Matthew Lee (3)

Rachael and Walter lead comfortable but busy lives. She's a travelling pharmaceutical rep (and former model), and he is a movie producer. Their careers have them on the road more than off it, and while they don't see much of each other, they are very happy together when they do.

This is the story of a shift in their relationship. After breaking down in a blizzard, Rachael accepts a lift from a truck driver and sees some things. Not long after, she finds herself being "taken advantage of" at a reception she attends with Walter - much to her surprise, she doesn't object, and the excitement of the experience blows her mind.

Rachael doesn't tell her husband about the incident, but she does tell Amy, her BFF (with benefits), who encourages her to explore this side of herself further. And so she does.

I've read several of Matthew Lee's books, and this is among the very best of them. It is a quick read, yet it affords Rachael time to wrestle with her indecision over the path she will take.

Once she gets there, Rachael discovers a hitherto unsuspected need to submit, and the scenes as she explores this kink are delicious.

Please know that this story includes infidelity. Walter is unaware of Rachael's "with benefits" relationship with Amy, and she doesn't tell him about the reception event. Eventually, a change in his schedule sees the couple in the same city simultaneously, and Walter spies Rachael and a new friend in flagrante delicto on a park bench.

This story is mainly told from Rachael's perspective, with occasional insights into the thoughts of Walter and other men she encounters. I love that she feels guilt and anxiety but that nobody makes her feel that way. Walter accepts this side of her with bemused surprise and enjoys watching or hearing about her exploits.

Finally, despite the word appearing in other reviews, Walter is not a "cuckold" by my understanding of the word. At no point is he shamed or treated with disregard or cruelty - the only humiliation in evidence here is visited upon Rachael by new "friends", and she loves every minute of it!… (meer)

Absolutely superb!

Everything I love about this genre, magnificently distilled and refined.

I love the trust and understanding between Amy and Randy. I see no weakness in him giving her what she wants; both husband and wife get so much from their unexpected new lifestyle. Matthew Lee writes amazing wife-watching scenes, and this story includes some of the hottest I have read from him.

The only flaw in this tale is a scene in the epilogue that messes with the balance of respect between Randy and his loving wife. Disappointing but not enough to dull my enthusiasm.

Very highly recommended.… (meer)

Jill and John are a successful couple - she a lawyer and he a writer. This story opens with a traumatic event that gives them a glimpse of previously subconscious desires that they choose to explore.

Jill discovers she likes to be forced and john discovers he likes to watch it happen. This leads them into increasingly risky situations, not all of which are wise choices, and though tested at times the bond between them, as related by John, sees them through.

This book contains more than one non-consensual encounter, something readers should be aware of before going in. The fact that these scenes play into Jill's kink make them acceptable to the characters in this fantasy, but if such content bothers you this might not be the book for you. This isn't the first time I've encountered this theme in Matthew Lee's writing, and I think he handles the dichotomy between peril and desire well, as they pertain to his fantasy characters.

There is a second book following Jill and John's (misadventures) but after reading a couple of reviews I'm content to leave them here with a positive outlook for their future.… (meer)

I've loved everything I've read from Matthew Lee to date, but I had my doubts about this one at first. Mark seemed too disrespectful of Jennifer, his thoughts almost casting her as a thing he possessed for his own enjoyment. Even their intimate moments felt one-sided, all about him.

Fortunately, all that changes.

I've read a few reviews of this book in which reviewers said they felt this book goes too far into cuckolding/humiliation of Mark. Honestly I didn't get that. The couple have some hurdles to overcome, but for the most part I think they were on the same page and Jennifer was always respectful and never stopped declaring and demonstrating her love for her husband.

By the end of their story I loved this couple and this book is another on my rapidly-growing list of favourites from Matthew Lee. I would *love* to see more of their journey into the lifestyle - this is book one in a series, but each book seems to deal with a different relationship.

Very highly recommended!… (meer)