My The Gift Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
"The Gift" by Tiffany Reisz (also originally published as Seven Day Loan) is an erotic novella set within the universe of The Original Sinners series. Here, I follow Eleanor, a trained submissive whose dominant sends her to spend a week with Daniel, a Dom who has retreated into isolation after his wife’s death. My role as Eleanor is simple: help bring Daniel back to the world and maybe give him a reason to want again. But nothing about this story is simple. I get swept up in the tension, desire, and healing that unfolds as Daniel and I navigate trust, vulnerability, and boundaries. The novella takes place almost entirely over one intense week, in a country house charged with restraint and longing. Every day together pulls up memories, secrets, and needs that neither one of us is prepared for, making every touch and conversation feel loaded with hope and risk.
Why I Love This Book
I love the way this novella blends sensuality, pain, and heartfelt tenderness in such a short space. The writing is crisp and charged—each scene shimmers with eroticism but also a kind of vulnerability that lingers long after the last page. Daniel isn’t just another brooding Dom; his grief and isolation feel painfully real, making our connection as much about survival as it is about heat. I’m drawn in by how the D/s dynamic is built not just on power, but on deep mutual trust and respect. My relationship with Daniel becomes a space for both of us to heal, to risk new feelings, and to let go of the walls we’ve built. I especially appreciate how the book doesn’t shy away from the complicated emotions that come with surrender, grief, and new beginnings. It’s intensely erotic but also surprisingly hopeful, and it left me aching in the best way. The whole story feels like a gift itself—painful, intimate, and unforgettable.
I’m wowed by how Reisz balances the tension of forbidden desire with emotional honesty—while the boundaries of pleasure and pain are tested, consent and care stay front and center. This novella stands out not only for the steam, but for the way it explores healing through connection and risk. The moments where Daniel starts to come alive again—and where I realize what true vulnerability costs—are as moving as any romance I’ve read. This is a book that lingers and isn’t afraid to get messy, inside and out.
Who Will Like This Book
If you’re drawn to erotic romance with a strong emotional core and want to see a Dom/sub dynamic handled with nuance, you’ll connect with this. This book is for you if you crave complicated characters who face grief, longing, and healing head on, and who aren’t afraid to bleed—emotionally and sometimes literally—for connection. You’ll enjoy this novella if you appreciate stories about second chances, sexual exploration, and power exchange that doesn’t sacrifice tenderness. If taboo, “forced proximity,” or “grumpy/sad Dom rescued by stubborn sub” are your catnip, pick this up. It’s not for you if you want gentle “fade to black” heat or tidy emotional arcs, but it’s perfect if you want something that burns hot and deep—right to your bones.
Tagged As
BDSM, erotica, power exchange, dominant/submissive, grief, healing, forced proximity, open-door romance, novella, emotional, pain and pleasure, taboo, steamy, slow healing, found family, broken hero, strong heroine, short read, comforting darkness, second chance, standalone, Original Sinners Universe
Steam Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️| Explicit
