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Mastered #4
La Maîtresse
Après avoir surmonté bien des épreuves, Deacon McConnell n’a qu’une consolation : le combat. Grâce à Ronin Black, le maître du dojo, il découvre l’art d’enseigner les sports de combat. C’est à l’occasion de ses cours qu’il rencontre Molly Calloway. Cette jeune femme douce et sensible n’a jamais eu confiance en elle et se sent complexée par son poids. En arrivant à Denver, elle décide d’apprendre à se défendre avec ses poings. Ce n’est qu’au contact de Deacon qu’elle parvient à retrouver confiance en elle et en son corps. Grisée par ces sensations nouvelles, elle veut s’aventurer plus loin dans le désir, la sensualité, et surtout, la passion.
576 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2015
137 people are currently reading
2348 people want to read
About the author
Lorelei James
77 books8,329 followersLorelei James is New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary erotic westerns and erotic romances. She lives in western South Dakota.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
July 18, 2015
Take a little bit of the Rough Riders’ Southern sexiness and a little bit of kickboxing and you’ve got CAGED, the fourth book in the Mastered series by Lorelei James Deacon McConnell messes up big time when he stood up Molly Calloway on his one chance with her but he had a fight to prepare for and a woman like that would come with plenty of enticing distractions. Now he’s paying for it dearly when Molly has moved on and wants nothing to do with him. Deacon must try to win her affections again but that’s easier said than done with a firecracker like Molly.
Molly feels like the typical ‘Lorelei James’ heroine. She’s smart, confident and doesn’t let any man try to fool her over. So when Molly and Deacon have an argument at a strip club, you can bet that she isn’t going to go down without a fight. Problem is, Molly still holds of big burning flame for Deacon ever since she met him in a kickboxing class but the fact that he stood her up keeps her from pursuing this lust. When I mentioned the Rough Riders series earlier, I feel like Molly is the type of heroine one would find in that series. She’s got that same personality that a lot of the other heroines in that series have and when you pair her with a Southern charmer like Deacon, well now you just have a Rough Rider in kickboxing gear, don’t you? It’s a lethal combo if I do say so myself.
I found that this book moved at a quick pace. Molly and Deacon have this intense lust that gets turned up fully in just the first couple of chapters. The rest of the pages are saturated with dirty talk and incredibly hot sex scenes so you are guaranteed a scorcher with this one, that’s for sure. James also explores other areas of the protagonist’s life and I think those parts were more drawn out.
James likes to take her time to really flesh out her characters though and that’s why I constantly come back to her books. While they are still hot as hell, behind that there’s plenty to relate to and explore. It sets it apart – and often above- the other Erotic Romance novels you will find there. I certainly didn’t anticipate some of the twists that occur in this book, but I did enjoy reading about that.
So I’d say that if you like James’ Blacktop Cowboys and Rough Riders series, this series – but most definitely, this book – is one you must check out!
Check out my alternate review here at Fresh Fiction
July 17, 2015
:( I'm so disappointed. I love Lorelei James! I devoured bound unwound unraveled and waited for caged with baited breath. Molly and Deacon were so dynamic in every preceding book. Then Caged felt rushed and Luke warm. no doubt Lorelei is beyond talented but Deacon and Molly lost their magic. I didn't even feel their journey was special in the least. The dojo is all shook up with secondary characters and the connection with the previous characters was lost. I know they were "moving on" but your b list remains the b list. Deacon and Molly were A list, so interesting and fiery, but now they are forever sentenced to b list lack luster with a fizzled story. I loved them once but I'm glad to move on.
not to mention where was your editor in the first book he was Deacon McCloud!
not to mention where was your editor in the first book he was Deacon McCloud!
March 15, 2019
Recensione in ANTEPRIMA
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“Ma la verità era che, crescendo, Molly capì perché forse la madre l’aveva fatto. La vita alla fattoria non era idilliaca. E nemmeno vivere in un paese del Nebraska, dove tutti conoscevano tutti, i loro affari, i segreti di famiglia e i peccati. Dove i parenti ti giudicavano, ti evitavano, ti odiavano e ti rendevano la vita un inferno. Crescendo, le cugine Jennifer e Brandi erano state il suo tormento. Timida e taciturna aveva sopportato i loro insulti e i loro attacchi in silenzio. L’unica volta in cui si era lamentata della loro eccessiva cattiveria la nonna l’aveva aggredita dicendo che erano la sua famiglia, l’unica che avrebbe mai avuto, e che avrebbe fatto meglio a essere grata di non vivere in una famiglia affidataria. Poi le aveva detto di trovare un modo per conviverci. E Molly l’aveva fatto. Era diventata invisibile.”
.
Il libro di cui vi parlo oggi è Prendimi così, di Lorelei James, quarto capitolo della serie erotica The Mastered, un libro dove il sesso è molto presente ma non vi è la tecnica Shibari che l’ha contraddistinta.
Molly e Deacon si sono girati intorno fin dai primi libri, ma il giovane lottatore si è sempre astenuto dal fare un passo, cosciente del trauma che un’aggressione ha portato alla ragazza. Ma ora Molly è molto cambiata, anche grazie alle sue lezioni di Kickboxing, che l’hanno resa più ardita e sicura di sé. Il loro primo appuntamento tuttavia è stato un totale fallimento, il suo allenatore e lo stesso Ronin lo avevano convinto che la giovane sarebbe stata una distrazione, che però lui non si poteva permettere in quella fase della sua carriera e quindi non si era presentato. Ora, tuttavia, è deciso ad avere quella ragazza dolcissima nella sua vita, e per sua fortuna l’attrazione, che è sempre esistita fra di loro, non è mai passata. Cominciare una relazione appassionata e piena di sesso appagante è sin troppo facile, ma Deacon non è un uomo abituato a parlare e confidarsi, e ben presto Molly si rende conto di non conoscerlo affatto. È disposto a sostenerla, a difenderla, è possessivo e appassionato, ma si tiene dentro ogni cosa che riguarda se stesso. E il loro rapporto ne risente al punto che Molly deciderà di farla finita, prima di perdere del tutto il cuore per un uomo che pensa la desideri moltissimo, ma non le voglia concedere niente di sé. Così Deacon dovrà trovare la forza per aprire il suo animo e farle conoscere il dolore che ha cambiato per sempre la sua vita.
Lorelei James riesce a intessere una storia in cui i protagonisti si scoprono reciprocamente poco a poco. Come Ronin, anche Deacon si rivela un personaggio pieno di sorprese, ha tenuto nascosta la sua identità, nel suo passato c’è un dolore sconfinato, e lui non permette a nessuno di conoscerlo davvero. Il rifiuto da parte di una persona che avrebbe dovuto amarlo, e che invece nel momento in cui era più debole e disperato gli ha dato il colpo di grazia, lo ha reso l’uomo che è ora. Un dolore così intenso da fargli decidere di cambiare il proprio aspetto, per non rivedere nello specchio quel ragazzo a cui la tragedia ha cambiato la vita, e che nella lotta ha trovato il modo di sfogare il suo dolore. L’essere sopravvissuto senza aiuto lo ha portato a chiudersi in se stesso, ama Molly, ma non sa come fare ad avere una relazione. Le sue storie non sono mai durate più di una notte, e col suo modo di fare inanellerà una serie di sbagli. Ma tenterà in ogni modo di renderla felice. Anche Molly, scopriamo, ha un passato doloroso alle spalle: due cugine orribili hanno reso amara la sua giovinezza e, anche nel momento più triste, non potranno fare a meno di essere crudeli. Ma la giovane non è più così indifesa come allora, ha fatto molta strada nella sua autostima. Dopo il trauma dell’aggressione ha deciso di cambiare e le lezioni dell’inflessibile Deacon, che la spronava a dare il meglio, le sono davvero servite. Persino nell’intimità la vediamo ben diversa da come appare, ama il modo di fare rude e appassionato di Deacon, il loro sesso appagante e selvaggio, senza freni, così come la sua insaziabilità e i segni che le rimangono sul corpo.
I protagonisti risultano ben caratterizzati, nonostante, fin troppo spesso i loro incontri finiscano in appassionanti sessioni di sesso, intenso e aggressivo, ma l’autrice è riuscita a dare loro carattere e personalità ben definiti. Ho amato ritrovare i personaggi dei libri precedenti e poter continuare a seguire le loro vicende, dando un’occhiata alla loro vita attuale, così come assistere ai loro battibecchi e alle loro prese in giro.
La scrittura dell’autrice è come sempre scorrevole e regala ore di piacevole e piccante relax, ma non vi nascondo che ho trovato le tante scene passionali fin troppo numerose, anche se ben inserite nella trama. In definitiva è un bel libro, ma non il capitolo migliore di questa serie davvero carina, che per quanto mi riguarda rimane Legami.
.
Lucia63 - per RFS
.
“Ma la verità era che, crescendo, Molly capì perché forse la madre l’aveva fatto. La vita alla fattoria non era idilliaca. E nemmeno vivere in un paese del Nebraska, dove tutti conoscevano tutti, i loro affari, i segreti di famiglia e i peccati. Dove i parenti ti giudicavano, ti evitavano, ti odiavano e ti rendevano la vita un inferno. Crescendo, le cugine Jennifer e Brandi erano state il suo tormento. Timida e taciturna aveva sopportato i loro insulti e i loro attacchi in silenzio. L’unica volta in cui si era lamentata della loro eccessiva cattiveria la nonna l’aveva aggredita dicendo che erano la sua famiglia, l’unica che avrebbe mai avuto, e che avrebbe fatto meglio a essere grata di non vivere in una famiglia affidataria. Poi le aveva detto di trovare un modo per conviverci. E Molly l’aveva fatto. Era diventata invisibile.”
.
Il libro di cui vi parlo oggi è Prendimi così, di Lorelei James, quarto capitolo della serie erotica The Mastered, un libro dove il sesso è molto presente ma non vi è la tecnica Shibari che l’ha contraddistinta.
Molly e Deacon si sono girati intorno fin dai primi libri, ma il giovane lottatore si è sempre astenuto dal fare un passo, cosciente del trauma che un’aggressione ha portato alla ragazza. Ma ora Molly è molto cambiata, anche grazie alle sue lezioni di Kickboxing, che l’hanno resa più ardita e sicura di sé. Il loro primo appuntamento tuttavia è stato un totale fallimento, il suo allenatore e lo stesso Ronin lo avevano convinto che la giovane sarebbe stata una distrazione, che però lui non si poteva permettere in quella fase della sua carriera e quindi non si era presentato. Ora, tuttavia, è deciso ad avere quella ragazza dolcissima nella sua vita, e per sua fortuna l’attrazione, che è sempre esistita fra di loro, non è mai passata. Cominciare una relazione appassionata e piena di sesso appagante è sin troppo facile, ma Deacon non è un uomo abituato a parlare e confidarsi, e ben presto Molly si rende conto di non conoscerlo affatto. È disposto a sostenerla, a difenderla, è possessivo e appassionato, ma si tiene dentro ogni cosa che riguarda se stesso. E il loro rapporto ne risente al punto che Molly deciderà di farla finita, prima di perdere del tutto il cuore per un uomo che pensa la desideri moltissimo, ma non le voglia concedere niente di sé. Così Deacon dovrà trovare la forza per aprire il suo animo e farle conoscere il dolore che ha cambiato per sempre la sua vita.
Lorelei James riesce a intessere una storia in cui i protagonisti si scoprono reciprocamente poco a poco. Come Ronin, anche Deacon si rivela un personaggio pieno di sorprese, ha tenuto nascosta la sua identità, nel suo passato c’è un dolore sconfinato, e lui non permette a nessuno di conoscerlo davvero. Il rifiuto da parte di una persona che avrebbe dovuto amarlo, e che invece nel momento in cui era più debole e disperato gli ha dato il colpo di grazia, lo ha reso l’uomo che è ora. Un dolore così intenso da fargli decidere di cambiare il proprio aspetto, per non rivedere nello specchio quel ragazzo a cui la tragedia ha cambiato la vita, e che nella lotta ha trovato il modo di sfogare il suo dolore. L’essere sopravvissuto senza aiuto lo ha portato a chiudersi in se stesso, ama Molly, ma non sa come fare ad avere una relazione. Le sue storie non sono mai durate più di una notte, e col suo modo di fare inanellerà una serie di sbagli. Ma tenterà in ogni modo di renderla felice. Anche Molly, scopriamo, ha un passato doloroso alle spalle: due cugine orribili hanno reso amara la sua giovinezza e, anche nel momento più triste, non potranno fare a meno di essere crudeli. Ma la giovane non è più così indifesa come allora, ha fatto molta strada nella sua autostima. Dopo il trauma dell’aggressione ha deciso di cambiare e le lezioni dell’inflessibile Deacon, che la spronava a dare il meglio, le sono davvero servite. Persino nell’intimità la vediamo ben diversa da come appare, ama il modo di fare rude e appassionato di Deacon, il loro sesso appagante e selvaggio, senza freni, così come la sua insaziabilità e i segni che le rimangono sul corpo.
I protagonisti risultano ben caratterizzati, nonostante, fin troppo spesso i loro incontri finiscano in appassionanti sessioni di sesso, intenso e aggressivo, ma l’autrice è riuscita a dare loro carattere e personalità ben definiti. Ho amato ritrovare i personaggi dei libri precedenti e poter continuare a seguire le loro vicende, dando un’occhiata alla loro vita attuale, così come assistere ai loro battibecchi e alle loro prese in giro.
La scrittura dell’autrice è come sempre scorrevole e regala ore di piacevole e piccante relax, ma non vi nascondo che ho trovato le tante scene passionali fin troppo numerose, anche se ben inserite nella trama. In definitiva è un bel libro, ma non il capitolo migliore di questa serie davvero carina, che per quanto mi riguarda rimane Legami.
.
Lucia63 - per RFS
June 14, 2015
This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books.
Caged is the 4th book in the Mastered Series and I have throughly enjoyed the entire series. Lorelei James is a master of the alpha male and exceptionally strong female leads as well. Deacon and Molly do not disappoint. I have enjoyed these two since we were first introduced in Bound (Mastered #1). Deacon is an instructor at Black Arts and a MMA fighter. Molly is a well educated, thoughtful, sweet person who was attacked and signed up for kickboxing to fight back against the fear that was choking her. Deacon is tough on her when they met in Bound but it is just what Molly needs to face her fears.
When we start Caged, the entire Black Arts crew has changed and evolved over the 4 books. Deacon is no longer teacher kickboxing. Molly has battled through her fears from the attack, is in fantastic shape, and the heat between her and Deacon has been slowburning for awhile. Deacon even goes so far as to ask her out but stands her up. Molly says she is through with Deacon but she can't get him out of her mind. Deacon has never explained why he stood her up and he can't get Molly out of his mind either.
Molly and Deacon constantly bicker and go back and forth. They both are damaged from their pasts. Their back stories make this book fly by. I loved seeing Deacon's sweet side especially since he is alpha to the core. The way he takes care of Molly and encourages and builds her up is beautiful. Every girl wants a guy who is capable of taking care of them both emotionally and physically. The true surprise was the unraveling of Deacon's past. I honestly didn't expect some of the plot twists in his story and I loved reading it.
If you haven't read the other books in this series, I would recommend picking those up first. You can read this as a stand alone but you need to meet all the characters from the other books first. This is an easy world to get caught up in. Lorelei James is a master at world building and I thoroughly enjoyed all the Mastered Series.
This book was reviewed by a member of the review staff at Cocktails and Books. The name of the reviewer can be found under the post categories.
Caged is the 4th book in the Mastered Series and I have throughly enjoyed the entire series. Lorelei James is a master of the alpha male and exceptionally strong female leads as well. Deacon and Molly do not disappoint. I have enjoyed these two since we were first introduced in Bound (Mastered #1). Deacon is an instructor at Black Arts and a MMA fighter. Molly is a well educated, thoughtful, sweet person who was attacked and signed up for kickboxing to fight back against the fear that was choking her. Deacon is tough on her when they met in Bound but it is just what Molly needs to face her fears.
When we start Caged, the entire Black Arts crew has changed and evolved over the 4 books. Deacon is no longer teacher kickboxing. Molly has battled through her fears from the attack, is in fantastic shape, and the heat between her and Deacon has been slowburning for awhile. Deacon even goes so far as to ask her out but stands her up. Molly says she is through with Deacon but she can't get him out of her mind. Deacon has never explained why he stood her up and he can't get Molly out of his mind either.
Molly and Deacon constantly bicker and go back and forth. They both are damaged from their pasts. Their back stories make this book fly by. I loved seeing Deacon's sweet side especially since he is alpha to the core. The way he takes care of Molly and encourages and builds her up is beautiful. Every girl wants a guy who is capable of taking care of them both emotionally and physically. The true surprise was the unraveling of Deacon's past. I honestly didn't expect some of the plot twists in his story and I loved reading it.
If you haven't read the other books in this series, I would recommend picking those up first. You can read this as a stand alone but you need to meet all the characters from the other books first. This is an easy world to get caught up in. Lorelei James is a master at world building and I thoroughly enjoyed all the Mastered Series.
This book was reviewed by a member of the review staff at Cocktails and Books. The name of the reviewer can be found under the post categories.
July 21, 2015
This was the fourth installment in the Mastered series. This one is full of smokin' hot love scenes. I can't believe I'm about to say this but - it kind of felt like there were too many love scenes. Molly and Deacon seem to spend all of their time getting busy and it felt like the story line suffered because of it. Mrs. James has a wonderful talent for developing characters and making you love them but in this one, the development was somewhat lacking. In the previous books, I found myself looking forward to Molly and Deacon's story but after having read it, I'm a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong- this is still a nice book, it didn't have the usual intensity I've come to expect from Mrs. James. Having said that, I'm still looking forward to the next installment in the series, a new book from Lorelei James always goes to the top of my TBR pile.
July 17, 2015
I have to say I hated this book. And it all boiled down to Molly. She was so self centered that I wanted to scream at Deacon that he deserved better.
The hero and heroine have known each other for two years before they finally start dating
The two are dating for a total of two weeks before the heroine breaks up with the hero because he never told her he had a twin and was 'rich.'
So everyone spills all secrets at the two week mark??
She continues to be self centered throughout the rest of the book, and I'm disappointed. I really looked forward to Molly's book.
And I'm sad that this one wasn't what I'm used to from the Mastered series. :/
The hero and heroine have known each other for two years before they finally start dating
The two are dating for a total of two weeks before the heroine breaks up with the hero because he never told her he had a twin and was 'rich.'
So everyone spills all secrets at the two week mark??
She continues to be self centered throughout the rest of the book, and I'm disappointed. I really looked forward to Molly's book.
And I'm sad that this one wasn't what I'm used to from the Mastered series. :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2015
4.5 stars
Rich guys who like to fight, here we come!
Lol
Deacon has a lot of learning to do and Molly was too accepting of his ways. It felt like he was fucking his way to love. Like literally.
Verdict: One too many sex scenes. Geez...
Rich guys who like to fight, here we come!
Lol
Deacon has a lot of learning to do and Molly was too accepting of his ways. It felt like he was fucking his way to love. Like literally.
Verdict: One too many sex scenes. Geez...
July 16, 2015
I love Lorelei James' Mastered series. Every book so far has been a winner, including CAGED. Molly and Deacon have been dancing around each other since book 1, so I've been looking forward to this one for a long time.
So, let's face it - Deacon isn't the romantic sort of guy. He's a big, hard MMA fighter who lacks a brain-to-mouth filter and scares the pants off all the people in the classes he teaches at Black Arts. You'd figure his ideal woman to be some bad ass fighter. So, the fact that it was meek, mousy Molly who caught his eye is unexpected.
We could tell in previous books that Deacon and Molly had some sort of pull toward each other, but it's always seemed pretty volatile. Are you surprised? I mean, it's Deacon. Of course it's volatile. And, he's not the most tactful guy around. But, honestly, Deacon surprised me in Caged. More than once. After a disastrous first date that never really happened, Molly had all but written him off, even though she still thought about him all the time. Tried to forget her attraction by dating other guys. But, once Deacon decides something, he gives it singular focus. And, Deacon has decided that He. Wants. Molly.
A focused Deacon is a thing of beauty. He might not have the pretty words or the grand romantic gestures, but when this guy throws his heart into the ring, he is literally all in. He wines and dines Molly in his own way, and because she knows that and because she likes him just the way he is, it doesn't take long before Deacon wins her back over.
Learning about one another means learning about their pasts and their families, and that's a touchy subject for both Molly and Deacon. Neither of them had rosy, happy childhoods - especially Molly. And when a relative of hers dies, and Molly has to go home to deal with the funeral and her awful family. And Deacon really comes through for her. He's an unexpected hero, and I love that about him.
Except, Deacon's not quite as forthcoming about details from his side as Molly was. He carries this big secret with him through all his dates with Molly, through all his training sessions with Maddox, through his fights in the ring, and it starts to wear on him as his feelings for her grow. You know how secrets always have a way of coming out when you don't want them to?
One thing is for sure - the Molly in Caged is nothing like the Molly from Bound. In the time that has passed, she has found her inner strength, and that was due in large part to Deacon. At first it was because of his self-defense classes. And, then it was because of his love and support. But, I love the development in her character. And, Deacon has kind of met her in the middle. He was always on the opposite end of the spectrum. He was this unapproachable, mean, scary dude, and Molly brought out the softer side of him.
Not that Deacon ever went soft. Geez - he's a total caveman. His protectiveness knows no bounds when he's in love. And he can really tear it up between the sheets. But, being in love, opens him up in new ways. He starts being a real friend to his friends. He asks for help when he needs it. He admits when he's wrong. Again - the character development is stellar.
There's lots of time spent with the couples from the previous books - Ronin and Amery and Knox and Shiori. Knox and Deacon are besties and Ronin is sort of his mentor, so we see lots of them. We also see much more of Maddox, whom we were introduced to in the last book. I can't wait for his story - I just know it will be a good one.
Every book in this series has been a winner for me. The strong, alpha men of Black Arts blow me away every time, and Caged was no different. I can't wait for more.
So, let's face it - Deacon isn't the romantic sort of guy. He's a big, hard MMA fighter who lacks a brain-to-mouth filter and scares the pants off all the people in the classes he teaches at Black Arts. You'd figure his ideal woman to be some bad ass fighter. So, the fact that it was meek, mousy Molly who caught his eye is unexpected.
We could tell in previous books that Deacon and Molly had some sort of pull toward each other, but it's always seemed pretty volatile. Are you surprised? I mean, it's Deacon. Of course it's volatile. And, he's not the most tactful guy around. But, honestly, Deacon surprised me in Caged. More than once. After a disastrous first date that never really happened, Molly had all but written him off, even though she still thought about him all the time. Tried to forget her attraction by dating other guys. But, once Deacon decides something, he gives it singular focus. And, Deacon has decided that He. Wants. Molly.
A focused Deacon is a thing of beauty. He might not have the pretty words or the grand romantic gestures, but when this guy throws his heart into the ring, he is literally all in. He wines and dines Molly in his own way, and because she knows that and because she likes him just the way he is, it doesn't take long before Deacon wins her back over.
Learning about one another means learning about their pasts and their families, and that's a touchy subject for both Molly and Deacon. Neither of them had rosy, happy childhoods - especially Molly. And when a relative of hers dies, and Molly has to go home to deal with the funeral and her awful family. And Deacon really comes through for her. He's an unexpected hero, and I love that about him.
