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The Alpha Group #1
Locked
Who is Sebastian Lock?
The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn’t look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.
But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care much for her promises.
Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she’d enjoy.
There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.
Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?
Contains light BDSM, including spanking, restraint, and anal play
Note: This book is the first part of a trilogy that is designed to be read together, much like The Blackstone Affair. Sebastian and Sophia will get their happily ever after, but not until the last book.
The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn’t look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.
But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care much for her promises.
Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she’d enjoy.
There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.
Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?
Contains light BDSM, including spanking, restraint, and anal play
Note: This book is the first part of a trilogy that is designed to be read together, much like The Blackstone Affair. Sebastian and Sophia will get their happily ever after, but not until the last book.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2013
387 people are currently reading
11067 people want to read
About the author
Maya Cross
49 books1,750 followersMaya Cross is writer who enjoys making people blush. Growing up with a mother who worked in a book store, she read a lot from a very young age, and soon enough picked up a pen of her own. Her previous work spans many genres including horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and she has now started this pen name as an outlet for her spicier thoughts (they were starting to overflow). She likes her heroes strong but mysterious, her encounters sizzling, and her characters true to life.
She believes in writing familiar narratives told with a twist, so most of her stories will feel comfortable, but hopefully a little unique. Whatever genre she's writing, finding a fascinating concept is the first, and most important step.
The Alpha Group is her first foray into erotic romance, and she absolutely loved writing it.
When she's not writing, she's playing tennis, trawling her home town of Sydney for new inspiration, and drinking too much coffee.
She believes in writing familiar narratives told with a twist, so most of her stories will feel comfortable, but hopefully a little unique. Whatever genre she's writing, finding a fascinating concept is the first, and most important step.
The Alpha Group is her first foray into erotic romance, and she absolutely loved writing it.
When she's not writing, she's playing tennis, trawling her home town of Sydney for new inspiration, and drinking too much coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 975 reviews
February 21, 2017
Okay, so I think I'm done with all the BDSM books. Because frankly, I feel as if all of them are the same. Most of them contain the same story. There's insta lust, insta everything really.
Now, if Locked had been released before the Fifty Shades series I might've given it a higher rating. As it is, I can't. Sure, Locked isn't exactly the same as the rest of the BDSM books, but most of the parts are. The one difference is that the MC, Sophia, isn't a virgin and not completely ignorant and naïve. But I couldn't get myself to like her either. She is shallow and, to me, unlikeable.
In the beginning of the book, she is drinking on a weekday. Sure, she mentions she doesn't get flat-out drunk out of her skull, but still. She also mentions how she have done it on other occasions. Then, not long after, she tries to sneak into a place where she clearly isn't allowed into. Even after a security guard firmly tells her she's not allowed in, she continues to try. In the end she gets into the exclusive area.
Call it curiosity, because I can understand that she wanted to get into the secret place out of it. But after firmly being told away, you should go away. This little move also made Sophia seem immature. She made me think of minors using a fake ID to sneak into a club. So, sorry Sophia, I didn't like you very much.
Now to the part to show you what I mean by saying most of the BDSM books are the same. Or, as I like to think of it:
How to write erotica with BDSM 101
1. Make the main characters meet and make the reader drown in sexual tension. Add libidos going on overdrive and a never-before-experienced-connection-before-knowing-the-person. Remember, the guy has to be gorgeous, otherwise the rest of the plot won't be excusable.
2. Let the man do a little stalking of the woman. This isn't creepy at all, because he is gorgeous. All his other flaws or the things that should raise red flags is okay. Because, you know, he's gorgeous.
3. Then the man says most men would go to huge lengths to be with her. Because she's special and gorgeous.
4. The main characters have mind blowing sex. Here you give the woman magic lady parts so the man simply HAS to be with her again. He needs to be hooked. Preferably for life.
5. Add in a scene where the man needs to hear the woman tell him she's his. Make him demand it too, that's a good bonus.
6. If it's a series, add a cliffhanger. The woman leaves the man over some drama that can easily be avoided if they knew how to communicate like normal human beings.
This is honestly how I read most of the BDSM books these days. Easy to say, it's boring me out of my mind.
What bothers me the most is the part where the male main character is gorgeous and this makes everything he does excusable or the woman is able to overlook his flaws. Anyone who has been stalked knows it's creepy and nothing else. Usually it's downright dangerous. And yet, in these books it's completely fine because he's gorgeous. Had the man been ugly, fat or having any unattractive attributes, the woman would turn her back immediately.
To prove my point, here is two quotes taken out of Locked:
You see what I mean?
If you're a fan of these sort of books you'll love this one, no doubt. However, I don't. Somehow - jeez wonder why - I can't find the stalker thing to be a romantic thing or even excusable. I certainly can't handle any flaw being overlooked because of someone's looks.
1/5 stars
Now, if Locked had been released before the Fifty Shades series I might've given it a higher rating. As it is, I can't. Sure, Locked isn't exactly the same as the rest of the BDSM books, but most of the parts are. The one difference is that the MC, Sophia, isn't a virgin and not completely ignorant and naïve. But I couldn't get myself to like her either. She is shallow and, to me, unlikeable.
In the beginning of the book, she is drinking on a weekday. Sure, she mentions she doesn't get flat-out drunk out of her skull, but still. She also mentions how she have done it on other occasions. Then, not long after, she tries to sneak into a place where she clearly isn't allowed into. Even after a security guard firmly tells her she's not allowed in, she continues to try. In the end she gets into the exclusive area.
Call it curiosity, because I can understand that she wanted to get into the secret place out of it. But after firmly being told away, you should go away. This little move also made Sophia seem immature. She made me think of minors using a fake ID to sneak into a club. So, sorry Sophia, I didn't like you very much.
Now to the part to show you what I mean by saying most of the BDSM books are the same. Or, as I like to think of it:
How to write erotica with BDSM 101
1. Make the main characters meet and make the reader drown in sexual tension. Add libidos going on overdrive and a never-before-experienced-connection-before-knowing-the-person. Remember, the guy has to be gorgeous, otherwise the rest of the plot won't be excusable.
2. Let the man do a little stalking of the woman. This isn't creepy at all, because he is gorgeous. All his other flaws or the things that should raise red flags is okay. Because, you know, he's gorgeous.
3. Then the man says most men would go to huge lengths to be with her. Because she's special and gorgeous.
4. The main characters have mind blowing sex. Here you give the woman magic lady parts so the man simply HAS to be with her again. He needs to be hooked. Preferably for life.
5. Add in a scene where the man needs to hear the woman tell him she's his. Make him demand it too, that's a good bonus.
6. If it's a series, add a cliffhanger. The woman leaves the man over some drama that can easily be avoided if they knew how to communicate like normal human beings.
This is honestly how I read most of the BDSM books these days. Easy to say, it's boring me out of my mind.
What bothers me the most is the part where the male main character is gorgeous and this makes everything he does excusable or the woman is able to overlook his flaws. Anyone who has been stalked knows it's creepy and nothing else. Usually it's downright dangerous. And yet, in these books it's completely fine because he's gorgeous. Had the man been ugly, fat or having any unattractive attributes, the woman would turn her back immediately.
To prove my point, here is two quotes taken out of Locked:
”And as much as his presumptuousness would normally have annoyed me, I found it difficult to muster much anger. He was gorgeous; a tall, lithe body wrapped in a crisp charcoal three-piece suit.”
”I could feel my resolve weakening. He was just so gorgeous, and he didn’t seem to want to take no for an answer.”
You see what I mean?
If you're a fan of these sort of books you'll love this one, no doubt. However, I don't. Somehow - jeez wonder why - I can't find the stalker thing to be a romantic thing or even excusable. I certainly can't handle any flaw being overlooked because of someone's looks.
1/5 stars
Want to read
October 13, 2015
FREE on Amazon US today (10/12/2015)
Oh I meant to read this one once complete. Sebastian sounds hot!
Book 1 in trilogy. Series complete.
BLURB:
Who is Sebastian Lock?
The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn’t look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.
But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care much for her promises.
Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she’d enjoy.
There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.
Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?
Contains light BDSM, including spanking, restraint, and anal play
http://www.amazon.com/Locked-Alpha-Gr...
