Dangerously Bound

Dangerous #1

by Eden Bradley

She can whip up something sweet…
 
Allie LeClair has finally returned to the sultry city of New Orleans. After ten years of studying and working as a pastry chef in San Francisco and all over Europe—and feeding her submissive side at BDSM clubs—Allie is home, and she has something to prove to the man who once fueled her desires. She’s not a child anymore.
 
But with two in the kitchen…
 
When security specialist Mick Reid hears that Allie is back in town, he knows he won’t be able to stay away for long. Ever since he discovered his darker side, Mick has tried to protect Allie from the aggressive beast within him—but that power and wildness is exactly what she wants.
 
Can they take the heat?
 
Allie has made the first move, but now it’s up to Mick. The game has begun, and playing has never been so rough.

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

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Eden Bradley aka Eve Berlin has published a number of novels and novellas, both print and e-books, with Berkley Heat, Bantam/Delta, Harlequin Spice & HQN, Black Lace Books and Samhain Publishing, as well as venturing into self-publishing. Her books have been translated into German, French, Romanian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Polish, Indonesian and Japanese. Eden has appeared regularly on Playboy Radio and conducts workshops on writing craft and writing about sex. Eden speaks regularly on BDSM safety, psychology & practice, as well as sexual positivity for women.

She loves art, shoes, tattoos, reading smutty books, chocolate and sex, of course, not necessarily in that order. You can visit her website: EdenBradley.com or her group FB page Dirty Minds Social Club!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenBradley
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorEdenBradley.Ev...
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11102...
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/edenandeve/

All of her book ratings at Goodreads reflect her favorite books, from those she loved to lifelong keepers.

Reviews

[DemetraP · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like Dangerously Bound by Eden Bradley. I was excited to read it because it is advertised as having rope bondage.

What it was instead, was everyone talking about their feelings. It's a second chance romance, they dated in high school. He dumped her because he didn't know she was kinky like him. (Stupid)

She moves back to New Orleans and uses his best friend to have a meeting with him. Surprise! She's kinky too and if he doesn't "play" with her, she'll play with someone else at the BDSM club.

Then there are scenes upon scenes of her touching herself while thinking about him. Why do we want to read about this? We don't.

Then every time they have sex, there's a problem. Oh no, it was too intense! Oh no, let's run and talk to our friends about it, BUT NOT TO EACH OTHER.

Finally, they talk it out but by this point, I don't even care.

Run away from this book.

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

After leaving her hometown of New Orleans, and Mick Reid, 12 years ago, Allie LeClair has never stopped loving him or wondering why he pushed her away so hard. Now she's back, all grown up and ready for the kink she knows will bring them together again. But with Mick's demons fighting against love for real estate in his head, will he be willing to take a chance on the two of them, orbwill he force himself to walk away like he did all those years ago?

DANGEROUSLY BOUND was the first book by Ms. Bradley that I've read, and I found it terribly annoying. Allie was pretty stalkerish, manipulating everyone so that Mick would have no choice but to top her. But then instead of being the kind of badass who makes those choices to go after what she wants, she whined and cried whenever things didn't go exactly how she anticipated. Mick's reasons for letting her go were very cliché (she's too good for him, he'll bring her down with his dirty dirty ways, blah blah blah) and his reasoning for avoiding her and not wanting to play with her initially seemed flimsy at best. The two of them had only kinky sex in common, and could barely get through a conversation with one another without crying or leaving (and then spilling their feelings to someone else).

I can't stand when a woman wraps her entire existence into one man, and one who clearly didn't want her as much as she wants him. Their chemistry was totally non-existent (she kind of had a better connection with the toys that she constantly played with in Mick's name, while his chemistry with his sparring partners was much more enjoyable) and their sex scenes had me rolling my eyes instead of my eyes rolling back in my head. All in all, this book was just irritating and not enjoyable at all. But on a positive note, the Big Easy setting was gorgeous, the editing was top notch and the cover was splendid, saving this from the very bottom of my star pile.

I received this as part of Risqué Reads new monthly subscription box, which arrived in a plain white box (read:no outward show of the dirrrrrty reads inside for your mailman to blush over). It was my first time I've received this, and it was super cute! The books were wrapped in sweet pink tissue paper, and there was an adorable little cupcake soap by Trascentuals that smelled like vanilla and berries and love. The books weren't anything current (though 2014 isn't TOO bad), which was a little disappointing, however the choices themselves were erotic and written by well known erotic romance authors.

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

KcLu‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

5 STARS

Review copy provided for an honest review


There is just something about Eden Bradley’s writing that draws you in and ties you up till you finish the book. She weaves a story so captivating that you become so wrapped up in it you can almost feel the ropes as though you are the one in them.

Allie has been in love with Mick since they dated in high school, but when he went off to college he ended things with her and broke her heart. A part of him has never forgotten him, or the one night in her early twenties when she finally got him to break his control and be with her. That one night awoke all her darkest desires, but he ran away from her before her post sex high was gone. She has spent years in the lifestyle training with some of the best Dominates in the world, and now she is back in New Orleans with a plan to get her man or finally let him go for good.

The last thing Mick expected to see when he met his friend Jamie for coffee was Allie, and he certainly wasn’t expecting the proposition they had for him. It is hard for him to wrap his mind around the fact that she would want the same dark desires that he craves. He still sees her as the innocent girl he knew all those years ago. She strait up tells him either he plays with her or she will find a Dom that will, and he will be damned if he will allow her to play with any other than himself. Can he survive having her in his ropes? Can he play her without falling back under her spell? Will he see that he isn’t as bad for her as he believes?

OH MY GOODNESS!! When I say I couldn’t put this book down, I am not exaggerating. The world around me didn’t exist why I was in Mick’s clutches! Holy hotness!!! The scenes of play between these two are some of the hottest BDSM scenes I’ve read. They aren’t just words on a page. They transport you into the story. I can’t wait to see the rest of this series. Eden definitely has given me a new Dom to lust after and wish on a star for! He is a sexy-scary-yummy sadist!! Yay!! Can’t recommend this enough!!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! In my opinion, it was as hot (if not hotter) than 50 Shades of Grey was SUPPOSED to be! I loved that this was not another billionaire luring an innocent into his world of bondage, but was a story involving a true dominant/submissive relationship! So either the author is in to kink herself, or she really did her research! I would not recommend reading this if you are not into true BDSM....I mean 50 Shades of Grey is all the rage these days, but for me it was way too tame and blah....This book however was pure hotness!! I would definitely recommend this book!

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 (Bite Me, Whip Me, Play with Me) Stars

Dangerously Bound is about going after your childhood crush, not matter the consequences.

Summary

Allie has had a crush on Mick since high school. Finally in college, she has sex with him and it’s everything she thought it would be and so much more. Mick doesn’t do commitment. He cares for Allie since they are friends, but after their one night together, things change. Allie moves away and pursues her career in baking.

Years later, Allie is back and she knows Mick is into the BDSM world and is Dominate. Allie wants to be his submissive, at least in a scene. She convinces Mick to play with her.

Review

Dangerously Bound started out great. I’m all about childhood crushes and getting second chances. Mick doesn’t think he’s good enough for Allie. She’s sweet and pure. Allie has spent years getting to know the BDSM scene and likes it. She is a trained submissive and wants Mick. Mick is reluctant to play with Allie because of past feelings, but it’s hard for him to say no.

I liked how hard Allie pursued Mick. She had that one great night in college and she’s determined to have it again. I also like how she is a trained submissive. I’ve read a lot of books where the Heroine is a naïve girl and it gets kind of old. The few scenes they do in the sex club were great, it was kinky and what I was looking for.

If you were looking for an erotic read, this one is for you

However, towards the middle and end, I felt the storyline straining a bit. Since Allie likes Mick so much she kind of doesn’t act like a typical submissive and she talks back and it’s hard to follow orders, this I did not like. Mick has so many pent-up issues from his past that he pushes Allie away. It creates great tension, but after a while I was getting frustrated by him and wanted him to stop pushing Allie away. Also the club scenes end and there’s just standard bedroom sex. Again, I like my kink factor and some public sex would have been a nice touch.

There are plenty of sex scenes and some are kinky, but very mild. Sure there’s spanking, biting and some bondage, but I guess I was looking for something a little more. I’m a bit crazy when it comes to dark reads and I guess I wanted this to be a little rough and dark.

Overall, Dangerously Bound was an okay, BDSM read with some mild kink.

AN ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review

AMAZON

[Meleka Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am giving this book a 1.25 rating. This is the story of Allie and Mick. Allie and Mick have been in love since high school. They were never really able to make it work due to Mick pushing her away. She has traveled the world for 11 years and has come back to her hometown of New Orleans to settle down and to claim her man. During those travels she has gained experience as being a submissive under various Doms in Europe. She knows Mick participates in this type of lifestyle also. Allie wants to be able to have a relationship with him in a traditional sense and also in the sense of having a Dom/sub relationship. Through manipulation and the help from a friend, she has able to trap him into playing with her.

Some things I did not get with this story. The first question that popped up in my mind was, "how and why did Mick run her away all those years"? Mick has an issue of thinking at the time of him beginning to develop or even like his kink that it was a demon he had to get rid of. He was not comfortable with himself. That is not an aspect that is attractive in a Dom. My second question was, "why does Mick deny himself of Allie"? He thinks of Allie as that teenage girl that he does not want to corrupt with this lifestyle. Throughout the story Allie tries to show him that she is an experienced woman of the world. Allie is on a mission to prove that her and Mick are meant to be, if not then it is to be goodbye. (That never happens)

I did not feel the electricity with these two characters early on in the book. I was only in chapter 2 and came to that conclusion. By that time the relationship seemed clinical and with no emotion. It seemed like the love in this relationship was one-sided. I did not see the Dom/sub dynamic. She had not fully submitted in her mind. Allie spent most of the time thinking and trying to make herself perfect for him. It seemed like she was trying to be everything he wanted even though he was not a true Dom, in a sense. Her submission was not natural. Mick did not symbolize an imposing dominance in this book. I could not put a face to him. I could not imagine how sexy he was. All I know was that he had a goatee and gray eyes. That's not enough to go on. I could not feel his dominance. It just was not there. Just because he said he was a Dom and the author said it also does not mean that it was conveyed in this book. Sadly, it was not even close. She just submitted because she liked him a lot. She would have been a switch if he asked her to.

Also, there was not any character development. It seemed as though they did not mature throughout the story. They had the same mentality as they were in high school. It was just sad to see them try to act out this dynamic. It was like watching them playing house in mom and dad's clothes that were too big for them.

Allie was a weak character. I like strong female roles that are able to show their strength in submission. She did not convey that. One minute she is stating that she was going to leave Mick and to show him what he is missing out on. That lasted about a few hours and she was right back in his arms. She did not make him work for her and her love. She would have done anything to make it work. "How many tears had she cried over Mick Reid? How many times had he turned away from her? And yet she still kept after him. It was beginning to be humiliating." She did not stick to her main mission of seeing if this relationship would work naturally and if not let it go. She has no self-control and she is a whiny baby. She looked pathetic!!!! Mick was not there in this relationship with her. Every time she wanted him to be open and communicate with him he would divert her attention from any secret telling by kissing her because that was what she craved the most out of him. He knew that was all she wanted. He was just as manipulative as she was. He did not want to be open with her.

In most books, characters have a hurdle to overcome and that is the reason they are in that lifestyle. These two had that most stupid issues. He thought of himself less of a man due to the fact that he got into a motorcycle accident, hurt his leg, and could not continue in the family tradition of being a firefighter. Really, dude!!!??? He has a successful security business that is nationwide and his family is proud of him. He is weak for that reason alone. He needs to get over that. You know it is sad when the weak female character tells him he needs to get over it. And Allie was not any better. He father died when she was ten of an aneurysm and dies. She felt at one point that her father abandoned her and that is a trigger in her relationship with Mick. Please girl. The man died and it had nothing about abandonment. Let's move on.

Their conversations were repetitive and all they did was have sex. They were happy, led to sex. They were angry, led to sex. They were frustrated, led to sex. They were depressed, led to sex. Sex was the answer to all of their problems in their eyes.

There is so much more I would say about this book. This book had so much potential, but it seemed the author was not able to bring it into fruition between the characters, their situation, and the reader. I did not feel the finality of their story. So much as left lingering in the air. However, I lost interest so it does not really matter.

