Customer Reviews

Messalina: Devourer of Men

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4 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Messalina: Devourer of Men by Zetta Brown is a page-turner. From the onset, Dr. Evadne Cavall pulls you in with her sexual conquests at The DeLuxe Theater where she enjoys being fondled by anonymous men. But it is her by-day persona that really makes her an intriguing character. As an assistant professor striving to be tenured at Denver's Bellingham College, her demure personality does more than raise questions; especially since it is all a façade. Sexual frustration is what leads Eva to seek sexual pleasure in the movie theater. But what happens when she meets a passionate artist who exposes her perversion and leads her to a road of sexual liberation without her permission? And Eva is not alone when it comes to scandal. Bellingham College is up-in-arms when it comes to student-professor relationships. Guess who finds herself smack in the middle of the controversy?

Brown creates a tale of lust and love that is fresh and real. The sex scenes were finger-licking good and the plot twists were ingenious. This is a novel where everything definitely had its place. Brown also has the gift of wit that will not go unrecognized and I am sure she will have a large following (me included). There were a few editing mishaps, but the story was great and made them forgivable. Messalina is an awesome story of growth and I recommend it to readers who are tired of pulsating rods and the usual romance fluff.

Reviewed by Darnetta Frazier
APOOO BookClub

I absolutely loved this book! Didn't want to put it down. It's unique, it has hot sex (with a purpose), and the characters are like some I've never seen in books before. The first chapter alone will get you in the mood...in more ways than one. Messalina: Devourer of Men has much HEAT and much HEART. It's worth the buy! I'm looking forward to seeing what Zetta Brown puts out next.

I downloaded Messalina: Devourer of Men, with the assumption that I would get my money's worth. I wasn't wrong. Zetta Brown is an excellent writer, and I can only hope that she is busy working on her next novel.

There has been a lot already said about Messalina. I'd only like to add that it was refreshing to read a book with a full-figured black woman as the main, sexy character. How often do you see that? Not often enough. That's only part of what sets this book apart as not being your typical erotica fare.

This is a woman who likes to enter Adult theaters and have sex with anonymous men. That premise, alone, sets this book apart as well. In short - it's original.

You'll enjoy reading what happens to our protagonist as the tale unfolds.

Evadne is a 35 year old professor at a small college who once a week goes to a small movie theater and does something with strangers that all of our mamas warned us about! Until one day she meets her match in Jared.

These two are together sexually combustuable,intellectually challenging and emotionally equal,yet afraid of that fact. Reading about them as they go through building a new relationship is very interesting. Both bringing issues and people from previous and not to previous, relationships into the foray.

I especially loved the town they lived in,a funky,artsy,college town located in Colorado. I enjoyed the other characters in the story. They were fleshed out enough that I would like to see them again. Especially Evadne's TA, that young man's comeuppence needs it's own story!

There is a prequal to this story. Go to Ms Brown's website to find it. Yet, you don't have to read it to enjoy this story. The title and cover had me going "hmmmmm" until I read and finished the book. Now I know why the title and cover are so unique. Read this book, and you will also.

Kudos to Zetta Brown for a great read!

First let me say that I am not habitually a reader of "erotica" or even romance novels. Until reading Zetta Brown's writing, I believed they were insipid, and usually insulting to women. Now I know that most Erotica/Romance novels pale in comparison to Messalina, in every way- plot, in character development, in humour and complexity- USUALLY they fall flat and dont' even serve to "entertain" me for a night. Or to put it in a more positive light, I require a good mix of reality and believable situations in my fiction, even fantasies, and Messalina did not disappoint. The main character is highly intelligent, has a great sense of humour, is accomplished in her field, and of course, in our "real" world, she is judged by none of those things, but mainly for her size and color. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of interesting, hot sex to keep the reader engaged- but it's all staged in a relate-able way, within the context of a developing relationship that has it's ups and downs like any other. Any good writer knows that the emotional arc of the main character is the most important thing to the reader, and Brown, as a good writer, takes care of her characters and her readers. "Eva" the main character struggles to gain confidence and to stop letting other people define her, and in the end, she wins that battle. She deals with ex-boyfriends, parents, siblings and old friends in the process- something we all have to do. She's also created one of most attractive male counterparts in recorded history- "Jared", "Eva"'s boyfriend is sensitive and artistic, yet masculine and extremely sexy.
The novel is almost an ensemble piece, with a full cast of characters that have their own quirks and spice, and hilarious moments, to the mix. Maybe I'm a sucker for any novel set in my hometown of Denver, but the author was spot-on with her descriptions of the setting, the nightlife and the culture. I was surprised at how much I liked this book and am grateful to the girlfriend who gave it to me to read. A total delight!

LOVED Eva and Jared. The chemistry was great. I was unsure of it at first but so glad I continued to read. I couldn't put it down.

I accidently stumbled upon reviews for this book and thank God I did, because they intrigued me enough to purchase it! I got the book on the 8th and finished it on the 10th...It was such an awesome read! Loved the characters, the story, everything! I hope the author writes another book soon because now I'm addicted to the way she writes.

I have one word for this book...WOW! I probably will end up buying the actual book (I downloaded) because it was that good and when I love a book, I need to hold it. LOL! Ms Brown has created a wonderful piece. Personally, I am not a fan of first person, (I think I've said it before) because they usually end up so one-sided and I am dying to know what the other characters feel. However, Ms. Brown created a wonderful character in Eva that I became lost in the story that was truly hers. Plus, when it counted, I knew what the other characters were feeling by living it though Eva. I would have given this book 5 stars but I wanted to know what exactly drove her to her movie fetish. I understand where the movie and finger thing came from by reading Cherries Jubilee, but the courage, the boldness it took to do it, how did that happen? One thing I am finding about interracial romance is they are losing the romance of it all. Lust/sex does not equal romance, but in this book, there was a reason for everything. Eva's behavior, her reaction to Jared, his reaction to her, but most importantly (as this is a romance novels) their love scene had a point. Their love scenes (which here hot!! Btw) were not placed `just because' as in other books, but Eva and Jared's loved scenes had a purpose to the story, they helped the story move along. This is a testament to the author herself. KUDOS!! A wonderful read full of emotions, laughter and most of all love!

The Messalina comes to terms with her sensuality spiraling from a culmination of events that `seemed' predictable, but to the contrary turned out to be quite uncanny, and quite fascinating. I really appreciated how Evie addressed her parents as her life was spiraling out of control. And the little assistant, Neil, I found myself pulled in two ways guessing how his role would play out. Reaching the final quarter of the book I was like, noooooo...wishing I were wrong.

My favorites however were Trey!!!, and Jared too. Loved the way Ana was done, and Talley was a treat. All of the characters, down to the tattoo artists, were painted in dimensions that made them come off the page "Southern" real. But what really drives the novel in a way most unpredicted, and that were the copious erotic sessions. Honestly, this story would not have come out sizzling over the top had not all the passionate love-making been in there. This is what adds appeal to the story. Anticipating one thing, and getting treated to what ends up becoming a page-turning delight "another thing."

The writing all around was very "smartly" well-done. Long Live the Messalina! I give all ten toes and two thumbs up! Splendid Job!

Evadne "Eve" Cavell is an assistant professor at Bellingham College. She teaches about Women in Fiction. At first glance you would never guess that Eve's favorite passtime is to go to her local movie theather The DeLuxe. She goes every Thursday not for the movie but for some satisfying pleasure. This is because, Eve is thirty-five and a very volumpous woman with lots of lovin to give. It is in the dark movie theather that she lets strangers fondle her. It works out great this way. Eve doesn't have to worry about having a relationship with the men and she get off from it. But as much as Eve enjoys her Thursday romps, she misses not having mind blowing sex.

During one of her many trips, Eve meets the most incredible man. He does such a good job tha he makes her knees weak. Eve can't resist knowing who this man is and she breaks her rule and asks him his name. His name is Jared Delaney. He is a talented artist, who lives n Denver. Eve does another incredible thing and allows Jared to date her.

Eve is my hero. Ok so not really but she could be. She represents the bad girl in all of us women. At the same time though Eve is also one of the nicest woman you will ever meet. She shows you that women can be sexy no matter what shape or sixe they come in. All you have to do is find the right guy. I have read many erotic novels and by far Messalina:Devourer of Men has got to be one of the hottest books I have read. Author Zetta Brown really knows how to turn up the heat.