Review: Dangerously Broken by Eden Bradley

Reviewer's Rating: 5

5.0Overall score

A Dangerously Erotic Must-Read!

Dangerously Broken By Eden Bradley

Contemporary Erotic BDSM Romance

Released October 6, 2015

Berkley

Series: A Dangerous Romance, Book 2

Reviewed by Deb

From the author of Dangerously Bound comes a new Dangerous Romance—proving once again that Eden Bradley “has a knack for penning extraordinary erotic romances” (Wild on Books)…

It’s all or nothing…
Growing up, Summer Grace Rae lusted after Jamie Stewart-Greer something fierce. But her older brother’s best friend was strictly off limits. And in time Summer convinced herself to forget about him—until one erotic encounter…

Jamie has a dark side, and his BDSM fantasies are the perfect way to explore it. But he’s always hidden his extreme lifestyle from the one person who elicited his ultimate, forbidden passions. After all, Summer has been like a little sister to him for years—until Jamie sees her at the most infamous kink club in New Orleans.

Now, every taboo craving they’ve ever had is made real, in the flesh, and sending them on a sensual journey of discovery. But as their relationship spirals into the darkest recesses of desire, they’re both left breathlessly wanting more—and love could be the most dangerous fetish of them all.

A Dangerously Erotic Must-Read!

Eden Bradley/Eve Berlin has long been one of my favorite authors. Her style and voice grabbed me when I discovered Pleasure’s Edge, and I’ve been captive ever since. That may sound a bit over the top, but if you are familiar with Ms. Bradley’s work you’ll know exactly what I mean. You want to climb into her books and live there. Forever. Longing, lust, and flat out overwhelming desire wafts off of her characters! The mood she creates is reminiscent of those old black and white movies starring tragically tormented heroes and heroines. You know the ones…two people destined to be together but kept apart by fate, circumstances beyond their control, and/or just plain stubbornness.Dangerously Broken is book 2 in the Dangerous Romance series. It can certainly be read as a standalone, however, I strongly recommend first reading book 1, Dangerously Bound. It not only establishes the mood for this series, which takes place in the magical city of New Orleans, it introduces characters who are intertwined in one way or another. Besides, Dangerously Bound is pretty damn awesome.

Dangerously Broken is the intense and emotional journey of Jamie and Summer Grace as they struggle to once and for all admit to and act on the mutual attraction they’ve felt for each other since they were teenagers. It’s been twelve years since Brandon, Summer’s brother and Jamie’s best friend, tragically passed away at the age of nineteen. Even though Jamie vowed to watch over and protect Summer, his powerful attraction to her has forced him to keep his distance over the years. Unfortunately, he can’t let go of memories of her adolescent attempts at seduction; climbing into his sleeping bag during family camping trips, or waking up to find her straddling him when he spent the night on their couch. Summer Grace was a sex kitten even at the age of fourteen. It was a struggle to reject her advances then. It’s going to be damn near impossible to resist her now when he discovers her sceneing at The Bastille, the BDSM club he has frequented for years.

He’d denied himself for twelve long years. How much was one man supposed to take? He’d been Saint Jamie for long enough. And maybe he was going to hell for it – for breaking his promise – but he had to have her. He couldn’t go on like this. She’d sealed that bit of fate when she’d shown up at The Bastille tonight.

Even though Summer Grace is thrilled Jamie has finally admitted to the undeniable chemistry between them and proposes they negotiate an exclusive Dom/sub relationship, she’s been rejected too many times not to be wary of yet more heartache. She can’t help but wonder if the only reason Jamie is now professing his feelings for her is merely jealousy and possessiveness. Despite the turmoil and doubt running rampant in her mind, Summer Grace simply cannot walk away. Because her submission to Jamie is organic, and second nature. When he possesses her body, pushes her limits of pain and pleasure, no one else in the world exists. And she knows no one could ever take Jamie’s place.

As the story progresses, Ms. Bradley cracks Jamie and Summer Grace open even more. The demons that have kept them from living life to its fullest, from allowing themselves to release the past and their guilt, are revealed. It’s an uphill battle at times, however, this is where Ms. Bradley shines. She has the uncanny ability to craft BDSM scenes which serve to advance the growth of her characters. Her interactions between Jamie as Dom and Summer Grace as submissive are so beautiful, so descriptive, so real, that she can just about have you experiencing a literary form of subspace. Crazy but true.

I loved both Jamie and Summer Grace. Jamie’s strength as a Dom is instinctual, which is the only kind of Dom you want. Plus, the man is hot as hell! Summer Grace is submissive to the core when giving herself to Jamie. It’s a beautiful thing to see – a strong, opinionated, capable woman whose trust and commitment to her Dom is without question.
Don’t think these two are perfect by any means! They have their flaws, as we all do. As a matter of fact, I could relate to many of them. They both needed to be smacked upside the head at times, and that’s where Ms. Bradley has their friends step in with tough love and advice.

I always fall in love with Ms. Bradley’s novels and Dangerously Broken is no exception. From its New Orleans setting full of a dark atmosphere and mystery to the intriguingly flawed Jamie and Summer Grace, this novel wonderfully conveys the beauty of BDSM. No secrets, no lies, where pain equals pleasure, and trust is not to be handed over lightly. Thank you, Ms. Bradley for once again giving us a truly believable D/s couple.