I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
Club Shadowlands
by
Cherise Sinclair
erotica, romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Smashwords on January 14, 2013 and has 191 pages.
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First in the Masters of the Shadowlands romantic erotica series and revolving around a private bondage club. The couple focus is on the innocent Jessica and the very-knowing Master Z.
My Take
Lol, yep, Jessica should’ve known better and really read that contract, as Sinclair quickly introduces us to this BDSM world. *More laughter* Jessica is really getting an eyeful in the club as she tours the place.
Sinclair takes a unique approach to Jessica’s thought processes, and I can well imagine her naive take on the [mostly] women who appear to be “victims”. It’s her sister’s experience that fuels Jessica’s protective instincts and creates such, um, interesting reactions…*more laughter*.
I understand Jessica’s denial about being a sub. It’s gotta be scary to consider letting go of one’s control. But Sinclair writes of Jessica’s fears and arousal in very realistic prose using third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Jessica’s and Z’s perspectives, well except for that one overdone meme that, fortunately, is quickly erased. Sure Z is too good to be true, but I like a bit of hope *more grinning* I can see why it would be handy to be able to “mosey through a woman’s mind”.
I love the doorman’s response to Jessica’s question, and it’s the reaction EVERYone should have. That everyone has different tastes, so live and let live. I don’t know why people “need” to have others think and want the same way they do!
Sinclair writes with care, insight, and compassion about Z’s rules and ideas for the club and of Jessica’s conflict. I like that education and safety is a priority. Sinclair does a good job writing of this world, very realistic with a good bit of show in this. It’s all sex, sex, sex, in a very good way. Ooh…*grin*…
Jessica’s confusion is fascinating, as she veers between want and fear, worried about what people must be saying about her luscious body. And it’s Sir who assures her…a good read for women who feel too ripe.
The Story
It’s a lousy date that ended early followed by that pesky armadillo that sends Jessica’s car sliding across the road, and forcing her to seek shelter from the nearest house. A house that has rules and couples clad in leather and less.
It’s an unexpected introduction for this shy woman who will discover things about herself that she had never expected.
The Characters
Jessica Randall is an accountant who volunteers at an animal shelter. Her sister had been abused in her marriage. Aunt Eunice would be delighted at Jessica’s chance for, um, expanding her horizons.
Club Shadowlands is…
…a private club where your BDSM fantasies can come true for a night or a 24/7 lifestyle. Zachary is “Sir“, a.k.a., Master Z, and the owner of the club; he’s also former Special Ops. His day job is as a pediatric psychologist. Galahad is Z’s big, ugly cat.
Ben is the brute of a doorman. Molly. Vanessa is quite snarky. Cullen is a Dom bartender who goes through a different woman every few nights. Matthew is a dungeon monitor. Joey is a sub looking for a mistress. Gabe is a dom. Master Smith is interrupted; Wendy is his sub. Daniel, a.k.a., Master D, hasn’t been happy since he lost his wife three years ago; he sometimes works as a dungeon monitor. Adrienne is a sub who likes to be whipped. Cody wants to be a 24/7 slave. James, a vet tech who knows Jessica, is a Dom having trouble with his privacy-preferring sub, Brandy. Sam gives some bullwhip lessons. Vance will clear the medical room. Melissa offers up her sub. Lenora and Maxie do a little babysitting. Nathan is a not-so nice Dom.
Matt had been Jessica’s last boyfriend.
The Cover and Title
The cover is in shadows, appropriately, with a black and deep, dark brown background. It’s Jessica in the background in a black bit of lingerie, leather cuffs on her wrists, as she holds the straps of her garment on her arms. Master Z is in the forefront, his white buttondown shirt open to bare his muscled chest, the two sides of an undone black tie hanging down. The title is beige with a slight black shadow, a’slant from Z’s elbow up and across his chest. The series information is small in white and positioned at Z’s beltline. An info blurb in white is just above a gray length of chain below which is the author’s name in beige.
The title is an introduction to Club Shadowlands, where Jessica discovers her true desires.
