Bound In Moonlight

This is book two in the Hidden Grotto series. It is an anthology of 3 short stories set in a Chateau known as Grotte Cachée located in the French countryside. Beautiful human-like sexual demons called follets reside there and erotic experiences both dark and light are indulged. Guests to this special place are treated to freedom to do as they crave with few boundaries.

In Tutelage, an American Heiress comes to the chateau to be with her fiancé. What she finds is unbridled licentiousness. Even worse she catches him holding sexual congress with two women. Emily Townsend is mortified with such casual betrayal and doubtful of his integrity or reasons to wed. She stays though he is leaving for a few days. In the interim, a mysterious man takes her education in sexuality and sexy exploits in hand. The experience is both eye-opening and life changing.

The tale unfolds in the form of correspondence between an older Emily and her lover. This technique of storytelling works very well both in confiding about the past and displaying the concerns of the present. It is particularly amusing to see how the character uses the occurrences from her stay at Grotte Cachée.

In Slave Week, a ruined rector’s daughter is in desperate straits. She has no recourse but to allow herself to be auctioned off as a sex slave. The contract is for one week of complete servitude. There is no way of telling what type of master she will have and she quickly learns of one she will definitely not want.

Caroline Keating is virtually an innocent. There is anxiety and resignation but as she gets to know the man who has paid for her, other feelings come to the fore. It is clear that the hero David Childe, Viscount Rexton doesn’t relish much in life, including the event in which he is involved. In fact, more time is spent with the bottle than one would warrant what with access to almost anything he might physically desire. His aloof bearing, commanding authority, and displays of a troubled spirit garner our curiosity and sympathy. It was most gratifying to see both characters’ feelings change beyond recognition and only for the better.

In Magic Hour, a familial tie brings Isabel Archer to the Chateau. Generations of Archers have passed down the position of administrateur. Her father wants to do the same. The only problem is that she doesn’t want the position and he is dying.

This was a poignant piece to the book. The heroine has been opposed to visiting this place for years and her unwillingness to accept the position has some part to do with the perceived spoiled behavior of the inhabitants. And it has everything to do with Adrien Morel. He is gardien as has his ancestors been beginning over two thousand years ago of Grotte Cachée and the immortal beings who live here. The subtleties in the relationship of the main characters are contrasted rather hilariously with the antics of the follets. Isabel and Adrien’s story has the ring of apparent star-crossed lovers.

Each story is very different in time period and style. The similarity is that these stories each flow smoothly, are generally shockingly erotic and yet intelligently written. BOUND IN MOONLIGHT is a wonderful book for readers who are looking for something different and somewhat deviant but high brow.

May 2008