Review: THE SIREN by Tiffany Reisz

The Siren
by Tiffany Reisz
Publisher: Harlequin/Mira
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Series: The Original Sinners, #1
Source: NetGalley

Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book...if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him...or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

The Siren is the first book in The Original Sinners series. It’s a continuation of Nora’s (Eleanor) story from, Seven Day Loan. I liked Nora from that first story of her as a young submissive woman loaned out to her Master’s friend. But in The Siren ten years have passed and Eleanor has left her Dominant lover and is a successful author of erotica. She is no longer a submissive but has become one of the top Dominants of New York’s underground BDSM scene. 

Her current work in progress is a more personal book that she is hoping will break her out into the mainstream. She is to work with Zach Easton, a British editor who is known to be difficult and hardnosed. At first he balks at working with her but after two face to face meeting with Nora, he’s all in. He agrees to give her six weeks to re-write her book to his exacting standards. Zach has his own demons. He struggles to put a broken marriage behind him while trying to look forward to a new job in Los Angeles. Through the course of writing and editing the new book and a brief affair, Nora may help Zach make his way back to his estranged wife. 

Nora Sutherland is a complex character. She’s a woman who is comfortable in her skin and does whatever it takes to get what she wants. I loved her ballsy take-charge attitude. And her sex scenes with several different characters were lush and decadent. I definitely have a huge girl crush on Mistress Nora. 

“Zach this isn’t a game, you know. I don’t just write it. I live it. I’m a Domme, a female Dominant. There aren’t a lot of us around. Most Dominants are men. Technically I’m a Switch since I can top and bottom, but if I show up on your doorstep, get ready to say ouch. I’m not good at it-I’m amazing at it. So good at it that I’m as famous down here for my skills with a whip as I am in the straight world for my skills with a pen.”  ~ Nora

 The Siren is the first book in a planned series. I suspect that some of the secondary characters in this book will eventually get their own stories. Wesley Railey is Nora’s nineteen year old intern. It’s rumored that he is her live in lover. Their relationship is complicated and endearing. 

Griffin Fiske is a wild and sarcastic kinkster who we meet at the 8^th Circle kink club. I think he will prove to be a fun and entertaining character. 

Kingsley Edge is the figurehead and king of New York’s underground kink scene. He helps Nora navigate her life after she breaks ties with her Dominant. Kingsley trains her in the art of domination and helps her to become the top Domme. He’s mysterious and sexy and I am looking forward to his story. 

Then there’s the infamous and omniscient Søren. He’s known Nora since she was a teenager and groomed her to be his submissive. He’s the ultimate sadist and the top Dominant within the kink community. His profession is a shocking contrast to his unflinching love of kink.  While I enjoyed Nora’s interactions with Zach and the rest of the characters, I got really excited when Søren entered the story. I love a big bad sadist. Søren and Nora’s love affair is epic and I can’t wait to read more about it. 

Tiffany Reisz has written an incredible story with clever, witty dialogue and multi-faceted characters. With the main characters being an author and an editor, the reader gets a fantastic bird’s eye view into the creative and analytical processes of creating a novel. The plot is intricate and engaging and I enjoyed everything about it.  The eroticism in this book is really intense but if you like your stories complex, dark and dirty then you will not be disappointed with The Siren.
4.5 Dragons

Review: GIVING IT UP by Amber Lin

Giving It Up
by Amber Lin
Publisher: Loose ID
Release Date: June 18, 2012
Source: Review copy from Author

Allie prowls the club for a man who will use her hard and then ditch her. Hey, it's not rape if she wants it. Instead she finds Colin, who looks tough but treats her tenderly, despite her protests.

He tempts her, but kindness and a few mindblowing orgasms aren't enough to put her back together again. Allie has no hope for a real relationship. Two years ago her best friend betrayed her in the worst possible way – she’d be stupid to trust a man again. Besides, she has her daughter to think of, the only good thing to have come from that dark night.

But when her rapist returns, threatening her sanity and custody of her daughter, Allie turns to Colin. Under his protection and patient touch, Allie begins to heal and learns to hope. Colin’s no saint, though, and his criminal past draws danger of its own. Allie must fight to protect her child and the man she loves, hoping her newfound power will be enough to save them all.

