This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
About The Book
Available for the first time as a complete novel—the serial from the New York Times bestselling author of When I’m With You that explores hidden pasts, dangerous obsessions, and uncontrollable passion…
Harper McFadden established herself as an investigative journalist by being both compassionate and fearless. After tragedy strikes her family, she moves to the shores of Lake Tahoe to find some peace. But when mysterious software mogul Jacob Latimer enters her life, her thoughts turn from her own healing to an insatiable desire to get closer to him…
No one knows what secrets lurk in the past of Jacob Latimer. He built his corporation from nothing, but rumors abound about his mysterious rise to power. Harper is the last person he should let into his life. She could expose the truth about his origins. But Jacob knows things about Harper’s past that draw him in. He wants nothing more than to make her his—and Jacob is a man who always gets what he wants…
My Review
Make Me is the standalone, or its all books in the serial of “Make Me”. I read all of it together, so technically it could still count as a standalone.
Make Me was such a fascinating erotic romance and I had a blast with this one. Beth Kery is an author I recently started reading, and every time I pick up one of her books I am always stunned by how well written her books are. I am not sure what took me so long in the reading of this author as I have heard about her for quite a few years now. But she is just stunning in how she captivates the reader. Now this is what I would term “Erotic Romance” Its going to be a bit different than regular contemporary although just as beautiful and heartfelt as some of her more contemporary leaning books.
Make Me is a story that revolves around our two protagonists: Jake and Harper. Now there are two timelines that we are introduced to, the current tense with Jake and Harper. And then we have a timeline for when Jake and Harper were young teenagers. We see their journey as kids, and then also as adults. Harper doesn’t recognize Jake from her childhood, even though he knows who she is. But as they are neighbors, they connect and start a casual relationship, with it only being exploring physical intimacy between them. Jake is into BDSM and it turns out that it works for Harper as well. But as they explore each other physically, more builds between them. But can Jake trust adult Harper as she is now a journalist? Will their past resurface? And what future holds for Jake and Harper?
This was one of the most unique second chance romances. I am not sure why Harper didn’t recognize Jake, but when you learn about her journey you see a reason for it. But I did love seeing both of them grow in this story, seeing how they connect, the way the intimacy between them is built. I have found that Beth Kery handles erotic romance so so well. It just has such a classy elegant feel to them while also working on relationship building even if its not apparent on the surface. Beth Kery did an amazing job with this one. I was so in tune with these two and just wanted them to reach their HEA. I definitely was hooked in this story and I think if you love audio narrations, you definitely should check it out, although fair warning that its super long.
I think what made this book so special though is seeing them grow in their relationship as adults and seeing how slowly Harper comes to the realization of why Jake is so familar to her. And yes she does come into the truth on her own, and I did LOVE that. I love that she realized it without Jake having to tell her. And man poor Jake, I felt so hard for him. But he is so understanding of Harper and his love is so true for her and I just couldn’t get enough of his pining.
Overall I found Make Me to be delicious treat for this romance reader, it built so slowly in the intimacy in a profound way that had me on edge of my seat all the way through! AN ADDICTING JEWEL!
Title: Make Me
Author: Beth Kery
Genre: Erotic Romance
Format: Combination of eBook & Audiobook
Source: Library
Length: 521 Pages
Book Links
Amazon| Barnes and Noble| Kobo| Goodreads| StoryGraph| Literal Club
Book Evaluation
Storytelling Quality: 5
Story Itself: 4,5
Character Development: 5
Writing Style: 5
World Building: 5
Feels + The Romantic Heart: 4.5
Pacing: 4.5
Plot: 4
Cover Art: 5
Ending: 5
Book Ratings
Overall Rating of the Book
Steam Level
Simmering—soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warm- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
About The Author
Beth Kery is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of over thirty novels, novellas and serials. She writes contemporary romances as well as erotic contemporary romances, her hallmarks being emotional intensity, leap-off-the-page realistic characters and steamy sexual tension.
Not my speed, but I do love a second chance romance. One of my favorite tropes
Of the books of hers I’ve read I’ve enjoyed them. She’s a very good author.
This sounds really good! I like that the story follows the characters from when they were young to their adult years.
Wonderful review. I admit you have me curious. I love that there is character growth.
It’s been a while since I read an erotic romance, but I do love a second chance romance and this one sounds good! I’ll look into it!
I am not a fan of BDSM, but this sounds like it was well done. Great review, Renee.
Stunning review! I’m still not sure how she didn’t recognize him (childhood friends always recognize me on sight), but I guess I’d have to read the book to figure it out, huh
I like this kind of story so this sounds interesting to me.
I haven’t heard or read anything about this author before. It sounds like something I would enjoy.
Great review!