Except, Deacon's not quite as forthcoming about details from his side as Molly was. He carries this big secret with him through all his dates with Molly, through all his training sessions with Maddox, through his fights in the ring, and it starts to wear on him as his feelings for her grow. You know how secrets always have a way of coming out when you don't want them to?
One thing is for sure - the Molly in Caged is nothing like the Molly from Bound. In the time that has passed, she has found her inner strength, and that was due in large part to Deacon. At first it was because of his self-defense classes. And, then it was because of his love and support. But, I love the development in her character. And, Deacon has kind of met her in the middle. He was always on the opposite end of the spectrum. He was this unapproachable, mean, scary dude, and Molly brought out the softer side of him.
Not that Deacon ever went soft. Geez - he's a total caveman. His protectiveness knows no bounds when he's in love. And he can really tear it up between the sheets. But, being in love, opens him up in new ways. He starts being a real friend to his friends. He asks for help when he needs it. He admits when he's wrong. Again - the character development is stellar.
There's lots of time spent with the couples from the previous books - Ronin and Amery and Knox and Shiori. Knox and Deacon are besties and Ronin is sort of his mentor, so we see lots of them. We also see much more of Maddox, whom we were introduced to in the last book. I can't wait for his story - I just know it will be a good one.
Every book in this series has been a winner for me. The strong, alpha men of Black Arts blow me away every time, and Caged was no different. I can't wait for more.
July 14, 2015
3.5 - 4 / 5 Fangs
I didn't read any of the other books in this series, so I dove right into book four. There were times in this book that I was little confused due to the fact I didn't read the books prior to this one. Due to that, I missed a lot of background information on certain characters, and I missed a large portion of the relationship development for Molly and Deacon. I think I would have enjoyed this book even more if I could have seen the build up between Molly and Deacon. It was a little hard for me to jump right into their relationship, however, I got adjusted to that pretty quickly.
I really loved the side cast of characters in this book. Each character was so unique and eccentric. I enjoyed all of the interactions Molly and Deacon had with the side characters. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I read the prior books. I know that the people who have read the other three books probably loved seeing the old characters again.
This book was definitely an emotional roller coaster. It took a long time for Deacon to open up to Molly, and it was extremely heart breaking once he did open up to her. I was annoyed that it took him so long to be truthful to Molly, but I definitely felt bad for Deacon. He went through some traumatic things, and I was glad Molly was there to help him cope with everything. Molly and Deacon had a very powerful relationship that was built on acceptance and understanding.They also had a lot of chemistry, which lead to a lot of steamy scenes in this book. Deacon was extremely sexy throughout this entire book, and I liked that a lot! I enjoyed watching their love and admiration grow for each other throughout the book.
I didn't know that this book had a BDSM element to it, so I was a little worried that I was not going to enjoy this book once I found out it had BDSM. However, the BDSM was pretty light. I was happy about that, because that is not my cup of tea. I was able to handle a lot of the BDSM that was in this book. However, sometimes the BDSM scenes intimidated me in this book. Deacon's personality also was a lot more intense than I was expecting. He freaked me out sometimes in the book due just to the fact that he was so intense.
There was some drama thorough out this book was I felt like was very childish. The drama made me want to throw my book across the room at times. However, I understood the drama was necessary for the story arc for Molly and Deacon. It just was hard for me to accept at times because I was so frustrated. I also was not a huge fan of fighting aspect of this book. I thought it was extremely hot that Deacon was a fighter, but I grew tired of reading about him fighting.
Overall, I liked this book a lot. It was a steamy romance that had a very addictive element to it. Lorelei is definitely a very skilled writer. I know that fans of this series will love this book. It can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading the other books first. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this series has to offer!
3.5 - 4 / 5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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*This book was given to me in exchange for a honest review*
I didn't read any of the other books in this series, so I dove right into book four. There were times in this book that I was little confused due to the fact I didn't read the books prior to this one. Due to that, I missed a lot of background information on certain characters, and I missed a large portion of the relationship development for Molly and Deacon. I think I would have enjoyed this book even more if I could have seen the build up between Molly and Deacon. It was a little hard for me to jump right into their relationship, however, I got adjusted to that pretty quickly.
I really loved the side cast of characters in this book. Each character was so unique and eccentric. I enjoyed all of the interactions Molly and Deacon had with the side characters. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I read the prior books. I know that the people who have read the other three books probably loved seeing the old characters again.
This book was definitely an emotional roller coaster. It took a long time for Deacon to open up to Molly, and it was extremely heart breaking once he did open up to her. I was annoyed that it took him so long to be truthful to Molly, but I definitely felt bad for Deacon. He went through some traumatic things, and I was glad Molly was there to help him cope with everything. Molly and Deacon had a very powerful relationship that was built on acceptance and understanding.They also had a lot of chemistry, which lead to a lot of steamy scenes in this book. Deacon was extremely sexy throughout this entire book, and I liked that a lot! I enjoyed watching their love and admiration grow for each other throughout the book.
I didn't know that this book had a BDSM element to it, so I was a little worried that I was not going to enjoy this book once I found out it had BDSM. However, the BDSM was pretty light. I was happy about that, because that is not my cup of tea. I was able to handle a lot of the BDSM that was in this book. However, sometimes the BDSM scenes intimidated me in this book. Deacon's personality also was a lot more intense than I was expecting. He freaked me out sometimes in the book due just to the fact that he was so intense.
There was some drama thorough out this book was I felt like was very childish. The drama made me want to throw my book across the room at times. However, I understood the drama was necessary for the story arc for Molly and Deacon. It just was hard for me to accept at times because I was so frustrated. I also was not a huge fan of fighting aspect of this book. I thought it was extremely hot that Deacon was a fighter, but I grew tired of reading about him fighting.
Overall, I liked this book a lot. It was a steamy romance that had a very addictive element to it. Lorelei is definitely a very skilled writer. I know that fans of this series will love this book. It can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading the other books first. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this series has to offer!
3.5 - 4 / 5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
*This book was given to me in exchange for a honest review*
July 21, 2015
When I want a more steamy romance, I turn to two authors: Maya Banks and Lorelei James. When I had the opportunity to review Lorelei's latest novel in her Mastered series, I couldn't say no. I read the first book in the series and really enjoyed it, so I couldn't wait for the fourth book!
Deacon McConnell was headed down a dark path in fighting before he met his match against Sensei Ronin Black. Honing his anger and focusing on his professional fighting career and teaching classes for Ronin, Deacon is finally getting his life together. Until Molly Calloway walks into his kickboxing class and the chemistry between them is undeniable. Molly is everything Deacon is not, but one heated confrontation later and there's no going back with Deacon and Molly.
Since I missed the 2nd and 3rd books in this series, I was not at all acquainted with these characters when the story just jumped into Deacon and Molly's relationship. In this book, we don't get to see how Deacon and Molly meet or even the development of their attraction until the story starts where Molly is mad at Deacon and they had already acknowledged that they liked each other, but hadn't acted on it yet. Also, there are SO MANY CHARACTERS in this book it was impossible to keep them straight. There were so many trainers, fighters, and friends of Molly's that I tended to get lost in them. I wish there were less characters or more time spent on explaining who people were so that I wasn't lost in the characters and could focus on Molly and Deacon more.
While it was hard to connect initially, I really ended up loving Molly's character. She was very timid before the book because of an attack, but she had definitely found her back bone and wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. And I LOVED how she was not super skinny and was actually insecure about herself and her imperfections. Deacon was able to reassure her that she was beautiful to him. I also liked how Molly held her ground with Deacon, especially how he was described as a very serious, dark, brooding man. Wow, when those two were alone, their chemistry exploded and it was definitely very hot. While the story did seem to go on longer than it needed to, I did enjoy the fighting storyline along with Deacon and Molly's story and their relationship.
Overall, the heat and chemistry were there in this book, but I was not happy with the overall experience of the book. I felt disconnected in the beginning since I missed meeting the characters in the previous books and didn't know their history. While I liked Molly's character and Deacon's fighting background, their story went on a bit longer than I would have liked. Lorelei James will always be a favorite of mine, but this was not my favorite of hers.
Deacon McConnell was headed down a dark path in fighting before he met his match against Sensei Ronin Black. Honing his anger and focusing on his professional fighting career and teaching classes for Ronin, Deacon is finally getting his life together. Until Molly Calloway walks into his kickboxing class and the chemistry between them is undeniable. Molly is everything Deacon is not, but one heated confrontation later and there's no going back with Deacon and Molly.
Since I missed the 2nd and 3rd books in this series, I was not at all acquainted with these characters when the story just jumped into Deacon and Molly's relationship. In this book, we don't get to see how Deacon and Molly meet or even the development of their attraction until the story starts where Molly is mad at Deacon and they had already acknowledged that they liked each other, but hadn't acted on it yet. Also, there are SO MANY CHARACTERS in this book it was impossible to keep them straight. There were so many trainers, fighters, and friends of Molly's that I tended to get lost in them. I wish there were less characters or more time spent on explaining who people were so that I wasn't lost in the characters and could focus on Molly and Deacon more.
While it was hard to connect initially, I really ended up loving Molly's character. She was very timid before the book because of an attack, but she had definitely found her back bone and wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. And I LOVED how she was not super skinny and was actually insecure about herself and her imperfections. Deacon was able to reassure her that she was beautiful to him. I also liked how Molly held her ground with Deacon, especially how he was described as a very serious, dark, brooding man. Wow, when those two were alone, their chemistry exploded and it was definitely very hot. While the story did seem to go on longer than it needed to, I did enjoy the fighting storyline along with Deacon and Molly's story and their relationship.
Overall, the heat and chemistry were there in this book, but I was not happy with the overall experience of the book. I felt disconnected in the beginning since I missed meeting the characters in the previous books and didn't know their history. While I liked Molly's character and Deacon's fighting background, their story went on a bit longer than I would have liked. Lorelei James will always be a favorite of mine, but this was not my favorite of hers.
did-not-finish
September 23, 2015DNF @ 70%
I was actually kind of excited to read this story based on the hints the previous books had given, but it turned out to be a serious no go.
Two problems:
1. There wasn't enough story to fill out a whole book. The premise was interesting, but that's about as far as it got. And then because there wasn't enough story, literally all of their problems were super contrived. All of their issues came out of no where and the characters' reactions were totally inconsistent.
2. Molly's character. She started as a weak-willed character in the first book and the idea is that she's finally found her inner strength. So good for Molly. Except the "idea" doesn't really translate into reality and Molly was even worse than I ever expected. She's not "strong", she just yells a lot and gets easily offended. I'm very biased because Molly's character is my absolute least favorite kind of female character - the kind of character the book tells me is strong but is actually a huge wet-blanket and probably insane.
To be fair, I tolerated Molly in the beginning and she was okay, but I gave up hope after
I was actually kind of excited to read this story based on the hints the previous books had given, but it turned out to be a serious no go.
Two problems:
1. There wasn't enough story to fill out a whole book. The premise was interesting, but that's about as far as it got. And then because there wasn't enough story, literally all of their problems were super contrived. All of their issues came out of no where and the characters' reactions were totally inconsistent.
2. Molly's character. She started as a weak-willed character in the first book and the idea is that she's finally found her inner strength. So good for Molly. Except the "idea" doesn't really translate into reality and Molly was even worse than I ever expected. She's not "strong", she just yells a lot and gets easily offended. I'm very biased because Molly's character is my absolute least favorite kind of female character - the kind of character the book tells me is strong but is actually a huge wet-blanket and probably insane.
To be fair, I tolerated Molly in the beginning and she was okay, but I gave up hope after
July 14, 2015
Lorelei James gives us yet another MASTERPIECE in CAGED, book 4 in her Mastered Series! I devour these books over and over again. You can't beat James' writing. It's full of passion, intensity, and emotion. The alpha male MMA fighter in this book will make your pulse pound and your heart melt. CAGED is a book you will want to savor. You will want to take your time, take it all in, because you will NOT want it to end.
