Monday, March 6, 2017

The Deep End by Kristen Ashley ~ Review & Excerpt

The Deep End (Honey, #1)Source: e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Deep End (Honey #1) by Kristen Ashley


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.




When Kristen Ashley publishes a book, I read it. She's one of my favorite authors, and she has yet to truly disappoint me with any of her novels. So I always jump in to all her new stuff, excited just to get more KA. That said, The Deep End is not my normal genre. I don't read a whole lot of erotic romance. And what I do read of it, I rarely talk about because it's not my normal fare. But of course I'm going to talk about this because it's KA...and I actually really enjoyed The Deep End!

The characters, Amèlie and Olivier, drew me into their world with ease. Amèlie is confident and awesome. Olivier is sweet and protective. And they FIT together so well. With their different lives and backgrounds, they don't appear on the surface like a couple that would be so great for each other -- a fact that does not go unnoticed by Olivier -- but they truly are perfect together. They each have their own inner struggles, but they both work through them for what they want. So basically, Amèlie and Olivier were two characters I loved and felt for.

Which leads to the romance -- as I said, they're a couple that is perfect for each other. It takes them some time to get set in their relationship, but watching them get there was amazing. And this book is very sex heavy (as to be expected with an erotic romance), but I was also so happy with the sweetness sprinkled throughout. Amèlie and Olivier weren't JUST about the physical. They connected emotionally through it all, and that warmed my heart.

The writing was somewhat different than a regular KA book, but still had the FEEL of a KA book...if that makes any sense at all. It pulled me in and made me feel and didn't let me go as I read the entire thing in one sitting (SERIOUSLY), but there was also something just different about it. Maybe it was due to the increased heat level? Or maybe it was simply how the voices of these characters were? Regardless of the reason, I liked it!

Overall, The Deep End is a hot, passionate romance that I flew through! It has that KA feel I know and love, while also falling higher on the steamy scale. Definitely a novel I'd recommend to those looking for a great erotic romance!


4 stars - A hot, passionate romance that I'd definitely recommend!



She turned back to him. “You seem to have a good deal of stamina.”
“Amélie…Mistress, I don’t think you’re getting’ that I seriously find you not hard on the eyes.”
She bent closer, as intended for this part of their session, some of her fair falling on his chest in another caress. She did this letting her amusement show, if not all of the emotion she felt at his compliment.
“I wonder, mon chou, if you think you can butter me up with compliments.”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Though not sure why I’d bother since I didn’t give you one and you just made me shoot a huge-ass load the like that have never come from my cock.”
“And he gives another compliment,” she said through a smile.
“You earn it, I’ll say it, he replied, his lips twitching. “That is, if I’m physically capable of speech.”
She was still smiling when she reached out a hand and delicately traced circles around his nipple.
His eyes darkened.
Her good humor increased.
“You’re of course aware I should do something about you being so audaciously cheeky.”
Another darkness crossed his face. “What?”
“I shouldn’t allow you to be cheeky with me.”
“Cheeky?”
“Impudent,” she explained.
The look fled. “You mean, in uppity, hot-chick speak, a wise-ass.”
Amélie couldn’t help it, she laughed softly.
“She’s got a pretty laugh, too, to go with that pretty accent,” he murmured and she saw his eyes on her lips.

I could get lost in this one, she thought. Lost and never found.


**About the Author**

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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