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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3.5 Stars
In this Top Shelf # 3 book, we get to know Victor Drayton and his dolls.
I’m a collector of dolls. All kinds of dolls.
That right there sums up who Victor Drayton is. He’s got quite the collection of well trained, living dolls.
As an artist, Victor and his dolls travel around the world, tickets selling out quicker than you or I can log on to click purchase! Everyone in the ‘dark community’ wants to see Drayton’s Dolls and their performance.
Ivy has been called into the office at Spiked Roses, the exclusive, membership only establishment she works at. She is terminated from Spiked Roses for violating a no tolerance rule. When she is instructed to stay put after all the other owners leave because Victor Drayton wants to discuss something with her, she never imagined becoming a Drayton Doll would be what he proposes.
While I was super stoked about this book coming out, I didn’t get ‘hooked’ like the books before. This is a good book just not as good as the first two in this Standalone Series. Was written well, flowed great, just something was missing to pull me into the doll world that I so much wanted to enjoy!!
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I’M HERE TO OFFER YOU A JOB—TO BECOME A DRAYTON DOLL
Once again, Ms. Alta Hensley has penned a story that is spine-tingling, on-the-edge-of-your-seat, I can’t look, but I can’t look away page-turning tale. There is a unique cast of characters, some you will hate, some will have you hot and bothered, and some, you just aren’t sure about. The characters and situations are explicated detailed. The story is not for those who want wine and roses with a sweet storyline. The story is raw, edgy, dirty, painful, intense, explicit and erotic. 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.
Ivy Adams calls herself a white trash girl from Mississippi. She had a miserable childhood, with a drunken and abusive father. When she got her chance, she moved away and had been working as a waitress at the Spiked Roses private gentlemen’s club. But a drug test will shatter that dream when she tests positive. Having nowhere to go, sending most of her money to her sister who is caring for their ailing father, she is at her wits end until Victor Drayton makes her an offer, to become one of the famous Drayton Dolls.
Victor Drayton is an artist. “One who pushed to boundaries of taboo, sexual deviance, and hidden desires. Twisted, wrong but delightfully right.” He is also one of the seven managing members of the Spiked Roses club, and they were men who didn’t hide the fact that they were rich, ruthless, dark, twisted, and had the power and resources to do whatever they chose.
The plot will have Ivy going to work for Victor and moving to the Dollhouse where she will undergo rigorous training and choreography of posing, dancing, and becoming a life-size doll. “If I have to be the token white trash broken doll someone bought on clearance at the discount story to travel to exotic places, so be it.” “It’s about the contrast. The are is about the light and dark, the good and the bad, the innocence and tainted.”
“Sex is beauty. Sex is art. You’ll be trained on how sex can also be twisted, dark, taboo. You’ll soon be taught there is no shame in desire, but there is shame in denial of pure and animalistic thoughts and actions. You’ll learn to not only expose your body freely but your soul when you are performing my art. You’ll be trained in how to make your body look stiff like a doll, controlled by a make-believe puppet master, delicate and dainty, but also extremely haunting and eerie.”
“Drayton’s Dolls don’t just ripple through the art society; it is a tidal wave.”
“It’s about structure, discipline, accepting a level of twisted reality, and releasing the woman so you can become the doll. When I tell you to do something, whether it is a command or a request, you are to do exactly as I say. I expect and almost robotic nature in response to everything.”
The story will take the reader into the Dollhouse, the training, the preparations for an art exhibit. The mindset of Ivy as she transforms into a Drayton Doll. It is also the beginning of a claiming and possession for Victor to know that Ivy isn’t just a doll, she is much more, and he isn’t willing to share. He becomes obsessed with her and not wanting to share her with others. Cancelling her appearance and leaving her behind along with an injured doll and two new dolls that aren’t ready to showcase.
“I had no intention of sharing my doll. She was my toy. And I’d never learned how to share well with others.”
The story will take on a sinister nature of life and death, and not everyone will survive. The story and sex scenes are explicit; the art shows are taboo and detailed. The story has some shock and awe events, and not all of it is good. The fourth story in the series, Devils & Rye will release March 27, 2018.
This is the third book in the Top Shelf Series, and like the other three this book did not disappoint. I read them out of order, and that really wasn’t a problem. I loved the idea of the Drayton Dolls…very kinky. As in all of Ms. Hensley’s books the chemistry between the two main characters, in this book Victor and Ivy, is off the charts. So prepare yourself for a kinky wild ride.
I had high hopes for Drayton and his perfect dolls especially following Harley’s story -though in all fairness it is possible that nothing would come close to satisfying me after reading that story – so it could just be my own expectations were very high
Drayton though could be the perfect book boyfriend – he is extraordinarily creative, a tad eccentric and completely and wholly all Alpha male .. Oh and what that man’s mind can devise – panty melting
I enjoyed Ivy to a degree – she is a strong heroine, something that is necessary to be Drayton’s personal doll – She is loyal to a fault and a bit naive-which may be where I had trouble connecting with her character
The art was fantastic and I am looking forward to where this goes after everything that has happened – yes there is bad guys and evil plots and some heartbreak in this one but it is all necessary to get our HEA
This for me was more of a sweet love story – yes it still had its dark elements but it wasn’t a wow for me – also I felt we were missing some information regarding background and details within scenes.
I am sure I am going to be in the minority with this review
Would I recommend it – Absolutely
This is currently available in Kindle Unlimited
You met Victor Drayton as one of the owners of the Sex Club Spiked Roses in previous books and his own Art Exhibits featuring Drayton Dolls was generating a lot of buzz. I was looking forward to this story very eagerly.
Victor has this hugely popular living dolls art exhibits which garner a lot of attention and invite lots of visitors, his events are sold out shows. To be a Drayton Doll is a privilege and he invests a lot of time and money in them.
Victor was a world-famous and highly renowned artist and gallery owner. What he was the most famous for was his use of human dolls in all his art pieces. People would travel all around the world to attend one of his performance art doll exhibits that spotlighted the taboo and the kinky.
Ivy Adams is the newest Drayton Doll, she has to catch up fast as many Art Exhibits are in the schedule. Milan, Berlin, Japan. It’s a fantastic life as a Doll, you get to travel the world, dress up as Dolls and be a part of the exhibits.
But not all is smooth sailing. Soon Harley hears dangerous rumours and suddenly their lives are in danger !! The follow up is deadly and heart changing for the dolls and Victor.
The story was good, had a lot of potential, but it became cookie cutter very soon. I would have loved more about the exhibits itself. What happens there, How they were staged, what did the guests do, what did they touch, etc.
All in all a good story, but I would have loved more darkness and kink
Ivy Adams was one of the waitresses at the Spiked Roses. She, like most of the other waitresses, lived in Marie’s boarding house. Unlike the others, almost all of what she made was used for her family’s support and a place to live. Even though she’d never used any drugs at work, Ivy failed a mandatory drug test. The Spiked Roses has a zero tolerance and she was, therefore, fired. Victor Drayton, one of the co-owners of the Spiked Roses, is also an artist and gallery owner known for hosting artists around the world who exuded a dark side. He offers Ivy a job being one of his “Drayton’s Dolls” which she accepts. She’d heard rumors of course, but she had no idea what was about to come her way. This one was a little darker, a little more intense, a little more emotional than the first two books. Alta Hensley has increased the depth, emotion, and definitely the heat with each book in this series until this one almost exploded. What a great story.
As I started this all I could think was this is just weird. I mean Dolls?! But I stuck with it, knew I had to see it thru. Amazing!!!! So glad I gave it a chance to twist me into the dark. To see Alta’s vision. Needs more than 5 stars! I loved it!
Fuck this one was awesome. Scoundrels & Scotch’s idea is so twisted and weird that I had to give it five stars. I mean a guy that makes art out of living women being dolls is just wicked. I LOVED IT!
We all knew what Victor Drayton was into if you read the other two books. Dolls, living, breathing dolls. He gets off turning women into dolls with certain things put in certain body parts. He has a whole building set up to train them. Victor takes this very seriously and makes a living off of it. But when he meets the new woman he wants to turn into his doll things are about to change.
Ivy has been working at Spiked Roses and helping out her family when she is found out to be on drugs Victor takes her on as a doll and moves her into the Dollhouse, where she will have to train and get off the drugs. When Victor takes her on to teach her himself things get heated between the two fast.
This is a great series and even hough I am reading these books in reverse order, they are all great reads. Victor and Ivy’s story is well written, these two are so interesting, and their chemistry grows with the story. I’ve never quite understood performance art and I don’t have any clearer comprehension with this book. But the dynamic between these two was palatable. Page turner from start to finish!! Read for free with my KU subscription now on to book 2.
Love this series big #fangirl of All Alta’s books.. Definitely your next 5 star Read!!
I listened to the audible version of this story and it was a good one. This is a series but every book can be read or listened to as a standalone story. This one gives us Ivy and Victors story, along with the infamous Victor Drayton’s Dolls. Ivy maybe one of Victor’s doll but to him she’s so much more. She will be his in every way. I enjoyed learning a little of the process as the dolls and this story was definitely a steamy one. However, it also had a bit of suspense and tragedy. I enjoyed these characters a lot and I definitely look forward to the next story in this series.
Scoundrels & Scotch is another must read by Alta Hensley This is a well written book with well developed over the top characters that captivated me just like the first two books in this series. Victor and Ivy are amazing characters and I loved Victor’s Dolls. This is a dark twisted read full of craziness, suspense and romance. I can’t wait to read the next Top Shelf book.
I enjoyed this book. It kept me captivated
This was something I hadn’t read before. The premise was interesting and the plot twists were fast, but interesting. Good read.
I decided to read this book based on the whole “dolls” concept. I was intrigued by the idea. And I liked the book until Chapter 15 where it just… well… jumps the shark. Seriously. The dialogue between characters is horrible. The actions in the plot become unbelievable. So bad that I had to stop reading. Too bad, really. The first half of the novel was really good.
I loved this, It was just so god damn freaky and surreal.
Got to admit I was kinda looking forward to this one and it didn’t disappoint.
Drayton’s Dolls that he keeps in his Dollhouse, oh, what a unique and unusual concept this was.
And one I was practically salivating to get my mitts on.
I could actually foresee an Art show where this fiction could actually be made fact, and It would probably succeed.
Folks will pay through the nose for the strangest of things I find.
So Ivy, after getting the push from Spiked roses gets an offer of employment from Victor himself.
To be the newest Doll in his Dollhouse.
A role that is strange and surreal in its expectations and Lifestyle choices, but also one Ivy is committed to fulfilling 100%
Victor expects perfection, excellence and complete submission from his Dolls.
But maybe Victor doesn’t want to share this Doll with the masses, maybe he wants to keep Ivy for his own private collection.
There is also word out on the streets that there is a price on the Dolls heads so great is their renown and fame, another set of issues.
So this was all sorts of wrong and freaky and also all sorts of super flaming hot as well.
Loved Ivy, adored Victor and the only reason this lost a star from me is I don’t think this was long enough.
I don’t think this was lengthy enough to fully explore the many nuances this tale threw into the mix and I would have prefered to see certain issues dealt with more completely rather than just glossed over.
So Scoundrels & Scotch (Top Shelf #3) definitely delivers in spades and gets a big fat thumbs up from myself people.
I read this in super record time and was glued throughout.
So yeh if you like your fiction weirdly wonderful and freaky give this a go it certainly hit the spot for me.
Thank You to the Author for proving me with an ARC of Scoundrels & Scotch of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9460945-bex-beckie-bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
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Unconventional, unexpected, darker, a smidgen more twisted, but I liked it!! At first a little creepy, haunting, wasn’t sure what would happen between these two, and then like magic, a slow burn ignited.
“Victor captured my breath, my heart, my soul. There was something about his dark eyes that sent me swooning, and his voice was deep and methodical.”
Before I knew it, I was drawn into a hot-as-sin thrill ride that had me white knuckling my kindle. Completely transforming my expression from a raised eyebrow to a smile and a gut full of feels!! I thank the Author for providing a copy to review!!
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
Going into this review, I can honestly say, Scoundrels & Scotch by Alta Hensley is unlike anything I have ever read before. Also a funny bit of news I should also share with you all, I am terrified of dolls. I literally hate them and they scare me. With that said, I had to set my fears to the side and read this as if I were a person that doesn’t go running out of the room every time a commercial for a doll toy comes on. As I started reading Scoundrels and Scotch and truly started to get invested in this novel, I found myself becoming more and more intrigued by the storyline. Who wouldn’t be intrigued. This man….he has human dolls! That is wicked and honestly, a little terrifying….which instantly caught my attention.
Victor Drayton is an artist with a weird and kinky fetish…he collects dolls..and not just any dolls, he collects woman and turns them into Drayton Dolls and shows them off all around the world in his very exclusive art exhibits.
Ivy Adams is a waitress at Spiked Roses, or should I say was a waitress. After she is fired for failing a drug test, Drayton makes her an offer she can’t refuse. He offers to give her a job working as one of his dolls. The only stipulation is she must hand her life over to him for three years and then he will help her to fulfill her dreams and wishes in every way possible.
I didn’t really care for Victor Drayton. I really enjoyed reading about his world but as for his character, I expected him to be more dark and edgy. I also wanted a more in-depth look as to why he created this artistic world surrounding around human dolls. I didn’t really vibe to well with his character.
However, I was intrigued by Ivy’s character and the way that being a sub comes so naturally to her. She needs this job to support her father and her sister back home, so when she says she’ll do anything to please Victor, this girl is definitely not lying.
I can honestly say, In my years of reading, I have NEVER read anything like Scoundrels and Scotch. This novel pushed me way past my comfort zone, yet still had me on the edge of my seat wanting more and flipping the pages faster than you can say freak of nature!
I’m very curious to see what Alta Hensley has up her sleeve next. I can’t wait to continue on with this serious.
The third book in the Top Shelf series and I have been waiting for this since Victor and his Dolls were mentioned in the previous books.
I loved the slow build up in this book and the introduction of Ivy into the Dollhouse and how she is becoming a Doll while as the same time she is also finding herself and gaining confidence about who she is and what she wants.
But like most Alta books, Slow just means a calm before the storm. Everything explodes, Relationships get taking to a new and exciting level and nothing stays the same. There is action that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, your panties will melt and you will feel very sad.
in short it is a great book.
This is book 3 in the ‘Top Shelf’ Series and I would have to say, it is the best one, so far. In this book, the characters took their time falling which was appreciated. But then the ending felt rushed.
Victor Drayton is an artist with a doll collection and his collection is world renowned.
Ivy Adams has just lost her lucrative job at the exclusive billionaire’s club Spiked Roses when she is offered a position among Drayton’s Dolls.
Once Victor sees Ivy’s performance, he’s not sure he wants others to have the same opportunity to watch what he now considers his. Victor doesn’t realize there may already be someone who is after his Dolls. Will they get Ivy?