I’ll stop at nothing to own her. I’m a collector of dolls. All kinds of dolls.So beautiful and sexy, they become my art.So perfect and flawless, my art galleries are flooded by the wealthy to gaze upon my possessions with envy.So fragile and delicate, I keep them tucked away for safety.The dark and torrid tales of Drayton’s Dolls run rampant through the rich and famous, and all but a few are … rampant through the rich and famous, and all but a few are true.
Normally I share my dolls for others to play with or watch on display.
But not my special doll.
No, not her.
Ivy is the most precious doll of all.
She’s mine. All mine.
*Scoundrels & Scotch is a dark billionaire romance. If you don’t like a splash of shock, a dash of taboo, and a heavy dose of dirty, then don’t take a sip of this TOP SHELF cocktail.
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Victor Drayton is a billionaire artist and collector. His art takes the form of a collection of living dolls. His exhibitions are known for being kinky and taboo are are some of the most sought after in the art world. The women who choose to be on of Drayton’s Dolls must live and breathe their job. They must dress and act the part at all times in his Dollhouse while the practice the art of submission while learning their choreography for the live exhibitions.
When Ivy Adams is fired from Spiked Roses, Victor offers her a place in his Dollhouse. She needs a job to help support her family, so she accepts even though the rumors that swirl around the dolls definitely have her nervous. She finds herself fascinated with Victor, however, and is willing to do anything to please him and gain his attention. Surprisingly, once she learns the rules of the Dollhouse, she realizes that she is fitting in and managing her loud and busy mind better than ever before.
While Victor cares for all his dolls, there is something about Ivy that draws him to her. Her beauty, her willingness to submit and her inner fight are all qualities that have Victor not wanting to share one of his dolls for the first time. She’s his.
Evil has the dolls in it’s sights, however. Their fame has put a bounty on the dolls for the black market. When it arrives at the Dollhouse, Ivy and the other dolls must fight for their survival and it’s left up to Victor and Harley Crow to save the day, if they can.
I have really fallen in lust with Alta Hensley’s Top Shelf series. It’s a world that revels in decadence, darkness and the taboo . . . a world that reader’s can only imagine exists. I really couldn’t wait to learn more about Victor’s dolls and this book did not disappoint. Victor’s artistic vision mixes sex and innocence in a way that blew my mind. His dominance creates a strict environment for the dolls, but you can tell he truly does care about them and their futures. I found it fascinating how the rules of the Dollhouse actually aided Ivy in gaining the self control she needed to gain control of the constant buzzing thoughts in her head that previously required drugs to quiet. I enjoyed watching VIctor and Ivy fall into their relationship.
Harley Crow fans from Villains & Vodka will enjoy getting another glimpse of the assassin and the role he plays in this book. Alta Hensley really dances with the devil in this book when the dolls come under attack. It’s a darkness you don’t expect to find, even in a dark romance, but adds such depth to the characters and plot I can’t imagine the book without it happening.
5 Stars for Scoundrels & Scotch. Alta Hensley, please keep the books deliciously dark series coming!
Scoundrels & Scotch is a quick, dark and taboo romance. The story was slightly different than I expected after reading the blurb. It’s not as sinister as the blurb lets on, dark taboo category is a better fit.
Victor Drayton is an artist. He’s most famous for his use of human dolls in his art pieces. His performance art doll exhibits spotlight the taboo and the kinky.
Ivy Adams has just lost her job because of her battle to drown out chaos in her body. She’s the soul supporter for her sister and father so when she’s offered a job to become a Drayton Doll she ignores all the warning bells and accepts.
Ivy is moved into the Dollhouse and jumps right into training. This is where the story moves into the freaky deaky and my interest peaks! The dolls are well trained in preforming the taboo. During Ivy’s first performance Victor realizes that he can’t share Ivy with the world. She is his and he makes plans on keeping off the kinky stage. There are others interested in getting their hands on the dolls and their intentions are far from good.
I enjoyed the story however I would have loved more character depth. Victor is a very interesting character. He’s an artist with a passion for the taboo. He’s domineering but there’s more there. I wanted to know more about Ivy, what makes her tick. Ugh! I really got into the characters and wanted more. This is the first book I’ve read in this series and plan on going back to read the first two. The author peaked my interest. 4 Stars!
I’d heard such great things about this series, so jumped at the chance of reviewing this book. Well I’m sorry but I was quite disappointed. Where was the darkness? Where was the domination and submission? Where was the depraved kink? I also got tired of reading about “dildo’s” up the doll’s bums when actually the description was of a butt plug.
The book started with great promise and the writing hooked me in. What were these secrets the Dollshouse kept? We then had a few kinky scenes – these were really hot and gave us a suggestion that Ivy and Victor fancied each other. We then have a huge load of not much happening, barely warm kink and the main characters managing to fall in love with each other whilst seemingly never being together. I need to be shown their interactions, their passion and their connection, not told. That for me, despite what was otherwise good writing, was the crux of the problem. Too much telling and not enough showing/experiencing.
At no time did I feel any fear, worry or angst from Ivy – she seemed to be having a party, albeit one with no sexual content whatsoever. A little odd for a supposedly dark romance, but hey that’s just my opinion. There was also very little character building and Victor’s just seemed very confused – I wouldn’t be able to pick him out in a line-up.
I got to the end of the book, it wasn’t a chore to read or finish it. I just felt “Is that it?”. The last few chapters suddenly became romantic suspense and had huge potential that wasn’t realised. The ending felt very rushed and again had the barest bones of angst or turmoil.
This just wasn’t for me, not kinky enough, not dark enough, not angsty enough for my tastes but you may well enjoy it.
I often tell my author friends that it is the blurb more than the cover art that makes me buy a book. And, for this series it was definitely part of the blurb that screamed to me “buy me”. Or in this case get it from KU. This book/series is not for everyone and for that part read the blurb.
But, if you like your men rich beyond belief, sexy to the core and as Alta Hensley tells you below.
*Scoundrels & Scotch is a dark billionaire romance. If you don’t like a splash of shock, a dash of taboo, and a heavy dose of sex, then don’t take a sip of this TOP SHELF cocktail.
Then I say grab yourself a drink. Sink in to a comfy chair and read away! I did! I love the premise of this series. I feel I haven’t read anything out there quite like it.
It is on the DARK side so I don’t think it is for the faint of heart or anyone that has triggers. But, if you are like me and like to read a book with a “little dash of taboo and a heavy dose of sex” This book/series is for you. I love Scotch and Soundrels and I say bring on the next book. Devils & Rye Coming March 27, 2018. Oh, and Alta Hensley has a new fan in me. I can’t wait.
I like how there’s a bit of a set up in each previous book, which gets us salivating for the next one. When the dolls were sent into help with a Tasting in Villians and Vodka, I was hoping that this story would be next.
I didn’t know what to expect with Drayton’s Dolls, and I don’t think it was a depraved as I was hoping for, although it was quite nice. I could imagine the art show collections in my mind, and I’m so intrigued by it all. I still want to see Japan’s show.
I really like the characters in the book, and I can’t wait to get the next in the series!
Alta Hensley writes some great books, some of which go really dark. Her Top Shelf books are way into the dark side, and they are so good. The books started dark and each one goes darker. The series also started good and each one is better than the one before. I’m not sure how that works, considering how good they all are, but there you go. I’m not going to argue. I’m just going to enjoy the ride.
Ivy is a waitress at Spiked Roses, the premier kinky gentlemen’s club in New Orleans. That is, right up until she gets busted. She got caught taking drugs. She says that she isn’t a junkie and that she has good reasons for taking the drugs, on an occasional basis, but that doesn’t matter because Spiked Roses has a zero-tolerance policy about drugs.
Victor Drayton, artist and founding member of Spiked Roses, has his collection of Dolls. He has his eye on Ivy Barrett, and tells the other members that he wants to offer her a job as one of his Dolls. Drayton’s Dolls are known throughout the art world. He does huge performance pieces with his beautifully turned out Dolls as the main features. The exhibitions may have the Dolls doing all kinds of things, including having sex. And Victor thinks that Ivy would be a perfect doll.
This was a hot af story. The chemistry between Ivy and Victor is great, her learning who she is and what she wants. There is some serious drama in the story, and the drama is really dark, which makes the story utterly delicious. I loved each and every word of the story and I can’t wait to read more in the series. The next book could come out tomorrow and it would still be too long.