THE BLONDE GEISHA

Author: Jina Bacarr ISBN: 0373605102 8/2006 FICTION (EROTIC) Publisher: SPICE

In the ancient Japanese tradition of beauty and grace, sex and erotic fantasies are hidden secrets that only a select few may learn, and which are forbidden to foreigners. But when a threat to her father’s life puts her own in jeopardy, young Kathlene Mallory is sent to live in safety at the Tea House of the Look-Back Tree, where she is allowed to glimpse inside the sensual world of the geisha. During the years of her training in the art of pleasuring men, Kathlene’s desires are awakened by the promise of unending physical delights, and she eagerly prepares for the final ritual that will fulfill her dream of becoming a geisha—the selling of her virginity. The man willing to pay for such an honor, Baron Tonda, is not the man for whom Kathlene carries a secret desire, but he is the man who will bring ruin to the teahouse, and danger to Kathlene, if he is disappointed…

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

In her debut novel, THE BLONDE GEISHA, Jina Bacarr tells the story of a young woman's quest to become a Japanese geisha. Bacarr's descriptions of the life of a geisha are an eye opening experience.

Kathlene Mallory is obsessed with becoming a geisha. When her father tells her that he's in trouble, he drops her off at the Look-Back-Tree Teahouse and flees Japan. At the tender age of fifteen, when her body is yearning to become a woman, Kathlene finally gets her wish. How does a blonde Westerner transform herself into a Japanese geisha?

At the Look-Back-Tree Teahouse, Kathlene learns the secret rituals of the geisha and also learns more about herself and her private yearnings. After a few years have passed, Kathlene is ready to take the final step into becoming a geisha—the selling of her virginity. However, the man who buys her virginity and the fellow Westerner who she wants to give her virginity to, are two different people. If Kathlene is to fulfill her lifelong wish, she must push aside her personal feelings and accept this man, Baron Tonda. However, if she pursues Reed, there will be terrible danger to the Look-Back-Tree Teahouse, and her identity will be exposed.

Bacarr writes in great details about the geisha life. At times her writing is flowing with deep sensuality and lust, and she truly shines when describing Kathlene's increasing sexuality. As erotic as THE BLONDE GEISHA is, in no way does the graphic details of sex hinder the story. Bacarr seems to make sure that the story flows from passage to passage.

As beautiful as Bacarr's writing is, I wasn't too greatly impressed with the characters. I didn't feel like I had a connection with them, and because of that it lessened my enjoyment of the book.

THE BLONDE GEISHA is a highly sensual coming-of-age story that, when read, one should focus on Bacarr's gift of writing instead of the depth of the characters.

Julie Kornhausl