Review: wonderful
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 19, 2011
Warning: if you're not interested in an erotic romance about acting out rape fantasies, move along.If you are, buy this book.Ok, review done.And that was my joke for the day, folks. Seriously, though, I loved this book. It pulls off the almost impossible feat of introducing a hero who's preferred sexual kink is acting out rape fantasies with willing partners but, outside the heat of the moment, is a genuinely nice, really likable guy. A gentleman, if it's possible to say such a thing about a blue-collar construction worker in Boston, a guy who chews with his mouth open and holds up traffic out of sheer orneriness.The hero, Flynn, is a wet dream of a character. Tall, hung, an amateur heavyweight boxer who benefits from a severe gym addiction. His dialogue is pure guy-speak, plain, to the point, no frills, but I found myself hanging on his every word. He's blue-collar, yes, but he's whip-smart and happy with who he is. A really interesting character. I admit that I bought WILLING VICTIM for the dirty sex scenes but I found myself enjoying all the in-between moments as much if not more, mostly because of him.Laurel is pretty interesting herself. Damaged and untethered to her own life, off-course, behaving unpredictably - when she asks Flynn out and then later takes up an offer to watch him have rough sex with another woman, even though she's never done anything similar before, it's believable. Laurel takes up Flynn's invitation to meet again and elements of friendship and tenderness bookend their encounters. Laurel doesn't know how to interpret this; she's pretty sure she and Flynn have an NSA arrangement based purely on scratching a kinky itch, but seeing other sides of Flynn makes her want more from him.The sex scenes are explicit and, as others have mentioned, Flynn really does commit to his role - but the book feels very real, and McKenna respects that. There's a safe word, and before getting busy Flynn always asks Laurel what she's up for, then respects her limits. This made me like the book, and Flynn, more but it detracts from the fantasy a bit, I think. Also, personally, I could have done without the scenes where Laurel turns the tables on Flynn and takes control in bed.I wish it had been longer, and there was room to develop the relationship further, but this is a really well-written, wonderful little book. Anyone who's interested will be glad they've found it.