Reviews for

MASTERS OF THE SHADOWLANDS 2: DARK CITADEL

BEST BOOK! rating from Fern of Whipped Cream Reviews:  Dark Citadel takes the reader on one hell of a ride. It’s not always an easy read, but that’s to be expected. Cherise Sinclair has constructed a comfort zone rollercoaster that excels at pushing those limits, creating pages that are searing hot and wickedly intense. But at its center, Dark Citadel is a romance. The protagonists are vastly different. He’s a police officer and she’s a high school teacher. He’s a Dom and she’s a sub. He’s a man that wants nothing to do with love or commitment and she’s a woman that yearns for just that. But when they come together, both are aware something exists between them that cannot be denied. It’s a matter of letting go, accepting the past, and moving into a new and exhilarating future together.

I personally love material that pushes boundaries, and Dark Citadel didn’t disappoint. This story is a must read if you enjoy the BDSM genre, especially if you’re attuned to works that are less about the sexual acts themselves and more about the tension that comes just before. Tightly written, beautifully crafted, and something meant to be read more than once. Cherise Sinclair has gained a fan for life with this one. 

5 Angels from Melissa C. of Fallen Angel Reviews who says:  Cherise Sinclair has written a highly erotic, emotional rollercoaster story that drew me in and held me captive throughout the story. I have not had the opportunity of reading the first book of this series, but after reading Dark Citadel, I just have to go back and read the first book. These books are part of a series, involving Club Shadowlands and the patrons of the club. This second book was very good as a stand-alone, but I am eager to read the first book, so that I can learn the story of characters that I briefly met in this book.

Kari is a contradiction of herself, very proper and modest, yet highly sexual when in the right situation. I fell in love with her immediately and found myself routing for her to find her true self and get her man. I also fell in love with Dan, but at times found myself wanting to smack him myself, because he is so wrapped up in his past, he can't see what he has right in front of him. Despite that, I enjoyed his rough and commanding exterior and his dominant, yet tender interior.

This is a very fast paced story with a smooth flow, realistic characters and dialogue, and enough detail to make me feel like I was right there with the characters, seeing and feeling right along with them.

Priscilla Alston of Just Erotic Romance Reviews gives Dark Citadel 5 Stars and an

(O)rgasmic heat level.  She says: Cherise Sinclair starts out using subtle skill to bring the reader into this exciting lifestyle. For those teetering right on the edge of whether to play or not to play, Dark Citadel will push you over. This is due to the brilliant way she manipulates readers with some of the ins and outs of this way of life, daring them to try it. Before I knew it, I was ready to take the plunge myself, and found that quite fascinating.

The rich texture of the storyline touches on the fragile balance of the BDSM world with lingering effects. I was immediately drawn to Master Dan’s dominance and shivered with delight as he so expertly exposed Kari’s needs with steamy words and even hotter deeds. Kari is sweetly nurturing, yet her conventional upbringing tells her mind not to give in easily, often telling him no. A challenge for sure, she doesn’t give in easily, and has no problem saying no to Master Dan’s requests. But Master Dan remains steadfast in his approach as he expertly woos her with erotically explosive sex and sensitivity, causing Kari to realize it’s a pleasure to surrender. Dark Citadel is a decadent delight and an immensely satisfying read.

5 Nymphs from Amazon Nymph of Literary Nymphs.  Dark Citadel is a fantastic second book in the Master of the Shadowlands series. Master Dan slowly takes Kari to places she has never dreamed of going. Kari has to overcome a lot of baggage from her childhood. The sex scenes between the two are so sizzling, I felt I needed a fire extinguisher to get through them so keep lots of ice handy. Ms. Sinclair has a way of letting you step right into the book and lets you feel all the emotions her characters experience.

Shannon from The Romance Studio gives Dark Citadel 5 Hearts and says: Cherise Sinclair again creates magic with another deliciously scandalous book to tantalize the reader by brilliantly luring them into the seductive world of BDSM. The journey into the D/s relationship cleverly sets the plot to captivate the reader as well as educate them on the alternate lifestyle of pleasure/pain and domination/submission. The well crafted descriptions help the reader to visualize the edgy and erotic scenes and seem to pull the them directly into the story. The sex is raw, primal, and yet there are tender touches that will have the reader sighing with delight even as they are fanning themselves from the heat.

The BDSM scenes are varied and work well to evolve the characters' relationship. Master Dan and Kari are appealingly delightful with personalities the reader can understand and relate to. It's also wonderful to revisit Master Z and Jessica along with Master Cullen from Club Shadowlands and remember why the reader fell in love with these characters along with Master Dan and Kari. Master Dan and Kari's compelling and intriguing three day journey is an arousing sexual tale that captures the emotions, insecurities, passion, trust, and love between two wonderful people.

Ms. Sinclair knows how to craft a smoldering erotic tale that is wickedly thrilling and daring as well as entertaining. It is hard to believe that with the powerful voice Ms. Sinclair has, that she is a relative new comer to the world of erotic romance industry. I anxiously await this author's next tale! 

Victoria of Two Lips Reviews  gives Dark Citadel 5 Kisses and says:  I wondered how Cherise Sinclair would continue her Masters of the Shadowlands series because I found her first story, Club Shadowlands, so delightful.  Master Dan was introduced in the previous story and I couldn’t help but fall in love with this tortured soul. Still mourning the loss of his wife believing he’s directly responsible for her death, Master Dan never chooses a submissive for more than one evening.  Sensing something within Kari which speaks to him, he offers to tutor her for the evening. Kari’s never explored BDSM but feels comfortable with this dominant. Both are surprised when Kari willingly returns to the club and once again the two pair up.

While the time period depicted in Dark Citadel is short, Ms. Sinclair puts a lot of steamy BDSM action which kept me furiously flipping the pages of this installment in her series. Master Dan instinctively knows which buttons to push with his new submissive and in a truly diabolical plot twist within the capture gardens, both come to realize that there’s something more than just playful D/s between the two of them. Cherise Sinclair is an author to watch in the BDSM genre, gifting us with complex characters and sizzling scenes, making readers like me begging for more!

BDSM category