Book Review: Collared by the Cowboy (Bad Boys #5) by Susan Arden

Genre: Steamy Romance
Publisher: Silver Sprocket Publishing
Publication Date: March 14, 2014
Links: Goodreads
Star Rating:

The following story is intended for an adult audience and contains mature themes, strong language including graphically detailed sex, violence, and drug use portrayed in a fictional setting.

The room at the end of the hall in Spurs & Leather, a private club in Paris hasn't seen any action of late. Brandon as head Dom locked the doors after his last lover burned him good. Diving into his work at Evermore Ranch, he's got his hands filled with taming wild horses until a red-leather wearing woman crosses his path. Tempted back into the saddle, he sets his sights on taming a different type of filly...one with a sassy little mouth, a mind of her own, and hot body that won't quit. He's got the goods, if she willing to let him take the lead both in and out of bed.

Last semester of grad school and all Mia needs is a stellar thesis that will skyrocket her chances of landing a therapist job somewhere far, far away from small towns and small minds. Case studies in female sexuality sure as hell aren't the ticket out of Texas and Mia sets her sights on learning all she can about why women enjoy being dominated--thank you fifty shades of I'm out of here by May! Undercover, she enters the secretive BDSM world within a club known to offer decadent delights. With one minor SNAFU: she becomes the target of the head Dom, a man with a reputation of equal parts bark and bite. When the door marked no is thrown open by one commanding cowboy, Mia can't resist temptation waiting on the other side.

Now, Mia is wearing Brandon's collar, calling him Sir, and loving every minute of being dominated by her powerful lover. Yet Mia can't have her cake and eat it too. Torn, she must decide if her future involves walking away from Brandon when her heart is telling her to stay, stay, stay.
 

This AAR was gifted to me for an honest review. Collared by a Cowboys if the fifth book in the Bad Boy Series written by Susan Arden. The book centers on Brandon, the Head Dom and part owner of the exclusive Spurs and Leather BDSM Club and Mia, a graduate student. Mia decides to conduct a case study on why some women want to be dominated. As a potential therapist, Mia is certain conducting this case study for her final research paper will serve as the basis for her graduate thesis. Her goals is to leave the small town of Paris Texas never to return. She makes an agreement with Brandon's business partner to research their BDSM club, with Brandon acting as her tour guide. 

I’m not sure how understanding why some women like BDSM will help her become a better sex therapist, but okay.

Overall Impression of the Book:

The book was a mildly entertaining read, but nothing life changing. I will say this book is one of the better AARs I’ve read in a long time, so for that, I am grateful. I did not have a desire to stop reading the book, and was genuinely curious about how the story would end. With that being said, both the story and the characters were very forgettable. The plot of the book was extremely weak and there was no sense of urgency throughout the book until the last few chapters. I literally forgot about the character after I read the book, with the exception of the twins. 

Characters:

Brandon was the average Alpha Male Cowboy. I did appreciate that he was a hard worker, running his club while also running his family’s ranch. He was also very family orientated, which is something I liked. Other than that, he was nowhere near book boyfriend status. I wish the author would have put a little more context into his relationship with Val. The whole situation with his ex sub/girlfriend just didn’t seemed earth shattering enough. She pretended to be his sub…okkaaay…so. Not to say he shouldn’t be hurt, but I’m sure cheating on him with another Dom would have been way more devastating. Furthermore, I did not understand why Val hated him so much. It just didn’t make sense to me.

Mia really irked my nerves. First of all, I could not understand why she was so determined to leave Paris, TX as if she could not be a therapist there. Now if she was offered her dream job in a different State, and had choose between her job and Brandon, I could understand her plight. That was not the case in this story. She had no “real plan” to go anywhere specific. She just wanted to leave Paris. Her ex-boyfriend Beau was probably one of the more interesting characters in the story, but I do not understand how he was such a good boyfriend, and just completely changed when he broke-up with her. He did not show any of these crazy man traits while they were in a relationship?  And why on earth would he think he could treat her so badly because she was a little freaky in bed. I could see if you had multiple partners and he thought she was easy, but again, that was not the case in this story.

All-in-all, I did not hate the book, I did not love it either. I have no desire to read the previous four books in the series. I may try a new series with this author in the future if she can deliver a stronger plot and better character development. 

This book is not a must read, but if you are bored one Saturday afternoon and want a book with some steamy love scenes, this may be the right book for you.

Book Review: The Billionaire's Ultimatum: His Absolute Need by Cerys du Lys

Genre: Adult Romance
Publisher: Cerys du Lys ~ Sweet Contemporary New Adult
Publication Date: June 22, 2012
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Star Rating:

 Falling in love wasn't part of Jessika's temporary job description. Nor, initially, was being asked by billionaire CEO Asher Landseer to become an egg donor and surrogate for his infertile wife. All Jessika wants to do is help, but is she setting herself up for heartbreak in the process?

(A Cerys du Lys contemporary BDSM erotic romance novel)

Screwing up on her first day of a one-day job is the last thing Jessika Fevrier wanted to do. Worse yet, she's managed to infuriate Asher Landseer, the young, handsome, reclusive and eccentric billionaire CEO of Landseer Enterprises. His idea of work performance punishment is unorthodox to say the least, but Jessika finds herself intrigued by this singularly unaffected man nonetheless.

She was only supposed to clean Asher's office, but before she leaves for the day he has another job he'd like to offer her. Revealing that his wife is infertile, Asher asks her to consider becoming an egg donor for his family. He's always wanted children of his own, but the fates have plotted against him, it seems.

Asher's marriage is of necessity, rough and possibly loveless, but his desire for children is genuine and real. His absoluteness and certainty in himself and his surroundings, despite everything, captivates her. Jessika finds herself charmed by this dominant, enigmatic man who seems to know everything about business and nothing about love.

Behind the scenes, there's more than the fates plotting against him. Someone has it out for Landseer Enterprises, and they're going to do everything within their power to cause Asher's downfall. Between dealing with Asher's conditions and requirements, the cruel gaze of his spiteful wife, and corporate sabotage, Jessika finds herself lost in a world completely different from the one she's used to.

Can she rediscover herself and come to terms with her impossible feelings for a man she can't have? Or in her attempts to satisfy His Absolute Need will she inadvertently become the catalyst that leads to his (and her) ruin?

Dominant, sexy, and powerful. This tantalizing story of love, lust, intrigue and suspense will bind you, entwine you, and thrill you until the very end.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

I was gifted this book for an honest book review. The Billionaire’s Ultimatum: His Absolute need was written by Cerys du Lys.

Now what can I say about this book. I give this book a three. This book could have easily been a 4 star book if the author would have stuck with a theme.

Overall Impression of the Book
 
The book centers around Asher Landseer a billionaire CEO who has been married to his wife for four years. His wife is infertile and Asher desperately wants a child. Enters Jessika, a Literary Arts College Graduate that cannot keep a job. Asher wants Jessika to become and egg donor for him and his wife. This book made absolutely no sense. The first chapter was the best part of the entire book. I almost feel cheated and wish the author would have scraped the first chapter all together because it did not flow with the rest of the book.

How the hero and heroine met was completely unrealistic, and the fact that he asked the maid to be an egg donor after knowing her for 20min was terrible. The story just did not flow and there was no character development. The highlight of the book were the steamy love scenes and indeed they were HOT HOT HOT!!

Characters

Jessika – I think that I dislike this heroine more than any other heroine I have ever read in my entire life. I know that may seem harsh but it is the truth. She was weak, bipolar, annoying and so desperate. I mean she reeked with desperation. All through the book I kept yelling for her to get a freaking grip. It’s one thing to be a passionate woman, but it is another to continually throw yourself at a married man. And the worst part was she would not leave his house. I mean who meets someone on Monday, go to their house on Tue, and NEVER leave!! It was not cute, endearing, or passionate, it was insanity. And I could not understand how she did not have at least one friend to talk some sense into her. Lastly who falls in love with a married man in 3 days…no one does. She chased and baited that married man but she constantly stated how shy and insecure she was…really. I did not sense that at all.

Asher – Well Chapter 1 Asher was interesting, but the Asher in the rest of the book was just okay. He was a nice guys and I was rooting for him to come out on top with his issues. I did feel bad that he was in a loveless marriage, but he should have been more of a man about the situation. One minute he was dominate and take charge and in the next minute he was sappy and pathetic. He was also very naïve to what was happening around him which was a complete turn off.

Lastly Jeremy – I actually liked this character but he and Jessika became friends way too quickly. He met her once and told her all of Asher’s business. What friend does that? Not cool...

All in all I applaud the author on what she tried to accomplish here. The book was intriguing enough for me to continue to read it but some of the actions in this book was a little cliché for my taste. If you are looking for a book with hot love scenes, a good plot, and less than stellar charters this is for you.