Review: VANILLA TWIST BY C.J. ELLISSON: ASKS INTERESTING QUESTIONS
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 27, 2014
E-ARC provided by author for review purposes on my blog.  This is adapted from there. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.  I consider the author a friend.I have been reading C.J.’s books for quite some time now. She is working hard on her craft.In this book the sex takes a back seat to emotional growth, and CJ asks questions about society's double standards for men and women and the impact that the current popularity of BDSM may have on relationships where it is misunderstood and misused.  It’s interesting that the second book in the series also explored double standards.CJ has a consistent voice throughout the series. The story is told from Tony’s and Heather’s points of view in an immediate present to immediate past tense.I didn’t feel the separate points of view defined the characters very differently.  I was not always certain which character’s head I was in.  But, I liked the questions C.J. explores here, and there’s an interesting twist on sexual harassment I am pretty sure we haven’t seen finished.I did like the way the problems were discussed and resolved, and the way as a couple, Tony and Heather, honestly explore feelings and admit to themselves and each other what is troubling them.  This is probably the best thing in this book for me, because so often an entire plot hinges on failing to communicate the simplest thing which is blown out of proportion.Not using sex for problem solving doesn’t mean C.J. left it out. Everyone is satisfied.  I can’t always say I like the way it is written out, but the last few encounters are pretty cool.All, in all I recommend this story for its unexpected depth and the interesting ways C.J. looks at issues.  What are the precise issues? Now, now —  that would spoil the “Twist!”