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A Killer Need #1
One Cut Deeper
Her needs are dark. His are dangerous.
Charlie MacNiall has been bringing his beautiful king shepherd to the vet clinic where Ranay Killian works for the better part of a year. She doesn’t realize he’s been slowly wooing her. She certainly has no idea that he picked her deliberately—that she is to become his. A broken heart and a desperate desire to be dominated make her the perfect victim.
His perfect victim.
Charlie fixes Ranay, testing her emotional limits while pushing her sexual boundaries past anything she’d imagined possible. Pain is their shared pleasure… until Charlie disappears and Ranay is all but destroyed.
The FBI says the man she loves is a serial killer. Ranay can’t deny there’s a darkness in Charlie, a monstrous hunger that drives him to the brink. She even believes he could kill. But Charlie's hunger is what bonds them—it's the foundation of their love. Would he actually kill her?
Charlie MacNiall has been bringing his beautiful king shepherd to the vet clinic where Ranay Killian works for the better part of a year. She doesn’t realize he’s been slowly wooing her. She certainly has no idea that he picked her deliberately—that she is to become his. A broken heart and a desperate desire to be dominated make her the perfect victim.
His perfect victim.
Charlie fixes Ranay, testing her emotional limits while pushing her sexual boundaries past anything she’d imagined possible. Pain is their shared pleasure… until Charlie disappears and Ranay is all but destroyed.
The FBI says the man she loves is a serial killer. Ranay can’t deny there’s a darkness in Charlie, a monstrous hunger that drives him to the brink. She even believes he could kill. But Charlie's hunger is what bonds them—it's the foundation of their love. Would he actually kill her?
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2015
75 people are currently reading
681 people want to read
About the author
Joely Sue Burkhart
118 books2,010 followersI write books. Sometimes I even finish them!
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 108 reviews
March 28, 2015
This book blew me away. Full disclosure, I didn't read the blurb. In fact, I didn't know what the book was about because all I saw was Ms. Burkhart's name and greedily grabbed the book. At the time of reading this book, there was no cover either so I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Sometimes, the best books are when a reader goes in with few preconceived notions. This could be a story of a woman who is so broken no one will want her. This could be a story of a man so tainted with the blood running through his veins that he's no good for any woman. What I see is an intensely edgy erotic courtship between two balancing forces.
A fan of suspense, this story contains a surprisingly sneaky suspense subplot. It isn't until about halfway through the book it becomes apparent there is more to this story than a woman who is rebuilding her life after a bad relationship break up. Ranay Killian is a masochist who hungers for the elusive high brought on through complete surrender. For those who don't understand the lifestyle, this may be a difficult read. It's not that Ranay is a doormat or wants to be beaten to death or abused. It's the sensations and headspace she goes into when she gives up total control and experiences pain to drive her mind back into her body. Doesn't make sense? Let's put it this way. Sometimes, there are people who cannot stop thinking. Their brain is going too fast all the time and they can not shut it off. Based on the descriptions in the book, when Ranay is going through an intense scene, her brain stops analyzing and she can focus on just one thing. This one thing is how her body feels at this moment in time. As a person whose mind does not shut off even when sleeping, this is an amazing gift I've only experienced through edge play or scuba diving. Neither are easy to come by for me. For Ranay, it seems Charlie MacNiall possesses the magic touch.
The characters are fabulous in this story. What I like about Charlie is his average height and his quiet demeanor. He is not someone would suspect as a threat until it is too late. The way Ms. Burkhart creates this character is dangerously attractive for me. First, he is probably blurring the line between sociopath and psychopath. Second, he plans several steps ahead. Third, he is wicked intelligent. Fourth, he erotically sadistic. He doesn't need fancy furniture or expensive sex toys to make an impact. He takes rough body play to the next level. If he incorporated breath play, I'd be in a melted puddle of goo. His ability to change from sweetly suppressed power to scary fury unleashed is panty wetting.
Ranay starts out as a bit pathetic. As she interacts more with Charlie, she begins to grow. She blooms under his care, even when he's biting and drawing blood. The story is told from her point of view and even if I'm not able to understand her for the most part, I can appreciate her response to Charlie. By the end of the story, it is clear there is an excellent balancing dynamic between the two lovers.
Getting to the good part, the BDSM. There is rough body play with pressure points. There are little bits of pet play through being hand fed. The edging and orgasm control is delicious. The biting which at times drew blood is tastefully dark. What really pushes me over the edge is the knifeplay. Oh boy can Ms. Burkhart write a knifeplay scene. It is so good and it conjures happy memories of heart beating fear with heightened arousal. The controlled violence and sexual menace Charlie exudes is a perfect match for Ranay's deep desires. For those who enjoy this kind of kink, these two intensely dark erotic scenes are blazing hot. It's vivid to the mind and to the senses. For those who enjoy knifeplay, it is very easy to slip into Ranay's role whilst she is being sliced. For those who enjoy wielding the knife, the heady power Charlie holds in his hands is euphoric. For those wondering if these scenes are realistic, I can confirm they are realistic down to the whimpers which may be of fear, pleasure or a mix of both.
This book is much more than the BDSM. The story is very well written and the world building is great. The dialog between the characters is so smooth it is almost as if the reader is there in person watching the conversation. Ms. Burkhart's writing voice is enhancing and captivating. I finished this book in one sitting. Truth be told, I enjoy all of Ms. Burkhart's books. This one connects for me the most because of the dominant and his particular desires. I loved this book. I highly recommend this to kinky readers who want to read a wonderfully romantic suspense perfectly paired with realistic edge play.
*provided by NetGalley
A fan of suspense, this story contains a surprisingly sneaky suspense subplot. It isn't until about halfway through the book it becomes apparent there is more to this story than a woman who is rebuilding her life after a bad relationship break up. Ranay Killian is a masochist who hungers for the elusive high brought on through complete surrender. For those who don't understand the lifestyle, this may be a difficult read. It's not that Ranay is a doormat or wants to be beaten to death or abused. It's the sensations and headspace she goes into when she gives up total control and experiences pain to drive her mind back into her body. Doesn't make sense? Let's put it this way. Sometimes, there are people who cannot stop thinking. Their brain is going too fast all the time and they can not shut it off. Based on the descriptions in the book, when Ranay is going through an intense scene, her brain stops analyzing and she can focus on just one thing. This one thing is how her body feels at this moment in time. As a person whose mind does not shut off even when sleeping, this is an amazing gift I've only experienced through edge play or scuba diving. Neither are easy to come by for me. For Ranay, it seems Charlie MacNiall possesses the magic touch.
The characters are fabulous in this story. What I like about Charlie is his average height and his quiet demeanor. He is not someone would suspect as a threat until it is too late. The way Ms. Burkhart creates this character is dangerously attractive for me. First, he is probably blurring the line between sociopath and psychopath. Second, he plans several steps ahead. Third, he is wicked intelligent. Fourth, he erotically sadistic. He doesn't need fancy furniture or expensive sex toys to make an impact. He takes rough body play to the next level. If he incorporated breath play, I'd be in a melted puddle of goo. His ability to change from sweetly suppressed power to scary fury unleashed is panty wetting.
Ranay starts out as a bit pathetic. As she interacts more with Charlie, she begins to grow. She blooms under his care, even when he's biting and drawing blood. The story is told from her point of view and even if I'm not able to understand her for the most part, I can appreciate her response to Charlie. By the end of the story, it is clear there is an excellent balancing dynamic between the two lovers.
Getting to the good part, the BDSM. There is rough body play with pressure points. There are little bits of pet play through being hand fed. The edging and orgasm control is delicious. The biting which at times drew blood is tastefully dark. What really pushes me over the edge is the knifeplay. Oh boy can Ms. Burkhart write a knifeplay scene. It is so good and it conjures happy memories of heart beating fear with heightened arousal. The controlled violence and sexual menace Charlie exudes is a perfect match for Ranay's deep desires. For those who enjoy this kind of kink, these two intensely dark erotic scenes are blazing hot. It's vivid to the mind and to the senses. For those who enjoy knifeplay, it is very easy to slip into Ranay's role whilst she is being sliced. For those who enjoy wielding the knife, the heady power Charlie holds in his hands is euphoric. For those wondering if these scenes are realistic, I can confirm they are realistic down to the whimpers which may be of fear, pleasure or a mix of both.
This book is much more than the BDSM. The story is very well written and the world building is great. The dialog between the characters is so smooth it is almost as if the reader is there in person watching the conversation. Ms. Burkhart's writing voice is enhancing and captivating. I finished this book in one sitting. Truth be told, I enjoy all of Ms. Burkhart's books. This one connects for me the most because of the dominant and his particular desires. I loved this book. I highly recommend this to kinky readers who want to read a wonderfully romantic suspense perfectly paired with realistic edge play.
*provided by NetGalley
June 10, 2015
4.5 Incredible Stars
I read a lot of BDSM. To date Søren from The Original Sinners series is the most enthralling depiction of a sadist, but Charlie gives him a run for his money. I’m not sure what it is about sadomasochism that captivates me so, but I will say a great many authors try to capture that spark that makes me zero in on them like a missile. They try and they fail. Burkhart exceeded my expectations.
The first scene between Ranay and Charlie hooked me. There was some indefinable quality about the conversation he had with her prior to leaving on his trip and then the dearth of paraphernalia she found in his toy box had me prairie dogging. No, I didn’t read the blurb. I saw the author’s name and requested the book, so I had no idea what lay in store for me.
Their first BDSM scene together…
Yeah, no way was I putting this down after that.
Charlie is a sadist. This doesn’t happen to me very often, but I got an image of him as soon as I read his description, so I thought I'd share.
He's scary, dangerous and yet vulnerable, an irresistible combination that Ranay is powerless to resist nor does she want to. She’s been looking for a dom to give her the pain she needs. To date all of them have failed her leaving her feeling more broken than ever. She needs more than they can give and they’ve made her feel weak for it. Lesser than. Not Charlie. He wants to make her stronger. He refuses to let her slip into 24/7 slavery, to indulge in old habits wherein she gives away all her power. He can't afford to let her do that due to the nature of his work. Instead he builds her up, infuses her with strength, encourages her to use her voice and take pride in herself and throughout the course of the story it shows. Ranay makes Charlie feel like less of a monster for his needs and his needs are extreme. He, too, has suffered rejection because of those needs which forced him to try to contain them which he's found mostly frustrating.
This symbiosis is what I like best in romance novels. Both of them are broken. They both feel like aliens in society; Ranay even within her own family. But in each other they find their other half and take solace there. Their relationship does evolve quickly and it could easily be characterized as instalove or even foolhardy but I didn't see it that way.
If you’re averse to BDSM you may still enjoy this for that is just a small part of what made One Cut Deeper a thrilling read. It is very much a thriller complete with things that go bump in the night, FBI involvement, assassins, a covert corporation with nefarious dealings and a kick ass guard dog named Sheba all of which served to keep the pacing intense.
Burkhart put this story together beautifully and her characterizations are incredible. I didn’t love Ranay but I respected her. She does cry a lot, though. I’m not a fan of crying but she’s not meek which tempered it a bit. The one thing that kept niggling was her not following up on some of his red flags. I know she’s paying attention to every word that he utters because she's attuned to him with every fiber of her being and she has a voice, so why not ask? Some things she does and others… it’s like she had a brain fart or something, so I’m deducting half a star for that.
To say I can’t wait for the next installment would be a bit of an understatement and if I know Burkhart she’s going to make me wait. It’ll feel like an eternity I’m sure.
Recommend to thriller and BDSM fans.
A review copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read a lot of BDSM. To date Søren from The Original Sinners series is the most enthralling depiction of a sadist, but Charlie gives him a run for his money. I’m not sure what it is about sadomasochism that captivates me so, but I will say a great many authors try to capture that spark that makes me zero in on them like a missile. They try and they fail. Burkhart exceeded my expectations.
The first scene between Ranay and Charlie hooked me. There was some indefinable quality about the conversation he had with her prior to leaving on his trip and then the dearth of paraphernalia she found in his toy box had me prairie dogging. No, I didn’t read the blurb. I saw the author’s name and requested the book, so I had no idea what lay in store for me.
Their first BDSM scene together…
”Fear, but trust at the same time. That’s what I want. See me in all my gory detail but still beg me to touch you again. Even if it’s only going to hurt.”
Yeah, no way was I putting this down after that.
Charlie is a sadist. This doesn’t happen to me very often, but I got an image of him as soon as I read his description, so I thought I'd share.
He's scary, dangerous and yet vulnerable, an irresistible combination that Ranay is powerless to resist nor does she want to. She’s been looking for a dom to give her the pain she needs. To date all of them have failed her leaving her feeling more broken than ever. She needs more than they can give and they’ve made her feel weak for it. Lesser than. Not Charlie. He wants to make her stronger. He refuses to let her slip into 24/7 slavery, to indulge in old habits wherein she gives away all her power. He can't afford to let her do that due to the nature of his work. Instead he builds her up, infuses her with strength, encourages her to use her voice and take pride in herself and throughout the course of the story it shows. Ranay makes Charlie feel like less of a monster for his needs and his needs are extreme. He, too, has suffered rejection because of those needs which forced him to try to contain them which he's found mostly frustrating.
I didn’t want to reject his orders in any way. Even if he was a monster. And that’s what he wanted most of all. My trust, even when I knew what he was.
This symbiosis is what I like best in romance novels. Both of them are broken. They both feel like aliens in society; Ranay even within her own family. But in each other they find their other half and take solace there. Their relationship does evolve quickly and it could easily be characterized as instalove or even foolhardy but I didn't see it that way.
If you’re averse to BDSM you may still enjoy this for that is just a small part of what made One Cut Deeper a thrilling read. It is very much a thriller complete with things that go bump in the night, FBI involvement, assassins, a covert corporation with nefarious dealings and a kick ass guard dog named Sheba all of which served to keep the pacing intense.
Burkhart put this story together beautifully and her characterizations are incredible. I didn’t love Ranay but I respected her. She does cry a lot, though. I’m not a fan of crying but she’s not meek which tempered it a bit. The one thing that kept niggling was her not following up on some of his red flags. I know she’s paying attention to every word that he utters because she's attuned to him with every fiber of her being and she has a voice, so why not ask? Some things she does and others… it’s like she had a brain fart or something, so I’m deducting half a star for that.
To say I can’t wait for the next installment would be a bit of an understatement and if I know Burkhart she’s going to make me wait. It’ll feel like an eternity I’m sure.
Recommend to thriller and BDSM fans.
A review copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2016
I could tell a lot about a man by watching him handle his dog.
This is not a trite observation by an airhead heroine. Ranay is coming off not just a bad break-up, but a complete mental and physical breakdown. She is a masochist who has never found her perfect fit. Either she ended up with a jerk who liked to abuse her rather than cherish her. Or she pushed her Dom so far that he balked at what he viewed to be her unhealthy compulsion towards self-destruction.
No wonder she is fascinated by the way the men who walk into her vet clinic handle their dogs. The Lovers who indulge their dog in everything and have no authority over them. The Haters who are the assholes jerking on leashes, not one ounce of understanding or affection for their pet.
Then there is Charles McNiall. When he walks into Ranay's clinic like he has been over a year, and firmly but lovingly instructs his King Sheperd Sheba to sit then rewards her with a "Good Girl", Ranay fantasizes about him taking the same tone with her. Can Charlie be the Master she has so desperately craved her whole life?
Charlie is the kind of brooding, mysterious, dark hero with a serrated edge that I really enjoy in this genre. It takes a while to peel off all the layers that make him up. Like Ranay, he is forced to put on a civilized mask for the world, the guy with warm eyes who dotes on his dog and lives in a rustic cabin in the woods. Behind the mask is the dominant man who has set his sights on Ranay.
But there is one more layer beneath, that of a true and complete sadist. He is so self-aware of his uncontrollable tendencies, which he fears may take him too far one day and end up with him actually killing, that he needs to find a woman who is strong enough and trustworthy enough to use her safe word, not because she is at her limit, but because HE is at HIS.
A very interesting, fascinating twist on the usual dom-sub relationship. We are used to reading about safe words that are there to protect the sub and the dom is all-knowing, cool, calm and collected and knows and abides by all the hard limits. Here, it is the opposite. Ranay is the only one who can reel him in, but because she has an almost endless capacity for pain, she does not want to utter that word until she herself is taken to the very edge of life and death.
This is a really complex relationship that would be hard to understand in any other circumstance but the way the author presents it, it does make sense and you actually believe these two are made for each other, and you root for them.
Aside from a fascinating character study of the protagonists, the book has an underlying plot involving a hunt for the serial killer, which was just not my cuppa. I am not into suspense thrillers too much but I have enjoyed the odd one. I didn't think the author pulled it off when describing the various law enforcement agents and procedures, nor did I buy into the ways the characters, especially the main heroine Ranay, reacted calmly to the most outlandish plot twists and turns such as being almost kidnapped, raped and murdered.
Though there is no cliffy at the conclusion, it seems there is a set up at the end for a sequel but I am not interested in pursuing these characters any further than their very conveniently wrapped up HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 24, 2015I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love dark romance and love when authors go off the reservation with heroes but somehow keep them sympathetic. That is hard to do. This one isn't for the squeamish--blood play, knife play, edgy BDSM scenes. But even if you can't relate to the characters wanting the things they want, I think the author does a good job explaining why it works for these two people. Plus, the plot was fast-moving and I enjoyed the suspense/thriller element. Will definitely check out the next book whenever it releases.
nevermind
August 16, 2020DNF @ 6%
I don't know if it's the book or my current mood, but I probably won't read this. Maybe it's a case of too much too soon. I just want some setup first! All the heroine has talked about is how much she wants to live on her knees before the love interest, based on how well he handles his dog.
I don't know if it's the book or my current mood, but I probably won't read this. Maybe it's a case of too much too soon. I just want some setup first! All the heroine has talked about is how much she wants to live on her knees before the love interest, based on how well he handles his dog.
June 22, 2016
Honestly, I'm a bit lost as to why I haven't heard anything about this book at all? It's such a great read. Extremely well written and the tension was just absolutely thrilling. It's dark, like it's called One Cut Deeper for a reason, and maybe that's why--bloody sex isn't for everyone.
Also this is REAL sadomasochism. For real. Usually my BDSM limit is light domination and rough sex, but this really had me understanding why they are the way they are, and I was able to connect with the characters even though they were doing things that aren't usually my flavour.
I can't wait for the next installation.
Also this is REAL sadomasochism. For real. Usually my BDSM limit is light domination and rough sex, but this really had me understanding why they are the way they are, and I was able to connect with the characters even though they were doing things that aren't usually my flavour.
I can't wait for the next installation.
April 5, 2016
Eeeeeeek ! Well this was surprising .. started out a bit wonky and confusing , one cut deeper follows Ranay and Charlie in the unusualness that is their kinky relationship but also throws at you a thrilling mystery . Can we talk about Charlie and Ranay's kink here for a second ?! Omg like what the hell ?!?!? blood and pain play to the core ... Woo oooooooh..... ;)
February 24, 2016
Not having one submissive bone in my body made this story a very difficult one to read. Difficult not impossible because it's a damn good read! Better than good! It's a damn phenomenal read! I love a story that push my boundaries. A story that knocks me out my comfort zone. This baby not only knocked me out my comfort zone, but created a new zone just for me!
So yeah I was a little bummed because Charlie isnt the average anti-hero in a physical sense. He isn't 6ft plus. I finally got over the height thing around chapter 2. Shallow right??!! I know and I'm sorry! I mean seriously, readers! How many alpha kickass males have you read about under 6ft? None. Zilch. Ok so my bad! Well let me be the first to say "shame on me" because Charlie is the real MVP! Dude is strong (muscles for days), fierce, hard, super rich, a killer, a sex god, a Dom, stealthy, just a friggin true ALPHA male! He didn't have any weaknesses. He didn't Until he met his latest sub and soul mate, Ranay.
Ok so let me warn you this is not your average romance book. Well hell there's nothing romantic about this story. It is what it is labeled......an erotic thriller. There is heavy, extremely dark BDSM that include knife and blood play, the most submissive sub I've ever read about in all of my years of reading, a deranged serial killer, and the most trained and smartest dog in creation! This story does NOT have a HEA.....it has an FEA AND a book two that is currently available.
This book is for mature audiences. You've been warned! Do not rant and rave about the contents of this story because you're offended! You've been warned by the author and several reviewers there may be subject matters in this phenomenal story that may not suitable for certain audiences! The End!
5 glorious stars for Charlie, Ranay, and Sheba!
So yeah I was a little bummed because Charlie isnt the average anti-hero in a physical sense. He isn't 6ft plus. I finally got over the height thing around chapter 2. Shallow right??!! I know and I'm sorry! I mean seriously, readers! How many alpha kickass males have you read about under 6ft? None. Zilch. Ok so my bad! Well let me be the first to say "shame on me" because Charlie is the real MVP! Dude is strong (muscles for days), fierce, hard, super rich, a killer, a sex god, a Dom, stealthy, just a friggin true ALPHA male! He didn't have any weaknesses. He didn't Until he met his latest sub and soul mate, Ranay.
Ok so let me warn you this is not your average romance book. Well hell there's nothing romantic about this story. It is what it is labeled......an erotic thriller. There is heavy, extremely dark BDSM that include knife and blood play, the most submissive sub I've ever read about in all of my years of reading, a deranged serial killer, and the most trained and smartest dog in creation! This story does NOT have a HEA.....it has an FEA AND a book two that is currently available.
This book is for mature audiences. You've been warned! Do not rant and rave about the contents of this story because you're offended! You've been warned by the author and several reviewers there may be subject matters in this phenomenal story that may not suitable for certain audiences! The End!
5 glorious stars for Charlie, Ranay, and Sheba!
December 19, 2024
4.5 stars
OMG! This book…..i am at as loss for words. never did i expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Honestly, i am not a fan of many tropes in this book yet i couldn’t put this down.
This is not something I’d normally choose to read but I am glad I did. This was well written, the suspense, the characters, the plot, everything was good. the writing was definitely one of the reason this was as compelling.
what I loved the most was the characters’ dynamic. The chemistry these two characters had was just…..EXPLOSIVE!!!!! I loved the progression of their relationship, the trust they had made it even better.
I am glad the story was told entirely from the FL’s pov, it added an extra layer of suspense and made the ML more mysterious…..and scary but in a sexy way 😋. BDSM has never been more sexier. Even with all the scary kinks and play they did, he was total consent king. I will never understand how he was intimidating, sweet and dominant at the same time. He was a complete package.
Normally, I don’t like characters like ranay but author did a great job in showing her inner character and submissiveness without making her pathetic or weak. Even though I understand it, my only gripe is that she left everything behind without an explanation. I wish she at least informed her parents.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The suspense had me at the edge. One of the best reads in the long time.
OMG! This book…..i am at as loss for words. never did i expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Honestly, i am not a fan of many tropes in this book yet i couldn’t put this down.
This is not something I’d normally choose to read but I am glad I did. This was well written, the suspense, the characters, the plot, everything was good. the writing was definitely one of the reason this was as compelling.
what I loved the most was the characters’ dynamic. The chemistry these two characters had was just…..EXPLOSIVE!!!!! I loved the progression of their relationship, the trust they had made it even better.
I am glad the story was told entirely from the FL’s pov, it added an extra layer of suspense and made the ML more mysterious…..and scary but in a sexy way 😋. BDSM has never been more sexier. Even with all the scary kinks and play they did, he was total consent king. I will never understand how he was intimidating, sweet and dominant at the same time. He was a complete package.
Normally, I don’t like characters like ranay but author did a great job in showing her inner character and submissiveness without making her pathetic or weak. Even though I understand it, my only gripe is that she left everything behind without an explanation. I wish she at least informed her parents.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The suspense had me at the edge. One of the best reads in the long time.
author-genre-trope-not-for-me
May 26, 2015I'm in the h's POV and find myself unable to identify with h's meekness ( she's not even able to look the H in the eye), her all-the-way-end-of-the-spectrum-submissiveness and general air of fear and indecisiveness ; plus I skimmed a few pages here and there and the s/m parts are as confusing and unsexy to me as ever.
I still want to read it bcos Burkhart writes amazing characters - with these unusual needs - and I've never been disappointed by a book of hers so far but the book reminds me of Dear Sir, I'm Yours which was the hardest of hers for me to finish bcos I couldn't stand how submissive the h was.
*************
I just don't think this h is for me , she wants to live as a 24/7 slave who needs her master's permission even to breathe, she gets obsessed with her men and can't function without them, admits to wanting to kill herself when her ex dumped her and many other things which seemed unhealthy to me. I know that there are all types of people...but I don't know, this just made me uncomfortable. DNF.
I still want to read it bcos Burkhart writes amazing characters - with these unusual needs - and I've never been disappointed by a book of hers so far but the book reminds me of Dear Sir, I'm Yours which was the hardest of hers for me to finish bcos I couldn't stand how submissive the h was.
*************
I just don't think this h is for me , she wants to live as a 24/7 slave who needs her master's permission even to breathe, she gets obsessed with her men and can't function without them, admits to wanting to kill herself when her ex dumped her and many other things which seemed unhealthy to me. I know that there are all types of people...but I don't know, this just made me uncomfortable. DNF.
May 14, 2015
I loved this book so much! It was one of the best I've read in a while and if I could I would print out the pages to roll around in them.
^^me reading this book
I've been feeling over saturated with Heroes who are "damaged" and "broken" with Heroines who have to help piece them back together while dealing with their own childhood traumas. It was really nice to read about a man who knows who he is and what he needs. Who, even though he has his own demons, can still build the heroine up and help her find her strength so she can be his.
“It’s not creepy. It’s not too much responsibility, either, if the man is dominant enough.” He lowered his voice and leaned in close enough his nose almost touched mine. “And I promise you, Ranay, I’m dominant enough to handle you.”
*sigh* Charlie. He's the perfect book Dom and he's a sadist. I love reading about sadists! Don't ask my why.
There's just something about this:
“The only way to end this is to give me your safeword and mean it. I'm going to take you to the very threshold of what you can endure, and if you don't stop me, I'll go beyond it. You'll bleed, and I won't care. In fact, I'll love every minute of it.
that's sexy.
If you like Dark erotica/romance and suspense/thrillers with sexy sadist Doms that will leave you with warm fuzzy feelings while scaring you just enough to leave you hot and bothered then this is the book for you.
This is Joely Sue Burkhart writing what she writes best. Every time I had to stop reading I imagined the characters moving through the pages and I would pick it back up again, not wanting to miss a thing!
Also, don't mess with Sheba. She's fierce!
^^not a King Shepherd
^^me reading this book
I've been feeling over saturated with Heroes who are "damaged" and "broken" with Heroines who have to help piece them back together while dealing with their own childhood traumas. It was really nice to read about a man who knows who he is and what he needs. Who, even though he has his own demons, can still build the heroine up and help her find her strength so she can be his.
“It’s not creepy. It’s not too much responsibility, either, if the man is dominant enough.” He lowered his voice and leaned in close enough his nose almost touched mine. “And I promise you, Ranay, I’m dominant enough to handle you.”
*sigh* Charlie. He's the perfect book Dom and he's a sadist. I love reading about sadists! Don't ask my why.
There's just something about this:
“The only way to end this is to give me your safeword and mean it. I'm going to take you to the very threshold of what you can endure, and if you don't stop me, I'll go beyond it. You'll bleed, and I won't care. In fact, I'll love every minute of it.
that's sexy.
If you like Dark erotica/romance and suspense/thrillers with sexy sadist Doms that will leave you with warm fuzzy feelings while scaring you just enough to leave you hot and bothered then this is the book for you.
This is Joely Sue Burkhart writing what she writes best. Every time I had to stop reading I imagined the characters moving through the pages and I would pick it back up again, not wanting to miss a thing!
Also, don't mess with Sheba. She's fierce!
^^not a King Shepherd
October 29, 2017
(Opportunity to read this book for an honest review through NetGalley and Carina Press).
Wow... Let me start by saying this was a really good book. Hot, suspenseful, and completely engaging.
One Cut Deeper was a surprising read that completely had me from the first page to the last. The main characters, Ranay and Charlie are hot together and fit each other well. As an FYI...this book is filled with BDSM, sadomasochism, and has a scene involving knife play.
Ranay has known Charlie for a year since he brought his dog Sheba (who is a very important character as well. I want a dog just like her!) to the vet that Ranay works at. Both see something in the other that calls to them and when they finally get together, you can see how well they fit.
Ranay is lost and vulnerable when we meet her. She had a couple bad endings to her relationships, and Charlie had his bad end to his last relationship. So the beginning of their relationship is more feeling it out, trying to make it work, and trying to meet the needs of the other.
I enjoyed how Ms. Burkhart let us in on Ranay's emotions throughout because it really let us get to know her. Scenes I liked where we got to know more about Ranay was during their first dinner together, and of course their scenes together. It also helped us get to know Charlie more too.
Charlie is such an alpha and in control. He plans ahead and as the novel goes forward the amount he plans especially in regards to Ranay will blow your mind. He's layered... And I just wanted to know more about these two characters. I noticed this is book one in a series. I hope the next book delves more into these two characters.
The suspense and mystery in the novel is also well done. I won't say more because I'd hate to spoil it.
One Cut Deeper is definitely on my re-read list and one I recommend to read. I can't wait to read more books by this author.
Wow... Let me start by saying this was a really good book. Hot, suspenseful, and completely engaging.
One Cut Deeper was a surprising read that completely had me from the first page to the last. The main characters, Ranay and Charlie are hot together and fit each other well. As an FYI...this book is filled with BDSM, sadomasochism, and has a scene involving knife play.
Ranay has known Charlie for a year since he brought his dog Sheba (who is a very important character as well. I want a dog just like her!) to the vet that Ranay works at. Both see something in the other that calls to them and when they finally get together, you can see how well they fit.
Ranay is lost and vulnerable when we meet her. She had a couple bad endings to her relationships, and Charlie had his bad end to his last relationship. So the beginning of their relationship is more feeling it out, trying to make it work, and trying to meet the needs of the other.
I enjoyed how Ms. Burkhart let us in on Ranay's emotions throughout because it really let us get to know her. Scenes I liked where we got to know more about Ranay was during their first dinner together, and of course their scenes together. It also helped us get to know Charlie more too.
Charlie is such an alpha and in control. He plans ahead and as the novel goes forward the amount he plans especially in regards to Ranay will blow your mind. He's layered... And I just wanted to know more about these two characters. I noticed this is book one in a series. I hope the next book delves more into these two characters.
The suspense and mystery in the novel is also well done. I won't say more because I'd hate to spoil it.
One Cut Deeper is definitely on my re-read list and one I recommend to read. I can't wait to read more books by this author.
January 23, 2019
01/22/19 - Re-listen. Liked it better the second time around. Changed my review from 3 to 4 stars. I understood the h better the second time around.
02/01/16 - I liked the premise, but the heroine annoyed me at times. I had no faith in her.
It has nothing to do with the heroine being a sub or that she liked pain that I thought she was weak. Nor did I think she was weak because she wanted a full-time DOM. It was that she could not think for herself when Charlie was not around. Also, when the FBI questioned her at the end, with just a smile and some kindness, she would spill the beans.
I am not sure what Charlie liked about her except that she was a sub that loved pain and did not mind knife play with blood. They barely talked except when the heroine explained how her last Dom, Josh, left her because he could not handle her dependency on him. I have read several books with D/s, but this has to be the weakest heroine I have ever encountered in a story. I understood her submissiveness when in play, but she had no personality. Again, I ask what did Charlie see in her??? I did like the suspense with the serial killer. I am not sure if I will listen to the next book in the series. I will have to wait and see if there are reviews that state that the heroine grew a personality.
Summer Morton, the narrator, did an amazing job. I give narration 4 stars.
02/01/16 - I liked the premise, but the heroine annoyed me at times. I had no faith in her.
It has nothing to do with the heroine being a sub or that she liked pain that I thought she was weak. Nor did I think she was weak because she wanted a full-time DOM. It was that she could not think for herself when Charlie was not around. Also, when the FBI questioned her at the end, with just a smile and some kindness, she would spill the beans.
I am not sure what Charlie liked about her except that she was a sub that loved pain and did not mind knife play with blood. They barely talked except when the heroine explained how her last Dom, Josh, left her because he could not handle her dependency on him. I have read several books with D/s, but this has to be the weakest heroine I have ever encountered in a story. I understood her submissiveness when in play, but she had no personality. Again, I ask what did Charlie see in her??? I did like the suspense with the serial killer. I am not sure if I will listen to the next book in the series. I will have to wait and see if there are reviews that state that the heroine grew a personality.
Summer Morton, the narrator, did an amazing job. I give narration 4 stars.
June 17, 2016
3.25-3.50 RATING- I have no idea why I started this without reading the blurb. I actually thought I had read the blurb but I must have gotten it confused with another book. D'oh! I was expecting a darker than normal (for me) BDSM plot. I missed completely that it was a romantic suspense/thriller. Because of that I spent the whole second half of the book wondering what the fuck I was reading.
With that being said, I thought the book had good bones but one gripe: the heroine! Uggh. In the first part of the book she was just so pathetic. So pathetic. It was hard for me to actually stick with the story. Of course, she fully recognized that she was broken and that made it a bit easier to forge ahead and see how things were going to play out. The connection between these two characters was interesting and how their kinks worked together to give them both what they needed. Overall, I think I may have liked the story more (although I wouldn't have rated higher) if i would have known what I was getting into before I started. Because of the confusion, I'm still left thinking this whole story was a bit fucked up. I don't think I'll be reading the next book in this series.
With that being said, I thought the book had good bones but one gripe: the heroine! Uggh. In the first part of the book she was just so pathetic. So pathetic. It was hard for me to actually stick with the story. Of course, she fully recognized that she was broken and that made it a bit easier to forge ahead and see how things were going to play out. The connection between these two characters was interesting and how their kinks worked together to give them both what they needed. Overall, I think I may have liked the story more (although I wouldn't have rated higher) if i would have known what I was getting into before I started. Because of the confusion, I'm still left thinking this whole story was a bit fucked up. I don't think I'll be reading the next book in this series.
October 22, 2016
I think I've got a new favourite author. I absolutely loved the D/s dynamics of this book which is quite a feat seeing this story features a lot of BDSM elements I don't really care for such as a Master/slave relationship, sexual preferences like biting, fear and strong pain. While I've read other books featuring strong sadomasochistic elements, the one's shown in this story just didn't float my boat at all. The plot was fantastic and kept me guessing until the ending. There's more to this book then what the blurb reveals! Burkhart sold me the story well and I will definitely keep looking out for her other titles. B
August 6, 2016
No. No. No!!!! I'm so angry at this book!!! This was bad! Just bad!! I should have stopped immediately. I wish I could take away the one star I have to give it.
September 26, 2024
First Cut is the Deepest
Dark and yummy, the writing is so strong and really sucks you in, but by 40%, I started to drift a tad and wonder. Is this more romantic women's lit or dark romance with the hard/Big R?
The first person singular pov means we only get Kitten aka Ranay's pov the entire book. A woman left broken by a past BDSM master/slave relationship, she's clawing her way out to try and be "normal." Even though a painslut aka masochist lifestyle is completely unreachable for me it was nice reading about it from her perspective. Even though this is fiction and i dont expect to learn real BDSM proper protocol; I still felt I learned so much about how sadist and masochist work psychologically.
The biggest drawback was feeling like we watched Ranay's personal story arc and growth but the romance fell a little flat. We viewed her gradually become a stronger person due to love, but the mystery outpaced the romance story. The spice that came was soo so hot, but it isn't a lot. The dangerous SCENES they had were only 2, so it felt a little bit like a letdown.
Also, Charles just didn't really show the same growth to feel this was a solid romance. He was who he was from the beginning of the story to the end. We simply learned more of his secrets along the way. The mystery helped peel back some of his layers but he was pretty much the same character wise.
I'm definitely a fan of the author, and I'm excited for book 2. This story is just a quiet well written romance, but this definitely has more of a Romantic Suspense or Romantic Women's Lit flair.
Dark and yummy, the writing is so strong and really sucks you in, but by 40%, I started to drift a tad and wonder. Is this more romantic women's lit or dark romance with the hard/Big R?
The first person singular pov means we only get Kitten aka Ranay's pov the entire book. A woman left broken by a past BDSM master/slave relationship, she's clawing her way out to try and be "normal." Even though a painslut aka masochist lifestyle is completely unreachable for me it was nice reading about it from her perspective. Even though this is fiction and i dont expect to learn real BDSM proper protocol; I still felt I learned so much about how sadist and masochist work psychologically.
The biggest drawback was feeling like we watched Ranay's personal story arc and growth but the romance fell a little flat. We viewed her gradually become a stronger person due to love, but the mystery outpaced the romance story. The spice that came was soo so hot, but it isn't a lot. The dangerous SCENES they had were only 2, so it felt a little bit like a letdown.
Also, Charles just didn't really show the same growth to feel this was a solid romance. He was who he was from the beginning of the story to the end. We simply learned more of his secrets along the way. The mystery helped peel back some of his layers but he was pretty much the same character wise.
I'm definitely a fan of the author, and I'm excited for book 2. This story is just a quiet well written romance, but this definitely has more of a Romantic Suspense or Romantic Women's Lit flair.
February 16, 2021
2.8
This was fine. It does give me my dark fix. My issue was that Ranay was just too fragile to start off with. She got better as the book progressed but my initial intro to her didn’t take well. At this point I have read a lot of books by this Author. I never hate them and do enjoy the dark tones, but sometimes things feel rushed and this one for sure felt a bit rushed.
This was fine. It does give me my dark fix. My issue was that Ranay was just too fragile to start off with. She got better as the book progressed but my initial intro to her didn’t take well. At this point I have read a lot of books by this Author. I never hate them and do enjoy the dark tones, but sometimes things feel rushed and this one for sure felt a bit rushed.
July 9, 2017
DNF at 40%. This one wasn't for me.
September 6, 2015
This is not erotica unless your idea of a hot scene is wondering if the narrator is gong to be killed while having sex with her love interest. Actually there is very little sex in the book. I would classify this as a psychological thriller with a romantic angle. The narrator, Ranay, a female sub is a complex and compelling character. While she has an overwhelming need to give herself completely to a dominant man she is an intelligent and capable woman. While I found the insight into her mindset interesting, I didn't care for the instant love and trust she bestowed on Charlie, a man who she knows next to nothing about.
The author makes it clear that both Charlie and Ranay have deep psychological issues. Their relationship was rushed, essentially going from zero to one hundred in the space of a couple of days. They engage in such intense scenes right from the start that you wonder what they have left to explore short of life threatening injuries or death. To her credit, Ranay wonders that too, however it is never really addressed which makes their HEA simply not believable. There is no transformation or epiphany from either characters that would lead one to believe that they are not on the fast lane to tragedy.
The suspense portion of the plot started out very strong but then devolved into an over the top, rushed, recycled plot line. The idea for the character of Charlie seems to gave been lifted from the TV show "Dexter". Also it is really weird that the book blurb mentions the FBI, as they do not appear until the 75% mark. I found the sex scenes disturbing. Also, the book began to drag during the middle section. Not sure if I want to read anything more by this author as this was a bit too much for me, The level of storytelling, while not bad, wasn't at the level of a mainstream bestseller where the entire package would be worth putting up with the disturbing parts.
The author makes it clear that both Charlie and Ranay have deep psychological issues. Their relationship was rushed, essentially going from zero to one hundred in the space of a couple of days. They engage in such intense scenes right from the start that you wonder what they have left to explore short of life threatening injuries or death. To her credit, Ranay wonders that too, however it is never really addressed which makes their HEA simply not believable. There is no transformation or epiphany from either characters that would lead one to believe that they are not on the fast lane to tragedy.
The suspense portion of the plot started out very strong but then devolved into an over the top, rushed, recycled plot line. The idea for the character of Charlie seems to gave been lifted from the TV show "Dexter". Also it is really weird that the book blurb mentions the FBI, as they do not appear until the 75% mark. I found the sex scenes disturbing. Also, the book began to drag during the middle section. Not sure if I want to read anything more by this author as this was a bit too much for me, The level of storytelling, while not bad, wasn't at the level of a mainstream bestseller where the entire package would be worth putting up with the disturbing parts.
