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The Games Duet #2
Separation Games
The stunning conclusion to the New York Times Bestseller.
These are the unbreakable rules in the game.
Stay collected. Compartmentalize. Think your next move through. Never let your heart dictate your tactics.
The heart is impulsive.
The heart makes bad decisions.
The heart doesn’t see the long game.
Because the heart may have decided to get Adam back, but when the endgame comes, the heart’s going to be the first thing to break.
These are the unbreakable rules in the game.
Stay collected. Compartmentalize. Think your next move through. Never let your heart dictate your tactics.
The heart is impulsive.
The heart makes bad decisions.
The heart doesn’t see the long game.
Because the heart may have decided to get Adam back, but when the endgame comes, the heart’s going to be the first thing to break.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2017
661 people are currently reading
3919 people want to read
About the author
C.D. Reiss
112 books9,640 followersCD Reiss is a New York Times bestselling author. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn't pick up she's at the well hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping a single cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
***NONE OF MY BOOKS ARE SAFE***
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping a single cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
***NONE OF MY BOOKS ARE SAFE***
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 714 reviews
February 14, 2017
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Separation Games, book 2 of 2. A marriage in shambles; wrecked by love, lies, lust & jealousy!
“I was her companion and her protector. The celebration of her light and consummation of her darkness.”
Books in The Games Duet should be read in order:
Book 1: Marriage Games
Book 2: Separation Games
In Marriage games, book 1 we were injected into a marriage in crises. A husband, real estate developer and CEO of a publishing house Adam Steinbeck was notified that his wife wanted a divorce. After the shock settled he demanded thirty days with his wife in a remote cabin. What pushed his wife, heiress and President of a publishing house Diana Steinbeck, Huntress to this point unravelled with story along with a husband’s secret, doubts, fears, deceit, hopelessness, mistakes, villains and jaw-dropping shockers…
Separation games, book 2 opens up to book 1’s shocking and devastating ending. It’s the riveting conclusion to their game, to a marriage built on lies and omissions. At a cross road, they are faced with many challenges.
“I was going to train him to love me again.”
It’s an authentic look at the complexity of love, lust, jealousy and commitment. When love is not enough, you have to decide if some things in life are sacred enough to be above the game.
“Don’t touch yourself. I own your pleasure.”
Adam Steinbeck is everything I could ever ask for in a hero. The complexity of his character is superb. Nine words to describe Adam: Alpha, noble, secretive, commanding, ruthless, determined, doting, conflicted and ruthless.
Diana Steinbeck, Huntress is going to have to dig deep to go up against her sadist husband. Seven words to describe Diana: Conflicted, secretive, proud, confused, tight-lipped, naïve, prude and impulsive.
Separation Games, told mostly from Diana’s POV, is a spellbinding, poignant and at times heart wrenching tale of a lost love; confused emotions and inhibited desires setting both Adam and Diana on a journey of self-reflection and growth. It ends perfectly with an epilogue of hope and healing.
Lyrical writing! Addicting plot! Heartfelt love! Larger-than-life hero! 6-star shelf!
“We were no more than bound, no less than gods, creating life from the love between us.”
***
Hero: ★★★★★+
Heroine: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★★+
Storytelling: ★★★★★+
Sexual tension: ★★★★★+
Sex scenes: ★★★★★
Story ending: ★★★★★
*******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Darkness: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Humor: | LOW FOCUS |
Kink: | HIGH FOCUS |
Romance: | HIGH FOCUS |
Sex frequency: | HIGH FOCUS |
Suspense: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Thank you to my fellow shhluts who (F)BR, CC and Liz!
ARC provided to me by author C.D. Reiss in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2017
***ARC Provided by the Author and Social Butterfly PR***
Wow.
Yeah.
So, all of that happened. And, now the book is finished, and it has been a couple of days, and I still haven't let Adam and Diana go...I still think about the story and the events.
The story is amazing. Adam and Diana are compelling and the story keeps your heart in your throat for the duration...at times, beating in your chest as you turn pages to see what happens next. As your heart breaks for them, and heals a bit with them, and then breaks again. And then heals.
Here is the thing...CD Reiss is an amazing writer. There are authors, there are people who can tell a good story...and then there are writers. People who tell a story in such a way that you highlight the passages (which I never do) and pause while reading because the phrase strikes a chord within you, because it is a truth so beautifully written that it makes you pause for a second.
Adam has more to lose. Diana is finding out who she is...but Adam is finding out who he isn't. And this the draw of the book, the appeal, the hook if you will. That they each need to take a different journey in order to end up in the same place. That they both want to end up there, but are not sure they can exist there or if they can come together.
Adam needs to find a way to learn that he can love Diana and also allow her to be who she needs to be, even though he thinks it is not going to work for him. This is the journey of the book, and of the characters. And it is also the journey of the reader, to watch them get to this point, and to be able to connect with one another, and who they each are both separately and in their marriage.
I recommend this book...and would give it 6 stars if I could.
***This and other reviews also featured on “I’m A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore” http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com***
Wow.
Yeah.
So, all of that happened. And, now the book is finished, and it has been a couple of days, and I still haven't let Adam and Diana go...I still think about the story and the events.
The story is amazing. Adam and Diana are compelling and the story keeps your heart in your throat for the duration...at times, beating in your chest as you turn pages to see what happens next. As your heart breaks for them, and heals a bit with them, and then breaks again. And then heals.
Here is the thing...CD Reiss is an amazing writer. There are authors, there are people who can tell a good story...and then there are writers. People who tell a story in such a way that you highlight the passages (which I never do) and pause while reading because the phrase strikes a chord within you, because it is a truth so beautifully written that it makes you pause for a second.
Adam has more to lose. Diana is finding out who she is...but Adam is finding out who he isn't. And this the draw of the book, the appeal, the hook if you will. That they each need to take a different journey in order to end up in the same place. That they both want to end up there, but are not sure they can exist there or if they can come together.
Adam needs to find a way to learn that he can love Diana and also allow her to be who she needs to be, even though he thinks it is not going to work for him. This is the journey of the book, and of the characters. And it is also the journey of the reader, to watch them get to this point, and to be able to connect with one another, and who they each are both separately and in their marriage.
I recommend this book...and would give it 6 stars if I could.
***This and other reviews also featured on “I’m A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore” http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore.com***
January 16, 2017
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
When I finished 'Marriage Games', I immediately started 'Separation Games'. After everything that transpired between Adam and Diane, I couldn't believe how things ended between them at the end of the first book. I definitely had some whiplash.
Part of me felt like Diane was served a good helping of karma. At the same time, my heart broke for her. I was angry with Adam for his lack of sensitivity and his disregard for her feelings. After all, this was the guy who professed to love his wife and was supposedly devastated by her decision to end their marriage. WTF?
While 'Marriage Games' had Adam initially fighting to win back his wife, 'Separation Games' has the tables turning on Diane. Now that she's finally discovered her submissive inclinations, she wants to save her marriage to Adam. Now that he's discovered his wife's submissive side, he's no longer interested. I guess it is true that you always want what you can't have.
In 'Separation Games' we get to explore a bit more of Adam's psyche. The reasons that he feels that he cannot love a submissive are finally fleshed out and his youth is explored, giving readers a more complete picture of this complex hero. I can't say that I liked him much for most of this series, but there was definitely something about him that called to me. He was one of the broodiest, most conflicted characters that I've read about in a while. He was wounded, while not coming across as too "damaged" or pitiful.
I enjoyed watching Adam struggle with Diane's newfound sexual appetites. Despite being unwilling to explore this new side of her any further, he certainly wasn't willing to consider her exploring her tastes elsewhere. His contradictory actions created a lot of push and pull, which kept the story engaging.
This time around, I felt like the story became much more emotional. Both Adam and Diane are devastated in their own right and have a lot of work to do to come to terms with everything that transpired in book one. Things will get worse before they get better.
Overall, I thought that this was a fantastic story. I enjoyed the different spin that C. D. Reiss put on a BDSM romance. It was unlike any that I've read before and I appreciated the originality. I love angst and stories that are incredibly emotional. This story did not disappoint. It tore my heart up and then slowly pieced it back together again.
When I finished 'Marriage Games', I immediately started 'Separation Games'. After everything that transpired between Adam and Diane, I couldn't believe how things ended between them at the end of the first book. I definitely had some whiplash.
Part of me felt like Diane was served a good helping of karma. At the same time, my heart broke for her. I was angry with Adam for his lack of sensitivity and his disregard for her feelings. After all, this was the guy who professed to love his wife and was supposedly devastated by her decision to end their marriage. WTF?
While 'Marriage Games' had Adam initially fighting to win back his wife, 'Separation Games' has the tables turning on Diane. Now that she's finally discovered her submissive inclinations, she wants to save her marriage to Adam. Now that he's discovered his wife's submissive side, he's no longer interested. I guess it is true that you always want what you can't have.
In 'Separation Games' we get to explore a bit more of Adam's psyche. The reasons that he feels that he cannot love a submissive are finally fleshed out and his youth is explored, giving readers a more complete picture of this complex hero. I can't say that I liked him much for most of this series, but there was definitely something about him that called to me. He was one of the broodiest, most conflicted characters that I've read about in a while. He was wounded, while not coming across as too "damaged" or pitiful.
