Control has meant everything to Tally Raines. Control of the office she ran as Jesse Wyman's secretary, and now control of Lucian Conover's office as well. But Lucian isn't content to be controlled by his fiery secretary. As a matter of fact, Lucian thinks she needs to loosen up and let the sexy, sensual woman hiding beneath her cool exterior free. And he will dare her to do just that… With a little help.
Sacrifice
Kimberly has run from Jared for a year now, sensing the weakness he could be to her future. But she never expected the sacrifice he would make for her. One that will rock her soul, and destroy the very foundations of all her beliefs. Her sexuality, her heart, and all she's fought for in the last six years will be tested when an assignment takes her to Jared's farm, and into his bed. There she will learn the true meaning of hunger, of love…as well as the deception and the lies that have governed her life for so long. Anything worth having is worth sacrificing for. Kimberly is about to find out if she can pay the price, and risk not only the inheritance that should be hers, but also her heart to the one man who can still the fires that rage in her soul.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Lora Leigh is a New York Times bestselling author of erotic romance novels. Leigh started publishing with electronic publisher Ellora's Cave in 2003. Leigh's longest-running series is The Breeds. She won the 2009 RT Award for erotica. Leigh was born in Ohio and raised in Martin County, Kentucky, US.
THE STORIES "Wicked"… …brings Lucian and Devril Conover together with Tally Raines in a permanent threesome. It's Tally's wicked "pranks" that really make this story. She has all the men terrified. They don't know it, but they have her terrified in return.
The Characters Sax Brogan has a cameo here as he provides Kimberly Madison aid. Jessie and Terrie Wyman have a small part as well (see Seduction, 3).
"Sacrifice"… …sees the end of Jared's year of chasing Kimberly Madison. A rigid and dictatorial trust forces Kimberly to remain a virgin until her father approves her choice of husband or she reaches age thirty. Her father, Senator Daniel Madison is a cold, hard man and Kimberly takes great delight in finding ways around his demands. Definitely a unique approach.
A nice bit of backstory on the Club in this story as well as an unexpected ending. Her dad isn't particularly convincing with his abrupt about-face. It's rather depressing how two people can destroy their own lives let alone the daughter they should have cherished.
The Characters Jared Raddington is ex-Special Forces and he's taken over the family farm since he retired. Kimberly Madison works security; Richard Decker is her not-too-happy boss. David Matthews, Tim Adams, Lowell, and Danford are part of her team assigned to guard Jared — and Kimberly. Both are in danger because of their connection to the senator. I think Carolyn maneuvered this to get the two of them together. At least one of her teammates is a spy for her father.
We get a peripheral introduction to Ian, Jared's choice as a third. Lucian Conover has a cameo in this one. Carolyn Raddington Madison is Jared's mother and, considering who her husband was, I don't understand why she would marry the senator. There's mention of Kia and Carl Stanton's divorce and the fallout from that.
THE COVER and TITLE The cover is disconcerting. The men involved [n the story] are businessmen and an ex-Special Forces. The overly muscled hulk on the cover with his arms crossed in the background with his belt undone seems more like an escapee from a Muscleman contest. The woman with a flash of net at one shoulder and the knowing look in her eye...oh, yeah, that's Tally.
The title is a blend of the titles of both short stories in this two-story anthology. Tally is indeed a Wicked girl while Kimberly has a tremendous Sacrifice to make.
Wicked Sacrifice by Lora Leigh Wicked Intent Sacrifice
I enjoyed both short stories equally. Another two good stories in the Bound Hearts Series.
The description of the stories I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict these stories.
Wicked Intent Control has meant everything to Tally Raines. Control of the office she ran as Jesse Wyman's secretary, and now control of Lucian Conover's office as well. But Lucian isn't content to be controlled by his fiery secretary. As a matter of fact, Lucian thinks she needs to loosen up and let the sexy, sensual woman hiding beneath her cool exterior free. And he will dare her to do just that… With a little help.
Sacrifice Kimberly has run from Jared for a year now, sensing the weakness he could be to her future. But she never expected the sacrifice he would make for her. One that will rock her soul, and destroy the very foundations of all her beliefs.
Her sexuality, her heart, and all she's fought for in the last six years will be tested when an assignment takes her to Jared's farm, and into his bed. There she will learn the true meaning of hunger, of love…as well as the deception and the lies that have governed her life for so long.
Anything worth having is worth sacrificing for. Kimberly is about to find out if she can pay the price, and risk not only the inheritance that should be hers, but also her heart to the one man who can still the fires that rage in her soul.
Wicked Intent was a very good read. I love how it brought three dominant personalities together and made it work. Usually when even one personality is as dominant as all three are, there needs to be at least one submissive personality to equal it out. But somehow it worked for them. Tally was an extremely funny character. And since this is the first of the earlier books I have read in Bound Hearts its making more since of the others.
