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Tuesday, December 02, 2008:
"Free Pass" by Elizabeth Scott (2008)
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade (December 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451225031
ISBN-13: 978-0451225030 Six friends. Three couples. One sexy adventure. These three couples have shared good times with each other as friends. But as they celebrate their seven-year anniversaries, they’re planning to share some even better times—with strangers… Vacationing in Miami, Cherisse and Wesley are up for more than sunbathing, when Wesley spies a naughty lady through his telescope and Cherisse focuses her gaze on the lifeguard. Meanwhile, Melanie passes on the hot men at her health club and chooses a private workout with an out-of-towner. When her husband accidentally walks in on them, it’s anything goes. And at their rental in Greece, Debra and Gordon discover a Russian couple making love in a private show just for them. For the restless Americans it’s quite a come-on—and an irresistible invitation…
This is the story of three girlfriends, all married, who are each about to celebrate their 7-year wedding anniversary. Melanie, owner of a healthclub with her husband, brings the subject up, reminding her friends Cherisse and Debra that there's a valid reason behind the concept of the seven year itch, and brings up the idea of a "free pass", the opportunity for each person to have a sexual interlude with someone outside the marriage and not have it held against them. At first the other two women are skeptical as they are all happy in their marriages and see no reason to court trouble. But Melanie explains that a "free pass" would add an element of excitement and spice to their marriages, and prevent the possibility of their husbands being bored with them later on. And it's not just for their men's benefit; Melanie stresses that each of the women should indulge themselves as well. After further discussion, each of the three women decides to discuss the idea with their spouses. Cherisse and her husband Wesley are taking a two-week vacation to Miami, and Cherisse tells him that if he agrees to her idea, this would be the perfect opportunity to live out a forbidden fantasy: sex with someone other than each other. Debra and Gordon are celebrating their anniversary in the sensual paradise of Greece, and both agree that the attitude and freeness of this beautiful country is the perfect setting to experiment. Meanwhile Melanie is tied to the healthclub while her manager is on maternity leave, and must settle for a close-to-home encounter. All three couples have feelings of reluctance to participate in such scandalous behavior, mainly because they are all very happy in their marriages, and they seem rather determined to take their free pass and get the whole experience over with quickly. Yet also to their surprise the wickedness of what they were about to do was also very exciting, arousing, and because each person involved gave full disclosure of what their intentions were, it served to create an atmosphere of acceptance. At first the way the concept was explained and carried out seemed rather distasteful, but as the pages turned, it became apparent that as each couple shared their misgivings and insecurities, it stopped being a story of three couples cheating on their spouses and became something a little more emotional than that. While naughty and sexual, it was really the connection between each pair that made the story interesting. Essentially they were engaging in adulterous behavior with the consent of their loving spouse, and none of the individuals involved had any regrets when it was all over. In fact it seemed to bring them closer together, almost as if this exercise served as a reminder of just how fortunate they are to have each other. I found this book to be more enjoyable in an emotional sense than I was expecting, but less so in the whole "free pass" fantasy idea. I didn't quite buy into the reasoning why they agreed to it in the first place, mainly because of the misgivings on each person's part that didn't completely go away. The whole experience came across as stilted and unconvincing because even though none of them wallowed in guilt or feelings of betrayal, their actions felt forced. Now I will say the sexual encounters were rather erotic and earthy at times, disappointing and somewhat cold at others, which I found to be very believable considering each person's comfort level with what was actually happening. Overall though, I will also say that I found the outcome of the book to be very satisfying My thoughts: It's no secret I love erotic romance, and I always think it should be sexy,enjoyable, and really hot. I admit that like most people I'm not comfortable with adultery, but in this case, I was able to set my feelings aside because it was agreed upon by the spouses, and full disclosure was involved from the very beginning. That being said, I thought the reason for the "free pass" - to avoid the possibility of their spouses leaving them later - was not one that I could buy into. I felt it was proposed for the wrong reason, instead of just about fulfilling a sexy fantasy between spouses. If that was the reason, then I could have accepted and enjoyed much more readily. However, because each woman took the time to discuss it with the husbands, I appreciated the honesty and thought that went into making this experience as believable as possible. I also could understand that each person had a different level of acceptance about it. But overall, I prefer my erotic romance to be less conflicted.
So yes there were a lot of wonderful qualities about this story - the close relationships each person had with their partner, their trust and commitment to each other, and their deep abiding love. I just didn't feel that they needed to spice up their marriages in this way, not for the reasons given. Most of the steamy sex was very much just that. I had no problems with most of it, though one of the couples - Debra and Gordie - participated in a tryst with another married couple and the whole situation left me feeling unsettled. It wasn't really horrible, it just wasn't very sexy to me. But of course that's because everyone has a different idea of what turns them on. This encounter did not. So I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys their erotic romance with more of a conscience and doesn't just settle for carefree and casual escapades. That's the only way I can explain it. And I must say that I just really loved this cover - very sexy. It evokes images of hot encounters at the beach.
Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: Elizabeth Scott
posted by Stacy~ at 12/02/2008 05:19:00 AM
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Tuesday, October 30, 2007:
Contest: sharing memories to win....
I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had an extra copy of Elizabeth Scott's "Spin the Bottle" and I decided to use it for a contest. But then I had trouble figuring out what kinda contest. I like to ask questions and find out more about the people who blog here, so then it hit me: Spin the Bottle was/is a naughty game you usually play in high school, or college. I thought it would be fun to talk about your favorite games you played as a kid.
I remember "Kiss and Kill" from grade school, where the boys chased the girls and either knocked them down or kissed them. I always wished Jason W. would kiss me, but he never did. Needless to say, I was knocked down a lot LOL.
Then there was Dodge Ball, with two bowling pins for each team - if both pins are knocked down or all the players on one team are eliminated, the other team wins. Now I might not be all that athletic, but I can play a mean game of Dodge Ball. One year, the 5th graders played the 6th graders, and I, on the 5th grade team, caught the ball and won for our team. What a shining moment. What were your favorite games? Ever play spin the bottle? Did you enjoy it?
Contest will run through Friday, November 2nd, at 7pm CST.
Good Luck! Labels: contests, Elizabeth Scott
posted by Stacy~ at 10/30/2007 05:35:00 AM
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Tuesday, October 16, 2007:
"Spin the Bottle" Elizabeth Scott (October 2, 2007)
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade (October 2, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0451222164
ISBN-13: 978-0451222169
Three sexy couples on a getaway weekend. Consider the possibilities...
Hot...Rena and Paul are respected corporate big shots. But behind their clean-cut image is a down and dirty fantasy that drives Rena wild-being a slave to the anything-goes sexual demands of her merciless master.
Hotter...Jackie and Rod's marriage ended a decade ago. Now they're together again, each with a fantasy that could tear them apart once more. Unless they bare their souls and admit what they really want from each other.
Hottest...Ed and Charmaine's sex life is already thrilling. Then they come upon the stimulating medical instruments that belonged to Ed's great uncle. So many cold hard toys. So much potential. So many ways to play doctor.
Having read and enjoyed Scott's "Naughty Housewives", I was eager to get this new anthology of forbidden fantasies. Some of the stories involved fantasies that did not rank in my top 10, probably not even in my top 100, but there's no denying that the stories were compelling and seductive in their own way. Warning: not for the faint of heart.
In "Master of the House", Rena is tired of always being the one in charge at work, and just once would like someone to take the responsibility from her and make all the decisions. Having shared her secret fantasy with her husband Paul while during a naughty game of "Spin the Bottle" with some close friends, she has no idea that Paul will decide to give her exactly what she asks for, maybe in a way she never anticipated, but soon finds she craves.
Part of the submission/domination fantasy appeals to me, but not the way it was written in this story. I've been never gotten into the punishment scenario, or the withholding of sexual pleasure so only the dom is fulfilled, though maybe that is part of the whole fantasy for the sub - to not achieve release until the dom allows it to happen, whenever that may be. Scott never goes deeply into the humilation aspect of it, though a bit of it is shown here, enough to comprehend how these types of physical relationships are supposed to work. While it's not a situation that appeals to me, there were moments during the story that drew me in despite my aversion, and I found myself accepting the storyline because it was obviously a fantasy shared by both Rena and Paul, one they both enjoyed playing out together. In that way, the story ended up making sense, and I appreciated a glimpse into the lifestyle, and how it can be pleasurable to consenting adults.
In "Your Place or Mine", Rod and Jackie are enjoying marriage the second time around. Too immature and selfish to work on their marriage years ago, this time the couple are determined to work on their relationship and being as open and as honest as they possibly can. Playing a sexy game where they reveal their deepest secrets brings even more truth to the marriage, until both Rod and Jackie decide to do something about it. Rod tells Jackie he fantasizes about having sex with women who are strangers, then walking away. He has no idea that Jackie will try to make his dream a reality, nor the lengths he's willing to go to to prove to his lovely wife that she really is his fantasy woman.
This story worked for me moreso than any of the others, though there were moments that made me uncomfortable and reluctant to admit thay I actually enjoyed what was happening. Ms. Scott totally blows some pre-conceived notions I've had out of the water, and makes me look at this scenario in a new light, while almost forcing me to come to terms with my own previous thoughts on acting out sex with a stranger, though most scenes strictly involve the hero and heroine. The biggest plus to this story, as well as the others, is the level of caring and respect each person has for their partner, and the complete trust and love that frees them to explore their sexuality together in a mutually satisfying way. The events actually bring the couple closer, and strenghen their marriage when they give each other complete trust.
"Doctor, Doctor" was probably the most confusing story for me, as it was more clinical, quite literally yet also figuratively, than the others. Good girl Charmaine confesses to her sexy husband Ed that she imagines being a sex goddess, one that craves sex and cannot get enough. Ed finds his dear wife to be beautiful both inside and out, and cannot imagine why she can't see that about herself, but she's convinced she's boring, and needs to keep the home fires burning to keep her husband interested in her. When the opportunity to indulge in Charmaine's fantasy presents itself, Ed decides to show his wife just how irresistible she is, especially to him.
Okay, there were some parts that had me squeamish in this story, as Ed pretends to be a doctor to his wife, the patient, and administer the cure for her condition. Loving his wife as he does, he wants to push her to accept what she feels, and to fulfill the fantasy she claims is her most secret desire. Yet the lovely blonde shocks her husband when she reveals what it is she truly wants, and wonders if he's ready to share it with her.
This anthology is probably more closely linked to earlier erotica instead of the more current erotic romance so popular today. A bit more clinical and cerebral, the sexual journeys for these three married couples open doors to a deeper understanding of what drives them, whether past insecurities or present responsibilities. While each of the marriages are strong and happy, it goes to show that even as time goes by, couples can learn to communicate more clearly and truly share the deepest part of themselves with their partner. Marriage truly is a work in progress, one that should never be neglected, but instead nurtured and cared for all the days of their lives, especially when dreams change over the course of a relationship.
I admit I enjoyed "Naughty Housewives" more, but still got something out of this naughty anthology, even if not all of the fantasies were my cup of tea. It's the commitment each partner in the couple showed for each other that completely convinced me to keep on reading. The book may not be for everyone, but it's definitely tantalizing in its own way. Stay tuned for your chance to win a copy of "Spin the Bottle" Labels: Elizabeth Scott, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 10/16/2007 05:33:00 AM
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Sunday, June 03, 2007:
Elizabeth Scott gets "Naughty"
Janice Maynard/Elizabeth Scott
Recently a favorite author of mine, Janice Maynard, revealed that she also writes more erotic material under the pen name of Elizabeth Scott. I was understandably thrilled since I already enjoyed Janice's books, and knowing she wrote the naughty stuff I like so much made me one happy little camper, let me tell you. Janice, being Elizabeth (and still the Janice I admire) let me pester her into doing an interview, and this is what she had to say about her venture into steamy territory..... (And check out my first interview ever, which happened to be with Janice Maynard...as Janice). S ~ There's lots of talk about the sexy stories that are published today, calling it everything from erotica to erotic romance to porn. How would you define the stories that you write? Or do you prefer to let others come to their own conclusions? ES: Labels can help or hurt a book, I think. My Janice Maynard books are very classic boy-meets-girls stories with traditional happy endings. But the sexuality does not stop at the bedroom door. Think hot, hot, hot! They are filled with playful sexual fantasy as well. In my Elizabeth Scott books, the hero and heroine are already together. I consider them very romantic, but the central axis of the story is not the initial falling in love phase… instead, it’s about how the couple explores intimacy and what they learn about each other in the process. If you want a label, I would call it romantic erotica. S ~ What is the biggest challenge in writing stories that are centered around sexual fantasies? ES: One of the biggest challenges in writing stories about sexual fantasies is that I am aware not all my readers will be "turned on" by the same things. But that said, I do believe that many female fantasies are based on some universal images. S ~ In "Naughty Housewives" (which I enjoyed very much I might add), the couples in your stories are married couples who are using their fantasies to bring them closer together emotionally, specifically a woman's fantasies. Yet you also don't shy away from the woman saying "no" if she's not into it. It had me wondering about women who are clueless about their desires and/or are afraid to ask for what they want. What are your personal thoughts on that? ES: I am a firm believer in the idea that a relationship where sex is fun and fulfilling is almost certainly going to be a happy one. It’s hard to have a knock-down drag-out fight about money, kids, etc. if you’ve both been intimately involved the night before. I married my best friend, and we have always talked about most anything. But I know some relationships exist where one or both parties are bashful about admitting those things that happen "in the brain". And I have heard the statement that some men are threatened if the woman reveals she fantasizes during sex. It’s difficult to make a hard and fast rule, but I think a woman might be cheating herself and her spouse if she never opens up about her fantasies and what she wants in bed. S ~ Your next release, set for October is "Spin the Bottle". Can you tell us a little bit about it, and where you came up with the idea? ES: My next book, " Spin the Bottle", actually deals with that very idea. The game is used as a silly way to make one or both of the spouses admit to some things they’ve been afraid to share. And the results end up shocking both parties… but in a good way. S ~ Who have been some of your inspirations when it comes to writing the erotic stuff? Any specific writer/book that you strongly connected with? Or a strong female public figure, past or present? ES: I’ve always enjoyed reading Emma Holly… and in college, I read the nonfiction book " My Secret Garden". That was the first time I figured out that ALL women have fantasies. And I was fascinated by the long list of images and scenarios that the women in the book admitted to using as turn ons. Sophia Loren has always seemed like a woman very confident in her sexuality, even as she has aged. I think men find that confidence appealing, even more so that traditional beauty. S ~ Elizabeth, from what I know about you, you're a happily married woman with grown children. What would you like woman of any age range to take away from these sexual stories?
ES: I think that all women of all ages, married or single, should embrace their sexuality, because it is a rich aspect of our life … we were blessed by our Creator with the ability to feel and imagine and wonder and play with all sorts of fun and sexy premises and games. To deny that part of ourselves is to be less than we are.
S ~ Did you have fun writing these stories, or would you say it's more difficult to write such explicit material? What kind of research if any did you do? I'm not talking of a personal nature, but rather if you delved into the psychological aspects or if you researched the popularity of erotic videos, sex toys, etc to make your stories more realistic.
ES: I love writing my Elizabeth Scott books, but they really are difficult and challenging, because they are so intense. My editor asked me once if I had to smoke a cigarette after I finished a chapter. J Did I do much research? – not really. This stuff mostly came out of my head. But I did have to research a bit about the Portland, Oregon light transit system for "Spin the Bottle". And I’ll let your imagination fill in the reason why!
S ~In your experience as a writer, have you experienced readers who feel guilty about enjoying the erotic stories they read? If so, how do you respond to these comments?
