LauraD’s review of Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica by 20 Authors, edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Erotica Anthology released by Cleis Press 28 Jul 08

I’d ask y’all to guess what this collection of erotic short stories is about, but somehow I think you’d get it on the first try! Rachel Kramer Bussel has gathered 20 authors’ work about one of my favorite erotic subjects, so I marched on down to the Big Box store and nabbed a copy of Spanking and a latté.   [Ed.: Very pretty cover - wish my ass looked like that.]

There is a little bit of everything in this anthology: both women and men get spanked by both men and women. Hands, hairbrushes, paddles, crops and other implements and toys are used. Some stories are playful, some are thoughtful. While I enjoyed some more than others, they were all well written. Rather than try and do one line reviews of 20 stories, I’ll just mention a few favorites.

Perfect Bound by Shanna Germain

This is the story of a bookstore owner and the young men she collects. The tale of a tightly wound woman who happens to have some special uses for typewriter ribbon is really seductively written. The quiet surrender of Stephan to her special bondage was lovely.

Tied Down by Andy Ohio

This story is actually more of a BDSM story than a spanking story, but it worked for me because “Andy” is struggling with his feelings as he switches from bottoming to topping-and being a hard top at that. Helena wants to be dominated, it turns Andy on, but he feels a little guilty-and he kind of wants to have a relationship, not just sex.

Daddy’s Girl by Teresa Noelle Roberts

This story involves not just the physical part of roleplay, but the psychological aspects of roleplay; and a very controversial pairing. “Daddy” and “Cherise” are actually Mike and Kaitlyn, and “Daddy’s Girl” explores the use of roleplay to allow oneself to try new things or to escape everyday pressures. Mike and Kaitlyn find that they’ve used the roleplay long enough, and they can accept the formerly taboo spanking play into their sex life without fictional characters. (I realize that even the idea of adults roleplaying daddy/daughter might squick some readers out, it’s a very short part of one story in the book.)

If you’re already a fan of spanking erotica, or if you are curious about it, this is definitely a book for your bedside library! Rachel Kramer Bussel encourages women to embrace their sexuality, complete with the taboos and fetishes. Twenty good strokes, er, stories, well delivered.

Overall Grade: A

Summary:

Erotic spanking – whether giving or receiving – is one of the most exciting, arousing, and sensual experiences to enjoy. In this enticing collection, spanking enthusiast Rachel Kramer Bussel has assembled 22 tales of red-cheeked arousal. Whether being disciplined for naughtiness or simply because they crave the sting of a hand against flesh, the men and women in these stories revel in being bent over, paddled, punished, and possessed by their spankers. Those delivering the blows find extreme pleasure in pushing their bottoms’ buttons, making them – and the reader – tremble and quiver in anticipation as they await the next smack.

Featuring stories by Alison Tyler, Sage Vivaint, Lillian Ann Slugocki, Stan Kent, Elizabeth Coldwell, Thomas Roche, and others, this sizzling collection offers tales so breathtakingly vivid that readers might find their own cheeks sore just from reading it.

Read an excerpt.

Limecello’s review of L is for Leather by Alison Tyler
Erotic anthology published by Cleis Press 21 Jan 08

I’m not much of one for erotica, but I was asked to write a review for one, and I happened to have this book lying around, so I decided to read it. I admit to being intrigued, but still somewhat unsure. This was a good , and rather clear that the majority of the stories were written by women. I find the contrast very interesting.

The stories we well written, and perfect for this format. There are 13 stories in only 137 pages. Of course, some are longer than others, but there’s a wide variety, and I’m pretty sure any reader of erotica would find something to fit their taste. Especially a leather fetishist.

Personally, I like leather. It makes me a bit sad how it’s made/what it comes from… but shoes, purses etc – sometimes leather is best. That being said, leather played a greater or lesser role in each of these stories, but it was a focus. It came in all forms and had varied uses throughout the anthology, and many I’d never read before.

I was definitely impressed with some of the novellas, how the author managed to write such a powerful story in only 4 pages. Others, didn’t appeal to me as much. It’s just not my thing to read girl/girl action, and strap-ons. I don’t really understand what is so compelling about them, but I haven’t though about them much. Even so, the stories are provocative, and there’s a good flow to them.

This book is also perfect as a “short bite” – you can read a few and put it down, or read the whole thing in an hour or so. If you like erotica, and especially leather, this is definitely a book you should look into. For those of you who like erotica, or simply want to try it, this book, or any in the Erotic Alphabet series might be something you’d like to look into. (I haven’t read the others, but each has a main theme or subject, and with 27 different ones to choose from, there should be something for everyone.)

Grade: C

Is it better in leather?

Leather chaps, combat boots, black leather gloves, stilettos, belts and hoods all give way to kinky stories of leather adventures. Zip yourself into a skin-tight full-length coat, redolent with the feral fragrance of animal passion. Meet a cowboy after church who knows a good trick with leather belt. Luxuriate in the sensuous texture of gloved hands on tender skin. Fell the collar snap shut around your neck. Sit down, strap it on, L is for Leather will make your skin tingle and your senses awaken.