Product Description

A house in Hampstead - Present-day: Behind a facade of cultured respectability lies a world of decadent indulgence and dark eroticism. Cassandra's sheltered life is transformed when she gets employed as governess to the Baron's children. He draws her into games where lust can feed on the erotic charge of submission. Games where only he knows the rules and where unusual pleasures can flourish.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12496 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Amanda Haffery, Romance Junkie Review, March 2008
CASSANDRA'S CONFLICT is without a doubt the most erotically enticing story I have ever had the pleasure to read.

Harriet Klausner's Review Archive April 2008
Fans will enjoy Fredrica Alleyn's intriguing heated contemporary while wondering whether Cassandra will triumph.

From the Author
I can't believe that 15 years have passed since I wrote 'Cassandra's Conflict'. It was very exciting for me to be invited to write one of the four launch titles, but also slightly nerve wracking. No one involved in the launch of Black Lace had any idea of how the books would be received, as the concept of 'erotic fiction, written for women by women' was an entirely new one. The erotic fiction market had always been written with men as the target reader, even though a considerable number of women did read them.

I researched my book by inviting groups of female friends round, plying them with wine and then asking them about their secret sexual fantasies. The results were very interesting, and one common theme cropped up again and again. This was the idea of a man coming into their life who would make them, initially against their will, explore their own sexuality in ways they would never have been willing to suggest themselves. This theme seemed to me to be an erotic version of 'Jane Eyre', and possibly explains, in part, that novel's enduring appeal to women!

I made sure that I included everything possible in it, catering for all tastes but with a main theme of bondage and domination. This resulted in one reviewer noting that it was the first book she had ever read where she'd had to flick through it to find the 'clean' parts!

When the first four books were published, there was an incredible reaction. The Sunday Times book cartoon depicted all four of the launch titles stacked in piles on tables in a bookshop. Queues of men were grabbing the books, all saying 'it's for my wife'. At the till one shop assistant was saying to another 'I don't know who's buying these books' and the second one was replying 'liars mostly.' This, although funny, was in fact totally untrue. Thousands of women were buying them, and filling in the questionnaires at the back to give the authors feedback.

I didn't get, or indeed expect, any good reviews from the media, who were fairly united in their condemnation of the concept. I remember one female reviewer said that she knew I wasn't really a woman as only a man could have written something like that. I don't know why she thought that, as I believe that many women greatly enjoy erotica, and if they don't then clearly they won't go out and buy erotic novels that focus on bondage and S&M.

Customer Reviews

Cassandra's Conflict.
I really liked this book. Yes, it is about bondage, s/m, et al, and it is highly arrousing. While it reminded me a tad of Story of O, it didn't go too far as that story does a bit. The writer kept it at a more erotic level and went all the way with it. It's a really great read of this genre and shouldn't be overlooked by those who like bondage-type fiction. I highly recommend it, along with Breaking the Girl and Eager to Please: Two Erotic Novels of Submission.

Fantastic - but not for the faint-hearted
Having heard mixed reports on this novel, I was eager to read it myself. My first thought was that since it was the first Black Lace title ever published, that it would be a little tame. However, this is far from the truth! Cassandra's Conflict is the tale of a young woman employed as a governess to two young children. However, Cassandra soon discovers that her employer has an ulterior motive. She is soon drawn into the wild and decadent world of sexual perversion, where games include submission and domination, spanking, humiliation, toys and much more.

Cassandra, who had previously had next to no sexual experience, resists. She doesn't understand what is happening and believes that it's wrong. However, she is more than a little in love with her employer, the Baron, so she eventually submits and does as she is told just to stay close to him. Soon, Cassandra comes to realise she more than enjoys the world of sexual pleasure, pain and humiliation. At the same time, she is pitted against the Baron's fiancee, Katya, in a desperate battle of wills to see who gets to stay with the Baron, and who will be leaving the Hampstead mansion. Only reading the book will tell you what happens next...

Overall, I really enjoyed this. As I said, I wasn't sure what to expect, given the mixed reviews. However, it's incredibly well written. I did find the plot a little far-fetched, but I was drawn into the book so quickly that I soon forgot my misgivings! The characters are excellently portrayed, and their kinky games were described in great detail. There were some things which I did find went almost beyond perverted and didn't do anything for me. But the vast majority of this book was really sexy and got me going! However, I'm pretty unshockable, so I think those that have more gentle tastes than mine perhaps wouldn't appreciate this. But those who enjoy reading about sub/dom relationships, particularly those taken to extremes, will love this book.

Excellently written, and completely compelling. I couldn't put it down.

Phew! Time for the third read....
Ok, so I can appreciate that bondage and domination is not everyones idea of a great weekend, it certainly isn't mine, nor do I take any pleasure in pain or humiliation but I think this book explores sub/dom relationships beautifully and I found it wonderfully erotic and interesting.

The descriptive narrative of FA is commendable in this genre, blacklace books often leave me feeling unsatisfied as though the writer doesn't really know what they are describing using words such as 'blasting light in the centre of her core' or 'explosion of her mind' to describe an orgasm. Seriously?! FA allows the reader to picture each scene in a vividly sumptuous way by fully enacting and drawing out each feeling and touch. I've not found a BL book which has quite hit the button as this does.

My advice - read it if you're open minded and are not offended by 'unconventional' sex. It doesn't mean you will have to go out and start acting it out in your own life. I love it and can read it again and again. I'll certainly make room on my shelf for some of her others.