Review: The Siren – Tiffany Reisz

Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she’s sure it’ll be her breakout book…if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora’s fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it’s no deal.

Nora’s grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him…or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

Series:  The Original Sinners #1
Release Date:  July 24, 2012
Publisher:  Mira
Source:  NetGalley
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

This is not your typical erotic, BDSM novel.  It’s not a story where you will love the main characters and be hoping for their happily ever after.

Zach Easton has six weeks to whip the manuscript of Nora Sutherlin into shape before he heads off to California to run the LA office for his publisher.  He doesn’t like Nora’s work, he thinks she’s a guttersnipe, but having nothing left in his life, he gives her a chance.  But instead of the flighty woman he thought she was, she’s complex, sarcastic and incredibly talented.  But what Zach sees in Nora is just the tip of the iceberg.

Zach had me when the first words left his mouth.  He’s British and he was an automatic shoe in for me liking him.  Zach has issues, mainly his wife letting him leave for the States eight months ago without much of a fight.  While he pines away for her here, he wonders what’s left for them.  And while he’s attracted to Nora, he makes a firm decision that while he’s her editor nothing will happen between them.  He sticks to that resolve (almost) and it makes you appreciate the kind of man he is.  He wasn’t perfect, and tended to pass judgement a little too quickly, but he was someone who wasn’t afraid to say he was sorry when he was wrong.  

Nora was a character that had me torn.  On one hand, she was this over the top character who went to great lengths to show she could be this fantastic writer and wasn’t willing to let a stodgy editor from Britain tell her her manuscript wasn’t good.  But on the other hand, she uses sex as a weapon with the men in her life.  I wanted to like her because once I knew some of her back story I could understand why she was the way she was, but it was hard…especially when she would constantly try to cross the line with both Zach and her young assistant, Wesley.

Then there is the man from Nora’s past, Soren.  He’s known her since she was fifteen and until a few years ago, was her Dom.  But it’s hard to watch Nora morn what she had with Soren when we get an up close and personal view of the type of dominance he has over Nora.  Soren will have your gut clinching and your hand permanently over your mouth.

As I said, don’t look for a happily ever after ending.  This is a tough one and may have you cursing certain characters at various times during the book.  But stick with it.  While a difficult read, it’s also one that is so outside of the ordinary that it makes it worth the time.