Review: Rapunzel, Rapunzel...Let Down Your Hair
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 6, 2013
In the short time that I have been reviewing adult romantic fiction, there have been several interesting plots involving murder, kidnapping, witches, ghosts, psychotic nutjobs, seances, castles, and millionaires. I have been transported via my imagination to exotic locales, relaxing country villas, tranquil seaside villages, bucolic four-star restaurants that only Michelin could inspire, and breathtaking city panoramas as viewed from penthouses.Impossibly gorgeous women with roiling emotions and hidden agendas. Ruggedly handsome men with sensitive personas and sexy smiles that make the former go weak in the knees. An eclectic melange of supporting characters who demonstrate unsurpassed wisdom and foresight in helping our intrepid heroines make important decisions.All of these scenarios have been a treat to read and savor. However, Sandra Ross's book, "Naughty in the Tower," has proven by far to be the most creative of her varied collections of writing.In this particular instance, a single room on a palatial estate vibrates with an overpowering sexual aura that is damn near impossible to ignore.What's next, the roof?Sarcasm aside, "Tower" is an adventure that draws the reader in quickly and creates an adventureous foreshadowing that envelops the heroine, Bayley, and her boyfriend, Shane, in some erotic shenanigans that commence from the moment they set foot in the aforementioned room. The author has crafted this particular enclosure to project an aura of isolation to the reader and lend a further air of mystery and impending isolation that seems to increase as the intrepid duo research their house's history and discover the room's historical purpose.Normally, I am not a big fiction reader. My tastes tend towards history, philosophy, religion, and geography. In general, however, I read whatever interests me. In this regard I maintain an eclectic library that sustains my interests and provides a satiation that is temporary---at least until my next jones for a good book.Reading and commenting upon fiction, however---in particular literature encompassing complex relationships and baring intimate emotions---has been an entirely new experience for me.And it is a challenge that I have wholeheartedly embraced.The allure of "Tower" has been, for yours truly, the overarching mystery that Ross cultivates within her writing. Ross's literary style and imagination has proven to be a nice introduction to the world of erotic fiction, especially when written from a female perspective.In the interest of literary license, and writing from a masculine perspective, I would assert that, as far as universal genres go for us guys, romance is not necessarily first and foremost in our minds when perusing a book. Sensitivity is not the first quality we are encouraged to demonstrate in our testosterone-laden society, in particular when the subjects are sex and relationships. As primarily visual creatures, we compete in various ways with other men for the affections and attention of women---which can range anywhere from level of income to career one-upmanship to the vehicle we drive to our sports team of choice to the brand of beer we guzzle.Stereotypes abound in our culture, and all of us play a role in their perpetuation, intended or not.Indeed, where is it written that a man has to play rugby and swig a brewski to demonstrate his manliness? What criteria determined long ago that a guy had to engage in fisticuffs to defend his sense of honor and propriety? Who says that we always have to dominate our work and personal relationships with annoying symptoms of uber-manliness such as always having the last word and needing to be the center of attention? Why should competition necessarily be a psychological extension of our security and collective worthiness?To be sure, not every guy has identical interests---they range from stereotypical do-it-yourself subjects like home repair and landscaping, to automotive history and design, to sports, to differing musical tastes. Our interests are as varied as our physiques, as different as the cars and trucks we drive and love, as numerous as the hairs or our coiffured heads (or lack thereof, in my case).So what if Joe Sixpack from Burlington, Iowa enjoys Van Cliburn's piano recitals? And who really cares if Vinny from Queens gets teary-eyed listening to Mario Lanza? Is the world going to explode in a fiery cataclysm if Bubba in Birmingham, Alabama prefers being a househusband and stay-at-home dad to his kids while his partner is the breadwinner?What if Bubba's partner was another guy?While "Tower" does not necessarily ponder, much less answer, the myriad responses to these questions, being able to read and reflect upon the emotions expressed by Bayley and Shane can serve as a catalyst for greater understanding of our personal reactions to why we either enjoy or dislike certain genres such as romantic fiction.As human beings, all of us possess some degree of internal motivation that can't be imposed from external sources. Accordingly, we seek inspiration from that which serves as our impetus for creating, for knowing, for doing. Ross's writing does this for me---I believe in self-improvement and understanding other peoples' perspectives, such as how women view relationships. By doing so, I like to think I become a more well-rounded person in the process.Thank you, Sandra."Tower" provides an opportunity for us guys to be exposed to positive relationships that combine the sex we crave with the characters' emotional intimacy and thought processes. Consequently, we can learn to reconfigure our preconceived notions of what being a couple encompasses.Not everyone reads romance. I certainly didn't when I began crafting my commentaries.Perhaps our male egos need to stop preening in the mirror, shut off "Jersey Shore," and turn our collective attention inward for some much-needed self-reflection.It might do us a world of good.