Author: Joely Sue Burkhart
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Series: The Connagher's, #2
Received By: Author for Review
~*~Blurb from Publisher~*~
One sub to please the Master…in any way he wishes.
Victor Connagher is no stranger to the Dallas BDSM scene. As CEO of a risqué cable channel that caters to adventurous adults, he ensures the lifestyle is portrayed in a positive light. He even supports a local bondage club. Yet behind the cool, confident mask, Victor lives in fear.
Once, and only once, he lost control of his inner Dom—and it cost him his fiancée. Now, no one knows how hard he works to keep his darker appetite for pain buried. No matter how much his saucy, confident associate producer makes his fingers itch to once again take up his riding crop.
Shiloh Holmes is a sub, but she’s no doormat. She’s always suspected Victor has the skills to feed her insatiable need for pain, and now she’s found the perfect way to crack his formidable control. Develop a new reality show, America’s Next Top sub…and dare him to compete.
Week after week, as Shiloh fearlessly challenges the real Victor to come out of hiding, he realizes his past mistake was only a blow to his pride. If he loses Shiloh, he could lose his heart.
Warning: Explicit sex, BDSM, reality television, a very reluctant Dom, an audacious sub willing to do anything to win for him, and one very wicked riding crop.
In this second installment of the Connagher series, Ms. Burkhart has up the smexy ante! Just when I thought the first book took us on a intense ride of conquering fears, trusting in one's self, and giving in to desires and needs, the story of Victor and Shiloh does all that, but on a whole new level! Grab a tissue and towel because you'll need them both!
I'm not even going to bother recapping the summary of the story, because the book blurb does one hell of job at that! Instead, I'm going to focus on the factors that I love most about this book: the author's writing style, character development with strong emotional elements, the fun and unconventional plot, and the overall steamy romance that takes up nearly all of the pages! Throughout my review, you will see the word 'need' quite frequently. This is due to the fact that the lifestyle in which the characters participate in is something that goes beyond desires and in to the realm of requirements. You will dive into the psyches of two characters living the S/M lifestyle of BDSM, as while being taken on a fun and passionate ride that seems so realistic you'll be searching the web for Shiloh's blog!
In this new addition to the series, we explore the emotional and physical needs of two rare breeds of Dominant and submissive in a BDSM lifestyle, a sadist and masochist. Shiloh Holmes is one of those rare submissive's that needs pain to really achieve ultimate pleasure, who just so happens to desperately want and need her boss, who she's convinced is the only man to be her dominant match in every way. And she's absolutely right. Victor Connagher is a sadist, a rare dominant who has had no luck in finding a submissive that can handle his own emotional and physical needs. Their needs have caused them deep emotional pain in past relationships, making the chance of finding each other even more special and necessary. I couldn't help but enjoy this pairing, and found myself cheering this couple along through their ups and downs.
Despite the sensitivity of this often looked over facet of BDSM, Ms. Burkhart does an amazing, tasteful job at taking two characters who share a need and desire to give or receive pain, and demonstrating that this is not something that should be looked at as wrong. Instead, it is a just another aspect of BDSM. After all, it does make up the S & M! A couple of my favorite lines that explain the needs, desires, and fears of the characters are straight from Victor as he describes the needs of an S/M Dom and sub to his brother:
After reading both the previous book and this newest installment, I'm convinced that one of the author's strengths lies in her ability to create down-to-earth characters, who are dynamically represented through their depth, range of emotions, and realistic characteristics. You literally feel as though these characters could be your neighbors!
Victor is every bit the sadistic dominant, but still able to call his mom 'mamma', and demonstrate deep compassion and empathy towards those around him --especially Shiloh. His fears of truly hurting her ring so deep, you can't help but feel for what he must be going through during his internal struggle.
Shiloh is a fantastic combination of sugar and spice, and strength and vulnerability. She's down-to-earth, intelligent, fairly confident, and understands her needs as a masochist. She tries to convey this as blatantly as possible to the reluctant Dom, through the creation of the show, America's Next Top sub, that she initially sets out on her quest to conquer Victor. Little does she realize, however, that Victor has had his eyes on her as well. Their intense attraction starts off immediately, taking the readers on a ride of pleasurable fun throughout the duration of the book! Let's take a peek into Shiloh's diary, shall we?
The plot of the story can be easily described as HOT, fun, and unconventional. I absolutely loved the fact that the author has taken a slightly avoided topic, and woven it in to a fun, lovable, passionate, and tasteful context of a BDSM reality show. During the course of the 'show', there's an educational aspect taking place, shedding light on the S/M part of a lifestyle, causing for a healthy balance of smexiness and learning. As with the first story, each chapter starts off with a first person POV from the female lead character which allows us to really grasp what's going on in the mind of masochist. Add to that the easiness of the author's writing style, and you have one hell of a tastefully done erotic story. All I can say is if Texas is this hot, I'm putting in for a job transfer ASAP! :)
~*~Final Thoughts~*~
This is obviously an adult category book based on strong erotic, language and scenes, as well as the sensitivity of the subject. I highly recommend this book for those of us who enjoy erotica, especially those who are looking for a rare glimpse at an S/M relationship. If you're sensitive to this subject matter, than this book may not be for you. However, I must reiterate that Mrs. Burkhart does a wonderful job at presenting it tastefully. I'm sure you will fall in love with the characters, get swept away on a lusty ride of unconventional fun, and never look at a riding crop or Texas the same way again-- just as I did! :)
Despite the sensitivity of this often looked over facet of BDSM, Ms. Burkhart does an amazing, tasteful job at taking two characters who share a need and desire to give or receive pain, and demonstrating that this is not something that should be looked at as wrong. Instead, it is a just another aspect of BDSM. After all, it does make up the S & M! A couple of my favorite lines that explain the needs, desires, and fears of the characters are straight from Victor as he describes the needs of an S/M Dom and sub to his brother:
"I've already established what I want from her, and it's not just sex. She's not a submissive who's going to be happy with a little light bondage or pleasant sex, not for long, and neither am I. Pain is sex for us, the best kind of all, and I'm afraid..."
"If it's just me, I can control myself, but she's not just a submissive. She's a masochist, and she's far from afraid of me, which is dangerous. She's going to push and taunt me into crossing the line, and I've barely even touched her."
"If it's just me, I can control myself, but she's not just a submissive. She's a masochist, and she's far from afraid of me, which is dangerous. She's going to push and taunt me into crossing the line, and I've barely even touched her."
After reading both the previous book and this newest installment, I'm convinced that one of the author's strengths lies in her ability to create down-to-earth characters, who are dynamically represented through their depth, range of emotions, and realistic characteristics. You literally feel as though these characters could be your neighbors!
Victor is every bit the sadistic dominant, but still able to call his mom 'mamma', and demonstrate deep compassion and empathy towards those around him --especially Shiloh. His fears of truly hurting her ring so deep, you can't help but feel for what he must be going through during his internal struggle.
Shiloh is a fantastic combination of sugar and spice, and strength and vulnerability. She's down-to-earth, intelligent, fairly confident, and understands her needs as a masochist. She tries to convey this as blatantly as possible to the reluctant Dom, through the creation of the show, America's Next Top sub, that she initially sets out on her quest to conquer Victor. Little does she realize, however, that Victor has had his eyes on her as well. Their intense attraction starts off immediately, taking the readers on a ride of pleasurable fun throughout the duration of the book! Let's take a peek into Shiloh's diary, shall we?
"I've been thinking a lot about V's desk. It's a shiny black monstrosity nearly as wide and long as a king size bed. Now if you're thinking that I'm fascinating about stretching out on top of that desk, then you don't know me well at all. No, my fantasy would be to hide beneath the desk.
Can you just see some snooty high-society lay droning on an on about whatever fundraiser she wants Him to support, while I unzip His pants with my teeth?
As a Master, He'll be able to control Himself for a very, very long time, and I'm a damned good submissive. I can play for a very long time."
Can you just see some snooty high-society lay droning on an on about whatever fundraiser she wants Him to support, while I unzip His pants with my teeth?
As a Master, He'll be able to control Himself for a very, very long time, and I'm a damned good submissive. I can play for a very long time."
The plot of the story can be easily described as HOT, fun, and unconventional. I absolutely loved the fact that the author has taken a slightly avoided topic, and woven it in to a fun, lovable, passionate, and tasteful context of a BDSM reality show. During the course of the 'show', there's an educational aspect taking place, shedding light on the S/M part of a lifestyle, causing for a healthy balance of smexiness and learning. As with the first story, each chapter starts off with a first person POV from the female lead character which allows us to really grasp what's going on in the mind of masochist. Add to that the easiness of the author's writing style, and you have one hell of a tastefully done erotic story. All I can say is if Texas is this hot, I'm putting in for a job transfer ASAP! :)
~*~Final Thoughts~*~
This is obviously an adult category book based on strong erotic, language and scenes, as well as the sensitivity of the subject. I highly recommend this book for those of us who enjoy erotica, especially those who are looking for a rare glimpse at an S/M relationship. If you're sensitive to this subject matter, than this book may not be for you. However, I must reiterate that Mrs. Burkhart does a wonderful job at presenting it tastefully. I'm sure you will fall in love with the characters, get swept away on a lusty ride of unconventional fun, and never look at a riding crop or Texas the same way again-- just as I did! :)
0 comments:
Post a Comment