Mallory has a crazy, overbearing uncle, college, a job, and the best friend any woman could ask for. She enjoys her time at the BDSM club, but she's no skinny rope bunny. She certainly isn't looking for love when handsome rigger and photographer Kel volunteers to play with her.
Had Kel known the beautiful, curvaceous woman wanted to be suspended, he would've volunteered a long time ago. She's a gorgeous, full-figured woman he'd love to put his hands - and marks - all over. Still, her personal situation makes him reluctant to get involved. Not to mention he worries his darker side and love of edge play will scare her away.
When push comes to shove and another rigger moves in, Kel stakes out his territory, pleasantly surprised to discover Mallory wants to become his canvas - and nurture her own darker desires. The problem is, can they overcome the legal nightmare her uncle tosses at her, or will it tear them apart?
** A Siren Erotic Romance
The other books in the Suncoast Series are standalone works, but are best read in the following order to reduce spoilers: Safe Harbor Cardinal's Rule Domme by Default The Reluctant Dom The Denim Dom Pinch Me Broken Toy A Clean Sweep A Roll of the Dice His Canvas A Lovely Shade of Ouch Crafty Bastards
Author Lesli Richardson, who is better-known by her more prolific wild-child Tymber Dalton pen name, lives in the Tampa Bay region of Florida with too many pets of various species. Other pen names of hers include PT Long, Calliope Clockwork, Ravyn Wolf, and Zoe Park. She writes in a wide variety of heat levels and genres, from mainstream sci-fi all the way to scorching ménage.
The USA Today Bestselling Author (as Tymber) and two-time EPIC award winner is a part-time Viking shield-maiden in training who loves to sing karaoke and play D&D with her friends. She’s also the author of over 250 books and counting, including The Reluctant Dom, Cross Country Chaos, Her Vampire Obsession, the Bleacke Shifters series, the Governor Trilogy series, and many others.
She lives in her own little world, but it’s okay—they all know her there.
She loves to hear from readers! Please feel free to drop by her website and sign up for her newsletter to keep abreast of the latest news, snarkage, and releases. Honest reviews are always welcomed. They help with a book’s visibility and can boost its placement on book retailer sites. Even a few lines about what you felt reading the book will help. Thank you so much, it’s greatly appreciated!
The best thing about this series is that each book can be read as a stand alone, or you can only read select books in the series and still be able to keep up with the background characters. This series has something for every facet of the BDSM Lifestyle, touching on many kinks, kind of like a buffet, allowing me to pick and choose which story lines I want to read, and which ones I want to pass on.
I'm in the lifestyle, but there are some kinks that are definite hard limits. This book touched on a couple of them. Mainly cutting, although I enjoy knife play, I don't do blood. Needle play, I've seen some beautiful corset lacings, (up the back), but needle play and that kind of piercing is on my, "oh no! not going there" list.
But in the lifestyle there is a saying, YKIMKBYKIOK, "Your kink isn't my kink, but your kink is okay". These were not my kinks, so it was harder for me to get into this particular book, and I found myself skimming much of it.
I did enjoy the back stories about Mallory's uncle and figuring out why he was so adamant on her going for her Masters. I also enjoyed the story of Mallory and Kel and their journey. Kel and his method of picture taking kind of put me off when he was taking pictures of Mallory while she slept... that part just kinda creeped me out. But all in all, it was implied consent between Kel and Mallory. It was the story of them.
Another enjoyable aspect of this series is the Ms. Dalton does extensive research into each and every fetish she writes about. She understands the lifestyle and those in it, and makes sure that for those reading it, that may be "lifestyle curious", that her underlying story about the lifestyle is factual.
The only thing that keeps it from being a 5 star read for me, was the constant description of Mallory. I understand some authors not wanting to make the main female character flawless, I don't want to read perfect and flawless, but trying instead to make them more realistic. But what I'm finding as of late is the wide swing in the other direction. Making a point of saying the character is overweight, making that a focal point. Mallory was lovable, smart, and sweet, and it could have, and should have, just been mentioned that yes, she was overweight, and the struggles she had with that. But I felt that the book focused too *much* on her weight. Like it was a miracle that someone like Mallory could get someone like Kel.
Looking forward to reading the next in this series!
Rope bunnies, this is the book for you. Mallory is ready to move into the next phase of her life. Her controlling uncle and legal guardian is pushing her into a direction she doesn't want to go. Instead, she wants to try interning at companies interested in her art skills. Her uncle tries to force her to get a PhD she is neither interested in nor could afford. Fortunately for non-confrontational Mallory, her bestie Chelbie is able to help her out.
This story captures my attention from the beginning. Mallory is adorable. She's shy and unassuming. When she catches the attention of Kel, this is when Mallory starts to blossom. Kel is several years older than Mallory. He's been around the scene for a while and loves rigging. Burned by his latest submissive, he isn't interested in any female with drama. When he binds Mallory up and finds his feelings all tied up about her, he doesn't realize the additional baggage she brings along with her.
The characters in this book are fabulous. Those reading the loosely connected books in this series will recognize Tilly amongst others. This book really brings forth a sense of family and community. This is what really makes the story so good. The way the people who are not blood can pull together and support each other is great to see. Mallory may be an orphan but she's rich in her friendships. Chelbie is the comic relief in the book. It's a nice balance from the stress and seriousness of Mallory's situation at home. With Chelbie on a person's side, anything can be accomplished.
The BDSM in the story is fabulous. The focus is on Shibari as well as rigging. The surprise injection of needle, knife and blood play is delightful. Ms. Dalton does a great job of showing the negotiation of new fetishes as well as making three edge-plays less intimidating. The little taste of each may whet the appetites of those who are curious about all three. As someone who enjoys receiving two of the three, I can state the scenes are accurate and arousing.
This series is extremely attractive to me because it brings out the best in people and doesn't hide their flaws. People make mistakes and it is okay. No one is left alone. Instead, through friends and family, people can do what they never thought they could before. Mallory goes from possessing a low opinion of her body to someone who is happy with herself. This metamorphosis is a pleasure to witness as Kel helps brings Mallory's vibrancy for all to see. Recommended for kinky readers who love a happily ever after.
If I could live in any fictional book world and make it real, it would be that of the Suncoast Society!!
His Canvas is another winner in the series that is consistently great. The characters are so real, and the Suncoast circle of friends is so authentic and loving... I want them for my neighbors--you, too, Ms. Dalton!!! :D
Very nice story line. I was disappointed that the rigging was poorly described and not very well detailed - what a missed opportunity.
Kel and Mallory's relationship did a drastic flip from friendly roommates to full BDSM sexual relationship triggered by his jealousy of another rigger. It was so jarring it came across as unbelievable and insincere. There hadn't been any buildup between the two up to that point.
Mallory was a doormat with her uncle and with a lot of her friend's manipulations. She was very passive in cooperating with Kel's kink. Her analogy was that if he asked her to, she would smuggle Junior Mints in her purse into the movie theater. Mallory wasn't turned on by Kel's cutting like she was his rope bondage. So this, combined with the lack of sexual tension between the two, made the chemistry in their sex scenes pretty non reactive.
Things that were bothersome: Why did everyone, except for Mallory, know about Kel's kink for knives and needles? Also, why did Kel have double standards and not have any body piercings of his own?
This is a hardcore BDSM book, one of the most intense I’ve read, but also features an intricate plot and well drawn characters. Askel (Kel) a rigger and photographer of some renown, likes playing with various submissives, but has no desire to settle down with one-until Mallory’s best friend, Chelbie, literally throws Mallory into Kel’s way. The scene that follows connects the two of them in ways neither had expected but there are some major obstacles to a relationship. Kel is afraid to tell Mallory about his dark side, and Mallory doesn’t want to deal with her uncle’s strange insistence that she attend graduate school in spite of her desire to graduate and go to work. As the two learn that they meld together even better than expected, can they overcome the obstacles? Kel’s darker side includes knife play, cutting, branding, cell popping (temporary scaring), and other more extreme forms of BDSM. Mallory doesn’t just accept these activities, she loves them. Be aware the two indulge in some of these activities in the book. Overall, this was a good read and a fine addition to the author’s Suncoast Society series, but is just a bit too extreme for my taste.
It's been awhile since I checked in with the crew from the "Coast"....I forgot how much I enjoyed these guys and gals.
I do not live in the lifestyle but love reading about it...having said that - this one does focus more on edge play that does make me cringe a bit. But as with all Tymber's books, she writes in a way that makes you understand her characters and what they need in their lives and makes no apologies for it. Kel has been burned in his last relationship and is in no hurry to start a new one. Mallory is just starting to spread her wings and wants to move on in life - if she can just get her uncle to be forth coming with information. I loved these two together. I have to say.....there's a scene stealer in this book and her name is Chelbie! I loved her.
It was good, but not as good as other Dalton titles I've read.
Pros: 1. Portrayed cutting in a safe way. If it's not your thing, you can get past it really easily. It it is, you can zero in on those parts. 2. Great cast of supporting characters. 3. Chelbie steals the show. She and Tilly have remarkable chemistry. I'd like to see those two play.
Cons: 1. I'm not in the mood to criticize. It was an enjoyable, though predictable, read (and there's nothing wrong with predictable if the writing is good.)
Every time I read a book in this series, I feel as though I'm visiting old friends. Or at least, folks I would love to be friends with, because the characters are so real and likeable. :-)
I usually like the Suncoast Society books but this one is a miss. Mal needed to get some real therapy instead of the "you get my dick hard so get over yourself" method.
This remains one of my all time favorite series. Whenever I get my hands on a new one, I just want to devour it in one setting. I could totally relate to Mallory in this series. Her thoughts on her own self image were low and she had a hard time accepting that someone like Kel would be attracted to her. I think most women deal with this at some point in their life. I loved the different aspects of BDSM in this story as well. Kel not only is a rigger, but he also has other dark interests centered around edge play.
Tymber weaves a beautiful story each and every time she writes in this series. I love all of her characters for their real feel and how they travel through most of this series as if they are in one big happy family. I feel as though Tymber takes me by the hand and leads me through this story, through all the emotions, butterfly feelings, first time love, sensuality as well as the heartache and she doesn't let go until you have finished. She leaves you with that satisfied feeling that all is right in the world of the Suncoast Society. Can't wait to read the next one!
Rope bunnies, this is the book for you. This series has something for every facet of the BDSM Lifestyle, touching on many kinks, kind of like a buffet. I can say from experience that once you read one of the books in this series that you will more than likely want to read the rest… well that is what I am doing. Every time I read a book in this series, I feel as though I'm visiting old friends. Dalton continues to encourage all readers to find beauty no matter what is looking back at them in the mirror.
So I really enjoyed this. Mallory had some self body issues but Kel really showed her how beautiful she truly is. I'm a huge fan of loving who you are. Imperfection makes you perfection, in my eyes. Some of the "play" they used was on the edgier side for me, but I truly liked the characters. And man, Tilly has me rolling on the floor so many times. She truly is a one of a kind gem.
Anyway, although the play wasn't my favorite I truly loved how Kel and Mallory loved each other. Kudos!
Though this book deals with edge play WAY outside my comfort zone, Tymber Dalton has a way of writing it that practically makes you think it was your idea. This was a lovely, sweet book about a girl becoming a woman by getting stronger even as she allows herself to be vulnerable. Dalton continues to encourage all readers to find beauty no matter what is looking back at them in the mirror. Another great Suncoast read.
Mal lost her parents at a young age and was raised by her nut of an uncle - her best friend has been after her to find out about her trust but she doesn't want to upset the apple cart - one thing leads to the other and she ends up with Kel as a play partner, who she turns to when things go wrong one night, he comes in with a group of friends and moves her in with him. Can he help her overcome her thoughts about her body image and help her to believe she's beautiful?
Yet another story in the lives of the Suncoast Society. Kel isn't going to drama any more and Mallory's life is full of family drama. But Kel realizes that sometimes the heart doesn't care and Mallory isn't looking for drama. I love how protective he of her. And once again the whole group rally around some of their own in need.
Another wonderful story by the talented Tymber Dalton. This is a great addition to her Sun Coast Society series. Tymber always writes stories that have something that I can relate to. I love that about her stories.
This is one of my favorite couples. Seeing Mallory gain confidence and accept herself is always a joy. I love the way this group is family and will do whatever it takes to make sure whoever has been adopted has the help they need to thrive.
Another one knocked out of the park. Kel and Mal make a great couple. Adding Tilly was genius. And the knife play? OMG! As always it's coming home to friends and family with this series.
Did not get roped in1/7I was really looking forward to this one. I love stories of rope bondage. I was so very disappointed in this one. I enjoyed the story line. The uncle, the trust, Chelbie, but I felt it was rushed. I realize that most of rope bondage is visual, and may not translate well to words, but Ms Dalton has done so well with many many other stories. The story was almost disjointed.7/21ETA: I have changed the rating from 2* to 3*. When I first read this, I was very disappointed in it. I was hoping for more of the shibari. When I read it again, I was a little more prepared, and liked it better. I still only gave it 3* because Mallory is stupid. That sounds harsh, but she let her uncle basically bully her and mentally abuse her for too long. She admitted that she knew something was wrong with h er Trust, but she just went with the flow because it was easier. I admire Kel for sticking to his resolution of not getting involved with someone who had drama. Well, for as long as he did. He knew she needed to grow up a little, and move away from her uncle's thumb on her own. She needed to grow a little backbone.I still love Chelbie. Her enthusiasm for life is infectious.