The Deep End Series: Honey #1 Also in this series: The Greatest Risk
on March 7, 2016
Pages: 336
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Enter a decadent sensual world where gorgeous alpha males are pleasure slaves committed to fulfilling a woman's every desire. At the elite Honey club, no boundary will be left untested, and one's darkest desires will become a sensual reality.
Olivier isn’t sure what he’s gotten himself into when he joins the Honey Club, only that a dark part of him craves the lifestyle offered by this secret, exclusive club.
When Amèlie invites Olivier to surrender, she pushes him to explore his deepest desires as a submissive. As they grow closer and find themselves falling harder than either of them anticipated, the truth about Olivier’s past could threaten the budding relationship they both long for.
Gripping and seductive, The Deep End is the first book in a sensational new series from bestselling author Kristen Ashley.
I was provided a review copy; this did not influence my opinion of the book.
I picked up my first Kristen Ashley book in 2011 — Rock Chick. It was a difficult time in my life and when I found KA, I found the perfect escape. Since that time I have devoured most of her collection and proven wrong by my belief that I didn’t like Fantasy. KA has always been a constant for me. Her books have been my happy place.
When I heard about The Deep End, to say I was intrigued puts it mildly. I love when authors flip the script. When what we are used to becomes different. And that is what I expected when I picked up The Deep End. Only, the different I found was that it didn’t read like the Kristen Ashley I had come to love. I didn’t feel the romance and I didn’t like the heroine. While I loved the fact that she was a female alpha, her standoffish attitude and behavior were a turn-off for me.
A strong character, whether they be male or female, needs to have a balance. Ashley’s alpha-males certainly do. You can count on them to be protectors, sometimes a$$holes but always, always I can count on them to be endearing, loving and kind to their love interest. The positives balance out the negatives.
Going into this story I expected that there would be a lot of sex … I mean, “Enter a decadent sensual world where gorgeous alpha males are pleasure slaves committed to fulfilling a woman’s every desire. At the elite Honey club, no boundary will be left untested, and one’s darkest desires will become a sensual reality.” warns us of that. So I guess this was my fault. In that, I expected this book to be more like what I had come to love from KA where relationship and romance were the focus. With The Deep End, I felt like the plot/story was secondary to the sex.
I did love that Olivier maintained some of his strength. He didn’t fully submit. I loved the warring between his desires and who he was.
Before reading this book — and I hope you do — go into it without expectations. Have an open mind. I think had I done those things, I would have had a different experience.
About Kristen Ashley
Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.
Nothing’s changed.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.
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