Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "melissa-mcsherry"

Carving for Cara DARK Edition: A Dark Romance Halloween Novella by Dana LeeAnn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A dangerous and erotic game of trick-or-treat.

**Trigger Warning: This novella contains graphic descriptions of sexual violence and a controversial victim experience.**

Cara is excited for the upcoming Hallowe’en festivities, while also hoping she can finally disentangle herself from her selfish ex and move on.

Meeting her friend for pumpkin spice lattes, she finds herself transfixed by perhaps the most gorgeous man she has ever laid eyes on.

Rhett is equally enthralled by Cara on first sight. But he has a hidden dark side. Now, he will stop at nothing to entirely possess her.

'Carving for Cara', co-written by Melissa McSherry and Dana LeeAnn, is a dark romance novella for Hallowe’en, an erotic fantasy with slasher overtones. Told from the dual perspectives of Cara and Rhett, it delves deep into the psyches of both characters, exploring their thoughts, desires and passions as they head into this fateful Hallowe’en night. Bursting with seasonal imagery and flourishes of horror, the authors vividly set the scene as spice and suspense smoulders and ignites.

Cara, with her love for Hallowe’en and the season's darkness, longs for a lover who can satisfy her dark fantasies. Still in a casual relationship with her ex, unbeknownst to her best friend, she longs for escapism and a depth of pleasure she's not experienced in her life. Spunky, independent and beautiful, we experience her creeping unease as she is stalked by her unseen predator.

From the first moment he sees Cara, Rhett is obsessed: she is his and he knows how much she wants him. Narcissistic and delusional, he sets in play his scheme to claim his woman. I particularly liked how his character was developed authentically - he may be physically attractive, intelligent and highly skilled (in more ways than one), but he is nevertheless portrayed as the dangerous villain he is, not painted as a lovable, misunderstood hero (sometimes a mistake of the genre) - we never lose sight of his true nature as stalker, murderer and rapist.

Building to an intense climax as predator and prey collide in a pursuit through the corn field and into the pumpkin patch, Cara finds herself overpowered and defenseless as she lies bound and terrified. Even as she is assaulted, a deeper, primal part of herself stirs, pleasure rippling through her beyond her control.

Plus, this will be no one night stand - Cara and Rhett are set to return in a sequel, which I hope will be another Hallowe’en frenzy that also explores the aftermath and emotional fall-out of such a conflicting experience at the hands of a narcissist.

Oozing with pumpkin spice, 'Carving for Cara' is a delicious Hallowe’en quickie for readers who enjoy dabbling in CNC and BDSM fantasy or simply enjoy something brutal, rather than romantic, for our favourite dark season.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter