With Visions of Red by Trisha Wolfe
The Broken Bonds #1
Admittedly, I've been terrible at keeping up on my reviews for my personal picks. It's hard to find the time between work, social life, and getting swept up in new reads. I'm happy to say I'm satiated with everything going on and I guess that's not a bad place to be. With a few extra minutes and my fingers itching to write a review, I couldn't think of a better one to break the long drought than With Ties that Bind. Many moons ago I wrote a poem with the same title, not nearly similar in topic, but none-the-less, this book reminded me that things come back around when you least expect it.
It's actually a series with all the things I love about a good romance/mystery. Yes, there's a serial killer in the mix with rounds of sex-play and even some lessons on Shibari. If you're not familiar with this art, have slightly dark desires and like the idea of being tied up this is one I recommend picking up.
Centered around a local police department, detective Sadie and her team are out to uncover the killer who's targeting women with clues left for only Sadie to know the true meaning. With her own dark past and trauma, the killer seems to know more about her and what she's been through than even her closest friend and partner, Quinn. Except, that can't be the case at all, those secrets and history have been long buried.
Trying to escape work and her thoughts, she find a club focused on desires and allowing people to explore their own needs and wants openly without judgment. Keeping this locked up, she disguises herself for each visit and lets herself get carried away in the viewings and performances. She's discovered by one of the Shibari artists who can't keep himself from watching her enjoy herself and eventually makes a move letting her know she's wanted and desired more than she could have ever thought she could be. He finds ways to open her up, to shed the weight of who she thought she was because of what she endured, and allowed her to step into herself in more ways than previously thought possible. Being so in tune, she starts to think that he could be the killer they're all on the hunt for, not wanting to believe it but needing to seek the truth regardless.
Putting herself in harm's way she's driven by the need to save future victims, she sets out on a dangerous mission often not letting her partner in on what she's doing, where she's going, or why. Eventually, Sadie finds what she's looking for both within herself and the killer, but was she ready for what was uncovered?
I guess you'll have to read to find out! I, for one, couldn't get through this one fast enough. With some facts thrown in on the most famous woman serial killer in history, Elizabeth Bathory, I couldn't stop reading. I've read some other historical novels on the countess in the past and find her utterly intriguing.
Trisha Wolfe came to win with this series and I'm glad she sprinkled in as much as she did. From the story to the facts and even the vivid scenery of how Shibari is practiced, she owned it.