Sweet Persuasion [Paperback]

What is your deepest, darkest, sexual fantasy? If you could find a person who would grant your fantasy, not shame you and not judge you, would you do it???? That is the question this book asked and for Serena, her fantasy is to give herself to one man, totally and completely for his pleasure. Enter Damon, who is ready, willing and able. Not only does he take her, but he finds true pleasure in catering to her every whim, both in bed and out, as he frees her body, mind and spirit, in some of the most erotic scenes ever put to paper! This erotic fantasy is not for the faint of heart, but for those that can stand the heat, I definitely recommend that you dive in to this sizzling story of self discovery and smoking hot erotica! As I said before, at true carnal pleasure ride!!!!!

The Plot: This second book in Maya Banks's Sweet series is about Serena, a friend of Faith's who fulfills fantasies for a living. Serena is the owner/founder of a company in Houston that provides clients an opportunity to live out their non-sexual fantasies for a day -- a day as a high roller, a princess cruise, etc. When one day Serena decides that she'd like to live out her own fantasy (albeit a sexual one), she turns to her friends for advice on where to start. At Faith's commendation, she calls Damon, who owns a local fetish sex club to provide her a way to temporarily live out her own fantasy of being someone's sexual slave. Upon meeting, Damon is instantly attracted to Serena and commits to personally helping her with her fantasy. What ensues is a whirlwind exploration of the intimate relationship of dominance, submission, bondage and sadomasochism that moves both Damon and Serena beyond even their own wildest dreams.

Zelda's Take: Oh. my. god. After reading the first title in this series, I almost discounted it entirely. Boy, am I glad I didn't. Unlike Sweet Surrender, which attempted to inject mystery and suspense into the plotline to make the book's erotic nature easier to swallow, Sweet Persuasion makes no bones about it -- it is an erotic romance. And pretty hard-core erotica at that.

First, for the faint of heart, readers beware; Sweet Persuasion reveals some of the very core underpinnings of BDSM culture -- from vanilla bondage and slave-subservience to emotion-rending lashings and public humiliation.

Second, this book is HOT, HOT, HOT!!! Damon is at once domineering, stern, loving, tender, good-looking and rolling in money (um, perfection?). Serena is confident, outgoing and independent. She's a business-woman who doesn't need to rely on anyone. Until she meets Damon, that is. What begins as a game and an experiment in sexuality turns quickly into a major lesson in self-actualization for them both.

The book proceeds as one long, rolling, heated sex scene as Damon and Serena learn about each other, play (oh, and do they PLAY!), uncover their desires and explore their limits. I love that Serena is confident enough to step outside of her comfort zone and try on a different persona. She embraces her fantasy and commits to it, but still doubts her decisions and motives just like any normal human being. I adore Damon's tenderness with Serena as she attempts to discover her own desires. While he commits himself to Serena's fantasies right away, he understands that it is only a temporary fling and never expects her to embrace his world in the end. He doesn't venture to hope that the scenario could produce a lasting relationship for them, but as he finds himself smitten with her, he figures it is, in the words of Tennyson, better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all...

As a relative newcomer to BDSM culture myself, I really enjoyed the bird's eye view into the various methods and exchanges Damon employs in his scenes with Serena. The insight into dom/slave eroticism and the kinky parties that go with it was fascinating. There is one punishment scene in particular that was so dramatic and climactic, the tension tore at my heart and had me nearly in tears!

In the end, I think that my enjoyment of Maya Banks's Sweet series is likely driven by my own personal connection to the characters in play. In the case of Sweet Persuasion, Banks was spot on. I look forward to reading more!

Serena James is the owner of the successful Fantasy Incorp., an organization constructed for ordinary people who couldn't obtain the opportunity to fulfill their long time dreams. Serena would be willing to do all in her power to satisfy her clients, as long as it wasn't anything inappropriate.

However in her case, Serena wasn't satisfied to appease everyone else's thirst for adventure without taking part in one of her own. Unfortunately her fantasy was completely inappropriate with today's standards regarding Women's Liberal Rights. And it wasn't as though there were any obvious advertisements in the classified section of the local papers, stating "Sex Slave Wanted!!"

Where and who in the world would Serena be able to surrender to a dominate, exquisitely charming, deviant, hmmm?

Opportunity knocks for Damon Roche (Sweet Surrender), for he is in search of a woman who will relinquish absolute control to him, withstanding his demonstrative carnal cravings, his sweet seductive endearments, and come to the realization that as much he is in dire need of her salvation, she will be his as well.

If BDSM doesn't interest you, this series is not for you, because it's HARD CORE. There were moments I was flabbergasted of how much Serena could withstand. Damon was very clear and concise with the terms of their arrangement. If Serena felt unsafe, and frightened to continue, the magic word would end it all (NO!!)

But within the realm of ROMANCE pushing the nonexistent envelope and extending its boundaries is what INTRIGUES us the most. Even though committing a few sins within the process, yet to reveal the PERILOUS PASSIONATE CRAVINGS the hero & heroine possess for one another as no other has done before, is TRULY MAGICAL & BEAUTIFUL... And does truly exist within the pages of this GROUND-BREAKING CONTROVERSIAL NOVEL!!

WELL DONE MS. BANKS ANOTHER EYE-OPENER WITHIN THE VOLUPTUOUS WANTON DIMENSION. THIS NOVEL DESERVES WELL BEYOND A 5 STAR RATING!

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