The Gilded Cuff

Tedious romance formula, not very hot in the sex department and too verbose with the kissy kissy.

Amazing story line and hot scenes! Can't wait to read the next book!

Loved this book. A must read! Can't wait to read the next book!

For Sophie, Emery is a mystery that she needs to solve. Emery has a dark sensuality that ends up entangling her in a world of control, secrecy and temptation. I received a copy of The Gilded Cuff By Lauren Smith in exchange for an honest review. While reading this dance of danger and suspense the thought running through my mind was the saying about curiosity killing the cat. Sophie's excursion had disaster written all over it, but like a scary thriller, it was hard to look away.

Emery and Fern were twin brothers who had been abducted from their home when they were eight years old. Sophie had followed Emery’s story since a little girl twenty five years ago. Sophie had went to an underground BDSM club [ she had never been to any kind of club before] The Gilded Cuff. Sophie wrote for a Kansas newspaper and had one week to break her story.and save Emery’s life. Sophie had her own horror story as a child of seven when her friend Rachel had been taken at the playground by man in a grey van. She hoped Emery could help her heal and she could save his life as she felt that what had started so long ago wasn’t over yet. Emery ran his father’s company from his home. He rarely went out but to The Gilded Cuff a couple times a month. Then Emery asked to have Sophie sent to him and she was roughly pushed and then she realized who he was. Emery can not seem to leave Sophie at The Gilded Cuff and a deal is made between Emery and Sophie, Sophie submit to Emery and he would tell her his story. I absolutely loved this story. The BDSM lifestyle is in this story but there is also a lot more. Also more about the BDSM lifestyle than i previously knew especially about club protocol. The childhood both Emery and Sophie went through- more so Emery though- was heart wrenching . The story was told so realistically you feel like you are there. I cried at some points of this story laughed at others which is a tribute to the author. I also loved the characters of Emery and Sophie and all they went through. I highly recommend. I received an ARC of this story for an honest review.

I only purchased this because an author that I love recommended it, and I must say that it's a let down for me.

4.5  Intriguing and suspenseful stars Favorite Quotes: “Sophie was the opposite of most women he met on a daily basis.  And that made her fascinating, an odd mixture of warrior tigress and kittenish innocence.” “Curiosity buzzed inside her like a veritable hive of bees.” “He was a tiger prowling the edge of his cage of control and she was pulling him by the tail.   “Hold on to this moment; don’t think about tomorrow.  Just be with me.” “She’d crept into his heart and carved her name there.” “You know that place, when you’re just about to fall asleep and you feel yourself slipping away… that’s where we are.” My Review: Lauren Smith has a talent for weaving words together into interesting and entertaining sentences.  The Gilded Cuff held my interest and attention from page one.  And while it was billed as being erotic, I found this novel to best fit the genre of romantic suspense despite the fact that the main characters did first glimpse each other during a contrived meeting at an exclusive sex club.  I personally found it suspenseful and intriguing, and I enjoyed every page of it.  The characters were likable and although damaged, they were not typical by any means.  The plot was unique and clever, and the story was well-written and emotive.   I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.  

There is plenty of sexy, steamy scenes, romance, mystery, secrets, agendas, intriguing characters, and a plot that drew me in. I recommend this book whole heartedly if you like books that are both hot and suspenseful. I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. It was golden and I can not wait for the Gilded Cage, the next book in this series.

