Siren Beloved by Lexi Blake (writing as Sophie Oak) - Release Day Review and Excerpt

 

  

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Author: Lexi Blake writing as Sophie Oak

Publication Date:  17 July 2018, 2nd Edition

Publisher: DLZ Entertainment

Series:  Texas Sirens, book 4

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance, BDSM/Menage

Age Recommendation: 18 and UP

Rating: 5 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

Aidan O’Malley walked away from his fiancée, Lexi, and their best friend, Lucas, after a night of passion left him shaken to his core. Years later, Aidan returns home from Iraq haunted by all he has lost. The enemy broke his body, destroying his dreams of a career in music. Worse still, he lost Lexi and Lucas. That damage he’d done all by himself. While he can’t restore what combat took from him, he’s determined to reclaim the two loves of his life. Lucas Cameron is a changed man. After connecting with his brother, he found the discipline to get his life on track. His legal career is flourishing, but his love life is a train wreck. The woman he loves is spiraling out of control. After Aidan abandoned them, Lucas and Lexi clung together but no matter how hard he tries, Lucas can’t find a way to heal the wounds that Lexi carries. Lexi Moore feels like a jigsaw puzzle with too many missing pieces. Losing Aidan was hard, but the true reason for her shattered spirit is a secret she only shares with her beloved Lucas. She knows she is drowning and the time has come to heal, but the holes in her heart hold her back from moving on. Shedding the burden she carries is her only hope for a happy future, but she fears she will never have the strength to reveal her secret. When Aidan walks back into their lives, Lucas and Lexi know everything is about to change. But as they fight to reconcile their past and reclaim what they lost, a vicious predator stalks Lexi. In order to stop the killer, all three must confront the secrets they’ve carried…before they’re buried by them.      

     

My Review:

 If you have been reading the Texas Sirens Series from the first book then you know, this is the book we've all been waiting for.  There has been so much build up between Lexi and Lucas and the mysterious Aidan and it all comes to a head in Siren Beloved.  

First things first, Lucas!  I feel like we have truly watched a transformation over the series with this young man.  He goes from the lost boy who acts out for attention to a strong loving man who's true life goal is to care for the people he loves.  I have to admit that this relationship with Lexi has puzzled me for some time, I never quite grasped what was going on between the two of them until this book, and I am sure that is just as Lexi Blake planned it.  So many times I wondered what the heck those two were doing together, they both have a strong will and mind but are weak in their essentials as some might say and first think, but as it turns out they aren't near as weak as they have seemed, they are in fact incredibly emotionally strong.  It seems that everything you may have thought isn't quite the truth of the matter when it comes to this trio.  

Lexi, so I have had mixed feelings about Lexi Moore for a while.  She has for sometime comes across as carless and self-centered.  She has led Lucas through the hoops, relying on him to fix her mistakes and keep her in line, sadly he's too soft when it comes to Lexi and when we all would have said, tell her to straighten up or toss her out the door' he was soothing her and petting her trying to keep her happy and with him.  While yes, Lexi had a lot of growing up to do, and she does in this book, she also has a lot that she has had to deal with, a lot that no one except Lucas has known about.  Knowing what you will learn in this book, you can understand Lucas's 'soft hand' with her, but also we can truly see why she's acted out the way she has and why she's had so many of her family worried.  

Now Aidan, you are going to fall in love with Aidan immediately.  In fact you are going to wonder why Lexi just can't see the tree through the leaves and fall to her knees and profess her undying love right from the get go...but then where would the story be, haha.  I will admit, Aidan went about everything all the wrong way, but he was scared of his feelings and scared of other people's opinions. It's kind of interesting that he ran because he was scared but he came back also because he was scared...scared of not ever being able to tell the people he loves most that he was wrong and that he needs them as much as they need him.  I loved his strength, his strength to overcome, his physical strength, his strength as a Dom, and his strength to give his love to Lexi and Lucas in the ways that they both need it.

This was probably my favorite Texas Siren book to date.  I just loved the way that Lexi Blake seamlessly ties in the romance, mystery, intrigued, angst, and 'sexy times'.  One thing I love about Lexi Blake's writing and particularly in this book is that she is able to give us these highly erotic steamy moments (you will never look at a barn the same way) and they feel perfectly placed and not out of character.  You know how sometimes you're reading a book and all the sudden the characters go from mad/sad/sleeping/working/whatever to in the throes of passion and all you can do is roll your eyes and say...wait, how did we get here?  You won't feel/think that with this book.  It all just works!  I feel like that should be a tag line for Lexi Blake 'She just makes it work'!,  Haha.  

