There is so much that can go wrong in a book of erotica.
The stories can be either mind-numbingly repetitive or
so "out there" that few readers can relate, even in
fantasy. The word choice can be excessively crude or such
purple prose that it inspires laughter more than anything
else. And so on. However, IRRESISTIBLE does a nice job of
avoiding the problems in modern erotica anthologies.
Instead, it brings together a bunch of short stories
primarily about long-term couples. In addition, several
works weave in interesting themes about relationships and
personalities that are refreshing.
Janine Ashbless's "Repaint the Night" appears to be a
sweet, sexy romp in a hayfield until it reveals so much
more. Alyssa Turner's "Hypocrites" is fascinatingly
written, demonstrating how little we know about others'
private lives, even if we think we know everything. The
writing style used for it, snippets of flashbacks and
narrative combined with present day, is well done and
fascinating. Elizabeth Coldwell's "The Pact"'s uniqueness
is not so much in the plot itself, as that's fairly
expected once the foundation is set, but in how well the
work is written and how sweetly it takes the reader where
it is headed. Rachel Kramer Bussell's "Exposing Calvin"
provides a nice combination of sweet intimacy and sexy
escapade, particularly in the exposition depicting the
couple's relationship. Kris Adams' "Six Eyes, Two Ears"
slowly develops into something intricately satisfying in
the themes beneath the work. Finally, Delilah
Night's "Renewal" is just brilliant on so many levels,
particularly the development of the protagonist.
In this new collection of erotica, Rachel Kramer Bussel,
has
gathered couples\' most popular fantasies and created a
sizzling, no-holds-barred series of explicit encounters in
which couples turn their deepest desires into reality.
These
powerfully written stories meld the nasty and the sweet to
fill 24 hours of sex—fom early morning wake-up calls,
through mid-afternoon quickies, to late evening romps,
Irresistible is filled with sex around the clock. Featuring
work by Cole Riley, Delilah Night, Justine Elyot and many
more including the editor herself, Rachel Kramer Bussel.