Willing Sacrifice

Knights of the Board Room #6

by Joey W. Hill

Part of the Knights of the Board Room series.

Janet Albright prefers her men submissive, her relationships confined to a club environment. Which is why her attraction to former Navy SEAL Maxwell Ackerman doesn't make a lot of sense. There isn't a submissive bone in his muscular body, suggesting her interest in the man is best indulged as a private fantasy.

When a crisis situation reveals different sides of them both, the attraction becomes mutual and undeniable. Janet and Max take the plunge, willing to see if the give-and-take of their unexpected relationship can satisfy their deepest desires. Until ghosts from their past emerge, threatening to destroy the delicate balance of power before their love can find a way to tip the scales.

Genres: BDSM, Erotica, Romance, Erotic Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, M F Romance

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

"BDSM Romance for the Heart & Soul"

A submissive herself, Hill brings authenticity to her intensely emotional BDSM love stories. With over fifty titles and seven series, her contemporary and paranormal romances feature everything from billionaires, bikers, SEALs, firefighters, cops and housemaids, to vampires, mermaids, witches and angels.

"Joey translates the world of BDSM with such intense power and exquisite beauty. LOVE is the most powerful element entwined through the Dominance and submission.” –Goodreads, Pink Lady

Joey is the recipient of the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Erotic Romance, and she loves to hear from her readers!

If you're on Bookbub, she'd love for you to follow her:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/joey-...

You can also find her here:
Website: storywitch.com
Facebook: @JoeyWHillAuthor
MeWe: mewe.com/i/joeywhill
Twitter: @JoeyWHill

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 intriguing stars.*****Review completed May 6, 2013



To those readers who want to flag these gifs: Don't do it coz they've been approved by GR! I have an e-mail to prove it.



What does a hawt hunk and former Navy SEAL have in common with a small-boned Domme and former ballet dancer? Not much you'd think? Wrong.

"Each of us has this sense that we're somehow divinely touched, a chosen person, but the reality is we're no different from any other creature struggling to survive. We try to find moments of peace and contentment, ways to enjoy the life we've been given, because this life is the only sure promise we have. You've given her the very best option she can have, and she has you."

Buddy read with my lovely friends Kels and Glamdring. It was fun--thank you, ladies! <3 *mwah*

Joey W. Hill never fails to amaze me. Willing Sacrifice is another inspiring and beautifully written story and I really, really adore the way she projected BUD/S training and skills of trained Navy SEALs as well as ballet into the world of BDSM. Joey did her homework, for sure. Janet used Max's SEAL training to ease him into the Lifestyle. Whew. It was brilliantly done! In-depth characterization, great plot, wonderful dialogue, a nice dose of fascinating philosophy and enough panty-melting and very hot sex will cater to everybody's kinky heart. I can't tell you how much I love and adore Max! The reserved Southern gentleman is a dream come true. *swoon* By the way, Max's ass is prime. *licks lips*

"So take me to work, and promise me when I'm not around to do it, you'll guard that fine ass of yours."
"Sounds like my fine ass is yours, not mine. Mistress." He spoke the last word against her lips. The way it vibrated through her body told her, amazingly enough, he was going to prove he was more than capable of taking her once more before they headed to work.
In some ways, the man truly was a god. But in some very harrowing ways, he was all too mortal and fragile.

"On a different note," he glanced at her, "a SEAL would make a hell of a Dom or sub, one because they're ambidextrous in a sense--trained to lead and follow. Also because they're machines, the way they process details. As a sub, he'd notice everything about a Mistress; how she feels, what she wants. He's not anticipating, he's actually in the now, watching the details, while another part of his brain is planning how to handle it. When the guy in charge tells you what to do, you stop what you're doing and do it, so he's immediately responsive."

Max and Janet have interesting and painful backgrounds. And while Janet has dealt with her past and came to some kind of closure, she has a tough time opening up to Max. Understandably enough, she is a very private person who is always in control. It needs a lot of will and strength of character to survive what she experienced as a young woman and ballet dancer. Janet has my compassion and admiration. Due to her awful fate, Janet has never been involved with anyone outside a club.

"Damn it, just wait a second. That's not what I meant. Yeah, being a Domme is real for you, but sometimes it's not. I don't want to make you mad by saying that. But earlier tonight, being a Mistress was something you embraced for your own pleasure, your own reasons. I was real. Now you're using it as a wall, hiding that real part of you. One's your true face, the other's a mask. Tell me if I'm wrong, Janet. Tell me."

Max's demons are still very present. A former SEAL, he’s trained in OPSEC (operations security) and is working out religiously every day to keep himself in top-shape to chase the villain who is responsible for his personal misery. This side of Max, however, worries Janet immensely.

Janet has never contemplated a long-term relationship with a man who is not a sub, but she can't help but fall for Max. And she fell hard, so that she could feel it in her heart and soul. Max is the man who grounded her and sent her flying. He has it all. Max is quiet and self-possessed and he exudes confidence as all get out. Also, there is his sense of safety and he commands a strong and very sexy presence from head to toe. In any event, the man is difficult to resist.

He took the stairs slow. Halfway up, she touched his face, guided it toward hers for a kiss. He stopped there, holding her securely, even as he was caught by the power of her simple touch. With every gesture, it seemed as if she gave him everything. He'd had an impression that Dommes withheld a great deal, but inside the world she spun, nothing was further from the truth. She made things in his heart swell up, made him want to say unlikely things to her.

At first Max has a hard time to understand the psychological aspects of BDSM, and in this context I found the yin and yang metaphor very insightful and lovely. Janet really helped Max to get to know the ropes. I was glad that she never humiliated him--at least that's how I saw it. Both of them are very perceptive, and she knew his boundaries. It was a give and take on both counts, a beautiful dance.

"I trust you, Janet. I not only want to prove it, I want you to believe it." His gray eyes held hers. "It's like me going to the ballet class with you. I'm not a dancer, but you included me in it, because it was something important to you, a passion. You didn't leave me on the sidelines as a spectator either. You helped me understand the steps, let me lift you, even knowing I'm not going to be leaping around in tights. The way you brought me into it like that…something in me responded to your love of it. I want to have the experience of sharing this other part of you the same way. I trust you to know what I am and what I'm not."
As she considered that, his fingers curled on her leg. "It's a lot like foreplay," he added. "Women always need more of it than men, but we like what happens to you when we're doing it with you. That gives us an incentive to keep doing it."
Only to a man who understands the rewards of generosity of spirit, she thought.

SEALs use a diving term when they're choosing a familiar underwater object to orient themselves. It's called reset point. Janet is that point for Max, and while Max is not a sub he was willing to make a sacrifice. However, it was not only his sacrifice(s) to offer, because Janet made some as well. In any event, I really believe that Janet not only took, she gave as well. Am I the only one who thinks that Janet and Max have something in common with Marguerite and Tyler? Sure, the similarities are not huge but still. I just can’t help but compare these characters.

Let’s talk about Janet’s “sacrifices”. Granted, the cool woman is not easy to love, but I didn’t see her as selfish. And I didn’t think that she treated Max in a demeaning or humiliating manner.

Max pushed her out of her comfort zone. Until she fell for Max, the BDSM club The Progeny represented this comfort zone to her. She is in her forties and Max was her first relationship since she was in her twenties—I bet it must have been twenty years since her last relationship. What she went through at that time was incredibly traumatizing, and I understood why she couldn’t have a “normal” relationship with another man. Also, I get it why she became a Domme. She is holding the reins, she is in control of anything and everything. She can stay in her comfort zone and she can avoid being really intimate. Let’s face it, playing at The Progeny accommodated her cool aura. Nobody could hurt her. Marguerite, anyone? Though when she started to date Max her control slipped a little bit. He shook her up and her shutting him out was a simple defense mechanism. Before Janet told Max what happened to her, Matt was the only one who knew about her fate. Trusting Max about that part of her life was a gift.

There are scenes when Max dominated her. She put her arms above her head, made herself vulnerable, he told her to come for him. Sex from behind was never an option before she met Max because it was too domineering, she would have been too vulnerable. Janet never played in public with him and he didn’t need to crawl on the floor for her either. I say Max could have backed out anytime but as a former SEAL failure was not an option. Also, Janet really tried to make him comfortable (not only during the play at Progeny). Furthermore, there was no body hair waxing and no silly dress code. After all, he really liked his chest hair but so did Janet. Max didn’t call her Mistress 24/7, and I liked to see him teasing her. Hence, I totally enjoyed his smart-ass remarks or their texts. They didn’t have a severe Dom/sub relationship. I might be wrong but I think their future BDSM lifestyle will take place at The Progeny most of the time. I suppose it won’t be something that will consume their lives 24/7.

The camping trip was another sacrifice. Let me tell you that hell must freeze over before I go on a camping trip. Never. Ever. I freaking hate camping! I need a real bed and plumbing and please no dormitory either. Not even a community shower will do it for me. Nope. It’s testament that Janet isn’t the outdoorsy type when she was wearing sneakers to go on a hike. Who does that? Certainly not moi. Between the age of four and seventeen I did a lot of hiking (mostly in the mountains) and my parents made me wear hiking boots. Sneakers? *snort* My dad would have flogged my ass. Oh well, I’m kidding but one never knows…

And last but not least Janet fell in love with Max.

The only part of Willing Sacrifice that I found a little bit silly was the way Max had been captured by the villains and also how he’d been rescued. Max’s hunger for revenge really ate at him and he got sloppy.
Though I had a hard time swallowing that part of the plot because it didn’t ring true to me. On the other hand, however, I found it believable that Janet was in a state of shock when she shut down and pushed Max out of her life again. I remember a particular scene of Mirror of My Soul when Marguerite saved a little girl when she base jumped from a building. After her incredible deed and her “father’s” death she fell in a catatonic shock.

Max and Janet made me smile. I love Joey's sense of humor.

From the direction of her glance, the way it shifted upward at her own leisurely pace, he had a pretty good idea she'd been studying his ass. He was wearing slacks and the K&A dark embroidered placket shirt, no sports coat over it at the moment. When he lifted a brow, she shrugged.
"That's sexual harassment," he muttered.
Despite the distance, she offered a seductive smile and picked up her pen. "Report me," she mouthed, and gave him a wink.
He grinned all the way back to the parking deck.

"Sorry. Forgot I was dealing with a miracle--a woman happy with her body. Glad we share that opinion."

"I want you to go down on me under the water, Max." She fixed him with her dark gaze. "You get to surface three times. But before you need a fourth time, I expect you to make me come."
He rose from the edge of the pool, shed his jacket. "What kind of dive gear do you want me to wear?"
Her eyes sparkled, appreciating him. "Nothing more than the dolphins wear."
"If I was as well hung as a dolphin, I'd go naked as well."
(…)
"You didn't ask what happens if you don't do it in three times," she said.
"Don't need to. Failure's not an option. (…)
Glancing at the sidebar again, he picked up one of the bottled waters there and leaned across the hot tub to place it on the ledge next to her shoulder. "To hydrate yourself, Mistress. You're going to be losing bodily fluids."

F@ck, she was so in love with the f@cking idiot.
At her look, he lifted a shoulder. "You like keeping men on a short tether. I was just obliging."
She stared at him. Something eased in her stomach, and she shook her head. "Ass."
"Bitch." But the tone of his voice made it a warm caress. He tilted his head toward the split rail fence. "I think this is someone's long-ass driveway. Which means we're trespassing. Want to sit on the fence until they call the cops?"
"Yes. But I don't want to be on the fence with you. Metaphorically."

What I especially love about Willing Sacrifice—and Joey’s stories in general--is the fact that there is always a lot of relationship and character development outside a BSDM club. If I remember correctly there were only three club scenes included in this book--that’s definitely not too much.

Let me be straightforward. Even though I think it wasn’t hardcore BDSM, this book might not suit you if you don’t enjoy FemDom stories.

Overall I think Willing Sacrifice is a beautiful love story about healing, letting go of the past, making concessions and sacrifices. Max and Janet embraced their relationship and became what each other needed. It’s also a story about two people who have more in common than meets the eye at first glance.

"You know her vulnerabilities, her needs, Max. You know the way in. The question is to what lengths you'll go to get there, what sacrifices you'll make. That's what it's always about. The willing sacrifices we make for those we love."

What Max did for Janet is HUGE, for sure. It was against his alpha nature but he did it out of love—a willing sacrifice. Ultimately they surrendered to one another. Max is hers, but Janet was also his.

I'm yours…but I can do this to you, because you're also mine…
That was the message, and it overwhelmed her. With him, she accepted it, didn't resist either side of that coin, and relished both.

A SEAL is always trying to get home. Home is the whole point of it. And Max finally came home. To Janet.

Don't ask, show me. Make me feel how badly you want me. Don't just melt the ice. Turn me into a f@cking tropical ocean.

Warning
Willing Sacrifice contains explicit sex, voyeurism and BDSM elements, i.e. light bondage, toys, spanking, and a blindfold.

[Jx PinkLady Reviews ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Easy 5 Million Stars!



Willing Sacrifice is an erotic BDSM story. It’s also a story overflowing with feeling, deep emotion, intriguing layers, and intelligently developed characters that reach into your heart and take centre stage.

The story is about trust, accepting it, giving it, and looking after it. Ensuring you hold it safe in your hands and trusting another person to do the same, understand needs and limits. It's about the willing sacrifices we make to ultimately earn unwavering trust.

I highlighted so much whilst reading, I literally couldn't stop which is a testament to the beautiful, lyrical and meaningful quality of the writing.... Let me share with you the brilliance of Willing Sacrifice and the characters who’ve captured my love The FORMIDABLE Janet Albright and the GENTLEMANLY, ex Navy Seal Max Ackerman

Through employment and history they're both part of the K&A family.

Janet is an attractive middle-aged woman, Matt’s cool-terrifying-to-many administrative assistant. She’s a sexual dominant who likes her men submissive. She has a shocking past, one that took her years to recover from and, as a result, she has no desire to have a relationship that has the potential to unsettle the status quo of her life. She's happy playing out her sexual fantasies and desires in her favourite playground, Club Progeny.



Max, what can I say about yummy, sexy, could-make-your-knickers-catch-fire Max? Joey says it best, "…he was pure sex.” True Story



He has a strong moral code and keeps his body in perfect shape, all a result of his past life as a Navy Seal. He's powerful and strong and simply put, wonderful. He's ALL MAN! There's “…a silent core to Max, seemingly impenetrable,” which makes him seem a little mysterious and oh so interesting. He has his own horrific past, one that, when it's delved into, made me weep.... Seriously, it's desperate, but he's dealing with it and ends up facing it head on in this story.

On paper Janet and Max do not seem completely compatible, but over the course of the K&A dynasty they have gotten to know each other, something is drawing them together.... What will be the result? Does Max have the potential to bend to her dominatrix will? As we know from the K&A women, just because someone submits does NOT mean they aren't strong.

Willing Sacrifice is sexy and intensely erotic.

I could feel the heat radiating between this couple. I love how he notices and remembers details about her. Max mentally and physically sweeps her off her feet with his words and his power. He’s sensual, passionate, masterful, and considerate. There were times when Max’s words and actions literally took my breath away and that’s all down to the crazy good writing of Joey Hill. Max will be many woman’s fantasy of their perfect man. The burning question is can he be the man to please Janet?

Joey Hill has given us an intriguing world in the Knight's of the Board Room series. A world with inspiring, strong male and female characters who have insightful thoughts and powerful ties and relationships laced throughout this multi-layered story.

The author bombards our senses with her beautiful words, drawing us into the fictional BDSM world and her characters. They caress your senses, envelop your mind. I cannot praise enough the lyrical writing that breathes emotion into your heart and soul, painting vibrant pictures with creative descriptions. There first kiss was wow, scorching! Her descriptions and metaphors are stunningly beautiful.

In essence, I adore this story.
The prologue is wonderful and made me want to jump into Matt and Savannah's story.... Very soon, I'm thinking. That's the power of Joey Hill. She always leaves me wanting more of her sublime writing.


**Note** Each Knights of the Board Room story can be read as a standalone. I was recommended to read Hostile Takeover before Willing Sacrifice. That was great advice and I'd recommend everyone to do the same.


BR with lots of lovely ladies, I loved sharing with you girls xxx

Guest review for the SubClub

[Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 "Amazingly Beautiful" Stars



Connections, bonds, fate.....The story is about two people that have a connection to one another, have a bond thru their employer and are fated, possibly to one another if they can fully trust.

