Tag: The Blackstone Affair

Guest Review: All In by Raine Miller

Posted November 20, 2013 by Judith in Reviews | 0 Comments

Judith’s review of All In (The Blackstone Affair #2) by Raine Miller

The second part in The Blackstone Affair series! Looming danger. A love worth fighting for. A man who’ll go all in.

Ethan Blackstone has a problem on his hands. He’s broken Brynne’s trust and she’s left him. He’s unwilling to live without her and isn’t giving up—he’s dead-set on getting his beautiful American girl back. The passion between them was explosive, but the secrets they hid from each other are dark and chilling and are powerful enough to destroy their shot at a life together. With political threats now directed at Brynne, Ethan is running out of time and he’ll need to gather all his strength and agility to protect her from the dangers that could take her away from him forever. Will Ethan be able to save Brynne from a past that keeps her locked in fear? Will he ever feel the warmth of her touch, the solidity of her trust again? This is a love-struck man who is willing to do whatever it takes to possess the heart of the woman he loves. He’ll go to any lengths to protect her. He’ll go all in.

Here is the fiery story of what happens when two people surrender to a love so great it can heal the scars of the past and give way to a life of pure, rapturous ecstasy.

If you haven’t read book one in this series — Naked — you owe it to yourself to do so. This novel and the one preceding it were released late in 2012 but they are contemporary in setting and wonderfully erotic in content. It can be read as a stand alone novel as the author has done a masterful job of bringing in just enough information out of book one that the reader is not left wondering what is going on or what everyone is talking about. Yet the first book is equally compelling and deserves to be a part of the reading of this story.

The time is near the London Olympics and Ethan Blackstone’s international security agency is tasked with setting up security for a variety of venues and the opening gathering. But his greatest task is keeping “his beautiful American girl” safe from someone who is stalking and threatening her in small covert ways, in a variety of happenings that keeps Brynne and Ethan on edge all the time. But Ethan’s greatest task right now is winning back Brynne’s trust and working himself back into her good graces. As skittish as she is because of some very hurtful personal history, they do love each other. Ethan has his own psychological cross to bear having been tortured in Afghanistan for three weeks with the nightmares and terrible memories still plaguing his nights. Brynne has given out some of her pain but Ethan continues to hang on to his secrets even though they disturb him and Brynne night after night.

This is an intense love story that is interwoven with the tension of a stalker and within the context of a highly publicized international sports event and an anxious population because of recent terrorism. Add in the fact that Brynne’s mom is a WOW (witch on wheels) and she is living thousands of miles away from the family that caused her so much pain but whose presence on the horizon of her life never goes away. The sizzle between Brynne and Ethan is electric in its ability to shock and imprint itself on the imagination of the reader. And while Ethan is dominant and bossy, there is nothing he won’t do for his beautiful American girl–she really holds far more power in the relationship than she realizes. It is only as they work through their issues that they come to realize that neither one of them can move forward without the other. The ending of the this book is a bit of a cliff-hanger in nature and there is no doubt that the story goes on to the third volume. Yet each of these books are delightful and Ms Miller has become one of those authors I expect to write a compelling and powerful love story each and every time.

The term “all in” is used by Ethan repeatedly as having come from his experiences as an international poker contestant and tournament winner. It means that there is nothing put aside, no quarter given, nothing that the participant won’t do to be successful in the endeavor. So it was with these two with their relationship. Their difficulties as well as their delights are sprinkled throughout this tale and make it one of those books you just can’t put down. Like book one, it is a story that will challenge the reader with its intensity and eroticism. Never fear: it isn’t just gratuitous sex. There’s a powerful story here and it is told oh so well.

I give it a rating of 4.25 out of 5

The Series:

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

The title is available from Atria Books. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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Tagged: 4.25 Reviews, Atria Books, Contemporary, Guest Reviews, Judith's Reviews, Raine Miller, Reviews, The Blackstone Affair

Guest Review: Naked by Raine Miller

Posted October 29, 2013 by Judith in Reviews | 0 Comments

Judith’s review of Naked (The Blackstone Affair #1) by Raine Miller

Brynne Bennett is living the good life. An American art student at the University of London and part-time photographic model, she’s putting her life back on track with school and lots of hard work. When ultra successful London businessman, Ethan Blackstone, buys her nude portrait, he isn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer. He wants Brynne in his bed and makes plans to keep her there no matter what. His dominant nature captivates and ensnares despite the demons she carries inside her. But there are secrets in this relationship. Huge ones. Can Ethan free Brynne from the past that has marked her? Will Brynne let him or will the specters tormenting her resurface to destroy them both.

I have always liked stories that are built around a metaphor and this is one of those. Both of these characters are hiding huge masses of secrets and yet the portrait that initiates Ethan’s search for Brynne is that of a nude woman. Obviously he is looking for the sexy and enigmatic woman displayed in the portrait. But just as the model herself is fraught with hidden baggage, so Ethan Blackstone is crippled with his own secrets. While he may want to get “naked” with Brynne in his bed, the last thing he wants to do is get “naked” with her as a way of building a relationship on total honesty.

Ms Miller has written a story that is compelling in its multi-layered meanings and in the careful crafting of her characters. Both Brynne and Ethan can obviously remind us of characters in stories already read or possibly even people we have met in the past or are dealing with right now. Perhaps that is the most engaging aspect of this book–it is about people trying to wind their way through the challenges of life while protecting themselves from the hurts of the past. No one wants a repeat of situations that wound to the core. Yet in running from hurt as does Brynne, for example, her fears have a better than even chance of being a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Most of all, however, this book is about the redemptive power of love. It’s not a sure thing and Ethan is taking on a heavy load in trying to bring Brynne out of her own darkness without coming clean himself. Perhaps that is the most powerful message in this book. That kind of effort which is not based on honesty seldom succeeds. Yet Ethan is determined and perhaps his determination is enough to give added power and persuasion to his love for this woman.

This is a beautiful written book. I read lots of books and some of them are wonderful stories poorly written or poorly edited. This book was a delight simply in its craftsmanship and testifies to Ms Miller’s ability to tell a darn good story. This story was released late in 2012 but after reading it the second time I wanted to write a review that would encourage readers who like in-depth character studies mixed in with a really sizzling love story to take time to enjoy this book. It is the first in a trilogy about these characters and thus there is a lot to learn and experience with these characters. That is so much better than a novella that tries to stuff all the good into 20,000 words. Ms Miller doesn’t abuse the length of the story with useless stuff. Every word adds to the panoply that forms in the reader’s imagination and she keeps the various threads of the literary tapestry running true without unnecessary knots. Books like this are a delight and I found it a most satisfying reading experience.

Good writing, troubled but lovable people, and London, England. What’s not to like. I hope you’ll check this one out.

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 Atria (Imprint of Simon and Schuster). You can buy it here or here in e-format.