Allie is a survivor. She’s been knocked down and kicked over and over but still manages to pull herself together and move forward. What else can she do with a baby daughter to look after? Plus she has her ride or die best friend, Shelly by her side. And with the help of her new found love Colin, she begins to slowly heal from the tragedies of her past. 

Giving It Up was a deep and dark emotional read. I was rooting for Allie to get her happily ever after the entire time. Being raped by someone you trust is devastating enough but to then be taken advantage of again by an authority figure would have been enough to tip anyone over the edge of sanity. I loved Allie’s tenacity and her ability to cope with her demons. She picked up random strangers for anonymous sex. But her once a month “date nights” gave Allie the outlet she needed to exorcise painful memories. While her methods were probably not healthy or safe,  it allowed her to function.

I wasn’t so sure of Colin’s intentions in the beginning. He was the strong silent type that didn’t open up with his feelings so I never knew what he was thinking or what he was going to do. He’s had a pretty tough life and dark past as well. But his love for Allie and her daughter was heartwarming and made me love Colin in the end. 

I enjoyed the suspense in the novel and the tension between the characters. The flow of this story was great. The back stories were woven in perfectly. Each character that was introduced played their part and moved the story along. All of the characters were damaged which made the novel dark and much more interesting. Allie is a single mother struggling to support her daughter Bailey and keep her own battered psyche whole. Colin had a difficult childhood and has a criminal history. Shelly is the prostitute who would do anything to help her friend Allie but she seems to have demons in her past as well. Then there’s Colin’s brother, Philip who is deeply entrenched in some serious criminal activity. I suspect there may be stories for some of these other characters in the future. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Allie and Colin’s story. Their relationship was rocky and full of tension. At first I wasn’t sure they were right for each other but as the story moved along I could see the growth of trust and love in their relationship. Their love scenes were brutal, sexy and honest. Within those scenes was a window into Allie’s damaged soul. Giving It Up was an incredibly moving novel. It’s a dark love story that will make you gasp and cry and leave you emotionally drained but there is happiness at the end for these flawed lovers.

Review - DARK DESIRES: KEPT by D. Cristiana

Dark Desires: Kept
by D. Cristiana
Publisher: DelSin Publishing
Release Date: January 13, 2012

Leah and Kiyoshi have been inseparable since they were children. As best friends they turned into lovers and eventually soul mates. Life was beautifully simple until Kiyoshi had to go back to Japan and become heir to the same aristocratic family that disowned his mother over 20 years before for marrying his American father.

Even though Kiyoshi brings Leah to Japan with him, the distance between them is growing ever wider. Confused, lonely, and abandoned, Leah runs away from her beloved, only to have Kiyoshi catch her and force her back into her pretty cage. Soon familiar arguments turn into blazing passion as they seek to find their way back home in one another’s arms. . .

WARNING: This 8,000 word short story is intended for open-minded adults. Crude language and explicit descriptions of sexual acts are contained within.

I’m not normally a fan of short stories but I loved this one. I had a sense that something wasn’t quite right the whole time I was reading Dark Desires: Kept and that pulled me through this strange love story. 

The glimpse into Leah and Kiyoshi’s childhood was revealing. Kiyoshi takes on a bossy dominant role very early in their friendship and Leah does everything possible to make him happy. Their plans of marriage are put on hold when Kiyoshi is summoned back to Japan to take over the family business. When there are no more heirs left to take over, the forgotten son is summoned home. He has always disliked his Japanese family but duty and honor leave him no choice. He takes Leah with him but she is immediately homesick. Kiyoshi keeps her in a separate apartment as if she was his concubine. She feels like his dirty secret and arguments ensue every time they are together. Kiyoshi assures Leah that soon they will be able to live together again but she has to be patient with him. But Leah runs away from him time and time again. 

When Kiyoshi is gone for long periods of time the tether holding her to him begins to fray and Leah begins to wander away. It’s as if Leah disconnects from their co dependant relationship and her mind starts to unravel. She rages at him and begs him to take her back to America. But of course he cannot leave. He is both domineering and loving as he tries to calm Leah and make her see reason. The domination seems to calm her and she is appeased for a short while. But eventually her flight response is re-awakened and Kiyoshi must make time to calm her with his love words. 

