The King (The Original Sinners #6) by Tiffany Reisz

4.5 Stars Arc received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review I am always at a loss for words after reading one of Tiffany Reisz’s tales. I cannot fathom why in the world I am drawn to this series like the proverbial moth to a flame. Totally baffles me since she hits on all, and I mean ALL, of my “no-go” triggers. Maybe it’s her impeccable writing style and superb story telling talents. Maybe it’s because this author has the balls to incorporate every taboo I can imagine into her story line in a way wherein I can cast aside all my inhibitions. Whatever the reason, I love this series. I swear I can hear the gasps of Sister Mary Frances, my grammar school teacher, each time I queue one of Reisz’s masterpieces onto my kindle. It’s blasphemous, yet so worth it. I happily run back for more from this amazing author and was tickled pink upon hearing THE KING was getting his own story. It was absolutely magnificent. But, I would not consider this a stand-alone novel and recommend reading the entirety of the Siren Series to fully understand all characters involved.     As with the previous installments, this series goes well beyond the stereotypical BDSM ‘tie ‘em up and spank their ass’ erotic love story. Yes, the sexual element runs rampant throughout, especially since Kingsley oozes raw sex appeal in every way. I always feel as if I’ve journeyed deep within the soul of each of character; an up close view into their psyche. Crawling into Kingsley mind was a head-trip. All that coupled with a cast of multi-faceted characters and an intriguing plot, made this an excellent read that blew me away. I felt as if I waited a lifetime for Kingsley Theophilé Boissonneault to tell his story and his majesty did not disappoint. Forever the self-indulgent sexual fiend, Kingsley’s character intrigued me, second only to the mighty Søren, as far as piquing my curiosity. Finally some insight on what makes him tick and the birth of the man that we come to know as “Kingsley Edge”. We see the creation of his empire – the Eighth Circle. His rise to power as the king of the New York BDSM underworld was not an easy climb, but with all things Kingsley, it was amazingly entertaining. It is here we are introduced to new characters, such as Sam, who becomes his “right hand man” sort to speak. She came across as a female version of Kingsley with a hint of Nora mixed in - snarky, tricky and charming. I’ve come to adore her. But what called to me the most was seeing the dynamics of his relationship with Søren, without Nora being the intermediary. Their love and connection is told through Kingsley’s eyes and sheds new light on the bond that exists between these two powerful men. I now see Søren as more than just the dominant commanding sadist. He was more laid back and humorous, and I fell in love with le prêtre even more. I am not one to read M/M romances. Ms. Reisz’s novels are the exception for me. But the love story told is so touching, so intense, my heart ached seeing the depths of Kingsley’s love for the only man he will submit to. His desperation to have any piece of Søren overwhelmed me.   All in all, I loved seeing the world through the kinky eyes of Kingsley Edge. Long live the King and bravo, Tiffany Reisz, for penning yet another brilliant saga. I will wait, with bated breath, for the next installment. TRIPLES with EMMA

Falling Away (Fall Away, #3) by Penelope Douglas @PenDouglas

4 Stars Arc received from author in exchange for an honest review I was a little hesitant going into “Falling Away” because I have to admit, I was not a fan of KC when first introduced in “Bully”. What enticed me to dive in was my curiosity and fascination with Jaxon’s character. There was just something about the way KC handled the relationship with Jared and betraying her best friend Tate that left an acrid taste in my mouth. Regardless, I jumped into this read trying to have an open mind and soon discovered I was absolutely wrong. I shouldn’t have been surprise in Penelope Douglas’ ability to turn my feelings towards KC around. The more familiar I became with KC’s life, her pain, her history and sorrow, the more I opened up my heart. The real KC is a complex character that was truly misunderstood. Lost and filled with deep seeded pain, her life started to slowly fall apart. But once shedding the mask she wore to protect herself, KC shined. I championed her struggle in rebuilding herself and adored the new loving, gentle and tenderhearted KC/Juliette. A totally different side came through and I found her to be my favorite heroine in this series.  Jax is the quintessential bad boy. He’s hot, sexy, extremely domineering and likes to have total control when it comes to sex. But he’s also…mean-spirited, more so than I found his brother Jared and friend Madoc to be. For most of the read, he down right pissed me off with how callous he was towards KC. But his charisma coupled with his insatiable sexual appetite drew me to his character. The deeper I was pulled into the story, the more I understood Jax. He was broken and needed to find himself as well. In all honesty, it was hard getting around his character at times, but once I crawled inside his mind and saw his pain, the more I hoped for his healing. It took some time, but I come to adore Jax because deep down he truly loves KC, and has for years.     As far as steam, this read was smoking hot – more so than the previous installments by far. Jax was full on crazy when it came to passion. It was easy to forget how young these characters were. Douglas has the knack of masking their youthfulness by introducing a definite level of maturity within her characters, especially during the hot monkey sex scenes. Holy cow, these two sizzle. Jax and KC’s romance was by no means an easy, lighthearted read. It was emotionally driven. This series is known for it’s troublesome heroes/heroines and this couple certainly heads the pack. Stirring an array of feelings within me - from frustration, to anger, to compassion – Jax and KC’s broken souls pulled on my heartstrings. In the end, Penelope Douglas penned another well-written intense story with just the right mix of angst, lust, love and nail biting moments. Lots of push and pull type of sexual tension that explodes once these two get together, and it was fantastic. To top all this goodness off, a glimpse into the next installment where we revisit Jared and Tate’s relationship. I personally am looking forward to more of this couple and cannot wait to jump into their continuing saga.    Falling Away: The Fall Away Series

Surrendered (She Who Dares #3) by LP Lovell @Authorlplovell

4.5 Stars Arc provided by author in exchange for an honest review Surrendered is the last installment in the “She Who Dares” series and the continuing love story of the perfectly dysfunctional couple, Theodore Ellis and Lilly Parker. Finally, all secrets are revealed and questions that left me dangling in suspense at the end of Conquered have been answered. Lilly is a master when it comes to harboring secrets that are the reason her life is one crazy rollercoaster ride. I will not divulge any spoilers in regards to Lilly’s past and the reasons why she has hidden herself behind sky-high concrete walls. But, once discovering the ghosts in her closet, I realized Lilly was justified in guarding her heart. She is a fighter and a survivor. I felt her pain that was cause by one hell of a horrific past. When she finally opens herself up to Theo, who is more than pleased to accept the burden of her sorrows, Lilly underwent a great character transformation. Don’t get me wrong, she is still the stubborn and sassy independent woman I’ve come to adore. However, a softer, gentler side of Lilly blossoms. This change allows her relationship with Theo to become solidified. “You make me feel Theo, and I haven’t allowed myself to feel anything, good or bad for a long time. I just wanted to be numb. You terrify me, but you thrill me at the same time.”  Theo still remains the sexy billionaire, but no longer a playboy. He is totally committed to Lilly and she becomes the center of his world. **SWOON** He’s more mature, more compassionate and takes his role as Lilly’s protector very seriously. Whether his actions to secure Lilly’s safety are right or wrong, he has claimed her fully and proved beyond a doubt that he would move heaven and earth to keep her safe and happy. In the prior installments, Theo managed to majorly tick me off with his lack of maturity and his selfish indiscretions. Happy to say that he has redeemed himself in my eyes in Surrendered to fully become the strong man Lilly needs. Albeit, his character growth it limited to how he handles and supports Lilly. Otherwise, Theo still has a callous streak in him that severely grates me nerves, especially in dealing with Cassie situation. He never managed to loose the asshole factor. As far as the heat factor, Theo and Lilly are sizzling hot. Theo certainly knows how to satisfy his “Sugar” and set the sheets – or wherever they decide to screw - on fire. “Two people who look like us can’t not f*ck sugar. It’s a fucking travesty to the human race.” LP Lovell has a unique and descriptive writing style. It’s a perfect combination of sexy and witty. I liked seeing this story from both Lilly’s and Theo’s point of view. I really enjoyed this series and look forward to diving into her future works. Can’t wait to jump into Hugo’s world and really hope Harry gets the chance to tell his story.