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Sunday, February 9, 2014

LETTING GO BLOG TOUR by MAYA BANKS: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY




Welcome to my stop on the Letting Go Blog Tour, brought to you by Berkley/Penguin. My stop includes a review and giveaway of Letting Go.
 
 
 
Letting Go (Surrender Trilogy, #1)Series: Surrender Trilogy #1
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Publication Date: 2/4/13
Format: ARC
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3.5 stars
 
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 and 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 is 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 and 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.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18281993-letting-go?from_search=true

First Impression... This is my very first Maya Banks novel. Exciting!

The Story... Three years since her husband's death, Joss is finally ready to move on. First up is a night at House, a safe haven for kink, to find herself a Dom. Joss has always longed for a dominating man, a longing her husband couldn't fulfill. There she has an awkward run-in with her husband's best friend and business partner, Dash. Dash has been in love with Joss since the moment he met here, this is his opportunity to finally make His move. Though she's shocked, Joss wants to explore the relationship. Dash's dreams are coming true, but will he be able to trust that Joss is truly his?

The Characters... Both Joss and Dash were likable characters. They both experience guilt, but also hesitant happiness at exploring a relationship. It did help that three years had passed since Joss was widowed, so the guilt factor was fairly low.

I was interested in them, their relationship, but I didn't find much background on which to base their feelings and actions, particularly her desire to be a submissive. When I think about it, though, that's honestly fine. Letting Go was less of a D/s story and more of a new relationship story. Joss and Dash are navigating a new relationship, a new D/s relationship, and learning to reconcile their past with the future.

Letting Go has several prominent secondary characters, and spent a fairly large amount of time setting those characters up for future books in the series. I was fine with getting that sneak peek into the future, but would have also liked that time to be a bit more devoted to Joss and Dash's story.

The Writing... As I've stated, this is my first Banks book, though I have her Fever series. I enjoyed her writing style, and do look forward to checking out more work.

The Heat... Letting Go dealt a lot with Joss and Dash's physical relationship, particularly given their D/s lifestyle. However, that wasn't the main, or even an overwhelming portion of the story. Theirs was a heavily emotional relationship. Each scene seemed to work to help progress their relationship instead of being the focus. And yeah, it was pretty hot.

Could I Put Letting Go Down? I could, but I was happy to get back to the story as quickly as I could.

In the End... Letting Go was a compelling story. The characters were interesting, their relationship was emotional and full of intense chemistry. I am very curious about the next book in the series.


Favorite Quote:

  "That's it, Joss. See me," he breathed out. "Finally. See me. Who I am. What I am. And that I want you with my every breath."
  "How long?" she whispered, remembering his admonishment that perhaps she wouldn't want the answer to her question. But now she had to know. She had to know how long he'd gone unnoticed by her.
  "Forever?" he said with a causal shrug. He tried to play it off lightly, but she could see the shadows that suddenly entered his eyes. The...pain. And the longing.




The Surrender Trilogy
 
Letting Go (Surrender Trilogy, #1)  Giving In (Surrender Trilogy, #2)  Taking It All (Surrender Trilogy, #3)
(covers lead to GoodReads)
 
 

Purchase Links
 

GIVEAWAY
 

I have one copy of Letting Go to give away, courtesy of the publisher.
Must be 18+ years of age to enter; open US only.
 
 

About the author
Maya Banks is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today and international bestselling author of over 50 novels. A wife and mother of three, she lives in Texas.
 




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30 comments:

  1. I never have, but I probably could have before.
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  2. Heh, I still haven't read a book by Ms. Banks. I should though, yeah? Everyone loves them dearly. Anyhow, other than the d/s relationship, this sounds like my kind of book. I rarely like d/s relationships (one was mildly there in Kiss the Sky by Krista and Becca Ritchie), but I'm always up for emotional stories and I guess the thing that Dash has been in love with her since the moment he met her--heh, it kind of sold me. I'm not an insta-love fan, but this--character being in love with the other since forever and the other starting to have feelings--those kinds of books I adore. Great review, love!

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  3. I'm loving these covers!! They're so pretty so i cannot stop looking at them. I have hard of this author and her books and they do sound great. I love the sound of the characters and the writing. So glad you enjoyed it. Great review, Andrea :)

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  4. I haven't read anything by this author, but I know a lot of readers adore her books. I'm usually not a fan of erotic romance, but this sounds like it has an actual story to it rather than just sex.
    Lovely review, Andrea.

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  5. Great review! I have never fallen for the best friend, but one of my friends fell for my guy.

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  6. I have never fallen for the best friend, nor do I think I ever could. Thanks for having this giveaway.

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  7. No I haven't, but I've always liked the premise in books.

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  8. I definitively like the sound of this one. I'm a sucker for emotional reads. Great review!

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  9. I've only read one MBanks book - one of the Colters books - and I liked it. I own several others but haven't made time to read them. Letting Go sounds intriguing, Andrea. I like the emotional aspect of the relationship, but I can see where the introduction of side characters meant for future books would be distracting from such an emotional story. Excellent review!

    As for whether I could/would fall for the best friend...I never have but I was attracted to the best friend, so it could happen if the circumstances were right.

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  10. My cousin and I had dates with cousins. When we got to the arranged meeting place her date had not shown up. My date went to find out where my cousin's date was. My cousin ended up with my date and I ended up with his best friend who I married 5 years later! (My cousins date never did show up.)

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  11. No I could never feel that way towards a best friend.

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  12. I'm wary of D/s tropes but as it's Maya Banks, I am going to read this because I want to try her writing. I'm happy that it's less kink and more on relationship, I could care less about spanking and all that domination, I'm more interested in the characters' emotional states.

    Lovely review, Andrea!

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  13. These sound good and the characters seem like ones I would like.

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  14. my best friend? Not really, but the only male best friend I ever had was my husband so I guess in a way yes? heh

    Interesting story. I am glad there was an emotional part to their relationship.

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  15. My husband is my best friend so I don't think it's an option, lol!

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  16. I never really had a close male friend. 3 brothers who kept them all away from me :)

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  17. I haven't read Maya Banks but I'm not sure if this would be the series for me to start with. You make it sound good, but I'm kind of on the fence about whether it's for me.

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  18. I always loved the "falling in love with BF" stories... alas not to be realized in real life as my bf is gay and in a very committed relationship :) Thanks for sharing!

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  19. Nope. Haven't fallen for the best friend.

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  20. no - thankfully that has not happened to me - that would be awful

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  21. Wonderful review, Andrea. I love her Highlander series, but I've heard mixed things about her contemporary work. I do like the fact that this was focused on the emotional side of things.

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  22. Ooh I didn't know Ms. Banks had another series out. Sounds sizzling like Breathless. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Good review.

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  23. I need background information in a story, and would feel a bit lost and disconnected to the characters without it. This sounds like it had a great premise, but fell a bit short. Great Review :)

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  24. Such beautiful covers! I'm thinking this one is not for me but I'm glad you found it compelling.

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  25. I haven't read anything yet by this author, but I've heard good things. Great review!

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  26. Yup! Fell for by BFF and still married to him 8.5yrs later :) <3
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  27. My husband has become my best friend... Great giveaway :)

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  28. I Could under the right circumstances

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