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Friday, July 18, 2014

Sexy Saturdays (Quickie-Style): Desired by Stacey Kennedy / Sex on the Beach by Delphine Dryden



  
Sexy Saturdays with Andrea and Autumn is a weekly feature created to spread the word about spicy reads. 
 
Participating blogs:
  
 
 
Series: Club Sin #3
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Loveswept (Random House)
Publication Date: 7/22/14
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 stars
 
 
 Readers of Fifty Shades of Grey are sure to love Desired, 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. 
 
My Review
 
Desired was so, so good, maybe even my favorite of the Club Sin series. I've liked Kyler Morgan since meeting him in Claimed and have been anxious to see him find the submissive of his dreams. It doesn't take long in Desired, because he and Ella Snow connect across a crowded wedding reception (one of the other couples gets married, yay!) Kyler, being the fantastic Dom he is, not only connects with Ella, but also recognizes the submissive in her. After a passionate night, he wants to begin a relationship. Ella is wary, and evasive, about her reasons to keep the relationship casual. Kyler begins the sweet, sensitive and romantic undertaking at getting Ella to open up to him, share her secrets. Ella wants more with Kyler, if she can leave the past behind. She's also open to joining Kyler in his lifestyle, as his submissive.
 
Kyler and Ella were great romantic leads. I truly liked them both as characters, enjoyed watching them begin this slow, sexy dance towards a life-changing love. Ella's past relationship plays into their present, and I admired both how the author dealt without this throughout the story. It gave good motivation for Ella's reluctance and helped eventually bring them together as a stronger couple. I also liked how Kyler approached Ella about joining Club Sin, and Ella's reaction and her curiosity and thoughtfulness moving forward. And damn, everything about the sexual relationship between these two-in and out of the club-was so, so sexy!
 
We also get a lot of Dmitri and Presley (Claimed) and a nice bit of Aidan and Cora (Bared). It's always appreciated when past couples are brought forward with the series.
 
I like to describe the Club Sin series as BDSM-lite, not because I don't take it seriously in that aspect, but because it is so easily-accessible to those who are wary of BDSM or erotic romance. Yes, the lifestyle does play a strong part in the plot, but they're essentially character-driven stories about people who are connected by the community. We don't have men who are out to convince or their lady into joining, though they do encourage her to explore. In the first two books, the heroines are there of their own volition, with or without the hero. The play is more focused on the pleasure or pleasure-pain aspects of BDSM, not the parts (blood play, humiliation, etc) that can seem scary to many of us. If you're looking to explore erotic romance with a BDSM slant, I would definitely encourage you to give the Club Sin series a try.
 
 
 
Favorite Quotes 
 
 
 Though Kyler liked the thought of bringing Ella to Club Sin, he didn't know how to broach the subject with her. So, I like to fuck in public, engage in kinky sex play, and demand submission--whatcha think?
 

 
  A gazillion questions hung on the tip of her tongue. She also wasn't about to ask any of them with two people around her she didn't know. Don't look two inexperienced, Ella. She finally looked from Kyler to Porter to Kenzie, who all watched her. What does one say in this incredibly awkward moment? So, you come here to fuck?
 
 
  "You're not alone anymore, Ella."
  Sobbing tears rushed along her face, tears she didn't try to control. So long she had felt alone. So long she had fought against the world that seemed to be fighting against her. Now it seemed like life had finally given her a second chance. And this man was the reason behind it. A man who gave her everything without ever asking for something in return. A man who had simply been there for her, every step of the way. "I'm no longer alone?"
  Warmness softened his eyes, making her glow from the inside out, as he slowly shook his head. "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."




The Club Sin Series



Claimed (Club Sin, #1)   Bared (Club Sin, #2)   Desired (Club Sin, #3)   Freed (Club Sin, #4)

 (covers lead to GoodReads pages)
 
 

 
 
 

Sex on the Beach (Tropical Trysts, #2)
Series: Tropical Tysts #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Cosmo Red Hot Reads From Harlequin
Publication Date: 7/221514
Format: eARC
Pages: 87
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3.5

 
GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  BN
 
 
 
Hawaiian Vacation To-Do List:

