Bound: Mastered, 1

I really enjoy Lorelei James writing style so decided to read something of hers more on the wild side and it didn’t disappoint! I absolutely loved Ronin and Amery’s part one and can’t wait to continue reading their story!

"Black Arts" is the name of a dojo, a room or hall in which judo and other martial arts are practiced. Ronin Black is the owner and Sensi of "Black Arts." He also has a black belt in jujitso and is a master of other martial arts, including kinbaku and shibari binding. These are forms of a Japanese style of bondage which involves tying the subject using simple yet visually intricate patterns, usually with several pieces of thin rope. I am not into BDSM but in the context of this book the "art" of binding is not really about dominance and submission in the usual sense. No D/s relationship, slave or power exchange, only light bondage play primarily with rope. This treatment of bondage allowed me to enjoy the eroticism of "Bound" without getting uptight.Of course Sensei Black is beyond handsome - he's the hero, after all. Of Japanese and Nordic descent he has "light brown eyes, the color of topaz" which tilt slightly. Strong, exotic, lethal at his art, he is everything sexy on the outside and a total enigma, a paradox, on the inside - very intense. Amery Hardwick, a North Dakota native, moved to Colorado after graduating college and is now fulfilling her dream... she owns her own graphic design business, small but growing. She is a talented, smart, self-sufficient woman... and beautiful, of course. There is also a rebellious part of Amery that desires to be bold, free to explore her sexual desires without the guilt.When Amery's friend and employee, Molly, is attacked, they both join the dojo for a course in self defense. Molly has become reclusive after the assault and Amery joins her for moral support. Sensei Black notices Amery immediately, (of course), because of her beauty and even more so because of her spirit and sass. He is drawn to her for another more subtle reason. You have to read the book to find out why. Soon after the 1st class, he shows up at Amery's office and offers to hire her. He wants a new logo created for Black Arts and believes she is the person to do the job.Well into their relationship, Ronin recognizes Amery's desires, on both sexual and emotional levels and asks her to trust him in being able to help her "let go" and feel the power she can obtain in surrendering to him. I enjoyed learning about shibari and kinbaku binding. Shibari refers to purely artistic, aesthetic rope, whilst kinbaku refers to the artistic, connective, sensual, sexual practice as a whole. I looked up this art form and found the images to be erotic, a true art form, without the usual S&M connotations.I have not read an erotic novel for some time and have never read any of the author's books. "Bound" is certainly different in the romantic erotic genre - well worth the read. It is exceptionally well written and the descriptive passages are quite sensual. The characters are fairly complex and their relationship is very intimate, not only sexually but emotionally. There are also plots and sub-plots...more intricate then usual with this type of novel. Obviously there are some steamy scenes, a wide variety of them.Lorelei James's tempers her narrative with humor, wild sexuality/sensuality, and an innate dominance that hooks even the most jaded of readers.*** SPOILER ALERT - the novel ends with a cliffhanger. There is a sequel. I strongly advise prospective readers to begin with "Bound" and then continue with "Unwound."JANA

Rating: 4 stars - Loved ItSpoil Free review:Love Lorelei James sexy cowboys in her Rough Riders series and had no idea what I was getting into when I dived into Bound. I was sure not expecting what I got. I got much more. Lorelie James turned something into her own.Lorelei James captivated readers with the art of Shibari or at least for me she has. Shibari is an ancient Japanese artistic form of rope bondage. I have read many novels with BDSM and dealing with rope but never have I read a novel so descriptive and well explained. Who would think reading an erotic novel would be a learning tool. I was so amazed by this and of course had to do my own little research. Lorelei James did her research and did it well. That is why she is a top seller author. Plus she has a beautiful writing voice and knows how to make readers fall in love with her characters.So of course I fell in love with Ronin Black. I believe I fell in love with his name before him. I do love a mysterious hero and Ronin is as mysterious as they come. I wish more layers were pealed away about him because I feel like it was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his life, which he likes to keep private. Slowly the layers are peeled and not by his doing or choice, more so by Amery. Refreshing to have a hero of mixed-heritage with Japanese, Master and Owner of a Dojo. The first time he meets Amery he is intrigue by her fierceness and sexiness. He senses her desire to be bold and break free. He works hard, had not played in a long time and is need of some playtime. Ronin you can come play with me anytime. He is sexy, intense but at the same time all about her pleasures and patient. Amery is a patient heroine because after their hot first kiss there is no way I would be able to control my self.I enjoyed Amery character. Her past lovers were all about pleasuring themselves and not her. For her it is new and refreshing to finally find a lover who is all about her. I love that she is not shy in the bedroom department and is willing to explore. I found her a strong will heroine who does have limits when it comes to Ronin with Shibari.Love them as a couple. They both have a sense of humor and of course are deliciously sinful in the bedroom. Lorelei James knows how to write yummy scorching-panty changing scenes with a sexy-tattoo-biker riding-dirty talking Ronin. Their time together is also bumpy as he focuses on her completely that he reveals little of himself. While she believes she has opened herself up to him fully, she does not get that he has revealed more to her than he has anyone else. He just choice what was important to reveal about himself.Bound is in Amery POV and I really wanted to get into Ronins head and see some of his actions when it came towards Amery. Yes it is a cliffhanger and was sure how it was going to end but to my surprise it was done in Ronin POV and let me tell you that was truly the best. So I am for sure curious how their story is going to play out and what else will be revealed about him in Unwound (Mastered #2) due out March 25th, 2014.Originally posted at Wickedly Delicious Book Blog.

Amerey is fresh faced but fiesty, her religious parents left her with some hang ups but we all have some, right?? Her work colleague Molly gets mugged so in support Amerey joins her at a local martial arts studio to learn self defence. Her first run in with Sensei Black does not go any better than the second or third. The physical attraction between them is off the charts but he sweeps away her questions and doubts to learn everything he can about her. Weeks pass as she learns a little more about him including his mastery of ropes and who he really is!!

Wow, I think I might be liking this series more than the rough riders and that's saying something. Little expensive but totally worth the price. The story continues into a second book called unbound, once again expensive, but in my opinion totally worth it. Read the second book in one day as it was that good. Beautiful love story.

Absolutely stunning story. So in depth so much detail and beyond hot. Thoroughly enjoyed every second of this book.

Well well. Miss James, you took #RoughRiders away and gave me something even more scintillating..my goodness!I adore this book. ..! #iwantmore

Can't spend too much time writing a review, need to start the next book NOW. A little on the pricy side for me but worth it. Recommended