The Gift of Shame (Black Lace)

Rating:
Summary: Didn't take Helen long to come out of her shell .....
Review: and when she did .... trust me she was so far out of her shell that she'll probably never ever eat seafood again ....

Helen is a young British widow mourning the death of her husband while she is still in the prime of her[physcial] life. Even though she blames herself for letting her husband die in a scuba diving accident she was more than surprised when introduced to Jeffry her body responded more than what would have been appropriate for a person on such a guilt trip ....

Jeffry happens to be an extremely [physical] awakening and ultimate liberation.

I have to admit that the creativity shown by the author in describing Jeffrys courtship with Helen is absolutely worth the price of the book alone .... Of course once Helen gets over her initial shame .... and that happens in the first chapter ... she really never looks back as she is introduced to an ever growing long list of wonderfull ... parters and practices ....

Rating:
Summary: A delightful gift!
Review: I couldn't put this delectable little gem down! The Gift of Shame has a perfect blend of insatiable erotica, unconventional romance and smoldering BDSM. What I love about this novel is that it is sophisticated and beautiful.

Helen had devoted six months of her life mourning her husband's death when Jeffrey comes along. No sooner does she get acquainted with the handsome stranger than he introduces her to dark, lurid games of domination and submission. The aforementioned games help her relieve some of the grief and guilt that haunt her. And the exploits that occur in a London apartment and during a Parisian excapade lead to some staggering and erotic twists...

I love the scenes that center on Helen and Jeffrey. The scene between them while Helen is on the phone is my favorite. I also love the scene on the airplane. However, the story loses strength halfway through the book. I thought the scenes on the private Caribbean island were a bit boring. But the novel regains momentum after that. This is one of the best Black Lace books I've read. The novel is beautifully written -- Sarah Hope-Walker is a talented writer. This is a sophisticated novel of forbidden pleasures. Highly recommended...

Rating:
Summary: Love it
Review: I read this book as part of a Black Lace Omnibus. Of all the stories contained within the omnibus I find myself re-reading this one. This is a story of growth, forgiveness and oh yes S-E-X. This is not really for those who only like monogamy. Read this if you are looking for a sophisticated story with some BDSM.