Primal Instincts: Volume 1 – book review

Primal Instincts: Volume 1
by Nicole Edwards
Release Date:  February 3, 2023
Publisher: Nicole Edwards Limited
Volume 1 of the Primal Instincts story
(this is being released as a serial)
Number of Pages: 244
Erotic Romance
Ages 16 and up
CW: misogyny
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What twenty-four-year-old recent college graduate would sign up to uncover a secret kink club rumored to be hidden within the walls of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate?

Me.

Why? Well, that’s easy. I’ve spent my entire life with my nose to the grindstone, doing the right thing, focusing on my future, and now I’m bored, which isn’t a good thing when you have an insatiable curiosity.

I probably should’ve considered the type of bait needed for a fishing expedition of this magnitude when I applied for the job at Primal Instincts, LLC, looking to uncover the secret world that exists only on the whispers of those who’ve never so much as glimpsed the dark, seductive inner workings because those who had wouldn’t dare reveal anything.

Now that I’m through the door, I’ve got my determination and single-minded focus to keep me moving forward. I will figure it out if for no other reason than to say I did.

Provided I don’t get sidetracked by not one, not two, but three men who are ridiculously good at keeping secrets.

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What do you do when you get a text from one of your favorite authors about a surprise release? You hurry up and buy the book, of course. I had no idea this book was coming and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. My current read was being strongly considered to end up a DNF and I needed something I could fall headlong into stat. A few things to mention about this book before I get to my thoughts on the story: the author is still writing this story and it is, per her admission, already quite long. There will be a HEA, but because of the length, it is being released as a sort of serial every 2-3 weeks. Each volume will be at a discounted price and available on KU for the first week of the release. This volume is still almost 250 pages, so it’s not like it’s a novella. It’s a full-length story, it’s just not Journey’s complete story. Now onto my review.

I am already fully invested in Journey. She’s young and eager, but also seems to have a very good head on her shoulders. She stands up for herself and others, even when it could be detrimental to her career. Journey has a great moral compass.

The story of Creed, Hawk, and Garrison is slowly unfolding. Garrison isn’t very prominent in this story, but it’s obvious he’s an important piece of the puzzle with these three men. They, along with their friend Nick, head up the company where Journey got a job to do some sleuthing. Little does she know they are well aware of what she is up to. There are some connections that are interesting and I’m sure will shock her when she finds out. There is an instant attraction with all of the characters, but as far as Journey is concerned these are her bosses and there is no way these established, powerful, good-looking men would be interested in her. She’s wrong. Even with all of the players in this story, the author keeps that chemistry flowing and it’s unbelievable how enmeshed I got in their world so quickly.

It could be said this is a “big secret” story, which I hate. But so far that doesn’t seem to be bothering me. Maybe because they guys all know that Journey is attempting to find out if there is an underground BDSM club somehow attached to their company. It just doesn’t feel high stakes and it’s nothing she’s feeling guilt over as of yet.

There are some definite foils established so far. Other than Journey there is another new hire in her department and he is a misogynistic creep. It’ll be fun to see him get what’s coming to him eventually. I’m enjoying a lot of the side characters. Journey’s best friend is an erotic romance author who is also interested in the BDSM lifestyle and would like to learn more, and not just for research purposes.

The one thing that bothers me about this story, which almost had me taking away half a star, is that it’s called a reverse harem story. I find that term to be outdated. It’s just a harem story, no reverse about it no matter what gender the center of that harem happens to be. So far the author is doing a wonderful job with gender, sexual orientation, and lifestyles so I’m trying to overlook this one thing.

5 stars