Laid Bare (Brown Siblings Series #1)

It's a hardcore book that gave me a crying headache but I loved it.

Lauren Dane's Laid Bare was truly captivating. I have to admit to being unsure if the book would hold my interest, I am not the biggest fan of the menage. By the end of the first chapter I was in love with Erin. She was strong and she owned herself and her sexuality. She didn't shy away from who she was, it was such a wonderfully refreshing take on the female character and I couldn't get enough of her. Todd fought who he was, but eventually he accepted it and grew into male character that was fun to read and a great counterpart to Erin. These are not ready made characters who could slip into any story, these are characters you can see and feel. I liked the progression of the story and I enjoyed the plot. The story moved just quickly enough to keep you interested and the book was long enough that the plot and characters where fully developed and you did NOT feel cheated when the story came to a close. When Ben was introduced, I was skeptical as to how Ms. Dane would weave his character in with the other two. But he was worked in wonderfully and the relationship between all three characters felt very real. They learned to be together rather then just "knowing" how to be together, when Todd had always believed himself to be straight. They had to deal with the very real issues any relationship faces, not just their alternative relationship. Although the main focus of the plot is on the relationship between Erin, Ben and Todd, there was just enough action to keep you turning the page! The sex was in a word mind-blowing! I have never been so turned on by a male/female/male threesome before and I highly doubt I will be again. Ms. Dane ruined me for other authors. Laid Bare will tug your heart strings, it will make you cry, it will turn you on and sometimes it will break your heart and leave you completely satisfied.

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Recommended by The Romance Reviews

Bodies aren't the only things that erotic author Lauren Dane laid bare in her novel by the same name. Souls and hearts are laid bare, worn raw, and loved in spite of all their imperfections in this incredibly human story about the power of love and acceptance. If you are looking for a little sizzle with a lot of heart and passion this is one to check out.

Ten years ago conservative Seattle cop Todd Keenan let loose of his sexual control and discovered his need to dominate during a life changing fling with rocker-chick neighbor Erin Brown. Erin, comfortable with her need to submit and live on the edge, was honest about who and what she was with herself and others. Todd admired the quality in the 'little freak' but shamed at the extreme desires and needs he discovered in himself.

Ten years later the tables turn on the pair when Todd returns to Seattle and his family looking for a new beginning after a failed marriage and near fatal shooting. Having come to terms with who he is and what living a half life has cost him, he eagerly jumps at a second chance with Erin. Although life dealt her mega MTV rock star success, Erin has also experienced life altering tragedy. Unable to trust herself and others, Erin finds comfort in Todd's need to control and care for her. In his arms the healing begins.

The two soon find Ben, Todd's best friend and partner, brings a sense of rightness, completing them both. Together the three endeavor to find bliss in a conservative cop community and the ability to move beyond the demons of the past into the joy of the future.

I commend Lauren Dane for spending the time needed to unravel the flaws of her characters and reveal their humanity. The characters, their pain, and their relatable joy are the gold in this story. At times the pace seemed a little slow and there were events that I had to reflect on to see the value added to the entire piece. It is through many of these innocuous events that bonds are formed and personalities revealed. It is the small moments that allow the love to blossom and the healing to occur and for myself as a reader to invest in the characters.

If you are on the prowl for a heart-warming story with hawt lovin', great food, a big family, and enough testosterone to power the eastern coast take a look at Laid Bare by Lauren Dane.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyable

I just liked this book so so...it was enjoyable, but so not the best book I've ever read. It was kinda strange. Not like the whole book had a plot....it jumped to different things and they jumped to gettin busy at the most weird times.
Hmmmm....strange

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Great Book!

I found this book by looking for random romance novels and boy was I in for a treat. The description on the back caught my attention and I was not disappointed. Normally I find books that go too much into detail to be tedious to read, but with this book it was perfect. The story was very realistic and it is a book that I have passed on to my sister to read and one I will keep recommending!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Lauren Dane provides a heated yet entreating second chance at love

A decade ago in Seattle next door neighbors, police officer Todd Keenan and rocker Erin Brown, had a brief but heated tryst that neither has forgotten. Though their S&M scene left both wanting more, it ended as fast as it began.

Todd left the city and the force; he married nice Sheila, but she divorced him after he came out of a coma following an incident as she could not deal with the danger of law enforcement. he has returned home to Seattle. He is shocked with how beautiful yet delicate Erin has become. He wants her again, but swears to himself he will not leave her this time. As he helps her heal from emotional scars, Todd works his way back into her life and boudoir, his best friend Ben joins them in bed too.

LAID BARE lives up to its title as the ménage a trois stars lay open their bodies and their souls so that fans of erotic romance obtain a strong balance between several vivid sex scenes including the men going at it and a deep look at what motivates each. Lauren Dane provides a heated yet entreating second chance at love due to the tender caring in and out of the bed of each of the prime players.

Harriet Klausner

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Emotional and well rounded erotic romance

Laid Bare begins with a glimpse into the past. The first four chapters cover the brief relationship Todd and Erin had 10 years ago. As I read about the earlier relationship I started to make some assumptions about the book as a whole. I saw Todd and Erin as interesting characters and thought the rest of the book would be a pretty average erotic romance filled with hot sex and enough of a plot to keep it interesting but nothing terribly memorable overall. Once I got into the present day part of the book I realized how wrong my assumption had been.

