Bound to Be Tested

Emergence #3

by Becca Jameson

The whip never leaves a mark. Love…that’s another story.

Emergence, Book 3

Lori Polluck has reshaped her kink from bottom to top.

In the two years since her Dom disappeared without a trace, she’s transformed herself from perfect submissive to successful Domme. Her relationship with her submissive, Margaret, is…comfortable. Life is good. Until her past strides into Emergence, commandeers her scene, and turns her heart inside out.

Jude Cavanaugh can’t change his past, but he can definitely take charge of his future.

A mission he can never reveal took him away from Lori, he thought for good. But a twist of fate has brought him back to his life, his town, his club. He plans to reclaim it all—including his woman. Sure, she’s with someone else. Sure, she’s switched in every possible way. But the instant they touch, it’s clear Lori is still his to control. And she doesn’t like it one damned bit.

The road ahead will be rocky. Especially since Lori will just have to take it on faith that he won’t skip out again. But when nightmares turn real, they’ll both need to show ultimate trust to survive.

This book contains intense bondage scenes. Man on woman as well as woman on woman action will titillate the mind. Be prepared for public nudity, vibrators, a seriously huge dildo, restraints, a ring gag, spreader bars, lube action, and a steaming-hot wax scene…

Genres: BDSM, Erotica, Romance

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 20, 2015

About the author

Becca Jameson is a USA Today bestselling author of over 100 books. She is most well-known for her Wolf Masters series and her Fight Club series. She currently lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and Goldendoodle. Two grown kids pop in every once in a while too! She is loving this journey and has dabbled in a variety of genres, including paranormal, sports romance, military, and BDSM.

A total night owl, Becca writes late at night, sequestering herself in her office with a glass of red wine and a bar of dark chocolate, her fingers flying across the keyboard as her characters weave their own stories.

During the day--which never starts before ten in the morning!--she can be found jogging, running errands, or reading in her favorite hammock chair!

Reviews

[Toula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contemparty story. BDSM one
this had be hooked but I know the heroine at the begging seemed pushy. what happends when a man you were in love with comes back into your live after 2 years of disappearing with no word. He was you dom and you were his perfect sub. . You become a Dom with a sub that is a lady and right in the middle of your show , he just walks in and directs you . after the show you look for him and he has disappeared. Then all of a sudden he shows up the next day and starts making demands. he wants you back and gives you rules to follow. He also goes sees his best friend who happens to be part of your family and they have it out. Loved it they don't know that his is in the army an undercover one and he left before because he didn't expect to come back. He went to the middle east to kill a terrorist and he thought he did. . things are going great but after a while he gets weird calls and he feels like he is being watched at home . He gets a call from his Captin/ Superior that the terrorist is in the United States and they need to finish the Job . He drops the sub the love of his life back and he goes on his mission. lots of tricks happen and little does he know that the terrioist feel in love with his girlfriend who is his Heart and kidnapped her and played a trick on him . They find her in a shed near the factory he killed the terrorist and he finds her in the hospital. he feels like shit and skips out on her . He is thinking that he has been on secreat missions and there will be always someone after him. He cant stand it .

[Melanie Marnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jude Cavanaugh walked out of Lori's life with no notice two years ago. Now she's finally rebuilt her life, sort of, by re-inventing herself as a Domme. She's happy or at least she tells herself that until Jude shows up out of the blue. He makes her an offer she can't refuse. Be his sub again for a week so he can show her how much he cares. She agrees and once again goes all in but something's off. Jude is distracted, not sleeping, working a lot when he supposed to be on vacation. Although he never told her why he left to begin with she's finally figuring out it had something to do with his Army job. Now he's giving her all the signs that he's leaving again. Once again he walks away and she is devastated. He's put her in danger and cannot afford to do it again. She's better off without him.

[Meleeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow strong, story line with suspense thrown in.

He walked out of their life together. He walks back in, reclaims her then boom he walks out again. She is not your typical sweetheart as she takes him back.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! I loved how it was different than the first two. I also loved how the author brought in a military theme because I love military romances as well.

[Mary Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

.the end is the part that had me holding my breath. When Lori couldn't be found and the bad guys had a hostage.....couldn't breath had to keep going to see what happened.
the first 3/4 of book sort of dragged....

[Drea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Submissive Lori was desperately in love with Jude and he with her. But Jude also had responsibility to a job. Given he was a badass Army special ops guy responsible for taking down terrorist masterminds, the job came first. But when he walked out the door one day with no warning, he broke Lori’s heart with lies about how he didn’t love her anymore. For a man who didn’t think he’d make it home from his last mission, Jude thought that was the best way to leave his beloved sub.
Fast forward two years, Jude turns up and ruins now Domme Lori’s sexy scene at BDSM club Emergence. His arrival effectively destroys the year-long relationship Lori has had with her sub Margaret. An accepting Margaret even moves out of their shared home to give Lori time. But just when Jude thinks his past is over and he can start fresh with the woman he needs, his past rears its ugly head and threatens everything he holds dear. Will he make the right choices for everyone this time or muck it up as badly as the first?

Bound to Be Tested is a second chance romance featuring two emotionally scarred people pulled apart by duty. However there’s far more sex than romance in this story because the love never really went away for Lori and Jude. And the sex is definitely not vanilla. Fans of fulltime BDSM relationships will love this story.

