Beyond Eden by Kele Moon
Erotic BDSM M/M/F Romance
September 8, 2010
E-Book
Ellora’s Cave

Reviewed by Mandi

Eve and Paul were in love when they were 18 years old but then Eve left Tampa and went to NYC for college. Ten years later, after losing touch with Paul, Eve is home from New York after losing her job as an artist and just having all around bad luck. By chance she runs into Danny, at the grocery store. Danny is Paul’s best friend and a former classmate of Eve’s. They are both shocked to see each other. Danny had strong feelings for Eve in school, but stayed out of the way knowing her and Paul were together. But now, he wants a chance with her.

Currently, Danny and Paul are roommates – but so much more. After Eve left, Paul not only became a lawyer, but got involved with the BDSM scene, and has become a notorious submissive. He has an extreme pain fetish, and met Danny years ago in the club scene. Danny is a Dom, Paul’s Master. Danny has been Paul’s exclusive master for the past 8 years. But it is even more complicated. Paul, is engaged to get married to “a normal woman” so one day he can have a chance in politics to make his family happy. He has been trying to resist Danny, and lead a fetish free life, but he is finding that very difficult. When Eve comes back into the picture, things become even more complex. Both Danny and Paul have feelings for Eve, but she has no idea about their lifestyle.

Beyond Eden surprised me. As a friend of mine likes to say, “it stretched” me. I read BDSM books, but this one is probably the most intense one I have read. I really, really liked the characters of Paul and Danny (we will get to Eve in a minute). It has a very predominant Master/Slave relationship. Danny likes to say sex is his gift to the world. When he was active in the BDSM scene, he charged $2000 a hour for use of his Dom skills. He is a very experienced Master, and he has a big responsibility with “owning” Paul. Paul has such a hardcore pain fetish, that if Danny doesn’t meet his needs, Paul will go crawling to any Domme, who could possibly cross the line to abuse. There are times in this book that Danny loses his temper, or does things that might cross a line – and he will admit it himself. But I think he is such a complex character I can’t help but be drawn to him. His character is so – edgy, and wicked – and I think Kele Moon does a really great job with writing a character that has no boundaries. He says outrageous things – he does outrageous things. He pushes the limit so far, and I totally bought into.

It takes a little while longer to discover the true Paul. While Danny wears his personality on his sleeve, Paul tries to hide more. His family would shun him if they ever caught wind of what Paul gets up to. He is also engaged to another “vanilla” lawyer, and she can’t know his secret as well. So even though being a submissive is ingrained in him, he fights it in public. It is such a struggle for him to try to be the son his family wants, and try to be the person that he wants to be.

Now onto Eve. I had a few problems with her. By the end, I liked her and I liked her relationship with Danny and Paul. But it took me awhile to get there. First, it is stressed that Danny is this famous, sought after Dom. One of the best out there. On the other hand, Paul is one of the most submissive people you can find. So when Eve becomes involved with them – and they finally show her this BDSM lifestyle (Which is totally new to her) I had a hard time believing that just after one or two nights she was okay with all of this. Danny and Paul are hardcore. And she accepts it very easily. Along that same line, I’m surprised Danny and Paul get their needs fulfilled by her – someone very inexperienced might not meet these two very experienced men’s needs. So – I would have liked to see a more rocky road with Eve in this lifestyle. It all came about a little too easy.

That being said, this is not only a very erotic read (M/M/F, heavy on the M/M) but also a very emotional read. While there are tons of sex scenes and very lengthy ones at that – the struggle Paul goes through to try to be himself to the world is heartbreaking. And Danny, who is so in control has this layer of intense sadness that Paul very soon will be marrying and on his way out of his life. Those little glimpses into Danny’s insecurities are some of my favorite moments.

Beyond Eden definitely pushed my limits, but I liked where it took me. This is the kind of book that will stick with you for a long time after you read it. I really can’t wait for more from Kele Moon.

Rating: B+

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