In turn-of-the-century New Orleans, beautiful and virginal Abigail Du Pre has just been given to the mysterious Dr. Lucien Trier, sent to be his servant in exchange for her father's onerous gambling debts. The Doctor has plans for her, intending to train her to be his lover and sexual slave, roles for which Abigail is unusually well-suited. But something happens during her training. Through her own submission to the Doctor's perverse desires, Abigail discovers a strength and sexuality within herself equal to any man's, and the Doctor finds himself helplessly in love with this sensual and passionate woman.
Set amidst the magnificent wealth and jaded sensuality of 1897 New Orleans, Overcoming Abigail is the story of the transcendent passions and transforming love that exist at the very edge of human sexuality.
Publisher Note: This book was previously released elsewhere as a free story. It has been revised and expanded for Ellora's Cave.
Dr. Mabeuse is an award-winning author with four books published by Ellora’s Cave, including Overcoming Abigail, nominated for a 2005 Cupid and Psyche Award for BDSM from the Romance Studio and A Game of Dress-Up, winner of a 2006 EcataRomance Critic’s Choice Award. He’s also published with Renaissance, eXtasy, and makes his debut with Harlequin in May of this year.
Of his biography, Dr. Mabeuse says:
“Everyone connects to the world in some way, and I seem to connect through sex. I’m drawn to the extreme and the extraordinary in all things, and I like to explore the farther edges of passion and desire in what I write. What interests me now is not so much the things people do, but how they feel about what they do—male and female dynamics, how we connect to ourselves and each other and to the world at large. I tend to be intense and my writing shows that, but I really value my sense of humor above all, and I expect it to sustain me should the fires of sexual passion ever burn out.”
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...
If there was a review anywhere telling me what’s inside this book, I wouldn’t have touched it with 100ft pole for sure. I knew there would be heavy BDSM, and though not a fan, I thought I can handle it. But, OMFG, I got wayyyyy more than I bargained for and now I need something to forget this book.
If you read the blurb you’ll know that it’s about a beautiful, virgin girl, Abigail. Her father ‘gave’ her to this Doctor in exchange for his extreme gambling debts. The Doctor, Lucien, is very wealthy and has kinky tastes when it comes to sex. The story is set in the late 19th century New Orleans, which is why I was also interested since I love HR erotica. Back to the story; it’s tough to find well-bred ladies with such taste so the Doctor had to do his ‘actions’ with whores which he didn’t like. He needed his ‘own’ whore. He wasn’t even sure he’d accept Abigail’s father’s plans (the man knew ‘why’ the Doctor wants his daughter, the scumbag!); until he saw Abigail and thought she’s perfect for his taste. Huh? So, there wasn’t much plot after that. Sex, sex, more sex (at least 2 in every chapter) throughout the book; all sorts of BDSM thing going on, some are downright uncomfortable. But, oh, the Doctor said ILU to Abigail after their 3rd sex scene and she was already enamored of him, in love possibly. Ermm? A virgin who knew nothing about sex, almost, wasn’t at all creeped out by his choices and just loved him? I would never believe it! Then the dialogue and the whole situation (the props and the dresses) didn’t at all sound/feel anything like the 19th century; too modern, especially the dialogue. I muddled through the first half somehow; when they weren’t overusing the BDSM props, I actually liked those sex scenes; they are pretty intense. I thought I’ll do ok. But, the 2nd half? Simply, utterly horrible. Not only some stuffs, if I knew they were there I would never read this book but also some sex scenes between the Doctor and Abigail felt like ‘semi-rapes’ to me. Most of the time he was rough with her. She’s sore from too much ‘attentions’, yet she wants him *odd stare from me* He doesn’t really bother about it and gets on with it again. I didn’t care much for his pretty sorry afterwards. In one scene, he whipped her for something she denied to do and f*cked her so roughly... and she was enjoying that... Oh my, I had headaches after that! All over the book, things the man made her do and then his ‘reasons’ behind them... I was agape more than once in disbelief!
I was also interested in this book because I wanted to read an erotica written by a male author. The whole book, IMO, showed that it’s written by a man. There are things, about the heroine, were so contradictory; about herself, her current ‘relationship’ with the Doctor which she thinks are ‘shameful’ and ‘perversions’ yet she can’t help being aroused. He calls her ‘whore’ and ‘slut’; she’s ashamed yet loves it when he calls her those. In the end, she did everything the Doctor made her do, some even though she didn’t want to do it. Or did she? I mean what kinda crap was that?!
The Doctor (and all his ‘friends’) needs to check his brains I think. His excuses on ‘whatever he’s doing to her is all about finding herself’ was lame and so totally convenient for his purpose. I mean she was a virgin for crying out loud! Did she even have a choice to understand the kind of ‘transformation’ he planned for her? Not really! I didn’t really care for him, knowing what he wanted to do to her; it started from the first night actually, when her father so clumsily dumped her into the Doctor’s house. That man was never seen again. The Doctor took a little time to introduce her to the heavier stuffs though. He in fact packed his ‘props’, including Abigail (was she anything else?), for a visit to St. Louis and the story (and their ‘actions’) continued in the ship after that. Anyway, what I didn’t think he’d propose to her. He gave no indication that marriage was on his mind. But, afterwards? Holy crap! You don’t wanna know what he asked her to do and the reasons behind it, nor would you wanna know about Abigail’s own thoughts (which are now as twisted as the Doctor himself) about this whole situation. For one of those ‘things’ the Doctor actually drugged her with something special (was it opium?), so that she doesn’t change her mind when the time comes. Nothing new for him since he uses drugs himself to ‘keep’ going with his ‘actions’. Oh but when it finally happened, the Doctor was jealous! And when that mess ended? They go to observe a ‘drama’ being played in the Doctor’s friend’s cabin. It seems like the Doctor and all his friends are from the same lot!
At this point, the author jumps quite a bit and the couple (I mean the Doctor and Abigail) is married now. The Doctor was out on a trip when Abigail makes ‘acquaintance’ with a bunch of wild debauchees to spend the lonely time. I’m not even gonna go into details but I ended up pitying the Doctor, really, because he finally kinda understood what he’d ‘created’ in his leisure time, after the party (more specifically ‘the orgy’) Abigail threw for his homecoming. In the end, he tells Abigail that they don’t need the rules and arrangements like this to love each-other. Oh joy! Good luck with that!
I could’ve gone into more details about some stuffs but I’d rather not because I’d inevitably end up ranting more and GR has a word limit on reviews. Then again, I’m not really up for it, the whole book made me tired. So, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, unless you’re totally comfortable with the kinky stuff I’ve mentioned in the ‘warning’ section. I wish someone, in their reviews, would mention those before I read it.
Now you know that I like to torture myself, since this book should’ve gone into my DNF after the 1st half. 2.5 stars; rated it even before I finished the book. *snorts*
PS: I think this book should’ve been titled ‘Overusing Abigail’! :p
*Update*
I've actually re-decided on the rating and notched it up a bit, just because of the 1st half sex scenes. Don’t ask me the whys and hows but erotica-wise, they were smokin’ hot no doubt. Maybe I’m just getting used to with Mr. Mabeuse’s writing, that’s all (yah, I don’t get the absurd urge to laugh reading about a man’s ‘tool’ anymore). lolz
Warning: Not for the people who aren’t comfortable with heavy BDSM, ‘backdoor lovin’, voyeurism, H/h sleeping with other people with the other’s consent, ménages and F/F actions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I have to say Dr. Mabeuse certainly has a gift for writing high brow porn. This is my second experience with his writing & I think this one is even smuttier than A Good Student. The plot's not very involved but there is some emotionality. Mainly it's just some deliciously hot & kinky sex. Definitely spank bank material. A more apropos title would have been Plundering Abigail.
Abigail is traded by her father to Dr. Trier (Hahahaha! Love that name.) to pay off his gambling debts back in the good old days of late 19th century New Orleans when, I guess, one's daughter was fair game to become chattel. Abigail being a virgin only sweetened the deal making her a blank canvas for the good doctor to train in his wicked ways. And train her he does although she seems to be a natural at submission & turns out to be quite the wanton. They embark on a sexual journey that involves D/s, humiliation, sharing, whipping, bondage, suspension & group sex. Abigail discovers much about herself & her boundaries as well as the Doctor which he finds somewhat disconcerting. Their relationship hits a few bumps along the way which all seem to get worked out through the sex. However, it is really hot & intense so it probably had the capacity to disrupt brain function.
This book surely would not be for everyone. It's your typical formula with father gambles away daughter in a card game. Abigail was given to The Doctor aka Lucien. There isn't really much to the plot other than both characters growing sexually. This book contains strong sex, bondage as well as the sexual language was very strong. I like this book it's not bad it takes you on a sexual journey of 2 people it might be a little too hard core for some people though.
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In post civil war New Orleans Abigail Du Pre finds herself forced into a situation she was never prepared for. Her father has traded her body to cover his substantial gambling debts, so now she is going to serve as a mistress to a complete stranger. Little does she know that in the hands of her new lover she will be sexually awakened to a world beyond her wildest dreams.
Dr. Lucien Trier tastes in sex are of the extreme. Other then ladies of the night, which leave him unfulfilled, finding someone to satisfy his desires is almost impossible. So when the chance arises that allows him to attain the beautiful and innocent Abigail he cannot pass up the opportunity. Training her to fulfill him sexually is a thrilling experience that leads to deeper emotional feelings then he expected. Could it be love?
I must say that I found the story line in OVERCOMING ABIGAIL to be an extremely intriguing concept. A D/s book based in a historical time frame is an idea that I had never really considered before. I am sure that these relationships existed, yet it was hard for me to conceive of them considering how taboo they are even today. But Mr. Mabeuse has written a really extraordinary story. 1897 New Orleans, numerous years after the civil war during the mass southern reconstruction, lends its self well to this story. The sultry bohemian lifestyle of the “Big Easy” mixes perfectly with the steaming hot love scenes. I found myself captivated watching Abigail’s character blossom from a naive virgin to a sexual adventurer under the hands of Lucien, it was really amazing. I must confess that there are some scenes that maybe too provocative for some readers, but if you do enjoy reading D/s I would defiantly tell you to get this book. It really might be more of an eye opener then you think, it definitely was for me.
I did not like this book. Just a series of sex scenes with no real plot or character devolpment. Abigail,a virgin, in given to the dr by her father and within days they are calling each other "darling" and "my love". Really?