Comfort Object Paperback – October 28, 2011

I feel bad about giving this book a three-star rating. The truth is, I found "Comfort Object" pretty unputdownable, and it resonated sufficiently with me on an emotional level that I reread it immediately, which alone should merit a good rating. And yet I can't in good conscience give it more than three stars, because for everything this book gets right (which is a lot), it gets as much wrong.Let's start with the most obvious flaw, shall we? It's Jeremy. I can see why Nell is attracted to him (his charisma comes across loud and clear), but that doesn't alter the fact that he's a pretty scary dude. Not because he likes to hurt Nell (that's almost a given in a BDSM novel), but rather because any man who attempts to kickstart a relationship with a woman by having her fired from her job, blacklisted and evicted from her home is a bit of a psycho. Seriously, that's just appallingly selfish behavior on Jeremy's part, and not very domly either. As I understand it, a dom's job is to gain the submissive's trust and lead her to greater things, both inside and outside the bedroom. He's supposed to be nurturing, in his own playful and occasionally cruel way, and to bring out the best in his girl. As far as I can tell, Jeremy doesn't do any of this until the final chapter, which makes him a pretty shabby dom in my book. Messed-up psycho with entitlement issues, more like it.The book has other flaws, as well - little mistakes which should've been picked up by an editor, such as the fact that Joseph has her heroine arch her back while wearing a 500-dollar corset (only someone who's never worn a corset could write something like that) and travel on a passport which is apparently in her nickname rather than her legal name, which is impossible. She also has Nell get mobbed by a Thai crowd after having appeared in the local tabloids just once, which strikes me as extremely unlikely. (Tell me, would you recognize Matt Damon's wife or George Clooney's girlfriend if you came across them in the street? No? Me neither.) She has Jeremy say, in all seriousness, "You know I won't hurt you, Nell, that's not my kink," when it's perfectly obvious from the preceding and following chapters that that is exactly his kink. And then there's the Italian restaurant owner who is improbably named Guillermo. I'm guessing no one told Ms. Joseph that Guillermo is a Spanish name, the Italian equivalent being Guglielmo.The latter point brings me to another peeve, which is the sorely underdeveloped international aspect of the book. I know, when a book is as strongly focused on a relationship between two people as this one, one shouldn't expect detailed settings which distract one's attention from the main story, but then again, why take your protagonists on a round-the-world trip if you're not going to give your readers any local color? As an experienced traveler, I was distinctly underwhelmed by the international aspect of "Comfort Object." A case in point is Ms. Joseph's description of a Bangkok street scene, which completely fails to mention what is surely THE defining characteristic of Bangkok street life - tuk-tuks. Likewise, when Nell goes sightseeing, Ms. Joseph has her visit "a museum or restaurant or park," even though anyone who's ever been to Bangkok or taken the trouble to do two minutes' worth of googling could tell you that the city's main tourist attractions are temples, markets, the Grand Palace, and (if you're so inclined) ladyboy shows. (Note: the Grand Palace has statues and murals depicting scenes from Buddhist mythology which would have Nell salivating.) None of these places gets a mention in the book. Nor does the marvel that is Thai food. It is of course possible that Nell and Jeremy have tons of Thai food "off camera," but when they're shown eating, they're described as having pizza and Budweiser, because obviously, having American fast food with terrible beer is what intelligent, sophisticated, and open-minded people do when they've just arrived in one of the world's great culinary capitals. Right?I guess Ms. Joseph must have realized that she was out of her depth describing foreign locations, because after Bangkok, she gave up entirely. There's no local color whatsoever in the Turkey, Bulgaria, and Portugal chapters, which kind of makes me wonder why the story had to go there at all. In my opinion, "Comfort Object" would've been much stronger if it had been set entirely in the U.S., a place with which Ms. Joseph IS familiar and where chances of Nell getting recognized in the street (and therefore having to spend most of her time holed up in a hotel room) are considerably greater.And yet... major flaws aside, this is an enjoyable book. The central relationship is strong (despite Jeremy's being a rather unsatisfactory dom initially), the subplots work, the explicit scenes are sizzling, the use of mythology as a recurring pattern is interesting, and Ms. Joseph's writing has an emotional quality which really brings the story alive, sufficiently so that I may end up checking out the other books in the series. "Comfort Object" is proof that Ms. Joseph is a talented author. She just needs to stay the hell away from psycho doms and international locations, or hire me as an editor. (And possibly both.)

The Plot:This is the story of Nell, a Harvard-educated professional submissive. Nell's down on her luck, and when she finds herself blacklisted in the BDSM community and unable to find a job due to the manipulative ploys of sadistic celebrity, Jeremy Gray, she finds that she has nowhere to turn but to his unusual job offer to be his "comfort object" (i.e., sexual slave).As a successful actor, Jeremy doesn't have the time or energy to cultivate a true relationship. He also knows that finding a girl who shares his sexual kink is not an easy task. So he does what any wealthy, kinky celebrity would do, he hires someone to meet his needs. Once Jeremy sets his sights on Nell, he knows that he has to have her -- by hook or by crook -- and it may just take a little of both to keep her where he wants her.Zelda's Take:I loved Nell's story. She's smart and kinky and on an unfortunate psychological roller coaster with Jeremy Gray. This is a great tale of forced submission that blurs the boundary of mutual consent. While Nell enters into a contract to work for Jeremy, she is doing so under duress. He's taken away everything that she's worked for -- her job, professional marketability and her apartment. She has nowhere to turn but to the open hand in front of her, which just happens to belong to Jeremy. She signs Jeremy's contract with full knowledge that she's signing away her freedom.This book appeals to the fantasy of pseudo-consensual sexual coercion and moral ambiguity. Jeremy forces Nell's submission, but Nell is a professional submissive before Jeremy even comes into the picture. She is willingly employed and paid to submit to clients within the boundaries and restrictions of the BDSM club she works at, Eden. On paper, contracting with Jeremy is just an extended and more extreme form of her contract with Eden. In reality, Nell is strong-armed into the contract through Jeremy's emotional and financial manipulation, and his actions begin to change Nell's submissive proclivities from a professional endeavor into a lifestyle choice. Nell is on a twisted ride through Jeremy's life -- jumping from city to city, hotel room to hotel room, with no one to confide in and no one to comfort her aside from her dominating new boss and his wily sidekick. She is essentially lost in the world, isolated from home and completely at the mercy of Jeremy and his contract.Jeremy is both physically and emotionally merciless. Morality aside, this book is packed full of really hot scenes, although not for the faint of heart or BDSM-averse reader. Jeremy pushes Nell beyond her limits on more than one occasion, and he's creative as hell in his techniques. He beats her, tortures her, isolates her and messes with her mind, yet provides her seemingly endless sexual pleasure and makes her beg for more -- all ingredients for a happy submissive. Nell provides Jeremy a better understanding of his own nature and humanity, a warm, consistent body to return home to and talk to, a blank slate (er, body) upon which to act out his own whims and, above all, hope -- hope for love, hope for a future and hope for understanding. Lo and behold, tenderness grows between them out of their mutual understanding of each other's needs and desires and blooms into a sweet and sexy interdependence that surprises them both, something that they eventually find they cannot live without.The emotional complexity and eroticism of Annabel Joseph's writing is really enjoyable. Comfort Object is a great read and I can't wait to pick up more of her books.

Overall by the end I liked the story, but...some of the plot and characters made me fume.Jeremy has seen and taken a fancy to Nell, so with and through his PA, Kyle, research BDSM club professional submissive, Nell, then put her in impossible situations to destroy her job, tenancy and hopes for her future. This is Jeremy Gray, famous actor, insecure person, louse, spoiled brat, scared to commit to any but himself...oh I disliked him and also Kyle to start. Then they offer Nell a closely worded and binding contract, drawn up by lawyer Martin, that virtually ties her into a role that includes sexual toy for anything Jeremy and his kink desires, however, this tempting offer would also allow her to achieve her academic ambition and independence back some time in her future.Why do I see Pretty Woman characters here. The slime ball lawyer came to mind, and also I have Richard Gere in the role of Jeremy...no idea why as he doesn't fit character at all. I also hated that Nell was just handed over to Martin for use too, as the clause in the contract covers all things sexual and perverse too.I hated what they did to Nell. That he pushed her to give on her hard limit too. Take, take, take...I wanted to smack him one. Nell, tricked, used and abused, so nice and loyal too, and plays the role of submissive to start but isn't really a natural one...yet by the end all changed.Clever Annabel Joseph, as she had through the psychology, their roles in life, situations and financial acumen created characters and lifestyle that probably exist...and no I don't envy them at all, but pity them, having to live amongst the shallow hero worship of celebrity status and paparazzi searching and documenting their existence moment by moment...awful. Then by the end why am I rooting for them, saying come on Jeremy don't let your fears and insecurities lose her. Come on Nell, help him and yourself. So I have a complete change of heart. A hate to love relationship with what I have read.One other thing has me curious, this was written and published before Fifty Shades of Gray, has male lead character named Gray, and to me and I may be wrong here but I get the impression E.L.James may have been influenced by this story, hmmm, certainly food for thought. However, Annabel is definitely the better writer in my opinion.4 solid stars from me.

A very entertaining and enjoyable story about domination which was interestingly told from both the submissive and the dominants point of view. Nel is a professional submissive work in a exclusive club in LA where clients pay to punish her sexy body. Nel breaks the rules and meets a stunningly attractive client after work which leads to her dismissal, black balled from other clubs that provide similar services she ends up working in a small Italian restaurant where she runs into Jeremy Gray the handsome and successful movie star. Nel is soon working for the enigmatic star with a string of duties not normally provided by a personal assistant. Nel struggles to come to terms with her new role and the punishments Jeremy metes out to his new employee are both imaginative and severe. The chastisements, punishments and the sex are well described and stimulating. While this book has lots of sex and spanking etc there is an under current of tenderness and feelings to which becomes more apparent as the story unfolds.

If you are looking for a romantic DOM/SUB relationship forget it, Grey is not a very nice character, in fact he is a control freak, obsessive and possessive with a sadistic streak and a need to push the boundaries to keep his toy and to push the toy away, he is nothing but innovative and creative in his punishments, and much to my own morbid curiosity I could not put this book down, I both loved and detested the characters in the same breath, Grey for his manipulative and selfish traits but at the same time it was also heartbreaking to see bear witness to his inner struggle. Nell I found her weak for putting up with his constant abuse but was in awe of her love for her employer and her power as a sub. You get both points of view throughout and a hell of an emotional roller-coaster ride.. The epilogue was wonderful laugh out loud, will I read any more of AJ's work? well I need to rest a while her books are emotionally exhausting and I feel like I have been put through the wringer, but yes definitely after I have got over this one...

When I read that this was Mr Gray I thought Oh no not another one- BUT this man is totally different he acquires his sub by making someone else get her for him. Result -one disillusioned man and one lady in love.I will leave you to find out which man was which. I thoroughly enjoyed this book more so than 50 Shades as this was a better story. All the SM is there but not pages and pages long each time.Have immediately bought and read the other two in the series as I wanted to find out what happened to the characters.If you like this type of eroticism then go for it but read all three one after the other.

I really enjoyed this book. Another Mr Grey, this one even more intriguing! I liked how the story was told from both male and female points of view. I think that helps the reader connect with the character. This is not a fluffy romance but I would liken it to a modern day "Pretty Woman". I'm looking forward to reading Kyle, the personal assistants story.