While Elise's sexuality in VANILLA is femdom, this story is about a woman's life and how she fits her sexuality into it. Elise is a single woman who co-owns a company where her partner wants to play more than work. She is involved in a sexual relationship with a man whose significance is that he is only a sexual partner. She is the mediator and voice of reason between her mother and sister and her sister-in-law. War is breaking out within the family over her nephew's Bar Mitzvah. Her twin brother has opted out of the war. Elise is the only one who seems to care about her nephew and his needs and wants. I liked Elise. She is independent. She was broken in the past and she is wary of romantic and emotional involvement. She must deal with the put downs of her mother on choices she has made. When she learns the truths of the past she has to decide if she wants verification and validation of those truths or if she will let it go. When the opportunity for romance occurs she wants him but will he accept her as she is including her sexuality. Niall, her brother's co-worker, believes in the stereotype of female Dommes. Elise has to determine whether she can teach him the truth of her choices or let him walk away. The uncertainty on both their parts is painful but necessary to build trust between them if their relationship is to succeed. VANILLA is more than a story of sex. It is a woman's story of learning to let go of the past, live in the present with the choices she has made and not allow others to shame her for those choices, and building for a future with pride, dignity, and love. Elise does that. |