Taming Tori

By: Amelia Smarts

Narrated by: Matthew Keyes

Length: 4 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

He's prepared to tame her using painful and humiliating discipline.

Fearless, tough-as-nails cowboy Frank Bassett gets thrown from a bucking bronco and injures his leg, leaving him with a severe limp. Not to be defeated, he moves to a new town with plans for a slower-paced life. There he meets a woman more defiant and standoffish than the wildest mustang, and he reckons he's got one more filly to tame before tossing his Stetson aside.

Local beauty Victoria Davis longs for a worthy gentleman to court her. Instead, a crippled cowboy limps into her shop and scolds her for being rude. Though outraged, she's also intrigued by the submissive feelings he inspires in her.

Victoria learns that Frank is as kind and generous as he is tough, and love blooms. But when a stroke of misfortune once again befalls the cowboy, their feelings for each other are tested. Was Frank's quest to tame Tori a foolish venture, or will it pave a path to healing for them both?

Publisher's Note: Taming Tori contains sexual scenes and adult punishment spanking. If that doesn't appeal to you, please don't buy this audiobook.

©2020 Amelia Smarts (P)2020 Amelia Smarts

Can she be tamed?

Amelia Smarts always captivates me with her writing style. This historical western romance captured my attention and had it til the end. Victoria has become a little self centered since the death of her parents. At 19, she wishes to be married, but the aloofness and uncaring way she presents herself makes suitors scarce. Until Frank Bassett catches her eye. This man is not afraid of her. He is strong, and knows what she needs. And even a spanking does not make her want to leave him. But circumstances change, and Frank needs her to tame his ways. Can she win him over? Such a great story.It encompasses so many things, from changes of careers, dealing with injury, finding your way and loving unconditionally. The addition of young Bobby is sweet and lends another layer of depth to both Frank and Tori. Loved this story!

Matthew Keyes is wonderful as he narrates the historical westerns. I love his slight twang for Frank and he easily translates to young Bobby and Tori. I enjoy his performances and always look forward to them.

Moving on with life!

I asked to receive this free review audible book and wrote this unbiased review. Amelia Smarts has written a gripping western with a fascinating storyline containing hot sensual sex and spanking scenes. Since the death of her parents, Victoria has had to take care of herself which has left her rigid and set in her ways. Frank is dominant yet caring, loving, and compassionate. It is exciting as we watch the character development of these two. They both compliment and drive each other. Matthew Keyes does a great job of portraying the emotions and personalities of these characters. He is a pleasure to listen to. I highly recommend this Audible book.

Another great book by Amelia Smarts

Loved this book. Can someone go from thinking she is too good for everyone to being kind and compassionate? How much discipline will it take?

Not Your Mother's Western Romance

While this is a sweet Western spanking romance, its male and female protagonists face thought provoking and out of the norm hurdles. Which is a way I like my escapist reading. Or listening, as this is a review of the audiobook.

Westerns are not a genre I relish. The guys are unidimensional and the women are too often pushovers. Agency lacks and angst is the norm. The last great ‘written’ Westerns starred Clint Eastwood, John Wayne and Paul Newman. LOL

The summary hints at what I found refreshingly different about Taming Tori: Severe injury leaves working cowboy Frank with a “severe [permanent] limp.” A 'handicap' to use period vernacular. A work history of hard labor provides him little apparent preparation or desire for the very, very few opportunities for a “slower-paced” male life in the cowboy West. The choice he makes is refreshingly non-trope. His toss off a bronco denies him some typical Alpha dominance tricks forever. Remember, this is a guy who the summary bills as “prepared to tame her using painful … discipline.” Rest assured, dear fellow readers, his lap works just fine when he is seated. The sexy parts of the book are well endowed but not silicone.

I can’t tell you what about Tori needs to change without spoiling the book. I think it safe, however, to mention that it [what needs to be changed] is a well-established part of her character. Tori’s character blemish is deeply embedded; a wise modern friend would no doubt counsel Frank: “Don’t expect marriage to change Tori much.” Because this is a romance, with the requisite HEA, you know something will change. How the author arranges for her transformation is a positive plus to the novel, a reason to keep flipping those audio pages.

Frank makes a very poor choice in a way that, if she had done it, her bottom would be spanked until her fanny or his arm fell off. Get real. She cannot discipline him.

Get real x 2. This reader wouldn’t want to read her spanking him; I don’t kink that way. How she handles it (hint: ______ ) keeps those pages turning. A lot of 'willing suspension of disbelief' is NOT require to make it plausible.

Taming Tori's downs: The narrator was ponderous. I increased the reading speed. Although by the end I had grown used to him. Her discipline could have been crisper; but, Westerns are generally supposed to be ‘sweet’. The author offered free copies and I received one. That said, panning a free book is well within my skill set should a book need it and I have done it when needed.

Frank and Tori

I’ve only read one other book by this author, which was good. But this one was really great! It has a great storyline and well described characters. Frank was stern but loving and Victoria (Tori) needed to change her attitude towards other people. Guided by his hand, she becomes a better person. Until....something happens which changes Frank himself. Will this destroy their budding relationship or will this make them closer?
I liked the steamy (spanking) scenes.

Excellent performance by the narrator. I couldn’t stop listening.

A little disappointing

This book started out great and seemed very promising, serious minded, dominant albeit injured cowboy meets snooty little miss who needs correcting... yes, all the right components but then takes a dark psychological turn, becoming quite depressing, so much so that even the HEA didn't pull me out of the quagmire of pervasive gloomy sadness.
I love this author and have all her audio books but this will not be among those that I listen to again and again.
On the upside, there is an ongoing connection with earlier books via the inclusion of some beloved characters, hey maybe I'll read those again to lift my spirits.
Stay safe everyone.

Sweet and wholesome

This was not my usual genre but enjoyed it immensely Tori and frank both learned so much from each other and the bond was so strong between them a great love story