Breakaway by Kelly Jamieson

Story: 7

Presentation: 6

Total: 13
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Contemporary erotic romance
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Blurb: Jason and Remi want the same thing—no-strings-attached, screw-their-brains-out, burn-the-sheets-up fun. Pro hockey player Jason just broke up with his girlfriend because she got too serious. Schoolteacher Remi just saw the last of the younger siblings she raised leave the nest. Jace isn’t ready for responsibility. Remi’s had enough responsibility. They’re perfect playmates.

But fun and sexy games get complicated when emotions get involved. Then responsibility and commitment crash the party when Jason’s past comes back to haunt him. Like it or not, Jason and Remi both have to figure out what they really want.

Review: I have to score this book in two parts. And the presentation score (scoring the publisher is lower for reasons I’ll explain. The cover is hot so that’s not it.) I love Ms. Jamieson’s writing style and can read anything she writes. And for the most part, I loved the romance in Breakaway, with all the hesitations and situations between Jason and Remi. I suspect Jason’s issues and fears are the same for many men in that situation (don’t want to give any spoilers) and while he struggles initially, he man’s up to his responsibilities by the end of the story and for that I was satisfied as a reader. Remi didn’t come together as well for me. I think she made amazing sacrifices for her family. But I lost some of my love for her with the situations with her brother and sister. I think the way Ms. Jamieson wrote the scene was very believable. I hated the way Remi handled her siblings when they were being unreasonable irresponsible brats and I didn’t cheer for her as a character the way I would want to. If by the end of the story, she had come around and stood up to them, I would have cheered. I don’t think she does. I still found the book to be an enjoyable read and a book I didn’t want to put down.

Now for my issues with BREAKAWAY and why the score on the publisher is lower, because I did like the story. But if you’re going to name drop actual teams, they should be accurate. As a hockey lover, I had to scratch my head. I don’t know if it’s oversight or intentional, but the Wolves are an AHL team. The Blackhawks are the NHL team in Chicago. The Stars play in Dallas, not Phoenix. If you’re in Phoenix, you’ll want to cheer for the Coyotes. Maybe for those who don’t follow hockey won’t care. But it was like reading road bumps along the way for me and I stumbled over them every time.

Taming Tara by Kelly Jamieson

Story: 6
Presentation: 8
Total: 15
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Contemporary BDSM
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Blurb: Tara has needed to be tough and in control to prove to her grandfather, and the rest of the world, that she can run the family business. But when Grandpa hires Joe to help manage the business, her control is threatened.

Joe is desperate to make a success of this job after his career tanked in a disastrous scandal. When he runs into Tara at a club, her Dominatrix act doesn’t fool him—he can see the submissive inside her. He knows if he can show her that side of herself, it will make his new job a helluva lot easier. But teaching Tara to see inside herself becomes more than just a business strategy—it becomes personal.

Review: I wanted to love this story. I wanted to love the characters. And I wanted there to be more BDSM erotic romance in a book from Ellora’s Cave in the BDSM line. But sadly, this story fails to deliver on why I read books from EC. I want a great story with hot sex. And usually I get it. But in this case, I got a great story but it wasn’t the heat and character intensity of Ms Jamieson’s usual offerings, (although it’s clear a great deal of research on olives and the olive industry went into the book).

Ms. Jamieson’s talents are indisputable. But this story’s focus was on olives. The scenery, the education of olives, and even to some degree Tara’s interaction with her family take over a story. In the mist of all that, there is a secondary story with Tara’s sister and Joe’s friend. I can only assume their role in the story is to set up a future story, but they became more filler in the book with short little scenes that contributed nothing to the story of Tara and Joe.

I want to be clear, in pieces this story has stellar moments. When the sex happens, it’s hot. The BDSM lifestyle is briefly in play, but the bigger focus is getting Tara to submit to Joe, to acknowledge her deeply buried needs. But I felt the author missed out on giving us more. Several times, I could feel a scene building. I was finally going to read some of the intense content, and then the focus would shift and the scene would end and move on, failing to follow through.

There is also too much secrecy in Joe’s character. I think I would have connected to him more if we would have gotten more of his story. But his history and past are only alluded to for most of the book.

I have read other works by Ms. Jamieson, books that have remained on my keeper shelf because they were so spectacular. She will remain on my must have list. So while this one fell short for me, it was still an interesting read. The quality of the writing and the flow of the words were without question, above par. It’s still worth the money.

Power Struggle by Kelly Jamieson

Story 8.5
Presentation 9
Total: 17.5
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Contemporary BDSM
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Blurb: Tori is the vice president of her company. Her career is all about being in charge, solving problems, making decisions. But in the bedroom she likes to give up control. She likes to be taken to the edge, likes the heady pleasure of pain, likes how it sets her free.

Dev is a physician. In his career, he has sworn to do no harm and was taught that raising a hand to a woman is wrong. And he is nearly a decade younger than Tori.

The attraction between Tori and Dev is more than just physical-they both feel a connection of spirit. They begin a relationship that seems to work despite their age difference. But when Tori reveals what she really wants in bed, Dev's not sure if he has it in him to give it to her. And Tori isn't sure she can have a relationship with someone who can't accept her for who she is. It's a power struggle.

Review: Initially I thought Power Struggle was going to be like many other BDSM stories I’ve read. A little kink, a bit of fun, tie me up and spank me, tell me what to do and I’m yours kind of story. Wow! Put away the cookie cutter BDSM stories because Power Struggle takes typical BDSM to a new level. Yes, there is all the great titillating kink, but the way Ms. Jamieson took me into the story was personal and emotional. Dev and Tori’s thoughts, motivations and actions are intimately revealed. The slightest shift in thinking had monumental influence on the way they responded to each other. Both with flaws and struggles that made them real. Both with fears and expectations and not sure how to ask the other for what they wanted. Secondary characters added to the flavor but didn’t diminish what was happening between Tori and Dev. So Kelly, will we get a story for Gabe? If so I’ll be first in line for a copy!

The story is crammed full of deliciously naughty sex. Each encounter brings on new revelations for both Tori and Dev. The character growth in the story makes this book one to add to your must read pile. If you love BDSM with an emotional connection to the bondage, Dom/sub play, than this is a book for you.

Conference Call by Kelly Jamieson

Story: 8

Presentation: 9

Total: 17

Publisher: Ellora's Cave

Erotic

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Blurb: A software conference with a lot of techie geeks sounds boring, but Kenzie’s excited about this one. She’s going to see Noah Chambers again! After meeting once, she hasn’t been able to get his sexy smile out of her head. Noah’s looking forward to seeing Kenzie again too. He knows it should be strictly business, but dammit, she’s hot and he’s kind of hoping four days in a hotel with her might lead to more than tech talk.

When an old flame of Kenzie’s shows up at the conference, and Shaun clearly has the same hopes as Noah, how to resolve the competition between the two men for Kenzie’s attention? How about by making her ultimate fantasy come true—with a hot threesome?

Reader Advisory: This book contains a scorching ménage scene with light male/male touching.

Review: HOT HOT HOT!!!

Ms Jamieson has done a wonderful job of penning a naughty, super hot story with two smokin' studs. A read that is well worth the time if you like threesomes or have ever thought about a new guy and an old lover at the same time. YUM!

I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future :)

Rigger by Kelly Jamieson

Story: 9

Presentation: 9

Total: 18

Publisher: Ellora's Cave

Erotic BDSM

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Blurb: Alek likes to tie up women. As a rigger, he’s into the aesthetics of bondage—the pattern of rope against skin, the marks left in tender flesh—but he also likes the high of being in control and, yeah, it turns him on. When Alek needs a model to complete the photographs for his book on rope bondage, he asks his friend Shaela.

Shaela has known Alek since high school, and while she disapproves of his kinky sexual habits, he’s a friend and she agrees to help. She’s not prepared for the experience of being tied up. Being bound and helpless releases her from her everyday problems—her slave-driver boss, her unsatisfying career and her derogatory father. She’s also helplessly aroused.

So is Alek. He sees how Shaela loves being bound, even though she doesn’t want to admit it, and proposes they explore it together. Intrigued but nervous, Shaela agrees. Neither of them expects to learn the things they do about each other—and about themselves. And neither of them expects to fall in love.

Review: Oh my hell, this book was impossible to put down. Alek has all the wonderful qualities we love in a hotter than hell hero. He’s sexy and yummy, and has a deliciously naughty streak that made my heart pound and my panties damp.

Yep, this is a perfect example of erotic romance, because while the sex is scorching and just remembering while I’m writing this review is making me hot again, this is also a wonderful friends to lovers stories. Both Shaela and Alek have emotional baggage that adds depth and motivation to their characters. Through bondage, Shaela is shown true sexual and emotional freedom. Alek has some hang-ups, Yeah, he wants control and he’s a sexy Alpha male, but he reveals vulnerability with Shaela.

This truly was a hot story to read that satisfied on all levels. I won’t be forgetting Shaela or Alek for a long time and I’ll never look at a piece of rope with out seeing the dark, erotic possibilities.