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dangerously Bound, Dangerous #1, by Eden Bradley
Grade: D

“Do you really think I’m not going to kiss you, Allie? Do you really think I can stand not to?”

Allie LeClair never got over her high school boyfriend Mick Reid and after leaving her hometown of New Orleans a decade earlier, she’s finally back and ready to make some big changes. While studying as a pastry chef all over the world Allie explored more of the dom/sub relationship that she experienced one night with Mick when she was twenty. Allie found a piece of herself that night but knows that the only man she wants controlling her in bed is Mick and she will stop at nothing to get him to give their relationship one more try.

Mick Reid is shocked when Alie LeClair comes back to town but even more shocked to see that Allie has immersed herself in the lifestyle he craves and has always tried to hide from her. The thought of any other man having Allie drives Mick crazy and he has no choice but to see if she really is into BDSM as she says. The more they spend together the more Mick’s demons come out and he soon finds he’s driven Allie away right when he realized how much he needs her.

I was excited about this book since I love to read about BDSM and old flames rekindling their romance I thought it would be great but I struggled so hard to get through this book. I really liked Allie at first but as the story goes on all she does is focus, and almost obsess, about Mick and getting him back. She also cries for at least half of the scenes she’s in and it drove me crazy. By the time Allie finally sticks up for herself it was too late for me and I had already checked out. I wish she had developed a backbone earlier with Mick as well as her family.

Mick is just a jerk from start to finish. He spends most of the book being an asshat and messing with Allie’s feelings. He’s always sorry after but then goes and does it again and again and again. I found him to be very narcissistic and all he did was complain about a mistake that he did as a teenager. I never really thought that what happened to him warranted his horrible behavior and chip on his shoulder. Mick really ruined the book for me and not even the sex scenes could make it better.

I really wanted to like Dangerously Bound but it was just a big mess for me. I wish that I had liked the characters more and that Allie had more faith and respect for herself. I also wanted to see more interaction and finalization between Allie and her family which never came about. All in all this was just not the book for me.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know those times when you find yourself casually perusing the bookstore not really intending to buy anything, then all of a sudden you find yourself standing in the middle of Barnes and Noble reading a book and all of a sudden 15 minutes have gone by? That's how I found this book. Looking back now, however, I'm not entirely sure what it was about this novel that drew me in.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a horribly written book. I'll give credit where credit is due; Eden Bradley's writing style is generally quite good, she doesn't romanticize abuse and then get pissy when people call her out on it (unlike certain other authors *cough*E L James*cough*), and she actually knows how to write some pretty hot kinky sex scenes. That being said, most of the truly sexy scenes happen pretty early on before the sex becomes rote and boring... but we'll come back to that later.

My real problem with this novel has to do with its two main characters, Allie and Mick. The basic premise of the novel is that when they were younger these two were apparently super in love, went through an awkward breakup having to do with Mick being afraid of "corrupting" Allie or whatever, so now after being gone for 10 years Allie has moved back to her hometown and turns out to have been into BDSM all along, and wants to try again with Mick. Sounds reasonable enough at first, and with a plot like that of course some drama is to be expected, but holy shit, does it get exasperating fast! Now, please do keep in mind that I did honestly try to give this book a fair chance, but the first time I gave it a go I put it down about halfway through and didn't touch it again for maybe six months, despite repeatedly halfheartedly telling myself that I should finish it so that I could at least give it a fair review. Last week when I finally did, I just picked it up right where I left off without really going back for a refresher on what had already happened, and I could only bring myself to skim through about half of the rest of the book (essentially, most of the sex scenes and some of the repeated drama), so I apologize if my critique isn't as thorough or coherent as it could be. I'll try to break down my issues with how irritating this couple is as best as I can.

The most glaring issue with the romance between Mick and Allie is how damn immature and melodramatic they are. The thing about this book that shocked me the most is that these characters are supposed to be about 30 years old, because I had to keep reminding myself that despite them having close to a decade more life experience than myself, I'm confident that I far outstrip both of them in terms of emotional maturity and the ability to maintain a mature, stable relationship. I mean really, it just pushed the boundaries of believability in terms of characters behaving in an age-appropriate manner. I know the narrative just wants to hammer into our heads that Allie and Mick are super-duper in "love" with each other, but when you're confronted with the fact that neither one of them has apparently matured in a romantic sense since high school you have to wonder just how sustainable this romance really is.

Yeah, you heard me, I said high school. This kinda-sorta relates to their general angsty immaturity towards each other, but another thing that really bugs me is the whole "high school sweethearts" trope. Understand that I don't mean to offend anyone who went on to marry or otherwise find long-lasting love with a high school boyfriend/girlfriend, but the way in which it plays out really puts some strain on my suspension of disbelief. Falling in love with someone as a teenager can totally happen, but making it work in the long run takes the kind of mutual effort and the ability to grow and change together that Mick and Allie totally lack. Because they're picking up right where they left off as teens--well, technically after a one night stand in college after they had already broken up in high school, but whatever--the two of them never really got to grow and change together. And yes, people in real life can also reconnect with someone from high school and eventually fall in love, but that's because in real life these couples enter into a relationship as mature, functional adults who probably already know what they want out of a relationship and don't give themselves stomach ulcers angsting over wacky misunderstandings and woeful mistakes from the distant past. There's none of that whatsoever in Allie and Mick's relationship; they consistently regress to childish ways of thinking and behaving around each other and constantly make errors in communication which could easily be resolved by a more realistically mature couple, but instead serves as the lifeblood which fuels the plot.

The "high school sweethearts reconnecting" thing also bugs me because in the context of the story it's just so unrealistic. So, you're asking me to believe that Mick and Allie, despite having 10+ years of life experience and multiple sexual (and implied romantic) partners have NEVER stopped obsessing over each other, never fallen out of love, never truly got over their breakup, and never experienced the slightest change in how they felt about each other? After not having seen each other or spoken to each other for TEN YEARS? And even taking into consideration a combination of "absence makes the heart grow fonder" and pure nostalgia giving a boost to these feelings, you still want me to believe that THIS is the basis for an ideal, lasting, One True Love relationship? I know this is romance fiction, but I still find it hard to believe that after not having been together for about 12 years (in high school!) and not having seen each other/slept together for 10 years that Mick and Allie wouldn't have just moved the fuck on already.

One thing I'll say in Allie's defense, though, is that her character bothers me far less than Mick's. At least she is demonstrated in the narrative to be capable of age-appropriate thoughts and behavior during the few times when the world doesn't seem to revolve around her love of Mick, but this dude seems to be perpetually stuck in the mentality of a brooding 18-year-old (at most). One interesting(?) thing about the novel is that it switches between Allie's and Mick's POV's pretty fairly, although whether or not this is a positive I'm not entirely sure, since it basically means we get twice as many inner thoughts of wangst, emotional turmoil, irrationality, and deep insecurity as most romance novels. So now we get to see just how irritating and infuriating Mick is deep down. I get the feeling that Eden Bradely was trying to strike a balance between the stereotypical "bad boy love interest" and the stereotypical "nice guy" with him, and in a way I can kind of appreciate that; if you know of my opinion of FSOG then you know what my feelings are about "bad boy love interests. And even though he is most definitely NOT a creepy, manipulative, abusive asshole and does seem to be a good person who genuinely cares for Allie, I will give him part of the same criticism that I gave to Christian; his entire personality and way he's presented in the novel is almost solely focused on him brooding over how "dark" and "dangerous" he is and how he isn't good enough for his love interest.

My issues with Mick go far beyond that, though; feeling like you're not good enough for someone is understandable (though in a story it gets old really fast), but Mick's whole attitude towards his relationship with Allie in a BDSM context is really weird and unhealthy and honestly a little bit offensive. He goes on and on at length about how ever since he fell for her at 16 or whatever he put her up on this massive pedestal and has a weird vibe going on reminiscent of the Madonna/Whore Complex where he obsesses over how pure, innocent, and virginal she is/was, despite Allie's constant insistence that she was never some pure untouchable angel. The whole reasoning behind their breakup was kind of confusing and I don't really care to go back and reread a whole bunch of crap now to try to figure it out, but I guess part of his rationale was that he was starting to get these "dark" urges for sexual dominance and bondage, and didn't want to "corrupt" Allie and drag her down a dark path... or something. And even now, after 10+ years of kinky sexual experience during which he learned to express his dominant side in a healthy way, even after his first time having sex with Allie during their hookup in college was a kinky experience, and even after learning that Allie had gone on to become an experience submissive, even after going through years of life experience that you think would teach him that he's not "dangerous" or "damaged" in ways not strictly related to BDSM, he STILL maintains this attitude and doesn't fully shake it off until pretty much the last three pages of the book.

