Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Innocence to the Max
SERIES: Iunctio Copula #1
AUTHOR: S.J.D Peterson
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 220 pages
BLURB:
On his sixteenth birthday, Francisco “Cisco” Aguilar first sets eyes on Maximilian De Ferrari, owner of Wicked Grounds, an exclusive BDSM club. Cisco has been lost, unsure of what is missing in his life. Over a century old, Max leads a vampire clan, and Cisco is drawn to him in a way he can’t explain. The moment he sees Max he knows his quest isn’t about what he’s been missing, but who.
Five years’ wait seems more than Cisco can bear, but he perseveres and on his twenty-first birthday he walks into Wicked Ground. He’s unafraid to meet the vampire he’s sure is his destiny. Max has been waiting for him, too.
What Max has known all these years, and what Cisco soon discovers, is that more than fate is drawing them together. Iunctiō Cōpula is a powerful binding link capable of restoring cold, dead hearts. With Max and Cisco bound, Cisco will be Max’s greatest weakness. Unable to let Max go, Cisco is thrust into a dark world, where he’s nearly powerless, left to fight for his life and his future with Max. Worse, he’s at the mercy of those who will use him—and hurt him—just to get to the powerful vampire king.
REVIEW:
First things first I have to express how unbelievably frustrating Max was. Not wanting to complete the bond, being so cold, keeping Cisco at arm’s length, not feeding from Cisco, getting all emo and “woe is me…I’m so dead and have no heart beat” his whole deal got old for me very quickly. Then as things transpire and how Max’s hang-ups and uncertainties ultimately affected Cisco in the worst possible way imaginable, I wanted to kick and scream and throw something. It made me feel like M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias because I kept thinking reading those specific scenes, “I don’t think I can take this! I don’t think I can take this! I just wanna hit somebody ’til they feel as bad as I do! I just wanna hit something! I wanna hit it hard!”
Now that I got that off my chest I can express that I did actually enjoy this story on the whole. I’m not sure I’ve ever read an SJD Peterson book that I didn’t like. She’s a master storyteller, an amazing author and she knows how to suck in her readers.
I was completely won over by Cisco and several side characters. Cisco is the perfect sub. He’s unquestionable loyalty and trust in Max was beautiful. He was the epitome of the perfect submissive partner. It wasn’t hard for me to see why Benny (I LOVED Benny!!!!!!) was so willing to put himself in harms way to try and protect Cisco. I’m hoping so desperately that he has a book in the future because as submissive as Cisco is, Benny is the complete opposite and I loved every minute of it.
Overall, I think lovers of paranormal and BDSM books will go crazy for this story. It’s very uniquely told and the world that’s captured draws you in. There are some frustrating occurrences here and there but they don’t take away from the world or the other endearing characters. Pretty good start to a series. I’m very intrigued to see where it all goes from here.
RATING: 
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