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I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know what it is about this series that just gets me. This is the third novel I have read in the series and it just keeps getting better and better.

Historical erotica is something I can fully get behind. But a queer historical erotica?! Those don’t exist! Well let me inform you that they, in fact, do, and they are amazing. Society of Gentleman by K.J. Charles is not just one of the best historical erotic series I have read, it is also one of the best series period! So far, this one has been my favorite. There is something about forbidden love that just makes it that much more delicious. A lord and his servant? Scandalous! And toe-curling…

Again Charles brings her phenomenal character creating to the table and expertly weaves a story that lures you into its web and keeps you there till the very end. I love Charles’ writing and creativity.

There is really nothing else I feel I can say about this novel without giving it away. Are you looking for a fantastic historical romance featuring two men? Look no further! Seriously…don’t pass this series up.

Plus look at how beautiful that cover is...
  
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ArecRain (8 KP) rated Animal Lust in Books

Jan 18, 2018  
AL
Animal Lust
Lacy Danes | 2008
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Did I miss something? Was there suppose to be a plot line somewhere? You think I would have learned my lesson by now in that <i>Aphrodisia</i> never publishes anything that isn't sex for the sake of sex. Every <i>Aphrodisia</i> novel I have ever read, has had a complete lack of thought or plot line.

This novel consists of four different stories, each dealing with one of the four brothers and them finding their mates. While each brother's story was different and they each had various sexual tastes, the overall novel was kind of boring. The brothers all blended together and lacked individual personalities outside of the bedroom.

I felt like Danes gave us bits and pieces of what could have been a plot line, but she was more focused on the couples hooking up than formulating an actual plot. I wish I could say that the erotic scenes made up for the rest of the novel, but in all honesty, I have read much better. I do give Danes credit for giving each brother completely unique stories from each other. It's what actually kept me reading. I was curious to see each brother find his mate and how he planned on pleasing her. I have to say Devon's story was by far the best and worth reading.
  
Robbie Riverton: Mail Order Bride
Robbie Riverton: Mail Order Bride
Eli Easton | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Dumb title, awful art, but good book
Please don't judge this book by its atrocious cover. As a kid, I read all of my older sister's romance novels--Jude Devereaux, Judith McNaught, et cetera--but as a sentimental gay dude, there was a lot that didn't hit home for me. This is my first gay historical romance, and I really liked it. It has about the same amount of depth you would expect from a heterosexual romance novels (which is to say, not much), but it was no less an enjoyable read. I'm glad that Easton didn't rely on angst to further the story, but actually gave us a story that stands in its own two legs.

I admit that I was nervous going into the more erotic scenes. It's kind of a thorny issue, with Easton being a woman and describing an entirely male act. But they were surprisingly realistic (for a romance novel). That said, they didn't exactly light my fire, but they weren't "boobs feel like bags of sand" either. Nice, middle of the road. It's clear the focus is on the relationship, not sex, though she acknowledges the strong sexual intensity that (sometimes) manifests between men.

Just, please, Easton, if you read these at all, do something about the cover art. The title is a little hokey too. It made me underestimate your talent.
  
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Shirley Manson recommended Combat Rock by The Clash in Music (curated)

 
Combat Rock by The Clash
Combat Rock by The Clash
1982 | Rock
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"They were one of, if not the first, rock & roll male bands that I was really attracted to. I am definitely a female-orientated person, that's just the way I am. I don't go gaga over every single male rockstar that comes out, I sort of tend to be way more interested in the female narrative. But who can resist The Clash? [Laughs] even I could not resist The Clash. 

 I was thrilled by the sound and also the style; they felt like a real gang to me. It really captured my imagination and I wanted to be in The Clash. They still are, arguably, one of the coolest male rock bands of all time, if not the coolest rock band of all time. There's not anybody really that touches them. I love the political bias in their writing and I love the raucousness of it – and I thought they were fucking hot as fuck [laughs]. 

 Again, just amazing songs. Like, I associate 'Rock the Casbah' with a lot of great parties that I went to around about that time. There was a lot of finger-fucking going on to The Clash, an innocent but erotic memory. My sexuality was beginning to really explode when I discovered The Clash so I always associate it with that kind of hotness. It's just The Clash equals hotness. End of story."

Source
  
oh nooo.. It's over. This was amazing... so much AMAZING! I can't believe it is over it was soo good. When I started this series I was iffy.. Fantasy isn't always a favorite genre for me. It is hit or miss, but this series is a total HIT. The depth in this series is wonderful. The scenery and imagery that is portrayed is also wonderful. I felt as if I was seeing everything through Ian's eyes as it was happening. I felt as if I was feeling everything through him as well. This was action packed and fast moving. The characters were complex and felt things so strongly. I really enjoyed the sex and love parts as well. I don't think I see much sex in fantasy books I've read in the past and this was well done, not erotic. It was very enjoyable. The writing kept me on the edge of my seat. I had to keep going and keep going and stay up late to read. C.L. described the beauty in such a way that it felt as if I was there with them, but also the battles and the bloody. It was so awesome to read and see in my mind as it was happening in the story. I am so glad I gave this series a chance and fell in love with these words and this author. Amazing, so very amazing.
  
CS
Crimson Sky (Dark Sky, #1)
Amy Braun | 2016
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first novel I have read from Amy Braun, but it is certainly not the last. While I appreciate other genres beyond romance and erotica, it has to really be something to grab my attention. Crimson Sky had me from page one. Not only did it blow me away, I became obsessed, having to know what happened next and not being satisfied until I finished the novel.

Crimson Sky is an action packed novel that is hard to describe. Braun is such a talented writer, she easily incorporates multiple genres into one. It can be classified as steampunk, horror, action, romance, and dystopian all in one. I appreciate that Braun could easily show so many themes without having to shove it down our throats. She does such a good job of showing, there is no need for telling.

This novel is an intense roller coaster ride that begins from the very first page. Filled with complex realistic characters in a terrifying world, Braun weaves a story filled with twists and personal growth that keeps you hooked until the very end. It’s been a long time since I have been this obsessed with a novel that didn’t qualify as erotic. Even now, I am stuck in literary limbo because nothing seems to match up to the intense emotions this novel pulled from me. I can’t wait to read more.
  
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ArecRain (8 KP) rated One of the Guys in Books

Jan 18, 2018  
OO
One of the Guys
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t realize I had read Shiloh Walker before until I realized her name sounded familiar and did some research. Awhile back I read her story The Missing which is the first in her FBI Psychics series. I don’t remember much of that story and I didn’t write a review for it back then. I must have liked it though, since I rated it 4 stars.

It seems to be a theme since I enjoyed this story as well. I am also partial to friend-to-lovers stories. And boy are they steamy lovers. I have read multiple reviews that accuse of Walker of writing the same sex scenes over and over and that her writing lacks variety. I have only read one other of her novels and that was a while ago, so I can’t agree nor can I have the same complaint.

While I can say that nothing erotic shocks me, certain things just aren’t my tastes, i.e. anal play/sex, especially when the guy is an inconsiderate jerk about it. As someone who has a very considerate lover, but has been sexually abused before, it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I almost couldn’t finish the book. If you can get past that though, then this would be good read for you.
  
Lost Girls and Love Hotels (2020)
Lost Girls and Love Hotels (2020)
2020 | Drama, Thriller
3
3.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Rather pointless (0 more)
Lost its way
Not heard of this before it popped up on Sky cinema based on a successful novel of the same title. A different direction for Alexandra Daddario who seems to have churned out lots of low budget Rom Coms most recently.
This is an odd bleak character study which feels a bit like Lost in Translation crossed with 9 1/2 weeks but falling way short of either of them. Her character is a bit of drifter in Tokyo, always drunk and meeting random men for meaningless sex in the love hotels. Until she meets by chance a Yakuza gangster who she begins an affair with.
There was a lot more potential in this, it tries to be quite art house but most of the film is filled with shots of her drunk in a bar with friends, staggering around Tokyo at night or with random men. The Yakuza angle is barely explored with Kazu and they spend very little time together as well. Apparently a good 45mins has been cut and the film has been on the shelf a while after being filmed late 2017.
The end result is a brief character study of someone at rock bottom of life. Unfortunately it's quite dull for the most part, not erotic either. It's a shame as it could have been a lot better with a few plot angles explored more.
  
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
Balli Kaur Jaswal | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
When I started reading this book, I really didn't know what to expect from it. The name of the book was simply unbelievable. The more I read it, the more it shocked me, and I know for sure, that after reading this book, I will never look the same at South Asian aunties and the community. The description of the book is quite accurate. British born Punjabi Nikki gets a job in gurdwara in Southall, London, to teach reading and writing to Punjabi widows, who are mostly from villages. She quickly notices that these widows are not interested in learning how to write, instead, they are very keen to share their erotic fantasies with other women. While teaching the widows, Nikki learns, that Southall, and the community itself are hiding many dirty secrets of its own.

I found the characters of this book very amusing, and at the same time very close to my heart. I loved how author put two opposites in the book; Nikki, who wants to live her life and make her own choices, and her sister Mindi-who still wants things done the traditional way. All the widows, who participated in this book, were really interesting and diverse personalities. They all had a story to tell, not only erotic one, but the one of their life as well. I do know quite a lot of South Asian people, and the way author described them in the book is very accurate. I am not including their fantasies, but the part of how they present themselves to society, is quite accurate. Respect of the family is the main value in Asian society, and all people try to maintain that. That’s why Nikki is kind of rebel against traditional values, which is sometimes quite shameful in the eye of the community. Everything in this book sounds very real and believable: characters, plot and the way author described places used in this book, it’s unbelievably accurate. I liked that author included more than one character in this book, and told the story from Nikki’s and her employer’s Kulvinder’s perspective. Kulvinder has huge influence in the book, with the tragic story of her daughter Maya, who died very young. Through the views of Nikki and Kulvinder, the story of the book unfolds very nicely, and keeps the suspense going.

The plot of the book is very original; nevertheless, it tells couple of different stories at the same time. Most of the action in this book happens in Southall, London. As the author said in the book, she lived in Southall, while she was studying at university. That explains why she wrote about this place with such detail. She described every corner and street with great accuracy, and beautifully presented the spirit of that place. How do I know? I visited that place many times, that’s why the similarity shocked me. This book tells not only the story of widow’s fantasies, but also involves murders, and many dark secrets of the society itself, and that really made the book amusing, twisty and hard to put down. The more Nikki gets involved with the widows, the more this story turns and thickens. Author discussed a lot of important topics in this book, such as: honour killings; family relations between parents and children, and what honour and respect of the family means in Asian society; immigration and adjustment problems; and many more. Author showed really nicely, that women, even after marriage remain women, and that after washing dishes, cooking and cleaning houses, they have their wishes and desires, which are not always fulfilled. Let me tell you one thing, those erotic stories they tell are really kinky, and has wide variety of action going on, so it is definitely not for young people to read.

So, as I mentioned before, and as it is obvious from the name of the book, it contains so foul language but at the same time is very comic and funny to read. This book is quite detailed, but it doesn’t make it boring, it helps to understand the situations better. I really liked, that the chapters were divided, so it was easier and more fun to read it. The ending of the book is nice and ended the book really well, by putting all characters at peace. To conclude, I really enjoyed this layered, funny and very beautifully written book and I do recommend reading it to everyone, who would like to have an insight of South Asian community, and get involved with those great topics which author brought up in this book.
  
Fifty Shades of Grey
Fifty Shades of Grey
E.L. James | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry
8
6.6 (103 Ratings)
Book Rating
So I debated for quite awhile about reading this book. All the reviews are so mixed...you love it or you hate it. It is all over the place from internet to radio to CNN, but it was both of my former college roommates & best friends that finally talked me into it, through Facebook no less!
In an interview on CNN with some female members of a book club, I heard 50 Shades described as a Disney prince fairy tale for grown-ups. I couldn't agree more...of course I can't see old Walt even fantasizing about some of the things that take place in this tale!
I am by no means a fan of erotic literature. Hell, I don't even like trashy romance novels, but this one, DAMN! I was hooked from the get. Now don't get me wrong, it was not the steamy, unbelievable, hot sex scenes that got to me(yes, I am human!) Mr. Grey & Miss Steele are intriguing characters. They are so well developed & in some strange way easy to relate to...not that I know much about bondage or billionaires!
I found myself HATING Christian with a passion & in the next sentence wishing I knew him. He is such a conundrum. I found myself identifying with Ana, yet at the same time not getting her motivation at all. It was a heady mix of confusing & normal all at the same time.
I very much look forward to finding out what happens in the next part!!