Tag Archives: Books

After reading a lot of erotica anthologies now as part of the Naked Reader Book Club, I’ve found that, for the most part, I really enjoy the ones with a bondage or master/slave theme. Not the ones with the women dominant over the men, but rather the men over the women (a reflection of what I prefer in real life, I think). The women in these books aren’t shallow timid things, but rather strong women who tend to delight, in many instances, in relinquishing the control they maintain every day and give it to the man they love. When the May book selections for the club came out, it was no surprise to me that I chose to read and review He’s On Top (Erotic Stories of Dominance and Female Submission).

He’s On Top was published in 2007 by Cleis Press. The book is an oversized paperback with a glossy, indiscreet cover and contains 17 stories in its 178 pages. Also included are an about the authors section, about the editor, and an introduction by the editor, Rachel Kramer Bussel.

Rachel is a woman of many talents: among her many hats she’s an erotica writer, blogger, editor, and journalist. She’s edited numerous anthologies and has had her own erotica stories appear in more than 80 anthologies.

In her introduction, Rachel talks about how dominant men get a bad rap in society. She wanted to lessen this rap and give tribute to the power that goes into being a top, whether that power is physical, mental, or emotional. Through the chosen stories, Rachel wanted to show that S&M is not always a matter of whips, collars, and chains but can also be a matter of mind games. It’s equally pain and pleasure, and the top doesn’t have any power that the bottom hasn’t given him.

The stories here are told from the point of view both master and slave, as well as first and third person (and even one second person). The women are willing to submit to their men and give them what they need while receiving what they need as well. While some are defiant, all willingly join in.

Almost all of the stories are very erotic and quite hot, although if you don’t like the master/slave dynamic you won’t get as much enjoyment out of this book.

One story I didn’t find erotic, although I liked it quite a bit, was “The Sun is an Ordinary Star” by Shanna Germain. In this story, a man recalls the fun he’s had with his wife and bondage, but now that she’s come back from cancer treatment he’s not sure how to act, and he struggles with his desire to bind her and his fear of causing her harm. It’s well written, touching, and sweet.

For the erotic stories, I enjoyed these the most:

“Confession” by Gwen Masters Clarice doesn’t love her husband Max anymore. After confessing to a priest, who tells her she must be honest, she confronts him. As they grapple with being dishonest and falling out of love, Max reveals he’s had an affair and then takes her in a brutal and dominating way. Will confessing her sins to him manage to bring some life back into their marriage?

“Yes” by Donna George Storey He sees her, wants her, and gets her, all the while drawing out her need to submit to him. When his old friend Sean comes to visit, he starts a game called Secret Desires. Will his girl be too embarrassed, or will she really do whatever he wants her to do and say yes?

“Boardroom Etiquette” by Lee Ash Kirsty was the acting head of the finance department, but her secret boyfriend Carter shows her no respect in the board meeting. When everyone leaves, will he make due on his promise to give her the thrill of a lifetime, or does his career have a shorter ending than he anticipates?

If you enjoy reading about women being submissive to dominant men, this is a collection that you’ll likely enjoy. You can pick up a copy of He’s On Top at EdenFantasys.com .

Thank you to EdenFantasys for sending this to me for free to review! If you’re interested in reading erotica, check out the Naked Reader Book Club on the EdenFantasys forums, where discussions occur on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month with host Kristina Wright.

$14.99He’s On Top Book by Collection of Stories by Various Authors Format: Paperback Publisher: Cleis Press Inc. Buy from EdenFantasys

This product was provided free of charge to the reviewer.

This product was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. This review is in compliance with the FTC guidelines.

I’m a bit of a voyeur. I don’t mean just watching others have sex in porn – I certainly won’t turn a blind eye if I see a couple sharing a kiss or grope in public, or even where they don’t think they can be seen. I’m also a bit of an exhibitionist. I’ve had sex in public places before, or out in open places, where I could have been seen, and may have been. It’s definitely a thrill, and I looked forward to reading Hide and Seek (Erotic Tales of Voyeurs and Exhibitionists), one of the Sexis Naked Reader Book Club selections for March.

Hide and Seek is an erotic collection published by Cleis Press in 2007, with a new forward from Jo Weldon in 2010. It’s an oversized paperback with a shiny cover and holds 187 pages. It has 21 stories, a forward and two introductions, as well as about the authors and editors sections. The book is edited by Alison Tyler and Rachel Kramer Bussel, two women whose stories I’ve enjoyed in other collections.

Jo Weldon is the founder and headmistress of the New York School of Burlesque, and she’s worked with a variety of performers. She’s even been featured on television news magazines and TV shows. In Jo’s forward, she talks about what fuels passion and imagination, and how it’s often what leads to the sexual encounter that makes it so satisfying. She also tells about her early experiences with masturbation and her troubles finding a private place, which led to her releasing her fear of being caught and enjoying both watching and being watched. Continue reading →

I’m a sucker for vampires. Since I first saw Bela Lugosi as Dracula, I was smitten with the good looks, suave demeanor, and outright sex appeal the vampire had in film. Sure, there were vampires that weren’t so alluring, like Count Orloff in Nosferatu, but Christopher Lee knocking on my window late at night? I’d let him bite my neck. Introduce me to the vampire twins from Vampire Circus? That’d be some wanton orgy of sex and blood. These vampires practically had sex appeal dripping from their pores.

For me, vampires and sex go together like coffee and cream, a warm wet tongue and a clitoral orgasm, a good g-spot toy and squirting– you get the idea. Since it’s October and Halloween is just around the corner, I was salivating for a few good vampire stories to read, so I was excited to pick The Sweetest Kiss – Ravishing Vampire Erotica for my Sexis Naked Reader Book Club selection this month.

The Sweetest Kiss was published in 2009 by Cleis Press. This is an oversized paperback, with 210 pages featuring 19 stories and a short about the authors section. D. L. King, who edited this collection, publishes and edits a review site called Erotica Revealed and has authored two novels. Her short stories have appeared in many erotica collections. The book is set in easy to read type.

The vampires here, for the most part suck. And bite. And are erotic as hell. They aren’t wimpy, sparkly, or nice: instead they’re strong, sensual, cruel, and hot. These vampires mix bloodletting with orgasms, and pain with pleasure, and the result is often quite arousing. The stories span the times, from the French Revolution to the modern day, and there’s a good mix of both female and male vampires. Most of the sex involves heterosexual couplings.  Some of the stories feature mortals who want to die, while others just want to live. And love forever.

I really enjoyed most of the stories in this collection, although one or two were a bit melancholy like “Devouring Heart” by Andrea Dale. A few of the standouts:

“The Temptation of Mlle. Marielle Doucette” by Anna Black Set during the French Revolution, Marielle was accused of being a counterrevolutionary. Rescued from prison by the mysterious Armand, she finds herself at the chateau of the monster Chretien Girardin. Marielle had thought prison was the worst that could befall her. Free to leave, however, she finds a reason to stay…


“Kiss and Make Up” by Lisette Ashton Dracula’s gift is to absorb some aspect of his meal’s personality, and this night he’s feasted on philosophy students. Bob and Drac’s consort Linda have fed their appetite for blood as well, but Bob has another appetite to satiate, and Linda’s quite willing since she’s had a fight with her amour. But how will Dracula react if he finds them coupling in the graveyard?

“Red by Any Other Name” by Kathleen Bradean A sultry dominatrix meets her vampire in a sex club. She can read his thoughts, and the mantra of the different words for red runs through both their heads. She’s stopped for a particular surprise along the way, but will the scene they enact end the way either expects?

This is quite a good collection if you enjoy reading about vampires and ravishing sex, and great to read in bed before you shut out the lights. And dream.

$15.95Sweetest Kiss Book by Various Authors Format: Paperback Publisher: Cleis Press Inc. Buy from EdenFantasys

This product was provided free of charge to the reviewer.