I was interested in this book because the blurb said former sub Lori is a Domme when her ex Jude turns up in town again. That sounded like a recipe for some fireworks, and I love fireworks! Unfortunately Lori puts up a token fight when Jude takes over her shibari scene, and then she basically folds beneath his commanding voice…just as she does when he suggests they get back together on a trial basis. Her reason? No one has been able to make Lori feel a fraction of what Jude can, and that is a powerful motivator.

Jude doesn’t do much in the way of earning back Lori’s trust for the way he left apart from reinstating his domination over her. Instead Lori realizes she still loves him, always will, and will have to accept him the way he is—apologetic for leaving her yet unable to explain why he did it. She’s a far better, accepting woman than I could ever be, and that makes for an interesting read. It helps that Jude is a patient, firm Dom with some interesting techniques.

Bound to Be Tested is the third in the Emergence series and features characters from previous Emergence books. A reader new to the series can pick this up without feeling lost. There’s also an obvious setup for future books…one with Margaret for sure so be prepared to add some extra books to your wish list!

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a BDSM with a full-time D/s relationship and loads of sexy times with a hot military man who is more about pleasing his woman than himself, Bound to Be Tested is for you.

[Monica Cardoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 4.5 Stars ***


Anything can happen to a person at any time just because you have a dangerous job doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve to be happy.

This is my first read by this author and I really have to go back to read the other books in this series. This was just an interesting story that I can’t wait to read the next one. I love reading BDSM books that this one had everything that I love, the voice of a Dom that makes the submissive get goose bumps, that his tool brings you close to orgasm. That is exactly what this Dom has done to this Submissive even though when she is first introduced she is a Domme. From the moment that he left her she closed herself off and it took her one year to move on and from that point she was never again with a man.

Lori Polluck was devastated when her Dom left her breaking her heart in a million pieces. It took her about one year for her to get herself together but instead of becoming a submissive again and find a Dom she became a Domme. She had already dabbled with being with a woman so when her and Margaret got together. They were in a comfortable relationship but all that ended a night that she scened and the person that broke her heart showed back up and shattered her world again.

Jude Cavanaugh never told his friends or his submissive what he actually did for a living. They knew that he was in the military but not what he actually did. So know that he was done with his assignment he knew that he needed to get his submissive back but he had no idea if she had another Dom or if she had a family. But when he interrupted the scene he knew he needed her back and he was going to do everything possible to get her back. He was surprised that she gave him a second chance but he had 10 days to get her back but he never thought that a dead man could come back to haunt him.

Bound to be Tested was a great read. The chemistry between Lori and Jude was intense, passionate and so very HOT. This author’s writing is flawless and clear. I love it when I get lost in a story and this was one that I definitely got lost in. The only thing that I didn’t care for was that he ran away, he didn’t let her make a discussion if she wanted to be with him or not. He talked about being honest that was one of the things that needed to be in a committed D/s relationship but he was not being honest with her. Then when the bad part happened he ran away again I knew why he did it but I would have expected more of a Dom. But I do have to say that no matter what I loved Jude he was one darn good Dom and he knew what to do and say to get her to melt into a puddle of goo. Could I blame Lori for leaving Margaret nope because she was just following her heart.

Totally recommend this read!!!

Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review

[Robin Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book... Lori is a submissive who has devoted her love to a man, Jude. Their chemistry is undeniable and all consuming. But, Jude walks away from Lori, leaving her bereft, cold and lonely inside. In the two years since Jude disappeared without a word, Lori has redefined herself... she's moving on, she's in a relationship now where she's in control. Lori has opted to explore her dominant side, and has taken on a submissive of her own. All is well... until Jude walks back into her life, turning it upside down from the first minute. He's determined to get Lori back, he KNOWS that what they shared before he left is not dead. Lori is clearly wary to resume a relationship with Jude, but she knows she has to try. Lori puts her relationship with Margaret her submissive on hold and goes back to Jude to see what's left of their relationship. Well, sparks fly! And if you ever doubted that some people are just soul mates and there is nothing that would ever keep them apart, then this beautifully written story about second chances will make you a believer. Jude and Lori fit, they fill that spot within each other... you know, that spot somewhere in your chest, right beside your heart, where the love of your life resides. Their road is a bit rocky, but they are ironing things out. Until an unforeseen enemy emerges, putting Jude and even Lori in danger. Jude is well trained to handle the danger, and he fights to end his worst nightmare once and for all. But Jude has a hard time handling the fact that he couldn't protect Lori and he now feels she is better off without him. Without a word, he disappears again, once again shattering the poor girl's heart to pieces.

They get their HEA, but what a rollercoaster of emotions to get there. So much love to be had, so many apologies to make. This story truly moved me. I loved it so much!

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Maybe I just don't get how a real sub craves and loves Domination 7/24. More than that, I was frustrated by the hero's inability to talk about the danger and his stupid habit of leaving when the going got tough. I was also disappointed that the two years Lori spent as a Domme were pretty much dismissed. No influence on her resumed relationship with Jude? Humph. Obviously the story was compelled enough that I kept reading, but I was not left with a good feeling at the end.

Bought from kobo.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

2*