BLURB:
Disclaimer: This is an 18+ book with erotic BDSM scenes and explicit language.
Can two dark souls ever make a light?
As president of her own distribution company, Julie Dawson has all she ever wanted -- money, power, and respect. But her carefully crafted façade conceals a torment of abuse and helplessness. After years remaining emotionally aloof, she is finally independent, but alone. Because she refuses to rely on anyone but herself ever again.
Evan Adams is no stranger to success, or personal demons. The horrific trauma that destroyed his twin sister, and tore his family apart, forced him to craft a new life from the ashes of the old. He's content enough, focusing ahead and not dwelling on his murky past. But something important is missing. He knows what that thing is but refuses to acknowledge it.
When a chance encounter brings these two strong-willed but damaged people together , what seems like a long, erotic journey through hell could lead them to a match made in heaven.
MUTUAL RELEASE
A coming of age novel about trust...on the long road to love.
X-Rated Excerpt:
A leather chair appeared from the gloom. Evan looked around, then took the seat, disappointed but intrigued. He could hear Jack’s voice, his laughter low and inviting. What the fuck? Was Gordon getting in on action while he had to watch? Then he heard Jenna’s annoying giggle and realized the club must be making her watch too, only she got to do it with her date. He sighed, leaned back, and prepared himself to be underwhelmed.
“No,” a sexy, rough female voice broke through the clamor in his head. It must have surprised everyone because all the people on the couches glanced up. “I want him. Out here.” Evan looked straight at her and saw the hot-as-shit Domme point her bullwhip right at him. He gulped, actually looked around like a dork, thinking there must be someone behind him. He was no sub.
She crooked her finger, her ruby-red moist lips drawing his gaze and making him feel positively hypnotized. His cock kept up its painful pressure along the inside of his zipper. A drop of sweat formed on his temple but he couldn’t move his arms to brush it away. All he knew… was her.
“Mr. Adams,” the disembodied voice said. “Your presence has been requested by our Mistress. Please. Do not make her wait.” The sheer curtain separating him from the crowd parted as he stood. Shoving his hands in his pockets and no longer aware of anything at all but what he wanted right now, he took the few steps down to the main floor.
“Stop!” She held up a hand. “Do not come any closer until I tell you.” She snapped her fingers. A tall man dressed only in leather pants emerged from somewhere to her left. A woman approached him, smiling and holding out a tray filled with… He stared, then shook his head, backing away, his brain on fire and his body in flight mode. “Where are you going, slave?” The woman cracked her whip. Evan sensed its bite near his cheek.
“I am no one’s slave,” he croaked out, sounding like a whiney kid.
“Perhaps. But I am not just anyone.” Before he could catch a breath, the woman was in his space. He kept his hands at his sides, knowing if he touched her he would be punished. Her full lips were inches from his. She leaned in, placed a tender kiss on his cheek, then stepped back.
“The Mistress has chosen!” the voice boomed and the room heaved a collective sigh. Evan whipped his head around, suddenly terrified and hornier than he had been in his entire existence. He closed his eyes as a loud whooshing sound started echoing around in his head in perfect time with his heartbeat. He held his ground, biting the inside of his cheek raw to keep from falling to his knees and kissing his way up her shiny patent leather shoe. The woman stood, the cape-like cloak draped around her tall, perfect body. He couldn’t move and had no idea what to do now anyway.
She took two long steps and was back in his space, tugging his tie, lifting it free of his collar and letting her lips linger over his, tempting, teasing, and bringing his body to full attention from his scalp to his toes. What in the hell was going on here? He was a sub? But the whooshing sound would not stop; it deafened him and he started to shake. The woman put her hands on his shoulders and kept kissing him just enough to make him insane. Disembodied hands removed his suit coat. Then, with a powerful jerk, She ripped his dress shirt into two scraps of expensive cotton that hung from his wrists.
His nipples hardened, his skin broke out in goose bumps. More bodiless hands unfastened his cuffs and took what remained of his shirt away. The woman kept smiling, trailing her fingertip down his chest. Evan’s lungs hurt he was breathing so hard.
“You are very…” She leaned in and touched her tongue to a nipple, making him gasp. “In need of…” She licked her way across his chest to the other hardened nub of flesh and bit, hard, making him yelp and grunt to distract himself from coming in his trousers. “A lesson in what it means to wield control.”
She unfurled the whip, keeping her lips on his skin, licking and nibbling her way up his neck as he stood, fists clenched and teeth grinding. Then she bit down on his lower lip, bringing tears to his eyes and yet more urgency to fuck. What was happening to him?
“Sit.” She shoved him down. Evan dropped, hoping someone had put a chair there. His ass hit leather and wood. Watching mesmerized as she dug a sharp heel into his still-covered thigh. The pulsing behind his zipper had reached a level he’d never experienced. It was as if he were already coming, in his head, trying to relieve the pressure without actually ejaculating. This was a total goddamn trip. He sighed, looked up at the ceiling.
“Don’t look away from me, slave.” Her rough voice made the whooshing sound return between his ears. She snapped her fingers. Two nearly naked women scuttled to his side, undid his belt, unzipped his pants, and pulled off his shoes while removing his trousers, leaving only his tie and boxers.
“Holy fucking mother of… ah!” he cried out, unable to stop when the woman stood over him, her warm, inviting sex right at his eye level. Other hands rubbed, teased him through his underwear. But he kept his eyes trained up as he sucked in a lungful of her heady scent.
“You think this is all there is, don’t you, boy?” The woman’s voice filled his head. “Your giant cock and what you can do with it.” She stepped away from him, flicking her whip at his inner thighs, breaking up the pleasure with a bite of pain that made him curse and lean forward. The lovely, soft hands that had been on his aching shaft disappeared. “Oh no you don’t. You sit; you take, and you do not come. For any reason. If you do, I will make you very,” she slid the handle of the whip along his reddened inner leg, “very sorry. Are we clear? Dear?”
Angie J's Favorite Evan Quotes:
"So the things you need to know about me relative to this are," he held up fingers as he counted, "one. I like it rough. Two. I'm in control in the bedroom. I set the stage, I call the shots. You will have an orgasm-several of them, but only when I tell you too. Three. I don't share. You're mine. And four. You have to trust me. Completely. And that is going to be hard for you, I can tell."
"You are mine now, Julie Dawson. It may not be obvious to you yet, but you are. I may piss you off at times but I will never, ever let you down."
Angie J's Review:
I received this book for an honest review.
*Blows out a big chestful of air and thinks to myself "OMG Where do I
begin"*
I have read everything that Liz has published. I think she is an amazing writer and person. I have her as an "auto buy" because I have not been let down by any of her novels. This book didn't let me down either. Now this book was written as a stand alone but it is a great addition to the continuing Stewart Realty Series. Revelation time, I will admit that Alpha Male Jack Gordon has kept me too busy to notice dear Mr. Evan Adams. However, he has my full attention NOW. I can say without a doubt....TEAM EVAN 100%. *Pats Jack on the shoulder and says "We had fun while it lasted."*
This book was so amazing to me on so many aspects but I did miss seeing all the other characters involved in the series. We did see Jack alot with Sara and glimpses of Susanne. I did miss seeing Blake, Rob, and Craig as well. However the epilogue (which Liz totally rocks each and every time) we did get a peek at some of them.....but *sniff* something bad is going to happen next novel and my heart is aching already............ANY FAITHFUL LIZ READER KNOWS, Tissue box is needed at any book because the tears will fall. They did fall in this novel but not snot sobbing like other novels.
Ok so this book gives us a look into the life of Dom Evan Adams who I feel has been relatively "quiet" in the series. I fell in total love with him this book. He is a Dom but also enjoys switching when the right Domme is around him...which is totally hot to read. He has had a terrible upbringing with a dad who is never around and a mom who is more concerned with her "projects" then her children. Their family "inherits" a complete monster of a boy named Damien who makes hell on Earth Evan's entire life. I felt very connected to Evan through the novel. I understood what he was seeking in his adult life and why his relationships failed until Julie. It broke my heart to see my man....errrr......Evan being sooo girlie and needy while always controlling his inner Dom. In a word, he wanted LOVE. He wanted to be loved unconditionally by someone. *Sigh* I would sooo be that woman for him :)
Julie....I just wanted to hug her for all the trauma she has endured as a young adult. She has a mother who was more concerned with marrying a rich man then caring for her daughter. She was super controlling because she herself was a loosey goosey as a teen and didn't want that for her Julie. I felt torn up and sick at the violent times she had to endure at the hands of a horrible man. Then the betrayal of her mother was another heart wrenching part of her young life. My heart literally hurt for her. As a mid 20 something, she had another heart wrenching experience that hardened this young womans's heart and soul. I was a little bit sad at the "Julie" section of the novel. I didn't feel that I knew her as much as I would have liked to know her....but maybe that is me hoping for some "good times" in her life since all we saw was pain?????? All these painful "life lessons" Julie took part in made her a cold hearted bitch....hence when she tells Evan off and says "she has been eye fucked by way more important men"...ouch Julie REALLY!!
The relationship/marriage.......Wow. Can I say I love how Evan just strolled in and made himself comfy in her office and forced her to try his beers....loved it. I loved how they had a fight in the river and threw mud at each other. I loved how they learned to trust in each other by the novels ending....However, I was sad at the miscommunication that happened alot between the 2 of them. I was sooo frustrated at the 's insignificant details that would throw the other outta whack. However, they are both mega control freaks and sooooooo I guess this would/could probably happen in real life. I didn't like that Evan withheld the knowledge to Julie about Nina and wondered why? *hands on hips* Evan you got some 'splaining to do!!! I didn't understand that "secret" Country Club. I also didn't understand how Julie could even THINK anything Damien says is truthful given what she knows about him. That particular scene made me wanna shake my fist at Daredevil as well. However I cannot even bring myself to skim over their wedding....OMG I would have loved for Liz to include pictures of what was being told.....It sounded hilarious!!! Seeing Kyle with dreadlocks and a joint performing the ceremony!!!
Ok so I really need to stop rambling. I will end this by saying "Liz Rocks Out" and so do her books. Buy one and you will be hooked. I know I was.
Author Interview:
*Passes a beer* Hi Liz and welcome back to our crazy blog. So as you know, we have a couple “hard hitting” questions (snort) and then silly ones. Are you game? GREAT!!
As you know I am game for pretty much anything….
You know Mutual Release was amazing….as I knew it would be. Now since I have interviewed you a couple times you know what I am going to ask…….What celebrities would you cast to play Julie and Evan in a major motion picture?
Older Evan would most definitely be Henry Cavill (working on his Midwest American accent of course).
Young Evan would be portrayed by Liam James.
Older Julie could be played by Dianne Kruger with her younger self played by Brighid Fleming
Are you currently writing a short about Jack’s backstory to give us Stewart Fans one more little peek at our favorite alpha male. Is there anything that readers will be shocked to learn?
Yes. (long pause while Angie pouts). Well, okay “shocked” maybe not but “enlightened by” for certain.
The whole “House Rules: Jack Gordon Story” literally was a whomp upside my head by Hans, the well-known hot muse of mine who said, “hey, tell some of his back story from HIS perspective why don’t ya?” Jack deserved a POV in his teens, college, law school and the early years of his real estate success.
So I did. It’s not a long book but fills some holes in a nice way…..and the final moment will be very “Ahhhhh….yes! Now I get it!”
If you could meet any author for a “pick their brain session”, who would it be and why?
Stephen King, just to get his take on the “new media” and how he would have handled getting his career trajectory going in today’s world. I admire so much about him, not the least of which is honesty about what or what does not mean you are a “success.”
During the writing process which part makes you the most stressed? The writing, editing or releasing to the fans?????
To be brutally honest, Angie, watching books that are just not that good shooting to the top of the best seller lists mainly because they are attached to large marketing budgets. I get that way about beer too. I’m the sort of personality that has a “If you’re not first, you’re last” thing going on, for good or ill and watching that sort of quick rise for books that are copy cats of anything, even copy cats of copy cats, sets me back, big time.
I work very very hard to keep my writing fresh, new, interesting, non-repetitive and non-copy-cats of any sort of trendy plot. I work just as hard to make sure they are represented well, promoted and read by as many folks as I can drag by the ear into the Liz Crowe realm of books. Part of my “come to Jesus” chat with my idol Stephen King will no doubt involved him slapping me around, figuratively speaking, reminding me how far I’ve come in a relatively short time and how I have no reason to whine. I have no doubt of that, actually. I enjoy writing. No amount of agro over crappy books getting all the attention will ever keep me from it. I just need to keep my priorities in mind better: I write to please the 4 or 5 folks (relatively speaking) who enjoy my style, my characters and my plots. Thinking I’m anything more than that is a recipe for writer’s block and a waste of energy. (Thank you Stephen, for that)
Is there anything about ANY of your novels you wish you could turn back to clock on and change/make different whether it be a scene, character *quivery lip thinking about Blake and Garrett*, situation, etc……?
No, I wouldn’t. And I actually go back and read my books and have yet to come across that urge. I believe in my plots, no matter how hard they may be to take, or how many folks may flame them for being not “real romance books” or whatever. I never claimed they were “romance.” They just get classified that way!
I have to say for ME, an avid reader of yours and big time Liz promoter, my favorite thing about your novels are the emotional reaction I have to the characters. I look forward to EVERY release and have you on auto buy!!!! I just wanted to say Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. We know how busy you are and that your time is pretty precious soo we want to say thanks for writing amazing emotionally charged novels!! Angie J.
You are welcome. And thanks a ton for your loyal following!
