If your mind was set and made up
regarding certain intimate displays, what
would it take to change how you thought?
Would there be anything?
You say no now...wait until you read
STROBE!!
5 Super ***** from this Sassy blogger!!!
This is a full-length novel and has an HEA. There is no cheating.
NOTE: I am not a fan of spoilers...my reviews are vague and have only small parts of the book included. This book has a warning with the synopsis - recommended for ages 18+.
This hot tamale was fantastic! I do mean scorching and I do mean fantastic! I even got out the thesaurus to try to find another word that really says how amazing this book is and well...there isn't one that fits! I'm super excited that we hear from both the Heroine AND the Hero! I just really dig a book that lets me inside the mind of a man!! How amazing would that be to hear what he's thinking and feeling?! The premise of the book is also a bit different from any other in the same genre! I thought it was genius! To use a female college 'student' - and a slightly older male who 'teaches' her to push her own limits. Student and teacher - but not in the traditional sense. Loved it!
Sloane Renard is a very intelligent woman. She's graduated already with honors in Psychology and wanted to broaden her horizon with a little human sexuality course. Little did she know just how those horizons of hers would broaden! She's not a prude, in my opinion, but she does have clear limits and opinions on sex. It was almost strange how candid she was with the topic of sex. She doesn't seem to have any trouble debating about it in class. When the professor has a long-time friend, Lennox come in to help regarding the subject of voyeurism, Sloane is immediately affected. Affected by him! She feels as if she's on display for him and I could almost feel it too! It was palpable, almost a tangible emotion. It seems to go right along with the voyeur theme. I began to have this premonition or tried to see ahead in my mind's eye about what would happen with them, what would bring them together, and how would Sloane react to this very handsome man doing more than just looking at her from across a crowded room? Sloane had strong opinions of what a healthy sexual relationship should look like. She didn't see a need to broadcast it to everyone. But even before talking with Lennox - she is curious why others are interested in that lifestyle. I think that he makes her even more intrigued. It was easy to see that Sloane wasn't the type of girl to be interested in talking with him. So I found it very interesting that she did.
"She was curious. Not because the voyeuristic lifestyle appealed to her, but because she wanted to know why the lifestyle appealed to him."
I feel, in every book I read, there is that pivotal moment for a certain character or relationship. But in this book - there were many! The moment after one of their first conversations is pivotal. Would she give him a chance to show her what he thinks she's missing? I honestly thought there would be more build up - but in hindsight, I'm really appreciative that there wasn't. Another hinging moment happens as each of them are in the moment and Sloane runs - Lennox has never had a woman run from him before. Why is she running? Is she afraid of him, the situation, or her feelings? Here's a man who doesn't fall in love. He gets what he needs and on to the next. Lennox is never in the same spot for very long. But...why is this different? What makes Sloane different to him? I could go on and on but I don't want to give too much away! All of these moments made for a more honest and raw relationship between them. They were practically strangers yet they also seem to act as if they've none each other for years. Generally, insta-love makes me crazy! And although this wasn't necessarily insta-love, it was similar - but it only made what happens between them more endearing! I found myself absorbed in the banter between them. And to read the inner monologue of each character - what they were thinking - was fresh and exciting!
"...this was different. This was intimate. This made things seem real. He didn't have time for real relationships. He had time for himself, end of story."
Sloane finds herself confused and it made me really think, 'could someone really not know what they like or want?' But looking back, that's not really what I should have been asking myself. For instance, you may not know you like pickles until you try them out first. You have to put your own fears of the unknown aside if you really want to experience life. It was drawn in more and more as the book progressed. Watching their relationship evolve, watching Sloan evolve, watching the way Sloane's own evolution changed something in Lennox. At first he's suave and confident. Knows exactly what he wants and calculating on just how to go about getting it. In the beginning, Sloane is careful and guarded. Prim and proper, however not one to back down in defending her beliefs. I know that there are many character descriptions that may seem the same as others you've read. You'd be right. But what you wouldn't be right about is how some of those same descriptions take Sloane and Lennox on a totally different journey! Even though I thought I knew what was coming next - one of them would end up surprising me! That's the tell-tale sign of an author that can really write our socks off! Leading us all down one road with the end in sight - a quick right or left-hand turn to the unknown! I felt so involved and entranced in the story. It was one I couldn't put down and finished in one sitting! It was one that kept me on my toes. It ebbed and flowed with superb symmetry! I strongly urge you to read this book! It will be one you won't soon forget!
Thank you Holly Stephens!! For one HOT HEA!!!
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