The Dark Garden

A reviewer

The Dark Garden Eden Bradley Bantam, Jun 2007, $13.00 ISBN: 0553589733 In California Rowan Cassidy works the perfect job for someone with her dominant personality she is mistress at Club Prive bondage club. However, much of what her peers and customers believes about her is image as she hides the psyche damage from her last relationship. Christian Thorne meets Rowan at the club he wants her like no one he has been with before, but this alpha male must be on top. He also feels she has a submissive soul that she conceals behind the leather dominatrix impression she emits. He offers her a deal of thirty days to prove to her he is her master and that her preference is that of a ¿bottom¿. She wants him to dominate her, but fears returning to the hurt of her past. --- This complex erotic relationship drama hooks readers from the moment Christian and Rowan meet and never slows down as Eden Bradley takes her audience not just inside the BDSM scene, but into the inner minds of her prime players. The fascinating story line is a psychological study especially of Rowan who struggles between her fears and her desires. The hunk who loves her as his submissive and the strong secondary cast enhance the deep peep at the BDSM landscape. --- Harriet Klausner

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

I couldn't put it down!

I loved it! This is the first Eden Bradley book I've read and loved it. Just when I thought I got a break, the excitement started again!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A must read after 50 Shades!

If you loved Christian Grey, then you will love Christian Thorne. Great characters, sexy with romance. Perfect mix! Loved it!

Eden sure knows how to make a reader beg. LOVED it!

One thing I really enjoy about Eden's writing is that she makes a smooth entrance for you into the lifestyle of BDSM. There's a huge percentage of readers who like to read it, but don't know the depth of that kind of relationship. Eden does an exceptional job with it. She makes it understandable and pleasurable, while at the same time telling a story. It's why I like her books so much. She doesn't have the readers dive head first into a shallow end. She makes it desirable and sensual and leaves you almost begging to experience it. I have to say, subspace sounds like an intensely erotic place to be in.

Rowan is truly a reluctant submissive. A past relationship left Rowan unable to trust anyone. She closed off her heart and took control of her life. With the need to be in charge, Rowan is now a mistress at an exclusive club in California. It's where she has power over herself and the people under her. She will never be at the mercy of another man after what happened....until Christian Thorne walks in and changes her life irrevocably.

Christian Throne is an intense dominate, which make him off limits for Rowan. It's to bad too, she's wanted him since the moment she's laid eyes on him. They're both are aware of the electricity between them so Christian makes Rowan a proposition: She must submit to him for 30 days to see if she is a submissive. Christian believes she's not a dominate, that deep down she is a sub. Naturally, Rowan balks at the idea. She knows what she is....How can Christian think she's not a dominate...What nerve he has to question her like this! Rowan is hesitant to this agreement but she can't stop thinking about him so finally she says yes. But there is one stipulation to this agreement- no sex at all.

Rowan's transition isn't easy. It's going to take a lot of work on Christian's part, which he already knows. In one of the first scene they have together, Christian binds Rowan lightly with flowering vines. It was so beautiful and romantic to read and play out! Rowan was completely caught of guard by it. She nearly has a panic attack and flees, leaving Christian to see there is more than meets the eye with Rowan. He wants to help her, get her to open and let go of this monster from her past. Christian wants to show her she has power too underneath him. Rowan is realizing what a challenge this is for her and she's afraid she will walk away less intact than ever before. But the passion they share and the emotions they bring forth of each other will put them in a position neither of them expected. Is Rowan truly a reluctant submissive?

There is a side story with Rowan's friend, April, that takes place in this book as well. I really enjoyed that story as much as I enjoyed Rowan's...maybe even more.


Here are some of my favorite parts of this book:


He wrapped his fist in her glorious cascade of dark hair, pulled her hair back firmly, and spoke softly into her ear.
"You're doing beautifully, Rowan. But I have more in store for you. Are you ready?"
She gasped.
"Are you?" He tugged a little harder on her hair. "Tell me."
"Yes!" she hissed.


"God damn it, Rowan," he muttered.
She blinked. Was he angry with her? Hadn't she pleased him?
Then, "You'll be the death of me, girl."
She smiled. April was right. She still had some power here.


"It is, even now, at the end of winter. I love the driftwood that's washed up on shore. The shapes

The Dark Garden?

I have read other Eden Bradley stories and loved them all. However I was a little disappointed in this one. This story is sort of two couples stories combined in one. The secondary couple is April and Decker. Decker is a Dom at the BDSM club and April has heard all about his past. She is a newbie at the BDSM scene and absolutely loves and embraces the submissive role she plays. When she is invited to Decker's home she throws herself into it and actually is invited to spend the night which Decker never does.

The primary story is of Christian and Rowan. Rowan always thought she was the perfect Domme. However, when incidents occur she is forced to examine why she chose the role of Domme because she is sincerely turned on by Christian, another DOM. Christian offers her a challenge by telling her that the only way to be the ultimate DOmme is to experience the Sub's side of things. Little did he know she had already experence that side as a young woman and the situation went totally astray, scarring her emotionally. The only thing left for her to do was take the agressive side.

While this story was interesting it did become quite slow in places.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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