"No one had ever...
She closed her eyes a moment, trying to regain control.
It was all she'd ever craved, in the darkest, loneliest part of her soul.
One wish: to be wanted.
And he'd uttered those longed-for words with the hunger of a starving man."
She closed her eyes a moment, trying to regain control.
It was all she'd ever craved, in the darkest, loneliest part of her soul.
One wish: to be wanted.
And he'd uttered those longed-for words with the hunger of a starving man."
--Lauren Smith, The Gilded Cuff
Genre: Adult Contemporary and Erotica
Genre: Adult Contemporary and Erotica
Publisher: Forever Yours
Pages: 352
Publication Date: February 10th, 2015
Source: eARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Previous Books in Series: First book in series of companions
Goodreads Description
Every passion has its price . . .
Journalist Sophie Ryder has been following Emery Lockwood’s story since she was a little girl. There has always been something in his haunted eyes that she couldn’t resist and now, when she’s certain he holds the key to solving a string of kidnappings, she’ll do anything to speak to him. Even if it means venturing deep into the seductive world of the Gilded Cuff, a luxurious BDSM club on Long Island’s Gold Coast and Emery’s personal playground.
From the moment Sophie enters his shadowy, sensual domain, Emery Lockwood knows this tantalizing new little sub was meant to belong to him. However, Sophie wants more from Emery than just pleasure . . . she wants his past. And that is something he isn’t willing to give—no matter who is asking. But every moment he spends with Sophie, Emery feels his control slipping and he knows it’s only a matter of time before he surrenders to her heart, body, and soul.
Every passion has its price . . .
Journalist Sophie Ryder has been following Emery Lockwood’s story since she was a little girl. There has always been something in his haunted eyes that she couldn’t resist and now, when she’s certain he holds the key to solving a string of kidnappings, she’ll do anything to speak to him. Even if it means venturing deep into the seductive world of the Gilded Cuff, a luxurious BDSM club on Long Island’s Gold Coast and Emery’s personal playground.
From the moment Sophie enters his shadowy, sensual domain, Emery Lockwood knows this tantalizing new little sub was meant to belong to him. However, Sophie wants more from Emery than just pleasure . . . she wants his past. And that is something he isn’t willing to give—no matter who is asking. But every moment he spends with Sophie, Emery feels his control slipping and he knows it’s only a matter of time before he surrenders to her heart, body, and soul.
When Estelle told me she had a book she thought I’d like, I immediately perked up. One-Estelle knows my twisted, dirty little heart probably better than anyone and two-she has yet to steer me wrong in the directions of smut. With that said, I was excited to read The Gilded Cuff and my expectations were high. Disappointment was not present Estelle for the win, yet again.
The Gilded Cuff follows Sophie, an investigative journalist who is trying to solve the 25 year old mystery of a kidnapping of twin boys. One survived, Emery Lockwood, and Sophie is braving the underground world of a BDSM club that her friend got her into. Her perogative? Get his attention so she can save his life. What? Where did that come from? WELL, Sophie is also a special kind of genius that she helps solve cold case kidnappings because she can see patterns in behavior and more likely than not catch who did it. Yeah, she’s that badass. So she goes to find Emery, they meet…and that’s where I leave you…I know, I’m awful, tell me something I don’t know.
I will nitpick my one point right now and move on because it is something I noticed and had an eyebrow raise on. The story is pretty insta-love-y. Don’t let that dissuade you though because while it was present, I chose to ignore it because for the plot and storyline to work these two people needed a deep connection. Don’t get me wrong, these two individuals were definitely supposed to meet in the destiny way of things because they have more things in common than you would think so their connection is anything but unbelievable. But shit gets real, real fast but it didn’t bother me. Moving on.
The BDSM component was pretty stellar. I love Sophie’s curiosity and desire to please yet at the same time totally rebelled. I loved the juxtaposition of her willingness to want to submit to Emery but also knew what her hard limits were. I also really enjoyed that Emery saw this thing with her as more than just a D/s relationship. He wanted more from her almost immediately and made sure she knew it. I feel like the emotional component of these relationships lacks a lot with the submissive (usually the heroine) feeling like the Dominant only wants her for the obedience and sexual relationship and that is so not the case here and I loved it. Emery wanted feelings and talking and emotions and opening up and it was beautiful…then you add in the sexual component and it’s just hot as all hell.
