REVIEW: Book Lovers: Sexy Stories from Under the Covers by Shawna Kenney

Source: Netgalley
Publish Date: March 25, 2014
Publisher: Seal Press
ASIN/ISBN: 9781580055291
Format: ebook
Genre: Adult, Anthology
Pages: 256
Date Read: January 2, 2014

Description
Forget poorly written prose and clichéd love scenes: Book Lovers answers the call for sexy literature with substance. This collection of toe-curling tales written by and for word-worshippers offers well-crafted fiction and creative nonfiction that connects literature to libido. From a Vonnegut-inspired tryst to an imaginary ménage à trois with Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin, the book encompasses a veritable buffet of literary fantasies.

Whether they’re conjuring Junot Díaz between the sheets or dreaming of a modern-day enactment of Wuthering Heights —this time refusing Edgar in favor of lusty, bodice-ripping nights with Heathcliff—the stories in Book Lovers are designed for readers’ brains and bodies.

Includes contributions from Izabella St. James, Slash Coleman, Trina Calderón, Cara Bruce, and Stephanie Auteri.

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Review
This is an interesting anthology. There are about 23 short stories but only 4 really stick out in my mind.

All are well-written. Some are hot [ A to Z by Kristina Wright , some are disturbing [An Ode to Ass-Lick Park by Assia Fengari ], a few left me confused [The Wolf by Amy Halloran and Marcoby Laurie Stone], and the rest just didn't do anything for me.

There's love, lust, long lost love, reminiscing, longing, fantasies, cheating. There's bittersweet stories, surprising stories, weird stories and hot stories. The thing that all the stories have in common is books.

I skimmed over a few because I couldn't get into it and some I reread.

Most of it isn't explicit which is good in my opinion.

My favourites are Ana Maria by Michelle Cruz Gonales, Whom by Jeremy Edwards and Smut by Jay Xuret.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read

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Like the title suggests, those one is for book lovers especially if you like a little bit (or a lot of smut)

3 Stars

Goodreads

Feature: Secret Histories: Stories of Courage, Risk and Revelation

The Book

“Step into the secret lives of 25 writers . . . and witness the stories that shape us.

Open the pages of Secret Histories to explore pivotal experiences in the lives of 25 writers. Share a life-or-death moment as a woman hitchhiker faces an angry, explosive driver.
Climb to a sacred Tibetan mountain pass on a pilgrimage to renewal—and discover the cost of choosing life as a healer. Witness grief mixed with deep joy as a sister chooses to be her dying brother's caretaker. Flinch at a young woman’s shock as she discovers her father is a CIA spook. Watch the world shrink into a nightmare existence through the eyes of a young Japanese-American girl imprisoned in an American concentration camp during World War II.

These are just a few of the intimate life events that make SECRET HISTORIES an unforgettable collection of stories.
As each of the 25 contributing writers peels back layers of experiences either momentary or long-term, their individual stories form a powerful web of understanding, acceptance and love,”

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It’s been exciting to be part of process from conception to publication. We watched “our baby” grow as stories were crafted, some from mere ideas, to polished perfected stories. They wove together into a beautiful tapestry of compelling, heartfelt, sometimes riveting and always truthful personal testimonies-our anthology.

We received the following glowing endorsements from two New York Times best-selling authors Kim Barnes and Clair Dederer.
"These gifted and generous authors bring to the page courage, risk, and revelation, but also something much larger. By breaking the silence, they allow us to believe that we are not alone in our wonderments, failures, and confusions. They give us permission to share our own stories, to leave a map of true experience so that others might find their way." - Kim Barnes; Author of In the Wilderness: Coming of Age in Unknown Country

Claire Dederer, author of Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses
“These gifted and generous authors bring to the page courage, risk, and revelation, but also something much larger. By breaking the silence, they 
allow us to believe that we are not alone in our wonderments, failures, and confusions. They give us permission to share our own stories, to leave a map of true experience so that others might find their way.”

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Excerpt

Tell Me a Story” by Kathy Opie

An Italian immigrant grandmother enchants her young granddaughter with stories of the Old Country and coming to America. Forty years later, the granddaughter learns that many of the stories were false and has to come to terms with why her Nonna lied.

Book Links
Amazon || Facebook || SoundCloud || Twitter (@secrethistorie1) || Website

About Kathy Opie
Kathy Opie has been published in the Northwest Sarcoma Foundation Newsletter and the Go4theGoal Pediatric Cancer Foundation Newsletter, as well as Northwest Cable News.
She is currently working on a book for caregivers and writes a blog. Learn more at www.alittlesomethingtochewon.com.
She also writes YA book reviews for Goodreads and co-writes a weekly newsletter for her company. Kathy has an M.S. in Psychology and M.Ed. in Educational Psychology.

Author Links
Facebook || Twitter (@kathy_opie) || Website