Review and Giveaway: Seduced by Fire

Seduced by Fire (Partners in Play - Book 1) by Tara Sue Me

Publication Date: 03/04/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: New American Library (NAL)
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 045146625X
ISBN-13: 978-0451466259

(Received for an honest review from New American Library)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Tara Sue Me on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

WARNING: The content of this book and excerpt may be inappropriate for readers under 18 years of age.

Excerpt from, Seduced by Fire, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

Julie Masterson craves a taste of danger.

Despite being familiar with the different games people play in the bedroom, she’s never given into her curiosity about putting her body in someone else’s power—until a chance meeting with Daniel Covington, the seductive Senior VP of Weston Bank, draws her into a titillating new world of sexual experience, one that she never knew she desperately needed.

Daniel is highly respected within his community, but he hasn’t had an exclusive relationship for over two years. Yet Julie’s eager innocence is driving him to the brink of ecstasy, making him rethink his feelings about commitment.

As their sizzling connection heats up, Daniel is ready to take Julie fully under his command. But when the dangerous side of their play rears its ugly head, Julie will have to decide if she trusts him enough to surrender completely—or if she should escape before she gets burned...

Thoughts:

Tara Sue Me brings readers the first book in her new Partners in Play series, Seduced by Fire. Readers will be both captivated and emotionally invested in this story about a young woman who dares to make her hidden desires known. The author does a phenomenal job of bringing the BDSM community to life in a way that educates readers without terrifying them. Tara Sue Me's writing drifts like a stream with ripples and waves, as the reader ebbs and flows along with it. Her prose is elegant and her descriptions are so tempting readers might just give in. A great new book from a well respected voice in the genre.

What I liked:

This was my first book by Tara Sue Me, though I had definitely heard of her. Her Submissives series is very well known and a lot of erotic readers loved it. So I was excited about seeing what she had to offer with Seduced by Fire. I have rarely underestimated and author quite so much ever before. I thought I knew what I was going to get with this book. A cookie cutter version of what most author's have decided the BDSM community is all about. With overly dramatic characters that really didn't show the expressive and often beautiful relationships found in this type of lifestyle. I just knew it was going to be one of many that brush the darker side of things under the rug, but I was wrong. Very wrong. 

Tara Sue Me has written a book about, what I think is an extremely realistic version of a BDSM relationship. The ups and the downs, the ins and the outs. She doesn't sugar coat, she doesn't glorify, she doesn't even take liberties with the feelings of her characters. She lays it out there and lets the reader decide what to make of it. She isn't trying to convince the reader, or even change their minds, it just is the way it is, the good and the bad. I thought it was compelling. It was expressive, extremely sensual without being smutty. Erotic romance can be rough around the edges, but this author gives it an elegance and sophistication that was wonderful to read. 

Julie is a businesswoman, and that roll denotes a sense of authority and command needed to make it in the business world. The fact that she had an underlying submissive nature was not at all far fetched. I thought the author did a fantastic job of allowing the reader to see what someone who had never taken part in any kind of BDSM behavior might experience when they are first exposed to it. Julie shows a curiosity to see if this lifestyle is what she needed to fulfill her longings. I thought she exhibited all of the attributes of a butterfly coming out of it's cocoon as she found what she needed to make her sexual life as well as the rest of her world make sense. She was a wonderful character, who showed all of the good feelings associated with this kind of trust and the fears that can sometimes cloud the experience. 

Daniel was a Dom with a heart. There are some of those out there. Sometimes it isn't the power that drives the Dom to do what he does. I think the author was able to convey so many different things with this character. At times he showed deep love and understanding, he showed command and dominance, but in a way that was not overpowering or contemptible. When someone both he and Julie know well is harmed in the BDSM community, he is stricken and shows compassion and heart. I just loved him. He was not only sensitive to Julie's feelings but his own as well. The fact that he was hot certainly didn't hurt either. A great well rounded character.

I can't say enough good things about how Tara Sue Me was able to just let this story flow out of her. And let the reader come along for the ride. It was so well written. It was like each word... mattered. It either made sense to the reader or it didn't. This is the kind of erotic writing that makes the genre amazing, but it doesn't happen too often. Make the most of it!

What I didn't like:

I learned a lot about Daniel and his back story throughout this novel. I was introduced to several characters that I think will probably play a part in the series as it continues, but I still felt that Julie was a bit allusive. Her back story didn't quite develop like Daniels did. That may be something that will happen throughout the series, or maybe not. But I wanted to know more about her.

Bottom Line:

If you think you want to try something in the erotic genre, this is the kind of book to start with. One that doesn't sugar coat the dark aspects, but also doesn't short change the deep and soul stirring experiences that those who find the right niche can have. It's well written and has a sense of class and elegance about it. Try this one... you won't be disappointed.

Seduced by Fire is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Tara Sue Me is the international bestselling author of the Submissive trilogy, including The Submissive, The Dominant, and The Training. She lives in the southeastern United States with her family, two dogs, and a cat.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Seduced by Fire by Tara Sue Me.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
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~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, March 20th.

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