Possession by Adriana Anders | ARC Review
Sneak preview review of the latest Adriana Anders!
“You don’t sail a thousand ships, you pulverize them.” — Possession by Adriana Anders
This is exciting- now that I have a place to publicly review romance novels, I’m eligible for receiving ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) from some of my favorite authors as long as I post a review after I read. First up, dear readers, is the latest in Adriana Anders’ Kink Camp/Camp Haven series, Possession, featuring Zain (a long-time incognito Kink Camper, as well as a famous movie star) and his wife-for-PR-reasons Twyla (a newbie kinkster and actress herself).
Let’s start with our modern marriage of convenience, which is a trope I adore, because it happens before the book even begins. Twyla Hernandez has an ill-fated wardrobe malfunction on the red carpet and her Sexiest Man Alive co-star Zain Mason swoops in to distract the press while she sets herself to rights, by redirecting their attention with a kiss. Cue the rumors, which turn out to be beneficial for both stars- Twyla gets a boost in interest which all early career actresses need, and Zain gets to borrow Twyla’s public wholesomeness against a growing speculation regarding his private life being a little more hardcore than the movie-going public wants to believe.
Then Zain, for reasons both understandable and also not, is caught on camera doing his Dom thing with a woman who is decidedly not his wife (though, interestingly, she looks awful like her…) sparking controversy mere weeks after their real elopement for their fake marriage occurs. Though their marriage was for optics only, the optics have now swung far from positive, especially for Twyla, who despite being the spurned party in this scenario has committed a far greater sin- being a woman, being Ecuadorian, and being fat. How dare she! No wonder America’s Sweetheart Zain Mason stepped out on her so soon after saying I Do to have an illicit BDSM night!
After escaping from a mob of fans mixed with a similarly rabid mob of Concerned Citizens, Zain runs off to Kink Camp to hide, and Twyla, furious she’s being punished for a situation entirely out of her control, decides to follow him, first for catharsis, then for revenge, and then… because she starts to realize why Zain loves it there so much. Especially because she’s always harbored some… darker fantasies that most men she’s been with aren’t interested in exploring with her.
But Zain, despite his own hangups, is not only down for some adventure, but demands it be him she explores with, a dynamic that frustrates, then intrigues, then revs up our girl Twyla. He may end up being her Dom, but she’s far from fully submissive, a dynamic which frustrates, then intrigues, then (are you seeing a pattern?) revs up our boy Zain.
Essentially, this book is about Zain learning to embrace the vanilla delights of love and companionship and intimacy while Twyla embraces her own sexuality and sexual interests in a safe, consensual environment.
Now, I’m gonna be honest- as an asexual romance reader and writer, this book was pretty far out of my comfort zone. I love a good steamy scene (and I love an Adriana Anders book- I’ve read the first book in this series, Hunted, twice!) but I have a tough time really getting, er, swept up in the kinkier aspects of this series. I am too asexual to understand why you would want to have visible bruising and injury during sex, LET ALONE at the grocery store the next day. Ma’am, I’m buying produce, I would like to not get side-eyed by my neighbors and, oh right, be in physical pain. I have an office job, if my ass is sore from spanking that seems highly inconvenient. The inability to compartmentalize this brand (eyy) of kink makes me, personally, disassociate from these scenes more.
That being said, I found it a fascinating look at the mindset of people who would pat me on the head with a knowing chuckle at these remarks. As far out of my personal comfort zone this book yeeted me, isn’t that what reading is for? Putting you in the shoes (and spank chairs) of people who aren’t you?
I particularly enjoyed how much Adriana Anders reinforced the edges of the various scenes Twyla and Zain explored their sexual (and personal) relationship within. How they took breaks from roleplaying to check-in, how security guards were integrated into the more complicated and potentially dangerous scenes, how both POV characters dipped in and out of scenes internally to remind us, the probably squeamish readers, that they want this, they like this, and they like each other so much.
In the end, I found what this book represents to be similar to when I read a book with a polyamorous or non-monogamous HEA: boy, that sounds like a lot of work and logistics, no thank you, but I’m very happy you’re happy.
While I think I’ll always rate books down personally because while Dom behavior can be hot, outside of a pre-agreed-upon sexual scenario I find men like that tiresome, and I felt like the final conflict/resolution was a little underbaked, I really did enjoy watching these two kinksters explore their boundaries sexually and romantically with one another.
If you’re looking for a kinky yet deeply romantic story from a writer who consistently (and highly successfully) flirts with the line between danger and safety, Possession is for you!
Rating: 4/5
How hot? 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Full content notes and kink listing
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On Friday, I’ll be recommending books about STEM career lovebirds!
What should I be reading next? Let me know in the comments!