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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
4 stars. I absolutely loved the beginning half of this book. I thought for sure this was going to be at least a 4.5 star for me but the last half really didn’t work for me unfortunately. It wasn’t awful or anything but the drama felt really forced and then for all that trouble Amy caused for our two lovebirds we didn’t see her again and it felt weird.
I felt for both characters as they had both been done terribly by their exes. Claire and Zoe were great together and I liked them as individuals as well. Claire is a Domme but she’s emotionally closed off so she was very hot and cold in the beginning but I completely understood why. I also loved how protective and caring she was of Zoe. Zoe was sweet and a bit timid but I loved how she came out of her shell around Claire. They were great together and I really enjoyed the tension between them as they were dancing around each other’s feelings. There was some hot spice in this with some D/s and some fun roleplaying. Again, the ending wasn’t my favorite but the epilogue was cute and the rest of the book was great.
I felt for both characters as they had both been done terribly by their exes. Claire and Zoe were great together and I liked them as individuals as well. Claire is a Domme but she’s emotionally closed off so she was very hot and cold in the beginning but I completely understood why. I also loved how protective and caring she was of Zoe. Zoe was sweet and a bit timid but I loved how she came out of her shell around Claire. They were great together and I really enjoyed the tension between them as they were dancing around each other’s feelings. There was some hot spice in this with some D/s and some fun roleplaying. Again, the ending wasn’t my favorite but the epilogue was cute and the rest of the book was great.
A sweet and sexy erotic romance, Finding Love Down Under is a story that soars on the strength of its characters and the sincerity of their relationship. Claire and Zoe are such a wonderful couple - real women with pasts and personalities. They both come into the story with some serious trust issues from their last relationships, and that pain is dealt with honestly and openly. As much as we want them to open their eyes, see what's before them, and dive headlong into love, Donna Jay knows that would be a recipe for disaster.
While the two strangers quickly become fast friends, those trust issues make it difficult for them to admit their feelings for one another, especially when neither is sure the other is even a lesbian. It makes for a slow, sweet tale, but it is one that's a joy to read. Watching these two women get to know one another, come out of their respective shells, and settle into a life together is just wonderful. By the time they are ready to test the waters of love, it is already clear they are meant to be together, and even then they take it slow. Trust issues mean patience and safewords, and both women respect that.
As for those safewords, the story does start out on an exceptionally hot note, with a scene that starts kinky, but which quickly goes dark. In it, we are introduced to Claire and her fiancée, two women who seem to be very much in love, with some kinky ageplay and BDSM tying them together. Claire likes to play mommy to her brat, tying her up, spanking her, and verbally dominating her. Amy has a secret, however, and the only thing more painful than Claire's discovery of that secret is Amy's nonchalant disregard of her concerns, and her refusal to acknowledge the betrayal. While we don't find out her story until later, Zoe's own kinky, BDSM-fueled relationship was torn apart by a similar betrayal of trust, with an arrogant, possessive lover who refused to see acknowledge how deeply she wounded her submissive.
Love of any kind requires trust, but the love between a dominant and her submissive requires absolute trust. It does not come easily, as is tested by interference by past lovers, but that just makes their happily-ever-after that much sweeter. The sex, when it does come, is hot and kinky, but also tasteful and lusciously detailed. By keeping the characters at the forefront, Donna Jay does femdom erotica just as well as she does lesbian romance. Even if you're just bi-curious or an erotic voyeur, you will come out of Finding Love Down Under wanting what Claire and Zoe have.
As reviewed by Sally at Bending the Bookshelf
While the two strangers quickly become fast friends, those trust issues make it difficult for them to admit their feelings for one another, especially when neither is sure the other is even a lesbian. It makes for a slow, sweet tale, but it is one that's a joy to read. Watching these two women get to know one another, come out of their respective shells, and settle into a life together is just wonderful. By the time they are ready to test the waters of love, it is already clear they are meant to be together, and even then they take it slow. Trust issues mean patience and safewords, and both women respect that.
As for those safewords, the story does start out on an exceptionally hot note, with a scene that starts kinky, but which quickly goes dark. In it, we are introduced to Claire and her fiancée, two women who seem to be very much in love, with some kinky ageplay and BDSM tying them together. Claire likes to play mommy to her brat, tying her up, spanking her, and verbally dominating her. Amy has a secret, however, and the only thing more painful than Claire's discovery of that secret is Amy's nonchalant disregard of her concerns, and her refusal to acknowledge the betrayal. While we don't find out her story until later, Zoe's own kinky, BDSM-fueled relationship was torn apart by a similar betrayal of trust, with an arrogant, possessive lover who refused to see acknowledge how deeply she wounded her submissive.
Love of any kind requires trust, but the love between a dominant and her submissive requires absolute trust. It does not come easily, as is tested by interference by past lovers, but that just makes their happily-ever-after that much sweeter. The sex, when it does come, is hot and kinky, but also tasteful and lusciously detailed. By keeping the characters at the forefront, Donna Jay does femdom erotica just as well as she does lesbian romance. Even if you're just bi-curious or an erotic voyeur, you will come out of Finding Love Down Under wanting what Claire and Zoe have.
As reviewed by Sally at Bending the Bookshelf
From the beginning of Finding Love Down Under, both Claire and Zoe have experienced significant betrayals in their past relationships. Claire split from her fiancée after she shattered her trust and has since moved onto a vineyard, becoming something of a hermit at her peaceful homestead. Meanwhile, Zoe, who had moved to New Zealand with her ex, is in a hard spot when Claire stumbles upon her in town one day. After Claire invites Zoe to stay with her as payment for helping around the house, the two of them slowly get to know each other and grow closer.
Claire and Zoe don’t instantly fall in love, but instead their relationship slowly builds while they’re hidden from prying eyes in the countryside. It’s a slow-burn in the best of ways and is written wonderfully. I really enjoyed how the vineyard felt so warm and comfortable. There were so many lovely details, like the smells of the exotic wood, that helped to bring everything to life. Although the hefty baggage from their prior relationships comes back to disturb their relatively tranquil lives at times, it was wonderful watching the two of them handle everything together.
Although this wasn’t a book flooded with sex scenes, the ones that we do get are a lovely combination of sexy and sweet. Like with the rest of the book, everything is fleshed out and very detailed, really adding to the realism of the scenes. Additionally, the BDSM elements were well done and flowed well with the rest of the story. Sometimes stories feel a bit like BDSM has just been tossed in to spice things up, but instead here it felt more like two women falling in love who just happened to both be kinky. This was really a beautiful and heartwarming read with a healthy dash of sexy mixed in.
Claire and Zoe don’t instantly fall in love, but instead their relationship slowly builds while they’re hidden from prying eyes in the countryside. It’s a slow-burn in the best of ways and is written wonderfully. I really enjoyed how the vineyard felt so warm and comfortable. There were so many lovely details, like the smells of the exotic wood, that helped to bring everything to life. Although the hefty baggage from their prior relationships comes back to disturb their relatively tranquil lives at times, it was wonderful watching the two of them handle everything together.
Although this wasn’t a book flooded with sex scenes, the ones that we do get are a lovely combination of sexy and sweet. Like with the rest of the book, everything is fleshed out and very detailed, really adding to the realism of the scenes. Additionally, the BDSM elements were well done and flowed well with the rest of the story. Sometimes stories feel a bit like BDSM has just been tossed in to spice things up, but instead here it felt more like two women falling in love who just happened to both be kinky. This was really a beautiful and heartwarming read with a healthy dash of sexy mixed in.
I loved this book! The author did a great job of setting the scene and characters; I felt like I could know them in real life. I'm pretty sure this was my first FF (lesbian-only not-bi) book. There were a few jumps that took a little bit of a leap of faith to just go with the author and story. However, if you just sit back and enjoy it, there is a lot of good D/s, and service submission in this book. Truly enjoyed it and couldn't wait for the HEA!
*Note: This book was provided free by the Author through the BDSM group on goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
*Note: This book was provided free by the Author through the BDSM group on goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
lighthearted
Something just didn't click for me with this one. It was probably the Mummy / Daddy thing right in the beginning which really doesn't work for me. So this rating is purely subjective because, judging by other ratings, it's a well written book. A classic case of "It's not you darling, it's me".
I felt like the plot was occasionally a little thin, but I'll never say no to lesbian BDSM erotica.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
The second read of this book was even more enjoyable than the first.
Having finished Donna Jay's catalog of available books I found myself picking this book up again. When I first read it in 2017, I found a couple of things made me uncomfortable and while one still does (a particular kink) I find that the others are less noticeable and don't detract from the story for me at all now.
This particular story really benefits from the alternating third person point of view and was a good narrative choice by the author. It gave me much needed insight into the characters thought process and motivations that deepened my sympathies for them.
I am a big fan of the "you do you and I'll do me but let's also do our thing together" type of relationship this story revolves around. It doesn't hurt that there is some pretty steamy sexy times as well. :)
Having finished Donna Jay's catalog of available books I found myself picking this book up again. When I first read it in 2017, I found a couple of things made me uncomfortable and while one still does (a particular kink) I find that the others are less noticeable and don't detract from the story for me at all now.
This particular story really benefits from the alternating third person point of view and was a good narrative choice by the author. It gave me much needed insight into the characters thought process and motivations that deepened my sympathies for them.
I am a big fan of the "you do you and I'll do me but let's also do our thing together" type of relationship this story revolves around. It doesn't hurt that there is some pretty steamy sexy times as well. :)
It was a pleasant reading and I'm happy they could find their happy ways after going through such woes in their short life. It was relaxing after the first chapters and I liked that although there was attraction, they didn't act on it right out of the bat, giving them time to connect and to trust after what they went through. Insta-lust is cool and all, but a more 'realistic' approach do some wonders too IMHO, even in more.
Now, the whole book was good all right! But I just couldn't let go off me those first chapters, I was expecting some old classical cheating or any other usual shady behind the back thing, not what Claire found and that got me enraged! Then the Zoe thing too, awful doesn't even start describing it. What's wrong with these women and the break of trust? Humpf
Can you imagine being for so long with someone, engaged even, and be backstabbed like that? Or in Zoe's place, my gods! both situations got me itching ngl. I don't think I'd recover without plenty of therapy and I still think that wouldn't be enough.
Now, the whole book was good all right! But I just couldn't let go off me those first chapters, I was expecting some old classical cheating or any other usual shady behind the back thing, not what Claire found and that got me enraged! Then the Zoe thing too, awful doesn't even start describing it. What's wrong with these women and the break of trust? Humpf
Spoiler
I can't get past the Claire thing hahaha, you can delete stuff all you want, anyone can download and reupload shit online, ffs! Then that sort of revenge fuck made me feel like a cat on hot bricks, until it didn't when that bitch opened her mouth. Well, my sympathies that weren't that much already, just vanished. And the cow had the ovaries to come back later? And why did she? Just to get a kick of spoiling Claire's life all over again? I wish the coppers were involved, but then again IRL would I involve them? Would you try to get someone to jail and get even more attention to something you can't never get completely rid of? Quite the conundrum. Zoe's situation is so shit too, isn't that considered a form of assault? Some sort of r***? having your body touched without consent/knowledge... I can only imagine how hard it would be to deal with and the difficulty to prove it, especially in a foreign country, without knowing the legal system.Can you imagine being for so long with someone, engaged even, and be backstabbed like that? Or in Zoe's place, my gods! both situations got me itching ngl. I don't think I'd recover without plenty of therapy and I still think that wouldn't be enough.