Bondage - Hardcover

A smorgasbord of irresponsible, unprotected sexual relations, this attention-grabbing novel by the Reagans' rebellious daughter ( The Way I See It ) seeks to show that bondage doesn't always mean S & M. Davis also suggests that strong women are, deep down, either diesel dykes or little girls waiting to meet a dominant man. Costume designer Sara is just such a straight-but-butch type, a 35-year-old woman from Santa Monica who is ordinarily wise to guys on the make. But she's struck dumb by movie director Anthony, and they tumble into the sack repeatedly (she trusts him on the basis of a plastic card that declares him HIV negative). Although Anthony's penchants for tying her up and for the occasional unannounced menage a trois disturb Sara, she cannot shake her obsession with him. Meanwhile, Sara's friend Belinda has fallen for a cult leader who later rapes her, setting up a facile contrast between rough play and actual violence. For readers who relish the explicit scenes, there's additional prurient interest in Sara's lesbian attraction to Belinda, perhaps created to show that caring is the key to a successful relationship. Still, this temptation doesn't amount to much, and heterosexual lust is the major focus here. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternates; author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Davis' career as a writer continues to jerk along. Previously, her literary efforts have been based entirely on being the daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Davis worried this bone until even she must have tired of it. Now, as the title of this book so simply and eloquently says, she's moved on to bondage. Will her fans move with her? It's anybody's guess. Davis probably felt very daring writing this poor man's version of The Story of O, but the only thing really going for it is its camp value. Sara, the heroine, and her friend Belinda both have problems with men and domination. Sara's confusion leads her to a dungeon in the home of a powerful Hollywood producer while Belinda's leads her to jump off a cliff. Before that, there's lots of psychobabble about relationships and lots of sex--his and hers, hers and hers, his and two hers, well, you get the picture. Much of it is rough sex as well, with rape, whips, and daggers all playing roles. Not that any of it rings true. The final scene, in which Sara gets back at her lover, Anthony, by luring him to the dungeon and tying a few Boy Scout knots where they'll hurt the most may elicit groans from Anthony, but expect giggles from everyone else. The flap copy states that Davis is an actress as well as a novelist. Ain't flap copy grand? Ilene Cooper