Review: ....a wealthy ex-marine with pure intentions and a filthy, dirty mouth (oh, yes!)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 7, 2014
3.75 StarsInside prim bookstore owner Ruby Romano beats the heart of a submissive; a woman that longs to be owned and controlled by the man she will call her Master. After a failed Dominant/submissive relationship however, Ruby vows never to give up control again. She refuses to give another man the complete trust it would require for her to submit. But a man like Joshua Quinn won't take no for an answer. A former marine who has made a fortune in the business world, Joshua is used to getting what he wants. And after meeting Ruby at a burlesque performance and sensing her submissive nature, what he wants is Ruby.At its core, Claiming Ruby is a story about one woman's desire to submit, fighting with her fears of repeating past mistakes. With the right man, who is willing to show Ruby how to go after what she wants, will she be brave enough to face her insecurities and trust him enough to reach for what she truly needs? This is the first book of Scarlett Sanderson's that I have read, but I will certainly seek out her older titles to see what I've missed. I enjoyed the story itself, as well as Joshua and Ruby. Joshua, although incredibly blunt, is likeable. Despite having earned the nickname of "Iron Man", many instances in the book provide insight into a sensitive side of the Dom that makes him human. And Ruby is a woman who is all too aware of her faults. Although a successful business woman in her own right, personally she is afraid to take a chance and lose her heart for fear of having it broken.From the beginning, Joshua's intentions are true. He finds himself falling for Ruby, and rather than fight it, he embraces it wholeheartedly. But Ruby's insecurities and flagging self-esteem will not allow her to believe that Joshua's feelings are genuine or lasting. In an effort to protect herself from further heartbreak and embarrassment, she refuses to accept that he wants only her. Ruby believes that Joshua wants nothing more than sex, even though his actions show his desire to nurture, protect and care for her. Joshua does want more than sex from Ruby; he wants to earn her submission.Joshua's fellow marine buddies Alex and Sebastien make an appearance in the story, and the interaction between the friends is almost comical. The discussions between the three brawny ex-soldiers regarding Joshua's feelings towards Ruby made me laugh... I cannot imagine a relationship discussion, and the question "Is she the one?" being uttered during a poker game! But somehow, it works and makes them all truly endearing characters. I am hoping that the introduction to these men is Scarlett Sanderson's way of setting them both up for their own stories in the future.Ruby's tendency to overreact and automatically jump to conclusions about Joshua's fidelity frustrated me, but overall, Claiming Ruby is a quick read that provided an enjoyable way to spend an evening. With hot sex scenes and a wealthy ex-marine with pure intentions and a filthy, dirty mouth (oh, yes!), I enjoyed this story and look forward to seeing Alex and Bastien again in future books of their own.Review copy provided for an honest review.