Sacred Serenity (Lotus House Book 2)

ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review."Do-overs" aren't possible when it comes to a lady’s virginity. Once that precious gift is taken, it cannot be given again. Amber has waited her whole life of 22 years to give that gift, but she's made a vow to God to give it only to her husband. Enter sex incarnate Dash Alexander, tantric yogi instructor. His 6 foot plus frame, golden locks and tanned, sculpted body tower even over Amber’s curvaceous, athletic 5'10" build. Amber has had naughty thoughts about this yoga God since first seeing him two years ago. A serious pre-med student though, her most urgent need at hand is to glean Dash’s knowledge of the practice of Tantric sex for her human sexuality coursework. Dash is reluctant to have an observer in his class, but in need of an assistant, and thinking of all the tantric sexual poses he could get this gorgeous creature into, he suggests that she could be his assistant in the class. Her safety net, he offers, “If something feels uncomfortable, scratch your nose.” “We do a lot of touching in this class, but I will never, ever lay my hand on a woman anywhere she isn’t comfortable. That’s why we have the itchy nose signal.”But before you go thinking this is story is only about a relationship between Amber and Dash with some steamy tantric yoga, think again. A secret, something buried long ago will come to light in the most bizarre of circumstances. It will rock Amber’s world as she knows it. And, whereas Amber brings her religious upbringing and vow into this relationship, Mr. Yoga comes with his own baggage too. The conflict between their two worlds may just be too much for these two lovers to overcome.Sacred Serenity is written in dual POVs, so not only do we get Amber’s open thoughts and perspective, we get the sensual joy of listening to Dash’s inner thoughts, the dirty ones, the sweet ones, the intellectual ones. That and how he speaks to his “Little Bird” made me want to wrap myself around his heart, my legs around his waist and hang on tight! Damn that man is HOT!With a character such as Amber and her deeply held views on religion and premarital sex, some might think this story could be a bit preachy. Believe me, I don’t like preachy and while I have read a couple Christian romances (didn’t know it going in), they were good, just not my cup of tea. Sacred Serenity never felt preachy to me. As a reader, you could have another experience. Sometimes I think one’s take on a story has much to do with their own experiences and preconceived notions, good or bad. It’s hard sometimes, but I try to strip those external influences and biases out and read just for the pure enjoyment of it and to experience the story for what it is, a story. I hope to feel the angst, the love, the happiness, the sadness, the feels and all those other emotions the author is willing to take me along for. Me, I’m in it for the ride and Sacred Serenity delivers all I can handle and an HEA. Can’t ask for more than that.Favorite Quotes:“Amber, I’m going to show you how desirable you are. Mark my words, little bird, one day you, too, will see the siren hiding just under the surface. And I want to be the man who brings her out.”“In my experience, it’s the road not traveled that we miss the most. The same can be said for lost connections.” His eyes were laser-focused on mine. “I think you do miss them because they are a part of what makes you you. The same way the soul calls out for its missing half. It’s why men and women go through so many relationships, because they’re aching for what they’re missing."

WOW! Guys, I am so in love with the Lotus House series … BIG TIME! I was first introduced to Audrey Carlan from the first book Resisting Roots which I thought was absolutely unique. Sacred Serenity is no different – a beautiful love story surrounding the teaching of yoga. Audrey Carlan continues to surprise me with her stories. This one in particular, I can only describe as not only sensual but an education and spiritual experience.So what is tantric yoga? Tantric yoga pushes your body, mind, and soul to meld with your partner in ways the average relationship never experiences. Deeply sensual and highly sexual, tantric yoga is for true believers.Dash Alexander is a tantric practitioner. Dash has it all – handsome with a sexy body, a sensual nature and of course unique teaching style. No wonder women and men alike flock to him for a sensual experience where two partners connect body, souls and spirits through the practice of tantric yoga. Well, except Amber St. James… she is not looking for the tantric experience. Amber is a premed major, simply looking to finish a project for her human sexuality course. Amber is also a virgin with little knowledge of sex – a personal and religious choice she made to save herself for the one man that she will spend the rest of her life with. Dash agreed to help Amber with her project with one condition – she has to assist him teaching tantric yoga, which means participating … Dear God! You get the idea of what happens in those sessions don’t you?Sacred Serenity was such a sweet, sexy, sensual read. I adore both main characters. Dash is handsome, sexy and confident. Amber is beautiful, sweet and innocent. Although Dash and Amber’s ideas about relationships are vastly different, opposites do attract – their chemistry is undeniable. Hint – The part where Dash and Amber bond spiritually for the first time totally gave me goose bumps. Dash believes in love, commitment, and soulmates but not traditional marriage where two people are bound together by a piece of paper. Amber however, only wants to give the purest part of herself to the man that is her husband. This book tackles the issue of keeping the faith. Can love, commitment and bonding to one another spiritually be enough for Amber to break her vow in order to be with Dash, a man she believes to be the one?Sacred Serenity definitely is a gorgeous love story filled with passion, angst, and wicked wild sex (even without sealing the deal) Holy shit! I could not believe what I was reading with the part where their bodies are experiencing “enlightenment together” … you just have read and see. There are some serious passionate, sexually charged scenes that will leave you panting and begging for more.I really LOVE the Lotus House series and it gets better with each book. I cannot wait for Devine Desire – naked yoga. The excerpt already had me giggling so hard – it’s going to be good I just know it! Audrey Carlan is one of my go to author… I’m addicted to her unique story line and I might have been looking up a lot of information on Yoga lately🙂THIS IS A MUST READ!!!! ~ 5 Stars

