Publication Date: 10/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Heat
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 0425270785
ISBN-13: 978-0425270783
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Heat)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
HelenKay Dimon on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Books in the series:
Holton Woods
1. Mercy
2. Only
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
WARNING: This book is inappropriate for readers under 18.
Excerpt from, Only, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
He’s a man who fixes difficult situations. She’s the one thing he can’t handle—and the one thing he can’t resist…
ONLY
Sebastian Jameson negotiates for high-end clients who need problems taken care of quickly and discreetly. Accustomed to being in control, he’s still reeling from his ex-wife’s decision to write a tell-all about their private life, one that highlighted their bedroom activities. The fallout left Bast’s love life in chaos, making him a magnet for women who thrive on risky fantasies, and a pariah to all others.
Kyra Royer knows all about Bast’s reputation—and is intrigued enough to try to change him into a one-woman guy. But getting him into her bed will be a challenge. He’s known her brother for years, and her brother, with his rough past and sniper abilities, is not a man you cross. Kyra knows Bast thinks she’s off-limits, so she’ll have to get creative to make him hers.
As Kyra turns up the heat, Bast struggles to resist the sexy young woman’s considerable charms. But when Bast’s job turns from tricky to deadly, keeping Kyra nearby might be the only way to keep her alive—even if it means getting closer than he ever intended…
Thoughts:
HelenKay Dimon brings readers the second book in the Holton Woods series, Only. This series is combination of erotic romance and romantic suspense. Dimon thrills readers with an underlying CIA plot that adds a lot of intensity to the story, but the primary plot centers around Sebastian and Kyra. He is living through a sensationalized past that has been shown to the world and she is a young woman who has loved him most of her life. Readers who are looking for intense romance, rocking suspense and a story that will leave them breathless, can't go wrong with, Only!
What I liked:
When I picked up this book, I wasn't too sure I was going to like it. I felt like there were a few overused plot ideas that would probably fall flat for me. Younger girl falls for older man. Ex-wife issues, daddy issues. There were just a lot of red flags for me, but I was pleasantly surprised. The chemistry between Bast and Kyra was palpable. It was searing even from the first couple of chapters. These two were intense in and out of the bedroom and I felt like every conversation between was a potential battleground. But I loved the way they fit together and became something more together than were apart. It takes a great author to pull that off and Dimon does it with style.
Kyra was what I like to call a spitfire. She was quite a bit younger than Bast and usually that means that the heroine would be a bit naive and immature. Not so with Kyra. She was intelligent, thoughtful and she was very determined. She knew what she wanted and it didn't matter that everyone thought they knew what Bast wanted. The tell all book written by his ex-wife showed a very kinky side of Bast, but Kyra wasn't after that, she wanted something different and I loved the way she went after him. Her confidence was contagious!
Bast was a very sexy character. Readers who have read the first book in the series Mercy, already have some idea of how Bast acts and does things. He is a smart man, who can pull off some things that others couldn't even try at. His past was shamelessly shown to world in his ex-wife's book and now he has to live with that stigma. I think it kind of made him off his game where women were concerned, before he was a bit of a mystery and now he is an open book. I loved seeing him come out of his shell with Kyra and begin to see how things could be if he let her in. There chemistry was just explosive.
I liked the side romance between Kyra's brother Wade and CIA operative Eli. Normally, I don't go for male/male interactions or female/female. It just doesn't jive with my idea of romance. To each his own of course, but not something I have enjoyed reading before, but this relationship was different. I enjoyed the way these two alpha's circled around each other. It was like every time they were together they were caged animals trying to get at each other, emotionally, physically, you name it... very intense.
What I didn't like:
The CIA back plot was good, but not great. It added the necessary conflict to the story, but it almost didn't need it. The romantic plots could have carried it easily. I suppose I was just more interested in that aspect of the book though. I just felt that the CIA story should have been a little more central to the overall story.
Bottom Line:
This is an intense book. I thought I was going to dislike it but I was wrong. It used some overused plot ideas but gave them a new spin and that made all the difference. The hero and the heroine had a strong chemistry and meshed well together and the secondary romance was an eye-opener. The conflict was a little underwhelming but not a deal breaker. Overall a great read!
Only is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Only by HelenKay Dimon.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, October 22nd.
1. Please leave a comment about a situation where you felt someone was off limits.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
8 comments:
Well, I've definitely had crushed that I knew were off limits. I just had to lust from afar. ;)
Working in hospitals, it was easy to flirt with all of the doctors but they were mostly off limit.
Anyone thT was in a relationship already.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
When I was first dating my future husband a friend of one of his friends flirted with me a lot. He was very cute and it was flattering but I was falling in love with my boyfriend so even tho it was a self esteem booster he and everyone else is off limits.
I've been with my husband since we were 16 so this hasn't ever really been an issue.
There have been times where someone has been off limits and I think that just has to be respected.
anyone who's already involved with someone else
When I met my husband I thought that he was off limits to me because he was seeing someone at the time. But as soon as he found out that I was interested he broke up with the other woman. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com
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