Watching You Loose Id

REVIEWED BY:

SCORE:

 

Author: Sheri Livingston

Publisher: Loose Id

 

 

911 operator Paige is stressed and sick of the way the cops seem to think her job is unimportant. Her friend Gail gives her the web address of an online D/s group, and although Paige is at first reluctant to try it out, she logs on when she discovers that the woman of her fantasies, hardnosed policewoman Kellie, is part of the group.

 

 

Kellie keeps herself to herself. As the niece of the station’s sergeant, she has to keep her nose clean – especially as she has a secret that could mean trouble both for herself and her uncle. Randy, her sleazy cop partner, knows her secret and is blackmailing her so she’ll keep quiet about his dirty dealing.

 

 

But hot-tempered Kellie has another problem: she punched a minor and faces trial for her actions. She’s had almost as much as she can take, and so she heads online to find relaxation and more in the D/s group.

 

 

Sparks fly and temperatures soar when Paige and Kellie meet online and in the flesh in this fabulous novella. This is the first f/f book I’ve ever read, and if I read any others, they’ll have big boots to fill because Watching You is almost the perfect lesbian erotic romance.

 

 

It starts with one of the strongest opening chapters I’ve seen – in the 911 response centre, with Paige talking to a caller. The set-up and tension is very realistic – in fact, it was this scene that stayed with me the most after I’d finished the book.

 

 

Ms Livingston gives us sharp, deft characterisation, even for minor roles, alongside direct and witty dialogue. My favourite exchange from late in the story:

 

 

“Are we still on for Monday night? We have to go celebrate your new career.” Gail popped a ranch dressing-covered baby carrot into her mouth and looked out over the operators sitting in the chairs.

 

“You bet. Thanks for inviting my dad.”

 

“Hey, any man who calls himself a lesbian because he loves women, too, has to be included on a girl’s night out.” Gail chuckled. “I about pissed my pants when he said that.”

 

 

I’ve always found cyber-sex rather laughable, but Ms Livingston manages to make the first online erotic encounter between Paige and Kellie both hot and relevant. It’s not just sex for thrills, it’s delineating their characters. This is an outstanding example of ’show, don’t tell’ and to have this in an extended cyber-sex scene is really impressive.

  

 

This is a very sexy story, exploring as it does the need for both women to take control and also to submit. The D/s issue is handled well: this is more about mental/emotional D/s switching rather than actual BDSM, which for me is far more interesting and reveals much about the characters. The scenes where Paige and Kellie switch and turn the tables on one another are excellent and very hot. The sequence in the nightclub is worthy of special mention – it has a sting in the tail in more ways than one.

 

 

There’s a lot of heightened tension and emotion, always kept in check and never swamping the characters or the plot. The negatives? Heck, I wished it were longer so I could read more about these fantastic women!

 

 

Above all, this felt real and believable and was a genuinely great read. Unashamed, stylish and sexy, Watching You is a definite keeper.