They say ‘sex sells’ and that has never been truer since the world wide phenomena that was ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. Amazon’s bestseller listing for kindle and the shelves of high street bookstores now offer a variety of erotic fiction aimed at both women and men and this novel falls well ‘inside the lines’ of that category (excuse the Pun) and so this month sees the release of  “Inside The Lines” by Ally Bishop.  The Library Door was delighted to be invited to review the book in advance of its launch on the 9th of March.

This book is a thoroughly modern romance with a sassy, smart and beautiful heroine in the shape of Lux Trace AKA Mistress Hathaway, who inducts us into the world of BDSM and the Dominatrix as she introduces  Fin McKenzie to all aspects of her life. For the uninitiated, BDSM is a catch all phrase used to cover Bondage Discipline, Domination, Submission, Sadism and Masochism. After meeting Fin , when he stands in for an escort friend on a ‘job’ Lux breaks her own rules and starts to date him. The story follows their romance  with the expected and unexpected trials and tribulations along the way.’ True love never runs smooth’ its said and that’s especially true when The horse whisperer meets Dominatrix.

This is New York based author Ally Bishop’s (www.allybishop.com) first book. She been writing since she was eight on an electric typewriter and  in spiral note books, before graduating on to a MAC. In the past she’s run writing groups, judged writing competitions and gained two writing degrees on the road to her first book.

Hot on the heels of Fifty Shades of Grey, Inside The Lines is a

Ally Bishop

book for the woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it. It paints a vivid picture of the fetish world whilst giving the characters depth and feelings . Whilst its packed full of every kind of sex scene you can think of , you can enjoy being a voyeur without feeling seedy . The sex scenes are well written, realistic and without those awful banal phrases you find in some’ chick lit’ efforts . The storyline carries you through and you are keen to find out if it all works out in the end as a good romance should.

There is a supporting cast of characters used to move along or explain aspects of the plot. Lux’s enthusiasm for all things BDSM shines through. I initially thought I might be disappointed by a clichéd reason for Lux’s interest in BDSM but Ms. Bishop manages to not to alienate all those non traumatized ‘toppers’ and ‘bottomers’ out there by presenting Lux as a fully rounded personality. All the characters are likable and I was pleased to hear there might be a further instalment in their story.

Back in my 20’s I read Jilly Cooper novels when they were considered the steamiest thing you could read in public. Now with the advent of E Readers we can indulge whatever fantasies we wish on the bus to work. The content here is 20 years beyond what was considered daring then but I was reminded a little of Cooper’s best efforts in the equestrian related aspects of the story.

I’d recommend this as a read for broadminded women of any age but I think it would most likely appeal to those in their twenties . Yes the characters are all gorgeous, rich and extremely energetic, which generally would irritate me but who wants its too real in a fantasy? The reality may be that your ‘sub’ isn’t an underwear model but one can hope!

Our American readers can avail of a chance to to win a $25 Etsy gift card along with a signed copy of the book and 3 eBooks. To be in with a chance click on the link below.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f1d2d3a01/

Reviewed by Georgina Self