Review: Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

He'll be the dream and the dirty fantasy . . .

Through with both her controlling ex and relationships, Ava Webber is determined to explore the spicy and sometimes forbidden appetites of the exclusive BDSM nightclub, Serve. Here, she'll get exactly what she needs . . . as long as it's from a man she doesn't know.

Nolan Hart ensures that Serve's clients get what they want, how they want it. But with one look at the curvy brunette, Nolan knows he’s the man to fulfill her desires. As the anonymous lover, he's Ava’s dirtiest fantasy. Outside of Serve, he's her charming, smartass friend.

But Nolan wants more. More than Ava is willing to give. And as long as the blindfold stays on, she'll never discover that the two men she's falling for are one and the same . . .


Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Joya Ryan's website for more information.

Review:
Rules of Seduction is technically the seventh book in the multi-author Serve series but it does work really well as a standalone story and it's Joya Ryan's first contribution to the series. Fans of the previous books will recognise hero Nolan though, he's one of the Doms at Serve and he's in charge of interviewing potential new members and making sure that everything that happens inside the club is safe and consensual. I've always been intrigued by his character so I was really excited when I found out that this would be his story and he was just as sexy as I knew he would be.

Ava is Serve's newest member, she has only just moved to the area and she's looking for something completely anonymous. After escaping from a controlling ex-husband she's determined to live life by her own rules and she'll never let another man have the power to hurt her again. Just because she likes to be dominated in the bedroom doesn't mean she's going to give a man power over the rest of her life and she's completely sworn off men and dating. She is up for anything at the club as long as she's allowed to keep her blindfold on and never finds out who the man is outside of the club setting. Nolan is immediately drawn to Ava and he wants to be the one to fulfil her wildest fantasies, in fact he just can't bring himself to hand her over to one of the club's other Doms. He isn't built for a relationship anyway so what's the harm in being her anonymous partner as long as Ava never finds out it's him? As the passion builds between them in Serve they also start to develop a friendship outside of the club but Ava has no clue that the two men who are both starting to capture a piece of her heart are the same person. When Nolan decides he wants it all can Ava forgive him for his deception?

This was the first book I've read by Joya Ryan but in keeping with the rest of this series it was hot as hell and I actually think Nolan is one of my favourite guys from the series. He is sexy as hell and knows exactly how to give Ava everything she needs. Not only is he very dominant but he's also incredibly caring, very funny, loving and a great friend. I loved that we got to see them getting to know each other outside of the club and it was easy to see the connection between them. This was a fantastic instalment to the series and I'm definitely going to have to check out some of this author's other books in the future!

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Protecting Fate - Katee Robert

He’ll keep her safe . . . but who will protect her from him?

Fixer Sara Reaver is in serious trouble. She’s stepped on the wrong toes, and now her uncle is sending her out of the city in an effort to keep her safe—and he’s assigning her a glorified babysitter. The last person she expects to show up is the gorgeous Z, or for him to tempt her and then reject her in the space of a single night. Twice. Now she’s out to prove to him just how good they’d fit up together in every way imaginable.

Mercenary Z Loreto hates protection jobs, but he’s willing to make an exception for his best friend’s little sister. The only problem is she calls up things he’s been doing his damnedest to keep under wraps for the last seven years. But when she pushes him too far, it all comes rushing to the fore, and the fact she’s willing to submit to his every desire only makes the loss of control sweeter.

Sara and Z have a boatload of issues between them, but they’re sure they can make things work if they take it one day at a time… Right up until things spiral beyond their control. Now Z’s playing for keeps in a big way, and Sara’s got to decide if a chance at true happiness is worth the risk of repeating history.

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Katee Robert's website for more information.

Review:
I loved Katee Robert's first two books in the Serve series so was really looking forward to getting to know Garrett and Will's baby sister Sara. I knew I'd enjoy Protecting Fate but I didn't think it would be possible to top Garrett and Will as some of my favourite dominant heroes, until I met Z that is! I have to say I think this was Katee Robert's hottest story yet and I absolutely loved the chemistry between Z and Sara, in fact if it hadn't been for one of my least favourite tropes being used towards the end of the book this would easily have been my favourite instalment in the Serve series.

