Story Publication: Tale of the Black Sea

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

SIDEWAYS

      
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: 04/05/2005
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh
Run time: 127 minutes
Rating: R
Director: Alexander Payne
 
Often, when our kid is away at a sleepover party or overnight camp, my husband pops Sideways in for a night of good-natured adult humor. I bought the DVD quite randomly at a now defunct Hollywood Video store near our home, and this intelligent, down-to-earth comedy about men, women and sex became our favorite.

Set in the beautiful Southern California wine country is a story of two ordinary men, Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church) on a bachelor trip just before Jack’s wedding. Miles, the intellectual, is depressive and resigned over his recent divorce and struggle to publish his novel. All he wants is to glide through the scenic countryside and escape into first class wine, golf and dining which he hardly can afford. Jack, the flamboyant one, is bent on looking larger than a middling actor well past his modest prime. Seeking a boost, he is eager to sow his wild oats before getting chained to a pretty girl from a wealthy Armenian family. Miles resists the Don-Juanesque slant Jack puts on their journey and freaks out on meeting Maya, a woman he has known and admired for a long while. In turn, much hilarity and drama ensues, as Jack gets some good beating upon conquering one and then another hot chick.

Intellectuality, ignorance, wisdom, stupidity, lust, sentimentality, romance, sadness, depth, superficiality, heartbreak, bravado, crassitude, vulnerability, deceit, integrity – the complexity of the human nature makes the movie sparkle. The dialogue is sharp, and the wine interludes highlight the characterizations. I loved the ending, which was fittingly satisfying but not a generic happy-ever-after.

My rating: Five lilies out of five.

 Available at Amazon.com

Story Publication: Between Iceland and Greenland

My new short erotic story, Between Iceland and Greenland, has been published by Oysters and Chocolate. It is available as a free read here:

 http://oystersandchocolate.com/Stories/2280/BetweenIcelandandGreenland.aspx

Is there any better place for a sex romp than a Boeing cabin, economy class, when the affair might cost the lovers their jobs? Before returning to their offices at rival firms and acting as if there is nothing between them, Karen and Matt cap their secret love weekend in Europe with a hot encounter high above the Atlantic.

Rating: NC-17

On Demand by Justine Elyot

Title: On Demand
Author: Justine Elyot
Rating: NC-17

In the summer heat, what could be better than to retire at night to the coolest room in the house? Opening the window for a refreshing breeze, stretching on a couch and flipping open a book when everyone is already in bed…

Indulgent and titillating, On Demand by Justine Elyot is like a tonic for your imagination. The writing is witty, the personal and sexual quirks of the characters entertain you, and the world of Sophie Martin, a receptionist/siren at a swanky hotel, is liberal and carefree, providing ample space for sex adventure.

Each chapter in the book is a story in itself. The hotel guests’ lustful escapades are punctuated by Sophie’s daring maneuvers to seduce her boss, Mr. Chase. Sophie’s quest culminates not the way you would expect, but she does find her Man (I’m not telling which one!).

If you are looking for strings-free erotica, and not for deep romance, On Demand is just the book.

My rating: five lilies out of five.


Available in print and Kindle format at Amazon.com

Sex in the City - New York, edited by Maxim Jakubowski

Title: Sex in the City - New York
Editor: Maxim Jakubowski
Rating: NC-17

A big city can express its soul in many things: old cathedrals and modern high-rises, street fashions and popular slang, downtown boutiques and fringe supermarkets, theater repertoires and radio broadcasts, sedate libraries and neon nightclubs, to name only a few.

But first and foremost, every metropolis is built up by its past and present denizens, old-timers and newcomers, residents with roots and migrants in transit. Sex and sexuality are a defining part of a human personality, and the same holds true for a big city’s charisma.

This book in the Sex in the City series shows the Big Apple through the prism of sex. The kaleidoscope of human characters and stories is riveting: a freewheeling party life of the pre-AIDS era, nostalgic encounters with the past, a bittersweet trans-Atlantic love, a long-married couple fulfilling their fantasy, a girl’s misjudgment of her boyfriend about to propose her, a poor immigrant’s obsessive fixations, and many more.

As with any anthology, some stories captivated me, and some didn’t resonate as much with me. Overall, it was a delightful read that went well with a glass of red Bordeaux, cushy pillows and my cat, Jerry, purring by my side.

Once this book is in your hands or on your e-reader, you would be certain to find stories that would tug at your heart’s strings, thrill and excite you.

My rating: four lilies out of five.


 
Available in print and Kindle format at Amazon.com,  and in PDF and Epub formats at Xcite Books.

Titles and authors included in the anthology:

Gotham Sex by Donna George Storey

A Washington Square Romance by Maxim Jakubowski

Cell Mates by Polly Frost

The Same Fifty Taxis by Jeremy Edwards

Obit for Lynn by Tsaurah Litzky

Two Natures by Shanna Germain

Sophia in Astoria by Thom Gautier

Park Suite by D.L. King

Passion Hack by Michael Hemmingson

Woman in White by Lisabet Sarai

Manhattan Booty Call by Thomas S. Roche

New York Electric by Cara Bruce

Cell by Ira Miller

Story Publication: One Night After the War

My short erotic romance story, One Night After the War, has been published by Every Night Erotica. It is available as a free read here: www.everynighterotica.com/one-night-after-the-war-lara-kairos/

The most devastating war of the 20th century is over. Haunted by its shadows, a man and woman make love on a cold night.

Rating: NC-17

The idea of the story came to me during the historical research for my novel (not erotica) set during WWII and postwar. I absolutely love reading history books, studying old documents and shuffling through period photos. It gives me so many story ideas that get my imagination working!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day !



The Kiss by Auguste Rodin. Picture credit: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Der_kuss.jpg
 
Everyone knows this famous sculpture. Many years ago we had a large Rodin album at our home in Moscow, Russia. The sensual beauty of his art fascinated me since I were a schoolgirl.  This sculpture and the Eternal Idol below are my longtime favorites.



The Eternal Idol by Auguste Rodin. Picture credit: http://www.philippalmer.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Eternal-Idol-Rodin-e1268936877316.jpgPhilip Palmer has an interesting post, The Naked and the Nude and the SEXY, on his blog.

At the Last Minute by Daria Rose

 
Title: At the Last Minute
Author: Daria Rose
Rating: NC-17

Picture Credit: daria67.blogspot.com/2010/06/at-last-minute-nc-17.html

As Valentine’s Day draws close, many of us who are married or have a steady partner reflect on our love relationships. Often we realize that our busy routines, jobs and families have pushed the magic of intimacy to the back burner.

Valentine’s Day shakes us awake and reminds us that the romance and sex are still here, although we might need to scrub off the grey patina of daily life to make them glow.

Recently I have re-read a wonderful erotic story by Daria Rose, At the Last Minute, published on her blog. It is free for everyone over 18 to enjoy.

In this story, Bree and Gavin, a solidly married couple whose lives are taken up by their children and jobs, manage to carve out four days all to themselves in their empty home, no work and no kids. It takes them some cunning and cheating to pull it off, but it is well worth the reward.

Daria Rose’s narrative carries you like a slow river on a summer day, enthralling your imagination and never tiring. We follow the couple as they enjoy their feast of sex and intimacy, employ small tricks to make everyone think they are out of town and relish the indulgent relaxation of their break from everyone and everything else. The sex scenes run the gamut from gentle and loving to forceful and passionate, and none of them would leave you bored.

You can find the story published in five installments here:

Day One
Day Two
Day Two Continued
Day Three
Day Four

My rating: Five lilies out of five.

An Affair of Love (Une Liaison Pornographique)

 Product description on Amazon.com

"It began as a purely sexual arrangement. She had a fantasy. He was willing to fulfill her needs. They met once a week at a cafe and moved on to a hotel. They shared no personal information. They didnt even know each others names. It was a perfect relationship until they fell in love."
                                                                                                          
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: 05/10/2005
Starring: Nathalie Baye, Sergi Lopez
Run time: 78 minutes
Rating: R
Director: Frederic Fonteyne
 
The American title of this movie is a poor translation of its original French title, Une Liaison Pornographique. It is a very French and very Parisian film. Nathalie Baye (Elle) and Sergi Lopez (Lui) play out a riveting tale of human characters, sexuality, emotions and weaknesses. Each of the two is protective of his or her own world, but the nature of their contact conflicts with their desire for anonymity. It was fascinating to watch how the main characters progressed from their first awkward meeting in a cafe to an almost complete intimacy.

After an unexpected emergency at the hotel, a suspenseful tension follows, as Elle and Lui attempt to examine their relationship. Anxious and upright in my cushy armchair, I tried my best to guess what would come up next in their relationship, and whether they would share their true feelings.
 
The bedroom action is beautifully filmed and draws you in but it does not take over the whole movie. I enjoyed the interplay of the characters, their facial expressions and dialogue, and the symbolism of their surroundings. At their first date, the couple goes into a hotel room, closing the door behind them and leaving the viewer one on one with the searing red interior of the hallway. The viewer can only guess what is happening behind the crimson door.

At each turn of the story you do not know what comes next. I will not tell you how the film ends. You need to take the journey by yourself to appreciate this gem of the French cinema.

My rating: Five lilies out of five.