REVIEW BY BRANDY! MASTERED BY MAYA BANKS

 

What he wants, he takes with no remorse or guilt.
 
She stood out in his club like a gem, unspoiled and untouched. A lamb among wolves, she clearly didn’t belong. Drawn to her innocence he watched as she was surrounded by men who saw what he did—but no one but him could touch her. He summoned her to his private quarters. He sensed her fear. He also recognized the desire in her eyes. And he knew she wouldn’t leave before he possessed her. She had no need to know his secrets. Not until he had her under his complete and utter control.
 
What he wants, she isn’t sure she can give him.
 
The moment he told her want he wanted, she couldn’t resist. Instinct told her to run, but her heart said stay and walk the fine line between pleasure and pain. Though she wasn’t sure she could ever completely surrender, the primal part of her wanted to try, even knowing this man could break her in ways she never imagined. Because once he possessed her, he owned her and it would be too late to turn back. She can only pray that he doesn’t destroy her in the end.

Let me start out by saying that I love Maya Banks.  I really enjoyed the Slow Burn Novels and I love getting to read her new works.  That being said I was kind of disappointed in this story.  Evangeline was a hard character for me to connect with.  She was a bit to insecure and critical of herself.  I understand body issues or not liking yourself but she was a little more than that. 

Drake.  I love stories with dominating men and submissive women.  The D/s lifestyle is one that I think gets twisted and abused in stories at times.  So, hear are a couple of my issues with the book.  Keep in mind, opinions are like assholes and everyone has them.  What doesn't work for me might be the book that rocks your world.  To each his own.

First, no innocent is going to allow a stranger to call her into his office and go to work on her like Drake did.  Nope.  Not happening, especially one like Evangeline.  Second, hello secrets.  Drake just demands that she moves in and submits to him and she literally asks no questions?  Me on the other hand?  I need a background check, credit check, three personal references, DNA sample, lie detector test and a certified affidavit from his parents. Third, the way she allows him to treat her is just sad.  She was too innocent to allow Drake to have a stranger come in and have sex with her.  That is the type of thing that is discussed between two consenting adults beforehand not during.  

Yes, I KNOW that it is all fiction but I was just disappointed in Evangeline's character.  I don't mind a submissive MC but I want a submissive who realizes that she has the power in the relationship.  I also know that a true D/s relationship is based on trust and that takes time to build.  These two never got to that point.  

As this is a CLIFFHANGER, I will be anxiously awaiting Dominated to see if Drake has become more than the thug he seems and Evangeline can become more powerful than she appears. 

REVIEW BY BRANDY! DARKEST BEFORE DAWN BY MAYA BANKS

 

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t...

The enigmatic Hancock has been both opponent and ally to the KGI teams for as long as they've known him. Always working a deep game, Hancock's true allegiance has never been apparent, but one thing is for certain—he never lets anything get in the way of duty.

But now, his absolute belief in the primacy of his ultimate goal is challenged by a captive he's been ordered to guard, no matter how much she suffers in her prison. She's the only woman who's ever managed to penetrate the rigid walls surrounding his icy heart, but will he allow his perplexing feelings for the beautiful victim to destroy a mission he's spent years working to complete or will he be forced to sacrifice her for “the greater good.”

 I absolutely love Maya Banks.  That being said, I was expecting more from this book.  

I clicked with Honor.  I understand the need to help those who can't help themselves and her selflessness is inspiring.

Hancock.  I wanted to like him.  I really did but he just pissed me off and I couldn't get passed the fact that he is a douche.

**SPOILER ALERT**

How the hell do you think it is okay to "rescue" someone and then turn them over to monsters?  The greater good?  That's ridiculous.  Hancock goes into the Middle East to rescue Honor after she was the sole survivor of a terrorist attack.  The whole point of rescuing her was so she could be used as bait to try and bring down a bad guy cartel.  It just made him seem like an asshole because he seriously thought that sacrificing her for their mission was okay.

Honor was just as bad.  She was angry for a moment and then she accepted that this was the way it was going to be.  I have a problem with that.  She was stronger than that and her story should've reflected it.  

I will continue to read Maya but I have to say that I wish this story would have been more. 

REVIEW! SAFE AT LAST BY MAYA BANKS

 

The third book in the beloved #1 bestselling author's sexy, romantic suspense Slow Burn series…

They say young love doesn't last, but a girl from the wrong side of the tracks with unique abilities and the hometown golden boy were determined to defy the odds. For Zack Covington, Anna-Grace—his "Gracie"—was the one. Until one night forever alters the course of their future, when a devastated Gracie disappears without a trace, leaving Zack to agonize over what happened to the girl he loved. As the years pass, his desperate efforts to find her uncovered nothing.

Now working for Devereaux Security, he stumbles across a painting featuring a special place only he and Gracie would know. The image is too perfectly rendered for it to be coincidence. His Gracie must be alive. When he finally tracks her down, he is shocked—and heart-broken—to discover the wounded shell of the girl he once knew and still loves. Her psychic gifts are gone, and worse, she believes he betrayed her all those years ago.

Zack has enemies, and once his weakness is discovered, Gracie becomes a target for revenge. He'll have to save her before he can earn her trust and her love. And he vows they'll never be torn apart again.

 I am a fan of Maya Banks.  I love her books and I was grateful for the chance to read Zack and Gracie's story.  

Zack is the all American golden boy and Gracie is the "wrong side of the tracks" girl that he falls in love with.  One minute Gracie is there and the next Zack's whole world is different.  He struggles to find his place in a world that doesn't involve Gracie and finds that nothing is the same.  When he finds out that Gracie is alive, he knows that their love is meant to be and wants a second chance with Gracie.

Couple of things about this story.  First, it triggered for me.  Just a heads up to folks that have had a bad experience, this did it for me.  It was hard for me to read for a bit.  I liked Zack but sometimes I wanted to reach through the book and smack him in the head.  Move on, man!  I liked Gracie but there were times when I just couldn't connect with her.  I found that she didn't seem to have as much faith in the love of her life as I thought she should have had.  Everyone reacts differently to a trauma though, so I shouldn't judge.  While I like the security angle that Zack works, I would have like to see him as a professional football player.  That would have been awesome. :)

This was a different kind of Maya Banks read for me.  While I liked it, it was not my favorite in the series.  I look forward to more in the future.

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REVIEW BY BRANDY! IN HIS KEEPING BY MAYA BANKS

 

#1 bestselling author Maya Banks continues her suspenseful and steamy Slow Burn series with this second book—a twisting tale featuring a strong yet vulnerable heroine in danger and the sexy alpha hero who must save her.

Abandoned as a baby to a young wealthy couple and raised in a world of privilege, Arial has no hint of her past or who she belonged to. Her only link lies in the one thing that sets her apart from everyone else—telekinetic powers. Protected by her adoptive parents and hidden from the public to keep her gift secret, Ari is raised in the lap of luxury, and isolation. That is, until someone begins threatening her life.

Beau Devereaux is no stranger to the strange. As the head of Deveraux Security, he’s more than familiar with the realities of physic powers. So when a family friend approaches him about protecting his daughter, he’s more than ready to jump on board. What Beau isn’t prepared for is the extent of his attraction to his beautiful and powerful client. What began as a simple assignment, just another job, quickly turns personal as Beau discovers he’ll do anything at all to protect Ari. Even if it costs him his life.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a review.  

I have to say that I wasn't sure if this was going to be something that I enjoyed or not.  While I love romance, I am not huge into suspense novels.  It is one of those things that I have to be in the mood for.  That being said, I really did like this book.

Ari is a girl with a secret.  It has been one that she has had all of her life.  When it comes out into the open, she has no choice but to run to the man that her father told her to, Beau. 

I like Beau.  I think he was a  good guy who has the luck to be attracted to a woman that is gifted.  

The story was well-written and there was good character development.  This is the second in the series but I think you could read it as a stand alone. 

Now, that being said I do think there were times when the dialogue was a little dry and repetitive but that happens.  I am also a little tired of the instant love scenarios.  I completely understand being attracted to someone but it seems like everyone is instantly jumping into bed, saying I love you or just things that seem a little outside of reality.  I know its a romance book but still...

I am a fan of Maya Banks and I would recommend you check out the series and let me know what you think.