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Falling Under #1
Going Under
Knowing all too well the damage online trolls can inflict, game designer Emily Bartwell takes privacy seriously. Living in solitude and working remotely under a male alias gives her a sense of security. The sexy writer renting the house next door ignites desires she'd forgotten she had, and when he invites her to play games of a very different sort, Em is ready and willing. Even if it means breaking all her own rules to abide by his.
Undercover tech reporter Fox Mullins is so close to the biggest scoop of his career: finding the elusive programmer Phoenix. An increasingly erotic adventure with his reserved but passionate new neighbor is the ideal way to heat up the chilly Pacific Northwest nights as he tracks the brilliant gamer.
At first Fox is happy to help Em explore her newly awakened kinky side, no holds barred, no strings attached. But as they push the limits of intimacy, both physical and emotional, Fox discovers he's not the only one keeping secrets. And revealing hers may mean betraying the one woman who embodies everything he desires.
87,000 words
Undercover tech reporter Fox Mullins is so close to the biggest scoop of his career: finding the elusive programmer Phoenix. An increasingly erotic adventure with his reserved but passionate new neighbor is the ideal way to heat up the chilly Pacific Northwest nights as he tracks the brilliant gamer.
At first Fox is happy to help Em explore her newly awakened kinky side, no holds barred, no strings attached. But as they push the limits of intimacy, both physical and emotional, Fox discovers he's not the only one keeping secrets. And revealing hers may mean betraying the one woman who embodies everything he desires.
87,000 words
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2014
10 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
Jeffe Kennedy
98 books1,336 followers💙She/her💙 Award-winning Bestselling Author of epic fantasy romance. Taoist. Swiftie. Santa Fean. Cat lady @sfwa_inc Past-President. Rep by @seyitsme
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 4, 2014
My rating: 2 of 5 ⭐️
I had some major issues with some of the basic premises of this story.
Emily is a woman who is 'hiding out' in a small island community after her work on a game design turned very personal and potentially dangerous. Hounded by press of the gaming community, she uses the handle Phoenix to conduct her business and manoevre her way around the online world.
Fox is on the hunt for Phoenix and has received information on the approximate whereabouts of Phoenix. He happens to move in next door to Emily and develops a fascination with her.
Enter my issues. Emily, supposed keeping a low profile, makes it a point to be known everywhere by ordering the same thing over and over again, stuff she doesn't particularly care for.... why? To throw people off track? Who cares what she eats or drinks? All she does is make herself very recognizable and stand out. Then, she hooks up with a neighbour who is into BDSM and supposed trusts this stranger, to dominate her sexually, hand him control over her, when she doesn't trust herself half of the time?
The introduction of BDSM into what was supposed to be a brief sexual interlude, especially when completely new to one of the participants seems unrealistic to me. And although I tried to stay connected to the story, I really had the hardest time, when I already had a problem understanding the logic behind most of the decisions made by the heroin.
I have to admit, I scanned through the remainder of the book, and didn't find much to pull my attention back in enough to re-evaluate my opinion.
What I will note is that the book seemed well written, in that the sentences flowed well, there was an appropriate balance of show and tell and I did not spot grammar or editing issues. The blurb as well as the cover were enough to have me download the book from Netgalley. Hence the two stars. It was the story that was rattling, not the writing necessarily.
Copy provided in return for an honest review.
I had some major issues with some of the basic premises of this story.
Emily is a woman who is 'hiding out' in a small island community after her work on a game design turned very personal and potentially dangerous. Hounded by press of the gaming community, she uses the handle Phoenix to conduct her business and manoevre her way around the online world.
Fox is on the hunt for Phoenix and has received information on the approximate whereabouts of Phoenix. He happens to move in next door to Emily and develops a fascination with her.
Enter my issues. Emily, supposed keeping a low profile, makes it a point to be known everywhere by ordering the same thing over and over again, stuff she doesn't particularly care for.... why? To throw people off track? Who cares what she eats or drinks? All she does is make herself very recognizable and stand out. Then, she hooks up with a neighbour who is into BDSM and supposed trusts this stranger, to dominate her sexually, hand him control over her, when she doesn't trust herself half of the time?
The introduction of BDSM into what was supposed to be a brief sexual interlude, especially when completely new to one of the participants seems unrealistic to me. And although I tried to stay connected to the story, I really had the hardest time, when I already had a problem understanding the logic behind most of the decisions made by the heroin.
I have to admit, I scanned through the remainder of the book, and didn't find much to pull my attention back in enough to re-evaluate my opinion.
What I will note is that the book seemed well written, in that the sentences flowed well, there was an appropriate balance of show and tell and I did not spot grammar or editing issues. The blurb as well as the cover were enough to have me download the book from Netgalley. Hence the two stars. It was the story that was rattling, not the writing necessarily.
Copy provided in return for an honest review.
May 2, 2016
Mon avis en Français
My English review
Je ne suis pas une grande fan de BDSM ou de livres érotiques donc c’est vrai que je tends le plus souvent à rester éloignée d’eux… mais voilà, Carien adore les romans de Jeffe Kennedy et quand elle m’a proposé de lire celui-ci, j’avoue que j’ai été curieuse de voir ce que cela donnait. Oui, je pouvais enfin me lancer dans un roman complet de l’auteure et j’étais impatiente de voir ce que cela donnait et je dois dire que finalement j’ai passé un bon moment, c’était différent de ce que je pensais.
Nous découvrons dans cette histoire Emily, une jeune femme qui a fui sa vie après qu’elle ait tourné à la catastrophe. En effet, notre héroïne est une programmeuse de jeux vidéos, pourtant les femmes sont très peu acceptées dans ce domaine et elle a en payé le prix… Je ne vais pas vous raconter son histoire parce qu’elle vaut vraiment le coup de la découvrir mais depuis, Emily a changé d’identité et travaille maintenant dans l’anonymat alors que tout le monde pense qu’elle est un homme mais c’est comme ça qu’elle établit son succès. Pourtant ce n’est pas simple non plus, elle doit couvrir ses arrières en toutes circonstances, s’est forgé un personnage complètement différent de ce qu’elle est réellement et essaie de vivre sa vie sans que personne ne s’intéresse à elle. Elle y arrive assez bien malgré les conditions jusqu’à ce qu’un journaliste sous couverture se présente sur son île pour découvrir l’identité du légendaire Pheonix qui conçoit tous ces formidables jeux. Mais comme tout le monde il est persuadé que c’est un homme.