Sara works for her uncle as a Fixer but she's got in a little over her head and now has someone out to get her. Her uncle and brothers want her out of the city where she will be safe but they're sending a team along just to make sure she is protected. The last thing Sara wants is a babysitter but there is something about Z that draws her like a moth to a flame. Z only took the job as a favour to his best friend Garrett and getting involved with Sara would be wrong on so many levels but no matter how hard he tries to resist she manages to push all his buttons. Sara knows what she wants and she isn't taking no for an answer.

Sara and Z have absolutely fantastic chemistry right from the moment they lay eyes on each other. Sara is a strong and confident woman, someone who is capable of standing on her own two feet and who is highly independent but she loves to submit in the bedroom. She has very strict rules though and will never sleep with a guy more than three times because she absolutely doesn't want any kind of a relationship. She's seen first hand what happens when a marriage goes bad and she refuses to open herself up to that kind of hurt. Z also has very good reasons to be wary, he's been badly burned before and has had his Dominant side locked down tightly for a long time. Sara brings it bubbling to the surface and even though he knows how dangerous it is he just can't seem to help himself around her.

I loved both of these characters and I loved the fact that Z was quite quick to make up his mind about what he wanted. Once he'd set his sights on Sara he wasn't going to settle for anything less than being a permanent part of her life and as much as she resists him for a while it didn't take too long for him to worm his way into her affections. I really enjoyed seeing them learn to open up and trust each other both in and out of the bedroom. I already mentioned that there was one particular thing that happened towards the end that I wasn't happy with but that's more down to a personal preference than something that will bother most readers and I can't really say too much about it without giving spoilers. All I'll say is that it felt like a way of adding drama when there didn't really need to be any but I was happy that the problems didn't continue for too long and both Sara and Z were adult enough to admit their mistakes and move forward. They did both need a kick to get them there but that gave us the opportunity to see a couple of characters from the previous books so it wasn't all bad. I think I just would have preferred the drama in the story to have come more from the storyline of someone being after Sara, that would have felt more natural and would have added more pace to the story overall.

The important thing is that everything worked out okay in the end and I absolutely loved the little epilogue. Sara and Z were such a cute couple, their chemistry was fantastic and Protecting Fate was a hot as hell story. If you're looking for a steamy read you can't go wrong with any of Katee Robert's instalments in this series (Mistaken by Fate, Betting on Fate and Protecting Fate) and although each of these books does work as a stand alone story I would highly recommend all three of them.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey

The first rule is obey . . . and she already broke it.

Francesca "Frankie" De Luca always pays her debts. Even when it means stepping inside Serve, the sensuous Manhattan club that caters to particular adult desires. For Frankie, it's a taste of something she's always wanted—and never received. Until a sharply dressed Brit orders her into his room, and instructs her to undress before delivering the carnal punishment she so desperately needs . . .

She wasn't the woman Porter Evans was expecting. Not this wild thing with the pale, silvery eyes. And such cheek. But she violates Porter's strict rules of control. Temptation is a dangerous thing indeed. Yet everything about Frankie cries out for schooling about the tantalizing interplay of pleasure and pain. So Porter offers Frankie a deal she can't refuse—and the only thing she owes him is submission . . .

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
Driven by Fate is the fifth book in the Serve series (the third by Tessa Bailey as the other two were written by Katee Robert) and although we've briefly met both of these characters in a previous instalment you don't actually have to read this series in order to be able to enjoy each story.

Frankie has wanted to explore her submissive fantasies for a long time now but visiting Serve to repay a debt gives her the perfect opportunity to test the waters. Porter knows Frankie isn't the woman he was waiting for from the second she steps into his private room but against all common sense he can't resist taking what she's offering. The two of them have explosive chemistry and neither of them is quite ready to let it end after just one session but with Porter due to return home to England in a matter of weeks someone might end up getting their heart broken if they get in too deep.

I've been intrigued by British Dom Porter since we first met him in one of the earlier novels in the series so I have to admit to being more than a little excited when I found out that this was his story. I had a feeling he'd be intense and I was right! Tessa Bailey always writes such great dirty talking heroes and Porter is as dirty as they come so you can expect some incredibly hot sex scenes when you pick up this story. I've had a few issues with some of this author's previous heroines but I found myself really liking Frankie, she's a feisty woman who knows what she wants and isn't ashamed to admit it. As much as she fantasises about being dominated in the bedroom she is far from submissive in the rest of her daily life so she definitely keeps Porter on his toes. I thought they had great chemistry and I enjoyed seeing the two of them together but what stopped this from being a five star read for me was the fact that I wanted more depth to both of their characters. We learn a lot about Frankie but Porter is more of a mystery and I would have loved to explore more of his past to see exactly what made him tick.

Driven by Fate is a fab read though and I'm really enjoying this whole series, as a long term fan of both Tessa Bailey and Katee Robert any future books will automatically be added to the top of my wish list.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Betting on Fate - Katee Robert

This time, all bets are off . . .

Penelope Carson loves to steal clients from Will Reaver. Yet something in her business nemesis’s icy blue eyes makes Penelope…nervous. It certainly doesn’t help that the man is the living embodiment of a Norse god. A controlled, powerful Norse god. Which she really should have remembered before she made a bet with him—because losing means becoming Will’s personal submissive for a week.

There’s nothing Will would like more than to have Penelope kneeling before him in complicit submission, her fiery dark eyes inviting him in. Challenging him. But their bet takes Will and Penelope deeper than either of them have ever been. Where control is an illusion, and boundaries are pushed aside. And where hearts become the stakes in a game that neither Dominant nor submissive can win . . .

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Katee Robert's website for more information.

Review:
Betting on Fate is the fourth book in the Serve multi-author series but the story does work well as a standalone, we have already met Will in Mistaken by Fate though. Will is the twin brother of Garrett and I had a feeling he'd be the more dominant of the two so I was really looking forward to getting to know him better. I had very high hopes for this book before I started it and I'm pleased to say that Katee Robert didn't let me down, I think this was actually the hottest book in the series and it was definitely a book I'll be reading again at some point.

Penelope and Will are rivals, they both own their own businesses and have been competing for contracts for years so there is a lot of antagonism between them. There is also a crazy attraction going on but neither of them has been willing to act on it. Until they once again find themselves going after the same client that is, both are confident they are going to win so they decide to have a friendly little bet on it. Although both of them prefer to be dominant when they play at Serve, they agree that the loser of the bet will have to submit to the winner for a whole week. What they didn't realise was how much Penelope would enjoy submitting to Will and how well they would fit together but can two rivals in business, both of whom are very anti-relationships, figure out a compromise that will allow them to have a future together?

I really loved Penelope and Will together, they have a fantastic connection and a lot of common interests but I enjoyed seeing them push each other's boundaries too. Penelope has always known that she's a switch but her submissive side isn't something she's really explored before because she's always preferred to play the Domme when she's at Serve. She has been attracted to Will ever since she first saw him but was scared of getting too emotionally involved if she let him get close so it's not easy for her to put her trust in him now. I thought their relationship developed at the perfect speed, both characters have a steep learning curve, not because they aren't experienced in the BDSM lifestyle but because they're trying to find what works best for them as a couple. Will is definitely a commanding Dom, he knows exactly what he wants in the bedroom and he knows how to get it, but he's also very caring and I loved that Katee Robert showed how a Dom protects and looks after his sub.

Overall I thought Betting on Fate was a fabulous story, it's probably a little heavier on the BDSM side of things than the previous three books in the series were and it even includes a little ménage action (although it was very tastefully done and it wasn't taken as far as I expected so don't let it put you off reading the story) but I loved it even more because of that. This story is hot as hell and will definitely have readers fanning themselves! I really hope this isn't the end of the series, I'd a book about Will and Garrett's younger sister Sara because I have a feeling she's going to be quite a handful for her chosen partner but I'll automatically be buying any future books in this series.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert

The man she should want, or the man she craves . . .

Fashion designer Ridley Ethridge thinks she's found the perfect, stable sort of guy in her childhood friend Will Reaver. With seduction in her sights, she arranges to rock Will's world at an exclusive club that caters to those with adventurous and erotic appetites. What happens next is both intense and satisfying—until Ridley's blindfold comes off to reveal Will's twin brother. The same twin who broke her heart eight years ago.

Former soldier Garrett Reaver hasn't ever gotten Ridley out of his system. And now that she's before him in all her submissive glory? He'll be damned before he lets someone else have her, especially his brother. Because Garrett and Ridley have some seriously unfinished business to take care of, and it starts now. And this time, he'll show Ridley how exquisite a relationship with him could be . . . if their past doesn't catch up to them first.

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Katee Robert's website for more information.

Review:
This is the third book in the Serve series, the first two books were written by Tessa Bailey and this is Katee Robert's first instalment. There is no crossover of characters to the first two books so this can be read as a standalone story, the link here is that all of the characters attend the same BDSM club in New York.

Ridley has never got over the crush she had on her best friend's older brother Garrett but he broke her heart six years ago when he walked away and she has decided that it's about time for her to move on with her life. She's decided that the perfect guy for her to settle down with is Garrett's twin brother Will and she heads out to the Serve BDSM club determined to seduce him. After an amazing, passionate scene at the club Ridley is horrified when she removes her blindfold to see not Will but Garrett is the guy who just made the earth move. Garrett walked away from Ridley once because he was scared she would break his heart but after the night they've just shared he can't bring himself to leave for a second time. Can he convince her to give him a second chance and even if he does will he be able to put his fears behind him enough to start a meaningful relationship?

I love second chance romances and I love dirty minded bad boys so Mistaken by Fate was right up my street. Garrett definitely ticks the dirty talker box and both he and Ridley get off on a little exhibitionism which leads to some incredibly erotic encounters between the two of them. I loved seeing them together, Garrett had a really sweet side but he was so scared of being hurt that he kept pushing Ridley away. I was pleased that Ridley didn't let him walk all over her, as much as she liked giving him control in the bedroom she didn't let him push her into anything she wasn't comfortable with and she was sensible enough to fight for what she needed too. I have to admit I was a little confused about their history, I could never quite work out if they'd been in an actual relationship before he left or whether they'd just been friends on the verge of something more. It wasn't the end of the world but I really would have liked a little more background and I think I would have found the end of the story a little more believable if they'd had more of a conversation about what had happened between them in the past. That was my only issue with the story though and I enjoyed everything else about it.

If you're looking for a story with a dirty minded hero and a heroine who is up for pretty much anything then you're bound to enjoy Mistaken by Fate. I'm definitely hoping that we get at least two more stories from Katee Robert in this series because I'm dying to know more about Garrett's twin brother Will and their younger sister Sara.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey

He’ll train her to lure another man. She’ll lure him instead.

When interior designer Eliza Ballas accompanies a friend to New York’s premier BDSM club, she’s taken aback by the sheer want that overruns her body—especially when a sexy Brit assumes Eliza is adept at dark, sensual arts. If she’s going to play, she’ll need an erotic education, and she knows just the man to teach her how to submit . . .

Oliver Preston isn’t one to turn down pleasure, but Eliza’s his sister’s best friend, and he’s torn between a sense of duty and his rock-hard need to find out if she tastes as delicious as he’s dreamed. Unable to handle thought of another man owning her body, he draws Eliza deep into his world of exquisite pain and pleasure. He has three lessons to instruct her. Three lessons to drive them both to the brink of ecstasy. And three lessons before he must give her to another man . . . if he doesn’t lose himself first.

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
I love Tessa Bailey's Line of Duty series so I had high hopes for her new Serve series which is set around a BDSM club. Unfortunately I wasn't a huge fan of the first book but that was more down to the fact that I hated the heroine than anything else so I took a second chance and bought the second book too. I'm so glad I did because Exposed by Fate was everything I wanted from Owned by Fate and more, in fact I think I now have a new favourite Tessa Bailey hero in Oliver, he was absolutely fabulous!

Eliza is keen to explore her newly discovered submissive side but she's wary of testing the waters with a stranger when she has no real idea about what she will enjoy or what will be expected of her. Oliver is her best friend's older brother and as a playboy and a regular at Serve he would be the perfect person to teach her the art of submission. Her only fear is that she could end up getting her heart broken if she doesn't keep him at a distance. Oliver has craved Eliza for a long time but he knows he's not a one woman man and would never want to hurt her. The pair agree on three lessons thinking that will be enough for Eliza to learn what she needs to know but not long enough for either of them to get attached. What they don't expect is the instant, deep bond that they both feel and it's not long before they realise that the lessons are changing them both but will either of them be brave enough to admit that three lessons will never be enough?

Tessa Bailey has always excelled at her dirty talking heroes and Oliver is no exception to that, he is completely masterful in the bedroom (and the shower, and on the conference room table, and .. well you get the picture!) so we are treated to some completely knicker melting scenes that will leave you desperately needing a cold shower. Eliza may be inexperienced but inexperienced doesn't equal shy and she's more than willing to jump into her lessons with both feet. She has done her research and she trusts Oliver to always have her best interests at heart so she doesn't hesitate to accept anything he suggests. The two of them have fabulous chemistry but more than that they have a solid base of friendship and I loved the way Oliver was able to talk to Eliza about her fears and make her realise that there is nothing wrong with her desires. Eliza is a strong heroine, she loves to submit in the bedroom but in all other areas she is strong and feisty and more than capable of keeping Oliver on his toes, she is also the one person who believes in him. Oliver has always been on the outside looking in when it comes to his family, he's never felt good enough or that he could live up to their expectations but Eliza sees past that to the man he is inside and she helps him gain confidence in his business life which was great. I liked the balance between them and the fact that they are both better together than they were apart.

Exposed by Fate was a fab story and one I thoroughly enjoyed. If you're looking for a hot and spicy romance with plenty of dirty talk and a little exhibitionism you will love this one. I'll definitely be buying future books in the series as soon as they're available!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey

Her mind rejects his world. But her body knows its master.

Journalist Caroline Preston arrives at Serve, New York City’s hottest BDSM club, with one goal—to hate it. If her brother wasn’t trying to turn the family’s respectable financial magazine into a publication that features “lifestyle” pieces for the wealthy and adventurous, she wouldn’t even be there, trying to write an article about a world she doesn’t understand. But then she sees him.

Jonah Briggs doesn’t leave his post for just anyone. As the owner of the club, his sole purpose is to ensure that his clientele get everything they need, but when he sees Caroline, his only thought is what he wants—to dominate the sexy little reporter and give the most exquisite pleasure she’s ever experienced.

Caroline has no intention of entering that particular lion’s den—not with her family’s reputation at stake—no matter how dark, sexy, and complex the lion in question may be. But with every encounter, she craves more, and with every slide of his lips, she realizes Jonah might just be the man to break down all her defenses . . . if she’ll let him.

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
As a huge fan of Tessa Bailey's dirty talking heroes in her Line of Duty series I was incredibly excited to find out that she was co-writing a new series set in a BDSM club and couldn't wait to read Owned by Fate. I had such high hopes for this story but if I'm honest I only just managed to finish it which was a real disappointment.

I think my main issue was that I really hated the heroine so as much as I liked Jonah Caroline pretty much ruined the book for me. Caroline is a journalist who helps run her family financial magazine, the last thing she wants is to make the magazine more edgy but sales are falling and they need to do something drastic if they want to save the business. She agrees to write a piece about one of New York's hottest BDSM club but she goes into it completely prejudiced against the lifestyle and determined to hate every minute of it. I found it pretty impossible to believe that someone who was so anti all things BDSM would then go on to have a one night stand with a Dom on her very first visit to the club. I could have forgiven that if her attitude had started to change but she goes on and on about how she's a respectable woman and BDSM is wrong and quite frankly I wanted to punch her in the face.

Caroline is basically a stuck up snob who thinks she's way too good for Jonah, she constantly looks down her nose at him but even when she is judging his lifestyle choices negatively she still can't help herself from falling into bed with him. Jonah was much more likeable but I couldn't for the life in me understand what he saw in Caroline. There was nothing about her that made it believable he would fall for her and the more he let her get away with treating him like crap the harder I found it to respect him. He starts the story as a pretty decent Dom (who is also the owner of the club she keeps knocking!) but he pretty much rewards her for looking treating him like crap and then begs her to spend time with him. I can't see any self-respecting Dom acting like that and it was just too much for me.

Although I didn't enjoy Owned by Fate as much as I expected to I do still have hope for the series and have bought the next book because I like Caroline's brother Oliver and her friend Eliza. Since my main problem with this book was the fact I hated Caroline I'm hoping I'll have more luck with those two! I know I'm actually in the minority not liking this book so don't let me put you off giving it a go. The sex scenes are hot, the dirty talk is great and if you can ignore the judgemental heroine you'll probably enjoy this much more than I did.

Source: Purchased

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