Private Pleasures

Rating:
Summary: very disappointed
Review: After many years of being a Bertrice Small fan, I am very disappointed by this book. I couldn't even read the whole thing, which is a first for any book by this author. I don't think I will be preordering any more of her books. Her quality seems to have fallen lately and I am not interested in a book that is just sex without a fabulous story to support it. Her works in the Skye O'Malley series and the Kadin are fabulous and this book is nowhere in the same league with them or in my opinion, even in the same league as her more recent works. I am disappointed and sad to have to say such things about a talented author.

Rating:
Summary: very disappointed
Review: After many years of being a Bertrice Small fan, I am very disappointed by this book. I couldn't even read the whole thing, which is a first for any book by this author. I don't think I will be preordering any more of her books. Her quality seems to have fallen lately and I am not interested in a book that is just sex without a fabulous story to support it. Her works in the Skye O'Malley series and the Kadin are fabulous and this book is nowhere in the same league with them or in my opinion, even in the same league as her more recent works. I am disappointed and sad to have to say such things about a talented author.

Rating:
Summary: Sex as Sin.
Review: Bertrice Small's premise here seems to be that indulging in your sexual fantasies is ultimately sinful, evidenced by the 'ownership' of The Channel. This is disappointing and old-fashioned given the sexual research and feminist thought of recent decades which sees sexuality as part of our natural selves. Ms Small is putting us into the past. As well, Nora condones a death with immediate gains for herself and her children as an excuse. Nothing that could have been worked for and gained over time, so an excuse that is paltry, exacerbating this sin. Yet the author's punishment of Nora cannot be read as a true punishment as it continues to allow her to have her fantasies played out. Also, one woman's idea of being slapped in the face as a sexual fantasy of being dominated fulfilled is distasteful, given the high probability of damage that such slaps can do in reality. A twisted little book that readers may buy to indulge in their own fantasies, which is fine, but here a bad taste is felt by the end. Read Robin Schone for a more liberating indulgence.

Rating:
Summary: The Cable Channel and Miss Jones
Review: Forty-nine-years old Nora Buckley knows that her spouse Jeff is cheating on her. Already depressed she is shocked when her four Ainsley Court coffee mates inform her that Jeff has been on the prowl for years. Adding to her melancholy is that her daughter is starting law school and her son is graduating high school; Nora fears the empty nest of being alone. Instead of ire and depression, the fearsome foursome females suggest she go to the Channel to obtain the fantasy of her life. Nora heeds their advice and when she tries the Channel; Kyle and Rolf appear and star with her in her deepest sexual dreams.

When Jeff asks for a divorce Nora is so calm and so what about it, he becomes angry. He is even more stunned when she announces his lawyer will speak to her attorney about the divorce settlement. As Nora lives her most delightful sexual fantasies through the Channel, though it may not be real, she does not care as she now rediscovers the promise she had as a college student that she gave away to become Jeff's rug rat so many years ago.

This quad X tale should be dubbed The Cable Channel and Miss Jones (though the only devil is Jeff) as readers obtain a wild contemporary tale of sex and the rejected first wife club member. The story line is weird, but perhaps virtual reality and interactive TV will produce sex partners in a world in which cyber relationships are part of the norm. Though the story line lacks substance, fans of erotic erotica will enjoy this tale just keep the remote handy and not just to press buttons.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: The Cable Channel and Miss Jones
Review: Forty-nine-years old Nora Buckley knows that her spouse Jeff is cheating on her. Already depressed she is shocked when her four Ainsley Court coffee mates inform her that Jeff has been on the prowl for years. Adding to her melancholy is that her daughter is starting law school and her son is graduating high school; Nora fears the empty nest of being alone. Instead of ire and depression, the fearsome foursome females suggest she go to the Channel to obtain the fantasy of her life. Nora heeds their advice and when she tries the Channel; Kyle and Rolf appear and star with her in her deepest sexual dreams.

When Jeff asks for a divorce Nora is so calm and so what about it, he becomes angry. He is even more stunned when she announces his lawyer will speak to her attorney about the divorce settlement. As Nora lives her most delightful sexual fantasies through the Channel, though it may not be real, she does not care as she now rediscovers the promise she had as a college student that she gave away to become Jeff's rug rat so many years ago.

This quad X tale should be dubbed The Cable Channel and Miss Jones (though the only devil is Jeff) as readers obtain a wild contemporary tale of sex and the rejected first wife club member. The story line is weird, but perhaps virtual reality and interactive TV will produce sex partners in a world in which cyber relationships are part of the norm. Though the story line lacks substance, fans of erotic erotica will enjoy this tale just keep the remote handy and not just to press buttons.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Hit and Miss
Review: I wanted to like this book as several friends had recommended it but I just really couldn't get into it. I don't necessarily need a HEA, especially in erotica but this wasn't erotica either.

Whether it's erotic romance, erotica or whatever, I need to be able to like the main character and Nora was likeable for a while but by the end her change of personality was neither likeable nor believable.

The sex was all right, some of it was downright hot, the premise of the story and the idea of the Channel was interesting enough although I liked it in Videodrome better.

All in all, I walked away annoyed and not convinced of much, I thought the dialog was stilted in many places and the character development was weak. I have liked some of Small's other works but this one really wasn't one of them.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed Fan
Review: I was very disappointed in this book. The characters are not fleshed out very well, and Nora Buckley is a little too perfect, it's hard to believe she had no idea her marriage was in trouble. Also too much kinky sex which doesn't seem real. This book in no way comes up to the excellent standards I've come to expect from Beatrice Small.

Rating:
Summary: hot.....
Review: This book was very very hot. Gave to my best friend, her husband was thrilled. The plot is somewhat lame... but worth the heat and desire it ignites.
YUM!!

Rating:
Summary: A Different Type Of Story From A Great Author!
Review: This is a new direction for Ms. Small. As a result people should avoid comparing it to her older works such as the Skye O'Malley series. This is a contemporary romance with a little sci-fi thrown in for a twist.

Nora Buckley's perfect little world has come crashing down around her. Her husband has finally asked for a divorce after playing the field for many years. Nora has been so busy being super mom, and super housewife that she now finds herself having to fight her retched husband for her very existance. Her friend turns her on to a special channel that plays out your most secret fantasy. Before she knows it Nora is living in two worlds literally. One is reality, and the other one is with Kyle in the channel and it's sinful, steamy, and sensual to say the least. But can she have it both?

As I stated earlier this is a departure from what Ms. Small has penned in the past and as a result some long time fans may have a problem with the setting. It should also be stated that this is a shorter story then most of her other stories and as a result not as in-depth as we are used to as well. This book is not just sex and there is in fact the storyline regarding Jeff and Nora's break-up that is rather detailed. In any event this story was entertaining and one I would recommend for a fast read. Ms. Small is one of the best and you should come to this story with an open mind.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

Rating:
Summary: nice clean lfantasy
Review: when devoted wife finds out that her husband is cheating on her, she is devastated. until her friends tell her of a cable channel that women can switch to when they are alone and have their sexual fantasies come true.

the love scenes are a little lame, especially for a writer as talented as ms. small, but it is nice to let go of your inter inhibitions and wish that we could actually do that with our cable provider. boy would the cable channel make a forturne.