Slave to Love - book discontinued by Cleis Press Inc. - review by CatsmeOW

While I am in no way a connoisseur of porn or erotic fiction, for a short time my partner worked in an adult store, so my exposure to the various genres is extensive.

When "Slave to Love" appeared in my mailbox I was stoked. This was right in time for a road trip; a long weekend starting with a long drive and a book of erotica. My kind of way to make the miles pass.

Since I was up first for driving my partner started reading aloud first; a particular treat for me since he has the kind of deep, gravelly voice that totally turns me on. Then to hear him talking dirty, no matter that he was reading someone else's words, bring it on!

He started with a story about body piercing. Again something we both have extensive knowledge of. Settling into the drive and listening to the words trip off my partner's tongue I began to feel myself responding to the images being created in my mind, when all of a sudden my partner explodes with an exclamation, "This isn't factual! In fact it's downright dangerous!"

Maybe not enough research on the author's part? Is erotica researched? If it's based around something real, factual, or historical it should be.

Okay then, moving on to another story; this one having to do with a Dominant/submissive relationship. Again (what can I say?) something my partner and I are experienced in. There was nothing technically wrong with this story but it was, simply put, boring. The sex was boring, the situation was boring. Strike two.

After a short potty break it's my turn to read. I decided to do some silent reading until I found a story that would achieve the desired results. After about 45 minutes my partner said, "Aren't you going to read?"

I read every story, since that's my job, and after awhile instead of becoming aroused, which I assume is the desired effect, I found myself going, "Oh brother listen to this..."

In a nut shell this book is boring. Maybe not for a novice in the D/s lifestyle or someone recovering from a frontal lobotomy but definitely missing the mark of something I'd want to keep on my bedside table.