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BDSM Ballet #1
Waking Kiss
A stranger in the wings, a traitorous pair of toe shoes, and a traumatic turn dancing with The Great Rubio… For ballerina Ashleigh Keaton, it’s been one hell of a night.
But it’s not over yet. When Rubio drags her to a private BDSM party at his friend’s house in the ritzy part of London, she meets Liam Wilder, a lifestyle dominant and frighteningly seductive man. Liam pursues Ashleigh, attracted by her strength and talent, but she has secrets—an abusive past and a crippling fear of intimacy that prevents her from connecting to anyone, especially a kinky playboy reputed to be legendary in bed.
Eventually he wins her trust and sets out to heal the troubled dancer, awakening her to a world of erotic obedience and sensual abandon in a series of “sessions” at his home. But how pure are his motives? Is he helping her or endangering her fragile soul? Liam hides his own destructive secrets, and so does Fernando Rubio, their temperamental friend. Over time the three become embroiled in a tangle of artifice, fears, and lies that threaten to undo everything they’ve worked for.
Will Ashleigh and Liam find the strength to defeat their demons? Or are they cursed to sleepwalk through life forever, afraid to experience the passion and intimacy of love?
Note: This 81K word romantic novel contains reflections on childhood abuse and violence which may disturb some readers.
But it’s not over yet. When Rubio drags her to a private BDSM party at his friend’s house in the ritzy part of London, she meets Liam Wilder, a lifestyle dominant and frighteningly seductive man. Liam pursues Ashleigh, attracted by her strength and talent, but she has secrets—an abusive past and a crippling fear of intimacy that prevents her from connecting to anyone, especially a kinky playboy reputed to be legendary in bed.
Eventually he wins her trust and sets out to heal the troubled dancer, awakening her to a world of erotic obedience and sensual abandon in a series of “sessions” at his home. But how pure are his motives? Is he helping her or endangering her fragile soul? Liam hides his own destructive secrets, and so does Fernando Rubio, their temperamental friend. Over time the three become embroiled in a tangle of artifice, fears, and lies that threaten to undo everything they’ve worked for.
Will Ashleigh and Liam find the strength to defeat their demons? Or are they cursed to sleepwalk through life forever, afraid to experience the passion and intimacy of love?
Note: This 81K word romantic novel contains reflections on childhood abuse and violence which may disturb some readers.
212 pages, ebook
First published June 12, 2013
About the author
Annabel Joseph
84 books2,189 followersAnnabel Joseph is a NYT and USA Today bestselling BDSM erotic romance author. She writes mainly contemporary romance, although she has been known to dabble in the medieval and Regency eras. She is recognized for writing emotionally intense BDSM storylines, and strives to create characters that seem real--even flawed--so readers are better able to relate to them.
Annabel also writes non-BDSM erotic romance under the name Molly Joseph. You can sign up to receive Annabel's newsletter here: http://wordpress.us7.list-manage.com/...
Some of Annabel's favorite authors are Laura Kinsale, Judith McNaught, Jo Beverley, Flannery O'Connor, Molly Weatherfield, and Anneke Jacob.
Annabel Joseph loves to hear from her readers at annabeljosephnovels(@)gmail.com.
Annabel also writes non-BDSM erotic romance under the name Molly Joseph. You can sign up to receive Annabel's newsletter here: http://wordpress.us7.list-manage.com/...
Some of Annabel's favorite authors are Laura Kinsale, Judith McNaught, Jo Beverley, Flannery O'Connor, Molly Weatherfield, and Anneke Jacob.
Annabel Joseph loves to hear from her readers at annabeljosephnovels(@)gmail.com.
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August 12, 2013
4 stars.****Review completed August 12, 2013
Ashleigh Keaton always wanted to be invisible due to her horrible past (not a real spoiler when you have read the blurb) Ballet has been a compulsion for Ash not a real pleasure. And due to her trauma she felt compelled to dance. Her path leads her to England and to the London City Ballet, specifically to The Great Rubio who had been her inspiration for many years.
When the prima ballerina of Sleeping Beauty pulled a muscle before her Act Three entrance, Ashleigh is the only dancer available with her shade of jet black hair who can replace her. Ash is frantic because she is not good enough to dance with The Great Rubio center stage in front of a packed theater. Besides, the shoes she is wearing are too soft and her others are not broken in yet and would make too much noise. Soft shoes are good to dance in the background but not good enough to do a prima ballerina's demanding pointe work. And Princess Aurora of Sleeping Beauty required a lot of demanding pointe work. Though the director is relentless. She has to dance despite her unfitting shoes. Within seven minutes she must be prepared to be on stage with Rubio. She hurries back to her dressing room only to end up in front of a locked door. A mysterious, very tall and handsome man with wavy dark hair is able to unlock the door for Ashleigh in no time flat, and he helps her to get ready.
After an 'adequate' performance, considering the unfortunate circumstances,The Mean Rubio invites Ashleigh to a party. What she doesn't know yet is The story takes it from there.
wake1 [weyk] Show IPA verb, waked or woke, waked or wok·en, wak·ing, noun
verb (used without object)
1.
to become roused from sleep; awake; awaken; waken (often followed by up).
2.
to become roused from a tranquil or inactive state; awaken; waken: to wake from one's daydreams.
3.
to become cognizant or aware of something; awaken; waken: to wake to the true situation.
4.
to be or continue to be awake: Whether I wake or sleep, I think of you.
5.
to remain awake for some purpose, duty, etc.: I will wake until you return.
I wasn't familiar with Annabel Joseph's writing until I read Waking Kiss and I must say it was (mostly) a wonderful experience. Waking Kiss is written in first person past tense and the POV alternates between Ashleigh and Liam. It's a beautifully as well as carefully written story about two very likable characters dealing with their painful pasts. Still, I'm a little bit disappointed that once again I couldn't finish a book without the obligatory WTF moment. Everything was perfect when I posted my update at 70 %. Shortly afterwards there was that left me bewildered and IRRITATED. WTF? I'm convinced she was not ready. Besides, it felt somewhat contrived and uncalled for. WTF again? Moreover, I believe that Never. Ever. This is all kinds of wrong. I have but I can't say that I approve what happened here. In the wake of this "incident" another drama unfolded in front of my eyes, which was rather predictable, and all the magic faded away, at least for me.
Truth be told, the transition from a very beautifully and attentively crafted story to something…I can't even find the right words…is a letdown. I am aware of the fact that the conflict needed to happen, but how everything went down felt wrong to me. In consequence I would have rated the book higher, however, due to this 'incident' and the following 'manufactured' drama it dropped down to four stars. Don't get me wrong. Waking Kiss is so worth reading and my issues shouldn't put you off. Ultimately I feel disappointed because I wanted this book to be perfect but it wasn't.
Liam is basically a fabulous and absolutely lovable hero. Aside from his gorgeous physique, he combines many dream-worthy attributes that I want to see in a hero. He is protective, tender, very caring, considerate and perceptive. Liam tries to absorb his pain by hopping from one ONS to the next. He is a playboy, a man whore and being a dominant gives him the (false) feeling of being in control and protecting his painstakingly constructed walls. But when shy Ashleigh breezes into his life, they breach each other's boundaries. She changes his life and it terrifies him to no end. To Liam love is the equivalent to loss, trauma and pain. And being out of control is not something that he is striving for. Even though he is fighting all those new and terrifying feelings, he can't prevent that his precious control is slipping slowly but surely from his fingers. Compared to Liam Ashleigh is probably the braver character. She really gave everything to deal with her issues and to overcome Then again she knew that she was in Liam's capable hands. She could let go eventually, and he was there to catch her when she fell. Despite Liam's loving father and his friend Mem he didn't really have that safety net. Maybe I should rephrase that. He had a safety net but when it came down to it he didn't have enough trust. Besides, he wasn't willing to let down his protective walls and he didn't let his friends or family members come too close to his heart. Again, it's always a matter of trust.
What I especially loved about Waking Kiss was the emotional connection with the MCs that I could feel right from the beginning. Also, the careful build-up was a real pleasure to read and until the 70 % mark nothing felt rushed. Honestly, it was wonderfully done, and the author pulled me unyieldingly into their story.
Well, I guess I need to say a few words about the secondary character and future hero of Fever Dream, The Great Rubio. While he acted like a certified piece of s@it in the beginning of the story, I could promote him to almost likable at the end of the plot. Hence, I'm definitely curious to see what kind of beauty will knock him on his arrogant ass in Fever Dream. Should be fun! *rubs hands together*
Another favorable aspect of this book is the title. It's excellent. This story
Liam and Ash have made new memories to replace the bad ones. Things have come full circle.
Recommended read.
Warning
Waking Kiss contains explicit sex and language, spanking, toys (if I remember correctly then the toy play was not so explicit), bondage and
Ashleigh Keaton always wanted to be invisible due to her horrible past (not a real spoiler when you have read the blurb) Ballet has been a compulsion for Ash not a real pleasure. And due to her trauma she felt compelled to dance. Her path leads her to England and to the London City Ballet, specifically to The Great Rubio who had been her inspiration for many years.
When the prima ballerina of Sleeping Beauty pulled a muscle before her Act Three entrance, Ashleigh is the only dancer available with her shade of jet black hair who can replace her. Ash is frantic because she is not good enough to dance with The Great Rubio center stage in front of a packed theater. Besides, the shoes she is wearing are too soft and her others are not broken in yet and would make too much noise. Soft shoes are good to dance in the background but not good enough to do a prima ballerina's demanding pointe work. And Princess Aurora of Sleeping Beauty required a lot of demanding pointe work. Though the director is relentless. She has to dance despite her unfitting shoes. Within seven minutes she must be prepared to be on stage with Rubio. She hurries back to her dressing room only to end up in front of a locked door. A mysterious, very tall and handsome man with wavy dark hair is able to unlock the door for Ashleigh in no time flat, and he helps her to get ready.
"I only had seven minutes," I said, turning back.
"I'm so sorry. I--"
He waved me off. "Fly free, little ballerina. Go."
After an 'adequate' performance, considering the unfortunate circumstances,
wake1 [weyk] Show IPA verb, waked or woke, waked or wok·en, wak·ing, noun
verb (used without object)
1.
to become roused from sleep; awake; awaken; waken (often followed by up).
2.
to become roused from a tranquil or inactive state; awaken; waken: to wake from one's daydreams.
3.
to become cognizant or aware of something; awaken; waken: to wake to the true situation.
4.
to be or continue to be awake: Whether I wake or sleep, I think of you.
5.
to remain awake for some purpose, duty, etc.: I will wake until you return.
I wasn't familiar with Annabel Joseph's writing until I read Waking Kiss and I must say it was (mostly) a wonderful experience. Waking Kiss is written in first person past tense and the POV alternates between Ashleigh and Liam. It's a beautifully as well as carefully written story about two very likable characters dealing with their painful pasts. Still, I'm a little bit disappointed that once again I couldn't finish a book without the obligatory WTF moment. Everything was perfect when I posted my update at 70 %. Shortly afterwards there was that left me bewildered and IRRITATED. WTF? I'm convinced she was not ready. Besides, it felt somewhat contrived and uncalled for. WTF again? Moreover, I believe that Never. Ever. This is all kinds of wrong. I have but I can't say that I approve what happened here. In the wake of this "incident" another drama unfolded in front of my eyes, which was rather predictable, and all the magic faded away, at least for me.
Truth be told, the transition from a very beautifully and attentively crafted story to something…I can't even find the right words…is a letdown. I am aware of the fact that the conflict needed to happen, but how everything went down felt wrong to me. In consequence I would have rated the book higher, however, due to this 'incident' and the following 'manufactured' drama it dropped down to four stars. Don't get me wrong. Waking Kiss is so worth reading and my issues shouldn't put you off. Ultimately I feel disappointed because I wanted this book to be perfect but it wasn't.
This was all kinds of fucked up. "So you don't have a bed because I added silently. I glanced at her fort. "So,
Ha. You're sitting across from one.
"(…) But when you trust someone…even if you don't trust someone…you can choose to let those boundaries down. What you experience and what you feel doesn't come from other people. It comes from you."
My breath stuttered in my throat.
"You're--you're t--touching my boundaries."
"Yes, I am. They feel beautiful." He nuzzled his face against my neck.
"You know," he said quietly, "the world won't end when you open your heart to someone. Nothing catastrophic will happen."
"If you truly wish to help her, you must first make peace with what happened to you. Just as the storm must crash before the flowers bloom--"
Liam is basically a fabulous and absolutely lovable hero. Aside from his gorgeous physique, he combines many dream-worthy attributes that I want to see in a hero. He is protective, tender, very caring, considerate and perceptive. Liam tries to absorb his pain by hopping from one ONS to the next. He is a playboy, a man whore and being a dominant gives him the (false) feeling of being in control and protecting his painstakingly constructed walls. But when shy Ashleigh breezes into his life, they breach each other's boundaries. She changes his life and it terrifies him to no end. To Liam love is the equivalent to loss, trauma and pain. And being out of control is not something that he is striving for. Even though he is fighting all those new and terrifying feelings, he can't prevent that his precious control is slipping slowly but surely from his fingers. Compared to Liam Ashleigh is probably the braver character. She really gave everything to deal with her issues and to overcome Then again she knew that she was in Liam's capable hands. She could let go eventually, and he was there to catch her when she fell. Despite Liam's loving father and his friend Mem he didn't really have that safety net. Maybe I should rephrase that. He had a safety net but when it came down to it he didn't have enough trust. Besides, he wasn't willing to let down his protective walls and he didn't let his friends or family members come too close to his heart. Again, it's always a matter of trust.
What I especially loved about Waking Kiss was the emotional connection with the MCs that I could feel right from the beginning. Also, the careful build-up was a real pleasure to read and until the 70 % mark nothing felt rushed. Honestly, it was wonderfully done, and the author pulled me unyieldingly into their story.
Well, I guess I need to say a few words about the secondary character and future hero of Fever Dream, The Great Rubio. While he acted like a certified piece of s@it in the beginning of the story, I could promote him to almost likable at the end of the plot. Hence, I'm definitely curious to see what kind of beauty will knock him on his arrogant ass in Fever Dream. Should be fun! *rubs hands together*
Another favorable aspect of this book is the title. It's excellent. This story
Liam and Ash have made new memories to replace the bad ones. Things have come full circle.
Recommended read.
Warning
Waking Kiss contains explicit sex and language, spanking, toys (if I remember correctly then the toy play was not so explicit), bondage and
July 15, 2013
5 STARS!!!!!
Waking Kiss was not the first book I’ve read by Annabel Joseph, but it was by far the best! Emotional, captivating, sexy and beautiful- a must read!
Ashleigh Keaton is an American ballerina in London. She is part of the background and she is comfortable there. Ballet has always been a necessity to her. An escape. One night changes everything. Ashleigh is thrusted onto stage to dance in the spotlight with Rubio after another dancer is injured. While Ashleigh is changing her shoes, she meets Liam. Liam is in the security business and is friends with Rubio.
After the dance, Rubio invites Ashleigh to a private party. She goes, but she has no idea what she is getting into. The party happens to be at Liam’s house. She hangs out with him for a while. After some miscommunication between the two, Ashleigh realizes what kind of party this really is.
Ashleigh rushes off after that. Liam cannot get that beautiful ballerina out of his mind. He feels like he needs to find her and apologize for the misunderstanding so he does. Liam becomes enthralled with Ashleigh. The more time he spends watching her dance, the more he wants her. After talking some with Liam, Ashleigh feels like he might be just what she needs to get over her damaged past.
It takes a lot of time, trust, and understanding, but Liam gets Ashleigh to open up to him in ways she never has before. They have a strong connection, both emotionally and sexually.
Soon enough, we find out that Ashleigh is not the only one with a traumatic past. She isn’t the only one who is broken. The more time she spends with Liam, the more he helps her, the more she starts to fall in love with him. It isn’t one sided, Liam is having these feelings as well. His past is making it difficult to come to terms with them. Liam is the way he is for a reason. Liam helped Ashleigh overcome her issues, now it is her turn to help him.
Ashleigh and Liam were both unforgettable characters. I loved their relationship and how it progressed. Liam was so understanding and caring for Ashleigh. He was willing to do whatever it took to help her. Ashleigh was such a strong woman. It takes a lot to overcome a past like that, but with Liam’s help, she is able to heal.
The secondary characters were great as well! Mem was just wonderful. And RUBIO Oh dear Rubio. This man brought all the comic relief to the story. He was just hilarious. He was a bit of an ass at first, but became a good friend to Ashleigh when she needed it. I am so happy he is getting his own book! There is a sneak peak to it at the end of Waking Kiss and I can already tell it is going to be amazing!
A truly beautiful story about healing, love and self discovery. It was emotional, but also had all the heat and sexy BDSM scenes. The perfect combination. I love reading about damaged characters. There is just something about flawed people coming together and helping each other heal that makes for my favorite types of books. I can’t tell you how impressed I was with this book. I can tell this series is going to be amazing!!!
Waking Kiss was not the first book I’ve read by Annabel Joseph, but it was by far the best! Emotional, captivating, sexy and beautiful- a must read!
Ashleigh Keaton is an American ballerina in London. She is part of the background and she is comfortable there. Ballet has always been a necessity to her. An escape. One night changes everything. Ashleigh is thrusted onto stage to dance in the spotlight with Rubio after another dancer is injured. While Ashleigh is changing her shoes, she meets Liam. Liam is in the security business and is friends with Rubio.
After the dance, Rubio invites Ashleigh to a private party. She goes, but she has no idea what she is getting into. The party happens to be at Liam’s house. She hangs out with him for a while. After some miscommunication between the two, Ashleigh realizes what kind of party this really is.
I was thinking video games, pool tables, maybe a trampoline. That would have been awesome. Yeah, this is not a playroom. This is a sex dungeon. Not the same thing, Liam Wilder. Jesus Christ, these people are naked. And what- what the fuck are they-?
Ashleigh rushes off after that. Liam cannot get that beautiful ballerina out of his mind. He feels like he needs to find her and apologize for the misunderstanding so he does. Liam becomes enthralled with Ashleigh. The more time he spends watching her dance, the more he wants her. After talking some with Liam, Ashleigh feels like he might be just what she needs to get over her damaged past.
‘I just want to be normal. I need someone to help me. Someone with skills. Someone I can trust.’
It takes a lot of time, trust, and understanding, but Liam gets Ashleigh to open up to him in ways she never has before. They have a strong connection, both emotionally and sexually.
Turn off the boundaries in your mind and let me touch you. Let yourself feel whatever you want to feel.
Soon enough, we find out that Ashleigh is not the only one with a traumatic past. She isn’t the only one who is broken. The more time she spends with Liam, the more he helps her, the more she starts to fall in love with him. It isn’t one sided, Liam is having these feelings as well. His past is making it difficult to come to terms with them. Liam is the way he is for a reason. Liam helped Ashleigh overcome her issues, now it is her turn to help him.
Trust me, please. Love doesn’t have to be a tragic thing.
Ashleigh and Liam were both unforgettable characters. I loved their relationship and how it progressed. Liam was so understanding and caring for Ashleigh. He was willing to do whatever it took to help her. Ashleigh was such a strong woman. It takes a lot to overcome a past like that, but with Liam’s help, she is able to heal.
The secondary characters were great as well! Mem was just wonderful. And RUBIO Oh dear Rubio. This man brought all the comic relief to the story. He was just hilarious. He was a bit of an ass at first, but became a good friend to Ashleigh when she needed it. I am so happy he is getting his own book! There is a sneak peak to it at the end of Waking Kiss and I can already tell it is going to be amazing!
A truly beautiful story about healing, love and self discovery. It was emotional, but also had all the heat and sexy BDSM scenes. The perfect combination. I love reading about damaged characters. There is just something about flawed people coming together and helping each other heal that makes for my favorite types of books. I can’t tell you how impressed I was with this book. I can tell this series is going to be amazing!!!
August 15, 2017
★★★★★! Waking Kiss, book 1 (stand-alone). Broken, timid yet very endearing Ballerina meets jaded, hard-core Dom! It’s a journey of self-exploration, coping with pasts & a budding romance!
“I wanted this girl, entitled asshole that I was, but I didn’t deserve her.”
The City/BDSM Ballet Series are stand-alones, but since characters from book 1 will reappear in book 2 I recommend they’d be read in order:
Book 1: Waking Kiss
Book 2: Fever Dream
Waking Kiss opens up with Ashleigh Keaton a corps ballerina at the London City Ballet being forced to step in to dance the lead in Sleeping Beauty with the world-famous Rubio. A very moody Rubio is not happy with the last minute change and berates her performance.
Liam Wilder, a friend of Rubio’s had helped Ashleigh find her shoes before the performance. Backstage they meet again and Rubio invites Ash, to an after party. As it turns out Liam and Rubio are heavily into the BDSM scene and Liam’s house has a decked out basement playroom.
Needless to say things do not go well at the party, with Liam all set on playing and getting laid bringing Ashleigh to his playroom. But she has sparked something in Liam who seeks her out to seduce her yet again, but she is also bringing out a softer side of him. As the story unfolds we learn that Ash has a very painful past and is a victim of…
We also learn that the very in-control Liam also has secrets. Follow them as they uncover each other’s painful pasts and explore BDSM including everything that I sex with a very skilled and kinky yet patient lover, Liam. All set against the backdrop of a season at the London City Ballet.
Liam Wilder will go on my favorite hero shelf! I loved everything about him! Seven words to describe Liam: Charismatic, powerful, domineering, noble, jaded, broken and closed off.
“You can put your bra back on if you want. A lot of people play in clothes.” I turned and gestured around the room, where absolutely no one was playing in clothes. “Maybe not tonight, but…”
Ashleigh Keaton was a heroine who with her past and personality easily could be a victim, but for me she wasn’t. She was simply wonderful! Seven words to describe Ashleigh: Broken, lonely, kind, timid, insecure, despondent and lovable.
Warning! This story includes I thought both were handled well, still I might have wished
Waking Kiss is very much Liam and Ashleigh’s journey of self-discover and letting go and it ends... Book 2, Fever Dream will be about their friend Fernando Rubio, who played an important part in their story.
Interesting and fresh plot! Memorable and captivating hero and heroine! Excellent story-telling! The perfect read! I am highly recommending!
“Some part of me was aroused by that trust. Another part of me felt like the wolf leading Red Riding Hood into the forest.”
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Storyline concept rating: 5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): 5 stars
************************************************
Overall rating: 5 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
(GIF approved by GR 11-2013)
September 30, 2013
**4.5 Sleeping Beauty Stars**
A Waking Kiss ballet with no kiss?
Liam is a lifestyle dominant.
Ashleigh is ballerina.
The Great Rubio is Ashleigh's inspiration to be a better ballerina and Liam's friend.
The Prima ballerina is injured between scenes and Ash is thrown into her spot to dance with The Great Rubio. The performance wasn't the best but Ash survived it. Coaxed by Rubio to join an after party Ash reluctantly goes and is introduced to a world where playrooms don't refer to video games and pool tables.
Rubio adds just enough inappropriate humor to lighten the story at certain moments. The next book out will be his story: Fever Dream.
SERIES:
No cliffhanger. Continuing story with secondary characters as the main characters.
Buddy read with Kara and Christy!
A Waking Kiss ballet with no kiss?
"Why must it be so literal? Sometimes what wakes you is not a kiss. It is a vision or an action. A feeling. A person you meet, who changes you some way."
Liam is a lifestyle dominant.
Ashleigh is ballerina.
The Great Rubio is Ashleigh's inspiration to be a better ballerina and Liam's friend.
The Prima ballerina is injured between scenes and Ash is thrown into her spot to dance with The Great Rubio. The performance wasn't the best but Ash survived it. Coaxed by Rubio to join an after party Ash reluctantly goes and is introduced to a world where playrooms don't refer to video games and pool tables.
Rubio adds just enough inappropriate humor to lighten the story at certain moments. The next book out will be his story: Fever Dream.
SERIES:
No cliffhanger. Continuing story with secondary characters as the main characters.
Buddy read with Kara and Christy!
October 8, 2013
4.5 stars
One day your prince will come, slay all your dragons and you will live Happily Ever After, right!?! But that’s only in fairy tales, in the real world you have to take matters into your own hands and proposition the devil to chase your fears away and so the story of Ashleigh and Liam begins and it all started with a slipper
Ashleigh has lived in a nightmare all of her life, tired of living in fear, so when a new world was opened up to her by chance, she begins to formulate a plan that will risk her control just to get that piece of herself back. Liam may be the master of his own universe, controlling those around him or under him, but deep down there is a white knight waiting to break free. An agreement is made; Ashleigh is convinced that by using Liam’s skill, he will help her get to a place where she can be free and finally meet her prince charming
Liam knows deep down that Ashleigh is different than any girl he has invited to his home, he needs to somehow find a way to help her without hurting her. He isn’t a man who can love, or be loved, he is a man who enjoys bringing his partners to sexual bliss, nothing more nothing less.
It’s never as easy as it seems, he has his own secrets that start to creep back into his life, the way Ashleigh is making him feel is far too dangerous for his and her own heart.
Liam was dominant yet kind, took his time with Ashleigh and made sure that even when she wasn’t with him, she would be safe and protected. Ashleigh was a brave tortured soul, who just needed a kiss from her Prince but even in some fairy tales the Prince needs saving as well. It was a beautiful story that I simply couldn’t put down. I had my reservations on reading it but I’m glad I did because it was a erotically beautiful story. Liam was worth it all, even though he was a hypocritical liar; I still loved him. Rubio's story is next, I'm not entirely sure I'm ready to jump in quite yet, he was a tough one to like in this story, so I may give it some time before I jump in.
**Whatsapp BR with Lac and Lils** Thanks ladies for another goodie!!!
"Beautiful and fearless, tender and affectionate and rough and elemental…"
One day your prince will come, slay all your dragons and you will live Happily Ever After, right!?! But that’s only in fairy tales, in the real world you have to take matters into your own hands and proposition the devil to chase your fears away and so the story of Ashleigh and Liam begins and it all started with a slipper
Ashleigh has lived in a nightmare all of her life, tired of living in fear, so when a new world was opened up to her by chance, she begins to formulate a plan that will risk her control just to get that piece of herself back. Liam may be the master of his own universe, controlling those around him or under him, but deep down there is a white knight waiting to break free. An agreement is made; Ashleigh is convinced that by using Liam’s skill, he will help her get to a place where she can be free and finally meet her prince charming
"I’d avoided passion and sex for years because I feared force, because I was afraid to give up control, but somehow he took all of that out of the equation and made me want him."
Liam knows deep down that Ashleigh is different than any girl he has invited to his home, he needs to somehow find a way to help her without hurting her. He isn’t a man who can love, or be loved, he is a man who enjoys bringing his partners to sexual bliss, nothing more nothing less.
"For me to survive handling her, for her to survive dealing with me, it had to become about hardcore, focused, balls-to-the-wall sex."
It’s never as easy as it seems, he has his own secrets that start to creep back into his life, the way Ashleigh is making him feel is far too dangerous for his and her own heart.
"She stared up at me, and I swear the deeper I thrust inside her, the deeper I fell in love with her.
It was disaster, and bliss."
Liam was dominant yet kind, took his time with Ashleigh and made sure that even when she wasn’t with him, she would be safe and protected. Ashleigh was a brave tortured soul, who just needed a kiss from her Prince but even in some fairy tales the Prince needs saving as well. It was a beautiful story that I simply couldn’t put down. I had my reservations on reading it but I’m glad I did because it was a erotically beautiful story. Liam was worth it all, even though he was a hypocritical liar; I still loved him. Rubio's story is next, I'm not entirely sure I'm ready to jump in quite yet, he was a tough one to like in this story, so I may give it some time before I jump in.
**Whatsapp BR with Lac and Lils** Thanks ladies for another goodie!!!
December 30, 2018
3.5* kinky sleeping beauty STARS!
My first ballet read was Mercy and really different from Waking Kiss. Her other works, Firebird was also about ballet involve two kinky people. I had high hopes with this story but sadly, it didn't meet my expectation.
Ashleigh Keaton wouldn't dream to dance with her idol-slash-crush, The Great Rubio. He's basically a God but truthfully, he's kinda asshole. When Rubio dragged her to an unknown party by a mysterious stranger, Liam Wilder, Ashleigh couldn't deny his attraction and something in the past holds her off. Liam determined to get to know and help Ashleigh because he couldn't forget her. He isn't prepare for what's she has for him.
At first, I liked Ashleigh like a common girl. She's very introvert and didn't like attention. She enjoys dance and of course, because of Fernando Rubio. She was really hurt in the past and afraid for having sex. Then came Liam, like a knight in shinning armor, offers help in the form of BDSM. Well, because he's a lifestyle Dominant and he really like Ashleigh. Because therapist and some kind like that didn't work for her, finally she accepted his guidance.
Both Ashleigh and Liam has their own tug-of-war. I wouldn't say they're my favorite couple because some things didn't work for me. I liked how Liam introduce Ashleigh patiently to BDSM world. She's timid but wanna try new things. I just didn't like when Ashleigh had breakdown. But it was forgiven because human nature to fight or flight, yet Ashleigh chose to flight.
Liam really did safe and softcore BDSM towards Ashleigh for her mental healing. Nothing hardcore, mostly discipline and punishment with spanking. My disappointment was only the lack of sex scenes. I wanted dirtier beside sweet and romantic kind of sex. Also I didn't expect them to be...
I loved their chemistry from the first and how they're heal each other. Liam wasn't a saint either. His awful past as a child. Ashleigh was really like an angel for Liam. She's patiently accept his behavior to drive her out of his life even he's in love with her. Overall, it was a great read with low intensity of BDSM. More likely a journey of two person with scars in the past and embracing each other with happy ending.
My first ballet read was Mercy and really different from Waking Kiss. Her other works, Firebird was also about ballet involve two kinky people. I had high hopes with this story but sadly, it didn't meet my expectation.
Ashleigh Keaton wouldn't dream to dance with her idol-slash-crush, The Great Rubio. He's basically a God but truthfully, he's kinda asshole. When Rubio dragged her to an unknown party by a mysterious stranger, Liam Wilder, Ashleigh couldn't deny his attraction and something in the past holds her off. Liam determined to get to know and help Ashleigh because he couldn't forget her. He isn't prepare for what's she has for him.
She held my hand like I had all the answers, like she trusted me implicitly. Some part of me was aroused by that trust. Another part of me felt like the wolf leading Red Riding Hood into the forest.
At first, I liked Ashleigh like a common girl. She's very introvert and didn't like attention. She enjoys dance and of course, because of Fernando Rubio. She was really hurt in the past and afraid for having sex. Then came Liam, like a knight in shinning armor, offers help in the form of BDSM. Well, because he's a lifestyle Dominant and he really like Ashleigh. Because therapist and some kind like that didn't work for her, finally she accepted his guidance.
Both Ashleigh and Liam has their own tug-of-war. I wouldn't say they're my favorite couple because some things didn't work for me. I liked how Liam introduce Ashleigh patiently to BDSM world. She's timid but wanna try new things. I just didn't like when Ashleigh had breakdown. But it was forgiven because human nature to fight or flight, yet Ashleigh chose to flight.
Liam really did safe and softcore BDSM towards Ashleigh for her mental healing. Nothing hardcore, mostly discipline and punishment with spanking. My disappointment was only the lack of sex scenes. I wanted dirtier beside sweet and romantic kind of sex. Also I didn't expect them to be...
I loved their chemistry from the first and how they're heal each other. Liam wasn't a saint either. His awful past as a child. Ashleigh was really like an angel for Liam. She's patiently accept his behavior to drive her out of his life even he's in love with her. Overall, it was a great read with low intensity of BDSM. More likely a journey of two person with scars in the past and embracing each other with happy ending.
August 31, 2016
* 4 "Made me want to suck a......LOLLIPOP" STARS**
I won't waste anyone's time posting one of my mediocre reviews when it could be better spent reading the book . ... READ IT!
P.S ...Yes, there are a few slightly annoying scenes but even my picky self was able to look past them :-)
July 8, 2013
Annabel does it again. She throws these amazing characters into a book that will suck you in till the end. I LOVE this book. I always enjoy the ballet Annabel, throws in the ballet mixed with some highly BDSM that is a win win type of book for me.
Ashleigh and Liam both have dark past. Putting Liam and Ashleigh together and you get emotional roller coaster of a ride.
Ashleigh is in the ballet and is having a horrible night, then Liam comes and helps her out. When Rubio takes her to an after party which is a BDSM party she is not quite sure what is going on. She knows nothing of this life style. Comes to find out it's Liam house and party which he thinks she is into the life style so he tries to pro sway her into coming down stairs to join in on the fun. Finding out she is actually not into BDSM.
Things start to take off from there when the sweet Ashleigh is so innocent and almost pure. When Liam is a full dominant that does not do relationships.
This takes into a full mind blowing story. I love both characters. This is a must read. The only thing I do wish is that it was longer so I could make this last a lot longer.
Copy provided by author for exchange for an honest review.
Ashleigh and Liam both have dark past. Putting Liam and Ashleigh together and you get emotional roller coaster of a ride.
Ashleigh is in the ballet and is having a horrible night, then Liam comes and helps her out. When Rubio takes her to an after party which is a BDSM party she is not quite sure what is going on. She knows nothing of this life style. Comes to find out it's Liam house and party which he thinks she is into the life style so he tries to pro sway her into coming down stairs to join in on the fun. Finding out she is actually not into BDSM.
Things start to take off from there when the sweet Ashleigh is so innocent and almost pure. When Liam is a full dominant that does not do relationships.
This takes into a full mind blowing story. I love both characters. This is a must read. The only thing I do wish is that it was longer so I could make this last a lot longer.
Copy provided by author for exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2017
My Ashleigh and Liam:
Ashleigh is shy and sensitive ballet dancer with dark past. Liam is experienced dominant with the issues of his own. Ashleigh has always been afraid of intimacy and giving up control, can Liam change that? Can true passion and BDSM lifestyle solve troubled minds? Or will it make it worse?
Waking Kiss was addictive story which I could not put down. It was nothing like traditional erotic novels. Waking Kiss is mostly about pushing mental boundaries and sexual self-discovery. Author never prettyfied characters or their behaviour. She never tiptoed around their problems. Her writing was raw, direct and I really liked that.
Liam is full of contradictions. Gentle but possesive. Rough but caring. I really liked his character.
Ashleigh is weird and damaged. She was a mess at the beginning of this book. I understand that some readers may be irritated by her behaviour (constant crying, breakdowns and being a coward). But trust me, it gets better and I grew to like her a lot!
Great Rubio, Liam's friend and Ashleigh's idol. I didn't know what to think of him and his confusing character. But he is getting his own book Fever Dream soon and I have to admit I am very intrigued to read it!
I find it fascinating to read about vanilla girl turning kinky when she meets the right man. Add beautiful writing, unique touch and you get this really good BDSM story!
Warning: Do not read this if you may feel offended by D/s role play or menage scenes.
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing
Ashleigh is shy and sensitive ballet dancer with dark past. Liam is experienced dominant with the issues of his own. Ashleigh has always been afraid of intimacy and giving up control, can Liam change that? Can true passion and BDSM lifestyle solve troubled minds? Or will it make it worse?
Waking Kiss was addictive story which I could not put down. It was nothing like traditional erotic novels. Waking Kiss is mostly about pushing mental boundaries and sexual self-discovery. Author never prettyfied characters or their behaviour. She never tiptoed around their problems. Her writing was raw, direct and I really liked that.
Liam is full of contradictions. Gentle but possesive. Rough but caring. I really liked his character.
Ashleigh is weird and damaged. She was a mess at the beginning of this book. I understand that some readers may be irritated by her behaviour (constant crying, breakdowns and being a coward). But trust me, it gets better and I grew to like her a lot!
Great Rubio, Liam's friend and Ashleigh's idol. I didn't know what to think of him and his confusing character. But he is getting his own book Fever Dream soon and I have to admit I am very intrigued to read it!
“Ashleigh was the answer to a prayer I hadn’t even known how to put together. She was all up in my boundaries, and it was a wonderful thing.”
I find it fascinating to read about vanilla girl turning kinky when she meets the right man. Add beautiful writing, unique touch and you get this really good BDSM story!
Warning: Do not read this if you may feel offended by D/s role play or menage scenes.
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing
September 8, 2013
4.5 Twisting, Turning, Restraining, Broken Stars * * * */*
Thank you SueBee for reminding me to read this book!
First, it is very important to note the author states in the blurb references of reflections on childhood abuse and violence which could be possible triggers for some readers. Due to the nature of this tale, she was correct in her warning.
The backdrop for this story is London's City Ballet company. To use the art of ballet and ballet dancers is really brilliant for a BDSM romance story, as what could parallel pushing limits and beyond. All the discipline and punishment a dancer's body experiences is perfect training for a little submissive.
We find our dancer, Ashleigh, in the worst situation possible for her; she is being thrust into the spotlight with her idol Fernando Rubio due to an injury of the lead during the performance of Sleeping Beauty. You see, Ashleigh has worked very hard to melt into the background her whole dancing career; her goal in life has been to be invisible.
Of course, dancing with "the Great Rubio" was overwhelming, nerve-wracking and traumatic. Rubio calls her names during the performance re enforcing her dread of the limelight. The only saving grace during this life changing event is her meeting Liam, a security expert. As Ashleigh tries to escape the theater after the performance, Rubio sees her and drags her with his group to an after party at Liam's house.
The hook of this story then reveals itself...party's purpose revolves around a BDSM playroom.
Ashleigh has a different thought, " His playroom? I was thinking video games, pool tables, maybe a trampoline. That would have been awesome."
But that was not what she walked into.. and ran away from. Liam was under the impression from Rubio, Ashleigh was a willing and knowledgeable "player".
Liam is intrigued by the innocent ballerina and goes to her home the next day with the desire to bed her to get her out of his system. Both are attracted to each other and although, Ashleigh knows she has serious sexual issues, her responsiveness to Liam leads them to the brink of the act. Unfortunately, Ashleigh's experience of childhood sexual abuse has spoiled her ability to see sex as good and non threatening. Liam witnesses this breakdown and wants to be there for her.
After a few more episodes of getting close but not being able to complete the sexual act with Liam or anyone else for that matter... Ashleigh, curious about the submission aspect in the BSDM lifestyle, approaches Liam with a proposition; train me and help me to enjoy sex like a real non damaged person. Liam with his reputation of bedding and discarding is what Ashleigh thinks she wants; so a bargain is struck. He will work with her to change her responses to sex by retraining her mind and body.
This book smartly covers so many topics; sexual abuse and its legacy in a person's life, what is real intimacy, fear of loving and leaving yourself open for abandonment and vulnerability. It also openly demonstrates how BDSM works in a loving manner.
I throughly enjoyed this read; it transported me back to a time when toes shoes, leotards and tights were staples in my closet. The author got the need to dance right. I am thinking if she got that right, her other details in the story, ahem, were correct as well.
This London ballet company will continue to be a backdrop for the future books with the secondary characters from this one. The "Great Rubio" will show us how "great " he really is in the next tale. I will be 'click clicking' when it is front and center to take the stage.
Thank you SueBee for reminding me to read this book!
First, it is very important to note the author states in the blurb references of reflections on childhood abuse and violence which could be possible triggers for some readers. Due to the nature of this tale, she was correct in her warning.
The backdrop for this story is London's City Ballet company. To use the art of ballet and ballet dancers is really brilliant for a BDSM romance story, as what could parallel pushing limits and beyond. All the discipline and punishment a dancer's body experiences is perfect training for a little submissive.
We find our dancer, Ashleigh, in the worst situation possible for her; she is being thrust into the spotlight with her idol Fernando Rubio due to an injury of the lead during the performance of Sleeping Beauty. You see, Ashleigh has worked very hard to melt into the background her whole dancing career; her goal in life has been to be invisible.
Of course, dancing with "the Great Rubio" was overwhelming, nerve-wracking and traumatic. Rubio calls her names during the performance re enforcing her dread of the limelight. The only saving grace during this life changing event is her meeting Liam, a security expert. As Ashleigh tries to escape the theater after the performance, Rubio sees her and drags her with his group to an after party at Liam's house.
The hook of this story then reveals itself...party's purpose revolves around a BDSM playroom.
Ashleigh has a different thought, " His playroom? I was thinking video games, pool tables, maybe a trampoline. That would have been awesome."
But that was not what she walked into.. and ran away from. Liam was under the impression from Rubio, Ashleigh was a willing and knowledgeable "player".
Liam is intrigued by the innocent ballerina and goes to her home the next day with the desire to bed her to get her out of his system. Both are attracted to each other and although, Ashleigh knows she has serious sexual issues, her responsiveness to Liam leads them to the brink of the act. Unfortunately, Ashleigh's experience of childhood sexual abuse has spoiled her ability to see sex as good and non threatening. Liam witnesses this breakdown and wants to be there for her.
After a few more episodes of getting close but not being able to complete the sexual act with Liam or anyone else for that matter... Ashleigh, curious about the submission aspect in the BSDM lifestyle, approaches Liam with a proposition; train me and help me to enjoy sex like a real non damaged person. Liam with his reputation of bedding and discarding is what Ashleigh thinks she wants; so a bargain is struck. He will work with her to change her responses to sex by retraining her mind and body.
This book smartly covers so many topics; sexual abuse and its legacy in a person's life, what is real intimacy, fear of loving and leaving yourself open for abandonment and vulnerability. It also openly demonstrates how BDSM works in a loving manner.
I throughly enjoyed this read; it transported me back to a time when toes shoes, leotards and tights were staples in my closet. The author got the need to dance right. I am thinking if she got that right, her other details in the story, ahem, were correct as well.
This London ballet company will continue to be a backdrop for the future books with the secondary characters from this one. The "Great Rubio" will show us how "great " he really is in the next tale. I will be 'click clicking' when it is front and center to take the stage.
July 17, 2013
Annabel Joseph is an amazing writer and she has the BDSM lifestyle down to a "t". She writes characters full of flaws that you absolutely fall in love with. This book was no different.
Ashleigh, "Ash" is a ballet dancer who has joined her current troup to work with the famed "Rubio". She wants to dance with the best and learn. What she doesn't count on is a last minute character change that lands her dancing with Rubio live in front of an audience with shoes that aren't' broken in. Rubio is seriously unimpressed and Ash is mortified.
Liam and Rubio are friends in the lifestyle. Liam is a Dominant. After Ashliegh's bomb on stage, Rubio invites Ashleigh to an after party. The thing she doesn't know it that it is a BDSM party and when they go to the play room, she gets more than she bargained for. Liam is a wealthy eccentric who has befriended Rubio. He immediately takes a liking to Ashleigh but Liam is not a one woman man.
Oh Rubio...
Rubio is a Latin Heartthrob and a big shot dancer...and he knows it. He can be cruel and conceited but we begin to discover there is more to him than meets the eye.
Ashleigh's past has left her afraid. She sleeps in a sheet tent. Initially, Liam has his heart set on sleeping with Ashleigh but he finds himself falling more and more for this bizarre young woman who he wants to Dominate.
Ashleigh feels broken. She has resigned herself to a life of celibacy. She is emotionally fragile. She wants to learn how to be a submissive and how to give herself fully to her Dom.
She has a lot to overcome. She must learn that to be submissive is not to give control, but to give power and that in the end she is completely in control.
Liam decides that he has to have her. He will take Ash however he can get her but only to help her and then he will move on. Because that is what he does. Always.
Ashleigh, "Ash" is a ballet dancer who has joined her current troup to work with the famed "Rubio". She wants to dance with the best and learn. What she doesn't count on is a last minute character change that lands her dancing with Rubio live in front of an audience with shoes that aren't' broken in. Rubio is seriously unimpressed and Ash is mortified.
Liam and Rubio are friends in the lifestyle. Liam is a Dominant. After Ashliegh's bomb on stage, Rubio invites Ashleigh to an after party. The thing she doesn't know it that it is a BDSM party and when they go to the play room, she gets more than she bargained for. Liam is a wealthy eccentric who has befriended Rubio. He immediately takes a liking to Ashleigh but Liam is not a one woman man.
Oh Rubio...
Rubio is a Latin Heartthrob and a big shot dancer...and he knows it. He can be cruel and conceited but we begin to discover there is more to him than meets the eye.
Ashleigh's past has left her afraid. She sleeps in a sheet tent. Initially, Liam has his heart set on sleeping with Ashleigh but he finds himself falling more and more for this bizarre young woman who he wants to Dominate.
Ashleigh feels broken. She has resigned herself to a life of celibacy. She is emotionally fragile. She wants to learn how to be a submissive and how to give herself fully to her Dom.
She has a lot to overcome. She must learn that to be submissive is not to give control, but to give power and that in the end she is completely in control.
Liam decides that he has to have her. He will take Ash however he can get her but only to help her and then he will move on. Because that is what he does. Always.
Soon Ash is experiencing pleasure she never knew existed.
She continues to suffer emotionally and she punishes herself relentlessly.
Soon it's not clear who is saving who and Liam is in for more than he bargained for.
Annabel Joseph has done it again. Love her characters, loved this poignant and beautifully broken story. Bravo! There are warnings attached to this book that should be taken seriously. This book addresses tough issues of past abuse. It would be very difficult to read if this was a trigger for you. It is also not a sweet and clean love story. It is dirty and broken and absolutely beautiful. I can not wait to hear Rubio's story!
5 Stars!
July 20, 2013
4 Stars!
You know, i really liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. The BDSM in the title had me a little worried, but it was pretty light as far as BDSM goes. It also had more serious and sad undertones then I was expecting. But I found myself pleasantly surprised with the story as a whole, and really enjoyed it.
Ashleigh is a ballerina in London. One night changes everything for Ashleigh. Filling in for the lead dancer, Ashleigh gets the opportunity of a lifetime--the chance to dance with The Great Rubio. It would be a dream come true....if only her shoes weren't too loud and Rubio wasn't calling her a whale. Later that night Rubio invites her to a BDSM party (unbeknownst to her)....where she meets Liam Wilder, a lifestyle dominant.
Liam is immediately attracted to Ashleigh, as Ashleigh is to him. But Ashleigh's past prevents her from being able to be intimate with people. Ashleigh enlists Liam to help her get over her past and the fears that she still carries. In the process she falls in love with Liam. But Liam has his own past and refuses to love anyone ever again.
Ashleigh and Rubio become friends over time. One night lines are crossed amongst the three friends, changing everything about their relationships. Will Liam be able to help Ashleigh overcome her tragic past? Will Liam ever admit that he is in love with Ashleigh?
Overall, this was a quick, short read. I liked all of the characters. It had some steamy scenes, including some of the BDSM variety. It was a standalone with a HEA. The next book in the series will be about Rubio!! Can't wait!!!
You know, i really liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. The BDSM in the title had me a little worried, but it was pretty light as far as BDSM goes. It also had more serious and sad undertones then I was expecting. But I found myself pleasantly surprised with the story as a whole, and really enjoyed it.
Ashleigh is a ballerina in London. One night changes everything for Ashleigh. Filling in for the lead dancer, Ashleigh gets the opportunity of a lifetime--the chance to dance with The Great Rubio. It would be a dream come true....if only her shoes weren't too loud and Rubio wasn't calling her a whale. Later that night Rubio invites her to a BDSM party (unbeknownst to her)....where she meets Liam Wilder, a lifestyle dominant.
Liam is immediately attracted to Ashleigh, as Ashleigh is to him. But Ashleigh's past prevents her from being able to be intimate with people. Ashleigh enlists Liam to help her get over her past and the fears that she still carries. In the process she falls in love with Liam. But Liam has his own past and refuses to love anyone ever again.
Ashleigh and Rubio become friends over time. One night lines are crossed amongst the three friends, changing everything about their relationships. Will Liam be able to help Ashleigh overcome her tragic past? Will Liam ever admit that he is in love with Ashleigh?
Overall, this was a quick, short read. I liked all of the characters. It had some steamy scenes, including some of the BDSM variety. It was a standalone with a HEA. The next book in the series will be about Rubio!! Can't wait!!!
May 4, 2015
If I were asked to describe this book with one word I would pick “sad”.
There was a sad undercurrent throughout.
Still, it was a great, captivating story beautifully developed. What I appreciated the most was that nothing was rushed, the strength of the heroine and the resistance of the hero.
There are BDSM elements in it, but this is not a hardcore D/s book. Actually it could be a good starting point for someone who is not familiar with the genre.
The two secondary characters, Mem and Rubio, came off more as caricatures. Especially Rubio was pretty exaggerated. The image of him in my mind was actually a crazy gay ballet dancer, even though he is not meant to be like that. The second book is about his story.
So, if you are into a capturing story about broken souls, a bit of BDSM, ballet and love, then this is your next read!
There was a sad undercurrent throughout.
Still, it was a great, captivating story beautifully developed. What I appreciated the most was that nothing was rushed, the strength of the heroine and the resistance of the hero.
There are BDSM elements in it, but this is not a hardcore D/s book. Actually it could be a good starting point for someone who is not familiar with the genre.
The two secondary characters, Mem and Rubio, came off more as caricatures. Especially Rubio was pretty exaggerated. The image of him in my mind was actually a crazy gay ballet dancer, even though he is not meant to be like that. The second book is about his story.
So, if you are into a capturing story about broken souls, a bit of BDSM, ballet and love, then this is your next read!
February 11, 2014
4.5 Intriguing,Emotional, Love Heals All Stars!!
This is a story of how two damaged people help each other..try to fix each other..
It all starts off when Ashleigh is having a bad day and Liam appears and helps her out..She is a ballet dancer and uses dance as a means to escape..
To escape a horrifying past and painful memories
To escape everything that makes her uncomfortable
She needs to dance
Dancing gives her a sense of control
"Ballet has always been a compulsion for me, not a pleasure....
It’s a survival thing."
When she is thrust into the arms of her idol, Rubio and told to dance, things go from bad to worse.
Liam is a calm confident player who uses women to fulfill his needs and desires.
He doesn't do relationships
he doesn't get attached
he takes pleasure
And he has all the control
After a terrible day Ashleigh ends up being dragged to a so called party where she meets Liam again...But this isn't a normal party it's a BDSM party..
Liam thinks its his lucky day he was attracted to Ashleigh from the moment he saw her and now she is in his house so obviously she is into the BDSM lifestyle or she is curious about it, either way its a win win situation for Liam right?....Wrong!
“When I asked you about the lifestyle you thought I was talking about....?”
“Ballet.”
“And when I mentioned a play room, you thought...”
“Pool tables, maybe. Pacman.” She rubbed her forehead. “I’m disappointed about the Pacman.”
After finding out that Rubio had dragged her along he is disappointed and he knows he should let her but he just cant.After finding out more about her past he decides to help her..Little does Ashleigh know that Liam has secrets of his own.
I didn't expect half of the stuff that happened in this book, I was surprised and intrigued.It was an emotional journey, a story of two lost souls, healing together and trying to overcome their past..
I really enjoyed this book! I was captivated right from the start and I just couldn't put this book down..
Oh oh and Rubio? well he was something else! I have a soft spot for him even though he pissed me off at the start..He made me laugh and I really wanted to know more about him, why is he the way he is?
“Whatever,” Ruby said with a petulant curl of his lip. “Is your problem, Liam. Your stupidity. You can kiss my round Brazilian ass.”
And wait a min next book is about him??!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Check out my blog for more reviews!
http://zakirrahsbookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zakirr...
This is a story of how two damaged people help each other..try to fix each other..
It all starts off when Ashleigh is having a bad day and Liam appears and helps her out..She is a ballet dancer and uses dance as a means to escape..
To escape a horrifying past and painful memories
To escape everything that makes her uncomfortable
She needs to dance
Dancing gives her a sense of control
"Ballet has always been a compulsion for me, not a pleasure....
It’s a survival thing."
When she is thrust into the arms of her idol, Rubio and told to dance, things go from bad to worse.
Liam is a calm confident player who uses women to fulfill his needs and desires.
He doesn't do relationships
he doesn't get attached
he takes pleasure
And he has all the control
After a terrible day Ashleigh ends up being dragged to a so called party where she meets Liam again...But this isn't a normal party it's a BDSM party..
Liam thinks its his lucky day he was attracted to Ashleigh from the moment he saw her and now she is in his house so obviously she is into the BDSM lifestyle or she is curious about it, either way its a win win situation for Liam right?....Wrong!
“When I asked you about the lifestyle you thought I was talking about....?”
“Ballet.”
“And when I mentioned a play room, you thought...”
“Pool tables, maybe. Pacman.” She rubbed her forehead. “I’m disappointed about the Pacman.”
After finding out that Rubio had dragged her along he is disappointed and he knows he should let her but he just cant.After finding out more about her past he decides to help her..Little does Ashleigh know that Liam has secrets of his own.
I didn't expect half of the stuff that happened in this book, I was surprised and intrigued.It was an emotional journey, a story of two lost souls, healing together and trying to overcome their past..
I really enjoyed this book! I was captivated right from the start and I just couldn't put this book down..
Oh oh and Rubio? well he was something else! I have a soft spot for him even though he pissed me off at the start..He made me laugh and I really wanted to know more about him, why is he the way he is?
“Whatever,” Ruby said with a petulant curl of his lip. “Is your problem, Liam. Your stupidity. You can kiss my round Brazilian ass.”
And wait a min next book is about him??!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Check out my blog for more reviews!
http://zakirrahsbookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zakirr...
February 15, 2014
4.25 Stars
Waking Kiss is an steamy BDSM read with a ballerina theme.
Ashleigh is a ballerina and she likes to stay in the back and out of the spot light. With a tragic past, Ashleigh has trouble having sex. One night, Rubio, another ballet dancer, takes Ashleigh to a party. The only thing is, Ashleigh doesn’t know it’s a BDSM sex party and Liam is the host. Liam is sexy, rich and dominates. Liam typically plays with established women who frequent the BDSM scene, but there’s something about sweet Ashleigh that draws him to her.
I love the summary. Talk about damsel in distress! This is not my first Annabel Joseph read, but I was really SURPRISED on how much I enjoyed Waking Kiss. Waking Kiss was steamy, interesting and very engaging.
I love Ashleigh, despite the odd way she spells her name (I have personal issues with names not spelled typical in reads), she’s like this wounded little bird and you just want to find out what happened to her. Why is she so damaged? When she comes to the BDSM party and realizes what kind of party it is, she doesn’t freak out, but tries to leave right away.
Ashleigh
Liam
Liam is upset that Rubio would bring an innocent girl to a party, but he doesn’t want to let Ashleigh go. Liam goes to her apartment to check up on Ashleigh and things get steamy. When things get out of hand, Ashleigh freaks out and Liam leaves her alone.
Liam is sexy, confident and also damaged. This I LOVE! I love the damaged heroes and you want to know why he is the way he is too. After Ashleigh’s freak out, Liam gets a surprised visit from her and she makes a deal. She will become Liam’s submissive if he can help her with her intimacy issues.
Liam and Ashleigh have a really organic relationship, there’s no awkward dialogue. I really enjoyed the scenes they play.
If you are looking for a kinky BDSM read, then Waking Kiss if for you.
AMAZON
More reviews - > http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
Waking Kiss is an steamy BDSM read with a ballerina theme.
Ashleigh is a ballerina and she likes to stay in the back and out of the spot light. With a tragic past, Ashleigh has trouble having sex. One night, Rubio, another ballet dancer, takes Ashleigh to a party. The only thing is, Ashleigh doesn’t know it’s a BDSM sex party and Liam is the host. Liam is sexy, rich and dominates. Liam typically plays with established women who frequent the BDSM scene, but there’s something about sweet Ashleigh that draws him to her.
I love the summary. Talk about damsel in distress! This is not my first Annabel Joseph read, but I was really SURPRISED on how much I enjoyed Waking Kiss. Waking Kiss was steamy, interesting and very engaging.
I love Ashleigh, despite the odd way she spells her name (I have personal issues with names not spelled typical in reads), she’s like this wounded little bird and you just want to find out what happened to her. Why is she so damaged? When she comes to the BDSM party and realizes what kind of party it is, she doesn’t freak out, but tries to leave right away.
Ashleigh
Liam
Liam is upset that Rubio would bring an innocent girl to a party, but he doesn’t want to let Ashleigh go. Liam goes to her apartment to check up on Ashleigh and things get steamy. When things get out of hand, Ashleigh freaks out and Liam leaves her alone.
Liam is sexy, confident and also damaged. This I LOVE! I love the damaged heroes and you want to know why he is the way he is too. After Ashleigh’s freak out, Liam gets a surprised visit from her and she makes a deal. She will become Liam’s submissive if he can help her with her intimacy issues.
Liam and Ashleigh have a really organic relationship, there’s no awkward dialogue. I really enjoyed the scenes they play.
If you are looking for a kinky BDSM read, then Waking Kiss if for you.
AMAZONMore reviews - > http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
September 29, 2013
4.5 ballet-tastic stars..
What a fantasticperformance story..Annabel Joseph.
Ashleigh Keaton is a ballerina in London. She leads an inconspicuous life, preferring to melt into the background of the corps de ballet.
One particular night, the prima ballerina of their current production, Sleeping Beauty, is injured and Ash is very quickly drafted in to replace her. Not only is she to dance in Princess Aurora’s shoes for the night, but alongside the revered Great Rubio, Fernando Rubio, a Brazilian superstar renowned in & out of the ballet world. With 7 minutes and counting, until she is due on stage, she races to her dressing room to ensure her shoes are the perfect pointes for her centre stage debut. Along the way, she meets a handsome stranger, who assists her in her panic. The stranger is Liam Wilder, a lifestyle dominant who’s playboy reputation precedes him.
To the theatre goers, her performance was faultless..
My smile said oh God, help me, while his was more WTF?
But to The Great Rubio, Ash was very below his usual standard, and he hurled hateful comments at her, during and after the performance, causing Ash to reform her once adoring opinion of him.
Attempting to escape her disappointing night, her obnoxious partner catches her and invites her to a party. On noticing the handsome stranger in Rubio’s dressing room, she agrees to attend with the intention of thanking the stranger for his assistance earlier. Jumping into a limo, she finds herself outside a large house, and before long she walks into another world, another lifestyle that she certainly wasn’t expecting!
Liam is uber charming. He lights Ash’s fire not only with his looming physicalities..
I considered running away from him, but what was he doing to me? Just talking in a soft, friendly voice. Handsoming me to death
..but also his flirty, sincere, caring qualities. She feels safe & early on questions whether he may be the one.
Things are never easy, and we learn about Ash’s traumatic past, which has led to her half lived existence. We also have a better understanding of Liam’s motives, and what drives them.
I found the connection to these MC’s almost immediate. The alternating POV’s helped embellish the story, quickly giving us the insight into their very disparate lives. Their dialogue was endearing, humorous and poignant, keeping me riveted until the end.
Mem, Liam’s man servant, friend and "oh wise one", was a beautiful character, and I want one just like him!
Fernando Rubio also managed to redeem himself, given his appalling demeanour at the beginning..who’d have thought it, aye Amy!
So why not 5 stars? I’m greedy and I wanted more epilogue, but I’m hopeful we will learn more as the second book is about the Great Rubio!
What a fantastic
Ashleigh Keaton is a ballerina in London. She leads an inconspicuous life, preferring to melt into the background of the corps de ballet.
One particular night, the prima ballerina of their current production, Sleeping Beauty, is injured and Ash is very quickly drafted in to replace her. Not only is she to dance in Princess Aurora’s shoes for the night, but alongside the revered Great Rubio, Fernando Rubio, a Brazilian superstar renowned in & out of the ballet world. With 7 minutes and counting, until she is due on stage, she races to her dressing room to ensure her shoes are the perfect pointes for her centre stage debut. Along the way, she meets a handsome stranger, who assists her in her panic. The stranger is Liam Wilder, a lifestyle dominant who’s playboy reputation precedes him.
To the theatre goers, her performance was faultless..
My smile said oh God, help me, while his was more WTF?
But to The Great Rubio, Ash was very below his usual standard, and he hurled hateful comments at her, during and after the performance, causing Ash to reform her once adoring opinion of him.
Attempting to escape her disappointing night, her obnoxious partner catches her and invites her to a party. On noticing the handsome stranger in Rubio’s dressing room, she agrees to attend with the intention of thanking the stranger for his assistance earlier. Jumping into a limo, she finds herself outside a large house, and before long she walks into another world, another lifestyle that she certainly wasn’t expecting!
Liam is uber charming. He lights Ash’s fire not only with his looming physicalities..
I considered running away from him, but what was he doing to me? Just talking in a soft, friendly voice. Handsoming me to death
..but also his flirty, sincere, caring qualities. She feels safe & early on questions whether he may be the one.
Things are never easy, and we learn about Ash’s traumatic past, which has led to her half lived existence. We also have a better understanding of Liam’s motives, and what drives them.
I found the connection to these MC’s almost immediate. The alternating POV’s helped embellish the story, quickly giving us the insight into their very disparate lives. Their dialogue was endearing, humorous and poignant, keeping me riveted until the end.
Mem, Liam’s man servant, friend and "oh wise one", was a beautiful character, and I want one just like him!
Fernando Rubio also managed to redeem himself, given his appalling demeanour at the beginning..who’d have thought it, aye Amy!
So why not 5 stars? I’m greedy and I wanted more epilogue, but I’m hopeful we will learn more as the second book is about the Great Rubio!
July 13, 2013
While I was very intrigued and excited to read this book, I never expected for it to blow me away that way it did, as a reader I love it when a book can surprise me in that way.
The plot of this book was dark and complicated and I must warn you that there were parts that were difficult to read, but the writing was flawless and every situation was well justified which made it a very interesting book to read, and I loved it!
The Waking kiss has three main characters; first there Ashleigh who is an American girl living in London. She is twenty four and has been a ballerina her whole life, she has scaped a very painful past but the pain still hunts her, and has made her a very shy, and broken girl. Then there is Liam, he is rich, handsome and a total playboy, but beneath that very appealing facade, lies a broken man that is full of painful secrets. Liam wants to protect Ashleigh, he knows something really bad happen to her, and yes, he is very attracted to her and wants to get in her pants, but she is different from the women he's used to and he can't help the need to save her. The relationship between these two broken characters will become a maze and they won't stop until they find each other in order to save themselves. Last we have Rubio, he is the very famous and sexy Brazilian dancer who is used to getting whatever he wants, he is friends with Liam but also selfish and has no regards for anybody's feelings.
The BDSM in the story will be the link between these three characters. Sex represents a totally different thing for each of them and ultimately is what will drive their actions. Love will be found, friendships will be tested and boundaries will be broken, all this in a dark and provocative story that will blow your mind.
Fortunately for us who can't deal with inconclusive endings, this book has HEA and a nice epilogue. There will be a second book in this series and is about the passionate and complicated Fernando Rubio; and I can't hardly wait to read it.
The plot of this book was dark and complicated and I must warn you that there were parts that were difficult to read, but the writing was flawless and every situation was well justified which made it a very interesting book to read, and I loved it!
The Waking kiss has three main characters; first there Ashleigh who is an American girl living in London. She is twenty four and has been a ballerina her whole life, she has scaped a very painful past but the pain still hunts her, and has made her a very shy, and broken girl. Then there is Liam, he is rich, handsome and a total playboy, but beneath that very appealing facade, lies a broken man that is full of painful secrets. Liam wants to protect Ashleigh, he knows something really bad happen to her, and yes, he is very attracted to her and wants to get in her pants, but she is different from the women he's used to and he can't help the need to save her. The relationship between these two broken characters will become a maze and they won't stop until they find each other in order to save themselves. Last we have Rubio, he is the very famous and sexy Brazilian dancer who is used to getting whatever he wants, he is friends with Liam but also selfish and has no regards for anybody's feelings.
The BDSM in the story will be the link between these three characters. Sex represents a totally different thing for each of them and ultimately is what will drive their actions. Love will be found, friendships will be tested and boundaries will be broken, all this in a dark and provocative story that will blow your mind.
Fortunately for us who can't deal with inconclusive endings, this book has HEA and a nice epilogue. There will be a second book in this series and is about the passionate and complicated Fernando Rubio; and I can't hardly wait to read it.
July 13, 2013
"Sometimes what wakes you is not a kiss. It is a vision or an action. A feeling. A person you meet, who changes you some way."
This is my first Annabel Joseph book & it was lovely. Another must read for the 2013 summer! It was funny and sad. It was exciting and torturous.
The character development was superb! Liam, "Ash-lee", Mem, and Rubio! I will be waiting for book two! Annabel - great job...thanks for sharing this story with me.
**Plus a buddy read with Foxy and Christy - FANTASTIC
This is my first Annabel Joseph book & it was lovely. Another must read for the 2013 summer! It was funny and sad. It was exciting and torturous.
The character development was superb! Liam, "Ash-lee", Mem, and Rubio! I will be waiting for book two! Annabel - great job...thanks for sharing this story with me.
**Plus a buddy read with Foxy and Christy - FANTASTIC
August 31, 2017
I thought this book was brilliant!
I loved all of the characters, even Rubio =) He has his own book now, so we get to see what's going on inside the Brazilian bad boy's brain! Will not be boring. lol
Liam and Ashleigh were such a beautifully imperfect couple. Even though each had terrible things happen in their pasts, they were so supportive of one another.
I marked this as a favorite before I finished reading.
It is still $0.99, at Amazon, at the time I posted this review - A definite must read!
I loved all of the characters, even Rubio =) He has his own book now, so we get to see what's going on inside the Brazilian bad boy's brain! Will not be boring. lol
Liam and Ashleigh were such a beautifully imperfect couple. Even though each had terrible things happen in their pasts, they were so supportive of one another.
I marked this as a favorite before I finished reading.
It is still $0.99, at Amazon, at the time I posted this review - A definite must read!
September 16, 2013
Reviewed on: http://totallybookedblog.com/2013/09/...
I absolutely love Annabel Joseph. Her books are always packed full of emotion with characters so intriguing and tortured that they stay with you long after you’ve turned that last page. Every time I pick up one of her books, without fail, I fall in love with every character and their stories. Waking Kiss was no exception. It was pretty flawless; brilliantly written with characters with such depth and so ‘exposed’ that I couldn’t fail to completely connect and sympathise.
“Since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to be invisible. Not in a cool, magical kind of way, but in that way of please don’t look at me too hard…” – Ashleigh
Waking Kiss immediately had me hooked. It was dark, disturbing and sexy. It even had quite a few humorous scenes to balance out the dark. The setting was beautiful, highlighting the fact that this Author’s writing really does resemble a piece of art.
“You will never forget the wrongs done to you, but anger, like guilt, can poison an entire life….” – Mem (who I fell in absolute love with!)
Our heroine Ashleigh is a ballerina who prefers to dance in the background as long as it’s in the company of her idol, the Great Rubio who’s a world renowned ballet dancer from Brazil. She’s in absolute awe of him so is distraught when during one performance she’s made to dance with him after the lead ballerina is injured. Ashleigh panics and the great Rubio is not impressed with her performance. But the show must go on. And it does, when Rubio later that evening takes Ashleigh to a private BDSM party at a mansion under false pretences, a mansion that belongs to a good friend of his. On this night wheels are set in motion that’ll change the path of Ashleigh’s life forever and open her eyes to a new world so far removed from her own demure lifestyle. Twice that night she meets a man who’ll affect her very being. A man who despite appearances is as broken as she is but at the same time is such a strength and a hero for our Ashleigh, he completely stole my heart. Liam’s amazing!
“He had me cornered, but I found I liked being cornered by him. I wanted to be trapped and restrained against the wall and kissed into submission…” – Ashleigh
I felt so sorry for Ashleigh and my sympathy and love for her character grew as we learnt more about her horrific past and how she’s suffered. A past that has repressed her sexually and made her fear intimacy and physical affection.
“I don’t usually let anyone into my apartment.” – Ashleigh
“Why what’s in there?”…”Piles of dead bodies?” – Liam
‘…No I thought, Just one dead body. My own…’ – Ashleigh
Now, Liam’s a player. He knows this and makes no excuses. He works hard and he plays even harder.
“…I wasn’t a person Ashleigh needed in her life right now. I was a player, a pig, and frequently an asshole…” – Liam.
Liam’s mansion is a playground for BDSM parties, but deep down he’s a lonely man with a past that prevents him from opening his heart to love and a meaningful relationship.
“I didn’t want anyone in my life who had the power to reach into my chest and rip out my heart, and she had that power. Therefore, I didn’t want her anymore. But I wanted her…” – Liam
However, the connection between Ashleigh and Liam is so intense and deep that even I felt it.
Liam and Ashleigh strike up a relationship which is ultimately about Liam helping Ashleigh remove the block that has her incapable of enjoying passion and love. However, it’s not only Ashleigh who, has a lot to overcome and learn about herself, Liam too is made to examine his life and way of living and these two characters go through such an emotional journey of self-discovery and absolution
Now, I have to mention Rubio. What a complete arse he started off as. I couldn’t stand him and though he was an arrogant cock. However, the clever writing of Annabel Joseph had me absolutely loving him by the end, so I was chuffed to bits to see his story is next in this series.
Waking Kiss is not for the faint-hearted as it depicts realistic and harrowing abuse. This is not a ‘pretty and generic BDSM romance romp’ for the sake of sex, rather this is a real story about people with flaws who’ve been hurt and need to heal and come to terms with a violent and abusive past.
If you enjoy your darker emotional reads with intense passion and broken characters who live the ‘true’ BDSM lifestyle then this Author is definitely one to check out. And you should be adding Waking Kiss to your to read list!
“What you experience and what you feel doesn’t come from other people. It comes from you.” – Liam
Gitte: 4.5 Stars
I absolutely love Annabel Joseph. Her books are always packed full of emotion with characters so intriguing and tortured that they stay with you long after you’ve turned that last page. Every time I pick up one of her books, without fail, I fall in love with every character and their stories. Waking Kiss was no exception. It was pretty flawless; brilliantly written with characters with such depth and so ‘exposed’ that I couldn’t fail to completely connect and sympathise.
“Since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to be invisible. Not in a cool, magical kind of way, but in that way of please don’t look at me too hard…” – Ashleigh
Waking Kiss immediately had me hooked. It was dark, disturbing and sexy. It even had quite a few humorous scenes to balance out the dark. The setting was beautiful, highlighting the fact that this Author’s writing really does resemble a piece of art.
“You will never forget the wrongs done to you, but anger, like guilt, can poison an entire life….” – Mem (who I fell in absolute love with!)
Our heroine Ashleigh is a ballerina who prefers to dance in the background as long as it’s in the company of her idol, the Great Rubio who’s a world renowned ballet dancer from Brazil. She’s in absolute awe of him so is distraught when during one performance she’s made to dance with him after the lead ballerina is injured. Ashleigh panics and the great Rubio is not impressed with her performance. But the show must go on. And it does, when Rubio later that evening takes Ashleigh to a private BDSM party at a mansion under false pretences, a mansion that belongs to a good friend of his. On this night wheels are set in motion that’ll change the path of Ashleigh’s life forever and open her eyes to a new world so far removed from her own demure lifestyle. Twice that night she meets a man who’ll affect her very being. A man who despite appearances is as broken as she is but at the same time is such a strength and a hero for our Ashleigh, he completely stole my heart. Liam’s amazing!
“He had me cornered, but I found I liked being cornered by him. I wanted to be trapped and restrained against the wall and kissed into submission…” – Ashleigh
I felt so sorry for Ashleigh and my sympathy and love for her character grew as we learnt more about her horrific past and how she’s suffered. A past that has repressed her sexually and made her fear intimacy and physical affection.
“I don’t usually let anyone into my apartment.” – Ashleigh
“Why what’s in there?”…”Piles of dead bodies?” – Liam
‘…No I thought, Just one dead body. My own…’ – Ashleigh
Now, Liam’s a player. He knows this and makes no excuses. He works hard and he plays even harder.
“…I wasn’t a person Ashleigh needed in her life right now. I was a player, a pig, and frequently an asshole…” – Liam.
Liam’s mansion is a playground for BDSM parties, but deep down he’s a lonely man with a past that prevents him from opening his heart to love and a meaningful relationship.
“I didn’t want anyone in my life who had the power to reach into my chest and rip out my heart, and she had that power. Therefore, I didn’t want her anymore. But I wanted her…” – Liam
However, the connection between Ashleigh and Liam is so intense and deep that even I felt it.
Liam and Ashleigh strike up a relationship which is ultimately about Liam helping Ashleigh remove the block that has her incapable of enjoying passion and love. However, it’s not only Ashleigh who, has a lot to overcome and learn about herself, Liam too is made to examine his life and way of living and these two characters go through such an emotional journey of self-discovery and absolution
Now, I have to mention Rubio. What a complete arse he started off as. I couldn’t stand him and though he was an arrogant cock. However, the clever writing of Annabel Joseph had me absolutely loving him by the end, so I was chuffed to bits to see his story is next in this series.
Waking Kiss is not for the faint-hearted as it depicts realistic and harrowing abuse. This is not a ‘pretty and generic BDSM romance romp’ for the sake of sex, rather this is a real story about people with flaws who’ve been hurt and need to heal and come to terms with a violent and abusive past.
If you enjoy your darker emotional reads with intense passion and broken characters who live the ‘true’ BDSM lifestyle then this Author is definitely one to check out. And you should be adding Waking Kiss to your to read list!
“What you experience and what you feel doesn’t come from other people. It comes from you.” – Liam
Gitte: 4.5 Stars
November 29, 2013
I am generally a fan of Annabel Joseph's books and WAKING KISS was no exception. She always sketches these wonderfully wounded heroines matching them with a wickedly dominant men who want to nurse them back to health with their lifestyles of bondage and discipline - I'm a believer in this method of healing (in my books at least!)
It's been a while since I have read one of her books, so I don't remember if all her Doms have a tortured past, but this one certainly does! Liam exudes polished perfection, but inside he is all twisted up and tortured. He needs someone to heal him as much as he needs to heal others, but of course, getting him to open up and reveal his real self is about like opening a can of tuna fish with your bare hands.
Then, there's the heroine, Ashleigh. She took a bit for me to warm up to. Some might describe her as eccentric, I might say she's weird and a bit neurotic, but she has her reasons and she eventually becomes a character truly worthy of the "heroine" title.
If you enjoyed Annabel Joseph's books : MERCY and FIREBIRD, you are sure to enjoy this new series as well. I've already picked up book 2 in the BDSM BALLET Series and look forward to seeing more of these characters.
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
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Erotic Enchants
Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
It's been a while since I have read one of her books, so I don't remember if all her Doms have a tortured past, but this one certainly does! Liam exudes polished perfection, but inside he is all twisted up and tortured. He needs someone to heal him as much as he needs to heal others, but of course, getting him to open up and reveal his real self is about like opening a can of tuna fish with your bare hands.
Then, there's the heroine, Ashleigh. She took a bit for me to warm up to. Some might describe her as eccentric, I might say she's weird and a bit neurotic, but she has her reasons and she eventually becomes a character truly worthy of the "heroine" title.
If you enjoyed Annabel Joseph's books : MERCY and FIREBIRD, you are sure to enjoy this new series as well. I've already picked up book 2 in the BDSM BALLET Series and look forward to seeing more of these characters.
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
___________________________________________________
If you like this type of book, you might enjoy one of these groups. Check us out!
Menage Readers
Erotic Enchants
Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
July 25, 2013
What an engrossing tale! My favorite AJ book thus far. As a complex character study, it's both shocking and heartwarming. The H/h, Liam and Ash, are equally damaged. Their childhood trauma might be trite, but the delivery of their experiences is anything but predictable. The blanket fort will stick in my mind for a long fucking time.
Lofty mainstream romance readers might not like the darker plot elements, but others will rightfully see it as refined brilliance, which is backed by polished writing, fully-vetted characters, sizzling sex scenes, and unerring pace.
The line-up of supporting characters is small, which allows you to spend more time with Liam and Ash--exactly where you want to be. Mem, the story sage, is a sensational character who draws Liam out for the reader in subtle and engaging ways. But the Great Rubio is the greatest supporting character. You'll hate him, sometimes you'll warm to him, and he'll always make you smile just in anticipation of his next antic. I can NOT wait for his book, which is coming next!
You can't dispute how meticulously this story is crafted, how well-executed and how much passion is injected in the pages. The result is psychological erotica at its deepest, most gratifying level. Well done, Ms. Joseph.
Lofty mainstream romance readers might not like the darker plot elements, but others will rightfully see it as refined brilliance, which is backed by polished writing, fully-vetted characters, sizzling sex scenes, and unerring pace.
The line-up of supporting characters is small, which allows you to spend more time with Liam and Ash--exactly where you want to be. Mem, the story sage, is a sensational character who draws Liam out for the reader in subtle and engaging ways. But the Great Rubio is the greatest supporting character. You'll hate him, sometimes you'll warm to him, and he'll always make you smile just in anticipation of his next antic. I can NOT wait for his book, which is coming next!
You can't dispute how meticulously this story is crafted, how well-executed and how much passion is injected in the pages. The result is psychological erotica at its deepest, most gratifying level. Well done, Ms. Joseph.
September 18, 2013
Very good... So thrilled that the next book will be about Ruby!
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October 11, 2013
10/09/2013 --
Overall Rating = 4 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 4 / 3 / 4 = 3.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 4 Stars
Character Development = 4 Stars
Story Appreciation = 4 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [$0.99 on Amazon]
I save Annabel Joseph for those times when I just can't find anything to read. I know I can pick her up and she won't disappoint me. Doesn't matter what I read of hers, I get it and it satisfies a need. I just click with her. Simply said.
There are so many things I like about this author -- I'll name a few that apply to this book:
1 -- She does a troubled character so well. She makes these people believable. Nothing over the top. Just enough angst so you feel what they are going through as they try to work to be normal. I like this about her. She gives us an issue, but doesn't take forever to begin their resolution. She doesn't draw the story out needlessly for the sake of something to talk about.
2 -- She creates an elegant back drop. For me, the "tree bed" in this story was brilliant. It was so symbolic of so many things. It was a safe haven for Ashleigh, and for Liam, it was his way of surrounding her with his protection. At one point, he tried to discount this deeper meaning, but you just knew he meant this gift to touch her -- remind her. This was his intent when he picked it out. She would lay in the bed and think of him. How romantic is that?!! I love how she does this. Same way with dance and its symbolism in this story. She uses dance quite a bit and she understands it so well. Even if you don't like or appreciate ballet, you will understand and love the grace and the drive; the strength of character this component lends to the story.
3 -- Mem. Through him, we understand and sympathize with Liam. If it weren't for Mem, we may not like Liam as much as we do. It is through his interaction and caring for Mem that we learn the depth of this character. Not just the story Mem knows and tells to us, but through the care and interaction between these two. I just really wanted to know more about Mem. He intrigued me. I warmed to him almost immediately. He was the island for Liam. Became the island for Ashleigh until Liam could take over this role. An absolutely wonderful character.
There were a few, almost inconsequential, items I need to mention that could have made the story better for me:
1 -- I think this author has so much talent. Her stories just seem to flow so well. However, they could be longer. Almost as if she purposely truncates the flow, the fluid-ness of the story. In this way, the graceful story appears clunky in places. Just when I get into it, is rushes and stops.
2 -- Ashleigh took me a bit before I warmed up to her. At one point, I was afraid I wouldn't. I think her interaction with Rubio -- who I really liked, then Mem, that I began to really connect with her. I think it almost took too long for this to happen. We hear her story, but we don't feel it. We don't feel Ashleigh. Her interactions with these other two humanizes her for me. Prior to this, I didn't care about her and her situation like the author intended for me to.
This was a good story. I've purchased the second one and plan to wait a bit to read it. I savor this author. She is one of my favorites. She is consistently good. I think we only see this author scratch the surface of her talent. If she were to really let go and give us all that she is capable of, we would be blown away. She could ruin us for other books for a very, very long time. I just feel this in my bones.
I love this author and would recommend anything she has written. This especially was a nice ready. Hope you enjoy it too.
Happy Reading!!
Overall Rating = 4 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 4 / 3 / 4 = 3.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 4 Stars
Character Development = 4 Stars
Story Appreciation = 4 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [$0.99 on Amazon]
I save Annabel Joseph for those times when I just can't find anything to read. I know I can pick her up and she won't disappoint me. Doesn't matter what I read of hers, I get it and it satisfies a need. I just click with her. Simply said.
There are so many things I like about this author -- I'll name a few that apply to this book:
1 -- She does a troubled character so well. She makes these people believable. Nothing over the top. Just enough angst so you feel what they are going through as they try to work to be normal. I like this about her. She gives us an issue, but doesn't take forever to begin their resolution. She doesn't draw the story out needlessly for the sake of something to talk about.
2 -- She creates an elegant back drop. For me, the "tree bed" in this story was brilliant. It was so symbolic of so many things. It was a safe haven for Ashleigh, and for Liam, it was his way of surrounding her with his protection. At one point, he tried to discount this deeper meaning, but you just knew he meant this gift to touch her -- remind her. This was his intent when he picked it out. She would lay in the bed and think of him. How romantic is that?!! I love how she does this. Same way with dance and its symbolism in this story. She uses dance quite a bit and she understands it so well. Even if you don't like or appreciate ballet, you will understand and love the grace and the drive; the strength of character this component lends to the story.
3 -- Mem. Through him, we understand and sympathize with Liam. If it weren't for Mem, we may not like Liam as much as we do. It is through his interaction and caring for Mem that we learn the depth of this character. Not just the story Mem knows and tells to us, but through the care and interaction between these two. I just really wanted to know more about Mem. He intrigued me. I warmed to him almost immediately. He was the island for Liam. Became the island for Ashleigh until Liam could take over this role. An absolutely wonderful character.
There were a few, almost inconsequential, items I need to mention that could have made the story better for me:
1 -- I think this author has so much talent. Her stories just seem to flow so well. However, they could be longer. Almost as if she purposely truncates the flow, the fluid-ness of the story. In this way, the graceful story appears clunky in places. Just when I get into it, is rushes and stops.
2 -- Ashleigh took me a bit before I warmed up to her. At one point, I was afraid I wouldn't. I think her interaction with Rubio -- who I really liked, then Mem, that I began to really connect with her. I think it almost took too long for this to happen. We hear her story, but we don't feel it. We don't feel Ashleigh. Her interactions with these other two humanizes her for me. Prior to this, I didn't care about her and her situation like the author intended for me to.
This was a good story. I've purchased the second one and plan to wait a bit to read it. I savor this author. She is one of my favorites. She is consistently good. I think we only see this author scratch the surface of her talent. If she were to really let go and give us all that she is capable of, we would be blown away. She could ruin us for other books for a very, very long time. I just feel this in my bones.
I love this author and would recommend anything she has written. This especially was a nice ready. Hope you enjoy it too.
Happy Reading!!
October 19, 2013
**** 4.5 STARS!!!! ****
So beautiful. So perfect. So wonderful!
This book...THIS BOOK! It was mesmerizing. I was hooked from the first page, the first paragraph. It was so unlike anything I've read in this BDSM/Romance genre. It had BDSM, definitely, but not anything hardcore, just soft almost. Which I loved because I'm not into the heavy stuff.
The ballet, the angst, the repressed emotion...everything was amazing!
Ashleigh and Liam were perfect for each other. Her traumatic childhood, his tragic one, they were both individuals running from their past and letting it get in the way of their future. Add to that the in-house ballet, superstar badboy, Rubio, and you have an incredibly interesting and emotional read.
I haven't read Annabel Joseph before, although I have another book, Mercy, on my TRB's but I have bumped that up because her writing is so fresh and fluid. It's almost poetic even, atmospheric in it's execution.
While at first I couldn't stand Rubio, he did grow on me and turned out to be a great friend. But Liam with his playboy persona and live hard-play hard attitude won me over in spades. I loved how he was so tender and kind to Ash while under all that bravado he was just as lost as she was.
And the ending was exquisite! I couldn't have asked for a better, more satisfying one. The only, only reason it didn't get 5 stars from me was a particular scene involving Rubio, Liam and Ash. I understood the characters intentions but it still felt almost out of place. Regardless, I loved this so much and found myself shedding tears left, right and center! FANTASTIC!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
So beautiful. So perfect. So wonderful!
This book...THIS BOOK! It was mesmerizing. I was hooked from the first page, the first paragraph. It was so unlike anything I've read in this BDSM/Romance genre. It had BDSM, definitely, but not anything hardcore, just soft almost. Which I loved because I'm not into the heavy stuff.
The ballet, the angst, the repressed emotion...everything was amazing!
Ashleigh and Liam were perfect for each other. Her traumatic childhood, his tragic one, they were both individuals running from their past and letting it get in the way of their future. Add to that the in-house ballet, superstar badboy, Rubio, and you have an incredibly interesting and emotional read.
I haven't read Annabel Joseph before, although I have another book, Mercy, on my TRB's but I have bumped that up because her writing is so fresh and fluid. It's almost poetic even, atmospheric in it's execution.
While at first I couldn't stand Rubio, he did grow on me and turned out to be a great friend. But Liam with his playboy persona and live hard-play hard attitude won me over in spades. I loved how he was so tender and kind to Ash while under all that bravado he was just as lost as she was.
And the ending was exquisite! I couldn't have asked for a better, more satisfying one. The only, only reason it didn't get 5 stars from me was a particular scene involving Rubio, Liam and Ash. I understood the characters intentions but it still felt almost out of place. Regardless, I loved this so much and found myself shedding tears left, right and center! FANTASTIC!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
June 28, 2015
1st read May 4th 2014
Very intense. Ms Joseph always takes me through an emotional wringer :) I'm totally binge-reading her books :D
2nd read June 28th 2015
Buddy read with Maru
Very intense. Ms Joseph always takes me through an emotional wringer :) I'm totally binge-reading her books :D
2nd read June 28th 2015
Buddy read with Maru
July 18, 2013
This book is simply amazing! Romantic, sexy, angry, tumultuous and yet so many things that is hard to describe. And also very startling.
The ballet: I was very very surprised by the beginning and how the ballet parts felt. It felt so real and good that It was like I could feel really watching the ballet and enjoying it. Though there aren't many scenes like the beginning one I just felt like it was so well putted that it made us understand better the characters involved in a way that I have hardly seen in a book before. We truly get Ash's character after this beginning.
The characters: those are amazing! You totally get why Ash is e way she is and you want her to get better. You also will fall deeply in love with Liam and his mysterious alpha-male style. You gonna hate and the love Rubio (the second book is his, yeay!). All the characters are kind of tortured and I admit that I do have a thing for damage characters.
There are plenty of hot/steamy moments in this book, like really hot moments. The first you get to a party you are pretty much like Ash and how she responds to the party. Except you wasn't really expecting a pacman game (you'll get it when you read), it's the way that the author wrote that makes so WTF-hot-jaw-dropping moment .
THE PLOT: I really really liked the plot. In a very crazy way I thought it made sense what Ash thought of a solution for her "problem". Which made the sexy scenes something more that just sexy.
I liked this book's pace. You didn't have a lot those time dramas where you get to be like "just fucking solve this problem between you people!", it had a great pace and you never felt like the author was dragging the story. Everything felt to made sense.
To sum up: I totally recommend this book. Is sexy, romantic, has broken characters that need each other to fix them up, the story is great, the plot us surprisingly and you're going to love.
P.s.: this sort of a book on its own, which means that the second one is about another character from this book and not the main ones, which also means that this book does not end with a sadist cliffhanger that so many sadist author love to write.
I don't about you, but every time I get a book to read here and besides the title appears a number like its a series, I'm always afraid that I will end up with a killing cliffhanger. Which thankfully is not the case here.
The ballet: I was very very surprised by the beginning and how the ballet parts felt. It felt so real and good that It was like I could feel really watching the ballet and enjoying it. Though there aren't many scenes like the beginning one I just felt like it was so well putted that it made us understand better the characters involved in a way that I have hardly seen in a book before. We truly get Ash's character after this beginning.
The characters: those are amazing! You totally get why Ash is e way she is and you want her to get better. You also will fall deeply in love with Liam and his mysterious alpha-male style. You gonna hate and the love Rubio (the second book is his, yeay!). All the characters are kind of tortured and I admit that I do have a thing for damage characters.
There are plenty of hot/steamy moments in this book, like really hot moments. The first you get to a party you are pretty much like Ash and how she responds to the party. Except you wasn't really expecting a pacman game (you'll get it when you read), it's the way that the author wrote that makes so WTF-hot-jaw-dropping moment .
THE PLOT: I really really liked the plot. In a very crazy way I thought it made sense what Ash thought of a solution for her "problem". Which made the sexy scenes something more that just sexy.
I liked this book's pace. You didn't have a lot those time dramas where you get to be like "just fucking solve this problem between you people!", it had a great pace and you never felt like the author was dragging the story. Everything felt to made sense.
To sum up: I totally recommend this book. Is sexy, romantic, has broken characters that need each other to fix them up, the story is great, the plot us surprisingly and you're going to love.
P.s.: this sort of a book on its own, which means that the second one is about another character from this book and not the main ones, which also means that this book does not end with a sadist cliffhanger that so many sadist author love to write.
I don't about you, but every time I get a book to read here and besides the title appears a number like its a series, I'm always afraid that I will end up with a killing cliffhanger. Which thankfully is not the case here.
September 21, 2013
This was the one cheesiest erotica I’ve ever read. I have to give the author some credit for developing such strong background stories for her main characters ― a background of child abuse and murder, for that matter ― but as for the rest, I’m surprised this book got so many positive reviews.
The heroin, Ashleigh, was a real weepy, childish pain in the ass, she said the dumbest of things in the most inappropriate moments and I couldn’t see why or how a man like Liam, the hero-to-be, would fall for her. But then I can’t see how any reasonable woman would fall for him either, he’s such a douche, so I guess that settles the matter.
The thing that bothered me the most, however, was the Brazilian character, Fernando Rubio. First of all, Rubio is not even a Brazilian surname, and certainly not one a slum-born boy would have. Then, why did he have to come from a slum in Rio?? This is such a cliché already, and I highly doubt a boy in any slum around here would be given the opportunity to become the world greatest ballet dancer. If that wasn’t enough, Annabel Joseph topped it all by turning him into one of the most hateful characters I ever read about: he was a total jerk, a sex offender and so stupid he couldn’t get a whole sentence right in English even though he had lived in London for a while. Oh, and I spent the whole book believing he was gay and in love with Liam, when actually he was supposed to be pretty much a macho and interested in Ashleigh. I mean, that’s how terrible this woman’s writing is.
I’m starting to think two stars is too much… Actually, it really is - I'm single-atarring it now.
The heroin, Ashleigh, was a real weepy, childish pain in the ass, she said the dumbest of things in the most inappropriate moments and I couldn’t see why or how a man like Liam, the hero-to-be, would fall for her. But then I can’t see how any reasonable woman would fall for him either, he’s such a douche, so I guess that settles the matter.
The thing that bothered me the most, however, was the Brazilian character, Fernando Rubio. First of all, Rubio is not even a Brazilian surname, and certainly not one a slum-born boy would have. Then, why did he have to come from a slum in Rio?? This is such a cliché already, and I highly doubt a boy in any slum around here would be given the opportunity to become the world greatest ballet dancer. If that wasn’t enough, Annabel Joseph topped it all by turning him into one of the most hateful characters I ever read about: he was a total jerk, a sex offender and so stupid he couldn’t get a whole sentence right in English even though he had lived in London for a while. Oh, and I spent the whole book believing he was gay and in love with Liam, when actually he was supposed to be pretty much a macho and interested in Ashleigh. I mean, that’s how terrible this woman’s writing is.
I’m starting to think two stars is too much… Actually, it really is - I'm single-atarring it now.
January 4, 2014
***********SPOIRLERS ALERT*********
Please if you already read this book, come to share with me! I'm still all in this story! ^_________^
You know what? I don’t enjoy very much S&M stories but BDSM stories was, until Waking Kiss, totally awful for me. And I need repeat this: for me! I don’t think much about people who liked, despite respect them, but I appreciate a bond constructed with kindness, care… and a lot of pleasure without pain. Chains and whips only in Rihanna’s song!
But Waking Kiss is such a surrender!
I knew there are something in there. I mean, Liam is such a gorgeous character!
I kind of expect something real dark from his past, but, wow, a killer crazy mother and watch the deaths of his five siblings in one night is to much for any one.
I feel for him even more!
And plus, his relationship with Mem is like Batman and your loyal butler Alfred. And I need to say I just love Batman and I always thought he could enjoy BDSM’s stuff, lol
I've read many books in which the characters insist that what matters is the love, and if are reciprocal and, of course, it needs to be voiced aloud. But loving someone is a much bigger step than having sex, let someone else mark and hurt your body ...
Finally, I like this story because I believe in the plot. I think is pretty plausible, besides the fairy tale. It may be happening now and just thinking about it it's wonderful.
Thank you Annabel Joseph! *o* You're JUST THAT great!
Please if you already read this book, come to share with me! I'm still all in this story! ^_________^
You know what? I don’t enjoy very much S&M stories but BDSM stories was, until Waking Kiss, totally awful for me. And I need repeat this: for me! I don’t think much about people who liked, despite respect them, but I appreciate a bond constructed with kindness, care… and a lot of pleasure without pain. Chains and whips only in Rihanna’s song!
But Waking Kiss is such a surrender!
I knew there are something in there. I mean, Liam is such a gorgeous character!
I kind of expect something real dark from his past, but, wow, a killer crazy mother and watch the deaths of his five siblings in one night is to much for any one.
I feel for him even more!
And plus, his relationship with Mem is like Batman and your loyal butler Alfred. And I need to say I just love Batman and I always thought he could enjoy BDSM’s stuff, lol
I've read many books in which the characters insist that what matters is the love, and if are reciprocal and, of course, it needs to be voiced aloud. But loving someone is a much bigger step than having sex, let someone else mark and hurt your body ...
Finally, I like this story because I believe in the plot. I think is pretty plausible, besides the fairy tale. It may be happening now and just thinking about it it's wonderful.
Thank you Annabel Joseph! *o* You're JUST THAT great!
January 6, 2014
I think it's safe to say that mainstream BDSM books are not for me. I can't help myself but feel like they pretend to be something they aren't.
I don't like Dom faces (unless talked about in jest) and I don't like the whole "BDSM is for damaged people" vibe these books give off.
To be fair, there were very few actual BDSM scenes in the book but they absolutely didn't work for me. The characters didn't work very well either, to be honest. Rubio and Mem were the only exceptions there.
I liked how the story started until around 50 pages and then I started loosing interest quickly. I liked the character's backround story and how it was interwoven in their current situation.
However Ashleigh's progress was in detail and slowl developing (although still almost too fast for it to be close to reality), Liam's problems were resolved so fast that the ending felt incredibly hurried compared to the beginning. It didn't work with the flow of the story, at least in my case.
I know that many friends loved it, but it definitely wasn't for and while I liked Rubio, I don't think that I could stand him over the course of a whole book, so that I will pass on book 2.
I don't like Dom faces (unless talked about in jest) and I don't like the whole "BDSM is for damaged people" vibe these books give off.
To be fair, there were very few actual BDSM scenes in the book but they absolutely didn't work for me. The characters didn't work very well either, to be honest. Rubio and Mem were the only exceptions there.
I liked how the story started until around 50 pages and then I started loosing interest quickly. I liked the character's backround story and how it was interwoven in their current situation.
However Ashleigh's progress was in detail and slowl developing (although still almost too fast for it to be close to reality), Liam's problems were resolved so fast that the ending felt incredibly hurried compared to the beginning. It didn't work with the flow of the story, at least in my case.
I know that many friends loved it, but it definitely wasn't for and while I liked Rubio, I don't think that I could stand him over the course of a whole book, so that I will pass on book 2.
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