Beyond Ecstasy by Kit Rocha
Series: Beyond #8
Published by Self-Published
Published on: May 23, 2016
Genres: Dystopian, Erotica
Pages: 269
Format: eARC
Source: Author
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The next-to-last book in the bestselling BEYOND series...
The O’Kanes have a reputation for working hard and playing harder—except for Hawk. He joined the gang with one goal: to ensure his family’s survival through the impending war with Eden. It’s been years since he had the luxury of wanting anything for himself. Now, he wants Jeni. From the first moment he saw her, he’s been obsessed with making her his. Not for a night—forever.
Jeni’s been lusting after the former smuggler for months, but he keeps shutting her down. She’s almost given up on getting him in her bed when he offers her the last thing she ever expected—a collar. Accepting it means belonging to him, body and soul. It’s a reckless gamble, but Jeni can’t resist the chance to slip under Hawk’s armor.
The only thing more shocking than the dark, dangerous pleasure they discover is how right it feels. But falling in love is even more reckless when forever is far from guaranteed. Because they aren’t just at war, they’re out of time—and every breath could be their last.
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I can’t believe this is the second to last book in this series. I can’t imagine not having the O’Kanes. So much as happened through the past seven books leading up to this one. War has finally come.
If you’re not very familiar with this series, there’s Eden, which is where the elites live. They feel that they are special. They are also very puritan in their thinking. Then there’s the different sectors. Each sector has something that they specialize in. This series mostly follows Sector Four which makes whiskey. There’s also Sector Five which makes drugs (both medicinal and recreational). Section Six has farms, Sector Two has brothels and so on.
This series takes place in Sector Four following Dallas O’Kane and his group of O’Kanes. They are a group of extremely loyal family, where family is more than blood. Dallas doesn’t want to lead. He just wants to drink, have sex and party, but he protects what’s his. To do that, he must lead.
Throughout this series, we’ve seen the addition of several new O’Kanes, many who’ve imported in from different sectors. Hawk is no different. He came from Six. He was raised on the farms with a mother who wasn’t much older than he was. He also saw himself as a protector for his many stepmothers and sisters. On the farms, men would take several wive and have as many children as possible to help on the farm.
Jeni had worked with Gia at the brothel for a while. She’s originally from Eden. Then she ends up working for Dallas as a dancer. I love how she becomes so much more than just a dancer. She works with Noelle to help with the war.
This romance was a very sweet one. Probably the sweetest one of the series. Hawk is a sweetheart and very protective. That isn’t to say that the other O’Kanes aren’t protective, they are. He is just protective in a different way. He is less alpha dog and more sweet about it. You can see it in the way he cares for Jeni’s needs and the way he cares for his mother and sisters. I also love how Jeni turns him down for all the right reasons. She wants to get to know him better before she takes his collar. She wants things her way. I love her strength to say no, even though you want him because it wasn’t right at the time. Especially with the war brewing.
While I enjoyed the romance of this story, it was the overall story arc that has been building for throughout the series that really has been chomping at the bit for this series. War with Eden is no longer on the horizon, it is here. This is something that everyone knew was coming. For some, they are glad the wait is over. For others, there are some really tough losses. This book had my eyes tearing up more than once, even for one character I never would’ve guessed that I would be upset to see dead.
This is a wonderful series that has amazing characters.The characters are really what makes this series one of my favorite series right now. Don’t get me wrong, I love the world that Kit Rocha built, but it is the characters that keep bringing me back. All of the O’Kanes and their strength and loyalty.
If you haven’t tried this series, I highly recommend it. You can pick up the first three books in the series, Beyond Series Bundle (Books 1-3) at the time of this posting free in ebook format. The audiobooks are wonderfully done too. I’ve listened to a few of them and I really like the narrator.
The O’Kane’s didn’t just believe in the pleasure that came with power. They believed in the responsibility, too. For that, Hawk would follow them to hell. Maybe literally.
This was the part no one outside these walls could ever understand. O’Kane’s didn’t bend, didn’t break. They were stronger than steel because they held one another up. If one of them needed help, their brothers and sisters would step in and shoulder some of the load.
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I’m Melanie and I live in Ohio. I have two horses and a dog. I’m an animal lover, avid book reader and audiobook listener. I like to live vicariously through fictional characters. I enjoy reading and listening to mostly fictional books in the paranormal genre, including Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Horror. My favorite paranormal creatures are shifters, doesn’t matter the flavor.
Sounds interesting even if it is not my type of read. I am glad you are enjoying the series. 🙂
Not all story times are for everyone. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
You wanna believe I one-clicked that first book. This series sounds amazing! Thanks for your review (and another book to the stack!) 😉
I just updated the link. They actually have the first three books free as a bundle. Be sure to stop back buy and one click that too. 🙂 Such a fun series.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
I haven’t heard of this but I’m glad it was so good! Wonderful review!
I just updated the freebie link. They are now offering the first three books free in a bundle. You should stop back by and one click those. Such a fun series.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
I have had the first book for awhile. I haven’t read it; it may be too horrible situation erotica for me. But if you’ve enjoyed it, I may have to give it a try. It certainly doesn’t sound like the same old, same old. Anne
There is a full on story and great characters here. The world building is excellent. The fact that you can try the first three books free, makes it very easy to try too. I don’t like books that are all sex and no plot, this is not that. There is a lot of sex though. The O’Kanes are not shy about it either. I hope you get a chance to try it at some point.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
I have had the first book for awhile. I haven’t read it; it may be too horrible situation erotica for me. But if you’ve enjoyed it, I may have to give it a try. It certainly doesn’t sound like the same old, same old. Anne
I grabbed the first three boxed set for free..you have me curious and of course I love a kickass dystopian!
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Sunday Post #216 Recovering
The O’Kanes are pretty kick ass. I hope you enjoy them Kimberly.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
This is definitely going on my list. This series sounds great. I love how they have different sectors and different things happen in the different sectors. Very curious now. Thanks for the great review.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Product Review: My Therapy Funny Wine Glass 13 oz by Got Me Tipsy
It is such a fun series. I love the O’Kane characters. I hope you try and and enjoy it as much as I have.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
I just got the 3 book set. Thanks for posting the link! If I don’t like it then I am not out anything, but for you to like it so much, I knew I should at least try it! Great Review Melanie 🙂
Exactly, that is why I made sure to share the link. I hope that more people will try it. It is such a fun series. There is a lot of sex, but the characters are very well developed and there is a great plot too.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
I just picked up the box set of books 1-3 and am really looking forward to reading this series 🙂
I hope you enjoy this series as much as I have, Leona. The O’kanes are pretty kick ass.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
Gah! You’ve reviewed others from this series and I said before that I need to get cracking on it b/c it sounds great. I have book one, but thanks, I’ll check the box set out.
I love the gritty dystopian stories and you have me intrigued by the characters, too.
Nice review, Melanie!
I just love the characters in this series so much. They are so well written. This is an erotica with a great plot too. I hope you enjoy it, Sophia.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
These might be too much for lil ol me
I know this series isn’t for everyone.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
Sounds like a good and interesting dark series. I totally picked up those 3 books (still free!). You’ve totally sold me on them!
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski
I hope you enjoy the series as much as I have.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
Oh, man. It’s been so long since I read Beyond Shame that I hardly recall what the series is about. It’s sad to say goodbye to a series, isn’t it?
Luckily, they are starting a new, spinoff series in Sector One, so it isn’t a complete good bye. I hope you get a chance to pick this series up again.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review: The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy, @Kensington)
I’ve had Beyond Shame for-everrr! I just one-clicked the boxset though. I know how much you love this series, Melanie, and I’m glad this installment was a good one. Eep! It makes me so nervous when I’m almost to the end of a beloved series. Do you have a long wait for the last book? Are you nervous/sad it’s ending?
I do get nervous. I don’t think I have to wait long. I think I saw that they are done writing the last book. I think it is with editors and beta readers, maybe. I have a lot of faith in Kit Rocha. They’ve done a great job in all their writing. This is the first end of series that I will be reading from them. I am happy that their next project is a spin off of this series following a group from a different sector. I’m excited about that too.
Melanie recently posted…Early Review, Spotlight and Giveaway: To Love a Wolf by Paige Tyler (@PaigeTyler, @SourcebooksCasa)
Why haven’t I tried this series? It sounds so good. And you know I like a sweet romance… I’d like Hawk!
Naomi Hop recently posted…Nuts by Alice Clayton ~ Review & Swoon Thursday (@alice_clayton, @SimonSchusterAU)
There are some great mixtures of romances in this series. Noelle, the heroine in the first book, is a sweetie too. There are some great alphaholes, who are very sweet with their women too. Just a large mixture of personalities. It is one of the best things about this series. I hope you picked up that three book bundle while it is still free. I don’t know how much longer it will be before they raise the price back up.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: June 5 to 11 — 36 Speculative Fiction Releases