Now I can't wait to get my hands on Bo's book. Bo is Aidan's little brother and I adored him.  He is (seemingly) a blend of Aidan and Lucas and I just want more!  This has been a really fun series to read.  I did not read it when it first released so it has been really enjoyable getting a look into this new word while also watching the growth of what would become Masters and Mercenaries.  Knowing what I know now about that group it is fun to see where they began.  You can read this book as a stand-alone with in this series but I highly recommend reading the first three books, just so you have that background about who Lexi and Lucas are.  It won't lessen your enjoyment if you don't but it will enhance it if you do, if that makes sense at all.  You will love the character development for all three characters in this book as well as the development of their triad.  I so look forward to seeing a little of them in future books and discovering where there story will take them in the future.  

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

Excerpt:

 Lexi realized she was in serious trouble the minute the words left Lucas’s mouth. Hell, she’d realized she was in trouble the minute she opened her mouth. What was she thinking? She knew damn well how to behave in a dungeon, but something about this Master made her want to push him. Damn it. She’d been this way all of her life. She had to push. She thought about taking a step back, but before she could make her feet move, Master A had her in a fireman’s hold. “Hey!” She shouted as her world upended. She turned her head up to throw a desperate look Lucas’s way. Lucas stood there, a stony cold look on his face. In that moment, he was all Dom, and she’d never seen him look hotter. There was a confidence about him she had rarely seen when he was around her. Lucas was utterly in command at work, but his surety faltered when she walked into the room. Even when he performed a scene with her, she knew he worried about her comfort. He didn’t look worried now. He looked ready. Her heart started to pound as Master A turned, and she lost sight of Lucas. “I need a chair, Lucas.” The words came out of the Master’s mouth like a judge delivering a sentence. “Yes, Sir.” Lucas’s words were silky smooth. There was not a hint of hesitation now. She could hear him moving to do Master A’s bidding. “What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, though she was a bit less hostile now. She’d fucked up. She was glad Julian wasn’t around to witness it, though Leo would probably tell him. Tears pricked her eyes. Damn, she was proving to Leo she couldn’t handle the lifestyle. “Look, Sir, I’m sorry. It was wrong of me to be rude to you, but I was merely pointing out that Lucas and I had a plan for tonight.” Reason. She could reason with him, surely. It worked on all the men in her life. Of course, usually she was looking at them instead of trying to plead her case to a group of back muscles. The muscles were unbelievably tight, but his skin—oh, his skin had been decimated in his lower back. It was a mess of white, puckered flesh, and she could see both neat, surgical lines, and jagged edges. She reached out to touch the mass of scars, but she was jerked back over his shoulder and set on her feet before she could make it. She wobbled on her heels, but Master A’s big hands held her shoulders. “I don’t think you understand how this is going to go, sub. I am the Master, and you are the one being punished. I won’t put up with a spoiled princess telling me how her punishment will go. It will go the way I say it will go. First, you will pay for the insult to me, and then we’ll proceed to the sawhorse.” “I don’t like the sawhorse.” The words came out breathy and small, because she was beginning to understand that this was serious. Master A didn’t look like he was planning on giving in. And she hated being called a spoiled princess, but a part of her worried that he was right. The last few years, she’d allowed herself to become spoiled and dependent. She’d fled from everything that hurt her. She’d hidden. She’d let her stepfathers and Lucas coddle and provide for her so she didn’t have to face the truth. Master A didn’t flinch. “I don’t care. Lucas has done the best he can, but the truth is he wasn’t trained to be a Dom. He might enjoy it from time to time, but he prefers bottoming. You require a firm hand. If you don’t want it, then you’re free to leave. No one is holding you against your will. This is all about consensual play, so you have to make the choice. Do you want the session to continue?” She hated this part. This was the part that she’d never understood. She had to make the choice, and she couldn’t put it off on anyone else. She wanted for him to simply do it. Then she could blame him later, but that wasn’t what The Club was about. She’d been coming here for over a year, and she finally had to decide to make the choice—stay and put herself in the hands of a stranger, or go and never know what it was like. And then there was the fact that Master A was right. Lucas needed something she couldn’t give him. She cast her eyes down submissively. How bad could it be? “Yes, Sir.” “Then strip.”  

 

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ WEBSITE ~ AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Small Town Siren by Sophie Oak (Lexi Blake) - Review

   

 

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Author: Sophie Oak, A.K.A. Leki Blake

Publication Date:  9 January 2018, second edition

Publisher: DLZ Entertainment

Series:  Texas Sirens, book 1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, MFM 

Age Recommendation: 18 and Up

Rating: 4 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

Re-released in a second edition with a prologue and three new chapters. 

Two cowboys looking for love… 

Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood met in foster care. Over the years, they’ve become best friends and partners. They share a business as cattle ranchers and a house. There’s only one thing missing: a woman to share. The men are sure they’ve found that woman when Abigail Moore arrives in their small town, Willow Fork, TX. 

A woman trying to find her place in the world… 

Abby left her hometown twenty years before under a cloud of scandal. She’s raised a daughter, forged a new life for herself, and is ready for the next phase when she meets the handsome cowboys. 

One small town that’s ready to explode…

They’re a dream come true—Jack is the sexy Dom, and Sam the playful lover. It’s everything she’s ever fantasized about. There’s only one problem. She’s still not welcome in Willow Fork, and someone is willing to kill to keep her away.    

     

My Review:

First let me say that if you have seen the original cover for the series you will know how awesome the new cover is.  I love it's simplicity and the tie in to the series so much better than that original cover.  That being said I can't put any of that on the author as they rarely have a choice in their cover art, so it gives nothing and takes nothing away from my rating of the book itself, I just want to make a note of saying how much better this cover is and I am thankful that Sophie (just going to call her Lexi from here on out due to habit) and her publicist took the time to revamp it as well.  

Second, I have read a lot of Lexi Blake books and I had no idea that she had this other pen name or books until I stumbled upon a hint of it is her last book, Master Bits and Mercenary Bites.  It's like a whole new world opened up and angels sand the song of Menage to me and I rejoiced.  I am doubly thankful that Lexi Blake was able to get the rights to this series returned to her so she could put it back out into the world, bigger and better than ever.  

So, onto the book.  This was just an all around fun read.  I loved the bits of drama, and I am not a drama fan normally.  I do not like angst in my reads, but that was what was great about this read, while there was drama it was pretty much angst free.  I didn't want to throw my kindle or scream obscenities...okay well, that part might not be true, there is one woman I would have like to given a good shake and a few foul words, but it wasn't anything that made my heart hurt (in that negative kind of way) or my anger to flare.  

The characters are wonderful.  I adored Abby.  She was strong in the face of fear and hatred.  She was understanding and compassionate when the same was never given to her.  She was loving and fearless, though she had every reason to grow hard and cold hearted.  She is just an amazing heroine who has absolutely no trouble standing on her own and doing what it takes to take care of herself and those that she loves and calls family, but she is also (with a little push perhaps) willing to see that those that truly love her should also be given the opportunity to care for her in return.  She is a bit older than the heroes and while it is mentioned a few times it is never much of a big deal and for the majority of the book I honestly forget that there is supposed to be an age difference.  

Sam, what a character.  I loved him, I think it would be hard for anyone not to love him.  He is sweet, kind, a bit of a horn dog, a tad guileless, a fun character to be around, and one of the biggest hearted Heroes I have had the pleasure of 'meeting' in a long time.  Sam goes in heart first and when he does e does it big, but thank goodness he has Jack at his back to temper his spirit a little and to pull  Sam back in when he goes to dive into the deep end with all his clothes on and head first.  

Jack is the strong broody hero that I adore in my books.  He has a lot of baggage that he keeps locked down tight, too afraid to let someone truly love him until he's built a wall so high around his heart that it takes a wreaking ball ( you're singing it, I'm signing it...why do we do this to ourselves? haha) to eventually tear them down.  Luckily for Jack he has his best friend, the one he's constantly trying to tame at his back to keep life in Jack's eyes and to show him that it's okay to be loved, and it's okay to let your heart bleed a little for others because despite the pain that might come with loving others, they will also bring you so much joy that the pain is worth it. 

All three of them together are a perfect compliment to one another, they truly round each other out and making a whole.  I loved how Lexi built their relationship and how they worked with one another to make their lives together fit their needs.  I love the little sign of what might be to come with two of the characters, I am curious to see where that goes and if or how it might change the dynamics.  In the end I just loved that these three characters found joy, happiness, and love together and that they don't give one hoot what any one else thinks.  This isn't some hidden secret in the town, I liked that while Jack and Sam weren't out there telling everyone how they chose to live their life they also weren't keeping it this huge secret.  I loved that while I am sure some in town are scratching their heads or giving a bit of side eye, in general Jack, Sam, and Abby's life choices are accepted.  Wouldn't it be nice if that was the way of life for all of us.  That people can just say, welp, it's their life, live and let live and all that.  Anywhoooo, that's another topic for another day, but, thank you Lexi for not making this book about some taboo secret between the couple, but just saying, this is who we are, take us or leave us.

Finally, Sophie Oak is Lexi Blake, do we really need to talk about the steam level in this book, nah, I didn't think so, ha.  Let's just say total swoon worthy moments between these characters.  I loved each an every one, whether it was all three or just two of them, each one was steamy and special.  I know some of you will say 'Eh, its a menage book, it's going to be all about the sex' and I can say that's not true for this book.  Are there more sex scenes than your average Contemporary Romance, yes, but remember this book has to balance a relationship between three people?  Does that make it more about the sex and less about the story?  In this book I don't believe so.  The story of finding yourself and letting those that love you care for you is beautiful.  The story of breaking down the walls surrounding a harden heart, a heart afraid to love is there.  The story of acceptance and finding your own happiness is all there.   Yep, the romance is there in all the glory that Lexi Blake gives us, threads of BDSM, and just plain hot steamy scenes, but there is also a beautiful story woven all around those moments and luckily for us there is more story to come.  I can't wait to see where this couple goes in Siren in the City and I hope you will join in on the journey of Abby, Jack, and Sam.  You won't regret a minute of it.  

~ HAPPY READING ~

Excerpt:

 The door to the women’s room slammed open. Abby practically jumped, ready to beg whoever was walking through to give her some privacy. Jack filled the doorway with his presence. “You can’t come in here, Jack.” She smoothed down her uniform and swept back her hair, trying to retain as much dignity as she could. “Why not, darlin’? I am going to admit that I’m not a man who tends to let things like social conventions keep me out of a place I really want to be in.” Jack walked right up to her. The man really wasn’t big on personal space. Sam walked in and closed the door. He leaned with his back against it. One boot rested negligently against the painted pink door. “Sam, tell him he can’t come into the women’s room.” “You’re the one who chose the venue for this particular conversation, Abigail.” There was nothing vaguely resembling a joke in Jack’s voice now. Abby looked to Sam for help. Sam shook his head. He was grinning like an idiot. “Hell no, honey. You’re gonna have to learn that when Jack gets that hard edge to his voice, he means business. Besides, I’m happy with the way things went. Thank you, baby. You made this so much easier. Jack was talking about dating you and treating you like a lady. That was gonna take forever. It’s much simpler this way.” “What’s simpler?” Abby was unable to keep the trepidation out of her voice. “Taking you home, taking you to bed, and showing you where you belong,” Sam replied with a wink. “Where do I belong?” Abby couldn’t take her eyes off Jack. There was a simple smile on his face that held a wealth of arrogance. He’d been serious. He really had been playing the gentleman. Abby got the feeling she was about to get a full dose of Jack Barnes, and damned if she wasn’t looking forward to it. “Always between me and Sam.” Jack reached out and put his hands on her shoulders, his expression intense. “Tell me you don’t want us, Abby, and I’ll walk away right now. I won’t bother you again.” “Don’t give her ultimatums.” Sam sounded a bit desperate. “I thought we’d give her a taste before we forced her to make a decision. Baby, why don’t you let us play around a little? I promise you’ll want us.” She looked up into Jack’s forest-green eyes. They were very serious as he stared at her. His hand came up to cup her face. He forced her to look at him and Abby felt his will. It should scare the crap out of her, but she found it amazingly sexy. This was a man who would always keep his promises, no matter what it cost him. “She already wants us.” Jack brushed his thumb across her mouth. It was all she could do to not open her mouth and suck his thumb in. “She just needs to admit it. Can you tell me you haven’t spent the last few weeks thinking about this? Thinking about you and me and Sam coming together in bed?” “No,” she said. Jack’s eyes flared, and she felt compelled to continue. “I have thought about it, but I’m scared.” The time for honesty was here. She could run, and they would probably accept her decision. She could give in and enjoy the sex and walk away. Or she could ask for what she wanted. She could be brave and tell them what she needed and what she was scared of. If she did that and it all fell apart, then she would have to forgive herself. She’d learned that one of the great joys of maturing was learning how to forgive herself. “What are you scared of?” A deep crease appeared in Sam’s forehead. He walked up to her and leaned forward. “Honey, we want to take care of you. We don’t want to hurt you.” She felt tears pricking at the edge of her eyes. Everything in her was screaming for that to be true. She wanted them. She craved them. “You could be lying to me. You could want to make me look bad.” She could hear her teenaged self in the statement. She felt every bit as vulnerable as she had then. The last month she’d spent with these two disparately different men had been one of the best of her life. Every evening they’d spent together over the last month had made her want them more. More than once, she’d fantasized about them sweeping into the diner and carrying her away. Lately, when things went wrong, her first thought was to call Jack. Now that her fantasy seemed to be coming true, she didn’t trust fate. Jack’s hands came out and soothingly rubbed the back of her neck. He hadn’t stopped touching her once. “Sweetheart, why would you say something like that? Why would we want to make you look bad?” “Because the Echols family wants me out of town.” Her heart soared when she saw the complete confusion on their faces. They couldn’t make that up. “Are you talking about that crazy old biddy who runs the church socials?” Jack seemed to struggle to place a name with a face. “She always looks at me funny.” “Ruby. That’s her name.” Sam frowned. “She’s real unpleasant to me. Why would we do anything for her? For that matter, why would she care that you’re in town?” Hope swelled inside her. They really weren’t gay, and they really weren’t working for Ruby Echols. If that was true, then she had to assume they wanted her. It suddenly didn’t matter that they were in a bathroom in a public place. She couldn’t wait to feel their mouths pressed to hers. It wasn’t forever. The universe didn’t work that way, but she could have this moment. She could have a few weeks with them. “It doesn’t matter. Kiss me.” “Which one?” Sam asked. Abby continued to smile, looking from gorgeous man to gorgeous man. “It doesn’t matter, but one of you should kiss me.” Jack’s eyes never left her face. “Sam, take care of that door. We wouldn’t want anyone walking in.” Sam cursed and bemoaned his fate, but he walked back and took his previous position. Jack took Abby’s face in both his hands. “I’m completely crazy about you, Abigail Moore.” He leaned over and finally, after what seemed to Abby like a lifetime of wanting, pressed his mouth to hers. Abby felt helpless against the onslaught of desire that rocketed through her as Jack took her mouth. He plundered it, his tongue gently forcing its way in and dancing strongly around hers. She held on to his lean waist for dear life as he slanted over her mouth again and again. He poured his will into her and everything inside her responded. She felt that kiss in her pussy and already she was slick and warm. Jack’s hands reached up and pulled at the band that held up her hair. He set it free and pulled back to look at the mane of auburn locks he’d unleashed. “You’re so fucking gorgeous,” Jack breathed almost reverently as he stroked her hair. In that moment, with Jack’s green eyes looking at her like she was some goddess he was worshipping, Abby felt gorgeous. “Why don’t we take this home, people?” Sam’s voice was tight. Abby looked back at Sam, and his blue eyes were dark with passion. He wanted to go home so he could join in. He wanted to have his turn. The thought should have turned her off, but all it did was get her hotter. Jack’s lips turned up in a lazy smile. “You’ll have to forgive Sam, darlin’. He’s always so impatient. Always has been.” Jack suddenly lifted her up and set her on the counter. He looked back at his friend with great affection. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve told him that anticipation is the best part?” Jack’s hands pushed up the skirt of her uniform. “Anticipation is damn frustrating, Jack. And I’ve been anticipating for weeks,” Sam complained.  




 NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ WEBSITE  ~ AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE