MASTER

Author: Colette Gale ISBN: 9780451224125 5/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: NAL/Signet Eclipse
Time Period: Regency

Dantes spent years imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s returned to Paris in the guise of the Count of Monte Cristo, seeking vengeance on those who sent him to jail. But his plan also includes a different kind of revenge—on the woman he has never forgotten, the lover he has made it his mission to possess. So unfolds an erotic battle of wills in the most electrifying game of love ever played between man and woman, master and slave.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

MASTER by Colette Gale is an intriguing tale of love, hate, revenge and forgiveness (all big time favorites of mine). The story was excellent, and in my humble opinion, an extremely clever idea. I love anything with some historical value to it, and this was a nice spin off of the old tale of the Count of Monte Cristo. It was well executed and had a ring of authenticity throughout. I picked it up for the S&M erotica promised in the title, but became quite enthralled with the characters and their stories.

As for the erotic parts, there was more of a suggestion of them than the actual meat and potatoes some might expect. I would call this a romance. Even the title, MASTER, seemed misplaced, because there was only one small scene that could be what the book was named after, which never even really came to fruition. Some people might find that disappointing, but in my case, I was so involved with the characters by then that I was pleased that the scene had been executed in the way it was. But again, it lacked the master/slave element that it was purported to have. I have to say that I liked the way this story progressed and was delighted with the ending. There were moments when I wished Gale would provide a little more erotic detail, but in the end I was satisfied by the passion and romance.

Joanne Shaeffer