The sex scenes are exquisite and the couple’s relationship is extremely emotional. D. Cristiana does an excellent job of expressing their deep love for one another through her writing. I was in love with the ending because of the mystifying subtext that was pervasive throughout this love story. As always this author amazes me with her uncanny ability to weave beautiful love stories around unusual characters and unconventional situations. Dark Desires: Kept is one of my favorite short stories from the mind of D. Cristiana/Claudia D. Christian.

Review: MAID FOR PLEASURE by Lucy Rodgers

Maid For Pleasure
by Lucy Rodgers
Release Date: May 14, 2012
Source: Review copy from Author

Insurance actuary Libby Beckett is the epitome of a successful, independent, modern woman. With her six figure salary, she has a condo overlooking the beach, a BMW, and a closet full of fabulous shoes. So why isn’t she happy? And why do her fantasies always involve whips, bondage, and sexual slavery? Her desires are impossible to explain her buttoned-down accountant boyfriend, which is why when she stumbles across a website for a quasi-dating service for submissive women called Maid for It, she signs up. She’s quickly “matched” to Gavin Huntley, an engineer and inventor possessed of a small fortune and his own private island in the Caribbean. After carefully weighing the risks and rewards, as any good actuary should do, Libby breaks it off with her boyfriend and heads to Gavin’s island for what she promises herself will be two weeks to explore her darkest, dirtiest desires. When her time is up, she’ll say her safe word and, as outlined in Maid for It’s contract, Gavin will be required to release her.

But Gavin knows what Libby truly needs, and it’s not to be free. She’s made for pleasure—his pleasure—and he intends to put her to good use. Forever.

Libby Beckett is bored with her sex life. She has just broken up with her boyfriend who couldn’t find her G spot even if he had a GPS locator. She has decided to join Maid For It an online dating site for submissive women. She’s been curious about the BDSM lifestyle for some time and has agreed to go to a private island for two weeks to live out her most decadent fantasy as a sex slave. 

Gavin Huntley is very clear as to what he expects from Libby and she can’t wait to submit to his every need. She develops feelings for him almost immediately and Gavin uses her intensely just as she has always fantasized about. Gavin was much less sadistic than I thought he would be. Although the collars that he makes for Libby are pretty twisted. I wasn’t sure if I liked him at first. But he did seem to genuinely care for Libby and knew that she would not be leaving the island as soon as she anticipated. 

I thought the element of suspense when Libby was “rescued” from the island was an interesting twist. The book wasn’t as dark as I thought it would be but I did like the story. Gavin was definitely in charge of his company as well as everyone who lived on his small Island of Kink. Libby got exactly what she expected when she landed on the island and I liked the couple’s chemistry. Maid For Pleasure was a good novella that will appeal to readers who like dubious consent and Master/slave stories.

Excerpt and Giveaway; MAID FOR PLEASURE by Lucy Rodgers

Maid For Pleasure
by Lucy Rodgers
Release Date: May 14, 2012
Source: Review copy from Author

Insurance actuary Libby Beckett is the epitome of a successful, independent, modern woman. With her six figure salary, she has a condo overlooking the beach, a BMW, and a closet full of fabulous shoes. So why isn’t she happy? And why do her fantasies always involve whips, bondage, and sexual slavery? Her desires are impossible to explain her buttoned-down accountant boyfriend, which is why when she stumbles across a website for a quasi-dating service for submissive women called Maid for It, she signs up. She’s quickly “matched” to Gavin Huntley, an engineer and inventor possessed of a small fortune and his own private island in the Caribbean. After carefully weighing the risks and rewards, as any good actuary should do, Libby breaks it off with her boyfriend and heads to Gavin’s island for what she promises herself will be two weeks to explore her darkest, dirtiest desires. When her time is up, she’ll say her safe word and, as outlined in Maid for It’s contract, Gavin will be required to release her.

But Gavin knows what Libby truly needs, and it’s not to be free. She’s made for pleasure—his pleasure—and he intends to put her to good use. Forever.

An Excerpt from Maid for Pleasure
by Lucy Rodgers

Two hours later, I’ve changed my mind. I do hate this and him. My knees are screaming in agony, my back and arms ache, and my hands are raw. And I’m not even halfway done.

