The Feel of Possession

The Senses Series #3

by Kathleen Haley

This is how it feels to be completely possessed by him . . . but my mind screams the opposite of my body.

Astrid and Geraint’s relationship teeters in the balance when Geraint and his mother become suspects in a murder. Astrid makes a series of major mistakes that land Geraint in hot water and suggest she doesn’t trust him or their love. To discipline her, Geraint plays with her mind more intensely than ever. Before long, he pushes her over the edge, shattering her trust completely. Can their love survive this ultimate test?

Since I have no control over the investigation, I’ll exert control in our relationship.

Normally self-possessed and sensitive to Astrid’s needs, Geraint is thrown by the surprise murder investigation that now consumes his life. Triggered by self-doubt, he seeks reassurance of Astrid’s love in ever darker mind games. He takes their relationship down a twisted path that may just rupture their bond for good.

Instinct tells me who did it . . . but it’s hard to trust my intuition.

The murder investigation wreaks havoc on the burgeoning relationship between Inspector Bertram Holborne and Effie Irving, the daughter of one of the suspects. The more Bertram questions his suspects, the less he knows and the further he gets from eliminating Effie’s father. When the murderer threatens to strike again, Bertram finds he has to cut a few corners. Will his efforts suffice to catch the perpetrator and win Effie’s heart?

Told from three points of view (Astrid, Geraint, and Bertram), this dark romance-murder mystery with BDSM elements explores the difficulties of trusting your own feelings when it comes to what—and whom—you love.

The Feel of Possession is the third novel in the Senses Series. The story will make more sense to those who’ve read the second book, The Taste of Deceit.

Please see my website for a full content advisory.

Genres: BDSM, Dark Romance

394 pages, Paperback

Published July 20, 2024

About the author

Formerly an academic, I took up writing romance recently and quite by accident. In early 2022 the right elements conjoined—my love of villains, my taste for high comedy, and my pull towards strong women. Now I can’t stop cooking up plots and drawing new characters. Though I write mostly dark romance, I invariably weave plenty of reality into the fantasy. My preference for lone wolves, quirky characters, and intense plot results in what my reader and author friends call romance with teeth. I live in Berkeley, California with my dachshund-Chihuahua, Pooh-bah. When I’m not writing, I love traveling, cooking, playing piano, and cycling in the nearby hills.

Follow on Insta @kathleenlotthaley

Website: https://kathleenhaley1.wixsite.com/my...

Reviews

[Angela - Traumatic Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Feel of Possession by Kathleen Haley is the third book in The Senses Series. I received an ARC for my honest review.

Before we even go any further - if you haven't read The Taste of Deceit I really recommend that you do. The cliffhanger at the end of that lands you right in the beginning of The Feel of Possession. This third book in the series carries on the story of Geraint and Astrid. And I want to just add that this book was by far my most favourite of the series. I freaking loved everything about it. Geraints true "darkness" came right to the forefront and Astrid's unconditional love shone through it all. The suspense... the twists and turns and all the intense chemistry written in words that I will always keep close to my heart. Kathleen writes beautifully - each word, sentence, paragraph so elegant and so damn visual - I could see, feel and almost taste my way through the chapters.

Adding Kathleen Haley to my favourite Author Shelf - I will read everything and anything this woman writes and shares. I'm giving this one all the hearts, stars and love.

[Joanne Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how it feels to be completely possessed by him . . . but my mind screams the opposite of my body.

Astrid and Geraint’s relationship teeters in the balance when Geraint and his mother become suspects in a murder. Astrid makes a series of major mistakes that land Geraint in hot water and suggest she doesn’t trust him or their love. To discipline her, Geraint plays with her mind more intensely than ever. Before long, he pushes her over the edge, shattering her trust completely. Can their love survive this ultimate test?

Since I have no control over the investigation, I’ll exert control in our relationship.

Normally self-possessed and sensitive to Astrid’s needs, Geraint is thrown by the surprise murder investigation that now consumes his life. Triggered by self-doubt, he seeks reassurance of Astrid’s love in ever darker mind games. He takes their relationship down a twisted path that may just rupture their bond for good.

Instinct tells me who did it …. but it’s hard to trust my intuition.

The murder investigation wreaks havoc on the burgeoning relationship between Inspector Bertram Holborne and Effie Irving, the daughter of one of the suspects. The more Bertram questions his suspects, the less he knows and the further he gets from eliminating Effie’s father. When the murderer threatens to strike again, Bertram finds he has to cut a few corners. Will his efforts suffice to catch the perpetrator and win Effie’s heart?

This is the third book in “The Senses Series” and is a mix between books one and two. Kathleen has done it again! The book continues the story of Geraint and Astrid, with Detective Bertram Holborne and Effie thrown into the mix to spice things up a bit! Fox and Gwynn continue to be regulars in this book as well.

Geraint is usually in control of his life but he is out of his depth with the continuing murder investigation and as a possible suspect. He turns to Fox for relationship advice, maybe not his best choice or most prudent. He starts to play extreme mind games with Astrid due to his own insecurities, something he has not done before. Will he push her over the edge? Will their relationship survive his jealousy? Will he come to his senses before he has lost Astrid for good? So many twists and turns … will certainly keep you intrigued, if nothing else!

I could not put this book down, page to page, chapter to chapter - read in less than a day! The book, like the other two in the series, is addictive - I did not want it to end! You are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊

[Laurie Reads Reverse Harem · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars
Although, I preferred this book to the second book - I still struggled with enjoying the writing as with the second book in the series.
Between the MMCs mannerisms especially in the second half of the book, and the FMC relenting and giving in to the MMC - I think their dynamic is not my cup of tea, unfortunately. I couldn't understand the type of play, they were expressing nor could I understand the dynamic of the FMC rolling over and allowing this dynamic. I think I need a fierce woman, but if this is your type of book - then I'm glad you found such a talented author because the writing is exquisite and if the characters were written more to my taste - this would be a five star, no hesitation.
Thank you for the arc. I really appreciated the opportunity and I loved the additional MMC and his storyline - this brought the book back up in stars for me.

[Paige (wingsandsmut) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After that cliffhanger at the end of book 2, I was excited to start reading this book! This book gives us more of Geraint & Astrid’s story and so far has been my favorite of this series! I loved all the dark elements that came out and the suspense and mystery as well! I loved the spice we got in this book and it didn’t disappoint! Another wonderful book by Kathleen!

What to expect:
-Dark romance
-Murder mystery
-BDSM
-Family secrets & drama

[Meg V Reads ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review has MILD spoilers🚨

Astrid and Geraint had a whirlwind romance that was truly one to remember. Geraint’s billionaire status and connections mixed with Astrid’s stubbornness and desire to provide and make a name for herself create the perfect dynamic for easy banter. I was surprised with the amount of subplots going on in this story. It’s impossible not to get drawn in. There is so much going on with the murder, the Paris job, the introduction of BDSM, the “proposal”- yet it is so well written that it is so easy to follow and just ride the twists and turns.

I highly recommend this whole series for anyone looking for a darker romance. Especially those who like the billionaire trope!

Note: I rated this story a 4.5 and rounded up. I absolutely loved this story and how well written it was. Some of the darker themes (the edge play, specifically) were hard for me to wrap my head around. Once I got past that, this was truly a 5 star read for me.

[Jordalin Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Feel of Possession continues immediately following the cliffhanger from The Taste of Deceit. I loved that we were able to read this book in not only Astrid and Geraint’s POV, but also Inspector Bertram as well. I found myself at the edge of my seat trying to solve the murder alongside Bertram. I felt as though I was reading a modern version of Clue and thoroughly enjoyed the spice and murder ratio in this book. We see Astrid and Geraint’s relationship shift to become an even more intense relationship. It was refreshing to read about an MMC who was insecure about their relationship. Geraint certainly could’ve handled the situation much better. The ending could not have been more perfect. Not to mention, I love that we continue to see Fox and Gwynn as regulars in the series. Overall, I have to say this is Kathleen’s best book so far and I look forward to reading more!

[Nilsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery in the 2nd book had me mind blown. The relationship between Astrid and Geraint made me laugh, cry, angry and love them in each part of their journey. The evolution of Astrid and Geraint's relationship, with the help of the friend least expected, had me sp invested in their story. Added plus to the story, I wasn't expecting the murder twist and many secrets that were involved with the many characters.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading, loving and reviewing The Taste of Deceit, Kathleen kindly offered me a free copy of this to continue the story.

