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It's a Sin
Owen Shaunessy, Anna Carmichael, their friends and foes, whether intentionally or by accident, have transgressed and committed sin. Is redemption possible, or have the sins of lust, gluttony, envy, wrath, sloth, greed and pride taken them beyond virtue?
Sin is fun. Well, a little bit, anyway. Man - and his willing companion - is born in sin and born for sin. Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony. We are introduced to the cynical sexual predator Owen Shaunessy, a fortyish IT expert who left the UK to live in Australia. He has returned as a trouble-shooter for a company back in his home town and what he recalls most is being in love with Barbara, the most beautiful girl at school, and how he never managed to get her between the sheets. She married the handsome sports hero Greg Carmichael and they have a daughter, Anna, 18, a stunning facsimile of her mother, in her younger days. Invited to a barbecue, Owen can barely believe it when the stunning Lolita/Snow White/Catherine Zeta-Jones has just as much interest in him as he does in her. They begin a hot romance that upsets - well, everyone.
Edited from a review posted at Amazon.com
Seven Deadly Sins, each visited in this novella of approximately 36,000 words, intended for an adult audience, unsuitable for readers under the age of 18.
Note: Chapter One: ‘Lust’ is available as a separate story.
Sin is fun. Well, a little bit, anyway. Man - and his willing companion - is born in sin and born for sin. Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony. We are introduced to the cynical sexual predator Owen Shaunessy, a fortyish IT expert who left the UK to live in Australia. He has returned as a trouble-shooter for a company back in his home town and what he recalls most is being in love with Barbara, the most beautiful girl at school, and how he never managed to get her between the sheets. She married the handsome sports hero Greg Carmichael and they have a daughter, Anna, 18, a stunning facsimile of her mother, in her younger days. Invited to a barbecue, Owen can barely believe it when the stunning Lolita/Snow White/Catherine Zeta-Jones has just as much interest in him as he does in her. They begin a hot romance that upsets - well, everyone.
Edited from a review posted at Amazon.com
Seven Deadly Sins, each visited in this novella of approximately 36,000 words, intended for an adult audience, unsuitable for readers under the age of 18.
Note: Chapter One: ‘Lust’ is available as a separate story.
- GenresErotica
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 20, 2013
Sin is fun. Well, a little bit, anyway. Man - and his willing companion - is born in sin and born for sin. Mediaeval priests, wicked creatures that they were, recognized the tendency to transgress and set about educating their flocks in the most popular sins in order to stamp them out - a gesture like Canute with the tide. They recognized seven particular sins they called deadly, and gave them what in Latin was the easily-remembered mnemonic SALIGIA, taking the first letter of each of the deadly sins: superbia, avaritia, luxuria, invidia, gula, ira, acedia - wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony.
Seven is a propitious number and artists across the disciplines have for centuries been inspired by sin, for its pleasurable qualities, as well as the romantic number 7 for its pleasing sense of imbalance - The Dance of the Seven Veils, Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai', there are seven notes in the traditional diatonic scale and Creation required seven days, including one for rest.
Writers from Agatha Christie to JK Rowling have been inspired by the number seven and Elizabeth Woodham in "It's a Sin" continues the tradition, albeit in a genre not exactly suitable for country ladies with gardens to tend and children immersed in the magic of Harry Potter.
Ms Woodham writes erotica and she does so extremely well. Her short fiction is well-known and celebrated, and I must confess I enjoyed "It's a Sin" more because there was more juicy fruit to sink your teeth into - a labyrinthine journey through each of those sins, the major and minor characters all, at different times, showing their inclination to err.
We are introduced to the cynical sexual predator Owen Shaunessy, a fortyish IT expert who left the UK to live in Australia. He has returned as a trouble-shooter for a company back in his home town and what he recalls most is being in love with Barbara, the most beautiful girl at school, and how he never managed to get her between the sheets. She married the handsome sports hero Greg Carmichael and they have a daughter, Anna, 18, a stunning facsimile of her mother - who has since turned to fat.
Invited to a barbecue, Owen can barely believe it when the stunning Lolita/Snow White/Catherine Zeta-Jones has just as much interest in him as he does in her. They begin a hot romance that upsets - well, everyone.
It is the perfect set up to show the characters entering that cycle of SALIGIA, lust turning to gluttony becoming pride and spiraling on to envy, greed, wrath - even a touch of satiated sloth.
The writing is elegiac, intelligent and bewitching. The story unfolds like a flower and the writer cleverly keeps us guessing as to whether or not the couple will stay together in the end - a surprise I won't ruin here. On the contrary. Get this book and work it out for yourself.
Seven is a propitious number and artists across the disciplines have for centuries been inspired by sin, for its pleasurable qualities, as well as the romantic number 7 for its pleasing sense of imbalance - The Dance of the Seven Veils, Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai', there are seven notes in the traditional diatonic scale and Creation required seven days, including one for rest.
Writers from Agatha Christie to JK Rowling have been inspired by the number seven and Elizabeth Woodham in "It's a Sin" continues the tradition, albeit in a genre not exactly suitable for country ladies with gardens to tend and children immersed in the magic of Harry Potter.
Ms Woodham writes erotica and she does so extremely well. Her short fiction is well-known and celebrated, and I must confess I enjoyed "It's a Sin" more because there was more juicy fruit to sink your teeth into - a labyrinthine journey through each of those sins, the major and minor characters all, at different times, showing their inclination to err.
We are introduced to the cynical sexual predator Owen Shaunessy, a fortyish IT expert who left the UK to live in Australia. He has returned as a trouble-shooter for a company back in his home town and what he recalls most is being in love with Barbara, the most beautiful girl at school, and how he never managed to get her between the sheets. She married the handsome sports hero Greg Carmichael and they have a daughter, Anna, 18, a stunning facsimile of her mother - who has since turned to fat.
Invited to a barbecue, Owen can barely believe it when the stunning Lolita/Snow White/Catherine Zeta-Jones has just as much interest in him as he does in her. They begin a hot romance that upsets - well, everyone.
It is the perfect set up to show the characters entering that cycle of SALIGIA, lust turning to gluttony becoming pride and spiraling on to envy, greed, wrath - even a touch of satiated sloth.
The writing is elegiac, intelligent and bewitching. The story unfolds like a flower and the writer cleverly keeps us guessing as to whether or not the couple will stay together in the end - a surprise I won't ruin here. On the contrary. Get this book and work it out for yourself.
June 19, 2013
I was SO looking forward to this book! I started the Sin series some time back. I never got to finish it though. So glad it did not happen. To read it as a whole was truly an emotional and erotic experience. I’ve read quite a few of Elizabeth’s works. I LOVE her voice! Her writing style, stories, characters and plots are like none other out there. A definite must read for any fans of the genre.
Anna is a young woman just beginning to get her feet wet in the world. She’s not experienced much in life and still resides with her parents. The day one of her parents high school mates come to their home for a visit. Anna’s entire world shifts, changes. She’s fallen, deep.
Owen is what I like to call a sort of a player. He loves the ladies, loves sex and LOVES to climax. He’s never thought of a serious relationship. Well, not exactly never, not since his high school days. But when he meets Anna, his world tilts. Literally shifts on axis. He’s captivated by her. She becomes the only thing he can think about. So much so that he does not desire any other. But can her really have her for himself?
I love the story of Anna and Owen. There are a few bumps. But all relationships have them and one worth keeping takes a bit of work and A LOT of communication. To me the relationship between Owen and Anna…So very worth it :)
4.5 out of five rating.
Anna is a young woman just beginning to get her feet wet in the world. She’s not experienced much in life and still resides with her parents. The day one of her parents high school mates come to their home for a visit. Anna’s entire world shifts, changes. She’s fallen, deep.
Owen is what I like to call a sort of a player. He loves the ladies, loves sex and LOVES to climax. He’s never thought of a serious relationship. Well, not exactly never, not since his high school days. But when he meets Anna, his world tilts. Literally shifts on axis. He’s captivated by her. She becomes the only thing he can think about. So much so that he does not desire any other. But can her really have her for himself?
I love the story of Anna and Owen. There are a few bumps. But all relationships have them and one worth keeping takes a bit of work and A LOT of communication. To me the relationship between Owen and Anna…So very worth it :)
4.5 out of five rating.
June 16, 2013
Loved it. Owen and Anna are hot and heavy for each other, their lust is undeniable. But underneath, feelings and deep emotions are simmering. Neither are sure how to express them. Especially Owen, with having to return to Australia, he is torn with the knowledge he doesn't want to leave her. Cleverly written, with poor Anna and Owen experiencing turmoil being apart, and with jealously,and anger edging its way into their relationship. I was praying they would be able to make it. I adore Owen, such a great character, realistic, normal, kind and he is horny as hell. 'sigh' There is more to this story, than just Owen and Anna. I thoroughly enjoyed this, it's touching in all the right places. Gorgeous. I highly recommend.
June 21, 2013
Elizabeth Woodham has written a very compelling and romantic story. The characters of Owen and Anna are well fleshed out. I look forward to reading more from this author.
owned-to-read
January 1, 2014*downloaded free on ARE during a sale
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews