Review: their story reaches a climax that is both emotionally raw and incredibly erotic.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 18, 2014
I never really know what I’m going to get when I open a book from Pavarti K. Tyler.  Some things are a given: the writing is clean and polished, evocative and thought-provoking, her characters will engage you and have you wanting to know them, and even when you don’t like them, you need to know what makes them tick.  Tyler engages her readers, not by pandering to their preconceived notions, but by fueling imagination and leaving you with stories that keep you thinking and wondering, and perhaps in a small way, change your approach to something you thought you knew.Portia is a Russian émigré, left her home with hopes to make a new life in America. What she didn’t expect was to end up in a life of forced prostitution, catering to the whims of a very distasteful and violent man.  We’ve come to meet Portia in the first book, and see her as the petite, competent and determined ‘face’ of The Sugar House as Miss Neicy’s receptionist and personal assistant.  Tiny and blonde, her professional approach with the clients doesn’t hide her innate sexiness or deter her from the flirtations with Jackson, head of security.Jackson is the head of security at The Sugar House, a man with the skills to protect and a streak of guilt that is miles wide.  Having a rough childhood, and then ‘failing’ the ones who didn’t come back from war, he’s convinced that Portia’s adoration is misplaced.  He’s not only NOT the man for her, he’s no man for anyone; convinced he is too wounded and bad to deserve love.The story of Jackson and Portia is overlaid with guilt, regret, fear and the palpable sexual tension between them.  Portia sees the man beneath the tough guy faade, and she loves him WITH his issues and worries and concerns. While she steps into the abyss one night and tries to push their relationship further, their story reaches a climax that is both emotionally raw and incredibly erotic.These two intrigued with their playful interactions, and endeared themselves in this book with the overwhelming sense of caring that they show for one another in the simple moments,  and their protectiveness for the others in their circle.  The issue of how and where they met becomes secondary to the healing and joy that they find with one another, even if it is hard won.Not solely about the couple, we are drawn into the continued struggles of Cait and her searching for calmness, a threat from a particularly distasteful ex-client and Janice’s struggles  and worries for the business and in her new relationship with Devon, and a myriad of scenes that drive the story forward toward the next book.  This series just keeps getting better, with characters growing and revealing traits and experiences that serve the plot and fix them more firmly in our hearts and minds.I never really know what I’m going to get when I open a book from Pavarti K. Tyler.  Some things are a given: the writing is clean and polished, evocative and thought-provoking, her characters will engage you and have you wanting to know them, and even when you don’t like them, you need to know what makes them tick.  Tyler engages her readers, not by pandering to their preconceived notions, but by fueling imagination and leaving you with stories that keep you thinking and wondering, and perhaps in a small way, change your approach to something you thought you knew. One of the very few “buy no matter what genre” authors for me, you will want to try Tyler’s spin on an erotic story: character driven, hot, sensual and emotional without losing those moments of surprise that make a story sing.I purchased a copy of the title for my own library. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.