Novel Review: Protecting His Own (Masters of the Shadowlands, #11) by Cherise Sinclair

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance; BDSM

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: May 2016

Spoilers?: Not really.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Landscape designer, Beth King survived an abusive husband and built a new life for herself with the help of Master Nolan, the strongest, most protective man she has ever known. She loves him with all her heart, but the one thing he wants, she can’t give him. To her grief, the damage from her abusive first marriage means she can’t bear him children.

As Beth and Nolan change their plans and pursue adoption, they're already imagining a baby girl in the nursery. But when two boys from the local domestic violence shelter see their mother taken to the hospital, they call Beth in a panic. Agreeing to care for them temporarily, Beth soon falls in love with the two adorable boys.

Now Master Nolan has a new problem. How can he protect the children when their drug-addicted mother is released—and how the hell can he keep his sweet submissive’s heart from being broken when they leave?

The Cover:

I don't really care for this cover. The muscle-y guy looks cheesy and like it's trying too hard, when there are much more important parts of this book that it could be showing. I'm not a fan.

Review:

From what we saw in the previous book, I wanted Beth and Nolan to get a second book. I loved them originally, and have always wanted to see more. I’m so glad they got a full novel.

Beth finds out she can’t have kids, at the same time that her and Nolan find out that two of the boys from the shelter are being taken from their mother and her abusive boyfriend.

I love Beth and Nolan, and I really liked seeing their relationship growing and seeing how strong it was. The honesty they strive for, and how they both just want the same things.

I loved meeting the two little boys, as well, and the bonds they grew with Beth and Nolan. They’re clearly going to grow into good boys, and I loved seeing the lessons they learned. How the abuse from their parents had grown certain reactions in them, and how they were shown how to do things better. It was really sweet to see.

I loved this book. I really can’t wait for more, and hope to pick up the few I’m missing soon.

Novel Review: Master of the Abyss (Mountain Masters & Dark Haven, #2) by Cherise Sinclair

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Genre: Erotica/Adult Contemporary Romance; BDSM, D/s

Publisher: VanScoy Publishing

Release Date: 2014

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

On the mountain, the watcher seeks out evil women. And then they die.

Two years ago, when Jake Hunt uncollared his slave, she committed suicide. Guilt-ridden, he will commit to a woman for one night only, devoting his energy to a mountain lodge that caters to a BDSM crowd.

Kallie Masterson is tough. Unwanted as a child, she worked hard to become a wilderness guide. She’s proud of who she is, and hurt that Jake frowns on her for acting like a man.

After rescuing the macho guide from a bar fight, Jake is stunned that the ugly men’s clothing hides a warm, responsive woman. A submissive woman. When guide business brings her to the lodge on BDSM night, and she is obviously aroused by the play, Jake takes the little sub right into his world of pain and pleasure. He warns her: one-night-only. But she responds so beautifully--so joyously--under his command, that one night soon becomes two, then three…

Then a missing hiker reminds Jake of his past lover, and he realizes he’s become too involved. He pulls back.

Meanwhile, the watcher on the mountain has rendered his verdict: Kallie Masterson is evil. The sentence: Death.

The Cover:

I kind of love this cover. It has an almost old-fashioned, harlequin romance feel to it, but I think the background fits really well. And I think that their position is hot and very fitting for the couple in the book.

Review:

While I enjoyed the first book in this series, I loved this one.

There’s a Serious element, a violent man on the loose killing women. And that was creepy, and pretty well done, but not what I was reading this for, nor what I remember of the book.

Kallie is tough, and Jake pushes at her. Their romance is sweet and I loved reading it. Jake sees her in new ways, and he pushes her to see herself as well. Jake’s also trying to get over a previous bad experience, and Kallie helps him with that.

The sex, the romance—it was all fantastic, of course. And I will be re-reading the book for those things.

But the main part that stood out to me, and the scene that made me cry, was between Kallie and her cousins. Kallie, orphaned, had been passed around between family members, and with no explanation, led to think that no one wanted her. She had to be careful, or the man and his sons who kept her might throw her out. Jake sees it differently, sees the way the men really care for her. And he makes her see it, as well as showing the guys that she doesn’t. It was so sweet and heartbreaking, and it makes me want to cry just remembering it. 

I loved this book. It’s one I will be keeping on my phone and re-reading, and I look forward to reading more.