Reviewed by Breanne Erickson.
Romance is never something to be trifled with. It's like making a souffle, or a good stew. You have to be careful with what you put into it, how you season it, and most especially how it's cooked. With "Magical Night" by Karen A. Sullivan, you'll find yourself with a delicious appetizer that well leave you wanting more.
Magical Night is an extremely short novella that describes an evening of exotic passion between Kay Maclachan and her significant other, Jim. From the very beginning you can tell that both Kay and Jim have been hurt in previous relationships, and Kay even gives us hints about how she has trouble saying "I love you," scared of how those words might change what seems to be a perfect relationship into something that she might one day come to regret. That evening they head to a company party and the evening's entertainment becomes forgotten as both Jim and Kay begin focusing on each other, rather than socializing. Kay is daring, wanting to tantalize Jim and they end up leaving early.
While both Kay and Jim have similar thoughts on how the end of the day should go, Jim has ulterior motives. He's ready to move the relationship a bit further down the road and he knows how she will respond to a bit of light discipline, forcing her body to make her mind to make the ultimate sacrifice and say exactly what he knows she feels.
Honestly, the start of this story is its weakest point, with the establishment of characters and the overall situation between Jim and Kay being rocky and in some cases oddly phrased. But a quarter of the way into the story, as blood begins to heat up and the sexual tension builds the story craft of author Karen Sullivan begins to shine. Description and action meld nicely and it is properly spaced with just enough dialog to keep the plot moving.
Where things are really good however, is with the deep emotion and physical account of Kay's torment. From her bound wrists and ankles, to the delightful fingers delving into her canal, to the light spanking he gives her, we are right there with Kay, loving how she squirms beneath him and more importantly, how much we wish we were in her place.
But evidently Jim knows her even better because when she does finally give in, saying "I love you," he brings his belt crashing down upon her breasts and bottom, striping her even as she is frantic with arousal. In the end he takes her, melding heart, body and soul together in a flash of heat and light and love.
Check out "Magical Night" by Karen A. Sullivan, available in e-book format on Barnes and Noble and at Amazon.com and don't forget to visit her blog!
Story Codes:
M/f M+/f spanking slavery job humiliation nc
Synopsis:
The new laws that allowed certain men to accuse
unmarried women on their staff of 'disobedience' and 'disrespect' had
not been tested more than once since they were introduced quietly over 2
years ago. Katie was about to be the second unlucky accused.
This morning I read "Katie In Trouble" by James Hunt at the BDSM Library and I came away with mixed feelings. The first thing that any reader is going to notice is the atrocious grammar and punctuation in the story. It's barely readable. There are missing commas, strangely compounded sentences, improperly constructed prepositional phrases, and in general, a deplorable lack of skill at the ACT of writing.
But if you are able to dig through all that, there is a little kernel of decent story buried within the detritus of grammar and questionable plot. So let's begin.
The plot concept of "Katie In Trouble" is simplistic and old. New laws have been established that create subjective requirements for unmarried women to be "respectful and obedient" of the men around them. The author creates this world, expecting us to take it on faith that such laws came about legitimately. That's fine. With this particular plot concept, this is a common tactic. It provides a basis for WHY the protagonist (Katie) is being treated this way.
But rather than a story of abuse and slavery, it is the story of an interview between Katie's attorney, the judge charged with her case, and her actual accuser. And rather than discussing the charges, there seems to be a collusion between the defense attorney, the judge, and Katie's boss (who is also her accuser), and with Katie directed to stand there with her hands on head, dressed in her lingerie, the accuser is asked how he plans to discipline Katie if she is found guilty.
Here is where the tired worn out plot bursts with creativity and while the described abuses to Katie are light and quite predictable, there is a tension placed into the tale that makes them seem fresh. It is explained that she will be caned twice daily, plus be made to serve sexually. The judge even seems to want her publicly punished as well, and Katie stands there, crying, forced to listen to these men sit around discussing her upcoming slavery and abused. It's rather enjoyable.
The story then ends with a strange add on scene where Katie preps for the upcoming trial, and doesn't seem to connect well, which makes me suspect that Mr. Hunt plans on making this story a serial. If so, then I'm disappointed since I don't like serials and Mr. Hunt ended "part one" at a uniquely awkward spot.
In summary, there is a tiny glimmer of gold in a huge chunk of granite so big that it might not be worth it for the common reader to even mine for it. I give Mr. Hunt a positive 5 out of 10 stars and suggests that if nothing else, he edit for spelling and grammar errors before posting to the Library.
You can read "Katie In Trouble" here.
