THE DARK GARDEN

Author: Eden Bradley ISBN: 0553589733 6/2007 EROTIC Publisher: BANTAM

Rowan Cassidy likes to be in charge—especially in her personal life. As a mistress at Club Privé, the most exclusive bondage/S & M club on the West Coast, Rowan can live out her dominant fantasies safely, and with complete control—until the night Christian Thorne walks in. Self-confident and sophisticated, he’s a natural dominant if Rowan’s ever seen one. Yet she can’t stop thinking about him and imagining his touch. Christian has returned home, hoping to break free from his dissatisfaction and malaise—and discovers the cure in Rowan. He’s dying to get his skilled hands on her and watch her surrender, to unlock the mystery of her that captivates him. Determined to be her master, he makes Rowan a daring proposition: give herself over to him for thirty days. Rowan finds Christian’s offer terrifying—and impossible to resist. But abandoning herself to Christian’s power might be more than she can handle…. Or it might be the realization of her true nature and the dark garden within her. There will be only one way to find out. And once the game has begun, there’s no turning back.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE DARK GARDEN is a novel focusing on facing fears and finding out what its characters truly need sexually. The characters are involved in the BDSM lifestyle, so despite this book being labeled simply "fiction," be aware that it involves pain play and graphic sex.

Rowan Cassidy survived an abusive college relationship by taking control of her life, both professionally and sexually. She has become a dominant at an exclusive Los Angeles club, and she even runs a newcomer's club for the new members. One of these is April, who also has her own story running through THE DARK GARDEN.

They both meet worldly, wealthy, handsome men at the club who are notorious for playing with women and leaving them. April just hopes to hold on to hers as long as possible. But Rowan's fantasy guy is a dominant like her, though he's convinced she's a submissive. He challenges her to try out this role for thirty days. If either April or Rowan fall in love, their situations aren't likely to end well.

If you like your erotic romances to play out within art, wealth and BDSM play, or if you are curious and want to understand this growing sub genre within erotic romance, you will enjoy the book. Bradley has some very devoted fans even with such a young career, and I can see why.

Heather Hiestand