Thursday, January 21, 2016

Book Review: Off the Clock (Pleasure Principle #1) by Roni Loren


Off the Clock
Pleasure Principle #1

By:
Roni Loren

Published:
January 5, 2016

Publisher:
Berkley Romance

Add to 
Goodreads

Source:
Finished Copy from publisher in exchange for a honest review

GR's Summary:

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LOVING ON THE EDGE NOVELS, THE FIRST IN A SENSUAL NEW SERIES 

Overtime has never felt so good… 

Marin Rush loves studying sex. Doing it? That’s another story. In the research lab, Marin’s lack of practical knowledge didn’t matter, but now that she’s landed a job at The Grove, a high-end, experimental sex therapy institute, she can’t ignore the fact that the person most in need of sexual healing may be her. 

Dr. Donovan West, her new hotshot colleague, couldn’t agree more. Donovan knows that Marin’s clients are going to eat her alive unless she gets some hands-on experience. And if she fails at the job, he can say goodbye to a promotion, so he assigns her a list of R-rated tasks to prepare her for the wild clientele of The Grove’s X-wing. 

But some of those tasks are built for two, and when he finds Marin searching for a candidate to help her check off her list, Donovan decides there’s only one man for the job—him. As long as they keep their erotic, off-the-clock activities strictly confidential and without strings, no one will get fired—or worse, get attached…



Lindy's Thoughts:

I have had the pleasure of reading many of Roni Loren's books, and they are some of the sexiest, steamiest, and most erotic stories that I have ever read.  However, something that stands out is that Ms. Loren also gives her readers real and relatable characters, as well as great plots.  To this date, Off the Clock, is my favorite story by Ms. Loren.  She takes dirty talk to a whole new level in this story, and I predict many a reader will need to fan themselves as they turn the pages!

As a young college student Marin Rush, had a huge crush on graduate student and T.A. Donovan West.  When Marin is assigned to watch the sleep study lab during spring break, she gets to know Donovan on a personal level, and they share one unforgettable night together.  However, family tragedy causes Marin to put a hold on her studies, and temporarily drop out of college.  Nine years later, Marin is offered a great opportunity to work as a sex therapist at "The Grove," an elite community in New Orleans, dedicated to the health, wellness, and rehabilitation of the wealthy and famous.  While at The Grove, she runs into Donovan West, and learns that he will be her mentor in the "X" Department.

Attraction and memories from the past are a constant temptation for Marin and Donavan.  Resisting one another proves futile.  Simultaneously, Marin is having trouble with counseling others about sex due to her lack of experience.  She can't control her embarrassment or constant blushing when certain sexual topics are addressed.  Therefore, Donovan offers to give her sexual experience and teach her how to embrace her sexuality in secret while off of the clock.  Marin accepts his proposal with the condition that their sexual affair end in 30 days.  This shouldn't be a problem because Donovan doesn't do relationships.  However, as feelings grow, emotions get put on the line. Will Marin and Donovan risk their careers or their hearts?

Marin and Donavan were two characters that were raw and relatable.  They were both damaged and scarred from tragedies in their pasts.  My heart broke for the guilt and pain that they both carried on a daily basis.  Marin was strong, open, independent, and had an innocence to her.  Donovan was closed off, a workaholic, and didn't know how to deal with his pain.  I loved how Marin brought out the best in Donovan.  She made him feel comfortable, accepted, understood, and taught him how to live and love.

I enjoyed the depth of the story as well as the sizzling hot chemistry and erotica.  I really didn't want this story to end, and was sad when I finished.  It was that amazing. 

My Rating:


I give Off the Clock, by Roni Loren, 5 Intoxicating Desires, Hungry Indulgence, Visceral 'Sex Brain' Filled Stars!  I'm looking forward to the sequel in the Pleasure Principle story!  I have a feeling the next book is going to be about sexual surrogate Lane Cannon and Donovan's ex flame, Dr. Elle McCray. 








Ro's Take on this Journey:


Off the Clock (Pleasure Principal #1) by Roni Loren, is a sizzling new erotic series that will knock your socks off!!!

The story begins with two broken souls, who are both searching for something real but cannot allow themselves the luxury of being broken wide open by another human being. Their vulnerability level is zero, until they fall into fates plan, and embark on a journey the reader won't soon forget.  They are Donovan West and Marin Rush.  

These two have been through a lot at very young ages.  Donovan has lost his parents to a murderer that he is still trying to find, but the case has gone cold.  He is working toward his PHD in the Sexuality Therapy Department at Harker Hall, and Marin Rush is a freshman down the hall from him, doing research in the Sleep Study Clinic.  

Donovan has no idea that Marin can hear his sexual tapes that he is working on as she walks down the hall for a snack break.  As Marin falls into a very awkward but titillating situation, she is struck by the gorgeous man before her, that is also her T.A. in Dr. Paxton's class.  Donovan doesn't recognize her, but he is definitely taken by the innocence of this beautiful girl.

Marin starts listening and critiquing Donovan's "Dirty Talk" fantasy tapes, and starts writing some of her own fantasy's herself.  She is completely enthralled by the voice behind the tapes.  One night she is caught in a very precarious position while listening to the tapes, and Donovan takes her to the moon and back.  Tragedy steps in that night, and it will be a whole 9 years till fate steps in once again and the reader finds the roads each has taken and what impact that night had on each of them.

These two will meet again, as their mentor, Dr. Paxton, steps in and at different times, but for similar reasons, sends them both to the same location for a huge job opportunity at the Grove Institute for the Rich and Famous.  Dr. West is the Director of the X-wing, and a very fresh off the block. Dr. Marin Rush is coming in very green, needing a job and a fresh start.

The fire ignites, and takes over where it left off 9 years ago.  A fire that cannot be diffused easily.  Off the Clock has role playing, soft erotica, voyeurism, soft BDSM, and riveting cat and mouse surprises that will leave the reader wanton for more. (Pun Intended)  These two characters are both work-a-holics, running themselves into the ground in order to escape life and their demons.  Life is an empty, lonely, meaningless existence, except for their obsession with work.  There is an expiration date on joy and happiness as far as Donovan is concerned.  He believes to time limits, no strings attached, no promises, and no disclosures.  He doesn't believe in happily ever after.  Marin is the one girl that may be able to push the limits!!! 

My Rating:


I give, Off the Clock (Pleasure Principle #1), by Roni Loren, 5 Electrifying, Spellbinding, Riviting, Erotic Filled, Letting Go, Finding The One Stars!!!!

My Favorite Quotes:

"And When she opened her eyes, finding him watching her, his deep blue eyes capturing her there, she felt all of those swirling things settle.  He was skydiving with her.  They were on this ride together."


"She'd asked for the boy she used to know.  But she'd gotten a man who was so much more than that.  He was fire, brash and bold and dangerous.  But he was also rain.  She could see it there in his eyes, like he could drown if he let some of the stuff inside him come to the surface.  Like he was always saying good-bye.  Deep, deep waters.  It was beautiful.  It was terrifying.  But when they both fell over the edge of the cliff together a few minutes later, all she could do was fly with him and hope they landed in one piece."


"Since that day he'd found his parents, watched his safe world burn to the ground, he'd locked himself inside the panic room.  The person he'd been had curled into a ball and gone to sleep, hidden away from anything that could hurt too bad.  And what was left had been this hollow version of himself, the man who'd gotten on the hamster wheel and gone full tilt, afraid to stop and afraid to feel anything at all."







About Roni Loren:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. 

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that's it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.






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