Virtual
Reality
Erotic Romance -
(Rated
E-rotic)
Sensual Reads Review
Reviewed by Deborah
http://sensualreads.net
July 2005
In VIRTUAL REALITY, award winning writer Joey W. Hill, brings us
an erotic and intriguing tale of passion, longing and acceptance.
Beautifully descriptive and hypnotic in its prose, the story follows
Nicole and Mark, virtual partners, who are brought together one
life-changing day.
VIRTUAL REALITY gives the reader a fascinating glimpse into the
dominant/submissive lifestyle. Ms Hill tackles the issue with great
sensitivity and decorum, taking her time to build her characters and
let us learn through them. From the outset her descriptions are
subtly sensuous, her characterization mesmerizing. This is truly a
story which indulges the senses, from the delicately described
settings, to the emotionally wrenching last scenes.
It must be noted that there is some strong language within the
story, yet it is infrequently used. When such words do appear it is
well within the context of the story and profanities do not appear
merely for the sake of it .From first to last this was a superb read
that left me wanting more .I have never been so moved by a book
before and I was truly amazed at Ms Hill’s capacity to convey such
human emotions in print.
NovelSpot Romance Reviews
Reviewed By Maitresse © March 2005
http://earthchildseries.com/NovelBlog
March 2005
Rating: 5 Quills
Joey Hill knows that many of those attracted to the BDSM scene
are the walking wounded, coping in one way or another with damaged
souls. She knows that the D/s mindset finds those whose spiritual
calluses are the toughest (after all, what does a callus cover but
that which was once the most tender?) or the most fragile; and being
two sides of the same coin, the opposites of this spectrum are drawn
together like magnets.
In this day and time, computer dating is commonplace. The
Internet is something that touches most people's lives now, and in
the universe of people who read eBooks and who incorporate computers
in a utilitarian way into their lives, there is probably not a
single soul who has not experienced some form of online romance.
Virtual relationships are part of contemporary experience. Virtual
relationships are strange creatures though, because everything is
filtered through the conduit of words. Language, in virtual reality,
is the vehicle of love. And it is clear that Joey Hill knows this.
Words are her tools, her playthings, and her instruments.
Joey Hill is just plain gifted with words, and using one of the
best devices I've seen a writer employ, grants her hero the gift of
words too. Thus empowered, Mark, the Dominant hero of Virtual
Reality talks his way into the heart of his tentative, willing and
submissive Shy Kitten, Nicole. Online the two of them remain
incognito. They know and love each other as intimately as two people
can--a rare communication contingent on courage, understanding,
passion and compassion. But they don't know each other's locations
or names, or because they haven't exchanged photographs, even their
basic appearances. Their whole lives revolve around their online
power exchange, but in this story once the exchange becomes real,
Mark pronounces that the day--and their time together in
person--will end. Joey Hill takes her elemental knowledge and with
it paints for us a Dom and a sub whose togetherness begins on the
Internet, but whose relationship is just too much to be contained
online, and seeps out into the real world when the sub--against the
wishes of her Dom--seeks him out. This leads to the really big
question here: Mark is truly a wounded duck with a dark history that
works against him. Will he accept Nicole into his life? Or will he
turn her away?
There are two elements in this story which make it stand out.
First is the intimate voice, which cuts straight through to the
characters' emotions. Second is the language. Nothing else reveals
as clearly that we humans are mental as well as physical animals,
and our emotions can be stirred, and built, and broken with mere
words. This is an intimate look at a D/s relationship. If you aren't
into words as seduction, this book is not for you. The language here
is powerful, moving, and sexual. A must read for the D/s crowd.
Just Erotic Romance Reviews
Reviewed by Barb Chan
December 2004
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/justeroticromancereviewsnewsletter
Rating: 5 Stars
Virtual Reality is a passionate, poignant tale, filled with
angst, anger, and love. Mark is a powerful Dom, but also a very
angry man. Although he has the potential to care deeply for a woman,
the tumult of emotions within him could also easily destroy both him
and a sensitive woman like Nicole. Nicole comes to Mark after having
emerged somewhat out of her shell, wanting to show him the woman she
has become under his tutelage. The two have an electrifying
chemistry that infuses each page of this book with heat. Too, the
sex was emotional and charged with meaning. Scenes flowed
beautifully from chapter to chapter, until I was surprised and sad
to come to the end. This is yet another must-read story from the
ever-talented Joey Hill.
Mon-Boudoir Erotica For Women
Reviewed by Frauke
October 2004
http://www.mon-boudoir.de
Rating:5.0 / Sensuality:4.5
This story is a rare jewel, something that you don’t find often.
I can hardly tell in words what I think and feel about it, and I
think it takes something to make me speechless. The story tells
about the one day Nicole and Mark meet, so you have the feeling you
read in real time what is going on. Sometimes this story line is
interrupted by retrospects, but it complements rather than disturbs
the full understanding of the feelings and actions of the
characters. There were times while reading I was on the edge of
crying – when, for example, Marks believes he is a monster and
Nicole deserves someone better. Then there were times I could hardly
breathe, so full of love were the scenes, so that you wished that
there was someone out there who cares as much about you as they do
for each other.
If you think D/s has something to do with humiliation and
violence, you are wrong; it has something to do with intimacy and
trust, and, in the best case, with love. So if you have prejudices
against Dominant/Submissive-stories, reading this one is the best
way to overcome them and experience a wonderful story about second
chances you shouldn’t miss. The author concentrates fully on Nicole
and Mark, no second characters disturbing the captivating
atmosphere, mirroring the closeness between them. Creating a world
only for lovers, where only the two of them exist and no one else,
so that you as reader sometimes have the irrational feeling you are
disturbing them. Nevertheless, you can’t put this book down.
What more could I say than “Virtual Reality” is one of the most
excellent, heart-aching and touching love stories I ever read?
eCataRomance Reviews
Reviewed by: Christine - "Romanticafanatic"
October 2004
http://www.ecataromance.com
Rating: 4-1/2 Stars
Joey W. Hill has shared with us a sensual feast that will engage
your heart, mind, body, and soul in this story of the sizzlingly
sensual submission of Shy Kitten, as she breaks the bonds of
“Virtual Reality” to claim her heart’s desire, her Master, a man who
will lead her into a maelstrom of mastery unlike anything she could
have imagined.
Nicole is a good girl, a law-abiding citizen, until the day she
went and broke the rules of their “Virtual Reality”, to find The
Master she knew would take her demure and subservient soul and body,
and mold them into the reality of his every desire. Having settled
for less most of her life, she wonders if she is just intrigued by
the fantasies he weaves with his words, or has finally realized that
she has chosen the path of a true submissive
Mark has the sensual soul of a poet, he’s a man with a
heartrending gift for words who spends his time putting pen to
paper, or tapping out keys on a keyboard, all of the things he
dreams about. Becoming a virtual recluse after having his heart
crushed by a woman he loved, his incredible strength of character
carried him through that devastating time in his life when he had
nothing else to fall back on. Buried deep within his heart and mind,
are all of the dreams he is terrified of making reality, and now he
is faced with the one person who will try to unearth his very soul
from the depths of despair, someone who will love him so
unconditionally she will put her life into his strong and capable
hands. Will he accept her gift of submission and truly master her
heart, mind, body, and soul? Perhaps the Master will become the
slave…
I love the depth of these characters. I really feel Mark’s fury,
pain, and isolation. I feel how much he loves Nicole, and how he
craves to work his mastery over her with tender domination, and how
he feels the necessity of denying himself that pleasure. I envy
Nicole’s core of strength that equals her sensuously submissive
soul. Her love pulls him from his safe hiding place where he yearns
deep in his soul for what she offers him. After reading “Virtual
Reality” by Joey W. Hill, I guarantee, you’ll never again be able to
look at, much less partake of, a salad without thinking of Shy
Kitten and her Master. *WINK*
Sizzling Romances
Reviewed by Crystal
December 2004
http://sizzlingromances.tripod.com
Rating: Four Flames
In VIRTUAL REALITY, Joey W. Hill slowly leads the reader into the
relationship between a dominant and his submissive and reveals the
intricacies therein. The use of Internet to launch and maintain the
bond was a fantastic addition to the story, making it possible that
even upon the first meeting between Nicole and Mark in the flesh,
they are already entangled in a well-established, honest and
trusting relationship. Ms. Hill does a convincing job in writing
Nicole’s uncertainty in approaching Mark and later as the two of
them explore their relationship out of the virtual world. I also
enjoyed getting a glimpse of Mark’s own hesitations as he tries to
reconcile his virtual role with reality while also trying to
maintain his hold on his potentially overwhelming anger. It seems
that the focus of BDSM stories is generally on the submissive and
his/her feelings, and in VIRTUAL REALITY, Ms. Hill did a good job of
humanizing Mark.
Fallen Angel Reviews
Reviewed by: Donna
September 2004
http://www.fallenangelreviews.com
Rating: 5 Angels
This book is about finding and trusting not only yourself, but
your partner and the journey to get there. I loved reading about
Mark and Nicole's journey; you feel their emotions right along with
them. Ms. Hill takes you into their world and doesn't let you go,
even when the last word is read. This is not only a keeper but one
you will want to run out and tell your friends about.
Just Erotic Romance Reviews Newsletter
Reviewer: Barb Chan
September 2004
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/justeroticromancereviewsnewsletter/join
Rating: 5 Stars Heat level: O
Virtual Reality is a passionate, poignant tale, filled with
angst, anger, and love. Mark is a powerful Dom, but also a very
angry man. Although he has the potential to care deeply for a woman,
the tumult of emotions within him could also easily destroy both him
and a sensitive woman like Nicole. Nicole comes to Mark after having
emerged somewhat out of her shell, wanting to show him the woman she
has become under his tutelage. The two have an electrifying
chemistry that infuses each page of this book with heat. Too, the
sex was emotional and charged with meaning. Scenes flowed
beautifully from chapter to chapter, until I was surprised and sad
to come to the end. This is yet another must-read story from the
ever-talented Joey Hill.
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