Review: scorned mistress seeks her revenge
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 16, 2014
3.7 starsHistorical/ Erotica/ BDSM.... f/m (most), f/f (less), f/f/m (once)136 pagesFor erotica, this is very well-written.  The character development of the narrator and watching her mind in action is actually quite interesting.  All of the sex scenes weren't entirely my thing, but they were done well for what they were.  If I were straight or bi with a stronger penchant for BDSM, maybe I'd of rated this one higher.  It's told in first person point of view from the very reflective and somewhat melancholy perspective of a mistress... a widow deeply in love with a man who marries a younger woman.Sexy Lady Marianne Gillingham has a passion for David Dunscombe... as he does for her.  She satisfies his darker sexual proclivities and he satisfies hers.  Totally switchy dynamics.  The story opens with a focus on these two.  Despite how they feel about each other, David is expected to take on a younger wife... widows seldom marry twice.  Stuck in the midst of London's societal expectations during this time period, they play out their frustrations in the bedroom.David's pretty, young, and inexperienced fiancée shows up on Marianne's doorstep demanding an end to their affair thinking she will solely satisfy her soon-to-be husband... but she soon finds herself returning yet again to Marianne's doorstep hoping to be mentored in exactly what that might take. With a delicious inclination for corrupting Annabelle's innocence and undertones of vengeance as a scorned lover... Marianne invites her to play.  It is this connection that drew me into the story and why I gave it a chance.  Love the premise.Now Marianne is a bisexual with a passion for men.  I didn't really get this from reading the reviews.  But in her heart of hearts she wants David.  Yes, she has a female lover (mostly out of loneliness) and images of women fill her mind, even when she's with men.  But her heart belongs to David and men are the first she seeks out as lovers.  As a lesbian, I found this emotional aspect of the story disappointing... even though she genuinely cares for her female lovers.  I suspect this emotionally straight-centered direction is how most of these sexually mixed books will go... which is why I will be less inclined to read them in the future.  Emotionally unsatisfying for a reader like me and the f/f descriptions are somewhat weaker than the m/f descriptions.So Marianne deviously rekindles her affair with David and invites his new wife to study them from the shadows where David cannot see her.  This "mentoring" soon expands into some hot times between these two ladies... until Annabelle definitely loses her innocence...Meanwhile, emotions do develop between these two.  Just when I was getting into their connection, Marianne's deep-seated longing for David gets in the way.  Mood killer for lesbians there.  yep.  But there are some definite hot parts between these two... loved their final scene.  I'd say Annabelle might have a stronger emotional connection to Marianne... this I did like.  Like falling for that teacher who completely reset your thinking.  Hard not to.The sex scenes are generous and quite varied (including f/f strap on and f to m anal).  Though I don't have the most positive imagery of what is meant by a leather dildo for the strap on.  I'm not sure how one could be fashioned for the shape required without sharp edges and I had an unsettling reaction to the idea.  Most of the m/f sex just seemed painful.  Overall, I wanted a little more romance and softness embedded here... a little too rough for my tastes. Nothing so weird or brutal that I had to skim though.  But if you like that sort of thing, there's plenty of that here.  Tickling as well, lol. Sometimes I couldn't tell what the heck position these people were in.In some cases, Marianne's aggressiveness is very sexy and appealing... maybe even a little scary.  She's a fascinating character for sure.  But maybe too cruel and aloof and man-centered for me to fall in love with. And oh lordy, what is goin' on between her legs?!  She's hung like a transman on T.  Interesting... not even the lezzies in my lesfic go there, lol.  Anywho.  I'd of been nuts over a purely f/f story focusing on just Marianne and Annabelle.  THAT would be very, very hot.  They had an excellent contrast and some good chemistry when David didn't ruin it.Interesting ending... even if I can't make sense of the last two lines, lol.  But I was impressed at the direction it took and how Marianne's character evolves and reflects.  Worth a read if you want to explore these dynamics.