Title:  Destined to Play
Author: Indigo Bloome
Publisher/Year:  HarperCollins Publishers 9/11/12
Length:  278 pages
Series: Avalon Trilogy #1

Overview

“It’s simple. No sight. No questions. Forty-eight hours.” An intensely charged erotic journey, perfect for anyone who was seduced by 50 Shades of Grey.

When thirty-seven-year-old psychologist Alexandra Blake leaves her comfortable suburban existence to travel for a series of lectures, she meets up with Dr. Jeremy Quinn, the man who opened her eyes and body to the world in ways she never thought possible. After a few glasses of champagne in his luxurious hotel penthouse, he presents her with an extraordinary proposition. Alexandra knows that they never promise each other something they can’t commit to and that he will challenge her every inhibition. But she soon finds herself seduced into a level of surrender—and danger—she could never have imagined.

Destined to Play is the first book in the Avalon Trilogy exploring the intricate relationships between trust and betrayal, desire and love, risk . . . and reward.

My Thoughts

This story starts off when we’re introduced to Alexandra (Alexa, AB – whatever you’d like to call her) when she’s sending her husband and 2 kids off on a week long trip into the wilderness while at the same time she’s going on a short lecture tour of her own to present some of her research findings since she’s a highly acclaimed psychologist.  At her first stop, she’s returning to her university in Sydney where she meets up with Samuel who was her mentor at school and then for drinks afterwards with Jeremy Quinn who is now very well known and respected research doctor.  What we learn though is that there’s a sexually charged past between these 2 – meaning that throughout uni, they didn’t hide their attraction for one another, explored and experienced each other and really fell into an amazing groove where they could build and develop a lifelong bond that most people don’t have.

so if you’re the reader, you’re wondering how PG these drinks are going to be, and we’re quickly taken down the path of how UN-PG they will be.  Jeremy has a proposition for Alexa, one that she can’t refuse because she’s sexually bound to Jeremy, has been relatively ‘a-sexual’ these past few years with her husband, and well…she can do what she wants right?

Jeremy presents her with a proposition of a weekend of unknown sexual pleasures if Alexa is willing to give up a sense – her sight, and not ask questions in the hopes that she’ll let him push her as far as he can.

This is where i think that the story goes awry.  mind you – we know that there’s a DEEP history between these 2, but i’m surprised that Alexa didn’t fight more for the fact that she was married and this was cheating….or that Jeremy seemed to be fully ok with ruining a marriage potentially….those conversations NEVER come up.

We’re taking on a journey where sexploration isn’t a strong enough word.  Senses are used to take Alexa and us over the edge of fear as often as possible and see if that’s then turned into sexual pleasure.  Because our leading lady doesn’t have sight, our journey is more picturesque through the use of sound, smell, taste….

I have to say that it wasn’t until the final chapter and Epilogue actually that i had decided that it potentially isn’t a waste that i’ve already bought books 2 and 3 of the trilogy.  I was worried that it was a waste of money since this one really didn’t do much for me since it’s so unrealistic, however….the lead in to book 2 really takes me on a path that i’m excited to go down.

My Questions

1)  what’s going to happen to Alexa and her family?

2) are Alexa and Jeremy destined to be together?  are they soul mates from uni days?

3) what really is the research that Jeremy’s doing and what’s Alexa’s role going to be?

4) how much further can Alexa be pushed.

so…i was going to give it a 2 out of 5 stars…now i’m at a 3….let me know what you guys think though!