A bold story by Hildred Billings
This story intrigued me since the audiobook was released. Maybe because of the title, or the beautiful cover, but surely for the blurb. Infidelity is one big taboo in romances but what happens when two women who were cheated on by the same one get together?
After Evelyn discovered that her long-term girlfriend was cheating on her, she’s on a mission: to seduce and destroy the other woman. After all, she’s not planning to fall in love with the naive and beautiful Keira. But things never go according to plan, do they?
This is one of those stories that readers will either love or hate. I loved it, most of it, anyway. But morally grey characters, bad girls, are not meant to please everyone. Evelyn is that type of woman, she knows who she is, what she wants, and how to get it. She neither asks for permission nor for approval. Her choices might not be morally irrefutable but she owns them like the gutsy woman she is.
Keira, on the other hand, is exactly the opposite. Docile, naive and good-hearted. Unlike Evelyn, she’s easy to like and root for her. Unlike Everlyn, she has no control of the situation from the very start. The way she opens her body and soul for Evelyn is heartbreaking, a train wreck waiting to happen.
The book is written in first person from the point of view of both main characters so the reader has prime access to their headspaces. As a matter of fact, the story “breaks the fourth wall” by addressing the reader in a bold way, sometimes calling us voyeurs implying the readers’ enjoyment in the characters’ distress and, well, also in their sexual exploits. It’s a bold choice by Ms. Billings but when Evelyn addresses the readers in her daring and relentless way (heightened by the voice of the narrator), it’s hard not to feel part of the story and react accordingly. I personally liked it but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
My only criticism is that following a typical romance formula, the “grand gesture” that normally happens after the “black moment” wasn’t – in my opinion – redeemable enough for one of the characters. I’m not going to say anything else because I don’t want to add any spoilers and it might just have been only me. So I leave it to the readers to decide. At any rate, this is a very enjoyable story.
The audiobook was narrated by Allie Shae. This is the first time I’ve listened to this narrator as this seems to be her first lesfic story. I hope she narrates more because she’s absolutely fantastic. Her rendition of both daring Evelyn and naive Keira is amazing. This story has many sexually charged moments and Ms. Shae performed them all with ease and authenticity. This is one of those stories that are boosted by the quality of the audiobook. 4.5 stars.
Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
