If you know me, then you know that KA and I haven't been the best of friends lately. Apart from the Daisy novella, her last eight or nine books have been total misses for me. In fact, I had pretty much given up on her ever getting back to the greatness that was the ROCK CHICKS or SWEET DREAMS or MOTORCYCLE MAN or KNIGHT...well you get the picture. That said my curiosity got the better of me for this one and I requested an ARC. Since her same-same wasn't working for me then MAYBE something entirely different from her would. What can I say, I am an optimist...

Well, I ended up liking this one. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it with the passion of a thousand white-hot suns like some of her other recent ones. I didn't find myself overly engaged in it either. I found it dull and long winded (I know I know it's KA she is ALWAYS long winded) in places. Both Amèlie and Olivier were prone to go off on pages and pages of inner dialogue that after awhile had me skimming. Pretty much anything outside of Amèlie and Olivier interacting had me losing interest.

I didn't connect with Amèlie and Olivier as a couple either. Mostly because I just didn't like Amèlie. It wasn't that she was a Domme. It wasn't that she was older than Olivier (a year). It was that she just came off so cold and hard and frigging PRETENTIOUS. With her annoying little French endearments and her total disregard for Olivier's requests. OMG, she annoyed me!

How she was top Domme at this place boggles the mind. Olivier's and her first scene he tells her he doesn't like humiliation, doesn't like being watched and isn't really into "ass play" What does she do? She ties him down, spreads his ass open and opens the blinds for everyone to watch. In real life, this chick would have been out on her ass and banned from ANY respectable club. Her whole "You are in my room, so you do what I want" crap was appalling. That pretty much ruined her character from the start. That said as the book went on she I did start to warm up to her a bit but I never came to like her completely.

Olivier, on the other hand, I really liked. I've read books with males subs before, so this wasn't a new thing for me. I liked how he submitted, but he had an edge. He was an alpha male struggling with his need to let go in the bedroom. It felt real to me, and it worked. I like when he stood up to Amèlie and called her out on her behavior. I wish we would have seen more of him (both of them) outside the club.

There is a TON of sex in this one. In fact, for the first 70%, it is ALL these two do. Scene after scene in the club. To be honest (and I can't believe I am saying this) there were too many sex scenes that went on WAY too long. I started to skim them because they got repetitive with Amèlie doing the same things to Olivier every time. They never did ANYTHING outside the club but talk on the phone for three-quarters of the book. It made it hard to connect with them as a couple on a deeper level. Not to mention some of the sex scenes made me laugh. I mean seriously calling the base of his dick "the seat of his meat"? I laughed for ten minutes straight.

Wrapping this up because I feel like I have already written a book-length review on this one. I enjoyed this enough that I will read the next book mostly because Branch intrigued me in this one. In fact, there were quite a few interesting side characters in this book that I am curious in hearing more about (Barclay, Stellan, Aryas.) Like I said, I am an optimist, so hopefully, the next one will be better. I'm not writing this series off yet.

He was a beast.
A brute.
An incomparable steed.

Amélie Strand
The Deep End
Kindle Loc. 527 of 6536

In the past, Mistress Amélie Strand has tried to form relationships with her submissives that extend beyond the BDSM club. None have been successful and Amélie seems to be giving up hope she’ll ever find the right man to fit her needs.

All that changes when Oliver Hawkes (Ollie) enters Bee’s Honey — an exclusive BDSM club in Phoenix. Ollie is a gorgeous Alpha male (the man’s a firefighter by day — start the sizzle and crackle) who seeks submission to the right Dominatrix. He hears of Amélie and finesses his way not only into Bee’s Honey, but Amélie’s heart.

The Deep End is author Kristen Ashley’s debut novel into the BDSM genre, and is the first story in The Honey Series. Author Ashley writes with a strong pen — her characters are well-defined. Both Amélie and Ollie have distinct voices, and this is their story. And it is a love story — true, I suffered (and panted) through page upon page of graphic sex until I found it, but there is both passion and plot to this story. But there is this caveat:

The Deep End is full of consensual pony play fetish, and that’s fine. The story is strictly adult reading, and if you are unaware of the concepts of BDSM/pony play/humiliation, please do some investigating. Author Ashley handles this subject matter well for her novice entry into the genre, but I had some issue with the D/s lack of upfront intense interview(s). As a result, I was never able to warm up to Leigh’s characterization as an experienced Dominatrix. Wrapping my head around Ollie’s kink as an Alpha submissive stopped me for a moment, but credit Kristen Ashley for creating a believable character unafraid to seek out his need.


It’s a brave step to venture into a genre that’s front and center these days, so I congratulate Kristen Ashley on The Deep End, and look forward to her next offering in the Honey Series. (Maybe Stellan’s story?)

Graphic Warning: BDSM/Fetish Play/Humiliation


Three and one half stars.

I was elated at the opportunity to review an ARC of The Deep End. I would get to read this book, the first in a brand-new series by one of my favorite authors before release, yippee que the trumpets. With all that excitement came a sense of temerity as having read the blurb for this novel, I was very aware that Ms. Ashley would take a huge veer away from her trademark formula. Ms. Ashley excels in writing an awesome set of an Alpha male and a strong female character all wrapped up with some suspense, culminating with a beautifully fulfilling HEA. I have experienced another favorite author of mine decide to try to navigate the written world of BDSM with and Alpha Sub and it was greatly disappointing. I struggled greatly with the idea of an Alpha Sub then and once I finished reading The Deep End I find that I still do.

In The Deep End, we meet Amelie, aka Leigh-Leigh a domme well versed in the BDSM realm and continuously searching for that special someone. Prior partners have not been able to stand the test of time, nor were they able to become a true partner in life. Enter Olivier aka Olly an ALPHA male huge and strong in every sense. Olivier is more of a novice who has conned his way into a membership at the elite sex club The Honey, Olly has been searching for someone to understand and meet his needs. The chemistry of Amelie and Olivier was strong yet for me I was not convinced that such an Alpha male could be so great a sexual submissive. It left me always wondering perhaps if this was a case of “Sybil” and maybe he was schizophrenic, a thought that would have made these vast personality swings more believable to me. The erotic scenes were many and some I thoroughly enjoyed, however I have a big issue with humiliation in any form and that is the way I perceived many parts of this book, whether that was not what was intended it is what I so strongly perceived. There were parts to this story that for my personal taste went too far, at one point I cringed as some references and scenes, almost making me think of bestiality, in fact her pet name for him was beast. During this journey as these 2 characters fall in love we meet other characters which I am hoping will have their own stories told in future installments. Future installments that I will read as I would like to see where else Ms. Ashley takes us amongst her talented storytelling in the world of BDSM.

While this book was not a favorite of mine by the author, it was well written and the characters were well developed. I recommend you read this book if you are comfortable diving into BDSM erotic romance, specifically with an Alpha Sub character you may be more open minded than I and not have issue with any of the scenes or actions of this story. I wholeheartedly wanted to love this book as she is such a beloved author of mine. An auto buy every time, I will still be ready to one click on the next release of this series and any other release that she may have.

If you like a good strong Alpha male character, yet are not too interested in the BDSM realm I strongly recommend that you read Rock Chick or please stop by her site for a full booklist and suggested reading order and make another selection as I guarantee they will not disappoint. http://www.kristenashley.net/titles/reading-order/

I’m honestly not someone that talks about feelings or even suggests that books make me feeeeeeel something special. For me it’s all about how much fun it was to read a book, how awesome the characters were or did the author throw me in a blender and spit me out afterwards. So, when other reviewers mention that a book gave them so many FEELS, I sometimes think – did I miss something?

I definitely have books that I can go on and on and on about. Those are my favorite books, that captivate me, are perfect in my opinion and I like to reread again and again.

But feelings????

YEP – FEELINGS!!!

I got them.:D

The Deep End gave me all of that and MORE!

I was sceptic at first.

I did NOT plan on reading this book.

D/s is so not my kind of sex.

Especially if the D is female and the s is male.

Totally WRONG combination for me.

I thought why does KA have to go this direction. This is going to be a series that I’m going to have to skip and just hope she writes fast enough so I won’t have to wait long for something else to come along.

Yeah – didn’t go down that path at all. Because I couldn’t stop thinking about the book. Reviews that were already out sounded more intriguing by the day and I got an ARC – enough said!

I started the book hesitantly BUT with an open mind – it’s a KA for fuck’s sake. 😀 She can write about almost everything and make me like it.

It took me a bit to get into her writing. In retrospect it made sense, I didn’t read a KA book for at least a year. So, her writing took some getting used to – AGAIN!!

But – OMG – was I hooked!!

Not only was the plot and character wonderfully addicting – the sex scenes were scorching HOT!!!!! I didn’t expect that at all!😲

Wow – they got me hot and bothered. Three nights of reading – I can tell you I had some interesting dreams. 😀

I don’t want to get into the premise much. I just want to mention that it made SENSE!!!! I totally got Olivier – where he was coming from and that he was still an ALPHA even so he liked to be domineered in the bed room.

Geez – some scenes, his look, his growling, how he handled himself – HOOOOOOOT!!

And Amèlie – I really liked her. I could see her with Olivier. I also liked how she was depicted, she was definitely not the regular catsuit and crop wearing dominatrix. I loved her elegant ways – almost old-fashion. She unquestionably knew what she was doing, which was great because my darling Olivier did NOT.:D

So – as you can see by this rambling review – I was VERY satisfied with this book. KA was able to suck me in, kept me turning pages so fast my kindle was complaining and she left a lasting impression. For someone that has never dabbled in writing D/s before she wrote ONE compelling and fascinating book. BRAVO!!!!

Amélie Strand is the reigning queen at The Bee’s Honey – Phoenix’s ultra-exclusive BDSM club. On the outside, her skills as a Domme are both coveted and craved by members of the Honey. On the inside is just a woman who longs for a true connection to another kindred soul.

Until one fateful night, sitting in a burgundy velvet booth sipping her usual Soixante Quinze when one beast of a man transforms everything she ever thought she wanted from a submissive.

"Staring at him, utterly incapable of not doing it openly, she felt the insides of her thighs tingle. And her nipples were hard buds, the restriction of the lace of her bra suddenly excruciating.
That…
Now that was whiskey.
“Oh my, Leigh, are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Mirabelle asked.
And before she could answer, her friend went on, “It’s like he was made for you.”
It was, indeed."

Olivier had to be less than honest to gain entrance to the famed Bee’s Honey. If he can’t find what he’s looking for there, then it doesn’t exist.

He needs a Domme who understands his Alpha-Sub nature and can uncover his most secret desires.  He finds all of that in Amélie - a glorious woman with a French name and a wicked talent with a paddle.

Together they rewrite the rules and strip bare both their bodies and souls. But when they step out of the club and into the harsh light of day, will their fragile bond be torn to shreds?

"She was the miracle of miracles, sexy-as-fuck, gorgeous-as-hell, and still cute. She had a sense of humor. She had a beautiful laugh. She could be affectionate and sweet. Fuck, spread out on top of a vault with his dick and balls on show for the people at the windows, when they bantered, it was like they were on a date.
He wanted more. Of it all. He couldn’t fight it and was beginning to wonder why he did."

I always thought that good Erotica should make you just a little bit uncomfortable. It should push your limits and make you squirm in the very best way. Kristen Ashley has masterfully smashed all of those boundaries with The Deep End!

It’s a sinfully seductive ride through loneliness, desire and devotion. Although at times the spark between Amélie and Olivier seems to be overshadowed by the elements of BDSM – I can always count on Kristen to bring it on home. Only now home is just a little bit kinkier…

Overall, I liked it. It wasn't my favorite book by this author because I had a hard time connecting with the story. It pains me to say that because the writing was beautifully done, the plot was very different, but I couldn't get into it. I could be having an off day, and I'm sure there will be tons of people who love it, but it wasn't totally for me.

Ohhhhh my!!! When Kristen Ashley announced that she was stepping outside of her box with a BSDM based series, I was equally intrigued and excited!! I have delved into romance sub-genres I wasn't previously familiar with such as paranormal, fantasy and supernatural--all because Kristen Ashley is an epic author ! Soooooo of course I dove into The Deep End head first and folks it's official, Kristen Ashley has a serious talent in writing alpha-males AND alpha-females! I thought the storyline was well thought out and was paced perfectly. There were parts that were shocking to me at times, but I realized when everything came together that those parts were necessary. Speaking of shocking, this novel was racy with a capital R--holy heck!! The Deep End is a 4 star read that has taken me out of my reading comfort zone and in true Kristen Ashley fashion, did it in a sassy and sexy way!

This I know is going to be a challenging time for Kristen Ashley because she has gone completely out of what we have come to expect as her 'realm', her 'norm', she's going to have a lot of readers who aren't interested in this genre of book and you know what that's okay. If this genre isn't your thing than let me tell you now, this isn't the book for you. Not only is this a BDSM book it is a BDSM with a bit of a twist and if you wouldn't read a BDSM to begin with don't start here. Just because you are a Kristen Ashley fan doesn't mean you HAVE to pick this up to read if you would have never picked it up from another author. I know you are wondering why I am saying this but it's clear this has been a polarizing book for Kristen and I want to make sure you know what you are getting into before you get there. Don't 'hurt' the author or other possible readers by picking up a book you never would have read in the first place and then hating on it because it isn't your thing.

Now that we have that all out of the way let's talk about the book. Honestly I feel like my review should consist solely of 6 words: OH MY GOD, SHE DID IT!

I mean even the most dedicated of Krsiten Ashley fans (and I always feel like I am one of those) was sitting back in their arm chair saying:

"There's no way she can pull this off. Kristen writes the Alpahest of Alpha hero's. What the hell is an Alpha - Sub anyway? This is never going to work and our worlds are going to come crashing down around us."

We should have all known that we had nothing to worry about. That Kristen Ashley would:

1. Put in the research.
2. Give us the beautiful love stories we have come to expect.
3. Give us a strong, capable, independent Heroine.
4. Give us an Alpha to swoon over.
5. Turn our careful constructed ideas about BDSM based novels on it's head.
6. Have us craving more before we have even closed the back cover.


The book isn't perfect, there are few that are, the heroine can be hard to like at first. She's aloof and cold at times, she's so prim and proper it's difficult to understand her, to see her as a 'normal' person. She doesn't lend to connecting with the reader at first, but if you let yourself get pulled into the story, if you allow your mind to open and to understand that not all heroines need to be your best friend, like not all heroes need to be Alpha Males, if you come to understand that we are all products of our lives then she will begin to grow on you. You will see her tenderness, you will see the care she takes with those she loves, you will see that in her setting and with Olivier she is able to let go. It is hard with BDSM reads to sometimes connect with the Dom, but I think as a female reader it is even harder to connect with a Domme. With a Dom we see that hard, strong, demanding part of their personalties and we immediately call it that ever loved 'Alpha Male Syndrome' but with a Domme what do we see? We see a hard woman, a woman who seemingly has no feelings, a woman that 'you' may call a B*t*h. Why is that? Why don't we see her as an Alpha Female, a trait to be desired? It's society creeping in on our beliefs of what/who a woman should be. It's an idea that women should be pliant and soft and we need to get past that. We need to recognize that women and men are many things and not always what the general consensus believes.

Another challenging part for me and one that seems silly but threw me off repeatedly, taking me out of the books world, are the characters's names. I Know, I know, stop laughing, but I spent so much time trying to determine exactly how to pronounce their names and then make sure that each time I said it correctly that it became frustrating. I was constantly wishing that Kristen had just given the nicknames and made it so my reading flow wasn't thrown off every time their names were written on the page.

What did I like? There are a lot of things to like. There is the suspense aspect that Kristen puts in every book, there is the strong friendships, the beautiful love story. There is the strong female character and the alpha males we have come to love. Olivier is a beautifully written hero. He's had in terms of a lot of Kristen characters an easy and happy life. His parents had a wonderful marriage, he is close to his father, he has the job he wants and is good at it, but there has always been a piece of him missing and not understanding or knowing how to live with that missing piece he's become a bit broken. His life has been happy but he has never truly been fulfilled. I loved he was willing to search for what he needs, that he was willing to be open and to try. I love that being the Alpha that he is that he found a place where he could let go, where he could put his trust in someone else's hands. I loved that underneath his caveman veneer there is a sensitive guy who struggles with who he is and what he wants. I loved that he can set aside preconceived ideas of what/who he should be and open up to others that need to know 'it's okay to be who you are and to find what you need'.

This book is not for everyone, but I think that if you can step away from your expectations, if you know what you are going into before you get there, if you have a genuine desire to read this type of book that you will find it intriguing and enjoyable. It's different but remember different isn't bad, different just gives us a new way to look at the world!

I'm sorry to say this book just didn't work out for me. I felt like I was reading a totally different author's work. None of the lyrical flowery prose was what I was accustomed to with Kristen Ashley. It had nothing to do with the erotic content, but more so just getting lost in the flowery words. I gave up at only 10%. This won't deter me from reading future novels by her,

3.5 -4 STARS

This is a new series and a totally different book from everything we've ever read by Kristen Ashley. Kristen Ashley doesn't hesitate to try something new for her bringing the world of BDSM to us in her own unique way.

I have to admit that in the beginning I didn't know what to expect, but I found myself enjoying the story and the characters. Not as much as I wanted to but still it was very good. The Deep End is a super hot story and I loved the relationship Amelie had with Olivier. Everything about these two and how things built up felt realistic.


I'm excited for the next book in the series!

The deep end is the first look at a KA new series and while it definitely has the KA vibe that makes her books distinctly her books, she's acknowledged that this new series might not be for everyone. The deep end is set in a bdsm world and the sexual boundaries that seem to beset contemporary romance aren't the same, so if you're uncomfortable with characters exploring their sexuality outside of "vanilla" sex, this novel may push some buttons for you. I liked the buttons it pushed so if you're open to trying something new from a favorite author, I say go for it!

For me, it wasn't the sexual exploration that Olivier experienced with Amelie that was something to adjust to, it was the voice of Amelie--it took me a few pages to settle in to who she was. Her language was elevated and that coupled with being unused to the world Honey put me in, took me some time to get my bearings. You see, I'm used to the worlds KA usually has us navigate and so I mistakenly made some assumptions going into this one that I'd recognize and fall into a KA world that I was familiar with and that's on me. Had I just treated this novel as uncharted KA territory, I think I would've settled into my reading so much faster. All this to say that once I let go of what I thought this would be and got to better know this new world and characters, I found that I was as absorbed as I normally am in her novels. Amelie and Olivier have strong personalities, both have things they want and need from their time together and both have things that worry them about what they're falling into. How they negotiate their trouble spots is pure KA--in elevated sexual fashion (all of their encounters at the club are whew! Hot!).

In addition to meeting our two main characters, meeting the secondary characters was interesting as it had me wondering which ones I'd get to read more about in other novels. Several characters were mysterious and intriguing and I am so hopeful that the ones that for significant page time as well as one who never even had a word of dialogue will show up as this series continues. I also loved that these secondary characters were as supportive and loving of the main characters as they always are in KA world.

A final new thing that made this series feel completely separated from previous KA worlds was it's setting. We were no longer in CO but now in AZ. I thought this was really smart--it's a geographical separation from the KA series we all know. It added to the entire feeling of newness to this series.

So where do I stand with this new series? I definitely want to read more--this first book was surprising and yet had the trademark things I love--the alpha, the strong heroine, the endearments, the struggles and the ultimate overcoming of them to come together -and I look forward to exploring the world of Honey more.

As per the author's PR firm this review will run on our blog after the publication date.... in later March
it is a 3 star review (here is a draft of the review that will run)
I have been known to enjoy a great BDSM book sadly this wasn’t one; though I loved Olivier and I really did feel the author pulled off an alpha sub I felt the love story was lost in too much “noise"
I wanted to live in the world of Amelia and Oliver and the one of the Leigh-Leigh and Olly (if you chose to read the book it will make sense.) I did enjoyed baring witness to this couple exploring their relationship; I thought the sex was hot and experiencing Mistress push Olivier’s boundaries and build trust is what kept me reading.

I wish an editor had helped this one along…the foundation, the main character particularly Oliver I loved.
His struggle to accept his desires felt so real, there was a great balance between his need to sometimes take control and his desire to be dominated. I really enjoying witnessing this couple find a balance between sexual play and relationship.

The overall book may have been rated less as I often felt myself skimming to get back to the relationship, the main character but my love for Oliver, Oliver’s struggle to accept himself and then his internal conflict with being with a woman who had more money then him had me continuing to read and assigning 3 stars to the book.

For all the extra stuff in this book I want to say I did loved the use of Oliver's father I wish there was more of him!

In the end I close this book wishing it was more about Amelia and Oliver. They truly found everything they ever thought they wanted and more in each other but their story felt lost sometimes in the book.

If you want a great BDSM book I highly recommend The Reluctant Dom (don't let the cover fool you it is hot, emotional and will truly explain to you what each greats from the relationship)
I am now off to search for a Domme book with an alpha sub where the focus is on the couple.

As a huge fan of this author I was excited for her fully immersive debut into the BDSM world of kinky fantasy. You need to know that everything you love about Kristen Ashley's books remains intact with The Deep End. A swoony alpha, yes I said ALPHA have no fear, and a strong, poised heroine make up the pages. There's love and a lot of sex, be forewarned, a lot of sex that delves into the pleasures of kink. KA does not shy away from the truth of her characters or their needs. This book is a love story based on that sexual awakening and understanding compounding the deepest fantasies of both the hero and heroine. What I loved about it was the truly naked (both literal and figurative) moments of love and passion after the kink. Kristen Ashley really captured the raw, vulnerable and exposing moments for both characters and made me feel for them greatly in those specific moments.

Unfortunately for me the relationship dynamic between the two just didn't work for me. I found myself unable to connect to the kind of relationship they facilitated. Him being an alpha sub definitely means he's an alpha and some of their play just didn't work for me. Some of Amelie's language became so repetitive. And the premise of their coupling felt a little bit forced and unnatural. Femdomme just isn't one of my personal reading kinks and it's been the case before that I struggle with these types of relationship dynamics. It just felt for me that I wanted more than the vulnerability I got after their kink. They trusted each other so much to explore their fantasies but I never felt that trust as on going catalyst for an actual loving relationship until almost the end.

Out of the utmost respect for this author, her stories, her fans, and this genre I don't want to rate as I feel this is more a personal feeling with the dynamics of this kind of kink. However I truly believe, for those of you who love a Domme and her sub and love Kristen Ashley's unique storytelling style I think you'll love this book. It's an interesting take on the standard yummimess of all Kristen Ashley stories. The Deep End is a definite exploration that you'll need an open mind and an open heart to enjoy the full impact of the story.

I have never read a Kristen Ashley book and I'm sad to say that I didn't enjoy this one. I made it through to the end to find out what happens but there was A LOT of skimming involved. I am normally not a BDSM, D/s, sex club, explicit sex kind of reader but the blurb caught my attention and this is KA, I have heard so much about her books and I wanted to give her a try.

I REALLY wish I had gotten a recommendation of a good KA book to read because this was just not my thing. Yes, it was sexy as hell, crazy intense, mind boggling hot, and it did hold my attention at times.

I guess for me the sex was just TOO much, too over the top and really tested my comfort zone while reading. Maybe this is my own fault for picking up a book with a warning about explicit sex. There was also some drama that felt unnecessary as it could have been solved simply by communication. While the plot/story was interesting, I just wish I was more into it. I truly believe that the overabundance of sex ruined it for me. :(

Would I read the next one in the series? Probably not honestly. But what I try another KA book? Probably yes - if someone could give me a good recommendation of one to try :)

P.S. I didn't love how the hero spoke...sometimes without the pronouns - I think I read somewhere that this is her thing? I didn't really love that either.

“Yours as you are mine”

3.5 kinky alpha stars

Well this was certainly an interesting read! KA does BDSM, and not just any BDSM, but a story with a heroine who is a dominatrix, and an alpha-sub hero. It sounded bizarre and I was wary, but curious, but it’s KA so there’s no way I wasn’t at least going to give this one a try, and I liked it!

The Bee’s Honey is an exclusive BDSM club where members can go to experience anything and everything their bodies desire. Amèlie is the top dominatrix at the Honey, she’s a strong, confident woman who knows who she is and who makes no apologies for that, but lately she has started to feel despondent and she worries that she will never find the Domme/sub relationship that she longs for – an alpha sub who will test her, who will not break easily, and who she can form a lasting connection with, possibly even with marriage, children and a forever love. When Olivier walks into the club she is instantly drawn to him, immediately laying claim to the gorgeous beast of a man, and doing it knowing that he could be exactly who she needs.

Olivier is all alpha, with all of the behaviours and characteristics that are so inherent to KA’s heroes, but he has needs and desires that are met by having a strong woman control him sexually, testing his limits and allowing him to completely let go. He has acknowledged his desires but he hasn’t fully accepted that this is who he is, and having heard about Amèlie, he suspects that she is the woman that he has been searching for to guide him though his dark desires.

Amèlie is thrilled to have a sub that challenges her, she craves the power it gives her to break him, to see him submit to her the pleasure that she can bring him. But Olivier is still an alpha, and though I had my doubts about how those two traits fit together, you’ve gotta trust in KA. The queen of alpha males has created a wonderfully developed character in Olivier, blending the two parts of him so well that he seems real and I could believe in who he was.


“I know how this goes. I know I’m your toy.” He spat out the last word. “I know you got a fuckuva lot more experience than me and I ride that because you’re fuckin’ good at it, hell and gone, fucking great. I put myself in your hands because I know you know what to do with me.”


And despite the fact that he hands himself over to her completely, there’s always a sense that it’s happening because he’s allowing it to happen, and he has just as much control in the relationship as she does.


His stare stayed locked on hers as he announced. “I’m yours, you can claim me, but get me now, Amèlie, or we gotta have another conversation. You claim me, I claim you. I get my place. I get you make this decision. But I’m fuckin’ sayin’ it anyway. You’re mine.”


The BDSM aspect is purely sexual, and there is no humiliation or degradation, it’s about pushing sexual boundaries more than anything behavioural, but there is a LOT of explicit kink. Personally, I like smut in my romance, but the stuff going on in this book didn’t do a whole lot for me (unless Olivier’s alphaness came out to play, then… damn!), and it felt a bit OTT for me at times. I get that it’s an important part of who they are and the very base of their relationship, but I didn’t need to know quite so much detail.

But it was the love story that kept me reading. The chemistry between Amèlie and Olivier is beautifully explored, and their connection right from the very beginning is so much more than just sexual. And as they get to know each other, their relationship easily slips into real life, becoming something so much more.


“My hot-as-fuck Mistress makes nachos, watches football, and has a book club. Careful, baby, I’m gonna start thinking you’re a real person and not an angel sent from heaven to jack my shit.”
She started laughing, through it saying, “I’m sure you’ll agree I’m no angel.”
He moved his face close to her. “Don’t know about that.”


I loved the progression of everything that builds between them. It felt real and honest and so, so natural, and the blend of their two worlds is really well done.


“What I’m sayin’ is,” his big hand folded around hers at his thigh, “this is you and me.”
“Ah,” she breathed out, understanding him.
They were in a booth, sharing a drink and talking. This was Olly and Leigh. Not Mistress Amèlie and her toy.deal
“You down with that?” he asked.
“You’re asking a great day, Olly,” she answered.
His face softened at the name she used. “I know, sweetheart. I’m still asking, you down with that?”


The story is written mostly from Amèlie’s perspective, though Olivier has some chapters as well, and I love that we got to see both sides of this story. I loved being in their heads and seeing where they were at, and watching them fall for each other was gorgeous!


He was gone, hers, all hers, everything she gave him was everything he was free to be, everything he could be.
Everything he just fucking was.
For her.


Obviously they have some things to work through, and there is some drama (though it is mercifully short-lived), but as expected from a KA book it all ends well, with an epilogue that finishes the story off really nicely.


“I needed you to try me. I needed you to push me. I needed from you what you said you needed from a sub. I needed you to break me. I needed someone to throw me in the deep end and force me to learn how to swim. But I needed to do that knowing she was right there to pull me to the surface. And you were right there, Leigh, not pulling me to the surface. Leading me up and forcing me to surf a fucking killer goddamned wave.”


So a bit of a mixed bag for me with this one. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t get as invested in the story as I usually do with a KA book. Maybe some of the subject matter made me feel disconnected? I’m not sure, but it was definitely an intriguing read, and with hints given about future storylines, I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.

3.5 stars.

Karia's thoughts and feels...

There have only been two KA books that I have struggled to read...Creed (a huge 5 star read) and The Deep End (struggling to rate 3 stars). Creed was such an a-hole that didn't deserve Sylvie (like at all, IMHO) and I loved, loved, loved Sylvie. This book...I struggled to connect with both Amelie and Olly.

Amelie is so stiff...imagine that school marm or unmarried high school secretary that would tell on you when you skipping class. That was Amelie. She talked formally all the time and to everyone. She never turned off her rigid, formal, Domme-self (her words were that she lived it all the time, not merely played in it). I didn't like who she was and for me that put me off.

Olly was literally two different people. Thankfully, he came to terms with both halves of himself and his "sides" seems to mesh much better as the book went on. Olly wanted something, but he didn't know what it was, although he knew what it wasn't. He wanted a connection with someone who could push through the clutter that was always forefront in his brain, shut it down and make him (like FORCE him) to release. For him, being Alpha was natural and a given; being a sub was a struggle.

Well...the struggle is real! I struggled to read through the play (which was copious, initially not intimate at all, and anally-graphic). Straight up, if you don't like women impaling men with dildos or detailed descriptions of anal sex, this is not the book for you. Also, the "toys" and "play" were described very differently than I have read in the past (compare to say, The Reluctant Dom). I really don't like the lack of power described by the Doms and Dommes given to the toys...the sub should hold all the power, since the play starts and ends on their say, not the dominants.

Side characters were much better and I found myself wanting to get into Stellan's head and even Tahlia's. The why and what's of their thoughts were a draw for sure. But, I don't believe this genre is for me...I must be "old fashion" in that I want my dominants to be me and their subs to be women, I prefer it monogamous and I love when they start with a connection other then the play/sex being their only draw towards each other. Enjoy!

Completely impressed! KA has stepped out of her box and into the playroom of sexual debauchery and I like it! I know many KA fans have raised an eyebrow due to the couple dynamic in The Deep End. I mean, I had reservations as well. An alpha submissive? How in the world can that work? Honey, it doesn’t only work, it goes down smooth as… well…honey!

It’s written with such care that it comes off just right. Oliver is a reluctant sub, but he knows what he needs and wants sexually. I really did love this set up for a book. Why is it only the female that needs to be dominated to feel sexually fulfilled and to be reassured that it’s okay to feel this way? Why can’t an everyday alpha guy, who feels the need to protect and love his woman, find what fulfills him in the bedroom as well?

Amelie understands the needs that drive Oliver to purchase membership in the exclusive club named Honey. She has a reputation as caring and discerning dom. What they find together is both surprising and exactly what the other needs.

The Deep End is a fabulously filthy ride into a new world for Kristen Ashley and I love every single moment of it.

5 STARS
Tanja

4.25 stars

When the theme of this book was mentioned, with an Alpha submissive, it seemed to create shock waves through the KA fandom. While my co-bloggers and I were downright giddy for this, a lot of loyal KA fans were not. Which shocked the hell out of me! I don't know if it was more about the BDSM theme, or the fact that the Queen of Alphas (my opinion), was going to have a submissive male lead. So let me lay it out for you.

***If you have issues with the BDSM theme, then this book isn't for you. The author goes deep into this world. So much so, that if you aren't familiar with it from other books, you may find yourself looking up terms. I personally thought she did a great job covering the subject, but still stayed true to herself.
***If you have issues with a submissive Alpha, then I would say you should give this book a chance.

The plot of this book is focused on one thing, the D/s relationship between Amelie and Oliver. The author launches us right into their world - from their first meeting, first scene, and then takes us through their growth together in the D/s world and eventually, outside of it. That second part takes time, so be prepared to wait to learn more about each character beyond the playroom.

Oliver "Olly" is an interesting submissive, and I say that mostly because he is an Alpha. I loved how the author set this up. Giving us just enough background on each character, it makes sense why they were drawn to one another, beyond the physical attraction. As an Alpha, I was surprised how much Oliver was willing to let go and hand control to Amelie. However, he is not the perfect submissive. There are times when his Alpha tendencies take over and he struggles to follow the rules. As a reader that knows enough about the BDSM world, I know that a lot of other Doms would allow what he did at times. Either they would walk away, or the punishment would be greater than what Amelie doled out. Why did Amelie allow it? I personally think she saw so many other good things about him, the submissive she craved. A beast of a man, who she literally referred to as "beast" at times. A challenge.

This book is so different than the author's other work, it is nearly devoid of her formula. Parts of it come out in the end, but if it wasn't for how her characters spoke to one another (KA's characters seem to have their own dialect), I might not even realize that this was her book. She really seemed to reinvent herself with this story and I love how she took a leap with this story/series. It is also clear that she did her research. The scenes are thoroughly described, not glossed over. In the Unfinished Heroes series, she touches on some D/s themes, but never to the extent that this story did. I was really impressed by it all and am looking forward to more in this series.

Go into this book with an open mind and just let the author take you on this seductive ride.

It took me almost five days after finishing this book to start my review. I needed to sit on it, let the story sink in, and work out the issues I had in my mind before I started trying to put my thoughts on paper. I believe in complete and total honesty when writing a book review. I know of too many people who will flat out lie in a review, just to stay in the good graces of a favorite author, or publishing house. Believe me, it happens way more than you even think it happens. But that is not me. I refuse to be dishonest in a review. I have been a Kristen Ashley fanatic long enough to know that parts of my review will bring some backlash. I'll probably be called names, and even lose some followers.

But that's okay. It has to be.

Because, as previously stated, I believe in honesty, and that's what you're going to get here. If you're looking for fluff, or someone to hold your hand, you might as well stop reading, and go check out a five star review. You're not going to get that from me.

KA fans know that The Deep End is a giant departure from her usual story. Inspired by Joey Hill's Natural Law, Ashley set out to write a book set in the erotic world of a BDSM club. And that is what we got. It was clear Ashley did her research into sex clubs, and the Domme lifestyle, and for me, that is always a bonus when reading a book. I love knowing that the author put their all into writing and researching their story, and it is clear Ashley did just that. This book was HOT. My God was it hot. I don't usually delve too much into the erotica genre, but wow. These scenes were something else. There were actually times it was so scorching, I was blushing, and just a tab bit uncomfortable. Ashley definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. So, if you're looking for panty melting sex scenes, you are in for a real treat.

Unfortunately, that was part of the problem for me. Not the sex itself, but the overabundance of it. The first 60% of the book is all sex and lifestyle details and not nearly enough story. Ashley is my favorite author for a reason. I love to lose myself in the various worlds she creates for us. Whether it be Carnal, Colorado, Magdalene, Maine, or even a parallel universe, we are always treated to an environment rich in detail, characters we think about long after the book had ended, and stories we come back to reread time and time again. Sadly, I didn't get the same feeling from The Bee's Honey, or Amélie and Olivier. I didn't establish a connection with the characters or their world. I didn't find myself interested in the secondary characters or their backgrounds. The writing in The Deep End is vastly different from all of Ashley's other titles. It is written in the third person, which I don't mind at all, and is not unusual for Ashley. But, with this format, I found it difficult to develop an investment in the story. I had a lot of trouble following along with the story because the writing was so formal and overstated. Think Josie in The Will, but kicked into over drive. I felt like I was back in high school trying to read Beowulf. It made me think of Amélie as pretentious, and didn't help endear her to me. The same goes for Olivier. What I knew of his character, I liked. I just felt like there was so much more to discover, and we never had that opportunity. I finished the book thinking I knew the least about these two characters than I did of any other in any series. I'm not sure what it was, or where it went wrong, but the connection I crave was just not there. For those who love Ashley's typical alpha, and are worried, don't be. Olivier maybe be a submissive when at play, but in the rest of his life, he is pure Ashley Alpha. I enjoyed the balance of his character in and out of the bedroom, and the struggle he went through to accept how his submissive nature in the bedroom went again everything he believed in himself.

That being said, it took me a long time to get into the story. I did consider giving it up at a few points, but knew I had to see it through to the end. After more than half of the book, it felt like Ashley found her groove, and I enjoyed the remaining forty percent. I wish the first part of the book followed along the same way. I can only imagine the courage it took for Ashley to take this leap into the unknown. She is to be commended for that. Too often, authors stick with what works, and become redundant. Ashley blew the lid off of the box she may have been categorized in, and will hopefully bring in a entire new set of readers. I urge you to go into The Deep End with an open mind.

“This–the mutual test, the challenge relayed and accepted, the dare, the impudence, the taunts, the battle of wills–this was his favored game. She knew it to her fucking soul. And it was hers as well, by the sweetest trip you could take. Ecstasy.”

“I could get lost in this one, she thought. Lost and never found.”

So, when I first heard about The Deep End, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I mean, it’s KA and as a fan of KA, I will read and devour anything that she writes.

The Deep End is the first book in a whole new, sexy series. This book is by far more out of the box and sexier than anything that I’ve by this author. I will be the first to admit that I wasn’t 100% sure about this book. I wasn’t sure what an alpha sub was or how the story was going to go. The Deep End intrigued me. This book was unlike anything that I’ve read from this author and I will definitely say that it took me out of my comfort zone. This is not your typical KA read. It is far sexier and pushes boundaries. This story is well-written and the characters are likable. The story-line was unique and one that I couldn’t look away from.

While The Deep End was a truly unique and sexy read, it sadly did not work for me. For me, even though it was well-written, the story was missing the signature KA flare. It had its moments, but it just didn’t feel like I was reading a KA novel (if that makes sense.) I also didn’t really enjoy seeing Olivier as the submissive. I want my male characters to be more dominate, in control, and alpha. Don’t get me wrong, Olivier had some alpha moments, but for me, it felt awkward; him being alpha, but submissive at the same time. This is just my personal opinion and even though it didn’t work for me/wasn’t my cup of tea doesn’t mean that it won’t work out for others.

The Deep End is the first book in an exciting new series by author Kristen Ashley. It is definitely a much more sexier read. There were some things that I liked and others that I didn’t. Despite that, I’m still glad that I checked out this novel and took a chance on it. I definitely do feel that this is going to be one of those reads that you’re either going to love or you’re going to hate.