The Sanctuary
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Eve Lauren is seeking solace from the pain of a broken heart with a vacation in Finland. What she finds there is a world of sex and love she never knew existed. Filled with over-the-top passion, The Sanctuary is Book 1 of Eros' Edge, the intense, new romance series from author Arika Stone. Eve Lauren has it all - an elite New York City wedding and event planning business and a fabulous jet-setting life. When she discovers her fiance, Jude Wright, cheated, she loses the joie de vivre for everything wedding related and gives up on ever finding romance. She escapes to Helsinki for vacation - a place she describes as "moody and dark." It's exactly how she feels after being burned by Jude. Val Ruska isn't looking for love. Infamous for being one of the most elusive rock stars to bed, the musician turned brooding artist can have any woman he wants, but doesn't. Not any woman will do. But he's intrigued by Eve, a single American woman dining alone, and invites her to dinner. Val rocks Eve's world as hard and fast as the music he plays. Eve explores her deepest erotic fantasies with him and finds a side of herself that she didn't know existed. Their relationship causes Eve to question everything she believes about sex, love, and starting a family. Val can give her everything she's ever dreamed of, if she's willing to submit to his desires. But is she ready to give up her life in exchange for his? Reality sinks in when she returns to New York City and Jude seizes the opportunity to win her back-but Val isn't so eager to let her go."
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This was good. Girl with boyfriend troubles meets bad boy rocker, and that's what you get. There are things about this book that I loved, and things about this book that I didn't.
What I loved:
-I really liked the main female character, Eve. She seemed well ronded, and and didn't come across as too needy.
-The story flowed nicely. Things didn't feel rushed, but they also didn't feel too wordy or drawn out either.
-The author has serious story telling talent.
-This is not as outlandish as 50 Shades.
What I disliked:
-Val, the male main character, was not a good Dominant. He gave Eve no reason to trust, but demanded she gave him trust anyways. In a true D/s relationship, trust is earned not demanded, a common misconception.
-Problems were wrapped up too quckly. I have dealt with one of the issues myself. The way the resolve was met, was way too easy. I would have liked to see the struggles explored more in depth. (I don't want to say what the conflict is, it will spoil parts of the book for future reads.)
The sex:
-Some of the sex scenes were HOT! Others left me cringing. I will add, there is not as much “kink” as I thought there would be.
Thoughts:
I will try more by this author in the future. I hope some of relationship portrayals in the future will be more along the line of realistic BDSM rather than fantasy BDSM. Like I said, the author is talented. This book is not for everyone. If you do not like aggressive sex that borders on abuse (this one toes that line very closely) this is not for you.
