REVIEW: The Gilded Chain by Lauren Smith

The Gilded Chain by Lauren Smith: Callie has been in love with Fenn since he came to live with her and her dad on their ranch. When Wes arrives with an invitation to Fenn’s wedding, she is understandably heartbroken even though Fenn never saw her as anything other than a sister. She’s spent her entire life on the ranch but she dreams of being an artist and traveling.

Wes is a well renowned art expert and often facilitates the purchase of specific pieces, as well as advising on the proper security for those who have personal art collections. He’s thrilled to have Fenn back in his life, but he’s been forever changed by the kidnapping and disappearance of his best friend.

Wes has been intrigued by Callie since his first visit to her family’s ranch. She’s so very different from any woman in his past with her air of innocence and her talent as an artist. Knowing that she’s devastated by the news, he challenges her to follow her dreams of going to Paris…with him.

“Ready for what?” she demanded, but her tone was breathless.
“For me. But you will be. I have thirty days to prove it to you. Unfortunately I have to return to Weston for a few days but I’ll come back and pick you up.” He withdrew from her personal space, gazing for one minute longer at her before he strode out of the tack room and away from her.

Callie takes him on up the bet and is determined to resist him. Once they are in Paris, Callie sees another side to Wes. He can be kind, generous, and romantic. After being ignored by Fenn romantically, Wes’s determined and thoughtful pursuit shatters her resistance. She finds a passion she never expected.

Wes is very careful to never cross certain lines with the women in his life. He’s not looking for love or a happily ever after, but he does need a submissive lover. He finds himself working to win Callie over and make her forget her first love. With Callie, Wes doesn’t follow his own rules. Being with Wes, Callie finds inspiration and opportunities to grow as an artist all around her.

“I love it when you blush.” He sighed like a man lost in a favorite dream.
“That’s good, because you make me blush all the time,” she retorted a little grumpily. She’d like to see him blush for a change.
He bent and nipped her bottom lip before teasing her. “There’s a little sass in you. I like it. Keep it up and I’ll spank you.”

The Gilded Chain is a journey of discovery for both Wes and Callie as they something a bit unexpected in each other. The Gilded Chain could be read as a standalone in the Surrender series, but the storyline does logically follow the previous two books. Lauren Smith continues to provide a good balance of romance, mystery, and character development. Ms. Smith provided a good cast of secondary characters and a hint of what is to come in the next book in this series. Fans of Roni Loren and Shayla Black will enjoy The Gilded Chain.

Book Info:

Publication: Published November 3rd 2015 | Forever Yours | Surrender #3

Explore a hidden world of erotic fantasies, where the greatest pleasures are stolen and the fiercest passions are untamed. . .

For years, Callie Taylor has been obsessed with two things: a man she can never have and escaping to Paris where she can follow her artistic passions. But everything changes when Callie meets Wes Thorne, a wealthy, mysterious art collector and famous dominant. Despite all the nights she’s spent dreaming of another man, it is Wes’s predatory gaze that suddenly consumes her every thought and sets her body on fire. One touch from him promises unforgettable passion, but Callie knows that passion often comes with a price…

From the moment he sets eyes on Callie, Wes is intrigued by her artistic talent and her delightful innocence of all things erotic. A stolen kiss leaves him aching and desperate to claim her in a way he’s never wanted any woman. But first he must convince her to surrender her control. And what better place to seduce an artistic soul like Callie’s than Paris?