The Darker Side of Pleasure takes readers on a titillating tour of the bondage basement of Los Angeles. There are three tales, “The Bonds of Love,” “The Lair,” and “Love and Discipline.”
The first stop, introduces us to a troubled couple who use BDSM as an unusual substitute for marital counseling. Next, is a woman who wants to be trained as a submissive and unexpectedly develops feelings other than pain and lust. The final stop involves a successful woman (read “a chick so uptight that what she needs is a good spanking to let go”) who inadvertently gets sucked into (pun intended) this alternative lifestyle.
Bradley does an excellent job of constructing scenarios that are at once plausible and pulsating to read. The plots of all three stories are strong, with “The Bonds of Love” being the most convincing and empathy inspiring. The settings and characters are so well fleshed out that readers can actually visualize the action, which is great for the voyeurs. (okay, I will take my tongue out of my, um, cheek).
If you like your erotica slightly naughty (say vanilla with nuts :) you will love The Darker Side of Pleasure. Read it with a loved one or love the one you read it with (last one I promise).