Customer Reviews

Unlaced

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Ties that Bind by Jaci Burton
Lisa Mitchell is a critical care nurse whose daughter has just graduated from high school and is planning out her life. This means that Lisa is now in a place where her life can change from being mainly a Mom to being mainly Lisa now. However this also means that her main connection to her ex-husband, Rick Mitchell, is also coming to an end. Lisa is not sure that even now she is ready to lose her connection to him. When Lisa's best friend and her daughter talk her into taking a Caribbean vacation as the first step in her new life, Lisa agrees. Rick agrees to his daughter's crazy suggestion in hopes that he and Lisa can just maybe start again. Lisa and Rick take it day by day, finding out if their love has not only stayed around but just possibly grown with them.

The Ties that Bind was both hot and sweet. Lisa and Rick married very young with Lisa got pregnant. Even when the marriage ended, both of them were determined to give their daughter everything they could and remained close friends. Now its time to see if anything still exists between them. I loved both Lisa and Rick from the beginning. Young couples having to get married is common and so is the marriages breaking up, but it is rare that they not only remain friends but work hard together to support they child. I also loved that in The Ties that Bind Ms. Burton showed that your life does not end when your children are born and grow up. The Ties that Bind is a fantastic beginning to an anthology that I have a feeling is going to be smoking.

Undone by Jasime Haynes

Margo Faraday is a mortgage broker, who after a bad breakup is looking for a way to explore herself and her sensual self. When seeing a flyer at her friend's house, Margo thinks she just might have found a way. Dick Araman is an amateur photographer who is looking for some models to help him prepare for an erotic photo contest he wants to enter. After the both agree to terms, Margo goes to Dick's for an erotic night neither expected. Now the photo shoot is done and they had agreed to only one night, but what happens when neither seems to want their night to end? Can a businesswoman and a younger man with a secret of his own find a way to overcome society and take what they want?

Undone took me by surprised in a great way. After reading the first few pages, I would have never expected just how erotic and loving Margo and Dick's story could be. Their photo shoot was much more than just erotic; it was warm, tender and loving even between two people who had just met. I could understand Margo's thoughts but I was so happy when she decided to heck with what others might think. All I could do was giggle when I found out exactly what Dick did while working on his photography. I found that Margo and Dick were a great couple and was very, very happy they found their happy ever after. Undone shows that younger men can be just what the doctor ordered and continues that very warm and tingly feeling.

Controlled Response by Joey Hill

Out for a day of relaxation, Lucas Adler, the CFO of Kensington & Associates, finds much more than he expected in a semi-naked blond stretched out on a Harley pleasing herself. Unable to help himself, first he watches then joins the unknown woman. Cassandra Moira, a negotiations specialist from Pickard Consulting, has more responsibilities than most woman of her age. Now she has been brought into finish business negotiations between a client and Kensington & Associates. Cassandra is known for being a person who gets what her clients want, but she is not expecting to walk into the conference room and face the man she met in the woods the week before. Lucas is not going to let Cassandra leave him again; he knows what she needs but has to get her to accept it, and him, into her life. All is fair in love and war and in this case both might be the case before Cassandra and Lucas can have it all.

Controlled Response relates just what can happen when you keep your entire life under control. Cassandra has learned to keep herself under strict control in all aspects. It is the only way she can let herself function with all the demands on her. Lucas finds the woman who might be just what he needs, but he doesn't know who she is. Until Cassandra walks in and he puts two and two together. Now business negotiations are not the main thing on Lucas' mind, but rather the personal ones that will keep Cassandra with him forever. Lucas and Cassandra had me from when they first met. Sometimes in order to control other things, you have to find the one person who can control you, and in this case Cassandra discovered Lucas and found that. Controlled Response takes you on an erotic journey of discovery and ends up with a loving ending.

Rubies and Black Velvet by Denise Rossetti
John Lammas is a simple farmer who can't wait until he can wed his Margaret May Mackie. "His Maggie" can make John feel loved even at his darkest moments. However, before they can be together, family circumstances are such that John must leave their village and come back. Maggie waits but John never returns. When she must leave her family farm, Maggie seeks out John only to discover he was lost at sea. But was he? Maggie is dumbfounded when John appears at her place of work and she learns what really happened to him. When they spend a special day together, Maggie decides to wear a gorgeous corset that she found in a co-worker's effects. But the corset seems to have a life of its own and only Maggie and John working together will be able to overcome a deadly curse.

Rubies and Black Velvet is a tale of love overcoming evil. Maggie and John were separated by things not of their control and are then separated for years and by evil.

When they finally come back together they are confronted by not only by a slight bit of mistrust but also by an evil that seeks to destroy Maggie. John is not going to lose his Maggie again and together they find a solution. While a dark love story, the paranormal element was a bit of a twist for the historical story. For me, Rubies and Black Velvet just didn't have the same type of flow as the other stories in this anthology but it was not a bad story.

Unlaced was almost too hot to be read from start to finish. I had a feeling where this anthology was going to be when I finished with Ms. Burton's story and I was pretty close. I was blown away by three of the stories which more than made up for the one that just didn't fit for me. These stories are smoking hot but they also have many warm and heart-felt elements that make them much better in my opinion. I am usually happy for one great story and one good story in any anthology I get; in this case I found three outstanding ones. Never will I purchase a corset the same way again. I suggest a very comfy chair and a glass of your favorite beverage of choice, as you won't want to put this book down. If you don't get undone, unwrapped and Unlaced by this anthology, I will be greatly surprised. I think this will be a must have for your erotic library.

Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

In this book, you'll find a corset mentioned in each story. These stories are relatively short (page length varies anywhere from 80+ to over 150 pages), which many times means the stories lack depth. Not true here with the stories by Jasmine Haynes and Joey W. Hill - they placed this book in the keeper shelf.

The Ties That Bind by Jaci Burton - 4 stars

Lisa and Rick have been divorced for 15 years. They got married very young (16 and 19) when Lisa became pregnant. The marriage lasted all of 3 years, but they've remained close while raising their daughter. Each has had relationships with other people since they've gotten divorced, but nothing serious.

Their daughter is now 18 and going off to college. Rick would like to explore their relationship but Lisa isn't sure - what if sex ruins their great friendship? Using a week alone together on a tropical island they decide to explore their feelings for each other.

Sensuality wise, this seemed the tamest of all the stories in this anthology and seemed pretty mild compared to other Jaci Burton books I've read. I'd rate it as hot as a Harlequin Blaze novel. It's an enjoyable read, but not memorable.

Undone by Jasmine Haynes - 5 stars

Margo has been feeling down. She's 45 and her boyfriend of 8 years dumped her a year ago because she always played it safe. She sees an advertisement for a photographer who wants to take erotic photos. Thinking that this is something that isn't safe, she decides to go for it.

Dirk, the photographer, is a sweet sexy guy who makes it easy for Margo to have her picture taken in some very erotic situations. Dirk is attracted to Margo, but she's very aware of the age difference and wants to limit their relationship to just photography.

Thank you Jasmine Haynes for having an older woman as the lead character (an erotic story with a female character older than 40 - yeah!) and a realistic older woman/younger man situation (as opposed to some romance novels where the woman is in her mid-thirties, the guy is in his late 20's). This was one of my favorites and while it's the shortest stories (at ~85 pages), I felt like I knew the characters. I wouldn't have minded reading more about them.

Controlled Response by Joey W. Hill - 5 stars

Taking a break while biking, Lucas takes a short hike into the woods and runs into a woman sitting on a Harley "enjoying" herself. It's a relatively brief meeting - they don't even exchange names - but afterwards each can't forget their meeting.

A month later, that woman, negotiator Cassandra Moira, goes to Kensington & Associates to help settle a deal - and there she meet Lucas again. Seeing Lucas again makes her lose her cool and that's something she never wants to do.

If you read "Board Resolution" by Joey W. Hill (which told Matt and Savannah 's story and can be found in the book Behind the Mask), you'll recognize the characters and the company. The story in "Controlled Response" is similar - the "management" of the company helping Lucas convinces Cassandra that she belongs to him. However, as this isn't an Ellora's Cave book, it's a tad tamer than what was in Board Resolution, but pretty hot. A great story with memorable characters.

Rubies and Black Velvet by Denise Rossetti 3-4 stars (3 if you're not a fan of this genre, 4 if you are a fan.)

The final story is the tale of Meggie and John who were young lovers. One day, John traveled to another city to help his brother and never returned. Meggie travels to the city and finds out that John is dead. Years pass and Meggie moves to the city and tries to go on with her life. She discovers a corset not knowing that it's cursed - evil things will happen when she's with a lover and she's wearing the corset.

This final story is a historical that deals with magic, sorceress's curses, djinns and that cursed corset. I'm not a fan of this genre (oh why do publishers feel the need to add one to an anthology that contains contemporary stories?) If you're a fan of the genre, I'm sure that you'll like it. But if you're not, you'll find yourself skimming the story like I did.

Anthologies are usually hard for me but depending on the authors I am unable to resist. Jasmine Haynes and Joey Hill were my motivation for this one and man oh man was it worth it.

I loved every one of these except maybe the first one. Mz Burton's started out fine but once you know the couple is going to be together and just a matter of someone acting stupid it just didn't hold me and I was done by Chapter 5.

The 2nd story was Jasmine's and it was the greatest little story. I loved the premise of older woman and younger man and the heroine finding her own through a few naughty pictures. JH really captured Margo's struggle with her insecurities and attraction with the hot stud Dirk without her being TSTL and whinny. Dirk was so awesome and steadfast. Its a great sexy feel good story that makes you feel like buying some lingerie when you are done.

Joey Hill's story was my favorite. The way she used the corset to represent so much just worked. Lucas and Cassandra were just the strongest and sexiest couple. They were a perfect match for each other in every way. Cassandra was a no nonsense heroine holding on to her control by a thread and Lucas simply and considerately took over. There is an edge of menage that pushed this story into amazing and now I want to know about the other characters. I can only gush over this story. This didnt feel like a short story. There was nothing left out and almost seemed to drag at the end alittle bit which for a short story is a rarity. Worth the price of the book for this story alone.

The last story was a 1st from this author for me and it was good too. Different from all the other ones as a historical and abit paranormal. Great tension and sexual energy. A nice way to end it.

this was just ok for me. i really like jasmine haynes & thought i'd give this a try. there were a couple stories that i liked, but the last one truly fell short for me. i had to push myself just to finish the book.

Two of my very favorite authors contributed to this wonderful anthology; Joey W. Hill and Denise Rossetti.

I only 'discovered' Denise Rossetti, after reading Joey W. Hill's, "Controlled Response" as it was the next one in her "Knights of the Boardroom" series, -which is A MUST READ, if you haven't already...

Denise Rossetti's work 'spoke' to me. Sounds corny, I know, but this 'new for me' genre, of erotic romance, has like any other, authors that simply "stand out" from the rest.
The first time for John and Maggie, for example, was so beautifully done... Sweet, wonderfully erotic, achingly tender and powerful, while capturing the innocence and uncertainty of the moment perfectly. I would find out later, by reading her other stories, that it's how she treats all her love scenes; as natural, wondrous, 'celebrations of life' and love, passionately portrayed with a sensitivity, I've seldom encountered.

Unlike some stories in this genre, her explicit love scenes are an integral part of the story and vital to the 'feel' and understanding of, the emotional connection between her characters. Her works linger in my memory, like a favorite movie with imagery as vividly portrayed, as if captured by the lens.
Her outstanding tales of love, are intense, dramatic, deliciously wicked and are always an emotional roller-coaster for me. And I'd sure hate to miss a single one...

Joey W. Hill is a sublime author, tremendously adept at spinning tales of erotic romance. From BDSM Doms and their lady loves, to mermaids, witches, demons and angels, vampires and everything else in between! They continue to amaze, delight and fascinate me, especially for her 'fresh approach' to each. Overflowing with passion and drama, beguiling and riveting regardless the pitfalls and heartaches too, with always, -that certain 'something' that enthralls the reader from start to finish, that makes them unique.

I find myself grinning with eager anticipation, from the very first sentence and struggle throughout the reading, to stop and take care of the things that 'life' interrupts me with... *sigh* -Always a treat to go back to though, yet always a mixture of feelings on completion; thrilled to have read it, still shaken by the emotions evoked in the telling of it and always a little sad too, that it's over...

Both authors are autobuy for me and are 'the bee's knees!!'

Jasmine Hayes and Jaci Burton are also fabulous authors, deserving of credit, as their contributions are no less compelling or entertaining. While I enjoyed each story and the telling of it, for the reasons given above, Ms Hill and Ms Rossetti, are simply in a class of their own, along with a handful of others I truly enjoy, who entice me unknowingly, to buy and peruse their published works.

The common denominator between the stories isn't just a corset, it's strong sensuality and great writing. I can't bring myself to give this five stars, but it's definitely a little more than 4. Probably 4 1/2.

Jaci Burton's "The Tie That Binds" - There's nothing very original about the premise, but I loved the emotions running between the hero and the heroine as they come back together after their daughter graduates from high school. They gave the tamer erotic scenes depth that really got to me.

Jasmine Haynes' "Undone" - My favorite of the anthology by far. Incredibly sensual, highly romantic, with two leads I would want to know in real life. Dirk is the perfect balance, strong yet gentlemanly when the time came for it. Even though I don't like headhopping (and this author does it), I barely even noticed.

Joey W. Hill's "Controlled Response" - Ms. Hill is the reason I bought this anthology in the first place, so it's hard to admit this was my least favorite of the bunch. Not because it isn't well written or richly characterized. It is. But it just seemed to go on forever. It's the second in a series with these amazing businessmen (the first is "Board Resolution" which I liked a lot more than this one), but it stands well enough on its own.

Denise Rossetti's "Rubies and Black Velvet" - The only non-contemporary of the bunch. I never thought the balance between the demon backstory and the wonderfully romantic story of Meg and John was very smooth, and honestly, probably would have preferred it left out completely. The characters were well developed on their own to carry the novella, and while this was likely the least erotic of the entire anthology, the emotions between the hero and heroine leapt off the page, whether they were loving, fighting or crying.

Overall, one of the strongest anthologies I've read in a long time. Just because Hill's story wasn't my favorite, doesn't mean I don't think it's worth 4 stars. It's just that the first two were worth 5, in my opinion.

The authors each created great stories that will have women reconsidering the use of corsets! Very enjoyable reads!

"The Ties That Bind" by Jaci Burton. Divorced fifteen years ago but still in love, Lisa and Rick would not mind a second chance together.

"Undone" by Jasmine Haynes. Margo feels undone after meeting Dirk, but shocked when she learns what his vocation is.

"Controlled Response" by Joey W. Hill. Due to meeting Lucas, Cassandra knows she no longer needs to hide her deepest ardent emotions; as she can finally let it all hang out.

"Rubies and Black Velvet" by Denise Rossetti. To win the heart of Meg, John must destroy an evil sorceress' corset.

Tongue in cheek, or perhaps corset in cheek is more apropos as that sexy garb connects these four erotic well written heated romances as the heroes understand their assignments starts with unlacing.

Harriet Klausner

THIS BOOK WAS WONDERFUL. WRITTEN BY SO MANY GREAT AUTHORS. THE ONLY THIS WAS THE LAST TWO STORIES WERE ALITTLE SLOW FOR ME. BUT OVERALL THE BOOK WAS WONDERFUL. I AM A BIG FAN OF MRS. BURTON AND WELL SHE NEVER DISAPPOINTS NEITHER DOES MRS. HAYNES. I LIKED THE BOOK BY JOEY HILL BUT I HATE THAT IT ENDED WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT CAME OF CASS AND LUCAS. TO ME IT NEEDED ALITTLE MORE FOR THE ENDING. THE STORY BEHIND MRS. HAYNES WAS GREAT LOVED TO BE THAT WOMEN. BUT GET THE BOOK YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.