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: 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!

HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN! Mini College Review: Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Title: Carmilla
Author: J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Format: Paperback, 108 pages
Pub. Date: September 5th 2000
Source: Amazon


Book Description:

A classic Victorian vampire novella, which influenced Bram Stoker's later treatment of the vampire mythos in Dracula.

Review:

★★★★

I had to read this book for my vampiric fiction course in college.

This is a short story, with a short review to match.

I honestly had never heard of this story prior to this class, which surprised me because I've been reading vampire books since I was little. It's underrated, and I'm glad the course made me read it.

This is a short horror story with vampires that pre-dates Dracula. It's engrossing. It's a bit slow moving, but it's so the creeping, haunting tones can slowly wrap around the stories. This is a female driven book that shows vampirism in a different light than other books of the time. It's seen as queer, and beautiful, and soft, and therein lies the chill of it.

It's worth reading if you like horrors and vampires. It's only like 100 pages so it won't take very long to fit it into your reading schedule.

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!

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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Blog Tour: Mini Review & Guest Post: Bound by Blood by Margo Bond Collins

Guest Post- Casting:

I think every author spends some amount of time dreaming of a movie made from his or her books—I suspect that an inordinate amount of time goes in to casting these imaginary films—at least, it does around here!




For this post, I'm casting only the adults in the novella. There are also two children, a five-year-old boy and a twelve-year-old girl, but when I started trying to cast them, I realized that the child actors I had imagined in the roles had all grown up! I finally decided that I would leave child-actor casting to the professionals, instead.

So here are my choices for those actors I did cast. Take a look at them, and then tell me, who would you cast in these roles?

 






Dr. Lili Banta, a doctor from a Filipino-American family

played by Vanessa Hudgens

Until I started writing this novella, I was unaware of just how many Filipina actresses I already knew and loved. Although Hudgens looks a little young for the role of Lili, I think she could definitely pull it off!







 








Dr. Will Manning, a doctor in Houston, Texas, and Lili's ex



played by Patrick Dempsey

. . . because who better to play a handsome doctor?






 









Harry Iverson, a detective from Dallas, Texas


played by Jensen Ackles

. . . because he's Texan, and he's one of my favorite actors. I would cast him in everything, if it were up to me.





 









Nurse Susan Yee


played by Zhang Ziyi

. . . because she is my favorite Chinese actress!







 








Lili's grandmother, nicknamed Inang


played by Beverly Salviejo

. . . because she looks exactly like I imagined Lili's Inang.












I would love some help casting the children! Who would you cast to play Kenny (a five-year-old boy) and Felicity (a twelve-year-old girl)?




____________________________

 

 

 

 

Sometimes the monsters in the dark are real...



As a child, Lili Banta ignored her grandmother's cryptic warnings to avoid
children outside their Filipino community in Houston. When many of those other
children fell ill, Lili ignored the whispers in her community that a vampiric
aswang walked among them.



Years later, Lili returns to Houston to work for the Quarantine Station of the
Center for Disease Control—but she is plagued by dark, bloody dreams that
consume her nights and haunt her days. When a strange illness attacks the
city's children, Lili is called in to find its source, and maybe even a cure.



But in order to save the city, she must first acknowledge the sinister truth: A
monster stalks the night—closer than she ever expected....

_____________________________________________

Excerpt:

 

Sitting
straight up in bed, I gasped and threw myself back against the headboard, the
thud dying away along with the remaining shreds of my dream.



But
the word still ricocheted through my mind.



Aswang.



Until
yesterday, I hadn't thought of the term in years—not since I'd left Houston for
med school in Maine, determined to get as far away from home as I could.



But
this resurgence of the same, odd illness that had swept my city years before
was apparently also dredging up the old stories from deep in my subconscious:
the aswang, a vampiric woman who
lived a quiet life by day and fed on children in the night, flying back home on
bat-wings just before dawn.



My
unconscious mind had clearly also expanded on the idea, casting me in the role
of aswang and adding schizoid conversations with a chorus of internal voices.



Great. I'm
insane in my dreams.



And I'm a
monster.



Shuddering,
I wiped my hand across my gritty, raw eyelids.

