THE PLEASURE QUARTET: AUTUMN - Vina Jackson

LYRICAL EROTICA - 3.5 stars

Plot - 3.5 stars - After Dominick's death, Summer has lost her way. Although she still has her music as a professional violinist, she misses the domination as well as the thoughtfulness and love Dominick supplied.

Writing - 4 stars - I found the writing to be quite beautiful. As with paranormal books, Jackson has created a series of fantastical worlds that are interspersed with Summer's regular life. Of course, her regular life is pretty exciting too, as a professional musician and quite a sex fiend. But these other worlds are amazing and beautifully drawn.

Characters - 3.5 stars - Summer is a well-rounded character with many facets. I couldn't feel her pain when Dominick died since I haven't read any previous books by this author, so I didn't know him at all and didn't feel sadness at his death. But right from the first, we can get into Summer's head and understand first her love, then her pain, then her need for self-denial and punishment, then her growing embracing of her music. She gradually rebuilds her life, and it seems natural and very believable. The people she surrounds herself with are interesting characters, but they are all secondary, even Antony. She is the focal point, and I enjoyed getting to know her.

Title - 3 stars - I'm not sure what the title refers to. I suppose the Pleasure Quartet implies the pleasure Summer gains from the sexual encounters she has. But I'm not sure why it is called Autumn since the story seems to be set in the cold weather after Christmas.

Cover - 3 stars - Gorgeous cover, but again it makes no sense. This flower doesn't seem to be something that represents either fall or winter.

Overview - 3.5 stars - I enjoyed this book and read it quickly. The unfolding of Summer's life after Dominick's death and her acceptance of her changed circumstances was fascinating to watch. As a submissive, she allows herself to be moved and changed by the whims of the people around her, but you can see her gradually gain some control over her life, or at least over her thoughts. I was very interested to watch her metamorphosis, especially since it was very slow and natural. The crazy situations she is involved in--the island, the play, the ball--were like the paranormal worlds of other types of books. The fact that all were underlying sexual simply added to the fantasy. I felt it was all beautifully written, with a lightness that made it all seem pleasant rather than pornographic.