Title: Taking The Lead
by Cecilia Tan
Series: The Secrets of a Rock Star, #1
Date of Publication: January 26, 2016
Rating: 4 Stars
Told in the first person.
Told in the first person.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from RockStar PR & Literacy Agency and the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising".
Blurb:
When the rich and famous come out to play, nothing is off-limits . . .
Everyone knows Ricki Hamilton as the icy heiress living in a billion-dollar mansion, high up in the Hollywood Hills. But few realize that behind the gilded gates, Ricki is the mistress of LA's most exclusive private club. A place where no fantasy is forbidden and no one goes unsatisfied-except for Ricki. If she had her way, she'd leave the business behind . . . until she meets the one man with the power to change her mind.The hottest rock star in the world, Axel Hawke, has the requisite sexy look and bad-boy reputation. Yet even his biggest fans have no clue just how decadently dangerous he can be. From the moment he meets Ricki, he knows there is no other woman who will satisfy him. He can feel the heat hiding beneath her cool demeanor and he's determined to stoke her flame.
Together Ricki and Axel indulge their every desire. The deeper they go, the more she craves. Submitting to Axel opens her eyes, and for the first time Ricki knows exactly what she wants. All she has to do is take it . . .
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My Thoughts:
Rickanna “Ricki” Hamilton is helping to run her grandfather’s
business. Axel Hawke is on his way to
one of the music’s biggest award ceremonies.
What a great way to meet someone but the question becomes will it
last.
Have you ever done something that you regret doing later? Do you feel pressure because of living in an
influential family? How do you balance
your obligations and a relationship? Do
you get to have a life of your own just because you’re a celebrity?
If you’ve ever had fantasies about getting to know a musician,
what better time to read this book than around the time the Grammy’s comes
out. But if you can’t wait until
February 15, why not read it now and play songs that have won Grammy’s in the
background.
This is a book where you might try to make comparisons but it
should stand on its own – but I understand that it’s hard not to. You have to remember that it’s a work of
fiction and creativity is a must. You’ll
understand that once you find out what Ricki’s grandfather’s business is. Some things may not make sense but this is
where your own imagination may take over.
Yes, our main characters are Dom and Submissive but they are also
more then that. It’s a sexual lifestyle
but it doesn’t overtake their lives - it’s a personal expression of desire. And you will have to decide which is public
persona and which is private. Do you
like to read a person’s sexual experience – it’s like being a voyeur – so
keeping something handy to cool things down might be a good idea.
For me, one thing I found hard to believe is when the “L” word was
dropped before a relationship actually started.
But it also had me wanting to see where it went. One thing I was glad about is that we get to
know what both characters are thinking.
Sometimes when a book is in the first person you only get to know one
characters thoughts and opinions. This
time the book is from the point of view from both main characters. If you’re willing to take the chance on this
series, book two Wicked Licks, is
coming out in August. And if you want to
read more about a couple of characters introduced here, you’ll want to make
sure and check it out.
Excerpt:
"Okay,
where were we?" Sakura drank a bit more of the sake. "Last time I'm going
to say this: if Axel did anything sketchy, beyond carrying you off for a lark,
anything that violated the rules of consent, then his name is mud in the BDSM
community and you definitely shouldn't be inviting him to join your club. But
nothing you've told me so far really sounds all that sketchy. He carried you
off, you willingly had some light role play and heavy sex; you played the
submissive role and had, if I'm not mistaken, some of the best sex in your
life. And that's why you're upset."
"Because
the sex was good?"
"Because
you discovered that letting someone else be in charge is a turn-on for you.
Ricki, let me assure you, being submissive in the bedroom isn't the same thing
as being subservient or second-class to the pushy men in your life."
I
dug in my heels. "That's easy for you to say because you're
dominant."
She
sighed. "The other thing is, really, if something's going on in your head,
it's probably got more to do with you
than with him. The way to straighten it out is to talk it out with him. Axel
may be fairly new to serious dom role play but I know for a fact that he knows
about aftercare."
Aftercare. I huffed. He'd tried to take care of me and I'd
kicked him out. Sakura was making sense but I couldn't quite put it all
together in my mind. It was a lot to take in at once. "Okay, I confess.
The thing is, when I'm near him? All common sense flies out the window, Sarah.
I literally can't get together with him to talk about this without melting into
a puddle."
"Ahhh."
She seemed to think that explained a lot. "Well. Have you tried calling
him?"
"Of
course I haven't. I don't even have his number."
"Yes,
you do." She gave me a sly, knowing smile. "I programmed it into your
phone before I gave it back."
"You
sneaky thing!" I pulled my phone out to see if what she said was true:
sure enough, there was an Axel Hawke in my contacts now.
There
was also a text from Paul. Schmitt's
pressing me to schedule an appointment with you, his message read. Y/N?
"Tell him he can have an appointment with me after he gives me a slot to
address the CTC board of directors," I said aloud.
Sakura
sipped her tea. "Huh. Speaking of pushy men in your life. Schmitt?"
"How
did you guess?" He couldn't want to talk about the upcoming kinky dungeon
party. He'd want to meet with both me and Gwen for that. "I have no clue
what he wants now. I guess I have to meet with him to find out."
"Don't
be silly. Have Paul get an agenda from him. No agenda, no meeting. If the items
are too sensitive to put on an agenda, well, that gives you the answer in
another way."
"Right.
Why didn't I think of that?"
"You've
got to stop thinking of yourself as at the beck and call of these guys in suits,
Rick'. Start thinking of yourself as the Queen of the Universe whom they all
serve."
"What
are you talking about? I'm already Queen Bitch of the Universe
twenty-four-seven these days and I'm tired of it, Sarah."
"Tsk tsk. I didn't say bitch. You do pretty well with your
staff; I've seen it. You're firm, fair, but very definitely in charge and
demanding your due."
"But
they're my employees. Of course I can be all leader-like with them."
"And
I'm telling you, act like that with these executives and lawyers in the club or
they're going to treat you like Cy's little girl forever." She set her
sake cup down. "You're afraid that being a sub in the bedroom means you'll
be submissive to these jerks, too? Don't let it happen. I don't care that they're
three times your age. You can buy and sell every one of them. Act like
it."
"I
have a ‘game face,' " I said in my defense. "Ice queen."
"Drop
the ice and just think queen. Think: crown on your head." She pointed to
the top of her own head where a tiara would go and I felt myself sitting up
straighter without even trying. "Demand their respect and you'll get it,
Ricki. Axel already respects you a hundred times more than these
assholes."
"Does
he?"
I
tried to imagine what getting on the phone with him would be like. Part of me
longed to hear his voice again. But what exactly did I want to say to him?
Could I make him understand the reasons why I couldn't be with him? Could I
make him understand what was going on in my life? "I just don't know,
Sar'. What do you say to a guy who's turned your whole world upside down?"
The
door slid aside and there was our waiter with a gigantic wooden tray shaped
like a boat in his hands, well laden with a display of fish as colorful and
gorgeous as a jewelry display at Tiffany's. He sailed it onto our table, gave
us another smile, and then retreated again. The arrival of such a feast
distracted us completely from the fact that Sarah never answered my question.
About Cecilia Tan
Cecilia Tan is "simply one of the most important writers, editors, and innovators in contemporary American erotic literature," according to Susie Bright. RT Magazine awarded her Career Achievement in Erotic Romance in 2015 and their prestigious Pioneer Award. Tan's BDSM romance novel Slow Surrender (Hachette/Forever, 2013) also won the RT Reviewers Choice Award in Erotic Romance and the Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers chapter of RWA. She lives in the Boston area with her lifelong partner corwin and three cats.
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