Well, DAMN!!! That's definitely another addition to my must read authors and series :) I immensely enjoyed reading this first book in the Surrender series. The story was intriguing and fascinating, peppered with dangers, romance, hotness and suspense. The action is fast paced and there isn't even a moment in which you can get bored. It kept me on my toes nearly 100% of the time. Both, Emery and Sophie, are enchanting characters that gained my compassion from the first few words. They are well developed and their stories are so heartbreaking that I was near tears on more than one occasion.  Emery is definitely a delicious and broken alpha male. With his sandy blonde hair and mesmerizing hazelnut eyes, he can captivate you on the spot. But adding to that his dominant aura, his closed off personality and the broken soul that shows from his eyes, makes him one of the most desirable BBFs. I am usually more into the tall, dark and dangerous type but Emory is definitely the exception to the rule :) I loved reading how he starts changing when he meets Sophie, and with the help of her loving personality he starts healing without even realizing it in the beginning. The demons he carries from his childhood are definitely traumatic and would have destroyed many people but the strength he carries in himself helped him survive the nightmare he still relives every single night. Sophie also carries demons of her own. Similar to Emery, she also had to live through a rather traumatic experience in her childhood and her own nightmare shaped her as the strong and intelligent woman she grew up to be. But deep inside she still blames herself for the traumatic loss she lived through. That's partially the reason she seeks Emery - to try and find the answers how to heal the gaping wounds in her heart. Even though she doesn't find the direct answers she is looking for, she find she other half who helps overcome her grief and pepper her everyday life with some burn the sheets activities ;) The chemistry between Emery and Sophie are off the charts. They simply click together from the first moment their eyes lock on each other in the Gilded Cuff Club. With every passing moment the connection between the becomes stronger and every time they touch they just become more obsessed to each other. I have to say that their bedroom activities are so hot that they left me hot and bothered on more than one occasion. The secondary characters are also quite interesting. I definitely cannot wait to read some more about them in the following books in the series. Each one of the deliciously sexy and dominant males are definitely worth the wait to read their stories. And Hayden is just so much fun with her feisty and sassy personality combined with her submissive side that I can't wait to read her story in the second book in the series. And of course I can't wait to see how the things with the danger following Emery will be solved. In a few words, this was one of the best suspense books I've read recently. The danger and action are masterfully combined with romance, tenderness and hotness. The characters are charismatic and so lovable that I simply got attached to them and I can't wait to meet them in the next part of this awesome series. And I so can't wait to read about Hayden and her perfect Dom :) I am sure it will be an amazing story and I definitely want to find out what really happened to Emery's twin brother :) I have to say that I definitely recommend this book to all lovers of racier romances with a streak of danger and unexpected twists that will leave you reeling ;) This review was originally posted at Living In Our Own Story Book Blog. I received an ARC of the book in exchange of an honest review.

This is gonna be a lovely series. It's got all of Lauren's trademark writing style, but crosses over into contemporary quite nicely. It's not in your face BDSM/erotica, but subtle and sexy, focusing on the underlying trust necessary in a Dom/sub relationship. I also loved the way Lauren wove backstory (old newspaper articles) in with the current story. Very creative. The characters were great and definitely laid a strong foundation for the remainder of the series. Looking forward to seeing who's up next!

When you are a journalist, you will do anything to uncover a story.  That was exactly what Sophie Ryder will do to uncover Emery Lockwood's past.  The past that he tried to forget and bury away.  Emery's past is a mystery as he was the survivor of a kidnapping when he was a child and the perpetrator was never caught.  Sophie has her own reasons as to why she wants to know his story and is willing to venture into his world of BDSM to get to him.  As the two of them discover the passion and desire they have for each other, they did not expect for the past to come and haunt them again, especially Emery. I think the reason why I gave this a 4 star and not a 5 star is because I felt something was missing from the story or between the two characters.  They are both well written but I felt that the development of the two characters to know each other was a little slow.  From the moment they first glance at each other to the moment they trust each other felt too long.  I did a horrible job explaining it into sentences but there was just something missing for me. Besides that small problem, which is my own, this book was spot on and I was frustrated because it is still a mystery.  I was shock at the ending and then frustrated because I need the next book badly to come out.   I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

way beyond 5 stars but then I'm not surprised. Lauren is a fantastic writer that just draws you in .This was more rich than decadent chocolate. It was so mind blowing I felt that I was right in the same room as Emery and Sophie. Sophie is a reporter and she goes to the BSMN club hoping to meet Emery Lockwood. She wants to help solve the 25 yr. old kidnapping mystery and death of his twin Fern. She has a hunch that the kidnapper will try to strike again and try to finish what was started. She wants to solve it because her Best friend was Kidnapped and killed when they were young Sophie goes to the BSMN club and that is where you meet Royce also, one of Emery best friend and a Dom, Emery and Royce do a bet and whoever wins gets a prize. Wont tell you what the prize is you need to get the story and find out. Emery finds on Sophie a picture of him when he was young and he starts to ask questions. That is where he finds out she is a reporter. They also make a deal for the story.  Emery takes Sophie home to Lakewood Manor and that is a first for him he never takes a lady from the club home. He does tell Sophie how it will be and how a sub and Dom act towards each other. Small little things start to happen. The Grandfather clock that hadn't worked in years go off and takes Emery back to his years with Fern. He throws Sophie out of the house into the rain with just a tee and shorts. Someone from afar was watching waiting to strike. There is another scene with the Barn burning down so everyone can vacate the house . The Person left Ferns shoe in the kitchen counter.  You don't know who is trying to kill Emery off. Their is scenes after scenes that trying to Trigger him off and open him up.  Sophie meanwhile has the beautiful cuffs that are shown in the picture but she has captured Emery's heart I would say soul but its to early in the story to say that. But you can see it. The little things that Emery and Sophie do for each other . The little things that mend their hearts and heal them. Emery will not let Sophie go . Not a regular Dom/ Sub story. Last part is a scene, just a glimpse showing Fern is still alive  There is somebody out there playing games with them all. There is a whole lot more going on but I cant tell you or Ill be telling you about the whole story. Grab it and you will be addicted .  Cant wait for part 2. (less)

Gripping! Thrilling! Enthralling! 6 stars THE GILDED CUFF is an excellent blend of eroticism and suspense! Amazing debut for Lauren Smith's new series Surrender! You have the perfect mix of a hot romance and a well-plotted story with a suspenseful twist and a light touch of BDSM! Who doesn't love a bad boy hero? This book grabbed me from the first page! The chemistry between Sophie Ryder and Emery Lockwood is explosive! I love Lauren Smith's books and this one was a real treat! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! It's the perfect lecture for a cold winter night, I could not put it down! This sizzling romance starts as journalist Sophie Ryder is obsessed by kidnappings, this means getting involved with the seductive and mysterious Emery Lockwood, a real bad boy! He is a member of the Gilded Cuff, a luxurious BDSM club on Long Island’s Gold Coast and Emery’s personal playground. In 1990, Emery and his twin brother Fenn, were abducted at the age of eight from their family's home. What happened to them? Will the responsible be caught? Is Emery still in danger? Will Sophie surrender her heart, body, and soul in exchange for Emery's darks secrets? Their relationship is intense, emotional and complex. They are perfect for each other. I loved the secondary characters Hayden, Royce, Hans. This story has controlling and dominating issues. So, if you don't mind some well written scenes of BDSM, then this erotic and sensual story will please you!The characters are complex and their story believable! The mystery behind Emery's past, will be revealed but you have to go and grab this book that will released February 10th. I really enjoyed THE GILDED CUFF, a suspense that will keep you interested until the very end. It's a real page turner! It kept me up till late in the night! I highly recommend it! Congratulations Lauren Smith for a story very well written!

I loved this one! The whole mystery revolving around the 25 year kidnapping is so intriguing. Sophie and Emery are both lost souls going through the motions of life, but Sophie's decision to investigate and solve the kidnapping of Emery and his twin puts them on a path to live again. A bargain is met Emery's story for Sophie's submission to the delights of desire in a D/s relationship. Sophie brings light to Emery's dark world. Twists no one saw coming cause new dangers and new hope. Can Sophia stop the danger threatening Emery before it's too late or will she be caught in the crosshairs? This book has heat, passion, intrigue, and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Sophie Ryder has a tragic past. She cannot let it go. Her best friend was abducted right in front of her eyes and it haunts her to this day. Emery Lockwood is a man who is stuck in the past. A tragic, horrific past. Sophie Ryder has an equally horrific past. Emery has hidden himself away to stay safe and avoid getting close to anyone. Sophie has spent her time trying to help others in bad situations. Helping investigators on open cases. She has a sixth sense when it comes to things sometimes. This time she has a feeling that Emery is in danger. Through her investigative journalism she had learned all there is to know about Emery's past, which is not much. He and his twin brother, Fenn, were kidnapped from their parents home. He has lived with this for a very long time. Never telling anyone what really happened. Sophie feels like she can help keep him safe if she can get the whole story. She had seen his haunted eyes in news paper photos. She has seen those eyes in her own mirror. Emery only leaves his fortress of a mansion to visit a club. A very exclusive club. A BDSM club. After reading the story, I think it's the only place he can feel in control. Sophie's only option is to find him in this club and hope he will listen to her. I won't give away spoilers, but I will say, this book is hot, heart wrenching, sweet, and tender. The story itself is a good mystery. What, who and why are not all answered but it didn't bother me like a cliffhanger normally would. I rooted for Emery and Sophia. I can't wait to read the next book! Lauren Smith is a versatile writer! I have read a couple of her historical romance novels and I was anticipating this different genre. She is fantastic in both eras, with regency modesty, and contemporary brazenness. I just loved 

*Complimentary ARC provided by Book Partners In Crime Promotions for the purpose of an honest review. My first new to me author read of the new year, and I’m so glad I came across this. An investigative journalist, a reclusive CEO and a twenty-five year old unsolved kidnapping made for one sexy story filled with passion, tension and great action. Sophie (24) was a brave heroine, and I admired her selflessness and dedication for using her “gift” to help others. I believed her grief over her lost best friend and the circumstances of her disappearance, but I may have empathized more had it been a sibling, Regardless, I was surprised that such a young heroine was actually very likable. Sophie and Emery communicated very well right from the onset, and that flowed throughout the entire book. She was upfront about her intentions from the beginning, and she didn't try very hard to talk herself down from the budding feelings towards Emery. I loved the hero! Emery (33) was a reclusive CEO with PTSD and a Dominant. But don’t expect to see him frequent the club or have a Red Room of Pain in his mansion. He liked control in the bedroom, but even then he was very lenient about rules and punishment. I loved the interaction and his relationship with his closest friends and confidants: his long-time bodyguard Hans, Cody, a young hacker he had taken under his wing, Royce and Wes. They were a close knit group of men who had each other’s backs.  Color me surprised that Sophie and Emery didn’t jump each other’s bones as quickly as possible. I was so not expecting the slow burn, but I welcomed it. They got to know each other, build trust, and grow closer as a believable pace. I mean, they didn’t have sex until 60% into the book, and even then the few sex scenes weren’t just about the physical release, but there was intimacy borne of a deeper connection. Sophie was more reluctant than Emery to call what they had a relationship, but at least they both recognized what was happening to them and they didn't tuck tail. He was thoughtful and caring, and they were both aware of the positive changes from their connection. The suspense was great. I found myself suspecting everyone, not just the most obvious choice. The climax was really good, and I perversely enjoyed that the author went there. If I had one complaint, it would be the slight overuse of animal references in regards to Emery's appearance or behavior, e.g.: He looked like a lion, he was like a leopard, he was a tiger, like a possessive tomcat, just to name a few. Sophie was definitely very imaginative and talkative when it came to thinking about him. Although the book ended on a happy note, I think the suspense portion of the plot with continue in the next book but with a different couple. There was a nice surprise that left some questions unanswered and a set up for the next book featuring Sophie's feisty friend, Hayden. I will definitely follow the rest of this series.

3.5 - ”I don’t want just one night.” Stars. I am a huge fan of Lauren Smith, The Shadows of Stormclyffe hall was one of my top ten PNR reads of 2014, add to that the fact that I fell head over heels in love with her League of Rogues series and I am one smitten kitten for this author. Lauren offers the same immersive and engrossing writing style that I have come to expect with The Gilded Cuff as well as a uniquely different storyline offering thrills, spills, romance, suspense and a little kink as well as a really likeable couple too sink your reading teeth into. Sophie and Emery run into each other at The Gilded Cuff a high class underground BDSM club on the Long Island, Gold Coast. Initially Emery isn’t aware that their meeting has actually been engineered by Sophie, who is actually a, investigative reporter looking for the full story of his and his twin brothers kidnapping and subsequentcaptivity 25 years previous, in view of solving the crime. Emery escaped, his brother is believed to have died whilst creating a diversion that enabled Emery his freedom. Sophie believes that the threat to Emery is still very real; Emery seeing an opportunity to educate Sophie in the ways of a Dom/sub relationship makes her an offer she can’t and doesn’t want to refuse. ”Your story, my submission.” The chemistry between the two is palpable from their first meeting, and even though Sophie encompasses everything Emery actively tries to avoid in his life since the kidnapping, he can’t seem to leave her at The Gilded Cuff when he heads for home the evening. At this point, I do have to raise my hand and ask a few questions in relation to the timeline that the rest of the story takes place over. Bearing in mind the first 80% of the book spans approximately three days, (unless I missed something) the speed at which things happen between Sophie and Emery, from the development on their feelings towards one another, decisions about their relationship course, more revelations about both of their pasts, as well as the ease and unquestioning acceptance that Sophie just steps into the role of submissive to Emery’s Master, all felt a little rushed. ”Hold on to this moment, don’t think about tomorrow. Just be with me.” The story does clip along at a very rapid pace, and you are certainly not given a chance to get bored as I have come to expect with Lauren’s lyrical and on occasion somewhat poetic writing style. Every character and every aspect of the plot is fully described and developed. I still loved The Gilded Cuff, I just think the time-span that the bulk of the story was told over was a little too ‘speedy’ for the amount that actually happened. It would have worked over a couple of weeks even a month just as well and would have removed all the ‘insta-everything’ that happened between Emery and Sophie because of it. The Gilded Cage is due in April 15, the developments and revelations in the last 20% of The Gilded Cuff ensure that it promises to be another ‘edge of your seat’ read from the incredible imagination of Lauren Smith. ARC generously provided by the Author, in exchange for the above honest review.

When I began reading ‘The Gilded Cuff’ I was a little surprised about the beginning. We meet Sophie, a journalist, when she tries to get in contact with Emery Lockwood in a luxurious BDSM club on Long Island. Sophie has felt an connection with Emery ever since she found out about his past and the tragic event in which he lost his twin brother, and now she desperately needs to find him because she thinks his life is in danger. Like I said, I was surprised about the beginning being in a BDSM club and I was a little afraid this would be an erotic novel without much depth. But of course I should have known that Lauren Smith doesn’t write stories without depth and romance. After the, somewhat surprising beginning, I immediately fell in love with this story and the dark and brooding Emery Lockwood. This book is definitely worth reading so don’t get scared away by the BDSM lifestyle. Although there is some BDSM stuff in this book, it’s very tamed and not at all the main element in this story. Soon it became clear to me that this story was not about the BDSM, but about two hurt people with a tragic past who find peace in one another. After Emery makes a pact with Sophie they soon get to know each other more and more. And a beautiful love story begins. I loved the setting Lauren created in ‘The Gilded Cuff’. The beautiful mansion in Long island with the enchanting rooms, I could totally imagine the Lockwood manor in my mind. The characters are very intriguing and I loved Sophie and Emery very soon after starting this book. Sophie is this strong, kind of lonely, twenty four year old with a desire to save people. Sophie is shy but will do anything to save the guy who’s face followed her ever since she was a little girl. So when Sophie first set foot in the exclusive club in Long Island, I could totally feel her anxiety about stepping into this strange and unknown world. Emery looks to the outside world as an arrogant and strong guy. But soon it becomes clear that he is really kind and loving but was just so scarred by his horrific past, and he didn’t know how to get past his fear. I definitely loved this book. It’s definitely one of my new favorite books and I can’t wait to read more in this series. Lauren Smith did another amazing job and I would recommend this book to all other romance readers out there. This book is filled with romance and also keeps you at the front of your seat. There are a lot of thrilling and action filled moments in this book, when someone tries to hurt Emery and his loved ones. This book just doesn’t get boring.