Review: Highly recommended
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 16, 2014
It's no secret that I'm a fan of Serena Akeroyd. I've read...let's see...seven of her books thus far and I think each has earned a 4, 4.5, or 5 star rating.What is a secret though, at least to the rest of the world, is how long it takes me to read them. Here's what happens. I start reading. I read one, maybe two chapters, and then I stop. I find something else. I'll read something else for two or three days. Then I go back to her book. Shampoo. Rinse. Repeat. I hated that I did this, largely because I had no idea why. I love these books. I love the characters, the writing, the sex...so why can't I sit down and plow through one?A few days ago, I happened upon my answer. I dole these chapters out like the most expensive candy in large part, because I. Am. Scared.Yes. I'm scared. Scared that one day, something is going to happen and I'm going to find one of her books that I don't like. So I read sparingly. I sit down and I start reading and when the tight, jittery feeling in my stomach gets too strong, I stop.Thankfully, that fear has never materialized.Frustrated Instincts is the third part of Marina's story. Back at Blue Ridge, Marina has settled into her new life as Nate's submissive. She's happy, more or less. The old Marina rears her head from time to time, earning her punishments that she craves, but she's learning to trust that her Sir has her best interests at heart and loves her.And then it all changes.This is a short story, part of a larger whole. It's how all of Serena's Naughty Nookie books are. So I can't give away much more of the plot other than to say that there are some mysterious happenings going on at Blue Ridge and I can't wait to see where they go next. But this is a review, right? I'm supposed to tell you what I think.I think that this book is both my least and most favorite of the series for the same reason. There are a lot of Marina's inner thoughts here. In fact, the book is primarily her inner thoughts. There's the sex, of course, and the bits of mystery, but for the most part, it's a psychological examination of Marina's character. It was different. But not at all unwelcome. I loved being inside Marina's head because to me, she's more interesting than Mona (from the previous series).In addition, there's a lot going on with Blue Ridge that needed explanation. The ranch is a haven for the brilliant. In fact, you have to pass an IQ test to live there. These details fascinated me as well. But still, they took away from the action. Simultaneously, they added to it.Definitely another well done installment of Marina's tale and I can't wait to read the end. Highly recommended.