Stefan Talbot let Jennifer Waters run from him once. He knew she was far too young for him, but he kept a watchful eye on her, protecting her from afar. When she’s arrested for a crime she didn’t commit, Stef knows the time has come to get close again. In the middle of the Winter Festival, Stef and Jen find themselves fighting for their love and their lives because danger has followed them back … back to Bliss.
more
Every time I get one of these release ARC’s of Sophie Oak/Lexi Blake’s older series, I get a smile on my face, especially if it’s one from the Nights In Bliss Series. In One To Keep we get Stefan and Jenn’s story. Jenn calls Stefan the King of Bliss more than once, not because he lords his money over everyone else, but because he helps everyone no matter the cost. He pulls strings to get them everything he thinks they need, especially love.
In her 2018 dedication, Ms. Blake tells that when it originally released some of her fans didn’t respond well to how very broken Stefan was considering he was such a classic dominant. It surprised me that anyone was taken aback by Stefan being broken because I knew he was from the first book. Yes, he was the epitome of a perfect dominant, even being renowned for training subs, but doms can be broken too and he definitely was.
Now before I tear Stefan apart, I need to make it clear Stefan has a heart of gold and he’s a sexy as sin dom so there is a lot there to like. But, I wanted to shake him. He may want happiness and love for everyone else, but abandonment issues stemming from his childhood have him terrified of it for himself. Actually terrified is too tame a word for how scared he was of Jenn because even the thought of becoming a couple with her panicked him. It’s good Jenn has always loved him and has infinite amounts of patience because, goodness, she needed it. I can’t begin to tell you how bad he worked my last nerve.
As for Jenn, she’s been in love with Stefan since the day she met him and has done everything including throwing herself at him to get him to acknowledge the fact he loves her (and he does), but nothing worked. After he crossed the line she finally left which ended up being a disaster. So now she’s back and completely under his control but not in the way she wants to be. It’s funny how just like with Stefan, no matter how much I liked her I wanted to throttle her too. I felt like she lost some self-respect in the way she just kept taking what she could get from Stefan but not demanding what she deserved.
Despite my misgivings about Stefan and Jenn’s relationship, I loved being back in Bliss and all its craziness. Max and Rye’s antics concerning Rachel’s impending childbirth had me cracking up. We are also introduced to Alexei and his broken English which is hilarious. I remember him becoming one of my absolute favorites in future books so I’m already anticipating more fun to come.
Rating: 4 Blissful Stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
The books that Lexi Blake writes under her Sophie Oaks pen name are some of my very favorite ones. There is just something special about them that intrigues me and keeps me glued to my seat until I finish the very last page. And One to Keep is not an exception. It is romantic and sinfully hot, with with a sprinkle of humor that will make you smile and sometimes even laugh. But it is also heartbreaking and suspenseful with just the right amount of danger. For me, the combination of all that is practically a recipe for a masterpiece <3 So I am not that surprised that I loved the book so much 🙂
Jennifer and Stef are two intriguing characters. In the big way, their pasts define them as the people they are so it is not that surprising that their relationship is not the easiest one. Though, their feelings towards each other are strong, sometimes a person needs to heal first on his/her own and then try to build a stable relationship. And in this case, that solely falls on Stef's shoulders. Unfortunately, danger is lurking around the corner and threatens everything Stef and Jen are trying to build.
The suspenseful part of the story line is definitely intriguing and it kept me on the edge of my seat. There were definitely few twists and turns that I didn't expect and that made the book that much better for me. The more romantic part of the story line is definitely somewhat different than that of the previous books in the series. Some would probably say it is more conventional, though I wouldn't go that far. It is still sinfully sexy but yes, the story is about a couple and not a menage. Not that that makes it any less pantie melting hot 😀
You probably figured it out by now that I loved the book 😀 It is romantic, hot and suspenseful. In the end what more could a girl ask for 😀 In addition to all that, the characters from the previous books have a heavy presence in this one and there are even references to the Texas Sirens Series and the Masters and Mercenaries Series. So practically, I was in book heaven 😀 And I can't wait for the next book in the series. But most of all, I need Caleb, Holly and Aleksei's story. I am sure that one is going to be out of this world <3
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Very hot, funny and suspenseful
Book 3 in the Bliss, Colorado series, I hadn’t read the first books in the series when I read this (though I’ve read several in related series). While this certainly works as a standalone, I felt this would be better enjoyed by reading the previous books in the series first.
Stef is one of those heroes who tries so hard to do the right thing, he ends up screwing up anyway. On the one hand I love his protective instincts, but on the other other, I want to give him a good whap across the back of his head and tell him to wake up! Not that I actually would, with as Dominate as he is, lol. I give credit to Jen: there were any number of times she could have just given up one way or another, but she stood her ground when she had to.
This is a re-release and though I don’t know exactly where this falls in the author’s publishing career, my impression is that it’s relatively early. Her signature elements are all there–interesting characters with off the charts chemistry, a plot with plenty of suspense that doesn’t go where you expect it, all those secondary characters (Alexei!) and some nice touches of humor–but it doesn’t have the polish her later works have, imo. Not that it’s bad, but the word flow just isn’t as smooth as I’m used to from this author, and the back and forth with Stef and his issues dragged a bit for me.
Very hot, funny and suspenseful with all those plot twists, this was another entertaining read from this author, and I plan on going back to read the earlier books in the series. 4 stars
B2B Kelly
Stefan Talbot is a billionaire, artist, dominant and self proclaimed caretaker of Bliss and all of its residents. He’s also in love with Jennifer Waters even though he refuses to admit it. While his actions sent her running once, he’s kept watch, and when she needs him after being arrested for a crime she didn’t commit, he brings her back home to Bliss.
Jennifer Waters may be young, but she knows exactly what she wants . . . Stef Tallbot. When he tells her he regrets their night together, Jen flees to Dallas to work in an art gallery. When she’s set up for a crime she didn’t commit and finds herself back in Bliss, she realizes just how much she gave up when she fled. Now that she is home amongst the friends that are her family, she’s ready to make her stand and show Stef she’s all in. She just needs to convince him that he is too!
Just as things are warming up between Stefan and Jennifer, more heat comes their way as Jen finds herself wanted by the Russian mafia who descend on the tiny town of Bliss during the winter festival. They want the missing painting and will do anything to get it, including kill anyone in their way.
First off, let me do my happy dance to be back in Bliss! Second, I was thrilled to finally have Stefan and Jennifer’s story on my kindle . . . I’ve been waiting for Stef to get his head out of his behind for quite a few books now, and Lexi Blake doesn’t disappoint!
As always, Lexi’s characters are amazing and feel like friends. Jen is a sweetheart, and while young, she knows exactly what she wants out of life. I adored that she decided to make her stand whether or not Stef was on board. It really showed her strength of character. And Stef . . . I absolutely loved how human and imperfect he is in this book. He’s not the perfect Dom when it comes to Jen, as he totally projects what he thinks she needs onto her . . . but it comes from a place of absolute love and caring. This book is all about him finally realizing how he works all of his relationships, including friendships, and his emotional growth is stunning. Even though Stefan and Jen’s relationship is messy, it’s gorgeous!
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Lexi Blake book without amazing suspense. You gotta love when the Russian mafia shows up in the quirkiest small town in America! The suspense in this book really highlights some of the side cast of characters and now I can’t wait for their stories, including Caleb, Holly, Alexei and Logan.
One to Keep was a phenomenal romantic suspense and emotional roller coaster, so strap on your seat belt and enjoy the ride. 5 stars!
I’m so glad to be back in Bliss, Colorado – a place where the community is as quirky as can be and loves to meddle in other people’s lives, but it’s also a tight knit group who has each other’s back and will do whatever needs to be done to take care of their own.
In their own right, Stefan Talbot and Jennifer Waters are intriguing and complex characters and the fact that readers are privy to both of their perspectives, including their internal musings, allows us to get to the heart of Stefan’s issues with relationships and commitment and the reasons behind Jennifer’s escape to Texas and the risks and complications that surround her as she comes back home and faces off with not only Stefan but the issues that also seemed to follow her home.
I do have to admit, though, that I struggled with Stef and Jennifer as a couple. As a man who thrives on order and control, Stef tends to demand obedience from those around him, especially Jennifer, even though he knows that she lives her life in ways that match her artistic nature and that stifling her creativity rids the world of her chaotic beauty. I just didn’t understand why Stef would want that to happen when it clearly defines who she is, and even when readers are given much needed reasoning, my buy-in was still a bit lacking due to certain situations and exhibited behavior, so while I could tell that Stef’s feelings for Jennifer were strong despite some of his actions, I wanted to feel like they couldn’t live without each other and that they had a bond that would survive anything and even at the end, I still wondered if they had what it takes to work through everything that happened and focus on what’s most important.
A lot goes down in One to Keep, which makes Stefan and Jennifer’s story about so much more than them figuring out if they belong together. There’s suspense, dramatics, and a whole lot of sexual tension as well as an air of danger that surrounds, not only Jennifer, but the entire town of Bliss, which makes the
secondary characters just as important as the hero and heroine, partially because Stef and Jennifer need their support to overcome what they’re up against but more so that through the townspeople, readers gain further insight into the ins and outs of the town and their views on King Stef, the Dominant, and his artsy submissive.
Despite my misgivings about Stef and Jennifer’s relationship, I loved revisiting this crazy Colorado town and its inhabitants, and I’m hopeful that some of the characters who were introduced in One to Keep and/or the ones readers learned more about have their stories told because there’s definitely some interesting dynamics that I’d love to see explored.
3.5/4 Poison Apples
“Give me your mouth.”
The second go-round was just as good guys! If not, maybe even better! One to Keep by Lexi Blake is book three in her Nights in Bliss, Colorado series and has been re-released in a second edition with some brand new content! I’ve always loved the dynamic between Stef and Jen. It’s heartbreaking by the fact that Stef refuses to give more to Jen because of their age difference and experience. It’s sassy and feisty in the way that Jen isn’t afraid to speak her mind and give Stef exactly what he deserves. It’s sweet and swoony when Stef eventually caves, and it’s intense, passionate, and oh so sexy when they finally give in to their desires. These two are probably one of my all time favorite couples out of this amazing series!
It doesn’t matter if this is your second read through of the book or if you are brand new to the series…One to Keep has something for everyone who loves their romance a little on the kinky side. If you are a fan of BDSM romances full of emotion, humor, and wit, look no further. Lexi Blake has given us all that and more with this series! Fans, old and new, sit back, relax, and get ready to scream at Stefan Talbot through your kindles! Happy Reading!
I keep going back and forth about my feelings on this book. Stefan and Jennifer’s relationship was difficult to understand, more difficult to root for, yet there was something intrinsic about their coupling that left me no choice but to hope they could figure things out.
It’s been a long time since I have found a character as frustrating as I found Stefan Talbot. He’d been aloof and untouchable in the other novels in this series, so I was so interested in finding out what made him tick in this book. He was a broken boy, who’d never really dealt with his parents’ abandonment but seemed utterly unaware of how deeply it had affected every facet of his life. His treatment of Jennifer was maddening, but ultimately it was obvious he was trying to protect himself while making sure she had every opportunity he could provide for her.
Jennifer was the perfect counterpart to Stefan once she realized why he had been pushing her away for the entirety of their acquaintance. Despite her youth, she was exceedingly patient with the man and continually gave him what he needed the moment she knew he needed it. Though her choices were occasionally aggravating, she knew what she wanted and took the steps she needed to ensure she ended up with the man she’d loved for years.
I kind of loved the plot of One to Keep, even if it was a little over the top at times. The Russian mafia element drew me in completely, and I loved Alexei and his backstory. I almost found myself wanting to skip through Jen and Stefan’s story so I could get to Alexei’s. The way Ms. Blake weaved the art and mafia together and brought in all kinds of other little details was interesting and kept me invested in the book.
In keeping with my indecision about this book, I’m not sure if I wish anything was different about this book. If Stefan were different, it would be a disservice to his character. If they didn’t have the struggles, they had with Jennifer’s situation they’d have never given each other another chance. As frustrating as much of this book was, it was faithful to who Stefan and Jennifer were.
One to Keep is the third book in Lexi Blake’s Nights in Bliss, Colorado series. These books were originally written under the pen name Sophie Oak and have been re-released with added content. Ms. Blake’s series are interconnected, and we got to see a few of our favorites from other series. One to Keep can be read as a standalone, though the characters from the first two books in the series make appearances in this book. The novel is written in third-person limited perspective, alternatively following Jennifer, Stefan, and Alexei’s thoughts.
Do you want a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat? One to Keep will do that!
I might have yelled at my son-in-law when he was trying to find diaper wipes for my grandchild while I was at a crucial part of this book. In my defense, I listen to my books all on my Fire Kindle text to speech feature so, I had my earphones on and I was intently listening when he was trying to get my attention. But, enough of that and on with my review.
One to Keep is the third book in the Nights in Bliss, Colorado Series and is Stefan Talbot and Jennifer Waters story.
As you might be able to tell by my above paragraph One To Keep is a Romantic Suspense book. It also covers genre’s Erotic Cowboy Romance, BDSM romance and there are some sex toys to play with.
One to Keep is a pretty HAWT romance! Stefan might think that Jennifer is too young but, Jennifer doesn’t think she is.
And, she isn’t going to let it go at least the second time around, nor is he. She ran from Stefan the first time. After she ran she ended up getting arrested and is accused of theft. Stefan came in to rescue her and she returns to Bliss along with Stefan. Stefan has been granted keeping an eye on her.
There are a few long drawn out scenes but obviously, this book is good if I was upset with my SIL.
I am ready to move to Bliss! I give One To Keep 4 stars and can’t wait until the next installment Lost in Bliss, #3 in this series!