The Gilded Cuff by Lauren Smith
Book 1 in the Surrender Series
Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense
Summary from Goodreads:
Every passion has its price . . .
Journalist Sophie Ryder has been following Emery Lockwood’s story since she was a little girl. There has always been something in his haunted eyes that she couldn’t resist and now, when she’s certain he holds the key to solving a string of kidnappings, she’ll do anything to speak to him. Even if it means venturing deep into the seductive world of the Gilded Cuff, a luxurious BDSM club on Long Island’s Gold Coast and Emery’s personal playground.
From the moment Sophie enters his shadowy, sensual domain, Emery Lockwood knows this tantalizing new little sub was meant to belong to him. However, Sophie wants more from Emery than just pleasure . . . she wants his past. And that is something he isn’t willing to give—no matter who is asking. But every moment he spends with Sophie, Emery feels his control slipping and he knows it’s only a matter of time before he surrenders to her heart, body, and soul.
My Review
*I won this book in a giveaway held by the author and it in no way affected my review or rating in any way*
Sophie is an investigative journalist and she is 100% sure that Emery Lockwood is in danger and someone wants to kill him. The same unknown person that kidnapped him and his twin when he was child. He escaped and his twin was killed saving him.Sophie must warn him and they only way to talk to him is to go to The Gilded Cuff, an exclusive BDSM club and find him as he has become a recluse after his kidnapping and this is one of the only places he goes. When they share a connection at the club, Emery finds out she is a journalist and he makes a bargain with her his story(which he has never told before)for her surrender. But someone really wants Emery dead and they will do anything to make that happen.
This book was amazing and is one of my favorite books of the year.I loved the characters so much. Emery is so swoon worthy and a great dirty talker. He loves deeply, values friendship and loyalty, and is just a wonderful strong person. Emery feels so much guilt about having escaped from the kidnappers when his brother didn’t. His brother gave him the chance to escape and it haunts him to this day that he left his brother behind. Emery has PTSD and has anxiety attacks and flashbacks. Which just cut you to the heart to read about. Sophie was a very real character as she isn’t skinny, has low esteem, and has had horrible luck with men all who don’t understand her dedication to her work as a journalist. Sophie really cares about every story she writes. This book is very emotional as Emery finally starts to deal with his kidnapping and Sophie with her past. The most heartbreaking scenes are when Emery and Sophie both tell their tragic stories about losing someone they love to evil. I can understand why Sophie wanted to meet Emery so bad. Meeting someone who has gone throw something similar that you have you just know they will understand you.
This book is about two very broken messed up people finding a kinard spirit in each other. These two characters have such a strong emotional connection as well as smoking hot sexual chemistry. I loved watching Emery and Sophie learn to trust each other and heal together. I love how the author has the characters care so much but scared of those feelings. OMG the sex scenes were so hot and sexy like I was so worried that my kindle would set fire and burn down my house hot and sexy. The shower scene was one of my favorites. Lauren Smith has such a beautiful poetic way with words. Her writing drags you in and doesn’t let you do. I loved so many quotes in this book. This book has BDSM and has Dom/Sub relationship. I just wanted to let you know in case you aren’t into that kinda relationship. I loved the secondary characters and can’t wait for them to get their own books. I want Royce’s book most.
The suspense element was so well done. I didn’t feel that the romance took away from the suspense of the book which sometimes happens with romantic suspense or vise versa. I was looking for danger around every page. This book has a cliffhanger as the suspense element of the book is not solved, but Emery and Sophie’s relationship is. I have a theory who is behind the kidnapping and who wants Emery died and can’t wait to read book 2. Also don’t look at book 2 or even think about book 2 until after you have read book 1 as it has a major spoiler by just reading the summary so just a heads up because I was so into this book that half way though I had to go buy book 2 and it spoiled this book for me.
I loved the cover of this book so much and felt it fit the book so perfectly. I am not a big jewelry person, but I want that cuff. This book was passionate, romantic, suspenseful, had great characters first and secondary, beautiful to die for writing, and was heartbreaking and swoon-worthy and everything in all the right places. This author is now on my auto-buy list and I can’t wait to read books 2 and 3.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Content Rating: Mature 17+
Heat Rating: Red Hot
Your’s in Rebellion,
The Reading Rebel
The Reading Rebel 