Since Disguised Enchantment is S. Quinn McAfee's first erotic novel, I can't generalize about her literary canon. In correlation with her educational history, there may be some journalism or other fiction in her past, but that question isn't quite resolved in the available biographical material. What is resolved is that Ms. McAfee can write a contemporary story.

The premise is this: Shannon McAllister has come to Los Angeles to be a craft artist, and she's landed herself a job at the Tapestry Boutique. She's there seeking her fortune--unsuccessfully I might add--and has to put up with a co-worker who is the bane of her existence. This co-worker, Donna, presents her with a card to a dating service, and what does Shannon do with this card but immediately check it out. The Chateau L'Kost is set in an old marble chateau full of antiques, and to enter it costs her a hefty fee of two hundred dollars.

Instead of the dating service employee she is expecting, a most intimidating whip carrying Dom confronts her. The parts of him that are not naked are covered in black leather, black straps or a black silk hood that conceals all but his eyes. Suffice it to say that in spite of Shannon's objections she is shortly writhing about in complete abandon under the application of his hands and mouth, and is nearly divested of the pink silk teddy she is conveniently wearing. (No doubt were I in such a situation, I'd be in standard issue granny panties in which I'd die before letting a partner see them or what's in them.) The Dom, appropriately called The Marquis, is completely shocked when she hops up, runs out, jumps in her car and drives off, after which he figures out that his customer had been the victim of a trick.

Shannon ends up with two boyfriends--one being the Marquis and, this being Los Angeles, the other being an actor. In a very soap-opera style, Donna continues to trouble her, though one would think that a character like Shannon who has been to college would not be so credulous. Shannon is a bit too wide-eyed and naive for my taste, though the Marquis is another thing entirely. Him I would take on a silver platter, on a mattress or even on a dirty floor, and I am a bit impatient with Shannon for being such a backward young woman. However, her backwardness gives us the opportunity to see the actor Ben and the Marquis in their full glory.

I would have been quite pleased with Disguised Enchantment if the point of view had been handled a bit more carefully, but I can chalk that up to editing. I am sure that Ms. McAfee is skilled enough to get a handle on POV in her subsequent works. Furthermore, this is not the dark D/s story one might initially expect but more of a romantic erotica written in a rather young voice. Even so, the erotica is written as detailed and in as heatedly a fashion as you might expect from Liquid Silver. No doubt this is the beginning of an extensive career.

Reviewed By Maîtresse
© Dec 2004