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Black Oak #1
Enter the Black Oak
WINNER of the 2021 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS in the category Fiction: Romance
Falling for a man like Jackson Wilder was not something I had planned.
He was wild, experienced and savagely beautiful. He was also damaged and dangerous. Our love was a cosmic collision of lust and obsession that left me scorched by exquisite flames of desire and domination.
Jack possessed me. He educated me. Loving him was the greatest pleasure I'd ever known... up until the moment I discovered the dark secrets he had been hiding.
I could never have imagined that pulling myself out of the agony of betrayal would lead me to reconnect with a former friend, Cameron O'Neill, scion of one of Manhattan's wealthiest and most powerful dynasties, and sworn enemy of Jack.
Cameron's craving for me was acute. The relentless force of his devastating masculine beauty and his powerful, controlled virility was dizzying. Desire colored his fierce gaze. I knew it was wrong. Jack would never allow it. I had to do everything within my power to resist him, even when he pulled me down the rabbit hole where I uncovered dark truths about Manhattan's most secret society that led me to the brink of madness...
Enter The Black Oak is a thrilling romantic suspense set in Manhattan's high society. It won the International Book Award for 2021 in the category of Fiction-Romance.
Enter The Black Oak will take you on a dangerous journey through lust, desire, betrayal and obsession that will leave you breathless by the end and desperate for more.
Mature Audience.
Enter The Black Oak features a love triangle between the heroine and two highly dominant and damaged men who are also sworn enemies. The novel is an homage to radical female strength and stunning masculine beauty. If depictions of powerful, beautiful, dominant but damaged men are not your thing, this may not be for you!
Approximately 134,000 words.
Falling for a man like Jackson Wilder was not something I had planned.
He was wild, experienced and savagely beautiful. He was also damaged and dangerous. Our love was a cosmic collision of lust and obsession that left me scorched by exquisite flames of desire and domination.
Jack possessed me. He educated me. Loving him was the greatest pleasure I'd ever known... up until the moment I discovered the dark secrets he had been hiding.
I could never have imagined that pulling myself out of the agony of betrayal would lead me to reconnect with a former friend, Cameron O'Neill, scion of one of Manhattan's wealthiest and most powerful dynasties, and sworn enemy of Jack.
Cameron's craving for me was acute. The relentless force of his devastating masculine beauty and his powerful, controlled virility was dizzying. Desire colored his fierce gaze. I knew it was wrong. Jack would never allow it. I had to do everything within my power to resist him, even when he pulled me down the rabbit hole where I uncovered dark truths about Manhattan's most secret society that led me to the brink of madness...
Enter The Black Oak is a thrilling romantic suspense set in Manhattan's high society. It won the International Book Award for 2021 in the category of Fiction-Romance.
Enter The Black Oak will take you on a dangerous journey through lust, desire, betrayal and obsession that will leave you breathless by the end and desperate for more.
Mature Audience.
Enter The Black Oak features a love triangle between the heroine and two highly dominant and damaged men who are also sworn enemies. The novel is an homage to radical female strength and stunning masculine beauty. If depictions of powerful, beautiful, dominant but damaged men are not your thing, this may not be for you!
Approximately 134,000 words.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2022
1063 people are currently reading
2435 people want to read
About the author
Monique Edenwood
8 books325 followersMonique Edenwood is a British-Canadian author based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Her love of the magical trees and forests that she grew up surrounded by helped to inspire her first novel, Enter The Black Oak, book 1 in the Black Oak series.
She loves helping people escape their daily lives for a short while with the help of some intrigue, suspense and some smoking hot fictional boyfriends!
When she isn’t writing or reading, she loves hiking and cycling around beautiful Vancouver.
She's also an epic fantasy geek and lover of 80's and 90's music.
Monique absolutely loves hearing from readers of her novels so please feel free to contact her!
Her love of the magical trees and forests that she grew up surrounded by helped to inspire her first novel, Enter The Black Oak, book 1 in the Black Oak series.
She loves helping people escape their daily lives for a short while with the help of some intrigue, suspense and some smoking hot fictional boyfriends!
When she isn’t writing or reading, she loves hiking and cycling around beautiful Vancouver.
She's also an epic fantasy geek and lover of 80's and 90's music.
Monique absolutely loves hearing from readers of her novels so please feel free to contact her!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
December 28, 2020
Enter The Black Oak - 3 stars
Black Oak Burning - currently reading
All I can do is pray that tomorrow I’ll wake up and some of the pain will be gone.
Song : Sam Smith - I’m Not The Only One
Warning : PLEASE beware, as this review is basically me recounting the whole book. So it’s all about the SPOILERS.
Me : I don’t really like too much OW drama, it stresses the fuck outta me
Friend : what about cheating?
Me : I need to be in a particularly masochistic mood for that, which I’m not right now
Friend : and love triangles??
Me : oh no, I absolutely hate those. They’re the reason I regularly fill my anxiety prescription!!!
Friend : but what if he cheats on her, and she forgives him and then he cheats again? Then when she leaves, it becomes a love triangle?
Me :
2 seconds later :
Me :
That’s the story of how I came to read this book.
Y’ALL
Let’s start with what this book’s about :
Again, if you’re not into spoilers, please don’t continue reading.
Like, for real, I’m about to resume the whole book. You’ve been warned.
Jessynia Avery Wilder is happily married to Jackson Wilder, living the life most only ever dream of. Their marriage is passionate, their love is legendary and their relationship is nothing short of dreamy, but their road wasn’t easy, as her friends/family weren’t initially supportive of her and Jack’s relationship, especially her old best friend, Cameron O’Neill, whom she’s not friends with any longer. After 3 years of blissful life- I really must stress how happy this couple is together- everything falls apart when Jess finds a secret phone, dirty texts, nudes and an oak shaped brooch.
Turns out Jack has been cheating on her for over a year, and when she leaves to stay with her friends, Jack goes batshit crazy trying to find her and get her to forgive him. Less than a week later, Jess decides to give him another chance, when he agrees to therapy. After agreeing to give him a chance, she feels like the only way she’ll be able to get over his betrayal is if she, too, cheats, and who to better cheat with than the plumber? Anyway, Jack finds her before she goes through with it and goes all berserk on her, shouting how she’s his and only his and no one, absolutely no one, touches her. Jack’s idea of grovel is to force her into doing sexual stuff, when she’s not sexually comfortable with him since his betrayal.
Fast forward months later, when things are slowly getting back to the way they were, Jess discovers Jack is cheating…AGAIN. Homegirl decides it’s done and runs into the arms of Cameron, who tells her about Jack’s past and how he’s involved in a sex club with his own version of Mrs Robinson. Things blossom between Jess and Cameron, while Jack is closing in on her, refusing to let her go.
There. I pretty much recounted the whole book. I did that because for me to rant, I need to give y’all context. ✨
Now that you know the story, let’s get to the characters :
👠Jessynia Avery Wilder 👠
As my friend so eloquently put it, Jess is a walking vagina . She spends the whole book talking about how smart, funny, talented, independent, self sufficient, amazing and great she is, how she’s so much better than all other women, and I just wanna know,
In what world are you any of those things????
I don’t want to be this weak, pathetic woman depending on everyone else—depending on men to save her sorry ass. Jesus, I’ve taught classes on self-reliance and look at me!” I shove loose strands of hair out of my face clumsily.
I’m looking at you, hon, and I’m not impressed. 😌
This bish’s superpower is to say something and then go and do the exact opposite.
All she does is complain, whine and then describe the men in detail. THE WHOLE FREAKING BOOK. I swear to God, if I hear virile/virility/demi-god/sensational one more time, I will cut a bitch!!!!
