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Mastered #1
With This Collar
Julia Lyle will have nothing to do with domineering men, no matter how tall, dark, and sexy. But Dom Marcus Cavendish will be satisfied with nothing less than collaring the fiercely independent Julia.
Nothing could have shocked her more…
Julia Lyle is invited to her best friend’s wedding and is stunned when Lana kneels to accept her husband’s collar. When Julia starts to object, firm, relentless hands land on her shoulders. The man behind her threatens to turn her over his knee if she interrupts. She’s outraged, but there’s no doubt he’s serious.
After the ceremony, he offers her a glimpse into her friend’s lifestyle, if she’s brave enough to accept.
Master Marcus Cavendish is everything she doesn’t want in a man—dominant, self-assured and arrogant. So why can’t she resist him?
Telling herself that learning about the lifestyle will make her a better friend, Julia agrees to submit to Master Marcus, but only for the evening. Firm and unrelenting in his handling of her, he introduces her to his tawse and the pleasure/pain of a spanking delivered by a competent Dom. The experience unnerves her, making her question everything she thought she knew about relationships, and his forced orgasms leave her shattered.
No doubt the scene seduced her, and that makes her doubly determined to avoid him. She has fought hard for her freedom and vowed only to date nice men, and Master Marcus is anything but safe.
Marcus is undeterred. Julia is a natural sub. The way she responded to his touch, his voice, his punishment proved it. Now he has to convince her to yield to him, submitting to his tawse as she kneels to accept his collar.
Nothing could have shocked her more…
Julia Lyle is invited to her best friend’s wedding and is stunned when Lana kneels to accept her husband’s collar. When Julia starts to object, firm, relentless hands land on her shoulders. The man behind her threatens to turn her over his knee if she interrupts. She’s outraged, but there’s no doubt he’s serious.
After the ceremony, he offers her a glimpse into her friend’s lifestyle, if she’s brave enough to accept.
Master Marcus Cavendish is everything she doesn’t want in a man—dominant, self-assured and arrogant. So why can’t she resist him?
Telling herself that learning about the lifestyle will make her a better friend, Julia agrees to submit to Master Marcus, but only for the evening. Firm and unrelenting in his handling of her, he introduces her to his tawse and the pleasure/pain of a spanking delivered by a competent Dom. The experience unnerves her, making her question everything she thought she knew about relationships, and his forced orgasms leave her shattered.
No doubt the scene seduced her, and that makes her doubly determined to avoid him. She has fought hard for her freedom and vowed only to date nice men, and Master Marcus is anything but safe.
Marcus is undeterred. Julia is a natural sub. The way she responded to his touch, his voice, his punishment proved it. Now he has to convince her to yield to him, submitting to his tawse as she kneels to accept his collar.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2013
641 people are currently reading
3989 people want to read
About the author
Sierra Cartwright
115 books1,573 followersSierra is a USA Today, International Best-Selling author who wrote her first book at age nine and hasn't stopped since.
Sierra invites you to share the complex journey of love and desire, of surrender and commitment.
Her own journey has taught her that trusting takes guts and courage, and her work is a celebration for everyone who is willing to take that risk.
Sierra invites you to share the complex journey of love and desire, of surrender and commitment.
Her own journey has taught her that trusting takes guts and courage, and her work is a celebration for everyone who is willing to take that risk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
April 8, 2013
This was the best book, by far, that i've read about the lifestyle.
i'm in an M/s relationship, and most books i read portray the lifestyle on such a cookie cutter fantasy level that it's almost laughable. This book was as true to form as it gets without being textbook (of which there is no such thing!)
i have made this the BOTM on my group and the comments have been nothing short of outstanding thus far.
The characters were believable and i was invested in each of them from the beginning, no matter how small their parts. It takes a lot for me to become so invested in a character that i wonder about them when i have to put the book down.
The D/s - M/s dynamics in this book were well researched. Thank you, Ms. Cartwright for this story.
i'm in an M/s relationship, and most books i read portray the lifestyle on such a cookie cutter fantasy level that it's almost laughable. This book was as true to form as it gets without being textbook (of which there is no such thing!)
i have made this the BOTM on my group and the comments have been nothing short of outstanding thus far.
The characters were believable and i was invested in each of them from the beginning, no matter how small their parts. It takes a lot for me to become so invested in a character that i wonder about them when i have to put the book down.
The D/s - M/s dynamics in this book were well researched. Thank you, Ms. Cartwright for this story.
August 23, 2016
This series from Ms. Cartwright is a hit or miss with me. I finally went back to read the first in this series. I think if I read this one first, I wouldn't have continued on. There are some things about the BDSM in here that just rubs me the wrong way. Not that it's wrong. It just irritates me.
First off, Lana is a shit friend. If she was really best friends with Julia, she should have prepared Julia. I got why Lana said she didn't tell Julia anything or prepare her, but that is a total cop out. Dragging a vanilla into a lifestyle ceremony unprepared is a completely asshat move. Especially when Lana tells Julia she was afraid Julia would talk her out of it. Hello - is this not a clear sign you probably don't want Julia AT the ceremony because shit may hit the fan and your beautiful meaningful collaring could be destroyed by someone who doesn't understand it? Lana is shit for brains.
Then there is this Master Cavendish. What an asshole. He's not the kind of dominant I'm around so I guess I'm just lucky. The way he "broke" Julia into this was a total asshat move too. Maybe in a romance story this is how it sweeps females fantasizing this off their feet. In real life, he'd get a swift kick to the balls. The actual BDSM scenes were not off. It's the way Ms. Cartwright approached it which pissed me off.
