Gangsters Book

For Her Pleasure is actually an anthology of three related stories, but the first segues into the second and those two, at least, should be read together.

This book's themes include menage and dom/sub relationships, but the conflict in the first two stories centers around three lifelong friends and the emotional angst that arises when one of the men, Mac, seeks to establish a one-on-one relationship with the woman, Kit.

Kit wants that relationship with Mac but she also wants their mutual friend Ryder. Banks does a very credible job of focusing on the emotional turmoil for all three characters. The stories contain lots of graphically described sex, but ultimately, the reader will remember the emotion and the relationships.

In the third story, a friend of Ryder's, Mia, finds trouble in a small Texas town where everybody from the local judge to the sheriff's department are corrupt and involved in a sex slave auction operation. Fortunately, old flame and older man, Jack, gets wind of her working as a stripper and arrives to claim her as his own slave.

Again, Banks focuses on their relationship, not the sex (though that is frequently and graphically described).

The plots in each story are well-developed and credible, the characters have emotional depth, and the pace is quick and consistent.

After reading Maya Banks' Colters' Woman and Seducing Simon, as well as books by Shayla Black/Shelley Bradley, I've come to the conclusion that what one can expect from these authors when their books are published by Samhain (good stories, but plot-lite) vs. their books published by Heat Division of Berkley (longer stories, much more depth) is like swimming in a lake vs. the ocean. I like getting hit by those big waves. Much more drama!

I've yet to pick up a book published by Heat/Berkley that isn't destined for my keeper shelf. For Her Pleasure is no exception. I give it four stars because while it's a book I'll probably reread and recommend, it's not a book that will 'haunt' me.