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Corporate Affairs #2
Meredith's Awakening
Meredith Worthington was damaged goods. After years of mental and physical abuse at the hands of her megalomaniac father, she finally reached out for one night of freedom in the arms of a mysterious Dark Knight. That night came to a screeching end when her beloved brother dragged her from her lover’s arms, calling her a whore and breaking her heart. Less than twenty-four hours later, Meredith’s father was dead, and her brother had been outed as a “perverted” sexual Dom. Hurt and confused, Meredith retreated behind a wall of ice, determined not to let anyone ever have the power to hurt her again.
Tony Renatto knew the moment he saw her that he wanted Meredith Worthington. The moment he touched her, he realized she was the woman who would own his soul. But she seemed totally out of his reach. What did he, a struggling construction worker, have to offer the Worthington Princess? For five years Tony worked to make himself worthy, to build an empire to offer her, waiting patiently for the day he could lay his heart at her feet. He knew his Princess had been hurt, but until he faced the demons of her past, he didn’t realize just how much.
What does a woman who doesn’t believe in love, do with the heart of a good man? And how can a man who’s only known love and acceptance, reach a woman who’s only known pain?
Can Meredith over come her fear and believe that she deserves true love, that trusting the right person can lead to happiness and melt her icy existence?
This story contains m/m , voyuerism, aspects of BDSM and bondage.
Tony Renatto knew the moment he saw her that he wanted Meredith Worthington. The moment he touched her, he realized she was the woman who would own his soul. But she seemed totally out of his reach. What did he, a struggling construction worker, have to offer the Worthington Princess? For five years Tony worked to make himself worthy, to build an empire to offer her, waiting patiently for the day he could lay his heart at her feet. He knew his Princess had been hurt, but until he faced the demons of her past, he didn’t realize just how much.
What does a woman who doesn’t believe in love, do with the heart of a good man? And how can a man who’s only known love and acceptance, reach a woman who’s only known pain?
Can Meredith over come her fear and believe that she deserves true love, that trusting the right person can lead to happiness and melt her icy existence?
This story contains m/m , voyuerism, aspects of BDSM and bondage.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
4 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
About the author
Violet Summers
44 books129 followersViolet is actually the writing team of Sierra Summers and V.J. Summers.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 4, 2011
2nd book in the Worthington Group series.
I have said before that I am not a huge fan of BDSM, but honestly after reading books 1& 2 of this series I am beginning to understand the life style, or what erotic romance tells us it is. In my opinion the book explores the darker side of BDSM and I was honestly at my comfort level. But this certainly didn’t take anything away from the story for me. I loved it.
Meredith is cold, but her past makes her this way. I actually liked her and understood why she kept everyone at a distance. Anthony is a hot construction company owner with a large loud family who taught him how to love. All he wants is Meredith and he has spent the last five years, after a quickie in a BDSM club, trying to build a life so that he could be worthy of her. See she captured his soul and he needs her to complete him almost as much as she needs him to rescue her from her icy self.
Together they begin a journey that aside from a problem that Anthony keeps from her regarding the construction project he is working on for her family, is definitely a wild ride.
The club scene towards the end of the book felt a bit unnecessary to me, but it really is sort of a turning point for them.
What is cool about this story is that it coincides with the first book Carrie's Answer. So I recommend that these are read in order.
I have said before that I am not a huge fan of BDSM, but honestly after reading books 1& 2 of this series I am beginning to understand the life style, or what erotic romance tells us it is. In my opinion the book explores the darker side of BDSM and I was honestly at my comfort level. But this certainly didn’t take anything away from the story for me. I loved it.
Meredith is cold, but her past makes her this way. I actually liked her and understood why she kept everyone at a distance. Anthony is a hot construction company owner with a large loud family who taught him how to love. All he wants is Meredith and he has spent the last five years, after a quickie in a BDSM club, trying to build a life so that he could be worthy of her. See she captured his soul and he needs her to complete him almost as much as she needs him to rescue her from her icy self.
Together they begin a journey that aside from a problem that Anthony keeps from her regarding the construction project he is working on for her family, is definitely a wild ride.
The club scene towards the end of the book felt a bit unnecessary to me, but it really is sort of a turning point for them.
What is cool about this story is that it coincides with the first book Carrie's Answer. So I recommend that these are read in order.
October 5, 2012
My review cross-posted from Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-r...
For Tony Renatto, it was love at first sight upon seeing Meredith Worthington. It’s been five years since their first encounter, and Tony’s finally convinced he has something to offer the beautiful executive. Meredith may be known as an “ice princess,” but Tony sees the wounded woman beneath the strong exterior and he yearns to awaken the fiery, passionate Meredith he knows exists. With domination, seduction, and tenderness, Tony will tempt Meredith to break free of her self-imposed isolation. But if Tony can’t get through to Meredith, will the two ever have a chance at the life he dreams of for them?
Meredith’s Awakening starts off with off-the-charts eroticism. Authors Sierra and VJ Summers know how to make sex scenes sizzle and the first few encounters between Tony and Meredith are wickedly hot.
I adored Meredith’s strength and intelligence. The scars she bears from the people who should have loved and supported her broke my heart and I wanted her to find not only love, but true happiness with Tony. Tony, in turn, starts off the book as the ideal hero, but my affection for him quickly fizzled, which lessened my enjoyment of Meredith’s Awakening. Tony is sexy, sure, but he goes (in my opinion) too far in the name of “protecting” Meredith. He claims to respect her as a person and as a businesswoman, but when he learns there are drugs being stored on her family’s construction site, instead of going to Meredith he waits to tell one of her brothers. The logic behind his actions is he’s “protecting” Meredith, but as she does not show a lack of common sense, it seems reasonable to assume that she would not start to poke around a potentially dangerous situation. In fact, telling her what was going on would actually be safer, as she wouldn’t have to go to the site looking for answers. Tony deliberately avoids telling her what’s going on, which made me feel like he didn’t respect her intelligence or position as one-third owner of her family’s business. He demands trust then breaks it with justifications I simply don’t understand, which makes it incredibly hard for me to see him as a good hero.
Meredith’s Awakening is the second book in Mses. Summers’ Corporate Affairs series, but can easily be read as a standalone. However, Mses. Summers definitely intrigue readers with glimpses of Meredith’s brothers, the heroes of Carrie’s Answer and Daniel’s Surrender. Though Meredith’s Awakening was not the book for me, I normally enjoy Sierra and VJ Summers’ work and I’m looking forward to reading Daniel’s Surrender.
Note: Meredith’s Awakening was previously published and has been revised for Ellora’s Cave.
For Tony Renatto, it was love at first sight upon seeing Meredith Worthington. It’s been five years since their first encounter, and Tony’s finally convinced he has something to offer the beautiful executive. Meredith may be known as an “ice princess,” but Tony sees the wounded woman beneath the strong exterior and he yearns to awaken the fiery, passionate Meredith he knows exists. With domination, seduction, and tenderness, Tony will tempt Meredith to break free of her self-imposed isolation. But if Tony can’t get through to Meredith, will the two ever have a chance at the life he dreams of for them?
Meredith’s Awakening starts off with off-the-charts eroticism. Authors Sierra and VJ Summers know how to make sex scenes sizzle and the first few encounters between Tony and Meredith are wickedly hot.
I adored Meredith’s strength and intelligence. The scars she bears from the people who should have loved and supported her broke my heart and I wanted her to find not only love, but true happiness with Tony. Tony, in turn, starts off the book as the ideal hero, but my affection for him quickly fizzled, which lessened my enjoyment of Meredith’s Awakening. Tony is sexy, sure, but he goes (in my opinion) too far in the name of “protecting” Meredith. He claims to respect her as a person and as a businesswoman, but when he learns there are drugs being stored on her family’s construction site, instead of going to Meredith he waits to tell one of her brothers. The logic behind his actions is he’s “protecting” Meredith, but as she does not show a lack of common sense, it seems reasonable to assume that she would not start to poke around a potentially dangerous situation. In fact, telling her what was going on would actually be safer, as she wouldn’t have to go to the site looking for answers. Tony deliberately avoids telling her what’s going on, which made me feel like he didn’t respect her intelligence or position as one-third owner of her family’s business. He demands trust then breaks it with justifications I simply don’t understand, which makes it incredibly hard for me to see him as a good hero.
Meredith’s Awakening is the second book in Mses. Summers’ Corporate Affairs series, but can easily be read as a standalone. However, Mses. Summers definitely intrigue readers with glimpses of Meredith’s brothers, the heroes of Carrie’s Answer and Daniel’s Surrender. Though Meredith’s Awakening was not the book for me, I normally enjoy Sierra and VJ Summers’ work and I’m looking forward to reading Daniel’s Surrender.
Note: Meredith’s Awakening was previously published and has been revised for Ellora’s Cave.
February 17, 2011
I was disappointed in this book. It started out great...very HOT, but then it fizzled at the end. The thing that really bugged me was that Anthony kept telling Meredith that she had to trust him and that they had to have a relationship based on trust, yet he kept lying and hiding a situation from her that was affecting her company. This "situation" was ridiculous and I feel that it was forced into the story just to get them to have some turmoil in their relationship and to get them to separate, so that they could get back together and eventually have their HEA. In fact, the "situation" was so ridiculous and pointless that it was never resolved in the story. Nothing ever became of it!
I do plan on reading other books in this series because there were several other characters mentioned in this book and I am interested to read about them.
I do plan on reading other books in this series because there were several other characters mentioned in this book and I am interested to read about them.
August 6, 2016
2.5 stars
RTC
RTC
October 5, 2012
This second in the series was nice. I wondered what had made Meredith so cold. I think her father had more to do with it than Marcus, but Marcus overreacting at the club didn't help. I'm really glad that Tony didn't give up on her. Well, not at first. She made it really difficult for him to keep trying, but at the same time, I understand why Meredith had trouble -- he expected her complete trust, but she felt like he didn't trust her. And I also understand why Tony felt he needed to keep things from her. I really enjoyed when Tony brought Meredith home to meet his family. I also liked how he showed her the difference between what they were doing versus a Dom/Domme and a slave. Ultimately, I liked how everything worked out, and I was kinda happy that Marcus made Meredith see the light. He was part of the problem, and he became part of the solution.
April 15, 2012
3.5/5; 4 stars; B+
Like the first one in the Worthington Group series, this book is a fairly well done romance/erotica story.
I was pretty aggravated by the boneheaded 'overprotective' thing that Tony chose to do...it didn't fit at all with the characters that the authors had developed for both Tony and Meredith. Otherwise, it was ok.
Like the first one in the Worthington Group series, this book is a fairly well done romance/erotica story.
I was pretty aggravated by the boneheaded 'overprotective' thing that Tony chose to do...it didn't fit at all with the characters that the authors had developed for both Tony and Meredith. Otherwise, it was ok.
January 7, 2018
So I've had this book in my e-book library for a long while now and have just now gotten around to reading it. I enjoyed it so much that I want to read book one and three and can't seem to find a copy anywhere, I would love to get my hands on a copy of these two books it's like the author and her books have fallen off the face of the earth. :(
August 6, 2012
Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...
From the first and only night Tony has with Meredith, he knows she's the one but life has other plans for them and before he gets the chance to claim her she's whisked away out of his life. Their lives may be worlds apart but he has never forgotten her nor has he given up. When life gives him a second chance, so many years later, he's not one to waste it. Only this time he's met with a whole different person. The beautiful and trusting Meredith he knew no longer exists and a cold and distant woman has replaced her. Hopefully his love and understanding will bring the woman he fell so hard for back.
I enjoyed the storyline of this book but found the characters lacking, and a bit one dimensional. Tony's a good Dom but it seemed as if he took Meredith, a person who barely knows anything about the lifestyle, and instead of gradually introducing her to D/s he throws her into the deep end. She has feelings and enjoys the things that they do but I had a hard time seeing her do a complete 360 every time Tony wanted to do something more to her. Don’t get me wrong, the sex is extremely hot and consensual but it just seemed that Meredith acted out of character. She loves Tony and what he does to her body so much that she allows him to not only push past her boundaries but to blast them all to smithereens. It's as if doing this somehow fixes all that has hurt or gone wrong for Meredith in her past.
As this is the second book in the trilogy I'm hoping the unresolved questions involving the very reason for the near ending of Meredith and Tony’s relationship are answered in the next book. I liked watching Meredith begin to trust Tony and give herself to him and found myself hoping he could be the one to bring her back to the trusting and loving person she used to be. Even though this book may not be a top pick for me it was a hot read that many will enjoy.
From the first and only night Tony has with Meredith, he knows she's the one but life has other plans for them and before he gets the chance to claim her she's whisked away out of his life. Their lives may be worlds apart but he has never forgotten her nor has he given up. When life gives him a second chance, so many years later, he's not one to waste it. Only this time he's met with a whole different person. The beautiful and trusting Meredith he knew no longer exists and a cold and distant woman has replaced her. Hopefully his love and understanding will bring the woman he fell so hard for back.
I enjoyed the storyline of this book but found the characters lacking, and a bit one dimensional. Tony's a good Dom but it seemed as if he took Meredith, a person who barely knows anything about the lifestyle, and instead of gradually introducing her to D/s he throws her into the deep end. She has feelings and enjoys the things that they do but I had a hard time seeing her do a complete 360 every time Tony wanted to do something more to her. Don’t get me wrong, the sex is extremely hot and consensual but it just seemed that Meredith acted out of character. She loves Tony and what he does to her body so much that she allows him to not only push past her boundaries but to blast them all to smithereens. It's as if doing this somehow fixes all that has hurt or gone wrong for Meredith in her past.
As this is the second book in the trilogy I'm hoping the unresolved questions involving the very reason for the near ending of Meredith and Tony’s relationship are answered in the next book. I liked watching Meredith begin to trust Tony and give herself to him and found myself hoping he could be the one to bring her back to the trusting and loving person she used to be. Even though this book may not be a top pick for me it was a hot read that many will enjoy.
October 19, 2012
This is plain 
Book #2 of the Worthington group
It was so so so good.
Summary
Meredith Worthington has always been the perfect daughter, but her father always saw her as weak, only because she is a female.
She decides to have some fun, as seems her brothers are always having it, and visits Velvet Ice, a IT nightclub at her town. While in the line she met a man to die for and along with him she enters the club and got a taste of what BDSM might be like. Before she is ready to end her night, her older brother stops her fun and reality crashes on her.
Five years later, Meredith is just a shadow, she has hidden herself behind an ice queen facade, but fate decides to have fun with her.
Marcus, her older brother, left their business for a weekend of pleasure and Meredith takes his place in a business meeting. There she is faced with a ghost from her past that is offering her a second chance.
Can Meredith find her old fun self inside and take the risk? Does she have a submissive hidden inside?
Impressions and personal opinion
Violet Summers take the readers into a journey inside D/S and BDSM lifestyle. Meredith self-discovery and personal acceptance is very well explained and through out the book I have taken this path along with Meredith.
Meredith is a very well developed character. She is multidimensional and endearing.
Tony was a great character, but I felt that he preached things that he didn't do himself.
My one complain about the book was that Tony's overprotection was hypocritical to say the least,and because of it, I could not find myself given this book 5 stars.
