Glutton for Pleasure (Pleasure #1)
by Alisha Rai
Blurb:
They’re craving something sweet. She likes it
spicy.
Devi
Malik knows how to heat things up. She does it every night as head chef in her
family’s Indian restaurant. Her love life, though, is stuck in the subzero
freezer. Now, with a chance to fulfill a secret fantasy with her long-time
crush and his brother, it’s time to put her desire on the front two burners.
For
Marcus Callahan, a love-’em-and-leave-’em attitude isn’t only a necessary evil
of their kink. It’s a protective device. Lately, though, his brother Jace has
been making noises about craving something more.
Jace’s
dissatisfaction with their lifestyle grows with every glimpse of sweet little
Devi. Yet Marcus is too haunted by the pain of their shared past to give love a
chance.
Despite
their reputation for vanishing with the dawn, they discover one night with Devi
isn’t nearly enough. And Devi finds herself falling in love with two very
different men.
It’ll
take more than explosive sex to light up the shadows surrounding the Callahan
brothers’ secrets. But Devi’s never been afraid of the dark…
Themes: erotica,
menage
Rating: 5 stars
Heat Rating: 5
Review:
The book that started it all for one of my
favorite authors has gotten a make-over and an all new group of people to
appreciate its awesomeness and unique take on love, relationships, and
self-worth. I first encountered this
story several years ago when I was browsing and was immediately intrigued,
mainly because my best friend is of Indian decent and I knew we would both
enjoy this story of an Indian chef embracing her inner sensual goddess and
having two men to call her own. Since
that fateful first encounter I have reread this story so many times I could
probably recite most of it to you, but to this day it remains my #1 go to story
when I need a sensual pick-me-up or I’m in between reads and need to return to
an old friend for a while. I have been
dying to know if there would be a sequel and I am thrilled to know that Alisha finally
got to write it! I cannot wait to read
it. This story is one that tackles many taboos,
while still having moments of fun, sensual discovery, and true heart. I probably sound like a fangirl, but that’s
ok, because in this case I am. That
being said, there are some dark moments where the past is relived, the true
depths of emotion are uncovered, and the societal problems with this kind of
relationship are accepted. While this
book may not be for all, I think enough people can relate to many of the
issues in the story and will see its more than just erotic romance, it is
really the story of a woman finding and accepting the love she deserves despite
cultural, familial, and societal pressure. This to me is what makes Rai’s work so
wonderful, her heroines are kick-ass, even when they are sweet and innocent, and
they all come into their own and find their inner core of steel.
The
story revolves around twin brothers that have always had women fall at their
feet, but because of their pasts they require a certain kind of relationship—one where
they share a woman, needing that triad for emotional strength as well as the
inherent physical pleasure. Marcus, the
darker of the two brothers, is perfectly happy having flings with sexy women
that don’t get attached, but Jace has decided he’s found the woman that will
truly complete their lives and he’s ready to claim her for both of them. Devi has been lusting after her favorite
customer Jace, since he started coming to her family’s restaurant regularly,
but she never knew he had a brother, and never imagined just what the two of
them would drag her into. She
reluctantly agrees to one night of passion, unable to resist the two sexy
beasts that seem to really lust after her, a feeling she’s never had with
another man, but once she gives in, Jace convinces her—and Marcus—to give
something more a chance. As they get to
know each other and the boys bring out the sensual goddess buried inside Devi,
their hearts become more and more involved, but will they be able to overcome
all the landmines that litter their lives, including the secrets the men have
kept all their lives and Marcus’s steadfast refusal to let his heart get
involved?
To
truly understand the greatness of this story you have to know a bit about each
of the characters. Devi is a mostly
sheltered, but sensual woman that has been put down by men so often she
actually doubts her own sex appeal, believing that her sisters are the true
beauties and burying herself in the kitchen.
When faced with the depths of desire that Jace and Marcus bring out of
her, and the ways they make her body burn, Devi is more than a little afraid,
but she is determined to give the boys a chance to show her just how great they
can be together. I loved seeing her
blossom into the woman she was always meant to be, especially as she began to
take control of the needs of herself and her men and see just how much they
needed her, accepting their love despite all the interference and all the
obstacles in their way. Devi’s interactions
with the guys are always different, especially as she begins to push them and
herself to new levels of their relationship and becoming a true triad. Even though she begins her time with them as
a shy and naïve participant of their sensual experiments, in the end she is definitely
leading these men around by their bodies, hearts, and ultimately their souls. Devi begins to accept that love comes in many
forms and for them their love is a three sided figure that is stronger than any
other relationship she knows.
Jace
and Marcus are their own unique brand of messed up, but their needs lead them
into Devi’s arms and there is no way they can deny the pull of the sensual Indian
chef that feeds their bodies and souls.
Jace is the more outgoing of the two brothers, determined to bring his
brother into the light and find them a true mate, even if he has to fight
Marcus every step of the way. He is a
strong man, alpha and controlling all on his own, but his flashes of dangerous
sensuality are tempered by his sweet and loving nature, especially with
Devi. Devi tugs on his heart, but the
dangerous edge of his twin might just be what pulls them apart, if Jace cannot
counter Marcus’s issues with their past and give them a chance at a
future. Marcus has always protected his
brother and his own heart greedily, believing no woman would ever be able to accept
their taboo need for a single woman for both brothers. He has secrets he is determined to keep
buried and has no desire for his darkness to come to light. Even though he only wants to have Devi in his
bed and arms long enough to sate the desire she inspires, he quickly begins to
fall in love, even as he waits for the other shoe to drop and break them all
apart. His unwillingness to open up to
Devi is the biggest problem they all must face, but when all three of them are
faced with the decision to deal with their shit or give up on their
relationship, Devi refuses to let Marcus hide, proving she really might be the ultimate
woman for their mate.
Now
that I have explained why I feel this story is so great, I will share some of
the finer points that made me an even more invested fan. I am a foodie at heart and with Devi being a
chef there were a few scenes when the sensuality of food was explored right
along with other sensual activities. Rai is one of those artists who can make even
the most boring moments in life, such as clothing shopping or arguing in a
kitchen into something life-changingly sexy.
Devi is the type of woman I wish I could be, unconsciously sensual, and
once the boys show her just how sensual she was through their eyes, her
self-confidence multiplies exponentially.
Jace and Marcus are the perfect combination of darkly sensual alpha man
and sweetly caring beta, giving them the perfect foil for Devi’s needs and
desires. It is obvious no one man could
have ever made Devi as happy as having both of her men, but only once she
convinces them to fully accept her love and their love for her. Seeing these three individuals come together
to form such a strong and loving relationship gives me hope for myself someday
finding just the mate (or mates) I need.
If you haven’t enjoyed this story yet, I beg of you please gift it a
shot and fall in love with these characters and this author just as I have.
In
fact after writing all my thoughts again, I think it might be time for another
visit to my favorite Indian restaurant and the retelling of a relationship for
the ages between the pages of Glutton
for Pleasure. And don’t forget to grab the long-awaited
sequel to Devi, Jace, and Marcus’s Story, Serving
Pleasure, coming soon.
*eARC provided by publisher (via
netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No
compensation was provided.
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