Masks, Evangeline Anderson [Ellora's Cave]

So in return for the pleasure of getting a copy of her novella, I agreed to go a review of Evangeline Anderson's, Masks. I've never written a review before, so bear with me.

The first thing that struck me as soon as I started reading was that it was unlike a lot of the erotic stories I had read. I was actually taken back to when I was in high school and first getting into Harlequin's Silhouette Romances which I bought every week at the second hand place next to the grocery store. It had that playful premise that one comes to expect from those light-hearted romances. Chances are if I could get this kind of hot action in those books I never would have given up on them several years ago.

It's a classic premise: twins and mistaken identity. Chloe is a school teacher who is recruited by her sister to fill in for her at work. The catch it that her job happens to be as a dominatrix. Poor Chloe just can't get her groove on as Mistress Sensua and comes off like a nervous drill sergeant. Lucky for her, the masked man she's supposed to dominate is better at being the dom than he is at being the sub.

It was at this point of the novella that I began to drool. Mark is good looking, he's well endowed, and he's wearing a little black mask. What more could you want? Oh, yes. That's right. Mr. Sexypants fastening you to a cross and telling you to call him "Master" would also work nicely. But he's also sweet with a sensitive side, and Masks even has an "Awwww" moment in a break from the hot sex. I would gush but to do so would reveal too much. While it's definitely erotica, it's more romance than anything. Romance with hot sex: the relationship development is as much of a part of the story as the sex.

Masks isn't hard core, there's no degradation, so those who like their BDSM without the SM will enjoy this, but for those who enjoy the extreme aspects of bondage will be better off looking elsewhere. However for those who want a break from cookie-cutter romances, Masks hits the spot.

Click to visit Evangeline's website (and to buy Masks!)

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Senses Bejewelled, Cleo Cordell [Black Lace]

Senses Bejewelled is about a Frenchwoman, Marietta who has been living as the favourite concubine of Kasim. I think he's a pirate or something. It's never really clear what he does, except that he goes away on business occasionally. Though, if I was rich and had a harem I'd delegate that shit to someone else. Now, in the past he's really pissed off Hamed, who might also be a pirate and has his own harem, but again, these details are a little vague. What I do know is that Kasim and Hamed got into a fight and Kasim wounded Hamed. Apparently Hamed was damaged sexually because of this, but exactly how I'm not sure since Hamed can still get and sustain an erection. Nonetheless, Hamed is pissed and he kidnaps Marietta and another concubine so he can get Kasim in his clutches and degrade him.

This is one of the books in which the sex is hotter than hot but the story is a little off. No spoilers, but this lacks a big-bang. A few things were left unresolved, tension was built up and never followed through that should have, or a sequel should have been written because frankly the most fascinating character went out with a fizzle. Then again, the point of this book was not to have a well put-together sub plot, but to be hot. And it was hot.

Overall though I did like this. The harem thing has been done to death but I personally never get tired of it and scour used bookstores for the old romances that take place in such a setting (and if anyone knows the name of that one that takes place in a harem and features buttsex, please let me know). Sexually there's a full bag, with guy-on-girl, girl-on-girl, guy-on-guy, orgies, toys, BDSM - it's good to have your own harem.