Book Description:
Brynne Bennett has left scandal in her past and is living
the good life. An American grad student at the University of London and
part-time photographic model, she’s getting back on track with lots of hard
work and focus on a career in art conservation. When successful and charismatic
London businessman Ethan Blackstone buys her nude portrait, he wants to possess
more than just her image. He wants Brynne in his bed, serving him in every way
possible. He has no trouble voicing his desires, and he isn’t taking “no” for
an answer.
At first, his dominant nature captivates her, but it isn’t
clear if the force of his powerful desire will ultimately awaken or dispel the
demons Brynne is carrying inside. There are secrets on both sides of this
relationship—huge ones. Can Ethan erase the scars of Brynne’s past so that she
can reveal her true self to him? Or will the shadows cast by Ethan’s own
mysterious former life destroy their chance at happiness?
My Review:
WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW
I have decided to write a review for Naked and All In by Raine
Miller while I (along with everyone else) impatiently wait for Eyes Wide Open, the third installment
and conclusion to The Blackstone Affair
series.
Naked and All In were self-published by Raine
Miller last fall, but as an early Christmas gift, Atria bought the series from
Raine in December and put the delay on publishing Eyes Wide Open. While Raine was getting to experience the excitement
and joy of having her series bought, the poor author has also had to suffer a
bit of the wrath from the fans wanting desperately to read the conclusion to
Brynne Bennett and Ethan Blackstone’s story.
Naked starts off in Ethan’s point-of-view giving the readers
insight as to how he came to know find his ‘beautiful American girl’. Brynne’s
father (who is an old poker pal of Ethan’s) contacts him to ask for protection
over his daughter, who is currently studying art in London. Ethan at first
turns his friend, Tom Bennett, down as he has far too much on his plate by
providing VIP security for the Olympics.
Then Ethan gets a picture of Brynne in an email from Tom,
where he not only finds out she is a nude model but finds himself completely
taken with her beauty.
It then goes to Brynne’s point-of-view when Ethan finds
Brynne at a gallery showing for her photographer friend, Benny Clarkson.
Brynne’s portrait (the one that was sent to Ethan’s email) is being displayed
at the showing and she meets Ethan after he buys it and offers her a ride home.
Now, at first, one might find Ethan’s behavior over Brynne a
little disturbing. The way he dominates during sex and his controlling
protectiveness by watching her every move. However, when the reveal of Brynne’s
ugly past starts unfolding, Brynne herself points out to you that this is
exactly the type of behavior she needs in a relationship for it to survive,
because she is not able to be the person to push for things to move forward -
it has to be her partner.
You then follow Brynne as she starts trusting Ethan with
controlling their relationship and as she starts quickly falling for him. However, Naked ends when Brynne is visiting Ethan at his office and
overhears a message being left by her father. Brynne quickly finds out Ethan
has known her deep dark secrets all along. It ends with her leaving him at the
elevator (or lifts, if you prefer), while Ethan is pleading with her about how
much he loves her.
While your heart breaks a little bit for Ethan, you can’t
help but feel Brynne is justified in leaving him since he didn’t offer her the
truth about how he came to know her.
All In then
switches to Ethan’s point-of-view where your heart then really breaks for the
poor guy and you learn just how much he has really fallen in love with his ‘beautiful
American girl’, Brynne.
Ethan writes a letter to Brynne and after she receives a
weird message on her voicemail, they come back together and she gives Ethan all
the horrid details of her past that explain why she indeed needs protection.
You also learn in All
In that Ethan, himself, also has a horribly tragic past from serving in
Special Forces in Afghanistan. He has scars and frightening nightmares about
being captured and held for twenty-two days. His time in Afghanistan coincides
with Brynne’s time recovering from being violated on videotape for her high
school to see and becoming dangerously depressed.
You also get a better insight to some other characters in All In, such as Brynne’s friends Benny
and roommate Gaby. You also get to meet Ethan’s cousin Ivan, who is a very fun
and interesting character. I can’t wait to see where the story goes for Ivan
and Gaby, who it’s suggested Brynne is trying to setup.
Towards the end of All
In, Brynne becomes very ill and tired at times, which leads me to guess –
is she pregnant? That’s my guess, but it’s either that or someone is poisoning
her.
Ethan accompanies Brynne to an exhibition for Mallerton,
whose piece, Lady Percival, Brynne is working on preserving. After receiving
threating photos earlier in the day, the bomb treat during the exhibition sends
Ethan over the edge and he rushes to take Brynne to his sister’s home
out-of-town.
The book ends once they arrive at his sister’s
bed-and-breakfast.
I, personally, cannot wait for the third book so I can find
out if Brynne is pregnant and find out who is threatening her on her old phone.
I am tapping my foot to see how it all plays out and if Ethans and Brynne have
a happily-ever-after I am hoping for!
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Website: http://www.rainemiller.com
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