THROWBACK THURSDAY REVIEW: COVETED(PANDORAS PLAYGROUND #1)

Release Date: August 13, 2015

Pandora's Playground #1

Alyn Publishing

Review copy provided by publisher

Muriel Stewart has spent the past year grieving the loss of her husband. Now that time has passed, her inner submissive demands Muriel find a new relationship to fulfill her need to love and serve. But there’s only one man who makes Muriel yearn for the intimate Dom/submissive connection the way her husband did, and that’s his best friend, Mathew Galindo … a man who can barely tolerate being in her presence.

Mathew Galindo buried his own heart and needs the day Muriel Stewart married his best friend and business partner. He’s spent the last eleven years keeping Muriel at a distance, tortured by his love for a woman he could never have, and filled with shame for coveting what wasn’t and would never be his. Not even his best friend’s unexpected death could change that fact. Until Muriel decides she’s ready for a new Dom and she wants Mathew to fill that role.

Having Muriel in his life is all Mathew has ever wanted. She’s his heaven and his hell, and could be his salvation if he can get beyond his past, his shame, and the guilt he feels for not having saved Ian’s life. 

Originally posted August 2015. Nikki and I loved this book so much, we wanted to share the love with 10 lucky winners. The first 10 people to comment, with an email address, will win a kindle copy of Coveted. Nikki and I are both such huge fans of Alannah Lynne, we want to help other readers discover her books as well. Deadline to comment to win is Monday, May 9, 2016.

***Original Post***

Once again both Nikki and I wanted to review a new release, so we both read Coveted and below you will get both our thoughts on the book. FYI, we are both huge fans of Alannah Lynne and never miss one of her books.

Liza’s Review:

I've been a fan of Alannah Lynne since I found her very first book. I was super excited to find out she had a new series coming out and really enjoyed the first installment in the Pandora's Playground series.

Coveted it one of the best books I've read from Alannah Lynne. I totally connected with both Muriel and Mathew. I could feel how much Mathew loved and wanted to be with Muriel from the very beginning of the story. I also would feel Muriel's pain from still missing Ian, yet needing to let her submissive connect to a new Dom. I loved how strong Muriel was when it came to proving both that she was ready and that Mathew was the Dom for her.

Mathew has so much guilt over being in love with his best friend's wife, that he really does almost throw the chance that Muriel is giving him away. I loved that Ian has messages for both Mathew and Muriel from the grave thanks to remembered conversations. I also loved that Lucas, who is the 3rd partner in Pandora's Playground, sees and helps push Muriel and Mathew together.

Alannah Lynne has always written emotionally connected love scenes in her books, but with Coveted, the heat level has gone up about a thousand degrees and I loved it. Lucas, Mathew and Muriel have one of the sexiest and most emotion filled menages, and the play between Mathew and Muriel was so hot whether they were giving massages or actually making love. I love when I feel the connection so much that it brings me to tears, and I had that connection to Mathew and Muriel.

I really enjoyed the first installment into Pandora's Playground and can't wait to visit the Playground again in the future. I'm especially looking forward to Lucas getting his story and will probably bug Alannah Lynne excessively until we get it.

Nikki’s Review:

When you read a book that just wrecks you, but you know that pain is part of the journey, consider yourself privileged. Baring witness to someone's growth through their grief is like being on an emotional tail spin. I felt incredibly lucky to sit back and "watch" these characters find life and love after suffering an unimaginable loss.

Muriel has lost the love of her life and her Master; the person who completed her, loved her, and made her his whole world. How do you move on from something so utterly consuming as a love like that? She's lucky, she has an incredible support system in her late husband, Ian's best friends, Lucas and Mathew. Though Mathew typically supports her from afar. Muriel has always felt drawn to Mathew and saddened that he can't seem to stand her. Nothing could be further from the truth; Mathew has coveted his best friends wife from the very beginning. It's been a matter of self preservation that he's kept his distance. After some conspiring on Lucas' part, the two are thrust together and life will never be the same.

