Enslaved: Book 1 in the Enslaved Trilogy

Enslaved Trilogy #1

by Shoshanna Evers

From a red-hot erotica writer comes an original eBook—a sensual romp across the playgrounds of the unbelievably rich and extremely sexy.Elisabeth Anderson has seen Trevor and his friends at the infamous Manhattan BDSM club WhipperSnapper, where everyone calls them the BAD Boys, for “Billionaire Arrogant Doms.” The BAD Boys—Trevor Brooks, Marc Wilde, and Roman Chase—are aptly named; they’ve made money hand over fist due to their aggressive investing at the Brooks Wilde Chase Fund. These guys are so rich they can get away with anything, or so the rumors go.

Trevor gives Elisabeth full reign of his estate in Westchester, letting her do as she pleases. He has only two rules. Rule One: she must obey and submit to him while she is living in his house. Rule Two: always answer the blue cell phone. She’s happy to oblige, because being with Trevor makes her want to obey, to love him the way he seems to be falling for her. But Elisabeth’s never been good at being the quiet sub; she's feisty and gets off on the punishments more than she does by pleasing Trevor.

Elizabeth can’t submit to Trevor the way he needs her to, so his friend and business partner (and fellow BAD Boy) Roman takes her in hand. But love triangles can have sharp edges...and somebody’s bound to get hurt.

Genres: Erotica, BDSM, Romance, Erotic Romance, Adult, Contemporary, Dark

169 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2013

About the author

New York Times and USA Today New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Shoshanna Evers has written dozens of sexy stories since her debut in 2010, including Beauty and the Beast (an erotic re-imagining), The Man Who Holds the Whip, and I Am Not Your Melody, all of which hit the bestseller lists in box sets. Among her most popular books are The Tycoon’s Convenient Bride...and Baby, Overheated, The Enslaved Trilogy, How to Write Hot Sex, and the controversial novella Held Captive by the Cavemen.

Shoshanna Evers has been listed on Amazon as one of the "Most Popular Authors in Romance," as well as on the Contemporary Romance, and Erotica "Most Popular Authors" lists.
Reviewers have called Shoshanna’s writing “fast paced, intense, and sexual…every naughty fantasy come to life for the reader” with stories where “the plot is fresh and the pacing excellent, the emotions…real and poignant.”

Ms. Evers is also the cofounder of SelfPubBookCovers.com, the largest selection of instantly customizable, one-of-a-kind, premade book covers in the world.

Shoshanna used to work as a syndicated advice columnist and a registered nurse, but now she’s a full-time smut writer and a home-schooling mom. She lives in the mountains of north Idaho with her family and three big dogs, and loves to connect with readers on Twitter @ShoshannaEvers, and Facebook at facebook.com/shoshanna.evers. Visit her on the web at ShoshannaEvers.com for excerpts, contests and updates!

She welcomes emails from readers and writers, and loves to interact on Twitter and Facebook.

Sexily *Evers* After... ShoshannaEvers.com

Blogs:
TheWritersChallenge.com
ShoshannaEvers.com/blog

@ShoshannaEvers
Facebook

Reviews

[Vishous · Rating 1 out of 5]

why one star?

because there is not one thing i did like in this book...

ok, maybe Roman a little bit before the end but that is pretty much that!

to some of you maybe this would be a light bdsm read, it wasn't even that hard for me too, but some things just didn't work out for me ---- pretty much all things....

i don't know really how to write a review for this one so i should just spill out how i feel afterwards...

this book annoyed me, frustrated me, made me angry, made me rolling eyes and screaming: "OMG!", "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!" and the most often one "WTF?!?!"

i wasn't shocked at the sex part, even though it was more about pain and discipline and how to be whipped with the cane,and how the pain itself is what gives satisfaction, how the obeying is really important blah blah blah blah blah you know the bdsm essence.... no sexual penetration, all about pain giving pleasure...

what shocked me was the main female character!
i can not believe that someone could made up such a stupid and utterly annoying female!
what we have is a woman that doesn't mind being shared to another doms because she doesn't have love with her current dom, only very well functioning relationship where she behaves bad so she could be punished and he has somebody to punish because he is a sadist...
she lives for pain - to be more precise she is a PAIN-SLUT and she is proud of that but then again she doesn't think of herself as a slut but through the book you would understand that she would submit herself to any man that shows her pain and f*ucks her rough, but then again she doesn't want to enjoy in her orgasm because..... why really? honestly i forgot the real reason because this book seriously made some damage on my brain....

and then her inner struggle!
omg!
i wanted to run to some lunatic with ak-47 and begged him to end my life and not to stop shooting until he wasn't sure there was no chance i survived that!

she was a sub but didn't behaved like one, pardon me she acted like a bratt....

then Trevor... giving her to Roman to teach her to obey like real sub...

then Trevor and Roman.... sharing her back and forth .... and her jumping like some puppet back and forth even though she loves Trevor and A-HA later Ramon (of course the one that never falls in love blah blah blah you know the rest)...

i am sorry but i obviously can not write this review...
i already said too much stuff i wasn't allowed to but this book simply lobotomized my brain.........

the dialogue... omg so weird and ridiculous and "did i really read that" moments!

the lack of chemistry between characters! through the whole book!!!!!! between both couples! m/m and m/f!

i could just cry because i spent my time reading this...

the quoting is not allowed but i am apologizing and writing at least two WTF moments (and trust me i was highlighting like crazy):

"you couldn't turn a vanilla girl into kinkster more than you could turn a lesbian straight just by having a fat c@ck"


"she liked the idea of horses, and she heard they could cause a newbie quite a bit of pain between the legs if ridden incorrectly, which she was bound to do, so that might be fun. was that gross? she laughed."

i apologize for such a horribly written review but my thoughts are everywhere and nowhere....

is it possible to hurt your brain?!!?!?!?!?





*ARC courtesy of Pocket Star via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was another fail for me.

I was intrigued by the concept, to be honest. I have no problem reading about people who are into hard-core BDSM lifestyles, people who want to live in a master-slave type of relationship. I find those types of arrangements interesting, and I was looking forward to a book where that dynamic was explored. I'm not going to hate on the characters for their sexual preferences, that part of the book is fine by me. What I had an issue with was the romance element of the story.

Why on earth does Trevor love her? They never talked about anything real, Elisabeth was strangely detached for their whole relationship, and yet he still thinks she is the one? It just totally didn't work. The writer clearly didn't know how to transition them from a S&M relationship into a romantic one so she just threw it in there, like the reader should just accept it without any backing? And their chemistry was totally lack-luster. And why does Roman fall in love with her too? They had even less interaction?? It is just stupid. Because she submits to him and likes pain? That isn't love, that is just sexual chemistry. Try harder next time. Ugh. Duck shows this type of relationship much better, albeit with a M/M type of context. Oh, and that reminds me, the POV changes from Elisabeth to Gregory were just pointless. Did they add that in to have a bit of M/M action? I don't get the reasoning behind those scenes.

**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elisabeth is a self professed "pain slut". She is living with her current Dom who has realized that he can no longer serve as her Dom as he is interested in a man. He wants to see her happy so he sets about finding her a replacement. But Elisabeth is a bratty pain slut in need of some training. She tops from the bottom and has no idea what true submission is all about. She has been able to trust others with her body but her heart is another matter. Elisabeth wants nothing more than someone to feed her pain, or at least that's what she thinks she wants.

Trevor has tried dating the traditional way in the past and ended up in a marriage where his wife was repulsed by his desires. He knows he can not go through that again and he sets his sights on a different arrangement. One where he takes in a willing sub with the possibility of something more. But what he finds is a bratty sub who gets off on pain and won't let him in. He enlists the help of his friends to help train her. Roman agrees to help but things get very complicated very quickly.

I liked this book, I really wanted to love it. The story jumped about a bit and some scenes seemed to be left hanging. The dialogue was a bit stunted in parts and there could have been so much more delicious pleasure. I'm not sure what happened her as the story line has LOTS of potential and the author is a seasoned veteran. Some tweaking may be in order before release!


P.S. The name of the club made me cringe! I thought about little boys in jumpers every time I read it. (WipperSnapper)

***This book was given in exchange for a fair and honest review.***

[Jenee -Jenee's Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enslaved by Shoshanna Evers was a great read. I really like the BDSM category in erotic romance. This book had all the elements I look for including: dominant men, a heroine with a backbone, sexy scenes, a great storyline, and entertaining secondary characters. The story starts out on a sad note when we learn that the heroine, Elisabeth has been un-collared by her long time Master, Gregory. I think the way Shoshanna Evers explained the separation really made you feel for Elisabeth and understand the way she felt, even for someone who has never read about BDSM.

“She obeyed, even after months of separation. Gregory had released her from her collar, and now her neck felt naked as her soul. Without a collar, without a Dom—even one who couldn’t lover her—Elisabeth felt lost. She found herself touching her neck often, the way a recent divorcee touches her newly-bare ring finger.”

Trevor is one of the BAD boy billionaires that frequent the club WhipperSnapper. Trevor notices Elisabeth when he sees her there with her former Master and asks for an introduction and to be allowed to borrow her for a scene. They have an instant connection and she is later sent to his home after her relationship with Gregory has been dissolved for over a month. I really loved Trevor’s character. He was dominant, and sexy but Ms. Evers didn’t go overboard making his character one of those “jerk” doms. He may be dominant, but he is also sexy, funny, caring, and a genuinely good guy who is looking for the right sub missive to build a life with after ending a bad marriage with a woman who didn’t accept his need to dominate. In my book Trevor is the perfect balance of sexy dominant male, and caring gentle lover. I believe Ms. Evers was trying to show us the true balance in a loving D/S relationship is about finding the other part of your soul that completes you. Where Elisabeth is submissive and wants pain, Trevor is dominant and wants to give pleasure. Elisabeth and Trevor are the perfect yin and yang and you can actually see in their interactions that they would meet each others needs perfectly. I loved the banter between Trevor and Elisabeth.

“My safeword is Teotwawki.”-Elisabeth
“That’s not Japanese, it is? Because Roman’s the only one who knows Japanese.”-Trevor
“It’s an acronym. I didn’t make it up. It stands for The End Of The World As We Know It. Teotwawki. Because if I use that safeword—“Elisabeth
“I get it, very cute.”-Trevor
“It’s not ****ing cute. It’s my safeword, and I’ve never had to use it.”-Elisabeth

I loved the Julian, the gay stylist employed at Trevor’s home. He was a breath of fresh air, and a hilarious addition to a sometimes serious household.

“And shave your legs, girl, you know Julian don’t like working on no gorillas.”

I think Elisabeth was comfortable with her previous master, Gregory. I think it took her entering a “relationship” with Trevor to realize she was missing the feeling of love that could be involved in a D/S relationship, and unlike most people, it scared her to have those feelings. I think Ms. Evers explained the way Elisabeth felt very well, which helped the reader understand why it was so hard for her to let go of that vulnerable part of her that was always locked away.

"She wanted to go to subspace, to feel pain beyond her imagination, to endure."

"Gregory was a sadist, and didn’t care if she came or not, which was the way she liked it. Trevor, on the other hand, was more than just a sadist. He was a Dom, that much was clear. He wanted control over all of her, including her pleasure."

“Don’t you think you deserve someone to love?”-Trevor
“Probably not. I imagine I’d screw things up so bad if anyone was ever stupid enough to fall in love with me.”-Elisabeth

And now we come to the person I really felt for. Roman is one of the BAD Boys, and Trevor’s best friend. He introduced Marc and Trevor to BDSM back in college at Yale. He is a sadist, he appears to be a cold dominant who goes strictly by the rules, and a playboy who is never seen with the same submissive more than once. He is a self proclaimed bachelor and plans never to enter a relationship. So logically thinking he would be the prefect candidate to train Elisabeth without getting emotionally attached right….oh how wrong that statement was. I loved how Ms. Evers explained throughout the book the type of person Roman was, because it made it so much easier to love him for the person he became with Elisabeth at the end of the book. I won’t say any more on this because it’s a major factor in the story but I love when a truly bad boy finds the right girl to reform him, and for me that’s Roman. I give this book 4 stars and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

[Georgana ~ Valentine PR & Literary Managment · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina's Review

Loving someone ends in heartbreak, every time.

I have waited several days to write this review for Enslaved by Shoshanna Evers because I have been trying to wrap my head around what I wanted to say that would make sense. I feel like after reading some of the other reviews out there, I walked away with a completely different feeling from this book then some others. I adored this story of Elisabeth and Trevor. It had all the elements in a good BDSM book that I enjoy and was so glad that Shoshanna recommended this one for me to read.

In Enslaved, Elisabeth is moving from one Master to potentially a new one. Gregory, her former Master was a sadist and for Elisabeth, who is a total masochist…they were a perfect match. When Gregory decides to embrace his homosexuality and sends her off to live with Trevor, Elisabeth will have to relearn her role as a submissive. The break that she had to make from Gregory really pulled at my heart strings….imagine serving someone and then one day being sent away to live with someone else….yes, her walk in the train station made me misty eyed.

I fell in love with Trevor off the bat…he is what I call a gentle Dom. He is kind and sweet and want to lavish Elisabeth in his lifestyle, yet he has a firm hand and expects nothing but total submission….but will Elisabeth fit the bill? Elisabeth, who is self-professed pain slut, might be more than Trevor has bargained for. Her youth has molded her into a woman who craves the pain and does not want to experience the joy of pleasure. Many people called Elisabeth bratty, but I found her to be something else. I found her to be a woman who enjoys being a masochist because the pain she endures masks having to feel emotion. When she goes from Gregory, a man who very rarely even orgasm or even pleasure to Trevor who wants to experience all the emotions of a sexual relationship, Elisabeth doesn’t know how to cope. Is her acting out being bratty to get pain? I just never got that….for me she acted with Trevor the same way she acted with Gregory because it was the only way she knew how to be a submissive.

Once Trevor realizes he can’t make her submit for love but just for pain, he sends her off to be trained by his best friend and business partner Roman. Now Roman is probably better suited for Elisabeth….he is more the type of Master that will dole out the punishments that she craves. But the crux of this whole scenario is that Elisabeth WANTS to be Trevor’s submissive, she just doesn’t know how to trust in him and let herself be loved and being with Roman is totally confusing her because she knows he is the type of Dominant that she is more accustomed to.

With Roman and Trevor both falling for Elisabeth, a decision has to be made. I was almost shocked in the direction Shoshanna took the ending because it wasn’t necessarily what I thought would happen, but yet it was just perfect. I think that is why this book worked so so well for me….in the end Elisabeth got the person who was ultimately best built for her. Looking forward to jumping into book two, Enamored which is Marc’s story….the third business partner and best friend to see what he has up his sleeve!

[Carin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Enslaved we are introduced the the 3 über wealthy men that make up the BAD boys (Billionaire Arrogant Doms), Trevor the hero of Enslaved has been married and failed to be able to adjust his BDSM needs with that of his very vanilla now ex-wife. Trevor is introduced to Elisabeth, a girl who grew up in the projects, by her former master who has uncollared her and is embracing his homosexuality.

While Enslaved is not an extremely long book it manages to create characters with depth and give them background. The BDSM world that Trevor and Elisabeth participate in is detailed and intense. Ms. Evers does a fantastic job of presenting both points of view and allows you to empathize or even sympathize (depends on YOUR kink) with the hero and heroine. We are also treated to a wonderful cast of secondary characters that will be involved in future books.

If you like your BDSM a little on the intense side and while still getting your happy ever after then Enslaved is a book you will enjoy a great deal.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Jessy (Jessy's Book Club) · Rating 2 out of 5]

As posted on http://jessysbookclub.wordpress.com/

I was so excited to read this one when I read the blurb.

Unfortunately I din’t love it as I thought I would. So Elisabeth is uncollared by her Master Gregory. He’s gay and has finally found a male submissive he likes so he releases her. He knows a Dom who’s interested in her so he sends her to him. However, Elisabeth is a masochist. She was with Gregory only because he loves to administer pain and she needs it. Which makes her a bratty submissive, deliberately disobeying to get punished. Travis on the other hand needs her to obey him and so he sends her to Roman his best friend who is meant to train her. There’s no danger of sending Elisabeth to Roman because Roman never gets attached to submissives, until of course… he does…

A warning, this book contains a lot of whipping and caning, because of course Elisabeth is a masochist and is more interested in pain than pleasure…

I just did not like Elisabeth. She mostly annoyed me; she wants Trevor, no she needs Roman, maybe she should ask Gregory, or she could just leave, oh what to do?! Sigh, she was one of those heroines I can’t bring myself to like, mostly because I just can’t relate. Trevor on the other hand was such a sweet guy. Him I definitely liked, so sweet, so romantic… He was the best part of the book.

Unfortunately, some conversations felt stilted, and there was a lot of ‘telling’ and not ‘showing’. For example Elisabeth’s background and her healing process was just told to us. Basically a few things/events that took place for her to come to terms with her past… I just didn’t feel the angst or emotion that should come with it.

All in all, I think the book could have been better. I really loved the premise and I think it had potential. I found the steamy scenes hot and I quite liked Trevor and Roman. But maybe it’s my Psych 101 class that made me want to have a better understanding of Elisabeth. How her background shaped her need for pain. There was just so much left unexplored. I actually feel sad that I didn’t like this one. I already have book 2 and I’ll read it because again, the blurb begs me to read it.

2.5 stars.

Finally, I would like to thank Edelweiss and Simon&Schuster for providing this ARC for my review.

[Kelly | hellokorio · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

This book just did not do it for me in any way. I have no problem with alternative lifestyles, but books alternative lifestyle relationships aren't really a license to totally check out of reality.

The two leads develop legitimate feelings for each other, but it's impossible to buy into that as a reader, because there's literally zero development of that aspect of their relationship. What does she like about him? He's nice to her? That's all she ever mentions. And what does he like about her? That she's into kink where his ex-wife wasn't? That's all that I was able to pick up. It's even clear pretty quickly that their particular kinks don't line up, making their absolutely baseless match all the more puzzling. I'm not saying that they couldn't fall for each other. I'm just saying that the author gives absolutely zero support for it.

Honestly, the most honest/intriguing relationship in the book is the one between Elisabeth and Roman. I would have liked to have seen that explored. The fact that it wasn't, the fact that Elisabeth chose to go back to Trevor, is absolutely boggling to me. I guess it's the "nice" ending, or the "romantic" ending, but without the romantic support earlier in the book, and with the obvious chemistry/match between she and Roman... lame, disappointing ending, really. The shocking "twist" would have been amazing. Or at least a bit of a savior to a weak book.

Overall, the plot felt weak and gimmicky (damaged lady can't love, seeks physical pain to express her emotional pain), asking the reader to buy in to a romance the writing never supports. The side plot with Gregory is cute, but seemed unnecessary. I'm uncomfortable with this book's treatment of the BDSM & D/s lifestyle. I appreciate that it's a shorter book and as such, can't be as detailed as others might be, but it being so short, glosses over things in such a way that makes it seem as though the author doesn't have a real grasp on what she's talking about.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I got sidetracked from my path in writing a straight review, but I'm posting what I wrote anyway.

4 stars

I was sucked right into this one! It's great when a BDSM book still has something to "teach." So many of these books are about vanilla girls turned to the lifestyle through accidental pratfalls with hunky Doms. Elisabeth is the real deal, a self-described pain slut who is deeply submissive. I want to say wounded, too, because I believe she is. But even if Trevor can help her to heal her wounds, she'll always be submissive.

Trevor says submissives are born, not made, and I don't think that's true for every submissive. A lifetime of being beaten down can do that to you. Or depending on inner strength, you might grow up craving control and become a Dominant. In some more dark erotica, we see how slaves can be made, if sufficiently tortured. I think it's a spectrum of sexuality and most hover somewhere in the middle, or, perhaps, it's a just a side of us unexplored in most. Come to think of it, submissives seek control just as much as the Dominant, and they carry the ultimate trump card, their safe word, where stop means STOP. Anyway, it's a fascinating topic and I think that why so many of us fans are interested in reading every BDSM book we can find.

So, even if this isn't a five star read, it still got my brain churning on this topic. And these are just my reactions to meeting the character Elisabeth, a submissive who ultimately seeks someone to love and cherish her and not who merely seeks to punish her harshly.
As it is with Trevor Brooks, a handsome billionaire, who falls in love with her because she chooses him, not for his mansion or his money, but for the man and Dominant he is.

[Melly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

There were parts of Enslaved that I liked. Mainly, Trevor. That is one BAD Boy I wouldn't mind submitting to. He's sweet, sexy, generous, and just plain ol' yum. There were other parts of the book that were just meh.

I think part of my problem was Elisabeth. I tried to like her, but I never really felt a connection with her. For me, it seemed like she was a little too all over the place. I know that's part of what she's supposed to be working out, as in discovering her true self, but it was kind of annoying. I don't understand her aversion to pleasure. Excruciating pain? She's all for it. But when it comes to pleasure, she shuts down. Who does that? I know everyone has their own tastes, but still.

Trevor falls for her hard. He may be a Dom, but he's too focused on making her happy that the dynamic between them gets mixed up. Elisabeth ends up taking on a little too much power, much to Trevor's disappointment.

He enlists one of his best friends, Roman, to train Elisabeth how to truly submit. Ok, this I had a problem with. Maybe I'm just a little too possessive, but there is no way I would EVER be ok with this. The time spent with Roman, and away from Trevor, confuses her. As if things weren't complicated enough. *head desk*

This was a quick read, with smexy goodness - some of which was a little too out there for my liking, but it was fun to read. I am curious about the other BAD Boy, Marc. I'll just have to read Enamored to find out more about him, wont I?

[Arshia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sexy, hot and shockingly different from all the remakes of Fifty Shades! It wasn't just sex, the novel had a story line that kept me reading till the end. Can't wait to read Roman's book!

[Shirley Frances · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rarely give books a 1 star review and for me to do so there has to be many elements wrong with the story. I will go about this review in a different manner so that I can truly express my position in regards to my rating.

The Story

Elisabeth has been released from her relationship with her Dom and given for training to Trevor. Trevor welcomes Elisabeth to his home and tries everything he can to give her what she needs but fails miserably. So he decides to 'give' her to his friend Roman in hopes that Roman can train Elisabeth to find pleasure in pleasing her Dom while still having her needs met.

The Characters

Elisabeth is a pain slut. I won't say that she is a sub, because after reading more than my share of BDSM books I cannot, in my heart of hearts, refer to her as a sub. She is a whiny brat that misbehaved only so that her Dom could give her the pain she craved. She took no pleasure in pleasing her Dom nor did she respect her D/s relationships. Her character came across as superficial, selfish and unrelatable in all counts and I found that her behavior unacceptable.

Trevor is a rich Dom who wants to find a partner to settle down with. He wants a woman that accepts his dominant side in and out of the bedroom,. He was a caring Dom who wanted to fulfill Elisabeth's needs and thinks he has found the perfect companion in Elisabeth. Apparently his standards for a life partner are not high, because he fell head over heels in love with this woman. I still don't understand how he could even accept her behavior as a 'sub' never mind understanding his 'love' for her.

Roman is a self-proclaimed "love 'em and leave 'em" kind of guy - he changed subs as often as he changed underwear. At least that's how he came across. He accepts the challenge of training Elisabeth for Trevor confident that he will make her submit while finding pleasure in pleasing her Dom. BWAHAHA! Oh Roman, Roman, Roman, how the mighty have fallen! Roman had potential for an amazing hero in another story and his character was forever spoiled for me.

Pros:

- Trevor was HOT.

- Great concept.

- There were some funny moments.

Cons

- No connection to the characters.

- Ridiculous portrayal of a D/s relationship.

- Unbelievable dialogue.

- Lack of chemistry between the couples.

- Superficial emotions.

- Concept failed in its execution.

Enslaved is the first book in the Enslaved Trilogy and although I did not like it I'm certain I will be reading the next installment, Enamored, because it's Marc's story and the little I read about it caught my attention. I just hope I enjoy it.

I received this title from Pocket Star through NetGalley in exchange of my honest opinion.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I saw the summary for the book, I was drawn in by the concept of the story. I really wanted to like the book. However, by the end of the book, I was left feeling disappointed.

There were several things that I had a problem with. I don't know if it's me or whatnot, but the main thought I took away from this book was that I was confused through the majority of this book. In most aspects of this story, there was something I found confusing. An example is the main female character of Elisabeth. I did not like the character of Elisabeth much. Or more specifically I didn't like how wishy-washy she seemed to be. I didn't understand exactly what her issue was and what she wanted. This confusion and lack of understanding made it hard for me to connect with her and just enjoy her as a character. I get that the author wanted to make her this spitfire submissive, but she just came off as a real brat (and not in the fun way). There were certain points where it just made her annoying. It wasn't until towards the near end of the book where I got a sense of what her issue was and I can sort of understand why she behaves the way she does. At that point however, this confusion just overwhelmed everything else about her.

And with regards to Elisabeth, I don't understand why Trevor is in love with her. To myself, it never really showed his reasoning. It just felt like he just decided then and there to fall for her. I never felt and real spark between the two of them. It felt forced, as if it had to be there because the author already had it in mind for it to be that way. I had a hard time buying the romance between them.

I also felt confused regarding Trevor. It wasn't made clear at first what he wanted. He seemed to be suffering from the same problem that Elisabeth had in expressing to the reader what his intentions are. But unlike with Elisabeth, it didn't take as long as it did with her to see what Trevor's ultimate goal was.

Finally, the sorta love triangle that happened between Trevor, Elisabeth and Roman felt out of place. In my opinion, it was as if that component was thrown in just to create some kind of obstacle. Which, like as with other aspects of this book, was not fully explored more in depth. It could have been a great plot point to explore, but it was just done half-heartedly. Again, like with Trevor, I never fully saw why Roman fell for Elisabeth.

The storyline described for the book had real potential for a great story. But I found it lackluster, with characters that left me confused and questioning their behaviors. The foundation was there, but there wasn't enough for me to fully enjoy the book.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enslaved by Shoshanna Evers tells the story of the relationship that develops between Elisabeth, a self-confessed Sex Slut and Trevor, a mega-rich Dom looking for a woman who can keep up with his sexual appetite.

Elisabeth is in to pain, she has found she can get all she wants by not being completely submissive. I actually found some of her attitude to be humorous and sassy. Trevor is sweet and generous, and he is falling hard for Elisabeth, allowing her to have a little too much control in their relationship. Obviously, she needs some training, so off she goes to 'learn her lesson' with Trevor's friend, Roman. Will she learn to submit and become all that Trevor wants? Or will being with Roman screw her up more?

Although well-written, I just could NOT connect with Elisabeth as a submissive who knew what she was doing. I really thought she seemed to be in need of help. Trevor was almost too nice to be a real Dom.

An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Pocketstar in exchange for my honest review. Publication Date: April 8, 2013. 3 stars

[Cherryreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enslaved was a much better read than I expected. I didn’t know what to think when I first was introduced to Elisabeth, a young woman who is so lost without her Dom to tell her what to do and think (the feminist in me was going crazy). I soon found out that there was a complexity to Elisabeth. She is dealing with a lot of pain and grief and maybe she is not going about it in a traditional manner. She admittedly has a dark soul. Trevor is a wealthy man with particular tastes, especially in bed, which makes it difficult for him to find someone to share his life. Both are seeking something that they aren’t sure if the other can provide. I do not know anything about the BDSM lifestyle other than what I read in these types of novels, but this book gave me a glimpse of why these types of relationships work for some people. In this book there are M/M and M/F activities. Everything in this book is consensual. This was a hot and steamy read. I really enjoyed this book and have purchased the next one in the series.

[Emily (Mrs B's Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

**My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold Pocket Books, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

At first. Elisabeth seems quite a weak person as she is unable to make a decision without Gregory's input. It stays very safe on the BDSM lifestyle, giving you a glimpse with Elisabeth being a pain lover.

The story is told mainly from Elisabeth's POV, however we do get some from Trevor and a few appearances from Gregory which I don't think was really needed.

The passing of time passes fairly quickly, however sometimes it's hard to realise how fast it has gone.

I really did not feel Elisabeth's struggle to choose between Trevor and Roman and the ending felt a little rushed.

However saying all of the above, I did really enjoy the story and i'm looking forward to Roman getting a HEA.

[Cinzia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Questo primo libro della serie Enslaved Trilogy mi ha lasciata un po' perplessa, l'ho trovato un po' superficiale nello sviluppo della trama e dei rapporti tra i vari personaggi, per non dire poco verosimile per le dinamiche BDSM, per come ho imparato a conoscerle attraverso i libri.

Elisabeth Anderson ha visto diverse volte Trevor al WhipperSnapper, un rinomato locale BDSM di Manhattan, dove lui e i suoi due amici Roman e Mark sono conosciuti col soprannome di BAD Boys - dove BAD sta per Billionaire Arrogant Doms - nomea che si sono conquistati dopo aver guadagnato i soldi, che costituiscono il loro immenso patrimonio, compiendo una serie di investimenti rischiosi. Possono permettersi di fare tutto quello che vogliono, secondo le chiacchiere che girano sul loro conto.
Trevor garantisce a Elisabeth libero accesso alla sua tenuta, lei può fare quello che più le piace, basta che segua due regole fondamentali per Trevor: Regola Numero Uno deve obbedire e sottomettersi a Trevor mentre vive nella casa; Regola Numero Due deve sempre rispondere al telefono blu che le ha dato. Lei è felice di rispettare queste regole perché stando insieme a Trevor prova il desiderio di obbedire e di amarlo nello stesso modo in cui lui sembra essere innamorato di lei. Ma Elisabeth non è mai stata quel genere di sub, ama sfidare il suo Dom e raggiunge il piacere solo quando viene punita, anche brutalmente. Questa cosa la stimola di più che dare piacere a Trevor grazie alla sua obbedienza e sottomissione.
Non riesce a sottomettersi a lui nel modo nel quale Trevor ha bisogno e così l'amico e socio dell'uomo,Roman, si offre di prendersi cura di lei per prepararla nel modo migliore per essere la sub di Trevor. Ma i triangoli in amore possono avere degli spigoli che feriscono e qualcuno può subirne le conseguenze.

Gli eventi tra i personaggi, forse a causa della brevità del libro, si svolgono con una successione molto rapida e in un arco di tempo abbastanza breve. In pochi giorni Trevor è innamorato cotto di Elisabeth e oltre che come sua sub, la vuole nella sua vita come sua futura sposa. Elisabeth è incantata dal tenore di vita di Trevor, dal fatto che sia un Dom, vorrebbe poter riuscire ad amarlo, ma esperienze del suo passato l'hanno segnata, spingendola ad essere quello che è, una vera masochista che trova il suo godimento solo attraverso il dolore. Ora in così pochi giorni tutti questi sentimenti professati da Trevor sono veramente poco probabili. Il rapporto tra i due è totalmente squilibrato nella loro relazione Dom e sub. Lui non è un sadico, ama il controllo, l'obbedienza e la sottomissione che non sono certo le caratteristiche di Elisabeth, però sembra essere pazzamente innamorato di lei.
Il passato di lei, che ha contribuito a creare le sue tendenze masochiste è appena accennato, così come sembra esserci stato qualche trauma nel passato di Trevor che lo ha portato ad aver bisogno controllare e gestire i suoi rapporti con le donne.
Un'altra cosa che non ho apprezzato è stato l'intervento di Roman nel preparare Elisabeth come sub per Trevor. A parte il fatto che pure Roman cade ai piedi di Elisabeth come una pera cotta, ma addestrarla citando il metodo Pavlov mi è sembrata una cosa molto triste, e poco edificante per Elisabeth. E poi la relazione Dom e sub è un legame particolare, quasi sacro per chi lo vive, di enorme fiducia. E Trevor dà la sua sub in mano al suo amico per ottenere quello che dovrebbe essere in grado creare lui? Ma... La cosa non mi quadra.
Non mi sembra questa gran coppia D/s.
Probabilmente in una novella così corta è stato dato troppo spazio al precedente Dom di Elisabeth, Gregory, e al suo rapporto col nuovo compagno, Andrew, trascurando molti aspetti che riguardano Trevor ed Elisabeth.
Vedremo se col secondo libro su Mark la cosa si fará più interessante.
Si ringraziano Netgalley e la per la Gallery Threshold per la gentile preview.

VOTO: 2 stelle

TITOLO: Enslaved
AUTRICE:Shoshanna Evers
SERIE: Enslaved Trilogy # 1
EDITORE: Gallery Threshold, Pocket Books
DATA PUBBLICAZIONE: uscita prevista per l'8 aprile 2013



This first book in the Enslaved Trilogy series, left me a little puzzled and I found it a bit shallow in the development of the plot and of the relationships between the various characters, the BDSM dynamics not so clear and real from what I learned through the books.


Elisabeth Anderson has seen Trevor and his friends at the infamous Manhattan BDSM club WhipperSnapper, where everyone calls them the BAD Boys, for “Billionaire Arrogant Doms.” The BAD Boys—Trevor Brooks, Marc Wilde, and Roman Chase—are aptly named; they’ve made money hand over fist due to their aggressive investing at the Brooks Wilde Chase Fund. These guys are so rich they can get away with anything, or so the rumors go.

Trevor gives Elisabeth full reign of his estate in Westchester, letting her do as she pleases. He has only two rules. Rule One: she must obey and submit to him while she is living in his house. Rule Two: always answer the blue cell phone. She’s happy to oblige, because being with Trevor makes her want to obey, to love him the way he seems to be falling for her. But Elisabeth’s never been good at being the quiet sub; she's feisty and gets off on the punishments more than she does by pleasing Trevor.

Elizabeth can’t submit to Trevor the way he needs her to, so his friend and business partner (and fellow BAD Boy) Roman takes her in hand. But love triangles can have sharp edges...and somebody’s bound to get hurt.

The events between the characters, perhaps becausoff his is a short novel,  take place with a very rapid succession and in a relatively short period of time. Within a few days, Trevor is in love with Elisabeth, totally lost for her and he wants her to be his sub as well as his future bride. Elisabeth is enchanted by Trevor's standard of living, and by the fact that he is a Dom, she would like to be able to get to love him, but her past experiences have marked her, pushing her to be what she's become, a real masochist who finds her pleasure only through the pain. Now, in so few days all these feelings professed by Trevor are really not believable. The relationship between them as Dom and sub is completely unbalanced. He isn't a sadist, he nedds control, obedience and submission that are hardly the traits of Elisabeth, but he seems to be madly in love with her.
Elisabeth's past that helped to create her masochistic tendencies is just mentioned, as well as Trevor seems to have been some trauma in the past that  brought him to need to control and manage his relations with women.
Another thing that I didn't  like was the intervention of Roman for Elisabeth's training  as a Trevor's sub. Aside from the fact that poor bad Roman falls at the feet of Elisabeth as an apple falled from a tree, but using Pavlov' method training seemed very sad, and unedifying for Elisabeth. And then the relationship between a Dom and sub  is  special, almost a sacred bond , totally abouttrust. And Trevor gives his sub to his friend to get what should be able create him?! Mmm... I don't think is a wise choice.
They don't seem to me this great pair D/s.
Probably in this short novel was given too much space to the former Elisabeth's Dom, Gregory, and his relationship with a new partner, Andrew, neglecting many aspects regarding Trevor and Elisabeth.
We'll see if the second book about Mark the things will be more interesting.
Thanks to Netgalley andGallery Threshold for the preview.

RATING: 2 stars

TITLE: Enslaved
AUTHOR: Shoshanna Evers
SERIES: Enslaved Trilogy # 1
PUBLISHER: Gallery Threshold, Pocket Books
PUBLICATION DATE: scheduled for April 8, 2013

[Thereadingbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is between Elisabeth, a slut and Trevor, a rich dominant looking for a woman who can keep up with his sexual appetite.
Elisabeth is in to pleasure pain, she has found she can get all she wants by not being fully submissive. Her attitude was funny with a bit of sassyness. Trevor is sweet and generous, and he is falling hard for Elisabeth, allowing her to have a little too much control in their relationship. This ruins it because you want the dominant to have more control. She needs some training she goes to learn from a friend of named Roman. Will she learn to submit and become all that Trevor wants? Or will being with Roman screw her up more?
I did not connect with Elisabeth as a submissive who knew what she was doing. I really thought she seemed to be in need of help. Trevor was too nice to be a dominant. It felt to amateurish to me.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

2*

[Leana (Flickering Fandom) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review also published on my blog StudentSpyglass

Source: Review copy provided from NetGalley

Plot: ★★
Characters: ★★
Readability: ★★★
Overall: ★★

The first thing you should know about this book is that Elisabeth is a self-confessed “Pain slut” – she’s not just into pain but also anti-pleasure, which seems sort of counter-intuitive for an erotic novel. This is something that isn’t mentioned in the synopsis, perhaps because it would be a little awkward to slip in more clearly than the veiled sentence that’s already there “Elisabeth’s never been good at being the quiet sub; she’s feisty and gets off on the punishments more than she does by pleasing Trevor.” Her enjoyment of pain, and aversion to pleasure might be something that puts you off, especially if you’re drawn in by the romance element of the story. The punishments aren’t overly graphic, but for me Elisabeth’s repeated comments regarding her love of pain started to grate on me very quickly.

Elisabeth is a newly un-collared slave, released by her Dom Gregory, as he’s going after a sub he truly loves. Elisabeth is lost without a dom, so Gregory sends her to Trevor – one of the BAD boys who’d expressed an interested in her. Trevor is looking for a sub he can love, and be loved by in return. Although previously married, Trevor’s wife was vehemently opposed to his BDSM interests, leading to their divorce. This time, Trevor is looking for a sub first, and hoping the love will follow. However, despite his attraction to Elisabeth, and their combined hopes for a fulfilling relationship, Elisabeth is, to put it nicely, a pretty poor submissive. She consistently tops from the bottom, acting out in order to be punished, leaving her with all the power in their relationship. Trevor discusses their issue with his fellow BAD boys, Marc and Roman, and Roman eventually offers a solution – he will train Elisabeth to be a disciplined submissive. This seems like a perfectly sensible idea since Roman “never” gets attached etc etc etc. You can obviously see where this is going though!

In my opinion, Trevor gives Elisabeth to Roman for training late enough in the book, that it almost seems like a spoiler to announce it in the summary. However, some reviewers objected to the idea of Elisabeth being effectively shared by the two men, so perhaps it was spelled out to try and minimise complaints like that.

As well as following Elisabeth, the story occasionally flicks back to follow Gregory, and his developing relationship with his new submissive. This didn’t seem to add a lot to the story from my point of view, apart from a M/M relationship – which may not appeal to all the readers of the book. Although this was cute at times, I personally feel that Gregory and Andrew’s story would be better as a separate novella. The portions of the novel previously used for that side-plot could then be used to further develop the main story, which at times felt rushed.

Some of the characters in this were wonderful, but overall opinion of the book seems to hinge on how you feel about Elisabeth. At times I liked her – she could be feisty, and she knew what she wanted sexually and how to get it. Unfortunately, her decisiveness apparently doesn’t extend into the rest of her life, and she came off as almost needy due to her flickering back and forth emotionally. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a very indecisive person, but Elisabeth was almost too indecisive. Instead of coming across as conflicted by intense emotions, it started to seem almost like she couldn’t be that into either man! She had the potential to be a great character, and she’s much more Nora Sutherlin (from The Siren) than Anastasia Steele (from Fifty Shades of Grey), which can only be a good thing. However, she didn’t have quite enough backbone to pull it off.

Trevor on the other hand, was immensely likeable – he was like an alpha male mixed with a contemporary love interest. Yes he was a dom, but he was also funny, tender and generally kind. His feelings for Elisabeth felt a little forced, and were something I’d have liked to see explored more. Since Trevor is so likable, occasionally when Elisabeth was grating on my nerves, I almost wanted her to leave, so that he could find someone better suited!

Enslaved was an enjoyable enough read, and I’m glad I read it, if only to set the scene for the rest of the series. I’m definitely curious about books two and three, since for me, it was only really Elisabeth that let this story down.

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Enslaved
Author: Shoshanna Evers
Publisher/Year: Pocket Star 4/8/13
Length: 175 Pages
Series: Enslaved Trilogy

Overview

Elisabeth Anderson has seen Trevor and his friends at the infamous Manhattan BDSM club WhipperSnapper, where everyone calls them the BAD Boys, for “Billionaire Arrogant Doms.” The BAD Boys—Trevor Brooks, Marc Wilde, and Roman Chase—are aptly named; they’ve made money hand over fist due to their aggressive investing at the Brooks Wilde Chase Fund. These guys are so rich they can get away with anything, or so the rumors go.

Trevor gives Elisabeth full reign of his estate in Westchester, letting her do as she pleases. He has only two rules. Rule One: she must obey and submit to him while she is living in his house. Rule Two: always answer the blue cell phone. She’s happy to oblige, because being with Trevor makes her want to obey, to love him the way he seems to be falling for her. But Elisabeth’s never been good at being the quiet sub; she's feisty and gets off on the punishments more than she does by pleasing Trevor.

Elizabeth can’t submit to Trevor the way he needs her to, so his friend and business partner (and fellow BAD Boy) Roman takes her in hand. But love triangles can have sharp edges...and somebody’s bound to get hurt.

My Thoughts

It's an interesting take on things, the way that this story comes about. We meet Elisabeth when she's in Grand Central with her old Dom Gregory, as he's seeing her off on a new adventure. She had been collared to him for years and they had ended their relationship a few months back. Even though that's all happened, Elisabeth has had a fear of what's to come, and Gregory has worked to find a solution since he knows that he needs someone different for himself and that the same goes for Elisabeth.

Enter Trevor - as noted in the overview, he's one of the 3 BAD Boys - and he's become interested in Elisabeth over time. He has his own past and demons to deal with and thinks that maybe Elisabeth is the way to get past them. He was married once before and the lifestyle that he prefers was a breaking point.

Where this story takes us is on a journey of self discovery for E - given that she knows what she likes - meaning PAIN and a lot of it, she's slowly learning that there's other stuff there too - emotions that she's been trying to fight off - but that keep bubbling up. Her time with Trevor is one that's really good for both of them, the find an easy comfort in one another, yet they have a great BDSM relationship as well. except for those times that she tries to 'top from the bottom'.All the while, they begin to develop feelings for one another but are too scared to let them happen or even admit.

That's where the story takes an even more interesting twist. Enter Roman, Trevor's best friend, who has taken on the task of training Elisabeth in the hopes that she'll realize that she has true feelings for Trevor. Of course things have to become much more complicated right? you have another sexy hot Dom that's leading the training of a bratty Sub, and well, fireworks happen. and not in a good way.

I think that i was hoping for this new love triangle to make things more complicated and it seemed like for a while we were going to get the complex story that i was hoping for. I'm still not sure that i buy into the clean nature of how things played out - and maybe i will as the series continues, but i think that it's interesting to say the least.

The other nice thing about this story is that we have a sub-plot of Elisabeth's old Dom Gregory who has realized that he prefers men and has taken on a new sub in Andrew. It's nice to see that he's finally doing something for himself that is good - v. trying to fit into the mold of something that's not fulfilling.

What we get in this story is a new take on BDSM, in the sense that we have someone who really prefers to be a full time slave and have someone make decisions for her all the time. that's different than most of what i've read- but certainly makes for some heated scening. the other bit that's nice is that there's clear chemistry here in the story - and it's brought through a combination of pain and pleasure, and that takes the story in a different direction than i'm used to as well. Anyhow, i'm off to read the next installment and see which BAD Boy we get to learn about next.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first in the Enslaved Trilogy BDSM erotic romance series. The couple focus is on Elisabeth Anderson and Trevor Brooks.

My Take
This feels more like a wannabe BDSM with more of a slant toward the romantic à la Harlequin. It's cute enough, but no great dramas or tension other than the one towards the end. There's not a lot of real life in this. Well, yeah, it does involve billionaires, so that does put paid to most of that, but what I'm talkin' about is Elisabeth's experience with Gregory and no romance there, so why is she thinking she'll get a romance with Trevor? Evers forgot that she needs to build that reality into the story.

This probably tells ya how little I know/understand of this subculture, but when Elisabeth feels better because Gregory orders her to try Trevor out, to live with him, she claims to feel better now that she has a game plan?? WTF? She doesn't have a game plan. She can't make a decision to save her life. She wants someone telling her what to do 24/7, well, except for that one little quirk of hers. The one that could screw it all up for her.

Cute. Trevor lets her know that his height has given girls a neck ache before, and she reminds him that she does like pain. She just doesn't like the emotional pain.

A good point about money, that it can be scary: too little and you can starve whereas too much makes you think you can buy a woman. Ooh, I also liked Trevor's point about Gregory needing to find his own happiness.

Okay, I don't buy Roman's change of heart. Evers hasn't done anything to show us why this would happen. She simply tells us that he loves, but that's it. I did enjoy his approach with her---when he keeps wanting to know if he gets to be the Dom sometimes.

I did get confused when Elisabeth suddenly decided that Trevor didn't really love her because he gave her away. This felt very undeveloped---and stays undeveloped. As if Evers suddenly realized she needed dramatic tension, and, ooops, let's just slip this one in and see if it works...sorry, it doesn't.

On the whole, if you want a Harlequin-ish BDSM-lite read with a billionaire lifestyle, you'll enjoy this.

The Story
Gregory has come to realize that he needs more than Elisabeth is able to give him. And she needs more than he can dish out.

Trevor, on the other hand, went about his former marriage all wrong. Now, he intends to try it out from the other end. Only, Elisabeth is too much of a brat.

The Characters
Elisabeth Anderson is a rebellious masochistic submissive who needs orders.

The BAD Boys, the Billionaire Arrogant Doms, are Trevor Brooks, Roman Chase, and Marc Wilde. Friends and partners in a wildly successful hedge fund, the Brooks Wilde Chase Fund.

Trevor wants a family, and he is a dominating man. Adele is Trevor's house manager; Cynthia is Trevor's ex-wife and the reason he wants to work backwards; Carl is the driver; and, Julian is the house stylist. I think he's my favorite in this!

Gregory is a sadistic gay Dom who finally found the love of his life, Andrew, the "lovely twink bartender". Mistress Lauren is friends with Marc and herself a Domme.

The Whippersnapper is a BDSM club in Manhattan.

The Cover
Fortunately, it's a simple graphic of a hand wrapped in a red ribbon. God forbid that pesky graphic get in the way of all the text on that very busy cover.

The title could well apply to either half of this couple, for each is Enslaved to the other.

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

Kitty's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4.5 Stars

The “Billionaire Arrogant Doms” or BAD Boys as they are known at the Club are 3 amazing menjust out looking for a good time. While looking, they just happen to come across the woman that complete them both as men and as Dominants. They grew up together, discovered BDSM together, now it’s time for them to settle down together. Just one little hitch – both Trevor and Roman have fallen in love with the same girl. It’s her choice as to who she’ll be with since they have all promised that no woman would come between them.

What an interesting story about Elisabeth, a Sadist/Submissive and what she has to go through to find the right man for her. She was collared by Gregory, a homosexual Sadist when she lost her family. After releasing her, he introduces her to Trevor Brooks, one of the BAD Boys but she can’t understand why. Gregory knows that it’s time for her to move on – to find the Dom that will complete her and he has found a man that he thinks will be his forever as well.

He sends her off to Trevor who is anxiously waiting for her. He knows that she can be all that he has ever wanted in a woman. Even after a failed marriage, he has not given up on love or of finding a woman who could be his Submissive and fulfill all his darkest desires. He doesn’t expect the “Brat” that shows up … the one that will do whatever she needs to do to get punished. He’s more than willing to be her Dominant but doesn’t feel that she can be the Submissive that he needs. He sends her off to Roman to be trained but with very specific instructions – he can’t keep her.

After spending time with Elisabeth, Roman knows that he has found the woman to can take all his Sadism. She’s perfect. She doesn’t safeword. Nothing is too much for her. He made a promise to Trevor that he will not break but he does need to tell him exactly how he feels. After their past, he at least owes that to him.

Now it’s up to Elisabeth to decide. Take her Submissive training and run back to a man who will love her forever, cherish her and give her all that she needs when she needs it or stay with Roman and have the pain that she so desires. Putting it simply – does she open her heart or keep living her life as she has, empty and lonely and only in need of pain?

I absolutely enjoyed “Enslaved”. It was a well-written book that detailed the trials and tribulations of a Dom in love and a Masochist that has to learn how to open herself up to that love. What I had a problem with – well, the name of the Club is a little “cheesy” and there were parts that seemed to repeat themselves. But, the BDSM scenes were wonderfully written to the point where you felt her pain and enjoyed subspace with her. And, there was so much more to this story than the BDSM aspect. The back-stories were just as interesting as the original story-line. It was wonderful watching Trevor figure her out, her wants and needs and knowing when he wouldn’t be enough for her.

Heartbreaking when Elisabeth had to make the choice. Riveting watching the tension between Trevor and Roman. Joyous when she accepted his proposal. But who’s?

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Joy (Otherworldly Romance) · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's been a couple of months since I read the book so I'm not going to be as specific as I would've been if I'd written this review earlier. The reason why I put off posting this review is because I've never written a 1-star review and I'm not sure how to handle it. Finally, today, I decided to pay my "review debts" and articulate my thoughts on Enslaved. Long story short, I didn't like it.

When I read Enslaved back in March, I was in an erotica phase. All the books I'd been reading then were all romances or erotica, mostly featuring BDSM relationships. I guess I was very fascinated with sexual deviance at the time. So, coming into Enslaved, I had a few expectations. First, I expected lots of non-vanilla sex. I was open-minded about BDSM so I mentally prepared myself for that. I accepted that what I may consider weird and/or cruel may be pleasurable and/or arousing for others. But secondly, I expected that in tandem with the sex is a good story of well-developed characters, sharp dialogue, and emotionally satisfying plot. Now, as far as my first expectation goes, I was content with what I'd read. But as for my second expectation, I was not very happy.

Topping my list of grievances were the characters. Elisabeth Anderson has no personality. I didn't see her develop from meek submissive to strong submissive. To me "strong submissive" is not an oxymoron. I think it takes great strength of character to surrender to a lover, and, I just kept waiting for her to put her foot down. While it's true that she chose Trevor in the end, I still felt like I could push her over and she won't fight me back. But more than that, I wish I knew more about her. Like I wanted to understand why she has this lifestyle. I wanted to know her past. I wanted to know what her motivations are the whys behind them. Unfortunately, the story didn't explore the depths of her character as much as it needed to for this kind of story to fly.

As for BAD Boy Trevor Brooks, I wasn't attracted to him. The minimum requirement for any romantic hero is for him to be attractive-- and not just physically. I wished he was more sweet. I wished he was more affectionate. Most of all (and I think this is just me as a person), I wish he was more possessive, particularly the situation between him and his fellow BAD Boy, Roman Chase, regarding Elizabeth.

I think this story would have benefited a lot with more character development, especially with more ground work about their pasts, and character relationships development, especially with dialogue (i.e. when they're not having sex parts, just more chemistry). Pacing was also an issue for me. I felt like it should slow down in some parts to allow for more internal dialogue for the main characters so readers could better sympathize with them and their situation.

[David Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shoshanna Evers, in my opinion, is the best erotic romance author anywhere. Her recent Enslaved Trilogy is a great example. The three books in order are: Enslaved (book 1), Enamored, (book 2) Enraptured (book 3 which was released yesterday) I am reviewing the entire trilogy. If you enjoy reading about BDSM, or If you just want to know more about the subject, you will love these books. There is a fair amount of kink in each book, but it is always appropriate to the story. The sex is very graphic, but not gratuitous.

However, these books are not just one sex scene after another. Each book tells an exciting page turning story of one of three close friends and business partners Trevor, Marc, and Roman (who all are billionaires) and their very different paths to an authentic relationship with the woman of their dreams. All three are Doms and deep inside are seeking that one special sub that will fulfill their kinks and still be a true lover, but their paths are all VERY different, infinitely challenging for all three and extremely enjoyable for the reader. (I read each one through in one day, including book 3 after it was downloaded to my Kindle yesterday morning from my pre-order.)

Each book can be a standalone, but I recommend, in order to grasp the full impact of the struggles and triumphs that you read them in order. At least start with the first one. This is Trevor and Elizabeth's book. Elizabeth is very sassy and continues to try to top from the bottom. She calls herself a pain slut and disobeys often to receive the punishment she desires. She and Trevor struggle to find an acceptable balance. And Boy do they ever!

Marc and Lauren (book 2) have a totally different story. He is a Dom and she is a Domme, and how they get together is probably the most interesting (and certainly the most challenging story). Great reading.
Roman was not my favorite in the first 2 books. Shoshanna told me there would be some big surprises in the third book, and WOW was she right. Now I think Roman is my favorite of the three friends. Jessica is seemingly so totally opposite of who you think Roman is that you will never believe the miracle that happens. What a beautiful ending for the trilogy.

The books are easy reads (roughly in the 160 page range). This is the best length for these stories. (I hate it when the hero/heroine struggle on and on and on with the same baggage or issues ad museum. Shoshanna/s books move quickly.

I am not into the kind of kink that is the heart of these stories; however, there are underlying issues and struggles that have nothing to do with BDSM. These are dilemmas that many of us face every day. This is one of the things that make Shoshanna the best erotic romance author anywhere!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Copy provided by the Publisher via NetGalley.


"'So,' she said, 'you get me to move into your house, and by choosing to stay here I'm also choosing to be your sex-slave, but you're asking me if you can date me? The logic doesn't flow.' 'Well, it does to me. This relationship is going to have to happen backward.'" --Enslaved

Elisabeth is a strong-willed, beautiful submissive who before now has only known a specific kind of D/s relationship, one without being in love with ones partner. Her former Master wants more for himself and her, but with different people. So, off she goes, scared and unsure of how her life will play out in the care of a new Dominant.

Trevor is part of a trio known as the BAD Boys, and he has his eye on Elisabeth. Not knowing how to handle feelings he didn't expect to have, especially after a failed marriage with a woman who thought he was damaged, Trevor takes Elisabeth into his home in hopes of finding out what life would be like in a relationship where both parties want the same things...or do they?

Trevor & Elisabeth have different ideas of how things will work, she craves pain and he just wants to love. After trying to train this woman to submit just for the pleasure of submitting, and failing, Trevor enlists the help of his best friend & business partner, Roman. Oh Roman, dark, heartless Roman...

Roman accepts this challenge because hey, he's the perpetual bachelor. He doesn't want a relationship but loves the lifestyle. He takes Elisabeth to train with the intention of making her suitable for Trevor...until his feelings get involved. He's never met anyone like Elisabeth.

"'Yes, sir.' The look in his eyes...she knew that look. Desire. Lust. But there was something else there, something she had only seen in herself when she looked at other happy couples and wondered if she'd ever be loved that way, or able to love back. Envy."

So, who does she pick? Love or pain? Dark or light? She has to make the hardest choice of her life, submit to love for the pain, or to pain for the love...but can her heart handle it if they choose their friendship over being with her.

One of the best love triangles I have read! I could not put it down and was enraptured from the very first chapter. I cannot wait to read the next two installments of this trilogy. What a great way to experience erotica, from a submissive's point of view as well as from two sexy Dominants who have completely different ways of training subs...but exactly the same taste. Thank you Ms. Evers for this story...it was entirely too short! All of the best books usually are!

[Ashley F · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review was posted at Tsuki’s Book Blog on October 2, 2013.

I pretty much deleted this book about 5% into this book. I like erotic romances and I read a lot of them. I also really enjoy Dominant/submissive books ad tend to read them heavily when I look for an erotic romance. The problem in this was the ridiculousness of the heroine.

By page two I already was so done with the heroine I couldn't see straight. The book opens with her unable to do anything at all because a man isn't telling her how and what to do. Maybe it was supposed to highlight her need/desire for a dom but she couldn't even board a train without some guy commanding her to do so.

Maybe this concept is odd to me because I don't live in that kind of relationship, but I was under the impression D/s was not a 24 hour a day lifestyle. In other books I've read there has been playtime and then downtime. The woman could function separately although she blossomed with her dom. At the same time the man could work and function but came to life with his sub. The whole concept of her NEEDING a man to tell her each step of her day just ruined the whole experience for me.

There is this scene in "The Submissive"/"The Dominant" by Tara Sue Me where Nathaniel explains how they will move forward together. He describes a relationship of two people falling in love and having a committed relationship while experiencing a Dominant/submissive relationship on the weekend. How can Abby blossom and be happy if she thinks every second is a test? How can Nathaniel be the man to make her happy if he's always testing her? It was a beautiful, realistic scene and I thought it was such a great way to discuss the future of the relationship. How can that type of relationship exist all the time?

In this book I was struck by how the heroine seemed to need it 24/7 and I found it tiring. I can't speak to the later chapters, the hero, the threesome(?), etc. I never got there and I didn't want to. The heroine was enough to make me quit. I don't know how other people see this book and I'm sure loads of people loved the trilogy but it didn't work for me. Let me know what you thought if you enjoyed it or didn't.

DNF
Published by Pocket Star
April 8, 2013
175 Pages
Provided by--NetGalley

[Lucie Paris · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading some very negative reviews on this story, I was a little apprehensive. That is why I put a lot of time to start it myself. Yet much ado about nothing because the story is well written, imaginative and enjoyable.

After all it is important to remember that BDSM romances can sometimes get the reader out of his comfort zone. So in this story, the heroine has a problem with self-esteem and rejection towards love. Instead of going to a shrink and begin an analysis, she opted to find her own way dealing with her past. She is a magnet subject to enjoy sex while experiencing pain. And this part of her personnality is very well described by the author.

While Elizabeth (some readers too!) may appear as having trouble accepting to be shared by Trevor and Roman, do not forget that the author emphasizes throughout its story that they are consenting adults. From there, the reader can enjoy the story without judging or else he needs to change from register and genre.

I must admit that I am less shocked that Trevor and Roman have sex with the same woman since you just need to go to student's parties, or read the news to note that sharing a partner is not so unusual and that it is not kinky to enjoy a threesome.

On the other hand, if woman is obliged to seek a man's advice to know what are the best options for her own life...That is a concept that perplexes me. So, even if I do not feel close to Elisabeth, the difference in perspective has piqued my curiosity.
Personally, I found Roman's attitude and his final declaration a bit too hasty. Perhaps because throughout the story the reader focuses only on Trevor, a male character who surprised me by being very romantic for BDSM novel...

During my read, I questioned myself about the characters' reactions, about the fact that once again, the heroes were still billionaires but I also had a great time. I will be glad to read "Enamored" and learn more about Marc Wilde... Enjoy!

Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...

[Sonali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally written for Review Buzzz

**Received an ARC of the book in exchange of an honest review**
Enslaved by Shoshanna Evers is one really HOT read! It touches the subject of BDSM relationship in detail where pain and pleasure are main ingredients of people living this lifestyle.

This book tells the story of the relationship that develops between Elisabeth, a self-confessed Sex Slut and Trevor, a mega-rich Dom looking for a woman who can keep up with his sexual appetite.

Elisabeth is a feisty submissive and a self-confessed pain-slut. A pure masochist in nature, she breathes pain as other humans need air to survive. She is shown as a real brat who doesn’t mind disobeying her master and throwing a fit just so she earn a punishment for herself. I actually found some of her attitude to be humorous and sassy.

Trevor is one of the BAD boy billionaires that frequent the club WhipperSnapper. Trevor notices Elisabeth when he sees her there. They have an instant connection and she is later sent to his home after her relationship with her previous master has been dissolved.He may be dominant, but he is also sexy, funny, caring, and a genuinely good guy.

Roman is one of the BAD Boys, and Trevor’s best friend. He is a sadist; he appears to be a cold dominant that goes strictly by the rules. So logically thinking he would be the perfect candidate to train Elisabeth without getting emotionally attached. So what happens when he falls for her?? A love triangle is bound to have rough edges and someone has to get hurt.

If you like you’re BDSM a little on the intense side and while still getting your happy ever after then Enslaved is a book you will enjoy a great deal.

For full review Click Here

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Amy W
Book provided by the author
Originally posted at Romancing the Book

The ultimate high for a slave is to be collared by a Master. When Elisabeth’s Master uncollars her and sends her to another Dom, her whole world falls apart.

She’s a masochist who desperately needs pain and she will do anything to ensure that it comes her way. Trevor is captivated by Elisabeth, but he realizes that before he can serve as her Dom, she needs to fully embrace pleasure. Trevor’s best friend, Roman, is a world class sadist who agrees to help with Elisabeth’s training. Will Elisabeth use her safe word and walk away? Will she fall for Roman’s darkness or thrive under Trevor’s care?

Shoshanna Evers takes readers deep into the BDSM lifestyle with Enslaved, the first in a three-part series. It delves into the psychological aspect of BDSM in a clear, straight-forward manner.

For readers who understand that some people must have pain in order to experience pleasure, this will be a fascinating read. It might not be quite as appealing to readers without a solid understanding of what the lifestyle entails.

Elisabeth is a complicated character who is searching for answers. As the story develops, the reader can easily see benefits of her being in a relationship with either Trevor or Roman. Rather than going with the expected ménage solution, the author serves up some surprises.

The result is a gritty, raw read that probes the fine line between pleasure and pain. This is a depiction of the BDSM lifestyle at its finest — not some watered down playtime exercise.

Evers has created a solid story line that will continue throughout the other two books — with more than a few kinks along the way.