Reviewed by Jess

TITLE: Behind the Iron Cross

AUTHOR: Nicola Cameron

PUBLISHER: Belaurient Press

LENGTH: 316 pages

RELEASE DATE:  November 13, 2018

BLURB:

In the hedonistic wonderland of Cabaret-era Berlin…

…where money can buy you anything you desire…

…and love comes with a pink rose and a practiced smile…

The year is 1925, the Great War is over, and Berlin has become the manic playground of Europe’s elite. Against a glittering background of nightclubs and hot jazz, a sensual American heiress, a wounded playboy, and a desperate German army officer forge a decadent pact of pleasure. But their nights of uninhibited passion soon lead to a forbidden emotional connection, one that will threaten their future … and their lives.

REVIEW:

This book, my first by Nicola Cameron, is an erotic, breathtaking love story about three people finding comfort first in their bodies, then in their hearts, taking us all along for the ride with them in post-war 1925 Germany. From page one, this is a smart book that will keep you hooked until the end—a don’t-miss historical romance for sure.

It’s Berlin at the end of World War I. Inflation has skyrocketed, the city is in shambles, and the only way decommissioned German army Colonel Friedrich von Bader can make any money is by being a prostitute for rich international visitors. It sounds like a tragedy, but it doesn’t stay that way for long when he meets rich Americans Sam Harrison and Kat Tracy. They’re a couple, but only for show—Sam is gay, and Kat needs a marriage to carry on her family business. They both take a liking to Friedrich (a handsome lover for Sam, a submissive for Kat) and offer to “buy” him for their two-week stay in Berlin. Friedrich thinks its good money with two not-unattractive people, but he’s certainly not expecting to fall totally in love with them.

Making yourself open and vulnerable is one of the hardest things to do, and each of these characters does it in their own way. Friedrich is opening himself up to physical pleasure, Kat is allowing herself to fall in love with a “pet,” and Sam is finding intimacy after the loss of his partner. No one is in their comfort zone, and even if the Americans are paying for Friedrich’s sexual services, there’s definitely a delicate power dynamic between all three people. The insecurities and formalities start falling away as they become more themselves around each other in the quiet moments between bouts of lovemaking.

While all three main characters are amazing, Kat is one of my favorite romance heroines of the past few years. She’s so capable, smooth, and strong, and she never flinches at anything. She knows what she wants and how to achieve it. And she has power, real power, that was not given to her—she took it. Kat’s role as the domme of the threesome translates to a romance dynamic we don’t often see—a woman taking care of her men, in all ways possible. She’s the dealmaker and breaker, she’s the one crafting all the plans. When she tells Friedrich that she will always take care of him, I actually teared up a little, because I believed her. She doesn’t allow harm to come to those she loves, no matter the cost.

You’ll also learn a lot about Berlin during this time, which is an era I knew little about. Friedrich’s warring loyalties to his country and to his lovers makes for good drama, and the ways Americans and other Europeans used the torn-apart country as their playground is eye-opening. Most German historical books take place around World War II, so this is an interesting change.

In this reviewer’s opinion, Behind the Iron Cross is a historical erotica goldmine. The characters are complex but easy to love. The setting is well-researched and authentic. And there is a satisfying story arc that dips and swells and keeps us guessing until the end. Highly, highly recommended!

RATING:

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