Rating: Summary: Robin Schone is the Real Star of this Anthology Review: While the other tales in this anthology are rather standard, and in the case of Beatrice Small, woefully sub-standard, it is Robin Schone's highly emotional 'A Lady's Pleasure' which stands out as true erotic romance.Abigail and Robert, the main characters of 'A Lady's Pleasure' are so well-drawn and full of depth that your heart breaks when they both speak of their lives outside of the storm-lashed cottage they find themselves together in. Abigail was a soon-to-be-married ex-spinster who seeks the one thing denied to many women in Victorian England--passion. Robert was a wounded soldier just returned from war to a country that seems to have no place for him. They are two people bound by the need to be loved and to be accepted. The sexual scenes were hot and full of emotional intensity, and I was delighted to see that Ms. Schone dealt with all forms of intimacy, not just ones that are accepted. She doesn't write lurid prose with silly metaphors for male and female genitalia. This is the story that I can read over and over again and still feel the same emotional connection. I can't say this enough, that Robin Schone is the new queen of erotic romance.
Rating: Summary: Actually, five star is for Robin Schone Review: I find myself totally CAPTIVATED (which is the point actually) by only ONE story in the book - and that is, Robin Schone's "A Lady's Pleasure". I TOTALLY agree with the reviewer Vickie, from Sacramento, CA, about it. This is the ONLY story in the book that defines Erotic Romance. Oh, undeniably, all the other stories are erotic, but they are FAR from being romantic as well. Most are full of "Ah ah ahh"s, but nothing else, except degradation, bondage, etc, but no element of romance at ALL. "A Lady's Pleasure" is beautiful, haunting, wistful. I find myself reading it over and over again, and NOT because of sex - but rather because it is memorable, it touches the heart in a longing, poignant way. Kudos to Robin Schone.
Rating: Summary: excellent Review: I bought this for the Thea Devine novella, but all of them were well written erotica. Not for the faint of heart. Make sure you have someone close by when you get finished reading this book
Rating: Summary: Erotica At Its Best! Review: Captivated by talented writer Robin Schone is one steamy read. 'Whew!' Love it, I must say. Erotica at its finest. Do yourself a favor and buy this book, you'll be glad you did!
Rating: Summary: THE BEST OF ROMANCE MEETS EROTICA Review: This book is the best. I have reread it about 20 times and it gets better everytime I read it. Four masters of this genre in romance writing have created the best book ever. While the stories are not as long as the typical single romance novel, each story gets and keeps you involved to the very end. The erotica part of the stories are well written and the romance part of the stories are exciting as well. I bought this book originally because I love anything written by Bertrice Small. I have discovered three other great romance novelists in Robin Schone, Thea Devine and Susan Johnson by reading this book. I have read romance novels for over 25 years and this book really is excellent. It is the "mild and gentler" type of erotica (the kind that leaves you breathless but not embarrassed should anyone see the book you are reading).
Rating: Summary: Better than Average... Review: I will be honest and confess to a certain disenchantment with Bertrice Small's works; her story in this collection does nothing to further interest me. However, it is much better written than "Fascinated," the book that first introduced me to her side-splitting purple prose. If you are looking for any shred of reality, this isn't the book for you. If, however, you are willing to suspend ANY notion of reality in exchange for some truly kinky sex, you could be interested. I will grudgingly applaud her attempt to expand the usual "man who is a slut, woman who is virginal until the right man introduces her to passion" formula, but her brief attempts at magical kingdoms and palace intrigue are just plain silly. Warning: alternate orifice intercourse is referenced AND included. Susan Johnson's "Bound and Determined" is the standard stuff for her: beautifuly yet sensual princess trapped in a situation that requires the stud services of a London "ton" rake. I'll always appreciate her interest in historical accuracy, but the sex grows monotonous. As above, she does at least try to expand our horizons; while it isn't truly enough to explain some of the characters' behavior, it is certainly better than Ms. Small's feeble attempt. Thea Devine's effort is certainly better than her "Fascinated" story. For one, it isn't nearly as confusing with all the italics - although they exist, they at least accompany the story rather than detract from it. This story isn't my idea of romance of ANY sort - domination makes me SO rebellious - it at least has a semblance of a story. And, last but certainly not least, Robin Schone's effort shows her true talent. Her story in "Fascinated" was beautifully written, but this is even better. It is the absolutely perfect blend of reality and fantasy. Just when you think that nothing like this could ever happen in your life, Schone writes a scene that really could really happen... Like, waking up in the morning needing a chamber pot (toilet) instead of the sex that he thinks she wants. Even my husband laughed at that one! Her writing is beautiful, and makes the sex a part of the story rather than a reason for the story. Warning: alternate orifice intercourse - never a favorite - does make an appearance here. It is written well enough to incorporate it as a part of the story (an emotional part, too!) without weirdness.
Rating: Summary: 5 STARS FOR SMALL* * * * * Review: Bertrice Small knows the true meaning of erotica. Her contribution to Captivated just proved that. Her love scenes are captivating,inventive and she's not scared to push the envelope. She's the only writer who's not scared to write about women who experiences sex with more than 1 man and i truly admire her for that. In my opinion, she is the best!
Rating: Summary: Fascinated is better Review: Captivated is worth the price of admission ONLY if you are an Erotica specialist. The sequel "Fascinated" is almost twice as good. The stories are all better, and the sex is hotter. Fascinated also has (oddly) better romance. When a writer has the ability in the short format to combine Equally the romance and the steam IMO then you have a great book. Captivated falls short in that department.
Rating: Summary: A Fantasy For Every Woman....... Review: I loved this book. I, unlike the other viewers loved all the novellas in their own right. I actually read the two backwards, i read Fascinated and then i got Captivated. I enjoyed them both. Four different stories.......all very interesting. First of is Ecstasy: Bertrice Small. This is wicked little tale about a man, Dagon, Prince of Aramis, who has been betrayed. He ends up being sold as a slave to the women of "Kava", the fabled and ancient city, ruled by women. In Kava, men are subsurvient, catering to all a women's needs, and if they don't they are punished. The queen of Kava, is Kelida, who has never really been pleasured by the joining of a man and a woman, Dagon unleashes her wild, uninhibited passions. While i enjoyed this tale, i'm not fond of alternative orifice intercourse, as was presented here. Secondly, Bound And Determined: Susan Johnson. This story begins with a man, Hugh Dalsany, swearing off sex, it bores him, or so he says. So Hugh decides to go to his country estate and relax, away from the "ton" and societies belles who constantly want him. He ends up being kidnapped, inside the carriage, by Princess Marko. She needs an heir, and her elderly husband like boys. So her husband forces her to this extreme. At one or two points, Hugh is tied to the bed, trying not to be aroused by a naked female body, that as described is almost perfection. This one is funny, and wicked too. I truly liked the first time they had sex, gave me shivers. ENJOY! Third, Dark Desires: Thea Devine. I can sum this story up in one word....... Temptation. Poor little Drue,(yes thats a girl), is forced to marry against her will, to Court. Against her will meaning she honestly thinks she loves another, but her father forces her. Court takes her as his bride and brings her to his home, only to begin to lessons. He teachs her, to obey, and then to enjoy, and then to demand, and along the way to know the difference between what she thinks she wants and what she does want. Finding the truth along the way, she goes on this wild, tempting ride. I throughly enjoyed this one, especially the office part, very, very, hot! Lastly, Robin Schone: A Lady's Pleasure. This one starts with a woman, Abigail, who is sitting in a storm in a cottage, alone, reading erotic literature, when suddendly there is a man, at the window, pounding the door down, seeking shelter. She is hesitant about letting him in, but she does and then, they start to share secrets, and she tells him that she wants a man to touch her,and kiss her, as she is a virgin and has never felt either. The man, Colonel Robert Coally, listens and then shows her all that she wants and more. They read some of her erotic literature together, and they learn and heal from past hurts and memories. I enjoyed the part about the her reading from the literature the most in this story, but like i said before, there was alternative orifice intercourse, and i'm not a fan of that. Thats the only complaint i have about all of Robin Schone's book, i truly don't enjoy that thought, so i just sits wrong with me. Well thats all, I enjoyed all of these stories to some extent, I think the two middle ones were my favorites and i will defintely read them again. Go and get this book just so you can see for yourself how each writer pushs themselves to the limit of being creative and especially with word usage. It's defintely worth it for all four authors, and four wonderful, different, fantasies.
Rating: Summary: Captivated Review: Warning to all who read this or are about to read this book: Beware because it is sexy and very moving. Reading a book such as this could be fatal if read straight through. I needed a lot of inbetween breaks to finish the novel. Took me three days and a lot of cold showers! I have loved Bertrice Small from the beginnings (she's the reason I read romance novels) now I have two other favorites to add to my reading list. Way to go Bertrice, Thea and Robin! You really opened my eyes to new experiences and tasty new characters!
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