Review: Best Bondage Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 edited by by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Title: Best Bondage Erotica of the Year, Volume 1
Editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel
Format: Paperback, 248 pages
Pub. Date: March 10th 2020
Source: Rachel Kramer Bussel


Book Description:

Super sexy, sensual, and surprising bondage stories from Tiffany Reisz, Somer Marsden, Valerie Alexander, and more collected in this exciting volume by erotica maven Rachel Kramer Bussel!

A cameraman puts a TV anchor on display in a whole new way… Two NASA officials wage an interstellar battle between protocol and desire, and one is taken captive . . . A gender-bending bounty hunter keeps his bounty hostage for more than just the monetary reward . . . Two warring neighbors discover that bondage can be a powerful negotiating tool . . . “Merlin” and the “Lady of the Lake” invoke the magic of the woods to fuel their fiery passions . . .

Best Bondage Erotica of the Year is back with erotica maven and award-winning editor Rachel Kramer Bussel compiling the most scintillating bondage stories into this one amazing collection. With a wide variety of different pairings, genders, and genres, these stories are all united in their deep desire for the mind-bending thrills of this o-so-delectable act. Whether you are exploring your kinky side, are looking for inspiration in the bedroom, or are simply interested in a sexy read, this collection is poised to please and titillate readers of any experience level who are keen to explore the depths of their own passions and penchants for the perverse.



Table of Contents

Chained—Ria Restrepo

Impropriety—Winter Blair

Over Under—Kendel Davi

Protocol—Angora Shade

Beach Blanket Ballet—Richard Bacula

Kneel—Kate Allure

Pretty Tied Up—Zak Jane Keir

The Deepest Part of the Forest—Deborah Castellano

Connection—Lazuli Jones

BYOB—Elizabeth Coldwell

Contrary—Kim Kuzuri

Freefall—Valerie Alexander

Delicate Matters—Leandra Vane

Boundless—Sammy Rei Schwarz

Stronghold—Leif Often

Necessary Roughness—Rachel Kramer Bussel

Safe Sex—Violet R. Jones

Hold On Harder—Dena Hankins

The Student Seat—Sommer Marsden

The Beguiling of Merlin—Tiffany Reisz

Review:

★★★★★

Every time that Rachel Kramer Bussel and Cleis Press release a new anthology, I get excited. It seems like the newest one is always newer, sexier, and more batshit than the last. And I mean that in the best way possible. There's newer scenarios, a wide variety of short stories, a whole manner of arrangements of kink and couplings and throuplings and beyond.

Between the pages of this anthology include stories that feature gender-bending, non-binary characters, couples (straight, gay, lesbian, the works), throuples, groups, young characters, old characters, disabled characters, POC characters, realistic stories, sci-fi stories, fantasy stories, historical stories, Dommes, Doms, role play, chains, ropes, public play, and way too much to keep listing like this. As the title of the anthology implies, the one strand that weaves all of these radically different stories together is the theme of bondage.

Because it's an anthology, I certainly liked some stories more than others. Though I always review only my top three favorite stories, I always take notes on each story and give each one a rating to help me determine the final amount of stars. I can honestly say that out of all the Cleis Press anthologies I've reviewed over the years, this book has the fewest low-rated stars out of all of them. No 1-star, and only one 2-star. The picks for this ones are pretty great to get your smut on. (In fact, 6 of them get perfect 5 stars from me!)

The ones I didn't care for as much are for various reasons- kinks that I'm not into, language that isn't my thing (I think we all have our preferred sexy words and ones that are y i k e s), one story was a bit disjointed and flowery. But, what didn't float my boat might hyper-float yours.

Because these are 20 stories by 20 authors, this book is easy to read either in one go, or in little bites of a story or two here and there.

As always, I'll highlight my top three favorite stories.

The first story that I'll highlight is actually the last one in the book, ensuring that the collection goes out with one helluva bang. It's called "The Beguiling of Merlin: An Erotic Fantasia" by Tiffany Reisz. It's a story I didn't know I wanted. It involves a hetero couple, an art book, history, roleplay, and obviously, bondage. It's a lovely blend of magic and realism, somehow reading as both a wonderful sort of fairy tale and an extremely steamy erotica. It's both pretty and dirty and I'm here for it.

The second book I'll recommend is called "The Deepest Part of the Forest" by Deborah Castellano. You'll probably notice a theme to the sort of stories that I enjoy reading. This story involves Halloween, a primal energy, a big bad wolf, a Red, a forest and, yes, more bondage. I thought this story had a fun, playful yet primal vibe to it. I love Halloween, I love a big bad wolf, and this was just up my alley.

The third one is one that I loved but also puzzles me, because Rachel Kramer Bussel's anthologies have made me acutely aware of the fact that "lesbian historical erotica" is a thing I'm into. Not weirdly specific at all! The last story is called "Impropriety" by Winter Blair. It involves a female/female pairing, a case of malaise, a historical setting, a tinkerer's workshop, bondage (shocking I know!) and an unusual device that may just give her everything she's missing and more. It's sexy, it's playful, it held my attention, and it left me wanting a longer story. I'd read a whole book of Jessamine and Ada. More of this, please!

All in all this book has a scratch to soothe any kinky itch. There's light stories, dark stories, fun stories, a rainbow of characters and a treasure trove of kinks. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and I'm happy to add it to my shelf.

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

Review: Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 5 Anthology edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Title: Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 5
Editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
Pub. Date: December 10th 2019
Source: Rachel Kramer Bussel


Book Description:

In Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 5, award-winning editor Rachel Kramer Bussel takes readers on an outrageous journey into the world of female fantasy and desire. These sexy stories offer up wild, hot, and steamy tales from today’s top authors. You’ll be swept away by the sexiest business deal ever, break the rules in a future world where skin-on-skin contact is forbidden, and discover the art of getting off by phone sex.

From threesomes to mermaid sex, fetishes, sex parties, and much more, these authors steam up the pages with tales of trysts, love, and lust where nothing is held back. If you’re looking to escape from the everyday and discover what happens when women are ready to get totally outrageous, this book is for you.

With new stories by beloved authors including Joanna Angel, Balli Kaur Jaswal, CD Reiss, Sierra Simone, and Sabrina Sol, along with newcomers to the genre, you’ll savor every sizzling page.

Review:

★★★★


The theme of this erotica anthology is "outrageous", and on this word alone, I'd say this collection delivers. There are 21 short stories in here, each of them drastically different but all linked by that one word. Each story is short enough to read in a quickie, but long enough that it satisfies. Because each story is unrelated to the others in the book, this is a good book to read in bursts. One story here, two stories there.

This collection does a really good job with inclusivity and diversity. There are people of color represented here, as well as people with disabilities, of a number of body types, and of multiple age groups. There's also LGBT and gender inclusivity here, including non-binary characters. Not only people, but kinks as well. There's all sorts of eroticism featured here, from hardcore BDSM to bondage to age play, to voyeurism, and a whole bunch in between.

Because there's such a wide variety of stories and authors here, if I were reviewing each story individually, the ratings would be everything from a 1/5 to a 5/5. I'm not partial to stories written in first person. Some were too rushed. Some didn't sell me on being sexy and came off forced. Some had kinks that I just don't want any part in, and some had vibes that I thought seemed creepy or coercive. On the other side of the same coin, some of the stories are beautifully weaved with sexy language. They have kinks that are right up my alley with words that I love and scenes that I'd love to be a part of. They have unique concepts and take their few pages of space in this book and create something fantastic.

My point mainly being, that there'll certainly be something in here for you, even if you don't enjoy each and every story. For me, the good outweighed the not so good, and just because I didn't like it, doesn't mean it won't be the thing that drives you crazy.

I won't be reviewing all 21 stories, nor will I be harping on which ones I didn't like. Instead, I'm going to touch on the three stories that I liked best. These are in no particular order.

