Second Chances By Lauren Dane

 Ten years ago, Rori Simon left town shy, unattractive and with zero self-esteem. Now she’s back, older, stronger and finally loving herself—and it shows. Hot men are soon knocking at her door, including Jude Callahan, the bad boy who starred in her teenage daydreams…and her adult fantasies.

Jude can’t believe the sexy, confident woman before him is actually Rori! She’s gotten under his skin like no other woman has…and brings out secret desires he can’t resist. He wants to dominate Rori with every fiber of his being. Wants to own her and pleasure her. To cherish her as he makes her his.

Rori discovers she likes being controlled. She also knows Jude is not a one-woman man. Everything changes when she meets Zach Helm. Edgy, sensual Zach knows just what she needs, and before long, she’s in love. Jude watches them together and wonders if he’s lost his chance forever…

Thessa's Review:

4.5 Stars

“Fate has a funny way of kicking you in the butt.” ~ Rori Simon

**Deep Breath** Okay. This was not what I expected. This was not predicable. This was not your typical contemporary/erotic romance. This story turned out to be more than I bargained for. It broke a lot of rules. Though I questioned its direction, it did weave one hell of a story.

This story had three main characters: Rori, Jude & Zach. Umm, yeah, no. This was not that type of romance either (lol). Rori has just returned home to Oakley, TN. People knew Rori as shy, overweight, and insecure when she left Oakley. Though she came back to Oakley as a well travel, well educated, confident, beautiful woman, she’s also recovering from a disastrous break-up from her cheating ex-boyfriend.

Jude has always been Rori’s fantasy. They’ve been long time friends, even during her awkward, shy faze. Jude notices the change in Rori and is all about “getting to know her again.” However, Rori knows all about Jude and his not-so-pristine reputation. Jude is well known as a ladies’ man, as well as a not-so-well-known Dom. Jude is definitely commitment phobic to the nth degree. Apparently, Rori is okay with that and is still willing to give Jude a shot. It’s more about using lust to lure him in. Plus, she’s all about playing the field as well, so who is she to judge. Their chemistry is hot and Jude is starting to feel more toward her, which he isn’t ready to admit and give up his ways. So what does he do?

He’d taken something that could have been really special, that was really special, and he’d ruined it because he’d been scared, because he couldn’t let go of a chance to stroke his ego and get laid.

Rori is fed up with his antics and breaks off their arrangement, much to his dismay. Immediately after their “break-up,” Rori meets Zach, another not-so-well-known Dom.

Zach is pretty much Jude’s opposite. He doesn’t play games, and goes for what he wants. He immediately sees Rori as an ideal submissive and is instantly smitten. Rori doesn’t stand a chance. He and Rori hit it off in a big way. He’s sweet, funny, charming and treats Rori like a queen. They’re relationship takes off and Jude is left in the background. He sees Rori around Zach and knows what his stupidity lost him. Has he lost her forever?

I really didn’t know where the story was headed, but now that I look back on it, I guess the events towards the end were inevitable. I just wasn’t prepared for it and it did kick me in the butt. I was heartbroken and felt that it was a little unfair, but then again, it turned around and still gave you a good ending. I don’t know. I still have mixed feelings about it, but it is what is and I guess I have to accept it. However, it was very entertaining, highly emotional and highly steamy story. I really enjoyed it. 

 

 

Coming Undone ( Brown Siblings #2 ) By Lauren Dane

Brody Brown has always been responsible for others. After his parents’ death, he gave up a promising artistic career to care for his younger brother and sister. Now, with his siblings grown, Brody owns his own business, has a nice house, makes a nice living, and for the first time in years he’s on his own.

Elise Sorenson has come to Seattle with her young daughter to find peace. After years as a world-famous ballerina—(and just as many years in a marriage-gone-bad)—she’s looking for neither love nor attention. But she finds both in the handsome, honest man who befriends her with no strings attached.

More than friends, Brody and Elise discover in each other what they need—wild, physical passion without commitment. But it’ll take a shadow from Elise’s past to make them look beyond what they need—to what they truly desire.

 She was coming undone and there was nothing to do but let it happen.


The second book of Brown Siblings series, featuring Brody Brown, the oldest son, and Elise Sorenson.


I have a mixed feelings about this one. Not quite good as the first book, Laid Bare . Some parts are boring, with capital B. Just too much dialog, chat, greeting each other, having parties,like what you do with  your neighbor. Elise and Brody's relationship is not as deep like Erin-Todd-Ben in  "Laid Bare".  It's understandable, since they're just friend's with benefits at first, but I just feel a little connection with them.


What I love from Coming Undone is the family theme in this book, both from Brody and Elise's family. Like always, Brown siblings support each other and Elise parents help her to face her ex in-laws, The Sorensons, while they try to get Elise's daughter, Rennie. Rennie herself is adorable. I don't mind with character have a child. Sometimes it can be annoying for some stories, sometimes it feel natural like what Ms Dane had done in this story. Rennie is cute, energetic, and chatty, you will hope to have daughter like her :).


Elise is a strong woman, but she's has too much self-blame, always feeling guilty, sometimes make me want to slap her and get over it. Brody,has a bad boy vibe, pierced, tattooed, he is a tattoo artist after all, and riding a big bike. But his heart is as big as the moon. He's kind of like the big brother you wish to have.  A nice, caring man you want to marry.


This is what Brody must look like, just minus tattoo ( I can't do Photoshop, so I can't give it tattoos :(  ) : 

VROOM, VROOOM, RAWRRR!! :))


The steam factor is not as hot as the first, what made me a little bit surprise, is the sex scenes were not too frequent or creative (except the one when they have sex facing the mirror, fyuuuh!!!).


Elise and Brody must deal with Elise's issues. She lives with her daughter Rennie. And of course she doesn't want her daughter to know she's having an "intimate relationship" with Brody, when they finally show their love and act naturally. But, fans of Erin-Todd-Ben will be happy, when Ms Dane writes their sex scene, and I admit that is hotter than Brody-Elise do.


The Brown Siblings series seems have heroines dealing with their abused past, like Erin in Laid Bare, and Elise in this book. The next book is about Ella, Erin's co-worker and Andrew Copeland, Ben's lil' brother. Ella is abused too, and I want to know how Andrew will heal her in "Inside Out"

 

Heart Of Darkness - Lauren Dane

Meriel Owen, next in line to control the largest organization of witches in the country, is asked to investigate the owner of a notorious club reportedly siphoning magic from the font of the Clan. It’s a direct violation of the Clan Code of Conduct, but one look at Dominic Bright and Meriel’s willing to make a deal. One taste of the sexually feral outlaw witch, and she’s eager to go further: he’s her bond mate, a legal conduit into the world of Clan witches and their magic.

Playing by the rules isn’t Dominic’s style, but bonding with Meriel—night after explosive night—is. However, Meriel has unwittingly invited someone else into her world: Dominic’s mother, a dangerous and poisonously influential magic addict whose lust for death and power corrupts all she touches. Now her shadow is closing in on Meriel, her Clan, and the man Meriel loves, and it’s casting them all into the inescapable heart of darkness.

Heart of Darkness by Lauren Dane

Bound by Magick, book 1

I absolutely loved this book!!!

Lauren Dane has created a story with a lot of the elements I love. A great story / plot, romance, suspense, action, and oh so sexy. Dane puts us in a world where Vampires and Were have come out of the closet… so to speak, but witches still remain a secret.  There are different types of witches and the most powerful of them are the council witches especially after they find and bond with their bond-mate. There are different clans across the country and Clan Owen in Seattle is the focus of our story.

Meriel Owen is sexy, smart, funny, independent, protective, ambitious, confident, and is a kick-ass powerful witch who is next in line to run Clan Owen.  Meriel is an attorney, and after finding out that the new club in town Heart of Darkness has been stealing power from Clan Owen’s font to strengthen his wards at the club, she heads to the club to handle the situation with the owner.  As she comes face to face with the club owner Dominic Bright, the sparks start to fly… literally.  Dominic is a smart businessman, a sharp dresser, a brawler, protective, possessive, and damn sexy!  There are some surprises in store as far as Dominic is concerned, some good, some bad.  Meriel and Dominic were so much fun to read, the chemistry was great between them and they balanced each other out so nicely. Whatever situations arise, they seem to give each other a different perspective on things instead of seeing things one sided.  One of the things I liked most about Dominic was that he has no issues learning new things about his magick, and learning from women. It was fun seeing a woman being the dominant power too.

As the story unfolds there are “stuck” witches causing all sorts of problems. (the stuck witches would be the equivalent of a rogue vampire)  Witches across the country are turning up dead or missing.  These stuck witches have teamed up with Mages and some humans and are siphoning magick from witches for the addiction of the stuck witches.  Now they have shown up in Seattle and the Owen Clan must take them out before one of their own gets hurt, or killed.

Let me give props to the great cast of secondary characters as well; Simon, Nell, and Edwina, and Tim, they were a great compliment to the story.

I enjoyed this book so much, in fact it was my first ever Lauren Dane book, and definitely won’t be my last.  Lauren Dane has gained a new fan, and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

Laid Bare by Lauren Dane

Unexpected Desire...

It's been ten years since clean-cut, sexy-as-hell police officer Todd Keenan had a white-hot fling with Erin Brown, the provocative, wild rocker chick next door. Their power exchange in the bedroom got under his skin. But love wasn't in the cards just yet...

Now, life has thrown the pair back together. But picking up where they left off is tough, in light of a painful event from Erin's past. As Todd struggles to earn her trust, their relationship takes an unexpected and exciting turn when Todd's best friend, Ben, ends up in their bed--and all three are quite satisfied in this relationship without a name. As the passion they share transforms Erin, will it be enough to help her face the evil she thought she had left behind?

He kissed her, feeling laid bare before her.

The first book of Brown Sibling, features the middle child Erin Brown, and her lovers, Todd Keenan and Ben Copeland. 


The story begins 10 years ago.  Erin Brown and Todd Keenan have a relationship when their at their twenties (Erin 24, Todd, not sure).  Erin is a lady rocker, and Todd is a cop, but Erin already has a crush on her neighbor Todd, and he tries to hide his true desire.  Bold as you please, Erin tells Todd to release at all, but Todd always refuses to.  Finally they broke up and this leaves Erin broken hearted.


Back to the present day, Todd has just divorced his wife, and retired from his cop duty and has started a security business with Copeland Brothers, Ben and Andrew. Todd has changed from 10 years ago. He embrace his sexuality, to domination of his partner in bed. But now he surprised to find Erin has changed too. Once a musician, now Erin owns a cafe and is scarred, not just outside but inside her heart. Erin lost her child and nearly died after attack by a  stalker, Erin now become paranoid, and traumatized, but more mature than 10 years before. Now its time for Todd to renew their relationship and to make Erin whole again. And this time it's not just Todd who loves Erin.  Ben, Todd's partner also wants Erin, and doesn't mind sharing her. How do they manage their "menage" or triad life in front of people and their family since its such unusual relationship? Can Erin's wounds heal so she can love again, not just Todd but Ben as well?  How does Ben place himself, since he just a 3rd person at their life? 


Laid Bare is my first Lauren Dane's book. And I enjoyed this one. I read Laid Bare until 6.00 a.m this morning (wow!) and feel satisfied. This book is erotica, and I thought it wouldn't  have a plot, esp when I read some early parts. Guess I was wrong. 


10 years ago, both Erin and Todd are young and they do what they want. I like Erin at this time, she confident with her sexuality, while Todd is not. I expect a boring plot when they just start having sex again and again, but then the story moves forward 10 years later and I'm stunned. Sure, Todd and Erin are still making out, but this time, they're more mature, and Todd wants to heal Erin's heart.  I love when there's no need to take a long time for H/h to declare their love. Sometimes I get antsy, when the hero and heroine declare their love. Sometimes it's too early (and makes me roll my eyes). Sometimes they say it near the end and I'm already exhausted over the wait, lol.  When Todd tells Erin her loves her, its feels natural, and it's the same when Erin finally can finally say it. I love how Ms Dane didn't force their relationship, but built it slowl but solid. 


I almost cried when learning Erin's past, when she lost her baby. How she felt depressed and defeated, lost in drugs and booze. Lucky for her , she hasd her brothers, Brody and Adrian to pull her back and , give her normalcy  again.  Even when she has problems with Todd, her brothers Brody and Adrian stand up for her. I love the solidity of Brown siblings, maybe because they already lost their parent when they were children, so they protect each other. 


The other part I love is Ben Copeland. Ben is bisexual, so he loves men and women. He had a triad (or menage) life before so he doesn't mind sharing Erin with Todd, but he feels uncomfortable with Todd. He loves Todd, not just as friend,  more that that, but they have been friends for a long time. Erin will unite them all.  Even when they'd settled, problems are not always solved. In the eyes of people, and the law, triad life is unusual, Erin can't marry Todd and Ben both. So she marries Todd, because Todd is her first love. This is when new problem begin, how they convince people around and their family, Ben is important for them too. Ms Dane has written it so beautiful, but logical.  Readers will be satisfied with how Ben solved his problem. 


There are some BDSM scenes, but its so light. What I love is, even Todd and Ben have domination characteristic, they both gentle and caring to Erin. I don't mind alpha heroes, but sometimes get irritated at them,because they act like chauvinistic pigs and sometimes hurt the heroine. Ben and Todd choose to hurt themselves rather than hurt Erin. They spoiled her, and who doesn't want 2 hot men to care for you at the same time?

I wanted to give this 5 stars, but there were some parts I disliked, like sometime Ms Dane seemed prolong some parts, while I found it wasn't necessary. And just when I think the story is almost over, there's a new problem.  But overall, Laid Bare is a good story.  Its not just an usual love story,  its not just an usual erotica romance.  Its story is about family, its story is about how love can heal you, how love can make you face your life even when its hard, because you know you have people you love at your side. 


Kudos to Ms Dane,and I can't wait to read Brody's story at
 Coming Undone


Note :
- I really love the cover, Erin's backside tattoo is cool and great.


- This book have a menage scene, but there's no anal sex. Have a m/m scene but just a little (kissing)