Book 7, Stronghold Doms. Golden Angel's glimpse into the world of BDSM through the eyes of a Domme and her sub is fascinating!
SPOILER ALERT: THIS IS BOOK #7 IN THE STRONGHOLD DOMS SERIES. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE PRIOR BOOKS IN THE SERIES, THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
It took years but Luke Evans and Olivia Williams finally learned what they wanted from life. When the two finally meet, the mutual attraction is undeniable. Even so, there are oh, so many obstacles in their path. Luke's a silent partner in Marquis, the very exclusive new BDSM club started by the owners of Stronghold. Olivia is Marquis' new manager. A relationship with a co-worker? Not in Olivia's wildest dreams! From all appearances, Luke's strong, confident, totally in control. Olivia's the ultimate control freak. She's a Domme, after all. How do two people with diametrically opposite lives connect? But Luke has a secret. When he enrolls in the new submissive class at Marquis, Olivia's carefully controlled world is thrown into chaos. How does she deal with this? Luke, a submissive? This can't possibly be true, right? It's a prank. It has to be! As she and Luke dance around each other, each at cross purposes, there's much more at stake than a conflicted Domme/sub relationship. Unknown to Olivia, she's in danger. Only who's behind the threats? Why? What possible motive could anyone have to harm her? When the threats bring out Luke's protective nature, Olivia's pulls farther away. She doesn't need a man, particularly Luke, to take care of her. But when the danger escalates, Olivia can't dismiss it as some isolated nut case anymore. When the perpetrator makes his boldest move yet, Olivia's in mortal peril. Will her stubbornness, refusal to accept help, be her downfall? Is there anything that can save her? Or will she finally realize her strength doesn't mean she has to go it alone?
In this latest in the Stronghold Doms series, Golden Angel's brought the Domme/male sub dynamic to life in a special way. I haven't read many books where the female is the dominant and the male is the submissive, perhaps due to my own submissive tendencies. That's not to say I don't accept this particular dynamic. I just never thought it could hold my interest. But I was wrong. Golden Angel's created a story that brings this dynamic to life in a very compelling manner. Luke and Olivia are utterly fascinating. The struggles with which they deal are real in every imaginable way. It's not just about Luke submitting to Olivia. Their potential relationship is fraught with all kinds of barriers, from the perceived conflicts on both sides, to Luke's struggle with his submissive tendencies, the reality of what being a submissive truly is, to Olivia's conflicted response to Luke in nearly every possible way. Instead of being unable to identify with these characters, I found myself pulled into their story and becoming a part of their lives. The supporting characters are a real treat. The sense of love and community within their BDSM "family" is extraordinarily written. Golden Angel obviously knows her subject matter, and it shows. She's created a story that's not just captivating. For me to love this story, to find these two characters as captivating as I did, is a true accomplishment. Thank you, Golden Angel, for creating an exceptional story that captives and enthralls!
One final note. Be an informed reader! This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and sexual scenes. If you don't enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and all booksellers' websites. Use these resources. DON'T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON'T ENJOY THE BOOK. It's not fair to the author. She works very hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to the book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!