Archive | September, 2012

Funny Girls

30 Sep

Happy Sunday!

Madeline here — just wanted to give you a head’s up that funny ladies Daisy Harris and Tiffany Reisz will be answering questions on Lady Smut in the month of October.

 

 

 

Are you excited? (I’m excited).

Are there any questions you’d like me to ask them?

 

 

 

 

I find both of these authors just hootingly funny when I’ve read their websites and tweets.

Here’s a link to a page of free reads by Tiffany.

 

 

Am I really weird for liking a big dose of humor with my erotic romance?  Am I the only one?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are two free reads from Daisy.  (Not the books listed below–they’re just eye candy.)

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Sexy Saturday Round-Up

29 Sep

Photo by Dollen

A fun little round-up of some of my favorite blog posts this week. When you get a chance check them out.

Dara Ames wonders:  Where are all the married people in erotica?

 Kira Brady on one way to plot a novel.

Wendy Thomas. Getting her writer’s groove back.

A fantastic post from C. Hope Clark on suspense and romance. (Ya know how I LOVE this topic.)

One of my favorite HR writers, Grace Burrowes on JR Ward. Yep. You read that right.

Another favorite writer, Deanna Raybourn on writing a series:

A fun piece on modeling for romance covers.

Stay Hungry,

Liz

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Howling Good: Wolf Tales

28 Sep

I gotta confess, sometimes the mood hits me for a really hot read. You know, as in smokin’-until-my-insides-dissolve hot. Until my mattress spontaeously combusts while I’m reading. That kind of hot.

I rarely read “sweet” romances, but my tastes varies between steamy and downright scorching. And as long as the romance is strong and present, I’m open to who’s doing what and how often to whom. On Wednesday I blogged about F/F romances. Today we open the kimono and embrace variety in all its glory, which leads me to Wolf Tales.

Author Kate Douglas began her series, which ultimately resulted in twelve full novels, in January of 2006. The most recent Wolf Tales book was published in June of 2011. The basic premise of each story centers around characters who are able to transform into wolves. And ultimately, that’s what makes it interesting. The characters have sex with each other when they’re in human form, and they have sex with each other when they’re in wolf form. They have heterosexual relationships; they have homosexual relationships. They have sex between couples. They have sex in groups. To pound home my message, there’s a lot of scorching hot sex in these books. I like the fact that there are so many sensual, steamy scenes between the characters, but what I really like is the love the chacters have for one another.

These books aren’t just an orgy free-for-all. As one reviewer put it about the last book, “The depth of emotions that everyone feels in this book makes for a wonderful read.” Such is the case with all twelve books. I think the reason this super erotic series works is because the flaming sex is “coupled” (ha ha) with love stories that work.

Ultimately I think that’s what distinguishes readers of erotic romance from readers of erotica – erotic romance readers demand the romance as well as the heat. Yeah, it’s fun when the romance involves interesting and arousing situations. Our heroine who’s got not one but two heavenly hunks obsessed with her. Or maybe there’s a vampire lusting after her. Or perhaps our gal is some sort of other-worldly creature itself and goes out mating with whomever she darn well pleases. As long as the romance is there as well, I’m open to whatever lusty situations the writer wants to spring on me.

Check out Wolf Tales. They’re howlin’ good.

Until next time,

Elizabeth

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I’m “TAKEN” with Selena Kitt’s New Book

27 Sep

Did you read Elizabeth Shore’s post yesterday about f/f pulp novels?  It was interesting to think about the lesser sales of f/f titles, vs. the better selling f/f/m titles.  I said in the comments section that I thought the numbers expressed the difference between the committed vs. the curious. ;>

Trolling around the internet later on that day, I found out about TAKEN, Selena Kitt’s latest work, on another blog that posts Sexy Snippets every week.  The post about Selena Kitt was by Sandra Bunino (who seems cool) and includes an excerpt.

I think I liked the excerpt.  I like the cover.

A little more explicit than I usually go for, (people, I hate thongs) but look, she’s tastefully kissing the other woman’s taut stomach.  (Yet we know where those lips are going).  Meanwhile, the hot guy in the background watches with a respectful, yet yearning expression.

Here’s an excerpt that I found on Excessia’s website:

Lizzy’s friendship with her older boss, Sarah, turns into something deeper and much more exciting one rainy day after work, and Lizzy finds herself drawn into a world she never knew existed. Sarah has a dominant streak, and as she leads Lizzy into the role of a submissive, the two women become closer than they ever thought possible. But while Sarah, hurt too many times, wears a ring, and tells guys she’s “taken,” Lizzy knows she secretly longs for a man. Determined to find one for them both to share, Lizzy is just about to give up when a dark, handsome, virile answer shows up right under her nose. Lizzy may think she and Sarah are going to seduce David–but she underestimates their handsome co-worker, and David turns the tables on them both. But will he be able to tame the untameable Sarah?

(What is Excessia? Well, it’s a publishing company that Selena Kitt herself runs.)

So that sounds like a GREAT plot– doesn’t it? Oh — and Selena Kitt has two free reads here.

When I was looking up Selena Kitt I liked her “about” page.  She says: “I like to stretch conventional boundaries, whether it’s with style or content, and my work often has some sort of edge or a deeper message. If you’re looking for the formulaic, you might want to look elsewhere, but if you want the different, the unique and even the thoughtful in your erotica, you’ve found the right kitten! 

Thumb’s up to that.

On the other hand, I want to sound out a warning to the Women Who Exclaim ‘Ish’ Frequently.  (WWEIF’s).  looking through her long, long, long backlist, there seemed to titles that indicated plots about babysitters, and some “Daddy” titles.  (Ish ish ish! Double ish.)

I wring my hands.  On one hand I haven’t read them!–so who am I to judge? On the other hand, but I’m still a little bit grossed out by one of the blurbs I read.  Do her ‘eco-romance’ titles and other more ‘woman-friendly’ counter-balance this? Mebbe.

Anyway: Taken.  Check it out & you decide. :)

xo,

Madeline

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Let’s Hear It For The Girls

26 Sep

In tribute to the recently announced passing of Tereska Torrès, who’s credited with writing America’s first lesbian pulp novel, Women’s Barracks, I thought it would be fitting to talk about romances for girls who, you know, like girls.

According to the obituary in the New York Times, two years after Ms. Torrès’  novel was published, The House Select Committee on Current Pornographic Materials condemned it, stating that it was “too lurid.”

Thankfully, we’ve come a long way, baby, since those times, and now there are much more enticing and sensual F/F romances available for our reading pleasure. They’re easy enough to find, too, as the major romance e-publishers all have separate sections on their sites for lesbian romance. I can’t help noticing, however, that frequently the “lesbian” romances include a dude or two. Hmmm. What’s the deal there? Do the publishers think that women - particuarly straight women - don’t really want to read a romance with just women? That we need a guy to kind of balance things out? Could it be that the straight female-female romances don’t sell as well as those that include men?

I’ve had female friends confess (generally once a cocktail or three is under their belt) that they wouldn’t mind having a little tryst with another female just to “give it a try.” I’m wondering if that’s the readership for these “lesbian” romances that include men as part of the fun. Is it primarily straight women who are open to experimentation, or are the readers those who’d self identify as lesbians?

In either case, I for one am glad to know that there are choices out there for well-written romances between women. Even if you’re on the straight and narrow path in real life, in the alluring world of fictional stories we can be part of hot tingly romance  between the girls.

Until next time,

Elizabeth

More, More, More! A Little Heat Can Go A LONG Way

25 Sep

So in my other life I am a cozy mystery author, among other things. My definition of  cozy is a mystery solved by an amateur sleuth, with the plot having very little in the way of sex, violence, or using curse words. For potty-mouthed little ol’ me, this can be a challenge.

But this blog isn’t about cozy mysteries and this post isn’t about my love of cussing. What it’s about is romance. In this case, the lack of it, even when there’s supposed to be one. One of the books I’ve recently read has a long-term boyfriend-girlfriend relationship and it’s just well, really boring. There’s nothing else I can say about it. You don’t have to go “all the way”  to give me a good romance. Seriously. A tingle here or there. A hot breath against the neck. A flick of the tongue. C’mon people!

I’m all for NOT having a romance in a mystery if you’re not going to give me just a little to chew on, so to speak.  Who says there needs to be one at all? Of course it’s up to the author (and their editor)  how much sizzle to put in, and cozy mystery readers don’t want Fifty Shades of Grey. Or at least that’s what I’m told. (Although someone is reading that book out there and I’m guessing some cozy readers must crossover.) I don’t expect hot sex in a cozy, either. But what I do expect is well-rounded characters and for me sex and love is all a part of it. I mean who among us hasn’t felt a tingle from time to time? Been in love? Lusted after someone?

That’s why writing and reading erotic romance for me is such a great outlet. And what’s even better for me is the whole romantic suspense sub-genre, which really blends it all together so well. Add a little erotic tension and I’m a goner.

Two of my favorite romantic suspense authors are JoAnn Ross and Sandra Brown. Both of them pen books that could be used in a class to show exactly what good romantic suspense is.  Sandra Brown’s THE WITNESS was an incredible study on the whole captive-romance thing. I literally could NOT put it down.Ya coulda cut the tension with a butter knife. So thick. And Joanna’s Ross’s BLAZE was one of the best romantic suspense novels I’ve ever read. The pacing was perfect, the heat between the two main characters was amazing, and the plot was riveting.

So what do good cozy mysteries and romantic suspense have in common? On the face of it not much really. But it’s all about balance and tone isn’t it? Both Sandra Brown and JoAnn Ross have it mastered on the romantic suspense side of things. That delicate balance between danger and romance. In between bombs and fires, we have down times. And during those times, of course, hawt tension leading to great sex scenes.

I am not trying to diss cozy mysteries. I love them, when they are done well, which is why I write them. A few of the cozy writers that I think handle romance well are Elizabeth Peters, Donna Andrews, Lois Winston, and Kylie Logan.  I just wonder if some editors and writers out there need to get with the program and allow these characters to have  a wee bit more romance in their lives.

What do you think?  How many genres do you read?

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Plunk Some Steampunk Onto Your TBR Pile

24 Sep

I have to say I’ve been fascinated by the Steampunk trend in romance over the past two years.

If you’d like to dip into some new authors who have mastered the erotic fetishes of the Victorian Age and wrapped it up in a futuristic bow, here are two anthologies that might appeal to you:

The first is Steamlust: Steampunk Erotic Romance.

This is a collection by some well known paranormal romance authors, including Meljean Brook who’s novel The Iron Duke rocked the romance world last year.  It’s erotic romance, it’s written by women and promises: “shiny brass and crushed velvet; mechanical inventions and romantic conventions; sexual fantasy and kinky fetish. It’s steam powered sexy romance!”

The second Steampunk anthology  is aimed more at the erotica crowd.  Carnal Machines: Steampunk Erotica focuses more on sex, and far less on romantic relationships.  Are we clear on that–NO ROMANCE HERE!

One thing that seems interesting in terms of tackling Steampunk is the aspect of sex and machines together.

I already feel myself backing away, one hand held up to my forehead, ready to faint away at such decadent thoughts of the forbidden.

But there are so many other aspects to Steampunk that lend themselves to dissolute thoughts.  Extravagant corsets.  Excessive tea & picnic paraphernalia.  Does ‘dirgible’ sound like a naughty word to anyone else?

XO,

Madeline

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Sexy Saturday Round-up

22 Sep

Photo by Dollen

This week I found some really wonderful posts for your weekend reading. Enjoy!

Jennifer Jakes on the Victorian treatment for female hysteria.

If you need any more proof about the affect Fifty Shades of Grey is have on our culture, Look who’s on Katie Couric’s blog, Ms. Rachel Kramer Bussell on Shades.

A very interesting post on USA Today’s Happily Ever After Column about the ways in which romance writing has changed.

The Best Writing Advice. I love this. And I live this. heh.

I really love the One Handed Writers blog. This week I found two great posts from them.  One is about the allure of tattoos. The other is a thoughtful post about whether or not to get an agent.

About protecting your work. This is probably not what you think it is. Lovely post from Jan O’Hara. Check it out.

Stay hungry,

Liz

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Bad Boys and Circus Freaks

21 Sep

Been reading some interesting stuff this week and I’ve got a couple of recommendations for your weekend downloads.

Sheltered, by Charlotte Stein, is quite a good read. There are some interesting elements to her characters that drew me in from the start. The heroine is Evie, an only child who lives with a horribly abusive, domineering father who keeps Evie larger sheltered from mainstream life. There’s a lot Evie doesn’t know and hasn’t done that most of us take for granted. She hasn’t a clue what an iPod is, for example. But she’s an incredibly likeable gal with a self-deprecating sensibility that’s both amusing and a little heartbreaking. Complementing Evie is Van, a sometimes pot-smoking, tattooed punk-rocker looking bad boy with a sensitive side that wins me over from the start.

Van is drawn to Evie for the same reasons we are: her vulnerability, her almost accidental humor, and her honesty. Their chemistry is interesting and it works, and then there’s the sex. This is a hot read, not so smokin’ hot that it’ll melt your eyeballs, but the sex scenes are good. Interestingly (and no big surprise), although we’re dealing with a girl with zero experience, the sex in Sheltered works. To me, deflowering scenes can sometimes be almost (dare I say it?!) boring. I mean, the heroine doesn’t know what to do, and she’s fumbling around and the sex is kinda formulaic. (I will expand on this in a future post). For now, however, despite Evie being “thee of little experience,” Ms. Stein makes the scenes between her and Van really work. Give it a look.

Taking things in an entirely different direction, there’s Cirque Erotique. It’s a quick read and the plot isn’t complicated. Our heroine Loralei gets stranded in the middle of nowhere, takes a walk looking for help, and happens upon a bizarro house. It’s filled with interesting characters - conjoined twins sex, anyone? – and Loralei is drawn to it for a variety of reasons, one of which is that she’s a bit of an outcast herself and has finally found herself a place where she fits in. Along with the twins, she meets an alluring ringmaster and a hottie hermaphrodite, all of whom present tantalizing temptations for Loralei. I have to say that although this is short read, Ms. Cooper spins a hot yarn in the short amount of pages that we have. The end of the book offers a glimpse of a follow-up, and I for one would love to see more of Loralei’s journey. My only complaint with this story is that I felt I wanted to know the characters more, learn their backstories, and find out how they ended up in the Cirque Erotique.

Enjoy, everyone. Until next time,

Elizabeth

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Horror Sex Camp

20 Sep

Hi there–Madeline here today.  I’m picking up from where Elizabeth Shore’s post left off yesterday.  She was talking about how well horror and erotic romance go together.

Meanwhile my favorite type of horror — campy horror — goes even better with sex.  I’m talking hot, uninhibited, I-don’t-care-that-you’re-not-my-boyfriend sex.

I mean, before the 80′s you had horror films that had sex stuff in them.  Sure.  The sexy popular girl always got slashed first, of course.  Female audiences weren’t supposed to enjoy the sexy part of these films though.  You had women taking off their sweaters as suspense built, blah, blah, blah to get men off.  They were thrown a gratuitous arousal boner as a way of staving off boredom until the part came where their date would jump around, scream, and cling unto her date.  Which led to boinking said date afterwards. (Apparently almost all horror films make bank for this very reason.)

Although, I never quite understood how that worked.  You just watched a film about a woman going off with a guy alone, getting all slutty, and then getting slashed.  So after the movie, you go off with a guy alone, and you get all slutty with him…

BUT THEN! Along came a time-warping little freaky-deaky project called The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).

 

This film was less about horror and really more of an excuse to display one giant, cross-dressing, trans-gender orgy. But the film was an important one.  First it gave teens across our suburban lands something to do on a Saturday at midnight.  Second, in this film Janet made it quite clear she needed someone to touch her.  Lucky for her, there happened to be this specially made big golden hottie around to do it.  We learned from Rocky Horror that even nice girls needed to get some.

 

And with Rocky Horror Picture Show, the age of the 80′s and political correctness was spawned.  But despite the money grubbing, despite the cold war repression, a new tradition was born.  Ironic Camp came of age.  Yes, Poltergeist, The Shining, and a remake of The Thing happened, but this new trend in horror films took our lives in a whole new direction.

For instance, American Werewolf in London (1981).

 

A sexy, slightly unsure American tourist is bitten.

 

 

 

Now, it’s the cute guy getting naked, not the cute girl.

 

The film was also funny, providing a different kind of release.  Horror and camp go together. As certain horror films got campier, they also got sexy in a different way–in a way that was definitely aimed at women.

 

[People older than I would say--well, what about Michael London, Mr. Little House on the Prairie, who was in "I Was A TeenAge Werewolf"? And I would say, "What's that grandma? I can't hear you over the loose dentures rattling around in your mouth." And they would say, "Fine, smarty-pants, but they're remaking it--aren't they?" And I would shrug, because I dunno, maybe they are? Was that show campy? I doubt it.  I'm talking about camp here, grandma. Camp.]

The Lost Boys (1987) came along.  They were troubled bad boys, their leader a totally hot Jason Patric.

 

Oh, and Kiefer Sutherland was sneering about in the  background too.

 

 

 

 

Then you had the (mostly forgotten) film Lair of The White Worm (1988) starring an unknown British actor named Hugh Grant.  (Which also had a hot Scottish guy in it, btw, pictured here, covered in blood.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that came Buffy — the movie (1992), wherein cute Luke Perry got to stand around and watch his girlfriend kick ass. Feminism had truly arrived.  (Luke, you are cute, but not enough for me to bother getting your pic and showing it here.)

And Buffy begat Scream (1996).  In which Skeet Ulrich seduces and betrays and slays — His best. Role. Ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Scream begat Buffy again–this time the TV show (1997-2003).  Spike.  Angel.  Need I say more?

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Buffy the TV show, in some ways, begat Torchwood (2006)

 

Which was horror/sci-fi and very sexy, yes, but in ways you were never expecting—and in ways which left you totally uncomfortable afterwards.   Oy.  Not one person in that cast ever had hot, uncomplicated sex.  EVER.   It was Tortured, as much or more than it was Torchwood.

 

So, what’s coming next for Horror Sex Camp? Maybe there’s something out there right now that I’m missing–? Leave a comment.  Let me know.

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