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Not So Pure
Elise Hepner
Ellora’s Cave [link to buy]
ASIN B0063EWGHW

Rating: 2 out of 5 Paddles

Blurb:

White runs from her prison of a past and enters into a sexual deal with seven men that alters the course of her life for eternity. Caught between her need to take control of her life, and her desire to makeup for a serious lack of good sex, she enters a wonderland of kinky possibilities with men who show her that Prince Charmings come in all shapes and sizes. For White and her men, once upon a time doesn’t cut it—three or four times sound just about right. With each partner—not always one at a time—White beats back her trust issues. But the shadow of her past comes back to haunt them all. Now she must introduce them to her personal battle, hoping they’ll fight beside her as their sinful nights turn into hellish days.Happily ever after isn’t by the book anymore.

Review:

This is an interesting twist on a classic fairy tale. But, for the sake of this site, it is not BDSM simply an erotic twist on Snow White. When White finally escapes her wicked stepmother, she runs into seven men and they allow her to stay with them. The only way she can think to pay them back is with her body.

There is a lot going on in this story and for me, most of it didn’t hit the right notes for me to enjoy it. I usually am a fan of Elise Hepner’s writing, but White didn’t do it for me. I do admit,that I really liked how the story ended, but up until then, the characters didn’t grab me. They didn’t feel like characters I could care about and become invested in so that made it hard to keep turning the pages.

Roped Emotions
Elise Hepner
[link to buy]
ASIN B005NI9M7G

Rating: 3 out of 5 Paddles

Roped Emotions could be titled the Erotic Adventures of Rapunzel. The beginning is very confusing-and as you start to ask questions like why doesn’t Prince Samuel get her out of there, you realize it’s not just a remake of the fairy tale, but an allegory.

Rapunzel’s tower is representative of how she is a captive of her own making. Yes, her mother, the witch, kept her hidden from the world because she is a “freak” (due to her constantly growing long hair), but she keeps herself from the world as well. She stays captive even after Prince Samuel starts creeping into her room and they have hot sex. Then she realizes she wants it rough and that frees her enough to explore her sexuality and she realizes the witch can’t get to her without her help.

In the end, Rapunzel and Samuel change the tower to suit themselves and their needs.

Calling this a BDSM book is a real stretch. If there is such a thing as ultra light BDSM this falls into that category. Samuel ties Rapunzel up with her own hair briefly, and then she takes charge and ties him up, thus “saving” him from his duties as a decadent prince.

While a good portion of the book is dedicated to sex, there was no sense of tension between the characters, and no real connection. The book is written in the first person, and because of that, the focus is totally on Rapunzel, with very little information about what Samuel is feeling. Even though it’s a long-term relationship, it could have been a one-night stand for all the give and take.

Tagged: Elise Hepner

Review: Not So Pure by Elise Hepner

Roped Emotions by Elise Hepner