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Bound To
Take one neurotic new girl in town and one kinky neuroscientist, add sparks and a side of sexual awakening. This might hurt later.
Jolene Whitman has never left her hometown, hasn’t been on a date in six years, and when her best friend asks her to move to Boston with her, she jumps at the chance to leave her country mouse roots behind.
Starting over in a new city with one friend, no job, and her bank account bleeding out is enough to send Jolene’s anxiety through the roof. Add in a hot post-doc with a dominant streak and it could be a recipe for a panic attack big enough to send her home with her tail between her legs. But submitting to Matthew Ward shuts up the running monologue in her head like nothing ever has before.
Each night they spend together, exploring the limits of their trust, Jolene falls a little harder for the man responsible for her sexual awakening. Under Matthew's care and control, she finds a place where she understands exactly who and what she's supposed to be.
She knows it’s too good to last, that a man like Matthew will never stay with a woman like her. But if the cost of finding herself is a broken heart, she’s all in.
Jolene Whitman has never left her hometown, hasn’t been on a date in six years, and when her best friend asks her to move to Boston with her, she jumps at the chance to leave her country mouse roots behind.
Starting over in a new city with one friend, no job, and her bank account bleeding out is enough to send Jolene’s anxiety through the roof. Add in a hot post-doc with a dominant streak and it could be a recipe for a panic attack big enough to send her home with her tail between her legs. But submitting to Matthew Ward shuts up the running monologue in her head like nothing ever has before.
Each night they spend together, exploring the limits of their trust, Jolene falls a little harder for the man responsible for her sexual awakening. Under Matthew's care and control, she finds a place where she understands exactly who and what she's supposed to be.
She knows it’s too good to last, that a man like Matthew will never stay with a woman like her. But if the cost of finding herself is a broken heart, she’s all in.
- GenresEroticaContemporary
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2018
4 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Sionna Fox
11 books7 followersSionna Fox is an author of sweet/hot HEAs, die-hard romance fan, and lover of things nerdy and twee. She drinks too much coffee, has a minor issue with washi tape and planner stickers, and tagging her in anything involving llamas, foxes, or women in suits is a surefire way to her heart. She lives in New Hampshire with her very patient husband and very put-upon dog.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 11, 2018
Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2018/04/review-...
Favorite Quote: “I might never understand how I got here, why I needed the things I did, how I was bound to him, but I never ever wanted to leave.”
Jolene Whitman has recently moved to Boston from a small town in Vermont at the behest of her best friend. Determined to shed her country mouse status, she is unprepared for the chaos of no job, one friend, and a rapidly disappearing bank account. When she meets an attractive hot man at the local watering hole, her body screams YES YES YES while her anxiety controlled brain screams RUN RUN RUN!
Matthew Ward is a neuroscientist with a busy schedule and a strong need to control everything around him. When he meets Jolene, he sees the perfect submissive for his dominant nature and sets out to tempt, tease, and satisfy her every sexual desire and fantasy.
Under Matthew’s hands and whip, the voices quiet down and Jolene begins to blossom. Soon the sexual only relationship line begins to blur and they find themselves indulging on more than just sex. But when a misunderstanding sends Jolene into a tailspin, will she be able to pull herself out or will she run away and forget who she is bound to?
Bound To is an erotic bittersweet coming of age romance devoted to helping a sheltered young woman explore her sexual needs while addressing her mental and emotional issues. A full body read that flows along at a steady pacing with a witty banter, steamy sex scenes, and an engaging heroine whose initiation into BDSM opens the door to infinite possibilities if only she can accept she is worthy of it all. The low-key angst and drama is a definite plus.
Jolene is an appealing heroine whose internal observations and monologues really resonated with me. Fox does an excellent job of getting into Jolene’s mindset without it feeling manipulative or grandiose. I think we all have that inner voice who tries to convince us we aren’t pretty enough, sexy enough, smart enough, etc… but Jolene’s voice never stops. Told strictly from Jolene’s point of view, readers get a first-row seat to her feelings about leaving home, being unable to find a job, a dwindling bank account, and having little to no sexual experience. Meeting Matthew creates a whirlwind of confusion, curiosity, lust, and excitement. She sees this gorgeous, successful man who seems to want to be with her and she teeters between pride and fear-always waiting for the show to drop and him to leave her.
Matthew is the perfect hero. A cinnamon bun. Patient, informed, sweet, firm, and considerate. He is a dominant well-respected in the community. A neuroscientist, he has OCD and controls issues and uses BDSM as an outlet. He instantly recognizes what Jolene is and needs though he repeatedly makes sure she understands everything happening. It’s all very well plotted and informative. While I felt he and Jolene meshed well together with some very nice chemistry, it was obvious that Jolene was the main character and Matthew was built to her specs.
The romance gradually builds as it morphs from sexual attraction to love. The relationship starts out mainly sexually motivated as Matthew tells Jolene that he’s not good boyfriend material but he wants to spend time with her. From there, Matthew draws out Jolene’s sexuality, gently coaxing her out of her shell and showing her how her submission empowers her and helps to quiet her fears. The more time they spend together, the more their feelings for one another grow. It’s all very organic and you find yourself rooting for Jolene and Matthew’s HEA though you know deep down she needs some professional help before that can happen. Especially after a series of events sends her spiraling into the unknown and Matthew is unable to help her.
A personable cast of secondary characters adds humor to the storyline. Jolene has so many people who love and are rooting for her. Her bestie stands firm at her back and champions her even though she doesn’t understand the appeal of her fantasies. The ladies at the club draw her into their circle and show her that she is perfect just the way she is. Her parents left me a little cold and I wish her mom and/or dad would have stuck up for her to the rest of the family.
The only real issue I had is that I really wish Matthew would have fleshed out a little better. The last few pages are the best of Matthew as he shows us he is indeed fallible. I also would have enjoyed more time in the club. Regardless, I genuinely enjoyed meeting Jolene and watching her grow into the confident, happy woman she was always meant to be. This is a stand-alone so story ends on a good note with no lingering questions or issues.
Grade: B
Favorite Quote: “I might never understand how I got here, why I needed the things I did, how I was bound to him, but I never ever wanted to leave.”
Jolene Whitman has recently moved to Boston from a small town in Vermont at the behest of her best friend. Determined to shed her country mouse status, she is unprepared for the chaos of no job, one friend, and a rapidly disappearing bank account. When she meets an attractive hot man at the local watering hole, her body screams YES YES YES while her anxiety controlled brain screams RUN RUN RUN!
Matthew Ward is a neuroscientist with a busy schedule and a strong need to control everything around him. When he meets Jolene, he sees the perfect submissive for his dominant nature and sets out to tempt, tease, and satisfy her every sexual desire and fantasy.
Under Matthew’s hands and whip, the voices quiet down and Jolene begins to blossom. Soon the sexual only relationship line begins to blur and they find themselves indulging on more than just sex. But when a misunderstanding sends Jolene into a tailspin, will she be able to pull herself out or will she run away and forget who she is bound to?
Bound To is an erotic bittersweet coming of age romance devoted to helping a sheltered young woman explore her sexual needs while addressing her mental and emotional issues. A full body read that flows along at a steady pacing with a witty banter, steamy sex scenes, and an engaging heroine whose initiation into BDSM opens the door to infinite possibilities if only she can accept she is worthy of it all. The low-key angst and drama is a definite plus.
Jolene is an appealing heroine whose internal observations and monologues really resonated with me. Fox does an excellent job of getting into Jolene’s mindset without it feeling manipulative or grandiose. I think we all have that inner voice who tries to convince us we aren’t pretty enough, sexy enough, smart enough, etc… but Jolene’s voice never stops. Told strictly from Jolene’s point of view, readers get a first-row seat to her feelings about leaving home, being unable to find a job, a dwindling bank account, and having little to no sexual experience. Meeting Matthew creates a whirlwind of confusion, curiosity, lust, and excitement. She sees this gorgeous, successful man who seems to want to be with her and she teeters between pride and fear-always waiting for the show to drop and him to leave her.
Matthew is the perfect hero. A cinnamon bun. Patient, informed, sweet, firm, and considerate. He is a dominant well-respected in the community. A neuroscientist, he has OCD and controls issues and uses BDSM as an outlet. He instantly recognizes what Jolene is and needs though he repeatedly makes sure she understands everything happening. It’s all very well plotted and informative. While I felt he and Jolene meshed well together with some very nice chemistry, it was obvious that Jolene was the main character and Matthew was built to her specs.
The romance gradually builds as it morphs from sexual attraction to love. The relationship starts out mainly sexually motivated as Matthew tells Jolene that he’s not good boyfriend material but he wants to spend time with her. From there, Matthew draws out Jolene’s sexuality, gently coaxing her out of her shell and showing her how her submission empowers her and helps to quiet her fears. The more time they spend together, the more their feelings for one another grow. It’s all very organic and you find yourself rooting for Jolene and Matthew’s HEA though you know deep down she needs some professional help before that can happen. Especially after a series of events sends her spiraling into the unknown and Matthew is unable to help her.
A personable cast of secondary characters adds humor to the storyline. Jolene has so many people who love and are rooting for her. Her bestie stands firm at her back and champions her even though she doesn’t understand the appeal of her fantasies. The ladies at the club draw her into their circle and show her that she is perfect just the way she is. Her parents left me a little cold and I wish her mom and/or dad would have stuck up for her to the rest of the family.
The only real issue I had is that I really wish Matthew would have fleshed out a little better. The last few pages are the best of Matthew as he shows us he is indeed fallible. I also would have enjoyed more time in the club. Regardless, I genuinely enjoyed meeting Jolene and watching her grow into the confident, happy woman she was always meant to be. This is a stand-alone so story ends on a good note with no lingering questions or issues.
Grade: B
April 24, 2018
Amount of sex 4 / 5
How explicit 4 / 5
Amount of BDSM/Fetish 3.5 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 5 / 5
Wow!
I absolutely flipping love this book!
Bound To is the first book in the Bondage in Boston series by author Sionna Fox. I have read a lot of stories about dominant alpha males who are into BDSM, but there is something about this one, in particular, that had me completely glued to my Kindle. Ms. Fox hit a home run with this one!
The storyline is realistic, which makes this romance so much hotter. I really love the characters and could relate to them, especially to Jolene. She has issues with anxiety, which results in her having a lack of confidence. When she meets Matt for the first time, she is barely able to say hi to him. I love how their relationship grows and how Jolene learns more about herself.
A must read!
*Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Copy*
How explicit 4 / 5
Amount of BDSM/Fetish 3.5 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 5 / 5
Wow!
I absolutely flipping love this book!
Bound To is the first book in the Bondage in Boston series by author Sionna Fox. I have read a lot of stories about dominant alpha males who are into BDSM, but there is something about this one, in particular, that had me completely glued to my Kindle. Ms. Fox hit a home run with this one!
The storyline is realistic, which makes this romance so much hotter. I really love the characters and could relate to them, especially to Jolene. She has issues with anxiety, which results in her having a lack of confidence. When she meets Matt for the first time, she is barely able to say hi to him. I love how their relationship grows and how Jolene learns more about herself.
A must read!
*Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Copy*
May 10, 2018
This was a well done BDSM book that also touched on anxiety in a way that felt very real and accurate. I liked Matt and Jolene very much, the supporting characters were also great. About the only complaint I’d make is that sometimes, it felt a little like too much telling and not enough showing.
June 11, 2018
Well! This was a hot one! :) A fun, sexy read with one very introverted heroine and one sexy dominant hero. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews