Kristina Lloyd, Darker Than Love

Darker Than Love

Kristina Lloyd

Black Lace, December 2006, $7.99

ISBN: 0352332794

In 1875, young and naive Clarissa Longleigh is coming to London to meet her fianc Lord Alexander Marldon for the first time. She has dreamed of him ever since she learned of the arranged marriage. She pictures him as dark, because her father Charles said so, and handsome, as her personal Prince Charming should be, as he loves and honors her. However, she is a bit concerned that her country ways may embarrass a city sophisticate like her Alexander.

He fits her description perfectly as he is dark, handsome and sophisticated. However, she soon learns she may have wished for the wrong thing, as her Alex is also a sadist. Alex has plans for his beautiful fianc to turn her into his slave, as he believes that the body is what binds people, not some concept called love. Married, he begins his assault on her soul, claiming that and her body belongs to him. When he learns she has befriended Gabriel the artist without his permission, he locks her away in the dungeon of his estate, where he will educate her on forces much stronger and DARKER THAN LOVE, starting with imprisoning the Italian painter who failed at his rescue attempt.

This is a deep, erotic, historical romantic suspense that stars a debauched aristocrat, his naive spouse, and the painter who loves her. The triangle is cleverly played, so the audience can compare the different ways Alexander and Gabriel treat Clarissa; thus the heated sadistic moments are key elements to the storyline. Readers who appreciate a well written torrid tale in which love battles deviation will want to read this superior sub-genre Victorian.