Judith’s review of All He Wants by C. C. Gibbs

In the vein of 50 Shades of Grey, the first in an erotic trilogy from bestselling author, C.C. Gibbs!

Dominic Knight is a man who is always in control. A self-made billionaire by the age of twenty-three, a genius of innovation, and CEO of a global tech empire, Knight always gets what he wants. And he wants Kate Hart. . .

A rising star of cyber forensics, Kate is well aware of Knight’s reputation as a master manipulator, uncompromising leader, and demanding lover. But she’s determined to stay cool and professional-no matter how hot and bothered her new boss makes her feel.

First he appears in her dreams. Then he comes to her in the night. And so begins a journey of erotic awakening and discovery as rich and powerful as Knight himself. In locales from the sultry red-light district of Amsterdam to the private sexual playgrounds of Hong Kong, Kate will shed every inhibition and surrender every part of herself-body, mind, and soul-to give her lover all he craves, all he needs, and all he demands . 

Kink in “in” right now in romance literary circles as are the myriad novels, short stories and novellas about billionaire bachelors, most of whom are the strong, silent, Alpha-male type that is found in this story.  But it seems to me that this novel is especially geared to highlight the dominance of this man who has the world at his feet, who owns a significant portion of the world’s real estate, who can spend millions at the flick of a finger, whose appetites and desires are essentially fulfilled with a word.   He gets what and who he wants and in this instance, it is cyber genius and forensic specialist Kate Hart.  Right from the get-go she doesn’t want him.  He frightens her and yet she is drawn to him.  Throughout the story Kate keeps working to preserve her own place in the scheme of this relationship, never misses an opportunity to demand a place at the emotional negotiations and who manages to enrapture Dominic far more than anyone who knows him can believe.

There is certainly kink in this novel but unlike the dungeon-based BDSM stories, this is really about the power exchanges between this highly intelligent and gifted twosome.  While Kate is discovering the lengths she is prepared to go to continue to be involved with Dominic, this highly controlling man is discovering a new and previously unexplored willingness to compromise in order to keep this unusual woman in his life.  It would appear that this is also a story about the discovery of love by two people who have been betrayed and whose early experiences in life have convinced  them that an authentic love is just not for them.  Their connection to one another is profound and surprises them as well as many who know them.  Disengaging from that connection proves to be more difficult than they expected and their future is just as much a surprise to them as it is to everyone else.  Dominic is highly possessive and Kate must give ground in increments.  It is watching that process unfold in the novel that keeps the tension high and rivets the attention of the reader without let-up.

I have not previously read any work by this author but I was quite taken with this story.  It was previously released here in the U. S. and in Britain.  Yet it is a contemporary novel that is intense and will ring true even though the characters are people most of us wouldn’t know intimately.  The scenes are set in localities most of us will never experience yet they are described with that authentic hand of an author who is writing about real life international business style.  It is truly a terrific read and one that deserves to be read and appreciated.  It is the first in a trilogy and I, for one, will certainly be reading the next two  coming novels.

I give it a rating of 4.25 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.

This title is available from Forever Publishing.  You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Judith’s review of All He Needs (All or Nothing #2) by C. C. Gibbs

When her tryst with handsome billionaire Dominic Knight gets out of hand, Katherine Hart resolves to cut all contact for good. But Dominic won’t let his object of fascination escape so easily: when they cross paths in a plush hotel in Singapore, their steamy affair is reignited.

But can such exquisite pleasure last?

Kate knows her lover is a man who lives entirely for the chase. Is this reunion a rushing climax before an inevitable fall, or could Kate possess the keys to finally taming the untamable Dominic Knight?

Perhaps one might ask right up front:  Is this love affair “too hot not to cool down?” in the words of the old Cole Porter song.  Certainly the  affair that started out as an eight day fling has blossomed into something quite extraordinary and one that is surprising to both Dominic and Kate.  Yet I think this second book in the trilogy All or Nothing is much more of a character study of these two individuals.  There is still very much the intense push/pull between these two strong stubborn people, both of whom are really at a loss to explain their continuing fascination with one another.  This is especially true of Dominic whose non-relationships with women have been chronicled in the media for years.  The reader learns a great deal more about Dominic’s personal life, his family and background, the true nature and back story about his relationship with his parents, and the warm and embracing love he had for his sister and her family.

There was no doubt in my mind that this second book was really a much more in-depth investigation of the deeper nature of the connection between these two people and one which brought the reader into the struggle they both experienced in trying to understand themselves and one another.  Their passion for one another never waned but each still felt that need to maintain some kind of separateness from one another.  Even though Dominic was a manipulative control freak to the core and even though he managed Kate’s life often without her knowing it, there was that sense through the book that unlike their early connection, their relationship had grown into one that was based on deep regard and a desire to keep one another safe.  There were some very stark reminders that the world of international finance can be a very dangerous venue.    There are, however, revelations of the extent to which Dominic was prepared to go in order to protect Kate, even at the expense of their relationship and any future they might have together.

This book is every bit as intense as book one.  Some reviewers have maintained that they like this one “better” than Book 1.  I, for one, think that this book is really different and has to be judged on its own merit and not as a novel being compared to the first book in the series.  Just as Kate and Dominic have to expand their knowledge of one another and willingness to be increasingly vulnerable to one another, so this book is taken up with telling of that relational expansion and the deeper levels of emotional connection these two have come to share.

This book like the first novel is beautifully written and is so well put together so that readers keep the story straight in spite of its complexities.  It’s beautifully edited and as a reviewer I really appreciate good grammar and spelling.  Such books are a joy to experience apart from their content.  When the content is as riveting as it is here it just gets better and better.  This novel is highly erotic–these two just shoot off sexual sparks all the time.  I think the word “insatiable” is probably in order.  Yet it is not one that flaunts gratuitous sex–it is all part of the story that seems to hang together as it should.  I am definitely looking forward to reading the conclusion of this saga.

I give this novel a rating of 4.25 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.

 

This title is available from Forever Publishing.  You can buy it here or here in e-format.