Review: The King by Tiffany Reisz

FYI: This is the sixth book in Tiffany's Original Sinners series and the second book in The White Years quartet. While I have blocked spoilers within this book in my review, spoilers exist for those who haven't read up to this point in the series. With that being said...

Guys... It hurts my heart to say this, but this book was the absolute biggest let-down. To say that I was excited for Kingsley's story would be the understatement of the year. Tiffany Reisz is one of my absolute favorite authors ever and none of her books have yet to disappoint... That is, until this one. Damn, it depresses me to even let those words leave my mouth. It's only fair though that I give you all my honest feedback so alas, I must continue on...

  

Boring.

I think it's safe to say that that's as accurate as it gets when it comes to describing this story and how I felt about it. I was honest to God just bored to tears. I fell head-over-heels in love with The Saint, and to be fair I don't think any book could have topped that one- It was perfection at it's finest, ladies and gentleman. Perhaps that's why I felt so devastated when this one turned out to be such a disappointment. However, I think a lot of that had to do with the lack of Eleanor's presence in my opinion. Before going on, I need to give a little word of warning here: If you're expecting Eleanor to play a major role in this book, then you're going to be extremely disappointed- She may have made maybe one or two very short appearances and that was it. In all fairness though, my own personal expectations is what probably made this book such a let-down for me. Based on all other books involved in this series, I had just assumed that this story revolved around Søren, Kingsley and Eleanor's relationship and how it all began. What I got instead was a story strictly based on Kinglsey's obsession with opening up the ultimate BDSM club.

I mean, where the fuck was the romance? Sure, we got some detailed glimpses and scenes of Kingsley's relationship with Søren... And we also got to see him have some interesting relationships/sex with many others as well; Some who even ended up holding a special place in his heart, but none that I gave a shit about if I'm being perfectly honest here. This book just wasn't the same without the infamous Nora being present. I missed the trio together and without that, I just felt such a deep loss of connection with everything and everyone else involved.

Oh, and another word of warning: There's quite a bit of M/M action going on throughout this book as well. Not that that kind of things turns me off or anything... It just isn't my cup of tea, which in turn put a damper on my over-all feelings for the book. So was this book complete shit? Far from it. It would be impossible for any book revolving around these characters to be an absolute dud. I've grown to love everyone involved in this series throughout the years and each and every character has held a special place in my heart. It's just... This story lacked romance and instead focused on history-- Not my cup of tea either.

Over-all though, The King fills in a lot of blanks for fans of The Original Sinners series. We get further insight into Kinglsey and Søren's relationship, especially their time spent together at St. Ignatius as well as receiving a very lengthy story behind how The 8th Circle came about... And by lengthy story, I basically mean the whole fucking book. As a die-hard fan of this entire series, it was a definite plus to get some major insight into the ever-present mysteriousness of "The King" and how he came about. Unfortunately though, I just expected something completely different from this story which only ended up backfiring on me instead.

The Saint by Tiffany Reisz

REVIEW:  THE SAINT by TIFFANY REISZ

**spoiler free review**
Whoa, this book! It flies by at warp speed. I don’t think I’ve ever burned through 488 pages so fast in my life. I really couldn’t put it down, and you won’t want to either. It may be one of the best books that I’ve read this year, and is definitely the best of this series yet!

The first chapter in this book starts out with a WHAAAAT??? Nooo! Say it ain’t so! So commence the chapter burning, page turning to figure out what the heck is going on here. This is how good it is at selling the storyline. I refused to accept what I was being told, but as the story went on, I starting thinking, crap, maybe it’s true? That is how the author reinforces the story with detailed dedication.

I can’t say enough about the development of Nora and Soren’s relationship. I really didn’t have a grasp on what drove them as a couple. I think that I thought it was driven by this attraction and lust, but seeing the playful friendship that they had for many years prior to the big act, was so satisfying. Seeing in more detail, the longing and how Nora and Soren make their way back to each other over the years, is what grabs your heart.

So the story is cruising along and I’m in my happy place, devouring every bit of Nora, and her recounting of her early days with Soren. THEN IT HAPPENED.......

