KEPT (ENFORCERS #3)

He can’t change who he is...

A horrific childhood has made Silas the man he is today: dangerous, distrustful, and demanding. He’s lived in self-imposed solitude, convinced that no woman could ever accept his need for absolute control—in business and pleasure. That is, until a young violinist walks into one of his buildings and into his life.

She can’t change what she wants...

Haley has been struggling to fulfill her father’s dying wish: to attend a prestigious music school in New York City. But even working two jobs, she can’t afford the tiniest of apartments. Seeing her hopeless and near tears, Silas vows to help and protect her, no matter the cost to himself. But when Haley meets his every demand with unwavering acceptance and love, he is overwhelmed by her goodness and gentle spirit. He knows that the dark stain on his soul can never be erased—and rather than risk destroying the most beautiful thing he's ever experienced, he knows he'll have to do the hardest thing he's ever had to face. Let her go. But he's totally unprepared for the lengths Haley will go to fight for his love and a future brighter than the sun... 

Release Date: October 25, 2016

Enforcers series Book #3

Berkley Penguin Group

Review copy provided by the publisher 

Nikki’s Review:

This series just pulls me right in. There are so many emotions from one page to the next. I was beyond excited to get this ARC in my greedy hands. Maya Banks twists my insides into knots. This book was no different.

Silas is dark and broody. I'm not sure you'd ever want to be on his bad side. But you get to see glimpses of a softer side in the first two books. He's capable of affection and friendship, though he keeps those things very closely guarded.

Haley is down on her luck. A music student who is quickly running out of money. She's determined to make her dreams come true. She just needs to catch a break. I'm sure this goes against all feminist sensibilities, but I love love love a story where the heroine needs rescuing. I don't want her to be "too stupid to live" or a complete pushover, but I like the "knight in shining armour" concept. It gets all my girly senses fluttering! 

These two were wicked hot for each other from the get go. Silas doesn't want the distraction that Haley is proving to be, but he's not capable of staying away either. Haley is only too willing to give herself over to Silas and his sensual demands.

The thing with this series is that the relationships aren't conventional. The heroes demand total control over the heroine’s life, in bed and out. Those who are familiar with or are apart of the BDSM community would understand this concept easily. However, it may take a little getting used to if you're more "vanilla". The dynamic works for the couples. It's completely consensual and absolutely breathtaking!

I loved the real "black moments" in this book. The part where the emotions are stripped raw and everyone is left bleeding. There were several moments like that and it kept me holding my breath. I wasn't sure how the hero and heroine would come back from it. But true to, Maya Banks style, they always do! I'm constantly left wondering how in the hell she does it. On one page I'm laughing over the dialogue, the next page I'm red in the face during a love scene, and then I'm snotting and bawling on the next! So many emotions; I'm often left with a spinning head. But this is good! I love feeling all this stuff. Ms. Banks always pulls it all together and makes it work. It's incredible!

There's a suspense aspect to the plot line. Silas and the men he calls his "brothers" aren't your typical heroes. The author doesn't come right out and say what they're involved in, but you get a sense that they toe the line of the law. Kinda like a mafia of sorts, but with honourable and good men. Make sense? 

I highly recommend you start with book 1 in this series. Some of the story overlaps. You meet all the key characters (except Haley) in the previous books. I really hope that Maya Banks continues with the series. I haven't heard anything about future books, but there are so many characters that I would love to read about! So many possibilities! 

Rating: 3.5 stars (B+)

~~Review also will appear as a guest post on The Book Reading Gals~~

DOMINATED (THE ENFORCER #2)

Title: Dominated

Series: The Enforcer Series #2

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Author: Maya Banks

Publisher: Berkley Penguin Group

Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Blurb :

To save her, he had to betray her...

In Drake’s shadowy world, his enemies would exploit any weakness he had in order to bring him to his knees, and so he’s never allowed himself to care about anyone...never exhibited any vulnerability, and it made him a force to be reckoned with. Until Evangeline—his angel. A woman who slipped past his defenses like no one had ever managed. She was his to protect and ultimately, to do that, he had to do the unthinkable and drive the only good thing in his world away.

But he will stop at nothing to get her back...

Devastated and destroyed, Evangeline doesn’t know what made Drake turn on her in such a shocking manner. She only knows she’ll never be the same. He once freed her from all her inhibitions, only now she is a prisoner to never-ending pain. But when Drake finds her again, she realizes there is more to his world than she ever imagined, and she must decide if she can once more trust—and submit—to the man who holds her wounded heart in his hands. And he must convince her of just how far he’ll go to regain her love and forgiveness.

Nikki’s Thoughts:

I have been a huge fan of Maya Banks, for what seems like forever. When the first book in this series ended on a serious cliffhanger, I was beyond pissed. I was utterly savage for this book, I needed to see where Drake and Evangeline ended up. Needless to say, I gobbled this book right up!

This series has a much different feel than anything else, Maya has written. It's darker. Drake isn't exactly a good guy; he's definitely the antihero. Evangeline rubbed me the wrong way so many times. She was often spineless and way too forgiving. Their dynamic was more of a 24/7 Dom/sub relationship. Drake controls every aspect of her life. This works for them, it's what they both wanted and needed. So no judgement there.

I like to see a hero mess up and have to grovel for forgiveness. I love the emotion that typically comes from that situation. But holy hell...Drake screws up in monumental ways! A lot! He is cruel when he feels betrayed and he unleashes so much anger, it's a little disconcerting. And yet, Evangeline comes back each and every time. It gets old. 

I was relieved when she finally grew a spine and left him. She was devastated and broken, but she did it. I was still rooting for these two, I wanted them together, but I knew that Drake had some serious begging to do. And beg he does!

The sex scenes are HOT HOT HOT! Like most, Maya Banks books, I was breathless while reading the juicy stuff! These two are combustible...scorching!

I loved the supporting characters in this series, and I really hope Ms. Banks gives them each a book...but without the bloody cliffhangers. I went all "hulk smash mad" the first time. The dialogue was interesting and kept me wanting more. Maya never fails in delivering a story that can twist your emotions in so many directions. At times I hated both, Drake and Evangeline, yet I wanted to keep going. I wanted to go on this journey with them. That there is good storytelling folks! Whether you love the characters or certain situations, if you can't put it down...the author has done it right! 

I look forward to the next book in the series. I'm glad that Drake and Evangeline's story is wrapped up. I'm not sure my emotions could handle much more. In true Maya Banks style, I was laughing on one page, angry the next, loving the sexy times on another, and then having a good ugly cry! I was dragged through the mud with these two...and I would t have it any other way!

Grade: A (4 stars)

MASTERED (THE ENFORCER #1)

Title: Mastered
Series: The Enforcer #1
Author: Maya Banks
Genre: Erotic/Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Berkley

Book Blurb: What he wants, he takes with no remorse or guilt.

She stood out in his club like a gem, unspoiled and untouched. A lamb among wolves, she clearly didn’t belong. Drawn to her innocence he watched as she was surrounded by men who saw what he did—but no one but him could touch her. He summoned her to his private quarters. He sensed her fear. He also recognized the desire in her eyes. And he knew she wouldn’t leave before he possessed her. She had no need to know his secrets. Not until he had her under his complete and utter control.

What he wants, she isn’t sure she can give him.

The moment he told her want he wanted, she couldn’t resist. Instinct told her to run, but her heart said stay and walk the fine line between pleasure and pain. Though she wasn’t sure she could ever completely surrender, the primal part of her wanted to try, even knowing this man could break her in ways she never imagined. Because once he possessed her, he owned her and it would be too late to turn back. She can only pray that he doesn’t destroy her in the end.

Nikki's Thoughts: Maya Banks. The authors name alone incites happiness in me. I have loved her books for what feels like forever! I know I am going to go through a whirlwind of emotions when I pick up a Maya Banks novel.

Drake Donovan is different, in my opinion, from all the other heroes that Maya has written. He's more...brutal? He's definitely rougher around the edges in how he treats people. It was a bit of a shock at first. I wasn't use to this type of hero in her books. It was when he started opening himself up to Evangeline that I really saw into the heart of him. I relaxed a bit more with him. He puts a whole other meaning to the word, alpha! He has the alpha attitude in spades!

Call me old fashioned, but I love a vulnerable heroine. A strong woman is great, don't get me wrong. But sometimes I like seeing the woman being built up into the person she's meant to be. I think in reality that a lot of woman suffer from a low self esteem, for a myriad of reasons. I could relate to Evangeline. I could understand why she struggled with her self worth. It's a real human emotion and struggle. She's strong, really strong, she just needed someone to help her see that. I love how Drake slowly helps her realize all that she has to offer a relationship and that she's important.

The dynamic of this relationship could definitely raise a few eyebrows. Drake is a dominant. He requires Evangeline's complete submission...in the bedroom and out. While he wouldn't clip her wings so to speak, he wants to have a say or hand in most things that she does. It's not for everyone. But it worked for these two. It was an equal partnership. They both gave things that the other needed. It's hard to see it at first, but they truly compliment each other. Evangeline struggles with all the material things that Drake gives her. The only thing she wants is his heart. This issue is pretty prominent throughout the book. Eventually, you understand his need to provide for her, to give her extravagances that blow her mind.

There are so many secondary characters in this book and they definitely make you want their stories. Drake is surrounded by uber alpha hotties that work with him/for him. I kinda fell in love with them all! I'm really hoping that they all get a book...hint hint, Maya!

I feel like you, the reader, should have fair warning. This book has a cliffhanger. Just typing that makes the vein in my forehead throb all over again. I don't like cliffhangers. I absolutely avoid books with them. I'll wait until the next book is out and read them together. There was zero indication that this book was only part one. I feel like the reader should know before they start the book, that way you're given an opportunity to decide if you want to go ahead and read it, or wait until the full story is out. I was so in love with this book and then...BAM! It ended right at a point where my heart had been shredded and I was having an awesome ugly cry. I was so put off by the cliffhanger. There's an authors note about it....at the end of the book! I would have liked that information from the get go.  

So, even though the cliffhanger made me all " hulk smash " mad, I adored this book! I loved the hero who wasn't quite a hero at first. I loved the dynamic of their relationship and the passion these two shared. The love scenes were classic Maya Banks...so freakin' sexy and hot! Panty dropping hot to be exact! Now I'm left anxiously awaiting book two. I need to see this through with Drake and Evangeline. For now, I'm going to go find a quiet corner, rock back and forth and try to find my way out of the cliffhanger funk.

Grade: A for the story, but dropped down to a B+ for the unexpected cliffhanger

Originally posted at The Book Reading Gals