Stephen King said, "If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that." As a fledgling writer, I take his words to heart. Those who know me best, my hubby for example, would wonder why I'm even worried about it. I read ALL of the time. In fact, I buy my purses based on the fact they can hold a standard sized paperback--and also my Kindle of course. Crazy, floppy hat-wearing lady in the grocery store line with her nose buried in a book? That's me. But the thing is, though I've read some erotica books over the years, it's not really my go-to genre. Okay, it's not my genre at all. I generally prefer traditional romances. I need plot. I need developed characters I can care about and cheer for. I need emotion! I'm all for the smokin' hot steamy scenes-- but only after I've invested in the characters. Stories that center only on the physical don't do much for me. That being said, when I can find an author that delivers a unique and fascinating plot, complex characters, and erotic sensual scenes- KA-CHING, Jackpot! A few authors immediately spring to mind: Kresley Cole and her Immortals After Dark Series, Anne Stuart's Ice Series (whew, ain't nothin' cold about her smexy scenes), and pretty much anything by Susan Elizabeth Philips. These ladies all know how to captivate their readers with sexy goodness ... but they're not considered erotica authors. As someone attempting to write romantic erotica short stories, I've made an effort these last months to seek out books solidly labeled 'erotica'- a gal needs to do her homework after all, right Mr. King? I'll be honest, I haven't liked all or even most of what I've found-- but here's one I did like, and wanted to share it with you.
Nalini Singh's Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1) is an enthralling, erotic read. Set a hundred years in the future, Ms. Singh's universe includes several races of supernatural beings existing in a delicate political climate. The Psys look human, but they possess immense psychic abilities, including a constant state of telepathy with one another-- a 'hive mind' if you will. They're taught cold logic and conformity; in fact, as a race they've outlawed emotion. Damaged Psys, those who still have feelings, are forced to go through reconditioning 'treatments' that leave them walking vegetables with brains for mush. Enter Sascha Duncan, a Psy bursting with emotion and using nearly every bit of her strength to shield it from others lest she suffer a living death. A political turn of events leads Sascha to have daily encounters with a Changeling leader- a wolf shifter, Lucas Hunter. Changelings operate almost solely on emotion, on the animal instinct that guides them. Right away Lucas knows there's something different about Sascha, and though he is cautious of her kind, his inner wolf demands she is his.
I adored Singh's universe building-- perhaps that even more than the love story kept me engrossed. But the romance was well done, very well done. Most of the steamy scenes were dream sequences, HOT, and a creative way to showcase a character with psychic abilities. In my opinion this book is a boon to the erotica genre. I give it a hearty four and a half mugs!
Nalini Singh's Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1) is an enthralling, erotic read. Set a hundred years in the future, Ms. Singh's universe includes several races of supernatural beings existing in a delicate political climate. The Psys look human, but they possess immense psychic abilities, including a constant state of telepathy with one another-- a 'hive mind' if you will. They're taught cold logic and conformity; in fact, as a race they've outlawed emotion. Damaged Psys, those who still have feelings, are forced to go through reconditioning 'treatments' that leave them walking vegetables with brains for mush. Enter Sascha Duncan, a Psy bursting with emotion and using nearly every bit of her strength to shield it from others lest she suffer a living death. A political turn of events leads Sascha to have daily encounters with a Changeling leader- a wolf shifter, Lucas Hunter. Changelings operate almost solely on emotion, on the animal instinct that guides them. Right away Lucas knows there's something different about Sascha, and though he is cautious of her kind, his inner wolf demands she is his.
I adored Singh's universe building-- perhaps that even more than the love story kept me engrossed. But the romance was well done, very well done. Most of the steamy scenes were dream sequences, HOT, and a creative way to showcase a character with psychic abilities. In my opinion this book is a boon to the erotica genre. I give it a hearty four and a half mugs!
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