Diary of a Bad Housewife

I trawled through the comments on this and I wasn’t sure whether it was me or your many reviewers who have missed the point. Since I’m in a minority of one, I guess it may be me. Just about all your comments are of the “Wow, steamy!” variety, with a bit of additional information about the reviewer’s personal like/ dislike of erotica.

To me, however, this was first and foremost a very moral book: not in the old-fashioned sense of defending traditional values, obviously, but in the sense that the author has a very clear idea of right and wrong, and the reader gets a very clear idea that the author’s on the side of right.

Julia reminded me a little of Emma Bovary:

“She buried herself in the ‘Corbeille’, a woman’s paper, and the ‘Sylphe de Salons’. She devoured, without skipping a word, all the accounts of first nights, race meeting and fashionable ‘at homes’ … She gloated over the descriptions of furniture of furniture in the novels of Eugene Sue; she read Balzac and George Sand, seeking some imaginary balm for the longings of her heart. She would even bring her book with her to the table and go on turning the pages while Charles ate and talked”.

Diary of a Bad Housewife is moral in a modern sense, of course. Right in the first chapter, we’re introduced to all Julia’s shortcomings: she’s selfish, she’s living in a make-believe world, she couldn’t care less about her kids, and – crucially, because I think this is where her journey of self-discovery towards becoming a better person is going to happen – she’s selfish in bed. Her selfishness in bed seems to be a function of her selfishness more generally – or maybe it’s the other way round?

In chapter 2, we see a different side of her entirely, when she’s on the phone to her parents. This is quite psychologically astute, apart from anything else: most of us are one thing with one set of people, another with another. Julia’s no different. In front of her parents, she’s defends Colin, and it’s obvious she likes and loves him. Then her parents get off the phone and she’s back to hating him again.

And then there’s the enigmatic Aunt Sadie, about whom we don’t hear too much. But it’s obvious she’s a kind of conscience-in-waiting. I’m guessing she’s going to become more central as the novel progresses.

Anyway, I may be wrong about everything I’ve just said. But I don’t think so. Bookshelved.

It's tasty. I back it.

I read a few chapters. It was interesting and flowed well.

Anyone else having this, "Sorry, an error occurred while loading chapter text" message only on chapter one?

After reading Chapter 1 I can say this:

After suffering the audaciously bad cliche of a dime store novel Jula reads, the story opens into a modern-day Jane Austen novel replete with a selfish brat, a sensible female confident and an exasperated hero. Bold characters emerging from lush prose...

The highest praise I can give any story is I can't wait to read chapter two. Excellent work, Elle!

Hi Elle.

I am reading chapter two. I like how it starts with her mom calliing, and her mom asking if he is abusing her, and then that she has divorce lawyers lined up and ready to pounce.

"How was I to know he actually WORKED for a living." Funny stuff.

I like how aggressive her family is in trying to get the husband.

Wow, that was a quick chapter to read. Took me about two minutes, plus commenting. Your writing flows well. I love the humor. It seems like a crazy, unpredicable story. I don't know what'll happen next, but I'm eager to find out!

Shaun Holt
"Waiting for the Rain"

Elle - when are you going to stop teasing me and upload the full MS!!! I'm desperate to read the end :(

Cruel Wench! I might have to spank you :D

Hi there. I just read chapter one tonight, and I'll try to read chapter two soon (but its 3:30am and I had better get to bed)

I really liked your opening, and I thought you did very well at switching between the book and the guy calling for her. I was worried you would open the story with one of those, "Oh! It was just a dream!" moments, which I think never work well because they are so over-done, but I like this. It helps show some of the character details, i.e. this is the type of book they would read. I like her attitude, and the fit she throws (literally). I don't have any spelling errors or word choices to point out, but maybe I'll find something in chapter two.

Very well written. Good luck getting onto the editor's desk. Again, I would read more but its... 3:40am now.

All the best,

Shaun Holt
"Waiting for the Rain"

A very good read, well written with fantastic description.
I was a little apprehensive when I was it tagged as 'erotica', but - as said before - it has a storyline which engulfs you and you can't help but read!
Just a couple of pointers:
- You've made a point of differentiating between the American and English use of words, arse/ass, knickers/panties. But you use 'diaper', being from the UK I very, very rarely hear the word 'diaper' with 'nappy' being used instead.
- C37 there may be a spelling error; the councillor says 'clew', do you mean clue or are you referring to some sort of sail.
Beatrice's story had many similarities to the film 'Secretary'. Is this intended? If not - just coincidence!

Would love to read the rest!

Johanna

This is so much fun! I love that you're telling it from Julia's POV, and she manages to have just enough perspective on herself to be likeable even though she's horrid. And her parents! They're awful! Poor Colin, and those poor kids. This is highly readable fun. Will shelve.

A very nice and interesting read with an outstanding rating. On my watch list now.

A rocking good read and definitely for adult's only!

Hi Elle,
Just read the first couple of chapters. Very well-written, good flow, and my, what a steamy first chapter! Your characters are nicely defined and the dialogue with her family is very humourous. Highly starred and best of luck with this dear. Ruby xx

Okay skipped here and there, finishing what you have posted. Like I said before, expertly written with a surprising message underneath all the heat.
Good luck! Georgia
The Woman From E.A.R.L.

Read though chapter ten. I feel sorry for Julia, who's being taken on a ride. Even though it's her own fault, I stll feel sorry for her. This is one of the best written books I've read on authonomy. Well done! Highly starred and watchlisted! Will read on and comment further. Georgia
The Woman From E.A.R.L.

"Moral in a modern sense," these words of Bren describe this book completely. What pace, what an arousal...and from what depth...wonderful read. The first best seller material I have read at Authonomy....Good Luck Elle, this book will do very well at many bookstores around the world. Will be on my shelf on 1st March...
Six stars my friend...

I'm taking a deep breath and backing.

This is a stretch for me, not because I don't appreciate sex or even erotica, but I believe such literature should be kept in the privacy of one's own home. Certainly you don't advertise what you're reading.

But I realized I was "treating" myself to a couple of chapters each time I completed one of my little daily tasks. I began to reason that if I'm not ashamed to read it, then why should I be ashamed to admit it? Yes, I care what others think and maybe some won't think I'm "saintly," but I work to balance my opinion of self. Besides, I read books about food, bead collecting, and pets. Why shouldn't I read one about a relationship mending its sexual side? How do you find the "good" erotica if no one talks about it?

It's a good read in several senses. It's not Shakespeare, but I don't read Shakespeare. Someone wrote that Elvira is over the top and I partially agree, although I see her purpose. She's the temptress just like the Nigerian con artist, one offering sex and the other false riches.

The book is certainly explicit, but some morality tales are. I like it and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Not really my sort of book - would imagine it appealing to lots of women though. I think the characters are strong and their reactions to situations are in keeping with the personas you have created for them. Have read the first 15 chapters and it is written in a style that is easy to read although I felt some of the chapter starts were not a logical follow on from the previous one. Almost like a few sentences were missing maybe?
I wish you well with it
Mike
Rudolph Goes Bananas

Hi,
Just a query about cover pages. I have tried numerous times and can't get anything to load, not even a basic word document with the name Power Puppy. I read the tips and they didn't help either. How did you do yours?
Yours in power and badness.
Michelle
PS Did you like my shameless plug for you?

I have a confession: this is definitely not the type of book I normally read...or ever read. I noticed one of my friends backed this and when I read your pitch it sounded interesting. So I started to read...I suppose I should have read the tags because I was a bit shocked at content. I'm not going to lie, it made me a bit uncomfortable because that's just me....but I kept reading, and reading...and I read every single chapter (glossing over some intimate parts, because again that's just me) which I've never done on this site before. Although, your chapters are quite short so it wasn't really hard to read all of it.

With that being said, I really like the concept of this book! I found it sweet that being apart helped to bring Colin and Julia closer together. I loved the part when they sat down to dinner and they were talking about their days. It's a simple thing that most couples take for granted but when you start to lose the connection, you don't talk about the simple things or your days. You sit and eat in silence, so I loved how you started to even build just from the basic.

The only thing I didn't like was Julia's friend, really. I really, really disliked how you wrote out her accent. I think you could have done it in a much better way. I also found the sex scene in front of Julia a little unnescesary and I felt that you put it in simply to have another sex scene.

Even so, I still really enjoyed your book.

- Nichole

I thought the start was interesting – beginning with a section from a novel (something you build on well in later chapters – seventeen in particular).
Julia comes across as a vain, immature brat from the off, and the reader wants her to lose her privileged life. Her parents and relatives are hard to relate to but easy to imagine, and the dialogue is lively and naturalistic throughout.

This story is one to which many women will claim to be unable to relate, but the problems Julia faces probably effect a large number of women who are well off but appreciate very little of what they have. An entertaining, readable story – like Desperate Housewives for the slightly more down to earth. The sex parts in particular were more realistic and well written, while day-to-day details are not omitted.

I felt pity for Julia at the end of chapter sixteen (and happy for her at the end of chapter thirty-six). Some of the chapters were drastically longer/shorter than others, but it doesn’t interrupt the general flow of the narrative. I think, “eMail” near the end of chapter seven should be “email” – my only correction for you.

From chapter twenty-three onwards, things get very interesting, and pretty racy. The Harry Potter reference in chapter thirty was amusing. I’ve never read anything else quite like it. It doesn’t feel quite finished, but perhaps that is intentional. Unbelievable in parts, yet the reader wants to buy into it. Good luck with this!

Hi Elle,
I read chapter one, but I skipped parts of the opening novel. That's just me, of course--this book doesn't fit into the genres I usually read. Your writing itself is good and I didn't notice any typos, so good job for that!
Noelle

I know we've done this before but let's do it again.

Maybe we should become friends.

It is rare to find erotica as well written as this. The story is interesting and believable and a good backdrop to the gorgeous sex scenes. Erotic writing is one of the hardest genres to carry off but Elle does this perfectly. I have read a lot of such work and this is nicely done.

I can never understand the prudishness of the average Brit and wish they could let go and enjoy work like this! I don't have a problem with explicit material, of course, but realise this won't go mainstream. Shame. I would love to see this in film. Go girl! If this doesn't fire up a few fantasies I'd be surprised. Nice to see top quality erotica from a woman's perspective. Awesome! GSB

I see I climbed on the wet blanket. :(

I havent made it to chap 41 yet, but I see he has. Kind of funny.

I havent finished reading or backing yet but I feel the prev comment is kind of insulting to women, doncha think? I mean skip the romance then say it doesnt make sense and is offputting?

The tub scene others mention after the scam I agree with, its very emotional. I can understand why guys dont get that, but hey, dont say its stupid.

Anyway I DONT find the romance and sex offputting and thats my two cents FWIW. Maybe thats why Im reading so slow.

The book is well-written, and easy to read. Unfortunately it isn't my cup of tea.

I didn't like opening. I skipped all the romance novel stuff and straight to the story.

The protagonist is unlikable and extremely so. I read on because it feels like a train wreck. How much lower can she go sort of feeling. But really, I have no soft spot for her.

I am extremely sympathetic to the husband. While many may find him beta or unassuming, I actually admire him for sticking and being responsible. If I were him, I would have demanded the divorce a long time ago.

The parents are too caricaturish for my liking.

I did find the conversations to be stilted especially the dialogue between man and wife. The dialogue are eye-opening for the most part. But there is very little subtlety or subtext. People say what they mean and mean what they say. and in real life that is rarely is the case.

I am not a fan of the first person pov here. I know I am lone minority in this case. The reason is, I find her motivations and her perceptions just so out of whack. They aren't intriguing, or funny just a great big from wtf to me. It would have been easier to accept her character if it was written in the third person. But that is just my feeling.

I find the digressions into BDSM mildly off-putting. I can't take seriously a woman who thinks if only her husband turned to no-nonsense alpha male and spanked her, and threw her against the bed and fucked her senseless, she'll stop being a bitch and behave. That is such childish reasoning. It puts the onus on her husband to fix her moral failings. All right I'll interpret that as another expression of her immaturity and her preoccupation on alpha males to fix what is wrong in her life. I suppose romance novels have really fucked with her thinking. I just really really hope it isn't that viewpoint that wins the novel.

In the chapter 41, you had the woman who loves to submit to her man. Which by the way seemed illogical to me. If she misbehaves, she gets spanked, but she gets turned on by spanking, so doesn't that mean she should be misbehaving more often to get more spanking?

I find the themes on traditional roles and submission off-putting. So I wonder myself if you mean to be satirical or humorous or if you're really being serious. Obviously she needs to learn how to love and to respond to the needs of her husband and her children. Couching these in terms of submission and such, really muddies the water for me.

As I wrote this review, I wondered if you're doing the strange inversion here. Her life is guided by romance novels and their preoccupation with alpha males. She wants a alpha male to do fix her. She wants to submit to the right man. But hopefully, (I really hope), she learns that she must fix herself and grow up.

Anyway these are just my thoughts. I am in minority here, so obviously you can't take my views too seriously.

Short of Anaïs Nin, has any erotica been so highly discussed? I say Nin is the yardstick to measure this story by, not Beauty.

As Nin was, I speculate elle might be a psychologist, because that's the key to Housewife. We start out disliking her yet liking her, unusual enough in itself, but Julia grows on us. Why? Because she is us or we are her, Everywoman, lover, mother, bitch, but who aspires to something better. We all have our weaknesses, our unstoppable petty arguments that drive a wedge in our most precious relationships and our sometimes stupid decisions. Housewife embodies those.

The parents are literary foils. Nin described her fictional characters as caricatures and we see this in Julia's parents, tongue-in-cheek exemplars used like chess pieces. The name Octavia is clever, sounding like a poisonous Roman empress.

Less obvious is Colin; he's less vividly described but he needs to mature as a man. Few of us admire beta males and he starts out that way, but almost as soon as they begin training, he begins to assume a more masculine office.

Water (baths) is an important metaphor, a baptismal cleansing of the soul. Nudity plays a rôle in this story, more than a metaphor. The layers of Julia's self-deception must be stripped away so they don't soil the rebirth of an emerging better person. This depth provides a seldom seen level of eroticism. The writer doesn't let us see what she's doing to us, but we experience it as additional depth and intensity above the superficial gloss of the sex scenes, which, I might add, are exquisite.

That's my theory. I'll leave it at that.

Beautifully polished prose. Well drawn characters. Maybe that’s why I don’t actually dislike Julia, she behaves exactly as I’d expected of a woman in her situation, brought up by two specimens like her parents. I even sympathised with her when she threw the kid’s food in the bin. I feel like that sometimes. Maybe Julia isn’t completely fatuous, though she certainly keeps any profound thoughts to herself, but she is completely detached from the real world, everybody else’s world, that is.
Julia is closed to all suggestions except money which is what she knows. But even that she doesn’t understand. She suspects the lawyer because the subject is the acquisition of money, but once she makes her own superficial investigations, she is satisfied that everything about her surprise inheritance is above board, even when she is asked to shell out money hand over fist. She has no human yardstick with which to measure the phoney lawyer. She only suspects her husband of infidelity because Elvira puts the idea in her head. Nothing about human relationships seems to have much resonance with her.
If I were to say which literary figure Julia puts me in mind of it would be Holly Golightly. With the big difference that Holly is running away from the ghosts of poverty, Julia is simply running on the spot.

I began reading, not knowing what to expect, but forced myself to stop in time to realize how much Julia and I seem alike. Well, minus the spoiled part and the wealthy family haha. This is a refreshing spin on the traditional housewife journey and I love how Julia really wants to better herself in a modern, real-to-life tone. The message I think you're trying to convey with this is clearly presented but not in the sense that makes you 'know where it's going' and want to stop, if that makes sense. On my shelf to support some fine writing with the intentions of coming back for more! :)

Brittany E.
Melaney and the Mirror

Oh, I should add it's made me think of bodice rippers in a new light. I know the novel within a novel is a joke, but it's still hot when you think about what our mothers and grandmothers read.

This could also be called Diary of a Sad Housewife. First let me say I've now read every word, some parts 2 or 3 or 4 times. ;0

I think I have a good feel for the book (no pun intended) which is smart and funny but serious all the same. It takes us on a guided tour of the writer's wicked imagination. I've come to notice that the writer doesn't dive into extreme forms of sex, but manages to tell us about "normal" forms in new and exciting ways. This is saying something for a jaded reader like me where most "erotic" books rehash the same crap over and over. I think the way the writer accomplishes this is to combine super visuals with uber emotions and knowledge of our fantasies (and the writing is great). Both tub scenes (US + UK) were exciting in different ways. I'm not sure if cathartic is the right word for the first scene, but it made me cry. The second scene left me with the feeling the book is about to explode with another fantasy and we have to pay per view.

I could so picture the castle that I want to be there. It's thrilling to imagine such a place and once they arrived in England I existed in a state of sexual excitement throughout. We see the MC and her husband are starting to learn their lessons that the aunt set in motion. (I so wish I had an aunt like that.) I think the lessons will be painful for Julia and well deserved, but a joy for us.

It's on my shelf and staying there until I can read the whole thing.

Hi
Just wanted to give some feedback. I read through the first 4 chapters with the greatest of ease. I started off feeling that Julia was a really unpleasant character. Now I'm starting to feel sorry for her! This a great read and I have enjoyed every minute of it. It is very well-written and the characterisation is great. I am looking forward to reading a lot more!
All the best
Another Julia (a real one!)
Shadow Jumper

Diary of a Bad Housewife 11/02/2012

Well I have to say my first impression was that it was a real romping gallumping thing a bit too much a bit too intense and so on and thank goodness that was the novel not the story. I know that it was in italics and thank heavens for that. I recognise too well that whole time stealing thing that a really great book does and so I immediately felt sympathy with Julia.

Well she really is coming across as a spoilt brat, I dislike her already. (I hope that’s the reaction you were hoping for.) I want to say up front that I comment as I read and it’s a bit seat of the pants. Please take any of my comments with a pinch of salt, I really do aim to help and I try to be honest. I hope that’s okay.

Okay – I dislike her whole family. I find some of the dialogue a little strained but the sentiments behind the words come through loud and clear. Sheesh – what a load of horrors. Having said that I detect such sadness here all around. The mother and father can’t possibly be happy and the poor daughter has been damaged from the start. The only one with any redeeming traits seems to be the sensible, loving aunt.

Reading this I have a horrible suspicion that this family is actual mentally disturbed – Footmen? Talk about cloud cuckoo land. How could this person ever have been prepared for “real” life.

The writing is very good. I’ll be honest I don’t read erotica, not because of any prudishness I just don’t enjoy it but from what I have read of this you handle it very well. I wondered at times if the actions and reactions were a little too intense but then again this is a high octane read.

I love the Puerto Rican accent, just love it.

I feel like screaming out at her DON’T DO IT. What a clever idea to use this ruse. I have to say that I am enjoying this more and more as I get into it. In fact I wonder if it would serve you to cut down on some of the venom in the earlier chapters which seemed at times a little overdone and get to the heart of the story more quickly. I realise that you need some of it to set the scene but maybe some of the more overt comments about how much the horrible parents are willing to do for their horrible daughter, some of it could be culled without losing the message I think. I have to congratulate you on your technical skill, I don’t pretend to be any sort of a grammatical expert but to me this does seem to be very well done.

That comment about Elivra “pounds and kilograms” struck me as odd, “pounds and ounces” doesn’t work really but why not excess poundage or something it seems peculiar to mix metric and imperial. I am skipping the sex scenes, I hope that’s okay. I am beginning to feel sorry for Julia,

She doesn’t know how to love and although she obviously has a strong sexual drive she doesn’t seem to be able to enjoy that side of her life either seeing her sexuality as either a weapon or a tool. She is a sad individual.
You know by the time we are in the airport I am totally gripped by this and although I feel as though she should have a good slap for being so totally stupid on lots of counts I do feel sorry for Julia.

The scene in the bath is very strong writing indeed, I read every word and none of it seem gratuitous just real and human I congratulate you on this chapter. This now has shades of Fun With Dick and Jane – a wonderful movie.
I am impressed with your imagination and the way that you are able to draw this palace of “whatever” it is fascinating, a little frightening and totally intriguing. We also have proof positive now that the aunt has her best interests at heart. Though she has been the cause of their problems Julia still doesn’t seem to be able to see the error of her ways – I wonder if they ladies of the court will be able to help out.

This is so much, now it’s beauty and the beast, we have had West World and they are all interwoven it’s such an entertaining read. There is a very strong message woven into this isn’t there and I have to say that I do agree with so much of it. At first I wasn’t convinced that I wanted to read this but I am so glad that I stuck with it and am really hooked now.

I have read all that you have posted in one sitting and I have to say this is a clever, surprising and very intelligent book. I think that the first few chapters need a bit of work because I was tempted to give up mainly because of the overdone reactions. I am so glad that I didn’t because this has been great. After reading this I am even more flattered that you seem to enjoy mine. Many starred and backed. – Diane

Elle,

I am about 5 chapters from finishing. I really enjoyed this. I think it was a guilty pleasure, but I also think it went deeper than that. I think at the heart of it all was a message that we (spouses) need to be kinder to each other and stuff all this stupid power struggle crap. I think some people might read this and be offended and think that you mean that wives should be submissive, but I don't think (I could be wrong) that is your theme. I believe we (as a society) have just lost some of our manners to each other and we need to regain that. Or I could be totally reading something into it that I shouldn't be.

So my one criticism is that people might get lost in all the sex in the book. I am not a prude and I think you wrote the scenes well, but I think people might just think it is a smut book, which isn't. I'm not say lose all the sex scenes, but you might want to think about where they could be most impactful.

This is just my two cents worth. I am not a professional so feel free to ignore me. I have starred and I will back when I do some shelf shuffling.

Read two chapters and loved it. I had no problem visualizing Julia and her annoying parents.What I couldn't understand you mention her parents have been married and re-married yet her father calls immediately after her mother. Are her parents in close contact or is this a step father? This confused me slightly. None the less well done and a great read.
Regards, Red
Illusions of Comfort

Okay, now I understand why this book is on so many bookshelves. Great writing, great characterization and dialogue, fast-paced, and oh what an opening. Hooks you from the very start. Great job! I'll have to come back and read more.

Susan/Greenleaf (Chameleon)

Wow. I don't comment much, but this 'hit the spot'. Back again to back it, right after... well, you know...

After reading the remaining chapters, I honestly can't tell whether you set out to write some steamy erotica or if you intended it to have a message, either way I think you have succeeded in writing a passionate story that has a more serious side. Julia has to re-evaluate her relationship with her controlling, materialistic parents and stripped back (literally!) she has to look at her life and consider what is important to her. I can sense a change in her and Colin which looks like it will leave their relationship on an even keel without either one fighting to have control. It's a real page turner.

Gosh I can't stop reading! You've certainly written a page-turner.
I only intended reading a few chapters but I had to stop myself at chapter 14. Maybe I am very like the bad housewife in the novel - when she can't put her romance novels down. My husbands patiently waiting for his dinner, and the dog is whining to go out! Thank God my children have grown up.
This is a great book and its so well written that I can't stop reading it. Can I say more? 6 stars.
Ruby Middleton
'Will Ryan'

I love love how you've developed your characters. Even the spoiled Julia, I'm actually sympathizing with her. And poor Colin! I'm totally rooting for these two! To me, that's mission accomplished in any story that gets me to care about emotions and actions of the main characters.

Eden-THE SIREN'S HEART

A quite amazing book that I found a very good read, I saw the con coming early on which only pleased me when it turned out I was correct. Many chapters to get through so it has taken me two days to read, which was well worth it. All the stars no problem.

‘Diary of a Bad Housewife’
This isn’t my usual genre but I love playing away (in literary terms).
Ch 1 - I loved the steamy sexy beginning interrupted by reality – it really back-foots the reader in a pleasurable way. A difficult act to get right, a first person narrator that isn’t easy to empathise with. The dialogue and action are believable if maddening. I knew girls like that at school and still suffer the damage!
Ch 2 – Parental characters come across strongly. Poor Colin. The back story is delivered well at the right time. I liked the ‘Rockefeller not changing their name’ line and ‘wrongful impregnation’ (if it isn’t a crime, it should be!). Aunt Sadie comes in at just the right moment as a counter to the parents.
Ch 3 – The self-appraisal in the mirror and the touching flowed beautifully. A self-sensual moment caught naturally until the entry of the object of her fantasy – a clever and madly irrational conflict. Characters who need each other but are so into their own worlds they have lost the ability to communicate.
Ch 4 – An interesting manoeuvre in making the husband’s presumed unfaithfulness a criticism of the m.c. I love the way the hypocritical mother undermines her daughter’s confidence.
Ch 5 – Elvira comes over strongly, though the dialect would get annoying if over-done. ‘Glorified and aging pool boy’ – nice. The solicitor’s letter comes at the right time, a welcome twist in the plot and a very intriguing hook.
Ch 6 – A neat move in the Edward/Edmund message. The story is developing apace, the potential legacy and its circumstances have me caught.
Ch 7 – I begin to feel an awful comeuppance coming her way.
Ch 8 – The description of Elvira is delightful, I could picture her so well. It’s not easy to write a sex scene without the usual clichés but this is so well crafted. Exciting but not corny.
Ch 9 – Alarm bells ringing over Harry Rhodes. Realistic interaction with Colin.
Ch 10 – I can’t wait to find out what’s coming but I’ll stop for now.
Overall a cracking good sexy read. There is good balance between the erotic and thriller elements here. There is sensuality here that doesn’t appear cheap. The writing is very good and I did not spot any typos. I felt the character of Colin could be developed a little more upfront but otherwise characterisation was spot-on. Julia’s conflicted personality comes over well. I was not sure I would take to this but I really enjoyed the work and will complete it later. Greatly entertaining and intriguing.
Nick
'Where She Lies'

After reading the first dozen chapters, I forced myself to stop to get real work done. I've been debating what to write, checking other comments to get a feel of appropriateness. I thought I knew what to say until I read LMC's review. Curious, I plunged ahead into chapter 16.

I read erotica, as much as most, maybe more, but this is the first time an erotic novel reached ALL my emotions. It's the first time a erotic story made me cry. Christ, I didn't expect that. The question isn't how you could do that, but HOW you did that. That's so powerful.

Those of us who've been there know exactly what she's going through, feeling worse than a tramp, wanting to be scourged of our narcissistic filth and pain. No man could understand because no man knows the secrets some of us hide, the shame, the pain, and medicating through orgasm, the thoughts of slash me, gash me, fuck me to cleanse my sins, the feminine emo Kerouack.

So, wow, that's draining. And emotionally amazing writing from a sister of the heart.

I was going to recommend this before, but now it will forever be on my shelf, stars and all. This is a most unusual and stirring erotica.

Elle, I've been meaning to read this for ages and finally got round to it. The cover and title are catchy, the SP tells you to expect adult scenes but the LP hints at something else, Julia may be about to learn about sexual freedom but to achieve that it suggests she's going to have to face her faults.

I've read sixteen chapters so far and I feel that the story is going in the direction I suspected - Julia has had to face the humiliation of her betrayal and how easily she was conned but in the bath scene she uses sex to punish and cleanse herself.

This is a very easy read. Julia is spoilt and indulged but you can see that so much of that is her upbringing but also she has moments (albeit very brief) where she realises her husband isn't a bad man and thinks of her children with affection.

I still don't have a clue what the intrigue may be that threatens everything so that is another hook to keep me reading. Can't help but wonder what Julia is going to get up to next.

Good book! Well written with strong characters and story. Good luck with it.
BOOKSHELVED.

This is the first erotic novel I've ever read. So I'm not really sure how to go about reviewing it. Well presented, strong, steamy, and surprisingly moral. Highly starred.

Just finished reading what you have uploaded. All I can say is that you need to upload more!

Just wanted to say thank you and great job! Very well written, I didn't find any places at all where the illusion was broken by bad grammar or typos. The story and the characters are beautifully paired so that you keep wanting more of both, because honestly, if you aren't attracted to the person you are reading about in some way it doesn't matter how well the sex is written. I would love to write more about this great story but it seems to have...distracted me a bit. I will definitely add to my bookshelf and late night reading list. ;) Well done!

Warmest regards,
Don C.

This is well worth the read. I didn't know what to expect after the synopsis, but it's daring and darling. The funny thing is how the book leaves the reader comfortable, naughty without being wicked and titillating without transgressing. It's a love story, a romance that sneaks up on the reader. Fully backed!

Okay, finished! So many positives here as I'm sure you know and have definately been told. What personally touched me was when Julia was in the tub loathing herself for falling for the con. I think I've felt similar to that a couple times in my life. You described it so well.
I love a good con story, although I admit, I knew it was a con from the get go. Still it was extremely entertaining to read.
Your erotica was well executed I think 99% of the time. For me personally, the scene of Elvira playing out her fantasy of having someone watching her having sex was a little over the top. Not the whole scene, just the spitting his cum into her hand, offering it to Julia and smearing it on her lips and then drinking it down.
Julia's mom cracked me up. Great dialogue there.
I wished I knew Colin a little better. I think he needs more fleshing out earlier in the story. But I like him, I think he's a good man.
This was certainly a page turner. Excellent. High stars from me!

Dear Elle

I have read up to chapter seven and I could keep reading, I really could. You just set to, and tell a great story. I can understand how this appalling woman feels and how clever she is, beneath the faux shine and despite all her parents' attempts to indulge her. This is excellent, well presented and clever. Methinks it should be in the shops..

All the best to you!

Fran Macilvey, "Trapped" :-))