From the very first page of this book, my heart ached for Muriel. It ached for them all actually. Watching her build up the nerve to walk into Pandoras Playground, a place that use to bring her such joy, was humbling. I mentally whooped in my head when she squared her shoulders and walked through the door! Muriel is such a brave and strong heroine. She's been shattered by her husbands death, but she's not ready to give up on life and love. I was enamoured with her growth through this book. She goes from a woman who has lost herself in sadness, to a woman who decides to take love...and Mathew, by the balls!

I found myself getting swept up into Mathew's turmoil and anguish. I fell kinda hard for him. I wanted to soothe his soul and help him battle his way through the murky waters of grief and heartache. But he had to figure this stuff out for himself. He doesn't feel like he has anything to offer Muriel, though he couldn't be more wrong! His past has muddied his feeling on his self worth. But with Muriel's determination and complete and utter devotion, he starts to pave the life he's always wanted and more importantly, deserved. I had more than a few lumps in my throat through his journey. My heart skipped a beat each time a puzzle piece fit together for him. He's so complex but at the same time he's not that hard to figure out. If you looked deep enough, you could see his heart on his sleeve...much to his horror! I was so immensely proud of the way Muriel tackled his issues and pushed past his walls of doubt. She may be the submissive in the relationship, but she's so steadfast and strong. She protected Mathew's heart through this whole process.

When these two finally get all sweaty together...holy hell, it was off the freakin charts! Mathew is all Dom and super delicious! I actually giggled like a school girl while reading a few of the love scenes. One thing I wish that Ms. Lynne would have included was the threesome that Muriel had always fantasized about. Seriously, I know Mathew is all caveman and snarly, but a ménage with Lucas, Muriel and himself, would have made my heart bottom out! But I know I'll get to see Lucas in all his naked glory in the next book!

It truly was a beautiful thing to watch Muriel get her second chance at a love so perfect and unbreakable. I have read everything that Alannah Lynne has published. Coveted, in my opinion, is her best yet! Though, you should read all her stuff because she is just that good!

COVETED (PANDORA'S PLAYGROUND #1)

Muriel Stewart has spent the past year grieving the loss of her husband. Now that time has passed, her inner submissive demands Muriel find a new relationship to fulfill her need to love and serve. But there’s only one man who makes Muriel yearn for the intimate Dom/submissive connection the way her husband did, and that’s his best friend, Mathew Galindo … a man who can barely tolerate being in her presence.

Mathew Galindo buried his own heart and needs the day Muriel Stewart married his best friend and business partner. He’s spent the last eleven years keeping Muriel at a distance, tortured by his love for a woman he could never have, and filled with shame for coveting what wasn’t and would never be his. Not even his best friend’s unexpected death could change that fact. Until Muriel decides she’s ready for a new Dom and she wants Mathew to fill that role.

Having Muriel in his life is all Mathew has ever wanted. She’s his heaven and his hell, and could be his salvation if he can get beyond his past, his shame, and the guilt he feels for not having saved Ian’s life. 

Release Date: August 13, 2015

Pandora's Playground #1

Alyn Publishing

Review copy provided by publisher

Once again both Nikki and I wanted to review a new release, so we both read Coveted and below you will get both our thoughts on the book. FYI, we are both huge fans of Alannah Lynne and never miss one of her books.

Liza’s Review:

I've been a fan of Alannah Lynne since I found her very first book. I was super excited to find out she had a new series coming out and really enjoyed the first installment in the Pandora's Playground series.

Coveted it one of the best books I've read from Alannah Lynne. I totally connected with both Muriel and Mathew. I could feel how much Mathew loved and wanted to be with Muriel from the very beginning of the story. I also would feel Muriel's pain from still missing Ian, yet needing to let her submissive connect to a new Dom. I loved how strong Muriel was when it came to proving both that she was ready and that Mathew was the Dom for her.

Mathew has so much guilt over being in love with his best friend's wife, that he really does almost throw the chance that Muriel is giving him away. I loved that Ian has messages for both Mathew and Muriel from the grave thanks to remembered conversations. I also loved that Lucas, who is the 3rd partner in Pandora's Playground, sees and helps push Muriel and Mathew together.

Alannah Lynne has always written emotionally connected love scenes in her books, but with Coveted, the heat level has gone up about a thousand degrees and I loved it. Lucas, Mathew and Muriel have one of the sexiest and most emotion filled menages, and the play between Mathew and Muriel was so hot whether they were giving massages or actually making love. I love when I feel the connection so much that it brings me to tears, and I had that connection to Mathew and Muriel.

I really enjoyed the first installment into Pandora's Playground and can't wait to visit the Playground again in the future. I'm especially looking forward to Lucas getting his story and will probably bug Alannah Lynne excessively until we get it.

Nikki’s Review:

When you read a book that just wrecks you, but you know that pain is part of the journey, consider yourself privileged. Baring witness to someone's growth through their grief is like being on an emotional tail spin. I felt incredibly lucky to sit back and "watch" these characters find life and love after suffering an unimaginable loss.

Muriel has lost the love of her life and her Master; the person who completed her, loved her, and made her his whole world. How do you move on from something so utterly consuming as a love like that? She's lucky, she has an incredible support system in her late husband, Ian's best friends, Lucas and Mathew. Though Mathew typically supports her from afar. Muriel has always felt drawn to Mathew and saddened that he can't seem to stand her. Nothing could be further from the truth; Mathew has coveted his best friends wife from the very beginning. It's been a matter of self preservation that he's kept his distance. After some conspiring on Lucas' part, the two are thrust together and life will never be the same.

From the very first page of this book, my heart ached for Muriel. It ached for them all actually. Watching her build up the nerve to walk into Pandoras Playground, a place that use to bring her such joy, was humbling. I mentally whooped in my head when she squared her shoulders and walked through the door! Muriel is such a brave and strong heroine. She's been shattered by her husbands death, but she's not ready to give up on life and love. I was enamoured with her growth through this book. She goes from a woman who has lost herself in sadness, to a woman who decides to take love...and Mathew, by the balls!

I found myself getting swept up into Mathew's turmoil and anguish. I fell kinda hard for him. I wanted to soothe his soul and help him battle his way through the murky waters of grief and heartache. But he had to figure this stuff out for himself. He doesn't feel like he has anything to offer Muriel, though he couldn't be more wrong! His past has muddied his feeling on his self worth. But with Muriel's determination and complete and utter devotion, he starts to pave the life he's always wanted and more importantly, deserved. I had more than a few lumps in my throat through his journey. My heart skipped a beat each time a puzzle piece fit together for him. He's so complex but at the same time he's not that hard to figure out. If you looked deep enough, you could see his heart on his sleeve...much to his horror! I was so immensely proud of the way Muriel tackled his issues and pushed past his walls of doubt. She may be the submissive in the relationship, but she's so steadfast and strong. She protected Mathew's heart through this whole process.

When these two finally get all sweaty together...holy hell, it was off the freakin charts! Mathew is all Dom and super delicious! I actually giggled like a school girl while reading a few of the love scenes. One thing I wish that Ms. Lynne would have included was the threesome that Muriel had always fantasized about. Seriously, I know Mathew is all caveman and snarly, but a ménage with Lucas, Muriel and himself, would have made my heart bottom out! But I know I'll get to see Lucas in all his naked glory in the next book!

It truly was a beautiful thing to watch Muriel get her second chance at a love so perfect and unbreakable. I have read everything that Alannah Lynne has published. Coveted, in my opinion, is her best yet! Though, you should read all her stuff because she is just that good!

BUY LINKS:

B&N: http://smarturl.it/CovetedBN
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/CovetedAMZ
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/CovetediBks
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/CovetedKobo
Google Play: http://smarturl.it/CovetedGoog

COVETED BLOG TOUR

INTERVIEW WITH ALANNAH LYNNE

  How did you come up with the idea for this story? I started COVETED back in 2011 when my husband’s health took a bad turn. He’d battled a brain tumor since 2007, but in 2011 it started to grow and change into a more aggressive kind of tumor, and I was really scared about the future. About that same time, I read an article written by a slave whose Master died during 9/11. It got me to thinking about moving on after the loss of a soul mate and what it must be like for a submissive whose entire world revolves around her Master. Fortunately, once I started writing, Muriel and Mathew took over and made the story all theirs, so it didn’t become too personal for me.

Where do you find your inspiration? Everywhere! LOL It might be from something I’ve read, a television show, or song lyrics. I’d say 80% of my story ideas come from songs. Carmella, in DARING MASQUERADE, was inspired by Katy Perry’s song “Darkhorse” and the line, “She’s a bitch. I call her Karma.”

What are your current projects? The next story I’m gearing up to write is EXPOSED (Pandora’s Playground #2)… Lucas Steele finally gets his HEA. After that, I’ll release STRIPPED (Pandora’s Playground #3) where Mercy from GOING ALL IN (Heat Wave Novel #3) will face her demons. I’m pretty sure there will be at least 1 more Pandora’s Playground story, but I might release one or two Heat Wave stories before the 4^th Pandora’s Playground. I still have to write Heat Wave stories for Steve, Robby, and Tyler. :)

What is for you the perfect book hero? For me, he needs to be a little wounded so he can realize how much better his life is with the heroine in it. I really like heroes with a sense of humor (which was a struggle for me while writing COVETED because in the beginning, Mathew had no sense of humor). And he’s got to have great eyes and a killer smile. A sexy body is good, but the smile is most important.

List three books you have recently read and would recommend. “Hell or High Water” by Julie Ann Walker “Playing with Pleasure” by Erika Wilde “Alex” by Sawyer Bennett

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? Thank you!!! I’ve had a sporadic release schedule over the past several years, and I appreciate them sticking with me and their excitement over new releases. The outpouring of love and support and encouragement I’ve received has been nearly overwhelming at times (in the best possible way ;)).

EXCERPT

“You need more than a Dom, angel. You need a permanent life partner. I assume you’ll want to remarry. You need someone to come home to at night… You deserve to be held while you're sleeping… To have someone take care of you when you're sick.” She laughed. “Ian didn't do all that. He didn't like to be crowded in his sleep, and he didn't have a clue how to take care of me when sick.” Mathew swallowed and his jaw clenched. “If you were mine, I'd hold you all night, every night. And you can be damn sure I’d be right by your side, tending to your every need, if you were sick.” “So why can't you be mine? Permanently?” “Because I don't know how to do any of the other stuff a man is supposed to do for his wife. Hell, Muriel, I've never, ever taken a woman on a date.” “Bullshit, you do know how to do those things. You’re just stuck on this endless loop of false thinking.” She drew in a deep breath and forced herself to calm. “As for dating… I know you’ve never gone on a real date.” When his eyes flared with surprise, she smiled and admitted, “I know more about you than you think. I’ve always been drawn to you and paid more attention than even I realized. I can show you how to date. Just give it… give us a try.” His head went back and forth again, but hope flickered in his eyes and his chest rose and fell with shallow breaths as he considered her words. After a moment, he said, “I'm always amazed by feminists who argue this lifestyle sets women back a hundred years. There isn't a more kickass feminist on the planet than a sub. You may wear my cuffs and spend a tremendous amount of time on your knees, but you fucking own me. You're the one who has me in chains, and there's not a goddamned thing I can do about it.” Her stomach bottomed out as her heart soared. She didn't think for one second this would be easy—nothing worth fighting for was—but it sure sounded like he’d agreed to being more than temporary play partners, and joy launched her off the table and into his arms.  

