The Submissive Heart by Michelle Knight

Stands up well against the ones I do buy - is longer and better
crafted than many.
  4 out of 5  (visitor)

And finally, FINALLY, a book about BDSM that isn`t all fantasy and 50
shades style crap, but really relates the feelings behind it all and
allows people to understand! You have no clue how much I love you for
writing this one.  5 out of 5  (visitor)

The author is good with detail,and writiing. I think it's too soft for
a BDSM story. Not really one of my favorite.   3 out of 5

When I started reading The Companion I had absolutely no idea what to
expect. An explicit sexual adventure? Something to open my 'vanilla'
eyes? Something horrifying? Something sensual?
What I got was a beautiful story of one women and her struggle through
life; I lived her frustration with being unfufilled in so many aspects
of her life, the every day battles she fought and lost, her
directionless wandering on a quest for meaning.

I admit, I am totally unaware of what goes on in a sub/dom
relationship and the world of 'the scene'. It was fascinating to
learn, along with Susan, how these relationships are formed, nurtured,
maintained and broken. The story is pitched at just the right level,
enough explained so the story flows and gives an understanding of the
imagery.

Well worth reading the notes at the front of the book before starting;
it was initially written as a screenplay and I feel this is shown in a
few places where the writing feels a little like stage directions but
not necessarily a bad thing, it can help establish mood and a clever
device to introduce characters.

I do feel there could have been so much more written in this story, I
became absorbed in the trust between L and Mark and would have loved
to have heard more about L's training and how their relationship
grew.

The story had me gripped and I just wanted to know more and more about
L and Mark; they are completely engaging as characters and I felt
myself cheer with triumph and groan in frustration at them both
throughout the book. I would recommend the book for anyone with an
interest in BDSM but not looking for a quick thrill, there is a love
story within the pages of the book and although it's an education to
learn so much about their lifestyle, it's more of an honour to share
in their love story.   4 out of 5  (visitor)

The Companion is one of the books that when I first began my reading I
wasn't sure where it was going to lead me. Upon complexion of the book
I fell in love with not only this book but the unique writing flow of
its author.

Prior to this book and a limited others in comparison, I thought I had
read everything there was to experience about erotic-themed books.
Well, I will proudly admit to being wrong. Knight by far is an author
that is willing to take readers on less traveled road within the
content of such books. This trait is perhaps my favorite and made me
enjoy the book much more.

The fact that Knight chose to write in third person rather than the
first person account of either heroine or hero was something I wasn't
expecting and yet was added surprise. I much prefer a third person
account with my introduction to new characters. This is the first time
I have seen an author establish such writings in an erotic book. So I
am going to highly praise Knight for her own creativity in choosing
this style.

In many ways this book is different from prior erotic books and yet in
other ways it still has the foundation that devoted readers of the
genre are going to live. The characters sensual nature for one another
is ever-so present. The presences of both emotional turmoil and
voracious, explicit content will leave readers satisfied.

I literally could continue in my praise of both this book and its
author, but instead I highly suggest adding this book to your reads
for the year as it well worth the time to read it and see for yourself
how wonderful this and Knight truly are.
  4 out of 5  (visitor)