Title: Bound to be a Groom
Author: Megan Mulry
Genre: Erotic Historical Romance / F/F/M/M / BDSM
Length: Novel (192 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-62649-112-0
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (Apr 14th, 2014)
Heat: Explicit
Heart: ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: Sometimes our wildest dreams come true.
In the tumultuous summer of 1808, Spain and England are close to war and four young lovers are close to ecstasy.
To carve out an independent life with the woman she loves, ANNA knows she must leave her quiet Spanish convent to become a courtesan. To gain experience, she sets her sights on . . .
SEBASTIAN, whose powerful, aristocratic confidence suits Anna’s mercenary goals. But his arrogance masks a craving for submission that Anna instinctively satisfies. Sebastian soon begs for her hand in marriage, even if it means sharing her with . . .
PIA, who trusts Anna completely—with her body and her future—until she learns of Anna’s hasty marriage. Pia questions their commitment to each other as they leave for London to meet . . .
FARLEIGH, the seemingly feckless duke who thinks he’s over Sebastian, the potent Spanish soldier he bedded two years ago.
What begins as a series of erotic escapades soon evolves into a deep, unbreakable bond. Two men and two women who yearn to explore are about to make their wildest dreams come true.
Purchase Link: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/bound-to-be-a-groom
Review: This was quite a read, fun, enjoyable, and somewhat inspiring.
So let’s make it clear from the start for people who dismiss the blurb and/or don’t really understand it. The story is set on the 19th century and the main character is a woman raised in a convent in Spain. Back then women had no power whatsoever, no freedom to do as they pleased, and they were simply assets and “jewels” in a “man’s world” surrounded by rules and restrictions. Our main character Anna is a dominant woman living in a world where her dreams to live with her lover Pia are quite impossible. Her only way to achieve that in her mind is to become the mistress of a wealthy aristocrat, gather as much jewelry and money as she can, and life with her lover as two spinsters somewhere remote in the future.
That seemed like the only feasible option until she met Sebastian. Sebastian is not only a man in a man’s world, he is also a capable soldier and a wealthy aristocrat. You’d think he has it easy, but he is as much a prisoner of his life and “duties” as Anna and Pia, with the difference that he’s more let’s say able to live a little behind the scenes in utmost secret. He craved for a life where he could be dominated by his loved one, but such dreams are impossible even for him. Until he meets Anna and the possibility to have even a fraction of his dreams, come true is right around the corner.
It is astonishing how beautifully written this book is when it comes to pointing out society’s control and rule over one’s life. I seriously loved the creative and light way all these things were brought to life in this story. Sebastian’s submissiveness allows Anna to take her lover Pia with her, and the three of them, under the disguise of matrimony and friendship achieve what would have been a pipe dream. They become a chain of sorts, one depending on the other and the last link comes to bind them in the form of Farleigh, the English Duke (and previous Dom/lover of Sebastian) who is severely hurt by his “duty’s” commend and his crushed dreams. His longing of freedom within his “golden bounds” is drowned in shame and society’s shunning of anything that is not “black and white”, so when every fantasy he’s harbored deep in his soul has the possibility of coming to life, he can’t even accept it for what it is, his fears that it can’t be done tainting his soul.
Every single one of these characters is unique though they share the same passions. They make it so easy for you to like them and take this journey along with them. Anna is domineering and quite exquisite in her ambitions and determination. Pia, utterly sensuous in her abandonment to Anna’s will, but strong enough to have her mind and wishes when it’s out of the bedroom. Sebastian is glorious (I wish for such a husband myself) hot as hell too, and Leigh, oh dear Lord what a charming man. I wish he had a bit more space in the book, for poor guy came in nearly the end of the story.
What was a fem/fem relationship in the beginning turned into a steaming hot ménage with two girls and a fantastic man who loved to please, ending in a glorious quartet that made you sigh in tandem with these two couples. The sensuous flow of erotic scenes was never-ending, the eroticism each and every one of them gave was pant-worthy, the way they combined into/with each other was magical, and the final balance had me wistfully sighing. There was no lack of envy while reading this I’m not ashamed to admit. As much as I’m not into F/F reading, this book managed to grip me in its web and not let go until the very end.
Recommended to all who enjoy queer, ménage, swinging and all in between.