Sweet Addiction by Maya Banks (Sweet #6)
Erotic BDSM
April 3, 2012
Trade Paperback
Berkley
Reviewed by Mandi
Ren has a very strong submissive side. She knows what she likes, and she is very confident and unapologetic expressing her wants and desires. After being in several D/s relationships, she has found all of her needs taken care with the dominant, Lucas. Although love isn’t necessarily a part of their relationship, he provides security and protection and in return Ren gives him obedience. Ren is happy and content but then an old lover returns.
Cole and Ren had a wonderful relationship ten years ago, until Cole accidentally hurt Ren during a session. Leaving a scar, Cole couldn’t cope with his mistake, eventually pulling away and leaving Ren. But their love for each other has never truly gone away these last ten years. By chance, Cole sees Ren at a restaurant and knows he must somehow arrange a meeting with her. Luckily they have mutual friends, and this friend invites Ren and Lucas to his very exclusive BDSM club, where Cole can be there as well.
When Ren sees Cole, all of those emotions come rushing back. Lucas observes this too, and knows Ren has unfinished business with Cole. In a surprising move, he offers Ren to Cole for two weeks. Ren has very mixed feelings about this. She wants to be with Cole, to try to heal what happened all those years ago, but she is also devastated Lucas would just turn her over without a second glance. And as Lucas lets her go, he isn’t so sure he can either.
Sweet Addiction is only the second book I have read in this series. I was hesitant with this book because I wasn’t sure if I would like the Lucas/Cole/Ren dynamic. But it worked out pretty well for me. The first part of the book we explore Ren and Lucas. Lucas is a more cold, serious guy, and for some reason I latched right onto him quick. He felt a little more detached emotionally but I still think I saw a flash of his vulnerable side when he let Cole have Ren for those two weeks. Cole wears his heart more on his sleeve, desperate to get Ren back, but still feeling guilt for injuring her all those years ago. He is dominant, but at the same time, more able to connect with Ren on an emotional level. The middle part of the book explores Cole and Ren and their reunion. The last third dives into the ramifications of Cole and Ren being together, and how Ren will move on with her life as she is suppose to give up Cole and go back to Lucas. I won’t tell you what she decides but I was very happy with the ending.
This book is very explicit. There are a couple of scenes that stretched my inner smuttiness. Usually when I read books that are this erotic, I end up rolling my eyes and having no connection with the characters. But not in this book. From early on I felt very invested in Ren’s relationship and really wanted to know how this whole thing was going to turn out. If that meant reading many, many sex scenes, well, so be it. *grins* There was a scene or two that was a little much for me (the scene on the boat for those that will read it). But overall, I think the core of the story is a good one.
For an erotic, BDSM book, this one fits the bill.
Rating: B
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I bought this one yesterday. I’m curious to see how it plays out. I’ve read all the books in the series and my fave so far is probably still the first one although I’ve enjoyed the series in general. Looking forward to finding out more about Cole. :)
Did you have a nice break?
I did have a nice break..thanks!
I should go back and read the previous books….I’m def intrigued enough to do it
I love Maya Banks!! Her books are full of smexiness! I read the first 3 books in this series & can’t wait to read the rest. Great review =)
P.S. I heart that cover!!!!
it is a very smexy cover!
I have this one, I hope to get to it this weekend!! :)
You’ll have to let me know how you like it
This is my least favorite one of the series. I didn’t like it on so many levels but primarily due to the fact that Cole’s character did a complete 180 from the man we witnessed in the prior books. I was very invested in his character (since book two) and the decisions he made and the life he chose in this book is something that would have never happened from the Cole that was established in the earlier books. I also felt the heroine lacked personality and depth which blew me away being paired with Cole. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I wish I could say the same. On a positive note, Damon Roche from the second book, Sweet Persuasion, still owns me and always will! ;)
Interesting…Since I’ve only read the previous book, I can’t compare Cole to him earlier. I wonder if I would have taken this book differently. For me, I was just so invested in this relationship.
Amy, I liked the end resolution, but I agree- I felt that Cole was a bit whiny, and not his usual DOM self. I kept wanting to get back to Lucas/Ren, which was disappointing for me because I’ve been a devoted follower of the series and loved Cole. I’ve always felt that this series was more about the men, and less about the women, so I didn’t have a problem with Ren.
O dear, I won this book on Twitter yesterday, and I really don’t know if I can read it. So much explicitness and love scenes.
Hey Aurian, if you don’t want it, you can send it to me ;) I will just have to *endure* the love scenes. It will be hard, but if someones gotta do it…
~Redzsm