Delighted Reader

Theirs to Cherish by Shayla Black 
Series: Wicked Lovers, book #8 
Genres: BDSM, M/F/M, Romantic Suspense 
Published by Berkley, Heat 
Published on March 4, 2014 
Pages: 400 
Format: eARC 
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Rating:  

Theirs to Cherish by Shayla Black is the eighth installment in the Wicked Lovers series. This series has been hit or miss with me as I find the men at times very overbearing even if they are Doms. This one throws two Doms and one submissive at you who is on the run.

The Story…

Callie Ward is on the run for the murder of her father and sister when she was at the tender age of sixteen. On the run from both the law and the guys who really committed the murder. Always one step ahead, but that is all about to end after the fours years she has felt safe inside the walls of Club Dominion.

Sean Kirkpatrick is a young Dom who has collared Callie when Master Mitchell Thorpe (owner of Club Dominion) has passed her over. Sean has been sent in to by the FBI to watch Callie, but not to arrest her. He suspects there is more going on that what they have told him, but as months go by, he falls under her spell. But he can’t break down the walls she has placed around her emotions and past to protect herself.

Master Mitchell Thorpe is drawn to Callie, but won’t fall under her spell completely having been burned enough by an ex-wife and horrible father. He pushes Callie away, but figures out who she is, protecting her from everyone…except Sean.

The Characters…

Callie is in her 20s and has found a family within Club Dominions walls, but she can never truly submit. Realizing her time is up, she goes on the run, inciting a race against time for the two men to find her…and punish her from running. Callie in a way is very innocent and naive about relationships, but very mature and street ready to hide from all those that would harm her. She really is submissive, but I am not sure she totally is right for two men as her sassy side will keep her tush warmed almost constantly.

Sean is a young FBI agent who is good at his job. He is new to the BDSM world. I wouldn’t say un-knowledgable, but he still has a lot to learn. Loving Callie is easy for him and he has ingenious ways of getting to her when Thorpe separates them. Loyal and protective, he is a good match for Callie.

Mitchell is older, and thinks he is too old for Callie. He holds his heart close and doesn’t want to have it broken again. He started Club Dominion after a successful business career, but a dismal marriage. He feels broken, like he can’t offer a woman what she needs because his heart is stone. He can dominate, but he doesn’t form relationships until he protects Callie even after what he knows.

The BDSM…

Having two Doms is tough. Double the punishments, double the pleasure. Sean came across weak at times, but it was also part of his cover. In the months he has collared Callie, he never has sex with her. He wanted her to open up to him and withheld the act until he got what he wanted.

Thorpe has her once in the club in his bed, but he walks away. You get the feeling he won’t let himself fall, but he also doesn’t want anyone to have her.

When Callie runs, these two go after her and torment her body with pleasure but also punishments that after I while I kind of want to smack the shit of these two over. I guess I don’t believe in her being punished for running. I don’t believe she should be punished for having an opinion. While they like her sassy side, it felt like she got in trouble for that sassy side.

There isn’t much talk about limits, likes, wants, needs. It just happens as the story goes along. Thorpe does what he thinks is right or basically what he wants. Sean does everything to make Callie happy and Callie does anything these men want.

My Thoughts…

I enjoyed the intrigue portion of Theirs to Cherish, but felt the love scenes were a little much. Two dominant males who aren’t friends come together to love one woman, to dominate her. It just felt off and not natural.

The BDSM felt forced, and Callie was a little sappy. She fell in love with these two very easily, but then she also struggled with loving two men, one of which she was unsure could love her back.

I wanted to love this story, but some of the weaknesses of a menage relationship with two dominants pushed it past the point of total enjoyment.

Should two men in a menage relationship be friends? 
Are two Dominants, one to many or two too many? 
Does adding in a race to stay alive make the a story better?