Wicked Burn by Beth Kery - Review

I came to know of Beth Kery's book "Wicked Burn", when she was doing promotional blog tours first at author Megan Hart's blog and then at Novel Thoughts & Book Talk. After reading the synopsis and interviews, I decided it was a book I had to read and added it to my order for this month. A couple of weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Ms. Kery via the Amazon loop asking me if I'd like to read and review her book. After reading the e-mail a couple of times because I couldn't believe my eyes I responded ABSOLUTELY! Then I worried that I wouldn't like the book as I usually only review stories I enjoy, however I need not have "Wicked Burn", IMHO is a beautifully penned erotic romance.

Wicked Burn
Vic Savian is a ruggedly handsome, temperamental, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright who lives weekdays in a luxury apartment complex located in downtown Chicago while directing his latest play. He has seen his female neighbour who lives across the hall on two occasions and felt an instantaneous sexual attraction to her, he wants her, badly. One night Vic hears raised voices in the hallway and despite never having heard her voice, he knows it is his neighbour and intercedes when she is being manhandled by an aggressive suitor.

Niall Chandler noticed her handsome neighbour during a silent elevator ride one day and when Vic invites her into his apartment for a drink after assisting her, she does something completely uncharacteristic and accepts. They have a drink, exchange a few words, she introduces herself and Vic gives her his first name. Then they exchange more than words.

I'm always looking for better adjectives to describe the attraction and eroticism writers pen between a heroine and hero in a good romance book. The best way I can describe the sexual tension and attraction between this couple is it literally BOILS, and the erotic encounters between Niall and Vic are nuclear grade hot.

However, this book isn't just hot sex, their love story tugged my heartstrings. Following a horrible tragedy resulting from violence three years previously, Niall is a member of humanity's walking wounded. Her life has literally disintegrated around her. She has her career at the Chicago Museum of Fine Art and she travels. However, she struggles with inner turmoil, her loss, guilt and the shackles of the unrealistic expectations of her old school Catholic parents. The story is about her journey to emotional wellness and renewed ability to share her pain and love with another human being. Niall is a tiny, delicate, sweet, vulnerable, woman. She keeps her past closed deep inside a little Pandora's box, fearful of what will happen if she opens the lid.

Vic has his own emotional baggage following a very destructive and volatile relationship with his former movie star fiancé 'Jenny'. He is a sexual dominant who speaks bluntly and refuses to change his ways to suit a woman. Raised in the country, his upstate farm is where his heart is. Vic tolerates the city to direct his plays but returns to the farm every weekend. The guy is just HOT...

Niall, though previously married is relatively sexually naive and Vic not only awakens her passion, he introduces her to new levels of sensuality. He is demanding, inventive and dominant during their sexual encounters. She is submissive and responsive. There is also a tender side to Vic and he develops a concern and compassion for Niall, which he doesn't always verbalize but as a reader, I could feel in his actions.

The dialogue in this book is at times crisp and tense, the story flows beautifully and Ms. Kery's prose is sensual, quite outstanding.

Here is short example of the dialogue and prose. Niall is feeling uncomfortable about the speed with which their relationship is moving along. She is trying to communicate this to Vic, who has no intention of slowing down:

"You think I'm coming on too strong," Vic supplied.

She tilted her head uncertainly. "Not just you. I am, too. I don't know what to make of it."

"You think we should back off, take it a little slower?" he prompted. Her eyes flashed warmly, as if she was relieved that he's found the right words for her.

"Don't you think that would be for the best?" she asked.

"No."

Her lower lip trembled. "No?" she repeated incredulously after several seconds.

Vic crumpled the flimsy paper cup and tossed it on top of the bag. She wasn't going to like this, but---"No. I want you too much to take you in stingy little servings. Maybe you'll think that's greedy of me, but I'm not the kind of guy who takes what he wants in half measures." He met her gaze. "That's not who I am, Niall."

Her mouth rounded in a silent, amazed "Oh." His muscles tensed as he resisted an overwhelming urge to scoot across the floor and send his tongue deep between the lush, round target of her lips."

Niall's history isn't revealed early in the story and I had difficulty putting the book down because I needed to know more about her as much as finding out how her and Vic's story would turn out. As with any romance novel, we need conflict to make it interesting. Niall and Vic's story is no different, the path to their HEA is not an easy one but in the end, as a reader I found it very gratifying.

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, you know I usually am not all that comfortable with BDSM themed books. This story, is one of the exceptions.

Beth Kery's work is now an autobuy for me. "Wicked Burn" is the first book of 2009 to go on to my list of favorites. By the way, the title of this book? Perfect....

In the post below I've listed Ms. Kery's 2009 book releases. I've pre-ordered the ones I can. As you can see, she has a busy year ahead and I am so looking forward to reading more of her work.

Thank you for sharing your book with me Beth, it is awesome!!!