Defiance: a Masters of the Shadowlands novella

Don't get me wrong, mediocre Cherise Sinclair is better than no Cherise Sinclair.It doesn't make me happy to say that this barely scraped to a three star, AND IT HAS MASTER Z!This is a transition novel using the eloquent, masterful, savvy, sexy...I'm going to stop now...Master Z, the sub Whisperer, from the Shadowlands series. Master Z and cute Jessica, but the effort was phoned in for me.Had to laugh when their 18 month old daughter runs around naked after her bath. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Let's see how Z handles that when she is 18.PLOTA madman is after Z, and he leaves for Alaska for a friend's funeral and to draw the madman away from his family. Rolled my eyes when he gives Jessica a "loving" goodbye. A loving goodbye? Are you kidding me? He didn't manacle her and spank her?Anyhoo, the madman has already shot Z once, and gets another shot in then yet another attempt despite three out of the four hunky men from this series being on the scene.SPOILER[In fact, when you boil it all down, Jessica is the one to save Z from the killer. End spoiler)]All in all, this fell flat. The writing, the story, the villain, the connections between the male characters ( Master Z and the adopted sons of his friend) and the setup IF these new characters are Doms just wasn't there.Is this a deal killer for Cherise Sinclair and me? Nope. I'll get the next one, but I have a feeling that her writing truly sparks when she is writing about her core characters. Back to the dungeon, Ms. Sinclair.Off to re-read Club Shadowlands.

I enjoyed the book but it was kinda flat and dry. Master Z has a stalker and while helping a friend with his wake (after he passes) Z leaves for Alaska - for the wake - and leaves Jessica at home but you know Jessica..... the stalker strikes twice but is taken down at the end. End of story It makes for a good lead in for the new series but thats about it. Should not be labeled a novel for Shadowlands as other than Master Z it has nothing to do with Shadowlands at all. No other characters nothing. Disappointed that it was listed as a Shadowlands but left you with nothing.

I LOVE ALL of Cherise's books. I have them all and she makes the top 5 favorite recreational reading author list. When I learned she was going to set a series in Alaska, I cringed but thought she's usually seems pretty solid in her research, let's see how she does. So I read this book and the preview at the end. Ahem. I'm not sure what happened but well, heck. It starts with NOTHING on the Kenai peninsula could EVER be called bush Alaska to no cop in Alaska would ever ask to be called "Chief". We don't have Chiefs. We have PSOs. The geography wasn't so problematic, but the descriptions just didn't work. (I'm pretty sure I had my reception at the bar you described.) Cherise, if you really want to write this series please at least come up to say Soldovia or Prince of Wales Island and go fishing. Go have a drink at Rosie's in Pelican or Louie's in Douglas and spend an evening people watching. Cause if you send that redneck to (real) bush Alaska, seal or not, he's gonna get run out of town.As far as the story itself? The story line was pretty decent, but not fleshed out. It was really rushed. And it showed.

Firstly this is the first time I have ever given Ms Sinclair 2 stars. It's too bad deVris wasn't the main character of this book. It would Have been nice to find out how he was doing in his relationship. His story was one of my favorites. The other thing was the entire thing about men looking for strippers was stupid. It was another story about Master Z. I'm a little tired of him to be honest. He wasn't even really himself. A lot of the story was out of character for him. All the self doubt . I liked the beginning. I really did not need an introduction to your new series. I would have just read it and maybe not having a connection to the other series would be nice. All these guy do not need to know each other.

Zachary is trying to keep his family safe when he picks up a stalker. Now a dear friend has died and he needs to head to Alaska for the funeral..will he lure his stalker to Alaska and wait him out? Will his attentive submissive obey orders and stay safe at home? Nothing ever goes right when you’re planning, right?You have to love The Shadowlands and all of the lovely folks who enjoy their BDSM on the side. Watching Z and Jessica build a life together from the start of the series is my favorite part of each book. To have this book be a follow up just for them is a great treat. Loved the espionage, loved the hot sex, as always, but most of all, loved the different personalities of Sarge’s sons. Being introduced to the new series of brothers is intriguing. They’re so different, yet..not. Can’t wait for the series to begin.As for Master Z and Jessica, it’s awesome to know that even your Dom/ husband/ psychologist needs to learn a thing or two from time to time. I can’t wait to hear more from these two in the future.

I love these little extras we get into past characters lives. Z and Jessica being the first in the Masters of the Shadowlands series they are also two of my favorites.Defiance is the perfect little glimpse into where their lives are now and how they have grown as a couple. They still have their ups and downs like all couples, but their relationship is swoon-worthy. And good Lordy the sex is out of this world.This story also introduces characters in Cherise’s new series Sons of the Survivalist; the first book is going to be Not a Hero. So, of course, I’m going to be all over that.Defiance is everything I’ve come to expect in one of Mrs. Sinclair’s books, mystery, thrills, and danger. Along with love, family and scorching hot sex as an added bonus. I am giving it 5 Boundless Stars.

I am a huge fan of this author whatever sub-genre of romance she is writing. For me though this was too short, and lacked any sense of tension so it left me feeling unsatisfied. She has written a couple of other shorter stories which have worked much better, but I think this was too much about introducing the new series and not enough about a tale needing to be told.I understand it is a transitional novella, meant as an introduction to the new series and it did that; but it isn't needed. Books don't have to be linked, and when the linking story seems contrived it disappoints rather than whets the appetite.However there were a lot of positives to this tale. Ms Sinclair handles emotion so well: anger and grief, PTSD, guilt and of course love in all its complexity. This book is no exception.As the blurb says, Z gets a death threat and decides to use his promise to a dying friend, to arrange the wake at his funeral, to get the stalker out in the open to catch him. For me, some of Z's actions didn't ring true to his character as shown in the Shadowlands novels but he seemed to recognise his mistakes eventually. Mako, the old Drill Sergeant was a larger than life character who I would love to have known more about. The brothers we meet are interesting and Gabe already has me hooked and signed up for the first in the new series. The stalker was not a very well developed character and he was very much a means to an end in this story which was a shame. However it is lovely to get another strand in the tale of Z and Jessica and their family.Overall this was not a particularly good story but the telling of it remains engaging because of the authors expertise in writing believable complex people.

I have read all of this authors books and have really enjoyed the series concerning Master X and his Dom/sub club known as Shadowlands where everyone is part of an extended and caring family that have had dealings with many undesirable aspects of society from crime to sex trafficking there never seems to be a dull moment.Z is contacted by Mako an old drill sergeant that has just discovered he has only a few months left and asks Z to help his four adopted son who are now grown men all at some time serving in the services to organise an Irish Wake in Alaska, this also happens to have come at an opportune moment as Z has an ex soldier/sniper trying to kill him. He has not informed his sub/wife Jessica what is happening but she knows Z well enough to suspect he is hiding something and decides that she will follow him to Alaska after leaving their eighteen month daughter with her grandmother.Jessica arrives at the wake much to z's startled surprise and quickly on the heels dread as he had just nearly been killed again, only a flesh wound, Jessica is ready to spit when she finds out that her husband has been lying and refuses to leave, she joins the wake meeting Mako's three sons and listening to lots of tall tales told by even taller and on occasion older men that served with the dad, he was as hard as nails but he had loved them all and had made men of therm.Z and Jessica promise to keep in touch with the brothers and Z promises Jessica that after the winter storms have abated he will snow mobile up to Mako's old cabin and visit with Gabe to ensure he is healing from both the physical injuries and mental injuries of his last deployment, along with the deaths of several me who decided not to listen to his orders. They paid the ultimate price and lost their lives!!This was a wonderful read and a great introduction to the new series Not a Hero - Sons of the Survivalist Series

Master z is back...This novella is beautiful sexy and has plenty of action .we get to see master z outside the shadowlands when he attends the funeral of his old pal mako (sarge) in alaska, where we meet three of makos sons who are all military men strong sexy and honorable (cant wait for there own stories)..Z has a stalker who wants him dead when he shots at z in a car park z manages to get away unharmed ( scratch) he realises the danger to his family and fear for them makes him head to alaska for his friends funeral alone in the hopes the stalker will follow and z can catch him with the help of makos sons and devires.. what will happen when jessica z wife leavea the safety of her mums and follows z to alaska? Unaware that her husbands life is in danger jessica sets out to be at z side .... will they catch the stalker before he takes his next shot!Will z survive!I love these shadowlands series they are not only fun hot and action packed with some kinky on the side but there like extended family the more you read the more you need.. love master z and jessica their chemistry is still of the charts... i cannot wait to read the makos sons stories...

Great lead on to the new series, and although I am looking forward to finding out more about the new characters I have to admit I will miss the Masters of the Shadowlands and hope it’s not the last we will hear of them. It would be too sad to think of never revisiting the Shadowlands again. I enjoyed this book and thought the author managed very well to tell the story of Master Z being stalked by a mad man while introducing us to the new characters that will be staring in the upcoming series.

This super novella is a great intro to what is sure to be another gripping series by a great author. We are lucky enough to meet Master Z and his feisty wife Jessica again. On a trip to mourn one of his past friends, he is being hunted by a former Marine and so has help from the yummy DeVries (always a treat to see him!). Hea guaranteed, we meet the Marine's four sons and hey presto the new Series is born. I cannot wait! If you love the Shadowlands and Dark Haven you will love this.