Customer Reviews

In the Flesh (Black Lace)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is the first Black Lace book I have read. I was expecting (hoping?) that it would be essentially erotica, but I found it to be mostly a romance story with some explicit sex scenes. These sex scenes I found hottish - not amazingly sensual and creative, but sufficient to warm me up a little. I did not find that the sexuality moved the story along (as I would expect in quality erotica), but rather the story stopped when the characters became sexual.

The story itself concerns Chloe DuBois, an exotic dancer, who is rescued from some dimly imaged fray by David Imakita, a multi-millionaire executive of a computer games company. I suppose when you have beautiful people with lots of money, your plot can go most anywhere...I didn't really buy the plot, but I decided this wasn't intended to be Great Literature, and just kept reading.

It's interesting that the author, Emma Holly, apparently did a fair amount of research on Japanese culture to write character David Imakita. I respected this, but was disappointed that it was not really woven into the plot in an integral way. Neither does she really tackle the issue of an interracial couple.

Black Lace books are marketed as erotica for women, written by women. I would have thought that I'd find myself really in sync with the female protagonist, but instead I found her, while sympathetic, a simple "type," plucked from a made-for-TV movie. On the other hand, I was really intrigued by the male characters -- David and his bodyguard Sato -- and wished she had gotten into their heads more.

This book was not so compelling that I raced through it, but it was interesting enough to finish. I found the erotic element rather ho-hum, but not dreary enough to keep me from trying another Black Lace (or Emma Holly) book again.

Like most people, Emma Holly is easily my favourite Black Lace author. Her ability to mix good characters with strong plotting and sexual variety is unparalleled.

And the two lead characters in this story make an intriguing match. David Imakita owns a successful computer games company, maker of the popular Laura Fleet game. Chloe Dubois is a stripper - the model for the aforementioned game. But Chloe is not all she appears to be. She has a sound business mind (which David is unable to see) and a privileged background. Whilst David, as an Asian-American, struggles to fit into an Asian lifestyle that he was not born into, Chloe (without compromising) endears herself to the very people that he is trying to impress (its classic Pygmalion / Pretty Woman stuff).

So a great couple of characters and an intriguing plot, concerning Chloe's background and the for the two main characters to rescue each other.

So why is it that you either love this book or hate it, and I have only given it 4 stars (brilliant for most books, but shocking for an Emma Holly!)?

Where the book seems to fall down is in the sex. Emma Holly's other great talent is hot varied sex, but with only three characters 'doing it', the variety isn't there. Also I am afraid to say that the traditional Asian reserve does leave me somewhat cold.

But, a good plot and top-notch characters. By any body else's standards an excellent read. Hopefully the restricted sex thing was just an experiment that didn't quite work.

In The Flesh is excellent! Holly has paired together two of her best and strongest characters to go head to head in a tale that is a romance as well as erotica. Like all EH books the storyline is seamless and well written, but I may have to call In The Flesh my favorite. After Velvet Glove I was not looking for a story that mixed in elements of light bondage, In The Flesh does that perfectly. Actually it is barely there, and it is intrinsic to the romantic theme in the story. I keep underestimating Ms. Holly's ability to top herself and every time she proves me wrong.

Although I thought the writing and plotting of _In the Flesh_ were excellent, I didn't find this novel as satisfying as _The Top of her Game_, _Velvet Glove_, or _Cooking up a Storm_. Emma Holly is a wonderful writer, but I missed the warmth and wicked humor of her previous novels. David and Chloe weren't as compelling for me as some of her other characters. Like the previous reviewer, I didn't find enough variety in the sex scenes, though they are depicted with Emma's usual gift for arousing detail. If the book were written by another erotic novelist, I'd probably give it four stars for the sake of its inventive storyline, but Emma Holly sets a standard of her own. For me, _In the Flesh_ doesn't quite meet that standard, but I'll be the first in line to buy her next book.

I have read about ½ dozen of the Black Lace books, and this book was not what I expected. I had heard such great things about Emma Holly that I suppose I was anticipating a 5 star erotic book, and this story just did not live up to its potential to me.

I realize that erotica might not always be the topmost in literature quality, but I expect either great sex scenes or well-developed characters (preferably a lot of both). I feel that I found neither in this story. David and Chloe were interesting characters, but did not come alive for me or seem realistic. Chloe needed to either be a strong, intuitive, manipulating female OR a submissive, non-confident, lackey. Trying to combine these attributes in each half of the book, and throwing in a dose of amnesia, lost it for me. Ms. Holly tried to show David as a first generation Japanese-American and I think on that level succeeded, but in terms of the story lost out. David was too wishy-washy to be the head of a huge software game company. If he exuded power in the boardroom, then I found it hard to believe his character with Chloe. The only character I felt was true to the story and well developed was Sato, David's bodyguard.

Chloe's skeleton in the closet was far fetched and the relationship she had/develops with her sisters just did not ring true to me. I thought the scenes with the Seven Veil could have been better developed if the 3 main protagonists were not going to spend more time in bed. I suppose I just did not get Chloe's character and with out that, the rest of the story falls flat. What is her motivation behind what she does? Not the worst book I have ever read, it just did not live up to the promise I thought was there.

In the Flesh
Emma Holly
Cheek, 2004, $12.95, 281 pp.
ISBN: 0352339039

After a successful announcement of acquiring a financially troubled Korean hardware firm, Japanese American David Imakita, CEO of the number one entertainment and gaming software in the world, heads to his car with his best friend and bodyguard Sato. However, they intercede in an incident between a couple; Sato restrains the male but the woman kicks her opponent in his treasured parts. When David tries to keep her from damaging her antagonist further, she goes wild after him; although receiving bruises he subdues her. Thus David meets cheeky Chloe Dubois, the model for his Laura Fleet software program.

Out of loyalty Sato worries for his boss because of how he seems smitten with Chloe. He has her investigated and learns that she has some nasty skeletons in her family closet. Still, Sato is unable to stop David from falling in love; to her shock the siren reciprocates her employer's feelings.

No one does erotic romance integrated into a solid contemporary love story better than Emma Holly as the sex scenes enhance the lead couple's relationship as opposed to being tossed in to shock readers. The glimpse into the software gaming world adds intrigue while the support cast especially Sato and her family to include her missing sister Mary Alice add depth to the enticing plot. Though some readers may feel disturbed by a homosexual encounter and the use of profanity (it is the most descriptive concise verb, noun, and adjective of the sexual act), sub-genre fans will appreciate submissive reading IN THE FLESH.

Harriet Klausner

I am a huge Emma Holly fan and I've looked forward to reading all of the books she wrote for Black Lace. Having read Menage, Cooking up a Storm and Velvet Glove, I couldn't wait to read In the Flesh. This novel started out great. I liked the story of a beautiful exotic dancer and her torturous past and the sweet and sexy Japanese-American businessman who wants to protect her... among other things. It had an amazing premise, and the erotic mind games that Chloe subjected David Imakita and his faithful servant to were second to none. I especially loved the scenes in which Chloe teased David without allowing him to get the release that he needed. Also, I enjoyed all of the Japanese culture references. But the story lost vitality after Chloe opens the erotic dinner theatre. I was not able to connect with the characters anymore. I didn't care about them as much as I did for the characters in her other books. And the sex scenes left me cold thereafter as well. I had looked forward to a man-woman-man encounter between Chloe, Sato and David, but that, too, was disappointing. This is my least favorite Emma Holly novel by a long shot. I am still a big fan of hers and I look forward to reading Top of Her Game, her last Black Lace book.

I have to admit, Emma Holly is my favorite Black Lace author. She always combines high sexuality with a satisfying love story and "In the Flesh" is the latest in a string of winners for her.

I liked the two lead charcters, David and Chloe, what they went through to end up in a committed relationship with one another, the story line and the motivations for their actions. Their dark moments drew them closer together and made them realize that they were destined for each other. The bondage in the story is quite light and fits perfectly into this story which is never rough or raw.

Ms. Holly continues to show why she's a top-notch author of women's erotica.

The best line "Believe me mister I am your master now" is certainly the most poignant words to come out of our heroine, Chloe Dubois mouth and the central theme of'Renunciation' the first of a two part book.

I ABSOLUTELY loved the 'Renunciation' section of the book as our heroine plays the other two major characters like a fine stradivarious. The eroticism is so hot I kinda just wonder that both Sato, the loyal body guard, and David, the self made wealthy Japanese American, weren't popping Valium just to calm down from the predatory games of Chloe. The men in this book are just wonderfull toys and playthings to Chloe, a virtouso player in games of the flesh.

Chloe's realtionship with Sato and her appearant cognicance of his deep inner feelings toward David is so masterfully written and so so so 'yummie' to read.

So why only three stars .....

Well the second part of the book, 'Surrender' is 110 of the 273 pages is total garbage. The author should have closed the book with just the first part since she totally ripped the rug from under the readers feet with the surrender. I mean give me a break, car accident, total memory loss AND subsequent total character change for Chloe seems almost to have been written by a different author. I felt like I was watching a full colour wide screen version of Star Wars and then was switched into a B&W re-run of the Fugitve ... If Emma would have continued the book in the classic Black Lace mode of a strong woman that takes what she wants when she wants it I would have given this book 100 stars ..... Maybe the statement of 'Believe me mister .... ' was aimed at me the reader by the author when she so drastically changed the characters in 'Surrender' ... HMMMMM Go figure ....

I really enjoy Emma Holly's Black Lace books, but was somewhat disappointed with "In The Flesh". The storyline didn't seem to match up with the synopsis on the book jacket and was confusing in a few places. The sex scenes weren't as hot or varied as her other books.