Beneath the Scars

"The three C’s—he had them in abundance: competent, confident, and caring. She’d never been so…attracted…to anyone before." Finally Holt gets his story. Holt has been around for some time and he's mostly been a background character. Only in the last book Mischief And The Masters was he a little bit more front and center. Holt is a hard working man that grew up tough. It’s surprising that he turned as well as he did with the childhood that he had. But he’s a great guy that thought he had finally found love. But if you read the previous book you know that the so called love of his life left him after he was attacked because of the scars he now has. So Holt’s taking a break from women and he’s also taking some time to heal from his injuries. Then Josie comes along, she’s new to living in the neighborhood but she was around before. Her great aunt lives next to Holt. Josie takes one look at Holt sees his scars and starts making assumptions about him. And what he may be into. Josie also has a young impressionable son that she has to think about. Since she’s judging Holt by his looks she doesn’t want her son around him. Josie’s had her fair share of heartbreak and has learned the hard way that some men cannot be trusted. “You screwed up, sweetheart, because you didn’t come and talk with me. Even yelling at me would have been better than the cut-and-run.” He brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “In a relationship, you first try to work sh*t out. And then, if you can’t, you walk away.” But Josie lands a job in the shadowlands and guess who also frequents the shadowlands, non other that her neighbor Holt. She soon finds out that she was wrong about him and her misconceptions were all wrong. Josie also starts to learn about Dominance and submission. She hasn’t really dated much and doesn’t really have experience with it, but he becomes intrigued. “There was being ordered around, and there was really submitting, and that was more emotional than physical.” She tries it out but it doesn’t work out for her because she didn’t really submit. But she tries it with Holt and boy oh boy does she have a different opinion now. Holt starts to show Josie what D/s is all about and she likes it. Holt begins to work his way into Josie’s life and helps her with her son too. Even when she doesn’t want the help he’s there for her. She wants so badly to lean on him but she’s been burned before and knows not to trust anyone. We also get Josie’s son Carson’s perspective sometimes. We see the confused young boy that his is likening Holt’s attention but wanting him to stay away from his mom. Carson is very territorial. “Truly living—and loving—is…risky, but isn’t that what it’s all about?” I loved watching Josie fall for Holt, even when she told herself she wouldn’t and even when she tried to keep a distance. She couldn’t help herself. Once Holt is in Josie’s life he knows he wants her and that’s that. He’ll do whatever it takes to convince her she’s the one for him. Even when things go south. WOULD I RECOMMEND: Yes please! I loved Josie, Holt and Carson! I loved watching them find their way to each other. And learning to trust and care for one another. Josie was a great mom, I loved seeing how much she cared about her son and would put him above everything else. But I also liked seeing her realize that she was a woman too and she also needed companionship. On of the things I love about this author is that she gives different POV’s and if a kid is involved, she’ll give that POV too. So we’ll understand the story from different angles. I love getting these perspectives and seeing things through everyone’s eyes. And seeing when they all finally connected.

Beneath the Scars by Cherise Sinclair This is the story of Master Holt. Reverting back to a previous story you may remember that Master Holt was attacked by Uzuri’s stalker, leaving him scarred. Master Holt lives in the same neighborhood as Josie and her son Carson and Josie’s great Aunt Stella AKA Oma. Oma is German for grandmother. Oma aided Josie as she dealt with her father’s lack of compassion when she found herself soon to be a single mother. The story of how Josie meets Master Holt is not off to a great start when she sees him bearded, scared and with a motorcycle. Not the best role model for her son Carson. Josie soon learns that Master Holt is a compassionate man who was scarred while helping a friend. Not what she expected. Could she allow Carson to socialize with him? She will soon find out that Master Holt’s jobs reflect his compassion for people and his desire to help. She also finds that his desire to help will bring him out to help her on a night when Carson is missing. After finding a letter concerning his birth father Carson wants to know him better, or let him know that he is his the man’s son. This creates problems, one of which is Carson is missing. After Holt’s help in this issue Josie finds herself more and more drawn to him. He is a handsome man regardless of the scars left behind by Uzuri’s stalker. The scars do not lessen the man and Josie soon finds herself at the Shadowlands and under Master Holt’s domination. As with all of Cherise’s Shadowlands, there is more than just the BDSM element. The stories are so much more. Stories of caring, support, bravery and love this along with all the Shadowlands books should be on your reading list if not already.

