Ella Ardent

Finished Reading October 7, 2013

3.5 Stars
Erotica BDSM

I admit it's been years since I read this, but I remember thinking it was a pretty cool story and wanting to read more. It's about a journalist who is looking to 'Out' the club. And well, lets say she ends up with some 'Self Discovery' moments.

While this is a type of 'Serial' it is also a 'Series'.
It's basically about various characters & what happens in a club called 'The Plume'.
This book was about 100 pages. #2-8 is also about 100 pages each (give or take) & #9, the final book is about 140 pages.

Now, you aren't going to be able to get to this book via any links on GR.
And the author did something very interesting. She grouped these books into bundles. Those you can find on GR. So, If you want to give #1 a try it's still free & here is the link for it on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLG2YSF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i7

The bundles are:

[b:The Plume: The First Collection|43064849|The Plume The First Collection (The Plume Collections Book 1)|Ella Ardent|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543636417l/43064849._SY75_.jpg|55574373] by Ella Ardent
The 1st three novellas of The Plume Series: Submission, Surrender, and Seduction. $9.99

[b:The Plume: The Second Collection|42972985|The Plume The Second Collection (The Plume Collections Book 2)|Ella Ardent|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543412022l/42972985._SY75_.jpg|66801527] by Ella Ardent
The 2nd three novellas of The Plume Series: Deception, Exhibition, and Exposure. $6.82

[b:The Plume: The Third Collection|43181728|The Plume The Third Collection (The Plume Collections Book 3)|Ella Ardent|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544363093l/43181728._SY75_.jpg|66996281] by Ella Ardent
The final three novellas of The Plume Series: Flashback, Switch, and Celebration. $9.99

Prch Amz September 27, 2013… (mer)

This review can also be found on my blog.

For a free book from Amazon, this wasn’t bad at all. I thought the characters were well written. We’re told that Joanna is extremely career-driven, but it also showed in her actions, and in her verbal responses around others. She’s also rather painfully uptight. I tend to not like any story with a reporter in them because the majority of them will steamroll anyone to get their big break. Not that running a story on the highly secretive BDSM club, the Plume, is Pulitzer Prize worthy, but Joanna thinks it could be the springboard to the big leagues. She volunteers to pretend to want admission and is even willing to subject herself to a battery of tests and lie about the types of sexual desires she wishes to explore. At that point I was gunning for her to get taken down a peg or two. She fails her first test, but not before being made uncomfortably aware that maybe she’s one of those “weirdos” who enjoys a little kink. Little does she know that the owner, Rex, is on to her, but he also knows her. But how far is he willing to go to protect his club?

I can’t speak for the chemistry between Rex and Joanna because every encounter they have, throughout the entire story, he manages to keep her blindfolded. She never sees him, just hears and feels him. As farfetched as those situations may seem, Joanna wants to explore her desires, but in the back of her mind the “big scoop” still lingers. When it comes to the sex scenes they’re ^@%$ HOT! I even liked the complicated descriptions of Kinbaku that Rex performed.

There were a few typos in the second half of the book, but I still enjoyed the story. Bear in mind this isn’t a HEA book; more like a HFN or just inconclusive. I may read book 2, but after reading the blurb, I might stop after that. I’m not sure how I feel about the direction it will take. I’m a HEA kinda gal. But if you like a hot tamale read, and you don’t mind the endings being up in the air, pick this up.

3.5 rounded up to 4

Disclaimer: This book was FREE on Amazon.… (mer)

Wow! This novella was a very enjoyable read. Although there are several more sequels, this first one can be read as a standalone as it contains a rounded-off episode without a huge cliffhanger at the end. However, I now have a wish to read the others as well.
It's because of the attention to detail, I think. The way the author describes the sheerness of a stocking, contrasts substances and textures like ribbon and rope, leather and lace, etc. There's sensuality in the language and in the main character's actions, to the point where you smell the rain and can feel the slippery surface of some of the props. Mmm...
There's not very much description or development of characters, but what is there makes the characters seem lifelike, understandable, realistic and interesting enough to keep the reader hooked. Although it has to be said that The Plume organisation, its owners and its clientele do seem to be suffering from an abundance of wealth and resources. Heroine Joanna is a working girl however and as such sets out to get the dirt, find the scoop, whatever the jargon is in publishing, on ' The Plume'.
She ends up learning some new stuff about her own sexuality instead.
The scene descriptions however, are detailed, sensual, sexy, hot even, and described in such a way that you know we're dealing with people with feeling and emotion though, not cardboard characters.
The ending of the novel leaves both Joanna and the reader with an open invitation. I feel inclined to accept.
In short: very nicely done & recommended!

Full disclosure: I got my copy free of charge on a special offer from Amazon.com in february 2013.
… (mer)