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Review and Giveaway: Laid Bare by Lauren Dane
Casee's review of Laid Bare by Lauren Dane.
It's been ten years since clean-cut, sexy-as-hell police officer Todd Keenan had a white-hot fling with Erin Brown, the provocative, wild rocker chick next door. Their power exchange in the bedroom got under his skin. But love wasn't in the cards just yet...
Now, life has thrown the pair back together. But picking up where they left off is tough, in light of a painful event from Erin's past. As Todd struggles to earn her trust, their relationship takes an unexpected and exciting turn when Todd's best friend, Ben, ends up in their bed--and all three are quite satisfied in this relationship without a name. As the passion they share transforms Erin, will it be enough to help her face the evil she thought she had left behind?
Erin was an amazing heroine. When the book begins, she's in her early twenties, yet her absolute acceptance of herself is refreshing. She makes no apologies for who she is and what she does. She enjoys life to the fullest and has no regrets. For a year she has had fantasies of her neighbor next door. Todd Keenan takes part in her wildest fantasies. She finally decides to take what she wants b/c life is too short not to.
Erin is everything that Todd always wanted, but has never admitted to himself. His sexuality has always left him a little ashamed. He doesn't think his sexual desires are normal. Now here comes his sexy as hell neighbor, who shows him that not only are his desires normal, but that she desires the same thing. Still, no matter how satisfied he is with Erin in bed, he doesn't think that their lives can merge in any other way.
Todd and Erin part ways. Meeting ten years later, they are both changed people. Erin is no longer the brash and confident woman that he knew. Todd has changed as well. After a marriage and divorce, Todd has grown up and embraced his sexuality. Returning to Seattle, he thinks it must be fate that the first person he runs into is Erin. They take up right where they left off, though he can tell that Erin has changed.
In the ten years they were apart, Erin has dealt with a tragedy that no person should have to; the loss of a child. Erin hasn't forgiven herself. Going from musical fame to obscurity, Erin lives her life without the same confidence she had before. When Todd comes back into her life, she's thrilled to see him. Now he's the one that wants the commitment and she's the one that balks.
Erin has always wanted to be a submissive in the bedroom for the right Dom. Todd is the perfect man for that, something that Erin always knew he could be. He accepts that she will only be submissive in the bedroom. Outside the bedroom she takes orders from no one. When Todd invites his best friend Ben into their bed, she is shocked by how hot it makes her.
Therein lies my problem with this book. I totally accepted that Todd wanted a threesome with himself, Erin, and Ben. It showed his growth as a person that he could do something like that and not feel ashamed that he wanted it. What I couldn't accept so easily is his attraction to Ben. Not only the attraction, but how they acted on it. I just had a hard time reconciling the man he was at the beginning of the book to the one that would kiss another man (among other things). It just didn't fit for me.
Other than that, I thought that the book was very well written. Like I mentioned before, Erin is really a memorable heroine. The things she overcame just proved what a strong woman she was. Also, Dane didn't gloss over how their relationship would affect their respective families. I appreciated how that was addressed and what I would consider a very real reaction.
I really hope that Dane decides to write about Erin's brothers. Now those are two men I wouldn't mind reading more about.
4 out of 5.
This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
Leave a comment to win a copy of Laid Bare!
69 comments:
Looks awesome, definitely looking forward to reading this. Count me in.
Oh, this must go on my TBR list!
Sounds great. I love Lauren's writing.
Sounds yummy! Please enter me.
I am anxious to read this book and I LOVE the cover!!
Thanks for the review!!
I can't wait to read this one, it looks really good, great review. I love the cover too.
Oh, I've had my eye on this one-- I've heard some good thoughts on this one, too. ;) Great review, I'll be picking this book up!
Enjoy,
TBQ
This book is already on my Wishlist, and your review has confirmed that I made the right decision :-)
And good news: Brody Brown will star in Lauren Dane's January 2010 release, Coming Undone :-)
Just added this one to my summer TBR list - sounds great
msboatgal at aol.com
I love Laren's work -- this one is already on my wishlist. Sounds just the job to spice up my summer hols :o)
Can you give a hint about what the h/h HEA is like? Thanks.
I've got this book on my wishlist!
