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Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica/Erotic Romance, Novella, Romance

Theme: BDSM, Friends with Benefits/No Strings Attached, Forced Proximity (stranded, safehouse, etc), Second Chance

Archetype: Alpha

This RITA® Reader Challenge 2016 review was written by Goodreads. This story was nominated for the RITA® in the Erotic Romance category.

The summary:

The New York Times bestselling author of Call on Me invites you to discover the thrill of control as one couple wrestles for power in and out of the bedroom…

Samantha Dunbar needs to forget Gibson Andrews. When he trained her to be a domme, she experienced just how hot things could get with the sexy executive. She was ready to hand him everything—including her heart. But Gibson backed away, declaring them incompatible. He’s a dominant, and Sam’s no submissive.

But after an attack shakes Sam to her core, Gibson tracks her down at her family’s rundown farmhouse and makes her an offer. He’ll stay the week and be hers in every way—a helping hand for the renovation and a willing lover in her bed. He swore he’d never give up control to anyone again, but he hasn’t been able to touch another woman since Sam. Maybe a week alone with her will cure him of his relentless craving.

But one taste only makes them want more, and Sam and Gibson are drawn in deeper than ever. The man who won’t give in has just met the girl who won’t give up…

Here is Goodreads's review:

I didn’t receive a 2016 RITA® Reader Challenge review for this book, so I’m compiling quotes from reviews online and using the grade average from Goodreads as a substitute.

This book has a 4.03 average, which I’m interpreting as an A-.

Meli Mel *Ty and Zane’s Creeper* wrote:

…This was the first book I have read where the dominant in this bdsm relationship is a woman. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it, but I’m glad to say that I really enjoyed it. Sam was a likable character and she did really great for herself despite her horrible upbringing in foster care. I also really liked Gibson and he was a great character despite also having a not so great childhood. However, it did affect him in not wanting to be a submissive. I loved how he cared about Sam and that he would do something that made him uncomfortable and unsure just to make sure she was okay. His feelings for her ran deep and it showed, except for when he was didn’t want to accept how he was. I liked the dynamic and the chemistry between them. It was all kinds of hot, and not once did Gibson seem emasculated by being submissive.

This is a novella, so, their story did begin before the book began, but it actually worked. I almost didn’t even need to see any scenes of them in the past. Even though it was a short read I was able to connect with them. It was very well developed and you could feel the relationship between them grow. It never felt like I was reading a novella. The sex scenes were definitely hot but not for everyone. There was talk about rape fantasies and such that may make it difficult for some to enjoy. There were some emotional parts in this one so it wasn’t all just sex, and a bit of angst that kept things interesting. Overall, I found this to be a really great read.

Christy LoveOfBooks wrote:

…These two are quite the pair. They push each other in ways they both need to be pushed, emotionally and physically. It was so much fun watching them work everything out, and very touching and sweet at times. Really, the romance was wonderfully done…

Cézanne Hayden-Dilbert’s wrote:

…Both character’s had issues from the pasts that they were still battling with. I loved how the story delved into both their past and present issues. Gibson had true inner turmoil and it was written in such a way that I could not help but care for him. I enjoyed the fact they we had the chance to hear both characters inner thoughts and concerns. I liked both characters but it did take me a few chapters before I warmed up to Samantha. It bothered me that she wasn’t as empathetic to Gibson’s issues as he was to hers. I did eventually warm up to her though…

Vanessa Booke wrote:

If you’re looking for a great story about a male submissive and female Domme, then this is definitely the story for you. Roni Loren’s writing sucked me in from the very beginning and kept me hanging on until the very end. Although Break Me Down isn’t a full-length novel, it still feels like it is. Roni does an amazing job building her characters and the challenges between them. Each chapter is well written and meaty with plenty to keep you engaged. It also helps that she always has the best sex scenes! 😉

As I got to the end of the story, I was certain that Break Me Down would end a particular way and then it didn’t, which was pleasantly surprising. I rarely cry with books, but there I was crying at the very end. Ms. Loren wraps this story up perfectly. As a big fan of hers, I can’t tell you how excited I was to see Pike, Foster, and Grant in this story. Even if it was only for a few chapters. I’ll definitely take what I can get.

Overall, I would definitely recommend reading Break Me Down. It takes a special kind of author to have you falling in love with characters in such a short amount of time, but Roni Loren does this flawlessly.