Book Review: Beyond Innocence

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Beyond Innocence     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Emma Holly
Class/Genre:   Romance   Historical   Gothic   Adult Content
Jove, Jul 2001, $6.50, 304 pp.

In 1873, Lord Edward Burbrooke worries about his younger brother Freddie who has been caught in an indiscretion with a footman. At about the same time impoverished Florence Fairleigh arrives in London to see her deceased father’s solicitor Mowbry to ask if he can obtain a chaperone to sponsor her as she seeks a husband on the marriage mart. Mowbry agrees to help, but serendipitously through a peephole shows her body to a desperate Edward. Though he hardens at the sight of her, Edward decides the country innocent will be the perfect wife for Freddie.

After a short courtship, Freddie proposes and Florence accepts. To insure no trouble occurs on the sexual front, Edward arranges for Freddie and Florence to rusticate. Edward begins to fall in love with his future sister in law who is attracted to him too. They even share some passion though she remains a virgin, but all hell breaks loose when Florence catches Freddie in bed with the male steward. She flees and Edward now knows he loves her.

BEYOND INNOCENCE is a superb erotic Victorian romance. The exciting story line allows the three key cast players to fully develop before sex scenes are introduced, which is refreshingly later in the tale then usual. More important the scenes fit into the plot, a rather novel occurrence. Fans of the sub-genre will praise Emma Holly for handling Freddie’s homosexual relationships with class as well as deftly looking at the question of sexual preference.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner