Beyond Eden by Kele Moon

 

Beyond Eden grabs you on the first page and doesn't let up until you reach the end. The depth of the characters, the knowledge of how BDSM relationships can work, there are many reasons why Beyond Eden worked for me.

I'll start with the blurb this time:

Three lifelong friends find themselves tangled in a web of love, pain and dangerous secrets in this erotic Garden of Eden tale. Tall, dark and handsome Danny Carlow has always gotten whatever he wants except for the two he wants more than anything—his best friends, lovers Paul and Eve. Determined, he waits like a snake in the grass, poised for the right moment to offer them a temptation too delicious to resist. Artist Eve Everton makes the painful decision to leave her true love Paul for the siren call of New York City. Ten years later, with her life in shambles, she returns. When Paul’s waiting arms aren’t available, Eve falls for Danny’s charm and finds herself a willing accomplice in the dangerous games Danny plays. Former college football star Paul Mattling is now a successful attorney with a bright future ahead of him. But behind those brilliant blue eyes are secret desires for a taste of the forbidden. Will he play it safe or give in to Danny and Eve and bite the apple? Reader Advisory: Not for the faint of heart, the pain in this story is vivid and real, the emotions even more so. Haunting and poignant, Beyond Eden presents a darker side of BDSM. You might gasp. You might cry. You might find yourself reading it again and again.

The blurb is right that we see some of the darker parts of BDSM. But you should know that it's balanced out by showing some of the lighter parts of BDSM. There is one scene where the sub gets cracked up by something and the Dom tries to remain strict and then finally can't manage it, and he cracks up mid-scene, too. These things happen sometimes, it was nice to see it written into the book.

But the darker stuff is certainly there.... I expected to see the physical stuff, but wasn't prepared for the emotional stuff. Beyond Eden made me cry.

I had a few problems with Danny's Dominance, but those things actually just made him more human. All in all he's a good Top, and a responsible Master, one that deserves the trust he is given. He deeply cares for Paul and Eve, and the author did a great job of showing the depth of his commitment to both of them. I love that he cooks for them and takes care of them in so many ways.

BDSM elements:

• Bondage and Discipline: Yes. 3 of 3
• Dominance and Submission: 3 of 3
• Sadism and Masochism: If I could give it a 4 of 3 then I would.   3 of 3
• Extra Point: Yes. 

As for the writing elements -- the plot was predictable, pacing was mostly okay with a few issues here and there, prose and dialogue were well done and included several humorous laugh out loud moments. Character development was stellar. Seriously, the character development carries the book.

There were more editing issues than there should have been. Editing issues are an annoyance that can pull you right out of the fantasy as you are reading. Even with the typos, the pacing issues, and the predictable plot, Beyond Eden still gets a 10 of 10 from me. Did I mention the fully developed characters? And the accurate descriptions of BDSM play and BDSM relationships?

• Book Rating: Beyond Eden: 10 of 10
• BDSM Intensity Level: 10 of 10
• Heat Level: 5 of 5

According to the author's website there will be a sequel called Claiming Eden. I look forward to its release.