To Command and Collar

Masters of the Shadowlands #6

by Cherise Sinclair

Ms. Sinclair’s characters come alive on the page with passion and energy in a story that is absolutely riveting. ~ You Gotta Read Reviews

Working with the FBI to capture human traffickers, Master Raoul scores an invitation to a slave auction. To his surprise, one slave is the kidnapped friend of a Shadowlands submissive. Although Kim’s body is scarred, her spirit is unbroken, and he can't leave her behind. Ruining the FBI's plans, he buys her.

Kimberly's freedom has come at a devastating price. The other women are still imprisoned. Desperate to help the Feds locate the traffickers, she agrees to pose as Master Raoul's slave. Although wearing a collar again is terrifying, Kim starts to heal and then blossom under the powerful Dominant’s care.

Submission. It’s what she's been drawn to--and fled from--her entire life. She has escaped the slavers who captured her body.

Escaping the Master who has captured her heart will be far more difficult.

Genres: BDSM, Erotica, Romance, Erotic Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Contemporary Romance

492 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2011

About the author

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she’s renowned for writing heart-wrenching romances with laugh-out-loud dialogue, alpha males, and absolutely sizzling sex.

I met my dearheart when vacationing in the Caribbean. Now I won’t say it was love at first sight. Actually since he stood over me, enjoying the view down my swimsuit top, I might have been a tad peeved—as well as attracted. But although we were together less than two days and lived on opposite sides of the country, love can’t be corralled by time or space.

We’ve now been married for many, many years. (And he still looks down my swimsuit tops.)

Nowadays, I live in the west with this obnoxious, beloved husband and a seventy-pound lap-puppy. I’m a gardener, and I love nurturing small plants until they’re big and healthy and productive…and ripping defenseless weeds out by the roots when I’m angry. I enjoy thunderstorms, collecting eggs from the chickens, and visiting the local brewery for the darkest, maltiest beer on tap. My favorite way to spend an evening is curled up on a couch next to the master of my heart, watching the fire, reading, and…well…if you’re reading my books, you obviously know what else happens in front of fires.

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Reviews

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning: This was a DNF

Oh my goodness, what happened to my Shadowlands? I was SO excited about this book and it lived up to its promise for a short, short while. And then, suddenly, the impossible plot points are just stacking up and KILLING me.

So, this girl has been kidnapped and used as a sex slave and is finally free. But to help the FBI, she needs to be able to perform in a scene with this Dom she's terrified of. The FBI's solution: Make her live as a 24/7 slave to a dom she's terrified of. What? No, not necessary. He can train her in sessions at his home. But of course, that is not as great for the plot.

And then, this is the part that has me fuming right now. So the girl who's been raped and beaten - the Dom's (ie. the hero) bright idea is to do those same activities over and over again until she stops freaking out about them. And she is like hmm, OKAY, so long as we skip the dog cage..... REALLY!? That is NOT a valid therapy technique, especially as performed by some random dude, and not, say, a LICENSED THERAPIST.

Oh, she actually WAS seeing a therapist, but I guess that's gone out the window in favor of BDSM. Not BDSM because she needs pain, by the way, like The Reluctant Dom, which I know some people had a problem with, but I was okay with. In this case, he's going to use BDSM to actually fix her. Yes, he's going to tell her what to do, thereby FORCING her to get over it. Oh, and also, he insists she tells him every sick detail of what the guys did to her. This helps the plot, since we weren't sure exactly what happened to her, and now we know, but the fact is, it wasn't necessary, and forcing her to tell him so soon after it happened may be more harmful to her than helpful. Furthermore, the fact that he was so insistent actually made him creepy to me, like he was getting off on the perverted details of her abuse.

Similar situations happened in previous books, Breaking Free and Make Me, Sir, but a very big difference was the amount of time that had elapsed between their trauma and the time the Dom stepped in. It was kind of like, look, you've had years to sort this out on your own, but it hasn't worked, so can I try to help you? This was NOT like that, because only a week or so has passed since her enslavement. Her body is literally still bruised and broken, she's nightmare screaming nightly, she is barely a functioning human being at all, and he's basically bullying her. I don't care that it may be for her own good (which I take leave to doubt anyways) because now I don't even like them.

At this point, I'm not finished, but I don't think I can stomach reading anymore of her "training," wherein she presumably gets fixed through the magic of doing what our hero says. *bangs head*

I also hated that her friend, Gabi, kept saying things like, "Of COURSE you're still crying, girl. It takes awhile to heal, I should know," referring to the time she got kidnapped. Except Gabi got kidnapped and rescued in a matter of hours, and was not beaten or raped or anything. Her friend, the heroine of this book, got beaten repeatedly to the point of almost-death, raped by a bunch of guys, for SEVEN WEEKS. Kinda different, ya know, so you can stop acting like a smart-ass already.

[Sophia Triad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a continuation of the previous book “Make Me, Sir” when Gabi's friend, Kim, is finally found in the hands of her kidnappers and she is auctioned in the slave market.
Raoul goes to the auction with instructions from the FBI not to buy any woman, but when he sees Kim he cannot resist and he buys her.
Now Kim needs to pretend that she is really his slave in order to catch the bad guys.
The book has a lot of violence and maybe it is not suitable if you want a light-hearted read. Kim has suffered a lot in her abductors’ hands. She is a brave girl, but she is also vulnerable and emotional with a PTSD syndrome.
Raul is a patient and caring Dom. He pushes Kim's boundaries without damaging her inner strength and her spirit.
Their story is emotional and complex.
“A good relationship is a two-way street, gatita. Submitting and serving is equaled by a master’s need to take control, to protect, to make someone happy.”

[Bianca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Cherise Sinclair, but this book just wasn't for me!
The master /slave thing is so not erotic to me. I find it both gross and creepy. The idea that this poor girl who has been through so much violence (kidnapped, raped, tortured, stabbed etc..) has to be publicly whipped, in the end, in order to prove she is worthy of her Master?? What?Gross! And doing this whole whipping sex scene at a baby party.. Is that really appropriate?
I couldn't relate to the heroine at all. All I felt for her was pity! She needed intensive therapy not jumping from a non-consensual master/slave relationship into a consensual one.
The hero was blah!

[Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.25 Stars***

"I like when you hold me."

"I like when I hold you too."

Hands down my favorite in the series so far!

It was dark, intense and emotional, as I expected it to be since the plot revolves around human trafficking and sex slaves, but it was also full of hope and healing. The story dealt with issues of self-worth, societal gender roles, self-doubt, trust, acceptance, forgiveness and love.

Master Raoul was the absolute perfect blend of patient and caring and possessive and protective. He was so mindful of Kim's issues, needs and fears. He knew when to console, when to push and when to just sit and allow the scars to heal.

I've struggled with the heroines in this series. For the most part I've found them too insecure, a bit annoying and at times whiny. But Kimberly was a woman I could get on board with, a woman of great strength.

She was deeply affected by her ordeal and all her fears stemming from her nightmare were constantly bubbling right below the surface. She was understandably vulnerable and conflicted about her craving and need for the BDSM lifestyle...especially after everything she's been through. But she was also an unbelievably brave and determined woman. She wouldn't allow her fears to control her. She needed to heal and she needed to understand herself.

In the end, she understood that it didn't make her weak to need Master Marcus, rather he empowered her with the strength she needed to truly be herself. He made her feel safe and protected, strong and whole, loved and cared for.

"Gatita, don't you realize I need you in my arms as much as you need to be here."

However, I do have one grievance, and it's what kept me from rating this 5 stars. The writing at times got too flowery for my tastes. Way too many metaphors. Emotions, feelings, thoughts, memories were like the swell of sea, the grains of sand, a rocking boat, a gust of wind, the kiss of rain, a ray of sunshine, an ocean breeze and on and on and on. This was the weather channel of purple prose and after a while it tended to get in the way and pull me out of the moment, rather than enhance it.

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Angela James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen several reviews say both "not my favorite" and "this is a brave book" and I have to agree that it is a very brave book. I also think it showcases the author's craft growth. Some of my previous reviews noted that some of her books started to take on a sameness feel. But this book really departs from some of her previous books in the series and takes on an incredibly difficult subject matter, and does it with surprising delicacy.

I think that even those who like BDSM stories won't necessarily care for this story, because it's got very dark subject matter. No spoilers in saying that this is a heroine who's just experienced weeks of rape, degradation and torture as the book opens. I was glad to see the author didn't underplay this, try to glorify it or make it "all better" in the way that romances sometimes can.

I'm glad to see the author (and her editor) really working to grow this series and the author's storytelling and craft abilities.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review posted here: http://seducedbythebook.com/?p=1944

This is a hard review to write. Not because it was a bad book, far from that. It is just a hard subject to write about. This book deals with rape, gang rape, slave trafficking and a Master/slave relationship that a lot of people may find hard. The review will contain spoilers, but I will let you know ahead of time and use my handy dandy spoiler tool to warn you.

This is book 6 in the series Masters of the Shadowlands. While you don’t need to read any of them to understand this book, you might understand it a little better if you read the 5th on, Make Me, Sir where FBI Agent Gabi goes undercover to try and find her friend, Kimberly.

To Command and Collar begins where Make Me, Sir leaves off. Gabi’s friend Kimberly has been kidnapped by sex slavers and the FBI is on the hunt to find her but ultimately shut down the operation. Raoul is a Master at Shadowlands, a sex club but mostly a BDSM club. While most of the other books in this series have been around a Dominant and his submissive, this one changes gears some and goes the Master/slave route which is more intense.

Master Raoul is determined to help the FBI stop the human traffickers. Invited to a slave auction, he is just to deny all the slaves to get invited to a bigger auction, where the FBI can take down the entire operation. Raoul is surprised when he finds Kimberly, the woman who is friends with Gabi, the submissive of Master Marcus. She is broken, scarred and desensitized to small pleasures. Unable to leave her behind, Master Raoul purchases her, causing all the FBI plans to go out the window.

Kimberly comes home, but has to leave so many women behind that did not get rescued. The only hope of helping them is to stay with Raoul and help the Fed locate the big auction. She agrees to be Master Raoul’s slave, but must overcome her fears after being brutally raped, beaten and objectified during her captivity.

Master Raoul understands and helps to guide Kim through her fears and the beginning of healing. While both start to fall in love, both question if this is just the hero/victim mentality.

While she has gotten away from the slavers, she is drawn to Master Raoul, who captures her heart and shows her she can recover. Master Raoul won’t settle for anything less than a Master/slave relationship and Kimberly can’t accept herself as a slave to anyone.

I tend to like BDSM books because of the dynamic in writing. It just isn’t a love story, there is so much more depth to them. Not all writers understand this. Cherise Sinclair does. Everything is explained and while you might continue to say no way could I be a slave, she shows that it isn’t always what we perceive it to be. It truly is a command to trust each party in the relationship or else it doesn’t work.

But when I saw that this was not just a D/s relationship but a full blown M/s relationship, I had to take a pause. It isn’t something I think about and to have it put right in my face made me think. And that is always a good thing. He does require her to do everything he says, but he in no way demeans her. In fact there is a point where she talks in the third person and he stops her right away and tells her she is a person not an object. I wanted to stand up and applaud! While he felt he owned her, he cherished her as a person, not an object to be used frivolously.

Here comes some hard parts…I am going to mark them as spoilers so you are warned.

Show »

What I want to stress here is the entire time Kim is with Master Raoul, he is firm but kind. Master R and Kim were working together to continue helping the FBI. They set up a system of numbers so she could tell him when she was panicking. He often had her look into his eyes so she would know it was him and not the slavers there. He did everything in steps. She showered with him daily, but the first day he let her shower with her pajamas on. Then he started picking out her clothes or lack of clothing. He taught her to fight and to fight dirty, but he made her do this naked. Slowly he led her away from bad memories to good ones with him, but he also was her Master through it all and she never forgot it.

I loved Master Raoul. While I don’t see a M/s life as something I could handle, I love how he isn’t what you expect. He has a heart…a huge heart. He wants that one submissive/slave that he can take care of but also show who is in charge. He wants and needs that control. Having been married once before to a woman who liked pain but not the Dominance, he can’t accept anything less than what he needs. He is estranged from his family because of lies his wife told and he wouldn’t defend himself against.

I identified so much with Kimberly for not feeling she could be a slave…her mind wondering how she could be that after what she went through. But she craved Master Raoul’s approval and guidance. When at times it went away for various reasons, she felt lost and alone, falling back into the darkness of the past.

It was interesting to see them work the dynamics of this relationship. I could say I wish the slave trafficking hadn’t been a part, but that was what made Master Raoul shine as the hero who would lead her away from this and help her heal.

I don’t want to betray Kim as weak, because she was not at all. But after everything she went through, she needed a lot of healing and not the physical kind. PTSD is hard to overcome and for her to have done as well as she did in the course of this book testifies how strong she was. Master Raoul may have helped, but without her strong will, he would never have been able to help her along.

When we move to the section of the story where Master Raoul believes Kim is ready to engage in sex again, it starts very slowly. Power is given over in many ways and each scene builds upon the last one. Nothing is ever simple and in this book, simple is just not a word to be used. When I say it moves slowly, I don’t want you to equate this to lack luster. Cherise Sinclair writes love, sex, or BDSM scenes with such flair that she will have you looking for your man or a toy if you can’t find him. Everything is extremely planned and executed leaving you breathless, sock less and fanning your self. Incredible.

So am I rambling too much? Probably, but this book evokes so many differing emotions in me. It at times was so hard to read. I cried. I laughed. I swore up and down. I jumped. I cried some more. I disagreed with Master Raoul. I disagreed with Kim. And let me tell you I wanted to spank all the Dominant men in this story for the erotic torture they performed on these submissives.

With everything I said, I loved this book. Nothing was simple. Nothing was ho-hum. It made you think and forced you outside of your nice warm bubble. This is a sign of a great author.

While I have selected my best stories of 2011 already, which is sad, I have to say this is on that list even though it won’t make it…maybe an honorary place?

So I recommend this book highly, but want to warn you it does deal with very hard subjects and isn’t for the lighthearted!

[Jo ★The Book Sloth★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this book was actually my favorite in the series so far I will try to make this a decent review.