J’avoue que j’ai complètement été emportée par l’idée. Je n’ai jamais lu beaucoup de livres mettant en scène des geek et c’est vrai que c’était très intéressant de voir ce genre de mise en scène. C’est d’ailleurs aussi ce qui est agréable, d’avoir finalement une bonne intrigue en plus de l’histoire qui lie les deux personnages. Mais cette relation est bien sûr importante aussi et c’était touchant de voir Emily s’ouvrir à un homme après tout ce qu’elle avait traversé et comprendre que ce qu’elle présente ne suffit pas. Sa solitude et routine sont bouleversées mais nos deux héros vont vraiment bien se trouver. Leur romance commence difficilement, par des hésitations, des jeux et bien plus. Le côté BDSM n’est pas désagréable, mais il est écrit d’une façon telle qu’on ne s’arrête pas forcément sur ce qu’il se passe, en se disant que ça part trop loin ou que ça nous fatigue. Non c’était une lecture agréable où l’on voit deux personnes s’ouvrir l’une à l’autre même si c’est difficile, où l’on voit la condition des femmes dans certains milieux et où finalement on se laisse emporter par tous les événements. Oui, c’était une bonne découverte et j’avoue que je suis assez curieuse de voir ce qu’il se passe dans le second roman et qui est mis en avant.
My English review
Je ne suis pas une grande fan de BDSM ou de livres érotiques donc c’est vrai que je tends le plus souvent à rester éloignée d’eux… mais voilà, Carien adore les romans de Jeffe Kennedy et quand elle m’a proposé de lire celui-ci, j’avoue que j’ai été curieuse de voir ce que cela donnait. Oui, je pouvais enfin me lancer dans un roman complet de l’auteure et j’étais impatiente de voir ce que cela donnait et je dois dire que finalement j’ai passé un bon moment, c’était différent de ce que je pensais.
Nous découvrons dans cette histoire Emily, une jeune femme qui a fui sa vie après qu’elle ait tourné à la catastrophe. En effet, notre héroïne est une programmeuse de jeux vidéos, pourtant les femmes sont très peu acceptées dans ce domaine et elle a en payé le prix… Je ne vais pas vous raconter son histoire parce qu’elle vaut vraiment le coup de la découvrir mais depuis, Emily a changé d’identité et travaille maintenant dans l’anonymat alors que tout le monde pense qu’elle est un homme mais c’est comme ça qu’elle établit son succès. Pourtant ce n’est pas simple non plus, elle doit couvrir ses arrières en toutes circonstances, s’est forgé un personnage complètement différent de ce qu’elle est réellement et essaie de vivre sa vie sans que personne ne s’intéresse à elle. Elle y arrive assez bien malgré les conditions jusqu’à ce qu’un journaliste sous couverture se présente sur son île pour découvrir l’identité du légendaire Pheonix qui conçoit tous ces formidables jeux. Mais comme tout le monde il est persuadé que c’est un homme.
J’avoue que j’ai complètement été emportée par l’idée. Je n’ai jamais lu beaucoup de livres mettant en scène des geek et c’est vrai que c’était très intéressant de voir ce genre de mise en scène. C’est d’ailleurs aussi ce qui est agréable, d’avoir finalement une bonne intrigue en plus de l’histoire qui lie les deux personnages. Mais cette relation est bien sûr importante aussi et c’était touchant de voir Emily s’ouvrir à un homme après tout ce qu’elle avait traversé et comprendre que ce qu’elle présente ne suffit pas. Sa solitude et routine sont bouleversées mais nos deux héros vont vraiment bien se trouver. Leur romance commence difficilement, par des hésitations, des jeux et bien plus. Le côté BDSM n’est pas désagréable, mais il est écrit d’une façon telle qu’on ne s’arrête pas forcément sur ce qu’il se passe, en se disant que ça part trop loin ou que ça nous fatigue. Non c’était une lecture agréable où l’on voit deux personnes s’ouvrir l’une à l’autre même si c’est difficile, où l’on voit la condition des femmes dans certains milieux et où finalement on se laisse emporter par tous les événements. Oui, c’était une bonne découverte et j’avoue que je suis assez curieuse de voir ce qu’il se passe dans le second roman et qui est mis en avant.
November 13, 2015
Emily Bartwell is a gamer and programmer who learned the hard way how misogynistic the gaming world could be. She left her old life behind and went underground three years ago to become Phoenix, the most mysterious and talented game developer currently working, and someone whom everyone assumes is male. Under the constant fear of being outed, she keeps mainly to herself and has strict self-discipline, creating an image of the person she wants others to see.
Fox Mullins is a fiction writer and freelance journalist. After chasing his story for years, he is on Lyra Island to find and out the mysterious Phoenix. He's more perceptive than most and is determined, making him a very dangerous man. Of course, he's also fallen for his neighbor Emily and will do anything to get her into his bed.
Okay… I’m not going to lie… Going Under is absolutely a hot mess of passion filled fun time! Fox and Emily have that instant attraction that drives them to reach new heights sexually. Free to explore their deepest kinks and desires, they allow their true selves out during sex, maintaining their faked facades at all other times. While their sexual play is intense and out of this world, it isn't sex for the sake of sex. It's about breaking down walls, earning trust, and setting secrets free. It's cathartic, emotionally satisfying, and amazing.
Ms. Kennedy does an incredible job developing the characters of Emily and Fox, giving both the dual natures needed to keep up with their secrets and games. The reader has the advantage of seeing both characters’ true natures and the motivations behind the secrets, which allowed me to empathize with both sides. It was heartbreaking as the pair fell in love while simultaneously kept the other at arm’s length. And the ultimate anger that leads to the inevitable outing of the truth on both sides was extremely painful to read. I honestly thought there was no way I would feel love between the pair by the end of the book when there was so much hate. But the author did a wonderful job bringing around both characters and allowing them to embrace their fears and grow.
Going Under is exactly what an erotic romance should be: passionate, sensual sex that brings the characters together, helps them grow, and eventually fall in love. Ms. Kennedy surprised me with the direction she took the book, ultimately leading to a better story because of it. Going Under is one I’ll be reading again and again.
My Rating: A
Copy of book provided by author.
Fox Mullins is a fiction writer and freelance journalist. After chasing his story for years, he is on Lyra Island to find and out the mysterious Phoenix. He's more perceptive than most and is determined, making him a very dangerous man. Of course, he's also fallen for his neighbor Emily and will do anything to get her into his bed.
Okay… I’m not going to lie… Going Under is absolutely a hot mess of passion filled fun time! Fox and Emily have that instant attraction that drives them to reach new heights sexually. Free to explore their deepest kinks and desires, they allow their true selves out during sex, maintaining their faked facades at all other times. While their sexual play is intense and out of this world, it isn't sex for the sake of sex. It's about breaking down walls, earning trust, and setting secrets free. It's cathartic, emotionally satisfying, and amazing.
Ms. Kennedy does an incredible job developing the characters of Emily and Fox, giving both the dual natures needed to keep up with their secrets and games. The reader has the advantage of seeing both characters’ true natures and the motivations behind the secrets, which allowed me to empathize with both sides. It was heartbreaking as the pair fell in love while simultaneously kept the other at arm’s length. And the ultimate anger that leads to the inevitable outing of the truth on both sides was extremely painful to read. I honestly thought there was no way I would feel love between the pair by the end of the book when there was so much hate. But the author did a wonderful job bringing around both characters and allowing them to embrace their fears and grow.
Going Under is exactly what an erotic romance should be: passionate, sensual sex that brings the characters together, helps them grow, and eventually fall in love. Ms. Kennedy surprised me with the direction she took the book, ultimately leading to a better story because of it. Going Under is one I’ll be reading again and again.
My Rating: A
Copy of book provided by author.
February 27, 2017
This is a delicious read.
Being a female gamer myself lots of the things in this story were recognizable, although luckily I've never encountered the kind of trolls Emily encountered. The references to online games, and other geek culture things (Cthulhu lamp!) made me smile and feel like I wanted to be friends with Emily. I liked her from the start and wanted her to be happy.
And then there's Fox. Yum!
I loved the interaction between Emily and Fox. Emily is wary at first, but when she decides to indulge herself, things get steamy and deliciously kinky. Jeffe Kennedy is a master at writing empowering BDSM stories, showing that submitting isn't a weakness, but instead can be about strength. Going Under is no different in that than her other stories, and it's why I love reading Jeffe's work.
The secrets between Emily and Fox do lead to some tense situations, and I will confess I was concerned about the outcome. But Jeffe doesn't disappoint there either and I was very satisfied with the ending.
All in all this is another winner, and I'm already looking forward to Jeffe's next book.
Being a female gamer myself lots of the things in this story were recognizable, although luckily I've never encountered the kind of trolls Emily encountered. The references to online games, and other geek culture things (Cthulhu lamp!) made me smile and feel like I wanted to be friends with Emily. I liked her from the start and wanted her to be happy.
And then there's Fox. Yum!
I loved the interaction between Emily and Fox. Emily is wary at first, but when she decides to indulge herself, things get steamy and deliciously kinky. Jeffe Kennedy is a master at writing empowering BDSM stories, showing that submitting isn't a weakness, but instead can be about strength. Going Under is no different in that than her other stories, and it's why I love reading Jeffe's work.
The secrets between Emily and Fox do lead to some tense situations, and I will confess I was concerned about the outcome. But Jeffe doesn't disappoint there either and I was very satisfied with the ending.
All in all this is another winner, and I'm already looking forward to Jeffe's next book.
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March 31, 2016http://www.unbrindelecture.com/2016/0...
Une romance érotique épicée à souhait . Un duo intense qui nous embarque dans leur histoire avec cette addiction qui fait garder le livre le plus longtemps possible. On s'attache à Emily et Fox d'autant qu'on partage leur point de vue. C'est un peu du déjà vu mais il est bien fait et on passe un bon moment de lecture.
Une romance érotique épicée à souhait . Un duo intense qui nous embarque dans leur histoire avec cette addiction qui fait garder le livre le plus longtemps possible. On s'attache à Emily et Fox d'autant qu'on partage leur point de vue. C'est un peu du déjà vu mais il est bien fait et on passe un bon moment de lecture.
July 22, 2014
Another great offering from Jeffe Kennedy! Jeffe always does great erotica, but in this newest release, she's wrangled in an intriguing story concept. Deep characterization, well-plotted, and smokin' hot in all the right places. :)
August 14, 2017
Bello! Penso che sia il miglior erotico che io abbia mai letto. Personaggi ben delineati, non morbosi, storia SCRITTA BENE e sappiamo come in questo genere di romanzi la bravura dell'autore sia davvero poco considerata. Il libro è autoconclusivo, quindi non rimane nulla in sospeso. Consigliato a chi piace il genere ;) P.s. sarà la volta buona che qualcuno capisca la differenza tra il prototipo Grey e l'uomo sano? P.P.S. Lei, Emily, è fantastica!
June 20, 2017
Fox & Emily had great chemistry, interesting personalities and a hot affair. She's a programmer hounded out of her field by trolls, he's a journalist looking to expose her alter ego. Very well written and engaging story.
My only critique is of the speed with which the heroine Emily forgave the love interest, Fox. Other than that, I loved it. I will read this again.
My only critique is of the speed with which the heroine Emily forgave the love interest, Fox. Other than that, I loved it. I will read this again.
September 26, 2014
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars
My Review:
I am a long-time fan of Jeffe Kennedy’s Facets of Passion novella series and when I saw this full-length novel on Netgalley I knew I had to request this read. So glad I did as, once again Kennedy has knocked it out of the park to provide a well-written, erotic read that had been sucked in right from beginning.
