Deceit, blackmail, secrets, Hollywood egos, fake romances, paparazzi and attempted murder are all things Cutter must deal with while protect Shealyn West, America's girl next door, vunerable, beautiful, and naive. Meanwhile he's juggling his sense of responsibility and commitment to his best friend back home.

Cutter and Shealyn's attraction to each other is a visceral, throbbing thing that drives them to the heights of pleasure. Yet, it's not just about sex. There's a deep emotional attachment that will only lead to heartache when he has to walk away. No matter how hard they try emotions and feelings develop while a constant maelstrom of gossip and controversy surrounds them.

Shayla Black pens some of the most erotically sensual love scenes I've ever read. She builds layer upon layer of intrigue, mystery, danger and romance to the point that you cannot put the book down. There are some definite edge of your seat moments.

Instant blazing-hot chemistry?
Suspenseful twists and turns?
Entertaining and well-written storyline?

Check, check, check! Devoted to Pleasure has all of that and more. I enjoyed the romantic relationship as well as the mystery that simmers in the background. Definitely recommend it for fans of romantic suspense or Shayla Black.

I loved reading this book and feel like a new family member has been added to Ms Black’s repertoire of novels. Loved the dynamics between Cutter and Shealyn. Loved the references to other characters from her other books and how intertwined they become. Captivating story from an awesome author!!

Cutter Bryant has a protective streak that comes to him so naturally. An honorable man that goes above and beyond the call of friendship without blinking an eye. Cutter is a man who doesn’t mix business with pleasure. Temptation opens his eyes and heart in more way than he would have ever imagined.

Shealyn West is a small town girl who made her dream come true. Now someone is blackmailing her. Because of her issues with trust that endangers not only herself but the hired help as well. Shealyn has a bit of sass and spunk that I loved about her.

Cutter and Shealyn have the attraction but try to ignore it. They have chemistry and try to fight it. The banter between these two is totally off the charts. I loved how the two of them danced around the chemistry that they shared, wanting more but knowing other commitments wasn’t making it possible. Cutter and Shealyn share an emotional roller coaster ride to get their together. That’s just the beginning. The suspense side of Devoted to Pleasure was amazing. Ms. Black really keeps the reader on the edge of their seat with this one. Just when you think you got it figured out, you just learn you were wrong.

Ms. Black gives readers a fantastic beginning to what is sure to be an excellent new series. Devoted to Pleasure is everything I have come to love and expect from Ms. Black.

Steamy romance mixed with mysterious danger…

This author knows how to weave a twisty story! The romance between Shealyn and Cutter heats up even as the secrets between them simmer in the background. Shealyn is in danger and Cutter is going to do everything he can to protect her, even if she wasn’t telling the whole truth…

This read was so, so good for many, many different reasons! The chemistry between Shealyn and Cutter was undeniable as the sparks flew hot and furious. Told from each other’s point of view, the secrets they kept from each other fed the anxiousness as I waited for all the shoes to drop. And while I was waiting for that, the danger/intrigue churned away, with the drama playing out inch by inch, torturing me as it slowly played out.

Super hot and full of drama and emotion, this was a great start to the series!

I did not enjoy this read as much as I would have liked. I didn’t seem to connect with its characters or storyline.

I have to start off with the disclaimer that romantic suspense isn't really my jam. If it were, this would probably have been a 4 or 4.5 star read for me; however, I mostly read romantic comedies and this book was a little too much dramaaaa and not enough sass for me. Again, part of that is because this is a genre outside of my norm, so if romantic suspense is your jam, this book will probably be right up your alley.

I love that Cutter and Shealyn are both from small southern towns. They both have an air of southern charm about them that I just fell immediately in love with. I was also really intrigued by the show that Shealyn was starring on, and kept picturing her character as Scarlett O'Connor from Nashville. Shealyn is this great mix between strong and vulnerable - which, actually, so it Cutter, and Shayla Black does a wonderful job of creating fully-fleshed out and very real characters with depths and shallows and foibles that make you forget you're reading a book about fictional people in a fictional world and actually care about these very real people. Also, the sex scenes are super hot.

What I didn't love so much was the way they have their secrets they're keeping from each other exposed and are really upset but manage to move past it with a promise of honesty, and yet they both continue to keep secrets. Um, what? And then you don't expect this to come back and bite you in the butt later? Dumb move, friends. Really dumb move. I just don't have much patience for characters who don't learn from their mistakes. But THEN, both Cutter and Shealyn have crap in their pasts their dealing with (Cutter's drunk and deadbeat dad, and Shealyn's drunk and absent mother) and they both manage to deal with their pasts and go through an enormous amount of personal growth throughout the book (even though it takes them longer than I think it should have...) So they can learn! And I do appreciate a romance novel where the MC's manage to grow as individuals as well as together as a couple, so HOORAY!

This is the first book in the Devoted Lovers series, and can be read as a stand alone. There's a note in the series description that it picks up where Wicked Lovers, another series by Shayla Black, ended, which makes sense because there are a LOT of references to other couples in this book, and now I realize they're from this earlier, linked series. I am DYING for One-Mile and Brea's story, which I'm really hoping the next book in the series, Devoted to Love is about - the blurb doesn't have names so IT MIGHT BE!

Shayla Black is one of my top go to authors, the kind of author that I just pre-order their book without reading the blurb. The kind of author that could make a grocery list interesting. She is also an incredibly giving author who takes the time to make her reading feel special. I have met her several times at signings and am active in her fb group and she is just awesome. One thing that is sweet about this book is she dedicated to her fans which is always nice to read.

I could not wait to read this book! I have been waiting for a book for Cutter for what seems like FOREVER! Cutter is an alpha body-guard to is sent on a job to protect a new client. Little did he expected to find love while one the job. Shealyn West is a tv star who just wants to move on with her career and was not expecting to fall for her bodyguard. Will they make it past the lies and intrigue to their happily ever after? This book is full of emotion and suspense. There are twists and turns in the plot that will keep you guessing. I love the chemistry between Cutter and Shealyn it leaps off the page and make your heart flutter. If you have not read any of Shalya Blacks books this is a great place to start or check out some of the other titles that I have already reviewed. This was an amazing summer read and I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!

This is the first (hopefully of many) in the Shayla Black's Devoted Lovers series. You cannot help be be drawn in from the very first page.

Cutter is a strong, sexy and protective guy who didn't not have it easy growing up. Shealyn is not your everyday actress. She's beautiful, compassionate and caring. She is also being blackmailed.

You can feel the chemistry between these two from the very beggining.

From the first page, I feel like I’m missing a plot line. Cutter & his friend Brea are characters from a previous book that I haven’t read. So in the first chapter and their situation & conversation, I had no idea what the back story was.

For me I had a hard time getting into Cutter & Shealyn’s story.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

If you loved this authors Wicked Ties series then you will be in for a treat! This book pulled me in and made me get angry, fall in love and cheer on Cutter and Shaelyn, all the while letting me revisited some old favorites and pulling for some new ones! I can’t wait to read what she has in store for us next!

Devoted to Pleasure by Shayla Black is is the First book in the Devoted Lovers Series. In this book, we get the story of Cutter Bryant and Shealyn West. Shealyn West is being blackmailed with a video that was taken without her knowledge. She doesn’t want to find out who did this to her or is trying to ruin her life. She just wants to pay them off in hopes that they will leave her alone once paid and never darken her door again. Cutter Bryant is hired to be a bodyguard for actress Shelly West (aka Shealyn West.) Cutter is prepared for bodyguard duties but is shocked Shealyn only hired him to be the muscles when she drops off the blackmail dough. Cutter tries to get Shealyn to see that she needs to have him investigate who is behind the blackmail because if not, they will continue to come back and cause more damage in her life. Cutter is a man divided- he doesn’t want to, shouldn’t get close to Shealyn but the attraction that has flared between them is intense. He has a past and in his past is obligations so he cant offer her anything long term. And Shealyn has this fake relationship with her co-star going on. She too is fighting her feelings for Cutter- she knows nothing could come out of her feelings for Cutter for fear of the paparazzi finding out about her and smearing her name which could ruin her career. Will they give into the pleasure or will they continue to fight the attraction? Who is the blackmailer after Shealyn? Devoted to Pleasure is this book full of suspense, mystery, angst, explosive sexual chemistry, drama and passion filled romance read. The main characters both had issues going on in their lives which complicated the romance that exploded between them. It kept this hot, steamy and a roller coaster ride of emotions from start to finish. Shealyn is the sass to Cutter’s possessive alpha man. I loved the start to the new series and cannot wait to read the book in this new series. I was sad when Cutter and Shealyn’s story ended. I look forward to reading the next book in this new series.


My Rating: 4.7 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."

Well this was an interesting read. Here I thought i’d Get a story about two best friends who need each other for different reasons and instead I get another plot line entirely different. Wow. That’s all I can say.

That and bravo. Because for an author to make me think one thing would happen and none of it does, that’s an amazing feat. There’s a reason why I don’t watch movies with others since I have a tendency of telling the plot line before I even get there and ruin the entire story.

I really did enjoy this story - there was enough suspense to keep me at the edge of my seat and enough ‘awwwww’ and ‘holy hotness’ moments that kept me coming back for more when I knew I should have been in bed long ago.

I wish I could say that this was one of Shayla Black’s best novel yet, but I have too many of hers that love and Devoted To Pleasure is going to have to pick a chair and wait in line because it’s also coming right there with the best of this author’s so far.


*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books

Cutter is a stand up guy when his best friend Brea is pregnant and not married her preacher father would kill her so he offers to marry her so her father and the small town wouldn’t degrade her. Cutter just had to do one quick job, no more than a week or two but little did he know there is danger and love guarding a TV star.
Shealyn is being blackmailed and all she needs is for Cutter to help her make to drop of 250,000 and they will go away. Well they didn’t go away they actually tried to kill her but Cutter has fallen head over heels and no one is coming near his woman. The problem with being in love with a TV star is everything in your life is open to public scrutiny including the secrets you are both hiding. I love these characters as they were so real and you can see it actually happening to someone.

3.5 *
Devoted to Pleasure is the latest book by Shayla Black. Devoted to Pleasure is the first book in a new Devoted series. Let me say I’m hooked.

Cutter Bryant is the super-sweet, super-hot, security / former military hero working for EM Security. He made an initial appearance in Holding on Tighter from the Wicked Lovers series. He is assigned to guard Shealyn West a Hollywood starlet. Cutter is at a point in his life that he feels obligated to help a friend that will change his future in many ways.

Shealyn shares a lot of the same attributes. Her mother deserted her when they were toddlers. They were both raised in a small southern towns. They both feel responsible for others and keep secrets.

I love the characters individually. They connect instantly while fighting the attraction. Cutter is a smooth southern gentleman and aware of his responsibility as a bodyguard. His primary goal is to protect Shealyn and remain professional. He is also aware of their differences. In his mind, he is the average small-town guy. Shealyn is the beautiful STAR who has it all.

Shealyn is still the small-town southern girl at heart; her economic status changed only. It is hard for her to trust because so much in her past proves that people aren’t trustworthy. The blackmail that she is currently dealing with is just another reason to be leery of “friends” who come into your life.

I love the suspense and the way it plays out. The mystery is my favorite part of the story. I went back and forth about who is behind the blackmail. At different points in the story, I was positive who the culprit was. I like a story that keeps me guessing.

What didn’t work for me through the entire story is the connection between Cutter and Shealyn. Shayla is the master of the push-pull. I usually fall right into the conflict. However, I didn’t understand why Shealyn didn’t explain to Cutter who Frank was until so late in the story. It seems like a silly secret to keep from someone hired for protection.

Don’t get me wrong, the decisions to keep secrets are explained reasonably. Individually they make sense for the characters, but collectively I couldn’t feel it. Not feeling the need to travel their path of deception, hurt feeling the love between the two. I found myself on a thinking loop of, they won’t make it one minute, to they don’t belong together the next, to I really like them as a couple then circling around again. To me, if Shealyn, was a little more forthcoming her anger would be more believable or acceptable, anyway.

In summary, the suspense and the way the blackmail wraps up is a big five stars. Cutter is a five-star hero. (I like him so much I downloaded Holding On Tighter as soon as I finished reading Devoted to Pleasure .) Shealyn and her omissions dropped her down in my character ratings along with some aspects of the relationship building both significantly impact my overall rating. Still, I enjoyed the story. It is always good to get in on the ground floor of a new series. Devoted to Pleasure is a good start to a new series. I’m looking forward to finding out how Mrs. Black redeems One-Mile. I need Cage’s story too.

We all were left wondering what was going on between Cutter, Brea and One-Mile, well here is your chance to get the low down.
This is the first book in the spin off from the series Wicked Lovers. In this book we see the real reason behind the animosity between Cutter and One-Mile, while we get this, we also get to follow Cutter to Los Angeles where he is sent on a job to help Jolie's friend, who just happens to be the movie star, Shealyn West on the night time soap opera Hot Southern Nights.
The chemistry between these two is off the paper hot, but as always there circumstances that come into play and make their lives more complicated then they would like. Shealyn has problems her childhood that plays a big part in their problems. Cutter has some not so major problems back in Louisiana where he is from. They both have to face these problems to get to their HEA.
Shayla Black had done it again in this epic first book of this new spin-off series.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review."

First in a series by one of my favorite authors! **eeeekkk** ~ to say I was excited when this hit my kindle is an understatement! I would have devoured it in mere hours but, life! LOL Imagine my surprise when I realized I knew the name Cutter Bryant from some place …. Yeah, you know … Wicked Lovers, the series that hooked me to Shayla for life!

The chemistry between these two was instant. It bounced of the pages and I swear my kindle zapped me a time or two! *yikes* They of course fought it while they could, but chemistry has a way of winning every single time, amirite?! They were passionate and fit together like a two puzzle pieces. Cutter was the perfect protector, hard on the outside and soft on the inside. And I don’t mean soft in a bad way. He was compassionate and understanding and the love he held for his best friend was just endearing. He had layers and depth and made for a really swoony hero! And I felt the same for Shealyn. She was the perfect combination and held her heart guarded but was also open to the possibility ….. I just loved these two so much!

The story has pretty much everything you could ask for in a bodyguard romance. Sexy alpha hero with a matching heroine. Mystery and intrigue with a bit of lies and deceit and a ridiculous amount of sexual chemistry :) ALL THE #WINS

Devoted to Pleasure is the first book in a new Shayla Black series. I always think the first book suffers a bit because of all the series set up, and this one fits that thought. The main characters are fairly complex, the hero is a little bit of an oxymoron - the bodyguard is less than alpha. The chemistry between the couple could have been extended a bit so that their happily ever after was stronger. The secondary characters are quite layered and interesting, so I am looking forward to the future books, when the balance between series review and story is better.

DEVOTED TO PLEASURE (Devoted Lovers Book #1) by Shayla Black is a sexy contemporary romance with the added subplot of the hero being the bodyguard for the heroine. This is a page-turning start of a new series with as many twists and turns in the romance as in the suspense.
Shealyn West is the sexy, beautiful and down to earth co-star of a steamy nighttime TV drama. Her fame came quickly and it is not everything she wished for. To help her friend and co-star, Shealyn fakes a relationship with him. In a moment of emotional weakness, she makes a mistake which could be career ending and is now being used to blackmail her. She hires a bodyguard to protect her for the money drop and finds a real attraction that is too powerful to avoid.
Cutter Bryant is ex-military and believes in duty above all else. He loves his high-octane job in private security, but he is a small town boy at heart. Cutter’s childhood friend is in trouble and Cutter wants to solve her problems for her out of obligation, but it means sacrificing his own chance for love. When he is sent to Hollywood to work for Shealyn, he cannot believe the chemistry between them. He has never crossed the line between work and personal before, but there is something between them that is worth trying to find a way to be together.
As Shealyn and Cutter work together to discover who is blackmailing Shealyn, their attraction becomes as explosive as the secrets they need to expose. Will Cutter be able to protect Shealyn from the mounting danger? Can Shealyn believe in and trust a real HEA is possible?
I feel this is a very solid start to this new series. Cutter and Shealyn complimented each other very well. I found the background information on both the H/h’s troubled childhoods which impacted how they behaved in the present compelling. I did have a problem with how often Cutter’s situation back home came up. I found the friend in trouble an immature whiner, not sympathetic and Cutter too self-sacrificing even though it worked out in the end. The blackmail and physical danger had enough twists to keep me anxiously turning the pages and the sex was explicit and smoking hot. I will be looking forward to more books in this series!
Thanks very much to Berkley Publishing Group and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars!

Explosive. Intense. Sexy. Unforgettable. Page turning from start to the very last word... Shayla Black shines and wows with book one in a sexy new series.

I highly recommend this book.