I enjoyed watching Adam struggle with Diane's newfound sexual appetites. Despite being unwilling to explore this new side of her any further, he certainly wasn't willing to consider her exploring her tastes elsewhere. His contradictory actions created a lot of push and pull, which kept the story engaging.
This time around, I felt like the story became much more emotional. Both Adam and Diane are devastated in their own right and have a lot of work to do to come to terms with everything that transpired in book one. Things will get worse before they get better.
Overall, I thought that this was a fantastic story. I enjoyed the different spin that C. D. Reiss put on a BDSM romance. It was unlike any that I've read before and I appreciated the originality. I love angst and stories that are incredibly emotional. This story did not disappoint. It tore my heart up and then slowly pieced it back together again.
January 3, 2017
IT. IS. LIVE!
➦Well, this was certainly an interesting conclusion to the story. Although this book was hard to put down and I loved it there were certain parts of it I wished were different. Or more specifically I wanted more of what was in book 1, primarily Adam the super dom.
➦This installment picks up with Diana deciding she is going to fight for her husband. There's just one tiny problem. Adam seems to be experiencing personality changes. Or something. The whole thing is a bit of a mind fuck, actually. lol It's a tricky situation:
✔Diana fell in love with the dominant Adam.
✔Adam can only love Diana when she doesn't submit.
➦So what the fuck to do?
➦Perhaps Diana should find a new dominant to "train her"? After all, going back to vanilla after what transpired in book 1 (naughty naughty) is not possible for her. How is she going to fix this clusterf#%&?
➦So everything was up in the air and I could definitely feel the uncertainty of the situation. I also didn't have a clue where the book would take me and that, on it's own, is pretty refreshing. Adam was very conflicted in this book and we could see both sides of him emerge - the gentle lover and the dominant.
I'd planned to fall out of love with her but hadn't planned on her falling back in love with me. I'd planned to leave her but hadn't planned on wanting to stay.
➦I really did want more erotica to go with the mind fuck though. I wanted more of the dominant Adam I've seen in book 1. Somehow he felt a bit subdued here and I wanted an animal and a crazy dom to come out and play. lol is that wrong? Not to say that I didn't love the book, of course I did. I would recommend this duet to anyone who loves BDSM romance and angsty reads.
February 10, 2017
★LIVE!★
SEPARATION GAMES is the gorgeous conclusion to MARRIAGE GAMES. It's everything I needed it to be. Passionate, raw, intense, sexy, BEAUTIFUL... so, very, very beautiful making me feel and long and LOVE. The balance and exploration of the Dom/sub relationship and the complex dynamic of the married couple at the heart of this duet series is seriously engaging and continues to develop through the carefully crafted and emotional story arc of this second part. I was totally addicted to the trajectory of the story from the moment it landed on my kindle to the very end, racing to the finish to discover the fate of a much-loved book couple. Would their love survive whilst maintaining their true selves?
Told in the first-person narrative, from the perspective of Diana for the first part of the story then moving to Adams perspective, I delighted in both tellings. The first part really allowed me to comprehensively understand and feel for Diana. She knows exactly what she wants. I enjoyed her clarity of thought, her transparency. I will admit she could be frustrating but my feelings of frustration evolved into understanding her as a woman and I always, ALWAYS believed her perspective, her reasoning and her thoughts. The truth in her narrative felt immense. She won my heart and I rooted for her happiness, for her and Adam to find it together.
Adam. What can I say. He is a man with fear in his heart. A man fighting his true self and the submissive he surely knows his wife to be, but why? It all becomes so very clear in this book as his fears and human flaws are thoughtfully explored and developed with subtle reasoning and context. The unravelling of his poignant motivation and all the reasons why kept the story unique and perfect and made the telling utterly compelling from beginning to end.
Cd Reiss' usual style of tight penmanship with an abundance of erotic prose, authentic dialogue and compelling narrative is scattered all over the writing canvas of Separation Games. It's a stunning conclusion depicting the beauty of a world where a dominant takes centre stage and his wife experiences a beautiful heart-warming level of self-discovery.
THE GAMES DUET is perfect for open minded readers of erotic romance who crave beautiful prose and a unique story.
AMAZON: http://amzn.to/2hGIgLt
NOOK: http://bit.ly/2f7iYEm
iBOOKS: http://apple.co/2gCdZbs
KOBO: http://bit.ly/2gMrXLa
My spoiler free review thoughts for
MARRIAGE GAMES (The Games Duet #1)
Advanced copy received for my honest review thoughts
★ Graphics created by me with stock photos I purchased from deposit photos ★
SEPARATION GAMES is the gorgeous conclusion to MARRIAGE GAMES. It's everything I needed it to be. Passionate, raw, intense, sexy, BEAUTIFUL... so, very, very beautiful making me feel and long and LOVE. The balance and exploration of the Dom/sub relationship and the complex dynamic of the married couple at the heart of this duet series is seriously engaging and continues to develop through the carefully crafted and emotional story arc of this second part. I was totally addicted to the trajectory of the story from the moment it landed on my kindle to the very end, racing to the finish to discover the fate of a much-loved book couple. Would their love survive whilst maintaining their true selves?
Told in the first-person narrative, from the perspective of Diana for the first part of the story then moving to Adams perspective, I delighted in both tellings. The first part really allowed me to comprehensively understand and feel for Diana. She knows exactly what she wants. I enjoyed her clarity of thought, her transparency. I will admit she could be frustrating but my feelings of frustration evolved into understanding her as a woman and I always, ALWAYS believed her perspective, her reasoning and her thoughts. The truth in her narrative felt immense. She won my heart and I rooted for her happiness, for her and Adam to find it together.
Adam. What can I say. He is a man with fear in his heart. A man fighting his true self and the submissive he surely knows his wife to be, but why? It all becomes so very clear in this book as his fears and human flaws are thoughtfully explored and developed with subtle reasoning and context. The unravelling of his poignant motivation and all the reasons why kept the story unique and perfect and made the telling utterly compelling from beginning to end.
Cd Reiss' usual style of tight penmanship with an abundance of erotic prose, authentic dialogue and compelling narrative is scattered all over the writing canvas of Separation Games. It's a stunning conclusion depicting the beauty of a world where a dominant takes centre stage and his wife experiences a beautiful heart-warming level of self-discovery.
THE GAMES DUET is perfect for open minded readers of erotic romance who crave beautiful prose and a unique story.
AMAZON: http://amzn.to/2hGIgLt
NOOK: http://bit.ly/2f7iYEm
iBOOKS: http://apple.co/2gCdZbs
KOBO: http://bit.ly/2gMrXLa
My spoiler free review thoughts for
MARRIAGE GAMES (The Games Duet #1)
Advanced copy received for my honest review thoughts
★ Graphics created by me with stock photos I purchased from deposit photos ★
January 6, 2017
DNF, at chapter 27. I can't read any further, this being the last straw:
“I brought my hands around, and with my forehead still on the floor, I unbuttoned my pants and pulled them down, exposing my ass. The shame of it was overwhelming. To talk to my husband by showing him the ways he could fuck me was a deep humiliation and the only option I had.
................I was going to cry, because if I couldn’t reach him with this, we were finished. Doubling down, I put my hands on my cheeks and spread them apart.”
At chapter 11 (of 54 + epilogue)
Dear Diana,
Your introspections are staccato, repetitive, desperate, tiresome, irksome, un-freaking-believable. Ever heard of a conjunctive, perhaps even a compound sentence? Because your introspections are bothersome....and staccato. I feel a headache coming. Stop talking!“What I was going to do could give him ammunition to justify taking another woman to bed before I could bring him closer to me.
**
But every day that passed brought us closer to the day he’d find someone else.
**
Every day, we’d be closer to irreconcilable.
**
Every day that passed brought us closer to the day he’d stop trying to protect me from someone who could hurt or humiliate me.
**
My thoughts felt calculating, but my heart was getting closer to panic.”
January 6, 2017
"I belong to Adam. He belongs to me."
Separation Games is the astonishing conclusion to the Games Duet. Adam and Diana are both fighting. Diana is fighting to get Adam back, and he is struggling to push her away. Will they find peace in the sanctity of their marriage or will they be torn apart forever?
"That was my cliff. Once I was midair I had to either fly or hit the ground in a mess of blood and bone."Separation Games picks up immediately after Marriage Games. Adam has decided to let Diana go, and Diana has decided that she will stop at nothing to save their marriage. When Diana discovers the beauty in being a submissive she wants the love of her life to be her Dom and teach her everything she needs to know. Adam is adamant that he doesn't want her in that world.
"We broke what we built and then we blew it to dust."Throughout the turmoil, Diana is in the middle of a great sexual awakening and Adam experiences an emotional breakthrough. In order to push her away, he turns cold, and although he tries to be the master of the game, Diana is playing to win. As the complexity of the situation continues to grow more intense, the layers continue to peel away and reveal even more darkness, more beauty, more rawness, more sexual tension, more pain, and maybe a glimmer of hope. As the end of the 30-day contract is looming, will Adam and Diana find their way back to each other?