Janet Albright, Matt Kensington's terrifying admin, is a force to be reckoned with at work and adding to the mix she is a Domme. Max Ackerman, former Navy Seal, is in charge of management of the KA fleet. Six months ago, they had both helped saved the lives of Matt's wife and unborn child. For 6 months each had thought of the other and then Janet decides it's time....



They each a tragic past- filled with heartache and secrets. Each " Willingly Sacrificing" themselves. Their story has intrigue, passion, heartache, hope, fear, and incredibly erotic love scenes In the club, in the bed of the truck, in the dance studio, pizza, the trail...it goes one and on....


Max is not a submissive....He wasn't a Dominant. He was simply...overwhelming. Different. Unclassifiable. But for Janet he is open to new ideas. SEALS could both lead and follow, adapting to changes as needed.

Janet is a dominant....She was a woman who enjoyed control over a man, and could make him enjoy it as well, even if it wasn't necessarily a part of his nature.

The story of Janet and Max and their awakening to each other is told as beautifully as you can imagine in a love story. There are some intense BDSM scenes but once again, how they are written is extraordinary. Max and Janet each have qualities that the other needs and wants. Qualities that they are able to draw out of one another. Their secrets, as they share them with one another, are heartbreaking and inspiring. Can Max and Janet learn to trust one another and truly come together? Their journey is phenomenally sexy!!


""Mine," he muttered. "My Mistress"

All the KA men and woman make appearances as well as Dale (he's from Unrestrained). They truly are a family. They look out for one another and deeply love and care for one another. They come together when a crises occurs and the whole time I was on pins and needles with the outcome. The entire story from start to finish was outstanding!!

I will say that I read Hostile Takeover (book 5) first and them followed with Willing Sacrifice. I will say that I will most definitely go back and read about the rest of the board members- I have become invested in the family and want to know all I can about all of them.

I have to take my hat off to Joey W. Hill.

You are such an incredible writer. Your words glide off the page and let me feel every emotion, good, bad, happy and sad. They are poetic, lyrical and truly moving.

Wonderful BR with ladies who ALL love Ben and now Max as well ♥♥

[Glamdring · Rating 2 out of 5]

Buddy read with Baba & Kelly <3


"If you figure out how to put a collar and leash on me, Mistress, I’d rather you chock me with it than take it off.”

"He wasn’t sure if it was the right play, but that was the deal. Certain things couldn’t be a game for him at all, honest or not."

With the prologue, the book started with a 4 stars feel. Then it slided to a 3 stars, but still with the potential to become a 4. When I reached the half or so, the story started to piss me off so much that it dropped to a 2 stars (the 2 stars were for Max).

But then this happened: “I’m down at Progeny, Janet. Max has signed up for a session with Mistress Sue. I called up the form he submitted on himself for Dom review. He’s representing himself as a Level Ten. No holds barred on pain, no limits in terms of being shared with other Doms or subs. Male or female.” [...] “And you know no one can stretch a Level Ten like Sue. She’ll break him down like a set of Legos.”

Then “She didn’t want to leave her solitude, the comfort of her nest. [...] She’d wasted five more minutes debating on whether she was going to get out of the car.” ?!?!

If I wasn’t already 95% through the book at that point it would have been my first DNF.

I’m giving it two stars because of Max and also because the last scene could have been so much worse. But fortunately Janet saw the light. Just like that, after being a manipulative stone-cold selfish bitch all through the book, she suddenly had an epiphany.

It’s been a very long long time since a book made me so angry.

I love reading romance mostly because of the relationships between the heroes and the emotions that go with it. In a healthy relationship there is give and take from both parts (not just on the sexual level). Janet and Max relationship was so unbalanced it was plain wrong.

I usually don’t like it when the heroines are Domme, I can’t explain why but to the exception of one book, each time I have to read a scene when the heroine is on “Domme” mode I can’t help but roll my eyes. But here the hero isn’t a sub, so I was curious to see how the relationship will unfold and evolve. Also, I knew Max from the previous books and he’s a character I already liked a lot.

"That had been the goal with every woman he'd ever had beneath him. Giving them both what they wanted. At least for that one moment."

"Come for me, baby" he murmured into her ear. "You're driving me fucking crazy. Trust me with it."

As the title announces it, in such a relationship compromises can’t be skipped and giving the cover of the book I hoped that the “willing sacrifice” would go both ways. But no. All the “willing as well as debatably willing sacrificeS” were from Max’s side.

Debatably willing because there is a huge difference between doing something willingly and being “forced” to do something. All the times, in the book where Max indulged in Janet Domme’s demands, he was acting willingly. But when Max who definitely isn’t a sub and a pretty private man put himself in the hands of a sadistic mistress who will ultimately very publicly “done everything to debase and humiliate him.” This is no willing act but the desperate behavior of a man who wrongly believes he deserves to be punished and because he also hopes that this will make Janet react. And why does he believe he deserves that and chose that particular kind of punishment? Because of Janet’s stone-cold bitch selfish behavior. And then, what does she think? “No one but his Mistress had the right to do that.” Someone kill me!!!

All the book is about what Janet needs, what Janet wants and when and how she gets it. She knows without a doubt that Max isn’t a sub, but does that knowledge stop her? Make her wants to alter her routine? Consider other ways? No. She wants him but on her own terms.

“You’re no one’s boy toy, Max.” Dale gave him a serious look. “Are you trying to convince yourself you are, just to get what’s behind her whip and boots? That doesn’t work.”
“You can’t see me in collar and leash?” Max asked, arching a brow.
Dale Snorted. “Yeah right. Sorry, man. I had to ask. There are a few mistresses out there who are convinced every guy wants to be Dominated, and if a guy says he doesn’t, he just hasn’t met the right Domme to do it. That’s not the case, any more than every woman I meet wants to be my sex slave, more’s the pity. However, those kinds of Mistresses can be pretty convincing, especially when her target is thinking with his dick. Which, admit it, happens to the best of us.”

Janet uses his SEALs training practice and his willingness to please her to have Max play the sub for her. Always up to a challenge, Max obliges her and never complains, even when one time after he gave her 3 orgasms she left him with blue balls for a week. Fortunately, he also uses those moments to indulge himself in any way Janet allows him. Because even in those moment where he is sexually in charge it’s because she allows it and on her own terms. Max is simply too much a gentleman and a man of honor to not stop if she demands it what ever it costs him and she knows it (the blue balls are a good proof of it).

"He was restraining himself. Catering to her needs, her wishes. Her nature. Yet she could feel the power and response building in him, stoked by her actions. Eventually, it would be too much. He'd tear loose of his self-imposed control and sweep them both away.
It was an unspoken give-and-take, and intuitive power exchange so erotic because of the lack of defined boundaries and words, its unpredictability. She felt as free as a wild animal in truth. She could desire and demand anything from Max. He was strong enough to handle it, and her, and still make her feel safe. At least in this moment."

“When she had a brain to think about it, she would be considering this carefully, but she had to give him his due. He’d said she wouldn’t be able to think much, and he was delivering on that promise.”

The only concession she does in the book is to have intercourse (with penetration) with him -but then she can’t help it- and invite him at her house. And when he manages to have her talk about her past she slams him out right after. For weeks.

When she contacts him after weeks of shut down, Max offers her a séance at the Progeny. She knows that he isn’t a sub, that it’s an out of love gesture to show her that he accepts her as she is.

“I trust you, Janet. I not only want to prove it, I want you to believe it.” “[...] I trust you to know what I am and what I’m not.”

"He'd seen the things Janet did with her subs, and he was starting to think he was crazy, imagining himself in similar positions. One night, she'd led a poor bastard around the club on hands and knees. He'd been buck-naked, except for a cage-like think around his cock. What if any of the K&A men were there? He cut the vision of Matt seeing his limo driver being led around by a cock leash right out of his head, because the mere thought would make Max break out in hives. It would probably make Matt break out in hives as well.
He hadn't thought about any of that when he offered this.[...]
Except it hadn't been his cock leading him, but his heart."

But not only she accepts it but she goes for almost everything Dana told her not to do (including sensory deprivation) and icing on the cake: without safe word! Not respecting his nature or what he is (or is not, for that matter) just wanting to assuage her selfish needs. Counting on his “brave, alpha, all-guts-and-balls side of you to take your punishment like a man”. And she “worked him too hard, too relentlessly, for a little macho hang-up like his concerns about sexual orientation to get in the way.” “She’d wanted him to lose focus, to see if he could trust her that much, if she could overcome bone-deep training. Arrogance on her part, an unreasonable demand, but it was a female thing she wouldn’t deny herself.”