FREEBIES are often good for MORE than one day, I have gathered all my FREEBIES on a special shelf: Kindle-freebies (currently over 490 books)
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June 10, 2015
THIS BOOK IS FREEEE!!!!!- > http://amzn.to/1dqlFfC
5 Lock Me Up Stars
This is an old one. I was really interested in this series when it first came out, but at the time I wasn’t reading cliff-hanger books (oh how I have changed). I took a break from some BDSM books, but I’m getting that itch again.
If you are a fan of FSoG (I know, I know, but it really does remind me of it) and if you are a BDSM junkie like me, then Locked is PERFECT for you.
Locked is the first book of the series and it must be read in order. I listed to the audio version of the first book and it was the PERFECT way to experience it. It’s a fairly short audio, about 4 hours, but I liked that. I listen to tons of audio books, so I kind of like the short ones, well if you listen to the whole series, it’s not short, but I’m a fan of the serials.
Sophia is a lawyer and she’s out with her girlfriends one night, having drinks, when she notices a secret room at the club they are at. Sophia is super curious and wants to go in.
And she does and she meets Sebastian Lock.
Oh my.
I like Sophia. I like older heroines, she’s still in her twenties, but she’s a lawyer. She doesn’t have any hang-ups and she has a great social network. She’s just really curious. It’s new and refreshing to read a character with little issues.
Sebastian is very alpha and dominate. He’s a busy man and he likes his side hobbies, which includes women. He loves restraining, spanking and playing with women. He’s also very interested in Sophia. He knows she isn’t experienced in his world and he’s okay with that. He’s willing to put it aside all of that if she is only interested in soft play.
I like how Sophia didn’t fall head over heels over Sebastian. She knows what kind of man he is and she wasn’t willing to go into a relationship with him. I liked how she made him chase after her. I loved Sebastian. He’s the Hero I like to read and the kink was an added bonus.
This was my first Carmen Rose narration and she made the book five stars for me. I love her voice and I loved her voice transition. Sophia is Australian, did I mention that? So the Australian accent completely worked for me. I love listening to narrators with accents. Even though the whole book is from Sophia’s POV, Sebastian is European and has a European accent, which Carmen also nailed.
Locked is a fast, spicy and fun read. It was exactly what I needed.
I’m going to finish out the series. It’s really good.
AMAZON FREE
April 7, 2013
Review posted at: Swept Away By Romance
make that 4.5 Scorching Hot Stars!
Story Rating 4.5 Stars
Character Rating 4.5 Stars
Romance Rating 4 Stars
Heat Level 4.5 Stars
Overall Rating 4.5 Stars
Wow! I was quite surprised at how much I liked this short novel. It immediately grabbed my attention and kept me hooked all the way through. It begins with the heroine Sophia and her two girl friends at a shabby bar, celebrating her friend Louisa's engagement. They’ve all been drinking for a while and notice that some well-dressed people are going through a door in the back of the bar. Sophia and her friends continue to drink and come to their own conclusions as to what is behind the door; their conversation and assumptions were really funny and had me laughing. Feeling no pain at this point, Sophia comes up with a plan to gain entry to the secret room, she manages to evade the rather huge man guarding the door, slips inside, and what she finds is totally unexpected, and this is where the story takes off!
She meets Sebastian, an extremely attractive man, who approaches her while she is having a drink at the bar. During this time, he’s approached by a woman in a bikini and she asks him if he’s ready to go. He’s not happy with her, and from what I could gather at this point, they have a D/s relationship. After his exchange with this woman, Sophia blows Sebastian off, but his final word to her is that he hopes they meet again. That’s all you’re getting from me!
Sophia, is smart and witty, an all-around great character. Sebastian on the other hand is very good looking, but there is a mysterious air about him. Two very well fleshed out characters that I enjoyed reading about.
Eventually they form a relationship, and it’s a slow build-up, but when these two finally hit the sheets, it’s SCORCHING HOT! There is some BDSM, but it’s mild. Some of what goes on is left to the reader’s imagination.
I knew going into this book that this was a trilogy, and that it would most likely end in a cliff-hanger, I was right, it did and now I can’t wait to read the next book, Lockout, which is due out in May. Not long after that book 3, Unlocked, will follow in June.
Overall this was a very enjoyable SCORCHING HOT read, reminding me a bit of Sylvia Day's Crossfireseries, shorter, but a very well done erotic story.
*ARC kindly provided from the author *
make that 4.5 Scorching Hot Stars!
Story Rating 4.5 Stars
Character Rating 4.5 Stars
Romance Rating 4 Stars
Heat Level 4.5 Stars
Overall Rating 4.5 Stars
Wow! I was quite surprised at how much I liked this short novel. It immediately grabbed my attention and kept me hooked all the way through. It begins with the heroine Sophia and her two girl friends at a shabby bar, celebrating her friend Louisa's engagement. They’ve all been drinking for a while and notice that some well-dressed people are going through a door in the back of the bar. Sophia and her friends continue to drink and come to their own conclusions as to what is behind the door; their conversation and assumptions were really funny and had me laughing. Feeling no pain at this point, Sophia comes up with a plan to gain entry to the secret room, she manages to evade the rather huge man guarding the door, slips inside, and what she finds is totally unexpected, and this is where the story takes off!
She meets Sebastian, an extremely attractive man, who approaches her while she is having a drink at the bar. During this time, he’s approached by a woman in a bikini and she asks him if he’s ready to go. He’s not happy with her, and from what I could gather at this point, they have a D/s relationship. After his exchange with this woman, Sophia blows Sebastian off, but his final word to her is that he hopes they meet again. That’s all you’re getting from me!
Sophia, is smart and witty, an all-around great character. Sebastian on the other hand is very good looking, but there is a mysterious air about him. Two very well fleshed out characters that I enjoyed reading about.
Eventually they form a relationship, and it’s a slow build-up, but when these two finally hit the sheets, it’s SCORCHING HOT! There is some BDSM, but it’s mild. Some of what goes on is left to the reader’s imagination.
I knew going into this book that this was a trilogy, and that it would most likely end in a cliff-hanger, I was right, it did and now I can’t wait to read the next book, Lockout, which is due out in May. Not long after that book 3, Unlocked, will follow in June.
Overall this was a very enjoyable SCORCHING HOT read, reminding me a bit of Sylvia Day's Crossfireseries, shorter, but a very well done erotic story.
*ARC kindly provided from the author *
October 18, 2014
***'Disclosure ***'this is a review for locked and lockout... Look , my review usually consist of 2 movie titles and me telling you "that's basically it in a nutshell" the fact I went through all this trouble speaks volumes. So without further a do, here goes....
Have you ever read a book and said " YES, YES YES!!" this is exactly what I've been searching for? The Alpha Group series is it for me...
WELL, it is so far anyway. I'm awaiting unlocked to reach my final verdict. So here's what you need to know. LISTEN UP....
Sophie is my idol, like " We're not worthy" bow down type of honors.
She's fun, confident and honest. Sophie follows her hormones and is eager to see whats under Sebastian's suit and tie. **admission time** I'm guilty of responding to characters in my head ( coo-coo, coo-coo!) Sophie's replies were eerily similar to mine. Besides her profession we have a lot in common . Like Sophie I never turn down a dare .. "go ahead. I double dare ya!!"
Now on to my newest book boyfriend Sebastian.. I find the name alone hot ( I pronounce it Se-"BASH' Ian ... As in bash my vajayjay)
"Bash" had me squirming like an earthworm . .. I LUV HIM.. He's charismatic, libidinous( <--thank you thesaurus.com)and a DOM who uses his tricks for pleasure, not control.. "MORE PLEASE!"! BUT he's definitely hiding something .. Hmmm, what could it be?
Okay, I''m not a spoiler so I'll be shutting up now.. All you need to know is
It's
........ And there's one hell of a cliffhanger...
Have you ever read a book and said " YES, YES YES!!" this is exactly what I've been searching for? The Alpha Group series is it for me...
WELL, it is so far anyway. I'm awaiting unlocked to reach my final verdict. So here's what you need to know. LISTEN UP....
Sophie is my idol, like " We're not worthy" bow down type of honors.
She's fun, confident and honest. Sophie follows her hormones and is eager to see whats under Sebastian's suit and tie. **admission time** I'm guilty of responding to characters in my head ( coo-coo, coo-coo!) Sophie's replies were eerily similar to mine. Besides her profession we have a lot in common . Like Sophie I never turn down a dare .. "go ahead. I double dare ya!!"
