Wicked Ties

Shayla Black

Publisher:
Berkley Trade

Release Date:
January 2, 2007

Genres:
Erotica
BDSM
Contemporary Romance
Ménage M/F/M

ISBN:
Print
9780425213612

Bookmark Rating:

Reviewed by
Jennifer Ray

Review Posted:
April 2008

Morgan O’Malley is running – both from her own secret desires and a dangerous stalker.  Leaving California for Texas seemed the perfect solution to hiding from the man stalking her.  But when he finds her at a lunch meeting with Jack Cole, her dangerous stalker turns absolutely lethal.

Jack Cole has waited years for his revenge, and the perfect opportunity finally arrives in the form of the beautiful Morgan when he meets with her to discuss BDSM for an episode of her sex talk show.  Jack, a Dom, instantly recognizes the unrealized submissive lurking within Morgan, and determines to make her realize her every fantasy – with him, destroying her engagement to his long-time enemy in the process.  When Morgan is attacked, Jack promptly appoints himself her bodyguard, determining to protect her and have his revenge all at once.

As Jack and Morgan open up to each other, they begin to fall in love.  But will their needs prove more dangerous to their love than the stalker?

With the first excerpt I read for Shayla Black’s novel, Wicked Ties, I was hooked.  Although not typically into BDSM plots, the excerpts Shayla Black has posted on her website and blog stirred an interest in me that was undeniable.  I was therefore understandably excited at the opportunity to review Wicked Ties.  The book did NOT disappoint - in any way. 

As I mentioned, this book has a heavy BDSM theme, although it never seems ‘in your face’ hard core BDSM like some other novels.  Make no mistake, Jack Cole is as dominant as Morgan O’Malley is submissive, but the author’s approach to these scenes makes BDSM palatable to most readers.  While the love scenes are explicit and plentiful, the scenes never include acts of degradation.  Indeed, although Jack is confused concerning his conflicting feels over Morgan, we never doubt that every thing he asks of her is geared towards making her happy and fulfilled.  Even though he had intended to use her for revenge, Jack can not help his desire to help Morgan with her struggle to reconcile the desires she has viewed as depraved. 

I said before the love scenes are plentiful, and it is no exaggeration.  If you are looking for a steamy read with a great plot, this is a must read!  Shayla Black proves herself as one of those authors who adeptly sneaks a very complete plot in the middle of her love scenes.  The stalker plot provides plenty of suspense and of course, a nice twist as to the identity of the stalker. 

Casting Jack in the role of bodyguard with a madman terrorizing Morgan is the perfect way to showcase his ultimate concern for her well-being and safety while simultaneously leading her into his world of BDSM. 

Shayla Black already has a sequel to Wicked Ties in progress, and I guarantee this will be on my automatic buy list!

Note:  This review was originally written by Jennifer Ray for another review site.  It is being reposted at Wild on Books.

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