Caged by Lorelei James
Series: Mastered, #4
Erotic Romance
July 14, 2015
NAL
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “Love isn’t something that just stops. Not real love.”
Deacon McConnell’s life was drastically changed by tragedy, forcing him to embrace his rough edges and devil may care attitude as he struggled to survive on the streets. A chance encounter with Rohan Black led Deacon to becoming a professional MMA fighter and instructor for Black Arts Studio. With his large scarred and tattooed body, Deacon is a beacon of danger to everyone he meets…except for a certain kickboxing student.
Molly Calloway came to Black Arts in order to reclaim a part of her life she feels she lost. Her own less than stellar childhood has left her with scars that only she sees. When her sexy kickboxing instructor asks her on a date she is thrilled until he stands her up. A chance heated encounter at a strip club leads to a passionate kiss that sets Deacon and Molly down a path of no return.
Deacon wants to make every one of Molly’s fantasies come true and prove he’s the one for her and Molly is a willing and eager student…but neither of them are prepared for the emotional tsunami that engulfs them in the end.
Caged is the fourth book in James’s Mastered series. A bold richly detailed series that showcases what James’s does best-erotic romance. I love James’s writing whether she is dealing with rough cowboys or secretive MMA fighters. Her characters are imbibed with so much spirit and personality that they are indeed larger than life. Independent women and sexy alphas keep the pages smoking as you follow their rocky path to love. Flavor imbibed dialogue keeps the story flowing along at a steady pace, balancing well with the multiple plot lines as they merge seamlessly to provide a well won ending for our lovers. Humor and angst blend together to allow readers to experience a full range of emotions as this couple explore their feelings for one another and struggle to build a relationship.
Molly and Deacon have been seen dancing around one another throughout the series and I was thrilled to see they would be getting their own story. They both have grown so much and in here you see just how much. Opposite attraction is a winning trope for me and Molly and Deacon couldn’t be more opposite…or are they? James does a fabulous job of setting up our hero and heroine, revealing their personalities and their backstories, taking a considerable amount of time letting us get to know them and see the extreme differences between them. An inconsiderate act sets the stage for an antagonistic beginning but as the story progresses, James slowly cuts through the artifice and we begin to see that our protagonists are indeed perfect for one another.
“I won’t ever walk away from her. She needs me, and I sure as fuck need her.”
Deacon and Molly are on fire. Heavy sticky chemistry and a strong sensual base will keep you enthralled as our couple indulges in all their fantasies. Nothing is taboo or too kinky to try. You can almost touch the sexual connection that exists between them, allowing them both to push aside their differences and focus on each other. One constant I like about James’s writing is she celebrates sexuality. No slut shaming or embarrassment for her character’s sexual appetites. The physical scenes are very well done with explicit detailing and a heavy dose of erotic fun.
“Take me to bed, Deacon. Keep your promise that you’ll fuck me so many times I can’t walk.”
The main conflict is a mixture of past and present, building a solid storyline. James addresses issues and creates an engaging read that fills you with strong emotions as you watch Molly and Deacon work to build a time sustaining relationship. Communication is a prime problem that is dealt with throughout and I love how Molly was secure enough in herself and Deacon to be what he needed her to be but strong enough to walk away when he took advantage. James writes with such intimacy that we are instantly drawn into their lives. Multiple subplots intertwined with the romance. Emotions run the gauntlet as old wounds are opened and allowed to heal.
Dynamic secondary characters add even more flavor, humor, and depth to the story as we get a behind the scenes look at what is all involved in MMA fighting and everything that goes into training and promoting one. I enjoyed seeing old faces from previous books and see what they have been up to. James’s drops clues to possible new hook ups and some of them have me already giggling in anticipation.
“Dude, “ he said in awe. “You are like the woman whisperer.”
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I did feel the sex overwhelmed the romance at times. They were constantly going at it which was fun to say the least, but it seemed to be used to gloss over certain issues that I felt needed addressing. Luckily, the plotlines more than make up for this small problem I had.
This series continues to entertain and I recommend it to everyone who wants an erotic romantic contemporary series with realistic characters, emotional romances, strong friendships, and interesting lives that will keep you waiting for each installment. Though each book in the series can be read as a standalone; characters and plots do bleed over.
RATING: B+
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