I always enjoy Ms. Sinclair's books. Beneath the Scars was no exception. However I needed a few chapters to get back in the world of the Shadowlands Masters, something that I never experienced before when reaching for one of these books. As far as I remember Holt was introduced way back in Make Me, Sir. i liked him back then but really grew to love him in the previous book. He's a sweetheart and he deserved his HEA. He got it and it was a sweet story but it just didn't resonate with me the way it usually does. I loved the cameos from the other characters of the series, especially Ben and Mistress Anne! They're so cute together *looks over her shoulder to make sure that Mistress Anne didn't hear her say she's cute* Overall it was a great book and a great way to escape reality for a few hours.

Cherise Sinclair is one of my favourite authors and has been since I first read Club Shadowlands. Beneath the Scars is her very best to date. This book is all about depth, depth of character, depth of beauty, depth of love, depth of friendship and the depth that this book touches your heart. The addition of the innocent voice of Carson added an entirely new, incredibly meaningful layer to this book. As his mother learned what love and friendship was, so did Carson. They also both learned what, and who, were truly important in this life. Master Holt. Pretty, scarred and oh so Dom. Josie. Pretty, scarred and oh so submissive. They are both so incredibly strong and yet human. Teaching each other that it is alright to lean on someone else. They are a perfect match. With Carson, and whoever else comes along, they make a such a strong family. Shout out to Mistress Anne and Ben. A Domme in labor is an increase sight to see. And can I say that Dr. Zachary Grayson, psychologist specializing in children, Gabrielle Renard, an FBI Victim Specialist, and Marcus Atherton, one of ‘Florida’s’ state attorneys, kicked butt. Seriously. Go kinky badasses. Thank you Cherise for such a wonderful book.

So different and unexpected. Unlike most "boy/Girl meet, lots of lovely stuff happens, then something bad happens that threatens to break them up or lose their lives, and then live happily ever after" this story had wonderful twists and turns. Every new twist more compelling than the last. I don't want to give away too much, but there is such attention to detail, to backstories, to characters, to scenes... And the length allows to story to truly unravel and work its magic. It doesn't feel rushed. The author took the time to allow the story to.play put reasonably. Cannot recommend enough. A truly wonderful read.

Un volume un peu différent des autres, un peu moins de BDSM et plus centré sur les difficultés d'une famille recomposée, le besoin d'appartenir à un groupe qui fait parfois prendre de mauvaises décisions. J'ai beaucoup apprécié et le recommande vivement !!!

Wowser..... this author sure knows how to write a Dom we can all fall in love for. Holt is scarred and jaded but as he meets and gets to know Josie their is a beautiful slow burn which sets my heart on fire. Awesome addition to the Shadowlands Series, it was great to have some cameo appearances from some of my favourite characters like Cullen and Master Z and some of the Shadowkittens. I love this series and have read it faithfully since I stumbled across book 1 a week after it had been published. Bring it on, please let us have more.

I honestly bought this book because: 1. I enjoyed other books of this author in the past. 2. Because of the 1 star review. When I read it I was like: No, that can't be true. I doubt Cherise would write it like that since she is all for consensual sex. And I was right. I get that the BDSM topic might not be for everyone. Not everyone "understands" the relationship between a Dom and his sub. Safe words are a thing. Trust is huge. And the word "no" is thrown out in many scenes. Which is exactly the reason for the safe word, so the Dom knows when the sub can't handle the scene. I think this book, and all the others from this author, cover this perfectly. She writes strong characters with scars on the inside and the outside and pairs them with men that have their own problems, but give everything in their power to make the heroine feel beautiful and cherished. Throw in some believable drama that at times breaks your heart and you have an magnificent love story from Cherise Sinclair. Experience Josie und Holt yourself. You won't regret it.

Wow...what a sizzling, hot love story!! I just loved Josi and Holt together!! Single mother Josi develops many problems with her bartending job and 11 year old preteen son Carson. When Josi moves into a duplex to be closer to her aunt, she meets Holt. First impression Josi thought he was a lazy, biker type but once she got to know him she realized that he was so much more!! With Josi coming to Shadowlands to bartend, she opens up to what she has been missing all her life!! Love, friendship and peace of mind... Josi and Holt have many obstacles to over come but can they really make it work.. Definitely love this series and this book...Hope there will by many more Shadowland books to come!!!