Shayla Black is a new to me author, and wowza am I glad to have read her! I will be digging into her past works soon!

Devoted to Pleasure is the first book I have read, but won't be my last!

This story of Shealyn and Cutter and what a whirlwind of a story!

This was a page turner! The chemistry between these two was hotter than a Carolina Reaper! (The hottest pepper out there, so they say!)

I swooned over Cutter, the ultimate southern gentleman! But you still had the just right amount of alpha too! He was trying so hard to do the right thing, but love doesn't wait for the right time or the right circumstances. Love just is....

Shealyn! This girl, I wanted to smack her around for keeping so much from Cutter! But then reading her history, I could understand it better. Still wanted to shake her a bit, but that's what makes the story sooo good!

I absolutely loved the secondary characters! Since this is my first book, I am hoping that these characters have their own stories so I can dive into them as deeply as I did this story!

There is danger, there is mystery, there is sexiness, there is a bit of everything that makes a story great!

I cannot wait to read more from this author! Well done Shayla!

Le sigh. I was super stoked to start a new series by Shayla Black (I LOVE her More Than series), but Devoted to Pleasure was sort of a miss for me. It stretched a bit longer than necessary and I found that I had to force myself to continue with Cutter and Shealyn's story. The chemistry between them was great but beyond the physical, their relationship felt rushed in a way that was not conducive to the tone and length of the book. I think I would've enjoyed it more if it had been condensed into novella size. That being said, the book was not bad and I was compelled to finish it. I'm even interested to see how the series continues. It also seems as if this might be a spin-off, as there are several characters and relationships mentioned that must have an origin elsewhere. I'd be interested in reading those stories too. So 3 out of 5 wine glasses.

In Devoted to Pleasures a sexy starlet hires a hunky bodyguard to help her with a blackmailer, when the two meet sparks fly! Even with the undeniable chemistry these two can’t act upon their desires due to unselfish commitments they’ve made to others not to mention Cutter has never mixed business with pleasure. Shealyn and Cutter’s road to happiness is filled with searing hot passion, secrets, intrigue and a roller coaster ride of emotions, a definite must read for lovers of Romantic Suspense. Ms. Black kept me guessing as to who the blackmailer was. I enjoyed the suspense of the book and I liked both Cutter and Shealyn, I just never felt a true connection to their actual romance because of the commitments they each had to other people, don’t get me wrong the sex was HOT but I needed more of them without the other people.

I’m excited for the rest of the Devoted Lovers series!

I was completely invested in this book from the first page and became more engrossed by the minute. 

A fast paced romantic suspense that has it all sexy bodyguard, stunning starlet, danger, lies, adventure and did I mention sexy bodyguard.

My poor Kindle was virtually smoking with the action coming from the story and the rate that I turned the pages. 

Shayla Black delivered in every way with this book. Romance, suspense, tension, devoted to pleasure delivered it all.

Anytime this author has a new series out I am wanting to grab it up and devour it. And this book was no different. Hot and sexy with a bit of suspense mixed in always makes for a great story that keeps my attention Shealyn and Cutter had a chemistry that was off the charts and the passion and emotional connection they had with one another was different than any other book I have read.

The trope in this book was one that has been used time and again; however, it was done within an entirely new scenario. Cutter Bryant a former military man turned personal bodyguard is completely selfless. Pledging to help his oldest friend in whatever way matters, knowing how small towns can be and that Brea isn’t as strong as she could be.

Cutter is called away to L.A. to protect an up and coming actress by the name of Shealyn West, only things are not at all what they were originally described as. The romantic electricity zings back and forth right from the first page that these two meet. Both grew up in small towns in the American South, and both believe in living honest and decent lives.

‘Yep, he was going to fall hard for Shealyn West and there wasn’t a thing he could do to stop it anymore. At the moment, he didn’t want to. He’d deal with the fallout later.’

Between scenes highlighting the hard slog of working on a night time soap in Hollywood, and the sexual tension between our stars; there is tension and mystery. Someone(s) is blackmailing the small town Hollywood star, threatening to release one of biggest regrets and ruin her life and her career. The mystery and action was hard and intense, bringing Cutter and Shealyn into near enough distance that they kept circling each other like a hunter looking for the death shot on their wounded prey.

As a lover of mysteries and thrillers, it takes a lot to pull the wool over my eyes. I’m more often than not correct when it comes to pinning the tail on the correct donkey. Only here I never saw half the pieces of the puzzle until Ms Black was ready for me to.

‘Cherished it. Enjoyed the heck out of feeling her ecstasy.
And he climaxed to it, the heady. Dizzying, sizzling sensations burning him, disintegrating him, transforming him.
Yeah, no doubt. He’d fallen in love with the one woman h3e couldn’t have beyond this assignment and didn’t deserve forever.’

I’ve had several books this author has penned sitting in my TBR pile for such a long time. However, Devoted to Pleasure was too tempting to pass up. I just wished the beginning of this book wouldn’t have been so hard to get into at first. I relished the character interaction and the realism to the story. I wistfully wished the evil paparazzi would just get sucked up into a vortex and leave these poor celebrities along, and I truly hoped for a happy ending. Thank you Ms. Black for such an incredible read.

When his best friend whom he views as a sister gets pregnant, Cutter Bryant proposes marriage even though it means putting his life on hold. I understand, she lives in a small town and her father is the local man of cloth but even so? Is it just me but isn't it a bit farfetched?

So once I got over the plot line which has a hunk with an oversize sexual appetite willing to put his life on hold to help a woman he views as a sister the author plunges Cutter on an assignment with a gorgeous starlet whom he can't fail to fall in lust with. Just to keep things convoluted and complicated if they weren't already we have Shealyn in a pretend affair with her show's leading man. Yeah some of it as a PR stunt but it's also because the guy has the hots for his brother's wife and needs a beard. My head was spinning with all these plots and counter plots.
Once you get your arms around this relationship muddle we get to the action adventure portion of the story. Shealyn is being blackmailed because she made a sex tape with a previous body guard in a store dressing room. Keep in mind she had no idea that such tape was being made but now she's determined to keep things quiet and pay off the blackmailer but hires a new body guard to help her navigate any mishaps along the way. Things definitely turn dangerous when the blackmailer's accomplice tries to run Shealyn down.
Cutter has his hands full trying to unravel who wants Shealyn dead? and also unravel the complicated life he's woven being in love with one woman and engaged to another. Clearly there's some fireworks in store when it all comes to light as clearly it will.
I'm normally a fan of Ms. Black's stories but this one did not do it for me. Sorry!

4.35 stars
I love Shayla Black’s character driven storylines. Here the reader gets Cutter’s story. Cutter is an alpha male with a strong sense of duty and a willingness to help those in need. He is charged with protecting Shealyn West, a well-known actress who has been receiving some blackmail threats. The more time he spends with Shealyn, their attraction begins to boil but Cutter has already promised himself to another. Is Cutter willing to sacrifice his life to keep his word to his best friend or will he let her step up and learn how to live her own life? This is one steamy read filled with suspense and drama although it is not one of my favorites by this author.
I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book.

This week I read Devoted to Pleasure by Shayla Black. I haven’t read a ton of her work, but I knew I was in for a hot and spicy read. She definitely delivers in the bedroom. If you like erotic books, this one is filled with smexy times. Our heroine, Shealyn West, is an actress who is being blackmailed for a video of her, and her former lover, having sex. Shealyn just wants to pay the blackmail money and be on her way, but she hires the hero, Cutter, who is a bodyguard, to give her some protection until the mess can be sorted out. When the attempt at paying the blackmailer becomes an attempt at murder, Cutter goes on high alert and knows there is something bigger going on. These two fall hard and fast for each other but they have some obstacles in their way. Cutter had promised his childhood friend, who is single and pregnant, and terrified of being blacklisted by her family, that he would marry her to save her reputation (this was before he met Shealyn).

And Shealyn has a pretend relationship going on with one of her co-stars, to help him out of a jam. So while the fall into bed easily, and grow romantic attachments to one another fast, things also get messy.

I didn’t love the fake relationship that Shealyn had with her co-star and the side story that came with it. I wish more time had been spent building up Shealyn and Cutter’s relationship. It borders on insta-love and felt a little too easy for me. Cutter’s insane jealously also came on too strong for me. But I liked Cutter and Shealyn and if you are in the mood for an erotic book with a little suspense, you might want to check this one out.

Grade: B-

I absolutely loved this book! I can't wait for more titles in this series to be written! The relationship between Cutter and Shealyn is 100% hot and steamy. The development between the two is wonderfully paced. I liked the backstory of Cutter and his friend and the sacrifice he is willing to make to help her. That aspect of the story was a little underwhelming to me, but I will admit I currently have about a quarter of the book left to read. So far I absolutely love the story and I love the other characters that have been introduced from Cutter's security firm. I can only assume that these people will play parts in the coming books in this series. I look froward to finishing this title and to reading more in this series when they come out.

Cutter is ex-military working as a bodyguard. He's a southern gentleman who is bound and determine to help his loved one. Which is why he ends up proposing to his best friend because she found out she was pregnant. Since they live in a small town, she will be the talk of the town since she's also the preacher's daughter. Cutter leaves to go to Los Angeles to protect Shaelyn, an actress who is also from a small town in the south but has made it in Hollywood with her tv show.

Shaelyn doesn't believe she really needs protection. It seems she only hired Cutter to help her out with making a payment to her blackmailer. Cutter can't believe Shaelyn is so naive as to think that the blackmailer will go away after getting his payment. Since Shaelyn won't share much about what she is being blackmailed for, Cutter does his own investigation to find out what is going on. Cutter is bound and determine to protect Shaelyn and try to fight his attraction to her. Shaelyn is also attracted to Cutter but her past experiences has her hesitant to trust anyone with her emotions.

Both Shaelyn and Cutter agree to a temporary relationship since Cutter will be leaving to go back home once his assignment is over. But life just never goes as you plan and they both realize that they are in love with each other. Cutter wants to have a life with Shaelyn so he knows he must talk to his best friend and tell her he can't marry her but will help her out in any he can with the baby and her. Shaelyn and Cutter are thrilled to be together until misunderstandings get in the way and Shaelyn "dumps" Cutter. Then her blackmailer reveals the real plan that they have for Shaelyn and Cutter must save Shaelyn.

Cutter and Shaelyn must figure out and work through their past and their insecurities and decide if they want to be together! This is such a great read with a little suspense.

This was an enjoyable read, an uncomplicated romantic suspense. I will be honest and mention that at times the plot felt a little thin. I just felt that the book was missing something. But the writing was crisp, with a good balance between the suspense and the romance. The characters were likable and I liked the interactions and the chemistry between them. This story had plenty of sexy moments. Shealyn and Cutter heat up the pages together quite well. Suspenseful scenes give the book a thrilling feel, the tension never lets up until the very end. It makes for good light romantic suspense if you are looking for nothing too dark.

Shealyn is a television star. She is being blackmailed and wants to keep the situation private, she has a lot of secrets, including a fake relationship to help her career. Cutter is an experienced bodyguard. He has been hired to protect Shealyn. Her safety and peace of mind are his top priority.

The connection between the characters felt genuine. The plot was interesting, even though it could've done with a little more insight into the characters’ past. Romance was a big part of the story, it was a slow burn that was extremely hot. And once Shealyn and Cutter realized they wanted to be together, their relationship fell into a smooth rhythm very nicely. Their closeness was very sweet. Overall, this was an easy read with engaging characters. 3.5 Stars

***ARC Provided by the Publisher Via NetGalley***

I was not sure how this was going to go...at first, you really think there is going to be a subplot that, well, doesn't work...(at least I wasn't thrilled by it) but it doesn't go that way at all. Usually, I would not put this in a review, but for me, I was kind of hesitant on the direction this was going to take, and so I am saying here that, if you are like me, things are fine. Carry on and enjoy this book.

And, I loved the way this developed. I loved that Cutter was a strong man on his own, with a strict moral code that told him what was, and wasn't right, in a situation. Shealyn is a woman who goes after what she wants, whether it is in her career or in her personal life, and she is willing to sacrifice in order to get the things she wants most.

