A Starlet in Venice

Nights in Venice #3

by Tara Crescent

Every single man who looks at me wants me. To them, I am merely a sexy body, there to play a leading role in their wet dreams. I am never anything more.

Except Liam. Liam Callahan wants only friendship from me, and I should be delighted. I certainly don’t want anything else from him. I don’t want to be bent over his lap and spanked. I don’t want to be tied up and flogged, and I definitely don’t want him to make love to me.

Do I?

Genres: Erotica, BDSM, Romance

130 pages, ebook

First published October 21, 2014

About the author

Tara Crescent writes steamy contemporary romances for readers who like hot, dominant heroes and strong, sassy heroines.

When she's not writing, she can be found curled up on a couch with a good book, often with a cat on her lap.

She lives in Toronto.

Reviews

[Shurrn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of sweet romance wrapped in this gloriously kinky novella...

...he was so good at this, so very good at tossing me into a sea of sensation, into an ocean of pleasure. Yet he was there to hold me and prevent me from drowning.

A lovely ending to a fabulous series - Each book in the Nights in Venice series is a standalone and spotlights a different couple. The central characters - Antonio, Enzo, & Tatiana are all Venetian orphans who grew up together. Each of them took wildly different paths with their lives, but their bond remains strong.

We met Antonio Moretti in book one - he was the dark and dangerous head of the Thieves Guild who caught Lucia Petrucci trying to steal from him. Antonio dealt delicious punishment to his little thief and wound up stealing her heart in the process...

Enzo Peron became a decorated detective in Venice - in book two it was Enzo who lost his heart to an American Heiress hiding out in his city. Alice Blackwell couldn't afford to let anyone get to close to her, but within the safety of the exclusive BDSM club Casanova, Enzo used every last one of his wicked talents to get her walls to come down...

This book is all about the third orphan, Tatiana, and the man who becomes more than a friend...

TATIANA CORDOVA

My body was quivering with a mixture of nervousness and desire. I wasn't sure what lay ahead for me, but as I watched the man standing before me with narrowed eyes, I felt safe.

Tatiana has become quite the celebrity - her career as an actress has taken her all over the world, but she always returns to Venice. Her friendship with Liam is precious in a world where her worth seems to be judged on her appearance and sexuality.

Sex and intimacy are two things Tatiana has never fully embraced. The harsh life of an orphan has left scars and secrets she doesn't plan to reveal to anyone.

After a year of friendship, Liam is surprised by Tatiana's request to be punished... But it's an opportunity he can't pass up...

LIAM CALLAHAN

"I hate the word training," I replied. "You aren't a pet. You don't need to be trained. It's just a big, elaborate game."
"Ah," she said. "But all games have rules, don't they? I'd like to learn what the rules to this game are."

Liam runs club Casanova for Antonio. His skill as a Dom is unparalleled, though he hasn't been participating at the club much in the past year - his heart belongs to a woman outside the club, who has become his best friend.

Liam and Tatiana have quietly fallen in love over the past year, but neither seems prepared to risk their friendship.

This sweet and kinky courtship was delightful to watch. Their time together was underscored by an unbreakable trust. Not to mention, Liam has all the skill of a Dom who runs a BDSM club, and access to the array of accessories within.

*wags eyebrows*

All that aside, it was the moments spent together outside the bedroom which gave this story its unique strength.

Over the Christmas Holiday, Tatiana spends her her nights enveloped in the safety of Liam's arms, and her days surrounded by warmth and love of Liam's family...

Tatiana gets a glimpse of what life with this man could be...
All the things she's lacked but wished for...

***I was provided an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review***

My Other Reviews in the Nights in Venice Series:
1 - A Thief in Venice - Read my review here
2 - An Heiress in Venice - Read my review here
3 - A Starlet in Venice - You're reading it

[Dirty Dayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 rabbit Stars
This is the story of the last girl at the orphanage. The actress Tia who was never looked at for more than her body (tits, ass and vagina). She may be beautiful but she also has 3 big fat secrets…

Tatiana : I had three big secrets. No one knew them all, and these secrets shaped the person I had become. I had never shared them with anyone, because to tell them would be to strip me barre. Revealed by them, I would be raw and naked and completely vulnerable. And I couldn’t let myself trust anyone that much.

Tatiana meets Liam in the last book and has formed a very long friendship with Liam but she has learned that shes in love with Liam.
But Liam also has a secret… Hes in love with Tia but he wants her to tell him she wants him first.


When she called my name, it spoke to my soul. And every single time since. When it is the woman you love it isn’t just sex that matters. Its intimacy.

Tia sees Liam with a submissive at this club (Cassanova –he owns it) and wants that from Liam. And she trains a bit to be his submissive with paddles, clamps and whips …oh my

Liam really does want Tia for his girlfriend and any way he can have her. And proves to her that her body should be worshipped, they are more than sex and they are amazing together

And at the end of the book they realize their hearts beat as one and they are the lucky ones…

This is the conclusion to the Venice books… all three of our orphans found love, eachother, and a purpose. And they also found a whole lot of kink 

Tara is one of my favorite BDSM authors and I have greedily ARC/ Bought everything she has made. If you want a BDSM scene to make you feel like you are there .. than Tara is your girl… I recommend eating chocolate and wearing lacy underwear during your reads! :P

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what I love about Tara Crescent's books? She doesn't dick around. I'm not reading half the book just for the action to start, she gets right to it with out all the BS.

Tatiana is a world renown actress, she jet sets and lives a lavish life, yet there is something missing. A kindred soul would be nice for her. So when Liam and Tatiana strike up a platonic friendship, she seems happy. Can it last? Or will her past continue to haunt her?

Liam is the Dom at Casanova and he loves having Tatiana at his place when she is in town for a visit. She is easy to talk to and easy on his eyes. Can he get Tatiana to trust him? Can he trust himself?

[Miranda Whore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for A Starlet in Venice by Tara Crescent

A Starlet in Venice is part of a series, but each book can be read as a stand-alone novella, this is a BDSM romance so if you aren’t a fan of the kinky you may not want to take a walk on the wild side with Liam and Tatiana. I can’t say this enough, Tara Crescent rocks my book whore world. She’s got such an awesome voice as an author and is able to provide a fully satisfying story in a novella length book every-single-time.

Liam is the manager at Casanova, the super elite BDSM club in Venice. Tatiana is a drop dead gorgeous actress and one of what I like to think of as the three musketeers. (Antonio, Enzo, and Tatiana were all in the same orphanage and formed a close bond that still holds as adults. They are family in the best sense of the word.) I almost felt badly for Liam … he was totally friend-zoned even though it was obvious he was attracted to Tia. But knowing he was willing to sacrifice his attraction in order to give Tia something she had never had before from anyone other than Antonio and Enzo, well, that made me instantly fall in love with the Domly one.

My heart broke for Tia and her painful past. The author, as always, did a great job at grabbing hold of my emotions and twisting them up until I was a hot mess of ache for both Tia and Liam. By the time they finally gave into their attraction I was primed for more right along with them. Fireworks have less spark than these two.

If you are looking for a quick, hotter than hades read that will fulfill your need for kink AND romance this is the book (actually the series) for you. Each book by Tara Crescent that I read just gets better and better!! A Starlet in Venice is a complete FIVE star novella, it’s got everything to leave a reader begging for more … as for the smut factor, I’m shoving FIVE wet panties at Liam and hoping like hell he will take me to Casanova for a little fun. Certified Mommy’s a Book Whore must read!!


Review by the Head Whore at Mommy’s a Book Whore.

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been enjoying this series with Antonio and Lucia in A Thief in Venice and Enzo and Alice in An Heiress in Venice but I must say my favorite is Tia and Liam in A Starlet in Venice.

Enzo, Antonio and Tatiana (Tia) grew up together in an orphanage in Venice. None of them had it easy but I will say Tia had it the worst and she kept it to herself instead of telling anyone what was happening with her. Because of what happened to her, Tia had a hard time connecting with men. Liam is friends with Tia and a Dominate at a BDSM club, her feelings have been growing towards him but she is unsure what she can do about it since she doesn't want to lose his friendship.

Great story, definitely some sad parts but a HOT read!


***I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review***

[Heart5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book in The Nights in Venice series. A Starlet in Venice focuses on Tia, the youngest of the three orphans from The Nights Series, and Liam, author and manager of Club Cassanova. Although this novella is considered stand alone, I recommend reading the novellas in order as the earlier novellas provide background information that enhances this story. Just as in the previous two novellas this is a light BDSM romance.

I have really enjoyed reading The Nights in Venice series, and hate to see the series end. Like the previous novellas this story features a strong dominant male and a sexually submissive, but still independent, female. Tia carries with her three secrets and the author did a good job of slowing peeling away her layers to reveal her innermost secrets to the reader and to Liam. Liam is a strong, but gentle and understanding dominant that helps Tia as both a friend and dominant partner. Like most of Tara’s dominants he focuses on the fun aspects of BDSM.

I am not really sure what it is about the author’s writing that makes it so appealing, but Tara has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Judy Gruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all three books in this series, each one a stand alone. I think this is by far the best of the 3 although I enjoyed all of them. The romance between Liam and Tatiana was sweet and not rushed. They were friends first and the trust between them built up through that friendship. Tatiana especially had trust issues and how Liam was able to bring out the strength in Tatiana was special. He was a true alpha who had patience and understanding. Tatiana in herself was stronger than she believed, she just needed someone like Liam to bring it out. As I said each book is a stand alone about different couples. However, the couples from the first two books are also mentioned in this book as they are all friends. You definitely won't be disappointed in these books. They are sweet and hot without being smutty.

[Monica Cullip · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Starlet In Venice

Tara Crescent

This story was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.

Tara Crescent continues to write one winning story after another and this one does not disappoint. This is the third story in this series and I think it is my favourite.

Tatiana Cordova works as a well know actress and her best friend is Liam Callahan who is the Manager at Casanova BDSM Club. They spend a lot of their spare time together hanging out, eating dinners and watching movies. They are both are harbouring secret love feelings but are scared to act out on them in case their friendship suffers.

One night she goads him into punishing her, and causes him to spank her. This is above all of her expectations and she finds herself wanting more.

Tatiana has never been able to enjoy sex, she has never had an orgasm and her girlfriends all suggest that Liam should be the one to change that status for her. After the punishment when her emotions and adrenalin is running high she says
“ Liam, will you make love to me?”

Thus begins that love story that is Tia and Liam. Now Tia has been through a lot of crap as she was growing up and she does not feel she is loveable because of the three secrets she is holding on to. She needs to be able to open up and share these in order to move forward with her life. Hopefully Liam is man enough to be there for her both physically and emotionally.

“When it is the woman that you love, it isn’t just sex that matters. It’s intimacy.”

With those thoughts and feelings he is bound to be there for her, but he needs to tread carefully least she spook.

I thought this story was the best! It dragged me in from the beginning. The characters have tremendous depth to them. Tia’s history is heartbreaking but it makes her the strong person that she is. I thought the sex scenes were perfect, just a little bit of kink, the right amount of sex and yet still very believable and easy to read. I liked that there was an indepth story as well, I dislike reading a book that totally focuses only on bedroom scenes. There is just something I tend to love about best friends becoming lovers. I was rooting for them from the beginning. I would rate this story a 5/5 and would eagerly read another story by Tara Crescent.

[lynn❤️lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all the books by this author, her writing style is such that her books are so easy to read and loose myself.
I'd like to dropped a star only because I'm greedy and wanted so much more. I just felt like I was getting to know the characters when it's all over and there off together. It's like wam bam thank you mam and on to the next.
I love the passion and the caring between the characters, I just needed that little bit more, that little bit more build up, anticipation...but like edging...I need to wait for a bit, for that final realisation/ fulfilment.

This story is part of a series and can be read as a standalone, I to be honest I have not read the previous two...just going to go and read. It is clear that the other characters refered to obviously appear in the previous two books, but that does not detract from this story
Liam is the manager of Casavonva a BDSM club, and Tatiana is a actress, who both have known each other as friends for a year, but this friendship has grown into love. Both agreed to friendship and no more, but totally regret this decision as they both unknowingly to each other fall in love.Tatiana watches Liam punishing a Sub and realises her true feelings. On the back of this, she challenges Liam to punish her when she talks outside the club, about the club. They enter a dangerous field of not knowing if over stepping the boundaries of friendship into personal area's will ruin what they both have.
We are involved in their exploits, and how their relationship evolves and develops. There are secrets, which are refered to several times, but are eventually exposed and I felt not as bad as made out, but maybe I'm a hard person.
There is a HEA, and I thoughtly enjoyed this read...couldn't put it down.

I was given this book by the author for the BDSM group r2r TBR ...and I would read more. Great stuff

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. The characters are always sweet, fun and easy to read about.

I read this short book #3 before reading #2 and it was great as a stand alone. Overall, this was light fun reading. However, there was enough of a serious storyline and plot to keep me interested and caring about Tia and Liam. Tia had three secrets she slowly revealed and they all kept me interested. Liam's reactions to "the three secrets" and the end conflict were very sweet and endearing.

The BDSM was on the fun light D/s side...not too dark or heavy. Liam, Manager at a BDSM club, having a long celibate Dom period was funny and sweet.

I received a copy of this book for free from the BDSM group in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I. LOVED.IT!! The story line was great, engaging and believable. Loved the dynamic between Liam and "Rabbit". The building tension and ongoing physical relationship, complete with D/s elements was hot and exciting.

Once I started to read this book, I wanted to finish it and did complete in one day.

I have read most of Tara's works and am never disappointed.

[Susan]

Great Work, Tara Crescent!

Since I gave the first two books in this series a five, then I need to give this one a six, but it won't let me do that. I really liked the first two, but I think this one is the best one of the three. There is so much feeling and emotion in this book. You can see and feel the affects of Tatiana's childhood. You also can see that BDSM is all about trust and honesty. Liam is perfect for her. Great work, Tara Crescent.

[Angela Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little collection

I loved these three books. Each one a stand alone but all tying in together to make a great little set. Each main character had a very deep background story, making for compelling reading. Love the BDSM theme too, very descriptive, leaving little to the imagination and no doubt whatsoever as to what's going on. Definitely not for the younger readers!!

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story about a woman overcoming a traumatic past and finding love. Liam and Tia start as friends but with time they fall in love. There are some bumps along the way and obstacles to overcome but they triumph in the end.

[Beatrice Drury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a three book series about three friends who grew up in an orphanage leading very different lives. I wanted in each book for more storyline but still thoroughly enjoyed them. I thought that each book improved over the last.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liam and Tia had great chemistry. The story was good, I loved jt! My only complaint is that it was too short!

[Jana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read worse.