Happy Birthday to Evernight Publishing! Review of The Housewife and the Film Star by Doris O’Connor #BDayBashBlogHop

Roll out the Red Carpet ~ Evernight Celebrates Four Years of Publishing! #BDayBashBlogHop

Join authors, bloggers and reviewers as we take a RED CARPET tour featuring Evernight’s smart and sexy books. Slip on your virtual stilettos and walk the red carpet of award winning titles, spectacular reviews and paparazzi style interviews.

Be sure to visit every stop on the tour where you can enter for a chance to win great prizes, including a new eReader, gift certificates, swag, books and much more!

Tour Stops:

10/9 ~ All Things Romance ~ Promo with Excerpt, Review

10/11 ~ Must Read Faster ~ Promo with Excerpt, Review
10/12 ~ Inner Goddess ~ Promo with Excerpt, Review

Don’t forget to visit the Evernight Publishing website where all eBooks are 50% off through October 13th!

Leave a comment or question in the comment section for a chance to win a GRAND PRIZE! Be sure to include your email address in your comment!

Grand Prizes:

* Your choice of an Amazon Kindle Fire HD

or Kobo Arc 7

* $100 Amazon GC

* $50 Evernight GC

When international movie star Sven Larsson meets young widowed mom of three, Sylvia, the sexual chemistry between them is instant and explosive—and plastered all over the papers. Sven needs to repair his damaged reputation. The last thing he needs is another scandal, but the Dom in him can’t resist the challenge Sylvia represents.

Having survived an abusive marriage, Sylvia is not looking for another relationship, let alone a kinky one with a man of Sven’s reputation. Her submissive side can’t help but be drawn to him, especially once she gets to know the man behind the public image. She can’t help but fall in love with the private, broken Sven—even if he doesn’t do love.

With the paparazzi breathing down their necks at every turn, and past demons raising their ugly heads, will they ever be able to find happiness?

Be Warned: BDSM, anal sex, sex toys, spanking

As most know, I typically don’t read this genre anymore.  FSOG ruined it for me and it used to be one of my favorites.  But when I had the opportunity to read a book for the blog hop, I immediately picked this one up.  I’ve heard AWESOME things about Doris and her books and she did not disappoint me in the least.

One of the first things that I liked about the book was Sylvia.  Yes, she had a rotten marriage.  Being used and abused by her late husband and to make matters worse she was a slave.  But in the end she was a lot stronger than she thought.  She didn’t let Sven push her around at any time in the book.  In fact, she challenged him in ways that he didn’t expect.

The second thing I liked about was Sven.  He was cocky in the beginning and he immediately knew that Sylvia had been in the lifestyle but also knew that she had been hurt.  In fact, towards the end of the book was his light bulb moment with her when she used her safe word.  Sven had tried several other things with her and it was fine but not this time.  The scene stopped and they actually talked about it.  Refreshing in this genre.  There was no ‘you’ll get used it, trust me baby’, actually communication and understanding between Sven and Sylvia that sealed the story for me.

But underneath all the BDSM elements was a love story.  Two wounded people that never thought they would be in love again and when it hits them, there are roadblocks that they have to overcome.  I will say that there are children in the story but they are not window dressing.  They are integral to the story and their scenes are not to be missed or skimmed through.

The whole subplot of celebrity was well done too.  Ms. O’Connor did her homework and its very realistic.  Of course, loved the house in Malibu.  Don’t worry about the BDSM in the book.  Its very well done and is light.  There is also communication about the lifestyle between Sven and Sylvia that I’ve already touched on but this is trend throughout the book.  Sven doesn’t take advantage and Sylvia lets him know what had happened to her.  No info dump in the beginning here.  Ms. O’Connor takes her time with them and lets us get to know them as people first, sexual beings second.  Sure the sex was hawt at times but there was a point to each scene that is written.

Overall, I highly recommend this story even to people that don’t read the genre.  Its a feel good, hard one love story above all.  The kink is just the bonus.