Unraveled (Mastered #3) by Lorelei James

Unraveled

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Shiori Hirano quit the family job after realizing she wanted something else. Working at her brother's gym has helped her find new purpose in her life. She is helping make decisions to improve it. When Ronin goes on his honeymoon, she is left to deal with Knox by herself. Anytime they are around each other they butt heads.

Word is I’m a really great guy.”

She smiled as he’d hoped she would. “Only in your dreams, Ob‑Knox‑ ious.”

Lately, there is a new tension between them. It calls to her. You see Shiori is also a Domme, and she likes to be called Mistress by her submissive. No one knows this side of her but she very much will like Knox to get with the program.

Knox Lofgren is left in charge of the gym. He is an alpha at work. To his surprise he soon discovers that Shiori can be his dominant. He is shocked to learn he's a submissive.  Once the relationship begins, he starts wondering what will happen when Shiori leaves for her home in Japan again.

This is my first female dominant and male submissive book.
It was strange for me to read it and at times I had some issues with their relationship. I'm so used to my guys being alpha but I couldn't skip this one.
I like both characters. I like that their lives outside the bedroom were completely opposite. Knox was still very much in charge.  The last 20% of the book was excellent.
The Mastered series is very well written. I like how the world is getting new intriguing characters. I'm always wondering if they are getting a book too.

Caged is next and I already know I'm going to love it.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unraveled takes place during the same time period as Schooled.  While Ronin is away training, Knox and Shiori are left to run the Black Arts martial arts program.  As we know from the previous books, these two do NOT get along.   The two of them start at each other’s throat, but slowly they begin to test a relationship neither one of them expected. 

“What were you looking for at the club last night?”

“Not a man to crush under my heel.  Not a lapdog.  Not a slave.  Not a whipping boy.  I’m looking for a man strong enough to give up control to me when it comes to sex.”

So this storyline is different than what I typically read.  I am used to reading about the alpha male not only in the bedroom and in every aspect of the relationship.   Reading about Knox, a character that is totally alpha in the gym, submit in the bedroom was a bit different to swallow.  It was still great nonetheless.  I think the relationship between Knox and Shiori was beautifully written.  Lorelei James answered all the questions and concerns I had about male subs.  So if you’re worried about the male submissive, don’t be.  You will not be disappointed in this story.

4/5 FANGS

**Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I can't believe I'm saying this because I love Ronin Black, but this is now my favorite book of the series.  Knox and Shiori's story had the perfect mix of tension and fun, sexy banter.  It made for a story that was hard to put down.

With Sensei Black was out of the country for a few months (same time period as Schooled), Knox and Shiori are forced to work together.  Something that's proved to be difficult for them in past.  There's always been an extreme competitiveness and an insane amount of tension between them.  Everyone around them can see it.  It all comes to a head when Knox finds out that Shiori is a Domme.  Any thoughts he might of had about a one-night-stand are out the window.

Shiori is a strong, independent woman that happens to outrank him at the dojo.  So it's a little intimidating and hard for him to come to the realization that he just might be a submissive. He fears being humiliated and looking weak.  That's not what she has in mind at all.  It was a lot of fun watching them explore their relationship both inside and outside the bedroom.

"You might outrank me, but I promise I won't follow the rules. I won't fight fair when I'm fighting for the best thing that's ever happened to me."

I went into the Knox and Shiori's story not really sure what to expect.  I was actually thinking I might not like it.  I've read a few book with submissive men in the past and those men came off as weak to me.  Something about Knox and the explanations throughout this book changed my entire outlook on submissive men.  Knox was anything but weak in my eyes.  He was such an alpha outside of the bedroom and his submissiveness in the bedroom was ultimately about pleasing Shiori, which made his surrender sweet in my eyes.  They had such tender and loving moments together.  Something I hadn't equated with a Domme/submissive relationship before.

"I've never craved a woman like I do you."

The Black Arts aspect of the story is so different from anything that I've read before and it's refreshing.  I also love the family dynamics between all  the friends and coworkers.  I'm really looking forward to Caged, especially after getting a little bit more of Deacon's story in this book.

4.5/5 Fangs

*Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*