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Conquest
What Jude Jaeger seeks is simple. What she needs is complicated. Woman. She has one a night at Conquest, sometimes two. And she gives them what no one else can or will. Pleasure. But outside the club, Jude isn’t interested in women, keeping them at arm’s length. That is until she’s meets Mary, a woman who responds to her touch like none of the others. When Mary shows up at the college where Jude teaches, all the emotions Jude thought she could live without come rushing back stronger than ever.
Mary Brunelle is a socially awkward loner who goes to a private club and finds herself in the arms of a beautiful stranger who conquers every last inch of her and then disappears into the night. Mary tries to find her, desperately wanting to see her again, but has no success until one day in class she looks up to see that the mystery woman is there. And she’s her professor. Mary soon sets forth on her own conquest, but can she tame the ultimate dominatrix?
Mary Brunelle is a socially awkward loner who goes to a private club and finds herself in the arms of a beautiful stranger who conquers every last inch of her and then disappears into the night. Mary tries to find her, desperately wanting to see her again, but has no success until one day in class she looks up to see that the mystery woman is there. And she’s her professor. Mary soon sets forth on her own conquest, but can she tame the ultimate dominatrix?
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 14, 2011
22 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
About the author
Ronica Black
41 books141 followersRonica Black is an award-winning author and a three-time Lambda Literary Award finalist. Her books range from romance and erotica to mystery and intrigue, and she enjoys trying her hand at all. Ronica also enjoys drawing, painting, and sculpting. She lives in Glendale, Arizona, with her partner, where she relishes a rich family life and raising a menagerie of pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 27, 2012
ok. i'm slightly embarrassed to admit how much i liked this book, since it's 98% sex. kinda makes me feel like a shallow bad girl. but... just in case you are reading this and have similar guilty pleasures, definitely get this book. it is shorter than a novel and longer than a novella, but still the best 9.99 i've spent in a while.
sure there's a plot; bad girl, jude, gets surprised by her feelings for good girl, mary. the struggle between dominance and submission and control issues are the main theme. and sure, there are editing problems, typos whatnot, but for an erotica short novel it's not that bad.
telling you that this story is primarily sex, doesn't answer your question of is it any good or not. i know. consider Home for the Holidays, which was plotless and repetitive and had you skipping over sex scenes; that book proved that just sex does not a good book make. This book is a far cry better. you'll like the characters and their chemistry and the author's creativity.
sure there's a plot; bad girl, jude, gets surprised by her feelings for good girl, mary. the struggle between dominance and submission and control issues are the main theme. and sure, there are editing problems, typos whatnot, but for an erotica short novel it's not that bad.
telling you that this story is primarily sex, doesn't answer your question of is it any good or not. i know. consider Home for the Holidays, which was plotless and repetitive and had you skipping over sex scenes; that book proved that just sex does not a good book make. This book is a far cry better. you'll like the characters and their chemistry and the author's creativity.
October 2, 2020
It was an okay read, I suppose. Too much smut and almost no plot. I don’t know, maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for this book right this moment. I’ll prolly give it another try some other time. I mean, the sexy scenes are very sexy, but I think it should have more dialogue between the main characters and a tiny bit of slow-burn and, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but less kissing and fondling lol it just felt like a long erotica book with not enough romance.
May 11, 2016
Detailed score: 3.5
I found The cause of Jude's angst a little difficult to follow & would have liked some more explanation as to the back story that got her there.
Some hawt pwoar scenes.
Overall a well crafted erotic rom
I found The cause of Jude's angst a little difficult to follow & would have liked some more explanation as to the back story that got her there.
Some hawt pwoar scenes.
Overall a well crafted erotic rom
July 2, 2015
3.5 stars.
Despite the cover of the book and the description of Jude as the "ultimate dominatrix", this book is not BDSM. Instead, the description should have said that Jude is the "ultimate top". The book does, however, have a LOT of sex. I give credit to the author in that it starts out with a long sex scene right away and it actually doesn't come off as porn. Somehow, she gave us just enough character description to make me feel that I already knew the two leads and was invested in their coupling.
The author does write sex scenes well but that's really all this book has...since sex takes up about 2/3rds of the book, overall, though you could say it's well written and enjoy it for that alone.