ES: I haven’t had any readers tell me they feel guilty about reading erotic stuff. But maybe that’s because the women who feel that way don’t want to admit they’ve read the books.
S ~ Have you gotten any feedback from men that read your stories or are aware of what you write? What has been the reaction from the male population? ES: I have had one very lovely piece of fan mail from a male reader, and it was gratifying for many reasons, mainly because I wrote these books for women. So it was interesting to know that the very things women find arousing seem to "do it" for some guys as well. Which would be an argument for sharing your fantasies with your significant other. I received an e-mail letter from a senior editor at Barnes and Noble in New York (a male). He told me that Naughty Housewives was his new favorite book, having knocked " Ulysses" right off the shelf. There was more to the letter, but he said he had already given the book to his wife to read. I think men love to know what makes us tick. They find us mysterious and convoluted, so when we actually give them a glimpse of our inner selves, they love it, at least most of them do, I’m sure! S ~ Do your kids read your books? How do they feel about the kinds of stories you tell?
ES: My daughters are 23 and 26. Both are happily married. My younger daughter does not read romance, but she’s very proud of what I do. Actually, since she’s only been out of college a year and is going to graduate school in the fall, she does a heck of a lot of reading, but mostly in her studies. My older daughter does read romance, and has read a number of my Janice Maynard books. I don’t think she has read Elizabeth at all, because it might be kind of weird knowing her mother wrote it. But she’s always telling her friends about my writing news and is very supportive.
S ~ Is there any line you are unwilling to cross, or maybe one you just don't feel comfortable exploring? ES: I haven’t done any male/male or female/female… but I think that’s because I don’t feel qualified to write those relationships believably. S ~ What common theme(s) can be found in your stories? ES: I have always been fascinated by what makes a man and a woman fall in love. I LOVE those moments in a story that touch your heart and make you believe in the power of romantic love. Because men and women are so different when it comes to expressing emotion, I love being able to write characters that connect emotionally through physical intimacy. I think men are most able to express how they feel about a woman in physical situations. Women love hearing the tender words and receiving the "mushy" gestures… and men should try to give us that, even if it doesn’t come naturally. But women need to be aware that in the midst of lovemaking a man has let his defenses down, and he may be saying more about the relationship than is immediately apparent. So a theme? Hmmm… how about "physical intimacy can enrich and expand a wonderful, loving relationship." S ~ What are the main differences between a Janice Maynard story and an Elizabeth Scott story?
ES: The main difference between a Janice Maynard and an Elizabeth Scott story is the timeline. Janice writes about the meeting and falling in love and those first hot physical encounters. Elizabeth writes about the exciting things that can happen once that initial commitment is firmly in place and the couple is willing to peel away the layers and get to the real honest stuff.
S ~ Any last thoughts? Naughty words of wisdom? ES: Not all fantasies are meant to be enacted in real life. Most women wouldn’t want them to be. It’s enough to live the "excitement" in our heads or maybe with a trusted partner. And secondly, women are too hung up on physical appearance. Regardless of age, or weight, or physical beauty, a man in a committed, mutually enjoyable intimate relationship will find his mate endlessly appealing if she keeps her sexuality alive and playful and fun. Thanks for your interest in the naughty "Elizabeth"! S ~ No problem! Keep on writing those HAWT books! Read below for a "Naughty" contest where you could win a copy of this first release by Elizabeth Scott!
Labels: author interviews, Elizabeth Scott, Janice Maynard
posted by Stacy~ at 6/03/2007 09:28:00 PM
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Sunday, April 29, 2007:
Naughty Housewives" by Elizabeth Scott (2007)
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade (January 2, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0451220382
ISBN-13: 978-0451220387 Three stories of uninhibited women who won't let marriage put an end to their sex lives.
Shelby has lost trust in her husband, Eric, whose one-night stand put their marriage on the rocks. One thing can save it: tit for tat. All Shelby wants is to even the score. But her perfect fling with a younger man comes with a shocking surprise-especially for Eric.
Lori is a bride with a problem. After only eighteen months, the honeymoon is over. Kent can be a dream between the sheets, but the quickies just aren't cutting it. Until Lori decides to set a new standard in low-down and dirty nights.
Dani has a great new husband in Trevor. Then she finds his nasty little secret-a stash of extreme European erotica. It's terribly forbidden. And totally irresistible. Something this good really needs to be shared.
"Tit for Tat": Shelby's husband Eric has betrayed their marriage vows by having a one-night stand while on a business trip. Consumed with guilt for neglecting her husband in the past, she feels she may have been partially responsible for Eric's actions, but while she wants to fight for her marriage and make it work, she doesn't think she can get past it unless she "evens the score" and sleeps with another man. Eric is understandably devastated, but agrees if it will bring his wife back to him. Not one to put things off, Shelby leaves the house immediately, with no plan other than to find a suitable guy to spend the night with. Eric follows her, not to stop her but to make sure she's safe, and watches as she nervously selects the guy, then takes him to a nearby motel. But what ends up being a cold act of revenge ends up changing their marriage in a way neither of them expected, and bringing them closer together than ever.... "Tuesdays with Lori" : Lori loves her husband and the life they have planned together. Working hard, making sacrifices, it will all be worth it in the end. But after only 18 months of marriage, their sex life has been reduced to tired gropings in the dark, and Lori wants more. Much more. So with Kent's work schedule in mind, she has worked out a plan to liven up the bedroom by having all-out, wild sex on Tuesdays. But first, she has to make Kent want it bad. He has to hunger for her and think of nothing but sex. And she accomplishes just that. Kent loves Lori, but now he craves his hot, little wife like a drug, but he can't touch her for seven (!) days. The sweet, sexy woman he fell in love with has become a hot, addictive witch who fuels his fantasies. The love of his life has truly become the woman of his dreams. "G Marks the Spot" : Sweet, maternal Dani misses her globe-trotting, gorgeous husband, Trevor. After 8 months of marriage, this is their first night apart, and it's been difficult on both of them. Left alone in their home, Dani takes this time to explore the sprawling mansion, and discover all its secrets. While she hoped to learn more about her new husband, she didn't expect to find the collection of extremely sexy DVDs behind a locked door, but now that she has, she has every intention of finding out just what kind of man Trevor is, and if she's woman enough to satisfy his desires. Trevor has always been self-sufficient, ever since his parents divorced and he's had to depend on himself to get through it. Finding Dani has opened up his world to love, and he cherishes more than he ever thought possible. She's always enjoyed their time together in the bedroom, never shying away from his touch, but how will she feel about the sexy movies he likes to watch? Or the locked room in their house? Well, there's really only one way to find out, and Trevor has the key.... What I liked about these stories is that they are about exploring one's fantasies in a loving, devoted relationship, and in this case, that relationship is marriage. I am a huge fan of erotic romance (stress the romance) so that was a major reason for me to pick up the book in the first place. There is humor and affection in each story, which makes the hot, raging sex even better, imo. These stories prove that sex should not end after the wedding, but rather continue to bring couples closer together and give them more confidence about their personal sexuality. In case you missed it: it's okay to fantasize, to want something more, to explore and have fun and feel good about yourself and your body. Elizabeth Scott (aka Janice Maynard) doesn't evade the consenting issue, either. There are certain experiences (i.e. potential anal sex) that make the heroine uncomfortable, and I liked that it wasn't forced on her if she truly didn't want it. Nowadays, you can't find many erotic romances without the (obligatory) anal sex scenes, and certainly not one where the heroine says "no" and means it. I liked that the hero and heroine didn't have to like every single thing that was brought to the table, or to the bedroom. Being game for anything and everything is only sexy if it fits the characters and they really want it. Each of the stories has its own individual fantasies, and it was a refreshing change from many of the cliche'd erotic romance out there. This is my first, but not the last, book from ES. Dang, I love the hot stuff ;) Labels: Elizabeth Scott, Janice Maynard, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 4/29/2007 06:12:00 PM
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