Beautiful, intelligent and talented, yet entirely naïve to the ways of the world, young Anna-Leigh’s boundless curiosity begs finishing.  Upon leaving the convent where she lived cloistered away as a servant to the sisters from the time she was a little girl, Anna-Leigh’s life begins to change rapidly and dramatically when she arrives at New England’s most exclusive finishing school.  During her initial interview, the headmistress learns not only does this bright and artistic, yet painfully quiet and reserved young woman know very little about how to interact with her fellow students, but she also knows absolutely nothing at all about the opposite sex.  Eager to polish every facet of Anna-Leigh’s education, the headmistress asks the most popular girl in the school to befriend the new girl and help her overcome her shyness and learn to socialize publicly, as well as privately, with the other girls.  Though Anna-Leigh’s new friend, Phoebe is as precocious as she is adventurous, a much more dramatic and life-changing step towards becoming a strong and confident young woman occurs when the headmistress also decides to appoint Édouard Henri (Paul) Avril as Anna-Leigh’s private art tutor.  The headmistress instructs the handsome artist to refine Anna-Leigh’s artistic talents, yet her true goal is to educate her bright and promising new student in everything the achingly innocent young girl should know about life, love, and the masculine sex.  That Anna-Leigh’s Paul was in real life the actual artist who drew the original illustrations for the classic novel, Fanny Hill back in the nineteenth century adds a depth of realism no fictional character can provide.

The Awakening of Anna-Leigh by M. Millswan is a must read story that will have the discerning reader of romance craving more.  This classic and lively romance lavishly set in the opulent Victorian period is a beautifully polished tale about young love, innocence and sexual awakening.  Filled with drama and discovery as well as softly erotic adventures and interludes, each new experience Anna-Leigh encounters will change her life forever.

This is a seriously sexy read written with taste, style and decorum.  Author M. Millswan has composed an arousing and bewitching coming of age story filled with beauty and charm.  With each turn of the page, the descriptive and amazingly vivid nature of the writing kept me feeling as though I wasn’t reading a book, but actually there.  Almost as though I was living out Anna-Leigh’s dream, I could see as well as sense every moment and emotion as it unfolded.

All of the characters, from the imposing headmistress to the shrewish Matron Poe and from Monsieur Avril to the young men Anna-Leighs meets in town are simply fabulous.  That each displays their own peculiar personalities helped to draw me even more deeply into their situations, problems, emotions and experiences.  The main character, Anna-Leigh is fully fleshed out and entirely engaging in her innocence and lack of experience in life and men.  The secondary characters are engaging, brimming with personality and extremely well developed.  M.Millswan presents to the readers a unique voice, and my best description of the writing is beautiful, lustful and delightful.  This author is an excellent writer with evident skill and experience.

The Awakening of Anna-Leigh is a tastefully written classical erotic romance tale that had me turning the pages quickly to find out what would happen next for Anna-Leigh.  This is one of the finest written and most creative stories, with an unparalleled plot, that I have read in its genre in a long time.  It is steamy, romantic and sexy, yet so tastefully executed, you can cuddle up to this story like a soft pillow and a warm cup of tea on a cold and rainy day.  Readers who enjoy every spectrum of romance will love it, I’m sure.

To sum up this review, The Finisher is an exuberant and richly embroidered celebration of youth, beauty, natural curiosity, and softly sensual erotic discovery.  I highly recommend it to all readers, especially those that enjoy tastefully written erotic romance.  This is one of the best ones out there.  I steadfastly believe that this book will appeal to so many readers.  Please, give it a read and allow me to assure you that you will not be disappointed.  I look forward to reading more from M. Millswan soon.

Purchase The Awakening of Anna-Leigh @Amazon