Sandy M’s review of Decadent by Shayla Black
Contemporary Erotic Romance released by Berkley Trade 2 Oct 07

I hadn’t planned on reading this book right now.  I got caught in a situation where I didn’t have my current read handy, knew I’d go stir crazy without something to read while waiting and picked Decadent up as I went out the door.  I am so happy I did.

You like a good sexy, erotic story, you’re going to like this one.  Kimber has finally made the decision she’s going to give herself to Jesse McCall, a popular rock star she met a few years ago and has gotten to know better through emails and phone calls.  He’s the one for her.  Only thing is she knows is lifestyle includes some wicked sex and she’s still a virgin.  So after reading up on multiple-partner sex, she seeks out the one man she knows can teach her all about it.

She met Deke Trenton when he was under her father’s command and although she got it loud and clear he really didn’t care all that much for her, she was attracted to him even when she was seventeen.  She’s swallowing her pride and going to him now to learn all he can teach her before she goes to Jesse.  She’s not prepared for his fierce refusal, however.  He does everything in his power to run her off and scare her, but she knows what she wants and won’t let the big jerk put any obstacles in her way.

Despite her reasons for going to Deke in the first place, wanting to spend her life with a guy after one summer together and then through email, I really liked Kimber.  She’s intelligent, quick on her feet, loyal, and her own woman.  And she knows when something’s not for her, as she finds out Jesse’s life on the road is something she just can’t put up with.  And she realizes it’s the big jerk who’s stolen her heart and as much as she knows Deke wants her, in bed and out, he won’t trust her enough to tell her his secrets, but she’s willing to give him a chance.

Deke’s secrets are huge.  He’s got guilt eating at him constantly, enough to keep him away from love and marriage, never having sex alone with a woman, and wrapping his heart up nice and tight so his past mistakes won’t ever come back to repeat themselves.  For the past twelve years he’s never had sex with a woman without his cousin Luc being present.  But when Kimber shows up on his doorstep asking for his help in the ways of menage, of all things, he finds he’d love to have her to himself but knows it will never happen.

Even five years ago when she was so young, the girl had a way of making him want what he’d never allow himself to have.  The best thing he’d ever done was leave her behind, for her sake as well as his.  But when things don’t go well with the pansy-ass rock star, he wants to share Luc’s dream of having a woman with them to share and start a family, but it’s all wishful thinking.  His guilt won’t allow such dreams, though, even as his heart begins to love this woman who means everything to him.  Caught between desire and his common sense as he sees it, Deke tries to push Kimber into Luc’s arms once and for all before she ends up being his worst nightmare come true — again.

Even though Deke is ex-military and alpha to the core, Ms. Black allows him his fears, vulnerabilities, and his emotions while leaving his masculinity totally intact.  The scene where he finally breaks down at Kimber’s bedside is one of the best of the book, right up there with all of those hot and sizzling love scenes.  And there’s a lot of those.  Deke and Luc take every opportunity presented to them to love Kimber every which way.

I loved the dichotomy of these two men, one hard as steel, not all hearts and flowers, the other warm and gentle and knowing how to use words of love and romance to heighten a woman’s pleasure.  As much as I like those alphas, a man like Luc also worms his way into my heart.  We get to know him quite well in this story so that when his book, Delicious, is released next year, we’re going to be totally ready for him.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Two men are better than one…

How can a virgin seeking happily-ever-after with a hot pop star who has a penchant for threesomes win her fantasy man? Kimber Edgington desperately needs a plan to convince Jesse McCall, who’s been her friend and secret crush since they spent a summer together as teenagers, that they are meant for each other. But all the tabloid stories about his sexual escapades make her feel oh-so inadequate.

Determined to prove she’s woman enough for Jesse, Kimber turns to bodyguard Deke Trenton for sexual education. Bold and brash, Deke warns Kimber that playing with him is playing with fire. But he can’t bear to imagine the innocent beauty in someone else’s arms. So Deke and his super-sexy friend, Luc, take Kimber under their wings and dangerously close to the edge of ecstasy. Though she’s saved herself for Jesse, Kimber soon learns, he’s not the man adept at stoking her aching, endless need. That’s Deke, and he can’t resist when Kimber begs for more–and more…

Read an excerpt.