South Sea Siren by Heather Geoffries
South Sea Siren by Heather Geoffries
Publisher: Carnal Passions
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (43 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F/F, F/F, Ménage, Anal Play, Toys, Fetish
Rating: 2.5 stars
Reviewed by ThistledownAmanda Mills knows how to have a good time and when she goes to Aphrodite’s Island she plans to embrace her naughty side. But when her current squeeze turns out to be a creep she winds up alone on her romantic getaway. Then she sees Kyrna walk out of the ocean like Venus and is blown away. All of her charm and charisma fly out the door when flirting with the lithe redhead. As they delve into a steamy romance, Amanda realizes that she is in way over her head. Now she must decide whether to take a chance at love and trust or keep playing the game.
Amanda was tricked into coming on a vacation with a couple with ulterior motives. She is disgusted and is walking along the beach when she spies a vision of loveliness. Kyrna and she connect on a sexual level immediately and as they bond, reveal some things about each other that take the relationship deeper. As Amanda shares her darkest secret with Kyrna, she reveals more about herself than she ever intended. Kyrna is determined to help Amanda over her hurdle, but it may be a wall that neither of them is strong enough to breach.
Dealing with the after effects of rape in a novel is tough. It is something that can trigger both the writer and the reader into remembering things best left in the past. In this book, Amanda is dealing with her memories of the tragedy and her family’s refusal to help. Kyrna gets past her defenses but the walls are thrown up again when she gets a little too adventurous in her therapy efforts. Bringing a man into their lovemaking sets Amanda off, even after declarations of love. Will they resolve their differences? Will Amanda admit she could maybe be involved with Michael, Kyrna’s best friend, and share her?
The tension in the book was good, I had an issue with the snark at the onset of the novel. I want to see what sets a character off, not read about it in a summed up narrative. It is more real for me that way. The immediate chemistry was fine, but in a sleazy catty way that left me a little cold at the start. I want to have an emotional connection to the character first, not a boink fest.
The final blow, I think was the introduction of BDSM to the sex scenes without a necessary conversation with Amanda. Let me be clear. You need to know what you are getting into before you go into a scene, especially when you are dealing with a rape victim. The author did try to capture this, but there was more opportunity to show a gradual trust building and her acquiescence. One other note; BDSM is great. I love toys and the things people do that go bump (bump, bump) in the night.
Overall, I liked the conflict caused by Amanda’s necessary aloofness, but wanted a little more emotional connection to the character, both in the bedroom and out of it. Victims of sexual violence can have intimacy issues. It is a subject I am unfortunately very familiar with. I wanted a connection to the character, a realistic sexual relationship with Michael and Kyrna and a real feeling of love. However, thankfully the book wrapped up with another narrative at the end just as the three came (giggle) to a satisfactory conclusion.
If you enjoy erotic stories with a sense of carnal want, then give this short novella a try.
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