ROUGH PLAY by Kensington Aphrodisia Author Christina Crooks

Title: ROUGH PLAY
By Christina Crooks
Genre: Erotic Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Kensington
Imprint: Aphrodisia
Format: eBook & Print
Pages: 268
On Bookshelves: October 2011

Book Heat: SCORCHER
Reviewed by ChristineRCJR
Read an Excerpt
Order: Amazon & Barns &Noble

In Christina Crooks's suspenseful new novel, a woman's search for a missing friend leads her to an erotic playground of fetish and fantasy...

After escaping her sexually dominant husband, dating coach Charlotte is ready to play it safe. But when her client, Gail, disappears after visiting a fetish-oriented club called Subspace, Charlotte must enter the erotic underworld to find out what happened to her.

Club owner Master Martin is willing to help Charlotte -- as long as she agrees to a little role-playing. As Charlotte slowly surrenders to Martin's sensual enticements, she finds that her penchant for submission is more intense than ever. But at the same time, as her search for Gail leads her deep inside Subspace's catacombs, Charlotte fears it may already be too late to save Gail... or herself.

~About Christina Crook~

Christina Crooks is a multi-published author with books for sale in print, electronic and audio editions. Her novels have been published by Kensington, Samhain, Five Star/Cengage, and Books in Motion Audiobooks. Christina currently lives in Portland, Oregon. Her books Rough Play, Hands On, Sweet and Dirty, L.A. Caveman, and Thrill of the Chase are now available. 

Visit Christina at her website or on Facebook.

~REVIEW~

Welcome to erotic romantic suspense author Christina Crooks world we are all just spectators.  In her October 2011 ROUGH PLAY erotic romantic suspense author Christine Crook would like to welcome you into her BDSM world and warns this is not a spectator sport but expects full participation.

Finally free from her sexually dominant husband, dating coach Charlotte is read to get on with her life.  She left everything behind to have a safe and calm life but it has been anything but.  She once worked for her ex’s magazine but now she is flipping burgers to pay the bills and keep her online dating services afloat.  If things couldn't get worse, her one and only client, Gail, disappears after visiting a fetish-oriented club Subspace.  Now Charlotte must enter the erotic underworld to find out what happened before getting sucked back into that world.

Club owner Master Martin has a lot on his plate, but this won’t stop him from helping Charlotte.  Martin is not a Master for nothing and he can spot a sub a mile away.  Charlotte might not want to admit it but he is willing role-play to bring out Charlotte’s submissive side.  As Marin slowly entices Charlotte to surrender to his sensual enticement, she finds herself being drawn back in.  Martin has away of bringing Charlotte’s true self out.  But as Martin unravels her submissive side there is still the fear that something wicked and depraved inhabits the Subspace’s catacombs and time she fears that time might be running out for Gail.

ROUGH PLAY is a BDSM readers dream.  I admit that this is not my first ride at the BDSM rodeo, so I know what I like and do not like.  But, this my first time reading author Christina Crooks.  I admit I was not quite sure what to expect when ROUGH PLAY arrived on my door step from Kensington.  The element of this book that drew me to open the cover and to begin to read was the fact it was a erotic contemporary BDSM.  I am of an inquisitive mind, so I was curious to see what this author came up with.  I was pleasantly surprised that down on her luck hamburger flipping trying to start an new business and heroine of the story Charlotte was what drew me in.  Charlotte is an every woman’s kind of female protagonist that we as individuals can relate to. It was the fact she had to work a dead end fast food job by day—polyester uniform and visor included—and by night try to appease the one client she has.  This might sound pathetic but there is a little quirk that Charlotte has—which I will not share, you’ll just have to read it to find out—that actually makes her very proficient in the dating world profession.  She is a quirky and lovable character that even though she has not had the easiest time of it lately Charlotte does see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Master Martin is an alpha male to die for all wrapped up in a physical toned body, rugged features and a deep intoxicating voice that will have reading ready to submit.  His vitality in strength is not only skin deep.  Master Martin has depth as a character which reaches out to readers time and again.  His presence is constant even when he is not on the page.  Master Martin’s personality had certain elements that draws a reader in were his fierce loyalty and care for others which is shown in the care for his ill mother.  His understanding and emotional strength is also prominent in his treatment of Charlotte.

ROUGH PLAY does not stand by its cover alone but by the feral and charismatic characters that grace its pages.  I will say that beyond the main protagonist Charlotte and Master Martin there is a creatively charming cast of characters just waiting for readers to come and meet them.  You have Gail, who is one stubborn client and has a list that no mere mortal man could ever meet. Then there is Charlotte’s ex that even though he is gorgeous readers would be hesitant to meet him in a dark alley any time soon.  A few characters that jump of the page is fellow worker at the fast food joint, Ratty—Subspace name and his Dominatrix, Amethyst who give a one eighty and crack you up while doing so.

ROUGH PLAY deals with quite a few elements while interweaving plots and subplots seamlessly.  Remembering that this is a pure fiction it was not easy to get caught up in the abduction plot, the slave trafficking.  Going in and out of Subspace’s Catacombs was an intricate part to help facilitate the underworld of not only BDSM but a erotic fictional game in likes of Dungeons & Dragons was brought to life.  If there was a theme it would be believe in yourself, your strengths and you can come through anything.  Trusting in your own beliefs and perception will bring you father than believing in nothing at all.

If you are looking for a full fledge erotic suspense fantasy read than ROUGH PLAY by Christina Crooks is the book for you.  You will travel through a fantasy world of the others making a will enjoy learning all the ins and outs of some very smart and eclectic characters that have the use saucy and creative dialogues with a few plots that will keep you engaged four fun filled hours to come.