Submissive by Tara Sue Me

TSueMe-The-Submissive

TSueMe-The-SubmissiveI have to admit that although I’m intrigued by erotic fiction, I don’t go out of my way to find it.  I’ll read it if it’s given to me or if I happen to catch a free novel on Amazon.  Other than that, I happily choose another genre.  It’s always missing a heartbeat, in my opinion, and that is what makes a book resonate with me.  That being said, I just finished Submissive by Tara Sue Me, and though it is exactly like I had feared, it was also hot and steamy enough to keep my attention to the end.

The first in Tara Sue Me’s seductive and scandalous series that has enthralled millions…

Abby King has a secret fantasy.

New York knows Nathaniel West as the brilliant and handsome CEO of West Industries, but Abby knows he’s more: a sexy and skilled dominant who is looking for a new submissive. Yearning to experience a world of pleasure beyond her simple life as a librarian, Abby offers herself to Nathaniel, to fulfill her most hidden desires.

After only one weekend with the Master, Abby knows she needs more, and fully submits to Nathaniel’s terms. But despite the pleasure he takes in Abby’s willing spirit, the Nathaniel hidden behind the rules remains cold and distant.

As Abby falls deeper into his tantalizing world of power and passion, she fears that Nathaniel’s heart may be beyond her reach—and that her own might be beyond saving

I haven’t read that many erotic novels, so this may be me picking the wrong books (push me in the right direction pretty please) but there is very little to zero character growth.  There is no build up of tension.  There is very little emotion outside of being horny.  Yes, I understand that’s erotic fictions job, but I believe it can be erotic fiction even if the characters are ‘alive’.  Submissive is along these lines and lacked that emotional build up or growth.  I didn’t feel any sexual tension or attraction between the characters whatsoever.  In fact, everything was so cold and clinical, it’s like the characters were robots.  I didn’t feel like I got to know them at all.  Plus, things move quickly from one sex encounter to the next giving very little insight into a relationship building.

POSSIBLE SPOILER!! A relationship does build, on what I have no clue.  Nathanial is a very cold man, and although he is nice to Abby, he doesn’t do anything, in my mind, that would make me like him, let alone fall in love with him.  I get a sexual relationship, but anything more than that, with no emotional build up or character growth, is just confusing.  What saved all the sex from being redundant was the fact that the characters do travel a bit, and there are some side plots thrown into the mix.  It’s not a lot, nor is it all that intriguing, but it’s enough that I wasn’t bored with all the kinky sex.

On that note, Submissive was hot.  It’s not the sexiest or kinkiest book I’ve read but it’s up there.  You have spanking, bondage, and toys all wrapped up with a pretty BDSM bow.  If it could have stuck to just the sex, without the weird relationship out of nowhere, then I would have enjoyed the book so much more.

I’d read Submissive for a steamy treat but not for something to connect with or be moved by.  That’s what erotic fiction is for, I guess, but I still think it is possible to have a book with life in it, that will also leave you hot and bothered.  It has made me think I need to read more of this genre to have a better understanding of what is ‘normal’ to base my opinion on though.  Oh dear, such terrible homework that will be!

Read order:
The Submissive
The Dominant
The Training

Published: February 7th 2013 (first pub was January 1, 2009)
Series:The Submissive Trilogy #1
Source: Received for review via NetGalley

About Nikki R 120 Articles
SAHM of 2, happily married bookworm, blogger and aspiring author. If I could read/write all day, every day, I would. Luckily I have a very understanding, and patient, husband who lets me get away with it as much as possible. Now if only the kids would understand my obsession, and the house would clean itself, then I'd be all set.