Love Gives You Wings

"Easy answer...You."

--Tiffany Reisz, Michael's Wings

My Thoughts

The Belle
It's no secret that Michael has a huge place in my heart since meeting him in The Angel. His vulnerability and sensitive soul won me over immediately. In this new novella, we get to see so much more of Michael and the man he has become.

Since My Last Confession...

"Love is never a sin.
If it's a sin it's not love.
And if its love it's not a sin."

--Tiffany Reisz, The Confessions

Genre: Adult Contemporary, Erotica

Publisher: 8t Circle Press

Pages: 140

Publication Date: March 15th, 2016

Source: ARC provided by author

Previous Books in Series: The Siren & The Angel & The Prince & The Mistress & The Saint & The King & The Virgin & The Queen
 Find on: Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Description 

Three Sinners. Three confessions. And all the dirty little secrets you could possibly desire...

Father Stuart Ballard has been Marcus Stearns’ confessor since the young Jesuit was only eighteen years old. He thought he’d heard every sin the boy had to confess until Marcus uttered those three fateful words: “I met Eleanor.”

So begins the 40-page “The Confession of Marcus Stearns,” a moving coda to the RITA® Award-winning Original Sinners series. Originally published as a limited-edition paperback for the 2014 RT Booklovers' Convention, and available worldwide for the first time.

This collection also includes “The Confession of Eleanor Schreiber,” a companion 36-page story written exclusively for The Confessions.

And, finally, all secrets are revealed in “The Confession of Tiffany Reisz,” an exclusive, in-depth interview.

Listen. I love The Original Sinners. If you don't know this, you must be new here. Welcome. These characters and one other series, in all the books I have read in my years, are my family. Søren and Nora and Kinglsey, I love more than almost anything. They are my people. When I found out Tiffany was publishing The Confessions of Søren and another confession of Nora, I was SO excited. AND we get to meet the infamous confessor of Søren's, Father Ballard.

The Confessions of Marcus, Father Ballard only knows him by Marcus, were everything I wanted them to be. This confession takes place 6 months after he meets Eleanor so you can imagine how that went. What I loved about this was hearing Søren's feelings about her right after he met her. We get to see how intense Eleanor feels for him but we never really get an inside look as to what he was feeling. It was phenomenal. His feelings are so deep and pure but more than that, the advice Father Ballard gives him is perfection. It makes so much sense and gives a lot of insight into things that have happened throughout the series and their relationship. More than these revelations of Søren's feelings, the banter with Father Ballard is on another level. He's freaking awesome. He's funny and a little bit crass and I couldn't get enough. He was THE BEST!

The Confessions of Eleanor are equally hilarious with the banter with the Father. When he finally gets to meet her what he says is just too funny. And as per usual, her response is just as good. Their slightly flirtatious conversations was so adorable. More than that, we get to dig a little deeper in the psyche that is Nora and while it was slightly emotionally painful, it hurt so good.

If you are a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed in The Confessions. They are a beautiful little piece to the puzzle and answer questions I've had since closing the final pages of the series.

Reserved Seating
If you love the OG Sinners, Nora, or Søren...this book is for you.

I Was Born A Queen

"She says you are like Alice in the Looking-Glass world.
First a pawn and then a queen."

--Tiffany Reisz, The Queen

Genre: Adult Erotica, Contemporary

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Pages: 400

Publication Date: October 27th, 2015

Source: eARC provided by publisher

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Previous Books in Series: The Siren & The Angel & The Prince & The Mistress & The Saint & The King & The Virgin

Goodreads Description 

Once upon a time, Nora and Søren made a fateful deal—if he gave her everything, she would give him forever.

The time has finally come to keep their promises.

Out of money and out of options after her year-long exile, Eleanor Schreiber agrees to join forces with Kingsley Edge, the king of kink. After her first taste of power as a Dominant, Eleanor buries her old submissive self and transforms into Mistress Nora, the Red Queen. With the help of a mysterious young man with a job even more illicit than her own, Nora squares off against a cunning rival in her quest to become the most respected, the most feared Dominatrix in the Underground.

While new lovers and the sweet taste of freedom intoxicate Nora, she is tempted time and time again by Søren, her only love and the one man who refuses to bow to her. But when Søren accepts a new church assignment in a dangerous country, she must make an agonizing choice—will the queen keep her throne and let her lover go, or trade in her crown for Søren's collar?

With a shattering final confession, the last link in the chain is forged in The Original Sinners saga. It's the closing chapter in a story of salvation, sacrifice and the multitude of scars we collect in the name of ecstasy—and love.

My Family
We have come to a conclusion. After 7 previous books the end is finally here. I can't say I'm happy about it but all good things must come to an end. As I have said before, these characters have come to feel like part of my family. I love them, get angry with them, want to hug them, want to smack them. All the feels for these characters I have come to know and love so well. It has not been long since I met the Original Sinners but sometimes when you fall in love you just know and that is how I feel with these books. It was an instant connection, a recognition that these books were something special. While I sometimes dread the final books in series, The Queen exceeded my expectations in so many ways.

The Story
While I thought I was walking into a 400 page book about how Eleanor became Mistress Nora, there was so much more involved. The plot kept me on my toes with the fantastic addition of a villain I loved to hate. Nora was in her element in defense of her people and I loved these scenes so incredibly much! I love sassy, badass, snarky Nora and we definitely get to see a lot of her. Speaking of snarky--how can we forget Kinglsey? We can't. King continues to steal my heart and make me want to drop my panties for him because...he's French...did you know? Seriously, I love King. I loved seeing him rule his Kingdom as well as help guide Nora. Their dynamic is never dull and their conversations jump off the page and make me laugh out loud constantly. I love them so hard, you guys.

The Love
As I said above, I expected the focus to be on Nora and Kingsley's relationship and how he taught her everything. What I did not expect...what I did not expect was to see so much of Søren. I was overcome with so much emotion in this book in regards to Nora and Søren in the best ways. I love Søren, don't get me wrong. I love him so, so, so incredibly hard but I felt like he was always still a step apart in regards to really seeing and feeling his emotions. I don't mean this in a bad way but he is such a complex character who holds his emotions so tight to the chest that I felt like in this book Tiffany brought down all of his walls. I felt like I was seeing Søren for the very emotional creature he is because when he loves, he loves hard and deep and forever. I liked seeing him a little broken, not gonna lie. It made him seem more human. And the interactions with Nora. Holy. Fucking. Shit. Like...I can't...I just cannot even describe how my heart felt reading the scenes between them. This was something I did not expect to get in this book so reading it felt like fucking Christmas, my birthday, and a new travel designation all wrapped up in one. For real. I had tears just running down my face because I didn't think it was possible to feel the depth of Søren and Nora's love any further but I did...oh, my gosh I did. They are on another level of intensity and I will consider myself the luckiest woman in the world if I find somebody to love and who loves me even a fraction for what I believe they feel for one another. It is beautiful and pure and selfless and everything that love should be. *le sigh*

Seriously. I cannot say enough about how much I love this series. I am sad to see my beloved Sinners go and hoping I see more in the future but this book was a perfect ending to the series. Crossing my fingers we get more, particularly maybe a book  (or 4) during the years when Nora is Søren's sub. She can call that series The Golden Years...see what I did there?

VIP
If you love amazing character development, snarky banter, and the deepest, purest of loves...this book is for you.

Love Conquers All

"'I was talking about you,' Elle laughed.
'I'm a vicious little bitch, too.'"

--Tiffany Reisz, The Virgin

Genre: Adult Erotica, Contemporary

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Pages: 400

Publication Date: March 31st, 2015

Source: ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

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Previous Books in Series: The Siren & The Angel & The Prince & The Mistress & The Saint & The King

Goodreads Description

The controversial story before the story continues in the critically acclaimed and award-winning series The Original Sinners.

For years, Kingsley Edge warned Eleanor the day would come when she, the mistress of a well-respected Catholic priest, would have to run and hide. She always imagined if that day came she'd be running away with Søren. But instead, she's running from him.

Knowing Søren and Kingsley will their use their influence to bring her back, Eleanor alone, penniless and scared takes refuge at the one place the men in her life cannot follow: the abbey where her mother has taken orders. Behind the cloistered gates of the convent, Eleanor hides from the man she loves and hates in equal measure

She cannot, however, hide from her true nature. When Eleanor befriends a young virginal nun, she faces a startling sexual awakening. But Eleanor can't stay forever, and the lure of her real life beckons beyond the locked gates. But to follow her fate means to leave Kyrie behind, a sacrifice Eleanor refuses to make

The lure of the forbidden. The temptation to sin. The price of passion has never been higher, and Eleanor will have to pay it if she ever wants to go home again.

Le sigh...Where do I begin? The Original Sinners series (just in case you haven't been here before) is one of my all-time favorite series. The characters, the complexity, the plot, the sex, the world, everything about it I just love. I have grown to love these characters over the past 7 books so much so that they feel a part of the family. A damned sexy family if I do say so myself. Wowza. I wanna spend Christmas at Kingsley's...anyways. The Virgin is the 7th book of the series and the 3rd in the prequel series. This installment takes us to 'that year' when Nora left Soren and Kingsley went off to God knows where and now we find out all the dirty details. Nora went to stay with her mother in her convent and Kingsley eventually met Juliette.

I realized while reading that there is a comfortable kind of silence that happens when I read these prequel books. That being I feel completely relaxed and at ease when I'm opening up these books. I truly enjoy being with these characters. There is this effortless quality of the writing Tiffany Reisz puts forth that makes me feel like I'm coming home or spending time with friends. I love reading about these characters and the fact that there is only one more book breaks my heart in half quicker than the most fierce sadist. But back to this book. What I found I loved best was the writing. It is beautiful and poignant and you feel Elle's emotions as acutely as if they were your own. We get the story of what happened in that terrible time in her life and how exactly she left Soren piece by heart-breaking piece. I loved that this novel showed who truly hopeless Elle felt. However, not all is heartbreak and tears. What I didn't expect was for Elle to find Nora. No spoilers on how she got there but the journey to her discovering her love and tale of writing was beautiful and I loved every second of it. I really enjoyed Kyrie's character even if I couldn't fully understand her motives and actions at times and I mean this as a good thing. Read and you'll see what I mean.

The other major component of this book was Kingsley and what he did during 'that year.' Again, I came to fully understand and appreciate Kingsley EVEN MORE. This book really helped me feel and connect to his feelings for Elle. The depth of his love for her is something I didn't begin to comprehend until reading this book. His thoughts about her and what he feels for her is, dare I be redundant, beautiful. I never want to pass up an opportunity to be in Kingsley's head and this was no exception. Love love loved it. Meeting Juliette and reading his thoughts on Soren was like dessert at the beginning of the meal. A little bit sinful but all kinds of amazing. And thank God (pun intended) for foresight because if I didn't know how things turned out, this book would have given me massive anxiety.

I think this book was an amazing addition to the Original Sinners family and fleshed out our complex and intricate characters even further. Each book builds on the last and I can't even tell you how much I love these characters and their lives and their story. I never want it to end and I find myself missing them when I finish the book. Can Tiffany just keep writing their stories?...Pretty please?...Mistress?...

VIP

If you love this series, if you love these characters, or if you're even contemplating starting this series...DO IT!!!

The Making of a King: The King Blog Tour

"I'm the only bitch in this family."

--Tiffany Reisz, The King

Genre: Adult Erotica

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Pages: 443

Publication Date: November 25th, 2014

Source: ARC provided by publisher for Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review

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Buy Links: Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Previous Books in Series: The Siren & The Angel & The Prince & The Mistress & The Saint

Goodreads Description

Cunning. Sex. Pure nerve. Only this potent threesome can raise him

to his rightful place as ruler of Manhattan's kink kingdom.


Bouncing from bed to bed on the Upper East Side—handsomely paid in both bills and blackmail fodder—Kingsley Edge is brilliant, beautiful and utterly debauched. No carnal act or chemical compound can relieve his self-destructive apathy—only Søren, the one person he loves without limit or regret. A man he can never have, but in whose hands Kingsley is reborn to attain even greater heights of sin. He plans to open the ultimate BDSM club­: a dungeon playground for New York's A-list that'll change the scene forever.

You know those books whose characters you love so incredibly much that when you read another book about them it feels like coming home? That's how my experience with The King was. You may know how I fell head over heels in love with this series earlier this year so my excitement for a book all about Kingsley was palpable. I thought I loved Kingsley before but after this book I am on another level. My heart...you guys MY HEART was not only bleeding but hemorrhaging for Kingsley. His character is so delicious that I just wanted to jump inside this book and hug the shit out of him. Then maybe slap him across  the face for fun. Anyways. His emotions run so deep and he starts off so wounded that you can't help but want to snug him and make him feel better. On the flip side to that, seeing how Kingsley became the man he is today is fascinating. I loved getting the stories behind all the infamous traits that make Kingsley Kingsley. The name of the club.  Founding the club. THE RIDING BOOTS!!!! Love love loved it all.

While Kingsley without a doubt steals the show, we cannot forget to mention the ultimate bromance that IS Kingsley and Soren. To feel once again how deeply Kingsley feels for Soren shot pangs through my heart multiple times. Their relationship is so steeped in love and understanding that it makes your ache with longing. And while I LOVED this component to the story, the small glimpses we get of Eleanor made me grinning like an idiot. Seeing her through Kingsley eyes was like dessert coming early. Just fucking delicious and awesome. To know what comes in the future for all of them (pun intended) was the best form of foresight.

