Gwen’s reivew of Exclusive by Eden Bradley, Jaci Burton, and Lisa Renee Jones
Erotic romance anthology published 4 Sept 2007 by Berkley Trade

This erotic romance anthology is a collection of three stories centering on three couple’s use of exclusive sex clubs.  The stories explore BDSM, erotic sex play, and one is a paranormal covering all of the above.  All are set in modern day U.S.  It was a fun collection of stories and one I definitely recommend.

Here’s the book blurb:

Three stories that make the most forbidden fantasies come true.  Welcome to the club….

Three masters of erotic romance extend a private invitation to the after-hours club of your dreams.
The cost: your inhibitions…

Eden Bradley’s Sanctuary…
Innocent Devin Delaney never thought of herself as kinky, until a visit to the dungeons of The Ring. Here, a true submissive like Devin is considered quite a prize among dominants like Shayne. The only question is how far is Devin willing to go to please her man—and herself?
No excerpt on the author’s site.

Jaci Burton’s Wild Nights…
Grace Wilde owns a swingers club—but rarely indulges in the fun. It takes a newcomer like Mike to sway her. Pure country. All animal. And up for a good time. But can two people who thrive on independence find a compromise between absolute sexual freedom and total commitment?
Read an excerpt.

Lisa Renee Jones’s Purple Magic…
Ever since her friend vanished into the hedonistic world of Manhattan’s forbidden clubs, Joline Moore’s been searching for her. Now she’s plunged into a depraved darkness she never imagined—and into the arms of Drago, a mysterious stranger who may be her sensual salvation…
Couldn’t find an excerpt on the author’s site.

Exclusive

Some fantasies aren’t for everyone.

This was a fun anthology.  Eden Bradley’s story was the steamiest, most raw of the three.  Jaci Burton’s was a very fun, confident read.  Lisa Renee Jones’s story was the only paranormal and was fun, but felt a little out of place in this book.  All three dealt with some extreme sex play, but with tact and a sense of taste.  (not THAT kind of taste, you perverts)  You were able to experience what the characters felt without feeling oogie.

I was especially impressed with Eden Bradley’s story, Sanctuary.  Devin and Shaye were a couple of complex characters that you want to know more about.  This novella could have been two to three times as long and I’d have been a happy camper.  Bradley writes such complex, interesting characters and deftly weaves their complex natures into a very small space.  I love this woman’s writing.  Devin is a controlled, somewhat timid woman who falls for a man who spanks for a living, Shaye.  It’s an amazing story and you are right there with Devin in her desire for Shaye.  Grade: B+

Burton’s story, Wild Nights, revisits a Wild, Wicked, & Wanton character, Mike Nottingham – one of the naughty veterinarians.  It was nice seeing him get his HEA with this story’s female lead, Grace.  I was actually quite sad for him at the end of his earlier story, Wild in Wild, Wicked, & Wanton.  He seemed so dissatisfied.  This was a very nicely dovetailed story for him.  I like that Burton allowed Grace to remain a strong, independent woman.  I like that she had the male character change his life for her, rather than the other way around.  Grade: B

Jones’s Purple Magic was the only paranormal in the bunch.  It’s a story of vampires and half-vampires, power struggles within the vampire community, and a love affair.  This story was, for me, a bit mundane next to the other two stories.  The main characters, Drago and Jolene, do the whole “mates” thing with the blook exchange, etc., etc.  Jolene is FIXATED on finding her friend Carrie – to the point of it being a little strange.  I remember thinking, “All right already – I get it – you gotta find Carrie” as I read the story.  Of course, all ends with an HEA that was as believable as a short story could be with so much backstory left uncovered.  Grade: C

Overall Grade: B

What’s next for these authors:

Eden Bradley:
coming 25 Sept 07 from Bantam

Jaci Burton:
 coming 5 Feb 08 from Berkley Trade

Lisa Renee Jones:
 coming 1 Nov 07 from Simon Spotlight (looks like Silhouette Nocturne to me)