Edited for the first time by frequent anthology contributor and erotica veteran Bussel, this annual volume features short stories from a number of notable genre names, including L. Marie Adeline (S.E.C.R.E.T. trilogy) and Tiffany Reisz (The Original Sinners series). Bussel makes a point in the introduction to emphasize that all 21 selections were chosen for their strong depictions of nuanced, intelligent female characters with whom readers should identify, offering erotica that titillates while it respects your mind. The book lives up to that promise, opening with Tara Betts's poetic A New Canvas, in which friends Angela and Troy redraw the lines of their relationship using their bodies for their canvas. With plenty of creative scenarios, styles, and positions, this impressive anthology is sure to be a hit among quality erotica fans. - Library Journal
There's no bad writing here. It's all good--and a surprising percentage of it is also very good, understatedly original, quietly trenchant, colorfully curious, probing, poignant, powerful, from Valerie Anderson's Demimonde--an engagingly superb evocation of debauchery and kink in buttoned-up late-19th-century New York, to A New Canvas by Tara Betts and Drawn by Nic by Heidi Champa, both breathing in their cool inspirations from the gritty world of contemporary street artists. Jade A. Waters' Ophelia the Second takes readers into the mind and heart of an infatuated understudy, while Starstruck by Lazuli Jones takes a similarly delightful journey into the mad-rushing thoughts of a fortysomething fan-girl at last meeting the object of her hottest teenaged fantasies--one hero, it turns out, who does not have feet--or anything else--of clay! - Erotica for the Big Brain
I think Rachel did a phenomenal job compiling together all of these stories. Each one is great as astand alone and yet, all of them work well in this book. The other great thingwith a book like this is that you can find a little of everything for everyone. From loving couples who enjoy trying to spice their relationship up with adate night, to a leadership building excursion that turns hot and kinky, you are bound to find at least one (though I assume it will be more) story to enjoy. - The Writer's Inkwell
The stories themselves vary widely. Some are hard, fast, well-written sex from start to finish. Some are a slow dance, and the sex (or at least sexual activity) are almost a footnote in the closing paragraphs. Want sweet romance? It's in there. Hardcore sex? Sure. BDSM? Yep. Vanilla? You betcha. The characters themselves are no less diverse. Singles on a hot night out, couples adding spice, groups, mono couples, couples in open relationships, renegade artists, hipsters, escorts, office professionals, theatre actors, cis/hetero people, LGBT folks, doms and subs, childhood crushes come to life. - A Roll in the Hay
-- "Reviews"
"Edited for the first time by frequent anthology contributor and erotica veteran Bussel, this annual volume features short stories from a number of notable genre names, including L. Marie Adeline ("S.E.C.R.E.T." trilogy) and Tiffany Reisz ("The Original Sinners" series). Bussel makes a point in the introduction to emphasize that all 21 selections were chosen for their strong depictions of nuanced, intelligent female characters with whom readers should identify, offering erotica that titillates while it "respects your mind." The book lives up to that promise, opening with Tara Betts's poetic "A New Canvas," in which friends Angela and Troy redraw the lines of their relationship using their bodies for their canvas. With plenty of creative scenarios, styles, and positions, this impressive anthology is sure to be a hit among quality erotica fans." - Library Journal
"There's no bad writing here. It's all good—and a surprising percentage of it is also very good, understatedly original, quietly trenchant, colorfully curious, probing, poignant, powerful, from Valerie Anderson's Demimonde—an engagingly superb evocation of debauchery and kink in buttoned-up late-19th-century New York, to A New Canvas by Tara Betts and Drawn by Nic by Heidi Champa, both breathing in their cool inspirations from the gritty world of contemporary street artists. Jade A. Waters' Ophelia the Second takes readers into the mind and heart of an infatuated understudy, while Starstruck by Lazuli Jones takes a similarly delightful journey into the mad-rushing thoughts of a fortysomething fan-girl at last meeting the object of her hottest teenaged fantasies—one hero, it turns out, who does not have feet—or anything else—of clay!" - Erotica for the Big Brain
"I think Rachel did a phenomenal job compiling together all of these stories. Each one is great as astand alone and yet, all of them work well in this book. The other great thingwith a book like this is that you can find a little of everything for everyone. From loving couples who enjoy trying to spice their relationship up with a"date" night, to a leadership building excursion that turns hot and kinky, you are bound to find at least one (though I assume it will be more) story to enjoy." - The Writer's Inkwell
"The stories themselves vary widely. Some are hard, fast, well-written sex from start to finish. Some are a slow dance, and the sex (or at least sexual activity) are almost a footnote in the closing paragraphs. Want sweet romance? It's in there. Hardcore sex? Sure. BDSM? Yep. Vanilla? You betcha. The characters themselves are no less diverse. Singles on a hot night out, couples adding spice, groups, mono couples, couples in open relationships, renegade artists, hipsters, escorts, office professionals, theatre actors, cis/hetero people, LGBT folks, doms and subs, childhood crushes come to life." - A Roll in the Hay
01/01/2016
Edited for the first time by frequent anthology contributor and erotica veteran Bussel, this annual volume features short stories from a number of notable genre names, including L. Marie Adeline ("S.E.C.R.E.T." trilogy) and Tiffany Reisz ("The Original Sinners" series). Bussel makes a point in the introduction to emphasize that all 21 selections were chosen for their strong depictions of nuanced, intelligent female characters with whom readers should identify, offering erotica that titillates while it "respects your mind." The book lives up to that promise, opening with Tara Betts's poetic "A New Canvas," in which friends Angela and Troy redraw the lines of their relationship using their bodies for their canvas. Some pieces set a slow burn (a longtime work crush blossoms into something much more when Ivy meets her boss Lennon at a kink party in Reisz's "The Assistant"), while others jump right into the action, such as Doriana Chase's wry "Scents & Sexuality," wherein Chase's unnamed protagonist finds her senses kicked into high gear by the aroma of hot, hardworking gardener Jax. VERDICT With plenty of creative scenarios, styles, and positions, this impressive anthology is sure to be a hit among quality erotica fans.