 Possibly the grossest thing I’ve read! So warning on this. Tiffany Reisz is hard core and I think she likes shocking us a bit. Shock and awe aside, it is still some incredibly solid story telling. She takes a lot of historical Christianity, and weaves it into the plot, paralleling the history to her characters.

This book is also incredibly funny. Young Elenor is sarcastic and witty, and Soren’s dry humor and wise ways play perfectly against each other. Also, the allusions to future events, that we as readers are privy to, leave you snickering.

At the end of this book there will be discussion about where this series is headed. I have to say I have faith in Tiffany Reisz, and either way it will be good and she will sell me on it.

“It’s a trick of the fiction writer,” she explained. “You figure out what your main character is most afraid of, and then you make her face that fear.”

I think this is what it will all come down to in this series. Layered and complex, this is a great read that will land itself on many Best lists this year.

 AMAZON          BARNES&NOBLE

Review: The Mistress by Tiffany Reisz

Holy. Shit.

I can't even........ There are no words. Absolutely no words will be able to justify my feelings for this book. If you haven't read this series yet, then what the hell are you waiting for you may want to avoid reading this review any further because it's going to have some spoilers- You've been warned.

For the love of God, this book was a masterpiece. Pure and utter freaking perfection. The most magnificent ending to an amazing series. Absolutely flawless. I could seriously go on and on but most importantly, just know this: This is by far the best book of the series- I devoured it to pieces, not that I'm surprised since the other books in this series didn't disappoint either.

...So this story picks up where the third book (The Prince) left off. ...And just a little recap, Mistress Nora has been kidnapped by Kinglsey's sister Marie-Laure.

She's beyond pissed and wants revenge for all the things that have happened not only in her past but in the present as well. The bitch is literally off her rocker- Enough said.

So, without giving too much away to those of you who have yet to read this installment yet, just know that every single one of these characters face some extremely difficult decisions and circumstances in this story. ...But what makes this book even more interesting is that we're able to get more insight into all of the characters we've grown to love, along with being introduced to a new one, whom I absolutely adored.

Everyone is on a quest to save Nora and in The Mistress we're able to see just what lengths people are willing to go through to do so. Oh, and just a little FYI: If you've ever had any doubt as to how much Søren loves Nora, then this book should be a huge eye opener for you. There were times when I was conflicted when it came to their relationship, but never once did I feel like Nora didn't mean much to Søren or vice versa...

However, this book takes his feelings to an all new level and we were finally able to see just how far he was willing to go to show his love in the only way he could. God, I love that man. ♥ ...And speaking of my men, I fell for Wesley and Kingsley even harder in this book than all of the others combined. No one tops my feelings for Søren of course, but the naughty Frenchman definitely gives him a run for his money at times.

Nora, of course continues to stay so unconditionally strong and fucking hilarious. She'll literally have you laughing your ass off, despite all circumstances. I tend to really try and avoid heroines with strong and over-powering characteristics but she's definitely one of a kind.

The woman is without a doubt probably my favorite heroine ever, and that's saying a lot. There's no one like her out there and surprisingly, it's the things that I tend to dislike so much in other heroines that I absolutely love when it comes to her.

For the record, not everything was tied up for us in a perfect ribbon at the end of the book- Not that I'd expect that though. When it comes to Tiffany Reisz's style, it's just not expected. ...And believe it or not, I actually really loved how things turned out- So much was eventually resolved, especially when it comes to the three most important men in Nora's life. With that being said though, I did feel like the story was wrapped up a little too quickly. Now to be fair, it's only natural to want more when it comes to these characters... But after being in suspense for more than half the book due to Nora's kidnapping, everything just sort of resolved at lightening speed. I don't feel that it's right to complain about it too much though... After-all, this isn't the last we'll see of these characters...

So to say that this book was fucking epic would be the understatement of the year. I can only hope that The Priest: A Romance becomes available and in my hands as soon as possible. ...As in, yesterday.