There are people who take their privacy seriously and then, there is Emily Bartwell. After a particularly nasty and life-threatening experience, Emily packed her bags and left no trail behind her when she moved to a remote island. Lyra Island is inhabited year round by only a few and is the perfect place for a woman running scared to hide out. With her considerable fortune, Emily bought her home and has set herself up as a reclusive painter who is rarely seen mingling with the locals, never dates and, only ventures into town to pick up her mail and groceries. Though she is friendly with a few people, Emily has no real friends and is close to no one other than her dog and her cat. Not a soul on Lyra island suspects that the quiet and reclusive Emily Bartwell is actually the enormously popular game designer known only as Phoenix.
In the gaming world, Phoenix is a living legend and the fact that no one really knows who the designer is, makes the legend even more interesting. Of course, nearly everyone in the male-dominated world of online/role playing games is certain Phoenix is a man and “his” creation, Labyrinth seems to support that. Just as Emily intended. It’s much harder to track down and expose a person when you don’t even have their gender correct and that is one of the safety measures Emily put into place when she disappeared from the world and eventually launched her game. Even her employer has no idea who she is or where she is and that is how Emily intends to keep it.
Fox Mullins is the very definition of intrepid reporter. For two years he has worked relentlessly to uncover the identity of the elusive Phoenix. If Fox can identify the game designer then his career will be set, his fortune made and, his reputation firmly established. After hundreds of false leads and dead ends, Fox finally has a solid lead that has brought him to Lyra Island. If his instincts are correct, Phoenix lives on the island and with the right amount of research and patience, Fox will finally have his story. Though he has no intention of becoming friends with anyone on the island, Fox and his research are derailed when he meets Emily Bartwell. Emily is beautiful and strong and absolutely unattainable if what the locals say is true. Challenge accepted!
Emily and Fox have an immediate chemistry that is absolutely worth exploring from Fox’s perspective and terrifying from Emily’s. Maintaining her cover is critical and a relationship with Fox would be an invasion and distraction that Emily just can’t afford. Being exposed on any level is a horrifying thought for Emily but when Fox suggests they have a no-strings attached, purely physical relationship, she goes against her better judgment and dives right in. Fox is masterful in the bedroom (and the kitchen and the living room and the foyer . . . ) and Emily is more than willing to explore both his and her fantasies but, with each encounter Emily feels as if her façade is cracking even if just a bit. Fox is more than prepared for the physical aspects of his relationship with Emily but woefully unprepared for the emotional impact she has on him. When Fox begins to put all of the pieces together and discovers exactly who Phoenix is, he is torn apart by what he feels he has to do and what he wants to do. To destroy Emily and everything she has built also means destroying any hope of a real, emotions are all to involved relationship with the woman who may just be The One.
The Bottom Line: Jeffe Kennedy never disappoints me. Going Under read so well and so easily for me that I devoured it in a single sitting. I love that Kennedy doesn’t make me wait for the backstory. Almost immediately the reader is privy to the dirty details that led Emily to Lyra Island and a life of relative solitude. To understand her history makes understanding her present, her actions and, her reasons for shutting everyone out far more reasonable. Without the backstory so early on, Emily would have been nearly impossible to like and/or connect with. Though Fox is aggressive and persistent in his pursuit of Emily he is also a gentleman and respectful of Emily’s wishes, desires and, fears. Fox’s experience with the kinkier (though not overly, in case you are wondering) side of sex allows him to guide and teach Emily as she so desires. Their most intimate moments are steamy and naughty and frequent though they never overtake the story. As with all of Kennedy’s reads, the sex is an integral part of the story but not the whole story. In all, I remain a loyal Jeffe Kennedy fan and look forward to her next, hopefully full-length read.
My Rating: 4½/5 stars
My Review:
I am a long-time fan of Jeffe Kennedy’s Facets of Passion novella series and when I saw this full-length novel on Netgalley I knew I had to request this read. So glad I did as, once again Kennedy has knocked it out of the park to provide a well-written, erotic read that had been sucked in right from beginning.
There are people who take their privacy seriously and then, there is Emily Bartwell. After a particularly nasty and life-threatening experience, Emily packed her bags and left no trail behind her when she moved to a remote island. Lyra Island is inhabited year round by only a few and is the perfect place for a woman running scared to hide out. With her considerable fortune, Emily bought her home and has set herself up as a reclusive painter who is rarely seen mingling with the locals, never dates and, only ventures into town to pick up her mail and groceries. Though she is friendly with a few people, Emily has no real friends and is close to no one other than her dog and her cat. Not a soul on Lyra island suspects that the quiet and reclusive Emily Bartwell is actually the enormously popular game designer known only as Phoenix.
In the gaming world, Phoenix is a living legend and the fact that no one really knows who the designer is, makes the legend even more interesting. Of course, nearly everyone in the male-dominated world of online/role playing games is certain Phoenix is a man and “his” creation, Labyrinth seems to support that. Just as Emily intended. It’s much harder to track down and expose a person when you don’t even have their gender correct and that is one of the safety measures Emily put into place when she disappeared from the world and eventually launched her game. Even her employer has no idea who she is or where she is and that is how Emily intends to keep it.
Fox Mullins is the very definition of intrepid reporter. For two years he has worked relentlessly to uncover the identity of the elusive Phoenix. If Fox can identify the game designer then his career will be set, his fortune made and, his reputation firmly established. After hundreds of false leads and dead ends, Fox finally has a solid lead that has brought him to Lyra Island. If his instincts are correct, Phoenix lives on the island and with the right amount of research and patience, Fox will finally have his story. Though he has no intention of becoming friends with anyone on the island, Fox and his research are derailed when he meets Emily Bartwell. Emily is beautiful and strong and absolutely unattainable if what the locals say is true. Challenge accepted!
