Anneke Jacob’s As She’s Told
is no gentle, schmaltzy love story where the heroine and her beloved
fall in love at a dubious, expedited speed and live happily ever.
Instead, it’s an intelligent, well written story of a couple who
immerse themselves in the extreme side of BDSM and struggle with their
questionable control over their fantasies.
Anders
Thygesen lurks in chat rooms, hoping to find a kindred spirit who wants
to completely surrender herself to him just as much he wants to possess
her. He finds his match in Maia, a dark-haired beauty who longs for
safety and protection and has a deep need to yield to another. There is
no room for any experimental bondage; and there is no stopping when the
going gets rough. Maia is ready to sacrifice her freedom to be Anders’
slave in the truest sense of the word, and there’s no going back.
As She’s Told,
at a lofty 600-plus pages, is sensual and smart, and although the
point-of-view changes are strange, I like the realism of the couple.
They don’t rush into anything, they start slow, and they take the time
to get to know each other. Fortunately, the description and evolution
of their relationship isn’t bogged down by technicalities. Readers who
are looking for a simple erotic story may be disappointed, as As She’s Told
is intensely sexual but the primary focus is on Anders and Maia’s
relationship and just how far they will go to not only please one
another, but to fulfill their own desires as well.
As She's Told is available from Pink Flamingo $16.75
Originally published April 2009