Naked Reader Book Club Discussion: Passion and Best Lesbian Romance 2011 (February 8, 8-10 PM)

Contributor: bzzingbee bzzingbee
I'm here! Hi everyone!
02/08/2011
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme)
It was in Passion.
How were the stories? Other than easy to connect to? Were they stereotypical romance?
02/08/2011
Contributor: Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme) Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme)
Quote:
Originally posted by Kristina Wright
Oh, that's awesome! Saskia is a friend of mine, so I"ll be sure to let her know you loved her story!
I really did! That's awesome.
02/08/2011
Contributor: Kristina Wright Kristina Wright
Quote:
Originally posted by Kynky Kytty
I also had a story that reminded me of me, of the way I think about romance and bitter thoughts about non-existent knights in shining armor, My Dark Knight, and I wish that story had been longer, it almost felt rushed at the end, as if the author ... more
I think the shorter form can be difficult for that reason-- limited word count means you have to get a lot of story into a few pages. It's difficult sometimes to convey every aspect of a complex plot. But generally, I'm a little more forgiving when it comes to short fiction and let my imagination fill in anything that feels abbreviated.
02/08/2011
Contributor: LicentiouslyYours LicentiouslyYours
Speaking of cupcakes. Ok, we weren't talking about cupcakes, but we ARE talking about Rachel Kramer Bussel's book tonight and I felt the need to mention that TOMORROW night... she's gonna be on Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the FoodNetwork. How fun is that! Details are on her cupcake blog.
02/08/2011
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
Hey Bzz
02/08/2011
Contributor: LicentiouslyYours LicentiouslyYours
Quote:
Originally posted by bzzingbee
I'm here! Hi everyone!
hi bee!
02/08/2011
Contributor: bzzingbee bzzingbee
Quote:
Originally posted by LicentiouslyYours
Speaking of cupcakes. Ok, we weren't talking about cupcakes, but we ARE talking about Rachel Kramer Bussel's book tonight and I felt the need to mention that TOMORROW night... she's gonna be on Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the ... more
Awesome!! I love that show!!
02/08/2011
Contributor: Kristina Wright Kristina Wright
Quote:
Originally posted by Emma (Girl With Fire)
I'm glad I'm not too late

I read Best Lesbian Romance. My review is up for anybody who is interested
Lovely! I liked this collection a lot because of the romance. Too often, it feels like lesbian anthologies are strangers-in-the-night or very wham-bam stories. I like a little more relationship development. Not that there's anything wrong with wham-bam sex, I've written plenty of it!
02/08/2011
Contributor: LicentiouslyYours LicentiouslyYours
Quote:
Originally posted by Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme)
I really did! That's awesome.
Wouldn't it be amusing if she were, secretly, the girl you knew all those years ago, writing a story inspired by your experience?
02/08/2011
Contributor: Alan & Michele Alan & Michele
Quote:
Originally posted by LicentiouslyYours
Speaking of cupcakes. Ok, we weren't talking about cupcakes, but we ARE talking about Rachel Kramer Bussel's book tonight and I felt the need to mention that TOMORROW night... she's gonna be on Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the ... more
That ought to be fun to watch! Thanks for the heads-up
02/08/2011
Contributor: Kristina Wright Kristina Wright
Quote:
Originally posted by LicentiouslyYours
There she is! Changing the time always confuses us in one way or another...
No kidding. The baby goes to bed at 6:30, so the 7 time didn't give me a lot of time to do anything and I'd just be messing around on the computer waiting for the discussion. But give an hour and a half... and I can write a story! (Or do dishes and a load of laundry...)
02/08/2011
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Kristina Wright
Lovely! I liked this collection a lot because of the romance. Too often, it feels like lesbian anthologies are strangers-in-the-night or very wham-bam stories. I like a little more relationship development. Not that there's anything wrong with ... more
I loved it so much. I really liked that characters that normally wouldn't be my type, for friendship or relationship, the authors managed to write so well that they really made me fall for em.
02/08/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by LicentiouslyYours
Speaking of cupcakes. Ok, we weren't talking about cupcakes, but we ARE talking about Rachel Kramer Bussel's book tonight and I felt the need to mention that TOMORROW night... she's gonna be on Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the ... more
That's so freaking awesome!
02/08/2011
Contributor: bzzingbee bzzingbee
I have about 3 stories left in Best Lesbian Romance, my review should be up tonight as well! Definitely different than I expected but I am really enjoying it.
02/08/2011
Contributor: Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme) Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme)
Quote:
Originally posted by Kynky Kytty
Yes, it's the first time I read a collection of stories focussed on romance, and previously, it was usually the hint of romance (that makes you go awww) in the other books that made them more special (remember I read books about bondage, ... more
It was funny - I was initially turned off by the romance/couples angle. I love the way Rachel's anthologies normally have a 'theme' and this seemed kind of pedestrian - but I was pleasantly surprised. The quality of the story and the writing always wins out; that's what makes a story truly erotic - not the kink.
02/08/2011
Contributor: bzzingbee bzzingbee
Quote:
Originally posted by Emma (Girl With Fire)
I loved it so much. I really liked that characters that normally wouldn't be my type, for friendship or relationship, the authors managed to write so well that they really made me fall for em.
I agree, the characters really come to life in these stories.
02/08/2011
Contributor: Kristina Wright Kristina Wright
Quote:
Originally posted by Kynky Kytty
Yes, it's the first time I read a collection of stories focussed on romance, and previously, it was usually the hint of romance (that makes you go awww) in the other books that made them more special (remember I read books about bondage, ... more
That's good to hear! (Says she who is editing erotic romance anthologies...)
02/08/2011
Contributor: LicentiouslyYours LicentiouslyYours
Quote:
Originally posted by Kristina Wright
Lovely! I liked this collection a lot because of the romance. Too often, it feels like lesbian anthologies are strangers-in-the-night or very wham-bam stories. I like a little more relationship development. Not that there's anything wrong with ... more
This one was a challenge for me. I enjoyed the stories, but my taste in erotica does tend to lean more toward harder-edged stuff. I have to be in the right mood for romance and (as someone might have read somewhere else on the forum) Valentine's "season" makes me a tiny bit anti-romance.