After reading this book, I didn't feel good about the lifestyle at all. I felt taken advantage of and pushed into something I didn't want. For Marcus to require Julia to call him "Sir" all the time when they just met, WTF? She's not even sure she wants to do this and he's all about slavery, submission, "you know you want to be my slut". WTF. Not the way I'd introduce someone new to the lifestyle. Now if Julia knew what was going and and express interest instead of this dub-con interest, then I would have been on board. Honestly, from my point of view, Marcus was more domineering than dominating. Total turn off for me. He did fess up for being too pushy at the end. This whole dynamic felt off and put me ill at ease. For some this is a wonderful kinky fantasy. For me, it just didn't work.
First off, Lana is a shit friend. If she was really best friends with Julia, she should have prepared Julia. I got why Lana said she didn't tell Julia anything or prepare her, but that is a total cop out. Dragging a vanilla into a lifestyle ceremony unprepared is a completely asshat move. Especially when Lana tells Julia she was afraid Julia would talk her out of it. Hello - is this not a clear sign you probably don't want Julia AT the ceremony because shit may hit the fan and your beautiful meaningful collaring could be destroyed by someone who doesn't understand it? Lana is shit for brains.
Then there is this Master Cavendish. What an asshole. He's not the kind of dominant I'm around so I guess I'm just lucky. The way he "broke" Julia into this was a total asshat move too. Maybe in a romance story this is how it sweeps females fantasizing this off their feet. In real life, he'd get a swift kick to the balls. The actual BDSM scenes were not off. It's the way Ms. Cartwright approached it which pissed me off.
After reading this book, I didn't feel good about the lifestyle at all. I felt taken advantage of and pushed into something I didn't want. For Marcus to require Julia to call him "Sir" all the time when they just met, WTF? She's not even sure she wants to do this and he's all about slavery, submission, "you know you want to be my slut". WTF. Not the way I'd introduce someone new to the lifestyle. Now if Julia knew what was going and and express interest instead of this dub-con interest, then I would have been on board. Honestly, from my point of view, Marcus was more domineering than dominating. Total turn off for me. He did fess up for being too pushy at the end. This whole dynamic felt off and put me ill at ease. For some this is a wonderful kinky fantasy. For me, it just didn't work.
April 21, 2013
"Tell me your safe words."
"Yellow and red. And I am so green right now it's like being in a forest."
When Julia Lyle was invited to her best friend Lana's wedding, the word ‘submission' was the last thing she expected to hear. Although she's been warned the wedding will be ‘unconventional', once Lana kneels in order to accept her husband's collar, Julia is torn between running away and shaking some sense into her friend. The dilemma is solved when a man behind her threatens to turn her over his knee if she doesn't keep quiet. The man – Marcus Cavendish – also promises to explain things to her, if she behaves herself.
As promised, after the ceremony they keep talking, and Marcus offers Julia a quick introduction into the BDSM lifestyle. Since they agreed on a one-time deal, only for the evening, Julia accepts to submit to him and experience what she firmly believed was impossible. But that turns out to be only the beginning...
The problem is – Julia wants nothing to do with domineering men. She's determined to find a sweet, nice, uncomplicated man. Her last relationship went from sweet to sour real fast, when her charming boyfriend turned into a controlling, overbearing freak. Just being close to Marcus is making her want to run away, as he's everything she vowed she'd avoid, but at the same time he's making her want to follow him wherever he goes. And, as he explains more, and demands more, she feels she can't resist him.
Marcus, on the other hand, although an experienced Dom, has never been with a novice before. It turned out to be a unique evening for him, as it was for Julia. But while the thrill is incredible and the attraction between them is indisputable, he refuses to consider a relationship or any kind of permanent arrangement. The one woman he'd collared ended up relying on him for all her needs and losing herself in submission. It made him wary and unwilling to try again...until Julia calls him a month later, and they end up getting closer and closer. It was Marcus who eventually pushed for more, and Julia walked away, unwilling to surrender and risk a relationship with another demanding, domineering man. The question is – will she settle with a nice guy, or find the strength to embrace her submissive side and make a commitment?
Ms. Cartwright managed to deliver yet another amazing BDSM story. I enjoyed reading With This Collar immensely. It is well written and perfectly paced. The characters are great—even the side ones that I can't wait to read more about—and there are just enough witty lines to highlight the sassy part of their personalities.
In a way, this is another 'BDSM 101' sort of book. There are a lot of explanations, slow introductions to the scenes; the story mostly concentrates on Julia's experiences, her struggle to accept the new lifestyle, the rules and the whole idea of power exchange and its true meaning. Still, even if it's not your first BDSM story, it shouldn't bother you, as it is perfectly mixed with the rest of it and highlights the beginning of Julia's journey to submission.
The thing that turned this story from good to great is this – although there's instant chemistry between Marcus and Julia, they did not fall straight into commitment. Their past relationships that made them – especially Julia – uncertain and wary in the first place kept them from changing overnight and doing things that would feel all wrong. This way, they stayed true to their characters and kept things slow – with a couple of inevitable mistakes along the way.
4.5 stars for the first book of the Mastered series. Can't wait to read more!
April 26, 2013
MASTER MARCUS......
This one was smoking hot!!
This one was smoking hot!!
April 26, 2013
I barely managed to finish this book. Honestly it was one of the most boring books I've ever read. From the description of this book I thought it might be entertaining - I was wrong and wasted my morning reading it. I have read plenty of books with BDSM themes but this is the first one I have come across that I didn't like. The first sex scene was ridiculously long. I didn't think any of the sex scenes were good. I will definitely not be reading the next book in the series- if it is anything like this book it would be a total waste of my time. This is the first book I have ever given 1 star and the first book I had been VERY close to not finishing and putting it on my DNF list. Some people may like this book, but it definitely was not for me!
