Review: Even without having read any of the rest of the series, this is a quick, delightful read that fully exceeded my expectations.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 13, 2014
While this is a stand-alone book, there really is a lot of backstory. Even so, the author does an amazing job of weaving it in so that I quickly grasped the events leading up to this novella. I was able to follow the plot and get an understanding of the characters. Because I hadn’t read the rest of the series, I didn’t know to expect from this book, but ended up really enjoying it.PlotThe plot is somewhat thin, likely due to the short length of the story. It seems to be more character-driven than plot-driven and the characters are interesting enough that the loose plot didn’t bother me. However, there are a few plot threads running through it – Mark’s reluctance to be involved with Crystal due to her strong personality, coping with his mother’s illness, and trying to help the police crack Rebecca’s murderer while maintaining what’s left of his reputation. There aren’t enough pages to really delve into each of these in detail, so the bulk of the writing is devoted to the dynamic between Mark and Crystal.CharactersNot knowing any of these characters before starting, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the owner of a gentlemen’s BDSM club where he is the head Master. Submissive women almost always turn me off, so it’s quite possible I wouldn’t have cared for Rebecca at all, but I love Crystal. She’s kick-ass and its deliciously fun to watch her get under Mark’s skin. I loved watching him wrestle with his need for control as it battles with his desire for a strong-headed woman who will never bend to his will.Bottom LineEven without having read any of the rest of the series, this is a quick, delightful read that fully exceeded my expectations.DisclaimerI was provided a copy of this book by InkSlinger in exchange for an honest review.