Susan Mumford is a British author who is "...a qualified massage & MLD practitioner and aromatherapist in practice in London since 1987" (Susan Mumford's website). I consider her an expert author in regards to sensual massage because of her job experience and previous publications (both books and magazine articles).

I found the tone of Mumford's writing style to be very professional, as if she were instructing in person. However, this style of writing translates into being a bit dull if you are trying to read and then immediately perform the instructions. Not to mention the information may be hard to recall because the steps can be a bit long (almost a paragraph in length).

As the title implies, the focus of the massage techniques is sensual touch, NOT therapeutic results. Additionally, the book's main audience is couples, although the techniques can be applied to oneself.

Here is a complete list of the Contents (courtesy of Eden Fantasys). The arbitrary Sections below are to help outline the book's contents.

Section I.
The Introduction starts off by explaining how massage can be used to convey the beauty of sensuality and creating intimacy between partners. Preparing for Massage explains how to know which massage oil is right for you, as well as getting into the mindset of sensually massaging your partner through warm-up stretches. The Art of Touching wraps up the beginning section by describing the following: 2 types of sensual massage strokes (ex. effleurage), how to use different body parts to massage (ex. fingertips), and the 6 types of touch (ex. "the stimulating touch").

Section II.
The Full Sensual Massage focuses on each body area, including the following (in sequential order): the back, the backs of the legs, the neck, the face, the arms, the chest, the abdomen, the fronts of the legs, and the feet. If you follow this order starting with the back, the massage will take about an hour. I did that once and found that it did take about 50 minutes or so following the book closely.

The structure of each "lesson" starts with context about the body area (such as common injuries), numbered steps with photos, then a wrap-up discussion about how to be more creative or have more fun (using the aforementioned steps). I thought the context part before the actual steps was helpful because I like to understand why something I am doing is going to feel good.

Sharing the Experience concludes the middle section by suggesting how to end the massage strategy outlined above "...with lively, light-hearted strokes."

Section III.
The Oils and Their Uses passage near the end goes more in depth on essential oil attributes, i.e. which health ailment the oil will help ease. Additionally, instructions are included for making a preset massage or bathing oil using the oils mentioned. Or you can even make your own using a 1 fl. oz. bottle and the book’s customizable recipe.

On the page right before the appendix (and acknowledgements) are two topics that should’ve been at the beginning of the book in my own humble opinion: the Massage Check List (for setup) and the Do’s and Don’ts of Massage. The only explicit Do on the list regards removing jewellery and nail length; otherwise, the rest are Don’ts, including “Do not massage after a heavy meal."

Too large for a pocket, this silver-colored book is small enough to rest comfortably on a nightstand with the following dimensions: 4.25 inches long, 0.4 in. wide, and 6 in. high. It will not lie flat, which is a bit annoying considering it is an instructional book. A perk is that either of the inside flaps may be used to bookmark where you last read.

Because of the naked photos throughout, particularly the lady's butt on the front cover, Sensual Massage is not discreet enough to read in public. Most of the photos are in color and correspond to the written instructions. Although the female and male models are nude in the photos, the only "erotic" parts of the body shown are breasts and one or two pictures of the pubic area (without genitalia being visible).

I choose this to help me strategize how to use my newly bought Afterglow Gingersnap scented massage candle. I tried this with a partner and my strategy worked; however, my partner did remark that the style of the massage was "light" compared to a professional massage style. That did not surprise me, but it might surprise you if you are expecting the massage techniques outlined in the book to work out deep stress/ease injuries.