Devoted to Pleasure

3.75 stars-- DEVOTED TO PLEASURE is the first instalment in Shayla Black’s contemporary, adult DEVOTED LOVERS erotic, romantic suspense series-a spin off from the author’s Wicked Lovers series. This is bodyguard and former military man Cutter Bryant, and actress Shealyn West’s story line. You do not have to have read the previous series to understand or follow the new spin-off.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Shealyn and Cutter) DEVOTED TO PLEASURE follows the forbidden romance between bodyguard and former military man Cutter Bryant, and actress Shealyn West. Shealyn West is being blackmailed by an unknown source. A video of Shealyn in a compromising situation is about to be released to the world unless Shealyn’s meets with her blackmailer’s demands. Hiring Cutter Bryant to act as her go-between is but the tip of the proverbial iceberg as Shealyn’s personal life is about to be played out in public for the world to see.

Cutter Bryant knows there is more to the story than our heroine is letting on, but as a personal bodyguard, Cutter’s job means more than a go-between but a position to protect for more than one night. With his own life spiralling out of control, Cutter finds himself falling for the rising star, a star whose own past is as troubling as Cutter Bryant’s. What ensues is the building romance between Cutter and Shealyn, and the potential fall-out as Cutter’s life back home begins to interfere in his relationship and protection of the woman with whom he is falling in love.

DEVOTED TO PLEASURE is a detailed story line where a number of personal issues for both Cutter and Shealyn begin to affect a potential happily ever after. From a prior ‘commitment’ back home for Cutter, to Shealyn’s double life played out for the tabloids, it is only a matter of time before everything begins to implode.

The relationship between Cutter and Shealyn is one of immediate attraction, an attraction that does not go unnoticed by those closest to our story line heroine. From the outset Cutter and Shealyn are keeping secrets from one another, secrets that will potentially affect their future, one way or another. The $ex scenes are intimate, seductive and intense but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word that holds no place in a romance story line.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Cutter’s brother, police officer Cage Bryant; Cutter’s best friend Brea Bell; Shealyn’s sister Maggie aka Magnolia; Shealyn’s co-star Tower Trent, and fellow actress Jessica Jarrett. The requisite evil has many faces. There are also a couple of cameo appearances and mentions of characters previously introduced in the author’s other series.

DEVOTED TO PLEASURE is an edgy and sexy story line. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the characters are spirited, passionate and charismatic; the romance is steamy, hot and heavy. DEVOTED TO PLEASURE is a spicy and dramatic start to Shayla Black’s DEVOTED LOVERS.

What a great read! The author makes it so easy for you to attach to these characters. I loved them all. Cutter, although you dream of a man like him you rarely find one ~ which makes the story unfold like a perfectly written dream. Shaelyn and the Hollywood connection were very realistic and well played. It's a soap opera, right? All the people meshed together and the suspense mixed with die hard sex made for a page turner. You were never sure which way the story would go as someone tries to kill Shaelyn...the lead up to the end was a great cliffhanger...even though you might suspect the culprit ~ you just aren't sure. I love those!! And his team mates injected humour and sarcasm so there was something for everyone. The hard part about words on a page is sometimes they are just that and never come alive as visions in your mind...Devoted to Pleasure got a 5 star from me because it does come alive!!
Will be waiting for the next release. I definitely finished with a smile on my face. Nice treat!!