Best Bondage Erotica 2012 - book discontinued by Cleis Press Inc. - review by Airen Wolf

I am rarely impressed by compillations that claim to bring together the best that any genre has to offer but I have to agree that the stories in Best Bondage Erotica 2012 make the book worthy of the title.
With a foreword by Midori and Rachel Kramer Bussel as editor the odds were stacked that this would be a great read...and it was.

Ms. Bussel brings us 21 stories written by: Shoshanna Evers, Elizabeth Coldwell, Andrea Dale, A.R. Shannon, Lucy Felthouse, Salome Wilde, Elise Hepner, Kay Jaybee, Tereasa Noelle Roberts, Giselle Renard, Craig J. Sorensen, Elizabeth Silver, Billy Thorunn, Helen Sedgewick, Lana Fox, Tenille Brown, Kathleen Tudor, Valerie Alexander, Lolita Lopez, and Neil Gavriel. I was pleased to meet some new authors but quite a few were old friends.

Midori advises that the reader should settle back and imagine his or herself living each of the stories and if they turn him or her on to maybe think about trying out some of the scenarios. She also points out that if the reader is more experienced in these matters then he or she might be able to glean a bit of inspiriation from these pages to enrich further experiences. She also suggests that if you have a willing or perhaps reluctant partner, maybe leaving this book sitting around might spark a bit of interest.

Rachel Kramer Bussel admits that she was a bit surprised at how many of the stories involved women tying up men. While she couldn't say for sure what caused this drift from the 'normal' story of the dominant man tying up the helpless but panting female she did welcome it. Perhaps it is the hallmark of a paradigm shift, I cannot be sure but I can say that it is about damn time!
The stories in this anthology run the gambit in a very pleasant and readable way. They represent all sexual orientations and some are quite surprising.

The book begins with a startling tale of bondage in which a young woman decides to see if binding herself, safely of course, is exciting. Shoshanna Evers shares with us a vision of self bondage that is frankly eye opening! Melting Ice will cause you to wonder if you, too, could be disciplined enough to 'top' yourself!

Elizabeth Coldwell spins a tale about public humiliation and the sub who adores it in her A Night At The Opera. This is but one of the powerful stories about women who rule and the men who adore them for it.

For a scorching tale of threesome bondage we are offered Darlene's Dilemma by Andrea Dale. In this tale Darlene is in a really amazing relationship with Jaden and Sienna. Jaden is the top in this relationship and he is a wicked one at that. Sienna is a switch and Darlene is usually the sub. This tale recounts a trip the three have taken to a Victorian Spa. Kinky and totally worth reading!

Lexie is beside herself when Marley decides it's time to move break it off in Tied Down by Elise Hepner. When Lexie whispers the words, "I'll do anything..." it seems to reinvigorate the relationship and Marley decides to test those words.

In The Cupboard Under The Stairs by Kay Jaybee are treated again to to a lovely tale about dominance and submission but the twist in the tale left me smiling and very turned on. I am so wondering about what I could do with some of the closets in my own house!

Teresa Noelle Roberts shares with us the frustration that comes when a bottom demands to suffer rather than waiting for the exquisite opportunity to be presented by their top. The Lady in Suffer For Me knows just how to curb and teach her young and unruly bottom how to let go of control and live in the moment.

Laced by Elizabeth Silver shows a startling side of corset wearing that most of us have no experience with. In this story Kevin is tending bar at an event that requires him to be collared and laced into a corset. His roommate has experience in procuring and lacing corsets and offers to have a 'dry run' the day before the event. As Kevin is laced tighter and tighter it seems to free something inside him that draws him and his roommate together into an explosive scene that left this reviewer stunned and yet oddly sated.

Kathleen Tudor treats us to yet another solo bondage scene in her story Knot Alone. Our heroine begins to wonder if she actually needs someone else to top her.

The cover of the book is not safe for work as it is a picture of an amazingly sexy woman dressed in leather bending a half naked man over. There is really no mistaking what they are doing. I wouldn't recommend trying to read these stories in a public place anyhow as they are scorching hot and the reader is sure to give themselves away!
There is a short biography at the end of the book for each of the authors where the interested reader can learn a bit more about a favorite author. The editor has a longer biography, naturally.

Still like to pull this book down off the shelf for a quick bedtime read! I definitely recommend picking up a copy if hot, bondage erotica is your thing.