Cirque de Minuit [Kindle Edition]

Annabel Joseph (Author)

Book Description

It’s no easy feat transitioning from the disciplined arena of competitive gymnastics to the artistic whirl of the Cirque du Monde. Kelsey Martin finds secret inspiration in Theo Zamora, a dark, taciturn trapezist--until his partner dies in a tragic accident and he decides to leave the circus for good.

Theo doesn’t understand why Kelsey reaches out to him, only that she compels him with her unique combination of innocence and recklessness. Before long the two are collaborating on an aerial silks act for a new production, the Cirque de Minuit. Theo’s impatience with Kelsey’s naivete is matched only by his passion for her, and the two soon become embroiled in a tempestuous, consuming romance.

But some still blame Theo for his partner’s accident, and danger wraps up the two performers as inevitably as the scarlet silk of their act. Theo and Kelsey must find a way to connect and trust one another as he leads her deeper and deeper into a dangerous world of control and desire.

Publisher’s Note: This erotic romance novel is approximately 70K words and contains sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, m/f/m menage, BDSM scenes, power exchange themes, and swinging/partner sharing.

Product Details

• File Size: 373 KB
• Print Length: 220 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Scarlet Rose Press (February 28, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007FF6UAM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,173 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars a dark and passionate hero March 5, 2012

By S. Richards TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

It seems lately I've been reading a lot of gruff, even cruel heroes, and Theo is very much that kind of man. But he's also so much more than that. He is a complex character, very deep and dark, and he seems to come right off the page at you. He is dismissive and scornful of the heroine, Kelsey, at first. She even asks him, "Do you have some kind of syndrome that makes you act this way, or are you just a rude, socially inept a-hole?" I loved that line.

I've never been one to like a woman who determinedly sniffs after a man. If he tells me to get lost, practically shoving me out the door, well, you don't have to tell me twice. But with Kelsey, Theo did have to tell twice, and then again, and in a very harsh way. And with Theo having just lost his aerial partner, Minya, his relunctance and anger towards the pushy Kelsey is understandable.

Kelsey wants Theo in the worst way, to be his new partner sexually and also professionally. For all that Kelsey is young and naive in certain regards (she is 24 and Theo 34 and vastly more experienced in life and sex), she also has a resilience about her, a determination to get through to Theo, despite his harshness. Many times he makes her cry, and he has the nerve to admit- "I find tears very erotic... Especially when they come from such a strong person." I found that admission disturbing yet sexy; all of Theo's hardness and roughness appealed to me.

If you in any way like rough sex and bdsm, you'll like this. The sheer physicality of the sex scenes packed a nice punch; I pictured every intense moment of his forcefulness with her, the hair fisting and pulling, the sense of coercion and forced submission, his rough treatment of her and his aggression-- I mean, he almost chokes her. All of this made for unbelievably intense sex.

But don't get me wrong; Theo is definitely hard-edged and rough and rude, but he is much more than that. As the story progresses, the reader sees other sides to Theo, even tenderness and love. As for Kelsey, she moves beyond her fear of risk and failure, becoming a brave young woman who can hold her own. Even with the bdsm and sex club, Kelsey took a chance to explore her own sexual desires and her need to be sexually dominated. I really appreciated Kelsey's bravery.

Along with the bdsm and rough sex, there is also a menage scene, public sex, and a bit of spanking and whipping. All of it hot and sexy. This story has angst, passion, and a depth and a darkness to it, but also a sweet romance as well, believe it or not. With the unusual love story and the unique setting, Cirque du Minuit is written in a vivid and real way, from the circus life and its performers to the sex club and the grand Lemaitre, but most of all, it's with Theo that we see the true vividness and color. Theo is more than black and white, more than good or bad, making for a hero you will remember.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastique Erotic Romance March 31, 2012

By AsianCocoa

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

4.5 Stars

Cirque du Minuit was another incredible read from Annabel Joseph. This is the wonderful story of Kelsey Martin, a former gymnast and Theo Zamora a career cirque performer. Kelsey has just moved to Paris and joined the Cirque du Monde as one of their newest acrobats. She is adjusting to circus life and the differences between performing and competing with the help of her trainer Jason. But the man who has caught her eye is the temperamental and self-centered, Theo. She's noticed his dark intensity from the moment she auditioned for the cirque and is keenly attracted to him.

She gets lost in the training compound one day and happens to find Theo and his partner Minya in a Dominant/submissive scene that has her aroused and wondering what it would feel like to be Theo's lover. Then a tragic accident during a trapeze act takes Minya's life and leaves Theo with the stigma of being an untrustworthy partner. He takes her death very hard and closes himself off from the circus, locked away in his apartment. Kelsey is determined to bring him out of his depression. I was surprised that Kelsey had the strength and fearlessness to keep going to Theo's apartment even after several verbal attacks and having the door shut in her face. She didn't really know Theo that well but her attraction to him was powerful enough to keep her going back and even offer to be his new partner.

The new partners are sent to Marseilles to star in a new aerial silk act with the Cirque du Minuit (Midnight Circus). Theo is a demanding task master as he trains Kelsey on the use of the silks. Their love affair also continues with him being equally as hard on her during her submissive training. Their whole relationship is rich with tumultuous emotions. I loved both these characters. There are multiple D/s sex scenes including lots of anal. The scenes are well written and emotional. I enjoyed the addition of Cirque du Monde's owner, Michel Lemaitre. He's the puppet master of both the cirque and his decadent le Citadel BDSM clubs. Lemaitre was an over the top character that I hope we see again in the future.

I loved the imagery that was used when describing the practice and performance with the silks. If you have never seen an aerial silks performance I recommend you check one out. This novel definitely turns the experience into a sensual one. Theo and Kelsey's story has to be one of my favorites from Ms. Joseph. Watching Theo change from a self-centered ass-hat to a loving partner to Kelsey was captivating. Cirque du Minuit was a beautiful story with a tragic beginning that ends with a couple who is full of hope and love. This is one of my favorite novels of Annabel Joseph and a must read for any fan of BDSM erotic romance.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Winner! May 6, 2012

By PugLife

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Annabel Joseph really can do no wrong in my eyes. Cirque du Minuit is no exception. She has a real talent for writing cruel, flawed, yet loveable heros. Kelsey is probably one of my favorite heroines as she's a hard worker, spunky and doesn't take no for an answer. The setting is perfect for this book and so well-developed. The story is rich and complex, full of interesting complications.

More About the Author

Annabel Joseph loves to write about the romance of dominance and submission. The characters in her books all have one thing in common, they are "into" BDSM and they have lives that are richer, fuller, and more complex because of it.

If you are interested in sensual power exchange and the dramatic emotion of BDSM relationships, you will find the novels of Annabel Joseph both titillating and satisfying in a completely original way.

Annabel also writes non-BDSM erotic romance under the pen name Molly Joseph.

She loves to hear from her readers at annabeljosephnovels (at) gmail.com.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#97 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Erotica

#99 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Erotica

#97 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Erotica

#99 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Erotica