I can honestly say I've never had a desire to be locked in a dank dungeon until I read Secrets Revealed by Katrina Strauss. Ms. Strauss presents a vivid picture of what it is like to be a young woman who enjoys her pleasure fueled by pain.

And yes, I mean that literally. This is your warning that Secrets Revealed is not a vanilla erotic romance. You will find BDSM and other treats in the pages of this steamy opener to the Eldridge Legacy trilogy. Know thyself and steer clear of this book if it isn't your cup of tea.

In the opening scenes of Secrets Revealed, we are introduced to Inga as her aunt lay dying in front of her eyes. Inga is blessed with the abilities of the Magi, but use of such skills is forbidden in the lands patrolled by Lord Eldrige. She hesitates to do anything fearing her life would be in danger and her aunt dies as a result. Inga bravely decides that she can't stand by and watch others die when they could be helped, no matter what Lord Eldridge and the king have to say.

Inga begins to heal her townspeople and becomes bolder in her use of the gift of magick. As it often does when we tempt fate, her luck runs out and her home is raided in the night. She is taken by the iron masked Lord Eldrige himself to the king's castle. Thrown into the deepest stone cell once used to torture prisoners, Inga finds herself restrained and forced to submit to the Lord's every whim.

The masked Eldridge is well versed in the ways of torture and pleasure, and he wastes no time introducing Inga to them both. On her first night in the dungeon, the flavor of wine is as new to her as is the very sensual manner Lord Eldridge uses to introduce her to it.

But what is to come of a women graced with the abilities of the Magi who spends her days locked in a dungeon meant for torture, whose only task is to please her Lord in every way he requests? Ah, well, I would be revealing too much to you if I told you another thing. My suggestion is to read Secrets Revealed to find out exactly what the future has in store for Inga.

I was very pleased with the surprises Ms. Strauss has hidden in Secrets Revealed. She cleverly masks the histories of her characters, and the story is not given away too soon. For a good while, we are left to enjoy the erotic encounters between Inga and Eldridge which blaze with the heady mix of desire and pain.

My only disappointment with Secrets Reveled lies in the actual writing. Ms. Strauss gives us several overly-detailed sections and a few passages that make little sense as they are written. Luckily, these areas can easily be skipped and do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

I highly recommend Secrets Revealed to readers who like their erotic romance touched by magick and spiced up by the addition of a well handled whip. You will not be disappointed.

Ms. Strauss has completed all three books of the Eldridge Legacy and I'm looking forward to reading Book 2, Lessons Learned. 
 
Reviewed By Sabine Maurier
© September 2007