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Review

4 stars

This story was originally published as the Excess series under Kate Stewart’s penname, Angelica Chase (published as Opulence, Reverence and Hindrance). It’s now all together in one collection to create a story that is fast-paced, sexy, angsty, intriguing, and so very hot.

I read this story when they were separate novellas, and I devoured all three of them in one day. They are that addictive! My reviews for the individual parts of the story are below.

 

Opulence – 4 stars

Nina Scott is living a life that most people dream of, but it’s destroying her. One brilliant idea dragged her out of her quiet, boring life and gave her wealth beyond her wildest dreams. Now 31 years old, she is lonely, unhappy and secretly resenting life among the elite.

I had become one of them. I had no soul to save. I found pleasure now in what used to disgust me. I had begun mingling with the sharks years ago and had the choice to sink or swim.
I had chosen to swim, and it cost me everything.

Adding to her misery, she is hopelessly addicted to a married man that is no good for her. She was with Devin for six months before she found out he was married, but was unable to let him go, and so they have been having a secret affair – hot and dirty sex, seemingly without emotion – and she hates herself even more because of it.

I hated this beautiful man. I hated that I wanted him so desperately. At one time, he’d meant everything to me. Now I longed for the day I could break free, but I craved him like a drug.
I fed his need for dominance; he fed my inner whore.

Nina’s longing for something different from the life she is living leads her to an out of town bar, and she is instantly captivated the moment she sees the singer of the band. Aiden is not only a singer, he owns the bar, and is absolutely sex on legs. They share some intense eye fuckery and afterward, Aiden makes it clear that he’s interested. There are flirty texts, great banter, fun and lightness, and sensational chemistry, but there is also depth there. Nina isn’t after a quick hook up, she’s sick of being used, and Aiden acknowledges and accepts that. He recognises that Nina is struggling with something, and he genuinely cares about her and wants to get to know her. They can’t keep away from each other, and as Nina starts to open up to him, they find themselves powerless to resist their attraction.

“Tell me, Nina, when is the last time a man made love to you?”

Nina and Aiden together are HOT! From the very beginning it’s more than just sex, and it’s all so easy between them. They have a wonderful dynamic, and he provides a stable grounding for Nina that she so desperately needs. He honestly seems like the perfect guy, even starting to show a dirty side that hints of the control and dominance that she craves. But Devin still has a hold over her – professionally and personally – and it doesn’t look like he’s willing to let her go that easily. And if the story is going where I think it is going, it looks like we’re in for some fireworks!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a quick read, but has great intensity and I was instantly hooked. Nina is a complex character and not faultless, but I like that about her. And I like the light side of her that we get glimpses of, she’s real underneath the false exterior she puts on, and I hope to see more of that. But her head is a mess, and I foresee huge amounts of angst as she navigates her way through what is sure to become an awkward love triangle, while at the same time trying to figure out what she wants with her life.

Fast paced, sexy and intriguing with a bit of an edge (and hot, did I mention the hotness? Damn!), Angelica Chase has given us a strong start to her series, and I am diving straight into book 2.

 

Reverence – 4 stars

Book 2 in The Excess series gives us quite a spin on the events from the first book. The Nina/Devin/Aiden rollercoaster is really gearing up now, and my head is spinning!

This book is told in the dual POV of Nina and Devin, and damn my fickle heart, I’m falling for the bastard! I wasn’t expecting his POV, and when we get a clear picture of what his life is really like, everything suddenly looks incredibly different. And as he reflects back on his time with Nina, we can see the connection between them, and I began to understand why Nina is as obsessed with him as she is.

“I don’t like the way you make me feel,” she said, unsteady on her feet.
“No, you love it, and that scares you more.”

In the meantime, Nina and Aiden are getting to know each other better (REALLY better!). I fell in instant love with Aiden in the last book, his humour, lightness and seemingly carefree ways provided a nice balance for Nina. But there is a whole other side to Aiden that is starting to be revealed. He is still carefree and playful, living his life just the way he wants it, and there is something really attractive about that. But there is a lot more to him that starts to emerge as he and Nina start to open up to each other more.

If this man was my knight, I had no doubt he was hiding the dark horse he rode in on.

This book is super hot! Between Nina and Aiden exploring each other anywhere, everywhere, and anyhow, and Devin’s reminiscing, there is sex a-plenty, and it’s sizzling! There are strong elements of submission and domination, but nothing overly dark.

Of course, the drama all comes to a head, and Nina finds herself torn between the two men – although not in the ‘traditional’ love triangle sense. It’s all very well done, and I am really enjoying watching it all fall into place.

The characters and their backstories are revealed slowly, and I love not really knowing the whole story. It keeps things interesting, and puts a different spin on the entire situation every time something new is revealed. There is more brewing though, and my mind is spinning with possibilities!

Once again, the story is fast-paced, exciting, intriguing and oh-so-sexy. There’s a bit more emotion in this one than the first, and I’m thoroughly invested in these characters, and their story. I particularly liked seeing Nina taking control of her life a bit more in this one. The book ends with a stunning moment, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

 

Hindrance – 4 stars

This is the final novella in The Excess series, and it certainly packs a punch! Twists and turns, and some big surprises, I was never really sure what was going to happen, but it all unfolded beautifully!

I can’t say much without spoiling the big ending, and this really is the type of story that you just need to dive into without knowing too much in advance, but I will say that I was really happy with the way it all ended up. Definitely not what I was expecting, and as I said, some big surprises – including a moment that had me worried that everything that had been building would collapse into a hole, but all is good! There’s a lot that goes down in this book, but finally all of the questions are answered, and everything works out just as it’s meant to be – including that hideous love triangle.

Nina has endured a lot in these books, but she’s come through it stronger, and I really like her character development. Often the character who is in the middle of a love triangle comes out looking like a whiny, indecisive idiot, but this one was really believable. Both Devin and Aiden offer her so much, and even though she’s pretty much sexually enthralled by both of them, she does have a backbone, and I loved watching her stand strong.

The sick, needy nymph I had turned into was ruling my life. My anger at myself brought me to one conclusion: love should not be complicated. Fuck them both. I needed neither of them.

These books are highly smutty (and so, so hot), but there is a love story, and in this book, that romance is really there. I started to feel the emotion in the last book, and this time it’s turned up a notch as hearts are laid open and declarations are finally made.

“You are all I want … You are all I will ever want.”

It’s an angst-filled ride right up to the very finish. So much has happened between these three, and so much more happens in this book. And even when the HEA is in sight, there’s still a lot of damage control that’s needed. But I was happy with the way that it all happens, and was left feeling satisfied.

There’s a bit of a teaser for Taylor’s series up next. Nina’s partner and friend is a feisty one, and her story looks like it’s going to be a good one!

I’ve really enjoy these books. My first by Angelica Chase, she has given us a dark, sexy and intriguing story that is fast-paced, cleverly constructed and kept me guessing the whole way through.

4 stars.

 

Lust & Lies