Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: NetGalley
From foster kid to trophy wife, Tessa McAllen is about to reinvent herself all over again—and defy every insult her cheating ex-husband ever used against her: Selfish? She’s championing a charity. Stupid? She’s getting her degree.
Boring in bed?
Kade Vandergriff can help her with that one. When they encounter each other at a singles event held at one of his restaurants, Tessa blurts out that kink is for girls who try too hard, and Kade instantly wants to show this sassy stranger how thrilling a night under his command can be…but when he learns her name, the game changes for both of them.
In high school, Tessa was the popular girl who stuttering, awkward Kade fell for. But she chose another. Now, as she eagerly learns lesson after lesson, he’s going to make sure she never forgets him again.
*Blurb from Goodreads*
I really enjoyed Loren’s BDSM Loving on the Edge series. I think she does an amazing job of balancing out the intense BDSM scenes with sweet romances.
Tessa moved back home after catching her preacher husband cheating, and is looking to start working on being more independent and self-sufficient. She has a list she wants to work through for herself, and getting involved in a relationship isn’t an item on that list. When Kade offers her one night to prove that she isn’t the bore her husband claimed her to be, Tessa jumps at the chance to explore her kinky side.
When Kade realizes that Tessa is the girl he loved in high school, he is even more drawn to her. The connection they had as kids is just as strong, and although they are trying to keep their relationship light, both Kade and Tessa start falling hard. While Kade is ready to settle down, Tessa is scared to be involved in another serious relationship. When her past comes back to haunt her, Tessa finds she’ll have to rely on Kade to help her get out of trouble and get started on the life she wants.
One of the things that I find very interesting about Loren’s books is that, more often than not, her hero and heroine have a past together. I think it really helps me believe in their willingness to jump into a BDSM relationship, especially if one character is new to the lifestyle. I also really love how both Tessa and Kade had some heavy guilt to deal with in relation to their shared history, and how that influenced the way they dealt with each other in the present.
The romance between Kade and Tessa was so well done. I really liked the way Loren had them slow burning throughout the entire book, with a few flashbacks to their teenage years to help us understand them better. It was just so wonderful, and I loved the way Kade and Tessa didn’t have a lot of internal drama in their relationship. Although Tessa was hesitant about being in another serious relationship, she and Kade were pretty devoted to each other from the very start. There was no big fight, no drama, no angst, and I thought that made their story that much stronger.
Again, Loren does an incredible job with portraying the BDSM lifestyle. I love the way she balances out everyday life with the lifestyle choices of her characters. There is just as much super hot, sweaty sex as there is emotional development and nights curled up together on the couch. I liked the fantasy scenes that Kade puts together for Tessa. My only concern with this book was that time and again it was noted that Kade was a sadist; however, I felt like that aspect wasn’t explored as much as it should have been. There was one scene that explored that side of Kade and Tessa, and I thought it could have used a bit more flushing out.
All in all, I thought this was another great installment of the Loving on the Edge series. In addition to having a really wonderful romance between Tessa and Kade, we were also introduced to secondary characters that I can’t wait to find out more about. I loved the simplistic approach to the romance, and hope we get to see more of that in the future.
I give Need You Tonight a B-