"With every move, I aimed for her heart, to go deep enough to touch it, own it, crawl into it and expand it. My life was written there."Told in mostly Diana's POV, Separation Games is absolute perfection. The characters are complex; the plot is carefully crafted through each and every moment. The stakes are high for both Diana and Adam with their marriage on the line. The dialogue is rich with color, and the tempo is that of a charged symphony with rich crescendos and decrescendos throughout. As both characters are broken down, it is evident that they are only complete when they are together. In addition to the action taking place between the main characters, the secondary characters play a pivotal role in the story arc. The undertones of friendship, family, and finding peace in the person you are meant to be are all pivotal subplots in this duet. Ms. Reiss awakens all the senses through her lyrical writing and impeccable storytelling.
Overall, I highly recommend The Games Duet to all contemporary romance readers. Even if you are not a BDSM reader, I believe you will appreciate the love, tenderness, and smoldering passion that live and breathe between the pages of this book! I was genuinely moved by the love story of Adam and Diana and the war they waged to save each other and their life together. What an unforgettable journey that you will not want to miss!
***The Games Duet***
**Shout out to SUEBEE and CC even though I am late to the party...I have arrived!!! Thank you both for introducing me to this amazing author! I am so excited to explore more by Ms. Reiss!**
*ARC graciously provided in exchange for an honest review!*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
March 4, 2021
5 For The Writing...Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free
The Time has Come... Time to see how this Game ends... It's Live!!!
My frequent reads do not cover a lot of what C.D. Reiss' Marriage Games and Separation Games involve...a D/s relationship in the making or the end of a marriage. I mention this because for me...when I read C.D. Reiss in her element...fully invested... She challenges me to be brave...and want to dive into whatever has captured her interest...
This Duet was something very C.D. and I am better for experiencing it. Ms. Reiss knows exactly what she is doing and has no qualms in alerting potential readers to buckle up for the ride...because these reads are not for the hesitant...
They are Balls to the Wall in showing us what a marriage can be...How hiding your inner most essence to the one you are supposed to trust the most destroys the bond...and it is that crawling on the ground, need for a breakthrough between these two people which will have you riveted in your seat and glued to the pages until you have turned the last one.
Without touching on anything which would give this story away...I will let you in on what you will find from the start...
This picks up exactly from the end of Marriage Games...There was a contract for 30 days where Diana was to turn herself over to Adam. After Diana had left him, he finally revealed all that he had been hiding from her. In order to remain the sole owner of her family's publishing company, Adam presented her with the contact of 30 days to be his....to submit.
You know the phrase...
Be careful what you wish for... because you might just get it...
Well, Adam was living it...
And part of the complication for both Diana and Adam was Diana stripped her walls and had fully accepted her sub core...Adam, on the other hand...cannot have a lasting relationship with any sub...
And this is where we are...
Oh, there is so much more... layers and layers... but it is the eternal need for people to be able to trust completely their partner... to know they will be able to provide what they need and do it willingly because it makes them happy... And to understand your happiness comes from your partner's.....
And this concept happens with all of us...just in many different ways...
It is with the clear, intense and sometimes brutal writing of this couple's story...we are forced to look and not turn away when things get raw and real...
Because if we are willing, the beauty and love... the passion and need are front and center, glistening in the light...
This is C.D.Reiss in her purest form...Revealing strength, showing all the ways a person can love and be loved...writing prose which will sing and then taking you on a ride which is Balls to the Wall...Full Force.
I told you, C.D. makes me brave.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Before Reading ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Diving in... Hope I am up for all the Twists and Turns of this specific game...
●•●•●•●•●•●•●
December 15, 2016
Well, now we have the Cover...
And look how Commanding He Appears...
But oh, He has no idea...
Of what She plans to do...
For what's at stake is more than just a Game...
Oct 12, 2016
Oh, the Games We Grown Ups Play....
After going through the emotions, the questions and then realizations....
All presented in Marriage Games....
We will get our answers....
The Separation Games (Games #2) January 3, 2017
Marriage Games (Games, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * * Spoiler Free
The Time has Come... Time to see how this Game ends... It's Live!!!
My frequent reads do not cover a lot of what C.D. Reiss' Marriage Games and Separation Games involve...a D/s relationship in the making or the end of a marriage. I mention this because for me...when I read C.D. Reiss in her element...fully invested... She challenges me to be brave...and want to dive into whatever has captured her interest...
This Duet was something very C.D. and I am better for experiencing it. Ms. Reiss knows exactly what she is doing and has no qualms in alerting potential readers to buckle up for the ride...because these reads are not for the hesitant...
They are Balls to the Wall in showing us what a marriage can be...How hiding your inner most essence to the one you are supposed to trust the most destroys the bond...and it is that crawling on the ground, need for a breakthrough between these two people which will have you riveted in your seat and glued to the pages until you have turned the last one.
Without touching on anything which would give this story away...I will let you in on what you will find from the start...
This picks up exactly from the end of Marriage Games...There was a contract for 30 days where Diana was to turn herself over to Adam. After Diana had left him, he finally revealed all that he had been hiding from her. In order to remain the sole owner of her family's publishing company, Adam presented her with the contact of 30 days to be his....to submit.
You know the phrase...
Be careful what you wish for... because you might just get it...
Well, Adam was living it...
And part of the complication for both Diana and Adam was Diana stripped her walls and had fully accepted her sub core...Adam, on the other hand...cannot have a lasting relationship with any sub...
And this is where we are...
Oh, there is so much more... layers and layers... but it is the eternal need for people to be able to trust completely their partner... to know they will be able to provide what they need and do it willingly because it makes them happy... And to understand your happiness comes from your partner's.....
And this concept happens with all of us...just in many different ways...
It is with the clear, intense and sometimes brutal writing of this couple's story...we are forced to look and not turn away when things get raw and real...
Because if we are willing, the beauty and love... the passion and need are front and center, glistening in the light...
This is C.D.Reiss in her purest form...Revealing strength, showing all the ways a person can love and be loved...writing prose which will sing and then taking you on a ride which is Balls to the Wall...Full Force.
I told you, C.D. makes me brave.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Before Reading ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Diving in... Hope I am up for all the Twists and Turns of this specific game...
●•●•●•●•●•●•●
December 15, 2016
Well, now we have the Cover...
And look how Commanding He Appears...
But oh, He has no idea...
Of what She plans to do...
For what's at stake is more than just a Game...
Oct 12, 2016
Oh, the Games We Grown Ups Play....
After going through the emotions, the questions and then realizations....
All presented in Marriage Games....
We will get our answers....
The Separation Games (Games #2) January 3, 2017
Marriage Games (Games, #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
January 13, 2017
3 Stars
I was honestly not 100% impressed with this finale. It's not that the book wasn't good. I actually fell in love again with the writing of C.D. Reiss. I just thought it lacked some things while it overdid some unnecessary things at the same time. I extremely loved the first book of this duet Marriage Games so I really expected the final book to be that powerful and passionate like the first book.
Separation Games picks up where Marriage Games left off. After Adam discontinued his 30-day deal with Diana to save their marriage, Diana was devastated because it was then when she finally realized that she wanted to be a submissive for Adam. But Adam has some issues with his life as a Dom and he realized that he could never love Diana as a submissive. Now, Diana is determined to get Adam back and pursue the dark world of submission. She is going to do everything in her power to win him back.
First of all, Diana was such a total mess in this book. I didn't like the way she approached things. Not to mention the fact that she was so inconsistent. One day she was all over Adam and she was really desperate to win him back and then the next day when Adam finally wanted her, she said "NO. NO. NO." I mean girl, get your act together!
There were just too many scenes here that served as fillers. I wanted some depth in the story. Some intensity like the first book. Despite the flaws, however, the conclusion was great and I was glad how everything turned out good in the end. I was shocked by that little twist with Serena there. Lol.
"He'd asked me to love him when what awakened my love was the very thing that killed his love."
I was honestly not 100% impressed with this finale. It's not that the book wasn't good. I actually fell in love again with the writing of C.D. Reiss. I just thought it lacked some things while it overdid some unnecessary things at the same time. I extremely loved the first book of this duet Marriage Games so I really expected the final book to be that powerful and passionate like the first book.
Separation Games picks up where Marriage Games left off. After Adam discontinued his 30-day deal with Diana to save their marriage, Diana was devastated because it was then when she finally realized that she wanted to be a submissive for Adam. But Adam has some issues with his life as a Dom and he realized that he could never love Diana as a submissive. Now, Diana is determined to get Adam back and pursue the dark world of submission. She is going to do everything in her power to win him back.
First of all, Diana was such a total mess in this book. I didn't like the way she approached things. Not to mention the fact that she was so inconsistent. One day she was all over Adam and she was really desperate to win him back and then the next day when Adam finally wanted her, she said "NO. NO. NO." I mean girl, get your act together!
There were just too many scenes here that served as fillers. I wanted some depth in the story. Some intensity like the first book. Despite the flaws, however, the conclusion was great and I was glad how everything turned out good in the end. I was shocked by that little twist with Serena there. Lol.
February 10, 2017
Separation Games opens just where the first book closed with Adam’s admission and Diana’s shock at the turn of events. With the thirty days not fulfilled, Diana decides to fight in the only way she knows how. As she tries to save her marriage, she is also trying to resolve her own unanswered questions that have been buried for so long. Whatever the results may be, she is determined to finish her exploration.
“I wanted him to catch me, but I wanted him to chase first.”
What ensues feels raw as Adam and Diana fight for what they believe is right. As they continue to reveal layers of deep emotions and the history behind their feelings, the dance between their interests is like a tango involving passion, strength and an impenetrable connection.
“Your problem isn’t that you don’t love. Your problem is you love so much it scared you.”
With Diana beckoning the inner sadist in Adam, he responds with such perfect dominance to bring them to a truly equal power exchange. Adam is a natural leader who takes control of any situation so when it comes to dominating his submissive, it is beyond hot. So when he demands Diana to give all of herself to him, she complies bringing immense pleasure sexually and emotionally.
“You’re beautiful like this. You’re perfect. I want to fuck the breath out of you. I want to hurt you. Mark you. I want you to beg me to stop and love it when I don’t.”
As Adam and Diana navigate through the intricacies of their relationship, the emotions are complex and feel quite real. Dissecting the reasons for their failures are difficult but putting the pieces back together requires much more strength and dedication. Told in dual POV, getting to know the pulse of Adam and Diana leads to deep character development due to their self-reflection. With this C.D. Reiss’ writing style, the dialogue simply flows and tells a poignant story of two people finding their own way.
To say this duet was moving would be an understatement. Being in CD’s fictional world is always one of lyricism and I simply adored this journey. I highly recommend!!!
*This was a (F)BR with Sue, Liz and Loyda!
*An ARC was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
August 17, 2017
I liked these characters but their story dragged on and became exhausting. All of the god/goddess inner monologue bits was a little annoying, but it was a relief to see this couple come full circle.
An okay read, overall. The epilogue was very satisfying!
An okay read, overall. The epilogue was very satisfying!
January 2, 2017
5+++ Stars
A walk on egg shells......holding ones breath......screaming at the top of your lungs.......contentment and joy... Separation Games is no easy walk in the park. It's a gritty, emotional, gut wrenching, erotic, beautiful love story.
The story picks up where Marriage Games ends. These books are the story of a marriage that wasn't fully invested in the truth. His true wants and desires and her awakening of her true wants and desires meet at a crossroad. Can they both intersect and come together or will they intersect and crash? Emotions are front and center here. They are a couple needing to change but at what cost? Can they embrace their past and future and see that together they are exactly what the other needs? It's a gritty journey but also a beautifully awakening journey. The author leads the characters through a challenging obstacle course. It's brutal and raw and at the same time it inflicts the perfect amount of pain for each character to look internally. Their love never really dies, it hits a bump in the road and together they have to figure out how to get back on course.
The book is told in two parts. First part is Diana and the author really brings home Diana's embracement of her awakened sexual identity. She is a woman on a mission and hell bent on finishing her 30 days and being triumphant in her marriage. At times I wanted to strangle her yet I rooted for her every step of the way. Her strength and determination became her champion but at times her foe. The next part is Adam and the author unfolds the complexity that is Manhattan Adam (vanilla) and Montauk Adam(Dominant). His demons that he holds within and his inability to merge two men into one are in fact his very own poison. His struggles are painfully constricting and he can't open his eyes to see the gift that is before him. He makes me want to slap and shake yet hold and hug him. Every facet of Adam Steinbeck is compelling and riveting.
The entire story in both POVs is painfully beautiful. It is filled with layers and layers of pivotal moments where you waited for their crossroads to intersect and become one yet there were many moments of near fatal crashes that caused pain, tears and sorrow. You wanted to look away but couldn't.....you were drawn into the trajectory of this tragic couple searching for their happiness.
I must say that erotic nature of the story fuels the fire to this brilliant story. Their sexual connection is brought to soaring heights. It's brutally raw and painfully passionate. The author makes you feel deep within your soul the wants and desires of both Adam and Diana.
This duet, Marriage Games and Separation Games is a #MustRead. An erotic love story that grips you from the very first page to the very last. It's sexually awakening and deeply emotional. CD Reiss and her powerful, thought provoking, sensual words will take command of your being and hold you completely hostage. A mesmerizing and remarkable read!!!
*advanced copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
A walk on egg shells......holding ones breath......screaming at the top of your lungs.......contentment and joy... Separation Games is no easy walk in the park. It's a gritty, emotional, gut wrenching, erotic, beautiful love story.
The story picks up where Marriage Games ends. These books are the story of a marriage that wasn't fully invested in the truth. His true wants and desires and her awakening of her true wants and desires meet at a crossroad. Can they both intersect and come together or will they intersect and crash? Emotions are front and center here. They are a couple needing to change but at what cost? Can they embrace their past and future and see that together they are exactly what the other needs? It's a gritty journey but also a beautifully awakening journey. The author leads the characters through a challenging obstacle course. It's brutal and raw and at the same time it inflicts the perfect amount of pain for each character to look internally. Their love never really dies, it hits a bump in the road and together they have to figure out how to get back on course.
The book is told in two parts. First part is Diana and the author really brings home Diana's embracement of her awakened sexual identity. She is a woman on a mission and hell bent on finishing her 30 days and being triumphant in her marriage. At times I wanted to strangle her yet I rooted for her every step of the way. Her strength and determination became her champion but at times her foe. The next part is Adam and the author unfolds the complexity that is Manhattan Adam (vanilla) and Montauk Adam(Dominant). His demons that he holds within and his inability to merge two men into one are in fact his very own poison. His struggles are painfully constricting and he can't open his eyes to see the gift that is before him. He makes me want to slap and shake yet hold and hug him. Every facet of Adam Steinbeck is compelling and riveting.
The entire story in both POVs is painfully beautiful. It is filled with layers and layers of pivotal moments where you waited for their crossroads to intersect and become one yet there were many moments of near fatal crashes that caused pain, tears and sorrow. You wanted to look away but couldn't.....you were drawn into the trajectory of this tragic couple searching for their happiness.
I must say that erotic nature of the story fuels the fire to this brilliant story. Their sexual connection is brought to soaring heights. It's brutally raw and painfully passionate. The author makes you feel deep within your soul the wants and desires of both Adam and Diana.
This duet, Marriage Games and Separation Games is a #MustRead. An erotic love story that grips you from the very first page to the very last. It's sexually awakening and deeply emotional. CD Reiss and her powerful, thought provoking, sensual words will take command of your being and hold you completely hostage. A mesmerizing and remarkable read!!!
*advanced copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
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February 27, 2017One week until Separation Games releases! Make sure you preorder it now!
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AMAZON: http://amzn.to/2hojaQ9
NOOK: http://bit.ly/2f7iYEm
iBOOKS: http://apple.co/2gCdZbs
KOBO: http://bit.ly/2gMrXLa
January 5, 2017
5 'Hunting you' Stars!
OMG, this book has changed completely my opinion on this love story! I had some issues with Marriage Games but Separation Games was so much better for me. It's definitely the perfect conclusion for this twisted duet!
I loved how Adam and Diana's relationship changed. Yes, now it's Adam who is stopping their reconciliation but I loved how Diana figths for him. She has changed, she wants all of him (especially his love and his dominance) and she is ready to claim his man. Finally I felt the strong connection between these two that I kind of missed in the first book!
Adam had broken me. He’d shown me my limits of pain, pleasure, and humiliation. He’d dragged me out of myself, folded me into his will, and put me back together.
“Beg to come.”
“Please.”
“Beg harder.”
The married couple has out-of-this-world chemistry and it's in every page of Separation Games. I loved getting to see them alone, as a couple, fighting to be together (even though they had many differences). Thank God there wasn't that extreme involvement of secondary characters in this one because that was one of the things that ruined Marriage Games for me.
“Your problem isn’t that you don’t love. Your problem is you love so much it scares you.”
I just loved how strong and powerful this couple has become through the pages of this book! And I loved getting more emotional scenes (even some funny moments!) and also getting to know all their secrets. And the ending! It was absolutely PERFECT! I absolutely adored the epilogue!
She’d given me the gift of my true self.
I was bursting out of my skin for her violation, her degradation, and her honor.
So yeah, I am rating this with 5 STARS! I totally recommend reading Separation Games because it shows better the relationship between the main characters and how they fight to get to their happy (and kinky!) place. You can't miss this, especially if you are a fan of CD Reiss' writing!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
OMG, this book has changed completely my opinion on this love story! I had some issues with Marriage Games but Separation Games was so much better for me. It's definitely the perfect conclusion for this twisted duet!
I loved how Adam and Diana's relationship changed. Yes, now it's Adam who is stopping their reconciliation but I loved how Diana figths for him. She has changed, she wants all of him (especially his love and his dominance) and she is ready to claim his man. Finally I felt the strong connection between these two that I kind of missed in the first book!
Adam had broken me. He’d shown me my limits of pain, pleasure, and humiliation. He’d dragged me out of myself, folded me into his will, and put me back together.
“Beg to come.”
“Please.”
“Beg harder.”
The married couple has out-of-this-world chemistry and it's in every page of Separation Games. I loved getting to see them alone, as a couple, fighting to be together (even though they had many differences). Thank God there wasn't that extreme involvement of secondary characters in this one because that was one of the things that ruined Marriage Games for me.
“Your problem isn’t that you don’t love. Your problem is you love so much it scares you.”
I just loved how strong and powerful this couple has become through the pages of this book! And I loved getting more emotional scenes (even some funny moments!) and also getting to know all their secrets. And the ending! It was absolutely PERFECT! I absolutely adored the epilogue!
She’d given me the gift of my true self.
I was bursting out of my skin for her violation, her degradation, and her honor.
So yeah, I am rating this with 5 STARS! I totally recommend reading Separation Games because it shows better the relationship between the main characters and how they fight to get to their happy (and kinky!) place. You can't miss this, especially if you are a fan of CD Reiss' writing!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
February 8, 2017
If you thought Marriage Games was intense, you’d better brace yourself for the enticing conclusion, Separation Games.
Adam went to extremes to fight for his estranged wife’s love in the previous book. Now the tables have turned, and Diana is determined to make Adam realize their marriage can work while at the same time coming to terms with her submissiveness.
The first half of the book is told strictly from Diana’s point of view which made it harder for me to comprehend Adam’s ability to suddenly switch off his feelings for her. She’s an admirably strong woman, even though her actions are desperate and sometimes humiliating. It’s difficult to swallow Adam’s continual rejection. Frankly, I was confused at times and some of the behavior is repetitive.
The second half of the book is told from Adam’s point of view, and I was grateful for the change in narrative. Exploring his feelings is crucial to understanding the crossroads where he and Diana find themselves. The tension between these two is sky high and takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster.
Yes, there are places in Separation Games where things are drawn out and confusing, but I couldn’t get enough of the story. I devoured the book in one day. As usual, CD Reiss uses every ounce of her stellar writing ability to bring life to conflicted characters and a thought-provoking plot. The series as a whole is positively engrossing and despite some shortcomings, I enjoyed this alluring story.
Recommended for fans of:
BDSM
Second chance romance
Angst
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
Adam went to extremes to fight for his estranged wife’s love in the previous book. Now the tables have turned, and Diana is determined to make Adam realize their marriage can work while at the same time coming to terms with her submissiveness.
The first half of the book is told strictly from Diana’s point of view which made it harder for me to comprehend Adam’s ability to suddenly switch off his feelings for her. She’s an admirably strong woman, even though her actions are desperate and sometimes humiliating. It’s difficult to swallow Adam’s continual rejection. Frankly, I was confused at times and some of the behavior is repetitive.
The second half of the book is told from Adam’s point of view, and I was grateful for the change in narrative. Exploring his feelings is crucial to understanding the crossroads where he and Diana find themselves. The tension between these two is sky high and takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster.
Yes, there are places in Separation Games where things are drawn out and confusing, but I couldn’t get enough of the story. I devoured the book in one day. As usual, CD Reiss uses every ounce of her stellar writing ability to bring life to conflicted characters and a thought-provoking plot. The series as a whole is positively engrossing and despite some shortcomings, I enjoyed this alluring story.
Recommended for fans of:
BDSM
Second chance romance
Angst
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
March 1, 2017
Holy shiiit, I’m literally burning like hell (and I’m soooo wet too)… Oh my goodness, that was soooooo fucking hot, I LOVED it so much. :D
If you wanna read something hot and kinky, I highly recommend this series ‘cause mmm Mr. Steinbeck was really, really yummy… And If I had more free time, I would lick him whoops I mean I would read this book all over again.. Dammit, my brain fucked and I need a shower asap! :P
December 29, 2016
**Separation Games generously provided in exchange for an honest review.**
5 "I'd fall off the edge...." Stars
C.D. Reiss clawed her way into my reading soul with Separation Games. It was a hard fought battle won with persistence, beauty, growth, and strength in both of her main characters and in her writing. There's such magnetism flowing through the passionate love story of Adam and Diana. Even during the moments where you want to scream "WTF?!?" you cannot look away. And when you have to break for real life commitments Adam and Diana float through your mind continuously. They stick for a variety of reasons - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the downright glorious.
Emboldened and stark in her storytelling, Reiss showcased a crumbling yet loving marriage built on false notions as she led it to an unexpected and gruesome death only to resurrect the ultimate power and trust from it's shadowy depth's. She, quite simply, mesmerized me.
The Steinbecks. Lots of preconceived ideas from these two about who they are individually and as a couple. Bound by the sanctity of their marriage and the fear of their thoughts, Adam and Diana reach a crossroads in their shared life in Marriage Games. In Separation Games those bindings stretch to their limits revealing pleasures and pains neither deemed possible in their relationship.
Diana fights the match of her life. She made me crazy in doing so. She made me question her validity in her own life and in Adam's. She made me want to shake her. She made me wonder. She made me ADORE her. Yep, I said it, ADORE her. Her motivations, her passions, and her thoughts were completely founded. The justification of Diana holds in the fact that she's a tenacious woman with bold ideas and fearless passions. All of this gets easily twisted in her mind and she needed the outlet, understanding and patience to work with her needs. She flounders and flourishes in this book and it was a delight to read.
Adam Steinbeck. His needs are clear yet the reasoning behind them are not. The subtle unraveling of his motivations left me in awe. I love this character. I love what he needs and I love the confusion it causes him before the dawning of his answers come. I even loved him when I wanted to strangle him. Adam's life is evolving rapidly and watching this formidable man ebb with those changes thrilled me. The way he meshes so seamlessly with Diana even as he's holding back but especially when he's not worked so well for me.
In my opinion, these two represent, on a larger and maybe unreachable scale for some, the struggles of sexual exploration within a marriage. You get comfortable in marriage. Comfort turns to laziness and the spark you once had can now flicker with boredom. Whether the exploration leads to something more adventurous or a simple change and re-discovery, it's a pure and unashamed feeling to passionately want within your partnership. Adam and Diana want so very much from each other but don't voice it. How that plays out in Separation Games with Adam and Diana's needs and wants being exposed in a variety of ways remind us of the trust and love we need in our own relationships and how those things can get us what we want.
This duet was perfect for me. Separation Games gets the edge of the better of the two from me personally. Reiss's words were polarizing, poignant, and audacious. I think it must of took a good bit of courage to write this story. Marriage isn't something the masses "play games" with as it's an institution of virtue and purity. This duet tips the scales on that virtue and purity. Turns them belly up. It sullies those paragons while cleansing their souls and creating new meanings for them in a whole different way. It's a rise from the ashes type of love story that will leave you reeling and satisfied.
Bravo to you once again, C.D. Reiss, the gift of your strong and brilliant story telling knows no bounds - thank god for that.
January 2, 2017
An absolute heart-wrenching journey that comes to an end in such a beautiful and poignant way. Adam and Diana's story has forever left an impression on me. CD Reiss will break your heart a million times, but when you're close to the end, and she is putting the pieces back together one by one, you will be forever grateful that she took you on this heartbreaking and eye-opening ride.
"I was on the edge of ecstasy. I didn't care if he loved me. Didn't care if I got hurt. I wanted this drug right now, for as long as I could get it."
The bar was set so damn high with book one in this amazing duet, MARRIAGE GAMES. Did that stop CD Reiss from giving us a KICK ASS conclusion to Adam and Diana's story? Hell no! It did not! Reiss will have you on the edge of ecstasy with each turn of the page. The emotional pull from this story will consume you and leave you begging for more. I'm a complete masochist when it comes to Reiss' writing. I yearn for the heartbreak and the pain of her characters, because in the end, the bigger the break, the more satisfying the ending. This queen of erotic romance holds nothing back in this duet. She writes it in a way where you become COMPLETELY invested in these characters. You feel their pain, their suffering, and their struggles. You feel their hope, their intensity, and their happiness. It's a rollercoaster ride you will never want to get off of. You may think you know how Adam and Diana will end up, but believe me when I tell you, you have NO IDEA! Experience the greatness that is CD Reiss. Let her take you on a tumultuous journey full of heartbreak and tenderness. You will come out better for it, believe me. THIS is an epic conclusion you DO NOT want to miss.
"I was on the edge of ecstasy. I didn't care if he loved me. Didn't care if I got hurt. I wanted this drug right now, for as long as I could get it."
The bar was set so damn high with book one in this amazing duet, MARRIAGE GAMES. Did that stop CD Reiss from giving us a KICK ASS conclusion to Adam and Diana's story? Hell no! It did not! Reiss will have you on the edge of ecstasy with each turn of the page. The emotional pull from this story will consume you and leave you begging for more. I'm a complete masochist when it comes to Reiss' writing. I yearn for the heartbreak and the pain of her characters, because in the end, the bigger the break, the more satisfying the ending. This queen of erotic romance holds nothing back in this duet. She writes it in a way where you become COMPLETELY invested in these characters. You feel their pain, their suffering, and their struggles. You feel their hope, their intensity, and their happiness. It's a rollercoaster ride you will never want to get off of. You may think you know how Adam and Diana will end up, but believe me when I tell you, you have NO IDEA! Experience the greatness that is CD Reiss. Let her take you on a tumultuous journey full of heartbreak and tenderness. You will come out better for it, believe me. THIS is an epic conclusion you DO NOT want to miss.
January 3, 2017
The stakes are higher and the emotions even more raw in the heart-stopping conclusion to the Games Duet. Separation Games picks up after the conclusion of Marriage Games, which left me completely gutted. If I was gutted, imagine how confused and heartbroken our heroine felt! Book 2 is told from Dianna perspective and have to admit, I really liked her in this book! Although she owns her submissive nature she remains a strong capable woman who fights for what she wants.
slight spoilers ahead
After Adam leaves her in Montauk, she rewrites the rules of the game and pulls out all the stops to save her marriage. The irony and juxtaposition of the main characters was very entertaining, albeit slightly confusing. Adam is dominant, but can’t love a sub. Dianna is a sub that refuses to follow directions. Initially he was fighting for the marriage and now she’s pursuing him. Seriously, right was left and up was down in this one, folks.
It’s dramatic, heart-breaking, thrilling, confusing, and utterly breathtaking. To say the relationships and characters in this novel are complex is an understatement. The character development is phenomenal. Each character discovers a piece of themselves they never knew existed. It was so great to see them finally come together.
Truly impressive!
What I loved the most about Separation Games was the writing. It’s smart, well thought out, deliberate and spot on. This is one of those books that leaves you questioning how on earth the author came up with the details!
Overall, this is another heart-pounding, breathtaking read from CD. Reiss. If you’re a fan of angsty emotional reads; this series is definitely for you.
I rate it: 4.5 Stars
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review**
February 10, 2017
5 "People Evolve/Opposites Attract" Stars!
Please note that this is the second part of a duet which must be read in order. If you have not yet started this series, please see my review for Marriage Games.
In the conclusion to one of my top-favorite romances of 2016, CD Reiss continues to astound me with her ability to hit you right in the "feels" department. The complexity of the characters in this BDSM-based romance is off the charts and proves just how deep and meaningful erotic romance can be when done right.
Starting right where Marriage Games leaves off, Separation Games picks up as Diana and Adam go back to NYC after Adam calls it quits on his 30-day experiment in Montauk. In the ultimate role reversal, Adam is convinced that he can never love Diana now that she has discovered her submissive nature and Diana is the one who has had her eyes opened up to a lifestyle and the Adam she knows she loves ("Montauk Adam").
However, Adam doesn't want to try. Having signed the divorce papers and handed the business over to Diana, Adam is ready and resolute in his determination to move on. So much so that he will not even open the door to allowing Diana to train as a sub at the Cellar or anywhere else for that matter. What can Diana possibly do to change his mind? Having found happiness and self-fulfillment with Montauk Adam, is it possible for Diana to go back to a vanilla life (with or without Adam)? Moreover, Adam's ex-sub, Serena, is more determined than ever that she wants him back. Who will win in this battle of wills?
All in all, The Games Duet is a must read for BDSM/erotic romance lovers. I particularly loved how CD Reiss expands upon the concept that, like in life, we are all constantly evolving and as a consequence our needs and wants continually change. Being able to recognize and adapt to this human reality is an essential ingredient to keeping a continuous, happy love life both in and out of the bedroom.
I can't wait to read and listen to more of Ms. Reiss' provocative and insightful romances!
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
Please note that this is the second part of a duet which must be read in order. If you have not yet started this series, please see my review for Marriage Games.
In the conclusion to one of my top-favorite romances of 2016, CD Reiss continues to astound me with her ability to hit you right in the "feels" department. The complexity of the characters in this BDSM-based romance is off the charts and proves just how deep and meaningful erotic romance can be when done right.
Starting right where Marriage Games leaves off, Separation Games picks up as Diana and Adam go back to NYC after Adam calls it quits on his 30-day experiment in Montauk. In the ultimate role reversal, Adam is convinced that he can never love Diana now that she has discovered her submissive nature and Diana is the one who has had her eyes opened up to a lifestyle and the Adam she knows she loves ("Montauk Adam").
However, Adam doesn't want to try. Having signed the divorce papers and handed the business over to Diana, Adam is ready and resolute in his determination to move on. So much so that he will not even open the door to allowing Diana to train as a sub at the Cellar or anywhere else for that matter. What can Diana possibly do to change his mind? Having found happiness and self-fulfillment with Montauk Adam, is it possible for Diana to go back to a vanilla life (with or without Adam)? Moreover, Adam's ex-sub, Serena, is more determined than ever that she wants him back. Who will win in this battle of wills?
All in all, The Games Duet is a must read for BDSM/erotic romance lovers. I particularly loved how CD Reiss expands upon the concept that, like in life, we are all constantly evolving and as a consequence our needs and wants continually change. Being able to recognize and adapt to this human reality is an essential ingredient to keeping a continuous, happy love life both in and out of the bedroom.
I can't wait to read and listen to more of Ms. Reiss' provocative and insightful romances!
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
January 6, 2017
3.75 Stars
February 6, 2017
2* no shit STARS! **minor opinion alert**
In Marriage Games, Diana served her husband, Adam a piece of (divorce)paper. Diana couldn't stand her distant husband. But in Adam's defense, he already sacrifice his kinky life to become vanilla with Diana. Curious about the true Adam, Diana challenged herself to explore BDSM with him. It only takes 2 weeks for Diana to realize her submissive nature, but unfortunately Adam didn't want it. He left Diana hanging.
WOW. I have no words. I'm conflicted to rate this because I didn't enjoy it even I wanna push myself more. They're the most stupid, confusing and frustrating couple ever. Their marriage based on lie. Well, business at first then turns into love. Sadly, they're from two different worlds.
✔ The story was told from 2 different POVs, Half-Diana and half-Adam. It is really hard to read and understand them. They failed in communication. Literally.
✔ I still couldn't find what's so appealing about Adam? Yeah, he's success and handsome. That's all? I know he's not perfect, but as man, please GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. He really makes me sick when he left Diana with the 'training' and still, he overreacted when she found another dom.
✔ Diana want to win her husband back with her new skin as a submissive. She's okay, I guess. Diana hurts so much and she came back strong enough to realize what she wants. Is she kinky? Maybe. Is she really into D/s? I just didn't get the feeling. She suddenly wants to be spank and hurt.
✔ Another failed BDSM. NO TRUST AT ALL! As a dominant, Adam didn't know his shit. He only knows to command. He has no self control. Dude, you turns your wife into kinky baby and now you let her go?
✔ How's the story? MEH! They're still in circle like a tennis tournament. Of course, their stalker tendency increasing into the peak level. See? TRUST ISSUE! No BDSM allowed this even marriage. No wonder they failed.
Conclusion? They're amazing people in business but horrible in communication. Their first marriage was really a disaster based on LIE. I was like WTF with Adam's jealousy because he's manipulative bastard who still stake a claim on Diana.
Of course, the ending didn't WOW me. They're suddenly happy couple again with make-up sex and love declaration. I skimmed a lot after 80%. They're so boring!!! I think both Adam and Diana only hurt each other the whole time. I didn't feel any turning points from them. This book could be shorter with unnecessary amount of selfishness and stupidity.
In Marriage Games, Diana served her husband, Adam a piece of (divorce)paper. Diana couldn't stand her distant husband. But in Adam's defense, he already sacrifice his kinky life to become vanilla with Diana. Curious about the true Adam, Diana challenged herself to explore BDSM with him. It only takes 2 weeks for Diana to realize her submissive nature, but unfortunately Adam didn't want it. He left Diana hanging.
WOW. I have no words. I'm conflicted to rate this because I didn't enjoy it even I wanna push myself more. They're the most stupid, confusing and frustrating couple ever. Their marriage based on lie. Well, business at first then turns into love. Sadly, they're from two different worlds.
✔ The story was told from 2 different POVs, Half-Diana and half-Adam. It is really hard to read and understand them. They failed in communication. Literally.
✔ I still couldn't find what's so appealing about Adam? Yeah, he's success and handsome. That's all? I know he's not perfect, but as man, please GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. He really makes me sick when he left Diana with the 'training' and still, he overreacted when she found another dom.
✔ Diana want to win her husband back with her new skin as a submissive. She's okay, I guess. Diana hurts so much and she came back strong enough to realize what she wants. Is she kinky? Maybe. Is she really into D/s? I just didn't get the feeling. She suddenly wants to be spank and hurt.
✔ Another failed BDSM. NO TRUST AT ALL! As a dominant, Adam didn't know his shit. He only knows to command. He has no self control. Dude, you turns your wife into kinky baby and now you let her go?
✔ How's the story? MEH! They're still in circle like a tennis tournament. Of course, their stalker tendency increasing into the peak level. See? TRUST ISSUE! No BDSM allowed this even marriage. No wonder they failed.
