Master of Freedom by Cherise Sinclair

Master of Freedom by Cherise Sinclair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Can I just say that I love it when Sinclair writes a “novella” for the 1001 Dark Nights series? Why? Because fans are treated to a full-length novel (over 200 pages here) for the price of a novella and the author does not skimp on the action, the domination and submission, the erotica, or the romance just because it’s called a novella. And Master of Freedom was an excellent addition to the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series and the 1001 Dark Nights series.

Because Master of Freedom was written for inclusion in the 1001 Dark Nights series, it can be read as a standalone (like most of Sinclair’s novels). That said, fans of the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series will enjoy it even more because we get to find out more about Atticus, whom we met in Edge of the Enforcer when he assisted in finding Lindsey after she was abducted. A bonus being that we get to catch up with many of the doms and subs from the earlier books in the series. I will readily admit that while I understood the mental components of sadism and masochism due to my degree in psychology, when I first began reading BDSM romances years ago I had a similar mind-set to Gin’s – this can’t be real. Of course I was quite jealous of Gin in the way she found out just how real BDSM was. Holy heck! Between Atticus’s dominant nature, military background, and assuming the mantle of adulthood at too young of an age, the natural submissive in Gin did not stand a chance when he began issuing commands. Boy howdy was she a lucky girl. But Gin’s daddy issues and Atticus’s well, daddy issues, made for several misunderstandings and miscommunications that nearly derailed their fledgling relationship more than once. Thank goodness doms are all about the communication [insert sarcastic eye roll there because Atticus needed a swift kick in the rear at times] and they power through the incidents to come out the better for it. Yet the greatest threat to their relationship comes from outside forces and Sinclair kept me hanging for far too many pages before I found out what kind of happy ending she had in store for the couple. I’m glad I can always count on this author for a happy, if somewhat unconventional, ending

I loved the chemistry between Atticus and Gin. Despite their mutual hang-ups, when they let go and relaxed they were such a comfortable couple to read about. Their banter had me cracking up regularly throughout the book. This is what made their misunderstandings so intense – it was as though I could feel the anxiety, hurt, and distress rolling off my Kindle. Of course this made for a couple of really hot bouts of make-up sex on top of the already steamy BDSM scenes. As for the events that made up the action and suspense part of the storyline, I saw part of it coming but I didn’t expect Sinclair to take it quite as far as she did, which kept that part of the storyline from being predictable. Needless to say the author crafted the perfect ending for Gin and Atticus – one that had me laughing out loud, jealous of Gin, ready for the next installment in the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series, and praying that it’s already in the works. Another enjoyable read.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Edge of the Enforcer by Cherise Sinclair

Edge of the Enforcer by Cherise Sinclair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


There is nothing like finally reading a book that you bought and never got around to reading when it first came out. It’s an awesome feeling. It’s an even better feeling when it’s a Sinclair novel. Truth be told, I’m kind of baffled that I hadn’t made time to read it yet, but Edge of the Enforcer was well worth the wait – even if I didn’t know what I was missing.

Having met both Lindsey and deVries in previous books, I loved getting to learn more about them. I was shocked by the opening scene because I had no inkling about deVries’s extracurricular activities. But the scene was vital in making me understand his mindset in how he played and why he rebuffed Lindsey’s attentions – it didn’t excuse the unnecessarily harsh way he did it, but at least I understood it. It also made his collection of her debt from the Masterson’s picnic believable. And freaking hot as heck. However his freeze out the next day nearly gave me (and Lindsey) whiplash and once Sinclair gave the reader access to deVries’s thoughts, I was shocked by just how judgmental the dom could be. Yikes! Talk about frostbite. Thank goodness the Xavier and Simon don’t limit their meddling to just the subs and deVries got the kick in the pants he needed. And just in time as Lindsey’s past catches up with her and she finds herself in a life and death situation that doesn’t look good at all.

I must say that I’m not sure whose character surprised me more – Lindsey and her secrets OR that deVries, Dark Haven’s resident sadist and enforcer, had such a soft side to him. I’m not suggesting he was a pushover for Lindsey. Oh far from it. But when things got tough, his instincts and desires were in sync when it came to protecting the little submissive who showed him that life with a pain-intolerant sub might be a worthwhile venture after all. As for Lindsey, her secrets threw me for a loop. I was astounded by the predicament she found herself in and even more so that she managed to keep a lid on it considering who she worked with. It certainly added far more suspense and action to the novel than I expected and I loved how it gave us the chance to catch up with so many of the characters from the previous books in the series. But I cannot believe it took them so long to figure out how to have a relationship and still give deVries the outlet he needed for has sadism. At least they were both equally shortsighted when it came to identifying that solution. Regardless, I absolutely loved Edge of the Enforcer and am ready to sink my teeth into Master of Freedom in a few days.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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My Liege of Dark Haven by Cherise Sinclair

My Liege of Dark Haven by Cherise Sinclair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


You know how they say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”? Although I bought My Liege of Dark Haven three years ago, I know it’s the book’s cover that caught my eye because seriously that man’s muscled back and long braid are freaking HAWT! The fact that I had finished my master’s degree the year prior with a heavy emphasis in data and research made Abby’s plight speak to me … LOUDLY. I was intrigued by the idea of a well-educated, professional woman learning more about BDSM for research purposes and finding out more about herself in the process. As My Liege of Dark Haven was my first such novel, it set the bar for this particular theme and while I have found some that I liked, so few have met the Sinclair-standard that I was beginning to question if I remembered my enjoyment of the novel as well as I thought. After rereading it I realized that nope, the standard is set that high because the book is that freaking good.

Besides understanding Abby on an intellectual level, I connected with her in regards to her believed physical shortcomings as well and this is why I so was so amused by the wardrobe issues that arose throughout the book. It’s also why Xavier’s unapologetic appreciation of her curves upped his appeal for me (if that was even possible). While their chemistry is intense and this makes for some seriously hot BDSM scenes that just get hotter throughout the book, it is their non-sexual relationship that begins to break down their walls and blur the lines of Xavier’s well-established boundaries for his women. Because Xavier still loves his deceased wife he doesn’t feel that he can offer Abby an emotional commitment. While he does tell her this and she accepts the arrangement, his actions as their relationship progresses belie this. This is what makes his seeming betrayal so devastating to Abby and even knowing what I knew as the reader, I couldn’t blame her for her reaction. That of course is what makes the ending that much sweeter.

One of the things I liked about My Liege of Dark Haven that led to me read the previous books in the series was the intelligence and maturity of the heroine. This holds true for all of Sinclair’s leading ladies (at least that I can recall) and gives them an inner strength that helps them stand up for themselves and others when needed, yet still submitting to their man’s sexual dominance in the bedroom. This strength is what sees Abby through the trouble that her ex causes her when he blows the whistle on her research project. It’s also what enables her to see her punishment through for violating the club members’ trust. I also enjoyed getting to know Xavier outside of the club and finding out how compassionate the man was and the programs he ran in memory of his mother’s struggles. Learning of Xavier’s background showed why he and Abby were so well-suited for one another, thus making the progression of their relationship feel right – detours and all. I still love My Liege of Dark Haven and am so looking forward to reading Edge of the Enforcer, which I apparently bought when it came out but never read. DOH!

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Master of the Abyss by Cherise Sinclair

Master of the Abyss by Cherise Sinclair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I cannot believe I fell for it AGAIN! I remembered the push and pull between Jake and Kallie because of each one’s issues – both of which go a long way in explaining their behavior. But I completely forgot who was responsible for the murders and I fell for the not-completely-obvious but certainly the person the writing pointed you to subtly … AGAIN! I do not care that it’s been a couple of years since I last read Master of the Abyss, it’s not something I should have forgotten so completely. But I got so caught up in the unfolding drama between Kallie and Jake that I took my eye off the ball and was blindsided by the revelation that who I thought had done it, hadn’t. Of course, that didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the book all over again.

While series readers met Jake in Master of the Mountain, Kallie is an unknown yet she wastes no time in making an impression as she defends her friends in a barroom brawl until a man lands on her ... literally. Unfortunately for Kallie her pride is what is injured the most as she’s had a crush on Jake since the day she laid eyes on him and he had front-row seat to her humiliation. Because Kallie is pretty much a tomboy and refuses to behave like all the other women in town she has kept her feelings secret. So it’s a bit disheartening for her that the first time the man of her dreams touches her it’s because she’d been knocked flat on her face in a fight. Kallie does what we learn she does best – picks herself up and moves forward. All is well until her brothers finalize a deal with Jake and Logan’s lodge to provide guided tours for their guests and Kallie has to go to the lodge for BDSM night to get an idea of what activities might take place on a tour with the kinksters. When Jake approaches her with a one-night-only offer to give her a guided introduction to the lifestyle she agrees because she doubts she’ll ever have the chance again. And it was hot! Not surprisingly the night only adds fuel to Kallie’s fire, but unexpectedly Jake finds himself wanting a repeat performance. Even though they agree to a sex-only arrangement, both soon want more but neither is willing to admit it because of their personal histories and yet the connection builds and makes for some increasingly erotic sex scenes.

One of the things I enjoy about Sinclair’s series is that while the focus remains on the primary couple, readers are usually provided the opportunity to catch up with previously featured characters. With Jake and Logan being brothers it wasn’t really surprising, but I liked how Rebecca was included as an integral part of the Hunt family and inserted herself into Kallie’s circle. Not to downplay Jake’s baggage because it’s pretty devastating and made even more so as new facts are learned, but Kallie’s past hurts still break my heart when I read this book. To lose her mother at such a young age and then get bounced around from family member to family member, growing up feeling unwanted – I cannot even fathom what that would feel like. Jake’s rejections just compound her feelings of being unwanted and the culmination of these hurts present themselves in a scary as heck scene when Kallie faces off against the murderer, but at least this time I knew how it ended. I love Sinclair’s writing and am so glad I got the chance to go back and reread the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series. I am so looking forward to rereading the next book in the series My Liege of Dark Haven soon as it was my very first Sinclair novel.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #WhipIt: Master of the Abyss blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Master of the Mountain by Cherise Sinclair

Master of the Mountain by Cherise Sinclair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It has been a couple of years since I last read Master of the Mountain and upon rereading it, I recalled why I became such a fan of Sinclair’s work. As this was among the very first of the author’s books I read (and I actually looked up my purchase history on Amazon to confirm this), I remember being so taken by the fact that her heroines weren’t the perfect model thin women that society shoves down our throats as being the ideal. And no, just because I’m a plus-sized gal does not make me a skinny-girl hater. Fortunately I was in my early twenties when I came to terms with that fact that my bone structure would never allow me to wear single-digit apparel, not even in shoes. Because of this, reading books in which the woman has curves and gets her man because of those curves has helped immensely over the years in accepting myself as I am. Seeing Sinclair take that theme and apply it to the BDSM lifestyle made this a fascinating read for me, even now three years later – oh yes, I purchased and first read this book on September 1, 2012.

Master of the Mountain isn’t just an erotic romance involving the BDSM lifestyle. It’s also a look at relationships and knowing yourself well enough to know what you want and don’t want in a partner. In the beginning of the book, Rebecca is NOT having a good time with her boyfriend Matt. It is a seriously cringe-worthy scene that is made worse when he suggests that she join him on an upcoming swingers’ weekend. Talk about adding insult to injury – it would have been laughable had it not so very obviously fed into Rebecca’s insecurities. Rebecca’s relationship with Matt seems quite one-sided and probably familiar to many women; not the specifics, but the fact that women (and men too I’m sure) will put far more into a relationship than they’re getting out of it just so that they can be with the partner they’ve been led to believe they should be with, whether it be by family or societal standards. While Matt might look good on paper and be compatible in many of their regular activities, the fact that he even suggested that Rebecca give swinging a try showed how little he really knew of her. Yes I may have been projecting a bit onto Rebecca, but Matt is not unaware of her self-esteem issues and for him to think she’d be comfortable with other men was mind boggling – even more so when they get to the lodge and Rebecca sees that every other woman there is thin and built – her physical opposite. So with the stage properly set, it’s not the least bit surprising that she’s skeptical when Logan expresses his interest in her. Logan being a dom is vital to his success in getting past Rebecca’s barriers because his authoritative nature is the only thing that keeps her mind at bay and her body responding.

If you’ve ever read any of Sinclair’s books, you know she writes great sex scenes. The chemistry between Rebecca and Logan is both intense and calming. Despite her hesitancy, Rebecca finds that she trusts Logan when she has no reason to other than that he makes her feel safe. While we don’t realize it at the time, his brother points out later in the book just how much Logan must have trusted Rebecca as well. That they only spent four days together seems irrelevant as Sinclair managed to avoid the insta-love feeling that often accompanies such quick developing relationships, perhaps because there was a harsh parting of ways rather than professions of love. Even though Rebecca left the lodge in an emotional upheaval from Logan’s rejection, she left knowing what she didn’t want in a relationship – Matt and his swinger ways – and what she might need in a future relationship to be happy and fulfilled. I loved that Rebecca had a friend she could go to for help in finding out whether it was the D/s or Logan himself that did it for her. Even better was the scene in which Rebecca gets the answers to her questions about D/s, Logan, and her own desirability. I so loved rereading Master of the Mountain again and cannot wait to revisit Master of the Abyss.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #WhipIt: Master of the Mountain blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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