Then she tells him: “I can hold control over others, and I don’t cause harm. I don’t take without giving back in equal or greater measure.” and I almost chocked on my tea but fortunately this follows : “I’m self-aware enough to know that might be a coping mechanism rather than truth, but if you can find an illusion to bring balance to your reality, it makes every day possible, manageable. Right?” At least she isn’t totally deluded.

And when Max invites her for camping, what is her reaction? “Yes, she’d completely lost her mind. Camping. Showing the depths of her insanity,...” Really?! I’m telling you, this woman isn’t for real! She pushes Max’s limits every way she can and in a very hard way, but he invites her to go camping for a week-end and she is overwhelmed. And not because of some strong phobia but only because she won’t have indoor plumbing and the comfort she’s used to!

Even at the end, when Max life was at risk and it was a moment where he at last could let go of part of his demons, Janet (for who witnessing violence wasn’t something new, since in the past she had killed a man and butchered him post-mortem) had to have a breakdown and bring everything to her then brutaly slams him out. Again. And what did Max do? He assumed the responsibility for her reactions as well as the others decision to come to his help.

Honestly, at this point, Max too started to piss me off, because he is too much a gentleman for his own good. If he had had the barest jerkish tendencies, maybe the unbalance in the relationship wouldn’t have been so big and I think I would have enjoyed the book better. And I have to say that the way he was caught and then in need of a rescue also made me roll my eyes and I expected better from Joey W. Hill than that kind of cheap about-face.

Another thing I didn’t like in this book is the kind of parallel that was made between the SEALs training practice and the BDSM practice. For me there are worlds, to say the least, between being able to lead or follow the lead of a person you know because you shared repeated harrowing training in particularly difficult conditions and surrendering power to a sexual partner you don't really know.

To end this review on a positive note, I'd like to add that I enjoyed the participation of the K&A men and Dana who is really the shit as well as the epilogue.

"I was trained to be the best of the best, but it means nothing if I’m not there at the critical moment I’m needed."

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Max Deserves a Million Stars

This is the first book I have ever read where the female was the Domme, and I wasn’t sure how I would like that since I love my strong male alphas.




Well, I shouldn’t have had any doubts because Joey Hil’s writing is outstanding, beautiful and heartfelt. I can’t imagine reading anything she writes and not loving it.


Yeah, this is me finishing her books...

Okay, I am going to take a break from fangirling to explain a few things about the story. While Max is a submissive for Janet he isn’t a sub by nature, he is pure alpha. I did struggle to understand that, but it was just a part of his sacrifice and love for Janet.

"That’s what it’s always about. The willing sacrifices we make for those we love.”



Swoon ladies…a man who will lay it all out to give the woman he loves what she needs. Max completely stole the show for me, I completely adore him.

Willing Sacrfice, so perfectly titled, is a story about two imperfect people finding their perfect love in each other. Their love is sacrificial in an outside of the bedroom.



A lot of time people look at these types of stories and think they are pure smut, and I won’t lie I love smut. However, this story is about so much more. Joey does an outstanding job of developing the characters and their relationships. So for my fellow smut lovers…yes there is smoking hot sex, but there is also a story of sacrifice and love.

I had a wonderful time buddy reading with my girls Jxxx, Deanna, Irene, and Bernice!

[S.M. West · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MILLION STARS ARE NOT ENOUGH

"What happened when two sides surrendered everything to one another, when the love becomes more important that anything else?'

I needed a moment to pick myself up off the floor and gather the pieces before writing this review. This was recommended by Irene - Thank you !! -- I was truly moved. To say it's an original, captivatingly beautiful erotic BDSM story would be accurate and also pale in fully conveying the depth of emotion and beauty captured by Ms. Hill's words.



Max is an ex-SEAL and now the head driver at K&A, and Janet is an ex-dancer and now the merciless admin assistant of K&A (aka Satan's Mistress). These two are strong, disciplined and have dark, haunting pasts.



Ms. Hill tells their story as a beautifully choreographed dance or flawlessly executed tactical maneuver that not only demonstrates the never ending give and take between Max and Janet as they grow to trust and love one another but, her prose also educates you on ballet, being a Navy SEAL, and the D/s relationship in an utterly fascinating fashion.

"Love could be fragile, yet once it passed the "all clear" sign, it becomes one of the strongest things on earth."



Max is definitely among my Top Five Book Boyfriends! Max is "a woman's deepest fantasy" as he is the ultimate protective, Alpha male yet the lengths that he goes to, to sacrifice his own needs/comforts for Janet were absolutely beautiful and heart wrenching. The man is IT!!



If you are looking for an erotic BDSM story with a truly unique twist that will make you swoon, having you crying, laughing, steaming mad and changing your panties...then you MUST read this!



I LOVED this story. It was truly AMAZING! I will be reading more Joey Hill and more of the KOTB!!

[~IreneOust~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My initial reaction when I first found out that there will be another book in the KOTB series was something along these lines:

WHAT?????? KOTB book #6???? F*CKING A!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, Joey!!!



... finally finished the book last night and needed a few hours to gather my thoughts ...

Here goes:

First, let me be completely honest and say that I did NOT think I was going to enjoy the Domme thing. Call me old fashioned but I like it when the man does all the spanking, so to speak. I guess I am eating my words now because I absolutely adored Janet being in charge. I wish I could say I liked learning the reason behind her need to want to be in charge but it made for a beautiful story of two broken souls coming together and [hopefully] being able to help each other heal in the process.

Second, Max is an absolute PERFECTION! I can't believe I am going to say this but I never thought I'd like anyone better than Ben (of Hostile Takeover), however, Max is slowly [but surely] stealing my heart! I thought it was beyond sweet when he, NOT a submissive in ANY way, shape or form, was willing to let Janet be whatever she needed to be with him! The way he was willing to accommodate her needs was so touching because she always came first (in more ways than one ;) ).

The chemistry between those two was fantastic!

I broke down a few times especially when Max and Janet went to visit Amanda and was NOT a happy camper (no pun!) when Janet shut Max out after the Dino ordeal. I understand it was difficult for her to almost have to relive the nightmare so similar to her past but I thought it was a bit harsh and completely unjustified.

I absolutely loved seeing the whole gang make an appearance!

One of my favorite scenes is Max confronting Ben for being a douche to Janet. Talk about "hang onto our panties, ladies" moment!!

Matt is patriarch personified! The scene where Max comes to give his resignation letter????) showed Matt as both, a tender person and a guy who wouldn't hesistate to crush you like a bug in order to protect someone he loves and cares for.

I didn't think Joey would be able to top Hostile Takeover but this book came pretty damn close! The sizzle factor, the story and H/h duo are pure perfection!

A must read for any KOTB fan!


5 STARS + a place on my FAVORITES shelf!

[TeriLyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Love is a Sacrifice Stars

In my humble opinion, there are few people who can write a very emotionally deep love story through a D/s relationship or kinky relationship to perfection. Joey W. Hill most definitely falls into the select few authors who pull this off not only beautifully but genuinely to the point that her elegant prose and descriptive passages make you feel every emotion right along with her characters. Her writing classifies under some of the best in the erotic genre. There are always components to Ms. Hill’s stories that I don’t understand at first but she makes me understand or makes intrigued enough to learn more about what her characters are accomplishing with each other.

Willing Sacrifice provides a great example of Ms. Hill’s flawlessly executed love stories of the non-vanilla variety. Reading through a couple of the first scenes in this story I wasn’t immediately drawn to Janet and Max’s story until one such tender exchange of power happened to make really grasp and understand the connection between these two.

Without going into much detail, because their histories are complex enough you need to read to understand, Max and Janet have dark pasts forcing them to erect walls of fortitude against others who may want to get close. The protection they feel towards those loyal to them is astounding. The strength each of them exhibits is admirable. Together they are this charismatic, electrically charged stick of dynamite just waiting to explode. Max is an ex-SEAL and the incorporation of his training into Janet’s sessions with him is just phenomenal. Juxtaposing these two ventures against each other to help not only Max but the reader understand is great storytelling. Janet is the hardnosed assistant to Matt Kensington: sharp, focused, intent, and scathing – a formidable ally for K&A men. The softening of her heart when it comes to Max satisfies to the nth degree.

