Review & Giveaway - Being Emerald by Sylvia Ryan

Being Emerald 

Author: Sylvia Ryan 

Genre: Dystopian, Erotic, Romance, BDSM 

Release Date: March 31, 2015 

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Brave, beautiful, and not easily controlled—even within a dictatorship—Laila Lewis has finally attained the prestige of an Emerald designation. Now only one thing is keeping her from her life’s goal of retrieving the Declaration of Independence and other priceless artifacts from the wild unknown of the Onyx Zone: the six weeks of training necessary to ensure her survival outside the city walls. But she won’t be going it alone.

After a year as a designated Emerald, rugged, sensual ex-cop Rock Rodgers is finally prepared to leave New Atlanta for good. Six weeks of training is the only thing standing between him and his next mission: to disappear into the freedom of the Onyx Zone where the long-armed rule of the Gov can’t reach him. But when the chemistry between him and Laila reaches a boiling point, with captivity just one false move away, will he have to escape on his own—or risk everything for a woman more tempting than freedom.


CONTENT WARNING: Contains explicit sexual language and content, and elements of BDSM that may be objectionable to some readers.

The end of Rock’s first week of tutelage was only an hour away. Laila wanted to jump for joy and scream at the top of her lungs in celebration. She was being overdramatic. It hadn’t been all bad. She’d earned luscious peppermint oil massages the last three mornings in a row. She got to start the truck and actually drive it, though it was only a few feet. And as an added treat the morning before, Rock hadn’t made her change the tire anymore. On top of all that, she ran the mile without wanting to pass out afterward.

Now, she was going to take Rock down inside the big white circle on the mat. She’d been wholly unsuccessful all week, trying different approaches. But she quickly found that the opportunity to knock that arrogant wall of muscle on his ass, and success in doing so, were two entirely different things.

She’d paid close attention to the moves and tried hard to get them right during drills. She’d tried her hardest to take him down, and he just stood there, brushing her aside, relaxed.

It ticked her off. He didn’t even try to appear as if he had to defend himself. Her blood boiled with every failed attempt. She was going to kick his ass.

After a shrieking run and an unceremonious counter move that left her ass planted on the mat, she was livid. He waved her to come again as she picked herself off the floor, challenging her to take her best shot, groin or knee. She accepted the challenge…over and over again, but none of the kicks landed at their intended destination.

After falling face down and breathing in a whiff of men’s locker room for what had to be the fiftieth time, she picked herself off the floor.

He waved at her to come again with that smug look on his face.

She was going to scratch his eyes out. Then, in a second of brilliant clarity, everything clicked into place. She lunged at him the way she had dozens of times before, and as he leaned over to swipe her leg away with his forearm, she raked his face with her nails.

It hadn’t been a good hit because he’d adjusted his defense at the last minute to protect himself, but one nail hit its mark, scoring the front of his cheek.

When she picked herself off the floor and turned to meet his gaze, he smiled at her, the raised, red line on his face moving with the motion.

“Good girl. Remember, you have to fight smart. You’ll be able to tell from your opponent’s stance what he’s expecting from you. Then, you’ll give him something else in the spot that’s left exposed.”

He waved her to come at him again and took his stance. She examined his positioning and changed her strategy accordingly. As she attacked, he read her move and blocked it, knocking the air out of her lungs as she landed hard on her belly. She stayed down this time.

“I hate you.” She flattened her hands on the mat and pushed herself to standing.

“That’s okay. I’m not concerned about winning a popularity contest.”

  I knew as soon as I finished chapter one that this book is part of a series but found myself captivated by the story that I continued reading.  Rock is a bodyguard assigned to protect Laila on her mission to retrieve priceless artifacts in the Onyx zone (the world has been devastated and now people live in zones and have a zone band tattooed on their arm).  Rock and Laila live in the Emerald zone (a top ranking zone) though both are from the overpopulated Amber zone.  Both miss their families and the vibrant zone that they were raised in and find themselves drawn to each other.  Rock is a very dominant man who will do everything he can to protect Laila as well as teach her to protect herself.  Laila has been so lonely since working her way to the Emerald zone and she finds herself drawn to Rock.  Rock has shut down his feelings but Laila slowly starts to melt his defenses.   This book was well written with a fascinating storyline.  I did at times feel a little lost, especially in the beginning but found myself really enjoying the exchanges between Rock and Laila.  I would recommend reading this series in order as I am sure I would have been able to follow along much better.  Lovers of futuristic romances (with some BDSM elements) would enjoy this series. ~Booklover Sue    

Sylvia lives the life of an ordinary wife, mother and professional existing in Midwest Suburbia, USA. She reads voraciously and loves to lose herself and fall head over heels for the alpha males in the novels she reads.

When she gets the chance to shed the prim and proper persona of average wife and mother, her secret identity, Sylvia Ryan, emerges. This alter ego strives to write original ideas in extraordinary settings for her readers to remember long after the book has been read. Her dream is to transform her racy thoughts and naughty nature into tangible works of erotic fantasy for others’ secret identities to enjoy.

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