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Flynn and Laurel #1

Willing Victim

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The 2010 cult hit, remastered and re-released!

For the past couple years Laurel’s been coasting, hiding in the backseat while her life drifts off course. Then one summer afternoon a tall, built bruiser named Flynn strides in and steers her straight into an infatuation she never saw coming.

Flynn introduces Laurel to things she’s never imagined—to the violent but exciting realm of the underground boxing circuit, to rough sex and even rougher role-playing, and to an attraction she craves even as it intimidates her. As Flynn invites her deeper into his world and his life, Laurel has to make a choice—let fear keep her holed up where it’s safe, or take a chance and fight for the man who makes her feel more alive than she’d dreamed possible.

Reader Advisory: This book contains consensual but intense rape role-playing scenes that some may find upsetting.

161 pages, ebook

First published August 6, 2010

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About the author

Cara McKenna

41 books2,188 followers
Since she began writing in 2008, Cara McKenna has published nearly forty romances and erotic novels with a variety of publishers, sometimes under the pen names Meg Maguire and C.M. McKenna. Her stories have been acclaimed for their smart, modern voice and defiance of convention. She was a 2015 RITA Award finalist, a 2014 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award winner, a 2012 and 2011 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee, and a 2010 Golden Heart Award finalist. She lives with her husband and baby son in the Pacific Northwest, though she’ll always be a Boston girl at heart.

For release-day alerts: http://bit.ly/1KBzUZM

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5 stars
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4 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,183 reviews
Profile Image for Blacky *Romance Addict*.
484 reviews6,469 followers
March 25, 2015

What does this book have?


1. Underground fighter as hero

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2. Heroine with great personality

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3. It's full of yummy dirty talk

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4.

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5. The sex is uber, but seriously uber hot!

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Do I recommend this book to all erotica lovers?

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Profile Image for Baba  .
859 reviews3,961 followers
August 28, 2015
Re-read and buddy read with Rosalinda, Stella, Susanne, and Jen March 28, 2013. Review edited March, 29, 2013

“Sex is only dirty when it’s done right.”
- by Woody Allen


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Our heroine, Laurel White, sees a man abusing his girlfriend in the street when Michael Flynn comes to her rescue. He intimidates the mean boyfriend. Laurel is rather impressed by Flynn's deed and is running after him and offers him lunch. She is kind of outspoken and expresses an interest in him. There seems to be something about Flynn...not charisma but raw energy. As it was, Laurel had hit an emotional wall in the last couple of years and being so close to all that sexy male hotness feels very good and magnetic. She craves something different, something new. Though Flynn is a bit wary and tells her she may not like what he loves, however, she’d be welcome to come watch him fight. As a matter of fact, Flynn boxes in informal fights. There are really no substantial rules to those fights and that's exactly what he likes so much. Of course Laurel shows up for the fights and is fascinated instantly.

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Laurel pursed her lips. "Are you threatening me?"
"I never threaten a woman unless she begs me to." His smile came slow and sticky, dripping with put-on sweetness.

"Right, Laurel White. I'm Michael Flynn." He shook her hand curtly. "You've and we know each other's full names. That enough for your first night?"

"Well, draw yourself a pretty little blueprint and do me a favor and don't show it to me. I like fighting, and I like f@cking. I don't care much for thinking."


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"I'm so f@cking ready, you're gonna get me off before we start playing. Taste me," he ordered.


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Let's get down to business. Flynn and Laurel met to explore the rougher side of their sexuality. That's the reason why fluffy, sweet, and shy were not in the cards.
Hands-down the sex is very hot, erotic, arousing and a little bit kinky. It's possible that your panties will melt. Truth be told, sometimes I felt like an intruder, a voyeur. Though I think that anything goes as long as it is consensual. Besides, playing games and indulging yourself into role playing is something very thrilling. Granted, I've never had the urge to have rough sex and I never felt the need of being 'forced' either, however, I can see that those fantasies can be tempting, intriguing, and fascinating after all. It goes without saying that Willing Victim is about fantasies and very hot and rough sex. Besides, it's definitely not an in-depth study of multilayered and complex characters. Although Flynn and Laurel are very likable nonetheless. Whew, Flynn is one seriously dirty talker…love him! <3 And no, Flynn is not a selfish prick. He is actually a very sweet guy, and wonders never cease because the man who doesn't think he is relationship material starts to cuddle.

"I'm a selfish prick, and I want to be the greatest f@ck of your life and ruin you for every man who comes after me. But I'm not a mind reader, so I need some help. Otherwise I could end up as the douchebag who's got shitty taste in wine and totally traumatized you when you were thirty."
"Twenty-nine."
"So tell me," he breathed, right behind her ear. "What do you want me to do to you?"


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"I'm at the Dunkies by my site and I figured out what you smell like."
Laurel made a noise only she heard, a little laugh caught in her nose. "Oh. What's that?"
"That gooey stuff inside a Boston crème donut. That's what you smell like. Now I'll get a hard-on every time I eat one."
She snorted. "Did you just call to sexually harass me?"
"I'm allowed now, ain't I?"


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"Aren't you supposed to wear a mouth guard?" Laurel asked.
(...)
"I hate those things. They make me feel like I'm choking on something."
"Guess I'll never get you into a ball gag, huh?" she asked.
Flynn met the remark with a withering sneer. "Keep that snark up and you'll get yourself punished, missy."


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"F@cking lay still," he whispered. He reached down and pushed the crotch of her panties to one side, big fingers finding her pussy wet and ready. "Oh yeah, you're gonna feel beautiful."


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He forced his thumb between her lips, got her teeth apart even as Laurel bit down as hard as she thought she could without breaking his skin. His tongue slid into her mouth, finding hers and giving her as explicit and dirty a kiss as he could manage. He pulled away, keeping his face close, pressing his forehead to hers and sliding his thumb out of her mouth.

"Let's quit our jobs and f@ck all day."


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He pressed his neck into her touch, spoke through a heavy sigh. "I like when you do that."
"Do what?"
"You know…" His voice faded to a mumble. "Fuss over me."
"Take care of you?"

"And maybe afterward we could come back here and not have sex."
"Sounds fucking sensational," Flynn murmured, pulling her tight against him so she felt his hardening cock. "Can't wait to not have sex with you."


What I especially liked was the fact that the author didn’t end the story with a promise of everlasting love. Even though there was not an outspoken “I love you” they will continue to see each other and there is a HFN. This being said, I’m really glad there wasn’t a lover’s oath because that would have been too sappy and they hadn't seen each other for a long time after all.

"You keep busting my balls and I might just trick you into sticking around."
She laughed, embarrassed and flattered. Relieved.
"But don't worry, not 'til we get better at not having sex."


Finally, the author advises readers who are sensitive about rape, even in a simulated and absolutely consensual capacity, not to read this story. This may sound kind of odd, however, when I was reading Willing Victim the concept of rape never entered my mind. Laurel had a safe word, and I appreciated the fact that the author 'showed' me that Flynn immediately stopped whatever he did when Laurel used it.

What didn't work for me
Flynn calling Laurel 'kiddo' was annoying, and I very much preferred 'sweetheart'. The book is f@cking good but too f@cking short. Well, I guess you get the gist. ;-)


Highly recommended to readers who want to explore the darker side of sexuality.


Steam 4

**********************

Thanks for the buddy read, ladies! Gotta make it very clear though...I got dibs on Flynn!

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Profile Image for Sammy Loves Books.
1,137 reviews1,624 followers
April 28, 2019
It's Official!!! I have kicked all other Fictional Lovers Out Of My Bed!!!
Flynn Fucks like a Demon Possessed!!! Has the Heart of an Angel and Talks So Dirrrty, I'm out of Panties!

Michael, aka, Flynn
description
“You can have this big hard cock anytime you want,” he promised, hips hammering fast. “Say my name.”

That's the only dirty talking sample you'll get from me...You must read Willing Victim to get more. And I promise you, there is Much More! Flynn may fuck like a demi god, but he's polite, honest, and did I say considerate? He's the alpha male I crave! Being an "alpha" doesn't mean one has to be a dick.

Sub Shop Girl, aka, Laurel
description

Laurel is my kinda girl. She goes after what she wants and doesn't allow a little fear to get in her way! She gives as good as she takes, which is why this book works! She isn't a shy submissive. She's a girl with balls and I respect the hell out of that in a heroine!
She watched his eyes close, his face turn helpless. And she wanted him. Wanted to be here to patch him up, to call him on his bullshit and get called out in return, to explore the darker depths of her mind and body with this patient, real, occasionally obnoxious man.
“I love when you look this defenseless,” she murmured, grinning evilly at him.
“Not many women ever manage to get me on my back,” he said, voice shallow and scratchy.
“You better keep me around then.”

description
“Michael.”
His posture transformed in an instant. He sat down next to her on the bed, hands clasped between his knees, wary eyes on her face. “Too rough?”
“I’m not sure. I think mostly I just wanted to test the safe word. I think I needed to know you’d stop, if I asked you to.”
“Always.”

This is NOT a BDSM book so don't go in expecting it or you will be disappointed. Flynn hates BDSM and feels that that it is too fucking complicated. Love him!!
description
The sound of her name, two choked syllables rising from his throat as he gave her all the power felt like a filthy, sacred proclamation. She stared at his strained face. Fall in love with me.
“Laurel.”
Fall in love with me.

Laurel isn't perfect and neither is Flynn. They both have their faults and insecurities, but it is their open honesty that is so endearing! I LOVE these two together and completely wanted more!
If you are in the mood for a dirty talking alpha man, phenomenal sex, and a fun time..Read This Book!!!

Buddy Read with my hotties, RachelT aka "Dimples" and Sarah!!

Follow my reviews at www.readinghaven.me
Profile Image for Isabella. R.
958 reviews1,804 followers
June 19, 2022
5 Fucked-Up Kind of Magical Stars ⭐

"It’s all about control, having it or giving it up. It’s really freeing, when it’s your thing."

Willing Victim is erotica perfection, with characters that elevate this book to greatness. Kink is not necessarily everybody's preference, but with a hero as phenomenal as Flynn, many will be converted. Even though he prefers and demands his sex rough, the man is glorious underneath the brutish persona.

"Listen, kiddo," he said.

"I’m a selfish prick, and I want to be the greatest fuck of your life and ruin you for every man who comes after me."


When Laurel went out on a whim to approach Flynn she hadn't anticipated the strings attached. She certainly never expected to entertain or enjoy his brand of sex, until it dawns on her, she genuinely likes him. What better incentive to explore this thing between them.

"She let the feelings crash over her, fear and excitement heating her from the inside out, the chemical rush in her brain compounding it all, getting her high."

Beware, as this is a story about a couple who embrace role play featuring forced sexual encounters to euphoric levels. It may not be what you're used to but damn its sensual to read.

"You don’t wanna know how rough I can play, girl."

His lips brushed hers. "Now I’m gonna let your hands go and you’re gonna be good, or else I’m gonna be real bad. You got that?"


Did I mention how divine Flynn is? Here is a man unashamed of who he is and what he likes and most importantly; he would never do anything to put his partner in harms way. There is something extremely likeable about him. Perhaps his honesty, kind heart and the way he handles a hesitant Laurel in all aspects that makes it real. The writing is flawless and an absolute joy to read.
Profile Image for Giorgia Reads.
1,323 reviews2,037 followers
March 21, 2020
5 ⭐️

First off, cheers to everyone that recommended this one to me because it exceeded my expectations. I get the hype allright?! I totalllly get it.
I will start by saying that this is a novella and therefore it was short. I'm mentioning that because for such a short book, it achieved the feat of developing interesting three dimensional characters and a unique story. Considering all that, I'd say the 5 stars are deserved.

First thing that I noticed and adored about this : the sexual relationship that the MCs get involved in was not fetishised but rather normalised?!?

It felt oddly comforting to read about people with particular tastes in the bedroom without making a show of it or having that particularity take centre stage in the story. The whole book felt honest, genuine even and the dialog was so natural.

Is it wrong to have the hots for a guy with Flynn’s proclivities and who says things like: “I like fighting and I like f**king. I don’t care much for thinking.” I mean I’m BIG on thinking.. most of the time.. but my brain cells seem to retreat when I read about that guy so I'm not sure where I stand. All joking aside, this dude for all his "not thinking" life mantra is the most coherent, logical and analytical guy I’ve read about in awhile.

I truly enjoyed this book and I guess it’s because it really inserts the human element in that whole situation. You can really get inside those people’s heads and they are no longer some characters in a kinky book but real life people that feel the same things as everybody else.

I’m not sure this will sound like a compliment but I mean it as one. If this book was to be further developed and polished in places, it would make for a good literary fiction novel. The subject matter or the basis on which the storyline is developed, plus the character development (Flynn is a great, solid dude but Laurel is an equally if not even more intriguing character) they all lend themselves as pillars for a potentially great novel.

I’m not even sure I’d categorise this as erotica or kink, I mean yes it does have both, but in my opinion it’s more of a study of certain aspects pertaining to the human condition. Sounds very clinical, unappealing and perhaps philosophical but this book definitely took me to a place of contemplation at least it did towards the end of the book.
Profile Image for Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾.
2,147 reviews13.2k followers
April 21, 2014
3.5 OMG WHY WASN'T THIS BOOK LONGER Stars

I like fighting, and I like fucking. I don't care much for thinking.


Oh sweet mother of orgasms! I had a very close and passionate relationship with my Kindle while reading this book

If you've already met Flynn, you'll know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

And if you have yet to meet him?

The man is lethal to your ovaries. I'm not even slightly exaggerating here. The description of Flynn alone got me all hot and bothered
He looked both lean and heavy, raw and bruised and tattooed and feral. Muscles sicced and jumped in this arms as he stripped cotton bandaging off his wrists and tossed it in the trash basket behind him.


But then he opens his mouth...
God,Flynn"
"That's right. Say my name. Tell me who's fucking that tight cunt."


I recommend having either your significant other on hand, or plenty of batteries. This book may be short, but holy SHIT is it potent?