There is a lot of implausibility in this book in how characters interact and develop but I just kind of went with it anyway. The author does try to show us character growth created by Jude and Mary's coming together whereby their personalities flip. Mary goes from anxiety ridden and mousy to bold and assertive. Jude goes from never get the heart involved sex top to a woman who can barely hold herself together because Mary has shattered her barriers.
The two leads do get a happy ending and they hand each other their "I love you"s after a lot of angst.
This book seems like it's meant to be a romance erotica but the leads have almost no interaction outside of sex. I kept wondering once they actually had a conversation or had to do something nonsexual if they would be as "compatible".
For a hot read, though, this works.
Despite the cover of the book and the description of Jude as the "ultimate dominatrix", this book is not BDSM. Instead, the description should have said that Jude is the "ultimate top". The book does, however, have a LOT of sex. I give credit to the author in that it starts out with a long sex scene right away and it actually doesn't come off as porn. Somehow, she gave us just enough character description to make me feel that I already knew the two leads and was invested in their coupling.
The author does write sex scenes well but that's really all this book has...since sex takes up about 2/3rds of the book, overall, though you could say it's well written and enjoy it for that alone.
There is a lot of implausibility in this book in how characters interact and develop but I just kind of went with it anyway. The author does try to show us character growth created by Jude and Mary's coming together whereby their personalities flip. Mary goes from anxiety ridden and mousy to bold and assertive. Jude goes from never get the heart involved sex top to a woman who can barely hold herself together because Mary has shattered her barriers.
The two leads do get a happy ending and they hand each other their "I love you"s after a lot of angst.
This book seems like it's meant to be a romance erotica but the leads have almost no interaction outside of sex. I kept wondering once they actually had a conversation or had to do something nonsexual if they would be as "compatible".
For a hot read, though, this works.
May 11, 2018
3.5 stars
There's no doubting this is a sexy story. I can't say I'd call it BDSM, unless strap-on sex equals BDSM. The first scene the couple slip between the sheets, at a club. Does that happen IRL? I don't know, so shouldn't judge. But it struck me as odd.
The cover has handcuffs but they are barely 'mentioned' and that is right at the end.
While this story has heat, that's all it is. Two women unable to get each other out of their minds after one (then two) nights of passion. Their's no deep and meaningful character building and that was okay. I enjoyed the story for what it was; two women unable to get enough of the other's body.
There's no doubting this is a sexy story. I can't say I'd call it BDSM, unless strap-on sex equals BDSM. The first scene the couple slip between the sheets, at a club. Does that happen IRL? I don't know, so shouldn't judge. But it struck me as odd.
The cover has handcuffs but they are barely 'mentioned' and that is right at the end.
While this story has heat, that's all it is. Two women unable to get each other out of their minds after one (then two) nights of passion. Their's no deep and meaningful character building and that was okay. I enjoyed the story for what it was; two women unable to get enough of the other's body.
July 15, 2023
Wow...🔥🔥
February 10, 2013
This is the first book I have read by Ronica Black and Conquest is one of the better f/f books that are out there.
An interesting and intriguing story line, where I found myself drawn to Jude Jaeger, an enigmatic and interesting main character, who just happens to be a very sexy and alluring woman. However, I couldn't quite get totally into who she really was. We are told that she had previously gone through a terrible and traumatic experience which led to her cut herself from her feelings and emotions and never wanting to be close to another person ever again.
She goes to a club called Conquest………..this place really blew my mind!!!!!!!!! Does something like it really exists I wondered!!! It’s such a dark and emotionless place…..sex, more sex…lots of it….say about most of the story…..but it felt so remote/cold. And this is the place that Jude goes to when she needs sex…mindless sex…the only one she has!!!!
Then she meets Mary at the club…too complicated to tell her how a quiet, mousy and unassuming woman like her found herself in this dark place. But suddenly she sees Jude and immediately wants to do her!!!! The scene with the strap-on dildo……..somehow did not do it for me!!!!
I found Mary a bit too unbelievable – the sudden change in her and when she gets back at her horrible work colleagues at the club – a bit like petty revenge…I thought she could have got them back in a much more dignified way…but hey that’s just my thoughts on that!!!
As I got to know more about Jude, I found it really difficult to believe that she could feel that strongly for Mary…perhaps that’s because I did not exactly like her. But I guess she managed to get through to Jude so she must have something special, because Jude, for me…is a real special lady.
