Kept by Maya Banks

From the author of Mastered and Dominated comes the third of the Enforcers novels. Kept is the searing story of a woman who finds sanctuary in surrender...

He can’t change who he is.

A horrific childhood has made Silas the man he is today: dangerous, distrustful and demanding. He’s lived in self-imposed solitude, convinced that no woman could ever accept his need for absolute control—in business and pleasure. That is, until a young violinist walks into one of his buildings and into his life.

She can’t change what she wants.

Hayley has been struggling to fulfill her father’s dying wish: for her to attend a prestigious music school in New York City. But even working multiple jobs, she can’t afford the tiniest of apartments. Seeing her hopeless and near tears, Silas vows to help and protect her, no matter the cost to himself. But when Hayley meets his every demand with unwavering acceptance and love, he is overwhelmed by her goodness and gentle spirit. He knows that the dark stain on his soul can never be erased—and rather than risk destroying the most beautiful person he's ever experienced, he'll have to do the hardest thing he's ever had to do. Let her go. But he's totally unprepared for the lengths to which Hayley will go to fight for his love and for a future brighter than the sun...

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F BDSM Romance

This is the third book in the series, and I liked this one much better. You get to see Silas and how his past shaped who he is today. But you also get to see him change for the better with the help of Haley.

Haley is struggling after her father passed away and the insurance company refused to pay out on the policy. She is amazingly talented with a violin and despite working herself in order to make ends meet, she always finds time for her music. When she has to look for a new place to live, she isn't too hopeful.

Silas, for all of his faults, is so loyal to Drake that he sometimes can't see his own life without his position with Drake. When he sees Haley, he's instantly drawn to her. She's pure and innocent, goodness to his darkness. When he realizes that he can help her, he jumps at the chance.

Haley and Silas' romance is whirlwind. But dotted with issues and dominance, Haley knows her own mind and wants to show Silas that he is more than he believes. Silas was so upset with Drake during books one and two when Drake was unable to see how amazing Evangeline was, and in this book, yep, you guessed it... Silas has the same issue.

I was slightly miffed that a lot of the conflict between Silas and Haley was directly related to Drake and it wasn't ever really discussed. Overall, this was a sweet story about acceptance, love, fighting for what you want, and ultimately, finding a family. I wish that Maddox at least had gotten his own story and was disappointed that this was the last one.

Also Available in The Enforcers Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Mastered Release post and Mastered BYOB post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Dominated post.

Maya Banks is a multiple #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose chart toppers have included erotic romance, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, Scottish historical romances. She is the author of the Breathless Trilogy, the Surrender Trilogy, the KGI novels, the Sweet series, and the Colters Legacy novels. She lives in Southeast Texas.

Connect with Maya

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


Brought to you by

Avid Reader reviewed her personal copy of Kept (The Enforcers #3) by Maya Banks for this post.

Dominated by Maya Banks

The desire that exploded in Mastered continues its conflagration in Dominated—from the New York Times bestselling author of the Surrender Trilogy.

To save her, he had to betray her...

In Drake’s shadowy world, his enemies would exploit any weakness he had in order to bring him to his knees, and so he’s never allowed himself to care about anyone... never exhibited any vulnerability, and it made him a force to be reckoned with. Until Evangeline—his angel. A woman who slipped past his defenses like no one had ever managed. She was his to protect and ultimately, to do that, he had to do the unthinkable and drive the only good thing in his world away.

But he will stop at nothing to get her back...

Devastated and destroyed, Evangeline doesn’t know what made Drake turn on her in such a shocking manner. She only knows she’ll never be the same. He once freed her from all her inhibitions, only now she is a prisoner to never-ending pain. But when Drake finds her again, she realizes there is more to his world than she ever imagined, and she must decide if she can once more trust—and submit—to the man who holds her wounded heart in his hands. And he must convince her of just how far he’ll go to regain her love and forgiveness.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F BDSM Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is the second book in The Enforcers series and you definitely need to read book one first, as this one starts where book one leaves off.

Evangeline is shredded. She trusted Drake with her whole heart and in return, he cut her down with vicious precision. Not only is she needing a place to lay low, but she has to contend with having no support system. And while she thought she knew the man she loved, she has to come to grips with the fact that he turned out to be worse than her skeevy virginity taker.

Drake is a showman when it comes to his own life. He knows that and understands what that means. But when it creeps into his life in an unexpected and detrimental way, Drake will have to decide how he's going to salvage his heart. He claims to love Evangeline with everything that he is, but his words are not backed by his actions. When he promised to earn back Evangeline's trust, once again, those are just words.

I wanted to clap Drake on both ears during this book. He had his head so far up his own behind that he failed to see what was going on right around him. Thank goodness for Maddox and Silas. They were the shining stars in this book. Without them, I don't think I would have made it through.

Evangeline will have to make a huge decision about her future and Drake will have to stop putting up barriers if he wants to have a future. It has a satisfactory ending, but I do hope we get to see more of them. Also, I really hope the rest of Drake's men get their own books too.

Also Available in The Enforcers Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Mastered Release post and Mastered BYOB post.

Maya Banks is a multiple #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose chart toppers have included erotic romance, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, Scottish historical romances. She is the author of the Breathless Trilogy, the Surrender Trilogy, the KGI novels, the Sweet series, and the Colters Legacy novels. She lives in Southeast Texas.

Connect with Maya

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


Brought to you by

Avid Reader reviewed her personal copy of Dominated (The Enforcers #2) by Maya Banks for this post.

Mastered by Maya Banks

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Surrender Trilogy and the Breathless Trilogy knows what makes readers hot. Now she turns it up in Mastered, the explosive first book in a new series of a desire too dangerous to resist.

What he wants, he takes with no remorse or guilt.

She stood out in his club like a gem, unspoiled and untouched. A lamb among wolves, she clearly didn’t belong. Drawn to her innocence he watched as she was surrounded by men who saw what he did—but no one but him could touch her. He summoned her to his private quarters. He sensed her fear. He also recognized the desire in her eyes. And he knew she wouldn’t leave before he possessed her. She had no need to know his secrets. Not until he had her under his complete and utter control.

What he wants, she isn’t sure she can give him.

The moment he told her want he wanted, she couldn’t resist. Instinct told her to run, but her heart said stay and walk the fine line between pleasure and pain. Though she wasn’t sure she could ever completely surrender, the primal part of her wanted to try, even knowing this man could break her in ways she never imagined. Because once he possessed her, he owned her and it would be too late to turn back. She can only pray that he doesn’t destroy her in the end.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F BDSM Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Let me start by saying that I really enjoy Maya Banks' books. I was a little thrown by this one though, as it seemed to be missing things or just lacking in what I have come to expect from Ms. Banks.

Drake is an alpha male who is used to getting what he wants. Not in some things, but in all things. He uses intimidation, money, and his loyal men to get the job done. While I had issues with his alpha-ness when it came to Evangeline, I think overall, he just lacked development or depth. He was sweet and generous when it came to Evangeline, but he believed that he needed to keep her wrapped in bubble wrap in order for her to "survive in his world." I liked his men far more than I liked him in this book.

Evangeline is somewhat of a conundrum. She was humiliated and rather than stand up for herself, she somehow manages to catch Drake's eye and then submits to his every whim without really knowing him. While I can understand the power an alpha male who won't take no for an answer might have, she just seemed to fold on herself pretty quickly. She molded to what Drake needed.

There were times in this story that I wanted to shake each character. They had the potential for so much. And while I did enjoy the story as a whole, there were things in their history that seemed to be glossed over. Also, I absolutely hated how Drake treated Evangeline throughout. Despite telling her she was important to him, he didn't quite live up to those words. I truly hope that Evangeline will find someone worthy of her gift or that Drake will quit being so alpha-holeish and show her what she is to him.

Maya Banks is a multiple #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose chart toppers have included erotic romance, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, Scottish historical romances. She is the author of the Breathless Trilogy, the Surrender Trilogy, the KGI novels, the Sweet series, and the Colters Legacy novels. She lives in Southeast Texas.

Connect with Maya

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


Brought to you by

Avid Reader reviewed her personal copy of Mastered (The Enforcers #1) by Maya Banks for this post.

Mastered by Maya Banks is Now Available & Reviewed

What he wants, he takes with no remorse or guilt.

She stood out in his club like a gem, unspoiled and untouched. A lamb among wolves, she clearly didn’t belong. Drawn to her innocence he watched as she was surrounded by men who saw what he did—but no one but him could touch her. He summoned her to his private quarters. He sensed her fear. He also recognized the desire in her eyes. And he knew she wouldn’t leave before he possessed her. She had no need to know his secrets. Not until he had her under his complete and utter control.

What he wants, she isn’t sure she can give him.

The moment he told her want he wanted, she couldn’t resist. Instinct told her to run, but her heart said stay and walk the fine line between pleasure and pain. Though she wasn’t sure she could ever completely surrender, the primal part of her wanted to try, even knowing this man could break her in ways she never imagined. Because once he possessed her, he owned her and it would be too late to turn back. She can only pray that he doesn’t destroy her in the end.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Surrender Trilogy and the Breathless Trilogy knows what makes readers hot. Now she turns it up in Mastered, the explosive first book in a new series of a desire too dangerous to resist.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
I love Maya Banks but I have to admit I was not overwhelmed with her latest, Mastered. Evangeline is a Southern transplant to New York City, moving there in an effort to better provide for her disabled parents. She makes decent money as waitress in a pub and because she shares an apartment with three friends from Mississippi, she’s able to send money home each week. Hard working and determined to help her parents, she’s not interested in dating, flirting, or having fun, until Eddie. Eddie is determined to woo her and when she finally gives in, he insults and dumps her all in the same night.

To me, what makes Evangeline a less than interesting heroine is that after she meets Drake she loses her self-worth and independence, which she had to have to leave rural Mississippi for New York. Letting a man take over her life so completely in such a short amount of time seems out of character for her. There are numerous instances where her will is subjugated for Drake’s.

Drake is an interesting character. He’s dominant, controlling and overbearing. His backstory is such that it makes you feel sorry for the child he was, which makes some of the things he considers important understandable.

Part of the problem is that while Drake hides who he truly is from Evangeline, he wants to know all of her secrets and dreams. When Evangeline goes out of her way to do something she thinks is considerate for him, Drake not only tears her down, but does it front of his associates. FINALLY, she grows a backbone and leaves him.

I’m hoping that in book two she will continue her growth and not give in to Drake’s domineering ways.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆
Evangeline is being sent into the lion’s den by her three best friends to get her confidence back after her ex-boyfriend dumped her. She doesn’t want to go to this club by herself but when she gets there, she finds the ex and things get out of hand really quick. When she thinks that he is going to hit her, someone finally steps in. While the ex is thrown out, she is taken to the boss’s office, thinking she is in trouble for causing trouble in the club. When she sees Drake, she can’t believe how beautiful he is but then again everyone working at this club is beautiful. Drake Donovan is the owner of the club, Impulse, and has his hands in many other businesses that he keeps from Evangeline. He doesn’t want to soil her with his dealings. He wants her submission and to own her. And when she gives him that can he protect her from himself? Will she win over all of Drake’s men and have them protecting her too? What will happen if she learns the truth of what Drake really does?

I love Maya Banks’ Slow Burn series and when this one came up in our reading group I had to have it. The only thing I didn’t like is that the heroine was from Mississippi and she was portrayed as being wishy-washy or she needed others to tell her what to do, as if she couldn't think for herself. I am from Mississippi and don’t need anyone telling me how to live or what to do. I know it is just a story but sometimes people actually think what they read is how things really are.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆
I've read many of Ms. Banks' stories, and enjoyed them all. What I have noticed is that the pace is getting slower and slower. Sometimes that is really good, in a world where everything moves so fast. There is a strong nod to a BDSM relationship here, however he does little to explain or prepare her, yet her innocence and naivety is a key feature of the story. I found that bothersome at times.

This story unfolds very, very slowly, and I felt that there was too much detail in places. It served to emphasise certain points, but became repetitive – admittedly Evangeline needed them repeated to her! Having been lulled into this feeling of lassitude, the ending was much more dramatic – and ensured that I will have to get hold of a copy of the second book, as there are now a lot of loose ends to resolve.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
I'm a huge Maya Banks fan but I have to say this one wasn't my favorite, and that's not even taking into account the cliff hanger ending.

Evangeline has been wronged by her ex and her three best friends have talked her into going to a club and rubbing his face in what he let get away. When the ex gets physical with her, security of the club intervenes and her life changes forever.

Drake Donovan is the owner of the club and the minute Evangeline steps through the door he decides she will be his. He immediately demands her into his office and after a very steamy session, sends her home with the strict instructions to return the next night. Evangeline is a shy woman who doesn't realize her own beauty and decides to blow Drake off, knowing he can have any woman he wants. The only problem is, Drake has decided he wants Evangeline.

I felt there was too much "fluff" in this book. Some parts were really repetitive, at the same time I couldn't put it down because it had me hooked from page one. I was super pissed at the way that Evangeline treated her friend Steph when she came to verify that Evangeline was safe with Drake, and then later on in the book when her three "best friends" treat her like crap. I really enjoyed Evangeline’s interactions with Drake’s staff though, that was hands down my favorite part and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for their own stories. As for part two on this one, I'll definitely be checking it out to tie up all the loose ends but I'm really hoping book two lacks the repetitiveness of book one.

Maya Banks is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of the Breathless Trilogy, the KGI novels, and the Sweet series. Her chart toppers have included erotic romance, romantic suspense, contemporary romance and Scottish historical romance.

She lives in the South with her husband and three children and other assorted babies, such as her two Bengal kitties and a calico who’s been with her as long as her youngest child. She’s an avid reader of romance and loves to dish books with her fans and anyone else who’ll listen! She very much enjoys interacting with her readers on Facebook and Twitter, as well as in her Yahoo! Group and on her website.

Connect with Maya

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Mastered (The Enforcers #1) by Maya Banks to read and review.