Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of Second Time Around by Portia Da Costa
Erotic romance ebook short story released by Spice Briefs 1 Jun 09

A failed marriage, lingering sexual desire, and a high school reunion with an open bar. What should be a recipe for disaster, and countless hours spent with a therapist, is actually the jumping off point in Portia Da Costa’s second short story in her Risque Reunions series for Spice Briefs.

Willa’s surviving the tedium of her school reunion when she spots her ex-husband, James, across the room. James, her school sweetheart, former husband, and a man who looks completely different. New haircut, new clothes and new attitude. Gone is the non-confrontational, easy-going man she fell in love with, and in his place is a drop-dead gorgeous Alpha male crossing the room and dropping naughty suggestions in her ear. Before she has a chance to really think about it, she’s wandering off with James to a secluded room, where she’s more than willing to give up control and let her desires take over.

One of the great joys in Da Costa’s writing are her heroines, who always seem to be so smart, charming and funny that you wish you knew them in real life. Willa is no exception, which is good since she narrates this story entirely in first person. What I especially admired was that she was a grown-up. She still loves her ex-husband, and isn’t afraid to admit that she has made mistakes. It’s not all his fault.

This story is very erotic, and the sexual encounters are fueled by the interplay between dominant and submissive. I’ll admit, I was a little annoyed that in order for their relationship to work that Willa had to be the submissive. That she had to give up control (yeah, yeah, I know submissives have some “control,” but whatever). Certainly she has some spectacular orgasms for her trouble, but given that she herself admits to the reader that she can be a strong personality, her willingness to play the pet annoyed me.

All that said, just when I was trying to decide how annoyed I was going to be by this theme of the story, Da Costa gives the reader the perfect ending. Probably one of the most perfect endings I’ve read in an erotic romance. It sums up everything nicely, and the reader is left with the impression that while James and Willa are both “different” from when they were first married, they still have character traits of their “old selves.” Yes people change, but they don’t change that much. It was a moment that I needed to buy into their happily ever after, but also to know that Willa was not going to lose herself in the course of reclaiming her marriage. She was still who she was. And really, that’s the ultimate theme of any good erotic romance story. A heroine who gets to have her cake and eat it too.

Grade: B-

Summary:
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When Willa spots her ex-husband, James, eying her seductively at their high school reunion, she doesn’t know what to think–or how to control her body’s reaction to him. James has changed from the mild, non-confrontational man she married. Now he’s darker, sexier and eager to be in command. For the first time in their relationship, Willa is helpless before him–and she likes it. It’s time for her to make things right, starting by surrendering to pleasure…and to James’s will.
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Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: