Topping From Below

May 29, 2012 Paul rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: novels, this-book-hates-women

What's a nice reviewer like me doing in a book like this?

Well, I have been disturbed recently by the gradual infusion of BDSM into popular culture, culminating in the chart-rogering 50 Shades of Grey, and the song by Rihanna called S&M ("pain is my pleasure… chains and whips excite me") which was No 1 in various countries, enjoyed by millions of teenyboppers. Reviews of 50 Shades and co-incidentally or not Story of O have been popping up all over Goodreads lately. BDSM has gone mainstream.

It...more

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May 28, 2012 Ian Graye rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews-1-star, read-2012, reviews, erotica

A Question for You, Reggie

Hi, Reggie, I normally love Paul Bryant's reviews, but his review of "Topping from Below" has me perplexed.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Does he take the novel too seriously or not seriously enough?

Please help.

Ian

Reggie Responds

Thanks for your question, Ian.

Paul is one of my favourite reviewers on GR, too.

However, when he takes the side of feminism in his reviews, he allows his normally astute views to be whipped into a frenzy (see "American Psycho").

Two passa...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Eric_W rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries-and-thrillers

Update 3/10/12 I've been reading about Fifty Shades of Grey and while I have yet to read that book - probably won't -- it would seem to be very similar to this one. I'm wondering if perhaps James is a pseudonym for Reese.

I stumbled across Reese truly by accident. Amazon.com has some very nice features, and one of them is links to books that their computer program calculates you might be interested in based on previous purchases and queries. Reese's name popped up under mysteries, so I poked arou...more Update 3/10/12 I've been reading about Fifty Shades of Grey and while I have yet to read that book - probably won't -- it would seem to be very similar to this one. I'm wondering if perhaps James is a pseudonym for Reese.

I stumbled across Reese truly by accident. Amazon.com has some very nice features, and one of them is links to books that their computer program calculates you might be interested in based on previous purchases and queries. Reese's name popped up under mysteries, so I poked around in the readers' comments and reviews and was intrigued enough to purchase a copy for myself. One writer even suggested Reese might be a pseudonym for Anne Tyler. (I don't think so.)

It's a riveting book, and I have donated it to the library. But, beware. This is not a book for the fainthearted, nor for those whose libidinous impulses scare them into suppression of the distasteful, nor those who are uncomfortable with erotic and graphic sex. Now that I've created a stampede on the circulation desk, a few words about the plot.

This is a book about power and love and the depths to which we will go to achieve them. Nora is convinced that her sister Franny has been killed by M. (rarely is he referred to by his full name, Michael). Franny's body was discovered bound and marked with cuts, and Nora and the police discover that Franny's diary reveals her obsession with M., who wields a sadomasochistic domination over Franny.

The police, while suspicious, are unable to find evidence linking him to Franny's murder, so Nora decides to ingratiate herself with M. in order to collect evidence that will convict him. She begins to discover, however, that she likes M.'s weird sexual practices. M., who Nora quickly realizes knew more about Franny than she herself had, teases her with pieces of information about Franny and the accidental death of their brother Billy, which haunted the sisters.

Franny, unbeknownst to anyone, would hitch rides to the ocean, and then step out into the cold water seeking ever larger waves. "This is a game she started playing several months ago: to see how far she'll push herself; to see if the ocean can scare everything out of her, every memory, good and bad. She wants a wave so big and scary that she'll be sucked into a black hole of fear, remembering nothing. But each time she comes out here it seems harder and harder to reach that black hole, each time she has to push herself further."

Nora becomes more entwined with M., much to the consternation of Ian, her boyfriend, and Joe Harris, a police detective she has befriended. To her horror, she learns that M. has befriended Ian and that Ian has revealed to M. that he had had a brief liaison with Franny. Nora's suspicions begin to focus on Ian as the killer, and after she finds a roll of duct tape and some pornographic pictures of Franny and Ian hidden in Ian's closet, she turns him into the police and considers moving in with M. Her perception of reality unravels after M. gives her a video of Franny that reveals a detail Nora had missed and that turns everything upside down once again.

Note that if erotica or explicitness scares you, don't read this book.(less)

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Feb 18, 2013 Jeanne rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: misrepresents-bdsm, problematic-shit

This is a misrepresentation of safe, sane and consensual BDSM.

At first I really enjoyed the female POV, and found the mystery intriguing. I chalked up the judgmental tone to her inexperience with the BDSM lifestyle. However, as the story progressed and the play became more and more extreme even crossing the line into bestiality and child porn, it became clear that the BDSM lifestyle was purposefully being misrepresent as corrupted and evil.

(view spoiler)...more This is a misrepresentation of safe, sane and consensual BDSM.

At first I really enjoyed the female POV, and found the mystery intriguing. I chalked up the judgmental tone to her inexperience with the BDSM lifestyle. However, as the story progressed and the play became more and more extreme even crossing the line into bestiality and child porn, it became clear that the BDSM lifestyle was purposefully being misrepresent as corrupted and evil.

(view spoiler)

It is even more disturbing that the tone of the ALL the content is written in an erotic tone, even the obvious abuse. I strongly suspect it was done purposefully to make the reader identify with the protagonist's own confusion about where to draw the line, unfortunately it ends up coming off as eroticizing the despicably abuse. Not to mention it gives the very inaccurate impression that any "normal" person can being turned into a twisted abuser by participating in BDSM play. ugh!

It's hard enough being a sexual minority. BDSM doesn't need authors and books exploiting common misconceptions to characterize everyone involved in the community as abusers and/or murders.

I would actually go as far to say this is thinly veiled anit-BDSM propaganda. A cautionary tale meant to scary sexual adventurous women away from exploring their sexuality for fear of being raped, murdered or turned into a "perverted freak."

Note: I edited/updated this review after receiving an messaging requesting I give more details and plainer language around why this misrepresents BDSM. This was one of the first reviews I posted to GoodReads and I own that it was very short, vague and passive in it's tone. I hope this makes it clear why I gave this book a 1star review, but also why I enjoyed the first parts of the story. If you have questions feel free to leave a comment or seem me a message.

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Apr 29, 2013 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dark-and-twisted

So this ended up interesting. I originally bought this book to see if it was REALLY as disturbing as some the reviewers said it was. I bought it, and then put it down and walked away at barely 25%. It wasn't the content that I found disturbing however, it was so boring! The first whole section about Franny bored me to tears. It felt slow and drug on and on. The first section with Nora felt much the same. I needed a break.

I don't like walking away from books. A story left unfinished nags at the r...more So this ended up interesting. I originally bought this book to see if it was REALLY as disturbing as some the reviewers said it was. I bought it, and then put it down and walked away at barely 25%. It wasn't the content that I found disturbing however, it was so boring! The first whole section about Franny bored me to tears. It felt slow and drug on and on. The first section with Nora felt much the same. I needed a break.

I don't like walking away from books. A story left unfinished nags at the recesses of my brain. So I picked it back up determined to see it through. By about 30-35% I was completely engrossed!
(view spoiler)

All and all I think the end result here was pretty amazing. Its a psychological thriller as well as a "who done it" and a look into, not so much BSDM for me, but more the sexual perversions of a sociopath and the lengths to which some people will go to feel whole. I couldn't put it down once I restarted it and I'm very glad I stuck with it.

As far the the reviewers who gave it bad rating based on its disturbing content, I think that its clearly marked and we are thoroughly warned before hand that the content is not easy to swallow. (view spoiler) It is NOT for everybody. In fact, I'm sure its not for most people. But really, you cant
but a book that warns about its content then complain ABOUT that content. That doesn't seem right to me.

I think what I found most disturbing in this book weren't the things listed above but more the complete debasement of Franny. I didn't find any of these characters all that likeable but the treatment of Franny, her lack of an ability to defend herself, and later Noras actions and her
emotional decline will stick with me for a long time.

I gave this book 4 stars insread of 5 because I still can't get over how slow it was at times. I know it was building an attachment and understanding of the sisters but at times it felt more like information dumping. I still loved it for the emotional turmoil it put me yhrough and for keeping me guessing. Would I recommend it? Not to anyone I had to look in the eye when they were done with it ! ;-)(less)

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Apr 14, 2012 Daemon Grendl rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bdsm-fiction

I was shocked to see this obvious S/M titled book in the window of Waldenbooks in the mall. How could a family store, like Waldenbooks, put a semi-pornographic book on display in a mall? How did parents answer the question from their kids? “Mommy, what do they mean topping?”

When the submissive (or bottom) controls or manipulates the play (or scene) instead of the Dominant (or Top) it's called Topping from Below (or topping from the bottom).

But this story is much more complex than that.

A women is...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Poisongirl 0101 rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: NO ONE!

Shelves: hated-it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book is so pretty disgusting that the only thing that made me feel a little worse was reading that other people felt as disgusted by this book as myself.

In fact, I wish I did not read this book. The dog, pig scenes... the strong sister becoming a stupid moron... BDSM being portrayed as something completely distorted... the fat sister who wants to be loved and has no self-steem and dies for it...

This is not erotica, this is a perversion in senses that are unbelievable. And I am not a purita...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Lady Raven RAVE! rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica-bdsm, erotica-dark-violent, erotica-suspense, erotica-taboo, erotica-disturbing

Story: FAIR
Intimacy Level: HARDCORE BDSM
Enjoyment: OK

OK, I'm always open to things when reading my romance and erotica books. I've read disturbing and dark erotica, but this one, took it to another level. I really don't have much to say on this book. Franny has always been a loner, until she met Michael aka M. M took his time to introduce Franny to his style of sex and intimacy. But after months of being together, Franny is found dead. Enters her sister Nora, who wants to find her killer, and af...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Ash rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I will admit this right now:

I am way too much of a prude to read erotic fiction.

In fact, I rarely read it. Although, I will interact with it in other mediums. I am fond of the movie Chloe. However, with the heightened craze of books like the Shades of Grey trilogy, which I cannot get passed Chapter 7 in Book one, it is that horrible, I decided to give Reese's Topping From Below a try after seeing it in my local bookstore.

Topping from Below is well written. The voices of the characters are very...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dark-erotica, suspense

An explosive, erotic novel about two sisters, each of whom embarks upon a voyage into the heart of evil and a game with a seductive man who knows no rules or limits. Only one returns. Successful, attractive, and in control, Nora seemed so different from her shy, terribly vulnerable younger sister. Grieving for Franny, Nora reads her diary and is stunned when it reveals a secret sadomasochistic affair with a mysterious professor known only as M. Nora vows to seek justice for the sister she never...more

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Aug 13, 2009 okyrhoe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bookcrossing, x-rated

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Excellent read! Even if some parts are stomach-churning.
But that's the whole point -> For the author to capture the reader's attention, to take the reader on a journey beyond the pale, to succeed in disorienting the reader - paralleling the debilitating confusion experienced by the spellbound Franny & Nora after a session with the calculating M.
You think you've had enough, and yet you continue reading on, to the gruesome end.
And when it's over, it's not easy to shake the story. Rather...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Nomi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I would have given this book five stars if it didn't contain scenes of bestiality.

I enjoyed the book, especially the beginning + middle. Also, learning and understanding the complexity of Franny's inner demons added depth to the novel.

However, it got a tad too melodramatic towards the end.
In my opinion, the writer got carried away with trying to develop twists (banal twists to make it worse)to keep us engaged, resulting in a conclusion that was over-the-top and corny.

Looking back, I suppose...more

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Jan 02, 2013 ♥~Beth~♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Wow where to start? well here's good

This book ticked all boxes for me it was a crime mystery..raunchy..as well it had extreme BDSM an epic whodunit?

and I have walked away with more questions than answers (even though the book does tell you own done it)

<<<<<----the look on my face after this book.

even though I quite like the idea of a bdsm lifestyle and I have read quite a few books and visited quite a few websites on the subject (I do not live the lifestyle), but based on my know...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Contessina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alpha-male-character, books-i-own, contemporary-romance, erotica, irritable-hero, obsessed-hero, seduction, strong-heroine

Hikâye Nora Tibbs'in kız kardeşi Frances 'in ölümünün yahut öldürülüşünün arkasındaki sır perdesini aralamaya soyunması ile başlıyor . ''Öldürülüşünün '' diyorum çünki Nora , kız kardeşinin pek bir acayip sevgilisi Michael tarafından öldürüldüğünü düşünüyor ve artık Nora 'nın tek gâyesi kâtili deşifre etmek .

Bu şekilde başladığından sebep hoş bir hikâye karakterine bürünüyor kitap , fakat zihnime salgın bir hastalık gibi yayılan şu düşünceyi üzerimden silkip atamıyorum : Pek sevgili Nora Hanım...more Hikâye Nora Tibbs'in kız kardeşi Frances 'in ölümünün yahut öldürülüşünün arkasındaki sır perdesini aralamaya soyunması ile başlıyor . ''Öldürülüşünün '' diyorum çünki Nora , kız kardeşinin pek bir acayip sevgilisi Michael tarafından öldürüldüğünü düşünüyor ve artık Nora 'nın tek gâyesi kâtili deşifre etmek .

Bu şekilde başladığından sebep hoş bir hikâye karakterine bürünüyor kitap , fakat zihnime salgın bir hastalık gibi yayılan şu düşünceyi üzerimden silkip atamıyorum : Pek sevgili Nora Hanım kızım ; Kız kardeşini öldürdüğünü düşündüğün adama k*çını başını açma konusunda neden bu kadar heveslisin ? Üstelik bu adam Sado-Mazosişt eğilimleri olan - yok canım, ne eğilimi basbayağı sadistin önce gideni olan bir çeşit manyak iken . Kızın kardeşi Frances ile girdiği cinsel ilişkinin ayrıntılarını Nora ile paylaşıyorken aynı zamanda da Nora ile sevişebilen pis , hastalıklı bir zihin sâhibi bir herif bu .

Tek gâyesi Michael'ı baştan çıkarıp ona suçunu îtirât ettirmek olduğu halde kendisini tâmâmen bu adamın kontrolü atında , adetâ irâdesi elinden alınmış bir vaziyette buldu Nora ve bu adamla bu çeşit bir ilişki içerisine girdiğinde bir sevgilisi de vardı , yâni Nora da öyle pek sağlam ayakkabı değil . Durum böyle olunca Nora'nın sevgilisi Ian'e bir acıyayım , yüreğim ezilsin dedim yine olmadı . Zîrâ onun da kirli çamaşırları varmış . Ne etsem bilemedim ; kitap boyunca hangi karakterin neresini tutsam elimde kaldı .

Bir kırılma noktasından sonra Nora , silkelenip kendine geldi ve Michael ile birlikte oluşunun altındaki nedeni hatırlayarak tekrar kız kardeşi adına adâleti saplamak için kolları sıvadı ve ne yaptı ne etti zekîce bir oyunca Michael 'den istediği îtirâfı aldı . Efendim , bu pis herif artık ayarını çoktan aşmış BDSM oyunları esnâsında Frances'i kazâyla(!) öldürmüş...

Be gözü kör olasıca , BDSM'nin , içinde sadist- mazoşist eylemlerden zevk almak gibi bir olguyu barındırdığını biliyoruz , fakat ben kimsenin ölmekten zevk alacağını düşünemiyorum . Hele ki o adamın Frances'le domuz çiftliğinde yediği halt neydi öyle yahu . Sanırsın hayvanlı porno çekiyor herif .

Meseleyi şöyle bir derleyip toparlarsak , bu kitabı ne Fifty Shades Serisi ile ne de Cherise Sinclair kitapları ile karşılaştırın . Bu kitap bünyesinde amacını aşmış bir sadizmi barındırıyor . Okuyanlar bilirler Cherise Sinclair kitapları cinsel içerik bakımından hayli ağırdır ve içinde gerçek BDSM'yi barındırır , fakat onun kitaplarındaki dominantlar yahut masterlar iaatkârlarının sınırlarını bilirler; hatta onlara hayatlarında üstesinden gelmekte zolandıkları her türlü meseleyi aşmalarında yardımcı olurlar . Nitekim Cherise de okurlarının sınırlarını bilir; yazdığı şey her ne kadar erotica da olsa karakterlerinin arasında sağlam duygusal bağlar kurmayı ertelemez yahut ihmâl etmez . Velhâsıl-ı kelâm , Cherise Sinclair'i BDSM-Erotica türünde bir kitap okumak niyetiyle ve bu tür kitaplara karşı önyargı beslemeden okursanız içindeki cinsel içerikten hiç rahatsız olmaz yahut çok az rahatsız olursunuz; eroticanın her türlüsünden rahatsız oluyorsanız da bu türde kitap okumayarak sorununuza en pratik çözümü getirirsiniz. Fakat bu durum bu kitap ve Laura Reese için benim nazarımda geçerli değil zîrâ bu hikâye içinde zerre kadar aşk , sevgi ve türevi bir şeyi barındırmayan salt hard-core porn ... Daha meselenin en başında Nora- Michael- Frances üçlüsünün ilişkisinden tiksinmeye başlamıştım ki bir de bu üçlü ''okey''e dördüncü ararcasına Ian'in eklenmesiyle dörtlendi.

Diyeceğim odur ki bu hikâyeyi ; '' Aşk , sevgi , saygı aramıyorum ; yanızca porno okumak istiyorum , '' diyen okurlar beğenebilirler . Ben erotic novel zevkime Sylvia Day , Lisa Valdez, E.L James , Allyson James , Cherise Sinclair çizgisinde devâm etmek niyetindeyim .

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Sep 22, 2012 Kristina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is possibly the darkest and most disturbing book I have ever read. I finished reading it a few days ago and it is still haunting me. The book troubled me and I am not sure that I could say I enjoyed reading it.

'Topping From Below' is the story of Nora and her investigation into to the murder of her sister, Franny. Nora discovers that her sister was involved in an S&M relationship with M. and Nora becomes convinced that M. murdered her sister. Nora believes the police are not taking acti...more This is possibly the darkest and most disturbing book I have ever read. I finished reading it a few days ago and it is still haunting me. The book troubled me and I am not sure that I could say I enjoyed reading it.

'Topping From Below' is the story of Nora and her investigation into to the murder of her sister, Franny. Nora discovers that her sister was involved in an S&M relationship with M. and Nora becomes convinced that M. murdered her sister. Nora believes the police are not taking action against M. quickly enough, so she takes matters into her own hands, agreeing to enter into a sexual relationship with M. in exchange for details about Franny's life with M. The more involved Nora becomes with M., the more unclear it is whether he is a murderer, or simply a sadist with a pension for humiliation.

When I picked up this book, I was expecting a light erotic thriller with steamy sex scenes, along the lines of something by Shayla Black. Well, this book is ANYTHING but light and steamy. The sex scenes are disturbing, based around humiliation and degradation. The scenes between M. and Franny are awful. She usually cries and begs him not to make her do what he asks her to do. The scenes between M. and Nora are not based around humiliation (Nora wants to do what M. asks of her) but that didn't make me want to read them; after all, does ANYONE want to read about bestiality in graphic detail?

As I read it, I almost wondered whether the author was simply trying too hard to push the envelope of perversion to ensure that the reader doesn't start to sympathize with M. Because how could we sympathize with a man who asks his partners to watch child pornography , fuck pigs and dogs, or be urinated on?

If you want to read about a twisted, sadistic man and the fucked up relationships he has with two women, then ‘Topping From Below’ is pretty good. The murder mystery element in the novel is surprising and really did keep me guessing. But you have to be really open-minded to read this book. I can’t say that I know anyone I would recommend this book to, but the fact that I am still thinking about the book says something…It’s just too gross and disturbing for me to say I actually liked it.
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Feb 13, 2013 Cyndi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those over 18

A friend of mine gave me a copy of Topping From Below. The premise sounded interesting and the book got off to a good start. My only complaint after reading the first couple chapters was the amount of unnecessary description. Everything from random sounds, the color of the shirt of a random women across the street, the number of birds in the sky. Description is a good thing, you need it to get into the stories setting, but there was too much.

SPOILERS
As the book continued I got into the character...more A friend of mine gave me a copy of Topping From Below. The premise sounded interesting and the book got off to a good start. My only complaint after reading the first couple chapters was the amount of unnecessary description. Everything from random sounds, the color of the shirt of a random women across the street, the number of birds in the sky. Description is a good thing, you need it to get into the stories setting, but there was too much.

SPOILERS
As the book continued I got into the characters, and felt extremely bad and embarrassed for Franny. She seemed so miserable and vulnerable, and beyond desperate for attention. Nora seemed like a strong woman which is why it was so odd that he was okay with submitting to the man she believed murdered her sister.

Michael, or as Mora called him, M, was a despicable pervert, and throughout the book I couldn't bring myself to like him. There were several parts in the book that were hard to read. I'm not at all into beastiality (humans having sex with animals), and it was mentioned and shown several times throughout the book. I actually had to put the book down for a moment after reading about the first beastiality encounter.

I felt bad for Ian, I couldn't imagine lying to my boyfriend like Nora did to him. However, after reading about Franny sleeping with someone at the Bee, I had the feeling it was Ian, and I turned out to be right. I could understood, however, why he wouldn't want to tell Nora, even though I don't condone it. But when I found out about him sleeping with M, my view of him twisted slightly. I understand how convincing and conniving M could be, but I lost my respect for him.

I suspected all along that M was guilty, and I wasn't disappointed by the reveal. I liked how M's arrogance was his 'downfall'. The conclusion wasn't as satisfactory as I was hoping. M doesn't go to jail, but him losing his hands, and never being able to play the piano (his passion) was of some consolation. I do wish though that he at at the very least, lost his reputation as well. He'll still be able to live guilt free.

Nora's ending seemed fitting. She slowly moved on with her life, and is dating Ian again. Although, I don't honestly see it lasting.

Overall, it was a decent book. Not something I regret reading, but also, not something I will most likely read again. I give it three stars because the writing was well done, and the plot was interesting. The characters were well developed and it was at most times hard to put down, because I kept wanting to know what happened next.(less)

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Oct 15, 2011 Dan Hart rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm not crazy about it. I like sexy books, but this one's a bit forced. It's like the author deliberately wants very much to put in some shocking sex but is also careful not to go too far.
It's trying to achieve a dark mood, but doesn't get there either. The professor villain is not wicked enough. There should be a lot of mystery about him, but I just am not extremely affected to find out. I understand why the heroine wants to find out about the murder, but somehow her emotions are not very well...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Bridget rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hardcover, hot, mystery, recommended-favorites

Nora Tibbs is a feminist and journalist whose younger sister, Franny, is found deceased, mildly disfigured and bound in her apartment. Also found is Franny's diary, detailing her relationship with "M.", who begins a torturous BDSM affair with this inexperienced, overweight mousy woman. She is suddenly of interest to this sophisticated and sensual man, who slowly brings her into a fully submissive sexual relationship. Nora is convinced he is the cause of her sister's death, and proceeds to try an...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Jerantino rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If Fifty Shades of Suck left you wanting, sink your kinky fangs into this twisted ride!
A book that examines the primeval instincts lurking beneath the civilized soul, Topping from Below explores the human capacity for good and evil. When her younger sister is killed, Nora is stunned to discover that Franny had been having a secret sadomasochistic affair with a mysterious professor known only as "M".
Join Nora as she sinks into M's world of domination, bondage, and beastiality. But who is ultimate...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Deborah rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

no option for really hated it?!?!
scarification, mummification, cutting, the verbal and physical degradation that was nothing... the beastiality... in horrifying detail... SICK!!! I really wanted to root for the sister who claimed she was trying to avenge her sis's death when law enforcement seemed to drop the ball ... but the brutalizing, torturous death was at the hands of a sado-masachist how you can do a 360 & willingly participate on the premise of learning from him directly what he did...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Christina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica

I am left wondering many things after reading this book. The plot allowed for some great suspence, but also went very deep in some extreme aspects of sexuality and worse some taboo topics. This would be a good book for someone who is into very dark erotica, but for just a BDSM book, which I thought I was getting when reading the back, this book doesn't fit the bill. It left me feeling down and depleted of all good. This is the book version of a dementor (Harry Potter Reference). Not a book I wou...more

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Mar 31, 2011 ♆ BookAddict ~ La Crimson Femme rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: no one

Recommended to ♆ BookAddict by: Dark Fantasy Group

Shelves: bdsm, mystery, sadistic

This was one of the books in my GR's book of the month in March 2011. I read this and honestly, it shows a bad side of BDSM that I'm not thrilled with...at all. It comes across as those in the BDSM are callous sociopaths who can easily kill a person w/o a problem. It perverts and twists a lifestyle into a horrible lie. I'm very disappointed in this book and don't recommend it to anyone.

I would like to point out, Ms. Reese possesses an excellent writing style. She also wrote a very good mystery...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Rakell rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the darkest and most disturbing book I've ever read. I finished reading it last night and it is still haunting me and I think it always will. The book troubled me a lot and I am not sure if I enjoyed reading it,probably not. Before reading this book I couldn't even imagine that anyone would enjoy such violent sex ... with that degree of violence. I read The 50 Shades trilogy ,but it was a fairytale compared to this one .
The people that liked The 50 Shades trilogy and thought that would e...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Aimee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is not for the faint of heart. About 3/4 of the way into the book I discovered what the title meant. I kept telling everyone, "The title doesn't explain the book at all." Well, it does if you know anything about sadomasochism. I found the book to be a mind bending experience. It was a fascinating journey to go through with the main character. She wants to find out who killed her sister. After reading her sister's diary she has a pretty good idea who did it and even though he was a susp...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An easy, entertaining read. The whole point is that the main character is looking for her sister's murderer, and you're not sure who it is... but with only three additional characters, you could guess randomly and often be right.

Not as painful as 50 Shades, the writing is better, if not great. The sex scenes are okay, and while I'm happy the author included some extremes like piss, bestiality, and cutting, the "twoo domliness" of the Dom is frustrating and unrealistic.

Overall, an ok murder myst...more

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Jun 01, 2013 Natasha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Gee where do you begin with this one.....This had me captivated right at the beginning. I didn't want to put the book down and wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. I nearly flipped to the end of the book a few times to find out just who the real killer was. So many times I went from believing that the killer was M. then believing it was Ian.

What can you say about M. what a psycho crazy piece of work. Sometimes I was beginning to like him and other times I just thought he...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Bridget R. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of dark erotica

Recommended to Bridget R. by: Melissa B, though I know you didn't mean to

Shelves: free-or-cheap-e-book, e-book, erotica, hero-villian, m-f, bdsm, suspense, bad-dom-must-be-punished, four-star, so-fucked-up, dmc, charaters-tstl, 2012, no-hea, dark-erotica

Overall rating is 4.5.

Disclaimer: The reason I rated this so highly is because the author wrote the story in such a way that I couldn't put it down, even when I wanted to. There were some very disturbing things in this book--I wanted to look away but something kept me reading even when I cringed and felt sick. There's something to be said for a writer who can do that.

I would never hand Topping from Below to a vanilla person who knew nothing of BDSM, as this book paints the lifestyle in a horrif...more

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Mar 06, 2010 Stacy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Topping From Below by Laura Reese.
Picked up at a yardsale for $1.00.
It was only worth one dollar. To each his own, but this, was too much into the weird.
It was supposed to be on the lines of a girl investigating on her own, into her sisters death... into the world of S&M. Um... ew... and than, it read more like severe mental abuse to me.

I would not pick up again, nor would I recommend. However, once I can find it, I'd be more than willing to just give this one away!!!

zero out of 5

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Jan 03, 2013 Lena rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bdsm, dark, disturbing-as-hell

Warning: This is a disturbing read, so if you are easily offended, this is not for you! I, however, am not easily offended, sure there are things I'd like not to read about and this book definitely had some of those things in it. In fact, the scene where most people would have been disgusted, I found almost laughable bc it was just silly. I didn't care for any of the characters except the boyfriend, poor him. Things did turn out different than I thought they would for the main characters. The en...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Sgurbet added it · review of another edition

kitapla ilgili ne yazsam bilemedim...
ama su kadarini söyleyebilirim ki grinin Christian'i Micheal'in yaninda melek kaliyordu...
M.'ye mi ya da Nora'ya mi daha cok kizsam bilemedim, M.'nin sadist, sapik vs. oldugunu anladikta Nora'in bunu kabul etmesini ve istemesini hic anlayamadim (güya kardesinin yasadiklarini anlamak icinmis ama kendisi daha cok hevesliydi)
bu tarz kitaplari fazla okumadim onun icin de kisaylama yapamam ama sunu söyleyebilirim ki grinin serisi bundan daha iyiydi bence...

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