★PS: This book can NOT be read as a stand-alone so if you've yet to read the rest of the books in this series, be sure to start with these first:

-First Book: The Siren
-Second Book: The Angel
-Third Book: The Prince

Review: The Siren by Tiffany Reisz

My God... What did I just read?

I'm not even sure where to begin when writing this review because my thoughts are seriously all over the place. For starters, I honestly had no idea what to expect going into this book- I mean, I knew it was going to be completely different from the typical romance novels that I usually read... I just wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it. To say that I was more than a little hesitant to start this one would be an understatement. Needless to say though, my mind has officially been fucked... Pardon my language. ...And for the record: If that kind of language offends you, then for the love of God just stay away from this book. Lord knows a four lettered curse word is tame compared to the type of shit that goes on in this story.

I refuse to go into any extreme specifics about this book- If you have absolutely no idea what to expect when reading this, then you're in the right frame of mind to dive in. ...But just in case you'd prefer a little insight before going into this book, I'll give you the quick run-down without giving anything away... For starters, this story features four important characters, all with multiple story-lines and all which are linked together by one woman...

Enter Nora. She's one bad-ass kinky bitch and I loved her character to pieces. She's not typically the type of heroine I love to read about but everything about her worked for me in this book and I wouldn't have wanted her any other way. She was an author of many bestselling erotic romance novels, but her writing meant more to her than just a paycheck... It was her outlet for pain and loss after ending a thirteen year relationship with her soul mate Søren. However, Nora's lifestyle behind closed doors was the sole means of her support. She worked as a professional Dominatrix, and a damn good one at that. She was beautiful, bold and not afraid to speak her mind... A rare and deadly combination for a woman. However, she only ever allows others to see what she wants them to see. Underneath her wild facade was a woman who was not only broken, but hurting over her past relationship and confused on what it was she truly wanted.

Her latest novel is extremely personal and she wants to make sure that the book becomes so much more than anything she's ever written before. The only way to assure that happens, is by having only the best editor out there who's willing to reshape her writing and make sure it's the best that it can be. Enter Zachary Easton... The man can definitely be an asshole on pretty much every occasion but he's there to get the job done, forgoing all sugar-coating. Nora is instantly drawn to both him and his smart-ass remarks but she's able to see what he so clearly tries to hide... His hurt. Yet, the more time that passes between these two, the more time they spend together and soon enough Nora tries her best to reveal all his secrets- But not without Zach discovering a few of his own..

Enter Wesley... Her nineteen year old roommate and still a personal favorite character of mine in this story ever. He's such innocent perfection and completely in love with Nora. These two were so completely different from one another but despite their differences, they were still the very best of friends. The thing I loved the most about Wes, was the fact that he accepted everything about Nora... That is, almost everything...
Enter Søren. ♥

I can't even... There are no words. I absolutely love Søren. As in, I want his sadistic ass to beat me pregnant. Sound harsh? It should. After-all, the man is a Sadist who can only get off by inflicting pain on someone. Now before you get all judgmental on my ass, know this: Nora is absolutely everything to him... And him to her. Søren was Nora's former master... Her everything. He may lead a very unusual lifestyle but it's who he is and she wholeheartedly accepts that- In fact, she loves it. He's by far the darkest character I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. He's an extremely hard man to understand and his need to hurt and possess overpowers everything about him. Although it's always consensual, he's a man who loves to inflict pain on others. Not many people would agree nor would they accept his lifestyle... But I understood it because I was able to see that there was so much more to his character than the darkness that lived inside him.

Honest to God, words can't even describe how I felt about this book- It's definitely one hell of a start to what I can only assume is going to be an amazing series. Tiffany Reisz is without a doubt one of the most talented authors that I've ever come across. She's a God at being able to convey so many emotions, sometimes even without being too explicit.

Just a little forewarning: This isn't your average love story. It also isn't a book revolving strictly around sex. It's so much more than that. So if you're looking for the typical damsel in distress that gets saved by the heroic knight theme, then you need to look elsewhere because you won't find it here. Does that take you out of your comfort zone? Maybe even scare you a little bit? Good. This book can be disturbing and it will most definitely push you beyond your comfort zone. Yet at the same time, it will hold you utterly captivated from the first page to the last. This is a story that should be read with an open mind- You've got to prepare yourself to expect the unexpected because you most definitely won't get anything less. ...Now, I'm off to the next book in this series! (The Angel)

Review: The Angel by Tiffany Reisz

My God.

That ending... I can't even... I don't even...

Words can't even express how freaking phenomenal this book was. If you haven't read this series yet, here's a little word of advice: Read. It. Now. ...Don't allow yourself to come up with some bullshit excuse not to- You're missing out. I'm telling you that from the bottom of my picky heart, that foregoing this series would be a mistake. Books just don't get better than this.

With that being said, I'm a little speechless right now and still not over that ending. Thank the good Lord that I have the third book ready and waiting to be read on my Kindle, otherwise I wouldn't be alive right now. I refuse to give too much away in my review because this book is just too fabulous to spoil- However, I think it's only fair to give you a little run-down...

★ A little word of warning first: If you haven't read the first book yet then I wouldn't read this review any further... There's a few minor spoilers!
This book picks up about a year after the first book (The Siren) left off. Nora has moved on physically but her heart is still shattered beyond repair, although it's obvious that she's in denial and clearly confused about her true feelings.

Søren on the other hand, is such a commanding presence to say the least. The man is extremely intimidating and equally arrogant but damn it, you just can't help but love his sadistic ass.

He's such an honorable, Godly and giving man which just makes him not only more appealing but more intriguing as well. So much was revealed about Søren's character in this story and I truly felt like I was able to connect on a much deeper level with him emotionally. His relationship with Nora is not only intense, but extremely misunderstood. However, in this book we were finally able to see a deeper side to the feelings these two have for one another which really helped to put a better understanding and perspective on things. Yes, their relationship is extremely unconventional but their bond surpasses any and all kinds of vanilla... Er... Normal relationships out there.

So as I was saying, life is great for Nora and Søren... That is until trouble shows up at Sacred Heart in the form of a bitch who needs to learn to stay away from my man a reporter named Suzanne. Søren is being considered for a promotion to bishop which puts a slight hold on his relationship with Nora- Tie that in with Suzanne receiving an anonymous fax suggesting a conflict of interest involving the good priest and that just spells trouble. In order to deal with all the complications at hand, Søren thinks it's best to send Nora and Michael away to stay with her close friend Griffin until he can get everything straightened out and their life back in order.
...Remember Griffin and Michael from the first book? Well let me just go ahead and refresh your memory: Griffin is the funny, carefree and gorgeous tattooed play-boy while Michael is the sweet and innocent virgin (Until Nora had her way with him) with low self-esteem issues and a father who deserves to have the shit beat out of him. But that's neither here nor there... Both characters were introduced briefly in the first installment to this series but we were able to really get to know them on a much deeper level in this book... Something that I enjoyed immensely- It was absolutely impossible not to have a smile on your face when these three got together.

However, being away from Søren is extremely difficult for Nora- She hasn't left his side since she ran back to him, but spending time with Griffin and Michael lends a helping hand with opening up old memories- She finds that her thoughts constantly stray back to the other most important man in her life; Her best friend. The man who she pushed away in order to keep from continuously hurting him...

I won't go any further into detail about this story- You'll just have to read it for yourself to find out what's in store for all of these characters we've grown to love. I will tell you this as a little teaser: A lot of information regarding Søren and Nora's past comes out in this book and many surprises are revealed as well...

I honest to God can't rant and rave enough about this book enough- Tiffany Reisz is brilliant... Absolutely brilliant. The woman has a knack for playing with your emotions and really getting you to feel and fall in love with each and every character you're introduced to. Just a little warning: This book and/or series isn't for everyone. This story especially deals with some pretty questionable issues and if you're not willing to go into it with an open mind and open heart then it's probably not the book for you. With that being said, prepare yourself to be amazed because Tiffany Reisz isn't afraid to put you through one serious mind-fuck. ...Now I'm off to the next book in the series! (The Prince)

★PS: If you've yet to read the first book in this series The Siren, I would highly recommend it, as I don't feel like this story can be read as a stand-alone.

Review: The Angel by Tiffany Reisz

 
Another Tiffany Reisz book and I cried. What is wrong with me?
 
I...
Have...no...
Words...

Aside from the slice to the labia...

A slice to the labia!? Say WHAT!

The.Angel.Is.AMAZING.

The Angel is a dark and abrasive yet sensual read. It's eloquently written and will take you places you've never been. It will evoke many, many emotions from you. I went from happy to pissed off, to hot and bothered to morally offended. It's a forbidden kind of read however you just cannot take your eyes away from it.

I can't even say Tiffany Reisz pushed the envelope with this one. There are no boundaries left to push, as Ms. Reisz has toppled them down long ago with The Siren!

Nora is a trip. I would love to have a friend like her! Her wicked and warped sense of humor was some of the best parts of the story for me. She's outgoing and fun loving, but like most, she has deep seeded issues she's working to get the kink out of.

We watch Nora struggle with her love for Wesley in making herself believe she is over him, when she is clearly not. On top of that, there is a journalist out to uncover secrets about Soren who happens to be attracted to him at the same time. In addition, Nora is forced to stay away from Soren for the summer by living with Griffin and her charge, Michael.

Aside from the problem previously stated above, I would say I enjoyed this book to a degree. I found myself skimming over the long drawn out parts with the journalist. It did nothing for me and I feel as though it could be cut down a bit. The one part of the book I found so moving involved Michael's mother at the end. It brought tears to my eyes. I hated the way Michael's parents treated him. They made him feel like he was worthless. It hurt so bad on the inside not only for him, but for me as well! But what the mother did was so gratifying in my eyes.

The ending...oh the ending! The ending made up for all everything! Well...almost everything. I almost wish I hadn't read this book until Prince is released. It made my heart beat so hard and so fast! My mind was racing. I couldn't even think straight! Oh it's going to be Wesley's story! I cannot wait!


On a side note- If you have any type of religious affiliation whatsoever, you will most likely find this book offensive. We know Nora is having a heavy BDSM relationship with her priest. Priest was mentioned 208 times in this book and in most instances it was said in sexual situations. No, I did not go counting, the kindle did that for me. I felt as though the word was used heavily more so in this book than The Siren. We don't need to be reminded constantly Soren is a priest and obviously what he is partaking in is a sin. 

 

Review: The Siren by Tiffany Reisz

The Siren is one of the most evocative books I have ever read. It sheds a whole new light on erotic romance, a genre I already liked but am now really looking forward to reading more of. Erotic Romance authors beware, there's a new author in town.

Bloody hell. I cried....I cried!

I must be the only person who shed tears, not once, but a few times while reading The Siren. What is wrong with me?? The only possibility I could come up with for the tears was even though this book doesn't have the happily ever after/flowers and chocolates ending to it, I still saw the deep connection of love between the characters. I understood why the story ended the way it did. And to be honest, if all the characters did ride off into the sunset, I would have been pissed off. Instead, a collaring took place and a hospital visit was involved. This was so moving, my chest ached and my stomach was in knots. What an extremely beautiful and dark love story to read.

There are a three important notes you must read before reading this book:

1. This is not a romance novel. The characters love each other very deeply but in their own ways. It's actually very beautiful to read. Take note- THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE NOVEL.

2. There is no HEA. In fact, I would say this is an Anti-HEA book. If you need your HEA to end with the couple riding off into the sunset, then do yourself a favor and do not read this book. There are no long walks on the beaches either.

3. The most important note you need to know- This is not for the faint of heart. If you think you've read Dark Erotic BDSM stories with heavy S&M before, well think again. This is one the darkest book I have ever read and I have a feeling you will agree with me if you read it. This is extreme S&M, but sensually done right. It won't leave you cringing or holding your breath, you'll only be begging for more.

If you can over look those notes, which I highly encourage you to, then I would say you have a winner! The Siren is unlike anything I have ever read. A true memorable read and a force to be reckoned with- no joke.