Blind Obsession by Ella Frank

As I write this, I am still there. Still transported to this haunting, ethereal, sensual place that Blind Obsession by Ella Frank took me to. I was there. I’m still there. Writing words like devastating, melancholy and powerful in the steam of my shower door so I don’t forget the words for this review. I’m afraid to get distracted before I write this…that I won’t be able to convey the way this novel made me FEEL…how it took me someplace…enthralled me in its sensual web.

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision”

I know! This is not how I normally write. But this is also so not how I usually feel when I finish a book. Blind Obsession was so atmospheric in its writing, so sensual, it sucked me in so deep that I was almost lost in the book. I stopped midway through. I had to breathe, I took an afternoon off. But I was brought right back in.

Phillipe is a gorgeous artist in France. He is accused of a crime….of snaring an innocent blind violinist, Chantal, in a web of obsession, deceit, lies and debauchery, ending in a tragedy. We infer this, but we never really know what is going on.

“He oozed sensuality with everything he did—from the way he talked to the way he touched to his chosen profession”

Gemma is the reporter chosen to write the real story. The story that could make or break her career.

“I think for you to understand this story, you must first become a part of it.”

The story is told from Chantal’s journals, Gemma’s POV, and third person for Phillipe’s memories. Told in almost a poetic way, the story immediately makes you feel. Besides the style of the writing, the book is interactive with the paintings and the music, allowing you to further immerse yourself into all that is Blind Obsession.

“He wanted to create something that moved people – a piece so fucking brilliant that people would cry when they looked at it. He wanted to alter their emotions and to touch their soul.”

To fully tell her the story Phillipe has decided to have Gemma sit for the same now-famous paintings that Chantal sat for. Phillipe’s love, lust and obsession with Chantal, plus her journals and paintings of her bring her completely into the story despite her not quite being there. But she is there. She is everywhere.

“Beauty.” There’s a pregnant pause before he repeats himself louder. “Beauty inspired me.”
“Beauty of the world?”
“No, beauty of a woman. One woman.”

Phillipe is accused of sucking Chantal into his web…but you can see she goes willingly. Who wouldn’t? He is so darkly erotic, so all consuming and passionate, you can’t help but want to experience what his hands and body can do to you. And Gemma is not immune.

“Or was it the power of his voice and the sexual haze he created, making me question the desire I was feeling?”

Make no mistake, this book may be atmospheric and artsy…but holy crap it is H-O-T! Panty melting, my husband was really happy for two days HOT and dirty. There was a LOT of sex, yet it was almost poetic.

“This is wrong,” I say, panting.
He grins demonically, nibbling at my lip. “All the best things are,” he agrees.

Blind Obsession is not an erotic romance. Though it is very erotic, and there is a lot of romance. It is tragic, it is sad, and it is mysterious. It is hot, haunting and addicting.

Blind Obsession is a complete and total MINDFUCK.

“He flexes his hips, and his cock strokes deep inside of me. All I can do for the immediate moment is brace myself and hold on for the storm. After all, if I’m going to drown, this isn’t such a bad way to go. Isn’t THAT the biggest mindfuck of all.”

Likes:

• WOW was the word that kept running through my head. Wow, this book sucks you in and completely immerses you in its atmosphere.
• The sex was outstanding.
• It kept you unsure and guessing through the whole book.
• It was written in such a unique and beautiful way, it is impossible to capture in this review.
• I had no problem switching between present and past, and all 3 points of view.
• No cliffhanger.

Dislikes:

• The melancholy mood the story put you in was pervasive. (I’m not sure if this was a like or dislike.)
• I had to take a 24 hour break. It was just too much at one point. The book seemed a bit too long.
• The interactive features were not formatted so that they are flexible width and can be viewed on any mobile device, especially e-readers (I read on my iPad mini and had to move the page around to read it).
• Use of words that I can’t help but giggle at, like ‘sopping folds’ and ‘pouty lips’ (referring to the lower ones) but given that there was so much sex in this book, I think the terms were OK for variety, and they fit the feeling of this story.
• There is no HEA, but there is no cliffhanger (thank goodness).

Rating 4.5 stars 5 Heat

Darkly passionate, intensely erotic, suspenseful and ethereal, Blind Obsession will make you feel everything down to your bones. This isn’t just a book, it’s an experience, and one I highly recommend.

“When did this story morph? When did it change from a tale of two to a tragedy of three?”

Purchase Blind Obsession by Ella Frank

Amazon | BN.com