Emily and Fox have an immediate chemistry that is absolutely worth exploring from Fox’s perspective and terrifying from Emily’s. Maintaining her cover is critical and a relationship with Fox would be an invasion and distraction that Emily just can’t afford. Being exposed on any level is a horrifying thought for Emily but when Fox suggests they have a no-strings attached, purely physical relationship, she goes against her better judgment and dives right in. Fox is masterful in the bedroom (and the kitchen and the living room and the foyer . . . ) and Emily is more than willing to explore both his and her fantasies but, with each encounter Emily feels as if her façade is cracking even if just a bit. Fox is more than prepared for the physical aspects of his relationship with Emily but woefully unprepared for the emotional impact she has on him. When Fox begins to put all of the pieces together and discovers exactly who Phoenix is, he is torn apart by what he feels he has to do and what he wants to do. To destroy Emily and everything she has built also means destroying any hope of a real, emotions are all to involved relationship with the woman who may just be The One.
The Bottom Line: Jeffe Kennedy never disappoints me. Going Under read so well and so easily for me that I devoured it in a single sitting. I love that Kennedy doesn’t make me wait for the backstory. Almost immediately the reader is privy to the dirty details that led Emily to Lyra Island and a life of relative solitude. To understand her history makes understanding her present, her actions and, her reasons for shutting everyone out far more reasonable. Without the backstory so early on, Emily would have been nearly impossible to like and/or connect with. Though Fox is aggressive and persistent in his pursuit of Emily he is also a gentleman and respectful of Emily’s wishes, desires and, fears. Fox’s experience with the kinkier (though not overly, in case you are wondering) side of sex allows him to guide and teach Emily as she so desires. Their most intimate moments are steamy and naughty and frequent though they never overtake the story. As with all of Kennedy’s reads, the sex is an integral part of the story but not the whole story. In all, I remain a loyal Jeffe Kennedy fan and look forward to her next, hopefully full-length read.
July 7, 2014
In a very short time, I've become a pretty big fan of Jeffe Kennedy. Her Facets of Passion series is one of my very favorite BDSM erotic romance series, actually one of my favorite romance series in general. So I was predisposed to like this book. And I did, delightedly devouring it in a couple of hours. That's not to say it didn't have some issues, mainly concentrated toward the end of the book, which is why I'm hiding half of my review for spoilers.
Emily Bartwell is in hiding. She is a video game designer who has been systematically harassed to the point where she has lost her job, lost her husband and lost a lot of her confidence. Not all of it though. Despite everything she has been through, she has developed a new online persona named Phoenix as she continues to work from her hiding place on a small island in the Pacific Northwest. She has a tremendous reputation as Phoenix based on her competence as a designer and the aura of mystery she has constructed around herself by maintaining her anonymity.
Fox Mullins is a reporter who has been tracking Phoenix for some time. He's intelligent, he's sexy and he's confident to the point of arrogance. This guy's got swag; even more than a normal Kennedy hero and that's saying something. However, he makes the same mistakes as everyone else: he never considers that Phoenix might not be a man. So when he meets Emily and embarks upon a systematic scheme of seduction, he has no idea that she's leading a double life. Besides, he is keeping some secrets of his own.
The premise of this book is genius. I've got a friend in the game design business who is one of the kindest men and fiercest defenders of women I've ever met. None of what Kennedy lays out here is exaggerated. Plus it's not like subtler examples of such behavior don't exist for women everywhere, both online and off. The toll it has taken on the heroine is honestly heart-breaking.
But since it's a book and the writing was frankly terrific, I'm giving it four stars. Gripping, sexy and socially interesting work by Jeffe Kennedy.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Emily Bartwell is in hiding. She is a video game designer who has been systematically harassed to the point where she has lost her job, lost her husband and lost a lot of her confidence. Not all of it though. Despite everything she has been through, she has developed a new online persona named Phoenix as she continues to work from her hiding place on a small island in the Pacific Northwest. She has a tremendous reputation as Phoenix based on her competence as a designer and the aura of mystery she has constructed around herself by maintaining her anonymity.
Fox Mullins is a reporter who has been tracking Phoenix for some time. He's intelligent, he's sexy and he's confident to the point of arrogance. This guy's got swag; even more than a normal Kennedy hero and that's saying something. However, he makes the same mistakes as everyone else: he never considers that Phoenix might not be a man. So when he meets Emily and embarks upon a systematic scheme of seduction, he has no idea that she's leading a double life. Besides, he is keeping some secrets of his own.
The premise of this book is genius. I've got a friend in the game design business who is one of the kindest men and fiercest defenders of women I've ever met. None of what Kennedy lays out here is exaggerated. Plus it's not like subtler examples of such behavior don't exist for women everywhere, both online and off. The toll it has taken on the heroine is honestly heart-breaking.
But since it's a book and the writing was frankly terrific, I'm giving it four stars. Gripping, sexy and socially interesting work by Jeffe Kennedy.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2014
To read this review and others like it check out my site at www.homelovebooks.com
I went back and forth on 4 star and 5 star on this book, but ultimately I had to go with 5 cause it's one of those books that sits with you after you are done reading it. The more time passed after I finished it, the more that I liked it. Truth be told, I'm so wary of trying out erotica authors I haven't read before. I always feel like when it comes to erotica it's all sex not substance, I need a book to have characters that I can get invested in, with a plot line that doesn't feel like it came straight out of a dirty movie. So I was super happy to find that this book has characters with substance, an interesting storyline, and chemistry that sizzled even outside the bedroom.
Truth be told I picked up this book because I'm a gamer, my husband is a gamer, our friends are gamers, it's not uncommon for lunch time during the week to mean 10 army guys sitting in the house playing xbox. So a book about a woman who designs video games, totally up my alley. I have to say I really enjoyed the who gaming/designing aspect of the book. I liked how accurate the whole forums and trolls storyline read, I know how insane some of these crazed trolls can be.
So Emily was definitely an interesting character. I liked that she was super skilled in a job/world that is so male dominated, I love when women are good at fields where people don't expect them to be. She operates behind a shield, he identity hidden from everyone, so of course everyone just naturally assumes that she's a man, so I loved that she used that to her advantage at times. There were moments when I really felt for her, for her past, her past that she carries with her like a battle wound that hasn't healed yet and has her looking behind every corner to make sure she's not still under attack. I think in some ways she thinks of herself as being weak because she hides, but to me she comes off more of a survivor than someone who is just running.
Fox is well, hmmm, there is so much to say about Fox. Fox is in town to try and uncover who Phenix, the elusive gamer designer is, and since he doesn't want anyone to know why he's there, he just says he is writing a novel. Of course then he meets Emily, and suddenly attraction is in the air. Fox is definitely a character, he's dominate, but submissive also, he's beyond sure of himself, and unashamed of his wants/desires (see hot tub scene). But he's more than all that, he's got this great kind of confidence around him, but then when you are in his POV you can see that sometimes it's authentic confidence and sometimes it's a mask. His past definitely came full circle.
Chemistry wise this book was off the charts for me. Yes the sex scenes were all hot and steamy, they pushed boundaries and were just all around kinda awesome (if you are looking for vanilla don't come looking for it in this book). More than that though was the chemistry Emily and Fox had even when they were just talking, they had a great push pull dynamic.
So the whole book I'm sitting there thinking how is this going to end. Is Fox going to find out the truth? Is Emily going to tell him the truth? Maybe Emily finds out about Fox? Will Emily be exposed? And believe me I want to tell you what happens, but the ending just all came together so nicely. There's this great scene at the end... I really want to talk about it cause it's awesome... but it would totally ruin it for you, so go buy the book read it as quickly as possible and then find me on twitter so we can chat about how awesome the ending is. Seriously go buy the book. Now.
I went back and forth on 4 star and 5 star on this book, but ultimately I had to go with 5 cause it's one of those books that sits with you after you are done reading it. The more time passed after I finished it, the more that I liked it. Truth be told, I'm so wary of trying out erotica authors I haven't read before. I always feel like when it comes to erotica it's all sex not substance, I need a book to have characters that I can get invested in, with a plot line that doesn't feel like it came straight out of a dirty movie. So I was super happy to find that this book has characters with substance, an interesting storyline, and chemistry that sizzled even outside the bedroom.
Truth be told I picked up this book because I'm a gamer, my husband is a gamer, our friends are gamers, it's not uncommon for lunch time during the week to mean 10 army guys sitting in the house playing xbox. So a book about a woman who designs video games, totally up my alley. I have to say I really enjoyed the who gaming/designing aspect of the book. I liked how accurate the whole forums and trolls storyline read, I know how insane some of these crazed trolls can be.
So Emily was definitely an interesting character. I liked that she was super skilled in a job/world that is so male dominated, I love when women are good at fields where people don't expect them to be. She operates behind a shield, he identity hidden from everyone, so of course everyone just naturally assumes that she's a man, so I loved that she used that to her advantage at times. There were moments when I really felt for her, for her past, her past that she carries with her like a battle wound that hasn't healed yet and has her looking behind every corner to make sure she's not still under attack. I think in some ways she thinks of herself as being weak because she hides, but to me she comes off more of a survivor than someone who is just running.
Fox is well, hmmm, there is so much to say about Fox. Fox is in town to try and uncover who Phenix, the elusive gamer designer is, and since he doesn't want anyone to know why he's there, he just says he is writing a novel. Of course then he meets Emily, and suddenly attraction is in the air. Fox is definitely a character, he's dominate, but submissive also, he's beyond sure of himself, and unashamed of his wants/desires (see hot tub scene). But he's more than all that, he's got this great kind of confidence around him, but then when you are in his POV you can see that sometimes it's authentic confidence and sometimes it's a mask. His past definitely came full circle.
Chemistry wise this book was off the charts for me. Yes the sex scenes were all hot and steamy, they pushed boundaries and were just all around kinda awesome (if you are looking for vanilla don't come looking for it in this book). More than that though was the chemistry Emily and Fox had even when they were just talking, they had a great push pull dynamic.
So the whole book I'm sitting there thinking how is this going to end. Is Fox going to find out the truth? Is Emily going to tell him the truth? Maybe Emily finds out about Fox? Will Emily be exposed? And believe me I want to tell you what happens, but the ending just all came together so nicely. There's this great scene at the end... I really want to talk about it cause it's awesome... but it would totally ruin it for you, so go buy the book read it as quickly as possible and then find me on twitter so we can chat about how awesome the ending is. Seriously go buy the book. Now.
December 3, 2014
Originally posted at Butterfly-o-Meter Books on July 8th 2014:
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: I loved the whole island setting, great atmosphere and everyone there we got to meet was a riot :D
Characters: Emily was awesome, a survivor, someone who’d gone through tough stuff and come out not only well, but actually brilliantly. Everything about her endeared her to me, from he brilliance to her little quirks and all those defensive walls around her heart. I was very emotionally in tune with her, so the story itself became tough to read at some point, emotionally speaking.
Fox was a charmer, yet I can’t say I fell for him the way I’ve already grown accustomed to falling for Jeffe Kennedy’s heroes. He had everything going for him, the sort of anti-hero vibe, considering the Phoenix hunt, the charisma, the passion, the intensity – it was all there. But I think I was too invested emotionally in Emily’s safety, so I couldn’t really commit to Fox.
Their chemistry was awesome, another thing I fully expect Jeffe Kennedy to deliver on (and she does every time), their one on one was very intense and passionate and I would have been head over heels for the two of them as a couple if I hadn’t been so invested in the whole Phoenix thing. But this is one of those personal reaction to things, and even with it, I loved the hell out of this story.
Favorite Character: Phoenix :D
Plot: The story was totally addictive, I was fully invested from line one. It was a very eventful romance from the emotional point of view, and I loved the pace of events.
Writing: Third person narrative, past tense, his and her POV. Loved their voices.
Curb Appeal: Hawt cover, instant buy author name – unequivocal instant buy material.
All in all, this was a great read, featured some rougher play (though I’d say it wasn’t too hardcore, but as you know, my standards a bit… different than other people’s, lol!), a very satisfying romance with hot chemistry and a great ending. I fully encourage you to try it out, and if you haven’t already, give pretty much all of Jeffe Kennedy’s work a shot – she’s definitely one of my favs.