The first story I feel is worth highlighting is "The Summer of 1669" by Jayne Renault. If the title wasn't a dead giveaway, it's a historic erotica. In a pleasant surprise to me, the couple featured in this story is two women. It largely takes place in a memory, of a time spent on a ship on its way over from Europe to the New Colonies of America. It's a bit taboo, a lot erotic, and being LGBT myself, the fact that it's F/F was lovely. It's sensually written in a romanticized way, while still being plenty dirty.

The next story that I liked is called "If the Ocean" by Loretta Black. It too features a couple that is two females. It also has historic imagery (I guess I'm pretty predictable, eh?). The story occurs when a woman happens across a mermaid. Yes, a mermaid. The book promises outrageousness, does it not? Loretta Black does a really good job here of balancing the sexy elements with pretty imagery and vocabulary that make it seem like it should be part of a larger work (which I'd read tf out of, if you're reading this!).

The last one, and possibly my favorite one, is the last story of the book, called "Spin" by Lauren Emily. It's an exception to my "I don't like the first person narrative" rule. It's also, I just now realize, yet another F/F erotica. This is surprising to me since I also like men, but, here we are. I'd like to just say that there are plenty of men in this book, despite my top picks! I digress. "Spin" involves a public spectacle of eroticism set while doing an aerialist routine. I have an affinity for all things that are carnival and circus, so this was a perfect way to end this collection of stories.

Over all, there's a lot of authors here with a lot of stories to tell. They each do so differently, and it goes to show how so many different people can take one theme and run wild with it in all different directions. There's a lot of different fantasies and kinks here, so there's sure to be something for everybody. If you've enjoyed any of the other volumes from this anthology line, it will find a nice place on your shelf among the others.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Review: Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, & Lauren Myracle

Title: Let It Snow
Authors: John Green, Maureen Johnson, & Lauren Myracle
Format: Paperback, 352 pages
Pub. Date: October 2nd 2008
Source: Goodwill


Book Description:

An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle House (and the hash brown spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista.

A trio of today's bestselling authors - John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle- brings all the magic of the holidays to life in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and kisses that will steal your breath away.

Review:

★★

This book has been on my to-read list for such a long time. When it snowed shortly after Halloween in my neck of the woods, I figured it was the perfect time to get in the jingle bell spirit. I wish I hadn't.

This book is divided into three different short stories, so I'll give three tiny reviews of each one.


Starting this anthology off is Maureen Johnson's story titled "The Jubilee Express". This was easily my favorite of the three. It involves a girl named Jubilee who has to head to Florida for the holidays when her parents are arrested, only to find that her train is snowed in too.

It's definitely not a realistic story, but it's Christmas so I can ignore that. The romance plot is super cute and warm and fuzzy inside. I adored that the main character stands up for herself when she realizes she is being treated badly. We could all use that type of confidence, even if it takes awhile.

I think her name is super cute, and the way it relates to both the plot of the story and the spirit of Christmas is well done.

Some things that were a little irritating was the whole "not like other girls" thing, and the fact that she's anti-cheerleader for no real reason and even has the gall to make fun of them for all being named things like Madison..... When her name is Jubilee, which she also hates for being unique? It's weird.
Maureen Johnson's story

The middle story is that of John Green, entitled "A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle". I think I was most disappointed by this story. It wasn't the worst one, but because I have read (and loved) other John Green books and had higher expectations.

The main character is awful. He keeps describing his female friend as "not a girl" and not like other girls, is one of the boys. When he finds out she's seeing another boy, he makes fun of them. Even when she asks him to stop because enough is enough, he doesn't stop. He has the type of vocabulary of "that's gay". He and his best friend are endangering all their lives for the chance to bang a cheerleader because they're so easy, coupled with slut jokes. He crashes his car and tells his parents he was carjacked because his parents have insurance, so it's all fine. He also realizes he has feelings out of seemingly nowhere. Just I see the light we are meant to be!

She's not innocent here though. She is anti-cheerleader (seriously, am I the only person on the planet whose school cheerleaders were just normal albeit pretty people?) yet she agrees to go with them (because she wants hashbrowns) and complains the whole time about going and that they're just after cheerleaders. Even though she knew that from the beginning. She clearly has feelings for the MC (lord knows why) but instead of using words, decides to be judgy and passive aggressive the whole time. She's also the type of girl who calls her friends "retarded misogynists."

Yikes. They deserve each other, but not for the way Green intended.


And last, there is Lauren Myracle's "The Patron Saint of Pigs". I didn't care for this one, but it least it (sort of?) had some personality growth.

The main character is awful. She's so self absorbed. Five people in 100 pages tell her this, and tell her she's terrible and selfish. She then supposedly has her "Christmas angel epiphany" of how she needs to change and stop being so selfish. And she sort of does? The whole story she is bossing around her boss like she's not a teenager at a Starbucks. She tells her boss (not asks) what she's doing and when she's leaving. Ha, no. And even after this "epiphany" when she comes back, she still treats her boss poorly, even though she has brought a pig (yes, literal pig!) into a CAFE. I get it, you're a teenager and all authority is bad but it's a pig in a coffee shop that is upsetting.

Speaking of Starbucks, it's mentioned so much that it sort of just started to sound like this story was sponsored. There's also a lot of pop culture references here that make the story seem really outdated. Like American Idol being all the rage, the fact that her iPod has the click wheel thing, and I would have been her age roughly in 2008 when this was first published and even I had to google what the hell an iPenguin is.

I couldn't help to be disappointed when her friends forgave her and she got the boy, to be honest.

But, at the end of this story there's a nice little wrap up that features all of the couples from the other stories too. It's a little rushed and muddled, but that's the issue with short story collections. You don't get to know anyone well enough in so few pages, and the pacing is quick.

I didn't care much for this book, and I was glad it was over. It does make me want to read more by Maureen Johnson, but that's about it.

Review: Bats and Bones by Jeffrey Hickey

Title: Bats and Bones
Author: Jeffrey Hickey
Artist: Karen Kiser
Format: Paperback, 1st, 44 pages/audio cd
Pub. Date: October 12th 2015
Source: Author


Book Description:

Bats and Bones is IPPY award winning author Jeffrey Hickey's second work for children. This collection of spooky tales for middle school aged children and above is a subtle masterpiece of fright and emotion. Hickey wrote all the stories, the lush music, and does all the voices for the audio book. His wife, Karen Kiser, contributes the cover art, along with some penny whistle and a little piano. The inside illustrations, layout and design are by Rachel Betz, who also designed Hickey's first work for children, Wages Creek.

This was originally released as a CD only. This is the first edition in print.

Review:

★★★

This is a solid collection. Bats and Bones contains a collection of short stories that are aimed to be spooky reads for "middle school aged children and above".

The story telling was okay, but I didn't find it all too spooky. I don't think that the age bracket intended is spot on. It seemed a bit younger than middle school to me. I could be biased, since in junior high I was reading Stephen King already. But, the writing is fair, and I appreciated that each of the stories was unique from one another.

I do think that the audio cd/accompaniment that came with the print book made it a more interesting experience. I highly recommend utilizing the audio component. It does make everything a bit creepier, and makes up for the bit of lacking that I found while only reading the print alone.

If you have a child who is into ghost stories or starting to show an interest in horror, this is a good place to start. If they're already reading horror, then this might not be up to their level of entertainment.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Review: The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2 by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Title: The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2
Editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel
Format: ebook
Pub. Date: December 19th 2017
Source: Cleis Press


Book Description:

Whether you are simply curious about submission or regularly revel in the delights of BDSM, these sixty-nine erotic short stories about submissives will turn you on! From participating in a musical recital that takes a very kinky turn to making a grocery run while using sex toys to indulging in a risqué office encounter during working hours, these subs delight in obeying (or deliberately disobeying) their masters and mistresses in public and in private. They are rewarded and punished in the most wicked of ways that will leave you breathless. Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel, with stories by Selena Kitt, Jade A. Waters, Dorothy Freed, and Sommer Marsden among other talented writers, The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2 offers arousing tales that delve deep into the thrills of spanking, bondage, power dynamics, service, exhibitionism, erotic adventure, and much more.

Review:

★★★★ ★

Rachel Kramer Bussel and Cleis Press have done it again. It's no secret that I absolutely adore these erotica anthologies. This one is no exception- in fact, The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2 goes above and beyond. There's so much erotic goodness to unpack here.

As mentioned, this is an anthology of erotic stories, the connecting theme of which is submission. There are 69 stories total. People tend to think of submission and domination as strictly black and white, perfect puzzle pieces. But this book just goes to show that if you ask 69 people what "submission" means to them- you will get 69 very different interpretations. Which is good news for us, since it ends up producing books like this one.

Submissives of so many different types get a story here. This is hands down the most inclusive erotica (anthology or otherwise) that I have ever read. There are switches. There are dominant Females both with men and with women. There are Dominant males, both with men and with women. In some instances, there's more than those two in the scene. There are some that fit into neither gender category. There are people of color. There are those who are young or new to the idea of BDSM. There are those who are more experienced (such as a grandmother) and those who have been in the scene a long time, sometimes even professionally. There are different body types; those who are small, or curvier, or scarred, or surgically affected. They have representation of so many folks here, it's awesome. Proof that not all erotica is a stuffy white hetero dude in a suit and a doe eyed brunette who has no idea what's going on. *cough* moving on.

As for kinks, there is absolutely something for everyone. Kinks for days, my friend. Including some very specific ones that I enjoy that I did not expect to see. (But which ones? That's up to you to figure out, a lady never tells unless we're Fetlife friends). Here's a very oversimplified list of some of the things you can expect in the way of kink: BDSM (obviously), bondage, rope, training, power struggles, pet play, spanking, a host of different toys, affairs, pegging, role play, blades, gender play, tickling, different time periods, accents/language, food, and strangers. There's bound (pun intended) to be something on this list that sets off your fires.

There are some stories that focus heavily on the connection or romance between characters, so if you're more vanilla-minded don't be scared away!

The few issues I had with this anthology are pretty standard comments about anthologies. Namely, they won't all be winners to everyone. There are some kinks that are not my kinks (and that's okay!) so I didn't enjoy them as much. There are some names/titles/euphanisms that turn me off. There are some writing styles that I just don't enjoy. But the good thing is that in 69 stories, the ones I enjoyed far outweighed the ones I did not.

Plus, each story is completely independent of the other stories, so you can scan or skip or delay the stories you don't think you'll enjoy, without effecting story lines or anything like that.

Rather than talk about all 69 stories and their negative and positive traits, I'm going to highlight my three favorite stories from this collection.

The first is "Chased by the Wolf" by Mischa Eliot. It involves a male Dominant and a female submissive, a costume party, collaring, and a Predators and Prey themed party hosted at the zoo. This party- where dominants dress as predators, and submissives as prey- sounds like one I would absolutely go to. The writing style is playful but alluring, and stands out to me because of costuming and event type.

The second story is called "My Girl, My Boy, My Enby" by Annabeth Leong. The pairing in question here involves a female Dominant, and a submissive who is gender non-binary, who has "girl days" and "boy days" and "non-binary days". This stands out to me because it is honestly the first erotica I have ever read that has a non-binary character in it. And that means the world to me. My fiance is NB, so I was more into, more connected to this story and it set off sparks I didn't know I had. Well done you. It felt very intimate while still being dirty, it was a good balance.

The final story I'd like to highlight is called Oktoberfest Addiction by Roxanna Cross. It involves a male Dominant and a female submissive. It also involves Oktoberfest, risque themed outfits, hair ribbon bondage (fantastic idea), and German mustard in some very interesting places. I like women in dirndl dresses, food, and Germany. Sue me. It was very fun to read, and again the tone was a bit playful and a bit cheeky. It sounded like a fun festival that I'd love to be a part of.

Some other 5 star stories that get a shout out include "Metamorphosis" by Emanuelle de Maupassant (books, public play, libraries), "Imago" by Anna Sky (tattoo guns), "Cari's Recital" by Rod Harden (ha) [public play, bondage, piano], and "Apprendimento" by Kathleen Tudor (punishment, clothes pins, f/f).

All in all this book is one that has a secure place on my erotica shelf. It's such a mixed bag (in a good way!) of different stories and pairings and fantasies and even time periods. It's like hitting "shuffle" on my dirty thoughts, and that's a great thing.

If you're a fan of BDSM, erotica, RKB's other anthologies, or even sex in general, there's something in this book for you.

Thanks to Cleis Press who gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Best Women's Erotica of the Year edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel!

Title: Best Women's Erotica of the Year
Serial: Volume One
Authors: Various
Editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel
Format: Paperback, 240 pages
Pub. Date: January 12th 2016
Source: Author


Book Description:

Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 delivers risky, romantic, heart-pounding thrills. Joyful, daring, and authentic, these steamy stories revel in erotic adventure, from the sparks between strangers to the knowing caresses of longtime lovers. These stories are not merely erotic but filled with strong characters and clever narratives showing how sexual experience is different for everyone. This anthology is a glorious celebration of the finest and friskiest female erotic fiction today.

Review:

★★★★★

I think that Rachel might have just outdone herself in selecting the stories for this anthology. This is one of the best Cleis Press anthologies that I've had the pleasure to read so far.

As the title and synopsis suggest, these stories are focused on female erotica. There are twenty-two short stories included in this collection, each of them talking about females and sex in some capacity. Honestly, I was blown away by the amount of diversity that spans across these stories. There are young women, middle aged ones, older ones still. There are Asian women and black women and lesbians and those who are in transition, those who are butch and those who are femme. There are dominant women and submissive women. It's a great sampling of different women, and it was a really, really refreshing change of pace. Well done!

These women are found in a variety of different genres, including historical fiction and even post-apocalyptic. I wasn't expecting that, but it was definitely welcome.

There's also a huge amount of variety when it comes to the sex and erotica bit. No matter where your interests lie on a scale from vanilla to kinky, there's a story here that you're sure to enjoy. There's bathroom play, there's BDSM, there's spanking, there's toys, there's voyeurs and exhibition. And then there are stories that are simply two people finding pleasure and passion in one another, no bells and whistles needed. It's a lovely sprinkling of different things.

As this is an anthology, of course there were stories that I enjoyed more than others. I preferred some authors' writing styles, some kinks are not my own, etc. Instead of going over all 22 stories and giving my opinions, I'm going to highlight my four favorites. I know my regular readers are thinking "but you always do three!" I know, I know. But this time I just could not narrow it down. That's how happy I am with BWE. These stories are in no particular order.

The first story I wish to spotlight is called "Demimonde" by Valerie Alexander. This is a historically set short story that features a tall, dark, and handsome man, a seance, and a widower. It had just the right amount of "action" and scene build up, and honestly Ms Alexander knows how to write a man. I'd like one of him please, to go. The next story is called "Ophelia the Second", which is about an understudy, a gorgeous Shakespearean actor, and a passionate night off the stage. I love Shakespeare, and Hamlet is one of my favorite plays, so I loved that incorporation into the story. The third story is called "Starstruck" by Lazuli Jones. I adored this one. This story includes an ebony-skinned actor who once played a hero, a grown up nerdy fan girl, and a convention. I relate to this girl on so many levels, and I have had so many fantasies of meeting my favorite actors/actresses at conventions. I wish this one would happen to me, for sure. The final one is called "Enter Me" by Tabitha Rayne. This one stood out to me, because the female is deaf. It added a really unique dynamic to the story, and I don't think it's anything I've ever read before. It was very well written.

