Best Lesbian Erotica 2009

Being a writer of high-quality smut myself, I love really good dirty stories.

Tristan Taormino's Best Lesbian Erotica 2009 anthology marks her last year as editor of the series, and she has ended her tenure with an amazing collection of hot erotica. Some of these stories are so intense, touching or thought-provoking that they have burned themselves into my brain, and I find myself going back and reading them over and over again. "Dream Date" by Radclyffe features one of the sweetest, yet incredibly hot, pay-for-sex scenes I have ever read. Teresa Noelle Roberts' "Tough Enough To Wear A Dress" is, hands down, my favourite piece in the book, providing wonderful insight as to why one of the characters has panic attacks when confronted with feminine clothes. These are only two of the two dozen pieces in the book and no matter what you are looking for, I am positive you will find at least one story that makes you weak-kneed.

One interesting point worth noting is most of the stories deal with butch-femme, BDSM or strap-on sex, and in many cases all three at once. "On Snow-White Wings" by Shanna Germain is the only pure vanilla story in the collection that comes to mind and actually sticks out noticeably. The story is sweet, emotional and sensual and acts like a summer afternoon rain shower -- cooling and refreshing -- allowing the temperature to build once again in the second half of the book.

Being of the male gender, I'm not sure if I am the most appropriate person to review a fabulous book of lesbian erotica but I am very glad to be given the chance to dive into a world where the lesbians aren't all lipstick, the bois have more between their legs than I do and the passion is honest and true.

~ Maximilian Lagos
www.maxlagos.com

Here's what Babeland has to say:

We don’t know how, but the bestselling Best Lesbian Erotica series manages to get hotter every year, and 2009 is no exception. Beloved sex educator/director/author Tristan Taormino puts together another winning collection, taking us along for sexy trysts at the bar, the beach, the tattoo parlor, and the public park (to name just a few). Desire knows no bounds here in the world of handsome butches, flirtatious femmes, and every lezzy in between and beyond. No matter what gets you going, from sweet seductions to hardcore fucking to envelope-pushing power dynamics, you’ll find erotic satisfaction here.

• Binding Style: Paperback
• Type: Erotica
• Number of Pages: 302
• Copyright: 2008

The Smart Girl’s Guide to the G-Spot

Violet Blue's writing always makes for an enjoyable read, and this book is no exception. Literate, intelligent, witty, and irreverent, The Smart Girl's Guide to the G-Spot conveys in-depth information about a woman's anatomy, the mechanics of arousal and orgasm, and the wide variety of ways by which women can be pleasured. It is presented in a accessible and totally non-threatening way that won't have even the most vanilla of readers shying away from its message.

Two things I particularly like about Violet's books: (1) she never comes across as judgmental about one's sexual triggers or lack thereof, and (2) she does an excellent job of advising folks who might be intimidated by the prospect of introducing a new sexual scenario into a relationship. Regardless of the scenario in question, these two things effectively empower the reader.

I learned a thing or two, and I've been intimately acquainted with my g-spot for years.

Interspersed with the no-nonsense advice are four erotic short stories by Alison Tyler, which I consider a delightful bonus.

Until next time...

peace & passion,

~ Alessia

The Adventurous Couple's Guide to Sex Toys

Regardless where the toy market takes us or when/if the multitude of website addresses in this book become obsolete, good advice is good advice. The most important information in this book (on safety, communication, imagination) will stand the test of time. It starts out slowly--with tips on introducing sex toys into a relationship--so as not to overwhelm a true beginner. However, by the time readers reach the end of the book, with its chapters on sex machines and alien probes, their own kinks probably seem quite vanilla in comparison--and that is this book's subtle gift. Kudos to Ms. Blue! After all, the sex machine aficionados are clearly not this book's target audience. They're well past it on the kink-o-meter. Including information about the wilder devices and contraptions gives the nervous novice a big boost of confidence by saying without saying: "You just want to peg your boyfriend? Pffft! That's nothing. What are you waiting for?"

The book is quite comprehensive in its coverage of toys--from standard vibrators and dildos to harnesses to webcams and teledildonics to pain play to sex furniture.

The author's smooth narrative makes for an enjoyable read. I laughed out loud at a couple clever turns of phrase. And, yes, I did learn a thing or two.

Until next time,

peace & passion,

~ Alessia

Here's what Babeland has to say:

Turn up the volume on sex, creativity, and orgasmic potential with Violet Blue’s invigorating Adventurous Couple’s Guide to Sex Toys. You’ll find info on choosing and using toys, introducing your ‘adventurous’ toy choices to a not-so-adventurous partner, and tips for using toys as a couple, all presented with Blue’s characteristic dry humor. From blindfolds to threesomes, webcams to steel cage dining room tables, your taste for adventure and sexual appetite are sure to be satisfied.

• Binding Style: Paperback
• Type: Sex Information/How-To
• Number of Pages: 288
• Copyright: 2006

The Bunny Book

A Toys for Tarts guest review:

The Bunny Book: How to Walk, Talk, Tease, and Please Like a Playboy Bunny

The Bunny Book is a how to guide written by three Playboy Bunnies - Deanna Brooks (Miss May 1998), Pennelope Jimenez (Miss March 2003) and Serria Tawan (Miss November of 2002)

"If you a fly gal get your nails done, get a pedicure, get your hair did!" Missy Elliott

If you're overweight, if you love oversized clothes and walking around in gym shoes, if you could care less what your hair or your nails looks like, if you'd rather watch TV than tease or please anybody - and you're proud of it - then you have no reason for this book.

However, for women like me who enjoy a fit body, who loves makeup and high heels, manicures and pedicures, who loves to flirt, who loves sexual excitement - this is the book for you. You may already know how to walk, talk, tease and please like a Playboy Bunny, but maybe you need a reminder. That's why I loved this book.

The book is broken down into six core sections - Dress, Walk, Flirt, Tease, Please and Love.

What are some of my favorite quotes from The Bunny Book?

From "Dress" - "If you want to go to places where they wouldn't let just anyone in, then you have to dress the part."

From "Walk" - "Walking like a Bunny isn't just a matter of crossing a room so that heads turn (when you want heads to turn, that is - sometimes you just want to get to the bathroom quickly and discreetly!). It's about the entire way you carry yourself, whether you're elegantly exiting a car, standing at the bar with a cocktail, or lounging on your couch with a hangover. And it all starts at the gym."

From "Flirt" - "If a guy really likes you, having sex or not having sex isn't going to change his mind. If he's only in it for the sex, he'll stick around for three whole months to bed you if you're playing hard to get - and he'll still leave you right after he gets what he was looking for!"

From "Tease" - "If you've never been to a female strip club, go. At least once. If you've got the nerve, get a lap dance. Strippers have mastered the art of seduction. And it's best to experience it first hand in order to replicate it. Then, go home and practice."

From "Please" - "In order to have a voice in bed, you need to masturbate. You need to know your body. You have to understand the what, where, and how of your turn-ons. If you haven't figured it out, how can you expect him to? How are you going to ask for what you want if you don't know what that is?"

From "Love" - "Yeah, we know you're supposed to take each other for better or worse, but that's meant to be a beautiful promise, not a loophole! Taking pride in the way you look shows respect for the guy you're with (he should do the same for you, by the way). Sure, he'd be an asshole for leaving you just because you gained a few pounds, but you can't expect to trade in your gym routine for a beer belly and Big Macs seven nights a week and still have him lust after you."

I highly recommend The Bunny Book for all the girly girls out there!

Jolie du Pre

Erotica author and editor

http://www.joliedupre.com

~ ~ ~

On sale now for just $14!

From the Babeland site:

Three Playboy Bunnies—one married, one a career woman and one a die-hard party girl—get together and dish up everything you need to know to work it like a centerfold. Impress a first date, walk in heels, look (and feel) great naked, groom your pubes, strip like a pro, and so much more. Sassy, sex-positive and a fun read from front to back, The Bunny Book also mentions Babeland and several of our favorite toys.

• Binding Style: Paperback
• Type: Sex Information/How-To
• Number of Pages: 191
• Copyright: 2007