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Masters of the Castle #13

Ana Adored: Mistress of the Castle

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Shy Ana has two secret she loves other women and she has always harbored an intense fascination with all things "spanking." Unfortunately, her current girlfriend, Peyton, has no interest in indulging what she refers to as "sick and deviant" fantasies.
But when their latest argument becomes one black eye too many, Ana's had enough. Finally finding the necessary courage and strength of will, she orders Peyton out of her house and out of her life. Break-ups with abusers are never easy or painless, and in the emotionally chaotic aftermath of hers, Ana turns to the only friend she has - a woman she met online more than a year before on, of all things, a plant forum.


Miranda is everything Peyton is not. She listens. She understands. She accepts. And when she unexpectedly offers Ana a plane ticket to fly out to Ohio and meet with her, face-to-face for the very first time, Ana doesn't hesitate for long. She packs a bag and goes on vacation; ten days, prepaid, at the Castle, the most infamous BDSM resort in the world.


On the surface, everything seems so perfect and magical. But Ana isn't at the Castle long before she realizes she isn't the only woman with secrets. Miranda Hardwick, the Castle's most feared and respected Mistress, has a few secrets of her own.


As the lines between fantasy and reality and friends and lovers begin to blur, both women quickly realize that if their blossoming relationship is to survive, they're going to have to put their secrets aside - Miranda, with her strange "emergencies" that keep calling her away, and Ana, with Peyton, who just won't accept a life without Ana in it.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2015

20 people are currently reading
365 people want to read

About the author

Anastasia Vitsky

36 books150 followers
Cookie queen, wooden spoon lady, and champion of carbs, Anastasia Vitsky specializes in F/F fiction. She hates shoes and is allergic to leather. When not writing about women who live spankily ever after, she coordinates reader and author events such as Spank or Treat, Love Spanks, and Sci Spanks. Her favorite event is Ana’s Advent Calendar, a month-long celebration of books, community, and making a difference.
She is too afraid to watch Doctor Who, but she adores The Good Wife and anything with Audrey Hepburn. In her next life, she will learn how to make the perfect pie crust. She can be found at governingana.wordpress.com and on twitter @AnastasiaVitsky.


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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for lov2laf.
714 reviews1,108 followers
September 10, 2015
4.5 stars.

Who knew a book on spanking could be so good? :) Once again, Anastasia Vitsky completely blows me away with her high quality writing. This story was gripping and layered from beginning to end. And, surprisingly, there's a ton of heart in this. I actually got teary at one point making this the second time that's happened out of all of the lesfic titles I've read in the last year.

Ana is a young woman breaking from an abusive relationship just as she enters into the world of BDSM with her new lover, Miranda. Since Ana is new to the rules and setup of a domme/sub relationship, as a reader, we learn the rules and nature of the situation, as well. I thought it was really interesting that Vitsky used a truly abusive relationship to contrast with a healthy domme/sub relationship so that we could understand the difference. She also explored an unhealthy Dom twisting things into what the dom/sub relationship is NOT meant to be (hint, the unhealthy domme is not Miranda) :)

Vitsky gives us depth to each character and the storyline unfolded in a completely believable way. There are no marathon domination scenes or partner swaps (ack)...this is an intimate romance played out between Ana and Miranda that happens to have a BDSM element...set against a Castle where people go to have their sexual fantasies come true. lol

Like with Vitksy's other books, the style of writing isn't really erotica. The actual sex scenes are fade-to-black but the domme/sub dynamics are explored in detail. I'd say the majority of the story is non-sexual in nature and has more to do with friendships, the budding romance between our leads, accepting truths in oneself, empowerment...and just plenty of innocent, humorous scenes play out, as well.

Excellent book. Recommend.
Profile Image for Alexis.
510 reviews649 followers
July 2, 2019
Fantasy Island x Disneyland... but WAY kinkier!

The Castle, described as one of the world's best BDSM resorts is where men and women go to have their wildest and kinkiest fantasies catered to. But instead of an exotic island, the majority of the story unfolds in Ohio of all places. Well at least we now know where all the Republican congressmen and senators hide out. (Yes I went there!)

Lov2laf wrote a fantastic review about what this book is essentially about. Friendship, love, heartbreak and more importantly trust and healing.

I wasn't expecting this book to make me so emotional but Vitsky has proven to be an amazing writer. There were scenes regarding domestic violence that made me so furious, I literally had to put my e-reader down and walk away from it because my hands were shaking so hard.

Another excellent part of this story is that both main characters have flaws. They're human after all and boy do they make stupid mistakes sometimes. I didn't always agree with their actions but I understood their reasoning behind it which is not something every author knows how to pull off.

Despite having to suspend your disbelief about The Castle, its location and inhabitants, the characters, their emotions, struggles and inner turmoil all feel very real. It makes for a very interesting contrast.

As for the physical BDSM part of this book, it's there but only in very small doses. The psychological aspects however are very present and clearly written by an author who really knows what she's talking about. Or at least has done her homework on the subject instead of basing it off of the nonsense mainstream media has turned it into.

The one thing about the book that I didn't like was that it has more of a HFN ending than a HEA ending. I suppose in a way that makes sense since it's part of a series but I really wanted to know what happened with Ana's ex. Like did she perhaps get eaten alive by a bear? Maybe fallen feet first into a wood chipper? I can only hope so.

Triggers: physical & psychological abuse, emotional manipulation, stalking.
Profile Image for Nina.
460 reviews134 followers
March 8, 2015
In ‘Ana Adored’ two women, Ana, a teacher, and Miranda, a professional Domme at a fantasy resort called ‘The Castle’, first become rather close friends online, then take the step to meet at ‘The Castle’, and what starts out as a sort of get-to-know and holiday week without any obligations, turns into love and the beginning of a serious relationship. I am not going to give away much of the plot here, because I don’t want to spoil the fun of reading this book. It is definitely worth reading.
Right at the beginning of their time at the Castle, Miranda establishes the most important rule of them all. It is about honesty. Both women are supposed to be open and honest with each other. In different ways, both women struggle with this one rule throughout the story. Ana comes out of an abusive relationship and is actually too innocent and inexperienced to see what a ‘no lies’ rule might include. But she tries and is rather successful with following it. She shows a very believable mix of trusting Miranda, a woman she only knew online before, and then again not believing that an experienced woman like Miranda might consider her time with Ana as more than an episode. This struggle makes Ana a wonderful character, because her trust and growing love make her reliable, positive and very lovable. There have been moments while reading when I wished to be able to interfere, so that Ana would not be hurt.

Just as she can virtually read any emotion of Ana’s, Miranda recognizes these characteristics immediately. She also struggles with the ‘no lies’ rule, actually much more than Ana, but the reasons behind Miranda’s way of excluding Ana in some moments are comprehensible and adorable, and Miranda herself suffers from what she is doing, too.
Even though Ana and Miranda strive to follow a rule that is meant to make their time together pleasurable, this does not work too well for them. But they do realize that they are in love with each other and struggle to overcome their problems.

While reading the book I was not sure whether I’d take sides for Miranda or Ana. It turned out that I like both. Both of them are women of integrity. They are open towards each other most of the time and both do want to make their time wonderful for the other one. Miranda, as the experienced, dominant woman leaves the impression of being more of an adult than Ana, whereas Ana has retained a child-like way of being in some situations and that makes her attractive for Miranda and the way this is created in the story also makes Ana lovable and adorable for me.

Throughout the story it is obvious that Miranda and Ana are in love and how much they care for each other. The way Anastasia Vitsky describes their emotions is awesome, because her use of language seems so amazingly effortless and to the point. I loved following the character’s thoughts, because they were so authentic. I love to see how both of them have the urge to come closer to each other and this was written in a wonderfully convincing way. They start out cautiously, both are vulnerable and even though Miranda seems to have more issues with opening up than Ana, they are able to show each other who they really are. This has been written beautifully and due to her skill in describing these moments, Anastasia Vitsky has been able to show the untainted love between Miranda and Ana in a most touching way.
This is one more reason why I suffered with the two women; I always had a clear idea about their love but I could never be sure what would happen till the end. In addition, Miranda and Ana feel real for me. Their struggle was one that I felt could happen to anybody. Their reactions were real life like. Furthermore, nothing was given away too early, so if I wanted to know whether there was a happy ending or not, I had to read on.

Reading on is easy in this book. Even before the two women meet for the first time, the story picks up considerable pace and the dramatic moments while Ana was too close to her abusive former partner let me feel her pain and I felt just as helpless as Ana did more than once because of how this abusive part was dealt with. It is not at the center of the story but it is important and definitely impressive.

My favourite moments were those when Ana was a girl of uninhibited happiness, free from any burden, and when Miranda and Ana were open and vulnerable towards each other. Anastasia Vitsky has written these moments so beautifully that they made me laugh and cry. So, this story has not let me go until I finished reading it. Actually I am in it again, because it is too good to be put away.

So, what kind of story is ‘Ana Adored’? It develops rapidly into a story where two women are in love. I would not at all consider it a book dealing much with BDSM, as this is not at the core of the story, even though spankings are a recurring topic. This is far more a book about two lovers who have to overcome some serious obstacles to maybe get a fair chance of being together. And it is a story where two characters who don’t want to lose their newly found love, struggle, but they are sometimes acting against their own interests, somehow with their eyes open.

Awesome story, it kept me enthralled to the last page!
1,506 reviews10 followers
May 1, 2015
This book is wonderful. As we have come to expect from Ms. Vitsky it is a story of depth and integrity. Ana is in a relationship that is hurtful and potentially dangerous. Her Internet chat connection with Miranda is the highlight of her day. When her relationship crosses the line with one to many bruises Miranda offers her a vacation at the Castle. Will the friendship that developed online be the same or different? As the story develops the reader is drawn deeper and deeper into it. I did not want to put this story down. The authors handle the tough topic of physical abuse tastefully. The characters are well developed and are consistent throughout the story. The castle world was woven seamlessly into the story. It was great getting to see more of the other characters while seeing another side of Mistress Miranda.
Profile Image for SH.
807 reviews13 followers
March 2, 2015
I absolutely love the Masters of the Castle series and I have from the beginning. This is a fantastic addition to the series, written by two very talented authors who happen to be two of my favorite authors! We learn more about Miranda Hardwick and discover that she has a softer side. Ana, who comes to the castle as Miranda's guest, has some of her own issues to deal with but at the same time she, unknowingly, is helping Miranda who is struggling with losing a very dear friend. The emotional journey these two women take is tremendous, I laughed and I cried and I cheered and it was wonderful! This is a book I most definitely will read again. Very well done ladies and I can't wait for the next in the MOC series!
Profile Image for Sarah Bennett.
9 reviews9 followers
June 26, 2015
Ana Adored is a wonderful collaboration by Ms Vitsky and Ms Smith! In this story, Ana and Miranda meet online discussing plants and develop a strong friendship.  As the friendship grows, so does Ana's curiosity about Miranda's interesting job.  Ana's current  relationship with her live-in girlfriend  has taken a turn for the worse so she decides to meet Miranda in person at the Castle fetish and fantasy resort.  What awaits her there is excitement and a chance to give in to fantasies she's had for so long. Ms VItsky and Ms Smith weave the characters' personalities masterfully and reel the reader in very quickly.

The fire between Ana and Miranda jumps off the page as one woman's fantasies meet reality.  You don't want to miss this story!
Profile Image for Deanie Nelder.
1,131 reviews24 followers
June 1, 2020
Anastasia is trapped in a bad relationship -- her girlfriend things that hitting her is OK, but the BDSM activities Ana craves are "sick" and "deviant." She takes refuge in an online gardening forum, where she gets to know Miranda. Unbeknownst to Ana, Miranda is actually a professional Domme at the BDSM fantasy resort The Castle, and when Ana breaks up with her girlfriend, Miranda invites her to visit. However, Miranda is keeping secrets, and Ana's girlfriend will try anything to get her back.

In many ways, I love this book. The relationship between Miranda and Ana is sweet, intriguing, and special. However, half of their problems could have been solved if Miranda had only told Ana that she kept leaving her because her friend was dying of cancer. Instead, Ana thinks she doesn't care, and is especially vulnerable when her girlfriend Peyton tries to manipulate her with bad news from home.
Profile Image for Charmaine.
43 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2022
Well this was interesting and a fairly thoughtful account of an long term obsession with spanking. I liked the slow build up and the acknowledgment that pain is a component but also the respectful relationships. Not a fun read but quite satisfying in other respects.
Profile Image for Cloak88.
1,052 reviews19 followers
September 3, 2018
A O.K. Kinky F/F romance. 2.5 stars

Meet Ana, a shy woman with a black thumb in an abusive relationship. Tho afraid and somewhat depressed, her best and now only positive outlet are the children she teaches and her internet friend Miranda. Slowly as their friendship build, sparks fly, kinky secrets are revealed and a tentative relationship forms. Things take a turn however when Ana kicks her abusive girlfriend out, and Miranda invites her to "The Castle" to get away form it all.... and perhaps explore her interest in spanking.