1. Bikini up! You're in Oahu, and it's time for fruit drinks with umbrellas in them!
2. Being obsessively organized doesn't work during a Hawaiian vacation. Relax. Seriously.
3. Scan the resort for hot dudes. Huh. That hot jogger who ran by looks a lot like your ex, Jeremy—only fitter, harder and sexier.
4. Moonlit walks mean bumping into Hot Jogger Guy. Who is your ex.
5. Don't panic. Instead, think with your libido! Also debate the merits of ex sex.
6. Ignore the consequences. Go for it.
7. Revel in the afterglow. Go for rounds two and three.
8. Ooh, kayaking!
9. Round four. Oops!
10. Definitely do not think about why you broke up in the first place. Or that you're having wicked-hot nookie with the man you were here to forget…


My Review


I wanted to pick up Sex on the Beach because I like the Red Hot Reads line and I like Dryden's novellas. I'm glad I went with my gut on this, because this one was another win for me in both categories.

As indicated in the book description, Sex on the Beach is a vacation story and a second chance romance. Jeremy and Amanda broke up ten months prior when he moved for his job and she refused to follow. Both have been moving forward with their lives, but miserable without the other. When Amanda heads to Hawaii with a couple of friends, Jeremy takes the opportunity to follow her and win her back.

And that's where Sex on the Beach gets fun. We have this couple who are most definitely still in love, but have issues to work through if they can make another go of it. I like that Dryden doesn't smooth the issues over with sex, but makes it a real part of the discussion and gives it a realistic "non-resolved" resolution. I had to giggle over Amanda and Jeremy's inability to shut down the attraction between them, and that neither deny it. This leaves us with a story that had the deep discussions interspersed with clothes-ripping passion. My favorite kind!

I can't give any real detractions to Sex on the Beach, except possibly feeling a little lost in the beginning. That's my fault though, since I didn't pick up Mai Tai For Two (about Amanda's vacation mates) first.

Sex on the Beach was a fast and sexy little read that left me satisfied and smiling. Perfect if you're looking for a quick and dirty, yet sweet beach romance.


Favorite Quotes
 
 
  "I didn't tell you I was coming because I knew you wouldn't agree to it. I've spent the last year accomplishing even more than I thought I could, but it's all kind of meaningless because all I do is think about how I want to share it with you. I still love you, I still want to be with you. We are both really smart, and I know we can figure this out if we try. Please just give me these few days to try. And that is what I came here to say."
 
 
  "I'm not sure what it will accomplish, having that talk again. Seems like it's going to end up in the same exact place it did all the other times."
  Jeremy pursed his lips, clearly contemplating the wisdom of his response before going for it. "In hot, angry doggy style on your living room floor?"
  "That was one time.: She felt the blush creeping over her face. Her first instinct had been to grab him and head for the floor to demonstrate, so it felt like she'd been caught in illicit lusting. "And maybe that one other time."

 

The Tropical Trysts Series

Mai Tai For Two (Tropical Trysts, #1)  Sex on the Beach (Tropical Trysts, #2)
(covers lead to GoodReads pages)
 
 

About Stacey Kennedy

Stacey KennedyUSA Today Bestselling Author, Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Supernatural, True Blood, Lost Girl, and Sons of Anarchy.
Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads

 

About Delphine Dryden


Delphine DrydenAfter earning two graduate degrees, practicing law awhile, and then working for the public school system for over ten years, I finally got a clue. I tossed all that aside and started doing what I should have been doing all along, writing novels! In hindsight I could see the decision was a no-brainer.

I’m fortunate to have two wonderful, absurdly precocious children and two delightful if occasionally disobedient mutts. My family and I are all Texas natives, and reside in unapologetic suburban bliss near Houston.
 

 



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6 comments:

  1. These sound hot! Thanks for the great review.

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  2. Oh lordy I'm so behind. I have the first two by Kennedy and keep meaning to give them a read. I gotta get on that soon.

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  3. Sex on the Beach sounds very sweet. I love second chance romances.

    BDSM stories aren't ones that I gravitate toward, but they're usually pretty hot. I guess it's hard to relate to that type of lifestyle or believe that it's real, but what do I know. I think I'm pretty sheltered. Nice to hear that this story is more character driven, because that's what I'm attracted to most when I pick up a romance. Wonderful reviews, Andrea! :)

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  4. I definitely want to check out the Club Sin series, Andrea. I'm glad it was so satisfying for you. I like it when we get to see characters from previous installments - that's fun. And Sex on the Beach sounds nice, too. :) Great reviews, hon!

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  5. I need to get caught up on Stacey Kennedy's series. I liked the first few that I read. Nice reviews!

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