cover image Sleeping with the Devil

Sleeping with the Devil

Vanessa Marlow, . . St. Martin's Griffin, $13.95 (328pp) ISBN 978-0-312-36477-9

A dream of love becomes a nightmare in this creepy erotic thriller from Marlow, the pen name of bestselling romance writer Cheryl Holt (Too Tempting to Touch ). After a chance encounter with attractive Jordan Blair and his girlfriend at a resort hotel on the Oregon coast, 23-year-old Meg White, who works as a dessert chef at an upscale Portland restaurant, and her boyfriend agree to go to Jordan's beach house for a night of fun. Though Meg is uneasy when their hosts expect them to participate in kinky sex games, Meg allows Jordan to seduce her. In dizzy detail Marlow charts Meg's growing obsession with the abusive Jordan, who manipulates her into marrying him. The nasty secrets Meg learns about Jordan during her ordeal strengthen her resolve to escape his sadistic clutches. This sordid cautionary tale will leave readers in the mood to donate to the nearest abused women's shelter. (Apr.)