1: Bec3: It Ain't Over Til It's Over by BarBar This is the third volume about Bec. Before you read it you have to read the first two. They are all relatively long, so be prepared but do NOT be afraid. They are marvelous. The only danger is that they'll get such a hold on you that you'll find they are hard to put down. My own work has "suffered" as a result. She is the most appealing character I have ever encountered, bar none, even characters I have created seem pale in comparison.
2: Caught by Ahazurak This is one of those feel-good stories you so rarely stumble upon. I wouldn't want to spoil it by saying anything more. I've added Ahazurak to my favorite authors list.
3: Classy Conversions by irish Writer Irish Writer is a first-time author, but the only place that it shows is in the number of typos and confusion over things like the difference between "then" and "than" and "consular" and "counselor." The plotting is superb, with fascinating twists and turns. The characters are, on the whole, very well drawn, with only a similarity of names (Candy and Cindy, for example) occasionally creating confusion.
Yes, it features snuff, but snuff story fans will be disappointed. Call it an anti-snuff story.
There is sex, but it is not graphic, so don't read it for that.
Read it for the story it is -- a deft skewering (pun intended) of the whole Dolcett universe with its willing "sows" who welcome being impaled and roasted alive over an open fire.
For more discussion on Classy Conversions, see my blog.
4: Dark Submission by callipigiman A wonderfully dark twisted tale. If I try to tell you about it I'd give away too much.
5: Girl, Refurbished by Argon The first chapter gets Girl, Refurbished off to a good start. Good style, good characters, good setting well presented, intriguing plot.
6: The New Swimming Hole by lordshipmayhem This one is a corker. No sex, but it is marvelous fun.
A school district in a small town has been ordered by the state to make sure every student knows how to swim. But, of course, the state hasn't funded the program, and the school doesn't have a pool. In fact, the only pool in town is at the local naturist resort, which has a strict rule -- swim nude or not at all. What to do? The school asks to rent the resort pool. The town is thrown into turmoil.
The writing is bright and quick, the humor infectious. I can't wait to see how this one turns out.
7: Occasions of Sin by Jacqueline Jillinghoff It's got depth, and breadth, and is a darn good read. JJ has a way with words that elevates average erotica to a higher level without losing the stimulation I'm seeking in an SOL story.
8: The Road to Hell by GentleButFirm This is a wonderful coming-of-age story. Because Chris is a few months older than Paul, she's his "baby sitter." Yeah, right.
I like the style -- most of it is dialogue, and what dialogue! To pull something like that off is tricky, but I never lose track of who is talking. The characters are believable and very likeable, the plot -- well, not much plot, so far (Chapter 4) but who cares! The sex is steamy, and that's what counts.
9: The Saint Agnes Passion by Jacqueline Jillinghoff Another wonderful submission by Jacqueline Jillinghoff. She has a remarkable gift for description, bringing her settings and characters to life with a few well-chosen words.
This one also breaks the mold of JJ's earlier works in that it is a longer, multi-chapter work. It starts slowly, in terms of sex, but by Chapter three is it incredibly steamy.
10: Strip Shakespeare by Jacqueline Jillinghoff A delightfully literate tale of a group of young ladies who have a thing for culture and Shakespeare, combined with burgeoning sexuality. One of JJ's earlier stories, and one of her better ones.
11: Uncle Tobias by Svengali's Ghost Nope, can't give away the opening. How can I describe this little gem? It is a quirky, funny vignette, very short, very funny. Read it. It'll only take a few minutes, and you won't regret it.
