Lovin' los libros

 

 

Being a huge Tessa Bailey fangirl, I couldn't wait to check out her new series! While I don't read many BDSM books, I was intrigued to see how Tessa would pull it off. We already know she can write some seriously hot, dirty-talking alphas- so the jump to hot, dirty-talking, Dominant shouldn't be too much of a stretch!

 

Our heroine, Caroline, is only headed to Serve for research purposes. In no way whatsoever is she the least bit interested in what takes place in the oh-so-sexy and dangerous BDSM club. She is there to gather information about the club so she can write an article in her family's floundering financial magazine. Then, powerfully sexy Jonah Briggs strides up to her and issues her a challenge she just can't seem to find the strength to refuse. Caroline is pretty close minded when it comes to this world. Her brain finds it abhorrent and yet her body is sending her a very different message.... She thinks Jonah's attraction to her and how he can pull her in is unhealthy for her and I hated that she felt that way, because he doesn't see his lifestyle has one intended to harm.

 

Caroline really cracked me up. She claims the one night with Jonah is the only one she'll ever have and yet her body betrays her at every turn. It's like chocolate. You know too much is bad for you, but that doesn't stop you from eating it! The same goes for this lifestyle Jonah has introduced her to.

 

I really loved Jonah's character. He is such a good guy. He may be dominant in the bedroom, but there is this vulnerability about him that made me want to squeeze him and never let him go. Bailey doesn't go too in depth with his past, but it's clear people have belittled him and made their opinions of his career choice known and it's a barb to the heart. He knows he shouldn't pursue Caroline because she doesn't hide her distaste for the BDSM world and what it offers. He doesn't like that she makes him feel less than what he is, simply because of the club he runs and what he finds pleasing. That was the hardest part to read because he is such a great guy and doesn't deserve to be hurt because of Caroline's ignorance.

 

Caroline and Jonah's scenes together are uber sexy though. He is commanding and fierce, but he knows how to take care of a woman. Watching Caroline let herself go and embrace the pleasure Jonah can bring also made for some extremely steamy scenes.

 

We are also introduced to Oliver, Caroline's older brother in this book. Oliver is the one who is encouraging the merger to make their magazine a bit more liberal in their articles by including lifestyle pieces that may appeal to the financially well-off. His playboy status is referred to, and I'm really hoping the next book in the series will be about him. We also meet Eliza, Caroline's best friend, who accompanies her that first night to Serve. Eliza is all about letting go and embracing the wildness the club has to offer, but I think she may be harboring feelings for someone who doesn't know she exists.... or he is well aware of the fact and is trying to stay away because of the potential issues it could cause....

 

Overall, I enjoyed Owned by Fate. I did find that I wasn't as engaged and pulled in as I usually am with Bailey's stories, but some of that might have to do with Caroline, as I just didn't like how she kept making Jonah feel as if he weren't good enough for her. I don't think she meant to do it intentionally, as she was drowning in a world she didn't understand and didn't know if she wanted to be saved or immersed even further! I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series and my fingers are crossed that it's about who I want to it to be about!