If you're into girls loving men, or each other, and you're looking for a book to warm up those cold February nights, look no further than this collection. You can read it in one go, or take it slow and read each story separately. There's a huge amount of variety, and I wasn't disappointed.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. Thanks, Rachel!

PRIDE Month Review & Giveaway: Best Lesbian Erotica edited by Laura Antoniou!

Title: Best Lesbian Erotica 2015

Author: Laura Antoniou

Format: Paperback, 232 pages

Pub. Date: Feb. 17th 2015

Source: Cleis Press



Book Description via Goodreads:

"Everyone needs a little magic in their life."

Best Lesbian Erotica 2015 features the fiercest, freshest lesbian erotica of the year, curated by the legendary Laura Antoniou, million-selling author of The Marteketplace series. These stories will make you want to call your girl in the middle of the afternoon and tell her things that make her squirm. Images of girlsex will take over your brain. Read these stories and you'll be compelled by sheer erotic need.

Review:

★★★★★

I was so, so super excited when I got asked to review Best Lesbian Erotica 2015 to help celebrate PRIDE month! As many of my regular readers know, I am an out-and-proud member of the LGBT community (pansexuals and demisexuals represent!). This book is the perfect anthology to help celebrate LGBT love. What I love best about Cleis Press anthologies is that it's more than just sex. Don't get me wrong- this is an erotica anthology. It's explicit. It's sexy. But what I mean is that the talented writers who contribute their short stories care about more than just the sexy bits. There's emotions at play here, there's plots. There's characters and POVs that have been given life. That's what makes anthologies such as Best Lesbian Erotica 2015 so great: there's twenty stories here, and each one is different and diverse. From the writing styles, to the kinks, to the relationship pairings, to even some fantasy, it's a celebration of all things girl love, and I absolutely adore that.

Of course, this is an anthology. This means that they all follow the central theme of girl on girl erotica, but are free to explore anywhere else within that bubble. Because there are twenty small, independent stories, it's easy to read this book one delicious bite at a time, or to just read it all the way through like a novel. Again, because it's an anthology, there is some hit-and-miss going on. I loved some stories, and disliked others, while some fell more towards the middle. However, when looking at the whole rather than the parts, I think this is a really good selection of stories that any one- male or female- who enjoys reading about F/F love shouldn't miss out on.

As always, I'm going to highlight the three stories that I liked the best in lieu of mini-reviewing all twenty stories. These are in no particular order, and are the ones that I most recommend reading (though, seriously, read the whole book. You won't regret it.). The first story I'm choosing to highlight is called "Learning to Cook" by Nan Andrews. This short story involves a picky customer, a fiery chef, and a dinner date that neither of them is soon to forget. I am a huge foodie, and because my father is a chef, I was pretty much raised in a kitchen. I loved the setting and the passion that was shown here. After all, if you can't handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen ;). The second story that I most enjoyed is called "Lovely Lady Liberty" by Nicole Wolfe. This story centers around a WASP pilot, a beautiful USO performer, and one helluva Fourth of July celebration. I really liked the unique setting of a USO show on a military base for this one. Plus, it's close to the fourth so I'm feeling extra patriotic. You'll feel more than just the sparks from the sparklers in this lovely lady's routine, I promise you. The last story I'd most recommend is titled "Arachne" by Catherine Lundoff. This erotica weaves a story (see what I did there?) of the famous Arachne and her challenge to Athena- but I've never seen it told quite like this before. I adore mythology, being a Classics minor myself. I loved the fantasy/myth interpretation of lesbian erotica.

All in all, read this book. If you love girls, if you love girls who love girls, if you just love a really good sex story now and then- this is the book for you. This is probably the best anthology I've read so far this year. Thanks so much for the copy, in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway:

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Blog Tour, Review, & Exclusive Excerpt: Best Bondage Erotica 2015 by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Title: Best Bondage Erotica 2015
Author: Rachel Kramer Bussel
Format: Paperback, 232 pages
Pub. Date: February 17th 2015
Source: Cleis Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

Rachel Kramer Bussel was at the vanguard of this new era of BDSM. Always a step ahead of the zeitgeist, this award-winning editor knows your private fetishes a lot better than you do. Now that 2 million readers are bondage curious, thanks to the runaway popularity of the Fifty Shades series, Rachel can help them explore their fantasies and realize their deepest desires.

Exclusive Excerpt:

I'm so excited to be hosting an exclusive excerpt from one of my favorite stories in this collection, “In Suspense” by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd!

“In Suspense” by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd

Before they began, all was silent. Christie and Mac entered the stain-proof room together, fingers entwined in solidarity.

Christie’s stomach tightened, and her skin flushed and tingled, just as it had when she’d first met Mac almost a year ago. She wanted this, and there was no way she’d let nerves stand in her way.

Mac closed the door behind them before leaning in to kiss the spiral of rings up her earlobe, his breath teasing and warm.

Her nipples hardened as his kisses sent tingles up her scalp and down her spine. Christie leaned back against Mac and tilted her chin up, giving him better access to her neck and raising her gaze to the chains hanging from the ceiling like glowworm strands with bright steel hooks at their ends. She could do this, damn it.

Everything Christie loved had come hand in hand with pain, whether it was her Akita, Ponzy, who had only been adopted because her previous dog ran off, or the dozen tattoos adorning her skin. Those carefully inked designs had taken hours in the chair. This would only take minutes.

Mac wrapped his arms around her waist. “Hey,” he said between kisses. “It’s okay. We’ll start off slow.”

Christie raised a hand to fondle his zero-gauge earlobe before leaning in for a kiss. His lips parted, and she darted her tongue inside, playing with his silver stud.

He kissed back, harder, sliding one hand down to cup her ass and pull her against him.

She ground against his pelvis, feeling an erection swelling behind his jeans.

“Tell me when you’re ready.”

Christie nodded, moaning against his mouth, but did not answer. Not yet. She pulled back to peel his shirt up over tight abs and past his pierced nipples, exposing his chest piece: the MacMillan family crest bordered with thistles and bookended by a pair of intricately detailed raven’s wings. She ran her hand down it just once, though she’d seen it almost every day for months now. Still, the familiar design made her smile.
Christie thought of it as a link between Mac and his ancestors, tracing ink back through the years to his distant highland predecessors, whose fiery coloring he still wore in a stripe down his scalp, and on the end of his chin.

He grinned, mischievous as ever, and tugged at the buttons on her blouse, pulling it open, letting air in over her flushed skin. Mac slipped a hand inside, massaging her right breast while he worked on the other buttons.

She kissed him in little bursts, darting in to press her lips to his, then pulling back before he had a chance to respond, teasing him into trying to follow when she retreated.

Mac slipped the last button free and her shirt slid down her arms, dropping to the floor. He cupped her face and pulled her into the deep kiss she’d been withholding.

Christie laughed against his lips, reaching down to unbutton her jean shorts. She hadn’t put on underwear that morning, a decision she hoped she wouldn’t regret later, once she was exhausted and sore. The denim was already damp from her growing excitement.

Mac hooked a finger into the waistband, helping to tug them down. When the denim hit the floor, Christie stood naked before him, wearing just her tattoos. They helped her feel brave, like little flags proclaiming, I’m no stranger to pain. I have no fear of it. I take it in, and the pain makes me more beautiful.

They stood together, her face cradled in his hand, just breathing. Mac’s muddy green-brown eyes held hers, and after a moment he asked, “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

Christie pressed her lips together and nodded. “Absolutely. I’ve always wanted to try suspension, but it never felt quite right with anyone else. It requires a specific kind of trust.” She leaned forward to playfully run her tongue across his lower lip. “A trust I’ve only felt with you.”

Review:

★★★★ ★

Best Bondage Erotica 2015 is one of the best erotica books that I've read from Cleis Press. The stories are steamy and well varied, and there were only a few stories in this anthology that I didn't enjoy.