July 17, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book! It had a realistic feel to it! It felt a little rushed!
April 1, 2013
For me this is THE book about a vanilla heroine’s introduction into the BDSM lifestyle. LOVED it! IMHO this is a way more realistic representation of what it is like to be in the lifestyle. The book does a great to explain the philosophies and different protocols. Don’t worry if you’re not into any of that, this is not ‘heavy’ SM, there is no edge play and everything is consensual (way more so than other ‘mainstream’ BDSM erotica like the ‘Up In the Air’ series). If you’re curious… I highly recommend this book!
Okay, enough about that.
The story:
Julia attends her best friend’s wedding / collaring ceremony without having a clue about the lifestyle or that friend is into it. She is outraged to see her friend strip & kneel at the ceremony and Master Marcus stops her before she can make a scene. Afterwards, he offered to show her what the lifestyle was about and out of curiosity she agrees to submit to him for one evening only.
After she left, she was convinced that she would return to her old life but she couldn’t stop thinking about that night with Marcus. She tries to date ‘nice normal’ guys after that but they suddenly have no appeal for her. None of them can make her feel the way Marcus has. She makes contact and he is more than pleased to have her submit to him and they share this journey together.
The characters are both strong, their interaction was great, the scenes were hot, and the dialogue was open, honest and enlightening. I liked everything about this book.
Okay, enough about that.
The story:
Julia attends her best friend’s wedding / collaring ceremony without having a clue about the lifestyle or that friend is into it. She is outraged to see her friend strip & kneel at the ceremony and Master Marcus stops her before she can make a scene. Afterwards, he offered to show her what the lifestyle was about and out of curiosity she agrees to submit to him for one evening only.
After she left, she was convinced that she would return to her old life but she couldn’t stop thinking about that night with Marcus. She tries to date ‘nice normal’ guys after that but they suddenly have no appeal for her. None of them can make her feel the way Marcus has. She makes contact and he is more than pleased to have her submit to him and they share this journey together.
The characters are both strong, their interaction was great, the scenes were hot, and the dialogue was open, honest and enlightening. I liked everything about this book.
January 4, 2025
3.5 ₊ ⊹
March 8, 2013
This review can also be found on my blog.
Julia Lyle attends her best friend’s wedding, only she’s horrified at the turn the ceremony takes. Her feminist sensibilities scream in protest when Lana kneels before her husband to accept her Master’s collar. Only the quiet restraint of a stranger keeps her in check to observe and not speak. After the ceremony, the stranger introduces himself as Marcus, and it’s obvious he lives the lifestyle that Julia is curious about. It is that curiosity coupled with Master Marcus’ ability to cut to the chase and see right through her that changes Julia’s view of things in a very short amount of time. Her last relationship with a domineering man has left her angry and fearful of ever letting a man control her again. Instead she wants a nice, pleasant and uncomplicated man, and Marcus is anything but. However, his offer of a no-string attached introduction into the BDSM lifestyle is too tempting for her to pass up. He’s about to take her on a sexual and physiological journey into pleasure, trust and perhaps even love.
Marcus is intrigued by Julia’s innocence, beauty and sass. Despite the intense attraction between them, he doesn’t want a permanent arrangement. His last sub became dependent on him for every decision causing him to sever ties with her. The possibility of broadening Julia’s mind and sexual repertoire without a romantic entanglement is something he can’t and doesn’t want to resist. But he soon finds himself caving first, but when he pushes for more, Julia walks away. He must rely on the assumption that he’s taught her enough to trust him, but more importantly to trust herself.
I loved this story! It was well paced and very well written with great dialogue and humor. The characters were well fleshed out, and it didn’t take forever to get their back stories which made them easier to interpret and understand as the story unfolded. A few reviewer have complained about the “BDSM 101” that threads through the story, but it hardly bothered me. Not every reader is familiar with the lifestyle or its rules, and since the heroine is a complete novice herself, the author would have done the plot and the reader a huge disservice by leaving out the very basis of BDSM – trust, rules, information. I liked the chemistry they had even though it may have been focused mainly on the sex because of the type of story. However, I enjoyed the periodic intellectual back and forth that Marcus and Julia shared on their journey.
Julia was a strong character when it came to asserting herself and guarding herself from the mistakes of her past. Despite her very strong stubborn streak, I was interested in seeing whether or not she would eventually learn the difference between submitting to domination willingly and just plain cruelty. It was pleasing to find some of my questions getting answers through her own epiphanies and through some talks with Lana. Marcus was a very straightforward character who lived up to his motto of not wanting to play games. He never minced words either. What he said, he meant.
The sex scenes were very hot, and focus mainly on Julia’s experiences. The scenes where Marcus experienced his own completion were short and not as descriptive. You may even find them a little abrupt, but no less steamy.
Towards the end I felt a little confused by Julia. After months of playing together I would have thought that she had made more progress in accepting the fact that she was a natural submissive. Instead, she still preferred to lie to herself and by extension, Marcus. She was also still holding on to the fear that he was like her ex. I guess it didn’t make much sense for me to have her still hung up on issues so far into the story and their relationship. Then again, her stubbornness would test anyone’s patience. The ending tied up the story nicely and suited them perfectly. Overall, this was a great story, and one I would highly recommend.
Favorite Quotes/Moments
Julia Lyle attends her best friend’s wedding, only she’s horrified at the turn the ceremony takes. Her feminist sensibilities scream in protest when Lana kneels before her husband to accept her Master’s collar. Only the quiet restraint of a stranger keeps her in check to observe and not speak. After the ceremony, the stranger introduces himself as Marcus, and it’s obvious he lives the lifestyle that Julia is curious about. It is that curiosity coupled with Master Marcus’ ability to cut to the chase and see right through her that changes Julia’s view of things in a very short amount of time. Her last relationship with a domineering man has left her angry and fearful of ever letting a man control her again. Instead she wants a nice, pleasant and uncomplicated man, and Marcus is anything but. However, his offer of a no-string attached introduction into the BDSM lifestyle is too tempting for her to pass up. He’s about to take her on a sexual and physiological journey into pleasure, trust and perhaps even love.
Marcus is intrigued by Julia’s innocence, beauty and sass. Despite the intense attraction between them, he doesn’t want a permanent arrangement. His last sub became dependent on him for every decision causing him to sever ties with her. The possibility of broadening Julia’s mind and sexual repertoire without a romantic entanglement is something he can’t and doesn’t want to resist. But he soon finds himself caving first, but when he pushes for more, Julia walks away. He must rely on the assumption that he’s taught her enough to trust him, but more importantly to trust herself.
I loved this story! It was well paced and very well written with great dialogue and humor. The characters were well fleshed out, and it didn’t take forever to get their back stories which made them easier to interpret and understand as the story unfolded. A few reviewer have complained about the “BDSM 101” that threads through the story, but it hardly bothered me. Not every reader is familiar with the lifestyle or its rules, and since the heroine is a complete novice herself, the author would have done the plot and the reader a huge disservice by leaving out the very basis of BDSM – trust, rules, information. I liked the chemistry they had even though it may have been focused mainly on the sex because of the type of story. However, I enjoyed the periodic intellectual back and forth that Marcus and Julia shared on their journey.
Julia was a strong character when it came to asserting herself and guarding herself from the mistakes of her past. Despite her very strong stubborn streak, I was interested in seeing whether or not she would eventually learn the difference between submitting to domination willingly and just plain cruelty. It was pleasing to find some of my questions getting answers through her own epiphanies and through some talks with Lana. Marcus was a very straightforward character who lived up to his motto of not wanting to play games. He never minced words either. What he said, he meant.
The sex scenes were very hot, and focus mainly on Julia’s experiences. The scenes where Marcus experienced his own completion were short and not as descriptive. You may even find them a little abrupt, but no less steamy.
Towards the end I felt a little confused by Julia. After months of playing together I would have thought that she had made more progress in accepting the fact that she was a natural submissive. Instead, she still preferred to lie to herself and by extension, Marcus. She was also still holding on to the fear that he was like her ex. I guess it didn’t make much sense for me to have her still hung up on issues so far into the story and their relationship. Then again, her stubbornness would test anyone’s patience. The ending tied up the story nicely and suited them perfectly. Overall, this was a great story, and one I would highly recommend.
Favorite Quotes/Moments
“But with your reactions tonight, you seem like a woman who has repressed sexual need. You jump when I touch you. And when I use this tone…” He dropped his voice an octave or two. The sound sent little skitters of awareness up her spine. “You need the right man to set you free.”
~*~
“Shall I keep going Julia?” He imprisoned her chin. “Or have I offended your feminist sensibilities with my boldness?”
~*~
“How many spanks have you had, Julia?” Damien asked.
“Two, Sir.”
“What colour are you on?”
“Mortification,” she mumbled.
~*~
“I want a man who is sunny-side up, with a large sausage, and two hot buns.”
~*~
When he secured the first clamp onto her nipple, she cried out. “That, Sir, is a son of a bitch.”
March 7, 2016
I have taken my time to review this book. I struggled to be objective with this story.
As the title implies, the story is about being “Mastered” and collared. The story started well enough and I had high hopes. We meet Julia Lyle who is attending her best friend’s wedding. Julia is horrified the way the wedding ceremony turns. She gasps out loud when she sees Lana kneeling before her husband to accept his collar. Her feminine sensibilities clash with what she is seeing. A hand clamps down on her shoulder and she is ordered to “be quiet” and he threatens to put her over his knee if she interrupts – yeah right this comes from a total stranger!
Despite that fact that we are told that Julia Lyle does not want anything to do with domineering men she caved in so easily to the Dominant Marcus. I thought that Sierra Cartwright was going to produce a BDSM story with a difference but it wasn’t and it followed a theme that I have read over and over again.
After the ceremony he offers her a taste into the BDSM lifestyle and she convinces herself that it will make her a better friend to Lana if she learns a little about her lifestyle and she and submits to him but only for one night.
His handling of Julia is firm and unrelenting. He introduces her to his various methods of pleasure and pain including spanking, the tawse and humiliation. He makes her crawl to him with his tawse between her teeth and before we know it she completely submits to him and kneels to accept his collar and professes her undying love for him.
Julia also confused me towards the end of the books. Despite months of playing together she didn’t make much progress in accepting the fact that she was a submissive. I could not understand why we were still hung up on all the issues we were introduced to at the beginning of the story. Overall the book failed to deliver and I found their relationship hard to accept.
As the title implies, the story is about being “Mastered” and collared. The story started well enough and I had high hopes. We meet Julia Lyle who is attending her best friend’s wedding. Julia is horrified the way the wedding ceremony turns. She gasps out loud when she sees Lana kneeling before her husband to accept his collar. Her feminine sensibilities clash with what she is seeing. A hand clamps down on her shoulder and she is ordered to “be quiet” and he threatens to put her over his knee if she interrupts – yeah right this comes from a total stranger!
Despite that fact that we are told that Julia Lyle does not want anything to do with domineering men she caved in so easily to the Dominant Marcus. I thought that Sierra Cartwright was going to produce a BDSM story with a difference but it wasn’t and it followed a theme that I have read over and over again.
