Craving Flight by Tamsen Parker
BDSM Romance
Released: September 2015
Self Published
Tzipporah Berger is thirty-seven and single, which is practically unheard of in the Orthodox Jewish community she now calls home. Her increasing religiosity and need for kink may have broken up her first marriage, but she’s decided it’s time to try again. And the rabbi’s wife has just the man in mind.
Elan Klein is the neighborhood butcher whose intimidating size and gruff manner hint at a deliciously forceful personality. But BDSM isn’t exactly something you discuss during an Orthodox courtship. Will a marriage to Elan solidify her place in the community that she loves and provide the domination and pain Tzipporah craves or will she forever have to rely on flights of fancy to satisfy her needs?
A BDSM book featuring two Orthodox Jewish characters – say what? The author states in the Forward:
Sponsored by the Goodreads BDSM Group, Members provided a photo or letter to inspire writers to create an original story. Writers picked the promote that spoke to them the most.
She then includes the letter that inspired this story.
Tzipporah as you can read above, is 37 and single. She grew up Jewish, but her parents were not very religious. Starting as a teenager, she became drawn to the Orthodox way of life, and after getting divorced, she takes a year off of being a religious college professor, and commits herself fully to being Orthodox Jewish. She moves to an Orthodox community, one close to her school yet one that will take her in. Not being Orthodox since birth is frowned on by some. She devotes herself to every detail, but sometimes she messes up. She calls herself an “absent minded professor.” Sometimes she doesn’t cook brisket fully kosher and it turns into “BrisketGate” still talked about in inner circles. She wears her hair under scarves, and while she doesn’t necessarily have to do this because she has already been married, she feels much more secure, saving her hair for her future husband. People whisper about her, her students don’t always understand her, her parents thinks she is nuts for doing all of this – but Tzipporah is genuinely happy. Now to find a husband.
Elan is the local butcher and a widower. The Rabbi’s wife plays matchmaker with Elan and Tzipporah. Unknown to anyone, Tzipporah wants a husband who will be able to meet her submissive needs. She likes pain in the bedroom. She likes restraint. While she can’t come out and say this, and while they can’t sleep together before they get married, she hopes the big, strong Elan – somewhat surly and very reserved – has what it takes to make her happy in the bedroom. After just a couple of dates, they decide to get married.
From here the story goes in two directions. First, it is Elan and Tzipporah discovering each other in the bedroom. Surprise, surprise, Elan likes to be dominant in the bedroom. He loves to spank her, tie her up and play with other things in a BDSM scene. I was a little taken back by just how easy Elan accepts everything Tzipporah wants. They were very compatible in the bedroom – it seemed a little too easy.
While those scenes are very sexy and well done, what kept me even more engaged was Tzipporah’s continuous drive to navigate the Orthodox community and learn and try to be the best she can. Her nervousness with pleasing everyone and just working out the kinks in her marriage is intriguing. Getting to know Elan and the kind of man he is and trying to learn how to be a wife who can make her husband proud but also please herself. I don’t know a lot about being Orthodox Jewish, and I felt the author really goes into great detail and to me felt very genuine.
This is so much more than just an erotic BDSM romance. Tzipporah’s journey is fascinating and sweet. This author really captures Tzipporah – I feel like we really get to know her. I could have read many, many pages about her and Elan.
Grade: B+
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I read this yesterday, and I loved it. I agree that the parts about Tzipporah’s journey into the Orthodox way of life were the best parts about the book. It is a quick read, and I wish it had been longer, because I really enjoyed it. I don’t know a lot about the Orthodox community and I found it fascinating and respectful. Does anyone know of any other Orthodox romances?
I’ve never read or even heard of any Orthodox romances; I’m Jewish, and considering the dearth of romances featuring even secular Jewish H/h’s, one with Orthodox protagonists would definitely catch my attention. This is the first one I’m aware of, though I’d love to be proven wrong :D
However, I did see a film a few years ago that depicted a specific type of courtship in the Orthodox community, although it’s not strictly speaking a romance. The film was “Fill the Void” (http://tinyurl.com/p2kaa7v), and was written and directed by an Orthodox woman. It’s well worth seeing, especially if you’re interested in the community and how relationships are managed within its very strict limitations.
Thank you for the film rec
I agree as well. This was a really interesting story. The relationship, the conflict with the Orthodox community and with her family–all that read very true to me. The BDSM part was the most problematic. What are the odds of the heroine finding a dominant man within such a limited community? Did the matchmaker know? We never learned how the hero learned about BDSM–was his first wife a submissive?
I completely agree – I would have liked to get Elan’s background a little more – and found it a little too easy that he fit her lifestyle so well.
I think the portrayal of the Orthodox community is great, as is the psychology of the heroine (and how her submissiveness is a way for her to deal with her imperfections and the attendant stress). But I found the hero’s expertise as a Dom strained credulity. He knows how to use all the equipment? And he can work it perfectly even though he seemingly hasn’t done anything since the death of his wife years before (assuming that’s how he gained his experience)? And his very sensitive, very smart new wife never discusses that with him? That was the hard part to swallow.
But this is a fascinating and interesting book. Now I want to check out more by this author.
Yep – the weakest part is Elan’s BDSM role. We either needed more on his background or why he is into bdsm, or I think it would have been more believable had he wanted to do the spanking and even wanted to try out the toys – but had to learn like you say
I came to the story with a lot of trepidation because I do know something about the community. I was pleased to see Ms. Parker got it right, especially the tension between the BT and the FFB segments, and the deep meaning that can come from separation each month.
I also put in a recommendation for the film Fill The Void, and would recommend Ushpizin (in Hebrew with subtitles). Ushpizin isn’t a romance, but there’s a great married couple very much in love at the center of the tale. It’s also seasonal, as it deals with the Festival of Booths, which begins tonight.
Thanks so much!
I picked this one up. Now, I just need to find time to read it.