Madame X (Madame X #1) by Jasinda Wilder-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

Posted on by

MADAME X (Madame X #1) by Jasinda Wilder-Review, Book Tour and Giveaway

Madame X Tour Banner

Madame X
Madame X #1
by Jasinda Wilder
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, dark romance

Madame X

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / KOBO / B&N / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 6, 2015

My name is Madame X.
I’m the best at what I do.
And you’d do well to follow my rules…

Hired to transform the uncultured, inept sons of the wealthy and powerful into decisive, confident men, Madame X is a master of the art of control. With a single glance she can cut you down to nothing, or make you feel like a king.

But there is only one man who can claim her body—and her soul.

Undone time and again by his exquisite dominance, X craves and fears his desire in equal measure. And while she longs for a different path, X has never known anything or anyone else—until now.

•••••••••

REVIEW: MADAME X is the first instalment in Jasinda Wilder’s adult, contemporary Madame X erotic, dark romance series focusing on a woman known only as Madame X or X.

Told from first and second person points of view (Madame X) the storyline focuses on X- a woman who has no memory and no knowledge except for the previous six years, and in this, she relies on billionaire Caleb Indigo-a man whose control over Madame X is virtually master to a slave. Caleb is X’s rescuer, her confident, her protector, and the darkness to her light.

X is a teacher, of sorts, who instructs and coaches the ‘inept sons of the wealthy and powerful into decisive, confident men’. Caleb Indigo is Madame X’s boss and lover (and I use the term lover very lightly), and and the man who controls every aspect of X’s life including who and what she is. But there is a much darker side to Caleb Indigo-a man who hides his true identity from Madame X-but the man who has stolen her heart and her life. X is a beautiful woman who does not know who or what she is; where she came from; or the truth about her past. She is reliant on Caleb Indigo, and in this, she has sold her soul to the devil in exchange for protection-but who and what does X need protecting from?

MADAME X is a psychological study; almost Stockholm Syndrome in nature, the storyline focuses on a woman who knows nothing about the man who claims to be her protector and rescuer, and yet demands everything from the woman who has already suffered in the past. Caleb, for all intents and purposes, is X’s past, present and future. When another man begins to hunt for the truth, Madame X is torn between what she knows and the unknown.

Jasinda Wilder slowly reveals Caleb Indigo’s personality, his character and the truth. The aura of mystery surrounding the details of Madame X’s foray into Caleb’s life leads to many unanswered questions, and Caleb’s purpose and need to control X’s entire life is dangerous and dark. X has been conditioned to do Caleb’s bidding, and in this, she has a difficult time saying no and walking away. The emotional, psychological and physical control of our heroine is masterfully presented.

MADAME X is a story of intrigue, mystery and dark romance. The characters are passionate, intelligent and somewhat sad. There are some $ex scenes of questionable consent and the darker aspect of Caleb and X’s relationship is frightening and heartbreaking.

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

excerpt

A knock on the door, the silent swing of hinges, and then heat and hardness behind me, a faint but intoxicating hint of cologne, the creak of leather. Hands on my waist, lips at my neck. Breath on my skin.
I don’t dare tense, don’t dare suck in a sharp breath of fear. I don’t dare pull away.
Strong, hard, powerful hands twist me in place, and an index finger touches my chin, lifts my face, tilts my gaze. I cannot breathe, don’t dare, haven’t been given permission.
“You are lovelier than ever, X.” A deep, smooth, cultured voice, like the purr of a finely tuned engine.
“Thank you, Caleb.” My own voice is quiet, careful, my words chosen and precise.
“Scotch.” The command is a murmur, barely audible.
I know how to prepare it: a cut-crystal tumbler, a single ice cube, thick amber liquid an inch from the top. I offer the tumbler and wait, keep my eyes downcast, hands behind my back.
“You were too harsh on Jonathan.”
“I must respectfully disagree.”
“His father expects results.”
I bristle, and it does not go unnoticed. “Have I ever failed to produce results?”
“You sent him away after less than an hour.”
“He wasn’t ready. He needed to be shown his faults. He needs to understand how much he has to learn.”
“Perhaps you’re right.” Ice clinks, and I take the empty tumbler, set it aside, and force myself to remain in place, force myself to keep breathing and remind myself that I must obey. “I didn’t come here to discuss Jonathan Cartwright, however.”
“I suppose not.” I shouldn’t have said that. I regret it as soon as the words tumble free.
My wrist bones scrape together under a crushing grip. Hard dark eyes find mine, piercing and frightening. “You suppose not?”
I should beg forgiveness, but I know better. I lift my chin and meet those cold, cruel, intelligent dark eyes. “You know I will fulfill the contract. That’s all I meant.”
“No, that isn’t all you meant.” A hand passes through artfully messy black hair. “Tell me what you really meant, X.”
I swallow hard. “You’re here for what you always want when you visit me.”
“Which is?” A warm finger touches my breastbone, slides into the valley of my cleavage. “Tell me what I want.”
“Me.” I whisper it, so not even the walls can hear.
“All too true.” My skin burns where that strong finger with its manicured nail traces a cutting line up to my shoulder. “You test my patience, at times.”
I stand stock-still, not even breathing. Breath whispers across my neck, huffs hot on my nape, and fingers toy with the zipper of my dress.
“I know,” I say.
And then, just when I expect to feel the zipper slide down my spine, body heat recedes and that hot breath now laced with hints of scotch is gone, and a single word sears my soul:
“Strip.”
My tongue scrapes over dry lips, and my lungs constrict, protesting my inability to breathe. My hands tremble. I know this is expected of me, and I cannot, dare not resist, or protest. And . . . part of me doesn’t want to. But I wish . . . I wish for the freedom to choose what I want.
I have hesitated too long.
“X. I said . . . strip.” The zipper slides down to between my shoulder blades. “Show me your skin.”
Reaching behind my back, I lower the zipper to its nesting place at the base of my spine. Hard, insistent hands assist me in brushing the sleeves from my shoulders, down my arms, and then the dress is floating to the floor at my feet. That’s all the help I’ll get. I know from long experience that I must make a show of what comes next.
I turn my head, and see tanned skin and the perpetual two-day stubble on a refined, powerful jawline, sharp cheekbones, firm, thin lips, black eyes like voids, eyes that drip desire. My hair drapes over one shoulder. I lift one knee so my now-bare toes touch the gleaming teak, curl my shoulders in, let my gaze show my vulnerability. With a deep breath, I unhook my bra, let the garment fall away.
I reach for my underwear.
“No,” comes the purr, “leave them. Let me.”
I let my fingers graze my thighs, wait. My underwear slides down slowly, and where fingers touch, so too do lips, hot and damp, touching my skin, and I cannot flinch, cannot pull away or express how badly I want only to be alone, to even once have the right to want something else.
But I do not have that right.


 

About The Author Black and Red

Jasinda Wilder

 

Jasinda Wilder is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and international bestselling author. She is a Michigan native and currently lives there with her family. Visit her official website at jasindawilder.com.

Giveaway-redandblack_zps8ff4dc4b

There are TWO (2) ways to win

The Reading Cafe and Jasinda’s publisher are offering a paper copy of MADAME X to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and Follow Jasinda Wilder on Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Please FOLLOW us on TSU for an additional entry.

8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from October 10-14, 2015

rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the publisher.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Penguin Random House logo

Share

19 thoughts on “Madame X (Madame X #1) by Jasinda Wilder-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway”

  8. Thank you so much for the chance!
    Already a liker of both pages on Facebook (Nicole Johnson), I also get notifications from you.
    Following on Twitter @LeyaWicked.
    Following on Goodreads, Nicole Johnson.
    Following on TSU @NicoleJohnson.

Leave a Reply