While I've said before that I loved Kingsley, Soren was always the one to steal the show for me. Not so much in this book, however. I came to realize that while I love Soren, I started to sway more towards Kingsley. Getting to really know him when he was just starting his kingdom made him be the man I would want chasing after me. He is ex-military, fiercely smart, passionate, and more than a little broken. I found that I could relate a lot to Kingsley in that while he is a guarded, he loves so fiercely. But on the flip side of that, when he is wronged he lashes out and completely shuts down emotionally. While it is not the best reaction to situations, I loved this about him. He feels so deeply that he can't help but feel so hurt and betrayed by those he chooses to let in his inner circle. It means he is passionate about those he cares about and I can't help but love him all the more for it.

The story of Kingsley's past that Tiffany Reisz weaves is one of betrayal, self-acceptance, love,  sexual escapades, and the overwhelming message to let your freak flag, or rather kink flag fly. The stories of other characters and what they've gone through for just being who they are broke my heart in so many ways. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be treated the way some of these people were treated. I wanted to pull a Kingsley and start assassinating these ignorant fucks. The  overall journey this story takes about finding a place for their people to belong was my favorite part. I love the discussion of loving who you are and being perfect the way God made you. There is something serious lack of understanding and compassion in this world in regards to people who are different. I love that this book and this series is about loving who you are no matter your kink.

This was an amazing and hilarious addition to this already amazing series and I love Kingsley even more than I thought possible. If you haven't read these books yet and you love the kink, you need to fix this immediately...or you may be punished.

VIP

Without a doubt, this book continues to the steady climb that is all the amazing of this series. Each book builds on the last until your heart just stays in your throat because you are so deeply attached to each characters. If you love erotica, amazing characterizations, or all around fantastic writing, these books are for you.

About the Author:

Tiffany Reisz lives with her fiancé (a reformed book reviewer) and two cats (one good, one evil). She graduated with a B.A. in English from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and is making both her parents and her professors proud by writing BDSM erotica under her real name. She has five piercings, one tattoo, and has been arrested twice.

When not under arrest, Tiffany enjoys Latin Dance, Latin Men, and Latin Verbs. She dropped out of a conservative southern seminary in order to pursue her dream of becoming a smut peddler. Johnny Depp’s aunt was her fourth grade teacher. Her first full-length novel THE SIREN was inspired by a desire to tie up actor Jason Isaacs (on paper). She hopes someday life will imitate art (in bed).

If she couldn’t write, she would die.

Find Tiffany On...
Twitter: @TiffanyReisz https://twitter.com/tiffanyreisz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleredridingcrop

Website: http://www.tiffanyreisz.com/

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Forever and Everything

"I think Life is a book...God writes it.
We're His characters. He knows what happens on the next page, but we don't.
Heaven is where we get to read the book cover to cover and see how it all makes sense."

--Tiffany Reisz, The Saint

Genre: Adult Contemporary, Erotica

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA 

Pages: 446

Publication Date: June 24th, 2014

Source: Bought

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Previous Books in Series: The Siren & The Angel & The Prince & The Mistress

Goodreads Description

In the beginning, there was him.

Gutsy, green-eyed Eleanor never met a rule she didn't want to break. She's sick of her mother's zealotry and the confines of Catholic school, and declares she'll never go to church again. But her first glimpse of beautiful, magnetic Father Søren Stearns and his lust-worthy Italian motorcycle is an epiphany. Suddenly, daily Mass seems like a reward, and her punishment is the ache she feels when they're apart. He is intelligent and insightful and he seems to know her intimately at her very core. Eleanor is consumed—and even she knows that can't be right.

But when one desperate mistake nearly costs Eleanor everything, it is Søren who steps in to save her. She vows to repay him with complete obedience…and a whole world opens before her as he reveals to her his deepest secrets.

Danger can be managed—pain, welcomed. Everything is about to begin.

Mini-Review

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. This is the story and the origins of Nora and Soren. Excuse me, Eleanor and Soren. First of all, I loved that I could read this story with no anxiety. I know how their story ends. I don't have to be wondering if they get together or not. I just fell right into the story and loved spending time with Eleanor and Soren. Our story is told via flashbacks with Nora in present day grieving over an unknown situation and hanging out *cough* with Nicolas.

Let me tell you, the writing of Tiffany Reisz never ceases to amaze me. She tells this story with a beautiful hindsight and all the details finally fall into place. I was so invested in this story and I actually forgot I was reading at points and that we were heading towards a conclusion because I was so captivated by the story. I never wanted it to end. I loved seeing Eleanor and Soren's first interactions and what brought them to their epic relationship. Their conversations are deep, thought provoking, sexy. The way they connect fully and completely and the lengths they go to to be there for one another is breathtaking at points. You know going into it that certain things happened in specific situations but getting the details was enthralling. So much more happens that I could have ever imagined. Soren continues to make me weak in the knees and worship at his feet but it was Nora and Kingsley who really blew me away.

Nora...I didn't think I could love Nora anymore but teenage Eleanor was quite a treat. She is funny and witty and smart! Her dialogue is so freaking funny I was actually laughing at loud at so many points. I loved her vulgar mouth and how confident she was. The way she handles, because yes she does handle him, Soren was f'ing amazing. She takes it and gives it back just as much. For reals. My heart broke for her reading about the truth behind her relationship with her parents. I wanted to take her in myself and love her unconditionally. And while I did fall in literature love with Nora even more...

...meeting young Kingsley was my favorite part. I really connected with him in The Prince but always was a little wary of him and his jealousy of Nora. I take it back now because Kingsley is fucking awesome. So funny. So charming. So witty. His interaction with Nora were some of my favorite parts of the book. I felt like this book really helped us see his connection with Nora and how he really does love her and want to protect her. An incident with her father in particular warmed my heart even further to him.

If you have read The Original Sinners series and you have not read this yet, make it a priority. This is a beautiful story of where our characters came from and you can read it without any anxiety wondering how their story is going to end. This was the best part. 

VIP

This book had me absolutely enchanted. What I loved was that I already knew the ending and could just enjoy the story. I wasn't anxious, I wasn't nervous they wouldn't end up together, I forgot I was reading half the time because I was so enchanted by just being in their world and learning their beginnings. Le sigh...

To Honor and Obey

"I don't care what I am. I never have.
It's everyone else who cares. Not me.
I don't care if I'm his mistress or his wife. I only wanted Soren.
People tell me I have to get married, settle down, have kids.
Fuck them. They don't know me. You know who never told me how to live my life?
Soren.
He asked me to obey him, not to change for him."

--Tiffany Reisz, The Mistress

Genre: Adult Contemporary, Erotica

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA 

Pages: 464

Publication Date: July 30th, 2013

Source: Bought

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Previous Books in Series: The Siren & The Angel & The Prince

Goodreads Description

The final book in The Original Sinners Series - The Red Years.

There's punishment-and then there's vengeance.

Nora Sutherlin is being held, bound and naked. Under different circumstances, she would enjoy the situation immensely, but her captor isn't interested in play. Or pity.

As the reality of her impending peril unfolds, Nora becomes Scheherazade, buying each hour of her life with stories-sensual tales of Søren, Kingsley and Wesley, each of whom has tempted and tested and tortured her in his own way. This, Nora realizes, is her life: nothing so simple, so vanilla, as a mere love triangle for her. It's a knot in a silken cord, a tangled mass of longings of the body and the heart and the mind. And it may unravel at any moment.

But in Nora's world, no one is ever truly powerless-a cadre of her friends, protectors and lovers stands ready to do anything to save her, even when the only certainty seems to be sacrifice and heartbreak....

Mini-Review

This book. Oh man, you guys. THIS FUCKING BOOK. This book was absolutely amazing. I felt like it was the absolute perfect conclusion (minus one small thing I'm choosing to ignore). I am like almost speechless because it was so emotional and as much chest pain as I had over anxiety as to what was going to happen, it was all worth it in the end.

SPOILER ALERT FROM PREVIOUS BOOKS--YOU'VE BEEN WARNED

So Nora has been kidnapped Marie-Laure who everyone thought was dead. And this is on crazy bitch let me tell you. Absolutely insane. She keeps Nora alive by making her tell stories about Soren and Kinglsey so we get all the sexy hindsight into pieces of their past. I loved this. I mean, not Nora getting kidnapped but that we got insider info into the scandalous lives of the rich and kinky. 

More than that, the dynamics and introductions of other characters like Lailah and Grace brought the entire story full circle. Well, except the Grace aspect which is the part I am ignoring and it's my only criticism because the developments just did NOT fit with everything we came to learn about our characters. It just didn't make sense and wasn't needed. Anyways. Kingsley is in his element leading the troops and organizing their best plan to get Nora back. I came to love Kingsley even a little bit more than I did. Lailah's perspective was probably my favorite part because through her eyes we were able to see just how integrated Nora was in Soren's personal life. She calls Nora her aunt. I mean, if that didn't bring a few tears to my eyes. I love imaging them in Denmark and begin able to publicly show affection. It made my heart happy.

What else made my heart happy? 2 things. One, was somebody fucking FINALLY set Wesley straight. That manipulative, little prick (sorry not sorry) finally got his ass handed to him and it couldn't have come sooner. I'm not lying when I say everything that was finally said to him was exactly what I was thinking. Get you head out of your ass, Wes and realize you're trying to change her. I actually made quite the epic parallel and texted Jaime over at Fiction Fare about it. If you've read the Shatter Me series I relate the characters as Nora being Juliette, Soren is obviously Warner, and Wes is Adam. We wants her to be weaker, less than, not living up to her full potential and beyond. He loves the idea of her and who he wants her to be...not who she actually is. 

Now let met talk about the ultimate male specimen on that note. Soren embraces Nora and wants her to flourish and wants her to be happy no matter where she is, what she wants or who she is with. He loves her so selflessly and with the deepest, deepest heart. There is a part towards the end of the book where feelings are discussed and I was SOBBING. Ugly crying because their love is so pure and so beautiful and so deep. If I can find somebody to love and who loves me half as much as Soren and Nora love each other, I will consider myself immensely blessed. There are very few love stories I will use the word epic with...their love is epic. It is not conventional but nonetheless it is epic. Alexander and Tatiana, Nastya and Josh, Zsadist and Bella. Those are my epic couples. I'm adding Soren and Nora to that list. They are no joke, you guys. No fucking joke.

This final book was everything I wanted and more from the final book of the Original Sinners series. I know we are getting a prequel series so we might get some insight as to the now but this is epic. Everything is just beautiful. God is love...so is Soren. 

VIP

This series is simply amazing. It is emotional, thought provoking, seductive, captivating, and utterly brilliant. I am so happy I read these books because this story and this writing left me bruised on my heart in the best way possible. 

Sins of the Father

"'And…it’s safer to be feared than loved. At least where I’m concerned.'"

--Tiffany Reisz, The Prince

Genre: Adult Contemporary, Erotica

Publisher: MIRA Books

Pages: 416

Publication Date: November 20th, 2012

Source: Bought

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Previous Books in Series: The Siren & The Angel 

Goodreads Description

Two worlds of wealth and passion call to Nora Sutherlin and, whichever one she chooses, it will be the hardest decision she will ever have to make. Unless someone makes it for her...
Wes Railey is the object of Nora's tamest yet most maddening fantasies, and the one man she can't forget. He's young. He's wonderful. He's also thoroughbred royalty and, reuniting with him in Kentucky, she's in his world now. But this infamous New York dominatrix is no simpering Southern belle, and Nora's dream of fitting into Wesley's world is perpetually at odds with the relentlessly seductive pull of Soren--her owner, her lover, the forever she cannot have. At least, not completely.
Meanwhile Nora's associate Kingsley Edge is only too happy to take her place at Soren's feet during her hiatus. Soren is the only man Kingsley has ever loved, and their dark, shared history has forged a bond that neither the years--nor Soren's love for Nora--can break. But a new threat from an old adversary is forcing Kingsley to confront the past, reminding him that he must keep his friends close, and his enemies closer.

Mini-Review

This is what happens when I binge read a series, I need to write mini-reviews because I can't handle all the feels and just need to keep reading...but I force myself to stop and projectile write (try to write coherently) my thoughts. This book...this book gave me so much anxiety while reading because I love these f'ing characters so hard. The book is broken down into North-Past, North-Present and South-Present. So basically we we're getting alternating chapters between Søren and Kingsley when they met in school, Søren and Kinglsey now trying to figure out who is threatening them, and Nora and Wesley in Kentucky. The best way for me to write this review is to break it down by character.

Søren--Easy. Let's get him out of the way. I love him. I love him. I love him. Who does he love? Nora. Without a doubt, his love is so deep and selfless he will let her go and let her figure out what she wants time and time again because he wants what is best for her. HE is clearly what is best for her but he never forces anything on her. THIS is true love people. See the Wes section below for why I feel the need to point this out.  For real though, Søren is a scary bastard but at the end of the day he loves Nora more than anything else in this world. He is beautiful and terrifying and everything good. There doesn't even need to be a Team discussion because that would infer that there's even another contender in the game...anyways...

Kingsley--Oh, Kinglsey. You broke my damn heart you French bastard. Kingsley became so much more than I ever thought he would be in this book. We see his history, how he met Søren, how he fell in love with Søren. Oh my gosh, I love Kingsley. I didn't love that he was always trying to one up Nora because that is not a loving relationship in my head but he and Wes have a few things in common there. Reading about Kingsley growing up and discovering who he was was beautiful. He is broken and tragic and he just wants to be loved. I know he's got a prequel book coming later on and I can't wait to get more into him.

Wes--Earmuffs children because this is about to get ugly. I don't use the H word often...but I hate Wes. Like...hate his character. I know that stories thrive due to conflict and a big part of this series is Nora's heart and where it belongs but to me, Wes came out of nowhere and maybe that's why I'm unable to connect to his storyline. We are introduced to him in The Siren as her intern and then all the sudden towards the end of the book Nora claims real feelings for him? She calls him 'kid' all the time and talks about worrying about him like it's her own child. I can't buy that she has actual romantic feelings for him and vice versa. I also call bullshit on this Wes is pure and good and wholesome act. Bull. Fucking. Shit. This kid is manipulative as all hell. He is constantly begging her to stay with him. He guilt trips her into reminding her how he totally broke him when she made him leave. His parents get on this train too reminding her not to hurt their boy. He is always telling her that she is the real Nora when she's with him and not when she's in her BDSM world. He is always bringing Søren and how all Søren does is hurt her and he would never do that and he owns all this land, has all this money and she'll never have to write again or work again if she stays. Back up the train mother fucker. I don't even know where to start with what is wrong with all of this...

First, don't beg her to stay. If you have to beg and she has to think about it, NEWSFLASH she doesn't belong with you. Love should be unconditional and they should WANT to be with you, not trying to convince themselves they should be with you. Second, stop telling her who she is and what she wants. BDSM is her. It is a part of who she is. You telling her she shouldn't let people hurt her is missing the entire point of her lifestyle. She LIKES it, that's who she is. You're basically telling her that she's a freak who has it all wrong. Third, I felt like Wes was more in a pissing contest with Søren rather than there for Nora. He keeps saying don't go back to him, rather than letting their feelings between each other speak for themselves. I feel like he built Nora up in his head to be this demure, non-BDSM woman on a pedestal and never really accepts her for who she is, D/s and all. If you can't love her for who she is or are trying to change her to fit your standards of what a woman should be, you need to walk away. I could.not.stand. that he was constantly telling her she didn't need to be hurt again. LASTLY, just because you have more money than God doesn't mean Nora doesn't have to write again. AGAIN, being a writer is part of who she is. Yes, it's her livelihood now but writing is an expression of art so why wouldn't she want to keep doing that just because she has money now? He does say or if she wanted she could write all she wants but this entire conversation didn't even need to happen. It was never about money or what Wes could give her, it's about where her heart lies.

Nora--Nora, I love you. I love your sass and your attitude and your ability to put anyone at ease or in their place. But wise up, girlfriend. You're smarter than this. You're better than letting yourself be manipulated by this child and guilt tripped into staying with him. Come on, now.

Alright, that rant probably made you think I hated this book but I didn't! I LOVED this book, I just can't stand Wes and think Nora's actions around him don't align with the character we have come to know. Phew. I think I'm good now. Blogging and writing review is cathartic.

Backstage Pass

The series continues to amaze me and keeps me enthralled and at the edge of my seat with anticipation. Love love love.  

Forgive Me, Father

"No safe word can protect the heart."

--Tiffany Reisz, The Angel

Genre: Adult Contemporary, Erotica

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Pages: 416

Publication Date: September 25th, 2012

Source: Bought

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Previous Books in Series: The Siren 

Goodreads Description

No safe word can protect the heart
Infamous erotica author and accomplished dominatrix Nora Sutherlin is doing something utterly out of character: hiding. While her longtime lover, Søren—whose fetishes, if exposed, would be his ruin—is under scrutiny pending a major promotion, Nora's lying low and away from temptation in the lap of luxury.

Her host, the wealthy and uninhibited Griffin Fiske, is thrilled to have Nora stay at his country estate, especially once he meets her traveling companion. Young, inexperienced and angelically beautiful, Michael has become Nora's protégé, and this summer with Griffin is going to be his training, where the hazing never ends.

But while her flesh is willing, Nora's mind is wandering. To thoughts of Søren, her master, under investigation by a journalist with an ax to grind. And to another man from Nora's past, whose hold on her is less bruising, but whose secrets are no less painful. It's a summer that will prove the old adage: love hurts.

Mini-Review

You guys. It's official. I've been collared by this series and I just can't get enough. It just hurts too good. You guys...YOU GUYS. I won't lie to you, I have not been this enthralled and obsessed with a  series in a long time. That feeling of utter anxiety not knowing what's going to happen, NEEDING to know what happens. I worked a 12 hour shift in the middle of reading one of these books and all I'm thinking about all day is when can I go home and read? It's serious.

Why do I love this book? Simply? Everything. The characters, the story, the writing, the psyche of this infamous underground world of BDSM. It all just comes together so perfectly. Ok, let me try to break this down. The characters. I love these dirty bastards. They are all so intelligent and witty and caring. They care about one another so much it is palpable. Especially Michael. I LOVED that his character was introduced as a main component to this story. He is so fragile and beautiful and sensitive, I loved every scene with him in it. Building on that, another reason I LOVE this book is that this story is so much more than the sexual component of BDSM. Tiffany Reisz explores this subject in the way it should be explored. It's not just about getting off or getting excited, it's about the psychology and mentality behind why people enjoy this lifestyle. I find this topic absolutely fascinating. I could not get enough of digging deep into the realm of Dominant and submissive relationships. 

The characters continue to develop in a way that has you rooting for all of them...well, except one but more on that in the next review I think. We learn SO MUCH about Søren and his past. As crazy as this may sound, this man can do absolutely no wrong in my book. Call me Nora because there is nothing this man can do that would make me turn my back on him. His past is not his fault and he is so fucking sexy I just can't take it sometimes! Phew. Seriously. 

VIP

If the BDSM component doesn't freak you out...for the love of all things Søren, read these books. 

Please Sir, May I Have Another

"There are only two reasons why you leave someone you're still in love with - either it's the right thing to do, or it's the only thing to do."

--Tiffany Reisz, The Siren

Genre: Adult Contemporary, Erotica

Publisher: MIRA

Pages: 432

Publication Date: July 24th, 2012

Source: Gift via Jaime at Fiction Fare

Find on Goodreads

Previous Books in Series: First book in series

Goodreads Description

Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book... if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining... and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him... or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

Mini-Review

Dude. I gotta start off by saying I had minimal expectations going into this book. I've had in on my Kindle for quite a while. I've heard good things but ya know, you gotta be in the mood for a story like this. Plus I knew the series already had five book out so I was kinda daunted by that. I had no idea what I was in the mood to read so I was like, ya know I'll give this a try. If I don't like it I can forget the rest of the series...needless to say, this book pretty much had me by the throat by the end of the first chapter. I cannot describe it any better than the writing is just excellent. The voice of this third person narrator is just perfection. I felt immediately "in" the story and its setting. I could see it in front of me. The dialogue is witty. The characters are cantankerous and hilarious. The characterizations are complex and intricately weaved. If there is one thing you take away from reading this review, know that the writing is just phenomenal. I can't put it any more than that.

The plot within a plot was pure literary bliss to read. Nora is the main character and a write of erotica novels. She is trying to go with a more serious type of book and a new editor who doesn't want to work with her based on her previous novels. Nora is such an interesting character. She is sweet yet definitely somebody you do NOT want to piss off. She is a juxtaposition of everything and I love that about her. Zach is a stuffy editor from London in the midst of a separation from his wife. He doesn't want to like Nora but he does. Nobody can deny her charm and he tries to fight it as best he can. Wesley is her 19 year old intern who I'm not quite sure what to think of yet. And then there's Soren. This elusive, mysterious mega-figure of her past. He is as terrifying as he is tantalizing. I need to know more about this man because holy shit, he is like just so mysterious and sexy and I want, want, want all of him. 

So this plot within the plot thing I mentioned above? This book is about an erotica writer who is writing an erotic novel and we get scenes from the novel interspersed in OUR novel AND we also get scenes from the book Nora is writing...that aren't so fictitious...aka this book is a little bit of a mind fuck but in the best way. I love reading about writers and their process for some reason, I found this aspect and plot focus just fun. I loved Zach getting on her ass about her sex scenes and what she has to cut and fix. It was interesting, kept me on my toes, and I couldn't put this book down. The writing of this book is simply fucking awesome. I can't say enough about it and how invested I was so quickly. I fell in love with these characters and wanted them to succeed. And while I love love love Nora, the person least seen in the book, Soren, is the one that always stole the scene. Why? Because that fucker is terrifying and sexy and I can't wait to know more. Yes, I said it again even though I said it in the above paragraph but this guy...phew, I can't wait to see more.

Now you might be turned off because this is an erotic novel but don't be. Yes, this this obviously a major theme and what these people do but it is about so much more than just the BDSM sexual acts. I felt like that really took a backseat to the plot and the writing. It was not an overpowering aspect of the plot that made the whole book about it. It's not. It's there but it's done in such an informative and tasteful way that I felt like I was learning about this lifestyle without it being thrown in my face. It is just a ridiculously well-written book with a plot that won't quit. And the overwhelming sense and message of accepting one's self for who you are is absolutely beautiful. I loved that the characters in this book, most of them, are open-minded and free spirited...shit, it's books like this that make me think I might have actually been a hippie had I grown up in the 60s. Free love and all that. But seriously, love in so many definitions of the word can be seen throughout this book and especially this sires and this is just the beginning. I cannot wait to start The Angel because holy hell, I need to know what happens next.

VIP
If you love erotica, thinking about reading erotica, or just love a really f'ing good story, this is for you.