Once upon a time a young girl dreamed of a handsome prince who would rescue her from her grandmother’s prison and make all her dreams come true.But then Linnea grew up, left her past and that godforsaken town behind. She rescued herself because real life is no fairy tale—or is it?One day, just like an alpha hero from one of the tattered paperbacks she’d kept hidden beneath her bed, he appeared at … bed, he appeared at her door. Kyan. Long dark hair, muscles and tattoos, eyes as blue as the summer sky…
Her prince.
With him, she felt things she never even imagined. He took her places she never dared to go. Behind the red door, where nothing was forbidden and her pleasure was everything.
Perhaps her life was a fairy tale after all. She was surrounded by a royal family of fierce Irish Vikings, a court jester, and even merry minstrels—the hot rock stars of Venery.
And she was his princess.
But every story has its villains. An evil queen. A mad king. A she-devil with eyes like a cat.
Linnea had forgotten that before the happily-ever-after, storybook tales are often sick and twisted.
She should have paid closer attention.
Serenity is the first interconnected stand-alone romance in the Red Door series and ends with a HEA–no cliffhanger. It is suitable for readers 18+.
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A beautiful story!
Linnea is a young woman with a terrible past. She has moved on and is working and going to school to try and make things better for herself.
Her family is an eclectic group of people where she works as a barmaid. These people are so important to her, especially her friend Chloe.
Kyan and Dillon are the owners of the bar but they have always seen something in Linnea and after 3 years love sparks when Linnea is being stalked by someone. They rally around her and try to keep her safe.
Serenity is a book of passion and discovery, awakening and desire. It was wonderfully written and I loved it so much. This is the first book I have read by Dyan Layne and I can’t wait to read more.
First ever 5 star review… I was definitely looking forward to this release! And I am not at all disappointed! I’m a sucker
for a fairytale romance especially when it involves a sex club and not just one incredibly hot guy, but a whole bunch! Add in a kind of weird stalker dude and the unraveling of a mystery and more sex… and you’ve got Serenity, a seriously awesome first book from author Dyan Layne. I have to mention the fact that this book is written in third person POV and I was thrilled when I discovered that! It made for some amazing imagery which is impossible to pull off in 1st person POV. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Wow! I just finished Serenity and cannot believe that it is Dyan Layne’s debut novel! This book is phenomenal. Layne is an amazing writer and storyteller. The characters are fantastically multidimensional and well developed. The storyline is just plain amazing! I love it and cannot say enough great things about this book. In my opinion, it is a must read. I will be counting down the days until the next book!
Wow…. Where to start? Would I believe this was a debut novel without being told? No way in hell. Dyan pulls you into the story, woven with layer upon layer of imagery and details. Several times I thought to myself…. That didn’t happen, right? But it did.
I love the openness of the relationship between her and the guys. I love that relationships and sex are viewed with such positivity.
I love that Kyan didn’t try to limit her and keep him in a box, instead letting her find what pleasure made her happiest.
I found new beginnings, twists and turns, steamy scenes, and a new book boyfriend. Kyan is…. Ugh, I feel hardcore for that man. This story is completely original which is always refreshing to find.
Layne has a new reader in me for sure. So stoked to start Affinity and find out all about Chloe’s love life. Jesse and Taylor… my curiosity is so peaked!
Holy hotness! I dove into this book not knowing what to expect. All I knew was that it was part of an interconnected series but could be read as a standalone. I had signed up to read book four before its release, so I wanted to catch up the characters in the series. I was not expecting this book to be such a steamy, sensual read with a plethora of hot male characters. Now I can’t wait to read the rest of the books.
The male main character is Kyan – he owns a restaurant and club with his brother and cousins. He is sexy, dirty-talking, and definitely knows his way around a woman’s body.
Linnea is the female main character, and she escaped her small bible-belt town after her grandmother died. She started a new life with a job she loves (working at Kyan’s restaurant) and new friends, but she cannot escape the voice of her grandmother constantly shaming her.
She feels the full force of Kyan and his family’s closeness and protectiveness when she begins to receive random messages and flowers at her home. Kyan and Linnea are draw to each other, their chemistry is off the charts, but Linnea struggles with embracing her sexual side and combating the shaming voices in her head.
