Review: Whole lot of YOWZA! with a side of WTF
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 5, 2014
This book is hot. Like so hot. Like I had to replace some batteries hot. Just… wow. If you’re looking for a panty-soaking good time with a slightly creepy vibe, this is definitely what you want to be reading.Our main characters, Hilary and Jack, set out for a couples retreat / marriage counseling workshop getaway only to discover that Balustrade’s idea of “marriage counseling” involves a lot of public sex, and surrogates, and “suggestives” (staff whose sole purpose is to watch from the sidelines and tell you how to please your partner… or partners); and those are least creepy things about the place.Even more unsettling is the pit in the center of the courtyard. It sits there, bold and daring to be questioned, like a nearly-faded black eye on an otherwise strong woman. Clearly there’s something wrong, but the mind has trouble putting it together. Won’t put it together. Then there’s the overheard conversations of the staff, and the clear sense that Jack is hiding something. All of this adds up to me buying the next installment the very second I can.Now for the cons, and there aren’t many. Not even enough to take away a star, so don’t let these stop you from buying it. I just really feel the need to say it.I hate Hilary. Mark usually writes such interesting, full, dynamic, strong women, but Hilary is a wet blanket over moldy bitch. She’s completely given up on her marriage to Jack and, despite clearly being into it once things get rolling, she is almost hostile about having sex with him. He seems like an incredibly in-tune sort of lover, very considerate of her needs, clearly emotionally invested, but she brings nothing to the table except her lady bits. He is making love; she is using him as a masturabatory tool, and resenting every second of it. I almost want him to push her into the pit and run off with one of the ladies from Balustrade.The story takes a left turn towards Creepytown right before the ending, and certainly carries enough weight as a cliffhanger to keep me invested until the second installment comes out in October. My hopes are that 1) I learn more about Jack, because he is (by far) the more interesting character and 2) Hilary gets more human, because at this moment I couldn’t care less about her.