Review: emotional, romantic erotica with some dark depth to it
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 1, 2012
Deep Desires is told in person from Abbie's POV, and this perspective, along Stein's intimate writing style, creates a real immediacy between reader and story. As I'm reading, I'm feeling all that Abbie is feeling, from the need and loneliness to the fear and longing. All of that is here in this short novel, and that's saying something about how well the author can pack emotion into a short space. It's not light-hearted, sexy fun times; it's more two damaged souls loving tenderly with need and longing. The sex is sweet and intimate, the situations erotic and naughty at times with the dirty talk, the phone sex, etc., but there is always some emotion underneath it all.The story starts off with some very nice heat as Abbie plays voyeur on Ivan, her neighbor, watching his everyday life, watching him eat, watching him touch himself. That first scene is very hot, with Ivan stroking himself in full view of his window, and Abbie watching it all and getting lost in the moment and in the dark mystery that is Ivan. No one knows much about Ivan, and from Abbie's observations, we find out that he is neat and controlled, nerdy-looking with the glasses and same old clothes, everything in its place, every emotion tidied away, everything strictly ordered, with no one seeing past his barriers. But Abbie sees the real Ivan, and he wants her to see him. What I liked most about this story is that both Abbie and Ivan are flawed and imperfect; both have issues. Abbie has escaped an abusive ex, and Ivan, well, you'll find out the root of his hang-ups. Ivan is very much that hero you want to fix.The lead up to their having sex is slow and sensual. Ivan doesn't quite liked to be touched, unless it's in a rough, forced to submit way, but with Abbie it's different. But it's slow-going to that point. And along the way, it's lots of slow, erotic touching, gentle touches and tender glances, naughty self-pleasure in front of the window, and some hot phone sex. Ivan feels the emotion, wants Abbie desperately, but it's that physically coming together he has trouble with. That's why he likes the distance. And when they get to that point of actually having sex, it's really special, some needy, hot sex. I've found that Charlotte Stein writes some really good, hot sex with feeling, and here, she makes sure that we see Abbie and Ivan find solace and comfort and love in the other.These two characters complete each other, problems and all. Abbie even thinks, "apart from his obvious psychological problems, he's the perfect man," and for me, Ivan is sweet, deep and true. He tells Abbie, "You erase everything that holds me back, and replace it with something else." Abbie is the wounded heroine with her loneliness, her sad life; add that to Ivan's character, his issues and backstory, and you get a story with a lot of emotional appeal. Not just sex appeal, although that is certainly hot and sensuous, the main draw is these two people: one who wants very much to reach out and to touch, and the other wants very much to be touched. Both want 'normal' and safe, and they find that with each other, along with love. A dark, emotional read that was erotic as well as romantic and even uplifting.