showcased Porter's protective and possessive side. I'd feel sorry for anyone that posed a threat to what was his!

"Those girls are ours to protect, aren't' they?"

The best thing about this entire series though is the fact that once you finish a couple's book they're not really gone. They're like this little family and so they're always in each other's lives and an amazing support system to one another and look out for each other. It's always fun to see Dmitri and Presley, Aidan and Cora, Kyler and Ella and even Sawyer and see what's happening in their lives since their happily ever afters happened. Now I just have to try to make it through to July to get to Sawyer's book. I already adore him so much and briefly met Chloe in this book and can't wait to see her give him a run for his money in Commanded! Tamed was a perfect addition to the Club Sin series and it surpassed my expectations! Bring on Master Sawyer!

REVIEW: Desired (Club Sin #3) by Stacey Kennedy

Title/Series: Desired | Club Sin #3
Author: Stacey Kennedy
Publisher: Loveswept
Published: July 22nd 2014
Format: eBook | Pages: 256
Genre: Adult, Erotica, BDSM, Romance
Source: Amazon
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!

Stacey Kennedy | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Readers of Fifty Shades of Grey are sure to love Desired, USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy’s latest seductive, electrifying novel of Club Sin, where fantasy becomes reality.

Kyler Morgan, Master at the legendary Club Sin in Las Vegas, knows how to give women what they want—too well. He hasn’t had a real challenge in a long time. Then Ella Snow enters his life. Beautiful, inhibited, and innocent in the ways of submission and domination, Ella is the new blood he’s been lusting after. Soon, the thrill of training her to embrace his world brings forth desires Kyler cannot control.

After ending an abusive relationship, Ella makes a promise to herself to start living life to the fullest. It’s one of the reasons she seeks out Club Sin. Here, Kyler’s every touch is a lesson in liberation, stirring passions that have no bounds. But as she falls under Kyler’s command, Ella discovers that some secrets are so dark they must come to light. Submission alone may not be enough to save her, leaving her Master with only one question: How can he help Ella heal while unlocking the deep pleasures she craves?

Desired is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from other Loveswept titles.

I'm going to start this off, hopefully, a bit more seriously at first because I can't guarantee that the rest of this review will be filled with nothing else but "Kyler, Kyler, Kyler, drool, Kyler, drool, K--" you get my point. I love romance and swooning and all the things that make your heart just about explode with feels. I am your average, stereotypical vanilla person. So much so that when all the hype surrounding Fifty Shades of Grey first started running wild I was shocked. How on earth could anyone want to read anything like that? [Insert all the other judgmental comments that probably ran through my head here.] I was a bookish prude for quite a while sadly. I had no interest in reading it. I actually still do not. Yet with each impending release of the newest Club Sin books I find myself dying, bouncing around impatiently as I count down the days to publication so I can get my grubby little hands on them. I am...I want to say hooked but that doesn't even begin to describe it. Viewing this world through the imagination of Stacey Kennedy is easy, sexy and fun. When it comes to the world of reading BDSM I don't think I'd feel as comfortable reading anything by any other author. Hard limit set.

He glanced around him and then leaned in to Kyler. "You do realize that woman you're eating up with your eyes is vanilla."

I have been waiting for this book for over a year. That's not a joke. That's when I read Claimed, book 1 in the Club Sin series, and got my first glimpse of Master Kyler... and, of course, fell in love with these books. But to say I was a bit worried for this one would be putting it mildly. I was never worried that the story wouldn't live up to my expectations, I was worried about how I'd feel towards the woman who would turn Kyler's world upside down. When reading the summary and realizing that Ella is coming out of an abusive relationship I seriously had my doubts as to how on earth a relationship between these two could ever be possible and/or healthy. Thankfully though I was proven wrong and somehow... it all worked. Ella felt like she was tailor made for Kyler. I was so happy with her character. Yes, she comes with a lot of baggage but she is a strong, kick ass woman who doesn't allow her past to dictate the rest of her life or use it as an excuse to remain a victim. Yet she has just enough vulnerability to bring out the protective side within Kyler. I loved watching these two blossom and grow. Together.

Perhaps a little vanilla would spice up his life.

Master. Kyler. Morgan. By this point do you even need me to tell you how I feel about him? This guy rocks my imagination like no other. It's the guy beneath the police uniform (yeah...he's a cop yum!) and underneath the dungeon master that really draws out this fascination I have with him. In the previous books we got to see the very playful side in him. How he's both mischievous and yet, maybe it's the cop and inner Dom in him, but I was always struck by how easily he seemed to be able to read people. In this book though we get to see so much deeper into Kyler. He's fiercely protective, caring and loving. All too often these days the best of our book boyfriends are usually guys who aren't looking for relationships and a lot of the time are running from it. Kyler is quite different. He's surrounded by family and examples of what love is supposed to look like and he wants that more than anything...except with a side of kink.

As usual, there was no disappointment in this book. The steaminess, the intensity,  the passion oozes off the pages. Each glimpse into the world of Club Sin just keeps getting better and better. The storylines are intriguing and have no problem keeping me sucked in. And they don't let go until I've read the last word on the very last page. With the added bonus being the depth of the characters Stacey Kennedy writes. You end up loving all of them. I'm almost...almost as excited for the Porter and Kenzie's stories as I was for this one. Kenzie is going to be an absolute riot I can already tell. She makes me giggle every time I've seen her at this point.

Well I think I've probably blabbered enough and I feel like if I keep going I'll keep veering off course and straight into the wonderful world of Kyler. I loved this book and this series so much and I can't get enough of Club Sin! Now to find something to occupy my time until the next release in November...

Swoon Thursday #24

Swoon Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by YABound!

Here's what you do:

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.


This week's pick is from:

Desired (Club Sin #3)
by Stacey Kennedy

The waitress returning with their food caught his eye, and as she placed the plates down, she asked, "Anything else I can get you?"

"A glass of water please." Ella would soon need it.

Kyler reached into his pocket, taking out the vibrator's remote control when he spotted Ella heading out of the bathroom with the bag in her hand. The tight way she walked told him she'd followed his instructions and wore the vibrator beneath her panties.

When she neared the counter, he flicked the vibe onto full speed. She nearly dropped to the ground, but managed to grab on to the stool next to her. He chuckled as her cheeks burned brighter. He turned off the vibe, and she pushed off the stool, glancing to those around her--all of who stared at her in curiosity.

"Damn heels," she muttered with a breathy voice.

There were so many moments I could have went with in this book but I just had to go with the first little bit in this scene. Not only is it sexy but it's also hilarious and playful.  Love, love, LOVE this book. Understatement of the year.

That's What HE Said Thursday #09

Every Thursday, the girls over at Chapter Break are hosting a fun new meme! To learn more about "That's What HE Said Thursday" click here.

My Quote:

"This life. This family. Club Sin. It's all yours." Brushing the tears off her cheeks, he added with a tender voice, "Do you understand that, Ella? My life, it belongs to you now."

Kyler Morgan to Ella Snow

Desired (Club Sin #3) by Stacey Kennedy

If the million and a half other Kyler moments in this book (or series for that matter), hadn't solidified my deep love and devotion for this guy already, this one would have sent me over the edge. As it is I was already (and still am) helplessly drowning in the pool of Kyler Morgan. Don't even think about saving me!

ARC REVIEW: Claimed (Club Sin #1) by Stacey Kennedy

Title/Series: Claimed | Club Sin #1
Author: Stacey Kennedy
Publisher: Random House Loveswept
Expected Publication: August 5th 2013
Format: eBook | Pages: 230
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Erotica
Source: NetGalley
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!!!

Stacey Kennedy | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Presley Flynn is ripe to experience her secret fantasies . . . and Dmitri Pratt wants nothing more than to fulfill them. Once inside the elite Club Sin in Las Vegas, Presley is nervous but excited—and determined to surrender to her every desire. Dmitri is her Master, and his touch is like fire. With each careful, calculated caress, he unleashes her wildest inhibitions, giving her unimagined pleasure.

Presley is different than the other submissives Dimitri has mastered. The BDSM lifestyle is new to her, and so are the games they play at Club Sin. From the start, Presley stirs emotions in him far beyond the raw purity between a dom and the perfect sub. For the ecstasy they share goes beyond the dungeon igniting a passion that claims the very depths of the heart.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Have you ever read a book that kept you up all night? That by the time you finished it you realized that not only hadn't you gotten much sleep but you were so wrapped up and absorbed in the story that you forgot to eat? Been so captivated that you want to grab every person you see and shove the book in their face until they've read it too? Let Master Dmitri welcome you to Club Sin in Claimed. This book rocked me in ways I didn't know a book could.

I haven't really delved much into the world of BDSM erotica. I've read books with traces of it, and some of my favorite fictional men have always been very alpha male bordering on dom-like behavior. But Claimed was my first real taste of a book specifically living in that world. I was a bit nervous to ever pick up something like that. Let's be honest it freaked me the hell out! But there was something about this book. The cover whore inside of me was first pulled in by the tattooed chiseled chest on the cover and so I read the description. My interest was definitely piqued. I honestly squealed when I got the approval from NetGalley.

"If you don't follow what has been asked of you, you will be punished. If you refuse your punishment, you will be escorted from the dungeon and not allowed to return."

I was drawn in instantly into this book. It was all because of Presley at the start. She was real. She was believable. She was curious about the lifestyle, something her roommate Cora saw in her, and set up a meeting for her with Master Dmitri, owner of Club Sin. Presley was timid, shy, embarrassed to even say the word sex. She wanted desperately to break herself from this outer shell she'd projected to the world but she was afraid of letting go. Yet even when her brain would start to analyze things and kick her fear into gear there was something calming about Master Dmitri that relaxed her and demanded her trust.

An ease that he seemed to bring without much effort washed over her, and she relaxed into his hold. Besides, his touch felt...nice. Safe. His presence was as warm as the blanket around her and oddly enough, she'd never experienced such a sensation of peace.

Dmitri. Sigh. Oh Dmitri. He fulfilled everything I crave in a male character. Every bit the delicious dominate alpha male without the side effects of being an asshole. Let's face it most of the time we have a great alpha there's a side of him that can be a complete tool. This is so not the case here. He's strong yet vulnerable, he's demanding yet he cares and takes care of people he cares about, he's successful and wealthy yet he gives just as much as he receives, he demands honesty and gives it back in return. I could seriously be singing his praises all day if you let me. He's the perfect compliment to Presley in every way.

He broke the kiss, he continued to clasp her face and leaned his forehead against hers. His whisper of "Mine" slid into her heart, and she echoed the acknowledgement by whispering, "Yours."

Claimed was told in the dual POVs of Presley and Dmitri and so the first meeting between these two, from both sides, was when I truly knew I was going to fall in love with this book. It was exciting and the explosive chemistry between these two had me craving more. Every time she let her fears get to her to the point where she was ready to bolt all it took was his touch, as simple as a finger on the neck, calming words and she was grounded. The intensity and trust they found in each other as they grew together and found the different strengths they needed within each other was such a pleasure to read.

Her dark desires came alive only when she felt comfortable, and she felt that way only in his presence. His touch made her burn. His stare on her ignited something inside her. Right now she told him all he needed to know: Her submission, body, heart, and soul were his for the taking.

This book made me a huge Stacey Kennedy stalker ....err fan. I said fan! This book was classy without being crude and cringe worthy and had it's own set of rules that avoided the darker sides of BDSM which is probably what allowed me to embrace it so easily. I fell in love with the world of Club Sin and its masters. I'm already ready to reread Claimed and can't wait for more! Master Aidan and Master Kyler I'm coming for you next!

***

My Master Dmitri:

Sigh. Yeah... I can see that.