Truckstop Shemale by Crystal Veeyant

Please Note: The following review is suitable for adults only.

Okay, let's be honest here - when you are dealing with a book called Truckstop Shemale, you really ought to expect at least a few taboos to be bent (if not broken) and a few lines to be skirted (if not crossed). What you do not necessarily expect - unless, like myself, you are already a fan of Crystal Veeyant - is just how skillfully she handles the material.

This is a story with some very dark elements, particularly surrounding Louise's step-father, the dangers of prostitution, and the ugliness hidden behind the smiling facade of friends and neighbours. It is a story where motives are often as suspect as the acts being performed, and where the court of public opinion weighs heavily upon the lives of a broken family. That is not to say it is a sad story or a difficult one, just that the happiness and erotica is . . . well, not so much tainted but rather enhanced by the potential for darkness.

Although the illusion of incest (and the questions that it raises) is a central theme to the tale, Crystal is exceptionally clever in her use of a surrogate pregnancy to explore that most taboo of fantasies without actually crossing any lines. Even after Louise learns the biological truth about their relationship, the emotional bond remains intact, transforming her love into something . . . almost pure and wholesome. While some readers may still be uncomfortable with the emotional aspect, there is one reassurance Norma offers her daughter that, for me, really sheds new light on the situation:

"First of all, baby, just remember that's the same society that also says transgender is wrong, that gay is barely acceptable. Is that where you want to get your morals from?"

The erotic heart of the story revolves around mom and daughter first watching each other service clients, then service clients together, and then service each other for their clients. The taboos being exploited are erotic in and of themselves, but Crystal knows how to write a sex scene, how to draw the reader in, and how to ensure you have just as much fun as her characters. This is probably the hottest story she has written to date, and certainly the most explosive in terms of climactic payoffs.

Yes, it is a story that certainly glorifies prostitution to some extent, but it is also one which is aware of the potential dangers involved. Norma and Louise are careful to screen their clients, to protect themselves, and to ensure they never get put into a position over which they have no control . . . until, that is, their greed gets the best of them. That is where the story returns to darkness, ending with dear old Dad pimping out his two whores until they have made enough money to pay back his legal costs from the divorce and criminal trial. Where the story gets ever edgier, and (for me, at least) flirts with even more taboos, is when Dad brings in friends and neighbours, otherwise ordinary members of the community, to take advantage of the services being offered by Norma and Louise.

With Crystal, you know there is a happily-ever-after to come, but she certainly makes her characters earn it. I do not want to spoil the details, but she does a wonderful job of bringing the story full circle, contrasting one act of sexual abuse with another, one act of sexual rebellion with one of sexual redemption, and one act of parental protection with another. Truckstop Shemale has an entirely satisfying conclusion, even if it is not the one that I expected, and an altogether heartwarming note on which to end a very erotic, very taboo, very explicit tale.

Reviewed by Bobbi