I enjoyed the development of Kyan and Linnea’s relationship, as much as I enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters. As I mentioned in the beginning this is a spicy read but it also had a side of intrigue with a plot twist I did not see coming at the end. If you enjoy heat in your books, then this may be the book for you. Advanced copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Dyan Layne has written an amazing debut novel and the first book in her Red Door Series. Linnea has been working at Charley’s for three years now, alongside her BFF Chloe. Kyan co-owns Charley’s bar with his brother Dillon and two cousins, Brendon and Jesse. Kyan has been in love with Linnea from the first day he saw her, but because of his playboy lifestyle is has loved her from a distance. He is now ready to claim her. Linnea has a past that no one knows about and prefers to keep it that way. She has been getting letters left at her door, telling her is beautiful and explicit things they want to do to her. The thing is Linnea has never seen herself that way so she is intrigued and confused. She tells Chloe about them and the hunt for the sender begins. There is so much volume and so many details in Dyan’s writing, she draws you right in and holds you. Trigger warning! Polyamorous HEA
Serenity (Red Door #1) – Dyan Layne
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
::: SPOILER-FREE REVIEW :::
STANDALONE
ROMANCE
STEAM
Rating: 5 STARS
This is my second Dyan Layne read. It is also her debut. She is amazing. I’ve enjoyed her other book so I was really looking forward to this one. It definitely came through and was better than I thought it would be.
Let me start by saying this book is soooo HAWT… !
I FUCKING DEVOURED THIS BOOK! 😀
Linnea is in a good place in her life. She is working while finishing her degree. She has a cozy home… she is content.
Kyan was attracted to her beauty and innocence. He finds his way into Linnea’s life slowly. Kyan takes her on a journey of physical and emotional excitement. But with the good comes the bad, and even the ugly sometimes.
The thing I love most is well-developed, complex and flawed characters (because – come on… perfect is BORING!!! ) and Kyan and Linnea are just that.
Loved the chemistry between the two. They were amazing together. At some point it got pretty HAWT…!
Because let me tell you when sex scenes… whew! On fire!
What I liked most was how Linnea grew throughout the book and eventually became the person she always should have been. And just like Linnea , Kyan also changed a lot and became the man that every woman would want next to her
This book is well written and really hard to put down. I was gripped from the moment I started reading until the very last word.
Oh and one more thing…That plot twist… is something I wasn’t expecting at all… I was like WHAT
This is the first book in the Red Door series and these books can be read as standalones. I can assure you I’m going to read the second book ASAP because this woman knows how to write sex scenes so damn well.
I recently discovered this book and could not put it down. It is a great start to a new series. Linnea and Chloe are great best friends. Kyan is just want Linnea needs in her life. Jesse, Brenden, and Dillon add plenty of support and banter throughout the book and I cannot wait to read all of their stories.
This story does contain some sensitive material that could cause triggers.
This is my first book by this author and i really enjoyed it. I like the characters and their relationships to each other and their closeness. I enjoy getting to know them all.
This book has a bit of a twisted aspect in the plot which I enjoy. The sex scenes in and out of the club are hot. Not all questions ate answered which made me want to read book 2 even more.
Great Read!!
Awesome awesome and awesome!
This is my first introduction to Author Dyan Layne & I am hooked!
The cover & blurb sucked me into my curiosity of this story and I am so glad I jumped in to read it.
I loved this book soo much that I read it 2x.
Kyan and Linnea chemistry was fun to read.
I liked the way we get to see how their relationship grows.
This book is full of tons of emotions in love, sexual fantasies, trusting one another and being rescued by self discovery from the strength within.
I liked the descriptive storyline and setup for this series.
Soo many other characters that were introduced in this book will get you excited for the other books that will follow in this series.
Book#2 Affinity you will become even more invested in wanting to be with all these beautiful men and woman she has created.
Very impressed and can’t wait to see what happens next with all these characters Author Dyan Layne brings in this series.
Go One Click it!
5 popped!
It took me a while to get into this book, but then I needed answers and fast. I also never realised this was a debut novel, so congrats Dyan.
This book has life changing twists & turns for the main characters, grief, lust, love and hot sex.
SOME SPOILERS
Linnea’s past was horrid, she lives with her dead grandmother’s wrath still raging down on her in her head. She’s made a new life for herself and Kyan is everything she’s been warned to stay away from, but she can’t and he’s now her naughty prince and she’s his princess.
She has a secret admirer/stalker, and that brings a whole new bunch of questions and mystery, but who is he?
When the truths from the past come to light how will Linnea cope with the truths?
Serenity was an awesome read. Full of steamy chemistry, a little mystery and touch of drama and a unique story line. I now have another author added to my 1 click list, I’m a fan for sure.
This story was well written, and sucked me in from the first chapter, I couldn’t put it down. I am truly thankful that I had book 2 waiting when I was finished, because I didn’t want it to end.
I really liked this story and the world Dyan is creating with the Red Door Series. Linnea was easy to connect with. She was kind, had a good head on her shoulders and a bit innocent. Kyan definitely had more life experience. He seemed to be playing a waiting game with his affection for Linn but then life forced his hand. He was everything she needed and he also wanted to push her boundaries. There’s some crazy drama that goes on that had my mouth hanging open and my heart hurting for Linn. I really liked Dyan’s sex positive message in this book. She really goes there! Holy smokes is there a lot of heat between these pages. Can’t wait for the next book!
