Willing prey

Oleander's wildly kinky debut opens with teacher Claire Collins arriving at the Maine mansion belonging to lawyer Shane Underwood, her ex-husband's boss, where, in exchange for $30,000, she will spend the next 30 days allowing him to hunt her for sexual sport. She's desperate for the money after her ex, Keith, left her in dire financial straits, and she genuinely enjoys this kind of "primal play." Meanwhile, Shane has been lusting after Claire since hearing Keith talk about their erotic hunting trips at a company holiday party two years prior. Bad with emotions and anxious to maintain boundaries, Shane draws up a contract to govern their "high-stakes game of hide-and-seek"--but as blazing-hot sex in the woods behind his house gives way to cuddles and conversations, the line between business and pleasure blurs. Oleander balances the danger-tinged sexual encounters with some genuine laughs ("How do I claim this on my taxes?" Claire wonders) and places refreshing emphasis on kink negotiation and consent. The sex- and action-heavy opening gives way to a plottier back half, including a handful of rote third-act conflicts that are dispatched almost as quickly as they arise. More successful is the undeniable chemistry between Claire and Shane, who come off as well-rounded characters despite sketchily filled-in backstories. Readers seeking erotic romance that's as playful as it is filthy will want to check this out. (Oct.)