Suspense and erotica combine to create one of the best novels I have read in a long time in Claudine by Barbara Palmer. Claudine is a sexy and thrilling escape that you will not be able to put down!
I love my books – they take me to a far away place, removing stress and connecting me to the characters that I grow to love. This was my first erotica novel and I was thrilled that I was given the chance to read and review this novel!
Claudine
Our main character, Maria Lantos is a post graduate student who is writing her thesis on erotic literature at Yale. Maria also goes by the stage name, Claudine. Maria has learned to balance the life of a top class courtesan and a graduate student. Claudine is a high demand escort who specializes in sexual role play for the elite and rich.She maintains this top spot with her anonymity, discretion and strict rules.
Slowly the separate worlds she has created begins to crack and blend. It begins with the murder of a stranger and leads to two men who test Maria’s limits of control and awaken her own sexual desires that she has always hidden.
Her private and secret nights begin to clash into her days and Maria discovers that the dangerous places that extend beyond the imagination and secrets are no longer consigned to the dark.
My Thoughts
From the first glance that I took at the cover I knew I was going to love this book. It was sexy, exotic and yet dangerous all at the same time. Barbara Palmer delivers all of this and more.
Claudine brings out the confident and powerful woman that so many of us want to be. She commands attention, trusts in herself and knows what she wants and how to get it. She is fun, sexy and full of life. At the same as Maria she is more vulnerable and open. Maria is not as trusting and has had a difficult history. Her childhood was marked with death and pain. While she was adopted and saved from the horror that surrounded her, her relationships with her adopted mother never seemed to really work. Maria has worked hard to be where she is at Yale and wants to trust and let go but finds it hard.
Maria has two men in her life that love her or appear to. As the book progresses you witness these relationships develop and you want Maria to find happiness but at the same time not let go of the Claudine in her. When the threats on her life start you begin to wonder about the true affections these men hold for her. Barbara spins this web that includes Claudine and the men in both her personal and professional life and leaves you guessing, wondering and clueless as to who could possibly want to harm her.
The best part of Claudine? I love the way Barbara blends the erotica with the mystery so neither part took over the novel. It was exciting, thrilling and kept me reading right through the night. I literally started reading the book after I received it in the mail in the afternoon and could not put it down until 2 in the morning! It was that good!
You will not be disappointed with
Claudine. It definitely pays to reach out of your comfort level and find a novel that will truly blow you away. This is a definite must read!
Rating: 5/5
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
