Blushing Violet

by Ann Mayburn

Shy and quirky Violet Bishop has finally found the perfect way to meet a man who can fulfill her hidden submissive desires—an online dating site that matches couples based on books they love. In this case, the BDSM erotica that fuels her fire.Two Dom best friends and business partners, Carlos Romano and Morgan Kane, are matched with Violet. They both want to date her and, rather than fight, decide to keep the fact they know each other a secret and let her choose. A good idea in theory, but impossible when they both fall in love and wish to make Violet their own.The men build up Violet’s almost nonexistent self-esteem and help her find strength she never knew she had, along with an almost bottomless craving for their dominant touch. When Violet discovers they’ve been less than truthful, the men realize they’ve helped her become stronger than even they knew—strong enough to leave them. Now Morgan and Carlos must find a way to win their perfect woman back, no matter what.

Genres: BDSM, Erotica, Menage, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance

110 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2011

About the author

Ann is Queen of the Castle to her wonderful husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead(though she will deny to her children that it ever happened).

From a young age she's been fascinated by myths and fairytales, and the romance that often was the center of the story. As Ann grew older and her hormones kicked in, she discovered trashy romance novels. Great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.

Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has learned to type one handed while soothing a cranky baby.

Reviews

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by the lovely Annie on Under the Covers

I am now going straight to eHarmony and seeing if they have a special 2for1 Dom Deal going on, I mean if Violet can use an internet dating site and find two delicious Masters why can't I?

There are the two sexy main characters:

Morgan



Carlos

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This is the size of their....EQUIPMENT *waggles eyebrows*

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NUFF SAID

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

You would need a popsicle stick to help your dick stay up if you didn’t take Viagra. I’m paraphrasing what shy Violet yells at her ex-boyfriend. With funny lines like this, how can I not enjoy this fun read? Carrot top Violet is a size sixteen woman who needs a man. Low self esteem from her family’s constant put downs, Violet is pathetic. I feel nothing but pity for this downtrodden gal with split pea soup coloured eyes. Despondent, she signs up to an online dating club who matches people by the books they read. Yes, I know what you are thinking. Matching by the books the person reads, this could be dangerous. The first thought that went through my head was, what kind of kinky sadistic bastard would I be matched up to in this dating service? The second thought was, wait, men don’t read. I’d be matched up to some kinky sadistic Domme – interesting.

Violet tries this as her last hope to meet a man. To her shock and surprise, she is matched up with two men. Friends and business partners, Carlos and Morgan, share the same taste in women. Not surprisingly, they both want Violet. They both decide to date her without tell her they know each other. I know from experience, this does not bode well. The plus side – when Violet is pulled into a sexual frenzy, our shy Violet metamorphosizes into a sensual curvaceous red headed vixen with jade green eyes. Violet made the story for me - her feelings and how she responded. Carlos and Morgan became mere eye candy – still delicious rich treats.

This is what I call an excellent erotic journey. Ms. Mayburn shows how Violet grows into this sexy kitty that learns to stand up for herself and believes in her own value. The sex scenes in this story are smexy and SugarKink sweet. I licked up every tasty scene. A nice added touch is Violet’s family history becomes completely rewritten as new information unfolded and is shared with her.

A romance story isn’t any good if there isn’t conflict. Ms. Mayburn sets up this story so well with a very plausible conflict. I felt bad for all parties. What is it that they say? The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Carlos and Morgan pulled a fast one on Violet and they all burned. Still, we do receive our happily ever after because this is a Ms. Mayburn story. No one is left unsatisfied. The resolution to the conflict was moving and so sweet. I highly recommend this story to SugarKink lovers who want to see an ugly duckling grow into a swan.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Posted on Under the Covers

BLUSHING VIOLET is my first Ann Mayburn read. Right of the bat, I knew I would enjoy her books. I love her writing style and felt that she did a really good job of writing Violet’s POV. Violet is a closet submissive. Her parents are a little judgemental so she hides this part of herself from others for fear of being judge as something other than curious. Tired of being told how to live, Violet takes the leap and posts her profile on an online dating site where she has to lists some of her favorite books to come up with matches.

Two best friends come up on her list – Carlos and Morgan. Both are dominants and unwilling to give the other guy a chance at being with Violet. So they decide to see her both separately and leave the choice up to her.

This book is a very short one, which is why I feel like everything was very rushed. The sex is hot, but quick. The bonds forged between Dom and sub are done quickly and don’t always feel so strong. However, given the number of pages this book is, it’s totally understandable. As my first Ann Mayburn read, I knew that this would be a start of a new obsession. I liked Mayburn’s voice enough to check out some of her others books. Hopefully, I’ll enjoy those ones too.

[t'irla ~The Bookslayer~ aka Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insecure, full figured heroine finds not just one handsome Dom but 2...Yes I'm jealous!

Decription:

Shy and quirky Violet Bishop has finally found the perfect way to meet a man who could fulfill her hidden submissive desires, something that she has never dared to ask her conservative and uptight ex-boyfriends to do. She joins an on-line matchmaking site that puts couples together based on the books that they love, in this case the BDSM erotica that lines her bookshelves.

Two Dominant best friends and business partners, Carlos Romano and Morgan Kane, are matched with Violet. They both want to date her and rather than fight about it they decide to keep the fact that they know each other away from her and let her pick who she wants to be with. A good idea in theory but something that become impossible as they both fall in love with Violet and wish to make her their own.

Carlos and Morgan work on building up Violet’s almost non-existent self-esteem and help her find an inner strength she never knew she had, along with an almost bottomless craving for their dominant touch. When Violet discovers they have been lying to her, the men realize that they have made her strong enough to leave them, and they have to find a way to win their perfect woman back, no matter what

My Thoughts:

What a sweet bdsm (sorta) based love story. Everything happens very quickly in the book as it was only 160 pages long and in dealing with BDSM I have a couple issues with that..and I will touch on them in a minute. Violet is a great underdog heroine, size 16 (like that is fat ..I think NOT), shy, self conscious who has been mentally abused by her family and ex boyfriends for years. Carlos and Morgan are toooo die for Dominate alpha males...everything you could want in a man, wealth, looks, sweet personalities. The love story was terrific in an innocent kinda of way. My issues are since when does this type of male look for submissive on a literary online dating service..this stretched my imagination some what. Since when does a Dom jump right into playing outside a BDSM club with someone they are not sure is even interested in RL playing. To top it off how can a Dom ask a sub within hours of meeting if she trusts him enough to "play". I understand that stuff had to happen quickly..but a bit of lead up would have been good... Perhaps phone conversations or something to that effect so a bit more trust could be have been developed before they got down to "business".

I know I cut this book up quite a bit but I do have to say I loved it...it really appealed to the romantic in me..and after I turned off my reality switch...I was hooked. I recommend this read for anyone who likes light bdsm and gorgeous men and hawt, steamy sex scenes, did I mention the hawt, steamy sex scenes??...

I gave it a soft 4 stars based on the way I felt after reading it..all mush inside and wishing I was a Blushing Violet:)

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blushing Violet is a story about Violet Bishop, a woman who decides on New Year’s Eve, to sign up for an online dating service to match her with someone based on the books one likes. Violet has a secret desire for BDSM erotica and deep down wants to be a submissive to 1 or 2 lucky Doms. Lucky for her she gets two matches and sets out dating both of them. Those two men, Carlos and Morgan, best friends and both artists, both realize they both want Violet for themselves and wager a game to win her and the loser will bow out gracefully. They don’t tell her about their own relationship, which is a risk they take and unfortunately comes back to bite them in the end. They teach her the lifestyle and find that they both want her for themselves.

To see Amanda's complete review please visit
http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews...

[Heather in FL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where are men like this? Only in Ms. Mayburn's imagination, I think sadly. On the one hand, what they did, keeping their association a secret from Violet, was a little underhanded, they didn't do it with nefarious intentions. When they started, who would have known she'd bloom with both of them? Or that they'd both grow to care for her equally? Or that she'd return their feelings to both of them?? But I loved that they wouldn't let Violet hide in her clothes anymore. I loved that they put her on a pedestal and that they never made a big deal of her going out with more than one man.

I was happy to see how much Violet grew personally as a result of her relationships with Carlos and Morgan. I loved how they helped her to feel stronger, walk taller, feel more confident. I absolutely loved when she clocked the bitch at work. ;-) I was surprised at how the secret was revealed, and my heart broke for all three of them. Because Violet's heart was breaking for one reason, but I knew she was so very wrong in what she thought. And the boys' hearts were breaking for an entirely different reason.

