Review: Magical Night by Karen A. Sullivan

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!