Review: Sometimes romance has to be steamy
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 14, 2012
I thoroughly enjoy the steaminess of this novel. There are episodes of voyeurism, the language is quite blunt, raw, and the scenes are graphic. It is very bold writing for romance, a departure from the traditional fare. There is a villain, romantic conflict and sex. Lots of it. I think that the novelist balances all of these elements well in the story. What might be overwhelming for some readers is the graphic nature of the sex scenes. If that is the case, the enjoyment of the story will become obstructed by the rawness of these scenes.With that being said, this book is hot. If you don't like explicit language or if you prefer euphemistic language for sex and body parts, this book is not for you. This book puts me in mind of novels by Cheryl Holt without the triteness that she sometimes uses in her novels. The characters were likable. I like that the heroine is trying to keep her marriage in tact and not looking to run away. However, how she chooses to do so is quite incredulous. The hero is stubborn, and his torment and love for his wife are touching. Readers may not like the scenes of Nicholas and Helena at the brothel. But what I think that author was trying to communicate through the hero's actions is not a condoning of infidelity, but an understanding of what goes through a person's mind when they are torn by grief and feelings of hopelessness in a relationship and uses a substitute for the person they love. That became clear during a second reading of the novel. That substitute for his wife is his wife in disguise also makes this obvious.This is not a heavy read. It is not a poignant novel or a flowery romance. It is gritty and not for the faint of heart, but definitely satisfying. It is the kind of novel that someone has to read for his or herself and make his or her own judgement. The reader has to understand that the third element of the story is graphic sex to add to the mystery and romantic conflict.