Passion - book discontinued by Cleis Press Inc. - review by imp

Passion is published by Cleis Press and again they bring you a bevy of bed warming tales. This wonderful anthology is edited by the awesome New York based author, editor and blogger, Rachel Kramer Bussel. Rachel has edited over 30 books of erotica and again I am never let down with the quality of authors she manages to find. She is also the winner of three Independent Publisher awards so she knows what to look for when it comes to good erotica.

Firstly, the title of the book is 'Passion: Erotica Romance for Women BUT I really think this is a good read for guys too, especially those looking to spark a little passion in their own lives. This book is a fantastic collection of 20 erotic stories based around hetrosexual couples all from hand picked authors. Unlike other erotica anthologies these are passionate, intimate stories. You delve inside the characters minds to discover needs, insecurities and love. Couples re-igniting lust and passion, friends, old flames, acquaintances coming together in hot, steamy situations. It is not your typical run of the mill, Mills & Boons stories but the stories really hone in on the element of raw emotional desire that drives the characters.

These are not so much the raw, kinky sexual escapades but relationship-saving sex, tender memories and scorching sex scenes that have come together from places the characters go emotionally that they wouldn't generally without that other key character. It's a very sensual, human set of erotica stories rather than straight sexual fun & fantasy that other erotica anthologies normally bring to the table.

The book is a glossy softcover consisting of 224 pages. The image on the front cover is a naked couple, sitting & embracing one another so it's more appropriate for the bedroom bookshelf or nightstand rather than a coffee table feature. No images inside just text. each story is about 10 - 18 pages long.

After reading 'Passion' I think it could be a book that could lay groundwork for some fantastic, intimate nights with you and your partner. The stories presented are all situations where they could quite easily become a fantasy turned reality. They touch on feelings and emotions that I am sure many could relate to.

It really has been a different approach to erotica writing and one I have enjoyed immensely. As with all anthologies there are fantastic stories and some which are just mediocre. There are some parts that screamed generic writing, cliche descriptions, and plain dull but overall it was a brilliant read.

Big Bed Sex by Donna George Storey .... think extravagent hotel room with luxurious bed. A wife alone on a business trip. A knock on the door and a husband has arrived unexpectedly .. what follows is a hot, raunchy sexual fantasy between husband and wife. I melted.

Dear in the Headlights by Angela Caperton ... think lingerie, a hot wife and a husband stranded in a broken down car .... bonnet sex ... HOT

The Silver Belt by Lana Fox is one tale that sits outside of all of the rest and had me curious, an affair, a woman searching for something else and realising her own sexual needs. Her husbands Silver belt being the catalyst to an understanding of her own inner sexual self. Slightly kinky too.

Rekindle by Kathleen Bradean .. think long term married couple, a wife trying to rekindle lost passion, a connection regained, intimacy at it's best, awkward and full of love.

The Morning Ride by Delilah Devlin was an absolute favourite. Think two people on a train, both lusting after each other and having filthy fantasies going on in your head about the other along the journey. The train stops they get out and have a royal bumblefuck of an accident and their paths inexpilicably cross which results in the first coffee of what I assume will be many. Too damn cute.

It was a great read, heartening to see realistic stories written around encounters, and situations that could affect us all at one point or another. I love kink based erotica because thats what sparks my sexual barometer BUT even though there were some mild episodes of kink and alot more vanilla type situations it still had me enthralled. Well worth the read.