The book begins were the previous one left off with Raoul invited at a "mini" slave auction were there are only three "damaged" women, at a lower price and three buyers. Raoul goes to this auction with instructions from the FBI not to buy any woman so he will be invited to the larger auction later. But when Raoul spots Kim, Gabi's friend among the women he can't resist buying her. After that Kim is forced to play the slave role so the slavers won't suspect Raoul's cooperation with the feds so that they will be able to catch them.

Knowing this it's easy to understand that the book comes heavy with emotion. Kim is scarred inside and out from her time in captivity and Raoul is a Dom who sparks her worst fears as a PTSD case and her most secret desires as a sub.

Kim is a very strong woman(okay fictional woman). Although the idea of even pretending to be a slave wakes her worst nightmares she does the brave and honourable thing and does what it takes to free the other women. I don't thing there was a moment that I didn't like Kim. Most times there is an instant when you say "wish this wasn't here" about fictional characters but Kim didn't have one. She was brave and loving even after all the things she went through. She has a lot of fear which only emphasises her courage even more. Just the fact that she was brave enough to admit that even after all she went through she still craved someone to dominate her was enough to earn my respect.

Raoul was very different than I thought he'd be from reading the previous books. I thought he'd be more easy-going and less demanding than the other masters but that wasn't the case. Raoul liked the rules to be clear. He knew what he wanted and went for it even when he had to sacrifice things to get it. He has the usual traits we've seen in the Dom's in the series, protectiveness, determination, affection for those who needed it and a mean punch for those who deserved it. He also came with some emotional baggage from previous failed relationships.

The book was great. My favourite in the series so far. It has emotional depth and you could actually see the bond forming between Raoul and Kim. It was obvious how Raoul soothed Kim's hurt by caring for her and treating her as a person who didn't need just cuddling but a motivation to try harder too. He pushed her to expand her limits in both her day-to-day life and her love-life.

I have to admit that if I had gone through what Kim went I would probably be a quivering mess afterwards so I can't say how much of this I find believable enough. The fact that not only she moved on but she actually decided to become Raoul's "slave" makes it kind of hard for me to believe it is realistic but since this is fiction I will just say that the story was touching and tear-worthy.

I also liked how the whole D/s, M/s relationship was explained. I didn't realise during the previous books how many things were involved in this kind of relationship. It seemed kind of one-sided and brutal to me but seeing it through Kim's eyes changed my view. I still wouldn't want someone else to make the decisions for me but I can see the appeal to it.

The slavers were disturbing but that was expected. How can someone who sells people like they are animals not be?

Generally the book was beautiful with almost none "oh shit" moment and lots of hot sex scenes to keep even the worst perv satisfied and lots of emotional stuff to keep the romantics' attention as well.

I can't wait for the rest of the series.

[Nia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I jumped in so fast after book 5 that I didn't even have time to update my status. Book 6 - To Command and Collar - is the story of Raoul and Kimberly. She is a victim of "real" non-consensual sexual slavery and trafficking. I don't like giving stories away, but if you like a good, hot BDSM story with a great plot and suspense, THIS is it. I could not put it down. Halfway through the book, I had to stop and remember to breathe because it was so nerve racking.

You rarely get to read an entire BDSM series about men that are respectful, emotional, loving, professional, intuitive, powerful and understanding. Each woman is strong, brave, intelligent and admirable. Cherise has given each character a clear voice and she really outdid herself with Raoul. He is my favorite master of them all.

To Command and Collar is also a real eye opener. BDSM is not only about furry handcuffs, play rooms and erotic fun. Sexual trafficking is a distortion of BDSM and is REAL. Women around the world are becoming victims of horrific sexual violence and slavery rings. This book explores this dark terrifying world. It also shows how Raoul and Kim's consensual BDSM relationship is used as therapy to try to repair her broken trust and heal the abuse.

Do not hesitate to start the Masters of the Shadowlands series and read all 6 books. Can't wait for book #7. Cherise Sinclair is a master of her craft!

[Cécile Smits · Rating 5 out of 5]

You remember Gabi,right? From Make Me,Sir?
She went undercover to help find her bestie Kim who’d been taken by the Harvest Association.
Well,Kim has been bought! By Master Raoul,who managed to get an invitation to an auction of the traffickers……and this is their story.
One of the most beautiful of the series,at least that’s what i think.
And having read the series before,i still feel that way….
The careful way Raoul helps Kim deal with what happened to her,his kindness and patience….is só beautiful to witness!
He may be a Master that prefers to have a slave himself,but he understands her association with the word.
And he takes the time to show her it can in fact be beautiful,it doesn’t have to mean pain and suffering.

Kim still can’t believe she’s free….she was convinced Raoul was part of the clientele that bought slaves to abuse.
But slowly she starts to understand he may look the part,but that doesn’t mean he actually is that cold,cruel man he showed the Overseer.
She stays with her bestie Gabi and her Dom Marcus at first,but when the FBI tells her the Overseer isn’t done,she knows she has to do everything she can to convince him she ís Raoul’s slave.
The FBI is still looking to put an end to the organization,and need Raoul to introduce Sam to the Overseer as a potentiel buyer.
And apparently the Overseer wants Raoul and Kim to do a demonstration at the upcoming auction…..
Living with Raoul is confusing,the man wants a slave,but he’s so very careful with her.
He even explains what having a slave means to him,and it’s nothing like what she’d been through!
Yes,he has rules,and yes,each day he adds things to the list they have.
But he doesn’t get mad,he doesn’t abuse her,if she does something wrong.
She even enjoys being with him,with him finding ways to erase bad experiences by making them feel good.
And as the days go by,he slowly starts to work his way into her heart……

Raoul wasn’t supposed to buy Kim,he was supposed to be invited to an auction.
But seeing her there,at the Overseer’s,battered and bruised but not broken,he couldn’t leave without her.
She touched a part in him he thought he’d lost,and he was glad to be able to help her.
He thought that was that,but it seemed life had other plans….
And now he had a slave that didn’t want to be one,that hated the entire idea.
But she was willing to follow his rules,to get to know his habits.
And not just because they had to convince the Overseer…..
She wanted to make sure there was a chance her friends Holly and Linda could be saved as well.
This sweet girl may have been traumatised,she was still so strong,so brave!
And as the days go by,she slowly starts to work her way into his heart……

In the meantime,her former owner finds out she’s still alive,and he wants her back.
So,the Overseer makes Raoul an offer to pick a different,less damaged,slave in return for Kim.
And when Raoul doesn’t bite,a different plan is hatched…..
With Sam entered into the auction,and Raoul and Kim “invited” to do a demonstration,the FBI are ready to strike at the secret location.
But will it all go as planned,or will Kim’s former owner rip her from the safety of Raoul’s arms??

[Mareli · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so this was the last. Huge sigh here.

Let me begin with what I didn't like. I didn't like some "scenes", with flogger and whips (not my tastes), I didn't like the violence in some parts - even if I can understand it. They were some sick people.

I liked everything else. I like him, a very dom, but sweet and caring and responsible. And I liked very much her, a woman who endured some of the worst and capapble to be brave, so brave!

I think I got the best of BDSM fiction with Cherise Sinclair! Yesterday I happened to find a list of those kind of books on GR and the first 10 were hers... She's a great writer and I love her stories. There are feelings, there are human people, with their strengths and their weakness.

Maube her books are not for everyone, but they work for me, so THANKS CHERISE SINCLAIR!

[Esra · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes I read all of them and ....

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raoul and Kimberly

Full review at Fiction Vixen Book Reviews

“The rest of the time, you submit completely to me, ” Master R said. He leaned forward, holding her eyes. “For sex, for clothing, for food and exercise. As we lived before. You are mine.”

I am always on the lookout for a realistic BDSM writer so I was thrilled when I discovered Cherise Sinclair about one year ago. After reading one of her Masters of Shadowlands books I went out and bought all 5 of them.

In book 5, Make Me, Sir, FBI specialist Gabi goes undercover at Club Shadowlands as bait to a human slavers ring . The assignment is very important to Gabi as her friend Kimberly was one of the women taken from a club. Gabi and Marcus are not able to break up the main ring but the FBI does not give up on the search for the rest of the women. Raoul, Master R and a well known Dom, volunteers to go undercover and is invited to attend a small slave auction. To his surprise, Kimberly is one of the slaves that is up for auction.

Kimberly has recently been returned to the Overseer because she tried to kill her last owner. For that she punished and knifed. She barely hung onto her life only surviving because some fellow slaves stitched her up and nursed her back to health. The Overseer has decided she is ready to go back on the market. When Kimberly first sees Master R she vows to do anything to not let him purchase her. He is a big man that is no stranger to hard labor and his body shows it. Kimberly is convinced that he will be the end of her.

Even though Raoul is supposed to turn down buying a slave so that he can have access to the bigger auctions he cannot resist rescuing Kimberly and taking her home. Once they arrive home the FBI somehow manages to talk Kimberly into posing as Raoul’s slave so they can still have an in with the slave traders. This sets up the development of their Dom/sub relationship and the eventual future for Kimberly and Master R.

Ms. Sinclair is simply a master, no pun intended, when it comes to writing BDSM. I am not sure is she practices in real life however, if not, she has done her research. When I read her books I do not feel like I am looking in at a cheesy forced relationship. The men she writes about are dominant, hard, skilled and all knowing when it comes to the women they are topping. And watching each of them fall has been awesome. Even though they each have subs now they still remain dominant and alpha. It is nice to be able to still see each of the couples as they exist in the Shadowlands world.

One thing you can always count on with Ms Sinclair is the creativity of her sex scenes. Sometimes I have to read them two or three times just to wrap my head around the stuff she comes up with. In each book she introduces a new “element” or technique that I have never heard of. In this book Raoul’s specialty is fire play. Master R does several scenes with Kimberly where he uses fire play. It is difficult to describe so I will just so say go read the book! Hopefully you will be in awe like I was.

I don’t want to finish my review without saying this was probably the most emotionally draining book I have read be Ms. Sinclair. Kimberly is a victim of serious abuse and she has an inner strength that I really admired. To survive the things she was subjected to and still be able to be a strong human being on the other end is a pretty amazing. Ms. Sinclair wrote her character beautifully without making her seem like a beaten down victim. The subject of human slavery has been touched upon in several of her latest books but this was the first time we actual read about one of the victims. I think Ms Sinclair did a wonderful job of portraying emotions a person in that situation would experience. At one time Kim thinks, “Dreams die before people do.”. Such a powerful statement and one of great strength.

There are still hints of trainee Sally hooking up with the two FBI agents, Galen and Kouros. If that is the next book, then sign me up. That will be even yummier on top of Ms. Sinclair’s normal talent!

So if you are a fan of BDSM and have not read Cherise Sinclair- go do it! NOW! You will not be disappointed. Final grade- A

Favorite Quote:

Oh my God, just look at him. Water ran down the center of his chest between solid muscles that looked as if they’d been carved from cedar. His soaked shorts sagged on his hips, displaying his ridged abdomen. When he folded his arms, she couldn’t look away from the rock-hard muscles of his biceps. The other men had great build, but Master R looked like a god of war.

And, uh-oh, he looked as angry as one. When his dark eyes focused on her, her laughter died, and her mouth went dry.

“Kimberly. I am displeased.”

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not really sure how to begin this review, I have thought on it for two days and I'm just gonna give it the old college try.

I have to first start by saying this is the most emotionally draining book that I have read from CS. I have loved every one of the Shadowlands books and this one was no exception, but getting into Kimberly's head as she went through the terror of being kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery and then reliving those fears with her throughout the book actually had me putting it down and needing a break from time to time. The hardest part for me is knowing that yes, this is fiction, but what is happening in this story is happening in our world today. There are some awful people out there, that's for sure.

That said, Kimberly's strength and bravery combined with the love, patience and training that she went through with Raoul (and the other Shadowlands Doms and subs) made this better for me. As I said, this book was deeply emotional and some parts were hard to read, but overall it was just as fantastic as previous Shadowlands books, there was lots of yummy BDSM, hot sex, and fun too! It is always fun for me to get to visit with the other Doms and their subs when reading a new book in this series!

This is one of my favorite kinds of stories, the kind that grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go, even once you have finished it!

[Raine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was a darker than previous book because of the slave ring and abuse. I did love how Raul treated Kim, but I think I was a little put off with Kim's wishy washy-ness about being a slave. I know I should have more understanding because of all that she has gone through, but I'm just not sure I really care for her as much. And as much as I really like Raul, I felt that he was one of the more weaker doms I've read in this series. He seemed a bit too sensitive given the fact that he wants a full time submissive/slave. I gave this 4 stars instead of 3 because the storyline was really good even if it isn't one I usually like, but if I was basing it on characters this would've been a 3.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted on Under the Covers


I haven’t felt this way about a book since Sherrilyn Kenyon’s ACHERON. TO COMMAND AND COLLAR follows the same premise – a character suffers the cruel, soul-stripping torture of being a sex slave.

First off, I have to warn readers that this book is much more darker than any of the others in the series combined. Most of you would recognize the heroine in this book. Kimberly Moore is Gabi’s best friend, the heroine from MAKE ME, SIR. As you know, Kim was kidnapped and sold as a sex slave to sadistic men who get off on hurting women during sex.

Raoul, the sexy Hispanic Dom takes it upon himself to get into a special event for “damaged goods” where he finds Kimberly. Abused and scarred by her previous owner, Kim is now seen as a damaged product and is offered to Raoul for a discounted price. Raoul must play the part of a ruthless scumb in order to get Kim out. However, he finds that playing the part is more difficult than he can bear.

The amount of heartbreak in this book hits you right where you’re most vulnerable. Sinclair does a fantastic job of evoking emotion and sympathy for a woman who has endured horrific acts that would break any person.

Kim shows her strength countless times in this book and it’s hard not to shed some tears as you witness her journey. As I said earlier, this book reminds me of Kenyon’s well-loved character, Acheron. It’s their dealings with being a sex slave that squeeze your heart and make you ache with them.

I personally don’t have a preference for the BDSM slave lifestyle. That’s just not me, however this isn’t the first time I have read a book where a character wishes to be a slave 24/7. TO COMMAND AND COLLAR is one of the better ones I have read following this lifestyle choice. There were moments when I felt that Raoul was pushing Kim too hard. But in those instances, I had to remember that with the looming follow-up with the Overseer coming, Raoul was doing it for her own protection.

TO COMMAND AND COLLAR is Top Pick for 2011 for me. Sinclair gives Kim the book she deserves, showing her progression from a broken doll into a human being filled with life, something her abusers failed to see as they hurt her repeatedly.

If you are looking for a sizzling hot story that will not only heat you up, but touch your soul, then Sinclair delivers in TO COMMAND AND COLLAR. It’s a touching story that will leave you breathless and in tears, making sure it will make your own Top Reads of 2011!

[Mouse · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Stopped halfway through.

The biggest problem for me is the stockholm syndrome factor. I'm already hesitant about 24/7 slaves. It takes a lot to convince me that the relationship is "equal" when it's so vastly disproportionate. It bugs me that someone can't make up her (yes, her, because I've yet to read a book with a male slave) mind enough to figure out what to make for dinner, let alone what to do with her time.

With this book, the situation is so much worse because she comes into the relationship at a huge disadvantage. She's been kidnapped, abused, raped, etc. and falls into a 24/7 relationship within days. Becoming fully dependent on him in order to function. It left no room for me to believe in their ability to fall in love. To think that they, IN ANY WAY, had a symbiotic relationship. It just screamed MORE ABUSE.

I really do like Sinclair. And I think, objectively, this is the best novel she's written so far (construct-wise). It really came down to the situation, for me. If you're okay with an abused girl giving up herself (because I didn't see any sort of rebuilding of self-esteem, self-worth, self- thoughts -- at least till the point I read)... well, you might like this. Shrug. It wasn't a bad read, per say. Just squicky.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

TO COMMAND AND COLLAR is a sexy, emotionally packed masterpiece.

Master Raoul has commanded Club Shadowlands' fans attention since we first met him. I mean who can resist a dark haired, dark eyed DOM with all that smoldering Latino sensuality? The emotions he feels and displays while rescuing Kimberly are intense. The patience he shows while dealing with her PTSD and the ability he has to push her without damaging her psyche is amazing. The way he puts her needs and satisfaction above his is heartwarming and the way he loves her is pantymelting. Master R epitomizes my image of a DOM. Kimberly went through weeks of torture and rape at the hands of monsters, yet she never lost her spirit, almost but never completely let it go. Even with her fear of DOMs she still has the balls to sass Master R and it always made me smile.


To read my full review visit
http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews...

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I waited eagerly for the next book in the Masters of the Shadowlands series, checking the LooseID website waiting “not patiently” for news of it’s release. Funnily enough about 20 minutes after I checked to find no new info, Cherise Sinclair tweeted out the book was finally available. HOLLA! Now this is a good news/bad news situation. A few clicks later and finally another Master in my hot little hands...bad news it was already after 1200 midnight. I sensed a late night in my future - how was I going to be able to stop once I started? I think it was a little after 300am when I finally had to put Raoul to bed...errrr away for the night. But I knew he’d be willing and waiting for me in the morning once I got a little shut-eye. Good thing about those Doms - they're always ready!

This is the 6th book in the Master of the Shadowlands series and to me they are like crack. The problem is once I’m finished (and I did finish this one in a day), the long wait begins before we get another tasty morsel from the world of the big, bad Doms. Ms. Sinclair needs to write faster!

To Command and Collar continues where Make Me, Sir leaves off. The ongoing investigation into the white slavery ring and putting a stop to these sick animals who kidnap innocent women to be trained and sold as sex slaves is still the major storyline. Master Raoul takes center stage as a potential slave buyer but on the night of the auction he is shocked when he comes face to face with a familiar face...Kimberly Moore - the missing best friend of Gabi (from Marcus and Gabi’s story Make Me, Sir). Raoul knows he’s going to blow the FBI’s undercover operation because he knows there is no way he can walk away from the auction as he was instructed to do and leave Kim in the evil clutches of the slavers - so he buys her.

The atrocities Kim has gone through at the hands of the slavers and a previous owner are heart-breaking and chilling to read. She is a broken, scared, but very determined to survive young woman. You can feel her fear, her trepidation at being purchased by a new owner and oh my goodness I had no idea how Ms. Sinclair was going to be able to write her story considering how damaged and scarred she was.

As usual the tenderness, caring and unbelievable kindness of the Masters is perfectly crafted and Master R lives up to the reputation Ms. Sinclair has created for her masterful Doms. But let us not forget after all these men are Doms, so Kim was not in for an easy time of it. But she really couldn’t be in any better hands than those of Master Raoul *sigh*?

While Kim is attempting to recover both her body and her spirit, she must still play a pivotal role in the FBI’s investigation. The slavery ring still needs to be brought down once and for all and abused and imprisoned women still need to be rescued. Despite all her fears, Kim understands her role and agrees that she must continue to play the submissive to Raoul’s Dom no matter how much she is scared to assume the role. Under Raoul’s careful ministrations and training Kim comes to discover some startling revelations about herself.

The return of a vengeful owner, Master Grenville had me right along with Kim quaking in her stilettos (well mine were slippers). My heart was pounding during the confrontation and I couldn‘t turn the pages fast enough. It was nerve wracking and anxiety inducing considering the plans this a-hole had planned for Kim. Kim showed amazing strength and resilience during most of the telling of To Command and Collar considering her past experiences at the hands of brutal, deranged men.

To Command and Collar was another solid addition to the series. Although we do see a lot of familiar faces from past books in the series and these Doms and their subs are seriously fun to catch up with, a lot of the action happens outside the walls of Shadowlands.

My final word to Ms. Sinclair: Please write many more books featuring the Masters of the Shadowlands and please write faster. Thank You...Me!

[Aղցela W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I said the book before this one was my favorite this one is too. I love this series and it seems that the books are getting better and better. Master R and Kimberly story was so emotional I was teary eyed to find love after being enslaved and beaten and learn to trust. Kimberly faced her fears with a master who saved her it was beautiful. To Command and Collar continues where Make Me, Sir leaves off. The ongoing investigation into the white slavery ring and putting a stop to these sick animals who kidnap innocent women to be trained and sold as sex slaves is still the major storyline. Master Raoul takes center stage as a potential slave buyer but on the night of the auction he is shocked when he comes face to face with a familiar face...Kimberly Moore - the missing best friend of Gabi (from Marcus and Gabi's story Make Me, Sir). Raoul knows he's going to blow the FBI's undercover operation because he knows there is no way he can walk away from the auction as he was instructed to do and leave Kim in the evil clutches of the slavers so he buys her even though he messes up the FBI's plans. The things that Kim has gone through at the hands of the slavers and a previous owner are heart-breaking and chilling to read and more on the darker side of BDSM. She is broken and scared, but very determined to safe the other woman. You can feel her fear, her trepidation at being purchased by a new owner. While Kim is attempting to recover both her body and her spirit, she must still play a pivotal role in the FBI's investigation. The slavery ring still needs to be brought down once and for all and abused and imprisoned women still need to be rescued. Despite all her fears, Kim understands her role and agrees that she must continue to play the submissive to Raoul's Dom no matter how much she is scared to assume the role. Under Raoul's careful ministrations and training Kim comes to discover some startling revelations about herself. I loved this story I love Kim's will to get stronger and the willingness she shows. I also loved how the other Dom's in this series were willing to help and we also got our first good look at Sam.

[S.P. Aruna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, gritty and suspenseful, I really liked this book - BDSM with a plot and dealing with a relevant subject. I'm sure shit like this actually goes on. So the story serves as a device for both entertainment and self-education.

Raoul, the protagonist, definitely has his endearing moments, another element that kept me turning the pages.

Best of all, it's a story of healing.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine beginning, poor ending. All this slavery related things made me nauseous and to think she ends almost where she started...not what I was expecting and hoping for

[Ni_kii · Rating 5 out of 5]

Determined to break apart the slave-ring that has been preying on the Shadowlands submissives, Master Raoul snags himself an invite into a viewing of some “bargain-basement” slaves. His mission from the FBI is to reject all the slaves with the hopes of being invited into the auction which would allow them to finally arrest the leaders of the evil Harvest Association. Unfortunately, Raoul finds it hard not to “buy” one of the cheaper slaves when she turns out to be the best friend of Gabi (from Make Me Sir). Potentially blowing months of hard work for the FBI, his Dom instincts sneak up on him and soon the pretty brunette is in his home. A lucky break means that there may be other opportunity for the imposing Dom to attend the auction, but first he must make his ownership of Kim look real. Can he impose his collar onto someone who is not only is unwilling but is also damaged to the core from her previous “Master”

Kim wants out of the nightmare that her life has become. Kidnapped, tortured, raped and forced into slavery, this is not the life that any little girl dreams of. When she finds herself back on the market after her previous owner returns her as “damaged goods”, she doesn’t believe that the man who promises her safety can keep to his word. After hearing proclamations from both her friends and the authorities that he isn’t one of the bad guys, she resigns herself to playing the role of his slave in order to try to help the other girls. Unfortunately for her, the Harvester Association check on their sales and want to see her perform in her role as slave. Can she really ever trust a Dom again? When her submissive nature starts to rise to the surface, she finds herself fighting against the one relationship that has ever felt right. Can she really let herself trust him enough to become his slave?

First of all I need to warn you of a couple of things.

1)These books are a series. You can read them individually but you won’t appreciate the characters and their relationships. This would be a shame as they are all amazing
2)I have an immediate bias towards anything with the name “Cherise Sinclair” on the front of it (sorry!)


Now that that’s out of the way I can start to rave with a clear conscience. This story had the potential to be an incredibly dark story with very little light at the end of the tunnel. The background setting was truly horrific and a very brave choice for a Romance story. In Make Me Sir, we began our journey into the sick and twisted world of the slave traders. The situation wasn’t resolved in one book, nor should it have been. I appreciated that Ms Sinclair took the time to show the aftermath of these events for the victims rather than using it as a nifty plot device and then finishing with it when the HEA occurs. Kim was so damaged she made me cry. Raped, tortured, verbally abuse, kept in a cage…..honestly, I don’t think I’ve read more abuse in a Romance. When Raoul “buys” her, she struggles to adjust to real life, struggles not be scared of what’s around each corner, struggles to trust the people around her. I thought she was the strongest character I have met in a while, as she has a choice to just go home, but instead she put herself under the control of a stranger to try to save her friends. I didn’t know if her sanity would hold up in the face of some very tough situations, but I was ever hopeful. Some people may take issue with the fact that she went from one form of slavery to the other but, to me, that was the point. Kimberly was submissive to the core; she would always be in a relationship where the lifestyle infringed on her life, rather than sticking to the bedroom. The choice was taken away from her by the cretins that kidnapped her but, although she was somewhat cornered into the M/s relationship with Raoul, it was still her choice to enter such a contract.

Raoul was dreamy. Raoul took this story and made it a little sweeter because he was just so caring. The other Dom’s in the Shadowland series all have their inner sappy side, but Raoul’s is pretty much out there for everyone to see. He nurtures Kim, whilst giving her the control that she needs. With any other type of Dom this story would be in danger of heading towards the darker, twisted side of BDSM, but he lightened up every page that he appeared on. I loved them together and thought he was the ideal Dom to heal her. On a side note I want to bitch slap his ex-wife….with a bat. Was he my favourite Shadowland’s Dom? Nope, that will always be Nolan. Are they my favourite couple? Yes, I think they were! The sex scenes were pant-worthy and you need to look out for a fire play scene…..mega hot!!!

There were a lot of other things going on in this story. We get to see Galen and Vance work as a team whilst attempting to intimidate little Sally (Seriously, shivers people!) I’ve wanted Sally to get a book in forever and am glad that it seems to be en route. We also get to see Sadist Sam in action in this one. I think I want his book the most and this shocks me a little. I have read many books involving a Sadist but never enjoyed any of them because it’s not my kink. I think Ms Sinclair has been very clever in leaving his book until the end because he is now so far beneath my skin, there is no way I couldn’t enjoy his story and I think this will be the same for anyone who is dubious about true S/M! We got to see the whole gang again too; Kari and Dan have some news, there is a big event for Nolan and Beth and once again Gabi gets the best lines!

Another fabulous addition to the Shadowlands series. With a damaged heroine and a dreamy Dom, this book made me laugh, cry and hope. A brave book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alrighty, I'm writing this review from the POV of someone who almost never reads anything BDSM related, and learned everything she knows thanks to those few books she read (and a couple of conversations). I'm also not a huge fan of the genre, because it often feels repetitive to me, and while a couple of the kinks definitely push my buttons, a lot of others don't.

So when I am tempted to read a BDSM story, it's often because the story-line intrigues me. This has lead to mixed results, because most erotica focuses on hotness, where I prefer the kind that focuses on the sexual evolution and exploration of the characters. Preferably with hotness. Still, evolution is they keyword here.

So it was the story-line that intrigued me when I read Angela James' review of this. I've always been a fan of romance stories where the healing of the characters is a focus, and this book definitely falls under that theme. Kim, the heroine, was kidnapped and sold as a sex-slave to a sadist. When she attacks her abuser, she is returned to the slavers and re-auctioned. It’s on this auction she meets Raoul, an experienced Dom, who is there on an undercover mission for the FBI, to close down the slave-ring. Kim is the missing friend of one of Raouls friends, so he buys her to save her.

Kim suffered 7 weeks of severe abuse (and I’m understating it with that, it’s truly stomach-turning torture really), and needless to say she’s severely traumatized. She suffers from nightmares and panic attacks and is very, very afraid. Circumstances (read there’s no other option if the FBI wants to destroy the slave ring now) cause Kim and Raoul to enter in a Master/slave relationship charade, while Kim starts her recovery. And so starts the healing.

There’s a lot of other stuff going on as well, the taking down of the slave ring, Raouls issues with this family and ex-wife, and Kim’s issues with the whole concept of being in a submissive/Dominant relationship. The healing takes front stage for most of the book though, and I felt it definitely was the strong point of the book.

While the author warns readers in the preface that “This book is fiction, not reality and, as in most romantic fiction, the romance is compressed into a very, very short time period.” and Amber notes in < a href=”http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... review that Kimberly recovers way too quick to believable, it didn’t feel fast to me. If I think about it not all that much time passed, and Kim did recover quickly, but so much of the story is focused on her recovery proces and the building of the trust between Raoul and Kim, I totally bought into it. This book is seriously long, and while not all that much time passes, you spend so much time in the characters’ head while nothing much is happening except for recovering and explornuig the whole Master/slave thing, you don’t really notice that it’s only been a short time since Kim got free.

I have to admit though that I kinda got into Fantasy modus thanks to the beginning at the auction, which felt completely unreal, and I never really got out of that mode, so that probably helped with my disbelief suspenders. Those also helped with the whole FBI plot, which I thought was the weakest part of the story. First, it’s totally CRAZY that Kim stayed involved in the whole slave-ring operation. I understood why she chose to do it, but that they let her (and kinda manipulated her into it), it boggles my mind. Then there was the big showdown, which was all kinds of crazy Bashed in heads! Knife-fights! Showdown of the body-guards! And my favorite, a scene were Kim does that thing from Kill Bill and takes out someone’s eyes!. Soooo didn’t buy that, an almost stopped reading at that point. But right after that both Raouls and Kim other issues come into play, and everything got very emotional and I was swept away again.

I liked both Raoul and Kim, and especially the slow built of the trust and love between them. I liked most of the D/s stuff, although by the end the focus seemed to shift a bit too much towards the SM spectrum for my personal tastes. The sex between them was really hot and tender though.
I liked that the problems between them weren’t only Kims abusive issues, but also their respective histories and their take on the whole Dominant/submissive thing, and what they really wanted out of that. I did think that it took them a bit too long to figure each other out by the end, and wanted to smack them both upside the head. Especially Raoul when Kim finally got her courage together and submitted completely to him, and he rejected her out of fear of history repeating itself. I got it, but I didn’t like it, and I cried like a baby. I didn’t particularly care for how the resolution played out either, I felt it should have been a private moment, and it very much wasn’t, but I guess it probably fit them.

A lot of the book is resonating with me at the moment, and definitely left a strong impression. I just think that it was a bit too long – all the FBI stuff could have been left out imo – and that it didn’t quite live up to the very strong first half. I don’t think I’ll ever turn into a BDSM fan, but I like it for the occasional book, and I’m really glad I chose this one to still the hunger this time around.




***



And now for something completely different and unrelated.... I love this song.

[Michele ~ la Smoocherina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out my review on:

http://readourlipsblog.blogspot.com/2...

My Review

This was an incredible book! Emotional, powerful, sexual, thought provoking and more. I’m a huge fan of the Shadowlands Series and Cherise Sinclair in general. I can always tell that she cares a lot about the characters she writes. To Command and Collar was no exception.

Kimberly has been abducted by human traffickers selling sex slaves. To say she was mistreated is the understatement of the year. She is being sold as “damaged merchandise” because she stabbed her previous buyer. Like her already? Just wait.

Enter Raoul Sandoval, Shadowlands Master, BDSM instructor and all around hardass, or at least I thought he was a hardass in the previous books. And he is, in the best possible way. He’s decent, generous, hard-working and even harder playing. A six-foot, muscle packed, structural engineer with a brother he watched get involved with a street gang, he’s no one to mess with. Smart and lethal. As an experienced Dom, he agrees to go undercover as a buyer to help find the slavers and shut them down. He’s not supposed to buy anyone, just look and get invited back. That is, until he sees Kimberly.

Once he brings Kim home, the FBI realizes that she is going to have to look every bit the part of the slave, when the Overseer comes back to visit and make sure Raoul is satisfied with his purchase. Let’s just say he’s human sex trafficking’s answer to middle management. Quite the customer service, huh? So Kim has a choice: go into witness protection and let her mom think she’s dead, or stay with Raoul and help to rescue the slaves/friends she left behind and bring down the pond scum who took her in the first place.

So begins the Master/slave relationship between Raoul and Kim. But ever the patient teacher, Raoul promises no sex and takes things very slowly. Kim was taken because she was a spirited submissive who frequented BDSM clubs, so under Raoul’s tutelage and care, she goes through the gamut of emotions. She goes from feeling hatred and fear toward Raoul, to attraction, comfort and safety when she’s in his arms. She feels like she’s disgusting and dirty, though Raoul tells her constantly that she’s strong and beautiful, a survivor. Really, she’s all over the map. But this is where Sinclair’s writing REALLY shines. She conveys the emotion Kim feels so viscerally, at times my chest hurt, it felt so real. It was like my heart was breaking. Who wouldn’t be an emotional mess if they went through such a trauma? I was emotional after reading it! But what is required for a natural submissive, who had her tendencies used against her in the most horrific possible way, to find her way back to herself? What would she need to feel safe? My answer (and clearly Sinclair’s answer too) is Raoul.

Raoul shows such patience with Kim, slowly pushing her boundaries to keep her from retreating into her innermost self. He cares for her tenderly but with the most incredible strength behind it. And the entire time he’s calmly bringing her back to the real Kim, you can feel the powerful, sexual being underneath and just how it reawakens Kim’s sexuality and helps her to reclaim her body, bit by bit.

But even so, Kim struggles with who she is and who she wants to be. What will happen when the visit from the Overseer is over? Will she see Raoul again? We haven’t heard the last of the evil human traffickers. What does the future hold for this pair? Check out To Command and Collar and see. Definite recommended read. This book could be a standalone, but your reading experience will be much richer if you read the series.

Note: We realize this book may not be for everyone as it has a survivor reliving and retelling of her time in captivity. It’s very graphic, but very necessary for the reader to understand what she went through and overcame. But if sexual trauma is a trigger, this may not be the book for you.



What I loved about To Command and Collar:

That Raoul was kind, accommodating, caring and freakin’ hot! Sorry, but I’m keepin’ it real.
That Kim has a fortitude the likes of which I’ve never read, yet she was totally believable.
That the writer had Kim go to a therapist after her ordeal. Sinclair didn’t leave all the healing on Raoul’s shoulders, having him heal her with the magic of his care. Raoul consulted her therapist often.
That female friendships aren’t pushed aside. Shadowlands Doms are secure. They want their subs happy.
Raoul has a surprise in his pants. (Don’t YOU wanna know!)
Ari and how she came to be in Kim’s life.
All of the Spanish terms of endearment Raoul calls Kim. “Gatita” is my favorite.
That we get to see what all of the couples from the previous books are up to. That Jessica!
Raoul, Raoul, Raoul..I just love him. He rates up there with Nolan from Book 3 for me now.
Things I didn’t like about To Command and Collar:

The stress I felt while reading Kim’s harrowing tale. I had such a strong reaction to it. But it was all worth it in the end.


5 Kisses

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner and must buy from the talented Ms. Sinclair. I adore Ms. Sinclair's BDSM books. I call them gateway to BDSM books. In TO COMMAND AND COLLAR, we delve deeper into the BDSM subculture -- the grittier side of it. Kimberly has been kidnapped off the streets and sold as a sex slave. What she previously enjoyed for fun, she's now traumatized by the sadistic and cruelty of sexual slavery. At wits' end, Kimberly only longs for death. Luckily, intervention via Master Raoul saves her sanity and life.

Raoul is working with the FBI to capture and close down a sex slavery ring. He never expected to be able to find his friend Gabi's missing friend, Kimberly. When the two are brought together, he can't help but save her. From there, the two are thrown together for more uncover work to help bust the sex slave ring. The uncover work nearly breaks Kimberly as she suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome.

In this book, we deal with the potential nastier side of BDSM. When consent is revoked and a human is treated worse than an animal, how does this break a woman? Because make no mistake, the goal is to break these women's spirit, minds and sexuality. They are purchased for sadistic sexual destruction. While this may be a fictional story, the material is valid and a concern in today's world. Human trafficking is an increasing market with high demands and profits. Ms. Sinclair does an excellent job of painting a gruesome picture. She glosses over the logistics of sexual slavery so the harsher details are left unsaid. The part I loved best about this story is that it doesn't vilify BDSM. Instead, it shows how people can make BDSM bad. It's the people, not the lifestyle. The contrasts between the Shadowland Dominants and the sex slavers are clear. Ms. Sinclair takes the same sex scenes and shows how the difference of choice and submission makes the BDSM whipping sensual rather than abuse. The added bonuses of some edge play I adore such as fire play caused me to ignite in passion.

Another tough topic Ms. Sinclair handled with grace was the difference between a slave and a submissive. Many use these terms synonymously when they are different. By writing a character that is struggling with the concepts and watching her gain enlightenment, I'm hoping this also helps others outside of the BDSM lifestyle to gain understanding. I applaud Ms. Sinclair's educational instructions hidden in her amazing story.

I'm also impressed that the characters were three dimensional with back history to make them how they are today. Raoul's experiences with his ex-wife define how he views relationships. Kimberly's childhood with her father's emotional withdrawal, neglect and abuse defines how she sees a wife in relation to a husband. These realistic hang-ups build a layer of complexity which I found both believable and necessary for the story to work.

Since this is a book in a series, revisiting previous characters felt like a lovely family reunion. I loved seeing characters I enjoyed and hope that ones who haven't had a story yet will soon have one written. I'd really like a BDSM ménage with Sally and the two FBI guys. I can only beg Ms. Sinclair to hear my plea and consider it. I recommend this to the all BDSM readers, from new to jaded. There is something in here for everyone.

[Duchess Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so I have to say, I started skimming through some of Raoul's book. The first 75 pages or so are so horrifying, it was hard for me to get into the mood to finish the rest of it. But I kept on truckin', and made it through. If the first few books of the series were out of my comfort zone a bit, I could still relate a bit to the need between the Dom and sub, and for the most part, understand how the relationship could work. The kink adds spice, right?

The same thing that kept me from really getting into The Reluctant Dom is the same thing that kept me from loving this story. It seems as if these disturbed women are just giving up on control of themselves completely, and wanting to rely on their Master to make every decision for them, from the mundane to the very important. I can't fathom having someone tell me what to wear and when I am allowed to eat. Giving up a little control in the bedroom is very different than literally being a slave, living only as a servant to your master. Sure, you get some great sex, but he gets to decide when and how and with who. Uh, uh. Not for me.

Okay, now we all know my opinion on that. But I will also say, "To each his own." I cried in scary tears reading Reluctant Dom, and I cried scary tears reading this book. So they got to me, whether or not I agreed with the content. Everything in the relationship between Raoul and Kim is consensual. She always has her safe word. I just wished that somehow her decision to be the sub in a true full time D/s relationship hadn't come as such a difficult decision. It seemed as if she did it in the end ultimately because Raoul needed it.

Raoul has always been this extremely soft spoken person, with his sexy Hispanic accent and dominant but not overbearing ways. And he continues to be a gentle person for the most part. My absolute favorite part of the story is near the beginning, when Kim is trying to sleep through her nightmares, and Raoul reads to her.

"No nightmare could compete with Raoul Sandoval reading Huckleberry Finn."

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5; 5 stars; A+

This was definitely my favorite Club Shadowlands book. Even though there were aspects to the content that were very dark (torture, human slave trading), Ms. Sinclair handled it is such a way that the hopeful, positive aspects of the story balanced it out.
It was great to see many characters from other stories in this book but focus remained squarely on Kim, and her battle to face her fears and deal with post traumatic stress, along with Raoul and his role in supporting her. If I had one teeny quibble with the book it would be that Raoul was almost too perfect for most of the book. He did come close to a disastrous screw up at the end which thankfully proved he wasn't perfect.

I would like to note how great it is to see an older woman play a role in this book and not have her be marginalized for her age. The author presented her as calm and courageous and still a beautiful, sexual being. So many books are full of twenty somethings who seem to be so mature, knowledgeable and fully sexually alive. I find that a bit unbelievable based on the many, many twenty somethings I've known.

Although he played a minor role in the book, I really enjoyed the 'normalcy' of having a dog in there. Ari was an important character in Kim's world and helped to underline the long term aspects of fear that an abuse survivor deals with.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to read an erotica-bdsm story with depth and good characterization.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! AMAZING! Cherise Sinclair is awesome. She created a relationship like no other. First off let me state that I treat BDSM like I do vampire books. It's a realm I will never ever live in, but I enjoy reading because it is sooooo out-there, with that in mind here is the rest of my review.

Who would have guessed that a BDSM relationship would be therapeutic? As a nurse I've seen trauma, emotional and physical and while the physical is terrible it usually never compares to the emotional. To help the emotional you pull in resources to heal from wherever you can get it. Keeping an OPEN mind that everyone is different on the ways of coping and what helped one person will not necessarily help another. I'm not a psychologist and I have no idea if this would truly work, but I could definitely see where it might. I'm impressed how Sinclair used BDSM to heal Kimberly. I realize this is a work of fiction, however, Sinclair did an outstanding job portraying how exactly this would work to heal a very tortured women.

To those planning to read it: I did find it pretty disturbing in the beginning, but when it gets to heavy I skim, which I did only in the first chapter. After that it was an awesome journey of watching a victim become alive again through the help of Raoul. Raoul! RRRrrrrrr! Serious hotness!

Hope you enjoy!

[P.A. Lupton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book in the Shadowlands series, Cherise Sinclair is the master of this genre. Her books are engaging and emotional, and her characters are fantastic. I’ve had a difficult time deciding which Shadowlands master was my favorite, I thought after the last book it was Marcus but now I’m certain it’s Master Raoul—hands down. He is the most dominant, frightening master with the biggest heart. He is patient and caring and yet balances that beautifully with a supremely dominant nature; the ultimate Alpha male. Still, it’s not only Raoul that makes this story great, Kim is my favorite heroine in all of the Shadowlands books so far.

I tend to prefer books with kick ass female characters and Kim is as kick ass as they come. That doesn’t mean she’s a martial arts master with special powers—Kim’s strength is different. Not physical, but rather a strength of will. It’s not fearlessness that makes her strong, it’s the fact that she fights to overcome her fears. The characters were in depth and well written and this was the best book so far in the Shadowlands series. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes BDSM erotica.