She’s his heaven and his hell... Muriel Stewart has spent the past year grieving the loss of her husband. Now that time has passed, her inner submissive demands Muriel find a new relationship to fulfill her need to love and serve. But there’s only one man who makes Muriel yearn for the intimate Dom/submissive connection the way her husband did, and that’s his best friend, Mathew Galindo ... a man who can barely tolerate her presence. Mathew Galindo buried his own heart and needs the day Muriel Stewart married his best friend and business partner. He’s spent the last eleven years keeping Muriel at a distance, tortured by his love for a woman he could never have, and filled with shame for coveting what wasn’t and would never be his. Not even his best friend’s unexpected death could change that fact. Until Muriel decides she’s ready for a new Dom and wants Mathew to fill that role. Having Muriel in his life is all Mathew has ever wanted. She’s his heaven and his hell, and could be his salvation if he can get beyond his past, his shame, and the guilt he feels for not having saved Ian’s life.

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    About the Author Alannah believes there's nothing more magical than finding the other half of your soul, experiencing fiery passion, and knowing you've found happily-ever-after. She loves going to work each day (in sweats and a T-shirt) and writing about hot heroes and feisty heroines who torment each other in the most delicious ways before finding their happy ending. She lives in the coastal region of North Carolina with her husband, who also happens to be her best friend and biggest fan. They have two sons, a dog, and two cats. Find Alannah Online at: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads  

GIVEAWAY!

Alannah is giving away two (2) $25 Gift Cards as part of this tour. Enter below.

 

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MATTER OF TIME

Some might think the phrase, “you complete me” is a just cheesy line from the movies, but Lizbeth Sanders knows better…

In MATTER OF TIME, Lizbeth has spent the past fifteen years desperately searching for someone to fill the void left by Logan Steele’s disappearance from her life. However, rather than finding love and happiness, all she’s found is disappointment, heartache, and an ever-present longing for the man she can never have. 

Fifteen years ago, Logan Steele left the woman he loved to marry his high school sweetheart and be a father to the child he didn’t know he had. He’s always tried to do the honorable thing, to be a good husband and a great father, but despite his sacrifices and best efforts, the shaky foundation of his marriage crumbles and falls apart.

When his identical twin surprises him with a reintroduction to Lizbeth, Logan feels like he’s been given a second chance—at life and love. But a lot can change in fifteen years, and after hurting her so badly the first time, building trust isn’t just hard, it’s nearly impossible—especially when duty and obligation pulls him away again.

Release Date April 21, 2015

Heat Wave #5

I was lucky enough to get a review copy of Matter of Time from the author. I've always loved Alannah Lynne's books and have to say Matter of Time is another winner.

I love a reunion story and felt like Matter of Time was very well done. Lizbeth and Logan have never really stopped loving one another, even though they haven't seen one another in 15 years. Lizbeth has run through men like used tissues trying to find someone to equal to Logan. Logan married his ex-girlfriend once he discovered she had given birth to his child without his knowledge and tried to make the marriage work.

However, Logan has now ended his marriage to Bobbi Jo and is ready to move on with his life, which he hopes includes Lizbeth. I loved that Logan's twin Lucas helped in getting Logan and Lizbeth back in the same location. The chemistry between Logan and Lizbeth was smoking hot. In fact I really do think this is the hottest book Alannah Lynne has written to date. Lizbeth and Logan had played around in college with BDSM, and they easily stepped back into that relationship the first time they were together again.

I knew it would be tough for Logan and Lizbeth to make everything work since they lived in two different cities, but loved they were willing to make it happen. Logan's ex-wife was honestly my only issue with the story. I felt that she still depended on Logan for way too much and kept inserting herself in his life. I knew since they had 3 kids together, there was little chance she wouldn't always be in his life, but really hated the extreme measures she took to try and keep Logan in her life.

I did love that Logan's kids welcomed Lizbeth pretty quickly into their lives, and understood their reasons. I felt like Lizbeth and Logan worked really hard to get past the hurts from their past to make their present and future work for them. Honestly with the exception of Bobbi Jo, I really enjoyed everything else about Matter of Time. 

I felt like Matter of Time was a wonderful addition to the Heat Wave series. Lizbeth and Logan got their second chance at love and worked together to make it happen, which makes it a great reunion story in my opinion.