Title: His Perfect Submissive
Author: Alyssa Aaron
Published in March 2008 by Black Velvet Seductions
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
ISBN: 0-9774682-0-8
With the title, His Perfect Submissive, Alyssa Aaron’s debut novel looks to be the perfect BDSM tale. But consider that cliché -- looks can be deceiving. His Perfect Submissive is a sensual romance between a man who wants to make right all the wrongs, and a woman who needs to learn how to trust and love.
Kara Hastings is in a quandary. Her younger brother, Ted, has embezzled $30,000 from his employer, Slade Westin. Kara visits Slade. She begs him not to involve the police and offers to repay the money Ted has taken. For Slade, prosecuting Ted is not about the money. As a wealthy businessman, Slade doesn’t need the money. He hopes that by turning the younger Hastings over to the police, Ted will be forced to get professional help for a gambling addiction. Vivid childhood memories of how his own father’s gambling addiction destroyed his own family prey on Slade’s mind. He tells Kara he will consider her offer, but she leaves his office feeling not particularly encouraged. She prepares to max out her credit card with a cash advance and borrow from her 401K to repay Ted’s debt.
Meanwhile, Slade can’t get Kara off his mind. He finds her shyness and vulnerability appealing. Her innocence stirs his latent sense of protectiveness. For Slade, Kara is the perfect woman, the ideal wife. Over lunch the day after their initial meeting, he makes her a proposition. He won’t press charges against Ted, but Ted must seek professional help for his gambling. Kara is relieved, but Slade delivers the most important condition. Kara must become his wife.
She is trying to digest a marriage proposal from a man she had only met the previous day when Slade begins explaining the lifestyle of those who engage in a dominant/submissive relationship. This is a way of life familiar to her mostly through the internet and what she learns isn’t appealing.
Kara isn’t sure she can be a wife, let alone a submissive to a dominant husband. When she was seven, Kara was abducted and raped. Her twin sister, who was abducted with her, was murdered before her eyes. The horrific experience left Kara and her family traumatized. She is fearful and distrustful of men. Yet, to not accept Slade’s terms would destroy her brother and her seriously ill mother. She accepts the proposal.
His Perfect Submissive dispels common perceptions regarding the dominant/submissive relationship; such as dominants are clearly brutal people and submissives are pathetic, weak individuals. Ms. Aaron shows the reader that the dominant/submissive bond is a consensual exchange between people based on respect and trust, and not necessarily involving whips, chains, and collars. Slade’s need for control or “dominance” of a person or situation stems from the helplessness he felt as a child watching his father’s gambling destroy the family. The reader catches a glimpse of an excited, four-year-old Slade who instead of having a birthday party watched the family’s belongings carted away to pay debts. Birthday and party were forgotten.
Kara has spent her life feeling responsible for her ordeal and her sister’s death. She feels guilty for being the one who survived. She has spent her adult life taking care of an ill mother and cleaning up her brother’s messes. With Slade, she delights in someone taking over and taking care of her.
On their wedding night, a sexual act with Slade sends Kara into a violent panic attack forcing her to tell her husband of her childhood ordeal. Instead of an arrogant, self-absorbed man, who is ready to rid himself of an emotionally scarred wife, Kara discovers she’s married a considerate, sensitive person who nurses her through the panic attack. Nightmares follow and again, there is Slade. He is strong, compassionate, and sensitive. The novel is littered with views of Slade’s sensitivity while giving insight into his attraction to the dominant/submissive relationship. Like peeling layers from an onion, the horrors of Kara’s abduction are revealed. By confiding in a caring Slade and trusting his dominance, she is forced to put the past behind her and move on with her life.
Alyssa Aaron draws the reader into the story by quickly setting up the plot line, diving into the action, and creating characters that are easy to care about. If there is a down side to the story, it’s the absence of supporting characters. Kara’s brother and mother are mentioned in dialogue, but they are never seen. This is also the case with Slade’s family. Reference is made to his mother, sisters and a deep love for his nieces. Rather having Kara and Slade talk about these people who are so important in their lives, some interaction would have been more compelling.
Nevertheless, the criteria as to what makes a good novel varies among readers. For some, it’s believable dialogue and vivid description. For others, it’s a absorbing plot with gripping, empathetic characters who make you want to see how their story turns out. His Perfect Submissive meets everyone’s preference.
Happy Reading,
Angela
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