I really enjoyed a great many things about this book. Characters were fleshed out and the plot was well spaced. Some of the secondary storylines could've used a bit more page space but all in all an enjoyable read!

The description of the books grabs you. I cannot be the only one who thought "what the hell" when thinking about their mother being involved in BDSM just before finding out she was diagnosed with cancer. This book is less about the author's mother's interest in BDSM but more so about the relationship between mother and daughter. As the eldest daughter myself I can relate with the author in being the one who stepped up to take care of her mother. Who put her life aside during this chapter of her mother's life. There is nothing inherently bad about the book, it is gripping and you find yourself wondering if mom will make it through all that she is going through. This book will make you sad and make you laugh as though this is your own diary and you are reflecting back on your own relationship with your mother.

Thank you to She Writes Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As is obvious from the title, this is not your run-of-the-mill memoir - the author takes us into her relationship with her mother, who discovered BDSM in her sixties and enjoyed living out her new-found sexuality. At the same time, the mother is in frail health, and in the course of the book goes from one health crisis to the next, culminating in her death.

I really loved this book, and the way the author shared the joy, pain, love, frustration and depth of human relationships. Relationships between mother and daughter, between siblings and other relatives, between the mother and one of her devoted lovers - and also the complexity of being an advocate for her mother with doctors, social workers and other medical staff. Yes, it's clear how the book will end, but I still had tears in my eyes because the auther shares so openly, unvarnished and vulnerably. What a gift to see that it is possible to write in a non-prurient way about aging, sexuality and death - and a good reminder to myself to get my life in order before someone else has to do it for me...

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book captivated me from beginning to end - finished it in one day - couldn't put it down. Don't be turned off by the BDSM aspect of the story because it is MUCH MUCH more than that. For any daughter who has had to become a full time advocate/caregiver for her mother you will absolutely resonate with this story. My two sisters and I experienced this, but thankfully not as long as Elizabeth did, for our Mom and I could relate so much to her story.

Elizabeth openly shares everything with her readers, from her frustrations, anger, love and confusion of the whole process and even questioning herself during her Mom's ordeal and afterwards.

I found her recommendations about hospitals addressing patients and their sexual needs is an excellent one and should absolutely be explored.

A great read and highly recommended.

Full review to come! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Love this book. It’s a different kind of read for sure but please keep an open mind going into it. Read it for what it is. A story about family.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book caught my interest because of the dominatrix aspect... no lie there.
But this book was MUCH more than just BDSM/Dominatrix talk. I experienced a bunch of emotions reading this, and I don't regret it one book.

No lie, I wanted to read this book to see why a 60 year old woman turned into a Dominatrix.
Yet, this book was so much more. I LOVED THIS BOOK!
It was about a daughters will to do right by her mom, even when her mom might not understand what was happening.
The book was a roller coaster of emotions and in the end, I bawled like a baby. I knew it was coming, yet still I was so emotionally invested, I had to cry.
The book details the struggle to live, the struggle to die, and the insurance bureaucracy that is a nightmare for anyone going through it.
IT was so richly detailed and descriptive, I felt like I was in that hospital and nursing homes with the author.
The author brings up the idea of patients and sexuality. It is an idea that should be more fully explored.

Overall this book is a wonderful, heartbreaking work of dealing with the effects of a lingering illness, death, and love.