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: I loved the whole island setting, great atmosphere and everyone there we got to meet was a riot :D
Characters: Emily was awesome, a survivor, someone who’d gone through tough stuff and come out not only well, but actually brilliantly. Everything about her endeared her to me, from he brilliance to her little quirks and all those defensive walls around her heart. I was very emotionally in tune with her, so the story itself became tough to read at some point, emotionally speaking.
Fox was a charmer, yet I can’t say I fell for him the way I’ve already grown accustomed to falling for Jeffe Kennedy’s heroes. He had everything going for him, the sort of anti-hero vibe, considering the Phoenix hunt, the charisma, the passion, the intensity – it was all there. But I think I was too invested emotionally in Emily’s safety, so I couldn’t really commit to Fox.
Their chemistry was awesome, another thing I fully expect Jeffe Kennedy to deliver on (and she does every time), their one on one was very intense and passionate and I would have been head over heels for the two of them as a couple if I hadn’t been so invested in the whole Phoenix thing. But this is one of those personal reaction to things, and even with it, I loved the hell out of this story.
Favorite Character: Phoenix :D
Plot: The story was totally addictive, I was fully invested from line one. It was a very eventful romance from the emotional point of view, and I loved the pace of events.
Writing: Third person narrative, past tense, his and her POV. Loved their voices.
Curb Appeal: Hawt cover, instant buy author name – unequivocal instant buy material.
All in all, this was a great read, featured some rougher play (though I’d say it wasn’t too hardcore, but as you know, my standards a bit… different than other people’s, lol!), a very satisfying romance with hot chemistry and a great ending. I fully encourage you to try it out, and if you haven’t already, give pretty much all of Jeffe Kennedy’s work a shot – she’s definitely one of my favs.
July 1, 2014
I love a good erotica book, but Going Under by Jeffe Kennedy (Book 1 in the Falling Under series) was so not what I was expecting, in fact it was so much more! too often with adult erotica books, its all about the sex and there's very little story line (In fact they often remind me of porn - I'm being blunt but you get the idea), yet this book had such a good, gripping storyline it was hard to put down!
I don't want to give too much away about this book, read the synopsis and it'll give you an idea of what the story is about. However, what the synopsis won't tell you is just how amazing the characters are.
Let's talk about Emily/Lisa/Phoenix first. She is brilliant. Just when you think you know something about her you'll realise that its just another 'face/front' of her character and its not really her. I loved learning about Emily. She has such depth and her personal story is so intricate its amazing. I thought she was exceptionally well written and gave a really refreshing change to some of the female leads in this type of book.
Fox isn't your typical male lead either. For starters although he has the fit body, the abs and the dirty mind he isn't your typical dark haired or even blonde guy, no Jeffe Kennedy dreamed him up as a red head which I thought was perfect. It was refreshing and different. He also has a past and secrets and as you read the book you will learn there is a lot more to Fox than meets the eye.
The story has great pace, don't get me wrong there is some SUPER HOT scenes and I really loved the 'role playing' that was hot! But I loved reading abut the chemistry between them and finding out what would happen with Phoenix and Labyrinth.
I had to give this story 4 stars, it almost got 5. I really enjoyed it and thoroughly recommend it to those who like a hot story that keeps you entertained and want to keep reading!
Review also featured on my blog - http://www.bewitchedbooks.co.uk/
I don't want to give too much away about this book, read the synopsis and it'll give you an idea of what the story is about. However, what the synopsis won't tell you is just how amazing the characters are.
Let's talk about Emily/Lisa/Phoenix first. She is brilliant. Just when you think you know something about her you'll realise that its just another 'face/front' of her character and its not really her. I loved learning about Emily. She has such depth and her personal story is so intricate its amazing. I thought she was exceptionally well written and gave a really refreshing change to some of the female leads in this type of book.
Fox isn't your typical male lead either. For starters although he has the fit body, the abs and the dirty mind he isn't your typical dark haired or even blonde guy, no Jeffe Kennedy dreamed him up as a red head which I thought was perfect. It was refreshing and different. He also has a past and secrets and as you read the book you will learn there is a lot more to Fox than meets the eye.
The story has great pace, don't get me wrong there is some SUPER HOT scenes and I really loved the 'role playing' that was hot! But I loved reading abut the chemistry between them and finding out what would happen with Phoenix and Labyrinth.
I had to give this story 4 stars, it almost got 5. I really enjoyed it and thoroughly recommend it to those who like a hot story that keeps you entertained and want to keep reading!
Review also featured on my blog - http://www.bewitchedbooks.co.uk/
May 25, 2017
4.75 stars
Sometimes a book finds its way into your hands at exactly the right time in your life and, yeah, thank you Book Gods. I really needed this.
Our heroine, Emily, had her life, career, and marriage ripped apart by online trolls--all for daring to create a kickass video game with a strong feminist overtone. In the aftermath she fled, taking up a new identity on a smallish island. To the locals, she's a crappy artist and trust fund baby. But online she's the Pheonix, a talented and mysterious game developer. The Pheonix's true identity is the source of much speculation, and uncovering that identity would be the story of the decade within the gaming community. Enter our hero, Fox, an investigative reporter. He's tracked Pheonix all the way to the island, only to be distracted by his hot next door neighbor.
There is a lot of good here. There is intrigue, kinky sex, little dabs of geek culture, and girl power. I was most impressed with the author's portrayal of misogyny and how companies handle, or fail to handle, that specific type of bullying. I was as excited to see Emily stick it to her trolls as I was for the romantic happy ending.
Sometimes a book finds its way into your hands at exactly the right time in your life and, yeah, thank you Book Gods. I really needed this.
Our heroine, Emily, had her life, career, and marriage ripped apart by online trolls--all for daring to create a kickass video game with a strong feminist overtone. In the aftermath she fled, taking up a new identity on a smallish island. To the locals, she's a crappy artist and trust fund baby. But online she's the Pheonix, a talented and mysterious game developer. The Pheonix's true identity is the source of much speculation, and uncovering that identity would be the story of the decade within the gaming community. Enter our hero, Fox, an investigative reporter. He's tracked Pheonix all the way to the island, only to be distracted by his hot next door neighbor.
There is a lot of good here. There is intrigue, kinky sex, little dabs of geek culture, and girl power. I was most impressed with the author's portrayal of misogyny and how companies handle, or fail to handle, that specific type of bullying. I was as excited to see Emily stick it to her trolls as I was for the romantic happy ending.
November 15, 2014
I've read quite a few Jeffe Kennedy books, and I know that regardless of the genre, Kennedy writes great characters…and really hot sex. Plus, her stories usually have a little bit of an edge that makes me squirm just the tiniest bit, but only serves to hook me more. In this case, the heroine has created a life for herself that is a complete lie, she's breaking the law, and she's not surrounded by the kindest of people. Enter the hero, who's also lying, but entices Emily out to play, something her bored, lonely heart can't resist. Sizzling hot sparks fly as the tension builds, and then the ending comes way too soon.
Though I usually stick to fantasy, paranormal, and sci fi romance, there's something about Kennedy's writing that I love. I'm willing to switch to contemporary for great storytelling. Going Under is going on my "Keeper Romance" collection on my Kindle app.
Though I usually stick to fantasy, paranormal, and sci fi romance, there's something about Kennedy's writing that I love. I'm willing to switch to contemporary for great storytelling. Going Under is going on my "Keeper Romance" collection on my Kindle app.
January 25, 2015
Emily has remained hidden for quite some time because of something in her past. She had to create a whole new person, but still manages to do what she loves. Fox is on the hunt for someone he wants to do a story about and ends up next door to Emily. They can't fight the attraction they feel for each other, but Emily still holds part of herself back and Fox could very well be the end of her new life. I so loved them together. They are scorching hot. Emily shows a part of herself that she buried deep within her new life and opened her heart to him. I wanted to give Fox a shake or two along the way. I loved their their story was so different in so many ways, but at the base of it was two people finding each other and themselves along the way. I was all in to watch them find their happily ever after. And did I mention they were scorching hot together?
I give Going Under 5 hearts!
I give Going Under 5 hearts!
July 24, 2014
Review featured on www.books-n-kisses.com
3.75 Hearts Ok here is the thing. I liked the story. The romance/sex of the story is right in line with Kennedys writing and oh so hot but I had a hard time with the whole gaming thing. Maybe I am just old. Did I just say that? But I can’t wrap my head around that world. Yes I know it is out there but it seems so immature for me. Maybe if I lived that life I could have enjoyed this book more.
Kennedy is oh so good at the writing of the BDSM world. She gives such a sense of power to the women who submit and that is extremely hot. I loved the romance/sex in this book very much. Fox and Em have such a great chemistry.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 Hearts Ok here is the thing. I liked the story. The romance/sex of the story is right in line with Kennedys writing and oh so hot but I had a hard time with the whole gaming thing. Maybe I am just old. Did I just say that? But I can’t wrap my head around that world. Yes I know it is out there but it seems so immature for me. Maybe if I lived that life I could have enjoyed this book more.
Kennedy is oh so good at the writing of the BDSM world. She gives such a sense of power to the women who submit and that is extremely hot. I loved the romance/sex in this book very much. Fox and Em have such a great chemistry.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2015
This was an intriguing story. I went into it expecting some amazing intimacy that Jeffe always delivers. While there was that, I found myself so engaged in Fox and Emily's stories and how they were going to overcome their current issues that the intimacy was second to me. That isn't typical for me in one of her stories, but it was a nice change. It shows me that she can write a lot of different stories and each one is very different from the last. If you are looking for an erotic romance that includes some serious kink play but also has a very well written story to it, give Going Under a try.
June 10, 2015
Really good! Fantastic balance of smart and charismatic characters, suspense and kink. All so organically blended that you just gobble it up. The heroine is a gamer and programmer. And she had a really bad experience in industry years ago. As a female working in tech, the tone of what happened to her rang true. There were some aspects of the descriptions where the details felt thin or too vague, but a good effort. Definitely recommend.
Bought from kobo.
Bought from kobo.
July 6, 2014
provided by netgalley free in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't like Fox at first but he grew on me. And I am glad he did because this book was red hot and the story had me itching to know more to see if it all went pear shaped. I read this in one sitting as I could put it down. I will so be reading more of this authors work!
I didn't like Fox at first but he grew on me. And I am glad he did because this book was red hot and the story had me itching to know more to see if it all went pear shaped. I read this in one sitting as I could put it down. I will so be reading more of this authors work!
June 23, 2014
Emily and Fox
This one is smoking hot! Exactly what I would expect from Ms. Kennedy. Fox reminds me of Cole Hauser too. Yum. Full review to come on Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
This one is smoking hot! Exactly what I would expect from Ms. Kennedy. Fox reminds me of Cole Hauser too. Yum. Full review to come on Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
November 18, 2015
I really, REALLY, enjoyed this book - the love story was great, and I was fascinated by both partners being able to "flip" in their relationship. Great book, excellent leading man who expressed being gender fluid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2016
this story was well dritten and had a nice flow to it. however the characters' motivation and behaviour was inkonsistent and not really clear.
Also it took too long to get into the story, the beginning was the story's weakest part and that's a dangerous thing...
Also it took too long to get into the story, the beginning was the story's weakest part and that's a dangerous thing...
July 15, 2014
Hot and fun. 3.5 stars. Full review soon. :)
January 31, 2015
The actual steamy parts weren't my thing, but I loved the plot and the characters!
July 13, 2015
Loved this book - Jeffe Kennedy so brilliantly outlines the fear of being doxxed with her character, while allowing her the chance to heal.
December 17, 2015
Very good!
March 17, 2016
Chronique à venir !
March 2, 2025
DNF at 69%
i just couldn't get through with it, and as i read the spoilers , m happy i didn't waste more time on it.
i just couldn't get through with it, and as i read the spoilers , m happy i didn't waste more time on it.
April 13, 2015
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews