I am generally not a fan of standalone novellas. It’s a personal preference, I know, but I love books where the events, characters and back story have plenty of time to develop slowly. This is often not possible in the novella form.
The genre under which this book (and, indeed, my own work) falls – erotica – is notorious for having a small minority of authors who short-change readers with very brief stories, often wrongly labelled as novellas, for which they charge novel prices.
So it is with relief that I came across this novella from Harley Laroux, an author I haven’t read before. It may be a fairly quick read, but she packs a lot into that time.
Jessica goes to a Halloween party with her friend Ashley, where she bumps into Manson, a guy she has a little history with. I won’t spoil your enjoyment by going into too much detail, but the evening turns into something she cannot have imagined a few hours earlier. An evening of dares and challenges which ends in Jess finding herself at Manson’s mercy.
The author blends the two elements of the story seamlessly. The main action is subtly mixed with the back story of the main characters at just the right pace. As events unfold, you’re given just enough information to appreciate the reactions of the participants. This is no easy skill.
I should say at this point that the story itself is very entertaining. The main characters are believable and their perception of one another is beautifully handled. There is sex, yes, but the tension between them, the difference in their intentions and the challenges – offered and accepted – make it truly erotic.
My one reservation is the clowns! They add a sense of menace for reasons that are explained. But the story, although taking place in public, is essentially an intimate piece between Jess and Manson. When the clowns become actively involved, it detracts from that intimacy. It also changed my perception of Manson, and not for the better. I would have preferred them to have retained that sense of menace as voyeurs, rather than participants.
Having said that, this is still a great story. Don’t let the warning section at the beginning put you off; the book is not as heavy as it sounds! If you’re looking for something to keep you warm on a cold winter evening, I would recommend you add this to your TBR list. It’s a great example of what can be done with the novella form.
This is a review of the 2019 Kindle edition.
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