Red Velvet and Absinthe - erotic book by Cleis Press Inc. - review by aburnett

So, the whole cliche of sitting by a fire and reading a book by moonlight wasn't exactly true for me during the course of reading this book. In fact with two kids you don't exactly get those story book cliches. More or less, I was privileged to read it sitting in my car in the parent pick up line waiting for school to let out. A few times I wondered if I was blushing, or if someone was wondering what I was doing with such an erotic type book in line, reading while picking up my kid. At times I even had to set the book down, so I could let the short story I just read sink in. As with any multi story book, you run the risk of some being out of the park home run hits, while others seem to be a foul ball. With this grouping, each story made its way to a base . . Some made it only to first base, while others were out of the park home runs.


The two stories that just completely rocked my world were: The Blood Moon Kiss and La Belle Mort. The Blood Moon Kiss finds us on the set of a popular "Vampire" show. The amount of heat that oozed off the pages of this story should have melted the book, but I'm so glad it didn't. However, in the short story La Belle Mort, we find ourselves in a cell with a young lady awaiting punishment (hanging) for something she didn't do. Well, after reading this story, as stated before, I had to set the book down after reading just to let the story sink in.


There is something here for everyone. With 15 different short stories, how could you not find something that tickles your "fancy". Plus for the price it won't break the bank either. So there is just a little bit of everything in here for everyone.


Favorite Quote: "In fear can be found pleasure, just as in darkness can be found light."