**** Review
by Robert D Clark
Virginia,
by Yvonne Sarah Lewis, is unashamedly a work of erotica. Fine if erotica is
your thing, but what if it isn’t? If you look closely, his book is far more.
The protagonist, Virginia, is a strong woman who lives her life the way she
wants. If “the way she wants” means loving more than one man, so be it. She is
rational and mature enough to realize love doesn’t have to be exclusive or
possessive.
Although there are many graphically presented sexual encounters, this is not a
simple “jump in the bed” book. It is a careful study of relationships. The
personalities of the characters are different, be they the gentle Peter and his
loving wife, Virginia’s sexually aggressive neighbors, or Mike, the painter who
can’t paint unless he’s cheating on his significant other.
None of the characters are perfect. They can’t be. They’re human. Imperfections
aside, they all have strengths to more than make up for their weaknesses.
Ultimately, each in his or her own way, they are good people.
Virginia is the glue holding them together and person able to bring out the
best in all of them. Lewis does a fine job of fleshing out her protagonist. You
may or may not approve of Virginia’s life style, but her nurturing nature,
ability to overcome obstacles without hurting other people, and ability to love
other people, even some who don’t at first seem to deserve it, make her an
estimable character and the book an enjoyable read.
**** Review by SR Howen
Virginia, by Yvonne Sarah Lewis starts out with a bang. No pun
intended. The first scene is a subtle but hot sex scene, the author treats the
scene realistically, while there is a little purple prose, it fits the scene
and the thoughts of "Ginny". It's not just the sex that draws you in,
you are introduced to intriguing plot points from page one.
Ginny's lover is married, but as the book unfolds we find out that his wife
knows about their affair, or better to call it an arrangement. Ginny isn't your
typical woman on the side, either. As right at the start we know she lives on a
farm of some sort. Another tease is Ginny's thoughts on how she trained Peter,
got him at the right time. And as the story goes on, we discover Peter isn't
her only lover . . .
Questions are raised. And you are drawn in to find the answers.
Ginny has depth that comes out in the author's skillful handling of language
and pace. Descriptions are colorful, yet not overdone, just enough to set the
scene and the emotions.
Ginny, is the character that brings it all together, her flaws and emotions
rule the day. I love her internal thoughts that run throughout the book, giving
you a glimpse of both what others see, and what she thinks through her sexual
encounters and her everyday life. It makes it real, and that's one of the
things I really like about this book. So many erotic tales are contrived. The
sex is over the top phenomenal, and mind blowing with every encounter, not so,
as we get Ginny's thoughts to remind us of encounters we might have had, that weren't
so phenomenal, but we let the other person think they were.
It's a neat feat for an author to manage this many intimate encounters and
still bring a story to life. When things don't go well, and Ginny is left with
making a choice . . . well you will have to read to find out if in the end this
free spirited woman has to give up her lifestyle to save what she loves most.
Four stars for this sexy tale, it kept my interest from start to end, with an
ending that isn't the normal formula romance ending.
