I Dream of Dancing was just a lovely story, a character-driven romance that's full of relationship drama, but with the promise of fulfillment ahead. GI Dream of Dancing was just a lovely story, a character-driven romance that's full of relationship drama, but with the promise of fulfillment ahead. Gwen Leonhard has a wonderful style of writing that makes the story feel immediate and intense, with so many curious aspects of magic and mythology simply taken for granted, rather than being dwelled upon to the point of distraction.
The character arc of Acelina is delightful, even with her pain, trauma, and transition. She's hurt others and been hurt herself, but all as part of finding herself and coming out as herself. Admitting her feelings for Florence means risking rejection and possibly ruining a friendship, but it's something she's ready to do. As for Florence, she welcomes the potential for romance, but she's afraid of being hurt as Acelina's lovers have been in the past. There's jealousy and anxiety intertwined in both their feelings, but while so many authors create an artificial catalyst for unnaturally leaping past such an obstacle, Leonard takes the time to work through it naturally, forcing the characters to talk . . . to think . . . and to feel.
Watching these two women come together, explore their feelings, and choose to risk what they've had for what they could have is fabulous. Instead of racing through the date to get to bed, the story immerses itself in the date, makes the date the point of the story, and allows the reader to empathize and identify with both women. The longer the night went on, the more I wanted to know about them both, and when it comes time for the kiss . . . perfection!
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of the story, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of the story, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of the story, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of the story, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
Whenever you pick up a new Donna Jay novel, you know you're in for a fantastic read. There are certain things she does very well - realistic characterWhenever you pick up a new Donna Jay novel, you know you're in for a fantastic read. There are certain things she does very well - realistic characters, convincing drama, genuine relationships, and fabulous friends - that you can always count on. Then, of course, there are the things you don't know - the erotica-to-romance ratio, the lesbian/bisexual mix, and the nature of the subtle but well-orchestrated themes - that are so much fun to discover.
Wednesday Nights is one of her lovers-to-friends romances, and I loved how proudly and confidently it moves from casual sex and exploratory BDSM kink, uncomplicated by feelings, to the first realizations of romance. The titular nights were never supposed to be about anything more than no-strings-attached intimacy, but Haylee and Angela are so perfectly paired, it's not a question of if they'll get together but when.
Tied up in all of that are a variety of themes, the most powerful of which revolve around the give-and-take of a relationship, pleasing others versus pleasing yourself, perceptions of ethical non-monogamy, and the interplay of caring for others and not wanting to be a burden. I mentioned subtle, and that's part of what Donna always does so well. The themes are there, inescapable by the end of the story, but you never feel like she's stretching to make a point.
There's also an element of storytelling and roleplaying to the story that I thought was lovely, giving it an air of romantic fantasy that plays very well against some of the more sorrowful dramas of real life. I wasn't quite sure where the story was going to end up, but I was entirely delighted with how it found its HEA.
Leather, Lace, and Locs is a wonderful book that works on so many different levels. It’s a story of gender (female and nonbinary), race (Women of ColoLeather, Lace, and Locs is a wonderful book that works on so many different levels. It’s a story of gender (female and nonbinary), race (Women of Color), relationships (families, friendships, and lovers), ambition (personal and professional), sexuality (lesbian and bisexual), and more. Anne Shade doesn’t rush her story, but instead allows it to develop over a couple of years, dropping in and out of the characters’ lives to show us how they’ve grown.
The story allows us time to get to know Melissa, Golden, and Zoe as women first, to understand where they’ve come from, and to appreciate what they mean to one another. They’re strong, passionate, empowered women, all of whom are on the cusp of change. By the time romance enters the story, we’re already connected to them all, so we’re immediately invested in the relationships that do develop.
As much as I loved the women, I loved the diversity of this story even more. We see Melissa discover an inner strength she didn’t know she had as a professional dominatrix, with a nonbinary client tempting her to take professional personal. Golden walks away from a steady job to pursue her dreams of dancing, building her own burlesque studio, all while she anxiously navigates the temptation of a polyamorous relationship with two women she’s afraid to admit she loves. And then there’s Zoe, who meets a woman through her hair salon who quickly shifts from client to friend to lover, but with a lot of baggage to be sorted. They’re all wonderful story threads but, for me, Golden was the heart and soul of the story, and seeing her find happiness made me happy.
As with any HEA romance, there’s no real drama or suspense in wondering if the women of Leather, Lace, and Locs will find love, but the joy of discovering how they find love is exquisite. Just an altogether lovely read.
A Liaison with Her Leading Lady was pitched as "a love story onstage" but I found it to be weighted too much on the stage than on the love for me. It A Liaison with Her Leading Lady was pitched as "a love story onstage" but I found it to be weighted too much on the stage than on the love for me. It was an interesting read, and I enjoyed learning more about the in-and-outs of what goes on behind the scenes to keep a theater troupe running, but I came for the romance. That was somehow both too-slow-burn and too-quick-instalove at the same time, more about lust and desperation than an actual relationship, and it didn't help that neither Ruth nor Artemis was particularly interesting....more
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of the story, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
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