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From backcover: Foster child. Teenage whore. Now a veterinarian, MacKensie's turned her life around, but the scars remain. She saves her affection for the animals who never judge or scorn her, but it's time to get out, move on from her past in Iowa. So, she arranges a vacation exchange to job hunt in Seattle.

Although the house is lovely, one room is locked. Her years in foster care have given her two ‘gifts’: a neurosis about locked doors and the ability to open them. After she gets into the room, she's appalled…and intrigued. Chains and manacles, whips and paddles, odd benches with straps…

When Alex returns home days early and finds MacKensie draped over the spanking bench in his locked dungeon, he’s furious. But her wariness arouses his protective nature and curiosity, so he strikes a deal to keep her close—she’ll act as his submissive in exchange for a place to stay and help finding a job.

He’d planned to use the veterinarian to deter an ex-girlfriend, not replace her, but with MacKensie’s compelling mixture of strength and vulnerability, the little sub slides right into his well-defended heart.

Review written by Daemon Grendl

Overall this was a very good book. The story is compelling and it's enjoyable to watch Alex bring Mac (MacKensie) out of her shell. It's very unusual to find a BDSM book with romance, positive role models and a happy ending. There are several excellent scenes of experienced BDSM players that should give people unfamiliar with the scene some good ideas and make experienced players cheer. It fun to read, erotic in places, and I recommend it.

The back cover pretty much tells the whole story so there's no need for me to elaborate on that.

What I will expand upon are several issues raised in this book that scream for further examination. I know it's just a book, but reality forced me to stop, put the book down, and ponder several times. Firstly, there's a rape scene played out in a public bar - Is that really possible? Secondly, Mac is damaged property and Alex recognizes this and uses BDSM as a psychological tool to fix her - Really? Thirdly, there are several times in the book where Mac accepts the situation when a normal person would have run screaming away: Or at least anyone I know.

I have been to many BDSM events: Parties, bars, conventions, movie premieres: Too many to count and I can say absolutely it's impossible to arrange a rape scene. First and foremost sex is not allowed in any public bar and most private dungeons. Additionally alcohol and drugs are usually discouraged. The law being what it is, no sane man is ever going to rape a woman without negotiating it with her directly: It's just too dangerous. There are a lot of ex-husbands and ex-boyfriends out there for any sane person to engage in this practice. Especially if that man wants to return to that bar after he gets the wrong person, misses the signals and spends years in jail. Remember the rule: Safe, Sane and Consensual. So when that part of the story began I had to put the book down is disbelief.

Can one really use BDSM to help a person overcome psychological trauma? In the book, Mac is put off by sex because she was forced into teenage prostitution. The story takes place 12 years later and, unfortunately due to finances, she's never sought out expert psychological help. She clearly needs professional help because she can't even let anyone touch her. Alex, using bondage, forces her to overcome this. His technique is twofold: Tie her up so she can't move and use pleasure to retrain her psyche. When I came to these parts of the book I frequently had to put the books down and take a break. I've heard anecdotes about rape victims using BDSM to own their fears but I have to wonder if this is really possible. I want to believe that, with a caring partner, one could used BDSM to work through ones fears. After all, BDSM is all about trust. But when you put a claustrophobic in a box can they really get better or would it just traumatize them further?

Several times in the book, Mac is confronted by Alex and forced to do things she finds intolerable: Like strip naked in front of strangers. The author would like us to believe that, deep-down inside, Mac wants to do this. But after twelve years on her own, I can't believe she would have conceded so easily. I've seen many people break down and cry or runaway in an angry tantrum when confronted with this situation. For it to work, the sub really had to fear their Dom's retribution and that doesn't happen with one or two spankings. Again, I put the book down, reminded myself it was fiction, and returned to reading a little later.

Maybe my experience makes it harder to read this fiction. Maybe I'm too critical. But there was a lot to think about in the book and that's part of being a good book: It makes you think and gives you things to discuss. Get yourself a copy and we'll talk: It's well worth the time and money.

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