anasmith7186896

5 stars

Where to even start? Just to get one thing straight - I love the book. I just finished it and I'm barely managing to force myself to write this review before I go on and read [b:The Angel|13548075|The Angel (The Original Sinners, #2)|Tiffany Reisz|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337044736s/13548075.jpg|19113247]. I'll try and be as coherent as possible, but this book has me so conflicted and emotional that it's quite possible I'll simply be rambling. Anyway, on to the review. :D

There are a lot of players in this book. They include:

Nora

Nora is an erotica writer. She doesn't write romances, but love stories - there is a difference you know, in her own words: (this really got to me)

“A love story is not the same as a romance novel. A romance novel is the story of two people falling in love against their will. This is a story of two people who leave each other against their will. It starts to end the minute they meet.”

It definitely describes her life perfectly. She met her one true love, but being with him is impossible. And ever since she left him, she's been drifting.
But she knows what she wants - to write. And to do that she needs help from Zach.

Zach

Zach is Nora's editor. He never met someone like her, and she makes him feel so conflicted. For he wants her, and yet that is wrong. Not only is that unprofessional, but he is still in love with his wife. He's also a deeply miserable man. Ever since he left his wife he hasn't been happy. But Nora makes him feel. If only he was sure that's a good thing. When he asks Nora to write something, with no notice, she describes him like this:

With reluctance she dragged her gaze to his face, as dignified and angular as the rest of him. Pale skin and dark Brutus-cut hair contrasted with eyes the color of ice. Glacial, she decided his eyes were—they spoke of hidden depths. A stark beauty, he was a man made to be admired by intelligent women.

Lean and tall but with the substantial mass of an athlete, he was utterly masculine. The world had fallen away in his presence and now that he was gone, she was left in the equally potent presence of his absence.

Soren

Soren is the love of Nora's life. There are many words that describe him, but the first one that comes to my mind is sadist. He's one scary man, here's how Zach sees him:
this man appeared more aristocratic, more imperious and commanding than any baron, any duke, any prince he’d ever glimpsed. Now Zach understood the source of Nora’s fear. If God himself was intimidated by this man, Zach wouldn’t have been surprised.
Wesley

Wesley is Nora's assistant, well sort of. He's a student, a devout Methodist and a virgin. He's also in love with Nora. But he has been satisfied with the role of a friend, but things are bound to change - sooner or later.

Kingley

Soren's best friend and, how to put it, let's just say Nora's boss. I'm looking forward to learning more about him, but for now, here's how Nora sees him:

...reclined a man she knew no one would believe owned such a posh establishment. He’d pulled his long dark hair into a low ponytail tied with a black silk ribbon. He wore a stylishly rumpled black Victorian-era suit with a long tail and a black vest with silver buttons. His cravat was carelessly tied but that was nothing unusual. On his feet he wore his signature black riding boots. He looked like a handsomely roguish pirate someone forced into a suit and acted liked one, too—the one and only Kingsley Edge in person.

********

You know, in most reviews I would be telling about the characters that I loved. Somehow, now, it's not as easy.

Don't get me wrong, I liked all of them - at some point. But there were times when I simply didn't know what to feel. I think that the only character that doesn't make me feel conflicted is Wesley. And Zach, mostly. Everybody else, well, had moments when they did things that were out of my realm of understanding. And yet, in the next chapter or paragraph, they redeemed themselves, made me sympathize.

Very confusing, and yet the impact on me is huge.

I can't really say what is it about this book that made me love it, it just did. Maybe it's because it's the depth of feelings the book invoke in me that made it so special. Or it was the diverse cast of characters that seemed so real. I just know that I simply couldn't pull myself away from it.

For the end a warning: the book is deeply controversial. And I'm not only talking about the S&M part of it either (even though there were some parts that were uncomfortable for me (and I do read a fair amount of BDSM books)). And the book is not romance, the way that Nora classifies her books is better: erotica or even better - a love story.