I’d been waiting for this one on NetGalley, so I was psyched when I found it was up for request. Also, the disclaimer cracked me up, as it made sure the reader knew, without a doubt, that the book contained a lot of sex. And, much as the first one in the series did, it definitely delivered on that warning. (Note: This was supposed to publish on January 1, but it’s not showing up on my feed, so if this is a double post, my apologies. Otherwise, my apologies that it’s late).
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One-Sentence Synopsis
A reporter goes undercover to find something scandalous linking a governor to an underground sex club, but she doesn’t expect to fall for the club’s head of security or be drawn in by the kinks she didn’t know existed. For a full synopsis, see this book’s Goodreads page.
Going Deep
Sloane is all about doing her job and doing it well, so when she’s told she has to find a connection between a politician and a secret sex club, she figures she’ll do what she has to do…even if that means getting close to Cain, the head of security. Sloan’s own development makes her likable, even if one were to question her motives at the beginning. We don’t get her whole backstory at the beginning, but instead it unfolds over the story. This is one of the techniques Sawyer Bennett uses in all her books, and she does it well.
Hard to Take
Cain doesn’t usually stick around for a second night, but when it comes to Sloan, he can’t seem to stay away. Of course, he doesn’t know of her ulterior motives and she doesn’t know what he does for a living (besides security, he’s also one of the Fantasy Makers for the club). So he promises he’ll be with only her during the duration of her relationship, figuring he’ll have broken up with her by the time he has to service a client. No joke. At one point, he actually tells her that. Men in these books are so clueless sometimes. Cain is the typical alpha male who won’t listen to reason when it’s presented to him. I can’t say I didn’t like him, because I did, but he’s not someone I would want to deal with in real life.
Can We Get Some Crazy Up in Here?
My only issue with the plot in general was that when Cain is requested as a fantasy maker for one of their normal patrons while her husband, who usually joins her, is out of town, he makes it a point to say that it seemed weird, but nothing ever came of that. Maybe this will be picked up in a future book? Or maybe nothing will happen, but it seemed like it was definitely a lead-in to some crazy client shenanigans.
The Romance Factor
This series is definitely one where for most of the book, the sex outdoes the romance. But the relationship’s natural progression is believable, and when the sex is set aside for the angsty feels, it’s really powerful. Sloan ad Cain have that explosive, angry conflict that, while I’m not always sold on alpha males, is amazing and can usually only be gleaned from them and their strong, heated emotions. 4/5
The Steam Factor
The disclaimer doesn’t lie, folks. There is a ton of sex in this book. It is dirty, it is graphic, it goes places that many romances don’t. It is full out erotic romance that may make you blush. At the same time, it’s also sex positive. Like in the first one, the characters explore with complete consent, practice safe sex (mostly), and talk through the emotional implications of what they do, and there is the general vibe that none of this is wrong and that it’s okay to explore kinks of a legal, consenting nature. Thumbs up for that sentiment! 6/5
Final Thoughts
The epilogue again treats us to a hint at what’s coming for the next book, and I’m already hooked. This series! I know this level of sexy times isn’t for everyone, but it’s a lot of fun and it definitely shows that sex can be healthy, even if it takes on non-traditional forms.
The Romance Factor 