With This Collar: 10th Anniversary Edition (Mastered)

Uh. So yeah. This one was free in a BookBub email, and I was intrigued… This is the first BDSM erotic romance I’ve ever read. (No, I haven’t read 50 Shades of Grey, for several reasons.) I was curious to try it, especially given the description (independent woman tries the lifestyle out for a night for ‘research’ purposes) and the reviews (exposes 50 Shades as terrible). So I went for it.WELL, MY DEARIES. I can tell you two things.It was educational. By contrasting Marcus and Julia’s controlling ex, it showed how BDSM does not automatically equal being abusive (though that’s not to say there aren’t abusive Doms). So much care was put into showing that everything is consensual, and explaining how BDSM can work in various ways for various people, all to their tastes. Safety, consent, and communication were repeatedly brought up. I’ve read several Goodreads reviews from people who seem to know the lifestyle themselves, and the general opinion is that this was a fairly accurate portrayal of BDSM.It was hot. Wow. Despite being almost clinical at times, the information being shared actually increased my anticipation for the good stuff, which is exactly how it felt for the heroine. As she was getting tense and restless, so was I. The chemistry was insane, and yet I felt like I was learning at the same time. I have to applaud the author for managing to strike that balance!Earlier, I lied. I did actually try another book labeled as “BDSM”, but it was an angsty romantic suspense type thing, and it was neither educational nor entertaining, so I DNF’d it. As such, I decided to pretend it never happened because yawn.SO. This was a success. Will I be reading more BDSM books? Honestly, I don’t know. I feel like I did so well finding this one that I’m sort of nervous that others won’t be able to live up to it, or get the representation all wrong. Would I recommend it? Yeah, actually, if you’re curious to learn more about the topic.

This synopsis of this book promised so much I just had to read it and I was really anticipating a stimulating read.This book started with a bang, so strongly I could not wait to get into the meat of it. However, it did not take long for it to fall into a predictable pattern and I could see the outcome to the story all too clearly way before the end. It is another variation of the Dom teaches a woman about the BDSM lifestyle but this one promised a little extra. Julia, the heroine of this story is a fiercely independent woman who in the past had been in a poor relationship at the hands of a negatively domineering partner. She is a guest at the private wedding of her best friend but is aghast at the turn the service takes as it contains BDSM themes. The ceremony culminates in her friend semi-naked on her knees kissing the feet of her new husband and accepting his collar.Until that, point Julia had been under the impression that her friend indulged in a few "kinky" practices with her new boyfriend (now husband) but had no idea that she had fully embraced the lifestyle. I did briefly wonder what her friend was thinking in not giving her a bit of a heads up about the service but that is by the by! One of the other guests, A Dom named Marcus, physically prevents Julia from intervening. I found it a little difficult to believe that Julia would have so easily accepted his actions but then extremely difficult to believe her acceptance of a lot of his subsequent actions. Immediately after the ceremony, Julia witnesses elements of the lifestyle in practice by other guests that make her want to flee. She however agrees to spend the rest of the day submitting to Marcus.Julia often asks Marcus the same questions that I had or says things I was thinking so I felt we should have been on similar wavelengths but, curiously, we did not appear to be. The big problem for me - her too rapid acceptance of Marcus' domination over her just did not wash when put into the context of her background and beliefs. I never therefore felt I was making a journey alongside her but merely observing from afar with a rather jaundiced view of events.A disappointing 2.5* to 3* read that promised so much more than it delivered. I have gone for the higher rating as the writing is fine but I was dissatisfied with this story, very dissatisfied!

I liked this book, but adore Cherise Sinclair's Shadowlands novels and this in my opinion is not as good but worth a read and you feel that the author is getting there so I will keep on with her work, the price of the book is good and makes it worth reading.Julia is at her friend's alternative wedding, Julia realised that her friend was kinky but not how and to what extent - she is stunned and appalled! Luckily, at the ceremony Master Marcus is behind her, realises that she is unable to contain her outrage and threatens her in a dominant way to be quiet and not make a scene. Marcus and Julia agree that he will explain and introduce her to submission and dominance purely for curiosity's sake but of course this opens up a dormant need in Julia and a lot of questions and choices that need addressing.Written in dual perspective, we follow Julia's initiation into submission and her conflicting thoughts during the process. Marcus is intrigued by the newcomer and although they both don't want anything serious (yea right), both POV's are refreshing and make the process more believable.