Rope 'Em - Delphine Dryden

Victoria took a job as a barista at a coffee shop. There was only one other female on the roster but her boss Larry didn’t seem like a creep when he hired her. Victoria had really needed the job - five weeks earlier she did not know how she would make the next months rent and not wipe out her savings. A friend from R I S Dhad a tiny furnished room and she could rent it on her present pay. She couldn’t take anymore family support as she had heard her father saying she was draining his money while they waited for her to find a husband at school. So then Victoria quit art school with only a semester to go. But the problem was her parents thought she could never think for herself. They just did it for her. Victoria was done with that happening. Then Larry made a made a pass at her and Victoria quit. She had twelve hundred in the bank and owed her landlord five hundred for letting her out of her lease. The her mom asked why she had withdrawn from school and she was going to come there. Then Victoria called her and said she would be home in a couple of days. Ethan had everything he loved best in one place. Logan- ethan’s older brother said “ let me get this right , you are going to build a two hundred- twenty- square foot RV “ which Ethan said “ little house” then Logan added “ on a trailer bed and live on it. In the middle of Tornado Alley”. Then Ethan shrugged and said” Technically we are south of Tornado  Alley and also if we get a warning I can come down to the main house or find the nearest safe structure  if I am out on the road which is part of the point”. Ethan had wanted a tiny house ever since  he’d first  of them nearly a decade earlier as an undergraduate. Part of what Ethan liked was the mobility. Ethan was part owner of the ranch with his brother Logan and cousin Chet. Ethan helped his brother out at the ranch but the main money maker was once a month - an event called Giddyup- a kink mecca. Now it had grown so much visitors came from most states and a lot of countries also.

I didn’t really enjoy this book and didn’t really finish it did a lot of skimming. I  just didn’t enjoy this. This wasn’t for me but I am sure there are other out there that will really enjoy this.

The Seduction Hypothesis - Delphine Dryden 

*3.5 STARS*

Comic Con meets BDSM club in THE SEDUCTION HYPOTHESIS which results in a hot and enjoyable read, but it was a little too short to really do the plot justice.

Ben and Lindsey broke up under not so great circumstances, and now they are stuck attending a comic convention together that was planned before the break up. Talk about awkward. Lindsey still has feelings for Ben and Ben still has feelings for Lindsey, but they don't know how to get back to each other. 

Until Lindsey is invited to be Sub Red, a character from her favorite graphic novel who is a submissive at a BDSM club. She really gets into the role and it gives Ben an idea of how to win her back. But, will he just play at the Dom role or will Ben and Lindsay be embarking on a new facet of their relationship together?

So, this was definitely an interesting concept. I was intrigued by the BDSM graphic novel (is there such a thing, I will be researching that). Also, I could see the whole scenario play out. Couple are going along fine then one person goes out on a limb to try to show that they are interested in something and then the other person shuts them down because they are uncomfortable. Neither one of them truly communicates what they are feeling and it dissolves the relationship. I've seen that happen in real life many times over.

But while, I thought that the background of the story had a lot of truth to it, it was hard for me to get into how Ben and Lindsey moved forward. Ben basically became a Dom overnight and he did that with permission from others in the lifestyle who he sought advice from. He had never done any of the things he had tried on Lindsey before, and that made me a bit uncomfortable.

I know why that happened. The story is very short, so there wasn't a lot of time for Ben to get experience, but that was my problem with the book. It needed to be fleshed out more, given more time to develop to truly meet it's full potential.

*Advanced Reader's Copy provided by NetGalley and Publisher in exchange for an honest review* 

Mistress Amie lives day-to-day without attachments. She loves her job at the gym, but the only person she has any type of bond with is her ex, Mara, whom she’s sent away for good to a new club, Escape. She used to love the crowd and scenes at her current club, but now, the club just feels drama-filled and tired. 

Dru is determined to make club Escape work. On her own, she seeks the advice of her onetime college partner, Amie, to help the club break even. What she didn’t expect is to have feelings for Amie, even after their initial reunion left little to be desired. 

Top to Bottom is a love story of two women finding their way back to one another after many years. Although the years in between college and current day were filled with significant life trials, shaping each woman into someone slightly different and a bit stronger. Top to Bottom shares the final stage of each female’s development; both taking that final step to heal and love.

Amie’s wild and crazy ways condemned her to homelessness when her family discovered her kissing another girl. With all of her college friends gone, Amie struggled until she found her first job. Understanding the hardship and humiliation of living on the streets, and the pain of loneliness after being cast out by her family, Amie doesn’t trust easily. Dru gives her balance and a safe place to share herself. While I found the falling (back) into love part a bit too easy, or rather than it felt like it happened under the radar, it was still believable because of the pair’s dynamic when we did see them together, opening up and therefore, growing. Dru pushes Amie with just the right amount of determination, until Amie realizes she can trust again.

Meanwhile, Dru has lived a pretty good life, until she lost her partner. Opening the club was their dream, and Dru is determined to make it work. However, someone is out to ruin her and/or her club, and giving up may be the easier option. At times I felt like Dru saw Amie as a case to manage - something broken to be fixed - and that’s what drove the relationship. However, it was done because she cared, and she was ready to move on with her life. Dru saw past Amie’s hard shell and wanted to expose the potential within.

Top to Bottom is a standalone read with ties to the previous title in the series. At the heart it’s a solid love story, with a healthy sampling of personal growth, creating an enjoyable read. There are a few BDSM scenes, with both the scenes and sex used as tools to drive the characters from the past into their future. 

My Rating: B- Liked It

Review copy provided by publisher.

It's not often that I've ever wanted to call smut sweet, but this really was. The Unicorn, a recent new book from Delphine Dryden, fits into that spot. It's not *really* new, it is a reissue of Roses and Chains, published in 2011, but it's been very heavily revised and reissued.

Mara knows what she wants, a real relationship with a Dom. It's not that she she lacks for a current Domme play partner, but they dated and have split up. Which can make for some awkward moments in a scene.

Delia and Daniel are beginning to dip their toes into the kink scene. Both of them have been interested in it for years, but have been afraid to act on those urges until lately. Married life in the suburbs isn't really what it looks like on the outside for this couple. Especially with Daniel being a burgeoning Dom.

After being "introduced" at the new local kink club, Mara, Delia, and Daniel have an incredibly hot, touching, scene. Only to have to part at the end of the night. Life intervenes, and all three are left wondering if they'll be able to spend more time together, or if all they have are some wonderful memories. Oh, and the little twist at the end had me chuckling and smiling for hours.

The Unicorn really is a unicorn. That elusive "thing" that doesn't really exist, but is pursued by so many. Ms. Dryden is able to capture that special something, and adds the sweetness to a bit of a spicy story. It's short, more a novella than a novel, but it ends on a good point, leaving you wanting just a bit more. All the kink in the scenes is 100% enthusiastically consensual, which is always good to read. Frequently, consent is left out in favor of making a scene "hotter". There is negotiation at the beginning of the first scene, which is also often left out, but a vital part of the "reality" of kink.

I give it a nice solid 4 star rating, it's very refreshing to see both kink and polyamory presented in an honest way, even though it's very much a fairy tale of how things work out. But it will be going on my list of little things to read when I need some "sweet smut" to make me smile.

Mara Tyndall is unhappy, but she tries to fill the void in her life with scenes at Club Onyx and her beautiful ex. Knowing Mara is unhappy, Mistress Amie pushes Mara into trying out a new club, where she may be able to figure out what she wants from life.

Daniel and Delia are happily married, but lately, they feel something is missing in their relationship. While they are exploring their mutual desire to add kink into their sex lives, they are struggling to make it all come together. When it is suggested they try a new club in town, they decide to take a chance, and after spending one evening with Mara, they both know they want more. 

The Unicorn shares the story of an unconventional romance, pushing the definition of love beyond society’s norms. Daniel and Delia are in love, but recognize that they want more, and each is secure in their love to explore possibilities. With the story shared from all three character’s POVs, it allows the reader to grasp a better understanding of each person’s fears and desires. While communication break downs lead to a deeper anxiety, it is completely normal and relatable. 

While a reader may not be able to relate to the situation, I feel that most people will be able to relate to one of the characters. First there is Mara who is comfortable with her sexuality, but missing love. She can't marry her dark needs for pain and submission to finding a partner whom she can also just snuggle with and love. Then there is Delia, the wife who is always in charge of the day-to-day and can't let go when she most needs it. She has trouble seeing her husband as her Dom because her mind can't shut down, always worrying about things like the HOA or if she put the wet clothes into the dryer. Finally there is Daniel, who is afraid of showing his true inner self and needs because he's been conditioned it's wrong. He lacks the self-confidence to explore those desires, therefore his inner-Dom suffers. Each character is missing something and it isn't until the three are together that the pieces begin to click and fall into place. And once that happens, not only do they find complete sexual satisfaction, but their lives become richer and fuller. 

The Unicorn is an erotic romance; heavy on the eroticism. The story is filled with graphic BDSM D/s sex scenes. But while each scene is thorough, providing the sensual mechanics and details, it is counterbalanced with the intense emotions behind the play. The story is a romance and about finding that missing piece, regardless of how unorthodox it may be. Everyone is unique, and I like that the story allows the trio to discover that their needs are okay. The ending is an HFN, with an epilogue that indicates things progress nicely for all three. The HFN is a good fit for this story, especially because it’s not an overly long story, more novella-length than full book.

In the end, I enjoyed reading The Unicorn and found the story entertaining and even a bit emotional. 

My Rating:  B, Liked It

Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About

Review copy provided by NetGalley