Letting Go (The Surrender Trilogy, Book 1)

Go to http://smutfanatic.blogspot.com/ to read my entire review!!What I Loved This was my first Maya Banks book, and I went into this with high expectations because I’ve heard so many great things about her and I can honestly say I was not disappointed in the least. The story begins with a bittersweet note, Josslyn has finally made up her mind to turn a new leaf. She realizes it’s time to say goodbye to her dead husband, Carson and find her own happiness once again. I loved that Josslyn was a woman lost in her grief but realized it was time to put the final pieces of her life back together again and went about doing just that. She’s definitely a relatable character who was easy to love which made it so easy for me to become completely engrossed in this story. I loved that Josslyn was willing to take a huge step out of her comfort zone to find something that she always craved deep down. To me, she is such a brave woman to put herself out there in such a raw way, completely willing to submit not only to a dominant but to her passion and ultimately what would make her happy. Dash’s dominance rolls off him from the very beginning and even though he is at Joss’ beck and call he still knows when to take control and push her limits when she needs it. I haven’t read a good BDSM story in a while and I loved this one because of how hot and possessive Dash was towards Joss. The attraction to each other was burning up the pages and I couldn’t put this story down needing to know what kind of kinkery they would get into next.Not So Much I get that Carson was Joss’ husband and Dash’s best friend but at some point I wish the comparisons between Carson and Dash would stop. Whether it was Joss comparing them (which she did, constantly) or Dash stressing out about Dash, it became a little bit too much after a while. To me it felt like it was more of a disservice to the characters rather than adding to their relationship. I get that this story wasn’t just about finding new love and exploring the world of BDSM, but also about saying goodbye, so I understood it in the beginning. But about half way through the story it became tiring to constantly refer back to Carson and his relationship with Joss.

Review: Alice Clayton, Walbanger03/26/2014PictureCaroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O.Adding insult to O-less, since her move, she has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Each moan, spank, and–was that a meow?–punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has, yep, you guessed it, no O.Enter Simon Parker. (No, really, Simon, please enter.) When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick…One of my off days of not writing, when I needed a little head cleansing moment, I came across this author in my must read pile. Alice Clayton is a great writer, if your looking for a laugh, or a book to put a smile on your face. This is the book to pick up and lose yourself in the comedy romance of Caroline and Simon. I had tears of laughter running down my face, from the poor love lorn cat Clive, who only wanted to be near his lady love Purina, cause she meowed during sex, through the bedroom walls. The funny names Alice Clayton comes up with for Simon's harem are perfect. When I was reading and giggling at the noises each one made, and came through Caroline's and Simon's bedroom walls. I kept thinking, I would so do something like that.The slow start to the relationship that Caroline and Simon develop is perfect. It keeps you turning the page wanting to see what's going to happen next with Caroline and her two girlfriends, and Simon and his two buddies.The way the story develops and their friends hook up at a party, but then they really don't when they realize they want what the other has. The trip to Tahoe changes up the game and everyone gets on the right track. With a little help from Simon and Caroline. While Simon and Caroline get closer during this, they have their moments. The growing friendship they have, is romantic that it's not all about sex, but just another part of the getting to know each other phase. I love the end when they finally come together and make one huge mess in the kitchen. That I have to say was perfect. Now knowing that her next book in the Cocktail Series is soon to come out, I have it pre-ordered. I can't get enough of this author.Webpage: [...]Goodreads: [...]Twitter: [...]Facebook: [...] http://www.amazon.com/Alice-Clayton/e/B006T9XV8E/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1395851565&sr=8-1Review: Letting Go, Maya Banks03/26/2014PictureIn her sensational Breathless Trilogy, New York Timesbestselling author Maya Banks tested the boundaries of desire. In her new trilogy, there’s only one thing left to do:cross them. And never have the consequences of erotic exploration been so irresistibly inviting, so shockingly intimate, and so totally unexpected…Josslyn found perfection once, and she knows she’ll never find it again. Now widowed, she seeks the one thing her beloved husband couldn’t give her. Dominance. Lonely and searching for an outlet for her grief and wanting only a brief taste of the perfection she once enjoyed, she seeks what she’s looking for at an exclusive club that caters to people indulging in their most hedonistic fantasies. She never imagined that what she’d find is the one man who’s long been a source of comfort—and secret longing. Her husband’s best friend.Dash has lived in an untenable position for years. In love with his best friend’s wife and unwilling to act on that attraction. He’d never betray his best friend. And so he’s waited in the wings, offering Joss unconditional support and comfort as she works past her grief, hoping for the day when he can offer her more.When he finds her in a club devoted to the darker edges of desire, he’s furious because he thinks she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. Until she explains in detail what it is she wants. What she needs. As realization sets in, he is gripped by fierce, unwavering determination. If she wants dominance, he is the only man who will introduce her to that world. He is the only man who will touch her, cherish her…love her. And the only man she’ll ever submit to.Letting Go is more than what it appears. While Joceyln is letting go of her dead husband’s memory so that she can move forward, she is also letting go of societal preconceived notions of what is acceptable sexually. And who wouldn’t want to have their buttons pushed by the sexy Dash.Ms. Banks delves not only into a dominant-submissive lifestyle but gives us a glimpse into Joceyln’s thought process as she moves from grieving widow to an independent woman confident in her sexuality and in who she has become. The same can be said of Dash. In love with his best friend’s wife for years, and never once did he act upon his attraction or even give her a clue he was in love with her. But Carson knew. Pick up three years later and as we travel with Joceyln, as she lets go of her husband’s ghost to find a new identity in Dash’s arms, Dash has to let go of his fear, hurt, anger and jealousy toward his best friend before he can move on. Before they both let go of the past and build a future.Although I found the story developing slowly for my tastes, once I became a part of Jocelyn and Dash’s lives, I didn’t want to put the book down. First of the surrender trilogy, I look forward to the next installment titled, Giving In, to be released in May of this year.[...]

I ordered this book because I'm hooked on Maya Banks. I absolutely loved the fact that a new trilogy included components of the last books i've read from Maya Banks. The story lines were different but still captivating. Would recomend to everyone.

Such a shame that there is so much conversation yet nothing is really said. As for the sexual chemistry and domination it's non-existent. I am probably generous giving it 2 stars but it's Maya Banks after all.

I just couldn't get into this book. I feel likeall Maya's books are basically the same thing: a dominant persues a damaged girl. It's just gotten boring for me after reading her other books.

This was a sweet story :)

Maya Banks fantastic as always xxx