Holly‘s review of Black Silk by Sharon Page
Historical erotic romance released by Kensington Aphrodisia 1 Apr 08
This novel was a pleasant surprise for me. It’s a historical, which I didn’t know until I started reading it. I fell right into it, despite the fact that I generally avoid historical erotica novels. The plot was surprisingly deep for the way it started out (I thought it was just going to be a quick, light erotica) and the characters were well drawn and deeper than it seemed at first glance. From the first page I was hooked and couldn’t walk away.
The back blurb of this book doesn’t do much for the story, so I’m going to add my own really quick:
Maryanne Hamilton is lured to Mrs. Masters house of ill repute by a friend who says she’s in dire need of help. Only her friend never shows and Maryanne ends up locked in a room with none other than the man she’s been fantasizing about for months, Dashiel Blackmore, Lord Swansborough. And as an editor of erotic novels, she can fantasize pretty good. But Dash mistakes her for a lightskirt named Verity and she ends up compromised…all night long.
Dash uses liquor and sex to dull the pain from his bitter past. But when some of London’s most notorious courtesan’s turn up missing and Dash is framed for it, he needs Verity to verify his alibi. Only he has no idea who she really is. Until her brother-in-law – and one of Dash’s good friends – shows up on his doorstep demanding he do the honorable thing and marry her.
Dash was an extremely compelling character, filled with contradictions and insecurities. He has a reputation for being lecherous, most notably for allowing hot wax to be poured on him during sex play, though at heart he’s honorable and only wants to escape his past. Once he marries Maryanne, he becomes confused about what carnal delights he should and shouldn’t introduce his innocent wife to. He also struggles with the desire to protect her while not really trusting her. Both these internal conflicts were interesting and well played out.
Maryanne was also an interesting character. She hides from Dash the fact that she edits erotic stories, afraid he’ll be disgusted with her and turn her out if he realizes how truly depraved she is. Yet she can’t control the impulse to be as wanton as she can in the bedroom. Though the two sound contradictory, it rather worked. She was a strong character and I truly enjoyed watching her and Dash circle each other.
The mystery surrounding the women being abducted and the attempts on Dash’s life was well done. The focus of the story stayed on the main couple, so I felt the mystery was an added bonus and played well into the characters’ internal struggles. The villain wasn’t easily recognizable as such, either.
I do think parts of the plot were unnecessary (such as the erotic scavenger hunt Maryanne and Dash are drawn into shortly after they meet) and some of the scenes were over the top, especially some of the sex scenes between secondary characters. I think more than a few were thrown in just for the sake of having them.
This is the sequel to Sin, which features Maryanne’s sister, and there were a few times when the story focussed on things that had obviously taken place in the first novel and I was lost. It doesn’t happen often, so I don’t think they have to be read in order, but for those of you who care about that sort of thing you might want to.
Grade: B+
Summary:
DANGEROUS SEDUCTION Maryanne Hamilton had expected to be shocked, but the wanton orgy she finds in Mrs. Master’s salon makes her wonder if she has walked into hell. Desperate to escape, she comes upon the master of sin himself-Lord Swansborough. Fascinated by his nakedness, she longs to touch every inch of his long, hard body. And when he bids her come near, she quickly surrenders to his wicked promises of carnal pleasure and sensual ecstasy.
Read an excerpt (scroll down).
