Nikka MichaelsBesprekingen

Good erotica snack with a nice predictable twist in the ending.

Very cute story of a deaf man who opens an email by mistake.

Very cute story of a deaf man who opens an email by mistake.

In the Raw by Nikka Michaels and Eileen Griffin is a wonderful first installment in their In the Kitchen miniseries. This first novel in the series introduces culinary students Ethan Martin and James "Jamie" Lassiter and the rather tumultuous beginning of their romance. It is a sweet, sexy and sometimes exasperating read, but the growth of the characters makes all of the frustration worthwhile.

Jamie and Ethan are locked in a fierce battle for a cooking scholarship but this does not lessen their attraction to one another. Ethan has the edge when it comes to regular cooking but baking is definitely not his forte. Jamie is good at both cooking and baking, but he does not have the creative flair that makes Ethan stand out from the other chefs-in-training. When Ethan reluctantly accepts Jamie's offer to help tutor him in baking, the two are quickly cooking up more than just éclairs but will their insecurities derail their fledgling romance?

Jamie and Ethan are from completely different backgrounds which is more of a problem for Ethan than Jamie. Ethan is working class and he is working hard to pay for not only his tuition, but his sister Claire's as well. He is used to taking care of others and he is proud of all that he has accomplished. He is confident of his cooking abilities, but he is also temperamental and a tad judgmental. But Ethan's biggest weaknesses are his stubbornness and his inability to ask for or accept help.

Since Jamie's family is wealthy, he does not have any financial worries. Unfortunately, his parents are very conservative, quite controlling and they have his future all mapped out for him. Jamie is under increasing pressure to abandon his degree, join the family business and settle down with a woman of their choosing. When Jamie is forced to admit his sexuality, his parents issue him an ultimatum but will Jamie follow his heart and his dreams?

In the Raw is a rollercoaster of emotions as Jamie and Ethan work through their respective baggage. They are quick to make assumptions about one another and lack of communication is one of their biggest obstacles. Ethan finds it easier to avoid problems than face them head on, but thankfully his sister Claire calls him on it. Ethan and Jamie's road to happily ever after takes a lot of detours and Nikka Michaels and Eileen Griffin throw yet another roadblock in their path with a cliffhanger-y ending that will leave readers very anxious for the next book in the In the Kitchen miniseries.

Couples in trouble, worn down through too much stress and everyday worries, are not all that unusual. What they do about it ranges from trying to rescue the relationship in different ways to giving up and getting divorced. Of course much depends on how serious the problems are. Donovan and Nate are definitely in trouble, but there is no animosity. After five years together, and both having stressful jobs, they are more distant than they would like, and their sex life could use some sprucing up. Leave it to Donovan to come up with “the solution” for them—a weekend at a remote B&B. But not just any B&B. This one offers BDSM lessons.

Donovan definitely likes to be in control, and the few times he and Nate have experimented with rougher sex, Nate has liked being held down. So Donovan figures what the heck, and makes a reservation for them to learn more during a long weekend. It’s a good thing Nate loves and trusts him. Not many men would deal so well with having sprung “let’s learn more about D/s” on them.

Nate regrets not being as close to Donovan as he used to be, and he hates making decisions outside of his job. His students keep him on his toes when he is their teacher, but when it comes to the bedroom, Nate wants to let go. He definitely gets his wish, and as soon as they start experimenting, he decides he wants more.

If you like stories about men who are very much in love but want to add a little kink to their lives, if a “BDSM for Beginners” story sounds interesting, and if you’re looking for a very sexy read with some kinky fun and lots of loving, then you will probably like this novella. I’m looking forward to my next visit to the Cooper Mountain B&B!


NOTE: This book was provided by Evernight Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

A Hearts On Fire Review

THREE & A HALF HEARTS--An established couple rekindles their fire through BDSM 101.

If seeing a BDSM tag on romances makes you hesitant, but you're curious, this book might be a great start. Nothing extreme, very mild, not too kinky and a lot of beginner's explanation into the world of D/s. If you'd like a list: minimal bondage, minimal spanking, blindfolds, exhibition (hot) and a butt plug. Everything was very sane, very safe and very consensual between lovers, Donovan and Nate.

Donovan and Nate have full time jobs, their schedules are not in sync and they've been together for years. However, the communication and sex is just not happening. Donovan decided to have a weekend getaway at a BDSM B&B retreat in Maryland with his lover to unwind and recharge their batteries. The couple is very vanilla but Donovan sees something in Nate's responses when they get slightly naughty that makes him think they should explore D/s.

My pros win over my cons of this story. It reminded me somewhat of a popular exploratory D/s novella - not in plot, just in tone. I think readers who prefer the lighter side of kink would appreciate and gobble this story more than I did. The writing was good.

Memorable? Not really. Then again, established couples aren't really my thing. But I can recognize a decent story and this was. It was pretty hot and sweet. And I think the authors did a good job of explaining BDSM not being a freak show but a way of life that includes respect and communication. Submission doesn't equal doormat, etc. That was my favorite theme of the story.

But there were a few minor concerns.

My quibbles:

- Donovan - he's a mechanical engineer but all he did was travel. It's a minor issue but if you introduce a profession, give a little something he could have been anything.

- The established couple - they love each other a lot. They are very good looking. Their boners only throb for each other. I get it. It was laid on a little thick. If the story was longer, I'd have lowered the rating but in the 70pgs, it was a little thick. Sugar lovers will rejoice with the reassurance between the two in every other page. There's no need to over convince the reader. I get it. No need to re-remind about how the couple met. Hope the writing will get tighter as the series progresses. Lose the extra reassurances...it can read cloying.

Good story, nice simple plot. The execution was average. Hot sex scenes. Cute couple, they reconnected and learned a new lifestyle at the end. I wished it was kinkier because I think I am over the introduction stuff. I want in the higher levels of D/s classes, professor. ;D

This story was like a great pair of shoes. Once you try them on, they're not the pair for you but you know decent quality and want the right person to wear them. Maybe that reader is you?"½

What a fun way to get to know new authors! Warning this is sizzling and gives just a peek at each story but if lets you get a good feel for the authors writing style and the heat level of their books.
I enjoyed reading the steamy scenes from some of my favorites as well as discovering some new authors to add to my list. I recommend this one!

This was the first book in a series about two guys in culinary school who are attracted to each other while competing for the same scholarship. It was written in alternating voice which I liked for this story. Ethan is the snarky, standoff-ish guy who is living with his sister while they're both trying to scrape together money for tuition and living expenses. Jamie is the rich guy who already has an in with his father's company. The only problem is he doesn't want it. He wants his own career as a chef. And he wants Ethan. The two fight the sexual tension as long as possible then come together in an intense relationship. Even though the two were complete opposites they actually fit together in all ways both giving up something in order to be together. I liked them together and can't wait for the next book in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.