After the ceremony he offers her a taste into the BDSM lifestyle and she convinces herself that it will make her a better friend to Lana if she learns a little about her lifestyle and she and submits to him but only for one night.
His handling of Julia is firm and unrelenting. He introduces her to his various methods of pleasure and pain including spanking, the tawse and humiliation. He makes her crawl to him with his tawse between her teeth and before we know it she completely submits to him and kneels to accept his collar and professes her undying love for him.
Julia also confused me towards the end of the books. Despite months of playing together she didn’t make much progress in accepting the fact that she was a submissive. I could not understand why we were still hung up on all the issues we were introduced to at the beginning of the story. Overall the book failed to deliver and I found their relationship hard to accept.
February 27, 2013
It was almost 4 stars, but...not quite.
The sex was extremely hot and steamy, but there was just something missing. It seemed like Cartwright was just phoning it in...Although they were likeable characters, neither Julia or Marcus had a lot of depth. Julia did the usual "I'm never going to do anything like that" speech at the beginning, and then promptly did everything right then and there.
Perhaps if the book had been slightly longer, Cartwright would have able to give more dimension to the characters. It's a shame, since there's basis for a really great story here.
The sex was extremely hot and steamy, but there was just something missing. It seemed like Cartwright was just phoning it in...Although they were likeable characters, neither Julia or Marcus had a lot of depth. Julia did the usual "I'm never going to do anything like that" speech at the beginning, and then promptly did everything right then and there.
Perhaps if the book had been slightly longer, Cartwright would have able to give more dimension to the characters. It's a shame, since there's basis for a really great story here.
March 2, 2013
This was a good book to read but what else can you expect from Sierra Cartwright. Sierra has a talent that drags you into the novels she writes and has you panting with every command. I love her talent. This novel was perfect for the avid reader that wants a bit of kink, a new sub or Master in the lifestyle or someone well experienced in BDSM.
June 14, 2019
I loved this story, particularly the way Julia grew and started to accept her own nature. Marcus was the ultimate alpha, all sexy and growly. Yum! And I really liked that the book wasn't non-stop drama and angst.
February 24, 2015
"Submission is different. You consent to do something because it pleases someone else." ~Julia
Fiercely independent Julia Lyle has only one wish for her future beau: he must be a “nice guy” and therefore not domineering. Without a warning Julia attends her friend’s wedding, which is really a collaring ceremony. Thrust into a display of the BDSM world she agrees to scene with Master Marcus for ONE night and ONE night only. Master Marcus has only had no-strings playmates but he’s determined to leave Julia wanting more; he can see that Julia is a true submissive and wants to make her his.
With This Collar could have easily been titled BDSM: 101. While I found it very eye-opening and a realistic display of true BDSM I couldn’t help but to sigh a few times at Master Marcus’ explanations of EVERYTHING. Even Julia complained about his constant info sessions “Quit talking me to death and f*ck me.”
The sex scenes in this book were probably the longest scenes I’ve ever read in a book- that being both good and bad. Don’t get me wrong they were HOT and INTENSE but at the same time I didn’t feel there was a solid plot to the story- there really wasn’t any conflict. I prefer stories with a twist, something gut-wrenching, some angst, drama but this one was tamer than I usually enjoy.
Julia and Master Marcus were both very genuine characters and fit each other well. Although I didn’t relate to either their chemistry was apparent through the writing… Julia was a “boring” person who became bored with her life. Master Marcus was missing a certain piece and he found it when he met Julia and introduced her to the lifestyle.
I’d have to say this was a 3.5 star read for me… but since I loved the undertones of Julia’s sensual awakening I will settle with a 4 star rating. Seeing her come alive in her own skin was the best part of the book and left a small mark on me. Overall I enjoyed the story, enjoyed the steam, and thought it was very well-written but it didn’t wow me enough to continue the series.
"You can have it all. And more. It depends on how far you're willing to colour outside your self-imposed lines." ~Master Marcus
Fiercely independent Julia Lyle has only one wish for her future beau: he must be a “nice guy” and therefore not domineering. Without a warning Julia attends her friend’s wedding, which is really a collaring ceremony. Thrust into a display of the BDSM world she agrees to scene with Master Marcus for ONE night and ONE night only. Master Marcus has only had no-strings playmates but he’s determined to leave Julia wanting more; he can see that Julia is a true submissive and wants to make her his.
With This Collar could have easily been titled BDSM: 101. While I found it very eye-opening and a realistic display of true BDSM I couldn’t help but to sigh a few times at Master Marcus’ explanations of EVERYTHING. Even Julia complained about his constant info sessions “Quit talking me to death and f*ck me.”
The sex scenes in this book were probably the longest scenes I’ve ever read in a book- that being both good and bad. Don’t get me wrong they were HOT and INTENSE but at the same time I didn’t feel there was a solid plot to the story- there really wasn’t any conflict. I prefer stories with a twist, something gut-wrenching, some angst, drama but this one was tamer than I usually enjoy.
Julia and Master Marcus were both very genuine characters and fit each other well. Although I didn’t relate to either their chemistry was apparent through the writing… Julia was a “boring” person who became bored with her life. Master Marcus was missing a certain piece and he found it when he met Julia and introduced her to the lifestyle.
I’d have to say this was a 3.5 star read for me… but since I loved the undertones of Julia’s sensual awakening I will settle with a 4 star rating. Seeing her come alive in her own skin was the best part of the book and left a small mark on me. Overall I enjoyed the story, enjoyed the steam, and thought it was very well-written but it didn’t wow me enough to continue the series.
"You can have it all. And more. It depends on how far you're willing to colour outside your self-imposed lines." ~Master Marcus
March 29, 2017
I loved this book. There were so many elements that make it a great read for someone that likes BSDM-themed stories. Some of my favorite topics in books is watching a character learn about BDSM and open their mind to it or following along as someone is realizing their submissive nature. This book hits on both of those.
I love the way the book addresses a very common reaction to BDSM/ submission and especially M/s. Julia's fears are things that many people have probably thought/ felt at some point before they understood it. I think this book does an excellent job of debunking some of the common stereotype and misconceptions about this lifestyle.
There were a few parts that I thought could have been handled differently/ better but I won't go into it so I don't spoil any of the major plot points.
Marcus is a pretty dreamy Dom. He's nurturing and patient Julia is uptight and opinionated but Marcus is drawn to her and sees potential in her (although I didn't see it).
It was a sweet & hot story and I'm really glad to have read it.
I love the way the book addresses a very common reaction to BDSM/ submission and especially M/s. Julia's fears are things that many people have probably thought/ felt at some point before they understood it. I think this book does an excellent job of debunking some of the common stereotype and misconceptions about this lifestyle.
There were a few parts that I thought could have been handled differently/ better but I won't go into it so I don't spoil any of the major plot points.
Marcus is a pretty dreamy Dom. He's nurturing and patient Julia is uptight and opinionated but Marcus is drawn to her and sees potential in her (although I didn't see it).
It was a sweet & hot story and I'm really glad to have read it.
Want to read
September 14, 2017
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March 25, 2013
For me, this was just kind of ok. The sex was hot, but I just didn't feel any emotional connection between the two. Without that I didn't get into the story and don't buy them getting from total strangers at the beginning to where they were at the end.
May 19, 2013
Two of these quotes are from the first chapter. One of them isn’t from the book. The answer is down at the bottom but don’t skip ahead.
"He didn't demand her servitude. He didn't threaten or compel her response. She gave it."
"The strongest chain that can bind a female slave is, of course, love, love for her master. That is the strongest of all bonds."
"Your mouth says one thing but your pulse betrays you. The way you bit your lower lip betrays you. The way you're trembling betrays you."
I have to admit that I was nearly as confused as Julia at first. I understood the way the wedding ceremony suddenly switched to a collaring ceremony. What I didn’t understand was why Lana didn’t give her any warning at all. But actually it made sense when you found out.
Frankly I thought Marcus came on a bit too strong. In all the other things I have written by Sierra Cartwright, the submissive was either initiating things or experienced enough to handle what was being thrown at her. Marcus is really lucky that she didn’t haul off and slap him in the first 30 seconds.
In the end, I still wasn’t quite convinced they were the match they both needed. Honestly, on the Dom scale, I thought he was a bit more than she seemed to be ready for at the very least.
Oh, and the answer is the second one. That I borrowed from
Beasts of Gor. Of all the conversations between Gorean Masters and their newly arrived Slaves Girls from Earth, I always thought that particular Norman work had some of the more intriguing. And the whole conversation between Marcus and Julia made me think of that.
"He didn't demand her servitude. He didn't threaten or compel her response. She gave it."
"The strongest chain that can bind a female slave is, of course, love, love for her master. That is the strongest of all bonds."
"Your mouth says one thing but your pulse betrays you. The way you bit your lower lip betrays you. The way you're trembling betrays you."
I have to admit that I was nearly as confused as Julia at first. I understood the way the wedding ceremony suddenly switched to a collaring ceremony. What I didn’t understand was why Lana didn’t give her any warning at all. But actually it made sense when you found out.
Frankly I thought Marcus came on a bit too strong. In all the other things I have written by Sierra Cartwright, the submissive was either initiating things or experienced enough to handle what was being thrown at her. Marcus is really lucky that she didn’t haul off and slap him in the first 30 seconds.
In the end, I still wasn’t quite convinced they were the match they both needed. Honestly, on the Dom scale, I thought he was a bit more than she seemed to be ready for at the very least.
Oh, and the answer is the second one. That I borrowed from
Beasts of Gor. Of all the conversations between Gorean Masters and their newly arrived Slaves Girls from Earth, I always thought that particular Norman work had some of the more intriguing. And the whole conversation between Marcus and Julia made me think of that.
May 13, 2013
I enjoy BDSM romances, but had a hard time connecting with these characters.
Our heroine, Julia, stumbles into the lifestyle while attending her best friend’s wedding where the bride kneels to accept her new husband/Master’s collar. Julia’s highly surprised and a bit outraged by her strongly independent girlfriend’s actions and wants to comment when one of the wedding guests, a stranger to her, places his hand roughly on her shoulder and threatens to “turn her over his knee” to quiet her. This is the introduction to our Dom, Marcus.
Julia’s curiosity keeps her quiet for the rest of the ceremony as Marcus explains what’s happening and why. From this conversation she agrees to trust the man she’s just met, with her body so that he can introduce her to her submissive side... at the wedding reception. And thus begins their D/s relationship.
For me, the D/s trust came too quickly. Also, I appreciate dominance and the desire to push one’s limits, but Master Marcus pushed as if they’d been doing scenes for years.
I didn’t feel any connection to this couple. In fact, the heroine’s emotions felt more Stockholm syndrome than love and Master Marcus was more bully than Dom.
I’ve enjoyed other works by this author, but this book just was not for me.
Our heroine, Julia, stumbles into the lifestyle while attending her best friend’s wedding where the bride kneels to accept her new husband/Master’s collar. Julia’s highly surprised and a bit outraged by her strongly independent girlfriend’s actions and wants to comment when one of the wedding guests, a stranger to her, places his hand roughly on her shoulder and threatens to “turn her over his knee” to quiet her. This is the introduction to our Dom, Marcus.
