Customer Reviews

The Reunion (Marketplace Book 5) (Marketplace (Mystic Rose))

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I know I'm not the only one who's been waiting for this new Marketplace novel to come out, and believe me, it's worth the wait. And, at nearly 650 pages, it is a meaty story, filled with new characters who all feel like old friends, and as multilayered as fine Irish lace.

The first layer starts with two of the most popular characters in the Marketplace universe: Chris Parker and Robin (who was originally introduced in Book Two) who are reunited with passion and hot, hot sex that will fulfill any fan's fantasy.

If that's not enough to hold your attention, there are the guests: current and former slaves (and their families!), ages 25-85, attending the Reunion. Romances flourish, old relationships are rekindled, and casual sex adds to the mix of character development Antoniou is so good at. As we get to know them, we really get a deeper sense of the Marketplace, its history, and the passion that drives people to service.

Then, there's the staff at the hotel, which include a healthy mix of Marketplace slave trainees themselves. Their world is a throw-back to Edwardian times, with livery and proper formal dinner settings to memorize. For fans who fetishize service in an "Upstairs/Downstairs" style, the tales told in the butlers' pantry will keep you hot and begging for more. For the Chris Parker fans, learning that he trained in this very hotel himself will add a touch of depth to the already complex character he presents.

And if that weren't enough, we also meet a real Lord and Lady, who challenge and arouse Chris Parker as he attempts to entice them to join the special group of Master Trainers known as The Regents. And then (yes, there's more!) there's a papparazzi who's gotten word that there's a real-life slavery ring and wants proof.

Unlike previous Marketplace novels, it's best to be already familiar with this erotic universe before embarking on the journey through The Reunion. Antoniou helpfully provides a cast of characters at the beginning (there are over 40 of them!), reminding me of the old British editions of Agatha Christie mysteries. The division of the book into days of the week with pithy descriptors also brings back that earlier 20th century style of storytelling. (Azziz gets an offer he probably shouldn't refuse -- Chris Parker has a hobby -- Gunshots -- Desmond gets to the point --Amy has a plan -- Nigel gets a present) They are whimsical and sometimes cryptic, but also help the reader keep track of which day of the vacation we're reading about.

Mystery, sex, romance, service, passion, and Antoniou's amazing touch that brings these stories into such believability you'll be looking for a map of Ireland to find out exactly where this wonderful castle-turned-4 star hotel really is.

If you're reading Book Five: The Reunion, you've most likely read the first four in The Marketplace series.

This is a great continuation of the characters introduced in previous books, with quite a few new individuals. I was a little confused in the beginning due to the amount of new characters introduced, but Antoniou does a great job of giving them strong traits and story lines, that by the end of the book I had gotten them all, erm, 'straight'.

It was wonderful to learn more about Chris' background, although it almost seemed anti-climactic. Antoniou was wonderful at dancing around exactly how Chris came to be who he is, I almost wanted that mystery to continue.

Also enjoyable in the book was the amount of differentiated erotic scenes. While much of the tension between the characters has been very 'intellectual', it's nice to see a lot of the physical tension written out.

Wonderful addition to the series, with a lot of the missing details filled in, and a great mystery sub-plot. Looking forward to more of this 'world' being further expanded in future books.

Laura has written a series of books about the "marketplace" concept. This is book 5, and in my opinion one of the two best in the series. In "The Reunion", we already know two of the main characters, and their story alone is interesting enough to maintain forward motion in this book. I was pleasantly surprised to find new excellent and intrigueging characters in this book. My personal favorite is MacKenzie.
Where other Marketplace books have focused on the training methods, organization and norms of this inventive universe, The Reunion goes more in depth about the people involved during and after service. Most BDSM erotica never even mention what happens after you age, have children, or chage interests.
I was aroused by the erotic scenes, amused by Chris Parker as usual, and very satisfied to learn more about CHris and Robin's relationship.
IF you liked the other Marketplace books, this one will not disappoint you. And no, it is not too long, although it looks huge. There are enough plot lines to keep it going.
My one critique might be that I'd like to learn more about the antagonist in this book, the nosy journalist.
If you are ready for grown up issues frankly painted and massaged, served with hot spicy erotica and cool intellect, then go for it. It's so worth the money.

Review of Laura Antoniou's Newest Book: The Reunion, part of The Marketplace Series
By Sensuous Sadie

I never thought of myself as a reviewer of erotica, particularly BDSM erotica. Maybe it's because my approach to sex is so orgasm-centric, or maybe it's because as an editor myself, I read an awful lot of, well, drek. It was only by sheer accident that I came to be reading Laura Antoniou's Marketplace series of erotica. It came about because I was doing an interview with her, and couldn't very well say "hey, love your stuff," when I hadn't actually read any, could I? So I picked up The Marketplace, the first in the series, and am now wrapping up with her latest, The Reunion, which at twice the size certainly gives you a lot of bang for your erotic buck.

I may have started out reading Laura's stuff in order not to embarrass myself, but I finished reading it because Laura is one heck of a writer. I expected long, drawn out erotic fiction detailing the usual hours of oral gratification, but no real characters or plot (a.k.a. drek). Instead, The Reunion is about real kinky folk, young and old; thin and fat; sometimes fearful, sometimes confused, but always focused on their slave natures. I soon found a character who I could relate to, and liked the rest of them enough to get hot with them on their various adventures.

The beginning of her novels have a real storyline, which in this case is a reunion of many of the former slaves who went through the "Marketplace," a training center of international renown. Robin, a slave who was introduced in the second book of the series, travels to Ireland for this reunion. She has just been freed from her slave contract and is struggling with living without a collar. On the way she meets up with Chris Parker, a veteran trainer who will help her, and himself find their way to new relationships. It is in Kaleigh castle that Robin, Chris and many other slaves engage in some lively drama, as well as plenty of steamy scenes!

So thank you Laura for writing something that's kept me warm all though this Brrrr cold Vermont Winter. I look forward to your next book.

Note: Laura's Marketplace series of books do not have to be read in sequence, but I still recommend it for context.

...

This is the fifth in the Marketplace series and it does not disappoint at all. The characters that we have come to love are all there and they are all entertaining us with Antoniou's amazing ability to build characters, suspense and story line. I loved all the books and would like to read a dozen more about the same people and system of taking people out of the normal world and inserting them into one of enslavement, sex and bondage. They are great. Reading about Robin and Chris hot and heavy in the sack made me have to go take a shower. You are rooting for them to find themselves and to satisfy each other through four previous books and this makes it all worth waiting for. Chris is one of the most complex and satisfying characters I have ever read about and each book leaves you wanting to know more and more about him and his relationship with the Trainer.

That being said, what is the deal with the editing of this whole series? It is more than a little annoying to have to try to figure out what is happening when words are left out, misspelled, misused and generally sloppy proofing makes you wish you could take Chris' strap to the publisher. And for crying out loud, what is the deal with this font size? I could hardly read it and it gave me a headache every time I tried. If you are worried about your book being too long, shorten it, don't reduce the font size until you can't read it. The book is not too long; you have an audience hooked on them that would read a book twice this long. Get a new editor, get a proofreader and get a font that is large enough for us to read!

Other than that, when is the next book coming out?

I waited a long time for this book, # 5 in the series "The Marketplace" and, I'm happy to report that it was well worth the wait. The characters are realistic,their problems,struggles and successes are familiar. They are, for the most part,warm, caring and genuine. The new characters are many, wonderfully diverse and endearing...except for the "villian", of course. Best of all, two of my favorite characters finally get to have really hot sex together. There is other good sex in the book as well, but this is not just a book with sexual content,it is much more.

The Reunion is the best of the Marketplace series al of which are good. The two main characters from the rest of the series are Chris (trainer in service) and Robin (trying to decide whether to stay in or get out after her previous owner Monica fell for another woman and didn't renew). It isn't necessary to read the other books in the series first but I still recommend them as they are all very good reads. The Reunion is a weeks vacation for slaves, their SOs and children. This sounds a bit like one of those grade school papers "what I did on my summer vacation" but its nothing like that at all. Some of the characters include AL and Lloyd (xs) longtime lovers and friends of Lisa and Richard and their two kids Todd and Amy; Carol(xs) been out for 12 years and wants to get back in; Chandra(pleasure Slave), Azziz(trying out on the butler staff as a change from the Waiters') and Mackenzie (senior client and butler). The interwoven plots include these and more well drawn characters and includes Chris' and Robbins affair, Chris' recruiting Lord and Lady Southerby for the regents (to say that Lord Southerby is unenthused about being a slave for two years is a real understatement), and a paparazzi name of Nigel who is trying to get the goods on the market place. The characters are deftly handled as are the carefully interwoven plots. There is some humor here as when Chris says to Robin "you'll have to move over or I won't spank you when we get there." And the reaction to Chandra's pajama party. In the genre this is the book to measure all others by. Now if you don't like same sex sex, VBDSM, MS, Ds, or have problems with transsexual issues this may not be for you but it is very well written erotica and stands above the others even The Slave and Safe Word.

_The Reunion_, the most recent addition to Laura Antoniou's masterfully written Marketplace series, enticed me with the continuing development of complex, believable characters. Set seven years after Antoniou's _The Slave_ (the second book in the series), _The Reunion_ brings two favorate characters back together. Their adventures are retold and relived, and all the while new adventures are had...

Set in the beautifully described Kaleigh castle in Ireland, _The Reunion_ reveals more depth to fictional characters and their encounters than this reader attributes to many nonfictional people! Add to that the plots and subplots of the novel, and the smoldering lust of the characters as they thoroughly enjoy their vacation (and each other), and _The Reunion_ delivers a pervasively enjoyable reading experience.

I recommend this book to all adults who enjoy believable romantic fiction. Whether interested in the activities presented in the novel or not, this masterpiece will keep you enthralled, from cover to cover. Enjoy!

Outstanding .... Laura's development of Chris Parker always leaves me pining for more... I have really looked forward to reading this book and am far from dissapointed ...not only did I get to come back into the world of my favorite slaves but now I have new characters to follow. If you are tired of the fantasy world fetish and would like some realism with your fiction ...I couldn't recommend a better series... hope you enjoy :)

This is the latest book in the Marketplace Series. As with the rest of the series, it deals with service-oriented BDSM in a thoughtful, insightful manner, while also containing some of the best-written and hottest scenes you could ever want to read. Favorite characters from previous books, plus some fascinating new characters, attend a Reunion at a castle in Europe, a time for them to re-evaluate some of their past decisions and decide on new directions for their lives, while simultaneously fending off a plot by an unscrupulous reporter to reveal the existence of the Marketplace to the public.