Veena’s review of Club Wonderland (Friends and Benefits, Book 2) by Christine D’Abo
Erotic Romance published by Carina Press 14 Oct 13
This book has everything you’d expect from an adult version of Alice in Wonderland with a BDSM theme. Alice is a beautiful submissive virgin and Gael is the Big Bad Dom and the Queen of Hearts is a transvestite Mistress who runs Club Wonderland with an iron whip.
Innocent Alice with her beauty queen looks is in lust with the new office paralegal Gael and cannot understand why he never responds to her innocent overtures. Poor Gael, who is a Dom active in the local BDSM community, has a hard time resisting Alice but needs to stay away from her because he can’t afford to let a little office romance get in the way of a partnership at the legal firm where they are both employees. But then one day Alice follows Gael and his friends into the hidden environment of Club Wonderland, which seems to be an answer to what’s missing in her life.
Alice lived her childhood under the thumb of her dominant, manipulative mother. Having left that life behind her, she now lives life on her own terms, so she is afraid to submit and lose her independence to Gael. As they explore their relationship, they also deal with the office politics, family, and outside relationships.
Can their love survive all they want and need from each other? Can Alice retain her independence and also submit to Gael to find the edge that’s been missing in her life? This is a short book, so I don’t want to take away from the reader discovering the answers to these questions on their own.
The story hits all the right notes, but I find it a bit too one dimensional. I have read and enjoyed other books by Christine D’Abo, but this one just does not do it for me.
Grade:C
Summary:
Alice White isn’t used to being ignored. So when the object of her lust does just that, she’s bound and determined to get his attention. Her pursuit leads her to Wonderland, the kind of club she’s only read about, and suddenly Alice is craving something she never knew she needed.Gael Hernandez wants to be the youngest partner at his prestigious law firm, and not even a certain tempting legal assistant can distract him from his goal of financially helping his family. Until she shows up at his favorite club and surprises him with an interest in being restrained. But the BDSM lifestyle is no game to him, and he won’t take things further until Alice is schooled into submission.
After a taste, Alice wants more. She offers to be Gael’s sub for one weekend, with nothing forbidden and no boundaries. In a few short days, he gives her the strength to be the person she’s always wanted to be. Now Alice just needs to convince Gael that he can dominate in the bedroom, and submit to love.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
