Cleis Press produces some truly stunning erotica anthologies, but perhaps none so jet-setting as Mile High Club. A collection of 19 stories set in, on or around airplanes, it explores a series of scenarios that sees couples, threesomes and moresomes getting down while they're flying high - earning membership to the legendary ranks of those who've 'done the deed' at 5,000 feet or more.

It's a bold move to publish a book that's so specific - but this is something that's worked well for Cleis in the past. Whether it works quite so well this time is up for debate - books with an emphasis on spanking, voyeurism or domination tend to appeal to the sexual aspects of a specific fetish. Mile High Club is more about the location; and therefore the adventures you read about might be hit and miss depending on what pushes your buttons.

That being said, editor Rachel Kramer Bussel has done a terrific job selecting stories. I've found that even with Cleis books, there tend to be one or two 'duds' in the anthology - but I was thoroughly impressed by all the writing in Mile High Club. Some of it was deliciously visceral - a fleeting mention of a prim passenger shuffling past and accidentally (or on purpose) flashing her La Senza underwear got my pulse racing even before the explicit action started.

If I do have a criticism, it's one that's shared with many erotica anthologies; but exacerbated with Mile High Club. Erotica is all about fantasy, but somehow I had trouble suspending my disbelief this time around. I think it was my own intimate knowledge of airline travel and puttering about in fixed-wing Cessnas that raised a prickle of doubt during some of the more exciting moments.

There was one sexy scene in which a pilot was blindfolded - and my anal-retentive, sensible side just found that a little too much. Many of the stories involved getting it on in full view of other passengers (perhaps with a blanket to cover the crime) but the explicit, visceral nature of the description jarred with the reality of the situation, in which subtlety and discretion would be needed.

But perhaps that's more a reflection on me - my reluctance to immerse myself fully into the fantasy.

I'm a fan of planes, travel and sex; so I knew that Mile High Club would be a good match for me. It didn't disappoint, even though I wasn't as entirely thrilled with the compilation as I'd have liked. Ultimately, though, I think that's more a reflection on my own personal quirks than anything negative about this anthology. Fantasy is always the name of the game in erotica; but those of us who don't quite abandon ourselves to that fantasy are doing it a disservice.

Aspects that really impressed me, though, included the broad scope of sexual shenanigans going on - most of the action was heterosexual, but there were aspects of gay sexuality at play including a kinky little threesome in a puddle-jumper that saw two guys and a girl get it on in every possible permutation.

The aspect of safe sex - something that doesn't always lend itself to erotica, but which Cleis are resolutely responsible about including - was also handled with aplomb. I'll admit it took me out of my 'zone' at times; but I like the way that Cleis try and normalize safe sex even in an environment in which they're not required to.