Devoted to Pleasure

Shayla Black

Jul 2018 · A Devoted Lovers Novel Book 1 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

The first in a sexy contemporary romance series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shayla Black.

BOUND BY DUTY...

Bodyguard and former military man Cutter Bryant has always done his duty--no matter the cost. Now he's taking one last high-octane assignment before settling down in a new role that means sacrificing his chance at love. But he never expects to share an irresistible chemistry with his beautiful new client.

...TEMPTED BY PLEASURE

As the star of a steamy television drama, Shealyn West knows fame well, but it has come at the expense of her heart. With a blackmailer watching her every move and the threat of career-ending exposure looming, Shealyn hires Cutter to shore up her security and keep her safe, never imagining their attraction will be too powerful to contain.

As Shealyn and Cutter navigate the scintillating line between business and pleasure, they unravel a web of secrets that threaten their relationship and their lives. When danger strikes, Cutter must decide whether to follow his heart for the first time, or risk losing Shealyn forever.

Ratings and reviews

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.

The first book in Shayla Black’s new Devoted Lovers series is just as pleasurable to read as the books in her Wicked Lovers series. Cutter Bryan is a former military man who is now a bodyguard and his newest client turns this man’s personal life upside down. Shealyn West stars in a steamy television drama and she needs a bit of help with a blackmailer but she is not prepared for the attraction that threatens all her secrets. These strong, charismatic characters pull readers into their story with lots of electrifying chemistry, super-heated passion and a powerful relationship that readers find fulfilling and stimulating. The romance between these two is only a little sweet as they fight the attraction due to the track that their lives have taken and responsibilities and loyalties that they have to others but when they give in to that attraction, the pages explode with passion and combustible energy. The relationship another words is quite energetic, full of secrets and suspense that keeps readers involved in the story from beginning to end. The steady to fast paced plot has lots of thrilling suspense as the Cutter tries to determine where the danger is coming from which is made harder by Shealyn’s secrets and lots of excitement with surprising twists and exhilarating danger as the blackmailer ups the ante and startling truths are revealed. There is certainly no way that the readers can become bored during this story the events and timing of those events build the suspense and romance into stirring climaxes. Truthfully, I love Shayla Black’s books and the worlds that she creates because she delivers each and every story with a passion that really pulls me in and ensures that I want to know the characters and every last detail of their story, so it was no surprise to me that I was completely taken in by Cutter (who is just too sexy for words) and Shealyn’s story.

"No one can undo me like you." I was so excited to get my hands on Devoted to Pleasure which is the first book in the new Devoted Lovers series by one of my favorite authors, Shayla Black. I've not ever been disappointed by any of her books, so I knew before turning the first page that it was gonna be good, but it was even better. The author did a number on me by letting me in on a secret from the very beginning of the story. And once it was in my head, it stayed there, niggling in the background. I worried. I waited. Knowing that it wouldn't stay a secret forever and anxious about when and how it would come to light later on. Well done... Coming from a military background and being raised by a single mother, Cutter fell right into what I would consider White Knight Syndrome. Perfect for a career in the security field, right? Using his protective instincts for good and rescuing damsels in distress should be rewarding, right? But how much is too much? When will his sacrifices be enough? Will he have to sacrifice his chance at love too? Shealyn has trust issues, but Cutter came highly recommended and she needs someone to help her deal with a blackmailer that is threatening her career. She's worked very hard to reach her current level of success and it could be over in a minute if the threat is carried out. She knows she made a mistake, but she can't take it back and now she just wants to keep her secret hidden. When her new security detail shows up for duty she's not expecting the zing of attraction that she feels. But she's determined to keep it to herself, along with her secret. Cutter has never been tempted to cross the line between business and personal with a client, but he's finding that keeping his eyes on Shealyn is both a blessing and curse. She's beautiful but also deadly to his self-control. The last thing he needs when trying to protect her is to be distracted by her. Will he be able to resist her once he realizes she feels the same way? I'll give you one guess, that's all you'll need. While all the sexual tension is building the suspense does too. Both Cutter & Shealyn are hiding things from each other, but not from me. Right, that's exactly what I'm talking about. I was going crazy knowing their secrets and wanting them to let the cat out of the bag. I tried to convince them to fess up, but they ignored me. But I didn't know all the secrets, the author kept the identity of the blackmailer from all of us. It was fun to guess and process the clues as I waited to learn if I was right. Some characters I wanted to throw my Kindle at and others I wanted to spend more time with. So much so that I'm extra excited about this being only the first book in the series which means there's a good chance that will happen. In the meantime, I'm having #HotCop fantasies. The line forms here...

About the author

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels, including the Wicked Lovers series and, with Lexi Blake, the Perfect Gentlemen series. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold well over a million copies and have been published in a dozen languages.