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The Original Sinners #7
The Virgin
The controversial story before the story continues in the critically acclaimed and award-winning series The Original Sinners.
For years, Kingsley Edge warned Eleanor the day would come when she, the mistress of a well-respected Catholic priest, would have to run and hide. She always imagined if that day came she'd be running away with Søren. But instead, she's running from him.
Knowing Søren and Kingsley will their use their influence to bring her back, Eleanor alone, penniless and scared takes refuge at the one place the men in her life cannot follow: the abbey where her mother has taken orders. Behind the cloistered gates of the convent, Eleanor hides from the man she loves and hates in equal measure
She cannot, however, hide from her true nature. When Eleanor befriends a young virginal nun, she faces a startling sexual awakening. But Eleanor can't stay forever, and the lure of her real life beckons beyond the locked gates. But to follow her fate means to leave Kyrie behind, a sacrifice Eleanor refuses to make
The lure of the forbidden. The temptation to sin. The price of passion has never been higher, and Eleanor will have to pay it if she ever wants to go home again.
For years, Kingsley Edge warned Eleanor the day would come when she, the mistress of a well-respected Catholic priest, would have to run and hide. She always imagined if that day came she'd be running away with Søren. But instead, she's running from him.
Knowing Søren and Kingsley will their use their influence to bring her back, Eleanor alone, penniless and scared takes refuge at the one place the men in her life cannot follow: the abbey where her mother has taken orders. Behind the cloistered gates of the convent, Eleanor hides from the man she loves and hates in equal measure
She cannot, however, hide from her true nature. When Eleanor befriends a young virginal nun, she faces a startling sexual awakening. But Eleanor can't stay forever, and the lure of her real life beckons beyond the locked gates. But to follow her fate means to leave Kyrie behind, a sacrifice Eleanor refuses to make
The lure of the forbidden. The temptation to sin. The price of passion has never been higher, and Eleanor will have to pay it if she ever wants to go home again.
408 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2015
183 people are currently reading
4891 people want to read
About the author
Tiffany Reisz
159 books9,277 followersTiffany Reisz is the USA Today-bestselling author. She lives in Kentucky with her husband and two cats. Find her online at TiffanyReisz.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 566 reviews
April 20, 2015
5 stars!
Tiffany Reisz’s The Original Series is probably my favorite series of all time. I love the first 4 books in this series, but there is something about these books(White Years) that go back in the past that get to me. I guess it’s because I know these characters, I love these characters, and seeing the experiences that made them the people they are, the things that shaped them, it’s just special. The Virgin focuses on a particular year… yes, that year. The year Eleanor left. And that happens to be the same year King found his Juliette.
In tradition, this story still reads like a bedtime story. It is the eve of *someone’s* wedding, and Nora, King and Søren are reminiscing. That leads to story telling. Which leads to that year…
Eleanor has left. Kingsley has left. He finds himself in Haiti. In Haiti, he meets the beautiful Juliette. Juliette is special. Not only is she the most stunning woman he’s ever laid his eyes upon, she is interesting.
In the end, one of my favorite things about this story is Nora’s relationship with Søren. I love getting their past. I wish Søren would have been in this story more, but I think it was important to see that year. What happened that year made a huge difference in the lives of all four of these people.
I can’t tell you how saddened I am that there is only one book left in this series. It’s one of those series that with each passing book, it never loses steam and I’m not ready for it to end. I’m not ready to let go of these characters I hold so dear to my heart. I’m so excited for this next book, but I know I will feel a loss when I’m done with it.
Tiffany Reisz’s writing is in a league all in it’s own. She has this way of telling a story. It’s magic. Just like Nora, you can tell it’s something she was meant to do. The Virgin was a wonderful addition to the White Years part of the series. I’m very much looking forward to the final installment.
Tiffany Reisz’s The Original Series is probably my favorite series of all time. I love the first 4 books in this series, but there is something about these books(White Years) that go back in the past that get to me. I guess it’s because I know these characters, I love these characters, and seeing the experiences that made them the people they are, the things that shaped them, it’s just special. The Virgin focuses on a particular year… yes, that year. The year Eleanor left. And that happens to be the same year King found his Juliette.
In tradition, this story still reads like a bedtime story. It is the eve of *someone’s* wedding, and Nora, King and Søren are reminiscing. That leads to story telling. Which leads to that year…
Eleanor has left. Kingsley has left. He finds himself in Haiti. In Haiti, he meets the beautiful Juliette. Juliette is special. Not only is she the most stunning woman he’s ever laid his eyes upon, she is interesting.
“At this point, I think I’d rather know you than fuck you. And for me to say that… well… consider it my highest compliment.”Kingsley wants her. He’s not used to wanting something he can’t have. He knows Juliette is someone he can’t really have. But it won’t stop him from trying.
She was his. Right now, this moment, she was his. His property, his body, his lover, his treasure.Now back to Eleanor. If you’ve ever wondered what really happened that year she spent away from Søren in the convent… well, the story is a little more interesting than one would guess. You wouldn’t think that one could get in much trouble in a convent, but this is Eleanor we’re talking about. Elle meets someone special there. Someone who inspires her and sparks her creative desires. It is there Eleanor gets the desire to do what she was meant to do. To write.
In the end, one of my favorite things about this story is Nora’s relationship with Søren. I love getting their past. I wish Søren would have been in this story more, but I think it was important to see that year. What happened that year made a huge difference in the lives of all four of these people.
“Are you mine?” he asked her. “I am yours. Forever.” And she was hers. But she was his too, and she always would be.
I can’t tell you how saddened I am that there is only one book left in this series. It’s one of those series that with each passing book, it never loses steam and I’m not ready for it to end. I’m not ready to let go of these characters I hold so dear to my heart. I’m so excited for this next book, but I know I will feel a loss when I’m done with it.
Tiffany Reisz’s writing is in a league all in it’s own. She has this way of telling a story. It’s magic. Just like Nora, you can tell it’s something she was meant to do. The Virgin was a wonderful addition to the White Years part of the series. I’m very much looking forward to the final installment.
“Amor vincit omnia. Love conquers all.”
March 14, 2015
4.5 “That Year” Stars
Tiffany Reisz has a way of teasing the heck out of me with her opening scenes in this series. In this story, the group is gathered at a castle for a wedding. It isn’t until the very end do we find out what couple is actually getting married. Kinglsey, Nora and Søren have an evening together reminiscing about what happened to each one of them during “that year” apart. You remember that year? While Søren was in Rome and he entrusted Nora to King and she gets pregnant, fights with Søren and flees to her mother’s Abbey. While King travels the world until he settles in Haiti where he meets his Juliette and all three cut off communication for 365 days.
”You’re two people to me – Father Marcus Stearns and Soren – and I love both of you. I’m Eleanor and Nora. I was angry at you for so long because I loved both of you, and you weren’t willing to love both of me.”
The part that tortures me in these stories is the fact that I just want Søren and Nora or Søren and King scenes galore but NOOOOOPE there are always other relationships thrown in. (Don’t get me wrong Ilove appreciate the growth Nora experiences through each relationship she has outside of Søren.) We learn how Nora picks up the pieces of who she was and combines them with who she is ready to be without Søren . She finds she likes being a Top and while hiding from Søren and Kinglsey she finds love and friendship with a young nun in training, Kyrie (ff relationship).
Kingsley is nursing the loss of his parenthood dreams when he meets beautiful Juliette. She is everything he’s ever wanted in partner in the bedroom and mother of his future children. The problem is she is being kept by a powerful man in exchange for her mother’s health and only wants her freedom.
”I want everything from you.” “One night isn’t enough.”
“How many nights would be enough?”
Kingsley opened his eyes and gazed at her face, met her eyes. “All your nights.”
Overall, some scenes were on the slow side but welded together nicely cementing who these three are to one another, the inner battles they each fight, the hurt and pain they experience over each other and lastly the never ending love that makes them the Unholy Trinity.
P.S. I Loved Nora’s birthday dream with Søren, King and Griffin YUM and of course Søren in a Kilt... hottest image ever!!
”Amor vincet omnia.”
*ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Tiffany Reisz has a way of teasing the heck out of me with her opening scenes in this series. In this story, the group is gathered at a castle for a wedding. It isn’t until the very end do we find out what couple is actually getting married. Kinglsey, Nora and Søren have an evening together reminiscing about what happened to each one of them during “that year” apart. You remember that year? While Søren was in Rome and he entrusted Nora to King and she gets pregnant, fights with Søren and flees to her mother’s Abbey. While King travels the world until he settles in Haiti where he meets his Juliette and all three cut off communication for 365 days.
”You’re two people to me – Father Marcus Stearns and Soren – and I love both of you. I’m Eleanor and Nora. I was angry at you for so long because I loved both of you, and you weren’t willing to love both of me.”
The part that tortures me in these stories is the fact that I just want Søren and Nora or Søren and King scenes galore but NOOOOOPE there are always other relationships thrown in. (Don’t get me wrong I
Kingsley is nursing the loss of his parenthood dreams when he meets beautiful Juliette. She is everything he’s ever wanted in partner in the bedroom and mother of his future children. The problem is she is being kept by a powerful man in exchange for her mother’s health and only wants her freedom.
”I want everything from you.” “One night isn’t enough.”
“How many nights would be enough?”
Kingsley opened his eyes and gazed at her face, met her eyes. “All your nights.”
Overall, some scenes were on the slow side but welded together nicely cementing who these three are to one another, the inner battles they each fight, the hurt and pain they experience over each other and lastly the never ending love that makes them the Unholy Trinity.
P.S. I Loved Nora’s birthday dream with Søren, King and Griffin YUM and of course Søren in a Kilt... hottest image ever!!
”Amor vincet omnia.”
*ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
April 23, 2015
It's LIVE in the US * Amazon US *
Now ALSO LIVE IN THE UK! Amazon UK *
I loved catching up with my old friends. The Virgin is laced with history and packed with thought provoking scenarios. I loved every beautiful moment....
The Virgin and indeed the entire Original Sinners series is about deep everlasting love, understanding, realization, truth and honesty. This story will forever hold my book heart in the palm of its pages. The story is incredible, wondrous, at times hard to fully comprehend but as always it’s stunningly intense, beautiful, extremely KINKY and totally captivating. The protagonists eloquently tell the story of THAT year. The year when Kingsley and Nora are apart from Soren. My journey through The Virgin was a little turbulent, in terms of my reaction and feelings to some aspects, but by the end I felt I’d gone full circle and all was right with my Original Sinners world.
Nora, I’ve had many a deep conversation about this fictional character. Her decisions have not always been easy for me to like but the Original Sinners world revolves around her.... I see her as the facilitator to many events, life changing events for Kingsley and Soren and for that reason alone she’ll always be a very special character to me. She makes wise decisions and hard choices; she keeps her word and makes no apologies for who she is. Her qualities are admirable.
The three main characters are developed to perfection. They each have flaws and imperfections that can at times, make them difficult to understand but equally this is what makes them fascinating, more human and totally endearing. They’re all totally comfortable in their own skin, with their needs and desires. They personify trust and honesty which makes them awe inspiring. The way they're able to articulate this to one another and return the faith is remarkable. They always have the most deep rooted reasoning for their choices, love often being at the heart of it; unconditional love. A love so deep it creates the strongest of reactions, in both the characters and the readers. That’s part of the beauty of this dynasty, the characters have their inner motivation, they don't apologize for it, they bask in it and in turn they enamoured me. The level of trust and honesty is difficult to translate in its full glory but if you're familiar with the Original Sinners, you'll understand because it's something that’s richly developed over the course of the series. A series that's overflowing with a rich history laced with deep and beautiful emotion. The provenance weaved throughout is mind blowing creating the most exquisite effect in The Virgin.
I loved the exploration of THAT year. Initially, if I’m completely honest, the transitions from memory to memory felt disjointed but the format grew on me and it once again became compulsive reading and once I was captured, I was mesmerized. The style ebbs and flows and made the writing touch my heart.
I wanted more each time the memory paused. The story of how Kinglsey and Juliette meet is enchanting. I haven’t always been a fan of their relationship, I saw her as someone in the way of the main protagonists but The Virgin completely changed my opinion. They took my breath away with their connection, their coupling, their story. They're meant to be together, no doubt about it. The telling of Nora’s memory runs in and out of Kinglsey’s and it made for addictive reading. Her experience with someone during this year is so very beautiful and tender and lovely.
The Original Sinners continues to push the boundaries, it's forbidden and highly kinky but underscoring all of this and perhaps the heaviest theme of all is LOVE and my heart wept with the emotion of it all. The way their lives entwine and mesh together in the present and past. There are no huge revelations with The Virgin, but what I got was more of them, more information about their lives and an even greater understanding of their love for each other. I felt a balance, a sense of symmetry, fairness and equality. Kingsley continues to be the brightest star in this series; my love for him has grown stronger with each book. I can't wait to devour more of The White Years in The Queen, the next installment from Tiffany Reisz.
This story in its entirety, THE RED YEARS & THE WHITE YEARS has complexities of premise and characters and is one that I hold very dear. It has layer upon layer of emotion and thought, it raises questions, it’s kinky and if you’re yet to experience this world here is the order I read and fell in love with each and every character.
*Note: I recommend reading The Red Years prior to The White Years. * The 7 full length books are essential reading and the novellas, not to be missed * The Virgin is book three of the White Years. *
It worked beautifully for me!
(The five novellas of THE LAST GOOD KNIGHT can now be purchased as one book in the UK)
♥ BR with Deanna PinkLady & TeriLyn
They have written BEAUTIFUL reviews about this story.
Advanced copy provided by the publishers Harlequin, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Now ALSO LIVE IN THE UK! Amazon UK *
I loved catching up with my old friends. The Virgin is laced with history and packed with thought provoking scenarios. I loved every beautiful moment....
The Virgin and indeed the entire Original Sinners series is about deep everlasting love, understanding, realization, truth and honesty. This story will forever hold my book heart in the palm of its pages. The story is incredible, wondrous, at times hard to fully comprehend but as always it’s stunningly intense, beautiful, extremely KINKY and totally captivating. The protagonists eloquently tell the story of THAT year. The year when Kingsley and Nora are apart from Soren. My journey through The Virgin was a little turbulent, in terms of my reaction and feelings to some aspects, but by the end I felt I’d gone full circle and all was right with my Original Sinners world.
Nora, I’ve had many a deep conversation about this fictional character. Her decisions have not always been easy for me to like but the Original Sinners world revolves around her.... I see her as the facilitator to many events, life changing events for Kingsley and Soren and for that reason alone she’ll always be a very special character to me. She makes wise decisions and hard choices; she keeps her word and makes no apologies for who she is. Her qualities are admirable.
The three main characters are developed to perfection. They each have flaws and imperfections that can at times, make them difficult to understand but equally this is what makes them fascinating, more human and totally endearing. They’re all totally comfortable in their own skin, with their needs and desires. They personify trust and honesty which makes them awe inspiring. The way they're able to articulate this to one another and return the faith is remarkable. They always have the most deep rooted reasoning for their choices, love often being at the heart of it; unconditional love. A love so deep it creates the strongest of reactions, in both the characters and the readers. That’s part of the beauty of this dynasty, the characters have their inner motivation, they don't apologize for it, they bask in it and in turn they enamoured me. The level of trust and honesty is difficult to translate in its full glory but if you're familiar with the Original Sinners, you'll understand because it's something that’s richly developed over the course of the series. A series that's overflowing with a rich history laced with deep and beautiful emotion. The provenance weaved throughout is mind blowing creating the most exquisite effect in The Virgin.
I loved the exploration of THAT year. Initially, if I’m completely honest, the transitions from memory to memory felt disjointed but the format grew on me and it once again became compulsive reading and once I was captured, I was mesmerized. The style ebbs and flows and made the writing touch my heart.
I wanted more each time the memory paused. The story of how Kinglsey and Juliette meet is enchanting. I haven’t always been a fan of their relationship, I saw her as someone in the way of the main protagonists but The Virgin completely changed my opinion. They took my breath away with their connection, their coupling, their story. They're meant to be together, no doubt about it. The telling of Nora’s memory runs in and out of Kinglsey’s and it made for addictive reading. Her experience with someone during this year is so very beautiful and tender and lovely.
The Original Sinners continues to push the boundaries, it's forbidden and highly kinky but underscoring all of this and perhaps the heaviest theme of all is LOVE and my heart wept with the emotion of it all. The way their lives entwine and mesh together in the present and past. There are no huge revelations with The Virgin, but what I got was more of them, more information about their lives and an even greater understanding of their love for each other. I felt a balance, a sense of symmetry, fairness and equality. Kingsley continues to be the brightest star in this series; my love for him has grown stronger with each book. I can't wait to devour more of The White Years in The Queen, the next installment from Tiffany Reisz.
This story in its entirety, THE RED YEARS & THE WHITE YEARS has complexities of premise and characters and is one that I hold very dear. It has layer upon layer of emotion and thought, it raises questions, it’s kinky and if you’re yet to experience this world here is the order I read and fell in love with each and every character.
*Note: I recommend reading The Red Years prior to The White Years. * The 7 full length books are essential reading and the novellas, not to be missed * The Virgin is book three of the White Years. *
It worked beautifully for me!
(The five novellas of THE LAST GOOD KNIGHT can now be purchased as one book in the UK)
♥ BR with Deanna PinkLady & TeriLyn
They have written BEAUTIFUL reviews about this story.
Advanced copy provided by the publishers Harlequin, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2015
Well, well, well!!! There’s finally a wedding happening and it’s the night before the big day! You’re in a castle full of men running around in kilts *happy sigh* … what do you do with yourself? You grab your two besties and you reminisce.
✻ SLUMBER PARTY! ✻
Soren, Nora and Kingsley settle down for a night of pillow talk. Nora and Kingsley share about the time when both, Nora and Kingsley, left Soren. All three of them went their separate ways. During this heart-to-heart secrets are revealed about what happened during their time away from each other.
YEAR AWAY: Nora ran to her mother’s covenant and lived there with the nuns. Over the course of her time there she figured out her 'true' calling. And since this is Nora, who can't go without sex, she carries on a relationship with another woman in the covenant. I’m not a reader of f/f and if you aren’t either don’t let that stop you from reading this book. The scenes of them intimately together are far and few between.
YEAR AWAY: Kingsley traveled the world with his final destination landing him Haiti's. Haiti's is where he meets Juliette. Their love story had me glued to the pages. I have never seen Kingsley so vulnerable as he was with Juliette. I know we’ve seen Juliette in the other books but we didn’t know much about her. In this book we learn how they meet and fall in love and let me tell you it’s an amazing story.
When the book begins we have our suspicions on who is getting married the next day but in true, Tiffany Reisz, form we don’t find out until the very end of the book who the lucky couple is. I have to say when the couple is revealed it made me squeal! Now, waiting for the final installment is going to have me in a tizzy. I’m not ready for the series to end but I really want to read the next book.
Did I mention Soren and Kingsley are in KILTS in this book?! *fanning myself*
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
The Original Sinners series is broken into 2 parts: The Red Years Quartet (The adventures of Nora Sutherlin, Dominant and erotica writer) and The White Years Quartet (The adventures of Eleanor Schreiber, submissive). Recommended you read The Red Years Quartet first.
Reading order between the two quartets:
{#1 Red} The Siren | My review
{#2 Red} The Angel | My review
{#3 Red} The Prince | My review
{#4 Red} The Mistress | My review
{#1 White} The Saint | My review
{#2 White} The King My review
{#3 White} The Virgin
{#4 White} The Queen
SERIES:
The White Years Quartet (The adventures of Eleanor Schreiber, submissive)
The Queen
To find out when the rest of the books will be released click here.
RELEASE DATE: 3/31/2015
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1MtG1Rt
**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
✻ SLUMBER PARTY! ✻
Soren, Nora and Kingsley settle down for a night of pillow talk. Nora and Kingsley share about the time when both, Nora and Kingsley, left Soren. All three of them went their separate ways. During this heart-to-heart secrets are revealed about what happened during their time away from each other.
YEAR AWAY: Nora ran to her mother’s covenant and lived there with the nuns. Over the course of her time there she figured out her 'true' calling. And since this is Nora, who can't go without sex, she carries on a relationship with another woman in the covenant. I’m not a reader of f/f and if you aren’t either don’t let that stop you from reading this book. The scenes of them intimately together are far and few between.
YEAR AWAY: Kingsley traveled the world with his final destination landing him Haiti's. Haiti's is where he meets Juliette. Their love story had me glued to the pages. I have never seen Kingsley so vulnerable as he was with Juliette. I know we’ve seen Juliette in the other books but we didn’t know much about her. In this book we learn how they meet and fall in love and let me tell you it’s an amazing story.
When the book begins we have our suspicions on who is getting married the next day but in true, Tiffany Reisz, form we don’t find out until the very end of the book who the lucky couple is. I have to say when the couple is revealed it made me squeal! Now, waiting for the final installment is going to have me in a tizzy. I’m not ready for the series to end but I really want to read the next book.
Did I mention Soren and Kingsley are in KILTS in this book?! *fanning myself*
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
The Original Sinners series is broken into 2 parts: The Red Years Quartet (The adventures of Nora Sutherlin, Dominant and erotica writer) and The White Years Quartet (The adventures of Eleanor Schreiber, submissive). Recommended you read The Red Years Quartet first.
Reading order between the two quartets:
{#1 Red} The Siren | My review
{#2 Red} The Angel | My review
{#3 Red} The Prince | My review
{#4 Red} The Mistress | My review
{#1 White} The Saint | My review
{#2 White} The King My review
{#3 White} The Virgin
{#4 White} The Queen
SERIES:
The White Years Quartet (The adventures of Eleanor Schreiber, submissive)
The QueenTo find out when the rest of the books will be released click here.
RELEASE DATE: 3/31/2015
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1MtG1Rt
**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
May 23, 2015
LIVE on Amazon
I started this series last July and binge read them back to back until I was all caught up. Since then I have become a huge fan of Tiffany Reisz and these characters. I absolutely adore Nora, Soren, and Kingsley. Reading The Virgin was bitter sweet, because I know I am now only one book away from it all ending.
The White Series has been a perfect addiction to the Sinners Series as it fills in time we didn’t know all the details about. Nora has been our story teller and has taken us on all kinds of journeys, filling in all our curiosity regarding my favorite Sinners. The Virgin begins with the gang all together to celebrate a wedding.
The second I read those words my heart stopped. Which I know is completely crazy because I already know what happened and I already know the outcome, however, reading about Nora leaving Soren broke my heart again. It was twelve years prior when Nora decided to leave Soren and the life they had built together. Nora is on the run, but there is only so many places she can go without being found. So she visits her mother at the convent.
As you know there is never a dull moment with Nora around. While these scenes may not appeal to everyone, I loved Nora’s time at the convent. I think it is when Nora really came into herself and learned who she is and what she is capable of. I love that Nora found herself and I love the secrets and the past we learned about Nora, King and Soren.
Meanwhile back in New York Kingsley is leaving, too. He is heartbroken over the events that transpired and needs to escape. He sets out on a journey to forget everything and ends up meeting the woman that will change his life, Juliette.
I think a lot of times Nora and Soren steal the show, but I adore Kingsley. There is nothing I loved more than seeing Kingsley find his love. I love how things came about the story of how they met and fell in love. It takes someone truly special to meet Kingsley's needs and seeing more of him with Juliette made his story come full circle.
If you are a fan of the series I highly recommend jumping into this one. I have loved every book in this series. I love how Reisz uses symbolism and religion in her stories. Despite this being a great story I am forever humbled by how smart Reisz writing is. Nothing happens on accident, every person or scene has a purpose. As I said before I am so sad to see it end, but I the same respect cannot wait to see how the Original Sinners go out!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Paradise is not worth the risk.
Paradise is the only thing worth the risk.
I started this series last July and binge read them back to back until I was all caught up. Since then I have become a huge fan of Tiffany Reisz and these characters. I absolutely adore Nora, Soren, and Kingsley. Reading The Virgin was bitter sweet, because I know I am now only one book away from it all ending.
The White Series has been a perfect addiction to the Sinners Series as it fills in time we didn’t know all the details about. Nora has been our story teller and has taken us on all kinds of journeys, filling in all our curiosity regarding my favorite Sinners. The Virgin begins with the gang all together to celebrate a wedding.
The second I read those words my heart stopped. Which I know is completely crazy because I already know what happened and I already know the outcome, however, reading about Nora leaving Soren broke my heart again. It was twelve years prior when Nora decided to leave Soren and the life they had built together. Nora is on the run, but there is only so many places she can go without being found. So she visits her mother at the convent.
As you know there is never a dull moment with Nora around. While these scenes may not appeal to everyone, I loved Nora’s time at the convent. I think it is when Nora really came into herself and learned who she is and what she is capable of. I love that Nora found herself and I love the secrets and the past we learned about Nora, King and Soren.
“I think Mother Prioress thinks sin is contagious, and I’m a carrier.”
“We’re all carriers. Original sin, remember?”
Meanwhile back in New York Kingsley is leaving, too. He is heartbroken over the events that transpired and needs to escape. He sets out on a journey to forget everything and ends up meeting the woman that will change his life, Juliette.
I think a lot of times Nora and Soren steal the show, but I adore Kingsley. There is nothing I loved more than seeing Kingsley find his love. I love how things came about the story of how they met and fell in love. It takes someone truly special to meet Kingsley's needs and seeing more of him with Juliette made his story come full circle.
If you are a fan of the series I highly recommend jumping into this one. I have loved every book in this series. I love how Reisz uses symbolism and religion in her stories. Despite this being a great story I am forever humbled by how smart Reisz writing is. Nothing happens on accident, every person or scene has a purpose. As I said before I am so sad to see it end, but I the same respect cannot wait to see how the Original Sinners go out!
"I love you, Little One. Now and always. And nothing you can do will take my love away from you. I will never leave you. You’re mine now and always…"
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2015
4 stars!
What can I say about Tiffany Reisz and her Original Sinners series that hasn’t been said before? There truly is no author like her and no other books – erotica or not – that can ever come close to the sheer brilliancy of her words. There’s a special kind of feeling that settles in my heart when I start a book by an author I adore, an author I can count on to never let me down, and Tiffany is cuffed tight on the top of that author list. So why the 4 stars? Let me just say first that everything about this series is flawless to me. If – and that’s a pretty big if – there was one thing in that flawlessness that I would harp about, it would be the weak emotional connection with some of these side characters, and the thing is, The Virgin largely focused on the relationships the main characters had with the side characters, so that weakness was magnified more in this book than in any other books in this series. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed this story for its whip-smart writing, witty and sharp banter, and of course, the one-of-a-kind, unforgettable characters.
“You’re in a kilt and you’re not inside me. This is the worst day of my life.”
In present day, Nora, Soren, Kingsley, and the rest of the gang are in Scotland to attend a wedding. The nostalgic setting and a few confessions lead to a night of reminiscing of the past...to a particular year that was both a high and a low for the gang.
“It was a dark and stormy night...and I was leaving you. Forever.”
In short, Soren breaks Nora, Nora leaves Soren, and Kingsley leaves the both of them since he can’t cope. The story is then split into two – one that focuses on the time Nora spent hiding in a nunnery and the time where Kingsley finds his Juliette in Haiti.
“She was twenty-six years old.
She was the ex-lover of a Catholic priest.
…
Might as well go all in.
Goodbye men. Goodbye sex.
She headed west to her mother’s convent.”
Nora, Nora, Nora. Gah! No heroine has charmed me so completely nor frustrated me to the nth degree than this kinky, clever woman here. I get really bipolar when it comes to her. I’ll love her one moment, get annoyed with her in another. I guess the reason for that all boils down to my preconceived notions of what love is and how sex and intimacy plays a roll. It never ceases to amaze me and make my jaw drop when I read how easily this lady can slide into another man’s – or in this case, woman’s – bed. Like technically, I know how unconventional her relationship is with Soren, and then Kingsley, but for once I thought to myself, ‘couldn’t she show more restraint?’ LOL! Then again if she did, she wouldn’t be the Nora I’ve come to love so there’s that. Her eventual relationship with a young nun-to-be Kyrie didn’t really stir any emotions from me. It was important because I got to see how Nora became the writer she is in present day, but relationship-wise, the Nora-Kyrie pairing I could’ve done without. Still made for some fun, smoldering, sexy scenes though! ;)
“If you had all the money in the world and could use it to go anywhere you wanted, where would you go?
Everywhere. And then I’d go home.”
After leaving behind his kingdom and Nora and Soren behind, Kingsley travels everywhere and finally lands in Haiti just to have a great time. He doesn’t count on meeting the exotic Juliette who he becomes infatuated with, and eventually falls in love with. Now the connection here is one I really felt. Juliette and Kingsley have lots in common and in her, Kingsley sees his dream woman and his future.
“I like it rough.
Rough? On a scale of one to ten…
What’s one?
You fall asleep while I’m on top of you.
Ten?
Hospitalization.
Nine.”
There were a few problems getting in the way of them being together with Juliette’s history and the way those loose ends were wrapped up I wasn’t fond of – it was too easy. And while I liked Juliette I never really warmed up to her and the reason for that is the badass Sam from The King. Honestly? I miss the crap out of her. Her chemistry and relationship with Kingsley was 10 times stronger than shown here with him and Juliette and part of me felt sad that relationship would never manifest. But life moves on, and so does he, Nora, Soren, and the rest of the group.
The last portion of the book surprised me – my heart was leaping for joy when I found out whose wedding it was. And of course the story ended in true Nora Sutherlin fasion.
“Busy day ahead. Things to do. People to beat. A Dominatrix’s work was never done.”
There is a reason I rarely ever read pure erotica books and that’s because this series and Tiffany Reisz has officially ruined me for all other stories in this genre. The level of research, the depth and respect portrayed in the BDSM, the relationship complexity, the character dynamic...all that and much more makes it impossible for me to move on from and find another book in the same genre that could ever compare. I do feel guilty for rating such an outstanding book 4 stars but the complaints voiced throughout my review were sufficient enough I needed to dock a star. Even so, I can say that this book is still better than 90% of books I read nowadays...just to put things in perspective. There’s only one more book left in this entire series before it’s all over so you’ll have to excuse me while I go mourn <3
The Virgin is the 7th book in the Original Sinners series (main series name), 3rd book in the White Years Quartet (sub-division of the Original Sinners). It’s not a standalone. The series reading order is:
ARC provided by Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What can I say about Tiffany Reisz and her Original Sinners series that hasn’t been said before? There truly is no author like her and no other books – erotica or not – that can ever come close to the sheer brilliancy of her words. There’s a special kind of feeling that settles in my heart when I start a book by an author I adore, an author I can count on to never let me down, and Tiffany is cuffed tight on the top of that author list. So why the 4 stars? Let me just say first that everything about this series is flawless to me. If – and that’s a pretty big if – there was one thing in that flawlessness that I would harp about, it would be the weak emotional connection with some of these side characters, and the thing is, The Virgin largely focused on the relationships the main characters had with the side characters, so that weakness was magnified more in this book than in any other books in this series. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed this story for its whip-smart writing, witty and sharp banter, and of course, the one-of-a-kind, unforgettable characters.
“You’re in a kilt and you’re not inside me. This is the worst day of my life.”
In present day, Nora, Soren, Kingsley, and the rest of the gang are in Scotland to attend a wedding. The nostalgic setting and a few confessions lead to a night of reminiscing of the past...to a particular year that was both a high and a low for the gang.
“It was a dark and stormy night...and I was leaving you. Forever.”
In short, Soren breaks Nora, Nora leaves Soren, and Kingsley leaves the both of them since he can’t cope. The story is then split into two – one that focuses on the time Nora spent hiding in a nunnery and the time where Kingsley finds his Juliette in Haiti.
“She was twenty-six years old.
She was the ex-lover of a Catholic priest.
…
Might as well go all in.
Goodbye men. Goodbye sex.
She headed west to her mother’s convent.”
Nora, Nora, Nora. Gah! No heroine has charmed me so completely nor frustrated me to the nth degree than this kinky, clever woman here. I get really bipolar when it comes to her. I’ll love her one moment, get annoyed with her in another. I guess the reason for that all boils down to my preconceived notions of what love is and how sex and intimacy plays a roll. It never ceases to amaze me and make my jaw drop when I read how easily this lady can slide into another man’s – or in this case, woman’s – bed. Like technically, I know how unconventional her relationship is with Soren, and then Kingsley, but for once I thought to myself, ‘couldn’t she show more restraint?’ LOL! Then again if she did, she wouldn’t be the Nora I’ve come to love so there’s that. Her eventual relationship with a young nun-to-be Kyrie didn’t really stir any emotions from me. It was important because I got to see how Nora became the writer she is in present day, but relationship-wise, the Nora-Kyrie pairing I could’ve done without. Still made for some fun, smoldering, sexy scenes though! ;)
“If you had all the money in the world and could use it to go anywhere you wanted, where would you go?
Everywhere. And then I’d go home.”
After leaving behind his kingdom and Nora and Soren behind, Kingsley travels everywhere and finally lands in Haiti just to have a great time. He doesn’t count on meeting the exotic Juliette who he becomes infatuated with, and eventually falls in love with. Now the connection here is one I really felt. Juliette and Kingsley have lots in common and in her, Kingsley sees his dream woman and his future.
“I like it rough.
Rough? On a scale of one to ten…
What’s one?
You fall asleep while I’m on top of you.
Ten?
Hospitalization.
Nine.”
There were a few problems getting in the way of them being together with Juliette’s history and the way those loose ends were wrapped up I wasn’t fond of – it was too easy. And while I liked Juliette I never really warmed up to her and the reason for that is the badass Sam from The King. Honestly? I miss the crap out of her. Her chemistry and relationship with Kingsley was 10 times stronger than shown here with him and Juliette and part of me felt sad that relationship would never manifest. But life moves on, and so does he, Nora, Soren, and the rest of the group.
The last portion of the book surprised me – my heart was leaping for joy when I found out whose wedding it was. And of course the story ended in true Nora Sutherlin fasion.
“Busy day ahead. Things to do. People to beat. A Dominatrix’s work was never done.”
There is a reason I rarely ever read pure erotica books and that’s because this series and Tiffany Reisz has officially ruined me for all other stories in this genre. The level of research, the depth and respect portrayed in the BDSM, the relationship complexity, the character dynamic...all that and much more makes it impossible for me to move on from and find another book in the same genre that could ever compare. I do feel guilty for rating such an outstanding book 4 stars but the complaints voiced throughout my review were sufficient enough I needed to dock a star. Even so, I can say that this book is still better than 90% of books I read nowadays...just to put things in perspective. There’s only one more book left in this entire series before it’s all over so you’ll have to excuse me while I go mourn <3
The Virgin is the 7th book in the Original Sinners series (main series name), 3rd book in the White Years Quartet (sub-division of the Original Sinners). It’s not a standalone. The series reading order is:
ARC provided by Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2016
5 crazy without you stars
The Virgin has to be the book I dreaded to read the most, as it isn't of a time anyone wishes to speak about or even mention. But enough time has passed and their position and meanings in each others lives is secure enough to relive the past and finally close the door to the questions that they may have been wondering.
I read an interview where the author stated this was the hardest book for her to write because this was the first time that they were in a story of their own. And I totally knew what she meant because as a reader I felt it too, the loss of one or the other throughout the story. Regardless of how lovingly amazing Kingsley and Juliette's story was, or how touching and imperative Nora's and Kyrie's story was, it is not a Sinner's story without the three of them together. There really is no world where one does not exist without the other...especially him.
At 26, Nora did the last thing she swore to never do, leave her home and heart behind, and go to a place they wouldn't dare drag her back from. Living in a bubble has worked for her up to this point, now she is left with decisions of what next? Her prayers are answered in the form of an Angel, one even she has a hard time resisting, especially since Kyrie awakens a particular need she never thought to feed.
Kingsley took off the day Nora left and didn't look back, traveling the world, loosing himself in the countless beds and bottles he found along the way. But one lonesome day in Haiti had him second guessing everything he held dear, and God help him he didn't care. Nothing mattered but Juliette, his Jewel. She was perfect in every way; beautiful, brave and built to take the pleasures only he can give. It didn't matter that she belonged to another man, he'd take anything she could give him.
I have to admit there was a bit of a freak out moment, I totally thought this story was going to go one way, but it went an entirely different direction in the end. Was I sad, not really, because let's face it even the romantic in me would have to agree that it wouldn't be them if it did. For me Kingsley and Juliette stole the show in this, I loved everything about them and their past. While Soren may not have been as present as much as I wanted him to be, he was never forgotten. Solidifying the fact that this series is unlike anything else, and will continue to be one epic ride.
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for his love is better than wine...’'
The Virgin has to be the book I dreaded to read the most, as it isn't of a time anyone wishes to speak about or even mention. But enough time has passed and their position and meanings in each others lives is secure enough to relive the past and finally close the door to the questions that they may have been wondering.
I read an interview where the author stated this was the hardest book for her to write because this was the first time that they were in a story of their own. And I totally knew what she meant because as a reader I felt it too, the loss of one or the other throughout the story. Regardless of how lovingly amazing Kingsley and Juliette's story was, or how touching and imperative Nora's and Kyrie's story was, it is not a Sinner's story without the three of them together. There really is no world where one does not exist without the other...especially him.
At 26, Nora did the last thing she swore to never do, leave her home and heart behind, and go to a place they wouldn't dare drag her back from. Living in a bubble has worked for her up to this point, now she is left with decisions of what next? Her prayers are answered in the form of an Angel, one even she has a hard time resisting, especially since Kyrie awakens a particular need she never thought to feed.
“Welcome to the company of we who must lie about our bruises. Your Little One was one of our founding members.”
Kingsley took off the day Nora left and didn't look back, traveling the world, loosing himself in the countless beds and bottles he found along the way. But one lonesome day in Haiti had him second guessing everything he held dear, and God help him he didn't care. Nothing mattered but Juliette, his Jewel. She was perfect in every way; beautiful, brave and built to take the pleasures only he can give. It didn't matter that she belonged to another man, he'd take anything she could give him.
“My Jewel, I can’t give you my whole heart. But the part of it I can give you is the part that isn’t scarred and isn’t broken. I’ll give you the best of me and protect you from the worst for the rest of my life.”
I have to admit there was a bit of a freak out moment, I totally thought this story was going to go one way, but it went an entirely different direction in the end. Was I sad, not really, because let's face it even the romantic in me would have to agree that it wouldn't be them if it did. For me Kingsley and Juliette stole the show in this, I loved everything about them and their past. While Soren may not have been as present as much as I wanted him to be, he was never forgotten. Solidifying the fact that this series is unlike anything else, and will continue to be one epic ride.
“I love you, Little One. Now and always. And nothing you can do will take my love away from you. I will never leave you. You’re mine now and always...”
March 24, 2015
4.5 STARS! ★★★★☆
"It was a dark and stormy night...And I was leaving you. Forever."
Even after putting out 7 full-length novels, Tiffany Reisz still leaves me in this stupor of awe after putting down her read. Every. Single. Time. Not to mention, my mind is now going wild with imagery of all my favorite men in kilts. I repeat, Kinglsey AND Søren in kilts. In the words of Eleanor, THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
Okay those lovely imagery aside, The Virgin is no doubt yet another brilliant addition to The White Year series. You'd think by now after 7 books of these same characters, you are ready for what's to come but in true TR fashion, always expect the unexpected.
With each read, you'll always learn something new about your favorite sinners and there's just so much depth she brings to these multilayered characters. How is it possible that I've feel like I known these characters forever but yet be left surprised after each new read? It's amazing how well TR captures the complexity of human nature and nails the character dynamics perfectly each time that nothing will ever come close to her portrayal of taboo relationships.
I don't want to spoil much about The Virgin but here's what you can expect going into this read.
1) There will be a wedding in the present day.
2) The backstory of the year that Nora/Eleanor ran away from Søren.
3) The backstory of the year that Kingsley met Juliette.
4) Again, them men in kilts!!
The book starts off very similarly to the previous ones, being in the present day and this time we have our lovely threesome gathering around and reminiscing the time where both King and Nora left Søren. That's right, it was that dark year we've all been wondering about too since the early series and let me say, learning about this pivotal moment didn't disappoint me at all. The beauty of TR's work is that every scene has its purpose, it keeps giving an additional layer to the characters and just continues to enhance this already amazeballs series.
After the lack of Nora in The King, it was nice to have her back and reading about her time at her mum's convent where she ran away to, I thought it was refreshing that we got to see another side of Nora, the one without Søren. With the arrival of a young novice nun named Kyrie who seemed to have an affection for Nora, it does add the F/F flavour to this series which previously haven't been explored in depth. There were some amazing witty dialogues thrown in there between them but most of all, I truly felt the genuine love and care they had for each other.
But if it's anyone who stole my heart in this read, hands down it will be Kingsley. I honestly didn't think I could learn more about this Frenchman since the last book but color me wrong. After reading about his pursuit of Juliette and his time in Haiti, my heart truly ached and swelled for this beautiful man. Their love story was achingly beautiful to read and after this one, I’m glad King found someone who is worthy of his love.
In my eyes, Tiffany Reisz is a world-class storyteller and with every read she puts out, I can only expect greatness and never once has she failed on me yet. With her books, I find myself lost and immersed in this sinful world she has built and not to mention, her alluring and sexy as hell writing is one that had me devouring each word up. Her books can be a million pages long and it will still never be enough for me. My only mini issue on this one is that I wished we got more on Soren and his perspective of the night that Nora ran away from him. Or just generally more Soren, I'll take him any way I can get.
As I type this out, I can't believe we're only one book away from the end of this entire series. I can already anticipate the motha of breakdowns I will go through when I finally read The Queen. There better be a support group I can sign up on post-Sinners series because y'all can expect a terrible case of withdrawal that involves me going through a denial and grief stage by then. I'll never be ready for the end.
The Virgin is the third in The White Year series and should be read in order. It is also recommended to only read this series after finishing The Original Sinners series.
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"It was a dark and stormy night...And I was leaving you. Forever."
Even after putting out 7 full-length novels, Tiffany Reisz still leaves me in this stupor of awe after putting down her read. Every. Single. Time. Not to mention, my mind is now going wild with imagery of all my favorite men in kilts. I repeat, Kinglsey AND Søren in kilts. In the words of Eleanor, THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
Okay those lovely imagery aside, The Virgin is no doubt yet another brilliant addition to The White Year series. You'd think by now after 7 books of these same characters, you are ready for what's to come but in true TR fashion, always expect the unexpected.
With each read, you'll always learn something new about your favorite sinners and there's just so much depth she brings to these multilayered characters. How is it possible that I've feel like I known these characters forever but yet be left surprised after each new read? It's amazing how well TR captures the complexity of human nature and nails the character dynamics perfectly each time that nothing will ever come close to her portrayal of taboo relationships.
I don't want to spoil much about The Virgin but here's what you can expect going into this read.
1) There will be a wedding in the present day.
2) The backstory of the year that Nora/Eleanor ran away from Søren.
3) The backstory of the year that Kingsley met Juliette.
4) Again, them men in kilts!!
The book starts off very similarly to the previous ones, being in the present day and this time we have our lovely threesome gathering around and reminiscing the time where both King and Nora left Søren. That's right, it was that dark year we've all been wondering about too since the early series and let me say, learning about this pivotal moment didn't disappoint me at all. The beauty of TR's work is that every scene has its purpose, it keeps giving an additional layer to the characters and just continues to enhance this already amazeballs series.
"There are five possible scenarios that would force you to run. I want you to be ready."
After the lack of Nora in The King, it was nice to have her back and reading about her time at her mum's convent where she ran away to, I thought it was refreshing that we got to see another side of Nora, the one without Søren. With the arrival of a young novice nun named Kyrie who seemed to have an affection for Nora, it does add the F/F flavour to this series which previously haven't been explored in depth. There were some amazing witty dialogues thrown in there between them but most of all, I truly felt the genuine love and care they had for each other.
But if it's anyone who stole my heart in this read, hands down it will be Kingsley. I honestly didn't think I could learn more about this Frenchman since the last book but color me wrong. After reading about his pursuit of Juliette and his time in Haiti, my heart truly ached and swelled for this beautiful man. Their love story was achingly beautiful to read and after this one, I’m glad King found someone who is worthy of his love.
In my eyes, Tiffany Reisz is a world-class storyteller and with every read she puts out, I can only expect greatness and never once has she failed on me yet. With her books, I find myself lost and immersed in this sinful world she has built and not to mention, her alluring and sexy as hell writing is one that had me devouring each word up. Her books can be a million pages long and it will still never be enough for me. My only mini issue on this one is that I wished we got more on Soren and his perspective of the night that Nora ran away from him. Or just generally more Soren, I'll take him any way I can get.
As I type this out, I can't believe we're only one book away from the end of this entire series. I can already anticipate the motha of breakdowns I will go through when I finally read The Queen. There better be a support group I can sign up on post-Sinners series because y'all can expect a terrible case of withdrawal that involves me going through a denial and grief stage by then. I'll never be ready for the end.
The Virgin is the third in The White Year series and should be read in order. It is also recommended to only read this series after finishing The Original Sinners series.
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2015
4.5 stars!
"It was a dark and stormy night," Nora began...
The Virgin is the third book from Reisz's TOS:The White Years series. I think everyone who's loved this series are excited about this one because we would finally know what made Nora ran away from Soren. This event has been hinted and talked about throughout the whole series but it hasn't been fully revealed why. Also, this is the book where we finally get to meet King's Juliette.
Elle is twenty-six years old and she's about to leave her master. It was a heart-wrenching moment when Elle finally broke and decided to leave, which pushed Kingsley to leave as well. Readers knew something very bad happened. So bad that it made Elle run and hide out in her mother's convent in upstate New York. This event became the catalyst for Elle becoming the writer and world-famous dominatrix Nora Sutherlin.
Aside from Elle, The Virgin is also about Kingsley and Juliette. I've read about Juliette and heard of her being mentioned in the previous books but I never really got to know her character personally. Until this book. Her story along with Kingsley is my favorite part in this book. Their story was equally beautiful and sad. It's also full of passion and Kingsley owned my heart. This book reminded me how much I love his character. His love for Juliette was simply breathtaking.
Apart from Juliette, we also get to meet Kyrie, the novice that Elle met in the convent. Their relationship evolved from friendship to lust to love. And although, I really do not understand Elle's fascination with her but I very much loved the banter between them. I understood their friendship and I do feel that they genuinely loved each other. But it wasn't Kyrie's presence in Elle's life that made the convent parts of the book resonate with me. It was the much needed exposition of the relationship between Elle and her mom that really touched me. The moment Elle realized she had no one to turn to, she ran to her mother. It was, of course, the perfect hiding place.
There weren't a lot of bombs thrown in this book but I got to give it to Tiffany Reisz, as always, for adding another rich layer of flesh to her characters. The dialogue as always was crisp and the prose perfection. And the narrative flows smoothly from past to present and then back again. Very few writers can slip in and out of the past and present as smoothly as this author does. Her storytelling is simply entrancing. She could be writing a grocery list and I would read it. The combination of her writing style and the flawed characters made this a winner for me.
But as much as I love TR's writing and these characters, there were parts in this book that just lagged for me especially during Elle and Kyrie's parts. In hindsight, maybe it shouldn't have surprised me since they were in a convent after all. So yeah, some of those parts dragged a bit but Kingsley and Juliette's story more than made up for it. That plus Soren and Kingsley in kilts. KILTS.
'Nuff said.
______________
Guess who got an ARC for this book??
Yeah. I'm totally being obnoxious, I know. But I can't help it. This makes me so happy.
ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"It was a dark and stormy night," Nora began...
The Virgin is the third book from Reisz's TOS:The White Years series. I think everyone who's loved this series are excited about this one because we would finally know what made Nora ran away from Soren. This event has been hinted and talked about throughout the whole series but it hasn't been fully revealed why. Also, this is the book where we finally get to meet King's Juliette.
Elle is twenty-six years old and she's about to leave her master. It was a heart-wrenching moment when Elle finally broke and decided to leave, which pushed Kingsley to leave as well. Readers knew something very bad happened. So bad that it made Elle run and hide out in her mother's convent in upstate New York. This event became the catalyst for Elle becoming the writer and world-famous dominatrix Nora Sutherlin.
“I told you the first night you and I spoke that your shepherd was a wolf. He is a wolf on a leash and that leash might break someday. When that happens, you take care of yourself. I’ll take care of him.”
Aside from Elle, The Virgin is also about Kingsley and Juliette. I've read about Juliette and heard of her being mentioned in the previous books but I never really got to know her character personally. Until this book. Her story along with Kingsley is my favorite part in this book. Their story was equally beautiful and sad. It's also full of passion and Kingsley owned my heart. This book reminded me how much I love his character. His love for Juliette was simply breathtaking.
Apart from Juliette, we also get to meet Kyrie, the novice that Elle met in the convent. Their relationship evolved from friendship to lust to love. And although, I really do not understand Elle's fascination with her but I very much loved the banter between them. I understood their friendship and I do feel that they genuinely loved each other. But it wasn't Kyrie's presence in Elle's life that made the convent parts of the book resonate with me. It was the much needed exposition of the relationship between Elle and her mom that really touched me. The moment Elle realized she had no one to turn to, she ran to her mother. It was, of course, the perfect hiding place.
There weren't a lot of bombs thrown in this book but I got to give it to Tiffany Reisz, as always, for adding another rich layer of flesh to her characters. The dialogue as always was crisp and the prose perfection. And the narrative flows smoothly from past to present and then back again. Very few writers can slip in and out of the past and present as smoothly as this author does. Her storytelling is simply entrancing. She could be writing a grocery list and I would read it. The combination of her writing style and the flawed characters made this a winner for me.
But as much as I love TR's writing and these characters, there were parts in this book that just lagged for me especially during Elle and Kyrie's parts. In hindsight, maybe it shouldn't have surprised me since they were in a convent after all. So yeah, some of those parts dragged a bit but Kingsley and Juliette's story more than made up for it. That plus Soren and Kingsley in kilts. KILTS.
'Nuff said.
______________
Guess who got an ARC for this book??
Yeah. I'm totally being obnoxious, I know. But I can't help it. This makes me so happy.
ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2015
4.5 stars rounded up
This is the book we were all waiting for.
This is the missing year, the one always mentioned but never described in detail. The book begins in a Scottish castle, the night before a wedding, and an obsession with kilts...
Tiffany Reisz is an author who knows how to suck her readers into a story. We start with the story of how Nora left Soren, but without the reason why. Heartbroken, she turns to her mother and the convent in which she resides, and the nuns take her in. There, she meets a young nun in training Kyrie, and the two form a friendship.
Meanwhile, Kingsley is in Haiti where he meets the bewitching Juliette and learns about her tragic life. The two embark on a love affair but there are too many obstacles to stay together.
I honestly preferred Nora's parts more, not really the scenes between her and Kyrie, but the flashbacks with her and Soren. They were my favorite part of this book, the good memories and the bad ones. Their love for each other is beautiful, and both would go to great lengths to do what they think is best for the other.
The story of Nora and Kyrie's romance was very sweet. There are F/F scenes in this book, which didn't bother me, but if it's not your thing these parts of the books may not be for you. Their romance was doomed from the start but it served a greater purpose: it showed Nora her calling.
"You're not a real king. And I'm not a princess in a tower. He's not a dragon. We're real people and a sword's not going to solve this problem."
I'm in the minority in my next opinion; I didn't care much for the Kingsley and Juliette story. Maybe because I am team Kingsley/Soren? I honestly did not see any real connection that bonded K & J other than desire for each other. I did love how their relationship made King a better man, but I could take or leave Juliette in any of the books.
It's amazing to me how the journey of these characters through these 7 books has changed my perspective of them. In The Siren, I didn't like Soren. Now, I can't get enough of the guy and wish there was more of him in this book. We got Nora's side to the year apart, and now I really wish we could get Soren's point of view. I want to know his thoughts and why he did what he did.
Overall I adored this book. Was so glad to finally get some answers to questions we've all been asking since book 1. Cannot wait for the final one! The best part of this book?
Thanks to Jasmine and Allison for the wonderful buddy read!!
***ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
This is the book we were all waiting for.
This is the missing year, the one always mentioned but never described in detail. The book begins in a Scottish castle, the night before a wedding, and an obsession with kilts...
Tiffany Reisz is an author who knows how to suck her readers into a story. We start with the story of how Nora left Soren, but without the reason why. Heartbroken, she turns to her mother and the convent in which she resides, and the nuns take her in. There, she meets a young nun in training Kyrie, and the two form a friendship.
Meanwhile, Kingsley is in Haiti where he meets the bewitching Juliette and learns about her tragic life. The two embark on a love affair but there are too many obstacles to stay together.
I honestly preferred Nora's parts more, not really the scenes between her and Kyrie, but the flashbacks with her and Soren. They were my favorite part of this book, the good memories and the bad ones. Their love for each other is beautiful, and both would go to great lengths to do what they think is best for the other.
The story of Nora and Kyrie's romance was very sweet. There are F/F scenes in this book, which didn't bother me, but if it's not your thing these parts of the books may not be for you. Their romance was doomed from the start but it served a greater purpose: it showed Nora her calling.
"You're not a real king. And I'm not a princess in a tower. He's not a dragon. We're real people and a sword's not going to solve this problem."
I'm in the minority in my next opinion; I didn't care much for the Kingsley and Juliette story. Maybe because I am team Kingsley/Soren? I honestly did not see any real connection that bonded K & J other than desire for each other. I did love how their relationship made King a better man, but I could take or leave Juliette in any of the books.
It's amazing to me how the journey of these characters through these 7 books has changed my perspective of them. In The Siren, I didn't like Soren. Now, I can't get enough of the guy and wish there was more of him in this book. We got Nora's side to the year apart, and now I really wish we could get Soren's point of view. I want to know his thoughts and why he did what he did.
Overall I adored this book. Was so glad to finally get some answers to questions we've all been asking since book 1. Cannot wait for the final one! The best part of this book?
Thanks to Jasmine and Allison for the wonderful buddy read!!
***ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
March 30, 2015
5 Going Back Stars
The infamous year, That Year, as Nora, Soren and Kingsley all called it, was when everything changed. Their kinky safe bubble exploded and 3 lives were forever altered. It was twelve years ago and not once did they ever talk about it. It was a rough and painful year but looking back, it was a defining year for all three. Things happen for a reason, while not knowing why they happen, it usually makes a change for the better. It just takes time to actually see the good and not the bad. This books starts on the eve of a wedding. We are not sure who’s wedding until the end but the Original Sinners are all together. Nora and Kinsgley decided to tell the story of that year, their ghost story- What did Kingsley do when he left them both and What did Nora do when she left Soren....Nora begins "It was a dark and stormy night......And I was leaving you. Forever."
Reading the past about what happened to Nora, Soren and Kingsley only made me love them even more. These three don't do normal but what they have is their normal and it works for them. I completely understand Soren-Nora-Nico and Soren-Kingsley-Juliette. What each of them needs is fulfilled by another. It works for them and after reading their most intimate thoughts, it made me feel love, contentment, happiness and understanding.
In that year, Kingsley meets Juliette. His love, his life, his last part of his missing puzzle piece. Their story is wonderful and sad. But in that sadness, there is beauty and there is no way not to feel every emotion these two share. Their connection and their chemistry are perfect but life has a way of altering perfection. We do in life what is needed and sometimes we sell our soul in the process. How Kingsley and Juliette defy the odds and truly come together is unselfishly breathtaking.
Elle seeks safety at the convent where her mother resides. No men and no priest are allowed. It is truly the only place where Elle can hide from Soren. Elle leaving Soren was hard to read. While we knew from earlier books the main reason she left, getting the full story how it came to be was gut wrenching and very emotional. Nora made a promise to God and while these characters seems so far removed from godliness, they really do have a deep commitment to their faith and one another. I understood why she had to leave and also how that year was instrumental in discovering the person that she was meant to be. Meeting Kyrie, the new novice at the convent, was part of her awaking. Elle was destined to meet Kyrie to set her on her path.
There are incidents that happen in our life that sometimes we truly do not understand. They are usually moments of deep hurt and sadness. We just have to have faith that God has a plan. I know that looking back, Nora, Soren and Kingsley would say that God did in fact have a reason for that year. While they may not have wanted that kink in the road, it was a necessary evil for them to come full circle, for each one of them to be become the person that God had intended them to be. It seems rather strange to talk about God and this book but at the same time it really feels right to do so.
I loved everything about this book- from start to finish. I feel as if I have grown with all these characters. When I first met them back with The Siren, I was shocked to my core but they all spoke to me. They are unique and different yet normal and loving. I believe that God loves everyone- the vanilla and the kink. There are no boundaries to normalness. In the end, Love Conquers All – Amor Vincit Omnia
Tiffany Reisz is a extraordinary writer. She makes these characters come alive. The way that she works her magic with her words creates a journey of amazingness of wonder and of sensual delights.
*ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The infamous year, That Year, as Nora, Soren and Kingsley all called it, was when everything changed. Their kinky safe bubble exploded and 3 lives were forever altered. It was twelve years ago and not once did they ever talk about it. It was a rough and painful year but looking back, it was a defining year for all three. Things happen for a reason, while not knowing why they happen, it usually makes a change for the better. It just takes time to actually see the good and not the bad. This books starts on the eve of a wedding. We are not sure who’s wedding until the end but the Original Sinners are all together. Nora and Kinsgley decided to tell the story of that year, their ghost story- What did Kingsley do when he left them both and What did Nora do when she left Soren....Nora begins "It was a dark and stormy night......And I was leaving you. Forever."
Reading the past about what happened to Nora, Soren and Kingsley only made me love them even more. These three don't do normal but what they have is their normal and it works for them. I completely understand Soren-Nora-Nico and Soren-Kingsley-Juliette. What each of them needs is fulfilled by another. It works for them and after reading their most intimate thoughts, it made me feel love, contentment, happiness and understanding.
In that year, Kingsley meets Juliette. His love, his life, his last part of his missing puzzle piece. Their story is wonderful and sad. But in that sadness, there is beauty and there is no way not to feel every emotion these two share. Their connection and their chemistry are perfect but life has a way of altering perfection. We do in life what is needed and sometimes we sell our soul in the process. How Kingsley and Juliette defy the odds and truly come together is unselfishly breathtaking.
Elle seeks safety at the convent where her mother resides. No men and no priest are allowed. It is truly the only place where Elle can hide from Soren. Elle leaving Soren was hard to read. While we knew from earlier books the main reason she left, getting the full story how it came to be was gut wrenching and very emotional. Nora made a promise to God and while these characters seems so far removed from godliness, they really do have a deep commitment to their faith and one another. I understood why she had to leave and also how that year was instrumental in discovering the person that she was meant to be. Meeting Kyrie, the new novice at the convent, was part of her awaking. Elle was destined to meet Kyrie to set her on her path.
There are incidents that happen in our life that sometimes we truly do not understand. They are usually moments of deep hurt and sadness. We just have to have faith that God has a plan. I know that looking back, Nora, Soren and Kingsley would say that God did in fact have a reason for that year. While they may not have wanted that kink in the road, it was a necessary evil for them to come full circle, for each one of them to be become the person that God had intended them to be. It seems rather strange to talk about God and this book but at the same time it really feels right to do so.
I loved everything about this book- from start to finish. I feel as if I have grown with all these characters. When I first met them back with The Siren, I was shocked to my core but they all spoke to me. They are unique and different yet normal and loving. I believe that God loves everyone- the vanilla and the kink. There are no boundaries to normalness. In the end, Love Conquers All – Amor Vincit Omnia
Tiffany Reisz is a extraordinary writer. She makes these characters come alive. The way that she works her magic with her words creates a journey of amazingness of wonder and of sensual delights.
*ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
March 31, 2015
IT'S LIVE!!
AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1BIKpHy
BARNES&NOBLE:http://bit.ly/1LhPMVO
KOBO:http://bit.ly/1GU6do9
4,5 STARS
I really enjoyed this book! Even though I didn't enjoy The King because a lot of what happens is a bit of a repetition of the events in the previous books..this one was much better!! The story moves forward with reflection about the past so we're better able to understand their actions in the present..
In this book we have a wedding...but I will not say who is getting married...It's a secret :)) Soren,Nora and Kingsley are together the night before the wedding and begin to say where they were the night Nora left Soren and why she left! We see how Kingsley meets Juliette and how Nora becomes an author.
"Once upon a time, he and Soren had made an idle wish to someday have a girl who was wilder than him and Soren put together."
"I love you sir with all my heart."
"Tell me you want me."
"I want no one in the world as much as I want you."
Soren will be always my favorite!!I love him so much!!But I also have a crash for Kingsley and I really like him in this book with Juliette!! And Nora is simply amazing!!! I love her; she is funny and she has everything a woman wants to have!! It's amazing the fact that everybody, including me, we love these characters so much and we feel connected with them!!
I love so much Tiffany's writing.She has her way to captivate you! The world Tiffany Reisz creates is one I would like to live in forever!! And her characters are so lovable! Each character has their own unique personality!I can’t believe that there is only one more book left in this series. I'm really going to miss all of them!!I can't wait for The Queen!! I'm sure it will be epic!!!
ARC provided by Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1BIKpHy
BARNES&NOBLE:http://bit.ly/1LhPMVO
KOBO:http://bit.ly/1GU6do9
4,5 STARS
I really enjoyed this book! Even though I didn't enjoy The King because a lot of what happens is a bit of a repetition of the events in the previous books..this one was much better!! The story moves forward with reflection about the past so we're better able to understand their actions in the present..
In this book we have a wedding...but I will not say who is getting married...It's a secret :)) Soren,Nora and Kingsley are together the night before the wedding and begin to say where they were the night Nora left Soren and why she left! We see how Kingsley meets Juliette and how Nora becomes an author.
"Once upon a time, he and Soren had made an idle wish to someday have a girl who was wilder than him and Soren put together."
"I love you sir with all my heart."
"Tell me you want me."
"I want no one in the world as much as I want you."
Soren will be always my favorite!!I love him so much!!But I also have a crash for Kingsley and I really like him in this book with Juliette!! And Nora is simply amazing!!! I love her; she is funny and she has everything a woman wants to have!! It's amazing the fact that everybody, including me, we love these characters so much and we feel connected with them!!
I love so much Tiffany's writing.She has her way to captivate you! The world Tiffany Reisz creates is one I would like to live in forever!! And her characters are so lovable! Each character has their own unique personality!I can’t believe that there is only one more book left in this series. I'm really going to miss all of them!!I can't wait for The Queen!! I'm sure it will be epic!!!
ARC provided by Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2015
IT'S LIVE!!
AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1BIKpHy
BARNES&NOBLE:http://bit.ly/1LhPMVO
KOBO:http://bit.ly/1GU6do9
4.5 Gimme-Some-More-Kingsley Stars!
The Virgin by Tiffany Reisz is THE book I've been waiting for ever since I read The Original Sinners series. In this book we find out why Nora left Soren. It's a question that has nagged at me for the past two years and now we have answers. I love how The White Years fills in all the little historical holes within their lives together. Every book is something new, a new light shed on these complex characters that never fails to suck me in from page one and not let go until the last word. The Virgin, I finished at 4am, not being able to set the book down (which is no small feat as this woman likes her sleep).
The book starts out in current day with Soren, Kingsley and Nora at a castle in Scotland for a wedding (not gonna say who- you'll find out soon enough). They're reminiscing about the past, the time Nora left Soren, disappeared, and wasn't heard from for one year. She went where Soren could never get to her...to her mother's convent in upstate New York. A place no man is allowed...the abbey. And so the story begins...
Also left behind in Nora's wake was a devastated Kingsley. He jumps around country to country, trying to find peace, finally landing on the beach in Haiti. It's on that beach that he finds the most beautiful women he's ever set eyes on...Said woman throwing rocks at boys who are stomping on a poor bird's nest of eggs. Her name is Juliette and this too is their story...
"You're trying to seduce me."
"Is it working?"
"Yes."
"Good. I'm glad I could improve upon my dismal first impression."
"Come back to this place tomorrow at nine. I'll give you a chance to make a better impression."
"Why? Did you see something you liked when I took my clothes off?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Desperation," she said.
"You like desperation?"
Juliette didn't smile when she answered. She merely picked up her bag of rocks and turned on her heel.
"I like that we have something in common."
Suffice to say, Kingsley stole the show for me in this book. That man has endured so much pain over his lifetime and he's always plowed thru it with his endearing wit. I fall in love with that Frenchman each and every book. My heart broke for Juliette also and I never thought there'd be a day I'd wish that man for anyone other thanmyself Soren.
Nora, on the other hand, finds her niche within an abbey full of women married to God. She's miserable but has nowhere else to go. Day in and day out, laundry duty...until she meets a new nun just beginning her steps to officially join the order. Her name is Kyrie and Nora is, for the first time, quite taken by another woman.
"I love orgasms. I say a prayer of thanks to God for them every day."
"You say a prayer of thanks for orgasms?" Elle asked.
"Of course. I mean, they're a gift from God, right? A woman doesn't need to have an orgasm to get pregnant, right?"
"Right."
"So if they have nothing to do with reproduction, then why do women have them? (...) Orgasms are God's way of saying He's sorry about periods and cramps."
"Apology accepted," Elle said.
Nora and Kyrie obviously are an FF component to the book. I've gotta say, I didn't love that aspect. I just wasn't feeling it but, in the end, Kyrie played a pivotal role in this stretch of time so I can't take that away from them. It's just not my favorite genre nor was I feeling their connection all that much.
The Virgin takes the reader back and forth between both Kingsley's story and Nora's, gradually taking us back to current day where story-time ends and we're back to wedding weekend. Ah. The wedding. Let's just say, the visual of Soren and Kingsley in kilts is somethingspank banks dreams are made of!
I'm beginning to go thru pre-TOS withdrawals. As this series begins to draw to a close, I'm saddened that we won't get more time with our kinky, dark, humorous, lovable, EVERYTHING AWESOME cast of characters. The Virgin is part of The White Years series and The Original Sinners Series must be read prior to The White Years for better understanding. The last book in the series is up next...The Queen. Boohoo.
Advanced reader's copy received by Harlequin Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an HONEST review. The above quotes are taken from the arc copy and may change in the published version.
For more reviews, find us at...
AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1BIKpHy
BARNES&NOBLE:http://bit.ly/1LhPMVO
KOBO:http://bit.ly/1GU6do9
4.5 Gimme-Some-More-Kingsley Stars!
The Virgin by Tiffany Reisz is THE book I've been waiting for ever since I read The Original Sinners series. In this book we find out why Nora left Soren. It's a question that has nagged at me for the past two years and now we have answers. I love how The White Years fills in all the little historical holes within their lives together. Every book is something new, a new light shed on these complex characters that never fails to suck me in from page one and not let go until the last word. The Virgin, I finished at 4am, not being able to set the book down (which is no small feat as this woman likes her sleep).
The book starts out in current day with Soren, Kingsley and Nora at a castle in Scotland for a wedding (not gonna say who- you'll find out soon enough). They're reminiscing about the past, the time Nora left Soren, disappeared, and wasn't heard from for one year. She went where Soren could never get to her...to her mother's convent in upstate New York. A place no man is allowed...the abbey. And so the story begins...
Also left behind in Nora's wake was a devastated Kingsley. He jumps around country to country, trying to find peace, finally landing on the beach in Haiti. It's on that beach that he finds the most beautiful women he's ever set eyes on...Said woman throwing rocks at boys who are stomping on a poor bird's nest of eggs. Her name is Juliette and this too is their story...
"You're trying to seduce me."
"Is it working?"
"Yes."
"Good. I'm glad I could improve upon my dismal first impression."
"Come back to this place tomorrow at nine. I'll give you a chance to make a better impression."
"Why? Did you see something you liked when I took my clothes off?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Desperation," she said.
"You like desperation?"
Juliette didn't smile when she answered. She merely picked up her bag of rocks and turned on her heel.
"I like that we have something in common."
Suffice to say, Kingsley stole the show for me in this book. That man has endured so much pain over his lifetime and he's always plowed thru it with his endearing wit. I fall in love with that Frenchman each and every book. My heart broke for Juliette also and I never thought there'd be a day I'd wish that man for anyone other than
Nora, on the other hand, finds her niche within an abbey full of women married to God. She's miserable but has nowhere else to go. Day in and day out, laundry duty...until she meets a new nun just beginning her steps to officially join the order. Her name is Kyrie and Nora is, for the first time, quite taken by another woman.
"I love orgasms. I say a prayer of thanks to God for them every day."
"You say a prayer of thanks for orgasms?" Elle asked.
"Of course. I mean, they're a gift from God, right? A woman doesn't need to have an orgasm to get pregnant, right?"
"Right."
"So if they have nothing to do with reproduction, then why do women have them? (...) Orgasms are God's way of saying He's sorry about periods and cramps."
"Apology accepted," Elle said.
Nora and Kyrie obviously are an FF component to the book. I've gotta say, I didn't love that aspect. I just wasn't feeling it but, in the end, Kyrie played a pivotal role in this stretch of time so I can't take that away from them. It's just not my favorite genre nor was I feeling their connection all that much.
The Virgin takes the reader back and forth between both Kingsley's story and Nora's, gradually taking us back to current day where story-time ends and we're back to wedding weekend. Ah. The wedding. Let's just say, the visual of Soren and Kingsley in kilts is something
I'm beginning to go thru pre-TOS withdrawals. As this series begins to draw to a close, I'm saddened that we won't get more time with our kinky, dark, humorous, lovable, EVERYTHING AWESOME cast of characters. The Virgin is part of The White Years series and The Original Sinners Series must be read prior to The White Years for better understanding. The last book in the series is up next...The Queen. Boohoo.
Advanced reader's copy received by Harlequin Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an HONEST review. The above quotes are taken from the arc copy and may change in the published version.
For more reviews, find us at...
October 10, 2015
Genre: Dark Erotica
Type: Book 7 of The Original Sinners series/Book 3 of The Original Sinners: White Years
POV: Third Person
Rating:
Eleanor Schreiber ran away from the man she loved. Not wanting to be found, she sought refuge at her mother’s convent. Sad and lonely, she befriended Kyrie, a young nun in training who opened up a world of possibilities for her future.
When Elle disappeared, Kingsley Edge took the same route and left home to mend his broken heart and his guilt. Along the way he met someone who taught him what it meant to fight for someone you love.
In the last book The King, Nora/Eleanor barely made an appearance, so I am very happy when this book was all about her (and Kingsley) and what happened “that year” – the dreaded barely talked about missing year.
I think this book is one of the most significant books in the series because it addressed the things that made Nora who she was today. It revealed two major pivotal points in her life.
Kingsley also gained something during his time away. He found someone to satisfy his other needs and care about – Juliette, who eventually made him the happiest he could ever be.
I really love Kyrie. She was like a subdued version of young Elle. I like how she influenced Elle’s life and I really wish to get to know more about her.
Soren was mostly missing from this book but he was in one of my favorite scenes was Nora’s birthday gift scene. I would gladly sell my soul to have that privilege hahah! I also love her “first time” with Kingsley. And of course Elle and Kyrie scenes were also memorable. I think it’s easier to say I love all the sex scenes :p
I have been delaying reading this book because I dread that the series is coming to an end. I’m having a heart palpitations just thinking about it and I don’t know if I can handle reading the last book when it comes. Maybe I’ll wait a year before reading it so I can stretch my Original Sinners experience haha!
Books in the series:
(Must be read in order)
The Red Years:
The White Years:
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Type: Book 7 of The Original Sinners series/Book 3 of The Original Sinners: White Years
POV: Third Person
Rating:
Eleanor Schreiber ran away from the man she loved. Not wanting to be found, she sought refuge at her mother’s convent. Sad and lonely, she befriended Kyrie, a young nun in training who opened up a world of possibilities for her future.
When Elle disappeared, Kingsley Edge took the same route and left home to mend his broken heart and his guilt. Along the way he met someone who taught him what it meant to fight for someone you love.
In the last book The King, Nora/Eleanor barely made an appearance, so I am very happy when this book was all about her (and Kingsley) and what happened “that year” – the dreaded barely talked about missing year.
I think this book is one of the most significant books in the series because it addressed the things that made Nora who she was today. It revealed two major pivotal points in her life.
“I like it rough.”
“Rough?” Kingsley repeated. “On a scale of one to ten...”
“What’s one?”
“You fall asleep while I’m on top of you.”
“Ten?”
“Hospitalization.”
Kingsley also gained something during his time away. He found someone to satisfy his other needs and care about – Juliette, who eventually made him the happiest he could ever be.
“Elle, seriously. Are you having a seizure? Is this demonic possession? Holy laughter?”
I really love Kyrie. She was like a subdued version of young Elle. I like how she influenced Elle’s life and I really wish to get to know more about her.
Soren was mostly missing from this book but he was in one of my favorite scenes was Nora’s birthday gift scene. I would gladly sell my soul to have that privilege hahah! I also love her “first time” with Kingsley. And of course Elle and Kyrie scenes were also memorable. I think it’s easier to say I love all the sex scenes :p
“After all we put each other through that we’re still together. All of us. A fucking miracle.”
I have been delaying reading this book because I dread that the series is coming to an end. I’m having a heart palpitations just thinking about it and I don’t know if I can handle reading the last book when it comes. Maybe I’ll wait a year before reading it so I can stretch my Original Sinners experience haha!
Books in the series:
(Must be read in order)
The Red Years:
The White Years:
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
March 24, 2017
**Recommend reading the Christmas bonus scene Tiffany gave us on her website before reading this...**
“She was thirty-eight years old, and she had loved Soren since she was fifteen...and yet...after all this time he could still scare the shit out of her.
God, she loved him.”
We knew that Nora once left Soren. We knew where she had sought refuge and we knew that they all suffered during that particular time. But we never knew the story until now. Now, we find out what happened not only to bring Nora to the point of walking away but what brought her back. But as much as this story belongs to Nora, it is also Kingsley’s story. His meeting his Juliette.
As Nora, Soren and Kingsley spend the night retelling a story that neither of them had spoken fully of before. When Nora lets it slip that during the time that she left Soren, she slept with a nun – both Kingsley and Soren aren’t about to let her keep that story to herself. But with Nora’s story of the virgin nun, comes the story of what caused her to run from Soren and what ultimately brought her back.
When I gave in and started this series I had no clue as to what to expect. I was a little torn, I wasn’t sure if I could truly handle that taboo nature of this story. A sadist priest... in theory I thought that the nature of this was hot as hell, but there was a part of me that thought it could be well beyond my comfort zone. What I discovered is that any story, no matter how taboo can be beautiful if the author knows how to tell it. Tiffany Reisz does this. She created a world within this series that gives you characters that are larger than just who they are.
I wasn’t sure how this addition to the series would play out. How much more story could be tossed in to fill the gaps that were left in the original books of the series. But just like every little bonus scene/story that we are given, this was absolutely fantastically written and enhanced the series.
While we learn about Nora’s time away I can’t help but want to know about every second of this near year through Soren’s eyes. At this point I think I would be satisfied by reading about pretty much anything these characters did, even something as simple as going shopping or cooking dinner.
It amazes me how we can come to love these characters even more than we once did. With each new chapter in their lives we learn a little new detail about them, see them in a light that is beyond what they once were when they first came to us. Part of me wanted Soren to leave the collar behind when I was starting this series. I wanted for nothing more than for Nora and Soren to be enough for one another, but now after all these books, all these stories... I wouldn’t want any of that. His place in the church is just as much a part of the love story, Nora’s need to submit to Soren, yet to own someone else – Kingsley desires for the family that he once lost while never letting go of the love he felt for the man that used to be a fair-haired boy that beat him into ecstasy... all of it is what makes this story epic.
I can say without a doubt that these characters are ones I’ll never tire of. I can only hope that Tiffany isn’t planning on ending this love affair anytime soon. I want to read about Nora and Soren as they turn old and gray, using a cane for walking, not only a beating. I cannot recommend this series enough. It is beautifully written and even if you think the nature of the characters might be outside of your comfort zone, I think you’d find that the author handles the religious aspect of this story with respect and care.
I can’t wait to see the story that we’ll get with The Queen and for what will come next.
“She was thirty-eight years old, and she had loved Soren since she was fifteen...and yet...after all this time he could still scare the shit out of her.
God, she loved him.”
We knew that Nora once left Soren. We knew where she had sought refuge and we knew that they all suffered during that particular time. But we never knew the story until now. Now, we find out what happened not only to bring Nora to the point of walking away but what brought her back. But as much as this story belongs to Nora, it is also Kingsley’s story. His meeting his Juliette.
As Nora, Soren and Kingsley spend the night retelling a story that neither of them had spoken fully of before. When Nora lets it slip that during the time that she left Soren, she slept with a nun – both Kingsley and Soren aren’t about to let her keep that story to herself. But with Nora’s story of the virgin nun, comes the story of what caused her to run from Soren and what ultimately brought her back.
When I gave in and started this series I had no clue as to what to expect. I was a little torn, I wasn’t sure if I could truly handle that taboo nature of this story. A sadist priest... in theory I thought that the nature of this was hot as hell, but there was a part of me that thought it could be well beyond my comfort zone. What I discovered is that any story, no matter how taboo can be beautiful if the author knows how to tell it. Tiffany Reisz does this. She created a world within this series that gives you characters that are larger than just who they are.
I wasn’t sure how this addition to the series would play out. How much more story could be tossed in to fill the gaps that were left in the original books of the series. But just like every little bonus scene/story that we are given, this was absolutely fantastically written and enhanced the series.
While we learn about Nora’s time away I can’t help but want to know about every second of this near year through Soren’s eyes. At this point I think I would be satisfied by reading about pretty much anything these characters did, even something as simple as going shopping or cooking dinner.
It amazes me how we can come to love these characters even more than we once did. With each new chapter in their lives we learn a little new detail about them, see them in a light that is beyond what they once were when they first came to us. Part of me wanted Soren to leave the collar behind when I was starting this series. I wanted for nothing more than for Nora and Soren to be enough for one another, but now after all these books, all these stories... I wouldn’t want any of that. His place in the church is just as much a part of the love story, Nora’s need to submit to Soren, yet to own someone else – Kingsley desires for the family that he once lost while never letting go of the love he felt for the man that used to be a fair-haired boy that beat him into ecstasy... all of it is what makes this story epic.
I can say without a doubt that these characters are ones I’ll never tire of. I can only hope that Tiffany isn’t planning on ending this love affair anytime soon. I want to read about Nora and Soren as they turn old and gray, using a cane for walking, not only a beating. I cannot recommend this series enough. It is beautifully written and even if you think the nature of the characters might be outside of your comfort zone, I think you’d find that the author handles the religious aspect of this story with respect and care.
I can’t wait to see the story that we’ll get with The Queen and for what will come next.
March 12, 2015
Review to come :D
~
Its so close, I can almost taste it!!
WHO IS EXCITED? :))
~
The Virgin.
Like... I can't even!!
GIVE IT TO ME.
~
Its so close, I can almost taste it!!
WHO IS EXCITED? :))
~
The Virgin.
Like... I can't even!!
GIVE IT TO ME.
February 7, 2022
5 'King and Jewel' stars
First read: 13 Aug 2018 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Re-read: 7 Feb 2022 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I need to re-write this review because the old one is rubbish and I want a new one but I'm too busy/too lazy right now for that, so it will have to wait.
There are no words to describe my love for The Original Sinners series. Seriously, I love every single page of these books. The Virgin takes us to the past, to that year, when Elle and Kingsley left Søren and both of them have their own story to tell. I'm very fond of all the sinners but Kingsly is my ultimate favorite. He is probably my favorite character ever. Yes, I love him that much. So, as much as Nora's story was interesting, I would rather talk about Kingsley and Juliette. We finally get to see how they met - on a Haitian beach, both kind of lost and in need of saving.
I've adored their relationship since the first book. They are so perfect together. Of course, I love King's other relationships as well. This kind of 'sometimes enemies, sometimes lovers/ brother-sister' relationship he has with Nora. Only the two of them can be so many different things to each other. I needed a little time to warm up to King and Søren together but after reading The Scent of Winter I was totally convinced. I understand that Nora, Søren, and King are the unholy trinity and therefore the stars of this series but it was nice to see Kingsley alone with Jules for a change. I think they would deserve more alone scenes together and a little more insight into their relationship. Nora might be King's Queen but Juliette is the jewel in his crown, His Jewel.
B(R)R with my Sinner Ladies Melanie, Ursy, Leila, and Whitney.
“Juliette...” he murmured against her lips. “My Juliette, my jewel.” She shivered in his arms.
“Your name is Kingsley?” she asked. “It’s your real name?”
“It is.”
“Are you a real king?”
“Yes,” he answered. He was. He had a kingdom. He had dominions. He had a court who served him. Yes. He was a real king.
“Then let me serve you, mon roi.”
First read: 13 Aug 2018 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Re-read: 7 Feb 2022 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I need to re-write this review because the old one is rubbish and I want a new one but I'm too busy/too lazy right now for that, so it will have to wait.
There are no words to describe my love for The Original Sinners series. Seriously, I love every single page of these books. The Virgin takes us to the past, to that year, when Elle and Kingsley left Søren and both of them have their own story to tell. I'm very fond of all the sinners but Kingsly is my ultimate favorite. He is probably my favorite character ever. Yes, I love him that much. So, as much as Nora's story was interesting, I would rather talk about Kingsley and Juliette. We finally get to see how they met - on a Haitian beach, both kind of lost and in need of saving.
I've adored their relationship since the first book. They are so perfect together. Of course, I love King's other relationships as well. This kind of 'sometimes enemies, sometimes lovers/ brother-sister' relationship he has with Nora. Only the two of them can be so many different things to each other. I needed a little time to warm up to King and Søren together but after reading The Scent of Winter I was totally convinced. I understand that Nora, Søren, and King are the unholy trinity and therefore the stars of this series but it was nice to see Kingsley alone with Jules for a change. I think they would deserve more alone scenes together and a little more insight into their relationship. Nora might be King's Queen but Juliette is the jewel in his crown, His Jewel.
“My Jewel, I can’t give you my whole heart. But the part of it I can give you is the part that isn’t scarred and isn’t broken. I’ll give you the best of me and protect you from the worst for the rest of my life.”
B(R)R with my Sinner Ladies Melanie, Ursy, Leila, and Whitney.
December 6, 2015
4-4.5 stars!
While attending a wedding in Scotland, Søren and Nora aka Elle are spending some quality time together. When he asked her to confess to him something she's never told him, she blurts out that she "fucked a nun at my mother's convent".
What follows is two separate stories of what had happened during That Year . The year that Elle had left Søren, and at the same time, Kingsley had met Juliette.
Scenario #5
Elle never would have imagined leaving Søren, but in certain instances, a back up plan was made just in case. They're 5 different reasons for her to flee, and she cannot believe the day has come to leave him as he hurt her badly. With no where to go to truly feel safe, her best option is to go see her mother, Sister Mary John at her convent, in hopes of finding a place to hide.
While hiding out at The Sisters of St. Monica, a new girl is entering the order. Kyrie is beautiful, young, and Elle finds out she is incredibly naive. At first she is annoyed by the constant questions she's berated with, then soon finds her endearing. Their friendship turns to more when Elle tries to show Kyrie the positives of pleasure and pain. In the end, she is able to learn a lot from this sweet novice nun.
Freedom is Overrated
With Elle gone and no clue where she could be, Kingsley decides to take off as well. After traveling for months, he winds up in Haiti. Fucking random women and staying right off the beach has been perfect for him to get away. While out strolling, he comes across a gorgeous woman.
Kingsley immediately craves Juliette. She ticks off all of the boxes of what he considers the perfect woman, including rough sex. If it were up to him, he would take her home with him and have her be his. But things are not so simple, as Juliette is "owned" by someone else.
Two different places during the same time, both Elle and Kingsley's lives will take a turn for the better. Kingsley will find his true match, and Elle will discover her talents outside of the bedroom.
After reading friends reviews on this installment, I'd have to agree that this was my least favorite in the series. With that said, I jumped in with lower expectations than usual. Despite it not being an epic read for me, I still really enjoyed The Virgin. Tiffany Reisz can turn any story with these characters into something great. I will never get tired of reading anything about what happened in the past or before The Red Years.
I wouldn't say I have any issues with the f/f situation, but let's just say it's not my favorite. It doesn't do anything for me. Even though we had a nice break from Elle in The King, I wasn't particularly ready to hear about yet another person falling head over heels for her. And yes, it happened again. For some reason I wasn't as annoyed as I thought I would be. I actually really liked Kyrie, and thought she was comical without even trying. She was very sweet, and was the exact person that Elle needed at that point and time.
Of course I loved getting the backstory to Kingsley and Juliette. It never ceases to amaze me how you read about things just being, and don't think about how it all started. I was glad we got more of the depth of their relationship and more knowledge and personality with Juliette. I was on pins and needles about her life, and how she would be able to leave her "owner". It's good to know that things didn't get out of hand.
Through it all, a lot of great insight was had in this book. We learned more to Elle's pregnancy, why she left Søren, how she first attempted her dominating side, the beginning of her writing career, and of course...who's wedding they were attending.
It's very sad that this is almost the end.
I know very few authors that compare to the flawless writing by TR. I will continue to read anything she writes and no doubt love. Highly anticipating The Queen.
While attending a wedding in Scotland, Søren and Nora aka Elle are spending some quality time together. When he asked her to confess to him something she's never told him, she blurts out that she "fucked a nun at my mother's convent".
What follows is two separate stories of what had happened during That Year . The year that Elle had left Søren, and at the same time, Kingsley had met Juliette.
"I will never reach the end of you," Søren said. "Every time I think I've seen it all, you lead me to a hidden door and open it."
Scenario #5
Elle never would have imagined leaving Søren, but in certain instances, a back up plan was made just in case. They're 5 different reasons for her to flee, and she cannot believe the day has come to leave him as he hurt her badly. With no where to go to truly feel safe, her best option is to go see her mother, Sister Mary John at her convent, in hopes of finding a place to hide.
While hiding out at The Sisters of St. Monica, a new girl is entering the order. Kyrie is beautiful, young, and Elle finds out she is incredibly naive. At first she is annoyed by the constant questions she's berated with, then soon finds her endearing. Their friendship turns to more when Elle tries to show Kyrie the positives of pleasure and pain. In the end, she is able to learn a lot from this sweet novice nun.
Freedom is Overrated
With Elle gone and no clue where she could be, Kingsley decides to take off as well. After traveling for months, he winds up in Haiti. Fucking random women and staying right off the beach has been perfect for him to get away. While out strolling, he comes across a gorgeous woman.
Kingsley immediately craves Juliette. She ticks off all of the boxes of what he considers the perfect woman, including rough sex. If it were up to him, he would take her home with him and have her be his. But things are not so simple, as Juliette is "owned" by someone else.
Two different places during the same time, both Elle and Kingsley's lives will take a turn for the better. Kingsley will find his true match, and Elle will discover her talents outside of the bedroom.
After reading friends reviews on this installment, I'd have to agree that this was my least favorite in the series. With that said, I jumped in with lower expectations than usual. Despite it not being an epic read for me, I still really enjoyed The Virgin. Tiffany Reisz can turn any story with these characters into something great. I will never get tired of reading anything about what happened in the past or before The Red Years.
I wouldn't say I have any issues with the f/f situation, but let's just say it's not my favorite. It doesn't do anything for me. Even though we had a nice break from Elle in The King, I wasn't particularly ready to hear about yet another person falling head over heels for her. And yes, it happened again. For some reason I wasn't as annoyed as I thought I would be. I actually really liked Kyrie, and thought she was comical without even trying. She was very sweet, and was the exact person that Elle needed at that point and time.
Of course I loved getting the backstory to Kingsley and Juliette. It never ceases to amaze me how you read about things just being, and don't think about how it all started. I was glad we got more of the depth of their relationship and more knowledge and personality with Juliette. I was on pins and needles about her life, and how she would be able to leave her "owner". It's good to know that things didn't get out of hand.
Through it all, a lot of great insight was had in this book. We learned more to Elle's pregnancy, why she left Søren, how she first attempted her dominating side, the beginning of her writing career, and of course...who's wedding they were attending.
It's very sad that this is almost the end.
I know very few authors that compare to the flawless writing by TR. I will continue to read anything she writes and no doubt love. Highly anticipating The Queen.
September 19, 2015
Well, it's taken me a few days to think about my review and rating. If I could separate the story lines, I would give Kingsley and Juliette's story 5++ stars! For Nora and Kyrie, I would give 4 stars.
In The Virgin, Tiffany Reisz dazzles her readers again with probing character development for characters to whom we already intimately know. The two storylines are interwoven and center on the time when Eleanor/Nora invokes her safeword and leaves Soren. For the eight months during Nora's sebbatical, Kingsley also leaves his Manhattan kingdom and we learn about how he meets Juliette. Their story is magical and Kingsley doesn't disappoint! As for Nora's time away from Soren, it was interesting to read that Kyrie was the impetus behind Nora's first published book. Nora's flight was also powerfully symbolic in how unique the relationship is between Nora and Soren.
"Busy day ahead. Things to do. People to beat. A Dominatrix's work was never done."
Throughout the story, Tiffany delivers with Nora's quirky and dry sense of humor along with "Kingsley-isms" we all expect and love! We don't read much about Soren in this book, but his strong persona hovers and his presence is always felt.
I look forward to the final book of this series, The Queen.
Post Script: All my other readings of TR books were solo ventures, but I read The Virgin as a BR with the Canaries and I'm glad I was able to share in the excitement of this book! Sometimes, you just need to voice theories and opinions in an informal setting - thanks Canaries!!
In The Virgin, Tiffany Reisz dazzles her readers again with probing character development for characters to whom we already intimately know. The two storylines are interwoven and center on the time when Eleanor/Nora invokes her safeword and leaves Soren. For the eight months during Nora's sebbatical, Kingsley also leaves his Manhattan kingdom and we learn about how he meets Juliette. Their story is magical and Kingsley doesn't disappoint! As for Nora's time away from Soren, it was interesting to read that Kyrie was the impetus behind Nora's first published book. Nora's flight was also powerfully symbolic in how unique the relationship is between Nora and Soren.
"Busy day ahead. Things to do. People to beat. A Dominatrix's work was never done."
Throughout the story, Tiffany delivers with Nora's quirky and dry sense of humor along with "Kingsley-isms" we all expect and love! We don't read much about Soren in this book, but his strong persona hovers and his presence is always felt.
I look forward to the final book of this series, The Queen.
Post Script: All my other readings of TR books were solo ventures, but I read The Virgin as a BR with the Canaries and I'm glad I was able to share in the excitement of this book! Sometimes, you just need to voice theories and opinions in an informal setting - thanks Canaries!!
November 29, 2015
Another Great Book In The Original Sinners Series!
I am constantly amazed with this author's ability to largely retell the same story over and over, while making it seem new and exciting. It really is quite incredible. This book, like other books in the series, spends the vast majority of time retelling past events. Yet, I couldn't get enough!
This time around, Nora and Kingsley alternately reveal the events of their year away from Soren. It was during this time that Kingsley met and fell in love with Juliette. Nora hid out at her mother's convent, where she had a fling with a young nun. (Come on! You really didn't think Nora could behave in a convent for a full year, did you?)
As expected, Ms. Reisz has written another fantastic book in this series!
I am constantly amazed with this author's ability to largely retell the same story over and over, while making it seem new and exciting. It really is quite incredible. This book, like other books in the series, spends the vast majority of time retelling past events. Yet, I couldn't get enough!
This time around, Nora and Kingsley alternately reveal the events of their year away from Soren. It was during this time that Kingsley met and fell in love with Juliette. Nora hid out at her mother's convent, where she had a fling with a young nun. (Come on! You really didn't think Nora could behave in a convent for a full year, did you?)
As expected, Ms. Reisz has written another fantastic book in this series!
January 15, 2022
5 HUGE STARS!
I don't know why I'm surprised by how much I LOVED this installment of the series. But, GAH!! if you haven't read these books yet, I wholeheartedly recommend. 😍😍
A huge thank you as always to my incredible buddy readers MONIQUE, URSY, LEILA, and WHITNEY - I love you guys even more than TR's writing! 😂😂
I don't know why I'm surprised by how much I LOVED this installment of the series. But, GAH!! if you haven't read these books yet, I wholeheartedly recommend. 😍😍
A huge thank you as always to my incredible buddy readers MONIQUE, URSY, LEILA, and WHITNEY - I love you guys even more than TR's writing! 😂😂
May 27, 2015
**The Virgin generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
5 "...you lead me to a hidden door and open it." Stars
Sitting down to re-open my heart and mind to a story about The Originals Sinners is one of my favorite reading experiences. It's so easy to get lost in the brilliant world of Soren, Kingsley, and Nora created by Tiffany Reisz. I look forward to new Sinners stories because, as my 5 star rating suggests, there is always a hidden door to open filled with more stories making me fall in love with them deeper.
The Virgin reveals a deeper look into "THAT year" in the lives of these three dynamic characters. The year before their Kingdom flourished. The year marking the end of what they were and the start of who they've become and more importantly the deep and strong ties connecting Soren, King, and Nora to each other forever. Forever fans of the series will love this narrative and storyline.
In the Red Years, Soren stole my heart, as he did in The Saint as well. But in The King and now this latest installment the love has shifted a bit to the formidable Kingsley. My eyes have been opened to the heart and soul of this man who lays himself on the line constantly for the sake of the happiness of those he loves. He understands people as much as he craves them. Once Kingsley deems you important to him, nothing else matters but your happiness and protection.
Soren, Kingsley, and Nora sit down together at the beginning of The Virgin for a slumber of the most sordid variety reminiscing of a time in their lives that was somber at best for them all when it began yet became hopeful. They've never talked about this time of their lives to each other or so openly to their audience of readers. I loved every minute of relieving the heartache and beauty with them. Nora and Kingsley can tell me a bedtime story every so often for the rest of time and I don't think I'd tire of reading as there is still so much to discover about their motivations, emotions, and actions. There’s one special Nora birthday scene remembered by Kingsley here too that is a can’t miss for fans of the series.
Tiffany Reisz always does a stellar job of drawing me into the story with her special brand of wit, comedy, and drama woven together within rich character histories and detailed depictions. There's never a dull moment in the world of The Original Sinners. I'm looking forward to where she ends the story with The Queen.
I’ve said after each review I’ve done in this series, if you haven’t started this series yet and love erotica do yourself a favor go all way back to the The Siren and meet The Original Sinners.
Previous spoiler-free reviews of the first two books in the TOS:White Years series:
The Saint
The King
BR with my girls DeannaPinkLady and JxxPinkLady
March 28, 2015
5 "The Forgotten Year" Stars! Tiffany Reisz is beyond a doubt one of the most clever erotic romance writers I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I absolutely loved this story. The Virgin, in essence, introduces us to how and why Eleanor, Soren's Little One, became Nora. We also get the back story on how Kingsley met Juliette. Both tales are revealed as Eleanor, Soren and Kingsley lay in bed reminiscing about the past, one stormy night in a Scottish castle before a wedding. In typical Tiffany Reisz style, the reader is kept in suspense as to both the present (who is getting married) and the past (exactly what happened in that year) until the very end. And of course, throughout the entire adventure you can count on plenty of steamy, erotic scenes occurring both in the present and past to keep you aroused and entertained the whole way!
This is one of those stories, where the less you know going in the better, as the magical effect of this read lies in its delivery, and how it fits in with everything you already know about these characters. So I will be necessarily brief in my background description.
Kingsley prepared Eleanor for years. One day he knew she would need to disappear. Afterall, how long could the infamous submissive of a Catholic priest and lover of the King of Manhattan's Kink Underworld remain a secret? Undoubtedly, one day she would need to run away from it all. What Eleanor never believed is that she would be hiding from both Soren and Kingsley.
That day occurs when she is 26 years-old (12 years in the past compared to the present described in The Virgin). Running with very little money, and only really having mutual friends who would no doubt reveal her location, Eleanor goes to the one place that neither Soren nor Kingsley could touch her: her mother's Catholic convent. Of course, Eleanor being who she is, not even a convent full of only nuns, could repress her true sexual nature. It is there where she, along with the help of a rather unusually quirky, virginal 21 year-old nun, that she really learns who she is meant to be.
The events that lead to her disappearance are so unforgivable to Kingsley that even he goes on a hiatus. Afraid that he would never be able to deny Soren should he ask him to help find Eleanor, Kingsley embarks on traveling the world and leaves without a word to Soren. Then he meets the one person who he just may never be able to truly have. Lost in his own duel with fate, he is also forced to face who he is truly meant to be.
I have to say that Tiffany Reisz's way with words, particularly when it comes to forbidden topics, is beyond compare. There is a whole list of things that happen in this book, that I never thought I would be comfortable reading; but when it's Tiffany Reisz who is writing it, I find myself devouring it with plenty aplomb. If you have an open mind, particularly when it comes to taboo and kink, then I can't recommend The Original Sinners Series highly enough. I guarantee that it will leave you lost in thought for days, and you will never quite see the world the same again. I just wish there were more books out there that could come close to the incredible rush that Tiffany Reisz's books always seem to inspire. There is just something so dangerously tantalizing about the forbidden that becomes an irresistible force driving you to savor every word. This series really is in a class all of its own. I absolutely can't wait for the next installment, The Queen, which is scheduled to be released in in October 2015!
Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those stories, where the less you know going in the better, as the magical effect of this read lies in its delivery, and how it fits in with everything you already know about these characters. So I will be necessarily brief in my background description.
Kingsley prepared Eleanor for years. One day he knew she would need to disappear. Afterall, how long could the infamous submissive of a Catholic priest and lover of the King of Manhattan's Kink Underworld remain a secret? Undoubtedly, one day she would need to run away from it all. What Eleanor never believed is that she would be hiding from both Soren and Kingsley.
That day occurs when she is 26 years-old (12 years in the past compared to the present described in The Virgin). Running with very little money, and only really having mutual friends who would no doubt reveal her location, Eleanor goes to the one place that neither Soren nor Kingsley could touch her: her mother's Catholic convent. Of course, Eleanor being who she is, not even a convent full of only nuns, could repress her true sexual nature. It is there where she, along with the help of a rather unusually quirky, virginal 21 year-old nun, that she really learns who she is meant to be.
The events that lead to her disappearance are so unforgivable to Kingsley that even he goes on a hiatus. Afraid that he would never be able to deny Soren should he ask him to help find Eleanor, Kingsley embarks on traveling the world and leaves without a word to Soren. Then he meets the one person who he just may never be able to truly have. Lost in his own duel with fate, he is also forced to face who he is truly meant to be.
I have to say that Tiffany Reisz's way with words, particularly when it comes to forbidden topics, is beyond compare. There is a whole list of things that happen in this book, that I never thought I would be comfortable reading; but when it's Tiffany Reisz who is writing it, I find myself devouring it with plenty aplomb. If you have an open mind, particularly when it comes to taboo and kink, then I can't recommend The Original Sinners Series highly enough. I guarantee that it will leave you lost in thought for days, and you will never quite see the world the same again. I just wish there were more books out there that could come close to the incredible rush that Tiffany Reisz's books always seem to inspire. There is just something so dangerously tantalizing about the forbidden that becomes an irresistible force driving you to savor every word. This series really is in a class all of its own. I absolutely can't wait for the next installment, The Queen, which is scheduled to be released in in October 2015!
Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2019
4,5 stars.
Once upon a time Grey's Anatomy was one of my favorite TV-series. I could have watched it and McDreamy all the time. Now it's one of those TV-series I still watch because it would feel wrong not to know what's happening with what's left of the original cast, but all the while wishing the current season is the last season.
Grey's Anatomy is not the only one I've felt this way about. That is why even with the book series I approach the newest book with excitement, but also a bit of trepidation. There is always a possibility that book may be the one that would make me wish the series was over. With The Original Sinners books I always end up wanting more. Seven books into the series, and I'm still excited about learning new things about these characters, even the characters who aren't Kingsley! And, boy, do they have stories to tell. I will miss them so much when it's all over, so book eight, The Queen, makes me both happy and sad. In 201 days I get more of Original Sinners. In 201 days it all ends. 201 days... but who's counting?
Back to the book at hand. The Virgin, like the its two predecessors, takes place both in the past (which takes up majority of the book), and the present. Now more than even I'm glad Ms. Reisz decided to give us glimpses into the characters' lives after The Mistress even though it wasn't part of the original plan. Besides satisfying my endless curiosity about what these characters are up to, and seeing Nora finally getting her HEA, I love it also because it's good to see them so happy, and content, in a more relaxed situation, joking instead of fighting. I've enjoyed The Red Years immensely, but there was always something bad happening to them then; this is a nice change. I've never been a fan of that "amor omnia vincit" saying--frankly, I thought it was full of crap--but they appear to proving it right.
The 2014 Christmas story, Christmas in Suite 37A, was a great intro to the present parts of The Virgin, so I think it would be best to read that before this book. Though, I can't imagine anyone who's a fan hasn't already read it... It's Griffin & Michael, after all.
Those few chapters set in present time served another purpose: it created the perfect atmosphere for Nora, Kingsley, and Søren to reminisce about a very difficult year in their lives, the year that changed everything...
Those of us who have been reading this series know what led to Nora leaving Søren, but if you thought you had all the major facts about that, think again. Tiffany Reisz is one helluva storyteller. Even when she's writing a story about something we, the readers, are already familiar with, she makes it fresh, with tons of new interesting information. So what led to this breakup and how it happened managed to surprise me. Just when I thought nothing could surprise me from them. Silly me.
And so it happened: Elle left. Then Kingsley left. Søren was left behind.
There's a small part of me that feels bad for Søren for everything he must have gone through that year, but most of me says: Good! But this book is not really about him. No Søren's POV ever! And since he drove people who love him the most away, there was only a little of him in the book.
The Virgin had two narrators, and two story lines (here I'm referring to the parts set in the past): one was Elle/Eleanor/Nora (many names she's got, but here she was Elle), and the other is our very own king: Kingsley. As much as I would like to start with Elle given hers is the first POV in the book, I just can't wait one sentence longer to write about how once again I've gotten to like Kingsley more, even though I thought that was impossible.
The story of how Kingsley met Juliette was one I've wanted to read for a very long time. She was important to him--that was always crystal clear, but with all the drama happening between him and the other main characters, Juliette sort of remained in the background. This time around the spotlight was on her and Kingsley, and I very much liked what I saw. I adored these sides of Kingsley we didn't get a chance to properly see in the earlier books. Kingsley in The King was worth waiting for, and so was this one. As per usual getting Juliette was far from easy. If I hadn't known they were together in the present, there was a lot of potential for me to feel heartbroken. There was a lot of heartache, that's for sure. There always is with Kingsley. I'd rather not retell everything that happened that year in Haiti. Suffice it to say it was hot (and not just because of the sun), sweet, and also sad, but with a very satisfying chained-to-bed ending.
It wasn't just the love for Juliette that made me fall even harder for that Frenchman. To the long list I'm also adding loyalty to Elle he showed even when his loyalty to Søren could/would have trumped that, and how protective he was over his young secretary, even how he treated his dogs. That man... *sigh*
While Kingsley was traveling the world/avoiding New York, Elle was in her mother's convent avoiding the outside world, but mostly Søren. It was there in that convent that I think I saw the woman who'd become Nora Sutherlin, the famous erotica writer & the most famous Dominatrix, and it was a young new nun that helped her get there, no less. Kyrie brought out Elle's Dominant side, though someone else started it before. I've wanted to learn their story ever since Nora mentioned she was involved with a nun in The Mistress Files. It was a sweet story that, unfortunately, had to end, but played a major part in where Elle's life would go next. Well, Kyrie, and Kingsley. And while there are many fans of Eleanor & Søren duo out there, I could never imagine her only being Søren's submissive, so I'm glad we got to the point where she started exploring her Dominant self. That it used to piss off Søren is just a bonus.
The next chapter in the OS saga (coming in 201 days!) promises to be an amazing one. I CAN NOT wait, although I'll probably end up crying because it's over. Oh, well. C'est la vie...
***This review is also posted on Way Too Hot Books blog.***
February, 2015
And the UK cover is here!
It's pretty, and there are no mentions of the words shade and fifty (YES!!!), but the question... Hmmmm... Whoever she is, the answer is always no with this group.
June, 2014
http://www.tiffanyreisz.com/storytime...
OMG, book 7 will be about Eleanor becoming Nora AND about Kingsley finding Juliette!!!
Once upon a time Grey's Anatomy was one of my favorite TV-series. I could have watched it and McDreamy all the time. Now it's one of those TV-series I still watch because it would feel wrong not to know what's happening with what's left of the original cast, but all the while wishing the current season is the last season.
Grey's Anatomy is not the only one I've felt this way about. That is why even with the book series I approach the newest book with excitement, but also a bit of trepidation. There is always a possibility that book may be the one that would make me wish the series was over. With The Original Sinners books I always end up wanting more. Seven books into the series, and I'm still excited about learning new things about these characters, even the characters who aren't Kingsley! And, boy, do they have stories to tell. I will miss them so much when it's all over, so book eight, The Queen, makes me both happy and sad. In 201 days I get more of Original Sinners. In 201 days it all ends. 201 days... but who's counting?
Back to the book at hand. The Virgin, like the its two predecessors, takes place both in the past (which takes up majority of the book), and the present. Now more than even I'm glad Ms. Reisz decided to give us glimpses into the characters' lives after The Mistress even though it wasn't part of the original plan. Besides satisfying my endless curiosity about what these characters are up to, and seeing Nora finally getting her HEA, I love it also because it's good to see them so happy, and content, in a more relaxed situation, joking instead of fighting. I've enjoyed The Red Years immensely, but there was always something bad happening to them then; this is a nice change. I've never been a fan of that "amor omnia vincit" saying--frankly, I thought it was full of crap--but they appear to proving it right.
The 2014 Christmas story, Christmas in Suite 37A, was a great intro to the present parts of The Virgin, so I think it would be best to read that before this book. Though, I can't imagine anyone who's a fan hasn't already read it... It's Griffin & Michael, after all.
Those few chapters set in present time served another purpose: it created the perfect atmosphere for Nora, Kingsley, and Søren to reminisce about a very difficult year in their lives, the year that changed everything...
“It was a dark and stormy night” [...] “And I was leaving you. Forever.”
Those of us who have been reading this series know what led to Nora leaving Søren, but if you thought you had all the major facts about that, think again. Tiffany Reisz is one helluva storyteller. Even when she's writing a story about something we, the readers, are already familiar with, she makes it fresh, with tons of new interesting information. So what led to this breakup and how it happened managed to surprise me. Just when I thought nothing could surprise me from them. Silly me.
And so it happened: Elle left. Then Kingsley left. Søren was left behind.
There's a small part of me that feels bad for Søren for everything he must have gone through that year, but most of me says: Good! But this book is not really about him. No Søren's POV ever! And since he drove people who love him the most away, there was only a little of him in the book.
The Virgin had two narrators, and two story lines (here I'm referring to the parts set in the past): one was Elle/Eleanor/Nora (many names she's got, but here she was Elle), and the other is our very own king: Kingsley. As much as I would like to start with Elle given hers is the first POV in the book, I just can't wait one sentence longer to write about how once again I've gotten to like Kingsley more, even though I thought that was impossible.
The story of how Kingsley met Juliette was one I've wanted to read for a very long time. She was important to him--that was always crystal clear, but with all the drama happening between him and the other main characters, Juliette sort of remained in the background. This time around the spotlight was on her and Kingsley, and I very much liked what I saw. I adored these sides of Kingsley we didn't get a chance to properly see in the earlier books. Kingsley in The King was worth waiting for, and so was this one. As per usual getting Juliette was far from easy. If I hadn't known they were together in the present, there was a lot of potential for me to feel heartbroken. There was a lot of heartache, that's for sure. There always is with Kingsley. I'd rather not retell everything that happened that year in Haiti. Suffice it to say it was hot (and not just because of the sun), sweet, and also sad, but with a very satisfying chained-to-bed ending.
It wasn't just the love for Juliette that made me fall even harder for that Frenchman. To the long list I'm also adding loyalty to Elle he showed even when his loyalty to Søren could/would have trumped that, and how protective he was over his young secretary, even how he treated his dogs. That man... *sigh*
While Kingsley was traveling the world/avoiding New York, Elle was in her mother's convent avoiding the outside world, but mostly Søren. It was there in that convent that I think I saw the woman who'd become Nora Sutherlin, the famous erotica writer & the most famous Dominatrix, and it was a young new nun that helped her get there, no less. Kyrie brought out Elle's Dominant side, though someone else started it before. I've wanted to learn their story ever since Nora mentioned she was involved with a nun in The Mistress Files. It was a sweet story that, unfortunately, had to end, but played a major part in where Elle's life would go next. Well, Kyrie, and Kingsley. And while there are many fans of Eleanor & Søren duo out there, I could never imagine her only being Søren's submissive, so I'm glad we got to the point where she started exploring her Dominant self. That it used to piss off Søren is just a bonus.
The next chapter in the OS saga (coming in 201 days!) promises to be an amazing one. I CAN NOT wait, although I'll probably end up crying because it's over. Oh, well. C'est la vie...
***This review is also posted on Way Too Hot Books blog.***
February, 2015
And the UK cover is here!
It's pretty, and there are no mentions of the words shade and fifty (YES!!!), but the question... Hmmmm... Whoever she is, the answer is always no with this group.
June, 2014
http://www.tiffanyreisz.com/storytime...
OMG, book 7 will be about Eleanor becoming Nora AND about Kingsley finding Juliette!!!
February 10, 2017
The one where Mistress Nora gets her sub.
Well… she does get a sub; it wasn't the sub story I was hoping for, but I love that pic so it stays. Reisz said she wasn't going to give us more of the sinners' modern day story after the conclusion of The Mistress, but she has given bits and pieces which elevated my hopes for her and Nico's story. Those hopes were dashed pretty quickly.
Reisz-3,729,496
Cupcake-1
*kicks rocks*
I just want to know him better! Does he stack up against King or Lance? Oh well… moving on.
We catch up to the gang in Scotland, or as I call it Home of the Kilts, preparing for a wedding. I totally called whose wedding it was hence the 1 point. I've got a shitton of catching up to do. I digress. I mentioned the kilts, right? King's in a kilt! Juliette has a kilt fetish as well so he's "hiding out" in Nora and Søren's room when they stroll down memory lane to that year Nora spent with her mother at the abbey and King wound up in Haiti and met the second love of his life.
Nora, who went by Elle then, met a young aspiring nun named Kyrie, "the virgin" nun. Kyrie plays an instrumental role in Nora becoming Mistress Nora as well as an author. She presses Elle for her backstory which is where things got interesting. Elle tells her about her blossoming need for domination and who encouraged her to nurture that side of her-King.
He is so hot as a sub. He's the bees knees regardless but I fell for him first as a sub.
King meeting Juliette and falling in love with her is the other half of this beautifully erotic novel by Reisz. Juliette's backstory is an unhappy one much like many of the sinners. No wonder she fit in so perfectly. Well, that and she accepts that a portion of King's heart has belonged to Søren since he was a teenager, that he's bisexual and monogamy isn't in his vocabulary, but most importantly, that King wants nothing more than to be a father.
"My Jewel, I can't give you my whole heart. But the part of it I can give you is the part that isn't scarred and isn't broken. I'll give you the best of me and protect you from the worst for the rest of my life."
Of course I loved all the King parts. I melted over the "I don't love you" scene and how much he adores Juliette is so lovely it felt like I kept getting bitch slapped. I don't want to get all gushy about King. Again. I will say I love that he loves people with his whole heart; he's so passionate.
*shivers*
All of Reisz's books have some degree of humor, but I was crying over the Søren in a kilt scene. I haven't laughed that hard in quite some time.
Sooooo, why not 5 stars?
Chapter 29. I think this is the drawback to having an ongoing series centered around these characters. Readers get to know them, some are obsessed with them and I… just can't buy Søren's behavior. It's non-sensical. It needs more of an explanation as to his motivations which may come in the next book and that may change my rating. Until then I'm giving it 4.25 Stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 7th installment in this series and eagerly anticipate the conclusion., The Queen.
Plus, did I mention there were kilts? Nothing beats a kilt except maybe a corset or some MANTIES.
Look at all that goodness!
Must read for Sinners fans and fans of kink or great writing.
A review copy was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well… she does get a sub; it wasn't the sub story I was hoping for, but I love that pic so it stays. Reisz said she wasn't going to give us more of the sinners' modern day story after the conclusion of The Mistress, but she has given bits and pieces which elevated my hopes for her and Nico's story. Those hopes were dashed pretty quickly.
Reisz-3,729,496
Cupcake-1
*kicks rocks*
I just want to know him better! Does he stack up against King or Lance? Oh well… moving on.
We catch up to the gang in Scotland, or as I call it Home of the Kilts, preparing for a wedding. I totally called whose wedding it was hence the 1 point. I've got a shitton of catching up to do. I digress. I mentioned the kilts, right? King's in a kilt! Juliette has a kilt fetish as well so he's "hiding out" in Nora and Søren's room when they stroll down memory lane to that year Nora spent with her mother at the abbey and King wound up in Haiti and met the second love of his life.
Nora, who went by Elle then, met a young aspiring nun named Kyrie, "the virgin" nun. Kyrie plays an instrumental role in Nora becoming Mistress Nora as well as an author. She presses Elle for her backstory which is where things got interesting. Elle tells her about her blossoming need for domination and who encouraged her to nurture that side of her-King.
He is so hot as a sub. He's the bees knees regardless but I fell for him first as a sub.
"You're beautiful like this." Elle pressed her palm to his lower back where she'd concentrated her most vicious attentions. "Did you know that? When you're submissive and suffering and so turned on your cock is dripping? It's beautiful."
"Merci," he said, flushing slightly. Praise like that was a balm to his soul.
King meeting Juliette and falling in love with her is the other half of this beautifully erotic novel by Reisz. Juliette's backstory is an unhappy one much like many of the sinners. No wonder she fit in so perfectly. Well, that and she accepts that a portion of King's heart has belonged to Søren since he was a teenager, that he's bisexual and monogamy isn't in his vocabulary, but most importantly, that King wants nothing more than to be a father.
"My Jewel, I can't give you my whole heart. But the part of it I can give you is the part that isn't scarred and isn't broken. I'll give you the best of me and protect you from the worst for the rest of my life."
Of course I loved all the King parts. I melted over the "I don't love you" scene and how much he adores Juliette is so lovely it felt like I kept getting bitch slapped. I don't want to get all gushy about King. Again. I will say I love that he loves people with his whole heart; he's so passionate.
*shivers*
All of Reisz's books have some degree of humor, but I was crying over the Søren in a kilt scene. I haven't laughed that hard in quite some time.
Sooooo, why not 5 stars?
Chapter 29. I think this is the drawback to having an ongoing series centered around these characters. Readers get to know them, some are obsessed with them and I… just can't buy Søren's behavior. It's non-sensical. It needs more of an explanation as to his motivations which may come in the next book and that may change my rating. Until then I'm giving it 4.25 Stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 7th installment in this series and eagerly anticipate the conclusion., The Queen.
Plus, did I mention there were kilts? Nothing beats a kilt except maybe a corset or some MANTIES.
Look at all that goodness!
Must read for Sinners fans and fans of kink or great writing.
A review copy was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2015
Another masterpiece to be devoured yet savoured at the same time. I should learn by now that there is no reason to be anxiety stricken over reading a book in this series. So far, the full length novels in series is a solid five star across the board. I have never read a series for so long where every single book moves me and impresses me. I am completely enthralled with this book and the author. I keep dragging my feet in reading the book because I'm nervous it won't meet my high expectations.
In the Virgin, readers finally learn about "the year". This is the year which Nora leaves Søren and Kingsley for "good". It's the major conflict which breaks the three apart. It is the one story I've been dreading since the beginning of this series. Why do I dread it? Because I'm desperately afraid of what I will learn. And I'm frightened that I will lose my love for the characters. Lastly, I'm also afraid the BDSM will just be "meh". So far, Ms. Reisz's BDSM is constantly edgy and fabulously kinky. How can she keep this going? It's a mystery to me and all I know is that I love it and want it to continue.
By now, followers of this series should know the BDSM in this book is accurate and fabulous. There is no real need for me to delve into the accuracies. What I can say is the erotic scenes filled with taboo in here are divine. Panty wetting goodness down to the very last word. I shiver in pleasure when I read any of the erotic passages. The rough sex, fisting, beatings… all of it is superb.
The writing is spectacular. I'm serious. The way Ms. Reisz incorporates theology into this series is mind boggling and always renews my faith and makes me want to attend Church on Sundays. Inevitably, I end up looking up passages in the Bible. If Ms. Reisz was my Sunday School teacher, I would have learned so much. I digress. The dialog between the characters is amazing. Her way with words is beyond compare. There are very few authors who can write at this level where there are connections and hidden meanings behind every scene. It is stimulating to the mind and I love it. It's a rush and when the story is over, I crash like a sugar low. Je suis désolée. I love the French language added into this book. It enhances my enjoyment and oddly, when Kingsley responds in English after some French, I translate his answers into French in my head. Using Latin is also a turn on. Ms. Reisz is a logophile's wet dream.
The dialog between the characters is breathtaking. The scenes are absurd and arousing.
“Good show,” Kingsley said. “Nice technique.”
“It’s not easy to catch her off guard,” Søren agreed.
“Are you two going to comment the entire time?” Griffin asked, looking up from her.
“Of course,” Kingsley said, reaching into a black satchel next to his booted legs. “I’m the French judge. He’s the Danish judge.”
Kingsley handed Søren a set of cards with the numbers one through ten on them. Score cards.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Griffin said, groaning and burying his face against her chest.
“Be glad Mistress Irina isn’t here, Griffin.” Kingsley shuffled casually through his cards. “No one ever impresses the Russian judge.” (kindle loc. 1090-1096)
Then there are the thought provoking gems.
She masturbated too, which was considered a sin here. Elle didn’t consider it a sin. She considered it an act of self-preservation. (Kindle loc. 1302-1303)
“Extraordinary circumstances. That’s one way to put it,” Elle said.
“Have you ever thought about how weird the word ‘extraordinary’ is? It means not ordinary but if something is extra ordinary wouldn’t you assume it was very ordinary? Super ordinary?” [Kyrie]
“Extra is a Latin prefix meaning ‘outside.’ If something is extra—it means it’s outside. Extra ordinary means outside the ordinary.” [Elle] (kindle loc. 1353-1357)
“You must be a masochist.” [Elle]
“A what?” [Kyrie]
“A masochist. Someone who takes pleasure from pain and humiliation.” [Elle]
“Well…I did join a convent.” [Kyrie]
“Good point,” Elle conceded. (Kindle loc. 1384-1386)
“She [Elle's mother] wasn’t who she thought she should be. And now she finally is.” [Elle]
“It’s a terrible thing to not be who God called you to be. I think that’s the cause for most of the suffering in all the world,” Kyrie said. “People trying to be who they aren’t supposed to be or not getting to be who they should be.” (Kindle loc. 2094-2096)
Then there is the sacrilege with humour.
He [Søren] was defending his dissertation at the Jesuit university there. PhD number two.” [Elle]
“Two PhDs? That’s crazy. He must be really smart.” [Kyrie]
“He’s the most intelligent man I’ve ever known. And such a nerd,” Elle said, smiling. “But he’s a Jesuit. PhDs are like catnip to Jesuits. They pop a boner around academic degrees like a teenage boy with his first Playboy.” [Elle]
“Oh God, my great-uncle’s a Jesuit.” [Kyrie]
“Sorry,” Elle said, wincing. “How many PhDs does he have?” [Elle]
“Three. Which is probably the same number of boners he’s had since becoming a Jesuit.” [Kyrie] (Kindle loc. 2961-2967)
And it continues…
“I love orgasms. I say a prayer of thanks to God for them every day.” [Kyrie]
“You say a prayer of thanks for orgasms?” Elle asked.
“Of course. I mean, they’re a gift from God, right? A woman doesn’t need to have an orgasm to get pregnant, right?” [Kyrie]
“Right.” [Elle]
“So if they have nothing to do with reproduction, then why do women have them?” Kyrie asked. She raised her hand and pointed a finger up at the ceiling, at the sky, where God lived. “Orgasms are God’s way of saying He’s sorry about periods and cramps.”
“Apology accepted,” Elle said.
Kyrie said, “Amen.” (Kindle loc. 3520-3525)
These are just a tidbit of how amazing the character interact with each other. Let's discuss the characters. In each one of these books, there is a loss of a possible relationship. Nora goes through love lost time after time. This book is with Kyrie. I loved Kyrie. She's an adorable ball of fluff who reminds Nora's youthful self. The parallels drawn between Kyrie to Nora and Nora to Søren is exquisite. Ms. Reisz does it again to me and when it happens, I'm left gasping for breath as my heart is broken and yet I understand why it happens the way it does. I don't think I can look at stoplight the same way again for a while. The way emotion is invoked in these stories appeals to me. I'm vested in these characters and relationships. So when they hit rock bottom or dissolve or don't work out, I'm devastated. Kingsley's year away from Søren is just as pivotal and intensely emotional. What I like about these angst filled situation is that it isn't some contrived drama. These are situations which are plausible and undeniably filled with sorrow because it's not the person, it's the fact that it isn't the right fit. There are no winners or losers, just irreconcilable differences. Yet it is not the end of the world. Life continues on and love released returns back to its rightful home. Amor vincit omnia. This erotic romance is highly recommended to kinky readers who want it all.
*provided by NetGalley
In the Virgin, readers finally learn about "the year". This is the year which Nora leaves Søren and Kingsley for "good". It's the major conflict which breaks the three apart. It is the one story I've been dreading since the beginning of this series. Why do I dread it? Because I'm desperately afraid of what I will learn. And I'm frightened that I will lose my love for the characters. Lastly, I'm also afraid the BDSM will just be "meh". So far, Ms. Reisz's BDSM is constantly edgy and fabulously kinky. How can she keep this going? It's a mystery to me and all I know is that I love it and want it to continue.
By now, followers of this series should know the BDSM in this book is accurate and fabulous. There is no real need for me to delve into the accuracies. What I can say is the erotic scenes filled with taboo in here are divine. Panty wetting goodness down to the very last word. I shiver in pleasure when I read any of the erotic passages. The rough sex, fisting, beatings… all of it is superb.
The writing is spectacular. I'm serious. The way Ms. Reisz incorporates theology into this series is mind boggling and always renews my faith and makes me want to attend Church on Sundays. Inevitably, I end up looking up passages in the Bible. If Ms. Reisz was my Sunday School teacher, I would have learned so much. I digress. The dialog between the characters is amazing. Her way with words is beyond compare. There are very few authors who can write at this level where there are connections and hidden meanings behind every scene. It is stimulating to the mind and I love it. It's a rush and when the story is over, I crash like a sugar low. Je suis désolée. I love the French language added into this book. It enhances my enjoyment and oddly, when Kingsley responds in English after some French, I translate his answers into French in my head. Using Latin is also a turn on. Ms. Reisz is a logophile's wet dream.
The dialog between the characters is breathtaking. The scenes are absurd and arousing.
“Good show,” Kingsley said. “Nice technique.”
“It’s not easy to catch her off guard,” Søren agreed.
“Are you two going to comment the entire time?” Griffin asked, looking up from her.
“Of course,” Kingsley said, reaching into a black satchel next to his booted legs. “I’m the French judge. He’s the Danish judge.”
Kingsley handed Søren a set of cards with the numbers one through ten on them. Score cards.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Griffin said, groaning and burying his face against her chest.
“Be glad Mistress Irina isn’t here, Griffin.” Kingsley shuffled casually through his cards. “No one ever impresses the Russian judge.” (kindle loc. 1090-1096)
Then there are the thought provoking gems.
She masturbated too, which was considered a sin here. Elle didn’t consider it a sin. She considered it an act of self-preservation. (Kindle loc. 1302-1303)
“Extraordinary circumstances. That’s one way to put it,” Elle said.
“Have you ever thought about how weird the word ‘extraordinary’ is? It means not ordinary but if something is extra ordinary wouldn’t you assume it was very ordinary? Super ordinary?” [Kyrie]
“Extra is a Latin prefix meaning ‘outside.’ If something is extra—it means it’s outside. Extra ordinary means outside the ordinary.” [Elle] (kindle loc. 1353-1357)
“You must be a masochist.” [Elle]
“A what?” [Kyrie]
“A masochist. Someone who takes pleasure from pain and humiliation.” [Elle]
“Well…I did join a convent.” [Kyrie]
“Good point,” Elle conceded. (Kindle loc. 1384-1386)
“She [Elle's mother] wasn’t who she thought she should be. And now she finally is.” [Elle]
“It’s a terrible thing to not be who God called you to be. I think that’s the cause for most of the suffering in all the world,” Kyrie said. “People trying to be who they aren’t supposed to be or not getting to be who they should be.” (Kindle loc. 2094-2096)
Then there is the sacrilege with humour.
He [Søren] was defending his dissertation at the Jesuit university there. PhD number two.” [Elle]
“Two PhDs? That’s crazy. He must be really smart.” [Kyrie]
“He’s the most intelligent man I’ve ever known. And such a nerd,” Elle said, smiling. “But he’s a Jesuit. PhDs are like catnip to Jesuits. They pop a boner around academic degrees like a teenage boy with his first Playboy.” [Elle]
“Oh God, my great-uncle’s a Jesuit.” [Kyrie]
“Sorry,” Elle said, wincing. “How many PhDs does he have?” [Elle]
“Three. Which is probably the same number of boners he’s had since becoming a Jesuit.” [Kyrie] (Kindle loc. 2961-2967)
And it continues…
“I love orgasms. I say a prayer of thanks to God for them every day.” [Kyrie]
“You say a prayer of thanks for orgasms?” Elle asked.
“Of course. I mean, they’re a gift from God, right? A woman doesn’t need to have an orgasm to get pregnant, right?” [Kyrie]
“Right.” [Elle]
“So if they have nothing to do with reproduction, then why do women have them?” Kyrie asked. She raised her hand and pointed a finger up at the ceiling, at the sky, where God lived. “Orgasms are God’s way of saying He’s sorry about periods and cramps.”
“Apology accepted,” Elle said.
Kyrie said, “Amen.” (Kindle loc. 3520-3525)
These are just a tidbit of how amazing the character interact with each other. Let's discuss the characters. In each one of these books, there is a loss of a possible relationship. Nora goes through love lost time after time. This book is with Kyrie. I loved Kyrie. She's an adorable ball of fluff who reminds Nora's youthful self. The parallels drawn between Kyrie to Nora and Nora to Søren is exquisite. Ms. Reisz does it again to me and when it happens, I'm left gasping for breath as my heart is broken and yet I understand why it happens the way it does. I don't think I can look at stoplight the same way again for a while. The way emotion is invoked in these stories appeals to me. I'm vested in these characters and relationships. So when they hit rock bottom or dissolve or don't work out, I'm devastated. Kingsley's year away from Søren is just as pivotal and intensely emotional. What I like about these angst filled situation is that it isn't some contrived drama. These are situations which are plausible and undeniably filled with sorrow because it's not the person, it's the fact that it isn't the right fit. There are no winners or losers, just irreconcilable differences. Yet it is not the end of the world. Life continues on and love released returns back to its rightful home. Amor vincit omnia. This erotic romance is highly recommended to kinky readers who want it all.
*provided by NetGalley
August 6, 2015
“AMOR VINCIT OMNICA
Love conquers all.”
5 stars
Damn, I love these books! I was a big fan of The Original Sinners Red Years books, but Tiffany Reisz has given us something truly special with the continuation of her series into the White Years. She has taken what was already a fantastic story and is now giving us glimpses of the characters beyond the original books, while at the same time giving us the background and detail which ties everything together and makes the whole thing even more amazing. I actually prefer these books to the originals, and this book continues the journey.
The book starts with the gang all gathered in Scotland to celebrate a wedding (yes, Scotland – complete with Kingsley and Søren in kilts…. *wipes drool*). The night before the nuptials, Nora, Søren and Kingsley all settle down to do some reminiscing, with Nora and Kingsley finally opening about the time they both left Søren for a year – something they never talked about before.
The story follows Nora and Kingsley as, broken hearted, they both run from the man they love, and from each other, and experience a year which left them both changed in ways they could never have imagined.
Broken and lost, Elle escapes to the only place that she knows the men in her life can’t find her - her mother’s convent. It’s about as far away as she can get from the lifestyle that has come to define her, but the quiet monotony is exactly what she needs to heal and plan for her future. And it is there, sequestered away, that she forms an incredibly special relationship with a young nun who is spirited and inquisitive, and who will make a very important contribution to Elle’s life.
Aaaahhhh, Kingsley. How I love him! His devastation over Nora leaving and his anger at Søren sets him off on a journey of his own. He randomly travels around the world before eventually ending up in Haiti where he meets a very smart and sassy Juliette. We don’t really know a lot about Juliette, and I was very pleasantly surprised at the confident, sassy and outspoken woman. She and Kingsley share an immediate attraction, and the dynamic between them is absolutely electric!
I love, love, love this part of the story! Juliette is not in a good place, but she is unable to resist the sexy Frenchman who relentlessly pursues her, and their connection very quickly deepens into life-changing love. It’s so much more significant than I ever could have imagined for them, and their romance is really beautiful.
And as the stories of their past unfold, once again it makes everything that we have already read in the series SO much more meaningful! These are characters that we know and love. We know their stories, we know their relationships, and we know where they end up - watching all of that develop is fantastic!
And every little moment is important. Even those you think aren’t important, actually are, as these characters play off with and against each other. And each little interaction further defines their identity and their relationships – physical, emotional and mental. It’s so cleverly done.
I’ve always been intrigued by the Nora/Kingsley relationship, and I loved getting the chance to explore that in more detail. They have been through so much and their love for each other goes deeper than I ever realised. I loved seeing that.
Of course there’s lots of sex and kink, as you would expect, but it’s such a representation of who these people are, and how they relate to each other. It’s such an important part of the story, and even though this is erotica, it’s not gratuitous in any way – that’s not to say that it’s not smoking hot or highly enjoyable, because that scene with Nora in the back seat of a limo with Griffin, Kingsley and Søren…. DAMN! But again, it represents an important progression of relationships - particularly in this book as we start to see the emergence of Nora (as opposed to Eleanor or Elle) as she starts to discover who she really is. And OMG, those scenes are intense!
Brilliantly written as always, this is another fantastic addition to The Original Sinners series as the incredible story of these characters gets better and better the more we learn. I can’t wait for the next instalment which will hopefully fill in the remaining years and finally give us the complete picture of this amazing story.
I loved it – 5 stars.
Love conquers all.”
5 stars
Damn, I love these books! I was a big fan of The Original Sinners Red Years books, but Tiffany Reisz has given us something truly special with the continuation of her series into the White Years. She has taken what was already a fantastic story and is now giving us glimpses of the characters beyond the original books, while at the same time giving us the background and detail which ties everything together and makes the whole thing even more amazing. I actually prefer these books to the originals, and this book continues the journey.
The book starts with the gang all gathered in Scotland to celebrate a wedding (yes, Scotland – complete with Kingsley and Søren in kilts…. *wipes drool*). The night before the nuptials, Nora, Søren and Kingsley all settle down to do some reminiscing, with Nora and Kingsley finally opening about the time they both left Søren for a year – something they never talked about before.
The story follows Nora and Kingsley as, broken hearted, they both run from the man they love, and from each other, and experience a year which left them both changed in ways they could never have imagined.
“It was a dark and stormy night...And I was leaving you. Forever.”
Broken and lost, Elle escapes to the only place that she knows the men in her life can’t find her - her mother’s convent. It’s about as far away as she can get from the lifestyle that has come to define her, but the quiet monotony is exactly what she needs to heal and plan for her future. And it is there, sequestered away, that she forms an incredibly special relationship with a young nun who is spirited and inquisitive, and who will make a very important contribution to Elle’s life.
“Yes, there was a nun in my bed,” Nora said with a sigh.
“This is my favourite story already,” Kingsley said. “Go on.”
Aaaahhhh, Kingsley. How I love him! His devastation over Nora leaving and his anger at Søren sets him off on a journey of his own. He randomly travels around the world before eventually ending up in Haiti where he meets a very smart and sassy Juliette. We don’t really know a lot about Juliette, and I was very pleasantly surprised at the confident, sassy and outspoken woman. She and Kingsley share an immediate attraction, and the dynamic between them is absolutely electric!
“I hate to tell you this,” she said with an apologetic smile, “but I don’t think you’re as special as you think you are.”
“That only hurts because it’s true. You really like me? A little?”
“Un peu. Enough that I want to talk to you instead of letting me fuck you,” she said.
“Oh,” he said, and weighed his words. “But we are still going to fuck, right?”
Juliette smiled again. And in her flawless elegant Frenchy she purred two beautiful words.
“Bien sur.”
Of course.
I love, love, love this part of the story! Juliette is not in a good place, but she is unable to resist the sexy Frenchman who relentlessly pursues her, and their connection very quickly deepens into life-changing love. It’s so much more significant than I ever could have imagined for them, and their romance is really beautiful.
“My Jewel, I can’t give you my whole heart. But the part of it I can give you is the part that isn’t scarred and isn’t broken. I’ll give you the best of me and protect you from the worst for the rest of my life.”
And as the stories of their past unfold, once again it makes everything that we have already read in the series SO much more meaningful! These are characters that we know and love. We know their stories, we know their relationships, and we know where they end up - watching all of that develop is fantastic!
And every little moment is important. Even those you think aren’t important, actually are, as these characters play off with and against each other. And each little interaction further defines their identity and their relationships – physical, emotional and mental. It’s so cleverly done.
I’ve always been intrigued by the Nora/Kingsley relationship, and I loved getting the chance to explore that in more detail. They have been through so much and their love for each other goes deeper than I ever realised. I loved seeing that.
No two people in history had Kingsley and Nora’s history. With everything they’d put each other through, they’d had two choices – hate each other or love each other. They were so much alike, hating each other would have been like hating themselves. And both of them were rather too self-important for that sort of nonsense.
So they picked love.
Of course there’s lots of sex and kink, as you would expect, but it’s such a representation of who these people are, and how they relate to each other. It’s such an important part of the story, and even though this is erotica, it’s not gratuitous in any way – that’s not to say that it’s not smoking hot or highly enjoyable, because that scene with Nora in the back seat of a limo with Griffin, Kingsley and Søren…. DAMN! But again, it represents an important progression of relationships - particularly in this book as we start to see the emergence of Nora (as opposed to Eleanor or Elle) as she starts to discover who she really is. And OMG, those scenes are intense!
Brilliantly written as always, this is another fantastic addition to The Original Sinners series as the incredible story of these characters gets better and better the more we learn. I can’t wait for the next instalment which will hopefully fill in the remaining years and finally give us the complete picture of this amazing story.
I loved it – 5 stars.
March 29, 2015
“A person’s heart is a maze. When you’re in the maze, you can’t see your way to the center of it. Only if you’re above the maze can you look down and really see what’s happening.”
Tiffany Reisz never fails to embrace me and involve every single one of my senses and emotions. The pedestal upon which she stands is so high in my eyes that I can never envision that not being the case. She has a magic touch and an unrivalled way with words that astounds and leaves an instant lasting impression. This series through The Original Sinners and The White Years have captivated and induced so many tears – an insistent racing pulse and so much laughter that thinking about it makes me want to experience it all over again, if I could. Now, I eagerly await The Queen!
“I used to think you walked on water,” Kingsley said, meeting Søren’s eyes. “Now I know you’re drowning like the rest of us.”
The Virgin begins and ends on the night before a wedding. But, just whose wedding is it? I have to say that although highly intrigued I was soon caught up in a night of heartfelt reminiscing in the company of Nora, Kingsley and Søren. The details of ‘the missing year’ coming into light out of a harrowing darkness.
“You can look at someone and think you know everything about them…but you don’t. We all have masks on. Or veils.”
As is always the case, it was told with a fervent intensity that had me reaching for tissues one moment – laughing through tears the next. It was equally devastating as it was hopeful and life changing for the formidable three – Nora, Kingsley and Søren. The intricacies of the push and pull; the intense heights of wants and needs. The astounding depth and growth. It was all perfectly flawless in typical Tiffany Reisz fashion.
“Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.“ – Søren
I devoured The Virgin as expected … HA! And the eroticism was as per usual timed to perfection and written in such a vivid and powerfully poignant way, I found myself very hot under the collar, pun intended.
“She’s mine,” Søren said. “Nothing else matters but that. She is mine. The end.”
Nora and Kingsley respectively tell of two very honest and haunting memories on this important night and I inhaled every word as Tiffany Reisz made me a part of these reflections. I was there with them. I have to say that Kingsley’s year had me on my knees at times – this cocky arrogant King let me see a side of him I’ll always treasure. If at all possible; I fell even more in love with this formidable Frenchman.
That’s not to say Nora’s wasn’t wholeheartedly sincere and heart-rending also. However, I do feel hers was overall more of an internal journey of self-reflection and discovery. She found a part of herself that’d been lying dormant whilst healing old wounds. Her year was mind-blowing at times.
“Are you mine?” he asked her.
“I am yours. Forever.”
And she was hers. But she was his too, and she always would be.
The Virgin is another breathtaking book from an incredibly talented Author. The way the lives and inner most thoughts; love – romance and kink is tied together so intricately through the beating of three incredibly special hearts is overwhelmingly addictive. Possessive obsessiveness sprinkled with erotica, humour, and the fundamentals of religion written with intelligence and sarcastic wit and such depth. There’s nothing else remotely like it out there and I URGE readers to start at the beginning and pick up Tiffany Reisz. I can wax lyrical till the cows come home!
“If you saw the crowd I used to run with…let’s just say we put the original in original sin.”
**Reviewed from an ARC Copy provided by Netgalley, with thanks**
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May 9, 2017
I think out of all the books in this series, this was the hardest one to read.
I had to stop so many times because I was a frightened little chicken shit!
This story focuses on THAT missing year, and I have been dying to know, since The Siren, what exactly happened that would cause Nora to run. I had my thoughts and I was right, but with how >THAT year was only briefed upon throughout the series thus far, the anticipation was killing me.
I cannot stress enough with words what this series means to me,but does it makes sense to say that these characters and their story soothe my aching and bruised heart.....well that is exactly what this series is to me!
I think......No..... I know that when this series eventually ends, I can probably be found crying in hysterics.
I have a shelf on my profile called Loved it and I also have one titled My all time favorites cause I do have a bunch of stories that I am in deep deep love with, but I think I need to have a shelf solely for this series and title it Cannot live without.
I know there fans of this series too but I think my love for it borders on obsession; for fans of this series and for readers who have yet to read it, I only have three words for you, well pictures really:
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
I had to stop so many times because I was a frightened little chicken shit!
This story focuses on THAT missing year, and I have been dying to know, since The Siren, what exactly happened that would cause Nora to run. I had my thoughts and I was right, but with how >THAT year was only briefed upon throughout the series thus far, the anticipation was killing me.
I cannot stress enough with words what this series means to me,but does it makes sense to say that these characters and their story soothe my aching and bruised heart.....well that is exactly what this series is to me!
I think......No..... I know that when this series eventually ends, I can probably be found crying in hysterics.
I have a shelf on my profile called Loved it and I also have one titled My all time favorites cause I do have a bunch of stories that I am in deep deep love with, but I think I need to have a shelf solely for this series and title it Cannot live without.
I know there fans of this series too but I think my love for it borders on obsession; for fans of this series and for readers who have yet to read it, I only have three words for you, well pictures really:
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
July 23, 2015
3.5 STARS
Sadly, out of all the books in The Originals Sinners series, The Virgin is the weakest link for me.
My favorite part of this book was definitely seeing Kingsley and Elle growing on their own, and getting away from Søren. However, in all honesty, I can’t say the book as a whole was all that interesting. Story of Nora seducing a nun is fine just as that – a story; I think I’d have preferred to read about it in a novella form; getting the entire novel about it seems a bit too much. And I also expected more when reading about how King met Juliette. We all know how easily Kingsley falls in love and gets attached to people, so I expected this to be something pretty special.
I love how Tiffany Reisz writes, and the writing here is amazing as always, it’s just that the story was not as emotionally engaging as the previous books and perhaps not as exciting.
Now, I’m eagerly waiting for the Queen (I’m curious and ready to see how it all ends).
“I used to think you walked on water,” Kingsley said, meeting Søren’s eyes. “Now I know you’re drowning like the rest of us.”
Sadly, out of all the books in The Originals Sinners series, The Virgin is the weakest link for me.
My favorite part of this book was definitely seeing Kingsley and Elle growing on their own, and getting away from Søren. However, in all honesty, I can’t say the book as a whole was all that interesting. Story of Nora seducing a nun is fine just as that – a story; I think I’d have preferred to read about it in a novella form; getting the entire novel about it seems a bit too much. And I also expected more when reading about how King met Juliette. We all know how easily Kingsley falls in love and gets attached to people, so I expected this to be something pretty special.
I love how Tiffany Reisz writes, and the writing here is amazing as always, it’s just that the story was not as emotionally engaging as the previous books and perhaps not as exciting.
Now, I’m eagerly waiting for the Queen (I’m curious and ready to see how it all ends).
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