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crystal_bookworm's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
anasatticbookblog's review against another edition
5.0
The Invitation (The Marriage Diaries #5) by Erika Wilde
Can stand alone (but why?) Erotic Novella Series
The Invitation by Erika Wilde is the fifth book in the Marriage Diaries series. Though it can absolutely stand alone, I highly recommend you buy The Marriage Diaries 1-4 first. They come as a box set and were 5 star, 5+ heat reads for me. See my review for the first four here. The first four books average less than 50 pages each, but The Invitation doubles that, and let me tell you, it is a very full book for the amount of pages.
Dean and Jillian are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary. This is what I love about this series; they are a still-young couple with a recently empty nest and they are spicing up their marriage, big time. While the first 4 installments were more sex than story (I was not complaining), The Invitation has a lot more character and story development while still being hot as fuck.
Dean, a former SEAL who now has a very successful security company, has a number of co-worker/friends who are members of the exclusive sex club, The Players Club. In the past, his friend Mac had offered him an invite, but he didn't think Jillian was into it. Now though, things have changed. Their relationship has gotten way spicier. So Dean thinks he found the perfect 20th anniversary gift, an exclusive invite to The Players Club.
Jillian was also shopping for an anniversary gift, in her favorite upscale sex store. She has become friendly with the women who work there, and as she talks about her history with Dean, she realizes she is starting to feel the need for something more in her life.
"Her entire world had revolved around her husband and boys for nearly twenty years, and now that she had too much time on her hands she was beginning to crave something for herself."
Dean is a total alpha. It was very important to him to be the sole provider for his wife, a man that would take care of his wife. And due to issues he had growing up, Jillian knew he would have issues with her going back to work.
So...back to the good stuff. Their anniversary--I loved this part: Jillian not only bought herself something special to wear, she bought Dean a pair of black silk lounging pants.
"Which were so not his thing and a little too metro-sexual for his taste"
(I loved this line...my husband wouldn't wear them either unless it was something I really wanted, one time.)
After changing, Dean went back in the living room and saw his wife:
"She'd managed to transform herself into what he could only describe as a sensual, gorgeous, goddess"
Dean loves her so much! And his reaction to the boudoir photos she gets him for their anniversary is priceless. Jillian accepts his gift to The Player's Club with a bit of trepidation until they agree that there will be no sharing.
Aaah....The Players Club. I'd love to go to one of these places (if I had more body confidence). A totally upscale, classy sex club where you can indulge in any private or public fantasy. The night begins with a remote control, and watching some of the acts in the viewing rooms.
"Do you like watching those two men having their way with that woman?" he murmured huskily, clearly just as turned on by the sight....
"Keep watching," he demanded in a rough whisper as his fingers brushed over her pulsing clit..."
Then he blindfolds her.
"Tonight is going to test that trust in ways that will shock you" ..."And I need you to remember that I wouldn't do anything to hurt you or us."
Sigh...I love the alpha, confident and commanding Dean. And I love the strength and depth of their trust for each other. And...damn, I'm reading over that part again and...See ya. I'll finish this review tomorrow. I gotta go find Mr. Ana.
I'm back, and let me tell you...I'm keeping this one on my kindle for frequent bedtime re-reads.
Where the other stories in this series would end here, there was so much more to this story, including Jillian's new group, The Cocktails and Cocks Club (loved this!). When one of the ladies in the club offers Jillian a job, some angst begins.
Dean doesn't want her working. Jillian wants this job...and let me tell you, Erika got me really nervous about my favorite married couple in this book!
Likes:
- •A very full read for about 100 pages.
- •More of my favorite long-time married couple.
- •Dean ~swoon~
- •I really loved Jillian's friends in The Cocktails and Cocks Club, and Dean's friends (especially Mac) are pretty hot too! I can't wait to see more of them all in The Player's Club spin-off series.
- •I love Dean and Jillian's relationship.
- •Some of the hottest sex ever without going over-the top.
- •I think their relationship is very realistic, though many people might doubt that people married so long could still be that into each other. My parents are married 55 years and are, I'm married 23 and still think my guy is hot as fuck.
- •We finally got a lot of back story.
- •There was some angst in this that made it way more than the ladyporn (albeit awesome ladyporn) of the 4 previous installments.