I would have like to read a bit more back story on Jude, what she had been like before she reached such a low point in her life.
I did find myself skipping a few of the sex scenes after a while…because there were quite a lot of them, but WOW…..there were some really steamy and hot scenes….
The reason I liked this book – Jude Jaeger!!!!!! A sexy professor by day and a leather-clad dominatrix by night!!!!
An interesting and intriguing story line, where I found myself drawn to Jude Jaeger, an enigmatic and interesting main character, who just happens to be a very sexy and alluring woman. However, I couldn't quite get totally into who she really was. We are told that she had previously gone through a terrible and traumatic experience which led to her cut herself from her feelings and emotions and never wanting to be close to another person ever again.
She goes to a club called Conquest………..this place really blew my mind!!!!!!!!! Does something like it really exists I wondered!!! It’s such a dark and emotionless place…..sex, more sex…lots of it….say about most of the story…..but it felt so remote/cold. And this is the place that Jude goes to when she needs sex…mindless sex…the only one she has!!!!
Then she meets Mary at the club…too complicated to tell her how a quiet, mousy and unassuming woman like her found herself in this dark place. But suddenly she sees Jude and immediately wants to do her!!!! The scene with the strap-on dildo……..somehow did not do it for me!!!!
I found Mary a bit too unbelievable – the sudden change in her and when she gets back at her horrible work colleagues at the club – a bit like petty revenge…I thought she could have got them back in a much more dignified way…but hey that’s just my thoughts on that!!!
As I got to know more about Jude, I found it really difficult to believe that she could feel that strongly for Mary…perhaps that’s because I did not exactly like her. But I guess she managed to get through to Jude so she must have something special, because Jude, for me…is a real special lady.
I would have like to read a bit more back story on Jude, what she had been like before she reached such a low point in her life.
I did find myself skipping a few of the sex scenes after a while…because there were quite a lot of them, but WOW…..there were some really steamy and hot scenes….
The reason I liked this book – Jude Jaeger!!!!!! A sexy professor by day and a leather-clad dominatrix by night!!!!
November 2, 2014
I liked it for the soap opera element. They fall for each other so hard. Jude is a bit of a tortured soul and Mary is the shy person that all the mean people at her job tease. This story is different from what I was expecting but more realistic in how some people who feel that they don't deserve the best behave. I liked Mary's evolution overall. I appreciated that she grows into herself and her self worth through her sexual encounters with Jude. Jude on the other hand seems to need more help
August 16, 2015
Plot? What plot?
The sex scenes are not bad, but I need much more from a book and, since we're talking about erotica, then the sex should be really hot, not just average.
The sex scenes are not bad, but I need much more from a book and, since we're talking about erotica, then the sex should be really hot, not just average.
May 13, 2023
Both Jude and Mary are deeply flawed. It would be infuriating if not for the fact that they were also beautifully self-aware of their own specific toxicities.
It annoys me a little how much I enjoyed this book, but please let's not pull at that thread.
It annoys me a little how much I enjoyed this book, but please let's not pull at that thread.
October 3, 2018
Excellent read -- more erotica than romance
February 24, 2020
Hottest melting of an Ice Queen....
November 13, 2013
This book covered new territory for me and that always tickles my fancy. In addition, the way the two main characters grow, face their qualms, and astoundingly blast through their trepidations, constraints, and inhibitions had me grabbing on to anything to keep my own equilibrium. I was constantly bowled over and baffled at what happened next for one gal and then the other. I not only tip my hat to Ronica Black, but I will get down on my knees, throw my arms to the skies, and sing multiple hosannas. Totally stunning!
Mary Brunelle’s workmates seem to have invited her out for drinks. That is not what they really planned. They have actually set her up for a most unusual experience. What her colleagues don’t get to realize until several weeks later, is that they handed her a ticket to her ultimate freedom and a big time sexual awakening. There was no way for me to possibly predict the extraordinary blossoming that happens to Mary along with the growth of an amazing pair of cojones helping her grab her world and bring it to its knees. I salute you Mary!
Jude Jaeger is initially a very mysterious and potent individual. Mary meets her for the first time, compliments of her workmates' set-up. Jude is a powerhouse with a monstrously large pain tearing apart her innards that she has managed to bury under layers and layers of impenetrable control. She is extraordinary and initially dwarfs Mary while mesmerizing her. How these two jostle to maintain their power centers, regain their control, or burst forth from ugly shackles that have relentlessly locked them into dismal and bleak prisons frankly blew my mind to the ends of the universe.
I hope I have made my point about how completely amazing this story is. It isn’t easy to read, but unless you are holding onto your sanity by the skin of your teeth, this is a must read that I totally recommend.
NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Mary Brunelle’s workmates seem to have invited her out for drinks. That is not what they really planned. They have actually set her up for a most unusual experience. What her colleagues don’t get to realize until several weeks later, is that they handed her a ticket to her ultimate freedom and a big time sexual awakening. There was no way for me to possibly predict the extraordinary blossoming that happens to Mary along with the growth of an amazing pair of cojones helping her grab her world and bring it to its knees. I salute you Mary!
Jude Jaeger is initially a very mysterious and potent individual. Mary meets her for the first time, compliments of her workmates' set-up. Jude is a powerhouse with a monstrously large pain tearing apart her innards that she has managed to bury under layers and layers of impenetrable control. She is extraordinary and initially dwarfs Mary while mesmerizing her. How these two jostle to maintain their power centers, regain their control, or burst forth from ugly shackles that have relentlessly locked them into dismal and bleak prisons frankly blew my mind to the ends of the universe.
I hope I have made my point about how completely amazing this story is. It isn’t easy to read, but unless you are holding onto your sanity by the skin of your teeth, this is a must read that I totally recommend.
NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 12, 2019
Conquer Me
This is a super sexy story about a woman who loves to dominate and give but refuses to give her name to the women she seduces or even let them touch her. Mary is a shy, insecure woman who is unhappy in her job and teased and talked about. One night she finds herself in Jude’s club and learns a lot about herself! This is a fast read even though it’s a regular size novel. The steamy parts are so good and the romantic parts even better. I love that both women have very real emotions and insecurities even though they do their best to hide them. The tale itself is engaging and will draw you in quickly. It’s easy to care about these characters and want them to be happy. Ms Black is a great story teller and this one is no different. Enjoy!
This is a super sexy story about a woman who loves to dominate and give but refuses to give her name to the women she seduces or even let them touch her. Mary is a shy, insecure woman who is unhappy in her job and teased and talked about. One night she finds herself in Jude’s club and learns a lot about herself! This is a fast read even though it’s a regular size novel. The steamy parts are so good and the romantic parts even better. I love that both women have very real emotions and insecurities even though they do their best to hide them. The tale itself is engaging and will draw you in quickly. It’s easy to care about these characters and want them to be happy. Ms Black is a great story teller and this one is no different. Enjoy!
September 2, 2017
Pure erotica junk and not much going on.
Main characters are barely sketched and story doesn't fly.
Not for me.
Main characters are barely sketched and story doesn't fly.
Not for me.
May 22, 2020
A sexy, entertaining book
Burn baby burn!
This book is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥!! This story are serves up plenty of pleasure & entertainingly explicit sex scenes! Enjoy the ride!
Burn baby burn!
This book is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥!! This story are serves up plenty of pleasure & entertainingly explicit sex scenes! Enjoy the ride!
February 19, 2024
Rating this book 3 stars.
Overall the book is an easy read and the writing is good. If you are looking for a lesbian romance focused on sex then this is one to read.
I personally did find it hard to root for the main characters as a couple. At the beginning Mary did not respect Jude's boundaries and near the end of the book Jude was acting very hypocritical.
There was also a scene with a boxing match which felt very out of place.
One of Mary's co-workers was shown to be quite mean to her. She does get payback but it felt kind of like “ha ha, he is secretly gay. How embarrassing”. I personally don't find homophobic jokes funny. Even if they are directed at bullies.
I really liked the side character Bethany. I did feel pretty bad for her though and I hope her implied ending works out for her.
Overall the book is an easy read and the writing is good. If you are looking for a lesbian romance focused on sex then this is one to read.
I personally did find it hard to root for the main characters as a couple. At the beginning Mary did not respect Jude's boundaries and near the end of the book Jude was acting very hypocritical.
There was also a scene with a boxing match which felt very out of place.
