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Facets of Passion #2
Platinum
Althea Grant's Charleston gallery might be suffering from the bad economy, and her artistic aspirations have gone nowhere, but she's doing just fine, thank you. When bad-boy sculptor Steel rides up on his motorcycle looking to rent studio space, his infusion of cash is more than welcome. But his art is raw, visceral, sexual—and completely inappropriate for her pastel world of watercolor landscapes.
Steel, fascinated by Althea's rare albino coloring, sees in her the key to his next a metal satyr designed for bondage games. Moving into her gallery basement is the first step; seducing the cool Southern belle into modeling for him is the second.
As Steel peels away her careful manners and tasteful outfits, Althea begins to realize her life isn't just fine at all—it's as pale and washed-out as the watercolor paintings she's failing to sell. Can she transform her life and accept her most secret desires?
39,000 words
Steel, fascinated by Althea's rare albino coloring, sees in her the key to his next a metal satyr designed for bondage games. Moving into her gallery basement is the first step; seducing the cool Southern belle into modeling for him is the second.
As Steel peels away her careful manners and tasteful outfits, Althea begins to realize her life isn't just fine at all—it's as pale and washed-out as the watercolor paintings she's failing to sell. Can she transform her life and accept her most secret desires?
39,000 words
117 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2013
8 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Jeffe Kennedy
98 books1,339 followers💙She/her💙 Award-winning Bestselling Author of epic fantasy romance. Taoist. Swiftie. Santa Fean. Cat lady @sfwa_inc Past-President. Rep by @seyitsme
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
November 5, 2016
This had potential.
HAD!
I am very sorry to say that I didn't like this book. It wasn't THAT bad, but it certainly wasn't good either.
The Story
What? Where was it?
I didn't see it!
There was an introudction to the characters, and then sex, kinky and lots of it. You'd think that was a recipe for great? Not so much.
So, let me tell you something about the "story" here.
Althea Grant owns an art gallery and is having money problems.
Steel (yes, only Steel, like Madonna) enters, offers her 10000 dollars to rent a space below the gallery where he could work on his sculptures.
She accepts. He asks her to be his model (he does erotic art). She refuses. And this is chapter one!
In chapter two she goes down in the basement and models for him. He asks her to dump his boyfriend for him. After having two conversations together. She, of course, dumps the boyfriend.
Chapters three to twelve - they have kinky bdsm sex.
The Characters
The characterisation was done VERY badly. For one, I didn't connect to them AT ALL, and for two, they bots seemed stupid and unlikeable. I may be harsh, but I just didn't like them at all.
Althea
Althea does one bad choice after another in this book.
She meets a man, is attracted to him (OK that is understandable), but she basically doesn't know ANYTHING about him, and she accepts to rent him space right below her gallery, in the same building she lives in.
They talk two times, he asks her to dump her boyfriend for him (
) she does it (
) and in the same evening she accepts to be owned sexually by Steel and accepts to do whatever he wants with her (getting tied up, spanked, beaten, chained and doing a blowjob to a metal statue, and many other stuff I can't remember but all of it kinky), and all of it after only TWO CONVERSATIONS and without even knowing the man whatsoever!
Good decision Althea!!!
Steel
You know when a character is a jerk but you still end up loving him?
This didn't happen here for me.
Steel is a total jerk, totally unbelievable as a character, claiming he is obsessed with her and has to have her (modeling, slaving, whatever) after seeing her only once. OK I get it, he's probably being led by his d*ck, but still. On their second meet he tells her he doesn't poach on another man's property and asks her to dump her boyfriend for him.
Some of the language he used and said to her... It wasn't hot, it was crude. I like dirty talk, but this was just tacky
I didn't get the feel he was a Dom, oh no. He just liked to do kinky stuff to her, and boy did he do it!
There was even a scene where she because he just couldn't control himself and went too far.
And I'm supposed to like him?? No thanks.
The Sex
It wasn't written that badly, some of it was hot, but it just felt wrong because the people concerned were unlikeable.
BUT, if you want to read some very kinky sexy times without caring for the characters, then you *might* like it.
Me?
*ARC courtesy of Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
HAD!
I am very sorry to say that I didn't like this book. It wasn't THAT bad, but it certainly wasn't good either.
The Story
What? Where was it?
I didn't see it!
There was an introudction to the characters, and then sex, kinky and lots of it. You'd think that was a recipe for great? Not so much.
So, let me tell you something about the "story" here.
Althea Grant owns an art gallery and is having money problems.
Steel (yes, only Steel, like Madonna) enters, offers her 10000 dollars to rent a space below the gallery where he could work on his sculptures.
She accepts. He asks her to be his model (he does erotic art). She refuses. And this is chapter one!
In chapter two she goes down in the basement and models for him. He asks her to dump his boyfriend for him. After having two conversations together. She, of course, dumps the boyfriend.
Chapters three to twelve - they have kinky bdsm sex.
The Characters
The characterisation was done VERY badly. For one, I didn't connect to them AT ALL, and for two, they bots seemed stupid and unlikeable. I may be harsh, but I just didn't like them at all.
Althea
Althea does one bad choice after another in this book.
She meets a man, is attracted to him (OK that is understandable), but she basically doesn't know ANYTHING about him, and she accepts to rent him space right below her gallery, in the same building she lives in.
They talk two times, he asks her to dump her boyfriend for him (
) she does it (
) and in the same evening she accepts to be owned sexually by Steel and accepts to do whatever he wants with her (getting tied up, spanked, beaten, chained and doing a blowjob to a metal statue, and many other stuff I can't remember but all of it kinky), and all of it after only TWO CONVERSATIONS and without even knowing the man whatsoever!Good decision Althea!!!
Steel
You know when a character is a jerk but you still end up loving him?
This didn't happen here for me.
Steel is a total jerk, totally unbelievable as a character, claiming he is obsessed with her and has to have her (modeling, slaving, whatever) after seeing her only once. OK I get it, he's probably being led by his d*ck, but still. On their second meet he tells her he doesn't poach on another man's property and asks her to dump her boyfriend for him.
Some of the language he used and said to her... It wasn't hot, it was crude. I like dirty talk, but this was just tacky
I didn't get the feel he was a Dom, oh no. He just liked to do kinky stuff to her, and boy did he do it!
There was even a scene where she because he just couldn't control himself and went too far.
And I'm supposed to like him?? No thanks.
The Sex
It wasn't written that badly, some of it was hot, but it just felt wrong because the people concerned were unlikeable.
BUT, if you want to read some very kinky sexy times without caring for the characters, then you *might* like it.
Me?
*ARC courtesy of Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 12, 2013
*ARC courtesy of Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
3 Stars
I think that this story had a lot of potential but somehow, fell short. Not long enough to deliver what it promises you and - I can't believe I'm even saying it - too much sex for the story to make sense.
Yes, you heard me right... Too much SEX!!
Well, let's try make, some sense...
Art grabs you like lust—inexplicable and irresistible. You could deny it, but then the unfulfilled desire just ate you up.
This book entices us with the liberating and soul-stripping force of art. The way it expresses your feelings and unveils your deepest secrets. The ones that you don't know you are hiding...
Are you familiar with the legend of Persephone and Hades...?
Of course you are... But have you ever considered that maybe Persephone was a willing captive? That in the deepest Hell, found freedom and the other half of her soul...
Althea Grant is our unsuspecting Persephone.
An albino and gallery owner, she the sensible daughter, the perfect girlfriend, a proper lady.
What she really is... chained... Washed out, not because of her coloring but of the lockdown, she has on her feelings and emotions. Cold. That's the facade she puts on for everyone. Because she is afraid of her own passion.
“Althea looks all fragile and ethereal, but she’s like tempered metal inside. Strong. Flexible, too, I’ll bet.”
Steel is the man that will set her free.
“Not every guy has a noun for a name.” “Not unless he’s bold and manly like me.”
This dark man, an accomplished artist, arrogant and earthy, will drag Althea in his lair and he will strip her bare, crushing her to put her back together.
CAN YOU SEE HOW MUCH PROMISING, THIS STORY WAS???
But it all happened too quickly. Althea kept changing attitude and her mind in an instant and her transformation from meek to bold wasn't believable. I didn't get the parents issue, both seemed really charming and this book was torn between an erotica and a really sugary romance...
I feel like weeping, because I wanted to love it!!!
Well, maybe it just didn't work for me...
3 Stars
I think that this story had a lot of potential but somehow, fell short. Not long enough to deliver what it promises you and - I can't believe I'm even saying it - too much sex for the story to make sense.
Yes, you heard me right... Too much SEX!!
Well, let's try make, some sense...
Art grabs you like lust—inexplicable and irresistible. You could deny it, but then the unfulfilled desire just ate you up.
This book entices us with the liberating and soul-stripping force of art. The way it expresses your feelings and unveils your deepest secrets. The ones that you don't know you are hiding...
Are you familiar with the legend of Persephone and Hades...?
Of course you are... But have you ever considered that maybe Persephone was a willing captive? That in the deepest Hell, found freedom and the other half of her soul...
Althea Grant is our unsuspecting Persephone.
An albino and gallery owner, she the sensible daughter, the perfect girlfriend, a proper lady.
What she really is... chained... Washed out, not because of her coloring but of the lockdown, she has on her feelings and emotions. Cold. That's the facade she puts on for everyone. Because she is afraid of her own passion.
“Althea looks all fragile and ethereal, but she’s like tempered metal inside. Strong. Flexible, too, I’ll bet.”
Steel is the man that will set her free.
“Not every guy has a noun for a name.” “Not unless he’s bold and manly like me.”
This dark man, an accomplished artist, arrogant and earthy, will drag Althea in his lair and he will strip her bare, crushing her to put her back together.
CAN YOU SEE HOW MUCH PROMISING, THIS STORY WAS???
But it all happened too quickly. Althea kept changing attitude and her mind in an instant and her transformation from meek to bold wasn't believable. I didn't get the parents issue, both seemed really charming and this book was torn between an erotica and a really sugary romance...
I feel like weeping, because I wanted to love it!!!
Well, maybe it just didn't work for me...
January 17, 2013
This book had a promising start...Althea the timid, conservative art gallery owner meets Steel, the tattooed biker artist who wants to display his art in Althea's gallery. The problem is that Steel's art is blatantly sexual in content. Even if it is "brilliant," as Althea tells him, it simply has no place in her gallery.
Since that scenario doesn't work out for Steel, he decides that he needs her basement to live in and work on his art. Ummmm...okay. I guess there has to be a way for these two to meet up and get it on continuously. Despise the myriad things keeping them apart, that is.
I had quite a few problems with the story after about page twenty. I think this author tried to pack way too much into a 120 page erotic novella-type book. Example 1: Althea has a man already. After a quick intro to Steel, she takes care of the pesky boyfriend problem within about seven pages. And Steel and Althea proceed to get it on for nearly the rest of the entire book.
Since Althea is such a goodie-goodie, and Steel is...well, not...I expected there to be some spice in the bedroom. Errr..basement. But after awhile, Althea's introduction into Steel's type of not-so-vanilla sex began to have an icky feel. It was as if Steel became more lascivious with each sex scene. I started to think of him as a dirty old guy, sneering at her each time he debased her in a new way. Honestly, he wasn't that bad. It was just that every sex scene was a new instruction, a new shock, a different teaching, and this chick was down for it all. Althea too readily allows Steel to tie her up. I can't imagine letting a guy whom I've known for less than a week not only move into my basement but render me completely powerless and then feel all romantic and tender toward him after he has me suck off inanimate objects...in the name of art, of course.
Ahem....had I not felt uncomfortable about the setting and situation, I would have also said that the sex is HOT. If that's what you want, it's definitely here.
The author tries again during the last twenty pages to turn this into a deep, meaningful story...introducing her badass boyfriend to her uptight society parents and letting Steel basically change every last flaw that she perceives herself to have...from the way she runs her gallery to the way she dresses to her interpersonal relationships with all of her loved ones....it was just way too much. It didn't work at all. This should have either stayed a hot, fast affair, or been turned into a fleshier novel with about two hundred more pages to play with. In my humble opinion, Althea did a lot of changing, a lot of crawling, a lot of new things for a man that we never really learn anything about.
Though I think the author has talent; she needs to put some length into a novel if she want this reader to connect with her characters. Either that or just keep it all about the sex and new experiences.
ARC kindly provided by Carina Press via Net Galley.
Since that scenario doesn't work out for Steel, he decides that he needs her basement to live in and work on his art. Ummmm...okay. I guess there has to be a way for these two to meet up and get it on continuously. Despise the myriad things keeping them apart, that is.
I had quite a few problems with the story after about page twenty. I think this author tried to pack way too much into a 120 page erotic novella-type book. Example 1: Althea has a man already. After a quick intro to Steel, she takes care of the pesky boyfriend problem within about seven pages. And Steel and Althea proceed to get it on for nearly the rest of the entire book.
Since Althea is such a goodie-goodie, and Steel is...well, not...I expected there to be some spice in the bedroom. Errr..basement. But after awhile, Althea's introduction into Steel's type of not-so-vanilla sex began to have an icky feel. It was as if Steel became more lascivious with each sex scene. I started to think of him as a dirty old guy, sneering at her each time he debased her in a new way. Honestly, he wasn't that bad. It was just that every sex scene was a new instruction, a new shock, a different teaching, and this chick was down for it all. Althea too readily allows Steel to tie her up. I can't imagine letting a guy whom I've known for less than a week not only move into my basement but render me completely powerless and then feel all romantic and tender toward him after he has me suck off inanimate objects...in the name of art, of course.
Ahem....had I not felt uncomfortable about the setting and situation, I would have also said that the sex is HOT. If that's what you want, it's definitely here.
The author tries again during the last twenty pages to turn this into a deep, meaningful story...introducing her badass boyfriend to her uptight society parents and letting Steel basically change every last flaw that she perceives herself to have...from the way she runs her gallery to the way she dresses to her interpersonal relationships with all of her loved ones....it was just way too much. It didn't work at all. This should have either stayed a hot, fast affair, or been turned into a fleshier novel with about two hundred more pages to play with. In my humble opinion, Althea did a lot of changing, a lot of crawling, a lot of new things for a man that we never really learn anything about.
Though I think the author has talent; she needs to put some length into a novel if she want this reader to connect with her characters. Either that or just keep it all about the sex and new experiences.
ARC kindly provided by Carina Press via Net Galley.
February 7, 2013
I was really excited to start this book. I felt it had great promise...
But then....
You know when you read the description sounds good but then you read it and it's like ummm okay? Yeah that is me right about now.
This book is not all that long. Quite short to be honest. But I found my self stop reading a lot. I wanted to do other things then read this story. It didn't hold my interest that well.
Steel comes rolling up in his motorcycle wanting to rent space to work on his art. His art is raw sexual. I thought yes I am going to love this dude. But his character was not all that thought out to me.
Althea is boring. She's more under the covers vanilla with her pasty white stockings. Worried about what everyone thinks of her, and carrying on in life with the perfect way to live and act. I wanted her to take her hair down and go a little crazy.
Steel breaks that barrier from Althea. She is finally able to feel free and live for the first time. But by the time all that happened I was over it all. The sex was great and erotic with kink but wanted something different.
My favorite quote out of all this is: "Any fool can lick a pussy. Cock-sucking has to be learned".
Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
But then....
You know when you read the description sounds good but then you read it and it's like ummm okay? Yeah that is me right about now.
This book is not all that long. Quite short to be honest. But I found my self stop reading a lot. I wanted to do other things then read this story. It didn't hold my interest that well.
Steel comes rolling up in his motorcycle wanting to rent space to work on his art. His art is raw sexual. I thought yes I am going to love this dude. But his character was not all that thought out to me.
Althea is boring. She's more under the covers vanilla with her pasty white stockings. Worried about what everyone thinks of her, and carrying on in life with the perfect way to live and act. I wanted her to take her hair down and go a little crazy.
Steel breaks that barrier from Althea. She is finally able to feel free and live for the first time. But by the time all that happened I was over it all. The sex was great and erotic with kink but wanted something different.
My favorite quote out of all this is: "Any fool can lick a pussy. Cock-sucking has to be learned".
Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
February 25, 2013
Wow! Hot Hot Hot!! If your looking for a book to put some steam under your collar, then you have found it!!!! I'm surprised the book didn't spontaneously combust!
Althea.....
I love all of the tension between Steel and Althea. They are so different and yet so similar! She lets her guard down around him and her whole world gets flipped upside down.
From demure to down and dirty....
In the basement she is his love slave. She has to do whatever he tells her. She wants it all and more... But she is still so sweet about it, haha! Ironic right?
The real shock is when she invited him to her room and SHE had control. Her personal little plaything. Hehehe. Kiss the shoe!!
...Did he have a smidge of a foot fetish?
I only have one negative comment about Platinum. Usually I am chastising a story for being too long. Platinum could have easily gone on for another 100 pages.
The sex scenes were deliciously long and never forced but they did consume the book. The actual story felt very rushed at the end.
Just like that she changes out her gallery and is the most popular gallery in the area... Yaddy yadda, all lived happily ever after... I really felt like there could have been more there. I mean come on! Her mom is happily helping her showcase his art of Althea all tied up and naked in the heat of passion. There could have been some awesome drama.
Althea.....
I love all of the tension between Steel and Althea. They are so different and yet so similar! She lets her guard down around him and her whole world gets flipped upside down.
From demure to down and dirty....
In the basement she is his love slave. She has to do whatever he tells her. She wants it all and more... But she is still so sweet about it, haha! Ironic right?
The real shock is when she invited him to her room and SHE had control. Her personal little plaything. Hehehe. Kiss the shoe!!
...Did he have a smidge of a foot fetish?
I only have one negative comment about Platinum. Usually I am chastising a story for being too long. Platinum could have easily gone on for another 100 pages.
The sex scenes were deliciously long and never forced but they did consume the book. The actual story felt very rushed at the end.
Just like that she changes out her gallery and is the most popular gallery in the area... Yaddy yadda, all lived happily ever after... I really felt like there could have been more there. I mean come on! Her mom is happily helping her showcase his art of Althea all tied up and naked in the heat of passion. There could have been some awesome drama.
April 14, 2017
I really want to give this more than just three stars, but I just can't bring myself to do it.
What Jeffe Kennedy has created was definitely HOT, but unfortunately, that's all it was.
Althea is a shy, albino Art Gallery owner with Platinum blonde hair. Steel is a rough around the edges guy who shows up at her studio one day asking to show his work. She is conservative to a fault and though she is immediately attracted to him, she knows right away that after just one look at his portfolio, she can never display his work in her Gallery.
He mentions he needs a space to work and that one of the girls mentioned that she has an empty basement and yada yada yada...bing, bang, boom! He becomes her new tenant.
Now I get that this was a novella of sorts, but Althea was a little too trusting of her body to some stranger that just waltzed into town. I think that is why it's getting only three stars. If I was rating on the HOTness factor...I'd probably rate it higher. ;o)
The end of the story fell flat for me too. I mean, really!? You go from all that hard core stuff to !? Nope! Don't buy it!
**ARC was provided by Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
What Jeffe Kennedy has created was definitely HOT, but unfortunately, that's all it was.
Althea is a shy, albino Art Gallery owner with Platinum blonde hair. Steel is a rough around the edges guy who shows up at her studio one day asking to show his work. She is conservative to a fault and though she is immediately attracted to him, she knows right away that after just one look at his portfolio, she can never display his work in her Gallery.
He mentions he needs a space to work and that one of the girls mentioned that she has an empty basement and yada yada yada...bing, bang, boom! He becomes her new tenant.
Now I get that this was a novella of sorts, but Althea was a little too trusting of her body to some stranger that just waltzed into town. I think that is why it's getting only three stars. If I was rating on the HOTness factor...I'd probably rate it higher. ;o)
The end of the story fell flat for me too. I mean, really!? You go from all that hard core stuff to !? Nope! Don't buy it!
**ARC was provided by Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
December 5, 2014
Disclaimer: This ARC was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
Rating: 2.5 stars
While, this book wasn't terrible, I am bored with the erotica genre at the moment.
I think the worst part of this book that it was so cliched.
Rating: 2.5 stars
While, this book wasn't terrible, I am bored with the erotica genre at the moment.
I think the worst part of this book that it was so cliched.
February 15, 2013
Heat- Fizzle
Rating- ** 2.5 out of 5
Provided by- NetGalley
Read more of this review and others @ The Book Wranglers
I mean,
[image error]
I’m just so tired of the same‘ol story over and over and over again. I was really hoping that Platinum would be different. I mean you’ve got a bad boy artist and an albino art dealer struggling to fulfill her dreams in the art world. That right there was enough to capture my attention initially.
The story (if you can even call it a full story)
[image error]
It's about a young woman, Aleatha, whose looking to experience new things in life after she breaks up with her boyfriend. She’s suppose to be this stuffy, inexperienced woman, [that's really all we find out about her background] that has an interest in art. When becoming an artist didn't work for her she used her trust fund to open her own gallery.
We're introduced to the usual dominant and overly confident guy, Steel–who I can’t even put a face to because the description was lacking somewhat. A connection was suppose to be made because he's an artist. (Guess I missed it) He fits the same description as every other BDSM/Erotica dominant it seems.
Give me something new [image error]
before I die of boredom.
Immediately his spicy/vulgar language and sexual aggression towards Aleatha has her doing things she would never dream of. In a matter of days this new ‘relationship’ blooms and it’s suppose to be ‘meaningful’ I guess, but I’m just not feeling it. Long story short, some artwork is created, then there’s some sex, semi-kinky sex, then more sex, and lastly even more sex. I feel it’s just another failed attempt at light-weight BDSM with a FIZZLING plot and watered down characters.
This could have been so much more if it was reworked and not rushed. If the characters were gonna have a relationship that lasts then why not actually create some drama, a build-up that would connect the readers to the characters, instead of having them jump into this ‘intense’ sexual relationship and then attempt to develop some real feelings afterwards. Or, if it was suppose to be a ‘HIT-IT-AND-QUIT-IT’, learn a little something new about your sexuality, then don’t try to make it more than what it is.
I’m sorry I wasted two days on this, but I more sorry that it wasn’t better. I had such high hopes.
The Best Thing:
I’m thinking really hard on this one...yeah I have no idea. Everything just ran together.
The Worst Thing:
The same predictable concept and lacking a real story.
Rating- ** 2.5 out of 5
Provided by- NetGalley
Read more of this review and others @ The Book Wranglers
I mean,
[image error]
I’m just so tired of the same‘ol story over and over and over again. I was really hoping that Platinum would be different. I mean you’ve got a bad boy artist and an albino art dealer struggling to fulfill her dreams in the art world. That right there was enough to capture my attention initially.
The story (if you can even call it a full story)
[image error]
It's about a young woman, Aleatha, whose looking to experience new things in life after she breaks up with her boyfriend. She’s suppose to be this stuffy, inexperienced woman, [that's really all we find out about her background] that has an interest in art. When becoming an artist didn't work for her she used her trust fund to open her own gallery.
We're introduced to the usual dominant and overly confident guy, Steel–who I can’t even put a face to because the description was lacking somewhat. A connection was suppose to be made because he's an artist. (Guess I missed it) He fits the same description as every other BDSM/Erotica dominant it seems.
Give me something new [image error]
before I die of boredom.
Immediately his spicy/vulgar language and sexual aggression towards Aleatha has her doing things she would never dream of. In a matter of days this new ‘relationship’ blooms and it’s suppose to be ‘meaningful’ I guess, but I’m just not feeling it. Long story short, some artwork is created, then there’s some sex, semi-kinky sex, then more sex, and lastly even more sex. I feel it’s just another failed attempt at light-weight BDSM with a FIZZLING plot and watered down characters.
This could have been so much more if it was reworked and not rushed. If the characters were gonna have a relationship that lasts then why not actually create some drama, a build-up that would connect the readers to the characters, instead of having them jump into this ‘intense’ sexual relationship and then attempt to develop some real feelings afterwards. Or, if it was suppose to be a ‘HIT-IT-AND-QUIT-IT’, learn a little something new about your sexuality, then don’t try to make it more than what it is.
I’m sorry I wasted two days on this, but I more sorry that it wasn’t better. I had such high hopes.
The Best Thing:
I’m thinking really hard on this one...yeah I have no idea. Everything just ran together.
The Worst Thing:
The same predictable concept and lacking a real story.
January 19, 2013
2.5 Stars
Here’s the thing with Platinum, it’s a good concept, really it is, but it’s a relatively short book so the story felt rushed and not enough was explained.
Althea's life is a cookie cutout of what she believes is the right way to live. Basically the chick is boring with zero excitement in her life; that is until she meets Steel. Bring on the sexy. Steel is fascinated by Althea and her rules of perfection. He is determined to break through all of her barriers. And break through HE DOES. Steel is able to awaken and release a side of Althea she didn’t even know she had, and it’s hot. I wasn’t a fan of the whole glass thing, though. That just isn’t my kind of thing, however, I’m not judging.
I liked this. A lot.
While there are secondary characters in the book, we don’t get to really know any of them. Althea’s best friend, Abby, came around twice, I think. I know nothing about her. Ugh and her parents? Yeah, her dad is an ass. I so wanted to rip him a new one. Her mom is in her own little world. Again, I don’t really feel like I know them, either. All of the characters felt underdeveloped, which was disappointing because I really wanted to know more about them.
I liked that art was such a huge part of the book. Art is capable of expressing all kinds of emotions.
Here’s the thing with Platinum, it’s a good concept, really it is, but it’s a relatively short book so the story felt rushed and not enough was explained.
Althea's life is a cookie cutout of what she believes is the right way to live. Basically the chick is boring with zero excitement in her life; that is until she meets Steel. Bring on the sexy. Steel is fascinated by Althea and her rules of perfection. He is determined to break through all of her barriers. And break through HE DOES. Steel is able to awaken and release a side of Althea she didn’t even know she had, and it’s hot. I wasn’t a fan of the whole glass thing, though. That just isn’t my kind of thing, however, I’m not judging.
I liked this. A lot.
“What’s the point of never getting skin cancer if I die an old woman who never played on the beach?”I wanted more background on Steel. I don’t feel like we really get to know him, well, other than his kinky, demanding side. There are glimpses of his sweetness but not enough if you ask me. Their relationship wasn’t what I was hoping for. Yes, it’s passionate and sensual, but I’m a sucker for love. I wasn’t feeling the love. I thought the fact that Althea is an albino was interesting. I’ve never read a book with an albino character before. I liked how Steel helped her to realize that she is beautiful.
While there are secondary characters in the book, we don’t get to really know any of them. Althea’s best friend, Abby, came around twice, I think. I know nothing about her. Ugh and her parents? Yeah, her dad is an ass. I so wanted to rip him a new one. Her mom is in her own little world. Again, I don’t really feel like I know them, either. All of the characters felt underdeveloped, which was disappointing because I really wanted to know more about them.
I liked that art was such a huge part of the book. Art is capable of expressing all kinds of emotions.
“Art grabbed you like lust—inexplicable and irresistible. You could deny it, but then the unfulfilled desire just ate you up.”
March 4, 2013
I honestly do not know where to start with this review, to say I disliked Platinum would be an understatement. In fact, I am struggling to think of anything positive to say about it at all which is very rare for me.
Firstly, I am not really sure what the point of this book is, it is about sex and not much else. There was no real storyline, no emotional connections, and no character development. The sex itself is labelled BDSM but in my opinion a BDSM relationship is based around respect and companionship between two people who want the same thing, this is not the case here. Steel does not have respect for Althea and uses her for all the dirty fantasies he wants to act out because she is albino and he is obsessed with her pale skin. He does not really care if she is comfortable or not and forces her on one occasion to use her safe word and to do other things like perform a sexual act on a sculpture. There was this general air of perverseness and un-comfortableness around him, which was immensely off putting. I found him creepy instead of sexy.
The characters were one dimensional and unlikeable. Althea is boring with little to no personality, Steel is horrible, I hate that he makes people call him Steel and he comes across as having a major infatuation with himself.
I hate to write a review like this, normally I like to have some positives and negatives in every review I write but finding the positives here are hard. I guess I could say that it is short and not the worst thing I have ever read, but really that’s all the positives I have.
Firstly, I am not really sure what the point of this book is, it is about sex and not much else. There was no real storyline, no emotional connections, and no character development. The sex itself is labelled BDSM but in my opinion a BDSM relationship is based around respect and companionship between two people who want the same thing, this is not the case here. Steel does not have respect for Althea and uses her for all the dirty fantasies he wants to act out because she is albino and he is obsessed with her pale skin. He does not really care if she is comfortable or not and forces her on one occasion to use her safe word and to do other things like perform a sexual act on a sculpture. There was this general air of perverseness and un-comfortableness around him, which was immensely off putting. I found him creepy instead of sexy.
The characters were one dimensional and unlikeable. Althea is boring with little to no personality, Steel is horrible, I hate that he makes people call him Steel and he comes across as having a major infatuation with himself.
I hate to write a review like this, normally I like to have some positives and negatives in every review I write but finding the positives here are hard. I guess I could say that it is short and not the worst thing I have ever read, but really that’s all the positives I have.
January 21, 2013
3 stars
*ARC provided by Carina Press through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I would compare my opinion of this book to my opinion to another erotic novella that I read recently, Willing Victim.
This story had the trappings of a great story. I really thought Steel was going to become my new book boyfriend, and he probably would have, if Kennedy had let me get to know him just a little bit better. Whilst the sex scenes in this book were through the roof hot, the whole story itself came off as a bit cold. Why?
Well mostly because we didn't really get to see the characters. They were extremely two dimensional and this was detrimental to the story. Kennedy needed to show us these two individuals, help us see what makes them tick, where their emotions are. Instead we kind of got a rather generic story about some hot sex in a basement followed by Steel's confession of feelings. Where the hell did that come from? There was just no real explanation for their developing relationship because really the author didn't allow us to see this relationship as anything more than some hot sex between an uptight woman with a rough budding artist. Their love story could have been epic, if Kennedy had just fleshed this book out.
That said the extremely hot sex scenes still meant that I wasn't really wasting time reading this book.
*ARC provided by Carina Press through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I would compare my opinion of this book to my opinion to another erotic novella that I read recently, Willing Victim.
This story had the trappings of a great story. I really thought Steel was going to become my new book boyfriend, and he probably would have, if Kennedy had let me get to know him just a little bit better. Whilst the sex scenes in this book were through the roof hot, the whole story itself came off as a bit cold. Why?
Well mostly because we didn't really get to see the characters. They were extremely two dimensional and this was detrimental to the story. Kennedy needed to show us these two individuals, help us see what makes them tick, where their emotions are. Instead we kind of got a rather generic story about some hot sex in a basement followed by Steel's confession of feelings. Where the hell did that come from? There was just no real explanation for their developing relationship because really the author didn't allow us to see this relationship as anything more than some hot sex between an uptight woman with a rough budding artist. Their love story could have been epic, if Kennedy had just fleshed this book out.
That said the extremely hot sex scenes still meant that I wasn't really wasting time reading this book.
February 23, 2013
NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book for my honest review
Althea owns a failing art gallery, she is has a boring life, with a boring boyfriend. Steel comes to the gallery and once he sees Althea he wants her, to pose for him and in his bed. He rents space in the basement to work on his sculptures, they get close and Althea starts to see a new side to herself. Althea was stuck up, indecisive, rude and in denial a lot of the time. Steel was surprisingly bland, he was supposed to be this bad boy but he just came across as a bully at times and other times he faded into the background. I don't know what happened, the set up was so good and the beginning was hot, then nothing. There was no real story line, the couple just had a lot of sex. Some of the sex scenes were degrading and seemed borderline abusive. The rest of the sex scenes were boring and I found myself zoning out while reading them. I did not like this book.
Althea owns a failing art gallery, she is has a boring life, with a boring boyfriend. Steel comes to the gallery and once he sees Althea he wants her, to pose for him and in his bed. He rents space in the basement to work on his sculptures, they get close and Althea starts to see a new side to herself. Althea was stuck up, indecisive, rude and in denial a lot of the time. Steel was surprisingly bland, he was supposed to be this bad boy but he just came across as a bully at times and other times he faded into the background. I don't know what happened, the set up was so good and the beginning was hot, then nothing. There was no real story line, the couple just had a lot of sex. Some of the sex scenes were degrading and seemed borderline abusive. The rest of the sex scenes were boring and I found myself zoning out while reading them. I did not like this book.
August 9, 2016
Honestly, this book was a pleasant read in the BDSM light genre (it is practically it's own genre now!). I expected garbage and this actually exceeded my expectations. Don't get me wrong, this book is all about the sex. The plot is VERY thin. It is smut all the way. If you are looking for plot, look elsewhere.
What little there is of a plot is as follows: Albino art gallery owner, Althea, rents her basement out to a sexy, motorcycle riding sculptor named Steel (give me a break!) because she is in need of cash. Surprise, surprise, she ends up ditching her boring boyfriend for Steel and begins to explore Steel's BDSM fetishes and push her own limits.
With the exception of her being albino, there is NOTHING new about this story.
**This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
What little there is of a plot is as follows: Albino art gallery owner, Althea, rents her basement out to a sexy, motorcycle riding sculptor named Steel (give me a break!) because she is in need of cash. Surprise, surprise, she ends up ditching her boring boyfriend for Steel and begins to explore Steel's BDSM fetishes and push her own limits.
With the exception of her being albino, there is NOTHING new about this story.
**This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
February 1, 2013
OH MY GOD! LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVEED!!!
I'm insanly busy this week so I wish I could do this book justice! This review derserves hot sexy gifs of people doing hot and sexy things.
Instead I will say, GET THIS BOOK NOW if you like Art, Whips, and a Muscular guy hung to his knees!
I can't wait for the next book by Jeffe Kennedy
I'm insanly busy this week so I wish I could do this book justice! This review derserves hot sexy gifs of people doing hot and sexy things.
Instead I will say, GET THIS BOOK NOW if you like Art, Whips, and a Muscular guy hung to his knees!
I can't wait for the next book by Jeffe Kennedy
February 5, 2021
3.5 stars.
Were there some odd moments? Yep. Was it fast? Oh definitely. But hey, it's a novella. It was quick and steamy, with two characters I liked. I thought it was interesting that Thea and Steel were both artists. Watching Thea change was pretty awesome, though again, it was fast. Still, I'm glad I read it. Was just the thing to get me back into books.
Were there some odd moments? Yep. Was it fast? Oh definitely. But hey, it's a novella. It was quick and steamy, with two characters I liked. I thought it was interesting that Thea and Steel were both artists. Watching Thea change was pretty awesome, though again, it was fast. Still, I'm glad I read it. Was just the thing to get me back into books.
January 23, 2024
Different Strokes
Actually this is a story of finding yourself' and your passion. Take a minute and read your heart will pump your sex life might improve because you believed how opportunity brings your sole mate your opposite
Actually this is a story of finding yourself' and your passion. Take a minute and read your heart will pump your sex life might improve because you believed how opportunity brings your sole mate your opposite
June 3, 2013
Platinum stars Althea Grant as the female leading character. She's a prim and proper lady with a gallery of pastel watercolor paintings that are not helping her pay the bills. She has convinced herself that she is happy and content with where her life is at this moment. She has a nice, sensible boyfriend, her art gallery is in the upper echelon of society, and as such there are standards that she has imposed on herself ~ most certainly due to her high class upbrining. When an artist know for his works with metal comes strolling into Althea's gallery she knows he's not a good fit with her style. His $10,000 offer to rent her basement for a few months, however, is very tempting and needing the money, accepts his offer.....with rules.
Steel has just received a contract to create a huge metal piece of art. He's been given enough money to purchase all the supplies he needs plus just about anything else. In order to get the piece done he requires quiet space where he can work and create without being bothered. A high society gallery is right up his alley, and when the assistant to the owner of Chalkstone Gallery lets him know their gallery has a basement, Steel wastes no time introducing himself. He was not expecting the pale little owner, Althea, to light his fire. With the distraction in the gallery above, will Steel be able to concentrate on the artist piece he's been commissioned to create?
The short story of 117 pages packs quite a punch; so much that it's almost overwhelming and rushed. In the time span of about a week a very prim and proper lady of society fully submits to a BDSM relationship with a person she knows absolutely nothing about. In fact, she doesn't even find out his real name until close to the end of the book? Who does that? Apparently Althea, a person who's spent her entire life trying to please other people while sacrificing her own happiness.
I've read many reviews that state this short story doesn't have, well, a story. That it's all kink and sex and huge penises. Well be that as is may, there is an underlying theme to Platinum. Yes, there is kink -- and lots of it. Althea gets tied up, spanked, ordered around, and used up sexually....but only in the safe zone that Steel created. Yes, there is sex - can't really have kink without sex - and lots of it. Yes, not only does Steel have a huge cock, but apparently his new piece of art does as well. The underlying part of this book is the fire brewing within Althea that no one has ever allowed her to show.
She doesn't always want to have sex, missionary style, in a bed. Deep down she always wanted a little more spice but lived with the manta that "good girls don't do that kind of thing." I can sympathize with Althea. But I digress....this isn't a review of me, my upbringing, or my sex life. She wanted to be comfortable in her own skin with the ability to date who she wanted, have sex the way she wanted, and with whomever she wanted. Steel helps bring her sexuality to the surface to be explored. She also wanted to have whatever career suited her fancy.
Part of the underlying theme isn't strictly about the sex either. Althea is talked down to about the gallery by her father and put in a position that makes her feel not worthy or incapable of success. Steel brings out the woman hiding inside of Althea. He brings forth the artist she was meant to be and casts aside the artist that she ultimately came to be - the artist that she thought everyone wanted her to be; the artist that didn't do her, or the art world, any justice. This new Althea also takes the plunge and, one month later, completely changes the theme of her gallery.
Back to the submission sex. It is very intense at times. There is one scene where Steel loses control and forces Althea to scream her safe word. It is a very hard scene to continue to read. But when she says her safe word, everything stops and Steel consoles Althea and apologizes for going to far. Ok, I'll buy that this time but if it became a habit - everything would end. Sexually abusing someone due to frustration or whatever reason, is not acceptable.
Overall, the story was pretty good. Jeffe Kennedy was very descriptive of each scene/character without going overboard. It didn't seem like filler like I've been subjected to in other books just so the author could make the book a bit longer. Steel is full of innuendos that cause Althea to blush constantly, which is entertaining. This story is hot, sensual, oh-so-very naughty.
Review Copy Courtesy Of: Jeffe Kennedy, author, via Bewitching Book Tours.
Steel has just received a contract to create a huge metal piece of art. He's been given enough money to purchase all the supplies he needs plus just about anything else. In order to get the piece done he requires quiet space where he can work and create without being bothered. A high society gallery is right up his alley, and when the assistant to the owner of Chalkstone Gallery lets him know their gallery has a basement, Steel wastes no time introducing himself. He was not expecting the pale little owner, Althea, to light his fire. With the distraction in the gallery above, will Steel be able to concentrate on the artist piece he's been commissioned to create?
The short story of 117 pages packs quite a punch; so much that it's almost overwhelming and rushed. In the time span of about a week a very prim and proper lady of society fully submits to a BDSM relationship with a person she knows absolutely nothing about. In fact, she doesn't even find out his real name until close to the end of the book? Who does that? Apparently Althea, a person who's spent her entire life trying to please other people while sacrificing her own happiness.
I've read many reviews that state this short story doesn't have, well, a story. That it's all kink and sex and huge penises. Well be that as is may, there is an underlying theme to Platinum. Yes, there is kink -- and lots of it. Althea gets tied up, spanked, ordered around, and used up sexually....but only in the safe zone that Steel created. Yes, there is sex - can't really have kink without sex - and lots of it. Yes, not only does Steel have a huge cock, but apparently his new piece of art does as well. The underlying part of this book is the fire brewing within Althea that no one has ever allowed her to show.
She doesn't always want to have sex, missionary style, in a bed. Deep down she always wanted a little more spice but lived with the manta that "good girls don't do that kind of thing." I can sympathize with Althea. But I digress....this isn't a review of me, my upbringing, or my sex life. She wanted to be comfortable in her own skin with the ability to date who she wanted, have sex the way she wanted, and with whomever she wanted. Steel helps bring her sexuality to the surface to be explored. She also wanted to have whatever career suited her fancy.
Part of the underlying theme isn't strictly about the sex either. Althea is talked down to about the gallery by her father and put in a position that makes her feel not worthy or incapable of success. Steel brings out the woman hiding inside of Althea. He brings forth the artist she was meant to be and casts aside the artist that she ultimately came to be - the artist that she thought everyone wanted her to be; the artist that didn't do her, or the art world, any justice. This new Althea also takes the plunge and, one month later, completely changes the theme of her gallery.
Back to the submission sex. It is very intense at times. There is one scene where Steel loses control and forces Althea to scream her safe word. It is a very hard scene to continue to read. But when she says her safe word, everything stops and Steel consoles Althea and apologizes for going to far. Ok, I'll buy that this time but if it became a habit - everything would end. Sexually abusing someone due to frustration or whatever reason, is not acceptable.
Overall, the story was pretty good. Jeffe Kennedy was very descriptive of each scene/character without going overboard. It didn't seem like filler like I've been subjected to in other books just so the author could make the book a bit longer. Steel is full of innuendos that cause Althea to blush constantly, which is entertaining. This story is hot, sensual, oh-so-very naughty.
Review Copy Courtesy Of: Jeffe Kennedy, author, via Bewitching Book Tours.
April 5, 2013
He glanced up at her, face hard and eyes so very intense. “What are you asking for, princess?”
“I need…”
“Yes? Tell me what you need.”
She moistened her lips. “You?”
Di “Platinum” mi hanno affascinato fin da subito la copertina e il titolo. Il platino è un metallo prezioso, dal colore dell’argento, dai riflessi sorprendenti. Non avevo letto approfonditamente la trama, come al solito, mi ero lasciata prendere dalla voglia di leggere un libro diverso, che mi distraesse e mi facesse sognare. Perciò detto fatto mi sono immersa nella lettura e me ne sono innamorata.
La galleria di Althea Grant, Charleston, sta attraversando un periodo di crisi economica e l’ispirazione artistica della donna sembra essere scomparsa, ma a lei sembra di cavarsela lo stesso. Quando però dal nulla compare alla sua porta lo scultore Steel che cerca uno studio da affittare, i suoi soldi sono più che i benvenuti. La sua arte è cruda, viscerale, sessuale, completamente inappropriata per il suo mondo pastello dai paesaggi ad acquerello.
Steel, affascinato dal fatto che Althea è una albina, vede la donna come la chiave per finire il suo ultimo pezzo: un satiro di metallo disegnato per giochi di bondage. Trasferirsi nei sotterranei della galleria è il primo passo, sedurre la bellezza del sud per fargli da modella, il secondo.
Mentre Steel le toglie le maniere attente e gli outfit delicati, Althea inizia a realizzare che la sua vita non va bene per niente, è pallida e sbiadita come uno dei suoi acquerelli che non riesce a vendere. Riuscirà a trasformare la sua vita e accettare i suoi segreti più nascosti?
La Kennedy è riuscita a creare una storia molto interessante dosando sapientemente linguaggio, scene passionali e sentimenti in un connubio che non si trova facilmente e che affascina il lettore tendendolo incollato alla pagina. Gli unici protagonisti sono Althea e Steel, che vivono al centro delle pagine, anzi a dire il vero, Althea è il centro assoluto di tutto, anche Steel è una chiave che fa leva sulla vera natura della donna.
Althea è un personaggio molto ben costruito, è lei che racconta la storia in prima persona e ci regala il suo punto di vista in maniera esemplare. Althea è una albina (cioè manca dei normali pigmenti che colorano i capelli o comunque tutta la peluria del corpo e le iridi degli occhi e ha una carnagione estremamente pallida) e questo particolare fisico sembra determinare tutto il corso della sua esistenza, condizionandola in ogni sua scelta. Sembra quasi sbiadire di fronte alla sua vita e in qualche modo ne resta sempre in disparte, accontentandosi di quello che si trova davanti, senza cercare quello che la soddisfi davvero, quello che la muove veramente verso altro. Ed è sconvolgente come nella calma di un qualsiasi pomeriggio la donna si ritrovi davanti un uomo, un uomo di quelli che sconvolgono, che affasciano, che tolgono il respiro solo piegando il braccio. Steel è completamente il suo opposto, il classico badass di periferia, con la capigliatura incolta, il giubbotto di pelle e la moto, il ritratto del bad boy. Incredibilmente forte, potente lascia un immagine forte nella donna che non riesce a resistergli. Vederlo tutto sudato nel suo sotterraneo a lavorare con il metallo è altamente intossicante per Althea che non è stata mai molto passionale e si è sempre accontentata di storie prive di qualsiasi brivido. All’ennesima provocazione Althea cede, capitombola ai piedi di Steel che si impone nel suo mondo con la forza del fuoco, irretendola e seducendola, rendendola viva, accendendo come un’esplosione il suo mondo pastello. Ad una cerimonia importante la dissuade dall’essere sé stessa e le quasi impone di osare con trucco e vestiti, giocando con i contrasti e regalando al mondo un immagine diversa e molto veritiera.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Un rossetto rosso.
Questo libro non è solo una romance o solo una storia di sesso. È una storia di scoperta interiore e di ricerca che si svolge anche attraverso il passaggio nella camera da letto. Non c’è niente di volgare, tutto si consuma in pochi luoghi e sempre con i due protagonisti. Steel non è solo un uomo con certi pensieri, è un uomo in grado di aiutare davvero Althea ad aprire gli occhi.
Consigliatissimo.
Buona lettura guys!
Ringrazio immensamente Netgalley e Carina Press per avermi concesso la straordinaria opportunità di leggere questo libro in anteprima solo in cambio della mia onesta opinione.
Recensione anche sul mio blog per l'iniziativa
IL MESE DELLA ROMANCE:
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...
“I need…”
“Yes? Tell me what you need.”
She moistened her lips. “You?”
Di “Platinum” mi hanno affascinato fin da subito la copertina e il titolo. Il platino è un metallo prezioso, dal colore dell’argento, dai riflessi sorprendenti. Non avevo letto approfonditamente la trama, come al solito, mi ero lasciata prendere dalla voglia di leggere un libro diverso, che mi distraesse e mi facesse sognare. Perciò detto fatto mi sono immersa nella lettura e me ne sono innamorata.
La galleria di Althea Grant, Charleston, sta attraversando un periodo di crisi economica e l’ispirazione artistica della donna sembra essere scomparsa, ma a lei sembra di cavarsela lo stesso. Quando però dal nulla compare alla sua porta lo scultore Steel che cerca uno studio da affittare, i suoi soldi sono più che i benvenuti. La sua arte è cruda, viscerale, sessuale, completamente inappropriata per il suo mondo pastello dai paesaggi ad acquerello.
Steel, affascinato dal fatto che Althea è una albina, vede la donna come la chiave per finire il suo ultimo pezzo: un satiro di metallo disegnato per giochi di bondage. Trasferirsi nei sotterranei della galleria è il primo passo, sedurre la bellezza del sud per fargli da modella, il secondo.
Mentre Steel le toglie le maniere attente e gli outfit delicati, Althea inizia a realizzare che la sua vita non va bene per niente, è pallida e sbiadita come uno dei suoi acquerelli che non riesce a vendere. Riuscirà a trasformare la sua vita e accettare i suoi segreti più nascosti?
La Kennedy è riuscita a creare una storia molto interessante dosando sapientemente linguaggio, scene passionali e sentimenti in un connubio che non si trova facilmente e che affascina il lettore tendendolo incollato alla pagina. Gli unici protagonisti sono Althea e Steel, che vivono al centro delle pagine, anzi a dire il vero, Althea è il centro assoluto di tutto, anche Steel è una chiave che fa leva sulla vera natura della donna.
Althea è un personaggio molto ben costruito, è lei che racconta la storia in prima persona e ci regala il suo punto di vista in maniera esemplare. Althea è una albina (cioè manca dei normali pigmenti che colorano i capelli o comunque tutta la peluria del corpo e le iridi degli occhi e ha una carnagione estremamente pallida) e questo particolare fisico sembra determinare tutto il corso della sua esistenza, condizionandola in ogni sua scelta. Sembra quasi sbiadire di fronte alla sua vita e in qualche modo ne resta sempre in disparte, accontentandosi di quello che si trova davanti, senza cercare quello che la soddisfi davvero, quello che la muove veramente verso altro. Ed è sconvolgente come nella calma di un qualsiasi pomeriggio la donna si ritrovi davanti un uomo, un uomo di quelli che sconvolgono, che affasciano, che tolgono il respiro solo piegando il braccio. Steel è completamente il suo opposto, il classico badass di periferia, con la capigliatura incolta, il giubbotto di pelle e la moto, il ritratto del bad boy. Incredibilmente forte, potente lascia un immagine forte nella donna che non riesce a resistergli. Vederlo tutto sudato nel suo sotterraneo a lavorare con il metallo è altamente intossicante per Althea che non è stata mai molto passionale e si è sempre accontentata di storie prive di qualsiasi brivido. All’ennesima provocazione Althea cede, capitombola ai piedi di Steel che si impone nel suo mondo con la forza del fuoco, irretendola e seducendola, rendendola viva, accendendo come un’esplosione il suo mondo pastello. Ad una cerimonia importante la dissuade dall’essere sé stessa e le quasi impone di osare con trucco e vestiti, giocando con i contrasti e regalando al mondo un immagine diversa e molto veritiera.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Un rossetto rosso.
Questo libro non è solo una romance o solo una storia di sesso. È una storia di scoperta interiore e di ricerca che si svolge anche attraverso il passaggio nella camera da letto. Non c’è niente di volgare, tutto si consuma in pochi luoghi e sempre con i due protagonisti. Steel non è solo un uomo con certi pensieri, è un uomo in grado di aiutare davvero Althea ad aprire gli occhi.
Consigliatissimo.
Buona lettura guys!
Ringrazio immensamente Netgalley e Carina Press per avermi concesso la straordinaria opportunità di leggere questo libro in anteprima solo in cambio della mia onesta opinione.
Recensione anche sul mio blog per l'iniziativa
IL MESE DELLA ROMANCE:
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...
January 27, 2013
Who doesn't love a motorcycle-riding, bad-boy, sculptor lover who is ready and willing to take a buttoned-up Southern girl and make her lose control? I have no issue with the general storyline and dive-bombed into it. The story is not long which has its positives and negatives but really, really worked for me.
Althea/Thea owns a gallery which features watercolors but is having a tough time in this economy. Clearly her family views this venture as a hobby and destined for failure. Her father continues to wait for her to ask for a loan, clearly believing a woman should be taken care of by a respectable man. She should be the arm candy, the charity-worker, and/or the baby-maker. She should have no goals for herself or approach having any sort of fun.
Of course, Steel (no last name) blows into her life and brings her out of her shell. He is a sculptor known for highly sexualized works and is immediately fascinated by Althea being an albino. He finds great inspiration in her 'platinum' hair and white skin. He asks her to model and she declines but later realizes it is exactly what she needs.
Thus begins her sexual awakening. She is not a virgin but she has never experienced any sense of passionate sex. She is hesitant but trusting of Steel, throwing herself into the experience. Of course conflicts arise relatively quickly between their basement loving and their outward appearances.
"I'm afraid you've ruined me for other women, Althea. You're part of this piece now, whether either of us wants it or not." ~Steel
The romance seems plausible to me throughout the entire work. Althea and Steel react to each other immediately and while Steel embraces the reaction, Althea hides from it. As Althea is tempted by the excitement of Steel, he proves to her he cares for her. He listens to her and learns her boundaries, becoming apologetic when he oversteps them. He is willing to pursue her but he won't force himself.
I respect that. Some dominant/submissive stories come off a bit forceful. The hero pushes and pushes even when the heroine keeps saying she's uncomfortable. In this story he gives her a safeword and commands her to use it. He wants her to stop him when it becomes too much. He wants her to trust him to stop the second she's uncomfortable while pushing her boundaries just a bit. With that sort of attitude, I just really enjoyed Steel.
"That's all you're letting it be. You want to keep me locked up in our basement where I do the dirty things to you that you can't admit to wanting." ~Steel
This is the crux of the major conflict in the story. Althea is trapped in expectations and appearances while Steel blows them all to pieces. Althea knows her family will not view him seriously so she hides him. She only goes to the basement for sex and keeps the door to her life locked. Steel calls her on it and she realizes she is being ridiculous.
I loved the resolution in this story because it was believable. Althea had the whole story to come to terms with her sexuality and talents. She had the whole book to reassess her life, goals, and love-life. When Steel called her on it she realized she was hiding him. She was scared to let the world see the true her but when she decided to go for it, she threw herself into it.
"Althea raised her glass to Steel, who caught her eye with a smoldering look and blew a kiss in her direction. 'I'm happy for me.'"
I loved this line so much which my Kindle will testify. I highlighted and wrote a comment about this line. For the first time in a long time I felt the heroine owned up to the changes in her life. She opened the door to her inner self and allowed herself to admit, different doesn't always mean bad. She was happy. That's it. It's just that simple.
4/5 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 02/25/13
Published by: Carina Press
Althea/Thea owns a gallery which features watercolors but is having a tough time in this economy. Clearly her family views this venture as a hobby and destined for failure. Her father continues to wait for her to ask for a loan, clearly believing a woman should be taken care of by a respectable man. She should be the arm candy, the charity-worker, and/or the baby-maker. She should have no goals for herself or approach having any sort of fun.
Of course, Steel (no last name) blows into her life and brings her out of her shell. He is a sculptor known for highly sexualized works and is immediately fascinated by Althea being an albino. He finds great inspiration in her 'platinum' hair and white skin. He asks her to model and she declines but later realizes it is exactly what she needs.
Thus begins her sexual awakening. She is not a virgin but she has never experienced any sense of passionate sex. She is hesitant but trusting of Steel, throwing herself into the experience. Of course conflicts arise relatively quickly between their basement loving and their outward appearances.
"I'm afraid you've ruined me for other women, Althea. You're part of this piece now, whether either of us wants it or not." ~Steel
The romance seems plausible to me throughout the entire work. Althea and Steel react to each other immediately and while Steel embraces the reaction, Althea hides from it. As Althea is tempted by the excitement of Steel, he proves to her he cares for her. He listens to her and learns her boundaries, becoming apologetic when he oversteps them. He is willing to pursue her but he won't force himself.
I respect that. Some dominant/submissive stories come off a bit forceful. The hero pushes and pushes even when the heroine keeps saying she's uncomfortable. In this story he gives her a safeword and commands her to use it. He wants her to stop him when it becomes too much. He wants her to trust him to stop the second she's uncomfortable while pushing her boundaries just a bit. With that sort of attitude, I just really enjoyed Steel.
"That's all you're letting it be. You want to keep me locked up in our basement where I do the dirty things to you that you can't admit to wanting." ~Steel
This is the crux of the major conflict in the story. Althea is trapped in expectations and appearances while Steel blows them all to pieces. Althea knows her family will not view him seriously so she hides him. She only goes to the basement for sex and keeps the door to her life locked. Steel calls her on it and she realizes she is being ridiculous.
I loved the resolution in this story because it was believable. Althea had the whole story to come to terms with her sexuality and talents. She had the whole book to reassess her life, goals, and love-life. When Steel called her on it she realized she was hiding him. She was scared to let the world see the true her but when she decided to go for it, she threw herself into it.
"Althea raised her glass to Steel, who caught her eye with a smoldering look and blew a kiss in her direction. 'I'm happy for me.'"
I loved this line so much which my Kindle will testify. I highlighted and wrote a comment about this line. For the first time in a long time I felt the heroine owned up to the changes in her life. She opened the door to her inner self and allowed herself to admit, different doesn't always mean bad. She was happy. That's it. It's just that simple.
4/5 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 02/25/13
Published by: Carina Press
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2013
Althea's gallery is in financial trouble. Even as an adult she feels the need to live up to her parent's expectations. They don't necessarily really agree with the choices she has made with her art gallery, especially since they had loaned her money. They do approve of her current boyfriend, though, who is as polished and fancy as them. Althea isn't happy with her personal life or her career, but she just continues to plow through the "safe" world in which she lives. No big splashes for Althea. She couldn't possibly let the inner Althea out. What would people think? Enter Steel.
Steel is the polar opposite of Althea. He doesn't care what people think of him. He was an underprivileged kid who is lucky he isn't currently in jail, considering the people he hung out with. Art was his outlet for all his "mad" growing up. As an adult, he specializes in metal sculpting and was sent to Althea's gallery by Althea's assistant. Both Steel and Althea quickly realize that his art would not belong in her gallery. She dismisses him and expects him to walk out as quickly as he walked in. Steel, however, is intrigued by Althea and talks her into letting him rent out the basement for six months.
When I first saw the interaction between the two of them I thought there was no way the author could pull off getting them together and making it believable. I didn't feel a spark or any chemistry between them at the beginning (aside from Althea looking him up and down in his motorcycle riding chaps). Althea was just too upper class and a little snooty for him. Boy was I proven wrong.
Steel knows just how to get under Althea's skin and make her want things she wouldn't admit at first. Little by little, Steel is able to peel away the exterior of Althea and show her that she can act on her inner most desires. After ending the relationship with her current boyfriend, Althea agrees to an affair with Steel. She expected it to be just a temporary thing that allows her to play on the side. She couldn't consider having a relationship with him. What would the people she knows think if they saw her dating a guy like him? Steel took things slowly with Althea knowing it would take her some time to be comfortable letting go of the control and image she felt she had to keep and let the real Althea out.
This story was full of so many emotions. Steel really understood Althea and what she needed. He was always building her up and encouraging her to be the person he could see under the fancy clothes and appearances she put up. He believes and tries to convince her that she can be brilliant. Steel can be a very intense guy and at one point lost of a little of his control, which was a pivotal point in the book because you got to see how much he loved her and wasn't sure what to do with all those emotions.
There were some really awesome "aww" moments in this story. I loved the scene where Steel gave Althea the opportunity to paint what she really wanted and not just what was "safe." I also enjoyed the part in the story when Althea invited Steel up to her apartment and turned the tables on him. The sweetest part of the story for me was when they were headed out to a formal fundraising event and Steel bought Althea a bold dress she normally wouldn't buy herself and actually applied Althea's make-up for her giving her a little more color. This was the real Althea.
Jeffe Kennedy did a fantastic job with this book. If you are looking to venture out and read something in the erotic category that includes a little bondage, I recommend you try this one. Her writing is wonderful and you can always count on a story from her that is meaningful, hard to put down, and still has you thinking about it weeks after you finish it.
ARC received from Carina Press via NetGalley
Steel is the polar opposite of Althea. He doesn't care what people think of him. He was an underprivileged kid who is lucky he isn't currently in jail, considering the people he hung out with. Art was his outlet for all his "mad" growing up. As an adult, he specializes in metal sculpting and was sent to Althea's gallery by Althea's assistant. Both Steel and Althea quickly realize that his art would not belong in her gallery. She dismisses him and expects him to walk out as quickly as he walked in. Steel, however, is intrigued by Althea and talks her into letting him rent out the basement for six months.
When I first saw the interaction between the two of them I thought there was no way the author could pull off getting them together and making it believable. I didn't feel a spark or any chemistry between them at the beginning (aside from Althea looking him up and down in his motorcycle riding chaps). Althea was just too upper class and a little snooty for him. Boy was I proven wrong.
Steel knows just how to get under Althea's skin and make her want things she wouldn't admit at first. Little by little, Steel is able to peel away the exterior of Althea and show her that she can act on her inner most desires. After ending the relationship with her current boyfriend, Althea agrees to an affair with Steel. She expected it to be just a temporary thing that allows her to play on the side. She couldn't consider having a relationship with him. What would the people she knows think if they saw her dating a guy like him? Steel took things slowly with Althea knowing it would take her some time to be comfortable letting go of the control and image she felt she had to keep and let the real Althea out.
This story was full of so many emotions. Steel really understood Althea and what she needed. He was always building her up and encouraging her to be the person he could see under the fancy clothes and appearances she put up. He believes and tries to convince her that she can be brilliant. Steel can be a very intense guy and at one point lost of a little of his control, which was a pivotal point in the book because you got to see how much he loved her and wasn't sure what to do with all those emotions.
There were some really awesome "aww" moments in this story. I loved the scene where Steel gave Althea the opportunity to paint what she really wanted and not just what was "safe." I also enjoyed the part in the story when Althea invited Steel up to her apartment and turned the tables on him. The sweetest part of the story for me was when they were headed out to a formal fundraising event and Steel bought Althea a bold dress she normally wouldn't buy herself and actually applied Althea's make-up for her giving her a little more color. This was the real Althea.
Jeffe Kennedy did a fantastic job with this book. If you are looking to venture out and read something in the erotic category that includes a little bondage, I recommend you try this one. Her writing is wonderful and you can always count on a story from her that is meaningful, hard to put down, and still has you thinking about it weeks after you finish it.
ARC received from Carina Press via NetGalley
March 3, 2013
Yummy, yummy, yummy!
Originally posted on Jan 31 2013 at Butterfly-o-Meter Books
It's no secret by now that I have a personal love story with Jeffe Kennedy's writing. I expect her stories to be stellar yummy material, and they always deliver. This is another one of those deliciously intense power-play stories, BDSM flavored you might call it. It's not heavy on the BDSM theme (in my opinion), and there's that smoldering romance bubbling that I always fall for. But let's take it one step at a time.
Since this is a contemporary story, I'll admit I was somewhat surprised by the setting. I mean, art gallery wasn't a setting I might have expected or imagined I'd read some yummy about, and yet here it is. The world of higher versus lower class let's say gave an extra hue of tension to the story and I am, as you guys know, a big fan of tension.
The characters were, as they tend to be with this author, awesome. Solid, realistic and intense, just the brand I love.
Althea was charming, this delicate sort of flower just waiting for the right kind of light to bloom into, I loved following her as she evolved from the uptight and half-comatose sort of lifestyle to the real kind of feeling and living. As it often happens, this was a journey of getting to know and accept herself, her real self in all its glory. I loved her passion and the courage she showed in embracing what she discovered as she discovered it.
Steel was, well...for lack of a better description, mouthwatering times a hundred. The rebel artist, intense, focused, irresistible. I mean, come on, these guys need to be sold in stores somewhere. Everyone should be able to go out and get themselves some Steel, I say. He had just that perfect blend of rebel bad-boi vibe, dangerous yet thoughtful and caring, all around charming. Real charismatic, and I loved his effect on Althea.
They had awesome chemistry as soon as they met, this is one of those things I can count on for this author to deliver: awesome and instant chemistry, that then evolves into real romance, the intense, soul-altering-ly intense kind. The one on one scenes were intense and emotional as well, without going too much into the BDSM specter, I'd say it's light power-play and very dynamic. I won't elaborate on that so I won't ruin your read, but this again is something this author is really good at. The power dynamics are subtle, sometimes changing, always delicious.
The writing was superb, as always. The scenes come alive for you because the characters are so gripping and realistic, and you experience their feelings, yearnings and fears with them in a beautiful symphony of hot romance.
The curb appeal is off the chart for me, just the author's name would make it an instant buy, but I mean just look at that cover and the blurb. You know you want to read this real bad, admit it :D Do and enjoy it, I'm pretty sure you will.
All in all, this was yet another delicious read from an author I'm already counting on to deliver delight. If you're into power dynamics and intense characters that develop intense relationships, you want to read this and pretty much everything Jeffe Kennedy writes.
Originally posted on Jan 31 2013 at Butterfly-o-Meter Books
It's no secret by now that I have a personal love story with Jeffe Kennedy's writing. I expect her stories to be stellar yummy material, and they always deliver. This is another one of those deliciously intense power-play stories, BDSM flavored you might call it. It's not heavy on the BDSM theme (in my opinion), and there's that smoldering romance bubbling that I always fall for. But let's take it one step at a time.
Since this is a contemporary story, I'll admit I was somewhat surprised by the setting. I mean, art gallery wasn't a setting I might have expected or imagined I'd read some yummy about, and yet here it is. The world of higher versus lower class let's say gave an extra hue of tension to the story and I am, as you guys know, a big fan of tension.
The characters were, as they tend to be with this author, awesome. Solid, realistic and intense, just the brand I love.
Althea was charming, this delicate sort of flower just waiting for the right kind of light to bloom into, I loved following her as she evolved from the uptight and half-comatose sort of lifestyle to the real kind of feeling and living. As it often happens, this was a journey of getting to know and accept herself, her real self in all its glory. I loved her passion and the courage she showed in embracing what she discovered as she discovered it.
Steel was, well...for lack of a better description, mouthwatering times a hundred. The rebel artist, intense, focused, irresistible. I mean, come on, these guys need to be sold in stores somewhere. Everyone should be able to go out and get themselves some Steel, I say. He had just that perfect blend of rebel bad-boi vibe, dangerous yet thoughtful and caring, all around charming. Real charismatic, and I loved his effect on Althea.
They had awesome chemistry as soon as they met, this is one of those things I can count on for this author to deliver: awesome and instant chemistry, that then evolves into real romance, the intense, soul-altering-ly intense kind. The one on one scenes were intense and emotional as well, without going too much into the BDSM specter, I'd say it's light power-play and very dynamic. I won't elaborate on that so I won't ruin your read, but this again is something this author is really good at. The power dynamics are subtle, sometimes changing, always delicious.
The writing was superb, as always. The scenes come alive for you because the characters are so gripping and realistic, and you experience their feelings, yearnings and fears with them in a beautiful symphony of hot romance.
The curb appeal is off the chart for me, just the author's name would make it an instant buy, but I mean just look at that cover and the blurb. You know you want to read this real bad, admit it :D Do and enjoy it, I'm pretty sure you will.
All in all, this was yet another delicious read from an author I'm already counting on to deliver delight. If you're into power dynamics and intense characters that develop intense relationships, you want to read this and pretty much everything Jeffe Kennedy writes.
February 26, 2013
- Erotica Book Club Review of -
ARC from NetGalley and Carina Press –
Exp release date February 25, 2013
I have some really mixed feelings about this book and I decided that it just needed a wee bit of patience as it has some things I really loved and some weak points.
Althea is an art gallery owner and repressed artist that has been trying to live her life under what her social climbing family and her overly busy boyfriend expects for her to be - and when she can’t meet those expectations – she is deemed a “failure”. The economy is bad and she is having a tough time meeting her financial obligations for the gallery and trying to avoid bringing in her family for help and in walks a temporary life raft in the last guise she expected - Steel. Yes – it is a nick name and the entendres are limitless for a bad boy artist with a nick name like that!
They form an unlikely business arrangement where he will rent her basement under the gallery and her home so that he can weld some of his art projects in exchange for the cash she so badly needs. As Althea is albino – she has an overall look that Steel is fascinated with and her pushes her to model for him and …Ohhhh wow……when Althea takes him up on it, the read shifts into a high octane sexual relationship that sorta roasts the pages –er- Kindle!! Steel likes quite a bit of BDSM as he is getting “in the mood” to work on his pieces and these passages were (cough, cough) extremely spicy hot!! (the BDSM was on the mild side – mostly D/s)
The challenge I had with this read, is I did not feel that the author really made me feel the dynamic with Althea and Steel before they started in with the wild stuff – it was developed yes – afterwards - I was just a bit uncomfortable with how fast they jumped at it without much of a preamble as to the attraction these two had for each other. I also wished that the author would have focused a little more on Steel’s background. The ending came about too fast and I did feel like there was so much story left to be told.
The parts I loved – Althea is very much a product of her parents and the whole albino angle – had her parents micro managing her life and pushing her into a mold that was all wrong for her - not to mention the boyfriend was also crippling her as well.. I found her to be such a likeable lost character and she grows so much in this story. Steel is an Alpha that I really had to appreciate (and not just for the smoking hot sex passages!!). For the first time in a long time – he is an Alpha bad boy that was not afraid of what he wanted or fighting against it. He just deals with his feelings head on and says it like he feels! No whiny angst about a bad past (although a rough past is hinted at ) or how he doesn’t want to settle down – he just handles it and he is drawn as such a likable charismatic character!
Overall I really enjoyed the ride despite the weak beginning and think it is a good add to the TBR!
I didn’t want to rate this as a three as I did feel stronger about the read than that – closer to 3.5 or 3.8 but for the way the systems are set up I will go with the Goodreads scale of 4 (I really liked it) and on the Amazon scale of 4 (I liked it)!
~Gina
http://www.facebook.com/EroticaBookClub
http://www.facebook.com/gina.tobin.14
ARC from NetGalley and Carina Press –
Exp release date February 25, 2013
I have some really mixed feelings about this book and I decided that it just needed a wee bit of patience as it has some things I really loved and some weak points.
Althea is an art gallery owner and repressed artist that has been trying to live her life under what her social climbing family and her overly busy boyfriend expects for her to be - and when she can’t meet those expectations – she is deemed a “failure”. The economy is bad and she is having a tough time meeting her financial obligations for the gallery and trying to avoid bringing in her family for help and in walks a temporary life raft in the last guise she expected - Steel. Yes – it is a nick name and the entendres are limitless for a bad boy artist with a nick name like that!
They form an unlikely business arrangement where he will rent her basement under the gallery and her home so that he can weld some of his art projects in exchange for the cash she so badly needs. As Althea is albino – she has an overall look that Steel is fascinated with and her pushes her to model for him and …Ohhhh wow……when Althea takes him up on it, the read shifts into a high octane sexual relationship that sorta roasts the pages –er- Kindle!! Steel likes quite a bit of BDSM as he is getting “in the mood” to work on his pieces and these passages were (cough, cough) extremely spicy hot!! (the BDSM was on the mild side – mostly D/s)
The challenge I had with this read, is I did not feel that the author really made me feel the dynamic with Althea and Steel before they started in with the wild stuff – it was developed yes – afterwards - I was just a bit uncomfortable with how fast they jumped at it without much of a preamble as to the attraction these two had for each other. I also wished that the author would have focused a little more on Steel’s background. The ending came about too fast and I did feel like there was so much story left to be told.
The parts I loved – Althea is very much a product of her parents and the whole albino angle – had her parents micro managing her life and pushing her into a mold that was all wrong for her - not to mention the boyfriend was also crippling her as well.. I found her to be such a likeable lost character and she grows so much in this story. Steel is an Alpha that I really had to appreciate (and not just for the smoking hot sex passages!!). For the first time in a long time – he is an Alpha bad boy that was not afraid of what he wanted or fighting against it. He just deals with his feelings head on and says it like he feels! No whiny angst about a bad past (although a rough past is hinted at ) or how he doesn’t want to settle down – he just handles it and he is drawn as such a likable charismatic character!
Overall I really enjoyed the ride despite the weak beginning and think it is a good add to the TBR!
I didn’t want to rate this as a three as I did feel stronger about the read than that – closer to 3.5 or 3.8 but for the way the systems are set up I will go with the Goodreads scale of 4 (I really liked it) and on the Amazon scale of 4 (I liked it)!
~Gina
http://www.facebook.com/EroticaBookClub
http://www.facebook.com/gina.tobin.14
April 25, 2013
“He’d handed her his heart the way he’d offered her the paint brush—to do with as she wished.”
This book is sizzling HOT. There’s not a whole lot of story but there is lots of passionate, kinky, dirty, sex. Platinum was a good read, not great, not anything special, but it was real and dirty and so so fun to read.
Althea Grant's Charleston gallery might be suffering from the bad economy, and her artistic aspirations have gone nowhere, but she's doing just fine, thank you. When bad-boy sculptor Steel rides up on his motorcycle looking to rent studio space, his infusion of cash is more than welcome. But his art is raw, visceral, sexual—and completely inappropriate for her pastel world of watercolor landscapes.
Steel, fascinated by Althea's rare albino coloring, sees in her the key to his next piece: a metal satyr designed for bondage games. Moving into her gallery basement is the first step; seducing the cool Southern belle into modeling for him is the second.
As Steel peels away her careful manners and tasteful outfits, Althea begins to realize her life isn't just fine at all—it's as pale and washed-out as the watercolor paintings she's failing to sell. Can she transform her life and accept her most secret desires?
This was a short erotic/light BDSM story. Althea and Steel had such a primal and visceral connection to each other and you could feel it whenever they were together. Althea starts off as the cold, seemingly uncaring woman, but Steel brings out this whole other side to her. She slowly finds she wants things, dark things she never thought she would.
Steel is still kind of a mystery even after reading this book. Obviously he’s hot, rough, dominating, alpha-y, and very sensual. He also rides around on a motorcycle in his leather jacket and chaps. Beneath this is such a sweet, caring person. He truly wants to help Althea find herself and fulfill her dreams. But yeah, I felt that we never really got to know him that well.
“But I confess I have a powerful yen to fuck you, Althea.”
I think I would have liked this better if it was a little longer. It’s pretty much sex sex sex from the get go (not that there’s anything wrong with that) but I would have liked a little more plot and character development. And it kind of just ended. There was no real buildup or anticipation. It was just over. It felt like a really abrupt ending, almost like there should be a second book (but I don’t think there is).
Overall this is a hot little story that will really get the heart pumping, possibly other areas as well ;) If you’re looking for a short, simple, sexy read, look no further.
“You should know—I think I’m falling hard for you. I know that wasn’t your plan, but I can’t seem to stop this train.”
For more reviews, visit my site The Book Corner Reviews
This book is sizzling HOT. There’s not a whole lot of story but there is lots of passionate, kinky, dirty, sex. Platinum was a good read, not great, not anything special, but it was real and dirty and so so fun to read.
Althea Grant's Charleston gallery might be suffering from the bad economy, and her artistic aspirations have gone nowhere, but she's doing just fine, thank you. When bad-boy sculptor Steel rides up on his motorcycle looking to rent studio space, his infusion of cash is more than welcome. But his art is raw, visceral, sexual—and completely inappropriate for her pastel world of watercolor landscapes.
Steel, fascinated by Althea's rare albino coloring, sees in her the key to his next piece: a metal satyr designed for bondage games. Moving into her gallery basement is the first step; seducing the cool Southern belle into modeling for him is the second.
As Steel peels away her careful manners and tasteful outfits, Althea begins to realize her life isn't just fine at all—it's as pale and washed-out as the watercolor paintings she's failing to sell. Can she transform her life and accept her most secret desires?
This was a short erotic/light BDSM story. Althea and Steel had such a primal and visceral connection to each other and you could feel it whenever they were together. Althea starts off as the cold, seemingly uncaring woman, but Steel brings out this whole other side to her. She slowly finds she wants things, dark things she never thought she would.
Steel is still kind of a mystery even after reading this book. Obviously he’s hot, rough, dominating, alpha-y, and very sensual. He also rides around on a motorcycle in his leather jacket and chaps. Beneath this is such a sweet, caring person. He truly wants to help Althea find herself and fulfill her dreams. But yeah, I felt that we never really got to know him that well.
“But I confess I have a powerful yen to fuck you, Althea.”
I think I would have liked this better if it was a little longer. It’s pretty much sex sex sex from the get go (not that there’s anything wrong with that) but I would have liked a little more plot and character development. And it kind of just ended. There was no real buildup or anticipation. It was just over. It felt like a really abrupt ending, almost like there should be a second book (but I don’t think there is).
Overall this is a hot little story that will really get the heart pumping, possibly other areas as well ;) If you’re looking for a short, simple, sexy read, look no further.
“You should know—I think I’m falling hard for you. I know that wasn’t your plan, but I can’t seem to stop this train.”
For more reviews, visit my site The Book Corner Reviews
April 7, 2013
To be completely honest, I don't even know how to rate Platinum by Jeffe Kennedy and it's my second erotica title in a row that I face the very same problem. And that is none other, than the whole story being focused on the sex and nothing else apart from that. Should I rate Platinum based on how hot a book it is or how well described the sex scenes are, my rating would probably be a 4. But a good book, erotica or no, isn't the one that is hot. That's still an important factor, especially if the title is within the erotica genre, but come on authors, there are so many other things for you to explore other than that. Like a plot, or character development and easy flowing dialogues. The hot sex is good but what of all the other things that make your story solid?
Platinum I'm afraid falls into that category of books where there's nothing else to it other than the sex parts. There's no plot, no character development, the characters have a minimum background, the dialogues are cheesy as hell and stiff and to sum it up, there's nothing going on in this book other than the two protagonists having hot sex every other page.
I mean, the whole story starts with a brief introduction of Althea and Steel (yeah the guy goes under that name and not his real one, had me laughing hysterically over that name quite a few times, because do you get the metaphor here, or is only my mind THAT dirty?) and before you even know it, Steel lives under Althea's roof, giving her easy access to his, ehm... art. We get a couple of chapters before the whole action begins, I have to give credit to the author for that one, where we get to meet Althea a little bit better and how uptight she is and in desperate need of a good old fashioned f**k. After that point, all we get is sex, sex and oh, some more sex. All we really know about Althea is the fact that she once wanted to be an artist but never had the talent, how prim and proper she is, but underneath that facade, she craves for something spicier in her life that manages to unlock her ability to paint as well. While on the other hand, all we know about Steel is that he had a troubled past, he's a good artist and likes to have his sex a little bit rougher in the edges. That's all.
As far as the plot of Platinum is concerned, well, there's not one to be honest. Nothing. All the story is about is how some rough sex can make an uptight woman feel better and increase her self esteem and because we do want our happily ever after, she finds the man of her dreams in the process (of having rough sex that is). And speaking of the man of her dreams, that ending was so quickly wrapped up, so unrealistic that it just managed to make me roll my eyes one more time before I reached the last word of this book.
All in all, Platinum is a hot story and if you're searching for just well written sex, then this is just the book for you. If like me, you care about other things of little consequence such as good characters and a plot, then stay away from Platinum. You will feel disappointed.
March 25, 2013
Platinum by Jeffe Kennedy
(Facets of Passion #2)
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Source: Netgalley
**This title is classified as erotica and for 18+ readers only**
Althea Grant is a prim and proper southern lady. She wears prim and proper clothing, her hair in a flawless chignon, she has a proper southern boyfriend her parents can be proud of and, she owns an art gallery that sells nothing which could possibly be deemed anything other than proper. Until the day Steel walks into her gallery, Althea Grant is certain she is living the life she is meant to live.
Steel is not prim and proper. Steel is big, built and beautiful; he rides a motorcycle and wears his leathers like a second skin; he is a bit brutish but totally honest about his desires and; he is an up-and-coming sculptor whose work is superb and exudes sex and sensuality just as he does. Steel needs a place to work and Althea’s gallery has a basement she is willing to rent out so long as Steel doesn’t interfere with her business or her life. HA!
From the moment Steel and Althea meet there is an undeniable chemistry Steel is more than willing to investigate and Althea is more than willing to ignore. The problem is, Steel is a very, very hard man to ignore and he brings Althea’s prim and proper (read: boring) life into sharp focus. Once the clarity sets in, Althea begins to make some major changes in her life. All manner of naughty happens in the basement of the gallery as Althea comes to understand a little rough and tumble can indeed fit quite nicely into a prim and proper southern lady’s life.
The Bottom Line: Kennedy does a fantastic job of managing her time and space and though this is a novella, both the plot and the characters are fully developed. I very much enjoyed “watching” Althea open up and begin to explore her desires with Steel. Steel, though ravenous for Althea knows he must push her only so far with each of their encounters. Kennedy writes a mean sex scene and varies each encounter enough to avoid redundancy and keep the reader fired up and flipping pages furiously. Seriously, the sexy, naughty bits are freakin’ awesome in this one. While the sex is all kinds of great, the true growth and development of each character is my favorite part. At the risk of being spoilery, I like both Steel and Althea and am quite pleased with how their story turned out.
One final note: this is the second installment in the Facets of Passion series though it can be read as a stand-alone.
(Facets of Passion #2)
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Source: Netgalley
**This title is classified as erotica and for 18+ readers only**
Althea Grant is a prim and proper southern lady. She wears prim and proper clothing, her hair in a flawless chignon, she has a proper southern boyfriend her parents can be proud of and, she owns an art gallery that sells nothing which could possibly be deemed anything other than proper. Until the day Steel walks into her gallery, Althea Grant is certain she is living the life she is meant to live.
Steel is not prim and proper. Steel is big, built and beautiful; he rides a motorcycle and wears his leathers like a second skin; he is a bit brutish but totally honest about his desires and; he is an up-and-coming sculptor whose work is superb and exudes sex and sensuality just as he does. Steel needs a place to work and Althea’s gallery has a basement she is willing to rent out so long as Steel doesn’t interfere with her business or her life. HA!
From the moment Steel and Althea meet there is an undeniable chemistry Steel is more than willing to investigate and Althea is more than willing to ignore. The problem is, Steel is a very, very hard man to ignore and he brings Althea’s prim and proper (read: boring) life into sharp focus. Once the clarity sets in, Althea begins to make some major changes in her life. All manner of naughty happens in the basement of the gallery as Althea comes to understand a little rough and tumble can indeed fit quite nicely into a prim and proper southern lady’s life.
The Bottom Line: Kennedy does a fantastic job of managing her time and space and though this is a novella, both the plot and the characters are fully developed. I very much enjoyed “watching” Althea open up and begin to explore her desires with Steel. Steel, though ravenous for Althea knows he must push her only so far with each of their encounters. Kennedy writes a mean sex scene and varies each encounter enough to avoid redundancy and keep the reader fired up and flipping pages furiously. Seriously, the sexy, naughty bits are freakin’ awesome in this one. While the sex is all kinds of great, the true growth and development of each character is my favorite part. At the risk of being spoilery, I like both Steel and Althea and am quite pleased with how their story turned out.
One final note: this is the second installment in the Facets of Passion series though it can be read as a stand-alone.
March 2, 2013
NetGalley free read
I would say more like 3 1/2 stars. Althea runs a safe little gallery in the historic part of town. She follows the rules and doesn't rock the boat, even when others cause the problems. Like her assistant Cheri not coming into work when she doesn't feel like it, or her boyfriend, Brandon, using work as an excuse not to spend time with her. Their relationship is boring and blandly boring.
When Steel walks into her Gallery, Althea knows right away that his art isn't the type of art for her gallery. It wouldn't fit in with they type of art she believes she should show or the neighborhood. But when he offers her ten thousand dollars for the use of her basement for a commissioned piece he's working on, the money is too good to pass up. See, her gallery is failing. Like everything else in her life, it's safe and not turning a profit.
Steel is fascinated by Althea right away. He can tell she's different because of the color of her hair. She tells him she's albino. He tells Althea that he's interested in her and wants to show her a different side to herself, but she has to give up the boring boyfriend. Once she does, her education begins. Starting with sex, how she dresses and even her own artistic endeavors. Although she's first content to leave their relationship behind closed doors in the basement, Althea soon realizes that Steel is just the type of man she's been looking for, not only in her personal life, but also i her professional world.
The only reason it's not four is because the story was short, ending a little anticlimactic for me, and I wanted more. But it was good. I liked that Steel pulled Althea out of her shell. Taught her what she was missing not only in her life, but in her art.
I was a little angry that she didn't take him seriously emotionally as a potential partner, until almost then end. She kinda hurt his feelings a bit. Only realizing later that he was opening her up to the person she really wanted to be. I also would have liked for Cheri, the assistant who never really showed for work but secretly wanted Steel, to have more of an issue with Althea dating him. I think this could have made the story a bit longer with a bit more drama happening.
I liked that Althea's mother instantly liked Steel and didn't seem to care that he was with her daughter and, with Steel there, Althea was able to stand up to her father.
It was good, but could have been better.
I would say more like 3 1/2 stars. Althea runs a safe little gallery in the historic part of town. She follows the rules and doesn't rock the boat, even when others cause the problems. Like her assistant Cheri not coming into work when she doesn't feel like it, or her boyfriend, Brandon, using work as an excuse not to spend time with her. Their relationship is boring and blandly boring.
When Steel walks into her Gallery, Althea knows right away that his art isn't the type of art for her gallery. It wouldn't fit in with they type of art she believes she should show or the neighborhood. But when he offers her ten thousand dollars for the use of her basement for a commissioned piece he's working on, the money is too good to pass up. See, her gallery is failing. Like everything else in her life, it's safe and not turning a profit.
Steel is fascinated by Althea right away. He can tell she's different because of the color of her hair. She tells him she's albino. He tells Althea that he's interested in her and wants to show her a different side to herself, but she has to give up the boring boyfriend. Once she does, her education begins. Starting with sex, how she dresses and even her own artistic endeavors. Although she's first content to leave their relationship behind closed doors in the basement, Althea soon realizes that Steel is just the type of man she's been looking for, not only in her personal life, but also i her professional world.
The only reason it's not four is because the story was short, ending a little anticlimactic for me, and I wanted more. But it was good. I liked that Steel pulled Althea out of her shell. Taught her what she was missing not only in her life, but in her art.
I was a little angry that she didn't take him seriously emotionally as a potential partner, until almost then end. She kinda hurt his feelings a bit. Only realizing later that he was opening her up to the person she really wanted to be. I also would have liked for Cheri, the assistant who never really showed for work but secretly wanted Steel, to have more of an issue with Althea dating him. I think this could have made the story a bit longer with a bit more drama happening.
I liked that Althea's mother instantly liked Steel and didn't seem to care that he was with her daughter and, with Steel there, Althea was able to stand up to her father.
It was good, but could have been better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2013
After Althea's artistic aspirations having gone down the drain she turned to something that would be connected with her greatest passion, she opened the Althea Grant's Charleston Gallery. Even though the business is not going well she tries to look optimistic.
When bad-boy sculptor Steel walks in her life and rents her basement, everything starts to change for Althea.
His raw art is a fresh breeze into her soft, pastel world, and he is more than welcome to show her that life can be painted in strong, bold colors. Peeling out her layers they will discover together that soft and hard can be a winning equation to happiness.
Boy, did I love this short story. It starts out with an insecure Althea and finishes with strong, secure, and confident Althea. I love it when it goes down like this.
Althea starts out to be an insecure lady, always hearing in her mind "failure" but all she needed was a little push towards jumping the cliff and assuming her life and her desires.
With the bonus of knowing she is Albino, a fact that goes along with her softness, and the taste for coolness and in her ways, we get to know a lady that needs some action in her life. But for that we have Steel.
Steel is a work of art. With a dominating character, he enters in Althea's life and revolutionizes everything by pushing her further and further into the fire. Should I say "burn, baby burn", How I love this guys, he could rent my basement anytime ...
Their relationship starts out to be a loose thing of the moment but as the story moves forward, it becomes serious and the connection created by their sexual adventures turns into something more serious.
When Steel reaches the point of no return, he sexes up the moment and invades for good Althea's heart.
This was the first read for M. Kennedy's books but I'll be looking forward to reading more from her. She has a particular way with writing the main characters, enthralling them in the story, and giving us some good, hot moments, and in the end we want more.
Jeffe Kennedy is also the author of "Sapphire", book one in the series Facets of Passion.
Published February 25th 2013 by Carina Press
ARC acquired through NetGalley for an honest review
February 22, 2013
(Read more reviews at http://jessysbookclub.wordpress.com/)
So Althea works in a gallery that’s facing hard times. Steel (yes, that’s his name) walks into her gallery, initially looking to show his art but eventually offers Althea $10000 to use her basement to work on his art.
These two couldn’t be more worlds apart. Althea is a trust fund, charity balls kind of girl and Steel is…just Steel.
“Let’s just say that the men you date are white-wine spritzers, and Steel? He’s pure moonshine. Bad for you, illegal and packs a powerful punch.”
I mean, he has a noun for a name, i’m sure you can guess he’s not the kind of guy Althea normally goes for. Think biker guy, tattoo, nipple piercing..yeah, complete opposites. And that is what attracts her to him. Steel is so incredibly sexy! Plus he’s into bondage! Imagine my excitement at that…
I loved the scenes between these two. Its BDSM but nothing too heavy. And BDSM or not this book was hot! Steel drawing as he…wait, I probably should put that 18+ warning on my site that I’ve been procrastinating about before I say what Steel was doing Let’s just say Steel was sexy.
But again because of their backgrounds Althea feels the need to hide her relationship with Steel. That and Steel’s past (which admittedly could have been better explored) allowed him to show some vulnerability. I love it when a strong Alpha Male type is also vulnerable.
I have to say there was a hint of a good story line which basically got lost in all the sex. (Really really good sex but still…) Again Steel’s background, the author could have said more about it. Also Althea is albino but what of it? I understand Steel was fascinated but it had nothing to do with art in my opinion. The good thing is, the steamy scenes were done so well and Steel’s character so good that I ended up just enjoying the ride. I just swooned and sighed.
If you’re looking for really good character development with a well explored story line then this is not your book. If you are however in the mood for a hot biker guy, who’s into bondage and art and every steamy thing in between, then this is it.
3.5 Stars. I’m resisting giving it 4 stars just because I feel like it could have been so much better.
So Althea works in a gallery that’s facing hard times. Steel (yes, that’s his name) walks into her gallery, initially looking to show his art but eventually offers Althea $10000 to use her basement to work on his art.
These two couldn’t be more worlds apart. Althea is a trust fund, charity balls kind of girl and Steel is…just Steel.
“Let’s just say that the men you date are white-wine spritzers, and Steel? He’s pure moonshine. Bad for you, illegal and packs a powerful punch.”
I mean, he has a noun for a name, i’m sure you can guess he’s not the kind of guy Althea normally goes for. Think biker guy, tattoo, nipple piercing..yeah, complete opposites. And that is what attracts her to him. Steel is so incredibly sexy! Plus he’s into bondage! Imagine my excitement at that…
I loved the scenes between these two. Its BDSM but nothing too heavy. And BDSM or not this book was hot! Steel drawing as he…wait, I probably should put that 18+ warning on my site that I’ve been procrastinating about before I say what Steel was doing Let’s just say Steel was sexy.
But again because of their backgrounds Althea feels the need to hide her relationship with Steel. That and Steel’s past (which admittedly could have been better explored) allowed him to show some vulnerability. I love it when a strong Alpha Male type is also vulnerable.
I have to say there was a hint of a good story line which basically got lost in all the sex. (Really really good sex but still…) Again Steel’s background, the author could have said more about it. Also Althea is albino but what of it? I understand Steel was fascinated but it had nothing to do with art in my opinion. The good thing is, the steamy scenes were done so well and Steel’s character so good that I ended up just enjoying the ride. I just swooned and sighed.
If you’re looking for really good character development with a well explored story line then this is not your book. If you are however in the mood for a hot biker guy, who’s into bondage and art and every steamy thing in between, then this is it.
3.5 Stars. I’m resisting giving it 4 stars just because I feel like it could have been so much better.
January 29, 2013
I enjoyed this quick, hot read. It was a journey of finding and accepting one’s self and true personality.
The characters seemed more like real people rather than our fantasy/dream/billionaire characters we've grown to love & fantasize about. Okay - yea so Steel is totally my hot biker fantasy but not my billionaire CEO fantasy type. LoL
You have Althea - owner of her own art gallery that's doing quite poorly, family who obviously has money but raised her to be a "proper young lady" who follows all of society's rules. She never steps out of line. She holds herself as a completely poised, elegant woman who appears smooth as glass on the outside. She's obviously has no idea who she really is deep down - she's who she was raised to be. Due to her complexion & hair color (albino), she always wears pastel colored clothes and light colored makeup. Enter Steel - hot, rough around the edges biker, sexy, tattoos, nipple ring, and did I mention he is a completely brilliant artist. And a total Dom.
The way that Steel owns his life choices and is completely comfortable with himself is very appealing. He obviously had a not-so-great life when he was younger but with help from social workers, etc., he puts his emotions out there through his art. He's able to slowly guide Althea into realizing HER true nature & feelings. He helps her understand that it's perfectly acceptable to NOT be who everyone expects you to be. Live the way you want to live. Think the way you want to think. Throw "Society's rules" to the wind I guess I should say. He opens her eyes to primal, sexual urges in human nature. Althea has a hard time accepting it because it goes against everything that she's ever been told was proper.
Overall, great hot read of self-exploration & acceptance. I really enjoyed it. It only took a few hours to read but I didn't really feel like it was too short. This story is focused on Althea's self-exploration so it doesn't delve into the other character's reasons for why they are who they are. You only get a few glimpses but it works. You're constantly drawn back to Althea.
Thanks to Net Galley & Carina Press for the ebook copy for reading/reviewing.
The characters seemed more like real people rather than our fantasy/dream/billionaire characters we've grown to love & fantasize about. Okay - yea so Steel is totally my hot biker fantasy but not my billionaire CEO fantasy type. LoL
You have Althea - owner of her own art gallery that's doing quite poorly, family who obviously has money but raised her to be a "proper young lady" who follows all of society's rules. She never steps out of line. She holds herself as a completely poised, elegant woman who appears smooth as glass on the outside. She's obviously has no idea who she really is deep down - she's who she was raised to be. Due to her complexion & hair color (albino), she always wears pastel colored clothes and light colored makeup. Enter Steel - hot, rough around the edges biker, sexy, tattoos, nipple ring, and did I mention he is a completely brilliant artist. And a total Dom.
The way that Steel owns his life choices and is completely comfortable with himself is very appealing. He obviously had a not-so-great life when he was younger but with help from social workers, etc., he puts his emotions out there through his art. He's able to slowly guide Althea into realizing HER true nature & feelings. He helps her understand that it's perfectly acceptable to NOT be who everyone expects you to be. Live the way you want to live. Think the way you want to think. Throw "Society's rules" to the wind I guess I should say. He opens her eyes to primal, sexual urges in human nature. Althea has a hard time accepting it because it goes against everything that she's ever been told was proper.
Overall, great hot read of self-exploration & acceptance. I really enjoyed it. It only took a few hours to read but I didn't really feel like it was too short. This story is focused on Althea's self-exploration so it doesn't delve into the other character's reasons for why they are who they are. You only get a few glimpses but it works. You're constantly drawn back to Althea.
Thanks to Net Galley & Carina Press for the ebook copy for reading/reviewing.
February 21, 2013
From the moment Althea Grant set her eyes on Steel, she knew he was going to be more than she bargained for. He'd appeared unexpectedly upon her art gallery's doorstep, intent on making her see the light when it came to his work. To his surprise, her cool demeanor and quick rebuttal was something he never expected. The fact that she couldn't quite shake the man's defenses in hopes of turning him away was also an eye opener for her.
Steel's determination to show her exactly what he's made of has unsettled her deeply, something she won't openly admit to. Nor will she admit to the fact that he'd stirred her blood from the moment they'd met. Althea knows that Steel has what it takes to make things happen, though she's afraid to give him the benefit of a doubt, and surrender to his subtle demands.
Her heart and her mind know that Steel is definitely playing for keeps. His brazen nature piques her interest, inciting her desires, and making her want things she knows she shouldn't want. He's very much aware of the effect he has on her, and wants so very badly to show her what she's missing in life. To Althea, that's a line she's not sure she wants to cross.
Still, curiosity does get the best of her, and soon, she's wanting things she knows she has no right to want. Steel knows exactly what she needs, and he's more than willing to accommodate Althea's silent demands, even if she doesn't realize she's demanding something in return. For her losing control is something she doesn't want to risk. Yet she knows that when matters of the heart are at the forefront, there's no denying where love will take you in the long run.
This was definitely another nice addition to the Facets of Passion series. Granted, it's very different from the first book, but the passionate and very erotic nature that makes the series unique is there. Taking readers for a hot, steamy ride, Platinum will definitely leave you wanting more by the time you get to the very end of the book. I look forward to what comes next for this enticing series.
Steel's determination to show her exactly what he's made of has unsettled her deeply, something she won't openly admit to. Nor will she admit to the fact that he'd stirred her blood from the moment they'd met. Althea knows that Steel has what it takes to make things happen, though she's afraid to give him the benefit of a doubt, and surrender to his subtle demands.
Her heart and her mind know that Steel is definitely playing for keeps. His brazen nature piques her interest, inciting her desires, and making her want things she knows she shouldn't want. He's very much aware of the effect he has on her, and wants so very badly to show her what she's missing in life. To Althea, that's a line she's not sure she wants to cross.
Still, curiosity does get the best of her, and soon, she's wanting things she knows she has no right to want. Steel knows exactly what she needs, and he's more than willing to accommodate Althea's silent demands, even if she doesn't realize she's demanding something in return. For her losing control is something she doesn't want to risk. Yet she knows that when matters of the heart are at the forefront, there's no denying where love will take you in the long run.
This was definitely another nice addition to the Facets of Passion series. Granted, it's very different from the first book, but the passionate and very erotic nature that makes the series unique is there. Taking readers for a hot, steamy ride, Platinum will definitely leave you wanting more by the time you get to the very end of the book. I look forward to what comes next for this enticing series.
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