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Behind the Green Curtain
When Caton’s sleazy boss offers her a position as his wife’s personal assistant, she accepts the job with reservations, certain Jack Halston has ulterior motives.
After meeting Jack’s wife Amelia, though, it’s Caton’s motivations that begin to unravel. As vicious as she is beautiful, Amelia threatens Caton’s position and her sense of decorum.
As the attraction between the two women spirals into a torrid affair, Caton is drawn deeper into Jack and Amelia’s world of privilege and prestige, where everything is at stake and nothing is what it seems.
After meeting Jack’s wife Amelia, though, it’s Caton’s motivations that begin to unravel. As vicious as she is beautiful, Amelia threatens Caton’s position and her sense of decorum.
As the attraction between the two women spirals into a torrid affair, Caton is drawn deeper into Jack and Amelia’s world of privilege and prestige, where everything is at stake and nothing is what it seems.
Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2013
154 people are currently reading
3663 people want to read
About the author
Riley Lashea
13 books183 followersRiley LaShea grew up in an Ohio town that looks like a dust speck on most maps. It was boring and awful, so she got the hell out of there. Now, she doesn't know where she wants to be, so over the past several years she has lived in Nashville, Orlando, Fort Worth, Allentown, Columbus, Kansas City, Raleigh, outside LA and inside Manhattan.
She won a lyric contest judged by the Indigo Girls in high school and a screenplay contest judged by Creative Screenwriting Magazine once. Her first published novel became a bestseller at one indie bookstore in Oakland that has since gone out of business.
Known to take great risks in the noble pursuit of creativity, sometimes she prefers to just sit around eating chocolate yogurt and doing KenKen in pajama pants.
She won a lyric contest judged by the Indigo Girls in high school and a screenplay contest judged by Creative Screenwriting Magazine once. Her first published novel became a bestseller at one indie bookstore in Oakland that has since gone out of business.
Known to take great risks in the noble pursuit of creativity, sometimes she prefers to just sit around eating chocolate yogurt and doing KenKen in pajama pants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
December 6, 2023
Wow. Just, wow. This book has everything. Angst, chemistry, lovely characters, sex, romance, drama, top-notch writing. Often, I'll highlight impressive lines in stories on my Kindle and this one probably has the most. Seriously, a couple chapters in and I already wanted to recommend it to my friends.
If the infidelity angle turns you off would it help to know that
To this day, I'm bewitched by this story. Amelia, dear Amelia. She's everything. I rooted for all of her and Caton's relations as well as the good bits of progress. Then, there are twists and turns and...yep. This is an ultimate favorite.
Update: Read this again. Still super hot. I'm still enamoured by Amelia.
If the infidelity angle turns you off would it help to know that
To this day, I'm bewitched by this story. Amelia, dear Amelia. She's everything. I rooted for all of her and Caton's relations as well as the good bits of progress. Then, there are twists and turns and...yep. This is an ultimate favorite.
Update: Read this again. Still super hot. I'm still enamoured by Amelia.
July 11, 2019
You know that you’re strapped full in when the book you’re reading goes everywhere with you, Kindle on the sink while you brush and floss, iPhone app open while you walk your Westie, other Kindle open while you cook, then eat (the cracked one because you don’t care if you get smudges on it).
I had read so many reviews, some not so flattering, but curiosity compelled me. Simply, the story is about a woman who becomes intimately involved with the boss’s wife. Only problem is that there are nothing but layers and complexities here. I know, I know, that’s what everybody says about affairs. But damn it, Caton is a good person. She hails from a blue collar upbringing, highly educated but plagued with working at a mundane job, underpaid of course. She lives her life cleanly, not hurting anyone, loving to the utmost, her parents and her wondrous gf who sees Caton as her future.
Then Caton muddles into the unthinkable, a relationship so severe, it fractures her first then shreds her, ultimately poisoning her core. But Caton can’t will herself to stop because Amelia is everything, Amelia who is beautiful, intelligent, pristine and a mystery like a lightly smoking volcano that barely hints at the fire and brimstone and salvation igniting underneath. I won’t tell the ending but you’ll be gritting your teeth to find out.
I had read so many reviews, some not so flattering, but curiosity compelled me. Simply, the story is about a woman who becomes intimately involved with the boss’s wife. Only problem is that there are nothing but layers and complexities here. I know, I know, that’s what everybody says about affairs. But damn it, Caton is a good person. She hails from a blue collar upbringing, highly educated but plagued with working at a mundane job, underpaid of course. She lives her life cleanly, not hurting anyone, loving to the utmost, her parents and her wondrous gf who sees Caton as her future.
Then Caton muddles into the unthinkable, a relationship so severe, it fractures her first then shreds her, ultimately poisoning her core. But Caton can’t will herself to stop because Amelia is everything, Amelia who is beautiful, intelligent, pristine and a mystery like a lightly smoking volcano that barely hints at the fire and brimstone and salvation igniting underneath. I won’t tell the ending but you’ll be gritting your teeth to find out.
October 24, 2020
Second read. Still a favorite. Although this time I felt that the imbalance of power was a lot larger than I remembered from the first time and it made me a bit uneasy.
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Am I the only person who thought this was a Wizard of Oz retelling or something? The font and the green and the curtain? No? OK, maybe just me.
Well, the only similarity it had with the Wizard of OZ was Caton probably wishing she could click her heels three times to get out of the mess she found herself in.
How do you even explain this book? Caton is employed at a company where her male boss is completely detestable. He is effing his assistant and making the moves on Caton in the copy room. He gets into an argument with his cold-as-ice wife, Amelia. She thinks her job of event planning and fundraising for him is hard work. She feels exhausted and underappreciated. He thinks she is absurd and disrespectful, so he hires Caton to assist Amelia so that Caton can get on her nerves as much as she gets on his. (You know, for always turning down his *ahem* charm).
This book was intense. First off... All the affairs are happening. Jack is having affairs on his wife Amelia who wants to have an affair with Caton who wants to cheat on her gf, Lauren, to sleep with Amelia. And this all comes to fruition because what kind of book would it be if it didn't? Second of all... All the sex is happening. In a basement, on the desk, in that room, at her apartment, in that cabin, behind, top, front, that toy, etc. Look. I'm a self proclaimed prude when it comes to this. But this book IS about cheating and affairs. So it goes with the territory. And it was pretty hot. There is just something about forbidden desire and when you add in the mixed unwelcome feelings? Guh.
This went deeper than I thought it would. There was some family drama as it related to Jack and Amelia's daughter, Serene. Some background info about Amelia also gave some meaning behind the way she is.
And then there had to be a reveal toward the end that I was not even expecting a little bit. That makes a pretty good book in my mind!
SO... I liked this. A lot. It was not perfect, though. There was a bit of repetitiveness in the MC's inner monologues. I mean, there is no way that you will ever misunderstand that Caton and Amelia should NOT be doing what they are doing. Caton should be saying NO but she can't help but say yes. There is an expiration date. And so on and so forth. It didn't bother me much, though. So like I said... a really good book.
I recommend this to those who like romance, mind games, physical games, sex all the time, rich people, awesome maids/cooks, and kitchen bars with morning coffee.
P.S. This book needed an epilogue. On a beach somewhere fantastic. With Sole sipping margaritas.
Thanks to all who told me I needed to read this and move it to the top of my list. I pass that same advice to those of you who haven't read this yet, too!
--------
Am I the only person who thought this was a Wizard of Oz retelling or something? The font and the green and the curtain? No? OK, maybe just me.
Well, the only similarity it had with the Wizard of OZ was Caton probably wishing she could click her heels three times to get out of the mess she found herself in.
How do you even explain this book? Caton is employed at a company where her male boss is completely detestable. He is effing his assistant and making the moves on Caton in the copy room. He gets into an argument with his cold-as-ice wife, Amelia. She thinks her job of event planning and fundraising for him is hard work. She feels exhausted and underappreciated. He thinks she is absurd and disrespectful, so he hires Caton to assist Amelia so that Caton can get on her nerves as much as she gets on his. (You know, for always turning down his *ahem* charm).
This book was intense. First off... All the affairs are happening. Jack is having affairs on his wife Amelia who wants to have an affair with Caton who wants to cheat on her gf, Lauren, to sleep with Amelia. And this all comes to fruition because what kind of book would it be if it didn't? Second of all... All the sex is happening. In a basement, on the desk, in that room, at her apartment, in that cabin, behind, top, front, that toy, etc. Look. I'm a self proclaimed prude when it comes to this. But this book IS about cheating and affairs. So it goes with the territory. And it was pretty hot. There is just something about forbidden desire and when you add in the mixed unwelcome feelings? Guh.
This went deeper than I thought it would. There was some family drama as it related to Jack and Amelia's daughter, Serene. Some background info about Amelia also gave some meaning behind the way she is.
And then there had to be a reveal toward the end that I was not even expecting a little bit. That makes a pretty good book in my mind!
SO... I liked this. A lot. It was not perfect, though. There was a bit of repetitiveness in the MC's inner monologues. I mean, there is no way that you will ever misunderstand that Caton and Amelia should NOT be doing what they are doing. Caton should be saying NO but she can't help but say yes. There is an expiration date. And so on and so forth. It didn't bother me much, though. So like I said... a really good book.
I recommend this to those who like romance, mind games, physical games, sex all the time, rich people, awesome maids/cooks, and kitchen bars with morning coffee.
P.S. This book needed an epilogue. On a beach somewhere fantastic. With Sole sipping margaritas.
Thanks to all who told me I needed to read this and move it to the top of my list. I pass that same advice to those of you who haven't read this yet, too!
April 23, 2023
➥ 4.75 Stars *:･ﾟ✧
Luxurious and heart-constricting, Behind the Green Curtain will pull you through Amelia's (my wife) and Caton's entanglements by your collar - and you'll like it. Thank you for buddy reading this one with me, Kelly 💘.
Rarely do I ever come across a book with as elegant and excellent writing as this one, and I'm even more delighted for it to have been in a sapphic book. Although this book is tagged as erotica, and I can see why, I would hesitate to agree for two main reasons. Firstly, I'd like to argue (with Kelly) that this reached a more profound depth than any erotica I've ever read. Not only did Lashea excel at writing steam and sensuality, but she also wrote intimacy with such care and adeptness that I was left inexplicably impressed and moved.
And...
Secondly, although I enjoyed the sex scenes, I felt they could have been slightly more drawn out and even more explicit than they were. This author clearly has a knack for writing fantastic dialogue during the steam, and I'd like to see longer, more varied scenes in the future - not that they were all the same, but I imagine this author capable of even greater variety.
In addition to writing exceptional sex and intimacy, it would be criminal for me to fail to mention my adoration for Amelia. I love how female, and sapphic, authors write powerful women. Women that have the masses wrapped around their finger - me included. Her elegant mannerisms, her sly and irresistible conceit, and her serene certainty that Caton and the charity donors would do as she said and when she said, was entirely delectable.
It did have a slightly dramatic ongoing side-plot, as some erotica does, but I felt it was handled and written well. The significance of this plotline was undeniably amplified toward the end of the novel, which greatly steered away the book's focus on romance and sex, which also makes me hesitate to label this as erotica.
Though I absolutely adored this book, no book is without its faults and this one has a few. I would have liked more closure with relationship since there had been a lot of emphases placed on it in the middle of the novel, but we got little resolution. Also, as Kelly and I agree, the lack of an epilogue was upsetting. Although most loose ends were tied, we're left with little information on how and just in general, it would have been nice to see Amelia, Caton and Selene living in the blissful domesticity they deserve, with . And lastly, I hated that, in the first quarter, . It was a cheap choice in my opinion, and I was glad when the element was removed later on.
Regardless, I'm absolutely taken with this author's excellency and look forward to reading more of her work Lovely to buddy read with you Kelly 💞!
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
"Amelia." The name sounded undeniably needy on Caton's lips.
"What, Caton?" Amelia's voice turned unnaturally soft. "What do you want?"
"Fuck," Caton hissed, trying desperately to do without, to be content with enough, instead of pleading for more. "I want you inside me."
Amelia's ragged exhalation filled Caton's ear, but her touch still refused Caton. "That's a little intimate, don't you think," she husked. "For a 'cold bitch'?"
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
Luxurious and heart-constricting, Behind the Green Curtain will pull you through Amelia's (my wife) and Caton's entanglements by your collar - and you'll like it. Thank you for buddy reading this one with me, Kelly 💘.
Rarely do I ever come across a book with as elegant and excellent writing as this one, and I'm even more delighted for it to have been in a sapphic book. Although this book is tagged as erotica, and I can see why, I would hesitate to agree for two main reasons. Firstly, I'd like to argue (with Kelly) that this reached a more profound depth than any erotica I've ever read. Not only did Lashea excel at writing steam and sensuality, but she also wrote intimacy with such care and adeptness that I was left inexplicably impressed and moved.
"Don't you need to go home?"
"No," Amelia uttered, appearing perfectly coherent as her fingers ran up Caton's spine in the darkness, where tension vibrated just beneath her skin. "Just go back to sleep, Caton."
Lifting her head with some effort, Amelia pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to her lips and turned onto her side, tugging Caton's arm around her and falling almost instantly back to sleep.
And...
"I'm fine where I am," she responded. "If you're okay."
"Yes," Amelia murmured, hand rising to gently tuck the loose hair behind Caton's ear, before moving in a gentle caress down her cheek. "I'm fine where you are too."
Secondly, although I enjoyed the sex scenes, I felt they could have been slightly more drawn out and even more explicit than they were. This author clearly has a knack for writing fantastic dialogue during the steam, and I'd like to see longer, more varied scenes in the future - not that they were all the same, but I imagine this author capable of even greater variety.
In addition to writing exceptional sex and intimacy, it would be criminal for me to fail to mention my adoration for Amelia. I love how female, and sapphic, authors write powerful women. Women that have the masses wrapped around their finger - me included. Her elegant mannerisms, her sly and irresistible conceit, and her serene certainty that Caton and the charity donors would do as she said and when she said, was entirely delectable.
"I've been asked to plan an event for one of Jack's associates," Amelia announced, walking into the room and leaning against the edge of the desk. "It's going to be a pain, and I'm going to need your help."
Caton nodded, eyes trailing down Amelia's tailored suit, marred now with a few wrinkles from her busy day. "Is that why you wanted me to wait?"
An irresistible smile coming to her lips, Amelia wrapped her hand around the arm of Caton's chair, turning it toward her. The hand dropping to Caton's knees to uncross her legs, she slid from the edge of the desk, sinking into Caton's lap, hands slipping beneath Caton's hips and tugging her forward when the arms of the chair proved an impediment.
Whatever sense Caton managed to maintain dissipated at the feel of Amelia's body pressing her into the chair. Hands smoothing up Amelia's slacks, they settled at the bend of her hips, and Caton groaned as Amelia's hands wound into her hair to tug her head back.
"Not exactly," Amelia whispered and seized Caton's mouth in a long, slow caress that weakened Caton's body and resolve instantly.
It did have a slightly dramatic ongoing side-plot, as some erotica does, but I felt it was handled and written well. The significance of this plotline was undeniably amplified toward the end of the novel, which greatly steered away the book's focus on romance and sex, which also makes me hesitate to label this as erotica.
Though I absolutely adored this book, no book is without its faults and this one has a few. I would have liked more closure with relationship since there had been a lot of emphases placed on it in the middle of the novel, but we got little resolution. Also, as Kelly and I agree, the lack of an epilogue was upsetting. Although most loose ends were tied, we're left with little information on how and just in general, it would have been nice to see Amelia, Caton and Selene living in the blissful domesticity they deserve, with . And lastly, I hated that, in the first quarter, . It was a cheap choice in my opinion, and I was glad when the element was removed later on.
Regardless, I'm absolutely taken with this author's excellency and look forward to reading more of her work Lovely to buddy read with you Kelly 💞!
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
July 30, 2016
This is one of those titles I would have completely ignored if not for a friend's enthusiastic recommendation. I don't normally go for erotic romances because I tend to skip over repetitive sex scenes and I'll probably just end up skipping most of the book! :) For me, the emotional connect just isn't there anymore when they've done it Nth number of times so let's just get on with the story already. :)
Not this book though. The blurb pretty much explains upfront the infidelity angle. So I was expecting some sexy, naughty but light tale on fooling around behind hubby's back. But the book is much darker, and so much deeper than that.
We have two ladies in unequal stations, one a boss of the other. Boss lady Amelia commits what is essentially, on-the-job sexual harrassment of the other, with mind and D/s games. It is utterly demeaning and shameful, but something in our PA girl Caton has been awakened. And she thirsts and craves for it. At this point we only see the POV of the hapless and lowly PA and how she becomes hopelessly addicted. Amelia controls every encounter--when, where, how, how long, how much. Is she just using Caton and eventually tossing her aside? Or is she herself, addicted? And what in the world is she, the prim, proper, obedient wife doing right under the nose of her husband?
So what makes this book different from the tons of erotica with this same basic premise? It's the author's skill with words. Most of the first part of the book is told from Caton's POV, so we shiver along with her in equal parts frustration of not ever knowing whats going on with Amelia, and equal parts anticipation of when she'd ever again throw Caton any morsel of attention.
At 360+ pages filled with tons of sex, I was a bit surprised I did not skip over any of them. The author is very creative. No scene feels like i've read it a few pages or chapters before. These two ladies practically talk with their bodies. Who needs dates or movies? ;) The erotic encounters move their relationship forward, albeit it repeatedly sputters and stalls because they have no clue what's going on exactly and jumping into bed too fast seem to have stifled their verbal skills. :)
This isn't a BDSM book however so we are not treated to things that get kinkier with every staging. This is every bit lesfic romance. So expect sex, frustration, sex, angst, sex, tension, sex, drama, sex, suspense,sex......and more sex, and finish it with what I can only say is a very Hollywoodish ending. In other words, well worth the money spent.
Not this book though. The blurb pretty much explains upfront the infidelity angle. So I was expecting some sexy, naughty but light tale on fooling around behind hubby's back. But the book is much darker, and so much deeper than that.
We have two ladies in unequal stations, one a boss of the other. Boss lady Amelia commits what is essentially, on-the-job sexual harrassment of the other, with mind and D/s games. It is utterly demeaning and shameful, but something in our PA girl Caton has been awakened. And she thirsts and craves for it. At this point we only see the POV of the hapless and lowly PA and how she becomes hopelessly addicted. Amelia controls every encounter--when, where, how, how long, how much. Is she just using Caton and eventually tossing her aside? Or is she herself, addicted? And what in the world is she, the prim, proper, obedient wife doing right under the nose of her husband?
So what makes this book different from the tons of erotica with this same basic premise? It's the author's skill with words. Most of the first part of the book is told from Caton's POV, so we shiver along with her in equal parts frustration of not ever knowing whats going on with Amelia, and equal parts anticipation of when she'd ever again throw Caton any morsel of attention.
At 360+ pages filled with tons of sex, I was a bit surprised I did not skip over any of them. The author is very creative. No scene feels like i've read it a few pages or chapters before. These two ladies practically talk with their bodies. Who needs dates or movies? ;) The erotic encounters move their relationship forward, albeit it repeatedly sputters and stalls because they have no clue what's going on exactly and jumping into bed too fast seem to have stifled their verbal skills. :)
This isn't a BDSM book however so we are not treated to things that get kinkier with every staging. This is every bit lesfic romance. So expect sex, frustration, sex, angst, sex, tension, sex, drama, sex, suspense,sex......and more sex, and finish it with what I can only say is a very Hollywoodish ending. In other words, well worth the money spent.
May 2, 2019
From the same author who wrote the 21 Weeks series, one of the best thriller I have ever read in Lesfic.
Finished it a few days ago but I'm unable to write my thoughts as I had mixed feelings about it. It was like having your card declined while paying for groceries and bumping into an ex, smirking evilly behind you, in the mile long queue + you're at the cashless lane and the cashier's giving you the "you don't want to mess with me" look. Been there, done that? Perfect!
Even though this book featured infidelity, I couldn't rate it low as just like the 21 Weeks Series, this was unique and engaging. I loved the concept of the story, how controversial the cheating theme was, and interested to see how the author would turn the ugly ducklings into swans.
Among the three leads, I liked Jack the most :) He was a cool villain and owned a wandering dick but my love affair with him didn't last long because the author decided to upgrade his status from a villain to a sinister bas3rd. He and Amelia had an unspoken agreement on their married status, in public they must show an united front but behind the scene, have fun - go mad. Amelia never redeemed the voucher until Caton walked into her house then life.
The uniqueness of the story came through the relationship between Caton and Amelia. These women hardly conversed as they usually let their bodies do most of the talking and it worked as the sex (a good chunk of this book was filled with sex scenes but they were so tastefully done) in here were not meant to get you hot and flustered; they meant to drive the emotional impacts home. Despite some minor things I thought were faulty, I’m not going to mention them.
Don’t let the genre of this book hinder you from checking it out. It’s much more than its genre and has a lot to offer in terms of a unique storyline and loveable main characters - especially Amelia and her housekeeper, Sole. Caton is still in the penalty box for what she did to Laura. Sole is mine, mine and mine. That woman says the sweetest thing I've read in such a long time.
"Do you want a cookie?"
You're my kind of woman, Sole ❤
And if you are a thriller fan and haven't read 21 Weeks yet, please read it.
Finished it a few days ago but I'm unable to write my thoughts as I had mixed feelings about it. It was like having your card declined while paying for groceries and bumping into an ex, smirking evilly behind you, in the mile long queue + you're at the cashless lane and the cashier's giving you the "you don't want to mess with me" look. Been there, done that? Perfect!
Even though this book featured infidelity, I couldn't rate it low as just like the 21 Weeks Series, this was unique and engaging. I loved the concept of the story, how controversial the cheating theme was, and interested to see how the author would turn the ugly ducklings into swans.
Among the three leads, I liked Jack the most :) He was a cool villain and owned a wandering dick but my love affair with him didn't last long because the author decided to upgrade his status from a villain to a sinister bas3rd. He and Amelia had an unspoken agreement on their married status, in public they must show an united front but behind the scene, have fun - go mad. Amelia never redeemed the voucher until Caton walked into her house then life.
The uniqueness of the story came through the relationship between Caton and Amelia. These women hardly conversed as they usually let their bodies do most of the talking and it worked as the sex (a good chunk of this book was filled with sex scenes but they were so tastefully done) in here were not meant to get you hot and flustered; they meant to drive the emotional impacts home. Despite some minor things I thought were faulty, I’m not going to mention them.
Don’t let the genre of this book hinder you from checking it out. It’s much more than its genre and has a lot to offer in terms of a unique storyline and loveable main characters - especially Amelia and her housekeeper, Sole. Caton is still in the penalty box for what she did to Laura. Sole is mine, mine and mine. That woman says the sweetest thing I've read in such a long time.
"Do you want a cookie?"
You're my kind of woman, Sole ❤
And if you are a thriller fan and haven't read 21 Weeks yet, please read it.
July 21, 2019
This book is in a league of its own, chock full of contradictions--the yin and yang, push and pull, fiery and cold, scorching and slow burn, passionate and calloused, ecstatic and tormented--and whatever seemingly opposing words I can't come up with at the moment. Riley LaShea is a master of words capturing the essence of two forces entwined in this sex-driven romance between a boss (Amelia) and her assistant (Caton). This is an erotica unlike others typical of this genre, with complex characters, intense development, and an intriguing plot that kept me turning the pages. Very little is actually spoken out loud between the two characters, yet, we bear witness to and experience intimately the layers of complexities and inner turmoil as each tryst mire the two deeper in their affair. I find myself sucked into the vortex of their love affair as Caton finds herself engulfed by Amelia whom she cannot seem to escape from, nor does she want to. It feels like watching a train wreck happening in slow motion, waiting at any moment for the shoe to drop, the ax to fall, the noose to tighten, the trapdoor to slam shut, the truth to come out, the affair to end, the pain to agonize over, and the wounds to lick. You know there's no plausible way an illicit affair can end well, yet, LaShea masterfully surprised me with an ending heaved with a satisfactory sigh and relief without their HEA feeling like a cliche.
While the cheating element of the story may be a put off for some, we learn that not everything is as it seems. LaShea artfully gave readers insight into the multifaceted complexities of forces that compel people to said behavior while imbuing her characters with such depth and emotional realism, that we are left with no choice but to want to root for them. But beyond the infidelity aspect, her mastery of words along with her storytelling and her gift in crafting eroticism and sensuality have tickled me more than any lesfic I have read, if my many bookmarks and highlights are any indication.
There are passages I have read again and again unabashedly.
"There was an instant, a single pinpoint of ecstasy so acute, Caton thought she may cease to exist, simply blink out like a dying star, but at least she fell free, heart restarting with a desperate tremor as she returned to her body."
I mean, wow. I'm going to combust too.
And then there are sentences that made me chuckle and blush and greedily want more, literally.
"If she was going to get caught with her hand in the cookie jar, Amelia was going to consume as many calories as she could first."
Oh woman. Buckle your seatbelt!!
This book has made my top 10 all-time favorite.
While the cheating element of the story may be a put off for some, we learn that not everything is as it seems. LaShea artfully gave readers insight into the multifaceted complexities of forces that compel people to said behavior while imbuing her characters with such depth and emotional realism, that we are left with no choice but to want to root for them. But beyond the infidelity aspect, her mastery of words along with her storytelling and her gift in crafting eroticism and sensuality have tickled me more than any lesfic I have read, if my many bookmarks and highlights are any indication.
There are passages I have read again and again unabashedly.
"There was an instant, a single pinpoint of ecstasy so acute, Caton thought she may cease to exist, simply blink out like a dying star, but at least she fell free, heart restarting with a desperate tremor as she returned to her body."
I mean, wow. I'm going to combust too.
And then there are sentences that made me chuckle and blush and greedily want more, literally.
"If she was going to get caught with her hand in the cookie jar, Amelia was going to consume as many calories as she could first."
Oh woman. Buckle your seatbelt!!
This book has made my top 10 all-time favorite.
April 29, 2016
When I first started this, I was pretty sure I'd give it 4 or even 5 stars.
And then it went to hell. At first I really liked the sex scenes, because they were really hot.
You see, you have four types of F/F romance books:
1. There is one big /usually the first time/ love scene, mostly at the end. And that's all.
2. There are a few more after the big one, so maybe like two or three. Usually not that hot and often 'goes to black' scenario or the other love scenes are only intended.
3. No love scene at all. These are the most disappointing of course.
4. So many sex scenes that it has barely a plot. Or no plot whatsoever. Also called 'erotica'.
And then as I was reading this book, I found out that it has A LOT of sex but also a plot. Which was quite suprising and exciting. At least for me, because I don't read erotica. I need a plot when I'm reading a book. And this was very hot but also interesting.
But after a while, when there's sex on almost every page, it gets less and less interesting. And in the end it wasn't interesting at all. The plot became unimportant and I started skipping the previous hot scenes because they were boring to read.
And the characters... Well.. I wanted to slap Caton across her face numerous times. She was obsessed with Amelia. That was not love. It was only sex, sex, sex and sex again. The obsession wasn't healthy. Their so-called relationship or whatever it was wasn't healthy.
She did everything Amelia asked her to. She didn't even have to ask. She said it herself - 'what Amelia wants, Amelia gets.' Is that right? No, it isn't. Was Caton happy? No, she wasn't. Was Amelia happy? Was anyone happy in this story???
And the ending? What the hell was that? Where did that come from? There was no clue, no mention of something like that happening with Jack and his bussiness. It literally came out of nowhere and didn't make any sense.
I'm so disappointed.
And then it went to hell. At first I really liked the sex scenes, because they were really hot.
You see, you have four types of F/F romance books:
1. There is one big /usually the first time/ love scene, mostly at the end. And that's all.
2. There are a few more after the big one, so maybe like two or three. Usually not that hot and often 'goes to black' scenario or the other love scenes are only intended.
3. No love scene at all. These are the most disappointing of course.
4. So many sex scenes that it has barely a plot. Or no plot whatsoever. Also called 'erotica'.
And then as I was reading this book, I found out that it has A LOT of sex but also a plot. Which was quite suprising and exciting. At least for me, because I don't read erotica. I need a plot when I'm reading a book. And this was very hot but also interesting.
But after a while, when there's sex on almost every page, it gets less and less interesting. And in the end it wasn't interesting at all. The plot became unimportant and I started skipping the previous hot scenes because they were boring to read.
And the characters... Well.. I wanted to slap Caton across her face numerous times. She was obsessed with Amelia. That was not love. It was only sex, sex, sex and sex again. The obsession wasn't healthy. Their so-called relationship or whatever it was wasn't healthy.
She did everything Amelia asked her to. She didn't even have to ask. She said it herself - 'what Amelia wants, Amelia gets.' Is that right? No, it isn't. Was Caton happy? No, she wasn't. Was Amelia happy? Was anyone happy in this story???
And the ending? What the hell was that? Where did that come from? There was no clue, no mention of something like that happening with Jack and his bussiness. It literally came out of nowhere and didn't make any sense.
I'm so disappointed.
April 17, 2017
‘Behind the Green Curtain’ was a spectacular read. An edgy, taboo book where the main characters, Caton and Amelia, are already in relationships with other people when they get with each other is not the usual fodder for likable characters or a stellar romance yet this book achieves both.
Readers who are into ying/yang dynamics or the forbidden will enjoy this as both are heavily in play. But, the romantics at heart may also enjoy it because a true love story is ultimately its core.
The taboo element is loaded in the first half of the book; situationally, because of the cheating aspect AND the seduction which, to put it bluntly, is also gross workplace sexual harassment. But, the taboo is also accentuated internally because we are privy to the push/pull, right vs wrong struggle within Caton herself.
With the second half of the book there’s a shift. We move out of the taboo space because, as the reader, we start to intimately know each of the characters, the ying/yang dynamic dies down and Caton does handle the infidelity situation on her side. It’s here we move into a more traditional romance. In particular, we get to delve deeper into Amelia’s psyche which is a great place to be.
It’s in the last half of the book that I fully embraced both Amelia and Caton and truly wanted their happy ending. The edgy feeling, at this point, comes from the fact that the the author gives no indication if they’ll ever get it.
LaShea pulls off another rare feat in that the book is laced throughout with illicit sex scenes that never get boring and absolutely add to the narrative. And, the book isn’t just sexual, it’s sensual.
And, thank you, thank you to the author for NOT having these characters do insta-love or even declare love through the course of everything that occurs, though it gets spelled out in other ways. It makes the scenario all the more believable and the ending more impactful.
And lastly, whatever one thinks of the subject matter, the book is extremely well written. Plot, characters, dialogue, internal thoughts are all done exceptionally well and the book seduces the reader as much as the characters do each other. I stopped to re-read many lines just because the descriptive prose was so well done.
I really enjoyed the read and definitely recommend.
Readers who are into ying/yang dynamics or the forbidden will enjoy this as both are heavily in play. But, the romantics at heart may also enjoy it because a true love story is ultimately its core.
The taboo element is loaded in the first half of the book; situationally, because of the cheating aspect AND the seduction which, to put it bluntly, is also gross workplace sexual harassment. But, the taboo is also accentuated internally because we are privy to the push/pull, right vs wrong struggle within Caton herself.
With the second half of the book there’s a shift. We move out of the taboo space because, as the reader, we start to intimately know each of the characters, the ying/yang dynamic dies down and Caton does handle the infidelity situation on her side. It’s here we move into a more traditional romance. In particular, we get to delve deeper into Amelia’s psyche which is a great place to be.
It’s in the last half of the book that I fully embraced both Amelia and Caton and truly wanted their happy ending. The edgy feeling, at this point, comes from the fact that the the author gives no indication if they’ll ever get it.
LaShea pulls off another rare feat in that the book is laced throughout with illicit sex scenes that never get boring and absolutely add to the narrative. And, the book isn’t just sexual, it’s sensual.
And, thank you, thank you to the author for NOT having these characters do insta-love or even declare love through the course of everything that occurs, though it gets spelled out in other ways. It makes the scenario all the more believable and the ending more impactful.
And lastly, whatever one thinks of the subject matter, the book is extremely well written. Plot, characters, dialogue, internal thoughts are all done exceptionally well and the book seduces the reader as much as the characters do each other. I stopped to re-read many lines just because the descriptive prose was so well done.
I really enjoyed the read and definitely recommend.
July 22, 2019
This damn book. I loved it so much that I'm too wound up to tease out everything I loved about it and now that I know the ending I'm going to have to read it again.
I don't do cheating books usually (although I also loved The Fling by Rebekah Weatherspoon) but I'm glad I made an exception for this one. It's an erotic romance, so there's a LOT of sex in it, but every scene drives the romance and the story. I can't say enough good about this one.
There is a HEA, but I would still love to see a short story with these characters a little down the line once their lives settle down a little.
I don't do cheating books usually (although I also loved The Fling by Rebekah Weatherspoon) but I'm glad I made an exception for this one. It's an erotic romance, so there's a LOT of sex in it, but every scene drives the romance and the story. I can't say enough good about this one.
There is a HEA, but I would still love to see a short story with these characters a little down the line once their lives settle down a little.
February 28, 2017
Why oh why did I not read this sooner?! I started this book really not liking Amelia & Caton but by the end I was crying my eyes out for them. It really has been a roller coaster ride of emotions full of sizzling sex scenes. Normally when it comes to erotica after a few sex scenes I get bored and just skim through to the next scene but not with this book. This will definitely be a book I will be re-reading again.
December 16, 2021
This is my first book by Riley Lashea and I am a fan now. Sex is fucking awesome; she is very descriptive about emotions, feelings and inner chatter during sex and has written beautifully. Mixed feelings about an affair are conveyed authentically. There is an element of constant suspense and the characters' thoughts and stories gradually unfold. Any plot twist & turns which may feel not satisfactorily explained or hurried to some, still works. I loved this book.
October 21, 2017
Re-reading Behind the Green Curtain with Book Club Buddie D. was quite an adventure. Reading an angst-filled and dramatic piece like this aloud felt pretty draining and took me a full week to get through when the first time I read it alone and in two days. But I have to say it was very rewarding experience.
The story felt quite new to me again after reading so many other books after (at least a few hundred).
Oh the feels I had with this book. Lashea grabs the reader by the throat with a very well constructed plot and gloriously written dialogue and does not let go until the very last page. It's a rollercoaster of angst, desire, lust, anguish and guilt. Amelia and Caton are fantastic multi-layered characters. Their relationship (or should I say sexual relationship) starts as something antagonistic bordering on sexual assault and slowly evolves into something completely different. And that complex journey is something you don't often see written in the way this author was capable of doing. Absolutely masterful.
Buy this book and read it, because it will blow you away.
f/f explicit
Themes: forbidden love, oh the feels... THE FEELS!!, I know what they are doing is all kinds of wrong but I want it to work so much, excellent dialogue, lots of illicit sex scenes but every single one is somehow important, that plot twist in the end though, on to the next Lashea because she is addicting.
5 big fat stars
The story felt quite new to me again after reading so many other books after (at least a few hundred).
Oh the feels I had with this book. Lashea grabs the reader by the throat with a very well constructed plot and gloriously written dialogue and does not let go until the very last page. It's a rollercoaster of angst, desire, lust, anguish and guilt. Amelia and Caton are fantastic multi-layered characters. Their relationship (or should I say sexual relationship) starts as something antagonistic bordering on sexual assault and slowly evolves into something completely different. And that complex journey is something you don't often see written in the way this author was capable of doing. Absolutely masterful.
Buy this book and read it, because it will blow you away.
f/f explicit
Themes: forbidden love, oh the feels... THE FEELS!!, I know what they are doing is all kinds of wrong but I want it to work so much, excellent dialogue, lots of illicit sex scenes but every single one is somehow important, that plot twist in the end though, on to the next Lashea because she is addicting.
5 big fat stars
May 13, 2023
3 stars - interesting story buried under a mountain of sex
Oh,I am obviously an outlier opinion on this book. Tons of people absolutely loved it. I think the hinge is whether the chemistry between the two main characters works for you or not. For me it did not and so the metric ton of sex scenes in the middle of the book got really boring. The tiny bit of character development or plot between them going at it like crazed weasels just wasn’t enough for me.
I also think it’s important what names you give your characters. And for me, Canton is a terrible first name because it’s not a name that I associate anything to. Calling her Canton is like calling her pot or mailbox. I had a hard time picturing her in my mind. And I know this is my own thing, but it was a problem for me reading this book.
Oh,I am obviously an outlier opinion on this book. Tons of people absolutely loved it. I think the hinge is whether the chemistry between the two main characters works for you or not. For me it did not and so the metric ton of sex scenes in the middle of the book got really boring. The tiny bit of character development or plot between them going at it like crazed weasels just wasn’t enough for me.
I also think it’s important what names you give your characters. And for me, Canton is a terrible first name because it’s not a name that I associate anything to. Calling her Canton is like calling her pot or mailbox. I had a hard time picturing her in my mind. And I know this is my own thing, but it was a problem for me reading this book.
September 6, 2022
26/08/2020: Just wow... I’m speechless. What a rollercoaster of emotions this book was. But in a good way. It’s so so so good! I was expecting it to be good after reading some reviews, but it surpassed all my expectations. I laughed, i fanned myself a lot of times bc hot damn, I cringed, I cried, and I fell deeply in love with the super sweet and awesome Sole and with the couple goals that are Caton and Amelia. The way their relationship developed; even though the cheating thing was awful when it came to Laura, but I tried to ignore and pretend that wasn’t happening so my mood wasn’t ruined lol but Caton and Amelia were just meant to be. They are soulmates. And I’m glad that in the end they are together and get close to their happy ending. Of course, I’d love to read more and read a more concrete outcome, but I loved how it ended. 100% recommend this sensual and romantic and wonderful work of art.
06/09/2022 (reread): This books remains one of the best and hottest I’ve ever read. Just wow! The MCs’ chemistry is just one of the best ever! Hot damn 😍 Just wish there was an audiobook version read by Abby Craden, that would just be perfection 🥰 a girl can dream 🙏🏻
06/09/2022 (reread): This books remains one of the best and hottest I’ve ever read. Just wow! The MCs’ chemistry is just one of the best ever! Hot damn 😍 Just wish there was an audiobook version read by Abby Craden, that would just be perfection 🥰 a girl can dream 🙏🏻
November 14, 2017
3.4 stars. I was holding off with this review for a couple of weeks now. There are aspects of this book that are really good and then there are other things that are subpar.
The cat and mouse game was incredibly exciting, a real page turner. The sex is majorly HOT. It's basically everything else I had the problem with.
As the book went on I liked Caton less and less, she continued to lie to her then girlfriend and broke her heart. There is no excuse for that and she didn't redeem herself at all.
Then there's the major plot turn that came straight outta left field. I don't know why Caton had to play a part in that one, didn't make much sense to me. I'd rather it be one of the husband's college mates who wanted Amelia for himself. That would've tied it up more nicely.
And the little mystery at the end with codes and stuff was too convenient and unnecessary.
I liked how the whole thing started, towards middle it was a 4 or even maybe 5 star book but then it went downhill. Still a solid read and it is quite unique.
The cat and mouse game was incredibly exciting, a real page turner. The sex is majorly HOT. It's basically everything else I had the problem with.
As the book went on I liked Caton less and less, she continued to lie to her then girlfriend and broke her heart. There is no excuse for that and she didn't redeem herself at all.
Then there's the major plot turn that came straight outta left field. I don't know why Caton had to play a part in that one, didn't make much sense to me. I'd rather it be one of the husband's college mates who wanted Amelia for himself. That would've tied it up more nicely.
And the little mystery at the end with codes and stuff was too convenient and unnecessary.
I liked how the whole thing started, towards middle it was a 4 or even maybe 5 star book but then it went downhill. Still a solid read and it is quite unique.
July 12, 2025
while writing this i’m still having tears. i loved it i loved it i loved it. true love. forgiving. forgiving again. choosing what you want other than what you should or you’re expected to do. amelia and caton made a great team together and i’m sure no one can stop them anymore. ♡
June 8, 2024
buddy read with gloria <3 Read her (far more positive) review here
3.5 stars
The story follows Caton, somewhat of a secretary in a corporation whose sleazy CEO Jack Halston uses her to annoy his stubborn wife Amelia by sending her Caton as a pesky personal assistant. Amelia is every bit the layered ice queen we all love, foiled by the impetuous, fiery Caton. I thought Amelia was well written; she was hot, assured, and her motivations were mysterious. I should mention she also speaks Spanish ;)
Lashea is undoubtedly a talented writer. I know both me and Gloria simply felt so much while reading this. The later chapters were laden with angst and heavy, unspoken feeling and I really felt for the couple. I also thought that the spice in this story was wonderful.
There were some bigger things that prevent this from breaking 4 stars. One thing that didn't work for me was not so much Amelia's infidelity to her husband Jack, as it was a marriage devoid of love and respect, but that there was infidelity on Caton's part too. Caton's cheating felt like a hurdle I couldn't cross. Her partner Laura was a wonderful and innocent woman, and Caton's deception and blatant disregard for her for much of the book made me not enjoy her character and detracted from the story. It was such a big distraction for me, and it was never really addressed??
Another was the pacing. Let me wax poetic for a second: I read most of this book on public transit. And as the train car lurched and stopped repeatedly, I was getting carsick. Behind the Green Curtains felt exactly like that at times. There was a pattern that would develop; Amelia would seduce Caton, Caton would submit, immediately regret it and pull away in anguish. Rinse, repeat. They weren't effectively communicating, which led me to wonder if they were really the right people for each other anyway:
Much of the book was spent waffling about how bad of a decision this was for both of them when I felt that those pages would've been better spent developing their relationship and giving us insight as to why they felt so strongly about each other.
I'm sure its the generation I've grown up in, where performative emotional distance is gold standard, but I was uncomfortable at how unbalanced their initial relationship was. Caton was a munch.. a simp...whatever else the kids are calling it these days. She would pour so much of herself to a woman who gave no hint of reciprocated desire.
I kept on reading hoping to see where the author would go with the story, if she could break this cycle. I resolved to push my reservations aside and enjoy the writing and their relationship for what it was. In the second half of the book, they began to talk more and fuck less- that's when things got surprisingly sweet. We got to understand why Amelia was so closed off, as well as how they would get through obstacles to their relationship. The YEARNING, the DEVOTION. Whew. Sublime stuff.
I would have really liked an epilogue that tied up some loose ends and maybe some domestic bliss for Caton and Amelia. As it was, it was abrupt.
And let's clear one thing up while we're at it, if you're picking up Behind the Green Curtain out of a passionate love for green curtains, you will not find a single set in the book. Maybe it's a reference to money and status standing between the two MCs? That's beyond me...
3.5 stars
"Of course, given the chance to undo, she would undo all the wrong things. Logic said Amelia was her greatest mistake, but Amelia was the only mistake that had been worth making."
The story follows Caton, somewhat of a secretary in a corporation whose sleazy CEO Jack Halston uses her to annoy his stubborn wife Amelia by sending her Caton as a pesky personal assistant. Amelia is every bit the layered ice queen we all love, foiled by the impetuous, fiery Caton. I thought Amelia was well written; she was hot, assured, and her motivations were mysterious. I should mention she also speaks Spanish ;)
Lashea is undoubtedly a talented writer. I know both me and Gloria simply felt so much while reading this. The later chapters were laden with angst and heavy, unspoken feeling and I really felt for the couple. I also thought that the spice in this story was wonderful.
There were some bigger things that prevent this from breaking 4 stars. One thing that didn't work for me was not so much Amelia's infidelity to her husband Jack, as it was a marriage devoid of love and respect, but that there was infidelity on Caton's part too. Caton's cheating felt like a hurdle I couldn't cross. Her partner Laura was a wonderful and innocent woman, and Caton's deception and blatant disregard for her for much of the book made me not enjoy her character and detracted from the story. It was such a big distraction for me, and it was never really addressed??
Another was the pacing. Let me wax poetic for a second: I read most of this book on public transit. And as the train car lurched and stopped repeatedly, I was getting carsick. Behind the Green Curtains felt exactly like that at times. There was a pattern that would develop; Amelia would seduce Caton, Caton would submit, immediately regret it and pull away in anguish. Rinse, repeat. They weren't effectively communicating, which led me to wonder if they were really the right people for each other anyway:
"In heat and silence and desire, they were perfectly in-sync. As far as everything else, they barely knew how to coexist"
Much of the book was spent waffling about how bad of a decision this was for both of them when I felt that those pages would've been better spent developing their relationship and giving us insight as to why they felt so strongly about each other.
I'm sure its the generation I've grown up in, where performative emotional distance is gold standard, but I was uncomfortable at how unbalanced their initial relationship was. Caton was a munch.. a simp...whatever else the kids are calling it these days. She would pour so much of herself to a woman who gave no hint of reciprocated desire.
I kept on reading hoping to see where the author would go with the story, if she could break this cycle. I resolved to push my reservations aside and enjoy the writing and their relationship for what it was. In the second half of the book, they began to talk more and fuck less- that's when things got surprisingly sweet. We got to understand why Amelia was so closed off, as well as how they would get through obstacles to their relationship. The YEARNING, the DEVOTION. Whew. Sublime stuff.
"Though she delivered the words with her most dazzling smile, Caton didn’t buy the stage show.😭😭😭
Her eyes sliding downward, they saw right through Amelia’s act, before at last returning to Amelia’s.
“He upset you,” Caton stated gently.
Heart slowing, body dulled, Amelia dropped the pretense at once."
I would have really liked an epilogue that tied up some loose ends and maybe some domestic bliss for Caton and Amelia. As it was, it was abrupt.
And let's clear one thing up while we're at it, if you're picking up Behind the Green Curtain out of a passionate love for green curtains, you will not find a single set in the book. Maybe it's a reference to money and status standing between the two MCs? That's beyond me...
November 24, 2017
Major characters: Caton, Amelia
Minor characters: Jack, Amelia's husband. Laura, Caton's current girlfriend
I first read this book years ago and rated it highly but I was dissatisfied rereading this. The theme centers on obsession and control with Caton hired to help Jack's wife in their home and Caton quickly becoming obsessed and subservient to Jack's wife, Amelia. Caton has a girlfriend, Laura, who seems too good to be true, painted in a light she is so nice she's boring.
Caton, who strikes the reader as so independent and strong in the beginning of the story loses all of it working for Amelia as they begin a cat and mouse affair. I was not supposed to care about Jack, Amelia's husband, as he's an 'always on' cad, seducing every woman in his company-a predator. But Caton has Laura, who seems nice, and she doesn't think about her a bit as she's having endless submissive sex with Amelia, scenes of which are too numerous to count.
This is another lesfic book if written as a heteronormative story would be difficult to imagine many women enjoying.
Minor characters: Jack, Amelia's husband. Laura, Caton's current girlfriend
I first read this book years ago and rated it highly but I was dissatisfied rereading this. The theme centers on obsession and control with Caton hired to help Jack's wife in their home and Caton quickly becoming obsessed and subservient to Jack's wife, Amelia. Caton has a girlfriend, Laura, who seems too good to be true, painted in a light she is so nice she's boring.
Caton, who strikes the reader as so independent and strong in the beginning of the story loses all of it working for Amelia as they begin a cat and mouse affair. I was not supposed to care about Jack, Amelia's husband, as he's an 'always on' cad, seducing every woman in his company-a predator. But Caton has Laura, who seems nice, and she doesn't think about her a bit as she's having endless submissive sex with Amelia, scenes of which are too numerous to count.
This is another lesfic book if written as a heteronormative story would be difficult to imagine many women enjoying.
January 29, 2015
Wow. I'm speechless. That was such a roller coaster. The storyline is quite original, and surprising. The sex scenes are extremely arousing, but are all written with purpose. There's a great dynamic between both characters who find themselves falling in love after what they thought would be a strictly sexual relationship. Amelia is such a mystery and such an interesting character, I found myself feeling and falling for her when the story unfolded. I love that the dominant/submissive sexual relationship between Amelia and Caton tricks the reader into thinking Amelia is the strongest of the two, when she really isn't. She is an unhappy and tortured soul finally finding a way out of her miserable life.
Very well done! I'll read it again. I recommend it.
Very well done! I'll read it again. I recommend it.
February 12, 2025
It could have been awesome, but I get the point of other readers. Although, the steamy parts...
I decided to read it as an erotica novel.
The plot could have been better.
The relationship bordered to toxic in some ways, but oef... some scenes.
I guess you have to decide which way to read it. It might work or not.
I decided to read it as an erotica novel.
The plot could have been better.
The relationship bordered to toxic in some ways, but oef... some scenes.
I guess you have to decide which way to read it. It might work or not.
January 18, 2015
I've accidentally discovered this book browsing through one of the list on listopia. Wow! What a good find!
When I was initially reading the book, I thought it would be about Amelia and Caton's D/s relationship, it was clear that in between Caton and Amelia, Amelia is the one dictating their terms of the relationship and holding up the power. It was until almost half way through the book that I start to get really hooked and warm up with Amelia. She's such an enigma but her back story runs a lot darker and the secret wasn't revealed until the very end. Then when you start looking back to Amelia as the character throughout the book, some of her awkwardness and contradiction is starting to make sense. Indeed as the author said - Amelia is a procelain doll inside a suit of armor.
I liked that the book was written initially more in Caton's voice and gradually unfolding to include some of Amelia's. It changes your perspective as the story unfolds. I have a feeling that this will be one of the books making towards my 2015 favourite list.
When I was initially reading the book, I thought it would be about Amelia and Caton's D/s relationship, it was clear that in between Caton and Amelia, Amelia is the one dictating their terms of the relationship and holding up the power. It was until almost half way through the book that I start to get really hooked and warm up with Amelia. She's such an enigma but her back story runs a lot darker and the secret wasn't revealed until the very end. Then when you start looking back to Amelia as the character throughout the book, some of her awkwardness and contradiction is starting to make sense. Indeed as the author said - Amelia is a procelain doll inside a suit of armor.
I liked that the book was written initially more in Caton's voice and gradually unfolding to include some of Amelia's. It changes your perspective as the story unfolds. I have a feeling that this will be one of the books making towards my 2015 favourite list.
January 2, 2026
i started this without knowing much and wow it was so good. it is pretty long, but the ending is really worth it. there’s also SO MUCH GOOD ANGST!!!
April 26, 2023
Amelia have my heart, she deserve the world 🥺🥺.
Caton definitely doesn’t deserve her, she’s so annoying 😒.
The Plot twist at the end was unexpected, I didn’t even know there’s a PT 😭😂😂.
Caton definitely doesn’t deserve her, she’s so annoying 😒.
The Plot twist at the end was unexpected, I didn’t even know there’s a PT 😭😂😂.
April 19, 2022
3.5
The first thought that popped into my head after I finished Behind the Green Curtain was ‘wow, it's finally over.’ Oops. That doesn’t sound too good, does it…? 🙊
The truth is, I enjoyed the first half of this book so much. Caton’s fatal attraction to her boss’ wife, the beautiful ice queen Amelia, and their subsequent push-pull, cat-and-mouse game was an absolute delight to read. Lashea’s writing perfectly conveyed the building tension between them, even the smallest look or gesture felt loaded with meaning. The sex scenes didn’t disappoint, either, they were hot but tasteful. I was in love, convinced this would be a 4 or even 5 star read for me…
So, what went wrong? I’m not sure, other than it got repetitive after the 50% mark. Not only the sex, at some point their every interaction became very ‘lather, rinse, repeat,’ and it felt like the author was filling pages upon pages with more of the same thing. Why? There’s too little substance here for an almost 400-page book, imo, the page-count could’ve easily been reduced by 100 or so.
Next. I’m pretty sure this one is more of a ‘me’ issue, and won’t bother many other readers, but the actual relationship development bored me a little. 🙈 It got too mushy for me. I wanted more conflict, more angst. There was some angst here, but it was too low-key.
Finally, I’m not a fan of this ending. It was very abrupt and came out of left field.
I think that after some editing and tightening of the plot, this would’ve been an amazing +/-150 page novella, but alas. 🤷♀️ I’ll still check out Lashea’s other work, though.
The first thought that popped into my head after I finished Behind the Green Curtain was ‘wow, it's finally over.’ Oops. That doesn’t sound too good, does it…? 🙊
The truth is, I enjoyed the first half of this book so much. Caton’s fatal attraction to her boss’ wife, the beautiful ice queen Amelia, and their subsequent push-pull, cat-and-mouse game was an absolute delight to read. Lashea’s writing perfectly conveyed the building tension between them, even the smallest look or gesture felt loaded with meaning. The sex scenes didn’t disappoint, either, they were hot but tasteful. I was in love, convinced this would be a 4 or even 5 star read for me…
So, what went wrong? I’m not sure, other than it got repetitive after the 50% mark. Not only the sex, at some point their every interaction became very ‘lather, rinse, repeat,’ and it felt like the author was filling pages upon pages with more of the same thing. Why? There’s too little substance here for an almost 400-page book, imo, the page-count could’ve easily been reduced by 100 or so.
Next. I’m pretty sure this one is more of a ‘me’ issue, and won’t bother many other readers, but the actual relationship development bored me a little. 🙈 It got too mushy for me. I wanted more conflict, more angst. There was some angst here, but it was too low-key.
Finally, I’m not a fan of this ending. It was very abrupt and came out of left field.
I think that after some editing and tightening of the plot, this would’ve been an amazing +/-150 page novella, but alas. 🤷♀️ I’ll still check out Lashea’s other work, though.
February 26, 2018
Wow. What was that?! I can’t wrap my head around the twist of the story. It’s cunning, a well woven plot, the author exudes brilliance in this one. I don’t even know why I put this book off for a while and not read it right away to settle for lackluster ones that came my hands.
Another author to put of on my must-read list.
Another author to put of on my must-read list.
November 30, 2021
Enjoyed this semi-ice-queen read. Didn't love that one character's marriage was the central conflict, but did love the characters.
January 9, 2023
to quote tanya from mamma mia, “be still my beating vagina.”
5 stars
5 stars
July 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book wrecked me… and I loved every second of it.
Behind the Green Curtain is one of those rare sapphic romances that completely consumes you—heart, mind, and soul. Right from the first page, I had that deep, gut-level feeling: this book is either going to leave me elated or absolutely rip my heart out. Spoiler: it did both. Repeatedly.
Riley Lashea knows how to write characters that feel so real you could reach out and touch them, and she absolutely nails the ice queen archetype. Amelia. My god, Amelia. I adored her—her sharp edges, her restraint, the quiet tragedy of who she is and how she became that way. She’s not just a cold exterior; she’s a fortress built out of necessity, and watching that fortress begin to tremble was devastating in the best way.
And then there’s Caton. I loved her so much—from her initial disdain for both Jack (loved that immediate hatred because same, girl same) and Amelia, to her slow, complicated shift into something deeper and more raw. The tension between them was electric. Their relationship felt built on impossibility, on doom even, and yet it developed anyway. Despite the circumstances. Despite the past. Despite themselves.
It felt so real. Messy. Intimate. Painful. Hopeful.
I can’t count how many times I cried. Or hoped. Or wanted to throw my iPad against the wall. It’s the kind of emotional roller coaster that doesn’t let you off easy—and doesn’t pretend it will. As one quote puts it:
“She tried to remember things were not as they felt, but as they were. Amelia had made a commitment, so had she, and neither of them was to each other.”
And this one, I felt this in my bones:
“She may as well have signed herself over to Amelia for the duration of her employment, because as tall as she tried to stand, she still ended up on her knees.”
This book wrecked me only to build me up—and then wreck me again. And I’m honestly grateful for it.
This book wrecked me… and I loved every second of it.
Behind the Green Curtain is one of those rare sapphic romances that completely consumes you—heart, mind, and soul. Right from the first page, I had that deep, gut-level feeling: this book is either going to leave me elated or absolutely rip my heart out. Spoiler: it did both. Repeatedly.
Riley Lashea knows how to write characters that feel so real you could reach out and touch them, and she absolutely nails the ice queen archetype. Amelia. My god, Amelia. I adored her—her sharp edges, her restraint, the quiet tragedy of who she is and how she became that way. She’s not just a cold exterior; she’s a fortress built out of necessity, and watching that fortress begin to tremble was devastating in the best way.
And then there’s Caton. I loved her so much—from her initial disdain for both Jack (loved that immediate hatred because same, girl same) and Amelia, to her slow, complicated shift into something deeper and more raw. The tension between them was electric. Their relationship felt built on impossibility, on doom even, and yet it developed anyway. Despite the circumstances. Despite the past. Despite themselves.
It felt so real. Messy. Intimate. Painful. Hopeful.
I can’t count how many times I cried. Or hoped. Or wanted to throw my iPad against the wall. It’s the kind of emotional roller coaster that doesn’t let you off easy—and doesn’t pretend it will. As one quote puts it:
“She tried to remember things were not as they felt, but as they were. Amelia had made a commitment, so had she, and neither of them was to each other.”
And this one, I felt this in my bones:
“She may as well have signed herself over to Amelia for the duration of her employment, because as tall as she tried to stand, she still ended up on her knees.”
This book wrecked me only to build me up—and then wreck me again. And I’m honestly grateful for it.
May 6, 2024
Thank you, Riley for giving us this book!!!!!!
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