The great thing about this collection of short stories is the differences that are included. There are so many different fetishes, pairings of people, and dynamics being represented. Naturally, as with all anthologies, there's a connecting theme, and for this collection it's simply "bondage", which leaves the door wide open for lots of stories.

Honestly, I don't even remember why I didn't like a few of the stories looking back as I write this review, but it's a safe guess that something just wasn't up my alley, so to speak.

There were, however, a ton of stories that I really, really enjoyed. I've decided to highlight the top three, which was a really tough decision for me to narrow it down! These top picks are in no particular order. The first story that I'd most recommend is called "The Thug" by Sommer Marsden, which involves a gangster, sticky tape, and a kidnapping. I really liked the dialogue in this one, which is rare for me. But it was just as sexy as the scene itself, and they complimented each other nicely. The next story that I most enjoyed is "Auction, in Quotation Marks" by LN Bey. This story includes a slave, an auction, and a surprising bidder. I enjoyed this story because I wasn't quite sure how it all was going to pan out, and the good writing had me eager to find out. The final selection of my top three is "In Suspense" by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd. Because of the pain, suspension, and trust evident in this story, it's one that I'll definitely be rereading in the future.

All in all, this is a well done anthology that any fan of erotica and BDSM would be sure to enjoy. There's something for every reader, and it is very effective in its job of getting bits aroused. Thank you so much to Cleis Press for my copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Buy it here:

Amazon | Cleis Press

Blog Tour Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway: The Big Book of Domination by D.L. King!

Title: The Big Book of Domination: Erotic Fantasies
Author: D.L. King
Format: Paperback, 346 pages
Pub. Date: December 9th 2014
Source: Cleis Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

Not every woman likes to submit. An increasing number like to be on top. And their partners love it! D. L. King, editor of 2013's award-winning Under Her Thumb, curates a scintillating collection with The Big Book of Domination. Filled with surprises and unexpected twists (yes, that kind, too!), this book proves that when lust and desire take control, all bets are off.

Dominants and submissives are not so very different — they both crave that frisson of power. The Big Book of Domination brings you erotic stories to get your heart pumping, like the story of a reporter who likes to experience everything first hand. It’s been said that clothes make the man — can putting on the right clothes transform an ordinary man into a charismatic dom? When Glenn finds the leathers in his friend’s closet, his trip to the bars nets him the perfect boy . . .

Dominance and submission is a dance D. L. King knows well, and The Big Book of Domination rocks your world with stories of sensuous games with male dominants, training and discipline by female dominants, and all manner of sensuous games and pairings.

Guest Post with DL King:

During a discussion with Laura Antoniou about people who co-edit anthologies, I once said I would never be able to do that because I don’t like to be dependent on others or have to compromise in my books. I went on to say that I was a little controlling and she said, “Ya think so?”

Yes, I am controlling. I like to be in charge and as a dominant woman, I’ve been practicing kinky sex for more than fifteen years, unlike another author who shall remain nameless, so I guess I know a little about the subject of BDSM and domination. Truly, though, I was super-excited when Cleis Press asked if I’d like to edit The Big Book of Domination. It’s an area of personal interest and I hoped I could do it justice.

Most people think of femdom when they think of me. I wanted this book to be more of an omnibus of domination, though, not just femdom, and I hope I’ve succeeded. But before I talk about the various dominants you’ll meet the pages of this new book, I wanted to talk a little about how dominance and submission are so closely related as to be two sides of the same coin. By rights, every story of submission has a dominant, front and center, and every story about domination has a submissive. And because that’s true, I didn’t just look for stories from the dominant’s point of view; some of the stories in The Big Book of Domination are written from the submissive’s point of view. But make no mistake, all these stories are about domination in all sorts of permutations. You’ll find male/female couples, sometimes with the man on top, sometimes the woman. You’ll find lesbian stories and gay stories. There are loving dominants in long-term relationships and submissives giving themselves to a dom for the first time; there are budding relationships and relationships coming to an end. None of these stories are simple, but all are easy to fall into so I hope you’ll do just that. I’d like to leave you with a quote from Laura Antoniou’s foreword to the book.

“Here be dominants. Because not only do they inspire submission – and yes, some by beauty and style – but they also inspire jealousy. Or, they feel it! Deliciously, they feel it and let it wash over them because they have the power to do something about that pesky little feeling. And having the power is only step one. Figuring out how to use it and to what end is the real trick.

And also here you will find familiar tropes like birthdays and role playing, a kidnapping and some public teasing. But while you think you might recognize a standard after-hours office scene, you might be surprised at who winds up where and how flirting can be very fun or very dangerous or both. Parties and music cross paths, but in unexpected ways. Not every party has guests who will appreciate whipping out the chef's naughty bits for some fun, and not all music is played in the background when you can command the musician.

And while some tops in this collection revel in their RKO evil menace persona, (complete with costuming), there are also cozy moments of affection and love, crossing over an assortment of orientation and taste variations. A suitable mélange to tempt the palate for more complex flavors of seduction and coercion and the fine line between the two.

Some of these stories start in texts and via phones and computers. The reality of those stories mingles with the surrealism of an almost noir flavor, hard-edged and defiant and sexy in a way that makes you hesitate before turning the page.

But you'll want to see what happens next. And enjoy the journey as these writers skirt the lazy tops and unimaginative overlords of lesser tales to show you just how deliciously complicated we can be. In our stories and our fantasies. And I'll bet a few of these tales will inspire some real life adventures as well.”

You can find the book everywhere, including the following places like Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Review:

★★★

The Big Book of Domination is a book that has something for everyone, from Dominants to submissives and everyone in between. If you are a lover of BDSM or sex, then this is an anthology that you will definitely want for your collection.

The short erotic stories contained in this master collection (no pun intended) are widely diverse, including all pairings of straight/LGBT couples, femdom, and stories from both the Dom and sub point of view. Different though they may be, they all focus on a central theme in one form or another: Domination. Because each story is distinct in its voice and story, you can read as many or as few stories from this book in one sitting as you'd like.

I'm not going to break down all twenty-something stories down in full detail, but I will highlight my top three favorite stories included in this book, in no particular order. The first story that stood out to me was "Faking It" by Tilly Hunter, which involves a pair of female play partners and a search for a male submissive to join in on the fun. It's well written and manages to pack a lot of actual story (don't worry- there's sex too) into not that many pages. It could easily have been an excerpt from a longer erotic work, and I really enjoyed the detailed writing. The second story on my list is "Prison Bitch" by David Wraith. This story narrates a male submissive who asks for a very special kind of birthday present and gets even more than he bargained for. This story is LGBT inclusive as well and I'll just be blunt about it: the scene was hot. That's all the reason I need to remember this story in the future. The final story on my top spots is "A Hole" by Lillian Douglas, which involves sensory deprivation, a fantasy fulfilled, and more hands than one can keep track of. This story is a personal fantasy of mine, so it hit the spot all the sweeter for me. It'll definitely be revisited in the future.

The stories that I didn't enjoy so much weren't badly written, they just personally weren't my kink or something that I enjoy. Everyone has the things that make them tick the loudest, and no doubt other readers of this will appreciate different stories for different reasons.

This is a solid collection that I'm proud to display on my kink shelf. This is obviously recommended for adults over legal age, and if BDSM isn't your thing this is NOT the book for you. But fans of it, as well as erotica in general, will find something to appreciate in this book.

Thanks so much to Cleis Press for my Copy in exchange for my honest review!

Giveaway:

-This giveaway will run from February 20th to February 27th, 2015
-This giveaway is US & CAN ONLY
-This giveaway is open to those 18+

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Holiday Review: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories

Title: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories
Authors: Stephanie Perkins, Holly Black, Ally Carter, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Matt de la Pena, Rainbow Rowell, Laini Taylor, Kiersten White
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 14th 2014
Source: Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press

Description via Goodreads:

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME: TWELVE HOLIDAY STORIES by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins.

