This one may have been my fav. Jake and Sharon’s enemies to lovers, taunting, teasing and vexing each other was loads of fun. And watching Jake claim he has no kink, was mildly funny. He may be tamer than his friends but he’s still a little wild. Their romance was fun and hot!

There is nothing vanilla about the vibes Sharon and Jake give off. They push each other to the limits of control and patience with abrasive personalities, explosive attraction and sensual delight. What happens when sassy foreplay becomes a matter of the heart? Angel turns the heat on full blast with a headfirst dive into complicated. Hardcore Vanilla is chaos at it's most nuclear. The ride up may be fierce, but the descent is worth the trip.

Part of me is very, very sad to see this series end. I know that Golden will continue a spin-off series, thank God, but I'm already missing this one.
I loved this series, and especially this book. Sharon is the brat of the group. She gives as good as she gets, sometimes better, and she doesn't back down. Jake is the "Vanilla" member of the gang. He likes to hangout at Stronghold, but he isn't into all the BDSM thing. He doesn't consider himself a Dom. Sharon and Jake get along like oil and water, until New Year's Eve. Then everything changes. I'm not going to give away any details of the plot, but I will say that I laughed, cried, reveled in the heat between them, and sighed out-loud at the ending. There are tons of humorous moments blended in with all the sexiness, something I love about this author, and everything about it was perfect. The characters are amazing, the pace is perfect, there is just enough kink to grab your attention, and even a few surprises. Like I said, I'm sad to see this series come to an end, but I'm excited to see where Golden's imagination takes me next. I highly recommend this one!

One heck of a kinky, steamy read

Whilst part of a BDSM themed series, as the title suggests , the play in this is more kinky than D/s, floggers and clamps. For me that was one of the biggest positives of the story. I loved that this couple didn't bind themselves to the rules or expectations of others. I thoroughly enjoyed Sharon and Jake's story and loved the message of everyone's kink being unique.

I've dipped in and out of this series, so I didn't know a lot about this couple. However this was easy to read this as a stand alone and it was fairly simple to pick up the context of their situation. I really did feel a connection to both Sharon and Jake and felt they were very believable characters. I loved that they found their perfection in the others imperfection, what you want and what you need are not always the same thing.

The story flowed really smoothly, the pace was perfect and I found myself totally engaged in the story from start to finish. Their relationship felt both very natural and very real, with no silly or forced conflict. They dealt with issues in a mature manner, fitting with the age of the characters.

The book is pretty steamy, yet it didn't feel excessive or overdone. I did snigger at some of the inventive words and phrases the author employed to describe a certain part of the female anatomy. Please don't take this too seriously, it's meant to be light-hearted and silly. If forced to choose the I'd say that 'Furry Furnace' was my favourite one.

Not sure how I have missed Golden Angel all this time, but I am certainly glad I gave this one a listen. It is book 8 in the series, and though I haven't listened to the others, it was perfect as a standalone. Sharon and Jake are the last of their friends who have not found their significant others. They have a bickering relationship, not really liking each other. Will "friends with benefits" work out for them? There is strong attraction and the chemistry off the charts! But this enemies to lovers story isn't your everyday trope follower. It has some meat to it. Sharon's background would give the impression that since she is from a wealthy family, she would have the happy life. She is loud and at times obnoxious. Jake comes from the family everyone wants to hang out with, and is a little more conservative. These opposites find out that not only do they attract, but there is a common thread that could hold them together. I loved the title, the ensemble of friends and the whole storyline of this book. It's hot, sexy and entertaining from start to finish. Can't wait for the others to be released!

Narrating a story like this needs someone that can bring emotional value to the story as well as perform a steamy scene. Victoria Mei is perfect for roles like this. She can bring out all the feelings, from frustration and turmoil to hope and love with the inflections in her voice. I loved her performance of Sharon and Jake!

OMG! Sharon and Jake did not disappoint. This was the last book in the Stronghold series and it was just what the series needed to be complete.
Whoever says opposites do not attract have not met Jake and Sharon. These two mix as well as oil and water. However they come to an understanding that suits the both of them. What neither of the expect is their hearts to get involved.The banter between the two is more like verbal foreplay and when they get between the sheets or wherever they can sneak off to it is hot.

This one may have been my fav. Jake and Sharon’s enemies to lovers, taunting, teasing and vexing each other was loads of fun. And watching Jake claim he has no kink, was mildly funny. He may be tamer than his friends but he’s still a little wild. Their romance was fun and hot!

This is the only book in the Stronghold Doms series that I've read, so my review will be based on the standalone reading of it. I loved it! It was fun, it was funny, the dialogue was good, it moved along at a good pace, the characters were interesting. I can easily see myself going back & reading the rest of the series. No doubt if you had followed the series, there would be "value added" for you & at times I did struggle a little trying to fit the relationships together. but overall, well worth the read.

3,5 stars. Sharon and Jake: loved the enemies to lovers. Did not love the family plot, liked the other plot.