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Steel and Desire #1
UnSub
Will they be able to keep their personal feelings separate from the assignment and remember it’s just a job?
Six bodies turn up in a shallow grave near a beach on the east end of Long Island. The FBI discovers a connection to sex clubs in the area and a human trafficking ring. They receive a tip and believe a club in The Hamptons is the next target. Special Agent Alyx Cameron, a member of the FBI Division of Covert Affairs, volunteers to enter the club as a client in hopes of attracting the criminals and locating the headquarters and leaders of the ring.
Dr. Daniel Taylor left the lifestyle over a year ago and hasn’t been to the exclusive St. Andrews Club since. When his best friend, the owner, asks him to train an FBI agent for undercover work, he initially resists, but the lure of having a week of kinky sex is tempting and besides, he’d be performing a service to the community.
Training a woman who is the opposite of a submissive proves challenging and before the week ends, Daniel realizes he cares for Alyx. Although Alyx agreed to the arrangement and the training, she soon discovers it may be more than she bargained for and is further unsettled by her blossoming affection for Daniel.
Often at odds, can Alyx and Daniel work together for the greater good? Will they be able to keep their personal feelings separate from the assignment and remember it’s just a job? Overcome by his need to protect her, can Daniel put those instincts aside and let Alyx do her job regardless of the danger?
Publisher’s Note: This suspense thriller contains elements of BDSM, explicit sex scenes, adult language and power exchange. If any of these themes offend you, please do not purchase.
Six bodies turn up in a shallow grave near a beach on the east end of Long Island. The FBI discovers a connection to sex clubs in the area and a human trafficking ring. They receive a tip and believe a club in The Hamptons is the next target. Special Agent Alyx Cameron, a member of the FBI Division of Covert Affairs, volunteers to enter the club as a client in hopes of attracting the criminals and locating the headquarters and leaders of the ring.
Dr. Daniel Taylor left the lifestyle over a year ago and hasn’t been to the exclusive St. Andrews Club since. When his best friend, the owner, asks him to train an FBI agent for undercover work, he initially resists, but the lure of having a week of kinky sex is tempting and besides, he’d be performing a service to the community.
Training a woman who is the opposite of a submissive proves challenging and before the week ends, Daniel realizes he cares for Alyx. Although Alyx agreed to the arrangement and the training, she soon discovers it may be more than she bargained for and is further unsettled by her blossoming affection for Daniel.
Often at odds, can Alyx and Daniel work together for the greater good? Will they be able to keep their personal feelings separate from the assignment and remember it’s just a job? Overcome by his need to protect her, can Daniel put those instincts aside and let Alyx do her job regardless of the danger?
Publisher’s Note: This suspense thriller contains elements of BDSM, explicit sex scenes, adult language and power exchange. If any of these themes offend you, please do not purchase.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2017
56 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Kendra Greenwood
4 books11 followersKendra Greenwood has always been a storyteller. She often told stories to her kids at bedtime in lieu of reading to them. A serious daydreamer, she used to think it the complete opposite of her education and work in the sciences, but alas, she now realizes that all true scientists are daydreamers. Fantasy has always been an escape for Kendra. Weaving a thrilling romantic tale around her favorite TV and film characters, her favorite way to fall asleep at night. Eventually she wrote them down and found a place to share her stories.
Kendra grew up on the beaches of Long Island’s bucolic east end, but recently relocated to Virginia. When she’s not writing you can find her in the kitchen whipping up something scrumptious or in the studio fusing glass into decorative dishes.
Kendra grew up on the beaches of Long Island’s bucolic east end, but recently relocated to Virginia. When she’s not writing you can find her in the kitchen whipping up something scrumptious or in the studio fusing glass into decorative dishes.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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August 7, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (8/7/2020)! 🎁
June 6, 2017
Really enjoyed this book
I've read a lot of BDSM romance books the past few years and this was one of my favorites. Perhaps because there was some action - adventure and the sub was a strong woman. I liked the characters, they were real and funny. I look forward to future books by this author.
I've read a lot of BDSM romance books the past few years and this was one of my favorites. Perhaps because there was some action - adventure and the sub was a strong woman. I liked the characters, they were real and funny. I look forward to future books by this author.
May 7, 2017
LITTLE MISS SPECIAL AGENT
I enjoyed this suspense thriller story that kept the pages turning, and I did not want to put down. With a great cast of characters, action, danger, suspense, and intense scenes. I am impressed with the writing and story spun by Ms. Kenra Greenwood and look forward to more books from her in the future.
When six bodies in shallow graves are found, it is first assumed prostitutes, but then the FBI learns that instead, it was women that were involved in a BDSM lifestyle. The FBI learns of a group called 6X that takes women and then sells them at auction to men who are sadist. The plan, get voluntaries from their female agents to train and infiltrate the local BDSM clubs in the Hamptons and catch these UnSubs and free the captured women. “As an agent for the FBI she prided herself on being the intimidating one, and this role reversal was serving to heighten her anxiety.”
Alyx Cameron had an unconventional life, her mother abandoned her, and her father was constantly called away on business while she was growing up. She was more or less raised by a caretaker, and that helped her in becoming self-sufficient. When her father is killed in the line of duty, she learns that he was actually CIA. He had taught her to be fearless, and she takes that on into her life, through college, and eventually her job where she is a Special Agent with the FBI. When she hears of this case, she eagerly volunteers to become a decoy at a BDSM club. Now she will have to undergo rigorous training to be able to appear as a submissive and blend into the lifestyle. Giving up control won’t be so easy.
Dr. Daniel Taylor, a cardiologist, is called by his friends, BDSM club owner and a friend and agent with the FBI into Jack’s Club, St. Andrew’s Club, and asked to take on Agent Cameron and train her. He has left the lifestyle but agrees to take on Alyx for training. She is cocky, sure of herself, and he doesn’t think she will follow through, but she surprises him. He still isn’t happy with the arrangement but agrees to train her and puts her through a week of intense training to try and prepare her for what she will endure at a club, and if she is actually taken captive. “You’re jumping into the deep end of the ocean without a life jacket.” “Oh yes, he was the spider luring her into his web, and she knew it.”
The plot is intense with the BDSM training, and the scenes are explicit, the language is course, and the level of power exchange is difficult for Alyx. The physical and sexual chemistry between Daniel and Alyx sizzles off the pages as he takes her through the paces and various scenes they enact. The one thing that neither Daniel nor Alyx expected was how in sync they would become, how emotional bonded and eventually vulnerable in this arrangement. Daniel is unhappy with her putting herself in danger and expresses his opinion often. Alyx learns more about herself, her passion, and experiences a different level of sexual fulfillment than she has with any other man. What happens when things go down with the sex-slavers, and Alyx must not only try to keep herself alive but another woman that is also kidnapped?
The story will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride. “He’d freed her not only from her clothing but from the fear of embarrassment, shame, the freedom to voice her release when an orgasm ripped through her. She’d never felt more alive. Never felt so vulnerable and yes, so damn safe.”
I enjoyed this suspense thriller story that kept the pages turning, and I did not want to put down. With a great cast of characters, action, danger, suspense, and intense scenes. I am impressed with the writing and story spun by Ms. Kenra Greenwood and look forward to more books from her in the future.
When six bodies in shallow graves are found, it is first assumed prostitutes, but then the FBI learns that instead, it was women that were involved in a BDSM lifestyle. The FBI learns of a group called 6X that takes women and then sells them at auction to men who are sadist. The plan, get voluntaries from their female agents to train and infiltrate the local BDSM clubs in the Hamptons and catch these UnSubs and free the captured women. “As an agent for the FBI she prided herself on being the intimidating one, and this role reversal was serving to heighten her anxiety.”
Alyx Cameron had an unconventional life, her mother abandoned her, and her father was constantly called away on business while she was growing up. She was more or less raised by a caretaker, and that helped her in becoming self-sufficient. When her father is killed in the line of duty, she learns that he was actually CIA. He had taught her to be fearless, and she takes that on into her life, through college, and eventually her job where she is a Special Agent with the FBI. When she hears of this case, she eagerly volunteers to become a decoy at a BDSM club. Now she will have to undergo rigorous training to be able to appear as a submissive and blend into the lifestyle. Giving up control won’t be so easy.
Dr. Daniel Taylor, a cardiologist, is called by his friends, BDSM club owner and a friend and agent with the FBI into Jack’s Club, St. Andrew’s Club, and asked to take on Agent Cameron and train her. He has left the lifestyle but agrees to take on Alyx for training. She is cocky, sure of herself, and he doesn’t think she will follow through, but she surprises him. He still isn’t happy with the arrangement but agrees to train her and puts her through a week of intense training to try and prepare her for what she will endure at a club, and if she is actually taken captive. “You’re jumping into the deep end of the ocean without a life jacket.” “Oh yes, he was the spider luring her into his web, and she knew it.”
The plot is intense with the BDSM training, and the scenes are explicit, the language is course, and the level of power exchange is difficult for Alyx. The physical and sexual chemistry between Daniel and Alyx sizzles off the pages as he takes her through the paces and various scenes they enact. The one thing that neither Daniel nor Alyx expected was how in sync they would become, how emotional bonded and eventually vulnerable in this arrangement. Daniel is unhappy with her putting herself in danger and expresses his opinion often. Alyx learns more about herself, her passion, and experiences a different level of sexual fulfillment than she has with any other man. What happens when things go down with the sex-slavers, and Alyx must not only try to keep herself alive but another woman that is also kidnapped?
The story will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride. “He’d freed her not only from her clothing but from the fear of embarrassment, shame, the freedom to voice her release when an orgasm ripped through her. She’d never felt more alive. Never felt so vulnerable and yes, so damn safe.”
November 13, 2019
I really enjoyed this book about Dr. Daniel Taylor, an experienced dom who trains FBI agent Alyx in the ways of BDSM so that she can go undercover to catch a gang preying on submissives. Though you have to suspend some disbelief that newbie Alyx would take to BDSM as easily as she does, the fact that she is strongly motivated by wanting to find the missing women makes her lightening-fast journey a little more palatable than it usually is. The title, UnSub, refers both to Alyx who is, in many ways, not your typical submissive (or at least not the way they're usually depicted in these books) and to the unknown suspects she's trying to catch. Below is what worked for me and what didn't work for me. YMMV
What Worked:
1) Characters: Both Daniel and Alyx were very sympathetic (see below for one exception). They are intelligent, articulate, courageous, and good at jobs that demand a certain amount of selflessness. I particularly liked that Daniel, though the genre-typical dom in many respects (strong, good-looking, and wealthy), was very vulnerable: he cared that Alyx liked him, was worried when he felt she wasn't enjoying their time together, apologized when he was wrong, sought comfort from his mother, and never thought of Alyx as less than because she was his submissive. This is one of the few D/s relationships in this genre that I thought was realistic. Daniel truly respected Alyx as a person and understood that BDSM at its core means that BOTH partners are important to the dynamic and that one cannot unilaterally impose their will on the other (in part probably because Alyx is really only a bedroom sub, thus, Daniel doesn't try to change her). I also appreciated Alyx's strength (unlike many h's in these books, she , and her willingness to open herself up to new experiences while still retaining her strong sense of self. She was also, thank heaven, not a brat (a character type I'd really like to see go away). I think what I liked about both characters is their maturity: they were professional, didn't carry the kind of overwhelming baggage or tragic pasts common to this genre, and behaved like adults in their personal and professional interactions. Their likeability and chemistry made me root for them as a couple.
2) Dialogue: Ms. Greenwood has a facility with dialogue. It was realistic and never sounded forced or artificial. It's hard to give examples of this; it's more that I never felt taken out of the story by thinking "no one talks like that" the way I often do.
3) Writing: This was well-edited with few errors, and had just enough detail (descriptions of people and places) without overwhelming us. And dual povs gave us insight into both characters, which gave them some depth.
What didn't work:
1) Plot: This had many (way too many) of the over-the-top plot points found too often in this genre, including the obligatory threat from the past (Alyx's dangerous ex-boyfriend), the obligatory , and the obligatory flock of 6'4" law-enforcement doms (in part because Ms. Greenwood did continue this as a series). One of these would have sufficed; the book did not need quite so many complications, which leads me to...
2) Lacey: I took a star off for this character. For one thing, this "villainess" is an unsubtle, over-the-top, misogynistic, and stereotypical portrayal. More importantly, there's not enough disbelief to suspend in the world that the likeable and honorable Daniel would take another woman into his home and have sex with her while his fiancée is out of town. He cheats on Lacey (that she's not a sympathetic character does not make this okay); in addition, he does not tell Alyx about her. And the fact that Alyx doesn't bat an eye over the fact that Daniel kept such a huge secret from her really didn't sit well with me. In her place, I would have found it hard to trust him again. And this was yet another complication (we're now at unnecessary obstacle #4, if anyone is counting).
I have a few other quibbles, such as Daniel's assumption that he would have sex with Alyx while he's training her (as though every BDSM scene ends in sex) or that she can't talk during a scene. I did, however, appreciate the talk of limits and safewords. And I really, really appreciated that for once I didn't put down a book thinking that the H had engaged in double-standards, that anything he did was unfair, or that he was always right and the h was always wrong (more tropes I'd like to see disappear from these books).
4 stars. If, like me, you like your BDSM consensual, respectful, and not harsh, this is the book for you.
Note: I adhere to the ratings system as laid out by Goodreads: 2 stars = it was okay; 3 stars = liked it; 4 stars = really liked it; 5 stars = it was amazing. I gave this book 4 stars because I liked the relationship between consenting, relatively mature adults. I do not think that every book I read is "amazing;" further, I think that it cheapens the rating system to always assign 4 or 5 stars. If a book really earns the 4 or 5 stars (and I realize that this is, to some degree, subjective), I'll give them -- but it certainly shouldn't apply to every book. YMMV, and everyone should enjoy/rate these books as they wish.
Additional Note: I did not receive this book as an ARC; I'm not another author who hosts or is hosted by other authors in this genre on our websites; and I'm not friends with the authors IRL, "friends" on this site, or friends on any social media site.
What Worked:
1) Characters: Both Daniel and Alyx were very sympathetic (see below for one exception). They are intelligent, articulate, courageous, and good at jobs that demand a certain amount of selflessness. I particularly liked that Daniel, though the genre-typical dom in many respects (strong, good-looking, and wealthy), was very vulnerable: he cared that Alyx liked him, was worried when he felt she wasn't enjoying their time together, apologized when he was wrong, sought comfort from his mother, and never thought of Alyx as less than because she was his submissive. This is one of the few D/s relationships in this genre that I thought was realistic. Daniel truly respected Alyx as a person and understood that BDSM at its core means that BOTH partners are important to the dynamic and that one cannot unilaterally impose their will on the other (in part probably because Alyx is really only a bedroom sub, thus, Daniel doesn't try to change her). I also appreciated Alyx's strength (unlike many h's in these books, she , and her willingness to open herself up to new experiences while still retaining her strong sense of self. She was also, thank heaven, not a brat (a character type I'd really like to see go away). I think what I liked about both characters is their maturity: they were professional, didn't carry the kind of overwhelming baggage or tragic pasts common to this genre, and behaved like adults in their personal and professional interactions. Their likeability and chemistry made me root for them as a couple.
2) Dialogue: Ms. Greenwood has a facility with dialogue. It was realistic and never sounded forced or artificial. It's hard to give examples of this; it's more that I never felt taken out of the story by thinking "no one talks like that" the way I often do.
3) Writing: This was well-edited with few errors, and had just enough detail (descriptions of people and places) without overwhelming us. And dual povs gave us insight into both characters, which gave them some depth.
What didn't work:
1) Plot: This had many (way too many) of the over-the-top plot points found too often in this genre, including the obligatory threat from the past (Alyx's dangerous ex-boyfriend), the obligatory , and the obligatory flock of 6'4" law-enforcement doms (in part because Ms. Greenwood did continue this as a series). One of these would have sufficed; the book did not need quite so many complications, which leads me to...
2) Lacey: I took a star off for this character. For one thing, this "villainess" is an unsubtle, over-the-top, misogynistic, and stereotypical portrayal. More importantly, there's not enough disbelief to suspend in the world that the likeable and honorable Daniel would take another woman into his home and have sex with her while his fiancée is out of town. He cheats on Lacey (that she's not a sympathetic character does not make this okay); in addition, he does not tell Alyx about her. And the fact that Alyx doesn't bat an eye over the fact that Daniel kept such a huge secret from her really didn't sit well with me. In her place, I would have found it hard to trust him again. And this was yet another complication (we're now at unnecessary obstacle #4, if anyone is counting).
I have a few other quibbles, such as Daniel's assumption that he would have sex with Alyx while he's training her (as though every BDSM scene ends in sex) or that she can't talk during a scene. I did, however, appreciate the talk of limits and safewords. And I really, really appreciated that for once I didn't put down a book thinking that the H had engaged in double-standards, that anything he did was unfair, or that he was always right and the h was always wrong (more tropes I'd like to see disappear from these books).
4 stars. If, like me, you like your BDSM consensual, respectful, and not harsh, this is the book for you.
Note: I adhere to the ratings system as laid out by Goodreads: 2 stars = it was okay; 3 stars = liked it; 4 stars = really liked it; 5 stars = it was amazing. I gave this book 4 stars because I liked the relationship between consenting, relatively mature adults. I do not think that every book I read is "amazing;" further, I think that it cheapens the rating system to always assign 4 or 5 stars. If a book really earns the 4 or 5 stars (and I realize that this is, to some degree, subjective), I'll give them -- but it certainly shouldn't apply to every book. YMMV, and everyone should enjoy/rate these books as they wish.
Additional Note: I did not receive this book as an ARC; I'm not another author who hosts or is hosted by other authors in this genre on our websites; and I'm not friends with the authors IRL, "friends" on this site, or friends on any social media site.
May 19, 2017
Absolutely loved this book and can not wait for next in series. Why? Because it combines all my favorite kinds of books in one , that is suspense, romance, erotica and spanking all in one. The characters are highly developed and have in depth emotions and real interactions between them. The plot is fully developed and this story was extremely hard to put down. Please read this book as I guarantee if you enjoy the genres I do you will not be disappointed.
October 3, 2020
A very enjoyable read
Alex is an FBI agent who has volunteered to go uncover as a submissive to try to crack a human trafficking ring. Daniel is a Dom who agrees to train her so she will be believable in the role. But they both find themselves feeling more than just training partners.
Alex is an FBI agent who has volunteered to go uncover as a submissive to try to crack a human trafficking ring. Daniel is a Dom who agrees to train her so she will be believable in the role. But they both find themselves feeling more than just training partners.
August 15, 2020
FBI Agent
She knew nothing about BDSM, but for her job she needed to learn. He was a heart surgeon, but willing to teach her. Can this lead to love?
She knew nothing about BDSM, but for her job she needed to learn. He was a heart surgeon, but willing to teach her. Can this lead to love?
February 12, 2018
Excellent! First book I’ve read by this author. She knows how to tell a good crime story and obviously has researched the BDSM lifestyle. This book was not only entertaining, it was educational for me. She treats it all with great respect.
Want to read
February 26, 2024Prch Amz Aug. 7, 2020
April 29, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. Special Agent Alyx Cameron is on a mission. She needs to be trained to go undercover as a submissive at a BDSM club. Dr. Daniel Taylor is a cardiologist, but also Dom. He takes Alyx home to train her in sub behavior. Along the way, feelings deepen and Alyx learns the freedom in submission. Unfortunately, the case still needs to be solved and Daniel can't protect her from doing her job. Good read, wonderful Dom. BDSM, spanking, anal.
December 15, 2017
I've read a few books by this author now but I think this is my favourite. I loved that the characters demonstrate emotions that the average person can relate to. They get cranky and bad tempered. They tease and have fun with each other. My only disappointment is that the suspense aspect didn't really resolve fully for me, but I enjoyed the rest of the book for this to only be a minor issue.
April 30, 2017
By Donna L
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Delete Review
This review is from: UnSub (Kindle Edition)
This is the first book by this author that I
have read and it was spellbinding.It takes
you on a journey that may disturb,but will
ultimately intrigue you.The story grabbed
my attention from the very first page.I was
hooked and had to find out what happened
to lead up to that scene.Daniel and Alyx
were electric together,they formed the
perfect union for the task they had to solve.
I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book
Edit Review
Delete Review
This review is from: UnSub (Kindle Edition)
This is the first book by this author that I
have read and it was spellbinding.It takes
you on a journey that may disturb,but will
ultimately intrigue you.The story grabbed
my attention from the very first page.I was
hooked and had to find out what happened
to lead up to that scene.Daniel and Alyx
were electric together,they formed the
perfect union for the task they had to solve.
I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book
April 30, 2017
Wow, what a great book! This BDSM suspense thriller is a story that I could not put down from start to finish. Both characters are strong, caring, and want to help save others in their own ways. Daniel Taylor is a Cardiologist who used to live the BDSM lifestyle. He is asked to train an FBI agent, Alyx Cameron, to go undercover as a submissive. Alyx is strong, independent, feisty, and does not appear to be submissive. However, when human trafficking and murder are involved, these two people work together to accomplish an important goal. Come join these wonderful characters on an exciting adventure and see where working together leads. Will they find the criminals, each other, or both?
This well written story had a storyline that kept my attention from the minute I started reading. The characters are strong and enjoyable to watch develop as they discover who they are and what they want. The author included various elements of BDSM along with explicit sex scenes. In addition to all the BDSM parts of the story the author gave the readers a wonderful suspense thriller with action to keep us reading for the outcome of what happens. I highly recommend reading this fabulous can't miss story. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
This well written story had a storyline that kept my attention from the minute I started reading. The characters are strong and enjoyable to watch develop as they discover who they are and what they want. The author included various elements of BDSM along with explicit sex scenes. In addition to all the BDSM parts of the story the author gave the readers a wonderful suspense thriller with action to keep us reading for the outcome of what happens. I highly recommend reading this fabulous can't miss story. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
April 30, 2017
What I liked most about this book were the characters and their interactions with each other. Alyx is a kick a$$ FBI agent going under cover as a submissive but doesn't appear to have a submissive bone in her body. Daniel was formerly in the scene and was goaded into taking her on to train her to get ready for the mission. Their chemistry is combustible, that is clear. What isn't clear is what is occurring emotionally between them. And that's the part of the story I loved the most. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
May 1, 2017
Captivating! The gripping storyline sucked me right in and held me captive till the end. Alyx and Daniel’s chemistry is realistic and hot. Daniel is a fantastic lover with magical hands, and Alyx is one lucky girl. A must read.
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April 5, 2018I voluntarily review an ARC version of Kendra Greenwood’s book. I found this to be such an engrossing and entertaining read of a suspense filled story of two strong individuals who are brought together to bring justice to the guilty. The author’s beautiful telling of the story was so engrossing that it was hard to put down from the first page to the last. Yes, it was an introduction to BDSM and very sensually sexual, but my oh my, was it delicious.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews