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Pleasure Vessels #1

Born to Please

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[Siren Everlasting Classic Erotic Alternative Futuristic Paranormal Romance, M/M, shape-shifters, HEA] Vessel 8189, Payne, doesn’t want the man who the Facility has deemed his perfect match. A specially designed person whose DNA has been spliced with shifter DNA, his entire life has prepared him for his owner and mate. However, the man they’ve chosen isn’t the spoiled, arrogant jerk he anticipates. Alecander Kane is the CEO of marketing for the Facility where Payne is housed. He never wanted to take a Vessel because he craved more of a partner than a slave. Unfortunately, his father has other plans. He has gifted Payne as a birthday present. After they meet, a problem at the Facility sends them rushing back to the place Payne grew up to deal with the cleanup. Together, they will uncover all the secrets that have been festering for years and change the way Vessels are treated forever, all the while discovering that being born for pleasure doesn’t necessarily preclude falling in love. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2013

1 person is currently reading
40 people want to read

About the author

Jana Downs

75 books219 followers
Jana Downs lives in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina with three cats, one dog, several dozen fish, and a very understanding partner-in-crime who hates to read but makes exceptions for her stories.

You can usually find her either watching bad reality TV, buying way too many books on Amazon, or dreaming up another man or two to occupy her time because life is good but several drop-dead gorgeous nonexistent men is just better.

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5 stars
16 (20%)
4 stars
27 (35%)
3 stars
27 (35%)
2 stars
5 (6%)
1 star
2 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Hc.
2,361 reviews35 followers
March 10, 2013
This is not a roses and sunshine read. While there's a bit of attitude between vessel Payne and owner Alec, who prefers not to have an obedient non-thinking slave, the background itself surrounding the Facility leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Seeing as vessels are considered more like...things or its.. than a thinking feeling lifeform.

As far as Payne and Alec... Alec is more interested in a partner, even though he did not know about Payne until recently. I found it admirable that even though he was instantly attracted to Payne and wanted to be with him intimately that he didn't rush into it or make sure Payne wanted the same. Plus I found it more realistic their first time that Payne did in fact experience not only discomfort but some pain for his first time. Alec simply changed to a better position and took more time to get his partner ready.

Elder Kane...just about everything about him, from attitude to actions again leaves a bad taste in the mouth. He's portrayed as a very cold in-feeling individual. But towards the end we see a crack in the veneer of Alec's father and get to see what truly lies beneath the surface. Part of that is meeting and interacting with his own vessel, Alec's mother. She explains a few things to Payne that help him make sense of things he's been feeling. Would have liked to see more interaction between her and father Kane where he would seem more gruff then unfeeling.

A few more twists at the end but not to give it all away...Looking forward to more from this world.
Profile Image for ~SexyBookWorm~.
1,083 reviews32 followers
March 12, 2013
I fell in love with this series like on page two! It took the mating concept to a new level. These were genetically created perfect for you mates. Thats the concept and I LOVED it! But around the middle of the book they reorganize the company and Vessel process. The roles of the vessels and therefore the roles of the Main Characters change. Because of this Im confused as to how the rest of the series will play out.
At the end of the book the vessels apparently have a CHOICE in their matings now but that pretty much defeats the purpose of a mating. So even though this book was awesome and the concept is highly unique and well done, Im not sure what will happen in the future. Im hoping the series will continue to live up to the standard of the first book.
Profile Image for Alison.
328 reviews14 followers
March 9, 2013
Usually Jana Downs' books leave me feeling satisfied and positive. This one left me feeling uneasy. It is a wonderful story and I love the plot. The characters are believable as are the situations. It's just that the ending left me with far too many questions and an uneasy feeling. I understand that this may be what Ms Downs was intending, but personally, I prefer to feel positive after reading a romance, even a cross genre one.
I do recommend this book to readers, will read it again, and will buy the next book. Ms Downs addresses serious questions to do with genetic tinkering and her writing is as enthralling as always.

http://www.bookstrand.com/born-to-please
Profile Image for Nik.
289 reviews
March 15, 2013
Enjoyed this book UNTIL it hit about 75% and then everything just felt like a hot hurried mess. So what went from pretty good got bumped down to just meh for me.

Profile Image for Pixie Mmgoodbookreviews.
1,206 reviews43 followers
March 14, 2013
3 1/2 - 4 Hearts

Review written for MM Good Book Reviews

http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

Payne is a Vessel, a person designed to be the perfect companion for just one person, he is nearing the end of his training and will soon be given to his owner, but Payne doesn’t want anyone claiming him especially after his hellish training and knowing that his owner only wants a mindless pet. But Payne’s match is nothing like he thought he would be and just as they are coming to an understanding a problem at the Facility looks set to rip them apart. Alec has no idea about the real story behind Vessel’s, but when he receives his own as a present he rapidly learns that everything he thought he knew isn’t right and with his Vessel at his side he looks into setting things right.

This is a cool little novella that is set in the far future and has a little twist of shifter mating, but it also has a dark tinge to it that leaves lingering questions. Payne was created for Alec, his DNA was spliced with that of shifters to create the perfect mate, but not everything is wonderful in the Vessel world as brutal training and mind altering practices ensure Vessel compliance. Alec is appalled when he discovers what is happening and swears to Payne that they will dig for the truth, but the discovery of illegal practices at the Facility leads to a shakeup of the treatment of Vessels.

Alec and Payne clash when they first meet and it continues until Alec realises that he doesn’t really want a mindless sex toy, Payne challenges him at every turn and makes him see that Vessels aren’t just objects, but are people with their own thoughts and feelings. You warm up to both Payne and Alec quickly and when Alec’s father, David, comes on the scene he seems unfeeling and callus, it isn’t until later in the book that his façade changes and that’s due to his own Vessel, Amber, Alec’s mother. The storyline is brilliant and a little bit taboo, playing with genetics’ to make the perfect companion, but the system is hijacked when the Vessels are treated inhumanly.

I am really looking forward to seeing which direction this series goes next, because there is unfinished business and people disappeared before they could be caught… and we also have the surprising twist of shifters coming out of their hiding places. We also have the uncertain question of the Vessels mating’s now that they will no longer be forced, how will this twist work out?

I will recommend this to those that love shifters, mates, a touch of danger, hot sex, a touch of conflict and a happy ending.
Profile Image for Claudia.
1,151 reviews
March 16, 2013
I was totally loving it until almost the end. I though the end a little rushed. How Payne suddenly was second in command and everything... The story was progressing in such good way, then suddenly it was finished. If it was not for it, it would be a 5*
4 reviews
June 18, 2018
Great book to enjoy reading!

Great book to read in one sitting! A sequel or two would be a great addition! I highly recommend the book!
Profile Image for Maya.
1,164 reviews34 followers
March 16, 2013
1.5 Stars This was agonizing for me to finish.
Profile Image for PurpleBunny♡.
115 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2017
First time reader for this author. Great start for a new series. Looking forward to more about Alec and Payne.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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