TITLE: THE BEAUTY OF SURRENDER
AUTHOR: EDEN
BRADLEY
Pages: 320
Date: 4
Grade: 30/10/2013
Details: Received from Black Lace
Own
The Blurb:
“Are you ready for the dark side of love…?
The moments when Ava Gregory feels her most beautiful and complete are when
she is tied up and bound.
Then she meets Desmond Hale, a master in the ancient Japanese bondage
art of Shibari. He takes her to the very edge of ecstasy. But having learned
the beauty of surrender, dare Ava risk her heart?”
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Before I start my review of the story in this book
there are a few thoughts I want to get out of the way first; thoughts that are
more about the way in which this book was published than the actual story.
For starters, according to the description on Amazon
this book counts 320 pages. And, to be fair, it does. However the story itself
is over on page 240. What follows is an interview with the author and previews
of two other, yet to be published, titles by Eden Bradley.
And then there is what I referred to as “the story”.
This is not so much one novel as a bundle containing two stories. The stories
are connected, both through subject matter and characters that make appearances
in both, but they are two different stories with two separate titles. And the
blurb as shown above only refers to part one. In keeping with the way the book
was published, I will review the two stories separately below, and conclude
with a few comments on the whole book.
“Make it as much an
inner journey as it is a physical experience, and you’ll reach the deepest
levels Shibari can take you to.”
- Serving the Master: Desmond and Ava (128 pages)
Ava Gregory finds peace and fulfilment when she submits
and is bound tightly. While her sessions with Marina have been exhilarating, they haven’t
been able to bring her the peace and release she’s been longing for. Something
is holding Ava back from completely surrendering to the experience, and Marina knows that she
isn’t the person who will break those walls down.
“You might finally get what you’ve wanted, and that can be terrifying
sometimes.”
When Marina
introduces Ava to Desmond Hale, a Shibari Master, the connection between the
two of them is instant. But while Ava has life-long issues with allowing
herself to give in to what it is she needs, it is Desmond who can’t bring
himself to commit to anyone.
“Maybe what was really bothering him was the dark suspicion that this
girl was the one who could actually make him lose control for once in his
life.”
And if there’s one thing Desmond fears it is losing
control. If he isn’t in control he can’t keep those he loves safe. And if he
can’t provide that safety, he can’t allow people to get too close to him.
While Ava finds everything she’s ever dreamt of in
submitting to Desmond and his ropes, he grows more scared as his connection to
Ava becomes ever stronger. In the end it will have to be the submissive who
challenges her Dom to conquer his fears and face an uncertain but very
promising future.
“You are stronger than I am, Ava, do you know that?”
- Soothing the Beast: Marina and James (105 pages)
James Cortez, a six feet plus, tattooed and
dangerously handsome journalist is looking for:
“A way out of my own head, maybe.”
He needs to find a way to get a handle on the memories
that haunt him; memories of the horrible scenes he has witnessed all over the
world. He thinks, hopes that submitting to Marina and her ropes might take him there.
Marina Marchant is a Shibari specialist with very
powerful reasons for not wanting to work with male subjects. Having lost the
man she loved once she is not prepared to risk the pain again. She’ll stay in
control of her life and her emotions even if that means ignoring the obvious
chemistry between herself and the beautiful man asking for her help.
But, as Marina
soon discovers, it is one thing to rationally know that staying away from James
might save her from heartbreak in the future, it is quite another to actually ignore her feelings. Especially when it causes
heartbreak in the here and now.
“Marina,
there are no guarantees in life. I can’t say I won’t get hit by a truck tomorrow.
But God damn it, how can you do this, manifest the loss you’re so afraid of?
You’re making it happen. It’s not fair!” – James
And while James is battling darkness and numerous
fears, he is smart enough to realise that the connection – love – he feels when
he’s with Marina
is not something he can or should walk away from.
“I never thought it could be this good, and this torturous. I never
understood until I met you. Until I loved you. But I’m not stupid enough to
turn away from it. To turn away from you. I can’t do it.” - James
Like I said, there are clear connections between these
two novellas. It is Marina who introduces Ava to Desmond and it is Marina to
whom Ava turns when she needs advice in the first story. Just as Marina turns to Desmond
when she finds herself in need of someone who will listen.
“Don’t we tell submissives that they learn the most about themselves
when they push their boundaries? And shouldn’t that apply to us as well?” – Desmond
to Marina
And, here is another example of that continuity; two
cases in which the Dom(me)s have to admit to their own weakness:
“You’re so much braver than I am.” – Marina to James
I really liked that these two stories showed that even
in a D/s relationship it isn’t always the Dominant partner who has all the
strength, all the power and all the wisdom. I loved the way it showed that
having the need to control can be a handicap just as much as it can be a
delight. Those who submit in these stories aren’t weak, just as those who
dominate aren’t the stronger party in the relationship. There is a difference
between the dynamic that plays out when one partner submits to the other and
the feelings that such a dynamic might arouse. It was wonderful to see that so
beautifully portrayed in these two stories.
