Enchained [Paperback]

From Timeless Tales reviewer Meri Mccombs
Enchained is a three author anthology from Ellora's Cave. Though each story is different they are linked together by the overall theme of dominance and submission.

We begin with Ann Jacobs tale, "Mastered", about a prosecuting attorney and a homicide detective. Loosely connected to her "Lawyers in Love" series, Mastered is the story of a woman seeking a new master, a man who can make her find the full depth and breadth of her passion, and the man who reawakens all those desires. It's the tale of unexpected, yet fulfilling love.

Next up, "Choice of Masters" by Joey Hill, a fantasy tale of a woman cursed to never feel pleasure and the man who frees her. This tale focuses on the mental and spiritual, on how true trust can liberate. It is also the only tale in the anthology not connected to series.

Lastly, is Jaid Black's "Death Row: The Mastering". This is futuristic fantasy tale. A widow on her way to earth to visit her daughter is kidnapped by a devolved man. This man dominating her body and her will until all she wants is to please him, much to her confusion.

While I greatly enjoyed all three stories, I have to admit to not being able to fully appreciate the nuances of Jaid's tale. Not having read the Death Row serial, I was lost on some of the customs that she mentioned only in passing as if the reader was expected to already know everything. Other than that single drawback, I loved the stories, especially Joey Hill's. This anthology is a good introduction to each author's style as well as an entertaining read.

The first story was so bad I couldn't even finish it. I couldn't get into the second story although for me it was educational, if nothing else. The third story was by far the best and in fact was the reason I bought the book so it wasn't a total loss.

This book includes 3 stories described below.

3 stars for THE MASTERING by Jaid Black.
This is a continuation of the story in Death Row The Trilogy, and I suggest reading that first. Jaid Black fans will probably like The Mastering but it wasn't one of her best. It is set in the future where there are subhumans who kill and eat humans. Nicoletta is kidnapped by some men who plan to rape her and keep her. One of the subhumans rescues her from them. There is a relationship between her and the subhuman.

CAUTION SPOILER:
The author used my pet peeve of vague communication and inaccurate assumptions between the two lovers. Because Abdul was infected, he would change back and forth between being human and subhuman. When he felt love or strong emotions he became subhuman. He loved his wife but had to act like he didn't and caused her to hate him. He obtained a harem of wives during this time. This went on for 25 years. After he rescued her and she spent time with him as a subhuman, he told her the truth and then they stayed together and loved each other no matter what form he was in. I wished he would have told her this 25 years earlier instead of both of them living with emotional pain for all those years.

Data:
Sexual language: erotic. Number of sex scenes: eight plus. Setting: 2250 Central America. Copyright: 2003. Genre: erotic science fiction romance.

Other Books:
For a list of my reviews of other Jaid Black books, see my 5 star review of "One Dark Night" posted 4/2/08.


3 stars for MASTERED by Ann Jacobs.
If you're looking for a story with bondage, domination, submission and body piercings, you'll probably enjoy this. I personally prefer a little more character and story development. The author's objective was erotica, not story-telling, so it was fine for that purpose.

Story Brief:
Police detective Rocky Delgado has been friends with prosecutor Sandra Giancone for a year or so. Then they become intimate and discover they are a perfect match, with her as the submissive.

Data:
Sexual language: erotic. Number of sex scenes: eight plus. Setting: current day U.S. Copyright: 2002. Genre: erotic contemporary romance.

Other Books:
For a list of my reviews of other Ann Jacobs books, see my 2 star review of "Full Circle" posted 8/26/08.


1 star for A CHOICE OF MASTERS by Joey W. Hill.
The plot and characters were too vague and unbelievable for me to enjoy. It was too weird. It felt like a hallucinogenic dream.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
As a teenager Lilith told a boy to fight and die in battle to prove he loved her. The young man did. His older brother was the magician Zorac who kidnapped Lilith and kept her in pain for 5 years as revenge for his brother's death. The form of pain was being sexually aroused at all times but never being able to satisfy it. The knight Thomas comes along and uses sexual activities and magic to free her.

Data:
Sexual language: erotic. Number of sex scenes: ten plus. Setting: England after the time of King Arthur. Copyright: 2003. Genre: erotic paranormal romance.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 4 reviews  3.0 out of 5 stars