Mixed into all of this progressive character development is the psychology of a D/s relationship both in public and private. If you’re into reading BDSM or books with a kinky flair, Joey W. Hill gives you everything you need. The woman fascinates me. The implicit trust this type of relationship requires is critical to its success – the innate trust her characters feel towards one another gives them the trust required to entertain the sexual dynamic they both ultimately crave. The conveyance of such acts by Ms. Hill through the trust, the bond, the patience, the understanding and the intimacy of her characters are why her BDSM stories work and why as the reader you feel those connections deep.

This story, Willing Sacrifice, is another exemplary example of the type of love story this author writes to continually dazzle her readers. Max and Janet found something special to atone for their pasts, to help live with the dark. Through this relationship, readers through the discovery from the characters remember the sacrifices it takes to be in love, to stay in love, to feel and want and need that soul deep connection your lover can evoke from you. Nothing is one-sided and the beauty of watching both Max and Janet willingly make sacrifices for each other totally moved me. Over and over again. As readers, we’re fortunate we get to experience that extraordinary gift right along with them. If you like erotic love stories don’t pass on Willing Sacrifice. Joey W. Hill made a believer out of me – I’m certain she can do the same for you.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, FIRST, I just want to say that I want Max; I mean I REALLY REALLY WANT MAX!!! but alas, Janet is the only one for him, so I am going to crawl into a corner and cry my eyes out.

Now that I`ve said my little piece, let`s get on with my non-review ;D

As far as I know, this is the last book in the Knights of the Board Room series and I am very sad to see it's the end!

I won't go into detail as to what the book is about as the synopsis tells it all. I also don't want to bore you with a play by play cause if you've read a story from this author, then you don't need me to convince you to read it.

My intro to JWH was thru a GR friend who seems to have accumulated a crap load of book husbands ;D BUT ...... she sure knows how to pick her leading men ;D (Love you Irene ;p )

I started this series with book 5 (Hostile Takeover) only because this is where one of the infamous hubbies lives.

After reading that book, the bar was set pretty high, so instead of continuing onto this book, I went back to the first one (Board Resolution) to see where it all started.

Now I know I haven't read them all yet, but let it be said now that this series has one of the best all-star casts I have EVER read!

This next comment may seem a little over the top, but I wanted to focus more on my emotions and feelings while reading this story.

So my question is, have you ever had an out-of-body experience; like when you can feel yourself spiritually just hovering around?
Well that is exactly how I felt while reading Max & Janet's story.

The feelings and emotions that Joey can envoke from me is astounding, I mean as I try to write this review, I can't stop my eyes from tearing up.

There was a softer tone with Max & Janet's story but at the same time, there is an obvious connection between the two of them that goes way beyond deep.

I guess I can only describe this story with one word; BEAUTIFUL, and it's a simple word, but to me, it conveys more than enough.


One scene that sticks with me is a conversation Max has with Matt:

`You know her vulnerabilities, her needs, Max.
You know the way in, the question is to what lengths you`ll
go to get there, what sacrifices you`ll make.
That`s what it`s always about.
The willing sacrificies we make for those we love.`

Well, that`s my non-review. I am a forever fan of Joey W Hill and I will definitely re-read the Knights of the Board Room series cause it`s that freakin wonderful!!!!!

She has so many other books out there and I have no idea when I`ll tackle them all, maybe I`ll quit my job so I can stay home and live in the worlds that she has created ;p

[Starr (AKA Starrfish) Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm finally going to give one of this author's books 5 stars. It's 4.5 rounded up, but, I'll be generous.

First of all, I have to give credit to her writing style. She delves deep into the psyche and push and pull between MCs in an intense, passionate, and psychologically engaging way. Not a lot of authors do that. An entire chapter could go by with nothing really happening. Just the interactions between the MCs. A deeply explored look here, a meaningful exchange there... And yet, you don't feel like the pace is crawling, because you're engaged in the relationship.



Now, not all of her books and character relationships are like that. The first book of hers that I read Natural Law I enjoyed more for the titillation of some the more extreme BDSM scenes. The relationship between Mac and Violet... meh. I didn't really feel it.



Then one of her other books, At Her Service went way too deep on the psychology side, not enough on the romance and sex. And another of her books At Her Pleasure I didn't feel enough emotional connection, felt the "reasons" for the plot and relationship between the MCs was too weak.

Point is, there's something great about this author's writing, and clearly she only writes about the BDSM world. And maybe someone who related more to that world would love all of her books, but as someone who is reading not for any genre but for the emotions and romance, I need there to be BALANCE.



And this book gets 4.5 rounded to 5 stars because of that balance. It wasn't so much a dom-sub relationship as a relationship between a strong woman and a strong man. They've both had trauma, as pretty much all of this author's books do. Janet might deal with her as a Domme, but a "light" one. And because Max loves her, wants to please her, he "submits" to her will in some ways, but maintains his own. They're not always trying to figure out the power dynamic as in some of this author's other books. They're just trying to figure out each other.

Learn and love each other.

I give it 4.5 bc I'm not a fan, even in these types of books, of other people getting involved in intimate situations. I can understand how Max tried to punish himself in the end, but he should have known (just like he should have known when he pursued vengeance) that it would infuriate and hurt Janet. And beyond possessiveness, she would have been hurt because he was hurting himself. Hurting what's HERS.



So I don't like that he did that. Didn't paint him as very smart at all. It got the reaction that brought them together, but I don't think it needed to be like that. There were better ways to stay true to the story and to his LEARNING.

I also mentioned in the status update that I didn't like when Rita came into the picture at one point, however small her role. It doesn't take 2 people to do what Janet wanted done!

So I feel like these multi-ppl scenes are more for titilation than truly necessary for the plot. I don't like that.



Why I still give this rounded up 5 stars is because it made me have an epiphany of sorts about another author, my beloved Aja James. I said in a different review that these books made me rethink the Pure/Dark Ones and Dragon Tails books. There are dom-sub elements in those. In her later books, there was more "kinky" sex, and by that I mean the man's prostate gets action.



Some readers, I noticed, don't like the "kink" even while loving the story. I certainly never even encountered "kink" til I started reading these kinds of books! Was it only last year or the one before that I read my first MM book? How the time flies!

But people - why is it "kinky" to love a man's ass? His most important erogenous zone is in there! Now that I know about it (😉) I'm hankering to try it out myself on the next willing guy that crosses my romantic path.







I feel like only guys who aren't entirely confident in their own bodies or totally in tune with their sexual nature would have hang ups about their prostate. And same goes for the women who feel the same.

But I digress.

I now have a different - better- appreciation of Aja James' works. Seeing them in an entirely different way. And I love it! This is what reading is supposed to do, right? Inspire you. Make you think. I love that different authors' works have given me different and collective revelations.

It's a good day :)

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

What happens when the man you are interested in is not only vanilla but not a submissive? In the latest Knights of the Boardroom (KoTB) story, we are treated to a femdom book with the perfect executive assistant Janet Albright mixing it up with a former Navy SEAL Maxwell Ackerman. Max is the limo driver for the KoTB. He's hot and very good at his job.

This story explores something which seems to occur more and more often. One person in the relationship is vanilla and the other is not. This is a difficult situation where my advice would be no different than Max's buddy, Dale. Max asked Dale. "So, sight unseen, and given there are a lot of variables, does it ever work, if it’s in the blood of one, but not the other?”

Dale considered the question. “I’ve seen it happen, yes. But it’s different for every pair and—I won’t lie to you—often it’s only a short-term success. Some crash and burn when they approach it for the long haul, because if she eventually needs you to go deep, and you can’t do that, that might be a problem. Unless her reasons for going deep are mixed with other factors, things you can satisfy without that dive. This isn’t a linear thing. It’s more like a maze, and we all find different paths. You’ll be able to find the answer for yourself, good or bad. Just keep all your senses open and follow your instincts. What do they tell you about your chances with her?”

It's not easy to be in a relationship when desires are so different. To top it off, the vanilla man is supposed to be the submissive. Talk about hurdles to overcome! And in the end of this story, I'm not so sure this will be a long term success.

