Caught Looking - erotic fiction by Cleis Press Inc. - review by Jul!a

Caught Looking has been edited together by Alison Tyler and Rachel Kramer Bussel and features a wide range of authors, including: Thomas S. Roche, Saskia Walker, Radclyffe, M. Christian, Tara Alton, Debra Hyde, Tenille Brown, Catherine Lubdoff, Stan Kent, Kristina Wright, Erica Dumas, Sophie Mouette, Heather Peltier, Dominic Santi, Simon Sheppard, Teresa Noelle Roberts, Sage Vivant, Shanna Germail, and Alison Tyler. If you've read previous works by either editor, you'll notice a few repeat authors here, but for a good reason.

The back of the book has a section for some short bios on the authors, as well as a section about the editors.

The theme here is well, voyeurism and exhibitionism. Getting off on watching others, or even having them watching you. There's a good mix of just about everything, a few stories about masturbation, a few stories about getting caught, a few about peeping in. One even goes as far as to invite the peeping Tom-ette in for some loving as well! Anything looking for lesbian or gay stories might want to try something a little more niche, as this book only had one of each.

"The Poet, Dying" is the single lone male male story, with an aging poet having hired two handsome young men to do whatever it is he bids them to do. "Couples Welcome" tells the tale of a couple who enters a strip club at the male's behest, so his lady can get a lapdance. After it's over, they make for an exit and go at it in the alley. Each story is really well written, although a few fail to capture the full attention of the reader.

This is your generic paperback book, nothing too exciting, unless you count being able to see the nipple of the model on the cover. In all reality, you'll want to get a book cover for this book if you're planning on being shy and out in public (although being watched is half the fun, remember).

If you're not too rough with this book, it'll hold up like most paperbacks.

Voyeurism has long been my absolute favorite form of erotica. As long as I can remember, I've loved reading about people putting on a show, or more accurately, the people watching the show. Caught Looking gave me plenty of stories to think back on hornily whenever I need them.

I have a hard time deciding on a personal favorite, I'm torn really between "Curtain Call" (a young woman in her first apartment has fun with the fact that she has a giant picture window that faces another giant picture window cross the alleyway) or "My Finest Hour" (a fun swinging couple and a master bathroom to die for, she gets pleasured while he watches from the tub). Although "The Poet, Dying" was high up there, not because of the sex, but because of the story. I don't personally get anything from male/male stories generally, but I read this one because of the interjections of the poets poetry, and I did seriously almost cry at the end.

And once again, my fiance has managed to read just enough to be able to point out certain stories I happen to mention. He's enjoyed the stories he's read so far, and looks forward to finishing the book.