Now on to my newest book boyfriend Sebastian.. I find the name alone hot ( I pronounce it Se-"BASH' Ian ... As in bash my vajayjay)
"Bash" had me squirming like an earthworm . .. I LUV HIM.. He's charismatic, libidinous( <--thank you thesaurus.com)and a DOM who uses his tricks for pleasure, not control.. "MORE PLEASE!"! BUT he's definitely hiding something .. Hmmm, what could it be?
Okay, I''m not a spoiler so I'll be shutting up now.. All you need to know is
It's
........ And there's one hell of a cliffhanger...
March 25, 2015
LOVE the writing style!
This was a short one but really great, surprisingly funny!!
I swear I had an idiot grin on my face for half the book :D The dialogue between them was great, wish there was more of it though.
Has a cliffie!! So have the other books ready when you start this one :)
January 15, 2014
4 Dom, Newly Submissive, Mysterious Stars * * * *
I have often wondered.... how is it people know things about each other in first meetings... is it a type of sexual, personal radar... where our internal mechanisms do this instant honing in and starts to do that beep beep beep which alerts us as to who we are attracted to?
Is there a sensory system which recognizes certain qualities in others which we need to gravitate to... where we have such overwhelming want... we do things which are not of the usual way for us? Where someone who is all dominate and knowing can find that part of a woman which is submissive even when she has no idea that need is dormant just waiting to have the right person unleash it?
Well... that is what seems to happen when these two characters meet...
Sebastian Lock... mysterious venture capitalist and Sophie... attorney at a well known law firm. However, the way they meet and the connection which draws them is anything but the usual.
In fact their whole relationship from their first meeting to first date to first all encompassing kiss... is anything but usual. .... and that is the delicious make up of this story.
He is not your usual pompous, rich man wanting a quick lay .... oh he wants the lay... but on his terms... and she seems feisty and able to fend for herself... but around him... he has some kind of hold over her...
So they agree to play... have a friendly exclusive time together when able...and it seems like a plan... until emotions ensue and we are left to wonder what is next...
I liked this start of the series... it all made sense up till a point... Never having been in Sophie's situation... I had to question as to how quickly she just flipped her switch like that....to freely just be so willing so soon ..Only time will tell as to how this progresses.
I do think there is more to this tale besides all of the sexual fun... I see hints of major conflicts of interest happening project wise for the both of them and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
The next book is LockedOut and I do not plan on being that at all....
Oh, and Jahy... psst... I know it is a secret.... but thanks for the push to read this...
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
I have often wondered.... how is it people know things about each other in first meetings... is it a type of sexual, personal radar... where our internal mechanisms do this instant honing in and starts to do that beep beep beep which alerts us as to who we are attracted to?
Is there a sensory system which recognizes certain qualities in others which we need to gravitate to... where we have such overwhelming want... we do things which are not of the usual way for us? Where someone who is all dominate and knowing can find that part of a woman which is submissive even when she has no idea that need is dormant just waiting to have the right person unleash it?
Well... that is what seems to happen when these two characters meet...
Sebastian Lock... mysterious venture capitalist and Sophie... attorney at a well known law firm. However, the way they meet and the connection which draws them is anything but the usual.
In fact their whole relationship from their first meeting to first date to first all encompassing kiss... is anything but usual. .... and that is the delicious make up of this story.
He is not your usual pompous, rich man wanting a quick lay .... oh he wants the lay... but on his terms... and she seems feisty and able to fend for herself... but around him... he has some kind of hold over her...
So they agree to play... have a friendly exclusive time together when able...and it seems like a plan... until emotions ensue and we are left to wonder what is next...
I liked this start of the series... it all made sense up till a point... Never having been in Sophie's situation... I had to question as to how quickly she just flipped her switch like that....to freely just be so willing so soon ..Only time will tell as to how this progresses.
I do think there is more to this tale besides all of the sexual fun... I see hints of major conflicts of interest happening project wise for the both of them and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
The next book is LockedOut and I do not plan on being that at all....
Oh, and Jahy... psst... I know it is a secret.... but thanks for the push to read this...
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
May 3, 2015
HOT, SEXY AND EXCITING... defiantly something all 50 shades and crossfire fans would love ! :)
if u searching sexy novella to occupy ur evening read ! this is defiantly it.
if u searching sexy novella to occupy ur evening read ! this is defiantly it.
April 7, 2013
Win a $40 Amazon Voucher + ebook of Locked by Maya Cross
I really enjoyed this one – it’s a great debut from Maya Cross and the cover is stunningly beautiful. It’s another erotic trilogy set in the gorgeous city of Sydney, similar in length to Raine Miller’s Naked, but what makes it stand out a little from the rest of the crowd is it’s heroine.
Sophia is all kinds of feisty, absolutely not a doormat – she’s trying hard to climb the corporate ladder, working almost seven days a week so nights out with her girlfriends are few and far between. On one of these nights out, she notices a trail of beautiful people entering a door at the back of a bar she’s in and she decides to sneak her way in to see what’s going in. It’s kind of like falling down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland – what’s through that door is a whole other world, definitely a whole other lifestyle.
She bumps into the mysterious Sebastian who charms her at the bar only to be interrupted by his scantily clad ‘secretary’ who he sends away scolded and with a couple of warnings.and a warning of a “paddle” later!! I had to giggle at that one. Sophia tries to beat a hasty retreat but finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and has to hide in a cupboard while Sebastian ‘rewards’ Hannah with her paddle and manages to get caught spying. Sebastian is intrigued by Sophia and he engineers some meetings between them until Sophia agrees to a date and a little submission for dessert.
I don’t think we’ve got to know Sebastian very well yet – he’s still a very mysterious figure. He’s absolutely a dominant, choosing only physical D/s relationships and shying away from emotional connections for reasons as yet undisclosed. Even though, during the course of this novella, it’s clear to see Sophia’s growing feelings, it’s not yet clear to see how Sebastian feels and I am hoping that we’ll get to hear more about his thoughts and emotions in the subsequent books. Sophia is not going to put up with Sebastian’s normal rules and regulations and insists on exclusivity and really rather non-plusses him but he’s prepared to bend his rules to have Sophia and agrees to her terms.
It’s seriously sensual and features only light BDSM action. Maya Cross does an amazing job of building the sexual chemistry in the lead up to Sebastian and Sophia’s first sexual encounter – it’s sizzling hot and I was really desperate for them to start ripping each others clothes off and, when they do, it truly doesn’t disappoint!! It’s totally H.O.T.!!
Of course, we have the ubiquitous cliffhanger and I know this will frustrate some readers but I will say that parts two and three aren’t long behind this one, due for release in May and June/July respectively. Can’t wait!!
4 stars sizzling hot erotic romance
Series Reading Order
1. Locked
2.Lockout – due for release May 2013
3. Unlocked – due for release June/July 2013
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March 28, 2013
Enter the GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a copy of this book on Way Too Hot Books Blog!!
A copy of this book was provided my the author in exchange for an honest review.
First and foremost I have to say - Was there ever a more perfect adult romance cover?? So pristine, elegant and beautiful. Not to mention the pose - intense and wicked. Love the models! The colors and everything adding up making it the sexiest cover ever! Just makes you want to look at it so enchanting and fascinating. As soon as I saw it I wanted to read this.
So the book begins with Sophia Pearce with her best friends in a random bar. It would be a classical night of getting drunk if she it hadn't begun to take an interesting course. Led by her overpowering curiosity and the mystery of the back room with security she sneaks in there to find something unexpected - an extravagant party with (clearly) rich men and their escorts.
Already at this point I knew this will turn out to be an amazing book. Who doesn't love some inrigue right at the beginning?And then comes Sebastian..
Interesting is a small word to describe their conversation. I kept imagining them with a small smile of amusement and a little arch of a brow, picking at one another, playing a game, trying to get a taste of the personality and exploring what would be the outcome of this. They are both very intelligent and smooth in talk with a touch of sarcasm on Sophia's part and that made it highly enjoyable. You don't see this kind of easy flow so often.
And the whole book went with a kind of easy plot-flow. There wasn't any jumping around, the events made sense but they were not predictable. Especially what happened after... Well, lets just say that no one was expecting to find Sebastian spanking his secretary later in the office, let alone Sophia, but that was just the beginning. Beginning of Sebastian awakening the curious and sexual woman in Sophia that wasn't so vanilla as she thought.
I liked Sophia, she's a lawyer struggling with many let downs in work, but she's the kind of woman that got a lot of experience out of life and wasn't a fool anymore. She's strong and assessing of everything and not full of resentment because it's a hard life. I got the impression that she takes it all in stride but never being the weak person that gives up or is scared of a anything, especially one intimidating man. What I like more about her is, well lets call it - the detective side of her. She likes to explore the mystery and investigate what she finds curious. I actually enjoyed the times when she was at work and didn't find the lawyer stuff boring as I expected. And don't forget her sarcasm and funny lines. Always great in a character.
Furthermore, I love that she didn't submit to Sebastian's request for a casual fuck with her as one of his many women. She explained she doesn't do that, she needs an exclusive relationship. And she confronts him when he's wrong or she doesn't agree with him, never being mushy-wushy because the hot guy is actually interested in her.
She doesn't even accept a date until much later after thinking it through. And that's amazing, what I love best about her! She's careful! And not demanding, only seeking as much as trust and time as she can get for a normal relationship.
Sebastian is a very persuasive character and Sophia is someone worth persuading. The intelligent, intimidating, HOT (of course) man was sort of a little enigma. He didn't reveal much about himself making him a very mysterious and puzzling man which in turn I liked. What I liked even more, as Sophia did too, was that in spite of it all he was very honest! He said right away that he doesn't do exclusive relationships and why and why he was so interested in Sophia.
And Sebastian Lock(or Keys in other times. I like the obvious play with the last name) was a Dom. And he saw that Sophia was possibly submissive and we all know that Doms like to bring out the hidden submissiveness in women.
And oh maaaaaan, wasn't that hot or what?
But the ending brings trouble. Can Sophia really trust Sebastian? When she finally gets burned, what will happen now?
Now, the problem that I had with this book, or better said a longer novella, is just that. It's more of a novella rather then a book. I didn't know that at the beginning but did know that it was a trilogy. It bugs me and I want more!
But the bigger problem is a small, and I point out this SMALL, similarity with Fifty Shades-like books. The rich hero, working-class herroine, him being a Dom and her a sub and some other things and that just bothers me. This book shouldn't be any similar to Fifty Shades. It's just offensive, for this book because it's so much better than FS. And I dislike when authors sometimes, maybe even unintentionally, do this when most are much more talented. For example, the herroine here is miles away better.
And that's why it's 4.5 stars. But all in all, this series is something to look out for, a new fascinating erotic romance trilogy that will continue making us curious about the next step it will take. I recommend this for everyone looking for a romance story what is both fun and new, not much emotional, but something to keep you at your toes trying to figure out how will this strange relationship work when nothing is clear about the impending future.
Just who is Sebastian Lock?
A copy of this book was provided my the author in exchange for an honest review.
First and foremost I have to say - Was there ever a more perfect adult romance cover?? So pristine, elegant and beautiful. Not to mention the pose - intense and wicked. Love the models! The colors and everything adding up making it the sexiest cover ever! Just makes you want to look at it so enchanting and fascinating. As soon as I saw it I wanted to read this.
So the book begins with Sophia Pearce with her best friends in a random bar. It would be a classical night of getting drunk if she it hadn't begun to take an interesting course. Led by her overpowering curiosity and the mystery of the back room with security she sneaks in there to find something unexpected - an extravagant party with (clearly) rich men and their escorts.
Already at this point I knew this will turn out to be an amazing book. Who doesn't love some inrigue right at the beginning?And then comes Sebastian..
"At first glance he seemed confident and charming, the sort of guy I saw every day around the office. But behind that roguish charisma lay something dangerously alluring; a potent strength that seemed to beckon to my very core. It was intimidating, arousing, and more than a little distracting.">
Interesting is a small word to describe their conversation. I kept imagining them with a small smile of amusement and a little arch of a brow, picking at one another, playing a game, trying to get a taste of the personality and exploring what would be the outcome of this. They are both very intelligent and smooth in talk with a touch of sarcasm on Sophia's part and that made it highly enjoyable. You don't see this kind of easy flow so often.
And the whole book went with a kind of easy plot-flow. There wasn't any jumping around, the events made sense but they were not predictable. Especially what happened after... Well, lets just say that no one was expecting to find Sebastian spanking his secretary later in the office, let alone Sophia, but that was just the beginning. Beginning of Sebastian awakening the curious and sexual woman in Sophia that wasn't so vanilla as she thought.
I liked Sophia, she's a lawyer struggling with many let downs in work, but she's the kind of woman that got a lot of experience out of life and wasn't a fool anymore. She's strong and assessing of everything and not full of resentment because it's a hard life. I got the impression that she takes it all in stride but never being the weak person that gives up or is scared of a anything, especially one intimidating man. What I like more about her is, well lets call it - the detective side of her. She likes to explore the mystery and investigate what she finds curious. I actually enjoyed the times when she was at work and didn't find the lawyer stuff boring as I expected. And don't forget her sarcasm and funny lines. Always great in a character.
"At some point, it occurred to me that I'd left my shoes behind. Just like Cinderella, I thought. Although I'm not sure if the story traditionally contains quite so much masochism."
Furthermore, I love that she didn't submit to Sebastian's request for a casual fuck with her as one of his many women. She explained she doesn't do that, she needs an exclusive relationship. And she confronts him when he's wrong or she doesn't agree with him, never being mushy-wushy because the hot guy is actually interested in her.
""I was still wary. I'd been fooled before by men like him. For some of them, the challenge was even more fun than the victory itself. This could all just be part of the game."
She doesn't even accept a date until much later after thinking it through. And that's amazing, what I love best about her! She's careful! And not demanding, only seeking as much as trust and time as she can get for a normal relationship.
Sebastian is a very persuasive character and Sophia is someone worth persuading. The intelligent, intimidating, HOT (of course) man was sort of a little enigma. He didn't reveal much about himself making him a very mysterious and puzzling man which in turn I liked. What I liked even more, as Sophia did too, was that in spite of it all he was very honest! He said right away that he doesn't do exclusive relationships and why and why he was so interested in Sophia.
And Sebastian Lock(or Keys in other times. I like the obvious play with the last name) was a Dom. And he saw that Sophia was possibly submissive and we all know that Doms like to bring out the hidden submissiveness in women.
And oh maaaaaan, wasn't that hot or what?
"With the last of my resistance bleeding away, everything began to take on a new dimension. The ropes that I'd struggled so hard against became excitng in their strength. My blindness, once terrifying, now amplified every sensation. I was no longer afraid to discover what wicked secrets Sebastian had planned; I was excited."
But the ending brings trouble. Can Sophia really trust Sebastian? When she finally gets burned, what will happen now?
Now, the problem that I had with this book, or better said a longer novella, is just that. It's more of a novella rather then a book. I didn't know that at the beginning but did know that it was a trilogy. It bugs me and I want more!
But the bigger problem is a small, and I point out this SMALL, similarity with Fifty Shades-like books. The rich hero, working-class herroine, him being a Dom and her a sub and some other things and that just bothers me. This book shouldn't be any similar to Fifty Shades. It's just offensive, for this book because it's so much better than FS. And I dislike when authors sometimes, maybe even unintentionally, do this when most are much more talented. For example, the herroine here is miles away better.
And that's why it's 4.5 stars. But all in all, this series is something to look out for, a new fascinating erotic romance trilogy that will continue making us curious about the next step it will take. I recommend this for everyone looking for a romance story what is both fun and new, not much emotional, but something to keep you at your toes trying to figure out how will this strange relationship work when nothing is clear about the impending future.
Just who is Sebastian Lock?
June 4, 2013
And so the dance begins between the stylish, gorgeous billionaire Sebastian Lock and his heroine Sophia Pearce. A little bit of spice, with a dash of curiosity and intrigue make this a great read and a wonderful start to a series, I’m looking forward to reading more of.
October 22, 2015
☆☆☆☆ 5 Pure, Raw Sexy Stars ☆☆☆☆
This book is a fire starter for your body.....WOW!!! I loved it. I loved Sebastian. I loved Sophia. Just damn good.
Ordinarily, I'm not someone who is prone to random acts of mischief. By day I'm as straight as they come. But get a few glasses of red into me, and suddenly that little devil on my shoulder starts sounding a whole lot more reasonable.
Sophia is a hard working lawyer, that's a good girl until a little wine gives her some courage to embark on the unknown. She finds herself locked in the sights of Sebastian.
Sebastian is everything a woman would ever want. Strong, successful, rich and gorgeous. He is pulled towards Sophia and must have her.
Sophia plays hard to get but not hard enough for Sebastian. She knows she should stay far away from him but why should she.
"Nothing worth having comes risk free."
Sophia agrees to a date and her life is about to be awakened in ways she never thought possible.
"We'll go slowly, as slowly as you like, but you're coming home with me, and I promise you that by the end, you'll be begging for more."
At this point....I was begging for Sebastian. This man is walking SEX!!!
As Sophia let's herself open up to Sebastian and his dominating yet soothing sexual desires, their chemistry burst into hot, passionate desire.
Sophia and her body are alive and she is loving this time in her life, until curiosity gets the best of her.
Book 2......Oh YES YES YES please!!!
Maya Cross spins a hot, sexual tale with just the right amount of drama to keep you obsessing as what's to come.
This book is a fire starter for your body.....WOW!!! I loved it. I loved Sebastian. I loved Sophia. Just damn good.
Ordinarily, I'm not someone who is prone to random acts of mischief. By day I'm as straight as they come. But get a few glasses of red into me, and suddenly that little devil on my shoulder starts sounding a whole lot more reasonable.
Sophia is a hard working lawyer, that's a good girl until a little wine gives her some courage to embark on the unknown. She finds herself locked in the sights of Sebastian.
Sebastian is everything a woman would ever want. Strong, successful, rich and gorgeous. He is pulled towards Sophia and must have her.
Sophia plays hard to get but not hard enough for Sebastian. She knows she should stay far away from him but why should she.
"Nothing worth having comes risk free."
Sophia agrees to a date and her life is about to be awakened in ways she never thought possible.
"We'll go slowly, as slowly as you like, but you're coming home with me, and I promise you that by the end, you'll be begging for more."
At this point....I was begging for Sebastian. This man is walking SEX!!!
As Sophia let's herself open up to Sebastian and his dominating yet soothing sexual desires, their chemistry burst into hot, passionate desire.
Sophia and her body are alive and she is loving this time in her life, until curiosity gets the best of her.
Book 2......Oh YES YES YES please!!!
Maya Cross spins a hot, sexual tale with just the right amount of drama to keep you obsessing as what's to come.
April 19, 2013
Giving this 3.75 stars only because it was too short for my liking but not bad at all.
Get ready for the usual "girl meets rich, mysterious guy with BDSM preferences" storyline but this one is totally different from the rest because it takes place in Australia. Ok, ok I am being silly ... this really does have a different vibe to it.
For starters, I am thrilled to bits that the heroine isn't a virgin and the guy is out of puberty.
Now, who is Sebastian Lock?? I would love it if he turned out to be a "James Bond" type of character. How cool would that be? Although, I doubt James Bond would have time to use bondage on his lady friends because, lets face it, the guy is always in a hurry and, as his fuck buddy, last thing I would want is to be left tied to a bed somewhere because he had to run off to save the world from some ugly Russian villain (by the way, why do they always make Russian villains so ugly in those movies? I may start to take offence eventually!). Anyways, I am getting slightly off topic here .... So, who IS Sebastian Lock? We know he tries to be funny (He sets up a meeting with Sophia under a name Mr Keys. I mean, really?? LOL! That actually WAS pretty funny, partially due to the fact that it took her till she saw him to figure out it was him. How dense can you be?). We know he has an accent (he better not be one of those Russian villains I was talking about earlier who isn't ugly because that would make him a bad guy). But seriously, I am intrigued now. What does he do for a living because you KNOW, venture capitalist he isn't. Is he a spy? A CIA agent? MI6 or Australian equivalent? I want to know now!!! And I also want to know why, if he is any of those things, his agency would host those type of parties?
Now onto Sophia ... I need to know why I can't quite connect with her. Is she too much of a cliché? Why else would she run out on her speaking with an accent/tattoo bearing/funny/mysterious/rich date just because she happened to see a text on his phone which he accidentally left in plain view while taking a nap after an intense sex session? Has someone missed a memo about no strings? I think so, Sophia. I hope you are at least book smart ...
I am looking forward to the next instalment because I need some questions answered immediately! Like what was in that file on his desk and what was Chase Adams doing at that party, for example. Not to mention who was missing Sebastian bad enough to send him a nude photo of themselves. I know he totally sounds like a guy who would be missed by many but still. And last but not least, will he learn to password protect his phone in the future?
Cheers!
P.S. Was I the only one who got an urge to do a Dynasty marathon over the weekend after looking @ the cover?
Get ready for the usual "girl meets rich, mysterious guy with BDSM preferences" storyline but this one is totally different from the rest because it takes place in Australia. Ok, ok I am being silly ... this really does have a different vibe to it.
For starters, I am thrilled to bits that the heroine isn't a virgin and the guy is out of puberty.
Now, who is Sebastian Lock?? I would love it if he turned out to be a "James Bond" type of character. How cool would that be? Although, I doubt James Bond would have time to use bondage on his lady friends because, lets face it, the guy is always in a hurry and, as his fuck buddy, last thing I would want is to be left tied to a bed somewhere because he had to run off to save the world from some ugly Russian villain (by the way, why do they always make Russian villains so ugly in those movies? I may start to take offence eventually!). Anyways, I am getting slightly off topic here .... So, who IS Sebastian Lock? We know he tries to be funny (He sets up a meeting with Sophia under a name Mr Keys. I mean, really?? LOL! That actually WAS pretty funny, partially due to the fact that it took her till she saw him to figure out it was him. How dense can you be?). We know he has an accent (he better not be one of those Russian villains I was talking about earlier who isn't ugly because that would make him a bad guy). But seriously, I am intrigued now. What does he do for a living because you KNOW, venture capitalist he isn't. Is he a spy? A CIA agent? MI6 or Australian equivalent? I want to know now!!! And I also want to know why, if he is any of those things, his agency would host those type of parties?
Now onto Sophia ... I need to know why I can't quite connect with her. Is she too much of a cliché? Why else would she run out on her speaking with an accent/tattoo bearing/funny/mysterious/rich date just because she happened to see a text on his phone which he accidentally left in plain view while taking a nap after an intense sex session? Has someone missed a memo about no strings? I think so, Sophia. I hope you are at least book smart ...
I am looking forward to the next instalment because I need some questions answered immediately! Like what was in that file on his desk and what was Chase Adams doing at that party, for example. Not to mention who was missing Sebastian bad enough to send him a nude photo of themselves. I know he totally sounds like a guy who would be missed by many but still. And last but not least, will he learn to password protect his phone in the future?
Cheers!
P.S. Was I the only one who got an urge to do a Dynasty marathon over the weekend after looking @ the cover?
Want to read
April 5, 2013 new BDSM trilogy to add to my list :-)
Who is Sebastian Lock?
The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn’t look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.
But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care much for her promises.
Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she’d enjoy.
There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.
Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?
Contains light BDSM, including spanking, restraint, and anal play
Note: This book is the first part of a trilogy that is designed to be read together, much like The Blackstone Affair. Sebastian and Sophia will get their happily ever after, but not until the last book.
Lockout: The Alpha Group Book Two - Due May 2013
Unlocked: The Alpha Group Book Three - Due June/July 2013(less)
Who is Sebastian Lock?
The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn’t look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.
But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care much for her promises.
Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she’d enjoy.
There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.
Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?
Contains light BDSM, including spanking, restraint, and anal play
Note: This book is the first part of a trilogy that is designed to be read together, much like The Blackstone Affair. Sebastian and Sophia will get their happily ever after, but not until the last book.
Lockout: The Alpha Group Book Two - Due May 2013
Unlocked: The Alpha Group Book Three - Due June/July 2013(less)
April 15, 2013
Yes, I’ve broken my rule about not reading any more freaking trilogies with cliffhanger endings until the final bk is out. This author was so up front and kind enough to point out all the details for this series from the get go(cliffhanger for bk 1, release dates for bks 2 & 3 and an HEA in bk 3 all within the next few months), that she grabbed my curiosity so I just had to go for it. Yeppers…bk 1 ends on an H/h cliffhanger. This bk really just gets things started with Sebastian/Sophia before an “uh oh” happens at the end. I wasn't overly invested in the characters to be upset by the ending, more curious as to what happens next. Sebastian is all Mr. Mysterious and elusive, so you know there’s much more to learn about this guy. Like the h/Sophia…independent with a bit of good ole snark and has no problem putting Sebastian in his place. This bk does sort of have a small bit of the Crossfire vibe as the author has pointed out, but no major comparisons. Looking forward to bk 2 to see how Sebastian explains himself…or will it be all a big misunderstand on Sophia’s part???? Guess I’ll stay tuned.
March 27, 2013
HAVE to read this bk if only for the fact that the author was considerate enough of her readers to post the facts up front; This bk is part of a trilogy, the HEA comes in bk 3, and she gives the names and dates of release for bks 2 & 3 which thankfully comes to a conclusion by summer. No waiting for a year. Give this author a round of applause! She also references a similar series (and thank you NO...it's not Fifty) along with the sexual highlights to be expected. The series is entitled “The Alpha Group” which sounds very appealing, so count me in.
March 27, 2013
HAVE to read this bk if only for the fact that the author was considerate enough of her readers to post the facts up front; This bk is part of a trilogy, the HEA comes in bk 3, and she gives the names and dates of release for bks 2 & 3 which thankfully comes to a conclusion by summer. No waiting for a year. Give this author a round of applause! She also references a similar series (and thank you NO...it's not Fifty) along with the sexual highlights to be expected. The series is entitled “The Alpha Group” which sounds very appealing, so count me in.
October 24, 2015
Well shit, I am not sure how to rate this...it s probably somewhere between ...ah,I will give it 2.5
It really started good, sexy and interesting...but I had no , absolutely no connection with the characters further more in the story...
I didn't like the heroine ,I can't point with my finger on what exactly I didn't like about her...it just lingered above me as I followed her actions throughout the book...
And it lacks the pin point, the essence what I need to find and feel between the characters when they indulge their sexual desires through bdsm experience...
And there was none...
It really started good, sexy and interesting...but I had no , absolutely no connection with the characters further more in the story...
I didn't like the heroine ,I can't point with my finger on what exactly I didn't like about her...it just lingered above me as I followed her actions throughout the book...
And it lacks the pin point, the essence what I need to find and feel between the characters when they indulge their sexual desires through bdsm experience...
And there was none...
April 7, 2013
I can't tell you how happy I am that this book totally exceeded my expectations. It's not that I went into it with an already set frame of mind... it's just that so many books that carry the same theme of 'boy meets girl... boy's controlling and wants girl purely for sexual satisfaction'... that I've found that when you've read one, you've read them all.
But Locked didn't frustrate me in the slightest. The plot was good. The writing was awesome. The story begin on a high and keep going right through until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
It was a little on the short side, and yes, it ends with somewhat of a cliffer, but it's well worth the read if you are looking for something fun and flirty and of course, if you looking to feed your controlling alpha male fetish.
I can't really say there was anything in this book that made me think back to FSOG or Bared to you... not really. It's so unique and refreshingly so. If you love BDSM genres, but you are looking for something completely different - then Locked is the book you should most definitely read.
I really love Sophia. Again... it's refreshing to have a strong willed female character who doesn't just drop her panties when a dominant man crooks his finger. The damsel in distress get's a little sour after a while. But Sophia is bright, really cute, funny and I really loved her character. She doesn't have issues, she's pretty stable and I really enjoyed getting into her head. I found myself grinning often and really having fun while I read Locked.
Sebastian is still somewhat of a mystery to me. In fact, he's somewhat of a mystery to Sophia too. She's knows there's something... she's trying to figure it out and that's pretty much the plot to the story. BUT it's not abuse or rape that he's hiding, it's something far more exciting and I honestly can't wait to find out what it is.
As soon as I got to the end, I wanted the second part (Lockout) which will be released in May this year. So the wait isn't tragic, but yes, if you are one of those who get really annoyed with books that leave you hanging in the end, then hold off for the second part. But again, you definitely need to pick this one up if it's your type of genre :D
But Locked didn't frustrate me in the slightest. The plot was good. The writing was awesome. The story begin on a high and keep going right through until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
It was a little on the short side, and yes, it ends with somewhat of a cliffer, but it's well worth the read if you are looking for something fun and flirty and of course, if you looking to feed your controlling alpha male fetish.
I can't really say there was anything in this book that made me think back to FSOG or Bared to you... not really. It's so unique and refreshingly so. If you love BDSM genres, but you are looking for something completely different - then Locked is the book you should most definitely read.
I really love Sophia. Again... it's refreshing to have a strong willed female character who doesn't just drop her panties when a dominant man crooks his finger. The damsel in distress get's a little sour after a while. But Sophia is bright, really cute, funny and I really loved her character. She doesn't have issues, she's pretty stable and I really enjoyed getting into her head. I found myself grinning often and really having fun while I read Locked.
Sebastian is still somewhat of a mystery to me. In fact, he's somewhat of a mystery to Sophia too. She's knows there's something... she's trying to figure it out and that's pretty much the plot to the story. BUT it's not abuse or rape that he's hiding, it's something far more exciting and I honestly can't wait to find out what it is.
As soon as I got to the end, I wanted the second part (Lockout) which will be released in May this year. So the wait isn't tragic, but yes, if you are one of those who get really annoyed with books that leave you hanging in the end, then hold off for the second part. But again, you definitely need to pick this one up if it's your type of genre :D
December 11, 2013
Well actually it was pretty good, it really surprised me. Except Sophia, she was so annoying.
August 24, 2017
In my endless quest to find a "better" version of FSoG I keep picking up these billionaire BDSM books. (And, to be fair, it's hard to find a contemporary these days that ISN'T an homage to that stupid book.)
This one is set in Australia which immediately gets points from me, if for no other reason than I can imagine the hero talking dirty in an Aussie accent. The heroine is also NOT a clumsy ingenue. She's a lawyer with a snarky sense of humour and a potty mouth. Again, immediate points from me for that.
I'm not sure if I liked it enough to pay for the next two installments; on the other hand I've paid for some pretty bad books recently so I can't really use that as a yardstick.
...just waiting for the world to get tired of really rich guys tying up their girlfriends so that they can spank them...
This one is set in Australia which immediately gets points from me, if for no other reason than I can imagine the hero talking dirty in an Aussie accent. The heroine is also NOT a clumsy ingenue. She's a lawyer with a snarky sense of humour and a potty mouth. Again, immediate points from me for that.
I'm not sure if I liked it enough to pay for the next two installments; on the other hand I've paid for some pretty bad books recently so I can't really use that as a yardstick.
...just waiting for the world to get tired of really rich guys tying up their girlfriends so that they can spank them...
February 26, 2015
Really quick read but overall it's enticing and Sebastian's hot.
April 1, 2013
4 Strong Stars
This is your basic man has money, sees girl he wants to tie to his bed, and may like her more than he expected. I will say Maya Cross has definitely put her own voice on it.
I love Sophia Pearce. She is strong willed, daring and the type of best friend I'd want to have.
Sebastian Lock is obviously gorgeous, filthy rich and has a few too many secrets to hide. So far, he hasn't came off as "broken" but there's definitely more to this demanding man and Sophia isn't afraid to find them out.
It surprised me that I started this series knowing that there would most likey be a cliffhanger, the series isn't complete AND won't be complete until the third book in possibly July.
I'm strangely glad I did. Yes, there's a cliffhanger-ish type thing, but in all honestly, the book is kind of predictable. It was a really quick read with some hot action right off the bat.
I'm not DYING to know what happens next, which is probably why I'm okay with the cliffhanger. I would suggest to most that want the HEA of at least some type of closure, at least wait until book 2 is out (which is May).
Also, this book was written in Austraila, (I think?) so US readers, keep in mind spelling is a little off on certain words and some of the dialog forced me to look up what the hell they were referring to..haha.
This is your basic man has money, sees girl he wants to tie to his bed, and may like her more than he expected. I will say Maya Cross has definitely put her own voice on it.
I love Sophia Pearce. She is strong willed, daring and the type of best friend I'd want to have.
Sebastian Lock is obviously gorgeous, filthy rich and has a few too many secrets to hide. So far, he hasn't came off as "broken" but there's definitely more to this demanding man and Sophia isn't afraid to find them out.
It surprised me that I started this series knowing that there would most likey be a cliffhanger, the series isn't complete AND won't be complete until the third book in possibly July.
I'm strangely glad I did. Yes, there's a cliffhanger-ish type thing, but in all honestly, the book is kind of predictable. It was a really quick read with some hot action right off the bat.
