Topping From Below

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Summary: The new yardstick for bdsm fiction
Review: You can quibble with her characterizations (especially the dominant men), but when it comes to breathless plotting and encyclopedic bdsm descriptions, this malevolent murder mystery can't be beat. Bonus points for being the sexiest book ever set in Davis, California.

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Summary: our patron saint
Review: One of the very few bondage authors to break into the mainstream, Laura Reese gets it all write, even though the outcome of this second effort might be awfully familiar to readers who enjoyed Topping From Below.

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Summary: Not for the squeamish
Review: The characterizations are, on the whole, quite good, and Reese conveys the building tension -- erotic and otherwise -- between the main character, Nora, and her lover/Master/chief suspect, M., quite convincingly for most of the book, but then pulls a rabbit out of the hat in the last 20 pages (a rabbit I found completely unsatisfactory). My disappointment with this hurried, slapdash and unconvincing resolution (in terms of M.'s character) reminded me of the similar frustration I often feel with John Fowles's novels. This is where a good editor might have been a big help. Indeed, neither the author nor the editor seem to realize the word "enormity" is not a synonym for "enormousness" (one can speak of the "enormity" of the Holocaust or the My Lai massacre, but in the case of an elephant or an old Cadillac, the correct word to describe their large size is "enormousness" -- authors who want to use $5 words should frequently refer to a good dictionary or get an editor who will). The erotic BDSM scenes were, on the whole, well-described, and, except for those involving bestiality, were exciting even when the particular practice would not appeal to me in real life (but those involving animals just turned my stomach). On the whole, a very good read, but ultimately disappointing.

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Summary: Um... you have to be kidding me... right?
Review: First off, I can't really go into detail on just why I didn't like the book without giving things away to those who haven't read it yet. I will say that some of the scenes were captivating, and I did enjoy reading most of the novel. But by the time I got to the end I was thoroughly disgusted (and it wasn't the S&M). It was the way the book played off stereotypes and the predictable nature of the plot. Basically, it makes a good stroke book if you're into that sort of thing, but it isn't a great mystery novel.

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Summary: Riveting storyline & not for the weak of heart and mind.
Review: By far one of the better books I've read in a long time. The story is disturbing to say the least. It's about control and domination by a man, sexually and mentally, written from a woman's point of view. Nora's sister is brutally murdered with no apparent cause of death. She's convinced the ex boyfriend is the killer and decides to get involved with him and whatever that entails to get to the bottom of her sister's death. As mentioned in my heading, this book is not for the weak of mind. The sex is graphic, and not run of the mill "Harlequin Romance" sex either. It will shock some, intrigue others, fascinate many. Well worth the time invested.

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Summary: Compelling
Review: Extremely explicit, extremely arousing. The murder mystery is intriguing, the sex is intense. The psychological aspects of dominance and submission are fully explored, making the severe scenes of pain, degradation, humiliation and submission even more affecting.

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Summary: Journey to Pleasure and Pain
Review: Absolutely thrilling book. The heroine's (Nora) journey via her sister's diary is fleshed out by the man she believes killed said sister. The scenes both straight and S/M are thoughtful and thought provoking. Highly recommended

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Summary: S&M Classic
Review: Despite a bit of clunkiness in the plotting, and too many pages to get where it's going, Topping From Below is an S&M classic. It's strong stuff, not ordinary fare. "M", the sadistic master, may well have killed the heroine's too-submissive little sister. To find out the truth, the heroine will have to play his game. It's a game she is reluctant to be drawn into...at first...but she becomes caught in the master's web. There are powerful and graphic scenes here, turn-ons as well as turn-offs, as the game is played to its deadly conclusion. Unforgettable. If you think you should read one S&M novel in your lifetime, this should be the one you pick. But, be warned, it will stay with you. Not surprising it has achieved such a large, intense cult following.

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Summary: incredibly erotic
Review: I was completely taken by this book,I couldn't put it down.Never having read anything of the kind i.e S&M mystery I'm now an avid reader of the sort. I'd love to put myself on screen with this book.It would make a compelling movie of two sisters one dead the other searching for murderer and getting answers in trade of S&M favors. My stomach flutters at the thought of being in the situation and makes me anxious for another book by Laura Reese.

Rating:
Summary: "Topping from Below" is TOP
Review: The mystery is well plotted and keeps you guessing. The SM scenes were well crafted. Reese shows a great deal of knowledge to this type of play and its rules. Her character, Michael does not always play by the rules, which provides the tension in the mystery. Reese concentrates more on these scenes than the vanilla sex. The characters are definitely well thought out. I would strongly recommend it to mystery readers amd erotica readers.