Julia’s curiosity keeps her quiet for the rest of the ceremony as Marcus explains what’s happening and why. From this conversation she agrees to trust the man she’s just met, with her body so that he can introduce her to her submissive side... at the wedding reception. And thus begins their D/s relationship.
For me, the D/s trust came too quickly. Also, I appreciate dominance and the desire to push one’s limits, but Master Marcus pushed as if they’d been doing scenes for years.
I didn’t feel any connection to this couple. In fact, the heroine’s emotions felt more Stockholm syndrome than love and Master Marcus was more bully than Dom.
I’ve enjoyed other works by this author, but this book just was not for me.
May 3, 2020
I picked up this book because it's been on my kindle for probably years. And I wanted to try a new to me author, which can be a gamble.
I wanted to like it. It wasn't terrible but the first few chapters felt like a dramatized how-to guide for BDSM. I was pretty bored with it but I wanted to keep going. It did get much sexier and less clinical, but I wasn't convinced in the emotional connection of the characters. There was also very little character development. We don't know much about them, nor do we see them really getting to know each beyond the BDSM scenes.
The meet cute was pretty rushed too. Like all of a sudden Master Marcus is telling this woman with zero experience and only a tinge of curiosity that she is going to sub for him? I'm not buying it.
Overall, I wasn't impressed.
I wanted to like it. It wasn't terrible but the first few chapters felt like a dramatized how-to guide for BDSM. I was pretty bored with it but I wanted to keep going. It did get much sexier and less clinical, but I wasn't convinced in the emotional connection of the characters. There was also very little character development. We don't know much about them, nor do we see them really getting to know each beyond the BDSM scenes.
The meet cute was pretty rushed too. Like all of a sudden Master Marcus is telling this woman with zero experience and only a tinge of curiosity that she is going to sub for him? I'm not buying it.
Overall, I wasn't impressed.
August 7, 2014
Between 3.5 - 4 stars..
3.5 STARS: Ending was good, but abrupt. The way they met was unique, however
4 STARS: HOT SMOKIN, Spankin' sex!! Seriously, panty melting stuff..
A little drama, but mostly great, GREAT sex!!
Quick read that I enjoyed very much.
3.5 STARS: Ending was good, but abrupt. The way they met was unique, however
4 STARS: HOT SMOKIN, Spankin' sex!! Seriously, panty melting stuff..
A little drama, but mostly great, GREAT sex!!
Quick read that I enjoyed very much.
October 5, 2013
I liked this story but it just didn't wow me. I was a little tempted to abandon the series but carried on as I already had subsequent books.
I am still trying to work out exactly why I didn't like this more than I did and to be honest I struggled ascertaining the reason, so maybe it was just my current mood! I have even gone on to read other reviews again to see if anyone had the same sorts of thoughts as me, but those who left reviews gave it 4 & 5 stars so perhaps it was just my mood at the time.
I am still trying to work out exactly why I didn't like this more than I did and to be honest I struggled ascertaining the reason, so maybe it was just my current mood! I have even gone on to read other reviews again to see if anyone had the same sorts of thoughts as me, but those who left reviews gave it 4 & 5 stars so perhaps it was just my mood at the time.
February 23, 2013
I'm not sure what I just read or how to review. The book was well written and the story line was good, but I just felt like I was reading an explicit "bdsm tutorial". I like and have read most of Ms Cartwright's books. Unfortunately, I really felt nothing after reading this. The characters were very 2 dimensional to me and I did not feel the emotions that they talked about. As I said, well written technically, some very hot scenes, but just did not ring my bell.
April 6, 2013
Very Good D/s (M/s) book!! Master Marcus will make you *feel* every command ;). I found the very first punishment-spanking soooo funny. Julia's questions and comments to Master Marcus are hilarious. This is a great book for beginner subs to learn from and appreciate the lifestyle of BDSM (D/s M/s relationships). I hated that the book was so short but Ms. Cartwright sure packed a heck of a punch when she wrote this book. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
January 29, 2020
With This Collar
I enjoed this book but didn't LOVE it. Julia drove me a little crazy. Master Marcus was a great character, he kept me interested and engaged. I liked the writing style and the story had a good pace. I'm looking forward to more from Miss Cartwright.
I enjoed this book but didn't LOVE it. Julia drove me a little crazy. Master Marcus was a great character, he kept me interested and engaged. I liked the writing style and the story had a good pace. I'm looking forward to more from Miss Cartwright.
May 27, 2013
If you're curious about BDSM? This is a quick hot intro into the light side of that world IMO.
But I enjoy most everything Sierra Cartwright puts out:)) Enjoy!!!!
But I enjoy most everything Sierra Cartwright puts out:)) Enjoy!!!!
November 17, 2023
Well, I thought this book sucked.
So Julia attends her friend's wedding. Surprise, her friend is actually marrying a Dom and the ceremony includes naked folks. Sure, let's roll with that. Master Marcus sees that Julia is shocked by the naked bride and decides to take control of the situation. Eventually she agrees to a one-nighter with him in order to explore a submissive side she refuses to acknowledge. After that lackluster night of him "beating" her, a month passes with no contact. She finally reaches out and they start on this every weekend affair. Kinda like the Tara Sue Me books, except not hot at all. Eventually he decides he loves her, though I'm not sure why and we're not a party to that "falling" aspect of their relationship. She still claims she's not a submissive and leaves, going on a few dates with a vanilla guy, then returning to Marcus and they both declare their love for one another.
Honestly, the sex was mediocre at best. The story lacked any substantial plot. It was slow and boring. There was no depth to the characters or their love evolution. They were like cardboard cutouts.
Also - the audio is HORRENDOUS. Def 10000% do not listen to the audio. Dude's natural voice was ok, but his female voice sucked balls and his Dom voice sounded like a devil choking on a d*ck.
I'm going to continue the series because I read a review that said they read them out of order and had they read this book first, they never would have continued. I'm hoping that's true and the other books are better. We shall see.
So Julia attends her friend's wedding. Surprise, her friend is actually marrying a Dom and the ceremony includes naked folks. Sure, let's roll with that. Master Marcus sees that Julia is shocked by the naked bride and decides to take control of the situation. Eventually she agrees to a one-nighter with him in order to explore a submissive side she refuses to acknowledge. After that lackluster night of him "beating" her, a month passes with no contact. She finally reaches out and they start on this every weekend affair. Kinda like the Tara Sue Me books, except not hot at all. Eventually he decides he loves her, though I'm not sure why and we're not a party to that "falling" aspect of their relationship. She still claims she's not a submissive and leaves, going on a few dates with a vanilla guy, then returning to Marcus and they both declare their love for one another.
Honestly, the sex was mediocre at best. The story lacked any substantial plot. It was slow and boring. There was no depth to the characters or their love evolution. They were like cardboard cutouts.
Also - the audio is HORRENDOUS. Def 10000% do not listen to the audio. Dude's natural voice was ok, but his female voice sucked balls and his Dom voice sounded like a devil choking on a d*ck.
I'm going to continue the series because I read a review that said they read them out of order and had they read this book first, they never would have continued. I'm hoping that's true and the other books are better. We shall see.
September 30, 2017
This was my first read for this author. I loved her work. She controlled the story and I felt immersed in the relationship. The premise was original and the plot was not cliche. Good reading!
June 18, 2013
Some books, most often Christian fiction and Sci-fi, contain landslides of exposition in dialogue so that readers can figure things out along with the main character. Giving exposition in dialogue is not a bad approach in small doses, but when it's in a deluge, it comes across very ham-fisted, and this is what happened with this book. So, while parts of this novel were hot and intriguing, especially the first scene--woo, steamy--it got tangled up and stifled by the explanations of how BDSM works. All the dos and don'ts, expectations, blah, blah, blah, just kept coming and coming. That killed a lot of the chemistry and momentum within the work. Like, when Lana shows up after her wedding and interrupts the lovely action going on, I got annoyed. Telling from Marcus right then instead could have been really sexy, but she comes in and it jammed the zapping scene and the connection building between Julia and Marcus. This interruption occurred only to give an education to Julia and the apparently clueless reader, who has no access to Wikipedia.
I also expected more internal struggle from Julia to come to terms. Her conflict was more about ending up with a domineering man and going against her feminist sensibilities rather than any kind of trust issues or shock or leeriness over activities, as most people not yet in touch with their submissiveness or engaged in BDSM would be. You'd figure she'd have more questions in that regard. With This Collar is fun and delicious in spots, and I enjoyed the tension in the end, it just doesn't rank high on my list of You Must Reads!!! because in a lot of places it comes across like a manual. And what makes it feel like that is a lot of the dialogue just didn't seem realistic. With the two women for instance, it's like Lana and Julia aren't truly friends, you can't feel history or connection there. It's supposed to ring true, but it doesn't. What kind of friend doesn't tell their close friend beforehand that the wedding is a collaring ceremony? That's weird and nonsensical, an obvious plot device that would never happen in real life.
If you have absolutely no clue about BDSM, at all, you might enjoy the talky sections more than me and the full reading experience as intended. Overall, I am left with mix feelings. I think this could have been a sensational book with a less obvious aim to educate the audience.
I also expected more internal struggle from Julia to come to terms. Her conflict was more about ending up with a domineering man and going against her feminist sensibilities rather than any kind of trust issues or shock or leeriness over activities, as most people not yet in touch with their submissiveness or engaged in BDSM would be. You'd figure she'd have more questions in that regard. With This Collar is fun and delicious in spots, and I enjoyed the tension in the end, it just doesn't rank high on my list of You Must Reads!!! because in a lot of places it comes across like a manual. And what makes it feel like that is a lot of the dialogue just didn't seem realistic. With the two women for instance, it's like Lana and Julia aren't truly friends, you can't feel history or connection there. It's supposed to ring true, but it doesn't. What kind of friend doesn't tell their close friend beforehand that the wedding is a collaring ceremony? That's weird and nonsensical, an obvious plot device that would never happen in real life.
If you have absolutely no clue about BDSM, at all, you might enjoy the talky sections more than me and the full reading experience as intended. Overall, I am left with mix feelings. I think this could have been a sensational book with a less obvious aim to educate the audience.
September 5, 2013
This was a quick read. I think it was about 150 pages on my Nook. Considering it was not a full length novel I thought the author did a very good job of introducing the characters and making them believable in the context of the story. The sex scenes were HOT, but at the same time they almost became a bit too technical for me. At certain points in the story I almost felt like I was reading a How To for BDSM beginners and I get that Julia was new to the scene and just starting out but after a while I just wanted the romance part to flow through a bit more.
Overall though an enjoyable read and Master Marcus was super sexy. Although I thought in the first scenes at the wedding he was presumptuous and a bit out of line. Julia's reactions to what she was seeing were completely natural and Lana should have given her a heads-up as to what she would be witnessing before she attended. Just my opinion.
Overall though an enjoyable read and Master Marcus was super sexy. Although I thought in the first scenes at the wedding he was presumptuous and a bit out of line. Julia's reactions to what she was seeing were completely natural and Lana should have given her a heads-up as to what she would be witnessing before she attended. Just my opinion.
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