I will probably love love LOVE these books in July.
02/08/2011
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme)
It was funny - I was initially turned off by the romance/couples angle. I love the way Rachel's anthologies normally have a 'theme' and this seemed kind of pedestrian - but I was pleasantly surprised. The quality of the story and the ... more
I agree, I didn't go into my book expecting to be totally awed by it. I was like, meh.... I guess I will go with..... This one? I'm glad I did though that is for damn sure.
02/08/2011
Contributor: Kristina Wright Kristina Wright
Quote:
Originally posted by LicentiouslyYours
Speaking of cupcakes. Ok, we weren't talking about cupcakes, but we ARE talking about Rachel Kramer Bussel's book tonight and I felt the need to mention that TOMORROW night... she's gonna be on Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the ... more
Oh wow, I had no idea!
02/08/2011
Contributor: Kynky Kytty Kynky Kytty
Quote:
Originally posted by Emma (Girl With Fire)
How were the stories? Other than easy to connect to? Were they stereotypical romance?
Of course there are stories about long-term lovers reconnecting in a way that may make you feel like it's stereotypical, but their stories are unique, and it would really be hard for you to know beforehand the connection between the couples.

As an example, there is a couple with a kid struggling with money, going through hard times, which isn't that frequent in erotica. And yes, I'm sure a lot of people will also relate to that.
02/08/2011
Contributor: bzzingbee bzzingbee
Quote:
Originally posted by LicentiouslyYours
This one was a challenge for me. I enjoyed the stories, but my taste in erotica does tend to lean more toward harder-edged stuff. I have to be in the right mood for romance and (as someone might have read somewhere else on the forum) Valentine's ... more
Haha I agree completely with all that you just said. I also tend towards the harder eged stuff and Valentine's is not my favorite time of year.
02/08/2011
Contributor: bzzingbee bzzingbee
Quote:
Originally posted by Kynky Kytty
Of course there are stories about long-term lovers reconnecting in a way that may make you feel like it's stereotypical, but their stories are unique, and it would really be hard for you to know beforehand the connection between the couples. ... more
I love it when I can relate to an aspect of a story, makes me feel more 'in' it when I'm reading, know what I mean?
02/08/2011
Contributor: Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme) Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme)
Quote:
Originally posted by LicentiouslyYours
Wouldn't it be amusing if she were, secretly, the girl you knew all those years ago, writing a story inspired by your experience?
He he. There wasn't much similarity in the story apart from the Land Rover and the moors - we were virginal teens, whereas these two were lovers about to part for the last time. But it was still pretty cool that I could visualize every sight and sound from my personal memory banks!
02/08/2011
Contributor: Kynky Kytty Kynky Kytty
Quote:
Originally posted by Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme)
It was funny - I was initially turned off by the romance/couples angle. I love the way Rachel's anthologies normally have a 'theme' and this seemed kind of pedestrian - but I was pleasantly surprised. The quality of the story and the ... more
This is what most stood out from Passion, the quality of the writing. My favorite one is Autumn Suite, where there is a musical intensity that goes on from the beginning to the end, and I feel like sounds/music are sadly too often forgetten in stories.
02/08/2011
Contributor: Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme) Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme)
Quote:
Originally posted by Emma (Girl With Fire)
I agree, I didn't go into my book expecting to be totally awed by it. I was like, meh.... I guess I will go with..... This one? I'm glad I did though that is for damn sure.
It's almost a pity that erotica and erotic fiction tends to be so niche orientated that people might overlook this title because it isn't about a particular kink.
02/08/2011
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Kynky Kytty
This is what most stood out from Passion, the quality of the writing. My favorite one is Autumn Suite, where there is a musical intensity that goes on from the beginning to the end, and I feel like sounds/music are sadly too often forgetten in ... more
I agree with that. I like writing to play to all of my senses.
02/08/2011
Contributor: Emma (Girl With Fire) Emma (Girl With Fire)
Quote:
Originally posted by Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme)
It's almost a pity that erotica and erotic fiction tends to be so niche orientated that people might overlook this title because it isn't about a particular kink.
You never know. It may become a classic! Just get it on Oprah!
02/08/2011
Contributor: Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme) Champagne and Benzedrine (Roland Hulme)
Quote:
Originally posted by Kynky Kytty
This is what most stood out from Passion, the quality of the writing. My favorite one is Autumn Suite, where there is a musical intensity that goes on from the beginning to the end, and I feel like sounds/music are sadly too often forgetten in ... more
That's really interesting! I guess it appealed to you in the same way the the Land Rover / England story appealed to me. Part of what makes erotic exciting is inserting new and exciting emotional and sexual aspects into things that you are passionate and familiar with, like music in Autumn Suite, or cars and moors and British Rail in No Risk, No Reward.
02/08/2011