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The Games Duet #1
Marriage Games
THIRTY DAYS
That’s all Adam Steinbeck demands of his wife.
Thirty days in a remote cottage, doing everything he demands. After that, he’ll sign her divorce papers and give her complete ownership of their company.
THIRTY DAYS
That’s how long he has to rediscover the man he once was. The Dominant Master he hid when he fell in love with her five years ago.
THIRTY DAYS
She wants the business they built badly enough to go to the cottage for a month. Cut off ties to the world and do his bidding. She can submit to him with her body, but her heart will never yield.
She thinks this is his pathetic attempt to repair their marriage.
She’s wrong.
That’s all Adam Steinbeck demands of his wife.
Thirty days in a remote cottage, doing everything he demands. After that, he’ll sign her divorce papers and give her complete ownership of their company.
THIRTY DAYS
That’s how long he has to rediscover the man he once was. The Dominant Master he hid when he fell in love with her five years ago.
THIRTY DAYS
She wants the business they built badly enough to go to the cottage for a month. Cut off ties to the world and do his bidding. She can submit to him with her body, but her heart will never yield.
She thinks this is his pathetic attempt to repair their marriage.
She’s wrong.
324 pages, ebook
First published October 22, 2016
About the author
C.D. Reiss
108 books9,398 followersCD Reiss is a New York Times bestselling author. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn't pick up she's at the well hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping a single cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
***NONE OF MY BOOKS ARE SAFE***
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping a single cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
***NONE OF MY BOOKS ARE SAFE***
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,122 reviews
September 17, 2017
★★★★★! Marriage Games, book 1 of 2. A marriage in chaos & one month in a remote cabin will set a game in motion! Centerstage: Master (manipulator) Adam Steinbeck!
“But I’d be over her. I couldn’t imagine the day I wouldn’t love her, especially not with her submission at my feet.”
Books in The Games Duet should be read in order:
Book 1: Marriage Games
Book 2: Separation Games
♣ THE MISCONCEPTION ♣
To say that the Games duet is about a couple’s attempt to save their marriage would be a great injustice. It is so much more than that!
Marriage Games (book 1) will set the stage and introduce the game. Told in dual POVs, it is a marriage in chaos, unfolding in current and past events.
♣ THE CHALLENGE ♣
It appears to be to survive thirty days in a remote cabin and the husband will sign the divorce papers and give the wife ownership of their company.
“You need nothing. I provide you with what you need, and what I don’t provide, you don’t need. Think of it as a vacation from adulthood.”
♣ THE PLAYERS ♣
Husband, real estate developer and CEO of a publishing house Adam Steinbeck is everything I could ever ask for in a hero. His wife may have started the game, but it will be Adam who keeps it going and has you coming back for more. The complexity of his character is superb. Nine words to describe Adam: Alpha, noble, secretive, commanding, ruthless, determined, doting, conflicted and ruthless.
Wife, heiress and President of a publishing house Diana Steinbeck, Huntress just asked her husband for in divorce and unbeknownst to her she has set a game in motion that she is ill equipped to play. She is going to have to dig deep. Seven words to describe Diana: Conflicted, secretive, proud, confused, tight-lipped, naïve, prude and impulsive.
♣ THE TWIST ♣
Adam might have omitted the fact that he is a Dom and a very commanding and kinky Master.
♣ THE GAME CHANGER ♣
Where do I start?! This is an unraveling crisis with secrets, lies, tragedy, deceit, kink, sacrifices, twists, jealousy and villains.
Marriage Games, is butterflies-in-your-belly good! Needless to say it ends as chaotically as it started. I am considering hibernation until book 2, Separation Games with the conclusion of their story.
Lyrical writing! Spectacular plot! Epic twists! Larger-than-life hero! Utter perfection! I feel this might be CD’s best work to date!
“I loved her. Wanted to love her. Needed to love her, and the second she kneeled, she’d be nothing to me.”
***
Hero rating: 6 stars
Heroine rating: 5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Plot rating: 6 stars
Dialogue rating: 5 stars
Storytelling rating: 6 stars
Story ending rating: N/A
**********************************************
Overall rating: 6 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
ARC provided to me by author C.D. Reiss in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2016
I don't...
I can't...
Diana - I can relate to her. In SO many ways...
It's like a puzzle... which piece fits here or there.
And you think you have it almost together and you realize it's all jumbled up at the end.
What you thought was the side piece really belongs on the bottom and now what the fuck do I do?
What do I do with that cliffhanger?
Throw the kindle? Throw myself on the floor at CD's feet and beg for the rest? Cuz I'll do it.
I could go on and on about CD's writing - and how it always feels like poetry on a page - but I've said that before. Nothing has changed there.
Marriage Games is exquisite.
**disclaimer: I just finished this book and my mind is a little messed up so this review may not make sense but whatever. Buy the damn book. It's fucking great.
I can't...
Diana - I can relate to her. In SO many ways...
It's like a puzzle... which piece fits here or there.
And you think you have it almost together and you realize it's all jumbled up at the end.
What you thought was the side piece really belongs on the bottom and now what the fuck do I do?
What do I do with that cliffhanger?
Throw the kindle? Throw myself on the floor at CD's feet and beg for the rest? Cuz I'll do it.
I could go on and on about CD's writing - and how it always feels like poetry on a page - but I've said that before. Nothing has changed there.
Marriage Games is exquisite.
**disclaimer: I just finished this book and my mind is a little messed up so this review may not make sense but whatever. Buy the damn book. It's fucking great.
November 18, 2016
LOVED IT. #6Stars
We’re all searching for that epic read and in Marriage Games I found a gem. Layered to make me think about the characters, their reasons why and predict what they might do or feel in the future. The story is written with a touch of brilliance turning words on the writing canvas into crystal clear pictures where every element and nuance of word, thought and emotion carries the story forward ensuring the perfect development in all areas and propelling the story into my forever favourites. Everything about it from the unique, accessible-to-all story arc, to the stunning erotic prose laced with dominance, submission and a delicate sadness, all of it captured my attention and ultimately my heart.
The story begins with the depiction of a marriage that is broken. The how, the why and the possible restoration unfolds with each turn of the page where a unique Dom/sub relationship all meshed up with love is showcased, the exploration of which I truly appreciated and believed in. The protagonists captured my attention, made me care about their perspective and root for fulfilment of their proclivities and each other. Adam is absolutely fascinating in the way he views, lives and breathes his desires and lifestyle. Their marriage is in chaos and I loved seeing the exposure of their vulnerabilities and struggles. Diana, is a slow burn character and slowly, ever-so-slowly I began to love her through the eyes of Adam whose words and description of her are really quite beautiful.
The prose eloquently toggles between the perfect past and the present which transitionally and structurally speaking is simply executed with a touch of perfection taking me to the exact story points that I needed to feel and comprehend the development of the characters and plot, exposing the dynamic of their relationship and allowing the story arc to organically evolve. Told in the first-person narrative from the perspective of Adam and then Diana, timed with excellence so just when I most needed to garner further understanding of Diana and her perspective, the author presented it to me.
CD Reiss stamps her unique writing style all over Marriage Games. Love her author voice. It’s succinct, tight and utterly on point with never a syllable wasted and utterly authentic character dialogue and thoughts. Showcasing the beauty of a Dom/sub relationship, the pleasure pain principle that I so love to engage and explore in my reading matter left my mind in state of wonder as I surmised and deduced with my reading buddies about what may happen in SEPERATION GAMES and how it will all play out. To know there is more for me to discover about the characters, more layers to peel away to aid my complete comprehension of all aspects of the story leaves me with the best possible feeling. I highly recommend to all readers who enjoy exquisitely written erotic romance with an engaging story that immediately captures one’s attention with the characters, plot and structure of the beautiful telling. #LetTheGamesBegin.
One more thought... this may even become my top read for the year, I loved it that much! #oneclick #beginthegames
THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF A DUET.
Part two comes out Jan 3rd!
P.S The cliffy was NOT a problem for me, it finished at exactly the right moment and I'm so glad I dived straight in!
Advance copy provided for my honest review thoughts
★ Graphics created by me with stock photos I purchased from deposit photos ★
We’re all searching for that epic read and in Marriage Games I found a gem. Layered to make me think about the characters, their reasons why and predict what they might do or feel in the future. The story is written with a touch of brilliance turning words on the writing canvas into crystal clear pictures where every element and nuance of word, thought and emotion carries the story forward ensuring the perfect development in all areas and propelling the story into my forever favourites. Everything about it from the unique, accessible-to-all story arc, to the stunning erotic prose laced with dominance, submission and a delicate sadness, all of it captured my attention and ultimately my heart.
The story begins with the depiction of a marriage that is broken. The how, the why and the possible restoration unfolds with each turn of the page where a unique Dom/sub relationship all meshed up with love is showcased, the exploration of which I truly appreciated and believed in. The protagonists captured my attention, made me care about their perspective and root for fulfilment of their proclivities and each other. Adam is absolutely fascinating in the way he views, lives and breathes his desires and lifestyle. Their marriage is in chaos and I loved seeing the exposure of their vulnerabilities and struggles. Diana, is a slow burn character and slowly, ever-so-slowly I began to love her through the eyes of Adam whose words and description of her are really quite beautiful.
The prose eloquently toggles between the perfect past and the present which transitionally and structurally speaking is simply executed with a touch of perfection taking me to the exact story points that I needed to feel and comprehend the development of the characters and plot, exposing the dynamic of their relationship and allowing the story arc to organically evolve. Told in the first-person narrative from the perspective of Adam and then Diana, timed with excellence so just when I most needed to garner further understanding of Diana and her perspective, the author presented it to me.
CD Reiss stamps her unique writing style all over Marriage Games. Love her author voice. It’s succinct, tight and utterly on point with never a syllable wasted and utterly authentic character dialogue and thoughts. Showcasing the beauty of a Dom/sub relationship, the pleasure pain principle that I so love to engage and explore in my reading matter left my mind in state of wonder as I surmised and deduced with my reading buddies about what may happen in SEPERATION GAMES and how it will all play out. To know there is more for me to discover about the characters, more layers to peel away to aid my complete comprehension of all aspects of the story leaves me with the best possible feeling. I highly recommend to all readers who enjoy exquisitely written erotic romance with an engaging story that immediately captures one’s attention with the characters, plot and structure of the beautiful telling. #LetTheGamesBegin.
One more thought... this may even become my top read for the year, I loved it that much! #oneclick #beginthegames
THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF A DUET.
Part two comes out Jan 3rd!
P.S The cliffy was NOT a problem for me, it finished at exactly the right moment and I'm so glad I dived straight in!
Advance copy provided for my honest review thoughts
★ Graphics created by me with stock photos I purchased from deposit photos ★
October 23, 2016
THIS. BOOK. OWNED. ME. I hated it. I loved it. It made me feel things I didn't want to feel. It forced me to embrace these characters and step into their shoes. I felt what they felt. I ached when they ached. It was disastrously BEAUTIFUL and I wouldn't have changed a thing. Shocking. Poetic. Intense. There is NOTHING more invigorating than experiencing a CD Reiss book...NOTHING!
"Do you hate your husband?
"I never hated him."
"You're about to."
Ok, so don't let that first part of my review scare you. If you know this author's work, then you know what I'm talking about when I say that she never gives us LESS than shocking in her novels. What fun would that be, right? One thing, I went into MARRIAGE GAMES not knowing that it was a duet. You know why? Because when CD Reiss writes a book, I don't ask questions! So, this is why I was so stunned by the ending. Book one in The Games Duet, gives us two parts. The first half is Adam's POV and the second half is Diana's. We also are taken back and forth from past to present with these two, which sets a great background for the depth of the story.
God, I wish I could tell you more, but I can't without spoiling it for you. This needs to be experienced with fresh eyes. Go ahead, read the blurb, but don't think that this is all there is to it. This was masterfully crafted to leave you on pins and needles, begging for more. Reiss is a literary genius, who reminds us of her incredible talent with each new release she puts out. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my night, then to spend it clutching my iPad like it was my lifeline, begging for a happily ever after that may or may not come.
"Do you hate your husband?
"I never hated him."
"You're about to."
Ok, so don't let that first part of my review scare you. If you know this author's work, then you know what I'm talking about when I say that she never gives us LESS than shocking in her novels. What fun would that be, right? One thing, I went into MARRIAGE GAMES not knowing that it was a duet. You know why? Because when CD Reiss writes a book, I don't ask questions! So, this is why I was so stunned by the ending. Book one in The Games Duet, gives us two parts. The first half is Adam's POV and the second half is Diana's. We also are taken back and forth from past to present with these two, which sets a great background for the depth of the story.
God, I wish I could tell you more, but I can't without spoiling it for you. This needs to be experienced with fresh eyes. Go ahead, read the blurb, but don't think that this is all there is to it. This was masterfully crafted to leave you on pins and needles, begging for more. Reiss is a literary genius, who reminds us of her incredible talent with each new release she puts out. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my night, then to spend it clutching my iPad like it was my lifeline, begging for a happily ever after that may or may not come.
October 24, 2016
***ARC Provided by the Author for an Honest Review***
Sexy, Kinky and one the best reads of 2016 !
Oh my god! What did I just read? It floored me.
I loved it, I hated it, but I couldn’t put the darn book down. I had to know how it was going to end, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, C.D Reiss jumbled everything up in a ball and tossed it out the window.
What I was left with was a cliffhanger. Did I mind? Heck no ! I will be stalking this author to find out when the next installment becomes available.
Diana Steinbeck is a proud, naïve woman who has just asked her husband for a divorce. The catch – she wants complete control of their company.
Adam Steinbeck is prepared to give Diana what she wants on one condition – she spends thirty days in a remote cabin with him first.
Oh and I may have left out a little tidbit of info ………. Adam is one of those ruthless, commanding alpha type guys who also happens to be a Dom – a very kinky one at that.
This story was intense, and it brought out so many emotions but I could not put it down.
If there is one book you have to read it’s this one. I would have no trouble recommending this book.
This is a five star read for me.
Reviewed by Stacey J
Sexy, Kinky and one the best reads of 2016 !
Oh my god! What did I just read? It floored me.
I loved it, I hated it, but I couldn’t put the darn book down. I had to know how it was going to end, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, C.D Reiss jumbled everything up in a ball and tossed it out the window.
What I was left with was a cliffhanger. Did I mind? Heck no ! I will be stalking this author to find out when the next installment becomes available.
Diana Steinbeck is a proud, naïve woman who has just asked her husband for a divorce. The catch – she wants complete control of their company.
Adam Steinbeck is prepared to give Diana what she wants on one condition – she spends thirty days in a remote cabin with him first.
Oh and I may have left out a little tidbit of info ………. Adam is one of those ruthless, commanding alpha type guys who also happens to be a Dom – a very kinky one at that.
This story was intense, and it brought out so many emotions but I could not put it down.
If there is one book you have to read it’s this one. I would have no trouble recommending this book.
This is a five star read for me.
Reviewed by Stacey J
October 16, 2018
I have a theory.
My theory is that CD Reiss did a plane-load of research about Doms and Subs and the BDSM community. Not just any type of plane. But an AirBus-380-load of research. And she took copious amounts of notes. Which was then, painstakingly, info-dumped through Adam, our male protagonist.
Reiss told us which paddle type is most suitable for, well, paddling ass.
#Idontcare
She tells us that the Dom-Sub community is a close-knit one, one where they look out for each other.
#whocares
Apparently, it's procedure for the Dominant to ask a simple question when it might be hard for the sub to remember their safe word. It let the sub know the Dom was concerned. It was the equivalent of “hey how are you doing over there?
#Stilldontcare
Did you know the Dom-Sub relationship is all about power and trust? That the Sub does not get to argue with the Dom or that, a good Dom respects limits?
#sodontcare
Are you aware of the meaning of the words, Redline and Pooper? No? Well, you lucky dog you, all you need do is read this book and all shall be explained....in minutiae....
#help
Do I really want to review this story? Nope. But for you, I'll try.
You want more? Okay then. Let's talk about the prose. And all the internal monologues that filled 85%(I checked) of this book. That Adam sure can talk...yada yada yada...all in his mind!
**
“Our marriage stretched out on the gurney with the machine emitting one long beep and a flat green line.”
**
“Her lips on the line of my jaw. My bones were china and my muscles were stone. My lungs shrank to the size of fists.”
**
“I wanted her to go.
I wanted her to stay.
I wanted her on my terms.
I wanted her on any terms.
I wanted to be cured of the disease of love.
I wanted to be cured of want.”
**
“Vulnerable. Powerless. I couldn’t hold what I possessed. The feeling was freefall. The earth coming into sharp focus as I hurtled toward it at the acceleration of gravity.”
How many men do YOU know who would even think these words much less say them out loud? I rest my case.
*Note* This is a duet, their story continues in Separation Games.
October 24, 2016
5 LET ME LOVE YOU STARS!!!
HOLY HELL. I don't even know what to say. I. Don't. Even. Know.
I need a drink or twenty.
My mind is just blown. Blown. My heart is all over the place. My soul was consumed by the breath taking journey I went on with Adam and Diana. Oh God. The feels. They made me feel raw and vulnerable and just EVERYTHING.
CD Reiss' writing held me captive from start to finish. Marriage Games owned me. One hundred percent. I couldn't put it down. I never wanted it to end. I am dying all the deads because I need book two NOW.
HOLY HELL. I don't even know what to say. I. Don't. Even. Know.
I need a drink or twenty.
My mind is just blown. Blown. My heart is all over the place. My soul was consumed by the breath taking journey I went on with Adam and Diana. Oh God. The feels. They made me feel raw and vulnerable and just EVERYTHING.
CD Reiss' writing held me captive from start to finish. Marriage Games owned me. One hundred percent. I couldn't put it down. I never wanted it to end. I am dying all the deads because I need book two NOW.
November 2, 2016
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, BITCHES!!!!!
Marriage Games is the first in The Games Duet from author C.D. Reiss and it was exceptional. There hasn’t been a single word that this author has typed, edited and pushed out into the reading world that I have not fallen in utter love with, but this book. THIS BOOK was so much more.
Adam Steinbeck woke up like every other day but today was so much different than any before. A note. That was all it took to turn his life upside down. He knew the moment he saw Diana that he was going to love her. Marry her. Give up anything and everything to have her. But nothing prepared him for the note and her admitting she was walking away.
But Adam isn’t going down without a fight. Losing Diana has Adam questioning everything. Was giving up his dominance for her love a mistake? Was Diana submissive? Did his omission doom their marriage from the start? Can he get over her simply by doing what comes naturally, getting her to submit?
Five years thrown away and her life’s work in exchange for thirty days.
It’s been a few weeks since I had the privilege of reading this and it’s still running through my head. Forget connecting to the characters, forget just feeling emotions. You are pulled so deeply into the story that their pain is your pain, this suddenly isn’t about them, but about you.
When CDR flips the script and you start to get insight into Diana you begin to see things in a different light. Your battle cry gets louder and your end game changes.
CD Reiss draws out the story with such precision that you might just snap. Exposing the flaws beneath the shiny exterior of a marriage built on hiding who you are in your bones; showing the damage of loving with less than your full heart can leave in its wake. And with each layer that is peeled back, you fall deeper in love with these characters. You see the complexity of the story, of their story.
Some might say this ends on a cliffhanger, I don’t agree with that at all. It’s a duet so there has to be an ending and it could have ended at a hundred different moments that could have caused my Kindle to be thrown against a wall. But it didn’t, it ended at the point where a new story gets to begin. And it’s a story I can’t wait to read.
I’ve devoured all of this authors books and although I always think it will be impossible to top the last one, Marriage Games did just that. I didn’t expect to feel so much while reading this. Everything just sort of snuck up on me. Little things that built to be so huge that they barely fit in the room.
Marriage Games was an unforgettable read.
Marriage Games is the first in The Games Duet from author C.D. Reiss and it was exceptional. There hasn’t been a single word that this author has typed, edited and pushed out into the reading world that I have not fallen in utter love with, but this book. THIS BOOK was so much more.
Adam Steinbeck woke up like every other day but today was so much different than any before. A note. That was all it took to turn his life upside down. He knew the moment he saw Diana that he was going to love her. Marry her. Give up anything and everything to have her. But nothing prepared him for the note and her admitting she was walking away.
But Adam isn’t going down without a fight. Losing Diana has Adam questioning everything. Was giving up his dominance for her love a mistake? Was Diana submissive? Did his omission doom their marriage from the start? Can he get over her simply by doing what comes naturally, getting her to submit?
Five years thrown away and her life’s work in exchange for thirty days.
It’s been a few weeks since I had the privilege of reading this and it’s still running through my head. Forget connecting to the characters, forget just feeling emotions. You are pulled so deeply into the story that their pain is your pain, this suddenly isn’t about them, but about you.
When CDR flips the script and you start to get insight into Diana you begin to see things in a different light. Your battle cry gets louder and your end game changes.
CD Reiss draws out the story with such precision that you might just snap. Exposing the flaws beneath the shiny exterior of a marriage built on hiding who you are in your bones; showing the damage of loving with less than your full heart can leave in its wake. And with each layer that is peeled back, you fall deeper in love with these characters. You see the complexity of the story, of their story.
Some might say this ends on a cliffhanger, I don’t agree with that at all. It’s a duet so there has to be an ending and it could have ended at a hundred different moments that could have caused my Kindle to be thrown against a wall. But it didn’t, it ended at the point where a new story gets to begin. And it’s a story I can’t wait to read.
I’ve devoured all of this authors books and although I always think it will be impossible to top the last one, Marriage Games did just that. I didn’t expect to feel so much while reading this. Everything just sort of snuck up on me. Little things that built to be so huge that they barely fit in the room.
Marriage Games was an unforgettable read.
February 25, 2017
More than a book, this book was life, real life. I felt their heartache, love, frustration and every emotion they had, so you can imagine how good this was and how good the writing is.
Adam and Diana story will grip you and will give you a book hangover buy don't worry the second part comes on January 3rd. But really dive in this book prepare to read something new, to maybe at first don't like the characters much but hang in there, well the story is so good that you won't put it down, you will learn to understand them once the story progress and you will love them.
I can't wait for next one....
Adam and Diana story will grip you and will give you a book hangover buy don't worry the second part comes on January 3rd. But really dive in this book prepare to read something new, to maybe at first don't like the characters much but hang in there, well the story is so good that you won't put it down, you will learn to understand them once the story progress and you will love them.
I can't wait for next one....
February 10, 2017
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
A deep sensual provocative romance that is utterly hypnotic!! CD Reiss has boldly written one of the finest, thought-provoking erotic romance that flawlessly and meticulously captures every raw emotions and facets of love in her latest release, Marriage Games. This book was visceral, touching, emotional, and sensual. It was everything you would expect from a CD Reiss novel.
“Can’t you feel it? I mean , it can’t be just me. You’re in this marriage too. But then I think you’re not and you never were.”
Marriage Games is an erotic romance that takes you by surprise. It is unlike any erotic BDSM novel that I have read as CD takes readers on a journey down the proverbial rabbit hole where the past and present collides in a brilliant fashion. From the opening page to the very last page, readers are left spellbound to CD’s poetic and stunning prose. Each detail and raw emotions are sprinkled throughout the book in order to allow readers to see how a marriage went from happy to the unknown possibility of divorce. The integration and weaving of past and present throughout the story added a depth that made this book original and utterly addictive.
Adam Steinbeck knew from the moment he laid eyes on Diana that he wanted her. She was the one that he wanted to spend his life with. It was game over. A done deal. Four years of marriage, he thought their life and marriage was everything. Not only was he able to save Diana and her family's publishing empire, but he was able to work alongside her. Little did he know, that his wife decided to tell him it’s over and she wanted a divorce.
“I tasted her wine, her water, her ambition, and her loyalty in that kiss. I was a goner.”
Thirty days is all he asked of Diana. Thirty days to save their marriage. Thirty days to show her his Dominant side. And if she could last thirty days, he will sign over everything that she wants and grant her the divorce that she seeks. All he hoped for was that within those thirty days, she could feel his want, his need, his desire, his sacrifice, his loyalty, his truth, and his love. Is thirty days enough for Adam? Or will this thirty days show him that it’s better to let her go?
“I’m miserable. I need to end this before I start to hate you.”
“Do you hate your husband?”“I never hated him.”“You’re about to.”
Marriage Games is a brilliant love story. Yes, this book had deep erotic BDSM undertones but that was not the main emphasis. This book was about the exploration of communication, sacrifice, love and understanding. It is about discovering and realizing the truth. Love is not something that can be instantly turned off. There is a reason as to why you love and fall out of love and so CD Reiss beautifully and poignantly explores this depth and perspective. Yes, there is no such thing as a perfect marriage and so CD gives readers an insider’s perspective of two people examining their flaws and imperfections in such a deep manner. So if you are looking for a love story that was more then I highly recommend you to read this book as Marriage Games was a literary masterpiece that read like a journal entry. Your heart will ache, love, and feel for these characters. So are you ready to get lost in a love story where you will do anything to save a marriage even if it means thirty days of submission?
C.D. Reiss
A deep sensual provocative romance that is utterly hypnotic!! CD Reiss has boldly written one of the finest, thought-provoking erotic romance that flawlessly and meticulously captures every raw emotions and facets of love in her latest release, Marriage Games. This book was visceral, touching, emotional, and sensual. It was everything you would expect from a CD Reiss novel.
“Can’t you feel it? I mean , it can’t be just me. You’re in this marriage too. But then I think you’re not and you never were.”Marriage Games is an erotic romance that takes you by surprise. It is unlike any erotic BDSM novel that I have read as CD takes readers on a journey down the proverbial rabbit hole where the past and present collides in a brilliant fashion. From the opening page to the very last page, readers are left spellbound to CD’s poetic and stunning prose. Each detail and raw emotions are sprinkled throughout the book in order to allow readers to see how a marriage went from happy to the unknown possibility of divorce. The integration and weaving of past and present throughout the story added a depth that made this book original and utterly addictive.
Adam Steinbeck knew from the moment he laid eyes on Diana that he wanted her. She was the one that he wanted to spend his life with. It was game over. A done deal. Four years of marriage, he thought their life and marriage was everything. Not only was he able to save Diana and her family's publishing empire, but he was able to work alongside her. Little did he know, that his wife decided to tell him it’s over and she wanted a divorce.
“I tasted her wine, her water, her ambition, and her loyalty in that kiss. I was a goner.”
Thirty days is all he asked of Diana. Thirty days to save their marriage. Thirty days to show her his Dominant side. And if she could last thirty days, he will sign over everything that she wants and grant her the divorce that she seeks. All he hoped for was that within those thirty days, she could feel his want, his need, his desire, his sacrifice, his loyalty, his truth, and his love. Is thirty days enough for Adam? Or will this thirty days show him that it’s better to let her go?
“I’m miserable. I need to end this before I start to hate you.”
“Do you hate your husband?”“I never hated him.”“You’re about to.”Marriage Games is a brilliant love story. Yes, this book had deep erotic BDSM undertones but that was not the main emphasis. This book was about the exploration of communication, sacrifice, love and understanding. It is about discovering and realizing the truth. Love is not something that can be instantly turned off. There is a reason as to why you love and fall out of love and so CD Reiss beautifully and poignantly explores this depth and perspective. Yes, there is no such thing as a perfect marriage and so CD gives readers an insider’s perspective of two people examining their flaws and imperfections in such a deep manner. So if you are looking for a love story that was more then I highly recommend you to read this book as Marriage Games was a literary masterpiece that read like a journal entry. Your heart will ache, love, and feel for these characters. So are you ready to get lost in a love story where you will do anything to save a marriage even if it means thirty days of submission?
C.D. Reiss
June 12, 2017
You can win this duet on audio + many more other audiobooks! Go go enter! :) www.steamyreads.net
➦This, hands down, is the best book about BDSM that I've ever read. C.D. Reiss did a stellar job making this story incredibly erotic and complex without it being over the top kinky. This novel explores the subject on a psychological level and has one thing I dearly crave in my reads - in depth character development. It's all about the two people and their relationship and the things that make them tick.
➦Suppose you were married to a man for years. Suppose it never felt quite right. Like he's there physically but never quite 100% there mentally. Suppose you make a tough decision to divorce him. You can't help it, you fell out of love with him. You deliver the divorce papers and he finally comes clean - he's a sadist.
➦He now talks to you in a new commanding voice. He says he knows you're a submissive in the bedroom. You're confused but turned on.
➦He blackmails you to spend 30 days with him alone so he can show you his true self. You agree because he is holding your family business hostage. You will spend those 30 days with him and get the company signed over to you at the end. Now you just have to make sure you don't hand your heart over as well as your body.
❤I absolutely loved the characters in this novel. Adam was so complex that I wanted to crawl into his head and explore until I found out everything about him. :) Why wouldn't he dominate his wife if he knew from the start that she had submissive tendencies? You will be sure to fund out after reading this novel. Give it a chance!
➦This is a two book series. So while a lot of questions do get answered there's still a long journey ahead. I'm practically jumping out of my seat to get my paws on the second installment. I can't wait!
For safety folks out there: there is OW involved in the book, you can message me if you need more info.
➦This, hands down, is the best book about BDSM that I've ever read. C.D. Reiss did a stellar job making this story incredibly erotic and complex without it being over the top kinky. This novel explores the subject on a psychological level and has one thing I dearly crave in my reads - in depth character development. It's all about the two people and their relationship and the things that make them tick.
➦Suppose you were married to a man for years. Suppose it never felt quite right. Like he's there physically but never quite 100% there mentally. Suppose you make a tough decision to divorce him. You can't help it, you fell out of love with him. You deliver the divorce papers and he finally comes clean - he's a sadist.
➦He now talks to you in a new commanding voice. He says he knows you're a submissive in the bedroom. You're confused but turned on.
➦He blackmails you to spend 30 days with him alone so he can show you his true self. You agree because he is holding your family business hostage. You will spend those 30 days with him and get the company signed over to you at the end. Now you just have to make sure you don't hand your heart over as well as your body.
❤I absolutely loved the characters in this novel. Adam was so complex that I wanted to crawl into his head and explore until I found out everything about him. :) Why wouldn't he dominate his wife if he knew from the start that she had submissive tendencies? You will be sure to fund out after reading this novel. Give it a chance!
➦This is a two book series. So while a lot of questions do get answered there's still a long journey ahead. I'm practically jumping out of my seat to get my paws on the second installment. I can't wait!
For safety folks out there: there is OW involved in the book, you can message me if you need more info.
October 25, 2016
I don't (typically) enjoy erotica. At all.
To be frank, most erotica I've attempted to read puts me to sleep. Maybe I'm wired wrong, but reading about or watching people have sex when there is no compelling story surrounding the act is... boring.
THAT'S RIGHT! I FIND SALACIOUS SEX BORING!!
It's like watching tennis. I can recognize that a person has good form and technique, but I just don't care. I don't care and I'm bored.
(Except if the tennis match includes decapitation... but I digress).
That is, unless the author is C.D. Reiss.
C.D. Reiss writes erotica that is not boring.
In fact, it's damn compelling. This is because C.D. Reiss writes what I call 'psychological erotica'. She seduces your mind first. She paints an addictive picture with words and dares you to look closer. She draws you in with realism. She makes you question yourself, your beliefs; she pushes your boundaries; she challenges you to reevaluate what is sexy, sensual, erotic. What is desire? And what is off limits between two consenting adults?
'Marriage Games' is the story of Adam and Diana and their failed marriage. It's like when Brad and Jennifer got divorced and we all thought to ourselves: If these two have grown tired of having sex with each other, what chance do I have?
Adam is everything... and nothing you expect. He is a paradox. He's flawed. So fucking flawed. And his flaws make his struggles real.
