Review: Dark BDSM erotica, 18+ only readers
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 23, 2013
This is the first, and shortest length book, in a 3 part serialized novella that focuses on a deal that Kayla makes with her boss, Gage, to avoid jail time for her stealing from the company to pay for her daughter's potentially life-saving medical treatment.From the start, Gemma James takes the reader on a story of ends justifying means, and encourages readers to contemplate the lengths they would go to save their own skin, or that of someone they loved.  Kayla is a sympathetic character, perhaps too much so, with a past history of being abused by her ex-husband, currently a single mother, and a desperately ill child in hospital.  Gage is the boss who offers her a `contract', total submission to him as Master in return for not informing the police of her theft.Gage is that perfect anti-hero, while he is gaining great advantage from Kayla, he truly is behaving as the ultimate bastard, while expecting perfect submission from a woman who may not have the intellectual understanding of the concept, even when her personal behaviors all scream submissive.  This six week contract will test every boundary and teach Kayla the ins and outs of total submission, no matter how she rails against the learning.Certainly not a book for everyone - the sex is often harsh and punishing, but reactions are detailed with a sense of sensuality and expression that will pique interest.  While I don't necessarily agree that a Master/slave relationship is one that works with coercion or without solid knowledge of the rules from both parties, the author has portrayed this scenario as one that is possible, if not desirable, for readers.As the first in the series, and a short story that covers only the first weekend, this book doesn't  provide much lead in to the `action', and with significant spanking, bondage and anal play - this will not be a read for every 18+ reader.I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review for the Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.