I'm really looking forward to meet the next Worthington. From a brief glance at the end of this book, I might say he is into threesome. :)
P.S The animated gif is from this wonderful site: animatedgifs
Book #2 of the Worthington group
It was so so so good.
Summary
Meredith Worthington has always been the perfect daughter, but her father always saw her as weak, only because she is a female.
She decides to have some fun, as seems her brothers are always having it, and visits Velvet Ice, a IT nightclub at her town. While in the line she met a man to die for and along with him she enters the club and got a taste of what BDSM might be like. Before she is ready to end her night, her older brother stops her fun and reality crashes on her.
Five years later, Meredith is just a shadow, she has hidden herself behind an ice queen facade, but fate decides to have fun with her.
Marcus, her older brother, left their business for a weekend of pleasure and Meredith takes his place in a business meeting. There she is faced with a ghost from her past that is offering her a second chance.
Can Meredith find her old fun self inside and take the risk? Does she have a submissive hidden inside?
Impressions and personal opinion
Violet Summers take the readers into a journey inside D/S and BDSM lifestyle. Meredith self-discovery and personal acceptance is very well explained and through out the book I have taken this path along with Meredith.
Meredith is a very well developed character. She is multidimensional and endearing.
Tony was a great character, but I felt that he preached things that he didn't do himself.
My one complain about the book was that Tony's overprotection was hypocritical to say the least,and because of it, I could not find myself given this book 5 stars.
I'm really looking forward to meet the next Worthington. From a brief glance at the end of this book, I might say he is into threesome. :)
P.S The animated gif is from this wonderful site: animatedgifs
August 22, 2012
Posted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by Lori
Review Copy Provided by the Publisher
This was such a good book and I really enjoyed it a lot. Within the first few pages things really heat up and it doesn’t stop. Meredith finds herself watching a situation that she shouldn’t and boy does she get an eyeful. You won’t be disappointed in the HOT department! This was a second in the corporate series, but no worries, I didn’t read the first one and I had no trouble following the story.
I really liked Meredith, the main female character, she was smart, funny, strong, vulnerable, and she didn’t go out and do something dumb in the middle of the night and get herself into trouble. I also liked Tony, the main male character. He was so alpha and sexy and strong. The one negative character he had was that he was really pushy telling people what to do. I didn’t like that. I thought it was ironic that at one point in the story he finally understood why his family didn’t like his well intended help.
Many of Meredith’s and Tony’s family members made appearances in the book, but all were secondary characters. A few, such as Meredith’s younger brother, could have been fleshed out more to enhance the story.
The one problem with the book that I had was that there were a lot of questions that I wanted answers to that I didn’t get till the very end. When I mean at the end, I really mean AT THE END, like within the last few pages. It was distracting for me to not know if these questions/problems were going to be answered or not. I’m the kind of gal that likes to know as much information as possible.
Reviewed by Lori
Review Copy Provided by the Publisher
This was such a good book and I really enjoyed it a lot. Within the first few pages things really heat up and it doesn’t stop. Meredith finds herself watching a situation that she shouldn’t and boy does she get an eyeful. You won’t be disappointed in the HOT department! This was a second in the corporate series, but no worries, I didn’t read the first one and I had no trouble following the story.
I really liked Meredith, the main female character, she was smart, funny, strong, vulnerable, and she didn’t go out and do something dumb in the middle of the night and get herself into trouble. I also liked Tony, the main male character. He was so alpha and sexy and strong. The one negative character he had was that he was really pushy telling people what to do. I didn’t like that. I thought it was ironic that at one point in the story he finally understood why his family didn’t like his well intended help.
Many of Meredith’s and Tony’s family members made appearances in the book, but all were secondary characters. A few, such as Meredith’s younger brother, could have been fleshed out more to enhance the story.
The one problem with the book that I had was that there were a lot of questions that I wanted answers to that I didn’t get till the very end. When I mean at the end, I really mean AT THE END, like within the last few pages. It was distracting for me to not know if these questions/problems were going to be answered or not. I’m the kind of gal that likes to know as much information as possible.
March 9, 2013
Meredith is a strong woman who has endured abuse at the hands of her father and condemnation of her sexuality by her oldest brother. She has walled her heart up and is called an ice princess but when Tony Rennatto meets then loses her at Velvet Ice the reenters her life five years later, she finally meets her match. Meredith is afraid to trust and Tony pushes her but does he push her too far? I liked Meredith. She will not submit just because Tony wants her. She is always thinking and working things out for herself. Tony knows her better than she thinks but he does not always use that knowledge and he screws up royally trying to protect her. Will she let him through? Will she forgive him? I liked that Meredith let Tony know she did not appreciate his actions and she explains why. I was brought to tears when Tony walks away and goes to his Nona for comfort. Watching Meredith work through her past, including the talk with her brother, rounds this novel out beautifully. Great story. I could feel Meredith's pain. Unforgettable characters.
October 8, 2013
Meredith´s story. She´s the Ice queen of the family due to their fathers abuse and she´s having trouble trusting anyone. Then she meets Anthony at the club. One hot encounter he never forgets.
Five years later Anthony finally gets his chance to claim her.
Did make me confused at the beginning since it´s taking place in the same timespan as book #1, but that´s my fault. Smutty fluff, alpha male with desire to take care of her and a woman not used to pampering or soft words. Can´t wait to see what´s in store for the last sibling.
Five years later Anthony finally gets his chance to claim her.
Did make me confused at the beginning since it´s taking place in the same timespan as book #1, but that´s my fault. Smutty fluff, alpha male with desire to take care of her and a woman not used to pampering or soft words. Can´t wait to see what´s in store for the last sibling.
October 7, 2015
When I started this book I really just wanted to get it over with so I can get to the third one
But once I began reading I couldn't put it down!!
This was an amazing journey!
I really loved Tony!!
I mean he's amazing, loving, handsome and a Dom .. so what's not to like??!! *sigh*
From the first book I didn't like Meri probably because I loved Marcus and she was such a bitch to him and I didn't really understand why, but through this book I've come to love and sympathize with her
All in all, great book, fantastic series and I'm off to the next one ;)
But once I began reading I couldn't put it down!!
This was an amazing journey!
I really loved Tony!!
I mean he's amazing, loving, handsome and a Dom .. so what's not to like??!! *sigh*
From the first book I didn't like Meri probably because I loved Marcus and she was such a bitch to him and I didn't really understand why, but through this book I've come to love and sympathize with her
All in all, great book, fantastic series and I'm off to the next one ;)
November 15, 2010
Wow. This book is HOT. Hours of orgasms fun. Yay! I really like the authors dialogue. It is some of the most sexy I've ever read. If you like D/s and BDSM you will love this one. These are true alpha males. Fantastic!
September 24, 2013
This was another good look into the Worthington family, and to see Meredith come into her own level of confidence, so to speak, with a touch of bdsm and a small episode of M/M. Hot, and a pretty good read;)
October 20, 2015
A saucy woman in need of healing meets a tall, dark and sexy Dom who knows what he wants. There's passion, desire and heartache. In my opinion a serious upgrade from it's predecessor Carrie's Answer .
February 6, 2015
loveloveLOVE this series!
November 25, 2013
A bit slow for my liking.
October 8, 2011
Loved the way Meredith's character grew in this book. Tony stole my heart.
October 2, 2012
4.5 stars
January 23, 2013
hot quick read. I don't think it was as good as Carrie's answer, but still great.
July 17, 2014
great book!
i loved it!
and i loved reading it!
everyone should read it!
its wonderful!
i loved it!
and i loved reading it!
everyone should read it!
its wonderful!
December 28, 2015
3.5 Stars. Nice continuation of this series. I enjoyed the interplay between heroine and hero.
April 15, 2017
I liked this one better than the first story in the series.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews