Dark Desire by Lauren Smith – a Review

Dark Desire by Lauren Smith – a Review

 

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Description:
Tall, Dark and…Russian.

Three things that Elena swore she’d never fall for again, but that’s exactly what happens when she meets Dimitri Razin on an international flight leaving Moscow.

His penetrating blue eyes peer straight into the core of her soul, leaving her vulnerable and all too aware that he’s the kind of man she had fantasies about before her world fell apart.

His touch sets fire to her blood and exposes her darkest desires…namely those involving him dominating her in bed.

Elena isn’t the only one with secrets. Dimitri is dangerous, and not just to her heart. The man is lethal and carries a past as heavy as her own.  When they’re forced to go on the run together to survive, it becomes impossible to keep her hands off him, especially when he gives her orders in that Russian accent. 

The pain of their pasts have bound them together, but her future may just tear them apart.

 

 

Review:

Dark Desire by Lauren Smith is the 5th book in her Surrender series.  Elena is finally going home after months of being held captive! Violently abused and terrified, she honestly never thought she’d some out of it alive!! She just had to remain calm and get on the flight home! Home to her family, and maybe become the Elena she once was.  But she getting the feeling she being watched…..

Dimitri feels a deep connection with a young woman he sees coming into the building he’s in. Curious he trails her and discovers her sad story. From there on he’s determined to protect her anyway he can. And he knows exactly the people to turn to. He know needs an excuse to meet her…..

Elena and Dimitri meet aboard the plane she’s on, she doesn’t know him, but feels safe (considering how the last few months have been, she’s surprised) helping her to remain calm after a panic attack, the pair talk on the plane. But Elena isn’t aware that Dimitri knows her!

They meet again at a home of the man who rescued her!! Panicking, Elena wonders if he’s here to take her back……

Dimitri explains that he’s a friend of the man who rescued her!! She’s really suspicious, but at this point she doesn’t really want to be on her own! Getting verification helps to ease her mind that Dimitri is who he says he is. But something doesn’t add up!!

It’s book five in the series and I don’t think you neee to read the previous ones (I haven’t) but it feels like I might be missing a few things, so I may go back and find out more.

Elena is a strong woman who’s been dealt a horrible blow! And now she’s trying to regain her self worth and confidence, she keeps having flashbacks and these put her back in that horrible cell!!

Dimitri was wonderful, and although the book says he’s a dominant, I would think go that far, he’s bossy, yes. He’s commanding, yes. And maybe the full force of his dominance may come out at some point, but I just didn’t get the full DOM mode!!

It’s also a slow burn romance, which I liked. Elena had been captured and abused for months, so I was pleased that was taken into consideration. I loved the storyline, I loved how a little fact was mixed in with the fiction. I also enjoyed meeting his “brothers” they aren’t blood, but they have had each other’s backs since they were eight years old! The camaraderie was fun to read, the background on both Elena and Dimitri wasn’t too much, just enough in my opinion.

There is also more books planned for the series which I’m excited about, Dimitri’s friends need their stories told too. I highly recommend this book if you like your story with murder/mystery/suspense and a little hot romance.

Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for Review

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Surrender (Seaside Pictures #4) by Rachel Van Dyken-Review Tour

Surrender (Seaside Pictures #4) by Rachel Van Dyken-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 23, 2020

I had his posters on my wall when I was sixteen and when I accidentally got pregnant in high school—his was the face I dreamt of when I closed my eyes at night.
Now, over twenty years later, that dream’s turned into a reality.
Not only is Drew Amhurst in my tiny town of Seaside, live and in the flesh…
But he’s mentoring my rockstar son.
Drew says he’s mine for a week.
And he made me three promises.
“No strings attached.”
“No falling in love.”
“It’s only seven days.”

He’s confident that he can help me rediscover myself both in and out of the bedroom, and I’m confident that he’s too arrogant for his own good.

And at the end of seven days, he swears he’ll walk out of my life the way he came into it.

The only problem is, the more I get to know him, the more I want to surrender the last pieces of my heart and beg him to stay.

••••••••

REVIEW: SURRENDER is the fourth full length instalment in Rachel Van Dyken’s contemporary, adult SEASIDE PICTURES romance series. This is thirty-six year old, song writer/guitarist for the rock band Adrenaline Drew Amhurst, and thirty nine year old, single mother Bronte Connors’ story line. SURRENDER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Bronte is Braden Connor’s mother (Provoke 3.7).

Told from dual first person perspectives (Drew and Bronte) SURRENDER follows the building relationship between thirty-six year old, song writer/guitarist for the rock band Adrenaline Drew Amhurst, and thirty nine year old, single mother Bronte Connors. Bronte Connors has had a crush on Drew Amhurst for as long as she can remember but now that her twenty-four year old son is currently mentored by our story line hero, Bronte struggles with the possibility of a forbidden relationship with a man whose demons are dangerous and dark. Drew Amhurst’s past is mired in alcohol and drugs, and his addictions nearly destroyed his friendship and membership with Adrenaline and AD2. Three years sober, Drew only has eyes for Bronte Connors, a woman whose youngest child is struggling with demons of her own. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Drew and Bronte, and the potential fall-out as Bronte believes Drew has faltered, returning to the demons that almost destroyed his life.

Drew Amhurst’s daily battles include watching his best friend fall in love with a woman that was once his own but Drew’s addictions threatened all of his previous relationships including his friendships with the members of the band. Coming face to face with Bronte Connors gave Drew thoughts for a future but his past refuses to let go, threatening to destroy his future with the band. Bronte Connors is a single mother who gave birth to her first child at the age of sixteen. With only three years separating between Bronte and Drew, Drew is closer in age to our heroine than he is to Braden, the newest member of their group.

The relationship between Bronte and Drew is once of immediate attraction. Bronte has crushed on Drew since her teenage years, and Drew has lusted after his bandmate’s mother for several years. Reconnecting meant having to get ‘permission’ from Braden Connor, permission that sees Bronte and Drew falling in love with plans for a future. The $ex scenes are limited by passionate and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including the members of Adrenaline and AD2, as well as Bronte’s youngest daughter Amelia. The texting between members of the band is furious and fun.

SURRENDER is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love. The fast paced premise is inviting and heart warming; the characters are energetic and inspiring; the romance is electric and sensual.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

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