Gwen’s review of My Prerogative by Sasha White
Erotic romance released by Berkley Trade 2 Sep 08

Sasha White write some of the best erotic romance out there.  I find her characters to be fully developed, her characterizations and situations believable, and the sensuality is smokin’ hot.  My Prerogative is set in the loosely related world Wicked and Trouble, among others.  I like these books – some more than others, but I like them all. 

The outcome of these novels, while an HEA, is a believable HEA. The couples get together, support and love each other, and are committed to each other, but not all of them marry.  There aren’t pregnant bellies and children running around.  Couples move in with each other and support each other, but we’re not left with starry-eyed hearts and roses at the end.

Above all things, My Prerogative is an exploration of the heroine’s opinion of herself.  In fact, the sections of the book told from her perspective are told in first person – an approach that actually works nicely.  The heroine, Kelsey, is content with her life, but not happy.  She’s deeply lonely and has been made to feel her healthy appetite for edgy sex is “abnormal”. She knows intellectually that it isn’t, but emotionally she’s still insecure.  This insecurity causes her to act harshly sometimes and she treats most men as disposable – like tools, and no better than her sex toys.  At least, she does this until she meets the hero,  Harlan.  And, oh, how she meets him!

Harlan is less explored as a character, but I still really liked him.  The sections of the book told from his perspective are told in third person – further distancing us from him and keeping the focus on Kelsey. Harlan is the BEST kind of hero.  He’s a patient alpha, maybe a beta but still dominant in the bedroom.  I love how he gives Kelsey space, but isn’t afraid to show his feelings.  I wish more men knew how to do that.  I also love that he’s an artist and that Kelsey is his muse – there’s something almost mystical about that relationship between a painter and their muse (I think of Andrew Wyeth and his Helga pictures).  Harlan is infinitely patient with Kelsey.  He also encourages her and isn’t threatened by her sensuality.  All characteristics you need in a partner.  I loved that these two were able to find their way at the end.

If I had a criticism of the book, it would simply be not enough time was spent with the couple actually talking to each other.  But that’s a small nit in a very good story.

This was a lovely, sensual story of discovery and maturity.  There is sex in it, but the love story drives the sex, not the other way around.  It’s a story that White tells every time – an erotic love story that tells us as much about the characters’ souls as it does their libidos.  Really a nice twist on the typical erotic romance.  I recommend this book to any fan of erotic romance and of Sasha White.

Grade: B

Summary:

A secret admirer provides the spark for a single girl’s fantasies in a blistering new erotic romance from the author of Bound…

Kelsey Howard is happy with the single life. She has friends, a job tending bar, a nice apartment, and the freedom to enjoy wild sex games with strangers- the riskier the better. But what she really wants is love.

Then Kelsey realizes she’s got a voyeuristic neighbor watching her every move-and every move she makes is arousing them both. Not only is she not scared, she thinks she may have found her soul mate. Especially when she meets the mystery man in the flesh. That’s when the fun really starts, and Kelsey realizes just how far she’s prepared to go for love.

Read an excerpt.