Not one for the bedside table but clean enough to read on public transport

There are all sorts of people out there, Obsessives..Compulsive's...Hoarder's...Wasters..Wrecker's...you get the picture.  I most definitely am an 'Indulgent'.  I'll never be super skinny, because food is one of the great sensory pleasures in life, along with great wine, luxury holidays, general pampering and ...sex, of course.  I love to indulge in all sorts of things and since I no longer go clubbing and fritter away the days in a sensory twisted haze, I like to loose myself in a good Sci Fi series.  Is that sad? Like I care!

Anyhoo, that's a long winded way of getting to my point which is the Chicago Land Vampire Series, You can read proper reviews with background and facts for all 3 books through the Chicago land link; here I'll give you my overall impression.

I completely fell into Chloe Neil's gorgeous Vampire filled College/Sorority like world, and pretty much ignored the rest of my life for 4 days.  Not exactly sure which market these books are aimed at, they walk the line between Teen and Adult Romance/Fantasy. I would love to have had a bit more 'Hot n Steamy' and a few less morals but I really loved all the characters and the 3 books weave a decent tale.  I'd call it a 'light weight, romp of a read' complete with heart throbs, violence, lust, magic, Werewolves, Vampires, great friends and overwhelming odds.  Kinda standard stuff for this genre but it's done well. I loved the cheekily written banter and great one liners.  The kind that (a) you wish you were quick enough to think up when 'put on the spot' and (b) you had the balls to say.

A mild annoyance, which happens with most Series was the catch up segments that remind you what went on in the previous book.  Many writers do this with little imagination, basically parroting what they wrote last time.  Chloe was no different but at least her segments were brief and I didn't feel like I had to skim through a quarter of the book which sometimes happens.

So, in summery:  it's Chick Lit but not annoyingly so, your imagination will be engaged but don't expect to get your nether juices flowing.  Not one for the bedside table but clean enough to read on public transport.

 

Oh, I found a good'n!

You know those books that once started can't be put down?  Yup, I am in the grip and pleasantly obsessed!

After reading a few disappointing novels recently I came across 'Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill'.  It's the first of (so far) 4 books in the series.  I haven't finished it yet but the dialogue is laugh out loud in places (so not cool on a London Bus "no I'm not a freak, I just have a sense of humour") and I love the generous smattering of lusty 'men of interest' so far.  Anyhow, what's it awl about, I hear you say?? I'm talk'n bout Fantasy; set in present day Chicago where Vampires have recently 'come out'.  Grad Student 'Merit' has a pretty shit night, firstly she gets attacked by a bloodsucker then another one turns her into one to save her life.  Thankfully he's, like, well HOT...and the story goes from there with some death threats, new powers to explore and a whole mess of Vamp Politics thrown in for good measure.

I like the writing style of this book, the dialogue is sharp witted and snappy but the language is not dumbed down to accommodate that.  It's sexy without being slutty.  Not that I'm in any way opposed to slutty.  I have high hopes Merit will loose all her morals and shag every gorgeous man she meets to near unconsciousness.....But, some books don't need that; they get by on tit bits of tease, great characters a good story and great writing.  One of these days I'll get around to formulating a 'rating system', but for now I'll just issue a warning - careful, this one could make you miss your tube stop, walk out into traffic...and ignore your spouse all evening...on your anniversary.

Speaking of which, a little side story.  Whilst teasing my husband the other night...well actually I might have been threatening to buy him pale foundation in the hope that he'd starve himself for a month (or two) then turn up at our bedroom door with his shirt unbuttoned to his waist ...looking all pale and glowering with passion and a stray drop of blood (or strawberry jam) dripping from the corner of his mouth.  Alright I'll admit, I had just been watching the 3rd Twilight movie with a few girlfriends ...and some wine had been consumed.  Anyhow, he had the cheek to say that he was also going to start up a Blog too...just to share with the world all the weird shit that I come out with! I beat him to it with that tale!  But come on - who wouldn't want their very own Edward Cullen for a night ..or three. Him Niiiice, I liiike.

From Book Club to Trash-Book Club

The first rule of Trash Book Club is there are no rules....read what you like, feel no shame.  It's a club of one so pretty exclusive at this stage - thinking of expanding but would anyone interested?

I was in a book club once, had to quit - not enough smut in the reading list, made it more chore than pleasure.  Also, what's wrong with a happy ending? The books we were reading just bloody depressed me.  Take George Orwell's 1984; it's such a stark picture of totalitarianism, I keep hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel but came out the other end of that book with my optimism scared and an even thicker layer of cynicism under my skin. Obviously a great book to have such an effect but I preferred Margaret Atwood's the Handmaids Tale, another take on the Totalitarian theme While this is undoubtedly still a grim depiction of a world gone wrong, there is hope and for me that is the key. There is also tension that winds your stomach in knots but ultimately there is release.  If we allow it to get to us there is enough to depress in every day life; I choose escapism! I choose happy endings!  I choose Trashy Novels!

Currently reading Harem Girl by Mariyah Saalih. Very briefly, it's about a bored housewife who fancy's a bit of adventure but get's shafted and sold to a Harem as a sex slave.  It's alright; perhaps not quite what I'm in the mood for or maybe it's just that I can't really get my head around women as sex slaves.  It's written in such a way that you can see how the women view their situation as good fortune when considering the times they lived in and the insight into the traditions and 'Standard Operating Procedures' within the Harem are interesting.  But honestly - one man  with that many beautiful woman bowing, scrapping and degrading themselves to get in his good books..??...It does not compute; though I guess I'm coming at this from modern day alpha female perspective and not giving it a chance. One bonus is some of the artwork scattered throughout the book, I didn't expect it but it's cool.

Right, that's about as close as I get to 'high brow'.  Have just been poking around on t'internet for my next book; it's all down hill from here...in the best possible way!

The Ultimate Playlist for Sex

Alright, so I've veared off course a little with this 'mind meander' but ....I got home from rehearsal last night (I'm in a band of sorts) and whilst researching potential new re-mixes, came across Fever by Peggy Lee and thought "If that doesn't get the 'frisky' started you must be a dead Eunuch or som't".....which led me to wonder what the perfect playlist for 'good lovin' would be?  I'm talking about a theme tune for all the phases from 'In the mood' through to four play, yeehaa!! ...and on to the post coital stupor.

Did some research over lunch...in the pub with some girlfriends, and we are beginning to formulate a plan; though on consultation with one of the guys from work - I think it may be a girl thing?!?.  MM (short for Mr My what interesting taste in music you have?) suggested Madonna's Justify My Love...ah NO thanks.


My list has to start with Fever by Peggy Lee, there will be Gloribox by Portishead somewhere in the mix and Strict Machine from Goldfrapp (there's several Golfrapp songs that would rate highly on such a list; honestly, any of their albums are a safe bet as are Theivery Corporation, Massive Attack, Novelle Vague)...I think you can see where I'm going with this; sultry, grinding dirty beats that build with the moment.  Anyway - rest assured I will research this as thoroughly as I possibly can and let you know the verdict; once again 'taking one for the team' (ah, the selfless giving of oneself to such a gritty cause - angel wings, halo's and flower filled meadows abound!).   Will keep you posted.

I need to finish this now.  My lunch break may have been an one extended and there may have been much gossip and wine involved, but, this lady has a Pub Crawl to be fabulous for, so I must dash.  Don't judge me, there is the history of Clerkenwell involved. I'm pretty sure that if you're learning something whilst drinking you can't get drunk and the calories don't count?!  It's a philosophy and a lifestyle.

Adios amigos!

08/12/10 Vintage Erotica - Part 2

So, on my lunch break today I got to the end of the free Kindle sample then had to admit defeat.  I feel dirty and in need of a good scrub with some bicarbonate soap.

I thought the Vintage Erotica book was pretty messed up before but it went into so many shades of wrong it turned black. Everyone was at it, they were all related (Parent's brothers sisters) and there were a couple of rape scenes with the servants throw in for the hell of it.  I know some people are in to some freaky shit (good on them so long as no one is victimised or hurt against their will) but I have found one of my boundaries in this book.

08/12/10 Vintage Erotica

So, on pondering the big question this morning "Is there a middle ground between sleazy porn and the pathetically moral romance novel where the female lead just happens to have a good lusty romp with the man of her (yawn)dreams - after overcoming a few emotional hurdles, of course".... I thought I'd check out a bit of Vintage Erotica.

One of the things I love about modern technology (I'm talking about my iPhone here) is that I can be on the bus, have a notion, and investigate it immediately.  The slightly embarrassing thing is that I'm then reading what equates to porn on the bus at 8.00am - people will insist on peaking over your shoulder, it's not my fault if they're freaked out.  That said, I did kinda eak myself out this morning; those Victorians, crikey...a lusty lot, and a little wrong in the head if you ask me!

So what is this book I hear you ask?? Tis titled 'Vintage Erotica: Four Victorian Novels in a single file, improved 08/23/10 (Kindle Edition)'  One Author is anonymous and the other is Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch, who I think gets a prize for most pretentiously difficult to pronounce name - well done that young man!  There's quite a classy image of a (probably) famous depiction of Adam and Eve (the original temptress - rock on with your bad self and much respect m'lady!) in the Garden of Eden.  So from the title and the front cover there's not much to indicate that it's going to 'get you going'.

I'll skip the first story (it was but a nipple tweak of titillation) and crack straight on to the second which starts with a very young boy (about 8 years old) who 'cuddles' the naked nanny whilst she pleasures herself and then from the age of 12 starts having sex with his Aunt whilst fantasizing that it's his Mother (oh and the Aunt is in to S&M).  The Aunt and the Mother both shag the father to near death on occasion, but it's OK because they fortify his stamina with a little wine and good food (Huh??). Frankly, it's all a bit fucked up.  I do like the writing style though and, like picking at a scab, will need to read the book in it's entirety, just to see how low it goes.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm not originally from the UK but wrapping sordid tales (of what amounts to incest) up in beautiful language is not as morally abrasive a read as it should be.  And that 'Mother Fantasy' of his; Freud would have just shrugged his shoulders and said "but of course!".

I am entering a whole world of wrong here; will keep you posted!

07/12/10 - It Starts Here

For a couple of years now I've been a little bit ashamed - in a brazen 'front it out', please don't judge me kinda way; but I am now throwing off that shroud and declaring it loud and proud (to anyone who'll read my Blog) - I AM ADDICTED TO TRASHY NOVELS!!

I'm not going to categorise or limit  the trash I read but I do love a good sex scene and if I can escape into a bit of Fantasy/ Sci Fi while I get my kicks all the better.

What led me to start this Blog was a particularly juicy novel that had me .....I suppose the most polite a way to say this is....'throbbingly engrossed' from start to finish.  I came across it on Kindle, the 3 naked people on the front cover caught my eye.  I'll get back to the novel later but when I'd finished I wanted more more more!!!   I'm not sure my husband would agree though, especially after being asking questions like "So darling, have you ever considered anal sex with a man?" or " How about just a blow job from a guy?" He hasn't taken me up on my request for him to read the book either, I thought it might open his mind to the possibilities of ..... we'll - that would be me - in a bed with two gorgeous men and nothing but my pleasure on their minds.

The book responsible for all of this is 'Dangerous Boys and their Toys' by Shayla Black.  The tale of a Bounty Hunter and a Detective (both guys; one straight, the other open minded) who whilst working on a case come across a masturbating lady by a pool.  She rather tragically has never had an orgasm.  Oh poor dear, never fear the boys will take care of that!!  Id just like to say here and now that 'back door banditry' is not in my sexual repertoire, I always thought eak, ouch, why would you want to try that??  But I have to say, the way Shayla Black writes about it - I get it!  I also loved the way the love story evolves between the two guys, it's taken slowly but is incredibly hot.

On finishing 'Dangerous Boys', I looked up more books from this author.  The next one I read 'Entice me at Twilight' is part of a series about Wizards, set in the UK.  It was an OK read with more plot but too much angst from the lead characters.  the story goes...Simon knew Felicia was his Mate for life but she had commitment issues.  They two'd and fro'd around it for most of the book while being chased by an evil wizard incarnate.

One thing that annoys me with most of these types of books is that they think the female reader wants every heroine to fall madly in love and spend the rest of their lives with every gorgeous guy they sleeps with.  Why do socially acceptable morals have to come in to it?  Now, I know that I could just watch porn or look at a dirty magazine but there must be some kind of mid way ground between sleazy and 'the modern woman'.

So, that will be my first post done - I hope you like, there's more to come!