_____________________________________________

Buy Links

Only $.99 via Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Blood-Night-Shift-Novella-ebook/dp/B00PB3AIGC/

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Blood-Night-Shift-Novel/dp/0990743365/




Audiobook, Narrated by Hollie Jackson: http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Blood-Night-Shift-Book/dp/B00QUB5T9U/

_____________________________________________

About the Author 

 

Margo Bond Collins is the author of urban fantasy,
contemporary romance, and paranormal mysteries. She has published a number of
novels, including Bound by Blood, Sanguinary, Taming the Country Star, Legally Undead,
Waking Up Dead, and Fairy, Texas.
She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets.
Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level
English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of
any genre and spends
most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and
villains, and the strong women who love them—and sometimes fight them.

_____________________________________________

Connect with Margo

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollins

Email:
MargoBondCollins@gmail.com

Website:
http://www.MargoBondCollins.net

Blog:
http://www.MargoBondCollins.com

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin  @MargoBondCollin

Google+:
https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902

Goodreads
Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy

Facebook
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins

Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/

 

_____________________________________________

 

Review:

★★★★

Let me start the review by saying I've never read anything by Margo Bond Collins before Bound by Blood, nor have I read a lot of urban fantasy books at all. Still, I am a sucker for vampire stories still after all these years, and I couldn't resist giving this short story a read.

I'm impressed with how the author managed to drag me into the story and create world building in such a short space, but she did. I was never left confused or wanting more information, which is something to highlight in a novella. I also have to say that I really liked the folklore twist of the "traditional" vampire story by using influence from Filipino culture. This isn't a culture I know too much about, if I'm being honest, and it was really cool to have it featured in a story such as this one.

It is a bit violent and descriptive, but personally I found that to be a plus in the book's favor. It was well detailed and well written, and I would definitely go back to read more of Margo Bond Collins' work in the future. I'd recommend it to urban fantasy fans as well as lovers of vampires and those who are addicted to books about plagues and epidemics.

I was provided a copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Author Interview + Mini Review: Alchemy xii by Tamsin Flowers!

Title: Alchemy xii - New Year's Eve Prologue
Series: The Alchemy Series 0.5
Author: Tamsin Flowers
Format: ebook
Pub. Date: November 18th 2014
Source: Tamsin Flowers


About the Book:
No one could ever accuse Harry Lomax of being a Dom's Dom. Sometimes he even forgets to make his submissives call him "Sir". But he is the charismatic Prince of Kink at Chicago's most secretive and exclusive sex club, where he runs Alchemy xii, the club's prestigious year-long training program for would-be subs.


When Harry spots Olivia Roux across a crowded floor, he's under no illusions as to what she is and what she isn't. A blond, Amazonian goddess, Olivia's no ingénue. She's a woman of the world whom he suspects might have a thing for kink, if only she realized it. One thing is for certain—Olivia is nobody's bitch.


Harry knows that he wants her. For his Alchemy xii training program, that's for sure. But for himself? Harry will try anything once—and Olivia's a woman who's got his name written all over her!


This is the first episode in the Alchemy xii series. You can follow the ongoing story of Olivia and Harry in further episodes which will be published monthly throughout 2015. Look out for Alchemy xii - January on January 1.

Interview:

Give a warm welcome to the ever lovely Tamsin Flowers! What inspired you to write Alchemy xii?

Alchemy xii has certainly been a long time coming! Probably more than two years ago, I made up my mind that I wanted to write a D/s story from the sub's point of view, using her diary as the principal vehicle for telling the story. After plenty of false starts and a number of different leading characters, I finally discovered my power duo, Harry and Olivia and once they came to life the whole project caught fire. Very quickly, I knew I had something really passionate and intense happening between them, and the structure of the training program that Harry runs made it obvious that monthly installments would be a great way to deliver the story.


I've loved your writings in past books. When did you learn you had an interest in the BDSM scene, or that you had a skill for writing erotica?

Thank you for that - it's great for a writer to hear, because quite often we're not too sure who has read our work! Some of your readers might have heard this before, but I stumbled into writing erotica quite by chance. Naturally, I've always wanted to write and I've several non-erotic novels and a number of screenplays languishing in a drawer as testament to that. But about three years ago, while checking out publishers for a novel I'd written about a girl drummer in a band, I came across a call for submissions for an erotic anthology. The book I was trying to sell had some sex scenes and they were the one thing my writing mentor had never criticized - so I thought, hey, why not give this a go? I sat down, wrote my first story having quite literally never read a word of erotica and it was - much to my surprise- accepted for publication. When I look back at it now, I think it's a little rough around the edges - but that's what got me started and I haven't looked back (though I have now read some!)
And as to BDSM, let's just say it's something of an ongoing fascination!

