Tempt

Love in a BDSM scene.

Marie Tuhart, ‘Tempt’.
A Wicked Sanctuary Novel. Surrender your inhibition.

As a Hidden Gems ARC reader I received a free copy and promised an honest review. Here it is.

Rating: 3,5 stars (of 5).

In general: Love in a BDSM scene.

Main characters:
- Sierra Blake.
With degrees in Economics and Psychology she became Data Intelligence Manager of a non-profit organization helping children. She’s a strong, independent woman.

- Max Preston.
Former IT genius; now - with two good friends - owner of a BDSM club: ‘Wicked Sanctuary’. He’s divorced; his ex wife told him that she could accept his preference for some kinky behavior but in reality she couldn’t and moreover she appeared to be a calculating ‘gold digger’.

In general I’m not a great fan of BDSM books. So it’s a bit difficult for me to give an honest review of this novel. I’ll try.
Sierra and Max meet for the first time when Sierra leaves her boyfriend. He liked horror and she didn’t. He laughed at her protests and seduced her into a weekend on a horror-themed camp-ground. So she broke up their relationship. When walking away it starts to rain and she looks for shelter. The first house she sees appeared to be Max’ club. Max immediately feels a strong urge to protect the soaked, windswept beautiful woman on his doorstep.
Then the author, Marie Tuhart, describes how Max introduces a hesitating Sierra into a relationship with light BDSM aspects. She has difficulties with accepting submission and his sometimes over-protective behavior. But there’s a strong physical attraction. And Max realizes that he has to be careful when teaching her his lifestyle. With amazement this reader learned about the fun of giving pleasure along with pain and the acceptance of an independent woman being submissive in bedroom or club. However the author keeps the process of Sierra’s introduction rather credible.
But some other aspects of her story raised questions for me: Sierra’s former good looking boyfriend is a dumb drugs user and ignores a lot of her wishes. So why didn’t she - a clever, strong woman - dump him a lot earlier?
And Sierra’s thoughts about Max and his club are described in detail (and with empathy). But the influence of her interesting job on her behavior remains vague and in the background. Why not a bit more regard for this aspect of her personality?
All in all for me an interesting book I read with a lot of amazement.

R.Huiszoon.