Angel Payne

I started this because I was in the mood for something OTT and ridiculous. I stopped this because it made me want to go on a rant about rape culture (several, actually, and I only made it to the third chapter -- and it wasn't the bdsm stuff; that hadn't really started yet and, when done well, doesn't make me react this way).

I'm going to re-read an old Julie Garwood instead -- guaranteed to be OTT ridiculous, and not piss me off.

I didn't actually hate this but it was a waste of a good story line. The blurb promised a good amount of emotional tension plus kinky sex but delivered the narrative equivalent of a wet noodle.

The lady and the dude are reunited almost immediately, so there's no tension there. The dude whines about how he wants to spank his lady now, because...something and how you shouldn't want to spank the lady you love. The lady is like "gimme some peen, please" but the dude is like "no way, not unless show more you let me handcuff you". The lady is like, "sure no problem, that sounds like a lot of fun, actually", and the dude is like "hah, yeah right, I love you too much to give you the sexing we both want". Then the lady is like "whuh? that makes no sense" and the dude is like "I don't need to make sense, I thought you were dead for a whole year". There was zero inquiry about how the lady escaped her kidnappers and survived in the jungle for a whole year, but there was some vague stuff about a sex trafficking ring, and then another kidnapping, and then the dude poses as a gross sex-buyer to get his lady back and has sex with her in front of the sex traffickers. And all of that could have made this an interesting story but all of the emotional details were glossed over in favor of some really intense navel-gazing. I won't be bothering with the rest of this series. show less

There are definitely some Shades of Grey vibes being thrown here: rich bad boy with goo goo eyes for an underdog (lunch caterer), who also happens to enjoy hard sex and non-disclosure agreements...need I say more. Authors, Angela Payne and Victoria Blue, take Mr. Grey - I mean Mr. Shark's - sexy charm up a bit by making him a protector and family man for his single sister's young child.

Shark's Edge made up for lack of sex scenes in the intrigue the authors create around Mr. Shark's show more childhood, friendships and behavior. This first novel seems to just be a warm up for what is to come, even going so far as to include a steamy finale for the readers.

*Disclaimer: a review copy if this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own. show less

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

No Prince Charming is my first taste of Angle Payne and Victoria Blue's storytelling. No Prince is book one in the Secrets of Stone series, and published in March of 2018. I like that these two authors have come up with a modern day Cinderella, kind of, plot. There are just enough Cinderella notes to flavor the story without being a complete copy. I'm impressed with this fresh show more take.

Claire Montgomery is complicated and yet predictable. She works for her son-to-be step-mother and step sister. They're awful, as you would expect. Their PR company is hired to revamp the image of Stone Global. She's meek, taking all the grief the control freaks throw her way. She competent, smart, lovely inside and out, but really, really, needs to speak up for herself. The writing duo have written the step-sister, Margaux, as the one you love to hate. I adore a character that evokes such emotion.

Killian Stone needs a PR firm to repair the damage his brother has wrought. This guy is as close to Prince Charming as you can get in the 21st century. Handsome, strong, sexy, rich and besotted with Claire. Did I mention rich and handsome? He winds up chasing our Cinderella, but she's fast. The big obstacle for our couple will be secrets, so darn many secrets. Somehow Claire manages to stand up to Killian and not be walked all over. Of course, she runs away.

Our couples story is continued in book two, No More Masquerade. That's where I'm heading, I want to know what happens to Claire and Killian. There are loose ends that I hope are taken care of. Happy reading.

#AngelPayne #VictoriaBlue #NoPrinceCharming #SecretsOf Stone #NetGalley #WaterhousePress show less