Buttons & Power

Beyond Buttons #4

by Penelope Sky

Muse told the world how she felt about me.

Instead of feeling joy, I felt terror.

This isn't what I want.

This isn't how our relationship is supposed to be.

I end things because I have no other choice.

But I struggle to cope with my misery, to sleep in an empty bed without her beside me.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Dark, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Erotic Romance

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2018

About the author

A New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Penelope Sky is known for her dark romance that makes you fall for her characters….no matter how dark they seem. Her books are being translated into several languages around the world, and she’s sold more than a million books worldwide. She lives in a small town in California with her husband, where she spends most of her time writing on the back porch.

Reviews

[Nazanin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Wasn’t as good as the other books in the series. Actually it hadn’t a strong plot. I got bored and after reading 70% I started skipping and skimming! Told in multiple POV, 1st person. It’s the fourth installment in the "Lingerie" series, it must be read in order. And I’m done with this series. Hope you enjoy it though!

[Roxana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Conway and Sapphire and their books were so good! I can’t wait to read Vanessa’s now!!

⚠️As always check TW’s for Penelope Sky’s books they deal with dark topics

[Lobke · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is some time ago I read the 3rd book of this series, so I didn't really remember what has happened. But after a couple of chapters, everything came back to me and I was back into the story. I really liked this one, it's very similar to the stories of 'Buttons'. But I think it never gets old, I can keep reading these books forever. I read this book within 2 days, so that tells how easy these books are to read.

I'm curious how Vanessa's storyline will continue and off course, she'll find a man who is perfect for her.

[Dai G · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

Me encanto la introducción de vanessa. Ya deseo leer el siguiente para saber mas de ella. Es tan hija de pearl.

Me encanto la escena de pearl, es la mejor.

Y conway es un bebé 😍

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’avoue que je me suis un peu ennuyé à certains moments du livre, d’où le 4 étoiles. Mais la nouvelle de Sapphire + les passages de Vanessa + la fin du livre ont complètement changé la mise. J’apprécie plus le caractère, le courage et la détermination de Vanessa. Elles sont totalement différentes et aimantent toutes les deux, mais Vanessa m’a vraiment plus surprise. Vite que je lise le tome suivant ! 

[Tannaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

the loveliest love! oh my God....

[Lauren Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guess who's back? Back again...Penny's back...Tell a friend!

...So, can I confess something?

I was in the middle of reading another book, Archer's Voice, and I looked at the clock--9:30 P.M. --2 and 1/2 more hours, I told myself, 2 and 1/2 more hours and I can download Queen in Lingerie.

But I was so tired. So, I grabbed my keys and drove to the gas station and got a BIG red bull (Blueberry kind, it's my favorite) and I stayed up just to download the 4th book of the Lingerie series and I stayed up all night to read it.

I have this sick addiction where my favorite part in any and all books it when the "stand-off" character (if there is one) finally admits their love...so I will read and read until I get to that part just because I want to see them say it.


I don't know if "stand-off" character is a thing but I just made it one.

Stand-Off Character- When a character is putting out a hard exterior while fighting with their inner emotions trying to convince their selves they're not in love when they're in fact helplessly in love.

TAKE THAT OXFORD!

….That was the best part though, when Conway FINALLY admitted that he loved her! Just like his dad. I remember I read all three Button's book in one sitting, FOR REAL! --I didn't sleep, I hardly ate and I occasionally made sure my kids were still breathing (HAHA, JK-- Kind of) but I couldn't put the books down until I heard Crow tell Pearl..and that's why the wait between Book #3 and Book #4, was awful!

Conway!! Swoon. Butteries. Hearts. Flowers. and any other cute shit I could insert---you're amazing-- you obsessive, controlling, hard, caring, and loyal bastard!


Now on to Vanessa's books! --YAY!


Oh and let me just say for some of the people who followed my last review.

My girlfriend said to me, "It kind of freaks me out reading their kids books. I don't want to think of Crow and Cane being all old and shit."


Well...one thing is for certain. Crow is still a sexy ass beast in my mind. His stern expression and the way he handles his shit--well someone call the fire department because my panties were on fire several times.

[Dora Koutsoukou · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ❤️❤️❤️❤️🌟🌟🌟🌟s !!!!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing 4th book in the series!!! Sapphire and Conway really grew as a couple in this book and I was so happy to see that. I was glad he was able to get his head out of his ass and go after the women he loved but was scared to admit. He is just like his father. My heart broke for Vanessa but was happy she is another badass Barsetti! I agree with Sapphire I would feel super guilty as well because what happened is because of her. But it goes to show the strength the Barsetti's have and how much they love everyone including Sapphire. I can't wait to see where the rest of this story goes! It continually gets better and better.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg where do we start? I couldn’t put this down from the moment I first read the first word till I read the last word.
I love the Barsetti’s and we pick up from where Conway threw Muse out after she declared her love for him.
Typical Barsetti Conway so much like his dad Crow and can’t admit his feelings or that he made a mistake in letting her go.
Even Crow tries to talk some sense into him.
Queen in lingerie went through every possible emotion and I laughed, gasped, cried and tensed. Penelope Sky knows how to keep you glued and in suspense.
Can’t wait to read Empress in lingerie to see where the story is going to take us next.

[Mandy Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously can't get enough

I literally read this in 3 hours! I could not stop. I'm so obsessed with this series. But this one felt so emotional. Conway is definitely his fathers son! And I love seeing all the family together! Button is still a bad @ss!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

“Just be mine. The way you’ve always been mine.”

Finally Conway got his act together but I feel like his and sapphires story didn’t/deserve 4 books. I’m ready for the nexts book tho

[Debra James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic

This was a great conclusion to Conway and Sapphire’s story. I loved seeing the parallels between their story and Button and Crow’s story.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like father like son. Conway is so afraid to love or be loved. He needs to get his head out of his a** and see what everyone else sees before it's too late. Love this Series so far.

[Tory L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed Penelope Sky's writing style, characters, and overall plot in her books. However, I felt Saphhire and Conway's story largely mirrored that of Crow and Pearl, with just a few, very minor changes. I still gave it a 4 star rating. I'm hoping the rest of this series does not mimick what I've already read.

[Megan Reynoso · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was soooo much better. Still a wrap up of a slow burn that was so back and forth I feel like I have whiplash but I LOVED the Barsetti tie ins and take downs. I love a good happy ending and now I’m on the EDGE OF MY SEAT for Vanessa’s story because there’s no way you introduce that without it being ABSOLUTE chaos for every member of that family. Loved the way they full circled for Muse though. It was sweet!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

[Karla Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conway really messed up and I wanted him to fix it because he deserved to be with Sapphire. It was sad to see how much their separation really affected him. Even though it affected it her too, she still was able to thrive and keep pushing forward without him.

For Conway, he lost his way of being. His inspiration of every form. It takes him awhile to get there, but he eventually gets there. It’s so beautiful when they come together. When also finding out they’re expecting, oh how much he’s changed. I adore this couple so much. I’ll miss them.

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, i think that the summary doesn’t do the book justice. What’s alluded to here is just one snippet of the greater story that we’re really immersed in. In this 3rd book, we see what Sapphire and Conways relationship has truly become. There are real feelings and real emotions, and while sapphire is more honest with how she feels, Con is never going to admit it. He does things for her, and protects her in ways that he would never have before, but that makes him uncomfortable on a different level.

The journey in this installment takes us on some amazing adventures. We see Conway and Carter’s participation in the Underground evolve, with an after affect that hurts their family and uncovers something that they never expected. We see adventures taking us to romantic locales, Sapphire getting to experience the luxury that Conway can give her in Greece and beyond. We see Sapphire finally decide to admit her feelings and that’s where the story takes a sharp left turn.

Conway is a man who NEEDS control and won’t survive if someone else tries to take it. When Sapphire takes things into her own hands, she finds herself thrown out of Conways house in the middle of the night with nothing, no money, no assets, and no where to go. Thankfully she had that offer from Andrew Lexington to be his model for years, so she uses that as an opportunity to rebuild her life.

This bit of the story seems very reminiscent of Pearl and Crow- when Pearl went back to America because things just weren’t what they should be. Here, Sapphire has a job, she crafts a new life in the hopes of getting past the heart break, and starts to build a new friend ship with a successful man named Nox who helps her realize that she’s worthy and should be cherished. Conway realizes the error in his ways, tries to make things right by chasing her to NYC, but when he can’t offer her what she needs in ‘forever’ – he goes back to Italy with his tail between his legs.

The path that this story takes is so moody and sad. Sapphire can’t seem to move past Conway and how she feels about him, even when she tries to live her life. He’s always in her thoughts but she also knows that she deserves better. It’s only when Conway’s world crumbles, his work suffers and he’s unable to design anything, all he does is drink and starve himself…Crow talks to him and gives him the kick in the pants that he needs. Crow shares with him a bit of his experience with his mom and we see that maybe it lights a fire and there’s hope.

If only that’s where our story ends right? Seeing Conway come to his senses, but we also know that regardless of what Sapphire feels for him, she’s not going to back down for what she believes she deserves and their journey continues to get complicated, even with unexpected twists and turns in both their professional and personal life. That bit of the story i won’t go into, but know that it’s compelling and intriguing.

We have all the romance and chemistry layered into this story as we have in the others- the connection here with these two as something that’s super symbiotic and it adds a dynamic that we haven’t seen with the other couples.

What does come as a surprise (but maybe not?) is what happens with Knuckles here. I think that we were all jaded if we thought he was going to disappear and well, he comes back with a mission and that’s to get Sapphire back somehow, putting the entire Barsetti clan on alert and presenting a show of force that would make anyone cringe

The story doesn’t stop there, and i’m happy to say that the version of the book that i have gives me the next installment and i don’t even need to go searching for it!

[Follow the Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronique d'Audrey :

https://followthereader2016.wordpress...

Conway commence à se rendre compte de la bêtise qu’il a faite en laissant partir Sapphire. Ou plutôt, en la mettant dehors en pleine nuit, pour être exact. Il dit qu’il ne tombera jamais amoureux mais tout dans ses actions montre qu’il a paniqué et qu’il comprend qu’il a fait une erreur, qu’il a des sentiments pour elle qu’il ne veut pas s’avouer.

De son côté, Sapphire vit sa vie, de retour à New York. Elle n’a pas honte de dire qu’elle aime Conway, qu’elle veut faire son chemin avec lui et fonder une famille, mais cela rend Conway très mal à l’aise. Pour lui, une relation s’essouffle forcément et les amants finissent par se quitter, il ne veut donc pas lui donner de faux espoirs en lui disant qu’il l’aime. Logique implacable ?

Conway avait oublié une chose : sa famille adore Sapphire. Et surtout, ils avaient vu le bonheur qu’ils partageaient. Chacun va venir mettre son grain de sel pour le faire réagir et j’ai bien aimé tous ces passages. Au final, quand une telle attirance est présente entre deux êtres, ils ne peuvent être séparés longtemps … Un récit encore une fois chaud bouillant ! Et une transformation tellement spectaculaire qu’elle en perd de sa crédibilité. Pour une prise une conscience, ça en est une, peut-être un peu trop : elle peut faire rêver, tout en restant dans le domaine du rêve tellement cela nous paraît irréaliste.

L’auteure remet du suspens à la fin, avec un retournement de situation pas très étonnant sur le fond mais qui nous permet de nous ré-embarquer dans l’histoire et de nous faire découvrir d’autres facettes des personnages composant la famille Barsetti. L’histoire continue avec Vanessa, la petite sœur de Conway. J’ai adoré son personnage très fort et bien loin des héroïnes geignardes ! J’ai donc hâte de découvrir ce que Penelope Sky nous réserve.

Un tome qui permet de conclure de façon « happy end » l’histoire de Sapphire et Conway (un peu trop pour être crédible, d’ailleurs) et d’enclencher la suite avec la sœur de ce dernier, qui promet de nous faire encore vibrer.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me encantan los finales de esta autora. Sus libros, aunque casi todos son iguales, siempre son como una montaña rusa y muy adictivos. La verdad que la trama ha mejorado bastante en este último libro aunque pienso que la historia debería haberse quedado solo en 2 libros para que no se me hiciera tan pesado. Ese final con Knucles y Pearl acabando con él ha sido increíble. Y Dios, Vanessa es una Reina! Ella sola ha logrado escapar. Me encanta esa frase que recuerde de su madre cuando le dijo que no tenía que esperar a que nadie la salvara. Que ella sola tenía que aprender a salvarse. ME ENCANTA. Las adoro y después de ese final estoy impaciente por conocer más a Vanessa. Lo que sí me ha faltado es ver ese desfile final y me ha decepcionado que hayan acabado tan pronto con Knucles.


Como ya dije, en el libro anterior se nota muchísimo la evolución de Conway y en este, aunque al principio he odiado que fuera tan orgulloso y se negara a admitir que amaba a Sapphire, me encanta que al menos buscara Sapphire y le pidiera perdón. Amo los finales felices y sabiendo que todo ha terminado bien estoy contenta. De Sapphire no tengo mucho que decir porque es muy similiar a Pearl y yo amo a Pearl. El único pero que tengo con ella es que haya perdona tan rápido a Conway…solo le hacía falta que le dijera que la amaba y ya lo perdonada…No sé…


Lo que más amo de estos libros es la ambientación. DIOS MÍO. Siempre que leo estos libros me imagino Italia y el sol de la toscana contra mi piel. Es como si estuviera allí con los Barsetti bebiendo vino y disfrutando del sol italiano. Ay, esta autora me ha creado esa necesidad y es algo que necesito hacer en mi vida.

La familia Barsetti es algo que adoro y que siempre tendrán un lugar muy importante en mi corazón. Adoro lo fuertes que son y lo mucho que se cuidan los unos a los otros. Tengo muchísima curiosidad por los libros de Vanesa porque presiento que va a dar mucho juego. Esperemos que la autora no la cague y me de lo que estoy buscando.

P.D: no sabía que Cane también tenía una hija! Nunca se la había mencionado y ahora me entero que tiene sus propios libros. Tengo muchísima curiosidad por saber más de ella y Cárter.

[Donna Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started to write this review, I had to stop and reread the book. Why?

The why is that I enjoyed how Penelope Sky made all my emotions come to life. Not all books can make you cry, laugh, want to throw a fit, beat someone to death, make love all night to the person I love and hug everyone in my family by the end, but Queen of Lingerie did.

We cried because Muse is gone. Thrown out like garbage. She calls Conway’s biggest competitor and went to New York. She’s not happy and will only love one man, but without him she now has her own money, a new place to live and a job. She is miserable.

Conway took a day or two before he realizes what he is done. He threw her out because she said she loved him. Conway doesn’t want a woman to love him, or so he thought. He can’t work, isn’t eating, drinking a lot, and wants nothing to do with other women. He is miserable.

Conway’s family attempt to tell him he was wrong and was in fact in love with Muse. As his father told him he did the same with his mother Button and realized he was wrong and begged his son not to make the same mistake.

After realizing or just finally admitting what we all knew all along. He loved her. He needed her. He had to bring her home.

Now all joy is back in both hearts as she encourages and inspires him to make a new line of lingerie to only find there will be a new Barsetti on the way. Conway was calm supportive and loving and Sapphire informed that he was going to be a father.

The next hurdle is the man who wants to rape and kill Sapphire, Knuckles makes the mistake of taking Vanessa Barsetti. Button and Crows baby daughter is as fiery as her mother and puts up a good fight. You’ll have to read to find out how it will end.

Penelope Sky has created a family that will live on in our hearts forever. Thank you for allowing me to participate in the ARC group for installment. Loved it.

[Gemma Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally… the man sees sense!

So after Buttons and Devotion (book 3), I was more than a little frustrated. Conway Barsetti was so bloomin’ stubborn that he threw away the best thing in his life. What an idiot!

So book four, opens with Conway licking his wounds in Verona whilst the love of his life is back in America and working for his rival. The longer he stays away from her, the more he realises his mistake… but he’s a proud man who struggles to admit when he’s wrong. Instead of just accepting how he feels about Sapphire, he continues to deny his love for her.

As for Sapphire, she’s trying to move on too, but even though her new modelling career is enabling her to be independent, she’s lonely. Her heart just won’t let Conway go and even when another hot, young guy shows an interest, she can’t bring herself to move on.

But jealousy is the perfect catalyst for Mr. Possessive and when it looks like another man is poised to take his place, Conway knows he needs to stop telling himself he’s not in love and just accept that he’s miserable and broken without his muse.

This book is as heartwarming as the previous book was infuriating and finally, Conway and Sapphire become the couple we knew they were destined to be… and it’s beautiful and sweet. But nothing about the Barsetti’s is ever that simple. Just when you think everything is perfect… someone, somewhere comes crawling out of the woodwork to mess things up.

Will they come through their next ordeal unscathed? And just what could be the price they have to pay to keep their family safe?

Great series and amazing characters that I’ve really taken into my heart. I can’t wait to keep reading so that their stories continue.

Well done Penelope another fantastic read that truly touched my heart.

[rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conway and Sapphire 🥹 (1-4). Their story definitely took some time to get into. But, overall I liked it.

At first, I didn’t think much of their trope. It was going to be a simple fwb to lovers but, it ended up being so much more than that.

Conway didn’t want a relationship, fall in love, etc. All he wanted was sex and literally that was it. It wasn’t until he saw Sapphire audition to become a lingerie model that his world shifted and he didn’t even realize it. He refused to fall in love with her, so he hid his feelings with obsession. He became obsessed with Sapphire, the way she acted, smiled, her personality, the way she kept him in check.

Slowly, everyone around him noticed his change. Sapphire made Conway softer, he became possessive over her, and slowly fell in love. His family knew he was in love before he even knew it.

Sapphire was running from her past. She needed money, and audition JUST for the money, the next thing she knew it, she was falling for a man who didn’t want love. Obviously, she was falling for him which definitely caused a lot of drama. She didn’t let that stop her though. She put her foot down and gave him an ultimatum.

It wasn’t until Sapphire left that Conway realized how much he loved her. His world went from colors to dull, fast. His bed wasn’t the same, his designs weren’t the same without his Muse. He chased after her, and confessed how much he loved Sapphire.

Suddenly again, his life changed. He saw life the way his parents saw it. He found his soulmate, and he never wanted to let her go. They were love at first sight..and everyone around them knew it before they even knew it.

I loved their story. It was definitely an interesting yet beautiful story 🥹. I’m happy that Conway got the love story he deserves 🫶🏻

[PATRICIA GARZA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tenía muchísimo pero muchísimo que no me enganchaba una serie así. Tengo los ojos ya casi rojos por no poder parar de leer jajaja pero LOS AME!...siento que ya soy parte de la familia Barsetti y casi lloro por haberlos terminado...

Estos libros son continuación de la serie de BOTONES pero 30 años después ya que tratan de los hijos... En los 15 libros es la misma historia lineal pero se van agregando los personajes y van contando sus historias..la historia es buenísima, llena de acción, sexo, hombres poderosos, protectores y mujeres fuertes e independientes... definitivamente mis personajes favoritos fueron las parejas de Vanessa-Bones y de Carmen-Bosco (se llevan casi toda la serie)... los amé...la historia de Conway (con él empieza el libro #1) estuvo buena y la de Carter no fue mi favorita, como que su historia estuvo solo en un libro y no me creí de todo la historia de amor de ellos, sobre todo de parte de ella pero bueno, dura tan poquito que las demás te absorben por completo.

le doy un 100 a esta serie y espero que todas tengan oportunidad de leerla porque es de lo mejor que he leído en mucho tiempo.

[Monique Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was definitely worth the wait!! I was on edge amd left in suspense with the last book, dying to know what would come next! With Sapphire taking off to NY to work for Conway's number 1 competitor, I didn't know what to expect or how crazy he would get when he found out! I had so many questions that needed answers when I was getting ready to start this book!!

As always, Penelope Sky found a way to make the reader experience a multitude of emotions, and always yearning for more! I couldn't put it down once I started to read it! I had to know what was going to happen with Sapphire and Conway, good or bad! I am glad Sapphire stuck to her guns and wouldn't accept anything less than what she truly wanted and deserved! Despite his flaws, and the stupid mistakes he made, Conway won all of our hearts over! I was sad to reach the end of the book, because I knew it meant the end of their story. I can't wait to read the next installment in the series to see where Vanessa's life may lead her next!

[La_Pire (TheWorstReader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, I did enjoy the Lingerie series, probably because I'm a sucker for alpha males (in books, let's be clear :p). However, these books had too many mistakes, too many repetitions, sometimes a paragraph was placed twice in the same book, a whole paragraph! How does that even happen??? I felt like the author thought I was stupid or had a very bad memory because she kept repeading why the characters were attracted to each other, why they couldn't be together, why it was wrong to love each other, etc. Writing four books for the same couple is just absurd and unncessary here, one book for one story would have been enough!
Also the characters had the same way of talking, the same personnalities, the author literally toke the same characters but changed their physics and their background story a little bit and bam she had a new book.

However, I feel like this series could have some potential if she made it shorter, worked on her characters and had an editor (because I guess she doesn't have one?).

[Angela Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 books in 1

Queen in lingerie
Brilliant read, I was shocked when i saw I was already at the end of it. How amazing did Conway turn out? Once Muse was back he was a different man, thankfully. I liked how vanessa was brought into it as the next book is her story. So well done Penelope sky, Im off to the next book, oh and thanks for adding the next book in
the series to this one.

Empress in lingerie
Well well what is there to say about Bones. I love the steam, with him and Vanessa, and I love when you see his heart. But boy he has dar thoughts. So he is a love to hate character but... I find his thought process over his parents annoying because he knows his dad was a bad guy and if he lived what makes him think his and his mums life would have turned out any different. OG Bones wouldn’t have been a loving father who would have given his son his millions, if anything I think he would have killed mother and son. So his vendetta is pointless in my opinion, but let’s watch this space I think he’ll grow into a better person.

[Mrs Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the underworld comes calling. The Barsetti’s always answer.
I love that both Crow & Cane have created something better with their families they found the upbringing they had.
They changed it up, wanted better for them.

Reading the previous ‘Button’ series, and knowing the characters, Cane & Crow. I could imagine that exchange when Crow phoned Cane for help with his son.

I loved the tie up on Conway & Sapphire’s story. They are perfect for each other, I’m so glad he came to his senses.

The author always keeps it under wraps when they’re going to tell each other they love one another.
You may see it through their actions. But with Conway continuing to deny his feelings, you didn’t know he would say anything until the moment he did, even in his own thoughts he never thought it, until he said it. And once he started, he couldn’t stop.

Only thing that bothered me. Conway had to know her surname, he got intel on her in the beginning from Carter and paid off her debts to the American authorities.