REVIEW: Letting Go by Maya Banks

In Letting Go by Maya Banks, Joss has grieved the death of her husband Carson for three years. Joss is lonely though, she is ready to move on and feel alive again. Joss kept a part of herself hidden away from her husband. Her darkest desire, the one she knew he would not be able to give because of his background. Joss loved her husband with all of her heart, but this time she’s seeking what she needs. What she needs and desires is to be dominated by a man.

Dash, Joss’s husband’s business partner and friend, has stood by and supported Joss through the last three years. Joss is ready to set him free from what she perceives is his role as her guardian. But Dash has always had more than friendly feelings towards Joss. He’s kept them well hidden over the years, but the want and the desire is strong. When Dash finds out just what Joss wants, he is determined to be the one to give it to her. Can Joss see Dash for who he is outside of her deceased husband? Can she submit to him? Can Joss let go of Carson but at the same time keep Dash? Joss and Dash have a lot going for them, they fit well together, but they are not communicating very well at times and this could lead to their down fall. If they are not careful they will lose what they’ve just found.

Dash and Joss are both interesting characters. Carson played a big role in their lives (obviously) before his death, and it will be a struggle for one or both of them to let him go and move on. Joss has been grieving, and Dash is very patient and caring with her. Dash is definitely dominant, but for Joss it is an easy entry into the BDSM life and there is nothing too heavy in Letting Go. Joss is stronger than she first comes across as once you get to know her. I liked how her character developed and I liked that she knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. Nervous, yes, but not afraid.

Letting Go by Maya Banks is so much more than Joss exploring a BDSM lifestyle. It is about Joss moving on from a tragic loss, finding love and hope where she least expects it. It is also about finding herself. There were some things I would have liked more of, for example, Dash and Carson’s business was a bit of a mystery until well into the story, but overall Letting Go was a well written, easy to follow story. This is book one of a trilogy, but Maya ends Letting Go so that if you don’t read the next book you are not left hanging. Just wanting more! Although separate from Maya’s Sweet series, I loved how we had a glimpse of a few characters from it!

I’d recommend Letting Go if you are looking for a romance with a BDSM flavor that’s not too strong.

Book Info:

Published February 4th 2014 by Berkley Trade | Surrender Trilogy #1

Josslyn found perfection once, and she knows she’ll never find it again. Now widowed, she seeks the one thing her beloved husband couldn’t give her. Dominance. Lonely and searching for an outlet for her grief and wanting only a brief taste of the perfection she once enjoyed, she seeks what she’s looking for at an exclusive club that caters to people indulging in their most hedonistic fantasies. She never imagined that what she’d find is the one man who’s long been a source of comfort—and secret longing. Her husband’s best friend.

Dash has lived in an untenable position for years. In love with his best friend’s wife and unwilling to act on that attraction. He’d never betray his best friend. And so he’s waited in the wings, offering Joss unconditional support and comfort as she works past her grief, hoping for the day when he can offer her more.

When he finds her in a club devoted to the darker edges of desire, he’s furious because he thinks she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. Until she explains in detail what it is she wants. What she needs. As realization sets in, he is gripped by fierce, unwavering determination. If she wants dominance, he is the only man who will introduce her to that world. He is the only man who will touch her, cherish her…love her. And the only man she’ll ever submit to.