Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf by Marianne LaCroix 
ASIN B007I6FYQO
Story Rating: 5 out of 5 paddles
Sting Factor (kink): 3 out of 5
Marianne Lacroix has crafted an erotic fairy tale romance that works on so many levels. In Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf “Wolfman” Jack is tried for the crime of eating Little Red’s grandmother (who wasn’t complaining at the time). Of course, he escapes, but to tell you how and where he goes would ruin part of the story. Marianne has managed to seamlessly blend three genres with a level of skill I’ve only seen a couple of times in the past.
First, we have the fairy tale. We get to meet many of our childhood favorites in a thoroughly adult context. We get to see Jack and Jill, giants, sugar plum fairies, changelings, and three little pigs. There is magic, quests, and dashing rogues. I couldn’t help but smile at the familiar references in an adult story.
Lovers of romance will get their fill in this delightful book, as well; in double vision. The captive fairy can’t love the giant, while the changeling pines for the same giant from near afar (trust me, that will make sense). Lovers waver and worry before finding their happiness; all the stuff that makes romance the genre it is.
As for the erotic, Ms. Lacroix knows her stuff. While using more euphemisms than I like, it is exactly what her romance fans are looking for, as well as what the fairy tale aspects demand. The sex is well described with a vividness that makes you believe you can see, hear and smell. You’ll feel like taking your own lover after some of the scenes. While not, primarily a BDSM novel, it has enough BDSM to satisfy the aficionado.
Of course, none of this would work if the technical aspects were a problem. Nothing jumps out to distract you from the story, and the language is vivid and descriptive. Perhaps the best part of what Marianne has done is capture and eroticise that sense of whimsy that makes a good fairy tale good. Well done.
I give Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf 5 paddles for the story and 3 stingers for the only partial BDSM content. But, don’t sell yourself short, this book is well worth the time and money.
Reviewed by David
