An erotic read meant for adults, The Divine Trilogy is not your typical romance.
When you first meet Catherine and Jayden in To Serve is Divine, they aren’t looking for love at all. Catherine O’Chancey is a young submissive whose second Dom turned out to be an abusive fake. This is the story of her subsequent recovery and reentry into the BDSM lifestyle with the help of a new Dominant, Jayden Masterson. Come with me, and I’ll take you on the journey alongside Catherine and Jayden while their bond grows and deepens. It’ll be sexy and intense, but never fear, you get to be there to see the tender side of her new Dom as he helps her through her past tragedies.
The Divine Trilogy offers a different view of the BDSM world.
One that will enlighten readers and show them that those who live this Lifestyle often do so because it is a deep-seated need within their psyche, something that can't be ignored. And that need is okay because, when practiced properly, BDSM is all about being Safe, Sane, and Consensual. Find within the pages a sampling of the different dynamics which can occur amongst kinksters. Everything from hardcore pain sluts to docile “littles” who want to be pampered and coddled, but the important thing to remember is that everyone has a place of acceptance, without judgement, in this Lifestyle.
Time and again reviewers have said they couldn’t put this book down . . . even when they don’t usually read this genre.
Domestic engineer. Dreamer. And quite possibly certifiable.
Believing every story can shine bright with a bit of tenacious tough love, R.E. Hargrave is thorough and to the point. An international bestselling author, she takes storytelling and manuscript polishing seriously, working with her authors and on her own creations to ensure they come to life, crawling from the pages and into the reader's souls. Hargrave lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX and is married to her high school sweetheart; together they are raising three children. A native 'mutt,' she has lived in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and California. She is fond of setting her stories--which range from the sweet to the paranormal, to the erotic and horrific--on location in South Carolina and Texas. Hargrave is best known for her erotic BDSM series, The Divine Trilogy. The final book in the trilogy, Surreal, was a 2015 Golden Flogger Award Finalist with BDSM Writer's Con. In 2017, her short novella Brooklyn Blues was also a GFAFinalist.
I first read The Divine Trilogy in it's 3 parts and I'm so excited to have all three in one place! This series is phenomenal!
TO SERVE IS DIVINE Hot dang. I mean. Whoa.
I demolished this book in a few hours, it was just that good. It took me 2.5 days to read the entire trilogy - and it only took me that long because I wasn't home for most of the second day!
Catherine is a sub that has been hurt by a previous Dom but knows that she needs the Lifestyle to put herself back together. Jayden is a Dom who is looking for a sub that fits his needs. Together, these two heal wounds that will leave you gasping for air.
This book was an incredibly intimate look at what the Lifestyle can truly be. I absolutely loved it. The truth rang out so clearly in this book that I truly wonder how anyone could have enjoyed 50 Shades of Grey. 50 Shades paled in comparison to this book series.
I was absolutely shocked at the reality this book portrayed. The truth is that many people think that the relationship between a D/s is simply abuse. To Serve is Divine actually explains a lot of things that many people don't understand about the relationship. Jayden and Erin are so attentive to each other's needs and Jayden is so incredibly protective of Catherine's mental and physical health that it's breath taking.
This book is a MUST read if you're curious about the D/s Lifestyle. It's an amazing read on it's own but I walked out with an awareness I didn't know I was missing.
A DIVINE LIFE ADORED this follow up to the novel To Serve is Divine.
Master is ready to cement his commitment to Catherine on their one year collaring anniversary but there's only one problem - Catherine doesn't know it yet! After the humiliation she endured at the hands of her previous Dom, Catherine believes she's going to be given away, certain that Master has sensed her deeper feelings for him and is disappointed. As Catherine is lead through a variety of scenes, dare she hope that Master is simply giving her his love?
A Divine Life is a good look at some of the more intense scenes that are possible. We get a deeper look at what some Doms specialize in and how each D/s relationship is different.
SURREAL This book is perfect.
Catherine/Erin absolutely OWN this book. There's a moment...in the club...and I cried. She was so amazing and powerful. She FINALLY demolished her past. This book allowed me to breathe and I was completely okay saying goodbye to these characters. I wasn't worried that Catherine/Erin wouldn't be ok. I finally knew that she had gotten absolutely everything she ever deserved.
Jayden is absolutely wonderful and adorable in this book. And the happiness that is shown to be shared by the group was stunning. I absolutely grew to love all but a couple characters. You'll know who I'm talking about when you get there.
R.E. Hargrave tied up this series perfectly and I am so incredibly happy to have read it, even if the resulting book hangover sucks.
This is the culmination of Books 1,2,3 of the Devine Trilogy. I had read Book 2 previously and enjoyed it very much. When I found the total series in one book on my Kindle Unlimited I knew that I would have to read it. Erin or Catherine when she is in her submissive zone has began to heal from an abusive relationship and knows that she wants to return to the BDSM lifestyle. She goes to a club and is noticed by Jayden a practicing Dom. The beauty of this story is that it is written closer to the real BDSM lifestyle than 50 Shades or so many of the similar books out there. These characters have each chosen this lifestyle and the author goes to great ends to show that the things that happen are totally consensual. I have become interested in the lifestyle not as a way of life for me but to explore how the participants reach such a level of trust with their partners. The Devine Trilogy characters show you how that happens. The reader is able to see the relationship begin as a business type relationship to a deep loving relationship. This is what I love about most of the BDSM books that I read. To say that the scenes are hot is to compare boiling water to ice. The scenes are amazing and I could understand why some people might choose to follow the lifestyle. I loved the main characters and the secondary characters as well. This is a long book in the entirety but well worth the time reading. Excellent!
You don't have to be a sadist to read this book and enjoy it, but you need to be open minded.
This erotic story covers the relationship between Erin and Jaden, and how they both grow and learn to trust one another. It has plenty of dirty bits to keep you turning the page, but I like that it covers the differences between a consensual S&M relationship and how it's NOT the same as abuse.
I first read The Divine Trilogy in it's 3 parts and I'm so excited to have all three in one place! This series is phenomenal!
TO SERVE IS DIVINE Hot dang. I mean. Whoa.
I demolished this book in a few hours, it was just that good. It took me 2.5 days to read the entire trilogy - and it only took me that long because I wasn't home for most of the second day!
Catherine is a sub that has been hurt by a previous Dom but knows that she needs the Lifestyle to put herself back together. Jayden is a Dom who is looking for a sub that fits his needs. Together, these two heal wounds that will leave you gasping for air.
This book was an incredibly intimate look at what the Lifestyle can truly be. I absolutely loved it. The truth rang out so clearly in this book that I truly wonder how anyone could have enjoyed 50 Shades of Grey. 50 Shades paled in comparison to this book series.
I was absolutely shocked at the reality this book portrayed. The truth is that many people think that the relationship between a D/s is simply abuse. To Serve is Divine actually explains a lot of things that many people don't understand about the relationship. Jayden and Erin are so attentive to each other's needs and Jayden is so incredibly protective of Catherine's mental and physical health that it's breath taking.
This book is a MUST read if you're curious about the D/s Lifestyle. It's an amazing read on it's own but I walked out with an awareness I didn't know I was missing.
A DIVINE LIFE ADORED this follow up to the novel To Serve is Divine.
Master is ready to cement his commitment to Catherine on their one year collaring anniversary but there's only one problem - Catherine doesn't know it yet! After the humiliation she endured at the hands of her previous Dom, Catherine believes she's going to be given away, certain that Master has sensed her deeper feelings for him and is disappointed. As Catherine is lead through a variety of scenes, dare she hope that Master is simply giving her his love?
A Divine Life is a good look at some of the more intense scenes that are possible. We get a deeper look at what some Doms specialize in and how each D/s relationship is different.
SURREAL This book is perfect.
Catherine/Erin absolutely OWN this book. There's a moment...in the club...and I cried. She was so amazing and powerful. She FINALLY demolished her past. This book allowed me to breathe and I was completely okay saying goodbye to these characters. I wasn't worried that Catherine/Erin wouldn't be ok. I finally knew that she had gotten absolutely everything she ever deserved.
Jayden is absolutely wonderful and adorable in this book. And the happiness that is shown to be shared by the group was stunning. I absolutely grew to love all but a couple characters. You'll know who I'm talking about when you get there.
R.E. Hargrave tied up this series perfectly and I am so incredibly happy to have read it, even if the resulting book hangover sucks.
I have no interest whatsoever in being a submissive, but I will admit that the whole D/s thing piques my curiosity. And this trilogy is all about that, so hold onto your hats... or your riding crops. Whatever.
We meet Catherine/Erin who recently moved to Dallas, and it's her first attempt to get back into the Lifestyle. We do eventually learn why she left it and her past... which, given that she's 22 isn't all that distant. And she's got a really interesting past (which could have been explored more, frankly). She meets Master/Jayden who's been looking for something different in a sub and finds it for some reason in Catherine.
And like a lot of books in this genre, he's a millionaire, and there's a contract involved (this is getting old), and he's got two other subs already, but one is male (and his driver) and the other is his executive assistant. And while she's great at her job, she's just not into pain. Poor J.
C loves her kinky side but her former Dom was a bastard and she's scarred, physically and mentally, but she can't walk away from who she truly is... where have we read that before?
So it's all about being their D/s relationship and how it morphs over time. J is painted as a romantic Dom and C as the perfect sub, and the treatment of this is very heavy handed.
There are plenty of steamy scenes across the trilogy representing many major kinks: basic submission, vaginal, anal and oral sex, pony play, M/M, M/F, F/F, M/M/F. M/F/F, bondage, toys, humiliation, exhibitionism, whipping, flogging, electricity, food... all the faves.
There's also quite a bit of romantic drama which never truly threatens to separate these two. I have to say though, by the third book I was getting tired of reading just how much J loves her and vice versa. It was getting annoying...and the third book felt forced in many places. I didn't feel this couple progressed together after they declare their love for each other and that is what knocked this down to 3 stars for me. The first two books are very strong in character and plot development but then book 3 falls flat. I did read these in order and with no time gaps between reading each book... and here's one rare instance where I feel like the story could have ended at book 2, with just an epilogue and the story would have been stronger.
What made the story work in the first 2 books is the relationship that develops, rather than any forced drama or other characters "interfering".
I love this trilogy! Came across this in an email about books that I get daily, not sure which one as I get several. This trilogy takes you into the world of BDSM and the ins and outs of a D/s relationship. This is one of the best I have read in this genre. The writing is top notch and flows, It never got bogged down. The book kept my attention through all three books.The strength and courage of the female lead had me in tears at times. I understand her head space .She also made me laugh out loud, especially in the third book. The male lead is all Dom and someone I can relate to as well. The D/s scenes were shown as loving, caring and holy moly HOT HOT HOT. I learned some new things too! I recommend putting a towel down before reading and have extra undies handy. Not kidding here folks. I will be rereading this trilogy and purchasing it for my own collection.
I came across this author through a takeover event on Facebook. I am reader that likes a number of genres and thought I would try this out. The story is about Erin, a beautiful Irish lass who has been through some horrific experiences within a past relationship who should have known better being her dominant. The story is about Erin being able to come to terms with her experience, move on and blossom under the tender care of Jayden. The underlying story is of love and how it can grow and become something bigger and all consuming. It does go into graphic detail in the dominant scenes but it doesn't take away from the bigger picture. A great read and well worth the time to enjoy!
R.E. Hargrave's "The Divine Trilogy" is an awesome series! Three full-length books, with #3 being a little longer. I love it. I don't usually give straight 5 ratings, but I loved this one! #2 is simply mesmerizing - probably the best #2 I've ever read. Most of #2 takes place over the space of one day - so you can imagine the amazing detail. I love the characters...Catherine's backstory is heartbreaking, but she is so strong. Love, Love, Love! And Jayden...wow...what a transformation throughout the books! Nothing to improve - everything was perfect. No wonder this is an award-winning series!
Jayden and Erin are a perfect match. Each was looking for exactly what the other was offering. Most times in life, this is just a dream. But this dream couple, had many personal obstacles to overcome. As Jayden introduced Erin to a new experience, she changed many of her hard limits. This was only because of the trust Jayden had built up. Jayden has such patience, you cannot help but fall in love with him.
These two are hot together, but add in some different friends who have skills to teach and the story is hard to stop listening to.
This trilogy is a must read. It should be read in order to understand the complete story. Having the trilogy together made the books flow together and become one.
The narration is wonderful. Hollie Jackson has a sweet yet sexy voice that brings the story to life. She made it easy to differentiate between the many characters. Ms Jackson added personality to the characters and the story.
wow!!!! it have taken me some time to put my minde back together after listening to this book. Or these 3 books. I have listened/read many erotic books in my time. But damn. this book is by far the most erotic one ever.It is dripping with hot erotic scenes. Sometimes when i read/listen to erotic i have to stop and pull myself together to finish the book because it is so unrealistic. But not This time. And the reason is that R. E. Hargrave have made it realistic. She have taken her time to studie up on bdsm lifestile. And have put in all the degrating parts about giving the controle of your body over to another person. But at the same time she has made it so beautiful. I fell in love with this book. and the narration was beonde fantastic. I am so not done with her or her books. If the rest of what she writes is just as hot then im all in.
Absolutely my first choice when asked what kink book to read! The combination of emotions, steam and ever growing characters makes this my go to book. Jayden is the quintessential Alpha male who thinks he doesn't need more than to scratch his Dominant itch. Catherine is a wounded soul who needs to submit like most folks need water, but she has been hurt. Trusting in not a word she uses lightly. Throughout the three parts to this trilogy, they grow and learn and eventually realize that together they are stronger than apart. The steam they make is epic and will definitely get your gear turning.
Audio Listener: I absolutely loved this book. I'm glad I was able to listen to the full series. Although it was quite long, it was engaging and kept my attention the whole time. I loved how the emotions and the storyline felt authentic. The characters were well developed and the narrator did a great job of performing both the male and female as well as pulling off an Irish accent. At no time did I think the narrator was bored or that her tone and inflection did not match the story. I would listen to this narrator again and recommend this to anyone who's looking not just for erotic hot sex but for a deep and understanding love.
This trilogy is very similar to Red Phoenix's Brie's Submission series in the since of a submission finding a loving Dominant and the submissive does nothing to rock the boat for the relationship. This is not to say I didn't like this series nor Red's books, cause I did, however, in any relationships their are things/obstacles and adventures that will have the submissive make mistakes/stand her ground and I had wished to see this more in this trilogy.
As with Red's books, I did like how Catherine overcame her past through D/s and she never gave up on her desire for the lifestyle. Especially with the dedication and help from Jayden and his friends to get her there.
Audiobook version: Most BDSM series you read are just a little Slap here a little bondage there. This series was much much more but in the best way. It gave a picture of what a serious BDSM Master/sub relationship looks like. Fictional still- but they are not just playing at master/sub. They are living it.
The narrator was great. I would have loved a little more masculine Male voice in this role but all in all it was great!
The Complete Divine Trilogy by R.E. Hargrave was a great Read. Catherine and Jayden meet each other at a time that they aren't looking for love. They meet at an event in a BDSM club. Catherine is looking for a new don after the death of her ex don. I really enjoyed this trilogy and grew to care for the characters.
This is absolutely the best book I have ever read. The truest form of submission and love one could ever know. I could only dream of finding another book that compares to this one.