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A darkly seductive and passionate tale of secret societies, elaborate rites and sexual experimentation, in the tradition of the captivating classic Story of O and Kubrick’s film Eyes Wide Shut.
Shy American student Alexandra Beckmann—‘X’ to her friends—arrives in Naples desperate for adventures beyond the sheltered life she has led. She is there to study the Camorra, an infamous Italian crime organization. But in the sun-soaked, ancient city streets, her research leads her to a man like no one else she has ever met.
Irresistibly handsome, Lord Marcus Roscarrick is an Italian aristocrat with a mysterious past. Yet, underneath his refined exterior, X senses a man who is well-acquainted with danger.
Soon they begin a passionate affair, and X is drawn into Roscarrick’s world—a world she never dreamed existed. But as she falls ever more deeply under Roscarrick’s spell, X must decide whether she dares to submit entirely to this shadowy realm of dark desire.
Reviewed by Guest Reviewer/Jennifer & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog
“It’s one of the most unique romances I’ve read in a long time.” ~Under the Covers
Alexandra Beckmann, also known as X, is an American graduate student working on her thesis in Naples, Italy. She’s there to study the Camorra, an Italian crime organization, but also wants to take in the gritty nature of Naples, one of the most un-touristy cities in Italy. She and her Brit friend, Jessica, spy a man while having drinks in a café. He is the infamous billionaire, Lord Marcus Roscarrick, a beautiful, seductive member of the Neapolitan aristocracy. He is immediately drawn to X, and they begin a passionate affair. X is no innocent, but she’s far from experienced in the realm of sexual pleasure. Marc vows to introduce her to pleasure beyond what she has ever known; to be his lover, she must enter his mysterious world, a exclusive realm of sexual ritual that has its origins in antiquity. Her indoctrination is not without danger, as Marc has a mysterious past of his own.
I had no idea what to really expect going into The Story of X. With the explosion of “billionaire BDSM dabbler meets innocent college girl” plots lately, I guess I assumed that this would be another variation on the popular theme. And it was, but I was really surprised with this one! A.J. Molloy writes in first person, which happens to be a favorite perspective of mine, so kudos for that. I don’t care if it’s the stamp of teen fiction, I love it! It’s angsty and real and draws me in. She also has a stream of consciousness style, which makes for some interestingly long and wordy sentences, but I found that they worked and propelled the action in the story once I realized that this was purposeful . X is naïve, but likeable. She has some moments that could be classified as TSTL, but it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story. I’ll give her a pass for being young and in a foreign country. Marc is quite a beautiful, tortured man. He could have been too aristocratic and therefore, cold. But I found him, warm and sensual and very adept at pleasing X. He’s a giver and he loves her. One of the strengths in the story is the characterization of southern Italy. Molloy’s descriptiveness is rich and detailed, but not sugar-coated. She clearly knows the region well and I could vividly picture her scenes in my head, from Pompeii to Calabria. They’re sensual and languid, with a criminal element lurking underneath. If you’re offended by the movie Eyes Wide Shut, ritualistic sex, or discussions about organized crime, then you may want to pass. I, however, felt extremely sucked into the unpredictability of the whole story. I had to know about X’s next task to endure and about Marc’s hidden past. There are some unique twists and by the ending, my heart was in my throat. For full enjoyment, suspend your disbelief a bit, or you may be scratching your head at how it all comes together, but I don’t regret it at all. It’s one of the most unique romances I’ve read in a long time.
*Review copy provided by publisher
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Apr 06 00:00:00 EDT 2013
I liked the story and the erotica, but I felt the story moved to quickly. The end was a very good idea, again, it was just to short, felt very hurried through. I had to read the story slower to make it last longer.
I really hope to find more works from this author.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri May 31 00:00:00 EDT 2013
** some spoilers **
I'm conflicted about this book. The Mystery Religions was an interesting topic to write an erotica novel about but there were many things about this book that just didn't click completely.
First off, a distinguished man sees a woman briefly in a coffee house and then speaks with her for... 15 minutes and decides he must continue to see her and induct her into this secretive high powered modern day sex cult? That's not something I would think a person would take lightly and yet he seems to. I didn't feel the chemistry with Alex and Marcus at the onset, although I did a little later and for the love of God, "X"? People call her X? Didn't fit her.
The tense circumstances also seemed contrived. During the 4th Mystery initiation, knowing what's going to happen, Marcus flips out - even though X is willing to go through this - and basically marks himself for death. This is better than the 4th Mystery initiation? Er... And Alex yelling out 'Morpheus' to stop the ceremony because she doesn't want tiny tattoo but then everyone is okay with her continuing as if nothing happened?
Also... I have never been to Italy, would like to go, but the hopping around from location to location, each one different, was a bit difficult to follow after a fashion; I felt I was reading Frommer's instead of an erotica novel. And the super-secretive 'Six' mystery which was symbolic of death? Again, there was nothing deadly seeming about it - perhaps some subtlety I missed - and Alex was weak and crying.
So the basic subject was intriguing but I thought the execution was lacking. I skipped a bit of stuff, and frankly Alex was okay as a heroine but not super compelling. Still a better read than a lot out there.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Apr 23 00:00:00 EDT 2013
At first I was dissapointed when I saw the page amount, but honestly it felt longer than I expected (in a good way). The best part I think about this book is that though there is erotica, and it's good erotica, there was was a real story there and I can tell that the author did their research! I liked the characters, though I had some issues with Jessica. This story had sex, romance, history, and adventure. I will agree with the other reviewers and say the ending was sort of abrupt. If you liked Gabriels's Rapture/Inferno and any Sylvia Day, you will love this story!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.KS48
Posted Thu Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 2013
I loved this story. However, I wish there was a little more at the end. I would like to have known what happened to X and Marc after they were released. I would highly recommend this book. Could not put it down.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Sep 16 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I loved the autor's use of changing settings, it added to the mysteries. I really enjoyed the pace of the story. I give it four stars because the ending was somewhat predictable.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.nconspikus
Posted Wed Jan 08 00:00:00 EST 2014
I could not set this book down as soon. It was riveting and intense. It went beyond all of my expectations and more. When ever a book has the ability to spark dreams and desires within you, you know it's great. The romance was beautiful, the adventures were seductive, it was very well written. But, I suppose everything has it's downfalls. At times, it felt a bit mechanical, their love, and there wasn't a lot of development in their feelings. Mostly, it was a story of how X finds love and grows and changes as a woman more than it was about the romance. I still loved it. I maybe read it again.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Dec 29 00:00:00 EST 2013
I bought this book the other day. It was good but I wish I had not bought it. I should've waited for it to be at the library. It wasn't worth my $12.00 or so.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Sep 17 00:00:00 EDT 2013
The joys, the pain along with the mystery!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013
This book was so good. I am very glad I bought it. The only problem I had was understanding what they were saying sometimes, because of the different language. I would most definetly read this again.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Jul 22 00:00:00 EDT 2013
Great book kept my interest !
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.arzellah
Posted Mon Jul 22 00:00:00 EDT 2013
It was a confusing book. I read it and finished it thinking I missed something. The hot scenes were very hot and that gave it a 2, but I prefer books with a plot that makes sense and some hotness.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Jun 28 00:00:00 EDT 2013
i was not made to care aboit the key characters. i loved. however, the descent, underground as well as the desces
nt into grief and the re emergence i wasunable to engage in the characters. i do not know what they saw in each other. i was not made to care about them. i loved the ending and all of a sudden it got suspenseful. the nafia theme was good.
Anonymous
Posted Tue May 28 00:00:00 EDT 2013
That had me in tears sadly haha but it was amamzing will thought through wish it was longer but I loved it
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.La-Nonna
Posted Tue May 14 00:00:00 EDT 2013
Liked the italian setting more than the characters
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Posted Sat Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2013
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Posted Mon May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2013
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Posted Fri Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2014
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Posted Sun Jul 21 00:00:00 EDT 2013
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Posted Tue Jul 23 00:00:00 EDT 2013
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Overview
A darkly seductive and passionate tale of secret societies, elaborate rites and sexual experimentation, in the tradition of the captivating classic Story of O and Kubrick?s film Eyes Wide Shut.
Shy American student Alexandra Beckmann??X? to her friends?arrives in Naples desperate for adventures beyond the sheltered life she has led. She is there to study the Camorra, an infamous Italian crime organization. But in the sun-soaked, ancient city ...