Review: Mastered by Maya Banks

Posted December 29, 2015 by Cocktails and Books in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review:  Mastered by Maya BanksMastered by Maya Banks
Series: The Enforcers, #1
Published by Berkley Publication Date: December 29th 2015
Pages: 368
Also in this series: Dominated, Kept
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Find on: Goodreads
three-half-stars

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Breathless Trilogy comes the first novel in the Enforcers seriesβ€”a bold new direction in erotic romance that explores the games men and women play, and the price they’re willing to pay for pleasure.
What he wants, he takes with no remorse or guilt.
She stood out in his club like a gem, unspoiled and untouched. A lamb among wolves, she clearly didn’t belong. Drawn to her innocence he watched as she was surrounded by men who saw what he didβ€”but no one but him could touch her. He summoned her to his private quarters. He sensed her fear. He also recognized the desire in her eyes. And he knew she wouldn’t leave before he possessed her. She had no need to know his secrets. Not until he had her under his complete and utter control.
What he wants, she isn’t sure she can give him.
The moment he told her want he wanted, she couldn’t resist. Instinct told her to run, but her heart said stay and walk the fine line between pleasure and pain. Though she wasn’t sure she could ever completely surrender, the primal part of her wanted to try, even knowing this man could break her in ways she never imagined. Because once he possessed her, he owned her and it would be too late to turn back. She can only pray that he doesn’t destroy her in the end.
Coming May 2016: The Enforcers Book II: Dominated

Cocktails and Books received this book for free from Galley Sites, NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.

This is my second Maya Banks book I have read and reviewed and I am finding a theme to her books – there seems to be a tale of two books; one a part I love and want more of and another that I find somewhat repetitive.

Here is a story of Evangelina – a self-proclaim mousey girl who was just dumped by her boyfriend because she wasn’t good enough.Β  Of course what she sees and what others see around her are 2 different things.Β  She is a sweet, beautiful girl who takes care of her family (literally) and her friends before she takes care of herself. Β Β After being dumped by said boyfriend the girlfriends find out he is going to be at an exclusive club that one of her friends happened to have a VIP pass for, so they dress Evanglina up to go show what the ex is missing.Β  Needless to say, things don’t go has expected and she is caught in a bad situation that the owner of the club sees high in the rafters and sends his men to save her.

Drake is a self-made billionaire that we never really find out what he really does – but considering how much muscle he has around him you have to guess it’s not good.Β  He sends for Evangelina and in a matter of literally minutes he does things to her that she doesn’t even dream about.Β  From there he wants her unconditionally – typical Dom/Submissive – she will obey and in return he will fully take care of her and those she loves.Β  Within 48 hours, she has moved into his home and then the story goes from there.

There are great things about this story – Drake has about 4 men who work for him that rotate through taking care of Evangelina – I loved them.Β  The way they all reacted to her was fantastic.Β  She bakes for them, sticks up for them and really wants to be their friend and I loved those relationships.Β  I even liked the BDSM scenes between her and Drake along with the cliffhanger (yes there is a cliffhanger).Β  I think there is potential to dive deeper into who Drake and Evangelina are as a couple and I hope the author explores that more in the next book but I did like them together as they were beginning to learn more about one another.

What I had an issue was how many times both Evangelina and Drake in dual POV format say they are not worthy of each other.Β  They both are the best things that happened to each other but couldn’t get past their own issues to realize it and it was something that as the reader I felt was over the top trying to bring that point home.

Overall I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the continuation of the series.Β  It looks like Maya Banks is also going to be writing books about some of the other characters which I am also really looking forward to as well.This is my second Maya Banks book I have read and reviewed and I am finding a theme to her books – there seems to be a tale of two books in one a part I love and want more of and another that I find somewhat repetitive.