Blog Tour Stop: Bound by Lorelei James

Bound (Mastered - Book 1) by Lorelei James

Publication Date: 02/04/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: NAL
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Pages: 400
ISBN-10: 0451467302
ISBN-13: 978-0451467300

(Received for an honest review from New American Library)

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

WARNING: The website of this author, as well as, the excerpt and the content of this book is inappropriate for readers under the age of 18 years. 

Lorelei James on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Excerpt from, Bound, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

FIRST IN A NEW SERIES

In the new Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a woman’s desire to shatter her inhibitions leaves her unprepared for where that erotic journey will take her….

Former small-town girl Amery Hardwick is living her dream as a graphic designer in Denver, Colorado. She’s focused on building her business, which leaves little time for dating—not that she needs a romantic entanglement to fulfill her. When her friend signs up for a self-defense class as part of her recovery after an attack, Amery joins her for support. That’s where she meets him.

Ronin Black, owner of the dojo, is so drawn to Amery that he takes over her training—in public and in private. The enigmatic Ronin pushes Amery’s boundaries from the start, and with each new tryst, Amery becomes addicted to the pleasure and to him. But when Amery senses Ronin is hiding something, she questions her total trust in him, despite the undeniable thrill of his possession….

Thoughts:

Author Lorelei James brings readers the first book in her new Mastered series, Bound. Readers who are familiar with James' work, know that her characters are typically cowboys, but Bound is a real departure from her her norm. The male lead is the owner of a martial arts dojo. James writes erotica with the best of them and her love scenes are hot and spicy to the extreme, but Bound is not your usual BDSM novel. Instead of submission and domination readers are treated to a peek into the world of bondage, a sensual experience they not be expecting. An exciting new book from a seasoned author!

What I liked:

I will be the first to admit that I like a good cowboy lead. James has proven in the past that she knows how to write about the cowboy world. Both her Rough Rider and Blacktop Cowboys series' were extremely well written. I was really surprised when I heard about the new Mastered series, because it is so different from the niche that James fills in the erotic romance world. But I definitely should not have worried. Bound is probably my favorite book I have ever read from this author. She takes a new direction and writes about the world of martial arts which was so unexpected. Her research is evident in every page that talks about Ronin's career and his love of the sport. It was amazing, really. 

I thought James did such a good job of setting up who and what Ronin was. He isn't a brooding hero. He isn't completely dominating alpha male that some of like to read about. He is however, extremely sexy. He has so much depth to his character. Readers will be able to tell that he is holding back with Amery, the heroine to some degree throughout the book. He has an air of mystery about him that is undeniable. I loved the fact that he was very athletic and had passion for both martial arts and life in general. He is a character that will have readers swooning in no time, because he can balance his raw passion with gentleness and caring behavior. An excellent hero!

Amery is a great heroine as well. She was raised in an environment not unlike my own. She had come to think of sexuality as almost shameful. That it was something that should be kept behind closed doors and not expressed or enjoyed. I loved watching her spread her wings. She was like a butterfly coming out of her cocoon. She was smart and strong and she wasn't afraid to try the things that Ronin obviously enjoyed. I loved her willing spirit and attitude. And I understood her feelings that Ronin wasn't completely invested in their relationship. It was confusing in the beginning but eventually made perfect sense. James does an excellent job with this character as well.

Together these two characters literally sizzle on the page. James writes a love scene better than many in this genre. She shows the reader that you can be sexy and sensual without being crass or garish. Her take on love making is all about being open to what you and your partner can share together. Some of these scenes are scorching let me tell you. You'll need a good cold drink. I also loved the fact that this isn't about domination. James proves that you can have a great erotic romance without all of the posturing and control issues that sometimes accompany books in this genre. I loved it! She did a fantastic job of showing how beautiful rope work can be and what it means to those who enjoy it. 

What I didn't like:

The ending of this one was a surprise as well. I expected the story to tie up and another couple to be the center of the next book Unwound. But again, James thinks outside the box. When bound ends, the story isn't over for Amery and Ronin. Now I have to wait awhile for the next book and that isn't my favorite thing to do... LOL, but it will be worth it!

Bottom Line:

If you are looking for good erotica without the dominance. For a book with extremely well written characters who show a lot of depth and understanding. For a book that might literally burn up, it's so hot! This is it. A great departure from the norm for Lorelei James that will redefine how you view her as a writer. 

Bound is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

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

About the Author:

Lorelei James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary erotic romances, including the Blacktop Cowboy novels: Turn and Burn, One Night Rodeo, Wrangled and Tangled, Saddled and Spurred, and Coralled. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota with her family.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Bound by Lorelei James.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
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~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, February 24th.

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