Irresistible erotic romance for couples - book discontinued by Cleis Press Inc. - review by Jenny Swallows

It isn't quite traditional, and it's not exactly formulaic. But so much modern erotica focuses on the attraction of strangers, and the first frenzied meeting of two (or more) soon-to-be-lovers that it is very easy to forget that long-standing partners, too, can sometimes "get it on." And that the familiarity they feel with one another's bodies and desires are often a lot more exciting than those of a couple of new acquaintances, bumping uglies in the hope that they're bumping the correct ones.

That's what Irresistible is concerned with. The passion of long term partners, and preferably without any role play or the like. "There is nothing like a good fuck first thing in the morning," declares Heidi Champs in the opening "Twice Shy," and yes, maybe there is a hint of "let's try something new" flirting around the edges of the tale (and a few of the others, too). But it's something new within the confines of the comfortable; and let's be honest here. We are all far more likely to delve into a favorite fantasy if we know who our partner is, than we are to allow a total stranger to, say, bind our breasts to his train set, then fuck us senseless while the locomotive bears down. And I think I'll draw a veil over the rest of that thought until my scale-model enthusiast boyfriend gets home.

The set ups are as familiar as the settings; a romantic walk, a bitter winter, a run down apartment, a New York strip club - even without ever having visited one, the thrill of two tourists walking into one, to see what's what and what it might do to one another is one that, again, most people can probably identify with. Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel's "Exposing Calvin" is definitely one of the highlights here; but so is Kris Adams' "Six Eyes, Two Ears," which doesn't necessarily fit the overall vibe of the book as a whole, but belongs here regardless.

"Red Hot Monogamy" it says on the back cover, and red hot monogamy is (mostly) what you get. Read it with your partner's light on!