Review: The Beginning (Obeying the Rules-Book One)

The Beginning by Kitka Buchanan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*Spoilers*

Obeying The Rules: The Beginning is a BDSM novel by Kitka Buchanan. This isn't your mother's romance novel either. As the book opens, we meet Cade who works for The Mistress of a mansion. He is in charge of the servants/slaves of the mansion (the servants are societies undesirables, criminals) and Cade only has one rule, "obey the rules" and if you are lucky you will get to leave the mansion with a higher position. If not, then you will go back to jail or end up dead. It's their choice. The Mistress of the mansion, Cassia picks a resistant Gage and a fiery Nova, a timid Mason as her three new servants of the house.

These servants are to fulfill the desires of The Mistress and the Master of the mansion. If they refuse to obey the rules, The Master, Sterling (Cassia's husband) tortures and kills them. Whereas, Cassia uses her servants for her sexual pleasure (at least the ones she deems worthy to be in her bed). She chooses Gage because of his defiant nature. She tries to get him to obey her rules, but Gage refuses to submit. But as Cade warns him, that he better obey the Mistress or things could be a lot worse for him.

Nova who is (a computer hacker) confused by everything that is going at the house. She becomes Cassia's servant when Cassia needs to get bathed and ready to entertain the dignitaries that come to the mansion. Nova asks too many questions, which angers Cade. But soon, Cade finds himself punishing Nova in his office and realizes that Nova is enjoying it a little too much, which makes him enjoy it too. Cade and Nova don't know how to feel about one another, but eventually has the novel continues they develop feelings for each other while all the craziness is happening to them. Upon returning from business, Sterling finds Gage in bed with Cassia. Gage who at this point have given into his feelings for Cassia leaves her room. Cade and Nova are then called to the room to prepare Cassia for her punishment.

Sterling whips Cassia so severely that when Nova and Cade return her back to her room, she has open wounds on her back. When Cage finds out what happens, it sends him into a rage and he almost goes after Sterling himself. Cade warns him that Cassia wouldn't want him to do that and risk getting killed. But they must devise a plan to escape the mansion.

Later in the novel, it is revealed that Sterling has a files on all the servants in the mansion and he is planning to frame them for murders of some prominent figures, in order to further his gain. In addition, it is revealed that he is planning to get chemical weapons and Mason who is the a chemist has made a deal with Sterling without the other fours knowledge. "Play the game."

It comes a race to get to out of the mansion from under the clutches of Sterling and his men. Everything seems to be fine until, Mason tricks Nova and she lands into the clutches of Sterling who punishes her for her betrayal. Cassia, Cade and Gage go off to rescue Nova.

****

I really enjoyed reading this novel because it was an opportunity to read something outside of my comfort zone. I read erotica, but not much that involves BDSM. In addition, I liked how Ms. Buchanan gives you an action story. It makes the reader want to know why these characters got brought to this mansion in the first place? If this were there last chance to turn their lives around isn't there another way? What is the state of the world in at this point? I was wondering what was the setting of the novel? Why was Sterling such a powerful man and how did he get there?

With all of these questions, I can't wait for the second installment to the Obeying the Rules series. Well done, Kitka! Well done!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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