I loved it! The storyline was gripping and interesting, with many twists and turns. I love reading about the Sub/Dom dynamic between Astrid and Geraint, and I found it incredibly well written and insightful. I'm looking forward to reading more from this series!

[Sarah Viljoen · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, WTH happened. Expect a Volcanic eruption of emotions from this read. @Kathleenhaley has certainly outdone herself in this book. Geraint and Astrid’s story is so intense, with so many twists and turns that it keeps you spell bound and on your toes you have no choice but to fully immerse yourself into it. You feel the love, intrigue, sorrow, excitement until it blows up I’m still in shock but, by the end I just feel that this can’t be the end of this story, there has to be more? Is there or isn’t there?

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for The Feel of Possession
This is probably my favourite work of Kathleen’s so far. I read it in one sitting on a road trip and couldn’t put it down. It was cleverly written; with various twists I did not see coming. After reading and loving several of Kathleen’s works, trademark staples of her scintillating writing are stunning descriptions of food, art, music and travelling that immerse me fully into the story.
Astrid offers a ferocity that initially drew Geraint in, but after feelings of insecurity and a lack of control in his life following the investigation, he seeks to exert his power over everything he can with her – mind and body. In his bid to feel secure and exert dominance over her life and every detail, not just in the bedroom, there is a question of whether he may end up ruining the things he first loved about her.

The main focus is on Astrid and Geraint, whose relationship comes under strain when Geraint and his mother end up as murder suspects. It was paced very well and didn’t feel dragged out or too fast. I didn’t see the ending coming, but it was satisfying! Under stress from the investigation, Geraint’s dark and domineering nature starts to control them both. Nevertheless, Astrid continues to love him, despite feeling resentment at him for his selfish actions and herself for being unable to stop loving him.

The second focus is on Bertram, the Inspector, who is trying to navigate the case and his love interest, Effie, who is also the daughter of one of the suspects. I enjoyed their story as a sweet accompaniment and insight into the investigation. There are also the regulars like Fox and Gwynn, and I loved their appearances. The friendships between both Fox and Geraint and Astrid and Gwynn brought the characters to life.
The writing evoked a lot of emotion in me. I was frustrated at Astrid for her actions at the start, no spoilers but some things had disaster waiting to happen written all over it and yet she did it anyway! At points I was so mad at Geraint too! I really felt for Astrid as she navigated their relationship on an emotional and sexual level. Despite this, the character development of both characters was excellent and written in a way that felt authentic.
Overall, the story was a page turner and an exciting rollercoaster of suspense, spice and challenges, and the murder mystery was done really well.

Check this out if you love:
BDSM
Triple POV
Dark romance
Murder mystery
Family drama and secrets

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

You simply Must Read the Number 2 book in this series, The Taste of Deceit, since The Feel of Possession directly follows the events of The Taste of Deceit. I really enjoyed The Feel of Possession. I want to note that the title sort of tells you a lot about this story as the main Male character is extremely possessive, in a good way though. Though sometime he does go a little overboard, it is because Geraint is insecure about Astrid at the heart of it. His good friend and employer Fox gives some helpful advice a few times btw.

I particularly enjoyed how Geraint frequently edges Astrid, this is told to us in really good detail, that I found enjoyable and I am sure that you will find it so as well. the story i told from multiple points of view and I think it works well. It is easy to figure out which character is the POV and I didn't find it confusing. I liked being inside the head of the different characters in the story.

There is a lot of smutty scenes that I thought were really well done especially the edging of Astrid which I previously noted, and there is some butt stuff as well. Ehh if you don't like smut you probably are not going to like a lot of the story, if you do well then get prepared for a lot of well written scenes that you are sure to enjoy so be prepared.

The mystery of the Murder of Henry is resolved towards the end of the book, so there is a lot going on concerning the murder investigation. Me is was not expecting who it was, but I am not good at figuring out who done it in a mystery. Even so I do think the murder was well done and I thought it was an interesting part of the story.

I am sure that if you read The Taste of Deceit you are going to really enjoy The Feel of Possession, and if you haven't already read it you simply must take the time to read The Taste of Deceit first. In my case I have not read The Smell of Fear which is the first book in this series and I intend to read it next.

[neeshreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Hello darkness my old friend…whew! Kathleen Haley did not come to play this time around! We get the continuation of Astrid & Geraint’s story and the feral, primal, dark energy Geraint keeps a tight lid on is unleashed. I, alongside Astrid, was questioning my sanity a few times when confronted with Dark Dom Geraint.

🖤Billionaire, Alphahole MMC
🖤Fiery, Independent FMC
🖤Murder Mystery
🖤BDSM Elements
🖤Dominant & Submissive Power Play Dynamics
🖤Degradation, Humiliation & Praise Kink
🖤Edge Play, Manipulation, Dub-Con
🖤Possessive MMC

Astrid & Geraint’s relationship is in a precarious spot as Geraint and his mother become suspects in a murder investigation. Astrid, who has been fiercely independent her whole life, makes some mistakes that further intensify Geraint’s problems and lead them both to question her trust in Geraint and their love. To discipline Astrid and rectify her over analyzing tendencies, Geraint plays with Astrid’s mind more intensely than ever before…but Geraint pushes Astrid too far, fracturing her trust completely and has her questioning everything she thought she knew about the man she loves.

Since there is so much out of Geraint’s control with the investigation, in trying to maintain control over the one area of his life where it matters most, Geraint may have taken his relationship with Astrid down a dark path that they cannot turn back from.

Will their love survive the outside pressures and each of their own inner demons?

This was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, and I enjoyed the touch of mystery in the background with the whodunnit? aspect. I’m glad that we got to see more of Astrid and Geraint’s dynamic unfold as they’re still in the lead for favorite couple for me, and while I understand Geraint’s stresses…he wanted to be throttled by me quite a few times. Geraint’s lucky he’s cute 😂

On to the next dark romance adventure in the series!

[Shanna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you combine a murder mystery and a little possessiveness…well a good time of course. The Feel of Possession is the continued story of Geraint and Astrid (so if you haven’t read The Taste of Deceit, you really should). While Geraint is in the middle of a murder investigation, Astrid gets an opportunity of a lifetime to work in Paris. This does test Geraint and Astrid’s relationship to the brink of “darkness”.

To be honest I was really getting angry at Geraint for the way he was treating Astrid…I mean the Dom/Sub relationship is one thing but taking it to the brink of madness was really bothering me and I don’t get bothered by much. I mean in the end the love between these two will never be broken and that is why Geraint and Astrid are my favorite Dom/Sub couple (my heart swoons).

Another couple in the book is Bertram (the detective involved with the murder mystery part) and Effie, a girl he loves and helps her during a difficult part of her life. In my opinion I would really want more to these two and what lead up to how they met…(hint hint Kathleen a little Novella would be nice). While I can usually guess “who done it” in this case I wasn’t that close…I was close just not that close.

Kathleen has outdone herself yet again and will always be a fan and read all her work from here on out. Just make sure you check the triggers in this book as there is a heavy Dom/Sub element for a few chapters.

[Alexis Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been given this book as a ARC reading for my honest review. Let me start by saying WOW this book had me hot and bothered and had so many twists and turns throughout the whole thing. Geraint really showed us his true darkness in this book and really showed us how possessive, obsessive, and demanding he is and showed us how submissive Astrid likes to be. We really got to dive in and see Astrid’s internal struggles, how she doesn’t trust easy or how she’s not sure that she should like the degrading things Geraint does to her. They really get put through the wringer but come out stronger in the end. I liked that we saw Geraint work through his doubts and struggles as well. I love Dex and Shawn. Dex is so serious while Shawn is so playful(maybe a future book?). Bertram and Effie were so cute and I loved their dynamic. Bertram was very well written and Iiked the depth he was written in. Watkins was an interesting character that had me wanting to know more about him, he was a bit mysterious but he surprised me a few times throughout the book. The whole storyline with the murder kept me on my toes the whole time wondering who did it and wasn’t at all disappointed by who it was. I’m glad Geraint and Astrid got their happy ending and would love to hear more about them in future books.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give me an investigation, a murder and a lot of possession, chemistry and so much more with Astrid and Geraint and call this my favorite book of the series. The family drama bleeds in from The Taste of Deceit but Geraint's obsession and enjoyment of Astrid. Everyone has their limit, the question is who will break first?

This is the third book in the Senses Series and certainly cannot be read as a stand alone since it starts right where book two ends.

Favorite quotes
A story flashes through my head of a woman in rural New York who got mauled by a raccoon near her house and couldn't get a rabies shot anywhere for days because the hospitals didn't take her health insurance. She nearly died.

His eyes darken. "Nor may I."

Confident of her beauty and strength, Astrid knows her own worth and defers to me because she chooses to.

"You didn't mean to fall irrevocably in love with me?" I brush her matter hair from her face. "It's too late for you to turn back. But if you love me, you love all of me. All of you loves all of me. Not just this---"

"As you're aware, I've always been fascinated with poisons, my lord"

This murderer thought they could commit a clean kill and get away with it, so their identity isn't going to be obvious. We'll outlast the killer at this game until we've drawn their complete profile

[Kimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 The Feel of Possession by Kathleen Hayley
📖 Genre: BDSM Romance, Mystery
⭐ Rating: 4/5

Kathleen Hayley's "The Feel of Possession" is a tantalizing blend of BDSM heat and murder mystery intrigue that'll keep you guessing - and squirming - till the very end.

This story weaves multiple plotlines together like an intricate rope bondage scene. We've got Geraint and Astrid's intense D/s relationship, complete with edge play and creative punishments that'll make your toes curl. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Bertram is hunting down a killer while navigating his own blossoming romance with Effie.

Hayley doesn't shy away from the complexities of power exchange relationships. The story explores trust, communication, and the fine line between punishment and abuse. And just when you think you've got it all figured out, she throws in another twist to keep you on your toes.

The murder mystery aspect adds depth to the narrative, with red herrings and suspects aplenty. From poisoned nasal sprays to suspicious peonies, this whodunit will keep you engaged between the steamy scenes.

If you enjoy your mysteries with a heavy dose of kink and your romance with a side of suspense, "The Feel of Possession" will grab you and not let go - unless you use your safeword, of course.

[Nikki B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in The Senses Series and you have to read to the second book The Taste of Deceit in order to know what's going on. I think so far, this is my favorite in the series. In the last book, I liked Geraint. I thought he seemed so sweet and protective. He seemed the opposite of Fox. But in this book, man did he take a turn and show us his darker side and I was living for it!! I didn't think it was possible to love this man more and then Kathleen went and made him so dominating and endearing at the same time.
This book follows up on the murder that was ended on in the last book and the investigation leading up to catching the murderer. But there was so much more than the investigation going on. Astrid and Geraint's dynamic was very strained in this book as Geraint was much more dominating and possessive and Astrid seemed slightly more docile and sensitive. She didn't put up as much of a fight as she did in the last book and that was one of my favorite things about her.
Kathleen's writing made me feel all the intensity with Geraint and Astrid. Her writing is just so well put together and descriptive that you can feel every emotion the characters are going through. She really is a talented author. These books have a special place on my trophy shelf.

[Jo Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, where to begin... ill start by saying i think i will read everything @kathleenlotthaley writes from now. I was introduced to her writing through and ARC copy i received and i knew i was in for a fun ride.
As others have pointed out please make sure you read The taste of Deceit first as it ends on a cliff hanger taking you straight into The Feel Of Possession.
This book continues Geraint & Astrids story, in the first part I loved how Astrid was a such strong FMC and her push back to Geraint was everything. So to see the turn taken in this part was a little jarring at first because your girl here loves a strong woman !! But bear with me here, i absolutely loved seeing Astrids internal struggles to deal with this new OTT dominant, possessive, controlling side to Geraint. The way the author writes it helps you to really go through this with her. She loves it but hates it and hates that she loves it..... what a beautiful mindf**k of emotions. And not to forget the fact that all this is happening at the same time as a murder investigation, a legal land battle and lots of family secrets are still coming to light.

5 stars, loved the book, loved the spice.

[reader. kore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe to say after two books, Kathleen has become one of my favourite authors.

After the cliffhanger on book 1 of Geraint and Astrid's story, book 2 has The Feel of Possession is the perfect conclusion to the mystery and dark romance.

We see more of Geraint, his possessiveness and the darkest parts of him, as he navigates through major changes and relationship development with Astrid. Astrid herself levels with him, being challenged and kept on the edge through her boyfriend's domineering ways.

Told in three povs, from Geraint, Astrid and that of the inspector, Bertram, the author masterfully weaves mystery, romance, and intrigue in this page turner read. We have a wonderful cast of characters, realistic depictions of relationship ups and downs, set against the wonderful backdrop of England and Paris.

If you ever wanted to be swept up in elite circles, have a boyfriend who's a sexy dominant in every sense of the word and be spoiled for anyone else, this is the book for you.

[HighFaeFitWitch (Camille) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Feel of Possession had my chest aching and my mind racing as to WTH was going on for a good portion of the book. Throughout the book, we see Geraint and Astrid's relationship getting darker, couple that with the murder mystery aspect and we have a recipe for some near-devastating moments.

I became so invested in Astrid and Geraint's relationship that there were moments when I genuinely felt anxiety at certain points because I did not know what would happen next! I'm also a huge sucker for a murder mystery so I enjoyed the side plot as well as speculating along with Bertram and Watkins as to who the murderer was.

The BDSM flavor is still present throughout The Feel of Possession, but as I already mentioned the book does get much darker compared with its predecessor, so please check the triggers before you dive in. Because of the anxiety-inducing moments, this book will tear your heart out, then shove it back in, a bit worse for wear, but in the best way possible.

[Natalie Intihar · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Taste of Deceit, I was so excited to dive right into The Feel of Possession. The Feel of Possession goes deeper into the relationship between Astrid and Geraint while uncovering the ending of The Taste of Deceit. These books flow so well together, and the tension certainly flows from one book to the next.

There is an air of secrecy and intensity throughout this book that I really loved. While this story still follows Astrid and Geraint, I loved the introduction to the new characters and the expansion in this book. There’s an added tension beyond the spice of Astrid and Geraint that makes this book really compelling.

This book is the epitome of a dark romance, and it had me invested from page one. It was a fantastic read and Kathleen Haley has once again delivered a beautiful story full of love, lust, and so much more.

I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Sherry Jacox · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you, @kathleenlotthaley, for giving me a chance to read your book. Sorry, I got into a slump right before I got this ARC with other personal things going on in life. But I finally got done with this, and let me just say UGH!! This series just keeps getting better and better.

This is the conclusion of Geraint and Astrid's story. So you have to read book 2 to read book 3. But you want to read book 2, and then you most definitely want to read book 3. We also get Bertram and Effie. I absolutely need more of their story.

Geraint is under suspension for murder so of course he has to let is frustration out on Astrid in some mind fuck was. I didn't know if I should love Geraint, Hate him, or try to bitch slap him. I feel for Astrid because she didn't know what to do either. But her body sure did 😉

I look forward to reading more of this series and maybe visiting Geraint & Astrid, Fox & Gwynn and maybe Bertram & Effie in later books.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read. I didn’t enjoy this instalment as much as the previous book in the series but that didn't take away from it being enjoyable.
I did hit a bit of an issue with this one though, something that just didn't feel right. I struggled to get my head around how the FMC was simply able to forgive and forget what essentially amounted to abuse in part of the story without their being amends made and trust gradually restored. I feel like I’ve got a reasonable understanding dom/sub dynamics and ignoring safe words is not in line with that so felt a bit wrong.
The mystery elements were interesting and I’m glad we got some closure on it all at the end. The inspector character and his POV were a great addition.
The characters took some interesting turns that kept me on my toes (and shaking my head at times).
Overall a well written book.

[OG · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Feel of Possession is book three in Kathleen Haley’s The Senses Series and should definitely be read after book two because it’s a continuation of Geraint’s and Astrid’s story, the previous having ended with a cliffhanger. Not only do we get more of Geraint, but we are also introduced to Inspector Bertram, who is leading the investigation, and he is HOT.



Bertram is completely obsessed with Effie, who was injured in an accident while riding her bike, and he is taking care of her. She just happens to be related to one of the suspects in the case concerning Geraint, which throws a bit of a spanner in the mix-as if a cocky ex-boyfriend hanging around wasn’t enough of a spanner! When these two finally got together, I felt fireworks all the way inside my belly. It.was.delicious.



While I love Bertram and Effie and hope to see more of their relationship in another book or series, the main focus of The Feel of Possession is still on G&A. Because Geraint has so little control of his life being a murder suspect, he absolutely takes even more control of Astrid. Their relationing in this book is even more intense than in the previous one, which I didn’t think was possible, but YES IT IS! The edging of Astrid is ohhh soooo scrumptious. There is copious amounts of smutty goodness between both couples, and I am not complaining one bit because Kathleen Haley is one of the best at writing it, IMO. Every movement, every sound, it’s all orchestrated so beautifully, may as well be watching it because I can see and feel it all. If you love a murder mystery with a huge side of kink, this book is perfect for you.

The Feel of Possession was published July 15, 2024

4 stars.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good closure on the cliffhanger ending from book 2.

As much as I loved Astrid and Geraint in book 2, I really came to loathe Geraint during this book. But he did redeem himself...eventually!! Some of the antics he pulled made ME want to knee him in the balls...

Astrid was great, as normal. Even though she was fighting an inner battle with her feelings and emotions. Geraint thought he had something to prove to keep Astrid, thought he had to be his strong, cruel Dom self. I felt for Astrid at times - I wanted to hug her and make her happy.

The mystery unfolding around Lord Godolphin's death was captivating and intriguing. It kept me guessing and changing my mind constantly!

I enjoyed the side story of Bertram -he turned out to be not so bad.

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Feel of Possession was a great ending to the first book and I’m glad I finished this entire story because the twist at the end (finding out who did it) made it totally worth it.

I will admit, I was in a bit of a reading slump going into this one, but the story was definitely well worth the read. Well written again and the imagery was so well executed. The story was so easy to fall into and it was easy to get caught up in the emotions. At times I really didn’t like Geraint (I thought he was being a doody head) and I really felt for Astrid too but everything ends well and the character development was so nice to see given how hard Geraint was in the beginning and continues to be during the story, his heart definitely softens a little.

I would definitely read more by Kathleen Haley and hope she continues to churn out fantastic stories.

[Annie May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I begin? There are so many good things to say about this book. Kathleen Haley sure has a way of developing good characters, plots, and a great story. This book has it all. A murder mystery. See if you can figure this one out. It will keep you guessing till the end. So many have a motive. Add to that an intense and very erotic love story with Geraint and Astrid that will make you swoon. As the plot thickens, with murder suspects. Relationship issues heat up and just get hotter. But there are trust issues and while trying to do everything right it all turns out wrong. Will the murder get solved? Is it who you thought? Will their love survive through it all... Murder, secrets, lies, and mystery. Grab your copy today.

[Jennifer Hash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of The Feel of Possession in exchange for an honest review.

The Feel of Possession continues Astrid & Geraint's story & cliffhanger from The Taste of Deceit.
Geraint & Astrid are dealing with a police investigation and a career move. These cause Geraint to need to secure Astrid's true feelings for him by mindf-ing her. But he & Astrid miscommunicate & he takes things too far.
Geraint's incessant need to possess Astrid in every way and Astrid's astronomical patience through it all kept me going, anticipating each of their end points and what he was going to do to her next.
And the sex club scene? Spicy perfection!!
It was a very good dark romance story, the addition of the detective's story was entertaining also. All three POVs get their HEA.

[Jannelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had more difficulty with this book than the second. The writing is fantastic and the author switches things up that I had to keep reading and needing to know what was going to happen next. The reason I have four stars instead of five is that I was uncomfortable with the type of play between the MMC and FMC, to me it was not play but abuse. Again, I am not in the world of BDSM so maybe I'm just a prude.

I like the introduction of the new characters and will read the next book in this series to see if we get to meet them more. I am assuming that how you keep the series going? I'm an avid reader not writer so who knows. The author does a great job with character development, plot twist and intrigue. I wouldn't be surprised if she ended up writing mysteries at some point.

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy murder Mystery Batman

There are so many crazy things happening in this book. Every time you get some answers you are also left with more questions. You get twists and turns from the inspectors about the murder, the startling revelations linking people together, and all the shifts in Astrid and Geraint's relationship.

This book was so easy to devour as I absolutely needed to know what was going to happen on each front. I also have to say there was a point in there that I absolutely loathed Geraint and his actions.

Can you discover who the killer is or will the inspectors have to show you the answer?