BDSM Reviews

Friday, July 06, 2007

Full Ride by Gail Faulkner


Reviewed by Elise Logan
Title: Full Ride
Authors: Gail Faulkner
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
ISBN: 1-4199-0129-X
Genre: BDSM erotic fiction
Publication Date: 2005
Rating: 5 of 5

Oh, what a beautiful beginning. I can’t tell you how fabulous I found the first scenes of this book. The author jumps right into a scene, and it’s a beauty. I found the tone just right, the Dom just harsh enough to be exciting – very exciting – without becoming a callous jerk. And our sub is right on the money. But, wait, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Our sub, Prin, is widowed. She had shut down the submissive part of her life at her husband’s death, convinced that part of her sexuality had died with him. Now, four years later, her submissive nature has been aching to get some satisfaction. Her friend Dave sets up a scene with a Dom he knows (Gray, but you don’t find that out until later). The rules are simple. No names, no personal information, no contact after the encounter. The guidelines for the scene are set out in advance in a contract for which Dave acts as go-between. Dave is Prin’s safety net – he knows where she is, who she’s seeing. This is one of the aspects of BDSM play that often gets overlooked, but it is incorporated beautifully and naturally here.

Now, back to the story. Prin has been out of the game for four years, so while she knows the way it’s supposed to go, she’s out of practice. Truth be told, her husband hadn’t really pushed the domination envelope with her. But Gray certainly does. In the first 75 pages of the book (their arranged night together), he puts her through her paces beautifully. Prin finds that moment, that one shining moment of realization where she surrenders to the will of her Dom. That moment is written with clarity and truth in a way that resonates with the reader.

Sadly, that night has to end, and the two of them have to re-enter the real world. In the real world, Prin has some major things going on in her life. Her issues are such that she doesn’t feel it is appropriate or desirable to enter into any kind of relationship right now. But Gray isn’t taking no for an answer. He knows what they have is special, and he doesn’t want to let it go. The rest of the story, from the time they leave the hotel room on that first morning after, through the end, is much more romantic (which is not to say that it isn’t hot and sexy, too).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, I loved the scenes, I enjoyed the intense start followed by the more traditionally romantic relationship building. Overall, an excellent read.

Posted by Elise Logan :: 7:22 AM :: 2 Comments:

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