Tag: Flame Again by Raleigh Damson

Consent is easy.

(Post contains spoilers for Flame Again)

Somewhere in social media, I came across a reader asking an author, “But is there consent? I don’t like reading books without it.” And the author replied something like, “Well.. that’s tricky.”
Admittedly I scrolled along, but I don’t think it’s tricky. There is either clear consent on the page, or it’s dubcon.

Flame Again, a spicy second-chance romance between longtime Dom and sub couple, Ivy and Gabe is dubcon.
We can infer that they’ve been doing this for a while and they have agreements. It’s clear that in the bedroom, Gabe controls Ivy’s orgasms. But there is no on-the-page discussion of safewords or scene negotiation. They kind of tumble into scenes.

There is one scene, where Gabe is kind of pushed to where Ivy wants him to be but maybe not in the way she wanted him to get there. She could have said, “no” and she could have backed out. Ideally, Gabe could have given her a clearer way to consent.

In this scene where Gabe decides he wants to punish Ivy, it’s a tripping point because Ivy has been asking him for more formality in their D/s. She’s been asking for structure and he’s been resistant. This scene shows what is possible to that goal.

Later on in the book, they use the traffic light system, and all of this is with consent being implied, with the background of it being in a long-term Dom/sub relationship.

But consent is damn sexy.

And the characters I wrote after Gabe & Ivy, Dax and Gardenia defintely ring loud and clear with the consent.

 

 

Feature Friday – August 5th

One week ago today, Flame Again came out! It’s so wild. I remember thinking that this book wouldn’t get done, it wouldn’t get finished. I had ups and downs with beta readers not finishing it (which just meant, they weren’t the readers for this book), I wondered and doubted all the things … but I am super proud of this book and I hope you’ll give it a read. Taking this week to focus on Gardenia and Dax’s story has paid off because I am now seven chapters in and I’m super pleased with the progress.

The contractor finishing the work on the house and taking away all the debris has been a huge weight off my shoulders and now heading into the weekend, I have an overgrown yard that has to be dealt with but if I’m being honest, I kind of want to ignore it. And someone should probably clean the house.

Thanks for cheering me on this week, friends! Give the books below a click- clicking on the cover will bring you to the buy links.

 

Books Worth Clicking For

Cover for Casey's secerets She could taste the sting.

Max has been Casey’s hero for years, ever since marrying Casey’s mother. His only flaw is how rigid he is about the rules as long as Casey still lives at home. After missing curfew one night, he won’t let her off lightly. She must choose between being grounded for the summer, or enduring a single spanking that will free her to enjoy her vacation.

Casey makes her choice, but neither she nor Max are prepared for the domino effect a few smacks to her backside will have, or the dark secrets that will be revealed as a result.

Max’s past comes back to haunt him in a big way. Casey is a handful, but his old life as part of a two-man team of Doms provides the perfect skills to handle the curious, headstrong young woman with a taste for the taboo, and he and his best friend Rick are the perfect men to give Casey guidance and help her safely explore her dark cravings. But when Max betrays her and Rick refuses to touch her without Max’s permission, Casey despairs that she’ll ever have them both again.

Casey’s education into her new taboo lifestyle isn’t over yet, but her two favorite Doms might need a little educating of their own.

Cover for Royally Complicated
Sex on the beach with a smoking hot stranger…

I blame the tequila.
And the way he rode the waves like he owned them.
And the delicious way the water trickled down over his washboard abs and the V thingy.
And the fact that I’m on the trip that was supposed to be my honeymoon until I caught the bastard cheating.
Yeah, I’m going to blame it on all that.
Because reckless behavior is so not usually me.
But surfer god Fyn is a breath of fresh air I so badly need.
A break from reality of the world around me.
One he seems to need, too.
It’s a single wild moment in my otherwise structured life that seems to be crumbling.
A perfect snapshot in time…
Until the royal guard shows up looking for him.
Turns out the king of the waves is actually a prince.
A real one next in line for the throne.
And I just banged him on the sand.
People say a one-night stand can be good for you, especially after a break-up.
I’m starting to question that advice.
Because finding my prince is only the beginning…
Things are about to get royally complicated.

Cover for Off Limits

Have you ever wanted something you just couldn’t have?

When her mother abandons her, Danica Holland doesn’t want to reach out to her ex-stepfather for help–even though he’s always been the one and only parent she could rely on. But when Social Services intervenes on her behalf, he rushes in with open arms…and broad shoulders, strong hands, and that cleft in his chin that drives women wild.

 

 

 

 

Cover for Worthy of Mercy

Working for the Bennett brothers gave Nige purpose, and a way to hide behind screens and technology, avoiding that pesky ‘people’ problem that he’d rather avoid. As the few people in his life started pairing off, or whatever the hell the Bennetts were with Cass, he felt loneliness closing in, like never before.

Being on the wrong side of the law had never been a problem for him, because the lines between good and bad, right and wrong… well, they were just lines, and they could be crossed, without harming others. It was all just business, right?

Ted was new to town, new to Nige’s neighbourhood, and literally crashed into his life without warning. Running from a past that he hoped wouldn’t find him again, Ted never planned to get close to anyone, but something about Nige had him hooked. Was it safe to trust another man, and maybe even find happiness this time? Could he even convince this overly cautious, but charmingly inexperienced man to give him a chance?

Nige’s traumatic past had left him scarred, and fighting severe anxiety, while Ted’s led him to hide in an unknown town, with a new name, keeping secrets he hoped would never be revealed. Falling for each other should have been easy, if not for them being on opposing sides of that line, the one between good and bad, right and wrong, lawful and criminal.

Can love overcome all obstacles, or will the many things standing in their way make it impossible? Can Ted accept Nige’s choices, and can they survive when Ted’s past comes calling?

And beyond all of that, how will the Bennetts react when their relationship puts the entire Bennett empire at risk, and alliances begin to fracture? Will Nige have to choose between his love and his life? Will Ted even survive when his identity becomes known, and two worlds collide?

This is a dark romance story, featuring content which may not suit all readers, or may be triggering. It is a standalone book, with HEA, and the characters will appear again in a future book, but will not be the focus of that book.

Feature Friday July 8th

I wouldn’t say I feel smug, that’s just not a good look, but I am grateful I still have internet, despite the shortage today (and like everyone else, I hope that’s resolved soon because it’s affecting all the things) I am also sitting here, missing good Chinese food but I am drinking the good coffee because Mr. Damson bought it last night for me.

I am thrilled to have sent ARCs out for Flame Again! Ivy and Gabe were a trial but I can’t wait for readers to read their story. Flame Again is available for preorder here.

Check out the books that crossed my path this week, give them a click and go read all the things…and you know, drink the good coffee, have the Chinese food and take the wins where you can.

 

Books Worth Clicking For

 

Cover for A Set of Three Melody Tyden My life seems to have hit a dead end. My acting career is stalled, my love life is non-existent, and earlier today, I found out that the man I’ve had a crush on for the last six months already has a boyfriend. It seems like things can’t get much worse when a passing car drenches me with water, leaving me soaking wet in front of the very man in question.

That’s when he offers to take me to his apartment to get cleaned up and things take a turn I could have never imagined. When one door closes, another opens; that’s what people always say, but I never knew there was a door like this waiting for me, one that would lead to two different but equally amazing men who are in love with each other but might just have room in their lives for me too.

Stepping through this door isn’t for the faint-hearted. I have to discover how to trust them both with my heart, deal with the ignorance of people who don’t understand the love we share, and learn to believe in myself too. If I can be brave enough, everything I ever wanted might be waiting on the other side.

This book contains mature content, including explicit scenes and discussion of mental health, intended for readers over the age of 18.

Check out A Set of Three by Melody Tyden, here 

Creed By D.A. Nelson

Berlin. Present Day.
It’s a fact of life that opposites attract. So, when SOS assassin Alex Grier, aka Greed, bumps into Nick Walker in a Berlin nightclub, sparks begin to fly.

An MI6 agent, Nick’s been sent by the British Government to infiltrate the Sisters.

But, one look at the beautiful Alex and he’s smitten.
He’s got a new mission now: to tame the feisty blonde and make her his own.
However, the gorgeous Alex has other ideas. She’s no pushover for a handsome face.
Then she finds out who he really is…

…And all hell breaks loose.
Gripping, sexy and electrifying, this is the story of Greed. She’s bent on stopping the plot to destroy the Sisters, whilst falling for the enemy.
Can she stop the attacker from striking again? And will she and Nick survive long enough to persuade the Sisters that he’s changed sides?
Men. Sex. Sin.
We ruin the rules, and revel in it.
We are the Sisters of Sin.
Join us as we dive into an elite assassin organization. One dedicated to bringing justice to the world, one kill at a time.

Check out Greed by D.A. Nelson here

 

Cover for Kat Long's One Little Victory Addison
Often the past attacks the present with painful memories.
So I stopped chasing dreams built on broken words. My plan is simple: work hard, play harder, and never—ever—get involved with anyone. Until one chance encounter with Simon Kelly turns my world upside down. He’s too pretentious, too arrogant—and don’t get me started on his storm gray eyes.
When a picture of us lands in the tabloids, we come to an arrangement. We’ll pretend to date, then go our separate ways. What could go wrong?

Simon
Addison wants to play pretend?
Fine. We will restore our reputations, but no amount of guilt can change the past. The feelings are real—too real to let her go. I know what I want, and I will get it. We’re better together than apart.
I am here to rewrite her story, whether she likes it or not.

Check out One Little Victory by Kat Long here 

 

 

 

Cover for High Bar by Ivy Nelson

Five years ago, my life changed forever.

I spent two nights with a stunning woman I’ll never forget, but I pushed her away because a relationship was impossible.
Then I came to Vegas with the second-born sons of three rival crime families with the goal of making it a neutral ground for our families.
So far, it’s worked.
We’ve prevented an all-out mafia war.
The problem?
Skylar is back and I still want her.
She’s a distraction I don’t need, but she’s about to learn that being mine isn’t easy.
I’ll test her, push her, and show her how high the bar is for pleasing me.
But if she says yes, I’m never letting her go again. Even if that means war.

Check out High Bar by Ivy Nelson, here