Conclusion? They're amazing people in business but horrible in communication. Their first marriage was really a disaster based on LIE. I was like WTF with Adam's jealousy because he's manipulative bastard who still stake a claim on Diana.
Of course, the ending didn't WOW me. They're suddenly happy couple again with make-up sex and love declaration. I skimmed a lot after 80%. They're so boring!!! I think both Adam and Diana only hurt each other the whole time. I didn't feel any turning points from them. This book could be shorter with unnecessary amount of selfishness and stupidity.
December 26, 2016
* ARC provided by the author for an honest review **
Erotic, sexy and spell bounding, this passionate and raw read will have you invested from the moment you begin to read. Lessons will be taught, hearts will break and finally a path to love to will be forged.
Picking up right where the Marriage Games ended, we are once again thrust beautifully into the lives of Adam and Diana. This time however we get into the mind of the woman trying desperately to hang onto the love of a man her heart knew she wanted but her mind was not ready to acknowledge. So many questions swirl around however the predominant one is also how far are you willing to push your boundaries and ideals for the person you love? How can you love a person who has two uniquely defining personalities?
We saw how hard Adam fought for the woman he loved, now it's Diana's turn to show him that love can exist and thrive even in the darkest of times and mindsets. These two characters evolved so much thru this journey, and when Adam turns the tables on Diana she is left reeling, wondering how she will be able to get through to husband before it's too late.
The path that Adam set forth for them causes them to face their inner demons and fears at the same time release their true wants and desires. The emotional journey is eye opening for them and for us. The way they start to deal with their own reality is a wonder to witness. They need to learn how to let the other one be the person they truly are, to love and accept 100% the faults, weaknesses and exceptional qualities of one another. Only then will this couple have a true fighting chance at the elusive HEA.
It took 15 days for one to fall deeper in love and the other to question the whole marriage. How will the remaining 15 days pan out?
A 5 STAR sexy, smoldering read that will have you chained to your reader.
Erotic, sexy and spell bounding, this passionate and raw read will have you invested from the moment you begin to read. Lessons will be taught, hearts will break and finally a path to love to will be forged.
Picking up right where the Marriage Games ended, we are once again thrust beautifully into the lives of Adam and Diana. This time however we get into the mind of the woman trying desperately to hang onto the love of a man her heart knew she wanted but her mind was not ready to acknowledge. So many questions swirl around however the predominant one is also how far are you willing to push your boundaries and ideals for the person you love? How can you love a person who has two uniquely defining personalities?
We saw how hard Adam fought for the woman he loved, now it's Diana's turn to show him that love can exist and thrive even in the darkest of times and mindsets. These two characters evolved so much thru this journey, and when Adam turns the tables on Diana she is left reeling, wondering how she will be able to get through to husband before it's too late.
The path that Adam set forth for them causes them to face their inner demons and fears at the same time release their true wants and desires. The emotional journey is eye opening for them and for us. The way they start to deal with their own reality is a wonder to witness. They need to learn how to let the other one be the person they truly are, to love and accept 100% the faults, weaknesses and exceptional qualities of one another. Only then will this couple have a true fighting chance at the elusive HEA.
It took 15 days for one to fall deeper in love and the other to question the whole marriage. How will the remaining 15 days pan out?
A 5 STAR sexy, smoldering read that will have you chained to your reader.
February 10, 2017
I am going to try to put into words how I felt about this book.
Disclaimer: I’m typing this up after three drinks on New Year’s Eve.
Separation Games is the conclusion of The Games Duet, which features the story of the dissolution (or rather the attempt) of the marriage of Diana and Adam Steinbeck. During the course of Marriage Games we ventured just under the skin of these characters, through the pages of SG, we tear through the flesh to burrow into the bones of these two.
These characters have been held in front of a mirror. They have been forced to not only look, but see what is standing before them. For Diana, this is a new chance at discovery. Shedding the skin of shame and wanting to experience her stifled desires fully. Whereas Adam, our dominant is being forced to come to terms with who he is, who he loves and how to make it all work. Even if he can’t seem to see how any of it is possible.
I loved that as much as this story revolved around Diana’s self-discovery, that we really watched Adam venture so much further. From the enlightening moments in his childhood home, to the moment of the crashing glass. It was just as much a story of his journey into becoming comfortable in his skin, as it was for Diana.
In MG, I waivered in my allegiance to these characters. Loving one, hating the other – only to have that twisted and turned on its head. Throughout every page of Separation Games, I had my #TeamAdina hat on. And again the switch in the POV was perfection. There are so many things I love about Reiss’ writing but I really think more praise is needed for her ability to use the shifting POV as part of the story. I remember while reading Hard Ball, a particular scene towards the end where we she utilized this tool and it changed the game. So many use this, but not everyone uses it with purpose. In SG (and MG) this transition was such a part of the story.
The Games Duet is a gritty and erotic story, it’s not shiny and perfect. But it is far more real than a romance that delivers nothing but hearts and flowers. It’s the broken eggs that make the omelet.
It’s beautiful. It’s raw. It’s real.
The writing is hypnotic and enthralling. From page one, I was hooked. There are so many little moments in this book that sneak up on you. Layers upon layers. Moments when you think, whew – I made it through this without a tear shed, and then BAM. Something simple happens and you are a mess. It’s the buildup of the story. The emotional toll of the entire story. It’s the grief, the elation, the relief – all of it.
When you venture into the world of CD Reiss, be prepared to be entranced. Take you shoes off and plan to stay a while. No matter what world of this author you find yourself, you will discover so much beyond the words on the pages. There are great story tellers and then there are those who use their words to create something much larger than just what is on the pages. This is an author who won’t only give you amazing words on a page. She will give you her blood, sweat and tears on those pages.
Disclaimer: I’m typing this up after three drinks on New Year’s Eve.
Separation Games is the conclusion of The Games Duet, which features the story of the dissolution (or rather the attempt) of the marriage of Diana and Adam Steinbeck. During the course of Marriage Games we ventured just under the skin of these characters, through the pages of SG, we tear through the flesh to burrow into the bones of these two.
These characters have been held in front of a mirror. They have been forced to not only look, but see what is standing before them. For Diana, this is a new chance at discovery. Shedding the skin of shame and wanting to experience her stifled desires fully. Whereas Adam, our dominant is being forced to come to terms with who he is, who he loves and how to make it all work. Even if he can’t seem to see how any of it is possible.
I loved that as much as this story revolved around Diana’s self-discovery, that we really watched Adam venture so much further. From the enlightening moments in his childhood home, to the moment of the crashing glass. It was just as much a story of his journey into becoming comfortable in his skin, as it was for Diana.
In MG, I waivered in my allegiance to these characters. Loving one, hating the other – only to have that twisted and turned on its head. Throughout every page of Separation Games, I had my #TeamAdina hat on. And again the switch in the POV was perfection. There are so many things I love about Reiss’ writing but I really think more praise is needed for her ability to use the shifting POV as part of the story. I remember while reading Hard Ball, a particular scene towards the end where we she utilized this tool and it changed the game. So many use this, but not everyone uses it with purpose. In SG (and MG) this transition was such a part of the story.
The Games Duet is a gritty and erotic story, it’s not shiny and perfect. But it is far more real than a romance that delivers nothing but hearts and flowers. It’s the broken eggs that make the omelet.
It’s beautiful. It’s raw. It’s real.
The writing is hypnotic and enthralling. From page one, I was hooked. There are so many little moments in this book that sneak up on you. Layers upon layers. Moments when you think, whew – I made it through this without a tear shed, and then BAM. Something simple happens and you are a mess. It’s the buildup of the story. The emotional toll of the entire story. It’s the grief, the elation, the relief – all of it.
When you venture into the world of CD Reiss, be prepared to be entranced. Take you shoes off and plan to stay a while. No matter what world of this author you find yourself, you will discover so much beyond the words on the pages. There are great story tellers and then there are those who use their words to create something much larger than just what is on the pages. This is an author who won’t only give you amazing words on a page. She will give you her blood, sweat and tears on those pages.
January 10, 2017
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
“He’d agreed to an easy divorce if I gave him thirty days. Sixteen were gone. It had taken me that long to love him again. The real me loved the real him. It had taken that long for him to fall out of love with me.”
A bold, captivating, provocative sensual romance that demands our utter and undivided attention. CD Reiss continues to push the norm when it comes to romance that packs heat, passion and desire and in this conclusion of The Games Duet, CD has truly elevated her writing into a whole new level of brilliance in The Separation Games.
The much anticipated conclusion of Adam and Diana was everything I expected and so much more. CD took her readers on a journey of epic proportions as she knew when to pull and tug those heartstrings. She knew when to drive her readers insane and when to have our hearts beating wildly. Every action and word spoken was a calculated move that CD tactfully planned and orchestrated. And in the end, she brought forth a literary poetic masterpiece that was visceral, powerful, beautiful, and passionate.
“He wanted me. His body wanted me and his heart called for me, but his mind had decided to cut me loose.”
