4.5 🌶️ out of 5 🌶️
3.5 ⭐ out of 5⭐
3 ❤️ out of 5 ❤️
A Non-spoiler Summary of “Glimmer” by Beth Kery
Alice Reed, a recent MBA graduate with a passion for numbers, doesn't understand why she has been accepted into the notorious management training experience, Camp Durand. Camp Durand, owned by Durant Enterprises and Durand's young CEO Dylan Fall, is a highly exclusive experience where few camp counselors go on to become prominent employees of Durand Enterprises. Typically, it's the likes of Harvard and Yale that receive this opportunity. Not an MBA graduate from a small college that grew up poor in a trailer park.
Alice's sense of unease and imposter syndrome grows after arriving to the Camp. She starts to see and hear things no one else does and she's unsure if it's the watchful eyes of the Durand executives or an unknown presence at camp that is making her feel this way. What she does know, is that as wrong as it may be, her passionate encounters with Dylan is the only thing keeping her grounded. But what she doesn't know, is that Dylan's past may be the key to her disconcerted feelings. And ghosts of the past do not always stay in the past.The Smut and Vibes of “Glimmer” by Beth Kery (No Spoilers)
I rated "Glimmer" a 4.5 chili pepper because this one is *chef's kiss* a true erotica book. There are multiple sex scenes and the buildup in these scenes is wonderful. Now disclaimer, if you do not enjoy age gap relationships you may not enjoy this book. I will say the age gap doesn't feel huge in the book, but it is 10 years. However, if you consider the power imbalance of Dylan being the CEO of a company Alice is applying to, that is something to consider if an age gap/power imbalance relationship makes you uncomfortable. I personally, am not the biggest fan of age gaps, but while being a factor in their sexual encounters it didn't seem "big" enough of an imbalance to bother me. While Alice is at a disadvantage via age and employment status, Dylan is also risking his position with the board if their affair becomes known.
If you do enjoy age gap/power imbalance relationships, this book is right up your ally. During multiple scenes, Dylan and Alice play with BDSM in the bedroom. In a few scenes, they enjoy sex with Alice completely nude while Dylan is partially clothed, they explore multiple types of bondage from typical bed restraints/handcuffs to more complicated devices, impact play, and Dylan refers to her as a "Good girl" throughout the book.
If you are someone who enjoys sex toys, you will love this book. Alice is relatively inexperienced compared to Dylan. He introduces her to a variety of sex toys and these sex toys escalate in intensity and variety as the book goes on. We start out with a wedge and escalate to those handcuffs and restraints I mentioned earlier, vibrators, blind folds, impact play instruments like riding crops, and a bondage chair.
I overall rated this book a 3.5 star book because it balanced being an erotica book with having good character development and a decent plot line. "Glimmer" somewhat plays into the rivals to lovers troupe. Due to her past, Alice is very distrusting, and she sees Dylan as the epitome of wealth and privilege. Dylan actually understands her better than she thinks because his own past was rife with poverty and tragedy as well.
I rated the romance of this book a 3.5 star because the romance does fall second to the sex in this book. We do have some cute scenes between our love interests, but this does quickly turn sexual between the two. "Glimmer" also plays into the sunshine/grumpy troupe. Alice has a huge chip on her shoulder and doesn't make it easy for Dylan to care for her. While I wouldn't characterize Dylan as a "sunshine" person, he is more optimistic and demonstrates patience with Alice when she lashes out.
Overall, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy romances that are heavy on the smut, BDSM/power imbalances, and who enjoy sarcastic female main characters.