Title: Sweet Persuasion
Author: Maya Banks
Publisher: Berkley (02 June 2009)
ISBN: 978-0425227701
This isn’t the first book in the Sweet erotic romance series by the ever-popular Maya Banks, but, in my opinion, it is the standout title in the line-up. In other words, if you’re going to pick one, this is the one to go for. Sweet Persuasion is a cracking, singe your fingers read. Put the cat out, dim the lights, grab a friend (breathing or battery operated) hot.
Serena is in the business of making dreams and wishes come true for other people. She spends her days fulfilling fantasies and making others happy, but what she really wants is to indulge in a secret fantasy of her own. Serena wants to be a sex slave. To give up complete control to a man, temporarily, and then return to her normal life once her slavery is complete.
She has absolutely no idea how to go about making her dream a reality, but as luck would have it, her friend Faith (the female lead of the previous Sweet book, Sweet Surrender) steps in and provides an introduction to the incredibly suave Damon Roche, owner of The House, a private club that caters to those with particular sexual appetites. Damon and Serena meet, as a result of Faith’s introduction, and thus begins a blindingly hot arrangement between the pair that sees Serena playing the submissive slave to the sophisticated, dominant Damon.
Damon’s characterisation is very well done. Banks manages to balance his character traits to create the stereotypically perfect Top; he’s ruthlessly dominant, yet wonderfully intelligent and compassionate. He’s no pushover, but nor is he an overly aggressive, arrogant wanker. His relationship with Serena is all about trust and care and, despite the depth and intensity of their BDSM play, his regard for her is always very clear. And when I say deep and intense, I really do mean it. This book contains some relatively graphic encounters and unapologetically gets into the psychology of consensual power exchange. We’re talking public scening, flogging, anal sex, etc., etc., etc., so be warned.
To boot, Serena is equally appealing. She resonates with the reader because she’s not a doormat. She’s a strong woman struggling to accept that giving up power to someone else takes a lot of guts. Her willingness to acknowledge her desires, to express them, and the trust she places in Damon is very moving, and her ultimate struggle to accept that her wants and desires are more than a fantasy even more so.
Hey, if Damon turned up at my door, I’d absolutely be inviting him (and his crop) into the sitting room before you could say ‘sweet’.
Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to purchase Sweet Persuasion from Amazon.co.uk (Kindle ; Paperback), Amazon.com (Kindle ; Paperback), Kobo (ePub).
