If you know me a little bit you know my love for Kristen Ashley therefore when I had a chance to read her next book in which she takes a chance on a new genre I jumped right it. After all, it was Kristen Ashley that taught me to take a chance on something new and something wonderful. And boy was this new series different. She takes erotica… hell BDSM to a whole new level. I’ve got to admit that beyond Tiffany Reisz I've never read a series or even book based on a male sub and female Dom. Did I step out of my comfort zone? Totally! Did I love it? ABSO-FU**-LUTELY! Because the series is so different I feel like the only way with this book is for you to love it or it's not for you and that all depends on in your reading preferences.

“…you were searchin’ for me, Leigh-Leigh. And I was lookin’ for you.”


Not to give much away but the majority of the book is interaction or rather play time in Bee's Honey, BDSM exclusive membership club, between our alpha-sub Olivier/Olly and totally kickass & class act (as if KA writes any other heroine) Dom Amelie/Leigh. If you don't mind spending some totally hot time being worked up alongside Olivier in the play room by Mistress Amelie then settle in because they do that A LOT!

However, underneath it all it is still good old KA formula of two people falling in love, overcoming their hang-ups, helping each other move past them, and building a future together. However, it is always with some explosive fights that call for some goooooood making up. For me specifically, I have realized that even an erotica/BDSM book written by KA will make me sob like a little baby. This I have learned by reading over 43 books of hers (not counting NUMEROUS re-reads). She just knows humanity, she knows humble, she knows how to pull at the heartstrings just SO, that I have not been able to fully recreate with another author. Even in this new venture of hers, you could still so clearly hear her voice. A venture that was not taken lightly as there is a hefty deal of imagination and exploration into the world that these unconventional characters live.

“Yours as you are mine”

Well, well! The writing in 'The Deep End' is VERY different from other Kristen Ashley books but not to fear, the author turns the heat WAY up in this book. I'll be honest, I had to think about this story for a while after I finished reading it.

I loved the plot of this book. The heroine Amelia is a Domme and is very accepting of herself and her needs. She was unapologetic about her lifestyle and for that, I applaud the author. In many other ways, she was just a normal human being with a desire to build a relationship with someone outside the BDSM scene and club life.

Amelia is a member of the ultra-exclusive club The Bee's Honey. They have a very rigorous screening process and she knows the men she will meet will have to pass certain requirements before they can walk in the door. She has never quite met the "perfect" sub but once she sets her sights on Olivier, all bets are off. He's her dream man, an Alpha sub who can meet her every need. He is everything I love about a KA hero: strong, confident, loving and caring. I had a bit of difficulty with their dynamic because he didn't seem like he was really a true submissive but their relationship worked. Olivier and Amelie didn't have a "typical" D/s relationship (if there even is such a thing) but they both seemed perfect for each other.

I am a diehard Kristen Ashley fan so I will read anything this woman writes. I LOVED the erotic aspects of this story and the BDSM scenes did not offend me at all. I think that KA writes some very explicit sex scenes but 'The Deep End' is VERY explicit!! If you are a fan of this author's books, then definitely give this one a try. It is different and intriguing and has some very unique characters. Just be prepared to be surprised. Enjoy!!

**ARC received from the author for an honest review**

I'm shattered. I'm stunned. I was not ready for all that was The Deep End. My body, my mind, my heart, and my soul were not ready. This is not for the faint of heart or the close minded. But in true Kristen Ashley fashion she does this story justice.

Alpha-subs are abundant in The Bee's Honey club and Dommes run the game. Amélie is at the top and seems to be Queen Bee, but her years have unfortunately turned to dull scenery. Until Olivier catches her eye and lights the fuse she almost thought had run out.

I absolutely love Kristen Ashley and every story she puts out. This was such a new avenue and risk for her to take and I am absolutely in lust. Olly and Amélie have this one-in-a-million connection that just oozes off the page and drips form every word. There is always a risk that a story based in a risqué world could put readers off. I happen to think that KA did the theme perfectly. Olly has the innate ability to show every little emotion in his tics and facial and physical gestures. Amélie is such a wonderfully elegant woman who's own power is so sexy in a confident way. Its chic meets beast in this delectable tale.

As with all KA stories there's always a baser story, a deep meaning, behind the sex and the action. I think that KA fought hard to show that owning yourself, your wants and needs, is worth fighting for. That life can try to show you that being extraordinary is wrong and that you could be alone. But in reality, you can find your HEA no matter how out-there your HEA may be.

Every once in a while a character jumps off the page in straight into my heart. The glimpse we see for The Farthest Edge tells me that Branch is soon to be by next love affair! If you're brave enough....dive into The Deep End now!

I picked up my first Kristen Ashley book in 2011 -- Rock Chick. It was a difficult time in my life and when I found KA, I found the perfect escape. Since that time I have devoured most of her collection and proven wrong by my belief that I didn't like Fantasy. KA has always been a constant for me. Her books have been my happy place.

When I heard about The Deep End, to say I was intrigued puts it mildly. I love when authors flip the script. When what we are used to becomes different. And that is what I expected when I picked up The Deep End. Only, the different I found was that it didn't read like the Kristen Ashley I had come to love. I didn't feel the romance and I didn't like the heroine. While I loved the fact that she was a female alpha, her standoffish attitude and behavior were a turn-off for me.

A strong character, whether they be male or female, needs to have a balance. Ashley's alpha-males certainly do. You can count on them to be protectors, sometimes a$$holes but always, always I can count on them to be endearing, loving and kind to their love interest. The positives balance out the negatives.

Going into this story I expected that there would be a lot of sex ... I mean, "Enter a decadent sensual world where gorgeous alpha males are pleasure slaves committed to fulfilling a woman's every desire. At the elite Honey club, no boundary will be left untested, and one's darkest desires will become a sensual reality." warns us of that. So I guess this was my fault. In that, I expected this book to be more like what I had come to love from KA where relationship and romance were the focus. With The Deep End, I felt like the plot/story was secondary to the sex.

I did love that Olivier maintained some of his strength. He didn't fully submit. I loved the warring between his desires and who he was.

Before reading this book -- and I hope you do -- go into it without expectations. Have an open mind. I think had I done those things, I would have had a different experience.

Super hot, fascinating read with intriguing characters! I thought the dynamic between Amèlie and Olivier was mesmerizing, that’s one of the things that really hooked me. I was just engrossed by it all and couldn't put it down. I love that KA gave me something new and fresh that I have not experienced before.

My thoughts on the characters: I was neutral about Amèlie for the most part, she was a good character but her voice in this was off to me. Her speech flow seemed so stiff and formal. I really liked Olivier and when it was his POV, it flowed much better for me. He was a total mans man so I loved his alpha challenging ways even as he was in sub mode. That challenge he had brought some humorous moments and I loved it when they were fun and playful. That made it really entertaining to read. I enjoyed Olivier’s struggle, being the strong man he was, and how it played out. There was a nice, subtle build to their relationship, I liked their developing feelings and when they opened up about personal things, that made them more relatable. I didn’t think there was a lot of character development with either of them, I felt like it was an overview of why they were in the life but I didn’t feel there was any real depth behind it. I was missing that grit.

This story is high octane heat. I mean, holy dirty naughty kinky! Sex and different forms of play are a huge part of this world so it is very much integrated into the story, in fact, it’s the majority of it. It's wicked hot and most definitely erotica. It's the man as the sub with a female Domme so there are a gazillion things she can do, and she does. It's very descriptive and very detailed. They are extravagant scenes. You will not be disappointed when it comes to the sexy times.

My thoughts on the writing: The writing was the KA style I know and love and yet somehow different. I'm used to her very detailed descriptions, some of them this time around were just overly long, drawn out, and redundant. Also, the parts that were Amèlie POV just didn’t flow as well and I had a harder time connecting when it was her voice. I very much liked the elaborate cast of characters that were introduced, it makes me excited and curious to see where the series will go.

The Deep End gets 4 stars because I was so pulled in by this unique relationship and the fact that I couldn't put it down because I wanted to see how it played out... and because, well, I thought the sex scenes were freaking stellar. The character development and background, and the things that felt way to drawn out, that wasn’t as great for me. So, it was awesome, I liked it a lot but I did have some issues. If you’re looking for hot and intriguing give it a go, the sex is wild and it might not be for everyone but it fascinated the heck out of me!

Holy hot submissiveness! The Deep End is a scorchingly sensual and provocative read wrapped up in a delicious love story, and Kristen Ashley proves she can write just about any kind of romance.

Olivier Hawkes is a firefighter, a man’s man who just joined the Honey, an elite sex club where his entire being will be dedicated to pleasing a woman’s every craving, because underneath his turnout suit lives a man with dark and lascivious desires that aren’t easily satisfied.

With his physique, Olivier has garnered considerable attention but with a lack of experience and only knowing that there are no fantasies that won’t be explored he only acts until Mistress Amèlie challenges his will and asks for his surrender embarking with him on a journey of exploration and fulfillment they never expected.

Kristen Ashley fans get ready to strap yourselves because this is going to be one kinky ride, but don’t worry, even when we know this a departure from her usual romances with this series revolving around a BDSM club, you can still expect to find a gorgeous alpha male and a woman that’s made just for him along with the kind of sweet and tender addicting love story that you’ve come to love about Ashley’s books because she has her own unique way of making her readers feel. And yes, I’m also talking about her very own writing style which any KA fan can easily identify.

Although I tend to avoid erotica and prefer domineering alpha males as opposed to submissive alphas, this was for one, a Kristen Ashley book and two, the way she portrays Olly’s character was an incredibly sexy turn on. He’s a strong, confident and a caring man with added kink who knows he wants to explore a darker side of himself. And while Amèlie can wield a paddle and bring a man to unbelievable pleasure like no other, she’s also a woman who yearns to find deep and true love.

As an erotic romance, copious amounts of kinky sex are expected and Kristen Ashley demonstrates she did her homework with lots and lots of imaginative and blindingly hot ways for Domme and submissive to enjoy each other. But there’s so much more to The Deep End than that.

The connection that develops between the two as night after night they consume each other slowly turns into more and as they take their relationship outside the decadent walls of The Honey they will discover that love cannot defined or limited by preconceptions or stereotypes.

This book is not for the faint of heart. It should be read with an open mind, because if you take away all the kink, you’re left with a sweet and tender love story about living life at its fullest.

The Deep End is book #1 in the Honey series by Kristen Ashley. It is a DBSM erotic read, with loads of sex and kink and yes romance. It’s told from both points of view with a happy ending.

Final WARNING: This book will burn up your eRead. Proceed at your own risk!

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

BDSM stories are some of my favorites to read. That's no secret. I have to say I struggled with this book. I was well past 40% before it started to flow quick enough for me to want to continue to read. There was so much about the characters I didn't know about in the beginning and it was driving me nuts. Not to mention the I had a hard time connecting to Amelie - the female lead of this story.

We have Amelie or Leigh as her friends like to call her who is wealthy and the favorite Domme at The Honey. When she takes her chance on a new alpha-sub at The Honey she can only hope to one day have the type of connection to a sub as her friend seems to be having with hers.

Olivier is alpha in every sense of his life except in the bedroom. I would have to ponder that being submissive in the bedroom would cause serious anguish with the alpha male. What man wants to admit they get off on letting someone else do all the work? It would have to be a conundrum for sure. Add in she has more money than he does and that makes the mind twist even further.

Nothing about their situations are typical but these two characters do work for each other. When they play they're pretty in tune with one another. Though I did flip through several of the play scenes because they just seemed mundane the way they were described. Not very sensual. Which is unusual for a Kristen Ashley book - in my opinion.

There were a few bumps between the characters. Some suspenseful scenes. In one of these suspense scenes I wish the author would have given us more. There's a lack of how they found this one guy, who he was, how he was connected exactly. I just think it was glossed over to just move through the story.

Hopefully the next book in the Honey series will have more details included or flow a bit better. This one just didn't hit it out of the park for me.

I was nervous to read this book, I'm not gonna lie. If you follow my reviews and rambling, you will know that Kristen Ashley is my abso-favorite author, and I have proclaimed far and wide that I would read anything that she writes. But alpha subs? Sounded like an oxymoron to me, and I just didn't know how it could work. I'm not a big fan of femdomme trope, but I was willing to give it a shot. Now that I have read the first book - will I continue reading the series? Yes, yes I will. Let's discuss.

Mistress Amelie is a well-known and coveted domme at the Bee's Honey, a BDSM club operating in Phoenix. She is well-off, well-bred and well-disciplined. She has also gotten somewhat bored of the scene and is longing for more. Amelie wants it all - an alpha at home, a submissive pony in her stable, kids, family - the whole shebang. I admired Amelie's confidence and that she owned her sexuality and really didn't give flying fudge for what anyone else thought. I also liked that she didn't try to let her kink rule her life... there was a clear delineation between play and practicality. That being said, I did have a problem connecting to Amelie. As a reader who puts herself in the place of the heroine/main character - I just couldn't see myself as the dominatrix brushing down her pony. So when I can't relate, I usually have a hard time connecting. Others may not have this problem.

Olivier Hawkes is a 6'7", 240lb alpha male firefighter who is struggling with his sexuality. It seems that he tried to deny who he was and what he wanted for most of his life, but began dabbling in the scene a few months ago in an effort to settle his mind. I thought that the struggle Olly experienced with his submissive nature was interesting, but I wish it would have been expounded on a bit more. I liked that he had a friend to discuss matters with - and Barclay seemed like a cool person (and possibly future hero?). Olly was written as an alpha male, possessive and protective, but willing to take orders from his mistress. While I normally fall head over heels for Kristen's alphas... Olly just didn't do it for me. I couldn't see this big ass firefighter stabled like a pony. And let me make this clear - I don't think it was anything about the writing - but more life experience. No, I am not in the life. But when I lived in Tampa, Fetishcon was held every year in the hotel beside my office and the girls and I would sit in the hotel bar and people watch after work. It was some very interesting people watching, let me tell you. I saw lots of the pony peoples... and I just couldn't envision Olly in that regard no matter how hard I tried.

As Kristen has forayed into erotica, you can imagine that this story was sex over substance. There were a lot of very detailed and explicit sex scenes that really got into the nitty gritty of this specific kink. Not being familiar with pony play myself, I didn't always get the lingo or recognize equipment that was being used. I think the scenes were all well-researched and well-written, but the abundance of sex took away from the relationship building for me. I was missing that big emotional draw that I am used to from a Kristen Ashley romance. She usually draws me in with an ugly cry or identifiable heroine... but this time I kept reading out of sheer fascination. I did have a problem with one aspect of the scenes and that was Olly first setting his limits for play... and Amelie seemingly going against those limits. I think if she was going to push him in this regard, she should have explained that to him better instead of hanging him out there for everyone to see. I really felt bad for him given the struggle he was already having with his alpha mentality and submissive desire.

So why will I keep reading this series if I am not a femdomme fan? Well, Kristen has introduced a variety of interesting secondary characters! I really want to read the story of Brand, the seemingly tortured private investigator. I am also curious about the owner of The Honey, Aryas. Plus, this is Kristen Ashley and I have never read a story of hers that I did not like. While this one was not my favorite, it still held my attention in a different way. I am glad I read it, I just don't think it will go in my re-read pile.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, St. Martin's Griffin. I recommend this book to fans of erotica, femdomme or Kristen Ashley in general.

I wasn’t really sure how I was going to take reading this book. A first for me … Kristen Ashley (yes, I think I am the only person in the world that hasn’t read Rock Chicks) and an uber Dominatrix. I am used to reading BDSM but haven’t read anything like this.

Oliver was a contradiction throughout the story. He was an Alpha male but had desires that no ordinary woman could possibly fulfill. He tried to come to terms with them, he tried to fight the feelings and he tried to suppress them. Nothing worked until he met Amélie and she taught him that there was nothing wrong with him … that people were not defined by their sexuality … that it was okay to give himself, body and soul, to a woman to take care of. He has a temper and, as things became serious, it showed. Why? Because he was not only dealing with his sexuality but with an inner demon telling him that there was no way that he could take care of her in the way that she was accustomed to.

Amélie was growing bored with the lifestyle. She knew there was something missing. She wanted more than just a plaything. Her heart was waiting for the one man that maybe, just maybe, could fulfill all of her fantasies and want to be with her outside of the Honey Club. One look at Oliver and she knew that he was a man that just may be able to help her move forward. One night with him and she knows that she cannot stop. She needs to find out if he wants more. If he wants to be with her outside the Club. If he can be the one to fill the void.
Miscommunications, tempers, a sadistic Domme, a jealous Dom … anything and everything that could possibly come between them does. It’s up to Oliver to convince Amélie that she is what he wants in and out of the club. It’s time for Olly and Leigh to have the heart to heart that shows her that he just doesn’t want to be Oliver to her Amélie.

I have to admit that writing this review is what finally brought this story full circle. It took sitting in front of my laptop, thinking about a spoiler free synopsis, to finally understand the messages that Kristen Ashley was sending. The way the story was written, the language, the different dialects that she used brought out the differences between her two characters but fit the story perfectly. She was articulate, stimulating and down-right erotic throughout the story. The sensuality and eroticism, the fears and desires of her characters all came through naturally. It was a pleasure to read because nothing seemed forced or unnatural. I was impressed. I was enthralled. I am now definitely invested in seeing just who is next and where she will bring the rest of this series.

4 Honey Stars

There's not a Kristen Ashley book that I don't love. And you can just add The Deep End to my long list of favorite reads by this author! The Deep End is seductive, mysterious and down right dirty hot. Ladies (and gents) get reading to fan yourself while reading this hot new read from Ms. Ashley!

Mistress Amélie knows what she wants and what she wants is Oliver. The handsome "Beast," Oliver, who obeys his Mistress but with a cheeky attitude. These two characters burned up my Kindle. Amélie is well known in this lifestyle world and she commands respect at the Honey Club. And when she meets her next sub, her life changes. The connection between Oliver and her is so deep.

Oliver has a dark side to him that he needs to explore. He's a alpha male but needs to be commanded and tamed by a Mistress and Leigh-Leigh is the woman to do that. The more these two explore each other, the more their feelings grow. But the demands between personal life and the "Honey" life cross.

Overall, The Deep End, is about two people exploring each other and ultimately finding love with each other, despite their differences.

Some will love every detail while others may dislike
the playtime two consenting adults take part in.
For the many readers who crave the inner chambers of a BDSM club
you will be salivating for this treasure.
Mistress Amélie, A Dominatrix controls Olivier, an Alpha- sub to earth shattering orgasms. I’m thinking, Alpha-sub confuses me. Can you be both?
Her commands along with the numerous sex gadgets that bind him are graphic, explicit
and mind blowing. It will rock your socks off.
Me, personally I’m not a fan as it almost feels cold and robotic. Command-Submit.
Punish-Reward.
I lean toward erotic romance. I need heavy petting, sumptuous kisses, kinkiness and dirty talk to make me tingle.
I just couldn't connect.
The author introductions of other characters lead me to believe that another book is coming about the Honeys Bee BDSM club.
Are you ready to step through the door into a world of dominance and submissive?

Kristen Ashley is one of my favorite authors so I just couldn't pass up a book of hers. That doesn't mean I wasn't nervous going into this though because honestly I was terrified that I wouldn't like it. Sure, an Alpha-Sub isn't a fake thing and a lot of subs in the lifestyle are actually Alpha in their everyday lives. But reading about it, and especially when said sub is male, isn't really my thing. But again, this author is my favorite and she's actually one of the only authors that has been able to redeem a character for me (Sebring) so I had to give it a go.

Anyway, on to the book. The Deep End is a new endeavor for KA fans and takes you on a very carnal and hedonistic ride through the Bee's Honey. Here we meet Amelie, a top Domme at the club, and Olivier, a new sub to the scene. Amelie has a desire for Alpha-subs and Olly fits that bill to a T, so she takes up with the sub and makes him her toy.

In all honestly the beginning of this book didn't go too well for me and up until 20% I was thinking that it wouldn't be more than a three star read. Amelie was kind of hard to believe as being a Top Domme in the club and her character just wasn't likable. It almost seemed like she was the one that was new to the scene and not Olly. It also got a little frustrating when some scenes were just too wordy and I had to go back and re-read them to get a picture in my head of what was actually going on. KA's writing is usually very full but here it almost seemed like she got lost in her own words and a few things weren't described very well.

But after that initial beginning everything changed and I got very into the story. Olly and Amelie had some fantastic scenes together from this point on and I was completely captivated by them. When I finished the book I actually forgot for awhile that the beginning wasn't a hit for me and all I could think about was how amazing the rest of the story was. This is a true erotica so the majority of the story takes place in the club or the bedroom but I was more than okay with that. There's still a romantic story under all of the sensual scenes, though, and I enjoyed that just as much.

KA definitely put her own unique twist on the usual BDSM stories and I loved seeing the differences she put on this type of story. One of the reasons I love her as an author so much is because she'll never conform to what most authors are doing and there's no doubt in my mind that no matter what genre she writes, she will always make it her own. She also threw in a few side characters that really intrigued me so I really hope this won't be just a two book series. I need more of these hot men!

Bottom line, there are many people that won't like this story but that's just the way it goes. But from me it's definitely recommended read and if you're up for a different kind of erotic tale I think it's a must-try. I'm really excited for the next story, and I have my suspicions on who it will be about so I hope I'm right.

The Deep End Playlist:
Sex and Candy - Maroon 5
Lovely - Brent Faiyaz
Versace On The Floor - Bruno Mars
What You Need - The Weeknd
Never Gonna Give You Up - The Black Keys
Lovin', Touchin, Squeezin' - Journey
Neighbors Know My Name - Trey Songz

So many things are running through my head. First off, don’t let that cover fool ya. This may be a Kristen Ashley book, but it’s nothing like you’ve read before. So you’re expecting a nice sweet, and somewhat angst filled, romance, you’re going to be shocked. And if you’re like me, and like your romances a bit on the racy side, then this will be very nice surprise. Very nice. This had all the KA goodness but with a hefty dose of hot sauce.

I'll admit, I love Kristen Ashley something fierce, but when I heard she was writing an erotic series, I was nervous. Not everyone can pull it off without it being over the top extreme. Boy, was I wrong to even question it. This girl can write. The Deep End was hot. Plain and simple. In the beginning, their scenes seemed a little bit forced. They didn't know each other, so the connection wasn't there yet. But it didn't take long for them to find that link, and once they did, there was heat. I'm talking full blown, four alarm fire. I needed to step away a few times. I gotta be honest, I needed to take a cold shower. This book was freaking hot. Now don't get me wrong, they were' the perfect couple. They had their flaws. But once they learned what each other truly needed out of this relationship, they found the balance and all was well.

As with all KA stories, the side characters are a whole other story. They bring much needed friendships and experiences to this story. I am looking forward to future Honey stories. I already know who I'm hoping for. I don't normally review these intense BDSM stories, but this book was so much more than that.

**review to go live on Amazon and blog on release**

The Deep End and The Honey series is a big departure from Kristen Ashley's sexy overprotective alpha that we have come to know and love, but hey, it is a Kristen Ashley book!

The Deep End delves into the world of BDSM, but with a twist to what we usually find - here we have a Domme, Amelie, and her alpha-sub Olivier.

I am not going to lie, I did struggle with the first half of the book. I felt that it dragged, that our lovelies were in rinse-wash-repeat mode. But the second half of the book felt a lot better.

I adored Olivier (Olly) and his struggles to come to terms with what he wants, what he needs in his life. I loved his alpha coming through, even though he isn't "topping from the bottom". I need a man like that in my life I think!

Amelie (Leigh) though, I just couldn't connect with her. Not sure what it was about her, but I couldn't warm up to her as much as I could other characters.

Ms Ashley always paints a very detailed picture for us - but maybe to me this was a little bit too wordy? But that could just me my little quirk.

Like I said, this is so completely different from anything else Ms Ashley has given us to date. But you will need to put your preconceived notions of "what is a Kristen Ashley book" aside and jump into The Deep End feet first.

Now I need the next in this series.

An extremely sexy story with two incredible characters and a just as amazing group of supporting ones. It is definitely an interesting spin to the typical Master/Sub relationships in BDSM stories, and she nailed it!

So when I heard Kristen Ashley was writing a BDSM book I was all over this!! I'm a fan of BDSM and I loved the idea of Alpha Subs. It nice to have the women in control this time around. I loved the sex scenes with Amelie and Olivier they were scorching hot!! My issue with the book was that I couldn't feel the connection with the characters. Both of them are attracted to each but I had a hard time feeling the connection. They have a good sexual chemistry but I needed more when it came to the love story. I feel like if the book was just strictly BDSM, I would have enjoyed it more. As a long time fan of Kristen Ashley, I'm used to a certain formula and this book didn't work 100% in my favor but it was still a good read.

If you know me, then you know that KA and I haven't been the best of friends lately. Apart from the Daisy novella, her last eight or nine books have been total misses for me. In fact, I had pretty much given up on her ever getting back to the greatness that was the ROCK CHICKS or SWEET DREAMS or MOTORCYCLE MAN or KNIGHT...well you get the picture. That said my curiosity got the better of me for this one and I requested an ARC. Since her same-same wasn't working for me then MAYBE something entirely different from her would. What can I say, I am an optimist...

Well, I ended up liking this one. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it with the passion of a thousand white-hot suns like some of her other recent ones. I didn't find myself overly engaged in it either. I found it dull and long winded (I know I know it's KA she is ALWAYS long winded) in places. Both Amèlie and Olivier were prone to go off on pages and pages of inner dialogue that after awhile had me skimming. Pretty much anything outside of Amèlie and Olivier interacting had me losing interest.

I didn't connect with Amèlie and Olivier as a couple either. Mostly because I just didn't like Amèlie. It wasn't that she was a Domme. It wasn't that she was older than Olivier (a year). It was that she just came off so cold and hard and frigging PRETENTIOUS. With her annoying little French endearments and her total disregard for Olivier's requests. OMG, she annoyed me!

How she was top Domme at this place boggles the mind. Olivier's and her first scene he tells her he doesn't like humiliation, doesn't like being watched and isn't really into "ass play" What does she do? She ties him down, spreads his ass open and opens the blinds for everyone to watch. In real life, this chick would have been out on her ass and banned from ANY respectable club. Her whole "You are in my room, so you do what I want" crap was appalling. That pretty much ruined her character from the start. That said as the book went on she I did start to warm up to her a bit but I never came to like her completely.

Olivier, on the other hand, I really liked. I've read books with males subs before, so this wasn't a new thing for me. I liked how he submitted, but he had an edge. He was an alpha male struggling with his need to let go in the bedroom. It felt real to me, and it worked. I like when he stood up to Amèlie and called her out on her behavior. I wish we would have seen more of him (both of them) outside the club.

There is a TON of sex in this one. In fact, for the first 70%, it is ALL these two do. Scene after scene in the club. To be honest (and I can't believe I am saying this) there were too many sex scenes that went on WAY too long. I started to skim them because they got repetitive with Amèlie doing the same things to Olivier every time. They never did ANYTHING outside the club but talk on the phone for three-quarters of the book. It made it hard to connect with them as a couple on a deeper level. Not to mention some of the sex scenes made me laugh. I mean seriously calling the base of his dick "the seat of his meat"? I laughed for ten minutes straight.

Wrapping this up because I feel like I have already written a book-length review on this one. I enjoyed this enough that I will read the next book mostly because Branch intrigued me in this one. In fact, there were quite a few interesting side characters in this book that I am curious in hearing more about (Barclay, Stellan, Aryas.) Like I said, I am an optimist, so hopefully, the next one will be better. I'm not writing this series off yet.

He was a beast.
A brute.
An incomparable steed.

Amélie Strand
The Deep End
Kindle Loc. 527 of 6536

In the past, Mistress Amélie Strand has tried to form relationships with her submissives that extend beyond the BDSM club. None have been successful and Amélie seems to be giving up hope she’ll ever find the right man to fit her needs.

All that changes when Oliver Hawkes (Ollie) enters Bee’s Honey — an exclusive BDSM club in Phoenix. Ollie is a gorgeous Alpha male (the man’s a firefighter by day — start the sizzle and crackle) who seeks submission to the right Dominatrix. He hears of Amélie and finesses his way not only into Bee’s Honey, but Amélie’s heart.

The Deep End is author Kristen Ashley’s debut novel into the BDSM genre, and is the first story in The Honey Series. Author Ashley writes with a strong pen — her characters are well-defined. Both Amélie and Ollie have distinct voices, and this is their story. And it is a love story — true, I suffered (and panted) through page upon page of graphic sex until I found it, but there is both passion and plot to this story. But there is this caveat:

The Deep End is full of consensual pony play fetish, and that’s fine. The story is strictly adult reading, and if you are unaware of the concepts of BDSM/pony play/humiliation, please do some investigating. Author Ashley handles this subject matter well for her novice entry into the genre, but I had some issue with the D/s lack of upfront intense interview(s). As a result, I was never able to warm up to Leigh’s characterization as an experienced Dominatrix. Wrapping my head around Ollie’s kink as an Alpha submissive stopped me for a moment, but credit Kristen Ashley for creating a believable character unafraid to seek out his need.


It’s a brave step to venture into a genre that’s front and center these days, so I congratulate Kristen Ashley on The Deep End, and look forward to her next offering in the Honey Series. (Maybe Stellan’s story?)

Graphic Warning: BDSM/Fetish Play/Humiliation


Three and one half stars.

I was elated at the opportunity to review an ARC of The Deep End. I would get to read this book, the first in a brand-new series by one of my favorite authors before release, yippee que the trumpets. With all that excitement came a sense of temerity as having read the blurb for this novel, I was very aware that Ms. Ashley would take a huge veer away from her trademark formula. Ms. Ashley excels in writing an awesome set of an Alpha male and a strong female character all wrapped up with some suspense, culminating with a beautifully fulfilling HEA. I have experienced another favorite author of mine decide to try to navigate the written world of BDSM with and Alpha Sub and it was greatly disappointing. I struggled greatly with the idea of an Alpha Sub then and once I finished reading The Deep End I find that I still do.

In The Deep End, we meet Amelie, aka Leigh-Leigh a domme well versed in the BDSM realm and continuously searching for that special someone. Prior partners have not been able to stand the test of time, nor were they able to become a true partner in life. Enter Olivier aka Olly an ALPHA male huge and strong in every sense. Olivier is more of a novice who has conned his way into a membership at the elite sex club The Honey, Olly has been searching for someone to understand and meet his needs. The chemistry of Amelie and Olivier was strong yet for me I was not convinced that such an Alpha male could be so great a sexual submissive. It left me always wondering perhaps if this was a case of “Sybil” and maybe he was schizophrenic, a thought that would have made these vast personality swings more believable to me. The erotic scenes were many and some I thoroughly enjoyed, however I have a big issue with humiliation in any form and that is the way I perceived many parts of this book, whether that was not what was intended it is what I so strongly perceived. There were parts to this story that for my personal taste went too far, at one point I cringed as some references and scenes, almost making me think of bestiality, in fact her pet name for him was beast. During this journey as these 2 characters fall in love we meet other characters which I am hoping will have their own stories told in future installments. Future installments that I will read as I would like to see where else Ms. Ashley takes us amongst her talented storytelling in the world of BDSM.

While this book was not a favorite of mine by the author, it was well written and the characters were well developed. I recommend you read this book if you are comfortable diving into BDSM erotic romance, specifically with an Alpha Sub character you may be more open minded than I and not have issue with any of the scenes or actions of this story. I wholeheartedly wanted to love this book as she is such a beloved author of mine. An auto buy every time, I will still be ready to one click on the next release of this series and any other release that she may have.

If you like a good strong Alpha male character, yet are not too interested in the BDSM realm I strongly recommend that you read Rock Chick or please stop by her site for a full booklist and suggested reading order and make another selection as I guarantee they will not disappoint. http://www.kristenashley.net/titles/reading-order/