Oh wait, you want to know more about that kinky one night stand in college? Why thank you so much for reminding me, that's another thing that pisses me off. So, apparently what happened was that the first time Mick and Allie had sex was when they decided to hook up and I guess try to get back together during college. It was also apparently the first time either one of them had tried anything kinky (I think? Maybe it was just Allie and Mick had some experience, the book is a little unclear about this). I guess it went pretty well at first until Allie started crying afterwards, which caused Mick to believe that she'd hated it and thought he was some kind of monster so he just abandoned her in the middle of the night while she was sleeping and then never contacted her for ten years. Um, ok. Kind of a dick move, but considering this is Mick we're talking about (see the above paragraph), I guess his heart was in the right place and you can kind of understand- OH WAIT, IT WAS ALL JUST A WACKY MISUNDERSTANDING, JK LOL. Yeah... turns out Allie was just crying because it was such a beautiful moment and she was just so emotional and was the moment when she realized that she was submissive and it was totally everything she ever wanted.

Soooooo..... Allie, mind explaining just why the fuck you didn't feel like explaining all this to Mick in the first place ten fucking years ago?!?! I mean really; look, I can understand if she was confused by her feelings in the moment and didn't immediately know how to process why it made her so emotional, but Christ almighty, that doesn't mean she couldn't have at least TRIED to explain that her crying wasn't a negative reaction and that she wasn't upset! And ya know, Mick could've at least TRIED to ask her what was wrong, why she was crying, and not just totally abandon her without saying anything to try to understand her reaction. I mean, shit, did these two even have any kind of conversation immediately after the sex was over? The book just says that they fucked, she cried, he left, and leaves a bunch of stuff up in the air. And the real kicker is that if these two DID have any kind of reasonable response to this one moment 10 years ago, then the entire plot of the novel and all the drama that was driving it might never have happened! Why are romance novel characters always so goddamn stupid?????!!?!

Now that that's out of my system, let's talk about what I did enjoy. As I've said before, Eden Bradley does actually have a way with words, and she's pretty damn talented at crafting an interesting and hot sex scene. Ironically, some of the best sex scenes--which happen early on in the novel-- don't feature the standard PIV sex at all, and are really just craftily written BDSM "scenes", two of which take place in the local BSDM club. They're so well done that I can't help but wonder if the author herself is actually a legitimate kinkster. Despite my frustration with Mick, he does generally seem to be a good Dominant, and I like that she even gave him a particular kink that he's really into (his big thing is rope bondage). She goes into some really interesting detail about the rope work, weaves in a lot of other little details that flesh out the intricacies of a "scene" and describes the characters' emotions so well that at first I was actually shocked at having finally found a piece of erotica just this amazing. You can tell that even if these two characters are constantly bemoaning their melodramatic relationship at all other times, they at least have sexual chemistry to spare.

I guess what I liked best about the sex early on in the novel was not only that it was kinky, but that it wasn't the "standard" sex you expect to see in fiction; for the most part, it was an excellent example of what a good D/s dynamic should look like (in the bedroom, at least), and showcased a loving attention to detail. At one point, I was even surprised to find that they used a sex toy I wasn't previously familiar with! So Eden Bradley definitely gets points for creativity; unfortunately, though, that was not to last. At first it was great because it was unique, sexy, and also used rather sparingly, and while the first few sex scenes that did actually have sex in them were pretty hot and implemented enough bondage and general variety to keep my interests, it hit a certain point just past halfway or so that the sex soon turned into repetitive, mindless fucking on every other page. I guess that's pretty standard for erotica, though: in every story there must come a point where the plot just stalls so the sex picks up, but then that gets boring pretty quickly. *sigh* Maybe I'll just never find the erotic novel that's right for me...

I guess what made me happiest of all about this novel was the way it treated BDSM, although that was tempered by Mick's shitty attitude. But apart from him, the few other characters who are kinky are portrayed as well-adjusted people, and in general things are pretty realistic. There's a few things I could nitpick of course; for example, there's a part where Mick goes to a BDSM club and is served alcohol, which I'm pretty sure that most clubs wouldn't do (anyone who actually has club-going experience feel free to correct me on this, I'm just going off of what I learned from visiting the websites of one or two real-life clubs). But other than a few minor things the BDSM community is portrayed in a very realistic way, and despite Mick wavering back and forth between thinking it's no big deal and thinking it makes him "dark", he does get called out on it by Allie and others, so props to Eden Bradley for that.

This review turned out to be way longer than I expected it to be, and it wasn't even as nitpicky as I expected it to be. But oh well. It makes me kind of sad to give this book a largely negative review, because I wanted so badly to like it going in. I guess I just got a little over-excited about the positives that drew me in, so that even with a healthy dose of initial skepticism I still ended up disappointed. But it a lot of ways it is a major improvement over the published erotica and much of the online erotica I've read before. But as much as I had wanted to give this one at least three stars, and really can't justify giving it any more than 2 1/2. It's entertaining for a while, but ultimately the exhausting melodrama just isn't worth it. I'm not sure if I'll be reading any more Eden Bradley after this, but maybe if it looks promising enough I might be convinced to give another one of her works a chance.

[Jeanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started out just fine, but the story really didn't go anywhere. It was the same thing throughout the whole book. I'm totally fine with smut for smut's sake.. but this.. I had no idea so many "scenes" could be so boring. I almost DNFed, but I'm not a quitter 😂

[Smutty McBookwhore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This might be the worst BDSM book I’ve ever read. It was so emotional and over the top with feelings. Absolutely ridiculous. For two people to be in the sub/dom world for 12 years, it was like reading teenagers who just got introduced to BDSM. The only reason I gav it 2 stars is that I think it was the best writing when it came to the rope scenes. I usually get lost in those when reading other books but this one was the perfect discription. THAT IS IT! Not worth reading...save your self a ton of eye rolling.

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Bradley knows her stuff, I was quickly drawn into Allie and Mick’s story, I even found myself wanting to visit New Orleans because the city came alive on the pages of this book.

Allie and Mick love each other, but they have a past, a past that is full of some dark things especially on Mick’s part. I really enjoyed the way that Mick really struggled with being good enough for Allie, it made him a very real character to me. It’s a great example that Dom’s are human, which is something missing from other novels in the BDSM genre.

Allie has her own struggles, especially with family and finding her place among them. I did love that no matter what, no matter how tough, she wasn’t willing to give up on Mick. Together these two are some of the hottest characters I’ve read in a long time. Especially when they played, him binding her were some of the hottest scenes I’ve ever read.

It’s obvious that Ms. Bradley knows her rope and the way a sub feels when bound, she does a beautiful job of portraying those feelings and emotions to the reader. Ms. Bradley blends love, kink and passion into a beautifully orchestrated story of second chances. I highly recommend this story, it’s masterfully done and a definite story that I will enjoy many times again and again.

Reviewed by Sheri for Cocktails and Books

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good in the beginning. I liked how Allie wasn't too emotional or dramatic. I was anticipating a great book. Towards the middle it just got too annoying. Some books just make you hate the main character. I felt like Allie knew what she was getting herself into, but she still acted shocked and hurt when things didn't go back to the way she hoped. She automatically expected to pick up where they left off. Annoyingly, she was very dramatic and emotional. She cried often and it became irritating. She wanted Mick to feel bad for her and thought by crying she'd get his attention and get her way. Also, outside of the Bastille and her house, there weren't many locations for the author to develop the characters outside of their sexual relationship. The entire book was mostly about bedroom scenes, which is good for those who are looking for that type of book.

[E. Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dissapointed cause I really wanted to like this one. Read more like an anti-Fifty Shades 'this is the RIGHT way to portray bdsm' how-to manual than a romance. Way too much introspection from the hero and heroine and I thought the hero's reasoning for pushing the heroine was really weak.

[Kathy Poche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written slightly better then 50 shades of gray, this book leaves nothing to the imagination. There is nothing compelling about either of the main characters & towards then end (page 273) it becomes evident that it's not even worth finishing the book.

[Shawnie Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't finish this which sucks because I thought it had so much potential when it started but half way in and I'm like "What the fuck?"

so I'm officially putting it down. because Yeah I can't.

[Bridget · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring story - predictable characters and predictable behavior. Just hard to recommend this. Skipped over the last third.

[Lynne M · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. This may be the worst book I've read this year!!!

I tried, I really did, but I couldn't finish this one- and I'm not someone who usually stops reading something unless it is truly god-awful. Which this one was.

Where to start? Good Lord!

Allie, the heroine, is my age- 30. She's been obsessing over Mick since she was 15. He dumped her. Now, they're both kinky, and she's still obsessed with him and willing to do anything to get him to be hers. That's pretty much the jist of this book.

The characters are like cardboard cutouts rather than fully realized people. I just felt no connection to them. Allie is a whiny, immature stalker, and Mick... yeah, I don't know why any woman would spend half their life obsessing over him. He is an asshole who likes everyone around him to feel sorry for him- boo hoo, I'm not good enough for you, Allie! If he were a real person, I'd tell him to grow a set of cojones and act like the Dom he's supposed to be! There is literally nothing appealing about him, and nothing appealing about Allie. I guess they are a perfect match!

This author also accomplished what I never thought possible- she made bondage rope scenes so damn boring I kept flipping past them. How is that even possible??? The rope scenes feel like they're from some kind of how-to manual. There is no build up, no heat, and no connection between the two characters. I've read other stories with similar plots, and I've felt like I needed a bucket of ice to cool off just from reading them.

That didn't happen here. At all.

I didn't even care, halfway through the book, whether or not these two ended up together. I was way too bored to keep going. Absolutely terrible! If you value your time, skip this book!!!!

[c.k. enigma · Rating 3 out of 5]

After almost a decade, Allie returns to New Orleans with a developed love of BDSM. She seeks out her high school love, Mick, in an attempt to rekindle their relationship. Despite their mutual obsession with one another, he is still intent on pushing her away. (BDSM, kink, romance, second chance)

This book is seriously lacking in plot, but makes up for it in smut. The majority of this book is spice with a sprinkle of story in between. I believe the BDSM was well written; going into negotiations, limits, subspace, and aftercare. It was freaking annoying how Mick would just shut down whenever they were remotely vulnerable with each other. It was this constant push and pull that gave me whiplash.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

First book by this author, I was not impressed. Basically all really hot sex, not disappointed there but the lack of character story line, it left me asking a lot of questions, like did she open a bakery or did her family come around, and what about him, not getting the "I love you son even though your not a fireman" speech, it sort of left everything open ended or was that stuff not important... then why mention it at all?

[Peyton Landry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fell short after the first bondage scene. The rope bondage was amazing writing. But I was hoping for more after that. Story was strong. Characters always seem to talk in bed, which was a bit repetitive for me. I like Eden's writing style and story telling. I've read other works from her which were great. Was just hoping for more of a punch this time, especially the way this story started.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I put a four star this time simply because I didn't enjoy the audio version as much as I did reading the print version of the book. The characters are still as great as they were the first time I read the story, but the narrator I think, at times, didn't put enough enthusiasm in her words as was needed. Other than that it was an enjoyable listen.

[Chelsea Hackert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. The series can be read together or all as standalones. This book jumps right into the BDSM realm of things, with a history between the two main people. It is a complicated history, but to find out more you'll have to read it for yourself. You wont be disappointed

[Bailee Weaver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very good at all. This book feels like a cheaper version of 50 shades of gray. But the love story is more shallow and although the sex scenes are raunchy, I found them repetitive and got bored with them before I was halfway through the novel.
I wont be reading the second part to this book.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I give this book a 2.5 out of 5. This book started out good and then by Chapter 12 I was skipping paragraphs and sometimes pages just so I could get to the end. I didn't even finish the last few pages.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep, dark, and dangerous.

[Jordan Monroe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This gets an extra star for adequately portraying a BDSM lifestyle. However, Mick is as myopic a character as Christian Grey and Allie is a disappointment.

[Lila]

Second chance romance
Dark alpha hero
New Orleans

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly wasn't a fan! Didn't keep me engaged at all.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable....It was just ok.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much plot to this book. A lot of smut, spaces between silly arguments. But the smut was enjoyable and made it a quick read!