His To Take (Wicked Lovers 9) by Shayla Black-Review & Giveaway
His To Take
Wicked Lovers #9
by Shayla Black
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic romance
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 3, 2015
Racing against time, NSA Agent Joaquin Muñoz is searching for a little girl who vanished twenty years ago with a dangerous secret. Since Bailey Benson fits the profile, Joaquin abducts the beauty and whisks her to the safety of Club Dominion—before anyone can silence her for good.
At first, Bailey is terrified, but when her captor demands information about her past, she’s stunned. Are her horrific visions actually distant memories that imperil all she holds dear? Confined with Joaquin in a place that echoes with moans and breathes passion, he proves himself a fierce protector, as well as a sensual Master who’s slowly crawling deeper in her head…and heart. But giving in to him might be the most delicious danger of all.
Because Bailey soon learns that her past isn’t the only mystery. Joaquin has a secret of his own—a burning vengeance in his soul. The exposed truth leaves her vulnerable and wondering how much about the man she loves is a lie, how much more is at risk than her heart. And if she can trust him to protect her long enough to learn the truth.
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REVIEW: HIS TO TAKE is the ninth full length installment in Shayla Black’s adult, contemporary Wicked Lovers erotic, romance series focusing on a close knit group of friends, family and formers SEALs, FBI and NSA agents who partake in the BDSM life style. This is NSA Agent Joaquin Munoz and ballet dancer Bailey Benson’s storyline. Although HIS TO TAKE is the ninth book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty as can most of the books in this series.
Told from alternating third person points of view the storyline focuses on the search for a missing woman who disappeared twenty years earlier and is presumed dead at the hands of a terrorist cell searching for information into DNA manipulation. With what appears to be a serial killer on the hunt for all women who fit the missing female’s description, NSA Agent Joaquin Munoz disobeys the direct orders of his superiors and sets out on his own to save a woman the others believe holds the secrets to a two decades old mystery. When Bailey Benson’s profile matches all of the previous victim’s profiles, Joaquin easily locates and abducts Bailey then hides her away at Club Dominion-the BDSM club owned by Mitchell Thorpe (Theirs to Cherish #8).
The premise finds Joaquin immediately attracted to Bailey but our hero is a man who does not do relationships; does not fall in love; and has had very little contact with anyone in years. His reaction to Bailey is visceral but I didn’t quite buy into Joaquin’s growing love. He is an NSA agent whose life has been spent rescuing others and hunting terrorists. Their time spent at Club Dominion finds our hero needing to ‘spank’ Bailey for her lack of self preservation and in this the storyline takes a rather unwelcome turn for this reader. Neither Bailey nor Joaquin had ever considered the BDSM lifestyle but in the presence of the others, both have a need to partake of the action. This particular aspect of the storyline felt awkward, contrived and unnecessary, and frankly not believable. It was short lived and not without some cringe worthy moments especially when both were acting on the advice from the professional BDSM members. Joaquin’s need to punish Bailey does not sit well with the others-there is no role playing or Dom/sub action, it is purely punishment for disobeying orders.
Most, if not all, of the previous storyline couples and lovers play a secondary or supporting role as many favors are called in to help with the investigation into the number of deaths and the people hunting for Bailey Benson. Callie, Sean and Thorpe (Theirs to Cherish) prepare for their upcoming wedding and by way of a storyline role or mention, the extended and ensemble cast of characters makes for an interesting few days in isolation for Baily and Joaquin. It was nice revisiting with previous couples, lovers and their growing extended families.
The sexual situations include some BDSM, some spanking and punishment-not only for our leading couple but as part of Club Dominion’s available assets. Most of the BDSM content is voyeuristic as we are pulled into the needs of the heroes, from the previous storylines, to punish their lovers for a perceived act of betrayal or disobedience-again, these actions felt a little gratuitous and unnecessary to the overall plot. I understand that WICKED LOVERS is a series whereby all of our heroes and heroines partake in the BDSM lifestyle, but Bailey and Joaquin were completely out of their element and uncomfortable with what needed to be done.
HIS TO TAKE is a fast paced, intense and intriguing storyline. Shayla Black combines mystery and suspense, with a little bit of erotic imagery to stimulate the senses and need to read on. Revisiting old friends and previous storyline characters was a welcome addition to HIS TO TAKE. I am looking forward to many more storylines in the Wicked Lovers series.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.
Reviewed by Sandy
The Reading Cafe and Shayla’s publisher are offering a paper copy of HIS TO TAKE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.
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8. Giveaway runs from March 3-6, 2015
Very nice review, Sandy. 9 books in this series. Wow.
I like this series, though I haven’t read all of them at this point. The first ones were great. Please enter me in the giveaway. I like TRC on goodreads and FB and also get notifications. I also like the author on FB.
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I love Shayla Black’s books. – 2 entries -Shayla Black/The Reading Cafe Facebook.
Please enter me in the giveaway. I love Shayla’s books
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Please enter me in this giveaway. Nice review. Thank You. vls356@yahoo.com
I love Shayla’s books and hope to read this one too. Please enter me in the giveaway.
Love Shayla’s writing style!!
Love an honest review you did a great review Sandy. To many are hopping on the BDSM train.
Haven’t read Shayla’s books yet, would love to start with this one. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you.
Wonderful review Sandy. Thanks for the giveaway.
Enjoy Shayla’s books. Nice review. Thanks for the giveaway.
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Sounds great. Please enter me to the giveaway. Thanks.
love shayla book hope to win
This would be an amazing win! Please enter me and thanks for the chance!
this looks interesting and would love to win
I’m a big fan of this series.
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Goodreads Anne
Very nice review Sandy. I am a big fan of Shayla’s WICKED LOVERS series. Please enter me into the giveaway !!
Please enter me in this giveaway… I love Shayla!
I follow on FB, twitter, and goodreads
Love Shayla Black! Thanks for the chance!
I love this series. It was my first BDSM book I read so many years ago.
I follow you and Shayla on FB
I also follow you on Twitter and Goodreads.
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Already Follow Shayla Black on Facebook.
Already LIKE on FACEBOOK and GET NOTIFICATIONS
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Please enter me for a chance to win.
Please enter me in the giveaway.
please enter me in the giveaway
Loved the review,already follow your page on all formats and newsletter.. I already follow Shayla on Fb and get her newsletter .. I love Shayla’s books and this is one of my favorite series,Please enter me in the giveaway,and Thank you for the chance…
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Shayla is one of my favorite authors–I’d love to win a copy of her latest novel. Please enter me in the giveaway.
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Nice review! I’ve read a few books in this series. Please enter me into the give-away. I follow TRC and the author on both facebook and goodreads. zita at aol dot com
Different kind of book than I might normally read. Enter me please into the giveaway.
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This romance sounds like a YUMMY, NAUGH & SPICY!
I would love to win this one it looks super good.
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glowanialorie@sbcglobal.net all is done. Im a huge fan of Shayla Black and this series thanks for the chance
Great review! I love this series and another one of my favorite authors here! Jack Cole was my “first” and will always be my uber-alpha Dom.
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I follow TRC on Goodreads too!
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Thanks again.
Great review and giveaway. Thanks-please enter me into the giveaway
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Can’t wait. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
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Great review! I love this series!!
I already like Shayla Black on FB, liked and get notifications on FB, follow on Twitter, and follow on Goodreads.
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Thanks for the review Sandy. Please enter me in the giveaway. I can always count on Shayla Black for a good read. Thanks!
Great review as always! It’s funny that this book came up because I just put this on my Amazon wish list yesterday. Thanks for the great giveaway. All requirements for giveaway completed.
Please enter me in the giveaway.
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Please enter me in this giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win!!
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Great review Sandy-sounds like a wonderful series !!! Please enter me into the giveaway
This was the first erotic series I read and got me hooked. Really looking forward to reading this next installment!
Thanks so much!
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