I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Sweet Addiction
by
Maya Banks
erotica, romance in Paperback edition that was published by Berkley HEAT on April 3, 2012 and has 330 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Sweet Surrender, Colters' Woman, Sweet Persuasion, Sweet Seduction, In Bed with a Highlander, Darkest Hour, Seduction of a Highland Lass, Colters' Lady, No Place to Run, Men Out of Uniform, Red-Hot Summer, Never Love a Highlander, Brazen, Sweet Temptation, Whispers in the Dark, "Colters' Wife", Colters' Promise, Echoes at Dawn, Undone By Her Tender Touch, Four Play, Cherished, The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress, Never Seduce a Scot, Highlander Most Wanted, "Softly at Sunrise", Shades of Gray, Rush, Fever, Forged in Steele, Burn, Colters' Daughter, Colters' Gift, Be With Me, When Day Breaks, After the Storm, Taking It All, Keep Me Safe, Darkest Before Dawn, Enticed by His Forgotten Lover, Sweet Possession
Sixth in the Sweet series erotica romance and revolving around Malone & Sons Security and their friends and is based in Houston. The threesome focus is on Ren, Cole, and Lucas.
My Take
It’s one of the more benign descriptions of how a D/s relationship works with the most believable reasons why a submissive would want one. I do like the respect between Ren and Lucas. She is brutally and always honest with him, refusing to give in to placate him while he loves her honesty and unwillingness to play games. It’s also beautiful how willing each is to face their demons, how far they’re willing to go to want what’s right.
Both Cole and Lucas are very considerate, for Doms, in paying attention to what Ren wants and needs. At least until the end. Idiots.
Cole is rather annoying in his self-flagellation. True, he was young and just feeling his way as a Dom even as Ren was exploring the submissive role, but jesus…explore that past. Learn from it. Realize how immature he was at the time, and that he never gave Ren a chance to explain! At the end, he is sure consistent when he makes another stupid decision. For all his intelligence, I should’a thought the solution was obvious!
Jealousy in a D/s relationship, at least the emotion between Cole and Lucas was fun to watch, and I was curious as to how Banks would explore their problems. Lucas discovers several unexpected emotions totally contrary to his life in the past, and I loved his worried response to Ren. And in spite of some of the screw-ups, it’s too bad more of us aren’t as communicative as these two.
It’s Ren’s reaction to Lucas’ decision, his desire for her to know her own heart, that spooks her. A decision that falls in line with the adage “If you love them, let them go…” And it’s the shock of it that forces both of them to realize the truth. But Banks really does crank on the hurt. I cried when Lucas saw Ren at Cattlemen’s. Or rather, when Ren saw him.
Banks includes some subtle foreshadowing that I didn’t pick up until I went back through my notes. She also includes a back history on how Cole succeeded in business.
It just goes to prove what I always say, “Give the other person the opportunity to say no for themselves; don’t make the decision for them.”
The Story
Cole has never forgotten his childhood sweetheart, Ren. He’s never forgotten his first taste of innocent love and the desire that consumed them — or the pain he brought upon her…
But now she belongs to another…
Her long ago brush with submission awakened a longing in Ren that drove her to walk the darker edge of desire. She’s become a beautiful woman at ease with her sexuality and unapologetic about her need for a dominant man. When Cole finds her again, he’s gutted that she belongs to another.
Then Ren’s current master agrees to give her to Cole for a short time, but then she must return to his keeping. And though Cole agrees to this bargain, he knows he will never be able to let Ren go again.
The Characters
Ren Michaels, an author of children’s stories, is the girl with whom Cole fell in love when he was twenty and she was sixteen. She currently belongs to the wealthy Lucas Holt, a man who is loyal but has never been interested in permanence. He does come to The House upon occasion, but only to watch. Ren is estranged from her parents, moralists who live in chaos.
Cole Madison, a real estate developer with the golden touch, is a frequent visitor to The House but has only been interested in touching and preparing the women. He’s best friends with Damon and Micah.
Damon Roche is quite wealthy and owns The House, a private club catering to kink. His pregnant wife, Serena (Sweet Persuasion, 2), is pregnant. Sam is driver and bodyguard for Damon and Serena.
Malone & Sons Security is…
…owned by Pop Malone with family and friends who work for him, including his son, Connor, who is married to Lyric Jones, a famous pop star (Sweet Possession, 5) and Faith, Pop’s adopted daughter, who is married to Gray Montgomery (Sweet Surrender, 1). Angelina belongs to Micah Hudson who has shared her with other men, including Cole (Sweet Temptation, 4). Nia is their new baby — whom Micah adores and “wears” in a baby carrier on his chest. Nathan Tucker is married to Julie (Sweet Seduction, 3).
Lucas’ Houston nightclub
Duffy is the manager. Craig is a bouncer.
Daryl, Jace, and Matt are friends of Lucas’. Savonna is a friend of Ren’s. Grant was Ren’s previous master, a real jerk who had no clue. Cattleman’s is a favorite haunt of Cole and his friends. Captain Mike and C.J., the steward, are unexpected and enthusiastic participants during their sailing cruise in the Caribbean. Jon is Cole’s friend who obliges with the boat. Father Hillman is the priest in Las Vegas.
The Cover and Title
The cover is BLACK with two huge, luscious strawberries in shadow and a third peeking from behind.
The title is Ren’s desires and how the two men feel about her, a Sweet Addiction either man would be more than happy to satisfy.
