Sassy Moms say: READ ROMANCE: Strapped Series

Showing posts with label Strapped Series. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY:UnStrapped by Nina G. Jones

What do you do when the man who you love more than anyone else in the world terrifies you? This is a question Shyla must confront and it takes her to her breaking point.

The only person who can bring her back is the same person who is capable of destroying her beyond repair. Shyla has seen a side of Taylor she can never forget. She now understands that not only is he capable of immense tenderness, but ruthless violence. She must decide if she will fully trust Taylor and embrace both his light and darkness, as it is clear both exist equally within him. Their pasts continue to cast a shadow over their relationship as Shyla attempts to convince Taylor that the only way they can truly embrace the future is to reopen and repair old wounds. Taylor swears anything he has ever done was to protect Shyla, but Eric's words haunt her and cast doubts on Taylor's intentions. Taylor will do anything for Shyla. Now she must decide if that is actually good thing.

Stunned, I unzip the garment bag and find a long-sleeved black velvet dress with a plunging neckline. Even if he would permit me to wear a bra, it would not even be possible in this dress. The hem, I estimate, would stop about mid thigh. Inside the shopping bag is a pack of sheer black silk stockings, with one opaque line running along the back of my heel to the top of the stocking, punctuated by a small satin bow. A thin red garter belt is provided to ensure the stockings stay in place. There is also box of fire-red stilettos inside the bag, the heel so sharp and steep that my eyes widen as I rotate the shoe to examine it. Holy hooker heels. With a confounded pout on my face, I slide on the dress, stockings and shoes. The stockings turn out to be exceptionally long, stopping just below the crook of my ass, framing each cheek like a gift. I pin only one side of my hair back, exposing one shoulder. I find a lipstick to match my shoes and apply a gunmetal eyeshadow and black mascara.

Then I anxiously wait like a good girl.

It isn’t long before Taylor returns, dressed in a perfectly tailored graphite suit, a crisp white shirt and navy tie to match the muted Icelandic vistas. He had left in street clothes, and I wonder if he just picked this up. Normally I would ask, but this Taylor is not one with whom I would engage in such insignificant trivialities. You don’t waste your words with Mr. Holden.

I remain seated on the edge of the bed, instinctively waiting for him to find me and tell me what is to be done next. I fiddle with my red lacquered fingernails as my heart flutters. It is a feeling I have learned to love and hate: not knowing what Taylor will do or say, but relishing in the agony of anticipation.

I sense I am in trouble, but I can’t know for sure until he decides to disclose. Asking is futile.

His footsteps are quick and come to an abrupt stop when he finds me. Without uttering a word, he reaches for one of my hands and incites me to stand. I look up expectantly as his piercing jade eyes assess me. Am I pleasing to his frigid yet fiery glare? His poker face reveals nothing. He takes a half a step closer, so that his breath tickles my hairline. Then, he grazes the tips of his knuckles along the smoothness of the velvet, starting at my right shoulder, and trailing down the deep V-neckline of my dress, stopping just at the peak of my breast. My clit lights up with arousal, begging for his relief. And he fucking knows it. My hips involuntarily jut forward just a centimeter, but he reads those subtle cues like a sexual seismograph. His eyes sharply shift to my pelvis and then back up to my eyes. Despite all of the questions in my mind, they plead with him in silence, large and doe-like. I am willing to forget it all tonight if he’ll just relieve me of the desire for him that bleeds through my skin. It’s something I know he can sense from across a room and he uses it to lull me like a snake charmer would. He feeds off of my desperation for him, the way my pulse speeds when he blows on my neck, or stares at me like a wolf patiently stalking his prey. And so, he will make me wait, delighting in my angst.

His eyes track down to my breastbone, and his knuckle grazes my already rigid nipple. A small puff escapes my barely parted red lips as my back arches towards him. I clench my fists at my sides, using whatever I have left of my willpower not to grab him and pull him closer.

Nina G. Jones was born and raised in Bronx, NY and currently resides in Milwaukee, WI with her husband and two crazy Boxers.

She is the author of the Amazon Bestselling Strapped series and the erotic romance, Gorgeous Rotten Scoundrel.

Let me start with a little back story.Last fall I read an awesome little book called Strapped. I was introduced to Taylor Holden and Shyla Ball and instantly fell in love. I immediately searched the internet for everything Nina G. Jones and boy was I surprised to find out that was her first novel. Flash forward a year, and here I am reviewing the last installment of the Strapped series and saying goodbye to the two people that Nina made me fall in love with, Taylor and Shyla.