As I pondered how to begin "reviewing" such a profound novel like Sacred Serenity I felt both like I had SO much to say and also at a total loss for words. Audrey's writing is second to none, and this novel is nothing short of absolutely MIND BLOWING! This was the first time I had to "wait" and go crazy for the release date, and endlessly countdown the days. (Only for Amazon to surprise me and ship it early, YIPPEE!) Let me just say it was worth the wait!!The way the connection both emotionally and spiritually between Amber and Dash is written is simply exquisite.The novel begins with Amber, a {virgin} Med school student and Dash, a Tantric Yoga instructor both able to offer something the other has a need for. Amber, information for a required human sexuality course, and Dash an assistant for his Tantric Yoga class. They both agree to the arrangement and the story unfolds from there.Throughout the novel we re-connect with Genevieve & Trent (SQUEEL!) and the secondary story for Amber is also sincerely heartwarming. For me, I never once worried Audrey wouldn't be able to bring these two people and their beliefs together, I trusted her, and was slowly rewarded with each turn of the page. Their joint path to enlightenment is one I wont easily forget. While I didn't resonate or find myself relating to either of these characters as I have in her other books/series, I found is no less enjoyable and would strongly recommend it to everybody and every body.

Dash teaches Tantric yoga at Lotus House Yoga Studio. Tantra yoga pushes your body, mind, and soul to meld with your partner in ways the normal relationship never experiences. It's deeply sensual and highly sexual for true believers.Amber St. James has know idea in what to believe. Amber is twenty-two years old her focus is on her medical school studies as she prepares to be a pediatrician, She chose this profession as her mother died in childbirth. Amber is top of her class. She hasn't given a lot thought to dating or men in general. Amber plans to finish the elite San Francisco/Berkeley Medical School program earlier than normal to become a doctor. That is, until she needs to pass her human sexualities studies. A subject she is by a stranger to for religious reasons as well as personal reasons.Enter the Tantric yoga teacher who works at Lotus House Dash Alexander. Dash is a most sought after sensual teacher. Dash has a lot of women who flock to him for his unique teaching style, calm nature, and hot body. After hearing Amber's plight, from Genevieve he offers to help Amber. The only condition is that Amber must assist his couples tantra yoga class as his partner. The attraction between the two is beyond anything that Dash has experienced spiritually or otherwise. Through Dash's teachings he makes love to Amber's mind. There's only one problem, a secret that's sacred to Amber and her beliefs. "Amber St. James is a virgin by choice."Amber is struggling with the fact that she's finally got more family other than her nana and papa! A brother,Uncle and the father she never knew existed? Can she cope with the pressure of having all this along with her potential relationship with Dash?Can Dash and Amber (his little bird) make it through can they overcome everything that's thrown to them? Can Amber change Dash's mind in believing in marriage, Or does it change things for them?Namaste

Good read excellent

Once more author Audrey Carlan won me over with this second installment in the Lotus House Series. Beautifully written, Sacred Serenity told this time the story of Tantric yoga teacher Dash Alexander and medical school student Amber St. James (Genevieve’s best friend from book one).Amber was raised by her grandparents. Her mother died in childbirth and she never knew who was her father. Whip-smart and on her way to become a doctor, she has just been accepted into the elite UC Berkeley Joint Medical Program on a full scholarship. Amber decides in the context of her human sexuality pre-med course to assist Dash during his yoga class at the Lotus House Yoga. The one man she has been hard-core crushing on from afar for the last couple of years. It’s the one class Amber knew, she’d have to delve into without experience. Amber is a virgin by choice, a commitment she’d made not just because of her faith in God but because of her faith in herself and in her will. She vowed that she’ll give all of her and everything she is, only to the man she’ll marry. It would be her gift to her husband. But choosing to remain a virgin didn’t mean she wasn’t curious. Tantra is a very sacred practice and based on uniting with your partner and Dash is the exact temptation a girl like her shouldn’t want.Dash loves his job passionately. Passion fueled him in all things. Teaching Tantric sex and yoga for couples, giving them guidelines on how to expend their passion in and out of the bedroom, is like a second nature for him. Dash is also attracted to Amber and when they touch for the first time during their first Tantric yoga class together, the power flowing between them baffled him and the craziest thing happened, their breathing and heartbeats synchronize spontaneously. Dash believes in soul mate and this extraordinary occurence is far beyond anything he’d ever experienced with another human being. It’s like his one private takeaway from all his studies in the art of Tantra. The type of relationship he’s been searching half a decade for. Dash has always been respectful of all the women he’d allowed in his life but never commit to anyone with his whole heart and soul who didn’t feel like the one. His other half. He doesn’t know yet if this incredible woman was that woman, but he’s now on the mission to find out.As the story progresses, Amber and Dash’ feelings intensify and they are now going through the motions. Their undeniable connection both physically and spiritually is one that they are both eager to explore. Dash has this unique masculine aura that scrambled Amber’s mind and made her feel like a teenage girl. He consumes her from the inside out, bringing out a side of her that she’s afraid of. A piece of her soul no one has ever seen. For Dash, their connection is unique and a gift from the Universe. He’s determined to get her to see the light, of what they were meant to be. But years ago, Dash also made a vow to himself. One strong belief that could end their incredible relationship.I adored Dash and Amber’s story. The sexual energy and the sizzling chemistry between them was intense and blistering.The final boundary didn't happen until the very end, but let me tell you that their story was not short on wild and steamy sexual encounters. Their workshop sessions were carnal and sexy as hell. Loved the intimacy of their acts, the way they expressed their uncontrollable desire and feelings toward each other and their deep connection was a mind blowing experience. I also enjoyed the supporting characters and can’t wait to read Mila and Atlas’s story.