This book is surprisingly deep and emotional. It deals with issues like the break up of a relationship after the violent death of a child and domestic abuse in another relationship. It has a large and diverse group of characters which make it a well rounded and complex story. Todd, Erin and Ben are the focus but the glimpses into the lives of their friends and family built on the main story and give depth to the main characters.

I normally like to give a breakdown of each main character and their appealing characteristics but I’m having trouble with the three in this book. Erin is an amazing woman and I really admire her. I love how she refuses to conform and chooses to be true to herself. She knows exactly who she is and what she wants. Todd and Ben aren’t as clear in my mind. I like both of them but I don’t feel a strong connection with them.

The relationship of Todd, Erin and Ben is extremely hot. They have love, passion and tons of steamy sex. This wasn’t my first book by Lauren Dane so I was prepared for that level of heat and had pre-warned my husband. By the way, my husband would like to send a personal thank you to the author :) I enjoyed this one, I’ll definitely be reading about the rest of the Brown siblings.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

An awesomely realistic adventure

This book allows the reader to experience the new trend of menage a trois in a realistic manner. Each participant is eased into the situation, but the love and attraction is true. I enjoyed this book from start to finish.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

SERIOUSLY HOT!!!!!

I loved this book from the first page to the last. I could not put this book down. The relationship between Todd and Erin was awsome all by itself, but add Ben and it went from hot to sizzle in an instant. I really liked that the three way relationship actually went three ways instead of just two men wanting to dominate one woman and that there was also a relationship between Ben and Todd. This book took me through a wide range of emotion because of the loss Erin had suffered, and also the deep rooted family connections in the book. It made it real instead of just some fantasy story so often told with different character names. Todd comming to grips with himself and accepting Ben as himself was touching and added the realism to the story. So often we hide who and what we are because of other peoples perceptions of what we should be and I liked this story because it basically said be who you are and if others don't like it well then tough. So be who you are and enjoy your life. Great book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Not what I was hoping for.. Great characters, great back story

Not what I was hoping for..

Great characters, great back story on both sides... none of it explored to satisfaction.

The focus: Sex

I get it. Letting yourself go and acting out your fantasies and following your darkest desires can be very liberating. As long as all persons involved are comfortable and fully consenting adults. I have read many novels with dark, and/or kinky sex... even some stories where sex involves a lot of violence within an epic type setting where cruel rulers and slaves co-exist. This novel did not contain that... and maybe I am going off topic, but what I am trying to convey is: I am not a shy reader! I don't run away from reading novels that contain content that I wouldn't be interested in acting out myself in real life, or content that makes me slightly sick to my stomach. If it's part of the story, and makes sense within the context of the story and world building... I get it!

But my disappointment with this novel is that there was a great story beyond the sex that was interesting, complex and worth a lot more exploration.

Result: Cared little for the characters. Where I should feel some empathy, I felt little... Where I would be cheering on a character... meh, didn't much care.

Because this novel was focused on sex and a man's discovery that he was much happier if he could act out a dominant role that he initially felt was unacceptable in the conventional world.

I am happy for him. Truly. (Clap clap)

But it was a weak story, otherwise. Saw lots of great reviews, but unfortunately I didn't feel the same. Only an "Ok" for me.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I've heard this book is soo soo good. And I really want to read

I've heard this book is soo soo good. And I really want to read it, hell this entire SERIES, but have to wait. No way can I justify 12.99 for an EBOOK. Under 6.99 sure thing, but not over. Hopefully there will be a sale soon!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good story, but.....

I enjoyed this author and would agree with most of the previous posted reviews with one exception. I was disappointed in the relationship development between Todd and Ben. Ms. Dane chickened out and tried to steer herself out of taboo areas. She was already there. Next time do it justice. Read Jo Davis to see how such matters are handled. Not only is the reading steamy, but it is loving, honest and respectful.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Original story with steamy sex

I enjoy reading Lauren Dane books. She builds the characters and story so you get both with steamy sex. I liked the characters in this book, the story was original and wasn't similar to other erotic romance authors I've read. I'm reading Coming Undone now and I'm really enjoy the continuation of Erin, Todd and Ben's happy ever after.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Must Read!!!!

I enjoyed this book so much that before I finished reading it I brought the entire series!!!

Loved

this books was really, really good the whole series is a must read real HOT!!!!!

Enjoyed, but....

I definitely enjoyed the story. Ive now read the entire series. But i agree that when Ben was brought into the relationship that it fell short. He didnt have the long standing history that Todd and her had. I almost felt as if Ben got the short end of the stick so to say. I dont tend to shy away from sexual situations in books, so i felt there could have been more development in the relationship between the two men. Otherwise i really enjoyed this book and the fun characters.

Loved it

Couldn't put it down, funny hot & sexy!!

I enjoyed Erin and Todd's story. It was extremely emotional an

I enjoyed Erin and Todd's story. It was extremely emotional and well-written. However, I will say that I did not like the way the story finally ended. I felt cheated and I felt like their relationship was cheated. Erin and Todd had previously been together 10 years prior, and finally 10 years later, they were able to love each other for who each person was. So to then introduce Ben into their relationship was strange and did not flow with everything that the two of them had gone through to finally belong to each other. I did not see the need for Ben to become a permanent part of their relationship, and I thought it actually took away from the story.

Unexpected

Not what I thought this book would be about at all. The story is quite heart warming.

This is a 10!

Awesome, Lauren has outdone herself....I love these books.

Loved it

Read one and two loved them both