Review and Giveaway: Locked: Maya Cross

by - Sunday, April 07, 2013


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Book 1 in The Alpha Group series

Who is Sebastian Lock?

The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn’t look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.

But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care much for her promises.

Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she’d enjoy.

There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.

Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?

Contains light BDSM, including spanking, restraint, and anal play

Note: This book is the first part of a trilogy that is designed to be read together, much like The Blackstone Affair. Sebastian and Sophia will get their happily ever after, but not until the last book.


Lock Out(The Alpha Group#2): Goodreads
Unlocked (The Alpha Group#3): Goodreads





"Nothing worth having comes risk free."

This is a short seductive novella. But the author warns us ahead of time that it is part of a trilogy and at least the books are spaced just a couple of months apart. That in itself is refreshing so we will not be left wondering.

Sophia and her friends are out pub crawling one night and action at the back of this nondescript bar grabs her attention. Sophia is a young inquisitive lawyer and she is feisty, mischievous, smart, and has a great sense of humor.  She tends to act without thinking things through fully and she gets herself into trouble. The thought of what is going on in that backroom just drives her crazy until she hatches a plan to get back there. She is shocked at what she finds behind the door and once there she is approached by Sebastian. He is an cocky, controlling business man with a side of flirtation and sarcasm. He is charming and mysterious and obviously a dominant personality. He immediately takes a shine to Sophia. But she abruptly leaves him only to find herself in more trouble and a more embarrassing situation. 

At first glance he seemed confident and charming, the sort of guy I saw every day around the office. But behind that roguish charisma lay something dangerously alluring; a potent strength that seemed to beckon to my very core. It was intimidating, arousing, and more than a little distracting.

So begins a game of cat and mouse. She runs, he stalks, he flirts, she gives it right back. I really enjoyed their interactions as they have a witty, sarcastic rapport with innuendo and hidden meanings. There is loads of sexual tension in between them. Sophia has already figured out what kind of man Sebastian is in the bedroom and it does intrigue her. They are hot for each other and cannot deny it. But can they can agree and come to terms on a mutually satisfying agreement? And if so, will one of them get hurt in the process?

"It was like someone had climbed inside me and turned my hormones up to eleven. My heart was still thundering in my chest."

“Simple is fine. Simple is great. I don’t need romantic dates or bloody hand crafted mix tapes, but I do need to feel like more than just a walking vagina that operates at your beck and call.”

This read was over before I was ready for it to be as I was enjoying the story. I loved the characters and they way they interacted. Sophia is spunky, outspoken, fun and truly likable. Sebastian is a hot, sexy alpha.  I am looking forward to delving deeper into who Sebastian really is and to see the progression of their relationship in the next two installments Lock Out(May) and Unlocked(June/July). I would love to get Sebastian's POV in some of the upcoming books to get more into his head. Maya Cross' writing style flows so well. It is deliciously seductive and draws you right in and keeps your interest.

Thanks to Maya Cross for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review  


I sighed. "It's stupid really. Remember when I said I'd explain my safe word?" He nodded. "Well, when I was running away that first night, it occurred to me that the situation bore some passing similarity to Cinderella. You know, shoes left behind at the ball and all that."

He seemed to find this incredibly amusing. "I'm a little rusty with my fairy tales, but I don't remember Cinderella being quite as sordid as that particular evening."

"You mustn't have been reading the right version."

"Apparently not." He grinned. "Well, that does explain why you were in such a hurry to leave. And here I was thinking you were embarrassed."

I shook my head. "Nope. I just had to escape before pumpkin o'clock." 

Sliding closer, he wrapped his arms around my hips, locking my body against his. "So if you're Cinderella, that makes me Prince Charming then?"

Whatever lingering frustration I'd felt instantly melted away. "I guess so," I said, my voice suddenly fluttering. How the hell does he keep doing that to me?

"Well then, I believe that means that since I've returned your lost slippers, we're meant to kiss now."

I knew I should probably stop him. Someone could walk in at any moment. But as usual, I seemed to have no willpower where he was concerned. Craning his neck, he brought his mouth down to meet mine. The kiss was somehow firm and hungry, yet impossibly soft, and


the warmth of it flowed through me. As our bodies rocked back against my desk, he reached up and ran one hand roughly through my hair, driving us together, as though someone might steal me away at any moment.

Some indeterminable time later, he broke away. "I do believe I should bring you things more often," he said with a smile.

"I'm not sure I'd ever get much done if you did." Glancing and the clock I winced. "Speaking of getting things done, you should probably go. As much as I don't want to go back to this stuff, it'll just be there tomorrow if I don't do it today."

I slipped out from under his arms and reached to open the door, but he followed behind me, catching my wrist in his hand and sliding up against me until my body was pressed into the wood. Trapped again.

"I'm sorry we don't have more time," he said, drawing his free hand softly down my hip. "I do like the idea of fucking you right here."

I could feel his excitement jutting into my lower back like hot metal. Just a few inches lower and... Jesus Sophia, you're at work for fuck's sake.

"This is my office, Sebastian," I said, trying to sound disapproving. I didn't do a very good job.

Dropping his head down he brushed his lips gently across the curve of my neck. "Well, I guess that wouldn't be proper," he whispered. "We'll just have to wait. Are you free tomorrow night?"

"I think so."

"Good. Then come to the Royal Bay hotel, room four hundred, at eight o'clock."

"Why?"

"You said you wanted to start learning more about what it is to submit, so tomorrow I'm going to show you. I think you'll find the experience... eye opening."  

Maya Cross is a writer who enjoys making people blush. Growing up with a mother who worked in a book store, she read a lot from a very young age, and soon enough picked up a pen of her own. Her previous work spans many genres including horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and she has now started this pen name as an outlet for her spicier thoughts (they were starting to overflow). She likes her heroes strong but mysterious, her encounters sizzling, and her characters true to life.

She believes in writing familiar narratives told with a twist, so most of her stories will feel comfortable, but hopefully a little unique. Whatever genre she's writing, finding a fascinating concept is the first, and most important step.

 The Alpha Group is her first attempt at erotic romance.

When she's not writing, she's playing tennis, trawling her home town of Sydney for new inspiration, and drinking too much coffee.

She loves to hear from readers, so please feel free to follow her on any of her social media channels. And don't forget to check out her website. You can sign up to her mailing list there, to hear about new releases and any promotional sales she might be running.

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