I'm not DYING to know what happens next, which is probably why I'm okay with the cliffhanger. I would suggest to most that want the HEA of at least some type of closure, at least wait until book 2 is out (which is May).
Also, this book was written in Austraila, (I think?) so US readers, keep in mind spelling is a little off on certain words and some of the dialog forced me to look up what the hell they were referring to..haha.
September 12, 2013
The book starts off primarily introducing Sophia, our heroine. She is an attorney, does not take sass from anyone, has a voice and uses it.
On a night out with her girlfriends, she meets Sebastian but he isn't alone!!! That is when an awkward situation brings us a relentless and persistent Sebastian. We are given a preview of the twists ahead with Sophia's discovery of secretive paperwork and the club... Book 1 ends with a complete scandal and Sophia is left questioning and doubting everything involving Sebastian. He's hot, rich and their intimacy is even hotter.
Another great trilogy to add to the list! Starting book 2 now!
On a night out with her girlfriends, she meets Sebastian but he isn't alone!!! That is when an awkward situation brings us a relentless and persistent Sebastian. We are given a preview of the twists ahead with Sophia's discovery of secretive paperwork and the club... Book 1 ends with a complete scandal and Sophia is left questioning and doubting everything involving Sebastian. He's hot, rich and their intimacy is even hotter.
Another great trilogy to add to the list! Starting book 2 now!
May 29, 2013
This book was provided by Maya Cross in return for an honest review.
Read more of this review and win an eCopy of Locked by Maya Cross @
The Book Wranglers
This review has absolutely no SPOILERS.
It's as mysterious as our very own Sebastian Lock.
Mysterious, provocative, and sexy!
I was really excited when I was approached by Maya Cross to read Locked! After reading the synopsis I thought maybe this will have a different story line that will take me by surprise or at least throw some curve balls my way.
Synopsis:
Sophia Pearce and her girlfriends decide to start their evening with a bar crawl! After a couple stops and a few drinks later, they find themselves at a hole-in-the-wall bar with blurry-eyed patrons and bad booze. When a suspicious back door becomes the object of her curiosity, admitting what looks like cover models from GQ and Elle inside, Sophia gets an idea to sneak inside.
Throwing caution to the wind Sophia takes the challenge of getting behind that door. Once inside she's flabbergasted by the opulence she sees. Drinks flow freely, half naked women swim in the beautifully designed pool, and everything is super luxurious. Tipsy and now nervous, Sophia makes her way to the bar. She attempts to keep her cool to fit in, but fails when a gorgeous man oozing sex appeal and control, stands beside her.
Charming, handsome, and dominant, Sebastian Lock has captured Sophia next breath. Immediately Sophia throws her guard up. She's promised herself to avoid men like Sebastian at all costs, his easy smile and slick words have her so close to melting, but she knows she must leave before her secret is out.
When Sophia stumbles upon a sketchy situation she doesn't know exactly how to feel. Words seem to have escaped her when she's found out and can't hide how turned-on she is by the pleasures taking place in front of her. With nothing left to say she scrambles to get out before Sebastian or anyone else can catch her. In the clear and thoroughly aroused, Sophia can't seem to get Sebastian out of her head, but she's determined to forget him, forget the private room, and forget about this interesting night.
Sebastian is not willing to forget the hot and inquisitive Sophia. She may have run from him, but his interest is peaked when he sees the desire on her face and question in her eyes, and he'll do whatever it takes to find her and explore what could be between them.
The problem arises when Sophia reluctantly agrees to meet with Sebastian, but realizes his secret life and her past could possibly cause unnecessary issues for her.
The Best Thing:
Immediately I knew I would like this book. The synopsis was vague and mysterious leaving me intrigued and wanting to know more. So, I purposely left my review vague and without quotes because I didn't want to give to much away.
The plot:
I feel like I'm seeing a new trend (at least it's new to me) with secret societies for the rich and powerful. Locked seemed different to me because it's not just about a young woman and a dominant man hooking up, but a woman searching to understand a new side to herself. She's exploring the possibilities of entering the world of BDSM, and has a great teacher willing to assist her. I think the difference comes in with the fact that Maya Cross is slowly building our anticipation for what will happen between the two of them. This is a well written introduction to BDSM!
The Characters: I really loved the girlfriend banter between Sophia and her friends. Very believable. I like Sophia overall. She sounds like me or one of my friends, especially when we go out to have fun. I think Maya did a great job creating Sophia's personality. She's a workaholic who unwinds with friends and booze! (ha ha)
Sebastian Lock is somewhat different from other leading men along this story line. While he's mysterious and charming and extremely handsome, he seems to enjoy surprises (Sophia) and can easily be amused. I'm not sure if this is only a direct result of dealing with Sophia because we still don't know much about him, but he sounds wonderful. He's got a great balance of aggression and persistence, but not stalker-ish and creepy. Who is Sebastian Lock? How does he have pull in Sophia's law firm (the partners), access to that private room at the bar, and the ability to make her melt with just his words. YUM!
The Chemistry: The immediate reaction between these two is hot. To bad I couldn't be there to see it happen. Reading about how Sebastian affects Sophia even before they have the opportunity to get closer is lip-biting-sexy. I can't wait to see what will happen between them in book two.
The Worst Thing:
While I loved the slow build and the anticipation, I wish I didn't have to wait for the second book. This was a shortie but goodie and I want to read them all right behind one another.
Also, I wish I had a little more information about Sebastian but it left me hanging for book two.
Read more of this review and win an eCopy of Locked by Maya Cross @
The Book Wranglers
This review has absolutely no SPOILERS.
It's as mysterious as our very own Sebastian Lock.
Mysterious, provocative, and sexy!
I was really excited when I was approached by Maya Cross to read Locked! After reading the synopsis I thought maybe this will have a different story line that will take me by surprise or at least throw some curve balls my way.
Synopsis:
Sophia Pearce and her girlfriends decide to start their evening with a bar crawl! After a couple stops and a few drinks later, they find themselves at a hole-in-the-wall bar with blurry-eyed patrons and bad booze. When a suspicious back door becomes the object of her curiosity, admitting what looks like cover models from GQ and Elle inside, Sophia gets an idea to sneak inside.
Throwing caution to the wind Sophia takes the challenge of getting behind that door. Once inside she's flabbergasted by the opulence she sees. Drinks flow freely, half naked women swim in the beautifully designed pool, and everything is super luxurious. Tipsy and now nervous, Sophia makes her way to the bar. She attempts to keep her cool to fit in, but fails when a gorgeous man oozing sex appeal and control, stands beside her.
Charming, handsome, and dominant, Sebastian Lock has captured Sophia next breath. Immediately Sophia throws her guard up. She's promised herself to avoid men like Sebastian at all costs, his easy smile and slick words have her so close to melting, but she knows she must leave before her secret is out.
When Sophia stumbles upon a sketchy situation she doesn't know exactly how to feel. Words seem to have escaped her when she's found out and can't hide how turned-on she is by the pleasures taking place in front of her. With nothing left to say she scrambles to get out before Sebastian or anyone else can catch her. In the clear and thoroughly aroused, Sophia can't seem to get Sebastian out of her head, but she's determined to forget him, forget the private room, and forget about this interesting night.
Sebastian is not willing to forget the hot and inquisitive Sophia. She may have run from him, but his interest is peaked when he sees the desire on her face and question in her eyes, and he'll do whatever it takes to find her and explore what could be between them.
The problem arises when Sophia reluctantly agrees to meet with Sebastian, but realizes his secret life and her past could possibly cause unnecessary issues for her.
The Best Thing:
Immediately I knew I would like this book. The synopsis was vague and mysterious leaving me intrigued and wanting to know more. So, I purposely left my review vague and without quotes because I didn't want to give to much away.
The plot:
I feel like I'm seeing a new trend (at least it's new to me) with secret societies for the rich and powerful. Locked seemed different to me because it's not just about a young woman and a dominant man hooking up, but a woman searching to understand a new side to herself. She's exploring the possibilities of entering the world of BDSM, and has a great teacher willing to assist her. I think the difference comes in with the fact that Maya Cross is slowly building our anticipation for what will happen between the two of them. This is a well written introduction to BDSM!
The Characters: I really loved the girlfriend banter between Sophia and her friends. Very believable. I like Sophia overall. She sounds like me or one of my friends, especially when we go out to have fun. I think Maya did a great job creating Sophia's personality. She's a workaholic who unwinds with friends and booze! (ha ha)
Sebastian Lock is somewhat different from other leading men along this story line. While he's mysterious and charming and extremely handsome, he seems to enjoy surprises (Sophia) and can easily be amused. I'm not sure if this is only a direct result of dealing with Sophia because we still don't know much about him, but he sounds wonderful. He's got a great balance of aggression and persistence, but not stalker-ish and creepy. Who is Sebastian Lock? How does he have pull in Sophia's law firm (the partners), access to that private room at the bar, and the ability to make her melt with just his words. YUM!
The Chemistry: The immediate reaction between these two is hot. To bad I couldn't be there to see it happen. Reading about how Sebastian affects Sophia even before they have the opportunity to get closer is lip-biting-sexy. I can't wait to see what will happen between them in book two.
The Worst Thing:
While I loved the slow build and the anticipation, I wish I didn't have to wait for the second book. This was a shortie but goodie and I want to read them all right behind one another.
Also, I wish I had a little more information about Sebastian but it left me hanging for book two.
June 2, 2013
LOCKED is a fantastic short read, the first part of The Alpha Group trilogy by Maya Cross.
Sophia Pearce is an ambitious young lawyer that happens to stumble upon a high profile party in an unusal place whilst on a girls night out with her friends. She meets Sebastian Lock your typical Hot, Sexy Mysterious Millionare.
There is no denying the chemistry between them but their encounter ends in a somewhat embarrasing moment. This does not stop Sebastian seeking Sophia out. The story unfolds from there.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next in the series.
Sophia Pearce is an ambitious young lawyer that happens to stumble upon a high profile party in an unusal place whilst on a girls night out with her friends. She meets Sebastian Lock your typical Hot, Sexy Mysterious Millionare.
There is no denying the chemistry between them but their encounter ends in a somewhat embarrasing moment. This does not stop Sebastian seeking Sophia out. The story unfolds from there.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next in the series.
April 18, 2013
Had two probs with this one -first, never felt any chemistry between the hero and heroine. Second - the hero's need to be a dom and the bdsm stuff didn't feel organic to the story. Just felt there.
This one is start of a series, as no HEA at end.
Review to come
This one is start of a series, as no HEA at end.
Review to come
August 8, 2013
Hot..Hot..Hot!! That's the only way to describe this book!!!
March 30, 2013
4.5 stars, rounded up for GR.
I was lucky enough to be able to beta read this story for the author, and I can honestly say that I didn't put it down until I had finished it!
This story (really a novella) is the first of 3, with the second and third due to be released this year. So glad to hear we won't have to wait too long for more of Sebastian and Sophia. Locked begins with Sophia and some friends in a dingy bar with a mysterious back room. Sophia decides to be daring and sneaks in to see what goes on back there. She finds a gorgeous mystery man, and the story unfolds from there. Pursued by Sebastian Lock, Sophia inevitably succumbs to his charms (among other things).
This story does contain BDSM, but not BDSM ala Christian Grey. Sophia is a strong heroine who is not easily pushed around...except of course in the bedroom where she discovers her hidden submissive tendencies. Sebastian is a strong, sexy and charismatic hero. There is also a mystery component to the story, but this installment only contains a bare glimpse of it. If I had one suggestion for the author, I'd like to see a bit more of the mystery in this installment - enough to get me guessing. As it is, I don't have a clue...
I really like this author's writing style. The story is told in the first person POV, allowing us to get inside Sophia's head. I love the somewhat irreverent style used here - Sophia doesn't seem to take herself too seriously (a bit of a relief after so many angsty heroines). It's also a wonderful surprise to read a self-published novel that is virtually typo/spelling/grammar error-free! Pet peeve of mine, and I tend to be especially sensitive (I think I found 1 or 2, but even I can excuse that!). It's obvious that care was taken in publishing this work, and as a reader I definitely appreciate that. I also have to mention the fan-freaking-tastic cover...sexy and mysterious to match the book!
All in all, I really enjoyed this...highly recommend. Will definitely be looking for more from Ms. Cross.
I was lucky enough to be able to beta read this story for the author, and I can honestly say that I didn't put it down until I had finished it!
This story (really a novella) is the first of 3, with the second and third due to be released this year. So glad to hear we won't have to wait too long for more of Sebastian and Sophia. Locked begins with Sophia and some friends in a dingy bar with a mysterious back room. Sophia decides to be daring and sneaks in to see what goes on back there. She finds a gorgeous mystery man, and the story unfolds from there. Pursued by Sebastian Lock, Sophia inevitably succumbs to his charms (among other things).
This story does contain BDSM, but not BDSM ala Christian Grey. Sophia is a strong heroine who is not easily pushed around...except of course in the bedroom where she discovers her hidden submissive tendencies. Sebastian is a strong, sexy and charismatic hero. There is also a mystery component to the story, but this installment only contains a bare glimpse of it. If I had one suggestion for the author, I'd like to see a bit more of the mystery in this installment - enough to get me guessing. As it is, I don't have a clue...
I really like this author's writing style. The story is told in the first person POV, allowing us to get inside Sophia's head. I love the somewhat irreverent style used here - Sophia doesn't seem to take herself too seriously (a bit of a relief after so many angsty heroines). It's also a wonderful surprise to read a self-published novel that is virtually typo/spelling/grammar error-free! Pet peeve of mine, and I tend to be especially sensitive (I think I found 1 or 2, but even I can excuse that!). It's obvious that care was taken in publishing this work, and as a reader I definitely appreciate that. I also have to mention the fan-freaking-tastic cover...sexy and mysterious to match the book!
All in all, I really enjoyed this...highly recommend. Will definitely be looking for more from Ms. Cross.
March 25, 2013
Locked is the thrilling first part of The Alpha Group trilogy by Maya Cross.
I can't begin to tell you how good this book is.
This kind of thing isn't my usual read at all, but I'm certainly glad that my somewhat dour and condescending view of 50 Shades of Sh*t hasn't put me off venturing out of my comfort zone genre-wise, or I'd have missed this little gem.
It is everything that 50 Shades tried and failed to be.
The protagonist is a strong independent woman, who knows what she likes and where she's going in life. Her sense of adventure leads her into a world she almost daren't believe, rather than some misguided sense of unconditional pathetic puppy-love. I like our heroine. It makes an incredible difference.
The story itself is well paced and a real page turner, that has you quickly flicking your finger across the kindle to see what happens next. Cross's tidy and lyrical prose almost dances across the page, drawing you with it in it's saucy rumba ways.
The only fault I can find with Locked is that I have to wait a little while for the next installment; let's face it, that's not much of a fault at all. I can't wait to see where Maya Cross takes this twisting little tale next, and I look forward to reading more of her works in future.
I can't begin to tell you how good this book is.
This kind of thing isn't my usual read at all, but I'm certainly glad that my somewhat dour and condescending view of 50 Shades of Sh*t hasn't put me off venturing out of my comfort zone genre-wise, or I'd have missed this little gem.
It is everything that 50 Shades tried and failed to be.
The protagonist is a strong independent woman, who knows what she likes and where she's going in life. Her sense of adventure leads her into a world she almost daren't believe, rather than some misguided sense of unconditional pathetic puppy-love. I like our heroine. It makes an incredible difference.
The story itself is well paced and a real page turner, that has you quickly flicking your finger across the kindle to see what happens next. Cross's tidy and lyrical prose almost dances across the page, drawing you with it in it's saucy rumba ways.
The only fault I can find with Locked is that I have to wait a little while for the next installment; let's face it, that's not much of a fault at all. I can't wait to see where Maya Cross takes this twisting little tale next, and I look forward to reading more of her works in future.
February 7, 2014
Great, steamy -and short- read!
Loved Sebastian Lock -come on, who wouldn't- and the fact that the heroine, Sophia was not a doormat.
Since The Alpha Group series is made out of three, short books, I'm planning on reviewing them together, when the story ends.
Captivating and promising start, though!
Off to book number 2!..
Loved Sebastian Lock -come on, who wouldn't- and the fact that the heroine, Sophia was not a doormat.
Since The Alpha Group series is made out of three, short books, I'm planning on reviewing them together, when the story ends.
Captivating and promising start, though!
Off to book number 2!..
August 20, 2013
3.5STARS Review to come!
*Copy Kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
*Copy Kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
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