Review: THE SIREN by Tiffany Reisz

The Siren
by Tiffany Reisz
Publisher: Harlequin/Mira
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Series: The Original Sinners, #1
Source: NetGalley

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.

The Siren is the first book in The Original Sinners series. It’s a continuation of Nora’s (Eleanor) story from, Seven Day Loan. I liked Nora from that first story of her as a young submissive woman loaned out to her Master’s friend. But in The Siren ten years have passed and Eleanor has left her Dominant lover and is a successful author of erotica. She is no longer a submissive but has become one of the top Dominants of New York’s underground BDSM scene. 

Her current work in progress is a more personal book that she is hoping will break her out into the mainstream. She is to work with Zach Easton, a British editor who is known to be difficult and hardnosed. At first he balks at working with her but after two face to face meeting with Nora, he’s all in. He agrees to give her six weeks to re-write her book to his exacting standards. Zach has his own demons. He struggles to put a broken marriage behind him while trying to look forward to a new job in Los Angeles. Through the course of writing and editing the new book and a brief affair, Nora may help Zach make his way back to his estranged wife. 

Nora Sutherland is a complex character. She’s a woman who is comfortable in her skin and does whatever it takes to get what she wants. I loved her ballsy take-charge attitude. And her sex scenes with several different characters were lush and decadent. I definitely have a huge girl crush on Mistress Nora. 

“Zach this isn’t a game, you know. I don’t just write it. I live it. I’m a Domme, a female Dominant. There aren’t a lot of us around. Most Dominants are men. Technically I’m a Switch since I can top and bottom, but if I show up on your doorstep, get ready to say ouch. I’m not good at it-I’m amazing at it. So good at it that I’m as famous down here for my skills with a whip as I am in the straight world for my skills with a pen.”  ~ Nora

 The Siren is the first book in a planned series. I suspect that some of the secondary characters in this book will eventually get their own stories. Wesley Railey is Nora’s nineteen year old intern. It’s rumored that he is her live in lover. Their relationship is complicated and endearing. 

Griffin Fiske is a wild and sarcastic kinkster who we meet at the 8^th Circle kink club. I think he will prove to be a fun and entertaining character. 

Kingsley Edge is the figurehead and king of New York’s underground kink scene. He helps Nora navigate her life after she breaks ties with her Dominant. Kingsley trains her in the art of domination and helps her to become the top Domme. He’s mysterious and sexy and I am looking forward to his story. 

Then there’s the infamous and omniscient Søren. He’s known Nora since she was a teenager and groomed her to be his submissive. He’s the ultimate sadist and the top Dominant within the kink community. His profession is a shocking contrast to his unflinching love of kink.  While I enjoyed Nora’s interactions with Zach and the rest of the characters, I got really excited when Søren entered the story. I love a big bad sadist. Søren and Nora’s love affair is epic and I can’t wait to read more about it. 

Tiffany Reisz has written an incredible story with clever, witty dialogue and multi-faceted characters. With the main characters being an author and an editor, the reader gets a fantastic bird’s eye view into the creative and analytical processes of creating a novel. The plot is intricate and engaging and I enjoyed everything about it.  The eroticism in this book is really intense but if you like your stories complex, dark and dirty then you will not be disappointed with The Siren.
4.5 Dragons

Review: CIRQUE DU MINUIT by Annabel Joseph

Cirque du Minuit
by Annabel Joseph
Publisher: Scarlet Rose Press
Release Date: February 28, 2012

It’s no easy feat transitioning from the disciplined arena of competitive gymnastics to the artistic whirl of the Cirque du Monde. Kelsey Martin finds secret inspiration in Theo Zamora, a dark, taciturn trapezist–until his partner dies in a tragic accident and he decides to leave the circus for good.

Theo doesn’t understand why Kelsey reaches out to him, only that she compels him with her unique combination of innocence and recklessness. Before long the two are collaborating on an aerial silks act for a new production, the Cirque du Minuit. Theo’s impatience with Kelsey’s naivete is matched only by his passion for her, and the two soon become embroiled in a tempestuous, consuming romance.

But some still blame Theo for his partner’s accident, and danger wraps up the two performers as inevitably as the scarlet silk of their act. Theo and Kelsey must find a way to connect and trust one another as he leads her deeper and deeper into a dangerous world of control and desire.

Cirque du Minuit was another incredible read from Annabel Joseph. This is the wonderful story of Kelsey Martin, a former gymnast and Theo Zamora a career cirque performer. Kelsey has just moved to Paris and joined the Cirque du Monde as one of their newest acrobats. She is adjusting to circus life and the differences between performing and competing with the help of her trainer Jason. But the man who has caught her eye is the temperamental and self-centered, Theo. She’s noticed his dark intensity from the moment she auditioned for the cirque and is keenly attracted to him. 

She gets lost in the training compound one day and happens to find Theo and his partner Minya in a Dominant/submissive scene that has her aroused and wondering what it would feel like to be Theo’s lover. Then a tragic accident during a trapeze act takes Minya’s life and leaves Theo with the stigma of being an untrustworthy partner. He takes her death very hard and closes himself off from the circus, locked away in his apartment. Kelsey is determined to bring him out of his depression. I was surprised that Kelsey had the strength and fearlessness to keep going to Theo’s apartment even after several verbal attacks and having the door shut in her face. She didn’t really know Theo that well but her attraction to him was powerful enough to keep her going back and even offer to be his new partner. 

The new partners are sent to Marseilles to star in a new aerial silk act with the Cirque du Minuit (Midnight Circus). Theo is a demanding task master as he trains Kelsey on the use of the silks. Their love affair also continues with him being equally as hard on her during her submissive training. Their whole relationship is rich with tumultuous emotions. I loved both these characters. There are multiple D/s sex scenes including lots of anal. The scenes are well written and emotional. I enjoyed the addition of Cirque du Monde’s owner, Michel Lemaitre. He’s the puppet master of both the cirque and his decadent le Citadel BDSM clubs. Lemaitre was an over the top character that I hope we see again in the future. 

I loved the imagery that was used when describing the practice and performance with the silks. If you have never seen an aerial silks performance I recommend you check one out. This novel definitely turns the experience into a sensual one. Theo and Kelsey’s story has to be one of my favorites from Ms. Joseph.  Watching Theo change from a self-centered ass-hat to a loving partner to Kelsey was captivating. Cirque du Minuit was a beautiful story with a tragic beginning that ends with a couple who is full of hope and love. This is one of my favorite novels of Annabel Joseph and a must read for any fan of BDSM erotic romance.

Review: THE TAKER by Alma Katsu

The Taker
by Alma Katsu
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: September 6, 2011

True love can last an eternity . . . but immortality comes at a price. . . .

On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—walks into his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her . . . despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. And as she begins to tell her story, a story of enduring love and consummate betrayal that transcends time and mortality, Luke finds himself utterly captivated. 

Her impassioned account begins at the turn of the nineteenth century in the same small town of St. Andrew, Maine, back when it was a Puritan settlement. Consumed as a child by her love for the son of the town’s founder, Lanny will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for all eternity. And now, two centuries later, the key to her healing and her salvation lies with Dr. Luke Findley.

Part historical novel, part supernatural page-turner, The Taker is an unforgettable tale about the power of unrequited love not only to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy, and how each of us is responsible for finding our own path to redemption.

The Taker was a really fascinating novel that sucked me in from the beginning. It was a dark, sexy, mysterious page turner. 

Lanny McIlvere is brought into the ER of a small town in Maine bloodied but seemingly unhurt. She’s been arrested on suspicion of murder. Dr. Luke Findley is on staff that night and sets out to examine her for injuries. Finding none, he begins to question Lanny about the blood that is all over her clothing. She admits that she killed someone but says that they wanted to die. Lanny begins to tell Luke her story and soon convinces him to help her escape from the police. During their get-away, Lanny begins to unravel the story of her dark past to Luke. The novel moves back in forth between the present and the 1800’s.

I thought the story was interesting and it captivated me but I really disliked most of the characters including the heroine. Usually this would be a problem for me but having a cast of reprehensible characters is what made the novel so good. I wanted to like Lanny and even felt sorry for what she went through. I just didn’t understand her infatuation with her ex-lover, Jonathan and how she pined away for him for so long. But The Taker is about unrequited love & betrayal and the journey through it was very dark & twisted. One of the most warped characters in the novel is Adair. His story was intriguing and will have you on an emotional roller-coaster. 

Jude then fixed his maniacal glare upon me. “I’ve come to warn you, too. It’s a dangerous game you’re playing. There’s a reason the rest of us maintain a distance from Adair, and we’ve all learned our lesson the hard way. But now you’ve shown him love and that’s given him the notion that he is deserving of such devotion. Did you ever think that perhaps the only thing that holds the devil in check is that he knows how despised he is? Even the devil longs for sympathy at times, but sympathy for the devil is fuel for the flame. Your love will embolden him - likely in a way that will bring you regret.”

~Jude to Lanny

The Taker was an impressive debut novel. It was filled with flawed characters, wicked sex and rich historical elements with dark magic weaved into the mix. Alma Katsu’s novel kept me enthralled to the very end. I give The Taker 4.5 Dragons.