I pause and straighten, stretching my arms above my head. I want to quit. I want to take this bucket of water and throw it in his face, walk out the door and find the driver who brought me here and demand he take me back to the airstrip. Hell, I don’t even have to do that. All I have to do is utter the safe word we’ve agreed on and everything will come to a halt. 

So why don’t I?

Because I haven’t gotten what I came for, and every nerve ending in my body tells me I will get it if I can just get through this test. 

Gavin turns my crank. Even more than I expected. Before I came, I worried that even though I’d seen his photos and found him attractive, the chemistry wouldn’t be there in person. But it is. And despite the fact that he hasn’t touched me yet, not even in an asexual way, I can feel the thickness of the air and the crackling of the tension between us. He wants to do all the things he’s promised to me.

Even now, as I arch my back and roll my shoulders, I’m aware of him watching me. After I got down to scrub the floor, he took a large roll of paper out of a file drawer and spread it out on the large dining room table. He’s been there since, working on a project, I presume, while I’ve been on my hands and knees. I imagine he’s been getting a pretty good show, given my lack of panties and the way my breasts jiggle when I scrub. 

In a way, demanding that I prove I really want to submit myself fully to him, without conditions or hard limits, is the act of a gentleman.

At the moment, however, that thought doesn’t make me any less impatient or resentful. I drop the scrub brush into the bucket. I’m done, and I’m willing to accept the consequences. What I’m not going to do is use my safe word to escape those consequences.

“Are you quitting?” Gavin asks. 

I was right. He’s definitely been paying attention the whole time I’ve been working. 

“Yes, Master.” 

God, saying that word sends a bolt of lust straight to my pussy. I’ve spent years wondering what’s wrong with me. How I could possibly be turned on by behavior other people would classify as controlling and abusive. Now, I know it doesn’t matter. I am. That’s enough.  

“You know you haven’t finished what I told you to do yet.”

I somehow manage to get to my feet, which isn’t easy because I’m stiff from hours in one position, and turn to look at him. The expression on his face—cold and implacable—makes me so weak in the knees, I fear I might fall back down to them.

“I know, Master. But I need a break. I’m not used to this kind of work.” I try to keep any hint of whining or complaint out of my voice. 

To my relief, the lines around his mouth ease. “I did ask rather a lot of you for a first day, didn’t I?”

Instinct tells me it isn’t wise to agree with him. I need to let him know that nothing he asks of me can be too much. “No, you didn’t ask too much. I just can do too little.”

A smile tugs at one corner of his mouth. He gets up from the chair and starts toward me. “Well played, pet, well played.”

There’s no mistaking the thick erection pushing against the zipper of his jeans. I close my eyes, swaying with anticipation. Something is finally going to happen.

“Open your eyes,” he commands, soft and low.

Even before I obey, I know he’s only inches from me. Heat radiates from him as though he’s an open flame, and his warm, cinnamon-sweet breath caresses my face. When I do open my eyes, I find he’s removed his glasses, and his eyes are an even more startling blue than I expected. Almost the same shade as the ocean that surrounds his island, and just as cutting.

I shiver, which makes no sense, because I’m burning up.

“You know there will be consequences for not completing your task.” 

Oh God, I hope so. “Yes, Master.”

He reaches out and tucks a hair behind my ear. “I should make you finish, I think. I’m afraid you’ll consider the punishment I have in mind more of a reward.”

That sounds promising.

“Get on your knees.”

I blink my surprise as my knees scream in protest at the idea. “Master?” I can’t keep the note of pleading out of my voice this time.

“On your knees,” he repeats. “Now.”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I do what he tells me. As soon as my knees meet the cool, hard tile, I want to cry. They may not be bloody, but they’re definitely bruised. It’s even more agonizing than I expected.

“Does that hurt?” he asks softly. And, I can’t help thinking, with a hint of delight. He’s enjoying my pain.

“Yes, Master.” 

“Good. It wouldn’t be punishment if it felt good, would it?”

I shake my head. “No, I guess not.” My knees throb in protest, but my clit throbs more. I’m enjoying my pain as much—maybe more—than he is.

With my eyes still closed, I await whatever else he has in store for me. There’s a rustling sound and the unmistakable scritch of a metal zipper. I know what’s coming, and I lick my lips just as he brushes the velvety head of his cock against my cheek. Not waiting for his direction, I turn my head and open my mouth.

He grabs the back of my head and pulls me to a halt. Wincing because his fingers are threaded up under the bun over which my lacy French maid’s cap is pinned, I look up at him in confusion. Have I misunderstood his intentions?

“The first thing you need to learn, pet, is that you never do anything unless I tell you to. All the initiative is mine. Understood?”

Swallowing hard, I nod even though I’m not sure it’s a rule I can easily obey. I’m a little too Type A to never take the initiative. But for two weeks… Maybe. I’ll try.

“Good. Now, you’re going to open that pretty little mouth of yours, and I’m going to fuck it until I come down your throat. You are not to participate in any way. You’re just providing me a hole to fuck. Got it?”

I nod again. Every part of my body is tingling with arousal.

“And one more thing.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You are not allowed to come unless I tell you to. And I’m warning you right now, I’m not going to tell you to come today. If you do come, you’ll finish the floor.”

I stare up at him, stunned and terrified by this order. Because I’m so lit up, I’m not sure I can keep myself from coming. And the thought that I can’t makes the need even harder to suppress.

“Now, open wide, pet.”

I open. And pray.

Giveaway Time:

Lucy is gifting a random commenter an e-book copy of Maid for Pleasure!

To Enter: 

Leave a comment and include your email address. 

Contest ends on June 25th, 2012 and is open internationally. One winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be notified by email. They will have 48 hours to reply otherwise a new winner will be chosen. Good luck! 

Lucy Rodgers

Lucy Rodgers writes dark erotic tales that explore the three C’s: consent, coercion, and captivity. Her stories always include some combination of forced seduction, questionable consent, lack of safe words, indoctrination, and slavery/ownership. Lucy’s books are intended for mature readers who understand the difference between fantasy and reality and who are looking for erotic literature that explores not just the physical but also the psychological and emotional elements of sexual bondage and domination. 

How to connect with Lucy:
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Purchase Links for Maid for Pleasure:

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Please click on the banner for a list of other tour stops.

Review & Giveaway: GABRIEL'S RAPTURE by Sylvain Reynard

Gabriel’s Rapture
by Sylvain Reynard
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Source: Review copy from publisher

Professor Gabriel Emerson has embarked on a passionate, yet clandestine affair with his former student, Julia Mitchell.

Sequestered on a romantic holiday in Italy, he tutors her in the sensual delights of the body and the rapture of sex. But when they return, their happiness is threatened by conspiring students, academic politics, and a jealous ex-lover.

When Gabriel is confronted by the university administration, will he be forced to share Dante’s fate? Or will he fight to keep Julia, his Beatrice, forever?

Gabriel’s Rapture begins where Gabriel’s Inferno ended. Julianne and Gabriel are still in Italy. It’s the day after they’ve finally consummated their relationship. They are both giddy with happiness and deeply in love with each other. They have waited until their professor/student relationship ended to become intimate with one another. The policy against fraternization is taken seriously at the University of Toronto and the two have not wanted to risk Gabriel’s job or Julianne’s possible expulsion over their relationship. The pair continues to deal with the demons from both their pasts as they become closer to one another. 

This novel was much more romantic than the previous book in the series. In Gabriel’s Rapture we get to watch the relationship between Julianne and Gabriel become stronger. Gabriel has definitely become softer. There are still glimpses of his bad boy persona and dark side but it not as prevalent as it was in the last novel. Even though the pair has tried to be careful about keeping their relationship a secret they return to Canada and get wrapped up in a potential scandal that threatens the Professor’s job and Juliannes’ chances of getting into Harvard. It was worrisome to see how they would deal with this potential scandal. Would they rally together to fight the charges against them?  Or would they use each other as scapegoats? 

