Book Review – Comfort Object by Annabel Joseph

Comfort Object (Comfort series)
Well this was fun in a “can’t-put-it-down-even-though-I’m-cringing-and-so-often-appalled” kind of way! WARNING. This book is not for everyone. I had mixed reactions from some of my reader friends (some who really enjoyed it and some who hated the “hero” far too much to enjoy it). And while I can agree that this kind of bad-boy would probably have anyone running for the hills, in real life (he’s just so UGH!!!!), I will admit from the safety of my couch, I read through it like a fiend. I just had to see where this was going, and how it was going to end. But please. Don’t go into this book lightly. As I re-read some scenes for this review, I’m back to being appalled again. All in one sitting, you get the whole effect, but piecing it out like this… YIKES!!!

I announced it to my Facebook friends:

“It was recommended to me just yesterday and I couldn’t help but get on it immediately, and I’ve been missing in action in my book since. I haven’t reviewed it yet but I had to tell you about it cause I just finished it with a goofy grin on my face. It was good!!! So good!! A touch corny at first (the *scenes* were a bit strong) and I thought it was going to be more cheesy then anything. But then it got hard to put down…

I made sure to warn ’em though, about his meanness. Ya gotta warn people! This guy ain’t no sweet and safe bad boy type. I mean, can you even have a true bad-boy without the *bad*? LOL! Reviewing my book crushes, I can adamantly say YES.

While analyzing it, I came up with this:

“What is up with these kinds of shocking moments I’ve been hitting in many of these books lately. I miss Brian… A safe bad-boy…

… These last couple of guys end up doing things that in real life, should make a girl run for the hills. I miss bad boys like Brian. All attitude, tough guy stance and unattainable, but when it comes to his girl… *sigh*”

This one was different. I read many parts of this book peeking behind my fingers, and flinching. I can say that despite still being hesitant reading books with this kind of intense subject matter (and this one was one of the “harder” ones), I can’t help it. I loved it. There’s no “safe” bad boy here. But, there’s no point in lying to myself. It’s not that I wanted to be in her situation, ’cause OMG he’s crazy!!!!! And OMG he can be all sorts of scary! And cuttingly rude. And obnoxious. But overall, this book sucked me in bored (before I started it), and spit me out delightfully frazzled. Seriously.

*shrug*. Hey what can I say? My adrenaline ran high for the majority of this book, and I loved that feeling! I also like horror movies. My husband things I’m nuts to watch such frightening stuff, but I always tell him:

“Watching horror movies teaches me what to do and what not to do to avoid these kinds of situations. I’m learning!”

So I guess same goes for some of these books. 😉

So here’s what it’s about:

Nell is working as a “sub” in an alternative lifestyle club, and has a private encounter with a gorgeous client (against the rules) and gets fired. She’s devastated and is forced to get a job as a waitress. Things are okay, but this wasn’t the life she wanted. And in walks super-famous gorgeous actor “Jeremy”, who sits right at one of her tables. And for a few more days he continues to show up at the restaurant. He likes her. It’s obvious.

He offers Nell a job as his assistant. She’s thrilled at the prospect of working and traveling with him, but is quicky dismayed and shocked to see what her duties will entail.

I stopped reading, my pulse suddenly beating in my ears. “I don’t… I’m not… Okay. I’m a little confused.”

“About what?”

“So… this sounds like I’m supposed to pretend to be your girlfriend.”

“Yes, that is part of the job. A big part actually. The public part.”

You see, Jeremy already has a real assistant. He needs a more “personal” one. And he’s got some pretty severe needs that she (being a sub) would meet perfectly. In public, she would be his girlfriend. In private he would be her Dom.

But this contract is much more intense then what her job at the club required. She will be paid for full services of her person (in whatever respect he deems necessary or desirable – this one is unnerving and EW!!!!). And while she has a “hard-limits” list, this too may be tested. After all, he reminds her. She has a “safe-word”. All I could say to this one was a high pitched eeeeeek!!

I simply stood and started to walk. Walk away, walk outside, walk home. I didn’t care. I didn’t care as long as I was walking away form him.

But of course he followed.

But he keeps sweetening the deal (high pay, all the luxuries of living with him, no work other than to please him, and full Harvard education, paid for – she used to go to Harvard, but had to quit when the money ran out). Oh all that and of course, he finds a way to have her evicted from her home, and just magically shows up at her doorstep to “save the day”. But she knows. She knows it’s all him. And so she eventually signs on.

“What happened? Why did she quit?”

He sat a moment in silence, biting his lip. “They all leave eventually. You will too.”

And now the roller coaster ride begins.

When I think back to many of the “scenes”, many of ’em freaked me out. A lot. More then the majority of the books I’ve read so far in this genre (and there aren’t that many, yet). Oh,except for one book (my very first foray into the genre a year or two ago and now THAT one was creepy, but I digress. I may get into that one, another day. Or I may not. THAT one was scary, but stayed on my mind for days… months… a year now?).

This book was (at least to me) hardcore. No “clubs” (it all happens in his mansion – he has his own “room”), but HE was the one who was truly hardcore. He fluctuated between normal nice guy to an intimidating, outrageous, punishing Dom.

“I know you’re not an idiot. I know you understood those  instructions, although I’m starting to sense you’re not as submissive as you pretend to be. This is not good enough! Out!”

First hard lesson… and it wasn’t the worst one. *shudder*

He was so mean! I mean atrociously mean!!! He would say some of the rudest things, his demands made my eyes bug out and my jaw drop. He was infuriating, and often insulting. HE was hardcore. He didn’t bend, and he reminded her, the job contract was quite clear in these matters (even though he pretty much gave her no choice in signing the darn contract in the first place). Even her “hard-limits” were tested.

I would need to be so careful here, so cautious here.

And I would definitely need to dry my tears.

And his hard-limits, too. His heart.

I could sleep all night with her in my arms, and remember that she hadn’t left me after all.

I think I enjoy the thrill of the “there is NO way this can go well.” The whole… “Whaaa? How can he…? No.way. That’s just….” *shakes head*

So yes, when I try to describe to you, who exactly you will be dealing with in this book (without giving it away), he sounds horrible and scary. And yet, often, he wasn’t. Hot and cold. Despite so many shocking (again, to me) scenes, situations, angry outbursts, she loved him and yes, he so obviously loved her too. And I felt the love, too.

Ugh!!! That just sounds so horrible. LOL!!! I’m sorry guys. You’re either gonna love it or hate it. I can’t put it any other way. BUT, this I can assure you. You will feel it. Emotions run high in this one, always. Hate, anger, sadness, despair, shock, intense love, it’s all there. And the Dom was the one struggling the most with them. He was the “King of Pain” but often it was to himself. So they may have started off in an emotionless contract (I DOM. You sub. Do as I say and I pay you well. Leave when you want but if you stay I’M the boss) but when feelings started getting in the way, this book took off!

Now here is another bonus that helped me love the book. I crushed hard on his “assistant” Kyle, and Kyle’s not really into the lifestyle. But he does what he has to do. Kyle’s an enigma at first. Intriguing. I wanted to know more. And now I can, cause book #2 is his (and supposedly, not near as hardcore. I hear he is a crush-worthy hero)! YAY ME!!!!

4 stars!