Review: Tough Under Pressure
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 11 25, 2011
Sapphire  Jeffe KennedyA successful executive, M. Taylor Hamilton is on track with her ten-year plan. Too bad her personal life consists of hitting the gym and grocery shopping. Enter the seductive Adam Kirliss. They may have a working relationship, but everything changes at an office party when he handcuffs her to the rail of a yacht. Taylor writes the adventure off as too much champagne, but when Adam challenges her to a date, she agrees to meet up with him and follow his rules. They share a night of exquisite intimacy, brimming with both pain and pleasure. But afterwards, fearful of losing her heart, Taylor pulls back emotionally. Adam is determined to prove that she longs for the loss of control he can give her - and the passionate release it provides. How can he make her see that he wants her, and not just her body?Sapphire by Jeffe Kennedy has created a tiny jewel in this quick, enjoyable read with a beautiful, sexy, intelligent, woman on her way to the top of the corporate ladder as her main character. M. Taylor Hamilton  is extremely intelligent, talented, no nonsense, fierce business woman with much success and nothing distracts her.  In the story Sapphire M. Taylor Hamilton has a very guarded life keeping others at a distance unless it is around the boardroom table.Adam Kirliss, nonchalant attitude, demanding, passionate, business executive of Jaguar Corporation. Adam has swagger, of course he is handsome, tall with an deep understanding of the game of negotiating inside and outside of any boardroom.I found the dueling between Taylor and Adam entertaining and of course cheering for Taylor. Taylor never thought she would cave-in for any reason until a date with Adam the gentleman with skills unimaginable to Taylor except in her fantasies.  Kirliss is a dom with a talent for getting what he wants easily. Adam provides Taylor with the best moments of her life through a venture of a unbridled sensuously. Adam's skillful strategies crack Taylor's shield of distrust, coldness and emotional deprivation.  Kirliss and Taylor enjoy each other and they share a common bond: stubbornness. Their shared attitude of toughness, strong will once releasing a bit of control, permits them to play nicely in Kirliss' playground for a sizzling hot, sexy, moments Taylor had only dreamed about.Sapphire is a fun, easy read and tastefully written BDSM story.I wished Ms. Kennedy had provided more character development such as  history about Kirliss and what made him such a driven business man and dom. I enjoyed Ms. Kennedy's writing style, use of  prose and rhythm.My recommendation 3.5 stars: Sapphire is a great sexy, easy reading erotic romance for a busy woman on her way to a romantic, relaxing vacation with her passionate significant other.