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A review by tlea
Roulette Redux by Jennifer Bene, Renee Rose, Maren Smith, Measha Stone, Livia Grant, Sue Lyndon, Maggie Ryan, Jane Henry, Alta Hensley
4.0
This is an amazing anthology that offers something for everyone.
Unrestrained by Jennifer Bene - This story puts the S&M into the BDSM. I found it to be an unusual choice as an entry to the book as I found it quite confronting and not what I would normally like. However, I really got a feel for the characters, particularly Silas & found myself happy that he's found someone accepting of how he likes to play.
Brat by Livia Grant - Exactly what you would expect with a title like this. Gabriella & Connor have a long (non-sexual) history. This story delves into age play which isn't really a must-read for me, but I still found it very readable. This author always delivers on great characters.
Forced by Renee Rose - Probably my favourite (so far). I love that we really get inside the head of each of the participants. Here is a Dom who knows just what & who he wants. Meanwhile, Mariana is trying to come to terms with the idea that she might just like being Forced.
Doctored by Sue Lyndon - I found this story quite sweet in the idea that here are 2 people who have both been skirting around their attraction for years without the other knowing. Make one a sub who's been hurt by family & endured a public outing & it made me all melty.
Shameless by Maren Smith - I found this unusual in that not often have I read stories in which the bad guy is so much a part of the community. Which is precisely why Hadlee decided that she needed to fight her demons by getting back on that horse (metaphorically speaking!) & offer herself at the Valentine's Roulette. Throw in 2 strong characters, 1 who thinks he'll never get an opportunity to show Hadlee how he feels & you have everything you could want in a story.
Edge by Alta Hensley - A 2nd chance story of 2 people who find themselves matched up at the Roulette & how they overcome the past hurts to forge a new relationship. I really liked this story. I felt that Melinda was such a strong woman to acknowledge her mistake & to work to set things right. Equally, Dean was wonderful in his sensitivity & ability to put hurts aside. For a kink-story, I found it very sweet. Really liked it.
Confession by Measha Stone - Another great story. This one about 2 people who have unknowingly wanted the same thing for years but neither have been willing to risk the relationship that they currently have. A wonderful read about putting yourself out there & risking everything to potentially get something better.
Surrender by Maggie Ryan - Probably one of my least favourite reads. I just found the character of Marty really unlikable. I appreciate the inclusion of the rope work & the premise was excellent. But I just couldn't get past the character.
Taken by Jane Henry - This is another story that left me a bit ambivalent. Again, I just found Della unlikable, although I did warm to her somewhat by the end. I will agree that this is a fantastic story to finish on. It wraps up the collection wonderfully.
In reading the stories, I didn't expect to like all of them, & while there were none that I disliked, there were certainly some that I liked more than others. But the good thing about anthologies like this is that you can be assured of there being at least some that really grab you & make you pleased that you kept reading. I love that even though all of the stories revolved around a single event (ie Valentine's Roulette), care had obviously been taken to ensure continuity between the different stories. Although I'm itching to discover why Red was called & disappointed this was never resolved for me. Definitely read-worthy.
Unrestrained by Jennifer Bene - This story puts the S&M into the BDSM. I found it to be an unusual choice as an entry to the book as I found it quite confronting and not what I would normally like. However, I really got a feel for the characters, particularly Silas & found myself happy that he's found someone accepting of how he likes to play.
Brat by Livia Grant - Exactly what you would expect with a title like this. Gabriella & Connor have a long (non-sexual) history. This story delves into age play which isn't really a must-read for me, but I still found it very readable. This author always delivers on great characters.
Forced by Renee Rose - Probably my favourite (so far). I love that we really get inside the head of each of the participants. Here is a Dom who knows just what & who he wants. Meanwhile, Mariana is trying to come to terms with the idea that she might just like being Forced.
Doctored by Sue Lyndon - I found this story quite sweet in the idea that here are 2 people who have both been skirting around their attraction for years without the other knowing. Make one a sub who's been hurt by family & endured a public outing & it made me all melty.
Shameless by Maren Smith - I found this unusual in that not often have I read stories in which the bad guy is so much a part of the community. Which is precisely why Hadlee decided that she needed to fight her demons by getting back on that horse (metaphorically speaking!) & offer herself at the Valentine's Roulette. Throw in 2 strong characters, 1 who thinks he'll never get an opportunity to show Hadlee how he feels & you have everything you could want in a story.
Edge by Alta Hensley - A 2nd chance story of 2 people who find themselves matched up at the Roulette & how they overcome the past hurts to forge a new relationship. I really liked this story. I felt that Melinda was such a strong woman to acknowledge her mistake & to work to set things right. Equally, Dean was wonderful in his sensitivity & ability to put hurts aside. For a kink-story, I found it very sweet. Really liked it.
Confession by Measha Stone - Another great story. This one about 2 people who have unknowingly wanted the same thing for years but neither have been willing to risk the relationship that they currently have. A wonderful read about putting yourself out there & risking everything to potentially get something better.
Surrender by Maggie Ryan - Probably one of my least favourite reads. I just found the character of Marty really unlikable. I appreciate the inclusion of the rope work & the premise was excellent. But I just couldn't get past the character.
Taken by Jane Henry - This is another story that left me a bit ambivalent. Again, I just found Della unlikable, although I did warm to her somewhat by the end. I will agree that this is a fantastic story to finish on. It wraps up the collection wonderfully.
In reading the stories, I didn't expect to like all of them, & while there were none that I disliked, there were certainly some that I liked more than others. But the good thing about anthologies like this is that you can be assured of there being at least some that really grab you & make you pleased that you kept reading. I love that even though all of the stories revolved around a single event (ie Valentine's Roulette), care had obviously been taken to ensure continuity between the different stories. Although I'm itching to discover why Red was called & disappointed this was never resolved for me. Definitely read-worthy.