One of Mary's co-workers was shown to be quite mean to her. She does get payback but it felt kind of like “ha ha, he is secretly gay. How embarrassing”. I personally don't find homophobic jokes funny. Even if they are directed at bullies.
I really liked the side character Bethany. I did feel pretty bad for her though and I hope her implied ending works out for her.
July 16, 2025
3 stars. I hated that Jude still fucked other women even though she was into Mary. Mary fucked her coworker but to be fair it was JUDE giving her the cold shoulder and the run around so I didn’t mind as much. I also thought Jude continuously pushing Mary away was annoying. Jude herself was annoying is the gist. I couldn’t stand her. Mary was fine, a bit inconsistent as a character but I liked her more than Jude. I liked that she tapped in and took charge once she realized Jude was on some bullshit. She beat her at her own game and I loved that. The writing was good and the sex scenes were really hot so three stars. This was my first book by Black but I would pick up something else from her for sure.
April 2, 2021
I've read other novels by Black but this one wasn't for me. Mary is a social awkward person whose co-workers trick her into going to a private club as a joke. There she has an amazing night with a unknown person. Only later at a language class does she meet the mystery person, Jude. There is very little plot or storyline and I skimmed to finish. I'm clearly in the minority as others enjoyed the explicit scenes more than me.
November 13, 2024
Okay hear me out, my friends and I read this as roommate-bonding night.
It was….an experience 😅
So in a nutshell, we decided to make it a drinking game. Every time the word “flesh” was read, we’d take a shot. We would also periodically take a shot whenever we cringed, however, if we did this regularly we would have ended up with alcohol poisoning.
It was a fun experience but a very very bad book
It was….an experience 😅
So in a nutshell, we decided to make it a drinking game. Every time the word “flesh” was read, we’d take a shot. We would also periodically take a shot whenever we cringed, however, if we did this regularly we would have ended up with alcohol poisoning.
It was a fun experience but a very very bad book
October 19, 2017
I like the idea of the story. The sex scenes were also amazing and surprisingly didn't feel excessive.
However, I wish the characters were developed a little more at the start, be it Mary's shy character or Jude's backstory. Some parts of the story could also be clearer like Fran's friendship was a little unclear at first.
Overall, a pretty good read and I enjoyed it.
However, I wish the characters were developed a little more at the start, be it Mary's shy character or Jude's backstory. Some parts of the story could also be clearer like Fran's friendship was a little unclear at first.
Overall, a pretty good read and I enjoyed it.
April 20, 2019
Rewriting this book in my head, the scene where Mary recognizes Jude at school for the first time and looks at her in surprise instead of Mary not saying anything she shouts out, "If you didn't want this inevitability to happen you should WEAR A FUCKING MASK, JUDE."
dnf
July 24, 2017DNF @ 11%
I maybe should have guessed this from the way the synopsis was written, but the writing in this book was really overwrought and awful. I only made it a few pages before I had to give up. Which is a shame, because I really wanted some good f/f BDSM.
I maybe should have guessed this from the way the synopsis was written, but the writing in this book was really overwrought and awful. I only made it a few pages before I had to give up. Which is a shame, because I really wanted some good f/f BDSM.
December 11, 2021
3,5 really.
January 18, 2022
Quite possibly the best erotic novel I’ve ever read!
April 10, 2022
This was somewhat disappointing. It was labeled a BDSM book by Goodreads readers. The author’s blurb called Jude “the ultimate dominatrix.” However, there was zero BDSM in it. I most likely wouldn’t have read it if I’d known. It was a rather sweet and slow burn romance otherwise.
YMMV.
YMMV.
September 28, 2011
Good PWP :)
February 1, 2012
very good erotica
May 3, 2012
When I first started it I wondered if it was all going to take place in one night... And now back to the book.
April 20, 2017
So, one thing this book definitely has going for it is really hot sex and a lot of it. Beyond that, it felt a bit flat to me in the plot department. I understand fantastic sex, but the two of them, Mary especially, turned into piles of anxiety after one night? Mary even felt very stalker-like to me at times. I also felt like we really never got to learn much about either of them. They barely talked to each other, and we only got glimpses into their lives elsewhere. I really would have liked for Jude and Mary to be fleshed out more, both individually and together.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews