Ruby Rose

by Alta Hensley

No longer available

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

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2014

About the author

Alta Hensley is a NYT & USA Today bestselling author of dark romance where the villain always gets the happily ever after.

Twisted, clever, and occasionally unhinged, her books deliver morally gray anti-heroes, sharp-tongued heroines, and happily ever afters that taste even sweeter after a little ruin. With a signature blend of grit, wit, and heat, Alta’s stories prove one thing: Villains deserve love too.

Alta lives on the foggy coast of Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and a pair of dogs who think they’re in charge. When she’s not writing redemption for the irredeemable, she’s walking the coastline or sipping craft beer in eccentric little bars that feel like they belong in her books.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AltaHensleyA...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alta-Hensley/e...
Website: www.altahensley.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/altahensley
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alta-...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@altahensley
Join her mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

Reviews

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reporter going undercover to research the Domestic Discipline (DD) world, why does this sound familiar? With the increase of BDSM and kinky lifestyles into the mainstream vanilla world, it appears art imitates life. Ruby Rose is a freelance writer exploring the subculture of BDSM. She focuses on domestic discipline. This is a touchy subject for some. Some feel DD falls under the BDSM umbrella, others argue it does not. Regardless, DD is a scintillating topic readers want to learn about. Ruby is lucky as she finds herself the center of Evan Steel's attention. He's the "face" of domestic discipline in the Seattle scene.

This story departs a bit from some of the other DD books written by Ms. Hensley. There is very little DD action. It's more a beginner book for those who are just inquiring about how domestic discipline works. It also kind of pokes fun at how being in the lifestyle can be a three ringed circus. Suddenly, dominating males are treated as rock stars and paid to show up to clubs. There are photo shoots of Evan and his entourage. It's so easy to see this story made into a reality TV show or a Skinemax sex drama.

The story is supposed to be about domestic discipline and spanking. Unfortunately, it doesn't deliver spanking delights. Instead, it's a clear train wreck of a conflict waiting to happen. Every reader within the first chapter knows what the conflict between Ruby and Evan will be. There are no surprises except for a very odd violent cat fight between Ruby and Maxine. Maxine is a slut who wants Evan all to herself. She's an attention whore who will do everything to keep Evan by her side and ride the gravy train.

Honestly, the characters in this story are pretty pathetic examples of human beings. Evan is supposed to be this in demand spanking guy. He never really demonstrates his ability. He does explain his definition of DD and how it has nothing to do with "those" BDSM people. The explanation is pretty good. Ruby is a bit naïve in her deception. It's not that she purposely lied to Evan about her occupation, she just didn't reveal all. Some consider this a lie; others consider it dishonest. It's not exactly the same thing. Evan's reaction to Ruby's reveal is typical and yet a bit out of proportion. He's a bit of a drama queen about it. In the end, he also waffles in a manner which makes no sense. In one scene, his good friends convince him to go after Ruby. He seems to agree and then right after, he slams Ruby for being a spanking groupie. It feels as if we are missing a scene between the two.

The end of this story wraps up pretty fast and escalates to a confounding violence against Ruby. Let's just say, the cat fight between Maxine and Ruby didn't involve just bitch slapping, a bit of knifeplay intruded. Still, from a romance perspective, this story is smooth. It's a sweet and gentle look at how domestic discipline can be for those just learning about this wonderful diverse kinky world. From a writing perspective, Ms. Hensley pens a good erotic romance with a happily ever after. Recommended for romance lovers who want to dip their toes into domestic discipline.

*provided by NetGalley 

[Joelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Don't read further if you want to avoid spoilers.

The plot intrigued me when Alta told me about it. An author planning to go undercover in the BDSM community of a large city to get information to write first an article, then a book about domestic discipline. Shy, introverted Ruby Rose immediately caught my heart. By chance or maybe by "mortifying almost accident," she would say, Ruby ends up interacting with the devilishly handsome, sought after Evan Steele, one of the stars of the local BDSM scene. However he's a reluctant star, already jaded by the groupies, just wanting for a love he's afraid he won't find here. As the romance builds between these two, I kept waiting for Ruby to tell Evan the truth, of why she'd moved to the town, what her real job was, about the book, just telling him about the book! Oh I had many heart stopping moments as she told him bits and found it was okay. When she finally told him the whole truth and he was so angry, I couldn't believe Alta wasn't going to give these two loveable characters their HEA. When the horrid Maxine attacked Ruby, I was crying. I was so glad when they finally talked, when Evan gave Ruby the spanking she needed to make everything right for the both of them. I loved watching Evan walked Ruby through spankings, as their physical intimacy grew. I found Evan's thoughts on domestic discipline versus BDSM, especially the BDSM he saw within the clubs, intriguing; admittedly with "submissives" such as Maxine, who really was just playing at it, made for an interesting balance of life versus empty roleplaying. As always, I enjoyed Alta's use of "trust in our love" trope that she presented in such an emotionally satisfying way from Evan's mouth to Ruby's ear. A great book!

[Monica Cullip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby Rose
Alta Hensley
Ruby Rose is trying to make a name for herself as a writer. Her latest assignment is to cover the world of Domestic Discipline and discover all that it really means. She moves to Seattle, moves in with her friend Melanie and quickly gets a job at a BDSM club bartending.
She is undercover, determine to sink into the life and experience all it has to offer her. She meets up with Evan Steel, a mover and shaker in the world she wants to know more about. He is a rough, rugged oh so very masculine man. He sets her heart aflutter.
They start to spend time with one another. She is quickly getting in overy her head, starting to have real feelings for him. All the while keeping the one thing from him that could tear them apart. He is sweet and loveable, treating her to picnics, he teaches her that spanking is not just about the pain but about her surrendering to him. " I want you to truly submit to me", " I want to submit to you, I want you to show me how."
She realizes that he completes her, teaches her things that she has never dreamed of, shows her what has been missing in her life. She is keeping secrets from him still. What will happen when he finds out who she really is?
This was a great spanking book. There was so much more depth to it than I was expecting. There was a complete story. I loved it. It had ups and downs. It had wild sex, plenty of discipline but also had a indepth story line. I loved the way he was patient with her and took the time to discuss and explain DD before he introduced her to it.
I would definately read more by this author. A 5/5 for sure.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by this author, so I did not know what to expect. Well I was very pleased! I really enjoyed this book, I was going into it assuming we would be seeing the "normal" things we see in BDSM "club" books, but it was so much more than that. This was more about a DD relationship and the trust and love that needs to be there in order for it to be a successful one!
I thought the hero and heroine were both very likeable and their chemistry obviously very hot. This book was not overly graphic in ways that some BDSM books are. This was more sensual and passionate.
I was so happy that they got their HEA, I was getting very nervous!!
I would love to read more from this author.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am feeling very ripped off. This book, though written before Hensley's Traditional series, is nearly identical to Traditional Terms. Arguments are the same, love scenes are identical, whole paragraphs are identical! Some of it is even seen in the other two Traditional books.

Leaving out the very unoriginal writing, the characters were constantly contradicting themselves. One paragraph Evan is furious, then he wants to fight for her, then he uses her, then he loves her. It's very poor writing.

I've now read all of the author's books but one, which I won't be reading. I may not read this author again after the disappointment of the last few books. I wish I could get my money back. This was nothing but a waste.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby Rose is a beautiful depiction of the Domestic Discipline Lifestyle. Alta Hensley has given readers a multi dimensional lead couple and a book that really focuses on the romance and emotion in their relationship. Oh, and there are a few spankings. There are definitely sparks flying early on between the hero and heroine. They are really likeable and I found it easy to connect emotionally to their happily ever after. fast pacing, detailed settings and clever dialogue make this an easy read.
*I received my copy from NnetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

[CD Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby definitely needed spanked for all of the secrets she kept. She is doing undercover work for a story on Domestic Discipline and finds herself falling for Evan, the bad boy of BDSM. As their feelings grow and he introduces her to the life she finds herself wanting to submit to him and the life but still now being completely honest. Steamy and captivating read!

Thank you Lazy Day Publishing and NetGalley for ARC.

[Amy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review


I have to say that i am a big fan of BDSM. this book takes a different look at it, and i have to say that i do like this form a lot better. this book follows 2 different POV'S.


this book is about a write named Ruby. she went undercover to work on her newest article about the BDSM world. She was hoping to get the inside look of how it works, and maybe even get a book deal out of this whole experience.

She moved from San Fransisco to Seattle. She got a job bar tending in the best undercover place there was. She was staying with a friend who already had an in to this life style. it was her first day and she already made eye contact with the head guy, Evan. he was hot. everyone wants to be around him because his is the one who started it all.


Evan never felt this way before about another person. he has been used his whole life for fame and experiments. he new that this time was going to be different. he had to have this girl. Evan made it is number one task to make Ruby his girlfriend.

Ruby and Evan started dating and he was showing her his lifestyle. she would ask him everything there was to be known about his life style. she was falling for him hard. he also loved her but knew it wasn't the time to tell her. things started to get really real and heavy.

what is a book without some drama. there was a major groupie named Maxine. she loved Evan. she did everything in her power to let it be known that Ruby didn't belong with him. he would tell her to move on and she couldn't. Maxine knew she had to get her revenge.

Ruby was starting to worry because there relationship was booming and she was keeping a dark secret from him. would she tell him and ruin their knew love life or keep it just how it was going. her friends would tell her that she needed to do the right things because he deserves it.
Maxine now knew what she could do to finally get the man of her dreams back, but at what cost?

[Eric Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this story was pretty good overall. I liked the premise and enjoyed listening to the story throughout.

Ruby is a beautiful yet naive girl who's trying to make her name as a writer and wants to do a story on BDSM or Domestic Discipline. I found it a bit too convenient that the face of the scene falls head over heels in love with her at first sight, but Alta Hensley made it work as more of a coincidence. The story progresses and Evan/Ruby profess their love and make absolute statements about their love and relationship within weeks of meeting each other. However, the foreshadowing made it clear that Ruby's lie would rock the boat. Sure enough, he finds out about it and can't forgive her. But through a series of events, he comes to realize, he can't live without her, again, and they begin anew.

The story goes into some depth about DD and how people who choose to live that lifestyle believe it helps their relationship. Those parts were pretty interesting as well.

The narration was pretty good for the most part. I did go through times where I felt like the emotion was too intense (through the voice) than what it should have been. Good job on keeping the voices straight and I was able to identify the speaker without issue.

I guess the most off-putting part of the story was what I felt to be constant overdone and excessive statements about the character's feelings. I'm a guy, so take that for what it's worth. It just felt at times like the feelings being expressed were overkill. The kind that made me want to roll my eyes and tell them to grow up and get on with it. The narration of these parts didn't help much. It was read with as much emotion as she could muster which blew these feelings way out of proportion.

There were a few sex scenes and they were pretty graphic at times, but nothing too far out of the ordinary.

Overall, I would recommend this to others, as I believe it was a good book on the whole.

I received a free copy of this audio book for an honest review.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, this one sounded really good .... and in it's on way it was but it was also kind of lacking too.

I felt like it was very childish, all the time. Ruby and Evan met, and it was almost like love at first sight, which is kind of stupid since the reason for her being there were to write her article and leave.

The first half of the book wasn't really my cup of tea, I didn't love it. Having said that, the second half was much better.

At first, i didn't feel absolutely anything for them or their relationship because it was just too much, too soon, too NO. I usually have a constant picture in my head when I'm reading something, and the beginning of this book seemed like I missed a few pages in between.

The I love you's were thrown even before the half mark. Didn't like that, it didn't feel genuine. Sorry.

The last part of the book (35%ish) I really liked though. It made up for every other problem I sort of had. I started to feel the actual feeling of both characters and i almost believed in their relationship.

Evan was sweet, but he was a little over dramatic. All of the things he did were funny, because he was the one who claimed undying love.

All in all, it was good.

I would read the next one because I'm hoping its about Melanie, and her story has me really curious.

[Krista Jenks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very uniquely told love story. Ruby is good reporter that goes under cover in a BDSM Bar as a bartender so that she can get closer to certain people in the BDSM community. She is interested in writing a book about Domestic Discipline and its values but first she needs to meet some people . She decides the first thing she is going to do is have some fun with her friend Melanie who already hangs out a this bar and knows many people After not a very long time Ruby catches the eye of very well know person in the BDSM Community. Evan he is payed to attend these events and make appearances on behalf of the community. Evan Is caught of guard by Ruby there is something so different about her than all the other women she is not throwing her self at him and she is so beautiful to look at and her eyes. She seem genuinely interested in what he has to say.

Through out the story Evan starts to get to know Ruby more and they start a relationship but there is one part missing. Ruby is withholding information from Evan and how will this affect there relationship.

This book has book had many great twist and turns and kept me very interested and reading late into the night on several occasion. I high recommend this author to other readers. I very much enjoyed the style of righting.

I received this book as ARC from NET GALLEY for an honest review.

[Niccisbookblog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like the story of this book and the characters were likeable, it was a easy read and the writing flowed nicely. If that is all your looking for great. From a writing perspective, Ms. Hensley pens a good erotic romance with a happily ever after.
BUT the book is supposed to be about domestic discipline and spanking, there were only two instances of this in the whole book.
Evan was supposed to be this dominant guy that wants to live the DD lifestyle but the story focused more around Evan and his entourage and the fact that dominating males are treated as rock stars and paid to show up to clubs.
I hated the fact that you knew what was going to break the couple up before they got there HEA nearly at the start of the book you were just waiting for it the whole time.

If your looking for a sweet romantic read with a introduction to how domestic discipline works, with some small peeks into the diverse kinky world, this is a great read.

[Patty]

--I was given a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a surprising book. I was ready for a straight bdsm, tie me up, spank my butt and lots of sex. The storyline was very different and good. Ruby goes undercover to get the scoop on domestic discipline as a bartender and gets to meet the man who can give her all the information she needs, Evan Steel. Little does she know, she gets pulled into his world, craves his touch, and his ways, falls in love. She is keeping a big secret from Evan though and it threatens to pull them apart...what happens when he finds out? You will have to listen!

Violet Hemming's portrayal of this book is outstanding. She differentiates between characters easily and gives the story the steel, the emotion, the love, the sadness all at the same time. A definite recommendation.

[Karinosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of this author before. The plot intrigued me. A DD relationship is what this is about. For being a novella it went fast. I enjoyed the emotional roller coaster we were lead on. I would have enjoyed more, but being a novella it was good. I guess I could give it 4 stars. It was an intense sea. Ruby is a sweet innocent and vanilla girl with an agenda. Evan is an alpha male and drop dead sexy. They have obstacles to handle
and have a need to be with each other so much. Fast read! Enojoy. lol

I received this ARC from the author via Net Galley for my honest review!

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

I have tried several times to listen to this audio book...................and could not get into it. I apparently made a mistake in requesting it. I didn't realize it was BDSM, even though I have listened to a few in the past, not my thing. If that is your genre, I'm sure you will like it.

The narration was well done. The characters were excellently portrayed.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley. Review to follow.