Title: My Best Friend’s Stepfather
Author: Opal Carew
Publisher/Year:  St Martin’s Press 1/2/16
Length:   136 Pages
Series:  My Best Friend’s Stepfather

Overview

She’s always craved his touch…even though it’s forbidden.

When Ash is assigned her first feature as a reporter, it should have been simple: interview a real life Dominant for an article about BDSM. But her subject is none other than Darien Gallagher, her best friend’s stepfather…and it’ll be an interview she never forgets.

What started for Dare as a lesson in sensual domination suddenly has become so much more. He can’t deny the spark between them, even though he knows she’s completely off limits. With every seductive word, every lesson, Dare tests Ash’s resolve and pushes her boundaries. But at the same time, her boss Adam has her craving things she shouldn’t.

While Ash finds herself dreaming of both men, a dark secret threatens to destroy everything. But how can she hold onto a relationship that isn’t even real?

My Thoughts

I’m glad that i got the main version of the story so that i got both part 2 and part 3 to read through.  As you can see, i read through it fairly quickly since i just finished book 1, but it was such an interesting turn of events that took us through the story.

As you’ll remember, Helen had come in at the worst possible moment and threatened to make Ashley miserable.  I have to say that she seems unstable enough that i’d believe it.  So there’s the worry about what she’ll do following us through the book, especially since she seems to be getting closer to Jessica now that she’s back which puts Ash off balance.

Then there’s the issue with what’s developing between Ash and Adam, while at the same time there are feelings building between her and Dare.  So it’s a matter of when things will come to a head, and who’s going to win out.

Let’s just say that Ms Carew does the story justice.  With all of the character dynamics going on, there are still surprises.  The whole time we read through the story, we get the sense that there’s a bigger background between Dare and Adam that we don’t know.  When the story is revealed, it’s not at all what i was expecting.  then there’s the issue of who Ash will pick since she has to choose one, and will someone else make the choice for her?  you have to read to find out.

I’m happy to say that not only do we get this complex story, we get something that’s really hot and steamy.  She clearly knows how to write a scene that’s a perfect mix of D/s, and passion, and taking things just a little too far so that it’s dirty while being intensely hot and sexy.  Exactly what i needed while i’m dealing with my own relationship ‘stuff’ right now.

Anyhow, enjoy the rest of your day! !

Title: My Best Friend’s Stepfather
Author: Opal Carew
Publisher/Year:  St Martin’s Press 11/3/15
Length:   51 Pages
Series:  My Best Friend’s Stepfather #1

Overview

I knew this story could launch my career, but I never thought it would lead me down a path of sin and decadence…bondage and submission. He was my subject; I became his slave.

Ashley’s first lead feature as a reporter should have been simple: interview Darien Gallagher, a real life Dom, for a magazine article and launch her career as a leading journalist, but with Dare, nothing is ever simple… Mysterious, wealthy, sexy as sin, and completely off limits, Ashley knows she shouldn’t crave his touch, his kiss, but she does. Even though he’s her best friend’s stepfather…

What started for Dare as a lesson in domination suddenly has become so much more. He knows Ash is younger, more sheltered, friends with his former stepdaughter, but he can’t deny the spark between them, even though he knows it’s wrong.

With every word, every lesson, Dare tests Ash’s resolve and pushes her boundaries. While Adam, Ashley’s boss, has her craving things she shouldn’t. The assignment that was supposed to land her on the top is about to topple her to her knees.

My Thoughts

I am a big fan of the series that Ms Carew puts out, not only for the characters and how dynamic they are but for the complexity of the passion and relationships that start off rather fast typically.  This is exactly that case.

While i picked up this first one of the series as a novella – i think that i’m just going to get the main book and read it through since i can’t wait to see what it’s about.  We have Ashley (Ash) who is trying to work her way up the ranks of the magazine that she works for and it’s when she has the idea to write a story about D/s relationships that things get dicey.  Then there’s Adam – the guy who was her brothers best friend, and who is now her boss, but there’s also this dynamic between the two of them both wanting to be together, but not making those moves for any number of reasons.

What is also really great about this story is that the Dom that Ash goes to, Dare, well he’s the ex stepfather of one of her best friends in high school – a girl that she hasn’t spoken to in ages because she fell off the face of the earth.  That shouldn’t make things problematic, but i think that it’s going to become an issue as we read on since nothing can ever just work out as it’s supposed to.

So in this first installment, we see the beginnings of Ash’s training since Dare feels that it’s necessary for her to experience more than be spoken to.  When things go to a more distinct level, that’s where emotions come into play and I honestly can’t wait to see how that plays out.  There is the relationship for the moment between Dare and Ash, but then there’s also the confusion of the Ash/Adam relationship that i wonder where it will go.

So…in 50 pages or so, we got a lot and it was hot, and i can’t wait for more.  Have a great day all!