And I thought their apology was an awesome gesture. I'm glad she heard them out and it ended in an HEA. Very sweet, very sexy.

[Lynsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Mayburn must be psychic because she has pulled one of my top fantasies straight out of my head and written it practically perfectly for me and I loved it!

Violet is a lovely and sweet character and I felt completely connected to her. She reacted in ways that I could imagine myself doing.

Carlos and Morgan are just panty meltingly sexy and I'd like to put in an order for one of each, please!!

I loved the characters, loved the development of the story and the sex scenes were fabulous and HOT!

I did have a couple of teeny-tiny reservations about this book, but they are just a reflection of my own personal tastes and didn't really effect my enjoyment of the story, hence the 5 star rating. I didn't really like where Violet finally gave Wendy what was coming to her. She obviously did deserve to be put in her place, but it was a little over the top for my taste. Also, the fundraiser at the end was a little cheesy and the final make-up-sex scene felt a bit rushed. But, as I say, these are very small issues that probably would not bother other readers. I was just greedy for more Carlos and Morgan!!

[Toni ~married to a hunk~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was really well written. I know for 160 pages some of it had to move fast but if you don't think about it I loved it. I couldn't stop reading it once I started. I really liked it!!

[NhaughtyV says Damn the Zon Save the Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do believe I fell just as much in luv w/Carlos & Morgan as Violet did! This is a very hawt story, and I highly recommend!!!

[Flow · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I didn't think much of this book. It just didn't click for me.

Maybe too romantic?

It switched point of views in the characters.

[E.J. Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet, steamy story!
This book came highly recommended in a book group and I can see why. It's a lovely story of a woman finding her own worth at the hands of two men who look past her insecurities to find her beautiful soul. There's plenty of steam and a couple of tears. Very emotionally satisfying.
It lost a star for me for two reasons: it needs better editing. The typos aren't constant, but there were enough to be a little distracting. Second, the two heroes are one-dimensional. I had no sense of their goals, their fears, and only a dollop of their histories. The book would have been a shining star for me if their characters were better developed.
Recommended and I will look for other books by this author.

[Clio Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't Bother. I must've picked this up as a freebie or cheapie somewhere along the line, I don't remember: it was in the long, long list of stuff I hadn't yet read on my Kindle, so I gave it a shot. My advice: skip it. 
 
It's not even worth a full review, but here are the two main reasons I hated this book:
 
1. The heroine, Violet, is a total doormat. When I looked this book up to write this review, I see the blurb comes right out and says she has "almost nonexistent self-esteem," so evidentally I was warned. I should've known better: I need a heroine to have some backbone. 
 
2. The heroes are lying douchenozzles, because that's what every doormat heroine needs, right? They are friends, and each wants to date her. Rather than tell her about thier relationship, they agree to each date her, not tell her about the other, and then let her choose. (Again, the blurb warns about all this. I swear, if I'd read the blurb ahead of time, I wouldn't have downloaded this book, free or not -- maybe I'm one-clicking in my sleep or something.) But of course she likes both of them, so they blindfold her and do her together (introducing the second guy as a friend of the first guy, but not telling her that second guy is THE second guy that she's dating). She freaks out, runs away (somehow STILL not noticing that Second Guy is her Second Guy, making her TSTL), and the next time she gets together with first guy, he has the fucking audacity to lecture her about the need for total honesty in a BDSM relationship! WTeverlovingF?! Of course, when the jig is up, she's pissed, they're sorry, but she's such a doormat she takes them back and agrees to be their sub dishonestly every after. 

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curvaceous Violet Bishop is tired of being alone, so decides to join a dating site that bases the match by the books they read. Violet is paired with not one, but two men; both of whom are dominant and making it difficult to choose between the two.

Carlos Romano and Morgan Kane are best friends, both wanted to find a woman who has the same sexual interests and wants to be cherished, willing to try a new dating site they are thrilled with the outcome. The only problem, the woman they are matched with is the same. Carlos and Morgan decide to both date her and let her ultimately decide who she wants. Easier said than done, Violet wants them both and Carlos and Morgan are not opposed to the idea, however they forgot to mention one important detail to Violet when they started dating her, they know each other.

Full review on Sensual Reads.
http://sensualreads.com/?p=8227

[Cyn Mistress Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I know this is just a story but it was too unrealistic even for me, however, that being said, it was a nice little story.
Violet was sweet and Carlos and Morgan were hot. It was just hard for me to get past a few things.
1. Carlos and Morgan fell in love with her at first sight by seeing her picture on a literary dating site.
2. They all had joined a LITERARY dating site looking for someone into BDSM.
3. Shy Violet joined in Carlos and Morgan's BDSM play after being with them on a blind FIRST date.
4. After years of verbal abuse from her mother and sister, all of a sudden they love Violet and are kind.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way Ann Mayburn writes. She has a way of making you feel you stepped into a conversation. Her characters are so easy to get to know.
This book is a story of a woman who didn't know her self worth and two men who did at first glance .
I loved reading how they built her up and how easily she let them show her whoshe was under all her insecurities. I wish the story was longer.i

[315 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms.. Mayburn knocks another one out of the park with this one... That's two in a row. Makes me wish she spent less time writing historical theme books (as they arent my thing) and more on the rest.

The can opener and oprah lines were a funny one two punch... Loved it.

[Laura's Book Addiction · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I was sucked right in to Ann Mayburn's book Blushing Violet and it held my attention to the end the characters were likeable and I wanted that happy ending for Voilet and her two masters. If the book would have had a prologue it would have been a 4 star rating.

[♂♀♂ Mary's Menage Reviews ♂♂♀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

see my full review at http://marywhispers.blog.com/?p=599

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great and unexpanted story. I wanted to read a purely smutty book and what I got was a great hot romance and two great book boyfriends Carlos and Morgan.

[Jeanna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lusty quick read. I enjoyed the steamy scenes in this book which is good because hey, why else would you really be reading it. But I found I didn't love the characters, thus the 3 stars. Violet was too perfect even if she was a bigger girl she was just too nice and good. I like a girl with a little edge, not so sweet it hurts my teeth. I felt like the guys were like this too. They both instantly fell for her. I wanted a little more conflict than just the fact they knew each other and didn't tell her. People should be a little flawed even in stories like these and we didn't get that at all.

So if you're looking so a little gooy romance with some bondage menage this will work for you.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick easy read

Three stars isn’t bad. Three stars is average. In the vast collection of romance novels out there, this would be considered average. It’s not bad, but it’s not amazing either. The characters are nice enough; not too much backstory. The plot is kind of nothing special, but still entertaining. If you’re looking for a quick easy read with a ménage, this one’s not bad at all.

[Edith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Only....

If only one could actually their true mate(s). What a much more pleasant world we could live in. That being said I want to thank the author for sharing her exciting and titallating stories with us, the readers. Yes, they are exhilarating but also inspiring. Her wit and descriptiveness brings the reader into the lives of the characters and their actions!

[Michaun Fowler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable

Overall I did enjoy the book, but it was very predictable. After you got used to the plot you do something was going to happen. It had funny parts and sad parts. It was also a very quick read, so I would recommend for someone who is fantasizing about a similar option. Not exactly what I assumed it would be when I began the book.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book...Especially the whole dating site going by what books you like...that's genius!! I loved that it was also 2 best friends that matched with Violet and that she was already so attracted to them from the book that she had...This was an awesome story!

[Elaine Swinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book in a anthology a long time ago and I finally got around to reading it. I loved this book. It is a quick and easy read. I would have like to have seen more of the threesome. This one is well written, I encourage everyone to get this book.

[Bevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters and the premise and the way the story progressed. Even the secondary characters I loved and it made me wish there was a sequel that could explore some of the secondary characters!

[Susan Waclawski · Rating 5 out of 5]

New wonderful author

I love this book..the story line two hot men falling for the same bbw. Her finding her worth in her self. Wendy getting her nose punched (highlight of that scene)! Right up to the breath taking photos of Violets world!

[Toy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm annoyed that the cover has a slim woman on it, but the book is entirely about a size 16 woman who has body insecurities....WTF is that about?

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!

What a totally awesome book!! I just absolutely loved it from beginning to end! A definite must read! Happy Reading!!! :)

[Janet Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down read in a day