*** BLOG TOUR *** WORTH THE WAIT by Joey W. Hill

Is he worth the heartbreak? At nearly forty, Julie isn’t so sure she’ll ever find a man who is, so she’s vowed that all her big 4-0 decisions will have zip to do with relationships. A successful theater manager, she agrees to travel to North Carolina and help a friend put her erotic performance theater on its feet. Julie has always been curious and drawn to the BDSM world, and now she can safely explore that world in the environment she knows best.

Desmond Hayes is the roofing contractor repairing their rundown theater building, but he’s also a rigger, well-known in the BDSM world for his rope artistry. He’s not just a top, though; he’s a Dom whose unexpected quirks mesh too well with Julie’s eccentric personality and awaken her submissive side.  

From the time he was born, Des has been fighting the odds against him. Because of that, he’s kept his relationships inside the BDSM scene, with clear boundaries. While Julie has almost given up on finding a person worth loving through better or worse—or pleasure and pain—Des never expected to receive that gift. 

He’s not letting that treasure get away—no matter how much rope he has to use to bind her to him.

Read Chapter One and find buy links HERE - http://storywitch.com/book-nod-wtw

“Joey translates the world of BDSM with such intense power and exquisite beauty. LOVE is the most powerful element entwined through the Dominance and submission.”  --Goodreads, Jx PinkLady

“So why do you come to the orchid conservatory?” Julie asked. “What do you like about it, beyond the obvious that it’s amazing?”

Des stopped before a trio of white orchids. “Notice the shape of the petals. When I look at them, I imagine transforming the female form into the same shapes, using rope. I get a lot of ideas from gardens, particularly orchids.”

He traced the air before one of the flowers. “Imagine that’s her thigh, lifted, bound to her ankle. Her back arched, arms behind her so her breasts form this curve here… I’d suspend her, but I’d also twist a rope beneath her, so it would become the stem of the flower and anchor her.”

As he described it, she could see it. “Why does it give you such a charge? It’s not just about tying a woman up so you can do whatever you want to her. Or is it?”

He gave her a quick, very male smirk. “That’s a very important perk. But yes, there are other reasons. I explore a lot of rope disciplines, and one of my personal favorites is semenawa, torture rope. Not as scary as it sounds. It's about contrasting stimuli."

He shifted behind her. "Pull all your hair over your right shoulder."

He could say things in a manner that wasn’t saying them at all, as much as commanding them. What made it so intoxicating was that he pulled it off in such an unexpected moment. Des didn't appear the commanding sort…at first glance. Yet he could compel a woman’s attention with his unwavering gaze, the set of his jaw and an energy that emitted from him even when he was saying nothing at all.

"The other right shoulder." His voice held heat with humor, acknowledging the reason for her distraction. When he shifted closer, his breath stirred the fine hairs on her exposed neck. His body didn't touch hers, but a dense aura stroked her, a cushion of magnetism between two closely aligned bodies, the strength of his interest in her, his desire.

Curving his hand over her hip, he put his lips over the pounding pulse in her throat. A small breath escaped her, a shudder swaying her into a light brush against him. He moved in, and his lips parted, tongue teasing her.

"See how the top part of the orchid is slightly twisted?"

She nodded, her eyes fixed on it. His grip left her hip and cupped her hand, her knuckles nested in his palm. His thumb came over them to press into the flesh at the base of her fingers while his other fingers constricted, capturing her hand fully. Slowly, as his mouth stimulated a thousand nerve endings in her throat, he began to turn her wrist. Not a lot, but his hold and the angle made her gradually aware of pressure and his strength, discomfort edging toward pain. Just when she thought she was going to have to ask him to stop, he did, holding her hand at that unnerving stress point.

His lips created a lot of mad swirling between her chest and the folds of her sex. His inflexible restraint on her hand sent a bolt straight to her core just as powerful. The mix of sexual stimuli had her reaching for his hand on her other hip to steady her, even as things became far less steady.

"Imagine I can tie you in the shape of that flower,” he said, lifting his mouth a fraction from her skin. “I can. You’ll struggle between pain and ecstasy, and I’ll use both to break you into a world of your mind you can't imagine, where every reaction you have belongs to me. I have full command of your senses, your body. You're not even sure if your soul belongs to you anymore. You’re stretched to your physical limits, but you’re aroused, too, not wanting the tension to end.

“Earlier, you asked what kind of Dom I am. That’s your answer.”

WANT TO READ HOW WORTH THE WAIT BEGINS?

FREE CHAPTER ONE: http://storywitch.com/book-nod-wtw

I really enjoyed reading this book.  I started the Nature of Desire series several years ago and somehow life got in the way and I missed the last few book.  After reading Worth The Wait I’m excited to get back to the very delightful world that Joey W. Hill created.  

Worth the Wait is the story of Julie Ramirez, a woman turning forty, with a terrible track record in the love and romance department.  She is tired of being hurt and decides to make changes.  She packs her bags and leaves New York for North Carolina to answer a call for help from a friend.  Madison is opening a community theater featuring erotic performance art shows and needs Julie’s expertise as a stage manager.   Julie is determined to start fresh and swear off relationships.  The thing is she really craves true love.

“…she’d wanted a passionate love story.  She’d sought out the cruel, beautiful men who had passion for certain, but no love to give. “

One of Madison and Logan’s (Madison’s husband) friends is a roofer, Desmond (Des) Hayes.  Des is called to fix the theater’s leaking roof before opening night.  Des is a roofer by trade and a rigger, in the BDSM community, known as Spiderman because of his rope skills.  Julie and Des’ first meeting is one of the best scenes ever.  

“Are you scared of spiders?” He asked it in a conversational tone, but she noticed his glance had stilled on her shoulder. It reminded her of how her old cat, Meteor, would look when she saw a cockroach scuttling across the ceiling.

She would not look. She would not. “No. As long as it’s no bigger than a pencil tip, legs and all. If there’s something bigger on me, you’re about to see me freak out.” Okay, she was going to look.

He lifted a hand, drawing her attention, and caught her in his extraordinary gaze again.

“Don’t freak,” he said in that same casual voice. “And don’t look away from my face. Even if I’m not looking at you.”

“Why?”

“Why not? It’s a pretty face, isn’t it? Prince Charming material, right?” He stepped closer. “I’m going to let him crawl onto my hand so the two of you can part friends.”

“You have an extraordinary voice.” It was like Heath Ledger’s, she realized. That oddly deep voice coming from a slim body that radiated strength and charisma.

He nodded. “So I’ve been told. I’d ask forgiveness for this, but my purpose is entirely appropriate, I promise.” He pressed the side of his hand against the top of her breast. She was wearing a baggy, soft T-shirt with the logo Small Town Theater, NYC curved over the pocket, along with the suddenly rather disconcerting motto: “Take a bite out of my Apple.”

“This is the most elaborate excuse a guy has ever used to touch my boobs,” His eyes were concentrated on his task, his firm lips curved in a far too appealing way. The faint resulting smile was controlled enough to give them a sexy intensity. “If there’s not really a spider on me,” she added, “you better pull a big one out of your ass, or I’m going to sock you in the nuts with a broom handle.”

After that who wouldn’t fall in love with this man?  The attraction between the two is evident from this first meet, however Julie’s danger antennae is on alert.  Des has issues with relationships too, for different reasons, but he is a good man and a Dom interested in exploring Julie’s limits.  And so it begins.   

I really like these two characters.  Both are well developed and go through a lot of personal growth as the story progresses.  Julie is a strong, independent woman in her professional life; her personal life not so much.  She recognizes how special Des is and feels the possibility of more but those darn past experiences make her question his actions.  Julie fears repeating past mistakes by seeing what she wants to see not what is.  

Des is a little mysterious too; the reader can sense secrets from the beginning.  As the story unfolds and Desmond’s childhood and his life before Julie is revealed you can’t help but fall head over heels for him right along with Julie.  Des has a heart of gold to go with his strong, alpha, dominant personality.  It isn’t long before the chemistry is boiling hot.  

As secrets are revealed the anxiety grows.  Something is in the wind and, as the reader, my nerves in the pit of my stomach are rolling.  Several times I had to fight skipping to the end to know.  I shed a tear or two while reading and very happy that there are beautiful loves scenes and lots of romance and laughter to balance out the angst.  The story is a mix of real life, love, and everything in between. 

The description of Des’ rope skills are detailed enough that I can see him in my mind’s eye clearly.  This is true for the theater performance and the BDSM party too.  I can imagine being in the room seeing all the events unfold; the scenes are never off-putting but loving. 

My only criticism, and this is me because I say it a lot in this type of story, Julie’s inner voice telling her to be cautious seems a little repetitive after a few chapters.   I completely understand her reasons and I can see how I might feel the same but halfway through the book it feels like a broken record.

The support characters are great.  I love Marcus and Thomas.  They are true friends that everyone needs in their life.  Their love for one another is strong and beautiful and the way they look out for Julie is incredible.  There is a scene near the end with Marcus and Julie that swells my heart with love and emotion.  It is so loving that I want to learn more about him and I found that a book featuring Marcus and Thomas is available.  I need to read their story. 

I recommend this book and the series.  I’m captivated by the way Joey W. Hill blends everyday life with all its joys and trials with the intense sexuality of the BDSM lifestyle into a very loving and believable romance.  I love the attraction between the two main characters and the believability of the evolution of their relationship.  There is a little hand wave moment but the author acknowledges the artistic license and, for me, it’s perfect.  A great read!

4.5  Tied UpStamps

An RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award recipient in Erotic Romance, Joey W. Hill has well over thirty titles available in contemporary and paranormal erotic romance. Her characters include everything from vampires, mermaids, witches and angels, to boardroom executives, cops and simple housemaids. 

Free excerpts from all her works are available at www.storywitch.com, and additional vignettes, character interviews and graphics inspired by the work are at the fan forum site, accessible via www.storywitch.com/community. Subscribe to her newsletter from her home page and receive the latest info about appearances and releases. 

Though much of her work is BDSM, she has built her reputation on award-winning romances with absorbing characters who not only attract fans of the genre, but readers who would "never" read BDSM romance. "Whatever genre you're writing, if the characters are compelling and sympathetic, the readers are going to want to see what happens to them. It can be the coolest storyline ever, but if the reader could care less whether the hero or heroine survive (in fact, in some cases they may be rooting for their destruction just so they can be done with the darn thing), then it's not a story worth reading."