(different Angela from the one above)
Love, love, love me some Lauren Dane!!
This looks interesting.. enter me, please!
Oh please enter me!!! I have been wanted to read this book. My husband told me I can't buy books for awhile. *sighs* He makes it sound like I have an addiction or something.
Umm, um,um!
Another Lauren Dane sizzler. Definitely on my TBP list.
sounds great,please enter me in the giveaway
thank you
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
love lauren books so hot and great cover let me at it lol
kh
kimehak@yahoo.com
Please count me in!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
I wanna win!! I love lauren's books.
Looking forward to this book!!
What an great review!
Please count me in too, thanks!
(a different Patti then the one above)
Count me in! I like stories where the leads are a bit older and more mature. This book sounds hot!!
The book sounds interestinga nd I'm loving the cover!
Sounds good, and I am curious to see if I agree with your critique about Todd and Ben.
Great review. Count me in re: contest, Thanks!
Great review! I love Lauren Dane!! Great giveaway :)
This one looks HOT! I have read and have on my "keeper shelf" almost all of your books Lauren. "Laid Bare" does not look like it will disappoint!!!
This looks so good! Thanks for the great contest!
Amy M
Wow thanks for the review and the chance to win this awesome book. I would love to read it.
I love Ms Danes books. I have this on my To Buy list.
I really enjoy Lauren's stories,especially the way she writes her heroines. I just finished reading Undercover and have Laid Bare on my wish list.
Great review. Now its definitely on my TBR pile. Thanks for the chance to win it.
Great, I love Lauren's writing. Read Undercover a few weeks ago and LAid Bare is no on top of my tbr pile.
Great Review!
I always love it when Lauren Dane starts a new series!
Lauren Dane is one of my fav authors. I love how she writes, and have yet to be disappointed. I can't wait to read Laid Bare!
With all the great reviews this book's been getting, it's definitely made my TBR list!
I love everything Lauren Dane writes -- she is totally on my auto-buy list, and this book looks like it will be another winner! Your review has me salivating -- I can't wait for it to come out!
Thanks for the contest!
~bella
I enjoy her reads, count me in!
Thank;s for the review it made me want to read the story more than before. Lauren is a great writer that pulls me into her stories. Count me in.
Wow. I've never read this "type" of book before. Might as well start now! Many thanks.
What a delicious story, can't wait to read it. Count me in too!
mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net
i've never read anything by lauren dane before. this one sounds interesting! thanks for running the contest.
meaghan_koci (at) yahoo (dot) com
love Lauren's book. Please enter me in this contest. Thanks
Looking forward to this book!
Will have to read this.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
I so love Lauren's books!! So do put me in, thanks! I too hope she puts in Erin's brothers. I know when I'm reading I too want those other characters to have their stories too!
I loved reading Taking Care of Business. This sounds like another great Lauren Dane book! Love menages.
lynda98662 at yahoo dot com
I would love to read this book. Please enter me. Good Luck to everyone.
I'm game. Thanks for the contest!
I love the tattoos of the woman on the cover. <3
Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com
I love Lauren Dane's books , please enter me!
Thank you for the review and contest--please count me in!
--Fedora
f dot chen at comcast dot net
I just read Always by this author and it was excellent. I wouldn't mind reading this one! :P
Please count me in. I would love to read this book too.
cindyc725 at gmail dot com
Mmm the book sure sounds good.
I am in, I would love to win
OK, you have me hooked. Sounds really great.
Great contest - sounds like a book I would read! Count me in!
deadbookdarling at gmail dot com!
Count me in. I always put Lauren's books on my keeper shelves.
I'm just hoping the giveaway is worldwide entry ;)
I'm hoping I'm not too late to enter - it's a great prize :D
This sounds really good and I love Lauren Dane! I would love to be entered.
I love Lauren's writing! Count me in.
I'd love to try her books!
I'd love to try her books!
This sounds good! Please count me in.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Looks and sounds awesome! I'm realy looking forward to reading this. Count me in, please
This one sounds really good. Please enter me in the contest. Thanks much!!!
Sounds like a great read! Please enter me to win a copy of Lauren's latest book.
Sounds like an interesting book contest. Please enter my name. Thank you.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
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