Title: Blue Angel
Author: Logan Belle
ISBN: 978-1472106148
Publisher: Canvas (Constable & Robinson)
First Published: Oct 2012 (paperback)
No .of pages: 244
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis (from Amazon):
The throbbing music, the raucous catcalls, the glamorous costumes, and most of all the sensual skin of burlesque reveal much to the audience, but for Mallory the biggest revelation is her own untapped desire. When recent law school grad Mallory Dale’s boyfriend, Alec, takes her to a burlesque club for her birthday, she is annoyed. Is this a show for her, or for him? But when beautiful, mysterious burlesque star Bette Noir pulls Mallory on stage, Mallory’s world changes overnight. Soon, Bette becomes Mallory’s private tutor in the tantalizing art of the striptease. Exploring burlesque awakens Mallory’s true erotic nature, but if she devotes herself to her new-found sensual pleasures, will she risk losing Alec? Or can she really have it all?
Review:
On the back of the “50 Shades revolution” we have recently been inundated with books of the more erotic variety. We experienced something similar a couple of years ago with the Twilight Saga, and whilst I didn’t really appreciate the originals, I was more than happy to read more of the genre that came to light in their wake. In a similar vein, I have read 50 Shades (the less said about that the better, really) and now I’m looking, with interest, at similar books being released in the slip stream. This one caught my eye as it was burlesque in nature and not BDSM. Whilst I knew it would still be erotic in nature, I was engaged by the idea of a woman going to a burlesque club and becoming enamoured with the lifestyle. Unlike many of its predecessors, it’s not about being submissive; this book is more about female empowerment. The lead character, Mallory, is going through some difficult times in her life and the burlesque scene allows her to deal with her issues and grow as a person and as a woman. Whilst I understand that this book is from the erotic genre, and by definition, has some very descriptive scenes within it, I personally don’t think they were necessary. With a few tweaks here and there (of the book, naughty!), I think this could have been a fantastic story in its own right, without the overt sexual content. My only concern is that the actual story may be overlooked because people are after a naughty thrill. I hope not though, because there is a genuine talent lurking within. If you are looking for something with more depth than the 50 Shades trilogy, then this is for you. Don’t worry, you still get your fix of full-on fantasy, and you may even learn a few things along the way 😉
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