I enjoyed watching the characters grow as individuals and as a couple. Sylvain Reynard’s writing was incredible as usual. I liked the flow of the book and the numerous musical and literary references. The imagery of the Italian setting was vivid and made me feel like I was there with the characters. I recommend that you read the first book, Gabriel’s Inferno before reading this one. There are references to events from the first book that are sometimes explained within Gabriel’s Rapture but you will appreciate the novel more if you know the full back story. I really enjoyed re-visiting the Professor and Julianne. They had a beautiful and captivating love story that kept me enthralled throughout both novels. Gabriel’s Rapture is a must read sequel for those readers who loved Gabriel’s Inferno.

Giveaway Time:

Omnific Publishing is gifting a random commenter one Gabriel's Inferno mug and one Gabriel's Rapture mug AND an ebook copy of Gabriel's Rapture!

To Enter: 

Leave a comment and include your email address. 

Contest ends on May 30th, 2012. One winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be notified by email. They will have 48 hours to reply otherwise a new winner will be chosen. Good luck! 

Find Sylvain Reynard on the web:

Website
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Goodreads

Please click on the banner for a list of other tour stops. 

Review: CIRQUE DU MINUIT by Annabel Joseph

Cirque du Minuit
by Annabel Joseph
Publisher: Scarlet Rose Press
Release Date: February 28, 2012

It’s no easy feat transitioning from the disciplined arena of competitive gymnastics to the artistic whirl of the Cirque du Monde. Kelsey Martin finds secret inspiration in Theo Zamora, a dark, taciturn trapezist–until his partner dies in a tragic accident and he decides to leave the circus for good.

Theo doesn’t understand why Kelsey reaches out to him, only that she compels him with her unique combination of innocence and recklessness. Before long the two are collaborating on an aerial silks act for a new production, the Cirque du Minuit. Theo’s impatience with Kelsey’s naivete is matched only by his passion for her, and the two soon become embroiled in a tempestuous, consuming romance.

But some still blame Theo for his partner’s accident, and danger wraps up the two performers as inevitably as the scarlet silk of their act. Theo and Kelsey must find a way to connect and trust one another as he leads her deeper and deeper into a dangerous world of control and desire.

Cirque du Minuit was another incredible read from Annabel Joseph. This is the wonderful story of Kelsey Martin, a former gymnast and Theo Zamora a career cirque performer. Kelsey has just moved to Paris and joined the Cirque du Monde as one of their newest acrobats. She is adjusting to circus life and the differences between performing and competing with the help of her trainer Jason. But the man who has caught her eye is the temperamental and self-centered, Theo. She’s noticed his dark intensity from the moment she auditioned for the cirque and is keenly attracted to him. 

She gets lost in the training compound one day and happens to find Theo and his partner Minya in a Dominant/submissive scene that has her aroused and wondering what it would feel like to be Theo’s lover. Then a tragic accident during a trapeze act takes Minya’s life and leaves Theo with the stigma of being an untrustworthy partner. He takes her death very hard and closes himself off from the circus, locked away in his apartment. Kelsey is determined to bring him out of his depression. I was surprised that Kelsey had the strength and fearlessness to keep going to Theo’s apartment even after several verbal attacks and having the door shut in her face. She didn’t really know Theo that well but her attraction to him was powerful enough to keep her going back and even offer to be his new partner. 

The new partners are sent to Marseilles to star in a new aerial silk act with the Cirque du Minuit (Midnight Circus). Theo is a demanding task master as he trains Kelsey on the use of the silks. Their love affair also continues with him being equally as hard on her during her submissive training. Their whole relationship is rich with tumultuous emotions. I loved both these characters. There are multiple D/s sex scenes including lots of anal. The scenes are well written and emotional. I enjoyed the addition of Cirque du Monde’s owner, Michel Lemaitre. He’s the puppet master of both the cirque and his decadent le Citadel BDSM clubs. Lemaitre was an over the top character that I hope we see again in the future. 

I loved the imagery that was used when describing the practice and performance with the silks. If you have never seen an aerial silks performance I recommend you check one out. This novel definitely turns the experience into a sensual one. Theo and Kelsey’s story has to be one of my favorites from Ms. Joseph.  Watching Theo change from a self-centered ass-hat to a loving partner to Kelsey was captivating. Cirque du Minuit was a beautiful story with a tragic beginning that ends with a couple who is full of hope and love. This is one of my favorite novels of Annabel Joseph and a must read for any fan of BDSM erotic romance.