An emotional read i was surprised with! This isn’t a book that’s an easy hea. It’s grit and dirt and a couple that fight their way to one another. I loved the prose and more importantly loved and inhaled this intense story. Awesome job!
It’s hard to know what to expect from a debut novel, and I admit this was not what I was expecting. That is what makes it unforgettable! It is not an average romance novel with a few twists and turns. There is so much mystery around Linnea’s past, and it has made her reserved and in some ways afraid to allow herself to fully experience her own pleasure. With the help of her best friend Chloe and men like the Byrne brothers around, however, Linnea is about to discover a lot more about herself and what gives her pleasure.
I love these characters! I promise Kyan will be your next book boyfriend! I would tell you about him, Dillon, Jesse and Brendan, but I don’t want to deprive you of discovering them on your own. Prepare yourself, because the way the Dyan writes, nothing is off limits which is what makes the story so hot! One of the things I love most is the way she portrays positivity when it comes to relationships and sex. The characters show understanding, openness and love for one another. There is a lot of emotion, and these characters care about one another as a family.
But don’t get comfortable because WOW – the twists in this story are like nothing I’ve read! Just when you think she won’t “go there” she does, and still she manages to help you feel empathy for the characters. There really are no bad guys in this book – only lives that have been twisted by the people in their pasts. They are left to figure out how to not only survive but reinvent themselves to find their own happiness.
I CANNOT wait to read books on all of these characters, because I am hooked on this series already! As for the Red Door…well I’ll leave you to discover that juicy secret and I’ll warn you it’s not the one!
This was a super sweet story, I absolutely adored it. Linnea and Kyan were just the best. Linnea has a bit of past that she’s trying to hide. Kyan and his brother own a great bar which Linnea works at with her best friend. Kyan is swoon worthy he’s strong and sweet, he really loves Linnea and would do anything for her. Loved the story four stars.
By Tiffany
This book was absolutely amazing! The writing was phenomenal and the characters are well developed and likeable. The storyline is beautiful, emotional, heartbreaking, and just fantastic. It’s steamy, hot, and the twists and turns kept me fascinated and turning the pages. An excellent debut novel and one I highly recommend.
Dyan Layne gave me the most delicious case of whiplash! Every character was delectable, desirable, and downright soul piercing. This circle of family and friends gave me one breathtakingly amazing story!
Linnea is finally at a good place in her life and job. She works for and with great people, has a cozy home, finishing her degree, and is content. It’s more than she’d hoped for really. But a couple of minor incidents catch the attention of her circle and the troops fall in to protect their own. And leading the way is Kyan. He is larger than life and so out of her league. But Kyan has quietly watched and waited for the right time to make his move on Linnea. Her beauty and innocence deserved his full attention. It’s time.
Slowly Kyan finds his way into Linnea’s life. He’ll show her what he truly sees. Linnea allows herself to release the guilt that consumed her past. Kyan is the lightness she needs. Her Prince has come to her rescue.
Kyan takes Linnea on a journey of physical and emotional lust and excitement. Her entire being is shown unthinkable pleasures. But along with the good comes the bad, the very bad, and the ugly. HEA seems only in her books. But then again, her Prince may not be her only warrior.
Kyan and Linnea form a relationship that might take a bit of understanding and acceptance. But if she’ll trust Kyan, crossing the threshold of The Red Door could lead to more than she dreamed possible. This book allows you to live out forbidden fantasies, to experience acceptance without scrutiny, and a serenity only ever known in our dreams!
5 aren’t nearly enough!
What an incredible debut novel for author Dyan Layne, I’m completely mesmerized by this book, it took me through a rollercoaster of emotions and surprises that I didn’t see coming at all.
The main characters of this book are Linnea and Kyan but honestly all of the side characters were as incredible and crucial for this story to be the success it is.
Linnea is a sweet and innocent woman that carries traumas from her past, she didn’t have a nice time growing up. Everything changes one night when Kyan( her boss), comes knocking on her door like the Prince he is, worried about some notes that Linnea is been receiving without knowing who the sender is. That night marks a turning point on Linnea’s life bringing so many exiting new adventure that she never though possible.
She starts a sexual journey and sensual lustful desires she never though she wanted until she crosses “The Red Door”.
The plot twist in this book is something I wasn’t expecting, left me with my mouth hanging open after finding some shocking revelations that trust me, it will leave you the same way.
The steamy level of this book from 0 to 10, it’s a “11”. So BRAVO Dyan you took me by surprise and earn yourself a devoted reader that is craving more of your books.