Unwound

Mastered, Book 2

By: Lorelei James

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the conclusion to the Mastered Series by New York Times best-selling author Lorelei James, a man’s need for control is tested by the one woman he’ll risk everything for….

When sensei Ronin Black first encounters Amery Hardwick, the fire in her eyes ignites a sexual spark a thousand times better than the primal rush he used to get from mixed martial arts matches. She accepts his darker edges and admits to him that her desires aren’t as wholesome as he believed. And before long, Ronin is grappling with emotions he’s never felt before.

Yet despite demanding Amery bare her body and soul to him, Ronin holds a part of himself back. When she learns Ronin’s secret and walks out, his life begins to unravel. To regain her trust, he must let go of his pride and prove to her that it’s more than passion binding them together.

©2014 LJLA, Inc. (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Almost drop the ball..

Man! Ok.... in the beginning of the book, which is book 2 of the Mastered Series... I was totally making sure I was reading book 2 from the Mastered Series... b/c it started so boring compared to the ending of book 1.

Ronin was all beat and broken from Amery leaving him...but still... it was just eh...

The secondary characters really carried the story along while Ronin got himself together...

Now after Amery and Ronin get back together... the whole Amery is the dom and Ronin the sub...OK... I just didn't like that whole set up... WTF! I get it...why Amery wanted it...but IDK...I just didn't like it...

Maybe it was the narration of this book...but let me tell you... compared to book 1, Ronin was kinda a much weaker character... and Amery came off as a B... half the time...

After saying all of that... This was a good book...which really needs to be read to finish the Ronin and Amery story.. I really think it was the narration, as most of this book was told from Ronin's POV... hence the male narrator... I still preferred the female narrator of book 1 to Daniels... although Daniels wasn't a bad narrator... he just didn't do the same Ronin from book 1... so it was a bit off. The dominance just wasn't on the same level...

Credit this... for price and overall satisfaction...

HAD ME IN KNOTS! EXCELLENT SEQUEL!!!

This book should not be read as a stand alone, as it continues exactly where book 1 ends.

Awe….. I really loved this sequel!! I was on pins and needles with the way the last book ended, but this book is a dedication of how deeply Ronin fell in love with Amery and his persistent need for her…OMG!! --I just love a Hero who is persistent in love!

The beauty of this book is that all previous suspicions about the shady part of Ronin are either thrown out the door or explained. Amery accepts everything about Ronin, including his past as they work on their relationship as well as all of the challenges that come their way. Some of those challenges encompass Ronin healing from fighting injuries, sealing loose ends with his past, expanding his business with the Brazilian MMA fighters, rediscovering his family connection and most of all re-establishing his all-consuming relationship with Amery after their very bad break-up. Challenges that Amery has to deal with include her judgmental parents and Ronin's nasty ex-girlfriend.

Believe me there is plenty of movement in this story with the leads whose problems feel real and who are surrounded by supportive, interesting and fun friends (Chaz, Molly, Knox, Deacon, Shiori, etc.) Both Amery and Ronin are very stubborn and strong-willed people so you can imagine the things they have to work through. The parts where Ronin practices the Japanese style of bondage (Kinbaku and Sheebari) with Amery was actually very intimate, intense and quite beautiful. You could feel their connection and the intensity of their moments together. Who knew the use of ropes could be so sexy??? This is definitely one very steamy, erotic novel but with leads who are interesting and who you grow to care about.

Overall, I found this sequel to be very good. There is a resolution to each of the issues that arise which makes me sad because I don't know if that means that Amery and Ronin's story is over???? I hope not. I would love to have one more book about their love affair. (Although I have a feeling there is going to be a book with Knox and Shiori…they fight too much which probably means they're crazy for each other…LOL)

Narrator: OMG!! What happened to Rachel Vivette????? For half of the book I was trying to get over her loss. It felt as though I was reading about different characters…I missed listening to Amery's voice through Rachel V.---ugh!! So sad!!! Luke Daniels did a good job for the men, and especially for Ronin, but his voice for the women sounded like transvestites. I would have appreciated a dual narration from both Rachel V. and Luke D. rather than booting Rachel out on this audiobook.

Not In Love

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I felt like the first book flowed much better than the 2nd book. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen but nothing came.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I didn't connect with the characters in this book and I was really looking forward to seeing how their story worked out. The way the couple get back together didn't flow with the ending in book 1. What happened to the Amery I fell in love with?

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I really wish they had used the same narrators as in the first book. The female vocals left a lot to be desired for me and killed some of the book for me.

Do you think Unwound needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No

Powerful and Passionate Erotic Romance

LOVED IT! Lorelei James has penned a powerful and passionate romance with characters who will resonate with readers for some time to come. I couldn’t wait to read Ronin’s perspective and Ms. James did not disappoint. The complexity of the relationships, and the minefields from the past that both Ronin and Amery must navigate around makes for a tenuous situation. Yet, these two were meant for each other. The passion both in and out of bed is explosive and addictive. As a reader, you can’t help but root for them to find their Happily Ever After.

UNWOUND is a mixture of sweet, sensual, seductive, intense passion with characters who experience raw emotions with the turn of every page. Ronin and Amery have both been hurt, but the question remains, will they be able to make amends? Between a vindictive ex, a sister who’s trying to make amends, a business that’s quickly expanding, and Ronin’s inability to do what he does best, the situations quickly spiral out of control. Yet one thing remains true, Ronin can’t function without the love of his life, Amery, and vice versa. There were times that my heart broke for both of these characters and there were times that I wanted to strangle Ronin for being such a jerk. It took a lot for both of them to learn how to communicate effectively with one another. But more importantly, it took time for them to regain each others’ trust.

The secondary characters continue to be a riot and spice up this series. I can’t wait for Knox and Shiori to unleash all of their pent up sexual tension on one another because it’s guaranteed to be explosive. Not to mention Molly and Deacon. She may be small, but she’s mighty and is probably the only woman who could handle the big man. I love these characters, I love the fighting and training in the dojo and I love the concept. The dialogue is rich, dark, and edgy, the love scenes are sensual, yet raw and uninhibited, and the love is so endearing that it will make your heart swell with joy. Moreover, the characters are well-developed, engaging, and continue to leap off the pages.

Lorelei James’ new series is a testament to her growth as an author. She’s broadened her horizons and it has definitely paid off with The Mastered series in this reader’s humble opinion. The depth of the characters, the complexity of the plot, the descriptive setting, the smoking hot love scenes, the intriguing secondary characters, and the intense drama make for an amazing story and series. Bravo Ms. James because you have another series that’s a smashing hit on your hands. :)

Luke Daniels was great with the delivery of the story

Whining lead female character. ..

The female lead seems to have had a personality change since the first book. I just couldn't get passed her neurotic whining behavior. Oh well.... am seriously considering returning this one.

Boring story; sex used as filler; poor dialogue

Yes, I would selfishly like a decent plot and intelligent dialogue along with my romance.

Admittedly, the romance between Ronin and Amery was sweet and even hot on occasion. The erotica was mild enough not to be uncomfortable for a non-erotica reader. However, the romantic scenes became bland and there were WAY too many, even for a book in this genre. It felt like 80% of the book was sex or the rope bondage scenes, which got old about 25% of the way through. Worst of all, the dialogue was stilted and uninteresting and the characters were bland and lacked dimension. I didn't have any emotional response to them here, which I blame on the poorly written neediness in Ronin and the ambivalence in Amery. Amery's mom/dad and Naomi were one-dimensional and caricatured to the point of non-readability. Some promising personality presented in the first book from the dojo instructors, Molly and Amery's friends just dried right up in this sequel.

This sequel was a letdown. Admittedly, the first book wasn't that good either, but it was hotter and with more interesting characters and more tension. For example, Ronin's strong alpha personality was better written and the rope-play was an interesting new twist, while in this second novel it was overused. I yawned my way through Unwound and barely finished. I found myself playing video games while spacing out on the dialogue since there were whole sections I wanted to just skim. I gave it two start only because I managed to get through it.

Regarding the narrator. I LOVED Luke Daniels as a narrator for the Iron Druid series. Here, his light, somewhat flippant tone is mostly wrong. (NOTE unrelated to this book: I nearly lost it when Daniels made Amery's mom/dad's voices sound similar to Oberon from the Iron Druid series.)

Even better than book 1!

Everything about this book was amazing. I loved everything. After finishing book 1, I didn't even think to hesitate before starting book 2. It is sad knowing that there is one short novella left for this couple but I am excited to see what happens with the other characters in this amazing story.

The narration was yet again perfection.

2.5 Meh Boring Disappointing stars

Unwound by Lorelei James 2nd in the Mastered series. (Book Synopsis at the End of Review)

Overall Story: 2.5 Meh Boring Disappointing stars

Narrator: 3 Stars

Heat Level: 3

Type: Erotic Romance, BDSM/Bondage, Fighter

POV: Both main characters Ronin (H) Amery (h)

I had high hopes for this book after reading and loving Bound (it was refreshing and engaging). I was sadly disappointed. The story line was dull as dishwater. Compared to Bound it was just ‘Meh’ to me. What little life Lorelei James tried to breath into the story felt forced and unnatural.

It starts off with Ronin’s spiral after the break-up but we don’t get into Amery’s head until after they get back together. This was a shock for me, I was starting to think it was told only from his POV. Things just spiral down from there into a boring hum drum plot with some hot sex, forced emotions and conflict that wasn’t very well thought out. Oh and absolutely nothing ever got resolved because Amery was a hot mess through the entire book! She was so wishy washy she made me dizzy. I liked her in Bound and couldn't stand her in Unwound.

The only saving grace for the book was the side cast. I was more interested in them than the main characters! Then around the 70% mark life is breathed into the story and the pace picks up only to fall completely on its face. The drama and issues were resolved to quickly leaving the reader unsatisfied. The ending seemed like the author ran out of time and rushed to get it done! Everything is resolved and we all skip off into the sunset, tootles.

In closing; if you've already read Bound and can't wait to read Unwound, just make up your own ending in your head! It will save you the 1 to 4 days it will take you to read this ho hum book. If you must read it don't expect an epic knock your socks of read.

Started Reading May 19th 2014 Finished May 24th 2014

I also listened to the book on Audible.com when I didn’t have time to read.
Narrator: 3 stars wasn't terrible but left a little to be desired with the various voices, they were a little over done. The main characters were ok though.

In this conclusion to the Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a man’s need for control is tested by the one woman he’ll risk everything for

When sensei Ronin Black first encounters Amery Hardwick, the fire in her eyes ignites a sexual spark a thousand times better than the primal rush he used to get from mixed martial arts matches. She accepts his darker edges and admits to him that her desires aren’t as wholesome as he believed. And before long Ronin is grappling with emotions he’s never felt before.

Yet despite demanding Amery bare her body and soul to him, Ronin holds a part of himself back. When she learns Ronin’s secret and walks out, his life begins to unravel. To regain her trust he must let go of his pride and prove to her that it’s more than passion binding them together. But after their private pleasures are made public, Ronin is unsure if he’s the right man for Amery. Can they face the consequences together? Or will their differences rip them apart?
Paperback, 384 pages
Published March 25th 2014 by NAL Trade

Tied Up in Bordom

I agree with other reviews. This book fell short. I did not like the narrator and it bugged me throughout the story. I wish she would have stayed with the original. Daniel’s continuously sounded like he was in pain instead of being strong and demanding. Sometimes the inflection in his voice did not match what the character was saying. One time I thought Amery was being funny and sarcastic but she came across as a B. I thought Ronin’s character was too soft and week in this one. I did not enjoy the parts where Amery was dominant. I don’t think the narrator could pull it off. It is not that I did not like the concept and understood why she was doing it but in the end it just did not work. I also understand that the book is focused on being tied up. But all the sex scenes were the same and after a while not really interesting. I kept waiting for something to happen that would make the story exciting. But alas nothing did. I kept falling asleep and did not bother to rewind most of the time. It took me forever to finish. I have listened to worst books but this is not on my favourite shelf for sure. I think your credit can be better spent.

You will LOVE Master Black!

I didn't want this story to end. When a book makes me feel like I would love to know the characters in real life--it's a winner! This book totally made me want to join a dojo, start a little rope play, and let the Sensei have his way. This conclusion to Bound was Ronin truly coming completely undone for Amery. There was action, betrayal, angry-crazy fanatical parents, and even more hot and steamy romance igniting between these two--it was perfection in many ways.

Luke Daniels as the narrator was awesome, I could take a little more of him any day of the week. This is not a standalone book, so as soon as you read this review, download book 1 and 2 because you'll be hooked.