I gotta admit, I liked her in the beginning. She appeared strong and I found she handled things adequately. Knowing the love of your life cheated on you can’t be easy, especially when your relationship wasn’t showing any sign of trouble.
My face burns with anger—the anger of knowing that the man I adore has made it impossible for me to stay with him and keep my self-respect.
I was literally living with her, feeling every single emotion of hers, up until she annoyed me to heartlessness. She’s such a wishy washy super horny annoying brat and I couldn’t stand her.
Did I mention how horny she is?
I can’t deny how privileged I am to be fucked by someone as knowledgeable as him—a man so hard-working, so willing to do whatever it takes to help his woman find ecstasy.
Please, someone just
From the day I first kissed Jack to the day I found out about his affairs, I’d never had a single solitary moment of real attraction to another man.
Really, huh?? Like, I know feelings change and all but you proclaiming your undying love for Jack while lusting after the plumber and being short of breath whenever you see Cam??? Make it make sense, please. 😌
Look, I’m not saying I didn’t feel for her, because I truly did
I bring a quivering hand up to my chest and wonder for a second if my heart could pull apart at the seams as it sinks in that life as I knew it is over, and that the man I love—a man who minutes earlier I believed was the love of my life—is now a stranger.
The pathetic reality is that being with him is the only thing that takes away some of the pain that he, himself, has caused me, and every molecule in my body is willing me back to him in order to relieve the ache permeating my every cell.
I feel as weak when I’m with him as I do when I’m without him.
“It just feels so wrong to be away from him.”
I can’t even begin to imagine how it would feel like to be in her place, loving the very thing that destroyed you, and not being able to imagine a life with or without that person. Being with them would kill you, slowly but steadily, and not being with them is like a thousand knifes that cut you on the regular. We all preach about self respect, and our firmness in saying “Bye Stronzo” to cheaters, but can we take a moment to acknowledge how hard it is? The little voice that says they can change, and you can forgive, and maybe even forget. The persistent one that says to close your eyes and look in the other direction. To not destroy a life you worked so hard at building. To not let your world fall apart. It’s not easy to walk away from a relationship, especially if that person is the love of your life. But it’s even harder to stay and let it nibble away at your soul, until only a shell of your former self is left.
Cheating is a HARD NO for me IRL, but I like to read about it in books, because damn if it doesn’t hurt. And damn if it doesn’t make me think.
All that being said, Jess is still a horny twat. And I still disliked her immensely. One second, I’d be all in and hurting at the way she loved Jack, and the next she’d say how virile the plumber was, and I’d just
😈Jackson Wilder 😈
Jack, Jack, Jack, so close to being perfect but sigh.
He’s a dominant banking phenomenon on the weekdays and an MMA fighter on the weekends. He’s hot, hot and hot. He takes care of his woman in all areas, and he’s just so dreamy. He’s obsessed with his wife, like, truly obsessed, even I could feel the fire of his love for her. 🔥
But because nobody is perfect, Jack is a cheater.
When Jess finds out he cheated the first time, he goes crazy trying to win her back.
“No. It’s not too late. You’re my wife, damn it. You belong to me. I’m not letting go of you without a fight.”
After therapy, things seem to get back to normal, but it’s clear Jack has a lot of demons.
”Every day when I wake up and see you next to me, I can’t believe you could love a man like me. Sometimes it makes me feel like… an imposter. Like you’re with someone that you don’t really know.”
My man makes some real questionable choices, as when they get back together, Jess is not feeling sexually comfortable with him anymore, and instead of being supportive, understanding, this dude is on full “let’s fuck wife to submission” mode. He’s fascinated by the newfound dub-con aspect of their relationship and it turns him on that he’s kinda sorta forcing her.
While, I, the despicable human being that I am, find this as hot as Jack does, I can’t help but think : Jack, sweetie, do you really think that’s the way to go???
One of the women Jack cheated with is his own version of Mrs Robinson, that got him hooked on some sex club (hence the aforementioned oak tree shaped brooch), and okay. I got it. It would be extremely difficult to disentangle from Alex (said woman) since she practically conditioned him since age 15. I can blame his past trauma and what he endured at her hands for cheating with her, but what about the other women???
“There’s something in me that wants to self-destruct, to destroy the only thing worth anything to me.”
Being with Alex alone is more than enough to assuage his self destructive tendencies. So I think there’s more to it than past trauma, this dude really enjoys having his cake, eating it + other cakes too.
Honorable mention to when my man caught Jess with the plumber and told her
“You are mine, Jessynia,” he groans. “Do you hear me? I’m your husband and you don’t touch any man other than me. Ever. I’m the only man that touches your body. Is that clear?”
Gotta love a delusional man. 😌
🙃Cameron O’Neill 🙃
Why does this guy exist is beyond me??
Like, I thought he’d be sweet to Jack’s rough, nice to Jack’s bulldozer but he ended up being the Jack you buy on e-bay.
“Jessynia, I intend to erase every last trace of that man from every inch of your body so that you never feel him on you again. From now on, I’m the only man whose body you will ever experience. Is that clear?” he asks, a blast of jealous anger harshening his words.
Dude, why?
He calls her angel, like Jack.
He tells her she’s gonna be his slave, like Jack.
He’s the exact same in bed as Jack.
He talks exactly like Jack.
Don’t even get me started on the way he reacted to the sex club.
“Jessynia, the things you’ll see on the other side of that door, you won’t be able to unsee. It took me several years to be able to close my eyes and not see this place.”
HONEY, IT’S A FREAKIN SEX CLUB!!! GROW SOME BALLS, FFS. 🤦🏻♀️
Even Mr Darcy is ready to travel from 1813 and donate half of his left nut to you, Cam. 🤩
Look, he’s nice and all, has some good moments, really stood up for Jess and helped her when she was desperately in need. But, to be honest with y’all,
💫💫Verdict 💫💫
Despite having issues with the writing style and characters, I was completely hooked and invested in this story. Considering this is the author’s debut, I applaud her for creating such an addictive story and such dynamic characters.
I need book 2 more than I need life, at this point.
And if you’re curious who am I shipping (in case it wasn’t clear) : I have a soft spot for my cheating baby, Jack. He needs a hell of A LOT of grovel, and 25+ years of community service, maybe even jail for the way he broke our hearts, but I want him to be the endgame, dammit. 🥺
You must be thinking
And I agree. But as the great Wendy Williams said : ✨ Beauty fades but boring lasts forever. ✨
Not sure how it relates, but in my mind it made sense + I hope a flying piano falls on Cam.
✨Quotes ✨
“You’re going to stay right there. I’m going to teach you what it means to be a wife.”
“Well, baby, seeing ugly things in the light is always better than seeing nothing in the dark.”
Whether I like it or not, swimming in him is the most divine ecstasy I’ve ever known.
And the one that hurt the most :
“I promised him I’d try.”
“Promised him? How about the promises he made to you, huh? Do you remember those?”
October 10, 2022
Nope.
I knew before I started reading this it was about a husband cheating on his wife. What I did not know is that the cheater is also a dominant asshole who is sure he can fuck himself into his wife’s heart again by forcing her to do things she doesn’t really want (not that the girl has any backbone of herself, no, she’s a walking wet dishrag).
And when she finally gets away from that cheating jackass she runs into the arms of another guy who, while fucking her, sounds and acts exactly like her husband. He says the same things, he wants the same things and they get it on in exactly the same way.
It was extremely weird and disturbing. So, nope.
I knew before I started reading this it was about a husband cheating on his wife. What I did not know is that the cheater is also a dominant asshole who is sure he can fuck himself into his wife’s heart again by forcing her to do things she doesn’t really want (not that the girl has any backbone of herself, no, she’s a walking wet dishrag).
And when she finally gets away from that cheating jackass she runs into the arms of another guy who, while fucking her, sounds and acts exactly like her husband. He says the same things, he wants the same things and they get it on in exactly the same way.
It was extremely weird and disturbing. So, nope.
November 11, 2020
It’s a interesting story. Unfortunately I didn’t like the female character, she was weak and so volatile 🤯
November 19, 2021
Aaah! I'm fully infuckingvested!!!!
January 14, 2024
Hell no lmao
Enter theBlack Oak Adventures of Cheating BDSM Husband and Pick Me Wife
Off topic but relevant: I have a strong suspicion that this started out as a Twilight fanfiction, because Jess is Bella riding motorcycles 100%
This series is long, the promised weirdo rich people sex cult barely makes an appearance in this one and most importantly, the LURVE TRIANGLE is a front-and-center affair, so I think I should introduce you to the classy people you will be dealing with here:
JESSYNIA, the impulsive heroine with undiagnosed hysteria. She's the kind of person who crosses a highway without looking for cars first. Her phone is never charged, she doesn't believe that her nutjob husband is dangerous and she will absolutely try and fail to change a tire at night in the rain when serial killers are everywhere!!! Her friends are supportive tho and include the 2 women that she will not openly disrespect in her monologues (although they get shade for being unable to have a fabulous longterm relationship like golden girl Jessa here). Her token gay bestie was my favorite. Actually no just kidding. He was a token character and irrelevant to the greater scheme of things.
JACK, the nutjob. Jack is the no-good, nutjob, cheating BDSM stalker husband to Jess. She loves him so much and he loves her sooooo much. But then suddenly: a cheating scandal!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why would Jack do such a thing????? Guess I could keep reading to find out but because Jack is also a spineless beggar and pathetic, I cannot respect him. If you must be a cheating, lying POS, at least admit it & own that crap. Jack is crazy about Jess (literally) and will do anything, including dog-tag her, to keep her. Unfortunately, he was still quite tame in this first book and his true nuttyness was just repeatedly alluded to by other characters.
CAMERON, the plan b. Because women need the D constantly. Being single is just not an option and there is always that guy from 3 years ago that wa super into you but shy, doesn't know how beautiful you are YOU just did not notice (insert clown emoji). I hate the discarded friendzoner love interest trope and Cam is like the most boring version of it. He is tied up in knots over the heroine's beauty & he worships at her feet even tho she barely acknowledges him. I find the notion of a man I don't give a fuck about dropping his entire life to run to my rescue deeply distrubing.
Anyway, the FMC is an annoying little trollop who spends the entirety of the book bashing every female character that makes an appearance with a stick. She doesn't know how beautiful she is, but all the worshipping guys at her altar are hers, dammit! Anyone who flirts mildly will be called an overpainted hohoho etc! It's their fault for approaching men in the first place. Better to be a painfully beautiful wallflower like perfect Jess. Also, the amount of times Jess tries to deflect the blame for Jack's cheating ways on his many affair partners????? Too many to be counted. This bitch is so oblivious, other characters have to repeatedly explain to her that the only person responsible for cheating is in fact Jack, & he is also the only person married to her. Imagine hearing that 5 times and still not getting the memo. To Jess, the whole planet is full of lusty hos out to steal her man. Stay away evil overpainted jezebel temptresses!!
She has this big catty talk with the Mrs Robinson rival to her Christian Grey, and honestly? The OW here was dropping some truth bombs that Jess should have listened to. It was probably the best advice she received, ever. Not that she noticed, because she was too busy hissing and screeching in a corner.
Throughout the novel, it's impossible to shake the idea that Jess is actually more upset at the women Jack cheated with than at him, and this produces some truly unhinged moments where she wants to vomit and has sex with him anyway, because ~ she must get over this ~.
Sometimes the novel catches itself with these errant thoughts and actually mentions the Stepford wives etc. But that does not result in actual positive character development for poor Jess.
Finally, I want to talk about the fact that Jess is the goodest little girl that ever lived and it GRATES. She is a literal millionaire philantropist. Helping people and animals! Lobbying for healthy food! The fact that she is all that unironically is frightening in the society she grew up in. It's almost like she thinks rich people can be good and are, as a rule, at least okay to be around. Imagine knowing so many cokehead cutthroats and thinking: those are people I can bare my throat to. Crazy, right?
To summarize, it was a train wreck, but not the kind that I appreciate. I dislike love triangles where the heroine is unable to choose between an obviously shitty option A and the boring safe friendzone guy B, where you just want to her to grow old alone because that seems so much better than putting up with all that crap just to get laid. I also cannot respect even one of these clowns. Jack is a fumbling mess of a cheating villain. Cameron is a creepy crawly nice guy. Jess is an mean troll who needs some therapy to work through those hateful negative feelings she has towards random other women who did nothing to hurt her.
I likely won't be reading the rest of this series, despite it being quite compulsively readable. I just don't see anything here that I could enjoy.
---------------
I got this on Stuff Your Kindle Day and this is maybe the only book from that shopping spree that I'll actually read TvT (I have no conscience when it comes to buying and not reading books even when half my disposable income goes towards buying them. If they're free, all bets are off!)
Upcoming buddy read with Nenia!!!
Starting tonight :D
Enter the
Off topic but relevant: I have a strong suspicion that this started out as a Twilight fanfiction, because Jess is Bella riding motorcycles 100%
This series is long, the promised weirdo rich people sex cult barely makes an appearance in this one and most importantly, the LURVE TRIANGLE is a front-and-center affair, so I think I should introduce you to the classy people you will be dealing with here:
JESSYNIA, the impulsive heroine with undiagnosed hysteria. She's the kind of person who crosses a highway without looking for cars first. Her phone is never charged, she doesn't believe that her nutjob husband is dangerous and she will absolutely try and fail to change a tire at night in the rain when serial killers are everywhere!!! Her friends are supportive tho and include the 2 women that she will not openly disrespect in her monologues (although they get shade for being unable to have a fabulous longterm relationship like golden girl Jessa here). Her token gay bestie was my favorite. Actually no just kidding. He was a token character and irrelevant to the greater scheme of things.
JACK, the nutjob. Jack is the no-good, nutjob, cheating BDSM stalker husband to Jess. She loves him so much and he loves her sooooo much. But then suddenly: a cheating scandal!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why would Jack do such a thing????? Guess I could keep reading to find out but because Jack is also a spineless beggar and pathetic, I cannot respect him. If you must be a cheating, lying POS, at least admit it & own that crap. Jack is crazy about Jess (literally) and will do anything, including dog-tag her, to keep her. Unfortunately, he was still quite tame in this first book and his true nuttyness was just repeatedly alluded to by other characters.
CAMERON, the plan b. Because women need the D constantly. Being single is just not an option and there is always that guy from 3 years ago that wa super into you but shy, doesn't know how beautiful you are YOU just did not notice (insert clown emoji). I hate the discarded friendzoner love interest trope and Cam is like the most boring version of it. He is tied up in knots over the heroine's beauty & he worships at her feet even tho she barely acknowledges him. I find the notion of a man I don't give a fuck about dropping his entire life to run to my rescue deeply distrubing.
Anyway, the FMC is an annoying little trollop who spends the entirety of the book bashing every female character that makes an appearance with a stick. She doesn't know how beautiful she is, but all the worshipping guys at her altar are hers, dammit! Anyone who flirts mildly will be called an overpainted hohoho etc! It's their fault for approaching men in the first place. Better to be a painfully beautiful wallflower like perfect Jess. Also, the amount of times Jess tries to deflect the blame for Jack's cheating ways on his many affair partners????? Too many to be counted. This bitch is so oblivious, other characters have to repeatedly explain to her that the only person responsible for cheating is in fact Jack, & he is also the only person married to her. Imagine hearing that 5 times and still not getting the memo. To Jess, the whole planet is full of lusty hos out to steal her man. Stay away evil overpainted jezebel temptresses!!
She has this big catty talk with the Mrs Robinson rival to her Christian Grey, and honestly? The OW here was dropping some truth bombs that Jess should have listened to. It was probably the best advice she received, ever. Not that she noticed, because she was too busy hissing and screeching in a corner.
Throughout the novel, it's impossible to shake the idea that Jess is actually more upset at the women Jack cheated with than at him, and this produces some truly unhinged moments where she wants to vomit and has sex with him anyway, because ~ she must get over this ~.
Sometimes the novel catches itself with these errant thoughts and actually mentions the Stepford wives etc. But that does not result in actual positive character development for poor Jess.
Finally, I want to talk about the fact that Jess is the goodest little girl that ever lived and it GRATES. She is a literal millionaire philantropist. Helping people and animals! Lobbying for healthy food! The fact that she is all that unironically is frightening in the society she grew up in. It's almost like she thinks rich people can be good and are, as a rule, at least okay to be around. Imagine knowing so many cokehead cutthroats and thinking: those are people I can bare my throat to. Crazy, right?
To summarize, it was a train wreck, but not the kind that I appreciate. I dislike love triangles where the heroine is unable to choose between an obviously shitty option A and the boring safe friendzone guy B, where you just want to her to grow old alone because that seems so much better than putting up with all that crap just to get laid. I also cannot respect even one of these clowns. Jack is a fumbling mess of a cheating villain. Cameron is a creepy crawly nice guy. Jess is an mean troll who needs some therapy to work through those hateful negative feelings she has towards random other women who did nothing to hurt her.
I likely won't be reading the rest of this series, despite it being quite compulsively readable. I just don't see anything here that I could enjoy.
---------------
I got this on Stuff Your Kindle Day and this is maybe the only book from that shopping spree that I'll actually read TvT (I have no conscience when it comes to buying and not reading books even when half my disposable income goes towards buying them. If they're free, all bets are off!)
Upcoming buddy read with Nenia!!!
Starting tonight :D
September 28, 2023
Series must be read in order. It follows the same main characters.
Themes in the series:
marriage in trouble
infidelity
love-triangle
secret society (sex club)
suspense/thriller
reverse harem
threesome scenes
M/F, M/M (no penetration), M/F/M
Books 1-5 end in cliffhangers
Book 6 ends in HFN/open-ended
Kinks: praise kink, exhibitionishm, voyeurism, breeding, daddy dom, blood fetish, bondage
TWs: physical abuse, sexual abuse/assault, dubious consent, non-consent, death of secondary characters
I just finished the series and let's just say I'm not a happy camper. I don't feel like reviewing these books separately right now. I might do it at a later time. I reviewed book 6 only because I had so many feelings at the end of that one, so much to unpack. I'm going to add a link to that review here. Beware of spoilers. Book 6 review.
Themes in the series:
marriage in trouble
infidelity
love-triangle
secret society (sex club)
suspense/thriller
reverse harem
threesome scenes
M/F, M/M (no penetration), M/F/M
Books 1-5 end in cliffhangers
Book 6 ends in HFN/open-ended
Kinks: praise kink, exhibitionishm, voyeurism, breeding, daddy dom, blood fetish, bondage
TWs: physical abuse, sexual abuse/assault, dubious consent, non-consent, death of secondary characters
I just finished the series and let's just say I'm not a happy camper. I don't feel like reviewing these books separately right now. I might do it at a later time. I reviewed book 6 only because I had so many feelings at the end of that one, so much to unpack. I'm going to add a link to that review here. Beware of spoilers. Book 6 review.
September 29, 2020
The blurb of Enter the Black Oak was so intriguing,i contacted the author.
Because it was on booksprout,and i wanted to know if i was eligible for a review copy.
I was very happy when i received a resounding yes,and couldn’t wait to get started.
What i got was a story that made me feel angry,hurt,uncomfortable,relieved and anxious.
Now,i know that’s a lot,and i understand if you wonder why i kept reading.
I admit,it was a challenge,but going down that rabbithole,i found i wanted to know what the “leading” lady would do.....
If she’d have the guts to see the obvious and act upon it.
Let me explain....
Jess is married to a “dominant” man,called Jack.
She thinks they have a happy marriage,until she finds out he has a second phone.....
One that contains messages and pics from other women.
She’s very upset,and tries to leave him.
Only,he shows remorse,promises they meant nothing and are history.
He even goes to therapy to help control his need to stray.
In the meantime,she has trouble getting past his infidelity,but loves him enough to try and save their marriage.
If only i got a feeling he was actually sorry for what he did.....
Instead he pushes her to have sex,telling her he is the only one allowed to have her.
He gets to be jealous? WTF?
And then,just when she thinks they’re making a little progress,she finds out he’s still seeing another woman.
Her friends are the only ones keeping her from falling apart,helping her plan what to do.
And her estranged friend,Cameron,one that knew her before Jack,that tried to warn her when she became involved with him,comes to the rescue when she needs it most.
That friend knows a lot more about Jack,stuff that makes her sick....
Things that make her realize she didn’t know the man she was married to,at all.
As i said,it was a challenging read.
Do i want to know more,that is the question.
Maybe i do......even though i know it will be another challenge.
Because it was on booksprout,and i wanted to know if i was eligible for a review copy.
I was very happy when i received a resounding yes,and couldn’t wait to get started.
What i got was a story that made me feel angry,hurt,uncomfortable,relieved and anxious.
Now,i know that’s a lot,and i understand if you wonder why i kept reading.
I admit,it was a challenge,but going down that rabbithole,i found i wanted to know what the “leading” lady would do.....
If she’d have the guts to see the obvious and act upon it.
Let me explain....
Jess is married to a “dominant” man,called Jack.
She thinks they have a happy marriage,until she finds out he has a second phone.....
One that contains messages and pics from other women.
She’s very upset,and tries to leave him.
Only,he shows remorse,promises they meant nothing and are history.
He even goes to therapy to help control his need to stray.
In the meantime,she has trouble getting past his infidelity,but loves him enough to try and save their marriage.
If only i got a feeling he was actually sorry for what he did.....
Instead he pushes her to have sex,telling her he is the only one allowed to have her.
He gets to be jealous? WTF?
And then,just when she thinks they’re making a little progress,she finds out he’s still seeing another woman.
Her friends are the only ones keeping her from falling apart,helping her plan what to do.
And her estranged friend,Cameron,one that knew her before Jack,that tried to warn her when she became involved with him,comes to the rescue when she needs it most.
That friend knows a lot more about Jack,stuff that makes her sick....
Things that make her realize she didn’t know the man she was married to,at all.
As i said,it was a challenging read.
Do i want to know more,that is the question.
Maybe i do......even though i know it will be another challenge.
August 8, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 1:
This book was recommended because it has one of my favorite tropes; the big “C”. But even better than having this juicy trope, the writing is amazing, the story draws you in, the men are smoking hot, and the betrayal is my brand of angst!
We have Jack who is married to Jess, and honestly they love each other. The writing shows their love, and I feel their chemistry, and connection. When Jess finds out that Jack has been sleeping with many OW, things start to get GOOD. See, Jack doesn’t want to lose Jess, but he just can’t behave! So, Jess has no choice but to leave him. This is working just great for our other hot guy (Cam), who wants Jess, and is here to save the day.
See? This sounds like your kind of story, too, right? Well, add in some bitchy OW drama (I hate her & one more scene with my Jack, & I am going to get stabby!!), and adding mysterious intrigue with some secret sex society, and it’s a humdinger. So, now we are at the love triangle, cliffy part. Right now Jess has run away from all things Jack, and yep, ran straight for Cam! Don’t worry, Jack is on his way, and Me thinks he wants his woman back.
Now the conundrum......... do I want Jack (hot prick that can’t keep it in his pants) to win her back, or Cam (hot prick that I am ready for him to take it out of his pants)?
Jack. No, Cam. Definitely Jack. Right???
Book 1:
This book was recommended because it has one of my favorite tropes; the big “C”. But even better than having this juicy trope, the writing is amazing, the story draws you in, the men are smoking hot, and the betrayal is my brand of angst!
We have Jack who is married to Jess, and honestly they love each other. The writing shows their love, and I feel their chemistry, and connection. When Jess finds out that Jack has been sleeping with many OW, things start to get GOOD. See, Jack doesn’t want to lose Jess, but he just can’t behave! So, Jess has no choice but to leave him. This is working just great for our other hot guy (Cam), who wants Jess, and is here to save the day.
See? This sounds like your kind of story, too, right? Well, add in some bitchy OW drama (I hate her & one more scene with my Jack, & I am going to get stabby!!), and adding mysterious intrigue with some secret sex society, and it’s a humdinger. So, now we are at the love triangle, cliffy part. Right now Jess has run away from all things Jack, and yep, ran straight for Cam! Don’t worry, Jack is on his way, and Me thinks he wants his woman back.
Now the conundrum......... do I want Jack (hot prick that can’t keep it in his pants) to win her back, or Cam (hot prick that I am ready for him to take it out of his pants)?
Jack. No, Cam. Definitely Jack. Right???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2020
Wow just wow, I couldn't put this book down once I started
The book follows Jess finding out that the love of her life, her husband Jack, has been cheating on her with at least two women. Whilst showering her with love and daily sex. It lives her shock and struggle to forgive and give her marriage a chance. With the support of her best friends.
Some reviewers have stated that she is weak for doing this. But I'm sorry, she is a very strong woman for trying to save her marriage, to give Jack a second chance.
She finds out that Jack is involved with an elite underground sex club, and that he has been groomed by an older woman, in the arts of sex, since he was a young teenager. Alex the woman in question is a powerful player in Manhattan.
Through this trialing period Jess reunites with an old friend, Cameron. Cameron was an old friend of both Jess and Jack. However they lost contact when Cameron warned Jess not to marry Jack.
This is just the first book of a trilogy, and I personally hope that the author Monique can write the next two books quickly. I am totally gripped.
The book follows Jess finding out that the love of her life, her husband Jack, has been cheating on her with at least two women. Whilst showering her with love and daily sex. It lives her shock and struggle to forgive and give her marriage a chance. With the support of her best friends.
Some reviewers have stated that she is weak for doing this. But I'm sorry, she is a very strong woman for trying to save her marriage, to give Jack a second chance.
She finds out that Jack is involved with an elite underground sex club, and that he has been groomed by an older woman, in the arts of sex, since he was a young teenager. Alex the woman in question is a powerful player in Manhattan.
Through this trialing period Jess reunites with an old friend, Cameron. Cameron was an old friend of both Jess and Jack. However they lost contact when Cameron warned Jess not to marry Jack.
This is just the first book of a trilogy, and I personally hope that the author Monique can write the next two books quickly. I am totally gripped.
November 5, 2020
Good grief, this author sent my emotions off the charts. I’m literally shaking.
How utterly realistic the character of Jess is. A woman who’s been wronged, knows she’s been wronged, but still makes the attempt to put her pieces together the way they were.
And her friends. She definitely has found her tribe in the trio that not only backs her up, but supports her choices, even if they don’t agree with them.
And then Jack. I don’t know if I have enough words for him. I’m torn between his love for his wife and the completely despicable betrayals that we see over the course of the book.
Add in a menacing secret society, a third party to a love triangle, some mistresses and a gala or two and there’s enough happening to keep me occupied for days.
I really can’t wait for more from this author. If she got my blood pumping like this with him one, I can’t even imagine what I’m in for with the next.
How utterly realistic the character of Jess is. A woman who’s been wronged, knows she’s been wronged, but still makes the attempt to put her pieces together the way they were.
And her friends. She definitely has found her tribe in the trio that not only backs her up, but supports her choices, even if they don’t agree with them.
And then Jack. I don’t know if I have enough words for him. I’m torn between his love for his wife and the completely despicable betrayals that we see over the course of the book.
Add in a menacing secret society, a third party to a love triangle, some mistresses and a gala or two and there’s enough happening to keep me occupied for days.
I really can’t wait for more from this author. If she got my blood pumping like this with him one, I can’t even imagine what I’m in for with the next.
August 12, 2020
Um....WOW! Is just one of the words to describe this book. I started reading this morning and just finished! It has been a while since I've had a book to keep me all in, the whole time. I can't make my mind up about who I'm rooting for. Both men have the power to knock any woman off her game. Mentally, physically and emotionally. I can only give it 5 stars but there needs to be more.
Patiently waiting for more to come.
Patiently waiting for more to come.
October 1, 2020
Holy cow that was amazing! So intense! I wish I hadn’t read it yesterday so I could read it today for the first time lol...How am I gonna wait till dec 24 now for the second book?!?! 😩😩😩
April 5, 2021
*draft*
3.5 / 3.75 stars
An intriguing story that opens with a polished Manhattan woman, Jess, of a prestigious background learning of the infidelity of her VP investment banker husband of three years. Cheating, you say? So of course, I was all in. It covers her emotional turmoil and discovery that there is more to her husband than appears. Jack is juicy jealous, hard-bodied, rugged, total alpha male with amazing, dominating prowess -- yes, the book was steamy, and seemingly in love with his caring wife. He is apologetic, but the question remains is he sincere?
The story told only from Jess's point of view, which makes for a disconnected read considering all the events that occur and the level of descriptiveness. This book is a "slow burn." In this case, while the pace is slow, the content does nothing to progress the story with beneficial depth; it is needlessly over descriptive -- let's call it filler, as in I don't even care about her individual steps as she pads across the gleaming hardwood floor, trailing a path of innocence and vanilla, entering their luxury marble tiled bathroom, his and her sinks, separate shower, garden tub, heated floors and towel rack while she sighs in frustration, anger, and pain over her husband's betrayal after three years of devoted marriage. Yeah, long inconsequential sh*t just like that minus the run-on sentence. An interesting read, but not enough to hold my attention for the several hours it would have taken me to read it -- oh, and I found out this is book one of a trilogy, not to mention that it is a love triangle. So how did I finish it because I had to know how it ended; the intrigue was definitely there? Why, I powered through it, skipping ahead at various points (the filler in case you were wondering), of course, and I didn't miss a thing plot wise. Proving this book should have been at least 1/3 shorter.
A story about cheating, but potentially a love triangle as well. There was both other woman and other man drama. I don't mind any of those themes, cheating nor love triangles, nor other person drama. And you would expect the latter since it is a story about cheating. There was angst, but not an inordinate amount of push and pull. The story did not go into a lot to detail of Jack's sex with the other women (which I actually would have liked to have read -- from the hero's point of view -- sue me, LoL). But what we do find out is his controlling nature in the bedroom which spills over into this marriage as they attempt to make amends, but the road is long.... Jack is no saint; he is an asshole but appears to be in love with wife. Jess is unwittingly dim despite her "causes," stupidly whiny, and often annoying. If she hurls one more time...! I felt almost no sympathy for her. Cameron, a foil to Jack, is not perfect but just well-balanced, my favorite character in the story. Jack and Cameron are described -- often -- as devastatingly gorgeous, enviable to men and irresistible to all women. A cadre of side characters contributed to the overall drama and slight angst and trepidation of the story. You just have the feeling there is more to everything that what is happening and the reader can "see." Still, I hope the story picks up since there are three books in the series and this one moved at a snail's pace.
A story about infidelity, power, secret society, BDSM, friendships, and not taking anything at face value. Enjoyable, yes, but overly long.
3.5 / 3.75 stars
An intriguing story that opens with a polished Manhattan woman, Jess, of a prestigious background learning of the infidelity of her VP investment banker husband of three years. Cheating, you say? So of course, I was all in. It covers her emotional turmoil and discovery that there is more to her husband than appears. Jack is juicy jealous, hard-bodied, rugged, total alpha male with amazing, dominating prowess -- yes, the book was steamy, and seemingly in love with his caring wife. He is apologetic, but the question remains is he sincere?
The story told only from Jess's point of view, which makes for a disconnected read considering all the events that occur and the level of descriptiveness. This book is a "slow burn." In this case, while the pace is slow, the content does nothing to progress the story with beneficial depth; it is needlessly over descriptive -- let's call it filler, as in I don't even care about her individual steps as she pads across the gleaming hardwood floor, trailing a path of innocence and vanilla, entering their luxury marble tiled bathroom, his and her sinks, separate shower, garden tub, heated floors and towel rack while she sighs in frustration, anger, and pain over her husband's betrayal after three years of devoted marriage. Yeah, long inconsequential sh*t just like that minus the run-on sentence. An interesting read, but not enough to hold my attention for the several hours it would have taken me to read it -- oh, and I found out this is book one of a trilogy, not to mention that it is a love triangle. So how did I finish it because I had to know how it ended; the intrigue was definitely there? Why, I powered through it, skipping ahead at various points (the filler in case you were wondering), of course, and I didn't miss a thing plot wise. Proving this book should have been at least 1/3 shorter.
A story about cheating, but potentially a love triangle as well. There was both other woman and other man drama. I don't mind any of those themes, cheating nor love triangles, nor other person drama. And you would expect the latter since it is a story about cheating. There was angst, but not an inordinate amount of push and pull. The story did not go into a lot to detail of Jack's sex with the other women (which I actually would have liked to have read -- from the hero's point of view -- sue me, LoL). But what we do find out is his controlling nature in the bedroom which spills over into this marriage as they attempt to make amends, but the road is long.... Jack is no saint; he is an asshole but appears to be in love with wife. Jess is unwittingly dim despite her "causes," stupidly whiny, and often annoying. If she hurls one more time...! I felt almost no sympathy for her. Cameron, a foil to Jack, is not perfect but just well-balanced, my favorite character in the story. Jack and Cameron are described -- often -- as devastatingly gorgeous, enviable to men and irresistible to all women. A cadre of side characters contributed to the overall drama and slight angst and trepidation of the story. You just have the feeling there is more to everything that what is happening and the reader can "see." Still, I hope the story picks up since there are three books in the series and this one moved at a snail's pace.
A story about infidelity, power, secret society, BDSM, friendships, and not taking anything at face value. Enjoyable, yes, but overly long.
September 5, 2020
Holy crap. This was hot. And sexy, and passionate and damn, the drama and suspense. Just… yes.
Jessynia is married to a man who is completely and utterly in love with her. Jack dotes on her, worships her with the unbridled brain-melting sex and is absolutely devoted her. At least, that’s what she believed. Until she found out he was cheating. A run-in with an old friend reveals that the infidelity was the least of her worries and Jess realizes there is a lot to her husband that she never knew. Now she’s trying to leave, but Jack just can’t let her go.
I’ll be completely honest here and admit that this book absolutely surprised me. From the blurb, I expected the steamy love scenes (and yes, they were definitely steamy), and I expected the alpha-vs-alpha dynamic, but I didn’t expect all the extra layers to the Jack-Jess-Cam triangle. I really liked that Enter the Black Oak wasn’t just smut and that author took the time to craft backgrounds and histories for her main characters. Suspense was well balanced with lighter scenes and it was really nice to see that Jess understood she was worth more than how Jack treated her.
Thank you Voracious Readers and Monique Edenwood for my copy! I am anxiously waiting for the next installment of this series!
Jessynia is married to a man who is completely and utterly in love with her. Jack dotes on her, worships her with the unbridled brain-melting sex and is absolutely devoted her. At least, that’s what she believed. Until she found out he was cheating. A run-in with an old friend reveals that the infidelity was the least of her worries and Jess realizes there is a lot to her husband that she never knew. Now she’s trying to leave, but Jack just can’t let her go.
I’ll be completely honest here and admit that this book absolutely surprised me. From the blurb, I expected the steamy love scenes (and yes, they were definitely steamy), and I expected the alpha-vs-alpha dynamic, but I didn’t expect all the extra layers to the Jack-Jess-Cam triangle. I really liked that Enter the Black Oak wasn’t just smut and that author took the time to craft backgrounds and histories for her main characters. Suspense was well balanced with lighter scenes and it was really nice to see that Jess understood she was worth more than how Jack treated her.
Thank you Voracious Readers and Monique Edenwood for my copy! I am anxiously waiting for the next installment of this series!
August 19, 2020
He's a beautiful monster
I love this book can't wait for the sequel. Jackson is a beautiful monster trapped . Trying to save a love he has destroyed.
I love this book can't wait for the sequel. Jackson is a beautiful monster trapped . Trying to save a love he has destroyed.
November 18, 2020
As soon as I read the words “sex club” my eyes rolled and telekinetically deleted this book.
DNF at 74%
DNF at 74%
September 8, 2020
Wow....where do I start with this book? I decided to read this book based on the blurb and I like to read and discover new and upcoming authors. I'm a huge fan of dark romance, with strong dominating alpha heroes and even stronger heroines who put them through their paces...and OMG you get that and a whole lot more with this story!!! The writing was exceptional and the plot blew me away, I was enthralled from the very first page till the last and I literally screamed when I realised it had ended and I now have to wait for book two!
This is a story of love, friendship and most of all betrayal. I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot more secrets uncovered and certainly more twists in the next instalment and I'm so excited for it! ❤
If you are a fan of dark romance, with hot sizzling sex scenes, broody controlling alpha heroes and one strong woman fighting to keep her sanity and heart intact then you need to read this book now!!!
So glad I've discoverd this new author, I highly recommend you give this book a read!! 5 huge stars....Monique if I could leave you more stars I would! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
This is a story of love, friendship and most of all betrayal. I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot more secrets uncovered and certainly more twists in the next instalment and I'm so excited for it! ❤
If you are a fan of dark romance, with hot sizzling sex scenes, broody controlling alpha heroes and one strong woman fighting to keep her sanity and heart intact then you need to read this book now!!!
So glad I've discoverd this new author, I highly recommend you give this book a read!! 5 huge stars....Monique if I could leave you more stars I would! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
November 26, 2021
Goodreads not only deleted my review for this book, but also completely removed this book from my shelves. grrr. I simply wrote a quick off the cuff review, so I don't so much mind losing the review as losing my status updates. The status updates had my favorite quotes. Anyway, I so do not feel like rewriting my review - but this was one of the most intense books I've read in awhile. Brutal. Raw. Painful. Thrilling. I thought the secret society aspect was executed perfectly in this book.
I initially said I'd downgrade my rating if the heroine ends up back with her husband, but I'm a little into book 2 and can see that's where this is heading. Book 2 so far feels like a set-up to make everything more OTT relating to . I'm not going to judge yet, and just strap in for the ride.
I initially said I'd downgrade my rating if the heroine ends up back with her husband, but I'm a little into book 2 and can see that's where this is heading. Book 2 so far feels like a set-up to make everything more OTT relating to . I'm not going to judge yet, and just strap in for the ride.
August 23, 2020
I found out about this book on Facebook. Let me tell you what this book has blown me away. Passion and suspense pours off the pages. Jess has been married to Jackson for 3 years, they are in love. Jess finds a phone with messages to Jack. These messages and photos with some mysterious women. She uncovers Jackson's secret present that collides with his past. Throw in some good friends and a sexy savior and you encounter The Black Oak a secret society for the rich! I highly recommend this book! Can't wait for book 2!!@@!
October 4, 2020
Too slow for my taste
Jessynia is annoying, she is very weak she lasts a whole couple days before she takes Jack back, oh and go figure he still cheating. I really enjoy cheating stories but need the heroine not to be so weak.
The cheating is much worse than she thought as there's a secret society in play.I know the next book is about Cameron, I like him however not sure if I will read it as it's still months away, and just by the Blurb Jack probably wins with the other society people and knowing Jess she'll be back with him.
Jessynia is annoying, she is very weak she lasts a whole couple days before she takes Jack back, oh and go figure he still cheating. I really enjoy cheating stories but need the heroine not to be so weak.
The cheating is much worse than she thought as there's a secret society in play.I know the next book is about Cameron, I like him however not sure if I will read it as it's still months away, and just by the Blurb Jack probably wins with the other society people and knowing Jess she'll be back with him.
August 25, 2020
Well I often say that I love reading a particular book but this one goes into my list of favourites.
The story of Jess, Jack and Cam is just mouth watering.
The ups, downs and very unexpected twists and turns keep you reading even when you should be getting out of bed!!
The alpha males are something that would be truly magnificent to see!
Plus the sex scenes are raunchy leaving your wanting more......can’t wait for the next instalment!!
The story of Jess, Jack and Cam is just mouth watering.
The ups, downs and very unexpected twists and turns keep you reading even when you should be getting out of bed!!
The alpha males are something that would be truly magnificent to see!
Plus the sex scenes are raunchy leaving your wanting more......can’t wait for the next instalment!!
October 1, 2021
I'm not sure.
I rank this book ivory on my darkness scale.
I rank this book ivory on my darkness scale.
September 8, 2024
This is about Jessynia (24), who discovers that her husband Jack (28) has been cheating on her. She bounces around chaotically, leaving him, then trying to make it work with him, then she reconnects with her old college friend Cameron, who is Jack’s enemy. And, she learns that both men are in this secret society sex cult thing. It's very “Eyes Wide Shut.”
I knew going into it that it opens with her discovering her husband cheating on her. I don't mind reading that kind of material, but I hate being surprised by it, so I'm glad I went in knowing. The opening is brutal. I also did spoil myself on who her HEA is with – it’s my understanding that she gets with about 3 guys in this series, including the 2 of them, but her ultimate HEA at the end of the series is with .
This book was decently well written, I like that it did dig into the angst and her emotional turmoil, and it kept me turning pages to find out what would happen. I’ll continue the series – although, I did read some reviews of the last book, so I’m aware that this series has too much filler and shouldn’t be 6 books long. Probably I’ll end up skimming some of it, but it does have my curiosity.
The main problem with this book is that it badly needed flashbacks. SO MUCH of this story depended on events that happened in the past. (For example, why she loves Jack! Explaining Jack and Jessynia first getting together, and why she agreed to marry him so young. Explaining him taking care of her when she was hurt. Or, her falling out with Cameron, or anything about her friendship with him). These are all big things that are extremely relevant to the story, and impact these characters' present day lives in huge ways. But we’re just told about them in retrospect. A huge amount of this book is taken up by the story telling us about these past events – show us! Don’t just tell us!
Especially because Jack is so terrible in this book. I understand that this is a series, so maybe later books will redeem him. But, it’s hard to comprehend why Jessynia is like, “I still love him! I’ll try and give our marriage another shot!” She came across as a doormat (not a complete one, since she does leave a couple times, but still too much of a doormat). The one time I liked her was .
I’m not even necessarily against a heroine trying to make it work with a hero who cheated on her, depending on how a book writes it. But I need to understand why! And, I need some follow through from him. He didn't grovel, and we didn't see him do much of anything to make up for it. She kept saying that she loved him, but she just seemed like a naive idiot for that, even as she kept being like "I don't want to be a naive idiot who stays with a cheater!" This book TOLD us about some sweet things Jack did in the past, but for the entire story, it was only SHOWING him being a huge dick.
If a book is going to have a heroine NOT immediately leave a hero who enormously betrayed her, it needs to convince me why he's so special. This book didn't really accomplish that. I couldn’t connect to her frame of mind that wasn’t ready to let Jack go. So, she's an aggravating heroine. I like a heroine who is a mess, but she comes across as scattered and spineless. And, she's too bland for so many men to be so interested in her.
Even with Cameron, after she reconnects with him, I was happy for her to move on from Jack, but it still didn't feel fleshed out enough. She kept saying they had a cosmic connection, but she had so few scenes with him. And all of them involved them talking about the past. We really needed to see some of these past events, in order to feel the depth of these relationships that so HEAVILY depend on them.
Hopefully, future books will show it. I do have to give this book some credit, it kept my attention, and although Jack is loathsome, I have to admit he’s compelling. I do want to find out more about him and get his POV.
I knew going into it that it opens with her discovering her husband cheating on her. I don't mind reading that kind of material, but I hate being surprised by it, so I'm glad I went in knowing. The opening is brutal. I also did spoil myself on who her HEA is with – it’s my understanding that she gets with about 3 guys in this series, including the 2 of them, but her ultimate HEA at the end of the series is with .
This book was decently well written, I like that it did dig into the angst and her emotional turmoil, and it kept me turning pages to find out what would happen. I’ll continue the series – although, I did read some reviews of the last book, so I’m aware that this series has too much filler and shouldn’t be 6 books long. Probably I’ll end up skimming some of it, but it does have my curiosity.
The main problem with this book is that it badly needed flashbacks. SO MUCH of this story depended on events that happened in the past. (For example, why she loves Jack! Explaining Jack and Jessynia first getting together, and why she agreed to marry him so young. Explaining him taking care of her when she was hurt. Or, her falling out with Cameron, or anything about her friendship with him). These are all big things that are extremely relevant to the story, and impact these characters' present day lives in huge ways. But we’re just told about them in retrospect. A huge amount of this book is taken up by the story telling us about these past events – show us! Don’t just tell us!
Especially because Jack is so terrible in this book. I understand that this is a series, so maybe later books will redeem him. But, it’s hard to comprehend why Jessynia is like, “I still love him! I’ll try and give our marriage another shot!” She came across as a doormat (not a complete one, since she does leave a couple times, but still too much of a doormat). The one time I liked her was .
I’m not even necessarily against a heroine trying to make it work with a hero who cheated on her, depending on how a book writes it. But I need to understand why! And, I need some follow through from him. He didn't grovel, and we didn't see him do much of anything to make up for it. She kept saying that she loved him, but she just seemed like a naive idiot for that, even as she kept being like "I don't want to be a naive idiot who stays with a cheater!" This book TOLD us about some sweet things Jack did in the past, but for the entire story, it was only SHOWING him being a huge dick.
If a book is going to have a heroine NOT immediately leave a hero who enormously betrayed her, it needs to convince me why he's so special. This book didn't really accomplish that. I couldn’t connect to her frame of mind that wasn’t ready to let Jack go. So, she's an aggravating heroine. I like a heroine who is a mess, but she comes across as scattered and spineless. And, she's too bland for so many men to be so interested in her.
Even with Cameron, after she reconnects with him, I was happy for her to move on from Jack, but it still didn't feel fleshed out enough. She kept saying they had a cosmic connection, but she had so few scenes with him. And all of them involved them talking about the past. We really needed to see some of these past events, in order to feel the depth of these relationships that so HEAVILY depend on them.
Hopefully, future books will show it. I do have to give this book some credit, it kept my attention, and although Jack is loathsome, I have to admit he’s compelling. I do want to find out more about him and get his POV.
September 26, 2020
What can I say that haven’t been said before? I am absolutely stunned and smitten by this book! I normally don’t buy a book series which hasn’t been released completely as I don’t like to wait, however this was the best book I read this year! Totally worth the wait! Love the witty characters, their possessiveness and love albeit dark lives! It’s hot hot hot and I love it! Bring on Xmas and new release!
August 16, 2021
Review for the entire series !
This made me so mad! so, so mad! The H cheats for months because "he has to", because " he feels like he doesn't belong with someone good as the heroine", and because he has the need to self-destruct. The heroine finds out and she forgives him because he loves him very very very much! *they are married*.
Jack, the cheater is very possessive and controlling, and he keeps telling the heroine that she is his wife, his " property". Really? I would have divorced him instantly for that s***it! Some weeks after their reconciliation, the heroine sees Jack and OW having sex again..yeah, the as**le did it again. This time, she leaves, and he asks her to come back..and maybe to leave him be like this when tey are not together. :)) yeah, he had the audacity to ask her to let him cheat because he loves her and he is " always coming back".
Anyway, the heroine was a doormat, the H was an as***le, the plot was stupid and the execution ridiculous. After I skip read the 3 th book I found ut that the author changed her mind and made this a 5 books series * it begun as a 3 book series*. The heroine is now wanted by 3 guys, one the leader of a secret society, and she is heartbroken because she doesn't think she can forgive Jack...
This made me so mad! so, so mad! The H cheats for months because "he has to", because " he feels like he doesn't belong with someone good as the heroine", and because he has the need to self-destruct. The heroine finds out and she forgives him because he loves him very very very much! *they are married*.
Jack, the cheater is very possessive and controlling, and he keeps telling the heroine that she is his wife, his " property". Really? I would have divorced him instantly for that s***it! Some weeks after their reconciliation, the heroine sees Jack and OW having sex again..yeah, the as**le did it again. This time, she leaves, and he asks her to come back..and maybe to leave him be like this when tey are not together. :)) yeah, he had the audacity to ask her to let him cheat because he loves her and he is " always coming back".
Anyway, the heroine was a doormat, the H was an as***le, the plot was stupid and the execution ridiculous. After I skip read the 3 th book I found ut that the author changed her mind and made this a 5 books series * it begun as a 3 book series*. The heroine is now wanted by 3 guys, one the leader of a secret society, and she is heartbroken because she doesn't think she can forgive Jack...
December 25, 2020
Wow wow wee wow!
I'm a big cheater reader and I tend to dislike when cheating is only alluded to or isn't very explicit. Um...not the case here and for that, I thank you Monique Edenwood. The cheating is pretty full-on brutal.
Jack sucks. Like, a lot. He's an asshole and I would not call him a hero, he's very much an anti-hero, at least in this book. Which, is NOT a deal-breaker for me at all. It's actually another bonus.
I usually do not root for the woman who was cheated on to find herself some revenge strange peen to bounce around on. When I read a cheating book, I like the dude to do the dirty deed and the women to ache and get angry but stay fairly chaste. I don't know why and you don't get to judge me over it, damn it!
HOWEVER! I WANTED Jess to get some big D from anyone other than Jack in this read. That's how much Jack sucks. Now, I'm not saying I don't want her to eventually end up back with Jack, because I'm totally open to that. I love husband redemption with a huge passion. But for now, at the end of book one and about to pop open book two - my mind is open to all possibilities.
I'm a big cheater reader and I tend to dislike when cheating is only alluded to or isn't very explicit. Um...not the case here and for that, I thank you Monique Edenwood. The cheating is pretty full-on brutal.
Jack sucks. Like, a lot. He's an asshole and I would not call him a hero, he's very much an anti-hero, at least in this book. Which, is NOT a deal-breaker for me at all. It's actually another bonus.
I usually do not root for the woman who was cheated on to find herself some revenge strange peen to bounce around on. When I read a cheating book, I like the dude to do the dirty deed and the women to ache and get angry but stay fairly chaste. I don't know why and you don't get to judge me over it, damn it!
HOWEVER! I WANTED Jess to get some big D from anyone other than Jack in this read. That's how much Jack sucks. Now, I'm not saying I don't want her to eventually end up back with Jack, because I'm totally open to that. I love husband redemption with a huge passion. But for now, at the end of book one and about to pop open book two - my mind is open to all possibilities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2022
HOLY HOTNESS!
Wow, I loved every second of this angsty, emotional roller coaster. And to make it all the more intense, it felt like the roller coaster was on fire. 🥵🥵
The pages of Enter the Black Oak simultaneously burned and bled with the heroine, Jess's pain, insecurities, and lust as her 'perfect' life fell apart around her. And as the reader, I felt every blow right along with her.
I loved that the how's and the why's of her marriage to Jack were slowly revealed to finally give a glimpse of the full picture. Or is it the full picture? I can't wait to learn more of this sordid tale. I'm on to book 2!
If you're into . . .
Please be aware that a central theme of this book is cheating. If such content offends you, please turn your attention elsewhere.
Wow, I loved every second of this angsty, emotional roller coaster. And to make it all the more intense, it felt like the roller coaster was on fire. 🥵🥵
The pages of Enter the Black Oak simultaneously burned and bled with the heroine, Jess's pain, insecurities, and lust as her 'perfect' life fell apart around her. And as the reader, I felt every blow right along with her.
I loved that the how's and the why's of her marriage to Jack were slowly revealed to finally give a glimpse of the full picture. Or is it the full picture? I can't wait to learn more of this sordid tale. I'm on to book 2!
If you're into . . .
✔ contemporary romance. . . you've found your next read.
✔ love triangles
✔ a D/s dynamic
✔ scorching heat
✔ rip-your-heart-out angst
Please be aware that a central theme of this book is cheating. If such content offends you, please turn your attention elsewhere.
March 30, 2021
I love the triangle trope and this was a good one.
Jess is married to Jack and in the first pages of the book she finds out he has been cheating on her. This leads her to question her relationship and several secrets he had been hiding about his life. She has great friends and family that are there for her and one in particular from her past that she reconnects with.
Both are alpha males fighting for a women they love while dealing with a secret society and powerful people.
I did feel some of the verbiage was odd and Repetitive.
I was surprised at the amount of spicy scenes however There is a good plot to go with it.
A mysterious and thrilling read with Several shocking moments.
Contemporary. Cheating. Triangle.
Let’s chat books!
IG. BluvsBooks
Jess is married to Jack and in the first pages of the book she finds out he has been cheating on her. This leads her to question her relationship and several secrets he had been hiding about his life. She has great friends and family that are there for her and one in particular from her past that she reconnects with.
Both are alpha males fighting for a women they love while dealing with a secret society and powerful people.
I did feel some of the verbiage was odd and Repetitive.
I was surprised at the amount of spicy scenes however There is a good plot to go with it.
A mysterious and thrilling read with Several shocking moments.
Contemporary. Cheating. Triangle.
Let’s chat books!
IG. BluvsBooks
July 28, 2020
Fantastic
Omg what a read couldn't put it down cannot wait to find out what happens next it is riveting and will have you up all night turning each page till the last one
Will be reading more from this author
Omg what a read couldn't put it down cannot wait to find out what happens next it is riveting and will have you up all night turning each page till the last one
Will be reading more from this author
February 12, 2021
Amazingly addictive and well written. Kind of gave me Eyes Wide Shut vibes.
TW: dub con
TW: dub con
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