There are two things you can count on when you pick up a book by Eden Bradley; that you are embarking on a journey of sensuality, and that your emotions will be fully engaged.

In writing The Dark Garden , Eden has penned a story that elucidates the psychological and emotional journey in BDSM for not only her main characters, but her secondary ones as well. It's an erotic story, and sometimes a painful one as Rowan, the heroine, makes the transition from a Domme back to a submissive when she finds Christian, a man she trusts enough to lead her there.

The Dark Garden is not a story you want to rush through. The characters want to linger in your thoughts and let you contemplate them like a good wine, and this is where Ms. Bradley's writing shines. Because she shows her characters emotions so well, The Dark Garden is somewhat a BDSM primer, leading you into the deep water of motivations, which is a seductive illustration for the reasons people are drawn to extreme sexual practices.

In my saying all this about an erotic romance, you might wonder if there is any actual sex in the story, and I can tell you there is. But the sex is so much a part of the plot that you cannot separate the two. They are so interwoven they are one, which, in my opinion, is what well written erotica is all about.

The Dark Garden would qualify as both erotica and an erotic romance, if you need that distinction. While the heart of the story is about Rowan's sexual journey, it ends with romantic conclusions for all characters.

5 Kisses