Naughty Side Review: Bonds of Need by Lynda Aicher

This is a Naughty Side Review meant for those over 18.


March 4th 2013, Carina Press             
E-book
Recieved from Netgalley
Second in Wicked Play series
Adult Erotic Fiction

When Kendra Morgan attends a party at an exclusive sex club, she's not driven by mere curiosity. Hoping to prove she's put the past behind her, Kendra must instead face up to needs she's denied for too long. Despite her lingering fears, she can't resist the temptation to play…

Deklan Winters has had his eye on his attractive neighbor for months, but only senses Kendra is no stranger to the BDSM scene when she walks into his club. And he can tell that's not her only secret. What surprises him is his own overwhelming desire to give her what she craves—and to show her a side to the Dom/sub relationship she's never known.

With Deklan's guidance, Kendra begins to accept her forbidden needs and to recognize the fine line between pleasure and pain. But when her former Master returns to reclaim her, it will take all her courage—and all of Deklan's love—to defy her past.

For more tales from The Den check out Bonds of Trust.

Cover Review:

The font desperately needs changed, but otherwise all right. I like that the descriptions of the characters match up.

Opinion:

This book had me crying within the first few pages. I feel completely in love with Kendra and although his name drove me insane I can't resist Delkan. He was just the healing touch Kendra needed!

I wasn't sure if this was going to be as horrible a representation of BDSM as Shades of Grey as I haven't read much of this type of work in the past, but I was immediately surprised by the depth of emotions illustrated in this book. It's presented from a place of experience about what the lifestyle is about and portrayed it accurately.

Kendra is completely damaged by her past with an abusive man who used the title "Master" in order to get away with his abusive insecure ways. Delkan has a "savior" complex and wants to save everyone he cares about, but understands and supports Kendra by allowing her space to overcome her own internal obstacles. Their love is strong and builds from a place of trust and understanding.

The scenes are realistic, poignant, and sexy.

I full out loved this book and will be keeping Lynda on my Must Read list!

Rating:
5/5

Rie (@missiontoread)

Wife, technophile, bibliophile, and student who obsesses over the latest gadget and political drama. I read compulsively. It's an addiction really.

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Follow Friday

 

 Activity:

Write a letter to your favorite character. Rant, rave or gush…just pretend like they are real and you just want to let them know a “few things”. – Activity courtesy of author, Kelly Walker

Answer:

Kendra (Bonds of Need),

I'm so happy for you. I'm glad you could find a guy you could trust and overcome your feelings of shame. But...

Sweetie, your parents were completely there for you. There was no reason you had to be so ashamed that you stayed in an abusive relationship.

Abuse is not consenual. I get that a ton of inexperienced people get into positions where abuse can be called by something that it's not, but you simply need to remember one thing and you shouldn't ever find yourself back in that position.

Consent is what divides good healthy relationships, from abusive ones. If you don't consent to something and that isn't taken into account it's abuse, it's rape, and you aren't the one that should be ashamed. The abuser is the one that should be ashamed.

Hugs,

Rie

Rie (@missiontoread)

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

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Why I Read Romance...

I read Romance, because love is the most powerful emotion that a human can experience. When I immerse myself in a love story I drift away into one of the most beautiful life changing experiences.

The drama that revolves around any huge life changing events is entertaining, but it's more than that. Love is the most sought after resource in this life and yet too often people are afraid of being vulnerable enough to experience it to it's depth

The romances that I most enjoy reading are not grand heartbreaking romance, but love that is slow and grows as two people partner together to fight the obstacles in their path.

Me and the Hubs

Insta-love that is so prevalent in YA is not the love that often lasts against the obstacles of real life. Love isn't only about those first moments, it's also about those times in life when it's stable almost to the point of boredom. Psychologists call it the attachment phase and quite honestly I'd much rather read about that phase of love than any other.

It may be simply that it's the stage I'm in or it could be that I've outgrown the lustful drama of my younger years, but attachment love with external drama is the type of romance I most enjoy.

Bones and Cat of Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series have entered into this phase of love in the later books and it's such a refreshing change.

What is your favorite type of love to read about? Why do you read romance? Any other books that have attachment phase love?








Rie (@missiontoread)

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

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Blogger Helper: Design: Thought Process

I've been away from blogging for a few months and in that time my design has become stale, so it's going under a makeover in the coming days. (If your observant you'll see some of these changes have already begun)

But how do I begin this process?

Before I start any coding, editing of images, creating of banners I have to start with a thought process to work me through what I want my blog design to say.

Here are some of the questions I ask myself before I do anything else. I've included my answers from this time's reimagining of the design.

What vibe am I going for?

Professional, but still maintain a fun atmosphere. Clean and uncluttered.

What 3 colors do I want to be the central colors?

#49535C, #EA6969, #FFE35C

What content is most important to me to be viewed?

Discussion posts, reviews

What are the most viewed pages?

Review policy, About Me

What elements need to be on the front page?

Easy Navigation, Blogs I want to share, Ways to follow me, Recent Posts (or more like widget)

How do I incorporate more social aspects?

Make sure the sig is at the bottom of every post, consider having a social media updater

It doesn't have to be a complicated questionnaire, but just get down to the basics of what you want.

For those that tinker with the design, what questions (if any) do you ask yourself before you begin?




Rie (@missiontoread)

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

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Top 5 'Ships

Top 5 Ships

Tucker and Clara

This what I wish more YA relationships were like. Realistic, healthy, and based on friendship.

Bones and Cat

Who doesn't adore this fiesty sexy couple?

Alesandra and Colin

This is the first romance couple I ever read and actually wanted to be them. 

 Nikki and Jack

"We cheer. We chant. We praise. Jack. Jack. Jack!!! And the team Jack crowd goes wild!"- Linda

Hale and Kenzie

OMG! Seriously, I adore this potential couple. Yum!

Just a by the way I haven't read the sequel to Everneath or Unearthly yet, so no spoilers please!

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E-book
Downloaded from Project Gutenberg
Children's Literature

Weary of her storybook, one "without pictures or conversations," the young and imaginative Alice follows a hasty hare underground--to come face-to-face with some of the strangest adventures and most fantastic characters in all of literature.

The Ugly Duchess, the Mad Hatter, the weeping Mock Turtle, the diabolical Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat--each more eccentric than the last--could only have come from that master of sublime nonsense, Lewis Carroll.

In penning this brilliant burlesque of children's literature, Carroll has written a farcical satire of rigid Victorian society, an arresting parody of the fears, anxieties, and complexities of growing up.

Carroll was one of the few adult writers to successfully enter the children's world of make-believe: where the impossible becomes possible, the unreal--real, and where the height of adventure is limited only by the depths of imagination.

Opinion:

I just finished with Alice in Wonderland for my course, and while I was searching for deeper meaning I found one truth about the reading of this book. It's simply more enjoyable to read this nonsense book without a since of purpose (or porpoise as the case may be).

I had never read this delightful tale, but I had watched both the Disney version and the recent remake. I have also played the video game (which though a slow start I enjoyed immensely). To me Alice in Wonderland has always been more of trip down insane-ville than an enjoyable experience.

Not so with the book, yes it's still as trippy as all the other media based on it, but I found myself sucked into this world where nothing is what it seems. The riddles made me smile, and audacious Alice was endlessly endearing.

I did in the end find a deeper meaning for the tale, although I'm not too sure on it's validity. I find that whatever meaning a piece of art has for the viewer is likely the one that is needed for the viewer and many English classes try to push a certain view instead of one that is natural. My deeper meaning of Alice in Wonderland is simply, "Nothing is what it seems to be and everything requires a deeper exploration before coming to a conclusion."

Rating:
4/5

Rie (@missiontoread)

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

            
E-book
Downloaded from Project Gutenberg
Children's Literature

Weary of her storybook, one "without pictures or conversations," the young and imaginative Alice follows a hasty hare underground--to come face-to-face with some of the strangest adventures and most fantastic characters in all of literature.

The Ugly Duchess, the Mad Hatter, the weeping Mock Turtle, the diabolical Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat--each more eccentric than the last--could only have come from that master of sublime nonsense, Lewis Carroll.

In penning this brilliant burlesque of children's literature, Carroll has written a farcical satire of rigid Victorian society, an arresting parody of the fears, anxieties, and complexities of growing up.

Carroll was one of the few adult writers to successfully enter the children's world of make-believe: where the impossible becomes possible, the unreal--real, and where the height of adventure is limited only by the depths of imagination.

Opinion:

I just finished with Alice in Wonderland for my course, and while I was searching for deeper meaning I found one truth about the reading of this book. It's simply more enjoyable to read this nonsense book without a since of purpose (or porpoise as the case may be).

I had never read this delightful tale, but I had watched both the Disney version and the recent remake. I have also played the video game (which though a slow start I enjoyed immensely). To me Alice in Wonderland has always been more of trip down insane-ville than an enjoyable experience.

Not so with the book, yes it's still as trippy as all the other media based on it, but I found myself sucked into this world where nothing is what it seems. The riddles made me smile, and audacious Alice was endlessly endearing.

I did in the end find a deeper meaning for the tale, although I'm not too sure on it's validity. I find that whatever meaning a piece of art has for the viewer is likely the one that is needed for the viewer and many English classes try to push a certain view instead of one that is natural. My deeper meaning of Alice in Wonderland is simply, "Nothing is what it seems to be and everything requires a deeper exploration before coming to a conclusion."

Rating:
4/5

Rie (@missiontoread)

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

Read More

Follow Friday

Q: Happy Mardi Gras! If they were throwing the HOTTEST books off of a Mardi Gras float — what would you do to have them throw to you…?

A: I'm so out of the loop right now when it comes to new releases, since I've been on a blogging and reading hiatus. 

While I have no problem with showing skin, I'm terribly shy, so likely win a drinking contest. Although basically never drink alcohol and am a complete light weight, I have no issue downing the strongest of whiskeys. Beer on the other hand....ick!

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Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World

I am currently taking Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Human Mind, Our Modern World from Coursera. If you don't know what Coursera is, it's a online hub of university classes from leading institutions throughout Europe and the US.

This class is a deeper inspection of some of the classical Fantasy and Science Fiction classics. We just finished Grimm Fairy Tales, which truthfully was one of the hardest things for me to actually sit down and read.

We will be going over the following readings within the next nine weeks:

1. Carroll — Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass
2. Stoker — Dracula (This reading is somewhat longer than most of the others. You may want to begin it in advance.)
3. Shelley — Frankenstein
4. Hawthorne & Poe — Stories and Poems (Hawthorne's Mosses from an Old Manse includes "The Birthmark," "Rappaccini's Daughter," and "The Artist of the Beautiful" and his Twice-Told Tales includes "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment"; The Portable Poe includes all the suggested Poe stories and poems
5. Wells — The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Invisible Man, "The Country of the Blind," "The Star"
6. Burroughs & Gilman — A Princess of Mars & Herland
7. Bradbury — The Martian Chronicles (not available for legal, free download)
8. LeGuin — The Left Hand of Darkness (not available for legal, free download)
9. Doctorow — Little Brother (This reading is somewhat longer than most of the others. You may want to begin it in advance.)

I hope to get a deeper understanding of how fantasy and science fiction impacts how we see the world, and explore how it has helped generations before us escape from the pressures of everyday life. I'll also probably be reviewing some of the readings in the coming weeks.

Is anyone else taking this class? Have you ever taken a class from Coursera? Any opinions on the books we are to be reading?

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Knight in My Bed by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

November 24th 2009, Forever              
371 pages, E-book
Borrowed from Library
First in Maclean series
Adult Fiction

As chieftain of the Clan MacInnes, Lady Isolde will do anything to protect her people -- including sacrifice herself to the enemy. Donall the Bold, laird of the hated MacLeans, lies locked in her dungeon awaiting execution. But rather than slay him, Isolde comes up with a daring plan to forge a lasting peace between their clans.

Though Donall curses his beautiful captor, only a madman would refuse to savor the pleasures beneath that tantalizing aura of dignity and grace. But Isolde offers a mere covenant ... and Donall craves nothing less than total conquest. Vowing to steal her heart and take his freedom, the renowned warrior instead will find himself in a different kind of prison -- one made of sweet, decadent passion, and one he may never wish to escape.

Cover Review:

It actually sets the scene for some of the most important scenes of the book, so I like it.

Opinion:

Verbose where it wasn't needed and without explanations in areas that needed to be expounded on for clarity. Transitions were nonexistant leaving me completely confused on more than one occassion.

Sweet love, but the concept of consent is long forgotten. If the genders were reversed there would be outrage and in an attempt to show that the man still has the upper hand he makes a speech when boiled down it simply states, "I'll have you, even if that means raping you." Both being tortured all day and then tied to a bed to perform "baby-making" duties and being told that your consent to have sex doesn't matter are equally repulsive in my view. 

The characters were flat, the plot repitious and overall I just simply did not enjoy this book.

Rating:
2/5

Rie (@missiontoread)

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

Read More