Say My Name: A Stark Novel (Stark International Trilogy Book 1)

I didn't think I would ever reach the end of this story. To be an Executive Assistant to Damien and a Project Manager, Sylvia's character was written like a very young self centered, spoiled bit#h. All she did every time she had an argument with Jackson was run and doubt him. Her past was very unfortunate but I have heard of much worse. And Jackson's character in previous stories was written that he was a macho alpha male, this story will change your mind. Why he wasn't more firm with her (except in bed continuously) I don't understand. Girly you either trust him or you don't. After all, you're the one who left him 5 years ago after your long relationship of 2 days. GIVE ME A BREAK !! Such a shame. I was looking forward to the story of Jackson. I have already purchased the next 2 books plus I have enjoyed the series up to this point. I just like big strong, loving men. Sorry JACKSON but Sylvia has your's in a Dixie Cup and it ain't so flattering to you.

After reading a particular SHADY bdsm book, I swore I wouldn't walk down the road of erotic romance again. But after reading that particular SHADY book I wanted to see if maybe other authors could do what EL James did BETTER and I figured J. Kenner could. I was wrong. This book may in fact be WORSE than James's novels and that's saying alot. Kenner's writing was all kinds of mediocre, from the way Sylvia and Jackson even meet (what man would be so taken with a woman upon their first meeting? Enough he grossly invades her personal space and she DOESN'T push him away? Totally unrealistic smfh), to the way their sex scenes play out. I swear if I didn't see the cover I'd think I was still reading 50 Shades. It's almost like Kenner is trying to be some sort of proxy for James's work, no individuality at all. Now I read a sample and read at least 15 Amazon reviews on this book before I brought it so I wouldn't get trapped- I brought it trusting the fans ratings and got burned. If you're looking for erotic romance to redeem yourself from 50 Shades don't buy this book it is 50 Shades cousin. Sylvia is way to self absorbed and Jackson is a caricature, literally. Ugh...

Wow! I did not see the ending bombshell coming but I'm ready to pick up the next book. Julie Kenner does a great job of developing characters whose secrets are peeled away layer by layer. I actually wondered if the bombshell was true earlier in the story by clues dropped here and there. I was excited to see I was right but it has opened so many questions now for me.My only negative about the story in my opinion and it's just something minor, was Sylvia's meltdown took forever to complete. I found myself skimming to get through it. But it also made her past serious and that it truly effected her in the present tense.I love the way the characters are written. I don't know if I trust or hate Jackson and I know at times Sylvia felt the same way. I'm still not sure I trust him at the end of the book but I do like what he did for Sylvia even if he did get in trouble.Like true Julie Kenner style, this story is full of hot scenes and intense romantic acts between the characters. You get a good sense of the characters feelings and how they feel about each other. And the characters are not totally revealed. There is much more to come I'm sure.

Let me start by saying J. Kenner is one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with her writing when I read the Stark Trilogy. At that time I read books and not e-books. I swore I would never read digitally and wanted to continue to read holding a book. What changed my mind since I am typing this review on my Kindle? Well, the Stark Trilogy novella was only available digitally. I couldn't and I mean couldn't not read it, so I borrowed my teenage daughter's kindle. That began my digital reading and one click fetish. She ended up giftingme her kindle for Christmas . Best gift ever! So, why did I tell you all that? The two reasons are...that is how wonderful the author's writing talent is since she changed my mind and got me to read on a screen and the Stark Trilogy set my expectations high. I was worried these characters wouldn't measure up to Nikki and Damien. I should have known better than to worry about Ms. Kenner's ability to craft strong characters, a fabulous storyline and to weave emotions and hot erotic sex through the written word. The emotions and sexual heat bleed through my Kindle screen with each page.We met Sylvia Brooks in the Stark Trilogy. She is Damien Stark's PA. She has secrets that leave her guarded and scared of letting others close. She doesn't share her abusive past with many. She has the opportunity to expand her position at Stark International with a development project that is her vision. It meets with some glitches and may need to be halted. Her only option for salvaging the development project is getting Architect Jackson Steele to take on the project. The problem is she left him five years prior without much of an explanation and he is still angry. Not only is he angry, but wants revenge against Sylvia. Will he even talk to her, let alone work closely with her?Jackson aside from being an award winning architect has his own secrets and demons to contend with and haunt him. He keeps them hidden, but he isn't unaffected by them. What isn't hidden is that he is sexy, alpha, loyal to the core and drop dead hot in bed. He is truly likable and quite lickable. The sex scenes between these two are incredible!I don't want to spoil the story for you. What I will tell you is that I couldn't put it down. Lunch was skipped, laundry delayed and take out necessary for dinner since I couldn't stop reading. I kept saying, "just one more chapter, just one more page" and I didn't stop saying it until I reached the cliffhanger ending. Then I screamed, "No, I need more now!" at my kindle. I just can't say enough good things about this story line. I am anxiously awaiting On My Knees.I was given a complementary copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my god Julie has written yet another scorcher of a story!I don't know who the hottest hunk is, Damien Stark or Jackson Steele!This story is about Damien's assistant Sylvia and Jackson Steele.Sylvia is interested in buildings and architecture and is changing the direction of her work.She has the opportunity to help Damien with designing an island. When an architect pulls outshe realises she has to go and see someone from her past, a man that she had 2 incredible dayswith and then told him to leave. This man is Jackson Steele, an up and coming architect who ismaking a name for himself.When Jackson claps eyes on Sylvia after 5 long years he decides he's going to get revenge on herfor making him leave, only it doesn't quite work out like that. Sylvia starts to trust Jackson with her secretsand he realises why she told him to go. He needs to start sharing his own secrets with her!A great story and well worth a read!I was given this arc from Net-Galley for an honest review, thank you for allowing me to read such a great story!

When I read (and loved) the Stark series I thought I'd found a new author to enjoy. However, everything since has been very much a variation on the same. Jackson seemed too much like Damien and the history of abuse theme is becoming a bit much now really. (Yes abuse is common, but it's a devastating experience not something to be used the way some writers seem to be doing when they are too lazy to come up with a back story for their heroines/heroes.)E L James has been accused of money spinning in re-writing her FSOG series from Christian's perspective, but all J Kenner is doing is re-writing the Stark series with different names and backgrounds.J Kenner writes well but there was just nothing new here. It was all same old, same old and I was disappointed. I found myself skim reading in the end. I won't be buying any more in this series and I'll think twice before anything by J Kenner again unless she comes up with something new.

Say My Name (Stark International Trilogy, #1) by J Kenner4.5 stars!!“But there is the man and there is the architect. I – I can’t be with the man. But I desperately need the architect.”For fans of J Kenner and especially her Stark Trilogy then you are all going to love this new series. Although this does have the “Stark” brand it is not essential that you have read the Stark Trilogy, this series can be read as a standalone although I would highly recommend reading them anyways because Damien is seriously HOT and you will also have a better understanding of the secondary characters in this book. Damien and Nikki do make an appearance, so it is a totally WIN WIN situation, you have super yummy Damien and now tall, dark, brooding and enigmatic Jackson Steele.Roll back five years and Jackson Steele shares two days with Sylvia Brooks, the connection they have is irrefutable, it is one of the most intense two days of both their lives, we are talking soul mate connection, a forever connection, but it seems the thoughts of forever are one sided...Sylvia begs Jackson to walk away and asks him to never look back, even though it kills him to do so.“Oh, baby. They can’t hurt me. Don’t you know that you’re the only one who’s ever managed to tear me to shreds.”In the present Sylvia Brooks now works for Damien Stark on the property investment side and Sylvia is trying to prove that she can handle more than the mundane day to day stuff that she is currently doing. She gets her big break with a project for which she is project manager but it all goes south as the architect pulls out at the last minute. With the investment backers getting the jitters and on the verge of calling time on the whole project it is up to Sylvia to get another architect on board and it has to be someone high profile and renowned to allay the worries of the board. There is only one contender and luckily his latest project has hit the wall and he is available...Jackson Steele is the current “it” architect, people are clamouring for his services and he is always in the spotlight, his work breaks boundaries and his style is in a world of its own. He has made no secret of his disinterest to ever work with Damien Stark, citing “work ethics” as his irreconcilable differences so Sylvia knows that she is going to have to beg to get him on board and hope that their past may be able to persuade him to have the Stark contract in their future. But with a past such as theirs can it be overcome? Jackson seems the type to hold a grudge and for the woman that he has not stopped thinking about for the past five years, this grudge is huge.“I’m the man who’ll fight your demons...”I have to say I loved Jackson Steele, he is dominant, he is alpha, he is kinky, he talks dirty, he is the epitome of perfect, he knows what he wants and he knows how to get it and will even resort to emotional black mail. What I loved about his story is that he wasn’t afraid to open up and say just how hurt he was when Sylvia begged him to walk away, it had a huge impact on him, he couldn’t understand it, he never knew why all he knew was that it was the hardest thing he had ever done and now he wanted answers.“I want you ready for me. Wild for me. Not because I demand it, but because you want it. Not because I’m taking, but because you’re giving.”Sylvia always came across as the silent proficient type as Damien’s PA but we soon learn that she has another side...as they say the quiet ones are always the worst. I have to admit if it wasn’t for their past I would have felt uncomfortable with the way that Sylvia goes about getting Jackson on board, but deep down I knew that there was an ulterior motive. She missed Jackson as much as he missed her, their chemistry was electric and it hadn’t diminished in their time apart. Sometimes miscommunication or lack of any communication is one of my pet peeves and while I could understand Sylvia for some I was begging her to open up at times.“...and what is history but a memory...”They say all is fair in love and war, now the battle has begun and I cannot wait to see where this going. Some of the revelations in this book took me by surprise and with an intriguing plot anyways I can honestly say I am all in. I cannot wait for book 2 On My Knees which is set for publication in June.

I wanted to love this. I really enjoyed the first trilogy and how Damien and Nicki found each other. I won't give away the plot but it was very obvious early on what Jackon's shocking secret would be, and it's not a surprise, you don't suddenly think wow that's impossible. There was a lot of repetition and naval gazing. I get Nicki has a tragic past, I get she has genuine pain and fear but it feels like Kenner could have cut the book down and gotten to the point sooner but avoided that to stretch the material over three. It's almost like she wanted dialogue for a movie, did we really need a transcript of phone conversations? I found myself skimming dialogue and Nicki's inner thoughts because I knew them already. Also, I know these rich troubled man books suspend belief somewhat but we're expected to believe in what is really an extremely short relationship and how they got from A-B is slightly more believable from Jackson's than Nicki's perspective. If I'm being generous I would say she could tell the story in two if the pace of surprises is the same. I will complete the trilogy and perhaps it will improve if she's written the book from Jackson's perspective. I want to get out of Nicki's head now. Sorry J. Kenner, I promise to give the rest of the trilogy a chance.

Got a Advance Readers CopySyliva works for Damien Stark and the architect has pulled out and now they are at a loss and Syliva knows just the man for the job but little beknowing to her Jackson has already turned Stark down, but she thinks she can convince him and asks Damien to give her the weekend to get him on board. But what Damien doesn't know is that she and Jackson have a past that ended with her telling to let her go. Few secrets in this book but not going to give any away but i got the big one before it was revealed.Will Jackson and Sylvia's secrets drive them apart will their revelations bring them closer together?

Well I really don't know what to say - but June is just too long too wait! I loved reading all about Damien Stark but this time we get to meet Jackson Steele and Sylvia which we have seen snipets of during the Stark Trilogy and spin off books. You still get a little of Damien in this book but Jackson Steele makes this book and I can not wait to learn more about him. Love all the little secrets from both their pasts that slow unravel through the book. Roll on June!

I love j kenner and her books are fab i always order them before release to get them asap.The only trouble is i want the next book NOW. not in a couple of months.Loved the story of the hot hot hot Jackson steele and syvia. Def got my pulse racing, steamy andunpredictable which is how i love my erotica books. The twists and turns the unexpected was what kept mereading till all hours. you know a good read when you cant put it down for anything.Cant wait fro on my knees sure to be another great read from Jiulie

Well what can I say, I have always loved J Kenner, think she is an amazing author and I have loved her series with damien stark, this book is about Jackson Steele and sylvia which is part of the stark series, have I enjoyed this book...... you bet ya I have, totally loved it and so happy that the series continues, only thing I'm gutted about is that the next book isn't released till June but know it will be worth the wait, so worth the 5 stars :)

Oh dear what a disappointment. I got to page 74 and thought 'when am I going to start liking and enjoying this?' There is nothing engaging or exciting about the story and you really should like or hate the characters but I don't care about them and that is not good. Will not buy any more cos I did not get to the end of this one. Rubbish.

Having read Damian and Nikki's story I couldn't wait to read Jackson and Sylvia's story and I was not disappointed.At first I wasn't sure if I liked Jackson or not and my opinion changed a few times as more things came to light as the book revealed secrets that I did not see coming.A great first book in a trilogy that I cannot wait to continue reading and I love having Damian and Nikki back too.Hot, steamy love scenes and a great story with twists, turns and suspense.Best book I have read so far this year!!!!

What a great start to a new series in the stark books, I have loved everyone of the book I have read by j Kenner and the same goes for this book in the book we get to know lots of new characters but also you get to spend a bit of time with Damien,nikki and all the other characters we know and love. Can't wait for the next part of this book jackson has many more secrets to come out this I am sure of and I can't not wait to hear what they are , really enjoyed this book

The mystique and lure of the Stark world manifests wonderfully in this new J Kenner book. Surprisingly it features a relationship between a new character Jackson Steele and Damien Stark's personal assistant Sylvia Brooks. When long held secrets are revealed by them it has a profound effect on their lives and the people closely associated with them. This exciting book will commanded your whole attention. I can't wait to start reading it again.

1st book in Stark International Series. Sylvia and Jackson have a shared past. We don't really know what happened with them before. Although Sylvia is carrying a secret. There is chemistry between the two that is obvious. But can they put the past behind them for the sake of their working relationship? This was a story that held my attention and I was so disappointed that I had to wait for the 2nd in the series

She's done it again, another sensational story and the beginning of another trilogy. I read Damien and Nikki's trilogy in paperback and have waited with baited breath for this series. Having read this first book I can honestly say I'm not disappointed, in fact I'm once again hooked by JK's brilliance. I'm about to start book 2 and I'll let you know my views when I've read it, so watch this space.

What a boring read. This book tries to capture some of the stark magic but just no cut it. The story is very weak and the pages very repetitive. I kept with it for about half way but it was just so boring i ditched it.