I honestly don’t want to spoil the story as to what awaits Diana and Adam but I will just say this. CD Reiss is an author that demands your attention. She is a brilliant storyteller who carefully brought forth flawed characters who spoke to readers on a deeper level when it comes to fighting for your love, marriage, forgiveness, and understanding. The heart wants what it wants and CD showcased that with her heroine’s determination to fight for her love before it’s too late. So if you are looking for a story that was bold, visceral, sensual, and brilliantly well executed then I urge you to get lost in the literary canvas of CD Reiss as she paints a beautiful and profound beauty of love, sacrifices, and self-discovery.
C.D. Reiss
“He’d agreed to an easy divorce if I gave him thirty days. Sixteen were gone. It had taken me that long to love him again. The real me loved the real him. It had taken that long for him to fall out of love with me.”A bold, captivating, provocative sensual romance that demands our utter and undivided attention. CD Reiss continues to push the norm when it comes to romance that packs heat, passion and desire and in this conclusion of The Games Duet, CD has truly elevated her writing into a whole new level of brilliance in The Separation Games.
The much anticipated conclusion of Adam and Diana was everything I expected and so much more. CD took her readers on a journey of epic proportions as she knew when to pull and tug those heartstrings. She knew when to drive her readers insane and when to have our hearts beating wildly. Every action and word spoken was a calculated move that CD tactfully planned and orchestrated. And in the end, she brought forth a literary poetic masterpiece that was visceral, powerful, beautiful, and passionate.
“He wanted me. His body wanted me and his heart called for me, but his mind had decided to cut me loose.”I honestly don’t want to spoil the story as to what awaits Diana and Adam but I will just say this. CD Reiss is an author that demands your attention. She is a brilliant storyteller who carefully brought forth flawed characters who spoke to readers on a deeper level when it comes to fighting for your love, marriage, forgiveness, and understanding. The heart wants what it wants and CD showcased that with her heroine’s determination to fight for her love before it’s too late. So if you are looking for a story that was bold, visceral, sensual, and brilliantly well executed then I urge you to get lost in the literary canvas of CD Reiss as she paints a beautiful and profound beauty of love, sacrifices, and self-discovery.
C.D. Reiss
December 30, 2016
Separation Games is the second and final installment in the Games series. Adam and Diana were a seemingly happily married, albeit vanilla, power couple when Diana left the letter on the counter asking for a divorce. Completely taken aback, Adam agrees to her divorce and business demands under one condition... thirty days. Thirty days with him, revisiting their feelings and deciding if they've truly fallen out of love. What he doesn't bank on is the resurrection of his long-hidden Dominant side...and the revelation of Diana's inner submissive. Let the games begin...
Separation Games has that angsty push and pull that feverishly embarks the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It's a true experience in self discovery for both characters. Adam is one sexy Dominant but has never truly embraced that side of himself with Diana...for reasons. But the more Diana awakens to her new-found need for his dominance and control, the more Adam seems to push back. Push. Pull. Can they both ever get on the same page emotionally and sexually? Can they have a healthy D/s relationship and still be happily in love? Is this the component to their marriage they were truly missing?
I must admit, sometimes I was a bit frustrated with the push/pull on both their parts. When one was pushing the other was pulling away and vice versa. Do you love me or love me not? Adam was a mess of confusion in this installment whereas Diana was the mess of confusion in Marriage Games.
"Either love me or set me free.".
The Games duet is a erotically steamy duet written with CD Reiss's signature artistic, poetic prose. She has a gift in eroticism and has the market on writing strong, dominant men. Diana doesn't stand a chance resisting her "sir.' It's written in 1st person point of view- predominately Diana but we also get into Adam's head towards the end. Which was really needed for me to understand his wishy-washy indecision.
A fantastic, erotic journey into self discovery and rekindling of love...
Advanced copy received by author in exchange for my honest review.
February 10, 2017
5 FALL OFF THE EDGE OF MANHATTAN STARS!!!
THIS BOOK!!!! This journey!
Jesus Christ.
The conclusion to Adam and Diana's story was gripping. Raw. Stunning. Heart wrenching and sexier than fuck!!! Once again, I was blown away. Repeatedly. And I loved every minute of it!
This book swallowed me up whole. Mind, body and and soul. I was consumed, obliterated and put back together. I couldn't get enough and I never wanted this story to end.
Separation Games took me on a journey of a lifetime. It's unlike any love story I have read. EVER. That's just one of the many reasons Reiss is one of my favourite authors of all time. You never know what you're getting yourself into but you know that you'll be taken to a special place with her words and characters. I call this duet a fucking masterpiece and I won't be getting over Adam and Diana's story anytime soon. You MUST read this story. Your life will never be the same!
THIS BOOK!!!! This journey!
Jesus Christ.
The conclusion to Adam and Diana's story was gripping. Raw. Stunning. Heart wrenching and sexier than fuck!!! Once again, I was blown away. Repeatedly. And I loved every minute of it!
This book swallowed me up whole. Mind, body and and soul. I was consumed, obliterated and put back together. I couldn't get enough and I never wanted this story to end.
Separation Games took me on a journey of a lifetime. It's unlike any love story I have read. EVER. That's just one of the many reasons Reiss is one of my favourite authors of all time. You never know what you're getting yourself into but you know that you'll be taken to a special place with her words and characters. I call this duet a fucking masterpiece and I won't be getting over Adam and Diana's story anytime soon. You MUST read this story. Your life will never be the same!
February 6, 2017
WOW! Loved it! The deep emotional yet complicated and chellenging relationship between husband and wife Adam and Diana continues in this second book. Trying to turn your relationship from vanilla sex to a Dom & Sub relationship is no easy task for this married couple that are deeply in love. What a brilliant, intricate look into the relationship of Dom & Sub, the characters were fantastic, the sex was pantie wetting HOT and the story line was captivating and enthralling. Narrated by Elena Wolfe & Sebastian York two of the most talented and sexy voices in Romance/erotica to date.
December 18, 2018
Well played, but not well enough to convince me.
Not enough time, not enough explanation to persuade me/to make it believable that a woman who lived many years only Vanilla and was introduced to BDSM world a bit over a month ago (and had only light foretaste) asked her husband (ex-husband since they divorced) to play rape-scene with her because she truly wanted it and not because her ex-husband had this experience with his ex-sub and she wanted to "overact" this OW...
How much humiliation can a woman bear to win her man back?..
It was a reason I skipped several sex scenes...
The hpathetically chased the H, fought for him and finally forced him to "love" her again. She defined herself as a masochist. Since it helped her to be "happy" again I guess it was worth it... *cough cough*
The H was weak and uncertain. A dom who doesn't do an aftercare is not a real dom. IMO.
Safety: punishment scene with OM as an attempt to draw her husband's attention. It didn't bother me since he had a similar scene with his ex-sub in the 1st book (or maybe because I didn't care for the both MCs...)
But, color me surprised, I liked Serena's character, ex-sub of the H (1 star was for her!).
Wow, such a strong beautiful intelligentcruel woman who was 100% devotet to BDSM; a perfect sub who was topping from the bottom. I liked almost everything about her (also because I didn't care for the MCs). Perfect character! And I liked that she decided to switch at the end. She would be a real good Domme!
Not enough time, not enough explanation to persuade me/to make it believable that a woman who lived many years only Vanilla and was introduced to BDSM world a bit over a month ago (and had only light foretaste) asked her husband (ex-husband since they divorced) to play rape-scene with her because she truly wanted it and not because her ex-husband had this experience with his ex-sub and she wanted to "overact" this OW...
How much humiliation can a woman bear to win her man back?..
It was a reason I skipped several sex scenes...
The h
The H was weak and uncertain. A dom who doesn't do an aftercare is not a real dom. IMO.
Safety: punishment scene with OM as an attempt to draw her husband's attention. It didn't bother me since he had a similar scene with his ex-sub in the 1st book (or maybe because I didn't care for the both MCs...)
But, color me surprised, I liked Serena's character, ex-sub of the H (1 star was for her!).
Wow, such a strong beautiful intelligent
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2017
***** 4.5 Stars *****
Cannot be read as a standalone
After Diana sees Adam's true nature as a dom, she's confused about her feelings. Her mother taught her to be strong and independent. She doesn't need a man to succeed in life.
But she can't stop her desires for Master Adam, and now it's her turn to get her husband back.
The two struggle with each other. Adam wants the best for Diana, and he believes her life would be better without him. Diana has different opinions, and she does everything to get under his skin.
I love everything about this series. The plot, the sex, the angst, the jealously. I even love the other characters briefly mentioned, and I hope that they get a book in the future. A must read for anyone that loves good kinky romances.
Cannot be read as a standalone
After Diana sees Adam's true nature as a dom, she's confused about her feelings. Her mother taught her to be strong and independent. She doesn't need a man to succeed in life.
But she can't stop her desires for Master Adam, and now it's her turn to get her husband back.
The two struggle with each other. Adam wants the best for Diana, and he believes her life would be better without him. Diana has different opinions, and she does everything to get under his skin.
I love everything about this series. The plot, the sex, the angst, the jealously. I even love the other characters briefly mentioned, and I hope that they get a book in the future. A must read for anyone that loves good kinky romances.
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