2021-05-19
A young woman finds herself at the mercy of a powerful, charismatic man in this romantic suspense novel.
Emma O’Brien, 26, and her business partner, Ross Underwood, have traveled from Pittsburgh to New Orleans to confer with a possible investor in their publishing venture. But Ross doesn’t show up for their dinner meeting, and the investor—tall, dark, dangerous, and alluring Everett Ramses—whisks Emma to a private dining room. There, during the course of a delicious meal, he demands her erotic submission, brings her to stunning orgasms, and informs her that she must marry him: “It’s me or death.” At one time, Rett explains, two families ruled New Orleans from the shadows. When their patriarchs, Abraham Ramses and Isaiah Boudreau, decided to vie for control, they both lost to Abraham’s ruthless son—Rett. Rett tells Emma, who was adopted, that she’s Isaiah’s child with Jezebel North. As he puts it, she’s the daughter of a king and a whore, thus “perfect to not only handle my desires but to also find pleasure in them.” Emma’s adoptive brother, Kyle, who she believed died four years ago, is also the child of Isaiah and Jezebel. Now, he’s in New Orleans claiming the throne as Boudreau’s true heir, his ambitions putting Emma’s life in danger. Rett asserts that only he can protect her, though he also warns: “I won’t pledge not to hurt you. I’m not an easy man. Marrying me will save you from your brother but not from me.” Emma agrees for the moment and is taken blindfolded to Rett’s lavish mansion, where she’s kept in a locked suite. When she escapes Rett’s boundaries and is kidnapped, she discovers the truth of his warnings and the depth of their connection. Romig, a prolific writer of dark-tinged romances, first introduced Rett and Emma in a prequel short story, “Fate’s Demand” (2021). The author recommends a free download for background, although she does provide exposition and a prologue in this series opener. The theme of steamy sex between a wealthy, dominant man who demands a beautiful, young woman’s willing submission isn’t new, but Romig makes the plotline compelling through well-written sex scenes that first smolder, then burn. The dynamic between Rett and Emma—he insists, she resists and then surrenders—can get repetitive but develops as the story goes along. When Rett comes to Emma’s rescue, finding her bound and naked, he discovers unexpected tenderness within himself that brings a new dimension to their relationship: “It fucking broke my heart to see you like that....Until today, I wasn’t sure that organ existed within me.” Rett’s wealth adds an appealing fantasy component in which Emma can enjoy jewels, fine clothes, and a richly appointed mansion with attentive servants. Meanwhile, the power struggle over rulership of New Orleans gives this tale a dramatic extra layer.
A heated erotic thriller with an intriguing background of political rivalry.