Diana is a surprise. I found her saying what I was thinking. I connected with her strength and ambition, her intelligence and humor. She is also very real.
I don't want to give the story line away, because you should go into this knowing nothing, but like Painted Faces by LH Cosway, this book will fundamentally challenge your perceptions of sexuality, femininity, masculinity, power dynamics, etc.
But you should also know, 'Marriage Games' is just as smart as it is sexy. In fact, it's smarter. It's bold. I think everyone who has sex (or who wants to have sex) on the regular should read it.
To be frank, most erotica I've attempted to read puts me to sleep. Maybe I'm wired wrong, but reading about or watching people have sex when there is no compelling story surrounding the act is... boring.
THAT'S RIGHT! I FIND SALACIOUS SEX BORING!!
It's like watching tennis. I can recognize that a person has good form and technique, but I just don't care. I don't care and I'm bored.
(Except if the tennis match includes decapitation... but I digress).
That is, unless the author is C.D. Reiss.
C.D. Reiss writes erotica that is not boring.
In fact, it's damn compelling. This is because C.D. Reiss writes what I call 'psychological erotica'. She seduces your mind first. She paints an addictive picture with words and dares you to look closer. She draws you in with realism. She makes you question yourself, your beliefs; she pushes your boundaries; she challenges you to reevaluate what is sexy, sensual, erotic. What is desire? And what is off limits between two consenting adults?
'Marriage Games' is the story of Adam and Diana and their failed marriage. It's like when Brad and Jennifer got divorced and we all thought to ourselves: If these two have grown tired of having sex with each other, what chance do I have?
Adam is everything... and nothing you expect. He is a paradox. He's flawed. So fucking flawed. And his flaws make his struggles real.
Diana is a surprise. I found her saying what I was thinking. I connected with her strength and ambition, her intelligence and humor. She is also very real.
I don't want to give the story line away, because you should go into this knowing nothing, but like Painted Faces by LH Cosway, this book will fundamentally challenge your perceptions of sexuality, femininity, masculinity, power dynamics, etc.
But you should also know, 'Marriage Games' is just as smart as it is sexy. In fact, it's smarter. It's bold. I think everyone who has sex (or who wants to have sex) on the regular should read it.
November 29, 2016
I read the sample of this on iBooks and OH MY FREAKING BOOK ALMIGHTY! It is EPIC. EPICCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC!
Like OMFGOSH, EPIC! EPIC OF ALL EPICNESS.
It gave me those CD Reiss tingles. The kind I got when I met my sweet, dominant, utterly INCREDIBLE and UNFORGETTABLE Jonathan Drazen!
It hurt to get to the end of that sample.
I wanted more.
I wanted it so damn bad.
And I've got to say, I have GREAT feels when it comes to this one.
GREAT. FREAKING. FEELSSSSSSSSSS!
Like OMFGOSH, EPIC! EPIC OF ALL EPICNESS.
It gave me those CD Reiss tingles. The kind I got when I met my sweet, dominant, utterly INCREDIBLE and UNFORGETTABLE Jonathan Drazen!
It hurt to get to the end of that sample.
I wanted more.
I wanted it so damn bad.
And I've got to say, I have GREAT feels when it comes to this one.
GREAT. FREAKING. FEELSSSSSSSSSS!
October 28, 2016
This book, this brilliant fucking book consumed me. I can’t stop thinking about it or loving it.
Let me just say that if you’ve NEVER read CD Reiss start here. You won’t be disappointed. Her writing is always amazing but she knows how to write men. She writes them so well. I immediately fell for Adam, I don’t see how anyone wouldn’t.
I wanted her to bend for me, and I was terrified she might. I wanted to welt her skin and make her scream and beg. I wanted her to want to please me, to give me her body and soul.
I was a starving man offered a buffet, yet all I wanted were the crumbs my wife offered.
We start out from Adam’s POV and for the life of me I couldn’t understand who this woman was that would leave him with a note saying she wants a divorce. How could she? It doesn’t take long to see that there are two sides to every story. CDR made me love Adam so my heart broke right along with Diana’s.
I married a man with a strong jaw and a heart shaped for me to fit inside.
I loved him so much that when I stopped loving him, it was as if I’d lost an arm or a leg. Not loving him hurt me.
Adam wants 30 days and when he gets it the journey is amazing for them and for us.
“You are filthy.”
She wasn’t disgusted. She was turned on.
Her expression was everything. It was complete submission to desire.
I haven’t taken you yet because the next time I do, you’re going to submit to me. After that, you’re going to compare every man who fucks you to that one time, that first time I owned you. Every guy you bring home for a night. Every man you date. Every one you think might be more than a fling. You’re going to compare every fuck to that first time you submitted completely, and every one of them is going to come up short.
This book was beautiful and heartbreaking and scorchingly hot. I love CD Reiss, anything and everything but I LOVED this and I can't wait for January. I'll be on pins and needles until then.
Let me just say that if you’ve NEVER read CD Reiss start here. You won’t be disappointed. Her writing is always amazing but she knows how to write men. She writes them so well. I immediately fell for Adam, I don’t see how anyone wouldn’t.
I wanted her to bend for me, and I was terrified she might. I wanted to welt her skin and make her scream and beg. I wanted her to want to please me, to give me her body and soul.
I was a starving man offered a buffet, yet all I wanted were the crumbs my wife offered.
We start out from Adam’s POV and for the life of me I couldn’t understand who this woman was that would leave him with a note saying she wants a divorce. How could she? It doesn’t take long to see that there are two sides to every story. CDR made me love Adam so my heart broke right along with Diana’s.
I married a man with a strong jaw and a heart shaped for me to fit inside.
I loved him so much that when I stopped loving him, it was as if I’d lost an arm or a leg. Not loving him hurt me.
Adam wants 30 days and when he gets it the journey is amazing for them and for us.
“You are filthy.”
She wasn’t disgusted. She was turned on.
Her expression was everything. It was complete submission to desire.
I haven’t taken you yet because the next time I do, you’re going to submit to me. After that, you’re going to compare every man who fucks you to that one time, that first time I owned you. Every guy you bring home for a night. Every man you date. Every one you think might be more than a fling. You’re going to compare every fuck to that first time you submitted completely, and every one of them is going to come up short.
This book was beautiful and heartbreaking and scorchingly hot. I love CD Reiss, anything and everything but I LOVED this and I can't wait for January. I'll be on pins and needles until then.
January 16, 2017
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
When I first starting seeing all of the glowing reviews for this book, I was curious. Since reading many mediocre BDSM books in the wake of the success of 'Fifty Shades of Gray', I have kind of steered clear of that particular trope. With the exception of a few, really dark stories, the BDSM novelty has pretty much worn off for me.
So, when I saw that this book focused largely on that particular topic, I put it on the back burner again. As the stellar reviews from friends kept rolling in, I eventually succumbed to my curiosity and decided to give it a shot. I'm glad that I did. 'Marriage Games' ended up being a great story.
Diane has left her husband, Adam. She literally dumped her husband with a "Dear John" letter, left in their loft for him to find. Poor Adam thought that everything was fine in their marriage. She never mentioned any problems or told him that she was unhappy. Man, was he ever wrong.
As the two grapple with the details of their impending divorce, Adam gets back in touch with a side of himself that he had suppressed while he was with Diane...his Dominant side. Adam had lived his life as a Dom before meeting Diane. When he met her, he wanted her so badly that he lived a vanilla existence to keep her, believing that she would be put off by his dominant inclinations.
Fast-forward a few years and Diane is bored to death with her marriage. The loss of a pregnancy and the grief that followed have changed the dynamics of their relationship and made Diane question what she really wants. Adam and Diane are more like roommates than lovers and Diane feels like she is dying a slow death, suffocating in the rote routine of their daily lives together. When she comes to the realization that she isn't in love with her husband any longer, she decides that it is time for a divorce.
Adam is completely blindsided by Diane's letter. He adores his wife and is deeply in love with her. He is devastated by her abrupt decision to leave him. When he seeks out the guidance of his good friend and mentor, Charlie, another Dom, he devises a plan to help him get over Diane.
Adam has never believed himself capable of loving a submissive. What drew him to Diane was her strength and resilience. She challenged him and didn't back down. While he loves the sexual games he plays with his subs, he's never been able to develop feelings for them, beyond the concern you would have for a friend.
In order to get Diane out of his system, he proposes that she give him 30 days at his private BDSM getaway. If she serves him as his submissive for those 30 days, he will sign over full ownership of their business. Then, Diane will get what she wants and so will Adam.
Diane agrees and so the story begins.
I have to say that I enjoyed this story much more than I had anticipated. Even though I read some fantastic reviews, I was really expecting another over-hyped BDSM story that fit the mold of so many books before it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book stirred genuine emotions and held my interest from start to finish.
As Adam and Diane explored their sexual tastes and boundaries, the growing intimacy was unmistakable. However, the betrayal and hurt that Diane had inflicted with her rash decision was also unavoidable. It seemed like they took one step forward and two back. As Diane grew closer, Adam grew more distant. They couldn't ever seem to get on the same page where their marriage was concerned.
On top of everything else, Adam's ex-sub is also on the property. Now subbing for one of the "friends" that co-owns the property with him, she clearly wants Adam back. At every turn, she manipulates the situation to commandeer Adam's attention away from Diane.
This leads to some very tense and emotionally charged situations. My heart broke for Diane, even as I knew that she was only reaping what she had sowed. Often times, I felt that Adam was intentionally callous in his handling of the situation. It was like he wanted to hurt Diane, which I suppose he did.
All things considered, I thought it was a great story. There are still some things related to the BDSM genre that make me cringe, particularly the degradation and humiliation aspects. However, I did enjoy this story quite a bit.
It ends with a cliffhanger and I wanted to jump right in to the second book. Having listened to the Audible edition of 'Marriage Games', I was disappointed to find that the second book, 'Separation Games' was not out in Audible format yet. That is something that you may want to keep in mind if you're considering listening to this series. The narration was great, but I had to switch to the Kindle edition for the second book, which peeved me.
I like to start and finish a series in the same format. That being said, I'm sure if I'd been willing to wait a short while, it would have been released in the audiobook format. I guess it says something about how good this book was that I wasn't willing to wait to finish the series.
When I first starting seeing all of the glowing reviews for this book, I was curious. Since reading many mediocre BDSM books in the wake of the success of 'Fifty Shades of Gray', I have kind of steered clear of that particular trope. With the exception of a few, really dark stories, the BDSM novelty has pretty much worn off for me.
So, when I saw that this book focused largely on that particular topic, I put it on the back burner again. As the stellar reviews from friends kept rolling in, I eventually succumbed to my curiosity and decided to give it a shot. I'm glad that I did. 'Marriage Games' ended up being a great story.
Diane has left her husband, Adam. She literally dumped her husband with a "Dear John" letter, left in their loft for him to find. Poor Adam thought that everything was fine in their marriage. She never mentioned any problems or told him that she was unhappy. Man, was he ever wrong.
As the two grapple with the details of their impending divorce, Adam gets back in touch with a side of himself that he had suppressed while he was with Diane...his Dominant side. Adam had lived his life as a Dom before meeting Diane. When he met her, he wanted her so badly that he lived a vanilla existence to keep her, believing that she would be put off by his dominant inclinations.
Fast-forward a few years and Diane is bored to death with her marriage. The loss of a pregnancy and the grief that followed have changed the dynamics of their relationship and made Diane question what she really wants. Adam and Diane are more like roommates than lovers and Diane feels like she is dying a slow death, suffocating in the rote routine of their daily lives together. When she comes to the realization that she isn't in love with her husband any longer, she decides that it is time for a divorce.
Adam is completely blindsided by Diane's letter. He adores his wife and is deeply in love with her. He is devastated by her abrupt decision to leave him. When he seeks out the guidance of his good friend and mentor, Charlie, another Dom, he devises a plan to help him get over Diane.
Adam has never believed himself capable of loving a submissive. What drew him to Diane was her strength and resilience. She challenged him and didn't back down. While he loves the sexual games he plays with his subs, he's never been able to develop feelings for them, beyond the concern you would have for a friend.
In order to get Diane out of his system, he proposes that she give him 30 days at his private BDSM getaway. If she serves him as his submissive for those 30 days, he will sign over full ownership of their business. Then, Diane will get what she wants and so will Adam.
Diane agrees and so the story begins.
I have to say that I enjoyed this story much more than I had anticipated. Even though I read some fantastic reviews, I was really expecting another over-hyped BDSM story that fit the mold of so many books before it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book stirred genuine emotions and held my interest from start to finish.
As Adam and Diane explored their sexual tastes and boundaries, the growing intimacy was unmistakable. However, the betrayal and hurt that Diane had inflicted with her rash decision was also unavoidable. It seemed like they took one step forward and two back. As Diane grew closer, Adam grew more distant. They couldn't ever seem to get on the same page where their marriage was concerned.
On top of everything else, Adam's ex-sub is also on the property. Now subbing for one of the "friends" that co-owns the property with him, she clearly wants Adam back. At every turn, she manipulates the situation to commandeer Adam's attention away from Diane.
This leads to some very tense and emotionally charged situations. My heart broke for Diane, even as I knew that she was only reaping what she had sowed. Often times, I felt that Adam was intentionally callous in his handling of the situation. It was like he wanted to hurt Diane, which I suppose he did.
All things considered, I thought it was a great story. There are still some things related to the BDSM genre that make me cringe, particularly the degradation and humiliation aspects. However, I did enjoy this story quite a bit.
It ends with a cliffhanger and I wanted to jump right in to the second book. Having listened to the Audible edition of 'Marriage Games', I was disappointed to find that the second book, 'Separation Games' was not out in Audible format yet. That is something that you may want to keep in mind if you're considering listening to this series. The narration was great, but I had to switch to the Kindle edition for the second book, which peeved me.
I like to start and finish a series in the same format. That being said, I'm sure if I'd been willing to wait a short while, it would have been released in the audiobook format. I guess it says something about how good this book was that I wasn't willing to wait to finish the series.
March 4, 2021
5 You be You and I'll Be Me Stars
* * * * * NO SPOILERS-TAKE THE DARE, 99 CENTS!!!!!
Why is it so hard to show our authentic selves to the ones we love...We get caught up in making all kinds of assumptions sometimes... and it is the ideas these things must be hidden or else the one who is supposed to love you above all else... won't.
What we hide can be any number of things...overspending on shoes...playing too many endless hours of WarCraft...or it could run so much deeper...You could be hiding the very essence of what makes you tick as a person. What is needed to make your core ignite...your way of expressing your being through your sexuality...
C.D.Reiss takes this theme and puts it under her microscope. We are the observers of a marriage coming apart due to the hiding of one's true self purposely. Yet neither partner is ready to give up...
there is much at stake.
This is a two-part series and it is done through the POV's of the husband and wife.
It is intense. It is complicated yet at the same time very clear in its goals. You will be taken on a journey of emotional pain and heartache, willful stubbornness and complete control. It is a lesson in the love and care between a D/s. It is told with warmth, understanding, and also the fear of what may happen if the husband gets what he wishes for...
He needs to be careful... because he might just get what he wants...and then what...
Both characters are strong, complete ... their pain is real, the desire is real and the situation is alive with all sorts of emotions...But that is because it is done by Ms. Reiss. When I read her books, I always have a sense every word, idea and emotion comes from her place of truth.
If you feel like I haven't told you anything concrete about this tale, that's true...The blurb is all you need to know going in. I started this only with that information and now I am going to give you a bit more...
There is a second part coming in January 2017; that is more than I knew going in... This is an impressive character studies of these people and the reasons for the D/s relationship, in my opinion. It wasn't for added benefit to be cool or spice up a book to make it current... It was a true sense of what it was about for those who live it....and I will be waiting to see what C.D. Reiss does next in Separation Games coming in 2017.
Marriage Games (Games, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Separation Games
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Diving in to the most complex and truthful read about loving and marriage...
●•●•●•●•●•●•●
May 31, 2016
So let me get this straight...
C.D. Reiss has presented us with...
A couple...
A cabin...
30 Days...
And each with their own agenda....
Hmmm, I think this shall be very interesting, indeed...
Marriage Games, October 25th 2016
A gifted copy was provided by author for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * * NO SPOILERS-TAKE THE DARE, 99 CENTS!!!!!
Why is it so hard to show our authentic selves to the ones we love...We get caught up in making all kinds of assumptions sometimes... and it is the ideas these things must be hidden or else the one who is supposed to love you above all else... won't.
What we hide can be any number of things...overspending on shoes...playing too many endless hours of WarCraft...or it could run so much deeper...You could be hiding the very essence of what makes you tick as a person. What is needed to make your core ignite...your way of expressing your being through your sexuality...
C.D.Reiss takes this theme and puts it under her microscope. We are the observers of a marriage coming apart due to the hiding of one's true self purposely. Yet neither partner is ready to give up...
there is much at stake.
This is a two-part series and it is done through the POV's of the husband and wife.
It is intense. It is complicated yet at the same time very clear in its goals. You will be taken on a journey of emotional pain and heartache, willful stubbornness and complete control. It is a lesson in the love and care between a D/s. It is told with warmth, understanding, and also the fear of what may happen if the husband gets what he wishes for...
He needs to be careful... because he might just get what he wants...and then what...
Both characters are strong, complete ... their pain is real, the desire is real and the situation is alive with all sorts of emotions...But that is because it is done by Ms. Reiss. When I read her books, I always have a sense every word, idea and emotion comes from her place of truth.
If you feel like I haven't told you anything concrete about this tale, that's true...The blurb is all you need to know going in. I started this only with that information and now I am going to give you a bit more...
There is a second part coming in January 2017; that is more than I knew going in... This is an impressive character studies of these people and the reasons for the D/s relationship, in my opinion. It wasn't for added benefit to be cool or spice up a book to make it current... It was a true sense of what it was about for those who live it....and I will be waiting to see what C.D. Reiss does next in Separation Games coming in 2017.
Marriage Games (Games, #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Separation Gameshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Diving in to the most complex and truthful read about loving and marriage...
●•●•●•●•●•●•●
May 31, 2016
So let me get this straight...
C.D. Reiss has presented us with...
A couple...
A cabin...
30 Days...
And each with their own agenda....
Hmmm, I think this shall be very interesting, indeed...
Marriage Games, October 25th 2016
A gifted copy was provided by author for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
October 26, 2016
5 * WOW * STARS
”I had no idea who I’d married. Had I been stupid and naïve, or shrewd?”
Until today, I haven’t fully connected with any of this author’s prior works. However, THIS story was impossible to put down, extremely well done, and totally kick ass. The circles under my eyes were well earned because for me nothing beats reading a story that you can’t pry yourself away from. The writing is seriously fantastic, the sex scenes are uber-sexy, and that cliff was right on the money.
”I always knew. I didn’t want to admit it, but I always knew this was you. It scared the hell out of me, and I denied it. I needed to love you more than I wanted to dominate you. Don’t doubt for a second that I chose to love you.”
The story is told in two parts as the first part is written in Adam Steinbeck’s pov. Adam has just received a note asking for a divorce from his wife and business partner of four years. He is reeling over the possibility of life without his beloved wife, Diana. When Diana accidentally finds out about Adam’s past as a Dom, a world he left behind for beautiful life with her, things get very interesting…
Adam comes up with brilliant plan which will gift Diana all the assets she seeks. Diana doesn’t know that Adam has never loved or cared about a sub so is this thirty day agreement going to reconcile this couple or release the strong hold she has on her husband?
The story is told in two parts as the first part is Adam’s pov the second is told in Diana’s pov. Finally getting Diana’s thoughts does shed light on their situation, however hands down Adam is the star of this book. He was so sexy, so complex, so desperate, yet controlled, he truly is an amazingly thought out hero. A reader is sucked into his desperation and will sympathize with him and totally be turned on by the all versions of Adam Steinbeck.
Overall, a 5 Star read for a story that ends with a cliff hanger and is the first part of a two book series. Counting down the days till the conclusion, yet I’m in no rush to move forward though I may be in need of some after care. I’m going to take my time and let what I read ferment for a while and in the meantime have a blast watching friend’s reactions to this story!!
”Still. I still love you. God help me.”
”I had no idea who I’d married. Had I been stupid and naïve, or shrewd?”
Until today, I haven’t fully connected with any of this author’s prior works. However, THIS story was impossible to put down, extremely well done, and totally kick ass. The circles under my eyes were well earned because for me nothing beats reading a story that you can’t pry yourself away from. The writing is seriously fantastic, the sex scenes are uber-sexy, and that cliff was right on the money.
”I always knew. I didn’t want to admit it, but I always knew this was you. It scared the hell out of me, and I denied it. I needed to love you more than I wanted to dominate you. Don’t doubt for a second that I chose to love you.”
The story is told in two parts as the first part is written in Adam Steinbeck’s pov. Adam has just received a note asking for a divorce from his wife and business partner of four years. He is reeling over the possibility of life without his beloved wife, Diana. When Diana accidentally finds out about Adam’s past as a Dom, a world he left behind for beautiful life with her, things get very interesting…
Adam comes up with brilliant plan which will gift Diana all the assets she seeks. Diana doesn’t know that Adam has never loved or cared about a sub so is this thirty day agreement going to reconcile this couple or release the strong hold she has on her husband?
The story is told in two parts as the first part is Adam’s pov the second is told in Diana’s pov. Finally getting Diana’s thoughts does shed light on their situation, however hands down Adam is the star of this book. He was so sexy, so complex, so desperate, yet controlled, he truly is an amazingly thought out hero. A reader is sucked into his desperation and will sympathize with him and totally be turned on by the all versions of Adam Steinbeck.
Overall, a 5 Star read for a story that ends with a cliff hanger and is the first part of a two book series. Counting down the days till the conclusion, yet I’m in no rush to move forward though I may be in need of some after care. I’m going to take my time and let what I read ferment for a while and in the meantime have a blast watching friend’s reactions to this story!!
”Still. I still love you. God help me.”
October 9, 2016
Rating: 5 bloody amazing stars!
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Adam Steinbeck is a dominant to the core but he let that part of himself go when he met Diana and they got married. Now as his marriage lies in ruins, he is scrambling to try to get his wife back. He asks her for thirty days with at a secluded mansion at his bidding in exchange of her family business that she so desperately wants back and his signature on the divorce papers. Will the thirty days suffice for him to find himself again? While she is under the impression that he wants thirty days to make her stay, she could not have been more wrong..
This book. BLOODY HELL! I've read quite the number of books on marriage and/or bdsm and none of those can even be compared to this one. It's like no other one out there. The drama, the suspense, the hot scenes were absolutely perfect! The story just sucks you in right from the beginning and those flashbacks into the past where we get to see the different situations by which their relationship has gone through. I felt so connected throughout the whole story and my heart breaks for both Diana and Adam.. The way that book ended just nearly killed me! I now cannot wait for book #2- its gonna be epic! I'm freaking sure of that!
~ Divya
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Adam Steinbeck is a dominant to the core but he let that part of himself go when he met Diana and they got married. Now as his marriage lies in ruins, he is scrambling to try to get his wife back. He asks her for thirty days with at a secluded mansion at his bidding in exchange of her family business that she so desperately wants back and his signature on the divorce papers. Will the thirty days suffice for him to find himself again? While she is under the impression that he wants thirty days to make her stay, she could not have been more wrong..
This book. BLOODY HELL! I've read quite the number of books on marriage and/or bdsm and none of those can even be compared to this one. It's like no other one out there. The drama, the suspense, the hot scenes were absolutely perfect! The story just sucks you in right from the beginning and those flashbacks into the past where we get to see the different situations by which their relationship has gone through. I felt so connected throughout the whole story and my heart breaks for both Diana and Adam.. The way that book ended just nearly killed me! I now cannot wait for book #2- its gonna be epic! I'm freaking sure of that!
~ Divya
December 18, 2018
Before I start to vomit my thoughts, I’d like to emphasize, that I don’t try to judge 4 & 5 stars reviews or to criticize author’s talent whatsoever.
I also don’t invoke you not to read this book. It’s up to you!
My main issue is how I read the books. I read and live them. As many of you I associate myself with main characters; feel their pain, their love; laugh and cry with them. I think about the plot and analyze the situations: what would I do? How would I solve this? Would I like or dislike to be treated this way? And so on.
After this book I wanted to scrub myself with chlorine and make next possible appointment for lobotomy.
I missed 2 main things in this book – morals and respect.
They are present in BDSM world!!!
Instead you have disdained behavior, abhorrent degradation of subs and sick references.
The Pooper-remark was one of “the best”.
My struggles were not only the actions, but the intensions.
Adam, the H, was supposedly dominant and gave it up for his wife. Here comes the first struggle – why did he do this? As he repeatedly told he couldn’t love the sub. He lost his interest after he broke them. It seems to me he not only couldn’t love a sub, he couldn’t respect her either. There are many detailed scenes with his ex sub Serena.
So our H lived 5 years with his wife Vanilla.
Silly ol’ me thought there were something in between: kinky sex, dark vanilla, light BDSM, etc. But no, black or white – BDSM or Vanilla.
Diana, his wife, left him, because… because, let me think, because??? Sorry, I didn’t get it. I just wanted to say: hey, honey, look outside your castle in the real world. There are no perfect marriages, there are always some issues. Why not to try to communicate, maybe to provoke him a bit? There is this thing called marriage counseling, heard smth about it? Ok, moved on. She left him and he suffered. During his suffering he came back to the BDSM club he was a member before the marriage. There was no sex with OW and no direct participating. He met his ex sub and some of his “friends”.
And here comes the main plot. Why the arrangement with his wife? They say to save the marriage? No! No! No! His club buddy proposed this to him:
“Alayne Kerry was asking about you,” he said. “Not a repeat. Take her (Diana) out to Montauk for a month. The main house is empty. You’ll be Master Adam in the first twenty-four hours.”
“What’s in this for you?” H speaks
“Seeing you happy.” He leaned back and crossed his legs. “Go. You’ll be over your little vanilla wife before the first week. By the end of the month, you won’t remember her name until you sign the divorce papers.”
Bingo!!!
The main purpose of the one month arrangement with his wife was NOT to save the marriage, but to break her = make her to lose his interest/respect/love, so he could be over her.
The worst part was that his ex sub and her Dom, also friend of H, went with them!!!
I won’t describe the scenes and encounters in the house, except one situation.
At the end of book 1 we have a broken h and the H, who doesn’t love her anymore, or so he said. Suspect situation with his ex and her Dom/his friend.
Have I already told you, that he apparently doesn’t lover her anymore? Ah, and she falls permanently on her knees and begs him to dominate her. Was here a strong business woman in the beginning of the book? No, it was just silly me to assume it…
Is it not an epic love story?
Possible scenarios for the second book:
- There will be an explanation, why H told h he doesn’t love her anymore: he was blackmailed/forced by his friend or his ex sub or Queen of England
- H was bribed with the first DVD copy of the 2nd 50SoG film, so he would possibly have sex with his ex or better with his friend, why not MM or MFM?
- h will completely identify herself as sub and crawl instead of walking
- there definitely will be no growling from the H, h will take the complete responsibility and woo/stalk/idolize the H
- h will surprisingly get pregnant with twins and ache for dominance of the H (maybe they get a game-room and a new house, ups, I think it’s plagiarism, I’m sorry!)
- there will be definitely HEA (depending on your preference of the outcome)
My conclusion: sanitize the kindl, let go and move on!
I also don’t invoke you not to read this book. It’s up to you!
My main issue is how I read the books. I read and live them. As many of you I associate myself with main characters; feel their pain, their love; laugh and cry with them. I think about the plot and analyze the situations: what would I do? How would I solve this? Would I like or dislike to be treated this way? And so on.
After this book I wanted to scrub myself with chlorine and make next possible appointment for lobotomy.
I missed 2 main things in this book – morals and respect.
They are present in BDSM world!!!
Instead you have disdained behavior, abhorrent degradation of subs and sick references.
The Pooper-remark was one of “the best”.
My struggles were not only the actions, but the intensions.
Adam, the H, was supposedly dominant and gave it up for his wife. Here comes the first struggle – why did he do this? As he repeatedly told he couldn’t love the sub. He lost his interest after he broke them. It seems to me he not only couldn’t love a sub, he couldn’t respect her either. There are many detailed scenes with his ex sub Serena.
So our H lived 5 years with his wife Vanilla.
Silly ol’ me thought there were something in between: kinky sex, dark vanilla, light BDSM, etc. But no, black or white – BDSM or Vanilla.
Diana, his wife, left him, because… because, let me think, because??? Sorry, I didn’t get it. I just wanted to say: hey, honey, look outside your castle in the real world. There are no perfect marriages, there are always some issues. Why not to try to communicate, maybe to provoke him a bit? There is this thing called marriage counseling, heard smth about it? Ok, moved on. She left him and he suffered. During his suffering he came back to the BDSM club he was a member before the marriage. There was no sex with OW and no direct participating. He met his ex sub and some of his “friends”.
And here comes the main plot. Why the arrangement with his wife? They say to save the marriage? No! No! No! His club buddy proposed this to him:
“Alayne Kerry was asking about you,” he said. “Not a repeat. Take her (Diana) out to Montauk for a month. The main house is empty. You’ll be Master Adam in the first twenty-four hours.”
“What’s in this for you?” H speaks
“Seeing you happy.” He leaned back and crossed his legs. “Go. You’ll be over your little vanilla wife before the first week. By the end of the month, you won’t remember her name until you sign the divorce papers.”
Bingo!!!
The main purpose of the one month arrangement with his wife was NOT to save the marriage, but to break her = make her to lose his interest/respect/love, so he could be over her.
The worst part was that his ex sub and her Dom, also friend of H, went with them!!!
I won’t describe the scenes and encounters in the house, except one situation.
At the end of book 1 we have a broken h and the H, who doesn’t love her anymore, or so he said. Suspect situation with his ex and her Dom/his friend.
Have I already told you, that he apparently doesn’t lover her anymore? Ah, and she falls permanently on her knees and begs him to dominate her. Was here a strong business woman in the beginning of the book? No, it was just silly me to assume it…
Is it not an epic love story?
Possible scenarios for the second book:
- There will be an explanation, why H told h he doesn’t love her anymore: he was blackmailed/forced by his friend or his ex sub or Queen of England
- H was bribed with the first DVD copy of the 2nd 50SoG film, so he would possibly have sex with his ex or better with his friend, why not MM or MFM?
- h will completely identify herself as sub and crawl instead of walking
- there definitely will be no growling from the H, h will take the complete responsibility and woo/stalk/idolize the H
- h will surprisingly get pregnant with twins and ache for dominance of the H (maybe they get a game-room and a new house, ups, I think it’s plagiarism, I’m sorry!)
- there will be definitely HEA (depending on your preference of the outcome)
My conclusion: sanitize the kindl, let go and move on!
January 9, 2017
5 Stars!!!
This book stunned me in so many levels. It's been quite a while since I enjoyed a dark love story with a BDSM content that does not suffer a "wannabe" syndrome like some books do. So you can just imagine how amazed I was after reading this book. It was so gripping it managed to stir me up all the way through.
Caution: This book is not for everybody, and certainly not for the faint-hearted.:-)
Told in 2 different POVs, Marriage Games started when the marriage of Diana Barnes Steinbeck and Adam Steinbeck was about to fall down. Diana left a letter to Adam saying that she needs a divorce because she no longer felt their connection as a married couple. Adam did not immediately let her, but instead, he asked for thirty days for them to be together and to show her the things that he hid all throughout their marriage-- his life as a Dom.
I didn't set high expectations prior to reading this. Seeing my friends' 5-star ratings made me felt skeptical because some top-rated books just do not work out for me. BUT THIS. WAS. SO. FREAKING. GOOD.
I loved C.D. Reiss's writing. It's my first time to read a book written by her and she just blew my mind with her poetic and lyrical tone that felt so right for a dark book like this. I was amazed by the back-and-forth narration between the past and the present events. It was so engaging and it made me want to read more and more in order for me to find out what the heck is really happening with the two.
This book basically explored deep and complex thoughts from a man who fell into the world of BDSM. It was then when I read Adam's POV that I felt kind of enlightened. His thoughts simply show that not everyone who gets involved with this strange sexual act wants to do it to their loved partner. Some people hide it because they do not want to show their "dark" side which would taunt the relationship. They have this need to protect and to just be "normal".
What I especially loved about this book was the balance between the romance and the intimate scenes. Just by reading it, you can feel the deep connection between the two characters. You can feel the emotions, the conflict, and the confusion through their POVs.
The characters were also admirable. This is a BDSM book but I was surprised to find a feisty, strong heroine. Diana is the kind of heroine that does not annoy me nor bother me because of her tendency to become vulnerable, but she was such an amazing character.
Everything about this book-- the plotline, the characters, the writing, the romance, the hot kinky scenes -- was good. I daresay it's one of the best page-turners I've read so far. The ending was a cliffhanger, but it made me feel excited to find out how the story would end.
This book stunned me in so many levels. It's been quite a while since I enjoyed a dark love story with a BDSM content that does not suffer a "wannabe" syndrome like some books do. So you can just imagine how amazed I was after reading this book. It was so gripping it managed to stir me up all the way through.
Caution: This book is not for everybody, and certainly not for the faint-hearted.:-)
Told in 2 different POVs, Marriage Games started when the marriage of Diana Barnes Steinbeck and Adam Steinbeck was about to fall down. Diana left a letter to Adam saying that she needs a divorce because she no longer felt their connection as a married couple. Adam did not immediately let her, but instead, he asked for thirty days for them to be together and to show her the things that he hid all throughout their marriage-- his life as a Dom.
"Bedroom games. That's all it is. But they're serious, and when played right, everyone wins."
I didn't set high expectations prior to reading this. Seeing my friends' 5-star ratings made me felt skeptical because some top-rated books just do not work out for me. BUT THIS. WAS. SO. FREAKING. GOOD.
I loved C.D. Reiss's writing. It's my first time to read a book written by her and she just blew my mind with her poetic and lyrical tone that felt so right for a dark book like this. I was amazed by the back-and-forth narration between the past and the present events. It was so engaging and it made me want to read more and more in order for me to find out what the heck is really happening with the two.
"You're a submmissive, and the Dominant in me always knew it."
This book basically explored deep and complex thoughts from a man who fell into the world of BDSM. It was then when I read Adam's POV that I felt kind of enlightened. His thoughts simply show that not everyone who gets involved with this strange sexual act wants to do it to their loved partner. Some people hide it because they do not want to show their "dark" side which would taunt the relationship. They have this need to protect and to just be "normal".
What I especially loved about this book was the balance between the romance and the intimate scenes. Just by reading it, you can feel the deep connection between the two characters. You can feel the emotions, the conflict, and the confusion through their POVs.
The characters were also admirable. This is a BDSM book but I was surprised to find a feisty, strong heroine. Diana is the kind of heroine that does not annoy me nor bother me because of her tendency to become vulnerable, but she was such an amazing character.
Everything about this book-- the plotline, the characters, the writing, the romance, the hot kinky scenes -- was good. I daresay it's one of the best page-turners I've read so far. The ending was a cliffhanger, but it made me feel excited to find out how the story would end.
"I love you. Every version of me loves you."
January 3, 2017
"Spread me like a sheet of paper. Write your life on mine. Fold past and present together like a letter. I am yours."
Marriage Games is the first book in The Games Duet, and my first C.D. Reiss read. I am beyond awestruck by the brilliance of this work of art! This epic story of the evolution of a husband and wife is one of beauty, brokenness, passion, tenderness, hate, possession, obsession, and love. If you think I have used too many adjectives to describe my feelings about this read, I can only say that the spectrum of emotions I felt while reading this book is almost beyond my ability to articulate. I will simply attempt to do my best.
“Look at this hole, how deep it is, how wide, how empty. Look how our hearts fit into it so well.”Adam and Diana have reached an impasse in their marriage. She feels like he is distant. He has done everything he can to make her happy, but he hasn't given himself to her completely. When Diana makes the decision to pull away and file for divorce, Adam is confused, hurt, and heartbroken. He constructs a plan to win her back.
'He just got so far away. I called for him and his body came to me. He showed up physically. But the him inside? He was elsewhere.'Adam is convinced that if she only gives him some time he will be able to prove his love for her. Like any good man on a mission, he will stop at nothing to save their marriage, and the game begins. However, when Diana discovers the truth about Adam and his past life, the rules of the game change. Diana is desperate to understand everything about Adam and when the truth is revealed their relationship transforms into something new. However, like a pendulum swinging violently back and forth now, Adam is the one not sure he wants to play the game anymore.
“It’s too late to pretend it didn’t happen.”Told in dual POV, the first part in Adam's and the second part in Diana's, Marriage Games is a game where the stakes are high, and love is on the line. The characters are complex, and the life they have shared together is deeply rooted in love. Both characters have sacrificed so much, and yet, they are like broken pieces that no longer fit. Anyone who has been in a relationship for several years has experienced the ebbs and flows and ups and downs a couple goes through. I related to both characters and I felt desperate for them to find their way back to each other. With a unique plot, colorful characters, a well-developed story arc, tension, passion, and tenderness, I simply could not tear my eyes away.
Overall, I cannot recommend Marriage Games enough. I am completely captivated by this love story, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next. To those of you who have recommended Ms. Reiss' work to me before I can only say thank you and shame on me for not reading her sooner. Now that the game has changed it is Diana's turn to prove herself a worthy player and in the end, I hope they both win.
***The Games Duet***
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
December 1, 2016
I absolutely loved this book. The characters just came alive for me. I loved being inside the male POV so much - he is such a beautiful character, and the love for his wife is so touching.
I HATE cliffhangers, but I didn't even mind this one. It is well done, and waiting for the next one almost seems like a treat. :)
I Highly Recommend. Absolutely.
I HATE cliffhangers, but I didn't even mind this one. It is well done, and waiting for the next one almost seems like a treat. :)
I Highly Recommend. Absolutely.
August 16, 2017
I was in the mood to read about married couples fockery so I gave this story a shot. The language used was filthy. Adam was a foul and vulgar individual, and yet I couldn't peel my eyes away from all of the dysfunction!
◈ Favorite lines in Adam's thoughts?
I squeezed and pulled each of her toes. This little piggy was mine. This little piggy was also mine. This little piggy got a spanking. This little piggy got the paddle. This little piggy went yes yes yes all the way home.
◈ Favorite lines in Diana's thoughts?
Spread me like a sheet of paper. Write your life on mine. Fold past and present together like a letter. I am yours.
◈ The ending was awful and perfect. On to book two!
◈ Favorite lines in Adam's thoughts?
I squeezed and pulled each of her toes. This little piggy was mine. This little piggy was also mine. This little piggy got a spanking. This little piggy got the paddle. This little piggy went yes yes yes all the way home.
◈ Favorite lines in Diana's thoughts?
Spread me like a sheet of paper. Write your life on mine. Fold past and present together like a letter. I am yours.
◈ The ending was awful and perfect. On to book two!
October 24, 2016
Adam Steinbeck is a successful business developer and Dominant who falls in love with Diana, an incredible woman whose family’s publishing business is failing. Despite not being privy to his lifestyle and convinced she is not submissive in any way, Adam buries his dominant side and his particular needs to pursue a future with her. While Adam and Diana are highly compatible in their professional lives – she is a creator and he is a finisher – their marriage lacks an essential honesty. When Adam discovers Diana’s impending plans to leave their five-year marriage, certain truths are revealed and an intense exchange is about to occur.
“What I thought I’d hidden had always been exposed. What I thought I owned had never been mine. She’s been more perceptive and more in control than I ever gave her credit for.”
Adam’s motives are complicated but the offer of submitting to him for thirty days is one that intrigues Diana – and not just because he is dangling the coveted prize in her proverbial face, but also because she craves the honesty he’s been withholding for so long. Adam has tried to shield Diana from his world for his own reasons but understanding his choices leads to a complex introspection into his life and decisions. Not expecting to feel more than a physical connection during this experiment, Diana learns more about herself as she reconciles her true feelings. What seems to be the solution for Adam and Diana as individuals is only superficial since the issues at hand are much deeper than they realized.
“My answer to that is, by the end of our time here, you may not submit in your heart, but you’ll understand what it means. And you’ll understand me.”
The evolution of complex emotions and discoveries within Adam and Diana is extraordinarily written to precision with deep character dimension. Because Adam’s personality is commanding, decisive and protective, it also makes it difficult to expose such a large part of himself to his wife, as he tries to shield her from his monstrous side. The level of vulnerability and yet strength is endearing to Adam’s character. With Diana, she is no fool but she is forced to acknowledge her latent weaknesses and embrace the truth.
“I wasn’t interested in loving a sub. The world we inhabit wasn’t designed for people to be in love. It was designed for intensity, pain, pleasure, courtesy, and ritual.”
Marriage Games is a book that delves into the emotions of a failed marriage, but what I read was far deeper, fascinating and erotic. In book one of this duet, CD Reiss absolutely nailed it with such realistically rich and provocative storytelling that has become her signature style. Upon thinking I understood Adam and Diana, more layers were revealed that kept me glued to each page. Additionally, the BDSM dynamics are exciting and sincerely portrayed leading to a plot that is so much more than dominance and submission. I loved and savored every single word, punctuation mark and pause! It’s just simply more and I highly recommend!
The Games Duet:
*An ARC was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review! Thank you for the opportunity!*
October 24, 2016
C.D. Reiss has a way of writing that just grabs you and never lets you go. She begins this decadent, perfect read in the most agonizingly delicious way and page after page, you'll be seduced, tortured, and entranced. I seriously did not want it to end and will promptly be stalking her for more. It's LIVE early on Amazon so what are you waiting for?! Let the games begin...
Shelved as 'hell-fucking-no'
October 24, 2016update: technically no cheating or sex during separation.
HOWEVER, I've been informed that apparently Also, there are explicit flash backs throughout the book of him and OW.
Yeah, no thanks. That's still cheating to me and the descriptive sex is vomit inducing. To top it all off, once his wife embraces the lifestyle he decides he doesn't love her anymore. -_-
No thank you. I was really looking forward to this one too.
HOWEVER, I've been informed that apparently Also, there are explicit flash backs throughout the book of him and OW.
Yeah, no thanks. That's still cheating to me and the descriptive sex is vomit inducing. To top it all off, once his wife embraces the lifestyle he decides he doesn't love her anymore. -_-
No thank you. I was really looking forward to this one too.
Shelved as 'couldnt-finish-dnf'
February 26, 2020Yeah... no.
Dont need to read about OW trough the whole book, lol.
Dont need to read about OW trough the whole book, lol.
October 30, 2016
"I was right with myself for the first time, even in pain, because to submit is to understand your sun and your shadow. To submit is to know your place is not always a where but sometimes a when. To submit is to accept your power and to embrace that your place is both now and forever.
To submit is to choose. To hunt. To chase. To decide.
To submit is to dominate." ~ Diana
This is one of those wonderful intense reads that delivers everything you want.
Adam is a Dom. He’s handsome, all alpha, a wonderful and extremely kinky man who’s had a five-year vanilla marriage with Diana. When Adam first met Diana, he instantly fell in love with her. But Diana, who is a strong and confident woman, has never been involved with BDSM so when he met her, he decided to put aside his sexual preferences and enjoy only vanilla sex with her. Adam has always had major difficulties to love his submissives and maintain any lasting romantic relationship. His unconditional love for Diana made him put aside the D/s lifestyle in order to keep his beloved wife protected by the violence, bondage, discipline, humiliation, extreme play and power exchange that are involved in BDSM.
But, his repressed sexual needs made him feel disconnected to Diana and made her feel unloved. And while, they felt very connected with each other at the beginning of their relationship they found themselves drifting apart. Slapped with divorce papers, Adam feels his life falling apart all at once. He had struggled to not ruin his vanilla wife because of his own demons. Adam wants a second chance to prove their marriage was meant to be.
Adam wants her desperately. He would do anything for her, and so in order to save his marriage and start repairing the emotional connection in his relationship with his wife, he tells her the truth. Thirty days is all he demands of her in a remote cottage, submitting to his commands and teaching her about sensation and vulnerability play. Diana accepts but, in the beginning, she is in constant denial. What follows?... Very erotic forms of persuasion!!!
"I was doing it again. Starting over. Reclaiming what I'd been. A pillar of elation built on a foundation of fear. Or the other way around. I couldn't tell them apart anymore because the fear wasn't about something happening, but a fear of who I was." ~ Adam
"I still straddled two worlds emotionally. My definitions were contradictory, and the shift had been too sudden. Was I half of a power couple? A Dominant with a submissive wife who didn't love him? Or a single Dominant with insatiable appetites? Neither? Some third, nameless monster?" ~Adam
Adam was very sexy, demanding, and possessive; throughout the book he makes jealously looks so sexy. Diana surely held her own throughout the book even though Adam made her nervous at times. This read was definitely a tension builder leading up to Adam and Diana’s intimacy.
This is my cup of tea when it comes to reading. I very much enjoyed the read and both characters. Very quickly it becomes evident that there is much more below the surface. Right away I felt an emotional connection to both the heroine and hero within the first couple of paragraphs.
The hero, though arrogant and powerful, had some depth and seemed more human. Diana was devastated to learn that the man of her dreams was a Dom and felt utterly betrayed. She thought he was a dream come true, but it turned out to have been a nightmare.
This book was so intense, so emotional. I couldn't help but love it. Come take the journey with Adam and Diana as they rediscover a passion that never died and the lies that kept them apart.
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 5/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 5/5 | Darkness 3/5 | Humor 1/5 | Secondary Characters 5/5 | Drama-Conflict 5/5 | Mystery 2/5 | Twists 5/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 4/5
To submit is to choose. To hunt. To chase. To decide.
To submit is to dominate." ~ Diana
This is one of those wonderful intense reads that delivers everything you want.
Adam is a Dom. He’s handsome, all alpha, a wonderful and extremely kinky man who’s had a five-year vanilla marriage with Diana. When Adam first met Diana, he instantly fell in love with her. But Diana, who is a strong and confident woman, has never been involved with BDSM so when he met her, he decided to put aside his sexual preferences and enjoy only vanilla sex with her. Adam has always had major difficulties to love his submissives and maintain any lasting romantic relationship. His unconditional love for Diana made him put aside the D/s lifestyle in order to keep his beloved wife protected by the violence, bondage, discipline, humiliation, extreme play and power exchange that are involved in BDSM.
But, his repressed sexual needs made him feel disconnected to Diana and made her feel unloved. And while, they felt very connected with each other at the beginning of their relationship they found themselves drifting apart. Slapped with divorce papers, Adam feels his life falling apart all at once. He had struggled to not ruin his vanilla wife because of his own demons. Adam wants a second chance to prove their marriage was meant to be.
Adam wants her desperately. He would do anything for her, and so in order to save his marriage and start repairing the emotional connection in his relationship with his wife, he tells her the truth. Thirty days is all he demands of her in a remote cottage, submitting to his commands and teaching her about sensation and vulnerability play. Diana accepts but, in the beginning, she is in constant denial. What follows?... Very erotic forms of persuasion!!!
"I was doing it again. Starting over. Reclaiming what I'd been. A pillar of elation built on a foundation of fear. Or the other way around. I couldn't tell them apart anymore because the fear wasn't about something happening, but a fear of who I was." ~ Adam
"I still straddled two worlds emotionally. My definitions were contradictory, and the shift had been too sudden. Was I half of a power couple? A Dominant with a submissive wife who didn't love him? Or a single Dominant with insatiable appetites? Neither? Some third, nameless monster?" ~Adam
Adam was very sexy, demanding, and possessive; throughout the book he makes jealously looks so sexy. Diana surely held her own throughout the book even though Adam made her nervous at times. This read was definitely a tension builder leading up to Adam and Diana’s intimacy.
This is my cup of tea when it comes to reading. I very much enjoyed the read and both characters. Very quickly it becomes evident that there is much more below the surface. Right away I felt an emotional connection to both the heroine and hero within the first couple of paragraphs.
The hero, though arrogant and powerful, had some depth and seemed more human. Diana was devastated to learn that the man of her dreams was a Dom and felt utterly betrayed. She thought he was a dream come true, but it turned out to have been a nightmare.
This book was so intense, so emotional. I couldn't help but love it. Come take the journey with Adam and Diana as they rediscover a passion that never died and the lies that kept them apart.
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 5/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 5/5 | Darkness 3/5 | Humor 1/5 | Secondary Characters 5/5 | Drama-Conflict 5/5 | Mystery 2/5 | Twists 5/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 4/5
November 3, 2016
This is a LOVE STORY.
Past and Present.
Tense.
It's genre bending. Blending.
Absolutely stellar.
With staccato paragraphs and flowing prose, CD Reiss delivers a story, not just about BDSM and its dynamics, but about love, marriage, honesty, and self-actualization. It’s the story of falling in love, the struggle of marriage and what happens when it all falls apart.
Adam loves his wife Diana with his whole heart, but for years has held a piece of himself back. That piece is his dominant nature and his place in the BDSM lifestyle.
For Diana, that missing piece of him sparks a distance in their relationship. A sense of loneliness and longing for things she doesn't quite understand or can grasp. After all, she's afraid to be honest, both with herself and with him, about what she needs. So, she goes through the motions until one day...
Adam Steinbeck's world crumbles with a simple note left on the counter. His love for her, though. That is something that he can never shake. So, he offers her Thirty Days. Thirty Days of honesty. Thirty Days of ALL of him. Thirty Days of her submission.
Anaïs Nin said, “The role of a writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say.”. For me, this book exemplifies that on the topics of marriage, relationships, honesty and the importance of communication. This book is marriage. These characters have real human failings; emotions like guilt, fear and shame are central to their actions. They each have wants and needs they are reluctant to articulate.
You could easily read this book and just look at the story on the surface; it's angsty with smoldering kinky sex and a solid duet style ending (not heavy on the cliffy). Really, though, it's the way this author had me looking at the characters, their motivations, and seeing how that could happen in any relationship, any marriage. How she had me learning from it. That was the layer that took this book from genre fiction to genre bending. I can't wait to see how things come together in the next book.
*Marriage Games was provided to CGSR Book Blog in exchange for an honest review*
Past and Present.
Tense.
It's genre bending. Blending.
Absolutely stellar.
With staccato paragraphs and flowing prose, CD Reiss delivers a story, not just about BDSM and its dynamics, but about love, marriage, honesty, and self-actualization. It’s the story of falling in love, the struggle of marriage and what happens when it all falls apart.
Adam loves his wife Diana with his whole heart, but for years has held a piece of himself back. That piece is his dominant nature and his place in the BDSM lifestyle.
"You can’t just decide to be vanilla the rest of your life. It’s not a choice."
"It’s all a choice. And I choose her."
For Diana, that missing piece of him sparks a distance in their relationship. A sense of loneliness and longing for things she doesn't quite understand or can grasp. After all, she's afraid to be honest, both with herself and with him, about what she needs. So, she goes through the motions until one day...
"I don’t know how to say this.
I don’t love you any more. I’m sorry."
Adam Steinbeck's world crumbles with a simple note left on the counter. His love for her, though. That is something that he can never shake. So, he offers her Thirty Days. Thirty Days of honesty. Thirty Days of ALL of him. Thirty Days of her submission.
Anaïs Nin said, “The role of a writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say.”. For me, this book exemplifies that on the topics of marriage, relationships, honesty and the importance of communication. This book is marriage. These characters have real human failings; emotions like guilt, fear and shame are central to their actions. They each have wants and needs they are reluctant to articulate.
You could easily read this book and just look at the story on the surface; it's angsty with smoldering kinky sex and a solid duet style ending (not heavy on the cliffy). Really, though, it's the way this author had me looking at the characters, their motivations, and seeing how that could happen in any relationship, any marriage. How she had me learning from it. That was the layer that took this book from genre fiction to genre bending. I can't wait to see how things come together in the next book.
*Marriage Games was provided to CGSR Book Blog in exchange for an honest review*
December 14, 2016
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Okay, wow. First of all I must say this... I'm so fucking turned on right now. That was sooooo hot! :-D
This was my first book of this author. I know,I know. Where the fuck was I? How can't I read her books earlier?You don't have to say it because I'm asking this questions to myself too.
BDSM stories always gets my attention. You have to admit it, there is another world out there. And it's really fascinating. But also this story is really interesting too and it's so well written. And after that shocking ending, I'm very curious to read 2nd book too. :)
Okay, wow. First of all I must say this... I'm so fucking turned on right now. That was sooooo hot! :-D
This was my first book of this author. I know,I know. Where the fuck was I? How can't I read her books earlier?You don't have to say it because I'm asking this questions to myself too.
BDSM stories always gets my attention. You have to admit it, there is another world out there. And it's really fascinating. But also this story is really interesting too and it's so well written. And after that shocking ending, I'm very curious to read 2nd book too. :)
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