I will start this review by saying I am a big reader and when I found this book in a bag with many others given to me by a friend, I thought I would give it a chance even though it wasn't something I would usually read. (I have read the 50 Shades trilogy to see what the 'fuss' was about)However I barely made it to page 43 before giving up and I struggled to make it that far to be honest which (with exception to The Red Pony by John Stienback which I attempted aged 12) is the only book so far I haven't completed.Terrible writing style, no real plot and a lack of depth to anything besides descriptions of unrealistic and frankly disturbing sex. From the 2nd page we are 'treated' to a very graphic description of a "bdsm encounter" between strangers and the book continues from there...Now don't get me wrong I am not suggesting that BDSM or powerplay situations are unrealistic and disturbing but the writer makes these situations feel little more than rape and humiliation. The main "character"...I have actually forgotten her name Marina? something like that checks into a "haven" she knows nothing about but her friend suggests to her in an attempt to change her sexual behaviour (because "as a strong,successful,independant woman" she just 'has' to have a terrible relationship/sex life)I don't really want to go to much into 'spoilers' but anyway she arrives at this place and is 'forced' to perform a sex act herself in front of strangers...(which she doesn't want to do but does anyway because she's so stubbon??, I have no idea) anyway... she meets other people there...learns that "because she is a dominant woman it scares men away"...has sex with some other strangers (again against her will)... gets 'spanked'... more sex...(Yes this is still all before page 43 by the way)I didn't particularly like the 50 shades books but at least they had some attempt of a plot and some degree of charactorisation. It honestly feels like someone has just tried to jump on the bandwagon without hiring anyone to actually proof-read her book before publishing. A co-worker lent me this book and so I started it thinking, okay let's give it a shot. I loved FSOG and have read a ton of similar stories since. The book starts off with one character that is almost more interesting then the one who becomes the lead. Jan is dismissed in the story and is brought back for a mention or two at the end. I see there may be more than one book so maybe the story of her and Rob is out there somewhere.There is zero story line to this book. There is sex, pages of it - but I ended up passing over most of it because I had zero feelings for anyone involved in this book. It sort of pissed me off more that the cover had printed the reference to FSOG on it. Most who loved that series loved it because it had a great story line with it - not just the sex and BDSM theme.I finished the book in one sitting, just to be done with it - thinking maybe I could get into the story as her weekend adventures were over. Even the sex wasn't that hot. I have read some light romance where they make you fall in love with the male lead and then give you a very vanilla love scene that turns out hotter than the acts in this book.Too bad - the theme had potential but Nat and Simon were just not very interesting. More details on them might have made it a better book. But do not read this if you are looking for a FSOG fix. Sylvia Day's Crossfire is going to be the closest you will get. If you want a good erotic love story with darkness then Try the Captured in the Dark / Seduced in the Dark series. But this is not even close.
My all time favourite book soo much passion ,lust and the story line was just brilliant x x x
—garry_souffrant
poorly written. disappointing, and a few hours of my life I won't get back!!!!
—divalilak
Natalie and Simon, ok chemistry.. Story OK...I did not like the end...
—Daud
I liked this book a lot..
—Kim
Good read!!
—caitie_cat210
