Title : Say My name

Author : J. Kenner

Series : Stark International Trilogy, #1

Rating : 4 Stars

Blurb : New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner kicks off a smoking hot, emotionally compelling new erotic trilogy that returns to the world of her beloved Stark novels: Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me. Say My Name features Jackson Steele, a strong-willed man who goes after what he wants, and Sylvia Brooks, a disciplined woman who’s hard to get—and exactly who Jackson needs. I never let anyone get too close—but he’s the only man who’s ever made me feel alive. Meeting Jackson Steele was a shock to my senses. Confident and commanding, he could take charge of any room . . . or any woman. And Jackson wanted me. The mere sight of him took my breath away, and his touch made me break all my rules. Our bond was immediate, our passion untamed. I wanted to surrender completely to his kiss, but I couldn’t risk his knowing the truth about my past. Yet Jackson carried secrets too, and in our desire we found our escape, pushing our boundaries as far as they could go. Learning to trust is never easy. In my mind, I knew I should run. But in my heart, I never felt a fire this strong—and it could either save me or scorch me forever. Say My Name is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

Review : When I first started reading this book I actually haven’t read the other Stark books which I did before reading this book. I am sure must people wouldn’t have had a problem with the “missing knowledge”, but when I read a book, I want to know what’s going on and what the tiny details mentioned could mean. I think it is possible to read this as a book for which you doesn’t need to read the other books, but I would highly recommend it. When I turned the first pages, I was confronted with the for me not unknown Sylvia Brooks who seems to be a strong character just like Nikki is. I normally don’t want to compare characters created by one author, but in this case I need to as while reading the first 50 pages I didn’t know what I should think about her as she was in my opinion 1) to similiar to Nikki and it was 2) obvious that she is haunted by ghosts from the past as well. I asked myself the question “Which was good enough reason for the author to write this books?”. Actually, after I finished half of the book I got my answer as the story got filled more and more with sometimes smaller, sometimes even bigger “goodies” which answered my inner thoughts including the words “I am so sure there is something!”. During the course of action we get to know Sylvia and Jackson(and of course not to forget Cassidy) who have been intertwined since the past which made Sylvia do something which influenced not only her, but also Jackson’s life. From the point of the protagonists meeting again (actually because Sylvia was forced to) , the reader is confronted with a heated relationshop which at first is based on a fundament which would actually destroy every relationship(based on revenge!?-not working). The intimate scenes are described in a pretty intense way, some of them more than others. It develops in a direction which connects the characters even deeper. Something which is described in a way the reader can totally feel with. I loved the fact that her tattoos play such an important role. The fact that it is something the author set her focus. The way Sylvia used them “as therapy” which made her character even more interesting. You can see directly from the very beginning that there are secrets which will be important, things that have the power to destroy(also behind the tattoo’s). Besides all these lovely aspects I found while reading, the ending is next to the “too many similarities” the reason why I rated this book with just 4 Stars. Actually I had the same problem with the Stark series. In my opinion it was too obvious why Jackson seems to have “some issues” with Damien, especially in the scene in which their similarities are described through Evelyn’s eyes. The hint was too obvious in my opinion. And then two pages later J.Kenner again rescued the book in a way I can’t describe. An ending which left me with the thought: “If I will find the second part of this series as a ARC, I am totally (book quote) at your service, J. Kenner.”

I hope the story is going to develop in a different direction than in the other books. Not that I don’t like “the other books”, but I am so sure that the background story of the character’s have so much potential. But moreover, I am very happy to be able to get to know Sylvia even better even if I really want to know what happens to Damien and Nikki.

> > > I have received this Book as an ARC from the Publisher < < < > > > In Exchange I promised an honest Review < < <

Cliffhanger : (KLICK to find out)!!!

HEA? : Sometimes it’s not really possible to say if it’s a HEA, even if you feel like it is(or not). In this case it depends on the way you look at it.