The Story of Rachel by K.D. McLean

Rachel Collins is praying. And not for world peace. Thirty six years old and single, her prayer is self-centered. “Kill me now, Lord,” she pleads during her latest attempt to meet Mr. Right via the internet.

She’s not hoping for a billionaire or even a millionaire, just a guy who can strike a spark to her tinder! Is she asking too much? She’s a great gal! Just ask her parents! She might be a bit naïve about some things, but capable enough – she’s a correspondent for a major magazine, after all. So there!

On assignment she meets Michael, 42 years old, also a writer. The attraction is immediate and intense. Rachel, who sees vanilla only as a baking ingredient, enchants him. Michael can whip up some pretty hot delights himself, outside of the kitchen. He introduces a curious Rachel to powerful experiences of sensuality. Her Ladylike sense of propriety engages in a running battle with her now sparked Tinderbox desires.

Michael is an excellent cook and knows how to turn up the heat. Sampling the flavors offered, Rachel experiences humorous hiccups. On a date, Michael ramps up the risqué, resulting in a memorable skirt swirling salsa dance. Rachel’s “What the hell, I ain’t getting any younger” attitude spurs Michael to take her to the exclusive, adults only club, Pandora’s. Here, Rachel witnesses even more variations of earthly delights, and begins a lifelong friendship with another guest.

Michael is a realist, convinced that within 90 days, his affair with Rachel will be but another painful memory of loss. He is neither willing nor able to yell ‘Geronimo’ and fall for her. He can’t, and that’s that.

Maybe he should just get a damn dog.

**I was gifted a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**

I’m kind of surprised that more people haven’t written books that involve the pitfalls and amusement of online dating. (Hell, maybe they have and I just don’t know about them). While I personally have never gotten involved in a dating site, my best friend has – and I seriously can’t thank her enough for the hilariousness that she has brought into my life with this online dating. She sends me some of the messages and pictures she gets, and it just kills me. (I won’t name which site, but it’s free so…I think that should tell you enough). Why am I talking about this? Well, because Rachel’s online dating experience seems to be just about level with my best friend’s – brutal, disappointing, yet pretty damn entertaining.

The Story of Rachel is a mix of BDSM, romance, and a dash of humor. Rachel and Michael’s relationship isn’t all rainbows and unicorns and dancing vaginas – it seems to fall the way most BDSM relationships do; man and woman meet, he introduces her to the world of D/s, the woman wants a relationship but the man has some sort of emotional holdback, the woman gives an ultimatum and/or leaves, then after a week-ish the man finally realizes this chick is the bee’s knees and gets over his shit. Not that I don’t enjoy that type of plot line, but it just seems to be getting slightly repetitive. I will say this though, I liked Rachel’s character a hell of a lot more than the shy, 20-something, virgin that numerous authors have used as their main female character in BDSM novels.

Rachel’s sense of humor was refreshing and pretty funny, and I think maybe I enjoyed her and Michael’s relationship because it didn’t ever feel immature. She wasn’t whiny or needy – this is a chick that knows what she wants and knows what she deserves; she’s a strong woman who has her shit together and I dig that. I can’t say that Michael is going in my book boyfriend category (I mean, I am in my mid 20’s and he’s almost old enough to be my dad) but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like him and Rachel together. The only real complaint I have involves Rachel’s inner monologue; her Ladylike and her Tinderbox. This reminded me so much of Ana’s “inner goddess” in Fifty Shades, which bugged the crap out of me. This is what I picture when authors use little characters to play out their thoughts: 

Ahh, Lizzie McGuire takes me back....ANY WHO....

I gave The Story of Rachel 3 stars because while most of the humor was funny, some of it felt contrived or forced. And while I did like Rachel and Michael as a couple, I had a bit of a hard time connecting with his character – maybe it was his age, I don’t know. All in all, I did enjoy The Story of Rachel, and if you’re looking for a book mixed with romance, humor, and a twinge of BDSM, I think you’ll like it too! 

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