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Irresistible #2
Transcendent
One couple. Two perspectives. From the bestselling author of Jaded comes two stories of restrained desires pushed to the point of no return…
TRANSFIXED…
By day, Marin Bryant is the darling of the New York modern dance scene, a job that requires a total surrender of her body to the demands of her art. By night, she has the power, moonlighting as Miss Banks, as a dainty dominatrix in heels and pearls.
TRANSFORMED…
To Wall Street scion Cole Fleming, Miss Banks fulfills his darkest desires, until the day when roles and formalities aren’t enough. Cole wants all of Miss Banks’s secrets, and won’t stop until he’s broken down her walls using the pleasure she craves and fears.
Two stories, one pair of lovers, exploring the dark heat at the intersection of pain, pleasure, and something that just might be love…
Find out more about the woman who brought Cole and Marin together in Anne Calhoun’s novel, The List. Are you on it?
These stories previously appeared in the anthology, [ 21 Stories of Agonizing Pleasure|10596956]
TRANSFIXED…
By day, Marin Bryant is the darling of the New York modern dance scene, a job that requires a total surrender of her body to the demands of her art. By night, she has the power, moonlighting as Miss Banks, as a dainty dominatrix in heels and pearls.
TRANSFORMED…
To Wall Street scion Cole Fleming, Miss Banks fulfills his darkest desires, until the day when roles and formalities aren’t enough. Cole wants all of Miss Banks’s secrets, and won’t stop until he’s broken down her walls using the pleasure she craves and fears.
Two stories, one pair of lovers, exploring the dark heat at the intersection of pain, pleasure, and something that just might be love…
Find out more about the woman who brought Cole and Marin together in Anne Calhoun’s novel, The List. Are you on it?
These stories previously appeared in the anthology, [ 21 Stories of Agonizing Pleasure|10596956]
43 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2011
7 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Anne Calhoun
52 books655 followersAfter doing time at Fortune 500 companies on both coasts, I found myself living in the suburbs of a small Midwestern city. The glamour of various cube farm jobs had worn off, so I gave up making a decent living to take Joseph Campbell’s advice and follow my bliss: writing romance.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 17, 2015
3.5 stars. Rating clarification see below. Review posted February 17, 2015
These two short stories previously appeared in the Agony/Ecstasy anthology. I never read them because I'm not a fan of anthologies.
Please note
The MCs made a cameo in Anne Calhoun's upcoming erotic romance novel The List. However, you don't have to read Transcendent to enjoy The List.
Marin Bryant, aka Miss Banks, is a principal dancer with a modern dance company and Cole Fleming is a former Marine and makes his living as a trader for Cooper Bensonhurst. Lady Matilda (Tilda, heroine of The List) enjoys playing matchmaker and brought Marin and Cole together. Even though the connection between Marin and Cole is only sexual at the moment, it will lead to something deeper and more serious in the future. Aside from some wonderful and sensuous smexin' (I'm talking about the second scene), this very short novella examines their motivation and emotions.
3 stars to Transfixed
Told in first person from Marin's POV.
I enjoyed the writing and the scrumptious hero, Cole. Not sure what to think about the sex, TBH.
I'd by lying if I said I was enamored with the first part of this novella. I wasn't. I felt oddly detached from what happened in that room. It was similar to standing at the sidelines, watching a soccer game, cheering my son on and knowing it was, on a very rare occasion, futile. And then I come to the point where my passion peters out. *gasp* Is that even possible? I just didn't like Marin. Though Cole was the expected gorgeous, very sexy Anne-Calhoun-trademark male lead. I guess I need to be able to establish an emotional connection to the characters otherwise it's going to be very tough for an author to sell me a story or a character, for that matter.
4 stars to Transformed
Told in third person from Cole's POV.
Gah. I was like "Now we're talking!". Yep, Baba was back in a very blissful state of mind. This second part was sensually written, just beautiful. I was totally there, in the moment and I connected with the characters so much more. Told from Cole's POV, that might have been the trigger I needed and I was absorbing everything Cole did or said. Loved the way he 'dismantled' Marin!
A tiny, secretive shudder rippled through her. It was amazing what a precision stealth assault could accomplish where air strikes and heavy ordinance failed. "Put your hands above your head and leave them there."
"That has nothing to do with touching me," she said without moving.
True, but it had everything to do with surrender. "Surely you understand the concept of setting a scene," he murmured into her hair.
Even though Transcendent is by far not my favorite book by Anne Calhoun, it's still worth reading. Besides, compared to my last three DNFs, it was actually a very good read.
So…maybe I could whet your appetite.
Recommended read.
These two short stories previously appeared in the Agony/Ecstasy anthology. I never read them because I'm not a fan of anthologies.
Please note
The MCs made a cameo in Anne Calhoun's upcoming erotic romance novel The List. However, you don't have to read Transcendent to enjoy The List.
Marin Bryant, aka Miss Banks, is a principal dancer with a modern dance company and Cole Fleming is a former Marine and makes his living as a trader for Cooper Bensonhurst. Lady Matilda (Tilda, heroine of The List) enjoys playing matchmaker and brought Marin and Cole together. Even though the connection between Marin and Cole is only sexual at the moment, it will lead to something deeper and more serious in the future. Aside from some wonderful and sensuous smexin' (I'm talking about the second scene), this very short novella examines their motivation and emotions.
3 stars to Transfixed
Told in first person from Marin's POV.
I enjoyed the writing and the scrumptious hero, Cole. Not sure what to think about the sex, TBH.
I'd by lying if I said I was enamored with the first part of this novella. I wasn't. I felt oddly detached from what happened in that room. It was similar to standing at the sidelines, watching a soccer game, cheering my son on and knowing it was, on a very rare occasion, futile. And then I come to the point where my passion peters out. *gasp* Is that even possible? I just didn't like Marin. Though Cole was the expected gorgeous, very sexy Anne-Calhoun-trademark male lead. I guess I need to be able to establish an emotional connection to the characters otherwise it's going to be very tough for an author to sell me a story or a character, for that matter.
4 stars to Transformed
Told in third person from Cole's POV.
Gah. I was like "Now we're talking!". Yep, Baba was back in a very blissful state of mind. This second part was sensually written, just beautiful. I was totally there, in the moment and I connected with the characters so much more. Told from Cole's POV, that might have been the trigger I needed and I was absorbing everything Cole did or said. Loved the way he 'dismantled' Marin!
A tiny, secretive shudder rippled through her. It was amazing what a precision stealth assault could accomplish where air strikes and heavy ordinance failed. "Put your hands above your head and leave them there."
"That has nothing to do with touching me," she said without moving.
True, but it had everything to do with surrender. "Surely you understand the concept of setting a scene," he murmured into her hair.
Even though Transcendent is by far not my favorite book by Anne Calhoun, it's still worth reading. Besides, compared to my last three DNFs, it was actually a very good read.
So…maybe I could whet your appetite.
"Find out."
Recommended read.
June 4, 2017
3 Stars for the story bits; 1 Star for the scam Penguin perpetuated on the unwary reader.
Disappointing...I had preordered this a while back based on Calhoun's name, expecting two ss. What I got was one scene, and one snippet of life bit. Very short and unfinished - It took 20 minutes to read both, and the last 30% was an excerpt of an upcoming book. Nice enough bits, but I was looking for story; not chapters culled from another source.
All in all I felt like I had been scammed out of $2. Penguin, of course. They had never put the page count on the preorder or noted that they were bits from another source, imagine that. They are masters at bilking the unwary reader.
Disappointing...I had preordered this a while back based on Calhoun's name, expecting two ss. What I got was one scene, and one snippet of life bit. Very short and unfinished - It took 20 minutes to read both, and the last 30% was an excerpt of an upcoming book. Nice enough bits, but I was looking for story; not chapters culled from another source.
All in all I felt like I had been scammed out of $2. Penguin, of course. They had never put the page count on the preorder or noted that they were bits from another source, imagine that. They are masters at bilking the unwary reader.
August 20, 2017
3.5 stars?
April 22, 2015
Of course, I love everything @AnneCalhoun writes, but this set of paired stories rocked my boat like complementary truffle treats. Short,sweet, but also sinfully rich and deliciously satisfying. A great intro to her work, if you're not already a fan, or a lovely snack to enjoy in between her longer works.
March 14, 2015
This is another book that's not quite what I was expecting. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story without knowing the backstory and how it will ultimately end. The disconcerting feeling just confounded me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2015
Previously pubbed in the "Agony/Ecstasy" anthology by Jane Litte.
March 1, 2015
Probably should've read the blurb first. Had no idea what was going on but it was definitely steamy.
October 27, 2015
Ms. Calhoun is a major contributor to my rich fantasy life. She writes a man that I don't think exists. (I'm jaded)
But My God, I wish he did.
But My God, I wish he did.
April 10, 2015
3 - "Transfixed"
3.5 - "Transformed"
Interesting duet. Calhoun writes steamy and sexual tension pretty effing well.
3.5 - "Transformed"
Interesting duet. Calhoun writes steamy and sexual tension pretty effing well.
Read
July 14, 2015Read as part of Agony/Ecstasy anthology. See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
November 11, 2016
Rowr...I kinda liked the way this played out. Super short, but Calhoun can pack a lot into her stories.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews