~REVIEW of Robin Schone's THE LOVER~

~SENSUAL, ITIMATE AND DARKLY EROTIC~

The Lover (The Lover #1)

Opening line: "Death. Desire. Michael did not know which of the two had brought him back to London."

I have never read a book quite like this before. Robin Schone's style of writing is amazing. Extremely personal and without rush, with pages of deliciously drawn out foreplay. The intimacy of her words makes you feel as though you were right there in the room with our lovers. Voyeuristic, reader foreplay if you will.

I was initially surprised that THE LOVER is a period piece, taking place in Victorian London but Robin Schone has done her homework and the attention given to the detail of the time is excellent. The clothing, and home trappings, the formality of the servants, and the constant reminders of ones status make for a well written historical novel.

The Lover tells the story of 36 year old Anne Aimes. A self admitted spinster who spent her coming out years caring for her elderly parents. After their death she is alone and feels that her only attribute is her vast wealth. Beneath Anne's virginal plain looks and grey streaked hair however lurks a passionate woman who yearns to know the caress of a man. For the period of one month and at a cost of ten thousand pounds Anne hires the services of prostitute Michel Des Anges from the house of Gabriel.

Anne has admired Michel since she first saw him years before at a high society ball. but time hasn't been kind to Michel. His face and hands having been horribly disfigured by fire. Anne however isn't bothered by the scars, she still finds Michel attractive. He has the body of a god and those eyes, those violet eyes. What Anne doesn't realize is that Michel is tormented and driven by vengeance. In hiring Michel's services Anne has unwittingly become a sacrifice in his plans for revenge. As the wheels of retaliation are set into motion Michel begins to doubt if he can really surrender the one woman who still wants to touch him, the one that sees beyond his scars, the spinster he now loves.

The ending here is dark and plenty suspenseful. The sex scenes are some of the best I've ever read and you will find yourself craving chocolate and bananas when done.

Highly recommended, this is more than just erotica.