The Gilded Cuff

I was gifted a copy of The Gilded Cuff by author Lauren Smith in exchange for reading it and doing an honest review of it.  The book took me about a day to read and was fast paced.  I must admit, upon reading the synopsis and examining the cover, I was not necessarily looking forward to reading this book.  Quite honestly, I didn't think I would care for it at all.  I was, however, pleasantly surprised almost from the beginning of reading with how well Smith lured me in with her sweet, semi-naive character of Sophie.

Sophie is an investigative journalist who is doing  a story about a man that kidnapped as a child, along with his twin brother.  In order to get close to this recluse of a man, she must enter the world of BDSM at the hottest club in town, The Gilded Cuff.  

Sophie has no idea that the man she's been wanting to help for so long would have such an effect on her, but Emery Lockwood is powerful...and very dominant.  Though this story could literally make Sophie's journalistic career, she has her own reasons for wanting to help. Can she help solve the mystery and exorcise her own problems of the past?  Then there's Emery who had never let anyone into his life...ever...but he just can't stop thinking about Sophie. She does something to him that makes him feel things he hasn't felt in twenty-five years. The two decide to make a deal:  she submits to him and learns all about being in a dominant/submissive relationship in exchange for an interview.

“Rule number one, relax into my touch. Unless I’m punishing you. Then you may anticipate me all you like. Now…relax.” He curled long, elegant fingers around her throat, not squeezing, merely holding her in place as he flicked his tongue into the shell of her ear. Sophie jolted up, only to be jerked back down by his arm around her stomach, to be held down, pinned helpless for his exploration of her sensitive spots… It was too much. She liked it far more than she should: the helpless feeling, the surrender to even so small a domination.

Although this book has some elements of BDSM, don't let it be a deal breaker in whether you read the book or not.  It's mild and tame and basically just gives some information about the world, rather than long winded descriptions of how things go down.  If you're thinking Fifty Shades, it's far more tame than that, but still highly entertaining.  

I really liked this book despite my initial beliefs.  It had romantic elements, mystery elements, and some excitement and danger mixed in there too.  There was just enough of everything to keep me glued to each page and wanting to read more.  I was quite pleased to see that this is not just a stand alone novel either, as two more will be released including The Gilded Cage,expected out in April of 2015, and The Gilded Chain, due out in June of 2015.  I am so happy to have discovered a new author that I enjoyed reading and would definitely recommend this book.