While I loved their relationship, the kidnapping aspect is what really kept me turning the pages. I was so invested in finding out who was doing this and why and what was going to happen that I couldn’t put the book down. Add in to that the absolutely heart-wrenching moment when Emery talked about his kidnapping and his brother just BROKE my fucking heart. I could feel his pain and suffering about his brother and how much it hurts him still. I cried…y’all I actually cried while reading a smut book. I don’t think that’s ever happened before. It HURT, you guys! The thought of a sibling in that situation with you trying to protect you is just heart-breaking. I can’t guys. I just can’t.
The book ends with a mostly definite conclusion but not all our questions are answered. I love this. I can’t wait for the next book for the continuation of the kidnapping story…but it’s also a companion novel with another main man as our focus…who is it?…I’ll never tell…
The Gilded Cuff follows Sophie, an investigative journalist who is trying to solve the 25 year old mystery of a kidnapping of twin boys. One survived, Emery Lockwood, and Sophie is braving the underground world of a BDSM club that her friend got her into. Her perogative? Get his attention so she can save his life. What? Where did that come from? WELL, Sophie is also a special kind of genius that she helps solve cold case kidnappings because she can see patterns in behavior and more likely than not catch who did it. Yeah, she’s that badass. So she goes to find Emery, they meet…and that’s where I leave you…I know, I’m awful, tell me something I don’t know.
I will nitpick my one point right now and move on because it is something I noticed and had an eyebrow raise on. The story is pretty insta-love-y. Don’t let that dissuade you though because while it was present, I chose to ignore it because for the plot and storyline to work these two people needed a deep connection. Don’t get me wrong, these two individuals were definitely supposed to meet in the destiny way of things because they have more things in common than you would think so their connection is anything but unbelievable. But shit gets real, real fast but it didn’t bother me. Moving on.
The BDSM component was pretty stellar. I love Sophie’s curiosity and desire to please yet at the same time totally rebelled. I loved the juxtaposition of her willingness to want to submit to Emery but also knew what her hard limits were. I also really enjoyed that Emery saw this thing with her as more than just a D/s relationship. He wanted more from her almost immediately and made sure she knew it. I feel like the emotional component of these relationships lacks a lot with the submissive (usually the heroine) feeling like the Dominant only wants her for the obedience and sexual relationship and that is so not the case here and I loved it. Emery wanted feelings and talking and emotions and opening up and it was beautiful…then you add in the sexual component and it’s just hot as all hell.
While I loved their relationship, the kidnapping aspect is what really kept me turning the pages. I was so invested in finding out who was doing this and why and what was going to happen that I couldn’t put the book down. Add in to that the absolutely heart-wrenching moment when Emery talked about his kidnapping and his brother just BROKE my fucking heart. I could feel his pain and suffering about his brother and how much it hurts him still. I cried…y’all I actually cried while reading a smut book. I don’t think that’s ever happened before. It HURT, you guys! The thought of a sibling in that situation with you trying to protect you is just heart-breaking. I can’t guys. I just can’t.
The book ends with a mostly definite conclusion but not all our questions are answered. I love this. I can’t wait for the next book for the continuation of the kidnapping story…but it’s also a companion novel with another main man as our focus…who is it?…I’ll never tell…
Backstage Pass
If you like BDSM, emotional characterizations, and a helluva good mystery…this book is for you.
Hmmm my interest is piqued. I've only read 50 Shades as far BDSM erotica goes, but I loved those books. Haters gonna hate, but Christian Grey is yummy. This sounds like something I might enjoy. I might have to check it out. Great review, Kelly!
ReplyDeleteI'm also a fan of smut so I'll have to check this one out. I'd love to have that bracelet on the cover. It's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteestelle also recced this to me! I need to check it out, for sure!
ReplyDeleteHA HA HA. That opening paragraph. My mom, again, would be so proud. I'm thrilled you enjoyed reading Lauren's new book (and even more thrilled some commenters want to pick it up too!).
ReplyDeleteI really love the cover of The Gilded Cuff. It's very mesmerizing! That having been said, still not sure I would read it but you know I trust your recommendations, so I'm still considering. I do think the story sounds pretty different from what I'd normally read, but hey, sometimes, different can be good, right?
ReplyDelete