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.