★★★★

Technically speaking, I did the averaging of the stories' ratings and got a 3.7. So let's just call it a four, shall we?

I picked this book up for a few reasons. I am a sucker for anthologies and Christmas, for one, so the pairing of the two seemed like a no brainer. I also recognized almost all of the author names, although I hadn't read many of them before. I see authors like Stephanie Perkins, Rainbow Rowell, and Laini Taylor (to name a few) plastered all over the interwebs, and I thought this anthology would be a nice way to get a first taste of some of these bestsellers. Overall, I'll say I was pleased.

One thing I really liked about this collection of Christmassy stories is that there is a lot of diversity. Because you have twelve different voices offering their own twist on a holiday tale, there are so many character groups being addressed. There are black characters and Asian characters and gay characters and Hispanic characters and boys and girls and hell, even paranormal characters. I really, really give props to the editing on this one- there's a great amount of voices being penned here.

I'm not going to go down and review each and every story, namely because I hate making authors stick out in anthologies as the one I liked the least. However, I will highlight my top three favorite stories from My True Love Gave to Me, in no particular order.

The first story that stood out to me was What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Forman. In this story, a Jewish "big city" girl, Sophie Roth, comes to a university in the middle of nowhere on a scholarship. She thought she'd fit in but she doesn't, not the way she'd expect. She finds that she keeps saying or doing the wrong things here. That is, until she starts talking with one of the few black boys on campus, and she realizes that maybe she just needs one special person to get along with. This was such a cute story that blended together Hanukkah and Christmas, races, and big city vs. small town. It makes you feel good and honestly I wish I could have read more of it. It definitely put a smile on my face.

The second story that got my attention was Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White. The lead character hates her job and the holidays. Everything around her is Christmas themed, her family is getting more and more strange to her as the days pass, and she just wants to get out of Christmas as fast as she possibly can. The cafe where she works gets a new cook, Ben, who has a gift for making the perfect foods- not just the ones that taste the best, but that will make people feel better. Maria starts to see that maybe Christmas isn't quite as bad as she thought. This is another one I wish I could have read more of. This book has a really cool blend of realism and holiday magic. Ben almost seems like he should be a holiday elf or something, and that makes it all the more adorable to me.

The final of the three that I'll be highlighting is the last story in this anthology, The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. Holy ever-green holly. I have never read Laini Taylor's work before now, but I will definitely be reading her books in the near future. A short story was not nearly enough for the amazingness (is that a word? It is now.) of this plot. It was written with this dreamy, magical tone to it and I love the traditions and world-building that managed to be squeezed into such a small space. It was stellar, and I loved it. This story made the whole anthology end on a positive note.

As with all anthologies, there were stories that I really loved (like the three aforementioned) and ones that I didn't care for at all. Such is the way collections tend to work. Overall, I liked more stories than I disliked, and to me this is a book worth buying for that little dash of Christmas spirit.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Penthouse Variations on Oral

Title: Penthouse Variations on Oral
Editor: Barbara Pizio
Format: Paperback, 232 pages
Pub. Date: October 14th 2014
Source: Cleis Press



About the Book:

Great oral sex can be mind-blowing, life-changing and create memories that last a lifetime. In the debut of the book series inspired by the wildly popular Penthouse Variations Magazine, the focus is on oral pleasures of every kind. Penthouse Variations on Oral reminds us that nothings is more appetizingly erotic than a good blow job and that going down on the object of your affection is sheer bliss for both parties. Giving head - taking in the essence, taste, smell and sexy up-closeness of a lover is a powerful aphrodisiac that affects one physically, mentally and emotionally. Once you have your lover in your mouth, the heat of desire, passion, and lust focus before your eyes and tie your arousal directly to them. In Penthouse Variations on Oral, lovers explore the many ways oral sex can be an act of love, tenderness, devotion or pure sexual act that lets readers revel in the emotion and sensuality of it all. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy this sexy read of explicit stories to get you hot and bothered with more than a mouthful. These sizzling stories are meant to be savored. And shared.

Review:

★★★★

I have to say, I really love that this collection focuses on one very specific theme: the art of oral sex. Within this anthology, there are twenty-two short stories that in one form or another tell a steamy story about going down on their partner. As with most anthologies, there were some stories in this collection that I thought were sexy beyond belief, and others that I didn't quite enjoy as much. I won't go through each story and review each and every one, but rather rate and review the book as one collection.

That being said, I would definitely like to highlight a few of the stories that I enjoyed the best because I think they deserve a shout out in this review. The first story in this anthology is entitled Lickety-Split by Alison Tyler. This totally gets the ball rolling for the rest of the collection, and it involves some sexy fun at a coffee shop that involves way more than just your standard cup of joe. Per usual, Tyler's writing is the perfect amount of erotic, leaving the reader satisfied after just a few pages. The next story I most enjoyed is Local Delicacies by Evan Wilcox, which tells about a steamy encounter of a man looking to get a special taste of all the flavors that the locals have to offer, and maybe try some foods too. The last story I'll highlight is called Honky-Tonk Heat by Nancy Richman, and it's about a lovely few trysts with my favorite type of man (at least at the moment)- the southern, drawlin', cowboy hat wearin' variety. Yum. As some of my followers know, I've been going through a Western/Southern/Cowboy erotica phase and this one hit the spot quite nicely.

These stories are all bite sized little morsels that are easy, fast, and fun little reads. Because it is made of such short components, it's nice that you get get a quickie fix and just read one story when you can and dive back into it later. Given that this particular theme is my favorite bedroom activity, I have to say that this is a great collection for those who enjoy giving and receiving oral, or any fan of erotica in general.

Thanks for Cleis Press for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway:

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Mini Review: Take the Heat by Skye Warren

Title: Take the Heat
Editor: Skye Warren
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: September 9th 2014
Source: Netgalley Invitation & Aspendawn Books

Description via Goodreads:

The ultimate bad boys, criminals capture our attention and awaken our darkest desires. Celebrate the illicit in this romantic suspense anthology, where handcuffs are used for more than play. These stories are shocking, sexy, and thought-provoking.

In New York Times Bestselling Author Skye Warren’s Magnolia Hotel, meet the heroine who pays her brother’s debt to a loan shark—who happens to be her childhood crush. Find out if the jury made the right decision in Acquitted by award-winning author Giselle Renarde. Explore a dark and sensual psychology with New York Times Bestselling Author Pam Godwin in Unlawful Seduction.

Ride the edge of desire and see if you can TAKE THE HEAT…

Skye Warren – Magnolia Hotel
Cynthia Richards – Captivated
Pam Godwin – Unlawful Seduction
Sheri Savill – Slipknot
Shoshanna Evers – This Might Hurt A Bit
Candy Quinn – The Bombshell
Tamsin Flowers – Playing with Fire
Elizabeth Coldwell – Disposing of Donnie
Audrey Lusk – Surprise Witness
Trent Evans – Last Day
Giselle Renarde – Acquitted

★★★

Because this is a collection of short stories, this will be a short overview/review to match.

I was impressed by how many different styles of short stories were put together in this anthology. There's ones that are more of a thriller/suspense vibe, ones that lean towards the kinkier/BDSM side of things. I will say that each story stood out from the others and brought something unique to the table, so to speak. The unifying theme of this collection of short stories is crime and criminals, and the overall tone of this entire set is dark. I was surprised but not unpleasantly so.

This book falls in the middle of the road for me because like almost every other anthology, there were stories that I really, really enjoyed, and then stories that I didn't care for very much at all. That being said, I do think that it is worth reading overall. The good outweighs the bad, and the bright side is that the bad will only last ten pages or so. That's not to say that these stories were badly written, per se, but some felt rushed or had kinks or themes that I'm just personally not into.

This is a solid collection for readers who enjoy dark romance, erotica, BDSM, short stories, and their bad boys in the form of criminals. Thanks to Netgalley and Aspendawn Books for my copy in exchange for my 100% honest review.

Blog Tour Mini Review- Submission: Erotica for Women edited by Alex Algren

Title: Submission: Erotica for Women
Editor: Alex Algren
Format: ebook, 45 pages
Pub. Date: September 16th
Source: Cleis Press

Book description via Cleis Press:

Eyes blindfolded. Mouth gagged. Hands chained to the headboard. You’re on display, ready for him—ready to be used. And the only sound in the room is your own breathing...until you hear him close the door behind you.

Let these tales give you inspiration for the next time you find yourself in a tight spot. This collection of stories featuring guys dominating their eager, submissive lovers is bound to fill your imagination with kinky playtime ideas!

About the Author:

A graduate of Mills College with degrees in semiotics and mathematics, Alex Algren lives in Oakland, California. She is an avid reader who writes and edits to make more things to read. She is also the editor of Stories of O and Kinky!. Currently working on a novel about revenge, she also quilts and volunteers at her local animal shelter.


★★★ ★

Three and a half stars.

---

Submission: Erotica for Women is a collection of six erotic short stories, each one of them featuring a Dominant male who wants to push their submissive to the limit in the sexiest ways possible. I prefer my men to be Dominant, so the theme of this mini collection is right up my alley. This collection is a short and fast read, which is perfect when you just want a hint of a story, just enough to tease you. Literature foreplay, if you will. It was a bit shorter than I expected or would have liked, but that's partially my own fault for not realizing its length before I started reading it.

I'm not going to review each story individually, but I will say that there was one story I loved, one that I didn't like at all, and four others that were solid reads. I'm not going to put the majority of them in order, but I will give a shout out to "Reclaiming" by Teresa Noelle Roberts, which was my favorite story of the bunch. It features a woman who has just come home from a long stint away on business, and the Dominant who has a very, very distinct way of showing her just how much that he missed her.

Though there was one story I didn't care so much for, I know that when I see names like Alison Tyler and Rachel Kramer Bussel that I'm going to be reading something good. Overall, I feel this is a steamy and enjoyable taste of erotica. The whole collection spans about 45 pages, so as I mentioned earlier, I recommend it for anyone looking for a quick fix of kinky reading.

Thank you to Cleis Press who provided me with a copy in exchange for my completely honest review.

This book is an ebook exclusive published by Cleis Press. You can purchase it by clicking over to Amazon, B&N, Kobo, iBook or Google Play.

Blog Tour, Excerpt, and Giveaway: The Sexy Librarian's Big Book of Erotica

Welcome back, lovely little darlings. Today I'm the blog stop for Rose Caraway's new erotica anthology, The Sexy Librarian's Big Book of Erotica. Stick around and check out a teasing excerpt, read my review of this collection, and enter to win a copy of your very own courtesy of Cleis Press!



Title:The Sexy Librarian's Big Book of Erotica
Editor: Rose Caraway
Genre: Erotica
Release date: August 12th, 2014
Publisher: Cleis Press
Length: Paperback, 256 pages
Source:Cleis Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

Imagine a library — a very special one run by a librarian whose only concern is pleasing her patrons. In fact, this librarian will stop at nothing to service her readers. To that end, she has carefully collected a fantastic and fantasy-filled set of stories guaranteed to satisfy literary lusts in The Sexy Librarian's Big Book of Erotica. This voracious volume is simply bursting at the binding with amorous archives and bibliophilic bliss; it is a veritable dictionary of desires, with stories by top eroticists Rachel Kramer Bussel, Tamsin Flowers, and Salome Wilde, as well as Rose Caraway, the sexy librarian herself.

Excerpt:

From A Perverted Fairy Tale by Emily Bingham

Little Red skipped to the outskirts of town in her short gingham dress, delighting in the red-and-white pattern that hugged the womanly curves of her buxom breasts and shapely behind. It matched her hair and danced in the breeze, floating just above her kneesocks and Mary Janes. As her walking took her farther from the village she tired of the wind making hurricanes of the abundant waves about her face and took a set of sateen ribbons from her pocket to tame her locks. She put one flopping braid on each side of her head and began to skip her way into the woods feeling the braids sway in time to her steps.

The woos were dark and it was rumored evil beasts resided here, but Little Red hadn't a passing hint of fear; the darkness fascinated her. Secretly she hoped to find one particular creature she had heard thrived in these enchanted woods. Wearing such an irresistibly impish outfit, she knew she could lure him out of hiding. She did love an adventure.

Breathing hard from her long journey, she sat on a nearby flat rock to rest. She leaned back, sunning herself in the beams of light that pierced through the trees. Popping open the first button of her thin dress she realized how nice the warmth felt on her skin. Little did she know that in the nearest burst of bushes her dangerous visitor already watched.

It had big eyes gleaming with wickedly growing intent. It was strong and powerful. The hypnotic intonations of its speech could lull and elicit desire from anything that crossed its path. These spells were especially useful on scrumptious women like the one it was gazing upon. Thankfully for Little Red, the voyeur was, however, powerless in the light of day. Darkness was the only time it could leave the shadows. The full moon made it even more dangerous. He was, though, a patient Wolf and had every intention of getting his paws on this red-haired morsel.

Buy it now on Amazon

Review:

★★★★★

Five stars.

---

Cleis Press puts out a lot of erotica anthologies that I truly enjoy, but this one may just be my new favorite. This was my first time reading an anthology put together by Rose Caraway, and after reading this collection I know that I will be reading more of her work.

The Sexy Librarian's Big Book of Erotica consists of 22 short stories that are incredibly diverse. Spanning such erotic genres as fairy tales, Greek classics, sci-fi, and even steampunk, this two hundred something page book truly manages to be its own little library of sexy fun. I love that at the beginning of each story, there's a library-esque card catalog introduction that introduces the story with the title, author, category, and subject. Not only is this incredibly cute and matches the librarian theme of the collection, but it is also exceedingly helpful. It lets you easily flip through the book and pick a book based on your mood and interests at that very moment. Conversely, it allows you to skip stories that you know aren't your erotic interests.

The stories are unconnected, so in addition to easy maneuvering through genres and the like, this means that you do not have to read them in any specific order, or straight through like a regular novel. You can pick and choose, stop and go back, and read in whatever way may tickle your particular fancy. Personally, I went to my favorite genres and kinks first because I'm impatient and the kind of girl who sneaks peeks at her Christmas presents well before Christmas morning.

That being said, I can honestly say that there is no story in this collection that I didn't enjoy. That being said, of course I loved some more than others. I'll share with you my top three stories, in no particular order. "Three Legs in the Evening" by Janine Ashbless is an erotic imagining of Oedipus and the Sphinx that he encountered in the Greek tragedy we all know and love. This one tugged at my Classics minor, and I adored that someone decided to make something, well, classic into an erotic tale. "A Perverted Fairy Tale" by Emily Bingham tells the sizzling story of Little Red, who journeys into the woods in order to seduce a Wolf. I'm a sucker for both fairy tales and werewolves, so this was another home run for me. "Cherries in Season" by KD Grace is a delicious treat about a sexy, sticky romp in the back of a greengrocer that will teach you a whole new way to enjoy cherries. Let's just say I have something new to try out after reading this one.

This collection of short stories is perfect for anyone who is a fan of erotica, period. No matter what genre, sexuality, fetish, or grouping you most enjoy reading about, Rose Caraway has made sure to include a story in here just for you. Be sure to have your partner or extra batteries nearby, though. This is a steamy read that will have you asking for more. I know that I am.

