Strong men and women embarking on a fledgling D/s relationship either find (or don't) matching kinks, strengths, weaknesses and secrets. In the psychology of domination and submission, it is frequently the strong woman who runs things in the real world whose fantasy life is contingent on losing control. It does make sense in a way; certainly if you have to be in charge most of the time, it is perfectly understandable that in order to let down your hair, you have to relax that control. That means letting down your guard too; and that's not easily done. In fact, the element of trust is the most crucial thing that the actual D/s relationship is based on--in real life anyway. Of course, fantasy means we don't have to rely on safety because what is happening is already as safe as can be, tucked between the covers of a novel (in the case of readers) or in the mind (in the case of fantasies that are spun "on the hoof" so to speak.)

So in Vonna Harper's Fantasy's Fear we are not surprised at the submissive and exhausting dream-fantasies of District Attorney Lorelle Stapleton. I admit that I was surprised that she so easily blabs them to her co-worker, but for the story to work, she had to say them aloud to someone in order to be overheard. Her confession meshes with the special "Find Yourself and Your Secret Life Package from Fantasies Unlimited" that she purchased, and her life sort of seamlessly changes due to the skill and natural domination skills of Arken, her temporary Master, courtesy of Fantasies Unlimited. There's more to him (like his "cop" history) and there's plenty of story and plenty of chemistry. One minute Lorelle is dreaming; and in the next, Mr. Fantasy in the flesh is in her bedroom. Before you know it, she's trotting after him in the middle of a fantasy enactment, and getting a whole lot more of an education than she ever expected.

Believe me, people, this is not your mother's "The plane, boss, the plane" Fantasy Island type fantasy. The set-up leads to graphic conclusions. This is sexual in a way Mr. Roark and Tattoo--and ABC--never imagined (though I wouldn't be surprised if the spectre of Ricardo Montalban might have visited a few imaginary scenarios...but that's another story.) Vonna Harper never lets you down. She has a knack for coming up with sexy, erotic story lines to sizzle up your day (or night,) souped up with maddening, abrasive toothsome heroes no woman in her right mind would kick out of a fantasy. Only for D/s readers; none of that other stuff is thrown in for the heck of it.

Reviewed by Maîtresse
© March 2008