I went in to this knowing it was going to me a mind blowing, twisted ride. How mind blowing and twisted, I wasn't sure, then I started reading. Every thought of what I had in my head of what was going to happen was shot to hell. I was taken on a journey that only Taylor can take you on.

These characters have evolved perfectly. Taylor isn't just a damaged boy who was abandoned by his mother, he is dark, twisted and loves Shyla fiercely. Shyla isn't a naive, innocent bystander anymore. She is just as twisted, almost as dark and found her soulmate in Taylor.

The story goes full circle and all of your questions will be answered. This is the end, after all and Nina didn't torture us with a cliffhanger, thank God! I would have hunted her down if she would have done that, well, ok, maybe just spammed her inbox with messages of despair. The pieces to the puzzle all fit...or do they.

Throughout the series we watched Shyla explore her darker side, with Taylor's help. There were times I wondered if she was doing everything for herself, or just for Taylor. I don't have to wonder anymore, now I know, it was for herself.

Taylor's need to protect Shyla knows no limits. He will do anything, and I mean anything to keep her safe. He is a man that isn't afraid to take risks and one that knows how to get what he wants.

Their relationship is tested almost to the breaking point, and after reading the second book, I can honestly see why. These two have to find a way to love each other without compromising themselves in the process. Taylor may even have to learn how to give up some control, yeah, like that's going to happen!

It has been a pleasure and an honor to have followed this series through to the end. To watch their relationship grow and become something that will work for both of them was a magical, roller coaster, twisted mind fuck of a journey. If there was any doubt of Nina being able to write dark, this should settle that debate. This book isn't fluffy, it isn't kittens and rainbows and unicorn farts of glitter. It's raw. It will make you cry, scream, and trust everything you ever thought about these characters.

I hate to say goodbye to Taylor and Shyla, but their time has come. Thank you for sharing them with us Nina and I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us next.

*And if you wonder why this review is a bit vague, I do not want to spoil this story for anyone. The plot line is very intricate and I feel that it is best to experience it on your own, without bias...other than the fact that I love everything about this book and Nina.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 15

September 16

September 17

September 18

September 19

Monday, August 4, 2014

COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: UnStrapped by Nina G. Jones

Book Title: Unstrapped (Strapped, #3)

Author: Nina G. Jones

Genre: Erotic Suspense

Release Date: August 8, 2014

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

What do you do when the man who you love more than anyone else in the world terrifies you? This is a question Shyla must confront and it takes her to her breaking point. The only person who can bring her back is the same person who is capable of destroying her beyond repair. Shyla has seen a side of Taylor she can never forget. She now understands that not only is he capable of immense tenderness, but ruthless violence. She must decide if she will fully trust Taylor and embrace both his light and darkness, as it is clear both exist equally within him. Their pasts continue to cast a shadow over their relationship as Shyla attempts to convince Taylor that the only way they can truly embrace the future is to reopen and repair old wounds. Taylor swears anything he has ever done was to protect Shyla, but Eric's words haunt her and cast doubts on Taylor's intentions. Taylor will do anything for Shyla. Now she must decide if that is actually good thing.

“Stop!” I scream, my heart races so fast that I think I might pass out. We come upon each turn at such a high speed that I am sure we will spin out. “You’re going to get us killed!” “Because that’s what I felt when he had you, when I was racing back home to get you back after he told me he had you. That’s what I have felt these couple of weeks when all you do is cry. I know what you’ve been thinking, I’m not a fucking imbecile.” He shifts the gear and the engine purrs giving the car a boost of power and sending me into further panic. “Taylor. What the fuck are you doing!” I shout. “I want you to wake the fuck up Shyla!” He sharply turns the car into a an open field, unused farmland of sorts, and the car’s stiff suspension violently jitters underneath us. “You’re going to break this thing!” “I’m fucking rich, I can buy twenty of these tomorrow! Who gives a shit about a car?” “You’re scaring me. Please stop the car.” “Tell me you’re coming back to me!” “What?” “I want you back. I need you back. You need to fight this!” Though he is yelling over the violent sounds of electronic music, his eyes are focused on the path in front of him. I glance forward and that’s when I see, out in the distance, a row of fences growing in size with each passing second. “Taylor stop!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “Tell me you’ll fight goddammit! Tell me now!” I glance again, the fences are now so close I can see the detail in the wiring. It’s only a fraction of a second, but I realize I feel so many things all at once. I don’t want to die, I don’t want to have an accident. I want to live, I want to have a life with Taylor. Despite what’s going on inside of me now, there is so much I want to live for and do. “So help me, I won’t fucking stop!” “Yes! I’ll fight Taylor. I will fucking fight!” I scream as loudly as I can. “Now stop the fucking car!” I take one look in front of us and the fence is just thirty feet away and heading closer with each passing moment. Immediately, Taylor downshifts and hits the breaks while spinning the wheel to turn away from the fence. Mud and debris kick up all over the car. “Ooohhh godddd!” I call out, closing my eyes as my stomach lurches up to my throat. The car spins 180 degrees and comes to a full stop facing away from the fence.

Nina G. Jones was born and raised in Bronx, NY and currently resides in Milwaukee, WI with her husband and two crazy Boxers. She is the author of the Strapped series, and is currently working on an Erotic Romance, Gorgeous Rotten Scoundrel, slated to be released in Spring 2014. Nina lives a pretty wholesome life, but is fascinated with the dark side of things and has the mouth of a sailor. She loves watching true crime TV shows and it creeps her husband out to no end. Nina has a degree in Psychology and uses her characters as a vehicle to explore the human psyche.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, March 14, 2014

REVIEW: Strapped Down by Nina G. Jones

Synopsis: The much anticipated second installment of the Strapped Trilogy, Strapped Down picks up where the first installment concluded.

Eric is not going down without a fight, but Shyla and Taylor are willing to go to equally dark lengths to make him pay for his betrayal. In their quest to seek revenge and find happiness, deeply guarded secrets from their pasts begin to surface, revealing they are linked to each other in ways they could never have imagined.

For every secret they uncover, another seems to surface as they find themselves raveled in a web that extends much further than the confines of the darkroom. As Shyla and Taylor become more entwined with each other, she learns that Taylor’s dark side is far more dangerous than she believed. Will Shyla continue to follow Taylor into the darkness, or is he far too gone for her light to shine through?

Note: This is not a stand alone novel. Strapped (book 1) should be read before Strapped Down.

Excerpt:

I try to embrace him, but he grabs my wrists and pins them overhead, elevating his upper body so that he can take in the scenery. “I need you to just surrender to me. Just fucking surrender,” he commands in a breathy voice as he thrusts into me. “You can’t keep fighting this. I can see how bad you want this. You won’t lose yourself, I promise.”
But there is that last part of me, the last hand I haven’t showed. If I don’t fight him anymore, all doubt will be removed. I am a goner.
“I…I just can’t,” I whisper.
“Just fucking surrender to me. Let me take it all.”
I stare at him in silence, unable to let go of that last piece of my old self. He presses my face with both hands and leans in close. “Just fucking surrender to me already,” he says powerfully as he goes deep inside of me.

Erin's Review: Strapped Down is a bit darker than Strapped. Now that Shyla and Taylor know more about each other, the real challenge begins. Just how far will Shyla go to help Taylor in his revenge against his brother Eric? How far can Taylor push her before she finally submits completely? Their relationship is tested on many levels and at times, I really wasn't sure if they were going to make it through. Shyla is bound and determined to help Taylor though the demons of his past so their future together can be a happy one, but she quickly learns, sometimes the past is much darker than she originally thought. Taylor and Shyla evolve even more in Strapped Down and seeing everything from Shyla's point of view made you feel everything she felt. You get a glimpse at Taylor's past and begin to understand why he wants to keep it buried. He and Eric take sibling rivalry to a whole new level! Shyla's tenacity is a testament to her devotion to Taylor. She will follow him to the ends of the Earth and he just can't let her go.
The storyline with Henry and Liz had me screaming for more. There's something about Henry! He's a lovable cad and I really hope that that storyline is explored more in the next book. I think he and Liz would be explosive together! Shyla's friend, Kristin, also makes a reappearance and gets a taste of Shyla's world. All I'm going to say about that is, that pool party was freaking HOT!!!
The ending blew me away. It had me on the edge until the very end. I held my breath until that very last sentence. I kept wanting to skip to the end because I HAD to know what was going to happen-I was good though and I read each and every word.
I have a feeling we are just scratching the surface of Shyla and Taylor's story and that there is much more to come. I also have to know if Henry finally opens his mouth to Liz, and he damn well better! Strapped Down is everything Strapped was and more. I cannot wait until the next one!!

GET THE BOOKS!

Buy Links

Strapped

Strapped Down

Connect with Nina

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Pages