So, they get one another, and the willingness to do what it takes to do the things they believe they should. It's a connection, at first, that allows them to think their attraction and relationship is a short term fling...and then they realize it is more.

I love how strong Cutter is, how willing he is to put everything on the line for a real relationship, and for Shealyn's trust, and how willing he is to walk away when he thinks that is missing. Saying more is a spoiler, but this worked and it worked well.

I like Shayla Black's writing style, and her willingness to tell a story that is not always easy or simple. She allows her characters to have flaws and faults, to make bad decisions, and to frustrate the reader. When it all works out happily in the end, it becomes an enjoyable ride, even if there was a time or 2 you found yourself angry at the characters.

I recommend this title.

Absolutely loved this story by one of my favorite authors!! Amazing storyline as always!! This is Cutter and Shealyn. He’s the good ole boy from the small town hired to be her bodyguard. She’s the Hollywood starlet who’s career is on the way up. She’s Hollywood’s Darling and also Tower’s girlfriend.

However not everything is as it appears on the outside as Cutter soon learns that Hollywood is full of lies and deceit at least when it has to deal with his client and she has no intentions on coming clean or giving him trust it’s one thing she can’t afford is allowing anyone that kind of power over her.

Great start to this series and looking forward too more to come!! Absolutely captivating and enjoyable!! Does not disappoint and amazingly addictive!! Page turner!! Definitely recommend!!

I was so excited that Ms. Black wrote a spin-off to her series Wicked Lovers. I fell in love with Shealyn and Cutter! Being ex-military and now a bodyguard, Cutter is all alpha male. On a side note he can guard my body anytime. Shealyn just wants to pay the blackmail money and be done with it, no investigation or anything. Cutter advises her to investigate further but he is only hired to “guard” her while she pays. There is undeniable chemistry between the two but Cutter never mixes business with pleasure.

Captivating story from the first page. This story is action-packed and kept me on the edge of my seat guessing who the blackmailer was. Can’t wait for the next installment of this series!

Devoted to Pleasure by Shayla Black

I am voluntarily reviewing this ARC.

Shayla Black has added to this series, another couple that has stolen my heart.
Cutter and Shealyn have so many obstacles to over come, but the absolute rightness of this couple is undeniable from second one. This book follows them as they tackle every problem and fall deeper and deeper in love. I love the pacing of this story. I loved everything about it!

For a man who thrives on control and has chosen duty and honor over any kind of personal life for much of his life and career, bodyguard and former military man, Cutter Bryant, finds himself in a rather precarious position with his newest client, hollywood starlet, Shealyn West, because their attraction is not something they anticipated and when lines blur and pleasure consumes them, it’s unclear if they’ll come out of this assignment with their hearts or even their lives.

Cutter is one heck of an alpha male hero, and, at times, his overprotective nature can be suffocating, especially when it comes to a woman he desires. It’s easy to see Cutter’s conflicting emotions; he commits himself to every job he takes, but there’s added stress in protecting Shealyn because not only are their secrets between them, but the threat to her life is always in the forefront of his mind, which adds further drama to an already crazy situation.

Shealyn is an intriguing character - one who has fought to achieve her dreams, and now that they’re threatened by a past mistake and someone looking to benefit from her misdeeds, she needs to do whatever it takes to ensure that everything works out the way she wants and needs them to, and that’s why Cutter Bryant enters her life and ends up turning it upside down. Shealyn does not trust easily which makes sense given her career choice, but there’s something about Cutter that makes her feel protected, even when things seem out of control.

The sizzling chemistry between Shealyn and Cutter resonates from the pages, so it’s understandable why they both can’t help but give into what they’re feeling, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t further complicate an already complex situation or feel a bit overbearing when Cutter’s protective nature goes a little overboard, and until the blackmailer is dealt with and all of the secrets are laid bare, things are bound to be dicey and dramatic, and that’s exactly what goes down the closer Shealyn and Cutter become and the infinite lengths that Cutter is willing to go.

Devoted to Pleasure is one wild, sensual, and dangerous ride, and the title itself, although it seems contrary to what the word devotion implies, proves to be both a curse and a blessing for Shealyn and Cutter and with the amount of suspense, drama, and twists that occur throughout the storyline, professional and personal relationships become a point of contention for those involved.

4 Poison Apples

Shayla Black starts off this series with a one-two punch right in the solar-plexus, we are not only gifted with the hot and steamy insta-love story of Shealyn and Cutter but it is also filled with a ton of mystery and suspense.

Shealyn and Cutter weren't supposed to fall for one another, he was there to do a job then return his home in Louisiana and follow through with his commitments. He needed to find out who was blackmailing Shealyn and stop him/her before they leaked an extremely damaging video to the public and ruin Shealyn's image, the only problem with that was Shealyn just wanted to pay the person and be done with it hoping that they would never blackmail her again.

The attraction was instant although they both tried to fight it, but with chemistry as strong as theirs fighting it was a futile attempt to prolong the inevitable. What would you do for love? Would you leave your career behind and move to be with the person you loved? Would you break promises to some you cared for? These questions and many more are addressed in this first book of the Devoted Lovers Series.

Devoted to Pleasure was a great start to the series, there is a novella Devoted to Wicked that was released last year that is a cross over between the Wicked Lovers Series and the Devoted Lovers Series which is based on Cutter's brother Cage. I really enjoyed that read as well. While that book came out before this one did the events actually take place after so you can read the books in whichever order you prefer.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a fan if Shalya Black's and if you haven't read any of her books yet, what are you waiting for?!?! Her books are HOT and filled with likable characters, great story lines, and secondary characters that have you wanting to know more about them as well. Happy Reading!!!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

I found myself loving this story, but Cutter was too good to be true. He was there to help anyone who needed it and was even going to give up true love and forever happiness to help a friend, someone as close to him as a sister. It just didn't seem real to me because I haven't met anyone that selfless in my life.

Cutter Bryant was the all-around good guy, former military, now a bodyguard for hire and his next assignment has him heading to Hollywood. And after this high-profile job, he is giving up his chance at love to help a friend. Wait until he meets Shealyn West, the one person he was not expecting.

Small town girl makes it big, Shealyn West is finally living her dream as a Hollywood actress. But what she wasn't ready for was all the press following her every move. And when a blackmailer sends a text with a steamy video of her and a man that is not her boyfriend, she realizes that she needs someone to go with her to drop off the payoff. She hires a bodyguard at a friend’s recommendation. When the man shows up at her door, Cutter Bryant was not what she was expecting at all. He leaves her tingling all over and tongue-tied. She has never had these feelings towards any man before. And she wants to explore them more with him.

Can Cutter and Shealyn enjoy their time together and he can keep her safe too? Will the blackmailer give up after she pays whoever it is off? Will they find out who the blackmailer is? Will Cutter and Shealyn end things when he leaves, or will they make a future together?

I loved this story and other than Cutter being too good to be true, I recommend it highly. Shayla Black has a way of pulling you into a story and making you feel all the emotions the story has to offer. So I hope you enjoy this story too.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
The characters in this book are well defined and each are seeking some form of redemption. In Shealyn's cases it takes the form of striving to be perfect and not causing her family members heartache. For Cutter it's to right a wrong, to be better than he was to let no one get hurt in his watch ever again.

Shealyn is being blackmailed and just wants to pay the money with no one being the wiser. When the drop goes south she realizes that she has to trust Cutter with her secrets. Cutter's first instinct is to put her in a safe house but that's not realistic.

As their lives become intertwined, both Cutter and Shealyn must figure out what is more important: their careers or each other.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆
I didn’t love this book – I didn’t feel invested in Shealyn and Cutter, their chemistry just didn’t do it for me. I’m giving three stars because I did enjoy the storyline and I love Shayla Black’s writing, I always breeze through her books very quickly.

Cutter works private security now that he’s out of the military. In his hometown he’s known for helping anyone who needs it – even at the expense of his personal life. Cutter has committed to marry his best friend when he returns from his next job so that she doesn’t look bad to her family. This one last job before that can happen is with Shealyn, a big time actress who is being blackmailed and needs Cutter to provide security for her to make the payoff. From their first meeting they’re attracted to one another, but neither is willing to cross the professional/personal line. Then, Shealyn’s blackmailing becomes more and Cutter swoops in to save this damsel.

I think the part that had me not loving this book was that Cutter lets everyone walk all over him. He doesn’t seem to have an alpha bone in his body but at the same time, he’s a security guard so he’s strong. It was just weird, and I struggled with that and him having promised himself to his best friend before leaving on the job with Shealyn. Though this one wasn’t for me, I still applaud the author for writing a book that kept me reading through to the end even though I wasn’t invested in the main characters.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a really good first book in a new series – although any Wicked Lovers fans will find some familiar names to smile about too. If you haven't read that series, well you have a treat waiting for you when you do!

Cutter is in security, and first we find him talking to his all-life friend Brea, and she is in a major jam. Then we watch on as he is assailed by intense desire for his latest client, Shealyn, an actress on a hit TV show. This sets up the underlying plot issues perfectly and had me trying to work out just how he was going to resolve a fairly massive problem that he has created... let's just say that Shayla Black is brilliant at writing men who should think less and say more! I cannot tell you how many times I said to Cutter "now?" and rolled my eyes when the page turned and the moment had passed!

Add in a blackmail mystery with some clever turns and use of Facebook and social media to divert attention, and this is a great combination of very hot, steamy, and quickly intense romance, and well-paced drama. I don't really want to say anymore for fear of giving anything away. Rest assured you will enjoy the ride, find out more about the repetitive nature of the role of TV star, and how just about everything written about celebrity is nonsense. Another winner, thank you and can't wait to read the next installment – there are some big hints about who should be involved, and I am looking forward to unravelling all the negative comments about him soon.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance with some thrills
Triggers: murder, stalking

This is a great start to a new series. It has the makings of a great series with all of the hints at secondary characters.

Cutter is a great guy - he is too good to be true, in all honesty. I wish that he had some flaws throughout, since he was so "perfect," it was hard to believe his character or to even really relate. He is in security and when he's called to protect a Hollywood star, he takes his job very seriously... until he meets her. Not only is he insanely attracted to her, he is also in a personal pickle with what he left behind.

Shealyn is an actress who is set on protecting her private life. She is now in need of protection, but she's not willing to divulge what is really going on until it's almost too late. She meets Cutter and knows that her life is complicated already, but just this once, she wants something real – for herself.

In true romance fashion, the lack of communication is prevalent and rears its ugly head. I think that Black has an amazing talent for writing characters that suck you in and who you want to root for.

This is a great story with a lot of intrigue and a ton of chemistry between the main characters. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait for more.

The first in an all-new sexy contemporary romance series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shayla Black.

Bodyguard and former military man Cutter Bryant has always done his duty--no matter what the personal cost. Now he's taking one last high-octane, high-dollar assignment before settling down in a new role that means sacrificing his chance at love. But he never expects to share an irresistible chemistry with his beautiful new client.

Fame claimed Shealyn West suddenly and with a vengeance after starring in a steamy television drama, but it has come at the expense of her heart. Though she's pretending to date a co-star for her image, a past mistake has come back to haunt her. With a blackmailer watching her every move and the threat of career-ending exposure looming, Shealyn hires Cutter to shore up her security, never imagining their attraction will be too powerful to contain.

As Shealyn and Cutter navigate the scintillating line between business and pleasure, they unravel a web of secrets that threaten their relationship and their lives. When danger strikes, Cutter must decide whether to follow his heart for the first time, or risk losing Shealyn forever.

Review:

An excellent start to this new series by Shayla Black!

She is one of my go to Authors for stories with strong characters, interesting plots and good sexy times. This story between Cutter and Shealyn is full of mystery, suspense and emotion. The chemistry between them was excellent, them trying to fight it made the coming together so much more satisfying. I liked though they had a lot of similarities in the life and upbringing, but different to make them interesting. Of course the sexy times were very well written, as I would expect with a book by this Author. I loved the back drop of the entertainment industry, it lended to a timely subject matter. The wrapping in of characters from other series was great too. I do have to say I cannot wait to see what may come for One Mile, now that he knows the truth about the baby.

4Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*