The Initiation of Ms. Holly

January 1, 2014

This novel is intense from the start, with a sexy rendezvous between strangers thrown into pitch darkness on a stalled London-bound train. Rita Holly gets the name and phone number of her mysterious lover, but she never sees his face. Edward asks her to meet him at the Mount, London's most exclusive club, with almost as many rumors to its name as elite clientele. Soon, Rita is thrown into an underground world of sex and sin that she never expected to enjoy. But when the journalist within her sees the perfect opportunity for a juicy expose, it becomes an internal battle between playing the game for love and furthering her career. That is, if she can she see the initiation through to the end. A range of fetishes is explored, from tame spanking and leather play to human pets, but there remains a steady D/s element throughout. While most scenes will appeal to those into BDSM, there is a great deal of humiliation, and some of the interactions veer into gray areas regarding consent. VERDICT This intriguing novel from Grace (Seven Deadly Sins; Body Temperature and Rising) involves love, mystery, luxury, and betrayal and features a strong story with even stronger depictions of sex. There's an admirable abundance of plot and porn (though the multiple instances of dubious consent might hinder enjoyment for some), and the plethora of sexual encounters, even at their raunchiest, become a bit repetitive. Overall, a top pick for hard-core erotica fans.

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