3.5 StarsIn the second book of the Wonderland series we meet the King of Spades. Like his older brother Jarronn, Darronn is a tiger shifter and dominate. He believes his mate will be submissive like all other women he's had before but then he's never met a woman like Alexi O'Brien. It's been a year since Alexi last saw her twin sister Alice. She hasn't stopped searching for her and plans to continue looking as soon as she's able to escape the arrogant King who pulled her through a magical mirror and has a crazy notion she'll be his mate.This book is just as sexual as book one but I thought there was actual depth to the characters and ended up liking it a bit more. Alexi and her refusal to simply submit to Darronn's demands both frustrates and excites him. Never before has a female been disobedient to him and he admires the fire inside her. Alexi has been hurt in the past by men. She loves what Darronn does to her body but is having a hard time trusting him with her heart. There's more between Alexi and Darronn than really hot sex and gaining dominance and I loved watching them work through their trust issues to become a solid couple. There's still not a lot of story but I liked that we got to see the town and townspeople of Spade and that things are different that they are in Hearts. Instead of his people being mostly naked like in his brother's Kingdom, Darronn has his subjects dressed in leather like himself. There's a similarity between a subject and their king and I'm interested in seeing what we'll find in the Diamonds and Clubs kingdoms. -Stephanie GAlexi O'Brian was at a loss, she had searched high and low for her twin sister Alice and came up empty; she just vanished from the park. So her aunt and cousin felt a night out on the town was in order. If nothing else just to get her laid. But Alexi couldn't care less about the men at the bar even the leather clad hotty behind the bar, no she was too distracted by thoughts of her sister. So she drunkenly stumbled home and to her room, only to find a large looking glass with a devilishly sexy man there staring at her; convinced she was just drunk she reached up only to have him grab her and drag her through.Now she was pissed, no matter how sexy and mouthwatering he was she was not going to let him abducted her without a fight. But the more she fought him the more turned on the both of them became. But he wouldn't give her what her body so desperately needed until she bent to his will and let him dominate her. Well if he thought she was going to call him "master" he had another thing coming.Darronn never understood his brother’s contentment to have just his queen and only his queen, till he met Alexi. She had fire like no other he'd ever met. She aroused him to painfully degrees. But if he couldn't get her to submit he would fail his people. As the king of Spades he had to lead his people and how could he do so with such a disobedient queen. He must make her submit but without breaking her he loved her fiery spirit.The amount of dominatrix in the novel was far less than the first. I feel I enjoyed it more than the because of that reason. Darronn was able to allow Alexi to be on a bit more even footing with him. But Of course in the bedroom he dominated her as her master and wielded all the control.Almost every page was filled with a sexy steamy scene that left you breathless at times. Darronn and Alexi have a dynamic relationship, they learn to trust each other and work it out how it would work best for both parties. But a warning the sex is page melting hot, you may need a fan.-Athenna G
Originally posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-r...It’s been a year since Alexi O’Brien’s twin, Alice, disappeared, but Alexi isn’t giving up hope of finding her sister. Even being pulled through a looking glass and finding herself in a magical world doesn’t faze Alexi for long. Nothing will take her focus off finding Alice…except perhaps the handsome, dominant King Darronn.Darronn, King of Spades, is used to women submitting to him. Getting Alexi’s submission, however, will be a challenge; one Darronn revels in accepting. A battle of wills begins between the two, but it’s not long before Darronn finds himself falling for the woman who will be his mate. The question is, will he be able to convince Alexi to stay with him when she finds out he’s been keeping a very important secret from her?Watch out for the sparks that fly in Claimed by Pleasure – they’re wickedly hot! Jaymie Holland knows how to make both her characters and readers sweat, and it shows. Passion and emotion run extremely high in Claimed by Pleasure, which makes the book feel like it’s moving at lightning pace (which isn’t a bad thing).Alexi is a strong, stubborn woman, one many readers will be able to relate to. She doesn’t feel that she fits in the world of Tarok, though she clearly does. The skirmishes between her and Darronn give Claimed by Pleasure a different feel from the first Wonderland book, Taken by Passion. What I loved most about Claimed by Pleasure was that both Alexi and Darronn had a lot to learn about relationships. Compromise is a word neither likes, but once both of them are on the same page, their relationship is electric!Claimed by Pleasure is the second book in the Wonderland series but it can be read as a standalone. But both Alexi and readers of Taken by Passion are sure to be delighted that Alice, the heroine of Taken by Passion, appears in Claimed by Pleasure.I absolutely adore the Wonderland series and I cannot wait for Annie and Awai, Alexi’s cousin and aunt, to meet their matches in Darronn’s brothers in Bound by Desire and Kept by Seduction. If you’re looking for great erotic fantasy, the Wonderland series is not to be missed!Note: Claimed by Pleasure by Jaymie Holland is a reissue of Wonderland: King of Spades by Cheyenne McCray.
What do You think about Claimed By Pleasure (2015)?
Alexi lost her sister a year ago, when she disappeared after finding her fiance cheating on her with their landlord and another man. Her friends have encouraged her to give up looking for her twin, Alice, but Alexi refuses to give up. On the anniversary of Alice's disappearance, Alexi and her cousin go out drinking.When Alexi returns home, she finds a mysterious looking glass in her bedroom. Curious, she touches the looking glass, and is startled when Darronn, King of Spades pulls her through into Wonderland. Darronn is the twin brother of Jarronn, High King of Wonderland and husband to Alice, Alexi's twin sister. King of Spades is the erotic story of Alexi's acceptance of the world of Wonderland and ultimate bonding with Darronn as Queen of Spades.
—Tami
CLAIMED BY PLEASURE by Jaymie Holland (aka Cheyenne McCray)10/11 - St. Martin's Press - Paperback, 240 pagesIs anything ever as it seems?Alexi O’Brien is searching for her twin sister, who mysteriously went missing a year ago. The last place Alexi would have thought to look is within an alternate universe found by stepping through the mirror and right into the arms of a man. However, the world she has found herself in apparently is the realm of a pushy, overbearing man, no wait he is a tiger now who drew her into the mirror.King Darronn is the Rules of the Kingdom of Spades and lives in the alternate world where he rules equally with his other three brothers. When he went in search of his mate, the cards led him to Alexi. When Darronn found her, there was nothing that would stop him from bringing her to his world, alternate universe or not.Darronn rules by command and is used to everyone following his orders, which Alexi clearly states she is not going to do. No way is he telling her what to do despite how amazing Darronn looks, or how her desire is overrunning any logical thought process. Too quickly, they both learn that you do not always have to be the masters of your passion all the time sometimes you can let your mate control the rhythm of your existence.Can Alexi find her sister and convince Darronn that they are equal partners? Only time and love will tell.Yikes, this book is a wonderful experience! The readers will never stop be amazed by the detailed descriptions of the location and the dynamics of the characters. Readers will be thrilled to go to a place where passion is as important as dominance.
—Mary Gramlich
Alexi O’Brien has never gotten over the loss of losing her twin. Over a year ago Alexi’s twin Alice vanished without a trace. Alexi has spent countless hours looking for her sister, and to no avail.Alexi is a sex crazed manic, she loves sex and can not get enough of it. Alexi has even fantasized about being tied up and having a man completely dominate her in the bedroom. However, that is as far as Alexi will go. Alexi had her hear broken by a man that she thought was “Mr. Right” only to be used and made to feel like a fool for trusting him. Alexi swore that no man will ever capture her heart again even though she urns for a dominant man.While out for a drinks with her cousin Annie, Alexi has a little too much to drink and starts to feel a little tipsy. When Alexi enters her house, she immediately knows that something is not right. The smells of her house smell different for some reason. Alexi also sees light emanating from her bedroom, and wonders why their would be light in her bedroom when she always turns off the bedroom light. When Alexi enters her room she sees a huge mirror with the image of a meadow, waterfall, and a gorgeous dark haired guy staring back at her. Alexi starts to wonder if someone put something in her drink and starts thinking that she is hallucinating. Just as Alexi starts to lean forward and touch the mirror the dark hared by grabs her and pulls her through the mirror, and tells her that she is his mate and is to be Queen of his kingdom, the Kingdom of Spades.Alexi O’Brian is going to learn what amazing sex and domination is all about. Alexi has no idea that the man who pulled her through the mirror has plans for her, and is determined to capture her heart and make her his Queen. Alexi wants no part of this and wants to return home to find her sister, but will Alexi be able to give up the fantastic sex and her fantasy of being dominated by a man? Will Alexi also be able to submit her full heart and soul to this man? Will Alexi ever find her lost twin? Find out what happens in “Claimed By Pleasure” by Jaymie Holland.If you want a book that sizzles with hot sex and mind blowing domination, then “Claimed By Pleasure” is sure to satisfy your every need. “Claimed By Pleasure” is one hot read, and Jaymie Holland knows how to light the pages of her book on fire with every word. This book will have you taking a cold shower before you’ve finished!
—Raven Kelly
