Cherished by Maya Banks and Lauren Dane *ARC Review*

"Exiled" by Maya Banks…Enticed to the island paradise where an enigmatic prince is living in exile, beautiful, virginal Talia is introduced to a world of forbidden pleasure where the prince’s every whim is fulfilled and her fantasies are rendered in exquisite detail. But when the prince is summoned back to fulfill his duty to his struggling country, reality is thrust upon Talia all too soon. She returns home, heartbroken, convinced she was a passing fancy for an idle ruler and his most trusted men. Until the day they arrive on her doorstep, determined to have her back where she belongs.

"Sway" by Lauren Dane…Levi Warner is an established, older man—wealthy, powerful, and above all, respectable. Then Levi meets Daisy, an uninhibited 24-year-old dance instructor and artist, not exactly the kind of woman Levi is accustomed to. But the young, free spirit, brings out something in him he only experienced in fantasies. When their scorching affair turns into something unexpectedly deeper, Levi finds himself torn between preserving his reputation, and exploring a wilder and much more satisfying kind of life.

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I think after reading Banks' story I'm going to have to officially name my preferences for romance in the 'BDSM-lite' category. No insult to her intended but I just could not get over the premise for her particular piece; power dynamics are all well and good to play with but when they're weighted so far in one direction that I can't help but be worried about one of the participants then it's less of a fun fantasy for me. Xander wanted Talia; wanted her and made it happen, seemingly without any knowledge or caring about what she wanted. She comes to the island under his dictate - she doesn't see herself as having a choice in the matter, and later when she's told that not only will be she having sex with Xander but also his guards... well things take on a kind of sinister tone (in my head). Plus Banks made sure to have Xander tell us a million times that he knew his kinks were super kinky but he needed her so it was gonna happen. The end. Ummmm....no?  Banks works in more emotion between all the characters in the end and Talia ultimately makes her own choice about what relationship she wants but I couldn't totally get over my own discomfort about how things began. C+

I have a soft spot for Dane's Brown family series so when I realized (because stupid me I hadn't been paying enough attention) that this story was about Gillian's friends that we met in Never Enough I was one ridiculously happy person. This story was significantly lighter on the BDSM level but I also felt like the romance/emotion/power/choice line was walked better. Daisy goes into this relationship knowing her needs and wants; she's not going to let Levi walk all over that just because of his 'hot teacher' vibe. When Levi starts incorporating more control elements into the bedroom she decides if they work for her - there's even a point when she almost says 'no thank you, let's not do that again'. All in all in lent an element of realness to their relationship because while sparks got them into it both parties kept their head about where things went physically. Their path to HEA was a little rocky, Levi definitely had some groveling to do, but I loved touching base with the Brown family members and can't wait to keep reading as Dane explores more of these friends. A-

Overall Feeling - Split between the two, C+/A-

Series - None/Delicious series, book 1 [To be published 8/7/12]

**Title received from author for review**

Consent to the Cowboy by Abby Wood (ARC Review)

Surrounded by beer-swilling, skirt-chasing cowboys her whole life, barmaid Daphne Norris has no intention of ever settling for any of the men in her Podunk hometown. So when bronc rider Will Hanson sends shock waves to her core with just one glance from his striking green eyes, no one is more surprised than her.

But Will is no ordinary cowboy, and he can see that Daphne is no ordinary small-town girl. He can sense in Daphne the quiet strength and devotion needed to satisfy a man like him, a man who needs to be on top, in every aspect of his life.

Daphne hasn’t ever succumbed to her submissive desires before, and Will awakens her in ways she never imagined. While she’s not prepared to give him her heart, she agrees to Will’s offer of three days of intense pleasure, and then she’s walking. But Daphne falls hard and fast, and now she has a decision: return to a normal life, or give up everything for Will…

*I requested a copy of this title to review through netGalley*

I think what sticks out about this particular erotica that is a story depicting a lifestyle choice of two people who have been very hurt in the past. Will and Daphne are emotionally scarred characters and within each other they find the pieces they need to be complete. Wood does a very good job at writing a BDSM erotica that while has a lot of explicit, sexy scenes, takes the additional step to illuminate what makes the characters tick. By the end of this ebook I felt I knew why Will functioned and felt best in a dominance/submissive relationship - and the same goes for Daphne. I'll often read a book that depicts the more recreational activities of couples that might experiment in a little spanking, but rarely do I feel like I really get the chance to understand, from each character's point of view, why they like what they like.

The one criticism I have for this particular title is that I feel like Wood reached a bit with some other plot points, I assume to stretch her erotica a little farther with some suspense. There just wasn't enough time and energy spent on Will's father and his efforts to block Will's business deals to make me feel like a needed part of the story. It was just there and gone, and ultimately I think the ebook would have been better without it.

I definitely recommend this to those who like erotica featuring BDSM lifestyles, but prepare yourself for some adventurous sex- there's a particular scene in a club (that includes bringing in some other players) that springs to mind....

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. It's not quite my cup of tea, but it's very well written and the reader gets a great look at the mentality of both Will and Daphne.

Series - None