Thank you to Cleis Press who provided me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway:

Rules:
-This giveaway will run from September 16th to September 24th, 2014
-This giveaway is US ONLY
-This giveaway is open to those 18+
-It is open to anyone over that age who can legally enter, receive, and use their prize.
-One (1) winner will win a copy.
-This giveaway is sponsored wholly by the publisher. I am not responsible.
-This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity.
-Winner will have 48 hours to reply, or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen using random.org.
-Invalid entries will be removed, so please don't cheat.
-Void where prohibited. Odds will vary. No purchase necessary.
-My opinions are my own. Information will not be stored or sold, and will be used only to contact the winners.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Summer Loving

Title: Summer Loving
Editor: Alison Tyler
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: July 21st, 2014
Source: Netgalley & Fido Publishing



★★★ ★

Three and a half stars.

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Summer Loving is an anthology of super short erotica stories that all follow one central theme: summertime. This collection contains twenty stories from some of my favorite naughty authors, and these stories were written for a great cause. For more information on that, check out my earlier post here.

Overall, this is a fast read of stories that are good to read while you're laying out on the beach or by the side of a pool. I knew that these stories would be short, but I will admit they were even shorter than I anticipated. This gave the tone of the collection more of a teasing edge to it, because just when things would get interesting, it'd switch to another story.

Like with any other anthology, I enjoyed some of these stories more than others. If I didn't like it, chances are it was because I didn't enjoy whatever kink was being addressed, or I didn't like the narrative style. I am not going to review all twenty stories, but I will mention the two that I liked best, in no order. "To Hell with Sunset" by A.M. Hartnett is about a boat tour that is much hotter than the sun they're sailing under. "Summer in December" by Tamsin Flowers is story about a chef who is dying to get her boss's attention, and the nearby beaches might be just the way to do so. These were both steamy, enjoyable reads that I definitely recommend.

This is a good anthology for anyone who enjoy short stories, or who is looking for a hot but breezy read for their beach e-reader. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Fido Publishing for my chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

Excerpt, Review, & Giveaway: Twisted edited by Alison Tyler

Hello my lovelies! I'm really super excited for my post for you all today. Cleis Press was awesome enough to host a giveaway with me for the new bondage anthology Twisted: Bondage with an Edge edited by Alison Tyler. Each short story features a steamy scene of, you guessed it, bondage, but each author approaches the topic in very different but equally arousing ways. As if a giveaway wasn't enough, I have the very extra special treat of an excerpt from the book!

This excerpt is from a story entitled "Sylvia’s Transgression” by Tamsin Flowers.

Sneak Peek:

“If you’re going to be noisy, you know what will happen?”
“Yes, Sir,” I whispered.
“Do you want to be gagged?”
“No, Sir.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, Sir. I won’t be noisy.”
He slapped me sharply on the butt with a flat palm as if to
test my resolve, but I was biting my lip and stayed quiet.
“Good girl.”
I heard him pacing round the bed.
“Let’s get this over with.”
I lay wondering what sort of punishment he had in mind. Then his arm swooped under my waist and he pushed a bolster cushion in underneath me, drawing my legs up slightly and raising my arse a foot or so above the bed. I knew what that meant; with the spreader pulling my legs wide, my butthole and labia were fully exposed and vulnerable to whatever pain he devised for them. I shut my eyes and chewed on my tongue, determined not to cry.
He must have been aware of my distress because then I felt his hand gently stroking my arse and down the back of one thigh.
“Don’t be frightened, sweet girl,” he whispered in my ear. “You know I’ve got to do this for your own good. You know you’ll feel much better when it’s over.”
“What will you use?” I managed to say, finishing with a slight sob.
“No, no, no. Nothing given away beforehand.”
He moved silently in the darkening room and as the light faded, I felt as if I was losing myself, sliding into a deep pit from which I would never be able to claw free. All I could hear was his breathing, deeper and heavier than when he’d first come in. He was getting ready to punish me now, psyching himself up, deciding what he would use, how many times he would strike and how hard.
He opened the cupboard where he kept his toys and I heard him rifling through his collection: whips, crops, paddles, belts, a flogger…. He’d been collecting them for years and he’d tried them all out on me. I knew exactly how much pain each would cause and as I wondered which one he would pick, a dull, grinding ache of need made itself felt in my clit and my cunt and my arse. I breathed deeply; I was starting to sweat now with the anticipation. I wanted it to start, but I wanted to wait like this on the brink forever. I longed to hear the whoosh of air and feel the first the blow but I was scared, frightened of the pain, frightened of his anger and of his desire. I pressed my forehead into the bed as time seemed to stand still and all sensation was lost apart from the throb of longing that pulsed from my cunt through to my chest.
Then I heard it. The thin, high-pitched whine of his bamboo riding crop. Instantaneously, I felt it too; a shard of pain that seared through my left buttock and up to the base of my throat. I gasped, and then I wretched as the after-burn kicked in. I fought for breath, desperate to regain my equilibrium before the next inevitable blow. This was one of his favorites; a harsh bestower of pain, of bright red welts that stayed for longer than any others in a sharply delineated pattern.
“Look at you, you’re so wet for it,” he whispered near my ear and at that moment I became aware of hot juice that was dripping from my cunt and running down the inside of my thigh.
Swoosh!

My Review

Title: Twisted: Bondage With an Edge
Editor: Alison Tyler
Format: Paperback, 244 pages
Pub. Date: February 18th 2014
Source: Cleis Press
Purchase: Amazon

★★★★

Four chained & begging stars.

Twisted is an anthology of BDSM erotica that offers a story for every kink and every fantasy. Whether you're into girl on girl, chains, voyeurism, and lord knows what in between, Alison Tyler has included a steamy tale in this collection to scratch your itch. Even the cover draws you in, making this book one that tempts you from cover to cover. Of course, as is sure to happen with every anthology or collection, I did enjoy some stories more than others. I'll highlight briefly my top three, in no particular order, in the lines below.

One of the short stories within Twisted is called "The Customer's Waiting" written by Giselle Renarde. This escapade features two lovely ladies, a boring night at work, and a few cable ties. Add in some sexual tension and some great attention to after care and you've got a sizzling story that will leave you hot and bothered.

The next of my picks is "Bondage Blogging" by Meadow Parker. A huge fan of a husband and wife duo's bondage blog gets the chance of a lifetime when she gets an email from the couple saying that they'll be in town if she wants to get dinner. She never suspected that she'd get a very special BDSM experience that is not available online. As a blogger, this one struck me a biiiiiit personally in a great way. Maybe I should follow more naughty blogs!

My final pick is entitled "Rope Drought" and is written by Teresa Noelle Roberts. When the land finally gets some much needed rain, Zeke and Ellie decide to take a walk to get wet- in more ways than one- out on their farm. The descriptions in this one are particularly lovely, and it made me wish I didn't have such a high population of people and neighbors nearby.

From farms to offices, homes to camp there's a fantasy for everyone. Though these three are the ones that stood out to me, each story is worth reading for different reasons. Each author brings a unique set of characters, kink, and voice to make each one arousing, making you want to read more and more. Another plus of this book is that because the stories are only related by theme, bondage, you can stop and start reading with ease. Fans of BDSM erotica, or even erotica in general, will not be left disappointed by this collection.

Thank you so much to Cleis Press for giving me a copy of Twisted in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway!

Now, here's your chance to win a copy of Twisted!
The Rules:
-This giveaway will run from March 28th to April 4th, 2014.
-This giveaway is open to those 18+ and is USA ONLY.
-It is open to anyone over that age who can legally enter, receive, and use their prize.
-One (1) winner will win a copy.
-This giveaway is sponsored wholly by the publisher.
-This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity.
-Winner will have 48 hours to reply, or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen using Rafflecopter.
-Invalid entries will be removed, so please don't cheat.
-Void where prohibited. Odds will vary. No purchase necessary.

a Rafflecopter giveaway