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Dark Designs
Remy Davies is the designer for an opulent gothic wedding and when she meets the best man, Silk, she has to have him. But Silk is nobody's toy, and for all his androgyny, he's determinedly heterosexual. Pity, since Remy's biggest fantasy is to see him making out with her Japanese biker, sometime boyfriend, Takeshi.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 11, 2006
5 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Madelynne Ellis
79 books403 followersMadelynne Ellis is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of over 50 erotic romance novels.
Madelynne lives in the UK, not far from the Welsh border with her partner, family, & assorted pets. She is currently sipping rapidly cooling decaf coffee, listening to loud music, & indulging her obsession for tattooed bad boys.
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Madelynne lives in the UK, not far from the Welsh border with her partner, family, & assorted pets. She is currently sipping rapidly cooling decaf coffee, listening to loud music, & indulging her obsession for tattooed bad boys.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 27, 2022
WOW is what I said after reading Madelynne Ellis' book, You, Him, & Me.
It is a unique story focusing upon Remy, a fashion designer who is making the clothing for her friend's Gothic wedding in an extraordinary old castle.
Her intrigue in manga also leads to her fantasies of one of her models, Takeshi and Silk, the best man.
Madelynne turns up the heat and voila' a special storyline unfolds.
I enjoyed reading this book even though it is not my typical genre.
It is a unique story focusing upon Remy, a fashion designer who is making the clothing for her friend's Gothic wedding in an extraordinary old castle.
Her intrigue in manga also leads to her fantasies of one of her models, Takeshi and Silk, the best man.
Madelynne turns up the heat and voila' a special storyline unfolds.
I enjoyed reading this book even though it is not my typical genre.
May 20, 2009
Goths and yaoi...what else is there?
Normally, Black Lace books tend to be very angst-heavy, almost trying for literary pretensions. That's not a bad thing, because erotica has a long and illustrious literary tradition, but sometimes one just wants to read something a lot less, well, full of tortured emotions.
That's why Dark Designs completely threw me off base. It reads more like the yaoi manga novels its author Madelyne Ellis obviously knows and loves. I was thrilled when one of 'the Gorgons' tosses in Gackt and Hyde and Visual Kei. In fact, it's when the novel becomes too angsty and the characters overly obssessed, it's like reading an entirely different story and certainly not as much fun. On the other hand, we are talking about goths, and well, we tend to love high drama.
The most interesting characters by far are Takeshi and Silk, though clothing designer heroine Remy is definitely otaku in her love of m/m yaoi and wanting to see these two hot men do the horizontal manbo. Admittedly, Takeshi, the part-time former errand boy of the yakuza and now e-bay hotshot, is the most well-crafted of the trio. He's brash, tough, sexy, but with a sweetness that makes him wonderfully likable. From stealing Remy's priceless imported yaoi to a hot romp in a public men's loo, Takeshi is simply hot! Silk is his exact opposite--a drop-dead androgynous gothic libertine who finally gets his comeuppance being seduced by the more secure in his masculinity Takeshi, and watching his denial of the other man's attractiveness to wanting him and finally getting what he's wanted was so worth it.
Like her previous menage novels, Ellis doesn't resort to feminizing either male character (something that way too many female writers tend to do and which drives me crazy). Even better is that she doesan't make the Japanese Takeshi into a submissive uke (bottom boy). Yes, both men are pretty, but that's in looks alone.
Dark Designs delicious melange featuring a gothic nighttime wedding in a castle, three strange sisters called 'The Gorgons', a bride on the edge, a mother with a rampant libido, a frustrated biker lesbian photographer in love with the heroine. Add the pretty boy lust-fest and stir well.
My only complaint - oil (or in this case cooking-oil spray) and latex DO NOT MIX!!! Authors, if you cannot have your characters find some water-based lube somewhere, then skip the sex entirely or have them not use a condom.
Normally, Black Lace books tend to be very angst-heavy, almost trying for literary pretensions. That's not a bad thing, because erotica has a long and illustrious literary tradition, but sometimes one just wants to read something a lot less, well, full of tortured emotions.
That's why Dark Designs completely threw me off base. It reads more like the yaoi manga novels its author Madelyne Ellis obviously knows and loves. I was thrilled when one of 'the Gorgons' tosses in Gackt and Hyde and Visual Kei. In fact, it's when the novel becomes too angsty and the characters overly obssessed, it's like reading an entirely different story and certainly not as much fun. On the other hand, we are talking about goths, and well, we tend to love high drama.
The most interesting characters by far are Takeshi and Silk, though clothing designer heroine Remy is definitely otaku in her love of m/m yaoi and wanting to see these two hot men do the horizontal manbo. Admittedly, Takeshi, the part-time former errand boy of the yakuza and now e-bay hotshot, is the most well-crafted of the trio. He's brash, tough, sexy, but with a sweetness that makes him wonderfully likable. From stealing Remy's priceless imported yaoi to a hot romp in a public men's loo, Takeshi is simply hot! Silk is his exact opposite--a drop-dead androgynous gothic libertine who finally gets his comeuppance being seduced by the more secure in his masculinity Takeshi, and watching his denial of the other man's attractiveness to wanting him and finally getting what he's wanted was so worth it.
Like her previous menage novels, Ellis doesn't resort to feminizing either male character (something that way too many female writers tend to do and which drives me crazy). Even better is that she doesan't make the Japanese Takeshi into a submissive uke (bottom boy). Yes, both men are pretty, but that's in looks alone.
Dark Designs delicious melange featuring a gothic nighttime wedding in a castle, three strange sisters called 'The Gorgons', a bride on the edge, a mother with a rampant libido, a frustrated biker lesbian photographer in love with the heroine. Add the pretty boy lust-fest and stir well.
My only complaint - oil (or in this case cooking-oil spray) and latex DO NOT MIX!!! Authors, if you cannot have your characters find some water-based lube somewhere, then skip the sex entirely or have them not use a condom.
September 15, 2013
Very original, and with more story than you'd expect for a book of this type. Luckily, the story's good, and kept me reading between the sexy bits. In fact, I might even venture to say the story is better than the sexy bits. In fact, I kind of wish more time had been given to explaining backstory and showing dialogue between the characters of Remy, Takeshi, and Silk. Rare, high praise for a genre where the reverse is usually true.
July 1, 2022
I’m woefully ignorant about most aspects of Japanese culture, and not overly up on gothic stuff either, but it really doesn’t matter. This book is a delightful sexy romp in a castle, based around a wedding and three very different individuals.
There are some bonkers side characters, and more mud and rain than I’d ever personally find sexy, but the story hangs together perfectly right from the start, drawing to an extremely satisfactory conclusion.
Remy had the right idea: not sure I could choose between Takeshi and Silk either.
There are some bonkers side characters, and more mud and rain than I’d ever personally find sexy, but the story hangs together perfectly right from the start, drawing to an extremely satisfactory conclusion.
Remy had the right idea: not sure I could choose between Takeshi and Silk either.
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June 28, 2022✔️ Angsty Goths
✔️Bisexual Awakening
✔️Two guys, One girl
✔️Hot AF
✔️Out now!
UNIVERSAL LINK
✔️Bisexual Awakening
✔️Two guys, One girl
✔️Hot AF
✔️Out now!
UNIVERSAL LINK
June 28, 2022
Remy is stressed out as the designer of a gothic wedding but the best man is her favorite distraction. Silk would be perfect to model her clothes in a new catalogue but she also wants him in bed with her and her sort of boyfriend Takeshi? Will her dream come true? Fast-paced read with loads of drama, and emotion. Great characters and plenty of steamy scenes in this MMF menage. I liked it.
June 29, 2022
This is a wow book in such a good way.
The characters are all unique in their own way but the chemistry and connection between Remy, Takeshi and Silk is so hot.
They are all brought together for their friends wedding but could this lead to more for them.
A must read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
The characters are all unique in their own way but the chemistry and connection between Remy, Takeshi and Silk is so hot.
They are all brought together for their friends wedding but could this lead to more for them.
A must read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
June 28, 2022
You're gotta love a bit of a unique and quirky characters. This is a zany but quite enjoyable read. With some steam and characters that take their own path In life and love. Recommend this read if you enjoy unique, quirky and generous side of heat.
April 18, 2016
Ok I wouldn't give it the full 5 stars but I quite liked this book. I'm not usually into tales about Gothics but I found this book interesting. The story is about a Fashion Designer who designs and makes gothic clothes (Dark Designs). She has been called upon by her best friend to design her wedding dress and half the wedding parties clothes too. In return she wants to use guests of the wedding to model her clothes for her own catalogue. Silk the best man is georgeous and sexy and everyone one wants a piece of him and most of the wedding party get a piece of him too even the Brides Cougar mum Delores, There is a bit of M/M, F/M, F/F, action plus threesomes, and even a bit of action with a Chinese Sex Doll. So this book is not short on the sex scenes. But even though there are a lot of sex scenes it still doesn't take away from the original storyline.
February 7, 2023
Decadent and Gothic
Remy + Takeshi + Silk makes for one jumbled puzzle - throw in a gothic wedding, a friend/wannabe lover, some of the zaniest guests and wedding party members ever to grace the written page, and you’ve got the makings of one rich and avant-guarde stories. The webbing weaved between the characters (not just the main three) is twisty and sordid in the best and most luscious way. I liked how non-conformist Remy, Takeshi and Silk are, from their views on sexuality and relationships to their choice of careers. Even at the end, there’s still mystery surrounding each of them, which makes the story that much more interesting. This story is one decadently extravagant and sensual read.
Remy + Takeshi + Silk makes for one jumbled puzzle - throw in a gothic wedding, a friend/wannabe lover, some of the zaniest guests and wedding party members ever to grace the written page, and you’ve got the makings of one rich and avant-guarde stories. The webbing weaved between the characters (not just the main three) is twisty and sordid in the best and most luscious way. I liked how non-conformist Remy, Takeshi and Silk are, from their views on sexuality and relationships to their choice of careers. Even at the end, there’s still mystery surrounding each of them, which makes the story that much more interesting. This story is one decadently extravagant and sensual read.
February 1, 2014
Madelynne Ellis is another very talented erotic romance author, whose backlist I'm slowly reading through. This book was way too much fun! The main heroine was tailoring a big Gothic wedding in an honest-to-God British castle. She was also fascinated by manga, and between Takeshi, one of her models, and Silk, the best man, she didn't know where to lay her eyes, this was such a manlicious feast! Of course, it was all also decadent, shallow and crazy, but Miss Ellis just had to have a bit of a laugh about all Gothic cultural extremes. Enjoyed it and recommend it!
July 2, 2016
Okay this is not my usual sort of book but it was in the bag of books I got and thought I'm on a binge let's read it anyway.
Goths and Yoai (which I had NO idea was a thing). Lots of tension and fooling around in an old castle, if you don't like man on man give it a skip.
Quick easy read that get's you hot under the collar even though you aren't really sure why.
Goths and Yoai (which I had NO idea was a thing). Lots of tension and fooling around in an old castle, if you don't like man on man give it a skip.
Quick easy read that get's you hot under the collar even though you aren't really sure why.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews