The erotic fiction we carry can be split into several categories.
First, there are compilations of short stories, written with specific erotic themes and content, including distinct plots and character development. We carry well-written collections that are often edited by women and feature stories that are intended to appeal to the readers' minds and libidos.
For those of you looking for erotica that is more romantic and couple-oriented, we recommend the collections edited by Lonnie Barbach PhD, including Pleasures: Women write Erotica, Erotic Interludes, and The Erotic Edge: 22 Erotic Stories for Couples. These feature soft scenarios, with lots of erotic connection and closeness in addition to explicit sex scenes. We also recommend the erotica written by Anais Nin - poetic tales of lust, fulfillment and betrayal with the most excellent writing you'll find in erotic fiction. If you want luscious stories with heat and passion, try the Best Black Women's Erotica collections, Wanderlust: Erotic Travel Tales, After Hours: Erotic writings by black men, and Ripe Fruit:Erotica for well-seasoned lovers.
Are you seeking well-written erotic stories, but want more adventurous tales of bisexual and heterosexual women? Go in the direction of the Herotica, Best Women's Erotica and theBest American Erotica collections. These feature women and men exploring a wide range of sexual experiences; group sex, sex with strangers, sex with other women, dominance & submission (there is less of that in the Herotica books, but a few stories with SM content do appear) and lots of toy play. Violet Blue's Lips Like Sugar is a good example of a spicier erotic story collection, too.
What if you want a longer story to give the sex scenes more context? There are lots of erotic novels available, some fairly well-written, and some clearly just written as vehicles for the erotic adventures of the heroine. Joan Elizabeth Lloyd, who writes some great books for couples who want to spice up their sex lives, has several erotic novels with likeable heroines, fun stories, and great sex scenes. Try The Price of Pleasure. We also particularly like the books by Emma Holly, including Cooking Up A Storm, Menage, and Velvet Glove. Some have dominance & submission themes, some are historical, and some are modern stories of daring and adventure.
In this same vein, although definitely NOT from women's perspectives alone, are the many collections of Victorian erotica (found in our store, but not on our web site). Lush language and wildly improbable situations make these "smutty" collections of stories a fun way to get hot and bothered without turning on your brain.
If Dominance & Submission, Bondage, corsetry, and sensation play are your interests, there are lots of books, many quite well-written, that have these themes. Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty trilogy is a set of three novels that draw the reader into the awakening and sexual enslavement of Beauty. Another great BDSM-themed series is the Marketplace series by Laura Antoniou, which features very well-written novels with strong BDSM and sexual slavery themes. The Story of O is a classic tale of one woman's complete sexual submission, and it remains lyrical and entrancing in its storytelling. Many people tell us that it allowed them to admit a submissive side of themselves they had never before recognized.
Looking for lesbian or gay erotica? You'll find mostly short story collections out there, especially if you want something that is well-written. For romantic, softer lesbian stories, choose those written or edited by Tee Corinne and Leslea Newman. If you want a lot of variety, with a bit of an edge, then the Best Lesbian Erotica or Ultimate Lesbian Erotica series will satisfy that craving. For good stories with lots of heat, we like the books edited by Nicole Foster: Show and Tell and Ultimate Lesbian Erotica. For those who love the story of first lesbian love & sex, the Early Embraces series of books presents these in yummy detail.
There is a wide world of erotic writing, and the best way to learn about it is to pick up a couple of different types of books and start reading. Hopefully you'll find yourself tickled in more than one way. Then, when you know what you like, we can help you find more of the same.
The Sex Counselor
