An enjoyable read but...

**Warning - Spoiler Alert**

I have to say upfront that I have only read the first two books in this series. Whilst both books are good erotic entertainment some of the issues I had with the first book has been almost identically repeated in this one.

Firstly I am amazed that none of the 5 star reviews mention the clear non-con sex that starts Michael and Daniella's relationship and that it is almost identical to the non-con sex that starts Christiano and Emily's relationship.

In both cases the women are terrified and in a captive situation. They are both spanked and then forced (though of course their bodies "betray" them...sigh) They are both clearly saying no.

I have two problems with this - firstly it's lazy writing. Just changing the names and a few minor details isn't enough.

Secondly, don't romanticise rape. I'm all for a little dubious consent and domination but when the woman is terrified and very clearly saying no there isn't a lot of grey area. In the first book he was a criminal who she was in hiding from. Christiano broke into her house and forced her. In this one Michael kidnapped Daniella and she had just tried to bludgeon him before the sex. I'm pretty sure when they said no they meant it. Although these books are far from dark and very predictable this could be a trigger for some people.

I also found it annoying and a little disturbing that there is no mention of protection or even birth control. I mean it is not mentioned at all...EVER!

And don't get me started on the anal sex - especially in this book. No lube is used and zero prep despite the fact Daniella had never done this before. I mean come on...slamming into someone using a bit of spit would send them to hospital not give them multiple orgasims. A dangerous picture to paint really but after unprotected forced sex I'm not sure why I'm surprised

Other than these things I did enjoy the story though not as much as the first book. There were quite a few annoying scenes which contradicted things we had been told.

The whole start revolved around Michael feeling grief stricken, angry and guilty over the murder of his beloved first wife 2 years earlier. It even goes so far as to say he won't move on until he finds the person responsible. Now I thought that happened in book 1 but even letting that slide it didn't happen in this book either. I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying he clearly moves on.

Daniella talks about Michael needing to teach the twins about his wife despite his grief A whole week or two passes before she is daydreaming of them calling her mum.

And OMG don't get me started on that violin. Putting aside the one in a million chance that a school teacher can play better than a concert violinist, Michael gave the violin in question to his first wife as a wedding present. It made absolutely zero sense and was actually distasteful that he re-gifts it to Daniella on their wedding day. Daniella thinks it is the perfect gift - really? I would have thought most people would have declined out of respect to his dead wife...who by the way wasn't even mentioned during the scene.

Finally it is said over and over that the twins are the most important thing in Michael's life and Daniella has grown to love them. It made no sense that they had the dog at their wedding but not the children. They also weren't even mentioned??!!

The narration was excellent though despite Thomas Lockyear being one of the better male narrators doing female voices it would have benefited from an actual woman.

I will try the 3rd book but I'm getting a sinking feeling this series will be basically a cut and paste with name changes rather than new and exciting stories. Even the pet endearment of "flower" is used in both books.

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