(as in we met the 3 guys from this series in the Stark and Dallas Sykes books!)
Readers new to J. Kenner's books should/need to start with the first book in the Stark series: #ReleaseMe ☺
Readers new to J. Kenner's books should/need to start with the first book in the Stark series: #ReleaseMe ☺
★★★★★
5 Stars
Outwardly, Noah Carter is riding high as the tech world’s hottest new genius. Inside, he’s still reeling from the abduction of his wife and baby daughter eight years ago, and then the devastating discovery of his child’s body. For years, he kept up hope that his wife was alive, but now that she’s been declared legally dead, he’s thrown himself even more deeply into his work, cutting himself off from emotional ties because they just hurt too damn much.
Then he meets Kiki Porter, an eternal optimist with a killer work ethic and dreams of fronting a band. And everything changes. Even though he tries his damnedest to fight it…
Sexually, they are combustible together. But their true fire is emotional, though it is a slow to burn. But once it lights, it is all consuming. The relationship grows emotionally, the sex is hot, things are good.
But just when it’s looking like they might have a real future together, the past comes back to haunt them. And Noah’s going to have to decide what he’s willing to give up for love …
Then he meets Kiki Porter, an eternal optimist with a killer work ethic and dreams of fronting a band. And everything changes. Even though he tries his damnedest to fight it…
Sexually, they are combustible together. But their true fire is emotional, though it is a slow to burn. But once it lights, it is all consuming. The relationship grows emotionally, the sex is hot, things are good.
But just when it’s looking like they might have a real future together, the past comes back to haunt them. And Noah’s going to have to decide what he’s willing to give up for love …
YAYYY finally Noah's book!!!
And now Noah works as the boss in Damien Stark's Austin technology branch.
His friends tell him that it's finally time to start dating again. His wife and little daughter died nine years ago - he has to start living again.
But of course it's not that easy.
And then he sees her. Kiki.
She was the love of his life, until he had to break her heart to go marry Diana. Nobody really knows what happened back then, but Kiki is so not happy to see Noah again. But of course she's still in love with him too. Damn him!
And now they have to work together!
What will happen to Kiki & Noah?
Will there be a second chance for a HEA?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!!!! ☺
Awww, what an adorable and moving second-chance love story!
I just loved Noah and Kiki!!!
They were so perfect for each other 10 years ago and then Noah didn't want to repeat his dad's mistakes and leave his ex alone with their child - so he left Kiki and broke both their hearts. Ugh! So sad. But now here's their 2nd chance. But Kiki is not yet ready for another go at that happily ever after - she's too scared to be left again.
Great romance!
Adorable and funny and so moving and sad and ... I just loved it!
I only had to imagine a different hair color for Noah in my head, because red/ginger/copper does NOT work for me at all! ☺☺☺ But he's an amazing guy. Hot and smart and so sweet and broken and ugh. Amazing story!
And I also loved that we got to see lots of old friends again!! ☺
I just loved Noah and Kiki!!!
They were so perfect for each other 10 years ago and then Noah didn't want to repeat his dad's mistakes and leave his ex alone with their child - so he left Kiki and broke both their hearts. Ugh! So sad. But now here's their 2nd chance. But Kiki is not yet ready for another go at that happily ever after - she's too scared to be left again.
Great romance!
Adorable and funny and so moving and sad and ... I just loved it!
I only had to imagine a different hair color for Noah in my head, because red/ginger/copper does NOT work for me at all! ☺☺☺ But he's an amazing guy. Hot and smart and so sweet and broken and ugh. Amazing story!
And I also loved that we got to see lots of old friends again!! ☺
WICKED TORTURE was another amazingly adorable & sexy & moving book in this series. Will Noah and Kiki use this 2nd chance for a happily ever after? Run to your nearest amazon to find out!
ARC received for an honest review
I love delving into the Starkiverse, and it feels like forever since I have been there.
And diving in there with Noah and Kiki was amazing, it was beautiful, it was heartbreaking.
She was the one that got away. The one who he broke. The one he always loved. Sigh.
I am a big fan of a second chance romance, and when it is done as wonderfully as Wicked Torture, I don't want it to end.
I wanted to slap some sense into Noah at times, and my heart broke for Kiki as the story unfolded. However I was their biggest cheerleaders, as I needed them to find their way to their HEA.
Wicked Torture quickly became a favourite J Kenner book, and I am impatiently waiting to see what she brings us next.
♥ EXCERPT ♥
I lick my lips, waiting. Trying to stand still. Trying not to shatter under the riot of sensations he’s set loose in my body.
And trusting that whatever he wants of me next will take me that much further.
This is the Noah I remember. The man who held my pleasure in his hand. Who knew my body as well as I did.
A man who could set me on fire with nothing more than a glance. Whose fingers worked magic on me, and whose cock filled me. Whose words set my imagination soaring.
Slowly, he lowers his mouth to my ear again. And slower still, he whispers, “I want you naked.”
A shiver cuts through me. I picture myself standing between him and the window. Seeing myself as he touches me. Feeling the brush of his clothes as he pulls me close. Vulnerable. His.
Boldly, I reach back and unfasten my bra, then let it drop to the floor. I’m wearing canvas flats, and I kick them off.
I hear him draw in a breath behind me. A simple thing, but the sound is just slightly uneven, and I know that he’s as turned on as I am.
And that, frankly, makes it even hotter.
I keep my back to him, but my eyes are locked on his in the reflection. I lower my hands to my slacks. They’re already unzipped, and now I slide my hand along the waistband, then shimmy out of them, finally kicking them aside.
For a moment, I stand defiantly in my underwear, as if to turn the tables and make him plead with me. But the truth is, I want this, too. I want to stand naked in front of him. I want to see the heat in his eyes as he looks at me.
That’s the power I have, and I want to wield it. I want to bring him to his knees.
I want an explosion. Because there’s too much passion lingering between us. It’s wild and it’s dangerous and it’s combustible. And until we burn through it, it’s going to tie us together.
And as much as I wish we could get back to the past, I know it’s not possible.
We have to get past this thing.
I know it; I’m certain of it.
But right now I’m so damn grateful that the only way clear is through the man himself.
Noah.
For right now at least, I’ll take the moment. I’ll take Noah.
And, I think as I peel off the panties and then stand naked in front of the mirror, I’ll take as much of him as I can get.
↓ LiNKS TO THE BOOK AND AUTHOR ↓
BOOK #1
Book #2
If you haven't read the Stark series yet ....
#ReadingOrder
#ReadingOrder
1 - RELEASE ME getBook.at/ReleaseMe
2 - CLAIM ME
3 - COMPLETE ME
3.5 - TAKE ME
3.55 - TAME ME - Jamie & Ryan 1
3.6 - HAVE ME
3.7 - PLAY MY GAME
2 - CLAIM ME
3 - COMPLETE ME
3.5 - TAKE ME
3.55 - TAME ME - Jamie & Ryan 1
3.6 - HAVE ME
3.7 - PLAY MY GAME
3.8 - SEDUCE ME
3.9 - UNWRAP ME
3.10 - DEEPEST KISS
3.10 - DEEPEST KISS
3.11 - ENTICE ME
3.12 - TEMPT ME - Jamie & Ryan 2
#4 - ANCHOR ME getBook.at/AnchorMe
4.1 - HOLD ME getBook.at/HoldMe
3.12 - TEMPT ME - Jamie & Ryan 2
#4 - ANCHOR ME getBook.at/AnchorMe
4.1 - HOLD ME getBook.at/HoldMe
Of course there are a few connected Spin-Off trilogies happening here and there...
First the Heated, Wanted, Ignited - very slightly connected!
Then it's Jackson Steele's trilogy, very connected:
Say My Name, On My Knees, Under My Skin
And then it's Dallas Sykes with
Dirtiest Secret, Hottest Mess, Sweetest Taboo.
And this year we'll have the Wicked Spin-Off which features a few guys we already met and see again in Anchor Me:
Wicked Grind, Wicked Dirty, Wicked Torture.
J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.
Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, Victorian-era thrillers (coming soon), and paranormal mommy lit.
Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, has been consistently in development in Hollywood since prior to publication. Most recently, it has been optioned by Warner Brothers Television for development as series on the CW Network with Alloy Entertainment producing.
JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swopn for him.” A three time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy).
Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over over twenty countries.
In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.