You have a hot, dirty talking, underground fighter that's into some verra interesting things. You have a great heroine that's not afraid to go after what she wants. You have mind blowing, incendiary sex scenes that will have you running towards the nearest cold shower. And you have dirty talk to beat all dirty talk. My only complaint? I wish this was a full length novel. I would have loved to get to know Flynn and Laurel better. It's tough to form a true connection with characters in just 130 pages. I can't say that I never did, but I was left wanting just a little bit more.

You get your trademark Cara McKenna HFN ending. But truthfully, considering the short span of time that this book takes place in, I couldn't imagine it ending any other way.

For more reviews visit

Profile Image for Rosalinda *KRASNORADA*.
268 reviews536 followers
March 29, 2013

FULL REVIEW NOW UP

***FOUR BOURNING STARS***




Oh yeah, ladies, you were f@cking right, this book was VERY HOT!

Laurel is not your typical heroine. I mean, I was kinda shocked at the beginning because when she met Flynn, she was the one asking him out. Ok, ok, I know things have changed but NO WAY I’m asking a guy out. PERIOD.

”You asking me out?”
You’ll never see him again in your life if he turns you down. Just say yes.


So he tells her to meet him in a place she doesn’t know but she decides to go because she’s very intrigued.



And when she realizes what he’s doing there she finds it even more appealing. And something weird yet hot happens. Laurel meets Pam, Flynn’s fuckbuddy and she invites her to play voyeur while they have sex. And I didn’t how I was going to feel about that scene but let me tell you that was abso*fucking*lutely hot!



What goes on between me and her, it’s not pretty. If you can’t stand lookin’ at a little rope burn, you probably won’t enjoy yourself.


Pretty clear, right? Flynn likes rough sex, he likes playing but that’s it, it’s just a game, a very hot game between consenting adults.

”Are you threatening me?”
“I never threaten a woman unless she begs me to”


One of the things that I loved the most about this book was that the characters were real. You know when you read a book and they are all rich people with great jobs and better lives? Well, this is not the case, they just have normal jobs and normal lives and it felt so good reading about something so normal. Flynn was totally transparent and I loved that about him.

I like fighting, and I like fucking. I don’t care much for thinking.


So after that first voyeur encounter Laurel decides that she wants a bite of what she saw so they see each other again. Just the two of them and boy, I cannot even express how hot the sex scenes in this book were. I could say this book have some of the best sex scenes I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a few.

”I’ve been jerking off thinking about this. About making you taste me. I’m so fucking ready, you’re gonna get me off before we start playing. Taste me




I’m a selfish prick, and I want to be the greatest fuck of your life and ruin you for every man who comes after me.


Yes… my feelings exactly. Flynn knows what he’s doing and he probably ruined me too!

So they keep having great sex but the thing is Flynn is also a very nice guy, even if he tells her that he’s not boyfriend material, that he never calls back, he never cuddles… He just had a bad experience and he wants to play his game with people who can follow his “rules”. He knows what he wants.

I’d rather go without and be lonely than not be how I really want with someone


But then he’s not that cold and he starts and that’s when you just fall in love with him and he suddenly is one of your favourite book boyfriends.



So if you want a quick hot read, go for it! You’ll love it!



And yes, this was me while reading the book, LOL.



And enjoy Flynn ladies. Once again, I loved how simple yet interesting he was.

THANKS LADIES! I loved this BR with you: BABA, StellaR, Susanne, & Rosanna
Profile Image for Jennifer Kyle.
2,488 reviews5,322 followers
January 7, 2016
4.5 STARS

description

Oh how I loved the book Badger by this author! I have pushed and pimped the book as much as a non-blogger can possibly do. That being said, I have been dabbling in the author’s other books simply for my Badger Love. I tried Hard Time which I totally recommend and I’m happy to report that this short, sexy read, is getting two thumbs up from me as well. For those of you who have this just sitting on your Kindles give it a go!

I was a bit hesitant about an older eroctica story figuring I would be snickering at the dialogue and/or pretty much rolling my eyes. However, this book had my full attention. From the moment the heroine encounters the hero, she knows he’s something very different and she pushes herself out of her comfort zone and makes several first moves.

description

What Laurel finds in taking Flynn’s could care less invitation to stop by one of his fights is that this hot no bullshit type of man is into rough/dominant sex. She is offered to watch him and his partner. This offer is made by his female partner. Laurel goes for it!

description

Flynn explains what he is into and Laurel is super intrigued to be with him in such a manner.

”It’s like a pool. There’s a shallow end. Or you can just sit by the side in a lounge chair and watch.”

description

”Right, Laurel White. I’m Michael Flynn.” He shook her hand curtly. “You’ve watched me fuck and we know each other’s full names. That enough for your first night?”

description

I found the hero fascinatingly well written. Sadly, the story ended way too soon for me. Perhaps the author will revisit these two? I loved that Flynn wasn’t all about his kink. I loved how he seemed so realistic and how Laurel and I couldn’t help but want more.

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”Fall in love with me.”

Profile Image for SueBee★bring me an alpha!★.
2,417 reviews14.9k followers
August 15, 2017
★★★★1/2! Quick and sexy novella with a memorable & commanding hero & a heroine in need of exploring the rougher side of sex.

“I’m a selfish prick, and I want to be the greatest f~ck of your life and ruin you for every man who comes after me. But I’m not a mind reader, so I need some help.”


This novella starts off as a story about rough sex and role play between two consenting adults who met by chance. But story grows into following the friendship that ensues and sweet budding romance.

Hero: Michael Flynn, “Flynn”/32 years/construction worker-underground fighter/dark hair/hazel-blue eyes/6’3½”
Heroine: Laurel White/29 years/unemployed engineer-waitress/colored red hair


While the hero, Flynn has been in tune with this rougher side of himself since his mid-twenties, the heroine, Laurel has not. Their first encounter takes place when Flynn breaks up a domestic argument with Laurel sitting nearby.

She is quite taken with him and boldly pursues him. I might have preferred the hero to pursue the heroine, but as the story unfolds we learn about Laurel’s struggles both personal and professional in recent years. She is in need of a change. I’d like to think that it was her inner sub who felt a connection to Flynn. In addition to being impressed with his looks and his size she probably sensed his dominance and was drawn to him. I found Laurel both genuine and endearing. Nevertheless their first couple of encounters offers some good quotes much thanks to Flynn’s sharp tongue:
“Yes, I’m asking you out then.” [Laurel]
“Sorry, but I’ll take a pass.” [Flynn]

***
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey yourself, sub shop girl. Took me a minute to remember why I recognized you.”


I really enjoyed Flynn. He also feels real and genuine, a regular guy with a regular job. Raised by his sister who describes him:
“Sober, employed, no record.”

He works out at the gym every night after work and does underground fighting on the weekends. He engages in non-committal sex and role play. Though he can enjoy traditional sex he prefers rougher sex.
His comes across as elusive and he is bossy with that sharp tongue of his. I hereby crown Flynn the King of come-backs! He speaks his mind and doesn’t hold back:
“And I’ll tell you now, I won’t be calling you tomorrow or the next day or the day after that, so don’t get in a stink when I don’t. None of the normal dating rules apply to this.”

***
“Well, draw yourself a pretty little blueprint and do me a favor and don’t show it to me. I like fighting, and I like f~cking. I don’t care much for thinking.”


But he is also very caring and kind. He is very unassuming in his interactions and his approach to life in general. An all-around great guy!

Flynn is the attraction of the story. Laurel was sweet and endearing the more I got to know her, but she did not leave as much of an impression. Part of that I attribute to her submissive personality and the story being a novella. But the biggest part for me is always – the larger the hero the more the heroine tends to fade into the background.

The sex was hot and intense!, Flynn has quite a command and though the role play delivered I found myself really enjoying when the softer side of Flynn came out.
“You taste so f~cking amazing.” He brought his head up and Laurel could see the violent rise and fall of his chest. “Sit on my face,” he said.”


I would highly recommend Flynn’s and Laurel’s story. I only wish for their story was longer. I look forward to more books from Cara McKenna. As a matter of fact After Hours is next for me.

***
Hero rating:4.5 stars
Heroine rating: 3 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 4 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 4.5 stars
Story ending rating: 4 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): 4.5 stars
************************************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars

Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
Profile Image for Sarah.
347 reviews132 followers
March 13, 2013
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Oh my good god, what did I just read????

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Ok, so I've heard a lot of people have been put off reading this book due to the title and synopsis of the book, and in fact I myself was initially put off as I am highly sensitive to reading books where rape is a part of the story line. However a very good friend of mine assured me that this book would be good for me so let me start my review by saying to all of you who might grimace at what this book might infer, the key word here is 'willing' . Yes so before you start running for the hills, let me assure you the female lead in this story is more than 'willing' to play her part and at no point did anything happen that two consenting adults didn't want to happen, in fact you can pretty much ignore the 'victim' part of the title because I didn't see any victims in this book at all.

Right that's that bit done....now onto my review.....

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Oh my flipping heck that was one of THE hottest, most arousing, tingle in my ladies parts inducing, books I've read for a very long time.....

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Not only could I not put this book down but I think I read most of the book with my mouth hanging open wide in amazement, at one point I was even tempted to start googling where the nearest underground illegal fight clubs were in my area so I could run along and get me some Flynn.

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(Albeit my husband might've had something to say about that????)

Honest to god, a book that I thought really wouldn't be my thing had me gripped so much I was practically dribbling all over my iPad and I've never wanted a book to continue so much in my life. In fact I'm seriously thinking of emailing the author and begging her to make this one longer, an extra one thousand words should do it!!!



An amazing 4.5 stars from me, only marked it down by half a star because I wanted more, more exploration of why Laurel was taking a back seat in life, more about Flynn and Laurels developing relationship, more about Flynn's past, more about the underground fight club, more hot sweaty rough sex.....just more in general.

If you are stuck in a book funk, like I was, and you need some thing to get your temperature soaring and your mouth salivating then this is the book for you.

Thank you Rach for opening my eyes to a different style of book, and making me push outside my comfort zone, and thank you to Rach and Sammy for a great buddy read, right I'm off to buy me some duct tape....lol ;D

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Profile Image for Christy.
4,151 reviews34.8k followers
March 18, 2013
4 Hot Hot Hot Stars!

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When Laurel White and Michael Flynn meet, Laurel immediately feels this pull towards Flynn. There is something about this guy. Laurel does something she rarely ever does, she asks him out. He says he’s not her type. She doesn’t want to take no for an answer. Flynn invites Lauren to an underground club on a Saturday night, he thinks after she finds out more about him, she will change her mind. Laurel discovers a lot about Flynn that night... one thing is that he is an fighter.

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Laurel doesn’t walk away from Flynn. His preferences are a little different than the norm, but Laurel finds that things she thought would turn her off do the exact opposite. Holy wow- the sex in this book is smoking hot! I get the sex in this book seems a little taboo for some, but it’s always consensual and a little rough and a lot HOT!

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Flynn fills Laurel’s sexual desires that she didn’t even know she had until she met him. Everything is going good for Laurel and Flynn, until she realizes it may not be just sex for her...
I loved Flynn. He knew what he wanted- as he would say ‘what turns his crank’ Some people have a kink. All it takes is those magic words ‘what are you into?’ Flynn was hot, domineering, sexy, controlling, but he also had a really sweet side. A short book, but a sexy read I really enjoyed- and I don’t feel a bit bad about it ;-)

This makes me think of Flynn:
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If you want a really hot read... pick this one up!!
Profile Image for Bella -.
124 reviews122 followers
January 18, 2021
“Sounds…pure.”
“It is. Fighting and sex. Only drugs I need.”
“Maybe I need to find that thing. That thing that shuts my brain up.”


INTRO

“I’d feel like the weird, disapproving prude in the corner.”

At first, I also thought I would feel this way, but It wasn’t like that at all; I felt the opposite, I was there to get the experience fully, and I completely enjoyed it.

It is interesting, though. If I had read this book maybe years ago, I wouldn’t have felt this way because I was a bit conservative at the beginning of my erotica reading journey. Personally, It is good to know that I have come this far. I feel like I upgraded my sexual opinions and It feels liberating. Nothing for the world, high achievement for me...

Being physically controlled by someone she knew she couldn’t ever hope to fight off was both arousing and terrifying.

STORY AND CHARACTERS

This is the love story of Laurel (29) and Flynn (32). Honest and real. With ups and downs, the bumpy road of love...
Neither of the MCs has the perfect job or the perfect life or the perfect anything; they both have their own flaws and flawed lives. And their togetherness is the sincere compromise of two people who are falling in love with each other.

“I wanna know what you like,”
“Well, I’m here because I want to see what it’s like to be with someone, you know…like you.”


Both Laurel and Flynn are comfortable in their own skins. Laurel is direct. She is a person who challenges herself to discover more about her own. And Flynn is honest; he is who he is; he is not a person who can fake it or act differently just because people prefer that way. I love them individually and as a couple very much.

She bit her lip, feeling stupid. “Don’t look like that,” Flynn said. “You’re still getting your brains fucked out when we leave here, kiddo.”


“Fall in love with me.”
Horror slapped her in the face as the words tumbled from her subconscious into the air between them.
“I will,” he grunted, still panting, still lost in the fucking.

How do you offer good relationship development when one of the main aspects is sex?
Well, the answer is this book.
I loved how their relationship evolved, how they began to fall, how they started making compromises for each other... When the book is erotica, the relationship development generally stays in the background, but here, it has major importance, and it feels right.

“You know I said two weeks ago or whenever that if you came and watched me fight, and you still wanted to ask me out after that, you could. We’ve hooked up, like, three times since then and you still haven’t asked me out.”

OVERALL

If I were to mention a disturbance, I would call it the hygiene issues, but this is my personal concern in every book, all the books kinda disturb me in this sense. Especially in their cases, the hygiene is nonrelevant to not mess with the steamy atmosphere (For example, directly having sex after the door is closed rather than washing their hands first). Here even this hygienical lacking felt real. So this isn't a disturbance either, not really.

4,5 Stars. This book is the perfect combination of: Plot, love story, romance, dark, erotica, kink... And the most challenging part is that it manages to offer them all in a novella. Seriously nothing is too much or lacking; this book is completely adorable.



Thank you for this awesome recommendation, Renee!

“That gooey stuff inside a Boston crème donut. That’s what you smell like. Now I’ll get a hard-on every time I eat one.”
I just wanted the conclude it with my favorite scene in the book
Profile Image for Monique.
438 reviews190 followers
August 4, 2020
4 'Michael Flynn is my future husband' stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I expected it to be awesome. I expected it to be scorching hot. I didn't except for it to make me feel kind of all warm and... in love??

He pressed his neck into her touch, spoke through a heavy sigh. “I like when you do that.”
“Do what?”
“You know…” His words faded to a mumble. “Fuss over me.”
“Take care of you?”
He nodded, just the briefest dip of his chin.

Flynn and Laurel were both great characters. And for a relatively short book, the author definitely managed to make me care for them that much. It was easy to connect with them. Additional points for making them "normal" people. You don't need to be billionaire or mafia to be kinky.

“Right. Laurel White, I’m Michael Flynn.” He shook her hand curtly. “You’ve watched me fuck and we know each other’s full names. That enough for your first night?”

And now we need to talk about the pure hotness and sexiness that is Michael Flynn. Oh. My. God! This man! *insert long and flattering praise because I'm speechless*

“Listen, kiddo,” he said. “I’m a selfish prick, and I want to be the greatest fuck of your life and ruin you for every man who comes after me.”



“Touch me.”
His mouth retreated by millimeters, breath cool on her wet skin. “Ask nicely.”
“Touch me, Flynn, please.”

I loved the combination of hardcore erotica, serious and meaningful moments, and adorable humor.

“I wasn’t jealous,” Laurel said.
He smirked again, playfully skeptical. “Could you pretend you are? Makes me feel fuckin’ ten feet tall.”

The only complaint I have is the length of the book. It was so good but way too short. I'm greedy and want more. Luckily, there's one more book, so - book 2 here I come.
Profile Image for ⊱✿⊰ Alicia ⊱✿⊰ .
561 reviews451 followers
February 7, 2017
4.5 Sub Shop Girl Stars

That was one hot read.

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Thanks Lily for the awesome recommendation ;)

I liked that when Laurel and Flynn first met, Flynn turned Laurel down when she asked him out. It peeked my interest as it's not something that usually happens. So there is definitely no insta love in this one.

The first scene that Laurel was just watching was done really well. I will say though that if you are not a fan of OW/OM, cheating or role play rape this book is not for you.

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You could feel the intense attraction between Flynn and Laurel from the very beginning even when Flynn was acting all "I don't do relationships, I just fuck". This book was written really well from the third person POV and made we feel a part of the book which is always good.

Take me way down deep into the dark. Help me find some new piece of myself there.

I think the whole idea of Flynn got me hooked right away. 6"3, dark hair, hazel eyes, big and masculine just my type. Add in the underground fighting, his personality and the way he fucks well Flynn is just the complete package for me (even if he doesn't like coffee tsk tsk).

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I liked Laurel, she was straight forward, subtle and submissive but independent, strong and spoke her mind when needed. I often have little problems with the females in books, probably the catty female in me but I found no fault in Laurel and really liked her.

I highly recommend this quick hot read.

Profile Image for Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker.
596 reviews392 followers
June 1, 2012
Made our badass hidden gem..

http://badassbookreviews.com/badass-h...


OMG. I'm annoyed. You have an author that can clearly write, characters that are terrific, and you put the story in a short story? So. Unfair.

Seriously, I loved the characters (ok, how can you not adore Flynn) and I loved the story and I want more. Get rid of the title, the cover, and add about 200 pages because the writing and the story deserve a lot more page time.



This is a 5 star story stuck in a 3 star package.
Profile Image for Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read**.
1,435 reviews785 followers
July 31, 2016

***4.5 Stars***

HOLY MOTHER OF COCK ON A CRACKER!!!



Why the hell have I been waiting to read this book for so long?!?!?! Why have I been denying myself the glorious sexiness that is Flynn??



This was a fantastic novella about two people with particular sexual cravings. Two people who like it rough and dirty and raw. Two people who find an easy connection outside of their passionate sexual chemistry.

Flynn and Laurel were explosive together, and I seriously wondered how my kindle didn't spontaneously combust!

Laurel likes the darker side of sex and she happens to cross paths with Flynn, an underground fighter with similarly dark tastes. The two make an arrangement for Laurel to experiment with her rougher cravings, but what neither expected was a genuine connection to be formed outside of their role-playing.

The banter between these two is fantastic. The pacing and flow of the story sucks you in from the very beginning and doesn't let go until you begrudgingly reach that last page. I wish this story was longer! I could have read another 150 pages about Flynn and Laurel. I loved the dichotomy of their relationship...how rough and gritty they could get between the sheets and how caring and affectionate they could be outside the bedroom.

Only two small grievances keep me from giving this a full 5 stars...(1) the beginning of their relationship. A little too easy and unrealistic. I find it hard to believe that Laurel, a 29 year old woman, would easily accept an invitation to meet a man in the basement of a bar and then go there by herself. You gotta take a friend as backup, Laurel. Safety first. And (2) I wish the book were longer. I would have loved more background on Flynn and Laurel. Yes, I know....greedy whore I am. I just wanted more time with them! Especially since I know we'll get Cara McKenna's signature HFN ending...

If you're looking for a wonderfully written, quick and dirty read to whisk you away from real life and make your body tingle....THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!! READ IT!!






**Possible no-go scene for some readers. I'll give you a little more detail about the first spoiler in another spoiler.
August 2, 2016

Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest


I told myself I wasn't going to buy any more ebooks until I cleared out my Kindle, but then I saw one of my friends' reviews for this book pop up in my feed, and realized it was a whole dollar cheaper than the last time I looked at it, and it was remastered and expanded.



Well, shoot...so much for any pretense of fragile self-control.



To be fair, WILLING VICTIM has been on my to-read list for a while. I've had half a dozen people recommend it to me, and the summary seemed really good. Plus, I've read another book about rape play, called ASKING FOR IT, and the inevitable comparisons between the two books made me even more curious.



Both books do deal with rape play but the approach is drastically different. ASKING FOR IT is more in keeping with the "dark" erotic romance trend spurred on by the popularity of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. Even though it deals with kink and BDSM-like themes in a fairly straightforward way, both characters are tortured and have dark paths, inadvertently contributing to the stereotype that normal, well-adjusted people can't get involved in the kink/BDSM scene.



ASKING FOR IT is also a full-length novel, which means it has times to expand on characterization and relationships in a way that WILLING VICTIM, which is a novella, doesn't.



I liked both books, but I do think that being a longer book gives ASKING FOR IT an advantage that it definitely utilizes to its fullest extent, which is probably why I enjoyed that book more. WILLING VICTIM, on the other hand, has better characters, and given the page time they have, I think the author did a fantastic job breathing life and complexity into them. These characters have their fair share of issues too, but it's more normal, run-of-the-mill stuff that doesn't tie into histories of abuse.



Let's take a moment to appreciate the hero in this book, Michael Flynn. He really is a decent guy. Yes, he's into some edgy stuff in the bedroom, but the author makes it very clear that Flynn would never go beyond what a woman wants, and would always stop if she said stop. I also thought it was really sweet that he watched to make sure that women leaving his apartment got into their cars safely. That is such a considerate thing to do and speaking as a woman, I love it when men do this. Also, those arms and abs. And that accent. I'm sorry, but I can't even right now.



Will definitely have to check out some of this author's other work!



4 stars!
Profile Image for Melanie A. (on hiatus).
1,158 reviews488 followers
March 20, 2020
4.5 STARS!
Tonight he was hers. Tomorrow could go fuck itself.
WOW! This was SCORCHING hot! Kudos to the author for pulling this off. Flynn is one of the BEST heroes I've ever read!

However . . .

Warning: this book is not for everyone.
"Sounds sordid."

"It is, actually, and that's exactly how I want things to be right now."
I will admit that I was VERY close to DNF'ing multiple times in the first couple of chapters, though not for the reasons you'd expect.

This put me off:
She'd like to be seen with a tall, strong, self-proclaimed asshole.
A heroine who would think something like that screams SHALLOW to me. Luckily it wasn't indicative of her overall personality.

And then Laurel and Pam's initial interactions at the gym put me off too.

Thank goodness I pushed through!!!!!

I loved Flynn. McKenna did an incredible job of balancing his 'dual' personality. I devoured every word written about him and the evolution of his desires.

And the chemistry between Flynn and Laurel set my Kobo on FIRE . . . I cannot stress this enough, lol. I will absolutely re-read this in the future.

I have to round down unfortunately because I thought the emotions these two were feeling weren't warranted by the limited amount of time they'd spent together. In other words, this book was too short. Good thing there's a sequel!
April 15, 2013

º¤º¤º 4 Solid Stars º¤º¤º

"Fall in love with me." Horror slapped her hand in the face as the words tumbled out of her subconsciousness in the air between them.
"I will," he said, still panting, still lost in the fucking.
"I didn't' mean that."
He laughed, sounding exasperated. "Fine. But you keep treating me the way you have been, and I will. Whether you like it or not." He groaned. "But I won't say it in the middle of getting my brains fucked out, so relax."


My Flynn
[image error]


My Laurel
description

A very hot story of 2 people coming together in a very unconventional way.
Laurel is a 29 year old who's life stalled meets, rather follows a hunky construction worker, Flynn, after he breaks up a couple fighting in the park. Immediately she is attracted to him with his raw masculine energy and she finds herself asking him out but unfortunately she is turned out. However, Flynn invites her out to see him and decide if she STILL will want to see him. What Laurel finds when she goes to the given address is a dive bar with an underground gym (by day) and an illegal underground fighting ring (by night) that Flynn takes part at.

He was bare to the waist, powerful muscles lit stark by the white light, sultry by the red. He looked both lean and heavy, raw and bruised and tattooed and feral. Muscles ticced and jumped in his arms as he stripped cotton bandages off his wrists and tossed it in the trash basket behind him.




Laurel is intrigued and still sticks around even when she learns that he likes his bedroom play as he likes his fighting. Rough, dirty, and free for all with no rules except a safe word.

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So Laurel jumps in and discovers new things about herself. She loves the power that she gives up when she is with Flynn and finds herself growing more attached to him. Attached to a man who she believes doesn't do relationships even though with her Flynn breaks every one of his rules.

When his chest brushed hers she wrapped her arms around his back, grateful for his strength. Grateful he might be in her corner she she decided she was ready to learn how to be strong again herself.


Profile Image for Vishous.
557 reviews570 followers
January 20, 2016




well.... well, well, well....

hmmmmm.... mmmmmmmmm........

FIRST I WILL WRITE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE BOOK WITHOUT THE FIRST SEX SCENE PART:

I LOVED IT!!!!! THAT WAS REALLY GOOOOOOOD! FLINN WAS HOT ALL THE WAY!
I WOULD EAT HIM AND LICK HIM ALL THE WAY AND I BET HE WOULD BE DELICIOUS!

description

I loved Laurel too. She was amazing but....

here comes the

SECOND PART OF HOW I FEEL WHERE I AM TALKING ABOUT FIRST SEX SCENE IN THE BOOK:

description


SPOILER:

sorry but not my thing watching a guy I want to fu@k...fu@king some other woman to see what is it all about...

I can really read about everything but this... sorry but just no :(


description

Soooo when it comes to rating:

the part I loved - 5 stars

the part I didn't like - 1 star - duh :D

I would give it 3 stars but damn I can't do that because Flinn my man you got me TMI--->




buddy read with my gorgeous queen and my little OCD
Profile Image for Carla Bulian.
1,433 reviews404 followers
March 21, 2020
I enjoyed a lot this story, it was so raw and beautiful!
Great book!
Profile Image for Ridley.
359 reviews345 followers
September 30, 2010
I bought this book for two reasons:

1. It's set in Boston and written by a local.
2. The characters act out rape fantasies.

It met my expectations completely on both accounts. Boston was a living, breathing character and the rape scenes were deliciously dark and satisfying.

Laurel White is nearly thirty but she's spinning her wheels working as a waitress at a tourist trap. She hasn't been able to make a relationship work long-term and she's stuck living with two roommates in a small apartment in the North End. When she sees a bruiser of a construction worker break up an escalating lovers' spat at a downtown park, she's immediately drawn to him, following after him to ask him on a date. He initially turns her down, but when she presses him, he writes an address on a napkin and hands it to her.
“Friday and Saturday nights, eight to one. Tell the guy working that Flynn invited you...If that doesn’t scare you off,” he said, “you can try askin’ me out again.”
As it turns out, Flynn has invited her to one of his boxing matches - held in the basement of a South Boston dive bar - and to meet Pam, the woman he has rough sex with. Before he gets involved with her, he's letting her know just what sort of beast she's poking at. When Pam invites Laurel to watch her and Flynn "scratch each other's kinky itches," that night, Laurel agrees to go, intrigued despite herself.

Laurel and Flynn then forge a "friends with benefits" sort of arrangement where she explores a hitherto unknown part of herself that is unspeakably turned on by rape fantasy.

The book is in third person, but told exclusively from the heroine's point of view. Flynn is a chatty Cathy (while somehow managing to stay the strong silent type as well, not sure how that happened) so he's made completely real to the reader despite the lack of his POV. Being in Laurel's head is integral to enjoying the unorthodox sex scenes. Watching Flynn with another woman would have been off-putting if the reader didn't know how much Laurel enjoyed the spectacle. The forceful rape scenes - complete with fighting, spitting, and name-calling - would have been disturbing without the firm assurance that Laurel felt completely safe and was completely on board.

As a result of the focused POV, the book relies strongly on dialog, and does a smashing job of it. When Laurel expresses her nervousness, Flynn calms her nerves in a way that both explains what they're doing and gives a glimpse into the kind of person Flynn is.
“Neither of us is here to prove anything,” he said. “We’re here to have fun, and for you to maybe get your motor cranked like you never knew it could be. Or not. Who knows? My ego’s not tied up in this going a certain way. The only thing that makes me nervous is hurting you by mistake, and I trust myself enough to think that’s unlikely.”
The characters are constantly communicating and nearly all of the character development comes through in their own words. Since they're basically talking it out with me, they felt especially real. Flynn was pitch-perfect working-class Boston as well. The bit where he intentionally held up another driver on Laurel's tiny North End street just to be a prick was classic. I lawled.

Where the book fell apart for me was the ending. Ms. McKenna may insist she writes erotica and not erotic romance, but whatever she intended, she's effectively written 90% of an erotic romance. Just as the characters are admitting feelings for each other, exposing vulnerabilities and showing greater insight into who they are, the book ends without much of a resolution to it. It's not completely devoid of a HFN, but to end a book 5 pages after introducing a number of new character revelations? Not nice. Sure neat and tidy is ultimately forgettable, but you can have resolution *and* leave open possibilities at the same time. I was just the teeniest bit frustrated after finishing it.
November 14, 2016
4* kinky fuckery STARS!!

Honestly I never read this author before and it was because a reviewer said she feel some similarity when read Asking for It by Lilah Pace. I liked this kind of theme. Unusual and taboo. I read the remastered edition but I didn't feel any difference from the previous.

Laurel didn't feel intimidate with Flynn since their first met. Her curiosity has been paid with how intense he is. Flynn offered her something raw and dark, not for the weak. Let alone both of them are stranger and it makes Laurel HOT and bothered with promise.

Sex isn't her priority. Laurel has several problems and she just need to lose herself. Surrender her control for a while. Her answer is Flynn. I'm surprised that he's such a gentleman! He isn't your boy-next-door type. Flynn works for construction also underground fighter and it makes him RAW. He's really a honest and simple man.
She swallowed and winced, accepting the violation, trying to welcome the sensation. Still not her favorite thing, but with Flynn she didn’t feel pressured or coerced, cajoled. He was simply dirty, ready to take, seemingly without permission.
description

Wow... Their sex was a mind-blowing. SSC, people. I could feel their chemistry with the role-play. I'm glad Laurel is really on board even she isn't sexually active. I loved how dominant Flynn could be. He controls the scene also give her safe-word. He didn't want the label or BDSM lifestyle and that's why make him more dangerous. Even it's only for fun, but I could feel something more between them. They're comfortable with each other.

Both Laurel and Flynn are starting to know each other deeply than ever. I enjoyed their conversation outside sex. Their daily life and sexual activity are well balanced. Of course nobody's perfect and they have their own problems and it isn't pretty, mostly with Laurel. She has high level anxiety and depression. Flynn is starting to show how much he care for her. He isn't the type of man who afraid with commitment. He wants more also Laurel.
The things this man craved could be blacker than the sky above them, rough enough to bruise and sharp enough to sting.
And tonight they were hers to give. Hers alone.

I could say that it is really different from Asking for It, even it's from similar rape-play theme. It has more down to earth vibe without OTT drama. I liked the writing, smooth and casual without over-exaggerating. In the end, they're finally move on with new relationship. Laurel started to open herself with Flynn because she's in love with him. Trust and communication always the most important things. I really wish for their HEA because this book left many questions about Laurel and Flynn's journey.

description
Profile Image for destini.
239 reviews495 followers
October 24, 2013
Well, it’s sad that my departure had to be so soon but it is what it is. Feel free to visit me. You’ll find me resting here:

But hey, I can't complain. I asked for some smuttasticness and Cara McKenna delivered.

“Let’s quit our jobs and fuck all day.”

Hell, where's my pen, sounds good to me!

Laurel White has been letting her life go by, not leaving her mark and just coasting. But then Michael Flynn bursts right into her vanilla bubble and spices up her life. In and out of the bedroom. Especially in. She's discovering the world of fighting, rough sex and role-playing. What she didn't count on was falling for him.
“Listen, kiddo,” he said. “I’m a selfish prick, and I want to be the greatest fuck of your life and ruin you for every man who comes after me. But I’m not a mind reader, so I need some help. Otherwise I could end up as the douchebag who’s got shitty taste in wine and totally traumatized you when you were thirty.”

I'm going to be honest, I picked this book up because I needed a break and what's a better way to escape than with smut? But, I was pleasantly surprised by how well developed Willing Victim was for only being around 100 pages long. The characters were developed well, the humor kept me entertained, the steamy scenes being inferno hot didn't hurt either.

Flynn and Laurel's relationship... I really liked it. They weren't obsessed with each other and exchanging I love yous within the first week. Everything moved at a good pace. Their relationship was casual and laidback and was a nice break from the burning angst that I usually find in my books.

If your looking for a short, hot story, this is for you!

Michael Flynn

Laurel White
Profile Image for Briar's Reviews.
2,014 reviews535 followers
January 28, 2021
Willing Victim by Cara McKenna is MEGA HOT. Insanely hot. I'm not normally into that sort of romance, but my goodness.

My full review will be in A Love Thing anthology, but I wanted to leave a small review and rating for this book as well. Because, OMG it was mega hot and incredible. I 100% need to read more by Cara McKenna and now I want to read this series.

This book is full of boxing, rough romance and intense scenes. Cara has written some really hot scenes in this book that make it rated R for sure! While the book is rough, I think the story is incredibly addicting. She makes you love these characters and feel breathless at every turn. The book is not meant to be turned into an Oscar-winning film, but man does it hit all the notes for an extremely erotic romance.

It's Fifty Shades of Grey on steroids, but with better writing skills and styles entwined. If you like risque reads, then this book is 100% for you! I really grew to enjoy it and I want to read more by Cara ASAP.

Four out of five stars!

(PS Thanks Tamsen Parker for introducing me to this story!).
Profile Image for Karla.
988 reviews1,103 followers
April 2, 2012
I wasn’t quite sure how this was going to fair with me when I first started it, but I have to say it wasn’t as harsh as I expected it to be. Although some of the sex scenes are a bit “gruff”, I would not consider them to be brutal in any respect. I’ve read much worse where the characters are more demanding of one another. The title and the book description are far worse than the reality of the book itself.

I adored Flynn, he was like a giant marshmallow with an edge, and that edge only reared its head when he was having sex and even then his concern for his partner was apparent. Laurel is the woman who’s occupying his bed and is slowly creeping into his heart. His comfort level is such with her, that he allows her to gain some control over him in the bedroom, and finds himself cuddling, which was off limits before she came along…*sigh*. I wasn’t a big fan of Laurel’s, found her to be whishy-washy with some woe-is-me mixed in, and never understood why she seemed borderline depressed. What I did like about Laurel was that she was bold enough to approach Flynn, pursue him and made it her mission to take care of him. I think he was so hungry for “real” companionship that this is what undid him and endeared him to Laurel.

I would have loved to have had more time to be with these two characters. I could see their relationship occupying the space of a full length book. I needed to know more about Laurel, and extra time with the big, brawny, sweet, sexy Flynn would have been a major plus!! I’ve become a big fan of Cara McKenna, and as in her other books, the dialogue was plentiful, the characters interesting and the sex was HOT!!
Profile Image for Kim Bailey.
Author 6 books610 followers
September 26, 2016
UPDATE
I just finished reading this book for the THIRD time! <3
It's been remastered - some details have changed slightly & the ending has been lengthened (halleluja!) ... I couldn't have asked for any more!


4 Sinfully Delicious Stars

Can you say HOT ?

This book is probably not for everyone. There is a warning in the front of the book - it should be taken seriously.
I was not one of those people ... this was so far up my alley o_O
Laurel and Flynn are totally hot together. The sex is incredibly intense. But there is an actual storyline here as well - although it really wasn't explored quite as deeply as it could have been. There could have been a lot more to this story & it would have made this frantic sex romp a 5 star read.
The only thing I didn't overly enjoy was the use of the term "girl". It wasn't it's derogatory use that bothered me ... I think it just didn't fit somehow ... not really sure I understand my own reaction to it, just that it wasn't for me.

Overall a very good, erotic, hot read.
Profile Image for Jx PinkLady Reviews ♡.
736 reviews1,066 followers
November 14, 2016

“None of the normal dating rules apply to this.”

Amazon US * Amazon US <-- Currently #99c (Check before purchase)

Laurel & Flynn’s story is provocative, sensual and highly erotic read with a story arc that pushes boundaries and is crafted with a dose of perfection and layers that, when peeled away, reveal a depth I had not expected. It’s a story that over the years many reading friends have told me to read and now I understand why. I could kick myself for not venturing into the world of Laurel and Flynn sooner. It comes with a warning, one that should be both headed and respected, set in a world comprising of underground boxing, risqué role playing between open minded protagonists who have palpable attraction and some of the most authentic dialogue I have ever read. It’s not a conventional story but there’s a gritty edge, a realness that I so appreciated and the glimpse of their world is everything I crave in my erotic reading experiences. I love everything about Flynn, literally all his manly ways are divine and I especially LOVE the way he calls her Kiddo.

As the plot develops the history of Flynn and Laurel emerges depicting the perfect motivation for their thoughts, words and actions in the most subtle and wonderful way. Shorter than the average novel, the author is able to show so much, so eloquently as this highly engaging story with an engaging vivid quality moves forward with pace and the perfect dose of angst. The punchy succinct narrative compliments the direct nature of the character’s personalities ensuring that not a word or syllable is wasted. I was addicted to the pages from the beginning to the very end and highly anticipated the second book which would provide a highly anticipated conclusion to their love story.


Note: This is a two-book series
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Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,668 reviews3,277 followers
February 18, 2018
5 Defying Society, Straight Forward, Sexually Satisfying Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free
I saw Willing Victim mentioned in another reader's review.
Because I had no knowledge of this book, I read the blurb, reviews and decided to experience it for myself. As you can see from the 5 stars given, I am glad that I did.

The set up for this book at first glance is deceivingly simple:


We meet Laurel, a gal living life in flux. She’s from Providence, studied to be an engineer yet is working as a waitress in Boston due to her just not wanting to deal with all of the stress and responsibilities of the position. She has taken a break from her routine day. While sitting in a park trying to read, another couple is having a domestic quarrel that is getting out of hand. She speaks up, tries to intervene and both parties yell at her to stay out of it. It escalates and the guy is about to smack the woman when a forceful man just appears and pulls the couple apart stopping the violence. Laurel watches as the man schools the creep and breaks up the situation.

As Laurel takes all of this in, she is overwhelmed by her desire to somehow connect with this man. This is not her usual way; these feelings of excitement and interest in this fella compel her to action. As she follows the “savior” of the moment, she is shocked with herself as she calls out to him.

The “hero” of the moment is Michael Flynn, a Boston raised blue collar construction worker with an air of controlled danger. He is built, yet moves with controlled purpose. To a casual observer, you would know to move out of his way and just let him pass.

Laurel catches up with him and offers lunch as a recognition reward since he really doesn’t seem interested in talking with her. During this brief encounter, Laurel shocks herself by asking if he is married, with someone and if he dates. He responds very directly that women don’t date him. Laurel cannot let it go and Flynn throws the gauntlet down: Come to a location on Saturday night between 8PM-1AM and if she still want to date after, they can talk.

Laurel is shocked she has the courage to go Saturday. What she discovers is the underground fighting scene with Flynn as a centerpiece. The current of energy running through the place has a dark feel to it and Laurel’s senses are on overload. Flynn’s there in all his glory ready to mix it up in the ring. Laurel meets a woman, Pam, and the conversation takes a very different turn.

The women talk about Flynn, rough sex and fantasies acted out. Pam has this “arrangement” with Flynn and together they “play” whatever scenario Pam wants. These are not a little slap and tickle; these are real, rough, with struggle and restrain while having sex scenes.

To Laurel’s surprise, Pam invites her to watch and see if this is what she is interested in. For Flynn is a sexual magnet for this type of thing and interested in only those who wish to be involved in consensual sex like that. Laurel is so intrigued that she finds herself watching Flynn and Pam have a scene of extremely rough sex. Pam is restrained by the power of Flynn and his forceful domination is in full display. During all of this Laurel wishes it was her and not Pam. She becomes very aroused while watching; putting herself in Pam’s place. She discovers this is something that she has been missing; she wants Flynn and what he can give her.

That is the set up and damn, it takes off from there. Flynn’s character understands who he is, what makes him tick and how to safely find partners who are into the same type of sex he wants and likes.

When Laurel comes back to actually be with Flynn, he practically has as many questions as EHarmony’s dating survey. The only difference is his questions cover such things as “do you wish to come? Or am I to be an asshole and throw you out after? Or what about anal...”
Nope, I don’t remember any dating sites asking that one…..

What I really appreciated about this book was the way the author addressed many social issues mixed in with the sexual ones. The discussion of opportunities wished for but not attainable; the understanding of what makes someone tick; recognizing it and figuring out how to make your life include it. There was a theme of family and how it impacts what we do as adults and how we develop coping mechanisms.

Yet with all of these serious subjects, we never missed the main delight of this story.

Flynn.

He is smart, built (I know I said that earlier but bears repeating) has tattoos and sexual talents you wish you were experiencing. Because although he is a master at rough, he also has this keen, innate sense of what his partner wants and what she can handle. There is also a type of sweetness that is hiding just below the surface which is very attractive.

Laurel thrives with Flynn and secretly wishes for more than their meetings. Both develop feelings which were not part of the original plan. We are left with a glimpse of a possibility…. That maybe these two might become more.

The author’s style of writing connected with me. I was really impressed how she handled a possibly difficult subject and presented it well. Her characters felt real.

Again, I wish to thank Ball the reviewers for mentioning this book. I had a great reading experience and recommend it highly. :D

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