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Release
From the author of Paradise Rules comes a story about an alluring woman-who learns that to understand desire, you have to let it run wild.
Genny loved her husband Max, but he lacked the sexual charge that was instead ignited by his business partner, Sean. Ruggedly handsome, Sean had a heart-stopping smile that made Genny weak. The more time they spent together, the stronger the attraction between them became. Then her husband offered to share her with Sean for one intoxicating night...
That night in the company penthouse, Max and Sean showed Genny the heights of ecstasy. But it was Sean who touched her very spirit, and one-onone, they were red hot. But as Genny learns, there's a price to pay for such impulsive pleasure. What began as a night of forbidden desire spirals into a whirlpool of murder, sensual submission, secrets, and a scorching passion that threatens to consume everyone it touches.
Genny loved her husband Max, but he lacked the sexual charge that was instead ignited by his business partner, Sean. Ruggedly handsome, Sean had a heart-stopping smile that made Genny weak. The more time they spent together, the stronger the attraction between them became. Then her husband offered to share her with Sean for one intoxicating night...
That night in the company penthouse, Max and Sean showed Genny the heights of ecstasy. But it was Sean who touched her very spirit, and one-onone, they were red hot. But as Genny learns, there's a price to pay for such impulsive pleasure. What began as a night of forbidden desire spirals into a whirlpool of murder, sensual submission, secrets, and a scorching passion that threatens to consume everyone it touches.
336 pages, Paperback
First published December 22, 2009
42 people are currently reading
1255 people want to read
About the author
Beth Kery
187 books2,694 followersBeth Kery is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of over thirty novels, novellas and serials. She writes contemporary romances as well as erotic contemporary romances, her hallmarks being emotional intensity, leap-off-the-page realistic characters and steamy sexual tension.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
February 5, 2010
Pros:
1. Hawt
2. The pacing was good. I read it in one sitting.
3. The proportions of erotic to suspense parts, present to flashback parts were all good.
4. Did I mention it's hawt?
Cons:
1. The H/H already fell in love before story begins.
2. Hero called heroine "girl" too many times. (She's 30but he's Irish.)
3. As in most of these erotic romances, the suspense part was "meh."
Content warning:
1. Anal (the I'm-gonna-get-you-to-do-what-I-want-by-going-up-your-bum type [aka Lora Leigh backdoor lovin':])
2. Menage
3. Bondage (handcuffs, etc)
4. Spanking (with hand and crop/flapper/whatever-its-called)
5. A little voyeurism
6. Small homosexual overture
Edited:
because Sean Kennedy is not Irish (see Comments section)
1. Hawt
2. The pacing was good. I read it in one sitting.
3. The proportions of erotic to suspense parts, present to flashback parts were all good.
4. Did I mention it's hawt?
Cons:
1. The H/H already fell in love before story begins.
2. Hero called heroine "girl" too many times. (She's 30
3. As in most of these erotic romances, the suspense part was "meh."
Content warning:
1. Anal (the I'm-gonna-get-you-to-do-what-I-want-by-going-up-your-bum type [aka Lora Leigh backdoor lovin':])
2. Menage
3. Bondage (handcuffs, etc)
4. Spanking (with hand and crop/flapper/whatever-its-called)
5. A little voyeurism
6. Small homosexual overture
Edited:
because Sean Kennedy is not Irish (see Comments section)
April 3, 2010
This was a pretty good book, so much better than BK's last one, Paradise Rules, but still not quite as good as Wicked Burn or Daring Time. But for the most part I enjoyed it--it was quick, hot (but not too over-the-top), had an interesting 'mystery' (that languished for 3 years!) and I could imagine it as being a movie (a good sign for me).
The plot is pretty simple. Thirty year old beautiful fashion designer Genevieve Bujold (isn't that the actress who played in the movie "Coma"?) is married to 54 year-old former superspy CIA operative Max Sauren, who now owns a highly successful Chicago private intel agency. Max hires on 34 year old, uber sexy New Orleans native and ex Army intelligence officer Sean Kennedy to be his right hand man. Although she loves her sophisticated, older, handsome husband (Genny has some "Daddy" issues due to the early passing of her blue collar worker father), Gen and Sean have similar backgrounds and interests, are physically attracted to each other, and hit it off famously. All under the watchful eye of Max, who is harboring some 'big' secrets from Genny. Max is one manipulative b******--he believes in getting the 'goods' on everyone who crosses his path--after all, you never know when it could come in handy, right? So, Gen and Sean have nothing more than a good friendship (even though subconsciously they'd like more), until New Year's Eve, when Max proposes a menage. Holy cow, will they go through with it? Oh yeah, and it's pretty hot, and life transforming. Sean and Genny connect big time! Five days later Max is dead, found murdered in his car. Did Genny do it? Did Sean? Did someone else?
Fast forward three years. After Max's death, Genny and Sean never saw each other again, even though Sean is the new head of Max's company and Genny is part owner. During the murder investigation, Genny becomes a prime suspect. Sean thinks maybe Genny did it. Genny thinks maybe Sean did it. The investigation remains open. They remain apart, not wanting to cast suspicion on each other. Then Genny and Max's mansion burns down, and having nowhere to go Gen decides to spend the night in the company penthouse, where she's startled to find Sean...being 'serviced' by a handcuffed woman. Genny's surprised by how much this hurts her, even though she's aroused by it. I guess Genny never got over her feelings for Sean...
Sean is thrilled to see Genny again, eager to be back in her life any way he can, and convinces Genny to stay with him in the penthouse (a big winter storm is conveniently brewing in Chicago), sensing that she may be in danger. Maybe someone torched her place, looking for something? Maybe Sean's number one suspect in Max's murder, and a man who tryed to blackmail him, former Sauren employee Albert Rook, is up to no good again?
To make a long story short, Sean and Genny stay holed up in the penthouse while a monster snowstorm hits Chicago, and they give in to the smoldering chemistry that they still have. Lots of every-which-way lovemaking ensues (plenty of oral sex, dominant lovemaking, the use of chocolate covered bing cherries, a bit of spanking and flogging...), and Genny and Sean prove to be insatiable. Sooo, Genny and Sean still have "it" sexually, but what can come of it if each thinks the other may have killed Max? If they're seen together won't the police have a motive for thinking one or the other is the killer?
Okay, I won't go any further. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story, even though I thought it got a little short-changed by too many love/sex scenes. Don't get me wrong, for the most part they were pretty hot (even though spanking and flogging isn't my favorite), and there was nothing demeaning. But I was starting to get a little bored--I wanted that storm to end and I wanted them out of that penthouse! But most of all I wanted them to talk about what happened the day Max was murdered. I wanted them to solve the mystery of Max's death so they could be together. Genny's refusal to talk about that day totally frustrated and annoyed me. As did Sean's penchant for calling Gen "girl" ("Open your eyes, girl. You're asking for it, girl. Suck it nice and clean, girl".) So, once they got past that weekend in the penthouse (it was only a weekend?) things started picking up, secrets started to be revealed, and finally they got down to the bottom of who murdered Max (and why). Max was one sneaky, nasty puppetmaster, is all I'm saying.
So those of you who like a bit of suspense with your erotic romance, you should like this one. Sean and Genny were a hot, romantic couple, and I was rooting for their relationship to work out. There's a few twists and turns, a few "a-ha" moments, and even though it wasn't quite perfect, it was still a pretty good read. I think Beth Kery is back on track! 4 stars.
Warning: This book contains explicit language and sex, including oral and anal; one m/f/m menage scene; the use of a flogger/whip/crop for some light 'spanking'; bondage using handcuffs; the use of a vibrator, and the use of some candied cherries and some buttered toast for the heroine's pleasure. Not for the faint of heart!
The plot is pretty simple. Thirty year old beautiful fashion designer Genevieve Bujold (isn't that the actress who played in the movie "Coma"?) is married to 54 year-old former superspy CIA operative Max Sauren, who now owns a highly successful Chicago private intel agency. Max hires on 34 year old, uber sexy New Orleans native and ex Army intelligence officer Sean Kennedy to be his right hand man. Although she loves her sophisticated, older, handsome husband (Genny has some "Daddy" issues due to the early passing of her blue collar worker father), Gen and Sean have similar backgrounds and interests, are physically attracted to each other, and hit it off famously. All under the watchful eye of Max, who is harboring some 'big' secrets from Genny. Max is one manipulative b******--he believes in getting the 'goods' on everyone who crosses his path--after all, you never know when it could come in handy, right? So, Gen and Sean have nothing more than a good friendship (even though subconsciously they'd like more), until New Year's Eve, when Max proposes a menage. Holy cow, will they go through with it? Oh yeah, and it's pretty hot, and life transforming. Sean and Genny connect big time! Five days later Max is dead, found murdered in his car. Did Genny do it? Did Sean? Did someone else?
Fast forward three years. After Max's death, Genny and Sean never saw each other again, even though Sean is the new head of Max's company and Genny is part owner. During the murder investigation, Genny becomes a prime suspect. Sean thinks maybe Genny did it. Genny thinks maybe Sean did it. The investigation remains open. They remain apart, not wanting to cast suspicion on each other. Then Genny and Max's mansion burns down, and having nowhere to go Gen decides to spend the night in the company penthouse, where she's startled to find Sean...being 'serviced' by a handcuffed woman. Genny's surprised by how much this hurts her, even though she's aroused by it. I guess Genny never got over her feelings for Sean...
Sean is thrilled to see Genny again, eager to be back in her life any way he can, and convinces Genny to stay with him in the penthouse (a big winter storm is conveniently brewing in Chicago), sensing that she may be in danger. Maybe someone torched her place, looking for something? Maybe Sean's number one suspect in Max's murder, and a man who tryed to blackmail him, former Sauren employee Albert Rook, is up to no good again?
To make a long story short, Sean and Genny stay holed up in the penthouse while a monster snowstorm hits Chicago, and they give in to the smoldering chemistry that they still have. Lots of every-which-way lovemaking ensues (plenty of oral sex, dominant lovemaking, the use of chocolate covered bing cherries, a bit of spanking and flogging...), and Genny and Sean prove to be insatiable. Sooo, Genny and Sean still have "it" sexually, but what can come of it if each thinks the other may have killed Max? If they're seen together won't the police have a motive for thinking one or the other is the killer?
Okay, I won't go any further. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story, even though I thought it got a little short-changed by too many love/sex scenes. Don't get me wrong, for the most part they were pretty hot (even though spanking and flogging isn't my favorite), and there was nothing demeaning. But I was starting to get a little bored--I wanted that storm to end and I wanted them out of that penthouse! But most of all I wanted them to talk about what happened the day Max was murdered. I wanted them to solve the mystery of Max's death so they could be together. Genny's refusal to talk about that day totally frustrated and annoyed me. As did Sean's penchant for calling Gen "girl" ("Open your eyes, girl. You're asking for it, girl. Suck it nice and clean, girl".) So, once they got past that weekend in the penthouse (it was only a weekend?) things started picking up, secrets started to be revealed, and finally they got down to the bottom of who murdered Max (and why). Max was one sneaky, nasty puppetmaster, is all I'm saying.
So those of you who like a bit of suspense with your erotic romance, you should like this one. Sean and Genny were a hot, romantic couple, and I was rooting for their relationship to work out. There's a few twists and turns, a few "a-ha" moments, and even though it wasn't quite perfect, it was still a pretty good read. I think Beth Kery is back on track! 4 stars.
Warning: This book contains explicit language and sex, including oral and anal; one m/f/m menage scene; the use of a flogger/whip/crop for some light 'spanking'; bondage using handcuffs; the use of a vibrator, and the use of some candied cherries and some buttered toast for the heroine's pleasure. Not for the faint of heart!
February 12, 2010
4 ½ stars – Romantic Suspense/Erotica/BDSM
This is my fifth read by Beth Kery and she continually delivers when it comes to ‘must have a fan handy, bust the thermostat hotness’. She packed an emotional, erotic punch with Wicked Burn, showed true originality and genius with Daring Time, and took risks with dark, kinky Sweet Restraint, but Paradise Rules was a bit of a disappointment, mainly because I really disliked the characters. I’m glad to say that for the most part, Kery seems to be back on track (at least for me) with her latest erotic romantic suspense novel, Release.
Chicago fashion designer and boutique owner Genevieve “Genny” Bujold and her ex-CIA turned security specialist husband, Max Sauren, engaged in an illicit ménage on New Year’s Eve with Max’s business partner, ex-Army officer Sean Kennedy, three years ago that led to disastrous consequences, including a devastating end to Genny and Sean’s would-be love affair and a shocking murder. When a series of strange events and a Chicago blizzard bring Sean and Genny back together, can Sean win Genny’s submission and heart, even though secrets and lies from the past threaten to tear them apart once again?
Release has steamy sex, raw, powerful emotion, an intriguing murder mystery plot, and an ex-military alpha hero with a major dominant streak in the bedroom who makes a yummy-as-sin hero, despite the fact that he seriously overuses the endearment “girl” for the 30-year-old heroine, even though it’s delivered in a sexy New Orleans drawl, to the point of annoyance and distraction at times. Once again, Kery turns up the heat and conveys intense eroticism with a book that’s full of scorching hot sensuality and mildly kinky BDSM sex, including bondage, spanking with a flogger/crop, anal sex, a flashback M/F/M ménage sequence, and of course dirty talk by the hero, who seems to have a proclivity for giving detailed instructions of precisely what he wants.
Overall, it’s a satisfying erotic romantic suspense read with lots of twists and surprises, a hunkalicious, Dom hero, and wicked, turn down the AC hot sex! 4 ½ stars!
This is my fifth read by Beth Kery and she continually delivers when it comes to ‘must have a fan handy, bust the thermostat hotness’. She packed an emotional, erotic punch with Wicked Burn, showed true originality and genius with Daring Time, and took risks with dark, kinky Sweet Restraint, but Paradise Rules was a bit of a disappointment, mainly because I really disliked the characters. I’m glad to say that for the most part, Kery seems to be back on track (at least for me) with her latest erotic romantic suspense novel, Release.
Chicago fashion designer and boutique owner Genevieve “Genny” Bujold and her ex-CIA turned security specialist husband, Max Sauren, engaged in an illicit ménage on New Year’s Eve with Max’s business partner, ex-Army officer Sean Kennedy, three years ago that led to disastrous consequences, including a devastating end to Genny and Sean’s would-be love affair and a shocking murder. When a series of strange events and a Chicago blizzard bring Sean and Genny back together, can Sean win Genny’s submission and heart, even though secrets and lies from the past threaten to tear them apart once again?
Release has steamy sex, raw, powerful emotion, an intriguing murder mystery plot, and an ex-military alpha hero with a major dominant streak in the bedroom who makes a yummy-as-sin hero, despite the fact that he seriously overuses the endearment “girl” for the 30-year-old heroine, even though it’s delivered in a sexy New Orleans drawl, to the point of annoyance and distraction at times. Once again, Kery turns up the heat and conveys intense eroticism with a book that’s full of scorching hot sensuality and mildly kinky BDSM sex, including bondage, spanking with a flogger/crop, anal sex, a flashback M/F/M ménage sequence, and of course dirty talk by the hero, who seems to have a proclivity for giving detailed instructions of precisely what he wants.
Overall, it’s a satisfying erotic romantic suspense read with lots of twists and surprises, a hunkalicious, Dom hero, and wicked, turn down the AC hot sex! 4 ½ stars!
March 2, 2010
This is an amazing, scorching, fantastic love story with a to-die-for hero. A ménage story you ask? Those who know me know I don't read erotic romances with ménages because I find them unromantic and unconvincing. Frankly I doubt I would have bought this one either, despite being a fan of Beth Kery. Luckily Beth herself very generously gave me a copy and I'm so grateful that she did. I should probably mention at this point that she did not ask me to review it in return. I'd probably feel a bit guilty if I didn't though, not to mention that I've now enjoyed 4 of her books and it's time I did a review. But mostly I'm writing this review because I want to assure my fellow ménages-not-'r'-us readers that this book is well worth reading and so romantic and hot, and not to fear it.
The 3 main characters are Sean, Genny and Max. Max has been dead for 3 years when the book starts, but with the numerous flashbacks and the pervasive effects of his manipulations in the present, he is definitely a major character. I didn't much like him to begin with, and the more his personality and scheming was revealed the more I disliked him. There is also a villain of sorts, since the unmasking of Max's killer is the driving force behind the suspense plot. But I can't help feeling the true villain of this piece is Max.
Genny is, or rather was, naive and rather gullible. Much younger than Max, he was a father figure of sorts to her and she was clueless about his true character or orientation. Though the blurb says that Genny loved Max, it seemed clear to me that she wasn't IN love with him, plus their sex life was tame tapering off to non-existent. In the present she is more enigmatic, holding her thoughts and feelings close to her chest, but the reader is aware that she suspects Sean killed her husband. In many ways Genny makes the biggest journey in this story. She is awakened to the truth about Max, she is awakened sexually by Sean, and she comes to grips with her feelings and submissive desires.
Sean? Oh man what can I say about this guy? Intense, charming, dominant, tender, sexy, tenacious. For Beth Kery fans who found Vic somewhat insensitive and Shane somewhat, er, unhinged, I promise you will love Sean. He ranks right up there with Ryan for me. I've noticed that Beth's heros (and heroines) stint sometimes on the I Love You's. But not Sean. He loves Genny and he tells her so, and not just at the end of the book either. His feelings show with every touch and kiss and gesture. The moment she appears back in his life he's determined to regain her trust and get close to her again. He's also determined to get through her barriers and make her admit she loves him too. He suspects she may have killed her husband but he doesn't really care, his loyalty to her is absolute.
Now back to the ménage. I appreciated that it was presented in a realistic way with real consequences, not as a be-all and end-all "ultimate pleasure" thing. Genny's uncertainty showed during the scene, as did Sean's although he was more eager to seize his one and only opportunity to be with Genny. Things are awkward between them afterwards, both immediately and later. Both Genny and Sean regret what happened, although again he less so because at least he has his memories for 3 long years. Sean and Max quarrel violently. Genny plans to leave Max. A mess all around. As for the scene itself, I didn't expect to find it hot. But when the focus lingered on Sean and Genny for long periods, it was. The intensity of his feelings for her made every touch sizzle. It felt like Sean and Genny making love, not Sean, Genny and Max having a threesome. And I got caught up in it more than once. Then Max would say something or do something, and I was jolted out of the mood, and I just wanted to b1tch slap him and tell him to shut up and get out of there already.
The other sex scenes are scorching hot, fairly kinky, and very numerous. Note: spanking and anal is included (there isn't any in the threesome, thank goodness). The plot is interesting with a twist at the end, and the suspense is good. The atmosphere is angsty and emotionally charged. But the best reason to read this one remains Sean. I love him. He can call me "girl", chain me in his lap, and feed me warm buttered toast any time :-)
The 3 main characters are Sean, Genny and Max. Max has been dead for 3 years when the book starts, but with the numerous flashbacks and the pervasive effects of his manipulations in the present, he is definitely a major character. I didn't much like him to begin with, and the more his personality and scheming was revealed the more I disliked him. There is also a villain of sorts, since the unmasking of Max's killer is the driving force behind the suspense plot. But I can't help feeling the true villain of this piece is Max.
Genny is, or rather was, naive and rather gullible. Much younger than Max, he was a father figure of sorts to her and she was clueless about his true character or orientation. Though the blurb says that Genny loved Max, it seemed clear to me that she wasn't IN love with him, plus their sex life was tame tapering off to non-existent. In the present she is more enigmatic, holding her thoughts and feelings close to her chest, but the reader is aware that she suspects Sean killed her husband. In many ways Genny makes the biggest journey in this story. She is awakened to the truth about Max, she is awakened sexually by Sean, and she comes to grips with her feelings and submissive desires.
Sean? Oh man what can I say about this guy? Intense, charming, dominant, tender, sexy, tenacious. For Beth Kery fans who found Vic somewhat insensitive and Shane somewhat, er, unhinged, I promise you will love Sean. He ranks right up there with Ryan for me. I've noticed that Beth's heros (and heroines) stint sometimes on the I Love You's. But not Sean. He loves Genny and he tells her so, and not just at the end of the book either. His feelings show with every touch and kiss and gesture. The moment she appears back in his life he's determined to regain her trust and get close to her again. He's also determined to get through her barriers and make her admit she loves him too. He suspects she may have killed her husband but he doesn't really care, his loyalty to her is absolute.
Now back to the ménage. I appreciated that it was presented in a realistic way with real consequences, not as a be-all and end-all "ultimate pleasure" thing. Genny's uncertainty showed during the scene, as did Sean's although he was more eager to seize his one and only opportunity to be with Genny. Things are awkward between them afterwards, both immediately and later. Both Genny and Sean regret what happened, although again he less so because at least he has his memories for 3 long years. Sean and Max quarrel violently. Genny plans to leave Max. A mess all around. As for the scene itself, I didn't expect to find it hot. But when the focus lingered on Sean and Genny for long periods, it was. The intensity of his feelings for her made every touch sizzle. It felt like Sean and Genny making love, not Sean, Genny and Max having a threesome. And I got caught up in it more than once. Then Max would say something or do something, and I was jolted out of the mood, and I just wanted to b1tch slap him and tell him to shut up and get out of there already.
The other sex scenes are scorching hot, fairly kinky, and very numerous. Note: spanking and anal is included (there isn't any in the threesome, thank goodness). The plot is interesting with a twist at the end, and the suspense is good. The atmosphere is angsty and emotionally charged. But the best reason to read this one remains Sean. I love him. He can call me "girl", chain me in his lap, and feed me warm buttered toast any time :-)
October 29, 2015
I've wanted to read this for a long time, and the plot was just as gripping as I expected. Very hot love scenes, too. But I was creeped out when we got to the hero forcibly restraining the heroine "for her own good," after clearly stating he would only dominate her in bed and only with her consent. Also, the book is chock full of evil and/or pathetic gay men, making it hard to believe it was published in 2010.
November 9, 2018
Another great Kery read! This is the fourth book of hers I've read since I started my Kery binge less than two weeks ago. I've never been a "romantica" reader, but in the past couple of months I've expanded in this sub-genre and found some surprisingly good books. My expectations were not high; I thought it would be all sex scenes, with a couple of paragraphs thrown in between them depicting some type of clothed activity to show the outside world still exists.
Anyway, this and Wicked Burn are my favorite Kery reads so far. They both have great leading characters, hot romance, and interesting subplots. Explosive had a better subplot than Wicked Burn (a surprisingly good one, actually), but entire-package-wise, Wicked Burn and Release definitely come out ahead, with the former probably being my favorite. This one is good though and very worth reading.
I loved both Genevieve (33 and 30) and Sean (37 and 34). Sean is a delicious hero and is vying with Vic (from Wicked Burn) for my affections, though they're very different from one another. Sean is in love with Genevieve and very open and clear about that from the beginning, he's so caring and affection towards her and his feelings never waver. In this instance, the internal conflict over the relationship is all on Genevieve's side, and considering what she believes it is understandable. Despite that, she doesn't hold herself back from Sean and never pulls the I'm-going-to-be-mean-to-you-to-push-you-away-because-I-actually-love-you move or any other similar manipulation, which I greatly appreciated (hate those).
Genevieve was a very realistic heroine in that she's similar to a real, actual, modern woman, as opposed to one of the two extremes that we often see. I mean this in terms of personality, profession, upbringing, sexual experience, etc. - characters are so often full of extremes and very unrealistic in that sense; both Sean and Genny seemed real, like people you could know.
It's a romantic suspense book and I thought the suspense subplot was excellently done. There were lots of twists and turns that were slowly revealed and while I had an idea who had murdered Max, I was not at all certain of what the motive was and frankly thought it was going to be some really forced and convoluted reasoning that was solely done because the story needed it, as opposed to because it made sense. This was not the case and I loved how Kery tied everything together.
While one of the two main failings in Explosive was that the back and forth in story timeline was unclear and confusing at the beginning, here Kery got it right throughout. The first flashback didn't occur until ~30 pages in, so we're allowed to sink into the present day story and see where we are now; then the beginnings of their relationship is integrated and, of course, that fateful New Year's Eve. The back and forths were infrequent, smoothly integrated, and long enough that you don't feel like you're watching a ping pong match.
The entire book only takes place over a couple of days, but there are also the flashbacks and since Sean and Genny have known one another for so long before the present point we're brought in to, the short length of time didn't bother me as it normally would. I was actually bothered by the fact that it took 3 years for Sean and Genevieve to end their estrangement. Sean had initially tried several times to reach out, but Genny kept him at arm's length for valid reasons. She would have continued doing so had her house fire not forced her to find someplace else to stay, and had she not chosen the company penthouse to be that place. Three years just seems like a long time and I find it hard to believe, considering their strong feelings of love for one another (which I do believe), they would have stayed away from each other for so long.
Anyway, this and Wicked Burn are my favorite Kery reads so far. They both have great leading characters, hot romance, and interesting subplots. Explosive had a better subplot than Wicked Burn (a surprisingly good one, actually), but entire-package-wise, Wicked Burn and Release definitely come out ahead, with the former probably being my favorite. This one is good though and very worth reading.
I loved both Genevieve (33 and 30) and Sean (37 and 34). Sean is a delicious hero and is vying with Vic (from Wicked Burn) for my affections, though they're very different from one another. Sean is in love with Genevieve and very open and clear about that from the beginning, he's so caring and affection towards her and his feelings never waver. In this instance, the internal conflict over the relationship is all on Genevieve's side, and considering what she believes it is understandable. Despite that, she doesn't hold herself back from Sean and never pulls the I'm-going-to-be-mean-to-you-to-push-you-away-because-I-actually-love-you move or any other similar manipulation, which I greatly appreciated (hate those).
Genevieve was a very realistic heroine in that she's similar to a real, actual, modern woman, as opposed to one of the two extremes that we often see. I mean this in terms of personality, profession, upbringing, sexual experience, etc. - characters are so often full of extremes and very unrealistic in that sense; both Sean and Genny seemed real, like people you could know.
It's a romantic suspense book and I thought the suspense subplot was excellently done. There were lots of twists and turns that were slowly revealed and while I had an idea who had murdered Max, I was not at all certain of what the motive was and frankly thought it was going to be some really forced and convoluted reasoning that was solely done because the story needed it, as opposed to because it made sense. This was not the case and I loved how Kery tied everything together.
While one of the two main failings in Explosive was that the back and forth in story timeline was unclear and confusing at the beginning, here Kery got it right throughout. The first flashback didn't occur until ~30 pages in, so we're allowed to sink into the present day story and see where we are now; then the beginnings of their relationship is integrated and, of course, that fateful New Year's Eve. The back and forths were infrequent, smoothly integrated, and long enough that you don't feel like you're watching a ping pong match.
The entire book only takes place over a couple of days, but there are also the flashbacks and since Sean and Genny have known one another for so long before the present point we're brought in to, the short length of time didn't bother me as it normally would. I was actually bothered by the fact that it took 3 years for Sean and Genevieve to end their estrangement. Sean had initially tried several times to reach out, but Genny kept him at arm's length for valid reasons. She would have continued doing so had her house fire not forced her to find someplace else to stay, and had she not chosen the company penthouse to be that place. Three years just seems like a long time and I find it hard to believe, considering their strong feelings of love for one another (which I do believe), they would have stayed away from each other for so long.
June 27, 2011
I enjoyed this book more than I expected to since I didn't like the only other book I tried by this author. But it came highly recommended and there it was at work so I took it home.
There were a lot of sex scenes but they were not gratuitous. Every scene advanced the relationship between the two main characters. Each scene was kind of a counterpoint to the emotions that were coming to the surface as the two of them met for the first time since her husband had died 3 years before.
The scenes were very hot and very explicit but the emotions between the two of them were very deep and quite believable so that the sex seemed loving rather than raunchy.
There was a suspense plot that drove the story and it was believable and quite enough to hang the story of these two reuniting lovers on. There was this menage element that was told in flashback but it was treated in a vastly different manner than a dedicated menage story. It was not a thing that the two main characters really wanted to participate in and it distorted their relationship. Very realistically done.
I will certainly try more by this author.
There were a lot of sex scenes but they were not gratuitous. Every scene advanced the relationship between the two main characters. Each scene was kind of a counterpoint to the emotions that were coming to the surface as the two of them met for the first time since her husband had died 3 years before.
The scenes were very hot and very explicit but the emotions between the two of them were very deep and quite believable so that the sex seemed loving rather than raunchy.
There was a suspense plot that drove the story and it was believable and quite enough to hang the story of these two reuniting lovers on. There was this menage element that was told in flashback but it was treated in a vastly different manner than a dedicated menage story. It was not a thing that the two main characters really wanted to participate in and it distorted their relationship. Very realistically done.
I will certainly try more by this author.
October 15, 2010
My GR friend Aly sent this to me. Thanks Al!!!
This is a fast paced erotic love story with a bit of mild BDSM and suspense thrown in for good measure.
I loved Sean. He is totally controlling in the bedroom, super alpha, extremely hot, and so over the top in love with the heroine!
This one just worked for me not to many secondary characters just enough to move the plot along but the main focus is the love story between the h/h.
I am giving this a 4.5 and can't wait to read the other Beth Kery book I have on my shelf.
The reason for the -.5 star -
It is not a book that I would consider a reread.
If Sean called Genny "girl" one more time I was going to throw the book across the room. At the end that "endearment" began to grate on me.
Sean I perfer the endearment babe or baby!!!! I'm just saying........ LOL
Content warning:
one very cold slider/window!!!
This is a fast paced erotic love story with a bit of mild BDSM and suspense thrown in for good measure.
I loved Sean. He is totally controlling in the bedroom, super alpha, extremely hot, and so over the top in love with the heroine!
This one just worked for me not to many secondary characters just enough to move the plot along but the main focus is the love story between the h/h.
I am giving this a 4.5 and can't wait to read the other Beth Kery book I have on my shelf.
The reason for the -.5 star -
It is not a book that I would consider a reread.
If Sean called Genny "girl" one more time I was going to throw the book across the room. At the end that "endearment" began to grate on me.
Sean I perfer the endearment babe or baby!!!! I'm just saying........ LOL
Content warning:
one very cold slider/window!!!
January 8, 2012
I felt like there was something missing with this one. I wish that we would have had the whole New Year's Eve night info right away. I didn't like the way that it was piece mealed out, along with the fall out of it and the how and why of Max's death.
I also had a hard time buying into the whole relationship between Sean and Genny. I think part of it may have been the way that Sean called Genny "Girl" all the time. It annoyed me. I also had a hard time believing that these 2 were so in love, yet didn't talk to each other for 3 years and thought .
The ending was so anti-climatic that I was just glad that the book was done.
I also had a hard time buying into the whole relationship between Sean and Genny. I think part of it may have been the way that Sean called Genny "Girl" all the time. It annoyed me. I also had a hard time believing that these 2 were so in love, yet didn't talk to each other for 3 years and thought .
The ending was so anti-climatic that I was just glad that the book was done.
April 8, 2010
This is the second time I've seen this image used on a cover - first for Cassandra’s Conflict and now here. I'm not a fan, to be honest, but it's used quite well here. Sexy without being too tacky, though is it just me or does she have a really 70s look? Lots of makeup. Maybe you'd need a better close-up...
Three years ago, Genevieve indulged in a rare night of passion with two men: her husband, Max - an older man, ex-CIA with his own private intelligence company and a fetish for collecting dirt on people; and Sean - ex-military and now Max's right-hand-man ... and the man Genny has fallen for.
Five days later, Max is dead: murdered. Circumstances occur that lead both Genny and Sean to suspect the other killed him, and both act in their own ways to protect the other from being found out. Sean's method is to deal with another of Max's operatives, Albert Rook, when he attempts to blackmail Sean with evidence that Genny killed Max. Genny, with her own reasons for believing Sean killed him, knows that if the police learn of that night of passion they'll have a motive for Sean killing Max, and so she keeps her distance.
Three years later, Genny's house has burnt down and the only place she has to stay is the penthouse apartment above the company office. To her surprise and dismay, Sean is already there. A snowstorm keeps the two holed up in the apartment for the weekend, to Sean's pleasure and Genny's dismay. When they learn of two break-ins on Genny's other property, Sean becomes convinced someone - probably Albert Rook - is a threat to her. To solve the current problem and keep Genevieve safe, they must face their misunderstandings, air their secrets and figure out who killed Max three years ago, and why.
I'm a big fan of Beth Kery - she's a lovely woman who's sent me two of her books in the past, which I continue to be thankful for and appreciative of. After the impressive first two books, her next two were lacking in comparison. Solid, but not awesome like the first two. It was great to find that this fifth book was a real scorcher, with a more involved plot and a more interesting male lead.
The plot-device of both Genny and Sean thinking the other killed Max worked so well, and was so convincingly done, my toes curled in pleasure. My toes also curled during other scenes too, but that goes without saying ;) These two had sizzling chemistry, aided by the fact that they clearly loved each other and had for a long time, despite everything. Most of the time, in these romance books, the characters spend their time denying to themselves and each other that they care very deeply at all; it gets tiresome. Plot-wise, you still need obstacles, a reason why they can't be living happily-ever-after right now, otherwise there's no story. The plot in Release doesn't try to be clever or pull any big twists, and really that only makes it more successful. It worked out very neatly and tightly and satisfyingly.
Max, as the third wheel, was a great character. Oh how he creeped me out! Him and his secrets and his blackmail and his controlling nature. A perfect villain, really. Smooth and charming and, apparently, handsome, though I don't see what's appealing about these elegant, silver-haired, debonair men - you see them in American films quite often. They make me think of Southern plantations and conservative politics. They make me think of McCain. Ugh.
As always, Kery excels at bed sports. Er, at describing them. She knows which details to emphasise and which to leave out, creating tension and thrills and making it relevant to the story. I always get the impression, with her books, that the sex and the story are both integral to each other, rather than the plot being a mere premise, a flimsy scaffold, on which to build some pointless but hot sex. Without a good story, the sex can become gratuitous with no real redeeming features. I've read a few of those, like Lora Leigh's Only Pleasure, which was awful (the title should have been a sign).
Three years ago, Genevieve indulged in a rare night of passion with two men: her husband, Max - an older man, ex-CIA with his own private intelligence company and a fetish for collecting dirt on people; and Sean - ex-military and now Max's right-hand-man ... and the man Genny has fallen for.
Five days later, Max is dead: murdered. Circumstances occur that lead both Genny and Sean to suspect the other killed him, and both act in their own ways to protect the other from being found out. Sean's method is to deal with another of Max's operatives, Albert Rook, when he attempts to blackmail Sean with evidence that Genny killed Max. Genny, with her own reasons for believing Sean killed him, knows that if the police learn of that night of passion they'll have a motive for Sean killing Max, and so she keeps her distance.
Three years later, Genny's house has burnt down and the only place she has to stay is the penthouse apartment above the company office. To her surprise and dismay, Sean is already there. A snowstorm keeps the two holed up in the apartment for the weekend, to Sean's pleasure and Genny's dismay. When they learn of two break-ins on Genny's other property, Sean becomes convinced someone - probably Albert Rook - is a threat to her. To solve the current problem and keep Genevieve safe, they must face their misunderstandings, air their secrets and figure out who killed Max three years ago, and why.
I'm a big fan of Beth Kery - she's a lovely woman who's sent me two of her books in the past, which I continue to be thankful for and appreciative of. After the impressive first two books, her next two were lacking in comparison. Solid, but not awesome like the first two. It was great to find that this fifth book was a real scorcher, with a more involved plot and a more interesting male lead.
The plot-device of both Genny and Sean thinking the other killed Max worked so well, and was so convincingly done, my toes curled in pleasure. My toes also curled during other scenes too, but that goes without saying ;) These two had sizzling chemistry, aided by the fact that they clearly loved each other and had for a long time, despite everything. Most of the time, in these romance books, the characters spend their time denying to themselves and each other that they care very deeply at all; it gets tiresome. Plot-wise, you still need obstacles, a reason why they can't be living happily-ever-after right now, otherwise there's no story. The plot in Release doesn't try to be clever or pull any big twists, and really that only makes it more successful. It worked out very neatly and tightly and satisfyingly.
Max, as the third wheel, was a great character. Oh how he creeped me out! Him and his secrets and his blackmail and his controlling nature. A perfect villain, really. Smooth and charming and, apparently, handsome, though I don't see what's appealing about these elegant, silver-haired, debonair men - you see them in American films quite often. They make me think of Southern plantations and conservative politics. They make me think of McCain. Ugh.
As always, Kery excels at bed sports. Er, at describing them. She knows which details to emphasise and which to leave out, creating tension and thrills and making it relevant to the story. I always get the impression, with her books, that the sex and the story are both integral to each other, rather than the plot being a mere premise, a flimsy scaffold, on which to build some pointless but hot sex. Without a good story, the sex can become gratuitous with no real redeeming features. I've read a few of those, like Lora Leigh's Only Pleasure, which was awful (the title should have been a sign).
April 13, 2010
A thrilling beautiful story with perfect characters, the love scenes might have been too much but they were hot nevertheless(almost as hot as Wicked Ties' scenes, yeah. :P).
There are so many things I wanna say about this book but unfortunately I'm not really good at writing so I'll just say how much I loved it and definitely recommend it to all of my friends.(Except the ones who aren't fond of erotic novels.)
There are so many things I wanna say about this book but unfortunately I'm not really good at writing so I'll just say how much I loved it and definitely recommend it to all of my friends.(Except the ones who aren't fond of erotic novels.)
November 19, 2021
Nunca pensei dizer isto mas, é sexo a mais! O livro tem 278 páginas e talvez 200 serão cenas de sexo. Lá pelo meio um ligeiro mistério a desvendar (super previsível)e de enredo pouco mais há a comentar. As cenas de sexo estão bem escritas? Estão ! Mas é demais !!! Eu até gosto dos livros desta escritora mas este não me convenceu.
August 4, 2022
I always know what I'm getting with Beth Kery's novels...and it's always something I want.
May 15, 2016
Nice read hot scenes..nothing extrodinnary. Always enjoy Beth Kery books.
August 14, 2016
da www.sogniparole.com
2,5 - Credo che la mia delusione dipenda dal fatto che questo libro è una riedizione di un’uscita del 2012, a sua volta scritto nel 2010. Sei anni sono tanti, soprattutto se nel mezzo sono usciti vari romanze pseudo-BDSM, più o meno riusciti, che hanno esplorato praticamente ogni posizione sessuale fattibile (per gli umani), e ci hanno un po’ abituati (assuefatti?) ai ricchi/sexy/di successo/con passato da combattenti nelle forze speciali/maniaci di fruste e sculacciate…
Direi che questo libro le sue rughe le mostra tutte, insomma.
Prima di tutto, devo dire che la quarta di copertina è un po’ fuorviante, perché fa intendere un triangolo, e questo è stato il principale motivo per cui mi ci sono fiondata (volendo leggere un gustoso ménage in pieno agosto vacanziero).
Ma anche no. Il triangolo in realtà è un'unica velocissima notte di Capodanno, in cui il marito condivide la mogliettina (di ben 24 anni più giovane: sai che sfida…) con il giovane superdotato socio d’affari.
Non c’è tormento/esitazione per arrivarci, son tutti lì pronti a festeggiare, e la mezz’ora di sesso inusuale verrà rivissuta al rallentatore in tutto il libro, da ogni angolazione possibile. Aghhhhhhh *sbadiglio d’agosto*
“Una tela perfetta di sensualità e mistero”, recita poi la copertina.
Sensualità: già di mio non ho un debole per i superperfetti Barbie e Ken sul piedistallo. Ma qui i due sono bellissimi/eccitatissimi/snodabili a livello nauseabondo.
Genny non ha un minimo di spessore, a parte avere pelle come seta/petali di rosa e seni turgidi come bacche succose. E’ di una stupidità disarmante: il marito suggerisce il ménage, lei non apre praticamente bocca (se non quando la suddetta mossa diviene necessaria…); le bruciano la casa, le svaligiano negozio e garage, ma lei non coglie il nesso; dovrebbe essere una stilista di successo, ma passa il tempo a mugolare e a crogiolarsi nel ricordo/rimorso di quel “fatidico” Capodanno, salvo poi essere rimasta casta (e stretta – non certo pronta per il nostro Sean-potenza stellare) da allora…
Mistero: qui non voglio fare proprio spoiler. Al secondo capitolo Sean pensa “deve trattarsi sicuramente di ......”, ed è il colpevole! Neppure un dubbio. Peggio dei thriller di serie B che passano a tarda notte in TV.
Perché sono arrivata in fondo, dunque? Perché la Kery aveva buttato l’amo che Max avesse un amante (maschio) e gongolavo all’idea che ci fosse un’apertura erotica in quel senso. Macché…
2,5 - Credo che la mia delusione dipenda dal fatto che questo libro è una riedizione di un’uscita del 2012, a sua volta scritto nel 2010. Sei anni sono tanti, soprattutto se nel mezzo sono usciti vari romanze pseudo-BDSM, più o meno riusciti, che hanno esplorato praticamente ogni posizione sessuale fattibile (per gli umani), e ci hanno un po’ abituati (assuefatti?) ai ricchi/sexy/di successo/con passato da combattenti nelle forze speciali/maniaci di fruste e sculacciate…
Direi che questo libro le sue rughe le mostra tutte, insomma.
Prima di tutto, devo dire che la quarta di copertina è un po’ fuorviante, perché fa intendere un triangolo, e questo è stato il principale motivo per cui mi ci sono fiondata (volendo leggere un gustoso ménage in pieno agosto vacanziero).
Ma anche no. Il triangolo in realtà è un'unica velocissima notte di Capodanno, in cui il marito condivide la mogliettina (di ben 24 anni più giovane: sai che sfida…) con il giovane superdotato socio d’affari.
Non c’è tormento/esitazione per arrivarci, son tutti lì pronti a festeggiare, e la mezz’ora di sesso inusuale verrà rivissuta al rallentatore in tutto il libro, da ogni angolazione possibile. Aghhhhhhh *sbadiglio d’agosto*
“Una tela perfetta di sensualità e mistero”, recita poi la copertina.
Sensualità: già di mio non ho un debole per i superperfetti Barbie e Ken sul piedistallo. Ma qui i due sono bellissimi/eccitatissimi/snodabili a livello nauseabondo.
Genny non ha un minimo di spessore, a parte avere pelle come seta/petali di rosa e seni turgidi come bacche succose. E’ di una stupidità disarmante: il marito suggerisce il ménage, lei non apre praticamente bocca (se non quando la suddetta mossa diviene necessaria…); le bruciano la casa, le svaligiano negozio e garage, ma lei non coglie il nesso; dovrebbe essere una stilista di successo, ma passa il tempo a mugolare e a crogiolarsi nel ricordo/rimorso di quel “fatidico” Capodanno, salvo poi essere rimasta casta (e stretta – non certo pronta per il nostro Sean-potenza stellare) da allora…
Mistero: qui non voglio fare proprio spoiler. Al secondo capitolo Sean pensa “deve trattarsi sicuramente di ......”, ed è il colpevole! Neppure un dubbio. Peggio dei thriller di serie B che passano a tarda notte in TV.
Perché sono arrivata in fondo, dunque? Perché la Kery aveva buttato l’amo che Max avesse un amante (maschio) e gongolavo all’idea che ci fosse un’apertura erotica in quel senso. Macché…
August 18, 2016
4 ½ stars for a lot of hot steamy erotic sex scenes. The story and characters are good but not the main reason to read it.
STORY BRIEF:
Max hires Sean as COO in Max's security firm. Genny loves her husband Max, but she and Sean have a strong attraction. One night, Max initiates a menage a trois among the three of them. A few days later, Max is killed. Genny avoids Sean for three years. The story begins after those three years. Genny's house burns down, and she goes to the company penthouse for temporary housing. Sean just happens to be there. Genny is reluctant to stay there with him, but the snow storm and Sean convince her to stay at least one night. By the next day, lust has brought them together. Also Genny learns someone has broken into her clothing store and storage locker. Sean fears for her safety and helps her deal with these attacks and the mystery.
REVIEWER'S OPINION:
Very hot sex scenes. A lot of sex scenes, and they are well done. There is more sex than story, but there is just enough story to keep you interested. There are mysteries about some happenings three years earlier. By the end of the book, the mysteries get solved. Sometimes the author has scenes which make me a little uncomfortable, but I like that. It’s got an edgy feel. Sex scenes include ménage a trois MWM, bondage, whipping, sex toys, and rear door activity.
DATA:
Story length: 328 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 14, most of them many pages long. Setting: current day Chicago, Illinois, and Gary, Indiana. Copyright: 2010. Genre: erotic romantic suspense.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve reviewed the following books by Beth Kery. Dates are copyright dates.
INDIVIDUAL NOVELS - NOT IN SERIES - CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER.
4 ½ stars. Daring Time 2009
4 ½ stars. Release 2010
4 stars. Explosive 2010
3 ½ stars. Exorcising Sean’s Ghost 2009
3 stars. Paradise Rules 2009
3 stars. Wicked Burn 2008
3 stars. Gateway to Heaven 2011
PART OF SERIES (SERIES NAMES IN PARENTHESES):
3 stars. Velvet Cataclysm 2011 (Princes of the Underground #1)
2 ½ stars. The Hometown Hero Returns 2011 (Home to Harbor Town #1)
3 ½ stars. Addicted to You 2011 (One Night of Passion #1) under author name Bethany Kane.
STORY BRIEF:
Max hires Sean as COO in Max's security firm. Genny loves her husband Max, but she and Sean have a strong attraction. One night, Max initiates a menage a trois among the three of them. A few days later, Max is killed. Genny avoids Sean for three years. The story begins after those three years. Genny's house burns down, and she goes to the company penthouse for temporary housing. Sean just happens to be there. Genny is reluctant to stay there with him, but the snow storm and Sean convince her to stay at least one night. By the next day, lust has brought them together. Also Genny learns someone has broken into her clothing store and storage locker. Sean fears for her safety and helps her deal with these attacks and the mystery.
REVIEWER'S OPINION:
Very hot sex scenes. A lot of sex scenes, and they are well done. There is more sex than story, but there is just enough story to keep you interested. There are mysteries about some happenings three years earlier. By the end of the book, the mysteries get solved. Sometimes the author has scenes which make me a little uncomfortable, but I like that. It’s got an edgy feel. Sex scenes include ménage a trois MWM, bondage, whipping, sex toys, and rear door activity.
DATA:
Story length: 328 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 14, most of them many pages long. Setting: current day Chicago, Illinois, and Gary, Indiana. Copyright: 2010. Genre: erotic romantic suspense.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve reviewed the following books by Beth Kery. Dates are copyright dates.
INDIVIDUAL NOVELS - NOT IN SERIES - CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER.
4 ½ stars. Daring Time 2009
4 ½ stars. Release 2010
4 stars. Explosive 2010
3 ½ stars. Exorcising Sean’s Ghost 2009
3 stars. Paradise Rules 2009
3 stars. Wicked Burn 2008
3 stars. Gateway to Heaven 2011
PART OF SERIES (SERIES NAMES IN PARENTHESES):
3 stars. Velvet Cataclysm 2011 (Princes of the Underground #1)
2 ½ stars. The Hometown Hero Returns 2011 (Home to Harbor Town #1)
3 ½ stars. Addicted to You 2011 (One Night of Passion #1) under author name Bethany Kane.
October 8, 2011
Sean Kennedy was a hard man, his upbringing as a child made him what he is today, a man that goes after what he wants because no one is going to give it to him. Until he meets the most beautiful woman he's ever seen, Genevieve Bujold, unfortunately she is his boss wife. So she and Sean strike a friendship that ends after her husband tries to manipulate both of them to do his bidding and ends up dead shortly after.
Genevieve married an older man mistaking affection and security for love. She is fine with it until she meets her husband's second in command in his company. Until one night she surrenders to Sean so wholly that she feels she has no option but to leave Max, but Max knew this might happened and blackmailed her into staying the same day he gets killed, leaving Genevieve to wonder if her feelings for Sean were the cause of Max's death.
3 years have passed since that night they shared in each other's arms, since Max's death and since they saw each other. A fire at her home drives Genevieve to the penthouse where it all happened and where she finds Sean again. She tries to get away from him, but he'll be damned if he's letting go of the one woman that fits him perfectly, not again. And when danger comes knocking Genevieve's door Sean knows he'll do anything to keep her safe, even tie her to the bed.
For some reason I kept putting off reading this book even though I liked what I'd read of Beth Kery so far. I regretted it. This book was a complete ball of deceit, intrigue and suspense and even though almost from the beginning I suspected part of what happened, the whole extent of it took me by surprise. That one person could so masterfully destroy so many lives even after death was astounding. The fact that not even once the author made a mistake that made you doubt the events pushed me to read more. Loved Sean, really did. Genny was a great heroine, even though I didn't fully understand her until the end.
Genevieve married an older man mistaking affection and security for love. She is fine with it until she meets her husband's second in command in his company. Until one night she surrenders to Sean so wholly that she feels she has no option but to leave Max, but Max knew this might happened and blackmailed her into staying the same day he gets killed, leaving Genevieve to wonder if her feelings for Sean were the cause of Max's death.
3 years have passed since that night they shared in each other's arms, since Max's death and since they saw each other. A fire at her home drives Genevieve to the penthouse where it all happened and where she finds Sean again. She tries to get away from him, but he'll be damned if he's letting go of the one woman that fits him perfectly, not again. And when danger comes knocking Genevieve's door Sean knows he'll do anything to keep her safe, even tie her to the bed.
For some reason I kept putting off reading this book even though I liked what I'd read of Beth Kery so far. I regretted it. This book was a complete ball of deceit, intrigue and suspense and even though almost from the beginning I suspected part of what happened, the whole extent of it took me by surprise. That one person could so masterfully destroy so many lives even after death was astounding. The fact that not even once the author made a mistake that made you doubt the events pushed me to read more. Loved Sean, really did. Genny was a great heroine, even though I didn't fully understand her until the end.
April 14, 2012
TBR Challenge 2012: April Category-- A new-to-you author. Release has been o0n my to-read list since February 17, 2010.
3.5*
Grade B+
Release is an enjoyable erotic romantic suspense. Erotica romance is not my favorite genre, so that impacts my final rating of the book. I was quite interested in the suspense plot and the gradually unfolding backstory concerning Max, Sean, and Genny. I was less interested in the lengthy and highly detailed sex scenes. I didn't enjoy the recounting of the menage (told in retrospect) because the husband, Max, put me off. Otherwise, the sex scenes were very hot, and even though I was more interested in the suspense plot I did appreciate how well-written they were.
Unfortunately, the suspense plot had a few too many holes in it. One person's blackmail "evidence" pointing to the supposed murderer would never had stood up in court. Photos can be doctored or faked, and even I could figure out where the guy came up with his key physical evidence.
So the suspense plot didn't quite hold up, but was still entertaining. The sex was frequent, detailed and well-written. to paraphrase my friend Jane from her review (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...), you don't read this book for the plot. ;-)
3.5*
Grade B+
Release is an enjoyable erotic romantic suspense. Erotica romance is not my favorite genre, so that impacts my final rating of the book. I was quite interested in the suspense plot and the gradually unfolding backstory concerning Max, Sean, and Genny. I was less interested in the lengthy and highly detailed sex scenes. I didn't enjoy the recounting of the menage (told in retrospect) because the husband, Max, put me off. Otherwise, the sex scenes were very hot, and even though I was more interested in the suspense plot I did appreciate how well-written they were.
Unfortunately, the suspense plot had a few too many holes in it. One person's blackmail "evidence" pointing to the supposed murderer would never had stood up in court. Photos can be doctored or faked, and even I could figure out where the guy came up with his key physical evidence.
So the suspense plot didn't quite hold up, but was still entertaining. The sex was frequent, detailed and well-written. to paraphrase my friend Jane from her review (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...), you don't read this book for the plot. ;-)
August 16, 2010
I always enjoy Beth Kery's work. She writes really good relationship stories that happen to include some really smokin' sex scenes. I would have given this four stars except I couldn't get over how much Max, Genny's ex-husband, squicked me out. It was bad enough that he was a megalomanical ass but the whole sharing her scenario with Sean came off as distasteful.
I read menage erotica so that part wasn't the issue. But to that point the relationship dynamic Kery had established amongst the three didn't read well for a menage to me. Genny seemed young and a little naive, but in love with her husband even while attracted to Sean. Max was older, a control freak and very sinister. Sean was obviously in love with Genny. So while I could see why Max would engineer the threesome, I was never convinced of the reasons why Genny and Sean would agree. Just a sanctioned way to get into each other's pants? I dunno, it seemed distasteful with max there when there was obviously real feeling with Genny and Sean.
Aside from that, once Max is out of the picture (and bleached out of my mind) the story between Genny and Sean is great.
I read menage erotica so that part wasn't the issue. But to that point the relationship dynamic Kery had established amongst the three didn't read well for a menage to me. Genny seemed young and a little naive, but in love with her husband even while attracted to Sean. Max was older, a control freak and very sinister. Sean was obviously in love with Genny. So while I could see why Max would engineer the threesome, I was never convinced of the reasons why Genny and Sean would agree. Just a sanctioned way to get into each other's pants? I dunno, it seemed distasteful with max there when there was obviously real feeling with Genny and Sean.
Aside from that, once Max is out of the picture (and bleached out of my mind) the story between Genny and Sean is great.
June 28, 2013
It's a 3.5* actually, but my generosity knows no bounds.
I never thought I'd say this: it would have been an amazing book if they had less sex and more talking. The MCs were complete idiots! They never talked about their problems and the misconception that the other killed her husband. I mean how come they never thought to ask?! They went at it like rabid monkeys but never ask the thing that kept them apart for 3 years. That is not normal! Why not, in between bouts, go and say:
"Oh, Sean I wanted to ask you: did you kill my husband? Not that I have a problem with it and anything, but just in case... "
or
"Genny, all those years I protected you and I love you, but in case we have to deal with this again: did you kill Max?"
It was THAT simple! The whole intrigue was based on this thing, one protecting the other from the police and an idiot who was blackmailing them.
However, I have no other problems with the characters or the story. Genevieve was a generous person, strong and reliable. Sean was protective, sneaky and smart. Both of them won me over with their quirks, love and their capacity to sacrifice for the happiness and well-being of the other.
I never thought I'd say this: it would have been an amazing book if they had less sex and more talking. The MCs were complete idiots! They never talked about their problems and the misconception that the other killed her husband. I mean how come they never thought to ask?! They went at it like rabid monkeys but never ask the thing that kept them apart for 3 years. That is not normal! Why not, in between bouts, go and say:
"Oh, Sean I wanted to ask you: did you kill my husband? Not that I have a problem with it and anything, but just in case... "
or
"Genny, all those years I protected you and I love you, but in case we have to deal with this again: did you kill Max?"
It was THAT simple! The whole intrigue was based on this thing, one protecting the other from the police and an idiot who was blackmailing them.
However, I have no other problems with the characters or the story. Genevieve was a generous person, strong and reliable. Sean was protective, sneaky and smart. Both of them won me over with their quirks, love and their capacity to sacrifice for the happiness and well-being of the other.
November 2, 2011
Well enough written book, but for some reason I just couldn't really get into the characters. I think the menage was pretty sad between, Max, Sean and Genny and that probably set the tone for me. There was a good enough mystery going on and heaps of well put together sex scenes yet it just didn't draw me in enough so I could feel for them. Having said this, I will read some other books by her and hope they grab me because Ms Kery's writing is solid.
March 4, 2014
A nice romance and thriller, the sex scenes are hot...sometimes a bit too long, but generally it was a pleaseant read! Not as good as other works of Beth Kery like Because you are mine series, but a nice read though. I didn't like the use of the word 'girl' it was an overkill but I understand that was part of the hero personality :) Sean was super hot
August 1, 2011
This book was pretty good. The suspense was decent and the chemistry between Sean & Genny was smoking. The sex scenes were great… hot and a little kinky with toys & a little dom/sub, but nothing over the top. I got a little sick of him calling Genny "girl", though!
July 4, 2021
Quando lemos Beth Kery já sabemos ao que vamos mas achei demasiado hardcore, a ideia do romance propriamente dito acho que se perdeu no meio de tanto sexo oral! 150 páginas disto, achei que faltou uma linha condutora a história propriamente dita!
July 29, 2013
I just couldn't get interested in this. I quit half way through.
May 25, 2014
i just couldn't get involved in the story and with the characters
August 6, 2021
Acham possível alguém ser tão manipulador que mesmo três anos após ter sido assassinado, ainda consegue controlar a vida da sua sensual viúva e do seu braço-direito.
Sean e Genny sentem uma intensa atração um pelo outro e Max aproveitou esse sentimento para os manipular, até depois de morto.
É um romance erótico, bem quente, mas com muito mistério.
Gostei muito da história e de como esta se desenvolve. Embora se ache que se sabe o que aconteceu, vão surgindo novas evidências que vão alterando o que nós pensamos ter acontecido.
Uma atracção entre duas pessoas que não se devem envolver. Como será que o marido de Genny se vai aproveitar disso? Quem será que o matou e porquê? Porque fugirá Genny da sua paixão após a morte do marido? O que aconteceu na noite de fim de ano que faz todos desconfiarem uns dos outros? Será o amor capaz de perdoar e esconder? Conseguirão ficar juntos no final?
Se gostas de romances eróticos, este é certamente um a acrescentar á tua lista. Este foi o primeiro livro que li da autora mas vou querer ler os restantes comcerteza.
Sean e Genny sentem uma intensa atração um pelo outro e Max aproveitou esse sentimento para os manipular, até depois de morto.
É um romance erótico, bem quente, mas com muito mistério.
Gostei muito da história e de como esta se desenvolve. Embora se ache que se sabe o que aconteceu, vão surgindo novas evidências que vão alterando o que nós pensamos ter acontecido.
Uma atracção entre duas pessoas que não se devem envolver. Como será que o marido de Genny se vai aproveitar disso? Quem será que o matou e porquê? Porque fugirá Genny da sua paixão após a morte do marido? O que aconteceu na noite de fim de ano que faz todos desconfiarem uns dos outros? Será o amor capaz de perdoar e esconder? Conseguirão ficar juntos no final?
Se gostas de romances eróticos, este é certamente um a acrescentar á tua lista. Este foi o primeiro livro que li da autora mas vou querer ler os restantes comcerteza.
February 25, 2022
Vamos falar de livros quentes? Livros mesmo muito quentes? Pois é, este é um livro assim, um livro muito sexual e bastante envolvente. Nele somos envolvidos por uma atração muitíssimo intensa entre Sean e Genny, mas há demasiadas coisas no passado a mantê-los separados, entre elas o assassinato do marido de Genny. Max era um homem intenso que manipulava tudo e todos à volta dele e mesmo depois de morto acaba por ainda controlar a vida de Genny e Sean.
Serás capaz de quebrar todos os preconceitos?
Serás capaz de quebrar todos os preconceitos?
December 30, 2022
This is the first book by Beth Kerry I have read I really enjoyed this book.its a shame there wasn't a special paragraph about how genny felt after her husband has been murdered it took me a year to read due to loosing my father I was unable to focus on books for a while.im looking forward to reading the other books by Beth I have on my case.im so glad they got to the bottom of who murdered max after someone tried to frame Genny
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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