Bonds of Trust

By: Lynda Aicher

Narrated by: Emily Cauldwell

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

After ending her passionless marriage, Cali Reynolds is eager to live out her forbidden fantasies. Her first step is attending new members' night at The Den, the most exclusive sex club in town. Perhaps here she can find a man who understands her desire to be dominated....

At first, Jake McCallister thinks Cali has come to his club for the wrong reasons. But when he discovers she is seeking fulfillment after years of denial, he's intrigued - and takes it upon himself to initiate her into the pleasures she's been missing.

Her first encounter with Jake is everything Cali has always craved, and more; she's not prepared for the feelings he inspires in her. And Jake is just as surprised by his overwhelming attraction to Cali. As their play intensifies, so does their bond. Now, Jake doesn't want anyone but Cali - but is he ready to officially claim her? And will she submit to being his forever?

©2012 Lynda Aicher (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Bonds of Trust Review

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It's not that I would change anything about the book itself, but I had a hard time relating and really caring about the main character. I ended up not really liking the person she was and ultimately found her kind of irritating.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Emily Cauldwell?

Absolutely NOT!. I found Emily Cauldwell's narration very hard to listen to. I got very annoyed with the voices she played for both Cali and Jake. If it was narrated by someone different there is a chance I would've liked this story more.

Any additional comments?

Since I am in my early 20's and do not have any children it may have been hard for me to relate to Cali, since she is in her 40's, divorced, and has a daughter. (Which is most of her struggle throughout the entire book.) When I was reading the description for the book I didn't think that those parts of her life would play such a strong role. Knowing what I know now, I probably would not have bought this. However, if you can relate to those struggles that she has and you enjoy kinky romance novels than this may be the book for you!

This one surprised me!

This book was a pleasant surprise. I had passed it by, many times, when searching the Romance package; I’m not 100% sure, as why? I’m glad I ,finally, gave it a try. I really did enjoy the book, overall, with the exception of the irritation I had for the character flaws, of the Heroine.

It is totally possible that I am being exceptionally sensitive but, I can’t remember ever being as irritated with the author’s development of a character, as I was over this character. The Heroine is a Divorced mother of two college-aged children. She is in her mid forties and had been married over 20 years. She and her ex husband had been more of a amicable coexistence then an intimate relationship. They hadn’t even been intimate in seven years, therefore, the Heroine finally ended the marriage. The Heroine meets the Hero exploring her desires for a D/s relationship. My irritation is due to the Heroine’s deep shame about her sexual desires and her guilt about her ex husbands lack of sexual interest. WTF? This woman has lived half her life and has NO sort of comfort with her sexuality? She and her ex hadn’t even been able to discuss their lack of intimacy due to embarrassment? Then, to top it off, Calle, the Heroine, allows her adult daughter to chastise her because of her desire to divorce. This same daughter lectures and interrogates Mom when Said daughter discovers Mom had an adult sleepover elsewhere. Are you shitting me? I have four adult daughters and am in my mid forties and if one of my kids tried that crap I would tell them that I’m grown and single and can sleep and have sex with anyone I please and it’s none of her damn business. Furthermore, she will leave my apartment and not return until she can apologize and show me the respect I’m deserved; after bringing her life and dedicating half of mine raising her to adulthood. Ok, I’m ranting, but seriously, the author has this Heroine deciding to being celibate because her daughter doesn’t improve? I had to stop listening and do deep breathing exercises.
Setting this melt down aside, I enjoyed the rest of the book. There is some of the standard, Romance type angst, due to a misunderstanding, but it ends in a HEA. It’s not near as good as Cherise Sinclair BDSM romance but it was entertaining and a Romance package worthy listen,
-V from Kansas

What I thought "Fifty Shades" was going to be.

What made the experience of listening to Bonds of Trust the most enjoyable?

I LOVED everything about this book. From the start to the end and everything in between. The story idea was well thought out, the characters were well thought out and executed and the narration was spot on.

What other book might you compare Bonds of Trust to and why?

I cant think of a book to compare it to but I'd love to find some others.

What does Emily Cauldwell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She was perfect with the emotion and the tone!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to this all in one sitting! I couldn't shut it off! Head phones are a great invention.

Any additional comments?

I would have paid twice as much for this book. This is what a book with bdsm should be. If more people read this they'd be like Fifty shades of what? I hated fifty shades. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

Horrible

What disappointed you about Bonds of Trust?

This book is just horrible and the reader is so dry.

What was most disappointing about Lynda Aicher’s story?

There is no story here. Just a woman in her 40's wanting something that the writer seems to not be knowledgable enough to give.. I give this book 1 star and if I could give it a half star I would instead of 1. I wasted a credit.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

she had no emotions

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

no redeeming qualities what so ever

Horrid!

This is just so chessy and corny that I actually got angry at myself for buying it.!

Brainwashing Women

Plot: Cassie (44) was unhappily married for 20+ years and sexually unfulfilled. Somehow this smart woman decides that she wants to experience meaningless sex in a D/S club. So Cassie visits the club, meets one of the owners Jake, immediately trusts this complete stranger and allows herself to be screwed.

I liked Cassie in many ways - she was dedicated, intelligent and caring - but I thought she suffered from alarming low self esteem. She didn't have the guts to confront her husband and get what she needed from her marriage (or end it). Then Cassie magically had the courage to trust her physical and emotional welfare to a professional Dom, someone who is paid to inflict pain on others - not my idea of a trustworthy individual.

Jake just gave me the creeps, with his attitude of instantly knowing "what Cassie really needs", which of course was sex with him. Just another horny man with a "lifestyle" that gives him permission to bully; hitting as foreplay, humiliation was a bonding experience. When exactly did bossy, self absorbed jerks become romantic heroes?

While I believe in freedom of choice for consenting adults, I hate when self destructive behavior is romanticized, brainwashing women into thinking that physical abuse is okay. I wish this very talented author would write books about independent & confident women who demand to be treated with respect and kindness from the men in their lives.

Bondage fluff

I've had this book more than 8 months and I just wasn't compelled to listen to it... Wish I had trusted my instincts on this one.

Some people will like this book...it lets you dabble and peek into the BDSM lifestyle without anything being too harsh. Everything is consensual, no one gets pushed to their safe word, nothing but a whole lot of play...but not very interesting play. I like my books steaming and this one was just above room temperature. One would think since it takes place primarily in a club that it would have to be hot, but not really. No toys were used, just your basic spanking and a flogging or two, but nothing like the detailed Sweet Series, or like other sex club books I've read where there was a whole lot of accessories to complete the scene.

This book focused on Callie, a 44 year old woman who got out of a 22 year marriage because she was unfulfilled in many ways. She finally decides to try what she has been reading about in romance novels, so she joins the Den, an exclusive club....and she finds a Dom. Her age was dealt with well and actually the Callie character was well written, but everyone else had contrived drama, miscommunications, and down right ignoring information that I just heard another character tell them.

Narrator was okay, her male voices weren't great, but she had emotion in her tone at least.

Maybe but this book in the $4.95 sale, but don't waste your time if you want suspense, or even a plot!

not sure

the book is unbelievable because the three women meet every Saturday they're supposed to be best friends but she doesn't tell her best friend's anything I think the author needs to do a study on how best friends act toward each other if she wants the book to be believable so that kind of bothered me and it was kind of a weird relationship I really wanted to see them date or something to

Slow and poor narration

Oh good grief. We get it. She’s nervous and they’re attracted to each other. Where’s the editor? This could have been a good short story but dear lord, she’s still saying the same thing 5 chapters in. And the narrator is just distracting.