A Little Harmless Obsession by Melissa Schroeder 
Contemporary Romance, BDSM
September 21, 2010
E-Book, Novel length
Samhain

Reviewed by Mandi

Favorite Quote: He leaned in and took her mouth in a quick, hard kiss. Even the brief contact had both of them breathing heavily.

“You think about that for the next two nights.”

He walked away, knowing he was damn sure he would too.

May Aiona, a restaurant manager has had a healthy string of boyfriends, but no one has ever rocked her socks. She always ends up disappointed in the bedroom. She shares her feelings with her close friend Cynthia, who encourages to step out of the box into something new – BDSM. May is shocked, but also a little excited. She loves to be in control, except in the bedroom. The idea of submitting herself to someone thrills her on the inside. The problem is finding the right man to dominate her. For the past three years she has had her eye on Evan Chambers, but their relationship has never scooted over past the friendship line.

Evan always ends up hanging around the restaurant when May is working. Evan is a silent partner in the very successful Rough ‘n Ready BDSM club. With a $5,000 annual fee, it is exclusive and there to meet whatever needs you may have. Although Evan plays the dom role there, he has always had eyes for May. But, Evan has had a torturous childhood, and never wants his “tainted” blood near May so he has tried to stay away.

Besides the indecision in the bedroom, May is also facing a stalker situation. Someone has violated her car and left her threatening letters. As the police do all that they can, Evan becomes infuriated that May thinks she can handles matters on her own.

When word gets around to Evan that May is planning on trying out the BDSM scene at Rough ‘n Ready, he storms in furious she would submit to any man but himself. He soon finds himself her dominant, and much more stems from this relationship.

A Little Harmless Obsession offers us a view into the BDSM world and is more a contemporary romance than an erotic story. Don’t get me wrong, Evan definitely welcomes May into his world of bondage, but Melissa Schroder gives us more of a suspenseful love story, than just sex scene after sex scene – and for that I liked it.

Evan is such an alpha dominant, if he could have control of every situation and every person at all times, he may finally have contentment. He butts head with May for that reason. While she loves to be dominated in the bedroom, she is very capable of taking charge at work and in her daily routine. And when May presses Evan to let go – just a little, it sends him into a spiral. They challenge each other in and out of the bedroom, and I very much enjoyed their relationship.

Cynthia and her husband Chris, who are featured in her previous book show up a lot in this one and add fun best friends to the story. We also learn about the other club owner, Micah who has definitely peaked my interest. I believe his book comes out this December and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

My one complaint about this book is when May first gets initiated into the BDSM world. She doesn’t have the $5,000 fee to pay, so Micah agrees to let her in if she submits to a public audience. Part of the plan is to also get Evan jealous enough so he steps forward to be her Dom. The plan with Evan worked fine with me. I just had a hard time believing May would allow to submit publicly. First she is having a stalker problem, so why put yourself out there, especially in such an extreme vulnerable situation. At one point she also thinks, “She rarely stood in front of a man naked, let alone with a light on and he being completely dressed.” Yet she still felt comfortable, doing this? I realize she is yearning and missing this BDSM part in her life, but I just don’t buy that she would start in this fashion.

Otherwise, A Little Harmless Obsession is a very sexy, read with an alpha male who will make your toes curl.

Rating: 3.5/5

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