The Darker Side of Pleasure [Paperback]

The Bonds of Love

Jillian and Cameron have been married for years. For months, however, they have been sleeping in separate rooms and their sex life is non existent. In a last ditch effort to save their marriage, they agree to explore the lifestyle of D/s. Displaying a complete show of trust, Jillian turns herself over to Cameron and finds a lifetime of control falling away. When their curiosity for this lifestyle takes them away from their home, Jillian and Cameron realize that more is at stake than just participating in a scene.

The Lair

Answering Master Robert's ad for a sexual submissive to train, Cassandra Lowell finds herself in ecstasy for the first time in her entire life. Being trained by Master Robert is a great privilege that Cassandra doesn't want to take lightly. However, with one glance at Marcus di Sante, Robert's nephew and fellow Dominant, Cassandra realizes that she will do anything to be with him - even break the unspoken contract with Master Robert that can have Marcus thrown out of the BDSM community and ostracized forever.

Love and Discipline

Maggie London is a columnist for a New York sex magazine. In San Francisco on assignment to interview Damien Knight, a sexual Dominant who is well versed in the BDSM lifestyle, Maggie finds herself mesmerized by Damien's aura and personality. From the moment their eyes meet, Maggie's innermost self begins to yearn for things that she has never thought about in her entire life. Things that a woman in control should not want or need. Things that only Damien can give to her to experience and explore. When the smoke clears and Maggie's time in San Francisco comes to an end, will she be able to walk away or will the powerful presence that is Damien make her want to stay?

Having read and loved The Dark Garden, I knew without a doubt that I would become immersed in THE DARKER SIDE OF PLEASURE, Eden Bradley's follow up release. My instincts proved true and I found myself unable to put this book down.

In Bonds of Love, I watched Cameron take Jillian back under his wing and slowly but surely he makes her remember why they married in the first place. Jillian's guilt over circumstances beyond her control had to be explored and the concluding scene between these two characters is just beautiful. A perfect love scene for a great ending.

The Lair is a bit more hardcore in its intensity. More than once I am sure my eyes opened wide at Cassandra's willingness to truly submit to a Master. Even though The Lair is intense, the love found between Cassandra and Marcus is as old as time; it is pure and knows no boundaries.

If I had to pick a favorite novella in THE DARKER SIDE OF PLEASURE, it would be Love and Discipline. This tale made me tear up more than once and I have even had to go back and reread it just to see if it would affect me the same way again. It did. Maggie's supreme control ends when she agrees to Damien's plan. I couldn't help but cheer him on from the sidelines only to be dismayed at how he planned to end things at the conclusion of Maggie's assignment. Above all, Damien is human and in his secret heart of hearts, he is afraid of commitment having been burned before. But, his complete capitulation to the fact that he adores and loves Maggie had me breathing a sigh of relief. He was completely redeemed in my eyes.

Eden Bradley is one talented lady and I can't wait to read future releases. Because of novels like The Dark Garden and THE DARKER SIDE OF PLEASURE, she is now an author I will automatically watch for and purchase new releases when they are offered. Her ability to make me react and feel and become enthralled in her work is truly amazing.

If you're in the mood for seductive stories with an edge, this book has it all: silky-smooth prose, well-crafted suspense and very hot sex scenes in abundance. But it offers even more to readers like me who are new to this genre. I was always a bit mystified by the allure of BDSM, but Eden Bradley's intelligent and insightful portrayals of both male and female characters helped me "get" why strong women would be drawn to this sort of experience and how power play can be a delightfully slippery--and profoundly romantic--game. I found "Love and Discipline" especially riveting; I just couldn't put it down until I was done! Bradley is a wonderful storyteller and I look forward to reading more of her work.

I purchased this book after reading The Dark Garden by the same author, while I really enjoyed it, The Darker side of pleasure was even better, very deep into the world of BDSM, erotic yet dark, I couldn't put this down...3 short stories that hook you and leave you breathless--literally!

~~Minx