All things considered this story has a good concept, but things went way to quick. I got the feeling I missed whole chapters of characters interactions for the way they acted around each other. Their relationship felt like it skipped a few steps to become stable even at the end. Combined with the "fish out of water" element of a Ada, as a Newbie, in a BDSM/ Kink themed castle and Miranda's poor support to the vulnerable Ana pulled me out of the story.

Summarised this was not a terrible story by any mean, but it did have it's flaws.
90 reviews
January 3, 2021
Not good, disappointed

What bothered me the most was how unrealistic the plot was, like:
- why and how on earth did ana trust miranda IMMEDIATELY when she offered her to come stay with her in the castle? it's utterly stupid and dangerous! ana never met or heard miranda yet she trusted her immediately and flew all the way to a different state?! I don't think so!
yes, they did talk for 8 months already but we only got 2 days worth of chats between them and they only seemed forum pals and nothing more. The readers need much more time for getting to know and trusting miranda.
- how on earth did ana, who's just been badly abused by her girlfriend, trust someone so quickly? how did she feel so ready to get spanked and dive into an entirely new and terrifying world which is bdsm without EVER experiencing it and merely fantasizing about it?!
she should've been scared sh....tless but instead she let a practical stranger spank her mere hours after meeting her for the first time! and after this encounter they barely talked to one another and continued to their next scene.
- miranda is an irresponsible domme. she even thought so herself, and I'm talking about the scene in which she instructed ana online on how to spank herself with a spatula. she knew ana wasn't in the right state of mind and yet she proceeded. so what if ana begged her to? it's her job as a domme to know what's best for ana, who's just been terribly abused for crying out loud!
another thing is what if ana did indeed enjoy herself from the spanking and reached subspace state? then no one would've been there for the aftercare and as first experiences go, I think that's utterly terrible.

This story had SO much potential but the lack of proper buildup totally ruined it for me. The castle setup was especially very interesting and the other characters seemed quite interesting as well, but even that got destroyed.
Profile Image for Marybeth.
2,289 reviews21 followers
March 10, 2015
I loved this story. First of all, I love the MotC series. I wish the authors would write faster. Second, I love that they are writing F/f into this series. We know that there are Mistresses at the Castle, so it is was great to read about a Mistress and her sub. Also, this explains a lot about Don. I was quite confused when they started doing the auctions in Don’s memory in the Valentine’s Day book. So, this helped a lot. I also like the way the author dealt with the physical abuse with her former partner. But, I really loved the love between Miranda and Ana. They were friends before the Castle and there was a relationship there. When Ana came to stay, there was miscommunication on both their parts, but they did finally start talking again and worked things out. I would like a sequel to this story, please Ms. Vitsky! I give this 5 stars.
Profile Image for Katy Beth Mckee.
4,702 reviews65 followers
March 7, 2015
Meranda has always come off as so in control and when she invites Ana it seems that this will firmly continue. But with all that is going on in the background it seems to be upsetting the flow. Most important message that comes through this story is communication and honesty is a two way street. Being in charge doesn't mean having to to do all the giving. Domme's need help and comfort, too.
Profile Image for Nyki Mancera.
618 reviews2 followers
March 31, 2023
wonderfully delicious

I enjoyed this book from the very first page. I was drawn in to Miranda. Whose interest wouldn’t she pique? I always fall in love with the lovely tall domme/mistress/dominatrix.

She definitely made her share of mistakes. But not a one of them were unforgivable. Her heart was true. She just exudes power, dominance, firmness in the most loving and delicious ways. It is with lots of physical and also sexual/sensual contact. I think her reasons for keeping her secret wasn’t quite adequate. That shouldn’t have been a secret.

Sweet lovable gullible Ana. She was just a bit too trusting. When her age was revealed it made sense. Her issues seemed more immature. And rightly so, she was still coming into her own at this age. But with someone like Miranda by her side to help her would go a long way to help her avoid the mistakes she would normally make in a myriad of ways. Her gf problem was crazy and she really did need help out of that relationship post haste. For all the immature sides of Ana, she was also intelligent, witty, funny, and very insightful. Too bad it was mixed with unending low self esteem and self worth.

I think they were absolutely perfect for each other. Ana helped Miranda to be vulnerable. And Miranda made Ana feel deeply loved, cherished and seen. I love the way she loves Ana. That kitchen counter scene…whew hot! And what she said to her after riding the horses….my Gawd. I want a Miranda.

Let’s not forget the candy store incident. First that was unexpected. When it was all over and done I cracked up when Ana lost it after Miranda “handled” the situation. You can’t help but root for them both.

I just wish I learned more about Miranda’s past life. And I was hoping that Miranda would “handle” Peyton.

I enjoyed this author. And I am going back to purchase her other books.
913 reviews5 followers
June 24, 2020
Such an emotional read

If you have issues with BDSM or same sex couples then don't read this book.
This has to be one of the best storylines regarding same sex couples I have ever read, there are some potential triggers relating to domestic abuse but nothing heavy. The psychological controls of an abuser are a little simplified but you have to remember this is a novel and the backstory needs drivers before it can move forward. We learn much more about Miranda than we ever knew before and I have never been so grief stricken in seconds as I was towards the end of the book, but no plot spoilers!
It is such a sweet love story and there are some sex scenes each of them appropriate and proportionate to the story.
1 review
November 3, 2017
This story should have been wonderfull if we had been able to see Ania discover much BDSM plays and not end this story like this ... In the end, i remember Ania who doesn't fight back versus Peyton, even if i dislike this part of the story, i should have continue to read and enjoy so much ... I don't know if this story is a sequel and we'll have the chance to see what's happen later but I WANT IT ! I want to saw bad girl ania getting a good and safe punishment on various way.

I'm sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
19 reviews
Read
November 7, 2019
If you have read any of the Masters of the Castle you know what to expect, a really good read.
This story starts when Ana a Young woman in a lesbian relationship with her partner who mistreats her so much she told her to leave. The only person she could talk to was Miranda who she had contact through emails.
Miranda invites her to the castle and that is where the story really start.
nothing is taboo in the castle known as THE BEST place to be if you are into BDSM.
7 reviews
February 5, 2021
I loved this. I was not to sure of the part where Ana is seen as a ‘little’ but that is minor and does not feature much. I loved the dynamic and the fact that there was a life tragedy running through it. For those who enjoy spanking and romance (non sexual and sexual) it’s a sweet read. It’s hard to find good authors in this genre.
Profile Image for wren4777.
227 reviews3 followers
April 19, 2024
I actually quite liked this novel. It's hard to find lesbian spanking novels that aren't full of typos and atrocious grammar. I just wish there had been a bit less angst and/or a couple extra chapters at the end, so Ana and Miranda's relationship could have existed in a calmer state without so much miscommunication.
32 reviews
September 13, 2018
I really liked this story.

I really liked this story. Just wished there were the hot steamy scenes like the other castle books. I hated the mira book, so i was scared to buy this one. I am glad i did.
262 reviews
November 3, 2019
Love has no labels

This book has triggers - abusive relationships and maybe more universal, losing someone you love to cancer. The tears I cried were cathartic, the love expressed in this story was epic, and if the castle dynamic is in your wheelhouse, this is a must read.
1,532 reviews4 followers
February 5, 2022
Miranda's heart

Ana ends an abusive relationship. And ends up going to the castle to meet Miranda, her long time online friend. Not knowing Miranda is a Domme. No cliffhanger and hea.
Profile Image for Dee.
56 reviews3 followers
May 28, 2018
Didn’t want it to end!

This story had me so sucked in I wish it didn’t have to end. I want to know more about what happens with this amazing couple. Also that crazy ex.
100 reviews
July 15, 2019
😊

Another great tale from the Masters of the Castle series. I’ve read all of them now I think, so if you feel like writing some more, that would be great thanks 😉
218 reviews2 followers
November 20, 2019
As with all of the castle books this was up there with them.
If you like BDSM without limits this series is for you.
Profile Image for Deb.
384 reviews9 followers
March 22, 2023
Didn't finish this one. Made it more than halfway through but then I was really done with it. Just not for me.
Profile Image for Kirian.
170 reviews3 followers
February 8, 2025
I found it a bit short, and altough there should be a dominant-submissive dynamic between the MC's, there were places, where I couldn't feel it.
Profile Image for Inked Reads.
824 reviews19 followers
May 27, 2015
FourandHalfStars
Content warning: This story has a scene of domestic violence between one of the main characters and the woman she's with at the beginning of the book. Some readers may need to be aware of that ahead of time.

This novel was slower-paced than most of Ms. Vitsky's work. I was drawn into it immediately, but the rhythm of the story was somewhat inconsistent. That may be due in part to the length. That said, it was a good read that gave me a lot to think about.

As is usually the case with Ms. Vitsky (and why I like her writing so much), there's an ongoing theme of sin/redemption and remorse/forgiveness. I liked the way Peyton's version was juxtaposed with Miranda's and the careful analysis of how both women affected Ana at a deep level.

I loved the wild, wonderful cast of supporting characters. They were every bit as important as the two main leads. The various goings-on in the Castle and among the staff had me hanging on every word just to see what would happen next. I found myself wishing they were real people I could meet.

This story has my all-time favorite kind of sensuality: steamy, romantic, and beautiful all without long, graphic descriptions of body parts and sex acts. There was just enough detail to please me without making me feel as though it were too much, and it fit well within the context. The few more characteristically "dirty" words used were another kind of juxtaposition--Ana's innocence vs. Miranda's ease--and it worked perfectly.

Most of all, my favorite part was the open, honest way Ana reflected on her journey toward accepting the parts of herself she'd kept hidden. I loved the message that no one is wrong or broken or should ever feel ashamed for their needs and desires.

This is a good curl-up-with-a-blanket-and-tea kind of book. I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.

4.5 stars
Amy

ThreeStar
Well, I can honestly say that this is not what I expected. I expected to have one floundering woman who was fantasizing about someone dominating her and spanking her. What the story delivered was two floundering women - one who was trying to come to terms with her desires and the other who was a very bad dominant.

This was a frustrating book at best. While the story line was easy to track, there were so many "misunderstandings" that it became redundant and somewhat boring. The most exciting parts were when Peyton came back in to the picture and despite my hatred for her, she breathed life back in to the story.

Overall, this story lacked heat, was not a good showing of what a true fantasy "Disneyland" would be like and also showed, that despite her reputation for being a great Domme, how terrible she really was at earning the trust that Ana had put in her.

I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
AvidReader
Profile Image for Fae.
152 reviews25 followers
March 20, 2015
I enjoyed this book, but either my expectation is a bit too high than normal or I just read too much BDSM lately, but this one didn't really capture me like the other. I felt the BDSM in this book is a bit too low for a BDSM genre that based on the whole idea of D/s. Beside the spankings and some minor vibrator, that's pretty much it, no other "plays" is being enacted between Miranda and Ana even thought they discussed a lot about them.
The book is mostly about problems of communication. It centered on the emotional struggles between the two main characters. Some minor conflicts here and there like the guy in the fox suit, Peyton, and Miranda's emergencies, they are not huge conflicts because I felt little to no threat in them. Perhaps, I did fear a bit about Peyton's obsession with Ana.



The concept is great, I was really excited in the beginning of the book, but I think the plot could have expand more. For example, will Ana ever tell her parents about Miranda? Where is Ana going to live now? Will she go back? Will she keep her job? And what will Peyton do next? (since she has access to Ana's apartment). Miranda always seem to be the one who pleased Ana in bed , is there ever the other way around? What about Miranda's job? Will she spank other people beside Ana? Or will she quit her job and only concentrate on Ana alone? Seeing how Ana is the jealous type and etc. I'm so curious about all of those. I feel like the book isn't finish yet, since the ending left me quite unsatisfied.
Profile Image for A.M. Leibowitz.
Author 40 books64 followers
August 10, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Content warning: This story has a scene of domestic violence between one of the main characters and the woman she’s with at the beginning of the book. Some readers may need to be aware of that ahead of time.

This novel was slower-paced than most of Ms. Vitsky’s work. I was drawn into it immediately, but the rhythm of the story was somewhat inconsistent. That may be due in part to the length. That said, it was a good read that gave me a lot to think about.

As is usually the case with Ms. Vitsky (and why I like her writing so much), there’s an ongoing theme of sin/redemption and remorse/forgiveness. I liked the way Peyton’s version was juxtaposed with Miranda’s and the careful analysis of how both women affected Ana at a deep level.

I loved the wild, wonderful cast of supporting characters. They were every bit as important as the two main leads. The various goings-on in the Castle and among the staff had me hanging on every word just to see what would happen next. I found myself wishing they were real people I could meet.

This story has my all-time favorite kind of sensuality: steamy, romantic, and beautiful all without long, graphic descriptions of body parts and sex acts. There was just enough detail to please me without making me feel as though it were too much, and it fit well within the context. The few more characteristically “dirty” words used were another kind of juxtaposition–Ana’s innocence vs. Miranda’s ease–and it worked perfectly.

Most of all, my favorite part was the open, honest way Ana reflected on her journey toward accepting the parts of herself she’d kept hidden. I loved the message that no one is wrong or broken or should ever feel ashamed for their needs and desires.
This is a good curl-up-with-a-blanket-and-tea kind of book.
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