Emily Ryan-Davis

I read this book as an electronic advance reading copy (e-ARC) provided by NetGalley, and I have sent comments to the publisher via that web site.

All I expected when I selected this book was hot sex with two men and one woman. What surprised and delighted me was the depth of characterization of all three people involved in this polyamorous relationship. The love and regard they have for each other--not just the intense sexual attraction--really endeared me to these characters. One man says show more to another, "I want another partner, not just another lover," and that sentiment is shared by everyone. They talk about their feelings, their vulnerabilities, and their needs. They communicate about everything without being dull. They recognize that they stand together as a team while maintaining their separate personalities. The author also handles questions of sexual health with sensitivity and understanding. My major objection to much contemporary romance and erotica is how cavalier the characters are about safer sex and disease prevention. In this book, in contrast, condoms are an often exciting part of the action, and when the characters do not use them, they talk about it intelligently and believably.

I found myself wondering about the characters' back story--so I will purchase the earlier book, Menage on 34th Street--and hopeful for their future. Yes, the sex is really hot, but the real draw here is how much the reader learns to care about the characters. This book is highly recommended. show less

All He Wants is a short, stand-alone, erotic romance novelette. Keith is Telly’s older brother’s best friend, so they’ve known each other for years. Although they’ve kind of had a thing for each other, Keith kept his distance because of their age difference and them always seeming to be in different stages of life. During his most recent military deployment overseas, Keith and Telly kept in touch, and when Telly became pregnant by a guy she no longer wants in her life, Keith offered show more to let her stay at his house rent-free in exchange for house-sitting. He also discovered a fetish for a pregnant woman’s body when pictures of Telly with her growing belly started really turning him on. Now returning home at Christmastime, he’s eager to claim both Telly and the baby as his own. But Telly has an independent streak a mile wide, and while her pregnancy-charged libido makes her eager for sex, she doesn’t seem as anxious for a long-term commitment. Keith will have his work cut out for him convincing her otherwise.

I came very close to giving All He Wants four stars. There were definitely things about it that I enjoyed. Keith was a sweetheart who really wanted to look out for Telly and the baby, even though she didn’t seem to appreciate him wanting to take care of her, and he was patient and forward-thinking enough to respect her need for independence. Also, not every guy would be able to accept another man’s child, but he was eager for fatherhood and family, which was very appealing to me. The steamy scenes were well-done, too, with several packed into this short novelette, showcasing variety and creativity. However, as much as I enjoyed those aspects of the story, when I really started to think about it, there were also several weaknesses. Telly could be very confusing to me. Deep down it seems like she wants Keith, but she fights an actual relationship with him almost tooth-and-nail and doesn’t really believe anything he tells her. For example, he says she’s beautiful and that he wants her, but she thinks he’s just horny from a long deployment with no women around. Or he tells her to stay with him, then she’s immediately looking for other living arrangements. Keith was basically a dream lover and boyfriend, but I felt like Telly kept pushing him away, which was frustrating to me. Also, there’s a bombshell revelation regarding her ex that’s dropped in the last chapter that I didn’t feel was given anywhere near the weight it deserved. Then the ending was rather abrupt, leaving me not entirely satisfied or convinced that Keith and Telly were on the same page and fully ready to commit. In fact, Keith declares his love, but Telly doesn’t, at least not directly, which was a little disappointing. My frustrations aside, though, the things I liked about this little novelette weighed heavily in its favor, so I did mostly enjoy reading it.

Note: This book contains explicit language and sexual situations, which could be objectionable to sensitive readers. However, aside from the pregnancy fetish, there isn’t anything particularly kinky or out there. show less

Please note: I received a copy of this book bundle in exchange for an HONEST review!

First things first: "eXclave" is an establishment that caters to wealthy patrons with specific tastes & desires -- that of BDSM. The owner of eXclave is Elizabeth; Amy is her cousin and Jacob, from "Claiming Lauren" was a founding member. By now you all know that weird stuff bops around my head; this time is what wondering WHAT "eXclave" represented. Now we all know - it's the name of the "club". (However, show more where the name came from is still an unknown LOL!)

"eXclave" is a bundle of two books - "Claiming Lauren" and "Dominating Amy". Both are written by Emily Ryan-Davis.

These may be short stories, but they pack a punch. Yes, the sex part of the novellas is super hot (whew!) and don't be nervous to read them -- there is no whipping, humiliation/degradation, etc... As a matter of fact, it highlights how Lauren's husband taught her how to pull herself together when feeling scattered and how her ability to reach a meditative state helped her insomnia. Part of Amy's struggle in her quest to get her husband to allow her submission was solved when she realized that she needed some "accountability" for her actions.

What I liked about the books: While the stories feature sexual acts, it's more of an emotional introspection into the dynamics of two marriages that are floundering. I also liked the realism -- while many of these books feature millionaires, Mac & Amy struggle - she's aging out of her modeling profession and has racked up the credit card bills, which resulted in Mac having to take on a second job. You also see Mac's internal struggle to reconcile the abuse his mother received from his father versus Amy's need to submit to him (again - submit, NOT subjugate!).

What I didn't like: Since they were novellas, some things just seemed rushed - like Lauren's realization that her anonymous "Master" was actually her husband... and that Mac, who had no clue how to proceed as a Dominant suddenly had paperwork, philosophies, etc... Obviously the latter was a result OF the short length of the book.

Overall, a very good read - make sure the batteries are fresh! >wink show less

Reviewed by: cupcake
Book provided by: Publisher
Review originally posted at Romance After Dark, a Romancing the Book site

When you’re a divorcee in your forties, disillusioned with marriage and – especially – marital sex, what do you do? Well, if you’re Melanie, you join an upscale, exclusive BDSM club.
Her first night there, Melanie meets Sam, one of the co-owners, who ostensibly will just escort her around and show her the ropes (GET IT? The ropes? A BDSM club?). Sam’s tour turns show more much hotter when he finds himself unable to resist her, and the two hit the sheets. Melanie craves the spanky panky, and Sam craves delivering it.
They fall for each other: she finds a man willing to take the dominant role in her life, pushing her limits and inflicting pain when she needs it. He finds a willing submissive who pushes his limits and accepts the pain he needs to inflict. The romance aspect is fairly straightforward, which just goes to show that BDSM fans are just folks. Melanie, still smarting from her divorce, is reluctant to give her heart, while Sam has to face issues of his own.
There aren’t a lot of surprises in this book, but that’s okay. It’s a quick novella, and the sex scenes are HOT. Let’s face it, when you read one of these books, you aren’t exactly looking for character development. You want the sexy times, and Emily Ryan-Davis delivers. There is one exceptionally combustive scene that takes place in Sam’s club when he puts Melanie on display, so to speak.
Aside from the hot sex, Sam and Melanie are pretty good characters. Melanie is someone we can relate to because she’s realistic. She wants to discover her sexuality, and she is old enough and secure enough to know that she deserves to seek out the pleasure she wants. And Sam. Sam, people. Sam is the perfect hero, BDSM or not. He is strong, supportive, and knows how to please a woman. Boy, does he ever.
So, yes, while this book is predictable, it’s nonetheless fun and steamy. And who knows – maybe you will get some ideas for some fun things you can try out.
Warning: This book features BDSM, and while not bizarre or hard core, there are scenes featuring beatings and exhibitionism. show less