Nikki 's Reviews > Hold 'Em

Recently someone asked me who I’d recommend in the erotic romance category and the name Katie Porter instantly came to mind. It’s funny that a few weeks ago I was unaware of the awesomeness that is the writing team of Carrie Lofty and Lorelie Brown. Now that I have read books 2 and 3 of their Vegas Top Gun Series, I can fully gush and recommend them to everyone who asks. Book 2, Inside Bet gave readers a high stakes game of dares that resulted in some of the most erotic and kinky scenes I’d read. Now we have Hold Em where the heroine is a Dom and the hero…he’s the sub. A gorgeous, cocky sub in the bedroom and a full on alpha out of it. There are few books I’ve read where a female Dom has captured my interest as much as “Princess” Leah. Her craving for power in the bedroom rivaled her ambitious nature in the air. As one of very few female fighter pilots, Leah learned early on that she had to be the best at what she does or the men would eat her alive. She has prided herself on her rise through the ranks but her tightly leashed work persona craves release which comes at the bottle of a bottle. On off nights she goes just a bit crazy, starts fights and gets stinking drunk, which results in her best friends, Ryan and Jon (also fighter pilots) coming to her rescue quite often.

Mike, a blast from Leah’s past, shows up as the new guy in their elite pilot squadron. Though they briefly had a fling awhile back it fizzled quickly because while the sex was decent, it wasn’t what either of them wanted. Later Mike learned what he really craved…submission. At this point in the book I may have whimpered a little. Cuz, well….he’s so big and bad…and he wants Leah to flog him. Holy Hell, I knew I was done for. Leah of course steps up to the challenge and in doing so learns what she craves as well. Dominance. Being what Mike needs requires Leah to give up her vice of drinking in order to hide the pain of her past. Which for a while works until she makes a mistake in the bedroom that sends her scrambling back to the safety of drunk oblivion. Having to also mentor him in his training at work makes more some uncomfortable boundaries for both of them.

So if you know me you know I’m a total uniform whore, which meant I instantly loved Mike. Even if his thought process on female fighter pilots pissed me off. Mike’s cocky attitude and quirky personality meshed well with his alter ego submissive to make one hot hunk of a man. But most of all the story line kept me coming back for more. There was a deep emotional attachment for these two characters that I understood. To often I find myself dismayed at the lack of a story line in a full length erotic novel but this entire series has heartfelt story line mixed expertly with smexy scenes that will stoke your fire. Past characters all make appearances in this one and their involvement in Leah’s life was one of brotherly love. Jon and Ryan obviously care for her deeply, something that can only come after years of working together in the air and on the ground. Along with their girlfriend that made up the only family Leah has and Matt’s slight jealousy at that was endearing.

Great book, wonderful writing and hot goodness all around…you need to read Hold Em!

I give Hold Em by Katie Porter 4.50 stars!