I’m not the type of girl who typically reads books that are categorized as “historical romance.” If I’m going to read books looking for hot sex, I’m going straight to the erotica section, I don’t want any thinly veiled attempts at plot. Before I read Private Places, a collection of four novellas that are indeed of the historical romance genre, I wasn’t that excited. I was imagining cheesy romance writing filled with heaving bosoms and engorged love sticks. Lucky for us both, I’m a jerk that likes to assume the worst and stereotype everything – because this was a pretty good read.
There were two stories that really stood out for me including Robin Schone’s The Men and Women’s Club. This story is not what comes to mind when I think of erotica, although the sex scenes were really well done, and they basically talk about nothing but sexuality. Honestly, it’s so much more than erotica, because Schone tells a really fascinating story that deals with sexual repression and how dangerous it can be. Both Ardelle and Joseph are strong characters, with their own personal demons and their final confrontation before heading to trial is electric.
I also really enjoyed A Night At the Theater by Claudia Dain. It’s the tale of two courtesans who are plotting for revenge and seeking security during an evening at the theater. To me, this one read a little more like I thought a historical romance would, although I won’t divulge the details and ruin it. I enjoyed it because both female leads are strong, clever women who toy with men and the rules of society. It also helps that it’s a well-written story with an engaging plot and lots of public sex.
While this isn’t typically the type of book I seek out, I can admit that I enjoyed it and wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another book by one of its contributors. Fans of this genre will love this collection and those of you who may have preconceived notions about it may want to give it a chance. If you appreciate a good story and steamy sex (and who doesn’t!) you will find them here.
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Sometimes, when I have places to be but I’m really horny, I need to get off in a pinch. Enter the Papillon. I love this little guy. With only two speeds and a simple design, this vibe gives me one of the quickest - and most satisfying - orgasms of anything in my toy collection. It’s strictly for clitoral stimulation which is the easiest way for me to reach orgasm with a toy and the two speeds are strong enough for an orgasm on either setting (I actually prefer the lower setting, but that’s just me!).
Small (the whole thing fits in my tiny hand and I can close my fingers) but powerful, the Papillon has a velvety-smooth texture and its petite size makes it so there’s no awkward fumbling around. This toy is the perfect size to throw in your purse on a trip for some quality alone time. It’s not super loud - any sounds could be drowned out by running water, TV background noise, or even soft music. And battery replacement is inconspicuous - two AAAs does the trick. The Papillon is the toy I plan on taking with me on those annoying holiday trips back to where I came from or throwing in my carry-on before I head to industry shows.
The best thing about the Papillon has nothing to do with the vibrator itself. Part of the proceeds from sales of this vibe go to the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Foundation - which is a great cause! I can’t say enough good things about this vibrator - every woman should own one.
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I am addicted to erotica and often enjoy reading it in public places. There’s an excitement in knowing others don’t know what my body and mind are doing as I devour a hot story. Marilyn Jaye Lewis’ collection of erotica, Lust, provided me with lots of steamy scenarios to play out in my mind, while unsuspecting strangers pass me by.
In my opinion, Lust is not your typical erotica novel. The stories are unique and that kept me reading. Each time I picked it up, I found myself transported to a new sexy place. I never knew where the author would lead me next as we traveled from the palace in The Emperor of Night to a myriad of exotic places.
I really loved The Birthday Party. In this story, Layla’s long-time fantasy of being used by a stranger comes to life, thanks to her thoughtful boyfriend Danny. Her new friend, with instructions from Danny, ties Layla up and helps her live out her darkest fantasy.
Lewis, an award-winning writer, is magnificent in her ability to put me right into the same room with Layla to share in her shyly uncomfortable and erotic experience. Lewis does a great job of capturing the range of emotions of this fantasy.
While I wish this collection would be a little more queer, I did enjoy it. While it claims to be a bisexual collection, it didn’t cover enough of the gender spectrum for me. However, if you’re just looking for hot erotica, you’ll find yourself devouring Lewis’ tales of torrid affairs!
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Years ago, before I was smart enough to know that lube is a girl’s best friend, I was a naïve college kid hooking up with a grown up. Of course, by grown up I mean someone who was in their early twenties but had a job and paid their own rent. This wonderful lady introduced me to the world of casual sex, lube, and Indian food. For that I owe her.
So back to my first lube experience. I was lucky. First, because she was a thoughtful and caring woman who noticed my quizzical look when she tossed me a bottle of lube and took the time to explain that it would just make things a little more fun. My first thought was that I didn’t think we needed any help in this department, but I quickly learned that a little lube goes a long way. Secondly, I was lucky because she had good lube. A number of years later, I’m still a fan of O’My and, after having tried a number of inferior products, am grateful that my first experience wasn’t a sticky mess.
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To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I would take from Tristan Taormino’s new book Opening Up – A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships. That’s not to say that I wasn’t excited about reading it - I’m fascinated by how people navigate different relationships and don’t think monogamy is always the best choice. However, I am in a monogamous relationship, because that’s what works for us. I assumed that I would learn more about different kinds of open relationships, but didn’t think Taormino’s wisdom would be applicable to my life.
The good news is, I was wrong. Taormino has really outdone herself and created a resource that will be many things to many different people. Within this one book, the author offers the reader a brief history of non-monogamy, details the numerous types of open relationships, and offers advice for dealing with everything from coming out to raising children to legal problems. Whether you’re trying to work the kinks out of your own open relationship, contemplating non-monogamy, or simply trying to better understand how other people live, you’re sure to find help in this exhaustive guide.
Besides being packed full of information, Taormino’s accessible style of writing makes this an enjoyable read. She also interviewed over 100 people who are non-monogamous. Their personal stories give an inside view into the ups and downs of open relationships, which sound often similar to those I’ve experienced in monogamy. By offering a glimpse into the lives of people who choose to have multiple partners, it’s easy to see the similarities and relate.
I was also surprised to find our choice of monogamy completely validated in a book that is about healthy open relationships. It makes sense that core principles like trust, communication, and respect would be the foundation of any relationship and in her discussion of these things I found that sense of validation. In fact, about a quarter of the way through this book I had a sneaking suspicion that I was not only reading, but enjoying, a self-help book.
While non-monogamy isn’t for everyone, as Taormino point out throughout, the author has written a guide that offers honest advice on sustaining fulfilling relationships. I highly recommend it to anyone who’s the least bit curious!
Add this excellent book to your collection!
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Now that I’ve added my first Pyrex dildo to my amazing toy collection and I have to say that I’m surprised I’ve lived this long without one.
After a test run with a cyberglass dildo, I decided that investing in a Pyrex toy would be well worth it. From what I know, the two materials are pretty similar - they’re both hard, non-porous and phthalate-free. You’ll have a lot of fun with either, but if you’re looking to make an investment that will give you years of great fun, Pyrex is the way to go because it is more durable. Pyrex is less likely to chip or shatter if you drop it in your porcelain tub. Cyberglass is a solid material that won’t break during use, but it is not as forgiving if it rolls off the nightstand.
My favorite thing about this Pyrex toy is how smooth it is. It feels amazing and when you add temperature play into the mix, you’re in for some amazing sensations. Glass also retains temperature really well, so if you stick it in a bowl of hot or cold water, you’ll add another exciting element to the mix.
One thing I really love about this particular pyrex toy is the texture. In contrast to the insane smoothness of the material, the bumps feel really great. The entire shaft is covered with them along with the top of the flared base above the handle. Speaking of the handle, it’s really great for control. I can imagine that a Pyrex toy could get really slippery fairly quickly if it became covered in lube. The handle really enabled me to have complete control over this dildo at all time – and I like being in control!
While I’m totally all about this toy, I have to admit that it was a little bizarre when the handle was used to rotate the toy. When it was rotated 360 degrees, it felt a little more weird than good – but that might very well be just me. I really like it when this toy was slightly twisted back and forth. Either way, you have a lot of control over this toy and I trust you’ll figure out what you like best.
The Bump Juicer pleases in a number of ways with its sizeable, grooved head and bumpy shaft. Overall, I really recommend Pyrex for anyone who’s looking for an amazing dildo that will last for years. It’s totally durable and easy to sterilize, plus the hottest toys I’ve seen are made of glass and your pussy deserves the best!
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So, I’m kind of in love with Babeland’s Himalayan White Tea Massage Oil. There are few things that beat a good massage after a long day, and this product is a great way to enhance the experience.
Out of the handful of massage oils I have, this one is definitely a new favorite. What makes this product better than others I’ve used is that it doesn’t leave your skin the least bit oily. It goes on smooth as silk (it feels a lot like baking powder for those of you who know your way around a kitchen,) and leaves your skin feeling great. One of the main ingredients is sweet almond oil, which contains a bevy of natural vitamins and is a great moisturizer.
Because I’m old and married, I really love that this oil doesn’t leave you feeling like you’re going to stick to the sheets. This may seem lame, but I’ve passed on the massage oil before because I had just changed the sheets. Babeland’s oil doesn’t leave a slick residue, so there’s no need to consider practical things like that. It also comes in a great spray bottle, which so far has eliminated spills, sticky bottle and over-pour. It’s very cute and convenient. Finally, I haven’t noticed much of a taste at all, so you don’t need to worry about a mouth full of crap if your massage leads to bigger and better things!
Besides using this as an excuse to put my hands all over my girlfriend’s tight body, I’ve also used it as a daily moisturizer a few times. It has a refreshing scent that is perfect for the summer and not the least bit overwhelming. Plus it leaves your skin with a healthy glow.
This is a really great product that is both practical and sensual – just like your friendly Porn Librarian!
End your day with Massage Oil Spray!
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I’m really excited to tell you all about Sportsheets Under The Bed Restraint System. I’m not a hardcore fetish chick, but I do enjoy submitting to the will of another or being a little more dominant when the mood strikes me. This super easy to use bondage kit is perfect for those of you who are interested in testing the limits a little bit without building a dungeon in the basement!
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Before all of the controversy surrounding Zane’s first lesbian collection, Purple Panties, I never had a chance to read her work. I’m sure most of you have heard of Zane - her books are New York Times bestsellers and her fans are known for their cult-like devotion. Because of this, her titles get a lot of promotion whenever they are released but things were different for Purple Panties. Zane was not happy about it because the only difference she could see was that this book focused on lesbian sexuality - so she called everyone out on their bullshit. When I saw that, I decided this was a woman worth supporting!
Now on to the good stuff! Purple Panties, regardless of the controversy, is just good, sexy erotica. I was thrilled to read some great stories from authors that were new to me, like Anna Black’s Bread and Roses. This sexy story about a union organizer who seduces a hotel worker’s daughter stands out because it was more than just a sexy story.
I also enjoyed Joy Bringas’ contribution, Miss Julidene’s Sexy Items. There’s no heavy plot, just a hot, fun story of one woman’s marketing strategy in her sex toy store. Let me tell you, product placement is key in moving merchandise!
Besides being introduced to several author’s I hadn’t read before, I was also thrilled to see pieces by Rachel Kramer Bussel, Alison Tyler, and, of course, Zane herself! As always, I wasn’t disappointed.
To be honest, I didn’t really expect this anthology to offer any great insight into the lesbian experience – but it did. I can begin to understand the difference between the black and white lesbian experience from conversations with friends, but some of the pieces made me think about the different challenges women of color may face. Of course, the stories in this collection move beyond race for the most part and are just plain hot – but it did make me realize that this is the only erotica book I own that doesn’t have white people on the cover.
This is a good, diverse collection that makes me look forward to the second volume that’s due out later this year!
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I’ll admit, I was really skeptical at first. Oh hell, I was skeptical until my girlfriend’s first lick.
When I first got my hands on Babeland Lickable Dust, I did what anyone else would do – I promptly popped the top and sprinkled some dust on my arm and tried it out. Lick, lick, lick. Hmmm, not terrible. I ordered the Strawberry Whipped Cream flavor, which tastes what I imagine strawberry Splenda would. Off of my arm, the dust wasn’t bad, but I definitely couldn’t imagine licking if off someone else, especially not in mass quantity. In fact, I was so sure it would be a mood killer, I ended up putting off playing with it for the first few weeks. It was next to the bed, but I just couldn’t will myself to pick it up and shake it on.
Stupid me. I’m pretty good at admitting when I’m wrong, and this is most definitely one of those times. Not only did the Lickable Dust end up being super fun to play with and totally hot to lick up, I ended up really enjoying the taste when sprinkled over something other than my arm.
When I finally picked up the silver shaker, unscrewed the cap and sprinkled the light pink dust onto my girlfriend’s neck, I began to realize my stupidity. It was totally hot to lick up on her and the dust gave me even more reason to spend extra time with my tongue making trails on her skin. But, I wasn’t fully convinced of the capabilities of the dust until we took it into the bedroom and she sprinkled it onto my back. Holy crap! It was ahhhhmazing to be licked in places that are easily forgotten, like the small of a back. The dust is really the perfect way to explore all those parts in a really fun and totally squirm-inducing way.
Also, there was no sticky aftermath. None! My skin was a little tacky after all the licking, but as soon as it dried, no sticky mess. And the shaker works really well, letting out only a little dust at a time. I was worried that it would just dump out, but it only does that if you shake it super hard.
And with an under $20 pricetag, Babeland’s Lickable Dust is the perfect enhancement to anyone’s toybox of fun! Don’t be stupid like me – definitely try this one out!
Sprinkle. Lick. Repeat. Babeland Lickable Dust!
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