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A Rose of Any Color
is a four story anthology about dominance and submission. There is a
Foreword which explains the terms used throughout the book and what the
“lifestyle” is. After reading the introduction the state of mind of the
characters is much more understandable for those of us who don’t know much
about this type of life.
The first story is In a Dream, and
as the title suggests most of this quick paced tale takes place during the
dreams of the heroine. Ellie has been alone since her very painful breakup
with Gianna and though she hasn’t attempted another relationship since she
feels there is a hole in her life.
One evening a mysterious package arrives
with a golden rose-shaped pendant. It came with a mysterious note to meet
in the park at the fountain on Friday evening at sunset, and was signed only
with an “N.” Ellie had no idea who “N” was but she knew she would find
out.
That evening when Ellie went to sleep she
was visited in her dreams – by Nadine the woman who had sent the pendant.
She was beautiful and there was something familiar about her.
I enjoyed In a Dream and how Ellie
learned how to trust again. There was a thread of the paranormal here but
it was more alluded to than part of the main plot. I really liked the way
that Ellie’s dreams were interwoven into what was going on in the present.
Saving Rebecca
was a totally different style of story than the first but also introduced
our lead character as someone who had to learn how to trust fully.
Rebecca had been raped when she was 16 and
decided from that point on that she was a lesbian. She had been with Margo
– her mistress – for the last six years and Margo was ready to further their
relationship by making Rebecca her slave. But in order for Rebecca to be
ready she had to share the story of her rape.
It took a lot for Rebecca to finally talk
about it and afterwards Margo insisted that Rebecca spend time with a man to
see if she really wanted the life that she was living. Rebecca couldn’t do
anything other than agree and went out on a “date” with a male dominant for
dinner.
Rebecca was surprised she had such a good
time and was able to discuss her past with this man, but once arriving back
home Margo reacted badly to this. Ultimately they both had to learn to
trust in themselves and each other.
Saving Rebecca
was a very moving story. The rape she experienced when she was 16 altered
her life forever, as it would for anyone, and her ability to finally start
healing is a life lesson for us all. Ms. Heart handled this touchy subject
very delicately, using this difficult topic to teach us a lesson of healing.
The third story of this anthology,
Piercing Screams, was much different than the first two and the first
with a female dominant and a male submissive.
When David walked into the fetish club and
met Karen he had no idea what he was getting in to. Yet that didn’t stop
him from following her orders to strip down and meet her in the blue room.
She warned him that if he did that she would do whatever she wanted with him
for her pleasure until Sunday.
Karen put David through one challenge after
another, pushing limits that he didn’t know he had. From the first evening
when she shaved him in front of her fellow club members, to her friend’s
house where all six male submissives “played” with each other for their
mistresses’ enjoyment.
David goes through more in those three days
then he probably has in his entire life but he learns one thing about
himself – that he will do anything to please his mistress, even if it is
only for three days.
Piercing Screams
was very descriptive and in some places a little hard to read. What David
goes through at the hands of a veritable stranger is amazing, but ultimately
his choice. This story is not for the faint at heart, with humiliation,
body function control and multiple partners.
The last tale in this anthology is I
Want That One, which had a decidedly different feel. Set in the future
where there are pleasure slaves and free men, Lady Jane decides she wants to
buy a free man and turn him in to her slave.
She offers the proprietor of the shoe store
where Will works a lot of money and asks that he bring Will to her house,
bound, gagged and blindfolded at 10 p.m. that evening. Lady Jane can’t wait
for 10 p.m. and is thrilled when at the appointed time Will is lying on her
kitchen floor all trussed up.
She proceeds over the course of the night
to convince him that what he really wants is to be her slave even if he
doesn’t believe it. Eventually through their “play” he gives in to his deep
desires and submits. The next morning Jane explains what is really going on
and once again he Will has some decisions to make.
This story set itself apart from the others
having a bit more plot and the twist at the end. I enjoyed it and
empathized with Will as he was forced to admit his deepest desires.
A Rose of any Colour
was a very intense BDSM anthology. The central theme throughout this book
is having the courage and trust to admit your deepest desires and then live
them. Due to the graphic nature of some of the scenes especially in the
third and fourth stories I would only recommend this to the more adventurous
souls who are open to new ideas, just as the characters of these tales were.
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