Sacrifice was even better. I loved Jared's character as well as Kimberly's. I have to say in real-life she would come across as a slut to the average person but when it delves deeper into her needs and how they came about it becomes understandable. Though both stories could have used a bit more suspense/action they were both great reads. And still, with this being the 5th Bound Hearts novel I've read, Forbidden Pleasure is still my favorite.
Nobody does the dominant "I'm gonna tie you to the bed and you're gonna love it, baby" male than Lora Leigh. Except in the Bound Hearts series it is "WE'RE going to tie you to the bed and you're gonna love it, baby". Alpha guys who love their ladies and dig the menage thing...
You do not have to read the other books before these - the earlier characters do make appearances and it would enrich your reading to know their backgrounds - but it is not a requirement.
The Bound Heart series: 1. Ties That Bind Anthology (Surrender- out of print) 2. Submission/Seduction (Books I and II) 3. Wicked Sacrifice (Book III Wicked Intent and book IV Sacrifice) 4. Shameless Embraces (Book V Embraced and Book VI Shameless) 5. Forbidden Pleasure 6. Wicked Pleasure 7. Only Pleasure...
OK wicked intent, the first of the 2 stories in this book, is a 5 star story but Tally is a 2 star character. I really didn't like her she was just a nasty bitch. Maybe if we got more of her history it would be better. I loved Luc and Dev and Tally did suit them but her 'issues' made her a bitch. Oh well on to the intriguing Kimberly.
And how fantastic is Jared, in the second story sacrifice, and how much do I like Kimberly. I love that she worked around her trust issues. I also liked that Jared was determined to help her keep her trust and not work to get her to give it up. I liked this story more then the first mainly because I liked all the central characters. So a 5 star story with 5 star characters. I am enjoying this sizzling series and look forward to the next one.
These are my go to books when i am in a book rut. I love these books. What's not to love, alpha male, strong females.
Kimberley had to endure physical exam ever 3 months to make sure she was still a virgin due to a clause in her inheritance. He was her own father who was enforcing it. Once she turned 30 or married a man of her fathers choosing she would get her inheritance. She would visit the club after for an outlet but when Jared stepped into the picture things got a little more complicated. Once Jared was in her heart, once she admitted to herself she was in love with Jared, nothing and no one else matter.
I am glad Kimberley was brave enough to follow her heart. It proved to me she was a strong willed woman. One who knew her own mind.
This book is based on members of the Club, men who like to share their women. The first story, Wicked, had me cracking up with Tally and her snarky smart ass remarks. She is so sassy that it will take 2 men to keep up with her. I loved how she had scared her former boss enough that he avoids her at all costs.
The other story with Kimber and Jared was interesting. The trust set up by puritanical family members 6 generations back was crazy, and that she went along with it even more crazy. I can't imagine having to get an exam every 6 months to prove you were still a virgin. In the end though she got all that she wanted.
The first book had a great concept. Twins that share a physical connection. So basically one is having sex, the other brother is getting an echo of the sensations. Of course that leads them to loving the same women as well. Too bad Talley wasn't a good heroine. Her character was too complex for such a short story she came off psycho. She needed way more back story.
The second story was okay. A virgin to needs to stay that way or loose her family estate. But, her passions run free so she allows herself to be taken anally. Jared and Ian's ménage with her was pretty boring. This whole story was pretty boring.
Wicked Intent- 4 stars This book was hot and I want myself some twins.
Sacrifice- 2 stars This book was dumb. The concept just annoyed me. Kimberly's mom put a clause in her trust that says she must be a virgin when she is married. And she has a doctor check her every 3 months. Please use your imagination as to what Kimberly does in place of what would cause her to lose her actual virginity. Yeah, it got old.
I didn't really like the first story. I thought there was so much potential for the Lucian/Dev combo, but Tally was just annoying. Her control issues just didn't ring true and she was brash and pushy and spoiled and tried to be dominant. I didn't like her at all. The second story with Kimberly and Jared was much better. I really felt the connection between them and while the drama with her trust and her father was a bit overdone, I liked the story.
I'm a huge fan of Lora Leigh and this series is great! She manages to develop the characters so that we care about them, and provides a full story with lots of hot, steamy sex. The stories are short and sweet, and each one is different in the sexual needs/desires of the characters. I highly recommend them!
Ah be still my heart those Devareau Boys!!! Wicked was one of the first IR books I read (eBook) and I was blown away. I really enjoyed Tally. This book hooked me on the Bound Heart Series.
One of oldies Lora Leigh title I read because of..curiosity. Turn that, BDSM not really my forte back then in 2010. To said that I forget the story ofc is understatement :))).
Read this entire series in order, non-stop. Loved every minute of it--great characters, interesting plot lines, sizzling sex. It doesn't get much better than this.