Fifty Shades of Grey - Book Review

I really enjoyed this book. It was very entertaining and that's one of the main reasons we read book.

I liked the characters: Ana is very independent and witty which was fun to read. I could easily relate to her struggles to reconcile her heart and her brain. I liked the way she talked about her inner goddess and her conscience like they were other people giving advise and opinions. And she had some very funny observations, like calling him “Fifty Shades of Screwed Up.”

I liked Christian Grey: He was flawed but trying to find a way to cope with his issues. He wasn't just buying companionship; He was developing compatible partners. He was very honest and forth coming with his needs and never tricked or coerced Ana into anything.

The sex was good too. Not just the vanilla sex but the BDSM too. I thought it was presented very fairly which is very unusual for most stories. It was lighter than I'd expected but accurately presented.

The plot was not very complex or deep but it wasn't that kind of story.

I've seen several reviews that disparage this book and I have to attribute that to envy. This book broke through to the main-stream and they, the disparagers, are just being petulant because E.L. succeeded and they didn't.

Well worth the read. I've already started the sequel, Fifty Shades Darker.

12 Steps to Hell - Book Review

This is NOT erotica with BDSM themes; It's torture porn: Extreme, non-consensual torture for the amusement of sadists. I did not enjoy this book and discourage others from reading it. It was disgusting.

Dale is seduced by Goddess Kimiko and her assistant Aiko into joining their household as a sex slave with the lure of endless sex at the feet of these two Asian beauties. He is promised that his twelve month ordeal  will be rewarded with marring Kimiko and becoming Man-of the-mansion. Instead, Dale is tricked into enduring more and more intense torture, as the 12 step program continues. And after enduring twelve months of extreme torture including: burning, starvation, body mutilation and becoming their human toilet, he is instead locked in permanent chastity and bondage. He is doomed to a life of never ending torture and suffering because that is what these two women truly enjoy.

I suspect that only Jeffery Dommer, and his criminally abusive friends, would have read this to the end and said they liked it. This book has nothing to do with Safe, Sane, and Consensual sex play and fails as extreme fantasy erotica. This is not edge play - This is non-consensual torture.

I strongly recommend this book be avoided. I disposed of the copy I read because there was no reason to keep it. Read the full review here.

As She's Told - Book Review

I can give two very specific reasons why I didn't like Anneke Jacob's book:

1 - “True” slavery doesn't turn me on
2 -  There wasn't enough sex. 

 Anders relentlessly pursues the goal of making Maia his complete slave. He strictly controls everything about her life through cameras, restraints and discipline. We are told repeatedly that Maia is wired to be completely satisfied serving Anders and living the life of humiliation, punishment and isolation but I didn't believe it.

Secondly, Anders' keeps Maia sexually frustrated though use of a chastity belt, genital piercings and other bondage. They almost never have sex and when they do, Maia is not allowed enjoyment. What kind of erotic book doesn't have sex? Or am I suppose to accept his selfishness as a positive? Throughout the book Anders receives daily blow-jobs but Maia is sexually frustrated for weeks at a time. I can accept Anders' enjoyment, living the total fantasy, but Maia? Give me a break!

I believe that even people who want and need to be total slaves need some personal enjoyment and fulfillment to be satisfied. I don't believe anyone could be dehumanized, as described in this story, for any length of time and be emotionally content. I think they would get tired of not being allowed to speak, spending hours being ignored and being locked away in isolation. Eventually Maia would give-up and leave. I don't believe it's healthy: Being submissive is okay but being a door mat is not.

I found it really frustrating that I couldn't enjoy the book because I enjoyed the toys described in the book and really loved the descriptions of Maia's chastity belt and puppy cage.

Basically, this book bored me. I felt very unsatisfied and can not recommend it. See the full review here.

The Second Option - Book Review

I really enjoyed the fantasy JG Leathers created in his story the Second Option, but the fact that it was so completely impossible, even in a fantasy future world, really detracted from my enjoyment. In movie terms, he failed to establish a 'Credible suspension of disbelief.' There were just too many questions.

Questions like: Why did Connie turn on him and become so cruel? Why weren't there safety protocols to prevent Connie's software from enslaving her owner? lastly, and the most importantly: How could Jan endure Connie's prolonged torture when several psychological studies have shown people become unstable after only a few hours of total isolation?

I really enjoyed the bondage throughout this book up until the finale and extreme isolation Jan is forced to endure. For me, it was just too cruel. But up until that point, the scenes of extreme bondage, forced slavery and sexual torment were delicious. Jan created a world where he could enjoy bondage and submission with the perfect mistress and it was wonderful to watch. The fantasy of living out one's bondage dreams on a secluded estate with a devoted and skilled Dominatrix was inspired.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book: I would have enjoyed it more if it was stayed a little more in reality and was more consensual and sane. But I guess that is not JG's method. See the full review here.

A Master for a Desperate Slave - Book Review

This is not one of Lizbeth Dusseau's better books. It's not powerful and there are no fireworks. I would say it's very weak across the board - The love story is dysfunctional, the love triangle is non-existent and the sex is scarce. Overall the book did not keep my interest and I had trouble finishing it.

Dana's life has been a wreck since her relationship with her Dominant lover and business partner Benjamin collapsed. She's been a total failure running the company since. Even her new master Locksley can't seem to set her straight. When Dana's silent partner brings Ben back to save the company, she's shocked to find her desire for him still alive. Dana begs, pleads and finally gets Ben's attention, Dana's ordered into into a cage and taken off to boot camp training by Benjamin and his accomplice, Jud. There she has to prove her submission to Benjamin to win him back.

I don't think the relationship between Dana and Benjamin is believable because they really aren't in love. He wants a toy he can beat regularly and she needs control. It's more about being co-dependent than being in love.

Lizbeth really doesn't describe why they need each other - I think Ben would be happy with any masochist and Dana just needs a domineering man. It seems just about anyone could fulfill their needs. Surly the sex isn't a key factor since they almost never have sex or do anything else together.

I recommend this book be skipped. See my full review here.

Sex in Uniform - Book review

This is another Black Lace collection in the Wicked Words series. Edited by Kerri Sharp and Adam Nevil, this collection has uniforms at the center of seventeen erotic interludes. As you would expect, there are doctors, policemen, firemen and maids. But several of the stories are more unusual like the theatre usherette and forest rangers.

Overall, the stories are entertaining although I thought they were too romantic. That's just my opinion, Black Lace is marketed for women so maybe that's really not a bad thing. I was just expecting more intensity and kink.

My favourites were Kissing the Gunners Daughter about a girl who trades places with her twin brother so she can go to sea on an 18th century sailing ship and ends up getting a caned and Slow Burn about two park rangers.

I'm not sure it's worth buying but it's worth reading. See my more detailed review here. It outlines each story.

A Well Trained Pup - Book Review

Finding erotica on the subject of puppy-play is rare. Which is why I wish I could give this book a great review. Unfortunately it just wasn't that good. The story is a typical one-sided love affair, where one person is willing to do anything to please the other, while the other really doesn't love them back or appreciate their servitude.

Pup is wonderful as a she-puppy and there are several excellent scenes of puppy-play including sex with other puppies and even a kitten. Pup is sexually used by several masters which should make for an excting story: But the lack of a love-connection left me wanting. "E", her master, is more interested in her training then her as a person. He continually loans her out in preparation for the day can sell her to the highest bidder.

Not a bad book for people into or interested in puppy play - but not a great book on its own merit.

Read the full review here.

The Art of Surrender - Book review

I'm disappointed in this book because it had tremendous potential and failed to live up to it. The premise of the story is two very strong and experienced dominants fall in love and begin a battle of wits to determine who will top the other.

The book opens strong with Jude and Michael separately in very hot BDSM scenes: Whipping, spanking, bondage, orgasm denial. The sexual tension between the two of them grows with each meeting as each expects the other to submit.

I was expecting, maybe they might take turns - switching roles. But then at page 100 Michael is so overcome with lust for Jude that he unconditionally surrenders. Instantly he's being whipped, sodomized, cross-dressing, sucking another man's cock in an alley, wearing a chastity device and being totally humiliated - It was totally unbelievable to me.

His total role reversal was completely absurd. He becomes her total slave while she maintains all her freedom, including multiple lovers. The descriptions of his total dominace and charisma at the opening of the books makes this impossible. I would have thrown the book away but I kept deluding myself that it would end differently.

Read the full review here.

A Game of Dress-Up - Book Review

I didn't like A Game of Dress-Up by Elliot Mabeuse because I don't believe the relationship between Vanessa and Rob Taylor is consensual. As Vanessa's boss and a friend of her mother's, Vanessa is in no position to refuse Mr. Taylor's wishes. Then, when he catches her dressed as a slut, the implied threat is more that apparent that she must obey him or be ruined. A threat she openly says she fears in several asides.

The story itself is fair but all too common. A young girl is discovered by an older man and taught the act of love or as I see it, taken advantage of and used for sex. Eventually she's had enough, cannot come to terms with her feelings, and leaves him. While she enjoys the dirty sex her feelings of shame are overwhelming. Her freedom is short lived though as she quickly falls into the hands of an evil man who is even more dangerous and exploitive. Mr. Taylor rescues her and they live happily ever after.

I was not impressed and think this book is easily skippable.

Read the full review here.

Latex Fashion Photography - Book Review

I'm really happy I bought Latex Fashion Photography: slick, shiny, sexy. It's an awesome collection of latex pictures: Beautiful models and outfits wonderfully shot by awesome photographers. At 384 pages it doesn't skimp on the pictures either: Most are full page and really look great. I was thrilled that each picture included the name of the model, photographer and latex designer. The book is pretty hefty: It needs a sturdy book shelf or coffee table.

The collection consists of over 60 photographers, 30 designers and over 100 hundred different fetish models. There is some overlap, but for the most part the photographers use their own models.

Of course the big name models are here: Rubberdoll, Emily Marilyn, Ancilla Tilia, Mosh, as well a dozens more I didn't recognize. World famous photographers are also represented like: Holly Randall, Martin Perreault, Steve Diet Goedde, Christophe Mourthé and dozens more.

Designers like Syren, Vex and Fetishuniverse are well represented but the full list takes up three pages and is complete with addresses and URLs.

This is definitely worth the price. Read the full review here.