Cari is back with a very edgy book. His Keepsake is all about consensual non-consent. Now, Cari’s books often walk the edge, but this one comes up to the line, jumps up and down over it, delicately crosses it, and then turns around to snort it. There are times when this book could be upsetting for people who have issues with nonconsensual sex scenes, so do be aware of it.
We start with Emme, who is kinky AF, but for whom most D/s and kink just doesn’t work. She is really into CNC, with it leaning a little more into the NC aspect than the C aspect. She wants to feel forced, to have that decision taken from her, and to have her power taken from her. So, she talks to her friend Charity and arranges for a Dom that Charity knows to abduct her for the week. Emme doesn’t know who the man is, but they have been texting back and forth so that they can set things up, including a code word he is supposed to give her when he first grabs her, so that she knows it’s him. The book opens on the night it’s supposed to happen. Charity and Emme are talking about it in a restaurant, but they don’t realize that Mr. Scott is behind them, listening to every word out of their mouth.
You see, Mr. Scott and Emme have something in common. They are both kinky AF and they both like CNC, with the emphasis on nonconsensual. He decided that he was going to follow Emme, just to make sure that some weirdo doesn’t grab her. Not because he’s interested in her, because no, that would be illegal. And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you in the Atacama Desert.
So, Mr. Scott decides that he’s going to grab Emme. She doesn’t know if it’s the guy who is supposed to grab her or not. He tells her he isn’t, but the mindfuck is part of what Emme wants, so surely he’s just playing into that, and he’s the guy Charity arranged. At least, that’s what Emme keeps telling herself. She’s not 100% sure that she believes it though. She really wants to, because that means that she’s going to be safe, but she just can’t be sure. And if she isn’t safe, that means that this is real and not some kind of super edgy role play.
I love that good mindfuck. A good mindfuck always makes for a good read for me. It is edgy, it is dark, and while we might know what is happening because Cari is telling us, it’s easy to put ourselves into Emme’s head and see everything through her eyes and see why she feels the way that she feels. I love her struggle to understand and to try and make things fit with the facts that she may or may not have.
There are places in this book that really skirt the edges and are very twisted. I’m not kinkshaming our characters or anyone, since CNC fantasies are really prevalent, especially among women, but there are a couple of places where it feels less fantasy and more real, if you can get the difference.
This was a really great story, and there really is a lot in there to dig into. Sadly for you, I won’t go any further into any of it because I don’t want to ruin anything. And I’ve already deleted a couple of paragraphs because I think they went a little close to the line. But, if you want a kinky good time, then go check this one out. Happy reading!
