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Hidden Depths
It is part of the Hidden #3 series and is a in eBook edition on September 27, 2011 and has 238 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Second in the Hidden erotic paranormal romance series. The couple, well, the foursome, focus is on James and Olivia Forster kidnapped by the king and his friend.
My Take
It’s an interesting twist on submission with the man being the submissive this time. I had been expecting the werewolves and other shifters from Resurrection in upper New York state, so the beginning of this one was a surprise and it took a bit before the disconnect left.
It starts with an introduction to James and Olivia Forster with their very happy marriage and almost happier life before it’s all torn to pieces, and then introduces us to wereseal society. Holly does provide good reasons for why the upper echelons of this shapechanging society operate as they do. It’s one of the things I like about Holly, that she writes about sex AND creates an interesting storyline to hold it all together.
At one point, Holly makes a point of telling us that Ty is desired by too many, then she has him practically an outcast. Why? I did appreciate how she let us feel Ty’s sense of loss with Anso’s need to mate and his worry over his own feelings and the why of his worries — makes him more, um, human.
It’s too funny that the conservative Lord Noth is so grateful that James has been brought along and will be a third in the Royal Couple’s mating. His approval and his reasons for it are also rather funny — it’s so against our own moral code, and yet very much their society’s preference. With their moral code. And Holly pulls it off.
I loved the detail Holly provided on wereseal genitals. Very clever and practical. Then she adds in the erotic element of it!
Oh, yeah, I like this guy — he appreciates Olivia’s laugh lines.
I like the way events evolve in this story with all the usual resentments, worries, and hopes. Just like normal people. Just times four.
I do love this series. For all it’s kinky erotica, it very much displays some beautiful family values with a homey feel and exciting [in every way] characters.
The Story
His Majesty, Lobodon Vitul, is Anso’s father. And Lobodon is dying too soon. The first month after his father’s death keeps Anso busy as well as Ty who takes over commanding the King’s guards. Unfortunately, Ellice is busy too, just not with thoughts that would make Anso happy.
Equally unfortunate is how hard the need to spawn has hit the former prince. Anso is determined he will mate with a woman he likes and respects and his instincts take over, leading him to Olivia Forster, happily napping after some vigorous sexual exercise with her husband.
The Characters
Olivia and James Forster have a lovely marriage and own a multimedia firm, Forster Media. She’s an accountant who loves to work with her numbers, and he’s brilliant at the PR, telling if people are lying. Violet is their only child. A very challenging one.
Crown Prince Anso Vitul is soon to be king. Denise Vitul was his unhappy mother. Pinni is a physician and the Magus is a spiritual leader and both are pureblood fae as well as Lobodon’s closest friends. Harrison is his butler. Mrs. Bonn is the stylist helping her new Majesty. Lajos is a three-quarter faerie and a brilliant hairstylist.
Lord Tykon Otari is Anso’s best friend — in and out of bed. Ty’s father is a mean drunk; his mother, Sabra Otari, is too caught up in social climbing. Niko and Mark Corlier, brothers, are the king’s preferred bodyguards. Kelvin is another.
LoLo; Ollie, the serious and seriously cute one; and, Konnor, the little flirt, are the triplets.
Lord Noth is the head of the King’s Council.
The bitchy Lady Ellice Vitul is Anso’s cousin. Her father is Prince Phoca, a not particularly smart man but jovial. Cam Spence had once been eager to be seen publicly in Ty’s company. Priscilla Bowes‘ family is not as accepted as they once were.
The Oceanic Wildlife Patrol (OWP) is in charge of the environment and its inhabitants in Oceana. The OWP’s particular concern in this story is the Meimeyo, the sea dragons, which the Oceanians believe keep their underwater city safe.
Outside is where we live; the Pocket is a “fae-created cross-dimensional territory” that begins at “Resurrection on the eastern seaboard of North America”. Oceana is one of the cities of the Atlantic League, and Anso’s kingdom.
The Cover and Title
The cover feels like it’s about to introduce a surfer story with a naked Olivia, her back turned to us as she holds back her wet hair, looking out over an expanse of water.
The title is too true, for there are Hidden Depths that the human world doesn’t suspect.
