omg. 1 star bc it was a dnf...could not do it. dreaded having to keep read it. I love romance books but this one broke me at 61%....he a 30+ year old man called the sex rocket boom or some shit....cheezus

Not sweet but certainly hot!

It wasn’t a sweet read, it was well written although maybe a bit inline as you might expect. Certainly worth the effort!

This wasn't terrible or amazing. I was constantly distracted though by the names Stark and I swear they mentioned a Rhodes. Basically it became a weird iron man fanfic for me minus the sweet suit.

You know how there are books that you love, books that you really love that you'll even re-read them a few times, and then there are books that you love to the point that you want to shout from the rooftops, tell every person that passes by you, and that you have to own multiple copies of. Release Me (Stark Trilogy series #1) is that book! This book was so amazing and I loved it so much I can't even find the word to do it justice.

I know that this book is being compared to Fifty Shades of Grey and I love me some Fifty (I even loved it when it was a *gasp* Twilight fanfic) but, this book is so much better. Not only was it written better but, the characters are so much better too. The author really put so much thoughtfulness is how she wrote not only her characters but also the storyline.

Nikki Fairchild just moved to LA by way of Texas. She is a strong, smart, refreshing, woman. She's not afraid to say no or stand up for herself. She's also not afraid to be honest with not only herself, but also with the people around her. Nikki is also a cutter and has some demons she's dealing with. I love Nikki. l can really relate to her. I can understood her need and the why's on why she cut herself. I sometimes felt like she was me. Even though Nikki hasn't said the big 'I love you' to Damien, you can tell that she does and she does without question and with loyalty. She also never questions why Damien wants her (like other book heroine's).

Speaking of the amazingly, sexy, hot, Damien Stark...*fans self while clenching thighs*...When you meet Damien Stark you'll be saying Christian who? Damien is a retired tennis pro turned science/technology billionaire. He's extremely tender and loving with Nikki. He makes her feel beautiful regardless of her physical scars. Damien has his own issues that he's dealing with. We dont' know the extent of those issues though. He also feels that Nikki is his kindred spirit when he first met her at 18 while judging a beauty pageant she was in.

This book was absolutely amazing, emotional, and smuttastic. This is on my favorites list and will most likely be my favorite book of the year. Everyone needs to read it!

Not all that impressed by this book. But it’s a series I’ll read once & be done with it. Though a lot of people say it’s like Bared to You & Fifty Shades. It’s more like Fifty Shades because they have an “agreement” that she’ll be his for a week to do a nude portrait & much more for he’ll own her during that week. But he’s known/kept tabs on her ever since he met her in a pageant show that she was in & he was judging. They were both mentally abused, her by her mother, & him by his father.

Another 50 shades knockoff but I don't mind reading the whole billionaire trope as long as there's something to keep me interested. Unfortunately, this book didn't have it, and then also had the unfortunate affliction of having an author who refuses to complete a story just to sell another (and another and another) book.
It's a nope from me. I even tried to read the second book to give this a redemption chance, but no. Hard no.

Ugh. Where do I start? This book, heck, the series has high ratings. It said it was similar to 50 Shades. People claimed the scenes were hot and the chemistry was off the charts.

No.

I don't know why, but this was a big, fat, solid NO for me. From the first few paragraphs I knew I wouldn't like it. If a book catches my attention, I will not put it down. With this book, it was like I was looking for excuses NOT to read it.

Believe me, I see the potential. Dramatic pasts, self-harm and all that, but this book was just not believable to me. I mean, the 2nd time they have sex and the main chick is spilling her history and issues and yet I just finished the book and I have ZERO idea who Damien is other than a freaking stalker. I don't care that he felt she was a kindred spirit. A SANE person would have met face to face, not stalked from the shadows for YEARS. YEARS, people!!!

And the sexy scenes? Waaaay too rushed. I mean, the Crossfire series is a great example of "fine" sexy scenes. These scenes were unpolished, wannabe kinky (not BDSM), and quite YA with some dirty descriptions.

Man, I don't even know if I can finish the series. I gave it 3 stars, because I'm not a total bitch. I may reread it in the future. We'll have to see....

Review also posted on Book Lovin' Mamas

To the readers who have read FSoG and the readers who are reading the Crossfire books...you will definitely want to check out J. Kenner's release "Release Me", which comes out 1/1/13.
I am not one of those readers who has read FSoG so I will not compare Release Me to that trilogy. Maybe when I have downtime I will finally read the FSoG books...but as of right now it is not my top priority.
I will not also compare it to the Crossfire Trilogy due to the fact I believe J. Kenner has a different writing style all together from Sylvia Day.

J. Kenner has me not hating characters, but instead feeling emotional towards them.
Bring in the sexy billionaire, Damien Stark, who used to be a famous tennis player who has serious family issues, especially with his father.
And bring in Nikki Fairchild who is trying to change her life and get away from what she was. She is making her mark finally outside of school in her new home in California with some old friends and meeting new friends. She never thought she would meet one person who would change her life and what she should be doing in a place she least expected.

Damien has always got what he wanted, wherever and however and right now he has his eyes on Nikki and he will not take no from her. Nikki knows she should focus on what she wants to do towards her future, but Damian is always there to try to claim her. He will do anything to be with her, even get her fired from her job and also have her tell her darkest secret.
Nikki will be tested so many ways from Damien, but in the end will she succumb to what he wants from her, or will she be able to walk away from a man who wants to control her life like one certain person tried to do when she was younger.
Both Nikki has her own past she is still trying to deal with and now Nikki is learning Damien may have a dark past as well that she may end up being caught in.

"Release Me" is an emotional, steamy, intense book that will make you want more, especially when it comes to the sex scenes between the characters. This is when I will definitely not compare J. Kenner to any other writer out there. She gave sex scenes between the characters that were steamy, intense and even sometimes sensual. It did involve sex toys, and several other things in the bedroom that may be uncomfortable to certain people....but Damien did not try to harm Nikki at all. (at least not physically) In fact, he gave her choices and did not even forced himself on her. Instead, he gave her games to play that she enjoyed herself. She never knew what to expect, but she knew Damien would not go too far with her.
Nikki, I have to say was the vixen sometimes. She put herself in dilemmas that she would get punished for, but she would end up wanting it in the end. She definitely made the book and Damien did as well. He definitely makes the list of hotties for next year since this book comes out in 2013. =) He's up there with Gideon Cross and I definitely look forward to the 2nd book.
Even the secondary characters had their own role to play in the book and they had their own problems as well...especially, Nikki's roommate. She definitely has some serious issues to work out.
Here's another thing with "Release Me". There's not much of a big cliff hanger. We know there is still unfinished business because of certain things that need to be addressed, but we have no idea how J. Kenner will start off next or where she will take you....which is a definite plus. I love not knowing. =)
I look forward to the next installment in this trilogy because who can stay away from the sexy billionaire and the woman who he cannot get enough of....especially one who can put him through tests as well.
I highly recommend this to contemporary romance readers out there and fans of J. Kenner. You will definitely enjoy this new book from her.

Is there a billionaire romance that doesn't involve said billionaire being a psychopath and slightly abusive? I understand that romance is fantasy but Damien just overdoes it. It comes off as childish or cartoonish. Why is an American man using the word c*nt to describe a vagina? haha It's unfortunate because I thought Nikki had potential as a heroine too. I only got up until the initial turning point before I had to abandon it. Christian Grey is about all I could stomach.

I received a copy of Release Me courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher

Nikki is new to LA, and one of her first assignments of her new job is to snag Damien Stark's interest in helping fund her company's new product. Although Nikki had a brief encounter with Damien 6 yrs ago, she's sure he doesn't remember her, but oh does she remember him. How could she not?! She describes him as a Roman God, and the images popping thru my head were along the lines of the same men I pictured as Christian Grey! Yowza! Lucky for Nikki, Mr Stark is very interested, at least in her. The two explore their passion, as well as open up to each other with some of their deep, dark, buried secrets.

Release Me has been compared to Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You, and for good reason! I was a little hesitant to start this trilogy, because I wasn't sure I wanted to read another copy cat book, with just the characters names changed. And although there are similarities between the books, Release Me holds its own! I want to find out Damien's big bad secret (although I'm pretty sure I know what some of it is) and see where Nikki and Damien grow. When we leave Release Me, the two are enjoying the carnal attentions of the other, but a new threat looms just as the closing music cues. (yes, I sometimes get closing music in my head when I know I'm at the end of a book. Blame the audio books for that one) I can't wait to read the next book!