What's one "naughty" word that drives you insane/turns you off?

Actually, there are plenty - any of the euphemisms people use in erotica for describing body parts. I hate it when a writer goes all coy and calls a woman's vagina her 'sex' or her 'lady bits' or…there are simply too many to list. In my books, I try to stick to cunt or pussy - if these words offend a reader, then maybe erotica isn't quite the genre for them!

How do you decide what traits or interests to give your characters?

There are a lot of factors that go into building a fictional character and for me, one of the most important things is to avoid stereotypes. Certainly, it was a big issue for me in creating Harry and Olivia, as I felt as if I'd read too many stern, all-knowing Doms and too many subs that were, frankly, too submissive. Harry and Olivia are not defined by their dominant/submissive characteristics - they're fully rounded human beings with a life and characteristics beyond just what they do in the bedroom or the dungeon! Harry often forgets to be Dommy, while Olivia has no intention of submitting to anyone! I always try to make my characters a little unusual, with their own idiosyncrasies, but at the same time, it's important to make them believable rather than caricatures. It's a fine balance and it has to be maintained, in this case, over an incredibly long story arc.

It's my understanding that the rest of the Alchemy xii series will be released monthly in novella-sized pieces. Is this style of story-telling different than writing a full length book? Is it a different mindset?

You're right - there will be an Alchemy xii novella released on the first of each month throughout 2015 - and the fact that readers can subscribe make it a totally new kind of reading experience! And, yes, it certainly makes a difference to the way I have to write the story. As well as crafting a full length story that runs through the year, each novella also needs its own arc to make it a satisfying read. The basis of each episode is the fact that Olivia spends one weekend each month training with Harry at the Alchemy club. Between these weekends, he often sets Olivia homework and assignments and throughout the year we meet other characters who populate the club - including Harry's beautiful boss and mentor, the uber-Domme Belladonna Grim, the three other subs he's training at the same time, and his nemesis, Dick Glass, the pony play master! All of this has taken quite a wealth of planning and plotting, to make sure things happen in the right episode to move the story forward each month!

Is there a specific place that inspires you to write?

Goodness me, no! I can write anywhere, anytime, either on my laptop or in pencil in a giant notebook. (And with so many episodes of Alchemy xii that's probably a good thing too!)

Olivia and Harry are no doubt sexy characters. Did you use any "real life" models as inspiration for their appearances?

If I did, my lips are sealed! Actually, that's a 'no', though with any character one creates, there may be certain facets taken from real-life people, mixed up, changed around and matched with someone else's characteristics to make a completely fictional creation. It's one of the most fun parts of being a writer.

Since the first piece of this erotic encounter is entitled New Year's Eve, do you have any plans to celebrate the holiday?

Alchemy xii - New Year's Eve is officially released on New Year's Eve (though it's already widely available, free of charge), and the second episode, Alchemy xii - January launches on January 1 (although you can already pre-order it). So I think possibly, with two major launches spanning the evening, it might be a bit reckless of me to party too hard. However, a glass of champagne certainly won't go amiss in celebration of the Alchemy xii kick off.

Can you describe this story in 5 words?

I can do it in three:

Wild about Harry!

This or That

Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
Ebook or physical copy: Ebook
Black and white or color: Acid-drenched color!
sub or Dom: That would be telling!
City or country: City
Winter or summer: Winter
Coffee or tea: Coffee

Thank you so much, Tamsin, for taking some time out of the holiday season to answer a few questions with me and for inviting me to read Alchemy xii!

Review:

★★★★★

This story is an absolute delight. It's short, hot, and a great introduction to what is sure to be an explosive and addictive series of short stories from the kinky mind of one of my favorite erotic authors, Tamsin Flowers.

Harry is delightfully delicious and makes this story one that's not to be missed. He's Dominant without being overtly so. And he has a lovely accent, which is definitely a plus. He had me hooked from the start with his intensity and his interest in Olivia. I loved reading about the two of them together, and I can't wait to see how the story progresses. The sex/BDSM scenes are well-written and definitely hot while still being believable (something I admittedly struggle with while reading erotica: believable scenes).

The pacing is well done and the settings are all well described. It gets extra points because it is set in Chicago and since that's my hometown, I gotta love that detail. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. I also give props because while this is an introduction novella, so to speak, that this didn't bombard you with back story. There were no chapters of "you need to know this before you start" and no introductions of eight million characters that may or may not be relevant later.

Plus, the cover art is absolutely stunning. I mean, just look at it.

I can't wait to read the next installments, and if you want a subscription to fabulous and steamy erotica that features a training program, an elusive club, and a unique Dom, I suggest you get on board. Thank you so much to Tamsin Flowers who sent me a copy of this short story in exchange for my honest review.

Get It Now!:

Although Alchemy xii - New Year's Eve was supposed to be released on 31 December, I'm thrilled to say it's actually gone out early and is available now. This first episode is free and you can get it from all the usual suspects!

Alchemy xii Store
Amazon US
Amazon UK
B&N
Smashwords
All Romance
Kobo

The next installment, January, comes out January first. Be sure to check it out!

Or if you'd like, you can check out the subscription package from the Alchemy xii Store. Look at how pretty!

About the Author:

Tamsin Flowers has been writing erotica for three years. She started out with short stories and has featured in more than 20 anthologies to date from Cleis Press, Go Deeper Press, House of Erotica, Xcite Books and Velvet Books. Her works have featured in collections curated by some of today's most celebrated editors - including Violet Blue (Best Women's Erotica 2014 and 2015), Rachel Kramer Bussel (The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales), Alison Tyler (Twisted: Bondage with an Edge, Bound for Trouble: BDSM for Women, Just for Her, Just for Him) and Kristina Wright (Best Erotic Romance 2014 and 2015, Passionate Kisses: Erotic Romance Fantasies for Couples).
She has also self-published a sizzling collection of zombie erotica, Zombie Erotoclypse, and has had novels and novellas released by Xcite Books (The Christmas Tattoo, Her Boss and His Client), Secret Cravings (The Crimson Bond, The Scarlet Bond) and Totally Bound (Doing It for the Coach).

Holiday Novella Mini Review: Santa's Toy by Nichelle Gregory!

Title: Santa's Toy
Author: Nichelle Gregory
Format: Kindle Edition, 69 pages
Pub. Date: November 18th 2013
Source: Gifted via Amazon

Description via Goodreads:

A sexy, ruthless lawyer becomes Santa's toy in order to get off the Naughty List!

Danielle attends her firm's lavish holiday dinner party held every year in a museum in hopes of learning she's made partner. She's stepped on more than a few toes, but she isn't concerned about the decisions made to ensure her rise to the top. When Danielle stops to admire the museum's replica of the North Pole, she is caught off guard when Santa beckons to her. Lead by two of his elves, Danielle soon discovers this jolly old man is the real deal and there's a price to be paid for continually being on his Naughty List. He gives her two options for redemption, but Danielle refuses to jeopardize her burgeoning career and agrees instead to become Santa's toy. She will do whatever he and his two elves want to get what she wants, but all is not what it seems inside Santa's Workshop...

★★★★

I stumbled across this title while wandering around on Goodreads, and was happy to find it waiting for me in my email inbox from Santa. Santa's Toy is a quick and sexy holiday read that reexamines what it means to be on the big guy's naughty list at Christmastime.

If you're anything like me, you may be thinking, "Sexy Santa Claus? That's kinda weird Jill. I mean he's kinda fat and old to think about at night instead of sugar plums." But this ain't your mother's Santa Claus. He's a dreamy-looking, Dominant man willing to make a deal with the help of his two equally hot elf companions. I know it sounds weird.... But it works. From the use of minty massage oil to peppermint sticks to a secret hideaway in Santa's little visit workshop, this is an oddly steamy Christmas erotica novella that is the perfect stocking stuffer for your ereader this time of year.

This is an erotica novella, so obviously there's sexual content. I'd recommend it to those on the naughty list, or who prefer spice over sugar in their holiday reads. Thanks to "Santa", who gifted me a copy via Kindle.

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.