ARC Review: Cherished by Maya Banks & Lauren Dane

This is going to be a duo review for this book...

Exiled

Just one night? Yeah, right.

Enticed to the island paradise where an enigmatic prince is living in exile, beautiful, virginal Talia is introduced to a world of forbidden pleasure where the prince’s every whim is fulfilled and her fantasies are rendered in exquisite detail. But when the prince is summoned back to fulfill his duty to his struggling country, reality is thrust upon Talia all too soon. She returns home, heartbroken, convinced she was a passing fancy for an idle ruler and his most trusted men. Until the day they arrive on her doorstep, determined to have her back where she belongs.

To read an excerpt of Exiled, please go here!

To learn more about Maya Banks, please visit her website here!

I won this book for the purpose of an honest review before you are able to get your hands on a copy :)

Now I would say that both of these books are short stories... They are novella's.... but I was able to read this whole book in one weekend... I will let you make the decisions you want about the length of the stories. Some would say that is a short story to cut the drama, tension, lust, love and all the other good stuff short, but these two authors have done an excellent job at making the story flow, fit, and come together with a such an ease you will think you read a novel that would take you a few days to read.... Let's get started with the review...

I am a fan of Ms. Maya's writing... So, to be able to read this one before it hit the shelves (same goes for Lauren's book...) is such a pleasure. To be able to tell you guys my thoughts on this book... well I feel honored to give you my thoughts. Now of course you know I will not give you such details that will giveaway the story for you...but I will give you enough to leave you hungry... panting.... desiring to have your hands on this book!

This story took me by surprise... A good surprise you may ask me.. Yes! This story is about one woman who surrenders her virginity, her innocence, her very core of her being... To a man that has the power to control a nation... She has choices, she has options, but at what price will she pay when she learns she has to surrender to four men... And what happens when emotions gets involved... Talia fears for the worst but hopes for the best... And what she discovers is a world of erotic dreams come true, a world of being pampered and spoiled is a daily thing... A day where waking to pleasure being brought to her is a normal occurrence... But what happens when she loses her heart and soul in the surrendering... And what happens when the nation needs their Prince back to reign

Oh damn this was an awesome story.. My emotions where everywhere with this story... They started off as kinda, "Are you serious?' But then as you keep turning the pages and devouring the story... I found myself saying, "Oh damn... Be careful honey!" But then Maya threw me a damn curve ball and she had me cursing her... "How in the hell could you do this to me Maya... I mean come on... How could do that to her???" I was furious as hell that what happened - happened.... (I am evil like that ha)! But I mean seriously, this story had me all over! This story is truly one that will take you into a paradise that you will not want to leave...

Because believe me, when you meet Xander... Sebastien, Nico and Garon you will want to more of their world and of them. Damn these men for being so damn... Ugh... Everything you want in a man! They are all alpha's but knowing who is the main alpha - Xander... They are all tender, but bad asses... They are loving and caring... And damn possessive it will make you hot! They are just... Ohhhh Yea... Sex on a Stick!

Maya, you tempted me, teased me... Threw me for a loop and came back around and surprised me... I would say you had me at Hello... but you really had me at... "I will not lose her."

Sway

Levi Warner is an established, older man—wealthy, powerful, and above all, respectable. Then Levi meets Daisy, an uninhibited 24-year-old dance instructor and artist, not exactly the kind of woman Levi is accustomed to. But the young, free spirit, brings out something in him he only experienced in fantasies. When their scorching affair turns into something unexpectedly deeper, Levi finds himself torn between preserving his reputation, and exploring a wilder and much more satisfying kind of life. 

Okay, make sure you at least read my first paragraph after Maya's blurb... Oh another thing I forgot to add.. These books are in no way shape or form connected... The only thing that ties them together are the women in them are cherished beyond my dreams.... The men that attend to these two women are everything and more... That is the only thing that binds these two stories together... Okay... now let's continue....

I am a huge fan of Lauren's creative writing style... I have been for quite some time.. So it was with great pleasure that I was able to get my hands on this book... And then to know that the Laid Bare series was tied to this book... Well, I was beside myself! Yea, it is that great. Now don't go doubting yourself about picking this book up without reading the Laid Bare series. You do not have to read that series to read this one. Lauren did an awesome job at giving everything you would need to know what is going on with the other part of the gang!

Lauren built this story in such a way that you will fall in love with everyone... Well, okay almost everyone. There will be a couple of people you will want to bitch slap the hell out of, but that makes this book more desirous to me! Even though they are not major players in the story, it is still nice to see good defeat evil in the story no matter what. Anyway... this set of friends you will find yourself saying... Oh gosh, my friend is like... this one... my other friend is like that one... You will see yourself in the book. This is just an amazing book!

First we get to know Daisy, who is a kick ass, talented, give give give, help help help kinda woman. She does not take no for an answer, she is devoted to her friends - which is her family. She would do anything for them... I love that the name for the group of friends is 'Delicious.' They are women, who in their own right, kick ass! They stand by each other, they help each other, there would do anything for each other... Even kick the ass of the guy that breaks one of their hearts...

Daisy meets a man that takes her breath away... His mere presence sets her body on fire and makes her imagination hit the roof. Levi is the kinda man that can make her hottest fantasies come true... but can he make her one fantasy of love come true...

Levi is a man worth many wet dreams but he knows that his kink in the bedroom can never surface because that is not what is expected in his family. Oh gosh... his mother would die if she ever, ever, ever knew what went on behind close doors at Levi's home... But then again, what goes on behind close doors is just that...

These two get together and it is all things it should be.. Romantic, hot and heavy, lustful... all things naughty and deliciously wicked... They are awesome together, in bed and out. They get each other without invading each other's space. It is like they have known each other for far longer than they actually have known each other. They age difference kinda bugged Levi at the beginning; but Daisy helped him out of his shell...

But what she couldn't figure out what was his past and his family... Levi did not believe in mixing his bedroom affairs with his family affairs... But what happens when the line cross and emotions get involved and things are no more black and white... What happens when gray areas takes shape and lines are erased.. What happens when the bedroom secret become a dirty little secret... No one likes to feel like a secret kept in the closet...

This book is explosive.. Daisy will make you fall in love with her.. She will make you love her with all of your heart! When Daisy gives, she gives it all... and she was hoping to not give Levi everything... But really, who wants to hold back when it feels so good... Until someone shakes up your world and puts doubt in your mind that things are not as they really seem to be... But while this is going on... Daisy's friends take a precedent and do whatever they have to to pull her out of the funk and help get her back on track.. of being Daisy.

What does the future hold for Daisy... does it hold love and happiness ever after like her friend Gillian... does it hold a man that will love her for all parts of her and no matter who she is... Will Levi learn to let go of the past and enjoy the gift of the present... Will Levi find it within himself to love again but this time without reservation... or judgement for others... Will they learn to forgive and move on... Well, there is only one way... Go get the book! You won't be disappointed.. Levi will make you want to submit the minute to hear his voice in your head and you imagine what he looks like... All sorts of wicked deliciousness! Damn this story is hot!


Delicious

The Delicious series will feature Gillian's friends - Daisy - SWAY 8/12, Jules - TART 11/12, Mary's book and Raven's book both out in 2013. The books are about a group of friends, all set in Bainbridge Island, WA. More info as we get closer. SWAY will be in the CHERISHED Duology with Maya Banks out in August of 2012 and for those of you who wanted an epilogue in Never Enough, you'll see Adrian and Gillian's wedding prep in Sway. Sway is contemporary erotic romance with BDSM themes. Tart is Jules, Cal and Gideon's story and you'll meet Mary's hero at Gillian and Adrian's wedding...

To see more about Cherished, please go here! Now if you really want to be teased, go here to see Delicious Book 2.... here! Don't say I didn't warn you!
To learn more about Lauren Dane, please visit her website here!

And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy!