Customer Reviews

Shadowplay (Black Lace)

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Portia Da Costa has written a book that hints at eroticsm with a light b&d theme. Some parts are very erotic and others leave much to be desired. Her husband wants his wife to be faithful, but he is not. This is a double standard that I never thought would be readily explored in the Black Lace Series. The husbands personality was something that really threw me and left me wanting. But it is a O.K. book if this is not a major concern for you.

The blurb on the back of the book is totally misleading. There is hardly any supernatural aspect, or any menage a trois with the PA, and theending is like something straight out of a really bad Harlequin/Mills and Boon romance. the interesting characters are tidied out of the way and the dominant Nicholas does nothing but have her hobble around with her kickers around her knees. Even worse is the fact that the author breaks the basic rules of show, not tell, by having the heroine Christabel recall the events after they have already happened rather than lead up to them and then follow through...I say she should have run away with Gussie, or her brother, and dumped Nicholas with his PA Jamie.
Totally lacks heat and spice. I hope Black Lace titles pick up soon, as I am going through a drought of good books to read!

Portia Da Costa is renowned as one of the best authors that publishes under the Black Lace label; however I have yet to figure out why either she or her editor did not stop this story from being published. I have owned this novel for a while now and have yet to finish it. Shadowplay starts off with a enticing introduction to the intriguing and extremely erotic Christabel. Unfortunatly, after the first few pages, the characters, including Christabel become extremely flat, one sided, and appear to be controlled by some unseen director offstage, as though they were all characters in a bad play. Seriously ladies, don't waste your time, or money on this novel. The Black Lace label is poorly represented with this publication. Find a novel by Emma Holly, or pick up one of the Wicked Words Short Story collections to see a much more erotic presentation that is truely what Black Lace is all about.

on for any extended period of time .....

Christabel, a young 'art' photographer is taken to a secluded country villa in the UK backwoods (if we go by most erotic literature, sure seems to be some strange goings on in all those backwoods mansions in England) by her husband so that he can, supposedly, teach her to control herself. Well, control certainly is not one of her strong points as her husband, Nicholas, has no problems in having his wife strip continuously, and, mostly at the dinner table.

Nicholas does'nt touch his wife since he has Jamie, faithful, young and virile manservant to do most of his bidding and diddling ....

Our young heroine with nothing but idle time on her hands soon ties up, in more ways than one, with the locals, Daniel, a split personality and his delicious sister Gussie.

The book has an interesting story and is easy to read but I had some trouble trying to get into the characters mood and I really thought that the husband, Nicholas was a complete turn off dork.....

Although I am a fan of the authors writing I guess I should be guilty in comparing this book to 'Gothic Blue' and 'Continuum' which I rated much higher ......