Marly's Choice by Lora Leigh Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Marly's Choice
Book Review: Deeply erotic - some may find deviant- start of series
Summary: 4 Stars
This is part one of a three-part series about the three August brothers, their disturbing, violent past (they were terribly abused), and the women who enter their lives. It also is a suspense/thriller - this plot is carried through the books and nicely resolved in the third book. The series is a dark erotic romance, and boy does it deliver on the erotic!Ms. Lora Leigh writes erotic novels with strong sexual themes that some may find disturbing. If you find the very idea of sex with multiple partners, non-missionary position sex in every room of the house, not to mention sex in the barn, sex by the pool, etc., or the alpha male dominant-type hero disturbing, this is not the book for you, toots. The hint of insest is open to interpretation (remember Woody Allen?) and is not gratuitous. Personally, I found Ms. Leigh amazingly successful in showing why these virile brothers embraced the unusual (some may say deviant) lifestyle they did; I was able to accept the premise for these particular people, in this fictional setting.
I would have given five stars, but the book is poorly edited. Editing improved in the next two books in the series. Keep in mind that this is not classic literature - it's erotica.
Warning - if you read this and like it, you will want to read the rest of the series immediately, and you may stay up all night doing so.
Book Review: Disturbing
Summary: 1 Stars
First of all, I would just like to respond to a comment Avid Reader made. She said "I don't understand how by sharing the woman he loves with his 2 brothers can "heal" Cade and, to give him credit he did fight this with everything in him until Marly pushed him too far." Uh, Marly pushed him too far? What, you mean, she stood up to him? And in return he says, right because you stood up to me I'm now going to make you have sex with me and my two brothers as your punishment. Erm, so Marly isn't even allowed to decide for herself what she wants to do? Wow, now that's a guy who really loves his girlfriend! NOT!
Cade and his brothers have got some serious psychological issues. And they think that sharing their girlfriends between them makes them feel closer and therefore helps. Erm, guys, ever heard of COUNSELLING??! But no, let's not do that, let's just bully and ridicule our girlfriends into having sex with all of us instead. That way we get all the fun and they just have to put up with it. Because we're big, tough, domineering men and you WILL do what WE want.
I have no problems reading books about domination and ménage sex; in fact I've read hundreds of books with these themes. But Cade and his brothers take it a step too far. They basically tell these women you will be having sex with me and my two brothers as often as we like. And if you try to leave we'll just come after you. Because you belong to me. Oh, and my brothers as well. Doesn't matter whether the woman wants it or not.
In fact as the series progresses, the books say they are allowed to have sex with any of the women whenever they want to. Not just in a ménage setting. If Cade wants to have sex with Sam's girlfriend he can, if Sam wants to have sex with Brock's girlfriend, hey bro, go right ahead! And to make this easier on the men? The women aren't allowed to wear underwear. Ever. It's taken away from them. I mean, heavens above, if one of the guys gets an itch and Marly is available in the kitchen, we couldn't possibly expect him to have to deal with underwear! And even worse, when they first start having sex, each woman gets a brown paper bag on their bed. Inside is a sex toy and lubricant, along with a SCHEDULE of when to use it and for how long! This way the woman is ready to be taken anally whenever the men want. These women aren't women, they're objects to be used as and when required. The emotional involvement is incidental. The brothers are only going out with them because it solves the problem of finding a willing woman in town.
This book sickened me. It left me feeling dirty by association. I felt like I needed a hot shower afterwards, and not in a good way.
Also, can I just ask, why is every single woman in Lora Leigh's books completely spineless? It's like they're completely controlled by what's between their legs. It doesn't matter how badly the men treat them, one look and their minds have gone completely. They're all Too Stupid To Live.
If Lora Leigh thinks the treatment of the women in this book and the others in the series is acceptable then I think she also needs counselling. No woman deserves to be treated like an object, to be used when needed, dominated to the point, that, if she says no, she's not comfortable doing that, she's punished and ridiculed.
Book Review: Emotionally dark and deep, I loved it!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a little weary at first with all of the mixed reveiws, but I went ahead and got the book anyway, and I'm glad I did. I completely enjoyed the book. I loved the fact that the August men were not perfect; I liked their tortured past. It gave the book so much more depth and feeling. My heart went out for them, and at the same time, I wanted to kick them. Cade loved his brothers the only way he knew how, and this book shows you how he does it, and how he loves Marly at the same time. Marly is a strong character. She know what she wants, and that is Cade. She knows everything she will get along with Cade and still she loves him. She has loved him always, since she was a girl, she will do anything to capture his heart. Cade also has always loved Marly, and has been fighting it beacuse he feels like it is wrong since he helped raised her, even though there is no blood relation. But he finally realizes he can't stop his strong feelings for Marly and that he must have her; which means he must also share her with his brothers. On top of this, there is also someone trying to harm Marly and the August men, someone out for revenge. This book is a must read. I can't wait to read Brock's story.Book Review: Erotica, not Romance
Summary: 3 Stars
Other reader opinons of this book range from disgusted to thrilled, which leads me to believe that some readers picked this book up unaware of Lora Leigh's writing, or the publishing company, Ellora's Cave.
This is Erotica. Ellora's Cave publishes sexy books written by women, for women. A little romance and plot development is necessary to get the characters out of bed and give the tale a beginning and end, but we're not talking great literary works here.
That said, Lora Leigh writes some of the best erotica I've read. She creates powerful alpha males and amazing sexual tension between her lead characters. I have actively sought out her books because I really enjoy them; they are a thrill well worth the price of the book.
As for Marly and her choice, I found that Marly's naive agonizing got really tedious about halfway through, and I was ready to smack her towards the end. I appreciate that Marly is supposed to be a sheltered young woman, and that she would never have considered these kind of sexual adventures but for her love of Cade, but she and Cade both dwelt on those supposed "deviations" a little too much.
If you've come across Ms. Leigh's short story "Simon Says," you'll find a much more matter-of-fact approach to the not-so-vanilla sex that Ms. Leigh specializes in.
Finally, the "menage" aspect was definitely low key in Marly's Choice. One full scene with Cade and brother Sam, and one glossed-over encounter with all three boys. Both towards the very end of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it worth reading, but was left with the feeling that it could have been Fabulous, and instead it was just Good.
Book Review: Excellent Beginning to a Wonderful New Series
Summary: 5 Stars
Marly's Choice is a sensually erotic book about overcoming past tragedy, brotherly bonds and choices people make. The emotional story begins with Marly returning home from college for a funeral and her decision to finally let Cade August know that she wants him for her own. Cade also wants Marly, but is worried that his intensely sexual needs will scare her away. Secrets from the past not only threaten their relationship, but also their lives.Lora Leigh writes deeply touching and rich stories that awaken not only your emotions, but your sensuality as well. I was drawn into the story of Marly and Cade and wanted to know more about them. This story was an excellent beginning to a wonderful series and you should read the stories of the other August brothers as soon as possible.