Dislikes:
- •I had a dislike...and I was ready to curse out Erika (though my body said otherwise) but thank goodness it was a short-lived dislike.
Rating: 5 novella stars 5+++ Heat
It's so rare to find a book with a mature, happily married, relatable couple. I mean, there is rarely much of a story beyond the initial falling in love, unless there is some kind of action or mystery. That's what I love about the Marriage Diaries. We have a long-term, happily married couple, who trust each other and love each other implicitly. They have excellent communication, and find a way to get over the bumps that can happen in a marriage. Dean is a total alpha, and Jillian has been happy to be a good little stay at home wife for years, but as she gains confidence in the bedroom, at translates to the rest of her as well. I really enjoyed seeing Dean come to terms with that and how Jillian stood her ground.
The Invitation by Erika Wilde really showed a healthy, sexy marriage, and how they work through major problems. I really hope that The Marriage Diaries don't end when The Player's Club begins, because I love reading about a relatable, sexy, long-time married couple.
Purchase The Marriage Diaries 1-4 by Erika Wilde Box Set
Amazon | BN.com
Purchase The Invitation (The Marriage Diaries #5) by Erika Wilde
Amazon | BN.com
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littlewitch_reads's review
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bookbae96's review
4.0
'The Invitation' is the fifth novella in 'The Marriage Diaries' series by Erika Wilde. These are short and sexy reads that revolve around a married couple that have seriously spiced things up in the bedroom.
Jillian and Dean Noble have been married for twenty years. For most couples that have been together that long, things can get a little stale. Determined to keep the fires burning, Jillian stepped things up by seducing Dean at his office in Book 1 of this series, 'The Awakening.' Since then, their marriage is better than ever, and the two continue to grow closer. This brings us to 'The Invitation,' which refers to an invite to The Players club, a members-only, anything goes group that some of Dean's friends and colleagues belong to. Sensing that Jillian might be open to this next step, Dean obtains the invitation and gets Jillian to agree to explore the club with him.
I enjoyed the relationship between Jillian and Dean, especially as they are a solid couple, intent on keeping things fresh and exciting in their relationship. There are a few bumps here, even after twenty years, as Jillian pushes Dean past his comfort level in regards to wanting to be more independent. But they are so in tune with each other, and really so invested in their marriage, that these are just hiccups along the way.
I'd never read anything by Erika Wilde prior to 'The Invitation,' and it was a nice and easy entree into her work. This was a good solid 4-star read for me, and I would definitely check out the rest of the books in this series.
Jillian and Dean Noble have been married for twenty years. For most couples that have been together that long, things can get a little stale. Determined to keep the fires burning, Jillian stepped things up by seducing Dean at his office in Book 1 of this series, 'The Awakening.' Since then, their marriage is better than ever, and the two continue to grow closer. This brings us to 'The Invitation,' which refers to an invite to The Players club, a members-only, anything goes group that some of Dean's friends and colleagues belong to. Sensing that Jillian might be open to this next step, Dean obtains the invitation and gets Jillian to agree to explore the club with him.
I enjoyed the relationship between Jillian and Dean, especially as they are a solid couple, intent on keeping things fresh and exciting in their relationship. There are a few bumps here, even after twenty years, as Jillian pushes Dean past his comfort level in regards to wanting to be more independent. But they are so in tune with each other, and really so invested in their marriage, that these are just hiccups along the way.
I'd never read anything by Erika Wilde prior to 'The Invitation,' and it was a nice and easy entree into her work. This was a good solid 4-star read for me, and I would definitely check out the rest of the books in this series.
mslizalou's review
5.0
Hotter than any of the other books in the series to date. The Marriage Diaries is one of my favorite series ever and I love getting to spend more time with Jillian and Dean. Not only is The Invitation hotter, but a much more emotional read. I loved watching Jillian and Dean play in this book, but seeing Dean open up and share his feelings with Jillian made this story my favorite to date.
Meeting characters for the spin-off The Players Club series has me already counting down until the first book is released. Hot, sexy, alpha men who work with Dean...sigh I hope we will get to see Jillian and Dean in The Players Club.
Meeting characters for the spin-off The Players Club series has me already counting down until the first book is released. Hot, sexy, alpha men who work with Dean...sigh I hope we will get to see Jillian and Dean in The Players Club.
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