Binding Discoveries
Claire ThompsonContemporary erotic romance
Available from Ellora's Cave
ISBN: 9781419915505
June 2008
| Olivia James is a twenty six year-old Junior Accountant who has struggled with her self-image in the past, failing to see her own sexual appeal. Tom Dylan is a twenty eight year-old veterinarian, and Olivia’s steady boyfriend of almost a year. While they are having drinks one night, the couple runs into Mark Hunter – a man from Olivia’s past. He is the older brother of one of Olivia’s former college mates. He is also the man she almost gave her virginity to. The three friends go for an outing on Mark’s boat during which a mutual attraction is discovered among the trio. Mark’s dark sensuality brings out the submissive nature in Olivia as well as the bi-curious tendencies in Tom. Mark warns the younger couple that engaging in experimental behavior could either strengthen their love, or result in the relationship’s demise.
This story absolutely blew me away. Ms. Thompson wrote each scene with an incredible attention to detail. As a reader I felt myself drawn into the emotional vortex that is the interaction between characters from the very beginning. Tangible is the spectrum of emotions felt by Tom, Olivia and Mark as they each play their respective roles throughout the story. The reader is exposed to a heart-stopping roller coaster of emotion ranging from love and desire to trepidation and even embarrassment. Unlike so many stories within the erotic genre, there is an element of genuine suspense. Will Olivia end up picking one male over the other? Will the threesome become a permanent relationship? Will the experimentation strengthen or weaken the bond between Olivia and Tom? Will Mark find his own happiness if he is no longer included? In my opinion, it is difficult to predict the direction the plot will take, which is a refreshing change. The male/male interaction within the story is brief, but essential to the overall plot. There is also a mild element of BDSM, which I found to be depicted in a manner that was both enlightening as well as titillating. While not overwhelmingly graphic, Binding Discoveries is highly erotic, and easily one of my top ten picks in the erotic genre.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Rosalynne Writer |