I found the one step forward and several steps back of Janet and Max's relationship to be pretty accurate to real life. While this story is written very well and realistic, I have to say that at times I'm ill at ease because of Janet's responses and behaviour towards Max. There are no perfect people in this story. Ms. Hill does a very good job of show people at their worst with their flaws out in the open. There were many times Janet's decision made me want to slap her upside the head. She's very selfish at times and quite self-centered. It's Max who is the constant whipping boy.

Max won the story over for me. He's not a exactly a sexual submissive, but he can definitely bottom. It's hard to watch because Max is not aroused nor really receiving anything that seems to be rewarding for him when he engages in a scene with Janet. However, he loves Janet so he sacrifices a bit of himself over and over again. This is what caused me to feel ill at ease at times and sad for Max. Plus, Janet comes across as a service Top who isn't interested in Domming. She's called an Ice Bitch for a reason.

While navigating through this relationship minefield, there are other unresolved issues from their past. And their past is brutally painful. It's a nightmare come to life. What's worse is it doesn't seem they have moved on. In some senses, both Janet and Max are held hostages by the events of their past. It's not that they are victims, but more that they didn't actually seem to come out of it as survivors. They are living a half life. One foot is still being sucked into a pit of despair from the past while the other foot is desperately looking for solid ground into the future. This makes their current situation at a stand still or better yet - a stagnant holding pattern.

The fall out of the past coming up again and tossing them across the room is a bit extreme. The way his friends and support group failed Max is what confuses me most. Why everyone rallied around only the women just baffled me. My sympathies would have been more with Max. He's the one who was psychologically and physically tortured. Still, Ms. Hill somehow manages to resolve this conflict into a happily for now. Hopefully another story will bring about a happier ending. This kinky story is recommended for femdom lovers who love the angst.

*Provided by BDSM Book Reviews*

[~Stéphanie~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE IT!!!! I'm so in love with Max right now ♥



Review to come ^^

[MandaLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this!! Max and Janet may be my fav couple in this series. The balance these two had to manage in order to love each other but not lose themselves IN each other kept me locked in this book. Janet is a Domme but Max is no sub. Their journey was something I think was worth the read:)) And re read I know I will do w/this book lol.

No "sharing" in this book. In fact it's only happened in a couple I think. These books aren't about "group sex" IMO. For me these books are about so much more than the physical part of a relationship.
Very few write about D/s or M/s better than Hill IMO...Enjoy!!!

[Stephanie* · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 OUTSTANDING STARS ☆☆☆☆☆

What a change of pace for me this book was. I have to say i usually read books with very alpha male doms in. This was the total opposite, where the Domme took charge.

With that in mind I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much I did, but i have to say, this book made me, smile, laugh, cry and just plain made me HAPPY, and here's why.

Janet aka Mistress, had such a sad back story and my heart bled for her. She over came odds that many wouldn't, and the way Joey wrote her was genius. I truly LOVED Janet/Mistress, she was a force to be reconned with.

In walk......

Max aka Sailor, (Gentle, Loving, Giant)... SWOON, SWOON, SWOON, SWOON.

I know I fell in love with Ben in HT but Max?, Max I fell a little harder, like head over heels harder. He was EVERYTHING to me in this book. Joey wrote him in such a way I think I'm ruined
for other male characters in the future. He was charming, sweet, protective, funny, self sacrificing and I'm only naming a few of his attributes.



Janet and Max overcome so much pain and loss, to find passion and love together.

Speaking of passion WS had passion in the bucket loads. 36% in dear lord!, that will stay with me forever......37% that scene?, if only I could view it.

I'm so glad I was introduced to the Knights of the Boardroom, because I'm definitely going to be reading them all.

Beautifully written, what a talented author.

[karinova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet another F/m bait-and-switch. This guy isn’t submissive— but we knew that from the blurb. Thing is, despite what he, she, and the narrator keep saying, he also isn’t not dominant. His behavior is kind of bugging the shit out of me, and it’s actually worse that he has these fleeting moments of almost-subby, because they never happen more than three sentences from him being most-definitely-unwelcomely-dommy. It’s frustrating and frankly annoying.

I really dislike the whole “my romantic style is to challenge and antagonize you, constantly” trope in general, and it’s especially unwelcome in an F/m setting. And omg, every other thing out of hero’s mouth seems to be a command or “I want” or both. I want this, I want that. I want, I want, I want. I don’t get why she’d find that attractive. Or even acceptable. At some point I just made the executive decision that hero is a dominant in order to make their interactions make sense. Of course, that’s not the book I wanted to read. It’s not the book I was promised. Yet AGAIN.

Didn’t like how hero seemed to think of the heroine as some kind of experiment/exhibit/whim, like “hmm I wonder what this is like.” He’s just going to try this F/m thing out, cuz curious. Problem, this little meaningless taste-test involves another person and their body/emotions. The whole thing's just unsavory. And I lost absolutely all affection for him when they have their first scene-y moment, which goes as follows:
She blindfolds him and has him dress her in clothes she's laid out (nice one!). He starts doing it… and then up and starts tying her wrists with her nylons. Um, wtf?? She’s totally not into it an says, “No.” Flat out. In his head, he recalls that she never ties her subs, and considers that maybe she’s got some Sensitive Issues re: bondage… and decides to ignore her no and continue tying her. UM?!?! She protests again, palpably upset. He won’t hear it. She caves. Me: wtfno to all of this.
FTR he keeps it brief and unties her shortly, and they continue the session as normal. But that’s way too little, too late, because there are sooo many nopes there. Let’s see…
  1) A mid-scene renegotiation their first time out? Red flag, sister. Red flag!!
  2) His anger/annoyance, however momentary, at her no? And then to reject it?? The hell?
    a) that’s just a general red flag, no matter where you are.
    b) this is a scene. You know how it works. You agreed to that.
  3) his ridiculous false equivalency is ridiculous. He’s all peevish because the way he sees it, she should be totes cool with surprise bondage because he was cool with being blindfolded. Which is total self-serving manipulative nonsense. First of all, limits are a thing. There’s a right way and a wrong way, and he chose the 100% wrong way, so he doesn’t get to be all techy. He should be apologizing profusely, not acting all put out. Second, this is idiot logic. He’s been blindfolded many times before (in SEAL training), has no strong feelings about it, agreed to it in advance, and is in a room with a person who would have difficulty taking advantage of his vulnerability not least because she’s half his size. Whereas, heroine never agreed to be bound, obviously has strong negative feelings about it, and is in a room with an armed Navy SEAL who’s already demonstrated he has trouble sticking to agreements. Those things are not equivalent. Red flag, y’all. Just, red flags everywhere.

As for her, she’s clearly shaping up to be yet another fdom that isn’t. Just to make the bait-n-switch complete, I guess. It’s all the usual “dominant” heroine underminers/stereotypes: She’s a dom for somewhat unhealthy reasons. She maintains emotional distance with all men— aka, denies herself emotional connection. She’s sexually prepossessed, but oh no wait, actually, she’s deeply unsatisfied; she just can’t figure it out, y’all! She’s a Domme Dammit!!!… who actually sorta really likes being dominated by hero, both overtly and subtly. What a surprise She mentally fawns over the masterly masterfulness of her mdom boss, but doesn’t seem to notice or mind that he treats her an awful lot like a sub (the condescension is strong with that one). She melts whenever hero calls her Mistress, but doesn’t notice that it’s never sincere (which is hard to miss in a sentence like, “Kiss me, Mistress.” Excuse me?? Can a sister get a “please” up in here? How hard is this?) She’s internal almost to the point of navel-gazing, yet not very self-aware. In short, I’ve read this character a million times and honestly I just can’t.

Sigh. To be fair, he writing is as usual for JWH (which is to say, quite good— the woman can drop some prose), but I just can’t do another 250 pages of this. I see the two locomotives on the same track. I don’t need to stick around for the wreck. DNF.

Bitterly disappointing.

[Carole-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, OMG, OMG: if one could offer 5* for the PROLOGUE alone, this would be first in every list!! The latest in the Knights of the Board Room series DOES NOT fail in any way. I know I'm not alone in wanting to know what could/would happen between Janet (Matt's exceptional Private Secretary) and Max (the Head of Security, and main limo driver); and this is everything anyone could wish for!!

We've been tempted, intrigued, relentlessly unsatisfied, with wanting to know details (details, details!!) about Janet and Max; and Ms Hill has not left us wanting! There's always been (in the previous five stories) little hints about Janet's and Max's hidden secrets; not to mention that Janet gives the impression of a very serious Domme, and Max as an extreme alpha male with Dominant tendancies.

The story is revealing: Janet's dark and disturbing history; and Max's background as a Navy SEAL (and all that implies). Their flowering relationship is fraught with hesitations, dark history, and tentative steps in allowing a relationship in the first place. Ms Hill draws us in, gently, unquestionably, inexorably, as is her want in writing this kind of romance. It's heartbreaking; gut-wrenching; panicky; tear-filled; and predictably totally and utterly intense!

The title of the book says it all; and I'm not going to elucidate any further. Read, revel, and enjoy! A completely successful, moving story. Thank you Ms Hill!

ETA: Another re-read @ 14 Feb 14 still left me elated :)

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It really pains me to say it but this is another story of Ms Hill's that I didn't really enjoy.....Although I do love JWH I do find that I absolutely adore her books and others I wish I had left alone and this is one that I shouldn't have read! I had already skipped Ben's story Hostile Takeover as I knew that I would hate it and abandon it which I hate doing, so was really looking forward to reading Max's story :((

My first instinct was to rate this with 1 star but there is nothing wrong with the style of writing and Ms Hill really does dig deep into her characters - the problem I had was the story content so I decided on 2 stars instead.

Note to self - Stick to reading about Alpha Males (maybe with small Beta tendancies) and strictly stay away from Domme stories!!

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by this one. I admit I didn't fully read the blurb, I knew it was about Max, the head driver for K&A, but that was it. I figured it would probably be a let down since it wasn't one of the knights but he's been a secondary & intriguing character for the past few books. So I start reading it & almost immediately come across Janet's name… Janet the super scary, hyper efficient admin of Matt Kensington who has Domme written all over her & my reaction went a little something like, 'WHOA, Hold UP! Uhhhh... Max ain't a sub.' Never fear Ms. Hill will work it out. No, he's not a sub but he is exceptionally attuned to his surroundings & skilled at anticipating needs & he's hot for Janet. Janet has been curious about him for quite some time but the ex-SEAL isn't much of a talker nor does he seem inclined to make the first move. But they are most certainly attracted to one another & he's somewhat intrigued by BDSM so they set a casual "date" to meet for coffee at Club Progeny-the local club. Their first encounter at the club was incredible. Truly. I think I had to fan myself. And they just kept getting hotter. He's not a sub but he's willing to stretch his boundaries for her & she's willing to acquiesce power to him from time to time; it's a good give & take & a gripping read.

There's also a good secondary storyline going on mostly regarding Max's past interfering with their future but both have intriguing backstories that unexpectedly intersect. The dialogue between Max & Janet is quite amusing at times, yet another thing I was caught off guard by since Max has been so taciturn. There's also some touching scenes between Ben & Janet, Janet & Matt & one with Janet & all the knights. Another bonus was Matt plays a larger role in this one than he has in the previous books. I feel like I know him the least of all the knights but I got a somewhat better sense of him here. I'd still be interested in a follow up book about him at some point in the future. I was highly entertained by this one.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars

[Letitia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: B+ ... Heat: Sizzling

Janet Albright, assistant to the first Knight of the Board Room - Matt Kensington (Board Resolution), is tough as nails. A member of the same club as our Knights, Janet finds herself in the same position: On top. As a Domme, Janet has three no’s: No emotional attachments. No sex. No anything outside of the club. Especially not with a man like Maxwell Ackerman. As a military man, an ex-Navy SEAL, Max is solid and dependable. Firm. There is nothing about him that’s particularly submissive. And nothing about the two of them together should make sense.

But neither of them is exactly how they seem to the outside world. Both are plagued by personal demons and haunted by ghosts of their pasts. Pasts that have made them two strong and willful individuals not used to bending. Especially Janet. But after years of tiptoeing around their feelings for each other, feelings that have only grown more intense, they decide to see where this thing between them can go.

Janet and Max together blurs the lines of D/s. In most D/s relationships, there is a top and a bottom. One dominant, one submissive. Okay, sure, sometimes one partner can be a switch, but they still fulfill the role opposite of their partner at the time. With Max and Janet, there is a definite give and take between them. Max isn’t a switch. Max simply has very keen senses, knowing when to push and when not to, and puts them to good use with Janet. Their relationship is not an easy one to find a balance with, but it was definitely worth the extra effort.

And the more I got to know who Max and Janet are, the more I wanted them to find that balance. Both have such heartbreaking back stories. So much they’ve had to overcome in their lives. I wanted so badly for Janet to finally expose her soft underbelly to someone. To Max. When she finally does… it made me cry.

I will admit that a woman in the dominant role isn’t my favorite thing though. Which might explain why Ben is my favorite Knight (Hostile Takeover)—you can’t get any more dominant than Ben Callahan! But, personal preference aside, I still respected the heck out of Janet. She was my kind of woman: confident, strong, and not afraid to be a little vulnerable at times. And Max! Whew, even when he let Janet control things, his machismo was still palpable. Even when she had him cuffed and bound, he could break free and take charge if he wanted to. Sigh. So hot.

I also truly adored the glimpses we’re giving of my favorite K&A men. Especially Ben. Oh, Ben. I loved his small but important role in Janet and Max’s story. That man… he melts my butter!

Willing Sacrifice had an element of suspense to it too. Max’s background as a Navy SEAL and Janet’s surprisingly dark past as a ballerina came together to make some interesting drama. I knew that Miz Hill did romance and erotica well – very well – but when she combined that with some extra suspense and drama? Wow. I bow down to the mistress!

 

Favorite Quote:

From the direction of her glance, the way it shifted upward at her own leisurely pace, he had a pretty good idea she'd been studying his ass. He was wearing slacks and the K&A dark embroidered placket shirt, no sports coat over it at the moment. When he lifted a brow, she shrugged.
"That's sexual harassment," he muttered.
Despite the distance, she offered a seductive smile and picked up her pen. "Report me," she mouthed, and gave him a wink.
He grinned all the way back to the parking deck.

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review.

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[LMM · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blah. I either love Joey's books and become totally engrossed or I roll my eyes through them. This was an eye roller.

Max is suuuuuuch a Gary Stu. Too perfect to be real and Janet is just meh to the nth degree. I just didn't buy the overall story or her as a Domme. It was all so tepid & the story so incredibly unbelievable I couldn't get into it. The plot was completely contrived. Seriously....

**SPOILERS**



Janet manages to behead her Mexican Cartel ex lover in order to escape & Max's sister was raped and brain damaged while mom was killed by the same cartel. They both happen to cross paths by working for Matt. Max is still out for vengeance & gets kidnapped by the big bad cartel & Janet ends up rescuing him because of her previous ties.

For the love of all that is holy and that is just the tip of the iceberg

I know by now that you have to suspend belief to truly get into Hill & she can be seriously out there. However, her motto has been (& something I believe she stands by and always strives for regardless if the MC's resonate with me or not), if the characters aren't believable or resonate with the reader in someway because of a lack of character development than it's pointless.

Here is a quote from her :
“Whatever genre you’re writing, if the characters are compelling and sympathetic, the readers are going to want to see what happens to them. While I strive to make sure my work includes essential elements of the storytelling craft – tight plot, engaging dialogue, etc. – if the character development isn’t there, there isn’t much point in reading. It can be the coolest plot ever, but if the reader could care less whether the hero or heroine survive (in fact, in some cases you may be rooting for their destruction just so you can be done with the darn thing), then it’s not a story worth reading.”

I wholeheartedly agree (ahem...yeah, looking at you CH) which is why I give Hill & her fantastical writing a shot every time. No matter what, she gives it her best shot and I can tell she does, even if the one particular story (or characters) don't do it for me.

This one is a miss however. Too contrived, cheesy, Max equalling a Gary-Stu and Janet was unconvincing. Hill doing Emo here and sometimes it works but a lot of times, it gets a too angsty for my liking.

The other thing I missed in this were Hill's insertions of astute observations about human nature etc. She usually imparts succinct, authentic pearls of wisdom but none were found here this time.

By far the worst of the Boardroom series. Definitely not missing anything.

I'd really like to read more about Ben & Marcie. They are the most fascinating and hardcore relationship.

[Marie Ritzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Joey's Knights of the Boardroom and I have read them all. Joey personally knows that after the masterpiece that was Hostile Takeover, book 5 of this series, she has me as a fan of her work for life. Since it has been since last January 2012 that we entered the world of Matthew Lord Kensington and his Wunderkin, it was a long wait for us KOTB fans!

This book is book 6 in the series and takes place about 2 months after Hostile Takeover, and you should read that one first to understand this one to the fullest. Janet is Matt's admin, his right hand lady so to speak, and she is one scary woman. A Domme by night she does not do relationships, but does enjoy her subs in the club at night and locking horns with Master Ben O'Callahan, K & A's Legal Pit Bull, by day. Much to his dismay and dislike.

Enter Max who was introduced to us all the way back in book 2, Controlled Response, and has intrigued us all since then. A former SEAL, Max is not a sub in the true sense of one, but goodness is he one protective alpha hunk of man. But he is the perfect one for Janet. Janet and Max both had a very, very tough past, and both of them still live by the demons that tried to take them both out. Max has still not managed to move on from his as he continues to work to take down those who nearly took everyone he held dear.

No one does emotional angst like Joey W. Hill, and by the end of book the two of them very much needed the other to complete the whole. For those of you who thought that the BDSM was a bit too extreme in book 5, this one is toned down some. The focus is really on the love story and how the truly opposite of people can find true love. There is some great suspense in the end and I loved how we got to get updates on all our Knights, their ladies and some new faces too. Look soon for both Noah, who was in HT and makes a cameo here, and Dale, Max's former commander, to get their own books within the next year.

An outstanding and beautiful book from Joey W. Hill and I cannot wait for the next book in this wonderful series. Miss Hill's work is some of best in the market today, I highly recommend Willing Sacrifice!!

[Joyfully Reviewed · Rating 5 out of 5]

The executives at Kensington and Associates are dynamic, ruthless, and brilliant businessmen. But they will all admit that it is administrative assistant Janet Albright who keeps everything running and the foursome on point. When Janet isn’t in command at K & A she finds time to privately indulge in her role as a Domme at Club Progeny.

Former Navy Seal Max Ackerman is in charge of K & A’s limousine and car fleet, as well as head driver for the executives. Self contained and stoic, Max quietly handles anything related to their local travel throughout New Orleans.

Janet frequents Club Progeny to unwind and explore her Domme side. Max also goes to the club on a regular basis though in a professional capacity by driving the bosses and their wives.

Months pass as they circle and subtly flirt. Then a life and death situation opens their eyes to each other’s strengths and real possibilities. They talk about what brought them to K & A, the secrets of their past, some of which are still in play. Two strong willed people, not a typical D/s relationship, yet they have the mind set to make it work. A deadly secret from long ago drives them into each other’s arms and then almost tears them so far apart nothing will be the same again.

Amazing sexual tension, simmering passion. Characters come alive in Willing Sacrifice, the fourth story in the exciting Knights of the Boardroom series. Intelligent writing infuses the plotline with drama and sensuality. Willing Sacrifice is a highly absorbing story with unique characters faced with personal challenges that define them. Erotic and enthralling from beginning to end.

Reviewed by Lisa for Joyfully Reviewed
Link: http://bit.ly/1GhrAyf

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

This book was a lot different than the previous five books in this series. In the first five, it was extremely clear who the dominant was, who was in charge of the scenes or the relationship. In this book, it alternated between Janet and Max which was why I have this book in both the bookshelves. It's been explained really well why Max can be a sub as well as a master and I think that was necessary.

Unlike the previous books, this one was also heavy set in the past. Both Max and Janet have been through their fair share and more of tragedies. They're survivors but that came at a price.

Janet is the extremely professionally, ball-kicking, smart woman who works for K&A. She's a domme and for decades hasn't indulged in a relationship outside the club. Max, on the other hand, is a soldier. He's a SEAL who returned from the duty to find more horrors waiting at home. And while he's gotten a job, he hasn't quite left the idea of revenge behind.

The two of them have worked together for six/seven years and only now, have indulged themselves. They're careful, thoughtful and very, very precise when making their decisions regarding their lives and their relationship. They each have their demons to fight and eventually, it comes to the point where that's what would tear them off.

It was a delightful read because it was really interesting to see Max go from Master to Sub and interestingly enough, Janet didn't seem to mind. The book was sufficiently long and while reading, I thought that it was set over a span of a year or so but it's only a few months. I think it seemed longer because Joey W Hill really indulged in the character's thought processes and emotions throughout the book, making it longer.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this, despite the fact that I don't like Janet. Not one bit. I have too may thoughts swirling around my head. Feelings ranging from pissed off at her, to understanding her completely.

The relationship between Max and Janet felt so good at times. Others, one sided. Max was willing to give up so much of himself, do anything he could for her, despite his comfort level. I often felt like she took advantage of that. No matter how hot their scenes were, there was always that control she wouldn't give up that set me off. I'm so conflicted about it. Probably because I get it. I totally understand why she's the way she is. I just don't like it.

On the flip side, Max feels so strongly about Janet, that I believe it when he submits to her, in that way that only he can. He's not a sub, no, but that didn't mean he couldn't try and be what she needed. It's beautiful, that. Knowing that someone you love has needs, and willing yourself to be there, be that person for them. I guess that's why these two work together. I don't know. I'm kind of a mess over this and how I feel.

Joey W. Hill writes some intense sex scenes, as always. They're amazing, drawn out and so descriptive, it was hard not to get totally immersed in Max and Janet. I truly love that in a book. So, despite my non-love of Janet, I have to love this book.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Victoria
Book provided by Ellora’s Cave
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book


Willing Sacrifice is the sixth book in the Knights of the Board Room series by Joey W. Hill. I chose this book because it is out of my comfort zone. I like male domination stories not female domination stories. However, I was very surprised with this story. While this is this is part of a series it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel.

Janet has a nickname of Ice Queen. She has been hurt in ways while on one hand is realistic but on the other hand is hard to believe someone would do that to another. She is a wonderful combination hard and soft. Max really makes this story. While Max is no sub, not now nor in the future will he ever be. He seems to enjoy Janet meeting her needs and indulging him with his after.

The chemistry between Janet and Max is explosive. The sex between Janet and Max is off the charts. I enjoyed the compromise Janet and Max came to so they could be together. I enjoyed that Janet respected Max, his needs and met her own needs as well.

This is one of the few stories that there is nothing that I would change with this story. Overall, this was a surprisingly wonderful story. I enjoyed this much more than I expected too. Now I plan on going back and reading the books I missed in the series.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 star's for me :-):-):-):-):-)

This felt the most emotive of the series so far.

I found I enjoyed reading about Max and Janet as they felt a bit in the background of the previous book's.

Enjoyed seeing a different and softer side to Janet.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frigging fantastic... will throughly review later

[Shin]

Meh! DNF🚫

I must be the most recent review, and all I have to say is that it was good until it wasn't. I stopped at Chapter 8 because things became repetitive and boring.
____

Starting with Max, he is not a sub. I came here for a confident, dominant woman who falls in love with a submissive man. Not some Chad 🤦🏾‍♀️ I saw a 2-star review complaining about Max and how their last straw was when he signed up for another mistress who is level 10, who has no limits and will stretch him.... I made my final decision to just stop.

In the beginning, I didn't mind the addition of a person to their sexual interactions, specifically with Troy, for a few reasons. One, I didn't care enough for the characters. And two, it's only the FL playing with her subs. For example, there was 1 time the FL was interacting with her male sub, and Max started to only touch her. That was close to my line, & had me side eye a little, but that was all. The only odd thing was that he helped her with aftercare for her sub.☹️. Girl, get up and take care of your sub!

Then when the FL and Max first had penetration sex, the FL told Max her desire of him fucking her while another mistress is hitting him... This woman is hard to satisfy!😮‍💨

If this was a poly/non-monogamous book, just say that.😭

The tension between the FL and her boss Matt is ODD. If they not gonna fuck and he's not a love interest, then why create that tension? The man is married for gods sakes!

As you can tell, I do not like the FL. The characters didn't feel alive, and it just felt like...well- like I was reading off a paper. I didn't get lost in the world, their world.
_____

I'm not going to rank it since I DNF and don't have strong enough emotions to express through rating. So I'll just leave this review here.