The love story of Deacon and Molly was fun, intense, and crazy passionate. A misunderstanding leads Deacon to try to win back Molly and boy does he win her back. But Molly is definitely no push-over. No way, James makes her heroines with some extra sass and I freaking LOVE it! CAGED is a love story about a man proving his worth and winning back the woman he wants as HIS. He will get down and dirty if he has to. To hell with the fact that he might come with some baggage. Molly IS his, and he will do what it takes to have her in his bed and his heart.
I ADORED these characters so much! I loved the fact that Deacon, this big badass fighter finds Molly intimidating. It makes for some interesting and hella sexy interactions between the two. A title fight...psssh! That ain't nothing. Winning Molly back...no that is scary! They give each other the feeling of worth which adds to the sweetness factor in this yummy erotic tale. CAGED is an all around intense, beautiful, and erotic love story that will have you swooning from beginning to end. I LOVE the MASTERED series. Each one keeps getting better and better!
*Gifted copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
The love story of Deacon and Molly was fun, intense, and crazy passionate. A misunderstanding leads Deacon to try to win back Molly and boy does he win her back. But Molly is definitely no push-over. No way, James makes her heroines with some extra sass and I freaking LOVE it! CAGED is a love story about a man proving his worth and winning back the woman he wants as HIS. He will get down and dirty if he has to. To hell with the fact that he might come with some baggage. Molly IS his, and he will do what it takes to have her in his bed and his heart.
I ADORED these characters so much! I loved the fact that Deacon, this big badass fighter finds Molly intimidating. It makes for some interesting and hella sexy interactions between the two. A title fight...psssh! That ain't nothing. Winning Molly back...no that is scary! They give each other the feeling of worth which adds to the sweetness factor in this yummy erotic tale. CAGED is an all around intense, beautiful, and erotic love story that will have you swooning from beginning to end. I LOVE the MASTERED series. Each one keeps getting better and better!
*Gifted copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
December 31, 2015
I enjoyed the story overall, but felt it was too long. I think that some of the (hot) sex scenes could have been removed for more of the actual plot.
I listen to the audio-book version and didn't like either narrator.
I listen to the audio-book version and didn't like either narrator.
September 12, 2016
Great read couldn't put it down. Love this series sexy in all the right places.
September 6, 2021
Tomó su tiempo xq, aunq esta autora es bastante fácil de leer en inglés, este libro es más largo q los otros de la serie. También me gustó bastante, igual q los libros anteriores y eso no es siempre así después de dos libros bien intensos; pero esta historia tiene su encanto personal q la hace destacar x mérito propio, por el tono de la historia q es mucho más crudo q los anteriores. No se si está bien decirlo así, pero me ha parecido una novela mucho más intensa en lo físico, no xq tenga exceso de escenas sexuales, sino xq la pareja es mucho más básica. A ver si me explico: las parejas de los libros anteriores tienen un tema o un fetiche específico q marca sus relaciones sexuales; Amery y Ronin tienen el bondage; y Shiori y Knox tiene la cuestión Dominante/sumiso. Molly y Deacon no tienen ninguna cuestión de esas; ellos simplmente son muy cachondos el uno por el otro, pero no les ha quitado interés o mérito como pareja, al menos desde mi punto de vista.
Deacon y Molly ya me habían llamado la atención antes, se veía venir un romance entre ambos por algunas escenas q nos regaló la autora, pero igualmente xq tuvieron su destaque, cada uno por separado, como amigos de contensión de los protagonistas en los libros anteriores.
Hay mucho en común entre los personajes de Deacon y Ronin, en cuanto a historia pasada y temas familiares, y esa no me lo vi venir, así q punto para la autora. Pero en cuanto a personalidad, Deacon es un macho alfa completo, sin disimulos ni disculpas de ningún tipo. Se mantuvo lejos de Molly x las razones tradicionales de los machos alfa, y luego decidió q ya no iba a hacerlo, también x las tradicionales razones de los machos alfa. Me gustó sin embargo, como protagonista masculino, especialmente xq como buen macho alfa, una vez q entrega su corazón, se entrega completito, le pone empeño y desistir o perder no son opciones.
Molly también me gustó, especialmente xq la vi evolucionar. Al principio, en el libro de Amery no era más q una Bambi asustada pero fue creciendo y es su libro, finalmente la vemos en todo su esplendor, como una chica segura de sí misma, q sin embargo no tiene ningún problema para manejar al macho alfa del q está enamorada.
Hay problemas, obviamente, en la construcción de la relación de Molly y Deacon, aunq con énfasis en las cuestiones familiares de Deacon, xq aunq ambos cargan equipaje relacionado a sus familias, definitivamente el más voluminoso resulta el de él. Me gustó sin embargo todo el enfoque de drama dulzón, q nos mantuvo un chiki en vilo, pero sin tensar la cuerda demasiado y con buenas dosis de azucar, pero sin empalagar.
Punto para la autora también es la interacción con otros personajes secundarios, q espero sea el anuncio para más de la serie - hay varias parejitas interesantes cuyo libro me interesaría leer - aunq no lo veo en el futuro inmediato.
Deacon y Molly ya me habían llamado la atención antes, se veía venir un romance entre ambos por algunas escenas q nos regaló la autora, pero igualmente xq tuvieron su destaque, cada uno por separado, como amigos de contensión de los protagonistas en los libros anteriores.
Hay mucho en común entre los personajes de Deacon y Ronin, en cuanto a historia pasada y temas familiares, y esa no me lo vi venir, así q punto para la autora. Pero en cuanto a personalidad, Deacon es un macho alfa completo, sin disimulos ni disculpas de ningún tipo. Se mantuvo lejos de Molly x las razones tradicionales de los machos alfa, y luego decidió q ya no iba a hacerlo, también x las tradicionales razones de los machos alfa. Me gustó sin embargo, como protagonista masculino, especialmente xq como buen macho alfa, una vez q entrega su corazón, se entrega completito, le pone empeño y desistir o perder no son opciones.
Molly también me gustó, especialmente xq la vi evolucionar. Al principio, en el libro de Amery no era más q una Bambi asustada pero fue creciendo y es su libro, finalmente la vemos en todo su esplendor, como una chica segura de sí misma, q sin embargo no tiene ningún problema para manejar al macho alfa del q está enamorada.
Hay problemas, obviamente, en la construcción de la relación de Molly y Deacon, aunq con énfasis en las cuestiones familiares de Deacon, xq aunq ambos cargan equipaje relacionado a sus familias, definitivamente el más voluminoso resulta el de él. Me gustó sin embargo todo el enfoque de drama dulzón, q nos mantuvo un chiki en vilo, pero sin tensar la cuerda demasiado y con buenas dosis de azucar, pero sin empalagar.
Punto para la autora también es la interacción con otros personajes secundarios, q espero sea el anuncio para más de la serie - hay varias parejitas interesantes cuyo libro me interesaría leer - aunq no lo veo en el futuro inmediato.
Read
July 16, 2015Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2015/07/review-...
Favorite Quote: “Love isn’t something that just stops. Not real love.”
Deacon McConnell’s life was drastically changed by tragedy, forcing him to embrace his rough edges and devil may care attitude as he struggled to survive on the streets. A chance encounter with Rohan Black led Deacon to becoming a professional MMA fighter and instructor for Black Arts Studio. With his large scarred and tattooed body, Deacon is a beacon of danger to everyone he meets…except for a certain kickboxing student.
Molly Calloway came to Black Arts in order to reclaim a part of her life she feels she lost. Her own less than stellar childhood has left her with scars that only she sees. When her sexy kickboxing instructor asks her on a date she is thrilled until he stands her up. A chance heated encounter at a strip club leads to a passionate kiss that sets Deacon and Molly down a path of no return.
Deacon wants to make every one of Molly’s fantasies come true and prove he’s the one for her and Molly is a willing and eager student…but neither of them are prepared for the emotional tsunami that engulfs them in the end.
Caged is the fourth book in James’s Mastered series. A bold richly detailed series that showcases what James’s does best-erotic romance. I love James’s writing whether she is dealing with rough cowboys or secretive MMA fighters. Her characters are imbibed with so much spirit and personality that they are indeed larger than life. Independent women and sexy alphas keep the pages smoking as you follow their rocky path to love. Flavor imbibed dialogue keeps the story flowing along at a steady pace, balancing well with the multiple plot lines as they merge seamlessly to provide a well won ending for our lovers. Humor and angst blend together to allow readers to experience a full range of emotions as this couple explore their feelings for one another and struggle to build a relationship.
Molly and Deacon have been seen dancing around one another throughout the series and I was thrilled to see they would be getting their own story. They both have grown so much and in here you see just how much. Opposite attraction is a winning trope for me and Molly and Deacon couldn’t be more opposite…or are they? James does a fabulous job of setting up our hero and heroine, revealing their personalities and their backstories, taking a considerable amount of time letting us get to know them and see the extreme differences between them. An inconsiderate act sets the stage for an antagonistic beginning but as the story progresses, James slowly cuts through the artifice and we begin to see that our protagonists are indeed perfect for one another.
“I won’t ever walk away from her. She needs me, and I sure as fuck need her.”
Deacon and Molly are on fire. Heavy sticky chemistry and a strong sensual base will keep you enthralled as our couple indulges in all their fantasies. Nothing is taboo or too kinky to try. You can almost touch the sexual connection that exists between them, allowing them both to push aside their differences and focus on each other. One constant I like about James’s writing is she celebrates sexuality. No slut shaming or embarrassment for her character’s sexual appetites. The physical scenes are very well done with explicit detailing and a heavy dose of erotic fun.
“Take me to bed, Deacon. Keep your promise that you’ll fuck me so many times I can’t walk.”
The main conflict is a mixture of past and present, building a solid storyline. James addresses issues and creates an engaging read that fills you with strong emotions as you watch Molly and Deacon work to build a time sustaining relationship. Communication is a prime problem that is dealt with throughout and I love how Molly was secure enough in herself and Deacon to be what he needed her to be but strong enough to walk away when he took advantage. James writes with such intimacy that we are instantly drawn into their lives. Multiple subplots intertwined with the romance. Emotions run the gauntlet as old wounds are opened and allowed to heal.
Dynamic secondary characters add even more flavor, humor, and depth to the story as we get a behind the scenes look at what is all involved in MMA fighting and everything that goes into training and promoting one. I enjoyed seeing old faces from previous books and see what they have been up to. James’s drops clues to possible new hook ups and some of them have me already giggling in anticipation.
“Dude, “ he said in awe. “You are like the woman whisperer.”
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I did feel the sex overwhelmed the romance at times. They were constantly going at it which was fun to say the least, but it seemed to be used to gloss over certain issues that I felt needed addressing. Luckily, the plotlines more than make up for this small problem I had.
This series continues to entertain and I recommend it to everyone who wants an erotic romantic contemporary series with realistic characters, emotional romances, strong friendships, and interesting lives that will keep you waiting for each installment. Though each book in the series can be read as a standalone; characters and plots do bleed over.
RATING: B+
Favorite Quote: “Love isn’t something that just stops. Not real love.”
Deacon McConnell’s life was drastically changed by tragedy, forcing him to embrace his rough edges and devil may care attitude as he struggled to survive on the streets. A chance encounter with Rohan Black led Deacon to becoming a professional MMA fighter and instructor for Black Arts Studio. With his large scarred and tattooed body, Deacon is a beacon of danger to everyone he meets…except for a certain kickboxing student.
Molly Calloway came to Black Arts in order to reclaim a part of her life she feels she lost. Her own less than stellar childhood has left her with scars that only she sees. When her sexy kickboxing instructor asks her on a date she is thrilled until he stands her up. A chance heated encounter at a strip club leads to a passionate kiss that sets Deacon and Molly down a path of no return.
Deacon wants to make every one of Molly’s fantasies come true and prove he’s the one for her and Molly is a willing and eager student…but neither of them are prepared for the emotional tsunami that engulfs them in the end.
Caged is the fourth book in James’s Mastered series. A bold richly detailed series that showcases what James’s does best-erotic romance. I love James’s writing whether she is dealing with rough cowboys or secretive MMA fighters. Her characters are imbibed with so much spirit and personality that they are indeed larger than life. Independent women and sexy alphas keep the pages smoking as you follow their rocky path to love. Flavor imbibed dialogue keeps the story flowing along at a steady pace, balancing well with the multiple plot lines as they merge seamlessly to provide a well won ending for our lovers. Humor and angst blend together to allow readers to experience a full range of emotions as this couple explore their feelings for one another and struggle to build a relationship.
Molly and Deacon have been seen dancing around one another throughout the series and I was thrilled to see they would be getting their own story. They both have grown so much and in here you see just how much. Opposite attraction is a winning trope for me and Molly and Deacon couldn’t be more opposite…or are they? James does a fabulous job of setting up our hero and heroine, revealing their personalities and their backstories, taking a considerable amount of time letting us get to know them and see the extreme differences between them. An inconsiderate act sets the stage for an antagonistic beginning but as the story progresses, James slowly cuts through the artifice and we begin to see that our protagonists are indeed perfect for one another.
“I won’t ever walk away from her. She needs me, and I sure as fuck need her.”
Deacon and Molly are on fire. Heavy sticky chemistry and a strong sensual base will keep you enthralled as our couple indulges in all their fantasies. Nothing is taboo or too kinky to try. You can almost touch the sexual connection that exists between them, allowing them both to push aside their differences and focus on each other. One constant I like about James’s writing is she celebrates sexuality. No slut shaming or embarrassment for her character’s sexual appetites. The physical scenes are very well done with explicit detailing and a heavy dose of erotic fun.
“Take me to bed, Deacon. Keep your promise that you’ll fuck me so many times I can’t walk.”
The main conflict is a mixture of past and present, building a solid storyline. James addresses issues and creates an engaging read that fills you with strong emotions as you watch Molly and Deacon work to build a time sustaining relationship. Communication is a prime problem that is dealt with throughout and I love how Molly was secure enough in herself and Deacon to be what he needed her to be but strong enough to walk away when he took advantage. James writes with such intimacy that we are instantly drawn into their lives. Multiple subplots intertwined with the romance. Emotions run the gauntlet as old wounds are opened and allowed to heal.
Dynamic secondary characters add even more flavor, humor, and depth to the story as we get a behind the scenes look at what is all involved in MMA fighting and everything that goes into training and promoting one. I enjoyed seeing old faces from previous books and see what they have been up to. James’s drops clues to possible new hook ups and some of them have me already giggling in anticipation.
“Dude, “ he said in awe. “You are like the woman whisperer.”
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I did feel the sex overwhelmed the romance at times. They were constantly going at it which was fun to say the least, but it seemed to be used to gloss over certain issues that I felt needed addressing. Luckily, the plotlines more than make up for this small problem I had.
This series continues to entertain and I recommend it to everyone who wants an erotic romantic contemporary series with realistic characters, emotional romances, strong friendships, and interesting lives that will keep you waiting for each installment. Though each book in the series can be read as a standalone; characters and plots do bleed over.
RATING: B+
July 14, 2015
Angeline, KcLu and JavaGirl's reviews are posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
ANGELINE'S REVIEW - 5 Stars
It is not a secret that I’m a huge fan of Lorelei’s work. Having read every published book by Miss James, I can say that, to me, Caged is the best book she has ever written. I absolutely loved these characters and their story.
Deacon is a force to be reckoned with. Tragedy struck at an early age, making Deacon learn to fight on the streets. An encounter with Ronin Black changed Deacon’s life for the better. Meeting Molly changed his life for the best.
Sweet Molly is the exact opposite of Deacon in so many ways. When Molly signs up for Deacon’s kickboxing class to learn self-defense, a friendship is born.
Staying “safe” in the instructor/student sense can only last so long. As their friendship heats up and turns into more, both Deacon and Molly must learn to rely on each other.
I was drawn in from page one, with fantastic characters and their amazing story. Past characters visit us from the other books in the series. I always love how seamlessly Miss James shows us what the others are up to. In particular, Ronin was his amazing self and I fell in love with him a bit more and it wasn’t even his book! LOL
Caged is a refreshing take on the world of MMA fighting. The plot felt new to me. There are a few twists I didn’t see coming. The entire book was truly spectacular. I loved Caged so much that I’ll read it time and again.
Deacon is in my “Top 5 Hero List” of all time. I give Caged, 5+ Sexy Stars!!
KCLU'S REVIEW 5 STARS
Every time I open my e-reader to a new Lorelei James book, I know I am getting a great read, but every single time she blows me away at the beauty and power in her words. This series has drawn me in from the moment Lorelei talked about the concept of Bound and Unwound, and with each book I think she just can’t come close to this greatness. Every book she makes me take back those words, because each time there is some aspect that connects me to the characters in a different way than the last set. Caged is Deacon and Molly’s story. They have been fighting their attraction to each other since they met in Bound.
I fell in love with Deacon with in the first 5 chapters. He real is one of those characters that just pull you in, and holds you in his sexy clutches. He is a true alpha male with a sensitive side he only shows to Molly. I love the fact that he stresses over being romantic enough for her. It isn’t easy for him, but he just really wants her in his life for always. He just has to convince her of that, and keep the outside forces from driving them apart.
Molly is so feisty. She has really come out of her shell, and changed from the broken woman we met at the beginning of Bound. Her time at Black Arts dojo has really done wonders for her, but at times her past does get in the way of her happiness.
The explosive chemistry between these two just really scorches you as the reader. There are scenes between them that had me reaching for ice water. I have to say that the thing I love the most about this book is that yes Molly has insecurities, but never once in the whole book did I think she was one of those too stupid to live characters. It made her more real to me. She didn’t use her issues as a way to push Deacon away, and most certainly she is willing to fight not only for him but her self too. Incase you couldn’t tell from the rest of this, I highly recommend this book and series!!! They are truly works of pure greatness.
JAVAGIRL'S REVIEW 4 STARS
CAGED is one of my favorite books in Lorelei James’ Mastered series. In UNRAVELED, Deacon McConnell balked when his good friend, Knox Lofgren would talk about his relationship or his feelings, something not high on Deacon’s list of favorite activities. It’s only fitting, and pretty funny, that he end up with a woman who insists that he use his words. It was during one of Knox and Deacon’s talks, that Deacon first captured my attention. His personal revelation to Knox intrigued me and I wanted to know more about him. Both Molly and Deacon have family horror stories that will break your heart, and make you mad at the same time. Deacon is extremely Alpha, and more than a little rough around the edges, but I loved how sweet he could be with Molly and that he was there for her when she needed him, even when she didn’t think to ask for his support. I loved watching the two of them grow into their relationship, especially Deacon, who was emotionally stunted. Molly has really blossomed since we first met her in BOUND. Her self-confidence has grown so much, though she still has moments of insecurity (don’t we all?).
CAGED is sexy, funny, sad, and romantic; a very entertaining read, with engaging, well-developed characters that I loved getting to know better.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
ANGELINE'S REVIEW - 5 Stars
It is not a secret that I’m a huge fan of Lorelei’s work. Having read every published book by Miss James, I can say that, to me, Caged is the best book she has ever written. I absolutely loved these characters and their story.
Deacon is a force to be reckoned with. Tragedy struck at an early age, making Deacon learn to fight on the streets. An encounter with Ronin Black changed Deacon’s life for the better. Meeting Molly changed his life for the best.
Sweet Molly is the exact opposite of Deacon in so many ways. When Molly signs up for Deacon’s kickboxing class to learn self-defense, a friendship is born.
Staying “safe” in the instructor/student sense can only last so long. As their friendship heats up and turns into more, both Deacon and Molly must learn to rely on each other.
I was drawn in from page one, with fantastic characters and their amazing story. Past characters visit us from the other books in the series. I always love how seamlessly Miss James shows us what the others are up to. In particular, Ronin was his amazing self and I fell in love with him a bit more and it wasn’t even his book! LOL
Caged is a refreshing take on the world of MMA fighting. The plot felt new to me. There are a few twists I didn’t see coming. The entire book was truly spectacular. I loved Caged so much that I’ll read it time and again.
Deacon is in my “Top 5 Hero List” of all time. I give Caged, 5+ Sexy Stars!!
KCLU'S REVIEW 5 STARS
Every time I open my e-reader to a new Lorelei James book, I know I am getting a great read, but every single time she blows me away at the beauty and power in her words. This series has drawn me in from the moment Lorelei talked about the concept of Bound and Unwound, and with each book I think she just can’t come close to this greatness. Every book she makes me take back those words, because each time there is some aspect that connects me to the characters in a different way than the last set. Caged is Deacon and Molly’s story. They have been fighting their attraction to each other since they met in Bound.
I fell in love with Deacon with in the first 5 chapters. He real is one of those characters that just pull you in, and holds you in his sexy clutches. He is a true alpha male with a sensitive side he only shows to Molly. I love the fact that he stresses over being romantic enough for her. It isn’t easy for him, but he just really wants her in his life for always. He just has to convince her of that, and keep the outside forces from driving them apart.
Molly is so feisty. She has really come out of her shell, and changed from the broken woman we met at the beginning of Bound. Her time at Black Arts dojo has really done wonders for her, but at times her past does get in the way of her happiness.
The explosive chemistry between these two just really scorches you as the reader. There are scenes between them that had me reaching for ice water. I have to say that the thing I love the most about this book is that yes Molly has insecurities, but never once in the whole book did I think she was one of those too stupid to live characters. It made her more real to me. She didn’t use her issues as a way to push Deacon away, and most certainly she is willing to fight not only for him but her self too. Incase you couldn’t tell from the rest of this, I highly recommend this book and series!!! They are truly works of pure greatness.
JAVAGIRL'S REVIEW 4 STARS
CAGED is one of my favorite books in Lorelei James’ Mastered series. In UNRAVELED, Deacon McConnell balked when his good friend, Knox Lofgren would talk about his relationship or his feelings, something not high on Deacon’s list of favorite activities. It’s only fitting, and pretty funny, that he end up with a woman who insists that he use his words. It was during one of Knox and Deacon’s talks, that Deacon first captured my attention. His personal revelation to Knox intrigued me and I wanted to know more about him. Both Molly and Deacon have family horror stories that will break your heart, and make you mad at the same time. Deacon is extremely Alpha, and more than a little rough around the edges, but I loved how sweet he could be with Molly and that he was there for her when she needed him, even when she didn’t think to ask for his support. I loved watching the two of them grow into their relationship, especially Deacon, who was emotionally stunted. Molly has really blossomed since we first met her in BOUND. Her self-confidence has grown so much, though she still has moments of insecurity (don’t we all?).
CAGED is sexy, funny, sad, and romantic; a very entertaining read, with engaging, well-developed characters that I loved getting to know better.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
July 7, 2015
When Molly first met Deacon, she was intimidated. She had been attacked and wanted to take her life back. She enrolled in his kickboxing class to learn to defend herself and excelled. Even though Deacon piqued her interest, she knew she wasn’t in his league. The initial relation that developed between them was one of sarcastic quips and barbs and mutual admiration, even though neither knew of the other’s thoughts. We’ve seen the friendship build over the last few books and I knew this would be a good one. And, I was NOT disappointed.
Caged begins with Presley, Molly’s friend and co-worker, taking Molly out for a girls night out….to a strip club. And, who does Molly encounter in said club? Deacon McConnell. Molly turns on her heal and heads the other way, only to have Deacon intercept her. As they trade quips, Deacon does the darnedest thing. He kisses her and they both know their lives will never be the same. Even though Deacon had asked Molly out on a date over a year ago, and pulled a no-show, Molly is enchanted with the big, bad and sexy Deacon. As they discuss their “relationship”, they decide to see where all of this will lead them. They both know they have some obstacles to overcome and they both have their secrets, but what follows will draw them to each other like nothing they ever expected.
Molly receives a call about a death in the family and has to leave town quickly, only to be belittled once again by her a$$hat cousins who have done nothing but shame and bully her since they were kids. Molly just wants to get things taken care of and get back to Denver and as far away from them as she can. There is one other catch, though. She didn’t tell Deacon she was leaving and when he shows up in her hometown and tracks her down at the motel, he is not a happy camper. He tells her that if they are going to be together, then they are going to be together in every way. He does a wonderful job of supporting her while she deals with what’s left of her family and they finally head back to Denver. But, when things start happening in Deacon’s life that cause him to have to face his devastating childhood and his own family, he has a hard time reciprocating with Molly.
As they head to Texas to meet with his family, it doesn’t take Molly long to figure out that Deacon has demons that he will have to deal with. Unfortunately, he develops tunnel vision and while dealing with his family, he doesn’t even realize, until it’s too late, that Molly left and headed back to Denver. Will Deacon be able to overcome his past in order to forge a future with Molly? Or, will he forever be Caged by his past? You’ll just have to read to find out…………
Oh my sweet Jesus! I LOVED THIS BOOK! Molly is someone that everyone would want in their corner. She has taken her life back in a big way and does not take any crap off of anyone. Including Deacon. Her childhood was something horrible, but she created a life for herself and never looked back. She tough, spunky, smart and very independent. That brings me to Deacon. I do think that he is my favorite hero that I’ve read about in a loooooong time. Bless his bones. He’s so thick headed about how relationships work, but at the same time, he tells her that he doesn’t have a clue. You will laugh your butt off at the things he says. He truly does mean well, but has no idea how to say the things that he’s supposed to. And, his swagger will leave you drooling. Even though his early childhood was very different than Molly’s, the loss that he suffers as a teenager will break your heart. And, the big revelation at the end?? Did NOT see that coming. I only hope that Ms. James will let us in on what’s going on with them in future books.
Caged is a wonderfully written story that is ultimately about not being defined by one’s past and forging ahead and making a life, even though you’re not sure exactly how to do it. It’s about learning to trust and to share yourself with your partner, even though you’re scared spitless! I absolutely adore this series and the characters in it. It’s one of my absolute favorite series, and if you’ll give it a chance, it will be one of your favorites too. Well done, Lorelei James! Very, very, very well done!!
Caged begins with Presley, Molly’s friend and co-worker, taking Molly out for a girls night out….to a strip club. And, who does Molly encounter in said club? Deacon McConnell. Molly turns on her heal and heads the other way, only to have Deacon intercept her. As they trade quips, Deacon does the darnedest thing. He kisses her and they both know their lives will never be the same. Even though Deacon had asked Molly out on a date over a year ago, and pulled a no-show, Molly is enchanted with the big, bad and sexy Deacon. As they discuss their “relationship”, they decide to see where all of this will lead them. They both know they have some obstacles to overcome and they both have their secrets, but what follows will draw them to each other like nothing they ever expected.
Molly receives a call about a death in the family and has to leave town quickly, only to be belittled once again by her a$$hat cousins who have done nothing but shame and bully her since they were kids. Molly just wants to get things taken care of and get back to Denver and as far away from them as she can. There is one other catch, though. She didn’t tell Deacon she was leaving and when he shows up in her hometown and tracks her down at the motel, he is not a happy camper. He tells her that if they are going to be together, then they are going to be together in every way. He does a wonderful job of supporting her while she deals with what’s left of her family and they finally head back to Denver. But, when things start happening in Deacon’s life that cause him to have to face his devastating childhood and his own family, he has a hard time reciprocating with Molly.
As they head to Texas to meet with his family, it doesn’t take Molly long to figure out that Deacon has demons that he will have to deal with. Unfortunately, he develops tunnel vision and while dealing with his family, he doesn’t even realize, until it’s too late, that Molly left and headed back to Denver. Will Deacon be able to overcome his past in order to forge a future with Molly? Or, will he forever be Caged by his past? You’ll just have to read to find out…………
Oh my sweet Jesus! I LOVED THIS BOOK! Molly is someone that everyone would want in their corner. She has taken her life back in a big way and does not take any crap off of anyone. Including Deacon. Her childhood was something horrible, but she created a life for herself and never looked back. She tough, spunky, smart and very independent. That brings me to Deacon. I do think that he is my favorite hero that I’ve read about in a loooooong time. Bless his bones. He’s so thick headed about how relationships work, but at the same time, he tells her that he doesn’t have a clue. You will laugh your butt off at the things he says. He truly does mean well, but has no idea how to say the things that he’s supposed to. And, his swagger will leave you drooling. Even though his early childhood was very different than Molly’s, the loss that he suffers as a teenager will break your heart. And, the big revelation at the end?? Did NOT see that coming. I only hope that Ms. James will let us in on what’s going on with them in future books.
Caged is a wonderfully written story that is ultimately about not being defined by one’s past and forging ahead and making a life, even though you’re not sure exactly how to do it. It’s about learning to trust and to share yourself with your partner, even though you’re scared spitless! I absolutely adore this series and the characters in it. It’s one of my absolute favorite series, and if you’ll give it a chance, it will be one of your favorites too. Well done, Lorelei James! Very, very, very well done!!
July 13, 2015
Caged is the fourth book in Lorelei James’ Mastered series. I didn’t know it was a part of a series when I picked it up but it’s a standalone so you don’t need to have read the other books in the series to read this one. I will say, however, that I read some other reviews of this book and a couple suggested reading these books in order to increase your enjoyment level. I’m not going to disagree with that advice because I seem to be a bit less enthusiastic about Caged than other reviewers. In fact, there are references in this book that connect to other books in the series (I know that NOW) that can be confusing if you start reading here.
Caged is Deacon and Molly’s story. Deacon is a Southern boy who teaches kickboxing classes. Molly signs up for one of Deacon’s classes and Deacon is instantly attracted to her, sweat and all. Right away I was little put off by the conflict between Molly and Deacon. Deacon blows his initial shot with Molly for a reason which I still don’t fully get and to the extent that I do get it, I just didn’t like it. When Molly runs into Deacon months later (underneath a stripper!) he is still attracted to her and is instantly on her seeking another chance. Molly gives in pretty easily since she’s been pining away for Deacon ever since their failed first connection. I think the book is supposed to be about the push and pull between Deacon and Molly as he tries to get back into her good graces and she resist only I didn’t really see a whole lot of that in the book.
Deacon is an extreme alpha. He comes complete with grunts, indecipherable facial expressions and a communication void the size of Nevada. Of course, he is also hella bossy. Eventually we see a sweeter side to Deacon but the weird thing is that his sweeter side doesn’t seem to be what drew Molly in. I know that because it doesn’t come out until after Molly has already agreed to give Deacon another chance. So their whole relationship up until that point was giving me a “I’m here for the orgasms” vibe. Again, I think not reading other books in the series may be an issue here because apparently there is some relationship development between Deacon and Molly which occurred in other books in the series. I didn’t benefit from that material so it all seemed very insta-lovey to me.
In terms of the events in the actual book…there was a lot going on emotionally. Because Deacon is brooding and alpha-ey, he holds a lot of things inside. This, of course causes complications in his relationship with Molly because she doesn’t understand or misinterprets some of his actions. Deacon eventually reveals more about himself and the sh!t really is devastating stuff that anybody would probably hide. The thing that finally got me feeling something about Molly’s character is that she really is good at understanding Deacon and supporting him as he finally deals with his past and heals. Post-open up Deacon and Molly’s relationship is compelling and the connection is really well described. The sex scenes were hot and added to the overall chemistry between Deacon and Molly. The BDSM stuff can always go either way. If you read a lot of BDSM books, the stuff in this book wasn’t all that intense but it still made things spicy and interesting.
The one thing that really annoyed me about this book is that in order to build some conflict into the story line, there is a lot of melodrama and angst. I’m actually allergic to melodrama and excessive angst and this book damn near made me break out in a rash. I know things are bad when I start screaming grow the fu!k up at my Kindle. However, because this book was well written, I had a lot of fun with the entire cast of characters and there was some hot sex, I still enjoyed the book overall. My suggestion for you potential readers is that you can read this book out of order in the series but you SHOULD read the other books in the series first.
ARC provided via Netgalley
Caged is Deacon and Molly’s story. Deacon is a Southern boy who teaches kickboxing classes. Molly signs up for one of Deacon’s classes and Deacon is instantly attracted to her, sweat and all. Right away I was little put off by the conflict between Molly and Deacon. Deacon blows his initial shot with Molly for a reason which I still don’t fully get and to the extent that I do get it, I just didn’t like it. When Molly runs into Deacon months later (underneath a stripper!) he is still attracted to her and is instantly on her seeking another chance. Molly gives in pretty easily since she’s been pining away for Deacon ever since their failed first connection. I think the book is supposed to be about the push and pull between Deacon and Molly as he tries to get back into her good graces and she resist only I didn’t really see a whole lot of that in the book.
Deacon is an extreme alpha. He comes complete with grunts, indecipherable facial expressions and a communication void the size of Nevada. Of course, he is also hella bossy. Eventually we see a sweeter side to Deacon but the weird thing is that his sweeter side doesn’t seem to be what drew Molly in. I know that because it doesn’t come out until after Molly has already agreed to give Deacon another chance. So their whole relationship up until that point was giving me a “I’m here for the orgasms” vibe. Again, I think not reading other books in the series may be an issue here because apparently there is some relationship development between Deacon and Molly which occurred in other books in the series. I didn’t benefit from that material so it all seemed very insta-lovey to me.
In terms of the events in the actual book…there was a lot going on emotionally. Because Deacon is brooding and alpha-ey, he holds a lot of things inside. This, of course causes complications in his relationship with Molly because she doesn’t understand or misinterprets some of his actions. Deacon eventually reveals more about himself and the sh!t really is devastating stuff that anybody would probably hide. The thing that finally got me feeling something about Molly’s character is that she really is good at understanding Deacon and supporting him as he finally deals with his past and heals. Post-open up Deacon and Molly’s relationship is compelling and the connection is really well described. The sex scenes were hot and added to the overall chemistry between Deacon and Molly. The BDSM stuff can always go either way. If you read a lot of BDSM books, the stuff in this book wasn’t all that intense but it still made things spicy and interesting.
The one thing that really annoyed me about this book is that in order to build some conflict into the story line, there is a lot of melodrama and angst. I’m actually allergic to melodrama and excessive angst and this book damn near made me break out in a rash. I know things are bad when I start screaming grow the fu!k up at my Kindle. However, because this book was well written, I had a lot of fun with the entire cast of characters and there was some hot sex, I still enjoyed the book overall. My suggestion for you potential readers is that you can read this book out of order in the series but you SHOULD read the other books in the series first.
ARC provided via Netgalley
July 22, 2015
Heart-Breaking
Molly had a crappy home life with some bitchy cousins. She grew up in Nebraska and when her grandmother gets sick she returns to see her. All the stuff that Molly had to deal with growing up comes back and Deacon is there to help her with it.
As sucky as Molly’s home life was Deacon’s is so much worse. I wanted to hug Deacon so hard! Molly tries to be there for Deacon but he is so closed off. He was a total sweetheart and rock for her but he’s really hard for him to let Molly be the same for him.
The Romance
The romance is both hot and sweet. Deacon and Molly’s relationship seems very fast but they’ve known each other for 2 years and have been dancing around each other the whole time. So it’s not an instant-a-love but an instant-a-lust that turns into love as Deacon and Molly finally open up to each other.
Deacon can be a total caveman one minute then melt-your-heart-sweet the next. He has this hard, enough looking exterior with the shaved head, tattoos and muscles everywhere but he has a sweet, gooey center if only for Molly.
Molly looks soft and sweet on the outside but thanks to her classes with Deacon her inner strength is starting to shine through on the outside. Both are damaged on the inside and they are a perfect fit for each other.
The Sexy Times
Compared to the other books in the Mastered series, Caged was a little vanilla in the sex area. Oh it’ was smoking but there wasn’t much kink to Deacon and Molly which was fine by me but I thought with some of the kink of the other two couples we would get more of it in Caged.
Why 3.5 Stars Instead Of 4 Stars?
I had to take off .5 star off the rating because the ending felt a little rushed due to the fact that Deacon and Molly had some major communication issues throughout Caged but then when it came down to the last chapter it all gets swept under the rug even those the chapter before they were having the same issue.
Final Verdict
I really enjoyed reading Caged. Molly and Deacon have been around since book 1, Bound. I really enjoyed seeing them get their HEA even if I had a little issue with how fast it wrapped up. I can’t wait to read more in Lorelei James’ Mastered series. I have a feeling the next couple may be Deacon’s trainer, Maddox and Molly’s friend/co-worker Presley. That should be an interesting and hot couple to read about.
Molly had a crappy home life with some bitchy cousins. She grew up in Nebraska and when her grandmother gets sick she returns to see her. All the stuff that Molly had to deal with growing up comes back and Deacon is there to help her with it.
As sucky as Molly’s home life was Deacon’s is so much worse. I wanted to hug Deacon so hard! Molly tries to be there for Deacon but he is so closed off. He was a total sweetheart and rock for her but he’s really hard for him to let Molly be the same for him.
The Romance
The romance is both hot and sweet. Deacon and Molly’s relationship seems very fast but they’ve known each other for 2 years and have been dancing around each other the whole time. So it’s not an instant-a-love but an instant-a-lust that turns into love as Deacon and Molly finally open up to each other.
Deacon can be a total caveman one minute then melt-your-heart-sweet the next. He has this hard, enough looking exterior with the shaved head, tattoos and muscles everywhere but he has a sweet, gooey center if only for Molly.
Molly looks soft and sweet on the outside but thanks to her classes with Deacon her inner strength is starting to shine through on the outside. Both are damaged on the inside and they are a perfect fit for each other.
The Sexy Times
Compared to the other books in the Mastered series, Caged was a little vanilla in the sex area. Oh it’ was smoking but there wasn’t much kink to Deacon and Molly which was fine by me but I thought with some of the kink of the other two couples we would get more of it in Caged.
Why 3.5 Stars Instead Of 4 Stars?
I had to take off .5 star off the rating because the ending felt a little rushed due to the fact that Deacon and Molly had some major communication issues throughout Caged but then when it came down to the last chapter it all gets swept under the rug even those the chapter before they were having the same issue.
Final Verdict
I really enjoyed reading Caged. Molly and Deacon have been around since book 1, Bound. I really enjoyed seeing them get their HEA even if I had a little issue with how fast it wrapped up. I can’t wait to read more in Lorelei James’ Mastered series. I have a feeling the next couple may be Deacon’s trainer, Maddox and Molly’s friend/co-worker Presley. That should be an interesting and hot couple to read about.
July 18, 2015
Another winner for the fabulous Lorelei James in this wonderful erotic romance series! I have been waiting for Molly’s story since book one and have enjoyed watching her grow as the series progressed. The attraction between her and Deacon had been smoldering for a long time and I quite enjoyed watching their story unfold.
Budding MMA fighter Deacon has been training hard for a long time. Now it’s finally starting to pay off and his chance to be a break out star is fast approaching. But when the opportunity to get close to Molly presents itself he just can’t resist, even though it threatens his concentration on his career. His attraction to Molly has been simmering for long enough and his through watching her date men that aren’t right for her.
Molly has come a long way since she was the victim of a mugging and was pushed into learning to protect herself at a local martial arts studio. Her ample curves have been also been her downfall in her eyes and she can’t understand Deacon’s attention, but she also can’t complain. When a death in her family sends her running home she’s surprised to find Deacon hot on her trail and about the most supportive person in her life, including her shitty family.
Deacon is the hottest, most sensitive MMA hero I’ve had the pleasure of reading. I loved how emotionally connected he was to Molly and her needs, even though it was all new to him. Even time she got knocked down he was right there to pick her up and boost her self esteem. I also enjoyed his friendship with the rest of the men at the studio and how each of them played a part in the book, opening up the potential for more awesome stories in the future.
Molly’s determination to not let her attack define her was so uplifting. She could have easily retreated into her shell and refused to face the world but instead he’s been steadily building herself up. Instead she built her confidence up by becoming a badass version of herself . Sure, she still had her insecure moments, but there isn’t a woman alive who hasn’t had those herself. I especially liked her attitude when dealing with parts of her family and their need to bring her down. Her comebacks to their scathing retorts where spot on and chuckle worthy.
Caged is a great addition to what is becoming one of my favorite series! Lorelei James spins erotic romances with ease and Caged sets the bar high. Wickedly fun, Caged is an amazing read!
I give Caged by Lorelei James 4 stars!
Budding MMA fighter Deacon has been training hard for a long time. Now it’s finally starting to pay off and his chance to be a break out star is fast approaching. But when the opportunity to get close to Molly presents itself he just can’t resist, even though it threatens his concentration on his career. His attraction to Molly has been simmering for long enough and his through watching her date men that aren’t right for her.
Molly has come a long way since she was the victim of a mugging and was pushed into learning to protect herself at a local martial arts studio. Her ample curves have been also been her downfall in her eyes and she can’t understand Deacon’s attention, but she also can’t complain. When a death in her family sends her running home she’s surprised to find Deacon hot on her trail and about the most supportive person in her life, including her shitty family.
Deacon is the hottest, most sensitive MMA hero I’ve had the pleasure of reading. I loved how emotionally connected he was to Molly and her needs, even though it was all new to him. Even time she got knocked down he was right there to pick her up and boost her self esteem. I also enjoyed his friendship with the rest of the men at the studio and how each of them played a part in the book, opening up the potential for more awesome stories in the future.
Molly’s determination to not let her attack define her was so uplifting. She could have easily retreated into her shell and refused to face the world but instead he’s been steadily building herself up. Instead she built her confidence up by becoming a badass version of herself . Sure, she still had her insecure moments, but there isn’t a woman alive who hasn’t had those herself. I especially liked her attitude when dealing with parts of her family and their need to bring her down. Her comebacks to their scathing retorts where spot on and chuckle worthy.
Caged is a great addition to what is becoming one of my favorite series! Lorelei James spins erotic romances with ease and Caged sets the bar high. Wickedly fun, Caged is an amazing read!
I give Caged by Lorelei James 4 stars!
July 15, 2015
Deacon "Con Man" McConnell is an MMA fighter under the wing of Sensei Ronin Black. Years ago, Ronin was the one who defeated Deacon in an underground fight. He was also the one who offered him a job at his place of business. Since then Deacon has been Ronin's friend. They are very similar in the way that they lack communication skills. They don't do touchy feeling stuff. Deacon has been interested in Molly for a while but he had to give her up when his coach told him to concentrate on fighting.
Molly Calloway has come a long way. When we first met her she had been attacked. This incident made her join a kickboxing class. Deacon was her instructor. He was tough on her but he was also the one responsible for making her regain control. She is not scared anymore. She has developed a back bone. Giving Deacon a second chance is something she might not be willing to do. But, Deacon is not going to give her up this time.
~~
I have waited a long time to finally get Deacon and Molly's story.
Deacon worked hard for his second chance with Molly. He was determined to have her. He was there for her when she needed him. I'm just surprised he didn't loose his temper with her evil cousins Jennifer and Brandi. I would have. Who does that?? Mean girls are just nasty.
I'm very happy with Molly's growth through the series. She is not a doormat anymore. I know violence is not the answer but between her cousins and his cousin, a kickboxing kick was in order.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
July 14, 2015
Molly Calloway knows she needs to stay far away from Deacon McConnell. Not only is he the most intimidating instructor at Black Arts - besides Sensei Black – he’s already pulled a humiliating no-show on a date with her.
Now she avoids him at all costs, but can’t help the feeling of intense betrayal every time she sees him. So when a chance encounter brings them face-to-face, she unknowingly sets free a passion that has been held in check for far too long.
Deacon was told to walk away from Molly to put all of his focus on his training as a MMA champion contender. It was the hardest thing that he ever had to do and he’s not going to make the same mistake twice.
He’s going to do whatever it takes to own her – body and soul. He’s going to work to hook her so deep that even when she finds out who he really is and what he’s been running from, she won’t turn away. Or will he leave her no other choice?
Just when I thought Ronin Black was the most daunting member of Black Arts, in walks Deacon McConnell. He’s more of a raw and primal animal where as Ronin is all sensual grace and deceptive power – and I was instantly hooked!
In Caged, the barely controlled chemistry between Deacon and Molly is so hot that it literally singes every page but the emotional connection between them is what gives their story spectacular depth and once again proves that Lorelei’s Mastered series is an absolute must read for serious romance readers everywhere…
Now she avoids him at all costs, but can’t help the feeling of intense betrayal every time she sees him. So when a chance encounter brings them face-to-face, she unknowingly sets free a passion that has been held in check for far too long.
Deacon was told to walk away from Molly to put all of his focus on his training as a MMA champion contender. It was the hardest thing that he ever had to do and he’s not going to make the same mistake twice.
He’s going to do whatever it takes to own her – body and soul. He’s going to work to hook her so deep that even when she finds out who he really is and what he’s been running from, she won’t turn away. Or will he leave her no other choice?
Just when I thought Ronin Black was the most daunting member of Black Arts, in walks Deacon McConnell. He’s more of a raw and primal animal where as Ronin is all sensual grace and deceptive power – and I was instantly hooked!
In Caged, the barely controlled chemistry between Deacon and Molly is so hot that it literally singes every page but the emotional connection between them is what gives their story spectacular depth and once again proves that Lorelei’s Mastered series is an absolute must read for serious romance readers everywhere…
August 6, 2015
There is no doubt that Molly and Deacon have some smoking hot chemistry, the sex was off the charts in this one. But Deacon's issue of not talking and sharing things with Molly made me want to wring his neck! I can understand it happening the first time, but time and time again was crazy especially as he saw how much it hurt Molly each time.
The families in this one were nuts! It's a good thing that both Molly and Deacon built their own families with the other fighters and co-workers. I loved seeing the guys talk, usually ending with a quip about growing a vagina.
It will be fun to see what comes next for all the fighters.
The families in this one were nuts! It's a good thing that both Molly and Deacon built their own families with the other fighters and co-workers. I loved seeing the guys talk, usually ending with a quip about growing a vagina.
It will be fun to see what comes next for all the fighters.
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August 18, 2015
This was another good one in The Mastered series. Deacon was.. uh.. *fans self* definitely swoon-worthy.
To see my review of CAGED by Lorelei James, be sure to check Romance Reviews Today (romrevtoday.com) in August/September 2015!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
To see my review of CAGED by Lorelei James, be sure to check Romance Reviews Today (romrevtoday.com) in August/September 2015!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
September 21, 2015
3 Didn't love Molly but DID love Deacon Stars!
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of NAL | Penguin Group
From the beginning I have loved this series. Then after reading Unraveled I was left with quite a book hangover. After that I wasn't sure what to expect out of Caged. We have known from the beginning that Deacon has a past and a reason for being a bit of a douche.
Ever since the merge of the dojos we are left with many characters that at times I'm now having a hard time keeping them all straight. In this book it is many about Deacon who's one of the official MMA fighters at the Black Art Dojo and also one of the instructors there. Molly who works with Amery (Ronin's wife) has had her own past causing her to be insecure and timid. With this past she can be a victim of her world or a survivor. I have to admit Molly' s character had potential but she sadly fell into the annoying heroine category for me.
Deacon and Molly have been playing around the idea of the potentiality of them for quite awhile. As it looked like Deacon was going to make an official play he ends up standing Molly up. Now months later, he's finally going to stop listening to everyone else and follow his heart, which is Molly. He just as to convince her first.
I loved Deacon. He had such a dichotomy about him that wins you over. Sure he's quiet but so was Ronin and we all loved him .
"You toss that out there? Expect I'll pick it up and run with it. Because, babe, I can do rough."
"Good. That's what I want."
"Then that's what you'll get," he said softly. "But sometimes you're gonna get it sweet from me too."
Both Deacon and Molly have inner conscious voices that talk to them
throughout the book which I gotta admit took away from my reading
experience as those voices were annoying and too cynical at times.
Deacon has many demons and an inexperienced past which makes him not great
when it comes to relationships. Especially since he hasn't one since he was 15years old. With this you know Deacon is going to make mistakes. Molly too hasn't really had a lot of experience but she has more of an idealistic view of what she thinks a relationship should be and puts those expectations upon Deacon which don't fit his reality.
Since Molly chooses to run instead of listen and communicate Ronin has to step up and help Molly see that she's wrong.
"And Deacon keeling his past sorrow from you takes something away from that?"
One thing Deacon and Molly have is a good sexual relationship but it gets
in the way of things like .... you know communicating. If they spent
just a bit more time talking they might have way less heartache. Yes, I know its erotica but I still like the balance of sex and substance and at times this leaned to more sex than substance.
"I'm on edge. I need to fuck you. It's like a . . . compulsion." (No shit! These two can barely do anything but fuck and fight)
While Deacon and Molly are forging ahead with their relationship they are
also dealing with their pasts while at the same time Deacon continues to
train.
"Deacon nearly sent him to the hospital." Ronin's eyes gleamed. "It was fucking beautiful to watch. ... "
Sure we get to find out why these two are the way they are but it still
annoyed me that Molly kept assuming and NOT communicating with Deacon
every time she got hurt and Deacon didn't act how she thought he
should. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE knows that Deacon isn't like
everyone else so why she expected this I have no idea. The more I read this book the more I started to NOT like Molly and oddly enough in the end I liked her inner voice more than her. Since this inner voice called Molly on all her contradictory expectations and emotions. I'm really really starting to hate whiny heroines who only assume, assume, assume. I just really want a fucking heroine who communicates. I don't think that's too much to ask. Is it?
At least she had the excuse of Deacon staying in Texas to keep people from knowing the truth. Which is what? You left him because he hurt your feelings?
Or why she hadn't heard from Deacon. Stop it. You told him not to contact you. What did you expect? (Exactly
inner voice what did she expect? Oh you know for her to say one thing and mean a totally different thing. And when said man doesn't do it he's the asshole. WTF? This thought process drives me batty. Sure I know that this happens all the time in real life but I don't like to read about it, as it just makes me think less of the female when it comes across within the words.)
Shocker once these two get their heads out of their asses they decide to do the unthinkable and talk and be open with one another. *insert gasp here*
"We promise to be open with each other about everything. Big and small."
Do I like this series? YES. Did I like Deacon? Yes. Did I love Molly? Eh! Not so much. She had some good qualities but her bad qualities for me outweighed her good ones. Did I like this book? Yes, but. . . elements of it were great other parts annoyed me which I will admit makes this one not my favorite of this series. Will I continue with this series? You bet. There are so many characters that have unfinished business that I want to see how it all unfolds.
"Jesus. As the Dojo Fucking Turns, eh?"
All quotes taken from pre-published eARC & may be altered or omitted in the final copy.
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April 3, 2019
Recensione:
Per sopravvivere a una vita piena di tragedie Deacon McConnell ha deciso di ricominciare una nuova vita e lasciarsi tutto alle spalle. Un seminario di jujitsu cambierà la sua vita e guidato dal Sensei Ronin Black Deacon è diventato un combattente professionista. Ha un fisico muscoloso, un corpo coperto di tatuaggi e cicatrici per cui ogni donna farebbe follie e un carattere oscuro e meditabondo.
Tutto cambia quando l'innocente Molly Calloway si iscrive alla sua classe di kickboxing, Molly è l'opposto di Deacon. E’ gentile, dolce, riflessiva ed educata. Dopo una discussione accesa tra loro le scintille che ne nascono si trasformano in un incontro appassionato, Deacon capisce che Molly è desiderosa di sperimentare di più e lui vuole trasformare in realtà tutte le sue fantasie. L'ultima cosa che entrambi si aspettano è quanto profondamente le loro vite saranno sconvolte dalla passione che si trovano a provare insieme.
Molly Calloway è andata alla Black Arts per reclamare una parte della sua vita che sente di aver perso. La sua infanzia l'ha lasciata con cicatrici che solo lei vede. Deacon vuole Molly e dimostrare che lui è quello giusto per lei sarà il suo compito principale, loro sono due corpi in fiamme, hanno una chimica che brucia dentro e che riesce a tenervi incollati alla lettura mentre loro si abbandonano a tutte le loro fantasie. Nessuno dei due è preparato per lo tsunami emotivo che si ritrovano a provare.
«Tutto bene?»
«Mi hai distrutta.»
«Piccola. Non ti sto spaventando?» Lei scosse la testa. «Allora perché tremi?»
«Per quello.»
«Cosa?»
«Per come mi guardi.»
«Tu sei tutto questo. Io sono solo me stessa. Niente di speciale. Ma quando mi guardi così mi fai sentire…»
«Come?»
«Preziosa. Come se ne valessi la pena.»
«E’ così. E sei mia».
Molly non è solo la ragazza formosa che ricordavamo nei primi libri, spaventata anche della propria ombra, è intelligente, sicura di sé e non lascia che nessuno cerchi di ingannarla. Non si lascia più trattare come uno zerbino da nessuno, non è più la bambina che subisce le malignità e che si lascia sottomettere dalla cattiveria dei familiari ma reagisce e combatte i suoi demoni.
Molly e Deacon provano questa intensa lussuria che si vedrà già nei primi capitoli, le pagine son piene di dialoghi sporchi e scene di sesso incredibilmente calde quindi è necessaria la presenza di ventilatori vicino a voi mentre leggete questa storia.
Questa è una lettura accattivante che ti riempie di forti emozioni. Lorelei James ci dimostra ancora una volta di essere la padrona del mondo erotico scrivendo storie sexy, divertenti e hot. Questo libro è una cavalcata emotiva dove troveremo gioia, angoscia, risate, seduzione, romanticismo e tanta dolcezza. Una piccola delusione è stata non trovare tracce di bondage nella storia che vista la cover pensavo di trovare, la tecnica Shibari ha contraddistinto solo i primi tre capitoli della serie e la mancanza di tutto questo ha fatto si che la mia valutazione si abbassasse un po’.
Consiglio questa lettura a tutte le amanti dell’Erotic Romance con personaggi realistici, romantici e passionali ma attenzione, prima di leggere questo libro tenete a portata di mano almeno del ghiaccio se non un ventilatore… Ne avrete bisogno.
Barbara
* grazie alla CE per averci fornito la copia ebook
Per sopravvivere a una vita piena di tragedie Deacon McConnell ha deciso di ricominciare una nuova vita e lasciarsi tutto alle spalle. Un seminario di jujitsu cambierà la sua vita e guidato dal Sensei Ronin Black Deacon è diventato un combattente professionista. Ha un fisico muscoloso, un corpo coperto di tatuaggi e cicatrici per cui ogni donna farebbe follie e un carattere oscuro e meditabondo.
Tutto cambia quando l'innocente Molly Calloway si iscrive alla sua classe di kickboxing, Molly è l'opposto di Deacon. E’ gentile, dolce, riflessiva ed educata. Dopo una discussione accesa tra loro le scintille che ne nascono si trasformano in un incontro appassionato, Deacon capisce che Molly è desiderosa di sperimentare di più e lui vuole trasformare in realtà tutte le sue fantasie. L'ultima cosa che entrambi si aspettano è quanto profondamente le loro vite saranno sconvolte dalla passione che si trovano a provare insieme.
Molly Calloway è andata alla Black Arts per reclamare una parte della sua vita che sente di aver perso. La sua infanzia l'ha lasciata con cicatrici che solo lei vede. Deacon vuole Molly e dimostrare che lui è quello giusto per lei sarà il suo compito principale, loro sono due corpi in fiamme, hanno una chimica che brucia dentro e che riesce a tenervi incollati alla lettura mentre loro si abbandonano a tutte le loro fantasie. Nessuno dei due è preparato per lo tsunami emotivo che si ritrovano a provare.
«Tutto bene?»
«Mi hai distrutta.»
«Piccola. Non ti sto spaventando?» Lei scosse la testa. «Allora perché tremi?»
«Per quello.»
«Cosa?»
«Per come mi guardi.»
«Tu sei tutto questo. Io sono solo me stessa. Niente di speciale. Ma quando mi guardi così mi fai sentire…»
«Come?»
«Preziosa. Come se ne valessi la pena.»
«E’ così. E sei mia».
Molly non è solo la ragazza formosa che ricordavamo nei primi libri, spaventata anche della propria ombra, è intelligente, sicura di sé e non lascia che nessuno cerchi di ingannarla. Non si lascia più trattare come uno zerbino da nessuno, non è più la bambina che subisce le malignità e che si lascia sottomettere dalla cattiveria dei familiari ma reagisce e combatte i suoi demoni.
Molly e Deacon provano questa intensa lussuria che si vedrà già nei primi capitoli, le pagine son piene di dialoghi sporchi e scene di sesso incredibilmente calde quindi è necessaria la presenza di ventilatori vicino a voi mentre leggete questa storia.
Questa è una lettura accattivante che ti riempie di forti emozioni. Lorelei James ci dimostra ancora una volta di essere la padrona del mondo erotico scrivendo storie sexy, divertenti e hot. Questo libro è una cavalcata emotiva dove troveremo gioia, angoscia, risate, seduzione, romanticismo e tanta dolcezza. Una piccola delusione è stata non trovare tracce di bondage nella storia che vista la cover pensavo di trovare, la tecnica Shibari ha contraddistinto solo i primi tre capitoli della serie e la mancanza di tutto questo ha fatto si che la mia valutazione si abbassasse un po’.
Consiglio questa lettura a tutte le amanti dell’Erotic Romance con personaggi realistici, romantici e passionali ma attenzione, prima di leggere questo libro tenete a portata di mano almeno del ghiaccio se non un ventilatore… Ne avrete bisogno.
Barbara
* grazie alla CE per averci fornito la copia ebook
January 2, 2018
4.75 Stars
I could not wait to read (or listen to, in this case) Deacon & Molly's story and I was NOT disappointed. We are first introduced to both characters in book one, Molly has signed up for self-defense class and Deacon is an instructor at the Dojo. While Deacon wasn't into the kinkery that the male characters from the first two books were into, he was still into some pretty hot stuff. Was he a bit OTT at times? Yep. Did it bother me too much? Nope.
I've really enjoyed this series (this being my fav in the series). I hope that one day we will see a book for Maddox/Preston and possibly Blue/Katy.
I could not wait to read (or listen to, in this case) Deacon & Molly's story and I was NOT disappointed. We are first introduced to both characters in book one, Molly has signed up for self-defense class and Deacon is an instructor at the Dojo. While Deacon wasn't into the kinkery that the male characters from the first two books were into, he was still into some pretty hot stuff. Was he a bit OTT at times? Yep. Did it bother me too much? Nope.
I've really enjoyed this series (this being my fav in the series). I hope that one day we will see a book for Maddox/Preston and possibly Blue/Katy.
May 18, 2018
I loved the beginning of this book. But the things I loved about their relationship (particularly the freshness of it all) sort of leveled out after a while. Also, it sort of just... ended. I wanted to know the outcome of that fight, damn it! All in all, this wasn't my favorite book of the series (Shiori and Knox definitely win that right in my mind). Still, I hope to see another one in this series, although I don't think it's going to happen at this point if it hasn't already.
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