My royal blood flows black with twisted secrets.I am a beast who wears a crown.Heir to a modern kingdom cloaked in corruption and depravities.The time has come to claim my princess.An innocent hidden away from my dark world.Till now.Her initiation will require sacrifice and submission.There is no escaping the chains which bind her to me.Surrendering to my torment, as well as my protection, is … me.
Surrendering to my torment, as well as my protection, is her only path to survival.
In the end…
She will be forever mine.
*Beasts & Bourbon is a dark billionaire romance. If you don’t like a splash of shock, a dash of edge, and a heavy dose of dirty, then don’t take a sip of this TOP SHELF cocktail.
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Beasts & Bourbon by Alta Hensley is book 5 in the Top Shelf Series. This is the story of Prince Roman and Cheri’s 2nd chance love story.
They have this long history that goes back to when they were children thru early adulthood. Cheri had left Roman to find out who she really was but Roman has grown tired of waiting– ten years is long enough to be separated, for her to “find herself” and sends Silas, his right-hand man, to bring Cheri back to where she belongs– with him.
Prince Roman was born into this secret society that he must introduce Cheri into. She will have to submit to him and the do what he tells her to. This is a do or die situation. Cheri is initiated into the dangerous , sizzling and taboo world that Roman lives in. Their very survival depends on it. Wowza, the chemistry, the heat and the dark desires are intense in this story. I loved every moment of Roman and Cheri’s love story. Only minor issue is I wish this read was longer, not no short. Otherwise, great addition to the Top Shelf series.
My Rating: 4.7 stars *****
This dark, dominant romance is not for feminists.
Cheri starts out as a woman who knows what she wants, but as soon as she capitulates to Roman’s demand that she uphold her end of their arranged marriage agreement, she appears to fall under his domineering spell and willingly submits to absolute degradation in order to prove her worthiness as his bride. As a simpering heroine at the end, Cheri’s character just didn’t resonate with me as much as in the beginning.
Aside from this premise, the book is well-written, smoldering hot, and intensely dark. Roman’s character doesn’t change over the course of the story – he starts out as a fully-in-control alpha who can admit to himself that he’s always been in love with Cheri, and by the time we get to their HEA, he’s demonstrated his beast within and is grateful that Cheri survived the initiation. This isn’t my favorite of the Spiked Roses series, but it is a worthy addition. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I love Beasts & Bourbon. Alta Hensley sure does bring in the hot and steamy with this one. If you’ve read any of the other books in the Top Shelf series then you may have been introduced to Prince Roman and the men behind Spiked Roses plus the Iron Colt Brotherhood. And yes you still get a tad of Tennessee in this one too. I love the chemistry between Roman and Cheri. Roman is a dominant that will not leave you lacking. I love his sweet side when it comes to Cheri. Cheri is a bit of a runner so to speak. You will see what I mean by that when you read this one. Roman and Cheri have known since childhood that they have an arranged marriage and you can’t help but feel the love between them. I love how Roman and Cheri handle the Initiation together. That right there will show you just how tight their bond is as the go through the paces from the Iron Colt Brotherhood. I really couldn’t put this one down and you don’t want to miss a moment of this one. Go one click and see what I mean.
Beasts and Bourbon ( Top Shelf #5) by Alta Hensley is Prince Roman’s story. He grew up with Cheri. He has now collected her to be his wife. Theirs is an arranged marriage. It was arranged every since they were children. Cheri has always loved Roman. He has been her first in everything. However she hates the pretentious lifestyle and for the last few years she has been on the run. Now she has been summoned so she can fulfill her obligation. They will go through with the wedding but he has a secret. He requires her to be prepared for him. What she endures allows them to discover things about each other they never knew or expected. A quick read that enjoyed. Kinky, dirty and sexy. Young love
rediscovered. 4 stars.
Why oh why can I not give half stars?! This is my first book by this author, and my first book in the series. I do not feel like I missed out on anything from not reading the others as it is written as a standalone. This book is based on Prince Roman and Cheri the woman he has been betrothed to since they were little.
When the time comes for Roman to claim Cheri he pulls out all the punches to make sure she comes back to him. They have off the charts chemistry and a past that you will find out about. Once Cheri is back where she belongs that is where things begin. As the blurb states she will need to submit like she has never done before. This book is unlike any I have ever read. You will understand what I am saying when you read it for yourself. Taboo really doesn’t bother me, but I guess reading and imagining some of the things had my mind going in different directions.
The only thing I really didn’t like is I felt like the story was rushed. There were parts I was expecting more. Especially when she was submitting and the things she needed to go through to prove her loyalty.
This book was amazing and so hot. I saw steam coming from my Kindle. I absolutely, 100% loved this book. Prince Roman is ready to marry and does any and everything in his power to bring Cherise back to him and make her remember how great it was for them before. There is a hea.
Beasts and Bourbon from Alta Hensley brings us Roman and Cheri’s story. They’ve been promised to one another since they were children, but Cheri has run away from that life, instead embracing the life of a bohemian.
It’s time for Prince Roman to wed, however, and he’ll settle for no bride other than Cheri.
As with every book in the Top Shelf series, Beasts and Bourbon relishes in the dark, decadent, depraved and taboo. Having read the beginnings of this story in the Royally Mine anthology, I was excited to see what the author had in store for his couple, as I knew it would be anything but an ordinary fairy tale romance.
Throughout this dark tale, Cheri must learn to submit as she is initiated into the dangerous and taboo world that Roman lives in. Their very survival depends on it. My one issue with this story is that resembles a short story from the Daddy’s Demands anthology. It left me feeling a bit disappointed because I felt like it was too familiar and I knew where the story was headed before I wanted too.
This story is not for readers who avoid graphic portrayals of punishment and sex. However, if that’s your reading kink, Beasts and Bourbon is a delight. 3.5 stars.
I am so excited to be able to read another book from the Top Shelf Series and OMG! I can’t believe this book ended. I so was not prepared for it to end. I just didn’t want it to end, this book is just that good.
Prince Roman and Cherise “Cheri” knew that one day they would marry since it is arranged that they would. Roman had all Cheri’s firsts. “First Kiss” and “First sexual experience”.
Cheri runs away because she doesn’t want to be like her mother. Cheri should have known that Roman would find her. It was time for her to come home. He was ready to marry her.
Prince Roman was born into this secret society that he must introduce Cheri to. She will have to learn to submit & it is a do or die situation.
I loved reading Beasts & Bourbon. It is a deliciously dark & sexy read and who doesn’t love Bourbon? As I am drinking my own Manhattan.
Even though you can probably read these books as standalones here is the reading order for Top Shelf Series:
Kenneth Saxon – Bastards & Whiskey #1
Harley Crow – Villains and Vodka #2
Victor Drayton – Scoundrels & Scotch #3
Alec Sheldon – Devils & Rye #4
Prince Roman Cassian- Beasts & Bourbon #5
I am hoping that there are 2 more books to be written in this series. Since there are 7 rich and powerful men that own Spiked Roses, an exclusive, membership only establishment and there are now 5 books.
Matthew Price and Lennon Wolf need their stories written about too. 5 STARS all the way!
t: Kindle Edition
Oh YES!!!! I loved prince Roman and his dirty mouth and the time has come to claim his beautiful precious Cherise and she has a whole lot of surprises in store for her that are not going to be easy entering into Romans dark world and desires but I loved how he is so protective of her and the love is strong. Cherise is a very sassy woman and super strong and I really liked her they are perfection together and very intense, there a lot of holding your breath moments not knowing what to expect as they enter the dark and twisted up world that they cant escape.