July 16, 2015
Why I read it: I received a review copy via the publisher.
What worked for me (and what didn’t): I’m hoping that by the time I get to the end of the review I will know what grade to assign the book. I admit I’m at a bit of a loss. On the one hand, the story was engaging and compelling. It was easy to read in the sense that it seemed like no time at all had passed when I realised I’d read 150 pages and I needed to go to bed. On the other hand, it was pretty far outside my comfort zone and in that respect, it was not at all easy to read.
The romance develops quickly. I’m not sure it exactly qualifies as “insta-love” because Charlie and Ranay have been acquainted for about a year. He brings his beautiful king shepherd dog, Sheba, into the vet clinic where Ranay works as a receptionist, every four weeks for grooming and nail clipping. Charlie regularly boards Sheba there too, as he often travels for his work.
Read the rest: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2015/0...
What worked for me (and what didn’t): I’m hoping that by the time I get to the end of the review I will know what grade to assign the book. I admit I’m at a bit of a loss. On the one hand, the story was engaging and compelling. It was easy to read in the sense that it seemed like no time at all had passed when I realised I’d read 150 pages and I needed to go to bed. On the other hand, it was pretty far outside my comfort zone and in that respect, it was not at all easy to read.
The romance develops quickly. I’m not sure it exactly qualifies as “insta-love” because Charlie and Ranay have been acquainted for about a year. He brings his beautiful king shepherd dog, Sheba, into the vet clinic where Ranay works as a receptionist, every four weeks for grooming and nail clipping. Charlie regularly boards Sheba there too, as he often travels for his work.
Read the rest: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2015/0...
November 16, 2016
Enjoyable read – Charlie and Ranay are a pair that are meant to be.
Ranay is a woman trying to rediscover herself, after having devoted herself (and losing sense of self in the process to) to a Dom who wasn’t worthy.
Along come Charlie and his obedient companion Sheba, who both work their way into Ranay’s heart. Charlie and his dominate ways, meet Ranay’s needs in a way no Dom has before.
This amazing read has the elements I love to read; with a healthy dose of Alpha male whose dark tendencies aren’t for the faint of heart. So be warned Charlie and Ranay BDSM scenes include blood, knife play and delicious edging for Ranay’s enjoyment and torture.
As I said previously One Cut Deeper is an enjoyable read, so I will be continuing on with Two Cuts Darker. To find out what is in store for Ranay, Charlie and his long lost brother Vincent.
Ranay is a woman trying to rediscover herself, after having devoted herself (and losing sense of self in the process to) to a Dom who wasn’t worthy.
Along come Charlie and his obedient companion Sheba, who both work their way into Ranay’s heart. Charlie and his dominate ways, meet Ranay’s needs in a way no Dom has before.
This amazing read has the elements I love to read; with a healthy dose of Alpha male whose dark tendencies aren’t for the faint of heart. So be warned Charlie and Ranay BDSM scenes include blood, knife play and delicious edging for Ranay’s enjoyment and torture.
As I said previously One Cut Deeper is an enjoyable read, so I will be continuing on with Two Cuts Darker. To find out what is in store for Ranay, Charlie and his long lost brother Vincent.
Read
July 15, 2016NF NF NF NF NF NF... NO NO NO... This book is TOO awful to finish! I could not even get past the 6th chapter. I don't one the sex or kink, but for the love of God.... Start off with a plot! I'm 6 chapters in and the only thing I have learned is that the lead character is the most nauseating no self respect weak minded idiot I have ever read about. She even passed Bella from Twilight. Yep, new low for me.
September 9, 2015
This book was really HARDCORE. I got shivers half way into the book, not necessarily good ones. I was tempted to drop it a couple of times but i just couldn't. Captivating is the word i'll use to describe this book. So well written, its safe to say i've never read a book like this before.
March 21, 2020
So he took good care of his dog and he’d scared off a guy who couldn’t understand no. That didn’t mean he wasn’t a serial killer who used his pet to lure unsuspecting women out into the middle of nowhere.
It always makes me smile when you read a book, finish it, then check on the quotes that stood out while reading and they are so spot on for the book.
The subject matter in this story is not for the faint of heart. Not that it is that terrifying, but if you've never read a book that is more into the sado-masochistic aspect of BDSM I'd tell you not to read this as you may not enjoy the book and end up cringing like 98% of the time.
Watching him, I could only smile that I’d given him what he needed. It didn’t disgust me. It couldn’t. If Master needed it, I gave it. Without question.
I had nothing against Ranay needing pain, even her being a slave (to some extent), what I was not here for/hated was the fact that she did not have limits. So, to some extent, I was very happy when Charlie, for all intents and purposes forced her to get a safe word and challenged her boundaries to make her really internalize that she does need limits, even if it is something as mundane as she does not want to run. I remember there was a book I read that the character did not have limits and unfortunately for her, the dom she was with really did not care, I read about 45% of it, skimmed through the rest and did not bother with the other book (s) in the series.
“I will always tell you the truth, no matter how ugly, and I never break my promises. Never.
I loved the fact that Ranay+Charlie talked and communicated and that he told her the truth as far as he could and made her tell the truth. I think if he had bold faced lied to her instead of the way in which he was like I want to tell you but I can't talk to you about this at this moment, I would have sincerely stopped reading.
People said they fell in love all the time, head over heels, like it was wonderful. Sunshine and bunnies and floaty hearts weren’t in my repertoire. When I fell, I crashed like a flaming meteor that wiped out an entire planet.
My only other problem/peeve with the book, I wanted Ranay to save herself, I did not want her to be Captain Save a Hoe-d, she need to be the Hoe that saved herself because all through in the book she was making all the connections, figuring everything out, had the presence of mind to acknowledge that she had had a mental breakdown/illness and was getting better from it, so even though Charlie played a 2% role in saving her, I still wanted her to fully save herself.
All in all, it was a good story and a different genre from what I'm used to reading from J.S.B. I'll be reading book two.
August 17, 2021
Il graffio più profondo è il primo volume della serie erotic suspense A Killer Need che racconta la storia tra Charlie MacNiall, un ex militare e Ranay Killian, un'addetta alla reception di una clinica veterinaria.
Prima di iniziare questa lettura è bene che sappiate che i due protagonisti hanno delle personalità insolite: Charlie non è solo un dominatore ma è anche un sadico mentre Ranay oltre a desiderare di essere una succube 24 ore sue 24 è anche masochista. Quindi se vi disturbano le scene di sesso estremo, meglio lasciar perdere questa lettura. C'è anche da dire che in realtà sono solo un paio le scene più forti, il resto sono solo le fantasie della protagonista femminile.
Ma torniamo alla storia. Le vicende sono raccontate in prima persona da Ranay e tutto inizia quando, ormai da un anno, Charlie porta il suo cane nella clinica veterinaria dove lavora Ranay. La donna si accorge che l'uomo è un dominatore e quando lui le propone di tenergli il cane mentre è via per lavoro, lei accetta. Da quel momento è un intrecciarsi tra il rapporto nascente tra i due protagonisti e un mistero che ruota attorno a Charlie.
Confesso che è stata una lettura piacevole nonostante non sia facile immedesimarsi nella protagonista femminile. Ranay è una donna debole inizialmente ma man mano che si procede nella lettura inizia a diventare più forte e a capire le sue debolezze. I due personaggi però si compensano benissimo e l'autrice è stata abile in questo.
Mi è piaciuto perché lo stile è molto scorrevole e coinvolgente, ci sono dei bei colpi di scena e la trama è davvero originale e particolare. Peccato per il finale che lascia aperte alcune questioni nell'attesa del secondo volume e la conclusione stessa risulta poco credibile (non posso dire a cosa mi riferisco altrimenti vi rovino il finale). Il prossimo volume sembra dedicato ad una nuova coppia ma Ranay e Charlie saranno presenti come personaggi secondari.
Prima di iniziare questa lettura è bene che sappiate che i due protagonisti hanno delle personalità insolite: Charlie non è solo un dominatore ma è anche un sadico mentre Ranay oltre a desiderare di essere una succube 24 ore sue 24 è anche masochista. Quindi se vi disturbano le scene di sesso estremo, meglio lasciar perdere questa lettura. C'è anche da dire che in realtà sono solo un paio le scene più forti, il resto sono solo le fantasie della protagonista femminile.
Ma torniamo alla storia. Le vicende sono raccontate in prima persona da Ranay e tutto inizia quando, ormai da un anno, Charlie porta il suo cane nella clinica veterinaria dove lavora Ranay. La donna si accorge che l'uomo è un dominatore e quando lui le propone di tenergli il cane mentre è via per lavoro, lei accetta. Da quel momento è un intrecciarsi tra il rapporto nascente tra i due protagonisti e un mistero che ruota attorno a Charlie.
Confesso che è stata una lettura piacevole nonostante non sia facile immedesimarsi nella protagonista femminile. Ranay è una donna debole inizialmente ma man mano che si procede nella lettura inizia a diventare più forte e a capire le sue debolezze. I due personaggi però si compensano benissimo e l'autrice è stata abile in questo.
Mi è piaciuto perché lo stile è molto scorrevole e coinvolgente, ci sono dei bei colpi di scena e la trama è davvero originale e particolare. Peccato per il finale che lascia aperte alcune questioni nell'attesa del secondo volume e la conclusione stessa risulta poco credibile (non posso dire a cosa mi riferisco altrimenti vi rovino il finale). Il prossimo volume sembra dedicato ad una nuova coppia ma Ranay e Charlie saranno presenti come personaggi secondari.
June 26, 2025
ONE CUT DEEPER is about a woman named Ranay Killian. She's a submissive and a painslut, and she just got out of a bad relationship. It wasn't abusive, but the dynamic was toxic and led her to do some behaviors that were bad for her well being. Charlie MacNiall is the attractive owner of a king shepherd who has been bringing his dog to the vet clinic where she's been working for the last year. One day, he asks her to dog sit his king shepherd, but he has an ulterior motive-- he's seen something in her that he also has inside him, and he wants to see her up close and personal.
Charlie is a sadist, and he's also been burned by past relationships. He's interested in the dark stuff, like blood and knife play, and Ranay is only too willing to play along if it pleases him, since she gets off on pain and loves the highs it brings to submission. The only problem is, her shiny new relationship might come with a dark side. A serial killer has been targeting women-- submissive women, like her-- and the authorities have reason to think it might be Charlie.
EVERYTHING about this book was so, so good. I loved the suspense. I loved the development between the two characters. I loved all the effort the author spent getting inside Ranay's head to explain why she liked pain and what being submissive brought to her. The development of the hero was excellent as well, and he was the perfect blend of edgy and hot. The sex scenes were also fantastic. Great dirty talk, some pretty hardcore but still erotic scenes of edgeplay, and in case that wasn't enough, this is also a great romantic suspense with tight plotting.
I seriously can't say enough good things about this book. It's one of my new faves, seriously.
4.5 stars
Charlie is a sadist, and he's also been burned by past relationships. He's interested in the dark stuff, like blood and knife play, and Ranay is only too willing to play along if it pleases him, since she gets off on pain and loves the highs it brings to submission. The only problem is, her shiny new relationship might come with a dark side. A serial killer has been targeting women-- submissive women, like her-- and the authorities have reason to think it might be Charlie.
EVERYTHING about this book was so, so good. I loved the suspense. I loved the development between the two characters. I loved all the effort the author spent getting inside Ranay's head to explain why she liked pain and what being submissive brought to her. The development of the hero was excellent as well, and he was the perfect blend of edgy and hot. The sex scenes were also fantastic. Great dirty talk, some pretty hardcore but still erotic scenes of edgeplay, and in case that wasn't enough, this is also a great romantic suspense with tight plotting.
I seriously can't say enough good things about this book. It's one of my new faves, seriously.
4.5 stars
May 23, 2017
***Four and a half stars!***
"One Cut Deeper” by Joely Sue Burkhart was a revelation. This book introduces us to Ranay, a submissive deeply wounded by her past and feeling irreparably damaged. She has made her re-entry into the world and meets Charlie through his dog Sheba at the veterinary clinic where she works. Charlie's slow, cautious approach to Ranay becomes a whirlwind of passion that sweeps them both away. In the course of 24 hours a deeper, more complex relationship than anyone could have anticipated develops between them and becomes significantly more.
I loved this story, the writing and its resolution. There were times when my heart was racing and I waited for each situations resolution with bated breath. This lifestyle murder mystery had danger, angst, and an unconventional romance in an impossible situation. None of the scenes felt repetitive in this piece of visceral storytelling, and as a whole was interesting, exciting, entertaining and deeply enjoyable for all its darkness.
This book has BDSM content and themes. There is both scene and non-scene related violent content that could disturb sensitive readers.
"One Cut Deeper” by Joely Sue Burkhart was a revelation. This book introduces us to Ranay, a submissive deeply wounded by her past and feeling irreparably damaged. She has made her re-entry into the world and meets Charlie through his dog Sheba at the veterinary clinic where she works. Charlie's slow, cautious approach to Ranay becomes a whirlwind of passion that sweeps them both away. In the course of 24 hours a deeper, more complex relationship than anyone could have anticipated develops between them and becomes significantly more.
I loved this story, the writing and its resolution. There were times when my heart was racing and I waited for each situations resolution with bated breath. This lifestyle murder mystery had danger, angst, and an unconventional romance in an impossible situation. None of the scenes felt repetitive in this piece of visceral storytelling, and as a whole was interesting, exciting, entertaining and deeply enjoyable for all its darkness.
This book has BDSM content and themes. There is both scene and non-scene related violent content that could disturb sensitive readers.
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